A new study found that police drug seizures are associated with increased fatal overdoses in the surrounding geographic area, suggesting that efforts to disrupt drug markets can have unintended effects. The research highlights the need for comprehensive policing strategies that consider all outcomes, including harm reduction approaches.
A federally funded study found a link between prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and slightly higher body mass indices in children. The study, led by Brown University researchers, analyzed data from 1,391 children and their mothers over two decades.
Researchers at Brown University have developed a new imaging technique to track changes in blood vessels in the brains of mice, which could lead to early detection of neurodegenerative diseases. The method uses advanced imaging techniques and AI algorithms to identify biomarkers that may predict disease onset.
A study led by Brown University researchers found that qigong practice significantly improved cancer-related fatigue in participants. The program was as effective as a more standard exercise program in reducing fatigue levels.
A team of scientists has found a way to directly manipulate the spin of electrons in 2D materials like graphene, a long-standing challenge. They used a novel experimental technique to study the properties of how electrons spin in these materials.
A new study by Brown researchers found that 33.8% of patients with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening had significant incidental findings, many of which were clinically important. The study suggests that standardizing reporting of these findings could improve patient care and reduce unnecessary medical interventions.
Researchers from Brown University and the University of Toulouse found that surfactants make Champagne bubble chains stable. The experiments showed that larger bubbles and surfactants help reduce tensions between liquid and gas, creating a smooth rise. This discovery has implications for understanding bubbly flows in fluid mechanics.
Researchers at Brown University developed a new microscopy technique using blue light to measure electrons in semiconductors and other nanoscale materials. This breakthrough enables the study of critical components that can help power devices like mobile phones and laptops.
A study published in Nature Water shows that boil water alerts significantly disrupt student learning, with unexcused absence rates increasing between 1% and 10%. Chronic exposure to contaminated water can have long-term impacts on a child's life.
A Brown-led research team found that four dementia-care interventions saved between $2,800 and $13,000 in societal costs and reduced nursing home admissions while improving quality of life. Non-drug interventions have been shown to be effective in clinical trials and can help people with dementia stay safely at home longer.
Researchers developed a new method to monitor methane releases in deep-sea sediments, showing that small-scale dissociation events are occurring more often than previously detected. Fossils of benthic foraminifera from the order Miliolida have been found to record these smaller-scale events.
Archaeologists have discovered the earliest example of angular notched trephination, a type of cranial surgery, in the Ancient Near East. The discovery, made at Megiddo, Israel, suggests that one brother may have had leprosy, making them potentially among the earliest documented examples of the disease.
A new analysis reveals that convalescent plasma can be used to prevent hospitalizations and save lives in COVID-19 patients. Early treatment with high doses of antibodies significantly reduced hospitalization rates by up to 50%. The study provides a roadmap for using convalescent plasma as an effective therapy for future pandemics.
A team of Brown researchers has developed a new, highly accurate method for detecting antidepressants in patients using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The technique requires minimal biological samples and can be fully automated using liquid-handling robots.
Scientists have detailed the atomic structure of superconducting RbV3Sb5 at 103 degrees Kelvin, revealing a unique lattice pattern and charge-density wave. This breakthrough provides a new understanding of exotic states of matter and brings researchers closer to developing higher-temperature superconductors.
A study by Brown University researchers found that night shift nursing home staff had significantly lower rates of COVID-19 testing and primary vaccination compared to day shift staff. The study highlights the importance of considering work shifts in designing workplace health interventions.
A recent study published in Science Advances found that individuals with similar ideologies have more similar neural fingerprints of political words and process new information in a polarized way. The researchers used a range of methods, including fMRI and representation similarity analysis, to explore how the brains of people who iden...
A new study by Brown researchers reveals that changes in tectonic plate thickness impact the location of the Denali Fault, a major strike-slip fault. The findings provide key insights into how geological faults behave as they deepen, shedding light on earthquake hazards.
A study shows that pharmacies can offer a safe starting point for patients with opioid use disorder, leading to higher rates of retention in treatment. The pharmacy-based model increases access to buprenorphine, a lifesaving medication, for diverse patient populations and promotes racial and economic equity.
A new study by Brown and NYU researchers found that expanding Medicaid led to improved postpartum health for low-income birthing people. The study showed a 17% reduction in hospitalizations during the first 60 days postpartum, primarily due to decreased childbirth-related hospitalizations.
A study by Brown researchers reveals how climate change can impact the Indian Ocean dipole, leading to extreme weather events like megadroughts in East Africa and flooding in Indonesia. The analysis compares long-term climate data with simulations from an advanced climate model.
A study by Brown University and Silent Spring Institute found that inexpensive DIY air filters called Corsi-Rosenthal boxes can significantly decrease indoor air concentrations of PFAS and phthalates. The boxes, made from MERV-13 filters, duct tape, a fan, and cardboard, reduced PFAS levels by 40% to 60% and phthalates by 30% to 60%.
A study by Brown University researchers found that young men in US zip codes with high firearm violence faced significantly higher risks of firearm-related deaths and injuries compared to military personnel serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. The risk was particularly borne by minority racial and ethnic groups.
Researchers from Brown and MIT developed a new framework that uses machine learning and sequential sampling to predict rare disasters like earthquakes and pandemics with less data. The framework, called DeepOnet, has been shown to outperform traditional modeling efforts in predicting scenarios, probabilities and timelines of rare events.
A new study found that postpartum visit attendance declined by 5.8% during the pandemic, with uninsured women, Black women, and women under 19 facing the largest decreases. The study highlights the need to address health policy and system challenges to reduce ongoing disparities in postpartum care.
Researchers demonstrate a new way to deliver medication to malignant brain tumors in mice, using a modified peptide that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier. The study shows promising results, with a 50% increase in survival rate for treated mice, and offers hope for future treatment breakthroughs.
Children's brains exhibit rapid GABA boosts during learning sessions, allowing for efficient consolidation of new information. Adults' brains, on the other hand, struggle to stabilize learned knowledge due to reduced GABA levels, leading to slower learning rates.
A meta-analysis of over 600,000 patients found that psychological distress assessed with brief questionnaires was associated with nearly a 30% greater risk of cardiovascular disease. The screening process can be easy and efficient for healthcare providers without significant psychology training.
Researchers analyzed 200 overdose events in Rhode Island city, finding police were last to arrive at scene in most incidents. Arrests were extremely rare, with only 1% of cases involving law enforcement presence due to safety concerns.
A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that extreme temperatures in Texas prisons without climate controls lead to a 30-fold increase in heat-related mortality compared to the general US population. The researchers analyzed data from 2001-2019, finding that even small temperature increases elevate daily risk of death.
A new review article by Brown University biologist Dov Sax and colleagues aims to shift the focus from non-native species' negative consequences to their benefits. The authors argue that most research focuses on threats and harm, clouding public understanding and hindering scientific progress.
Researchers have demonstrated a prominent superconducting diode effect in a single two-dimensional superconductor using graphene. This breakthrough has significant implications for the study of complex physical behavior in twisted tri-layer graphene and could form the basis for ultra-efficient lossless quantum electronic devices.
A new study published in Current Biology reveals that fruit flies' brains encode sweet and bitter tastes differently than expected, with some overlap in neural activity. This finding has implications for understanding the importance of taste in survival and potentially shedding light on human pleasure.
A study found that COVID-19 vaccination rates are driven more by perceptions of others' intentions than public health messaging. Family and friends have a stronger influence on vaccination decisions, while public health efforts targeting broader groups may be less effective.
Researchers at Brown University have developed a new method to isolate single cells from complex tissues using electric fields. This approach results in high-quality, intact single cells that are superior to standard isolation methods in terms of labor, cost, and efficiency.
Scientists at Brown University used functional MRI to reveal a brain pathway that processes light-intensity signals, which can modulate the prefrontal cortex and affect mood. The study found that light suppresses activity in the prefrontal cortex in proportion to its intensity.
Climate change is causing rapid warming in the Arctic Ocean, which may lead to shorter, more eco-friendly maritime trade routes. This could reduce the shipping industry's carbon footprint and weaken Russia's control over trade routes through the Arctic. New trade routes could also increase global shipping infrastructure resilience.
A new study by Brown University found that postpartum insurance loss decreased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consistent Medicaid coverage among postpartum participants increased during the pandemic, suggesting that the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was a primary factor in reducing postpartum Medicaid loss.
Researchers propose that a colossal ancient impact near the Moon's south pole created a heat plume that concentrated rare-Earth elements on the nearside, contributing to the formation of volcanic plains. This explanation sheds light on the Moon's most enduring mystery.
A new study from Brown University's Policy Lab found that text-message vaccination campaigns work better when sent early, as all state residents ages 16 and up had been eligible for a shot four weeks before the campaign. Despite this, the messages' ineffectiveness was due to poor timing rather than the content.
Researchers at Brown University propose a new model that explains crowd behavior by considering the individual's visual perception. The model accurately predicts actual crowd flow, showing how visible crowd members influence an individual's movement and path.
Closing syringe services programs would lead to an average increase of 63.5 HIV infections over a five-year period, with permanent closure resulting in a 161% increase among people who inject drugs. A short-term service disruption may cause a spike in HIV incidence.
New research suggests that asteroid 16 Psyche is likely harboring a hidden rocky component, contradicting initial assumptions about its iron-rich composition. The study's findings indicate that the asteroid's porosity would be unlikely to remain stable over time, and alternative explanations for its metallic surface must be explored.
A team of Brown University physicists has developed a technique to harness the behavior of skyrmions to generate millions of true random digits per second. By measuring the fluctuation in skyrmion size, they can produce pseudorandom numbers that are useful for applications such as data security.
Researchers at Brown University have developed a new laboratory test model to investigate fibrosis treatments without the use of animals. The model uses human cells and replicates not only the structure of human tissue but also its mechanics, enabling scientists to study the underlying mechanisms of fibrosis and test potential treatments.
Researchers at Brown University propose a new explanation for the Moon's lack of a strong magnetic field, suggesting that sinking rock formations could have intermittently generated strong magnetic fields. This process could have occurred over the first billion years of the Moon's history, producing intermittent strong magnetic fields.
Researchers at Brown University have discovered a new type of strange metal behavior in bosonic Cooper pair materials, challenging traditional electrical rules. This discovery may help explain high-temperature superconductivity and its potential applications.
Researchers at Brown University discovered that magic-angle graphene becomes a powerful ferromagnet when spin-orbit coupling is introduced. This finding opens up new possibilities for quantum science research and potential applications in computer memory and quantum computing.
A team of researchers has recorded electrical signals in the human brain associated with ebbs and flows in OCD symptoms over an extended period. The study could lead to an emerging therapy called deep brain stimulation that adjusts to everyday changes in OCD symptoms, potentially providing more relief and fewer side effects for patients.
Researchers found that major COVID-19 models were wrong and not very useful in predicting the pandemic course. They used physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) to capture changing parameters and make predictions with improved accuracy.