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Princeton University


More rain leads to fewer trees in the African savanna

Researchers at Princeton University found that intense rainfall leads to a decrease in tree growth and an increase in grass growth on the African savanna. This is because trees struggle to utilize excess water, while grasses can absorb it quickly, giving them a competitive advantage.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 19, 2015

Study calculates the speed of ice formation

The study provides insight into the mechanism of water transitioning from a liquid to a crystalline solid. It also explores the origin of two different crystalline shapes that ice can take at ambient pressure, shedding light on why cubic ice is favored over hexagonal ice during initial stages of nucleation.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 3, 2015

New chemistry makes strong bonds weak

Researchers at Princeton University have developed a new chemical reaction that breaks the strongest bond in a molecule instead of the weakest. Using a two-component catalyst system, they selectively activate the strongest bond through proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET), allowing access to previously inaccessible compounds.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJul 28, 2015

Infants use expectations to shape their brains

Researchers found that infants as young as 5-7 months can use their expectations to rapidly shape their developing brains. Brain activity was detected in visual areas even when the image didn't appear as expected, indicating the brain's ability to set up expectations about incoming events.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 20, 2015

Putting 2 and 2 together

The new cobalt-catalyzed [2π+2π] reaction overcomes limitations of other transition metal catalyzed methods, producing cyclobutane compounds with potentially beneficial properties. The research team used redox active bis(imino)pyridine ligands to pass electrons to and from the metal, leading to a detailed understanding of the mechanism.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJun 8, 2015

Decoding the cell's genetic filing system

Scientists have developed a method to introduce non-native chromatin into cells, allowing them to systematically interrogate transcriptional signaling pathways. This approach enables researchers to propose mechanistic pathways and validate hypotheses in vivo, paving the way for potential therapeutic applications.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature Chemistry·DateApr 22, 2015

When attention is a deficit

Researchers found that activity in the medial prefrontal cortex monitors what's happening outside current focus of attention and shifts to a better strategy. The study used MRI scans to track volunteers' brains while they played a game with hidden patterns, revealing specific signals corresponding to color changes.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNeuron·DateMar 27, 2015

Letting go of the (genetic) apron strings

Researchers have discovered that a specific set of molecules, known as transcription factors, trigger DNA errors and slow down cell division in embryos. This finding provides new insight into the mechanism behind the 'midblastula transition', where the embryo takes control of its genetic expression.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalCell·DateMar 20, 2015

Modeling tumor dormancy

A new computational model developed at Princeton University may help understand tumor dormancy, a phenomenon that can last up to 25 years in pancreatic cancer. The model predicts that tumors are likely to grow rapidly when the number of dividing cells reaches a certain critical level.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 16, 2014

Study questions the prescription for drug resistance

A new study reviewing nearly 70 antimicrobial resistance studies suggests that aggressive treatment may not always be the best way to prevent resistant pathogens. The review found that varying drug dosages and treatment durations may affect resistance emergence, and moderate treatment could be a more effective strategy for some diseases.