Researchers found that bacteria gain resistance through only a small fraction of the 120 possible mutational paths in a key gene. Most pathways fail to continuously improve resistance, contradicting traditional views on evolution by natural selection.
Modern ants arose between 140-168 million years ago, coinciding with the emergence of flowering plants. This shift provided new habitats and food sources for ants, allowing them to diversify and become dominant in terrestrial ecosystems.
Scientists have found that glacier melting in polar regions is causing a rise in seismic activity, with glacial earthquakes occurring most commonly in summer months. This phenomenon is linked to the movement of massive glaciers and their response to climate change.
Researchers developed a new assay to observe real-time gene expression in live cells, providing unprecedented insights into fundamental biological processes. The technique detects protein molecules being produced in small bursts within cells and could reveal the randomness of gene expression.
A recent study by Harvard sociologists found that whites are more likely to experience a significant increase in mortality risk following their spouse's death compared to blacks. The study, which analyzed data from over 410,000 elderly American couples, revealed a stronger widowhood effect among white couples.
A Harvard University study found that high school AP courses do not contribute substantially to student success in college. Mathematical fluency is the single best predictor of college performance in biology, chemistry, and physics, with depth over breadth coursework performing better in college courses.
The Munduruküul community in Brazil shows competence with basic concepts of topology, Euclidean geometry, and geometrical figures, even children as young as six years old performed well. The study suggests that core geometrical knowledge is a universal constituent of the human mind, independent of formal education or cultural devices.
Researchers found a biochemical pathway, called RISC, that facilitates protein synthesis at synapses during learning, enabling long-term memory formation. By manipulating this pathway, scientists increased flies' memory and altered their behavioral responses to stimuli.
Researchers at Harvard University have discovered a way to create stable, non-spherical bubbles by coating particles on the surface of the bubbles. The 'armor' of particles supports unequal stresses, allowing for unique shapes such as peapods and donuts.
A team of researchers assembled ancient gourd remnants across the Americas and found they matched modern gourds in Asia, suggesting a pre-pottery Asian origin. The findings indicate that people arrived in the New World with domesticated plants and tools, changing our understanding of the founding of the Americas.
A global signaling study suggests that cancer's genesis may be linked to the haphazard activation of secondary signaling pathways by proteins. The researchers found that only two human ErbB receptors, EGFR and ErbB2, become promiscuous when overexpressed, recruiting a large number of different signaling proteins.
Researchers found that almost all neurons feeding into the LHRH-making region of the hypothalamus originated in the mouse nose. Mice with compromised olfactory function show dramatically impaired mating behavior, highlighting the essential role of olfactory activity in eliciting male mating behavior.
Scientists have developed nanowire arrays that can detect multiple cancer markers with near-perfect selectivity. These devices can test a mere pinprick of blood in minutes, providing immediate scans and potentially tracking patients' health as treatment progresses.
Research at Harvard University reveals that preschool children have a basic understanding of number concepts and can perform addition before formal schooling. However, their ability to comprehend symbolic arithmetic is limited, suggesting that teaching methods may need to be revised.
Researchers Gary Urton and Carrie J. Brezine discovered that khipu, or quipu, were used as bureaucratic ledgers to track accounting data in the Inka Empire. The devices contained cumulative numerical data, suggesting a complex system of record-keeping and labor management.
The human cerebellum and cortex age at vastly different rates, with the cortex showing pronounced and consistent changes, while the cerebellum experiences smaller and less coordinated changes. This study, published in PLoS Biology, reveals that the functions of brain regions influence how they age.
Researchers found that roughly 15% of genes are expressed differently among male salmon of the same species, depending on their life history. The findings suggest that the 'default' life cycle may result from active inhibition of development into a sneaker male.
The retina's dynamic adaptation allows it to prioritize unusual features over routine ones, improving predictive coding and enhancing the ability to pick out new information. This process occurs rapidly, often within a few seconds of exposure to a novel environment, and is observed in both salamanders and mammals.
Researchers create high-performance electronic devices using low-temperature fabrication and nanowires, outpacing comparable ring oscillators by a factor of 10,000. The technique paves the way for more complex nanoelectronics and could enable ubiquitous computing devices with improved speed and reduced costs.
A Harvard researcher predicts a decline in cleansing summer winds, leading to increased ground-level ozone pollution. This could exacerbate respiratory issues like asthma for affected populations.
Researchers have discovered that ancient Chinese craftsmen used diamond to polish sapphire-rich stones around 2500 BC, creating a mirror-like luster on the axes. The find sheds new light on the origins of Neolithic artifacts in China and challenges current understanding of prehistoric polishing techniques.
Researchers studied the plant's leaves, discovering an 'active snap-buckling instability' that controls rapid closure. The study reveals key mechanisms for the plant's trap-like movement, with implications for biomimetic systems and tiny artificial devices.
A Harvard University study finds that racial disparities in youth violence are largely driven by social factors, including neighborhood environment, parental marital status, and immigrant status. The research suggests that interventions aimed at improving community well-being may help reduce the gap.
According to a new study by Caroline Hoxby of Harvard University, charter school students are more likely to be proficient in reading and math on state exams. For schools with at least 40% public funding, students perform particularly well. Charter schools in disadvantaged areas also show a significant advantage.
Researchers found that unconscious subcortical bias can be squelched by the frontal cortex, and that early perceptual processing may result in an automatic emotional response. Consistently, participants with less racial bias displayed less amygdala activity to black faces.
A clinical study found that roughly half the population produces more than 98% of potentially pathogenic bioaerosols. Administration of nebulized saline can reduce droplet exhalation in high-producers for up to six hours.
The discovery suggests that strong selection for running fueled the growth of the human brain by relaxing constraints on protein and fat acquisition. Running has substantially shaped human evolution, with features like detached shoulders, springy tendons, and well-defined buttocks emerging to enable efficient long-distance running.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a new method called cytological profiling that uses automated microscopic imaging to track the broad effects of drugs on cells. This technique allows for high-throughput analysis, enabling scientists to quickly identify promising drugs and streamline early phases of drug discovery.
Researchers led by Harvard University's David R. Liu report a highly efficient system for reaction discovery using DNA-templated synthesis, allowing a single researcher to evaluate thousands of potential chemical reactions in just two days. The technique taps the unique assembly power of nucleic acids to address fundamental challenges ...
Researchers at Harvard University have found evidence of ancient grain milling and baking 23,000 years ago in present-day Israel. The discovery provides insight into the transition from foraging to food production, revealing that humans first developed technologies to process wild grains around 20,000 years ago.
Harvard University scientists have developed nanowire detectors that can identify single viruses using specific receptors, offering a highly sensitive solution for diagnostics and biosafety. The technology has the potential to detect viral infections at early stages and distinguish between different strains and variants.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a technique to produce organic molecules by attaching them to single DNA strands, which can then be used as a sequence-programmable assembly line for chemical synthesis. This method enables the selection and amplification of molecules with desired functional properties.
A team of researchers developed a mathematical model to explain the 5-second delay between head motion and vertigo attacks, suggesting that tiny particles called otoconia may be responsible. The study used hydrodynamic models to show that loose otoconia can cause disruptions in the inner ear, leading to dizziness.
Researchers at Harvard University and Washington University have identified a family of molecules that play a crucial role in generating synapses in the brain. These presynaptic organizing molecules could lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, mental retardation, and other conditions where synapse loss is a factor.