Researchers at Duke University have created a novel method for genome tinkering using an RNA guide, allowing precise control over specific genes. The tool has potential applications in gene therapy and regenerative medicine, including reprogramming stem cells into neurons.
A Duke University study reveals that shrinking sea ice cover in the North Atlantic is disproportionately affecting young harp seals, causing them to strand. The research found no link between genetic diversity and stranding rates, instead highlighting the impact of climate change on younger animals.
A Duke University study found that a compound called neuroprotectin D1 can relieve neuropathic pain caused by nerve injuries. The derivative of DHA, a main ingredient of fish oil supplements, inhibits the production of cytokines and chemokines, protecting nerve cells from further damage.
Researchers have developed a new biomaterial that can deliver reparative cells to the nucleus pulposus, or jelly-like cushion found between spinal discs. The gel mix holds cells in place upon injection and provides environmental cues to promote their persistence and biosynthesis.
Researchers develop a self-contained toilet unit that can treat 1200 users' daily fecal waste using supercritical water oxidation technology. The process produces clean water, heat, and excess energy, making it a sustainable solution for communities in developing countries.
Research by Adrian Bejan reveals that elite athletes in these sports are taller and heavier, allowing for more force to be applied as they move forward. This applies to pitchers like Max Scherzer, golfers like those in the top 10 of driving distance, and boxers who maximize punching power by gaining size.
Researchers found that some blue whales changed their diving behavior or temporarily avoided important feeding areas when exposed to simulated mid-frequency sonar sounds. The responses were complex and depended on various factors, including the whales' depth of feeding and location.
A study by Duke University researchers has discovered that the brain's ventromedial prefrontal cortex, a small area between the eyes, calculates both emotional and economic values. The vmPFC plays a key role in value tradeoffs, such as determining whether to part with hard-earned money for a product.
A new study by Duke University researchers found that short-term exposure to intense political violence can increase delinquent and aggressive behaviors in children. Children exposed to the violence displayed a range of increased problem behaviors, including bullying, vandalism, and skipping school.
A new study found that children with higher genetic risks for asthma are not only more likely to develop the condition at a young age but also experience persistent symptoms in adulthood. Those with higher risk scores had poorer quality of life, missing work and school, and were hospitalized more often due to asthma.
A study at Duke University found that lemurs in larger social groups exhibit more 'social intelligence' and are more likely to steal food behind a human's back. The research supports the 'social intelligence hypothesis,' suggesting that living in large social networks drove the evolution of complex social cognition in primates.
ScreenPass adds new features to an Android phone's operating system to prevent malicious apps from stealing user passwords. It uses a special-purpose software keyboard and computer vision to track password data and notify users of potential threats.
A Duke University-led study reveals that homeowners within one kilometer of shale gas wells are more likely to have contaminated drinking water with methane, ethane, and propane. The research analyzed 141 drinking water samples from private wells in northeastern Pennsylvania's Marcellus shale basin.
Researchers use silver-based nanoprobes that reflect distinct optical fingerprints when light is shined on infected samples, detecting specific genetic materials taken from human samples. This technique has the potential to provide fast and reliable information about patients at the point of care.
Neuroscientists have developed a carbon nanotube probe that captures individual brain-cell signals, improving upon metal and glass electrodes. The new probe allows for more precise recordings of electrical signals from single neurons, enabling better understanding of the computational complexity of the brain.
A personality test conducted on grey mouse lemurs found distinct personalities among the animals, with some exhibiting shy behavior and others being bold. The study aims to improve breeding programs and reintroduction efforts for these endangered primates.
Researchers found that trained Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening officers were slower than undergraduate students but more accurate in identifying T-shaped arrangements on computer screens. Consistent search patterns freed up brain processing, improving performance.
Research at Duke University found that gamers excel in extracting information from visual scenes, recalling letters in a flash of light, and tracking multiple items. Gamers' brains appear to be trained for better decision-making with more available information, potentially due to improved visual sensitivity.
A new study found that installing storm drain diversions at 26 beaches in Santa Monica Bay and Malibu increased attendance by 350,000 to 860,000 annually. The installation of these diversions improved the environmental quality of coastal areas, leading to a direct correlation between increased attendance and reduced beach closures.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a novel genetic editing technique that repairs faulty genes responsible for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The approach, which uses artificial enzymes to modify gene sequences, has shown promise in treating the disease, with over 60% of patients potentially benefiting from this new method.
A new study by Duke University finds that male song sparrows with larger playlists learn to solve food-finding puzzles more slowly than those singing fewer songs. This unexpected result suggests a trade-off between song learning and spatial memory in birds' brains, with potential implications for human brain development.
Duke University engineers have created a novel method for producing clean hydrogen, reducing carbon monoxide levels to nearly zero. This approach uses a new catalytic process with nanoparticle combinations of gold and iron oxide, making it a more practical option.
A recent study by Duke University and the USGS found no evidence of groundwater contamination from shale gas production in Arkansas. The researchers sampled 127 shallow drinking water wells and analyzed the samples for major and trace elements, hydrocarbons, and isotopic tracers.
Researchers developed a three-dimensional human heart muscle patch that conducts electricity like natural tissue and 'squeezes' appropriately. This advancement could be used to treat heart attack patients or test new medications.
Using 3D printing, researchers have created a simple and inexpensive way to produce plastic cloaks that can deflect microwave beams, making them appear invisible. The technique involves designing algorithms to create holes in the cloak, which allows it to suppress scattering from objects, effectively making them invisible.
Researchers have discovered that two little-known lemur species in Madagascar burrow underground and hibernate for three to seven months. The study suggests that primate hibernation may not be as rare or unique as previously thought, offering insights into the behavior of these close genetic relatives.
A study found that environmental labels can discourage conservative shoppers from purchasing energy-efficient products, instead promoting financial incentives and energy independence. The research suggests that a tailored message is needed to reach different market segments.
Researchers discovered cicadas can use jumping droplets to remove contaminants from their wings, offering an alternative to conventional self-cleaning methods. This phenomenon works without relying on external forces or gravity.
Researchers have developed a computer algorithm that can model and catalogue the entire set of lightweight, carbon-containing molecules that chemists could feasibly create in a lab. The map helps scientists identify unexplored regions of the chemical space where new compounds may hold solutions to some of the world's most vexing challe...
A new study finds that importing freshwater to irrigate crops has dramatically increased the natural saltiness of Saharan groundwater, endangering date palm farming. The researchers discovered a previously overlooked low-saline water source that dilutes the saltiness of nearby groundwater aquifers.
A new study by Duke University suggests that tougher EPA air-quality standards may make nearly two-thirds of US coal-fired power plants as expensive to run as plants powered by natural gas. The stricter regulations could spur an increased shift away from coal towards natural gas, especially if fuel prices rise significantly.
A new study found that neuroimaging data can predict the likelihood of reoffending following prison release. Inmates with lower anterior cingulate cortex activity were twice as likely to reoffend compared to those with higher activity.
A genetic risk score has been developed to predict who is likely to become a lifelong heavy smoker. Individuals with high-risk genetic profiles were more likely to start smoking as teens, progress to heavy smoking, and develop nicotine dependence.
Two new species of mouse lemurs have been identified by Duke University scientists, one named Anosy mouse lemur and the other Marohita mouse lemur. The genetic analysis reveals that these species are distinct and do not interbreed with other recognized mouse lemur species.
Researchers at Duke University found that silver nanoparticles can have adverse effects on plants and microorganisms in low doses, leading to reduced biomass and altered enzyme activity. The study's findings highlight the need for further research into the environmental impact of these particles.
Nicole Calakos studies synaptic defects in the basal ganglia that underlie compulsive behavior, including Huntington's and Parkinson's diseases. Mice with overactive metabotropic glutamate receptors exhibit impaired synaptic plasticity, leading to obsessive-like behaviors.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a brain prosthetic that allows rats to sense infrared light as a tactile sensation, enabling them to navigate virtual environments and recognize textures. This breakthrough could lead to the development of neural prosthetics for quadriplegics to regain sensory perception.
Researchers at Duke University have found that the genes responsible for human speech share similarities with those used by songbirds. This discovery sheds light on the evolutionary roots of language and suggests a convergent complex trait like speech and song may be associated with similar genetic changes.
A team of scientists from Duke University and the University of Padova found that marsh plants actively tune their elevations by producing organic soil and accumulating sediments. This complex interplay with the environment helps species stabilize the soil within favorable states, allowing for greater long-term stability.
A new national poll conducted by Duke University found that 64% of Americans strongly support regulating greenhouse gas emissions and requiring utilities to switch to lower-carbon fuel sources. However, support for market-based approaches like cap-and-trade or a carbon tax is low, with only 29% in favor.
Researchers developed a system to artificially simulate natural complex interactions between proteins that regulate genes, allowing for precise control over gene activation. This breakthrough enables scientists to better understand human gene regulation and develop new gene-based therapies.
Researchers have created a material that uses physical movement to knock away bacteria, reducing drag and improving energy efficiency on ships. The innovative solution avoids toxic chemicals often found in traditional antibacterial paints.
Male swamp sparrows use wing waves as an aggressive signal to defend their territories and mates from intruding males. The study found that wing waves combined with song are more potent than song on its own, evoking aggression from live birds.
Duke University engineers developed a novel delivery system that overcomes the limitations of peptide drugs, which are used to treat diseases like diabetes and cancer. The new system, called POD, uses a fusion protein that releases the drug slowly and steadily, reducing side effects.
Climate change in Madagascar could fuel the spread of lemur parasites, carrying diseases like plague and typhus. The team created probability maps of likely parasite distributions today and estimated future expansions by up to 60%.
Researchers at Duke University developed a method to control the crumpling and unfolding of large-area graphene films, enabling the creation of artificial muscles with unprecedented properties. The controlled crumpling allows for tunable transparency and opacity, as well as contraction and relaxation on demand.
Hydraulically fractured natural gas wells in the Marcellus shale region produce about 35% as much wastewater per unit of gas recovered as conventional wells. The total amount of wastewater has increased by 570% since 2004, threatening to overwhelm the region's wastewater-disposal infrastructure capacity.
The novel sensor uses a metamaterial to image scenes with fewer components, eliminating the need for lenses and mechanical positioners. This allows for faster and more efficient screening in security situations.
A study on rhesus macaques found that their social network behavior is influenced by genetics and heritability. Pro-social monkeys with strong networks had greater reproductive success, while aggression had a weaker link to heritability.
Researchers found that bonobos will share food with a stranger before an acquaintance in a series of experiments. In most cases, the test subject chose to release the stranger first, even when there was no social interaction afterwards. This behavior contrasts with chimpanzees and highlights the unique social dynamics of bonobos.