Surface plasmon polaritons move as waves and follow conventional optics' rules, limiting their size. Researchers developed a comprehensive theory to control SPPs, providing a bridge between nanoscale electronics and photonics.
A new study by Brown University researchers found that one in 10 hospice patients are referred 'too late' for services, resulting in unmet needs. Families who reported having a loved one referred 'too late' were dissatisfied with the care received and reported more pain management problems.
Researchers at Brown University have developed a technique to synthesize iron-platinum nanorods and nanowires with controlled size, composition, and magnetic alignment. The method produces batches of similarly-sized nanowires or rods in solution, showing promise for high-density information storage and other applications.
A new study by Brown University economist Nathaniel Baum-Snow reveals that the American highway system played a significant role in causing population declines in central cities. The research, published in the Quarterly Journal of Economics, suggests that one new highway passing through a city reduces its population by about 18 percent.
A new study found that even slightly abnormal pre-operative red blood cell counts can increase the risk of death or cardiac events after major non-cardiac surgery. Researchers analyzed data from 310,311 veterans and found that maintaining a normal red blood cell count may be beneficial for elderly patients facing surgery.
Researchers at Brown University have successfully captured the motion of a single electron in liquid helium using sound waves. The images show electrons moving through the fluid in snakelike paths, which are believed to be following vortex lines - a phenomenon akin to a tornado in superfluids.
A study conducted in Cambodia found that directly observed therapy significantly boosted immunity and reduced drug toxicities in HIV-infected children. The method, which involves trained childcare workers administering medication twice daily, is an effective and economical way to ensure adherence.
Researchers found that cells cultured in three dimensions exhibit distinct gene expression patterns, growing faster and exhibiting more realistic shapes. The findings suggest that 3-D cell culture methods may be a better representation of the human body's complex cellular environments.
Biologists used simple equations to describe the motion of Listeria monocytogenes, reproducing all observed shapes with just two variables. The equations can help identify bacterial mutants and rule out mechanisms driving the motion.
A new integrated theory of kimberlite formation invokes a leading wedge of fluid carbon dioxide to explain the survival of diamonds during ascent. The theory suggests that the rapid expansion and cooling of magma near the surface creates an equilibrium pressure, driving the rock upward at speeds of up to 5000 km/h.
New research reveals morphine makes lasting changes in the brain by blocking a key mechanism for memory making, suggesting addiction is a disease of learning and memory. The findings may help explain how addictive drugs affect the brain and support a new theory of addiction.
Researchers at Brown University have discovered that hemifusion, a critical step in membrane fusion, allows vesicles to share membranes without releasing their contents. This stable state enables the rapid delivery of drugs to target cells by controlling the timing of fusion.
Biomedical engineers create implant materials with nanostructured surface textures that mimic the natural lining of blood vessels. The results show rapid colonization of endothelial cells, preventing overgrowth of smooth muscle cells and reducing restenosis.
New research led by Gregory Jay at Brown University shows that protein lubricin, not just hyaluronate, is crucial for protecting joints from wear and reducing arthritis risk. The study found that adding lubricin to supplements could restore elasticity in synovial fluid.
A major clinical trial shows that MRI scans can quickly identify cancer in the opposite breast of women diagnosed with cancer in one breast. The study found a 90% accuracy rate for detecting contralateral breast cancers.
Brown University researchers found that naturally occurring vitamin C reacts with chromium 6 to cause massive DNA damage, leading to cancer. The study suggests that even low doses of chromium 6 combined with vitamin C can produce significant genetic mutations.
Researchers discovered that cortical inhibitory cells suppress communication by receiving more stimulation from the thalamus and reacting strongly due to faster response time. This finding helps explain early stages of brain processing, memory, language, cognition, and sheds light on epilepsy causes.
Researchers recorded activity in two brain regions during deep sleep, finding a complex 'dialogue' between the hippocampus and neocortex. The findings suggest that the neocortex drives communication during sleep, contradicting previous theories of hippocampal control.
Researchers at Brown University have identified a critical pain pathway that explains why opioids are effective in blocking pain signals. By understanding how these channels work, drug companies can develop more effective painkillers.
A mathematical model created by researchers shows that South African migration played a major role in the spread of HIV, increasing high-risk sexual behavior among migrant men and their partners. Without migration, peak HIV prevalence would be less than 5 percent.
New research by Brown University Professor Ross Levine finds that powerful supervisory agencies actually lower bank lending integrity. Instead, strategies focusing on accurate information disclosure enhance efficiency and reduce corruption. The study suggests 90% of countries implementing Basel II regulations may face bad outcomes.
Researchers at Brown University have identified GABP as a critical transcription factor that restarts cell division, a process fundamental to development, renewal, and cancer growth. Disrupting GABP may lead to new cancer treatments.
The new CTX system will enable doctors and scientists to see inside living humans and animals, tracking 3-D skeletal movements with precision. This technology has applications for basic and applied research, including biomechanics, orthopedic surgeries, and injury treatments.
A Brown University study finds that a single protein plays a major role in the spread of deadly prion diseases by fragmenting clusters of infectious proteins. This process could be slowed or inhibited with a drug, potentially slowing progression of diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's as well.
Researchers have made the first measurements of bat wake fields, revealing a novel lift-generating mechanism. Bat wings are highly articulated and flexible, allowing for greater maneuverability than birds and insects. The findings could lead to the development of more efficient tiny flying machines.
Scientists at UCSD and Brown University have developed InvChecker, a software program that accurately detects microinversions in genomes. By comparing DNA sequences of multiple species, the tool reveals shared mutations, providing valuable insights into evolutionary relationships and biological mechanisms.
Researchers found that a single ligament in birds' shoulders stabilizes their wings during flight, making it a linchpin for modern bird flight. However, this ligament-based system evolved gradually over time, suggesting early birds may have flown differently.
Researchers found that state Medicaid reimbursement rates and bed-hold policies significantly impact nursing home residents' likelihood of hospitalization. States with higher payment rates and more permissive bed-hold policies tend to have higher hospitalization rates, while those with lower rates and stricter policies have lower rates.
New research by Brown University sociologists found a significant decline in female support for mothers of young children over the last 120 years. From nearly 50% in the late 19th century to just 20% in the late 20th century, fewer women were available to help with household work and childcare.
A recent study in Nature supports the traditional theory of mantle plumes as the source of volcanic islands. Researchers found a close correlation between modeled and observed ratios of uranium-series isotopes across eight island locations, allowing them to estimate changes in temperature, speed, and size of mantle plumes.
Researchers at Brown University have solved the structure of a DNA-protein complex that aids in site-specific recombination, a process that allows mobile DNA to cut into chromosomes. The discovery provides new insights into how this process shapes species over time and its role in spreading antibiotic resistance and certain diseases.
The ILTER network, with over 34 countries as members, will benefit from a joint management structure, ensuring sustainable support for environmental monitoring sites. Long-term data is crucial for understanding climate change, invasive species, and ecosystem health.
New research by Brown University biologists debunks the notion of separate genes controlling sexual behavior and physical body differences. Doublesex gene plays a crucial role in regulating both male and female courtship behaviors, acting together with fruitless to establish wing-shaking come-ons and flirtatious flights.
Researchers at Brown University and Columbia's Earth Institute recovered two lost ocean-bottom seismometers, providing unprecedented insights into the process of seafloor spreading. The data from the instruments reveals increasing seismic activity before a major episode of seafloor creation, offering a unique 'ear to earth's belly'.
Researchers challenge long-held theory of memory storage by discovering the neocortex drives dialogue between old and new brain regions during deep sleep. The study uses single-cell recordings to show synchronized communication, suggesting a reversal in traditional understanding of memory consolidation.
The sea urchin genome reveals 23,300 genes and a sophisticated innate immune system. Humans share genes associated with diseases like muscular dystrophy and Huntington's disease with these eyeless animals, which can sense light through their feet.
Researchers at Brown University have found evidence of recent volcanic gas release from the moon's surface, with features like the Ina structure dating back to two million years. The discovery suggests the moon is geologically active beyond its three billion-year history.
A team of researchers has developed a model that tests Pe-ter Richardson's long-held hypothesis about the formation of blood clots. The model, which uses high-speed computing, reproduces several odd features of thrombus growth observed in laboratory experiments and tissue pathologies.
Researchers at Brown University use a kitchen table physics experiment to study supersolid helium, finding evidence of its behavior in 3 out of 13 trials. The team suggests that a layer of superfluid helium only a single molecule thick forms at grain boundaries, creating a path for movement through the solid.
Researchers at Brown University have identified a peptide that can spur cargo transport in nerve cells, shedding light on the complex intracellular transport system inside nerve cells. The discovery could help scientists better understand nerve cell function and test possible therapies for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.
A recent study from Brown Medical School and Harvard Medical School found significant racial disparities in Medicare managed care plans, even among high-performing plans. Blacks were more likely to have poor control of cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels compared to whites.
Brown University will receive a major grant to boost the representation of women in academic science and engineering careers. The ADVANCE program aims to increase retention and career advancement, providing resources such as administrative shadowing and mentoring programs.
Physicists at Brown University used magnetic fields to manipulate gravity and study paramecium behavior in water. The study found that by altering the gravitational force, paramecia swam differently under high gravity, zero gravity, or even reverse gravity conditions.
A team of archaeologists has uncovered a previously unknown system of writing on a stone block in Veracruz, Mexico, believed to be the earliest in the New World. The Cascajal block dates back to around 900 BCE and features a distinct script with poetic couplets, challenging existing knowledge of Mesoamerican civilization.
Researchers have developed a hybrid battery that combines the power of a capacitor with the storage capacity of a traditional battery. The device, made from plastic and polypyrrole, has twice the storage capacity of an electric double-layer capacitor and delivers over 100 times more power than a standard alkaline battery.
Researchers at Brown University have developed a method to create plastic replicas of real cells, which can support cell growth and potentially be used in laboratories and hospitals. The replicas could help scientists understand nerve growth and repair damaged tissue, and may eventually be used to regenerate nerves in patients.
A recent study confirms that asteroids can be the source of Earth's meteorites due to space weathering. The process of high-energy ion bombardment and particle vaporization changes an asteroid's optical properties, making them similar to common meteorite samples.
A new study found that state health department websites are often written at a level too difficult for the average American, with only 20% of sites at an eighth-grade reading level in 2005. Many websites also lack accessibility features for people with disabilities and non-English speakers, making it hard for them to access essential i...
Newborns exposed to methamphetamine in utero are 3.5 times more likely to be born underweight compared to those not exposed, with a risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome later in life.
New research reveals that the immune system's 'thermostat' operates in harmony, with pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory compounds working together to regulate inflammation. Interleukin 10 production is triggered by Interferon-γ and an antigen-presenting cell, highlighting a dynamic and coordinated response.