The genomes of leeches, limpets and marine worms have revealed a deep connection between these diverse organisms, with similarities to humans and other animals. The analysis has also highlighted notable differences in immune systems and developmental processes.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have created an interactive map of the brain's visual organization, revealing that thousands of objects and activities are grouped into semantic neighborhoods. The study may help diagnose brain disorders and improve image recognition systems.
Compression reverses abnormal growth in breast cancer cells, restoring normal development. The study's findings suggest that mechanical forces play a crucial role in determining a cell's fate.
Tropical montane cloud forest trees have been found to absorb water directly through their leaves from clouds, providing a crucial survival mechanism in foggy areas. However, the disappearance of these clouds due to climate change may render this adaptation useless for the ecosystem's survival.
A recent University of California, Berkeley study found that reframing environmental rhetoric according to conservative morals can reduce partisan polarization on ecological matters. When pro-environmental messages focus on protecting the natural environment from harm, conservatives are more likely to feel disgust and support environme...
Researchers have discovered a gene called BAF60c that plays a crucial role in converting dietary carbohydrates into fat. The study found that mice with the disabled gene did not produce excess fat despite eating a high-carb diet.
A new study by University of California, Berkeley researchers found that kerosene lamps produce 7-9% black carbon when burned, leading to a twentyfold increase in estimated black carbon emissions from lighting. Replacing kerosene lamps with cleaner alternatives could yield significant climate benefits and improve public health.
A new study by UC Berkeley researchers links plant-based estrogenic compounds to altered hormone levels and possible changes in behavior among male red colobus monkeys. The study suggests that phytoestrogens may have played a significant role in the evolution of primate biology, including human biology.
A study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley found that prenatal and childhood exposure to PBDEs is linked to poorer attention, fine motor coordination, and IQ in school-aged children. The study collected blood samples from 279 women during pregnancy or at delivery and from 272 children when they were 7 years old.
A study by UC Berkeley engineers used a tabletop model to understand high-frequency waves of earthquakes, which can cause rapid shaking. The research found that longer fault healing times lead to faster shaking upon rupture, providing insights for building vulnerability assessments and mitigation strategies.
Land-based hermit crabs remodel their shells to accommodate growth, but rare empty snails on land require them to kick others out of their homes. This unusual behavior is a result of the crabs' evolution to take advantage of a niche, leading to socialization in a typically solitary animal.
A study by University of California, Berkeley researchers found elevated levels of formaldehyde and several other contaminants in day care centers, exceeding state health guidelines. Cleaning- and sanitizing-related chemicals were also present, with some at higher levels than in comparable studies on homes.
A new study suggests that bacteria cue choanoflagellates, the closest living relatives of animals, to form colonies. The discovery implies that bacteria may have helped kick off multicellular life, a development that eventually led to all animals, including humans.
A University of California, Berkeley researcher found that people are more likely to assign positive personality traits to orange cats and less favorable ones to white and tortoiseshell cats. The results suggest that cat color stereotypes can have a negative impact on adoption rates at animal shelters.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have found that fox squirrels engage in a long-term savings strategy by diversifying their nut storage, with some nuts hidden up to 100 meters away. By studying this behavior, the team aims to understand how squirrels remember where they hide their nuts and develop insights into human decision-making.
A new study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, found that BPA exposure is associated with changes in thyroid hormone levels in pregnant women and newborn boys. The study suggests a potential link between BPA exposure and altered fetal development and cognitive function.
Scientists sequenced nearly all genes in an underground microbe community at a contaminated uranium mill site, assigning them to 80 different microbes. The findings could help improve clean-up methods for heavy metal contamination, including arsenic and mercury.
A magnitude 8.6 earthquake in the East Indian Ocean triggered quakes around the world for at least a week, according to a new analysis. The study found that some faults weren't immediately affected by seismic waves but were primed to break up six days later.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have identified a germ-killing power in the eyes' keratin protein, which can effectively combat bacteria such as Streptococcus pyogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The synthetic molecules derived from this protein show promise as low-cost therapeutics against various infections.
New data reveals galaxies formed and fully illuminated the universe by 750 million years old, ending sooner than expected. The epoch of reionization lasted less than 500 million years and was triggered by monster galaxies with over a billion stars.
A new study from UC Berkeley suggests that affluent people are more focused on material possessions during times of trouble, while lower-income individuals tend to reach out to friends and loved ones. The research sheds light on how socio-economic class affects human behavior in response to uncertainty and chaos.
Intensive LSAT training strengthens brain connections involved in thinking and reasoning, potentially improving IQ scores. Brain imaging reveals increased connectivity between frontal lobes, and between frontal and parietal lobes.
New studies reveal that changes in precipitation play a significant role in driving bird species out of their normal range, contradicting the conventional reliance on temperature. The research also found a sharp decrease in range for the Belding's ground squirrel, but identified areas where the species found refuge.
Research from UC Berkeley reveals that girls with ADHD are more likely to struggle with internalized issues, such as low self-esteem and difficulty with relationships, as they mature. Longitudinal study finds high rates of self-injury and suicide attempts in young adulthood, highlighting the need for long-term monitoring and treatment.
The CINEMA CubeSat will monitor electrical currents in the atmosphere that can affect power grids. The satellite will also measure changes in Earth's magnetic field caused by magnetic storms.
A new analysis by Arpad Horvath and Mikhail Chester finds that California's proposed high-speed rail system will reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to cars and air travel. The study, published in Environmental Research Letters, assesses the sustainability of different transportation modes using life-cycle assessments.
A team of scientists has discovered a chemical that temporarily restores some vision to blind mice by making normally 'blind' cells sensitive to light. The approach holds promise for treating humans with degenerative blindness, including retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration.
A recent survey conducted at the University of California, Berkeley, found 48 distinct bird species within a 84-acre area, surpassing previous records from 1913 and 1938. The study suggests that urban green spaces can serve as islands of diversity, supporting a wide range of bird species.
Researchers have developed a new fluorescent labeling strategy that enables the examination of bacterial biofilm structure, leading to potential drug targets. The study has provided new insights into the development of complex structures and may pave the way for new approaches to fighting infectious disease.
UC Berkeley's BEACON network uses 40 sensors to provide real-time, neighborhood-by-neighborhood measurements of carbon dioxide and other air pollutants. The system aims to inspire local actions to reduce CO2 emissions and inform policy making.
Scientists are using hindcasting to develop more accurate models of ecosystem changes, leveraging UC Berkeley's vast museum collections to study past episodes of global change. This will inform policy-making and forecasting tools for the future.
A new study projects increased fire activity across large parts of the planet due to climate change, particularly in the western United States. Meanwhile, fire activity is expected to decrease in tropical rainforests as a result of increased rainfall.
Researchers discovered a commonality among superconductors, Bose-Einstein condensates, magnets, crystals, neutron stars, and cosmic strings. The Nambu-Goldstone boson theory applies to all these phenomena, predicting or designing unusual behavior in new materials.
A team of scientists warns that human activities may be driving the planet toward an irreversible change in the biosphere, threatening biodiversity and global stability. Better predictive models are needed to mitigate or adapt to potential changes.
Researchers at UC Berkeley discovered cockroaches can fling themselves under a ledge to vanish from sight. By leveraging their grappling hook-like claws and swinging like a pendulum, they retain most of their running energy.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, used genetic tracing to identify a previously unknown type of stem cell as the real culprit behind vascular diseases. This multipotent vascular stem cell is capable of differentiating into various specialized cell types and plays a key role in the calcification of blood vessels.
A growing number of recession-weary Americans are shifting towards 'gift economies' built on freebies and community spirit. Online gift-giving communities like Freecycle generate strong feelings of solidarity and identification, driving people to give more gifts in the system.
A new computer model has pinpointed promising materials for efficient carbon capture, potentially reducing parasitic energy costs by 30%. The model has been integrated into power plant design software, allowing researchers to quickly test and optimize material properties.
A new study reveals that juvenile steelhead trout are more likely to die when water levels are low in California's wine country. The researchers found that the amount of vineyard acreage upstream is linked to higher death rates, with only 30% survival rate in dry summer seasons.
Researchers are analyzing lake cores for pollen, charcoal, and organisms to understand past biotic changes over 500,000 years. They aim to improve models predicting how life will adapt to today's environmental pressures and inform state planning on climate change.
A recent study from the University of California, Berkeley, found that highly religious individuals are less driven by compassion when helping strangers. In contrast, atheists, agnostics, and less religious people were more inclined to show generosity due to their emotional connection with others.
The Allen Telescope Array will continue searching for intelligent life in space and monitoring space debris under new management by SRI International. The facility will also support the SETI Institute's efforts to detect signals from newly discovered exoplanets.
A UC Berkeley psychologist has found that even automated text messages can provide emotional support and comfort to depressed patients. The study's results show that patients who received regular text messages felt more connected and cared for, with improved moods and reduced stress.
Researchers found that replacing coal with renewable energy sources like nuclear power and wind/solar energy would be the least expensive way to meet greenhouse gas emissions goals. The study suggests a moderate increase in consumer cost of electric power, at most 20 percent.
A study by University of California, Berkeley chemists links increased fertilizer use to nitrous oxide rise, a major greenhouse gas contributing to global climate change. The study uses nitrogen isotope data to identify the fingerprint of fertilizer use in archived air samples from Antarctica and Tasmania.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have developed a new iron-based material that can separate saturated hydrocarbons from unsaturated gases at high temperatures, eliminating the need for chilling. This breakthrough could lead to significant energy savings in the chemical industry, particularly in the production of plastics and fuels.
ChronoZoom is a web-based software that enables users to visualize history and discover new connections. The project uses Microsoft Azure and HTML5 to allow for easy updates and expansion of content.
Researchers reveal a crucial key to understanding neutrino transformations, shedding light on the universe's matter-antimatter asymmetry. The new discovery enables future experiments to explore why our universe is filled mostly with matter.
Neuroscientists at UC Berkeley and Portugal's Champalimaud Center have demonstrated that the brain can be trained to perform tasks it normally doesn't, using plasticity to master purely mental tasks. This breakthrough advances work on brain-machine interfaces, potentially leading to prosthetic devices that feel like natural movement.
A recent study from UC Berkeley found that individuals from the upper class are more likely to exhibit unethical behavior, including cutting off others on the road and deceiving job candidates. The researchers attribute this tendency to a positive attitude towards greed, which primes participants to engage in self-serving behaviors.