A new study published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology found that a six-week progressive muscle relaxation program significantly improved grief severity and yearning in widows and widowers. This approach was more effective than mindfulness training, which also showed improvements but not to the same extent.
Researchers found that job seekers who channel their anxiety through problem-solving pondering are more likely to exert effort in productive ways, such as focusing on reevaluating and improving their job search behaviors. In contrast, those who engage in affect-focused rumination, feeling afraid or upset about their job search, are les...
A new study by University of Arizona researchers found that both multicellularity and sexual reproduction helped explain the rapid proliferation of animal, plant, and fungal species. The study suggests that multicellularity is actually more important than sexual production in driving diversity.
New research from the University of Arizona identifies climate-related threats to US Department of Defense facilities in the southwestern United States. The study recommends emphasizing risks to DOD missions, finding champions at individual bases, and integrating climate considerations into existing plans to mitigate these challenges.
Researchers mapped extreme snowmelt events across the US over 30 years, finding that unusually warm temperatures drive most cases. Machine learning revealed regional differences in moisture transport, with Pacific Northwest and northeastern US experiencing rain-driven extreme snowmelt.
A study suggests that known geochemical processes cannot explain the high concentration of methane detected by Cassini spacecraft on Enceladus. Mathematical models suggest that microbial hydrothermal vent activity or abiotic processes could be responsible for the methane production.
A new pathway to treating type 2 diabetes has been discovered by researchers at the University of Arizona, focusing on the liver's role in insulin sensitivity. The study found that fat in the liver increases the release of GABA, a neurotransmitter that decreases nerve activity.
A team from the University of Arizona recreated the history of a dust grain formed during the solar system's birth, providing insights into planetary system formation processes. The analysis revealed clues about the environmental conditions that shaped the grain's journey, contradicting current theories on protoplanetary disk physics.
New research from the University of Arizona suggests that asteroid 16 Psyche may not be as dense or metallic as previously predicted. The findings propose an alternative origin story where 16 Psyche is composed of 82.5% metal, 7% low-iron pyroxene, and 10.5% carbonaceous chondrite.
A team from University of Arizona observes radio emissions from hydrogen cyanide, formyl ion, and carbon monoxide in five planetary nebulae, outlining their shapes for the first time. The findings support the idea that planetary nebulae seed the interstellar medium with molecules that form new stars and planets.
Researchers found that puppies as young as 8 weeks old demonstrate social communication skills, such as following pointing gestures and engaging in eye contact. Genetics explain more than 40% of the variation in puppies' abilities, suggesting an innate capacity for human interaction.
New research suggests that record-breaking temperatures will occur more frequently in the tropics due to large and growing populations. The study found that normalized temperature data reveals greater warming and more extreme heat events in tropical regions.
Researchers at University of Arizona discovered evidence of recent volcanic activity on Mars, suggesting eruptions could have taken place in past 50,000 years. The discovery of a previously unknown volcanic deposit raises possibility of habitable conditions below Martian surface.
A University of Arizona researcher found that veterinarians and breeders often hold biases against each other, which can lead to suboptimal animal care. Her study proposes solutions to bridge the divide between pet owners, breeders, and vets, including using nonverbal cues, empathy, and unconditional positive regard in communication.
A new study finds that climate change is a major consideration for people deciding whether or not to have children, with many citing concerns over resource depletion and population growth. The research identifies three themes: overconsumption, overpopulation, and an uncertain future, which can evoke feelings of guilt and moral obligation.
Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a new technique to approximate neuron counts in individual animal brains, providing a more meaningful metric than traditional studies measuring brain size or weight. The study reveals that certain species of bees have a higher density of brain cells than even some species of birds.
A new study by University of Arizona researcher Mary-Frances O'Connor found that people with persistent sleep challenges before losing someone are at higher risk for developing complicated grief. Complicated grief is characterized by an intense and persistent yearning for the lost loved one, disrupting daily functioning.
A new report finds that western US butterfly populations are declining rapidly due to fall warming trends, which induce physiological stress and affect development and hibernation preparation. Conservation efforts in urban areas with constant water flow will be crucial in preventing further declines and extinction.
An international team of astronomers has developed a new system to directly image exoplanets in the habitable zone of nearby stars, potentially harboring life. Using mid-infrared imaging and adaptive optics, they captured images of planets about three times the size of Earth within habitable zones around Alpha Centauri A and B.
Researchers analyzed tree rings in Alaska to understand the climate's response to the 1783 Laki Volcano eruption. They found that tree growth stopped suddenly after the eruption, suggesting a sudden cooling at the end of the growing season.
Astronomers have observed a luminous quasar 13.03 billion light-years from Earth, providing insight into the formation of massive galaxies in the early universe. The quasar hosts a supermassive black hole equivalent to 1.6 billion suns and shows evidence of an outflowing wind, challenging current models of black hole formation.
A University of Arizona-led research team discovered bands and stripes on the closest brown dwarf to Earth, hinting at processes churning its atmosphere. The findings reveal high-speed winds running parallel to equators, mixing atmospheres and redistributing heat.
A collaborative effort involving genetically engineered cotton and mass releases of sterile pink bollworm moths has successfully eliminated the invasive pest from cotton-producing areas of the US and Mexico. This strategy saved U.S. cotton growers $192 million from 2014 to 2019.
Researchers discovered a large amount of water in the upper atmosphere of Mars, rapidly destroyed by ions, explaining part of the planet's mysterious dryness. This process contradicts the classical picture of water escape from Mars, suggesting it is incomplete and influenced by seasonal and dust storms.
A University of Arizona-led study suggests that excessive TV viewing can lead to increased stress in parents, particularly when children are exposed to more advertising messages. Collaborative communication with children is found to be a effective strategy in reducing parent stress.
Two University of Arizona research teams will explore the origins and evolution of life in the universe using $12 million NASA grants. Led by Betül Kaçar and Dániel Apai, the teams will investigate essential attributes of life and its relationship with metal elements on ancient Earth and potential habitability on alien planets.
Researchers recommend using past climates to evaluate and fine-tune climate models, as they often perform better with historic climates but struggle with ancient climates. This could help narrow uncertainties surrounding future temperature, ice sheet, and water cycle changes.
Researchers studied impact marks on asteroid Bennu to reconstruct its history, revealing it formed hundreds of millions of years ago but wandered into Earth's neighborhood recently. The study provides a new benchmark for understanding asteroids and offers insights into hazardous space debris.
New research shows that climate change is altering the role of the North American monsoon in regulating wildfire season. Without the monsoon's winter rains, winter rainfall and snowpack are not enough to stop severe fires, leading to more destructive blazes. The US may learn from Mexico's land management strategies to mitigate wildfires.
A new study published in Nature Plants suggests that tropical forests like the one at Biosphere 2 may be more resilient to predicted temperature increases than previously thought. The rainforest's ability to photosynthesize steadily even at high temperatures, up to 38C, challenges current climate change predictions for the Amazon.
Researchers found that Asian and Hispanic populations contribute to local food culture, with restaurant availability linked to education levels of the white majority population. The study tested three models of assimilation and primarily found evidence for relational assimilation.
A study by University of Arizona researchers found that Black and Hispanic people are more likely to live in areas at high risk of flooding. The study suggests that certain reforms to the National Flood Insurance Program could disproportionately negatively impact these groups.
Researchers used black hole images to test Einstein's general relativity, identifying modifications that cannot be significantly different from the theory. The new analysis provides a tighter gauge for testing gravity theories, constraining deviations from general relativity even further.
Researchers discovered that moon-moon interactions may be responsible for more tidal heating than Jupiter alone, potentially leading to the melting of ice or rock internally. The study suggests that tidal resonance occurs when tides generated by other objects in the system match a moon's resonant frequency, resulting in increased heating.
A new study reconstructs the spread of coronavirus across the world with unprecedented detail, revealing that early interventions were effective at containing outbreaks. Contrary to speculation, the virus did not jump from China to Europe via British Columbia, Canada, but rather through direct flights and travel. Swift testing and isol...
The OSIRIS-REx mission reveals that asteroid Bennu sheds material periodically, with particles ejecting from the surface and orbiting or falling back onto it. The spacecraft's observations provide insight into the processes likely causing this activity, shedding new light on dynamic asteroids.
A large-scale study on frogs and their tadpoles found that larval and adult body sizes are significantly and positively related. The association is not completely random, with some families exhibiting strong constraints.
A new study examines the planning challenges in rural gateway communities across the American West, where booming tourism and steady population growth pose unprecedented pressures. Housing affordability is a top concern, with nearly all survey respondents and interviewees citing it as an urgent issue.
Researchers have determined that the Last Glacial Maximum was approximately 6 degrees Celsius (11 F) cooler than today. The study's findings provide a better understanding of the relationship between atmospheric carbon dioxide and global temperature, allowing for more accurate climate predictions.
Researchers used ancestral sequencing to study the translational machinery in bacteria, finding that evolution prioritizes fixing problems over completing them. The team discovered that natural selection favors mutations with the largest fitness advantage, leading to a myopic approach that neglects other cellular modules.
A University of Arizona study found that mechanisms making organisms fit into current environments are distinct from those responsible for change, and occur sequentially in evolution. The research used the house finch as a model, tracking carotenoid pigments in feathers across different regions.
The University of Arizona will lead a new National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center to architect the quantum internet, revolutionizing computing, communication, and sensing. The center aims to create a fabric connecting quantum computers, data centers, and gadgets using qubits.
A study finds that crop rotation effectively mitigates western corn rootworm damage to Bt cornfields, increasing yields and reducing fertilizer use. Farmers must diversify their Bt crops and rotate to prevent the pest's resistance.
Researchers assessed non-traditional mask materials, finding vacuum cleaner filters reduced infection risk by 83% for a 30-second exposure and 58% for a 20-minute exposure. N99 masks were found to be the most effective option, reducing average risk by 94-99%.
Parents who perceive that early childhood education centers communicate well with them are more likely to engage in educational activities, such as reading and singing, both at the center and at home. The quality of these activities is a stronger predictor of school readiness than their quantity.
Research found that corporate activism's impact on a company's value and stock market performance varies depending on alignment with customers', employees', and state regulators' views. Alignment results in positive effects, while misalignment leads to negative consequences.
A new study suggests that older adults spontaneously share fewer memories of their past experiences, with less detail in descriptions. Researchers analyzed daily conversations using a smartphone app and found this decline to be age-related, possibly linked to brain changes.
Researchers found that genetic influences account for 45% of the variation in women's affectionate behavior, whereas environmental factors explain 55%. Men's affectionate behavior is entirely determined by their surroundings. The study aimed to determine whether social behaviors are learned or genetically driven.
The newly discovered Aguada Fénix site in Mexico's Tabasco state is the largest and oldest known Mayan monument, constructed between 1,000 to 800 B.C. The site suggests that the Maya civilization developed more rapidly than previously thought and had less social inequality than later periods.
Scientists propose that asteroids Bennu and Ryugu were formed directly as spinning-top shapes due to a collision, with their equatorial craters ruling out recent re-shaping. The team's computer simulations suggest two possible explanations for the different hydration levels of the two bodies.