Researchers at Boston University are developing a groundbreaking method for securing sensitive data in the face of emerging quantum computing threats. Their approach, called Encrypted Operator Computing (EOC), merges physics, computer science, and mathematics to enable scalable methods for computing directly on encrypted data.
A new study from Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability finds that over 60% of energy infrastructure projects worldwide run over budget and take longer than expected to complete. Nuclear power plants are the worst offenders, with an average construction cost overrun of 102.5%. In contrast, solar energy and wind farms hav...
A new generative AI technique allows for the design of RNA molecules with improved functions, opening up potential for novel therapeutics and diagnostics. The SANDSTORM and GARDN systems enable the prediction and generation of RNA sequences tailored for specific tasks in cells or diagnostic assays.
A new brain-inspired algorithm developed at BU can help hearing aids tune out interference and isolate single talkers in a crowd of voices. In testing, researchers found it could improve word recognition accuracy by 40 percentage points relative to current hearing aid algorithms.
A recent study by Boston University researchers has discovered that exposure to microplastics enhances the antimicrobial resistance of bacteria, making them more resistant to antibiotics. This finding is particularly concerning for refugees and underfunded health systems, where access to healthcare is already limited.
A study by Boston University researchers explores two tools to fight climate misperceptions caused by native advertising from big oil companies. Disclosures and inoculations were found to help readers recognize advertising and reduce susceptibility to misleading claims.
Researchers developed a new approach to engineer tissue structures across multiple scales, from small cells to large organs. They used gallium as a molding material, allowing them to create complex vascular and interwoven networks that mimic natural biological systems.
Researchers Casey Taft and Dawne Vogt are developing trauma-informed programs to help veterans struggling with PTSD, intimate partner violence, and aggression. Their work aims to improve the mental health of veterans returning from service, providing a supportive and evidence-based approach.
Aging brains struggle to clear out outdated information, leading to slower processing and more frequent forgetfulness. Beta-band neural oscillations play a crucial role in regulating working memory, with older adults showing a stronger link between these oscillations and their ability to delete irrelevant information.
A new study by Boston University researchers found that the majority of social media posts from e-cigarette brands left out health warnings, despite a federal requirement to include them. The study used AI to analyze over 2,000 Instagram posts and discovered that only 13% complied with FDA health warning requirements.
Researchers at Boston University discovered a new method to harness self-amplifying RNA to create more effective vaccines. The modified saRNA vaccine protected mice from severe COVID-19 disease with a lower dose than current mRNA vaccines. Longer duration of protein expression and reduced inflammation were also observed.
A new study by Boston University and NREL examines the role of housing- and income-related factors in electric vehicle adoption. The research highlights the need for equitable access to charging infrastructure, with a focus on expanding purchasing and charging options for low-income households.
Researchers at Boston University created an AI tool that can determine the cause of dementia using commonly collected patient data, boosting doctor accuracy by 26%. The algorithm identifies 10 types of dementia, including vascular and frontotemporal dementia, to help doctors manage patients more effectively.
Researchers at Boston University have developed low-cost, high-impact metamaterials solutions to improve MRI technology, enabling clearer imaging in low-resource areas. Wearable and deployable devices can be tailored to specific body parts, boosting signal-to-noise ratio and reducing scanning time.
Researchers at Boston University discovered that deep-sea rocks, called polymetallic nodules, produce oxygen through a process known as seawater electrolysis. This phenomenon creates 'dark oxygen' without sunlight, contradicting the long-held assumption that oxygen is only produced by plants and organisms with photosynthetic capabilities.
Researchers at Boston University developed an AI model that analyzes speech patterns to predict the likelihood of Alzheimer's disease in patients with mild cognitive impairment. The model achieved an accuracy rate of 78.5% and could potentially revolutionize dementia screening, making it more accessible and efficient.
Researchers developed metamaterials-enhanced MRI technology using coaxial cables to boost signal-to-noise ratio. The innovative coils address patient discomfort and cost by providing adaptable, form-fitting designs for various anatomical sites.
Astrophysicists calculate that two million years ago, the solar system encountered a cold, harsh interstellar cloud, which may have interfered with the sun's solar wind and affected Earth's climate. The heliosphere, a protective plasma shield, was compressed in such a way that it briefly placed Earth outside its influence.
Researchers evaluate the social narratives, technology, and co-impacts of coral reef preservation, seagrass restoration, and seaweed cultivation in the fight against climate change. These blue carbon solutions have the potential to reduce emissions and advance conservation policy.
A US Army research collaboration with Boston University's KABlab used an AI machine learning robot to create a record-breaking energy-absorbing shape, breaking the known record of 71% efficiency. The shape has four points, like thin flower petals, and is taller and narrower than early designs.
A new study published in npj Mental Health Research reveals three distinct language comprehension mechanisms in autistic children, challenging the common linear trajectory of language development. The findings support the idea that intensive language therapy should start earlier and highlight the importance of improving language compre...
A new study by Carey Morewedge and colleagues found that people are more likely to recognize bias in algorithmic decisions than their own. This is because algorithms can codify and amplify human bias, but also reveal structural biases in society. The research suggests ways to increase awareness of biases and correct them.
A Boston University study of over 2,000 cisgender women found that COVID-19 can impair sexual function, with long COVID having a detrimental effect on arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and pain scores. Women with long COVID had markedly worse sexual well-being, highlighting the need for healthcare providers to address this taboo topic.
Researchers connected cognitive and behavioral symptoms to protein buildup in the brain marking the disease. The study showed a clear relationship between CTE pathology and severity of cognitive and functional symptoms during life.
Researchers at Boston University's Center for Neurorehabilitation have made two important advances that may help people with Parkinson's disease walk more smoothly. Wearable soft robotic apparel and a music-based technology were tested in studies, showing promising results in increasing walking duration and distance.
Researchers examine the dynamic nature of fear responses in varied environments, shedding light on physical manifestation of memory in the brain. The study reveals that fear memories are linked to pathological states like PTSD and generalized anxiety, with direct translational relevance for disorders involving dysregulated fear responses.
Researchers create new methods to visualize and understand samples with increased accuracy and sensitivity. The development of photothermal microscopy, also known as VIP microscopy, enables scientists to probe specific chemical bonds in a specimen, allowing them to map molecules at low concentrations without dye labeling.
A new study compiled over 600,000 records from US and Canadian wildlife rehabilitation centers to investigate the threats facing more than a thousand species by region, highlighting human activities such as climate change and extreme weather events
Researchers created a tiny 3D cell culture model that mimics the function of lymphatic vessels to explore how inflammatory substances affect the lymphatic system. They found that certain cytokines cause cells to tighten their junctions, leading to reduced fluid drainage and swelling. Inhibiting a protein called ROCK2 reversed lymphedem...
A Boston University-led study identified genetic signatures of TB-susceptible and TB-resistant macrophages, leading to a new approach to tweak the immune system to fight the disease. The research could lead to therapies targeting host immunity to tuberculosis.
The 'Crystal Ribcage' technology enables scientists to study lung function at a cellular level while maintaining physiological processes. This innovation holds immense potential for understanding lung diseases and developing new treatments.
Molecular biologists Ruslan Afasizhev and Inna Afasizheva have discovered the architecture of molecular machines involved in RNA editing in a disease-causing parasite. This understanding could potentially help treat African sleeping sickness, which is usually fatal and has limited treatment options.
A new study found that rural areas experienced higher excess deaths during the second year of the pandemic, despite vaccines being widely available in urban areas. The study highlights the role of healthcare inequities, vaccine skepticism, and partisanship in exacerbating mortality rates in rural communities.
A new Boston University study found that COVID vaccines likely do not affect menstrual cycle regularity, bleed length, or pain. Menstrual cycles increased by 1.1 days after a first dose and 1.3 days after a second, but these changes resolved within one to two cycles.
A new study examining brain tissue from 631 former football players found that the cumulative force of hits, not just the number of concussions, was the strongest predictor of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The study suggests that reducing the force and frequency of head impacts could help prevent CTE in athletes.
Researchers have identified a brain marker that may indicate future suicide risk, suggesting potential new treatments and prevention strategies. The study found differences in brain connections among veterans with a history of suicide attempts compared to those without, which could help identify individuals at risk.
A Boston University-led study discovered that self-essentialist reasoning plays a crucial role in attraction. When individuals assume others share an underlying essence, they're more likely to form connections with them. However, this flawed thinking can restrict who we find attractive, as it's based on superficial similarities.
Researchers have developed a multidisciplinary approach using a new microscope, artificial intelligence algorithm, and voltage indicators to better measure brain activity. The technique enables the imaging of up to 100 neurons at a time, far surpassing previous limits.
A new Boston University study suggests that repetitive blows to the head in tackle football may lead to less white matter in the brain, potentially causing impulsive behavior and other cognitive issues. Researchers found players who start playing at a young age or play for over 11 years are at greater risk.
A recent study led by Boston University researchers found that payments designed to motivate eco-friendly behavior often don't reconcile the tension between agricultural production and the planet's health. However, including more women in decision-making boosted cooperation between farmers on environmental issues and increased output.
A Boston University-led study found that Black women who reported experiencing interpersonal racism in employment, housing, and police interactions had a 26% higher risk of coronary heart disease. Racism has a real impact on the heart health of Black women, increasing blood pressure and inflammation.
Researchers at Boston University have found a way to manipulate emotional memories using optogenetics, allowing them to rewrite and reduce the potency of negative memories. The study reveals that positive and negative memories are stored in distinct regions of the brain and communicate through different pathways.
A new study from Boston University's Social Development and Learning Lab reveals that children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds take bigger risks in certain situations due to their environment. The research, led by Professor Peter Blake, suggests that children are rationally choosing risk when it makes sense in their circumstances.
Researchers have developed a new safety system for CAR-T cells, called VIPER CAR-T cells, that can be turned on or off. This allows doctors to target cancer more aggressively while minimizing side effects. The new system uses an FDA-approved antiviral drug to control the cell's activity.
A recent study published in Nature Neuroscience found that a 20-minute non-invasive treatment regimen can improve both short-term and long-term memory in individuals 65 years and older. The treatment involves electrical brain stimulation delivered through scalp electrodes, and its effects were observed to last at least one month.
Researchers discovered that mosquitoes process odors in a bizarre way, using multiple sensory receptors housed within one neuron. This uniquely specialized system may explain why mosquitoes are so good at sniffing out humans, even when carbon dioxide cues are eliminated.
Researchers at Boston University developed an AI-powered computational model that can detect cognitive impairment from audio recordings of neuropsychological tests. The model was trained on over 1,000 individuals and accurately distinguished between healthy individuals and those with dementia.
A new report highlights the nation's race and ethnicity data shortcomings, recommending federal leadership on standardizing demographic data collection and reporting across critical issue areas. The report aims to help policymakers craft solutions that take into account where resources should be concentrated to address racial disparities.
A new study by Boston University School of Public Health reveals that transgender and gender-diverse college students are at a higher risk of developing an eating disorder. The study highlights the importance of colleges and universities in recognizing and addressing this issue, particularly among students with intersecting identities.
The partnership aims to accelerate projects targeting the most dangerous bacteria. Since its founding, CARB-X has awarded $361 million to 92 projects from 12 countries.