Matt Jaffe, a Montana State University physicist, has received a $150,000 research grant to study the interactions between light and matter, with potential applications in quantum computing and quantum sensing. His research aims to develop new methods for entanglement distribution and gravity measurement using optical cavities.
The study reveals how climate and hydrothermal activity shaped vegetation, wildfire and aquatic ecosystem history in Yellowstone Plateau. Lodgepole pine forests persisted for thousands of years due to infertile soils and adaptation to fire.
A Montana State University team found that severe snow droughts are four times less frequent in the western US during the preindustrial era compared to today. The study used computer models and historical data to simulate winters under two different climates, revealing a significant difference in drought frequency.
Montana State researchers aim to eliminate harmful bacteria from hydroponic farming systems using electrochemical sensors and biodegradable nanoparticles. The system can automatically detect pathogen concentrations and trigger removal, protecting harvests from damage.
A molecular geneticist at Montana State University has discovered a previously unknown system in mammalian cells that can produce cysteine without the primary disulfide reductase system. This backup system may help humans survive by protecting cells from toxins, and could also make cancer cells more susceptible to therapies.
A new web tool, FishCast, helps forecast drought impacts on trout populations and support fisheries and water management in Montana's blue-ribbon rivers. The tool integrates weather information, historic trout population data, and streamflow records to predict drought risk and trout population trends.
A team led by Montana State University geographers analyzed population data to identify migration trends and demographic changes in over 10,000 cities worldwide from 2000 to 2020. The study found that developing countries experienced rapid urbanization, while developed countries changed more slowly.
Hang Yu, a MSU assistant professor, has been awarded the National Science Foundation's CAREER award to study binary neutron stars and create more accurate theoretical models for gravitational wave signals. His work aims to reveal new signatures of these signals and test neutron star physics to accuracy.
Researchers at Montana State University will study how avian flu viruses impact cells in the chicken intestine to better understand their growth, spread, and propagation. The study aims to find alternative strategies to vaccination, as current vaccines have unclear efficacy and can lead to food safety regulations and trade restrictions.
A rare fossil discovery in Montana State University's Museum of the Rockies has shed new light on the feeding habits of Tyrannosaurus. The embedded tooth in an Edmontosaurus skull suggests a face-to-face encounter between the two species, revealing a terrifying picture of the last moments of the duck-billed dinosaur.
Scientists at Montana State University have discovered a new group of methane-producing microbes, Thermoproteota, which defy predictions of genomic models. The organisms grow and produce methane not by feeding on carbon dioxide but on methylated compounds, highlighting the need for further experimental study.
A Montana State University economist's research found that wetland restoration through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program can reduce ammonia and nitrogen concentrations in local waterways, resulting in decreased costs for communities. This can lead to tangible savings of up to $17,000 per year in smaller rural towns.
A new study by Montana State University scientists explores elevation-dependent changes in climate, including variations in precipitation, surface albedo, and air temperature trends across mountain ranges globally. The findings have direct implications for water availability and use in regions like Montana.
A new study by Montana State University professor Eric Boyd explores how Yellowstone's earthquakes impact microbial life and the planet's earliest ecosystems. The research reveals that earthquakes allow fresh minerals to be exposed, replenishing the energy source for microbes, which could provide insights into life on other planets.
A study of nine large mammal species in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem found that their behavioral responses to summer heat were influenced more by environmental structure than biological traits. Populations living in homogeneous environments altered their behavior more dramatically, seeking shade and cooler conditions.
Madison Myers, an associate professor at Montana State University, has been recognized by the Geological Society of America for her contributions to volcanic field-based work. Her research focuses on monitoring Yellowstone's volcano, with a particular emphasis on effective communication of science to the public.
Researchers studied the impact of different producer cells on herpes virus replication and infectious capacity. They found that slight differences in protein composition can have downstream effects on virus establishment and treatment options.
A 2023 MSU graduate's undergraduate research project uncovered a new, 95-million-year-old crocodyliform named Thikarisuchus xenodentes. This tiny creature lived on land, feasting on plants and insects, with unique teeth that shed light on ancient ecosystems and evolutionary patterns.
Anish Sapkota is researching abiotic stressors like drought, heat, and soil nutrients in crops such as wheat and alfalfa to improve precision agriculture. Variable rate application of water and fertilizer can help farmers save money and products by targeting specific areas of the field.
A study by Montana State University geologist Zachary Burton examines the movement and accumulation of rare earth elements in salt ponds in an arid, partially permafrost region of Antarctica. The research may help understand how these materials behave and accumulate in cold regions elsewhere, including Greenland and Ukraine.
A comprehensive inventory of wildlife species dependent on rangelands has been published by Montana State University. The study identifies over 1,066 species that rely on these ecosystems for survival, with 33 endangered and vulnerable species listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
A team of researchers, including Bob Peterson and Chelsea Heveran, studied the unique adaptations of tiger beetles living in hot springs to survive high temperatures. The study found that these insects have evolved different abdominal plates to reflect more heat than their counterparts in cooler areas.
A Montana State University research team, led by graduate student Lisa Keller, has published a groundbreaking paper on how certain bacteria thrive in extreme environments. The discovery challenges current understanding of microbial survival and sheds light on ancient lifeforms' adaptation to Earth's progressive oxygenation.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by ticks, posing an increasing threat in the U.S. Montana State University's Patrick Secor will study adaptations in Borrelia burgdorferi to illuminate how it circumvents its host's immune system. The goal is to discover new vaccine antigens and develop more effective treatments.
Research by Montana State University ecologist Diane Debinski found that eastern monarch butterflies are delaying their fall migration, staying in the field for nine days longer than they did in 2003. This delay was linked to a similar shift in the timing of milkweed blooming, which could have implications for population dynamics and v...
Researchers found that microorganisms in low-oxygen environments expressed genes adapted for very low oxygen levels, while those in high-oxygen environments expressed genes for higher oxygen levels. This study provides insight into the evolution of life on Earth and how organisms adapt to their surroundings.
Researchers are investigating the impact of virus infections on honeybee health, including flight performance and heat shock stress response. The team is also exploring potential supplements to boost immune strength and reduce virus infections in honeybees.
The studies, published in various journals, found that prey depletion has a significant impact on population dynamics of large African carnivores. In protected areas, lion populations have shown growth due to increased prey availability, while African wild dogs face challenges with low prey density and high competition from lions.
Researchers will explore non-pathological inflammation in mammals to build on findings from bird studies, with implications for human health and skeletal growth. The project aims to investigate the role of inflammation in bone fusion events throughout the skeleton.
Two MSU graduate students have published new research on managing the devastating wheat stem sawfly pest, with a focus on promoting parasitoid biocontrols and using remote sensing techniques to predict infestations. Their work aims to develop sustainable solutions for agricultural producers in Montana.
Scientists studied ancient whitebark pine forest on Beartooth Plateau, finding the tree line was 600 feet higher during a moderate climate period. The discovery sheds light on how dynamic ecosystems respond to temperature warming and offers insights into future changes for alpine environments.
A study reveals a global unconformity, or gap in the rock record, around the edges of every continent at the time of the greenhouse-to-icehouse climatic transition. The finding challenges traditional ideas about sediment movement and accumulation in deep oceans.
Researchers at Montana State University have published a study in Nature describing the discovery of the PARIS immune system, which uses tRNA to neutralize viral infections. The team used advanced microscopy techniques to visualize the system's structure and function.
Researchers from Montana State University have identified two new groups of methanogens, single-celled organisms that produce methane, outside the lineage Euryarchaeota. The findings have significant implications for mitigating climate change and understanding potential life elsewhere in our solar system.
A Montana State University researcher has developed nano-scale materials that can convert carbon dioxide into chemical building blocks, marking a potential step forward in reducing atmospheric CO2. The materials mimic enzymes and have the ability to selectively capture CO2 from the air.
A team of scientists has developed a method to edit RNA in human cells using CRISPRs, which could lead to new treatments for genetic diseases. The breakthrough allows for the removal of mutations that cause cystic fibrosis and other diseases.
A Montana State University researcher contributed to a novel project that sequenced the genome of the tuatara, a reptile referred to as a 'living fossil.' The study reveals ancient features of amniote evolution and provides insights into human genetic lineage.
A Montana State University professor's research on plant chemistry published in Global Change Biology reveals increased greening across the Northern Great Plains and Northern Rockies. The study found decreased levels of nitrogen and increased levels of carbon in recent plant samples, as well as improved water use efficiency.
A Montana State University researcher used a database to count patients with influenza-like illnesses and found that many cases of COVID-19 may have gone undiagnosed early on. The study suggests that syndromic surveillance like this can help scientists predict and prepare for future epidemics.
A Montana State University research team, led by Lindsey Albertson and Geoffrey Poole, is exploring the impact of caddisfly larvae on stream ecosystems. The study aims to understand how caddisflies influence nutrient processing and microbial communities in streams.
A Montana State University researcher will investigate the extent and processes of microbial life in Yellowstone's subsurface using a specialized instrument triggered by earthquakes. The research aims to bridge biology and geology to understand how Earth's natural processes influence microbial evolution.
A Montana State University biotechnology researcher discovered a previously unknown tool that cells can use to protect their proteins from irreversible damage caused by redox reactions. This mechanism involves adding an extra sulfur atom onto existing sulfurs in protein molecules, allowing cells to recover and make new proteins.
Chelsea Heveran and her team have developed a novel approach to make building materials alive, using photosynthetic bacteria called Synechococcus. The self-healing bricks can be replicated and reused, reducing the need for cement and other chemicals.
Researchers found over a dozen massive black holes in dwarf galaxies that were previously thought too small to host them. The study revealed that most black holes were located at the outskirts of galaxies rather than centers.
The study found that the supply of queens and packaged bees is sufficiently elastic to absorb demand increases due to colony collapse disorder, leading to no significant price hikes. Beekeeper methods of offsetting winter losses, such as splitting hives, remained relatively inexpensive and effective in meeting pollination contracts.
A team of MSU researchers has discovered a previously unidentified microbe, Spiroplasma sp. WSS, that lives symbiotically with the wheat stem sawfly. The discovery was made using genomic material from sawflies collected at larval and adult stages, and found to help sawflies break down sugars and manufacture nutrients.
A recent paper by Montana State University researchers highlights the need for communities to adapt and transform themselves to be more resilient to wildfires. The authors argue that current approaches are not working, especially as fire seasons get warmer and longer.
Researchers at Montana State University have developed software to analyze pangenomes, which can help identify genetic variations associated with drought tolerance in plants. The tool also shows promise for diagnosing diseases with a genetic component, such as certain types of cancer.
Researchers have discovered how viruses evade detection by bacteria using a molecular decoy that tricks the CRISPR defense. This breakthrough expands scientists' understanding of viral strategies and raises possibilities for crafting anti-CRISPRs in the lab.
A team of Montana State University scientists has discovered a unique and diverse microbial community in a hot spring at Yellowstone National Park. The community, found in the Smoke Jumper Geyser Basin, contains representatives from almost half of all known groups of microorganisms on Earth.