Researchers at ICFO have successfully built a new type of cavity for graphene plasmons, enabling the confinement of light in the smallest volume ever achieved. This breakthrough has promising implications for molecular and biological sensing technologies.
A new study using international radio telescope data reveals galaxies are nearer than predicted, exacerbating a discrepancy in the Hubble Constant measurement. This finding bolsters the need to revise the standard cosmological model of the Universe.
Researchers found microplastics in remote and protected areas of western US National Parks, highlighting the importance of reducing plastic pollution. Atmospheric transport plays a crucial role in distributing microplastics globally, with smaller particles traveling farther under dry conditions.
A new study from Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital found that three hours of weekly strength training combined with protein supplements can break the vicious circle of muscle loss in patients with cirrhosis. This leads to improved muscle strength, size, functional capacity, and quality of life.
Researchers create sugar-tagged drug compounds to target chemotherapy-resistant prostate cancer cells, exploiting the Warburg effect. The new compound shows improved efficiency in killing cancer cells compared to traditional chemotherapeutic drugs.
Researchers developed new engineering models that consider different sand grain shapes, leading to more accurate assessments of sand movement and impacts on coastal areas vulnerable to sea-level rise. The models, published in Scientific Reports, correct overestimation of transport rates by 35 percent for carbonate sands.
A new study reveals that eels can serve as a key indicator of freshwater biodiversity, and their protection could greatly contribute to the recovery of ecosystems. The research found that two species of eel were widely distributed in Japanese rivers, serving as umbrella, indicator, and flagship species for conservation.
Researchers have discovered a compound, tartrolon E, that effectively kills multiple parasites responsible for various infections, including malaria, toxoplasmosis, and cryptosporidiosis. The compound is found in the gills of wood-eating clams and has shown promise in killing these parasites in vitro and in animal studies.
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute found that a protein which helps fight viruses can later interfere with lung tissue repair. This could prolong lung damage and increase risk of subsequent bacterial infections.
Researchers at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center have uncovered an environmentally sensitive male sterile phenotype in flowering plants. The discovery of this genetic pathway's role in regulating pollen production could lead to improved seed production and crop yields.
Researchers found that Trinidadian guppies use a unique strategy to evade pike cichlid attacks by turning their irises black, drawing attention to their head rather than body. Larger guppies were better at escaping using this method, potentially due to increased size allowing them to reverse the negative effect of reduced agility.
Researchers developed a new model to study early human development using human embryonic stem cells, allowing them to observe the formation of the body plan and potentially reveal causes of birth defects and diseases. The model, called gastruloids, resembles an embryo at around 18-21 days old.
A new study published in the American Journal of Pathology reports that a single dose of visual chromophore 9-cis-retinal improves visual function in diabetic mice by reducing oxidative stress and cell death. This treatment may represent a potential therapy for early diabetic retinopathy.
Researchers from EPFL have solved the high-resolution structure of an activated form of a dopamine receptor in a native lipid membrane environment. By combining computational allosteric and de novo protein design approaches, they created a highly stable but activated receptor whose structure could be studied and solved.
Researchers at EMBL Rome reveal that protein glycosylation plays a central role in DNA methylation, inducing gene silencing by modifying regulatory factors. This breakthrough sheds light on the mechanism behind the most studied epigenetic modification.
A study published in Scientific Reports reveals that plastic objects found in the deep sea, such as a plastic bag and curd box, show no signs of degradation after 25 years. The findings indicate that microbial communities on plastic surfaces differ from those in surrounding sediments, suggesting a potential impact on marine ecosystems.
Researchers have developed a new non-invasive ultrasound method that compensates for distortions in soft tissue structure, providing ideal resolution and contrast optimized for each pixel. This approach has applications in biomedical diagnosis, optical microscopy, and industrial material inspection.
A study found that older adults who engage in light physical activity and spread it throughout the day have a lower risk of developing major mobility disability. The researchers recommend building strength and balance first, then increasing moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity, and finally adding light activity.
The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology has developed the free Environmental Planner tool (E-Planner) to help farmers make informed decisions on agri-environment options. The tool assesses suitability of unproductive land for four interventions, including pollinator habitats and woodland creation.
The authors argue that the resurgence of racism and far-right ideologies is not driven by popular demand, but rather a top-down process legitimized by elite behaviors. They suggest that real concerns and radical alternatives can help build egalitarian futures.
Using data from NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft, scientists at Durham University measured the rates at which neutron particles leaked out from Venus and Mercury. The findings suggest a neutron lifetime of 13 minutes, with implications for our understanding of the Standard Model of particle physics.
A new study shows that the collapse of terrestrial ecosystems during the Permian-Triassic extinction, also known as the Great Dying, directly disrupted ocean chemistry. This finding highlights the importance of understanding inter-connectedness of ecosystems in the face of environmental challenges.
Researchers have developed an underwater wireless system that supports internet services using visible light signals, allowing for faster and more reliable data transmission. The Aqua-Fi prototype demonstrated a maximum data transfer speed of 2.11 megabytes per second and an average delay of 1.00 millisecond.
A new treatment combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy has been shown to improve overall survival by 20.4 months in patients with inoperable malignant pleural mesothelioma, exceeding the expected survival time of 12 months with chemotherapy alone.
Researchers at Lehigh University developed a new phase-locking technique to achieve record-high output power for terahertz lasers, resulting in the highest radiative efficiency for any single-wavelength semiconductor quantum cascade laser. The breakthrough enables higher intensity and brightness, paving the way for applications in iden...
A new MIT study examines 26 types of businesses, measuring their economic importance and risk. Banks perform the best in terms of economic impact and relatively low crowding, while liquor and tobacco stores rank poorly due to high crowds and limited economic importance.
Researchers from ITMO University have proposed a new data encoding method for the 6G standard using terahertz pulses. The method involves extending the pulse in time to increase its duration and achieve interference between two chirped pulses, enabling faster data transfer.
Researchers find that mountain height is determined by the balance of forces in the Earth's crust, rather than erosion. This new understanding opens up opportunities to study the long-term development and growth of mountains.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in varying outcomes across countries with different income levels, with lower-income nations facing more severe economic and mental health consequences. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities.
The COVID-19 pandemic is worsening existing drug shortages in the US, particularly for cancer treatments and critical care medications. Experts recommend improved communication and sharing mechanisms among hospitals and healthcare providers to address these shortages.
A study by Carnegie Mellon University found that displaying fraudulent reviews alongside nonfraudulent ones increases consumer trust in review platforms. Consumers tend to trust information from platforms that display suspicious reviews, especially when they are uncertain about product quality.
Researchers discovered ancient crocodile footprints with evidence of bipedalism, similar to that of dinosaurs. The discovery suggests that these prehistoric creatures may have walked upright on their hind legs.
Researchers found that many plant pathogens can specialise on particular temperatures or host plants, but also have wide temperature or host ranges. This study provides key insights into the co-evolution between pathogens and their hosts, allowing scientists to better understand where and when pathogens could strike next.
Researchers at Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology create unique micro-springs from natural polysaccharide fibers with self-assembling twisted microstructures. The sacran fiber behaves like a mechanical spring under humid conditions, enabling fast bending and stretching responses to changes in humidity.
A new study has announced the discovery of well-preserved 110-120-million-year-old footprints belonging to a large bipedal ancestor of modern-day crocodiles from South Korea's Jinju Formation. The tracks suggest that these ancient animals were 3-4 meters long and walked on two legs.
The red palm weevil has been confirmed on Socotra Island, Yemen, putting the livelihoods of residents at risk due to its devastating impact on date crops. The pest is considered one of the most problematic pests of date palms in the world, with potential economic losses estimated to range from $5.18 to $25.92 million.
Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology have developed a new method for making metasurfaces, which can control light and create ultra-thin camera lenses. This breakthrough could lead to significant improvements in optical technology, including portable electronics, sensors, and space satellites.
A mathematical model reveals that territorial behaviors can dampen disease prevalence, but at the cost of increased disease persistence. This study suggests that indirect communication could play a more important role in disease transmission than previously thought.
Researchers used EEG to measure brain waves in sheep sedated with high doses of ketamine, finding a temporary halt in brain activity that corresponded to human users' reports of disconnection from their body. The study aims to better understand the effect of therapeutic drugs on the brains of people living with Huntington's disease.
A recent study estimates that over 237 million medication errors occur annually in England, resulting in significant financial and human costs. The majority of these errors are minor, but some can have serious consequences, such as hospital admissions and deaths.
Researchers discovered large well-preserved footprints of a new species of crocodylomorph, which are ancestors of modern-day crocodiles. The tracks are more than twice as large as previously found batrachopodid tracks and indicate that the animals walked on two legs.
A new deep-water dogfish shark, Squalus shiraii, has been discovered in the tropical waters of Southern Japan. The species boasts distinctive features, including a tall first dorsal fin and caudal fin with broad white margins.
Researchers at Utah State University found that more than 1000 tons of microplastics are deposited onto protected lands in the western US each year, equivalent to over 123 million plastic water bottles. The study's findings highlight the source, transport, and fate of plastics on Earth surfaces.
A recent study found that consuming calories later in the day can worsen glucose tolerance and reduce fat burned. The effects were more pronounced in people with obesity or diabetes, who already have compromised metabolism.
Researchers have found evidence of a major 'stirring up' in the mantle layer around 3.2 billion years ago, indicating the start of global plate tectonic activity. This discovery has implications for our understanding of the evolution of life on Earth and the formation of mineral and energy resources.
Researchers developed an artificial molecular pump to install rings onto polymer strings, enabling precise control over ring threading and opening up new possibilities for scratch-resistant coatings and actuators. Polyrotaxanes show promise in soft materials and can be fine-tuned by accurately defining the polymer's structure.
Researchers from Radboud University Medical Center found that norepinephrine suppresses the function of white blood cells, impairing the body's ability to combat infections. The study suggests that alternative antihypotensive agents like vasopressin may be more effective in sepsis patients.
A study by Tohoku University's Research Institute of Electrical Communication reveals that visual stability across saccades occurs when parvo-pathway signals suppress magno-pathway signals immediately after a saccade. This finding has implications for AI and robots to perceive the world as humans do.
Research led by Brown University researchers suggests that past stressors sensitize people to future traumas, increasing their chances of developing a mental health disorder. The study found that individuals with multiple pre-disaster stressors were at a greater risk of developing post-disaster mental health disorders.
A recent study by Johns Hopkins Medicine found a strong correlation between higher reading proficiency among third-grade students and lower homicide rates in Baltimore neighborhoods. The researchers discovered that for every 2% increase in reading proficiency, there was one fewer homicide per 100,000 people annually.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new method to kill breast cancer cells using light-activated molecules. By replacing a single oxygen atom with sulfur, the photosensitizers generate reactive oxygen species that destroy tumor cells.
Exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age reduces body mass index by up to 1.53 kg/m2 in high-risk individuals. The World Health Organization's recommendation is reinforced, suggesting a longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding may have the greatest benefits for obesity prevention.
A Rutgers-led study in Colombia used primary population data to assess surgical needs and identify gaps in care. The study found high out-of-pocket expenses leading to poverty and limited access to surgical services, highlighting the need for improved healthcare policies worldwide.
Data scientists create new statistical models and visualization software to understand COVID-19 pandemic. They integrate diverse factors like airline traffic patterns, socioeconomic data, and weather conditions into a single platform.
Research by the University of Sheffield reveals people with diabetes are at a greater risk of bone fractures, especially hip fractures. Severity and length of time living with the condition also increase this risk.
Researchers investigated potassium fertilization effects on pears in a long history of fertilizer use to establish critical levels. Higher K doses resulted in lower ethylene production and respiration rates, extending storage life.
A meta-analysis of 15 studies found that minimally invasive radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer is linked to a 71% higher risk of recurrence or death compared to open surgery. The study's findings suggest that the benefits of minimally invasive procedures may not outweigh the risks for this specific type of cancer.
A review published in Neurology clarifies the different courses of multiple sclerosis (MS) and disease activity, aiming to improve patient care and clinical trial outcomes. The experts define four subtypes: clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing remitting MS, secondary progressive MS, and primary progressive MS.
A new study estimates that producing food to fuel walking and cycling leads to non-negligible greenhouse gas emissions. The researchers suggest reducing meat consumption and shifting towards plant-based diets can significantly lower these emissions, with potential reductions of up to 80%.
A Rutgers-driven proposal to create a 'microbial Noah's ark' is feasible and should move forward into a pilot project phase, according to a new study. The Microbiota Vault would gather beneficial germs from human populations with uncompromised microbiomes to address global health problems caused by modern society.