Researchers found that mice consuming their own poop have higher microbial loads and different bile acid profiles compared to those not eating feces. This study highlights the importance of considering self-reinoculation in research involving mice, particularly in dietary, probiotic, and drug studies.
A recent study found that a reduction in air pollution in Europe has led to fewer extremely cold days, as the decrease in aerosol particles caused changes in the wintertime Northern Hemisphere polar jet stream. This suggests that aerosols have a stronger impact on extreme winter weather than greenhouse gases at regional scales.
Engineers at Caltech and Stanford have created a microelectronic controller that enables jellyfish to swim three times faster than usual without stressing the animals. The prosthetic uses electrical impulses to regulate and speed up the pulsing motion, making the jellyfish over 1,000 times more efficient than swimming robots.
Researchers have developed a new camera capable of taking up to 1 trillion pictures per second of transparent objects, such as cells and shockwaves. The camera technology combines high-speed photography with phase-contrast microscopy, allowing for real-time imaging of ultrafast phenomena in transparent materials.
Researchers developed an AI system that tracks evolving online conversations to spot online trolling. The GloVe model discovers new and relevant keywords to reveal clusters of terms used in #MeToo discussions.
Researchers have developed a new optical atomic clock called the 'tweezer clock' that uses laser tweezers to manipulate individual atoms. This design combines the advantages of two existing approaches, offering improved accuracy and precision, and paving the way for advances in fundamental physics research and new technologies.
Researchers have transformed submarine cables into a seismic network, tracking earthquakes and ocean waves. The new technology has the potential to fill blind spots in the global seismic network.
Researchers developed a mass-producible wearable sensor that can monitor levels of metabolites and nutrients in blood by analyzing sweat. The device is more sensitive than current devices, detecting lower concentrations of compounds like uric acid and tyrosine, which are associated with gout, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
Researchers discovered that bees use a specific wing motion to create a wave and propel themselves forward, essentially 'surfing' on the water's surface. This unique adaptation enables bees to escape drowning by generating a strong enough force to reach land.
Researchers have characterized slow-slip events more precisely than previously possible, finding they obey the same scaling laws as regular earthquakes. This discovery opens the door for geoscientists to study these frequent and nondestructive events to better understand earthquake mechanics.
Researchers discovered unique brain cell types specific to male and female mice in the hypothalamus region, which governs aggression and mating behaviors. The study found 17 distinct cell types, with some abundant in males and others only in females.
A comprehensive analysis of the Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence reveals a web-like network of interconnected faults, challenging standard models of large seismic events. The complexity of the rupture is only clear due to the combined data from orbiting radar satellites and ground-based seismometers.
Researchers at Caltech have developed a new reporter gene that allows for the visualization of genetic activity using ultrasound, enabling the study of gene expression in tumors, immune cells, and other cell types. The breakthrough could lead to new diagnostic tools for diseases such as cancer and neurological disorders.
Researchers at Caltech have discovered a new species of worm, Auanema sp., in Mono Lake, which can survive 500 times the lethal human dose of arsenic. The eight discovered species are diverse and resilient to arsenic-laden conditions, suggesting nematodes may have genetic predispositions for adaptability.
Researchers developed a tunable metamaterial that can change shape in response to electrical control, exhibiting unique mechanical and vibrational properties. This breakthrough has potential applications in next-generation energy storage systems and bio-implantable micro-devices.
For the first time, scientists have detected two specific tones, or overtones, in the
Researchers found that giant impacts can dramatically lower a planet's internal pressure after an impact, followed by a longer term increase as the body recovers. This new model could explain puzzling geochemical signatures in Earth's mantle and have major implications for planetary evolution.
Researchers at Caltech have discovered that strong memories are formed when multiple neurons fire in sync, providing redundancy for long-term retention. This finding has implications for understanding memory loss due to brain damage or aging.
New research by Caltech scientists reveals that natural gas leaks from heating homes and businesses in the Los Angeles Basin contribute significantly to methane emissions. Methane concentrations peak in winter when natural gas usage is highest, with levels dropping during summer months.
Researchers at Caltech have designed a method to study and manipulate the cytoskeleton in test tubes, shedding light on how cells control movement. By using light-activated proteins, they can control when and where asters form, allowing for the development of new tools for molecular biology and chemistry.
Thin films of rust can convert kinetic energy into electricity when exposed to saltwater, offering a new method for sustainable power generation. The electrokinetic effect is around 30% efficient and has potential applications in tidal energy conversion and implantable devices.
A team of seismologists from Caltech is tracking thousands of tiny aftershocks in the Ridgecrest region using a novel fiber optic network. This technique involves shooting light down unused fiber optic cables, which act as individual seismometers, allowing for unprecedented detail on the evolution of earthquake sequences.
Microrobots, made of magnesium and gold, are designed to deliver medication to specific spots inside the body. They use photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) to navigate to tumors and release their payload.
Researchers have localized a fast radio burst, FRB 190523, to a galaxy 7.9 billion light-years away, providing new clues in the ongoing cosmic mystery. The discovery suggests that every galaxy, including our Milky Way, can generate an FRB.
A new study using the Keck Cosmic Web Imager has provided the clearest evidence yet that filaments of cool gas spiral into young galaxies, explaining how they can make stars on fast timescales. The observations suggest a cold-flow model of galaxy formation, where cool gas flows directly into forming galaxies and is converted into stars.
Researchers found that serotonin produced by the raphe region is required for zebrafish and mice to get normal amounts of sleep. The team used genetically modified models to demonstrate this, with light stimulation putting fish and mice to sleep only when activating serotonin-producing neurons.
Researchers spot sodium chloride on the icy moon Europa, potentially indicating a hydrothermally active ocean floor and making it a geologically interesting planetary body. The discovery was made using visible light spectral analysis, which revealed distinct absorption patterns in the visible spectrum.
A study using mouse models reveals that gut bacteria directly contribute to autism-like behaviors, affecting gene expression and metabolite production. Researchers hope this discovery may lead to new treatments targeting the gut, rather than the brain.
Researchers have developed a new chemical process that can turn carbon dioxide into molecular oxygen, a crucial component for human exploration of space and combating climate change. The reaction occurs when CO2 molecules collide with the surface at high speeds, producing oxygen atoms that can be combined to form O2.
A new AI-powered system, Neural Lander, uses a deep neural network to help autonomous drones land more safely and quickly, while gobbling up less power. The system has been tested and achieved significant improvements in landing accuracy, with reductions of up to 100% in vertical error and 90% in lateral drift.
A new study from Caltech shows that anxious individuals flee danger sooner in slow-threat scenarios, but not in fast-threat situations. This suggests that anxiety is a prediction strategy that helps prevent future dangers.
Researchers at Caltech have unveiled the 3D molecular architecture of Legionella pneumophila's Type IV secretion system, a sophisticated machinery used by dangerous pathogens to infect human cells. The discovery could enable the development of precisely targeted antibiotics to combat diseases like Legionnaires' disease and whooping cough.
Researchers expand earthquake catalog by a factor of 10, revealing daily quakes at 495 locations across the region. The study's template matching technique identifies tiny tremors, expanding our understanding of seismic events and their impact on the region.
A fossilized beetle, Promyrmister kistneri, found to be the oldest-known example of an animal in a behaviorally symbiotic relationship with ants. The beetle's extreme adaptations allow it to infiltrate ant colonies, suggesting that freeloaders can persist over vast expanses of evolutionary time.
Researchers use laser technology to improve on existing methods for measuring metabolic activity in cancer cells. The new technique, single-cell metabolic photoacoustic microscopy, allows for the analysis of around 3,000 cells in about 15 minutes, enabling more accurate assessments of cancer cell characteristics.
Researchers at Caltech have identified specific neurons responsible for salt cravings in the mouse brain, which are triggered by oral sodium signals. These findings could potentially lead to new avenues for regulating sodium intake and mitigating health issues related to excessive salt consumption.
Researchers design DNA molecules that can carry out reprogrammable computations, executing six-bit algorithms for simple tasks. The system demonstrates versatility and potential for teaching about molecular processes encoding information.
Researchers at Caltech have designed a way to levitate and propel macroscopic objects using specific nanoscale patterning on their surfaces. This technology has the potential to revolutionize space travel by powering spacecraft with light, potentially reaching nearby planets in 20 years.
Researchers at Caltech have experimentally demonstrated how a simple network of identical synchronized nanomachines can give rise to out-of-sync, complex states. This knowledge may lead to new tools for controlling these networks, such as developing new defibrillators for shocking the heart back into rhythm.
New analysis offers insights into the nature of Planet Nine, estimating its mass as five times that of Earth and orbital semimajor axis of approximately 400 AU. The findings suggest that Planet Nine is likely to be reminiscent of a typical extrasolar super-Earth.
A new study suggests that high CO2 levels above 1,200 ppm could lead to the loss of low-level clouds, resulting in a 8-Kelvin temperature increase globally. The researchers used a small-scale model to simulate cloud instability and found that once the clouds vanish, they do not reappear until CO2 levels drop significantly.
A new study from Caltech reveals that dietary fiber plays a role in clumping gut particles, which may affect drug absorption and microbial populations. Longer fibers promote physical aggregation of particles, providing a potential mechanism for controlling particle behavior in the gut.
Researchers at Caltech have developed two new methods to determine T cell targets, which are critical for designing personalized treatments for cancers. The methods use a signaling domain attached to MHCs or trogocytosis to identify the correct antigen.
The Zwicky Transient Facility has discovered over 1,100 supernovae and 50 near-Earth asteroids in its first operations. The facility's advanced camera surveys the northern skies every three nights, capturing fleeting cosmic events previously impossible to detect.
A team of scientists has developed a protein sensor that allows them to visualize where nicotine collects inside cells, revealing its effects on neural cells and the nature of nicotine addiction. The sensor, composed of a special protein, detects nicotine molecules and activates fluorescent proteins to glow brightly.
Researchers developed a new test to examine theory of mind in people with autism. The study found that individuals with autism struggle with tracking Sally's beliefs about the environment and making logical conclusions about her behavior. This understanding can help develop treatments for autism in the future.
Caltech scientists develop dynamic DNA nanostructures, enabling the creation of a microscopic tic-tac-toe game board with reconfigurable parts. The technology combines self-assembling tiles and strand displacement to allow for molecular self-reconfiguration, paving the way for more sophisticated nanomachines.
Researchers have developed a new way of making rechargeable fluoride batteries that work at room temperature, potentially increasing battery lifespans up to eight times longer. The breakthrough uses liquid components and a specially designed electrolyte, allowing for more efficient energy storage and release.
A Caltech-led team of researchers has identified individual neurons that monitor our behavior, catching errors and correcting them quickly. The study provides rare recordings of these neurons, which are involved in error monitoring and have implications for psychiatric diseases like obsessive-compulsive disorder.
A joint UCLA/Caltech team has developed a new technique to determine the 3D structures of small molecules, such as hormones and medications, in under 30 minutes. The method uses micro-electron diffraction and relies on the presence of tiny crystals within the samples.