A study by Northwestern University found that sleep-deprived individuals are more likely to choose high-energy dense foods due to an imbalance in brain regions receiving food signals. The researchers suggest that paying attention to our nose's influence on food choices may help alleviate unhealthy snacking habits.
A new predictive model can forecast a terror organization's future violence after just 10 attacks, allowing security forces to identify and neutralize the most destructive groups. The model, developed by Northwestern University researchers, uses data from publicly available sources like the Global Terror Database.
A new study from Northwestern University suggests that human ecology has played a more significant role in shaping the human gut microbiome than genetic relationships. The research found that the human gut microbiome is more similar to that of Old World monkeys like baboons than apes like chimpanzees.
An interdisciplinary team from Northwestern University has developed a non-invasive imaging platform to study coral nanoscale structures and quantify pigment absorption in live corals. This tool could help researchers develop strategies to prevent coral reef death due to climate change.
A new blood test can detect liver cancer and life-threatening vascular complications in diabetic patients with high accuracy. The test analyzes DNA in just a few drops of blood and has already shown promise in detecting other major cancers.
Researchers found that early-career failure leads to greater success for those who try again, with near-miss scientists publishing more hit papers than their just-made-it counterparts. The study suggests a counter-narrative to the Matthew Effect, highlighting the value of failure in future career impact.
A new tool, HWISE Scale, measures household water insecurity in low- and middle-income countries. It provides actionable information to address the global water crisis, strongly associated with food insecurity, stress, and economic productivity.
A new treatment approach for metastatic prostate cancer has shown promising results, delaying disease progression by more than double and potentially extending lives. The treatment targets genetic alterations that enable cancer cells to repair themselves, leading to significant extensions in time before the disease grows and spreads.
Researchers found that natural selection acts on signal-sensing receptors, influencing a worm's decision to stay or enter dauer based on the availability of resources. The study provides evidence that artificial and natural selection work similarly, supporting Darwin's hypothesis.
Researchers developed a tiny nanolaser that can function inside living tissues without harming them. The nanolaser shows promise for imaging in living tissues and can operate in extremely confined spaces.
A new study from Northwestern University explains why big cities generate more crime: it's easier for criminals to find collaborators. The study found that certain types of crime, such as robbery and car theft, exponentially outpace the population.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a method to create highly active catalysts from precious metal nanoparticles, improving fuel cells' efficiency. The new catalysts can also be recycled from spent catalysts, reducing waste and increasing their lifespan.
Researchers developed a new model that shows rubbing two objects together produces static electricity by bending tiny deformations on the surface of materials. This phenomenon, called flexoelectricity, arises from the separation of charge in an insulator due to deformations such as bending.
An international team of astronomers has detected radio bubbles with South Africa's MeerKAT telescope, revealing a massive hourglass-shaped structure hundreds of light-years tall. The discovery is believed to be the result of an energetic burst near the supermassive black hole, providing insights into the Milky Way's central region.
A team led by Northwestern University has captured the deepest optical image of a first neutron star collision using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The study sheds light on the nature and origin of neutron star collisions, including the jet created during the merger and its relation to shorter gamma ray bursts.
A team of researchers, including Northwestern University professor Gary Galbreath, analyzed the physical condition of the antlers and confirmed they belonged to a Schomburgk's deer. The antlers showed signs of being fresh, despite being excised from the deer's head, suggesting the deer may still be alive today.
Scientists have pinpointed dysfunctional brain networks responsible for impaired speech and word finding in primary progressive aphasia (PPA), a type of dementia. The study found three brain regions that fail to communicate, leading to difficulties with sentence production, word comprehension, and word naming.
A large-scale analysis of partisan WhatsApp groups found that right-wing users shared substantially more multimedia content and YouTube videos than left-wing groups. This study suggests that media literacy has not kept up with rapid technological changes, making it challenging to evaluate information received.
A new Northwestern Medicine study finds total heart disease deaths increasing since 2011, with a significant portion of deaths preventable. The study's authors call for a shift in focus towards prevention to combat cardiovascular disease.
A Northwestern University study found that white parents with higher racial bias awareness are more likely to discuss race with their children, promoting increased color consciousness and decreased color blindness. This could have implications for interventions to reduce racial biases in childhood.
A new Northwestern University study discovered that spaceflight consistently changes the abundance and diversity of gut bacteria in mice. Using a novel analytical tool called STARMAPS, researchers found that spaceflight causes a specific change on the microbiome, but ruled out radiation as the cause.
A Northwestern University study found that the Violence Reduction Strategy (VRS) program reduced gunshot victimization among participants by 3.2 percentage points, with spillover effects reducing victimization among their peers by 1.5 percentage points. These findings suggest that social networks can be leveraged to enhance gun violenc...
A Northwestern University study found that people acquire attitudes toward individuals based on nonverbal signals, including implicit biases. The researchers discovered that participants attributed their negative attitudes to the target's behavior rather than the observer's actions, highlighting the importance of considering the role o...
Northwestern University scientists have received a $3.1 million grant to investigate drug therapies for ALS, targeting protein aggregation and upper motor neurons. Promising early results suggest compounds may have broader applications for neurodegeneration.
Researchers at Northwestern University discovered that mixing strong and weak graphene oxide flakes can create stronger paper, improving the material's durability. The finding sheds light on a general problem in materials engineering and has implications for other two-dimensional materials.
Researchers developed a new method to analyze nanoparticles' movements in real-time, finding that targeting nanostars rotate faster and move across larger areas than non-targeting counterparts. This technology holds promise for reducing side effects of cancer treatments by delivering drugs directly to diseased cells.
A new study by Northwestern University reveals sesame allergy is more common than previously known, affecting over 1.5 million individuals in the US. The study found that sesame is often a hidden ingredient in foods, increasing the risk of accidental ingestion.
A Northwestern University study found that police officers who had colleagues previously named in use-of-force complaints were more likely to be named in subsequent complaints. The researchers recommend police departments consider the impact of assigning officers with histories of using excessive force on other officers' behavior.
Scientists have discovered a new method to generate electricity using water flowing over thin metal layers. The oxide layer atop the nanometal layer results in an electron shuttle, allowing for efficient energy conversion.
Researchers found that slowing metabolic rates can prevent developmental problems caused by genetic mutations in fruit flies. The study suggests that reducing metabolism by 50% allows for adjustment and correction of errors, thereby preventing detrimental effects.
A Northwestern University study found that 80% of Americans' calorie consumption comes from store-bought foods, highlighting the need for healthier options. The food supply plays a central role in obesity and cardiovascular disease development.
A new Northwestern University study found that distinct areas of the brain process short pulses of light to affect sleep, challenging the widely accepted belief that all light information is relayed through one central pathway. The research suggests that acute exposure to light does not interfere with overall circadian rhythms.
A new study from Northwestern University shows that a free online training tool can significantly boost scientists' knowledge of team science and increase their self-confidence. The COALESCE tool has been validated by research to help scientists collaborate smoothly, reducing disputes over data access and authorship.
A new Northwestern University study found that positive family relationships can buffer children from the negative effects of difficult neighborhood conditions on asthma management. Children living in high-danger neighborhoods with better family relationships had fewer symptoms and improved pulmonary function.
A Northwestern University study found that many deadliest cancers, such as colon, lung, and liver cancer, receive significantly less nonprofit research funding than breast cancer, leukemia, and other well-funded types. This underfunding could impact research, drug development, and FDA approvals for these life-altering diseases.
A stealthy new drug-delivery system has been developed that disguises chemotherapeutics as fat, allowing it to penetrate and destroy tumors while minimizing side effects. The system uses a long-chain fatty acid with two binding sites to attach to drugs, which are then carried by human serum albumin throughout the body.
A new Northwestern University analysis reveals that women's perceived competence has increased relative to men's, consistent with their growing participation in the labor force and education. However, women are still seen as less ambitious and decisive than men, a disadvantage in relation to leadership.
A tabletop sensor will detect cosmic events producing waves above 10 kHz, possibly related to dark matter. The Levitated Sensor Detector complements LIGO and Virgo observatories, observing smaller cosmic events that produce gravitational waves at higher frequencies.
A new Northwestern University study found that biracial individuals are stereotyped as attractive and not fitting in, regardless of their specific racial background. The researchers examined six different biracial groups and found no systematic patterns in how people stereotype them.
A new study found that over three-quarters of biology conferences lack codes of conduct, while those that do often fail to address key issues like sexual misconduct. The authors recommend improving codes by making them apparent, centering marginalized groups' experiences, and establishing clear reporting channels.
Researchers from Northwestern University have developed a new predictive model for growth that challenges traditional models of product adoption. The study found that substitutive products exhibit power law growths, which are slower than exponential after an initial flash of excitement.
A small pilot study found that sound stimulation played during specific times of deep sleep enhanced slow-wave sleep in people with mild cognitive impairment. Participants who showed the greatest improvement in deep sleep also recalled more words on a memory test the next morning.
Researchers have developed a new technique to study dynamic nanomaterials, allowing them to witness their formation and growth in real-time. This breakthrough enables better understanding of metal-organic nanotubes' properties and potential applications.
A study found that 94% of patients who underwent embryo genetic testing before IVF were glad to have the information, despite potentially disappointing results. The research suggests that even after a negative outcome, most women value the knowledge gained from embryo testing for reproductive planning.
Northwestern University researchers found nanoparticles engineered with DNA in colloidal crystals exhibit electron-like behavior, introducing a new term called metallicity. This discovery challenges the current understanding of matter and opens doors to designing new materials with unique properties.
A $24.8 million grant-funded longitudinal study will examine the long-term impact of vaping, environmental factors, and lifestyle on lung health in millennials. The study aims to identify risk factors, biomarkers, and early interventions for chronic lung diseases.
An international team of astronomers has captured the first-ever polarized radio waves from a distant cosmic explosion, known as gamma-ray burst GRB 190114C. The discovery provides new insights into how jets are formed in gamma-ray bursts and could shed light on the role of magnetic fields in powering these energetic events.
A new paper suggests that variation in brain energy expenditure during childhood may influence patterns of energy expenditure and weight gain. The study proposes a hypothesis linking the brain's energy demand to obesity risk, highlighting the need for further research into the role of brain development on body weight.
A new meta-analysis found pervasive hiring discrimination against all nonwhite groups in nine countries, with France and Sweden showing the highest levels. The US had relatively lower levels of bias, with certain laws and institutional practices explaining this difference.
A two-year study of day traders found that balanced professional networks lead to better performance and improved high-risk decisions. The researchers discovered that workers naturally gravitate towards a state of balance in their relationships, which ultimately frees up mental energy for making better trades.