Researchers at UC Berkeley reconstructed a mouse's whisker map of its surroundings, revealing a new layer of spatial awareness. This discovery may have implications for understanding how humans perceive space and navigate their environment.
A new study from the University of California, Berkeley found that dementia patients tend to die sooner when cared for by family members with depression or anxiety. The study tracked 176 patients and their caregiver mental health over several years, revealing a strong link between patient survival and caregiver well-being.
Researchers found that seasonal stress changes, caused by winter rains and summer rebound, lead to an increase in small earthquakes along California faults. The study used regional global positioning system data to calculate stresses due to water loads, revealing a correlation between peak stress and seismicity.
Research suggests dressmakers have superior stereovision, improving visual acuity by 43%. This sharpens their ability to thread needles and navigate 3D spaces.
Researchers found that nearly all sunlike stars form with a companion, but these companions often escape and merge with other stars. The study's findings have implications for the origins of galaxies and suggest that many stars are born in pairs, like our sun and its long-lost sibling.
Researchers at UC Berkeley created a robot called DexNet 2.0 that can pick up and move unfamiliar objects with high accuracy, using deep learning to learn grasps for 6.7 million 3D shapes.
A University of California, Berkeley study found that puberty hormones can reduce brain plasticity in young girls, potentially affecting their ability to learn and adapt. The study suggests that the early onset of puberty, driven by factors like stress and obesity, may have broad implications for girls' education and health.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have identified conscientiousness in a range of animal species, from birds to insects. This trait, characterized by working hard, paying attention to detail, and striving to do the right thing, is linked to evolutionary benefits such as improved hunting success and mating advantages.
Researchers have discovered two chemicals found in anti-fertility folk medicines that can block fertilization, potentially providing an effective alternative to hormone-based contraceptives. The chemicals, pristimerin and lupeol, work by stopping sperm's power kick, allowing for a new type of emergency contraceptive.
UC Berkeley scientists have developed a new technique to track individual stem cells in the nose, uncovering clues that could help restore smell to those who have lost it. The team used single-cell RNA sequencing and statistical analysis to identify the molecules that trigger stem cell differentiation into specific cell types.
A study by the University of California, Berkeley, and the Max Planck Institute in Germany found that children who transitioned earlier to a formal school environment learn to be more focused and less impulsive than their preschool peers. This is attributed to the structured learning environment of school, which boosts certain cognitiv...
Astronomers have obtained an exceptionally detailed map of the largest lava lake on Io, showing two waves of lava sweeping from west to east at about 3,300 feet per day. The temperature variation across the surface of the lake reveals a smooth gradient, with the western end at 270 Kelvin and the southeastern end at 330 Kelvin.
A UC Berkeley study has found significant flaws in research used to challenge the US Forest Service's plan to restore Sierra Nevada forests. The study, published in Ecological Applications, uses historic field data to estimate forest density and finds two major methodological flaws.
Researchers have developed a new class of CRISPR enzymes that can detect specific sequences of RNA, including those from viruses. These enzymes, variants of Cas13a, target different RNA nucleotides, allowing for simultaneous viral diagnostics and potentially expanding the range of diseases they can detect.
Researchers at UC Berkeley and MIT have developed a solar-powered harvester that can collect water from the air even in extremely dry conditions. The device uses a metal-organic framework to absorb water vapor, which is then condensed and collected using sunlight as power.
Researchers at UC Berkeley argue that restorative deep sleep is vital for warding off memory loss and a range of mental and physical disorders in older adults. The aging brain's decline in slow wave sleep and neurochemical regulation can lead to cognitive and physical impairments.
A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that human illness leads to more destructive fishing methods and environmental harm at Lake Victoria. Healthy individuals tend to prioritize sustainable fishing practices, whereas chronically ill people focus on short-term gains, resulting in unsustainable methods.
The study suggests that choosing wind sites to match electricity demand reduces system costs and enhances equitable distribution of renewable energy. Countries can save hundreds of millions to billions of dollars per year by pursuing low-cost, accessible, and environmentally friendly solar and wind farms.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have created a microfluidic device that can analyze individual tumor cells for specific cancer protein biomarkers. This technology could allow doctors to monitor treatment response through regular blood draws, potentially leading to more precise cancer diagnoses.
A study from UC Berkeley found that Zika's decline before the Olympics was foreshadowed by seasonal patterns of similar diseases. Despite this, vulnerable populations in urban slums continue to be affected, highlighting the need for targeted public health efforts.
Researchers have discovered a chemical compound that selectively stalls the ribosome, halting the production of specific proteins while leaving general protein production untouched. This discovery suggests a new approach to finding drugs that target undesired proteins before they are made.
The study found that Hawaii's older islands have experienced a decline in species diversity over millions of years due to shrinking land areas. The research used a new method to analyze species diversity on the different islands and concluded that most groups are now in long-term evolutionary decline.
Scientists at UC Berkeley create a pill-sized technology called MucoJet that jet-releases vaccines inside the mouth, targeting immune cells in the buccal region. The device shows promise in delivering high-pressure streams of liquid and immune system-triggering molecules to stimulate an immune response.
A new study from the University of California, Berkeley, reveals that transgender and gender-fluid teens face widespread abuse, including child abuse, physical assault, bullying, and cyberbullying. The study found that up to 70% of trans and gender-fluid teens reported being exposed to multiple forms of aggression.
Conservationists should focus on preserving diverse ecosystem structures and functions, rather than just saving species. This approach can help create more resilient environments that can adapt to climate change and habitat loss. By studying the fossil record, experts hope to guide conservation efforts towards a more sustainable future.
Researchers have successfully created the first time crystals, which repeat their structure in time due to periodic kicking. This breakthrough opens a new landscape of non-equilibrium matter with promise for quantum computing and memory storage.
Researchers at UC Berkeley discovered that blinking prompts the brain to reposition eyeballs, keeping vision in line. This mechanism allows our brains to adapt to changes and compensate for errors in our bodies' own hardware.
A new UC Berkeley study finds that crowdfunding has opened up funding to entrepreneurs in regions lacking venture capital investment. Successful Kickstarter campaigns have been shown to increase venture capital funding in those areas.
Scientists have found a way to reprogram mouse embryonic stem cells to mimic the developmental characteristics of fertilized eggs, also known as zygotes. This breakthrough reveals a novel mechanism regulating totipotency and provides a powerful cell-culture system to further study early embryo development.
A new study using independent data from satellites and robotic floats confirms that the oceans have warmed at a rate of 0.12 degrees Celsius per decade since 2000, nearly twice as fast as earlier estimates. This finding eliminates much of the global warming hiatus, which was attributed to biases in ship measurements.
A team of researchers has localized the source of a Fast Radio Burst (FRB) to an older dwarf galaxy over 3 billion light years away. The galaxy is believed to harbor a supermassive black hole and may be connected to other energetic events such as supernovae and gamma-ray bursts.
Researchers at UC Berkeley observed the brain's re-tuning process when listening to previously unintelligible speech after priming. The study confirms speculation that neurons in the auditory cortex continually tune themselves to pull meaning out of a noisy environment, enabling individuals to quickly comprehend garbled speech.
The MyShake app has recorded nearly 400 earthquakes globally since its launch in February, providing valuable data on seismic activity. The app's performance shows it can complement traditional seismic networks and serve as a stand-alone system in areas with few stations, helping reduce earthquake-related injuries and damage.
The researchers developed a new metric to measure vertical agility, which allowed them to rank animals by their jumping agility and identify the galago as an inspiration for design. Salto achieved 78% of the galago's vertical jumping agility, with a maximum jump height of roughly 1.008 meters.
A new study by a team of American geophysicists found that Antarctica warmed about 11 degrees Celsius between 20,000 and 10,000 years ago, 2 to 3 times the average temperature increase worldwide. The disparity highlights the amplification of warming at poles consistent with today's climate change models.
Researchers at UC Berkeley discovered that humans use visual cues to quickly determine if something is lifelike or not. In real life, this allows us to navigate social situations and avoid confusion, while in the lab, participants accurately rated groups of images as more or less lifelike even when shown for just 250 milliseconds.
A new study from UC Berkeley found that young blood does not improve tissue health and repair in old mice. In contrast, older mice experience large declines when receiving younger blood, suggesting inhibitors in old blood may drive the aging process.
Scientists have developed a new design for solar cells made from perovskite, achieving an average steady-state efficiency of 18.4%. The innovative tandem solar cell combines two types of perovskite into one photovoltaic cell, absorbing nearly the entire spectrum of visible light and outperforming traditional silicon-based solar cells.
Researchers propose that mind-wandering is a spontaneous mode of thought, essential for creativity and daydreaming. Increased awareness of this thinking can lead to better diagnoses and treatments for depression, anxiety, and ADHD.
Researchers propose using insect repellents along with insecticides to drive mosquito evolution that yields greater aversion to repellents, potentially slowing malaria development. This strategy could extend the lifetime of current insecticides and reduce resistance by favoring repelled mosquitoes over those developing resistance.
Researchers found that managing wildfires instead of suppressing them improves forest diversity, water storage, and drought resistance. This approach increases stream flow and downstream water availability, benefiting both the environment and agriculture.
The Xenopus laevis genome shows that hybridization between two extinct species led to a doubling of genes and the emergence of tetraploidy. Researchers found nearly a thousand non-functional genes, revealing insights into ancient genome duplication events in vertebrates.
Researchers have tracked 48 volcanic hotspots on Io's surface over a 29-month period, capturing heat coming off active eruptions and lava flows. The observations reveal that most eruptions occur on the trailing face of Io, with some appearing to progress across the surface over time.
Researchers have successfully corrected the mutated gene responsible for sickle cell disease in stem cells using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. The study holds promise for a new treatment by re-infusing edited stem cells into patients, potentially alleviating symptoms and improving lifespan.
A new study from the University of California, Berkeley, reveals that calcium plays a major role in regulating bone growth and development. By understanding the signaling mechanisms involved, researchers hope to develop regenerative therapies for conditions such as Treacher Collins Syndrome, which can lead to dozens of surgeries during...
Researchers discovered a newly discovered stress response pathway that relies on fat molecules to mediate cellular health, reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. The study found that certain types of fat may protect against brain disease by preventing protein aggregates.
A new study from UC Berkeley finds that living in overtly racist communities can shorten the lives of both blacks and whites due to increased heart disease and circulatory issues. Blacks are most negatively impacted by racial bias, with higher rates of heart disease-related deaths in counties with high levels of racism.
Researchers at UC Berkeley discovered a way to boost CRISPR-Cas9 cutting efficiency up to fivefold by disrupting DNA repair mechanisms with short oligonucleotide pieces. This technique increases the success rate of creating knockouts, essential for studying gene function and correcting hereditary mutations.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have developed dust-sized wireless sensors that can be implanted in the body to monitor internal nerves, muscles, or organs in real-time. The technology also enables stimulation of nerves and muscles to treat disorders such as epilepsy or stimulate the immune system.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have found a new cancer drug target that controls only a few percent of the body's proteins, potentially allowing for a more specific anti-cancer effect. The target is a protein called eIF3d that binds to specialized mRNAs and triggers translation of growth-promoting proteins.