Researchers found that closely related species respond similarly to noise by tweaking their songs in different ways, with plumbeous vireos raising the pitch of their lowest note and grey vireos adjusting the highest part of their song. The study provides insight into how birds cope with increasing noise levels in their environments.
Researchers have identified a master gene controlling lysosome and autophagosome function, shedding light on rare genetic diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. The discovery may lead to new therapeutic approaches for inherited conditions like Tay-Sachs and Alzheimer's disease.
A new study found that folic acid supplements given to mother rats significantly protect their offspring from developing colorectal cancer. The research suggests that folic acid may have different effects on cancer development in different organs, and more studies are needed.
A study found that RA patients had lower seroprotection rates and seroconversion rates compared to healthy individuals after receiving the H1N1 vaccine. This highlights the need for specific immunization strategies for patients with rheumatoid arthritis in future flu pandemics.
A new study published in Annals of Neurology found that residents of the Stroke Belt, a southern region of the US, have a higher incidence of cognitive decline than other regions. The research team believes shared risk factors are to blame and suggests investigating regional patterns contributing to modifiable risk factors.
A new study developed by McGill Professor Roussos Dimitrakopoulos has created more accurate mine planning models that take into account uncertainty in the supply of minerals. This results in higher return on investment for mining companies while increasing metal production from the same asset.
A new UCLA study reveals that individuals with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) exhibit abnormal brain activity when processing holistic visual elements, such as the overall shape of an object. This finding suggests that BDD patients have general abnormalities in visual processing, which may contribute to the development of the disorder.
Researchers found that a specific section of the AKAP12 gene responds to retinoid treatment, reducing vascular cell growth. The study suggests that this gene could be a target for treating vascular diseases and potentially other cancers.
A Kaiser Permanente study found that women's risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can be identified up to seven years before pregnancy based on routine measures of blood sugar and body weight. The study revealed a strong correlation between adverse cardio-metabolic risk factors, including high blood sugar, hypertension, and bein...
Neurologix presents 1-year data from its Phase 2 study of NLX-P101, a gene therapy for Parkinson's disease, showing sustained improvements in motor symptoms. Patients treated with NLX-P101 experienced highly clinically meaningful symptom improvements, with a mean 37% improvement after one year.
A University of Toronto study found that formerly depressed patients' brain activity responses to sadness can predict future depression relapse. The research suggests that a frontal brain region's analysis and interpretation of sadness may perpetuate depression.
Austrian researchers have successfully implemented an algorithm for error correction in a quantum processor, enabling repetitive corrections. This achievement is a significant milestone towards developing practical quantum computers.
Research suggests that implementing landfill gas-recovery projects quickly can maximize methane gas retrieval from organic waste. Landfill gas (LFG) has the potential to be used as an alternative fuel, with half the caloric value of natural gas.
A two-year study reveals the daily habits of feral and free-roaming house cats, with some having surprisingly large territories. The owned cats had significantly smaller territories and were less active than the un-owned cats, which had to search harder for food to survive.
A UNC laboratory study shows that Tacrolimus, a commonly used organ transplant rejection medication, inhibits breast cancer growth by over 70 percent in pre-clinical studies. The drug works by blocking new blood vessel growth to tumors, a therapeutic strategy to inhibit tumor growth.
Researchers found that combined exposure to the three chemicals increases the risk of Parkinson's disease threefold. People who live and work near fields sprayed with these pesticides experience the greatest increase in risk.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that our brain uses multiple senses to understand spatial awareness, challenging the long-held assumption that sight is the primary trigger. The study's findings suggest that technologies can be developed to help the visually impaired through tactile means.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have discovered that parts of the moon's interior contain as much water as the Earth's upper mantle. The presence of this water challenges the current theory of the moon's formation and strengthens the idea that the moon and Earth share a common origin.
A team of scientists from Brown University has detected an Earth-equivalent amount of water within the moon, rivaling the amount found in the Earth's upper mantle. The discovery was made through measurements of lunar melt inclusions and suggests that the Moon's formation theory may need to be reevaluated.
The study, published by Professor Bernard Schutz, demonstrates that an additional detector would more than double the detection rate of gravitational waves. The new network could detect around 370 events per year, increasing to 500 events after a few years of operation.
Research suggests that the Antarctic Circumpolar Current played a key role in the onset of ancient global cooling, with evidence pointing to its impact around 30 million years ago. This finding is significant as it places the development of the current's shallow circulation in the same interval when the climate began its long-term shif...
Scientists have discovered magma trapped within lunar crystals contain 100 times more water than earlier measurements, changing the prevailing theory about the Moon's origin. The findings could also shed light on the origin of water ice detected in craters at the lunar poles.
A new international study found that countries like Japan, Korea, and Singapore have strong social norms and low tolerance for deviation, while nations like Ukraine, Israel, and the US have weak social norms and high tolerance. Understanding these cultural differences can foster greater cross-cultural tolerance and understanding.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine successfully converted human skin cells into functional neurons in a period of four to five weeks. Adding a fourth transcription factor called NeuroD proved crucial for the transformation, generating electrical activity and integrating with mouse neurons.
A new study by Hagen Scherb and Kristina Voigt found a significant gender gap in human populations exposed to nuclear radiation, with increases in male births relative to female births. The study reveals a long-term, dose-dependent impact of radiation exposure on human sex odds.
Research suggests that aging lung cells are more susceptible to infection by pneumonia-causing bacteria, increasing the risk of community-acquired pneumonia. Controlling inflammation may hold the key to preventing this deadly disease in the elderly.
Researchers found that cancer cells induce oxidative stress in normal connective tissue to extract vital nutrients, accelerating aging and inflammation. This process can identify breast cancer patients at risk of metastasis and offers a potential therapeutic target via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drugs.
A CU-Boulder team will participate in the OSIRIS-REx mission, which aims to map and collect samples from a primitive asteroid. The mission is expected to provide insights into the formation of the solar system and potentially shed light on the origins of life.
Research published in Science finds that early ACC development impacted global climate, causing significant temperature differences between the equator and Antarctica. The study suggests that the ACC's formation led to the modern ocean structure and heat distribution system.
A pan-European study found gout prevalence highest in the UK and lowest in France, with lower quality of life scores and more comorbidities. New treatments like pegloticase demonstrated long-term efficacy and safety, with up to 90% complete resolution of tophi and improved patient-reported outcomes.
A research team at Arizona State University has developed a process that reprograms photosynthetic microbes to secrete high-energy fats, eliminating the need for costly additional processing steps. This breakthrough could make renewable biofuels more commercially viable.
Researchers have discovered the genetic basis for a key parasite function in malaria, revealing that parasites create feeding ion channels in blood cells using two distinct genes. This finding opens up new research directions, including the development of antimalarial drugs targeting these channels.
Research found that caffeine inhibits specialized pacemaker cells in the Fallopian tubes, which coordinate muscle contractions and egg movement. This discovery provides a possible explanation for why women with high caffeine consumption take longer to conceive.
A study of 1,030 patients with celiac disease found they were 4.5 times more likely to develop osteoporosis compared to healthy individuals. The bone mineral density loss was significantly pronounced in the lumbar spine but not the femoral neck.
The University of Nottingham's YouTube sensation, The Periodic Table of Videos (PTOV), has gained a global audience of over 15 million. PTOV's creators reveal their secret to internet success by embracing spontaneity and humanizing scientists.
The National Institutes of Health stopped a clinical trial studying the combination of high-dose niacin and statin treatment after 18 months, finding it did not reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. The trial involved 3,414 participants with heart disease and low HDL cholesterol, who were assigned to receive either high-dose niacin...
A study from Romania highlights the importance of traditional agriculture in protecting amphibians, finding that roads have a direct and indirect negative impact on their populations. Preserving traditional agricultural practices could be key to protecting these species in Central and Eastern Europe.
A study found that patients with Sjögren's syndrome are more likely to experience difficulty identifying and describing emotions (alexithymia), which is associated with poorer mental wellbeing. The inability to cry may also contribute to this issue, as patients rely on words and facial expressions instead of tears.
Researchers discovered that cancerous cells quickly divide after receiving a growth factor signal because their p53 gene is defective. Healthy cells, on the other hand, wait eight continuous hours before dividing to ensure they receive necessary signals.
A new sustainable aviation fuels industry in Australia and New Zealand could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17% and generate over 12,000 jobs. The CSIRO report predicts a reduction in Australia's reliance on imported fossil fuel by $2 billion per annum.
A new study from the University of Michigan found that MLB teams that spend more on superstar players tend to win fewer games. The research suggests that if a team wants to maximize profits, it should prioritize paying a few high-caliber players, while prioritizing wins requires a more balanced player distribution.
Researchers found that freshwater from melting ice sheets can weaken climate-controlling ocean currents, leading to dramatic climate change. The study's results suggest a future ice sheet collapse would have significant climatic consequences.
The study reveals South Georgia's unparalleled biodiversity, with over 1445 species recorded from 17,000 specimens. The region's near-surface waters are experiencing rapid warming, making conservation efforts crucial to monitor future changes and protect this unique ecosystem.
A team at the University of Pittsburgh has created living models of brain cells that can transmit electrical impulses and remain active for extended periods, providing a new view on memory formation. This work reveals the intricate connections between neurons and offers insights into the cellular mechanisms underlying memory creation.
A €6m European Commission grant will fund clinical trials of NILVADIPINE, a medication already used to treat high blood pressure, in treating Alzheimer's disease. The trials aim to improve memory and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Rice University is hosting 25-30 Japanese students for a summer research program amid the country's recovery from the March 11 earthquake and tsunamis. The Reverse NanoJapan program offers labs in Japan the opportunity to send students to Rice for three months.
Researchers at the Smithsonian Institution have found that whale sharks can be gregarious and gather in large numbers to feed on dense patches of fish eggs. The team's DNA barcoding analysis revealed a previously unknown spawning ground for little tunny, a member of the mackerel family.
A recent study by McGill biologist Jonathan Davies and colleagues suggests that the criteria for assessing risk of extinction in plants should be revised. The researchers found that species with small population sizes, even if not limited to a specific geographical range, can also be at high risk of extinction due to their youth.
Researchers discovered that caspase-8, an enzyme previously thought to only prevent inflammation through apoptosis, can also control inflammation by destroying a protein called RIP1. This new mechanism could lead to the development of effective therapies for inflammatory disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
Increasing ocean acidity poses significant threats to northern abalone populations, with exposure to higher CO2 levels killing 40% of larvae and reducing their size. This could limit population growth and have cascading effects on coastal ecosystems.
Kai Germaschewski, a UNH assistant professor, received a $750,000 grant to develop more refined models of fusion plasmas. His work aims to enhance understanding of the state of plasma and its effects in high-temperature experiments.
Researchers at USC are creating a high-tech navigation system to help the visually impaired, including a guide vest that provides tactile messages to alert users about objects in their path. The system uses cameras and SLAM software to build maps of the environment, enabling users to avoid falls and injuries.
Scientists have discovered a giant fossilized anomalocaridid, a marine predator that existed for 30 million years longer than previously thought. The new findings shed light on the biodiversity and ecology of marine communities during the Ordovician period.
A new UCLA study has identified a common cause for the multifaceted disease, pointing to a specific molecular signature that can help researchers identify its diverse causes. The discovery provides insight into how genes and proteins go awry in autism, altering the mind.
A new nerve-stimulation treatment called Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (TNS) has shown promise in controlling seizures in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. In a Phase 2 clinical trial, 40% of patients experienced a significant reduction in seizure frequency, with some also experiencing improved mood.
The company aims to develop third-generation organic solar cells using sustainable materials and flexible sheets. The new technology has the potential to provide low-cost, lightweight, and efficient solar-powered solutions for various applications.
A Yale University study found that monkeys can imagine different outcomes, a process linked to the brain's prefrontal cortex. This discovery may help researchers develop treatments for diseases such as depression and schizophrenia, which often involve obsessive thoughts about past choices.
The National Institutes of Health has signed a research and development agreement with two non-profit organizations to develop potential clinical therapies for rare blood cancers. The collaboration aims to bridge the gap between basic research and human testing, with the goal of accelerating the delivery of improved therapies to patients.
The OSIRIS-REx mission will explore the asteroid 1999 RQ36 for over a year, collecting pristine organic material that may have seeded life on Earth. The returned samples will provide geologic context essential to expanding our understanding of the solar system and likely organic molecules.
Blind individuals who have learned to echolocate use the 'visual' part of their brain to process clicks and echoes, allowing them to sense their surroundings and perform tasks like mountain biking and basketball. This study provides insight into the neural basis of natural human echolocation in blind experts.