The K-DRIFT pathfinder telescope, a compact off-axis freeform three-mirror system, has been developed to capture faint galactic structures. With its improved performance, the telescope achieves higher resolution and sharper images, paving the way for uncovering the hidden history of galaxy formation and evolution.
Large language models (LLMs) bring transformative power but also raise significant privacy concerns, according to a new study. The research team identified five key issues and proposed solutions for LLM training and invocation, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring of new research.
Researchers found that people naturally blink less when working harder to understand speech in noisy environments, suggesting a link between blinking and cognitive function. Blink patterns remained stable across different lighting conditions.
A new dual-action program combines arts sessions for people with dementia with wellbeing sessions for their carers, helping families rediscover connection and confidence. The program was co-designed with those affected by dementia and has been shown to promote social interaction and reduce isolation.
A study of over 3,500 adolescents found that social jet lag has widespread negative effects on the developing brain's structure and neural circuits. This includes weaker connections between key brain regions responsible for sensory processing, emotion regulation, and social function.
Researchers found chemical fingerprints of gigantic primordial stars in galaxy GS 3073, solving a 20-year cosmic mystery. The discovery confirms that supermassive black holes could exist less than a billion years after the Big Bang.
Most museum staff support behind-the-scenes tours to educate the public about their work and promote biodiversity. The tours can help improve teaching and public speaking skills, while also fostering a sense of reciprocity and responsibility among staff.
The UAE has launched an AI ecosystem to support climate-resilient farming in vulnerable communities worldwide. The CGIAR AI Hub and four other initiatives aim to drive digital transformation and innovation in agriculture, providing practical solutions for farmers, governments, and development actors.
Veterans and first responders face elevated risk of cancer due to occupational exposures, such as firefighting. Experts call for better access to high-quality cancer prevention, screening, and treatment, including presumptive laws and expanded support services.
Researchers are developing a first-of-its-kind mRNA vaccine against severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a tick-borne viral disease. The vaccine is being designed using cutting-edge AI and computational techniques, aiming to accelerate response to future epidemics and pandemics.
A new clinical trial found that a polyphenol-rich diet reduced pro-inflammatory markers and increased beneficial bacteria in older adults. The study suggests that this dietary approach can support healthy aging and may be tailored to individual needs based on inflammatory and microbial profiles.
Research led by UMass Amherst has pinpointed suitable habitats for Myanmar's Bengal tigers, Indochinese leopards, and Mainland clouded leopards. The study suggests that many existing protected areas will continue to be critical in the future, but require additional protection and connectivity solutions to ensure the big cats' survival.
Midbrain dopamine neurons create a glycogen fuel reserve but regulate it in a way that leaves them vulnerable to glucose shortages as they age. This vulnerability may explain the deaths of these neurons in Parkinson’s disease.
The University of Oulu's 6G Flagship programme is a leading initiative in next-generation wireless communication, accelerating innovation through real-world testing. With over 240 partnerships and collaborations across the globe, the programme addresses critical challenges in spectrum management, AI-driven radio access networks, and more.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed smart headphones that use AI to detect conversation cadence and isolate participants in a noisy soundscape. The prototype was tested with 11 participants, who rated filtered audio more than twice as favorably as baseline sound.
Researchers develop a new multivariate basic function secret sharing scheme that enhances communication cost and computation efficiency using oblivious transfer. The scheme reduces key size from O(λn^2) to O(λn), enabling faster computations.
Researchers used vanadium isotopes to track the rise of oxygen in ancient seas, finding that oxygen accumulated in the oceans far earlier and more rapidly than previously thought. This finding reshapes our understanding of how the planet became habitable for complex life.
Researchers identified key building code features that impact hazard resilience, including prioritizing structural elements like lateral support. Smarter regulation and stronger structures can work together to create safer homes, but local expertise is crucial in places with independent-minded populations.
The University of Texas at Dallas has partnered with Tech Mahindra to facilitate collaboration on artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, skill development, and research. The partnership will provide opportunities for students and faculty to advance AI technologies, data science, and cybersecurity.
The UT Health San Antonio Center for Brain Health brings together expertise in dozens of disorders, emphasizing education, family support and community connection. The center is part of ongoing national research initiatives, including a study on ALS and HEALEY ALS Platform Trial.
A Rutgers Health study found that patients aware of family members' past gallbladder surgery were more likely to seek early help and less likely to undergo high-risk, emergency gallbladder removal. This knowledge helped doctors avoid misinterpreting symptoms such as chest pain and nausea, leading to earlier diagnoses and treatments.
The NRL TREx service provides secure access to government and commercial antenna networks, enabling satellites to operate more effectively by downlinking more data. This has been seen in NRL's satellite missions and now missions across the USSF can onboard to the service.
A new study from the University of Illinois finds that a 10% increase in imported plastic waste is associated with a 0.6% increase in littered plastic bottles collected from coastal areas. The researchers used citizen science data to investigate how the global plastic waste trade contributes to litter along coastlines and waterways.
Researchers discovered that infant nasal organoids divide faster and have different cell types than adult ones, making them more susceptible to RSV infection. The findings suggest that infants' bodies respond with a less coordinated defense against the virus, leading to severe airway blockages and mucus production.
Researchers from TU Delft and Radboud University discovered CuInP₂S₆ (CIPS), a two-dimensional ferroelectric material, can control the pathway and properties of blue and ultraviolet light. CIPS shows giant birefringence in the blue-UV range, making it a potential game-changer for photonics applications.
A new study published in Nature Human Behaviour found that around one third of proposed grammatical universals are consistently observed across all languages. The research team used complex statistical methods to analyze a large database of grammatical features and identified recurring patterns in language structures.
A new UK Biobank study reveals that age at diabetes diagnosis affects dementia risk, with those diagnosed after 50 years old having a lower risk. Genetic factors play a key role, with APOE ε4 carriers experiencing a significant reduction in dementia risk when diagnosed later in life.
A new study reveals that elusive species are most vulnerable to human-driven habitat change due to data gaps in global biodiversity databases. By leveraging open data and crowd-sourced observations, researchers can correct these gaps and provide more accurate biodiversity indicators.
Researchers at the University of Maryland analyzed air samples from College Park, Md., and found that chemical compounds from Canada's historic 2023 fires persisted in the atmosphere, forming an 'atmospheric soup.' The study provides insights into the long-term effects of wildfire smoke on human health and the environment.
Researchers develop a controlled method to capture CO2 from power plants using limestone and dolomite rocks, mimicking nature's slow geological process. The system captures part of the CO2, leaving room for engineering improvements towards a practical carbon capture technology.
Researchers discovered that a person's conscious perception of their energy levels plays a crucial role in regulating their mood. The study found that when glucose levels drop, people who feel hungrier experience a worse mood, highlighting the importance of interoception in emotional stability.
Heriot-Watt University has received a £2.6m European Research Council grant to advance quantum technology development. The project will focus on harnessing light's spatial and temporal properties to enhance entanglement generation, measurement, and distribution.
Researchers can explore higher-dimensional effects within real laboratory systems using synthetic dimensions. Oded Zilberberg's ERC project aims to advance this field by introducing strong many-body interactions into synthetic-dimension platforms, potentially guiding the design of novel quantum materials and devices.
Five LMU researchers have been awarded Consolidator Grants by the European Research Council to tackle various research challenges. Professor Sophia Stoecklein's project CONNECT aims to develop a functional connectivity MRI tool for cancer diagnostics, while Professor Matthias Garschagen's GOALT project focuses on establishing a theoret...
A study published in JAMA found that expectant management resulted in higher survival rates compared to active treatment for patent ductus arteriosus in extremely preterm infants. The protocol-defined study showed no significant difference in mortality or bronchopulmonary dysplasia between the two groups.
Researchers explore how European identity develops across childhood, adolescence and young adulthood, with potential positive impacts on society. The GENERATION EU project aims to build a comprehensive model for psychology and peacebuilding, generating new data and tools.
Scientists from the Institute of Physical Chemistry discovered a novel molecule, TDMQ20, which can bind to copper ions and decrease its harmful effect on neurons. The researchers found that the complex does not generate reactive oxygen species, making it a promising candidate for treating Alzheimer's disease.
UC San Diego Health has been recognized as a Best Hospital for Maternity Care by U.S. News & World Report for the fourth year in a row. The hospital provides world-class care for parents and newborns, with a focus on compassion, expertise, and dedication.
A new study suggests that prevention campaigns for cannabis-related vehicle crashes should target middle-aged and older adults, who are at risk of driving after using the drug. Adults over 50 who use cannabis daily or have mental health reasons are most likely to drive after using THC-containing products.
PRIMULA project aims to tackle microarchitectural attacks by developing new methodologies for building secure hardware-software systems. The project will advance in two key directions: establishing formal foundations and developing tools for developers.
Researchers have elucidated the molecular mechanism by which microtubules transmit signals to cells, using the signalling protein GEFH1. The C1 domain of GEFH1 binds specifically to microtubules, activating the RhoA signalling pathway and triggering cellular processes.
Researchers at UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a small molecule that can inhibit cancer-driving protein IGF2BP3, slowing leukemia growth and triggering cancer cell death. The discovery could lead to new treatments for leukemia and other hard-to-treat cancers.
A study by Van Andel Institute scientists found that reducing calorie intake helps cancer-fighting immune cells do their jobs more effectively. The researchers discovered that a low-fat, high-protein diet given once a day promotes the formation of ketones, which act as a cellular fuel for T cells to become more effective tumor fighters.
The University of Maryland School of Medicine will expand its MD program class size from 175 to 200 students over five years. This initiative aims to address the projected nationwide shortage of physicians, with projections indicating a need for up to 84,000 additional doctors by 2036.
The scLT-kit toolkit offers automated processing and analysis of single-cell lineage tracing data. It characterizes cell dynamics and dissecting mechanisms underlying cell fate decisions. The toolkit has been applied to various real datasets to demonstrate its robustness and effectiveness in understanding biological processes.
Male bonobos focus their mating efforts on females who have reached maximum swelling and are older, indicating a higher probability of ovulation. This flexible strategy allows them to overcome the unreliable nature of female fertility signals.
The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics has been awarded full, four-year reaccreditation by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, reflecting its commitment to delivering evidence-based education in medical genetics and genomics. The reaccreditation marks 25 years of uninterrupted accreditation for ACMG.
A new dataset, TripletDGC, reveals the association between disease genes and diseases by characterizing specific cell types. The study highlights critical cell types linked to disease mechanisms, providing deeper insights into molecular basis of diseases.
Scientists at PSI's cleanroom used the laser to create two-dimensional continuous changes in magnetic properties in materials for various applications. The technique enables local, gradual approach to creating gradients of magnetic properties that can take on arbitrary shapes.
University of Houston engineers have discovered that melatonin helps plants grow by adjusting biological processes to coincide with daily cycles. The hormone also enhances photosynthesis and improves stress tolerance in crops.
The report identifies top-priority scientific objectives and proposes four mission campaigns to maximize the scientific return of the first three human landings on Mars. It provides a science-driven roadmap balancing scientific goals with existing NASA mission plans and technological capacity.
Research reveals that SUMOylation of key kinetochore protein αKNL2 is essential for its activity and chromosome segregation. Disrupted SUMOylation leads to growth and fertility defects.
A new study using the Harry Potter Personality Quiz found that regions with more Gryffindors and Slytherins have higher start-up activity. This suggests that rule-challenging behavior, driven by moral conviction or ambition, is closely linked to entrepreneurial action.
A global survey of over 1,800 social science researchers reveals a significant disconnect between their goals to benefit society and the incentive structures that govern their careers. The study highlights the need for universities, funders, and publishers to foster research that prioritizes societal impact.
A clinical study in Estonia found that personalized, risk-based breast cancer screening can detect the disease earlier and reduce complications. The approach is feasible and scalable, with potential to improve patient outcomes globally and reduce mortality.
Plant biologist Masatsugu Toyota receives international recognition for his discovery that plants sense danger through airborne chemicals and warn their neighbors. His work reveals advanced sensory networks rivaling animal nervous systems, challenging traditional views of passive organisms.
A new Oxford University study finds nearly 8,000 animal species could face extinction by the end of this century due to combined effects of climate-driven extreme heat and human land-use changes. The study highlights the urgency of conservation and mitigation actions globally to prevent immense losses to biodiversity.
Growth hormone directly controls behavior of stem cells in growth plate, stimulating growth but also depleting cartilage stem cells. This delicate balance is crucial for long-term bone development and may contribute to refining growth hormone treatments.
A study found that reducing body fat percentage improves long-distance running and cross-country skiing performance, but converting body fat into muscle tissue is a more effective way for female athletes to optimize their body composition. Training and dietary habits that promote muscle growth outweigh the benefits of weight loss.
A SickKids-led study reveals how bile acids can bind to block C. diff's most dangerous toxin, leading to the development of a new compound that neutralizes the toxin directly in the gut. This approach preserves gut health and targets the toxin with precision, offering hope for safer treatments.