Researchers connect ancient clay tablet data to climate records, suggesting that drought and overpopulation weakened the empire's economy and destabilized its political system. The study draws parallels between the Assyrian Empire's collapse and contemporary issues in the region, highlighting the importance of considering long-term sus...
A new study has found that the extracellular matrix component hyaluronan (HA) in the cervix provides protection against infection, which can lead to preterm birth. Mice unable to produce HA had abnormal cervical structures and higher preterm birth rates in response to infection.
University of Michigan researchers demonstrate how chains of self-assembling particles can form and extend when exposed to an alternating electric field. This innovation could enable electronics that rewire on demand and pave the way for development of tiny, mobile robots with potential applications in medicine and manufacturing.
A new high-resolution mapping strategy has identified opportunities to preserve tropical carbon stocks in the fight against climate change. The approach prioritizes carbon conservation efforts throughout tropical countries and provides detailed information on landscape characteristics.
Support for plain packs increased significantly after implementation, rising from 28.2% to 49%, with those who wanted to quit being more likely to accept them. Smokers with a higher desire to quit and low heavy smoking index were also more supportive of plain packs.
A University of Michigan study found that patients cared for by nurses with bachelor of science degrees had better care, fewer readmissions and shorter stays. The research estimated that these improvements could save around $5.6 million annually.
A recent Tel Aviv University study found that obesity leads to a breakdown of the body's protective self-tolerance, creating an environment for autoimmune diseases. The research also highlights the importance of vitamin D supplements in alleviating symptoms and improving prognosis for patients with multiple sclerosis.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have demonstrated that noise in microwave amplifiers is limited by self-heating at very low temperatures. The study, published in Nature Materials, shows that phonon radiation in the transistor is responsible for limiting noise.
A new RAND Corporation report highlights the ongoing struggles of military veterans in finding civilian employment, despite businesses reporting they make excellent employees. The study found that challenges remain for both veterans seeking jobs and employers trying to hire them.
A new study found that child-mortality rates declined the fastest among the poorest families in developing countries, resulting in a narrowing gap between wealth groups. The study also identified four factors contributing to this convergence: government effectiveness, rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
Research suggests that guidelines limiting duration of overseas deployment in UK troops may have prevented 138 cases of PTSD, among other mental health issues. The Harmony Guidelines, introduced in 2006, limited tours to 13 months or less over a 3-year period.
A new study reveals that playing action video games boosts learning capabilities by fostering better templates in the brain. Action gamers excel at tasks due to their improved ability to build and fine-tune models of the world, leading to accelerated learning curves and lasting effects.
A new study reveals that informed bladder cancer patients are more motivated to quit smoking, which can prolong their lives. Physicians can significantly impact this by educating patients about the link between smoking and their disease.
Researchers from RIKEN found that a subtle change in the Lon enzyme allows bacteria to quickly adapt between low-oxygen gut environments and high-oxygen outside conditions. This discovery could lead to new therapeutic targets for enteric diseases.
The discovery of two Ice Age infant remains at the Upward Sun River site in Alaska offers a rare glimpse into the lives of early human societies. The burials, dated to around 11,500 years ago, include grave offerings such as hafted compound weapons and provide insights into funeral practices and social organization.
A new University of Colorado Boulder study links hotter temperatures to the risk of armed conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa. The research team found a clear signal that higher temperatures increase conflict risk, particularly for communal incidents.
Researchers have discovered a novel enzyme production strategy in shipworms that breaks down wood, shedding light on the potential for these bivalves to produce biofuels. The study's findings could provide valuable insights and tools for biomass-based industries.
Researchers at the University of Maryland have invented a single structure that combines all components of a battery, enabling miniaturization of energy storage. The tiny battery can be fully charged in 12 minutes and recharged thousands of times, making it a promising innovation for future devices.
The Chicago Biomedical Consortium is launching a $3 million Infrastructure Initiative to promote investment in high-impact scientific equipment at its member universities. The initiative aims to make modern instrumentation available to the CBC research community, enabling them to stay at the forefront of biomedical discovery.
A new drug combination for rheumatoid arthritis treats the disease just as well as other intensive treatment strategies but with less medication and fewer side effects. The COBRA Slim strategy, which calls for the least amount of medication, had half as many side effects as the two other strategies and was just as effective.
A University of Illinois study found that couples in trouble with their relationship tend to distort their memories, whereas those moving toward marriage remember their journey accurately. This distortion helps them cope with the psychological implications of staying in a stagnant relationship.
The University of Michigan student researchers compiled a comprehensive citywide greenhouse gas inventory for Detroit, highlighting key emission sources and areas for improvement. The report shows that energy use in buildings accounts for nearly two-thirds of the city's emissions, with exhaust from cars contributing to about 30%.
A researcher at the University of Kansas is exploring a new way to cool power plants using laptop-cooling technology, which could save freshwater and reduce costs. The approach involves using closed thermosyphons, which are commonly used in laptop computers to keep them cool, but have not been scaled up for use in power generation.
A new study by American Cancer Society researchers found that more preventable deaths from colorectal cancer occur in southern states due to socioeconomic inequalities. The report highlights the importance of addressing disparities in education, income, and access to screening and treatment services.
A University of Texas at Arlington computer scientist is studying smarter route selection and adaptive cover traffic to protect online privacy. The research aims to route traffic around powerful eavesdroppers and add noise to confuse adversaries.
Research suggests that hospital interventions can significantly reduce smoking rates, with around 14.5% of hospital admissions being smokers. Implementing routine smoking cessation support could prevent hundreds of thousands of premature deaths.
A pooled analysis of five cohort studies found that smoking before first cancer diagnosis increases risk of developing a second smoking-related cancer. Smoking survivors have up to a 5-fold higher risk of developing a second primary smoking-associated cancer compared to non-smokers.
Researchers at University of California, San Diego, have removed the brain area responsible for spatial navigation in rats, showing that other memory abilities remain intact. The study provides insights into Alzheimer's disease and stroke effects on the brain's navigational system.
Researchers discovered that statins can reverse the learning deficits caused by Noonan syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting 1 in 2,000 people. The treatment works by reducing Ras activity, allowing brain cells to communicate properly and enabling normal learning to take place.
Researchers found that hospital workers washed their hands less frequently towards the end of their shifts, with compliance rates dropping by an average of 8.7 percentage points. This decline was attributed to mental fatigue, leading to a decrease in self-regulatory capacity and prioritization of tasks.
A new study from Dartmouth researchers suggests that lung cancer screening using annual low-dose CT scans can be done in a cost-effective manner, particularly for adults aged 65-75. The study found that the screening test produces $81,000 in quality-adjusted life years per dollar spent.
Researchers at RIKEN developed a new technique to analyze protein structures by suspending crystals in a greasy substance, enabling the use of smaller samples and faster data collection. This breakthrough could lead to improved understanding of dangerous proteins, such as those containing mercury.
A team of researchers has discovered a novel digestive strategy in shipworms, which could be a game-changer for the industrial production of clean biofuels. The study found that shipworms use enzymes made by symbiotic bacteria stored in their gills to break down wood for nutrition.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have created a radically smaller, more efficient radio wave circulator that could double useful bandwidth in wireless communications. The new circulator enables full-duplex functionality, allowing devices to transmit and receive signals on the same frequency band simultaneously.
A recent study suggests that genes and regulatory elements share a common architecture in their reading processes, with the main differences occurring after the initial step. This unified model could provide insight into how genes evolve and shed light on the evolutionary origins of new genes.
A team of engineers and scientists has identified a source of electronic noise that could impact the functioning of instruments operating at very low temperatures. At around 20 kelvins, phonon modes become deactivated, allowing high-energy phonons to carry away heat and causing devices to heat up.
A new UCSB study reveals that a fungal pathogen in amphibians disrupts the skin microbiome, leading to dramatic changes in bacterial communities. The research has significant implications for understanding infectious disease dynamics and developing responses to diseases causing amphibian extinction.
A new climate model simulates global carbon cycle interactions between plants and microbes, revealing a loss of soil carbon stocks in temperate regions due to increased microbial activity. The CORPSE model predicts gains in soil carbon capture in boreal regions and tropical South America.
A transgenic mouse with a rare human genetic variation in the dopamine transporter protein may lead to improvements in ADHD, autism and bipolar disorder diagnosis and treatment. The mice exhibit unusual "darting behavior," which could be related to impulsivity and abnormal dopamine release.
The University of Huddersfield is a key centre for research and teaching on spirituality in healthcare, with a focus on its practical application. Research has shown that spirituality can improve resilience, patient experience, and recovery outcomes in healthcare.
A new study found that anxiety symptoms in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) increase the risk of a faster decline in cognitive functions and accelerate brain damage, independent of depression. MCI patients with moderate or severe anxiety had a 33%, 78%, and 135% increased risk of Alzheimer's, respectively.
A study of the volunteer advocate program found that it provided comprehensive care to incapacitated patients, including end-of-life decisions and Medicaid applications. The program's success demonstrates a viable alternative to overwhelmed state agencies and provides hope for vulnerable individuals without surrogates.
Lori O'Brien, a USC postdoctoral research associate, has received the first Broad Fellowship to investigate how epigenetic regulation affects kidney stem cells. The fellowship will support her research on Phf19, an epigenetic regulator that encourages embryonic stem cell self-renewal.
Researchers found significant safety flaws in popular flight tracking systems, including firmware manipulation and tampering with real-time information. The team recommends securing communication, pairing devices properly, signing firmware updates, and using HTTPS or digitally signed data.
Scientists have identified a new therapeutic target, Mpl, which could lead to the development of novel treatments for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). The study found that reducing the expression of Mpl in laboratory models can prevent the development of mutant JAK2 disease.
The Seattle Singing Accuracy Protocol (SSAP) measures how well people handle the translation from listening to singing. The program assesses individual singers' ability to match specific tones and melodies, providing a tool for early music education programs and researchers studying musical ability.
A study found that prescription opioids were involved in 67.8% of emergency department visits in 2010, highlighting the need for cautious prescribing practices among patients with pre-existing medical conditions. The study also showed that acute benzodiazepine intoxication was recorded in 22.2% of overdose patients.
Cartilage cells have multiple sensory systems that respond to mechanical strain, leading to cell death. Researchers found two ion channels, Piezo1 and Piezo2, that are critical for sensing forceful injury, and a substance from tarantula venom extract can block these channels, preventing cell death.
Researchers have used radio telescopes in Australia and Chile to observe the remnant of Supernova 1987A, providing insights into the explosion's aftermath. The team has also developed a three-dimensional simulation that reproduces observed features, including the persistent one-sidedness in radio images.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory quantify thermodynamic forces driving metal-insulator transition in vanadium dioxide, finding phonons and atomic vibrations control phase stability. The discovery has implications for multifunctional materials, including colossal magnetoresistors, superconductors, and ferroelectrics.
A new species of nocturnal gecko, Paroedura hordiesi, has been discovered in northern Madagascar with a unique camouflage pattern to blend into its environment. The species is classified as Critically Endangered due to habitat loss and degradation.
Researchers found that elderly men with low DHEA levels were at a greater risk of developing coronary heart disease events over a five-year period. The study suggests that high DHEA levels may be a biomarker of good health in elderly men.
Researchers have defined riskier mutations in neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer, which could help match patients with optimal treatment using ALK inhibitors. The study, published in Cancer Cell, analyzed DNA from nearly 1,600 patients and discovered ALK mutations in 8% of tumors.
A new study led by Harvard School of Public Health found that the use of antiretroviral medications during early pregnancy does not significantly increase the risk of birth defects in infants. However, one specific ARV drug, atazanavir, was associated with a higher risk of birth defects, particularly musculoskeletal and skin anomalies.
A Queensland University of Technology study found that over 70% of people in two Chinese cities are unaware of the blood alcohol limits for driving. The new laws have led to a drop in alcohol-related crashes, but limited awareness may contribute to offending rates.
A new study from NESCent suggests that societies with less access to food and water are more likely to believe in moralizing, high gods. Belief in these types of deities is strongly associated with political complexity and the practice of animal husbandry.
A molecular breakthrough has identified a compound that can inhibit the activity of SRPK1, a molecule key to tumor formation and blood vessel creation. This process is essential for cancer cell survival and multiplication.
Researchers have discovered two young stars with analogues to our solar system's asteroid and Kuiper belts, surrounded by a large dust halo. These findings suggest a common model for planetary formation and evolution, providing insight into the early stages of star formation and planet creation.
Researchers have found that temperature-controlled aggregation in new semi-conducting polymers enables high-efficiency organic solar cells with efficiencies up to 10.8%, paving the way for mass production and a commercially viable alternative source of energy.
A new study found that laundry detergent pods pose a significant risk to young children, with 17,230 cases reported between 2012 and 2013. Children under 6 years old accounted for nearly two-thirds of cases, with nearly half experiencing vomiting after exposure.