Novelty aids learning
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.
University College London
Full 3-D image of nanocrystals' interior created by shining X-rays through them
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.
Heat halts pain inside the body
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.
Our grip on reality is slim, says UCL scientist
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.
Earliest known 'bling' revealed
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.
To profit or explore -- it seems that is the question
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.
Massive-star supernovae found to be major space dust factories
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.
Fabled equatorial icecaps to disappear
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.
Wasps queue for top job
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.
Middle-aged English people are healthier than their American counterparts
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.
New drug could reduce tissue damage after heart attack
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.
Discovery of Antarctic subglacial rivers may challenge excavation plans
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.
Scientists reveal how a novel ceramic achieves directional conduction
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.
UCL scientists gauge pain in premature babies
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.
Heart disease in women worse than previously thought
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
Scientists find brain function most important to maths ability
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.
SourceUniversity College London·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 6, 2006
You will remember this
Researchers at University College London discovered that brain activity before an event is linked to memory recall. The study used EEG scans to show that preparing the brain for a task can enhance long-term memory, and that this preparation can be done by being 'in the right frame of mind' and staying alert between cues.
Feeling fat in the festive season? It's all in your mind
Researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study volunteers' brains, finding high levels of activity in the posterior parietal cortex. Participants felt their waist shrink by up to 28% after a vibrating device stimulated their wrist tendon, suggesting the brain creates a map of body size through integrating signals from ...
Could plain soap and probiotics beat hospital bugs?
Researchers propose using probiotics to saturate skin with 'good' bacteria, preventing pathogenic bacteria from settling. This approach could potentially reduce the spread of antibiotic-resistant MRSA in hospitals.
SourceUniversity College London·JournalAnnals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England·DateOct 31, 2005
Bees solve complex colour puzzles
A new UCL study reveals that bees can recognize flowers under different global lights by segmenting scenes into regions of illumination and finding the correct flowers within each region. This strategy suggests that bees use color relationships between objects in a scene to resolve stimulus ambiguity, a challenge also faced by humans.
SourceUniversity College London·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 31, 2005
Schizophrenia: Delusion without illusion
Researchers found 12 out of 15 participants with chronic schizophrenia made more accurate judgments than the best performer among a control group of non-schizophrenic volunteers. The study suggests that contextual processing may be less effective in schizophrenic brains, possibly due to insufficient inhibition.
Heat dangers forgotten in the battle against air pollution
A University College London study found that heat-related deaths were largely unaffected by pollutants such as ozone and particulates. Instead, temperature rises in early summer contributed significantly to mortality rates, highlighting the need for improved heat preparedness.
Scientists unravel how the Brits may have struck gold in Olympic sailing
Researchers discovered the physics behind coastal wind jets, which can gust up to 40% higher than normal wind speeds. This knowledge could aid sailors in planning strategies and improve weather forecasting for wind energy and flood prevention.
UCL study shows beans beat cancer
A UCL study has found that a natural compound in beans can inhibit the growth of tumors and enhance the effect of existing anti-cancer drugs. The compound, inositol pentakisphosphate, is non-toxic and water-soluble, making it a promising therapeutic agent for cancer treatment.
Extinct giant deer's descendant found in UK
Researchers have discovered the closest living descendant of the extinct giant deer, a species that once roamed the UK. The fallow deer was found to share key characteristics with the ancient animal, including flattened antlers and similar skull and teeth features.
Now you see it, now you don't: 'Change blindness' isn't magic
Scientists at University College London found that the parietal cortex is crucial for detecting changes in a visual scene, explaining why we often miss dramatic changes while concentrating. The discovery sheds new light on 'change blindness,' a phenomenon where people fail to notice large visual changes.
New report calls for recovery units to boost surgery survival rates
A new report recommends introducing post-surgery overnight recovery units to improve mortality rates and reduce hospital stays. The proposal includes assessing patient fitness at an earlier stage and using exercise and nutritional supplements to prepare patients for surgery.
Adults can be retrained to learn second languages more easily, says UCL scientist
Researchers found that adults can improve their recognition of speech sounds in foreign languages through training. The study showed a significant improvement in recognition accuracy after a 10-session training course.
Breakthrough in forecasting US hurricane activity by UCL scientists
Researchers have developed a new model that accurately forecasts US hurricane activity, enabling skilful seasonal predictions to benefit individuals and decision-makers. The model uses height-averaged winds as a predictor, exhibiting significant linkages to US landfalling hurricanes.
The impact of its environment on a quantum computer
Researchers at University College London have discovered how a well-specified bath affects the qubits in a crystal, which behaves as a primitive quantum computer. The study suggests that the effect can be controlled by radio waves and temperature of the bath, paving the way for stable quantum computing.
New thrust needed to tackle health inequalities globally says UCL scientist
A new commission aims to address health inequalities globally by focusing on the social determinants of health. The commission's findings highlight the need for governments to take action on poverty, education, and working conditions to improve health outcomes.
Mountaineering doctors hike medicine to new heights with Xtreme Everest
The Mt. Everest team, comprising anaesthesia and intensive care experts, aims to study human physiology in extreme environments by testing a closed-circuit breathing system and investigating the effects of hypoxia on brain function and genetics. The expedition seeks to understand acclimatization at the very limit.
HIV-1 spread through six transmission lines in the UK
A collaborative study by UCL scientists found that HIV-1 subtype B spread through at least six separate transmission chains in the UK, contradicting the prevailing belief of a single initial entry. The study suggests changes in sexual behavior and lack of impact from antiretroviral therapy may have slowed the epidemic growth.
SourceUniversity College London·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 14, 2005
Protein discovery could unlock the secret to better TB treatment
A study published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology has uncovered the structure of resuscitation promoting factor (Rpf), a key player in TB bacteria. The discovery holds promise for developing new methods to 'wake-up' dormant bacteria, allowing antibiotics to kill and cure the disease.
Frozen sea discovered near Martian equator from 3D images of Mars Express
A frozen sea was discovered near the Martian equator using 3D images from the Mars Express probe, revealing a vast area of ice that may have been home to primitive life. The find is significant as it suggests that liquid water on Mars existed for thousands of millions of years, providing a possible habitat for life.
Abandoned bones suggest TB wiped out leprosy in battle of killer diseases
A collaborative study found evidence of TB and leprosy co-infection in ancient bones across Europe, suggesting that TB overtook leprosy as a more aggressive disease. The findings imply that the decline of leprosy may have been linked to the rise of TB, which brought a speedier death due to opportunistic co-infection.
Two minutes of magnetic stimulation can change your brain for an hour
Researchers at UCL discovered a new method to improve Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) that can produce effects on the brain for more than an hour. By adjusting stimulation patterns, they achieved rapid and consistent changes in the motor cortex area, outlasting conventional TMS.
A site for sore eyes: New target for allergies found under the eyelid
A study at University College London found that macrophage inflammatory protein-1a plays a crucial role in allergic responses. Drugs blocking MIP-1a's binding to its receptors could help treat ocular allergy and other diseases.
Sudden death from stress linked to wonky signals in the brain
Researchers discovered a link between brain activity and abnormal heart rhythms during stressful events, particularly in people with pre-existing heart disease. The study suggests that uneven brain signals can disrupt heart function, leading to potentially fatal arrhythmias.
Human see, human do
Researchers at UCL found that brain activity increases in areas known as the 'mirror system' when experts view movements they've been trained to perform, compared to non-experts. This fine-tuned system may enable professionals to simulate skills without moving and maintain movement ability despite injury.
Surgeons pinch more than an inch from the arm to rebuild a micropenis
UCL surgeons successfully performed phalloplasty to rebuild micropennises in nine men, with four able to urinate standing up and four have regular sex. However, complications arose in several cases, highlighting the need for awareness and careful monitoring.
Iris Murdoch's last novel reveals first signs of Alzheimer's disease
Researchers analyzed three of Iris Murdoch's works, including her final novel, to study the effects of Alzheimer's on language. The findings suggest a decline in vocabulary and simplified language in her final novel, consistent with early stages of the disease.
My favourite aunt is purple
A study by Dr. Jamie Ward reveals that synaesthesia is not about detecting hidden emotions, but rather a brain-created response to stimuli. Researchers found that people with the condition associate words and names with specific colours, including pink for positive emotions and brown for negative ones.
Old bones unearth new date for giant deer's last stand
Eurasian giant deer were found to have survived until 7,000 years ago, according to a recent study published in Nature. The discovery pushes back the previously believed extinction date for the species by 3,000 years, leaving scientists to question what ultimately led to their demise.
Scientists formulate intelligent glass that blocks heat not light
Researchers have created a smart window coating that reflects infrared light when temperatures rise above 29 degrees Celsius, reducing unwanted heat. This intelligent glass can help reduce energy consumption and provide cooler conditions for occupants.
Pain in the brain: It's not what you imagine
A study by University College London and University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre found that hypnotic suggestion can cause strikingly similar brain activity to physical pain. Volunteers under hypnosis reported feeling pain even though they had not experienced any physical stimulus, suggesting that some pain may begin in the mind.
Hearing where it's at: How humans and gerbils learn to locate sound
Researchers at University College London found that humans use a strategy similar to barn owls for sound pitches above middle-C, while gerbils adapt to detect low-pitched sounds. The study suggests the brain adopts an efficient strategy to locate sound sources, adapting to different frequencies.
That's not my hand! How the brain can be fooled into feeling a fake limb
A study by University College London reveals that the brain distinguishes between self and non-self by comparing information from different senses. Volunteers were immersed in an illusion where a fake limb was placed in front of their hidden hand, triggering feelings of ownership.
Survival of the fastest: scientists 'selectively breed' winning Formula One cars
Researchers apply Darwinian principles to optimize car setup for better performance. The study uses genetic algorithms to combine the best settings of Formula One cars, resulting in a 0.88-second lap time improvement.
Long term relief from arthritis could evolve from B-cell targeted treatments
A recent study found that B-cell targeted therapy significantly reduced arthritic symptoms in patients, with improvement lasting over a year and sometimes up to three years. The treatment has shown promise in breaking the cycle driving the disease, but further studies are needed to ensure its safety.