A team of researchers has theorized how extreme conditions in stars produce carbon-12, a critical gateway to the birth of life. They used supercomputer simulations and statistical learning techniques to reveal alpha clustering and the Hoyle state, which leads to stable carbon-12.
A randomized controlled trial comparing an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based program with the Duluth Model found that men convicted of domestic violence were charged with significantly fewer violent and nonviolent charges one year after completing the treatment program. Survey data also suggested a reduction in behaviors li...
Research found that exercising for half an hour can improve depressed mood state and anhedonia for up to 75 minutes after exercise, with potential benefits lasting beyond this time frame. The study also suggests that exercise may synergize with therapy to deliver the most effective overall intervention.
Iowa State University researchers aim to generate patient-specific blood stem cells to treat blood diseases like leukemia and anemia. They hope to unlock the molecular secrets of inflammation-induced stem cell production.
A recent ecosystem modeling study by Iowa State University scientists shows that US crop production has led to a tripling of soil nitrous oxide emissions since 1900. The study found that agricultural soils, particularly those devoted to corn and soybean production, are the primary source of these emissions.
Researchers found that healthcare providers who validated patients' emotions and explained outcomes led to 73% compliance with palliative care recommendations. Providers also reframed patients' emotions around hope and guilt to optimize quality of life, improving patient compliance.
Researchers found that 90 minutes of mild-to-moderate intensity exercise after a flu or COVID-19 vaccination increased antibody production in the following four weeks. The study involved participants who exercised on a stationary bike or took a brisk walk, and similar results were seen in mice experiments.
A new study finds a strong link between emissions taxes and increased R&D investments in high-polluting industries with knowledge spillovers. Manufacturers significantly boost R&D spending to adopt cleaner technologies and improve production efficiency without necessarily slowing economic growth.
Researchers found that pig cells undergo apoptosis at a higher rate than human cells in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, helping to limit viral replication and avoid severe illness. This discovery could lead to therapies designed to trigger apoptosis in human cells, reducing the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.
Researchers found that college graduates between 34 and 43 years old are more likely to return to their hometowns if they had a strong attachment to their public K-12 schools. The study also revealed that rural communities with lower population densities and fewer postsecondary degree holders were more attractive to returning graduates.
A study by Iowa State University found that vaccine scarcity reduces perceived vaccination priority and increases vaccine hesitancy. Participants with higher levels of compassion were less likely to book an appointment when vaccines were described as scarce.
A team led by Iowa State University researchers is expanding their study of landlords and rental housing markets to add high-risk cities such as Miami and New Orleans. The grant will help cities better understand the regulatory and market complexity of rental housing, which affects not only tenants but also the broader community.
A new study from Iowa State University finds that open dialogue and reciprocal information sharing between parents and emerging adults reduces barriers for talking about health, leading to better health outcomes. The researchers identified three significant factors affecting health disclosures: relational quality, reciprocity, and conf...
Researchers at Iowa State University have developed a catalyst technology that converts methane into ethane and ethylene with high efficiency and selectivity. The new technology uses platinum-based MXene structures to break down methane bonds, producing valuable chemicals without emitting the most abundant greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide.
Research from Iowa State University found that using a supportive voice in the workplace signals approachability and trustworthiness, fostering strong interpersonal relationships and effective teamwork. This 'supportive voice' is more critical for team formation than previously thought, and can help employees move into leadership roles.
Researchers found that bigger connections between the two grids can increase transmission capacity and provide significant value through sharing generation resources and flexibility across regions. The study suggests that a macrogrid could pay for itself in three primary ways: by helping different parts of the country meet their peak d...
Iowa State University researchers validated the CDC's COVID-19 vaccine rollout strategy, which prioritized frontline essential workers, older age groups, and individuals with underlying health factors. The model showed that this approach was highly effective in curbing mortality while keeping case numbers at bay.
Agricultural soils emit high amounts of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, that can outweigh the benefits of carbon sequestration in soil. Researchers found that managing nitrogen fertilizer use and adopting biochar application can help mitigate these emissions.
A study found that people who continued to spend a high amount of time sitting between April and June 2020 were likely to have higher symptoms of depression. Despite seeing improvements in mental health over time, participants whose sitting times stayed high did not recover from depressive symptoms in the same way as others.
A new nine-state regional coalition will develop and provide hands-on training, exercises, and materials for students and professionals to protect critical infrastructure from computer attacks. The coalition aims to grow a skilled workforce in the region's rural areas.
A research team at Iowa State University aims to create more robust microbes that can produce heat- and acid-resistant enzymes, improving the bioproduction of fuels and chemicals. The goal is to make industrial fermentation more efficient and cost-effective.
Researchers discovered a nanomaterial that boosts antibody production while minimizing inflammation, opening up new possibilities for vaccine development. The 'micelle' scaffolds can be used to generate laboratory-scale quantities of therapeutic antibodies against real-world pathogens.
The study assembles 26 different genetic lines of corn, providing a comprehensive understanding of the crop's genetic mechanisms. This new reference data will help scientists identify genes likely to lead to improved crop performance.
A recent study published in Science has detailed the structure of a critical enzyme, ExoN, that allows the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 to resist nucleoside antiviral treatments. Understanding this enzyme's structure may lead to the development of new methods for deactivating it and improving existing treatments for COVID-19 patients.
The institute will develop predictive digital twins of individual crop plants and entire farm fields, integrating real-time data from sensors to optimize crop growth. By leveraging expertise in plant sciences, engineering, and technology, AIIRA aims to accelerate agricultural productivity and sustainability.
A new study led by Iowa State University scientist Nicole Valenzuela sheds light on the function of sex chromosomes in turtles. The research found that temperature affects the dosage compensation mechanism in softshell turtles, leading to an imbalance in protein production.
Scientists are using AI to investigate how gut bacteria interact with the human immune system, aiming to enhance vaccine response. They hope to find definitive cause-and-effect relationships between the microbiome and immune response.
A new Iowa State University study found sleep disruption limits the amount of information provided during an interview, with participants who were sleep-restricted providing 7% less information about past crimes. Lack of sleep also impaired motivation and made it harder to remember details.
A new study by Iowa State University found that small Iowa towns have significantly higher environmental exposures than state averages, including diesel, air toxins, and lead paint. These risks disproportionately affect vulnerable populations such as minority status, low-income, and linguistic isolation.
Iowa State University has been awarded a major National Science Foundation grant to drive innovation in rural broadband connectivity. The $8 million grant will support the development of affordable wireless technologies to connect families, schools, farms, and communities across the state.
A new study by Iowa State University scientists has developed an integrated framework to explain the complex interactions between a plant's genotype and environment. The framework uses advanced data analytics to predict crop performance and could lead to more accurate breeding of high-yielding crops.
Researchers from Iowa State University discovered radiocarbon dates on rabbit and deer bones that suggest human occupation of the Coxcatlan Cave in Mexico may be up to 20,000 years older than previously thought. The findings could challenge the long-standing theory of human arrival in the Americas via the Bering Land Bridge.
A team of researchers has developed a new method to combine perovskite nanocubes with spherical nanoparticles to form structured, multi-part nanocrystals. These materials display fundamental new properties such as superfluorescence, which can be harnessed for practical uses like ultrabright quantum light sources.
Researchers found that engineered defects in oxide crystals can increase electrical performance by five-fold and 19-fold in dielectric and piezoelectric properties, respectively. This breakthrough could lead to the development of more efficient capacitors with improved environmental and health benefits.
Researchers at Iowa State University are developing new models to predict soil erosion and topography changes in Iowa. The models use big-data technology and validate soil measurements from real-world LiDAR data, enabling more accurate predictions of environmental conditions.
Glaciologists have created a new slip law to measure the relationship between forces and glacier speed. The study uses high-resolution measurements of glacier beds and digital models to estimate glacier speeds, which can be used to predict sea level rise.
Researchers at Iowa State University have developed a vaccine targeting the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain to induce potent antibody responses in mice. The approach is relatively easy to produce and scale up, offering advantages over existing vaccines.
The COALESCE project combines sensors, machine learning, and robotics to enable farmers to respond to crop stressors with lower cost and greater agility. The technology aims to localize problems early on, making data-driven decisions for optimal production.
A new guide for communicating plant science aims to bridge the gap between scientists and non-scientists, promoting diversity and inclusion. The document, developed by 30 scientists over two years, provides strategies to effectively communicate plant research to various audiences, including educators and policymakers.
Author Michael Dahlstrom's paper examines how narratives or storytelling can help counter misinformation on vaccines by providing context and connection between facts. This approach recognizes the disproportionate influence of narratives on attitudes and behaviors, and highlights their potential as a tool for public health education.
Researchers emphasize the importance of universal digital intelligence standards in K-12 classrooms to safeguard students from cyberbullying, gaming disorders, and other online threats. A global framework is being adopted by institutions worldwide to equip one billion people with digital skills within 10 years.
A recent field study conducted by Iowa State University researchers found that wind turbine icing can have a significant impact on power production, with losses reaching up to 80%. The study, which analyzed data from a Chinese wind farm, showed that icing conditions can disrupt blade aerodynamics and lead to reduced energy output.
A new cell line called ZMAC has been shown to significantly improve the success rate for isolating the PRRS virus, with a success rate of 57.6% compared to 26.3% for the current cell line MARC-145.
Researchers create a 'ship-in-a-bottle structure' by slowly moving reactive components to the surface, where they form stalagmite-like spikes of metal oxides. This process enables purification and recovery of pure and precious metals from alloys in electronic waste.
Scientists have found a way to control the behavior of Higgs modes within iron-based superconductors using laser light, opening up new possibilities for quantum sensors and high-speed computing. This discovery could lead to breakthroughs in understanding the universe's fundamental nature.
Researchers from Iowa State University and Penn State University developed a method to measure and model desalination membranes, leading to improved water flow and salt removal. By creating uniform membrane density at the nanoscale, they found that membranes with fewer hot spots perform better.
Researchers have developed a predictive model to guide plant breeders in selecting suitable corn varieties based on genomic analysis. The study focused on predicting eight corn traits using shoot apical meristem (SAM) analysis, achieving accuracy ranging from 37% to 57% across the eight traits studied.
A recent meta-analysis of 5,188 studies reveals that crop diversification enhances ecosystem services while maintaining or improving crop yields. This 'win-win' result has significant implications for agriculture and the environment.
Researchers have developed a simple skin test that can accurately diagnose Parkinson's disease by detecting clumping of the protein alpha-synuclein. The assay was tested on 50 skin samples from patients with Parkinson's disease, achieving high sensitivity and specificity rates, promising an earlier diagnosis and better clinical trials.
Researchers have advanced studies on galaxy formation, revealing the role of massive clumps in scattering stars and creating smooth galaxy disks. The models show that this process is robust and universal, applying to many types of galaxies.