Researchers used a computer model to identify potential candidates for treating ASD, including loperamide, which has shown promise in restoring social behaviors in genetically engineered mice. The study suggests that repurposing existing drugs like loperamide could provide a new treatment option for core autism symptoms.
Three pre-Columbian South American mummies found evidence of lethal trauma, with two males dying from extreme intentional violence. The study used 3D CT scans to examine the mummies and provide new insights into the rate of trauma and violent deaths in prehistoric human societies.
A new study published in Frontiers found that excessive blue light exposure can alter cellular functions in fruit flies, potentially leading to accelerated aging. The researchers discovered changes in metabolites essential for cell function and communication between neurons.
Beetles of the genus Lagria have evolved specialized 'back pockets' to store symbiotic bacteria, which are then relocated to reproductive organs during metamorphosis. The mechanism behind this process is not yet fully understood.
A new study found that 41% of teenagers can't tell the difference between true and fake online health messages. The researchers suggest focusing on health literacy and media literacy training, as well as skills like analytical thinking and scientific reasoning to help teenagers spot editing cues.
A nationwide study in Spain found that eating breakfast at home is linked with fewer behavioral problems in young people. The study suggests that skipping breakfast or eating away from home can lead to increased likelihood of psychosocial behavioral problems.
Research shows that exposure to commonly used insecticides can profoundly impair honeybees' visually guided behavior, crucial for flight and survival. The study found that pesticide-exposed bees have impaired optomotor responses, with increased asymmetry in left and right turns.
A randomized controlled trial found that virtual museum visits significantly improved the health of seniors stuck at home, reducing social isolation and improving well-being, quality of life, and frailty. The study recruited 106 participants aged 65 and older who attended guided tours online once a week for three months.
Researchers have found that small mammal diversity decreased with increasing human modification and that modern communities are fundamentally distinct from past ones. Even protected spaces can conserve native small mammal communities, highlighting their importance in urban conservation projects.
Small amounts of highly weathered oil residues from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster were still present in the surroundings ten years later. The study suggests that many environmental impacts are caused by chemically altered oil components, which can have different toxicities and physical properties.
Researchers found that California's forest carbon buffer pool has depleted at least 95% of its contributions within the first 10 years due to wildfires and disease. The program's self-insurance mechanism is unable to guarantee that credited forest carbon remains out of the atmosphere for at least 100 years.
Researchers found that Gursky's spectral tarsier duets exhibit acoustic trade-offs in note rate and bandwidth, suggesting a relationship between physical fitness and vocal complexity. The study suggests that only physically fit individuals can easily produce broadband notes fast.
A new study in Frontiers in Microbiology found that centuries-old lava caves on Hawaiʻi Island harbor an astonishing number of previously undiscovered bacterial species, including the Chloroflexi group. These microbes play key ecological roles in their communities and may have played a crucial role in shaping life on Mars and early Earth.
Researchers found that high temperatures induce epigenetic changes in zebrafish embryos, leading to sex reversal and altering the sex ratio. This study provides insights into the mechanisms behind climate change's impact on species with genotype-by-environment sex determination.
Researchers found that verbal insults deliver a strong emotional impact, capturing attention and triggering a negative response in the brain. The study used EEG and skin conductance recordings to examine the effects of repeated insults versus compliments.
A review of over 200 publications suggests that fish perceive quantities using similar brain regions as mammals and birds. This finding could lead to the development of new treatments for human diseases affecting math skills, such as developmental dyscalculia.
Researchers found that rats can learn spaces just by observation, without needing physical exploration. They outperformed naive rats in finding a reward location, suggesting that a stable cognitive map can be formed through observation alone.
A team of researchers has discovered a wide range of nitriles, key molecular precursors for life, in the interstellar molecular cloud G+0.693-0.027 near the Milky Way center. The study provides important insights into the chemical ingredients available in the nebula that give rise to our planetary system.
A new study takes inspiration from the 'waggle dance' of honeybees to devise a way for robots to communicate effectively in situations with unreliable network communications. Researchers designed a visual communication system using on-board cameras, allowing robots to interpret gestures and convey complex information.
A Japanese research team has developed a chopstick-shaped device that uses weak electrical charges to stimulate the tongue's saltiness. The study found that individuals following a low-sodium diet can reduce their salt intake by 30% through electric taste stimulation, enhancing the full flavor of salty foods.
A team of researchers has successfully connected a partially paralyzed man's brain to a pair of robotic arms, allowing him to feed himself using subtle motor signals. The 'shared control strategy' enables the user to customize robot behavior with limited human input, creating a 'best of both worlds' environment.
A new study published in Frontiers found that virtual reality environments with green vegetation and colorful patterns increase heart rate and promote a pleasurable experience. Conversely, colorful patterns alone stimulate interest and fascination without the same restorative effect as nature.
A newly installed deep-water pipeline has led to a significant increase in the abundance and diversity of marine life on the Angolan coast. The study found that the pipeline provided shelter and trapped organic matter, which animals feed on, resulting in an immediate boost to sea-floor animals.
Researchers found that increasing serotonin levels in mosquito blood reduces their flight speed and motivation to seek second blood meals, making them less efficient vectors of malaria parasites. This discovery provides a promising new avenue for insect-targeted interventions to prevent malaria transmission.
A study found that investing 1% of global GDP in green recovery could reduce CO2 emissions by 6-8.5% by 2030 through accelerated low-carbon energy production and improved industry efficiency. A sustained investment program combined with strong climate policies is necessary to meet the Paris Agreement targets.
A recent study reveals that historic wooden shipwrecks serve as habitats for diverse deep-sea microorganisms, surpassing the impact of naturally occurring geological structures. The study, conducted in the Gulf of Mexico, found that wood type and distance from the wreck site influenced bacterial diversity.
A new study reveals an 'expanding hole' illusion that deceives the brain, prompting a dilation reflex in the pupils and making us perceive more light. The illusion is perceived by approximately 86% of people and affects how our visual system anticipates and makes sense of the visual world.
Researchers found that the effectiveness of exercise depends on the time of day, with morning exercise reducing belly fat and blood pressure in women, while evening exercise increasing muscular performance. For men, evening exercise lowers blood pressure, burns more fat, and improves heart disease risk.
A comprehensive study published in Frontiers found that medicinal cannabis improved pain measures, decreased cancer symptoms, and reduced the need for opioid painkillers among cancer patients. The study's results suggest that medical cannabis can be considered as an alternative to traditional pain relief medicines.
The study found that breeding output collapsed due to increased maximum air temperature, with no successful breeding attempts above a threshold temperature of 35.7°C. The researchers predict that the yellow-billed hornbill could be extirpated from its range as soon as 2027.
Researchers used an ant-tracking method to estimate snow depth and found that it was approximately half the average distance a photon traveled inside the snow. This technique can help predict changes in sea ice thickness and glaciers, crucial for water resource management and climate modeling.
Patients who experienced severe systemic inflammation during hospitalization for Covid-19 have a higher risk of dying within one year after seemingly recovering. Prescription of steroids upon discharge from hospital significantly reduces this risk, with effects seen even in the most severe cases.
Researchers have discovered three unique brain subtypes indicating high, medium, and low susceptibility to chronic pain and trauma symptoms in veterans. The study provides an objective measurement of pain and trauma susceptibility and could lead to targeted and personalized treatments.
A new study reveals that children experience faster growth in height over the school year compared to the summer, resulting in a higher BMI. This seasonality in growth affects the probability of becoming overweight or obese during the summer, highlighting the need for obesity prevention efforts throughout the year.
Researchers from UC Berkeley found that a photovoltaic array using compressed hydrogen for energy storage can efficiently power human missions on Mars. The system beats out nuclear power across about 50% of the Martian surface.
A new study published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience reveals that nine out of ten autistic women in France have suffered sexual violence, with most victims being assaulted multiple times at a young age. The findings highlight the need for improved prevention and care programs to address this vulnerable population.
A combination of high-dose vitamin D, omega-3s, and a simple home strength exercise program (SHEP) showed a cumulative reduction of 61% in cancer risk among healthy adults aged 70 or older. The study, published in Frontiers in Aging, highlights the potential benefits of combining multiple public health interventions for cancer prevention.
Vervet monkeys have excellent cognitive skills for quickly appraising social context and planning routes accordingly. They make complex, multifactor decisions that consider contextual information, such as individual skill, rank, and competitor distance.
A new study found that the release of oxytocin is linked to increased kindness and life satisfaction, with participants showing more generous behavior and empathy as they aged. The findings support religious philosophies on the importance of helping others in enhancing life satisfaction.
A new study found that wolves preferentially target adult moose with osteoarthritis, an age-related disease, over prime-aged adults. This selective predation helps maintain a balance in prey populations, reducing the incidence of diseases such as osteoarthritis.
Children of exceptionally long-lived parents and their spouses experience lower risk of type II diabetes compared to the general population. The study found that low BMI, high HDL cholesterol, and certain hormones in the blood protect against developing diabetes II.
A new study reveals that the giant camel Camelus knoblochi lived in Mongolia with anatomically modern humans until climate change led to its extinction. The species likely competed with its critically endangered relative, the Bactrian camel, for resources.
A new study finds that forest bird nestlings are smaller and less likely to survive extreme heat, while urban birds seem to adapt better. The research highlights the fragility of natural populations and the need for further understanding and protection.
Scientists analyzed ancient vessels from India and discovered that prehistoric people used a variety of ingredients, including foraged plants, cultivated crops, and traded goods. The study found no evidence of cultural change impacting food processing during the Copper Age to Indus Valley Civilization transition.
A new study published in Frontiers in Oncology has shown that mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccines are well-tolerated by high-risk patients with impaired immunity. The trial enrolled 566 patients and found no evidence of increased adverse events or interference with treatment, reassuring vaccine-hesitant immunocompromised individuals.
A new 30m resolution global map shows that wildfires caused 26-29% of global forest loss between 2001 and 2019, with primary tropical forests in Africa and Latin America being particularly affected. The researchers hope their map will improve climate modeling and inform forest management policies.
Mountain gorillas are increasing their water drinking frequency as temperatures rise due to the climate crisis. This shift could lead to parasite and human disease exposure, and is a concerning sign for the species' survival.
A new sustainable solar oven design, developed in Nigeria, combines two conventional designs to provide a cleaner alternative for cooking without hazardous fuels. The cooker uses locally sourced materials and can be easily assembled and operated by one person.
Ancient artworks from Minoan civilization of ancient Greece depict domesticated saffron, suggesting cultivation around 1600 BCE. Genetic studies support this origin, placing the modern saffron crocus with its three genomes as a result of natural selection in Bronze Age Greece.
A recent study published in Frontiers in Marine Science found that 31% of pet food products from Singapore contained shark DNA, highlighting the prevalence of ingredient mislabeling. The researchers suggest implementing global standards for pet food labels to avoid overexploitation of endangered sharks.