A Cornell University study found that overweight cats are more likely to develop diabetes mellitus, lameness, and non-allergic skin conditions. The study also showed that obese cats are twice as likely to die in middle age compared to optimal weight cats.
Researchers use infrared spectrometer to study Comet Hale-Bopp, revealing an abundance of silicate grains with crystalline and amorphous structures. The findings provide valuable clues about the comet's makeup and potential origins of the solar system.
Researchers at Cornell University have achieved a breakthrough in materials science by growing single crystals of any material on a semiconductor substrate. This technique opens doors for manufacturing new classes of devices in optoelectronics and microelectronics, including lasers, detectors, sensors, and computer chips.
The Cornell University scientists are leading an effort to develop agricultural systems that explicitly improve human health. The new approach, known as a 'food systems' approach, aims to increase the availability of micronutrients like iron in staple crops, reducing illnesses such as heart disease and cancer.
A new study by Cornell University researchers reveals that plants require vitamin C to withstand environmental stresses, such as high ozone levels and ultraviolet radiation. This finding has significant implications for improving crop foods with low vitamin C content, which can help address nutritional deficiencies in humans.
Cornell ornithologist Andre Dhondt highlights the importance of involving volunteers in scientific research and education. He notes that thousands of school children and teachers contribute valuable data to projects like Project FeederWatch and Classroom FeederWatch, helping scientists answer real-world questions.
Researcher Robert Connelly uses tensegrities to model molecular structures like buckminsterfullerenes, which have unique geometric stability. His work provides insights into the behavior of certain-shaped molecules and could lead to a catalogue of stable tensegrity structures.
The BirdSource website enables citizens to share their bird-watching observations, creating a comprehensive database of North American bird distribution, migratory pathways, and population trends. This initiative leverages citizen-science data from programs like FeederWatch and the Christmas Bird Counts.
A study by Cornell University biologist Stephen T. Emlen found that evolutionary predispositions, such as helping closely related kin, can lead to conflict and violence in modern families. The biologist suggests that increasing awareness of these inherited behaviors can help minimize damage in stepfamily situations.
Microbial subsurface life is likely to be found on Mars and other planetary bodies in our solar system. The theory proposes that life evolved from the inside out, using rocks for oxygen, and suggests that petroleum has come up from great depths, not from biological sediments.
Cornell researchers are investigating the use of grasses as windbreaks to combat the onion bulb mite, a pest affecting New York's $50-75 million annual onion crop. The team is also exploring other management techniques, including manipulating windbreaks and testing chemicals for control.
A new study from Cornell University finds that college women who experienced childhood sexual abuse tend to have less secure and trusting relationships with their partners. The researchers also found that the quality of a girl's childhood attachment to her primary caregivers plays a significant role in mitigating the long-term negative...
A Cornell University study found that New York adoptive parents are overwhelmingly in favor of laws allowing adult adoptees access to information in their birth certificates. The study surveyed 1,274 adoptive parents and found that adoptive mothers were more likely to support opening adoption records than fathers. Key findings include ...
Cornell researchers have developed a new technique to measure serotonin concentration in live cells, using pulsed lasers for excitation. This method allows for the visualization of serotonin secretory granules in real-time without damaging the cell or requiring external fluorescent markers.
A new Cornell University study warns that water shortages will worsen globally unless resource-management practices improve. The report suggests ending irrigation subsidies and rewarding conservation to manage water more efficiently.
A new species of ground beetle, Platynus indecentis, has been officially named and described by entomologists at Cornell University. The beetle was found in the Ithaca area and has a natural range extending from Maine to Ohio and Ontario to Maryland.
A Cornell University nutritionist analyzed 40 studies on long-term use of the diet pill Redux and found that the benefits do not outweigh the risks. The amount of weight lost after one year is equivalent to a 62-calorie difference a day, roughly the amount burned by walking for half a hour.
A 10-year study found that men and women taking selenium supplements had 41% less total cancer compared to those taking a placebo. The study also showed significant reductions in specific types of cancer, including prostate, esophageal, colorectal, and lung cancers.
Men want to be involved in family planning but are often ignored, with a significant disparity between research on women and men. Studies found that men's reproductive goals are similar to those of women, highlighting the need for inclusive family planning programs.
Research by Cybele Raver found that children whose parents actively directed their visual attention spent more time distracting themselves away from a source of distress. These strategies are indicative of social competence and lead to better relationships with peers.
Researchers tracked eight female leatherback turtles using satellite transmitters and found they prefer specific ocean corridors extending from Central America to the Galapagos Islands. The discovery highlights the importance of considering these corridors in conservation efforts, as international fishing fleets threaten turtle survival.
A Cornell University scholar reexamines the Nuremberg Medical Trial, highlighting the use of a fictional report to justify medical research on US prisoners. The paper also critiques Andrew Ivy's testimony at the trial and its implications for the field of medical ethics.
Researchers found that naked mole-rats prefer to recruit family members to new food sources rather than eating them themselves. The rodents use a unique recruitment chirp and chemical trails to guide their kin to the food, even in pitch-black tunnels.
Researchers found two production-boosting genes, YLD1 and YLD2, in wild rice O. rufipogon that improved crop yields by 15-17% when combined with domesticated varieties. The study aims to reverse genetic erosion and selectively enrich the genetic base of crop plants.
Researchers discovered that the millipede Polyxenus fasciculatus uses its rear to confront ants and other attackers, employing a complex defense mechanism involving detachable bristles with barbed hooks. The bristle tufts can entangle predators, making it difficult for them to escape.
A Cornell University study reveals that insects, including crickets, possess categorical perception - the ability to distinguish between 'friend' and 'foe' sounds. Researchers used a test originally developed for human infants to demonstrate this ability in crickets, finding a dividing line at 16kHz.
The Asian longhorned beetle is attacking Brooklyn's horsechestnut and Norway maple tree population, which are under immense pressure due to urbanization. The beetle's larvae can weaken trees structurally, posing a significant threat to the city's tree population.
Cornell materials scientists have created arrays of atomically flat silicon surfaces, eliminating atomic steps and overcoming a major hurdle in miniaturization. The technique involves creating a grid of ridges on the surface and forcing atomic steps into them, resulting in step-free regions.
Researchers have created the world's smallest wires, only 6 angstroms in diameter, which can be used to make cables inside a polymer matrix. The tiny wires can act as electrical conductors and may have applications in microelectronics, anti-static materials, and optical uses.
Cornell University scientists have developed a new technique for accurately characterizing biomolecules using electrospray mass spectrometry. This breakthrough allows researchers to analyze samples as small as a single cell with unusually high confidence, opening up new avenues for molecular investigations into human medical disorders.
A Cornell psychologist suggests that a child's early preferences for sex-typical or nonconformist activities and peers may shape their future sexual orientation. Studies show that many gay men and lesbians recall being more attracted to those who were different from them in childhood.
A Cornell University team found no overt response from humpback whales to the Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate (ATOC) simulation sounds in Hawaiian waters. The whales swam normally near the underwater speakers, with some even singing close to the speaker.
Researchers found that some algal cells can grow and survive in near-normal conditions without Photosystem I, a key component of traditional photosynthesis. This discovery may challenge our understanding of plant biology and suggest new avenues for studying photosynthesis.
Researchers at Cornell University have successfully determined the structure of a newly identified key protein, expanding our understanding of cellular function and potential therapeutic targets. The discovery opens doors to further investigation of this protein's role in various diseases.
Two new 'cool climate' grape varieties, Traminette and Marquis, have been bred for their excellent fruit quality and cold-hardiness, making them suitable for the Northeast's short growing seasons. These hybrid grapes have shown promise in trials across several regions.
A team of researchers at Cornell University has identified the exact year logs were cut from ancient tombs in Turkey, dating back to 718 B.C. This finding pushes back the Aegean Late Bronze Age by as much as a century, providing new insights into ancient civilizations such as the Minoans and Mycenaeans.
New Cornell University research reveals the physics behind microwave cooking, explaining why microwaved food can be soggy and how internal pressure affects moisture loss. Understanding this physics enables food companies to design foods that cook better in microwaves.
The Cornell team won the $1,000 first prize with their hazelnut flavored chocolate Stir-In product, which adds flavor to coffee. The product consists of a cookie wrapped in chocolate and topped with a flavor that dissolves when stirred into hot coffee.
Researchers find Candida wickerhamii yeast neutralizes pollutant in sauerkraut brine, producing Beta-glucosidase enzyme to extract natural flavors from fruit pomace. The technology can add value to foods and beverages by adding specific fruit flavors, such as natural grape flavoring.
In a study by Cornell University, male fire-colored beetles (Neopyrochroa flabellata) entice females with a chemical offering containing cantharidin. The female ingests the chemical, which is then transferred to her eggs, protecting them from predators. This unique strategy highlights the resourcefulness of male insects in seeking mates.
Researchers at Cornell University are investigating methods to clarify clouded beverages such as beer, wine, and juice by removing haze-causing proteins and polyphenols. The goal is to extend the product's shelf life without compromising its quality or flavor.
A Cornell University study found that a chair-mounted split keyboard can reduce typing risks for carpal tunnel syndrome by improving upper body posture. The 'floating arms' keyboard (FAK) is the only design that attaches to a chair, reducing deviated postures and wrist movements.
A Cornell anthropologist studies Japanese expectations for imported seafood, finding that external appearance is crucial in determining the 'perfect' tuna. American fishermen must learn about cultural differences and standards to compete with Asian buyers and meet Japan's high standards for seafood quality.
Biologists at Cornell and Washington universities have genetically engineered rice plants to resist some of the most destructive insects as well as salt and drought damage. The technology will be given to developing countries under a Rockefeller Foundation grant.
A new study by Cornell University and the University of Arizona found that when parents argue with their spouses, they are more likely to have tense interactions with their children. Fathers are particularly prone to this 'tension spillover', especially in families where mothers work full-time.
The Arecibo Observatory has completed a $25 million upgrade, increasing its sensitivity by a factor of about 20 for radar studies of the solar system. The new system will allow scientists to listen into cellular phone calls on Venus and detect steel golf balls at moon distances.
A new study by Cornell University researchers found that students from divorced families are less likely to apply to and attend selective colleges. After controlling for factors such as income and parent education, the study found that only 28% of students living with two biological parents were likely to apply to a selective college, ...
Researchers at Cornell University are working on two projects, COBRA and FIREX, to create a new approach to fusion energy production. COBRA aims to investigate the use of ion beams as an alternative to laser beams for inertial fusion, while FIREX focuses on magnetic fusion and its potential to replace Tokamaks.
Researchers are using neutron radiography to study the behavior of corn rootworms, analyze artwork, and investigate environmental issues such as oil spills. The technology also enables non-invasive observation of root growth, water distribution, and soil responses.