A recent hypothesis suggests that humans are losing intellectual and emotional capabilities due to the susceptibility of genes involved in brain function to mutations. The author estimates that within 3000 years, we have sustained two or more harmful mutations affecting our stability.
The University of Nottingham has been awarded £2.9m to develop low-carbon fuel and address global challenges through synthetic biology. Researchers aim to convert carbon monoxide into useful chemicals and fuels without competing with food resources.
A team of researchers discovered genetic evidence of blending between Europeans and Asians in ancient Scythian warriors living in the Altai Mountains of Mongolia. The study reveals that local Central Asian populations blended with European lineages due to technological advancements from the Scythian culture.
A large community-based cohort study found that fasting duration showed little association with lipid subclass levels, including total cholesterol and HDL. The authors conclude that fasting for routine lipid level determinations is largely unnecessary.
A study of 1,268 elderly patients receiving home healthcare found that social environmental factors, particularly informal care provided by family members or caregivers, contribute to the risk of repeated hospital admissions. Patients with good social support are more likely to maintain their functional ability and remain at home.
Researchers have discovered six major earthquakes above 7 magnitude on the Alhama de Murcia fault, revealing 'convincing evidence' of higher maximum earthquake magnitudes than previously thought. The study provides a detailed paleoseismic record of the fault's activity over hundreds of thousands of years.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have made significant progress in fabricating advanced nanomaterials with improved properties. The controlled assembly of nanostructures enables the creation of self-assembled films with novel and unprecedented properties suitable for various electrical and electronic applications.
A study led by the University of Michigan found that doctors tend to spend excessive time on early cases and rush at the end of the list, leading to miscommunication and preventable medical errors. Researchers suggest prioritizing handoff conversations for the sickest patients first to improve patient care and reduce errors.
A study by Pitt researcher Samuel King found that students relying on calculators to solve mathematical problems often lack a deeper understanding of the underlying concepts. The research suggests that using calculators as a substitute for mathematical thinking can lead to surface-level learning, rather than true comprehension.
A new Northwestern University study reveals that introducing a novel word for an impending event enhances infants' tendency to imitate unconventional behavior. Infants as young as 14 months old coordinate their insights about human behavior and language to discover which actions are worth imitating.
A University of Michigan study found that 115,000 women lose their private health insurance every year after divorce, leading to depression for more than two years. Women in moderate-income families face the greatest loss of insurance coverage, while full-time work and education can serve as buffers against losing health insurance.
A new study by Rice University sociologists reveals that children living in poorer neighborhoods are nearly 30% more likely to be obese than those in more affluent areas. The research found that neighborhood poverty and lower education levels are associated with increased child obesity risk, while a higher proportion of foreign-born re...
A study of ER docs and pediatricians found a need for concussion-specific training and infrastructure to support optimal patient care. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia created a new 'medical home' model for managing pediatric concussions, incorporating standardized clinical decision support tools and patient education.
A majority of smoking parents admitted exposing their children to tobacco smoke in their cars, highlighting the need for stricter smoke-free policies for families. Pediatricians should counsel parents on creating a no-smoking policy in the car to reduce children's exposure to tobacco smoke.
Researchers at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center discovered that high levels of interleukin-15 can cause large granular lymphocytic leukemia, a rare and usually fatal form of cancer. The study led to the development of a treatment with no discernible side effects.
A recent study has identified a fusion gene responsible for almost 30% of a rare subtype of childhood leukemia with an extremely poor prognosis. The finding offers new insights into the disease and paves the way for more effective therapeutic interventions.
Researchers found that L-DOPA can compensate for lost dopamine in motor pathways, improving symptoms. However, it also increased dopamine in reward pathways, which may have unanticipated effects on emotion and attention.
Students Sangkyun Cho, Jay Hyug Choi and Victor Hyun Oh developed a plan to convert farm waste into paper for under-equipped schools in developing nations. Their design uses no electricity and can be built by impoverished villagers, addressing the lack of basic supplies like paper.
Researchers designed an experiment to replicate natural erosion, finding that water flow acts as a shearing force against objects, shaping them into unique forms. The study's findings suggest that water works as a sculptor to naturally mold materials into new shapes.
A new study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that homes with more housing quality code violations were less likely to have a working smoke alarm and safe hot water temperatures. The study, which surveyed low-income families in Baltimore, highlights the importance of improving home safety measures to reduce burn injuries among children.
The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America proposes guidelines to minimize the risk of infection from contaminated ultrasound gel. The guidelines suggest using sterile, single-dose ultrasound gel in invasive procedures involving non-intact skin or fresh surgical wounds.
Research on emerging tick-borne diseases reveals an expanding list of illnesses, including babesiosis and encephalitis-causing infections. The range of these diseases is growing, posing a threat to human health in the northeast United States.
Researchers investigated intravaginal immunization and its potential to enhance local immune systems against sexually-transmitted diseases. Additionally, a study on HERV-targeted immune responses found that targeting cellular immune responses could eliminate HIV-infected cells.
A new study refutes the notion that frequent headaches in children are often caused by vision or eye problems. In fact, researchers found no significant correlation between headaches and the need for vision correction. Most children's headaches improved on their own over time, regardless of whether they received new glasses.
A new study published in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery found that wearing helmets significantly reduces head injuries and saves lives among skiers and snowboarders. The research suggests that helmet use does not increase the risk of injury, contradicting long-held myths.
A recent study found that individuals with alexithymia often experience loneliness and difficulty communicating intimately in their marriages. People with this condition tend to struggle with emotional regulation, leading to lower marital quality.
A study by Oregon State University researcher Michelle Barnhart found that society devalues old age, leading to negative stereotypes and conflicts. Elderly consumers use various strategies to negotiate their identity with others, including verbal arguments or independent activities.
George Washington University has received a $2.3 million contract to assess the baseline characteristics and outcomes of training medical residents in community-based settings. The goal is to strengthen primary care workforce access, particularly for people living in underserved neighborhoods.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University and the University of North Carolina discovered a way to create a safer live vaccine for SARS and novel coronaviruses by disabling the ExoN proofreading protein. The new approach accelerates viral mutation, crippling its ability to cause disease in animals.
Scientists at Vienna University of Technology propose a new measuring method using the forward calorimeter at CERN, enabling the creation of the world's most precise stopwatch for light pulses. This could revolutionize quark-gluon plasma physics and open up new avenues for nuclear research.
A team of researchers found that tumour cells form alliances with surrounding healthy cells, called stroma, to colonize other organs during metastasis. This discovery could lead to a test to predict relapse and tailored treatment regimes for patients.
A study found that US women who can produce the compound equol experience larger reductions in menopausal vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flashes, when consuming more soy. Equol has been linked to reduced symptoms in Japanese women and postmenopausal women taking supplements containing it.
A mathematical model analyzes the impact of disease, animal migrations, and Allee effects on biodiversity. The study finds that population extinction is possible even when a healthy population is subject to small perturbations, highlighting the importance of considering global survival in ecosystem resilience.
Archaeologists uncover unique sacred compound at Tel Beth-Shemesh, shedding light on early power struggles between Philistines and local populations. The site's desecration suggests a deliberate attempt to erase a sacred site by the invading Philistines.
A new study calls for a global system to monitor infectious diseases in companion dogs and cats, which can transmit zoonotic diseases to humans. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association recommends a coordinated global disease monitoring system for veterinarians working with small companion animals.
A national study found that high school field hockey players competing in states with mandated protective eyewear have significantly lower rates of head, eye, and facial injuries compared to those without mandates. Protective eyewear was shown to virtually eliminate injuries to the eye orbits, eyeballs, eyebrows, and eyelids.
The UK has launched a new Enterprise Research Centre to study factors affecting business investment, performance and growth in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The centre will provide evidence for policymakers and SME managers to make informed decisions for growth.
A new framework developed by researchers at the University of Minnesota provides a tool for assessing and valuing the services clean water provides, including recreation, beauty, navigation, and hydropower. The framework can be applied to on-the-ground decisions around water issues, yielding a more accurate picture of costs and benefits.
A novel microchip device, inspired by sea creatures' long appendages, can detect and capture rare cancer cells from whole blood patient samples. The device's three-dimensional DNA network targets specific molecules, allowing for efficient cell capture and high purity.
A new study published by the American Academy of Neurology reveals a significant link between head injuries and pesticide exposure to an increased risk of Parkinson's disease. People with Parkinson's were found to be three times more likely to have had a head injury and exposure to paraquat, a common herbicide.
Patients with mental illness experience shorter waits for assessment and admission during crowded periods, but still face delays compared to other patients. The presence of psychiatric teams may help identify higher priority cases.
A study found that most patients believe healthcare workers should wash their hands before and after patient care, but only a minority feel comfortable asking them to do so. The study suggests that patient empowerment is key to improving hand hygiene behaviors among healthcare workers.
Researchers found that prophylactic use of probiotics significantly reduces the incidence of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) in adults and children taking antibiotics. In contrast, epidural corticosteroid injections offer only short-term relief from sciatica pain and disability for patients with this condition.
Kent Campbell, PATH's Malaria Control Program director, received the LePrince Medal for his work on controlling malaria in Africa. Through his leadership, more than one million child deaths have been prevented, and Zambia became the first country to achieve high coverage with malaria control tools.
A hospital in Roanoke, VA established a treatment protocol for dozens of patients with suspected fungal meningitis, using IV voriconazole and amphotericin-B. The clinical course and long-term neurological consequences are still being studied.
Researchers at McGill University have identified a new hereditary form of hypothyroidism caused by mutations in the immunoglobulin superfamily, member 1 (IGSF1) gene. This sex-biased condition affects males more frequently than females and has significant implications for thyroid hormone deficiency diagnosis and treatment.
A large-scale genome-wide association study found three genetic regions associated with lung cancer risk in Asian female never-smokers. The discovery provides evidence that common inherited genetic variants contribute to an increased risk of lung cancer among this population.
A study of 57 children and their families found that early life stress may sensitize girls' brains for later anxiety, with higher cortisol levels and reduced communication between brain areas associated with emotion regulation. The findings suggest a developmental pathway through which early stress may drive these changes.
Scientists have discovered a new method for identifying genes in animals, which could increase genetic information by 70-80%. This technique allows for direct observation of genes and proteins, enabling more efficient study of animal diseases and viruses.
A CSHL-led team has identified a novel gene, TERMINATING FLOWER (TMF), regulating the timing of flowering in plants. This discovery reveals a previously unknown pathway involved in the process, allowing plants to control flower production and increase agricultural yields.
A recent study found that individuals with glaucoma are at a higher risk of being involved in accidents due to their limited peripheral vision. The research recommends mandatory visual field testing for drivers to ensure road safety.
A study by University of Hawaii researchers found that future sea level rise will double previous predictions of flooding, with low-lying coastal areas vulnerable to 'groundwater inundation.' Groundwater levels near the surface threaten coastal communities more than previously thought.
Two studies highlight the strong indicators of vision problems in veterans with traumatic brain injury and stress disorder, including chronic vision disorders and dry eye syndrome. The studies found that these conditions can persist for years after the initial injury and may be more prevalent than previously recognized.
A team of researchers has identified two genetic factors behind facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a rare form of inherited muscular dystrophy. The study found that a combination of genetic variants on chromosomes 4 and 18 cause the production of muscle-damaging toxins, leading to symptoms of the disease.
Research shows socially isolated animals produce less myelin in the prefrontal cortex, a region responsible for emotional and cognitive behavior. The study also found that social isolation disrupts oligodendrocyte cell development, leading to changes in gene transcription.
A new study by Columbia University researchers identifies two genetic networks affected in schizophrenia, which also show a connection to autism. The analysis reveals that many genes mutated in schizophrenia are organized into these networks, involved in processes like axon guidance and chromosomal modification.
Researchers identified a new mechanism allowing the toxic DUX4 protein to be produced in skeletal muscle, causing progressive muscle weakness. Mutations in the SMCHD1 gene cause chromatin relaxation, leading to DUX4 production.
A new report provides guidance on family involvement in serious case reviews following a child's death or serious injury due to abuse or neglect. The research explores personal experiences of professionals and families, making recommendations for best practice.
Researchers highlight underestimation of climate change's impact on cultural life, emphasizing importance of considering emotional well-being and community attachment in policy responses. The study shows that ignoring cultural factors can lead to ineffective responses and catastrophic consequences.
Scientists have found that Antarctic sea ice cover has increased, but with regional gains and losses offsetting each other. The changes are attributed to wind-driven changes in the Antarctic region, which affects both ice drift and air temperature.