A study by Brown University researchers reveals that firefighting foams contain a complex mixture of PFAS compounds that behave differently than individual substances. The findings suggest that these foams have a greater affinity for the air-water interface, which can help predict pollution spread and inform cleanup efforts.
Researchers found that tuned LED lighting reduced nighttime sleep disturbances by half in a California nursing home. The study suggests that this innovative lighting solution can improve the sleep of even a few residents, having a positive effect on roommates and those nearby.
A new study by Brown University researcher Dr. David Dosa found that the actual death toll among Florida nursing home residents after Hurricane Irma was more than double the CDC's reported number, with 262 additional deaths in 30 days and 433 more deaths at 90 days
A Brown University team has created a copper catalyst that can produce C2-plus compounds from CO2 with remarkable efficiency, surpassing other reported efficiencies. The catalyst's high selectivity is attributed to surface defects, which are crucial for carbon-carbon coupling reactions.
A recent study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases found that stay-at-home orders significantly slowed the spread of COVID-19 in the United States. The study analyzed data from 45 states with stay-at-home orders and found an average doubling time increase of 12.27 days, indicating significant slowing of disease spread.
A new study suggests that standard risk-adjustment methodologies have unfairly penalized rural hospitals, leading to inaccurate comparisons with non-rural hospitals. CAHs submitted significantly fewer hospital diagnosis codes due to differences in Medicare reimbursements.
A study by Brown University researchers found that inconsistent EPA regulations increase lead poisoning risk to over 35,000 US kids. The discrepancy puts children at nearly four times the risk of lead poisoning compared to homes with lower floor dust lead loadings.
A Brown University researcher found that nearly 14% of anti-climate action press releases received major national news coverage, compared to about 7% of pro-climate messages. The study suggests that this unequal coverage may contribute to public disengagement on climate change.
Researchers found that expanding access to methadone, buprenorphine and extended-release naltrexone in prisons and jails can significantly reduce overdose deaths by 31.6% in certain circumstances. The study suggests that continuity of care is key to maximizing public health impact.
A new study from Brown University finds that both non-REM and REM sleep are essential for visual learning. During non-REM sleep, the brain exhibits increased plasticity, while during REM sleep, the brain undergoes stabilization, leading to improved memory consolidation.
ICERM, a federally funded math institute, has been renewed with a $23.7 million NSF grant to support its cutting-edge research and education programs. The institute will focus on expanding the use of computation and experimentation in mathematical research.
A new study reveals how climate change has enabled Sesarma reticulatum to thrive in southern salt marshes, dramatically altering ecosystem dynamics and clearing grasses that hold the marshes together. This has led to increased rates of creek formation and changes in interactions between predators and prey species.
Researchers found that blocking the tumor-promoting protein MDM2 could boost immunotherapy's effectiveness by allowing immune cells to kill tumor cells more efficiently. The study also suggests that combining MDM2 inhibitors with immunotherapy may lead to improved treatment outcomes for patients whose tumors are predicted to undergo hy...
Researchers found that a phenomenon known as the Marangoni effect helps mezcal bubbles linger longer when alcohol content is around 50%, allowing artisans to determine perfect distillation levels. The study also reveals new fundamental details about bubble lifetimes on liquid surfaces.
Researchers tracked guineafowl movement using X-ray technology to study foot patterns below ground. They found that despite varying substrates, the birds' foot movement remained consistent, suggesting fossilized dinosaur tracks could be from the same species.
Researchers identified important molecules to study and manipulate specific glial cells integral to synapses. This discovery provides a highly specific glial 'bar code', identifying vital cell subtype and enabling targeted therapy development for neuromuscular diseases such as ALS and SMA.
Researchers from Brown and Tsinghua Universities have created a bizarre cage-like structure by clustering boron atoms with lanthanide elements, challenging conventional chemistry rules. The discovery may shed light on bulk structure and chemical bonding behavior of boron lanthanides, an important class of materials.
A team of Brown University researchers has developed a new ceramic material that doubles the toughness of traditional solid-state lithium ion batteries. The material combines graphene and ceramic to improve mechanical properties while maintaining electrical functionality.
New research by Brown physicists reveals that impurities can disrupt the order of a system and cause melting to begin before predicted by theory. The findings provide insight into the solid-liquid transition, which remains poorly understood despite being familiar phenomenon.
Research led by Brown University researchers suggests that past stressors sensitize people to future traumas, increasing their chances of developing a mental health disorder. The study found that individuals with multiple pre-disaster stressors were at a greater risk of developing post-disaster mental health disorders.
A team of Brown University physicists has developed a new type of compact, ultra-sensitive magnetometer that could be useful in applications involving weak magnetic fields. The device uses the anomalous Hall effect and is up to 20 times more sensitive than traditional Hall effect sensors.
A study analyzing data from the Rhode Island Consortium for Autism Research and Treatment found that only 3% of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder reported having fully received clinical genetic tests recommended by medical professional societies. The study reveals a dissonance between professional recommendations and ...
A new study found that climate change could significantly reduce shorefast ice in Arctic communities, with potential declines of five to 44 days by 2100. The coldest regions are expected to experience the largest reductions, posing concerns for preserving polar ecosystems and local ways of life.
A team of researchers has discovered a system of ridges on the nearside of the Moon topped with freshly exposed boulders, which could be evidence of active lunar tectonic processes. The findings suggest that the Moon may still be experiencing ongoing geological activity.
A team of researchers from Brown and Rice University has developed a means of performing link discovery with terahertz radiation, enabling ultra-fast wireless data transmission. The approach uses a device called a leaky waveguide to exploit the properties of terahertz waves and track client devices in real-time.
Researchers have identified a promising new strategy for combating malaria by targeting the parasite's 'kill switch' with PfGARP antibodies. The approach, which involves generating anti-PfGARP antibodies or directly infusing them into individuals, has shown promise in nonhuman primates and holds hope for preventing severe malaria.
A new study found that the effective population size of the first Samoans was small, ranging from 700 to 3,400 people, with population growth starting around 1,000 years ago. The research highlights the importance of population history and size in understanding health conditions such as obesity and diabetes.
A mindfulness app training program reduced physician anxiety by 57% and emotional exhaustion by 20%, suggesting its potential to treat burnout as well. The study's findings support the use of digital therapeutics like apps-based treatments for low-cost, widely disseminated interventions.
A new study from Brown University researchers reveals that Ritalin and similar medications primarily direct the brain to emphasize task benefits over costs. The study found that increased dopamine levels in the striatum region motivate individuals to focus on the positive aspects of completing difficult tasks.
The study describes experiments using a three-dimensional active nematic, revealing dominant loop structures that emerge spontaneously and expand before self-annihilating. These loops differ from defects in two-dimensional systems, having no charge but still related to them.
Researchers developed a new technique to map three-dimensional forces between cells and their surroundings, shedding light on tissue formation, wound healing, and tumor spread. The method uses traction force microscopy and enables the analysis of multicellular clusters in unprecedented detail.
Researchers propose that rocks colliding inside a fault zone during an earthquake produce high-frequency vibrations, which could help explain puzzling seismic patterns and predict quake damage. The new explanation suggests smoother faults with rounded internal structures may produce less damaging quakes.
A new data analysis tool has been developed to study the formation of zebrafish stripes, enabling scientists to objectively test ideas about how patterns are formed. The algorithm uses topological data analysis to quantify attributes of shapes and patterns, providing a more objective approach to understanding developmental processes.
Researchers using big data analytics have identified over three quarters of Spanish-founded colonial settlements in the former Inca Empire, providing new insights into social life and population history. The use of high-resolution satellite imagery also raises concerns about individual privacy and national security.
Researchers at Brown University found that perovskite films crack easily but can be healed with compression or moderate heat, which could improve durability and long-term reliability for commercialization
Researchers at Brown University have made significant progress in developing a molecular data storage system, storing over 200 kilobytes of data in custom-synthesized small molecules. The team has shown that this approach has potential advantages over traditional methods, including scalability and higher storage capacity.
Researchers found that corrugated pipes can interfere with bat echolocation, causing them to become disoriented and abandon roosts. In a study, bats successfully navigated through tunnels with smooth pipes but struggled with those containing raised rings, leading to the conclusion that such spaces create significant difficulties for bats.
The new wing design, dubbed the Separated Flow Airfoil, intentionally separates airflow at the leading edge, reattaching it more consistently before reaching the trailing edge. This enables more efficient, stable flight in turbulent air, resulting in better battery life and longer flight times for small drones.
A new study by Brown University researchers finds that US political polarization has grown rapidly over the past 40 years, surpassing other developed democracies. The research suggests that factors such as racial division, party sorting, and partisan cable news may be driving this trend.
A new study analyzing the first 1,000 participants in the Rhode Island Consortium for Autism Research and Treatment (RI-CART) identifies key trends in the presentation and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Girls with autism receive a diagnosis, on average, nearly 1.5 years later than boys, likely due to advanced language abilities.
A new study suggests that reward only improves visual perceptual learning if participants follow up the task with sleep. The researchers found that reward reinforces neural circuits between reward and visual areas of the brain, which are then more likely to reactivate during sleep to facilitate task learning.
Researchers from Brown University tested the anchor spicules of a sea sponge called Euplectella aspergillum and found that its layered structure does relatively little to enhance its toughness. The study suggests that curvature can turn off the toughness enhancement of layered structures.
A team of Brown University researchers has developed a way to measure the forces involved in the Cheerios effect, a phenomenon where cereal bits cluster together in milk. The experiment revealed that traditional models under-predicted the force, but adding tilt conditions improved agreement.
A new study by Brown University researchers reveals that the hydrogen atoms bound to platinum at high activity regions are actually inert bystanders, not participating in the reaction. Instead, they sit atop platinum atoms and meet up with each other to form H2 gas, making platinum reactive.
Oil companies spend most on advertising during negative media coverage and Congressional action on climate change. The study found that investments in promotion directly correspond to Congressional action and media coverage.
A team of Brown University researchers will compare two licensed flu vaccines in up to 1,000 nursing homes to identify the most effective one for elderly residents. The study aims to inform public health decision-making and improve healthcare outcomes for this vulnerable population.
A team of Brown University researchers used a brain-computer interface to reconstruct English words from neural signals recorded in the brains of nonhuman primates. The study showed that neural data produced high-fidelity reconstructions that were clear to a human listener, using multielectrode arrays for the first time.
A phase-one clinical trial will test the safety and tolerability of emtricitabine in 35 patients with Alzheimer's, while evaluating its effect on inflammation markers. The trial aims to determine if the drug may benefit people with Alzheimer's by reducing age-related cellular inflammation.
A new study published in PLOS One suggests that mindfulness training can significantly reduce blood pressure readings and improve self-regulation skills. The nine-week customized Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction program was developed for participants with elevated blood pressure and showed positive effects, particularly for t...
Researchers analyzed data from the Murchison Widefield Array radio telescope to set a new limit for the strength of neutral hydrogen's ultra-faint signature. The analysis may reveal critical information about the first stars and galaxies in the universe.