Researchers have successfully protected mice against Zika by injecting synthetic messenger RNA that encodes for virus proteins into the animals. The vaccine triggers an immune response and prevents viral replication in 95% of the mice.
Researchers have discovered that whale nerves utilize two levels of waviness to package their highly extensible nerves, reducing strain when stretched or bent. This unique structure enables the nerves to recoil without sustaining damage during feeding lunges.
Researchers found that the brain prepares both possible movements before making a decision, allowing for quick switching between plans. This 'backup plan' helps individuals react faster to changing situations, such as dodging an opponent's block in hockey.
Recent studies found that tumors exploit neuronal signals to grow and thrive. Researchers aim to develop targeted therapies by interrupting specific molecular pathways co-opted by tumor cells. This growing understanding sheds light on cancer pathology observations.
Scientists have developed artificial pollinators using tiny drones coated with a sticky gel, which can pick up pollen from one flower and deposit it onto another. The innovation uses horse hairs to mimic the fuzzy exterior of a bee, allowing the drones to effectively collect and transfer pollen.
African penguins are getting stuck in the wrong part of the sea due to fishing and climate change, leading to reduced food supply and higher mortality rates. Researchers suggest that translocating chicks to safe areas or implementing spatial fishing closures could help protect the endangered species.
Researchers at UCSB discovered a way to confer electricity-generating ability on non-electrogenic bacteria by feeding them synthetic iron-containing molecules. This technique has potential applications for sustainable electricity generation and wastewater treatment.
Researchers have discovered that genetic changes in African Salmonella strains allow them to hijack immune cells and spread throughout the body. This enables the bacteria to cause systemic diseases like bloodstream infections and meningitis, which are often fatal.
A study published in Cell Reports found that hydras have a network of tough protein fibers called the cytoskeleton, which acts as structural memory and guides cell alignment. This allows the hydra to regrow lost body parts with remarkable accuracy.
A study found that 39 populations of sharks meet biological sustainability criteria, accounting for 9% of the global catch. The researchers offer five recommendations to achieve sustainable shark fisheries, including protection of low-productivity species and international cooperation.
A weekend camping trip can reset people's internal clocks rapidly, regardless of season, by increasing daytime exposure to sunlight and reducing nighttime electrical lighting. This helps to shift melatonin levels and improves sleeping patterns.
Researchers found synthetic marijuana compounds are chemically distinct from marijuana, activate different receptors, and pose health risks. Studies reported acute and long-term adverse effects, including seizures, psychosis, dependence, and death.
Research suggests that cannabinoids in medical marijuana could alleviate heroin withdrawal symptoms and cravings. A specific compound, cannabidiol, shows promise in reducing anxiety related to cravings and restoring neurobiological damage.
A study found that when a bacteria reduces its virulence by blocking loss of appetite, it increases mouse survival and helps the pathogen spread. Salmonella Typhimurium, a natural intestinal pathogen in mice, uses this strategy to replicate and transmit to other hosts.
Researchers at Salk Institute successfully created human/pig chimeras, offering insights into early human development and potential applications for drug testing. The achievement marks an important step towards growing functional tissues and organs for regenerative medicine.
Researchers found that LSD alters perception of personal relevance and meaning, linked to serotonin receptors and brain areas involved in self-experience. The findings may lead to new targets for treating psychiatric illnesses or phobias.
Researchers discovered LSD binds at an angle, trapping it in the receptor, and part of the protein folds over, sealing it inside. This explains why LSD trips last for a full day despite small doses.
New research suggests postpartum depression and anxiety have distinct neural activity patterns compared to major depression. Women with PPD often experience less amygdala activation, while postpartum anxiety is estimated to be just as prevalent but receives less attention.
Researchers found that ants can decouple their direction of travel from their body orientation, maintaining a northerly direction by going forward or backward. This challenges the notion of simple stimulus-response behaviors in insects.
Researchers discovered that a specific bacterial species in moth gut microbes produces an antimicrobial peptide called mundticin KS, which defends its host against pathogens and promotes symbiosis. This finding has implications for agriculture and health, potentially leading to new biocontrol strategies and novel antibiotics.
Researchers discovered that immune cells use an active process to create gaps in blood vessel walls, involving the breakage of thin filaments and rapid reassembly. This process allows immune cells to squeeze through and survey organs for problems or join the fight against pathogens.
Researchers explore how emojis and emoticons aid in cross-cultural communication and provide insights into user personalities. Studies suggest that emoji use can be related to personality traits, such as agreeableness, and may impact social inclusion.
Researchers at Yale University have isolated the brain circuitry that coordinates predatory hunting in mice, revealing two distinct modules controlling pursuit and kill behaviors. The study found that activating specific neurons in the amygdala can drive aggressive behavior, including biting and killing, in response to prey.
A study on killer whales found that older females stop reproducing due to conflict with their daughters, which helps younger family members survive. This evolutionary trait is driven by both cooperation and competition within the family group.
Researchers found that glial cells experience bigger changes than neurons as people age, with astrocytes and oligodendrocytes shifting their regional gene expression patterns upon aging. The study provides a tool to understand how aging in the brain may be linked to the causes of age-related disorders.
Researchers have developed a stem cell-based transplantation approach that restores vision in blind mice with end-stage retinal degeneration. The treatment strategy involved transplanting human iPSC-derived retinal tissue, which restored visual function in nearly half of the mice.
Researchers found that women with pro-inflammatory bacterial species were at a 4-fold higher risk of acquiring HIV than those with healthy vaginal bacteria. The study suggests specific genital bacteria can increase HIV risk by making it easier for the virus to find a foothold.
Researchers found that hummingbird brains are uniquely attuned to detect fast visual motion in any direction. This discovery sheds light on the birds' remarkable ability to zoom and stop quickly while sipping nectar. The findings have implications for understanding flight behaviors, competitive interactions, and courtship displays.
Researchers aim to remove senescent cells, which accumulate with age, to regrow hair, improve organ function and combat aging. However, hurdles include safety issues, off-target effects and high costs, limiting translation to humans.
A study in obese mice reveals that physical inactivity is linked to altered dopamine receptors, contradicting the assumption that excess body weight is the primary cause. The research suggests that dopamine signaling defects contribute to reduced movement in obesity.
Researchers found that certain human gut bacteria must be lost for a diet to be successful. A new approach identifies the organisms that help promote beneficial effects of a particular diet in humans.
Researchers have found that ceratosaurian theropod dinosaurs had teeth as young juveniles that were gradually lost as they grew up. The discovery reveals a unique developmental process where the toothed jaws of juvenile individuals transition to a completely toothless beaked jaw in more mature individuals.
Researchers developed a method for generating Leydig cells by directly converting adult skin cells into functional testosterone-producing cells. The approach successfully restored normal testosterone levels in male rodents with hypogonadism, offering a promising alternative to existing therapies.
Research reveals that individuals with dyslexia have a fundamental brain difference in sensory perception, leading to difficulties in processing speech and written words. Brain activity remains high in both cases, suggesting that they do not adapt as much, while those with better reading skills show greater adaptation levels.
Research shows that brain maturation varies by individual and region, making it difficult to pinpoint a static baseline for maturity. Leah Somerville highlights the importance of considering brain development in policy-making decisions.
Researchers found that exposure to malaria's blood stage inhibits the formation of protective immune cells and antibodies. This discovery highlights the need for a vaccine that targets both stages of infection to effectively prevent malaria.
Scientists found that female mice are more susceptible to vaginal Zika virus infection during a specific stage of their reproductive cycle. The study suggests that sex hormones play a role in allowing the virus to establish itself in the reproductive tract and spread beyond it.
A new species of octopod, the 'Casper', has been found at record-breaking ocean depths, and its eggs are laid on sponges attached to seafloor nodules rich in valuable metals. The removal of these nodules may put the lifecycle of these octopods at risk due to their association with manganese crusts.
Researchers used partial cellular reprogramming to reduce signs of aging and extend lifespan in mice with premature aging mutations. The approach altered epigenetic changes, suggesting that aging is a plastic process.
A study published in Cell Reports found that training participants to use their non-dominant hand by tricking their brain through virtual reality showed significant improvements in motor skills. The researchers used fMRI scans to track brain activity, which was correlated with improved performance.
Researchers have discovered a dinosaur tail complete with its feathers trapped in a piece of amber. The tail, from a juvenile theropod, is surrounded by feathers that preserve 3D and microscopic detail.
A team of researchers suggests that the lifelong immunity to toxoplasmosis, once thought to be absolute, may not be as robust as previously believed. Studies have shown that even expectant mothers infected with Toxoplasma gondii at birth can still test positive for antibodies, challenging the long-held dogma.
Researchers have discovered that transplanting immature interneurons into the brains of mice can help reduce fear response. The study found that these transplanted cells reactivated a juvenile-like plasticity in the mature amygdala, enhancing synaptic plasticity and modulating fear extinction behavior.
Scientists have isolated three families of proteins that can turn off CRISPR-Cas9 systems specifically used for gene editing. This discovery offers a new strategy to prevent unintended changes in the genome, making gene editing more precise and controlled.
Researchers discovered a 17th-century variola virus in a child mummy, providing a more accurate timeline for the evolution of smallpox. The study suggests that smallpox may have appeared in humans more recently than previously thought, and its evolutionary history was influenced by human migration and colonization.
Cryptophyte algae have been found to harness light energy at an unprecedented rate, thanks to the ability of molecular vibrations to enhance photon absorption. This discovery has potential applications in developing more efficient light-harvesting technologies, such as sensors and communication systems.
Researchers found that Caribbean spiny lobsters get 20% of their food from lucinid clams with chemosynthetic bacteria in their gills. This discovery highlights the importance of chemosynthesis in shallow waters, supporting populations and fisheries worth millions.
A study published in Neuron reveals the mechanisms behind learning social hierarchies, with the prefrontal cortex playing a key role. The researchers found that people can rapidly form coherent understandings of their own social hierarchy through integrating interaction outcomes.
A recent study published in Neuron found that deep brain stimulation did not improve memory performance, with a range of impairment from 5% to 20%. However, the researchers suggest that a different stimulation protocol may be necessary to boost memory.
A study published in Cell Reports reveals that the BCG vaccine's broad-spectrum effects could be mediated by metabolic and epigenetic changes in monocytes, leading to trained immunity. This discovery could pave the way for new therapeutic approaches to boost vaccine effectiveness.