Scientists from the UK and US are working together to develop new synthetic vaccines and understand how viruses interact with their environment. Repeated strain of Potato virus Y in the US has caused greater crop damage and is harder to control, according to research. Avian influenza poses a threat to food security worldwide.
Research has made significant progress in understanding mood and psychotic disorders, enabling individualized treatment approaches. Key findings highlight the potential of biomarkers such as neuroanatomy, neuro-circuitry, and genetic markers to stratify patients into clinically distinct subgroups.
A national patient-powered registry, MyLymeData, has enrolled over 3,000 patients to accelerate research for chronic Lyme disease. Big data tools can help identify treatment responses and subgroup analysis, leading to a better understanding of the disease.
The LDE facility at Diamond Light Source allows scientists to study material behavior over extended periods, revealing new insights into how materials interact on the atomic scale. The facility is currently supporting experiments on nuclear waste disposal, Arctic sea ice melting, and drug compound behavior.
Experts explore how learning a second language improves thinking skills, mental agility, and delays brain ageing. The event aims to share research findings on bilingualism with the public, highlighting its benefits for society through education and policymaking.
A recent AAAS panel discussed the potential of citizen science and information technology to drive sustainability. Projects like eBird and Aviaching are collecting valuable data on bird occurrences and habitat representation, while UDiscoverIt accelerates the discovery of new sustainable energy materials.
A large majority of Americans (80%) agree that scientific research needs government funding, but many believe the country spends too little on it. Meanwhile, most respondents trust scientists, with high confidence levels in their leadership.
The Preregistration Challenge tests how addressing incentives can improve the reproducibility of published research by offering $1,000 rewards for published results. Over 60% of researchers are choosing to submit public preregistrations, and the first results are expected in late 2016.
Moshe Vardi warns that machines may surpass human capabilities in as little as 30 years, leading to significant unemployment and potentially a life of leisure. He questions whether this would be beneficial for humanity, arguing that work is essential to human well-being.
Researchers found that boys who experience a greater decline in slow-wave sleep during adolescence are at higher risk for developing insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and impaired attention. In contrast, girls showed no significant associations between SWS loss and health outcomes.
Scientists at Diamond Light Source are pioneering research to make the nuclear fuel cycle safer, more efficient, and straightforward. They're developing new cement materials that can effectively contain radioactive waste for thousands of years.
Recent improvements in experiments like Large Underground Xenon have increased the chances of detecting WIMPs, believed to be the main component of dark matter. Dark matter scientists are on the brink of a discovery that could fundamentally change our understanding of the physical universe.
Kenneth Miller, a practicing Catholic and author of Finding Darwin's God, argues that science and faith are distinct. He defends evolution against Intelligent Design's claim that certain biological features are 'irreducibly complex,' citing examples where removing even one part makes the structure non-functional.
Research from the University of Bath found that eating breakfast was associated with more physical activity and reduced food intake later in the day among obese individuals. The study, which compared a fasting group with a breakfasting group, built on previous research into the effects of breakfast on health.
Astronomers have discovered a crescent-shaped dust cloud in the outer reaches of a binary star's protoplanetary disk, providing fresh insights into planet formation. The cloud may be the key to forming planets in binary systems, with its lack of free-floating gases likely due to freezing out and forming ice on dust grains.
New Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) images provide detail on the binary star system HD 142527, revealing a broad ring of dust and ice. The system's formation is expected to yield insights into planetary systems around binary stars.
Recent studies reveal that bilingualism alters brain networks for skilled cognition and fluent language performance, facilitating new learning.
Researchers explored the effects of climate change on American Indian communities in Nevada, with a focus on water rights and land use. The projects, Water for the Seasons and Native Waters on Arid Lands, aim to protect valuable resources and promote sustainable practices.
Researchers at UConn investigate whether early exposure to sign language can forestall cognitive issues in deaf children, challenging a longstanding debate. The study finds that congenitally deaf children who learn sign language from birth develop language, cognition, and literacy on normal timetables.