Researchers from UCL and EPA discover that brown water color change is indicative of reduced acid rain, leading to more organic matter in rivers. The study's findings suggest that waters are returning to a pre-industrial state, but further research is needed on the implications for freshwaters.
A new 'Twinkle' eye test has been developed to detect vision loss in people with age-related macular disease (AMD), a leading cause of blindness. The test relies on a visual illusion that can identify regions of the eye with vision loss, and its results indicate it could be a powerful diagnostic tool.
Researchers at UCL find mice missing IRS-1 have increased lifespan by 20% and better health as they age, with improved eyesight, alertness, and immune function, while lacking IRS-2 results in shorter lifespan and obesity
Researchers at the London Centre for Nanotechnology discovered that even perfect structure in high-dielectric constant materials can lead to 'self-trapping' of charges, which affects device performance. This new understanding could open the way to suppressing undesirable characteristics in these materials.
A new UCL study reveals that people with a strong fear of crime are almost twice as likely to show symptoms of depression. The research also shows that fear of crime is associated with decreased physical functioning and lower quality of life.
Researchers at University College London successfully induced an out-of-body experience (OBE) in healthy participants using a novel method. The study, published in Science, reveals the neural basis of OBEs and has implications for fields like neuroscience, philosophy, and psychology.
A team of scientists has found a way to switch a material's magnetic properties from 'hard' to 'soft' and back again. This breakthrough could lead to new ways of controlling electromagnetic devices. The research, published in Nature, used a magnet to be 'tuned' by subjecting it to a second magnetic field.
Researchers have discovered a hidden magnetic order in a ceramic material that extends over chains of 100 atoms, with potential applications in quantum computing and information processing. The team found that the magnetic excitations can propagate long distances at low temperatures, but can be disrupted by defects or heat.
Researchers at UCL have detected water vapor in the atmosphere of an extrasolar planet, HD 189733b. The discovery was made using NASA's Spitzer telescope and confirms that water might be more common than previously thought outside our Solar System.
A team of experts at UCL is creating a controlled environment to study the effects of tsunamis on buildings and coastlines. The new tsunami generator will replicate devastating waves, allowing researchers to design structures better equipped to withstand their impact.
Scientists have developed a breakthrough understanding of how individual water molecules come together to form ice crystals. This research provides unprecedented resolution and sheds light on the process of heterogeneous nucleation, essential for climate change models and cloud formation.
Scientists at University College London discovered that autistic children can understand people's behavior based on stereotypes, such as gender and race. This ability can be used to aid their learning and socialization, and may even help them integrate better into society.
A new test measures subjects' accuracy and reaction times under distractions, filtering out easily distracted candidates. The test correlates with the 'Cognitive Failures Questionnaire', providing an objective assessment of distractibility.
A study finds that women who migrate from Bangladesh to the UK during infancy and early childhood reach puberty earlier, are taller, and have higher progesterone levels as adults. This suggests a critical window of time between 0-8 years influences reproductive hormone levels.
Researchers have successfully imaged the internal workings of antiferromagnets using x-ray holography, revealing their unique 'secret' magnetism and potential applications in quantum computing. The breakthrough sheds light on the stability of domain walls in antiferromagnets.
Researchers at UCL induce dyscalculia in normal subjects using TMS, finding a causal link between right parietal lobe malfunction and the math learning disorder. This breakthrough study has implications for diagnosis and treatment, potentially leading to earlier interventions and more effective remedial teaching.
Professor Ray Dolan of UCL Institute of Neurology received the prestigious Max Planck Research Award 2007 for his groundbreaking research on neuromodulation and behaviour. The award will support his investigation into neurochemical mechanisms underlying emotional learning and decision-making in humans.
Researchers at UCL found that subliminal images can attract the brain's attention on a subconscious level, sparking debate on the impact of subliminal advertising. The study used fMRI to detect neural activity in response to subliminal stimuli, revealing a complex relationship between consciousness and attention.
A new clinical trial has shown that intensive treatment for periodontitis, a common inflammatory gum disease, can improve blood vessel function and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The study suggests that treating gum disease could be an important step in preventing cardiovascular disease.
Scientists at UCL and Mainz University found that the gene controlling milk digestion was missing from Neolithic skeletons. However, through exposure to milk, lactose tolerance evolved extremely rapidly in European populations. Today, over ninety percent of northern Europeans can digest milk.
A study by University College London finds that male-killing bacteria active in many insect species, including butterflies, increase female promiscuity and reduce male effort during mating. In the absence of males, females become more sexually rampant, while males exhibit signs of fatigue and reduced sperm quality.
Researchers at University College London have discovered the structure and function of a crucial gene regulating blood pressure. The study reveals that loss of activity in this gene leads to reduced nitric oxide production, a key player in cardiovascular health.
Current drills may find essential signs of life on Mars but can't reach the living cells that could survive in ice at Elysium or recent craters due to radiation levels, scientists say. The team found that drilling depth required for finding living cells is much deeper than current probes can reach.
A UCL study found that relying on instincts rather than higher-level cognitive processes can lead to more accurate decisions. Participants who were given no time to think performed better, with accuracy rates of 95% compared to 70% when given over a second to scrutinize the image.
Researchers have conducted virtual reprises of Stanley Milgram's classic obedience experiment, demonstrating that participants react as though the situation is real. The study shows that immersive virtual environments can provide an alternative way of pursuing laboratory-based experimental research.
Researchers uncover the secret recipe behind Hessian crucibles, a 500-year-old alchemists' lab kit component that was previously unknown to be used in their manufacture. The discovery sheds light on the skill and ingenuity of ancient craftsmen who exploited modern materials centuries before they were understood scientifically.
A study by University College London researchers found that carrying a common variant of the TCF7L2 gene increases the risk of developing diabetes by 50%, similar to being clinically obese. The genetic variant is present in nearly two-thirds of people with type 2 diabetes.
A study by University College London researchers found that black tea consumption reduced cortisol levels and blood platelet activation after stressful events. The study, published in Psychopharmacology, suggests that drinking black tea may speed up recovery from daily stresses.
A study by University College London archaeologists found that the humble shoelace tags were more valuable to indigenous Cubans than gold, suggesting a significant shift in trade priorities. The discovery challenges traditional views of gold's value and highlights the importance of alternative materials in pre-Columbian societies.
A new gene, Slynar, has been linked to both depression and bipolar disorder, affecting around 10% of cases. Researchers hope the discovery will lead to new treatments for these conditions.
The study reveals that the introduction of tributyltin as a biocide in boat paint led to a sudden loss of aquatic vegetation from most Norfolk Broads lakes. The ecosystem remains shattered despite efforts to restore it.
A recent study warns that a surplus of men in societies favoring male babies could lead to increased antisocial behavior, violence, and organized crime. The distortion of natural sex ratios has resulted in an estimated 80 million missing females in India and China alone.
A study by University College London researchers found that canine transmissible venereal tumour (CTVT) originated in a single wolf over 1,000 years ago and has since spread globally. The tumour cells are transmitted between dogs during sex, challenging current thinking about cancer.
A new study at University College London found that humans often act irrationally when faced with difficult decisions, driven by emotional reactions. Participants were more likely to gamble at the threat of losing £30 than the offer of keeping £20, despite both options resulting in the same outcome.
Researchers found that novelty activates brain's midbrain region, regulating motivation and dopamine release. Combining new facts with familiar information improves memory recall, even after a delay.
Researchers at University College London develop a novel method for obtaining full 3D images of nanocrystal interiors using coherent X-ray diffraction imaging. This technique allows for the assessment of defects in materials, which are essential for specific properties, and enables single-molecule imaging with X-ray free-electron lasers.
Researchers discovered that heat, specifically above 40 degrees Celsius, blocks pain receptors by inhibiting chemical messengers. This finding has implications for developing pain relief drugs targeting P2X3 receptors.
A study by UCL scientists found that people's brains struggle to distinguish between real and imagined events, leading to hallucinations in schizophrenia. The researchers used fMRI scans to observe brain activity while participants remembered whether words had been seen or imagined.
Researchers have discovered that beads date back between 100,000 to 135,000 years ago, indicating a sophisticated level of symbolic thinking in early humans. This finding has major implications for understanding the origins of behaviorally modern humans and their ability to use symbols.
The study, led by Dr Nathaniel Daw and Dr John O'Doherty, used fMRI scans to measure brain activity while subjects gambled for money. Most people switch between exploring and exploiting strategies seamlessly, making it hard to distinguish between them.
Researchers found massive-star supernovae to be major space dust factories, producing up to seven thousand earth masses of solid dust particles. This discovery challenges existing theories and provides new insights into the processes that produce dust in the universe, with implications for the formation of comets, planets, and life.
The Rwenzori Mountains, home to one of four remaining tropical ice fields outside the Andes, are experiencing substantial reduction in glacial cover due to increasing air temperature over the last four decades. Glaciers are receding tens of meters each year, with less than one square kilometer of glacier ice remaining.
A recent study reveals that wasp helpers are more likely to take risks when they have a better chance of becoming the next queen or breeder. Brighter wasps face a fundamental trade-off between helping and ensuring their own survival, ultimately leading them to become lazier as their future reproductive success increases.
A study by University College London found that middle-aged English people have lower rates of diseases such as diabetes, high-blood pressure, and lung cancer compared to their American peers. The differences were confirmed through analysis of biological markers, suggesting that the health disparities are not just due to reporting biases.
A new compound, bis(phosphocholine)-hexane, has been designed to inhibit the effects of C-reactive protein (CRP), a protein that contributes significantly to heart attack damage. By blocking CRP's tissue-damaging effects, this potential drug may reduce mortality and scar size in patients who have experienced a heart attack.
Researchers have discovered rivers beneath the ice in Antarctica, moving water hundreds of miles under the surface. The findings suggest that these lakes could support microbial life and potentially release large floods that could affect ocean circulation.
A novel ceramic oxide of manganese has been found to function as a self-assembled layered integrated circuit, conducting electricity only in certain directions. This opens up the possibility of constructing thin metal layers insulated from other layers, enabling more efficient and powerful devices.
Researchers measured pain in premature infants through brain scans during routine care procedures, finding evidence of processed pain in the higher levels of the brain. The study highlights the need for effective pain management in preterm babies, who experience repeated painful procedures daily.
A new study published in JAMA found that women are at a higher risk of developing angina, a symptom of chest pain or discomfort due to insufficient oxygen supply to the heart muscle. Women with angina and diabetes are particularly at risk of experiencing high rates of death from heart disease
Researchers identify specific brain function responsible for counting 'how many' versus 'how much', a major finding in understanding dyscalculia. The discovery could lead to better diagnosis and treatment of the learning disability, similar to recent breakthroughs in dyslexia.