Scientists have created a way to produce crystalline silicon directly at just 180 F by using liquid metal, offering a more efficient and environmentally friendly process. The new method has the potential to significantly reduce production costs and make alternative semiconductors more viable for solar energy applications.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered genetic differences between men's and women's hearts, finding that women with failing hearts have weaker gene expression systems than men, while men are more susceptible to atrial fibrillation and long-QT syndrome.
The gift enables researchers to study ways to improve electrical systems using software-defined networking technology, aiming to boost efficiency and security. The laboratory will be one of the first facilities to test emerging tech in managing power distribution.
Researchers find only 1.5 million named species out of an estimated 5 million, making conservation efforts more hopeful than previously thought. Increased global involvement in taxonomy and exploration can help discover and protect species from extinction.
A study found that among individuals with diabetes, those with both diabetes and kidney disease have a mortality rate of 31.1%, compared to 11.5% for those with diabetes but without kidney disease. Preventing and treating kidney disease in diabetics may be crucial to reducing mortality risk.
Researchers found that female mice exposed to BPA through their mother's diet had increased activity and leaner body mass than those not exposed. The study contradicts previous findings on BPA's role in obesity, highlighting the importance of exposure timing and duration.
A study published in Cephalalgia found a significant correlation between lightning strikes and an increased risk of headache and migraine in chronic sufferers. The research suggests that electromagnetic waves emitted by lightning may trigger headaches, while also producing air pollutants that could lead to migraines.
Researchers found a unique social structure in a small town where males and females coexist in the same roosts. This arrangement allows females to conserve energy and ensures faster growth of their young. In contrast, lowland areas have female-only childrearing colonies.
Researchers have discovered a way to identify and explain the luminosity generated during common envelope events involving binary stars. The events result in bright red outbursts, similar to recently discovered Luminous Red Novae. Natalia Ivanova's analysis provided new insights into these celestial phenomena.
A new study by researchers at the University of Washington and in Indonesia has found that the population of critically endangered Sulawesi black macaques has stabilized over the past decade. The long-term survey, which began in 1999, shows a gradual increase in the number of groups and individuals per square kilometer, with the popula...
Research finds widening gap in obesity estimates attributed to biased self-reports of weight. Increasing bias in self-reported weight contributes to underestimation of clinically measured BMIs.
A new study using a 2,540-metre long Greenland ice core has reconstructed the island's temperature and ice sheet extent during the last interglacial period, known as the Eemian period. The research found that the warmest temperatures were about 8°C degrees warmer than average over the past 1,000 years.
Researchers at Tufts University have found that astrocytes regulate a neurotransmitter involved in sleep, which may lead to the development of effective and fast-acting antidepressant drugs. The study suggests that mimicking sleep deprivation in mice by manipulating astrocytes can rapidly improve depressive-like symptoms.
The Chromosome-Centric Human Proteome Project (C-HPP) is a 10-year effort to map and describe human proteins. The project aims to provide a full catalogue of proteins with practical applications in novel drug targets, diagnostic biomarkers, and understanding cellular regulators.
The special issue covers 17 review articles on various spintronics topics, including magneto-electronics and semiconductor spintronics. It aims to introduce the framework of spintronics and stimulate new ideas by showcasing domestic research results.
University of Alberta researchers identified 23 species of small meat-eating dinosaurs with fossilized teeth, revealing multiple short-lived species instead of a few long-lived ones. The findings suggest that these tiny predators roamed the region for distinct geographic areas and time periods.
Tropical Storm Peta formed off the coast of Port Hedland, Australia on January 22, 2013, with rain rates reaching up to 94 mm per hour. The storm strengthened into a tropical depression before making landfall and dissipating over land, weakening its structure.
A novel aptamer has been developed that specifically targets and stimulates human immune cells, significantly increasing the effectiveness of immunotherapeutic drugs. The aptamer enhances the ability of activated T cells to proliferate and produce immunostimulatory cytokines.
A new study by Cornell University sociologist Sharon Sassler found that cohabiting women tend to take on a disproportionate share of household chores, even when the women work and the men don't. Despite expecting more equal partnerships, most women retain accountability for the performance of their partners' chores.
A study found that revealing the costs of expensive medical tests like MRIs up front had no impact on the number of tests doctors ordered. Doctors have already decided they need to know the information, regardless of the cost.
Researchers at MIT have created a device that can deliver RNA, proteins and nanoparticles through cell membranes by deforming cells. The technique has shown success in delivering reprogramming proteins and generating induced pluripotent stem cells with improved efficiency compared to existing methods.
Researchers identify normalizing p62 levels in immune system cells as a strategy to clear an infection that is deadly to patients with cystic fibrosis. This approach enables the natural cellular process of autophagy, which helps digest pathogens and clear them away, thereby controlling inflammation and saving patients from death.
Researchers found that teaching high-risk adolescents how to manage their personality traits can reduce problem drinking and postpone its onset. This approach also reduces the influence of peer pressure within their social networks, creating group immunity among low-risk youth.
Researchers found a rich diversity of microbial life and chemicals in hailstones from a storm cloud, suggesting specific processes during cloud lifetime impact bacterial distribution. The study suggests that these processes could affect long-distance transport and geographical distribution of microbes on Earth.
Researchers have developed a new method to produce molecular magnets, which could lead to the creation of smaller, more efficient storage media and processors. The new system exploits the interactions between molecules and their substrate, enabling magnetic states to be selectively switched on and off using magnetic fields.
Recent immigrants to Canada often over-qualified for their jobs due to language barriers and lack of work experience. However, increased proficiency in English or French, combined with post-immigration education and training, can significantly improve job matching.
A new study found that invasive plant species decrease biodiversity at small scales due to reduced light and nutrient availability, but have minimal impact at larger scales. This scale-dependent effect can lead to conflicting results in scientific research, highlighting the importance of considering local battles against invasive species.
A new study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that targeted psychological interventions significantly reduced drinking behavior among high-risk teenagers. The 'Adventure Trial' intervention showed a 29% reduced risk of problem drinking and delayed risky drinking behavior over two years.
The system uses a novel real-time method to obtain information on road conditions, providing direct warnings to drivers before they notice changes in the road. By transmitting observations from multiple vehicles and sensors, the system can create a real-time slipperiness map, making it safer for all users.
Researchers discovered stable epigenetic marks across all metastatic tumors in each patient, defying the idea that these marks vary greatly within individuals. These consistent methylation changes appear to represent driver changes critical to cancer development and could be targets for treatment.
A cohort study found that patients admitted as emergencies on public holidays are more likely to die than those admitted on other days of the week. The death rate is significantly higher for public holiday admissions, with a 48% increase in 7-day deaths and a 27% increase in 30-day deaths.
Research shows that children's executive function and vocabulary development play a crucial role in the formation of complex thinking skills as young as age 4.5. High executive function skills at school entry are related to higher reasoning skills in adolescence.
Scientists at Michigan State University and other institutions have found that marginal lands can produce substantial amounts of cellulosic biomass, which could provide up to 215 gallons of ethanol per acre. This study provides an estimate of greenhouse gas benefits from using these lands for biofuel production.
Researchers discovered that brain connections in the vision-processing center can be strengthened by acetylcholine, allowing animals to associate visual cues with rewards. The study found that nerve cells in the primary visual cortex develop molecular memories, enabling animals to predict rewarding outcomes.
Joerg Schmiedmayer's work focuses on ultra cold atom clouds with high order, approaching a disordered thermal equilibrium. His new ERC Grant will investigate relaxation and non-equilibrium dynamics in quantum systems.
Breast cancer cells use pro-inflammatory signaling molecules to adhere to blood vessel surfaces, promoting metastasis. The Cornell researchers found that these cells are unable to interact with selectins, a key step in the process, and that inflammatory molecules enable them to adhere.
Researchers at Ohio State University developed a four-wheel independently actuated (FIWA) electric car with exceptional traction and motion control, keeping its four wheels and four motors on the road. The system enables enhanced maneuverability and control without emissions.
Research by USDA scientist Eton Codling shows that treated wastewater solids called biosolids can increase soil phosphorus levels for years. The study found that soluble phosphorus levels in biosolid-amended soils exceeded typical plant requirements after application.
A new poll from the University of Michigan found that only 35% of parents are very concerned about misuse of narcotic pain medicines by children and teens. Despite rising rates of abuse and overdoses, most parents do not support policies to discourage misuse or return unused medications.
A team of researchers from Australia and France has developed a novel manufacturing technique to create uniform silica wires through self-assembly. The technique enables the combination of silica with any material, paving the way for new applications in sensing, photovoltaics, optical switches, and photon sources.
A new study analyzing ice cores from the Greenland ice sheet found that between 130,000 and 115,000 years ago, the climate rose to about 14 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than today. This past warm period may serve as a 'road map' for future warming due to increasing greenhouse gases.
Infectious disease experts call for novel approaches to end the growing scourge of 'superbugs,' citing 2 million annual infections and 100,000 deaths. The authors recommend new strategies to prevent infections, encourage economic investment in anti-infective treatments, and alter host-microbe interactions.
Researchers found that women with ovarian cancer had higher blood calcium levels than those without the disease. The study suggests that high calcium levels may be a biomarker for early detection of ovarian cancer.
The global goat population is under threat due to intensive animal husbandry systems that use a limited number of breeds. Poor handling of grazing has led to damaging environmental effects, including overloading ecosystems and threatening biodiversity.
EMBL-EBI researchers develop a DNA storage method that stores at least 100 million hours of high-definition video in about a cup of DNA, overcoming challenges of writing and reading DNA. The new method uses short strings of DNA and error-tolerant coding to ensure data retrieval without errors.
Researchers found that managers tend to opt for higher-risk options when forced to choose, but reflect more and make less risky decisions without constraints. The study highlights the importance of offering alternatives to combat high-risk or unethical decision-making.
Climate change in Madagascar could fuel the spread of lemur parasites, carrying diseases like plague and typhus. The team created probability maps of likely parasite distributions today and estimated future expansions by up to 60%.
Scientists have developed a test to detect smoke taint in grapes and wines, which can be used to manage the production of smoky-tasting wines. The test uses laboratory tests to identify substances formed in grapes after exposure to smoke.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University found that hyperbaric oxygen therapy significantly resuscitated activity in damaged brains, even years after initial injury. The treatment increased oxygen levels in the body, supplying energy for rebuilding neuronal connections and stimulating inactive neurons.
A Phase I clinical trial of a tetravalent candidate dengue vaccine found it induced a balanced antibody response against all four dengue viruses in most recipients. The vaccine was safe, and its development is promising for preventing severe dengue disease.
Smokers who quit between ages 35 and 44 regained about nine years of life, while those who quit between ages 45-54 and 55-64 gained six and four years, respectively. Women who smoke like men also die like men.
Researchers, led by Chris Goldfinger, admit that existing predictive models are no longer valid due to limited historical records. Paleoseismic evidence suggests that several regions previously thought incapable of producing megathrust earthquakes may be due for reconsideration.
Scientists at KIT and Rice University successfully dug the world's smallest tunnels into graphite samples, opening doors to structuring of materials on a nanometer scale. The creation of porous graphite with tailored pore sizes could enhance lithium-ion battery performance and enable long-term drug delivery in medicine.
A study found that smoke-free legislation implemented in 2006 led to a 11% decrease in acute myocardial infarctions, mainly among non-smokers and older adults. The reduction is attributed to decreased passive exposure to tobacco smoke.
Socially isolated rats are more susceptible to addiction to amphetamine and alcohol due to enhanced reward sensitivity. They exhibit quicker preference formation for environmental cues associated with the rewarding substance, making extinction harder to achieve.
A University of Colorado study reveals that lung and GI cancer patients are more prone to E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae infections, particularly after aminopenicillin treatment. This knowledge can inform targeted antibiotic therapy before complications arise.
A University of Utah study found that people who multitask the most, including those talking on cell phones while driving, are actually least capable of doing so. This is because they often lack the ability to focus attention on a singular task and tend to be impulsive and sensation-seeking.
A UT Arlington bioengineering researcher, Kytai Nguyen, is working on a drug-delivery portion of a project to develop nanoparticles that will stimulate lung growth and remodeling. The project aims to help patients with destructive lung diseases by introducing drugs through inhaled nanoparticles.
A study predicts that climate change could cause financial losses of up to 50 million euros for Andorran ski resorts, mainly due to shortened seasons and reduced snow production. The study analyzed three ski resorts in the Pyrenees and found that lower altitude areas would be most affected by warmer temperatures.
A new study published in Psychological Science suggests that color-grapheme synesthesia is linked to childhood exposure to magnetic colored letters, which triggered the formation of specific, automatic color-letter pairings. These findings indicate that learning and memory play a central role in the development of true synesthesia.