Barry Simon is receiving the 2016 AMS Steele Prize for Lifetime Achievement in recognition of his groundbreaking contributions to pure mathematics and mathematical physics. His influential books, mentoring, and research have had a lasting impact on generations of mathematical scientists.
The Genome Analysis Centre has achieved a major milestone in wheat research by assembling the genome into larger and more complete chunks. This breakthrough, made possible by improved sequencing technology, will enable researchers to develop new insights into wheat genes and breeding programmes.
A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that only 3 in 10 children get at least 60 minutes of outdoor recess time, despite guidelines recommending it. Preschoolers in child care centers with ample outdoor time were more active over 24 hours.
Researchers analyze Cryptosporidium parvum protein involved in energy metabolism, identifying it as a potential target for developing therapeutics. The study found that lactate dehydrogenase inhibitors can inhibit parasite growth and ATP production.
A study published in Current Biology confirms the phenomenon of horizontal extinction cascades, where the loss of one carnivore species can trigger the demise of fellow predators. The researchers' findings suggest that adopting a whole system approach is crucial for effective conservation.
Researchers have developed a new class of materials for organic electronics, featuring polymeric carbon nitrides with high charge mobility and long lifetimes. These materials show promise for building durable and efficient components for organic electronics applications.
Researchers using NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope discovered a new gamma-ray pulsar in the Large Magellanic Cloud, breaking records for luminosity and age. The discovery was made after reanalyzing data from the telescope's Pass 8 process.
A study by University of Kansas researchers reveals a major Greenland glacier is losing ice rapidly, contributing to increased global sea levels. The Zachariæ Isstrøm glacier holds enough water to trigger a half-meter rise in ocean levels.
Researchers at Michigan Technological University found that thyroid cancer detection assays may not accurately measure two major biomarkers. The proteins tend to clump together, making it difficult to detect the true levels of thyroglobulin and galectin-3. By adding a step to break up these clumps, the tests could be made more accurate.
Researchers developed a relationship education program to address disparities faced by female same-sex couples, including discrimination, stigma, and lack of social support. The 10-hour program improved positive communication skills and satisfaction with relationships among participating couples.
Georgia Tech researchers trained IBM Watson AI to 'chat' with students, sparking creativity and providing answers to complex questions on biologically inspired design. The teams used Watson to learn from biology articles and ask questions on topics like desalination and solar cells, receiving rapid responses with relevant answers.
A 359 million-year-old mass extinction event triggered a drastic transformation in Earth's vertebrate community, with smaller fish dominating the oceans for at least 40 million years. The findings suggest that small, fast-reproducing fish possessed an evolutionary advantage over larger animals in the disturbed environment.
The US Forest Service found that forest carbon sequestration may decline overall over the next 25 years, with some regions experiencing a gradual decline and others a rapid decline due to disturbances like fire and insect epidemics.
Researchers at Oxford University found that apathetic individuals showed more activity in the pre-motor cortex when making decisions, despite being less likely to accept effortful choices. This suggests that biology, not attitude, may be the root cause of apathy in some people.
A new study has revealed reasons why lab-grown stem cells fail to mature in the laboratory and provided a possible solution to overcome these 'developmental arrest'. The researchers analyzed over 200 heart cell samples from mice embryos and animals, identifying biochemical pathways that are out of sync with adult cells.
Two new studies from University of California, Berkeley provide detailed insights into CRISPR-Cas9's molecular basis for accurate DNA targeting. The Cas9 protein appears to have at least three ways to check for correct target DNA before making a cut, ensuring precise genome editing.
In a study by Oxford University researchers, wild birds chose to stay close to their partners over accessing food, even when it meant spending less time foraging. This demonstrates the importance of social relationships for wild birds and shows how individual behavior can be shaped around maintaining key relationships.
A Vanderbilt University Medical Center study found that COX-2 drugs may cause cardiovascular problems due to prostaglandin production by macrophages. The researchers hope to develop new, targeted painkillers without the vascular effects of existing medications.
Scientists have discovered that ultrathin layers of molybden disulfide (MoS2) remain superconducting under high magnetic fields, contrary to conventional physics. This phenomenon has significant implications for future quantum computing applications and could lead to breakthroughs in information storage.
A Michigan State University study reveals that developing strong internal relationships leads to a significant increase in sales volume. Successful salespeople leverage political skill to build connections with well-connected co-workers and extraversion helps facilitate cross-fertilization of ideas.
This study models and verifies the behavior of Chinese Train Control System Level 3 (CTCS-3) using the Architecture Analysis & Design Language (AADL). The authors use the Behavior Language for Embedded Systems with Software (BLESS) and Hybrid Annex (HA) sublanguages to capture discrete and continuous behaviors, respectively. They verif...
Researchers found that a fractal hydrocarbon haze on early Earth could have resulted in a moderate, possibly habitable average global temperature. The haze also would have absorbed ultraviolet light, shielding the planet from deadly radiation.
Researchers have identified the Jagged1 gene as a potential target for therapies to combat Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration. Increasing expression of JAG1 was shown to prevent the development of degenerative disease in zebrafish models.
A study found that kidney failure patients on dialysis were at high risk of kidney and thyroid cancers, while those post-transplant were at higher risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and melanoma. The findings highlight the importance of cancer screening and prevention in these patients.
A new study by Harvard Medical School researchers found that Medicaid insurance is associated with better awareness and treatment of chronic diseases among low-income Americans. People with Medicaid are five times more likely to see a doctor than those with no health insurance.
A national survey of US surface waters found pharmaceuticals in high levels near urban areas, posing risks to aquatic organisms. Research on complex mixtures of pharmaceuticals reveals inconsistent responses across different life stages, highlighting the need for diverse biological endpoints.
Research found that exposure to dust mite and cockroach allergens triggers distinct asthma responses, with eosinophilic and neutrophilic asthma requiring separate treatment options. The study suggests that current 'blanket approach' to asthma treatment may not be ideal.
Research finds that regular entrepreneurial activity fosters passionate entrepreneurship, with success and freedom of choice playing key roles. The study challenges the idea that passion for entrepreneurship is innate, instead suggesting it can develop over time with experience and accomplishment.
Andrew J. Majda has made groundbreaking contributions to partial differential equations, merging asymptotic methods, numerical methods, and rigorous analysis. His work has had a significant impact in science and engineering, particularly in the study of multidimensional shock fronts and their stability.
A new paper in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management provides a comprehensive overview of greenbug control methods for wheat and sorghum. Growers can use the Glance n' Go system to monitor fields and determine when pesticides are necessary, reducing unnecessary treatments and costs.
A study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that listeners' pupils dilate in response to emotional music, reflecting both the music's content and the listener's personal connection. The research used eye trackers to measure pupil size while participants listened to short music excerpts from the Romantic era.
Researchers discovered that ancient bees used both generalist and specialist pollen-collecting strategies, finding pollen from diverse flowers on their bodies except for the hind legs. This finding challenges previous theories about the early history of bee pollination.
A team of physicists at the University of Alberta has created a method to measure magnetic resonance using mechanical twisting motion detected with light, enabling the miniaturization of magnetic sensors. This technology opens up possibilities for various scientific applications in healthcare, technology, and energy.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London found male bumblebees equal to female worker bees in learning floral colors. The study showed that male bees can learn new flower colors as indicators for nectar even when the original color changes.
A new study using mathematical models estimates that gene replacement can spread quickly through populations, potentially eradicating diseases like malaria. However, the speed and efficiency of this biological control strategy also bring significant risks of unintended consequences.
A University of Adelaide study finds that warmer oceans and increased CO2 levels will dramatically impact sharks' hunting ability, leading to reduced growth rates and changes in food webs. This loss of top-down control could accelerate shark extinction rates.
Researchers find per capita public health spending declining from $281 in 2008 to $256 in 2014, reflecting a $40.2 billion loss to disease prevention and related programs. This decline reflects the nation's 'dangerously out of balance' healthcare system, where more is spent treating disease than preventing it.
A new study identifies 97 basins serving 2 billion people at risk of declining snowmelt due to warming, posing a critical threat to human water supplies. The most vulnerable regions include California, the Caucasus, and parts of Europe and Asia.
A new study by Brown University found that HIV incidence rises significantly in the five years leading up to bloodshed in sub-Saharan Africa. The rate of new infections increases by 2.1 infections per 1000 people a year during this period, compared to times of peace.
A new study analyzed 527 patients who underwent spinal fusion surgery using recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP) and found high rates of successful fusion and low rates of complications. The study found no significantly increased risk of cancer, contradicting previous concerns.
A glacier in northeast Greenland is losing mass at a rate of 5 billion tons per year and breaking up into the North Atlantic Ocean. The glacier's rapid retreat is attributed to ocean warming and decades of increasing air temperatures, which are substantially raising global sea levels.
A University of Washington researcher argues that people should pay more attention to how climate change affects ocean and coastal environments globally. The review paper looks at scientific understanding of ocean changes and responses from people around the world, highlighting potential for local action and interdisciplinary research.
A new study found that older adults with dementia visit emergency departments at higher rates, are admitted to hospitals more often, and have a higher death rate after ED visits compared to those without dementia. The study also highlights the need for better care in fast-paced emergency departments.
Michigan State University has been awarded $18.5 million in USAID grants to support food security initiatives in Nigeria and Senegal. The grants will help strengthen the countries' policies and procedures necessary for achieving their own food security goals.
Scientists have identified the poly(A) tail as a crucial component in LINE-1 retrotransposition, a process that can cause genetic mutations and diseases. Without the tail, the parasite's jumping ability is significantly impaired, offering new strategies for inhibiting its movement.
A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that youth offenders face a significantly higher risk of early death as they become more involved in the judicial system. The study analyzed 518 youth offender deaths and found that mortality rates rose with increasing levels of interaction with the justice system.
The Visible Nulling Coronagraph (VNC) technology has demonstrated improved sensitivity over a broader spectral range, making it a stronger contender for a future astrophysics mission. The instrument will enable spectroscopy to study exoplanet atmospheres and identify signs of life.
Researchers have gained a deeper understanding of the biosynthesis process, enabling them to manipulate nature's machinery to produce more effective compounds. This knowledge will help scientists engineer enzymes to create new treatments for diseases.
A new study predicts that continued deforestation in the Amazon could lead to annual rainfall of less than drought years by 2050. Deforestation rates would need to revert back to pre-2004 levels to achieve this decline, according to researchers.
The study suggests that primitive North American mammoths emerged around 2-1.5 million years ago (MYA), originating from Asia via the Bering Strait. This new understanding challenges previous assumptions about the evolutionary timeline of North American Columbian mammoths.
A new study ranks drugs based on their transparency and ethical practices, finding that nearly half of all reviewed drugs had undisclosed Phase II or III trials. The 'Good Pharma Scorecard' aims to incentivize pharmaceutical companies to improve disclosure, benefiting consumers and protecting human research subjects.
A study by Penn Medicine and Monell Chemical Senses Center found a genetic taste receptor linked to improved breathing, reduced infections, and enhanced sleep outcomes for patients undergoing chronic sinus surgery. The discovery may improve treatment selection process and set realistic expectations for patients.
A new study published in JAMA-Oncology found that a personalized approach to treating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting is more effective than the existing 'one size fits all' guidelines. Patients at higher risk of nausea and vomiting due to personal factors such as age, pregnancy history, or travel sickness showed significant i...
A Brazilian research team has identified five previously known species and three new ones as separate genera due to distinct physical characteristics. The newly formed Curculionichthys genus includes catfishes with elongated mouths, dark-brown spots, and other unique features.
Researchers found that consuming sweets activates neurons in the dorsal hippocampus, a critical region for episodic memory. This process is necessary for making memories, including those related to eating behavior. The study suggests that forming memories of meals can help control eating habits.
Neuroscientists can analyze social media broadcasts to measure emotional states, social conformity, and personality traits. Social media use also reveals differences in brain structure and function compared to offline environments.
A cognitive model of artificial neurons has learned to communicate through dialogue with a human interlocutor, demonstrating the ability to express a wide range of capabilities in human language processing. The ANNABELL model uses synaptic plasticity and neural gating mechanisms to learn and adapt to new information.
A team of astronomers used data from the VLT to study the remains of an asteroid around a stellar remnant -- a white dwarf. They discovered an orbiting disc of gaseous material and found that it is lopsided and has not yet become circular.
Researchers used dendrimers to track and isolate proteins involved in cell entry pathways, identifying 809 proteins. This technology could lead to more targeted drug delivery and improve our understanding of viruses.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that certain antibiotics used to treat MRSA can worsen the infection in mice. The study suggests that these antibiotics may induce inflammation and damage tissues, making patients sicker.