A new study by Duke University scientists found that invasive plant species can provide essential ecosystem functions in degraded coastal habitats. Non-native seaweed, such as Gracilaria vermiculophylla, helped offset the loss of foundation species and offered vital services like food production and storm protection.
A study found that oil impairs coral reef fish ability to find homes and evade predators, affecting their behavior and growth. The impact of oil on coral reefs could be catastrophic, with many people relying on these ecosystems for food and income.
A new research group at the University of Cambridge aims to improve care for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in low- and middle-income countries. The group will focus on preventing, investigating, treating, and improving outcomes for head-injured patients in these regions.
A NASA-funded citizen science project has discovered a new brown dwarf, a major milestone in the search for a distant planet. The object, WISEA J110125.95+540052.8, was identified by amateur astronomer Rosa Castro and her fellow volunteers through the Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project.
A new DNA tracking tool allows scientists to catalog invasive and native species in water bodies using environmental DNA. The tool, which uses polymerase chain reaction technology, can collect fish habitat data without capturing fish.
A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that not all plant-based diets are created equal. While a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables reduces heart disease risk, one that emphasizes less healthy plant foods like sweetened beverages and refined grains increases the risk.
Researchers found that brief social interactions can alter gene expression for hours, affecting genes related to immunity, hormone regulation, and metabolism. The study reveals the brain's response to social threats, suggesting a potential mechanism for learning and memory.
Researchers tracked 106 bacterial symbioses in animal, plant, and fungi species, finding that vertically transmitted bacteria are better for hosts. Removing these bacteria can have a significant negative impact on the host, while horizontally transmitted bacteria have less impact.
A two-year-old girl who suffered cardiac arrest after a cold water drowning accident showed significant neurological improvement with normobaric oxygen and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. After 39 sessions, she exhibited near-normal motor function, speech level greater than pre-drowning, and normal cognition.
A study found that underdevelopment of brain networks underlying inhibition in adults over 30 is linked to self-reported psychological problems such as anxiety and depression. The researchers identified patterns of connectivity associated with inhibition that differ between early and middle adulthood.
A new software technology helps surgeons precisely locate liver tumors during surgery by correcting for the organ's deformation. This innovation has shown to improve registration in over 70% of cases, aiding in more accurate and safer surgical procedures.
A study found that gun violence prevention groups promote a balance between individual rights and responsibilities, advocating for universal background checks, restrictive firearms policies, and cultural changes. These efforts have led to policy changes, company bans on open carrying, and increased public support.
Research reveals that strengthening winds in East Antarctica generate Kelvin waves that lead to increased melting along the West Antarctic Peninsula. This warming can drive up to 1°C of water temperature, contributing to significant ice shelf melt and potential sea-level rise.
A record-breaking marine heatwave, lasting 251 days and seven times larger than Tasmania, was driven by a surge of warm water in the East Australian Current. Climate change made this event several times more likely, with temperatures 2.9°C above normal.
A study of 930 older adults found that non-elective hospitalizations accelerated cognitive decline by 60%, while elective hospitalizations had no association. Researchers highlight the need for attention on hospitalization as a risk factor for dementia and cognitive decline in older adults.
Researchers have identified a unique metabolic signature associated with epileptic brain tissue that can be detected noninvasively using magnetic resonance imaging. This breakthrough allows for precise identification of small regions of abnormal brain tissue in early-stage epilepsy patients.
Researchers at Caltech and USC identified how to accelerate calcite dissolution in seawater, enabling the ocean to safely lock away carbon dioxide. By adding a common enzyme, they increased the reaction rate by 500 times, opening up new possibilities for mimicking natural processes.
Researchers at UNIST have successfully developed a new anode material for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) that can operate on hydrocarbon fuels, offering improved stability and reduced production costs. The breakthrough enhances the potential for commercialization of SOFCs, which could achieve efficiency higher than 90%.
A new King's College London study suggests that genes account for nearly half of the differences in social mobility, with higher polygenic scores linked to better educational outcomes despite family background. The findings have important implications for reducing educational inequality and could lead to personalized support strategies.
New research from Rice University reveals that more children are living in high-poverty neighborhoods after the Great Recession, with a significant increase in non-Hispanic white children. Children in these neighborhoods are on average a year behind academically, according to standardized math, reading and writing assessment tests.
The Rochester Institute of Technology has been awarded a grant to develop a Scientists-In-Training Program for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Undergraduates. The program aims to increase the number of underrepresented students entering Ph.D. programs in biomedical sciences.
A research team has developed a universal model that accurately estimates the maximum speed of any animal, regardless of size or species. The model, which uses only an animal's weight and medium of movement, was tested on extinct dinosaur species and found to match complex simulations.
A team of scientists compared 20 subgene resolution algorithms to analyze cancer genome data, reproducing known cancer genes and discovering new drivers. This study informs potential users about algorithm assumptions and results, shedding light on the complexities of cancer.
Researchers argue that excluding mothers-to-be from clinical studies perpetuates the knowledge void around the impact of drugs taken during pregnancy. They found that lack of scientific data on the potential impact of drugs during pregnancy renders pregnant women vulnerable.
A new high-precision feeding system for lab mice reveals that timing of food consumption is critical to weight loss and maintaining circadian rhythms. Mice on a reduced calorie plan that ate during their normal feeding/active cycle lost weight despite consuming the same amount as another group fed during their rest time in daylight.
A new study found that the Service Intensity Add-on payment for in-person routine home hospice care can increase visits by nurses or social workers during a patient's last week of life. The payment, added to Medicare/Medicaid coverage in 2016, led to a 21.6% increase in average SIA payments and potential disparities reduction.
Scientists at EPFL have developed a new ligand that can extend the half-life of peptide drugs from minutes to several days. The ligand, which is easy to synthesize and has high affinity for human albumin, can be appended to peptides using standard synthesizing techniques.
A study led by Queen Mary University of London predicts organ failure in critically injured patients based on the early immune response to trauma. The research identified specific genes involved in the immediate response, which may help determine which patients are at risk of developing Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS).
A study in Springer's journal The Science of Nature estimates that the Escarpia laminata tubeworm can live for at least 300 years, making it potentially the longest living animal in the world. This longevity is attributed to its extremely low death rate, supporting longevity theory.
Scientists at USC and Caltech have accelerated calcite dissolution in seawater, which could neutralize carbon in deep ocean waters. This process, known as buffering, naturally occurs billions of years and can help mitigate atmospheric CO2.
Researchers have developed a simple methodology to capture proteins implicated in Alzheimer's disease and other conditions. The new method uses engineered tails to trap sugar-modified proteins, which can then be identified using routine laboratory techniques.
Researchers at MIT and Harvard Medical School have devised a way to image biopsy samples with much higher resolution, revealing detailed information about disease. The new technique expands tissue samples before imaging, allowing for the detection of features that can only be seen with high-resolution electron microscopes.
Researchers have developed a gene-editing technique using CRISPR that can introduce beneficial mutations into blood cells, potentially treating sickle cell anaemia and other blood disorders. The British-198 mutation already exists in nature and has been shown to boost foetal haemoglobin production.
A new era in human genomic variation interpretation is underway, driven by the need for standardized and accurate clinical care. Data sharing has become increasingly important, with payers requiring labs that share data to be reimbursed.
Researchers modelled adrenal gland responses to stress, predicting abnormal glucocorticoid release and testing in rats. The study reveals dynamic complexity in the adrenal gland's response to stress, highlighting its role in regulating hormones.
A new statistical model projects an increase in dust storms in the southern Great Plains from spring to fall in the late half of the 21st century due to reduced rainfall and increased land surface bareness. Climate change is also predicted to reduce dust activity in the northern Great Plains in spring during the same time period.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine discovered that controlling the immune system's cell reactivity to injury can accelerate eye tissue regeneration in zebrafish. This finding may lead to new strategies for combating degenerative eye diseases in humans.
Researchers develop a technique called expansion microscopy to physically expand tissues, enabling pathologists to diagnose diseases like early breast cancer with high accuracy and reliability. The method has been shown to improve the resolution of conventional microscopes and can be applied to any type of clinical sample.
Researchers found that regularly doing word puzzles like crosswords is linked to better brain function in later life. Participants who engaged with word puzzles performed better on tasks assessing attention, reasoning, and memory.
Researchers analyzed cerebrospinal fluid from Ebola survivors and found no viral RNA, but the results may suggest potential for dormant virus transmission. The findings highlight the need for monitoring EVD survivors for neurologic symptoms suggesting relapse in the CNS.
Researchers found specific early immune response signatures that developed into widespread activation after traumatic injury, leading to serious organ failure. The study provides insights into potential intervention strategies, including diagnostics, clinical trials, precision medicine, and novel therapies.
A recent study by the University of Warwick found that around one-third of manipulated images went undetected, with participants only spotting 65% of manipulated photos. The research suggests people have an extremely limited ability to detect and locate manipulations in real-world scenes.
Researchers have experimentally observed a new quantum many body state in the Shastry-Sutherland model, where atomic magnets are quantum-entangled in sets of four. This discovery has implications for materials science and quantum information technology, and could lead to the development of new theoretical methods.
Scientists have discovered how a compound activates an enzyme to reduce cholesterol and other accumulated fats in the brains and livers of Niemann-Pick type C1 patients. The study may lead to new treatments for NPC1 and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Following Anders Breivik's Norwegian parliament bombing and Utøya massacre in 2011, Danes saw a significant increase in trauma- and stressor-related disorders, with 2,736 extra cases reported. The study suggests media coverage played a crucial role in amplifying the negative effect on mental health.
The study found that reducing oxygen in certain alloys can improve grain size stability, leading to stronger and more durable materials. Researchers developed nearly oxygen-free alloy powders with significant improvements in thermal stability.
Researchers found that babies as young as 7 months can learn a second language with just one hour of play-based exposure per day. The study used an English-language method and curriculum in Madrid's public infant-education centers, showing significant improvements in English comprehension and production.
Scientists from Imperial College London have discovered that fluids flowing through rock don't follow a stable pattern as previously thought. Instead, the pathways are highly unstable and change rapidly, leading to more accurate modeling of fluid flow and potential breakthroughs in Carbon Capture and Storage technologies.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis used a new experimental setup to measure the atomic properties of liquid materials, resolving some long-standing debates about the glass transition. The team found that fragility is related to atomic interactions and structural changes during the transition.
A comprehensive review highlights the potential benefits of non-rhizobia bacteria in nitrogen-fixing nodules of legumes, including improved plant fitness under environmental stress. The study's findings may lead to new organic production practices and reduced pesticide use, promoting sustainable crop productivity.
A team of engineers at the University of Washington has developed a process for manufacturing supercapacitor electrode materials that meet industrial and usage demands. They used carbon-rich materials with high surface area, creating an aerogel that can act as a crude electrode and doubling its capacitance.
Researchers have discovered increased bacterial populations and specific bacteria differences in Alzheimer's brains compared to healthy brains. The findings suggest that bacterial infection and inflammation could play a role in the disease.
The Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) mission has started its science operations on the International Space Station (ISS). It will help scientists understand the nature of neutron stars using X-ray measurements. The mission aims to determine how matter behaves in their interiors.
The sequencing of Porphyra's genome revealed minimal structural elements in its cellular cytoskeletons, allowing it to thrive in extreme environments. The analysis also uncovered genes for UV protection and compounds that enable the organism to withstand desiccation.
A clinical trial of CAR T-cell immunotherapy achieved durable molecular remissions in 71% of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who had failed other treatments. Genetic tracing of cancer cells from bone marrow biopsies showed a better predictor of prognosis than standard lymph node scans.
A team from MIT and University of Verona has discovered the key protein in a defense mechanism called photoprotection, which allows plants to dissipate excess energy from sunlight. This process is crucial for plant survival but limits biomass production.
Researchers at University at Buffalo successfully tested a pre-hospital intervention that raises blood pressure in simulated trauma victims experiencing blood loss. Face cooling was shown to increase and maintain blood pressure during the simulation.
Researchers found that amphibian susceptibility to parasites varies with proximity to agriculture and evolutionary responses to pesticides. Wood frogs living closer to agriculture with high baseline tolerance had lower trematode loads, while those far from agriculture with inducible pesticide tolerance had higher viral loads.
A study from the University of Pennsylvania found that intersections between law enforcement and trauma care activities vary, but can impact patient trust and recovery. Patients perceived police interactions as stressful or respectful, depending on the context.
A study found that women with breast cancer who undergo nipple-sparing mastectomy have a low rate of recurrence within five years, comparable to standard mastectomies. The procedure leaves the natural nipple intact and has several advantages over standard mastectomy.