A lake sediment record near the Greenland Ice Sheet margin preserves sediments from past interglacial periods, including the Early Holocene and Last Interglacial Period. July air temperatures during these periods were estimated to be significantly warmer than modern temperatures.
Researchers used population dynamics modeling to assess the effects of size-specific and age-specific harvesting of Atlantic cod on the eastern Scotian Shelf, Canada. Fishing practices were found to drive a significant increase in cod habitat deepening, with depths of up to 120m accounting for nearly 100% of observed changes.
A study of ancient rat remains from Polynesia finds that isotopic trends reflect resource depression and reshaping of nutrient flows by early human settlers. The declines may be due to changes in food sources, such as a shift from slash-and-burn agriculture to agroforestry and nearshore fishing.
Researchers found that gut microbiota regulates adult enteric nervous system maturation through serotonin networks, potentially impacting gastrointestinal disorders. The study used germ-free mice colonized with normal microbiota to demonstrate this link.
A study of 22 toddlers found that hippocampal activation was higher when they heard a previously learned song, regardless of playback direction. Correctly remembered locations associated with the song also showed stronger hippocampal responses.
Transgenic cotton plants expressing the bacterial gene ptxD can convert phosphite into phosphate, outcompeting weeds that lack the gene. This selective fertilization approach facilitates weed control without herbicides.
European countries showed no short-term aggravation of health inequalities following the 2008 financial crisis. In fact, mortality trends among low and high education levels remained steady in western European countries, while a decline in less-than-good self-assessed health accelerated in some eastern European nations.
Researchers developed a statistical approach combining astronomical theory and rock formation data to estimate Earth's axial precession rate and distance from the Moon. The study also reconstructed periods of astronomically influenced climate cycles, providing insights into ancient Solar System behavior.
Researchers uncovered a continuous record of past anthropogenic lead pollution in the Balkans, dating back to the Bronze Age. The study suggests that the region played a key role in European mining and metallurgy, with lead pollution levels increasing steadily from the Iron Age to the 17th century
Researchers used historical aerial imagery and modern airborne laser scanning to locate and contextualize archaeological features in Jerash, Jordan. The study revealed previously unmapped structures and refined the city's water supply system, providing insights into ancient society.
Researchers found 119,095 fewer births than expected due to pregnancy postponement and increased safe abortions. Zika awareness likely contributed to the decrease in birth rates.
Researchers successfully regrew axons and repaired neural tissue in monkeys with spinal cord injuries using a biodegradable material loaded with neurotrophin3. The treatment promotes long-distance regeneration, functional recovery, and potential therapeutic implications for human SCI.
Studies suggest that restricting global mean temperatures to 1.5-2°C could reduce dengue fever incidence and spread in Latin America. According to models, limiting temperatures could prevent approximately 2.8 million dengue cases per year by the end of the century.
Researchers analyzed over 40,000 protected areas worldwide to determine areas needing further protection. The analysis found that nearly half of mountain ranges lacked stringent PAs and failed to meet biodiversity conservation goals.
Researchers found a prolonged ocean anoxic event worldwide during the Late Ordovician mass extinction, coinciding with peak glaciation and suggesting global cooling may have driven ocean anoxia. This finding could support the theory that global cooling played a role in triggering the LOME.
Researchers developed a single-administration vaccine strategy using an injectable microsphere bearing inactivated polio vaccine, which releases stable antigen over time. The study found that injecting the microspheres into rats elicited a strong immune response against all three IPV antigens.
Researchers found that antique Italian violins, such as those by Andrea Amati and Gasparo da Salo, can produce formants similar to the human singing voice. The study suggests that master violin-makers may have designed violins to emulate male voices, which could account for their storied tonal quality.
Researchers analyzed human plasma proteins over time, identifying 30 proteins regulated by the circadian clock and affecting cancer, immune function, and metabolism. Circadian misalignment altered glucose homeostasis and energy metabolism pathways.
Researchers found that chronic sleep deprivation, even without extended wakefulness, was associated with increased reaction time performance and daytime arousal. The study highlights the complex relationship between sleep and alertness in humans.
Fossil leaves from a sweet potato ancestor and the morning glory family, Convulvaceae, were discovered in northeastern India and dated to 58.7-55.8 million years ago. This finding suggests that the plant family originated in East Gondwana and diverged from its sister Solanaceae by the late Paleocene.
A global biomass census yields 550 Gt C, with land biomass surpassing marine by two orders of magnitude. Human activities have led to significant reductions in wild mammal, fish, and plant biomass.
Researchers use hydrogels to safely remove pressure-sensitive tapes from paper artworks without solvents, preserving the underlying artwork. The technique reveals hidden inscriptions like Michelangelo's 'di mano di Michelangelo' on a 16th-century drawing.
Researchers found that high hippopotamus densities increased eutrophication and biodiversity loss in river pools during the dry season. However, no changes were observed in water chemistry or biodiversity during the wet season, highlighting human influence on watershed ecology.
A study found a significant link between low birth weight and left-handedness in two large sets of Japanese and Dutch newborn children. Left-handers averaged lower birth weights, with differences observed even within families.
Research highlights transhemispheric ecosystem link spanning Pacific Ocean between pink salmon abundance and short-tailed shearwater populations. Declining short-tailed shearwater productivity linked to increasing pink salmon abundance in North Pacific Ocean.
Middle-aged adults with lower socioeconomic status exhibit less organized functional brain networks and reduced cortical gray matter thickness compared to those with higher SES. The study suggests that SES influences brain anatomy and network organization across adulthood, playing a role in age-related brain decline.
Researchers studied 4,450 species in American tropics, finding Amazonia as primary source of diversity, with over 2,800 lineages. The study highlights the role of dispersal in assembling regional biotas across Mesoamerica and northern South America.
A comprehensive genomic database for fishes has resolved evolutionary relationships among 131 species, including tuna and seahorses, and identified genetic markers to track divergence through time.
Homo naledi had a small endocranial volume, suggesting a small brain compared to other Homo species. The study found occipital lobe asymmetry and lunate sulcus morphology similar to that seen in modern humans.
Estimates of uncertainty in long-run economic growth forecasts indicate a need for greater caution in climate policy and social programs relying on long-run growth projections. The study suggests that there is a higher than assumed probability of exceeding the highest values in greenhouse gas emissions scenarios.
Researchers created high-performance lithium metal electrodes with over 10 mAh cm-2 capacity and 98% efficiency. The innovative design enables reversible, dendrite-free battery operation and paves the way for future-generation high-energy batteries.
Researchers discovered that porcine deltacoronavirus can infect human cells by binding to aminopeptidase N, which is conserved across animal species; this suggests a possible mechanism of transmission from pigs to other animals and potentially humans.
Researchers analyzed precisely dated measurements of lead pollution in Greenland ice cores to uncover links between estimated lead emissions and historical events. The study found that lead pollution increased during periods of prosperity, such as the Phoenician expansion, and peaked under the Roman Empire.
Distinct profiles of volatile skin emissions were found in malaria-infected individuals compared to uninfected ones. Machine learning models successfully identified asymptomatic infections based on skin volatile profiles, even at low parasite loads undetectable by microscopy.
Graptoloids' species evolution and extinction rates exhibit multimillion-year rhythms linked to periodic astronomical oscillations. Astronomical processes likely shaped the evolution of early complex life on Earth.
Researchers developed a wireless, stretchable hybrid electronic system for real-time sodium monitoring in the oral cavity. The device integrates miniaturized chip-scale technology and microstructured sensors to measure sodium intake wirelessly.
Research suggests that night shift work can disrupt human circadian rhythms, leading to gene expression changes and immune system dysregulation. The study's findings highlight the potential risks of long-term night shift work on human health, particularly in relation to medical disorders such as diabetes and cancer.
Researchers discovered significant reduction in Holocene intermediate water ventilation from the Sea of Okhotsk, likely caused by elevated sea surface temperatures and reduced sea ice. This finding has implications for future climate warming, suggesting similar reductions in ventilation and oxygenation may occur.
Researchers validate the geologic time scale by matching magnetic polarity sequences with detrital zircon ages from a long sediment core. The correlation supports assumptions about planetary interactions used to construct the APTS for hundreds of millions of years.
Researchers analyzed border interceptions of ants at US and NZ ports for nearly 100 years, finding over 75% originated from countries with prior introductions. The study highlights a mode driving global spread of invasive species.
A meta-analysis of 168 studies across six continents shows that importing Brazilian and US soybeans led to widespread land-use changes, increasing nitrogen pollution by over 100,000 metric tons. The study highlights the need for sustainable agricultural practices in both exporting and importing countries.
Researchers have identified a potential treatment for noise-induced hearing loss, where osmotic stabilization of fluid volume in the inner ear after exposure can prevent subsequent hearing loss. Increasing solute concentration in perilymph reduces endolymph volume and helps preserve synaptic ribbons on hair cells.
Coral reef fish rely on acoustic cues for habitat selection and settlement. Research found that degraded reefs have reduced acoustic complexity, richness, and sound-pressure levels, making them less attractive to fish larvae and juvenile fish. This may limit future fish settlement and reduce reef resilience.
At 43% vaccine coverage, a low-efficacy vaccine (20% effective) could avert over 20 million infections, 61,000 deaths, and 2.2 million lost DALYs in the US. The optimal strategy involves targeting elderly populations as efficacy decreases.
Researchers evaluated aquaculture feed and land use requirements in a simulation-based study, finding that future aquaculture production needs to be four times higher than current levels. An aquaculture-dominant diet reduces feed-crop requirements and land use compared to meat-based agriculture.
Researchers found symbolic objects in Hayonim Cave, Israel, characterized by repetitive notches on scapulae and a hyoid of gazelle, suggesting cultural identification of the Levantine Aurignacian culture. The findings provide insights into the origins and spread of this ancient culture.
Researchers developed a global model of the geomagnetic field between 30,000 and 50,000 years ago, revealing that the current field does not resemble past excursions. The study suggests that future reversals or excursions cannot be predicted by analyzing present-day field structures.
A study of 40 healthy male participants found that those raised in urban areas without pets exhibited heightened immune activation and inflammation after psychosocial stress. This suggests a potential link between urban upbringing and increased vulnerability to stress-associated physical and mental disorders.
Researchers found a 76% slowdown in nitrogen oxide emissions reduction from 2005 to 2015, contradicting EPA predictions of a 16% decrease. The discrepancy was largely due to increased industrial and off-road vehicle emissions while on-road gasoline vehicles declined.
The Australian Mountain Ash ecosystem experienced significant declines in tree populations and animal biodiversity following logging and fire events. Prolonged periods of decline and slow recovery were also observed after disturbance events.