A new device developed at the University of Washington is testing the use of low-power ultrasound to move small kidney stones, potentially reducing pain and treatment times. The technology has been tested on artificial kidneys and pigs before moving to human trials, with promising results.
Journalists Sybille Hildebrandt and Chelsea Wald have been awarded the EGU Science Journalism Fellowship for their projects on palaeontology and soil sciences. They will receive funding to pursue research trips to Canada and Scotland, respectively, in order to investigate key scientific questions.
Recent developments combining machines and organisms have great potential but also raise major ethical concerns. Cyborgs, technically modified organisms with extraordinary skills, are already reality in medical implants.
A study found that most pediatric primary care practitioners are reluctant to prescribe antidepressant medications to adolescent patients, even in severe cases. PCPs who had access to on-site mental health care providers and were more knowledgeable about depression were more likely to prescribe antidepressants.
Researchers have created an artificial bone marrow that can reproduce hematopoietic stem cells, which could facilitate the treatment of leukemia. The new technology uses synthetic polymers and protein building blocks to mimic the natural environment of bone marrow, allowing for more efficient stem cell reproduction.
Researchers found that athletes' initial body language after winning, known as a 'dominance threat display,' is innate and stems from an evolutionary need to establish order. This behavior is stronger in cultures that emphasize hierarchy.
The device achieves low consumption by harnessing environmental energy sources. Wireless sensor networks utilizing the device have numerous applications in various fields.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a comprehensive, nonsurgical treatment that significantly improves symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction in women. The treatment involves muscle strengthening and relaxation techniques, resulting in an average 80% improvement in urinary incontinence, defecatory dysfunction, and pe...
A new study found that the human body louse can transmit bacterial infections to humans, while the human head louse does not. The researchers discovered that several immune genes were regulated differently in head and body lice after infection with the bacteria, and the infection progressed further in body lice over time.
A recent study by University of Missouri researchers found that social media platforms enable users to connect with others who share similar experiences and emotions, such as Lady Gaga fans. The study highlights the importance of online communities in providing emotional support and a sense of belonging among marginalized groups.
Duke University researchers have successfully demonstrated wireless power transfer using a 'superlens' technology that focuses magnetic fields, enabling the transmission of power over distances much larger than traditional setups. This breakthrough could enable smaller, more practical wireless charging solutions for everyday use.
Researchers have identified a key protein called TL1A that drives chronic inflammation, leading to diseases like arthritis. The discovery provides hope for developing targeted biological medicines to halt disease progression and alleviate symptoms.
Researchers at Florida State University have made groundbreaking findings on a bacteriophage that infects nitrogen-fixing bacteria. The study reveals novel details about the virus's DNA and physical structure, shedding light on how it invades and impacts bacteria.
A new study by MIT professor Joao Granja shows that more transparent banking practices can help ensure stability when banks fail and reduce costs for consumers or taxpayers. The study found that banks with better disclosure practices received higher bids for their assets during bankruptcy auctions, leading to lower costs for regulators.
Research from the University of Southampton shows that prisoners rate themselves similarly to community members on pro-social traits, despite being incarcerated. Prisoners also overestimate their law-abidigness and underestimate their propensity for future crime.
A new anode design for lithium-sulfur batteries quadruples their lifespan, bringing them closer to commercial use. The hybrid anode's development could enable longer electric car drives and cheaper storage of renewable wind energy.
Research predicts increased frequency and intensity of droughts in southern Europe, with potential reductions in river flow levels up to 40% by 2100. Climate change and intensive water consumption will exacerbate drought conditions, worsening their socio-economic impacts.
A new study finds that heavy viewers of 'Teen Mom' and '16 and Pregnant' have unrealistic perceptions of teen mothers' quality of life, income, and involved fathers. The research, led by Indiana University professors, suggests that these shows lead to a distorted view of reality TV and teen parenthood.
Researchers at Rice University have found that motor proteins cooperate differently, with myosinVa producing more force than kinesin-1. This cooperation is crucial for regulating the transport of organelles within cells, and breakdowns in motor function are implicated in human diseases.
A new study by MSU scholar Jennifer Watling Neal found that children believe gender plays a larger role in friendship than it does. This skewed perception can impact their relationships and future interactions with peers and colleagues.
Researchers at Penn Medicine discovered a new shape of red blood cells when they are compressed during clot formation. The polyhedral structures, also known as polyhedrocytes, are tightly packed within the clot interior and may help explain why clots develop resistance to thrombolytic agents.
A University of British Columbia study challenges the Lake Louise Score Questionnaire's reliability in diagnosing acute mountain sickness. Removing sleep quality from the questionnaire increased its accuracy, suggesting that unnecessary treatments may be administered to some individuals and others may not receive necessary treatment.
Acute respiratory tract infections account for nearly 10% of ambulatory care visits in the US. Despite efforts to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use, it remains a problem among adult patients, with no decrease seen in emergency room visits from 2001-2010.
A new study has found that genetic regions associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes were unlikely to have been beneficial to people at stages through human evolution. The researchers tested this theory by examining 65 genetic regions and found no evidence to support the thrifty gene hypothesis.
Research reveals steep declines in global large carnivore populations, with 77% of studied species decreasing in number. Habitat losses have serious environmental consequences, affecting ecosystems and human societies.
A recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that some Indigenous people have limited immunity response to flu effects. The research suggests ethnic differences in immune responses to the H7N9 virus, which can lead to severe outcomes.
Researchers at UH Manoa discovered a biological trigger behind marine biofouling, where certain bacteria induce larval metamorphosis. This process has implications for boat owners and the mariculture industry, which rely on larval settlement to create new communities.
Research finds that US adults with private or no health insurance experience lower levels of psychological distress compared to those with public coverage. Adults with recent changes in insurance status have higher distress levels.
Researchers identified 17 microalgae and aquatic plants capable of removing radioactive contaminants, including cesium, iodine, and strontium. These plant strains could potentially be used to decontaminate highly radio-polluted water in the Fukushima area.
Researchers from EPFL have created a new method to eliminate external noise in nanomechanical oscillators, allowing for nearly perfect ultra-efficient sensors. This breakthrough enables the detection of very small particles and masses with high accuracy, opening up new frontiers in fundamental science and applied studies.
The study identifies MAX as a tumor suppressor gene in aggressive lung cancer, which regulates the expression of BRG1 through direct recruitment to the MAX promoter. The depletion of BRG1 hinders cell growth and is synthetic lethal with MAX-deficient tumors.
Researchers have discovered that a cancer drug can protect the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas and prevent the development of type 1 diabetes in mice. The medication works by reducing sterile inflammation and delaying cell destruction. This finding is a step towards developing a preventive treatment for type 1 diabetes.
Researchers found that myotonic dystrophy type 1 disrupts the normal control of gene expression in heart tissue, specifically affecting microRNAs. This disruption leads to abnormal protein activity, resulting in disease symptoms such as heart malfunction and death.
A team of researchers at University of Illinois used DNA analysis to clarify the details of the Battle of Raphia, a historic battle between Asian and African elephants. The study found that the Eritrean elephants were actually savanna elephants with low genetic diversity, which is expected for such a small population.
Researchers found that mda-9/syntenin is a driving force behind glioblastoma's growth and invasion. The study identified molecular targets that could lead to new therapies and potentially use the gene to monitor disease progression.
A new study found that US power plant emissions decreased by 20-40% since the switch to natural gas with combined cycle technology, releasing significantly less carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide. This shift in energy production led to a reduction of 23% less CO2 in the atmosphere last year.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories successfully reduced magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities by adding a secondary magnetic field created by a Helmholz coil to their experiments. This modification allowed the liner to compress fuel more effectively, potentially leading to controlled nuclear fusion.
ProSavin, a novel gene therapy, has shown promise in reducing motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease by delivering dopamine-making genes directly into the brain. Significant improvements in motor scores were seen in all patients after treatment.
Researchers at University of Nottingham develop novel MRI method for diagnosing and treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), allowing continuous bowel imaging with no risk to patients. The technique enables measurement of colon volumes, transit times, and effects of FODMAPs on gut health.
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine deploy a combination therapy targeting persistent HIV-infected cells that standard therapies cannot kill. The study uses mouse models and finds that an antibody combined with a bacterial toxin can penetrate infected cells and kill them, resulting in a six-fold drop in the number of infected cells.
Scientists at MIT discovered that marine cyanobacteria continually produce and release extracellular vesicles, which serve as food parcels for other organisms. The vesicles contain DNA, likely facilitating gene transfer among similar bacteria and potentially acting as decoys to deflect viruses.
Research found that EU policies have increased the demand for pollination services at a rate five times faster than the number of available honeybee colonies. Many countries, including the UK and Italy, rely on wild pollinators to meet demands due to insufficient honeybee stocks.
A recent study by UCLA researchers found that minority patients and those of lower socioeconomic status are more likely to have advanced thyroid cancer at diagnosis. Black patients faced the worst outcomes, while Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander patients surprisingly survived longer despite having later-stage disease.
The human Y chromosome contains unique genes that have likely been maintained by selection, suggesting it will stick around despite its small size. Genetic diversity on the Y chromosome is low, but researchers found that natural selection, particularly purifying selection, also contributed to this low diversity.
A team of researchers found that island lizards exhibit reduced escape behavior compared to mainland lizards, suggesting a link between island isolation and tameness. The study also revealed that prey size is an important factor in determining escape behavior, with smaller prey having shorter flight initiation distances.
A study published in Hepatology found that SLPI protein plays a critical role in excessive anti-inflammatory responses in acute liver failure, making patients susceptible to sepsis and infection. Inhibiting SLPI protein may help restore immune function and prevent infection in these patients.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Birmingham found no evidence of dehydration in regular coffee drinkers who consumed moderate amounts of coffee. The study measured hydration status using various methods and found that coffee consumption contributed to daily fluid requirements, just like other fluids.
A Virginia Tech engineer is studying the impact of the recent Colorado flood on antibiotic resistance genes. The researcher aims to understand how floodwaters can transport and disseminate these genes, which could have significant implications for human and animal health.
Researchers discovered a mutation in the TMEM95 gene causes idiopathic male subfertility in cattle. The study found that genetic defects can be traced back to one Fleckvieh animal born in 1966, which also highlights potential human medicine applications.
Astronomers are studying the newly formed stars in M83 using citizen science project STAR DATE: M83. The project aims to estimate ages for approximately 3000 star clusters. Citizen scientists analyze the image to identify objects such as supernova remnants and foreground stars, shedding light on stellar birth and death.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have created a technique that can pinpoint the factors driving cell differentiation, including previously unidentified genes. The method uses haploid embryonic stem cells to uncover how cell differentiation works.
Paleobotanists discover complete fossil remains of Agathis trees from Australia to South America across Antarctica, revealing its vast range and adaptability. The findings provide insights into climate change's impact on the tree's distribution.
Researchers have discovered intricate neural networks in zebrafish that could help explain how humans developed limb control. The study found separate circuits for controlling the left and right sides of the body, which may be a precursor to human arm and leg movements.
Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in understanding the mechanism of a common form of malaria. The study reveals that the parasite attaches to red blood cells using a two-step process involving two copies of a parasite protein coming together like tongs around two copies of a host protein.
Researchers have discovered a mechanism by which bacteria can evade antibiotics, forming 'persisters' that are tolerant to many drugs. The study found Salmonella bacteria forms large numbers of persisters after being engulfed by immune cells, allowing it to survive antibiotic treatment and cause recurrent infections.
A study by Ludwig Cancer Research uncovers a genomic phenomenon that explains why genetically identical animals are different in their biology and appearance. Single cell analysis reveals that one allele is expressed in between 12-24% of all pairs, with random switching throughout life.
A study published in the European Heart Journal found that physical fitness in teenagers can reduce the risk of heart attack later in life. Fit but overweight or obese men have a significantly higher risk of suffering a heart attack than unfit, lean men.
A recent study by the University of Toronto found that adults who experienced childhood physical abuse had a delayed recovery from depression. The research highlights the long-term impact of childhood trauma on mental health outcomes.
Researchers discovered methylation sites linked to hypoxia, immune response, and neuronal differentiation in schizophrenia patients, offering potential avenues for distinct subtype identification and personalized treatment responses.
Researchers discovered a novel clot structure involving polyhedrocytes in contracted clots, making them less responsive to medications. T2HemoStat enabled the detection of this unique structure, which could lead to better diagnostic tools and therapeutic choices.