Researchers at Iowa State University have discovered a link between primary cilia and turtle sex determination, finding that these cellular structures play a role in detecting temperature changes. The study's findings could inform research into human health disorders related to primary cilia dysfunction.
A research team led by Iowa State University's Raquel Espin Palazon identified two essential components — a pervasive protein and a crucial cellular signaling pathway — needed to make some types of blood cells. Adding these components to leukemia cells could potentially lead to new treatment options.
A research team led by Iowa State University professors is using machine learning and synthetic techniques to discover new magnetic materials with unprecedented properties. The project aims to create ultra-powerful magnets that can improve energy productivity, reduce electricity costs, and enhance American industrial competitiveness.
Scientists have identified the Yucatan Peninsula as the origin of modern cotton, tracing back its lineage to a diverse population native to Mexico. The study reveals that domestication led to a genetic bottleneck, narrowing the gene pool in successive generations.
A new study suggests that students need to understand three threshold concepts: writing with AI is experimental, requires human expertise, and ultimately augments human agency. By learning to try, test, and tinker with AI tools, students can develop the skills needed to write effectively in an AI-driven world.
A new curriculum at Iowa State University aims to prepare future math teachers to teach data science by leveraging their existing mathematical knowledge. The five-week module introduces students to the relationship between math and data science, using familiar structures such as algebra, geometry, and calculus to introduce new concepts.
A study combining citizen science data with experimental research found that switchgrass adapts its flowering time to optimize survival in different regions. The work highlights the potential of pairing public data sets with controlled experiments to uncover mechanisms of adaptation.
A recent study by Iowa State University researchers found that Americans' use of home delivery continues to be split sharply along geographic lines. Urban shoppers are more likely to rely on home delivery than rural households, driven by factors such as traffic congestion and limited parking in cities.
A new rulebooks framework developed by Iowa State University researchers provides a principled way for autonomous systems to rank and reconcile competing goals. The framework avoids the issues of blending weighted trade-offs, allowing systems to clearly define which rules come first and choose the least harmful option.
A recent study by Iowa State University researchers found that pollinators support diversity in plant communities, with viable seed production falling by 50% and species diversity decreasing by 27%. The study suggests a two-way street between pollinators and diverse landscapes, highlighting the importance of considering pollinator habi...
A new app developed by Iowa State University researchers and global partners aims to provide farmers with instant identification and practical advice on how to manage pest, weed, and disease issues effectively. The app's artificial intelligence system will be trained on millions of images and data points to make accurate identifications.
Sleep deprivation can weaken eyewitness recall, reduce autobiographical detail, and increase susceptibility to misinformation in legal proceedings. This can lead to false confessions and wrongful convictions, as exhausted individuals may prioritize short-term relief over long-term consequences.
A study by Iowa State University researchers found that anthropomorphizing language, such as using mental verbs like 'think' or 'know', is less common in news writing than expected. When used, these words often describe what AI requires to function, rather than attributing human-like qualities to the system. The research team identifie...
A study by Iowa State University researchers reveals that avian influenza can infect livestock and humans through their mammary glands, which have high levels of sialic acids. This increases the risk of transmission and potentially more dangerous adaptations emerging.
A new study found that the rate of organic carbon decomposition in soil samples collected across the US differed by up to tenfold, with factors like fungi and iron levels strongly associated with variation. This could improve the accuracy of soil carbon feedback estimates in climate models, leading to more refined projections.
The game, developed in partnership with Polk County Emergency Management, will force players to grapple with uncertainty and trade-offs in their actions. It aims to add intensity and engagement to traditional training methods, allowing emergency responders to make timely and relevant decisions.
Researchers found that Agrobacterium's virulence is more effective in its natural two-chromosome state, but it grows faster and handles stress better when fused into a single chromosome. This study opens the door for optimizing its use as a crop improvement tool or devising new ways to protect crops vulnerable to crown galls.
Researchers propose using bio-oil to sequester carbon dioxide in abandoned oil wells, offering a cost-effective alternative to direct air capture. The technology involves fast pyrolysis of biomass feedstock, producing bio-oil that can be injected into empty wells.
Research at Iowa State University found that higher education levels delay marriage, but also increase marital stability for those who do get married. The study suggests that education changes people's expectations and timelines, making them more likely to prioritize their career over marriage.
Researchers at Iowa State University developed a new internal barrel design for the 'gene gun' technology, improving its efficiency by up to 50 times. The Flow Guiding Barrel reduces particle loss and uneven distribution, enabling more consistent and reliable genetic material delivery into plant cells.
A recent study by Iowa State University researchers found that fruit flies missing a crucial developmental hormone, PTTH, live up to 30% longer due to reduced inflammaging. The connection between developmental timing and lifespan in fruit flies could be a useful model for studying human longevity.
A study co-authored by an Iowa State University professor identified a single protein that triggers chemical signals called effectors in cyst nematodes, which hijack plant cells. Disrupting this protein could severely reduce nematode infections, making it a powerful method for reducing crop damage.
The amount of nitrogen fertilizer needed for corn production has been rising due to increased yield demands and nutrient loss during wetter springs. Improving efficiency through practices like crop rotation and spring fertilizer application can help reduce environmental losses.
InsectNet uses machine learning to identify over 2,500 insect species at 96% accuracy, providing critical information for farmers and researchers. The app can be fine-tuned for specific regions, making it useful for agricultural challenges worldwide.
A new study has found that diversified cropping systems can increase nitrogen supply in the soil, but do not lead to increased soil carbon levels. The study, published in Nature Sustainability, used stable carbon isotopes to analyze soil core emissions and found that decomposition rates were higher in longer rotations.
Researchers at Iowa State University have rewritten the equation for deformation and flow of watery glacier ice, which could lead to more accurate models predicting sea-level rise. The new value of the stress exponent 'n' is 1.0, indicating a linear relationship between stress and deformation speed.
A new study by Iowa State University researchers finds that nearly half of soybean-related emissions come from the natural processes in soil, which can be mitigated through strategies like planting winter cover crops and adjusting planting schedules. These solutions have been found to reduce emissions by one-third while increasing yields.
A new study from Iowa State University aims to increase emphasis on phenotypic plasticity in improving crop performance. Researchers linked crop traits, genetics and weather conditions using a quantitative framework, predicting flowering time and yield component traits with high accuracy.
Iowa State researchers discovered a surprising chromatin arrangement in two species of turtles, which may shed light on the evolution of vertebrate genomes. The study's findings could have potential biomedical applications, such as treating strokes or cryogenic preservation of human tissues.
Iowa State University researchers are using additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, to create tungsten shields and components that can withstand high temperatures and radiation in nuclear reactors. The goal is to improve the efficiency of nuclear power and reduce costs.
Researchers at Iowa State University have found unusual phase transformations in silicon when subjected to large and permanent deformations. This discovery reduces the required pressure to create new material phases, opening up new possibilities for industrial applications.
The RECHARGE project aims to evaluate EV charging station resiliency in extreme weather events and develop technologies to provide reinforcement. The researchers will analyze real outage data from multiple locations to assign resilience scores to each charging station, helping determine which ones need reinforcement.
Researchers at Iowa State University have discovered a potential breakthrough in producing lab-grown blood stem cells by pausing the initial activation of inflammatory signals. This allows for the production of hundreds of functional stem cells, which could replace bone marrow transplants for blood disorders such as leukemia and anemia.
A research team at Iowa State University has developed artificial intelligence technology that can model and understand complex chemical reactions, including those involved in ammonia production. The technology uses reinforcement learning to identify the optimal reaction pathway, promising to reduce production costs and emissions.
A new data-driven system will monitor distribution transformers' loads and provide real-time insights to utilities, enabling proactive maintenance and reducing service disruptions. The system will rely on machine-learning technology and SparkMeter's Praxis platform to analyze data and estimate the health of transformers.
A research team at Iowa State University is studying how to efficiently turn harvested grass into lucrative renewable natural gas, creating wins for farmers, businesses, municipalities, and society. The analysis finds that renewable natural gas is the most economically practical focus, with a lower carbon footprint compared to traditio...
A recent study by Iowa State University researchers found that dairy cows have rich supplies of sialic acid, a sugar molecule that acts as a receptor for influenza. This discovery sheds light on how the virus attaches to hosts and raises questions about the risks of consuming raw milk from infected cows.
Researchers aim to create integrated photonics on chips using an atom-thin silicon-germanium alloy, which could lead to computers and mobile phones that use less electricity and operate faster. The new material has the potential to emit light, reducing heat and energy consumption in data centers.
Researchers at Iowa State University identified a key gene that influences plant size and architecture, which could be used to develop more resilient and profitable corn varieties. The discovery uses high-quality genome data to understand the gene's role in complex growth traits.
Researchers at Iowa State University are developing an AI tool that can identify agricultural pests from photos, including insects and weeds. The project will use a supercomputer to train ensemble models that can analyze images quickly and provide pest-control strategies.
Iowa State University has established a new cybersecurity center to address the growing threat of cyberattacks on renewable energy systems and microgrids. The center will develop robust algorithms and tools to detect and mitigate cyberattacks, as well as strengthen the grid industry's cybersecurity workforce.
The MODERNISE project, funded by the US Department of Energy, aims to develop computational algorithms for grid operators to integrate renewable energy sources. By aggregating small, distributed energy resources, researchers hope to improve transmission grid operations and make them more reliable and efficient.
Researchers created a first-of-its-kind super minigene to study the Survival Motor Neuron 2 (SMN2) gene, which causes spinal muscular atrophy. The compact model allows scientists to see how changes play out across the entire gene expression process.
Researchers at Iowa State University have created a lab-grown liver organoid from turtles, enabling faster study of their unique adaptations with potential medical applications. The organoids mimic the liver's role in helping turtles survive extreme cold and oxygen deprivation.
Kun Luo uses atomic structure models to uncover novel materials and their properties, such as superhardness and conductivity. His research has led to the discovery of a new material called Gradia, which could be applied to new technologies.
Researchers at Iowa State University have identified common design principles in Boolean network models used to simulate complex systems and find solutions. The study highlights the importance of 'canalization' and other evolutionary mechanisms shaping gene regulatory networks.
Researchers at Iowa State University found that a combination of aerobic and resistance exercises reduces cardiovascular disease risks as much as aerobic-only regimens. The study, which involved 406 participants, showed significant decreases in body fat percentage across all exercise groups compared to the no-exercise control group.
A microbial sensor, Nod1, plays a crucial role in the development of blood stem cells. The discovery could lead to the creation of patient-derived blood stem cells, eliminating the need for bone marrow transplants and improving lives of leukemia, lymphoma, and anemia patients. Researchers are continuing to study the complex interaction...
A research team at Iowa State University is developing a 'placenta-on-a-chip' model to study substance transport across the placental barrier. The project aims to integrate sensing platforms and imaging technology to advance personalized medicine and commercialization.
A study found that rural festival volunteers are motivated by a sense of belonging and psychological ownership, leading to increased community involvement and support. Researchers recommend engaging volunteers through social events and decision-making opportunities.