Researchers found that asteroid impact was primary cause of K/Pg mass extinction, while volcanic outgassing played role in shaping species after event. Volcanic emissions altered carbon cycle, allowing oceans to absorb CO2, limiting global warming and potentially influencing Cenozoic life.
Researchers analyze cyclical changes in light spectrum emitted by Proxima Centauri and suggest the presence of a second planet. The candidate planet orbits every 5.2 years and may be a 'super-Earth', challenging current models of low-mass planet formation.
A pilot study of 25 donor-recipient pairs reveals young stem cell donors have previously undetected and potentially disease-causing mutations in their blood stem cells. These mutations, linked to post-transplant complications, are more prevalent in young donors than thought.
A recent investigation by Science found that companies, universities, and institutions are often non-compliant with the requirement to report clinical trial results in a federal database. More than 55% of trials violated this law, yet regulatory agencies have failed to enforce penalties or actions against violators.
New study reveals antibiotic tolerance promotes the evolution of antimicrobial resistance even under combination drug treatments. The results suggest that designing antibiotic treatments must consider drug tolerance to prevent the emergence of resistance.
Researchers discovered 10 new species and subspecies of songbirds from three under-explored islands off Sulawesi, Indonesia. The findings mark the largest number of new species identified from a small geographically confined region in over a century.
New dates from Sangiran suggest early humans arrived between 1.3-1.5 million years ago, nearly 300,000 years after previous estimates, with implications for understanding human migration and settlement in Asia.
Scientists studied Martian atmospheric water vapor using ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter data, finding seasonal changes were the dominant regulator. The study suggests that warm seasons can lead to increased water loss into space, impacting Mars' continued desiccation.
Cuttlefish use stereopsis to estimate depth of prey, striking at it with tentacles after coordinating eye movement. This process is similar to that of vertebrates, challenging the understanding of cephalopod visual processing.
Researchers discovered that Kelch13 protein mutations can lead to parasite resistance by reducing hemoglobin uptake and ART activation. The findings provide critical insights into the development of more effective antimalarial treatments.
Archaeologists discovered charred remains of starchy plant parts from Border Cave, South Africa, providing direct evidence for collecting and cooking carbohydrate-rich rhizomes. The findings suggest that Middle Stone Age humans relied on these plants as a staple food source.
Dendritic action potentials amplify human brain computational power, enabling single neurons to solve complex problems previously thought to require multi-layer neural networks. The investigation reveals a new class of dendritic calcium action potentials in L2/3 neurons.
Researchers developed an experimental and theoretical analysis to understand how knots work, revealing key topological factors that determine stability. The framework could be used to design new classes of knots with specific behaviors.
A new study refutes the idea that small Tyrannosaurus rex specimens represent a separate genus, instead revealing they were juvenile versions of their larger counterparts. The research found evidence of rapid growth in these young T. rexes, suggesting they likely played different roles in their ecosystems than adults.
A new noninvasive diagnostic method using circulating tumor DNA can detect colorectal cancer in at-risk patients with high accuracy. The technology, developed by Huiyan Luo et al., uses methylation markers to identify patients with a sensitivity and specificity of 87.5% and 89.9%, respectively.
The Event Horizon Telescope's image reveals a silhouette of the massive black hole at the center of M87, a galaxy nearly 55 million light-years from Earth. The image is the result of over 200 scientists' collaborative efforts and has captured the minds of people worldwide.
Researchers mapped emotion words across 2,474 languages to find significant variation in emotional expression across cultures. The human experience of emotions is shaped by both biological evolution and the words used to describe those feelings.
A host sensor called AhR helps the immune system respond to bacterial infections by detecting and adapting to quorum sensing signals. This allows for tailored defense mechanisms against highly resistant pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
The 'substantially human' concept proposes a legal boundary for living organisms with human characteristics. This approach would help courts, scientists, and physicians navigate emerging biotechnologies.
A study found that zero-sum thinking fuels political divisions in the US, with conservatives viewing policies as threats and liberals as opportunities. The research suggests that framing policies to emphasize or challenge the status quo can increase bipartisan support.
A research team developed a microneedle platform using fluorescent quantum dots to deliver vaccines and record vaccination history in the skin. The platform offers a dependable way for clinicians to keep accurate medical records, potentially saving millions of lives worldwide.
Researchers used MAVEN data to map global circulation of Mars' upper atmosphere, providing insights into the planet's climate stability and atmospheric waves. The study reveals simpler circulation patterns than Earth's, with stable winds over Martian seasons.
Larger whales consume more prey and have higher energy efficiency due to their size. Filter-feeding whales, however, exhibit rapid increases in energy from food, potentially driving evolutionary pathways to gigantism.
An analysis of sediment carried by glaciers in both South America and East Africa reveals tropical glaciers began to melt earlier than expected around 20,000 years ago. Rising temperatures at the poles reduced atmospheric circulation, slowing heat out of the tropics and triggering early melting.
A new species of insect virus, Binjari virus, has been identified that can be engineered to house genes from disease-causing flaviviruses. This non-infectious virus represents a flexible tool for testing diagnostics and vaccines for various infectious diseases, including yellow fever, dengue, and West Nile encephalitis.
Researchers clarify the process by which gamma-ray flashes are generated from thunderstorms, discovering they can produce an ultraviolet emission known as an Elve. The findings reveal that high-electric fields produced just prior to a lightning bolt within the thunderstorm cloud trigger the TGF.
A new study suggests Earth's oxygenation was driven by internal biogeochemical feedbacks involving phosphorus, carbon, and oxygen cycles. This theory produced the same three-step pattern as the geological record without requiring biological advances beyond simple cyanobacteria.
Researchers developed a biochemical model that reveals novel insights into microRNAs and enables accurate prediction of their effects on genetic expression. The model explains nearly half the variability in miRNA-mediated silencing and greatly surpasses correlative models.
Animal species from low-disturbance environments are more sensitive to modern forest fragmentation, according to a study of global datasets. The researchers found strong support for the extinction filter hypothesis, suggesting that species adapted to high disturbance areas may be more resilient to new disturbances.
New fossil species Origolestes lii sheds light on transitional gap in mammalian ear evolution. The discovery provides a crucial reference point for understanding the decoupling of jaw and hearing systems, paving the way for improved hearing and chewing capabilities in future mammals.
The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft captured images of material being ejected from asteroid Bennu's surface, revealing three discrete events of particle ejection. The authors suggest micro-meteorite impacts and dehydration as possible causes, with implications for the asteroid's evolution.
A new study suggests that police killings of unarmed Black Americans during pregnancy can lead to smaller birth weights and shorter gestational ages in nearby unborn Black infants. This unique effect is thought to be driven by perceived injustice, discrimination, and fear related to the killings.
Researchers developed a drug delivery system that expands in the stomach and releases levonorgestrel over one month, providing an alternative to daily pill schedules. The platform has the potential to improve adherence rates, especially in low-income countries where cultural and economic barriers hinder long-acting contraceptive use.
Researchers used existing underwater fiber optic cables to create an array of seismic sensors, mapping a previously unknown fault system off California's coast. The technique, known as Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS), allows for unprecedented detail in monitoring seafloor seismic activity and potential offshore resources.
Experts argue that cyber risk requires collaboration across behavioral science, data science, economics, law, management science, and political science. A unified concept model identifies core questions to understand cyber risk and how each field can contribute to its efforts.
Growing nanoscale polymer brushes on materials' surfaces enables the creation of diverse array of materials with tailored chemical properties. The approach allows for precise control over surface density, length and chemistry, enabling various catalysis and antibacterial applications.
Researchers have developed a new type of solid-state elastocaloric cooling material using 3D printing that exhibits exceptional fatigue resistance and efficiency. The unique nanocomposite structure produced by this method could enable the widespread use of mechanocaloric cooling materials in refrigeration applications.
A two-year study shows that starting antiretroviral therapy within hours of birth significantly reduces the HIV reservoir and improves immune responses in infants. This finding suggests that early treatment may substantially improve health outcomes in infants with HIV.
A new study predicts that 80-83% of New Guinea's language areas will experience decreased plant species diversity by 2070 under a 2°Celsius warming scenario. The Science Advances Special Collection proposes climate-smart expansion of protected areas to account for biodiversity and cultural traditions.
Six leading scientific journals express concerns about EPA's 'Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science' rule, citing need for careful analysis of confidential data. The editors-in-chief emphasize the importance of informed decision-making based on full suite of relevant science vetted through peer review.
A neural circuit in the brains of mice controls the development of compulsive drinking disorders, identified by a biomarker that could become a target for alcohol use disorder therapies. Effective treatments are needed, and this finding offers an extremely promising step forward.
Human songs share common patterns despite cultural diversity, with predicted social functions and contexts emerging from musical features. The study provides insights into cognitive universals underlying music creation and enjoyment.
A new framework for designing machine learning algorithms helps prevent undesirable behavior, including biases in medical diagnoses and financial predictions. The approach shifts the burden from users to designers, making it easier to create 'well-behaved' algorithms without requiring extensive domain knowledge or complex data analysis.
In a mouse model of liver cancer, researchers found that activating the Hippo molecular signaling pathway in tumor cells drives growth, while suppressing it in surrounding healthy cells inhibits tumor growth. Systemic inhibition of Yap and Taz could have unwanted consequences by blocking tumor-suppressing abilities of healthy cells.
Researchers found that converting degraded pasture to oil palm plantations reduces stored carbon loss associated with rainforest clearing, but can lead to initial soil organic carbon loss. However, the carbon is later redistributed within the soil, resulting in long-term recovery of topsoil organic carbon.
Research reveals that activated T helper cells can hinder HIV vaccine efficacy, as they migrate to mucosal tissues and express coreceptors that facilitate viral entry. This discovery highlights the need for careful consideration of T cell responses in vaccine development.
The 2020 EurekAlert! Fellowships for International Science Reporters will support five early-career science journalists from Latin America, China, and other emerging regions attending the 2020 AAAS Annual Meeting. The program aims to highlight regional scientific contributions and promote quality science journalism.
A global study reveals that bicarbonate use among aquatic plants is linked to local geology and concentration levels. Many freshwater plants have evolved to use bicarbonate for photosynthesis due to low dissolved CO2 in water.
Magnetic reconnection near the solar surface generates solar spicules, which channel hot plasma into the corona. The study reveals that energy released from magnetic field realignment triggers enhanced spicular activity, causing local heating of the upper atmosphere.
Researchers demonstrate that thin films of amorphous aluminum oxide glass can be permanently bent and pulled under high stress without breaking. The flawless material's high plasticity is linked to its density, with key criteria needed to identify other ductile oxide glasses.