A new study finds that individual rabid dog behavior plays a key role in maintaining the persistence of canine rabies at low levels. Infected dogs act as super-spreaders, traveling long distances to introduce new lineages into neighboring communities and sparking local outbreaks.
A genetic study involving over 2,000 dogs and 200,000 owner surveys suggests that breed alone is not a reliable predictor of behavior. The research identified 11 genetic loci associated with behavior, but none were specific to breed, instead revealing that age, sex, or other factors are often better predictors.
A new study predicts mass extinction in oceans if climate change is not curbed, threatening marine species with extinction. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions could reduce extinction risks by up to 70%, saving ocean life as we know it
A small Texas-based study found that roadside safety messages can increase the number of car crashes, particularly when they highlight high numbers of road fatalities. Behavioral interventions may help mitigate this effect if delivered at low cognitive loads.
The CWC and OPCW must adapt to emerging threats, including reinforcement of international norms against CW use and development of new monitoring tools.
A large-scale analysis of over 12,000 cancers identifies new, rare mutational signatures that can enhance personalized cancer treatments and diagnoses. The study reveals a complex landscape of genetic mutations in cancer genomes.
Researchers found that tumor cells use endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) proteins to resist T cell attack and survive cell death. Inhibiting ESCRT activity in cancer-derived cells makes them more susceptible to CTL killing, providing new insights into cancer immunotherapy.
A global decline in nitrogen availability poses long-term challenges for ecosystems, impacting plant growth, herbivore survival, and food webs. Research highlights monitoring and mitigation strategies to address this issue.
The article highlights the need to move beyond continental ancestry categories in research and medicine, as they can perpetuate medical stereotypes and exacerbate health disparities. Instead, researchers are adopting a multidimensional approach to genetic ancestry, one that reflects continuous variation and historical depth.
Research shows aerosol particles can act as resonators for solar radiation, amplifying and structuring light to accelerate photochemical reactions. This phenomenon could speed up photochemical processes by a factor of two to three, impacting global chemistry and climate.
Researchers created a hydrogel actuator inspired by plant cell turgor pressure, boasting an actuation force of 730 newtons, 3 orders of magnitude higher than existing actuators. The actuator enables rapid construction of complex structures in minutes, with applications in soft robotics, tunable optics, and biomedicine.
Rapidly growing market of antibiotic-free meat and poultry is threatened by lax labeling policies, warns a new study. Current authorization processes lack empirical testing, allowing antibiotics-treated animals into the supply chain, undermining RWA claims.
A high-precision measurement of the W boson mass reveals a significant deviation from predicted values, indicating the need for revised or expanded theories. The finding highlights areas where the Standard Model is incomplete and may provide insight into physics beyond its scope.
A global survey of ocean RNA sequences has identified thousands of previously unknown RNA viruses, doubling the number of orthornavirans. The study reveals new insights into the evolution of RNA viruses, including a 'missing link' in retroelement evolution.
A new study demonstrates the generation of functional primordial germ cell-like cells from rat stem cells, allowing for the birth of normal offspring. The findings provide insights into conserved and divergent mechanisms essential for successful in vitro gametogenesis.
Ancient genomes from 39 archaeological sites indicate that Xinjiang was settled by people with central and eastern Eurasian Steppe ancestry during the Bronze Age. The region received an influx of East and Central Asian ancestry later, resulting in genetically mixed populations throughout the Iron Age.
A single 'keystone' gene in Arabidopsis affects the extinction risk and community collapse of an experimental food web. The finding has significant implications for conserving genetic and species diversity.
During the Paleocene, placental mammals first expanded their body sizes to occupy new ecological niches left behind by dinosaurs. Later, during the Eocene, brain size increased as enhanced cognition became more important in saturated ecosystems.
Researchers recruited 3450 people to learn a sorting algorithm, finding that efficient strategies spread through populations when individuals could choose successful teachers. Selective social learning helped preserve rare problem-solving strategies over generations.
Western scientists advocate for a balanced approach to addressing Russia's government actions, highlighting the potential drawbacks of excluding all Russian scientists. The authors emphasize the importance of maintaining lines of communication and collaboration in advancing global challenges related to science and technology.
A survey of 9,585 COVID-19 researchers found that 38% experienced harassment or intimidation, with publicly taking positions being a significant factor. Many institutions failed to provide adequate support, leaving researchers vulnerable to abuse.
Researchers identified a gene, KRN2, that can increase maize yield by 10% and rice yield by 8%, without affecting other traits. The discovery provides attractive targets for developing new crops with enhanced production, building on the shared desirable traits of these two staple crops.
Researchers Frans de Waal and Kristin Andrews highlight scientific evidence suggesting animals experience positive and negative emotions. Recognizing animal sentience is bound to complicate an already complex moral world.
Researchers found extreme changes in stratospheric gases after the 2019-2020 Australian wildfires, potentially destroying ozone and affecting climate. The study highlights the impact of increasing wildfire activity on Earth's atmosphere.
A global study reveals that native forests consistently deliver better ecosystem services, particularly in warmer regions, compared to extensive tree plantations. Reforestation efforts are best achieved through the restoration of native forests for optimal benefits.
Researchers sampled 110,019 white clover plants from 160 cities to find that urban environments drive adaptation at a global scale. Urban clovers produce less of the antiherbivore defense molecule hydrogen cyanide compared to rural clovers.
Researchers found that at least 17.7% of regulatory regions contain more than one causal variant, suggesting a weaker effect of individual variants on human traits. The study's findings challenge the long-held assumption of a single causal genetic variant underlying complex phenotypes.
Researchers in South Africa studied SARS-CoV-2 reinfections and found that the Omicron variant increases immune evasion. The study suggests that circulation of Omicron variants above early November 2021 is associated with increased reinfection risk.
A network of simple seismic stations hosted in volunteers' homes helped understand the Mw7.2 Nippes earthquake and its aftershocks. The citizen seismometer network contributed crucial data to characterize the event and forecast damaging aftershocks, highlighting the added-value of citizen seismology for rapid earthquake response.
New research reveals that magma's water content controls its storage depth in active arc volcanos, contradicting previous assumptions. The findings have significant implications for refining physics-based eruption-forecasting models.
Recurrent novae outbursts in binary systems accelerate protons to high energies, suggesting a Hadronic origin of gamma-ray emission. The expanding shock wave from RS Oph's outburst efficiently accelerated protons to gigaelectron volt and teraelectronvolt energies.
A new study reconstructs changes in global biosphere productivity during the past 800,000 years using ancient air bubble data. The findings show that GPP has always been lower during glacial intervals compared to interglacial periods, with most cases exhibiting a rise in productivity before glacial terminations.
A new human CD8+ T cell subset has been identified that suppresses pathogenic CD4+ T cells in autoimmune and infectious diseases. This subset, known as KIR+CD8+ T cells, is increased in the blood and inflamed tissues of patients with autoimmune conditions and COVID-19.
The Chinese science grant system is helping to facilitate problematic or false science due to limited sanction and enforcement tools. To improve research integrity, Tang proposes suggestions that could help strengthen funding agencies' roles in addressing these issues.
Soil microbiota plays a crucial role in restoring soil function and ecosystem services. Research suggests that leveraging these microorganisms can improve land restoration technologies and return resilience to the soil-plant ecosystem.
Bees face challenges in foraging for food due to human activities such as pesticide use, pollution, and urbanization, affecting their ability to thrive. Mitigating these impacts through pollinator-friendly greenspaces and national bans on pesticides shows promise in alleviating pressures on bee populations.
A new study found that increased dopamine levels in the brain's basolateral amygdala trigger the transition from non-rapid eye movement (NREM) to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. This discovery raises hopes for developing targeted treatments for sleep disorders such as narcolepsy and Parkinson's disease.
Research reveals direct and indirect consequences of human fishing on salmon size, with size-selective fishing techniques promoting earlier maturation and large-scale prey harvesting linked to younger, smaller individuals
A machine learning model predicts the risks of a pathogen gaining resistance to a particular antibiotic at an individual-patient level. The model uses patient demographic data and history of infections to identify candidate antibiotics that can prevent recurrent infections.
Researchers created largest human genealogy by combining thousands of modern and ancient genomes across various datasets. This unified genealogy offers insight into key events in human history, including the timing and geographical locations of migration events like the out-of-Africa migration.
Researchers have identified a link between autoantibodies against type I interferon and increased risk of severe COVID-19. The study's findings suggest that screening for these autoantibodies could help identify patients at high risk of life-threatening complications, enabling early intervention and treatment.
Gang Chen, a professor exonerated by the US government, joins Science journals Editor-in-Chief Holden Thorp in calling for an end to the China Initiative. The initiative has been criticized for its impact on innocent people and the chilling effect it has on scientific collaboration with China.
A new computational approach reveals opportunities for more sustainable hydropower development in the Amazon, considering environmental criteria like river flow and fish biodiversity. The algorithm minimizes environmental impacts while achieving energy production goals, providing tools for policy discussions on sustainable development.
A large-scale study of North American eagles found unexpectedly high frequencies of both chronic and acute lead poisoning. The study revealed that adults are more frequently chronically poisoned than younger species, and that regional trends play a significant role in the frequency of lead exposure.
A team of researchers used an 'unseen species' model to estimate the original population of medieval European literature and discovered surprising differences in persistence across languages. The study found that island literatures were more resilient, with Icelandic and Irish works showing high survival rates.
Researchers have developed a new framework to evaluate the health impacts of endocrine-disrupting chemical mixtures. A large cohort study found that prenatal exposure to these chemicals may be associated with language delay in children, highlighting the need for risk assessments to account for mixture effects.
New research reveals that asteroid Ryugu samples brought back by Hayabusa2 spacecraft exhibit similar properties to the asteroid's larger boulders. The samples' colors, shapes, and structures are consistent with material surrounding each collection site on Ryugu's surface and sub-surface.
Researchers found that deleting the PLA2G7 gene in mice partially mimics the anti-aging effects of caloric restriction. The study suggests that reducing PLA2G7 may lower inflammation and improve health span without reducing calorie intake.
The COVID-19 pandemic has boosted scientists' visibility on social media, but this also allows anti-science forces to exploit debates. A new report highlights the challenges of communicating science online, including echo chambers and limited data availability.
The 2021 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards ceremony will be held on February 18, with winners from India, Spain, Ethiopia, Zambia and Malawi. The global awards program recognizes journalists who cover important issues in science, including the COVID-19 pandemic.