Scientists have discovered a magnetization signal emanating from an ancient region of Mercury's crust, indicating the presence of a dynamo-driven magnetic field 3.8 billion years ago. This finding suggests that Mercury's core dynamo has persisted for billions of years.
Researchers analyzed Facebook activity of over 10 million users, finding that users chose to ignore about 70% of challenging posts despite algorithm filtering. The study suggests that social media platforms like Facebook can still promote ideological diversity if users actively seek out diverse perspectives.
A new study reveals that measles vaccination prevents not only measles but also other infectious diseases by damaging the immune system's memory. This finding explains why mass measles vaccinations have driven down mortality rates from other diseases in high-income countries.
The AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards program is expanding globally, now accepting entries from reporters worldwide. The expanded program will bestow 16 prizes annually, including a new $3,500 Silver prize, with top awards increasing in value.
A survey by Pew Research Center in collaboration with AAAS found that 87% of scientists believe they should take an active role in public policy debates. Scientists use various methods to connect with the public, including social media and blogging, with 47% using social media to talk about science or read about scientific developments.
A new study reveals that faculty careers are largely determined by their alma mater, with only a small percentage of professors receiving training outside elite institutions. The research found a systematic bias against women with elite doctorates, who face significant career advancement barriers.
Researchers estimate that around 8 million tons of plastic waste entered the world's oceans in 2010, with coastal countries generating close to 275 million tons. To prevent this number from increasing by a full order of magnitude over the next decade, nations need to improve their waste management practices and adopt better strategies.
A recent study suggests that both regions will experience severe droughts in the future, worse than any in the last millennium. The projections are based on computer model simulations and comparison with past climate reconstructions, indicating a future with extremely parched Southwest and Central Plains.
Research reveals that sleep plays a crucial role in removing toxic waste from the brain by increasing fluid flow and clearance of neurotoxic waste products. The glymphatic system, responsible for this process, is most active during sleep, suggesting the necessity of sleep for maintaining a healthy brain environment.
Four groundbreaking science books that present scientific information in innovative ways to young audiences have earned the 2015 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize. The winning books include 'Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes' and 'Mission: Mars', which invite readers to explore their own world or prepare themselves to explore other worlds.
The Rosetta spacecraft's successful landing on the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko marked a major breakthrough in comet analysis. The mission has provided valuable insights into the formation and evolution of comets, potentially shedding light on the delivery of water and organic molecules to early Earth.
A recent study sequencing the genomes of 45 avian species has provided the most reliable tree of life for birds, shedding light on their rapid emergence from a mass extinction event. The findings reveal that modern birds diverged rapidly and their sex chromosomes have evolved differently than those in humans.
Liron Bar-Peled's research explores how environmental cues regulate eukaryotic cell growth through the mTORC1 signaling pathway. His work has implications for understanding human diseases such as cancer and primary immune disorders.
The 2014 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards honored journalists who reported on complex topics like the human microbiome and cancer. Winners included Rob Stein for his series on microbial hitchhikers and George Johnson for his insightful essays on cancer.
Eiman Azim won the 2014 Eppendorf & Science Prize for his research on neural circuits controlling skilled movement. He identified two separate spinal cord pathways that enable rapid updates and regulation of movements.
Kokabee was imprisoned for refusing to contribute to weapons research in Iran and awarded the American Physical Society's Andrei Sakharov Prize for his courage. He continues to study from prison, teaching physics classes and promoting education among fellow inmates.
The AAAS has awarded grants to 10 Christian seminaries to integrate science into their core theological courses, impacting individual seminaries and ministries served by graduates. The project will provide faculty with scientist-advisers and resources, including short science-education videos.
Despite government promises, satellite analysis shows no significant increase in civic facilities in Sri Lanka's Valikamam High-Security Zone. The area has seen a sharp increase in residential housing-type structures and development.
A new study suggests that combining Salk inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) with Sabin live-attenuated oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) improves mucosal immunity and reduces viral shedding. The results could help resolve the long-standing debate over vaccine choice in areas where polio is difficult to eradicate.
Researchers developed a way to coax flat sheets of composite materials into complex robots that crawl and turn. The new approach allows for rapid assembly, scalability, and high strength-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for mass production and diverse applications.
Researchers have identified skulls with a mix of Neandertal and primitive traits, providing new insights into human evolution. The findings support the accretion model hypothesis, suggesting that Neandertals developed their defining features in stages, not all at once.
A nearly complete human skeleton found in a cave in Mexico has provided new insights into the ancestry of early Americans. The discovery, which dates back at least 12,000 years, shows that modern Native Americans are genetically related to an ancient population that migrated from Beringia.
A team of scientists observed a supernova in 2010 and proposed it was a new type of extra-bright supernova. However, further analysis revealed the presence of a lens that amplified the supernova's light, settling an important controversy. The discovery offers a means to test cosmic expansion using future lensed supernova events.
New gravity data reveals an ocean of liquid water beneath 30-40 km of ice at Enceladus' surface, potentially creating conditions for complex chemical reactions. The sub-surface ocean may extend towards the equator in every direction, similar to Europa's ocean.
A survey of American views on religion and science found that only 27% of respondents believed in conflict between the two, while nearly half of evangelicals saw a collaborative relationship. Evangelicals were also more likely to turn to religious leaders for scientific questions.
A study by Byoung-il Bae and colleagues found that a specific gene mutation affects the development of cortical convolutions in the human brain. The researchers discovered that the mutation impacts the production of neuroprogenitor cells around the Sylvian fissure, leading to thinner and more convoluted folds.
Researchers designed algorithms that reflect termite behavior, enabling robots to build complex structures without detailed plans. The robots use simple cues from their environment and each other to complete user-defined structures.
Paul B. Tchounwou, associate dean of graduate studies at Jackson State University, received the 2013 AAAS Mentor Award for his significant contributions to mentoring African American students in environmental sciences. He has mentored over 75 students and has played a key role in increasing research productivity at the university.
Strogatz has contributed widely to popularize mathematics through newspaper articles, books, radio and television appearances, documentaries, and public lectures. He has introduced the public to various mathematical concepts, including chaos theory, statistics, and group theory.
Siegfried Hecker has been honored by AAAS for his work in nuclear security and global threat reduction. His dedication to fostering cooperation through science led to significant international partnerships, improving the control of nuclear materials.
Andrew Tsin, a professor of biology at the University of Texas at San Antonio, received the 2013 AAAS Lifetime Mentor Award for his dedication to mentoring underrepresented students. He has mentored over 130 students, including dozens of Hispanic Americans, and helped establish programs aimed at increasing diversity in science education.
Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang has been honored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) with the Early Career Award for Public Engagement with Science, recognizing her contributions to public engagement activities and research in neuroscience of social emotion and education.
Branscomb was recognized for his prolific career in academia, business, government, and philanthropy, with a focus on advancing sound science in public policy. He has authored over 500 papers and books, and served in various public service roles, including the National Science Board.
The 2014 AAAS/Subaru Science Books & Film competition recognized four engaging science books exploring school gardens, fossil discovery, backyard bird watching, and biotechnology. Winners received $1500 and a plaque for their outstanding contributions to science writing and illustration.
Researchers reconstructed the neuronal circuits of an adult male nematode to understand how sensory neurons interpret signals from the environment and translate them into mating behavior. The comprehensive map, known as a connectome, reveals various classes of neurons involved in locomotion, posture, and insemination.
The five Neimark Award winners explore biostatistics, molecular plant sciences, and particle astrophysics among other areas. Their research in second language acquisition also sheds light on human cognition.
Hoosen Coovadia, a South African pediatrician and research scientist, has been recognized for his unwavering commitment to sound science guiding public policy. He was awarded the 2013 AAAS Scientific Freedom and Responsibility Award for defying government opposition on HIV/AIDS issues.
The annual challenge honored recipients who used visual media to convey scientific research and ideas, featuring award-winning entries such as 'Dynamic Earth' on climate change and 'Wearable Power' on sustainable energy. The competition received over 1,983 public votes for the People's Choice awards.
A new study shows that administering a drug to pregnant mice with models of autism prevents autistic behavior in their offspring. The researchers believe that abnormal chloride levels may cause the defective GABA switch associated with autism, and that these levels may be treatable beyond infancy.
Cancer immunotherapy emerged as a major scientific breakthrough in 2013, with promising results from clinical trials. Researchers have also made significant advances in genome-editing techniques and vaccine design strategies.
Daniel G. Streicker's research using viral infections in bats aims to understand how infectious diseases jump between species and prevent disease transmission. He has developed a novel population genetic framework to determine transmission rates and shown that host biology can shape the speed of viral evolution.
The 2013 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards recognized outstanding science journalism, including a series on preventing Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes and an early warning system for earthquakes. Winners included Dan Egan, Hillary Rosner, Joshua Seftel, Barbara Lich, and Azeen Ghorayshi.
Michael M. Yartsev's research using bats to study neural coding mechanisms underlying three-dimensional spatial memory and navigation has provided novel insights into the mammalian brain. His award-winning essay highlights a discovery that place cells in bats help navigate 3D space, differing from previously identified processes in rats.
Researchers found that a fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, blocks the adaptive immune response in amphibians, allowing it to survive. The study suggests that the fungus targets a conserved vulnerability shared by both amphibian and mammalian lymphocytes.
A complete skull from early Homo has been discovered in Georgia, combining features like a small braincase with large teeth. The finding suggests that all Homo species may have belonged to the same evolving lineage.
Researchers have determined the high-resolution structure of CCR5, one of two co-receptors used by HIV to enter human cells. The study provides insights into how HIV fuses with cells and may aid in developing new drugs targeting this receptor.
Voyager 1 has entered interstellar space, leaving the heliosphere and entering a region of cold, dark space. The spacecraft's plasma density measurements suggest it crossed the heliopause in August 2012, marking a significant technological achievement and a new chapter in human scientific endeavors.
A new study reveals that only 17% of Earth's land needs to be protected to satisfy the Convention on Biological Diversity's goals, but this area must contain 67% of all plant species. Protecting these hotspots could slow biodiversity loss and meet international targets
Scientists have finally mapped the brain region responsible for numerosity, distinguishing between small and large quantities. The discovery reveals a topographical layout of numerosity in the human brain, with neurons organized to facilitate communication and interaction over short distances.
A study found that human gut bacteria can transmit lean or obese traits to mice depending on their diet, highlighting the importance of diet in shaping gut microbiota. The researchers identified specific bacterial species that play a role in metabolism and obesity, paving the way for personalized probiotic therapies.