Global Aerospace Corporation wins NASA award to develop DARE system, which uses autonomous balloons to explore planetary atmospheres and surfaces from atmospheric altitudes. The system can deploy micro probes to study the atmosphere, surface, and subsurface, offering high-resolution imaging and direct measurements.
Researchers found that diverse plant communities are more effective at excluding invasive weeds due to complete utilization of space and limited resources. This implies that biodiversity can also provide local resistance to invasions.
A Princeton-led study found that 62% of marine iguanas on a Galapagos island died within a year after an oil spill. The researchers believe that beneficial microorganisms in the iguana's guts were killed by the oil, leading to their deaths.
Researchers at Stanford University have discovered that giant loops of hot, electrified gas linked to sunspots near the equator may cause polar reversals. The findings help predict violent solar flares and eruptions that interfere with Earth's communications.
A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that genetic testing using breast cells can accurately predict breast cancer risk. The Gail model, a computer-based predictor, was correlated with DNA deletions and precancerous changes in cells, suggesting an individualized approach to risk assessment.
Dr. Katherine High, a leading gene therapy researcher, has been chosen by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for her groundbreaking work on treating hemophilia B. Her research holds promise for delivering therapeutic genes directly into patients' cells to improve blood clotting and quality of life.
Researchers have discovered that electrons in conducting-insulating materials interact strongly when excited, allowing them to move between planes and exhibit metal-like behavior. The critical temperature for this change ranges from -100 to -300 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the material.
The Ohio University team, dubbed the 'Robobcats,' has developed soccer-playing robots that employ artificial intelligence to devise play strategies. The technology also has practical applications in disaster response and space exploration.
Researchers found that acute stress symptoms were common among injured children and their parents, with nearly four-fifths experiencing at least one significant symptom. Pediatricians should support distressed parents to help them cope with traumatic injuries.
A study by Duke University Medical Center researcher Haifan Lin discovered that 63 percent of men with the overactive form of the hiwi gene are at risk of developing seminoma, a type of testicular cancer. The hiwi gene is highly correlated to seminoma, and its overexpression can lead to an increased risk of testicular cancer.
The study found significant variations in cancer prevalence across European countries, with high rates in Sweden, Switzerland, and Germany, and low rates in Poland, Estonia, Slovakia, and Slovenia. The research team suggests that cancer prevalence is closely linked to economic development and survival rates.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that methamphetamine exposure can dramatically increase the replication of lentiviruses like FIV and HIV in astrocyte cells, a type of nerve cell. This could lead to new insights into how these viruses spread in the brain and may impact dementia treatment.
UT Southwestern researchers have developed two blood tests that can predict central nervous system infection in infants born to mothers with syphilis. These tests, which detect neonatal antibodies and DNA of the syphilis organism, were found to be effective in identifying all cases of CNS infection in a study of 148 infants.
Researchers found that cord blood cells improved neurological function in rats with traumatic brain injury, suggesting a new approach for treating this condition. The cells helped promote brain self-repair by stimulating trophic factors and cytokines, which led to better movement, balance, and reflex responses.
A study of 906 individuals between 40-49 years old found no cancer cases despite low-risk profiles. Age is identified as a good predictor of colorectal cancer risk, with 7% of cancers occurring in individuals under age 50.
The ASU School of Social Work has received a $1.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to strengthen and expand social work research on drug use. The consortium, led by Flavio Francisco Marsiglia, will focus on historical cultures of the Southwest and community-based needs assessments.