Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have solved the structure of a common virus's biological machinery, revealing important traits in Lassa virus. The research provides valuable insights into how to defend against its deadly cousin, Lassa fever, and may lead to the development of new treatments.
Researchers urge regulators to balance e-cigarette regulations with evidence of benefits in helping smokers quit, while avoiding harm to non-smokers. The study proposes a framework for maximizing population health and encourages innovation in the vaping industry.
A new study shows that current carrier screening methods are insufficient and can give prospective mothers a false sense of security. Whole genome studies are needed to ensure both mates don't carry recessive mutations in the same gene(s). DNA-based screening can detect many more disease-causing genetic variations
Scientists at NREL have developed a new process using light to reduce dinitrogen into ammonia, with rates of production similar to those of the ATP-dependent reaction. This method reduces energy requirements and emits no carbon dioxide, offering a more sustainable alternative to current industrial processes.
A study of over 189,000 initially healthy women found that working rotating night shifts for 5 years or more was associated with a small increase in coronary heart disease risk. The researchers also discovered waning risk after cessation of shift work and decreased risk among those who quit earlier.
Researchers have identified cellular pathways in skin pigment cells activated by estrogen and progesterone, leading to either skin darkening or lightening. The discovery could lead to the development of new products changing skin tone without harmful chemicals.
Researchers have identified a metabolic pathway in the fruitfly model of fragile X syndrome that can be targeted by new and already approved drugs to treat cognitive deficits. Select expression of a human gene in specific cells restored normal day/night activity patterns and rescued memory problems.
A study published in PLOS One found that people's feelings of long-term happiness and satisfaction with their lives remained steady over time, unaffected by external events. The researchers grouped Twitter users into satisfied and dissatisfied groups, finding differences in language use, activity patterns, and psychological processes.
Scientists at Northwestern University have discovered that a mixture of mirror-image molecules can exhibit optical activity when crystallized in the solid state. This finding challenges a long-standing chemical principle and opens up new areas of materials research.
A team of researchers found increasing trends towards later ice-cover formation and earlier spring thaw since the start of the Industrial Revolution. The historic records from Japan and Finland reveal more rapid climate change during the last two centuries, with extreme cases now occurring in late April and early May.
A study from the University of Pennsylvania found that sleep deprivation impairs protein production in the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for memory. By manipulating a gene involved in regulating protein synthesis, researchers were able to prevent these deficits and restore memory formation in mice.
Researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill have identified a brain circuit controlling binge drinking, connecting two regions with corticotropin-releasing factor. Inhibiting this circuit in mice protects against binge alcohol drinking.
New research confirms Zika virus was present in Haiti and possibly earlier, contradicting early theories on its spread in the Americas. The discovery sheds light on the virus's history and suggests a more complex spread than initially thought.
University of Minnesota researchers develop a new approach to studying turbulence in jets, revealing new coherent modes associated with high-speed jet dynamics. This discovery helps explain why jet engines produce such loud noise and could lead to new approaches for reducing volume levels.
The study, published in Icarus, found that ferric chloride is the most likely substance causing UV absorption in Venus's atmosphere. Sulfur particles are no longer considered responsible for this effect.
A large study validates TBS as a standalone predictor of fracture risk, independent of FRAX, with robust results across diverse populations. The combination of TBS and clinical risk factors shows enhanced risk gradients for hip and non-hip fractures.
A systematic overview of randomized controlled surgical studies found awareness for conflicts of interest has grown, but more work is needed to improve transparency. Many studies still fail to disclose potential conflicts of interest, raising concerns about the reliability of evidence-based medicine.
A new study finds that small-scale electricity systems bring some clear benefits, but service conditions vary widely, with unreliable and limited hours of service. Solar-powered systems lead to the greatest reduction in kerosene use and health benefits.
Scientists have produced proto-nucleotides resembling RNA's nucleobases through simple laboratory reactions, advancing understanding of life's origins. The discovery has implications for the probability of life existing elsewhere in the universe.
A team at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering developed a novel strategy for engineering protein fusions to improve in vivo efficacy and safety. The approach enabled the creation of cell-targeted drugs that reduce potential side effects and accelerate new drug development.
Hearing socially meaningful sounds can modify ear structure to better detect those sounds, improving hearing in green treefrogs. The study's findings have implications for elderly people with limited social interaction or prisoners in solitary confinement.
Researchers have developed a non-invasive method for receptor activation using red light, which can penetrate deep tissues and activate signal pathways involved in cell division. The approach has potential for treating diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer, Parkinson, and diabetes.
Researchers found that mice with autism-like genetic mutations had fewer neurons in the gut, slower gut movement, and poor gut lining. Increasing serotonin activity during development prevented these changes. The study suggests a shared underlying abnormality for some patients with autism and gastrointestinal problems.
Researchers discovered Vibrio cholerae attraction to bile taurine, shedding light on its survival and pathogenicity. The finding may lead to prevention of infection and development of new drugs for cholera.
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum successfully taught bacteria to swim by combining various RNA modules in a new way. The team used riboswitches and RNA thermometers to control the bacterium's behavior and responded to temperature and metabolic products.
Researchers at Colorado State University have discovered a new way to produce electron spin currents using non-polarized light, a potential game-changer for microelectronics. This achievement could lead to more efficient and powerful devices with reduced power consumption.
A new system allows scientists to image RNA inside living cells, monitor its activity and even control it. The modular components enable easy performance of a wide variety of RNA manipulations.
A group of 7 researchers from Europe and the US show that consensus exists around EDC definition and propose a logic-based approach similar to carcinogen identification. This guidance aims to resolve the 3-year blockage in publishing scientific criteria, allowing for efficient protection of public health.
A study found that chronic exposure to interleukin-1 causes overproduction of immune cells, resulting in an imbalanced blood system. This imbalance can lead to inefficient oxygen delivery, immunodeficiency, and increased cancer risk. Researchers suggest that therapies may be able to reverse the effects of chronic inflammation on blood ...
A novel theory of animal evolution suggests that a biochemical oscillator named Life's Timekeeper controls cell maintenance and repair, determining cell longevity. This mechanism is believed to have driven the extension of cell longevity in animals, leading to the development of complex organisms.
Molecular microbiologists at UMass Amherst identify a distinct domain on the plasma membrane of Mycobacterium smegmatis, crucial for bacterial growth. The discovery provides insight into lipid metabolism and regulatory mechanisms in mycobacteria, potentially leading to new methods of inhibiting bacterial growth.
Scientists have developed a new gene-detecting technology that accurately pinpoints the location of disease resistance genes in large plant genomes. This has reduced the time it takes to clone these genes in wheat from five years to just two, enabling the creation of elite varieties with durable resistance to disease.
A €2.4 million project aims to make embedded software safe, customizable, and open source by developing new tools and making existing ones transparent. The project, led by Holger Hermanns at Saarland University, focuses on power management software for mobile devices like smartphones and e-bikes.
A new study from Michigan State University applies criminology theory to combat counterfeit medicines, identifying key factors in crime occurrence and the importance of field product authentication efforts. By analyzing protocols for crime scene investigation and forensic science in Nigeria, the researchers found that a country's willi...
A new study finds that excessive algae growth in coral reefs causes microbes to dominate the food chain, depleting oxygen and releasing harmful pathogens. This leads to a runaway feedback loop, further coral death and ecosystem collapse. The research highlights the impact of human activities on coral reef ecosystems.
Researchers identified a rare genetic variation associated with an increased risk of severe acute pancreatitis in ALL patients treated with asparaginase. Native American ancestry and older age were also found to be risk factors for the condition.
Researchers discovered a rare example of cooperation between different bacteria species in the human gut. Bacteroides ovatus digests a complex carbohydrate, providing benefits to other species in return.
Researchers found that bed bugs strongly preferred red and black colors, but avoided green and yellow due to their resemblance to brightly-lit areas. The study's findings may have implications for controlling bed bug populations by using color preference in traps.
A new study analyzing 5,000 stored blood samples found no increase in food-specific IgE antibodies between the 1980s and 2000s. The researchers suggest that growing awareness and diagnosis of food allergies among children may be contributing to the increasing prevalence of food allergies over the past few decades.
Researchers found that working under a highly successful leader provides initial career benefits in terms of getting a promotion at another organization. However, these benefits are short-lived and long-term effects may even be harmful. Promoted acolytes experience lower success rates than promoted non-accolytes.
A national PrEP program for injection drug users is cost-prohibitive due to high drug prices, but investing in naloxone therapy, medical insurance, and detoxification programs could prevent HIV infections more effectively. The study suggests that alternative approaches may be a better use of HIV prevention resources.
A team of researchers at the University of Leicester has made significant progress in understanding the role of inositol phosphate molecules in regulating gene expression. By developing a novel peptide-based inhibitor, they have gained insights into how enzymes are activated by these small molecules, paving the way for more specific an...
A Louisiana State University student-led team has been awarded a $200,000 grant to develop an instrument that will fly into a thunderstorm to measure how lightning produces high-energy gamma-rays. The project, called Correlation of Terrestrial gamma flashes, Electric fields and Lightning strikes, aims to study the electrical and radiat...
A study published in Nature Medicine suggests that brain signals between seizures may be responsible for memory problems in patients with epilepsy. Researchers found that abnormal hippocampal-cortical signaling in both rats and humans with epilepsy tracked closely with the level of memory impairment.
A team of researchers from the University of Georgia has discovered that most of the freshwater pouring into oceans from melting Greenland ice sheet originates from the east coast. The study found that wind and ocean currents transport meltwater around the southern tip of Greenland, which is then largely deposited into the Labrador Sea.
Researchers found that dogs with atopic dermatitis have a sharp decrease in skin bacterial diversity, leading to impaired barrier function and increased Staphylococcus species. Antibiotic therapy restored normal levels, suggesting a correlation between skin barrier dysfunction and bacterial overgrowth.
Despite a severe drought, the contiguous United States remained a carbon sink in 2012, absorbing more carbon during warmer springs and releasing less during dry summers. The unique combination of measured data from various sources allowed researchers to calculate the carbon exchange for the entire US during this period.
A combined dietary supplement of marine fish oil, cocoa extract, and phytosterols could potentially prevent atherosclerosis by inhibiting key processes associated with its progression. The study found that combining these ingredients helped halt the progression of atherosclerosis in cell-based models.
Researchers at RIKEN Brain Science Institute have demonstrated that astrocytes regulate changes in synaptic strength, which is crucial for learning and memory. By examining cultured cells and brain slices, they found that astrocyte activity helps maintain normal variation of synaptic strengths.
A meta-analysis of 50 years of research on spanking found that it is associated with increased anti-social behavior, aggression, mental health problems, and cognitive difficulties. Spanking was linked to detrimental outcomes consistently across all types of studies, including those using strongest methodologies.
Researchers found that high-intensity blue light reduces inflammation and organ damage at the cellular level in mice before surgery. This potential pre-treatment light therapy could improve outcomes in patients undergoing procedures with blood restriction.
Researchers at Brown University have developed a new method to convert one type of perovskite into another, improving thermal stability and light absorption. The technique uses gas-based methods to flip the chemical switch, preserving the microstructure and morphology of the material.
Researchers found that female pelves widen with puberty, reaching full width by age 25-30, but then narrow again after menopause. Hormone levels drive this process, suggesting the body can modulate pelvic dimensions to ensure optimal childbirth.
Tropical Cyclone Amos weakened and dissipated in the Southern Pacific Ocean on April 24, 2016, after being torn apart by increasing wind shear. The storm's elongation was evident in composite satellite images, with heaviest rainfall appearing in its northwestern quadrant.
A study of 759 infants found that eating rice and rice products increased their exposure to arsenic. The highest levels were detected in babies consuming baby rice cereal or rice snacks.
A new special issue from Yale's Journal of Industrial Ecology investigates the life cycle environmental and natural resource implications of energy efficiency technologies. The studies reveal that while these technologies generally reduce greenhouse gas emissions, their benefits vary widely among regions and technologies.
Researchers discovered a discrepancy in YouTube's view count system, where fake views were counted towards advertisers' bills despite being flagged as fraudulent. This study highlights the challenges of detecting and preventing bot fraud in video portals, which can have significant economic implications.
Alterations in chromatin structure are essential for cancer development, accelerating cell cycle progression and malignant transformation. Changes in epigenetic factors and histone variants confer to cancer cells the ability to reprogram their genomes.
A recent study by the University of Washington's Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences found that 9-month-old babies who participated in music play sessions showed improved brain responses to music and new speech sounds. This suggests that early musical experiences can have a lasting impact on cognitive skills such as pattern percept...
Princeton University researchers used advanced techniques to record dopamine neuron activity in the striatum, finding that these neurons not only encode reward but also directly control movements. This discovery challenges current understanding of dopamine's role in movement-related disorders like Parkinson's disease.