A new test for sickle cell disease can identify the condition in just 12 minutes and costs as little as 50 cents, offering hope for rural clinics around the globe. The test is based on separating cells by density using polymers and water, making it simple and low-cost to run.
A new study by Harvard University researchers found that children as young as six exhibit in-group favoritism when reacting to unfair behavior, but by eight years old, they are more likely to intervene regardless of group affiliation. The study suggests that fairness norms may be universal and not specific to Western culture.
Researchers at Harvard University's H SCI have identified a promising new potential treatment for ALS, using compounds already in clinical trials. The study found that inhibiting a specific receptor in glial cells increased survival time in an animal model of the disease.
Researchers at Harvard University have found that mice can distinguish between specific odors even when surrounded by multiple background smells. The team used fluorescent proteins to create images of how different scents activated neurons in the brain, revealing a neural explanation for how animals separate relevant from irrelevant se...
Researchers at Harvard University studied 137 varieties of cheese from 10 countries to identify three general types of microbial communities. These findings provide a model for studying microbial communities and their interactions, with potential applications in understanding various biological processes. The study also reveals the imp...
A groundbreaking study by Harvard University researchers shows that orb-weaver spiders do not share a single origin, contrary to long-held popular opinion. The study's findings suggest that the orb web evolved independently in two groups of spiders, with distinct behaviors and silk characteristics.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a method to collect the best cell type for regenerating damaged corneas, with purified human stem cells showing promise in improving long-term vision in mice. The discovery is expected to quickly translate into improved human therapies and could potentially restore the corneal surface.
A Harvard research team found that transplanting mesenchymal stem cells with blood vessel-forming cells improves results in mice. The co-transplantation method keeps the mesenchymal stem cells alive longer, enabling them to display their full regenerative potential and generate new bone or fat tissue.
A study by Harvard University researchers found that allowing people to vote on resource harvesting led to the preservation of these resources for future generations. The voting system used was based on the median of all votes cast, which encouraged altruistic decisions and cooperation across generations.
Researchers at Harvard University discovered that many birds targeted by the Common Cuckoo have evolved recognizable egg patterns to distinguish their own eggs from those laid by cuckoo cheats. These signatures provide a strong defense against cuckoo mimicry, helping host birds reject foreign eggs and protect their broods.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a genome-editing approach that permanently reduces cholesterol levels in mice through a single injection. This approach could significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks in humans, translating to a potential 90% reduction in heart attack risk. The technique targets the PCSK9 gene and ...
Researchers have found that mature liver cells can dedifferentiate into functional progenitor cells, allowing them to regenerate a diseased liver. This discovery challenges long-held theories about the role of stem cells in liver regeneration.
Harvard researchers found forests in the Eastern US are showing signs of spring growth earlier than ever, enabling them to store up to 26 million metric tons more CO2. However, continued climate change may lead to more dramatic negative consequences, such as changes in precipitation patterns and reduced water availability for forests.
Scientists at Harvard University have identified a newly discovered compound that can slow the degradation of insulin in animals, potentially leading to a new treatment for diabetes. The compound inhibits insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), elevating insulin levels and promoting insulin signaling in mice.
Researchers developed herpes-loaded stem cells that significantly improved survival rates in mice with glioblastoma multiforme when applied to tumors. The treatment used mesenchymal stem cells as drug delivery vehicles, allowing oncolytic viruses to replicate and kill residual cancer cells.
Researchers at Harvard University have identified galanin neurons in the brain's medial preoptic area (MPOA) that regulate parental behavior in mice. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of conditions like post-partum depression and potentially offer new treatment options.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a new model of heart tissue carrying an inherited cardiovascular disease, a major step forward for personalized medicine. The study used patient-derived cardiac cells and 'organs-on-chips' technology to create a functional human heart tissue that can be replicated in the laboratory.
GDF11 protein improves the exercise capability of aging mice by making their brains and skeletal muscles more like those of young health mice. The protein also restores DNA damage associated with aging in muscle stem cells, leading to improved function in unmanipulated muscle.
Physicists at Harvard University have successfully created quantum switches that can be turned on and off using a single photon. This technological achievement could lead to the creation of highly secure quantum networks, enabling perfectly secure communications over long distances.
A new study by Harvard neuroscientists reveals that myelin, the electrical insulating material in nerve cells, is not uniformly distributed along axons. Instead, more evolved neurons in the cerebral cortex have intermittent myelin patterns, which may enable increased neuronal communication and complex behavior.
Scientists at Harvard University have created a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system that can produce nano-scale images, potentially allowing researchers to peer into the atomic structure of individual molecules. The system uses a miniaturized magnet and quantum computing technology to achieve high spatial resolution.
A new study by Harvard University scientists shows how severe droughts can trigger cascades of ecosystem change that last for centuries. The research analyzed tree rings spanning over 300,000 square miles and 400 years of history in the eastern US.
Researchers at Harvard University have discovered a link between ALS mutations and motor neuron hyperactivity, suggesting a new therapeutic target. The approved medication for epilepsy may be effective in reducing this hyperexcitability, paving the way for clinical trials.
A recent Harvard University study using prosopagnosia patients found that face recognition is a distinct cognitive process. Patients with face blindness showed poor performance in recognizing faces, contrasting with their ability to recognize other objects of expertise.
Researchers identified a microbe that can take up electrons from minerals in soil and sediment using natural conductivity. The microbes rely on sunlight and iron to generate energy, but have developed an unusual strategy to reach the iron through naturally occurring conductive minerals.
Researchers developed a set of 64 parameters to evaluate stem cell-derived cardiac myocytes, providing a standardized method to test cell function. This approach addresses critical quality control issues in the industry, enabling more reliable and reproducible tests for cell function.
Researchers found that a common mutation activates the Akt pathway, rendering cells resistant to chemotherapy and increasing growth. Inhibition of this pathway restored leukemic cell responses to front-line therapy.
Researchers at Harvard University have successfully converted patient skin cells into human brain cells, offering a new model for studying and developing treatments for early-onset Alzheimer's disease. The study found that preventing amyloid-beta imbalances can reduce levels of distorted tau protein.
A new Harvard University study found that women of different social ranks cooperate with each other less well than men do, but not when they are at the same rank. The research suggests that biological and cultural factors may contribute to these differences in cooperation.
Researchers found that prostaglandin E2 presence determines stem cell fate, with more present becoming liver cells and less becoming pancreas cells. The discovery could lead to easier generation of liver and pancreas cells for lab research and future therapies.
A Harvard University study found that cows which gestated back-to-back daughters produce as much as 1,000 pounds more milk than those that give birth to sons over the first two lactations. This could lead to significant economic benefits for U.S. dairy farmers if artificial insemination techniques are used to increase female calves.
Researchers at Harvard University have created a new method to control cells after transplantation, allowing for more efficient cell therapies. By engineering cells with microparticles that provide cues for behavior, the team can track cells, control stem cell differentiation, and change cell interactions with immune cells.
Researchers measured the electric dipole moment of electrons to probe the Standard Model's limitations. Their results suggest that supersymmetric particles may not exist as predicted, leaving gaps in our understanding of dark matter and the universe.
A study by Harvard researchers found no effect of music training on the cognitive abilities of young children. Despite popular belief, studying music does not enhance intelligence or improve academic performance. However, the study did find some small differences in spatial task performance between music and visual arts groups.
Researchers have discovered that zebrafish chemicals can differentiate human stem cells into muscle cells in the laboratory, making muscle cell therapy a more realistic clinical possibility. The discovery has the potential to revolutionize treatments for muscular dystrophy and diabetes.
Researchers at Harvard University have identified a novel mechanism of kidney repair, where mature cells reprogram themselves after injury. This finding challenges the long-held theory that kidney stem cell populations respond to damage.
Researchers at Harvard University have found that genes produce extracoding RNA to prevent silencing by DNA methylase 1. This discovery has therapeutic potential as an 'on-off switch' for gene expression.
The study, published in the journal Blood, shows that 12 adult patients underwent successful umbilical cord blood transplantation for leukemia or lymphoma. The treatment, 16,16 dimethyl prostaglandin E2, improved blood formation and reduced complications.
Stem cells can be engineered as targeted drug factories to deliver anti-inflammatory molecules to sites of inflammation, reducing swelling. The approach uses modified messenger RNA to stimulate cell production and secretion, overcoming previous limitations such as rapid clearance.
Researchers at Harvard University and MIT have successfully bound photons together to form a new type of matter, dubbed photonic molecules. This breakthrough challenges traditional understanding of light as massless particles that don't interact with each other.
Researchers at Harvard University investigated the process of villification, which shapes gut villi, and found similarities in its principles across different animal species. They discovered that mechanical forces from muscle layer differentiation drive early villus growth.
A new study by Harvard researchers found that Americans can look forward to over two extra years of healthy life compared to the past. The study analyzed data from multiple government-sponsored health surveys and found improvements in overall health, with reduced symptoms of disease and increased vitality.
The Center for Brains, Minds and Machines (CBMM) will focus on understanding human intelligence from multiple perspectives. The center aims to develop a computational understanding of intelligence through research in vision, language, motor skills, neurobiology, electrical engineering, and more.
A 400-year study by Harvard University researchers found that Northeastern forests have changed significantly after centuries of intensive land use. Maples have exploded across the region, while other tree types like beeches, oaks, and chestnuts show a pronounced decline. Pine numbers have shifted more than any other tree type.
Researchers have developed a new imaging technology, SRS microscopy, that allows surgeons to distinguish between brain tissue and tumors at a microscopic level. This technique can guide surgeons in the operating room and potentially improve surgical outcomes for patients with glioblastoma multiforme.
A transparent disk using a saltwater gel and ionic conductor produces sounds across the entire audible spectrum, demonstrating capabilities of ionic conductors. This technology has potential applications in biomedical devices, fast-moving robotics, and adaptive optics.
Researcher Sendhil Mullainathan discovers that poverty's financial constraints can lead to significant cognitive deficits, affecting IQ and impulse control. The 'cognitive tax' caused by poverty can result in reduced adherence to medication regimens, among other behaviors.
A Harvard University study projects that wildfires in the western United States will be three weeks longer, up to twice as smoky, and burn a wider area by 2050. Climate change is expected to exacerbate fire season due to warmer temperatures.
Researchers successfully grew vascular endothelial cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells, mimicking the flow of blood to differentiate cell types. The iPS-derived cells display critical functions carried out by mature endothelium in the body, including mounting inflammatory responses and preventing blood clots.
Researchers at Harvard University have developed a nanostructured hologram that controls the intensity, phase, and polarization of light rays. This innovation enables the creation of radially polarized beams, which are crucial for high-resolution lithography and particle manipulation.