An international team has compiled the largest library of bat sounds, allowing researchers to accurately identify and differentiate between 59 bat species found in Mexico. The developed method can be used to monitor biodiversity change and characterise bat communities in different regions.
A UCL-led study reveals that low doses of lithium prolong the lives of fruit flies by blocking GSK-3 and activating NRF-2, a molecule important for cell defense. The benefits were seen in both male and female flies, with average lifespan increases ranging from 13% to 18%.
Researchers have discovered that a cancer drug can effectively treat venous malformations, a condition characterized by deformed blood vessels. The treatment uses a topical cream that targets the mutations causing VMs, offering new hope for patients with this often incurable condition.
A UCL study found that uncertainty about receiving a painful electric shock leads to significantly more stress, even if the likelihood is low. The researchers tracked participants' stress levels and found they were better at guessing whether or not they would receive a shock when their uncertainty was high.
A new drug, Arimoclomol, has shown promise against muscle wasting disease inclusion body myositis (IBM) by reversing key symptoms in mice and improving muscle strength. A patient safety trial also found the drug to be safe and well-tolerated.
Researchers from UCL and NASA used the Chandra X-Ray Observatory to study Jupiter's X-ray aurora triggered by solar storms. The findings reveal a high-energy X-ray aurora eight times brighter than Earth's, providing insights into Jupiter's magnetic field and its interaction with the solar wind.
A Swedish study found that refugees are at three times higher risk of being diagnosed with schizophrenia or other psychoses. Traumatic life experiences, including persecution and conflict, may contribute to this increased risk.
Researchers at UCL have made significant discoveries about the brain's role in imagination and navigation. Grid cell activity has been observed in healthy volunteers imagining moving through an environment, suggesting a potential link between grid cells and Alzheimer's disease.
A new mechanism reveals counterintuitive rules for individual movement in crowds, with implications for controlling active systems, such as nanoparticle delivery and crowd security. Researchers plan to apply their findings to develop intelligent nanorobots for drug-delivery and environmental sustainability.
Researchers identify IRF4 as the first gene associated with greying hair, revealing a genetic link to human aging. The study analyzed 6,000 people from diverse ancestry, uncovering additional genes influencing hair shape, curliness, and density.
Researchers at University College London have detected hydrogen and helium gases in the atmosphere of a super-Earth called 55 Cancri e. The discovery reveals clues about the planet's formation, evolution, and composition, with potential implications for understanding carbon-rich atmospheres.
A new study from UCL and ICREA-University of Barcelona found that immersive virtual reality therapy can reduce depressive symptoms in patients. The therapy involved wearing a virtual reality headset and expressing compassion towards a distressed virtual child, resulting in a significant drop in depression severity for some participants.
Researchers from University College London have developed a new optical receiver that simplifies the design and reduces costs, enabling faster fiber-to-the-home broadband technology. The novel receiver can support speeds of up to 10 Gb/s, making it futureproof against growing data demands.
Researchers at UCL have achieved a record-breaking data rate of 1.125 Tb/s using custom-built optical communications system with multiple transmitting channels and a single receiver. This breakthrough is expected to support the growth of high-speed internet and cloud services, enabling faster data transfer rates.
Researchers at University College London have discovered a protein that drives chronic pain and offer a promising new treatment target. Inhibiting this protein substantially alleviated chronic pain in genetically modified mice with nerve damage and arthritic joints.
A proof-of-concept study demonstrates a new method using super-resolution microscopy can accurately diagnose rare platelet disorders, offering an alternative to costly and resource-intensive electron microscopy. This innovative approach provides personalized treatment options, saving the NHS money and improving patient outcomes.
Researchers found epigenetic alterations in normal breast tissue adjacent to cancer, marking susceptible precursor cells. These changes were associated with poorer prognosis and decreased survivorship from the disease. The study aims to decode how breast cancer develops and understand risk factors.
A team of scientists at UCL has discovered a way to fast-track the screening of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using DNA methylation as a biomarker. This new approach can help identify 'good' and 'bad' cell lines, which is crucial for laboratory research and potential cell replacement therapies.
Researchers found that estrogens selectively calm hyperactive behavior in zebrafish with a genetic mutation linked to autism. The study suggests estrogens may target specific brain pathways affected in ASD, which could lead to new treatments for the condition.
A large study found tenofovir-resistant strains in 60% of HIV patients in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting a significant concern for global HIV control strategies. The study suggests that up to 15% of HIV patients will develop resistance in the first year of treatment alone.
Research funded by the Medical Research Council found that bereavement by suicide increases the risk of suicide attempt by 65%, with 8% of those affected dropping out of education or work. Support and guidance are available to help those affected navigate their grief.
Researchers have found an epilepsy drug that can protect nerve damage in MS patients, according to a study published in the Lancet Neurology. The anti-convulsant drug phenytoin protected neural tissue in patients with optic neuritis, a symptom of MS.
Scientists have developed a new strategy for constructing highly specific synthetic pores using DNA, which can control the release of therapeutics. The pores are designed to act like doors, opening only when provided with the right key, allowing for precise targeting of drugs to specific tissues.
A new study has identified the factors contributing to the transmission of zoonotic diseases from bats to humans, highlighting areas at high risk in West Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and South East Asia. The research used data spanning over 110 years to create a global map showing hotspots for bat-human virus transmission risk.
A new model developed by UCL scientists predicts the 'shelf life' of library and archival collections, taking into account factors such as temperature, humidity, and handling. The model suggests that a hotter and more humid climate will accelerate degradation, but also provides strategies for mitigating damage and optimizing preservation.
The study analyzed the fossil record and found a burst of evolution into new forms, followed by specialization that resulted in modern mammal groups. The team built an updated tree of life containing over 177 species, revealing a significant increase in mammal diversity after the extinction event.
A UCL-led study reveals that oxygen levels in oceans and atmosphere rose to support animal life 100 million years earlier than previously thought. This finding suggests that increased oxygen may have kick-started early animal evolution, rather than a change in animal behavior.
A UCL-led team used sophisticated imaging to track the degradation of disposable Lithium batteries in real-time, revealing internal structural damage that affects performance. The study provides valuable insights for manufacturers to predict battery performance and optimize material design.
A new study published in The Lancet found that annual blood tests for ovarian cancer screening may reduce mortality rates by up to 20%. The UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening showed a delayed effect on mortality between the screening and control arms, becoming significant after seven years.
A new study found that tropical groundwater is replenished disproportionately from heavy rainfalls, making it a climate-resilient source of freshwater. The long-term viability of these resources relies on the replenishment of groundwater supplies.
A new sensor developed by UCL scientists can detect and identify five commonly used explosives in solution within 10 seconds. The sensor uses fluorescent technology to create unique 'fingerprints' for each compound, allowing for multiple explosives to be detected with a single test.
A mathematical problem in particle and quantum physics is provably unsolvable, showing that even a complete microscopic description cannot predict macroscopic behavior. This finding limits the extent to which we can predict the behavior of quantum materials.
A new UCL study found that concentrating attention on a visual task significantly reduces brain response to sound and increases failures to detect audible sounds. This phenomenon, known as inattentional deafness, has serious implications for everyday life and tasks requiring focus, such as operating theatres or driving.
Scientists have discovered a potential solution to chronic pain by identifying the key ingredient responsible for painlessness in people born with a rare genetic mutation. By combining low-dose opioids with Nav1.7 blockers, researchers hope to replicate the effect and develop new treatments for millions of patients worldwide.
A new UCL study of 77,045 dementia patients across the UK found that those from more affluent areas are 27% more likely to be prescribed anti-dementia drugs. This inequality was not seen in Scotland, Northern Ireland, or Wales.
Researchers have identified a new way for molecules to move across graphene surfaces, allowing for faster and more controlled motion than previously observed. This discovery opens up possibilities for industrial applications in improved sensors and filters.
A new study by University College London finds that positive images are highly distracting, even when the task is difficult, while negative images can be ignored. The researchers suggest using positive images in marketing campaigns to capture attention, as people are more focused on pleasure seeking than potential harm.
A new UCL study has highlighted genes involved in schizophrenia and obesity, which could aid in developing improved prevention and treatment strategies. Variants in CRHR1 and SNORD115 were found to be more common in obese subjects, suggesting that disruptions in these genes may increase the risk of obesity.
A pair of neurons found in the brains of male nematode worms, called 'mystery cells of the male' or 'MCMs', are responsible for sex-based differences in learning and behavior. These MCMs create behavioral differences between males and females by changing a brain circuit common to both sexes.
A new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) responds differently to others' good fortune depending on an individual's level of empathy. Participants with high empathy scores showed a specialized ACC response only when another person was likely to win, while those with low empathy ...
New research shows Islamist insurgency has a strong impact on where polio cases occur, particularly in the past few years, likely due to counterinsurgency strategies. The study suggests that improving vaccines and administration is not enough to eradicate polio; political and social barriers must be addressed.
A study of 1,298 NFL coaches found that junior coaches with connections to highly reputable head coaches are more likely to receive promotions. However, these connections do not lead to superior career outcomes in the long term, and instead favor those who missed out on initial advantages but excelled through merit.
A study from UCL and Oxford University found that US NFL fans and sports reporters have unrealistic expectations about their team's performance. The average number of wins predicted by fans was 9.59, while expert predictions were no better than a naive forecasting model.
A new UCL study found that over one-quarter of people with intellectual disabilities in the UK are being inappropriately prescribed antipsychotic drugs. Behaviour problems not due to mental illness were often treated with these medications.
A study by University College London found that warm, stagnant water from the deep Arctic Ocean and Nordic Seas contributed to the end of the last Ice Age. The researchers used proxy data to reconstruct past ocean circulation changes, which showed a warmer deep Arctic Mediterranean during glacial times.
Researchers at University College London developed a novel AI approach to predict fine wine prices more accurately, outperforming traditional methods by 15% on average. The new method uses machine learning to learn relevant information from data and improve predictive accuracy.
Researchers found that Arctic sea ice experienced a significant increase in volume after a cool summer in 2013, contrary to expected long-term decline trends. This suggests the ice pack is more sensitive to summer melting than winter cooling, enabling better predictions of future changes.
Researchers at University College London have investigated positronium's behavior in collisions with hydrogen, argon, helium, and carbon dioxide gases. They found a strong preference for positronium to be emitted in the forward direction, particularly when positrons hit the gas at high speed.
Researchers at University College London have discovered that when we try to remember a single aspect of an event, our brain reconstructs the entire episode, including details we weren't consciously aware of. This process is made possible by the hippocampus, which associates different aspects of the event and enables pattern completion.
Healthy people given citalopram were willing to pay more to prevent harm to themselves or others than those on placebo drugs, highlighting the serotonin-enhancing antidepressant's effect on moral decision-making. In contrast, levodopa made healthy people more selfish and less altruistic.