US immigrant children major in STEM subjects more than their US-born peers, with 36% of immigrants from non-English speaking countries pursuing these fields. They take more math and science courses, earning 20% more credits in math-intensive courses, which leads to careers in STEM fields.
Research from Duke University found that young people who self-harm and commit violent crime have a history of childhood maltreatment and lower self-control. Programs aimed at preventing childhood maltreatment or improving self-control among self-harmers could help prevent violent crime.
Researchers at Duke University have discovered that fish ear bones can serve as a fingerprint for identifying and tracking coal ash contamination in aquatic ecosystems. The study used strontium isotope ratios in otoliths to connect high levels of toxic elements back to the contamination source.
A new study from Duke University and Fudan University found that China's residential electricity consumption will increase by 9% for every degree Celsius rise in global mean surface temperature. Peak usage is projected to rise by 36%, with estimates suggesting a minimum of 72% increase, driven mainly by hotter days.
A new study found elevated mortality patterns among late-Gen X (38-45 year-olds) and early-Gen Y (27-37 year-olds), with non-Hispanic whites being disproportionately affected. The study suggests that economic difficulties during the Great Recession may have contributed to increased health impacts on these age groups.
A study of wild baboons in Kenya found that high-ranking individuals have better access to resources and immune system genes. However, the relationship between social status and health differs between males and females, suggesting a sex-specific connection between rank and immune function.
A study found that people underestimate the environmental impact of food, especially meat, but can be helped by labels. The researchers asked participants to rate the energy used and greenhouse gas emissions generated by different foods and appliances.
Researchers discovered hypoxic dead zones in urban streams, caused by erosion and nutrient runoff. The study highlights the vulnerability of freshwater ecosystems to pollution and climate change.
A study by Duke University researchers shows that pathogen responses to first-line antibiotics can be distinguished, allowing for more effective treatment strategies. The researchers developed a method to quantify resistance and resilience, enabling clinicians to prescribe targeted dosing regimens.
Researchers at Duke University and UC San Diego have discovered a new class of carbides that are harder and lighter than current materials, with high melting points. The five-metal carbides, which rely on disorder for stability, may find use in industries such as machinery, hardware, and aerospace.
Researchers at Duke University have demonstrated a photonic crystal waveguide that directs photons of light around sharp corners with virtually no losses due to backscattering. This breakthrough enables the development of efficient light-based computing systems, which could replace electronic devices and save energy.
Researchers at Duke University have created a prototype of an artificial 'robot nose' device that uses living mouse cells to detect target odors, including cocaine and explosives. The device aims to mimic the human sense of smell and potentially replace trained dogs in security applications.
Researchers have discovered a Chlamydia protein that manipulates human cells by removing ubiquitin and acetylation, essential for the bacterium's survival. This finding could pave the way for treating Chlamydia with fewer antibiotics.
Scientists have studied vanadium dioxide's ultrafast phase transition, revealing that atomic motions are unpredictable and occur independently of each other. This discovery lays the groundwork for advances in computer hardware and could lead to breakthroughs in controlling material behavior.
Research suggests that human hosts are starving their microbial communities of nutrients, potentially undermining the benefits of the microbiome. This could lead to a shift in the balance of power between humans and microbes, with implications for our health and well-being.
A new Duke study reveals that mock jurors' confidence in guilt increases with the severity of the alleged crime, regardless of evidence. The study found that DNA and non-DNA physical evidence have a significant impact on jurors' decisions, while prior convictions have less effect.
Low-income obese patients lost a clinically meaningful amount of weight using a free phone app and coaching calls in a primary care clinic. The study found that 43% of participants lost more than 5% of their body weight, while 56% reached a healthy weight loss threshold.
A Duke University research team has found a way to detect autologous blood transfusions, a method used by athletes to boost oxygen-carrying capacity. By analyzing RNA changes, researchers can identify stored red blood cells and detect self-transfusions.
Researchers discovered that young male zebra finches activate connections between their social brain and song cortex when near a singing tutor, indicating the ideal teacher. The study found that this connection is essential for juvenile birds to copy and learn songs from suitable tutors.
Researchers have created biomaterials that combine ordered and disordered segments to form a stable, porous scaffold that promotes cell growth and vascularization. The material's unique properties enable it to integrate into tissue with minimal inflammation and hold its volume well.
Researchers at Duke University used a supercomputer to computationally predict the optical properties of layered hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites, opening new material design space for light-based devices. The study successfully matched experimental observations, proving the accuracy of computational models.
Researchers studied copper-based superionic crystal CuCrSe2, revealing copper ions flow like liquids above a certain temperature. This discovery could lead to the development of more efficient and safer rechargeable batteries by replacing liquid electrolytes with solid superionic materials.
Biomedical engineers at Duke University discovered that immune cells, specifically macrophages, play a critical role in regenerating lab-grown adult muscle tissue. The discovery could lead to new treatments for degenerative muscle diseases and enhance the survival of engineered tissue grafts.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a new technique to reconstruct sequence of diffuse images from one long photographic exposure. By using a coded aperture, they can extract individual frames from a single, scattered exposure, overcoming limitations such as motion and constant scattering medium.
New evidence supports the idea that fruits develop eye-catching colors to attract animal dispersers. Fruits eaten by mammals have higher reflectance in the green spectrum, while those dispersed by birds reflect more in the red. The study also found a link between fruit color and environmental factors such as UV light.
Scientists have discovered a neural superhighway that enables rapid communication between the gut and brain, contradicting decades of research on hormonal transmission. This breakthrough has profound implications for our understanding of appetite and other gut-related disorders.
Researchers at Duke University discovered a neural circuit that enables the brain to predict motion based on past experiences and sensory inputs, mirroring Bayesian statistical inference. This discovery could improve our understanding of motor control and eye movements.
In low light, retinal cells sensitive to upward movement change their behavior, firing on detecting any kind of movement. This adaptability helps the brain sense movement and may aid in designing implantable retinal prosthetics.
The brain has a built-in noise-cancelling circuit that allows it to ignore predictable self-generated sounds, such as footsteps. This circuit works by sending a direct signal from the motor cortex to the auditory cortex, instructing inhibitory neurons to cancel out these sounds.
Tropical peatlands have a natural biochemical defense mechanism that resists decay, even in warming temperatures and droughts. This mechanism is stabilized by high levels of aromatic compounds, which create a barrier protecting the peat from oxidation.
A new study from Duke University reveals racial wealth inequality is a key contributor to urban unrest. The racial wealth gap has worsened over the past 50 years, with black and Latino households holding significantly less wealth than white households.
A study analyzing 538 vaccine candidates found that only about 128 are likely to reach the market, with many critical products lacking. The researchers estimate it would cost $16.3 billion to move current candidates through the pipeline, highlighting the need for increased investment and innovative approaches.
A study led by Duke University estimates total population sizes and geographic ranges for 19 lemur species across Madagascar using trees as a proxy. The findings suggest that not all lemurs are endangered, with some species having healthy populations remaining, while others face significant declines due to habitat loss and hunting.
A new study suggests that protecting key habitats outside of existing wildernesses and preserves is essential for conserving at-risk species with small ranges. The analysis shows that even half of the world's large wilderness areas may not be enough to protect many more species.
A study by environmental engineers at Duke University found that gold nanoparticles can be dismantled by microorganisms on aquatic plants, complicating laboratory experiments. This discovery highlights the importance of considering complex ecosystems in research design to ensure accurate results.
A study by Duke University researchers shows that slow and steady animals actually have a faster average speed over their lifetimes than fast but erratic ones. The analysis also applies to modern aircraft design, where jet fighters are surprisingly slow when averaged over their service lifetime.
Duke University researchers have developed a handheld probe that can image individual photoreceptors in the eyes of infants, allowing for early detection of eye diseases and brain-related traumas. The new technology uses adaptive optics and is much smaller and faster than previous systems, making it ideal for imaging young children.
Researchers re-examined ancient Propotto leakeyi fossil and found it was an early relative of the aye-aye, challenging the long-held view that lemurs descended from a single wave to Madagascar. The study proposes two lineages split in Africa before coming to Madagascar, suggesting a more complex evolutionary history.
A Duke University study found that fracking's water use increased by up to 770% and wastewater volumes by up to 1440% between 2011 and 2016. If trends continue, the water footprint could grow 50-fold by 2030, raising concerns about its sustainability.
Researchers developed models that predict the month-by-month movements of longline fishing fleets on the high seas. These predictions can help regulatory agencies pinpoint potential hotspots where by-catch risks are greatest and take proactive measures to reduce accidental kills.
A new motion-sensing technology uses radio waves to detect a person's presence and location anywhere inside a room, even beyond the sensor's line of sight. The system works by analyzing patterns created by radio waves bouncing around the room, allowing it to distinguish between different scenarios and locate objects or people in space.
Zebra finches partition hues from red to orange into two discrete categories, similar to human color perception. The birds' ability to distinguish between colors suggests a cognitive shortcut to reduce ambiguity in decision-making.
Researchers create a digital microfluidics platform using soundwaves and oil to avoid contamination for reusable lab-on-a-chip devices. The technology enables programmable, rewritable biomedical chips with exponentially increased combinations of reagent inputs.
A new web-based mapping tool shows the land laid bare by mountaintop coal mining in central Appalachia each year, going back more than three decades. The tool estimates that between 1985 and 2015, an average of 21,000 acres was converted to bare earth and rubble annually.
Researchers from Duke University found that single neurons can switch between encoding information for two different sounds, suggesting a potential explanation for how the brain processes complex information. The study's results may also shed light on perceptual and cognitive limitations.
Researchers develop comprehensive set of criteria to identify areas of environmental importance where no mining should occur. The guidelines, which include 18 quantitative metrics, aim to protect a wide range of habitats and species that might be harmed by mining activities.
A new study by Duke University found that urban stormwater ponds do not release significant amounts of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. The research, which analyzed sediment samples from 64 ponds in eight cities, concluded that these ponds are unlikely to be important sources of climate change emissions.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a sound wave-based platform that can separate circulating tumor cells from blood samples with high efficiency, making it suitable for clinical use. The technology uses acoustic force to push larger cancer cells into a separate channel, preserving the functions and native states of the cells.
A study on ring-tailed lemurs found that physical injury alters their natural scents, making them detectable to others. This change in scent allows males to detect weakness and aggression from injured peers, leading to more competitive behavior.
A new study found that combining nanomaterials with nutrient runoff from fertilized cropland can intensify harmful algal blooms in wetlands. The nanoparticles accelerated the growth of algae, reducing dissolved oxygen levels and creating toxic conditions for aquatic organisms.