A new study reveals how supernovae explosions of massive stars can form heavy neutron star binaries, resolving a puzzle from gravitational wave observatories LIGO and Virgo. The team's results show that the explosion energy determines whether a stripped star forms a neutron star or black hole.
A novel metagenome assembler called MetaPlatanus has been developed to improve DNA sequence accuracy, including those of uncultured organisms. The tool uses accurate short DNA sequence reads to assemble contigs and scaffold larger chromosome-scale structures.
Researchers at Columbia University predict a large-scale influenza outbreak in the US after lifting public health measures, followed by worsened seasonal flu outbreaks. The study suggests that greater population-wide immune susceptibility to influenza could lead to more severe outbreaks.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a marked increase in accidental burns among children, with burn injuries growing significantly between 2019 and 2020. School-aged children accounted for the largest difference in burn injuries, and flame burns increased by 7% during this period.
A new study has found that breast milk from marijuana-using mothers does not negatively impact the short-term health of early premature infants. However, researchers note that more research is needed to understand the potential long-term effects of this exposure on these children's development and health.
Researchers at the University of Arizona have created custom-fitted wearable devices that can monitor physiological parameters without needing recharging. The biosymbiotic devices use wireless power transfer and compact energy storage to enable continuous operation, providing accurate data on body temperature, strain, and muscle deform...
A study of crayfish in the Current River watershed found that virile crayfish were interbreeding with native spothanded crayfish, potentially altering their genetics and ecology. The discovery highlights the challenges of detecting invasive species' impacts, which can lead to substantial harm to unique ecosystems.
Researchers developed a framework to predict effects of marine heatwaves on ecosystems and identify key species for adaptation. The trait-based approach will help managers tailor strategies to enhance community resilience under climate change.
A stable regime can be achieved at low case numbers through non-pharmaceutical interventions, but a fast and efficient 'test-trace-and-isolate' system is crucial for maintaining freedom without lockdowns. This approach has been proven effective in containing disease spread during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Researchers developed a sensitive new way to detect and count transistor defects, which limit performance and reliability. The method works with traditional Si and SiC materials, identifying defect type and number with simple DC measurement.
A novel machine learning approach has been developed to understand symmetry and trends in materials, enabling researchers to group similar classes of material together. The technique uses a large, unstructured dataset gleaned from 25,000 images to identify structural similarities and trends.
A study of 1,236 participants in 310 households found that SARS-CoV-2 infection risks were similar between children and adults, regardless of household contact. The study provides insights into the clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection among both age groups.
A nationwide study found over 63,000 golf cart injuries in children and adolescents from 2010-2019, with a steady increase each year. The majority of injuries were superficial, but fractures and dislocations also occurred, often in the head and neck region.
A Children's Hospital of Philadelphia-led study found that most US obstetric hospitals deliver fewer than 500 babies per year, with approximately 2.5 million infants born at low-volume hospitals between 2010 and 2018. Nearly a fifth of these low-volume hospitals are isolated from other obstetric hospitals, with over half located in rur...
Researchers have developed a new sensor that can detect chemical changes in immune cells during the breakdown of pathogens. The breakthrough could lead to early diagnosis and better treatment of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, which claims about 1.5 million lives annually.
A study by researchers at Wayne State University found a dose-response relationship between SARS-CoV-2 severity and the risk of preterm birth, with severely infected mothers more likely to experience early birth. The study also linked severe COVID-19 infection to an increased risk of preeclampsia.
Researchers used a new AI method to refine the Out of Africa scenario, suggesting a population turnover event in East-West Africa that homogenized West and East Africans. This event may account for up to 90% of contemporary West African gene pool, explaining lower separation times between Africans and non-Africans.
Researchers found that social distancing measures and masking were effective at stopping the spread of flu and RSV viruses. The study concluded that these measures are effective tools to reduce the rates of potentially serious infections like influenza and RSV in children.
Researchers evaluated D-Dimer blood test to rule out blood clots in COVID-19 patients, finding it effective. The study also highlighted the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications.
Researchers at Kyoto University have identified Tox2 as a crucial regulator of T follicular helper cells (TFH), which produce high-affinity antibodies. The study found that Tox2 promotes the long-term survival and functional maintenance of TFH cells, enabling potent and durable antibody responses in vaccines.
A study of 307 college students found that nearly 80% reported trouble concentrating, with 57.6% citing responsibilities at home as a barrier. Mental health issues were also prevalent, with 46.3% of respondents experiencing them.
Researchers at Lund University discovered a previously overlooked part of our DNA that appears to contribute to the development of human and chimpanzee brains. The study found that humans and chimpanzees use a structural variant of DNA in different ways, which plays a significant role in brain evolution.
People with disabilities have surpassed pre-pandemic job numbers, with labor force participation rates increasing by 2.2% and employment-to-population ratios rising by 4.4%. This is a positive trend, with the employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities increasing from 31.5% to 32.9% in September 2021.
A study analyzing TikTok videos under the hashtag #preworkout found that dry scooping, where undiluted powder is put in the mouth followed by liquid, amassed over 8 million views. The study suggests physicians should be aware of pre-workout's dangers, especially among teens.
A study found that bystander intervention can reduce the risk of drowning child deaths or severe disabilities by 80%. Children submerged under water for less than 5 minutes and rescued by a bystander were more likely to recover. Early rescue can lead to good outcomes in victims of drowning.
Children in foster care are more likely to be prescribed psychotropic medications, with a prevalence of 35% compared to 8% for non-foster peers, according to a new study. The research found significant differences in medication use across all age groups.
Research suggests that baby-wearing products pose a significant risk of injury to young children, with 61% of injuries occurring in children under 5 months old. The study found that 19.3% of these infants required hospitalization due to head injuries, highlighting the need for parent education on proper use and sizing of baby carriers.
A study found that Medicaid expansion led to a 31% increase in bariatric surgery access for lower-income white adults. However, this benefit did not extend to Hispanic and Black adults, highlighting ongoing disparities in healthcare access.
A new study models election dynamics using physics, accounting for conformist, contrarian, and inflexible voters. The model finds that short-term campaigns are effective in electorates with only conformist agents, while long-term campaigns are more effective in electorates with strong local dominance.
A Middle Bronze Age city in the Jordan Valley was destroyed by a high-temperature fire, likely caused by a meteorite impact. The site contains evidence of shocked quartz, melted pottery, and diamond-like carbon, supporting a cosmic airburst hypothesis.
A recent study suggests that strike-slip faulting is an active deformation mechanism on Titan's surface, driven by diurnal tidal stresses and pore fluid pressures. The researchers found that shallow faults near the equator are optimally oriented for potential failure, which could facilitate material transport and affect habitability.
The study found that lack of knowledge about debris flows contributed to a false sense of security among residents. Public awareness programs can help keep residents and emergency management offices informed about rare but potentially lethal natural events in their area.
A study published in Kanazawa University reveals the tripartite origins of Japanese populations through paleogenomics, separating Jomon, Yayoi, and Kofun periods. The research suggests that modern Japanese populations have ancestry derived from both East Asian continental populations and Northeast Asia.
A new species of mixopterid, Terropterus xiushanensis, has been found in South China's Lower Silurian deposits. The discovery expands our understanding of the morphological diversity and geographical distribution of mixopterids.
Researchers found that heritage-specific diets varied across Latinx groups, with Mexican and Puerto Rican diets being healthier. The study suggests that longer years living in the US may lead to less healthy dietary patterns among Cuban, Mexican, and Puerto Rican groups.
Researchers from Boston University developed a risk prediction model tailored to U.S. Black women, using epidemiologic data from three case-control studies and follow-up data from the Boston University Black Women’s Health Study. The model is simple to use and can be easily incorporated into primary care settings.
Researchers at TU Dresden developed a new imaging-based method to investigate the visual sensory thalamus, a key structure in brain function and disease. The technique uses high spatial resolution MRI data to detect distinct compartments within the thalamus, which are characterized by varying amounts of white matter.
A new study finds that bariatric surgery increased among lower-income white adults, but remained unchanged for Hispanic and Black adults following Medicaid expansion. The increase in weight-loss surgery rates is a significant finding with implications for health policy.
Researchers developed a versatile composite fabric that can deactivate both biological threats like SARS-CoV-2 and chemical threats like chemical warfare. The material is also reusable and scalable.
A new method developed by Penn State and LLNL demonstrates a promising way to extract and separate rare earth elements from low-grade sources. The protein-based approach separates metals with greater than 99% purity, offering a more efficient and eco-friendly alternative to traditional methods.
Researchers at City College of New York have combined topological photons with lattice vibrations to manipulate their propagation in a controlled manner. The study has broad implications for advancing Raman spectroscopy and studying chemical substances through vibrational spectroscopy.
A study found that pediatric clinical trials in the US were underrepresented by Black children, Hispanic/Latino children, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Pacific Islander children. Researchers are calling for improvements to enrollment processes to increase diversity and generalizability of trial results.
A German team led by Thorsten Bach successfully synthesized agarozizanol B, a complex sesquiterpene with potential pharmaceutical applications. The researchers developed a photochemical reaction cascade to form the molecule from an indanone derivative, achieving both enantiomers of the natural product.
New research found that family violence-related injuries in youth ages 10-15 significantly increased during the pandemic stay-at-home order, with over half of patients reporting an event involving a family member. The study also revealed that alcohol, illegal drugs, and weapons were involved in more cases during the pandemic period.
Researchers have discovered a way to bring cancer-killing T cells to bear against a specific type of colorectal cancer, showing promising results. The findings may represent a therapeutic strategy to target other types of cancers, and the next step is to further explore how T cells become activated in the tumor environment.
A recent study found that dams are being removed at an increasing rate in the US, but disproportionately so in areas with larger populations of non-Hispanic white residents. This raises questions about the environmental justice of dam removal policies.
Scientists analyzing rocks from Mars' Jezero Crater floor discovered extensive weathering and alteration caused by water, suggesting a window of time when the planet may have been habitable. The findings also support the possibility of ancient Martian life.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have created D-peptides that can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 and several of its variants, stopping infection in cultured human cells. The mirror-image peptides are stable, inexpensive to produce, and may be formulated as a nasal spray to prevent infection.
Scientists from Tokyo Institute of Technology have discovered a new method to manipulate quantum vibrations in solids using polarized light pulses. The research demonstrates the importance of polarization in controlling these vibrations, which could lead to breakthroughs in quantum control and material properties.
Research found mixed effects of hunting regulations on sage grouse populations, with some areas experiencing increased growth rates after discontinuing harvest. State wildlife agencies have adjusted hunting seasons to conserve the species, but more work is needed to understand patterns and focus conservation efforts.
A study of 104 transgender and non-binary youth found a 60% decrease in moderate and severe depression and a 73% decrease in suicidality after receiving puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones. The study suggests that access to gender-affirming medical care is critical for ensuring the well-being of young people.
The study found that deaths from COVID-19 among people with learning disabilities were nine times higher than the general population, while those with eating disorders saw a five-fold increase. The research highlighted the need to prioritize vaccination and physical health care for vulnerable groups during the pandemic.
Researchers developed an algorithm that detects common denominators in tumor data, enabling comparison of cancerous tumors between different patients. The tuMap algorithm provides a solution to the challenge of comparing tumors with high inter-patient variability.
The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a stark increase in major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders worldwide, affecting 246 million cases globally in 2020. Women were disproportionately impacted, accounting for over 35 million additional cases, while younger people were also more severely affected.
Researchers are sequencing genomes of 700 Bacilli bacteria to enhance CDC's capacity for detecting novel infectious disease agents. The goal is to create a large database of Bacilli to support rapid laboratory methods for detecting emerging biothreats.
Researchers in Japan developed a vaccination approach that promotes the production of antibodies neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses. The new strategy involves genetically engineering the spike protein receptor-binding domain to shield its head region, boosting antibody production against the core region.
A new study is examining the relationship between cytokines in saliva and COVID-19 infection to predict severity in children. Levels of two cytokines were found higher in those with severe COVID-19 compared to those without severe infection.
A recent study has found that the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant increase in cases of children ingesting small magnets and button batteries, which can cause serious harm or even death. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that emergency departments saw a higher proportion of battery and magnet ingestions during the pandemic.
The ASCENT network will provide high-time resolution measurements of aerosols, key contributors to climate change and health concerns. The project will advance understanding of aerosol properties and their impact on public health.
A team of scientists has developed an air sampling surveillance system that can detect COVID-19 in indoor environments, producing a higher detection rate compared to surface swab samples. The system's potential for early warning of infection risks makes it valuable in hospitals and nursing homes.