A new study published in Nature Communications shows that rice coral passes on thermal resistance to its offspring, avoiding coral bleaching. This finding is crucial for breeding stronger, heat-tolerant corals to face environmental stress and preserve the future of coral reefs.
Researchers from Michigan State University have discovered how Candida auris uniquely reconstructs its cell wall to survive antifungal treatments. The findings show that C. auris increases production of β-1,6-glucan to preserve structural integrity, providing a roadmap for designing more effective therapies.
Agricultural systems scientist Bruno Basso's research at Michigan State University provides a dynamic baseline approach to measure climate benefits in agricultural carbon markets. The study evaluates both soil organic carbon sequestration and nitrous oxide emissions, offering a comprehensive assessment of net climate impact.
A study led by MSU researchers reveals that Staphylococcus aureus possesses a surprising level of metabolic redundancy, allowing it to survive even when key enzymes are knocked out. The discovery uncovers mechanisms that could be targeted by new antibiotics, particularly when two specific enzymes are removed.
A Michigan State University study found that better handling of daily stress is associated with increased extroversion, agreeability, and openness to new experiences over a nearly 20-year period. Conversely, poor stress management leads to reduced extroversion, decreased agreeableness, and increased introversion.
A new study by Michigan State University found that people's personality perceptions of tattooed individuals are often inaccurate. Researchers discovered that those with quirky or wacky tattoos were accurately judged as open-minded and open to new experiences, despite not aligning with other traits.
A new study from Michigan State University explores the economic shock of the largest series of U.S. tariff hikes since 1930, reshaping global supply chains. The framework helps researchers and policymakers understand the chaos and make sense of future disruptions.
A global study by Michigan State University found that livestock manure contains high levels of antibiotic resistance genes, posing a significant threat to human health. The research team developed a map highlighting regions with the most common dangerous genes and ranked them based on their risk to human health.
A new MSU study found that friendships with others who share the same identity can lead to greater life satisfaction and less loneliness for queer people. However, similar relationships may also increase feelings of isolation due to geographical distance or societal marginalization.
A Michigan State University team analyzed 126 simulated warming experiments to understand how plants respond to a hotter climate. They found that summer-only experiments may not account for winter warming effects and highlighted knowledge gaps in current studies.
Researchers used nanomedicine and artificial intelligence to analyze plasma samples, identifying potential biomarkers for metastatic prostate cancer and atherosclerosis. This breakthrough discovery has the potential to advance early detection and develop targeted therapies for these conditions.
A multiyear study will assess individual differences in placekeeping, a cognitive ability crucial for complex tasks. The researchers aim to develop tools that can identify the right person for the right job at the right time, reducing procedural errors and improving personnel selection.
Researchers aim to recreate the engulfment of cyanobacteria to gain insight into photosynthesis and its evolution. The project explores how this partnership is maintained, with potential applications in sustainable biofuels.
Researchers led by Shuo Zhang used multi-wavelength studies to identify pulsar wind nebulae as potential cosmic ray sources. The findings could help unlock fundamental questions in physics, such as galaxy evolution and dark matter.
Research led by Michigan State University suggests that an enzyme called NrfA can help retain nitrogen in soil, reducing the need for fertilizer and preventing harmful algal blooms. This could have significant positive agricultural implications.
A new MSU study reveals that virtual reality can enhance social connection and student outcomes during classroom instruction, but only until virtual meeting fatigue sets in. The optimal VR duration varies between students, ranging from 20 to 280 minutes.
A new study from Michigan State University found that planting too much genetically modified corn designed to fight off the corn rootworm can cause more harm than good. The study estimates that reducing the Bt planting rate could save farmers $99 million in one-year benefits and $1.98 billion in lifetime benefits.
A new study reveals that ransomware attacks have become the primary driver of health care data breaches in the United States. The study found that ransomware accounted for 69% of all patient records compromised in 2024, despite accounting for only 11% of breaches by number.
Researchers at Michigan State University found a significant link between problematic social media use and the likelihood of believing fake news. Participants who displayed more symptoms of excessive social media use were more likely to engage with and trust false news.
A new study reveals that nearly 75% of ecology and evolution journals do not require authors to consider accessibility in manuscript submissions. The research team recommends adopting Universal Design principles, developing comprehensive guidelines, and fostering a culture of inclusivity.
Asteroid Vesta's interior structure is more uniform than previously thought, contradicting decades-long assumptions about its composition and formation. The new findings suggest two possible hypotheses: incomplete differentiation or being a broken chunk of a growing planet.
A new study suggests that regional conditions alter the makeup of communities, influencing biodiversity. The researchers found that immigration from highly diverse seed mixes maintained species diversity over time, while local factors had a limited impact on biodiversity loss.
A new study by Michigan State University researchers found that farmers who integrated small-scale solar arrays into their fields were more financially secure than those without. The research suggests using strategic placement of solar panels to improve crop yields on lower-yield spots, reducing the need for entire field conversions.
MSU is developing a computer program called MOSAIC to create holistic biological profiles from skeletal remains, making the investigative process clearer and more efficient. The project aims to leverage relationships between various structures to provide estimates without biasing results by focusing on individual components.
A new research by MSU College of Nursing found that school-based asthma therapy (SBAT) significantly reduces asthma symptoms, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations among students. By administering medication in schools, SBAT improves adherence to medication regimens, resulting in annual savings of $5,000 to $7,000 per student.
A recent study from Michigan State University found that brown rice contains higher levels of arsenic than white rice, posing a potential health risk for infants and children under age 5. The researchers also highlighted the importance of considering food safety along with nutrition when making food choices.
A recent study by Michigan State University found that the percentage of nonparents who never want children has doubled over the past 20 years, rising from 14% in 2002 to 29% in 2023. This trend is part of a growing group of childfree adults whose needs are often overlooked.
Researchers found a new phylum of microbes, CSP1-3, thriving in deep Critical Zone soils, cleaning up impurities and regulating essential processes. The microbes were active, not dormant, and dominated their environments, making up 50% or more of the community.
Michigan State University researchers have created a new light-activated treatment for metastatic breast cancer, offering a targeted option with reduced side effects. The innovative cyanine-carborane salts work like a 'smart' bomb to kill cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.
Four MSU researchers, Nick Haddad, Gemma Reguera, Laura McCabe, and Michael Thoennessen, were recognized as 2024 AAAS fellows for their contributions to biological sciences, medical sciences, and physics. They join a distinguished list of more than 180 Spartans who have been selected as fellows.
Researchers found that in certain situations, 90% of emergency wireless calls fail to connect to 911 within 120 seconds. MSU's Emerg-Call-Dialer app helps address issues with cellular and Wi-Fi networks, preventing unnecessary long emergency call setup times.
Endometriosis is a painful and infertility-Linked condition that affects millions of women worldwide. New research by MSU professors identifies key cellular cross-talk that could lead to better non-hormonal treatments.
Research at Michigan State University found that dopamine plays a key role in reshaping memories of past rewarding events. This unexpected function challenges existing theories of dopamine and has implications for understanding addiction, depression, and other neuropsychiatric disorders.
A new study found that large, connected forests harbor more biodiversity than fragmented landscapes. The researchers analyzed data from 37 sites around the world and discovered that fragmentation decreases species diversity by an average of 13.6% at the patch scale and 12.1% at the landscape scale.
Researchers at MSU's Plant Research Laboratory found that plants photosynthesize more under high light, high CO2 conditions, leading to larger plants and potentially higher crop yields. However, they also lose carbon during this process, which can impact their ability to make food.
A recent MSU study found that experiencing stress in mid-gestation affects girls' HPA axis and temperament, while late gestation stress impacts boys. The research team discovered periods of higher sensitivity to stress in both mid and late gestation, but with differing patterns for girls and boys.
A new study published in Science tallies butterfly data from over 76,000 surveys across the US, revealing a 22% decline in total butterfly abundance between 2000 and 2020. This alarming rate affects 554 species, with 107 experiencing population losses of more than half.
A new MSU-led study found that translocation successfully bolstered population numbers, but failed to prevent genetic erosion and inbreeding in Florida Scrub-Jays. The researchers analyzed decades' worth of data and sequencing the entire genomes of 87 jays, identifying reproductive skew as a limiting factor.
Astronomers are using the James Webb Space Telescope and high-performance computers to study the atmospheres of seven planets beyond our solar system, gaining insights into planetary formation and evolution. The KRONOS program aims to understand how planets form, evolve, and potentially harbor life.
A new study on non-migratory birds found that environmental variability influences life history strategies, with fast-living birds prioritizing reproduction and long-lived birds hedging against bad years. Climate change may alter the odds of these bets, posing a challenge to species' adaptability.
Researchers at MSU's Zipkin Quantitative Ecology Lab advocate for assemblage-level conservation, which considers the interactions between multiple species in a habitat. This approach aims to better estimate and manage biodiversity declines by protecting groups of related species.
Researchers found that climate change affects lake ecosystems in complex ways, with abrupt changes in algal biomass detected in a third of tested lakes. The study suggests that climate interacts with human activities like agriculture and urban runoff, leading to more vulnerable lakes.
The increasing extraction of sand across the world is causing significant harm to marine ecosystems, leading to coastal erosion, habitat destruction, and the spread of invasive species. Integrating sand mining into broader environmental policies is crucial to mitigating its impacts.
A recent MSU study highlights the challenges of diagnosing episodic disabilities like epilepsy, where symptoms fluctuate and can be unpredictable. The research found that 52% of participants experienced delayed diagnoses, while others faced quick confirmations within days of their first seizure.
A recent study published in PLOS Biology reveals that even with protected habitats, human activity can significantly impact mammal populations. The researchers found that tropical forests near more people have fewer mammal species and that human activity outside of protected areas is dramatically reshaping forest communities. This sugg...
MSU scientists have identified alternative formation pathways for trihydrogen (H3+) in compounds such as methyl halogens and pseudohalogens. This breakthrough study provides new insights into the abundance of H3+ in the universe, with implications for astrochemistry and the formation of organic molecules.
Researchers at Michigan State University found that polyethylene (PE) packaging can have an average life cycle global warming potential savings of approximately 70% compared to commonly used packaging materials. This is due to PE's lower fossil resource use, GWP, water scarcity and mineral resource use in most applications.
Scientists have developed a new technique called BioSonic spectroscopy, which uses short pulses of light to observe the nanoscale motion of virus particles. This allows researchers to capture the unique signature or 'sound' of each biological system, providing a new way to understand biology and potentially aiding in disease prevention.
A new study from Michigan State University found that friends significantly agreed on who was ready for committed relationships and those who weren't. Friends of individuals with an insecure attachment style were also seen to be more insecure in their relationships, suggesting a link between social perceptions and romantic prospects.
Researchers at MSU are studying Cyanidioschyzon merolae, an alga that can photosynthesize in extreme conditions. Understanding its abilities can help scientists improve the process of photosynthesis.