David Bottjer discovered that messier sediments held more advanced animal remains, suggesting churned conditions led to environmental pressure and evolutionary changes. This finding supports the idea that 'sod busters' accelerated the Cambrian explosion of new life forms by forcing earlier animals to adapt to harsh environments.
Jenny LaGesse is studying ancient North Carolina coastlines by analyzing cores and outcrops to understand rock types, stacking patterns, and changes over time. Her research aims to produce models with worldwide applications in environments similar to the Paleogene of North Carolina.
A study by Jennifer Stempien explores the geographic influences on species variation in ancient bivalves. She found that specimens from different locations exhibited wide variability in physical characteristics, suggesting a strong geographic influence over time.
A single geophone can detect seismic vibrations in Europa's icy crust, revealing its depth and potentially life-sustaining liquid ocean beneath. The technique, tested on Arctic Sea ice, aims to uncover the moon's internal structure without the need for a costly lander mission.
The sequencing of Chlamydomonas' chloroplast genome reveals its potential for improving crop tolerance to phosphates, reducing fertilizer use and environmental pollution. The algae may also be used as a source of renewable hydrogen and bioreactor for producing novel proteins.
A new study on Chinese immigration in Europe reveals that the primary motivation is financial gain, enabling migrants to generate employment and wealth. Chinese migrants are highly mobile once they arrive, often changing countries to find better conditions.
The increasingly salty Mediterranean could lead to a new ice age in Canada due to changes in Atlantic circulation patterns. This is because the saltiness of the Mediterranean water makes it dense enough to sink easily, allowing warm water to replace it and keep seas south of Greenland relatively warm.
Researchers at Virginia Tech are conducting a large-scale aquifer test to improve groundwater management. They are using GPS antennas and remote-sensing radar satellites to measure land subsidence with millimeter accuracy, which will help managers maintain the elastic range of the aquifer and prevent land subsidence.
Thomas Wynn is creating a three-dimensional map of West Virginia's subsurface using well cuttings from 200 wells. He aims to find oolites that contain natural gas and better understand the transition from greenhouse to ice-age conditions during the Mississippian Age. The study has significant implications for accessing natural gas rese...
Islamic countries have a rich scientific heritage, with contributions from the 7th to 14th centuries, making geology an area of great opportunity for collaboration. Geoscientists can help increase understanding and break down preconceived notions by interacting with local people and promoting the unity of the Earth's inhabitants.
Scientists propose that a shift from carbon dioxide to methane in the greenhouse world may have triggered the emergence of complex life forms. Methane, which takes less energy to maintain than carbon dioxide, led to a drop in CO2 levels and the rise of oxygenic photosynthesis.
Paleontologists have used microCT technology to visualize the internal structure of fossilized embryos, providing new insights into early animal evolution. The discoveries offer a glimpse into the development of ancient animals and shed light on their habitats.
A recent study on Brazilian brachiopods has provided valuable insights into the life and times of ancient creatures. The research, led by David Rodland, sheds light on the encrustation patterns of modern brachiopods and their potential to estimate water depth and plankton productivity in ancient oceans.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have isolated a protein from bacteria that kills cancer cells without causing harm. The protein, azurin, was tested in mice with human melanomas and showed significant tumor shrinkage, with no deaths or adverse reactions.
Researchers propose that Oxygen-making microbes came later, around 100 million years after the emergence of Sulfur-loving bacteria. This revised evolutionary history may explain the lack of cyanobacteria fossils in ancient iron formations and resolve biochemical contradictions.
Postmenopausal women taking glucocorticoids are at a significantly increased risk of spinal fractures, with nearly six-fold higher odds compared to those not using the medication. Long-term use for chronic diseases can lead to glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO), which increases the risk of fracture.
The USC consortium has received a $15 million NCI grant to determine the causes of colon cancer. The registry, which now consists of over 8,000 families, will focus on genetic factors, gene-environment interactions, and launching prevention trials.
Researchers have found that fossils in storm beds are not randomly distributed, but instead follow a non-random pattern, preserving the original structure of ancient sea floor habitats. This study provides valuable insights into understanding ecological relationships and movement of organism habitats through space and time.
The University of Louisville has been designated as a CDC biodefense center, equipped with resources and expertise to research and prepare for bioterrorism attacks. The center will conduct epidemiological and communications research to ensure quick responses to potential epidemics.
Researchers found that the Chicxulub crater in Mexico had about 18,000 cubic kilometers of impact melt, while the Sudbury crater in Canada had approximately 31,000 cubic kilometers. The significant difference in melt volume could be explained by an asteroid striking Chicxulub and a comet impacting Sudbury.
The MINOS study found high levels of air pollution over the Mediterranean Sea, originating from both western and eastern Europe, as well as South Asia. The pollution transport follows prevailing winds and affects ecosystems and human health, while aerosols alter solar radiation absorption and climate patterns.
A preliminary study of the Paleobiology Database reveals that fragile fossils occur as frequently as durable ones, contradicting the expectation that tough skeletons would be more common. This finding suggests that the fossil record may be a more reliable source of information than previously thought.
A new combination therapy of photodynamic therapy and triamcinolone injection significantly improves visual acuity in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration. The treatment requires fewer retreatments compared to existing therapies, including Visudyne, and reduces costs.
Women's stroke symptoms differ from men's, often non-traditional and less specific. The study found that women were more likely to report non-traditional symptoms like pain and changes in consciousness.
Researchers have developed a method to measure spring output and analyze groundwater flow in the Blue Ridge province. The technique helps determine how much water is available for wells, addressing a pressing issue in Virginia due to drought and rapid growth.
A Virginia Tech research project suggests that body size may not be directly related to evolutionary or ecological success. Early findings indicate that diversity and body size increased together during the history of life, but this relationship broke down at the end of the Ordovician period, around 440 million years ago.
Researchers will study ultra high field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to develop clearer, more precise images of the body's interior. The goal is to improve diagnosis and treatment for patients.
Researchers are studying Europa's icy shell to understand its composition and potential for supporting life. A computer model suggests organisms could thrive beneath the thick cap of ice, while another analysis reveals cracks and ridges formed by Jupiter's tides.
Herb Frey and his daughter Erin have discovered subtle quasi-circular depressions, or QCDs, that suggest a Pre-Noachian period on Mars. These findings indicate that the oldest visible Martian crust is not the oldest, but rather part of an even earlier geological time period.
Researchers at Duke University have uncovered a new role for beta-arrestin in regulating cyclic AMP levels by recruiting phosphodiesterases to the membrane. This finding highlights the complex interplay between these two mechanisms, which were previously thought to be distinct and unrelated.
A study projects that increasing BMD testing for women with osteoporosis or osteopenia would reduce fractures by 6,683 over three years and result in net Medicare savings of $15.5 million. This could lead to increased patient benefits while reducing costs.