A recent study suggests that the ancient Maya's agricultural strategies may have been more effective than previously believed. The research, which analyzed airborne lidar data, found that Maya settlements in Mexico and Guatemala were able to maintain a stable food supply despite environmental challenges.
Researchers found that levels of chitinase 3-like-1 increase with age and co-morbid diseases, augmenting SARS-CoV-2 infection. A therapeutic antibody blocks the induction of the ACE2 receptor, potentially paving the way for COVID-19 prevention and treatment.
A study published in Geology suggests that ancient glassy rocks in the Atacama Desert, Chile, were created by a cometary fireball explosion around 12,000 years ago. The glasses contain minerals with signatures similar to those found in comet samples, providing evidence of an extraterrestrial origin.
Researchers have shown a new way to probe the properties of anyons, strange quasiparticles that could be useful in future quantum computers. By measuring subtle properties of heat conductance, they can detect anyons even in non-conducting materials.
Researchers develop solid-state battery material derived from trees, offering improved ion conductivity and potential solutions to safety concerns. The new material could enable the mass market adoption of solid-state battery technology.
A new study found that the COVID-19 pandemic led to a 30% decline in patients seeking treatment for kidney failure, with Black patients experiencing significantly worse kidney function. The decline was attributed to changes in healthcare delivery and may reflect delays in treatment due to fear of infection or logistical barriers.
A recent discovery at Tikal reveals a previously unknown neighborhood designed to replicate Teotihuacan's citadel, sparking new insights into the interaction between the two civilizations. Excavations found evidence of occupation and surveillance, as well as artifacts linking Tikal to Teotihuacan's imperial power.
Researchers analyzed two years of health data to identify trends and patterns in overdose deaths during the pandemic. Men, jobless individuals, and those with mental health diagnoses experienced the largest increases in overdose death rates, with synthetic opioids and personal residence being significant factors.
Researchers will examine protective immunity in older adults and assess the duration of immunity against emerging strains of COVID-19. The study aims to inform booster vaccine recommendations for seniors.
A team of researchers has developed a new concept for a future brain-computer interface system that employs independent, wireless microscale neural sensors to record and stimulate brain activity. The system, dubbed 'neurograins,' successfully recorded neural signals from a rodent's cerebral cortex, demonstrating its potential to provid...
Researchers at Brown University introduce 'dignity neuroscience,' arguing that universal rights are rooted in human brain science. The concept posits five core elements - agency, autonomy, and self-determination; freedom from want and fear; uniqueness; and unconditionality - which reflect fundamental features of the human brain.
A new study by Brown University found that the Trump administration's 'Muslim ban' led to an increase in emergency department visits and missed primary care appointments among residents from targeted nations. The study suggests that elevated cumulative stress due to a hostile climate toward Muslims may have contributed to these changes.
Researchers from Brown University and MIT developed Tuplex, a new data science framework that compiles custom logic written in Python, reducing wait times to seconds. The platform also handles anomalous data by extracting and setting it aside, allowing users to repair anomalies after the program completes.
A new study found that political partisanship was the strongest predictor of whether someone would wear a mask or practice social distancing. Those who identified as liberal or moderate were more likely to wear masks and socially distanced, even when they believed their risk was minimal.
Researchers at Brown University developed a new modeling approach that captures the impact of behavioral components on infectious disease transmission. The model accurately reproduces case rates throughout the pandemic in the US and individual states, providing valuable insights for forecasting future trends and scenarios.
A new study suggests that rising CO2 levels and warming temperatures will lead to stronger monsoon seasons in the Indian subcontinent. The research, published in Science Advances, analyzed sediment core samples from the Bay of Bengal and found a correlation between CO2 levels and intense monsoon rainfall over the past 900,000 years.
Researchers at Brown University have developed an algorithm that can remove electrical artifacts from brain signals, enabling simultaneous recording and stimulation in deep brain stimulation devices. This breakthrough could lead to more effective DBS therapy with fewer side effects.
A study by Brown University found that school boards can increase civic engagement and public trust by incorporating two-way conversations with citizens. This approach, particularly among people of color and low-income households, can lead to increased attendance at meetings and a more inclusive representation of constituents.
Researchers developed a machine learning technique that measures topological traits of cell clusters, accurately categorizing them and inferring cellular behavior. The algorithm uses persistent homology to examine microscope images and identifies persistent topological objects that can be used to classify cells.
A recent study found that mindfulness-based meditation programs have similar rates of adverse effects to other psychological treatments, and identified key obstacles to harms monitoring. The study provides a blueprint for accurately assessing the risks of these programs and maximizing their efficacy while minimizing harm.
A recent study at Brown University found that intolerance to uncertainty exacerbates polarization in both liberals and conservatives. The researchers measured brain activity while participants watched real political debates and news broadcasts, finding that neural responses diverged between individuals with different ideological beliefs.
Researchers have successfully used a brain-computer interface to record brain signals associated with handwriting and create text on a computer in real time. The system allows individuals with severe speech or motor impairments to communicate rapidly and accurately, with a trial participant typing at a rate of 90 characters per minute.
A team from Brown University has made a significant breakthrough in improving the long-term reliability of perovskite solar cells by creating a molecular glue that strengthens key interfaces. The treatment increases cells' stability, reliability, and efficiency, setting the stage for widespread adoption of clean energy technology.
A new study published in Astrobiology finds that Martian meteorites contain the necessary ingredients to support microbial life, including water and radioactive elements. The researchers believe that wherever there's groundwater on Mars, there's a good chance of finding habitable environments for subsurface microbial life.
Researchers at Brown University have successfully demonstrated the use of an intracortical wireless BCI system in clinical trial participants with tetraplegia. The system enables users to point, click and type on a tablet computer with high accuracy and fidelity, opening up new possibilities for people with paralysis.
Researchers from Brown University have discovered a previously unknown type of ancient crater lake on Mars that differs from other Martian crater lakes. The crater was likely fed by runoff from a long-lost Martian glacier, which suggests the planet's early climate may have been warmer and wetter than previously thought.
A new study published in Health Affairs found that COVID-19 mortality rates among nursing home residents declined from March to November 2020. The deadliest period for nursing home residents followed the pandemic's arrival when the virus spiked in spring 2020, and improved PPE use and testing contributed to the decline.
A research team led by Brown University physicists has found that reducing the repulsive force between electrons in magic-angle graphene makes its superconducting state more robust. This discovery provides important insights into the system's behavior and is a significant step towards understanding unconventional superconductivity.
A team of Brown University computer scientists has devised a way to implement a national gun registry that protects privacy and allows counties to control their data. The proposed system uses advanced encryption and decentralized data control, allowing authorized users to search the database without decrypting it.
A new study reveals that humans are responsible for a majority of the seasonal surface water storage variability on Earth, accounting for 57% of total changes. Human-managed reservoirs have a significant impact, especially in arid regions where human control surges to 90% and above.
Volcanic rock samples collected during NASA's Apollo missions hold clues to the Moon's iron core formation and magma ocean crystallization, a new analysis found. The study used SIMS technique to analyze sulfur isotope composition in Apollo 15 and 17 samples.
A study analyzing over 133 million tweets found that people of different races don't just live in separate neighborhoods, but also eat, shop, socialize, and travel in different areas. Cities with higher levels of segregated movement tend to have larger Black populations and troubled racial legacies.
A new study provides insights into the treatment of Christianson syndrome, a genetic brain disease characterized by reduced brain growth and intellectual disability. Researchers successfully tested two main forms of treatment on stem-cell-derived neurons, finding that gene transfer was effective in neurons with nonsense mutations, whil...
A study found that reimbursing hospitals for postpartum contraception increased the use of long-acting reversible methods among adolescents and young adults. The policy change in South Carolina led to a significant increase in the use of immediate postpartum LARCs, with rates nearly quadrupling in two and a half years.
Researchers use innovative 3D imaging technology to analyze joint mobility in living animals and apply patterns to reconstruct extinct dinosaurs' walking and running cycles. The study provides new perspectives on understanding animal biomechanics and its applications in evolutionary transitions.
A new technique developed by Brown University researchers reveals the forces involved at the cellular level during biological tissue formation and growth processes. The technique makes use of cell-sized spheres made from a highly compliant polymer material, which can be placed in laboratory cultures of tissue-forming cells.
A study found that lesbian, gay, and bisexual medical students experience higher rates of burnout compared to their heterosexual peers. LGB students reported frequent perceived mistreatment, leading to increased emotional strain and a higher likelihood of burnout.
Researchers used computer models to recreate the impact that carved out Mead crater, finding that Venus's lithosphere must have been quite thick for the crater's ring structures to be where they are. This suggests that plate tectonics was not happening on Venus at the time of the impact.
Researchers at Brown University have developed a method to create solid metal structures by smashing individual metal nanoclusters together. The technique, which involves chemical treatment and pressure, produces metals with uniform grain sizes that can be precisely tuned for enhanced properties.
Researchers at Brown University have created a new type of graphene nanochannel water filter that can efficiently remove contaminants from liquids. The VAGME membrane technology, developed by Robert Hurt and Muchun Liu, features narrow channels that allow small molecules to pass through while blocking larger ones.
Researchers found that asteroid Ryugu's water content is lower than expected, suggesting its parent body dried out before formation. The study suggests that a heating event altered the parent asteroid, leaving Ryugu drier.
Researchers have developed a new method using tetra-unsaturated alkenone (C37:4) molecules to reconstruct sea ice abundance and distribution from the ancient past. This discovery could aid in understanding human-induced climate change by providing a reliable proxy for sea ice concentration through time.
Researchers analyzed Medicaid databases to identify predictors of timely enrollment in treatment for opioid use disorder among Medicaid recipients. Prior overdose, alcohol use disorder, and back problems were associated with non-enrollment, while frequent emergency room visits or primary care provider visits were linked to timely enrol...
Research finds that infant health inequality has increased in the US since 2010, with disparities growing between mothers' educational attainment and socioeconomic status. This trend is concerning as it may lead to long-term health complications and affect mental, physical, and economic well-being.
Research suggests that opening windows can reduce airborne particle exchange between a driver and passenger, lowering the risk of COVID-19 transmission. The best scenario is having all four windows open, but even one or two open windows are better than having them all closed.
Researchers at Brown University are tracking COVID-19 vaccine adverse events among nursing home residents due to the group's high risk of severe illness. The study uses electronic medical records and aims to identify potential side effects, which may be critical for protecting this vulnerable population.
A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that pod e-cigarettes are significantly safer than combustible cigarettes, with reduced levels of carcinogens and respiratory symptoms. The study suggests that e-cigarettes may be a viable harm-reduction option for smokers who struggle to quit or reduce their smoking habit.
Brown professor Rose McDermott and Penn State University's Peter K. Hatemi argue that the use of computers, social media, and other digital tools in field experiments can cause harm to individuals and societies. They call for updated ethical standards to address potential risks in large-scale experiments.
Researchers at Brown University developed a new remote sensing method for studying olivine, a key mineral in planetary bodies. The technique can predict magnesium and iron content with high accuracy, offering insights into the early evolution of the Moon and Mars.
A new study by Brown University scientists has identified vimentin as a potential target for treating aggressive cancer cells known as polyploidal giant cancer cells (PGCCs). PGCCs have been found to rely on vimentin to migrate and invade surrounding tissues.