Researchers at Sandia and Columbia University have successfully cooled molecules to millikelvin temperatures, a significant milestone in the quest for molecular ultra-coldness. The new technique uses atomic beam intersection, which generates cold molecules despite being inefficient, with one molecule in a million cooling collisions.
Research at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of Montana observes earlier spring thawing trends across northern high latitudes. This regional change may promote more carbon uptake by vegetation than release into the atmosphere, potentially affecting Earth's climate.
Duke University offers a tropical biology research experience with stipend, airfare, and accommodation, as well as equipment allowance. Applications are due by March 1, 2004, for faculty at minority serving institutions.
The ICESat mission is measuring the surface elevations of large ice sheets covering Antarctica and Greenland, determining how they are changing. The satellite's data are helping scientists understand how life on Earth is affected by changing climate, and providing critical observations of atmospheric particles.
Researchers believe SARS evolved from a rare recombination of mammalian and avian viruses, enabling it to evade human immune systems. The study sheds light on the evolutionary history of SARS, which may hold clues to designing effective treatments and vaccines.
St. Jude scientists have discovered a new method to target the Topoisomerase 1 enzyme, crucial for cell division, leading to potential novel anti-cancer drugs that can work in combination with existing agents. This approach may also reduce cancer cells' ability to become resistant to treatment.
A new study finds that declining winter habitats of migratory songbirds significantly affect their ability to reproduce. Researchers measured stable carbon isotopes in the birds' blood, revealing a 'food chain signature' tied to habitat quality.
A database study suggests that starting with lower doses of leflunomide can help patients tolerate the medication better, reducing adverse side effects and improving treatment outcomes. The research found no significant increase in severe toxicity, contrary to concerns raised during initial FDA approval.
New evidence reveals urban areas are altering rainfall patterns and daily precipitation trends, with higher rates during summer months downwind of large cities like Houston and Atlanta. Cities tend to be warmer than surrounding suburbs and rural areas due to urban heat islands.
Researchers at Express Scripts found that COX-2 prescribing physicians often co-prescribe gastroprotective drugs, contradicting expert estimates. This challenges the use of expert opinion in estimating practice pattern model inputs and warrants re-evaluation of COX-2 cost-effectiveness models.
A NASA-funded study analyzed urban growth among 30 mid-sized cities using Landsat satellite data, revealing three common spatial patterns of land development. The research provides current global assessments of urbanization, including growth in Africa, and highlights the need for updated maps to inform climate modeling and social scien...
Researchers are working on a method to accurately estimate coral reef health from sensors on airplanes and satellites. By analyzing light reflectance from corals, scientists can detect early signs of disease and stress, providing valuable insights into marine ecosystem health.
Scientists have discovered that radioactive potassium can form an alloy with iron at high pressures and temperatures, potentially providing a significant heat source in the Earth's core. This finding could explain the missing potassium in the Earth's crust and mantle, and may help to power convection in the core.
Researchers use climate models to analyze past solar energy changes and test regional climate predictions under global warming scenarios. The study reveals smaller background trends in solar energy are in better agreement with long-term climate records, providing insights into Earth's changing climate.
Global per capita greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced to a small fraction of present levels within the next hundred years. A gradual transition to an emission-free economy is possible at an acceptable price, with significant reductions in emissions necessary beyond the Kyoto horizon.
Cardiff University scientists have developed a new method to identify the prey spiders eat by analyzing their stomach contents using DNA. This technique shows that money spiders prefer certain species of springtails, which could lead to better control of aphids and boost spider populations.
Simulations show that compression waves change the atomic arrangement of glass, resulting in a denser and less brittle material. The study, published in Physical Review Letters, may have implications for optimizing glass properties.
Researchers aim to understand the functions of Nostoc punctiforme's 7,000 genes and its potential to domesticate crop plants for nitrogen fixation. They plan to study gene expression and environmental responses to improve the process.