A new landmark study confirms that diverse ecosystems perform more ecological functions and are vital for carbon sequestration and soil health. Dryland ecosystems covering 40% of the Earth's land surface support 40% of its people, making them particularly vulnerable to environmental changes.
NASA's Aqua and TRMM satellites provided critical data on Tropical Storm Heidi's temperature, cloud heights and rainfall, enabling forecasters to predict its strengthening before landfall. The data revealed warm sea surface temperatures, intensifying rainfall, and high cloud heights, all indicative of a tropical storm gaining strength.
A Rice University-led team discovered a one-step chemical process to create graphene quantum dots from carbon fiber. The sub-5 nanometer carbon-based quantum dots are highly soluble and have controllable size, with potential for biomedical imaging, protein analysis, and cell tracking.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new technique for nanoscale thermal analysis, enabling rapid measurements on stiff materials. This method uses magnetic actuation to modulate the tip-sample force near the atomic scale.
The University of California, Santa Cruz and the University of Washington have developed an open-source robotic surgery system, Raven II, which will be shared with top medical research laboratories across the US. The systems enable collaborative experiments and faster advancements in the field.
Researchers identified 56 genes associated with inflammation and lipid metabolism to detect atherosclerosis. The biomarker test uses a blood sample and can predict the risk of silent atherosclerosis in clinical practice.
A third of car fuel consumption is due to friction loss, which can be reduced with new technologies like surface coatings, lubricant additives, and low-friction tyres. By reducing friction, drivers can save up to 18% fuel consumption within 5-10 years, and carbon dioxide emissions could decrease by 290 million tonnes per year.
The new data set contains the brightness histories of two hundred million stars and other objects, incorporating over 20 billion independent measurements. This extensive dataset enables numerous studies by the astronomical community.
A study led by Dr. Russell R. Russo identified a new source of necrotizing fasciitis from intramuscular injection of 'bath salts.' The researchers treated a patient who developed rapidly progressing redness, skin sloughing, and drainage after injecting the street drug.
Researchers from Boston College have discovered a protein called DOC2.1 that plays a pivotal role in the progression of toxoplasmosis and malaria. The team found that the function of this protein could be genetically blocked, potentially leading to the development of new drugs that target it.
A prototype water purification reactor containing a thin film of titanium dioxide demonstrates enhanced natural disinfection properties. The device can kill pathogens up to 10 times more effectively than conventional solar disinfection methods, making it suitable for countries with sunny climates and scarce resources.
A new study will assess the views and experiences of children with neurodisability and their families to measure the outcomes of NHS care. The CHUMS project aims to gather insights into patient-reported outcome measures for disabled children and young people.
Researchers at University of Illinois have demonstrated the use of arrays of gold Bowtie Nanoantenna Arrays for multipurpose optical trapping and manipulation of submicrometer- to micrometer-sized objects. This enables highly efficient, optical tweezers with low-input power densities, useful for optofluidic applications and manipulatin...
Researchers have identified a human receptor that can taste fat, suggesting individual variability in sensing fat's presence. People with a specific genetic variant of the CD36 gene are more sensitive to fat, making it easier to detect.
Researchers found that fungi can transform lead into pyromorphite, a more stable mineral form, which could be useful for cleaning up lead-polluted sites. The discovery suggests that introducing fungi may be a viable treatment option for containing lead in contaminated soils.
Researchers identify genetic alterations in T-ALL that work together to cause the devastating childhood cancer, providing new potential treatment strategies. The study reveals a dynamic interplay between Notch and PRC2 function, showing how deregulation of PRC2 fuels the development of T-ALL.
Researchers argue that most charter school studies use unsophisticated methods, failing to account for differences in student backgrounds and academic histories. Lottery-based studies suggest charters perform as well as traditional public schools, but these findings are limited by low representation rates. Value-added research is propo...
A Northwestern University study shows that India's affirmative action law for village councils has a positive impact on young women's aspirations and behavior. The law gave girls direct role models, leading to increased attendance at school and reduced household chores, as well as improved attitudes toward higher education goals.
Dr. Philipp Scherer's groundbreaking research on adiponectin, a protein that declines with weight gain, has potential as a good predictor of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer risk. His work also highlights the importance of understanding fat cells' role in body energy homeostasis.
Researchers at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases have developed a novel approach to view the inner structures of viruses, known as bubblegram imaging. This technique allows for the visualization of previously invisible proteins within viruses.
Researchers developed a rapid test using mass spectrometry to identify Staphylococcus aureus, the bacterium causing staph infections. The test can detect low concentrations of bacteria in just a few hours, reducing manual labor and subjective interpretation.
A team of Caltech researchers has developed a method for synthesizing nitrogen-containing heterocycles, a subclass of organic compounds that could lead to new pharmaceuticals and natural products. The reaction enables chemists to create complex structures with high selectivity, solving a long-standing challenge in medicinal chemistry.
Researchers discovered over 5000 conserved CTCF binding sites across six mammalian species, indicating a key role in gene regulation. These sites are embedded inside retro-transposons and have remained unchanged over hundreds of millions of years.
A study from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management found that when men perceive women as scarce, they become more impulsive, save less, and increase borrowing. This effect is seen in both laboratory experiments and archival data from over 120 US cities.
Physicists at Duke University used supercomputers to simulate an ultra-cold atom and split a virtual electron in half, creating two particles with half the negative charge. This discovery provides clues about the behavior of fundamental particles and challenges traditional notions of particle indivisibility.
A research team has identified the genes and proteins that damage muscle cells in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a common form of inherited muscular dystrophy. The discovery could lead to a biomarker-based test for diagnosis, as well as future treatments.
A recent study published in Food and Chemical Toxicology found that chlorophyll can protect against cancer when exposed to moderate levels of carcinogens, reducing liver and stomach tumors by 29-64% and 24-45%, respectively. However, high doses of chlorophyll increased tumor growth, questioning traditional lab research methods.
Wandering albatrosses have adapted to changing wind conditions, resulting in improved breeding success and increased body mass. However, future climate scenarios predict that these changes may not last, threatening the species' survival.
The University of Illinois has created a reactive silver ink that can print small, high-performance electronics on flexible plastics, papers, or fabrics without the need for metal particles. The ink is faster to make, more stable, and suitable for smaller nozzles, making it ideal for printed microelectronics.
A new anthrax capsule vaccine protects monkeys from lethal infection, offering a non-toxin alternative to current vaccines. The vaccine works by inducing anti-capsule antibody responses and is expected to be effective against vaccine-resistant strains of anthrax.
A new study by Johns Hopkins researchers reveals that thousands of senior citizens with kidney disease are good candidates for transplants, but are often overlooked. The study estimates that between 9,000 and 40,000 adults over 65 would have been eligible for a transplant, but none were given the chance.
The Mission-Focused Autonomy (MFA) program utilizes collaborative tools to share information from government databases, supporting law enforcement efforts on foreign nationals intent on harming national security. MFA speeds up decision-making by providing timely and accurate information, enabling more effective allocation of assets.
A multinational study found that viral load is the single most important factor influencing risk of sexual transmission to an uninfected partner. Condom use significantly reduces risk of HIV infection and lowers viral loads to help prevent spread.
A study published in Free Radical Biology and Medicine suggests that grapes can provide more antioxidant protection for the eyes than lutein, a common supplement. Grapes were found to offer dramatic protection against oxidative damage of the retina and prevent blindness in mice consuming them.
A new Queensland University of Technology (QUT) research project will develop storage and demand management systems to ensure renewable electricity can be better stored during low usage times for use in peak periods. This will help cut down the amount of fossil generation needed as a back-up, benefiting all electricity users.
Researchers have developed targeted, fluorescent molecular imaging probes that can non-invasively detect breast cancer lymph node metastases, improving breast cancer staging and prognosis. CAIX and CAXII cell surface markers are highly expressed in breast cancer lymph node metastases.
Researchers at La Jolla Institute identified specific T cells that trigger type 1 diabetes in humans for the first time in human tissues. The study provides a crucial step in interrupting the disease process and highlights CD8 T cells as key players.
A new study found that warmer temperatures in the autumn can lead to colder winters due to increased snowfall at lower latitudes. The researchers observed strong warming in the Arctic during July-September and its impact on precipitation over Eurasia, resulting in an increase in average snow coverage.
NASA's GPM Cold-season Precipitation Experiment will measure light rain and snow in Ontario from Jan. 17 to Feb. 29 using an airborne science laboratory, simulating the measurements to be taken by the planned GPM Core satellite in 2014.
Researchers discovered African bats have antibodies that can neutralise deadly viruses known in Australia and Asia. This finding provides valuable insights for understanding how viruses persist in bat populations.
A global analysis finds that over half the world's poorest people benefit from ecosystem services in areas prioritized for conservation. Ensuring fair payments to conservation stewards could increase benefits by 50% and amount to $1 per person per day for 330 million people.
Michael Deem, a computational theorist, is being honored with the engineering award for fundamental theoretical work on vaccine design, mathematical biology, and nanoporous materials structure. His research has led to breakthroughs in understanding immunology, evolution, and materials science.
The AuthenticFood project aims to develop reliable analysis methods to determine a food product's geographical origin and organic status. By analyzing the chemical composition of fruits and vegetables, researchers can trace differences between conventional and organic growing methods.
Researchers have developed 'smart' injectable nanotherapeutics that can selectively deliver drugs to the cells of the pancreas, increasing therapeutic efficacy by 200-fold and reducing toxic side effects. This technology has the potential to revolutionize treatment for Type I diabetes.
A recent study found that a large fraction of planets have orbital distances between 0.5 and 10 sun-Earth distances, challenging the previous assumption that most extrasolar planets were gas giants closer to their stars.
A NASA study led by Drew Shindell suggests that implementing 14 key air pollution control measures could slow global warming, improve health outcomes, and increase agricultural production. The measures focus on reducing black carbon and methane emissions, which have significant impacts on climate change and human health.
Researchers used mathematics and engineering to study 19 species of Conus sea snails, generating a model that estimates ancestral shell pigmentation patterns and identifies rapidly evolving parameters. The study provides an indirect way to study the evolution of simple nervous systems.
A study by Italian researchers found that people who are well-informed about health through mass media are more likely to stick to the Mediterranean diet, a healthy eating pattern. The study analyzed data from over 1,000 participants and found that those with higher exposure to mass media information reported better eating habits.
A new study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln found that employees who imagine positive, resourceful co-workers are more productive in reality. The study used projective storytelling to assess participants' perceptions of their imaginary colleagues and predicted real-life work outcomes with high accuracy.
Researchers analyzed Mayan containers for nicotine traces, revealing physical evidence of tobacco use dating back to the Late Classic Maya period (600-900 AD). The study confirms the intended use of an ancient container and highlights the importance of mass spectrometry in analyzing organic residues.
Researchers at Purdue University have found a link between honeybee deaths and exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides used on corn and soybean seeds. High levels of these pesticides were detected in talc waste, soil, and pollen collected by bees, suggesting that they may be contributing to bee deaths.
Researchers identified a series of synthetic compounds that interfere with the self-assembly of amyloid beta peptides, satisfying an initial condition for Alzheimer's treatment. Disordered peptide structure controls interactions with active compounds.
Researchers from IBM and CFEL built a nanometre data storage unit with 96 atoms, storing a byte in as few as 8 pairs of atom rows. The device uses antiferromagnetism to pack bits closer together, enabling higher storage density.
Paul Alivisatos, Berkeley Lab director, has won the Wolf Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering work on nanochemistry and artificial nanostructures. He shares the award with Charles Lieber of Harvard University, both recognized authorities on nanoscience and quantum dot technology.
Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston identified key molecular mechanisms by which implanted human neural stem cells aid recovery from traumatic axonal injury. The study found that stem cell transplantation prevents further axonal injury and promotes axonal regrowth through the secretion of glial derived ne...
This special issue of Ergonomics in Design highlights the challenges of balancing economic pressures with human attention limits. The articles explore techniques to prevent or mitigate driver distraction through design, education, and legislation, as well as strategies for outreach and policy development.
A new study by Rice sociologists finds that racial discrimination is associated with higher levels of emotional upset and physical symptoms among black adults (18%), compared to white adults (4%). The research highlights the need to acknowledge and study the impact of discriminatory behavior on long-term health outcomes.
Scientists create technique for tagging objects and substances using stable isotopes, enabling detection of explosives and tracking wild fish and farm-raised trout. The method has potential applications in preventing fraud, counterfeiting, and monitoring populations.
A systematic review found that 37% of babies with complications suffer long-term developmental consequences, while 18% experience severe impairments. The study highlights the need for improved neonatal care and resources for follow-up and rehabilitation services.
Scientists have detected Criegee biradicals, which react rapidly to form aerosols and clouds that can cool the planet. The discovery has significant implications for pollution and climate change, suggesting a natural mechanism for offsetting warming.
New research shows deaf people are quicker at recognizing and interpreting body language than hearing non-signers. This ability may be due to the daily use of sign language, which enhances their visual system's processing capabilities.
Researchers at Linköping University found that hydrogen renders graphene more useful by making its atomic van der Waals forces repulsive, allowing sheets to float freely apart. This discovery has several potential applications, including storage of hydrogen as vehicle fuel and manufacture of friction-free components on a Nano scale.
A new study found that the English language is strongly biased towards being positive, with popular sources like Twitter and music lyrics showing a preponderance of happier words. The research complements a previous study on global happiness trends, suggesting short-term average happiness has dropped but the fundamental positivity of t...
Research published in the FASEB Journal reveals that intestinal microbiota play a crucial role in determining the outcome of heart attacks in rats. The study found that probiotics can tilt the scales in favor of improved cardiovascular health, reducing heart attack risk and improving recovery from myocardial infarction.
The Economic & Social Research Council announces twenty new projects to develop quantitative methods (QM) skills in social science undergraduates. The projects aim to create online and interactive teaching resources, videos, and podcasts using technology to facilitate QM curriculum development and expansion of QM teachers.
Researchers at UH Manoa have discovered a novel chemical route to form PAHs, challenging conventional wisdom that they only occur at high temperatures. The study suggests that low-temperature chemistry can initiate the synthesis of the first PAH in interstellar space.
Researchers have discovered a novel B cell that produces the growth factor GM-CSF, which stimulates other immune cells and helps protect against sepsis. The newly identified B cells, called innate response activator (IRA) B cells, may play a critical role in striking a balance between controlling infection and inflammation.
The University of Washington is providing a common, open-source platform for surgical robots to facilitate collaboration and innovation in the field. Five systems will be shipped to top universities including Harvard and Johns Hopkins, allowing researchers to share software and replicate experiments.