Organic farming methods produced 20% smaller crop yields compared to conventional farming, but made up for it in ecological benefits. The study found that organic soils were more fertile, had a larger community of organisms, and decomposed more efficiently.
A team of scientists discovered a brain signal that encourages us to continue working on tasks to receive rewards. Abnormal activity in this signal may contribute to conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder or drug abuse.
Research suggests that baby brains are more efficient at recognizing faces than adults, particularly monkey faces. By six months old, infants can distinguish between individual humans and monkeys, but this ability declines with age.
A German study on mice found that genetic variations in a key stress-response gene may contribute to excessive alcohol consumption under stressful conditions. The researchers identified a specific receptor, CRH1, which is associated with increased alcohol intake in stressed mice, suggesting potential targets for preventing relapse.
A recent study published in Science reveals that chimpanzees and humans have strikingly different patterns of gene expression in the brain, with humans exhibiting accelerated evolutionary change. This difference may hold clues to understanding medical traits such as AIDS, malaria, and Alzheimer's disease.
The sequenced rice genome contains 45,000-56,000 genes, which could provide a roadmap for improving cereal crops like maize, wheat, and barley. The research aims to increase crop yields and vitamin content, addressing global food shortages and hunger.
Research tracking over 700 children from adolescence to adulthood found that adolescents watching more than one hour of TV daily were more prone to violence. The link remained even after accounting for other factors like childhood neglect and low family income. The study's findings contradict the common assumption that media violence o...
The AAAS Report XXVII: Research and Development FY 2003 provides a definitive guide to the President's R&D budget proposals. The report shows a record increase in federal R&D funding to $112 billion, driven by increases in defense and health sectors. Non-defense R&D would decrease slightly, while basic research would see a 7.9% growth.
The book highlights the success stories of 92% of AAAS internship program graduates, who went on to secure full-time jobs or graduate school. The study also explores the impact of laws like ADA and the role of mentors and families in overcoming barriers to employment.
Recent studies suggest that treating river blindness with antibiotics like doxycycline could be effective in reducing the severity of symptoms. The bacteria Wolbachia is found in the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus and is believed to play a major role in the development of the disease.
The Merck/AAAS Undergraduate Science Research Program awards grants of $20,000 per year for up to three years to primarily undergraduate institutions. The program aims to enhance undergraduate education through research experiences and encourage students to pursue graduate education in biology and chemistry.
Tiny, super-hot bubbles created by acoustic cavitation may be producing nuclear fusion, according to researchers. The experiment produced stable bubbles that could expand to nearly a millimeter before collapsing, and detected higher levels of tritium and neutrons.
Researchers discuss innovative examples of sustainable agriculture, such as the Ecological System of Rice Intensification (SRI), which trains farmers to adopt environmentally friendly techniques. SRI has successfully increased rice yields without relying on herbicides and pesticides, improving food security in Cambodia and Asia.
Dinosaur expert Paul C. Sereno has made groundbreaking discoveries in Africa, including the giant predator Carcharodontosaurus and the spinosaur Suchomimus. His research is transforming our understanding of dinosaur evolution, shedding light on their diversity and abundance during the Cretaceous period.
Researchers discover wheat proteins that modify ice crystal growth, improving ice cream smoothness. The discovery could lead to new ingredients and manufacturing processes for improved consistency.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has honored several individuals with prestigious awards, including William T. Golden for his lifetime achievement in science policy, Norman E. Borlaug for his Nobel Peace Prize-winning work on global food security, and Guenther Bauer for his contributions to international s...
Researchers developed new tests to supplement the SAT and GMAT, measuring practical and creative abilities. The results indicate that these tests can improve the ability of standardized tests to predict student success and reduce racial and ethnic score differences.
Glacier melting and climate change are leading to sea level rises, with the world's glaciers shrinking faster than they did in recent millennia. The International Panel on Climatic Change (IPCC) projections are considered too low due to glacier sensitivity and hydrological cycle changes.
Physicist Maria Spiropulu proposes a new reality theory that unifies gravity and electromagnetism. Researchers are using high-energy particle collisions to detect the signature of extra dimensions, which may reveal a mysterious sister world with compacted or finite dimensions.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has named Dr. Etta Z. Falconer and Dr. James H.M. Henderson as recipients of the Mentor Award for Lifetime Achievement. Both awardees have made significant contributions to increasing diversity among doctoral students in the sciences.
Borlaug's work in Mexico led to the development of high-yield, low-pesticide wheat, increasing crop production by 7000% in just a few decades. His efforts have since expanded to sub-Saharan Africa and India, helping small-scale farmers adopt improved agricultural techniques
Researchers found that the catch of key food species has decreased by over half, despite increased fishing effort. The impact has undermined the ocean's ability to sustain further catches, with invertebrates replacing large predatory fishes at the top of marine food webs.
Researchers discuss biological and cultural factors behind global obesity trend, citing rapid urbanization and technology as contributing causes. Childhood malnutrition and stunted growth are paradoxically linked to adult obesity in many places.
Researchers found a shift in diet and personal ornamentation, such as beads, around 40-50 thousand years ago, which may indicate increased human population density. This change occurred simultaneously in Africa, Asia, and Europe, suggesting that modern humans did not expand from a single geographic location.
A study finds that deep-sea trawling is depleting populations of vulnerable fish species and invertebrates worldwide. Conservation efforts are needed to protect these species from extinction.
Researchers at the AAAS Annual Meeting discuss advancements in nanoelectronics, including mesoscale structures and single-molecule devices that could lead to more powerful electronic and computing devices. The development of these devices is dependent on a better understanding of dynamic behavior and circuitry.
Researchers have found that birds excel in tasks such as combining objects in specific orders, using vocal labels, and learning complex songs. This suggests that the neural machinery involved in these abilities may not be unique to primates, but rather has evolved separately in birds.
The AAAS Science Journalism Awards recognize outstanding science reporting across various categories. This year's winners include Scott Shane of The Baltimore Sun for his special series on a Johns Hopkins University program to bring much-needed vitamins to the people of Nepal, and Richard Monastersky of The Chronicle of Higher Educatio...
A new study reveals that parrot plumage contains fluorescent pigments that signal sex appeal, attracting mates. Researchers found that applying sunscreen reduced the birds' fluorescence, resulting in a decreased sexual preference.
Researchers created molecular-scale computing circuits that can carry out basic computing operations, paving the way for tiny but powerful machines. These circuits have the potential to translate conversations on the fly or diagnose illnesses quickly, and could provide computing power for decades to come.
Virginia W. Stern, AAAS director of the Project on Science and Technology in Disability, receives the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Mentoring for her work promoting inclusion and opportunities for students with disabilities. The award recognizes her efforts to create family and community support systems and improve condi...
A new gene therapy method has successfully corrected sickle cell disease in mice by transferring an anti-sickling gene to bone marrow, preventing the formation of deformed red blood cells. The therapy, developed using a viral delivery system, resulted in up to 99% expression of the new gene in circulating red blood cells.
Researchers found dramatic erosion of frosty layers on Mars' south pole, suggesting global climate change. The Martian snow is dense and ice-like, and its seasonal cycle affects the planet's long-term climate and atmosphere.
Researchers have developed a new method for studying viral entry, which reveals that key steps occur much faster than previously believed. The study found that viruses can penetrate cells within minutes, using the cell's own transportation system to reach the nucleus.
Researchers have developed a way to synthesize ciguatoxin, the toxin responsible for seafood poisoning, which will enable scientists to better understand its effects on humans and prepare toxin-fighting antibodies. The breakthrough could lead to more efficient methods for detecting infected fish before they reach the market.
Researchers have discovered long-term potentiation, a brain process that strengthens connections and promotes memory. This process involves the rapid relocation of receptors in synapses, leading to increased synaptic transmission and potentially explaining why memory can falter.
Researchers have found a massive magma reservoir beneath Mt. Vesuvius in Italy, extending over 400 square kilometers and eight kilometers deep. The reservoir is thought to be a zone of neutral buoyancy, where the magma floats in a trapped layer, and may hold clues to future eruptions.
Researchers have created nanoscale atomic generators that selectively destroy cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. The generators use radioactive actinium to produce potent alpha particles that kill cancer cells, offering a new hope for treating various types of cancer.
A science reviewer strongly criticizes Bjørn Lomborg's book, arguing that it gives little recognition to modern environmental professionals and fails to make the connection between new policies and environmental advances. The reviewer highlights the importance of economic incentives, such as those contained within the Kyoto Protocol, i...
Researchers have found fossil skulls and partial skeletons of the giant Sarcosuchus imperator, which lived during the African Cretaceous period. The species is estimated to have reached its full size in around 50-60 years, suggesting a unique growth pattern that allowed it to attain massive proportions.
A 30-million-year-old lemur fossil, Bugtilemur mathesoni, found in Pakistan's Bugti Hills provides a rare glimpse into the evolution of strepsirrhine primates. The discovery sheds new light on the origins of lemurs and their close relatives, the lorises.
A new study suggests that lowland deforestation may be robbing mountain cloud forests of critical cloud cover, threatening their survival. Breaking up deforested land into a mosaic of uses can help restore cloud formation.
The AAAS jobs survey shows a 7% increase in median salaries for U.S. life scientists between May 2000 and May 2001, with real average weekly earnings outperforming raises for many other jobs. However, women earn nearly one-third less than men, with significant gaps in non-academic settings.
Researchers identify a consistent seismic pattern suggesting a recurrence time of 1,500-2,500 years for the 1356 Basel earthquake. This discovery could help safeguard infrastructure and fine-tune emergency procedures before a potential major earthquake strikes.
Researchers have developed portable chemical sensors using shifting liquid crystals, which can detect environmental exposure to residential pesticides and monitor food spoilage. The sensors are extremely sensitive and quick, taking only seconds to complete detection and reset.
Researchers found that 20% of caterpillars died from parasitoid attacks, mostly from introduced species. The study highlights the importance of understanding ecological costs of biocontrol agents to prevent adverse cascading events in food chains.
A new study in the journal Science found that dinosaurs' fleshy nostrils were typically positioned forward of their bony nose openings. This finding has implications for how dinosaurs breathed, smelled, and regulated body temperature and water loss, potentially providing clues to their adaptations to different environments.
Keeping chickens and dogs out of bedrooms can reduce Chagas disease risk by reducing the bug population, say Science researchers. Removing infected dogs from households nearly wipes out transmission of the parasite.
Researchers from Universität Bonn discovered that seals can navigate through dark water by detecting the hydrodynamic trail of a fish using their whiskers. In experiments with two seals, Henry and Nick, they found that the whiskers played a crucial role in finding prey over long distances.
Researchers have created a nanotube single electron transistor that operates efficiently at room temperature. The device is smaller than 1/500th the distance across a human hair and only requires one electron to toggle between on and off states, making it an ideal candidate for molecular computers.