Researchers found that parrots imitate unique calls to initiate conversations with specific individuals, responding more frequently and faster when mimicking an individual's call. In the wild, this ability helps orange-fronted conures communicate effectively in dynamic flocks.
Research using ultrasound scans distinguishes between yawns and simple mouth openings in fetuses, with more than half of all mouth openings being yawns at 24 weeks gestation. The study suggests that fetal yawning trends may be used to monitor healthy development, possibly related to brain maturation.
A rare rhino fossil, 9.2 million years old, has been discovered in Turkey, providing insight into the prehistoric Eastern Mediterranean region. The fossil, a skull with unusual features, is believed to have been 'cooked to death' in temperatures approaching 500°C.
Research finds that male-dominated symposia have significantly fewer women presenters than those organized by women or mixed groups, despite primatology being a field with a significant history of female scientists. Women in the field tend to give more posters than talks, whereas men dominate talks.
Researchers tracked emperor penguin behavior near sea and found they spent 30% of their time at sea resting on ice, which may help avoid predators. The study's monitoring technique will aid in understanding the relationship between sea ice conditions and penguins' foraging habits
Researchers have identified hundreds of small regions of the genome uniquely regulated in human neurons, distinguishing us from other primates. These regulatory differences may hold the key to understanding human intellectual prowess and susceptibility to 'human-specific' diseases such as autism and Alzheimer's.
A study led by Oxford University reveals that humans selectively favor beneficial gut microbes through the release of nutrient-rich secretions. This process allows for efficient control of the microbiome without requiring excessive host resources.
A rapid Xpert test for tuberculosis (TB) could reduce TB deaths and improve treatment outcomes in southern Africa. Implementing the test is expected to prevent an estimated 132,000 TB cases and 182,000 TB deaths over 10 years, but would increase health service costs by US$460 million.
The Ottawa Statement on the Ethical Design and Conduct of Cluster Randomized Trials provides detailed guidance on CRTs, addressing issues such as informed consent, risk-benefit assessments, and data management. Researchers can benefit from this new framework to improve the ethical quality of their cluster randomized trials.
Classic studies on obedience and conformity have been revisited to show that people do not blindly conform but actively identify with and believe in the authority's actions. The authors' own prison experiment found that participants only acted in terms of group membership and empowered themselves to resist their assigned position.
Current risk models have modest-to-acceptable discriminatory performance but require better calibration and external validation to inform clinical guidelines. Few studies tested the models in diverse populations, highlighting the need for further research.
A new study on monkeys with chronic diarrhea treated with microscopic parasite worm eggs has shown that helminths can restore the balance of gut bacterial communities, which are often disrupted in inflammatory bowel diseases. The treatment improved symptoms and allowed four out of five monkeys to gain weight and reduce their diarrhea.
Two fossils discovered in southwest Europe represent a new genus likely to be the oldest known members of the giant panda family. The fossils, dated to 11.6 million years ago, share characteristics with bears adapted to eating tough plant material like bamboo.
Researchers at PLOS ONE found that caged mink consume fewer food treats when exposed to stimulating environments, such as water for wading. The study also showed that these animals sleep more soundly, contradicting the common notion of boredom leading to increased wakefulness.
Researchers combine EEG and fMRI data to transform brain wave patterns into free-form music, providing a platform for scientists and artists to better understand the links between music and the human brain. The study reveals an improved method to reflect the physiological processes of the scale-free brain in music.
Research published by Viren Swami from the University of Westminster found that men and women equally identified Kate's symptoms as indicative of a mental health disorder, but men were less likely to recognize Jack's symptoms. Men also rated Kate's case as more distressing and deserving of sympathy than Jack's.
Research published in PLOS ONE found that bonobos yawn more contagiously when closely related or relaxed, while senior group members trigger yawns regardless of context. This social component suggests empathy plays a role in shaping yawning behavior.
A study predicts that G6PD deficiency is widespread across malaria-endemic regions, affecting up to 350 million people. The deficiency poses a significant risk for severe complications when treated with primaquine, a key drug for malaria treatment.
Experts Simon Chapman and Jeff Collin disagree on the need for a smoker's license, with Chapman arguing it would limit access to tobacco products and encourage quitting, while Collin argues it would stigmatize smokers and shift focus away from the industry
Researchers have identified early liver function changes as a potential indicator of severe sepsis. The study found that these changes occur hours before conventional markers and are linked to clinical outcomes. This breakthrough has significant implications for diagnosing and treating patients with critical illness.
Experts in PLOS Medicine recommend new signal functions to track the quality of routine and emergency newborn care. The new methods aim to improve maternal and newborn care in low- and middle-income countries, helping to meet Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5.
A new study published in PLOS Computational Biology uses a computer model to accurately mimic how the brain processes musical timbre, allowing for better instrument recognition. The researchers found that wind and percussive instruments tend to be most different from each other, with strings and winds being closer together.
Research found that drought stress enriches microbial communities around plant roots, promoting drought resistance and increasing plant photosynthesis by up to 40%. This discovery highlights the importance of symbiotic relationships between plants and soil microbes in maintaining plant health.
Short-term alcohol intake increases brain activity and GABA-mediated signal transmission in healthy social drinkers, altering the brain's resting-state network. The study suggests a potential mechanism for the effects of alcohol on the brain.
Research found that children as young as five behave generously when recipients can see their actions, not when sharing with an anonymous recipient. They also preferred transparent containers to opaque ones, indicating strategic decision-making about generosity.
A new study found that over 60% of western aspen trees in Utah and Colorado are triploid, with this genetic anomaly causing altered physical traits such as sterility or reduced fertility. The researchers also discovered a correlation between triploidy rates and regional climate variation.
Research found that math anxiety activates regions of the brain associated with physical pain, while anticipation of math increases neural activity. Individuals with high math anxiety tend to avoid math-related situations due to a potential neural basis for this avoidance.
Research found that protein import into chloroplasts is differentially regulated by age, with some proteins targeting young or old chloroplasts. The discovery sheds light on the complex regulation mechanisms governing protein transport and has implications for therapeutic applications.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota's Center for Magnetic Resonance Research found a specific region of the brain, lateral intraparietal area (LIP), that measures time consistently even without external cues. LIP activity decreased at a constant rate between timed movements, suggesting an internal hourglass mechanism.
Researchers found that archer fish modulate water jet velocity to create a single large drop that hits prey with great force. This approach avoids the need for specialized internal structures, allowing the fish to achieve powerful impact without significant evolutionary costs.
Research estimates that European countries with weak agricultural import controls are more vulnerable to exotic insect pests. The study provides new metrics to evaluate and improve border controls, highlighting the need for better biosecurity measures to prevent invasive insects from entering the continent.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that older adults are worse at distinguishing between lifted weights than younger counterparts. The researchers assessed the ability of participants in two age groups to estimate weight ratios and found that older adults consistently estimated the ratios as much higher than they actually were.
New research uses satellite images to estimate species richness and turnover, achieving nearly 100% accuracy. The method could improve biodiversity monitoring and conservation efforts by reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
Experts from the US FDA argue that few global initiatives focus on strengthening medical product regulatory systems in low-and middle-income countries. Strengthening these systems is crucial to assure product efficacy, safety, and quality, particularly as globalization increases access to medicines and vaccines.
A team of neuroscientists proposes a new method to determine neuronal connectivity using high-throughput DNA sequencing. The BOINC barcoding technique labels neurons with specific DNA barcodes, which are then shared across synapses through engineered viruses. This approach promises to be faster and cheaper than current methods.
Lifting age restrictions on rotavirus vaccination in low- and middle-income countries could prevent up to 203,000 rotavirus deaths while potentially causing 547 intussusception deaths. The World Health Organization supports removing age restrictions where benefits outweigh risks.
Research conducted through online communities faces methodological limitations, including selection bias and information bias, which may impact the accuracy of findings. The study highlights the need for clearer disclosure of benefits and risks to participants, particularly when data is shared with third parties.
Researchers discovered that boosting a specific cell adhesion pathway with a common cellular chemical could improve muscle structure and function in zebrafish with muscular dystrophy. This finding holds promise for the development of new therapies for patients with congenital muscular dystrophies.
The PLOS Biology editorial emphasizes the need for open access journals to ensure research reusability, beyond just accessibility. The scientific community can progress by sharing and building upon each other's work.
A new study published in PLOS Medicine found that provider-initiated HIV testing does not negatively impact clients' consent practices, confidentiality, and referral to care. The research suggests that various modes of access can be scaled up without compromising individuals' rights.
A new study published in PLOS Computational Biology found that up to 21% of herds in Great Britain may be hiding bovine Tuberculosis despite restrictions. The study used mathematical models to estimate the efficiency of cattle-based controls for the disease, which had previously been eliminated in the UK.
Researchers found that dolphins can use echolocation with near-perfect accuracy continuously for up to 15 days. Unihemispheric sleep allows them to remain alert and breathe at the surface of water even when half-asleep.
Research shows that crows can ingest and excrete infectious prions without being destroyed, posing a risk for the geographic spread of diseases. Crows may play a role in the transmission of prion-caused diseases through their feces.
A 16-million-year-old amber fossil reveals a surprising interaction between springtails and mayflies. The study, published in PLOS ONE, shows that springtails may have travelled on the wings of flying insects like mayflies, a previously unknown mode of transport.
A new study published in PLOS ONE found that men and women with autism spectrum conditions exhibit different cognitive abilities. Women with autism performed comparably to non-autistic women in tasks involving attention to detail, while men struggled with similar challenges.
New brain imaging studies show that children with autism may recognize socially inappropriate behavior but have difficulty using spoken language to explain why the behavior is considered wrong. This decreased use of language may also make generalization of knowledge more difficult for these children.
A new online platform called OneZoom allows users to explore the evolutionary tree of life in an interactive and intuitive way. By zooming in on different groups of organisms, users can reveal more details about their characteristics, extinction risks, and links to additional information.
Scientists have identified a new type of stem cell that can generate new blood vessels, offering new possibilities for treating cardiovascular disease and cancer. The discovery could lead to the development of new therapeutics to prevent or stimulate neoangiogenesis.
A new study suggests that elephant skin hair plays a role in heat dissipation, allowing them to maintain a constant body temperature in hot regions. Researchers found that sparse skin hair increases heat loss from the skin, benefiting large terrestrial mammals like elephants.
A collection of fossil animals discovered off the coast of Florida suggests that present-day deep-sea fauna may have evolved earlier than previously thought. The fossils show striking similarities to modern equivalents, indicating that ancestors of these animals lived in deep waters for much longer than believed.