A study reveals that sea otter reintroduction has slowed creekbank erosion by up to 90% and restored marsh stability despite rising sea levels and pollution. The researchers suggest that this phenomenon can have far-reaching benefits for ecosystems worldwide, overturning the traditional bottom-up paradigm of coastal geomorphology.
Researchers at Duke University successfully introduced a mutated BRAF gene into rat heart tissue, inducing growth and cell division. However, the approach was associated with significant loss of contractile strength, highlighting the need for precise control over gene activation and delivery.
Researchers at Duke University developed an adaptive deep brain stimulation therapy for Parkinson's disease, targeting two key brain structures and using a novel self-adjusting device. The study found that this approach improved motor symptoms and reduced medication doses in six patients.
A study from Duke University found that people with PTSD have a significantly smaller cerebellum, especially in areas related to emotion and memory. Researchers hope this discovery will lead to targeted treatments and more research on the brain region's role in PTSD.
A new study published in Science Advances suggests that protected areas for elephants are most effective when connected to allow populations to stabilize naturally. This approach, known as 'connecting parks,' enables herds to move freely and absorb immigrants, reducing the need for human intervention.
A computational method called Disordered Enthalpy-Entropy Descriptor (DEED) predicts the synthesizability of 900 new ceramic materials. The results demonstrate enhanced stability and properties, suitable for applications such as electronics, wear-resistant coatings, and thermoelectrics.
Making antivenom more widely available across hospitals and community health centers in the Brazilian Amazon region would significantly reduce death and disability from venomous snakebites. The study found that expanding access to both hospitals and community health centers would produce the largest benefits, averting up to 3,922 death...
A team of engineers has developed a novel printing method called deep-penetrating acoustic volumetric printing (DVAP) that uses soundwaves to solidify biologically compatible structures in deep tissues. The technique involves a specialized ink that reacts to ultrasound waves, enabling the creation of intricate structures for biomedical...
Researchers found that brittle stars, brainless marine creatures, can associate darkness with food and react accordingly, demonstrating classical conditioning. They retained this association even after a break from training, suggesting potential learning capabilities in these animals.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a new computational model called Adaptive Physics Refinement (APR) that can simulate the movement of individual cancer cells across long distances within the entire human body. This approach captures detailed cellular interactions and their effects on cellular trajectory, providing valuable...
Biomedical engineers at Duke University created a new 'digital twins' framework using smartwatch data to capture personalized arterial forces over 700,000 heartbeats. This approach reduces the computational load by simulating tasks in parallel, enabling real-time tracking of cardiovascular disease progression and risk assessment.
Researchers at Duke University have discovered that subtle ear sounds can be decoded to pinpoint where someone's eyes are looking. By analyzing these sounds, the team was able to estimate the movement of the eyes and predict what the waveform of the ear sound would look like.
A new study reveals that cycad species that survived the dinosaur extinction relied on symbiotic bacteria in their roots for nitrogen. This discovery sheds light on how these plants adapted to changing environments and could provide insights into understanding Earth's climate history.
Researchers at Duke University developed a CRISPR-based platform to identify genes that improve T-cell therapies for cancer treatment. They discovered BATF3, a single master regulator of the genome, which reprograms thousands of genes in T cells and greatly enhances cancer cell killing.
A new speech prosthetic developed by Duke neuroscientists and engineers can translate brain signals into spoken words, improving communication for people with neurological disorders. The device achieved an accuracy rate of 40% in predicting intended speech from 90 seconds of brain activity.
A global survey of restoration projects reveals that most efforts fail to address the impact of herbivores on young plants. By introducing predators or barriers, conservationists can increase plant regrowth by up to 89% and speed up restoration outcomes.
A new Duke University-led study finds that Gulf War Illness significantly reduces the ability of white blood cells to make energy, creating measurable biochemical differences in veterans with the disease. The study reveals impaired mitochondrial function, leading to lower levels of extracellular acidification and oxygen consumption.
Researchers at Duke University developed an innovative antibody approach to target and kill tumor-promoting molecules found in cancer cells. The study revealed notable reductions in tumor growth and minimal side effects, making it a promising new treatment option for various types of cancer.
A study by Duke neuroscientists found that curiosity increases people's patience for an answer while making them more eager to hear it. Curiosity also motivated viewers to withhold from hitting the 'spoiler' button and kept watching animated line-drawing videos unfold.
Rising Arctic temperatures are causing a mass migration of zooplankton, which Pacific right whales rely on for food. This shift is also drawing industrial fishing fleets northward, increasing the risk of ship collisions and gear entanglements.
A new study by Duke University researchers has found endemic malaria in Turkana County, Kenya, with a significant incidence of Plasmodium vivax, a parasite historically rare in sub-Saharan Africa. The presence of invasive mosquito species Anopheles stephensi also poses challenges to the continent's malaria control efforts.
A Duke University study found glyphosate, active in Roundup, in high levels of wells supplying drinking water to Sri Lankan communities plagued by chronic kidney disease (CKDu). Elevated fluoride and vanadium also linked to CKDu were discovered. Glyphosate's persistence in hard water poses concerns for exposure.
Duke researchers demonstrate that incorporating rhythm into movement designs can optimize performance and efficiency for robots and animals. By varying the timing of movements, optimal rhythms can be achieved, affecting all aspects of design.
A study by Duke University psychologists finds that White people tend to see Multiracial faces as Black, while Black people see them as White. Multiracial participants show less bias when forced to choose one race, categorizing faces as White more often than Black.
A new AI-powered app can detect autism in children with high accuracy, capturing a wide range of behavioral characteristics beyond eye movements. The app provides detailed information on which indicators led to its conclusions and why, enabling healthcare providers to make informed decisions.
Re-wetting southern peatlands along the US south Atlantic coast could significantly boost carbon storage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A new Duke University study reveals that maintaining water levels between 20-30 cm below the local water table can increase CO2 storage by up to 90%.
A new molecular mechanism has been identified that helps plants adjust protein levels to fight infection. By unzipping specific RNA structures, plant cells can produce defense proteins. This discovery also has implications for human cells, suggesting a similar mechanism may control protein production in response to pathogens.
Researchers found that AvrE/DspE family proteins, used by plant pathogens to cause disease, fold into a straw-like structure with a water channel. This discovery could lead to the development of new methods to disarm these proteins and prevent crop damage.
A new study by Duke University found that urban parks built on former waste incineration sites can still contain high levels of lead in their surface soils, posing potential health risks to children. The research highlights the need for increased monitoring and mapping of contaminated soil hotspots across hundreds of cities.
By controlling the arrangement of multiple layers within crystals, researchers can tune the materials' optoelectronic properties and emit light of specific energies. This technique has significant implications for applications such as LEDs, solar cells, and lasers.
Researchers at Duke University used a quantum computer to measure the geometric phase in light-absorbing molecules, which puts limitations on molecular transformations. This breakthrough allows for direct measurement of a long-standing fundamental question in chemistry, critical to processes like photosynthesis and vision.
Brands leveraging quality reputation to pay employees less erode profits due to negative effects on productivity and retention. Unique brands, which tend to pay more, have a positive impact on profits. Managers should consider brand differentiation in pay benchmarking.
Researchers found that witch hazel species with heavier seeds can fling them just as fast as lighter ones due to their spring-loaded fruits. The plants' unique mechanism involves the seed capsule drying out and deforming, releasing elastic energy to propel the seed forward.
Hogfish use their skin to view themselves and fine-tune color changes, a sensory feedback mechanism that lets them monitor their surroundings. Researchers have found light-sensitive opsin proteins in the skin, allowing them to capture changes in light that are filtered through pigment-filled cells.
A study by Duke University researchers has found microplastics in the fats and lungs of two-thirds of marine mammals, suggesting that ingested plastics can travel into tissues. The presence of polymer particles and fibers in whales' fat and organs may cause harm, including hormone disruption.
A new antibiotic strategy has been found to defeat gram-negative bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli by interfering with the outer lipid layer of the bacteria. The compound, LPC-233, is a small molecule that works fast and is durable in animal tests, with potentially vital applications against stubborn urinary tract infections.
A new program aims to label smart devices with certain cybersecurity standards, allowing consumers to make informed choices. However, the effectiveness of these labels in protecting consumers from cyber threats is uncertain.
Researchers found that people who imagined planning a heist had better memory the next day compared to those who imagined executing it. Curiosity supercharges memory for paintings seen while pretending to be an art thief.
A new AI approach has confirmed that the Maldivian government effectively enforced its ban on open trash burning and single-use plastics, eliminating toxic smoke plumes from satellite imagery. The tool, trained using transfer learning and image segmentation, achieved 88% accuracy in identifying plumes.
A Duke University team has found that retrotransposons use the cell's DNA repair function to create a ring-like shape and then produce a matching double strand. This discovery challenges long-held theories about retrotransposons being byproducts of bad gene copying.
A new report suggests that AI-powered robot companions could alleviate the loneliness epidemic and its associated health risks. Companion robots have already shown promise in reducing stress and promoting physical and mental well-being in socially isolated older adults.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a new approach to building point-of-care diagnostic devices that uses gravity to transport and mix liquid droplets. The device relies on commercially available surface coatings that can tweak the wettability and slipperiness of the channels, allowing for complex fluid paths to be designed.
A new technique using DNA barcoding can identify the plant matter in human feces, improving clinical trials, nutrition studies and historical research. The method detected specific plant species and their relative amounts consumed, varying according to diet, age, and household income.
New research from Duke University reveals that warmer temperatures increase the number of germ cells, which play a crucial role in determining the sex of turtles. This finding may explain why temperature-dependent sex determination persists in many animals, despite seeming like a risky strategy.
Researchers at Duke University have discovered a way to make rubbery materials up to nine times more durable without compromising their elasticity. This breakthrough could help reduce microplastic pollution from car tires, with estimates suggesting that tire wear alone releases millions of metric tons of debris into the environment eac...
A new study by Duke University researchers reveals that the amount of toxic elements leaching out of coal ash depends largely on its nanoscale structure. The discovery highlights the complexity of coal ash as a material and emphasizes the need for closer examination of fine details within the ash to understand environmental risks.
Researchers found that malaria parasites synchronize their gene expression with the host's internal clock, repeating every 24 hours. The study reveals a potential new target for anti-malarial drugs by 'jet-lagging' the parasites' clocks.
Researchers at Duke University have identified a climate feedback loop that could accelerate climate change. Monitoring mixotrophs, tiny organisms with dual metabolism modes, may allow us to anticipate the tipping point before it gets there. However, nutrient pollution poses a challenge to detecting early warning signals.
Researchers at Duke University have discovered a class of compounds called argyrodites that could lead to the development of safer and more efficient solid-state batteries. The materials' unique crystalline structures allow for fast ion conduction, making them promising candidates for energy storage applications.
Researchers discover allowing imperfection in design can create wider range of 'good enough' solutions, enabling more innovative designs. The study uses simple examples, such as walkways and bird flapping motion, to show that even small tolerances for imperfection open up significant design space.