Scientists at the University of Chicago have successfully aligned over 99% of nuclear spins in silicon carbide, a crucial step towards developing practical spintronic devices. The breakthrough uses infrared light to cool and align spins, allowing for operation at room temperature.
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center have identified a potential non-invasive diagnostic tool for early pancreatic cancer detection. Glypican-1-enriched circulating exosomes were found to be present in small amounts of serum from patients with pancreatic cancer, showing high specificity and sensitivity. Early detection of pancreati...
Researchers from UiT The Arctic University of Norway have imaged deep Arctic Ocean methane seeps for the first time using a custom-designed system. The images reveal over 1000 active seep sites at depths of over 1000 m, providing valuable insights into gas hydrate and climate change.
A new $20,000 grant from the National Geographic Society will support Chan Kin Onn's research on revealing the hidden diversity and riverscape genetics of reptiles and amphibians in Malaysia. Through genetic analysis and ecological niche modeling, Chan aims to catalog and conserve species threatened by habitat destruction.
Researchers at Columbia University found that students who wrote about values important to them showed improved academic performance and challenged negative stereotypes. The study used text mining to analyze thousands of essays written by middle school and college students.
Scientists have developed nanoscale hybrid materials for noninvasive cancer diagnosis, offering improved image resolution and minimal toxicity. These hybrid materials combine strong fluorescence, high photostability, and great biocompatibility, making them promising for clinical bioimaging applications.
The first species of Yeti Crab, Kiwa tyleri, has been discovered in the East Scotia Ridge hydrothermal vents of Antarctica. This unique crab thrives in high densities at extremely low temperatures and relies on bacteria for nutrition.
A multimillion-dollar research partnership at the University of Alberta is developing small molecules that can reactivate a patient's immune system to fight cancer. The team plans to have a 'lead structure' drug ready by the end of the second year, with the potential for human trials by 2020.
Girls are at a higher risk of overuse injuries in high school sports, with girls track, field hockey, and lacrosse showing the highest rates. Varying movement and prioritizing rest and nutrition can help prevent these injuries.
A QUT study found that compulsive snacking when not hungry is a major cause of weight gain. Volunteers who were offered extra chocolate snacks despite feeling full consumed more, with those eating most being heavier and more impulsive. Repeated snacking without hunger poses a risk factor for weight gain.
Scientists at the University of South Carolina and University of Florida have created a new system for studying gas flow in narrow tubes with single-file atom movement. By comparing these nanotubes to wider tubes, researchers aim to understand fundamental processes involved in gas separation and membrane technology.
A study found that ERs misdiagnosed UTIs and STIs in women nearly half the time, resulting in unnecessary antibiotic use. The misdiagnoses were often due to similar symptoms and abnormal urinalysis results.
Researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute have discovered a way to design nanowires for LEDs that use less energy and provide better light. By using X-ray microscopy, they can pinpoint the optimal structure of these tiny wires, leading to more efficient core/shell designs.
A new study suggests that virtual reality therapy may help people with alcohol dependence reduce their craving for alcohol. The therapy involves exposing patients to situations that trigger fear and anxiety, then teaching them to manage those situations in real life.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a new device that can track chemical signals within cells, allowing for faster and more accurate detection of cancerous growth. The device uses digital microfluidics to deliver rapid sequences of chemicals, enabling scientists to study cell responses in unprecedented detail.
A new laser-based technique called multi-exposure speckle imaging (MESI) aims to provide accurate blood flow measurements during neurosurgery. The technology has the potential to transform images and enable surgeons to distinguish healthy arteries from blocked ones, allowing for better assessment of problem areas.
The BMJ investigation reveals a sharp divide within the public health community regarding e-cigarettes and 'harm reduction'. Experts debate the products' potential to help smokers quit and the tobacco industry's true intentions. Some argue for collaboration with the industry, while others fear it may be a Trojan horse.
Scientists successfully identified tumor DNA shed into the blood and saliva of patients with head and neck cancer, offering a promising new screening test. Saliva tests fared better for oral cavity cancers, while blood tests excelled in detecting cancers in the larynx, hypopharynx, and oropharynx.
Plant breeders are developing salt-tolerant grass to conserve water, using treated wastewater in turf grass cultivation. The research found that additive genetic effects play a crucial role in salt tolerance, allowing breeders to select for desirable traits.
Scientists at Karolinska Institutet have created an organic bioelectronic device that can receive chemical signals and relay them to human cells, mimicking the function of a human nerve cell. This innovation has the potential to improve treatments for neurological disorders by bypassing damaged nerve cells.
The report highlights the urgent need to scale up AIDS efforts, get serious about HIV prevention, and continue expanding access to treatment in countries most affected by HIV. The Commission recommends increasing resources for HIV prevention, treatment, and research, as well as robust governance and accountability.
Astronomers discover active galactic nuclei (AGN) exhibit flickering behavior, switching on and off every 200,000 years. This phenomenon affects star formation in host galaxies, with radiation from AGN potentially delaying or preventing the collapse of gas clouds.
Researchers discover a giant cloud of hydrogen gas being burnt off from the atmosphere of GJ 436b, an exoplanet orbiting a warm red dwarf star. The cloud forms a comet-like tail as ultraviolet light pushes hydrogen into spiral motion, with 1000 metric tonnes being lost every second.
A new study finds that as smoking declines overall, remaining smokers are actually less likely to smoke and more likely to quit. The study challenges the need to promote e-cigarettes as a harm reduction strategy, suggesting that current tobacco control policies have been successful in reducing smoking prevalence.
The University of Illinois will lead a $3.1 million project to develop all-terrain automated ground rovers for high-throughput field phenotyping. These rovers will measure crop growth using 3-D reconstruction and various sensors, enabling faster breeding of energy sorghum and other bioenergy crops.
A national cancer study has found that a tumor's DNA, not just tumor stage, is key to determining if a lower-grade malignant brain tumor may rapidly progress to glioblastoma. The findings could lead to earlier and more aggressive treatment for those tumors projected to be on the fast path.
A team of scientists has discovered a massive cloud of hydrogen escaping from the atmosphere of GJ436b, a Neptune-sized exoplanet located 33 light years away. This phenomenon may help explain the formation of hot and rocky 'super-earths' and potentially detect extrasolar oceans.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that the primary visual cortex controls fast responses to animal images, contradicting previous theories. The brain categorizes scenes based on small areas of shape and texture before using complex processing to identify objects.
Researchers have evaluated the best potential sources for adult stem cells to be used for treating diabetic retinopathy. They found that cells taken from donors without diabetes are more effective than those from patients' own bodies. This discovery provides a crucial framework for evaluating stem cells for future treatments.
A study published in Liver Transplantation identified younger patients and those with more severe liver disease as more likely to have potential living liver donors. In contrast, older, single, divorced, or low-income patients were less likely to have a live donor volunteer for liver donation.
Scientists at the Salk Institute discovered that telomeres play a more central role in a self-destruct program in cells that prevents tumors than previously thought. This process, called crisis, can be exploited to improve cancer therapies by targeting telomeres and making cells more susceptible to chemotherapy.
A recent study published in Research Involvement and Engagement found that research on treatments for health problems like diabetes and schizophrenia is not focused on the most important treatments considered by patients and clinicians. The study reveals marked differences between the types of treatments highlighted as priorities by pa...
Researchers reconstructed dinosaur tracks at a 154-million-year-old quarry site, suggesting carnivorous dinosaurs hunted herbivorous island-dwelling dinosaurs. The digital model reveals that the predators could have immigrated via a land bridge as sea levels dropped.
A new study conducted at the University of Iowa's National Advanced Driving Simulator found that drivers who use both alcohol and marijuana together weaved more on a virtual roadway than those using either substance independently. The study, which analyzed the effects of inhaled cannabis on driving performance, also found no double eff...
Researchers found that patients who had undergone vagotomy were protected against developing Parkinson's disease, with a risk halved after 20 years. The study suggests that Parkinson's disease begins in the gut and spreads via the vagus nerve to the brain.
Researchers discovered that the protein structure of a key membrane protein differs from a previously postulated model, providing a basis for new treatments. The study reveals how the protein pore opens and closes in response to substrate binding, offering insights into the pathogen's attachment mechanism.
A study on butterfly-coevolution with cabbage plants has provided new insights into the genetic basis of this ancient dynamic. Over 80 million years, advances in plant defense led to counter-tactics from butterflies, driving rapid species diversification.
Research aims to understand how Antarctic fish will respond to rising ocean temperatures, which could impact the food web and ecosystem. The study will focus on embryo viability, development rate, and temperature stress response in two species, and provide data for informing climate change strategies.
A months-long literature search uncovered evidence that a microscopic aquatic parasite, Blastulidium paedophthorum, is a widespread and virulent multi-host parasite in southeastern Michigan lakes. The research found that the parasite significantly impacts host fecundity without reducing Daphnia lifespan.
A study found that household contacts of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB) patients were 44% less likely to contract tuberculosis than those of drug-susceptible cases. The researchers suggest this may be due to a lower relative fitness of MDRTB strains.
Researchers found that commodity price bubbles were short-lived and not as frequent as thought. Bubbles in the grain markets occurred more often during periods of production problems rather than speculative activity. The study's findings suggest that the commodity market is doing a good job of accessing prices, with only minor hiccups.
Scientists at the University of Cambridge developed a method to combine multiple functions in a single material by integrating structure at the nanoscale. This approach enables the creation of multi-functional artificial muscles that can move, sense, and report on their environment.
Scientists at Tel Aviv University have found that a tropical ascidian species can expel its digestive tract and rebuild it within 12 days. The study provides new insights into the organism's ability to eviscerate and regenerate its gut, shedding light on potential avenues for human soft-tissue regeneration research.
Researchers at Qualcomm MEMS Technologies developed a display technology that harnesses natural ambient light to create an unprecedented range of colors. The new design uses a mirror and absorbing layer to reflect more of the incoming light, enabling the full spectrum of visible light to be displayed.
A Duke University Medical Center study found that older heart patients with reduced function may benefit from defibrillators, which can lower the risk of death by one-third. However, the devices are underutilized due to factors such as advanced age, transitions in care, and mandatory waiting periods.
Researchers have developed a new method to estimate distances to X-ray sources using the geometry of light echoes and dust clouds. By analyzing the timing and deflection of X-rays as they pass through interstellar space, astronomers can calculate the distance to Circinus X-1, a binary system located in the plane of the galaxy.
A study analyzing health insurance data found that long-term treatment with pioglitazone significantly decreases the risk of developing dementia in patients with type 2 diabetes. The medication lowers the risk by approximately half compared to non-diabetics, with a notable protective effect against Alzheimer's disease.
A new model by MIT researchers analyzes flight schedules and ticket sales to determine global air transport connectivity. The study finds that one-stop flights have become more important over time in connecting regions, despite being less preferred by passengers.
Researchers have successfully controlled the length and strength of waves of atomic motion, promising applications in fine-scale imaging and information transmission. Hybrid polaritons propagate throughout many layers of a crystalline material and can be tuned with an electronic gate.
Researchers from Umea University found no association between PDEi drugs and increased melanoma risk; instead, men taking these drugs are more health-conscious and sunbathe more often, increasing their melanoma diagnosis risk.
Joshua Tully, a Louisiana Tech University chemistry student, has been awarded a Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) Fellowship by the EPA for his research on natural clay nanotubes. The fellowship provides a year of academic support and internship experience, valued at up to $50,000.
Dr. Maurizio D'Incalci receives the first Pezcoller-Prodi Award in recognition of his work on translational cancer research and therapeutic oncology. The award highlights his contributions to the development of novel anticancer drugs, including trabectedin.
A team of Lehigh University engineers has developed a novel approach for the reproducible biosynthesis of extracellular, water-soluble quantum dots using bacteria and cadmium sulfide. This method reduces cost and environmental impact by utilizing an engineered strain of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia to control particle size.
Researchers found that groups of neurons work together to signal muscles about when and where to move, firing in complex rhythms. The study aims to create prosthetic devices that better understand and respond to a person's thoughts.
Fewer than 1 in 10 eligible patients with low ejection fraction received an ICD within 1 year after a heart attack. ICD implantation was associated with a 36% lower risk of death at two years. Additional research is needed to increase ICD implantation among eligible patients.
A study of 197 patients with breast cancer found that more selective use of biomarker testing could save up to $117 million annually. Testing larger excisional biopsies instead of reflexively testing smaller core biopsies would help pick up tumors eligible for targeted therapy, reducing unnecessary costs.
UCSB sociologist Thomas Scheff argues that psychology's scientific method is blind to the insights of intuition, leading to misconceptions about catharsis, stigma, and self-esteem. Future studies could split scales into cognitive and emotional components to address these issues.
A new study published in the British Journal of Psychology found that people tend to choose poorly matching passport photos, leading to lower accuracy in face recognition. Strangers were surprisingly more reliable at judging likeness than individuals themselves, with self-selected images being matched seven per cent less accurately.
Researchers at UVA Health System have identified a critical protein, ESP1, that stabilizes the site of sperm-egg fusion. This discovery may pave the way for the development of a male contraceptive by targeting the protein's interactions.
A new nanobiosensor can detect biomarkers for multiple sclerosis and other nervous system diseases. By analyzing the interaction between a patient's cerebrospinal fluid and the device, doctors can rule out or confirm diagnoses with greater confidence.