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Brown University


Climate, not CO2, may drive make-up of plant communities

A new study suggests that climate change, particularly drought, plays a key role in shaping plant communities. The research found that grasslands thrive in dry conditions, while trees and shrubs prefer wetter environments. This challenges the long-held assumption that CO2 levels are the primary driver of vegetation changes.

SourceBrown University·JournalScience·DateAug 30, 2001

Study describes brain changes during learning

A new study by Brown University researchers provides evidence that learning uses LTP to produce changes in the connections between brain cells, necessary for acquiring and storing new information. The study also validates a theory proposing that synapses are constantly modifying and closely related to LTP.

SourceBrown University·JournalScience·DateOct 18, 2000

Brown physicist proposes that electron may be split

Electrons may undergo fission in liquid helium at temperatures near absolute zero, violating the long-held notion that elementary particles cannot be broken into two pieces. Experimental evidence supports this theory, which suggests that light can cause an electron's bubble to divide into smaller bubbles.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of Low Temperature Physics·DateAug 15, 2000

Scientists record movement of herpes simplex virus in nerve cell

Researchers at Brown University and the Marine Biological Laboratory have observed herpes simplex virus traveling from nerve endings to nerve cell bodies within living nerve cells. The discovery of a single transport mechanism could lead to better treatment options for potentially lethal viral infections.

SourceBrown University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 2, 2000

Study finds host of sleep-related problems among school-age kids

A study found that 37% of kindergarten to fourth-grade children experience sleep-related problems, including bedtime resistance and daytime sleepiness. Pediatricians are not adequately screening school-age patients, and the results underscore the importance of understanding the consequences of disordered sleep on children's daily lives.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics·DateFeb 10, 2000