Research suggests that reducing emissions of ozone-forming gases from human activities such as road transport and energy production can improve plant growth and capture more carbon. A 50% cut in these emissions is proposed as a large but plausible target to mitigate ozone-induced loss of plant productivity.
Scientists identify hormones and proteins regulating root emergence through intercellular communication. This discovery could aid in controlling root growth and improving plant adaptability to drought conditions caused by climate change.
Research finds that brain iron levels increase during childhood and adolescence, correlating with improved cognitive abilities. Decreased iron levels in certain brain regions are associated with impaired performance on cognitive tasks, highlighting the importance of iron for healthy brain development.
Researchers have developed a portable device that can quickly analyze microbes in oceans, revealing the health of organisms and their response to environmental threats. The tool screens for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and analyzes algae living in coral reefs.
Researchers developed a model to study online polarization and echo chambers, finding that discourse becomes less stable when like-minded groups form. The model accurately replicated Twitter data on polarization and debates, providing insight into social network dynamics.
A new study shows that buildings made from wood instead of cement and steel can avoid greenhouse gas emissions from production and store CO2, turning them into a powerful means to mitigate climate change. Sustainable forest management is crucial for this transition.
A global meta-analysis of organic farming systems reveals a significant increase in biodiversity and profitability relative to conventional agriculture. The study found that larger field sizes around organic sites are associated with higher biodiversity, but lower crop yields and profit margins compared to conventional sites.
A new study challenges the narrative around Cahokia's demise by revealing a complex series of migrations, warfare, and ecological changes in the 1500s and 1600s. Fecal stanols derived from human waste preserved deep in the sediment under Horseshoe Lake provided crucial evidence for a Native American presence in the region.
Researchers have invented a Trojan Horse nanoparticle that selectively targets and eats away at plaque-causing cells, reducing plaque size and stabilizing it. This approach shows promise as a potential treatment for atherosclerosis, the leading cause of death in the US.
Isolated limb infusion (ILI) is a new method for treating melanoma metastases confined to an extremity, offering a more targeted and less exhausting alternative to systemic chemotherapy. The study found an overall response rate of 76% and long-term limb salvage rate of 90%, comparable to high-volume centers in the US and Australia.
A groundbreaking study published in PNAS used a multi-modal precision health platform to identify adults at risk of key health conditions, including cancer, heart disease, and neurological disorders. The study found that integrating whole-genome sequencing with advanced imaging and blood metabolites led to clinically significant findin...
Researchers at MIT and NREL propose slimming down silicon cells to reduce costs and increase manufacturing capacity. By reducing wafer thickness from 160 micrometers to as little as 40 micrometers, the study suggests a significant reduction in material usage and potential savings.
Researchers evolved an RNA polymerase ribozyme that can synthesize its own ancestor, a class I ligase enzyme, in three separate RNA strands. However, the synthesized ligases were often free from function-disabling mutations and exhibited poor fidelity of synthesis.
Researchers find that bumetanide reduces symptoms of autism by decreasing GABA to glutamate ratio, improving brain function and social communication. The treatment has been shown to be safe and effective in reducing symptoms in children as young as three years old.
A new study reveals that tropical forests and coral reefs are being threatened by a combination of ongoing climate changes, increasingly extreme weather, and damaging local human activities. The research highlights the urgent need for international action to decrease CO2 emissions and reverse this trend.
A new study finds that Australians are increasingly being diagnosed with harmless cancers, exposing them to unnecessary surgeries and chemotherapy. Overdiagnosis rates have increased significantly since 1982, with 24% of prostate cancers, 73% of thyroid cancers, and 58% of melanomas overdiagnosed in men.
Researchers have developed an ultra-thin and ultra-flexible electronic material that could be printed and rolled out like newspaper. The new conductive sheet is 100 times thinner than existing touchscreen materials and so pliable it can be rolled up like a tube.
A new study in Frontiers in Neuroscience used virtual reality to determine how people plan their movements by
A cross-national study found that higher income inequality is associated with more social problems, but economic prosperity has a mitigating effect. The research analyzed data from 40 high-income countries and suggests that social bonds are weaker in countries with greater income gaps.
Researchers found significant physical and emotional benefits a decade after prenatal surgery for myelomeningocele, including better walking ability and bladder control. School-age children who received corrective surgery in the womb demonstrated improved gross and fine motor skills and a lower need for shunts and surgeries.
A new clinical trial tests a cell-phone-sized device that stimulates the vagus nerve to prevent and treat migraine attacks. The device has shown promise in preventing and combating migraine attacks through its proprietary stimulation method, offering a non-invasive treatment option with minimal side effects.
A new study found that people with obesity who receive a stigma-reduction intervention, combined with standard behavioral weight loss treatment, devalue themselves less due to their weight. The Weight Bias Internalization and Stigma (BIAS) program helped participants combat negative thoughts and increase self-acceptance.
Lin X. Chen, a senior chemist at Argonne National Laboratory and Northwestern University professor, has received the 2020 Award in Experimental Physical Chemistry for her fundamental contributions to elucidating excited state structures, dynamics, and energetics of light harvesting systems.
Trigeminal nerve and hippocampus volumes predict successful surgical treatment outcomes, with non-responders showing larger intracranial volume and contralateral hippocampus volume. The study suggests that neuroanatomical features may be key to understanding chronic pain resistance.
A recent study by Virginia Tech researchers found that individuals perceive fonts to have political attributes, with serif fonts viewed as more conservative and sans-serif fonts leaning liberal. The study suggests that font choices can convey ideology through letterforms, with implications for political campaign professionals.
Astrocytes support memory function through distinct molecular pathways triggered by norepinephrine release. Norepinephrine promotes synaptic plasticity and energy metabolism for memory consolidation.
A University of Washington team found that micrometeorites reacted with high levels of carbon dioxide on their journey to Earth, contradicting theories and evidence suggesting a nearly oxygen-free atmosphere. The study sheds light on the history of our planet's early days and could inform the search for life on other planets.
A new UCI-led study reveals that early life adversity is directly linked to opioid addiction vulnerability by affecting brain development and function. The research highlights the importance of attention to sex differences in future studies and prevention strategies, which could help address the growing opioid crisis.
The Blue Acceleration refers to the rapid increase in human pressure on the world's ocean since the start of the 21st century. Scientists analyzed 50 years of data from various industries and found that the oil and gas sector is the largest contributor, responsible for one-third of the ocean economy.
A recent study published in Seizure found that over 40% of status epilepticus patients suffer from adverse outcomes, including a 9% risk of death. The researchers developed two prognostic scores, STESS and EMSE, which can accurately predict mortality risk in the emergency room.
Researchers found that opioid dependence leads to permanent neuro-adaptations in the central nucleus of the amygdala, affecting pain transmission and GABA receptor activation. Normalizing nociceptin levels resulted in reduced opioid consumption, suggesting the peptide as a promising target for opioid use disorder treatment.
Researchers analyzed 38 liquid samples from first cases of EVALI in New York State and found vitamin E acetate as a major diluent in 64% of samples. No unknown compound linked to EVALI was found in nicotine-containing liquids.
A new study by Yale sociologist Emma Zang found that China's 2011 judicial interpretation on property rights during divorce initially harmed women's wellbeing, but couples adapted over time to share property equally. Despite adaptations, the change has lingering costs, including increased housework for women and loss of property rights.
The Global Tailings Portal provides detailed information on over 1,700 tailings dams worldwide, helping the industry reduce dam failures and minimize environmental impact. The database brings transparency to the mining industry, benefiting regulators, researchers, and local communities.
Scientists have obtained a high-resolution view of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors (GLP1R), which play a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels. The study provides new insights into GLP1R function and its potential as a target for treating conditions like type 2 diabetes.
Experts analyzed impact of tobacco display ban on young people's attitudes to smoking, finding high retailer compliance and a positive influence. Recommendations include limiting retail outlet density and targeting schoolchildren with anti-smoking messages.
APRNs now have full prescriptive authority for opioids in 14 states and autonomous practice in another 10 states. New laws also improve access to care through state prescription drug monitoring programs.
Children who underwent fetal surgery for spina bifida at a young age are more likely to walk independently and require fewer follow-up surgeries compared to those who had traditional corrective surgery after birth. The study found that these children also scored higher on motor skills and had lower rates of hydrocephalus.
A new soft and stretchable battery developed by Stanford researchers can store power more safely than conventional batteries, promising to enable the design of comfortable wearable electronics. The device maintains a constant power output even when stretched or squeezed.
A study by BC Centre for Disease Control and University of British Columbia found that two-thirds of people who use drugs are aware they've taken fentanyl. The study emphasizes the importance of harm reduction services, substance treatment, and pharmaceutical alternatives to reduce devastating impacts of fentanyl on communities.
A new IIASA study examines how collective behavior patterns emerge from personal, social, and environmental factors. The research highlights the importance of infrastructure in shaping sustainable behaviors, such as cycling, and demonstrates that even minor changes can have significant effects on adoption rates.
Researchers successfully demonstrated the transport of an entangled state between an atom and a photon via an optic fiber over a distance of up to 20 km. This achievement sets a new record for quantum communication and confirms that quantum information can be distributed on a large scale with little loss.
Scientists at the University of Münster have developed a vaccine-like treatment that stimulates plants' natural immune system using a specific pattern in chitosan, a biopolymer. This breakthrough could lead to reduced chemical pesticide use and improved plant growth, as well as potential applications in scar-free wound healing.
Researchers have discovered that the force each cell applies to the surface beneath it primarily controls its shape and motion in a collective cell migration. This finding provides new insights into how cells rearrange and migrate as a group, which could lead to the development of new treatments to speed up wound healing.
A new study found significant early childhood exposure to traffic-related air pollution is associated with reduced gray matter volume and cortical thickness by age 12. Researchers estimated exposure using an air sampling network and used magnetic resonance imaging to obtain anatomical brain images from 147 12-year-olds.
A Yale-led research team outlines key principles for a green chemistry future, emphasizing the importance of systemic sustainability in all chemical processes. The paper highlights recent achievements in green chemistry and its potential to revolutionize various industries, from energy generation to electronics.
A multi-site randomized experiment is being conducted to test a structured investigation protocol for robbery cases in Rochester, NY, and Seattle, WA police departments. The goal is to improve clearance rates and enhance victim satisfaction through standardized investigative actions by trained patrol officers.
A study by IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca found that a specific region of the right temporo-parietal junction can represent various affective states. The researchers used fMRI data and found smooth transitions in this region, which allows the brain to map emotions in a single patch of cortex.
A protein complex of Teneurin, Latrophilin, and FLRT attracts neighboring neurons during development, enabling synapse formation and information exchange. In early brain development, however, the same proteins repel migrating nerve cells, guiding them to their target brain area.
Research suggests that lung bacteria can predict clinical outcomes in critically ill patients, with certain bacteria associated with worse outcomes and the presence of gut-associated bacteria found in the lungs. The study's findings have implications for developing new therapies to prevent and treat critical illness.
A team of researchers developed a promising tool to combat malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases. Their genetically engineered fungus toxin killed 75% of insecticide-resistant mosquitoes, causing an established population to collapse within 45 days.
A team of researchers has developed an artificial intelligence method to predict iron deficiency responses in plants, identifying key regulatory elements and transcription factors. This breakthrough can lead to improved plant cultivation by increasing iron uptake in new varieties, enhancing adaptation to poor soil conditions.
Scientists detected Marburg virus in Egyptian rousette fruit bats in Sierra Leone, highlighting the risk of human exposure. The presence of Marburg virus means people living nearby could be at risk for becoming infected without reported cases of illness.
Michigan Tech engineers focus on lithium's unique mechanics at small scales to address battery defects. They find that at tiny lengths, lithium is much stronger than at macroscopic scales, relying on diffusion instead of dislocation motion to relieve stress.
Researchers have created a computer algorithm called CytoTRACE that can identify the most dangerous cancer cells by analyzing gene expression. The tool may help target cancer-causing genes and improve treatment outcomes for patients with aggressive forms of breast cancer.
A 30-year study details clinical course of 184 individuals with genetically diverse forms of MSUD, showing increased survival and hospitalization rates. Despite advances in care, patients continue to suffer from cognitive and psychiatric disabilities, highlighting the need for safer and more effective disease-modifying interventions.
Researchers created a blue light-emitting diode from halide perovskites, but discovered the materials are inherently unstable due to their weaker ionic bonds. The crystal structure changes with temperature, humidity, and chemical environment, affecting optical and electronic properties.
A longitudinal study of 161 children with spina bifida found that fetal surgery improved mobility and reduced the need for follow-up surgeries. Fetal surgery also resulted in fewer shunt placements and better motor skills scores compared to traditional postnatal repair.
A new technique reveals that myelin produces multiple waves of electrical potentials traveling at high speeds, contradicting earlier assumptions. This discovery has significant implications for understanding demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis.
Researchers at the University of Turku studied how horror movies affect brain activity and found that unseen threats are the scariest. The study revealed that brains continuously anticipate and prepare for action in response to threat, making horror movies an effective way to enhance excitement.