After landing in South America, monkeys forged their own niches, evolved new forms, and spread to Caribbean and Patagonia. The study reveals how primate migration and evolution in the Americas were influenced by ancient climates, geology, and geography.
Duke University researchers used computational methods to identify dozens of new platinum-group alloys that could prove beneficial in applications such as catalytic conversion, corrosion-resistance, and fuel cells. The study provides detailed structural data on known materials and identifies potential targets for further research.
Researchers at Duke University documented dramatic short-term increases in a North Carolina estuary's acidity, exceeding global predictions and potentially harming shelled organisms. The study highlights the need to consider multiple environmental variables to predict ocean acidification effects.
A new Duke study found that nurse home visiting programs can reduce healthcare costs by $3 for every $1 spent, while also improving health and parenting outcomes. Participating families had lower rates of maternal anxiety and safer home environments than non-participating families.
A 35-year study of ring-tailed lemurs at the Duke Lemur Center found that infants born to older mothers are less likely to get hurt than those born to younger mothers. The results suggest that older moms may be better at fending off attackers or protecting their infants during fights.
A study published in Neuron found that the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) is active when the brain isn't working hard and quiets down during peak performance. The PCC plays a crucial role in monitoring performance and improving it, particularly in challenging cognitive tasks.
A Duke University study found that strobe glasses improved hockey players' performance by forcing their visual system to train in difficult conditions. The glasses produced stroboscopic visual conditions, resulting in an 18% improvement in on-ice skills and demonstrating potential benefits for sports performance.
Researchers at Duke University found that individuals can be very different in the way they activate their smell receptors, leading to unique perceptions of odor. The study identified 27 new receptors with significant responses to odor molecules, doubling the known number to 40.
Researchers at Duke University have created a composite material with properties similar to those of native cartilage, which could lead to improved artificial replacement tissues. The new material combines the strength and suppleness of native cartilage, addressing previous challenges in replicating its mechanical properties.
A new study from Duke University finds that the Chiranjeevi Yojana program in Gujarat, India, has failed to deliver on its promise of reducing infant and maternal deaths. The program, which aimed to provide free childbirth care at private hospitals, saw no statistically significant change in birth outcomes or healthcare utilization.
A new study by Duke University and University of Massachusetts at Boston found that preserving the right mix of species is crucial for maintaining healthy ecosystems. The research showed that removing key species can have profound impacts on ecosystem health, highlighting the importance of biodiversity quality over quantity.
A study of over 1,000 New Zealanders found that those who attempted suicide before age 24 had higher rates of metabolic syndrome, depression, and unemployment later in life. These individuals were also more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric problems and reported feeling lonely and dissatisfied with life.
Duke University researchers analyzed data from 20 million virtual suitcase searches and found that players correctly identified ultra-rare items only 27% of the time. The study reveals a strong relationship between item frequency and detection rates, highlighting how rare objects can slip past us despite intense searching.
Researchers at Duke University have developed copper nanowire catalysts that can efficiently harness solar energy to split water into hydrogen, a promising step towards cheaper and sturdier fuel cells. The material is abundant, inexpensive, and flexible, making it ideal for use in various applications beyond solar energy production.
A study published in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes found that people are more likely to choose unhealthy food options for themselves and others when they perceive the other person as overweight. This can lead to poor diet choices, especially during holiday celebrations. The research suggests that marketers should...
A genetic defect in the FoxP2 gene, commonly associated with human speech problems, disrupts the ability of songbirds to sing effective courtship tunes. Researchers found that the defect impairs a network of nerve cells, leading to stuttering and stammering in affected individuals.
Researchers developed a new statistical model to forecast summer rainfall in the Southeast, identifying key climate factors that influence rainfall intensity. The three-cluster finite normal mixture model improves accuracy for seasonal predictions.
Researchers at Duke University found that daily texting can help obese black women lose weight. The Shape Plan intervention used tailored behavioral goals, brief feedback, and tips to track participants' progress. After six months, 26 women lost nearly 3 pounds, while 24 gained 2.5 pounds.
A new study by Duke University professor E. Jane Costello found that more than half of adolescents with psychiatric disorders receive no treatment. Treatment rates vary greatly depending on the disorder and provider, with teens suffering from phobias or anxiety disorders being the least likely to be treated.
The Center for Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology (CEINT) at Duke University has been awarded a $15 million grant renewal to continue studying the environmental impact of nanoparticles. The research focuses on understanding where nanoparticles accumulate, how they interact with other chemicals, and their effects on ecosystems.
Researchers at Duke University designed a power-harvesting device that efficiently captures microwave signals and converts them into electrical current. The device has an energy conversion rate of 37%, comparable to solar cells.
A new study from Duke University shows that nurse home visits can significantly reduce the need for emergency care in infants. The program, Durham Connects, costs an average of $700 per family and has been shown to decrease emergency care episodes by 50% in the first year of life.
Children with attention problems in first grade perform significantly lower on reading achievement scores after fifth grade compared to their peers. In contrast, second-grade attention issues have little impact on later academic performance.
A new study suggests that babies as young as 6 months old exhibit a primitive number sense, which can predict their future mathematical abilities. The research found that infants with stronger innate number sense skills performed better on standardized math tests, even before learning to count or use Arabic numerals.
A new study suggests that market bubbles can be predicted and controlled using chaos theory. Researchers found that extreme events, such as market crashes, follow power law distributions, allowing for early intervention to prevent them. Tiny nudges may make a big difference in controlling these events.
Researchers connected human complex diseases to specific genes using zebrafish models, identifying a powerful tool for unraveling rare genetic conditions. The study shows that copy-number variants can affect multiple genes simultaneously, but manipulation of individual genes in zebrafish reveals their contribution to disease pathology.
The OSNAP program will measure ocean's overturning circulation, a key component of global climate system. It aims to understand changes in this circulation and its impact on temperatures and precipitation.
Research in mouse whiskers reveals a surprise -- at the fine scale, the sensory system's wiring diagram doesn't have a set pattern. The results highlight a 'one-to-many, many-to-one' nerve connectivity strategy that allows for a large repertoire of textures and forms.
Researchers found that engineered bacteria use time as a cue to form predictable ring patterns, contradicting established theories. This discovery has implications for understanding pattern formation in biology and could lead to the creation of biological scaffolds for new materials with energy applications.
A new urine test has been developed to diagnose retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease. The test uses mass spectrometry to analyze dolichol profiles in urine and blood samples, distinguishing between different gene mutations that cause the disease. This non-invasive test could provide personalized care for patients with RP.
A Duke University study discovered that people with extreme political views tend to feel superior about their beliefs, regardless of whether they are liberal or conservative. The research found that those at the extremes of both sides experience 'belief superiority' when discussing certain hot-button issues.
Researchers find that mid-February to mid-March warming has the greatest impact on breaking bud timing. This challenges the use of degree-day models, which may become less effective as temperatures deviate from historical norms.
A Duke University study found elevated levels of radioactivity, salts, and metals in river water and sediments after fracking wastewater discharge. Radioactivity levels were up to 200 times greater in sediment samples collected near the facility than upstream.
Researchers found that as European songbirds colonized islands, their songs became less structured. The study suggests a genetic component to the loss of syntax, and may be due to the effects of small population sizes on cultural transmission.
A new study by Duke University researchers finds that China's planned synthetic gas plants would produce massive greenhouse gas emissions, using up to 100 times the water as shale gas production. The plants' carbon dioxide emissions would be seven times higher than traditional natural gas plants and lock in high emissions for decades.
Researchers have created a new map of bird brains based on a decade-long exploration of gene expression across eight species. The findings suggest that bird brains have commonalities with human brains, including columnar organization and forebrain regions similar to mammals.
A new study calculates the environmental cost of a ton of mountaintop coal, finding that it pollutes 2,300km of Appalachian streams and loses 193g of carbon sequestration potential. This translates to a staggering 5,000 years for reclaimed mine land to capture equivalent CO2.
A recent Duke University-led study found that climate change is causing trees to speed up their life cycles, rather than migrating to cooler climates. Most species are staying in their current geographic locations, but growing more rapidly due to warmer temperatures and longer growing seasons.
Researchers have discovered that fungal sex can generate genetic diversity in organisms like Cryptococcus neoformans, enabling the creation of drug-resistant and virulent strains. This discovery sheds light on how pathogenic microbes evolve to cause diseases.
A new study by Duke University and Microsoft Research identifies key regions worldwide that can contain the largest numbers of plant species. Protecting these regions may help preserve more than two-thirds of plant species.
Researchers studying hibernating fat-tailed dwarf lemurs found they can go days without deep sleep during winter hibernation. This supports the idea that sleep regulates body temperature and metabolism in humans.
Researchers developed a diagram of the brain circuitry enabling interplay between motor system and auditory system. This discovery could provide insight into schizophrenia and mood disorders, where individuals hear voices others do not.
A new study from Duke University finds that a 'maintain, don't gain' approach can be effective in preventing obesity-related health issues among premenopausal black women. By focusing on maintaining current weight, these women can reduce their likelihood of experiencing chronic diseases later in life.
A new Duke University study found that restaurant websites with easy-to-access calorie information can influence customer ordering decisions. Despite this, in-store marketing and psychological factors often override healthy options.
A Duke University-led study found that elements sulfur, carbon, and strontium have unique isotopic fingerprints, enabling scientists to quantify mountaintop mining's contribution to water pollution. These tracers will help distinguish between contamination from mountaintop mining and other sources.
Research at Duke University found that practice in estimating and comparing quantities can improve math abilities, particularly for symbolic math skills. The study tested adult volunteers before and after training sessions, showing significant improvement in math test scores compared to a control group.
A new study published in PNAS reveals that the TRPV4 molecule plays a key role in sunburn pain, which is caused by UVB radiation. The researchers found that blocking this molecule could provide protection against painful effects of sunburn and possibly other causes of pain.
A study using Hawaiian restaurant menus from the mid-20th century found a significant decline in reef fish populations and a rise in large pelagic species. The analysis suggests that this shift paralleled drops in wild abundance, pointing to changes in public tastes and supply-side information as contributing factors.
Scientists have developed a new material that can strengthen itself in response to stress, similar to how muscles build strength through exercise. The material, inspired by weightlifting and Silly Putty, can transform from a liquid to a solid state, becoming stronger with each cycle of stress.
A study of nearly 46,000 caregivers in 17 low- to middle-income countries found that disabled children were more likely to receive violent treatment, including being hit on the head or beaten with an object. The study suggests that harsh discipline may be a result of stigma around disabilities rather than the disability itself.