Chemical analysis of ancient wooden braziers from Chinese tombs reveals evidence of early cannabis smoking rituals, dating back to approximately 2500 years ago. The study suggests that people were aware of specific populations of the plant and interacted with them for psychoactive properties.
A team of researchers at the University of Missouri created a microscopic topographic map of cellular function, revealing how proteins move out of cells. The study found that cells adjust their protein transfer mechanisms depending on the type of protein being transported.
Researchers at Chinese Academy of Sciences create a chemocatalytic approach to produce cellulosic ethanol, achieving an ethanol yield over 40% in a one-pot process. The new method could overcome limitations on ethanol concentration and show great potential for practical production.
The discovery of a field-induced pair density wave state in high temperature superconductors provides new insights into the mechanism behind enigmatic high temperature superconductivity. The study reveals modulations in electronic states with multiple signatures of a pair density wave state, which competes with superconductivity.
Researchers discovered six distinct color morphs of the Asiatic golden cat in Northeast India, showcasing unique adaptations to varying habitats and prey. The phenomenon may provide insights into the species' resilience to climate change and habitat degradation.
Researchers at MIT and China create macaque monkeys with Shank3 gene mutation linked to autism, exhibiting behavioral traits similar to those seen in humans. The new model aims to study treatment options and potentially develop better medicines for severe neurodevelopmental disorders.
A comprehensive alcohol policy can help curb adolescent alcohol use in Tanzania, where high-density outlets and advertising contribute to rising youth drinking. The study suggests that restricting outlet density, enforcing minimum drinking age laws, and using economic policies like taxation can reduce access to alcohol among adolescents.
A chemical residue study in ancient incense burners from high-elevation burials in western China has provided the earliest clear evidence of cannabis use for its psychoactive properties. Researchers found that people were selecting plants with higher levels of THC and burning them as part of mortuary rituals.
A NIOSH-funded study is assessing how dental professionals come into contact with vapors, gases, and airborne dusts in clinics. The researchers will measure the size and concentration of particulates in real-time during common dental procedures.
Research found that community engagement is crucial for success in certain environmental projects, such as increasing fish populations or decreasing forest clearance. Understanding what drives community engagement can be more important than ecological aspects in these cases.
A recent University of Washington study found that women and non-binary editors face harassment, doxxing, and death threats on Wikipedia. To create safe spaces, these individuals use sophisticated tactics for managing online identities and boundaries.
A new study found that the protein CCN3 is a key factor promoting prostate cancer invasion of bone and predicting poor outcomes. High CCN3 expression correlated with shortened overall survival and bone metastases, while low-expression groups had better survival rates.
Despite population density fluctuations, ants adjust their social interactions to maintain sophisticated organization and division of labor, ensuring colony survival. The study reveals that ant colonies actively regulate spatial distribution and interaction behaviors to preserve critical elements of their social patterns.
A study by Michigan State University found overdoses and suicides as leading causes of deaths among new mothers in California. The research highlights the need for increased focus on prevention, particularly among non-Hispanic white and low-income women.
A team of researchers at the University of Queensland has challenged the long-held theory that multi-celled animals evolved from a single-celled ancestor resembling a modern sponge cell. Using new technology, they found that the first multicellular animals were more like a collection of convertible cells, contradicting years of tradition.
A new study reveals that occupational exposure to inorganic dust increases the risk of gout in women by 27%. The study also confirms known risk factors for gout, such as alcoholism and obesity. Gout is a disabling disease caused by uric acid deposits in joints, leading to inflammation and flares.
A recent study from the University of Adelaide found that having braces does not necessarily lead to increased happiness or psychosocial outcomes in later life. In fact, people who did not receive orthodontic treatment were significantly more optimistic than those who had braces treatment.
Researchers found that rising sea levels destroyed evidence of shell middens at many prehistoric coastal sites, affecting our understanding of past coastal subsistence. Coastal erosion changed little during a period of significant sea-level rise and drop, with shells being deposited mostly on the direct shoreline.
Researchers found elevated levels of DDT and its breakdown products in lake sediments, affecting zooplankton communities. The long-lived insecticide's persistence has altered aquatic ecosystems, with shifts towards more contaminant-tolerant species.
A new study by Oregon State University researchers identifies optimal locations and timing for releasing samurai wasps to control the brown marmorated stink bug, which devastates gardens and crops. The wasps lay eggs inside stink bug eggs, preventing hatching and reducing pest damage.
Researchers at the University of South Florida have identified a potential new therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease, an antagonist that blocks specific interactions between apoE and amyloid precursor protein. This peptide antagonist, 6KApoEp, was shown to reduce beta amyloid accumulation and tau pathologies in the brain.
A recent European survey found that gout is being diagnosed late, poorly controlled, and not regularly monitored. Eight out of ten patients are satisfied with their current treatment, indicating low expectations. The study highlights significant gaps in the management of gout, emphasizing the need for improved education and care.
A recent study published in Nature Medicine Letters reveals that specific microbiome organisms are linked to the early stages of colorectal cancer development. The researchers found increases in these microorganisms in fecal samples from patients, which could potentially provide vital diagnostic clues.
A team of scientists has simulated tsunamis in the Gulf of Elat-Aqaba using a GeoClaw modeling program and concluded that future tsunami hazards are possible. The region's economic importance is heightened by its growing shipping ports, tourism, and water and electrical projects.
A study on an interdisciplinary research center in Sweden highlights the complexity of interdisciplinarity and its impact on researchers' careers. The center's management pressure to publish in prestigious journals led to a focus on disciplinary work, affecting social and intellectual dynamics among researchers.
Coral reefs face growing danger from climate change, local pollution, and habitat destruction. New interventions, such as breeding corals with greater heat resistance and genetic manipulation, show promise but vary in readiness levels.
Researchers develop a hybrid nanostructure combining biologically derived and inorganic materials to enhance light-harvesting efficiency. The nanohybrid, composed of quantum dots, a protein from cyanobacteria, and semiconducting nanocrystals, shows improved energy transfer and photocurrent production.
Citrus greening has devastated Florida's citrus farms and threatens California groves. Researchers are exploring strategies to control the disease, including creating resistant crops and delivering anti-microbe peptides.
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University have developed a semiliquid lithium metal-based anode that could lead to higher capacity and safer lithium metal batteries. The new design overcomes limitations of traditional solid electrolytes, enabling higher current density and longer cycle-life.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that US honey bees in urban settings collect a diverse range of pollen sources, with the most diverse in California and the least in Texas. The researchers tracked pollen collection across four states over two seasons, identifying key plant groups that provide consistent pollen year-round.
A systematic review found that serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) led to more harmful events compared to placebos in older adults. Antidepressants like SSRIs may increase the risk of falls, highlighting the need for careful consideration when prescribing these medications.
The HOPE study demonstrates that low-dose prednisolone significantly improves pain symptoms and function in patients with painful hand osteoarthritis. The study found that prednisolone reduces synovitis and improves physical component scale and patient global assessment, making it a suitable target for treatment.
A new study analyzing 300 stars finds that Jupiter-like gas giants congregate between 3 and 10 astronomical units from their stars. This 'sweet spot' is where most large planets are found, peaking in occurrence rate around 3-10 AU.
Astrophysicist Allison Kirkpatrick announces the discovery of cold quasars, galaxies with abundant cold gas that can still form new stars despite having a quasar at the center. This breakthrough finding overturns assumptions about galaxy maturation and may represent a previously unknown phase in every galaxy's lifecycle.
Researchers at UCLA Health Sciences have developed a more effective method for detecting prostate cancer by combining biopsy strategies. The new approach, which includes MRI-guided biopsy, increased the rate of cancer detection to up to 33% compared to traditional methods.
Researchers from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine have identified ZIP4 as the trigger for muscle-wasting cachexia in pancreatic cancer. By inhibiting ZIP4, they hope to prevent cachexia and improve treatment outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer.
A new study published in BMJ found that people who increased their daily servings of red meat over an eight-year period were more likely to die during the subsequent eight years. The study also discovered that decreasing red meat and simultaneously increasing healthy alternative food choices led to lower mortality rates.
Researchers used rare oxygen molecules trapped in air bubbles in old ice and snow to track ancient ozone levels, establishing a limit of 40% increase since 1850. This new data bolsters confidence in atmospheric chemistry models' ability to predict future changes.
A £120,000 project aims to eliminate carbon emissions from freight trains in the UK by developing hybrid locomotives. The project will explore digital displacement technology developed by Artemis Intelligent Power as a more efficient alternative to conventional hydraulic pumps.
A study found that cyclosporine significantly reduced proteinuria in patients with lupus nephritis, achieving higher remission rates compared to mycophenolate mofetil and azathioprine. After a 10-year follow-up, the majority of patients in the cyclosporine group achieved complete remission.
A new metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) test has been shown to identify infections better than standard clinical methods. The test identified 32 infections in 31 patients, including cases missed by conventional testing, and confirmed diagnoses in 19 cases.
A study by RIT scientist Sukanya Chakrabarti found that the Antlia 2 dwarf galaxy's collision with the Milky Way produced the characteristic ripples in its outer disc. The discovery could help develop methods to hunt for dark galaxies and solve the long-standing puzzle of dark matter.
Researchers discovered that organic carbon is preserved in sediments due to strong chemical bonds with minerals, preventing it from decomposing. This process helps maintain a stable balance of gases in the atmosphere, allowing for oxygen to remain available for human consumption.
Satellites equipped with the new technology can deorbit and reenter the Earth's atmosphere, preventing space debris proliferation. Researchers have developed a prototype of the deorbit kit using low work-function tethers, which transforms orbital energy into electrical energy without fuel.
Archaeologists and laboratory scientists discovered psychoactive compounds in ancient incense burners from the Pamir Mountains, indicating higher levels of THC. This study provides clear evidence that ancient people in eastern Central Asia used cannabis for its psychoactive properties.
Researchers at Kyoto University have made significant advancements in dye-sensitized solar cells by introducing a new molecular dye that enhances power conversion efficiency to 10.7%, surpassing previous records. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize the field of sustainable energy.
A new study reveals that DDT persists in remote lakes at concerning levels half a century after its ban, impacting key aquatic species and potentially entire lake food webs. The study found high levels of DDT in modern sediments, similar to those found in previously sprayed areas of Canada and the U.S.
A new study found a high incidence of headaches in pediatric stroke survivors, with over a third experiencing severe headache within one year. Children who developed post-stroke headache were more likely to suffer from another stroke, typically within the first six to 12 months after the initial stroke.
A new study finds that climate change will benefit giant petrels with warmer weather and improved foraging conditions, allowing them to dominate access to carrion on land and travel less at sea. However, females may be harmed by increased longline fishing, which could impair their survival.
Researchers have identified a potential treatment for leukemia by repurposing a heart failure medication. The study found that proscillaridin A preferentially attacks leukemic stem cells, driving the spread of cancer.
Researchers have developed a comprehensive database of synonymous mutations found in cancer, revealing their influence on cellular functions and disease processes. The SynMIC database contains information on 659,194 entries across 88 types of cancer, providing a valuable resource for cancer researchers.
Scientists have created a hydrogel that attracts chemotherapy drugs to tumors in mice, reducing side effects caused by the drugs acting on healthy cells. The approach uses cucurbituril to target therapies to a tumor, resulting in improved treatment outcomes and reduced toxicity.
A UCLA-led research team developed FEAST, a faster and more accurate tool to determine microbiome origins. The software can analyze large genetic information datasets in just a few hours, offering insights into the unseen ecological processes affecting human health.
Researchers at Goethe University have developed a novel method for producing new peptide drugs, using fragments of natural NRPS systems as building blocks. The approach enables the easy production of peptides in excellent yield, with applications for modifying clinically relevant drugs and producing peptide libraries.
Scientists at the University of Warwick have developed a new technology that can detect live bacteria in minutes using bioelectrical signals. This breakthrough could lead to faster diagnosis and treatment of infections, including antibiotic-resistant threats.
The Supergen ORE Hub has received an additional £4 million in EPSRC funding to expand its support for researchers across the UK. This investment will enable the creation of a collaborative approach to address technical, environmental and interdisciplinary challenges in the offshore renewable energy sector.
A new study reveals that the correlation between food consumption and gut microbiome changes is not as straightforward as previously thought. Researchers found that considering the relationships between foods can reveal stronger associations between dietary nutrients and specific strains of microbes.
Children with autism are more likely to experience bullying and it increases as they get older, according to a new research from Binghamton University. The study emphasizes the need for better definitions of bullying behaviors and standard assessments to identify different types.
Researchers from IDIBELL discovered a negative correlation between orexin A and executive functions in anorexic patients, highlighting potential roles for this neuropeptide in eating disorders and cognitive processes. The study's findings may contribute to the development of biomarkers with clinical applications.
A recent study has found that treatment with gabapentinoids, a group of drugs used for epilepsy and nerve pain, is associated with an increased risk of suicidal behaviour and other harms. The risks are strongest among 15 to 24 year-olds, prompting calls for review of treatment guidelines for young people.