Researchers at Stanford University are using synchrotron X-ray technology to reveal previously unknown details about dinosaur fossils and ancient documents. By analyzing the chemical elements left behind in fossilized bones, scientists hope to gain new insights into the evolution of dinosaurs and their relationships with modern birds.
The Global Crop Diversity Trust is rapidly reviving ailing seed samples from 46 countries to preserve genetic traits vital to maintaining global food security. The effort, which includes 100,000 different crop varieties, aims to prevent extinction of staple crops like rice, maize, and wheat.
Researchers have identified two common gene variants associated with increased blood pressure levels, which may lead to new therapies. The study, published in Nature Genetics, found that these variants affect proteins involved in cardiovascular response to stress, influencing blood pressure levels.
Researchers at Iowa State University are working to improve high school chemistry education, including surveying teachers and developing laboratory experiments using household items. The team aims to address concerns about teacher certification and laboratory access, with the goal of enhancing student understanding of chemistry concepts.
A study found that using sleep to manage tension-type headache pain can lead to decreased homeostatic drive for sleep and worsen insomnia. Women in the study reported going to sleep as a way of managing their headaches, with 81% finding it an effective strategy.
A University of Michigan researcher has developed a method to reconcile data on greenhouse gas sources and sinks, improving the accuracy of climate predictions. By analyzing atmospheric sampling locations and satellite data, she aims to predict how carbon levels will evolve in the future.
A study by researchers at the University of Iowa and University of Missouri-St. Louis found that economic recession is associated with increased victimization rates among minority groups, particularly blacks and Latinos. The study analyzed data from the National Crime Victimization Surveys from 1973 to 2005 and found that poverty, urba...
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University have discovered how the Myc cancer-promoting gene uses microRNAs to control glutamine, a major energy source for cancer cells. This finding may lead to identifying new pathways to target for designing drugs with fewer side effects.
New DNA and hormone sampling techniques have provided unprecedented information about baboons' social behavior, revealing grief, paternal care, and complex kin relationships. Researchers found that male baboons provide parental care, while females form friendships with both maternal and paternal siblings.
Researchers at Rutgers University have created a novel gene silencing platform called U1 Adaptor that targets RNA biosynthesis. The platform has the potential to treat diseases resistant to current RNAi approaches and can inhibit genes that do not respond to existing methods.
A new research platform at Diamond Light Source will enable cultural heritage scientists to scan and image large relics up to two tonnes in weight with incredible precision. This will help uncover ancient secrets and answer questions about the origin, history, and technology used to create artefacts.
Researchers at Duke University and Brookhaven National Laboratory have observed striking similarities between ultracold gas clouds and ultrahot plasmas. Both exhibit near-perfect fluid flow and anisotropic expansion, expanding like 'exploding cigars'.
Researchers have detected slow slip events along a major fault zone beneath the Nicoya Peninsula, shedding light on the full spectrum of motions occurring on the fault. The findings may yield new insights into the events that lead to major earthquakes, but experts caution that more study is needed.
The NOAA CDR Project aims to address climate change data challenges by stitching together heritage satellite data and incorporating future sources like NPOESS. This project will deliver regular climate information following rigorous scientific standards, enabling understanding of climate variability and change.
P&G Beauty & Grooming scientists showcase latest findings on hair, skin, color, and shaving efficacy using advanced science and technology. The studies explore the role of genetics in skin aging, optimize color foundation formulations, and develop new blade technologies for improved shaving comfort.
Camerer discusses his cognitive hierarchy theory, which suggests people only take a few steps of iterated thinking when strategizing. This theory has been tested using various game-theory experiments and field-data sets, showing that people typically choose lower numbers in games like the Swedish LUPI lottery.
African populations are still evolving due to natural selection, with lactose tolerance and genetic variation influenced by diseases like malaria. Penn genetics researcher Sarah Tishkoff presents her findings on human evolutionary history in Africa.
Researchers have created a new class of porous materials that effectively separate hydrogen from complex gas mixtures. The materials exhibit superior performance in separating hydrogen from carbon dioxide and methane, increasing the efficiency of producing pure hydrogen.
A study found that a longer maintenance of wakefulness test protocol is more effective in detecting excessive daytime sleepiness, but motivation can override the test's accuracy. The findings highlight the need for further research to develop more reliable methods for assessing an individual's ability to remain vigilant while driving.
Deep-sea drilling reveals extensive rock deformation and concentrated slip zones in shallow regions, contradicting long-held assumptions. The discovery sheds light on the complex mechanics of faulting and tsunamis, highlighting the megasplay fault as a key contributor to largest tsunami-generating plate slips.
Researchers used computer artificial intelligence to create new types of pictures and test people's brain performance in visual search experiments. They found that the human brain uses a single mechanism to find targets in pictures, with difficulty levels varying from easy to hard.
Stanford researchers developed a computer simulation to predict the movement of fish farm waste in the ocean. The model, called SUNTANS, reveals that wastes can travel greater distances and in higher concentrations than previously assumed.
A new genetic 'hotspot' for breast cancer susceptibility has been found on chromosome 6 in Asian women. This genetic locus may help guide efforts to identify specific genes linked with sporadic forms of the disease.
Research suggests that human activity may not have a detectable impact on Atlantic hurricanes, but warming may lead to more intense storms. Century-long records show rising tropical storm counts from the mid-1800s, while hurricane counts remain stable.
Research shows that deaf children in Nicaragua create their own gesture systems, combining with homemade signs to form a new language-like system. This homesigning enables them to develop Nicaraguan Sign Language, a complex communication system that surpasses conventional spoken languages.
Scientists analyze Lake Kråkenes sediments to detect short-term climate fluctuations. They attribute these changes to glacial melt runoff driven by the Gulf Stream's variability. The findings reveal a period of high-frequency climate oscillations during the Younger Dryas cold period.
Researchers harness supercomputing to recreate how galaxies form, develop, and collapse. The most detailed recreation of the universe's evolution to date is created using computer simulations that incorporate black hole physics.
Deaf individuals can invent simple gestures called 'homesigns' in a family setting, which may eventually develop into conventional sign languages. Researchers will discuss the emergence and evolution of these language systems at the AAAS Annual Meeting.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have proven that graphene's edge structure significantly influences its electronic properties. The discovery has major implications for transistor fabrication and requires controlled engineering of the graphene edge structure.
Researchers used bimonthly CO2 measurements from 16 aircraft sites to create a monthly 3D picture of CO2 over North America. They found moderate CO2 sink areas, especially in the Midwest and Southeast, which agree with estimates of crop uptake and forest regrowth.
A study by Western Michigan University researchers suggests that neither teaching approach has a significant advantage over the other, with good teachers, positive attitudes towards science, and well-designed curricula being more important factors in learning outcomes. The findings challenge current debates surrounding instructional ap...
Researchers developed a two-armed nanorobotic device that can capture and maneuver molecules within DNA structures, enabling the creation of new materials and potential applications in synthetic fibers, encryption, and computer assembly.
Biochemist David Deamer explores the molecular self-assembly processes that led to the first protocells nearly 4 billion years ago. He proposes a combinatorial chemistry approach to understanding how life began, suggesting complex systems of molecules assembled on early Earth.
A new study by Rush University Medical Center researchers has discovered a behavioral link between insomnia and tension-type headaches. Eighty-one percent of women with tension-type headaches reported going to sleep as a way to manage their headaches, which was also the most effective self-management strategy for pain.
Researchers develop a new general chemistry curriculum, CLUE, using the emergence and evolution of life as context for introducing chemistry concepts. The curriculum aims to improve students' problem-solving abilities and deepen their understanding of fundamental principles.
Researchers used fMRI scans to study the connection between loneliness and brain activity. The study found that lonely individuals showed reduced activity in the ventral striatum, a region associated with rewards, when viewing pleasant settings. In contrast, non-lonely individuals showed increased activity in this region.
A study of 1900 Chinese participants found that individuals with metabolic syndrome are more sensitive to salt intake, leading to increased blood pressure responses. This finding suggests that reducing sodium intake could be a crucial component in managing blood pressure for patients with multiple risk factors for metabolic syndrome.
A CU-Boulder professor argues that K-12 teachers need better training on evolution education to counter creationist and pseudoscientific claims. The disconnect between students' and public's understanding of evolutionary processes is partly due to difficulty grasping biochemical events and mechanisms behind adaptation.