Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Cornell University


Video: 3-D time-lapse imaging captures twisted root mechanics for first time

Using 3D time-lapse imaging, scientists have discovered that plant roots twist and buckle to generate force and push through barriers, allowing them to grow in difficult soil conditions. The study sheds new light on the mechanics of root growth and reveals a previously unknown connection between root geometry and force generation.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 24, 2012

Tomato genome becomes fully sequenced

The tomato genome sequence provides detailed information about its genes and chromosomes, enabling researchers to improve crop yields and quality. The full genome sequence allows for faster and less expensive sequencing of other varieties, with potential applications in improving taste, nutritional content and disease resistance.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature·DateMay 30, 2012

New evidence that many genes of small effect influence economic decisions and political attitudes

A new study by Cornell University researchers found that genetic factors explain some variation in people's political attitudes and economic decisions. However, the effects of individual genetic variants are tiny and scattered across the genome, making it difficult to predict economic and political preferences.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 15, 2012

College reduces odds for marriage among disadvantaged

A Cornell University study reveals that attending college lowers marriage chances for those from low-income backgrounds, but increases chances for those in higher social strata. Social and cultural factors, not just income, play a central role in marriage decisions, according to the research.

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of Marriage and Family·DateJan 31, 2012

Colorful plates boost a picky eater's appetite

A new study published in Acta Paediatrica found that children prefer colorful food plates with multiple items and figurative designs, while adults tend to prefer simpler arrangements. The study suggests that adding color to meals can make nutritionally diverse foods more appealing to picky eaters.

SourceCornell University·JournalActa Paediatrica·DateJan 5, 2012

Pythons and people take turns as predators and prey

In a study co-authored by Cornell University researcher Harry Greene, men are attacked by giant pythons but also target them for food, competing for the same local deer, wild pigs, and monkeys. The complex relationships between humans and snakes highlight broader patterns of predation and competition in the natural world.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 14, 2011

As climate change sets in, plants and bees keep pace

Research by Cornell University and Rutgers University found that bees and flowering plants are keeping pace with climate change, arriving earlier in the spring. This shift has been observed since 1970, when warming temperatures accelerated most rapidly, according to the study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 12, 2011

New test can precisely pinpoint food pathogens

A new genomic approach developed by Cornell University scientists enables precise identification of food-borne bacteria, facilitating the detection of outbreaks and their sources. This breakthrough method has the potential to uncover smaller outbreaks that may have gone unnoticed previously.

SourceCornell University·JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology·DateOct 25, 2011

Breaching the blood-brain barrier

Researchers found that adenosine can modulate the entry of large molecules into the brain, establishing a gateway into the blood-brain barrier. They successfully transported large dextrans and antibodies into the brain using an FDA-approved drug, Lexiscan.

When a man's female partner becomes too buddy-buddy with his pals, his sex life may suffer

A study by Cornell University researchers reveals that men whose partners have stronger relationships with their closest friends are more likely to experience erectile dysfunction and difficulty achieving orgasm during sex. This phenomenon, known as partner betweenness, undermines traditional masculine values of autonomy and privacy.

SourceCornell University·JournalAmerican Journal of Sociology·DateAug 8, 2011

Wired for sound: A small fish's brain illustrates how people and other vertebrates produce sounds

A study of midshipman fish has identified two distinct groups of neurons controlling sound duration and frequency for social communication. The research provides a simplified wiring diagram for understanding how the brain allows vertebrates to produce sounds, revealing an ancestrally shared brain area that originated in fishes.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 14, 2011