By shaking an optical lattice potential, researchers realized a discontinuous phase transition in a strongly correlated quantum gas, opening the door to quantum simulations of false vacuum decay in the early universe. This work provides a flexible platform for exploring the role of quantum fluctuations in first-order phase transitions.
Scientists at Osaka University have successfully manipulated nanoparticles suspended in superfluid helium using optical tweezers, opening the way for new cryogenic applications and potential visualization or control of vortices. The research may help better understand interactions between quantum fluids and classical nanomaterials.
A study found that a daily supplement of urolithin A improved muscle function and reduced inflammation in older adults. The supplement, produced by gut bacteria, was shown to stimulate mitophagy, a process that recycles damaged mitochondria.
A worldwide network of optical magnetometers failed to detect dark matter signals over a one-month continuous operation. The researchers were able to formulate constraints on the characteristics of dark matter using the data from nine stations in six countries.
Researchers have identified nine new factors involved in DNA repair, a critical process for human cell health. The findings can help develop new cancer drugs and improve existing therapies.
The project aims to address concerns and dispel misinformation about COVID-19 testing and vaccination among women leaving incarceration. Researchers will use a modular system to deliver education on critical health literacy, meeting the unique needs of this underserved population.
Researchers identified an estrogen-activated neurocircuit that stimulates thermogenesis and physical activity, increasing energy expenditure and preventing obesity. The circuit responds to changes in ambient temperature and nutritional status, and its conservation in males suggests a potential role in weight regulation.
A study published in The BMJ found that metal K-wires do not provide better wrist function than a traditional moulded plaster cast. However, patients treated with casts were more likely to need subsequent surgery for fracture reduction complications.
Scientists at Scripps Research have devised a method that can rapidly characterize antibodies using high-resolution, low-temperature electron microscopy (cryo-EM). This technique enables the identification of specific antibodies in fraction of time needed for traditional approach.
The Consensus Statement on Future Directions for the Behavioral and Social Sciences in Oral Health identifies key areas of focus, including behavioral theories and mechanisms, novel research methodologies, and dissemination science. The statement aims to advance oral health globally by integrating the behavioral and social sciences int...
An international team led by the University of Ottawa has published findings on the importance of the enzyme GCN5 in maintaining muscle integrity. The study discovered that GCN5 plays a crucial role in boosting the expression of key structural proteins, notably dystrophin.
Researchers identified a mechanism by which two antiviral genes, SAMD9 and SAMD9L, promote childhood cancer when mutated. The study found that this protein region performs the toxic function through binding to nucleic acids.
The MIT Press has released a white paper on its Direct to Open (D2O) model, a collective framework for supporting open access monographs. The report examines the context and logic behind the model's design, which balances private benefits with mission-aligned support for open business models.
Research led by Binghamton University faculty suggests that party polarization precedes voter polarization in countries outside the US. The study of 19 democracies from 1971 to 2019 found that more engaged and informed citizens follow parties' lead on political issues.
A study led by Dr. Aaron Bernstein found that heat increases the number of child and adolescent emergency department visits during summer months, underscoring the need for more aggressive adaptation measures. Children present to ED at higher temperatures for different reasons than adults, highlighting their unique vulnerabilities.
Researchers created a humidity sensor mimicking camel noses to detect moisture levels in industrial exhaust and human skin. The device responds to changes in skin perspiration and can even follow the path of a finger, suggesting a potential basis for touchless interfaces.
The English Channel prevents many rockpool species from reaching the UK due to unfavorable ocean currents. This could lead to a decrease in intertidal wildlife richness in the UK as warmer-water species fail to replace threatened ones. As climate change causes sea temperatures to rise, this barrier may prevent species from adapting.
Researchers achieved a key milestone toward developing a fault-tolerant quantum computer by demonstrating a two-qubit gate fidelity of 99.5% using electron spin qubits in silicon. They found that specific Rabi frequencies enabled universal operations and high accuracy in performing quantum calculations.
A survey study estimated the change in US adult coronary heart disease prevalence from 2011 to 2018. The study found that the prevalence of coronary heart disease among US adults increased during this period.
A study by the University of Texas at Austin found that software development teams given greater autonomy are more productive and have higher customer satisfaction rates. The researchers tested 461 projects over 50 months and found a 39% increase in value added for autonomous teams compared to traditional teams.
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing found that patients with acute painful admitting diagnoses were almost twice as likely to have a self-directed discharge than those without. Inadequate pain assessment may be a motivator for this behavior, leading to poorer health outcomes and preventable financial costs.
British households that normally buy more alcohol saw a 17-fold increase in purchases, while those in socially disadvantaged locations also boosted their buys. Overall alcohol purchases didn't change after COVID-19 lockdowns, but sales data suggest an rise in alcohol-related problems.
MIT researchers develop a method to test feature-attribution methods for machine-learning models. They find that even the most popular methods often miss important features in an image and some perform as poorly as a random baseline. This has major implications for high-stakes situations like medical diagnoses.
A study found a significant decrease in social salience of climate change during the COVID-19 pandemic's first wave. Facebook shares and reshares revealed a notable dip in climate change attention.
A Dartmouth study found that people who respond faster to each other in conversations feel more connected. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, used response time data to measure social connection between strangers and close friends.
A newly developed decoy protein has been found to be highly effective in preventing death and lung damage in humanized animal models of severe COVID-19 disease. The treatment works by competing for the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, thereby neutralizing the virus before it can bind and enter cells.
A Southwest Research Institute scientist found compelling evidence for a liquid internal ocean on Mimas, a small Saturn moon. The discovery expands the definition of habitable worlds and suggests that worlds like Earth with surface oceans may not be unique in the galaxy.
Waldan Kwong, a researcher at Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia, has received an EMBO Installation Grant to investigate the mechanisms and ecology of inter-microbial interactions in gut microbiomes. The project aims to understand the genetic factors underlying microbiome organization using a social insect model.
Historic redlining in Baltimore continues to impact present-day health outcomes, with lower average life expectancies observed across affected communities. The study highlights the persistence of systemic racism and unequal access to healthcare in these areas.
A new study reconstructs the limb muscles of Thecodontosaurus, a small to medium-sized two-legged dinosaur that roamed the UK during the Triassic period. The research suggests that Thecodontosaurus was agile and used its forelimbs to grasp objects, contrasting with its later relatives.
A recent study of Dutch citizens between ages 14 and 26 reveals that lower educational attainment is associated with higher rates of alcohol use, rather than the other way around. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the relationship between education level and substance abuse.
A high protein diet may harm polar bears, with captive bears showing signs of kidney disease and shorter lifespans. Researchers propose adopting a diet with a fat-protein ratio similar to that found in the wild to improve bear health and longevity.
The Earth BioGenome Project has entered a new phase with the start of full-scale genome sequencing, aiming to sequence all known eukaryotic life. The project's Deep-Ocean Genomes Project will explore deep-sea life, which is considered vulnerable to ocean acidification and warming.
The study found that efficient metabolic processes and recycling of components used by the enzyme RuBisCO significantly speed up photosynthesis in Chlorella ohadii. This discovery could lead to improving photosynthesis efficiency in other plants, developing new engineering tools for sustainable food production.
The Vilcek Foundation and the Arnold P. Gold Foundation are seeking nominations for the 2022 Vilcek-Gold Award for Humanism in Healthcare, recognizing immigrant healthcare professionals who demonstrate a commitment to humanistic care. Nominations are accepted through January 24, 2022.
A study of UK football fan message boards found openly misogynistic attitudes towards women's sport, despite progressive attitudes also being present. The researchers suggest that the dominant negative attitudes may be a response to advances in gender equality.
Researchers at Georgia State University found that newer variants of SARS-CoV-2 can infect the respiratory tract of wild mice, replicating in their lungs. This evolution highlights the virus's ability to mutate and spread in rodents living near humans.
A University of Washington team has discovered 349 methane gas plumes bubbling up from the seafloor in Puget Sound. The bubbles are likely connected to underlying geology and may be a natural source of methane, rather than human activity.
A massive new dataset highlights the effects of human disturbances and pollution on contemporary evolution, with pollution driving the most rapid rate of phenotypic change. The study confirms that harvesting and invasive species also have significant impacts, while climate change alters traditional notions of a natural habitat.
A new study reveals significant variability in state- and nationwide policies on end-of-life decision making in US prisons. The researchers found that many policies restrict access to advance care planning documents, limit the roles of surrogate decision-makers, and fail to ensure compliance with community standards. The study emphasiz...
A new theory predicts a type of bond that assembles nanoparticle crystals based on entropic forces. Entropy helps create order by guiding the formation of useful structures without needing explicit attraction between particles.
Researchers at Oregon State University identified a new genus and species of legume, Salpinganthium hispaniolanum, from flowers preserved in amber. The species is believed to have been extinct for millions of years and may have disappeared due to unique biological or physical events.
The BMJ is appealing to Facebook's Oversight Board after its investigation into poor clinical trial research practices at Ventavia was wrongly labelled with 'missing context' and censored on Facebook. The media outlet argues that the social network's fact-checking processes are opaque and lack accountability.
Researchers have achieved 99% accuracy in quantum computing using silicon-based devices. The breakthrough enables the creation of large arrays of qubits capable of robust computations, overcoming a significant challenge in building reliable quantum computers.
A 2020 volcanic eruption in the Philippines showed how explosive eruptions can create lightning, shedding light on the eruption's behavior. The study used global lightning detection, satellite images, and social media photos to characterize the eruption.
A Montreal-based study found that alcohol, cannabis, and nicotine use remained stable among 24- to 33-year-olds from before the pandemic to now. However, people with lower education levels and those living alone were more likely to start or increase substance use during COVID-19.
A global competition between approximation methods for analyzing large spatial datasets shed light on their statistical efficiency. The competition compared various methods using synthetic spatial datasets and revealed the performance of different approaches, providing a unified framework for understanding existing approximation methods.
A new study by University of Helsinki researchers shows that boreal forests can mitigate climate change through aerosol formation and growth, influencing cloud properties and regional climate. The study found that aerosol particles produced by the forests alter cloud reflectivity, potentially cooling the climate.
Researchers have developed a method to analyze audio from graphene production, allowing for near-instantaneous assessment of product type and purity. This approach could improve manufacturing processes, such as flash Joule heating and sintering, by providing real-time data on material properties.
A new study published in the Strategic Management Journal found that freemium marketing strategies can widen the revenue gap between market leaders and followers. The research used data from Apple's launch of Game Center to investigate how freemium strategies perform in markets with strong network effects.
Scientists have developed a novel CRISPR-Cas3 editor from the bacteria Neisseria lactamica that improves editing efficiency and is more easily produced. The tool enables 50% editing efficiency in stem cells and 95% efficiency in other human cell lines, paving the way for research in genetic diseases and developmental biology.
Common air pollutants from urban and rural environments reduce pollinating abilities of insects, leading to fewer flower visits and overall pollination reductions. The study observed up to 70% fewer pollinators, 90% fewer flower visits, and a 31% reduction in pollination when common ground-level air pollutants were present.
A landmark VA study found that prolonged exposure was statistically more effective than cognitive processing therapy in easing PTSD symptoms, with most Veterans showing meaningful improvement from both treatments. The researchers recommended shared decision-making between clinicians and patients to select their preferred treatment.
Contraceptive use is low among women with kidney transplants in the US, with an overall rate of 9.5%. Younger age and certain racial/ethnic groups are associated with higher likelihoods of contraceptive use, while socioeconomic status and donor type do not impact rates.
A new study found that social media use is correlated with higher levels of C-Reactive Protein, a marker of chronic inflammation, and more frequent somatic symptoms. This suggests that excessive social media use may negatively impact physical health in multiple ways.
A new UC Davis study highlights the inequity in tobacco cessation advice and assistance for Latino smokers on Medi-Cal. Despite increased access to health insurance, these smokers receive less help quitting than non-Latino white smokers, highlighting the need for targeted strategies.
Researchers have developed a new approach to determine the structures of tiny crystals relevant to chemistry and materials science. The new method, called smSFX, uses ultrafast pulses from an X-ray free-electron laser to collect structural information before damage sets in.
Researchers at Osaka University have made a breakthrough in understanding the molecular mechanisms behind Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), a deadly form of liver cancer. By identifying TRAF3 and NIK as key players, they have uncovered potential therapeutic targets for novel ICC treatment.
Four MUSC Hollings Cancer Center researchers received American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grants worth $35,000 each. The grants support promising projects that aim to push cancer care forward. Researchers are working on various innovative projects, including a digital literacy training program for community health workers an...
A study found that frequent-fire forests in the Sierra Nevada have far fewer trees due to fire suppression, leading to increased competition among remaining trees. Managing for resilience involves drastically reducing densities to create low-density stands with less tree competition.