The 'braking glitch' in the spin rate of a soft gamma repeater (SGR) suggests a massive starquake may have occurred. The SGR's rotational period increased steadily until a rapid decrease was observed, indicating a massive energy release.
Scientists identify a key gene responsible for pain sensitivity, revealing potential for tailored pain medications and predicting addiction risk. The study's findings suggest that individual genetic variations in the mu opiate receptor gene can affect pain perception and response to morphine.
Researchers observed a substantial reduction in mortality for heart failure patients who received the Aldactone medication regimen, reducing deaths by 30 percent. The study found that aldosterone blockade played an important role in this reduction and opens the door to developing more effective treatment options.
Researchers discover that mobile DNA sequences, known as transposons, generate chromosomal inversions in the Drosophila fly. These inversions are found in small independent DNA sequences and have a positive role in evolution.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a new method of supershielding, allowing magnetic fields to be completely contained without using traditional shielding methods. This invention has the potential to protect modern technologies from interference and destruction.
Young and old rats show distinct responses to compromised circulation, highlighting the need for age-based treatment for ischemia-reperfusion injuries. Studies reveal that neutrophil accumulation plays a key role in young rats but not older ones.
Scientists map lung cancer gene Pas1 to mouse chromosome 6, shedding light on human lung cancers. The researchers also study the evolution of trichromatic vision in humans and primates, revealing gene duplication events that confer color vision abilities.
Researchers at Northwestern University have halted motor neuron destruction and slowed ALS progression using GDNF gene therapy in laboratory mice. The approach may one day prove effective in treating humans with ALS.
Research by Penn State engineers shows mechanical forces exert equivalent roles in some aspects of cardiovascular health and disease as bio-regulators like cholesterol and dietary fat. The study found a one-to-one correspondence between effects of shear stress and growth factor VEGF on blood vessel health.
A recent study published in the Journal of Periodontology found that high financial stress and poor coping abilities significantly increase the risk of developing periodontal disease. Those who effectively manage their finances and cope with stress have no more risk than those without money problems.
Bruce Clurman, a researcher at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, has been awarded a $1 million grant to support his medical research. The award, part of the W.M. Keck Foundation's Distinguished Young Scholars in Medical Research Program, will enable Clurman to pursue new ideas and develop new treatments for diseases.
CSIRO scientists have measured a minuscule decline in oxygen over the past 20 years, which has shed new light on the role of forests and oceans in absorbing carbon dioxide. The oxygen reduction, just 0.03%, is negligible for human breathing but highlights the importance of plant life in capturing half of the CO2 generated by fossil fuels.