Researchers at Duke University have discovered that spontaneous neural activity plays a key role in organizing the visual cortex, contradicting current theories on ocular dominance. The study used young ferrets with closed eyes to record brain activity patterns and found that input from one eye drives the entire system.
A study of nearly 4,000 elderly North Carolinians found that frequent religious attenders were 46% less likely to die over a six-year period. They also experienced greater social support and reported better mental health, which may contribute to lower mortality rates.
The Young Women in Science program, supported by a $1.29 million grant, provides scientific education and mentoring to attract more young women to the field of drug abuse research. The program offers in-depth training and education for 52 participants over three years.
Researchers propose using an alternating current to pattern a sawtooth-like structure on a superconductor, directing vortices away from the device. This method avoids sophisticated material processing and can be used in both low-temperature and high-temperature superconductors.
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center has become the first medical center to use the GliaSite Radiation Therapy System, a device that delivers high doses of radiation directly into tumor tissue. This innovation aims to improve treatment outcomes for patients with malignant brain tumors.
Two Stanford University scientists argue that large amounts of water ice are unlikely on the Moon, suggesting an alternative explanation involving the reaction of lunar dust with hydrogen and oxygen. They propose that the Lunar Prospector crash could produce a plume of water vapor and hydroxyl ions without ice being present.
A symposium by the Ecological Society of America explores the delicate balance between the benefits and risks of genetically engineered organisms. The discussion will cover case studies on engineered plants, arthropods as tools in disease control, and risk assessment in ecosystems.
Researchers have discovered that plakin proteins bind to all three components of the cytoskeleton, providing an integrated bracing system that gives cells their strength and flexibility. This finding sheds new light on how nerve axons maintain their rigidity and allow for the transport of neurotransmitter-filled vesicles.