Researchers at Dartmouth College have created a breakthrough device that can immediately detect secondhand tobacco smoke and even third-hand smoke. The sensor is small, light, and can be used in various settings to reduce the risk of health effects associated with environmental tobacco smoke.
Researchers at Dartmouth College have invented a mini prototype that can detect nicotine vapor molecules in real time, pinpointing when and where exposure occurred. The device has the potential to enforce no-smoking regulations and raise awareness about secondhand smoke risks.
A Dartmouth study suggests that increasing competitor and predator beetle populations can prevent population explosions of pine beetles, a major forest pest. The research confirms that some species, like the southern pine beetle, exhibit extreme fluctuations in abundance with no middle ground.
A study published in PNAS found that modern humans with feet adapted for terrestrial bipedalism can still climb trees effectively. Researchers observed extreme dorsiflexion and longer muscle fibers in climbing individuals, challenging the idea that a terrestrially adapted foot excludes arboreal behavior.
A Dartmouth-led effort publishes major findings on how mercury released into the air contaminates ocean fish and seafood. The research provides a synthesis of science on mercury sources, fate, and human exposure in marine systems, tracing pathways from sources to seafood to consumers.
Stephon Alexander, a prominent physicist at Dartmouth College, has received the Edward A. Bouchet Award for his work on theoretical cosmology and its impact on early universe studies. The award recognizes his efforts to promote diversity in physics research.
Dartmouth researchers investigate nerve cells that establish spatial navigation, using microelectrodes to record activity in rat brains. Head direction cells and place cells work together to provide an overall sense of location and direction.
Dartmouth College researchers have found that variations in white blood cell patterns can help predict the onset of certain cancers and diagnose them. By analyzing methylation signatures in leukocytes, they discovered correlations between specific cancers and unique patterns of immune cell subsets.
A study published in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience found that brain white matter can change and adapt in response to long-term learning processes. Using diffusion tensor imaging, researchers observed significant structural changes in adults learning a complex skill over time.
The conference aimed to examine recent developments in active galactic nuclei and their effect on star formation. Researchers now believe that the energy released by supermassive black holes controls this process, which is crucial for galaxy evolution.
Dartmouth medical research has made a breakthrough in developing a new tuberculosis vaccine, DAR-901. The vaccine, produced by growing bacteria related to TB on agar plates and then inactivating them with heat, has shown a statistically significant reduction of 39% in the rate of tuberculosis among HIV-infected patients.
Research highlights the dangers of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) on adolescent brain function and behavior. Studies show that exposure to AAS at critical periods during adolescence can impose permanent changes in brain organization and function, leading to physiological and psychiatric effects that may persist into middle age.
Majorana particles may form the basis of quantum computers, while also being linked to dark matter. Theoretical physicists at Dartmouth College have proposed a model suggesting Majoranas could exist in topological superconductors.
New research by Richard Wright and colleagues found that while racial diversity is increasing in major US cities, highly diverse neighborhoods are still rare. The study also showed that many African Americans remain concentrated in segregated neighborhoods despite immigration, which has led to more racially diverse tracts.
Dartmouth researchers have found that exercise has different effects on memory and the brain depending on age, with potential therapeutic benefits for ADHD. The study identified a gene that mediates exercise's impact on mental health, offering new avenues for treatment.
A recent study found that 22% of student athletes who participated in contact sports scored significantly lower in memory and learning skills compared to non-contact sport athletes. The study suggests that repeated head impacts may have a negative impact on cognitive function, but the effects may not be permanent.
Researchers at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine have identified variant enhancer loci (VELs) that can turn genes on or off in colorectal cancer. The discovery provides clues about the disease's development and could lead to new therapeutic targets.
A Dartmouth study found that functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain scans can predict future weight gain and sexual activity in individuals. By analyzing the brain's response to appetite-driven cues and other triggers, researchers were able to identify correlations between brain activity and real-world behavior.
Radioactive iodine found in New Hampshire's Mink Brook watershed is a result of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power facility's explosion. The study shows minimal deposition in soil but doubling in stream sediments, with significant dilution expected.
Researchers have identified hypervelocity planets and stars that are ejected from the Milky Way at millions of miles per hour due to their close interaction with a massive black hole. The study suggests that these high-speed objects can provide valuable insights into planetary formation and evolution near the central black hole.
Smartphones can be used to track symptoms and deliver real-time interventions for people with schizophrenia, according to Dartmouth College research. A survey of 1,600 individuals found that 70% had cellphones and used them frequently.
Research found alarmingly high concentrations of arsenic in commercial infant formulas and cereal bars containing organic brown rice syrup. The study highlights the need for regulatory limits on arsenic in food products, particularly those with rice-based ingredients.
Tarsiers have been largely unchanged for 45 million years and possess the most extreme ultrasonic calls in the animal kingdom, surpassing all other primates. Researchers discovered that these animals emit ultrasonic alarm calls when humans are near, potentially as a means to evade detection by predators.
Researchers found that individuals with developmental prosopagnosia unconsciously recognized famous faces at an early stage but lost this information by the later stage. This suggests 'covert face recognition' where some part of the brain is aware of the face despite lack of conscious awareness
Researchers assigned distinct aspects of visual information processing to each side of the brain, revealing a division of labor between left and right hemispheres. The left hemisphere processes external physical input, resolving into a 'grey scale', while the right hemisphere makes final decisions on face recognition.
A new study on orangutans under dietary stress in Borneo reveals how their adaptation to hard, tough foods may have influenced human evolution. The research suggests that the orangutans' larger molars and more robust jaws developed in response to these challenging food sources.
A study published by Dartmouth researchers found that pregnant women who consumed rice had higher levels of arsenic in their urine, highlighting the need to monitor arsenic in food sources. The findings also underscore concerns about private well water being a potential source of arsenic exposure.
Dartmouth Computer Science Professor Hany Farid and Eric Kee propose a rating system to assess the extent of digital retouching in photos. This metric could incentivize publishers and models to reduce extreme forms of retouching, potentially mitigating adverse effects on body image and public health.
Researchers find that the brain's responses to movies reveal a detailed code that is the same for all individuals. A new method called hyperalignment allows activity patterns in one individual's brain to be decoded by comparing them to patterns in other people's brains.
The new Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Center at Dartmouth will advance understanding of arsenic exposure's effects on maternal and child health. The center aims to gain insights into the consequences of low-level arsenic exposure, particularly on fetal growth and development.
Researchers bridge the gap between classical and quantum physics by exploring how the rules of quantum mechanics apply to macroscopic objects. They discovered that vibrations in a crystal can cause electrons to tunnel through barriers, leading to random quantum fluctuations.
Competition among lizards is more important than predation by birds and snakes for survival, according to a study published in Nature. The researchers found that high-density populations favor larger size and better running ability.
College women are more likely to be vaccinated against HPV if their mothers communicate with them about sex and approve of the vaccine. Young women who thought their mothers would approve were more interested in getting vaccinated, while those whose mothers discussed values in relation to sex showed less interest.
A new study by Dartmouth researchers found that patients treated at similar, specialized cancer care institutions experienced equal mortality rates regardless of race. This study suggests a substantial decrease in death rates among African Americans when treated at these institutions.
Researchers at Dartmouth College found that female brown anole lizards prefer larger males to father their sons, resulting in increased survival rates. This unique mating strategy allows the females to pass on beneficial genes for large size to their offspring.
Researchers at Dartmouth College have discovered a protein structure controlling Vibrio cholerae's virulent nature. A fatty acid found within the protein appears to inhibit its function, preventing the bacteria from causing life-threatening diarrhea.
A new vaccine against tuberculosis has been shown to be effective in preventing the disease in people with HIV infection. The DarDar Health Study found that the Mycobacterium vaccae (MV) vaccine reduced the rate of definite tuberculosis by 39 percent among 2,000 HIV-infected patients in Tanzania.
Dartmouth researchers have received a five-year $18.8 million grant from the US Department of Energy to develop cyber security tools for the power grid. The 'Smarter Grid' project aims to integrate information technologies with real-time authentication, integrity, and confidentiality.
A Dartmouth professor used digital forensics to analyze the famous Oswald photo, finding no evidence of tampering. The analysis ruled out a conspiracy and provided new insight into the photo's authenticity.
Two studies by Dartmouth researchers analyzed how personal genetic testing companies use genome data to judge customer health, finding the knowledge base is still in its infancy. The authors also used genetic data to reveal ancestry information, discovering six subgroups of people with distinct genetic backgrounds.
Dartmouth researchers have proposed a new method to create tiny quantum-sized black holes in the laboratory, allowing for better understanding of Hawking radiation. The SQUID-based setup enables exploration of analogue quantum gravitational effects and may be more straightforward for detecting Hawking radiation.
The Trustworthy Information Systems for Healthcare project aims to improve the security and effectiveness of information technology infrastructure in healthcare settings. Researchers will address fundamental challenges in information security, such as protecting clinical information while ensuring clinician access.
A study by researchers at Dartmouth College found that exposure to smoking in movies can lead to an increase in smoking among teenagers. The study, published in the July 2009 issue of Pediatrics, suggests that even positive characters who smoke have a stronger influence on youth than previously thought.
Researchers have made new inroads into understanding the regulatory circuitry of the biological clock that synchronizes daily activities. Two studies published in Cell and Molecular Cell provide a complete view of the regulation of circadian clocks across a day, revealing the role of phosphorylation and temperature compensation.
Combining a mainstay antibiotic with drugs to deprive bacteria of iron boosts infection killing, according to Dartmouth researchers. Their study found that using two FDA-approved iron chelators and tobramycin eradicated biofilms by 90 percent.
Dartmouth researchers found a significant increase in rare element osmium worldwide, tracing it to platinum refinement and catalytic converters. The team measured osmium in precipitation, surface water, and deep water globally, with most of the findings linked to industrial processes.
Researchers found that two proteins, Kif2b and MCAK, work together to ensure proper chromosome segregation during cell division. Increasing these proteins in tumor cells restored nearly normal accuracy of chromosome segregation, providing insight into mechanisms of cell division in tumor cells.
A team of Dartmouth researchers has found a new function for the protein NOD, which plays a crucial role in chromosome segregation during cell division. This discovery contributes to our understanding of how cell functions can go wrong, particularly in cancerous cells.
The Partition Decoupling Method (PDM) is a new mathematical tool that can unscramble the underlying structure of time-dependent, interrelated complex data. The researchers applied it to the equities market, revealing both known structures and patterns as well as new ones.
A team of researchers from Dartmouth College's National Center for Disaster Mental Health Research will study the mental health impact of Hurricane Ike in Galveston, Texas. The three concurrent studies focus on stress management, Internet-based self-help tools, and cognitive behavioral therapy to aid survivors' recovery.