A new study found that exposure to low-level magnetic fields can cause significant DNA damage and increase cell apoptosis in rat brain cells. The cumulative effect of duration may be as damaging as intensity, suggesting a need for further research on the risks involved.
Commercial publishers charge higher prices for print subscriptions than non-profit journals, particularly in emerging fields like neurobiology and molecular biology. Universities may struggle to prioritize subscription budgets as each journal's value varies among users.
Scientists have searched for large electric fields in thunderstorms without success. Dwyer's new theory shows that the atmosphere can only hold a certain sized electric field, stunted by gamma-rays and positrons. The triggering mechanism of lightning remains a mystery.
Recent RHESSI detection suggests gamma-ray bursts originate from highly structured magnetic fields, stronger than neutron star surfaces. This finding implies a dramatic shift in understanding the physics behind these explosive events.
A Pinellas County, Florida study found that switching from chlorine to monochloramine significantly reduced legionellae bacteria in drinking water supplies, preventing outbreaks of the disease. Monochloramine may be a first community-based intervention strategy for controlling Legionnaires' disease.
The US government has struggled to allocate resources effectively, with basic science being funded without practical ends. New criteria aim to prioritize fields based on their contributions to related areas, with peer review and economic evaluations playing a crucial role in the process.
Researchers at UCSB and Pittsburgh have successfully controlled electron spins using electric fields, demonstrating a solid-state quantum logic gate that works with today's electronics. This breakthrough moves esoteric spin-based technologies closer to present-day possibilities.
Scientists have developed a new theory explaining the formation of large-scale magnetic fields in galaxies, which twist and expand like elastic ribbons. The theory resolves a long-standing problem in astrophysics by showing how turbulence creates opposing small-scale fields that eventually suppress growth.
The study found that coral reef fish deliberately choose mangrove forests and seagrass fields as nursery grounds, providing shelter from predatory fish and a feeding place. Without these habitats, common and economically important coral fish species will not survive.
Scientists at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory have successfully generated intense magnetic fields in a dense plasma using high-powered laser pulses. The resulting fields reached up to 400 MegaGauss and may soon be intensified further, enabling researchers to test models of extreme astrophysical conditions.
New devices can control the motion of magnetic flux quanta, allowing for precise manipulation of magnetic fields within superconducting materials. This enables the creation of specific magnetic profiles, facilitating applications such as removing unwanted flux and magnetically focusing nearby particles.
Mathematical theory explains how high dose/refuge strategy works, allowing farmers to protect crops in refuges. The analysis leads to unexpected results, including minimal impact of insecticides on refuge value for some Bt crops and pests.
The University of Minnesota and the Science Museum will collaborate on a $19.3 million NSF grant to study earth-surface dynamics and develop predictive models for landscape changes. The center will explore four themes, including landscapes and seascapes, basins, and human impact on landscapes.
The NASA Living With a Star program aims to understand the dynamics of the Earth-Sun system. The Stanford-led SDO mission will study the Sun's magnetic fields, creating 3D images of solar magnetic regions and surface fields, to predict destructive flares and solar storms.
Dr. Vladimir Voevodsky and Madhu Sudan received the prestigious awards for their innovative contributions to algebraic geometry, number theory, computer science, and probabilistically checkable proofs.
The Ford Foundation grant will help researchers define problems facing social sciences, compare historical trajectories in several countries, and foster international discussion. Academically, the social sciences face challenges due to shifting emphasis on science, technology, and quantitative research methods.
The University of Michigan has received a five-year, $3.7 million award from the National Science Foundation to improve opportunities for tenure-track women faculty in science and engineering fields. The project aims to address the slow increase in women faculty numbers over the past decade.
Researchers found that monarch larvae are more likely to be exposed to toxic corn pollen when pollen is shed during peak larval activity. In Ontario, 62% of larvae were exposed to toxic pollen, while in Iowa, the figure was 15%. The study suggests that agricultural habitats like cornfields are crucial for monarchs.
Researchers found that death rates from brain cancer were close to expected levels for the general population, with no increased risk of lifetime or recent exposure. Socioeconomic factors played a role in increasing premature death risk, but not brain cancer risk.
Research by Wayne Ahr and his team seeks to improve recovery methods for mature oil fields, aiming to extract between one-third and one-half of the remaining oil. The team uses computer modeling, geological analysis, and detergents to force out residual oil from porous rocks.
Researchers unveil a new model suggesting magnetic dynamo forces shape planetary nebulae by twisting radiating material into distinctive shapes. The discovery sheds light on the cosmic 'paintbrush' responsible for creating stunning nebulae, with implications extending beyond our solar system.
Scientists from Japan, US, and UK collaborate to build instruments for Solar-B, a satellite studying the Sun's magnetic field and its impact on Earth's climate. The mission aims to understand how magnetic fields interact with the Sun's atmosphere and release energy in solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
A new map of Mars' ionosphere reveals strong localized magnetic fields as a significant barrier to atmospheric erosion by the solar wind. The findings suggest that these crustal fields played an important role in the past evolution of Mars' atmosphere and could have protected it from being stripped away.
Researchers have created a comprehensive map of yeast protein interactions, revealing intriguing connections between proteins involved in different cellular processes. The network analysis suggests that these interactions can aid in predicting protein functions and uncovering new hypotheses about gene function.
Researchers have directly observed magnetic field line shrinkage or reconnection outflow during solar flares, resolving a long-standing mystery. The discovery sheds light on the behavior of magnetic fields in solar flares and their impact on space weather.
UW researchers find that oscillating magnetic fields can kill malaria parasites by damaging their iron-containing structures. The treatment could be inexpensive and simple, bypassing emerging drug resistance concerns.
Research suggests that prolonged exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic fields may increase the risk of suicide. The study found a significant association between electromagnetic field exposure and death from suicide, particularly among those with high levels of exposure.
Researchers found that an experimental pain drug, kappa-opioid, provides effective pain relief to female rats, but has no effect on males. The study suggests a fundamental difference in brain responses between genders, which may lead to the development of more effective and non-addictive pain treatments for women.
A recent study by Ohio State University suggests that evergreen trees can collect two to four times more pesticide spray droplets than broadleaf plants. The researchers recommend planting a line of evergreen trees around crops to reduce the movement of pesticide sprays outside their fields.
A recent study by David J. Maume Jr. found that 44% of men are promoted after 12 years, compared to 15% of white women, 7% of black women, and 17% of black men. Discrimination was the only factor controlling promotion rates across professions.
Researchers suggest that a rare radioactive isotope found in deep-sea sediments may be evidence of a nearby supernova. The explosion could have caused a 'cosmic-ray winter' leading to mini-extinctions about 5 million years ago, with effects still detectable today.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a new method of supershielding, allowing magnetic fields to be completely contained without using traditional shielding methods. This invention has the potential to protect modern technologies from interference and destruction.
Researchers at the University of Toronto found a strong association between magnetic field exposures in residences and the risk of developing childhood leukemia. Children exposed to higher levels of magnetic fields were two to four times more likely to develop leukemia, with risks highest for those diagnosed before age six.
The research team observed and recorded the relativistic motion of free electrons in electromagnetic fields, which confirms several predictions based on Einstein's theory of relativity. The discovery challenges a fundamental assumption about the Thomson cross section, a physical constant used in physics theories.
A recent USGS study suggests that rivers, particularly the South Platte River in Colorado and Nebraska, are emitting high levels of nitrous oxide (N2O), a catalyst for ozone depletion. The study's findings indicate that N2O emissions from these rivers could be a major human-made source of N2O to the atmosphere.
Researchers have developed a micron-resolution particle image velocimetry system to measure velocity fields in bioanalysis systems where low-light level imaging is critical. The technique has been refined to provide velocity-field measurements with spatial resolutions approaching 1 micron.
Researchers propose that intense magnetic fields from lightning can induce fatal electrical currents within the body, leading to unexplained heart malfunctions in high-altitude areas. The study, published in Lancet, suggests a new route for lightning-related injuries and deaths.
Scientists say Western corn rootworms are changing behavior, laying eggs in soybean fields instead of corn, due to crop rotation failure. The beetles' adaptation poses a significant threat to corn crops in the Midwest, potentially costing $100 million per year to control.
A recent study found that high levels of nitrogen deposition in grasslands lead to the loss of plant species diversity and the disruption of ecosystem functioning. Native prairie species are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of excessive nitrogen addition, which can cause their extinction and reduce carbon storage.
A recent University of Illinois study found that using starter fertilizer on no-till corn fields can increase yields by up to 14 bushels per acre. This technique provides early nutrient availability, which is particularly beneficial for no-till farming due to cool and wet soils during the initial growing season.