A new analysis from Northwestern University found that consistently high levels of physical activity in young adulthood can stabilize body mass index (BMI) over 20 years. Participants who reported at least 30 minutes of vigorous activity a day gained 14 pounds less over 20 years than those with low activity levels.
Scientists at Northwestern University are mapping parts of lethal bacteria in three dimensions, exposing a fresh opening into the bacteria's vulnerabilities. This view will enable scientists to create drugs to disable or vaccines to prevent deadly infectious diseases such as anthrax, plague, and Ebola.
A Northwestern University study found that tones of voices can alter visual processing, suggesting a direct input from early auditory processing to visual perception. Researchers used pure tones to test whether sounds can influence perception of face gender, with results showing bias towards male or female faces based on tone frequency.
A new coating method mimics mussel adhesive properties, allowing for the attachment of various materials to inorganic and organic surfaces. This method has potential applications in fields such as electronics, medical devices, and water treatment.
Researchers have developed nanodiamond clusters that efficiently carry and release chemotherapy drugs, sparing healthy cells from toxicity. The material's stability, safety, and high surface area make it a promising alternative to current drug delivery agents.
A Northwestern University study found nearly 50% of patients taking antihypertensive drugs can't accurately name a single medication, highlighting the need for improved medication reconciliation. Patients with low health literacy were more likely to be prescribed multiple medications and have higher blood pressure.
A Northwestern University researcher developed a health advocacy program that uses digital photography and storytelling to empower minority teens to address health problems in their communities. The program resulted in two main themes: food and stress, which the teens used to create posters promoting healthier behaviors.
A new fabrication technique using soft lithography has enabled the mass production of plasmonic metamaterials, which exhibit exceptional optical properties due to their unique structure. The technique allows for scalable manufacturing and can produce materials with high-quality transmission behavior, focusing light in microscale patches.
Scientists at Northwestern University have discovered that a toxic protein in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer's removes insulin receptors from nerve cells, rendering those neurons insulin resistant. This finding sheds light on the emerging idea of Alzheimer's being a type 3 diabetes.
A Northwestern University study finds that music training improves the brain's multi-sensory processing, leading to enhanced verbal communication skills. The research suggests that musical training could help children develop literacy skills and combat literacy disorders.
New research from Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine identifies how microscopic air pollution kills people at risk. The study found that lungs inflamed by the pollution secrete a substance that causes blood to clot, raising the risk of fatal heart attacks or strokes.
The Oncofertility Consortium seeks to alter the medical world's approach to female cancer patients, promoting a new consciousness to protect their reproductive health. Researchers will investigate fertility threats posed by cancer treatment and develop strategies to improve communication with newly diagnosed patients.
Researchers at Northwestern University investigated a new study method using Behavioral Economics Theory to rehabilitate participants with unhealthy habits. Participants were assigned to change two behavior changes that had the greatest impact on other unhealthy behaviors.
A Northwestern University study found that participants who forecasted a breakup's impact actually felt less distress than expected. Those most in love were the biggest offenders, exaggerating their emotional pain. The research suggests people tend to be more resilient than they think, and recover from breakups sooner than predicted.
Researchers have successfully used a nanofountain probe to directly deposit gold nanoparticles, 15 nanometers in diameter, onto silicon substrates. This novel technique enables better control over resultant patterns and simplifies the fabrication of functional structures.
A Northwestern University-developed optical technology has been found to be effective in the early detection of colon cancer, now appearing promising for detecting pancreatic cancer. The technique can detect abnormal changes in cells lining the duodenum without touching or imaging the pancreas.
A Northwestern University study found that electrical activity in the brain is altered within 200 milliseconds when viewing subliminal emotional expressions, leading to biased ratings of facial expressions. Those with anxiety tend to exhibit stronger brain responses to fear-primed expressions.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed graphene oxide paper with superior mechanical properties, potential applications in energy storage, and the ability to be chemically tunable. The material's unique combination of electrical insulation and controlled permeability makes it suitable for various industries.
Researchers found that brain structure Heschl's Gyrus predicts successful second language learning. Adults with smaller left HG gray matter need not despair of learning another language, as training strategies can improve outcomes.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new type of laser that can emit over 700 milli-Watts of continuous output power, a factor of two increase from competing technology. The Quantum Cascade Laser has a 10-18% wall-plug efficiency, making it suitable for widespread deployment and low-cost production.
A new study from Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine reveals that older people with inadequate health literacy had a 50 percent higher mortality rate over five years than those with adequate reading skills. Low health literacy was the top predictor of mortality after smoking, surpassing income and years of education.
Researchers have developed a synthetic adhesive, called 'geckel,' that exhibits strong yet reversible adhesion in both air and water. The material combines the adhesive properties of geckos with those of mussels, showing improved wet adhesion 15-fold over uncoated pillar arrays.
A recent study by Northwestern University researchers found that animals who are partially sleep deprived over consecutive days no longer attempt to catch up on sleep, despite an accumulating sleep deficit. This suggests that chronic partial sleep loss negatively affects the body's ability to compensate for lost sleep.
A Northwestern University researcher has explained the nature of the resistive force that determines the speed of DNA as it moves through a nanopore, using classical hydrodynamics. This understanding could help scientists slow down the DNA enough to make it readable and usable for medical and biotechnology applications.
A Northwestern University study found that juries give wrong verdicts in at least one out of eight cases, with agreement rates between judges and jurors varying between 77-80%. The study uses statistical analysis to estimate the accuracy of jury verdicts, suggesting that juries may be less accurate than judges in certain cases.
Researchers have successfully transplanted purified adult stem cells into the hearts of severe angina patients, showing a significant reduction in pain and improved daily functioning. The study, led by Northwestern University's Douglas Losordo, provides evidence for the safety and therapeutic potential of this cell therapy approach.
A study by Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine found that 78% of survey respondents wanted to be greeted by a doctor's name, while only half addressed the patient by name in first-time visits. The researchers recommend using patients' first and last names for a respectful and comfortable introduction.
Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered a drug that slows and may halt the progression of Parkinson's disease by rejuvenating aging dopamine cells. Isradipine, a widely used hypertension medication, restores stressed-out dopamine neurons to their youthful state, potentially extending the time L-DOPA works effectively.
A Northwestern University researcher has found that old memory traces in the prefrontal cortex may trigger chronic pain. The discovery led to a new drug, D-Cycloserine, which controls persistent nerve pain by targeting the emotional suffering of pain.
A new study by Northwestern University's Charles Bennett found that RADAR identified serious drug reactions six years earlier than the FDA and drug companies. The team's proactive safety efforts provided doctors with important medical insights and guidance for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
A recent study has discovered a strong hereditary component to aggressive prostate cancer, with patients carrying the 8q24 genetic marker having a higher risk of developing the disease. The marker is twice as common in African-American men, who also experience the disease at a younger age and have a higher incidence rate.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a quantum dot infrared photodetector that operates at room temperature with improved performance. The device enables thermal imaging at higher temperatures than previous records, opening up new possibilities for applications in medical and biological imaging, environmental monitorin...
Research suggests that estrogen's effects on the hippocampus can lead to increased excitatory synapses and enhanced learning, but also suppress inhibitory synapses, resulting in seizure activity. The study proposes novel therapeutic targets for anti-epileptic drugs, exploiting estrogen's rapid impact on neurotransmitter vesicles.
A study by Dr. Mary J.C. Hendrix found that inhibiting Nodal signaling in aggressive melanoma cells can reverse their invasiveness and tumor formation, reverting them to a more benign skin cell type. This discovery provides a promising new target for regulating tumor progression and metastasis.
Scientists at Northwestern University developed a simple method to detect mercury using gold nanoparticles and DNA. The technique can identify mercury levels in water samples by visual inspection, offering a faster and more convenient alternative to existing detection methods.
A study of 4,681 older adults found that chronic depression can cause Type 2 diabetes, even after adjusting for lifestyle factors. The study suggests that high levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, may be the culprit behind this link.
Karl Scheidt and his team have synthesized 10 different flavanones, a type of flavonoid, using a new general method that takes advantage of one simple catalyst. The findings provide a method for making new molecules based on flavonoids, setting the stage for the development of new cancer therapeutics.
According to Northwestern University physician Kristi Kirschner, people with physical disabilities often encounter structural problems when trying to obtain basic care and life-saving diagnostic tests. This can lead to humiliating and terrifying experiences, as well as increased risk of injury or death.
Research finds that music training fine-tunes brainstem's sensitivity to speech sounds, benefiting learning activities, and potentially improving sound encoding skills. The study suggests a dynamic relationship between the brainstem and neocortex, allowing basic sensory circuitry to be malleable.
A national study will enroll 1,124 participants to investigate implanting a pacemaker in low-heart rate, heart-attack patients to improve survival rates and determine the frequency of low heart rates in these patients. The five-year study aims to explore the effectiveness of beta-blocker therapy for this specific patient group.
Researchers found that men with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) had a higher rate of vasectomy than those without the condition. PPA is a neurological disease causing language problems, while frontotemporal dementia (FTD) affects personality and behavior. The study suggests a possible link between vasectomy and increased risk of thes...
A research team at Northwestern University has identified Bi-2212 as a suitable material for the new wires needed to build a 30 Tesla magnet, a significant improvement over current materials. The findings set a speed limit for high-temperature superconductivity, which could enable powerful magnets without helium cooling requirements.
A Northwestern University study found that getting inadequate sleep increases the risk of being overweight in children. The five-year study, conducted on a nationally representative sample of 2,182 children aged 3-18, suggests that even an extra hour of sleep can reduce a child's chance of being overweight.
A new study found that those who desire all potential partners equally are less likely to be desired in return, while those who have a special connection with one person are more likely to receive romantic interest. Researchers used speed-dating methodology to observe initial attraction and discovered that being too selective can be a ...
Researchers discovered that APOE genotypes increase susceptibility to cerebral palsy in newborns. The study found a threefold-elevated risk for children with quadriplegia/triplegia and more severe motor impairment.
Primary Progressive Aphasia is a mysterious neurological disease that affects speech and language abilities, with researchers discovering a genetic cause in a progranulin gene mutation. The study found the mutation in two unrelated families, providing a molecular approach to understanding the causes of the disease.
Researchers discover how malaria parasites hijack red blood cells and develop a new strategy to block them using propranolol. The finding opens the possibility for important new drugs that won't become resistant, addressing the growing problem of drug-resistant malaria.
Computer simulations show that supermassive black hole (SMBH) triple interactions occur frequently, even in the present-day universe. These violent encounters can lead to SMBH binaries being kicked out of galaxies and wandering through space.
Research from Northwestern University found that primary care physicians rarely address sleep problems in elderly patients, with 70% experiencing at least one sleep complaint. Treating sleep disorders can improve quality of life and overall health, with options including meditation, exercise, and bright light therapy.
Researchers at Northwestern University developed transparent, high-performance transistors using organic and inorganic materials. These transistors can be assembled inexpensively on glass and plastics, enabling new applications for displays with invisible wires.