A new method developed by Cornell researchers allows for fast comparison of genomes, tracing evolutionary paths and identifying genes. This enables practical applications in plant breeding, medicine, and disease research, with potential breakthroughs in disease resistance and nutritional value.
The Arabidopsis thaliana plant's genetic evidence suggests it emerged between 50 and 200 million years ago. Researchers used computational tools to analyze its genome, finding duplicated chromosome segments that date back to ancient polyploid events, providing insights into the evolution of agricultural crops.
Ecologists developed a new mathematical model that uses just a few factors to capture the essentials of predator-prey battles, predicting population cycles and dynamics. The model was tested in a laboratory microcosm with single-celled algae and microscopic animals, showing results consistent with predictions.
A study by Cornell University researchers found that each mating strategy in side-blotched lizards has its advantages and vulnerabilities, allowing them to coexist and perpetuate. The aggressive orange-throated males, loyal blue-throated males, and sneaky yellow-throated males all have a reasonable chance of reproductive success.
Biomolecular motors powered by ATP and spinning nickel propellers have been successfully built and tested, enabling the creation of ultrasmall robotic devices. The technology holds promise for developing nanonurses and smart pharmacies that can detect chemical signals from body cells and precisely dispense drugs.
A recent study by Cornell University neurobiologists found that female birds prefer males with the most elaborate courtship songs, which are associated with larger brain structures and improved learning abilities. This choice is thought to be driven by sexual selection, where females aim to pass on desirable traits to their offspring.
The National Center for Eco-Industrial Development aims to facilitate job growth and sustainable industrial expansion in economically distressed communities. The new center will encourage industrial ecology, establish eco-industrial parks and expand the use of processes to maximize communities' development potential.
Researchers at Cornell University have found that releasing an early army of beneficial Trichogramma ostriniae wasps can halve European corn borer damage. The study suggests that growers only need to release around 30,000 wasps per acre and that subsequent releases may not be necessary.
A new sociological sampling method, called respondent-driven sampling, can identify hard-to-reach groups. By analyzing the connections between individuals in a group, researchers can gather information and correct for biases to obtain a representative sample of populations such as drug users, jazz musicians, and other marginalized groups.
A Cornell University research team studied the fundamental step in hydrogen combustion, finding that energy is released when newly formed water molecules are produced in excited vibrational and rotational levels. The study's results support new theoretical predictions, providing a breakthrough in understanding chemical reactions.
A Cornell University study reveals a significant decline in employment among working-age Americans with disabilities, with most experiencing a loss of economic ground despite receiving higher Social Security disability payments. The researchers argue that new national policies are needed to reintegrate young people with disabilities in...
A new Cornell University study found that surgeons performing carotid endarterectomies who got their licenses 20 or more years ago had the highest mortality rate among their patients. The study also found a relation between the mortality of endarterectomy patients and the number of times surgeons performed the procedure.
A Cornell University parent-education program has shown that it can triple the likelihood of parents discussing HIV risk reduction with their children. The program also significantly increases the likelihood that parents will make personal risk behavior changes and obtain HIV testing. The study, which involved 375 parents in New York C...
Research at Cornell University and Ohio State University finds that newspapers have a stronger influence on the civic participation of highly educated individuals. This is because they can process information more carefully and extract mobilizing information efficiently from newspapers. In contrast, television has negligible impact on ...
A five-year study will investigate how physical, biological and human interactions shape the ecosystems of Lake Ontario's freshwater bays and lagoons. The research team, led by Mark B. Bain, will examine internal ecosystem processes and integrate data to determine conditions for self-organization of ecosystems.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a new imaging technique called ion microscopy, which offers high sensitivity for detecting isotopes of elements. This technique promises to open new avenues of cancer research by localizing anticancer drugs inside tumor cells.
A new study by Cornell University found that dual-earner couples tend to follow traditional gender roles, with husbands' careers given priority. This 'neotraditional' model helps couples manage work and family demands, but may have negative consequences for women's job security and advancement opportunities.
A study by Cornell labor experts found that global capital mobility and ineffective labor laws create a climate where employers threaten to close plants or move investments to avoid unionization. This leads to increased job insecurity and no real wage gains for workers, despite the longest economic boom in US history.
Astronomer Joseph Veverka's team observed a 'saturated' surface with tiny craters and abundant blocks of ejected debris on asteroid 433 Eros. The low gravity is puzzling, as most ejecta would be expected to escape into space.
Researchers found that nurse home visits reduced child abuse and neglect by up to 80% among low-income, unmarried women and their first-born children. The program had little effect on homes with moderate to severe domestic violence.
Researchers at Cornell University will develop adaptive software that can adjust to changing conditions in simulations and hardware. The Adaptive Software Project aims to create software that behaves like a living organism, adapting to improve results or survival.
A new mathematical model links El Niño cycles to cholera outbreaks, with a consistent 3.7-year frequency in both ENSO events and cholera cases. The study suggests an 11-month time lag between ENSO events and peak cholera incidence, likely due to increased sea-surface temperatures and bacteria-bearing zooplankton.
A new Cornell University study reveals that residential crowding is harmful to people of all cultures, contradicting widely held beliefs. The research found no evidence that Asian Americans or Latin Americans can better withstand the adverse psychological consequences of living in crowded homes.
Two researchers at Cornell University have made important theoretical discoveries that establish the principles of crystal bonding for a group of thousands of compounds. The 'Papoian-Hoffmann bonding formula' is based on magic numbers, designating stability in linear, square and cube lattices.
Cornell University researchers reveal molecular motor Myo2p's crucial role in guiding the mitotic spindle during cell division. The study sheds light on an essential mechanism in new cell formation and highlights potential consequences of failures in molecular motor function.
A comprehensive study by Cornell University expert Lance Compa finds widespread labor rights violations in the US, with employers frequently firing workers who try to form unions and millions excluded from organizing laws. The report highlights the need for US labor law reform to meet international human rights standards.
A Cornell University computer scientist has concluded that the key to finding people in a network lies in its structure, which can provide fundamental cues for navigation. By using an "inverse square" pattern of connections, messages can travel faster and more efficiently through networks.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed an environmentally friendly adhesive that can be easily removed and cleaned up, making it possible to recycle outmoded computers. The adhesive, dubbed Alpha-Terp, can be broken down using heat or industrial solvents, allowing for the reuse of valuable components.
Researchers at Cornell University have discovered that stress can increase the amount of hypericin in St. John's Wort, a popular herbal remedy for depression. The study found that plants under attack from insects produce more hypericin, which may contribute to its effectiveness.
High levels of ground-level ozone have been found to severely impact the growth of ozone-sensitive crops on Long Island, including spinach, grapes, pumpkins, watermelons, and tomatoes. This research highlights the urgent need for attention to be paid to ambient ozone levels in agricultural areas.
Ground-level ozone levels are high enough to reduce growth and yield of sensitive plants on Long Island, where important agriculture is located. White clover has been particularly affected, with a 24-27% reduction in growth rate.
Researchers at Cornell University and the USDA have found that stressed St. John's wort plants produce more of the active compound hypericin, which is a key ingredient in depression remedies. The finding suggests that the plant's chemical arsenal increases when it faces stress from predators like insects.
Cornell University has been selected by NASA to lead the science team for the next Mars mission, which will include a large roving vehicle carrying six scientific instruments. The rover's Pancam panoramic camera system will reveal terrain around the vehicle and help select rock targets for study.
A study by Cornell University ecologists found that cadmium from abandoned mines is affecting white-tailed ptarmigan birds in Colorado, causing brittle bones and damaged kidneys. The metal is also concentrated in willow plants, which the birds eat, leading to reduced reproductive success.
A new study finds that women with moderate iron deficiency struggle to increase aerobic endurance after exercise training, while iron supplements can compensate for this impairment. Iron-deficient women who boost their body iron through supplements can improve their exercise endurance twice as much as those without supplementation.
A team of scientists at Cornell University has discovered a genetic connection between the evolution of plump fruits and vegetables and the growth of human cancer cells. The study identified a single gene called ORFX that plays a key role in plant fruit development, similar to the human oncogene c-H-ras p21.
A plant-based vaccine has successfully triggered human immunity to the Norwalk virus, causing widespread food-borne illness in the US. Researchers at Cornell University and the University of Maryland have developed a transgenic potato vaccine that shows promising results in clinical trials.
Researchers at Cornell University found that larger lakes have longer food chains than smaller ones, contrary to previous assumptions about energy availability. The study suggests that the size of an ecosystem, not energy levels, constrains food-chain length.
A study reveals that nearly 900 potentially hazardous asteroids are hurtling towards Earth, with some passing within a few moon distances every year. The researchers estimate that only 40% of kilometer-or-larger asteroids have been discovered, leaving the remaining 60% potentially difficult to find.
A study published in Nature found that the combination of flavonoids and polyphenols in apples provides anti-oxidant and anti-cancer benefits. The researchers discovered that eating 100 grams of fresh apple with skins can provide the same anti-oxidant activity as 1,500 milligrams of vitamin C.
Researchers at Cornell University have discovered how a hyperactive form of the molecular switch Cdc42 disrupts orderly cell growth, leading to cancer. The team found that Cdc42 increases protein shuttling, overstimulating cellular activities and causing hallmarks of cancer cells.
A new study by Cornell University and the University of Colorado found that state child-support guidelines increase the probability of unwed mothers receiving awards, often increasing their size. In contrast, guidelines for divorced or separated women with children have little impact on award levels.
Researchers propose two theories to explain the origin of neutron star kicks: the 'mass rocket,' which suggests a mass ejection asymmetry, and the 'neutrino rocket,' which relies on the intense magnetic field surrounding the newly formed neutron star. These theories aim to explain the observed high speeds of pulsars and the asymmetrica...
A study by Cornell University researchers suggests that prenatal cocaine exposure may cause lasting attention dysfunction in children, impacting their ability to focus despite distractions. The findings support the potential long-term effects of cocaine use during pregnancy on children's cognitive development.
Researchers discovered that large female spiders in colonies compete for space by building their webs earlier, using a capitalist technique to pre-empt areas. This strategy allows them to secure private space for egg-laying and reduces conflicts with smaller spiders.
A study published in The Quarterly Review of Biology suggests that morning sickness serves a beneficial function, shielding the mother and fetus from harmful foods and chemicals. Women who experience morning sickness are less likely to miscarry than those who do not, and their aversion to certain foods peaks during the first trimester.
The Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft has captured the chemical composition of asteroid Eros, indicating it is a primitive relic from the solar system's emergence from a cloud of gas and dust. The data suggest that Eros has remained largely unchanged since its initial formation.
A Cornell University study reveals that a naturally occurring disease can regulate a wildlife population, with house finches experiencing a dramatic drop in numbers after an epidemic began. The research provides insight into the dynamics of other host/disease systems and has implications for understanding diseases like AIDS.
The symposium aims to strengthen research relationships between university scientists and industry experts in the rapidly growing field of polymers. Robert Waymouth will deliver three lectures on polyolefin catalysis and its applications.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a nanofabricated device that can separate DNA fragments by length in as little as 15-30 minutes, compared to the traditional method which takes 12-24 hours. The device uses alternating deep and shallow sections to propel DNA strands through it, allowing for faster separation and analysis.