A new study identified two neighboring areas of the cortex as processing different types of visual information independently. The researchers used magnetic fields to disrupt neural activity, revealing that one area plays a causal role in processing orientation, while another underpins shape recognition based on curvature differences.
Agricultural Research Service study finds that removing corn cob residues from fields does not harm soil quality, supporting the development of new bioenergy sources. Soils retain potassium from cobs, making them a potential raw material for cellulosic ethanol production.
Research by Liliana M. Garces shows that affirmative action bans have a significant impact on the enrollment of students of color in various graduate fields, particularly engineering and natural sciences. The study suggests that institutions must adopt innovative outreach and recruitment practices to reverse underrepresentation trends.
The Solar Coronal Imager (Hi-C) has provided a major piece of the solar corona puzzle by capturing images of magnetic reconnection. This complex process heats the corona to temperatures up to 7 million degrees F, powered by magnetic fields that constantly warp and collide in bursts of energy.
Researchers found that embryonic sharks can detect electric fields emitted by potential predators and respond by reducing respiratory movements. This innate avoidance response allows them to recognize dangers and try to escape, even in vulnerable egg cases.
Researchers from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center found that smaller radiation fields can be safely used to treat glioblastoma patients without compromising treatment efficacy. This study suggests that focusing radiation on smaller areas of the brain may help preserve cognition and reduce symptoms associated with radiation toxicity.
A team of researchers has calculated the strength and distribution of magnetic fields in the early universe, finding that they existed even before the first stars formed. The calculations show that these weak magnetic fields were present throughout the entire plasma volume, with strengths as low as 10^-20 Tesla.
A new Northwestern University study reveals that female faculty in STEM fields face a significant productivity gap, with lower publication rates and fewer resources. The researchers found that disciplines requiring more resources have a wider gap, suggesting historical unequal investment in female faculty may be the root cause.
The Hinode mission will coordinate with ground-based observations during the November 13, 2012, total solar eclipse to produce a combined dataset. This study will focus on the sun's corona, including its temperature distribution and magnetic fields.
Researchers enhance local electric fields around nanorods using metal grooves to improve surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) intensity. The nanorod-groove system produces larger electric fields than individual nanorods or traditional systems, increasing SERS sensitivity and accuracy.
A 12-year-long study by ICRAF reveals that combining legume trees with maize fields increases yield stability and reduces fertilizer use. This sustainable solution helps farmers cope with droughts and degraded soils, producing consistent and relatively high yields year after year.
Researchers at IMUT have developed a method to analyze nanoscale deformation fields of a crack-tip, mapping pure shear strain at the atomic scale. The study provides new insights into fracture mechanics, paving the way for further research on dynamic crack-tips and various materials.
Scientists have discovered self-organized electromagnetic fields in counter-streaming ionized gases, which helps organize flows and shape solar systems. This breakthrough finding provides a new way to explore order emergence in the cosmos.
Researchers employed a high-powered laser to dramatically enhance electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, allowing for the study of tiny molecules at high resolution. This breakthrough will facilitate discoveries in fields such as new drug development and efficient plastic solar cells.
Agricultural Research Service scientist David Huggins found that standing crop residues on no-till farms increase snow cover uniformity, leading to more uniform soil water distribution and higher soil water recharge rates. This can result in increased winter wheat yield potential by up to 13 bushels per acre.
Standard head movements during MRI scanner exposure temporarily lower concentration and visuospatial awareness, particularly in tasks requiring high working memory. This may have implications for surgeons and other healthcare staff.
A new study found that grasses coated with latex paints show a notable reduction in photosynthesis. The researchers discovered that red paint is more damaging to total canopy photosynthesis (TCP) than white paint, while diluting each color with water reduces their negative effects.
A new study reveals that the western corn rootworm's resistance to crop rotation is linked to increased levels of protein-degrading enzymes in its gut. The insects can survive longer on soybeans and cause more damage than their non-resistant counterparts, allowing them to lay eggs in bean fields.
The Solar Ultraviolet Magnetograph Investigation (SUMI) mission aims to study the intricate magnetic fields in the sun's chromosphere, a hard-to-observe area of the sun's low atmosphere. By observing ultraviolet light, SUMI will create a three-dimensional magnetic map of the region.
A new study found that STEM degrees are associated with significantly higher earnings for minority college students. Latinos reported the highest average earnings after college, with an average annual salary of $42,180. STEM majors also led to higher job salaries, with a 50% premium compared to non-STEM fields.
Richard Alley, a renowned geoscientist, has been recognized by the US News STEM Leadership Hall of Fame for his groundbreaking work in the field. He will receive the award on June 29 at U.S. News STEM Solutions 2012 in Dallas, Texas.
University of Utah physicists created a spintronic device that uses MEH-PPV plastic paint to detect magnetic fields, showing exceptional impact in real-world applications. The new magnetometer can accurately measure fields ranging from weak to strong, with potential consumer products on the market in three years or less.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a computer model to determine how a wind-driven 'tumbleweed' Mars rover would perform on rocky Martian terrain. The study found that larger diameter and lower weight rovers achieve better performance, with a minimum diameter of six meters needed for acceptable movement.
A study by the Wildlife Conservation Society found that intense gas development is driving away wildlife from their traditional wintering grounds. In Wyoming's Jonah and PAPA gas fields, researchers discovered an 82% decline of high-quality habitat for pronghorn, a sharp increase in infrastructure, and behavioral shifts among the animals.
Center-pivot irrigation, invented in 1949, improves water distribution and reduces evaporation, resulting in more efficient farming. The technique is used worldwide, covering 20% of cultivated fields, which produce 40% of global food supply.
Researcher Carlos Martino explores how fluctuations in static and radiofrequency magnetic fields impact biochemical reactions. His work shows that low-level fields can inhibit tumor growth and modulate cellular proliferation, offering potential for a therapy based on weak radiofrequency fields.
Researchers from Complutense University of Madrid have mathematically shown that particles in magnetic fields can escape into infinity, never stopping. The phenomenon occurs under specific conditions, including the presence of current loops on the same plane and a large radius for the spherical surface.
A new study found that having a matched-background mentor increases feelings of belonging among ethnic minority students in STEM fields. The researchers surveyed high-achieving, ethnically diverse teens who attended a summer science camp and found that most underrepresented students preferred mentors from their own background.
Researchers used nanoparticles and magnetic fields to kill head and neck cancerous cells in mice without harming healthy cells. The treatment induced hyperthermia, raising the body temperature of only the concentrated nanoparticles within the tumor site.
A report at the American Chemical Society symposium highlights the challenges faced by minority women in STEM fields, including limited access to quality education and career discouragement. The percentage of women of color with doctorates in science has risen, but there is still a long way to go for equal representation.
Researchers at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona manufacture a cylinder that hides contents and makes them invisible to magnetic fields, paving the way for the invisibility of light. The device uses high-temperature superconductor material and is fully isolated from external magnetic fields.
Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory successfully produced a 100.75-tesla magnetic field, exceeding the world record, using a novel pulsed magnet system. The achievement paves the way for studying quantum behavior under high magnetic fields and exploring new materials.
Researchers found low densities of key insect pests in Illinois corn and soybean fields due to environmental conditions and widespread use of Bt-corn hybrids. This practice goes against integrated pest management advice, leading to concerns about insect resistance.
Researchers from Duke University and Boston College created a metamaterial that enhances magnetic forces without harming biological tissues or damaging electrical equipment. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and safer applications of electromagnetism in devices such as magnetic levitation trains.
Researchers at the University of Missouri are studying the molecular structure of a controversial pesticide to determine if it can be made more efficient and safer. They found that the active ingredient, methyl iodide, can be slowed down in its release, reducing the need for large amounts of pesticide.
A new study at Cornell University finds that motherhood is associated with women exiting research fast-track careers at twice the rate of men. Despite equal pay and promotion, women face outdated policies that make it incompatible with a tenure-track research career.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics have created a high-precision map of the Milky Way's magnetic field using radio observations from over 30 researchers and 41,000 measurements. The map reveals both large-scale and small-scale features of the Galactic magnetic field, including turbulence in the gas.
A survey by Lemelson-MIT Invention Index reveals that young Americans recognize the importance of invention and innovation, yet feel hindered by factors such as limited education and attention to invention projects. The program offers initiatives like InvenTeams to inspire and empower youth to invent.
A study of Nobel Laureates from 1901 to 2008 found that the majority of breakthroughs in chemistry and physics were made after age 40, with great achievements by age 30 nearly never occurring. The trend toward youthful achievement in early 20th century physics may be attributed to the development of quantum mechanics.
Crop sensors outperformed farmers in choosing nitrogen rates for corn fields, resulting in average yield increases of almost 2 bushels per acre. The technology reduced excess N applied by 25% without harming yields, offering a potential solution to environmental concerns about fertilizer pollution.
Researchers from Jena and Graz calculated the time evolution of the vacuum decay, revealing that particles of matter and antimatter behave in a novel self-focusing way. This breakthrough increases the possibility of discovering these particles in super strong electric fields.
Scientists have created an 'antimagnet', which can protect pacemakers and other medical devices from strong MRI signals. The device uses superconducting materials and metamaterials to control magnetic fields, making it undetectable.
Researchers developed a multiferroic material that reacts to both magnetic and electric fields at room temperature, fulfilling a long-held dream. The material's ferromagnetic properties were demonstrated using X-ray magnetic circular dichroism, paving the way for more efficient data storage and logical switches.
Agricultural Research Service scientists found that using strip tillage and placing fertilizers directly below the seed increased corn grain yields on eroded slopes by 12-26% over two years. This innovative technique supports Idaho's growing dairy industry and promotes international food security.
A Kaiser Permanente study of 801 pregnant women found a significant link between maternal magnetic field exposure during pregnancy and the development of asthma in their children. Women with high MF exposure were more than three times as likely to have an asthmatic child, highlighting the need for awareness about EMF health effects.
Researchers found that uneven temperatures in semiconductors can create electronic whirlpools and sideways magnetic fields, leading to a new effect on thermopower efficiency. The discovery could improve the efficiency of commercial semiconductor devices
The DFG is establishing eight new Research Units to study bone metastases, test innovative models for water research, and explore synthesis technology. The funding supports diverse research fields, including elite education and dynamic growth societies.
Researchers found that ground beetles significantly reduce grass weed populations in UK farmland, improving agricultural productivity. By controlling weeds, ground beetles can help farmers reduce herbicide use and increase crop yields.
Researchers at Iowa State University discovered that a perennial cover crop can be used on corn fields to achieve similar yields to traditional farming methods while also improving soil quality and reducing erosion. The study found that using Kentucky bluegrass as the perennial cover crop resulted in yields of over 200 bushels per acre.
Researchers use old mathematical techniques and insights on CMEs to devise a fresh way to measure magnetic fields in the sun's upper atmosphere. By spotting a diffuse ring around a CME, they can determine the strength of the magnetic field using Alfvén speed.
Researchers found that organic triticale fields had five times as many plant species and 20 times more pollinating insects than conventional fields. The organic fields also had three times as many natural enemies of aphids and five times fewer aphids, highlighting the importance of biodiversity in managing pests.
Neuroscientists from Ruhr-University Bochum found that high-powered electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones can disturb learning processes on the synaptic level within the brain. However, daily use of mobile phones is unlikely to cause significant harm.
A recent study published in Phytopathology reveals that fungicide applications on corn are unlikely to produce yield increases unless fungal diseases are present. Farmers should weigh the cost of treatments against potential benefits and consider the price of corn when making decisions.
A study by American Society for Horticultural Science found that a 1-inch topdressing depth applied over 2 years improves turfgrass cover, shoot density, and divot resistance. Topdressing rates above 4 inches accumulate over time may compromise surface strength.
Researchers found that combined exposure to the three chemicals increases the risk of Parkinson's disease threefold. People who live and work near fields sprayed with these pesticides experience the greatest increase in risk.
A study found that young black males with male partners have twice the number of new HIV infections as other demographics, likely due to cultural beliefs about masculinity influencing condom use and HIV risk assessment. These cultural norms may lead to increased risk behavior with perceived 'masculine' partners.
Physicists at UC Berkeley used sensitive magnetometers to search for biomagnetism in the world's largest flower, but found no evidence of a strong magnetic field. Despite being unable to detect a significant magnetic signal, researchers believe studying biomagnetism in plants could lead to new discoveries.
Researchers from NIST have created a new method to make neutral atoms behave as if they are charged particles in an electric field. This allows for the simulation and study of fundamental electrical phenomena, including superconductivity and the quantum Hall effect. The synthetic electric fields mimic the behavior of charged particles ...
A Danish study examines the relationship between soil texture and nutrient leaching in agricultural fields. The results show that injecting dairy slurry into loam soil reduces phosphorus leaching, while its effect on sandy loam and loamy sand is limited.
Astronomers have spotted extremely hot matter near a black hole just milliseconds before it plunges in. The unique observations suggest that some matter may be escaping via highly structured magnetic fields.