A new study found that extinction resistance, not ecological differentiation, drove the evolution of diverse marine animal life. Ecologically diverse clades became dominant due to their ability to survive mass extinctions, resulting in strong correlations between ecological diversity and taxonomic richness.
A new study reveals that pectin filaments in plant cell walls drive morphological changes by swelling, contradicting current theories on turgor pressure. This discovery could lead to the development of smart materials mimicking plant cell expansion.
A mother's gut microbiota can influence her offspring's energy homeostasis and metabolism. Research using mouse models suggests that targeting the maternal microbiota could be a preemptive strategy to protect against metabolic diseases.
Researchers created a collection of unique songs with manipulated acoustic information, demonstrating the left and right hemispheres handle speech and melody differently. fMRI scans revealed asymmetrical neural activity, with speech content primarily processed in the left auditory cortex and melodic content in the right.
Researchers found that bumblebees can create mental images of objects using information from multiple senses and form sophisticated mental representations of their surrounding world. Bumblebees successfully recognized objects cross-modally in both directions, sight-to-touch and touch-to-sight.
A new study suggests that ancient stores of methane in permafrost and beneath Arctic ice have a limited impact on future climate warming. Current activities are the primary source of methane emissions, with natural emissions accounting for nearly 40%.
The Colorado River's flow is declining due to the loss of its reflective snowpack, which increases evaporation and reduces runoff. This trend is expected to outpace precipitation increases under a warmer future, highlighting the need for more accurate projections of water availability.
Researchers discovered diapause in African turquoise killifish protects against aging consequences without affecting lifespan or fitness. Genes involved in muscle development and chromatin remodeling factors play critical roles in regulating gene expression during diapause.
Scientists have created a size-adjustable prosthetic heart valve that can be expanded to accommodate growing hearts, reducing the need for invasive surgeries. The device showed good performance in animal studies without impeding blood flow, but longer-term tests are needed to validate its durability.
Antonia Groneberg, a neuroscientist, has won Science's annual 'Dance Your Ph.D.' prize with her dance video on zebrafish brain development. Her thesis explored how group dynamics affected individual animal behavior and brain development in zebrafish larvae.
A recent study found that fragmentation of large organic particles into small ones accounts for roughly half of particle loss in the ocean, controlling sequestration of sinking organic carbon. Sinking particles like plankton and detritus play a critical role in lowering atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration.
Three studies provide new insights into the composition and origin of Arrokoth. The object's binary lobes were likely formed in a local collapse cloud, with an ancient age of about 4 billion years. Its surface is uniformly red, cold, and covered with methanol ice and complex organic molecules.
A new study finds that biodiversity loss is causing a smaller, less diverse snake community in the tropics. The decline of tropical snakes is an 'invisible' outcome of biodiversity loss and has upward effects on higher-order predators.
Health tech companies handling sensitive user data may make unilateral changes to their policies without notifying users. This lack of transparency can lead to unwanted use or distribution of personal data, highlighting the need for stronger consumer protections.
Researchers have identified high levels of ketone bodies in the plasma of patients with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy as a reliable predictor of disease progression. The biomarker could help track the progression of this inherited heart condition, which can be fatal without warning.
Researchers discovered genetic contributions from an unknown archaic hominin in modern West Africans through computer modeling. The study suggests recent or multiple interactions between anatomically modern humans and various populations of archaic hominins, hinting at a complex history.
Advanced Devices & Instrumentation, the fifth journal in AAAS's Science Partner Journal program, publishes high-impact breakthroughs in electronics, photonics, and artificial intelligence. The journal aims to provide a platform for valuable research outcomes in fields like sensor technology, internet-of-things and energy management.
The selected scientists and engineers will participate in a week of intensive public engagement and science communication training, networking, and plan development. The fellows will return to their institutions with resources and connections to develop, implement, and evaluate their public engagement activities.
A study found that childhood vaccine responses are shaped by geography, age, and anemia status. Children with anemia showed weaker immune responses to malaria vaccines in Tanzania and Mozambique.
Researchers identified a key driver of heat-seeking behavior in Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, a primary vector of malaria transmission, by repurposing an ancestral thermoreceptor. Blocking this receptor significantly reduced the ability of female mosquitoes to find blood sources.
A recent study has shown that microglia regulate forgetting in the adult brain by weakening and eliminating synapses connecting engram neurons. Inhibiting microglial activity or depleting them prevents forgetting, while intact microglia facilitate the dissociation of engram cells, leading to memory erasure.
Researchers report no negative side effects and persistent engineered T cells in advanced cancer patients. The study's findings suggest the gene editing approach is safe and feasible, paving the way for further development of this innovative cancer treatment.
Sequencing sewage could provide a powerful tool for AMR surveillance, offering a diverse and anonymous sample of the population. The authors suggest that such a system could be established globally for under $1 million USD annually, providing valuable insights into AMR spread and other public health concerns.
A new study reveals global ocean circulation has accelerated over the past two decades, with a sharp increase in kinetic energy from 1990s onwards. The acceleration is attributed to intensification of surface winds and a near 2%-per-decade rise in wind speeds.
Erin Kimmerle's research uncovered the remains of dozens of boys buried in unmarked graves, shedding light on decades of abuse and revealing an alarming history of injustices. Her work has brought closure to victims' families and sparked a global conversation about wrongdoing.
Exequiel Ezcurra, a professor of ecology, has been recognized for his leadership in bringing together research, education, outreach, and policy to protect the environment. He has made significant contributions to conservation science, ecosystem management, and policy outcomes.
Researchers developed an autonomous machine learning-based method to determine crystal structure from EBSD data with high accuracy. The platform enables high-throughput evaluation of material properties, opening doors for rapid discovery and analysis.
Researchers laser-cooled a 150-nanometer glass sphere containing 100 million atoms to its quantum ground state, revolutionizing the study of macro-quantum physics. This achievement enables unprecedented opportunities to test fundamental physics and probe the boundaries between classical and quantum mechanics.
A genetic study of schizophrenia in South African Xhosa individuals reveals a higher prevalence of rare damaging mutations in those with the disorder. The findings provide insights into the universal nature of human biology and can inform new treatments for schizophrenia.
A new study confirms Lense-Thirring precession - a phenomenon of relativistic frame-dragging - in a distant binary star system. The research observes a long-term drift in the orbital parameters due to the rapidly rotating white dwarf companion, confirming Einstein's general theory of relativity.
Angela Wandinger-Ness, a distinguished pathologist, has been honored with the AAAS Lifetime Mentor Award for her dedication to increasing diversity in STEM fields. Through her research and mentorship, she has mentored approximately 270 scientists from underrepresented communities.
Xu is being honored for her efforts to recruit women, underrepresented minorities, and first-generation college students to the fields of chemistry, biochemistry, and biomedical sciences and engineering. She has led a laboratory pursuing research at the interface of chemistry, biology, engineering, and medicine.
A new study in 50 patients found that persistent mixed chimerism can reduce the reliance on immunosuppressive drugs after a kidney transplant. The treatment achieved immune tolerance and reduced rejection episodes, allowing some patients to survive with their donated kidneys for over eight years.
J. Marshall Shepherd, a renowned meteorologist, has been awarded the 2020 Mani L. Bhaumik Award for Public Engagement with Science. He is recognized for his exceptional ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to broad audiences through various media platforms.
John Drazan, a biomechanics researcher, received the AAAS Early Career Award for Public Engagement. He was recognized for his work combining research and public engagement to make science relevant to young people through sports.
A team of researchers developed a promising tool to combat malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases. Their genetically engineered fungus toxin killed 75% of insecticide-resistant mosquitoes, causing an established population to collapse within 45 days.
Mirkin is being honored for multiple contributions to the fields of chemistry and nanoscience, including the discovery and development of spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) with unique chemical and physical properties. He has also invented and developed scanning probe-based tools and techniques that allow researchers to pattern nanostructu...
Brain region-specific organoids reveal transcriptional signatures of neuropsychiatric disorders and allow researchers to study chromatin accessibility and gene expression in specific cells over critical developmental stages. The development of the human forebrain is a complex process guided by epigenetic gene regulation.
Superluminous supernova SN 2006gy was found to be a Type Ia explosion that interacted with a dense shell of circumstellar material, producing an unusual spectrum with unidentified emission lines. The iron lines were identified as evidence of the interaction, which is consistent with observations and simulations.
The proposal aims to implement a holistic, integrated systems-based approach to pesticide regulation, considering dynamic agroecological factors. Current ERA guidelines are decades old and based on assumptions that misrepresent modern ecological systems.
This special issue of Science explores safer and more sustainable chemicals to address environmental and health concerns. Reviews argue for rethinking chemistry and considering inherent properties in early stages of design.
Researchers developed a synthetic conduit that bridges large nerve gaps, supporting recovery and accelerating neuronal healing. The device boosts nerve regeneration and improves motor skills in macaques, showing superior recruitment of cells that insulate nerves.
Researchers developed a novel machine learning procedure that resolved Paleozoic biodiversity to within 26,000 years, clarifying diversification and extinction events. The improved resolution revealed new aspects of Paleozoic biodiversity and showed a correlation between atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and paleobiodiversity change.
Two new studies uncover the secrets behind birds' precise flight control, paving the way for more agile robotic wings. Researchers found that finger motion initiates stable turn maneuvers and 'directional Velcro' mechanisms lock feathers together during wing extension.
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.