Studies using laser measurements reveal the natural basis for human tendencies in judging distances, including a preference for distances of 6-12 feet and equidistance between objects. The findings support the theory that the visual system has evolved to make statistical guesses about distances based on past experience.
Research found that male butterflies of iridescent genus Heliconius are attracted to female wings displaying polarized light, suggesting a new role for polarization in mate attraction. The study also highlights the importance of polarization in maintaining species diversity among tropical butterflies.
The researchers successfully grew extremely long and straight single-walled carbon nanotubes by heating samples quickly, achieving lengths of over 2 millimeters. This breakthrough could enable the creation of billionths-of-a-meter scale electronic circuitry and opens up new possibilities for nanoelectrical components.
Researchers have designed a new optical microprobe to detect subsurface organ abnormalities, providing a new capability for endoscopy procedures. The device uses tiny electrically activated artificial muscle fibers to scan internal organ surfaces and penetrate beneath the surface.
Researchers used a laser scalpel to dissect fruit fly tissue and understand the complex process of dorsal closure, which is crucial for human spinal malformation prevention. The team's findings showed that the system is resilient and can compensate for individual tissue disruptions.
Fossil teeth from Egypt's Fayum desert have provided evidence of the earliest known ancestors of bushbabies and lorises, dating back to the Eocene epoch. The finds confirm earlier genetic studies suggesting that these primates diverged much earlier than previously thought.
Researchers have discovered that forces within granular materials decrease as they slide, but are then transferred to a network of 'force chains' that increase in strength. This new understanding could improve modeling of geological systems and design of industrial devices such as hoppers.
Research analyzed DNA differences among 50 squirrel genera to deduce their interrelationships and evolutionary history. The study found that climate change and geological events played a significant role in shaping the squirrel family tree, with major branches diverging around 5 million years ago.
Researchers found a specific neural structure processes pheromonal signals, governing mating and social behaviors. The 'pheromonal image' is akin to the visual 'face neurons' that recognize facial features.
The study reveals that protein components in the post-synaptic density (PSD) move together in response to neural activity, with a significant percentage undergoing up-and-down regulation. The findings also suggest a high rate of PSD remodeling, with neurons replacing its content multiple times a day.
Researchers discover that bacteria in coastal wetlands respond to phosphorus, not nitrogen, and that controlling phosphorus is key to maintaining water quality. This finding highlights the importance of considering both nutrients when managing coastal ecosystems.
Researchers found that monkeys learned and applied strategies to distinguish order in image sequences with high accuracy. The study revealed two distinctive properties: distance effects and magnitude effects, which mimic human responses to memory tasks and number discrimination tasks.
Researchers discover evidence of culturally transmitted behaviors in orangutans, dating back 14 million years. The findings push back the origins of cultural transmission in apes, suggesting a stronger link to human culture.
Researchers studying baby loggerheads from 10 beaches across the Southeastern US found an unexpectedly small percentage of males, with only 15% of hatchlings from one northern beach being male. The study has significant implications for the future of the entire Southeastern loggerhead population.
A new case study highlights the pitfalls of patent infringement, academic secrecy, and lack of government oversight in the commercialization of university research. The Bayh-Dole Act of 1980 is called for changes to promote public good.
Researchers at Duke University have created a strongly interacting fermi gas by cooling lithium-6 atoms to near absolute zero. The resulting gas displays unusual behavior, including rapid expansion in one direction and no movement in another, challenging existing theories of superfluidity.
Researchers found that high-performing elderly adults showed significantly more bilateral activity in the prefrontal cortex compared to low-performing older adults and young adults. This suggests the possibility of using training or drugs to enhance cognitive function in the elderly by increasing brain recruitment.
Duke researchers have made significant progress in synthesizing uniform 'buckytubes' using a new technique, which could lead to the development of smaller electronic circuitry and more precise control over their electronic properties. The achievement marks an important step towards realizing the full potential of carbon nanotubes.
Researchers at Duke University have uncovered a new role for beta-arrestin in regulating cyclic AMP levels by recruiting phosphodiesterases to the membrane. This finding highlights the complex interplay between these two mechanisms, which were previously thought to be distinct and unrelated.
A new study by Duke University researchers suggests that deforestation in the Amazon can lead to a significant reduction of rainfall in the Midwest and Dakotas during summer months. The simulation used mathematical equations to model climate behavior, finding a 10-15% decrease in precipitation in these regions.
Researchers discovered specialized domains on nerve cell surfaces that regulate the entry of molecules, revising a long-held theory. These 'endocytic zones' control receptor transport and are also entry points for nutrients and pathogens, offering new insights into brain development and neurological disorders.
A mild brain injury can make brain cells vulnerable to the immune system's attack, leading to worsening of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers discovered that drugs targeting specific immune proteins could reduce neural damage in these conditions.
A team of researchers from Duke University has made significant breakthroughs in understanding the mechanism of FTase, a key player in cancer development. The study revealed that FTase doesn't release its product until another substrate molecule arrives, suggesting a new role for the enzyme beyond molecular seamstressing.
Duke University psychologists found that infants who used 'sticky mittens' had more sophisticated abilities to explore objects and showed increased cross-sensory exploration. The study suggests that providing rich opportunities for infant learning is crucial for development.
Researchers found that the quality of a male bird's learned song is linked to its attractiveness to females, who prefer well-copied wild-type songs. The study suggests that females use song-learning ability as an indicator of male quality and provides insight into the role of traits learned by males in sexual success.
Duke University researchers used functional MRI to study the brains of neurologically healthy subjects while they tried to focus on a task. The results showed that emotional stimuli and attentional functions move in parallel streams through the brain before meeting up in the prefrontal cortex.
Researchers at Duke University's Center for Neuroengineering will develop brain-controlled prosthetic limbs and apply brain-mapping technologies to aid surgeons in distinguishing healthy tissue from tumors. The center aims to increase resolution in mapping brain regions and enable control of complex robotic actions.
Research at six experimental field sites found that trees and shrubs invading grasslands in wet environments can lead to significant losses of soil organic carbon, offsetting the carbon stored in growing wood. This challenges previous estimates suggesting that woody encroachment could balance emissions.
A study by Duke University scientists found that excess plant-eating monkeys on small islands spur extra tree growth, boosting insect populations that attract birds. The density of birds is strongly correlated with the density of howler monkeys.
Researchers at Duke University found that density-dependent mortality plays a role in promoting tree species diversity, just like in tropical forests. Their study suggests that preserving natural enemies is crucial for maintaining tropical diversity.
A study led by Duke University ecologist Robert Jackson found that soil nitrogen availability constrains the capacity of ecosystems to absorb increased atmospheric CO2. The research suggests that natural systems will no longer be able to take up excess carbon dioxide, emphasizing the need for stringent emissions controls.
A study led by James W. Vaupel and Jim Oeppen found that life expectancy in developed countries is steadily increasing by three months a year, with no apparent natural limit. This has major implications for social issues such as pension and healthcare planning.
A large clinical trial found St. John's wort to be no more effective than placebo in treating moderately severe major depression. Researchers tested the supplement against the antidepressant sertraline and concluded that patients with moderate to severe depression should not self-medicate with St. John's wort.
Researchers discovered the brain region responsible for pattern perception, which helps humans recognize danger but also leads to superstitions. The prefrontal cortex processes information about the environment, preparing the organism to change behavior in response to patterns.
Duke University cardiologists report that DX-9065a, an experimental anti-coagulant, has cleared another hurdle in becoming a potential new treatment for patients with coronary artery disease. The agent inhibits Factor Xa, preventing blood clot formation earlier in the coagulation process.
Researchers at Duke University found significant racial disparities in heart disease symptoms and functional status among African-American patients. They reported higher levels of chest pain and poorer quality of life compared to white patients, despite receiving similar procedures.
A recent study found that glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, proven to prevent death and heart attacks, are being used in only 25% of eligible patients. This suggests a significant room for improvement in treatment protocols.
A study by Duke University researchers found that poor patients are more than twice as likely to die of severe heart disease compared to those with higher incomes. After adjusting for differences in treatment, poverty remained associated with a worse outcome, suggesting that post-hospital factors such as smoking and non-adherence to me...
A new book documents dramatic recent changes in southeast's ancient soils formed over about 70 million years and how human use transformed them over the last two centuries. Soils were altered when primeval woodlands were turned into cotton fields, eventually regrowing as pine forests.
Scientists at Duke University have discovered a new enzyme that attaches aminoarabinose to the outer coat of gram-negative bacteria, reducing the ability of positively charged antibiotics to attach and kill them. This discovery offers a potential approach to overcoming antibiotic resistance.
Researchers have developed a technology to engineer proteins as widely adaptable bioelectronic sensors for detecting specific chemicals. The engineered proteins, when attached to electrodes, can produce an electric signal reflecting the chemical's identity and concentration.
A study by Duke University researchers found that HIV patients value high levels of control over medical record access, leading them to choose distant clinics or withhold information. The results highlight the need for providers to prioritize patient confidentiality and provide training on record-keeping and sharing.
A broad consortium of scientists proposes developing ecological forecasting to forecast environmental changes, protect ecosystems, and predict the impacts of global warming. The initiative aims to improve planning and decision-making by providing reliable forecasts of ecosystem state and services.
The study suggests that normal visual experience is necessary for proper brain development, with abnormal experiences disrupting neural pathways in the visual cortex. This challenges the long-held belief that either experience or innate wiring alone determines orientation selectivity.
Researchers have found that dual electrical discharges associated with sprite creation can be separated by long intervals due to persistent cloud-to-ground currents. These currents, which can last up to 200 milliseconds, provide enough energy flow for the second burst to trigger the sprite.
A team of scientists analyzed sediment core samples from Lake Titicaca in Bolivia and Peru, revealing a 25,000-year precipitation record that suggests tropical South America was wet during the last Ice Age. The findings challenge traditional views that the region was dry during this time period.
Scientists found that switching on the genes for GAP-43 and CAP-23 induces neurons to grow elongated nerve fibers, characteristic of regenerating nerves. This breakthrough suggests genetic therapy or drugs activating just a handful of genes might be enough to induce regeneration in humans with spinal cord injuries.
Neurons control connection strength by removing or inserting receptors for glutamate, a key neurotransmitter. The discovery reveals a 'shuttle' system that rapidly regulates receptor numbers, allowing neurons to adjust connection strength.
Researchers found evidence that brain circuitry is present and well-formed at birth, contradicting the long-held view that experience shapes the brain's wiring. The study used innovative surgical techniques to reveal neural connections in newborn ferrets' brains.
Scientists at Duke University have developed a neural system that enables monkeys to control a robot arm using their brain signals, detected by implanted electrodes. The system could form the basis for a brain-machine interface to help paralyzed patients control prosthetic limbs.