A landmark study by Oxford University researchers found that babies' bone growth in the womb and their length and head circumference at birth are strikingly similar globally when born to educated, healthy, and well-nourished mothers. The study involved almost 60,000 pregnancies across eight urban areas worldwide.
Scientists have discovered a new form of soot particle, 'superaggregates,' emitted by wildfires in regions like Southeast Asia and Russia. These particles contribute up to 90% more warming than conventional soot particles, warranting further research.
The Practitioner Toolkit for Managing the Menopause is a new resource that helps doctors diagnose and treat menopausal conditions in women globally. The toolkit includes a diagnostic tool, approved hormone therapies, and non-hormonal therapies with evidence-based support.
Researchers developed nanojuice to improve non-invasive gut imaging, providing real-time views of the small intestine. This technique may help diagnose irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, and other gastrointestinal illnesses.
Researchers have mapped 500 unknown microorganisms in human intestines and 800 bacteriophages that attack them. This new understanding could lead to more targeted treatments for diseases like type 2 diabetes, asthma, and obesity.
The PandaX experiment at the China Jinping underground laboratory is using a liquid xenon dual-phase technology to detect dark matter and neutrinoless double beta decay. The facility has been optimized for low background radiation, with a shielded environment protecting against cosmic muons.
Biologists at UC San Diego have discovered a new genetic pathway in plants that helps them reduce breathing pores in response to rising CO2 levels, a mechanism that can affect heat stress and drought tolerance. The discovery could provide tools for engineering crops to deal with droughts and high temperatures.
A team of scientists has reconstructed annual records of volcanic sulfate emissions in the Southern Hemisphere for the past 2,000 years using ice cores from Antarctica. The new record reveals 116 individual volcanic events and provides a more accurate understanding of climate variability caused by powerful eruptions.
Researchers have established a comprehensive catalog of the human gut microbial genes, with over 9.8 million genes available for global researchers to explore. The study highlights differences in nutrient metabolism and xenobiotic detoxification between Chinese and Danish adults, as well as enrichment in antibiotic resistance genes.