Researchers have identified microbial remains in ancient organic matter on Earth, dating back 3.5 billion years, using electron microscope techniques. The findings confirm the presence of primitive microbial communities, shedding light on the origins of life on Earth.
Researchers developed a single-particle technique to study small portions of semiconductor material at the nanoscale. The study found that 'deep traps' are formed in plastic semiconductors, which can decrease efficiency and cause defects. This breakthrough could lead to improved devices made from these materials.
A research team has identified a genetic deficiency that causes severe blindness, specifically Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA). The discovery of the LCA5 gene and its protein lebercilin provides new opportunities for gene therapy, which could lead to the treatment of this disease in humans.
Researchers use simultaneous measurements to investigate electron-electron interactions near the metal-insulator transition, revealing a quantum critical point and temperature-dependent interaction strength. The study provides a theory that quantitatively explains phenomena in two-dimensional systems.
A new analysis of rosiglitazone data found an uncertain heart risk, while a study on geriatric conditions revealed they are common among adults 65+ and increase with age. Counseling programs about preventing car accident injuries showed inconclusive evidence.
Researchers discovered that blood levels of protein ST2 indicate the presence of heart failure and predict the risk of death, even among patients without heart failure. A combination of ST2 with other biomarkers provides the most accurate prediction for all study participants.
The study aims to explore the genetics of the coconut to infer historical relationships among populations. The research will focus on understanding the plant's ancient dispersal, geographical origin of domestication, and impact of human activities on population structure.
The revised guidelines introduce changes to the initial diagnostic approach, recommending a non-invasive set of preliminary tests such as stress tests or echocardiograms. The new guidelines also emphasize the importance of more intense lipid and blood pressure control, as well as the use of anti-platelet therapy clopidogrel for at leas...
Researchers found that green tea slowed skin cell growth and regulated genes involved in skin cell life cycles, potentially treating psoriasis and dandruff. However, more human studies are needed to determine the full effects of this treatment.
A new study by UC-San Diego computer scientists found that 94% of spam-advertised online scams are hosted on individual web servers, not hundreds or thousands of compromised computers. The researchers used a new internet monitoring approach to analyze over one million spam emails and identified the hosting servers for these scams.
A Dartmouth economist projects steady growth in 401(k) retirement savings, citing the growing importance of personal savings plans. Most concerns about a pension crisis are overstated, with future retirees expected to have substantial wealth, five times that of current retirees.
A new study led by Virginia Commonwealth University researchers found that genetic factors play a crucial role in shaping how individuals choose their peer groups. The study suggests that genes become increasingly important as individuals develop, potentially influencing their risk for future substance use or deviant behaviors.
A UCF team led by Kiminobu Sugaya has discovered a compound, phenserine, that reduces plaque buildup in Alzheimer's disease. This combination with stem cell transplantation triggers neuron regeneration, offering hope for patients. Further research, including clinical trials, is needed to confirm its effectiveness.
Astronomers have witnessed the rare sight of four galaxies crashing into each other, kicking up billions of stars and forming a single, massive galaxy. The merger, observed using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and WIYN Telescope, provides unprecedented insight into how the most massive galaxies in the universe form.
University of Washington scientists track six penguins' movements using satellite technology to model energy requirements, understand breeding habits, and assess impact of human activities on their migration route. The project aims to improve conservation efforts for the Magellanic Penguin species.
A new study reveals that 23% of hospital-based physicians in China are smokers, significantly higher than the global average. The study prompts China CDC to initiate an antismoking campaign aimed at physicians and medical students.
A comprehensive school-based intervention improved educational, criminal, and economic outcomes for low-income minority children from preschool to young adulthood. The program showed significant positive effects on health and well-being, reducing arrests and disability assistance rates.
In a study by Yale University researchers, older mice benefited from either physical exercise alone or combined with mental enrichment. For younger and middle-aged mice, exercise was key to improving spatial memory. The findings suggest that cognitive stimulation can help compensate for declining memory as people age.
Researchers at Howard Hughes Medical Institute disabled a sensory organ in female mice, prompting them to exhibit male-like behaviors during courtship. The findings suggest that the neural circuits governing gender-specific behaviors are similar in both sexes.
Researchers have developed a laser-based device to measure carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane emissions directly from vehicle exhausts. This technology has the potential to monitor emissions in real-time, enabling drivers to adjust their driving style and reduce pollution.
Researchers found correlations between plentiful sunspots and heavy rain in East Africa, with peak sunspot activity preceding heavy rainfall by about a year. This link could enable public health officials to prepare for insect-borne diseases and flooding.
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center discovered the key site in the brain where a hormone called prostaglandin E2 causes fever responses during infections. This discovery sheds light on the adaptive function of fever in protecting the body from illness, including increased sensitivity to pain and achiness.
Historians detail a burst of fishing from 1900 to 1950 that preceded the decline of bluefin tuna populations in the North Atlantic. The research suggests high fishing pressure played a key role in the species' disappearance.
Researchers found that over-production of two inflammatory proteins causes excessive levels of a third protein, leading to rosacea symptoms. Elevated stratum corneum tryptic enzymes (SCTE) and cathelicidin also contribute to the disease.
A new MIT study finds that mature brains process and retain rich, contextual memories better than younger brains. Adults demonstrated a more developed prefrontal cortex leading to enhanced contextual memory formation.
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have discovered a novel molecular switch that modulates nerve cell activity, offering new possibilities for treating mood disorders and epilepsy. The study shows a link between gut protein cholecystokinin and brain's natural marijuana-like compounds.
Research suggests that a sensory organ in the noses of mammals differentiates male and female behavior, rather than the brain. Female mice with mutant vomeronasal organs adopt male behaviors like mounting and pelvic thrusting, abandoning maternal actions.
Nectar-feeding bats have the highest metabolic costs among mammals, requiring them to fuel up directly from sugary nectars. This direct metabolism method saves energy by avoiding storage conversions, but also makes them highly vulnerable to environmental changes affecting their food supply.
Researchers investigated dynamic cortical networks in humans, confirming that familiar and unfamiliar objects activate distributed brain areas. They also measured directed information transfer between brain areas, revealing that most regions are involved in both receiving and sending signals during object recognition.
Researchers found a new lung tumor-suppressor gene, LKB1, that blocks key steps of lung cancer development in mice. The study suggests LKB1 may be more powerful than other known suppressors and could influence non-small cell lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Researchers have identified a critical gene, LKB1, that is mutated in almost a quarter of all human lung cancers, leading to more aggressive tumors. The study provides a new target for therapies and enables better patient prognoses.
Researchers found that 13-month-old infants could attribute mental content and exhibit puzzlement when caterpillars didn't follow expected behavior in animations. This suggests the presence of mental structures for predicting others' behavior from a young age.
A recent study published in Psychological Science found that autistic children excel in fluid intelligence tests, such as the Raven's Progressive Matrices, which assess problem-solving skills and abstract thinking. In contrast, they often struggle with language-based IQ tests like the WISC.
Researchers have developed a new software that allows for super-realistic animation of beers pouring. The technology uses smoothed particle hydrodynamics to create more efficient and realistic animations, making it accessible to smaller film production houses.
Scientists at UC San Diego discovered how cells of higher organisms change their movement speed, a discovery that may help prevent cancer cells from spreading. The study found that the frequency of the cell's motility cycle determines its crawling speed.
A study published in The American Journal of Medicine found that emergency angioplasty use has increased, but 10% of eligible patients are still going untreated for life-saving treatment after a heart attack. Patients without typical symptoms or from underrepresented groups are most likely to miss out on this critical care.
A new study found that emergency angioplasty treatment for heart attacks has increased dramatically over the last decade, with a notable decline in patients going without crucial care. However, 10% of eligible patients still do not receive this urgent treatment, highlighting gaps in care for certain subgroups.
A Dutch study found that starting statin therapy at age 8 safely delays early artery damage caused by FH. The study showed that earlier initiation of statin treatment results in smaller carotid intima-media thickness at a later age, with no serious clinical or laboratory adverse events reported.
NASA provided critical soil moisture data for affected areas, enabling emergency response teams to track flash flooding and stage rescue efforts. The sensor's detailed maps helped officials predict future flooding risks and avoid casualties.
A NASA researcher has created a new method to anticipate food shortages brought on by drought using satellite remote sensing of crop growth and food prices. The model can help humanitarian aid organizations and decision makers predict how much food will be available and its cost, taking climate variables into account.
A thin layer of ruthenium modulates interactions between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic films, stabilizing the magnetization and enhancing device sensitivity. Thicker buffers result in more sensitive devices, while thinner buffers improve resistance to external fields.
A study found that long-term use of histamine2 receptor antagonists increases the risk of cognitive impairment in older African-Americans. Nearly 18% of users exhibited signs of cognitive impairment after controlling for other factors.
Heat waves on the continent have doubled and the frequency of extremely hot days has nearly tripled since 1880, according to a new study. The average length of heat waves is now around 3 days, compared to 1.5 days in 1880.
Researchers have figured out how to train synthetic polymer molecules to self-assemble into long, multicompartment cylinders with potential applications in radiology and signal communication. The discovery, reported in Science, has the potential to provide sustained delivery of chemotherapy from a single injection.
The new Standard Reference Material (SRM) 955c provides a more effective tool for detecting lead poisoning, particularly in children. With its improved accuracy and expanded uncertainty, SRM 955c enables the development of next-generation clinical methods to accurately measure blood lead levels.
Researchers found radiofrequency ablation to be 93% effective in eradicating malignant kidney tumors, with minimal discomfort and no serious complications. The study's lead author suggests this treatment is an excellent option for patients who are not good operative candidates or have multiple renal tumors.
Researchers at UCLA found that female mice have a lower threshold for cortical spreading depression (CSD), a key contributor to migraines. Memantine, a medication approved for Alzheimer's disease, shows promise in preventing migraines in patients with high frequency of attacks.
The American Society for Microbiology's MicrobeWorld Radio podcast and Small Things Considered blog have received a Communication Gold Circle Award for their innovative communication campaigns. The award recognizes the programs' ability to increase public understanding of microbiology and scientific careers.
A new NASA mission will carry a suite of University of Colorado at Boulder experiments to the International Space Station, involving over 15,000 K-12 students from around the world. The experiments focus on plant growth, yeast cell genes, and crystal formations in space.
The study identifies dominant damping mechanisms in iron, cobalt, and nickel, pointing to improved material design techniques. This discovery enhances the prediction of magnetic materials' dynamics, crucial for high-performance electronic devices.
A systematic review of 46 randomized trials found that shorter, family-based heart health programs are just as effective as longer, specialist-led alternatives. These programs can improve life expectancy and reduce hospitalizations, making them a more efficient option for patients with less complex heart disease.
Porphyrin molecules change color when oxidized or reduced, allowing researchers to track individual molecules and understand redox reactions. This breakthrough could lead to advances in molecular electronics, catalysis, information storage, and solar energy conversion.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have identified key signs of appendicitis in children, including rebound tenderness, abdominal pain around the belly button, and elevated white blood cell count. These signs can help doctors narrow down the diagnosis and decide whether to schedule an emergency surgery or wait for further evaluation.
The discovery of a planet orbiting a giant red star provides insight into the potential fate of our solar system as it evolves into a red-giant star. The planet, located 300 light years from Earth, circles its star every 360 days and offers astronomers a unique opportunity to study the effects of red-giant stars on planetary systems.
A new review of 14 placebo-controlled studies on zinc lozenges and colds found significant flaws in experimental design, casting doubt on the effectiveness of zinc as a treatment. The authors concluded that zinc lozenges have no therapeutic effect on symptom severity or duration of a cold.
Two studies examine the role of sodium levels in predicting mortality for patients with severe liver disease, finding that low sodium levels are associated with increased wait-list mortality and poorer post-transplant outcomes. The results suggest incorporating sodium levels into MELD models could improve prognostic accuracy.
A pilot forecasting program in Bangladesh is delivering 1- to 10-day forecasts directly to over 100,000 people living on floodplains, alerting them to potential floods. The system uses a combination of weather forecast models, satellite observations, and hydrologic modeling techniques to predict flooding.
Engineers have developed ceramic tubes that can filter oxygen out of the air, enabling almost pure carbon dioxide production for reprocessing into useful chemicals. This technology has potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power stations by up to zero.
Elizabeth Stine-Morrow's "Dumbledore hypothesis" suggests that aging adults can compensate for age-related cognitive changes by allocating effort differently. Older readers with good comprehension spend more time building a 'situation model' and pausing to integrate new information.
A recent study found that cardiac-gated CTA radiation doses can vary and be substantial in children, up to 10 times the annual natural background radiation. The study cautions against using adult technologies and techniques in pediatric patients without further evaluation of newer methods.