A team of astronomers used the Spitzer and Hubble space telescopes to create the most detailed weather map yet for a brown dwarf. They found that the object has a stormy atmosphere with planet-sized clouds, similar to those on Earth. The research provides new insights into the atmospheres of brown dwarfs and exoplanets beyond our solar...
Andrei Lebed's research suggests that the equation may not hold true for gravitational mass, which could have significant implications for our understanding of gravity and its relationship to inertial mass. He proposes an experiment to test his conclusions, which could potentially revolutionize our understanding of the universe.
Researchers have successfully photographed a male jaguar and an adult male ocelot using automated wildlife monitoring cameras in the Santa Rita Mountains. The images provide clear evidence that the big cats travel between Southern Arizona's mountain ranges, shedding light on their distribution and ecology.
Researchers have found an asteroid belt surrounding Vega, a star similar to the Sun, and believe multiple planets are orbiting it. The discovery was made using Infrared Space Telescopes, which detected infrared light emitted by warm and cold dust in discrete regions around the stars.
A team of researchers has identified KNDy neurons as a likely control switch of hot flushes, suggesting that hormonal changes in menopause trigger vasodilation and increased body temperature. The discovery provides a crucial step towards developing more effective treatments for hot flushes.
A team of middle school students, led by a University of Arizona graduate student, conducted the first systematic study on leaf shrinkage when drying out. They found that leaves shrink about 20% on average, but variables such as species and structural investment determine the amount of shrinkage.
A new study suggests that high-glitz child pageants are more about satisfying parents than the children's needs. Participation can lead to harm in children's health and self-esteem due to pressure for physical perfection and objectification. The author warns of 'princess by proxy' distortion where parents prioritize their own achieveme...
A 520-million-year-old fossilized arthropod has revealed a remarkably well-preserved brain structure, challenging the long-standing debate on the origin of insects. The discovery suggests that complex brains evolved earlier than previously thought and have changed little over time.
The study reveals that southwestern forests face significant challenges due to climate change, including increased drought stress and mortality. The researchers developed a Forest Drought-Stress Index that shows a strong correlation with tree growth, death from drought, and area burned by forest fires.
A study found that climate-prediction models excel at predicting global climate trends over 30-year time frames but struggle with shorter time frames and smaller geographical regions. The researchers used historical climate records to evaluate seven computer simulation models, revealing their reliability on different scales.
Researchers found that droughts exacerbated by warming temperatures are causing plants to experience stressful growing conditions, especially in low to middle elevations. The study used a growing season index to model and map potential plant responses to droughts under past, present, and future conditions.
A binational team of researchers from the University of Arizona monitored conditions in Ciénega de Santa Clara before, during and after the plant's pilot run, finding no significant changes to hydrology, water quality, vegetation, or marsh birds. The wetland appears resilient in the face of short-term disturbances.
A study by researchers at the University of Arizona found that pest populations are evolving resistance to genetically modified cotton plants, which produce toxins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis. The discovery highlights the need for closer monitoring and countering of pest resistance to biotech crops.
To slow resistance of western corn rootworm beetles to genetically protected crops, much larger 'refuge' acreages of conventional crops have to be planted, two experts warn. Increasing refuge requirements can delay pest resistance and sustain the benefits of Bt corn.
Researchers discovered that hawkmoths can detect minuscule differences in humidity near flowers to determine if they have enough nectar. This allows the moths to quickly evaluate flowers and avoid wasting energy on unprofitable ones.
Scientists with the OSIRIS-REx mission have measured the orbit of asteroid 1999 RQ36 with great accuracy, directly determining the drift resulting from the Yarkovsky effect. The asteroid has deviated from its gravity-ruled orbit by roughly 100 miles in the last 12 years due to this subtle force.
Researchers investigate bacterial eating habits as part of a $1 million study on the environmental impact of insensitive munitions compounds. They aim to identify microorganisms that can break down these new explosives and predict their environmental fate.
Researchers are developing a new traffic modeling system that incorporates individual human behavior traits to forecast transportation needs. The VASTO model simulates habitual patterns with real-time reactions and will allow planners to see what would happen if traffic is rerouted or construction is proposed.
The University of Arizona has received a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop an innovative magnetic resonance imaging method for measuring pH levels in tumors. This technique aims to personalize cancer treatments, such as baking soda therapy, and predict their effectiveness before treatment begins.
Researchers found a way to influence electron flow through graphene by mounting it on boron nitride, enabling more controlled electronic properties. The discovery creates hexagonal structures that prevent some electrons from passing through, opening up new possibilities for graphene-based microelectronics.
Computer simulations reveal that giant gas planets prefer certain orbits over others, resulting in 'planet pile-ups' and 'planet deserts'. High-energy radiation from baby stars carves gaps in protoplanetary disks, corralling planets into specific orbits.
Researchers found that mesquite trees and woody shrubs outperform grasslands in coping with heat and water stress, despite being less adapted physiologically. The study suggests that deep roots allow mesquites to access groundwater inaccessible to shallow-rooted plants.
Researchers identified a previously unknown mutation in a sodium channel protein as the likely cause of a rare and severe form of epilepsy. The discovery provides emotional relief to the patient's family, who had been searching for answers.
Studies of diving beetles reveal that sperm form follows female reproductive organ function, challenging the paradigm of post-mating sexual selection. Researchers found diverse sperm shapes and structures adapted to navigate complex female reproductive tracts, suggesting females can drive evolutionary changes in male traits.
Researchers have discovered an ancient dog skull in Siberia dating back 33,000 years, indicating multiple lines of dog domestication and suggesting modern dogs may have descended from multiple ancestors. The discovery uses radiocarbon dating to determine the age of the skull, which predates a period known as the Last Glacial Maximum.
A $1.25 million research grant is funding a five-year project to develop new methods of assessing rock strength, reducing hazardous working conditions in mining and construction. The goal is to improve ground stability analysis and reduce the thousands of annual deaths caused by accidents.
The CalTech-led Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey has released a massive dataset of 200 million celestial objects, including stars, supernovae, and asteroids. This unprecedented data set will enable scientists to study the evolution of stars, massive black holes, and the structure of the Milky Way.
Researchers have discovered two planets that survived being engulfed by their parent star, shedding new light on stellar and planetary systems. The discovery may also offer insights into the possible future of our own solar system.
A team of researchers led by an undergraduate student at the University of Arizona has discovered that meteorite shockwaves trigger massive dust avalanches on Mars. The study found that shockwaves preceding the actual impact cause dust avalanches, revealing a new way impacts shape the planet's surface.
The University of Arizona's Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center will monitor jaguar occurrence and movement in the US borderlands area over three years. The study aims to provide information on jaguar presence, which is critically needed for conservation purposes.
A study published in Neuron reveals that upper and lower white matter fiber pathways play distinct roles in language processing. Patients with damage to the lower pathway struggle with lexical semantics but excel at constructing sentences, while those with damage to the upper pathway have difficulties with syntactic processing.
Researchers from the University of Arizona have discovered a long-lost megadrought in the southwestern US during the second century AD, lasting nearly 50 years. The study, using tree-ring analysis, reveals a previously unknown drought period that had significant implications for regional climate and water resources.
A UA-led team of researchers discovered a new edge in overcoming resistance to certain pests by modifying the structure of crop-protecting proteins called Bt toxins. The modified toxins were found to be effective against some resistant strains, but not always working as expected and requiring further testing.
Biologists have discovered that glow-in-the-dark millipedes use their bioluminescence as a warning signal to avoid attacks by nocturnal predators. In the experiment, four times more non-glowing millipedes showed evidence of predation compared to glowing ones.
Researchers will examine how humans have responded to changes in surrounding forests over multiple centuries, focusing on New Mexico's Jemez Mountains and the intersection of climate change, drought, and forest fires. The team aims to understand how humans can live sustainably within fire-adapted ecosystems.
Researchers discovered that desert seed beetles use a strategy of stacking their eggs as shields against parasitic wasps. The beetles lay their eggs on seed pods, then stack multiple layers to protect them from the wasp species. This behavior prevents the wasp larvae from developing and allows the beetle offspring to survive.
A team of researchers led by Michael Hammer found evidence of hybridization between modern humans and archaic forms in Africa. Contemporary African populations contain small proportions of genetic material brought in by an archaic population that split from the ancestors of anatomically modern humans about 700,000 years ago.
Seasonal dark features on Martian slopes suggest the presence of salty water, which could indicate a habitable environment. The recurring flows may be formed by fluid seeping down slopes and have characteristics that fit better with briny water explanations.
A research team led by Bradley Davidson discovered that specialized structures in sea squirt cells, called invadopodia, may help cancer cells evade elimination processes. In contrast to cancer cells, sea squirt cells use these structures to pick up chemical signals for development, not invasion.
A University of Arizona-led team found that rising sea levels during the Last Interglacial Period were primarily driven by melting ice sheets, rather than thermal expansion. The study suggests that even small amounts of warming may have committed to more ice sheet melting, and sea levels will continue to rise for a long time.
A team of biochemists at the University of Arizona discovered that disrupting a molecular process used by mosquitoes to direct proteins to their proper destinations causes more than 90 percent of affected mosquitoes to die within 48 hours of blood feeding. This approach could be used as an additional strategy in the worldwide effort to...
New research suggests that warming ocean layers surrounding the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets will melt underwater portions faster than previously thought. This would increase sea level rise more than already projected.
A University of Arizona planetary scientist has determined Neptune's rotation with high accuracy by tracking atmospheric features in its atmosphere. The discovery improves upon previous measurements and provides a better understanding of the planet's fundamental properties.
The University of Arizona has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract to polish a 4.2-meter primary mirror for the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope in Hawaii. The mirror will be the world's largest solar telescope, allowing researchers to study the sun in unprecedented detail.
Researchers develop protocol using existing technology to measure and manipulate magnetic spin of electrons for spintronics applications. This breakthrough aims to overcome limitations of conventional computing devices, such as power consumption and data loss.
A new study published in Development and Psychopathology found that quality parenting skills by dads significantly reduces the incidence of risky sexual behavior in their daughters. The study, led by Bruce J. Ellis, showed that girls who receive lower quality fathering tend to engage in more risky sexual behavior in adolescence.
The Conservation Genetics Lab uses genetic techniques to identify inbred populations and introduce new genetic variation. They also apply this technique to endangered species in captive breeding programs and use DNA evidence to catch wildlife criminals.
The University of Arizona has received a $2.95 million grant to study the ecological processes influenced by the monsoon phenomenon. The five-year project will use advanced computer modeling approaches to understand how summer rains affect plant growth and spread invasive grasses, as well as explore connections between lower elevation ...
The OSIRIS-REx mission will explore the asteroid 1999 RQ36 for over a year, collecting pristine organic material that may have seeded life on Earth. The returned samples will provide geologic context essential to expanding our understanding of the solar system and likely organic molecules.
Researchers Anna Dornhaus and Benjamin Blonder found that ant colonies exhibit unique behavior, contradicting the assumption of universal properties in self-directed networks. The study recorded over 9,000 interactions between individual ants, providing insight into complex communication within the colony.