The Spinosaurus, a massive Cretaceous-era predator, was found to have developed various aquatic adaptations, including small nostrils and giant teeth suited for catching fish. These findings indicate that Spinosaurus was the largest known predatory dinosaur, measuring over 9 feet longer than Tyrannosaurus rex.
Researchers at the University of Montana discovered each species' weapon is structurally adapted to its own functional demands of fighting. Horns are found to be stronger and stiffer when exposed to species-typical fighting styles, suggesting performance in battle played a crucial role in their diversification.
Scientists have discovered two new species of carabid beetles in the Ethiopian Highlands, Calathus juan and Calathus carballalae. These beetle species were found at high elevations and were named after their collaboration partners. The study was published in Annals of the Entomological Society of America.
Researchers found that neurons from schizophrenia patients secrete higher amounts of dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. This discovery offers a new insight into the chemical basis of schizophrenia, potentially leading to new drug targets and therapies.
UTSA has been awarded a $500,000 National Science Foundation grant to develop a security mechanism for cloud-based infrastructures. The goal is to provide users with comparable control over their virtual assets as they had on-premises.
A team of researchers used a neutral evolution model to simulate the distribution of marine bacteria cells. They found that microbes evolve faster than the ocean can disperse them, resulting in dynamic biogeographic patterns. This study sheds light on how ocean microbes may respond to global climate change.
Research finds associations between psychotic disorders and reduced cortical folding patterns in key brain regions, suggesting alterations in brain development early in life. The study's results also indicate a potential familial risk marker for psychotic illnesses.
The original northern boundary of Illinois was south of Chicago and Lake Michigan due to a proposed straight line from the southernmost tip of Lake Michigan to the Rock and Mississippi River confluence. This would have resulted in a smaller population and footprint for Illinois if it had been approved.
A new study reveals that gut microbes play a vital role in stimulating protective immune responses to the seasonal flu vaccine. Researchers found that mice with altered gut microbiota showed reduced antibody responses to vaccination, highlighting the importance of gut microbes in vaccine efficacy.
A study from the University of Kansas found that people can accurately detect personality traits through Facebook activity. However, recent changes to the social media site may be making it harder to do so, particularly with the introduction of algorithms that prioritize recent posts and limit views of friends' activities.
A new study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison finds that yogic breathing can effectively reduce symptoms of PTSD, including anxiety and hyperarousal. The practice has been shown to lower respiration rates and reduce PTSD symptoms in veterans.
Researchers have discovered a new way to run a quantum algorithm that could solve problems classically impossible, using simpler methods than previously thought. This breakthrough has increased the likelihood of demonstrating a quantum device beating a classical computer, which would be a major milestone.
Researchers found that parts of the brain continue to make word classifications even while asleep. This ability may help explain everyday experiences like being sensitive to one's name or alarm clock sounds during sleep. The study also suggests unconscious processing isn't limited by task complexity but rather by automation.
Engineers at Harvard University have created an untethered soft robot, measuring over half a meter in length, which can carry up to 7.5 pounds on its back. The robot, designed using composite silicone rubber and Kevlar fabric, has withstood extreme conditions such as snow, water, flames, and being run over by a car.
Simulations by NASA researchers found that atmospheric gases like ozone, oxygen, and methane can be produced non-biologically, challenging the detection of life. However, combinations of these gases remain strong biosignatures, suggesting their presence is likely linked to biological activity.
Scientists have discovered a unique biochemical connection between cell membranes and mitochondria, regulating cellular energy production. This finding has implications for understanding diseases linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.
Researchers found that hot Jupiters, large gas giants outside our solar system, can make their suns wobble due to gravitational influence. This phenomenon leads to chaotic spin-axis changes in the star, similar to weather and climate patterns.
A Dartmouth study reveals a new protein linkage pathway that may help explain the molecular mechanisms behind birth defects in older women. The research shows that immature egg cells create replacement linkages after DNA replication, essential for maintaining meiotic cohesion over time.
A pilot study found that mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) significantly reduced headache duration and disability in adults with migraines. MBSR participants also experienced increased mindfulness and self-efficacy, leading researchers to conclude that the intervention is a safe and feasible therapy for migraine sufferers.
Penn Medicine bioethicists emphasize the duty to provide humanitarian assistance, global justice, and ethical requirements to combat the Ebola outbreak. The experts also discuss the importance of randomized clinical trials in advancing research and ensuring fair benefits for communities affected by the disease.
The VALUE study reveals that only 13% of vascular testing facilities are IAC accredited, with significant regional variations in utilization. The study also highlights the importance of IAC accreditation in setting practice standards and ensuring quality performance.
Researchers analyzed case counts to find consistent high transmission rates, with Liberia and Sierra Leone reporting one to two new cases for every existing case. The study suggests that controlling the epidemic could be achieved by preventing more than half of secondary transmissions.
A new class of compounds has been shown to protect brain cells from damage caused by blast-mediated TBI. The compounds, called P7C3 series, block axon damage and preserve normal brain function, even when treatment is delayed until 24-36 hours after injury.
Researchers find that geographic isolation is more often due to bird movements across physical barriers, suggesting a generalizable explanation for speciation initiation. The study also highlights the importance of prolonged landscape stability and human alterations in killing the speciation process.
Scientists have pinpointed two new genetic target genes SUN1 and SUN2 that may lead to developing new treatments for Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, a devastating condition causing muscle wasting and stiffening. The discovery opens up new possibilities for patients with the disease, who currently have no effective treatment options.
A study by Harvard University scientists has identified a non-toxic way to target leukemia cells' metabolism without harming normal cells. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for leukemia patients.
Research from University of British Columbia suggests dopamine plays a key role in guiding risky decisions. The study found that altering dopamine signals can impact decision-making, leading to more or less conservative choices.
New research from Carnegie Institution solves a 20-year puzzle in quasar research by demonstrating that the Eddington ratio is the driving force behind the main sequence of quasars. The study also reveals the importance of an astronomer's line-of-sight orientation in observing fast-moving gas innermost to the black hole.
A new study found that high sodium intake in smokers doubles the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. The study suggests an additive interaction between sodium and smoking as a risk factor for RA.
A study found that daily sunshine hours before a suicide event were associated with reduced rates of suicide among women, while men showed an opposite correlation. The researchers also noted that long-term exposure to sunshine was linked to lower suicide rates in Austria between 1970 and 2010.
The US National Science Foundation, NIH, and USDA have awarded over $12 million in new research grants to study the ecological and biological mechanisms behind human-induced environmental changes and infectious diseases. Researchers will investigate topics such as landscape structure on disease dynamics and host vaccinations' impact on...
Experts are calling for increased research into brain injury in sportspeople, including children, due to concerns over Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and second impact syndrome. The University of Birmingham is running a study to develop better concussion testing and return-to-play guidelines.
Research from Oregon State University found that both everyday hassles and significant life events are harmful to men's health. Men who experience several stressful life events do not necessarily have high levels of stress from everyday hassles, suggesting a person's reaction to stress is key.
Researchers have developed an X-ray stroboscope to study the movement of lipid molecules, revealing their dynamic properties and behavior. The technique allows for high-resolution imaging of molecular structure and dynamics, shedding light on the biology of cell membranes.
A series of studies published in Biogeochemistry found that US cityscapes exhibit consistent patterns of urban evolution, shaped by human activities and ecosystem changes. These patterns can result in rapid losses or gains of ecosystem functions, depending on how cities are managed.
The discovery of three new extinct squirrel-like species confirms that mammals originated at least 208 million years ago in the late Triassic period. The findings support earlier research suggesting a common ancestor for mammals existed during this time, and provide new insights into ancient mammalian evolution.
A collaborative registry and community support approach could improve diabetes care in China, where 12% of adults have diabetes and half are at risk of prediabetes. The disease is linked to cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and cancer unless effective national intervention prevents it.
A new grant-funded program seeks to expand a 5-year-old autism early detection model, which assesses toddlers for ASD around their first birthday. The program's goal is to reduce the mean age of ASD diagnosis in multiple cities across the U.S., with potential benefits for children's brain development.
A powerful solar flare was detected by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on Sept. 10, 2014, peaking at X1.6 intensity. The flare disturbed the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel.
The Champalimaud Award recognizes the development of Anti-Angiogenic Therapy for Retinal Disease, which has improved vision in patients with devastating blindness diseases. The treatment targets age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, conditions affecting millions worldwide.
NASA's Aqua satellite detected Tropical Depression 15-E on September 10, which strengthened into Tropical Storm Odile shortly after. The storm is expected to create swells and rough surf along Mexico's southwestern coast over the next day or two.
A collaborative study estimated long-term costs and health outcomes of depression-related absence compared to working employees with depression. Researchers found that continuing to work while experiencing a depressive illness may offer certain health benefits.
A new study found that parents' separation significantly increases children's behavior problems in higher-income families, particularly if the separation occurs before age 6. In contrast, moving into a stepparent family improves children's behavior only when it happens after age 6 in high-income families.
Researchers from the University of Surrey and Ben-Gurion University in Israel have developed a new method to detect the elusive Majorana particle, potentially leading to the creation of topological Q-Bits. This breakthrough could significantly enhance the power of quantum computers, breaking the barriers on scaling up computation.
Researchers found that men and women have similar pain tolerance levels, with resilience being the main determining factor. Patients who accept their chronic pain experience less anxiety, depression, and improved quality of life.
A Monash University study found that endometriosis often takes a long time to be diagnosed and impacts various areas of a woman's life. Common symptoms include painful menstruation, heavy menstrual bleeding, and infertility.
Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center has received a five-year, $11.25 million P30 Cancer Center Support Grant to continue its laboratory science, clinical research and population-based programs. The NCI designation reaffirms the high quality work of dedicated cancer researchers at Georgetown.
A new study found that watching violent images causes different brain activity in people with and without aggressive traits. Participants with aggressive tendencies had less brain activity in the orbitofrontal cortex while watching violent movies, but increased blood pressure.
The Entomological Society of America has awarded ten graduate students with AFRI travel grants to attend Entomology 2014 in Portland, Oregon. The winners include Heather Connelly, Adam Dale, Carrie Deans, and Michael Garvey, who will receive funding for research opportunities, presentations, and networking.
Researchers at Oregon Research Institute found that watching junk food ads can activate reward regions in the brain of adolescents, leading to increased risk of weight gain. This study suggests that individual differences in neural vulnerability may identify youth at risk for excess weight gain.
A new study reveals that tropical bird speciation is driven by movements of birds across physical barriers, contradicting the long-held view that it's linked to geological and climate changes. The research found most speciation occurred in the Pleistocene era, long after the origin of mountain ranges.
A study found that healthcare workers' adherence to hand hygiene is improved when other workers are present, with a 7% higher rate of hand hygiene compliance. The results suggest the importance of social environment in healthcare settings and have implications for understanding disease spread within hospitals.
Researchers developed parameters to distinguish Venus-like planets from Earth-like ones based on distance from stars. The study identified 43 potential Venus-like planets with characteristics like size and orbit, but atmospheric conditions remain unknown.
The study found that the non-dominant hand played a vital role in shaping modern human hand morphology, particularly in stone tool production. The researchers discovered that the thumb on the non-dominant hand was stronger and more robust than the fingers, enabling early humans to securely manipulate stone cores.
In a breakthrough study published in Nature Communications, Cedars-Sinai researchers successfully targeted stem cells to injured heart muscle using antibody-studded iron nanoparticles. This innovative approach enables precise localization of the body's own stem cells to the site of injury, promoting regeneration and repair.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that sharks thrive in healthy coral reefs with no fishing zones. The research revealed a significant increase in shark abundance in non-fished areas of the Great Barrier Reef, emphasizing the importance of preserving coral health for shark conservation.
Researchers at University of Pennsylvania showed how brain distinguishes between errors of different magnitudes, critical for fine-tuning motor control. They found that longer air puffs corresponded to more climbing fibers sending signals to Purkinje cells, allowing the brain to learn and adapt.
A research team at AIMR has developed a new bottom-up fabrication method that produces defect-free graphene nanoribbons with periodic zigzag-edge regions. The method controls GNR growth direction and length distribution, enabling the potential for self-assembling single graphene devices at desired locations.
The FASEB MARC Program has announced the winners of its 10 travel awards, totaling $18,500, to promote diversity in biomedical research. The recipients include students and postdoctorates from underrepresented groups, recognized for their participation at the SACNAS National Conference.
A study of 2,944 UK adults found that those who experienced weight discrimination gained more weight than those who did not, on average gaining 0.95kg while those without discrimination lost 0.71kg over four years. This contradicts the common perception that fat shaming might encourage weight loss.