In 2009, the Poker Flat Research Range will host eight National Aeronautics and Space Administration sounding rockets. Two separate missions, ISIS and ACES, will be launched during two launch windows, with the first window opening on January 10.
Research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that high insulin levels in postmenopausal women are associated with a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Women with the highest insulin levels were nearly 50% more likely to develop breast cancer compared to those with lower insulin levels.
Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center found that elevated p53 levels maintain a cell's dormant state, making it resistant to chemotherapy and radiation. Targeting specific genes involved in quiescence may enhance anticancer effects.
A team of researchers has illuminated the structure of reactive oxygen species in a vital enzyme using a unique light-based probing technique. The study reveals details about flavoproteins involved in biochemical reactions, including oxygen activation, which is essential for energy conversion in animals and plants.
Louisiana Tech researchers have developed a deep-penetrating scanning system using ultrawideband pulsed radar to detect fractures, quantify corrosion and determine voids in surrounding soil. The FutureScan project aims to increase the ability of municipalities to detect developing sinkholes around buried pipes.
The University of Colorado at Boulder received two $11 million grants to study the lunar surface, atmosphere, and cosmos. The LUNAR team will conduct astronomical observations and investigate the early universe, while the CCLDAS project focuses on lunar dust and astronaut safety.
McGill researchers shed light on Earth's beginnings with the discovery of its oldest rocks, found to be 4.28 billion years old. Additionally, scientists from McGill and the MUHC have made significant breakthroughs in cancer treatment and tumour communication, offering new avenues for research and potential treatments.
Researchers at Northwestern University have successfully designed synthetic HDL, a nanoparticle version capable of irreversibly binding cholesterol. The study shows that the synthetic HDL mimics natural HDL's surface composition and could one day help fill the gap in useful therapeutics for raising good cholesterol.
The Writing and Communications program at Stevens Institute of Technology will offer workshops to engineering students to improve their oral and written communication skills. The grant will also establish a Communications Prize for senior engineering design teams.
Researchers at Arizona State University have found a unique chemical signature blend on the cuticle of fertile ants that allows workers to locate and police cheaters. This discovery provides insight into social regulation and evolution in ant societies.
A new study by University of Miami biologist Adrienne DuBois reveals that the Swamp Sparrow can modulate its vocal performance in response to aggressive interactions, a sophisticated signal used for communication. The study, published in Biology Letters, provides insights into animal cognition and the evolution of communication.
A team of Dartmouth researchers has found a new function for the protein NOD, which plays a crucial role in chromosome segregation during cell division. This discovery contributes to our understanding of how cell functions can go wrong, particularly in cancerous cells.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston has received a $2.5 million award to train investigators in gene-environment interaction, a pioneering area of genetic study. The program aims to discover why some people with known risk factors for disease get sick and others don't.
Children's eating habits and leisure-time patterns may not meet current recommendations as they transition from preschool to school age, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. Parents of older children reported unhealthy food choices and lower levels of physical activity.
Researchers developed a search algorithm that integrated biological measurements and model simulations to identify optimal drug combinations. The study successfully identified effective treatments in two biological model systems, paving the way for personalized medicine.
The University of Colorado at Boulder has been awarded a $6 million grant from NASA to build the Lunar Dust Experiment (LDEX), a high-tech lunar dust detector. The instrument will provide new information on lunar dust interactions with the moon's atmosphere and solar wind, as well as astronaut safety issues.
Research by Kristin R. Ratliff and Nora S. Newcombe found that human adults rely on both geometric and feature cues for reorientation, with a preference depending on the environment and past experiences. The study used experiments with different room sizes and landmarks to investigate this phenomenon.
A new study at University College London found that nitrous oxide enhances imagination vividness and imaginary suggestibility in participants, which could lead to improved pain relief for dental patients. The study's findings suggest that combining laughing gas with instructions and suggestions might enhance the pain-relieving effect.
A Florida State University researcher has received a four-year, $1.2 million grant to explore the link between RNA silencing and gene regulation in fighting cancer and diseases. The goal is to understand how to switch off genes causing cancerous tumors and cardiovascular disease.
Researchers led by Nancy Speck identified the location and developmental timeline of bone marrow stem cell formation in mouse embryos. Understanding this process may help manipulate embryonic stem cells to generate new blood cells for therapy.
A recent Penn study found that patients who receive care at large, urban, and teaching hospitals have a higher chance of survival after cardiac arrest compared to those in small, rural non-academic hospitals. The study also suggests that patients cared for in high-volume intensive care units are more likely to survive.
Several congressional proposals aim to cover the uninsured through expanded Medicare coverage, building on public programs and group purchase of private insurance. These plans demonstrate that universal coverage can be achieved with little or no additional total health spending.
Calculations by Dr. Eduardo Zorita and colleagues estimated the likelihood of warm record years after 1990 being an accident is extremely low, suggesting external influences
The university's M. Granger Morgan will unveil a novel 'two-stage' approach for developing new energy technologies that can help society reduce dangerous greenhouse gas emissions. The plan includes the creation of an independent Federal Carbon Sequestration Commission to make recommendations for future regulations.
The DRD theory presents a guide for designing multi-valued computers by combining operation-basic-units (OBUs). This allows for the implementation of n-valued LUs with only realizing n×n×(n-1) OBUs. The theory also simplifies software algorithm design and reduces complexity, enabling the creation of new types of computers.
Researchers have synthesized RNA enzymes that can replicate themselves without proteins, a breakthrough in understanding the origins of life. The system, which involves two enzymes that assemble each other, has been shown to sustain molecular information and give rise to variations through Darwinian evolution.