A UA study using economic models backed up by fMRI scans explores the neural bases of guilt aversion and its role in sustaining human cooperation. The findings suggest that a critical neural system processes moral sentiments to sustain trust and reciprocity in complex situations.
Researchers study sea squirts' simple body structure to unravel complex mechanisms of heart formation, shedding light on GATA's role in congenital heart defects. Disrupting GATA function independently in the developing gut preserves heart cell identity, while disrupting it in heart precursor cells causes limbo-like state.
Research from the University of Arizona found that bacteria in the genus Rickettsia can rapidly evolve whiteflies, making them more likely to survive and reproduce. The bacteria manipulate sex ratios, causing more female offspring to be born, which is unusual for such a short period.
Scientists discovered minerals requiring liquid water for formation in comet Wild-2, shattering the current paradigm that comets are frozen in time. The discovery provides evidence of a warm water phase and puts an upper limit on temperatures encountered by the comet during its origin.
A University of Arizona-led research team found that wind can be up to 100 times more effective at eroding mountains than previously thought. The study suggests that wind played a key role in shaping the Loess Plateau, with over half of its dust coming from the Qaidam Basin.
Experimental philosophy offers a new perspective on the debate over free will and determinism, testing whether our decisions are influenced by causal chains or our own agency. Researchers have found that young children and adults exhibit conflicting responses to scenarios involving free will and moral responsibility.
The Cassini spacecraft has observed methane rain on Titan's equatorial deserts, revealing the first current evidence of rain soaking Titan's surface at low latitudes. This finding suggests that recent weather on Titan is similar to Earth's tropical regions.
Researchers found that graphene's electronic properties were significantly improved when mounted on boron nitride, a material almost identical in structure to graphene. The team was able to measure the topography and electrical properties of the resulting smooth graphene layer with atomic resolution.
Researchers studying plant growth discover that universal features exist across various natural systems, including plants and animals. Alan Newell's work focuses on the mathematical models capturing these similarities.
Scientists have found that the sand dunes in a vast area of northern Mars are changing with both sudden and gradual motions, contrary to previous assumptions. The changes were caused by seasonal carbon-dioxide ice and stronger-than-expected gusts of wind, resulting in sand avalanches and erosion.
Researchers at the University of Arizona have created a sophisticated experimental setup to measure the interactions between single atoms and surfaces. The technique refines our understanding of the van-der-Waals force, which is crucial for chemistry, biology, and physics.
Researchers Joanna Masel and Etienne Rajon found that tiny populations evolve global solutions to prevent errors, while large populations rely on local solutions to tolerate mistakes. This discovery reveals the importance of 'cryptic variation' in natural selection, allowing organisms to adapt to new challenges.
Researchers have successfully created a metal-methane hybrid molecule by inserting metal atoms into methane gas molecules, potentially advancing industrial hydrocarbon chemistry. This discovery could lead to the creation of more complex and valuable products from simple compounds like methane.
Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a way to deliver chemotherapeutic drugs to cancer tissues in controlled doses without harming healthy body cells. The gold-coated liposomes can target specific receptors on tumor cells, allowing for more effective treatment and reduced side effects.
A new study suggests that a 60-year drought like the one in the 12th Century could occur in the Southwest, with devastating impacts on ecosystems and water systems. The team analyzed past temperatures and droughts to identify plausible worst-case scenarios, highlighting the need for improved water management planning.
A new data-driven statistical model incorporating the surrounding landscape, pollinating insects, and human seed dispersal accurately predicts gene flow between crop plants. The study finds that human farming activity has a significant impact on gene transfer rates, while the influence of pollinators is relatively small.
Researchers have identified a miniature ecosystem consisting of a plant and a tiny fly that spends its entire life cycle on the plant. The discovery provides a model system for studying plant-insect interactions on a genetic and molecular level.
Researchers have developed a mathematical model that predicts relationships among leaf functions based on three properties of the vein network: density, distance between veins, and number of loops. The study indicates that plants with denser vein networks can absorb more carbon while withstanding higher levels of water loss.
The University of Arizona is receiving $2.9 million to improve the safety and post-harvest quality of field-grown organic leafy greens. Researchers will test edible films, compost teas, and irrigation water for bacterial contamination, aiming to provide safer products for consumers while increasing profitability for growers.
Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a novel approach to controlling pink bollworm pests in cotton fields. By combining pest-resistant cotton with the controlled release of sterile moths, they have virtually eliminated the pest from Arizona, allowing growers to maintain high yields without spraying insecticides.
A team at the University of Arizona has developed a new type of holographic telepresence that can project three-dimensional, moving images in real-time. This breakthrough technology enables applications such as telemedicine, advertising, and entertainment to take on new levels.
Mutualist systems may play crucial roles in global ecosystem health, but human impacts are forcing them down unprecedented evolutionary paths. Research suggests that small changes or shifts in mutualistic relationships could be the most potent global disruptions.
Using new optics technology developed at the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory, astronomers have obtained images of a planet on a closer orbit around its parent star than any other extrasolar planet previously found. The discovery enables scientists to search for planets closer to the star than has been previously possible.
AUA-led team finds complex organic molecules, including amino acids and nucleotide bases, in Titan's atmosphere. These findings suggest that Titan's atmosphere could be a reservoir of prebiotic molecules that serve as the springboard to life.
Physicists at the University of Arizona have developed a new way to convert waste heat into electrical power using quantum physics. The technology holds great promise for making various devices more efficient and reducing ozone-depleting chemicals.
A University of Arizona research team found that digital coupons are often difficult to use due to technical issues with redemption and cashier knowledge. The study suggests that a more convenient and user-friendly experience is needed to make digital coupons successful.
Researchers have discovered that a precursor to the AIDS-causing HIV is at least 32,000 years old, contradicting previous estimates. The study suggests that HIV's evolution into a non-lethal form is unlikely due to its rapid virulence.
Research reveals that glaciers in cold climates protect mountain tops and sides from erosion, allowing them to grow higher. By analyzing rocks exposed on remote glaciers in Patagonia, scientists found that the protective effect of glaciers reverses the conventional view of them as powerful agents of erosion.
Measurements by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander suggest that liquid water has primarily existed at temperatures near freezing on Mars, implying hydrothermal systems similar to Earth's hot springs are rare. The findings provide new light on Mars' history of water and volcanic activity.
Roger Angel will receive the Kavli Prize for his pioneering work on telescope design, which has allowed astronomers to observe distant and ancient objects. His innovative approach has resulted in lightweight and rigid mirrors that can be used in larger telescopes, enabling more compact and cost-effective designs.
A new University of Arizona study found that even complete strangers can infer a person's emotional state from just 30 seconds of conversation. Verbal snippets, such as tone and language use, provide significant insight into how people are coping with separation and divorce.
A University of Arizona-led consortium aims to create next-generation varities of rice that can withstand drought and poorer soils. The project will study the genes of wild rice species and identify those that could improve crop yields, providing a 'toolkit of genes' for enhanced food security.
Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a battery of computer-based tests that can quickly assess cognitive abilities in individuals with Down syndrome. The tests, which take about two hours to administer, offer a new tool for clinicians and researchers to determine developmental trajectory and devise drug and behaviora...
A team of astronomers from the University of Arizona developed a technique called laser adaptive optics, allowing for sharper images and faster data collection. This technology will enable scientists to study ancient galaxies and star clusters more efficiently.
Astronomers have discovered a brown dwarf companion to a young sun-like star, PZ Tel A. The discovery reveals the early stages of solar system formation and provides insights into planetary formation.
Researchers successfully engineer mosquitoes immune to malaria parasite, rendering them ineffective vectors for human infection. The breakthrough has significant implications for global health, with an estimated 1 million fatalities annually due to the disease.
Researchers at University of Arizona successfully created nitrogenated organic molecules in a laboratory setting that mimics Titan's atmosphere. The findings suggest that complex organic molecules could be present on Titan, potentially creating conditions conducive to life.
Researchers recommend using water conservatively and developing ways to harness energy from the sun, wind, and Earth to cope with projected climate changes in the West and Southwest. The region is expected to experience widespread drought, wildfires, and decreasing snowpack.
Two University of Arizona studies find that loneliness is a matter of perception and can be linked to poor health. Stress serves a crucial function for lonely individuals, who tend to have fewer close connections and manage daily stressors poorly.
Researchers used a technique called spectro-astrometry to observe protoplanetary disks in great detail, distinguishing between gas and dust distributions. They discovered that hydrogen gas is incorporated into the star through accretion, which can occur violently or smoothly, depending on the star's magnetic field.
Researchers use radar and camera data to reconstruct the formation of two enigmatic features in Mars' northern ice cap: a massive canyon and spiral troughs. Wind erosion is found to be the primary force shaping these complex structures, revealing a detailed climate history.
Researchers used tree-ring data to reconstruct northwest Africa's climate history, finding frequent and severe droughts during the 13th-16th centuries and late 20th century. The region's 20th-century drying trend matches climate models' predictions, while regional drought patterns differ across Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.
Researchers recommend decentralizing forces and forming alliances to counter threats, as seen in the natural world. By adopting these principles, security systems can become more adaptable and responsive to emerging threats.
A University of Arizona study found that the state's 2007 smoking ban led to a significant reduction in hospital admissions for conditions related to secondhand smoke, including acute myocardial infarction, stroke, asthma, and angina. The ban resulted in estimated savings of $16 million in hospital charges.
The lake's surface waters have warmed by 3 degrees F since 1900, driving a decline in productivity and impacting the fishery. The research provides a detailed record of temperature and its impacts on a tropical African ecosystem.
A University of Arizona study found that spaceflight alters gene expression in mice, potentially leading to increased cell death and compromised immune systems. The research suggests that long-duration space missions to destinations like Mars may require new strategies to mitigate these effects.
A rare opportunity to study how a critically endangered species copes with an earthquake- induced tsunami has been provided by researchers. The Devils Hole pupfish inhabit a small, shallow pool in the Mojave Desert, and the quake's impact on their habitat and behavior was documented on camera.
University of Arizona researchers presented new findings on improving hurricane predictions and understanding the effects of tropical cyclones on the U.S. Southwest. Cloud clusters with higher symmetry are more likely to become hurricanes, and tropical storms in the eastern Pacific are linked to the Caribbean Low-Level Jet.
Researchers discovered that aphids can produce carotenoids, essential nutrients crucial for vision, skin health, and bone growth. The yellowish-green aphid strain produced carotenoids by acquiring a fungal gene through lateral transfer, challenging conventional wisdom on animal nutrient production.
A binational team is monitoring the effect of the Yuma Desalting Plant on the cienega, which could affect endangered species and bird populations. The researchers are tracking water quality, water level, and vegetation to assess the impact of the plant's operation.