Scientists confirmed a surface liquid lake on Titan, measuring approximately 235 kilometers long and filled with liquid ethane. The discovery was made using the Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) instrument on NASA's Cassini orbiter.
Biologists call for making detailed maps of biotech crops available to researchers, allowing them to analyze the effects on wildlife and water quality. The government's current data collection system is limited in spatial resolution, making it difficult to answer key questions about genetically engineered crops.
Researchers have discovered that Type IV pili on bacteria can bundle together and pull with forces far stronger than previously thought possible. This discovery sheds light on the role of pili in initiating infectious diseases such as tuberculosis.
Researchers Daniel J. Madden and Lee W. Jacobi have found an infinite number of solutions to Euler's Equation of degree four, a centuries-old mathematical puzzle. They used elliptic curves to generate new solutions, which are more efficient than previous methods.
Scientists have discovered a possible once-habitable ancient lake on Mars using NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The image of Holden crater shows layers of fine sediments and minerals that formed in the presence of water, suggesting quiescent conditions that may preserve signatures of past habitability.
The Large Binocular Telescope on Mount Graham achieved its first binocular light using twin side-by-side 8.4-meter primary mirrors, showcasing the telescope's power and clarity. The images reveal details of the spiral galaxy NGC 2770, including newly formed hot stars and older, cooler stars.
A University of Arizona researcher has developed a system to identify major US cities at high, mid-range, or low risk for bioterrorism. The map highlights areas with critical industries, population density, and natural environment factors.
Researchers used topographic data from NASA's HiRISE camera to determine how a flow of pure liquid water would look on the images versus an avalanche of dry granular debris. The study found that the dry granular case was the winner, suggesting that liquid water has not been found on the Martian surface within the last decade.
Astronomers have discovered that many nearby sun-like stars may form rocky planets, with potential for life being more common than thought. The study suggests that at least 20 percent to 60 percent of stars similar to the sun are candidates for forming terrestrial worlds.
A bollworm species has evolved resistance to biotech cotton's Bt toxin in the US, contradicting predictions of rapid pest resistance. The findings confirm the effectiveness of refuge strategies to delay resistance evolution.
Researchers at the University of Arizona have created updatable three-dimensional holographic displays that can be erased and rewritten in a matter of minutes. These devices have potential applications in medicine, industry, and military fields, such as tracking progress during surgeries or showing hazards to pilots.
A UA-led team has received a $50 million grant to create a global center and computer cyberinfrastructure to address plant biology's grand challenge questions. The project will unite researchers from around the world to advance all fields of plant science.
Researchers have identified a newly discovered active fault under the Adriatic Sea that is actively building more of the Dalmatian Islands and Dinaride Mountains of Croatia. The discovery challenges the long-held assumption that these geological formations stopped growing 20-30 million years ago.
Researchers at the University of Arizona have discovered a complex metabolic pathway in mosquito species, which they aim to disrupt with a harmless molecule. This could lead to an insecticide that kills both mosquitoes and their eggs, slowing the spread of diseases like malaria and yellow fever.
The University of Arizona is a dominant force in Arizona's astronomy and planetary research endeavors. A new study reveals that these industries have a significant impact on the state's economy, generating more than $252 million and creating over 3,300 jobs in the 2006 fiscal year.
A new study published in PLOS Computational Biology suggests that the inefficient process of replacing worn-out cells is a defense against cancer. The researchers found that multicellular organisms use a complex system to replace lost cells, which suppresses mutations that could lead to uncontrolled cell growth.
The University of Arizona's Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research will receive a $9M donation from Agnese N. Haury to build a new archive for its vast collection of over two million tree-ring samples, providing access to data on climate change and environmental issues. The lab has been instrumental in unlocking mysteries in archaeology, eco...
Researchers have found eight white dwarf stars with pure carbon atmospheres, challenging existing theories on stellar evolution. The discovery may provide a unique view into the hearts of dying stars, shedding light on their evolutionary sequences.
The University of Arizona has received a $2.5 million grant to study the future of Amazon forests under climate change. The project will combine international collaboration with interdisciplinary training in earth system science, remote sensing, and modeling.
Researchers found that brain's memory consolidation process occurs at a rate of six or seven times faster than real-time experiences. This 'thought speed' allows the brain to replay memories in 8-10 minutes instead of an hour, revealing the biological trick behind this phenomenon.
Researchers found that girls living in families with supportive parents and lower levels of stress are more likely to delay their onset of puberty. These findings support a life history model that suggests children's early experiences affect how they mature, including when they reach puberty.
Researchers have developed new designer toxins that can kill Bt-resistant insect pests, including the pink bollworm, a major cotton pest. The toxins work by modifying the way the insects' gut membranes respond to Bt toxins, rendering them ineffective.
A new study suggests that HIV/AIDS originated in Africa and traveled to the US through Haiti around 1969. Most US viruses descended from a single common ancestor originating from Haiti. The research used genetic analysis of archived blood samples to pinpoint the virus's entry point, shedding light on its early spread.
Researchers found that Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) actually speeds up decision-making in Parkinson's patients, contrary to expectations. The study suggests that DBS affects the brain's ability to deliberate on complicated decisions by interrupting the 'hold-your-horses' signal.
Researchers discovered extreme droughts in tropical Africa between 135,000 to 90,000 years ago, which may have led to the Out-of-Africa hypothesis that all humans descended from a few people living in Africa. The study also found that fish evolution in Lake Malawi was altered due to these megadroughts.
Scientists have identified three genes associated with dopamine functioning in the brain, predicting individual differences in learning behaviors. These genes affect implicit reward learning and change choice strategies after negative feedback. The study offers insights into the genetic basis for learning differences and potential impl...
Despite predictions of collapse, Amazon forests in drought-stricken regions grew more vigorously during the 2005 drought, indicating a positive response to drought conditions. This finding contradicts global climate models and suggests a negative feedback loop that could slow down global warming.
University of Arizona physicists have discovered 'super crystals' in certain organic semiconducting solids, which could create splashes of current and exhibit unique electrical properties. This discovery was made possible by analyzing experimental data from a previous study on a mysterious solid-state phase in a semiconductor.
Scientists studied SIVs in African green monkeys, finding a recent split that may have led to reduced virulence. This discovery sheds light on the potential course and timing of HIV evolution.
A new study suggests that walking on two legs, or bipedalism, evolved because it used less energy than quadrupedal knucklewalking. Researchers collected metabolic, kinematic and kinetic data from chimpanzees and humans walking on a treadmill, finding that humans only used one-quarter of the energy as chimpanzees when walking upright.
Astronomers used powerful telescopes to detect giant Jupiter-like planets in the outer regions of nearby solar systems, but found none beyond 5 astronomical units from their stars. The survey, which was conducted over three years, aimed to determine what the average planetary system looks like and whether ours is typical.
A study of nearly 400 university students found women spoke an average of 16,215 words per day, while men averaged 15,669. The difference was not statistically significant, and individual variations were large.
The software uses detailed traffic census data and real-time surveillance to create realistic simulations, taking into account various factors such as driver behavior and air-plume dispersion. It also has post-disaster applications, including evaluating recovery decisions and modeling value pricing on toll roads.
The University of Arizona's HiRISE team has released over 1,200 Mars images to the Planetary Data System, making them available to the public through a user-friendly viewer tool. The images reveal hundreds of important discoveries about Mars, including crater impacts and dust avalanches.
Researchers reconstruct tree-ring record of upper Colorado streamflows back seven centuries, revealing 25-year drought period with 15% below normal flow. The megadrought spanned 1118-1179, with 13 consecutive years of below-normal flows, and is comparable to the region's last 100 years of below-average flows.
A University of Arizona scientist is conducting a 5-year study to map the brain's role in language, attention, and memory. The researcher uses MRI scans to reveal complex interactions between brain regions involved in these processes.
Researchers have mapped weather on a gas giant planet called HD 189733b, discovering supersonic winds that can move at speeds of up to 22,000 mph. The winds are so fast they redistribute heat across the planet's surface, with dayside and nightside temperatures differing by only 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Phoenix will use a robotic digging arm to determine if the Martian soil environment was favorable for microbial life. The lander is equipped with instruments that suggest frozen water exists within arm's reach of the surface.
Research led by University of Arizona scientist Paul R. Sheppard found that tree rings from Fallon, Nev. showed quadrupled tungsten levels between 1990 and 2002, preceding a rise in childhood leukemia cases. The study suggests environmental contamination may be to blame for the cluster.
Researchers found that a single gene in symbiotic bacteria determines aphid thermal tolerance. The gene's mutation affects heat-shock protein production, leading to reduced reproduction and survival in hot conditions. This discovery highlights the critical role of symbiotic bacteria in insect ecology.
Researchers found that food scarcity is the primary driver of bird migration, contradicting previous theories. The study also revealed that flock foraging is less likely to lead to migration.
Astrophysicists discovered a mechanism that produces high-energy gamma rays from the Milky Way's black hole, accelerating protons to unprecedented speeds. The process creates high-energy gamma rays through collisions between accelerated protons and hydrogen gas.
A team of researchers, led by Alyson Thibodeau and David J. Killick, used physical sciences techniques to analyze archaeological artifacts at the La Isabela settlement. They found that the silver-bearing ore brought from Spain was extracted using an improvised smelting process, contradicting earlier historical accounts.
The discovery suggests that modern humans migrated out of Africa and occupied parts of eastern Europe as early as 45,000 years ago. The findings are based on the analysis of stone tools, beadwork, and other artifacts found at the Kostenki site in Russia.
Researchers found that gas giants either form within the first 10 million years of a sun-like star's life or not at all. The study suggests that gas giant planets must form early in a star's history, offering insights into planet formation.
Researchers argue that movie exhibitors can increase profits by adopting variable pricing, which would allow for price differentiation based on event movies, weekends, and holidays. The study suggests that consumers welcome discounts but may resent surcharges, making it easier for exhibitors to implement variable pricing.
The Cassini spacecraft has imaged the tallest mountains ever seen on Saturn's moon Titan, with peaks reaching nearly a mile high. The mountains are topped with bright, white material that may be methane or other organic 'snow,' suggesting a unique geology and potential for life.
A new climate model predicts that the Southern Ocean's absorption of heat and carbon dioxide will slow the rate of global warming. The ocean's ability to sequester heat and carbon dioxide could lead to sea level rise, but also change the chemistry of the water, making it less habitable for some marine organisms.
A space sunshade, proposed by University of Arizona astronomer Roger Angel, could balance the heating effect of a doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The constellation of small spacecraft would form a long, cylindrical cloud with about 10 percent of sunlight diverted away from Earth.
The University of Arizona has received a $3.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to improve advanced math education and train more professionals. The VIGRE program will vertically integrate mathematics training, increasing collaborations between students and faculty across different levels of training.