A new study compared recent avian strain H5N1 with genetic ressortants of the 1918 virus, showing that H5N1 replicates rapidly and induces a lethal cytokine storm. The results highlight the threat of an avian flu pandemic and emphasize the need for improved emergency preparedness.
Researchers used computer simulation to study the jaw structure of Australopithecus africanus, finding it ideal for cracking hard objects. The findings suggest that early humans adapted their diet to changing food sources by using their powerful jaws.
Research by Arizona State University scientists reveals that APEC can be transmitted from poultry to humans through shared genetic material, highlighting the need for a vaccine to prevent infections. The study identified key genes responsible for disease-causing effects and suggests these could be used to develop vaccine candidates.
Researchers found significant differences in microbial composition among obese patients, gastric bypass surgery subjects, and normal-weight individuals. The study suggests that the gut microbiome plays a key role in energy harvesting, making people more susceptible to obesity.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed two new vaccine strains using Salmonella typhimurium as an antigen delivery system. These recombinant attenuated Salmonella vaccines (RASVs) trigger a powerful systemic immune response, offering a promising solution to infant bacterial pneumonia. The safety and efficacy of these no...
Researchers at Arizona State University have found a unique chemical signature blend on the cuticle of fertile ants that allows workers to locate and police cheaters. This discovery provides insight into social regulation and evolution in ant societies.
Researchers at the Biodesign Institute, led by Hao Yan and Yan Liu, have successfully created 3D DNA nanotubes using gold nanoparticles, which can be used to form flexible and resilient structures. These nanostructures have potential applications in photometry, photovoltaics, touch screens, flexible displays, and biomedical advancements.
Paul M. Torrens, an associate professor at Arizona State University, received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) for his work on crowd behavior modeling using 3-D computational modeling. His research has been recognized as a pioneer in the emerging field of geosimulation.
Experts outline three rules for selecting technological fixes, emphasizing the importance of cause-effect relationships, clear benefits, and standardized technical cores. Vaccines serve as a successful example, while literacy education highlights the challenges of finding effective solutions.
Researchers at Arizona State University discovered a key survival circuit that allows Salmonella bacteria to overcome the body's defense mechanisms. The bacteria use a complex system of regulatory proteins and genes to adapt to changing environments, including nutrient starvation and antimicrobial peptides.
Researchers have discovered that manipulating salmonella bacteria in space can reduce their infectiousness. The study found that microgravity alters the expression of genes related to virulence, with pathogenic cells displaying a significant increase in disease potential.
Ariel Anbar's research focuses on how changes in ocean element abundances influenced life, ecosystems, and evolution on Earth. He examines sedimentary rocks to infer past ocean compositions and investigates the role of essential nutrients like iron, sulfur, and copper.
Researchers discovered over 200 serum proteins in umbilical cord blood, revealing changes in protein levels that indicate cigarette smoke exposure. The study identified biomarkers linked to key metabolic pathways, providing insights into the molecular effects of fetal exposure to toxic chemicals.
Scientists are studying gene regulation in ants to model human aging and behavior. Epigenetic changes, not DNA sequence alterations, may underlie differences in longevity and behavior among ant castes. The study aims to identify the molecular basis for these changes.
A new five-year, $1 million NIH grant will help ASU researchers determine the effects of carpal tunnel syndrome on hand dexterity. The study aims to quantify the impact of CTS on grasping and hand control, providing valuable insights into the effectiveness of surgical intervention and physical rehabilitation.
A study published in Nature Geoscience suggests a connection between Himalayan erosion and monsoon climate over 23 million years. Geochemical data from sediment cores reveal an increase in East Asian monsoon intensity from 23 to 10 million years ago, followed by weakening until 4 million years ago.
Neuroscientists at Arizona State University developed pulsed ultrasound techniques to remotely stimulate brain circuit activity, offering insights into noninvasive neurostimulation of brain circuits. The findings provide a new tool for modulating neural circuit activity, potentially treating post-traumatic stress disorders, traumatic b...
A team of ASU researchers will investigate the ecology, evolution, and genetic mysteries behind malaria and retroviral diseases in humans and nonhuman primates. The studies aim to understand malaria drug resistance and host shifts in parasites.
A team of Arizona State University researchers is investigating human vulnerability to deadly heat exposure in the face of climate change. The study aims to guide policymakers and planners in bolstering protective measures to prevent heat-related illness and deaths.
A Salmonella infection has been used to study the immune system of Drosophila melanogaster flies, revealing a key role for growth factor Decapentaplegic (Dpp) in regulating immune responses. Dpp mutant flies have impaired immune cell production and are unable to fight off pathogens.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a method to produce complex DNA nanostructures inside living cells, using the cell's copy machine to replicate millions of copies. This breakthrough could enable the scaling up of DNA nanotechnology and open up new possibilities for synthetic biology applications.
Philip R. Christensen, Regents' Professor of Geological Sciences at ASU, has been awarded the G.K. Gilbert Award for his work on remote sensing of minerals on Mars using infrared instruments. The award recognizes his discoveries, including a large deposit of hematite and silica minerals, which may offer clues about a Martian biosphere.
Deep biosphere microbes may hold the key to recovering petroleum through complex organic reactions. Researchers at Arizona State University are studying how hot water and pressure transform organic compounds in unexpected ways.
A comprehensive assessment of the world's mammals reveals that 25-36% of species are threatened with extinction, with habitat loss and overexploitation being major drivers. The study highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts to prevent further species losses and protect biodiversity.
A recent Arizona State University study funded by an AT&T Industrial Ecology grant examines the social, economic, and environmental implications of evolving technologies. The research focuses on the shift from physical to virtual activity and its effects on transportation systems, workplaces, and consumer behavior.
The Arizona State University team will focus on characterizing life's elemental requirements, moving beyond water and energy as criteria for the search. This approach aims to identify more habitable worlds within our solar system and beyond.
A study by Arizona State University researchers found that urbanization's impact on surface hydrology can disrupt nutrient cycling in native ecosystems. The alteration of stream flow and water availability has been linked to increased nitrogen levels, harming riparian species and coastal dead zones.
Researchers at Arizona State University have made a breakthrough in understanding the effect of brown carbon on climate change by developing a novel technique to measure its optical properties. This discovery could lead to more accurate forecasting of global warming activity, as current models often overlook this key component.
Scientists at Arizona State University have developed a simple way to make colorful nanocrystals using colloid chemistry methods. The process involves placing nanoparticles in a drop of water on a superhydrophobic surface and letting it dry, resulting in opalescent colors. This method has the potential to create new materials for photo...
Researchers developed mathematical models to determine effective non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) for protecting vulnerable populations in nursing homes. The study found that conventional NPIs can curb mild outbreaks, but higher-level restrictions are needed for severe ones. Staff plays a critical role in controlling disease spr...
The newly established Solar Power Laboratory aims to advance solar energy research and development while improving the efficiency of solar electric power systems. Researchers will collaborate with industry partners to accelerate the expansion of Arizona's renewable energy economy.
Recent advancements in genome technologies and molecular-biology techniques offer new hope for microbial bioenergy applications. Microbes can convert biomass into useful energy forms, such as methane, hydrogen, or electricity, and capture sunlight to produce liquid fuels.
The researchers have developed a biologically engineered organism that can effectively deliver an antigen in the body using live salmonella bacterium. The new method is a major step forward in developing a means of biological containment for vaccine delivery, making vaccines more affordable for developing countries.
MESSENGER data reveals widespread volcanism on Mercury's surface, with lava plains and iron-deficient rock units mapped. The spacecraft has identified three major rock units and confirmed an apparent planet-wide iron deficiency in Mercury's surface rocks.
A new grant will fund research to identify, forecast, and detect areas of clear-air turbulence, reducing anxiety for travelers. The study will also aid astronomers in using adaptive optics to reduce telescope image degradation caused by atmospheric optical turbulence.
A $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy is funding a study to investigate the transport and environmental risks of nanomaterials. Researchers will examine how nanoparticles are partitioned and transported in the environment and human body.
Biodesign's Rittmann suggests that harnessing the energy of microorganisms can meet our current and future energy needs, cutting back on fossil fuel use. This approach has the potential to provide scalable, environmentally friendly, and food-sustaining solutions.
A new study by Arizona State University researchers found that artificially coloring the breast feathers of male barn swallows increased their testosterone levels, challenging the traditional view that internal processes determine external features. The study suggests a dynamic system where physical appearance affects physiology.
The Mars rover Spirit has discovered Yellowstone-like hot spring deposits on Mars, suggesting a habitable environment where liquid water and energy were present. The silica deposits, formed by volcanic steam or hot water, may contain preserved traces of ancient Martian life.
A new study has found that antimicrobial ingredients in personal care products, such as triclosan and triclocarban, persist in estuarine sediments and can harm aquatic life. The study also discovered a potential pathway for the breakdown of these chemicals, but notes that their continued use poses significant environmental risks.
ASU researchers designed a molecule that mimics nature's non-photochemical quenching process, regulating light intensity and converting sunlight into chemical energy. The molecule adapts to its environment, reducing the efficiency of energy conversion as light intensity increases.
Researchers developed a framework to explain mantle motion, challenging previous assumptions and providing new insights into the Earth's inaccessible interior. The model presents a chemically complex inner Earth, sharply contrasting the previously held paradigm of a well-mixed mantle.
A research team from Arizona State University and the University of Oxford has synthesized a molecule that is sensitive to both the magnitude and direction of magnetic fields as weak as the Earth's. This discovery provides evidence for chemical magnetoreception, a mechanism that birds may use to navigate.
Arizona State University professors Edward Prescott and Luc Anselin have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences for their groundbreaking work in macroeconomics and spatial econometrics. Their election recognizes the institution's commitment to advancing knowledge in these fields.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a synthetic analog of DNA, called Glycerol Nucleic Acid (GNA), with unique properties that can be used to create nanostructures. The team, led by John Chaput, has successfully synthesized self-assembled nanostructures composed entirely of GNA.
Researchers at Arizona State University are exploring the potential of electric-acoustic stimulation (EAS) technology to improve hearing in individuals with profound hearing impairment. By combining electric and acoustic stimulation, EAS has been shown to provide significant benefits, including improved performance in noisy environments.
An international team of scientists has discovered a crucial clue to the delay of animal life on Earth, suggesting that oxygen and molybdenum deficiencies in ancient oceans may have hindered complex life's evolution. The research, published in Nature, sheds light on the development of early life and its connection to ocean chemistry.
A team of researchers from Arizona State University has developed a biosensing nanodevice that can detect diseases at the single molecule level. The device uses a biological engine to emit a signal when it detects a target DNA, resulting in high sensitivity and portability.
Gro Amdam investigates biochemical factors influencing aging and longevity in honeybees, focusing on vitellogenin protein and social life history properties. Her work may reveal mechanisms governing lifespan in social species.
PTL will test concentrator PV systems and work with manufacturers to certify products, develop warranty information, and measure up against industry standards. The goal is to fill a need for reliability tests, subjecting modules to extreme conditions to simulate operational lifetimes.