Scientists found that at least 1% of Neanderthals were likely redheads due to a point mutation in the MC1R gene. The discovery suggests that Neanderthals' pigmentation may be as varied as modern humans', with implications for understanding the evolution of human traits.
BASF and Harvard University have established the BASF Advanced Research Initiative to promote innovative collaborations and develop new technologies. The initiative aims to explore various areas, including applied physics, chemical biology, and materials science, with a focus on developing new products and processes.
Researchers from Harvard University have demonstrated a laser with unprecedented detail, capable of resolving chemical composition of samples like cells. This device combines Quantum Cascade Lasers with optical antenna nanotechnology, enabling new ultrahigh spatial resolution microscopes for chemical imaging.
Researchers develop formula to study linguistic evolution, predicting irregular verbs will regularize at a rate inversely proportional to their usage frequency. The most common irregular verbs, such as 'be' and 'think', are expected to remain irregular for thousands of years.
Researchers at Harvard University have found that a simple circadian clock can maintain an accurate 24-hour cycle through the rhythmic addition and subtraction of phosphate groups on a single protein. This discovery builds upon previous research and has implications for understanding general feedback mechanisms in organisms.
Researchers discovered that ancient Greek craftsmen were able to build precise devices like the balance and catapult without understanding mathematical theory. This finding highlights the importance of practical know-how in scientific development and challenges the assumption that theoretical knowledge is essential for innovation.
A team of Harvard researchers has found that organisms must stay below a mutation rate of 6 per genome per generation to prevent extinction. This discovery explains why some species are more resilient to genetic changes and offers insights into the physical properties of genetic material and its impact on survival fitness.
A study of the Hadza tribe found that males with lower vocal pitch had more surviving children, suggesting a link between voice pitch and fertility. The researchers believe that women may choose mates with deeper voices because they are perceived as better providers.
A new study by Harvard researchers found that non-human primates infer intentions based on rational action, not just surface-level appearances. The primates chose the most accessible food container in each scenario, demonstrating a human-like understanding of others' goals and actions.
The study reveals that the brain encodes visual information with extreme precision, necessary to represent the slowly changing visual world. The researchers found that the brain's internal clock changes relative to the visual scene's timescale, with precise timing required for accurate perception.
A new study from Harvard University and colleagues challenges previous knowledge about the origins of urbanization, proposing that smaller groups made decisions leading to city growth. The research analyzed artifacts at Tell Brak in Mesopotamia over an 800-year period, revealing patterns of population growth and settlement clusters.
A novel peer-to-peer video sharing application is being used to explore a next-generation model for safe and legal electronic commerce. The platform rewards users for uploading content, allowing them to download faster and more securely. Researchers envision a global marketplace where bandwidth is the primary currency.
Biologists have identified the first orchid fossil, dating back 76-84 million years, which suggests that showy blooms may have existed alongside dinosaurs. The discovery resolves a longstanding debate over orchid origins and provides direct evidence of pollination in the fossil record.
Researchers at Harvard University identified the genetic changes responsible for lighter fur coloration in beach mice, which helps camouflage them from predators. The discovery sheds light on how specific gene interactions can influence an organism's appearance and survival.
Research suggests that a sensory organ in the noses of mammals differentiates male and female behavior, rather than the brain. Female mice with mutant vomeronasal organs adopt male behaviors like mounting and pelvic thrusting, abandoning maternal actions.
Researchers found that high school math preparation significantly improves college performance in biology, chemistry, and physics. However, no correlation was seen between scientific disciplines, challenging the 'Physics First' movement's arguments.
Researchers have discovered a way to manipulate individual carbon-13 atoms in diamond to create stable quantum mechanical memory and a small quantum processor operating at room temperature. This breakthrough brings solid-state materials into the realm of quantum computing, revolutionizing scientists' approach to the technology.
A study by researchers from Harvard University suggests that children can solve approximate addition and subtraction problems without arithmetic instruction. They demonstrated a natural sense of number, which allows them to think about arithmetic in a way that does not rely on precise knowledge of numbers or place value.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed tiny implantable biocomputers that can precisely scan cellular activity, enabling targeted therapies for diseased cells. The devices, constructed from DNA, RNA, and proteins, could revolutionize medicine by directing treatments to specific cells or tissues.
A study at Harvard University found that sexual dimorphism in Caribbean lizards increases their ecological niche, allowing species to thrive by avoiding resource competition. The research suggests sex differences may have fueled the evolution of diverse fauna, highlighting the importance of considering both sexes.
Researchers at Harvard University developed a test that assesses implicit attitudes towards self-injury, improving the prediction of self-injurious behavior. The study found that individuals with a history of non-suicidal self-injury were more likely to associate self with cutting in an implicit association test.
Researchers at Harvard University found that Beijing's traffic restrictions in November reduced NOx emissions by 40% and traffic by 30%. The study suggests that similar efforts could lead to significant changes in air quality during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
Researchers from Harvard University found that ancient aquatic amphibians developed the ability to feed on land before transitioning to terrestrial life. Analysis of skull bones reveals that these extinct animals captured prey by biting or sucking it into their mouth, with one key species showing signs of biting behavior.
Researchers at Harvard University and BBN Technologies are creating a city-wide wireless sensor network called CitySense, the world's first of its kind. The network will focus on monitoring air pollution and weather conditions, collecting data on a scale never before attempted.
A study of over 5,000 soccer matches found that referees show partiality towards the home team, scoring 1.5 goals at home and 1.1 away, with crowd size increasing advantage by 0.1 goals for every additional 10,000 people.
Many dinosaurs had small genomes, with a clear dichotomy between theropod and ornithischian lineages. The researchers found that theropod genomes were smaller than expected, with an average of 8.4% repetitive DNA.
Researchers found intricate tilework in medieval Islamic architecture exhibits decagonal quasicrystal geometry, a concept discovered in the West in the 1970s and 1980s. This finding suggests that medieval Islamic artisans used specialized tiles, called girih tiles, to create complex patterns without lengthy, painstaking processes.
Researchers at Harvard University have created a novel spraying method for delivering the most common tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, offering needle-free delivery and greater stability. This breakthrough could improve TB care and slow the spread of HIV/AIDS in developing countries.
A novel spray drying method has been developed to preserve and deliver the most common tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, promising greater stability at room temperature and use in needle-free delivery. This technique could provide a better approach for vaccination against TB and help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in developing countries.
Researchers at Harvard University have successfully stopped, store, and revive a light pulse in two separate locations using supercooled sodium clouds. This technique enables precise control over optical information and has potential applications in quantum information processing and cryptography.
Researchers found that people perceive the minds of others along two distinct dimensions: agency (self-control, morality) and experience (feelings, sensations). This framework sheds light on moral and legal decisions and highlights the subjective nature of perceiving mental attributes in others.
Applied scientists developed a method for creating wrinkled hard skins on polymer surfaces using a focused ion beam. The technique has potential use in biological sensors and microfluidic devices, as well as custom-made cell templates for tissue engineering.
Scientists analyzed rafflesia's genome to determine its closest relatives are in the Euphorbiaceae family, with blossoms just a few millimeters in diameter. The plant's massive increase in flower size over millions of years is one of the most significant among living organisms.
The study found that different seed dispersal methods, such as gravity and wind, result in distinct patterns of tree clustering in tropical forests. Trees with ballistic dispersal tend to cluster tightly, while those with wind-dispersed seeds have surprisingly tight clusters due to the dense forest canopy.
Researchers found that island lizards' hind legs shifted from longer to shorter limbs in just six months, favoring survival in a new predatory environment. This rapid evolution highlights the importance of behavioral flexibility in driving evolutionary changes.
A new task for IgG has been discovered, helping cells capture germs and dispose of them. The antibody aids in the formation of phagolysosomes that kill off invading microbes.
Research at Harvard University found that 5- to 7-year-olds prefer lucky individuals and groups over the less fortunate. The study suggests this phenomenon may clarify human attitudes toward social groups and help explain the persistence of social inequality.
Scientists at Harvard University have developed a computer model that can fully map and predict how small proteins fold into three-dimensional shapes. The model tracks protein folding for up to 10 microseconds, significantly longer than previous methods.
Researchers at Harvard University found that the dynamic elastic and dampening roles of ankles, feet, and other distal extremities help legged animals maintain stability on uneven terrain after stumbling. By modulating limbs dynamically, selectively, and quickly, animals can recover from falls and maintain forward momentum.
Harvard University's Harvard Forest has received a $4.9 million grant from the National Science Foundation to study landscape change in New England. The six-year project will examine the drivers and consequences of forest responses to natural and human disturbances, with potential applications for regional land protection and management.
A new study by Harvard University researchers finds that diversity training programs have failed to increase minority representation in management positions. In contrast, programs that establish responsibility for diversity, such as equal opportunity staff positions or diversity task forces, have proven most effective.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a new photonic device that uses an optical antenna to concentrate light and improve spatial resolution, leading to increased storage density in optical data storage platforms. The device could also be used in biology and engineering applications such as microscopy and spectroscopy.
According to researchers at Harvard University and the University of Michigan, healthcare in America has been cost-effective overall. The study found that improved healthcare contributed significantly to increased life expectancy, with 70% of gains attributed to reductions in cardiovascular disease deaths.
Scientists at Harvard University have developed nanowire arrays that can detect, stimulate, and inhibit nerve signals along individual axons and dendrites of live mammalian neurons. This breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of brain activity and signal propagation in neuronal networks.
A new type of microscopy developed by Xiaowei Zhuang at Harvard University resolves objects as small as 20 nanometers, enabling the first ultra-resolution imaging of living biomolecules and cells. The technique, called stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy, uses glowing molecules to create high-resolution images in real-time.
Scientists at Harvard University discover deep-sea sediments can permanently store man-made carbon dioxide, with US seafloor holding vast reserves. The method involves injecting CO2 into sediment layers, creating a stable and secure storage system.
Researchers found evidence of ancient fig domestication at Gilgal I site, suggesting humans selectively propagated a parthenocarpic mutant around 11,400 years ago. This marked the beginning of agriculture and a significant change in human history.
Studies conducted by Harvard researchers reveal that prosopagnosia, or 'face-blindness,' may be more common than previously thought, affecting up to 2% of the general public. The condition can lead to social isolation and difficulty recognizing familiar faces, prompting individuals to rely on non-facial traits for recognition.
Researchers found that garlic mustard targets arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, harming native plants and disrupting their growth. The invasive plant's phytochemical poisons disrupt native plants' mycorrhizal associations, stunting their growth.
Researchers found that worms dwelling at ocean depths of 2,200 meters prefer temperatures around 50 degrees Celsius, outperforming other species. This adaptation allows them to graze on bacterial lawns that no other organism can access, with some species succumbing to heat quickly.