Scientists have created a new material called Nanofur that mimics the water-repellent and oil-absorbing properties of aquatic fern leaves. This innovative material is highly effective in cleaning up oil spills, with some leaves absorbing up to 30 seconds' worth of oil.
A team of Penn State materials scientists has developed a unique three-dimensional sandwich-like structure that protects the dense electric field in the polymer/ceramic composite from dielectric breakdown. The material has been shown to have high energy density, power density and excellent charge-discharge efficiency, making it highly ...
Researchers discover that five hours of sleep deprivation leads to a loss of connectivity between neurons in the hippocampus, a region associated with learning and memory. However, blocking the protein cofilin and allowing recovery sleep restores neuronal connections and improves memory processes.
Tropical Storm Lionrock is consolidating and strengthening under NASA's Terra satellite imagery. The storm has tracked south-southwestward at 5.7 mph, with maximum sustained winds near 63 mph.
A new diagnostic test analyzes ribonucleic acid (RNA) expression in the bloodstream to distinguish bacterial infections from other causes of fever in infants up to 2 months old. The test has shown high sensitivity and specificity, potentially reducing painful exams, unnecessary antibiotic treatments, and hospitalizations.
Researchers discovered a new class of catalysts that enables ammonia synthesis under mild conditions, with LiH playing a crucial role. The discovery breaks the linear scaling relations between activation energy and binding strength, allowing for unprecedented high NH3 synthesis activities at low temperatures.
Researchers developed stretchable micro-supercapacitors using graphene ribbons to store energy in wearable devices. The design allows for stretching without compromising electrochemical performance, enabling applications in smart T-shirts and soft robots.
Scientists have created an interactive game, 'Ice Flows', to demonstrate the Antarctic Ice Sheet's response to climate change. The game allows players to control ice flow and observe its effects on penguins and seals.
The winners of the 2016 Kavli Prize in Astrophysics reveal their 40-year journey to detect gravitational waves. They share their insights on the challenges and breakthroughs in eavesdropping on space-time ripples, which have captured the world's imagination.
A team of researchers from Germany and France has developed an equation of state for wood, which can predict water uptake in treated wood with a simple analytical model. This breakthrough could lead to the development of more environmentally friendly preservation treatments and bio-inspired smart actuators.
The use of electric power morcellation for hysterectomy declined significantly following the FDA's safety communication in April 2014. The prevalence of abnormal pathology remained unchanged despite the decline in morcellation use, highlighting the need for continued caution in patient selection.
Research from Public Health Ontario reveals that parents who actively engage in their children's physical activity, healthy eating and screen time behaviours are more likely to meet Canadian guidelines. The study found that simple encouragement is not enough, with active parental support being essential for promoting healthy living.
Researchers found that nearly a third of HIV's immune target sites were 'pre-adapted' to the newly-infected partner, suggesting vaccine designers focus on conserved viral proteins. The study builds upon previous research using computer models and emphasizes the importance of finding this balance in vaccine development.
High prescription drug prices in US exceed other industrialized nations due to market exclusivity and lack of price negotiation. The study suggests enforcing stricter exclusivity requirements and enhancing competition through timely generic availability can help reduce costs.
Bert Hayslip Jr., a renowned gerontologist, has been awarded the GSA's 2016 Distinguished Career Contribution to Gerontology Award for his groundbreaking research on aging. His work focuses on noncognitive influences on intellectual functioning, grandparenthood, and interventions to improve cognitive functioning.
Researchers developed and validated a prediction model to determine sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk in adults without a history of cardiovascular disease. The study identified 12 independent risk markers that outperformed existing risk equations, providing a strong step toward distinguishing SCD risk across the general population.
A study found that providing antiretroviral treatment (ART) to both members of a couple and offering pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to the HIV-negative partner significantly reduced HIV transmission rates, with a 96% decrease in transmission compared to expected rates.
Researchers found significant increases in Americans able to afford prescriptions following Medicare Part D and Affordable Care Act implementation. Despite this, nearly 20 million adults struggle with prescription costs.
Castle is a professor at University of Pittsburgh, recognized for his work on nursing home staff turnover and long-term care staffing issues. He has received the prestigious award in acknowledgement of his outstanding career contributions to social research, policy, and practice.
A new study found that immigrant parents detained in private facilities are nearly 60% less likely to receive visits from their children. The researchers analyzed survey data from 462 detainees with children, who were predominantly male and Hispanic, and had spent six months to over 4.5 years in detention.
Researchers at MIT have developed programmable routers that can implement diverse traffic management schemes, improving network resilience. The new design allows for flexible traffic management without compromising operating speeds, enabling innovation and rapid prototyping.
A new study by University of California - Santa Cruz researchers found that early exposure to high levels of manganese causes lasting attention deficits and impairments in rats. The findings support concerns about the adverse effects of excess manganese on children's development.
Cybersecurity researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering have developed a unique chip that checks for sabotage and detects malicious circuitry. The chip uses an embedded module to prove its calculations are correct and an external module to validate those proofs, providing a safety net against hardware defects.
Research suggests that prenatal exposure to certain organochlorine chemicals may increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder in children. The study found that children born after being exposed to high levels of these chemicals during pregnancy were 80% more likely to be diagnosed with autism.
Researchers at UNH have created a linkage map of Fragaria iinumae, a wild ancestor of the cultivated strawberry. This breakthrough provides a valuable resource for assembly of a reference genomic sequence, which will aid in breeding for desirable traits such as fruit quality and disease resistance.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham found that faulty inhibitory neurotransmission and excessive activity in the hippocampus impair memory and attention. The study highlights the importance of well-balanced neural activity within brain regions, suggesting that both too much and too little activity can cause impairments.
Researchers uncover complex mechanism behind TGFβ's dual effect on tumors, revealing potential target for selective inhibition. The study reveals how TGFβ and Ras interact with p53 family members to stimulate tumor growth and metastasis.
Researchers visualized fluid-fluid displacement in porous media, revealing optimal wettability conditions for efficient displacement. The findings could improve carbon sequestration, oil recovery, and fuel cell performance.
Tendon transfer surgery can significantly improve hand and elbow function in quadriplegics, enabling patients to perform daily activities like dressing and bathing. However, the procedure remains underused due to lack of coordinated collaboration among specialists.
Per capita spending on US prescription drugs is the highest in the world, driven by brand-name prices that can rise substantially during competition-free periods. The authors argue for limiting market exclusivity rights and ensuring timely generic drug availability to reduce costs.
A study found that integrated team-based care practices were associated with higher rates of quality measures, such as active depression screening and adherence to diabetes care bundles. This approach also led to lower rates of acute care utilization and reduced payments received by the delivery system.
Dr. Richard Schulz is honored with the GSA's 2016 Distinguished Mentorship in Gerontology Award for fostering excellence and making a significant impact through mentoring. His decades-long research career has focused on adult development, aging, and social-psychological aspects of late life disease.
A new study published in Geology reveals extensive fossilized river systems on Mars' Arabia Terra plain, indicating a warm and wet climate around 4 billion years ago. This discovery supports the idea that Mars was once more favorable for life than its current cold and dry environment.
A recent study published in Nature Communications found that eliminating dendritic cells from transplanted organs can prolong transplant survival by reducing T cell proliferation. This breakthrough could lead to new methods for preventing or treating organ transplant rejection without compromising the patient's immune defenses.
A team of NYU scientists will investigate how rice adapts to salty soil conditions under a $4 million NSF grant. They aim to identify genes that enable plants to thrive in saline environments, with potential implications for breeding more resilient crops.
Researchers cloned an epidemic strain of Zika virus, creating a model to test strategies for stopping the pandemic. The clone is used for developing a live but attenuated vaccine to create long-term immunity.
Six individuals, including Becca Levy and Luigi Ferrucci, have been recognized by the Gerontological Society of America for their groundbreaking research on aging and Alzheimer's disease. Their study found that negative age stereotypes can predict Alzheimer's disease biomarkers, highlighting the importance of cultural factors in aging.
A Yale-led study found that haze in China significantly drives the urban heat island effect, unlike in the US where vegetation plays a key role. The research highlights the paradoxical impact of smaller aerosol particles, which cool surfaces but larger ones radiate heat.
A study reveals inadequate laboratory testing capacity and underutilization of existing technologies, limiting the ability to meet global HIV targets. This shortcoming affects countries' capacity to monitor HIV infection and provide antiretroviral therapy.
NASA's Aqua Satellite observed Tropical Depression Kay devoid of thunderstorms as it passed overhead on August 23. The depression was fueled by cool waters near Baja California, but lacked sufficient convection to sustain storms.
Researchers have designed a smart membrane that stops battery discharge when not in use, allowing for rapid recharging. The technology aims to improve the range of electric cars by tens of miles per minute, outpacing the current limit of 0.4 miles per minute.
A phase 2 clinical trial suggests that intravenous glyburide treatment may improve patient outcomes after a major stroke by reducing brain injury and death. The study found a significant reduction in brain imaging measures of midline shift, as well as lower levels of MMP-9, a biomarker associated with brain swelling.
A new study suggests that increased sea temperatures can enhance and accelerate radiation-induced DNA effects in marine mussels. The research found that DNA damage appeared earlier at higher temperatures compared to lower temperatures, potentially compromising the mussels' ability to defend against genotoxic insult.
A new study from Oregon State University found that STEM faculty at large research universities are creating their own evaluation systems, using data to improve instruction. Faculty in these fields are gathering and responding to data, often using their own systems, to advance their teaching beyond required evaluations.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has awarded BRI a five-year, $8 million grant to collaborate with UW Medicine and SCRI on immune system responses to allergens in the lungs. This study aims to inform new treatments for allergies and asthma.
A Kyoto University study found that green tea polyphenol reduces inflammation and promotes elastin production, protecting against aneurysm progression. The researchers suggest daily green tea intake as a new preventative strategy for abdominal aortic aneurysm.
The NIST team has demonstrated a compact atomic gyroscope design that can measure rotation and acceleration with high accuracy. The device uses a cloud of laser-cooled atoms to simulate rotations, generating interference bands to detect the rotation rate and axis.
Kali St. Marie Thomas, PhD, receives the award for outstanding early career contributions in social research and practice. Her research focuses on improving the quality of life of older adults needing long-term services and supports.
Researchers developed a novel approach to determine how atoms are arranged in materials using Bayesian statistical methods. This new method allows for a richer understanding of material variability, including thermal displacements and vibrations, enabling the characterization of materials from various techniques.
Researchers found that BPA affects male turtle brains, inducing female-like behavior and altering navigational abilities. This could lead to dramatic population declines in painted turtles, making them a potential indicator species for ecosystem health.
A new study by a UC Santa Barbara researcher reveals that Latinos age at a slower rate than other ethnic groups. The findings, published in Genome Biology, may one day help scientists understand how to slow the aging process for everyone.
Research by RMIT University and others found technical problems caused 64% of drone accidents, prompting calls for improved airworthiness requirements and mandatory accident reporting. The study highlights the need for robust communications systems to prevent accidents in the rapidly growing drone industry.
The NIH has selected winning teams from a nationwide undergraduate biomedical engineering design competition for their innovative solutions to various healthcare challenges. The designs showcased promising technologies for diagnosing diseases such as tuberculosis and sepsis, with potential to save millions of lives.
The study found that nearly all babies with confirmed and presumed Zika infections had ventriculomegaly, gray and white matter volume loss, and cortical migrational abnormalities. Imaging exams also revealed intracranial calcifications and reduced tissue volume in the brain.
A new study reveals that biological invasions are threatening the last remaining biodiversity strongholds in developing nations. Invasive species like Japanese Knotweed and grey squirrels are causing significant economic damage and compromising global biodiversity.
Researchers suggest that standardizing health insurance plans could alleviate the psychological and financial stress of choosing a plan, making it easier for consumers to understand their options. The proposal aims to create simple products that are easy to comprehend, reducing costly mistakes.
Researchers sequenced and analyzed the genomes of 38 wild snub-nosed monkeys from four endangered species, revealing reduced genetic diversity and a similar number of harmful mutations. The study identified hypoxia-related genes that enable these primates to thrive in high-altitude environments.
PyFR combines highly accurate numerical methods with flexible code implementation to solve complex fluid flow problems. The software achieves over 50% of Titan's theoretical peak performance, making it ideal for industries like aerospace and wind power.
The Generation Study will enroll over 1,300 cognitively healthy older adults at high risk of developing Alzheimer's due to inherited APOE gene mutations. Researchers will test two investigational treatments: an active immunotherapy and an oral medication to stop amyloid accumulation.
A new app developed by Cornell researchers uses artificial intelligence to identify furniture brands and retailers based on photos of products. The system was trained using crowdsourced images and can search a vast database of iconic images from manufacturers' catalogs or specialized websites.