A new study in mice reveals that the insular cortex plays a crucial role in balancing fear responses, integrating sensory and bodily signals to maintain an adaptive range. The InsCtx function depends on bodily feedback signals, dampening excessive fear-evoked activity and promoting healthy fear regulation.
A review of anti-aging dietary interventions reveals complex physiological consequences and intriguing similarities across diets. The study suggests a common mechanism involving the inhibition of protein kinase mTOR as a molecular target for increasing health longevity in humans.
Early symptomatic cases linked to Hunan Market, where live animals were sold, suggesting zoonotic spillover as likely source of COVID-19. The closure of the market and lack of virus screening from animals may hinder understanding of the origin.
A non-partisan COVID-19 commission could provide a clear-eyed assessment of the US response to the pandemic and recommend steps for improvement. The commission should evaluate public health infrastructure, warnings and origins of the virus, and adequacy of pandemic preparedness.
A new study shows that specially designed scaffolds can improve the repair of spinal cord injuries in mice by promoting axon regrowth and angiogenesis. The scaffolds, made from supramolecular polymers, also enhance neuronal cell survival and functional recovery.
Researchers identified a high-pressure calcium silicate perovskite, named davemaoite, trapped inside a deep-earth diamond. This discovery confirms the existence of a new mineral that concentrates elements incompatible in the upper mantle, including rare-earth elements and radioactive isotopes.
A genomic analysis of Pacific Ocean rockfish reveals genetic drivers of their extreme lifespan, including DNA repair pathways and inflammation control. The study identifies 137 longevity-associated genes that affect life span in these fish, providing potential strategies for human health improvement.
Researchers used a combination of RoseTTAFold and AlphaFold to identify over 1,500 pairs of yeast proteins likely to interact. These complexes play roles in almost all key processes in eukaryotic cells, providing broad insights into biological function.
The 2021 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards honored journalists who reported on the global COVID-19 pandemic, equity in science, and the natural world. Winners included Mariano Zafra and Javier Salas for their multimedia piece on aerosol transmission.
A new study finds that specialized cells in sponges' digestive chambers may be precursors to the evolution of complex nervous systems. These cells, capable of coordinated communication, have genes important for synaptic connections and express proteins involved in brain development.
The essay highlights the need for new methods to analyze policing data due to inaccuracies and biases. Causal inference is shown to be a valuable tool in resolving these issues, offering a framework for interpreting imperfect data.
New research suggests that in-person schooling with proper measures can be safer than remote learning for kids, despite ongoing concerns about COVID-19 transmission. Studies have shown low risk of SARS-CoV-2 acquisition and severe illness in schools, but Long Covid and transmissible variants pose challenges.
A study of over 780,000 US Veterans found SARS-CoV-2 vaccine protection declined by 41% and 13% against infection for mRNA and viral vector vaccines, respectively. Despite this, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines remained highly effective in preventing death.
Reducing ammonia emissions is more cost-effective than focusing solely on nitrogen oxide reduction for mitigating PM2.5 air pollution. The abatement cost of ammonia emission is only 10% of that required to eliminate equivalent NOx emissions, making it a priority for global health and environmental concerns.
A new dataset compares historical tribal lands to present-day tribal land, revealing a 99% reduction in Indigenous land density since European colonization. The analysis shows that Indigenous populations were forced into lands with fewer natural resources and are now inhibited from managing their own lands.
Recent research highlights the significance of sleep in maintaining physiological health and promoting healthy cognition. The special issue explores the complex mechanisms underlying sleep and its role in memory consolidation, neuronal activity, and fluid flow.
A recent study by Amber Alhadeff has uncovered a hypothalamic-to-hindbrain circuit that suppresses pain sensation in hungry mice, enabling them to seek food. The research also highlights the rapid communication between gut nutrients and brain via an understudied pathway.
Researchers use Juno spacecraft data to characterize Jupiter's atmospheric vortices, including the GRS. The studies find that the storm extends deeper into the planet's atmosphere than expected, with possible connections to Jupiter's interior.
A new study reveals that rivers in High Mountain Asia have experienced significant increases in sediment flux over the past 60 years, with projected doubling of sediment flow by 2050 under extreme climate change. This change has far-reaching implications for hydropower generation and environmental security in the region.
The article highlights the importance of recognizing inherent biases in pandemic data sources, which can lead to serious policy decisions. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive, real-time data collection to accurately assess the pandemic's state and inform effective mitigation strategies.
Studies in rhesus monkeys and Egyptian fruit bats found that prefrontal neurons represent details of interactions, including identity context and history. This discovery sheds light on the neural mechanisms underlying complex social structures and group communication.
A new study shows that boosting nonhuman primates with the Moderna vaccine six months after their primary series increases neutralizing activity against viral variants of concern. The boost sustained antibody responses for at least eight weeks, suggesting significant B cell memory induced by primary vaccination.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) triggers cognitive and psychiatric symptoms through gut-brain axis response, study finds. The gut's vascular barrier closing may impair brain function and hinder communications between organs.
Research reveals that intense ivory poaching during the Mozambican Civil War led to a rapid increase in tusklessness among female African elephants. The study found a sex-linked genetic origin for this trait, with whole-genome analysis identifying key candidate genes involved in mammalian tooth development.
A new study reveals that sea otter predation promotes eelgrass genetic diversity through physical disturbance. The longer otters are present in an area, the more genetically diverse the eelgrass communities become. This underappreciated process highlights the importance of considering indirect effects of predators on ecosystems.
Researchers analyze iron-mass fraction of low-mass rocky exoplanets and find correlation with host star compositions, suggesting role of planet formation processes in shaping final composition. The study reveals distinct populations of super-Earths and super-Mercury class exoplanets with differing compositions.
A special issue of Science explores the far-reaching impacts of mass incarceration on Black Americans and poor communities. The Reviews reveal how public and private groups profit from the system, while policy interventions can prevent incarceration and enhance family wellbeing.
A new study found that physicians are more likely to switch between vaginal and cesarean deliveries based on past experiences, rather than the best clinical decision for each patient. This 'heuristic' approach can lead to small but significant suboptimal effects on patient health outcomes.
A study by Nicolò Pernigoni and colleagues found that androgen-producing gut microbes in patients with advanced prostate cancer can lead to sustained tumor growth. Treating these microbes with antibiotics or fecal transplants from sensitive individuals may delay ADT resistance.
Researchers analyzed Chang'e-5 samples and found that the basalt is approximately two billion years old, indicating late volcanic activity on the Moon. This discovery provides calibration for the crater-counting technique used to date lunar surfaces and requires alternative explanations, such as tidal heating.
A new deep brain stimulation (DBS) method has been developed by researchers using optogenetics and machine learning to target specific neural circuits in the brain. This approach produced long-lasting effects in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease, with therapeutic benefits that lasted on average 4.5-fold longer than conventional DBS.
The Perseverance rover's images of the Martian river delta reveal a steady flow of water into an ancient lake about 3.7 billion years ago. The analysis also identifies promising rock layers that could preserve traces of life, if it ever existed on Mars.
A study found that modest monetary payments increased COVID-19 vaccination rates by 4.2 percentage points, but behavioral nudges had no significant impact on actual vaccination uptake. The results highlight the potential of monetary incentives to increase vaccine take-up, particularly in countries with high baseline vaccination rates.
A new study suggests that combining circular technologies can help achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the production of plastics. By using recycling, biomass utilization and carbon capture, it is possible to reduce the lifecycle emissions of plastics, making them a more sustainable option.
Active learning approaches are gaining traction as a way to engage learners and deepen understanding through discussions, interactive technologies, and other strategies. Research shows that these approaches can lead to cognitive benefits, academic success, socioemotional support, better comprehension, and improved memory.
Researchers analyzed protein-protein interaction data from head and neck squamous cells, breast cancer, and combined them to generate a map of protein pathways driving tumor growth. The studies identify potential new therapeutic targets and provide a resource for interpreting cancer genomic data.
Researchers found that a specific gene, OAS1, plays a crucial role in activating SARS-CoV-2 cellular defenses, and its prenylated form is essential for antiviral activity. Patients with the non-prenylated form had more severe COVID-19 outcomes.
A study by Wim Thiery and colleagues reveals that babies born in 2020 will experience 2-7 times more extreme climate events than those born in 1960. Limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius reduces the burden, but younger generations still face unprecedented impacts, particularly in low-income countries.
Recent genome research has led to significant progress in understanding human evolution, cancer, polygenic traits, and functional genomics. New laws and technologies are also being developed to balance privacy and public safety, enabling the use of consumer genetic data in law enforcement investigations.
The use of dendrochronology in verifying musical instrument authenticity is discussed by Paolo Cherubini. The method uses tree ring patterns to determine the age and provenance of the wood used in construction.
Newly discovered fossil human footprints provide definitive evidence of early human occupation in southern North America during the Last Glacial Maximum. The findings suggest humans inhabited the region between 23 and 21 thousand years ago, contradicting previous estimates of migration timing.
Scientists have created a novel method for synthesizing starch from carbon dioxide and hydrogen without using living cells. This breakthrough could revolutionize industrial biomanufacturing of starch, which is used in paper, bioplastics, and animal feed.
Researchers found that coating Shewanella bacteria with silver nanoparticles improves electron transfer efficiency, leading to higher current and power densities in microbial fuel cells. The resulting MFCs have a maximum current density of 3.85 milliamperes per square centimeter and a coulombic efficiency of 81%.
Scientists developed a surface that directs different liquids to flow in opposite directions, inspired by the unique liquid transport behavior on Araucaria leaves. This approach could be used in practical applications such as microfluidics and water desalination, with high-flow velocity and self-propulsion exhibited.
Organs-on-chips can assess drug efficacy better than traditional methods, reducing the risk of failed clinical trials. These systems enable human multi-cell-type models and personalized medicine by seeding with a patient's own cells.
Reproductive complexity in plants arose in two pulses, corresponding to the origin of seeds (~375 million years ago) and flowers (~125 million years ago). These pulses are characterized by significant evolutionary innovations, including the diversification of flowering plants.
Researchers have created bispecific antibodies that target multiple regions of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, neutralizing virus variants and protecting hamsters from clinical disease. The new treatments may be especially effective against emerging variants due to their binding mechanism.
A small trial found that the low-dose Moderna vaccine generated long-lived T cell immunity comparable to natural infection. The presence of cross-reactive T cells enhanced immune response in younger and older patients alike.
Research suggests that increased complement factor C1q expression is responsible for chronic inflammation and secondary neuronal loss after mild traumatic brain injury. Blocking C1q expression counteracts these outcomes, suggesting a potential role for this molecule in modifying post-TBI disease.
Researchers have discovered that elevated levels of serotonin can prevent the development of compulsive cocaine seeking and addiction in mice. This is achieved through the activation of serotonin receptors and inhibition of synaptic transmission between key brain regions, thereby reducing the risk of addiction.