Researchers at Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering have developed a thermophilic bacterium that can produce ethanol from cellulosic biomass without adding enzymes. This discovery brings the US closer to alternative fuel production and offers significant environmental benefits.
A group of experts has developed a roadmap for improving our understanding of how mercury moves through the marine ecosystem and into the fish we eat. The report prioritizes integrated monitoring across habitats, considering links between marine sources, biotransfer processes, and bioaccumulation mechanisms.
The five-year grant supports an interdisciplinary doctoral program in polar sciences and engineering with a focus on rapid environmental change. The program will integrate science, policy, and human aspects of climate change.
A study published in Pediatrics found that an average of 12.5% of 10-14 year olds are exposed to graphic violence in R-rated movies, with some films seen by up to 48% of this age group. The researchers recommend rethinking the movie rating system and promoting clearer messages to parents.
Researchers at Dartmouth College have identified a crucial gene involved in chloroplast iron acquisition and efficient photosynthesis. The FRO7 gene is essential for plants to take up iron from the soil, particularly in iron-deficient conditions.
A study by Dartmouth researchers found that people can acquire motor skills through observation as well as practice. The Action Observation Network in the brain was activated equally when participants observed practiced and unpracticed sequences.
A team of Dartmouth researchers is launching the Dartmouth Internet Security Testbed (DIST) to examine live network activity and develop methods for detecting malicious activity. The project will provide valuable insights into securing wireless networks, improving network security technology and practices for all internet users.
Researchers at Dartmouth have found that chromium displays unexpected magnetic properties, which can be used in spintronics to process and store data more efficiently. This discovery expands the potential applications of antiferromagnets in technology.
Researchers have discovered a multi-planet system with two large planets similar to Jupiter and Saturn, suggesting that planetary systems like our own may be common in the Milky Way galaxy. This is the first discovery of its kind, using a new gravitational microlensing technique.
Researchers at Dartmouth College have discovered that microRNAs played a crucial role in the emergence of vertebrates, with diverse regulatory mechanisms driving genome assembly. The study's findings suggest that these tiny molecules were responsible for the origin of unique organs such as the liver, pancreas, and brain.
Researchers found potentially dangerous levels of mercury and arsenic in Lake Baiyangdian, a source of drinking water for thousands. The study highlights the need to apply US environmental research to China's rapidly industrializing environment.
Dartmouth College researcher Robyn Millan will lead a NASA project launching over 40 high-altitude balloons from Antarctica to study the Earth's Van Allen Belts. The balloons will carry instrumentation to better understand how the belts release radiation into near-Earth space, which can be hazardous to astronauts and satellites.
A study by Dartmouth researchers found that rural patients are diagnosed at an earlier stage for colorectal and lung cancer compared to urban patients. The study controlled for various factors, including age, race, and education level. Rural-urban differences in cancer presentation may inform targeted screening efforts.
A team led by Mary Lou Guerinot aims to create rice varieties with enhanced iron and zinc levels, addressing global nutritional deficiencies. The project will analyze over 1,800 rice varieties and identify genes responsible for nutrient uptake and storage.
A team of Dartmouth Medical School researchers found that low doses of arsenic disrupt the activity of hormone receptors critical in development, highlighting the potential harm of arsenic at levels found in U.S. drinking water. The study's findings provide evidence for mitigating arsenic's impact on human health.
A Dartmouth economist projects steady growth in 401(k) retirement savings, citing the growing importance of personal savings plans. Most concerns about a pension crisis are overstated, with future retirees expected to have substantial wealth, five times that of current retirees.
A recent paper by Dartmouth Professor Ronald M. Green examines six approaches to deriving human embryonic stem cells in ways that avoid destroying living human embryos. These alternatives aim to make hESC research more universally acceptable, while respecting the sensitivities of citizens.
Researchers at Dartmouth College have developed three new electromagnetic imaging techniques that can effectively distinguish between healthy breast tissue and abnormal tissue. The study, which involved 150 women, found that the new methods offered a high contrast and increased accuracy in detecting breast cancer compared to convention...
Two studies by Dartmouth Medical School researchers reveal that US movies deliver billions of smoking impressions to American teens, with youth-rated movies delivering 61% of the total images. The studies also found that high-impact movies, mostly rated PG-13, deliver over 100 million smoking impressions each.
Dartmouth-led research reveals that animals fed nutritious food have lower concentrations of methylmercury, a neurotoxin that can accumulate to hazardous levels. This discovery suggests ways to slow methylmercury's passage up the food chain to fish, potentially reducing its toxicity.
Adding CRP testing to routine assessments would increase Americans eligible for treatment by 2-25 million, mostly low-risk individuals. The medical community should focus on treating high-risk patients before expanding to low-risk populations.
A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that a primer, developed by researchers at Dartmouth Medical School, improved medical interpretation skills among participants with varying levels of education. The primer, 'Know Your Chances: Understanding Health Risks,' was effective in both low and high socioeconomic groups,...
Dartmouth researchers found that North America's prevailing winds in the mid-latitudes once blew from the east, not the west. This change was influenced by a growing and intensifying northern circumpolar vortex, resulting in shifting temperature and precipitation patterns.
Researchers discovered that arsenite destabilizes lysosomes, breaking them apart and releasing enzymes that destroy APL cells. This finding could inform further research into treating APL, a rare cancer caused by chromosome fusion.
Dartmouth researchers discover that low doses of arsenic disrupt steroid hormone receptor signaling, affecting biological processes and disease risks. The study found that arsenic suppresses the ability of critical receptors to respond to normal hormone signals.
Researchers have identified a gene called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) that optimizes muscle activity. Genetic modification of mice expressing this activated state shows increased exercise capacity and accumulation of muscle glycogen, potentially leading to new treatments for muscle diseases and improved athletic performance.
A Dartmouth study found that iron is stored in the developing vascular system of plant seeds, particularly in the vacuole, a central storage site. The researchers' discovery suggests that targeting iron storage in the vacuole could increase the iron content of seeds, benefiting both human health and agricultural productivity.
A recent study by Dartmouth researchers found that individuals with a specific genetic variation in their ODC gene are more likely to benefit from aspirin use in preventing colon cancer. These individuals were 23% less likely to develop new adenomas and 49% less likely to develop more advanced lesions.
Researchers discovered a neural signature in bilingual individuals, showing increased brain activity in both left and right hemisphere language regions. The study suggests that bilingual brains process languages more efficiently than monolingual brains.
The Dartmouth/GlycoFi team successfully completed the full humanization of glycosylation in yeast, eliminating the need for mammalian cells. This breakthrough enables the production of therapeutic proteins with improved biological function and manufacturing efficiency.
A Dartmouth researcher found that VIOXX reduces the risk of colorectal adenomas, a precursor to colon cancer. The study involved 2,587 patients and showed that rofecoxib lowered the recurrence rate of adenomas by 41% compared to placebo.
Researchers have found that mast cells play a crucial role in regulating the immune system, particularly in maintaining tolerance to transplanted skin. The study revealed that mast cells mediate immune suppression by interacting with regulatory T cells.
Recent studies suggest that protein S14 plays a critical role in driving fat metabolism in breast cancer cells, making it a promising new target for cancer treatment. The protein is required for the activation of genes involved in fat production, and its removal can lead to cancer cell death.
Researchers found that removing just one important species in a freshwater ecosystem can seriously disrupt its functioning. The study, led by Brad Taylor, showed that the loss of the flannelmouth characin had a significant impact on carbon transport and availability in a river ecosystem.
Youth-rated movies contain more images of cigarette smoking than R-rated films, with 75% of 2004 youth-rated films depicting smoking. Smoking on screen has decreased over time, but its depiction in youth-rated films remains a concern for public health.
A Dartmouth study found that arsenic in drinking water can inhibit DNA repair, leading to increased cancer risks. The researchers measured arsenic levels in urine and toenails of participants in New Hampshire and Mexico, and found a correlation between high arsenic levels and impaired DNA repair.
Researchers have developed a new integrated system that combines MRI and NIR imaging to quantify hemoglobin, water, and scattering values in breast tissue. This technique may help detect early tumor growth and characterize tumor stage by learning about its vascular and cellular makeup.
A study published in NeuroImage found that alcohol selectively suppresses cognitive activity in the frontal and posterior parietal brain regions, leading to poor coordination. This suppression is due to impaired feedback processing in brain areas critical for updating mental models for motor action.
A Dartmouth research study confirmed earlier findings that toxic metals like arsenic and lead remain in the top 10 inches of soil after pesticide use. The new study reveals these metals are now part of the fine silt and organic matter, increasing erosion risk to nearby waters.
A Dartmouth study reveals that the brain's parietal cortex plays a crucial role in understanding the goals of other people's actions. This finding has implications for our understanding of human social interactions and may help explain impaired social behaviors in individuals with autism.
A study by Dartmouth researchers found significant brain changes after age 18, indicating that human maturity may set in later than traditionally thought. The study tracked brain development in college freshmen and compared them to older students.
GlycoFi researchers have made a major leap in protein bioengineering by controlling sugar structures on antibodies to boost cancer-killing ability. This approach can be applied to any therapeutic glycoprotein, and the company is poised to capitalize on the growing 20% annual growth of the therapeutic protein market.
A Dartmouth study suggests that microbes interacting with iron oxides in landfills contribute to arsenic levels in drinking water. The researchers analyzed data from the Coakley Landfill and found a correlation between organic waste degradation and increased arsenic concentrations.
Researchers identified areas of the brain where neuronal activity decreases when objects are made invisible, suggesting a relationship between conscious experience and visual perception. The findings may advance understanding of the brain's interaction with the eye and its importance in medicine, neurology, and psychology.
A Dartmouth researcher studied immigrant households to find that generational status, not income, has the most effect on immigrant dispersion. The study challenges current ideas about where immigrants live and suggests that states with multi-generational households may have easier socio-cultural and economic adjustments.
A Dartmouth professor warns that GIS technology can be used to manipulate election results, as state legislatures have incentives to use partisan information but few incentives to respect communities of interest. Nonpartisan redistricting commissions may offer a solution, but clear rules are needed to ensure fair representation.
The team's creation is the smallest robot that transduces force, is untethered, and engages in its own locomotion. It features two independent microactuators for forward motion and turning, powered by a grid of electrodes.
A new study by Dartmouth researchers suggests that methane on Mars can be produced from non-living sources, including the mineral olivine. The findings provide a plausible explanation for a warmer and wetter early Mars, with abundant liquid water present on the surface.
A Dartmouth professor studied two US-air drug ads from 1999 to examine how effectively prescription drug ads convey their messages. The study found that de-integrating risk information improved recall of general information and led to a perception of greater informational content, but no increase in knowledge about the drug's risks.
A new study published in Nature suggests a connection between erosion rates and tectonic forces in the Himalaya region of Nepal. Researchers found that erosion rates increase significantly at the base of steep mountains, potentially influencing global climate change.