Argon atoms are found to be tenaciously bound in the Earth's mantle and move slowly, contradicting widely held theories. This suggests that early degassing was incomplete and primordial gases still remain trapped at great depth.
Researchers found that taking vitamins and minerals did not reduce liver cancer death rates in a study conducted by the National Cancer Institute. However, some vitamin-mineral combinations reduced risk in subgroups defined by age, sex, and alcohol consumption. In contrast, gene expression patterns identified 11 genes in noncancerous l...
Researchers at the University at Buffalo have found that copper absorption increases when iron levels decrease, suggesting a crucial role for copper in maintaining iron homeostasis. The study aims to understand the molecular mechanisms behind this relationship and its implications for human health.
A study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers found that soil particles can increase the infectious nature of rogue proteins causing CWD. Binding to common soil minerals like montmorillonite significantly increases oral transmissibility, with a nearly 700-fold difference observed.
According to ASU researcher Ronald Greeley, Europa is the most promising candidate among four worlds beyond Earth that might contain life. The moon has a thick layer of water and organic minerals, making it an ideal target for NASA's next mission. Scientists hope to measure the ice shell's thickness using tidal flexing measurements.
Renowned nutrition expert Dr. Irwin Rosenberg emphasizes the need for more research on vitamins and minerals, highlighting the limitations of current evidence. He advocates for standardized regulations on multivitamin products to ensure customer safety and informed marketing.
A study by the University of Bristol revealed that children's packed lunches are often lacking in essential nutrients like potassium and zinc. In contrast, school meals tend to provide higher intakes of protein, vitamins, and minerals, as well as lower sugar and saturated fat content.
A team from the University of Cambridge and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory reported that minerals intended to entrap nuclear waste may break down within 1,400 years due to radiation. The study used NMR to show that plutonium incorporation into mineral zircon rapidly degrades its crystal structure.
A recent study reveals that the Brazilian rainforest heavily depends on dust from a specific valley in Africa. The Bodélé valley in northern Chad provides a significant portion of the vital minerals needed for the Amazon forest's existence, with 56% of the dust reaching the region originating from this source.
Physicist Michael Deem uses supercomputers and disused desktop PCs to catalog mineral designs, creating a database of over 3.4 million zeolite structures. This effort could lead to more efficient catalysts for chemical reactions.
Scientists explore factors that pulled Earth out of its 'Snowball Earth' state and study seismic wave speed in the lower mantle. Researchers also investigate water vapor in Saturn's upper atmosphere using Cassini radio occultation data.
The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 investigates nutrient-based factors influencing AMD progression. Dr. Yu-Guang He hopes the study will resolve the potential benefit of supplements for AMD, which affects nearly 7 million Americans.
A nationwide study aims to slow vision loss from AMD by testing a combination of vitamins, minerals, and fish oil. The study will examine whether the added nutrients can further reduce AMD progression, potentially saving over 300,000 people from vision loss.
An international team of scientists will use remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles to investigate active and inactive hydrothermal vents in the western Pacific Ocean. The expedition aims to understand the formation of mineral deposits containing copper, gold, and other valuable minerals.
Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have discovered a surprising new understanding of water quality, revealing that ions can co-exist as both outer-sphere and inner-sphere species. This breakthrough could lead to better control of water quality and a deeper understanding of various processes at solid-liquid interfaces.
A Johns Hopkins University researcher found that corals can switch from using aragonite to calcite minerals in building their skeletons based on the magnesium-to-calcium ratio of seawater. This change poses questions about coral reefs' future survival amid global warming and ocean acidification.
Scientists at the University of Illinois have developed a theoretical model explaining how hot spring water deposits calcium-carbonate minerals, forming travertine and shaping landscapes. The model reveals that rocks grow at a rate of 1 millimeter per day, contradicting common assumptions about erosion.
A Virginia Tech student is selected to meet with Nobel laureates to discuss his research on bioremediation using bacteria-mineral interaction. The study aims to understand the fundamental reactions that dictate how bacteria interact with minerals, potentially leading to a safe and cost-effective means of environmental remediation.
Researchers find patterns of cracks and thin fins on Mars resembling those formed by damp sand in New Mexico. The discoveries suggest the presence of water on Mars beyond polar ice caps.
Scientists have found that macromolecular carbon in Martian meteorites is always associated with magnetite, a mineral catalyst for its formation. This association raises hopes that the meteorite's carbon complexes could be evidence of non-biological synthesis of organic molecules on Mars.
At the March APS Meeting, NSLS student-researchers presented their innovative studies on biomineralization. Michael DiBiccari's x-ray analysis revealed identical atomic structures between biosilica and synthetic silica, while Samantha Palmaccio discovered that protein fibers enhance the strength of calcium carbonate minerals over time....
Astronomers discover high-temperature minerals in comet Wild 2, challenging the formation of crystalline materials. The Stardust mission brings back samples from the coldest spot in the solar system, providing clues about the origin of these materials.
A University of Washington researcher found that salmon spawning can alter stream beds, releasing silt, minerals, and nutrients that impact nearby rivers and lakes. This
Robert Downs is almost halfway to creating a library of spectral fingerprints for all the Earth's minerals, with over 1,500 cataloged so far. The associate professor of geosciences is collaborating with colleagues to develop a pocket-sized Raman spectrometer for use on Mars and handheld instruments for identifying gemstones on Earth.
A study found that older adults in North Carolina predominantly use food home remedies and other home remedies for health management, often as a form of self-care. The study also revealed significant differences in CAM therapy use among ethnic groups, with African-Americans and Native Americans showing higher rates of use.
The world's first marine mining companies are assessing the economic potential of undersea deposits of polymetallic sulphides. Deep-sea robotics and technology are being developed to extract ore from watery depths, with potential benefits including reduced environmental impact compared to terrestrial mining.
Researchers found evidence of increased clay mineral deposition in the oceans during a 200 million year period, which preceded the first animal fossils about 600 million years ago. The study suggests that an increase in oxygen concentration in the atmosphere was necessary for animal life to arise.
Scientists have re-evaluated mountain building processes after discovering ancient mountain elevation data reveals a rapid uplift of the Andes between 10-7 million years ago. This suggests that 'deblobbing' - the detachment of dense mantle roots beneath the Earth's crust - may be responsible for mountain range formation.
Data from Mars Express confirms the presence of hydrated minerals, implying long-term liquid water on Mars during the Noachian era. Phyllosilicates and sulphates were detected in various regions, suggesting two distinct climatic episodes: a moist environment for phyllosilicates and an acid environment for sulphates.
The University of Queensland is leading a world-first consortium to create an Australian Minerals Science Research Institute, funded by a $8.6 million ARC grant. The five-year research program will focus on sustainable mining and mineral processing, with potential applications in industries such as pharmaceuticals and food production.
Scientists discovered that clay minerals can protect and promote the formation of organic compounds under extreme conditions. This finding suggests that clays may have acted as a 'primordial womb' for infant molecules, providing shelter and facilitating reactions that led to the production of complex biomolecules.
Researchers have identified plant genes crucial for capillary root formation, a vital process for plants to absorb water and minerals. This discovery has important implications for sustainable agriculture, enabling the cultivation of crops that can adapt to changing environmental conditions.
Scientists investigate bacterial adhesion to iron oxide surfaces using dual-strategy approach, combining protein pinpointing and random mutagenesis. The goal is to understand genetic, biochemical, and regulatory processes controlling cell attachment, with potential applications for environmental remediation and metal biotransformation.
Researchers reconciled inconsistencies between two pre-existing data sets for kaolinite, a major earth and industrial material. The findings provide a unifying approach for explaining crystal and mineral dissolution and growth, with implications for understanding geological time, nuclear waste storage, and biomedical issues.
Researchers from Virginia Tech studied the fate of arsenic fed to poultry and found that organic arsenic is biotransformed to inorganic arsenic, which can be toxic. However, surprisingly, low concentrations of arsenic are transported to streambeds instead of being retained by aquifers.
Researchers study bacteria's sticking efficiencies on minerals using atomic force microscopes, revealing the impact of pH levels on stickiness. The findings have implications for understanding toxin mobility in geosystems.
The Virginia Tech EIGER project focuses on naturally occurring interfaces among minerals, water, air, and microorganisms. The program will educate graduate students in a complex field vital to leading environmental issues through an interdisciplinary approach.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have developed a way to reduce phytate levels in animal feed, making it more nutritious. By understanding the biochemical pathway of phytate synthesis in plants, they were able to create low-phytate strains of feed grains that could improve nutrition and reduce environmental pollution.
CRISM will map areas on the Martian surface down to house-sized scales, detecting minerals in reflected sunlight. The instrument will identify sites most likely to have contained water, making them potential landing sites for future missions.
A new study by Arizona State University reveals Mars' surface minerals using THEMIS and TES data, yielding surprising results in localized areas. The findings show that Mars has evolved and continues to evolve beneath its surface, similar to Earth, with diverse igneous mineral types rivaling those found on our planet.
Dr. Mary Schweitzer isolated intact soft tissue from a 68-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex femur, showing blood vessels and cell-like structures. The discovery, published in Science, suggests that dinosaur fossils may retain some of their original flexibility and resilience.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $12 million to the Center for Advanced Separation Technologies (CAST) at Virginia Tech to develop advanced separation technologies for efficient coal cleaning. The project aims to reduce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, and mercury content, while increasing domestic energy production.
Researchers found diverse surface materials, including hydrated minerals, which suggest water was common on Mars. The study suggests areas like Syrtis Major, Valles Marineris, and Terra Meridiani are strong candidates for future Mars missions.
Scientists have discovered minerals in comet dust similar to those found on Earth, providing insights into the solar system's formation. The Spitzer space telescope has captured detailed images of Comet Encke, helping researchers model how comets eject particles as they orbit the sun.
Researchers recreated extreme conditions to find that rocks rich in chromium minerals accelerate the production of more complex hydrocarbons. This process may help explain the diverse communities thriving around hydrothermal vents.
Scientists study hydrogen's effect on upper mantle melting, revealing new data for improving earthquake hazard estimates. A computing technique analyzes seismic data to monitor active volcanoes worldwide. Comets may help track solar ejections and heliospheric conditions.
Scientists have identified a crucial role of HDAC4 in regulating bone formation, and its disruption can lead to developmental defects. The discovery opens new possibilities for designing drugs to control bone growth and may help prevent osteoporosis.
Scientists found evidence of jarosite and gypsum on Mars' surface, indicating that liquid water likely existed in the past. The discovery suggests a brief geological window where conditions may have been hospitable for life.
The Center for Food and Nutrition Policy challenges the 'nutrient displacement hypothesis' suggesting added sugars replace essential vitamins and minerals. The study's findings indicate energy from other sources has a stronger association with micronutrient intake.
A team of UBC scientists aims to use stem cells to regenerate bone cells and improve the success rate of artificial joint replacements. By combining minerals and slow-release growth factors, they hope to create a strong, organic environment to secure prosthetic joints.
Researchers at Penn State have created a new method to speed up the process of capturing carbon dioxide from combustion gases using serpentine minerals. This innovative approach significantly reduces the time required for sequestration from geologic timescales, making it a promising solution for mitigating climate change.
Researchers found evidence of a failed rift in the ancient continent Nunavutia, dating back 3.9 billion years, with minerals suggesting significant diamond exploration potential. The discovery sheds light on Earth's history and evolution, offering insights into plate tectonics in the Archean era.
Researchers analyzed Cassini's Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer data, revealing water ice, minerals, and unidentifiable materials on Phoebe's surface. This suggests a possible connection between Phoebe and comets, supporting the idea that it may be similar to Kuiper Belt Objects.
Researchers suggest Martian and Utah rocks formed underground when minerals precipitated from flowing groundwater, providing clues to the origin of 'blueberries' discovered on Mars. The study also sheds light on the search for evidence of past life on Mars.
A study found that over half of men taking part in a prostate cancer risk assessment program reported using dietary supplements to prevent the disease. The most commonly used supplements were vitamins and minerals, with saw-palmetto being one popular option.
Researchers have discovered that the breakdown of mineral serpentine can trigger earthquakes in Earth's deeply buried crust. At pressures above a few tens of kilometers, scientists expected faulting instability only if volume change during serpentine breakdown was positive. However, experiments have shown that even with a strongly nega...
The study reveals that nanoparticles are 30 times more efficient at promoting manganese oxidation than bulk material. This discovery challenges the long-held assumption that manganese oxidation requires bacteria, suggesting particle size may play a key role.
Researchers found that caustic soils at Hanford can trap radioactive cesium and strontium, forming stable minerals like zeolites and feldspathoids. This discovery may aid in remediation efforts by slowing down the migration of toxic waste into groundwater.
Scientists from UW-Madison used a new technique to precisely date glacial deposits, revealing that the last two major glaciations were global events. The findings suggest that rapid cooling of the Earth's atmosphere synchronized climate change worldwide during each ice age.
Researchers found that a sugar called ribose can be formed from interstellar dust clouds using borate minerals like colemanite. This discovery sheds light on the 3-billion-year-old mystery of how life on Earth began and could have implications for disease diagnostics and therapy.