Researchers have built a computer model that mimics bees' ability to detect motion and navigate complex environments. The model uses optic flow to control flight and avoid obstacles, paving the way for more efficient autonomous flying robots.
Researchers at Rice University have successfully absorbed 35-37% of incident light in atomically thin MoS2, paving the way for efficient and inexpensive photovoltaic solar panels. The team's findings enhance light absorption by 5.9 times compared to using MoS2 on a sapphire substrate.
A study in GENETICS identifies the first gene associated with temperature-dependent sex determination in reptiles, highlighting the role of genetic variation and climate change. The research found that a specific DNA sequence variation at the CIRBP gene influences sex ratio in snapping turtles.
A new UVM study examines the trade-offs between IVF financial savings and medical complications from multiple embryo transfers. The research found increased rates of cesarean-section deliveries, premature births, and low birth weight with two or more embryos transferred into the mother at one time.
Researchers found that increasing blood flow to the legs through revascularization procedures halted scarring progression and allowed patients to walk longer. However, neither exercise nor revascularization reversed scarring in muscles already damaged by PAD.
Researchers found that moderate floods have a significant impact on river shaping, increasing erosion rates. However, extreme floods have limited additional effect on channel geometry, suggesting that landscapes can stabilize over long-term climate shifts.
The primary threat to vultures is the presence of toxins in carrion they consume, leading to declines or extinctions of most vulture species worldwide. In their absence, other scavengers proliferate, causing a cascading effect on food webs and human populations.
Researchers from NIST and Georgetown University have deciphered the mechanisms behind 'oobleck''s switch between liquid and solid states. They found that shear-thickening fluids are driven primarily by frictional contacts, with hydrodynamic forces playing a supporting role at lower concentrations.
A recent review article synthesizes theoretical and empirical work on sex differences in sport involvement, finding females' underrepresentation reflects their lesser sports interest. The authors propose adaptive hypotheses for sports, including the importance of social skills and courtship displays.
A study found that vaccination under the influence of estradiol enhances protection against genital herpes by shifting the immune response in the vaginal mucosa toward a more effective antiviral one. Estradiol accelerates and increases the response of T helper cells, promoting inflammation.
A team of astronomers used ALMA to measure the speed of carbon monoxide gas orbiting a supermassive black hole, calculating its mass as 660 million times greater than our Sun. This precise measurement is crucial for understanding these cosmic behemoths and their role in galaxy evolution.
Researchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute discovered that potato plants boost chemical defenses in their leaves when Guatemalan tuber moth larvae feed on their tubers. This response protects against leaf-eating pests like beet armyworms, allowing plants to maintain sugar production and grow more tubers. The study may help reduce pota...
A new study from Queen Mary University of London found that historic UK landfills in England and Wales contain high levels of contaminants that could harm marine life if eroded or flooded. The analysis of two landfill sites in Essex revealed pollutants at concentrations exceeding marine sediment quality guidelines, posing a significant...
A new study of over 10,000 patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and those without found that AF patients treated with warfarin had higher rates of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and vascular dementia. The study suggests that the efficacy of therapy is strongly associated with dementia risk.
Researchers discovered that African trypanosomes use repetitive 70-bp regions to select new coat protein genes from an archive, evading host antibodies. This process could be crucial for reducing chronic infections of sleeping sickness if deactivated.
A new study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center found that testing non-breast cancer genes in high-risk women does not add clinical benefit. The study analyzed a large panel of genes and found that many variants were of uncertain significance, adding complexity to genetic counseling.
Research reveals that type 2 diabetes drug trials frequently exclude women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or may become pregnant without clear justification. The criteria most often excluded women who were currently pregnant or breastfeeding, but more than 50 studies excluded all women of childbearing potential.
Using clinical data from over 7 million US armed forces members, researchers identified patients with Crohn's disease and found that specific antimicrobial antibodies in their serum samples were associated with increased risk of complications. These biomarkers could potentially predict IBD development and inform preventive strategies.
A study using stem cell therapy to treat refractory angina (RA) demonstrated promising results, including improved exercise time, reduced angina, and lower mortality rates. The treatment showed potential for difficult-to-treat RA patient population, offering a new approach for patients with limited treatment options.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield developed a computer model to understand how bees use vision to avoid collisions. The model suggests that adding speed detection capabilities to existing motion-direction detecting circuits could enhance the navigation and routing algorithms for autonomous flying robotics.
A new study by Cardiff University found that combining insulin with metformin reduces mortality and heart attacks in people with type 2 diabetes. The researchers tracked 12,020 patients for three and a half years on average, finding no difference in cancer risk between single-insulin therapy and combination treatment.
Carnegie Mellon researchers have developed SkinTrack technology that converts the entire lower arm into a touchpad, providing continuous touch tracking and discrete location detection. The system allows for functionality similar to buttons or slider controls, while maintaining high accuracy.
A Penn State geoscientist is joining the NASA Mars rover team to investigate whether environmental conditions on Mars were ever favorable for microbial life. He will analyze Martian rocks and compare them to Earth rocks to search for signs of life, including sulfur and organic matter.
Scientists have developed a web-based system to track the spread of antibiotic-resistant MRSA and other superbugs across Europe, providing valuable insights for infection control teams. The tool, Microreact.org, uses whole-genome sequencing to identify patterns of resistance and help policymakers implement prevention strategies.
Researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center have developed an animal model of multiple myeloma, allowing them to better understand its mechanisms and test potential treatments. The study has the potential to improve outcomes for patients with this incurable disease.
Researchers use ALMA to accurately measure the mass of a supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy NGC 1332, shedding light on how galaxies and their black holes form. The findings suggest a coordinated growth between galaxies and their central black holes.
A new study from Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute found that atrial fibrillation patients taking warfarin require proper management to prevent kidney failure. The study showed that patients with low anticoagulation levels were at risk of developing kidney dysfunction and failure.
A Drexel University study found that female bisexual and questioning youth experience high levels of depression, anxiety, and traumatic distress. Gay and bisexual men also exhibit higher scores for depression and traumatic stress.
Researchers at the University of Oregon found that manipulating a cellular signaling network in mice can help understand how heart valves initially form. The study revealed that Wnt/beta-catenin signaling enables transitions between stages of valve development, controlling growth and size.
A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that women who slept less than 7 hours per night and were frequent snorers before their cancer diagnosis had a poorer prognosis. The study suggests that poor sleep quality may contribute to accelerated tumor growth and shortened cancer survival.
A new study uses multiplexed immunostaining to examine protein expression in breast tumors, identifying clusters of co-expressed proteins within cancer cells. This technique enhances our understanding of tumor biology and signaling networks.
A new class of technology provides greater resolution for measuring electrical activity in space and time, matching existing methods. The flexible device is made of layers of silicon and molybdenum that can measure physiological characteristics and dissolve at a known rate.
The study found significant improvements in up-to-date vaccination rates, with a 7% increase from 75% to 82%. Over-immunization for adolescents also decreased significantly. The data exchange allowed clinicians to easily access patient immunization information, reducing the likelihood of unnecessary vaccinations.
A miniature camera using optical character-recognition technology mounted on eyeglasses significantly improves the ability to read and perform daily living activities. The device, called OrCam, recognizes text, faces, and commercial products, offering a new hope for those with age-related macular degeneration or advanced-stage glaucoma.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic discovered a link between the protein Bim and predicting patient responses to immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma. They found that patients with higher levels of Bim were more likely to respond to immunotherapy, offering hope for better treatment outcomes.
Researchers used the world's most powerful X-ray laser to take snapshots of an ultrafast structural transition in a protein, capturing atomic motions as fast as 100 quadrillionths of a second. The technique could benefit studies of light-driven atomic motions and reveal how visual pigments respond to light.
Researchers have discovered a slow-slip event that lasted two weeks, resulting in 15-20 centimeters of movement along the fault. The finding increases understanding of the relationship between slow slip and normal earthquakes, highlighting the potential for using offshore monitoring systems to predict damaging earthquakes.
Promising results from clinical trials of globin gene transfer have eliminated the need for blood transfusions in some individuals with beta-thalassemias. Gene editing technologies hold promise to correct beta-globin deficiencies and reactivate fetal hemoglobin production, potentially leading to a cure for severe globin disorders.
A study published in PLOS Pathogens found that estradiol, a female sex hormone, enhances anti-viral responses in mice infected with HSV-2. The researchers discovered that estradiol primes dendritic cells to initiate anti-viral T cell immunity, providing protection against STIs.
An international team led by IU biologist David M. Kehoe uncovered the regulation of a system that allows Synechococcus to efficiently capture sunlight and perform photosynthesis. The study also provides insight into how genes can be easily transferred between cells in the marine environment through horizontal gene transfer.
Researchers discovered a moderate correlation between handedness and mathematical skill, accounting for around 5-10% of mathematics scores. The study also found that degree of handedness influenced by age, task type, and gender, with lateralized children performing worse in certain tasks.
A study found that mothers with depression are not physiologically synchronized with their kids, even during positive interactions. The researchers measured heart rate variability and found that depressed moms missed matching their children's physiology, leading to a mismatch in social engagement.
A recent study published in NeuroImage tracked the rate of myelination in children's brains, revealing insights into the rapid growth of nerve fibers during childhood. The findings have implications for understanding neurodevelopmental disorders and diseases like multiple sclerosis and leukodystrophies.
A study by SUNY Downstate Health Science University found associations between pregnant women's exposure to butyl paraben, triclocarban, and propyl paraben and adverse birth outcomes. Findings suggest potential risks of these chemicals in consumer products.
Scientists at Disney Research have developed a method to differentiate between even seemingly identical electronic devices using their unique radio frequency emissions. The EM-ID system achieved 95% accuracy in identifying individual devices, with limitations including the need for powered-on devices and potential signal overlap.
Researchers have identified gene variants associated with a serious adverse reaction to antithyroid drugs used for hyperthyroidism treatment. The study found that certain immune genes increase the risk of agranulocytosis, a life-threatening condition.
Research finds that women adjust their fashion choices to fit in with wealthy groups, adopting local trends when moving to higher SES cities but ignoring them in lower SES cities. This 'trickle down conformity' is driven by a deep human urge for status and social standing.
Shiny Cowbirds have been spotted in Quito, Ecuador at an altitude of 2,800m, expanding the species' distribution range by approximately 500m. This finding suggests human disturbances like forest fragmentation and climate change may be prompting the birds to breed in higher altitudes.
A new journal by Princeton University and Brookings Institution highlights the need for children to be central to climate change debates due to their larger stake in the outcome. The issue outlines policies to mitigate harm caused by climate change on children's health and wellbeing.
A new study suggests that verbal disclosure of gay identity has different effects on the well-being of white and Latino gay men. While it increased subjective well-being for white men, it had no impact on Latino men. The researchers propose alternative strategies for gay men of color to improve their mental health.
A new device called AVERT significantly reduced the volume of radiographic dye used in patients at risk of developing acute kidney injury (AKI) during coronary angiography and PCI, but did not reduce contrast-induced AKI. The study found a 15.5% relative reduction in CMV for all patients and a 22.8% reduction for PCI patients.
Researchers found that both groups show a nested pattern of distribution, with narrow-ranging lineages concentrated in the tropics and broad-ranging lineages extending into higher latitudes. Species diversification drives expansion across climatic divides, increasing the likelihood of successful crossings.
Researchers at Cornell University have successfully controlled the introduction of amino acids to pure calcite, increasing its hardness to values equivalent to biogenic calcite. This breakthrough opens up possibilities for creating stronger calcite systems and has significant implications for various applications.
Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine showed ozanimod moderately effective in treating ulcerative colitis. Ozanimod reduced rectal bleeding and healed intestinal mucosal lining.
The Five hundred metre Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) in China features technology developed by CSIRO engineers, making it one of the most sensitive telescopes globally. The telescope will explore the nature and evolution of the universe, helping to detect thousands of new pulsars.
A Johns Hopkins University computer scientist has successfully programmed a robot to adjust to the subtle movement of soft tissues during surgery, promising improved safety and efficiency. The robotic system, called STAR, was compared with human surgeons and showed comparable performance in terms of suture spacing and seam leakage.
The US Department of Agriculture has awarded $15.6 million in grants to support research, education, and extension programs focused on promoting rural community development, economic growth, and sustainability. The grants aim to help rural areas address persistent poverty and create self-sustaining long-term economic development.
A new study provides first-person perspectives from African-American and Latina mothers on their experiences with postpartum depression, revealing that conventional treatments often provide little relief. The research highlights the need for concrete services like transportation and flexible work environments to manage depression effec...
Scientists recreate aspects of bacterial design in synthetic systems, discovering that strain in complex fluids can shape the properties of soft materials. The study reveals previously unappreciated parameters governing the behavior of biological membranes and opens up new avenues for designing synthetic materials.
Researchers from Trinity College and Swedish Museum of Natural History found zircon crystals formed in younger impact craters are indistinguishable from ancient ones, suggesting many ancient crystals formed in violent impact settings. This challenges the long-held theory that these crystals formed during tectonic plate collisions.