Researchers discovered that H1N1 virus retained the bird version of the polymerase but had an additional mutation that allowed it to function in human cells. This new combination increased the virus's efficiency in human cells and could potentially lead to increased virulence and pathogenicity.
A series of studies published in The Lancet show that cutting greenhouse gases can directly reduce premature deaths and improve global health, particularly in low-income countries. The research highlights the co-benefits of tackling climate change by reducing air pollution and improving public health.
A new study finds climate change could boost the incidence of civil war in sub-Saharan Africa by over 50 percent. Rising temperatures and crop failures may lead to huge potential costs to human livelihoods, with some regions experiencing a 55% increase in conflict likelihood by 2030.
Researchers at UC Berkeley discover that the cytoskeleton plays a critical role in pairing and recombining chromosomes during meiosis. By forming bridges between chromosomes and patches on the nuclear membrane, the cytoskeleton helps ensure homologous chromosome pairing, a crucial step in sex cells' development.
University of California, Berkeley chemists use ultrafast laser pulses to study green fluorescent protein's structural changes during fluorescence. The study reveals the importance of vibrational oscillations in proton transfer reactions, shedding light on how GFP captures and emits light.
Astronomers have discovered a possible new type of supernova that occurs when helium flows onto a white dwarf, causing a thermonuclear explosion. The object, dubbed SN 2002bj, is characterized by its rapid rise and fall and strong helium signature.
A new study reveals that two recently named dinosaurs may actually be juvenile or subadults of already known taxa, wiping out a third of named species. The research analyzed three dome-headed dinosaurs and found that their bizarre head ornaments changed dramatically with age and sexual maturity.
Scientists successfully recreated chemicals that trigger aggressive behavior in Argentine ants, revealing insights into the insects' social behavior and potential methods for controlling their populations. The findings have implications for understanding the invasive species' success in non-native regions.
Researchers argue that short- and medium-lived pollutants like soot, ozone, and methane contribute significantly to near-term climate change. Experts recommend adopting aggressive reduction targets for these pollutants and establishing a new treaty framework.
A team of scientists identified an error in climate treaty accounting rules for bioenergy that could encourage deforestation. The error stems from exempting carbon dioxide from bioenergy use without counting land-use emissions, creating perverse incentives to clear land.
The National Science Foundation has authorized $29.1 million for the preliminary design of DUSEL, a deep underground science and engineering laboratory in South Dakota. The facility will house experiments in physics, engineering, geoscience, and biology, shielded from cosmic rays and accessible to unique geological areas.
New research from the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Southern California found a direct link between supervisors' self-perceived incompetence and aggression. The study challenges previous assumptions that abusive bosses are solely driven by ambition.
Researchers created the first self-sustaining meander in a laboratory using alfalfa sprouts to represent vegetated stream banks. They found that vegetation on the outer bank is crucial for slowing down erosion and allowing bars to grow on the inner bank.
The 4.4 million-year-old skeleton of Ardipithecus ramidus challenges previous understanding of early human evolution, showing the earliest hominids were bipedal but not as agile in trees as chimpanzees. The discovery also suggests a more amicable relationship among males, with potential for pair-bonded couples and shared food gathering.
Researchers identified critical biochemical pathways linked to human muscle aging, revealing that old human muscle stem cells can be restored to youthful vigor with the right mix of biochemical signals. The study provides promising new targets for preventing muscle atrophy and other tissue degenerative disorders.
Postmenopausal women can improve cardiovascular fitness and reduce risk factors for chronic diseases through regular, vigorous exercise. Studies show that even less strenuous aerobic exercise produces benefits, and women's metabolism changes after menopause affect glucose clearance from the blood.
Researchers used photoswitches to target enigmatic nerve cells in zebrafish, finding they trigger burst swimming and lower threshold for reflex movement. The discovery could have implications for human neurological disorders.
A study led by biologists at UC Berkeley found that 48 out of 53 bird species in California's Sierra Nevada mountains have adjusted their ranges in response to climate change, with some moving towards warmer temperatures and others preferring wetter conditions. The researchers used data from a survey of 82 sites and compared past and p...
Researchers suggest engineering attenuated pathogens to mimic live viruses, inducing potent cellular response. The study identifies key immune patterns that distinguish pathogenic from non-pathogenic microbes.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have created the world's smallest semiconductor laser, generating visible light in a space smaller than a single protein molecule. The breakthrough enables innovations like nanolasers for DNA manipulation, faster telecommunications, and optical computing.
Scientists have captured nanoscale movements of ribosomes, revealing a complex four-step ratcheting mechanism that interacts with mRNA and tRNA. This breakthrough could lead to more effective antibiotics and new treatments against devastating diseases like hepatitis C.
A new study estimates that sub-Saharan Africa will only have one-third of the needed healthcare workers by 2015, with a shortage of 240,000 doctors and 551,000 nurses and midwives. The cost of scaling up the health system is projected to be $19 billion per year.
Researchers using optical tweezers directly observed protein machines encountering nucleosomes, leading to halting and backsliding movements. This study provides a detailed insight into the regulation of gene expression through dynamic interactions between proteins and DNA.
Researchers developed a cell phone microscope, CellScope, that captures color images of malaria parasites and tuberculosis bacteria labeled with fluorescent markers. The system uses compact microscope lenses attached to a cell phone and achieves a spatial resolution of 1.2 micrometers, comparable to standard light microscopes.
A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that California's horned lizard diverged into at least three new species when it moved north from Baja California. The findings provide clarity for conservation actions to follow, highlighting the importance of integrating genetic, anatomical and ecological in...
Astronomers observe Jupiter's new scar, a dark bruise about the size of the Pacific Ocean. The impact is believed to have been caused by a comet or asteroid, with reflective particles propelled high into the stratosphere.
Researchers at UC Berkeley discovered that the brain can develop a mental map of a solution to achieve motor tasks with high proficiency, similar to how drivers stick to a given route. The study showed that the brain creates a stable neural pattern that adheres without deviation, enabling control of artificial limbs with intuitive ease.
Researchers discovered a drug that blocks transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) receptors can prevent brain changes associated with epilepsy in rats. This treatment halts hyper-excitability and prevents gene expression changes, offering hope for preventing epilepsy in humans after severe brain injury.
Researchers found that low scores on a memory recall test and low glucose metabolism in brain regions can predict a 15-fold greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The study used cognitive tests and brain scans to identify early warning signs of the debilitating disease.
A new theory derived from information theory provides more accurate estimates of species richness in habitats of all sizes, from deserts to tropical rainforests. The method scales up from small plots to biomes and predicts that the number of new species found approaches zero as the area increases.
A new study by UC Berkeley researchers found that increased tremors along the San Andreas Fault near Parkfield, Calif., may indicate a build-up of stress and an increased likelihood of a major quake. The tremors have continued to this day at a rate significantly higher than before two nearby earthquakes in 2003 and 2004.
Researchers found that levels of paraoxonase 1 enzyme activity remained low in some individuals through age 7, contradicting the assumption that children approach adult levels by age 2. The study recommends re-evaluating EPA standards for acceptable pesticide exposure levels.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have found a critical piece in the puzzle about how stress causes sexual dysfunction and infertility. Stress hormones, such as glucocorticoids like cortisol, inhibit the body's main sex hormone GnRH, while also increasing another hormone GnIH, which directly inhibits GnRH.
Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have created tunable semiconductors using bilayer graphene, which can change its bandgap and Fermi energy with an applied electric field. This breakthrough enables the creation of reconfigurable electronic devices, potentially holding millions of differently tuned devices.
UC Berkeley researchers have found that Betelgeuse, the bright reddish star in the constellation Orion, has steadily shrunk over the past 15 years. The star's diameter has decreased by more than 15% since 1993, a change that is striking to observe.
Most 'dark' gamma-ray bursts are found to be similar to normal bursts with an afterglow, but with nearly all visible light obscured by patchy dust. This suggests that gamma-ray bursts may help track star formation and death in distant galaxies.
A 700,000-year-old fossil bone bed in California has been found to be a record of normal life and death, rather than a catastrophic event. The bone bed, which features shark teeth and seal bones, was formed under unusual climatic conditions that kept sediment at bay.
A rare radio supernova has been detected in the nearby galaxy M82, providing valuable opportunities for studying star formation and supernovas. The discovery was made using the Allen Telescope Array, which will also search for intelligent life signals around other stars.
Researchers analyzed 22 trials of web- and computer-based smoking cessation programs, finding a significant improvement in success rates compared to quitting alone. The studies involved nearly 30,000 participants and showed that these programs can be an effective, cost-effective way to help smokers overcome tobacco dependence.
Researchers discovered that sweltering summers in the southeastern US can lead to a cooling haze due to the mixing of manmade pollutants with natural compounds from forests and vegetation. This effect was found to be significant enough to outpace carbon dioxide emissions' warming effects by 2-to-1.
The Cosmic Origins Spectrograph will explore the 'cosmic web', a rarefied network of hot gas lanes connecting galaxies, and map the structure of the universe. Astronomers hope to detail the evolution of the large-scale structure and understand how galaxies formed.
A panel of experts reviewed studies on the link between DDT and human health, expressing concern over high levels of exposure in regions where malaria is endemic. They called for increased efforts to reduce exposure and develop alternatives to using DDT.
A new evolutionary study of the X chromosome shows that it plays an active role in sex chromosome differentiation. The researchers found that the X chromosome undergoes periods of intense adaptation as it compensates for the degeneration of the Y chromosome, which has lost many genes since it stopped recombining with the X. This findin...
A new study reveals that climate change will bring about major shifts in worldwide fire patterns, with some regions experiencing large increases in fire activity and others decreasing. The research uses thermal-infrared sensor data to identify hotspots of fire invasion forming in parts of the western US and the Tibetan plateau.
Researchers developed a computer program that replicates complex seashell patterns using simple principles from brain function. The 'neural net' model shows how mollusks sense and build their shells based on previous layers, much like the human brain projects memories.
Researchers at UC Berkeley discovered a gene, DNA-PK, that plays a critical regulatory role in converting dietary carbohydrates to fat. The study found that disabling this gene in mice resulted in lower levels of body fat despite a high-carb diet.
The newly-laid MARS cable enables the use of MOBB's broadband seismometer data in real-time with other land-based stations to determine earthquake locations and mechanisms. This improvement aims to enhance understanding of the San Andreas fault system and provide early warnings for ground shaking.
A nationwide study found that long-term exposure to ground-level ozone is associated with a 25-30% greater annual risk of dying from respiratory diseases. The study followed nearly 450,000 people for two decades and covered 96 metropolitan regions in the US.
Studies show that male hummingbirds with long tails experience only a minimal cost in speed or energy, with a 3.4% drop in maximum flight speed. The researchers argue that the benefits of attracting females outweigh the costs of having long tail feathers.
Scientists have created synthetic microtissues that can perform functions like secreting hormones and responding to stimuli, surpassing individual cell capabilities. The technique uses DNA hybridization as a programmable glue to link cells together in 3D arrangements.