Children's gut microbiota largely reaches adult composition by five years, but important differences remain. Key bacterial taxa are acquired late in childhood and may affect health later in life.
A research team has discovered organic carbon compounds in fluid inclusions from the Dresser Mine in Australia, dating back 3.5 billion years. These findings suggest that primordial microbes may have had the necessary conditions to exist on Earth at this time.
A new analysis reveals that biological invasions have caused over $1.28 trillion in economic damage globally since 1970. The study highlights the urgent need for effective management policies to mitigate the rising costs of invasive species, which are projected to increase by trillions of dollars in coming years.
Increased rates of emphysema were found in marijuana smokers, particularly paraseptal emphysema, compared to non-smokers and tobacco-only smokers. Marijuana smoking is also associated with airways disease, including bronchial wall thickening and bronchiolar mucoid impaction.
A new radon gas measurement system will measure radon continuously in DeKalb County, helping builders plan mitigation efforts ahead of time. The system could be deployed globally to assess risk and determine hazard in underground mining operations.
Researchers analyzed over 1,000 professional matches played without spectators and found that home teams still performed better than visiting teams. However, referee bias against away teams decreased significantly in the absence of spectators.
A new study by Penn sociologists finds that remote work has worsened gender disparities in domestic labor, with mothers taking on more responsibilities and facing greater pressure to manage children's schooling. The study suggests that increased work flexibility may lead to a more egalitarian division of household duties.
A BMJ investigation found that many UK universities are not collecting data on student testing and positivity rates. Experts describe campus testing as haphazard, with a high cost per positive result, likely underestimated due to staffing costs.
Researchers developed a comprehensive model to estimate lifetime microplastic exposure, accounting for variable levels from different sources and populations. The model predicts that adults can accrue an average of 50,100 microplastic particles by age 70.
Nearly 20% of Americans, or over 46 million adults, say they did not seek treatment for a health problem in the last year due to cost. Americans are struggling to afford healthcare, with nearly 30% finding paying for general healthcare a significant financial burden behind housing and taxes.
MIT neuroscientists have identified a brain circuit that stops mice from mating with others showing signs of illness. The circuit, controlled by the amygdala's COApm region, triggers a warning signal to stay away from sick animals.
A study analyzing socioeconomic and environmental indicators for the São Paulo Macrometropolitan Area found environmental inequity and dependency. The analysis detected asymmetries that impair mutual exchange between cities, with some providing essential services like water, food, and power generation while others receive them.
A six-year study found seagrass meadows can alleviate low pH conditions for extended periods of time, even at night. The grasses can reduce local acidity by up to 30 percent, benefiting marine life such as sea turtles and fish.
Researchers have discovered a fungus that can improve nutrient uptake and yield in ketchup tomatoes, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. The fungus, Ceriporia lacerata, enhances enzyme activity in soil and increases sugar-acid ratio, vitamin C content, and flavor in tomatoes.
Researchers found that atmospheric dust particles from the Middle East supercharge the Indian summer monsoon by absorbing solar radiation, heating the atmosphere, and altering wind patterns. This 'elevated heat pump' drives moisture onto the Indian subcontinent, leading to increased precipitation.
A longitudinal study found that the ForsythKids preventive dentistry program reduced untreated cavities from 39% to 19% over six years, highlighting the effectiveness of school-based prevention programs. The study also highlights the critical need for accessible dental care in low-income communities.
Ellen Price, a doctoral student at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, has been awarded the 51 Pegasi b Fellowship from the Heising-Simons Foundation. The fellowship will provide up to $375,000 in support for Price to conduct independent research in planetary astronomy over the next three years.
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have designed a smart device that harnesses sunlight to illuminate underground spaces. The device uses an acrylic ball and plastic optical fibre to focus sunlight onto a cable, which is then transported to underground locations to provide light.
A new study by UC researchers uses brain imaging to predict treatment outcomes for adolescents with anxiety disorders. The study showed that medication can 'dampen' the overactivity of fear areas in the brain, leading to improved transmission of messages between neurons.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 52 studies found that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) were associated with reduced mortality and severe adverse events in patients with COVID-19. These findings suggest that these medications may be beneficial for COVID-19 patients.
Companies may be intentionally hiring managers with questionable ethics and narcissistic tendencies to manage earnings. Researchers found that these 'dark' personality traits are often preferred over more ethical candidates, leading to inflated earnings reports.
A new study by German researchers found that higher species diversity is positively related to mental health, with people living in regions with more plant and bird species reporting better mental well-being. However, the study did not find a significant relationship between biodiversity and physical health.
Researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital have identified genetic and cellular mechanisms underlying Crohn's disease, providing new insights for tailored treatments. By blocking the gp130 protein, they found that some patients may benefit from alternative therapies, complementing standard anti-TNF treatments.
A new study by the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome identifies a higher-than-expected rate of clonal hematopoiesis in individuals with Down syndrome between the age of one to 20 years old. This precocious clonal hematopoiesis is linked to an increased risk of leukemia, with oncogenic mutations dominating the TET2 gene.
A recent study estimates that invasive species have caused at least $1.288 trillion in economic losses globally since 1970, with costs tripling each decade.
University of Hawaii researchers demonstrate a new method to detect freshwater plumes using surface-towed marine controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) imaging. The study reveals substantial volumes of freshwater present in the ocean column, with one plume estimated to be equivalent to four Olympic-sized swimming pools.
A novel skin-mounted sticker has been developed to diagnose cystic fibrosis within minutes by changing color in response to chloride levels in sweat. The device is softer and more comfortable than traditional diagnostic tools, allowing for easier collection of sweat samples and faster diagnosis.
Research shows a direct connection between particular bacteria in the gut and impaired brain function, with sugar consumption impairing memory associated with the hippocampus. The study also found that transplanting specific gut bacteria without sugar consumption can replicate memory impairments in adulthood.
The NIH has started a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of Moderna's COVID-19 variant vaccine, mRNA-1273.351, designed to protect against the B.1.351 SARS-CoV-2 variant. The trial enrolls approximately 210 healthy adult volunteers and aims to assess the reactogenicity and immune response of the vaccine.
Research by Matthew Panichello and Timothy Buschman found that attention and working memory share the same neural mechanisms, with neurons in the prefrontal cortex controlling both. This allows for dynamic transformation of memories to guide behavior, like rotating a paper to read text.
Researchers have identified a genetic link to clogged arteries, finding that a specific gene variant increases the risk of coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. The discovery provides new insights into the causes of cardiovascular disease and offers potential therapeutic targets for treatment.
The Pew Charitable Trusts has named 9 distinguished researchers as 2021 recipients of the Pew fellowship in marine conservation. The new fellows will undertake projects addressing ocean conservation and management needs globally, from improving shark conservation to studying coastal habitats.
A study by VCU researchers found that older people and Republicans were less likely to support vaccine donations, while Democrats and those without health insurance were more supportive. The majority of respondents agreed on donating up to 10% of available vaccines.
A study led by UT Health San Antonio found a 45-fold increase in insomnia and a 30-fold increase in sleep apnea among active-duty military members between 2005-2019. The most likely military member to be diagnosed was married, male, white, higher-ranking enlisted Army service member aged 40 or older.
The B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in the US, with a 40-50% increase in transmissibility compared to previous dominant variants. The analysis suggests that future case numbers and mortality rates will be higher than expected.
Researchers discovered how Janus particles relate to nearby barriers, showing velocities are influenced by physical properties of charged boundaries. This study could help engineer micromotors for complex biological environments, including drug delivery and nano-surgery.
A study published in Science found that adult liver contains hematopoietic progenitors that can differentiate into tissue-resident lymphocytes. These findings reveal a local pathway for the development of innate lymphoid cells, providing insights into the liver's unique immune features.
Researchers found that alternative seafood networks (ASNs) experienced unprecedented growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, as consumers temporarily relocalize their seafood purchases. This growth underscores the importance of functional diversity in supply chains and regional food systems for resilience, with policy changes and data col...
Researchers used NIST's agricomb to measure methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide, and water vapor from a beef cattle feedlot in Kansas. The portable system identified trace gases based on infrared light absorption, providing precise measurements of gas concentrations.
Researchers from Osaka University developed a nanocarbon material made from crab shells suitable for use in photosensing and energy storage devices. The material was created through simple pyrolysis of chitin nanofiber paper, demonstrating a sustainable and efficient method for producing renewable electronics.
Researchers will investigate how humans have influenced changes to floodplains and when this began, shedding light on the global relevance of an 'anthroposphere'. The project will employ innovative methods combining archaeology, geosciences, and history to understand human-environment interactions.
Scientists discovered elusive type of spin dynamics in a quantum mechanical system, confirming a previously unproven hypothesis. The findings show that the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang scenario accurately describes changes in time of spin chains in certain quantum materials.
Researchers at the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) presented their latest findings on various child development topics. Key presentations include discussions on how COVID-19 has altered screen use among children and strategies to promote social justice in developmental science.
A team of scientists at the National Institutes of Natural Sciences has successfully developed a broadband mid-infrared (MIR) source with high beam quality, enabling simplified environmental monitoring systems. The MIR source facilitates industrial and medical applications, including gas detection and breath analysis.
A new study by William Bazley found that using the color red to represent financial data affects individuals' risk preferences, expectations of future stock returns, and trading decisions. The effects are not present in people who are colorblind, and they're muted in China, where red represents prosperity.
Researchers at HZDR have created a novel method for growing magnetic thin-film materials that host skyrmions, tiny magnetic vortices promising for high data storage and processing capacities. The new process involves rapid heating with brief flashes of light to prevent undesired crystal phases, resulting in stable skyrmion formation.
A proof-of-concept study shows that animal DNA can be collected from air samples, enabling new ecological and health assessments. The technique has potential applications in forensics, anthropology, and even medicine, such as understanding airborne diseases like Covid-19.
The NIRVANA test can diagnose COVID-19 in minutes, track SARS-CoV-2 variants, and detect other viruses like influenza. It uses isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) coupled with real-time nanopore sequencing.
A new approach to genetic comparisons resolves a debate on the most distant animal relative. Sponges are identified as our closest relatives due to improved analyses and reduced errors in previous studies.
A research team from the University of Tokyo analyzed global flood risk modeling uncertainties, finding large uncertainties mainly associated with runoff data. The study identifies key areas for improvement in hydrological modeling to enhance future predictions of flood risk.
A new pilot study suggests that administering platelet-rich plasma and gonadotropins near the ovarian follicles can restore ovarian function in women during early menopause. The results show that 11 out of 12 participants resumed menstruation, with one achieving clinical pregnancy.
Researchers found that middle-aged adults who met both exercise and dietary guidelines had lower odds of metabolic syndrome and developing serious health conditions. Meeting the physical activity recommendations alone also reduced the risk, with participants having 51% lower odds of metabolic syndrome.
This study assesses dermatologists' perceptions of and experiences with teledermatology in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dermatologists express varying opinions on teledermatology's long-term viability, citing concerns about parity in reimbursements between video and in-person visits.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a global increase in stillbirths and maternal deaths, while pre-term births decreased in high-income countries. Women requiring surgery for ectopic pregnancies also saw a significant surge.
Researchers developed a handheld MasSpec Pen to identify common types of meat and fish within 15 seconds, with 100% accuracy. The device uses molecular components to verify meat sources, eliminating the need for sample preparation steps.
Researchers at Nagoya University identified a gene that enables African clawed frog tadpoles to regenerate nerves. Introducing this gene into mice with spinal cord injuries led to partial recovery of motor functions. The study suggests a new therapeutic approach for treating spinal cord injuries.
Two researchers from the University of Minnesota Medical School will lead a new VA-funded network to expand lung cancer screenings and research among veterans in the Upper Midwest region. The $4.5 million grant aims to increase veteran access and participation in lung cancer clinical trials, addressing barriers such as distance travel,...
The study reveals that air pollution in the San Francisco Bay Area causes over 3,000 deaths and 5,500 new childhood asthma cases each year. Health impacts vary dramatically within neighborhoods, with certain areas experiencing a much larger burden.
Harvard researchers identify how chronic stress impairs hair follicle stem cells, leading to delayed regeneration and hair loss. The study found that the stress hormone corticosterone delays stem cell activation, while Gas6 pathway activation promotes hair growth.
A new study has found evidence of sophisticated breathing organs in 450-million-year-old trilobites, revealing they breathed oxygen and had structures resembling gills on their thighs. This discovery helps piece together early animal evolution and situates trilobites between older arthropods and crustaceans.