Despite concerns, leading eye specialists find no evidence to suggest lasers pointed at airplane cockpits damage pilots' eyesight. However, the dazzle and distraction from such incidents could prove disastrous during critical moments like landing.
A multidisciplinary team led by USC Viterbi Professor Maryam Shanechi aims to develop brain-machine interfaces enhancing human decision making through multimodal data modeling and multi-sensory processing.
Ecohydrologist Lixin Wang investigates the impact of non-rainfall water sources on drylands, focusing on fog and dew. He aims to better understand ecosystem functions and interactions with limited knowledge of these sources in dryland environments.
A 20-month-old girl's tumor regression shows promising evidence of the potential for LOXO-101 to provide significant benefit for pediatric patients with NTRK gene fusions. The patient achieved a 90% reduction in tumor size after receiving an experimental treatment.
Scientists observed a current sheet during a December 2013 solar flare, confirming the role of magnetic reconnection in solar flares. The detailed measurements from three NASA missions provide unprecedented insight into the complex physics behind solar eruptions.
A new University of Washington study shows that bulkheads and seawalls along Puget Sound's shores have a cumulative impact on the ecosystem, shrinking beaches and reducing habitat for invertebrates and fish. The study provides crucial information for improving management approaches to shorelines.
A phase 2 clinical trial of pembrolizumab as a first-line systemic therapy for advanced Merkel cell carcinoma found that the treatment produced an objective response rate of 56% and sustained responses in 86% of patients. The study suggests that immunotherapy may be a promising approach for this aggressive type of skin cancer.
Researchers found that neural stem cell transplantation increased M2 microglial proteins, contributing to anti-inflammatory effects and reducing axonal injury. The study suggests a potential therapeutic strategy for treating traumatic brain injury.
Patients treated with stent retrievers within 2.5 hours of symptom onset had a 91% chance of functional independence, compared to 81% for those treated between 2.5-3.5 hours. Inter-facility transfer times can significantly delay treatment.
The pandemic E. coli strain H30 causes persistent and deadly infections, often undetected until severe complications arise. Researchers found that patients with underlying conditions and those in healthcare facilities are at higher risk for infection.
Researchers at Drexel University have discovered that the pre-Bötzinger complex in the brainstem generates the breathing rhythm through mixed-mode oscillations. This finding challenges previous theories and may impact how scientists research and clinicians treat respiratory disorders.
A new study by Kathleen Brewer-Smyth of the University of Delaware's College of Health Sciences found that female inmates with an incarcerated adult family member during childhood were more than twice as likely to have neurological abnormalities as adults. The implications are significant internationally, particularly in light of a Wor...
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that low body mass index increases risk of mortality after acute myocardial infarction, even after controlling for other health factors. The researchers analyzed data from 57,574 elderly patients and found underweight patients had a 13-26% higher risk of death compared to normal weight patients.
Researchers at MIT have successfully created simple electrical heating devices using coal, showcasing its potential for various high-tech uses. The team characterized the chemical, electrical, and optical properties of four different types of coal, revealing a range of conductivities that can be tailored to specific applications.
A Mayo-led study found that aspirin use is associated with a significantly reduced risk of developing bile duct cancer. The study showed that individuals who took aspirin had a more than two-and-a-half to three-and-a-half-fold lesser chance of developing the disease compared to those who did not take aspirin.
A multicomponent intervention to reduce sitting time has shown potential health benefits, including a 0.61 percentage point reduction in body fat percentage after just one month.
The EDGE project, funded by HORIZON 2020, trains 15 Ph.D. students from 5 European countries in virology and immunology to tackle herpes virus challenges.
A rare South African plant, Mrs Barber's Beauty, was rediscovered in the Great Winterberg mountains after 147 years. The plant is now recognized as Critically Endangered due to limited ecological conditions.
Aerosol jet printing uses a carrier gas and printer heads to deposit metal particles, promising to slash manufacturing time for circuit boards from a month to a day. The technique can print around bends, on spheres or flat surfaces, making it ideal for detector assemblies with many tiny components.
Indoor air pollution from smoke, building materials, and spores kills millions each year. The research aims to combat air quality issues with smart city technologies and real-time data monitoring. Dr. Prashant Kumar explains the need for better indoor pollution monitoring to protect human health.
Researchers found striking similarities between the genetic mechanism used in human limb development and that of skate embryos' gill arches. The study suggests that limbs may have evolved from sharks' gills via a critical gene called Sonic hedgehog, supporting a century-old theory.
This year's top winners include a study on benign disorders simulating thoracic malignancies and a thorough understanding of ankle nerves for nerve entrapment evaluation. B-flow imaging is also highlighted as a promising method to complement color Doppler ultrasound.
The adAPT trial is a clinical study evaluating the effectiveness of metformin in preventing type 1 diabetes. Researchers aim to identify children at high risk and examine the impact of administering metformin on beta cell stress.
An immunization regimen using two Ebola vaccine candidates was found to be safe and well-tolerated, inducing an immune response in healthy adult volunteers. The study's results suggest that the vaccines could provide durable protection against Ebola, which is essential for areas with intermittent outbreaks.
A survey of 185 professionals found only 11% felt their academic training provided necessary natural history exposure. Experts now advocate for citizen science to keep natural history relevant and empower public participation in environmental conservation.
A study found that math scores drop 5% in the first year of a budget cycle when tax-compression rules are triggered, disrupting planning and teacher assignments. School districts face uncertainty until state budgets are finalized, affecting resource allocations.
Researchers at WSU have developed a method to improve the performance of conductive plastic, which can be used in devices that interface with the human body. The material is biocompatible and can detect faint signals from neurons, enabling medical breakthroughs such as limb reanimation.
Researchers at Toyohashi University of Technology developed nano-magnetic pixels for wide-view 3D holographic displays. These displays can reconstruct realistic 3D images with a viewing angle over 30°, eliminating the need for special glasses.
Researchers analyzed astronaut quotes to understand the 'overview effect,' a sense of unity, vastness, and connectedness. They aim to induce similar feelings through virtual reality and create recommendations for maintaining astronaut well-being in extended space missions.
Breast milk plays a crucial role in shaping the infant's immune system and gut microbiome by favoring the colonization of specific bacterial groups. After one month, breast milk composition transitions to support infant growth with increased fat and nutrients.
A study published in JAMA found that pembrolizumab, an antibody against PD-1, was associated with a 33% objective response rate and 23-month median overall survival in patients with advanced melanoma. The treatment also showed improved progression-free survival rates of 35% at 12 months and 52% at 12 months
Researchers developed a paper-based biosensor to detect water toxicity, measuring color changes caused by bacteria metabolism. The technique is quick, simple, and inexpensive, suitable for use in developing countries or economically restricted areas.
A study published in Addiction found that almost half of all drinking occasions in the UK involve moderate, relaxed drinking at home. Meanwhile, groups of friends often move between home and pub drinking, consuming high amounts of alcohol. The research reveals a complex picture of British drinking culture, challenging common stereotypes.
The Australian Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology (AINST) has been officially opened, featuring a $150m Sydney Nanoscience Hub. The facility is expected to deliver real-world solutions in areas such as energy, health, and security.
A multi-institution team is using the Titan supercomputer to study actinide chemistry and design methods for separating radioactive compounds from their inert counterparts. The team aims to develop a broad understanding of actinide science to safely store spent nuclear fuel and remediate contamination.
A phase II clinical trial showed that watercress extract significantly inhibits the activation of tobacco-derived carcinogens in cigarette smokers, with a stronger effect in those lacking certain genes involved in processing carcinogens. The extract also detoxifies environmental carcinogens and toxicants found in cigarette smoke.
Ring-tailed lemurs combine wrist and chest secretions to create more complex scents, increasing the amount of information conveyed by a single dab. This mixture may also lock in fleeting aromas and boost their staying power.
A recent multi-centre study found that breast cancer patients undergoing treatment with trastuzumab-containing regimens are at significant risk of heart damage, regardless of age. The study suggests that younger patients should also be equally monitored for heart damage.
A team of researchers from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has developed a compact, miniaturized switching element that converts electric signals into clearly defined optical signals. The innovation uses integrated carbon nanotubes and nanostructured waveguides to generate narrow-band light in the desired color on the chip.
A leading scientist at Florida Atlantic University has received a $540,250 NIH grant to continue his research on collagen-based diseases. He aims to develop models to study the degradation of collagen in various conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cancer, and sepsis.
A multicenter cohort study found no differences in Apgar scores, cord pH, or postpartum bleeding between out-of-hours and in-hours deliveries. However, women who delivered out-of-hours had slightly lower rates of cesarean section and instrumental delivery.
Researchers analyzed data from 19 studies on hospitalized patients and found that antipsychotic medications did not reduce new cases of delirium. The study suggests that these medications may not affect the duration or severity of delirium, and more research is needed to understand their effectiveness in treating delirium.
Researchers develop a new mathematical framework to compare different treatment therapies, including aggressive and moderate approaches. The model considers the role of the host immune system in infection clearance, suggesting that optimized treatments can minimize drug resistance without compromising patient health.
Micro aerial vehicles are expected to have a significant impact on various industries, but also expose users to unprecedented vulnerabilities. Researchers aim to develop consistent state estimation algorithms to detect abnormalities in drone sensing and compensate for malicious attacks.
The University of Bristol's Communication Systems and Networks group is leading international research on 5G wireless networks, with a focus on capacity enhancement and data rates. The team will showcase their work at the NetWorld2020 Annual Event and General Assembly in Brussels and the Brooklyn 5G Summit.
Researchers developed a compound called KUSs that may help prevent nerve damage in glaucoma, allowing patients to maintain near-normal vision. Early tests in mice showed promising results, suggesting these compounds could slow down disease progression and potentially treat other neurodegenerative diseases.
Microsoft is partnering with the Australian Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology (AINST) at the University of Sydney to advance quantum computing research. Professor David Reilly's team will focus on scaling up electronic systems to build reliable quantum machines.
Martina Havenith from Ruhr-Universität Bochum receives funding for Time-Resolved THz-Calorimetry, a new method to study protein-solvent interactions in real-time. The project aims to investigate dynamic interplay between molecules and solvent.
In a clinical trial, half of 25 patients with Merkel cell carcinoma experienced substantial tumor shrinkage lasting nearly three times as long as conventional chemotherapy. Several patients had no remaining evidence of disease. The results suggest that immunotherapy drugs may be effective for other virus-associated cancers.
A 20-year study found a significant drop in dementia incidence among men in the UK, driven by reduced risk factors such as smoking and improved vascular health. The study suggests that targeted public health measures may help prevent future increases in dementia cases, contradicting global projections of a looming 'dementia tsunami'.
Tropical Cyclone Fantala reached Category Five intensity with maximum sustained winds of 150 knots (173 mph), making it one of the strongest storms in the South Indian Ocean. NASA satellites tracked the storm's intense rainfall and powerful thunderstorms, providing critical data on its size and wind patterns.
Geologists at MIT identified ancient tectonic collisions as the trigger for two ice ages, 80 million and 50 million years ago. The collisions exposed rock to the atmosphere, leading to chemical reactions that absorbed large amounts of carbon dioxide.
A 2-year study found that bupropion (Wellbutrin) is the only antidepressant to induce modest weight loss, while others lead to varying degrees of weight gain. Nonsmokers on bupropion lost an average of 2.4 pounds, compared to a 4.6-pound gain on fluoxetine.
Researchers found that male Barbary macaques' metabolic rate increases dramatically during mating season, allowing them to allocate more energy for reproduction and competition. The study suggests that this adaptation may be an echo of a vital physiological mechanism in humans.
A new study by the University of Washington found that states' varying politics and approaches to social problems drive foster care entry. States with more punitive criminal justice systems tend to remove children from their homes far more frequently than those with generous welfare programs.
A new review suggests that family communication, mealtime interactions, and emotional regulation can help reduce children's genetic risks for obesity. Shared family meals promote healthy eating habits and reduce the likelihood of weight problems.
A study analyzing 727 articles found that 45% of media coverage about celebrity diagnoses mentioned double mastectomy. Meanwhile, the number of women undergoing double mastectomy at a Michigan hospital nearly five-fold during this time. The
Climate change will have devastating consequences for public and individual health unless aggressive, global action is taken to curb greenhouse gas emissions. ACP recommends that medical schools incorporate climate change-related coursework into curricula.
Researchers at Rice University suggest that actin filaments play a key role in forming and storing long-term memories by stabilizing soluble cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding proteins (CPEB) into longer, insoluble prion-like fibers. This process is thought to aggregate and encode memories in neurons' synaptic regions.
Researchers found that psilocybin decreases the brain's reaction to social exclusion and pain, which can help improve therapy for social problems in psychiatric disorders. The study used fMRI and MRS to investigate the effects of psilocybin on the brain's processing of social conflicts.