Research reveals human smugglers operate in a highly segmented market, with each stage a competitive marketplace for 'independent and autonomous' smugglers. Successful smugglers rely on reputation among migrants to maintain their business, and removing one smuggler can lead to rivals seizing their market share.
A major new study confirms that drinking during late adolescence can predict the risk of developing liver disease later in life. The study found that even low levels of daily alcohol consumption can lead to severe liver disease in men, suggesting that current guidelines for safe drinking may need to be revised.
Adolescents with OCD experience widespread learning and memory problems, affecting daily functioning and school performance. Researchers found impaired cognitive flexibility and goal-directed control, highlighting the need for structured environments to support their development.
A large-scale study found subtle brain abnormalities in people with epilepsy, even in those with typical seizures under control. The researchers identified reduced grey matter thickness and volume in various brain regions, including the cortex and thalamus, associated with longer duration of epilepsy.
Researchers at University of Bristol have successfully trapped objects larger than the wavelength of sound in an acoustic tractor beam, paving the way for levitation of humans. The discovery uses rapidly fluctuating acoustic vortices, which are stabilised by controlling the rate of rotation.