A new study at MIT applies the fracture mechanics theory of local symmetry to predict river network evolution. The research found that rivers grow in a direction consistent with symmetry, driven by groundwater pressure and water table height.
Researchers at Weizmann Institute discovered a subtype of immune cells that prevent metabolic syndrome by regulating inflammation-causing T cells. Mice lacking these cells became overweight and developed symptoms of metabolic syndrome.
Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding how the flu virus works by studying its M2 proton channel. Using advanced MRI technology, researchers gained insight into the virus's replication process, which could lead to the development of new prescription drugs.
A Canadian study found significant disparities in obstetric care between First Nations and non-First Nations women, with First Nations mothers being less likely to undergo labour induction, epidural, or cesarean delivery. These differences may contribute to higher infant mortality rates among First Nations populations.
A new study predicts that parts of the Arctic Ocean will see at least 60 days a year of open water by the 2050s. Researchers used climate simulations to investigate local impacts of open water expansion patterns in the Arctic, finding that many sites will have more than 100 additional days of open water by then.
A team of researchers has revealed the molecular architecture of the replisome, a complex responsible for unwinding and replicating DNA in eukaryotic organisms. The findings show that the replisome has a unique structure, with one polymerase sitting above the helicase, challenging decades-old textbook drawings.
Two postdoctoral scholars from UC Santa Barbara's Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics developed a method called ImSAnE, which constructs an atlas of two-dimensional maps for dynamic tissue surfaces. This allows scientists to analyze layered tissues with relative ease and reduces data size and processing time.
The EU has allocated €3 million for a design study on a European plasma research accelerator, which aims to develop a new technology for particle acceleration. The EuPRAXIA project will produce a conceptual design report for the world's first five Giga-Electronvolts plasma-based accelerator.
Research by University of Colorado School of Medicine faculty found that one in five pediatricians dismiss families who refuse vaccines. The study suggests that states with philosophical exemption laws and easier exemption processes have lower vaccination rates and higher rates of vaccine-preventable diseases.
The Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub aims to address health, energy, finance, urbanization, natural science, and education challenges using data analytics and collaboration between experts. The hub will focus on extracting insights from large datasets to bring about tangible results.
ETH Zurich researchers Prof. Dirk Helbing and Dr. Evangelos Pournaras propose a citizen-led platform called Nervousnet to enable self-determination and sustainability. The platform allows users to measure, analyze, and share data in real-time, promoting participatory governance and environmental awareness.
A collaborative effort between pharmacists and physicians improved blood pressure control among a diverse group of patients. The study found that the intervention resulted in lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures and higher hypertension control rates, with costs mostly due to prescription drug expenses.
A large study of UK professional footballers found that nearly 4 out of 10 have active tooth decay, while 1 in 20 has irreversible gum disease. This poor dental health is affecting performance and wellbeing among players, highlighting the need for regular screening and preventive approaches.
Mathematicians at Duke University develop a method to compare common tumor growth models using only two time-point measurements of tumor size. The results suggest breast and liver tumors grow exponentially, while neurological tumors follow the two-thirds power law.
A new study by UCLA researchers reveals a wide range of costs for treating low-risk prostate cancer, with active surveillance being the most cost-effective option. The study used time-driven activity-based costing to analyze costs across an entire care process, finding significant variation in prices for different treatments.
A study analyzing 16 years of mark-recapture data found large-scale declines in roughly half of the species studied, including Swainson's thrush and tufted titmouse. Roughly half of the afflicted species managed to rebound within a year or two, including corvids like crows.
Researchers found that dissolved organic carbon is efficiently removed from ocean water when heated to mimic hydrothermal vent conditions. This process converts the organic molecules into carbon dioxide, reducing oceanic carbon storage.
A new study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that federal policy changes led to an increase in healthy food availability at smaller urban corner stores in Baltimore. The researchers found that stores in neighborhoods with a majority of black residents showed the greatest improvement, suggesting that boosting hea...
Research highlights the potential backfire of stigmatizing smoking in public health campaigns, which can lead to increased stress and resistance to quitting. Vulnerable groups may benefit from anti-smoking programs focusing on giving up benefits rather than negative stereotypes.
A recent study suggests that obese individuals with metabolic syndrome may be chronically deficient in vitamin E, which is crucial for combating oxidative stress and associated diseases like heart disease and Alzheimer's. Experts recommend a balanced diet with daily multivitamins and healthy fats to mitigate this deficiency.
A new study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that US chain restaurants with voluntary calorie labels have an average of 140 fewer calories per item than those without labels. This trend suggests that menu labeling can encourage restaurants to offer healthier options and reduce population-level obesity.
Scientists have discovered that holes in Mount Baldy's sand dunes were formed by entombed oak trees that decomposed into a cementing mineral, creating hazardous voids. The study, presented at the Geological Society of America meeting, sheds light on how these living systems interact between biology and geology.
Researchers have produced the first-ever images of the protein complex that unwinds, splits, and copies double-stranded DNA, revealing a counterintuitive architecture. The helicase coordinates with polymerases to duplicate each strand, suggesting potential molecular quality control and developmental biology implications.
Rhesus monkeys can distinguish between female group members and those from different social groups using their sense of smell. This ability helps them understand their social environment, with males and older monkeys showing greater interest in distinguishing odors.
A new study found that breast cancer adjuvant therapies have varying effects on patients over time. Researchers analyzed 19 clinical trials and discovered nearly half showed time-varying treatment effects.
Studies show that having one child reduces the risk of certain types of ovarian cancer, such as serous, mucinous, endometrioid, and clear cell tumours. Women who have had their fallopian tubes cut or clipped also experience a lower risk of developing these cancers.
Researchers discovered that cancer cells utilize tunneling nanotubes to exchange molecules with neighboring cells, including healthy cells, and a key regulator protein is involved in this process. The findings suggest potential new strategies for cancer treatment by targeting these secret channels.
Scientists are exploring the formation of novel molecular aggregates at ultra-cold temperatures, where quantum mechanical principles govern interactions between atoms and molecules. By studying synthetic solids created by optical lattices, researchers aim to develop a new theory describing the chemistry of ultra-cold atoms.
Researchers have found significant flaws in a study claiming chimpanzees can learn each other's language, concluding it may be misrepresenting the causes behind changes in vocalization and doesn't recognize initial similarities between groups' vocalizations.
Researchers have developed ultrasensitive gas sensors using boron-doped graphene, detecting noxious gas molecules at extremely low concentrations. The sensors outperform current state-of-the-art sensors by six orders of magnitude, opening a path to high-performance detection of toxic gases and other molecules.
Researchers at Temple University Health System have identified a regulatory enzyme defect in Down syndrome that also malfunctions in Alzheimer's disease, leading to the formation of toxic amyloid plaques in the brain. This discovery could lead to the development of a targeted therapy to mitigate dementia in Down syndrome.
A new study found that much of the negative chatter about a recalled car brand spills over to rival brands, impinging them in the process. The 'perverse halo' effect reduces sales overall for all involved brands.
Researchers discovered the 'off' switch for starch production in plants, which rapidly shuts down production at night to prevent energy waste. The discovery suggests that the seemingly wasteful approach holds a clever adaptation strategy to adjust metabolism in response to fluctuating light intensity.
A TSRI team has been awarded a $1.8 million grant to investigate the molecular mechanisms behind cancer metastasis. The research could lead to new approaches to help patients by targeting specific molecules involved in tumor cell survival and metastasis.
Researchers tracked juvenile cowbirds using automated telemetry systems, finding they leave host nests at dusk and spend nights in nearby fields before returning just after daybreak. This behavior helps young birds avoid imprinting on their host parents and learn essential survival skills.
Pfizer announces new scientific abstracts and presentations for XELJANZ (tofacitinib citrate) in rheumatoid arthritis, including safety data, long-term extension studies, and real-world evaluation. The data highlights the efficacy and safety of XELJANZ in treating RA.
Researchers have engineered a new receptor that can counter stealthy diseases by boosting plant defense systems. The modified Arabidopsis plants show resistance to both insects and pathogens.
Researchers at German Cancer Research Center find that freshwater marbled crayfish exhibit parthenogenesis, a process where animals reproduce without fertilization, and use this as an ideal model for studying epigenetics in cancer. The discovery could lead to new insights into the development of the disease.
A study published in Weather found that fireworks on Guy Fawkes' night can reduce visibility by an average of 25% due to the release of hygroscopic particulate matter. This effect is exacerbated when relative humidity is high, posing significant safety risks for motorist and pedestrian safety.
Researchers at Griffith University's Institute for Glycomics have determined the first three-dimensional image of a protein involved in cancer spread using X-ray crystallography. The study reveals the enzyme heparanase, which degrades a sugar molecule and is associated with angiogenesis, inflammation, and increased metastatic potential.
Researchers have detected how nature produces key chemicals similar to those in drugs that fight malaria, bacterial infections and cancer. The discovery sheds light on a complicated chemical process in nature that synthetic biologists can now borrow to engineer a whole new class of synthetic medicines.
Research by Herman Aguinis and Kyle Bradley suggests that performance follows a power law distribution, leading to more common star performers. The study recommends transparency, fairness in policies, structuring work, training development interventions, employment decisions, and compensation to effectively manage and produce star perf...
Researchers found that women with higher levels of abdominal fat during their first trimester are at a greater risk of developing gestational diabetes later on. The study used ultrasound scans to measure visceral and total abdominal fat, both of which were predictors of gestational diabetes.
Researchers at Hiroshima University have discovered that fragments of cancer DNA circulating in the bloodstream can predict the recurrence and spread of liver cancer. This non-invasive method, known as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), provides valuable clinical information about the patient's disease progression.
African-American children between 8-12 years old show a significant weight bias, with over 67% selecting the overweight child as victim of name-calling. Girls exhibit more sympathy towards overweight peers than boys, who tend to have lower popularity and social acceptance.
Scientists at the University of South Carolina have created a new catalyst that efficiently converts CO2 into carbon monoxide, a potential fuel source. The nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes are more stable and cost-effective than traditional metal-based catalysts.
A new study suggests that disk gaps may be a cosmic illusion and not necessarily caused by hidden planets. The researchers used models to show that growth, migration, and destruction of small particles can create apparent gaps in the disk.
A new Duke University study finds that clumping newly planted marsh grasses can spur positive interactions and boost growth, increasing vegetative cover by up to 300% in some test plots. This approach challenges 40-year-old forestry-based practice of dispersed planting.
A long-term study on a rooftop in Copenhagen reveals that climate change is altering the local insect community, with specialized species being more sensitive to temperature increases. The research found that some species are moving northwards in Europe, while others are being squeezed out of their range.
Researchers found that infants can identify and link new sounds to meaning, indicating a social capacity for recognizing and learning from novel communicative signals. This ability broadens our understanding of infants' coordination of social, language, and cognitive development.
A newly discovered tumor suppressor gene, RASA2, has been found to affect melanoma survival. Restoring its function in melanoma cells caused them to stop growing and die.
QUT scientists have discovered a gene in the Pitjuri plant that allows it to rapidly grow and survive in harsh conditions, including space. This discovery could lead to growing food in space and has implications for future genetic research.
Researchers found that rheumatoid arthritis significantly increases participants' overall risk of death, especially due to respiratory or cardiovascular causes. Seropositive RA was associated with a nearly three-fold increased risk of respiratory mortality compared to seronegative RA.
Internet-delivered CBT has been shown to benefit people with depression and anxiety, offering a cost-effective and empowering way of accessing treatment. It allows clinicians to treat more patients effectively in less time, providing patient empowerment and increased clinical efficiency.
A large-scale survey found that African-Americans who did not exercise frequently had nearly twice the odds of abusing alcohol. Regular physical activity was associated with lower odds of alcohol misuse, suggesting a potential link between exercise and decreased risk.
Researchers found that male mice recruit more white blood cells to the site of inflammation than females, highlighting the importance of sex differences in inflammatory responses. This discovery has implications for how we design and interpret experiments and evaluate anti-inflammatory therapeutics.
A new peptide-based hydrogel has been developed by University of Delaware researchers to facilitate microsurgery. The hydrogel can be tuned with a specific amino acid to change form several times during a procedure, allowing precise control and reducing damage to tiny blood vessels.
The world's record for the smallest land snail has been broken with the discovery of a minute shell measuring only 0.7 mm in diameter. The study highlights the importance of conserving isolated species such as this one due to their restricted distribution and vulnerability to habitat disruption.
Researchers found that pantry food safety procedures were often informal, with 75% lacking proper storage and handling information. However, most pantries limited cross-contamination and provided adequate handwashing facilities.
The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology have updated recommendations for athletes with diagnosed heart disease. New research shows that the risk of sudden cardiac arrest is lower than previously thought for some athletes with irregular heartbeat disorders treated by implanted medical devices. However, patients...