The rover Opportunity has revealed new insights into Mars' geologic history, including the presence of hematite spheres, sulfate-rich sandstone, and minerals commonly found in meteorites. The data supports previous findings that water once flowed on Mars' surface, with a likely underground source.
Researchers found that minor differences in cell proliferation timing can explain large differences in eyes of owl monkeys and capuchin monkeys. This discovery reveals an evolutionary mechanism for changes in brain structure, enabling flexibility in eye specialization.
Scientists at Cornell University have successfully created a new ferroelectric material that can store electronic information instantly, paving the way for next-generation memory devices. The research involves depositing strontium titanate on silicon to create a special state called ferroelectric.
Researchers teach computer to find regularities in nature that become established laws without prior knowledge, applicable to biology, cosmology, and complex systems. The algorithm tests equations against known derivatives, repeats until accurate equations are found.
The Einstein@Home project is analyzing Arecibo radio data to find binary systems consisting of neutron stars or black holes. The large computational capabilities of the project will enable detection of pulsars in binary systems with orbital periods as short as 11 minutes.
A new study by Cornell University uses advanced tracking technologies to monitor declining fish populations. The research reveals that mixing of stocks is a major issue in unsustainable fishing practices, highlighting the need for updated management strategies.
A new Cornell study reveals that women are underrepresented in math-intensive science careers and senior leadership positions due to their need for flexibility to raise children. Women with advanced math abilities choose non-math fields more often than men with similar abilities.
Recent studies by Cornell researcher Rui Hai Liu found that fresh apple extracts significantly inhibited the size of mammary tumors in rats, with greater inhibition seen at higher doses. The findings highlight the potential health benefits of consuming more fruits and vegetables, including apples, to reduce breast cancer risk.
A Cornell research team mapped histone-DNA interactions in nucleosomes, gaining new understanding of how genes are packed and expressed. The study's findings could help uncover the effects of histone or DNA sequence changes on motor protein access to genetic information.
A Cornell-led team has observed dust forming around a dying star in a nearby galaxy, providing insights into the early universe and the evolution of galaxies. The discovery sheds new light on how cosmic dust was created in the universe's early stages.
Researchers at Cornell University discovered that male and female mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) create a harmonic duet just before mating. The frequency of this duet is approximately 400-600 hertz for the female and 600-1200 hertz for the male, significantly above previously thought limits.
Butterflies use their hind wings to make quick turns and evade predators, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study found that removing hind wings reduces turning acceleration in half, making it harder for predators to catch them.
A new study reveals diatoms' diversity peaked at least 10 million years before grasslands became common, suggesting a sudden drop in species numbers around 33 million years ago. This trend coincides with severe global cooling, casting doubt on the theory that nutrient influx from grasslands drove diatom success.
A new, portable ultrasound device created by Cornell graduate student George K. Lewis can treat prostate tumors and kidney stones by breaking them up, while also relieving arthritis pressure. The device is smaller, more powerful, and less expensive than traditional models, paving the way for its use in hospitals and medical research labs.
A Cornell University researcher has developed a tiny, implantable device that captures and kills up to 30% of tumor cells in the bloodstream before they spread. The 'lint brush' uses naturally occurring proteins to attract and kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells.
A new Cornell study found that including realistic estimates of black carbon in soil climate models reduces predicted carbon dioxide emissions by 20% over 100 years. Soils are the world's largest source of carbon dioxide, producing 10 times more CO2 than human activities combined.
A new Cornell study found a strong relationship between allergies and cancer in tissues exposed to environmental factors, such as eczema, hives, and hay fever. Allergies linked to these conditions were most strongly associated with lower rates of cancers in exposed tissues.
Researchers describe how cells recycle protein waste to prevent diseases such as Alzheimer's, cystic fibrosis, and developmental disorders. Cells use enzymes and specialized complexes, known as ESCRTs, to break down and dispose of damaged proteins.
A study by Cornell researchers has identified a possible environmental trigger for autism in genetically vulnerable children, which could lead to preventable diagnoses. The study found that higher levels of precipitation are associated with increased autism prevalence rates in counties with more exposed children.
Researchers Leif Ristroph and Jun Zhang used a tabletop experiment to show that two or more flexible objects in a flow experience drag differently than rigid objects. For example, when one flag flaps, it reduces its own drag but increases the drag on its follower, contrary to expected behavior.
A new Cornell University study found that climate change is driving rapid ecosystem shifts in the North Atlantic, with cold Arctic waters flowing south and altering species distributions and food chains. The study reports counterintuitive findings, including northern species moving southward as temperatures rise.
Cornell researchers develop a cost-effective method to create nanoscale devices by manipulating fluid droplets and using silicone rubber molds. The technique allows for the production of various architectures, including wires, disks, squares, triangles, and superlattices, with potential applications in computer memory and photonics.
A Cornell University study is exploring the potential of field grasses in the Northeast as a source for biofuels. The project has identified switchgrass, big bluestem and other native wild grasses with great potential for producing biomass needed for conversion to alternative energy.
Researchers at Cornell University demonstrate how GPS receivers can be fooled by fake signals, posing a risk to global positioning system technology. The study aims to inspire designers to develop methods to guard against such attacks and protect critical infrastructure.
Cornell researchers have created a one-atom-thick graphene membrane that is ultra-strong, leak-proof and impermeable to gases. The membrane could be used for various applications such as imaging biological materials in solution or studying the movement of atoms through microscopic holes.
The Institute for Computational Sustainability will pursue research agendas that advance computing and benefit society, focusing on ecology, conservation, and environmental management. It aims to create a new field of computational sustainability, combining constraint optimization, dynamical systems, and machine learning.
A study published in Nature describes the use of DNA analysis to pinpoint the geographic origins of individuals from a sample of Europeans. The research revealed striking genetic maps of Europe, allowing for precise classification of individuals by region.
A recent study by Cornell University found that open-access articles receive more downloads than subscription-based articles, but do not receive more citations. Higher quality articles are simply made freely available, reversing the cause-and-effect relationship previously assumed.
Researchers found milkweed plants have declined in three key defense traits against caterpillars, such as hairs, cardenolides and latex, but increased ability to regrow. This evolutionary trend may be an energy-efficient response to counter caterpillar attacks.
Researchers mapped the developing brain cells in midshipman fish larvae and compared them to other species to find that the neural network behind sound production is conserved across vertebrates. This finding puts human speech and social communications in evolutionary context, providing a framework for studying social behavior.
A Cornell University study found that supplementing cows with rbST reduces the carbon hoofprint by easing energy, land, and nutritional inputs necessary for milk production. This results in significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, natural resource usage, and environmental degradation.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a new method to self-assemble metals into complex nanostructures. This allows for the creation of more efficient catalysts for fuel cells and industrial processes. Additionally, it enables the development of microstructured surfaces to enhance conductor performance.
A team of Cornell researchers has created a computer program to optimize ambulance deployment and reduce response times. The program estimates the best way to spread ambulances across a municipality to maximize coverage at all times.
A new method of generating high-power signals at frequencies up to 1.16 THz has been proposed, potentially replacing X-rays for medical imaging and security applications. The technique uses nonlinear constructive interference on an ordinary silicon chip.
A new system of smart buoys installed along Massachusetts Bay's busy shipping lanes is helping to reduce collisions between right whales and ships. The buoys recognize the whales' distinctive calls and provide real-time warnings to ships, allowing them to avoid deadly encounters.
A new study at Cornell University has created the first nanoscale image of soil, revealing an incredible variety of known compounds. The research sheds light on the chemical processes that cycle organic matter in soil, which is crucial for understanding climate change.
Cornell researchers have identified 63 proteins in male mosquitoes' seminal fluid that can suppress female appetite for mammalian blood and stimulate egg production. The study's findings could lead to novel strategies to prevent dengue virus spread, a disease affecting 50 million people annually.
A broad-based global partnership will focus on developing improved rust-resistant wheat varieties to protect resource-poor farmers and consumers from catastrophic crop losses in vulnerable regions, particularly India and Africa. The project aims to combat the emergence of deadly new variants of stem rust that can spread quickly.
A team of Cornell researchers has developed a computer model that explains how granulite, a fine-grained metamorphic rock, forms in the Earth's crust. The model reveals that granulite can form at various depths but at similar temperatures as melted rock migrates up through the crust.
The new STEM allows for color pictures of individual atoms, revealing bonding between them and material properties. It also increases imaging speed by a hundredfold, enabling scientists to analyze structures at the atomic scale.
The new microscope uses aberration-correction technology to form color images uniquely identifying individual atoms in a crystal and showing how they bond. It allows scientists to analyze materials at the atomic scale, enabling better development of new materials for electronic circuits and nanoscale devices.
A Cornell-led study comparing 15 African-Americans and 20 European-Americans found proportionately more harmful genetic variations in Europeans. Computer simulations suggest that the first Europeans had smaller and less diverse populations, allowing mildly harmful variations to become more frequent over time.
PARP-1 and histone H1 compete for binding to gene promoters, with PARP-1 turning genes on. The study reveals a surprising number of genes are kept on by the presence of PARP-1.
Arecibo Observatory will observe near-Earth asteroid TU24 on January 27-28 and February 1-4, using its powerful radar to gauge size, speed, and spin. The mission aims to map the object's surface in detail, providing valuable information about potentially hazardous near-Earth objects.
The Arecibo Observatory has discovered methanimine and hydrogen cyanide, two key ingredients for life, in a distant galaxy. These molecules were found by searching for radio emission at specific frequencies, using the world's largest and most sensitive radio telescope.
New research by Arecibo Observatory increases the mass limit for neutron star formation into black holes, suggesting they may be more rare. Neutron stars are found to remain stable between 1.9 and 2.7 sun masses, contradicting previous thought.
Researchers at Cornell University found that enzyme RNA polymerase II assembles at the site of an activated gene, regardless of its position. This challenges the traditional view of 'transcription factories' and provides new insights into the gene transcription mechanism.
Cornell researchers have discovered silica-rich deposits in Spirit's wake on Mars, providing new evidence for a once-habitable environment. These findings are significant as they suggest a 'local habitable niche' on the planet's surface, supporting microbial life-like conditions.
Researchers at Cornell University found that vibrating mice can signal users to take breaks, but may not change behavior. Ergonomic products like undulating chairs and movable arms for monitors show promise in reducing workplace injuries and improving comfort.
Cornell researchers have proven the polymer trap model theory of sugar transport in plants, which could lead to increased photosynthetic rates and carbon dioxide intake. The study uses genetic engineering to silence genes involved in sucrose polymerization, resulting in a buildup of sugars in leaves.