The University of California, Berkeley researchers argue that California can learn from Australia's 'Prepare, stay and defend' strategy, which trains residents to actively defend their homes against wildfires. The policy has been shown to reduce risk and increase survival rates in Australia.
Researchers found that children born in the fall and winter have a higher risk of developing early symptoms of asthma due to exposure to fungal spores and pollen. High concentrations of specific spore groups and total pollen concentration during the first three months of life were linked to an increased risk of early wheezing.
Researchers at University of California, Berkeley and University of Massachusetts Amherst developed a new technique to self-assemble nanoscale elements, enabling densities 15 times higher than previous methods. This approach could lead to improved data storage capacity and energy-efficient applications.
Researchers identify 12 abundant materials with potential to meet global energy demand, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional silicon-based solar cells. The study suggests that these new materials could significantly reduce the cost of solar photovoltaics and accelerate the transition to low-carbon energy.
Scientists have turned a benign adeno-associated virus into a highly infectious form that can effectively deliver a gene to lung cells, potentially curing cystic fibrosis. The new strain was created by forcing evolution to increase infectivity several hundred-fold, overcoming previous limitations in gene therapy.
A new University of California, Berkeley web site called Understanding Science clarifies what science is and how it works, showcasing its creative and unpredictable nature. The site provides a Science Checklist to determine the level of scientific activity in various activities.
A new study by University of California, Berkeley biologists reveals that many common salamander species have plummeted in Central America, contradicting previous attributions to habitat destruction and pesticides. Instead, researchers believe global warming is driving these species to higher elevations where habitats become inhospitable.
Researchers developed a new strategy to identify areas within hotspots where they should focus their time, effort and money. They used multiple species and past climate models to estimate the species' past distributions, pinpointing regions that have been climatically stable and likely to harbor diversity.
Researchers have developed a new method for comparing whole genome sequences, revealing new genetic relationships and surprising discoveries. This technique can compare entire genomes, not just selected genes, and has classified previously enigmatic bacteria and viruses.
A new study by UC Berkeley and Harvard researchers finds that the hottest day of the year has shifted nearly two days earlier, with summer temperatures warming more than winter. The shift is related to changes in atmospheric circulation patterns and may be caused by human activity contributing to climate change.
A new study by UC Berkeley researchers reveals that disabling a key enzyme in fat cells allows mice to overeat without gaining weight. The enzyme, AdPLA, plays a crucial role in regulating fat metabolism and body weight, making it a promising target for obesity treatment.
Two studies by University of California, Berkeley researchers suggest that taking maternity leave before and after birth reduces the risk of C-sections and improves breastfeeding. Women who took longer leave had lower risks of C-sections and higher breastfeeding establishment rates.
Researchers have identified genes controlling snail shell handedness, similar to those used by humans to set up left-right asymmetry. These findings suggest that the same genetic pathway has been responsible for establishing left-right symmetry in animals for 500-650 million years.
Researchers found that low-income children's brains function differently from those of high-income peers, with detectable differences in prefrontal cortex response to visual stimuli. This study provides a direct measure of brain activity and sheds light on the impact of socioeconomic status on brain development.
A University of California, Berkeley study has identified a key enzyme target for indole-3-carbinol, a broccoli compound that slows down rapidly advancing breast cancer cell growth. The research provides a basis for designing more effective anti-cancer drugs and could lead to breakthroughs in treating prostate tumors.
A new simulation by UC Berkeley geophysicist Burkhard Militzer predicts Jupiter's rocky core is 14-18 times Earth's mass, surrounded by layers of metals, rocks, and icy materials. The result challenges previous models and provides a more precise physical description of Jupiter's interior.
A new theory in evolutionary biology proposes that sex promotes genes' ability to perform well with many partners rather than just one specific set of genes. This idea, called genetic mixability, finds that sexual reproduction favors genes that work well across multiple variations.
The discovery reveals the planet's massive size and potential for a vast ring system. The images taken with Hubble Space Telescope provide direct proof of the planet's existence and orbit around star Fomalhaut.
A new study found that vitamin C supplements can lower concentrations of CRP, a central biomarker of inflammation linked to heart disease and diabetes. The study also found no benefit from daily doses of vitamin E.
Researchers found that ants living more than 60 miles inland preferred a 1% salt solution over a sugar solution 10 times more concentrated. This preference was true for plant-eating ants, but not carnivorous ones.
Engineers at UC Berkeley develop a new way to create computer chips by combining metal lenses with excitable electrons to achieve higher resolution detail. The technique could lead to ultra-high density disks holding 10-100 times more data than today.
A US study found that adults in a poverty-alleviation program with a cash component were more likely to be overweight, obese, and have high blood pressure. The researchers suggest that increased income may lead people to purchase unhealthy foods and drinks.
A study by University of California, Berkeley biologists found that small mammal populations in Yosemite National Park have shifted to higher elevations in response to warmer temperatures. The study, which compared data from 1914 and 2014, also revealed changes in community composition due to climate change.
A two-hour observation using Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics (MCAO) system revealed changes in Jupiter's smog-like haze over the past three years, likely due to a planet-wide upheaval. The images show a major alteration in the brightness of the equatorial haze, indicating an increase in haze or its movement to higher altitudes.
A new UC Berkeley study reveals that terror warnings could reduce support for Sen. John McCain among moderate voters. The research suggests the war on terror is a growing concern, but economic issues are a priority.
Dr. Sanjay Kumar, a UC Berkeley bioengineer, has been awarded a $1.5 million NIH New Innovator Award to investigate the role of mechanical forces in human health and disease. His research aims to understand how cells process biophysical cues, which could lead to the development of new chemotherapeutic drugs for brain tumors.
The new adhesive sheds dirt particles with each use, unlike traditional sticky tapes that attract dust. After 30 simulated steps, the adhesive recovered one-third of its original adhesion strength, showing promise for future robot development.
A gamma-ray burst was detected as the brightest optical and infrared event ever recorded, visible to the naked eye from Earth despite its vast distance of 7.5 billion light years. The explosion occurred in a massive star 7.5 billion years ago and sent a pencil-beam of intense light on a direct collision course for Earth.
Researchers propose that Eta Carinae's historic 1843 outburst was a fast blast wave similar to a supernova, but less energetic. This discovery challenges current theories and may indicate supermassive stars undergo periodic explosions before their final supernova.
Researchers from UC Berkeley argue that devastating declines of amphibians worldwide signal a biodiversity disaster. The study highlights the impact of chytridiomycosis, habitat constriction, and pollution on frog populations, contributing to a sixth mass extinction event.
Researchers at UC Berkeley develop breakthrough metamaterials with negative refraction, enabling higher resolution optical imaging and potential applications for nanocircuits and invisibility cloaks. The materials can bend visible and near-infrared light backwards, a crucial step towards practical applications.
Researchers at UC Berkeley and University College London discovered that metallic helium is produced under extreme conditions found at the centers of Jupiter and Saturn, mixing with metal hydrogen to form a liquid metal alloy. This finding challenges previous theories about the energy source powering these planets.
Scientists at UC Berkeley have developed a way to confine light in incredibly small spaces, potentially leading to breakthroughs in optical communications, miniature lasers and optical computing. The technique could give remarkable control over light, allowing for the creation of compact optical transistors.
Britt Glaunsinger's research using herpesvirus aims to understand cellular machinery for RNA stability, with potential implications for human health. The five-year grant supports her work on a mysterious viral protein that evades the immune response.
A new study by conservation biologists from the University of California, Berkeley found that parks with public access have significantly lower populations of native carnivores such as coyotes and bobcats. The researchers believe that human disturbance may be driving these animals away from heavily visited areas.
A new study has identified a molecular alarm system in which intracellular pathogens send signals to kick the immune response into gear. The findings shed light on how cells recognize and destroy pathogenic bugs living within their walls, potentially providing new targets for vaccine and drug research.
A new study finds that nature reserves in Africa and Latin America attract human settlement, with population growth near protected areas being nearly twice that of neighboring rural areas. The researchers attribute this to economic incentives provided through international aid and donor investment, which stimulate local economies.
Researchers use twin STEREO spacecraft to detect neutral atoms and map the energized particles at the edge of the solar system. The findings clear up a discrepancy in energy dumped into space by decelerating solar wind, and provide new insights into the heliosheath and its structure.
A new study by University of California, Berkeley researchers suggests that Mars had liquid water in its atmosphere during the Hesperian epoch, contrary to the dominant view. The analysis of Martian soil data reveals chemical signs of water moving downward through the dirt, indicating a climate with enough moisture for dew or rain.
Climate change could drastically alter California's plant diversity, with many endemic species facing extinction. The researchers project that some plants will migrate northward and toward the coast, while others may disappear from central California due to changing climate conditions.
A newly sequenced lancelet genome confirms a 40-year-old theory that gene duplication drove vertebrate evolution. The study shows that genes quadrupled during the evolution of vertebrates, with most duplicate copies lost.
Researchers identified two key pathways controlling adult stem cells' repair and replacement abilities. By tweaking these pathways, they revived the ability of old mice's muscle tissue to repair itself nearly as well as younger counterparts.
Researchers found that genetic flaws affecting enzyme efficiency can be restored with supplements, offering a personalized approach to health. The study, supported by DARPA, aims to identify variants of enzymes that can be enhanced with vitamin supplementation.
Researchers documented the arms race within viral and host genes, showing viruses shuffling DNA to evade RNA silencers. This study sheds light on constant warfare between viruses and microbes, with economic impacts on industries using microbe cultures.
Astronomers capture high-resolution images of Jupiter's turbulent atmosphere using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the W. M. Keck Observatory. The images reveal increased changes in the planet's atmosphere, including a color change from white to red near the Great Red Spot.
Astronomers captured X-ray outburst from supernova SN 2008D, shedding light on early processes. The explosion was likely from a massive star with retained helium layer, providing valuable information for understanding stellar deaths.
Researchers at UC Berkeley developed a method to image carbohydrates inside living cells using glow-in-the-dark fish. This technique allows study of carbohydrate coating on cell surface, shedding light on stem cell development and disease markers.
Researchers at UC Berkeley developed a system that uses cell phones for medical imaging, reducing costs and increasing accessibility. The system consists of a data acquisition device connected to a central server where the image is processed, making it possible to view images on a cell phone screen.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have improved the argon-argon dating method to provide more precise absolute dates for geologic events, including the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary and dinosaur extinction. The new date is 65.95 million years ago, with an uncertainty of 40,000 years.
A new study led by UC Berkeley researchers reconstructs the Sudden Oak Death epidemic in California, tracing the pathogen's spread from its introduction to its current evolution. The study finds that nurseries played a key role in spreading the disease and that climate and environmental conditions contribute to the pathogen's mortality.