Scientists developed a technique to study heart disease in action, enabling them to identify ways to lower plaque-forming lipoproteins. The LipoGlo system allows researchers to measure lipoproteins in tiny droplets of blood, opening up new avenues for treating cardiovascular disease.
A new method using red giant stars has measured the universe's expansion rate at 69.8 kilometers per second per megaparsec, settling between previous values of 74.0 km/s/Mpc and 67.4 km/s/Mpc. The result may indicate that the standard model of the universe is not yet complete.
A $2.7 million NSF grant will study an active flat slab in Colombia, investigating its effects on the continental crust and volcanism. The research will compare two parts of the flat slab, allowing scientists to understand the initial migration and cessation of volcanism, as well as the formation of ore deposits.
A mathematical framework describes the ecology of a microbiome-host interaction landscape, allowing for global comparisons and understanding of diverse microbiomes' associations with similar health outcomes. The framework applies equally well to traditional genetic interactions.
The study finds that existing power plants and energy infrastructure will release significant amounts of carbon into the atmosphere if not retired early, posing a threat to the 1.5-degree Celsius climate goal. However, the world can still meet the 2-degree goal without early retirement if new fossil fuel sources are not built.
Coral and algal symbiotic relationships are crucial for reef construction. Researchers analyzed cellular processes in anemones hosting native and non-native dinoflagellate algae to understand preferential relationships and potential for revival of bleached coral communities. They found elevated protein expression associated with nutrie...
A new classification system could better understand mineralogy as a process of universal and planetary evolution by accounting for minerals' distinct journeys. This system, proposed by Robert Hazen, groups minerals into natural kind clusters that reflect the inherent messiness of planetary evolution.
Researchers elucidate genetic isolation mechanisms that prevent hybridization between maize and teosinte, enabling two distinct species to form. A specific gene cluster, Tcb1-s, plays a crucial role in this process.
Researchers discovered how plant cells shield themselves from excessive reactive oxygen molecules that can cause cellular damage. By diverting these reactivity into other processes, plants minimize self-inflicted harm, which could help scientists engineer crops with improved yields.
Astronomers detect unusual chemical signature in ASASSN-18tb supernova, potentially resolving longstanding mystery surrounding their origins. The discovery offers new insights into the mechanism and players involved in creating Type Ia supernovae.
A team of scientists from Carnegie Institution argues that a planet's interior dynamics are vital for creating a hospitable environment. The researchers suggest that planetary composition and interior processes should be considered when searching for signs of life on exoplanets.
Researchers used diamond inclusions to study the formation of mantle keels, which stabilize continental crust. The study found that thickening and stabilization occurred when mantle sections were squeezed by ocean floor material, resolving a long-standing debate.
A study by Carnegie ecologists found that climate change is a key factor in increasing nitrogen runoff into US waterways, exacerbating eutrophication. The research analyzed historical trends and found that warming temperatures and precipitation patterns are directly linked to higher nitrogen levels.
A team of researchers discovered a primitive class of meteorite containing a slice of carbon-rich material similar to extraterrestrial dust particles thought to have originated in comets near the outer edges of the Solar System. This finding provides insights into the Solar System's architecture and formation.
The discovery of an Earth-sized planet and a warm sub-Neptune-sized world in the HD 21749 system marks a significant milestone for NASA's TESS mission. The planets have distinct orbital periods, with the sub-Neptune taking 36 days to complete its orbit.
New research finds that sea anemones consume tiny fragments of plastic in the ocean along with their food. Bleached anemones retain these microfibers longer than healthy ones, highlighting the impact of plastic pollution and climate change on coral reefs.
A new library of Chlamydomonas mutants has enabled scientists to discover nearly 300 genes essential for photosynthesis, a process that produces oxygen and fuels life on Earth. This breakthrough highlights the vast knowledge gap in understanding the genetic mechanisms behind this fundamental process.
Researchers found that reducing carbon emissions through biofuels or increasing domestic food production can increase nitrogen runoff into US waterways, causing water quality problems. However, scenarios involving sustainable growth and conservation proved to be the most successful in minimizing water quality risks.
Researchers found that tree growth is constrained more by climate than competition for resources in harsh conditions, but not under mild conditions. The study provides important insights into how forest growth will respond to changing climate and could inform land management strategies.
New research reveals China's coal mining regulations have not reduced methane emissions, despite a goal to remove or convert 5.6 million metric tons of methane from mines by 2015. Methane emissions instead rose by about 1.1 million metric tons per year between 2010 and 2015.
Large moons in stable orbits around their parent planets are thought to be capable of hosting satellite submoons, with four bodies in our Solar System potentially fitting this description. However, the lack of observed submoons may offer insights into planetary formation and evolution.
New work from the Carnegie Supernova Project provides precise calibrations for using type Ia supernovae to measure cosmic distances. This improvement helps astronomers better understand how fast the universe is expanding and the potential impact of dark energy on this process.
Researchers have found that individual species in the gut microbiome account for only a quarter of the effect on fly lifespan, while interactions between species play a crucial role in determining fitness. The study highlights the importance of understanding complex microbiome interactions to better comprehend human health.
The discovery of ASASSN-18bt, a Type Ia supernova, has revealed an unexpected pattern in the light from its first hours, complicating our understanding of how these phenomena originate. The findings suggest that the genesis of Type Ia supernovae is even more mysterious than previously thought.
Astronomers at Carnegie Institution for Science have discovered a frozen Super-Earth orbiting Barnard's star, just six light-years from Earth. The planet has at least 3.2 times Earth's mass and orbits its star every 233 days at a distance where water would be frozen.
Researchers found that reproductive stem cells boost production of non-coding RNA elements to suppress jumping gene activity and activate DNA repair processes, enabling normal egg development. Temperature influences sterility in fruit flies, with a specific temperature range controlling jumping gene invasion intensity.
Scientists analyzed three Martian meteorites to find electrochemical reactions between briny liquids and volcanic minerals created the organic carbon. This process has implications for understanding habitability and could occur elsewhere in the solar system.
Astronomers have observed a massive star's death, creating a compact neutron star binary system. The explosion was unusually faint and the star had an unseen companion that siphoned away most of its mass.
The NIH has awarded a $3.3-million grant to Carnegie Institution scientist Steven Farber to identify new pharmaceuticals for combatting cardiovascular disease. Using genetically engineered zebrafish with glowing lipoproteins, the team aims to find compounds that lower ApoB levels and reduce disease risk.
The study found that dietary cholesterol alters cellular programming, promoting hormone-producing cells and nutrient-handling cells. Low nutrient availability triggers changes in intestinal structure and metabolism with long-term effects on metabolic health.
A $200,000 Pew grant will support research into how dietary nutrients affect gut microbes and glucose sensing in zebrafish. The study aims to uncover the mechanisms behind this interaction and identify new strategies to combat disorders like diabetes and obesity.
Research by Carnegie Institution scientists reveals that aerosol particles from different countries have varying effects on the climate and air quality. Aerosols emitted in certain regions can cool the planet more than others, with some having a significant impact even if they are far from their source of origin.
A new study by Carnegie Institution researchers found that defects in the Fmr1 gene can lead to difficulties in creating large protein structures, potentially contributing to autism-related disorders like fragile X syndrome. The study used fruit fly eggs to demonstrate how Fmr1 helps produce essential large proteins.
Researchers studied hydrogen's transition from a gas to a liquid metal under high pressure, shedding light on the interiors of giant planets. They found that deuterium became opaque and metallic at nearly 2 million times normal atmospheric pressure.
Changes in heat flow from the Pacific Ocean may have a larger effect on Arctic climate than previously recognized. The study found that ocean-to-atmosphere heat flow scenarios in the North Pacific and North Atlantic resulted in greater global and Arctic surface air temperature anomalies.
Researchers discovered that blue diamonds form at least as deep as the transition zone between the upper and lower mantle. The boron element was incorporated into water-rich minerals like serpentine during geochemical reactions between seawater and oceanic plate rocks, traveling far deeper into the mantle than previously thought.
Researchers found that seagrass meadows can buffer ocean acidification in short-term periods, particularly during low tide and daylight hours. While limited, this effect could benefit marine life and aquaculture endeavors, but long-term solutions rely on reducing carbon emissions.
Researchers found that jumping genes use nurse cells to produce virus-like particles, which then integrate into the genome of developing egg cells. This process can lead to genetic disorders and cancer. The study provides new insights into how parasitic genetic elements manipulate their environment to drive evolutionary change.
Researchers have determined the detailed chemical abundances of Ross 128, a red dwarf star that hosts an exoplanet similar to our Solar System's Jupiter. This helps estimate the makeup of Ross 128 b, indicating it should be rocky with a temperate climate.
Researchers confirm nitrogen becomes a metallic fluid when subjected to high pressures and temperatures, with implications for the Earth's deep nitrogen cycle. The findings could inform the creation of energetic nitrogen polymers and superconducting states.
Astronomers have found a quasar with the brightest radio emission ever observed in the early universe, providing unprecedented insight into the universe's youth. The discovery allows researchers to study the early galaxy formation process, which is crucial for understanding the evolution of the cosmos.
To achieve zero emissions, air travel, freight shipping, cement, and steel manufacturing must be decarbonized. New technologies, such as hydrogen fuels and carbon capture, can help overcome these challenges.
A team of biologists has shed light on how lamins maintain the relative positions of DNA segments throughout the nucleus, influencing gene expression. This finding has implications for understanding lamin-associated aging and diseases, including premature aging, neuropathies, heart defects, and organ decay.
A team of scientists has discovered that Yosemite granite minerals crystallized at lower temperatures than previously thought, challenging our understanding of how granites form and record the planet's history. This finding has significant implications for geoscientists studying the Earth's crust formation and volcanic processes.
A team of astronomers has developed a new technique to find young extrasolar planets by analyzing the motion of gas in protoplanetary disks. The method successfully confirmed the existence of two Jupiter-mass planets around star HD 163296, providing insight into planet formation and the process that shaped our own solar system.
The discovery of ancient organic molecules in Martian sedimentary rocks increases the chances of finding evidence of habitability and potential life on Mars. The findings suggest that NASA's Curiosity rover may have discovered record-breaking amounts of organic carbon, comparable to those found in meteoritic samples.
A new data-mining technique developed by Carnegie's Shaunna Morrison improves the understanding of Mars' geologic history and habitability. By analyzing mineral compositions and unit cell dimensions, scientists gained a more detailed picture of Martian minerals, including their origins and alteration processes.
Researchers have developed a new tool that can work in both non-reproductive cells and egg-producing cells using the Gal4/UAS two-component activation system. The UASz vector has been shown to express about 4 times higher than UASp in the egg-producing system, overcoming previous limitations.
Arthur Grossman, a Carnegie scientist, has received a $300,000 Human Frontier Science Program grant to investigate how light and metabolic signals control photosynthetic processes in algae. This research aims to develop a holistic view of photosynthetic control, spanning metabolism to epigenetics and mathematical modeling.
A team of researchers has observed unexpected rotational motion of hydrogen molecules within a molecular cage, which could lead to breakthroughs in hydrogen storage materials. The study provides fundamental insights into the behavior of quantum-influenced particles trapped in well-defined spaces.