A study on bat preferences for nectar reveals that competition leads to a preference for dilute nectars. The researchers used computer-controlled flowers with varying sugar concentrations to simulate the feeding behavior of bats.
Researchers have developed a flexible transistor that can be stretched to twice its length without significant changes in conductivity. The breakthrough uses a semiconducting polymer confined within an elastic matrix, demonstrating effective transconductivity even under heavy stretching.
A new analysis of an archaeological site in Tibet suggests that permanent residents may have set up camp thousands of years earlier than previously thought. The study's findings support previous genetic research and propose that the region's wet climate may have enabled permanent pre-agricultural peopling.
A new study reveals that the brain region responsible for face recognition continues to grow in adulthood, contradicting the prevailing view of synaptic pruning as a key factor in brain development. The growth is linked to an increase in cell bodies, dendritic structures, and myelin sheath.
Researchers redate human settlement in Tibet, pushing back timeline by thousands of years; new findings suggest permanent residence may have been established due to wetter climate, enabling pre-agricultural peopling of the plateau.
A weakened form of the malaria parasite safely activated strong immune responses in healthy volunteers, whose antibodies completely protected mice from malaria infection. The GAP3KO vaccine candidate has shown promising results and will move forward to a phase 1b trial using controlled human malaria infection.
Researchers identified mesenchymal-derived BMPs as a crucial mechanism in determining sweat gland versus hairy cell fates. The study found increased expression of BMP and FGF genes at week 17 in human scalp skin, coinciding with the shift from hair to sweat-bud formation.
A decade-long study in southern UK reveals an annual mean of 3.37 trillion insects migrating above the region, comprising 3200 tons of biomass. The majority of migration occurs during daytime, with intensity greatest on warm days.
Two new studies identify medically relevant genetic variants in over 50,000 human participants, revealing rare gene variants that have lost their function and potentially disabling genes. The research also found associations between specific genes and increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including familial hypercholesterolemia.
A new study highlights the urgent need for global action to limit temperature increases to 1.5°C due to its critical role in preserving marine ecosystems and limiting species turnover for the fishing industry. The results show that exceeding this target could lead to a three-fold decline in marine biomass.
A reliable blood test can identify prion disease before symptoms appear, allowing for non-invasive diagnosis and potentially preventing transmission through blood transfusions. Researchers successfully detected abnormal proteins in the blood of presymptomatic donors with 100% accuracy.
The EurekAlert! Fellowships support early-career science reporters from emerging economies to attend the AAAS Annual Meeting and network with peers. The 2017 fellows demonstrated outstanding performance in science news reporting, showcasing their solid grasp of timely issues and everyday relevance.
Two new studies provide a step-by-step account of an underwater volcano eruption, revealing that deformation patterns and tidal activity can be used to estimate future eruptions. Monitoring magma pools underneath the Axial Seamount has been shown to help predict undersea eruptions.
Researchers find metallic iron slivers in exceptionally large stones, indicating a liquid metal origin. The discovery provides insight into the geological formation of massive diamonds, such as the Cullinan Diamond.
The new US law aims to reduce harm to marine mammals and improve species protection through stricter fishing regulations. The law, set to come into effect on January 1, 2017, requires countries to comply with the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act, impacting global seafood trade and conservation efforts.
A new study reveals that roads now fragment land to an extent that only 7% of road-created patches are greater than 100 square kilometers. The research highlights the significant impact of roads on the environment, including deforestation and fragmentation, chemical pollution, noise disturbance, and increased wildlife mortality.
Researchers have identified two neutralizing antibodies against Zika virus that exclusively target the virus, demonstrating high specificity and protecting mice from infection. These antibodies, Z23 and Z3L1, block infection by targeting the virus' envelope protein, offering potential hope for preventative and treatment approaches.
A novel analysis in mice reveals that dopamine neuron activity plays a key role in judgment of time, slowing down the internal clock. The study found that transient activation or inhibition of dopamine neurons was sufficient to slow down or speed up time estimation.
Killifish in polluted salt marshes have developed tolerance to toxins through reduced genetic diversity. The AHR signaling pathway is key, with compensatory mutations mitigating its loss of function.
A study estimates that mobile money improved the lives of 194,000 Kenyan households, lifting them out of extreme poverty. Increased access to mobile money also boosted long-term consumption, especially among female-headed households.
Researchers created graphene-infused G-putty, a highly sensitive material that detects heart rates through skin and individual spider footsteps. The unique substance surpasses conventional strain sensors in sensitivity, with potential applications in various fields.
Researchers have designed a molecule that can trap and remove carbon monoxide from the bloodstream, protecting mice from poisoning. The engineered neuroglobin binds CO about 1,000 times more tightly than hemoglobin, selectively targeting the dangerous compound.
Researchers discovered that neural activity supporting short-term memories only arises when recall is consciously attempted. This study finds that information in working memory is maintained through mechanisms other than sustained neural activity and can be revived using transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Dopamine neurons use a mathematical approach to predict errors, responding similarly across individual neurons. This uniformity simplifies information coding, allowing prediction errors to be broadcasted robustly throughout the brain.
A new study found that US tornado clusters are becoming more frequent and intense over the past 50 years, with an estimated doubling of extreme outbreaks from 1965 to 2015. The data suggests that climate change is not a primary driver of this trend, and other factors such as low-frequency climate variability may be at play.
Dr. Ami Radunskaya, a professor at Pomona College, received the 2016 AAAS Mentor Award for launching initiatives that increased female Ph.D. degrees in mathematics. She has mentored 82 students, including many women and underrepresented minorities, to earn doctorates.
Scientists discover Bismuth is superconducting at extremely low temperatures, defying expectations due to its low carrier density. The finding opens new avenues for research into the fundamental laws of superconductivity.
Researchers successfully developed a vaccine against influenza using genetically modified live virus that activates the immune system but cannot replicate in healthy cells. The new vaccine proved effective in mice, guinea pigs, and ferrets, offering an antibody response comparable to existing vaccines.
A new study found that oral thrombin inhibitors (OTIs) encourage blood clotting under flowing conditions, increasing the risk of heart attack. The researchers suggest considering this when designing individual therapies for patients taking OTI drugs.
Researchers have identified a mechanism by which cells undergo reprogramming in live mice, utilizing neighboring cells to trigger reprogramming. This process involves the secretion of proteins, including an inflammatory cytokine, that promote the reprogramming of adjacent cells.
A study on rhesus macaques found that low-status animals exhibit greater antibacterial responses, while high-status animals have stronger antiviral responses. Social subordination stress influences immune-related gene expression in low-status individuals.
Researchers found stressed individuals who used 'retrieval practice' technique outperformed non-stressed individuals, regardless of whether they restedudied or not. The study suggests that effective learning strategies can build stress-resistant memories, contradicting the common notion that stress impairs memory retrieval.
Researchers successfully created a catalyst that efficiently forms carbon-silicon bonds, which were previously thought impossible. The breakthrough enables the production of a wide range of silicon products.
A new sweat-sensing skin patch can track biomarkers like electrolytes, glucose, and pH to monitor health and fitness. The device was tested in healthy volunteers and showed reliable results with minimal discomfort.
Researchers used brightness and simultaneous detection to pinpoint FRB source, measuring galaxy's magnetic field for better cosmology models. The findings shed light on the origins of powerful radio flashes, offering insights into stellar evolution and the Universe's larger-scale structure.
Researchers developed a synthetic pathway to convert carbon dioxide into organic compounds more quickly than plants. This breakthrough has potential applications in enhancing plant photosynthesis and creating new carbon-based feed for cattle or chemical products.
A recent drilling expedition at Chicxulub crater revealed how it collapsed to form a complex crater structure, confirming one prominent theory of peak ring formation. The findings provide insights into deep subsurface processes and challenge an alternative hypothesis on the origin of peak rings.
Researchers have identified a way to manipulate photosynthesis in plants to increase light-harvesting ability and biomass production. The modified plants outperformed controls by 11-14% under fluctuating light conditions, with greater leaf area and plant height.
The 2016 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards honored journalists for their consequential medical research stories, including a Swedish documentary that raised questions about a surgeon's research conduct. The awards also recognized investigative reporting on topics such as breast cancer and research ethics.
A new ingestible capsule can deliver drugs for weeks, potentially revolutionizing treatment against malaria and other diseases with poor adherence. The star-shaped capsule was successfully tested in pigs and showed promise in boosting local malaria elimination when combined with standard anti-malarial drugs.
Researchers analyzed over 1,000 M. abscessus isolates from 500 global CF center patients, finding near-identical clones in different geographies and suggesting widespread transmission within the CF community. The study also highlights airborne transmission via contaminated surfaces as a potential mode of infection.
Researchers found that rats only enjoy ticklishness when they are in a good mood, similar to humans. The study also suggests that the somatosensory cortex may play a role in regulating mood.
Scientists have discovered human leprosy in British red squirrels, revealing a reservoir for ancient bacteria that drove outbreaks in medieval Europe. The study suggests that the disease may be working against efforts to eradicate it in humans.
A new study reveals that an individual's birth year plays a crucial role in determining their susceptibility to specific flu strains. The research found that people born before and after 1968 have reduced risk of severe disease from novel strains within the same group.
A new study identifies calciprotein particles as a culprit in premature birth, a leading cause of infant death and disability. The research suggests therapies or dietary supplements blocking these particle formations could prevent preterm birth.
A new study analyzed thousands of scientists' careers to understand how scientific impact emerges and changes over time. Despite previous assumptions, the research found that many creative papers are published within two decades of starting a career, but not necessarily by the most productive or youngest scientists.
A pioneering study by Gilad Evrony and colleagues found that every brain cell has a unique genome resulting from somatic mutations during development. These findings hold promise for understanding unexplained neurologic diseases such as epilepsy, autism, and schizophrenia.
A new analysis reveals a direct correlation between carbon dioxide emissions and Arctic sea ice loss. The study suggests that reducing carbon emissions could slow the ongoing loss of summer ice and help achieve a 1.5°Celsius global warming target.
Scientists have found a key protein, connective tissue growth factor A (ctgfa), that facilitates spinal cord regeneration in zebrafish. The protein promotes the formation of bridges across damaged tissue, leading to improved healing outcomes.
Researchers identified distinct mutational signatures associated with tobacco smoke, including Signature 4 and Signature 5. These signatures are linked to specific types of cancer, such as lung and larynx cancers, and may be driven by a cytidine deaminase enzyme or other unknown mechanisms.