Researchers found that zebra finches can accurately perceive and categorize their species' vocal signals, organizing them semantically. The birds exhibit a remarkable ability to distinguish between call types used in similar behavioral or social contexts.
A recent sale of genetic data by 23andMe highlights critical gaps in legal protection for genetic information in the US. The authors argue that stronger safeguards are needed to protect consumers from potential misuse and exploitation of their genetic data.
A new study finds that wildfires in the western US worsen local air quality but unexpectedly improve air quality in the eastern US due to heat's effect on weather patterns. This overlooked factor significantly alters regional air quality, with climate models overestimating pollution impacts.
A new study finds that most native Fijian ant species have declined since humans first arrived 3,000 years ago, while introduced species have expanded. Human activities such as habitat destruction and agricultural intensification are shaping fragile island ecosystems.
Drones are enhancing farming sustainability by boosting yields, reducing waste and lowering chemical exposure, while also creating new opportunities for rural livelihoods. However, risks of labor displacement, gender inequality and chemical drift remain, highlighting the need for inclusive adoption and smart regulation.
A novel explanation for deadly cardiac events is that neutrophils release a peptide that punctures stressed heart cells, destabilizing their electrical activity and promoting life-threatening arrhythmias. This finding offers a potential therapeutic target for treating ischemic heart disease.
A new study reveals that estrogen-regulated signaling promotes the regeneration of key filtration cells in female kidneys, protecting against chronic kidney disease. The study also links pregnancy complications like preeclampsia to failures in this regenerative process.
The study reveals that rodents' D1 ungis (nails or claws) are a crucial adaptation for their evolutionary success. A nail is the most common and likely ancestral condition, coevolving with distinctive gnawing incisors to facilitate dexterous manipulation of hard foods.
The Golden Goose Award recognizes outstanding federally funded research that has led to significant societal benefits. This year's awardees include researchers who developed the platinum-based chemotherapy drug cisplatin, which transformed testicular cancer treatment and saved countless lives.
A recent study found that restoring large-scale bison migrations in the northern Yellowstone ecosystem unlocks the species' full ecological power. Bison herds enhance nutrient cycles, diversify habitats, and drive processes like nutrient cycling and productivity.
A recent study of ancient horse genomes has shed light on the genetic changes that contributed to making horses tame, strong, and rideable by humans. The research found that selective breeding practices, particularly at the GSDMC locus, enabled horses to meet human demands for mobility and warfare.
A new study of Martian seismic data collected by NASA's InSight mission reveals a highly heterogeneous and disordered mantle on Mars, born from ancient impacts and chaotic convection. The findings offer an unprecedented window into the geological history and thermochemical evolution of a terrestrial planet under a stagnant lid.
A new study reveals that the Tijuana River's turbulent waters release toxic gases and aerosols that travel far beyond the riverbanks, posing inhalation risks to communities. The findings highlight the urgent need for sustained monitoring and coordinated cross-border efforts to mitigate the environmental and public health crisis.
A new study finds that birds are singing for longer periods of time due to light pollution, with prolonged vocalizations averaging 50 minutes. The research analyzed over 500 bird species and found that those exposed to more light have the most significant impact from light pollution.
Researchers found that recovering 90% of these byproducts could meet nearly all US critical mineral needs, while one percent recovery would significantly reduce import reliance. This prospect is especially attractive due to increased demand and geopolitical conflicts in major mining regions.
A new study reveals a 40% global increase in wildland fire exposures from 2002 to 2021, mainly driven by people living in the wildland-urban interface. In Africa, 85% of these exposures occurred, with devastating consequences for human health and life.
Research by Christian Wood and colleagues reveals that brain area 46 regulates positive and negative emotions, impacting motivation and threat response. The study suggests personalized treatments for depression and anxiety may be effective by targeting this brain network.
A deep learning model successfully predicted ignition in a recent fusion experiment at the U.S. National Ignition Facility (NIF). The model's accuracy was over 70%, offering valuable guidance for researchers working on future inertial confinement fusion experiments.
Maize in densely planted plots releases linalool, which triggers roots of neighbors to release compounds altering soil bacteria composition. This plant-soil communication helps plants defend against increased pest risk.
Researchers found that maternal antibodies in breast milk bind to bacteria in the neonatal gut, regulating the immune response and preventing inflammation. This discovery may have implications for human infants, who receive essential immunoglobulin G antibodies from their mothers.
Current US policies on bioenergy do not distinguish between carbon intensities of farming practices used to produce biofuels. New policies should account for farming practices that reduce direct emissions and increase soil carbon sequestration.
The article suggests a standards-based approach to governing emerging quantum technologies, drawing on existing frameworks like ISO 27001. This framework would oversee the design, implementation, and lifecycle of quantum technologies, addressing challenges like post-quantum cryptography.
Distinct immune pathways involving leukotrienes drive anaphylactic response in food allergies, with genetic variants influencing susceptibility. The drug Zileuton shows promise in blocking this life-threatening response.
Researchers developed an antibody transport vehicle targeting the transferrin receptor to improve anti-amyloid antibody delivery to the brain. The approach preserves key immune functions while offering a safer strategy for treating Alzheimer's disease, reducing side effects and increasing treatment efficacy.
Researchers have discovered a key protein, RTMP1, guiding the formation of chitons' ultra-hard iron-based teeth. This finding offers new insights into biomineralization and potential inspiration for novel materials design.
Rapidly emerging marine-climate interventions pose unprecedented governance challenges due to untested strategies and large-scale projects. Morrison et al. advocate for dynamic governance principles that prioritize responsible transformation for improved social, equity, and biodiversity outcomes.
Researchers argue that successful AI policy requires scientific understanding and systematic analysis to inform decision-making. The authors propose mechanisms to incentivize rigorous model evaluations, increase transparency, and monitor post-deployment harms to achieve evidence-based governance.
Early primates transitioned to grass-based diets without typical adaptations, with changes in dental morphology lagging behavioral shifts by 700,000 years. This supports the concept of behavioral drive in primate evolution, suggesting that behavior can precede and initiate morphological specialization.
A study found that aging selectively degrades essential DNA- and RNA-binding proteins, contributing to neurodegenerative disease hallmarks. This impairment triggers the decline of proteostasis, leading to protein aggregation and age-related brain changes.
Two studies found that industrial fishing is rare in fully and highly protected marine areas, averaging just one vessel per 20,000 square kilometers. However, nearly half of the world's coastal MPAs showed evidence of industrial fishing, with factors like MPA size and remoteness more predictive of fishing presence than official protect...
Coral reefs face severe threats from climate change and heat stress. Researchers are turning to assisted gene flow (AGF) to restore genetic diversity and boost resilience. International collaboration and revisions to conservation laws are necessary to proactively expand AGF efforts, safeguarding and restoring coral reef ecosystems.
The 2023 marine heatwaves were the most intense and persistent in recorded history, with temperatures reaching 96% of the global ocean surface. Regional drivers, including increased solar radiation and weakened winds, contributed to their formation and persistence.
Researchers successfully colonized the gut microbiome with engineered bacteria, reducing oxalate levels in animal models and human patients. However, persistent colonization and horizontal gene transfer events compromised the strain's therapeutic function, highlighting challenges in strain stability and biosafety.
A recent study found that tropical cyclones in Madagascar significantly elevate the risk of malaria infection and reinfection. The introduction of long-lasting vaccines can help sustain malaria infection control during climate-related intervention gaps, but layered strategies are essential to stop transmission.
Zhuoran Qiao's AI-driven tool, NeuralPLexer, enables researchers to quickly model biomolecular interactions and predict drug binding pockets. This breakthrough accelerates the development of new drugs and healthcare.
A global Android smartphone-based earthquake detection and early warning system detects seismic activity in real time and delivers effective alerts, rivaling traditional seismic networks. The system, which harnesses the power of existing smartphones, has collected voluntary feedback through user surveys, indicating that 85% of recipien...
Researchers developed a versatile technique to fabricate dome-celled aerogels with exceptional elasticity across various materials. These aerogels retained their structural integrity after thousands of compression cycles and showed thermal superinsulation capabilities.
Researchers developed a microglia replacement strategy using bone marrow transplantation, effectively improving ALSP symptoms in mouse models. In an eight-patient clinical cohort, tBMT successfully corrected CSF1R mutations and halted disease progression over two years.
BioEmu, a generative AI model, rapidly and accurately predicts protein structural ensembles, enabling high-speed molecular simulation. The model samples thousands of realistic conformations in one GPU-hour, making it orders of magnitude faster than traditional approaches.
A new tissue-integrated prosthetic knee restores natural leg function in above-knee amputees, enabling fluid and adaptive movement. The osseointegrated mechanoneural prosthesis (OMP) system combines direct neuromuscular control, bone-anchored implant, and agonist-antagonist myoneural interfaces to replicate natural muscle interactions.
Ancient sled dogs in Greenland have a rich history of Inuit migration and Arctic adaptation, as revealed by genomic insights. The study found that the Qimmit breed form a distinct clade with other ancient Arctic dogs, supporting a rapid Inuit migration theory.
Djenet Bousbaine's research explores how the immune system responds to beneficial skin microbes, triggering wound-healing T cells and robust B cell responses. This phenomenon is observed in humans, non-human primates, and found to be evolutionary conserved.
Archaeologists have discovered a diverse collection of 300,000-year-old wooden tools at the Gantangqing site in southwestern China, marking the earliest known evidence of complex wooden tool technology in East Asia. The tools were crafted primarily for digging and processing plants.
Allowing avian flu to run rampant in US poultry would lead to unnecessary suffering and put other animals at risk. The authors suggest a more collaborative approach to reduce spillover risks and protect public and ecological health.
Researchers have discovered a sophisticated immune response to beneficial skin microbes that could pave the way for innovative vaccine strategies. By harnessing this preemptive immunity, scientists may develop novel, needle-free vaccinations that protect against pathogens without causing inflammation or disrupting physical barriers.
Researchers have discovered hundreds of previously hidden fossilized squid beaks using a novel 'digital fossil-mining' approach. The findings indicate that squids originated around 100 million years ago and rapidly diversified thereafter, suggesting they played a key role in shaping modern ocean ecosystems.
Researchers have discovered Hadean-age rocks in the Nuvvuagittuq Greenstone Belt, Canada, dating back ~4.16 billion years. The preservation of these ancient materials offers a unique window into early Earth geology and potentially sets the stage for life's emergence.
Researchers have successfully enabled ear tissue regeneration in mice by flipping an evolutionarily disabled genetic switch involved in Vitamin A metabolism. By activating a key gene called Aldh1a2, the team restored regenerative ability in mice, which cannot regenerate complex tissues like the ear pinna.
Researchers Brian Yanites and colleagues propose a unified, interdisciplinary approach to studying cascading land surface hazards. The new framework aims to refine theory, models, and hazard monitoring to better understand and manage interconnected threats.
A new US study reveals that plastic bag regulations, including bans and consumer fees, effectively reduce shoreline litter by 25-47%. Policies involving fees have the largest impact, while complete bag bans are less effective.