A nationally representative survey of over 7,000 people in India reveals that more than one in four older individuals on low and middling incomes have an unhealthy midriff bulge. Women are particularly prone to central adiposity, with a significant portion carrying an unhealthy spare tyre.
A team of Israeli and French scientists has discovered a gene that controls the production of male flowers in cucurbit plants, allowing for the creation of female-only flowers. This finding has significant implications for agricultural productivity, as female flowers are associated with higher yields.
A new study found that obese children and those with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) are not meeting the UK's vitamin and mineral guidelines. They are also significantly off meeting the recommended physical activity levels, with excess weight unlikely to be the only factor in NAFLD development.
Researchers found that infants exposed to farm dust at a young age have a lower risk of developing asthma later on. The study's findings suggest that the positive influence of farm environment can effectively neutralize the genetic variant associated with childhood asthma.
An international team of astrophysicists led by Johns Hopkins University scientist Sjoert van Velzen witnessed a star being destroyed by a supermassive black hole, ejecting a jet of plasma at nearly the speed of light. The team observed this event over several months using multi-wavelength telescopes and satellites.
Researchers have discovered that silicon nanocones can intensify luminescence by up to 200 times compared to nanocolumns. This is due to the amplification of electromagnetic waves through whisper gallery modes, which facilitate increased electron excitation and release of light.
The study uses satellite images to show how glaciers flow and change over a longer time period, revealing complex behavior such as advancing or surging at speeds up to 100 times faster than normal. The animations provide a new look at glacier dynamics and can be used as educational tools to help the public understand glacier movement.
A new video inventory developed at McGill University may aid in diagnosing disorders that make it hard for individuals to recognize non-literal speech like sarcasm and teasing. This is particularly challenging for men and people with conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, or Autism spectrum disorders.
A study found that coccolithophore abundance has increased by an order of magnitude since the 1960s in the North Atlantic, contrary to predictions. This unexpected finding highlights the complex response of marine ecosystems to climate change.
A new study from the University of Exeter found that people can learn to make effective tools through reasoning and reverse engineering, not just through teaching. This discovery challenges established views on how human tools and technologies improve over time, pointing to humans' unique ability to adapt and innovate.
A study led by Johns Hopkins University scientist suggests that rapid growth in tiny plankton's population is a sign of swift environmental change due to increased carbon dioxide in the ocean. The research highlights the possibility of rapid ecosystem change, potentially exceeding previously predicted models.
A new study suggests that mobile phone metrics can be used to infer a person's socioeconomic status, particularly in resource-constrained regions like Rwanda. The researchers developed a model that maps poverty and wealth at high resolution, accurately predicting wealth throughout the country.
The top 10 research priorities for tackling mild to moderate hearing loss include addressing aspects of hearing aid provision, with the majority concerned with improving treatment outcomes. The list aims to re-focus future studies on areas with the greatest potential impact in furthering understanding and developing successful treatments.
The use of different methods to measure energy sources is a significant issue, affecting global efforts to combat climate change. The disparity in measuring energy statistics can lead to inaccurate targets and progress tracking.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new thermoelectric material that converts waste heat to electricity more efficiently than previous materials. By doping tin selenide with sodium, they increased the material's performance, enabling it to produce significantly more electricity from the same amount of heat input.
A team of scientists reconstructed wildlife populations across Africa to better understand how they shaped the world. They focused on large mammal herbivores and found that dry areas had fewer animals, while wetter savannas were dominated by elephants and fire.
Researchers have identified the KLF4 protein as a crucial regulator in the development of Cerebral Cavernous Malformation (CCM), a disease characterized by vascular lesions that can lead to cerebral hemorrhage. The study suggests that blocking the development and progression of CCM could prevent mortality due to brain hemorrhage.
The University of Warwick has been awarded funding for 15 PhD studentships in quantitative cellular dynamics, molecular microbiology, and anti-microbial resistance. The partnership with the Medical Research Council will provide a strong interdisciplinary training programme to produce future leaders in biomedical research.
Recent Western blood pressure guidelines may be too high for Asian populations, especially those at high risk of cardiovascular disease. The guidelines recommend a target blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg, but this threshold could boost stroke risk in elderly Asians.
A new technique has enabled the rapid expansion of functional human liver cells in the lab, opening up new avenues for studying drug toxicity, liver disease, and more. The method, known as the 'upcyte' process, allows for the generation of liver cells from multiple donors with similar characteristics to primary human hepatocytes.
A new approach calculates an objective probability of treatment effectiveness, potentially revealing up to 20% of older treatments were mistakenly labelled as ineffective. Researchers may be dismissing treatments with small degrees of effectiveness due to flawed evaluation methods.
A study published in Science shows that Paris emissions reduction pledges have the potential to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius if implemented and followed by measures of equal or greater ambition. Implementing these pledges through 2030 and increasing efforts beyond can greatly reduce the chance of extreme warming.
Researchers compared therapies for Neuromyelitis optica, a rare autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Plasma exchange therapy proved more effective than steroids in treating the condition's relapsing symptoms.
A new study has shown that human embryonic stem cells are fit for use in patients, paving the way for clinical trials of cell therapies. The research also establishes a cost-effective approach for monitoring the quality of stem cell-based products and emerging cell therapies.
A recent study published in Scientific Reports reveals that sperm utilize proteins from the visual system, known as opsins, to detect temperature differences in the fallopian tube. This allows them to navigate and orient towards the warmer egg location, ensuring successful fertilization.
Researchers have developed a mechanism to extract single photons from a stream, enabling practical applications in quantum communication. The discovery relies on a physical effect called single-photon Raman interaction, which allows for the selective capture of individual photons.
A team of scientists has developed a new method to assess the structure of natural forests using principles from stochastic geometry. The approach enables quick and accurate assessment of biomass estimates, revealing surprising low packing densities in tropical forests.
A recent study led by Enno Klußmann and Veronika Anita Deák discovered that the GSKIP protein plays a crucial role in embryonic development, with implications for understanding Goldenhar syndrome. The research found a high degree of correlation between mouse and human genes responsible for the condition.
Researchers used a rare genetic childhood disease to reveal how cancer cells hijack a metabolic cycle to benefit themselves. The study found that silencing the ASS1 gene, which is lacking in some patients, can be beneficial for cancer growth and could lead to new treatments.
Scientists have developed a new method to model heat wave magnitude, indicating that extreme heat events will increase in severity and number over the next two decades. The Heat Wave Magnitude Index daily (HWMId) takes into account both duration and intensity of heat waves.
The study reveals how malaria parasites infect liver cells, a critical step in their lifecycle. The discovery provides new insights into the molecular details of malaria infection and has significant implications for developing new drugs and vaccines.
A team of engineers at UC Berkeley has developed a method to fix defects in monolayer semiconductors, increasing photoluminescence quantum yield by 100-fold. The technique uses an organic superacid to create defect-free material for applications such as transparent LED displays and high-performance transistors.
A new study has found that personally tailored diabetes care reduces mortality in women, but not men. The structured approach may be more effective for women due to their greater acceptance of disease management and less emphasis on self-directed learning.
A recent study by King's College London and Sapienza University of Rome found that frequent use of high potency 'skunk-like' cannabis can cause damage to the white matter in the brain. White matter consists of large bundles of nerve cell projections, enabling communication between different regions of the brain.
Researchers identify a new type of bacteria, Nitrospira, capable of converting ammonia to nitrate through comammox process, revealing a long-sought organism in the nitrogen cycle. This discovery opens up new avenues for understanding the environment and wastewater treatment.
Researchers at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine found that FOXO1 is essential for both germinal center dark zone formation and efficient B cell response to pathogens. The study sheds light on the transcription factor's role in normal immune function, but further research is needed to understand its link to lymphomagenesis.
A study published in BMJ Open found that Canadians living in densely-populated areas with close services report more utilitarian walking but have lower total physical activity. The researchers suggest that walkability can be an opportunity to integrate activity into daily life.
Phytoplankton subjected to warmed water initially failed to thrive but evolved tolerance to temperatures expected by the end of the century. The shift enabled them to convert carbon dioxide into new biomass and improve models describing ecological effects of climate change.
Research suggests certain types of carbon-intensive algae are flourishing as carbon pumps, removing CO2 from the atmosphere. A shift in phytoplankton dominance occurred over the past millennium, with a more recent transition happening in less than 200 years.
A study by University of British Columbia researchers reveals that envy plays a significant role in driving Facebook posts and negatively impacting users' mental well-being. Envy-induced behavior, fueled by unrealistic social media portrayals, can create a cycle of jealousy and self-importance.
A team of scientists has discovered a hungry black hole swallowing a star at the centre of a nearby galaxy. The discovery confirms their theories about the nature of black holes and reveals faint jets of material shooting out from the supermassive black hole.
Researchers at the University of Belgrade developed a graphene-based microphone with up to 15 dB higher sensitivity compared to commercial nickel-based microphones. The graphene membrane was grown on a nickel foil using chemical vapour deposition and showed potential for ultrasonic performance.
The Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) represent a 'bottom up' approach to climate management, with countries setting their own emissions reduction targets. Fawcett and colleagues found that INDCs can help reduce the probability of worst levels of temperature change until 2100 and limit global warming to 2?C.
Researchers develop algorithm to identify and block falsified feedback, ensuring ecommerce trust management systems' integrity. The algorithm uses a clustering approach to group similar ratings together and determine the credibility of individual ratings.
New research from the University of Texas at Austin suggests that rock salt used to store nuclear waste may not be as impermeable as previously thought. Deformation of the salt can create connected pore networks that allow fluids to flow, making it a more significant concern for storage sites.