A new study reveals that Homo Erectus produced both Oldowan and Acheulean tools 2 million years ago in the Ethiopian highlands. The findings confirm that a fossilized infant mandible discovered in 1981 belonged to H. erectus, dating back around 2 million years.
A new probiotic-guided chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T platform uses engineered bacteria to infiltrate and produce synthetic antigen targets, enabling CAR-T cells to find and destroy tumor cells in situ. The approach expands the scope of CAR-T cell therapy to include solid tumors, which are poorly infiltrated by T cells.
Recent advances in ancient DNA have greatly expanded our knowledge of evolutionary history, including the study of non-European regions. Finer-scale investigations can provide insights into past histories of neglected communities and inform conservation efforts.
Ancient human footprints discovered in White Sands National Park have been confirmed to be over 20,000 years old. Multiple independent age estimates from radiocarbon and optically simulated luminescence methods support the previous study's claims, showing humans inhabited southern North America during the Last Glacial Maximum.
The planned releases of radioactive wastewater from Fukushima Daiichi will have negligible effects on the environment, according to a study published in Science. The predicted radiation doses from the discharges are smaller than exposure to natural radiation or medical x-rays, posing no real threat to local seafood consumers.
A new study estimates over 10,000 pre-Columbian archaeological sites remain undiscovered in the Amazon basin. Remote sensing data and predictive modeling identified relationships between human-made earthworks and domesticated tree species, highlighting the importance of indigenous forest management practices.
Researchers characterized adhesins produced by Candida auris, discovering a previously uncharacterized adhesin called Surface Colonization Factor (SCF1) that governs surface association and virulence. SCF1 relies on cationic interactions for attachment, unlike other fungal adhesins that function through hydrophobic interactions.
Ongoing climate change presents emerging threats to human health, including the awakening of long-frozen pathogens and increasing heat-related hazards in pregnancy. Researchers are working to understand these complex connections, exploring how climate-driven changes affect disease risk and developing strategies to mitigate these risks.
A novel approach combines models with MCMC inversion to predict CO2 and SO2 emissions, carbon export productivity, and remineralization changes across the K/Pg boundary. The results show decoupled CO2 and SO2 emissions, evidence for a two-stage drop in carbon export productivity, and no clear signal of a volatile impulse at the boundary.
A genome-wide study has identified 10 genomic regions associated with disease resistance in staghorn corals, a critically endangered species. The findings provide potential tools for improving disease resistance in the wild and nursery stocks, aiding conservation efforts.
Two studies indicate that carbon dioxide (CO2) on Europa's surface was formed within the moon's subsurface ocean and brought to the surface on a geologically recent timescale. The findings provide new insights into the composition of Europa's internal ocean, which is thought to be habitable due to its potential for supporting life.
AlphaMissense, a machine-learning algorithm, uses structure prediction to classify missense mutations and predict disease-causing genes. The tool has been shown to accurately predict the pathogenicity of 71 million possible single amino acid changes across 19,233 human proteins.
A study on songbird species reveals that complex vocal learning is associated with better problem-solving skills and larger brains. The research found a robust relationship between vocal learning abilities, problem-solving, and brain size, even when considering individual variation and other factors.
The article outlines four governance reforms to strengthen SDG implementation, including differentiation, dynamization, legalization, and institutionalization. These reforms aim to increase ambition and effectiveness of the goals beyond 2030.
A new study presents a lightweight, soft microactuator driven by combustion of hydrocarbon fuels, achieving displacements of 140% and forces larger than 9.5 newtons. The actuator-powered insect-scale robot demonstrates agile locomotion across various surfaces and can carry payloads up to 22 times its body weight
The EurekAlert! Fellowships program selects two early-career Latin American science journalists each year, providing travel funding and access to the AAAS Annual Meeting. Fellowship winners receive newsroom credentials for exclusive events and networking opportunities.
The 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption generated an extremely fast-moving and destructive submarine debris flow that severed telecommunication cables and reshaped the surrounding seafloor. The flow traveled over 100 kilometers across the seafloor at speeds of up to 122 km/h, excavating scours and channels into the seabed.
A study of 100 large businesses reveals a lack of transparency in reporting on ecosystem restoration efforts. Despite claiming to carry out restoration projects, many companies fail to report details such as project size, financial information, and ecological outcomes.
A new study found that 'green nudges' significantly reduced single-use cutlery waste in China's food delivery industry, increasing environmentally friendly orders by 648%. The intervention of defaulting to 'no cutlery' options and rewarding customers for choosing eco-friendly options saved over 21.75 billion sets of SUC annually.
Researchers developed an implantable bioelectronic device to monitor thermal characteristics of the kidney, detecting inflammation and perfusion issues associated with rejection. The device identified onset of rejection ~3 days before blood biomarkers in non-treated rats and ~2-3 weeks earlier in immunosuppressed animals.
Researchers estimated higher-than-expected genetic mutation rates in baleen whales, reducing pre-exploitation abundance estimates by 86%. The findings suggest that the low cancer rates among these species may not be related to a low mutation rate.
A randomized trial involving 811 undergraduate students found that collaborative learning and student engagement significantly improved calculus concept understanding and grades. The study, conducted over three semesters, used an engagement model that cultivates mathematical habits of mind, resulting in a 11% increase in pass rates.
Researchers have developed a Principal Odor Map (POM) that models the connections between an odorant's chemical structure and its perceptual property. The map performs as well as trained human sniffers in describing odor quality, enabling the prediction of odor intensity and similarity.
A genomic model by Wangjie Hu and colleagues reveals a severe population bottleneck in human ancestors between 800,000 and 900,000 years ago, with only 1280 breeding individuals surviving. The decline coincided with climate changes, droughts, and glaciations, resulting in the loss of 98.7% of the ancestral population.
A new analysis reveals that emission reductions from REDD+ programs have been overestimated, with most projects failing to significantly reduce deforestation. The study found that only a subset of projects have made substantial contributions to climate change mitigation, and many more credits are available than their actual value.
A new US Securities and Exchange Commission proposal could unveil substantial corporate carbon damages due to varying industrial compositions across countries. The top four industries account for 89% of global damages, with energy-intensive sectors contributing the most.
Researchers have discovered numerous small-scale 'picoflare' jets within a coronal hole, which could supply energy and plasma to the solar wind. These widespread yet faint jets are powered by magnetic reconnection and appear to be a key component of space weather within the heliosphere.
Researchers have developed a new material that can transform flat surfaces into complex, curved structures using plant-inspired pneumatic cells. The system, inspired by the shape-memory properties of certain leaves, allows for dynamic morphing without compromising mechanical stability.
A new study found that large-scale fires in an ecosystem made increasingly vulnerable by climate change and human impacts led to the extinction of two-thirds of Earth's large mammals in Southern California. The findings, based on radiocarbon chronology of fossils from the La Brea tar pits, suggest that fire was the primary cause of reg...
Researchers developed a natural product-inspired small molecule that binds to the cellular chaperone cyclophilin A, disrupting oncogenic signaling and tumor growth in several human cancer models. The approach could be used to target additional KRAS mutants and other cancer drivers.
A study of a Wolf-Rayet star suggests it will form a magnetar upon explosion as a supernova, with strong magnetic fields predicted. The findings provide new insights into magnetar origins and suggest a possible pathway for their formation.
Researchers have made a groundbreaking finding on the role of biofilm formation in hydrocarbon consumption by Alcanivorax borkumensis bacteria. The study reveals that dendritic biofilms alter the oil-water interfacial tension and buckle the oil droplets, optimizing consumption and accelerating biodegradation.
Australia's ancient ecosystems and oldest continuous indigenous cultures face extreme wildfire, flooding events, and biodiversity loss due to climate change. Integrating Indigenous knowledge into policies is crucial for addressing the climate crisis.
A new study found that global ecosystem water use efficiency has stagnated since 2001, likely due to an increased vapor pressure deficit and intensifying evapotranspiration. This decline may undermine human reliance on nature-based climate solutions for carbon neutrality.
Researchers used climate modeling approaches to fill gaps in understanding hominin evolution and migration. Their studies found that extreme glacial conditions may have led to the depopulation of Europe and facilitated interbreeding between Denisovans and Neanderthals due to overlapping habitats.
Researchers develop methods to upcycle polyethylene and polypropylene plastics into alcohols, aldehydes, surfactants, and detergents through thermal depolymerization reactions. These approaches aim to create a sustainable supply of high-value chemicals, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Recent advances in medical treatments for obesity offer hope for a turning point in the disease. However, these new weight-loss drugs face challenges, including high costs and potential health disparities that disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
Researchers analyzed ancient DNA from 27 colonial Africans interred at the Catoctin Furnace to connect with 23andMe data, revealing 40,000+ living relatives and insights into the lives of enslaved individuals.
A mixed-method approach can help overcome challenges in determining compensation awards for Indigenous communities affected by resource developments, expropriation, and environmental accidents. The methodological approaches focus on quantifying social and cultural losses, addressing the neglect of these impacts in formal assessments.
New study reveals pervasive within-species spatial repulsion in adult tropical trees, challenging conventional understanding of species coexistence. The results suggest that competition among conspecifics drives this phenomenon, enabling the exceptionally high diversity of tropical forests.
Researchers develop strategy to deliver mRNA directly into bone marrow stem cells to edit genetic defects and repopulate with healthy blood cells. The technique shows promise for treating blood cell malignancies and certain non-malignant disorders, bypassing traditional transplantation processes.
A new study suggests Indo-European languages first arose south of the Caucasus and then branched northward to the Steppe regions before expanding throughout Eurasia. The 'hybrid' hypothesis, supported by a large dataset of modern and non-modern languages, challenges previous agriculture or pastoralism-based origin theories.
A new study by Thomas Brochhagen and colleagues reveals that individual and population-level word meaning extension rely on the same cognitive foundation, involving knowledge of objects, events, properties, and relations. The study examined over 1,400 languages and developed a computational framework to understand this process.
Researchers removed Facebook and Instagram users from seeing default algorithmic feeds, reducing time spent on the platforms but finding no impact on political attitudes or behaviors. This study is part of a package examining social media's impact on elections.
Researchers found evidence of a precursory phase of fault slip occurring two hours before large earthquakes, using global GPS time-series data from nearly 100 major quakes worldwide. The study suggests that many large earthquakes start with a precursory phase of slip or represent the tail end of a longer process.
Sediments from the Camp Century ice core show northwestern Greenland was ice-free during MIS 11 interglacial period. This finding indicates the Greenland Ice Sheet contributed to 1.4 meters of sea-level equivalent to global sea level during this time.
Researchers analyzed full-body X-ray images and genomic data from 30,000 UK Biobank participants to understand the genetic architecture of the human skeletal form. They identified 145 independent genetic loci associated with skeletal proportions, linking them to musculoskeletal disease and evolution.
Researchers have developed ultra-small and flexible probes that can record single-neuron activity deep within the brains of rats, eliminating the need for invasive surgery. The devices were implanted through blood vessels with no significant impact on brain function or behavior.
A study found that using ChatGPT increases productivity by 40% and output quality by 18%, especially for individuals with weaker writing skills. The tool also reduces overall inequality among workers, as those with weaker skills benefited the most from its use.
CRISPR editing improves wood properties by increasing the carbohydrate-to-lignin ratio up to 228% in poplar trees, enabling more efficient fiber pulping. This breakthrough could bring unprecedented bioeconomic opportunities and environmental benefits to sustainable wood fibers production.