New research from UC Berkeley found that magnetic pulses disrupt neurons governing motor skills, increasing left hand use in right-handed volunteers. The study challenges previous assumptions about decision-making and may pave the way for clinical advances in brain injury rehabilitation.
Researchers successfully recreated the conditions deep in the Earth's mantle to study the behavior of post-perovskite, a mineral that helps explain faster seismic waves. The discovery provides new insights into the earth's internal heating and cooling processes.
Neuroscientists found that cortical rhythms can effectively rally groups of neurons in widely dispersed regions of the brain to engage in coordinated activity. The study used data from four macaque monkeys and showed that the timing of electrical spikes was synchronized with brain rhythms occurring in distinct frequency bands.
A new study found that girls without a biological father are more likely to enter puberty at an earlier age, especially in higher-income households. The study suggests that familial and contextual factors play an important role in the onset of puberty.
A new study found that the Alzheimer's drug donepezil enhances perceptual learning in healthy adults, particularly in tasks involving motion direction discrimination. The researchers tested 12 healthy adults and showed a significant improvement in performance after training under the influence of donepezil compared to a placebo.
Researchers create pressure-sensitive electronic material using semiconductor nanowires, enabling robots to grip fragile objects. The 'e-skin' technology also holds promise for restoring sense of touch in patients with prosthetic limbs.
A new study shows that sunlight drives asteroids to split in two and move far apart, forming binary and divorced binaries. The research suggests that many of these binaries likely originated from asteroid fission, with smaller asteroids separating at low velocities.
Researchers use seismic technique to detect boundary between old and new lithosphere beneath the North American continent. The study reveals a layer cake of ancient rock on top of newer material, challenging traditional theories on continental formation.
A new study by University of California, Berkeley researchers found that prenatal organophosphate pesticide exposure is significantly linked to attention problems at age 5, with stronger effects among boys. Children's symptoms of attention disorders are harder to recognize in toddlers, and diagnoses often occur after entering school.
A study from the Energy Biosciences Institute proposes using a range of plants, including perennial grasses and woody biomass, to produce sustainable cellulosic fuels. This approach could support ecosystem health worldwide by utilizing dedicated energy crops rather than repurposing food and feed crops.
A genetic analysis of 24 spiny frog species reveals their evolutionary history, which correlates with the rise of the Himalayas and Tibetan plateau. The study supports a minority theory of the India-Asia collision, suggesting that Southeast Asia was pushed aside towards the Pacific Ocean.
A team of researchers has sequenced the genome of an ancient sponge, revealing insights into the evolution of the first animals and cancer. The study found that sponges share many genes with humans, but also have significant differences, including missing components involved in cell division and development.
Researchers found mortality rates 3-5 times higher than sub-Saharan Africa average, with 81% forced to flee homes since 2002. High percentages reported traumatic events and symptoms consistent with depression and anxiety. The study informs aid programs, security sector reforms and accountability processes.
Physicists at the University of California, Berkeley discovered that when graphene is stretched, it develops bubbles of quantized electrons behaving in a bizarre way. The discovery opens doors to room-temperature straintronics and control of electronic properties through strain.
Researchers at the Energy Biosciences Institute developed a mechanistic model of enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose, improving understanding of enzyme-substrate interaction. The model tracks individual cellulases and key cellulose surface properties, revealing critical factors affecting enzyme activity and sugar production.
A new study conducted jointly by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and other institutions found that people who received up to $60 each over 12 months for staying free of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) had a lower prevalence of those infections after a year compared to those who did not receive payments. Th...
A comparison of Tibetan and Han Chinese genomes reveals over 30 genes with DNA mutations associated with high-altitude adaptation. The fastest genetic change ever observed has allowed Tibetans to thrive at high altitudes without the problems faced by people from lower elevations.
Physicists at UC Berkeley confirm that photons do not act like fermions, validating Bose-Einstein statistics and Quantum Field Theory. The experiment tested the fundamental assumptions underlying these theories, including Lorentz invariance and microcausality.
A new study found that pregnant women with higher blood levels of a common flame retardant had altered thyroid hormone levels, which could impact fetal growth and brain development. The study linked exposure to these chemicals to decreased TSH levels and an increased risk of subclinical hyperthyroidism.
Vegetation around the world is shifting towards poles and equator due to climate change, altering ecosystems and reducing habitat for endangered species. An estimated one-tenth to half of the land mass will be highly vulnerable to vegetation shifts by the end of this century.
Researchers at University of California - Berkeley have identified four distinct species of the secretive Hemidactylus fasciatus gecko in West African rain forests. The discovery was made using new DNA analysis techniques that distinguish different species even when they appear similar.
Researchers discovered a new bacterial signaling molecule, cyclic-di-AMP, which stimulates a strong immune response in host cells. This molecule may be used to improve vaccines that use live or disabled bacteria, making them more effective against pathogens such as Listeria.
A team of researchers tracked a comet as it approached the sun using data from NASA's STEREO and SOHO spacecraft. The comet, believed to be part of the Kreutz family, survived the intense heat of the corona and evaporated in the chromosphere.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have discovered a new action mechanism for topoisomerases, enzymes that uncoil DNA, which could lead to the development of more effective antibiotics and anticancer drugs. The discovery, led by James Berger, provides a better understanding of how these enzymes interact with DNA and drugs.
Astronomers have identified a possible new class of supernovae that produces high levels of calcium, which could explain the element's abundance in galaxies and life on Earth. The 'calcium-rich' supernovae were discovered by detecting unusual elements in their spectra.
Researchers found ultra-small microbes, dubbed ARMAN, with tiny genomes and unusual interactions with other Archaea, living in acidic mine drainage. The microbes have unique cellular extensions that pierce other cells, blurring the lines between parasitism and symbiosis.
The high-quality draft sequence of Xenopus tropicalis's genome will aid researchers studying embryo development and cell biology in both species. The genome contains genes similar to those associated with over 1,700 human diseases.
A new study from UC Berkeley concludes that younger Americans are getting the better deal when factoring in public education as an intergenerational entitlement program. The researchers found that people born between 1972 and 2060 will make net gains of 4 to 6 percent over their lifetimes, while those now aged 63 to 80 have paid out mo...
Researchers at UC Berkeley found that dominant hyenas produce steady, confident-sounding giggles, while subordinate ones have more variable calls. The study's findings suggest that the frequency analysis of these calls can reveal an animal's social stature and age.
Researchers at University of California - Berkeley found an insulin-like signal necessary to keep stem cells alive in the adult brain. Blocking apoptosis genes alone is not enough, as neural stem cells also require an insulin-type signal to persist. The study suggests that manipulating the insulin pathway may be essential for re-growin...
Scientists at UC Berkeley propose helium rain as explanation for neon depletion in Jupiter's atmosphere, with helium droplets forming around 10,000 km below the surface and releasing heat that explains Saturn's excess brightness.
A galaxy study confirms the validity of general relativity on a cosmic scale, with the existence of dark matter as the most likely explanation for observed phenomena. The study rules out alternative theories of gravity, including tensor-vector-scalar gravity and f(R), which fail to predict the observed galaxy clustering and distortion.
A team of US engineers is traveling to Chile to document the effects of a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck on February 27. The team will focus on soil and geologic conditions, as well as the performance of engineered structures in the quake.
The completed genome of Naegleria gruberi sheds light on the transition from prokaryotes to eukaryotes, showcasing a single-celled organism with multiple identities. The analysis reveals genes associated with cellular movement and energy production, providing insights into the evolution of eukaryotic organisms.
A new study by University of California, Berkeley biologists found that pesticide atrazine can turn three-quarters of adult male frogs into females, leading to a significant decline in reproduction. The study also showed that the altered sex ratios can have devastating effects on frog populations.
Researchers found that a midday nap significantly improves learning capacity by clearing the brain's short-term memory storage and making room for new information. This finding supports previous data on the negative effects of prolonged wakefulness and all-nighters on cognitive function.
The University of California, Berkeley team's paper published in Science won the 2009 Newcomb Cleveland Prize for outstanding contributions to the field. The award recognizes the first visible-light picture of an extrasolar planet and its potential to change our view of how planets originate.
A new experiment using an atom interferometer has confirmed Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity by measuring the gravitational redshift with unprecedented precision. The result shows that gravity changes the flow of time, a concept fundamental to the theory, and demonstrates the accuracy of Einstein's predictions.
A study by University of California, Berkeley scientists found that California's coastal fog has decreased significantly over the past 100 years, from 56% to 42%, due to a decline in the coast-inland temperature gradient. This change may lead to drought-stress for redwood ecosystems and potentially impact recruitment of new trees.
Researchers at UC Berkeley developed energy-scavenging nanofibers that can harness body movements to power hand-held electronics. The fibers have piezoelectric properties and high efficiency rates, enabling the creation of wearable 'smart clothes' with no perceptible change in comfort for users.
New data provides conclusive evidence that a link between the exploration well and the Lusi mud volcano was the trigger for the 2006 eruption. The scientists found five critical drilling errors that led to the disaster, including pulling the drill string out of an unstable hole without verifying a stable mud column.
Pyrethroids, widely used home pesticides, found in California rivers and sewage treatment outflow, posing threat to fish food supply and aquatic life. Researchers warn of potential toxicity to resident organisms in streams.
A new study from the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that spouses who use 'we-ness' language are better able to resolve conflicts than those who don't. The study found that older couples identified more as 'we' than middle-aged counterparts, suggesting a greater sense of shared identity and teamwork.
A new study by University of California, Berkeley researchers found that women with higher blood levels of PBDEs took longer to become pregnant compared to those with lower levels. The study linked each 10-fold increase in PBDE concentration to a 30% decrease in the odds of becoming pregnant.
The BIOFAB facility aims to produce thousands of standardized DNA parts, shortening the development time and lowering the cost of synthetic biology for academic or biotech laboratories. The project will enable researchers to mix and match genetic parts in synthetic organisms to produce new drugs, fuels, or chemicals.
Researchers found that tides strongly modulate tremors on the San Andreas Fault, suggesting high fluid pressure lubricates the rock. This lubrication allows for slip with little effort, increasing stress on shallower fracture zones.
Researchers at University of California, Berkeley have discovered a new human reproductive hormone called gonadotropin inhibitory hormone (GnIH), which has the opposite effect from gonadotropin releasing hormone. GnIH may lead to the development of novel contraceptives and treatments for cancer or other diseases.
A study led by researchers at the University of Toronto and UC Berkeley found a 9% increase in disability rates among non-institutionalized adults 65 and over between 2000 and 2005. The trend is attributed to increasing obesity rates and lack of preventive services, which could lead to rising costs for Medicare and Medicaid.
The team's analysis reveals a unique hominid skeleton with well-preserved pelvic and foot bones, providing insights into Ardi's locomotion and brain size. The discovery sheds new light on human ancestry, challenging previous assumptions about early human relatives.
Researchers analyzed mammal diversity data from 30 million years ago and 500 years ago, finding a significant loss of species following human arrival in North America. The study suggests humans are causing another mass extinction event, with potential conservation efforts able to stem the tide.