A new study by TUM scientists links climate change to declining crop yields and humus stocks in arable soils. The researchers found that the stagnation in yields coincides with a decline in organic matter input into the soil, leading to a depletion of humus.
A new study published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience found that the Fair Trade logo increases consumer's willingness to pay by 30% on average. The study also discovered that the logo influences subjective evaluations of products and activates the brain's reward system.
Researchers successfully replicated 95 of the original experiments but could only reproduce results in under half of the cases. The study's findings suggest that initial evidence strength is a key predictor of replication success, and that surprising effects are generally harder to replicate.
Researchers create economic model to assess life expectancy, management of adverse effects, and quality of life for new oncology drugs like necitumumab. The study finds that the value-based price for necitumumab ranges between $563 and $1,309 per three-week cycle.
A CNIO team has identified the origin of damage to induced pluripotent stem cells and developed strategies to reduce it, resulting in cells with less damage to their genome. This breakthrough improves the safety of iPS cells for use in biomedicine, potentially treating cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders.
A Yale University study found that nearly one in four patients with chronic hepatitis C are denied initial approval for a drug therapy. The finding reveals factors beyond disease state and medical necessity affecting treatment access, including public insurance status and advanced liver disease.
Researchers have found evidence that melanosomes, which produce melanin pigment, are preserved in the fossil record of Anchiornis huxleyi, a bird-like dinosaur. The study uses electron microscopy and chemical analysis to demonstrate that the microbodies are indeed melanosomes, not microbes.
Researchers have improved Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM) to achieve 62-nanometer resolution, reducing phototoxicity and improving imaging of proteins interacting. This breakthrough has provided new insights into cell processes, such as the role of actin in clathrin-mediated endocytosis.
Researchers found that Twitter users shared messages from people with different ideological views for non-political issues like sports events, but converged on similar ideologies for overtly political topics. The study also revealed dynamic shifts in polarization over time for certain issues, such as the Newtown school shooting.
Chapman University researchers found that older adults acquire skills prior to first reproduction and develop further to meet increasing demands. In a traditional society, older adults are often regarded as experts due to their complementary skills. They excel at planning, conflict negotiation, and delegation.
Researchers at the University of Basel have synthesized boron-doped graphene nanoribbons with controlled band gaps, enabling the development of highly sensitive gas sensors for nitrogen oxides. The material's chemical properties were characterized using atomic force microscopy, revealing high selectivity towards adsorption.
The GPM satellite captured intense rainfall rates of up to 52.8 mm per hour, with embedded convection necessary for storm strengthening, but displaced due to wind shear. The storm's low-level center was located northwest of the rain field, hindering intensification.
Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory found cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain that rapidly inform multiple subregions of surprising rewards or punishments. These neurons enable flexibility in neuronal connections, allowing for plasticity and learning.
A historic storm triggered widespread flooding in Colorado's Front Range, causing massive landslides and rapid debris flows that transported hundreds of years' worth of accumulated sediment. Researchers used high-resolution topographic maps to measure the effects of extreme weather on erosion rates.
A review of over 100 scientific studies found that natural gas mining operations release complex mixtures of endocrine disrupting chemicals, which could harm human development and reproduction. Researchers recommend a process to examine the total endocrine disrupting activity from exposure to these chemicals.
Researchers at Rockefeller University identified a protein that recognizes a chemical instruction tag on RNA molecules. This 'reader' molecule determines the fate of RNA by recognizing m6A tags, influencing gene expression and splicing processes.
Research analyzing 73,877 working women reveals that covert and overt sexism have similar negative impacts on individual health and work attitudes. Frequent sexist comments and office cultures can be just as detrimental as single instances of sexual coercion.
A new study published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology found that probiotics do not prevent or eliminate gastrointestinal colonization with drug-resistant organisms in critically ill patients. The research followed 70 patients and showed no significant difference in overall acquisition of any MRDOs between the two groups.
The September special issue of Optometry and Vision Science presents significant strides in managing patients with dry eye symptoms. Key findings include new treatments such as omega-3 supplements and heat therapy, as well as emerging approaches to diagnosis and management.
Florida State University researchers have identified a viral protein that inhibits the major DNA sensor, suggesting a new pathway for fighting infections, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. By manipulating this protein, scientists may be able to enhance or tune down the immune response.
Fossil skulls from 35 million year old sediments in Antarctica have shed light on the changes in penguin brains that accompanied their transition to water. The findings indicate that early penguins had many of the adaptations of living forms, while having a few unique traits not seen in modern ones.
Researchers at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus have developed new imaging techniques that dramatically improve spatial resolution in living cells. The new methods offer extraordinary visual detail of structures inside cells with unprecedented clarity and speed.
Researchers at Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute used 'brainbow' technique to tag retinal ganglion cell terminals, revealing individual terminals from multiple cells in mature mouse brains. The study challenges traditional understanding of neural development and connections between the retina and brain.
A survey of primary care physicians found significant variation in how doctors make decisions in situations of uncertainty, with those least likely to encounter Ebola patients being most likely to choose overly intense management. The results highlight the need for additional resources and responsible reporting by news media.
A University of Texas at El Paso study found that fourth and fifth graders exposed to toxic air pollutants at home have lower GPAs. The researchers used data from 1,895 children living in El Paso, estimating their exposure to air pollutants like diesel exhaust.
Physicists have developed a radical new theory that confines electromagnetic energy without leaking away, with potential applications in explaining dark matter and combating energy losses. The theory contradicts fundamental principles of electrodynamics but could lead to breakthroughs in quantum computers and laser technology.
A study found that pregnant women with hypertension are more likely to develop hypertension later in life. Their siblings, particularly brothers, also face an increased risk of developing high blood pressure and heart disease.
Researchers found a core group of genes related to both viral defense and susceptibility to demethylating drug 5-azacytidine. The study suggests that triggering this pathway may improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy drugs in patients with certain types of cancer.
A new study at WashU Medicine found that probiotics did not prevent the colonization of drug-resistant microbes in the intestinal tract of critically ill patients. Researchers followed 70 patients and administered them either probiotics or routine care, but no significant difference was seen in colonization rates.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a system that directly charges lithium-ion batteries with solar cells, achieving an efficiency of 7.8%, the most efficient reported to date.
Researchers have discovered accumulations of fat droplets in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease and found that these abnormal fat deposits could be a trigger for the disease. The study suggests that treating fatty acid production may help prevent or delay the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
A new study proposes that if life can travel between stars through panspermia, it would spread in a characteristic pattern, creating clusters of life-forms. These clusters could resemble bubbles in a pot of boiling water, growing and overlapping with each other.
A study by Hanna Marno and colleagues found that languages with SVO structures prefer simplicity due to cognitive load constraints. In experiments where participants were not required to invent their own gestures, a preference for the SVO form emerged in both Italian-speaking and Farsi-speaking groups.
A new theory proposes that neuroticism is driven by high activity in the brain's self-generated thought centers, which can lead to both creative breakthroughs and negative emotions. The study suggests that overthinking may be a key factor in experiencing intense negative emotions even when there is no apparent threat.
Rice University scientists have created a multicellular bacterial circuit that allows bacteria to cooperate and control protein expression. This breakthrough enables the development of biological computers that can be programmed through diet, with potential applications in treating diseases and manipulating the gut microbiome.
A New York University public health study found that 15% of cigarette packs sold in NYC have either counterfeit or out-of-state tax stamps. The majority were purchased from independent retailers, with a significantly higher percentage of illegitimate packs found in these stores.
A new study of high school students reveals that classroom design plays a significant role in engaging girls in computer science. The research suggests that making classrooms less 'geeky' and more inviting can increase girls' interest in enrolling in computer science courses, with 68% preferring non-stereotypical classrooms.
A small study found microfocused ultrasound to be safe and effective in treating laxity of the skin in adults with darker skin types. The treatment resulted in only three temporary adverse events, which resolved without complications.
A study by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found that health workers trained to use malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) still prescribe valuable malaria medicines to patients without testing for malaria. The researchers tested 5,000 participants across 40 communities and found that RDT use remained less than 50% desp...
Researchers found that brief intervals of exercise during sedentary periods can lower children's blood glucose and insulin levels, and may protect against diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The study suggests that even short activity breaks can help overcome negative effects on the body.
A new hypothesis suggests that large bolides pierced early thin lithosphere, causing massive partial melting and forming cratonic crust. This process is thought to have occurred on a Venus-like Earth, which preserved a more complete geological record of its infancy.
Research reveals differences in growth rates, parental care, and survival rates among tropical and temperate songbirds. Tropical birds tend to grow faster and have higher parental investment per offspring, leading to improved survival rates outside the nest.
Scientists at RIKEN Brain Science Institute discovered that glial cells release phospholipid LysoPtdGlc, which repels pain-sensing axons and directs position-sensitive neurons to specific regions in the spinal cord. This lipid-based signaling system has potential as a therapeutic target for spinal cord injury.
Scientists solve the mystery of polar bear Knut's encephalitis, a rare autoimmune disease previously known only in humans. The discovery provides new insights into the possible prevalence of autoimmunity in humans and other mammals.
A team of physicists has found new hints of particles being treated in strange ways not predicted by the Standard Model, suggesting evidence for non-standard physics. The discovery could be a significant lead in the search for new phenomena and potentially shed light on dark matter and dark energy.
A study co-authored by Queen's University professor Stanka Fitneva found that the replicability rate for psychology research is lower than expected. The researchers' most important finding was that less than half of their studies produced the same findings as the original study, suggesting that publication bias may be a major issue in ...
Researchers have developed a system to produce stable, amorphous nanoparticles that dissolve quickly and can be made from a wide range of materials, including inorganic substances with high crystallization propensity. These nanoparticles exhibit different electronic, magnetic, and optical properties than their crystalized counterparts.
Researchers at Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center have designed an online database called CanDL to help molecular pathologists identify key cancer gene mutations. The freely accessible database includes information on 60 genes, 334 distinct variants and 169 unique matching literature references across multiple cancers.
A Georgia State University study found that 10% of mothers in southern Louisiana experienced chronic, persistent depressive symptoms two years after Hurricane Katrina. Despite the significant impact on mothers, maternal depression trajectories were not associated with differences in children's distress symptoms.
Researchers have developed a blood test that can identify patients at risk of breast cancer relapse months before visible signs appear. The test detects cancer DNA in the bloodstream, allowing for early intervention and personalized treatment.
Researchers aim to optimize aerobic exercise training for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, which could improve blood pressure in the lungs, skeletal muscle, and heart metabolism. High-intensity interval training has shown promising results in reversing enlargement of the right ventricle and improving blood pressures.
A new coral reef crustacean species, L. eltoni, was discovered by Dr. James Thomas in Indonesia and later confirmed in Hawaiian waters, serving as an example of an invasive species. The discovery emphasizes the importance of regular environmental monitoring to track such incidents.
A study found that dust in US homes contains over 5,000 bacterial species and 2,000 fungal species, which can indicate the home's location and occupant's gender. Fungal communities are more predictive of a home's location, while bacterial communities reveal clues about the occupants' identities.
A team of researchers used DNA barcoding to accurately identify over 13,000 fish eggs collected from the Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier. The study provides a detailed picture of fish spawning patterns and creates a baseline for assessing future changes in spawning due to climate change.
Researchers at Drexel University have developed a model to recover surplus food, repurpose it into appealing products, and channel it to those in need. The Food System-Sensitive Methodology generates $90,000 monthly in gross revenue, enough to support several employees at a family wage.
Research by Cornell University found family farm managers in NY make $22,000 less annually, yet experience non-financial rewards like socioemotional wealth and future ownership opportunities.
Case Western Reserve University researchers are developing sensors to alert structural and wildland firefighters of hazards in the air after they've entered the 'fire overhauling or mop up' phase. The sensors will expand on NASA's compact particulate and gas sensors to detect toxic gases, including formaldehyde and acrolein.
Dr. Theresa Alenghat receives $100,000 grant to study epigenetics role in IBD development and progression. Her research aims to test the hypothesis that dysregulation of epigenomic modifications and microbiota alterations drive IBD.
A large-scale genetic study of marijuana and hemp revealed a lack of knowledge about cannabis due to its controlled status. Researchers found that cannabis plants are often incorrectly labeled and breeders' claims about strain ancestry are not accurate.
A recent survey found that fewer than 1 in 3 Americans are aware of Pope Francis's efforts to publicize global warming as a priority issue for the Catholic Church. Most Americans support the pope's stance on the issue, despite few considering it a religious or social justice concern.