A new study predicts that jet contrails will become a significant climate factor by 2050, causing a warming of the Earth's atmosphere. Contrails are expected to increase in coverage over Europe and Asia, with potential temperature increases reaching up to 0.7 watts per square meter.
Researchers developed a method to record brain signals onto electrode arrays in rats, enabling them to control a robotic arm without muscle movement. This achievement demonstrates the likelihood of implanting electrodes into human brains to control prosthetic devices.
The StAR protein plays a key role in the steroid-making system by partially unfolding to form a 'molten globule' conformation that enables it to work inside cells. This flexible state lowers energy required for channel opening in mitochondrial membrane, acting as an on/off switch for cholesterol transport.
Researchers found that the brain region critical for face perception is also active when humans become expert in recognizing novel objects, contradicting the idea of separate brain mechanisms. The study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to test adults on identifying greebles, a class of complex three-dimensional objects.
A global system involving human-machine integration will evolve, leveraging ceramic materials and nanotechnology to provide food and clean water. The future may hold composite life forms with organic and inorganic elements.
A team of scientists has found a critical interaction between two brain proteins that could help explain the death of nerve cells in Alzheimer's disease. The discovery reveals that normal APP provides a protective function against cell death, while mutant forms do not.
A genetically altered vaccine has been approved for commercial use to prevent swine pneumonia, a major cause of production losses in the swine industry. The vaccine, developed by Virginia Tech researcher Thomas Inzana, confers excellent immunity in pigs with minimal side-effects.
Researchers have identified a new mechanism for regulating gene expression that could help scientists understand developmental birth defects and other medical conditions. The TRA-1 protein plays a critical role in binding to DNA and controlling mRNA movement, which affects protein production during embryo development.