Researchers have solved the mystery of the theta aurora by studying data from the European Space Agency's Cluster and NASA's IMAGE satellites. The study found that the plasma trapping mechanism is responsible for the phenomenon, which occurs when the interplanetary magnetic field points northwards.
A study led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists has identified the population of white blood cells that tumors use to enhance growth and suppress the disease-fighting immune system. Monocytes are primarily responsible for T cell suppression around tumors.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have successfully restored type 1 diabetics' ability to recognize low blood sugar levels after receiving islet cell transplantation. The treatment has nearly abolished time spent in a hypoglycemic state and improved response to experimental insulin-induced hypoglycemia.
Researchers at UCL discovered how a protein, RcsF, triggers an alarm system in bacteria to defend against antibiotics. This discovery provides a new target for developing new antibiotics and could help combat the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.
Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a new technique to bind peptides to gallium nitride surfaces, making them stable even in water and radiation. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of injectable biosensors for detecting specific molecules in biological environments.
Research published in the journal PLOS Genetics reveals that regular doses of ibuprofen extended the lifespan of multiple species by 15%, potentially adding a decade or more to healthy living. The study's findings suggest that common drugs like ibuprofen may hold key to understanding and extending human health span.
A new massive open online course (MOOC) will be launched to disseminate the curricula to Girl Scout troop leaders, providing videos, discussion forums, and feedback mechanisms. The MOOC aims to simulate in-person train-the-trainers technologies and advance behavior change among 10-13 year olds.
A study reveals enzymatic hydrolysis and drying significantly alter lignocellulosic biomass nanostructure, reducing pore volume by up to 80%. The accessible reaction space is also reduced, hindering hydrolysis. This work sheds light on the importance of physical features in defining hydrolysis rates.
A large study found that laparoscopic radical cystectomy leads to reliable cancer control even years after surgery, with 66% of patients free from recurrence after 5 years. The minimally invasive procedure can be as safe as open surgery for cancer control, supporting its use in bladder cancer management
Researchers found that trophoblasts respond to inflammatory danger signals and produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, suggesting a potential role in pregnancy disorders such as preeclampsia. The study aims to understand the underlying inflammation associated with pre-eclamptic pregnancies.
Many HCV patients are lost in healthcare due to inadequate screening, testing, and treatment. A new study found that up to 70% of those with acute infection have no symptoms until years later.
Scientists have explained the origin of theta auroras, a type of high-latitude aurora that was unclear until now. The mysterious phenomenon is linked to hot plasma in the magnetosphere, caused by magnetic reconnection and funneled into near-Earth space from the sun.
Researchers found highly conserved brain centers in insect species that share similarities with vertebrate learning centers, such as the hippocampus. The study suggests a common ancestral origin for these structures, possibly dating back 600 million years.
A study revealed that malaria parasites change surface proteins every 48 hours to hide from the immune system, creating millions of new variants. This rapid evolution makes it difficult to develop an effective vaccine against the disease.
A study published in The Lancet found that prostaglandin analogue eye drops can reduce the risk of vision loss in people with open angle glaucoma by over 50% over 2 years. The treatment showed significant benefits even after just 12 months, and more frequent testing can lead to faster data collection and improved drug development.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease has awarded a new contract to develop the Eukaryotic Pathogen Genomics Database, providing free access to genomic data related to pathogens important to human health. The database encompasses disease-causing eukaryotes and includes over 3,000 genomes from more than 300 species.
A study published in PLOS Computational Biology found that an artificial deep neural network performs as well as the primate brain at object recognition. This achievement could pave the way for significant advancements in artificial intelligence and our understanding of primate visual processing.
A new study reveals that Charlotte the spider embodies more intellectual traits of humility than Wilbur the pig, showcasing the importance of love for learning in humble individuals. The study found two clusters of traits: social humility and intellectual humility.
A study found that the high-dose flu vaccine significantly improves immune response to flu virus in frail, older residents of long-term care facilities. The vaccine provided superior protection against laboratory-confirmed influenza illness compared to the standard vaccine.
A new study has found that sensitive caregiving in early childhood predicts an individual's social competence and academic achievement, persisting into adulthood. The quality of parent-child interactions during the first three years of life plays a unique role in promoting successful development.
Researchers at Ohio State University have created publicly available elevation maps of the Greenland Ice Sheet using high-resolution satellite images. The software, SETSM, allows for detailed tracking of the ice sheet's changes, including cracks that indicate accelerated melting.
Researchers at the University of Toronto developed a machine learning method to rank genetic mutations based on their likelihood of causing disease. The technique successfully predicted 94% of known genetic culprits behind diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy and colorectal cancer, and identified novel genes in autism susceptibility.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have developed a method to capture images of the molecular fireworks that occur when an egg and sperm meet. The study, published in Nature Chemistry, provides unprecedented quantitative information on the role of zinc in regulating biochemical processes during fertilization.
A team of scientists identified a key mechanism by which proteins change shape in response to different conditions. This discovery has significant implications for understanding how to manipulate proteins, which could lead to breakthroughs in treating diseases.
Researchers found a mutated region in human mantle cell lymphoma DNA that disables programmed cell death. Cells with this mutation grow uncontrollably, but a new therapy approach targets the ubiquitin ligase responsible for the defect.
Scientists at OIST Graduate University have determined that distance from calcium channels to vesicles impacts neuron's signaling precision. As rat subjects mature, the distance between gated channels and vesicles shrinks, increasing signal efficiency by 30%.
Research suggests that generosity in children requires a deliberate thought process, unlike automatic moral evaluation. Brain activity studies found that only later reappraisal of moral scenes predicts actual generosity in young children. This insight may help parents foster generosity in kids this holiday season.
Muscle spindle sensory feedback promotes repair of damaged neuronal networks after spinal cord injury. Basic locomotor functionality can be restored spontaneously, but fine motor task performance remains permanently lost. Activation of muscle spindles is essential for recovery, suggesting a key role in designing novel treatment strateg...
A longitudinal study found that children with a behaviorally inhibited temperament and insecure parent-infant attachment are more likely to develop social anxiety in adolescence. This association is strongest among youth who reacted angrily to separation from their parents as infants.
Researchers analyzed 160,000+ genomes to uncover subtle differences in genetic ancestry across US regions. Regional ancestry differences reflect historical events like immigration waves.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that older kidney donors with hypertension had good kidney health after donation. After 6 months, hypertensive and non-hypertensive donors both maintained excellent blood pressure control and robust compensatory kidney responses.
Four pulses of laser light on nanoparticle photocells reveal how captured sunlight can be converted into electricity. The study, published in Nature Communications, uses a novel approach to understand multiple exciton generation in nanomaterials.
A new NOAA study projects that most US coastal areas will face 30 or more days of flooding each year, up to 2 feet above high tides, by 2050. The study identifies 'tipping points' where local sea levels rise more than global projections, causing regions like Louisiana and the Gulf Coast to experience near-daily nuisance flooding.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute and UC San Diego create microfluidic device to rapidly heat and cool biomolecules, allowing for the observation of rapid folding events. This breakthrough enables the study of normal and abnormal biomolecules, including those implicated in human diseases.
New research solves decades-old mystery of silent cell death, revealing how dying cells hide from the immune system. The study identified the role of caspases in suppressing interferon release, providing insights into links between cell death, the immune system and disease.
Researchers at the University of Toronto discovered that microexons, small segments of genes, influence protein interactions in the nervous system. The study found that misregulation of this process can have major effects on how proteins function, particularly in individuals with autism.
Researchers at CNIO have developed a gene therapy that reactivates the telomerase gene only in the heart of adult mice, resulting in increased survival rates and regeneration of cardiomyocytes. This study provides proof-of-concept for treating chronic and acute heart failure and opens new avenues for age-related diseases.
Researchers at Saint Louis University discover a family of enzyme inhibitors that can suppress herpes simplex virus replication. The findings offer hope for new treatments that can work in combination with existing medications to completely suppress the virus.
A Kaiser Permanente study found that regular and irregular physical activity was associated with improved cardiometabolic health, including lower blood pressure and fasting glucose levels. The study examined data from over 622,000 adult members and suggested that exercise can play a key role in moderating blood sugar and blood pressure.
A new study reveals that clearing rainforests distorts wind and water patterns, altering growing conditions for crops like coffee and corn globally. The report finds that deforestation-induced warming and altered rainfall can impact agricultural productivity, with the US Midwest, Europe, and China potentially seeing changes.
A North Carolina-based study by Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center researchers found that local enforcement of federal immigration laws can have an adverse impact on the use of health care services among immigrant Hispanics. Rates of late and inadequate prenatal care increased significantly among Hispanic mothers compared to non-Hispan...
Researchers captured highest-resolution images of human cilia using advanced imaging technique that preserves native structure and detects defects. This innovation provides a new window into the biology of ciliopathies, allowing for more accurate diagnoses and potential treatments.
Researchers found that gut microbiota affects mucus barrier properties in mice, with different microbial compositions leading to varying levels of protection against bacterial invasion. The study suggests that a well-developed inner mucus layer is crucial for overall health and highlights the importance of the gut microbiota composition.
Researchers found that newer generation of deep neural networks can identify visual objects as accurately as the primate brain. The success suggests neuroscientists have a fairly accurate grasp of how object recognition works, which could lead to better artificial intelligence and new ways to repair visual dysfunction.
Researchers analyzed 5,040 evolutionary paths of human color vision, finding that 4,008 trajectories are terminated prematurely due to nonfunctional pigments. The study's findings emphasize the importance of understanding molecular evolution and genetic engineering in decoding protein mutations' effects.
Researchers found two distinct populations of blue whales in the southeastern Pacific, with one population potentially consisting of pygmy-type blue whales. This discovery could help inform effective conservation plans for this endangered species.
New research confirms that massive volcanic eruptions 66 million years ago spewed climate-altering gases into the atmosphere before and during the K-Pg extinction event, which claimed non-avian dinosaurs. The Deccan Traps' eruptions are now considered a key factor in the extinction event.
A new review suggests that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms in younger women, particularly those experiencing hot flushes and night sweats. The review highlights that HRT provides low doses of estrogen with or without progestogen to alleviate symptoms and minimize risks.
Researchers found specific brain markers linked to social and moral evaluation processes in children, predicting their generous behavior. The study demonstrates the role of automatic and controlled neural responses in guiding prosocial actions in children as young as three years old.
The researchers found that sodium storage capacity of paper electrodes depends on the distance between individual layers, which can be tuned by heating it in argon or ammonia gas. They successfully demonstrated a flexible paper composed entirely of graphene oxide sheets that can charge and discharge with sodium-ions for more than 1,000...
Scientists used theoretical calculations to gain insights into the structure of β-NiOOH, a highly active compound in a nickel oxide catalyst. The research found that the material's mosaic texture and c-axis periodicity are stable tunnel structures that relieve stress between layers.
A new study by IIASA researchers finds that climate change impacts on crop yields could lead to a 18% decline in global caloric production or a 3% increase by 2050. The researchers identified likely needed adaptations and transformations for global agricultural systems, highlighting the importance of irrigation and regional connections.
A recent experiment releasing water down the Colorado River resulted in a 40% increase in vegetation, reversing a 13-year decline. The study used Landsat 8 satellite data to track plant responses to the pulse of water.
Wild blueberries (bilberries) have been shown to mitigate the negative effects of a high-fat diet on blood pressure and nutrition-derived inflammatory responses. The study found that bilberries reduced pro-inflammatory effects, prevented elevated blood pressure, and improved glucose tolerance in mice fed a high-fat diet.
A*STAR scientists identified a genetic pathway responsible for the size of the human brain, which accounts for superior cognitive abilities. The KATNB1 gene is essential for central nervous system development in humans and other animals.
A team at Cornell University has developed a room-temperature magnetoelectric memory device that can switch between magnetic states using an electric field. This breakthrough could enable low-power computing and make instant-on devices a reality.
Researchers observed golden-winged warblers leaving their breeding grounds before a historic tornado-producing storm, traveling 1,500 kilometers to avoid it. The birds likely sensed infrasound associated with the severe weather, a phenomenon known as tornadic storm avoidance behavior.
The Rosetta spacecraft's successful landing on the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko marked a major breakthrough in comet analysis. The mission has provided valuable insights into the formation and evolution of comets, potentially shedding light on the delivery of water and organic molecules to early Earth.
Physicists have imaged and controlled the motion of two electrons in a helium atom using attosecond-timed laser pulses. By varying the interval between the ultraviolet and visible pulses, they created a movie of the electronic dance and even influenced its rhythm.
A recent study found that cystic fibrosis patients are at a higher risk of developing ganciclovir-resistant cytomegalovirus strains due to insufficient levels of the drug in their system. This can lead to delayed or inadequate response to treatment, highlighting the need for closer monitoring and therapeutic level adjustments.