Physicists at UC Berkeley have successfully produced a quantum whistle in superfluid helium-4 using an array of tiny holes. The whistle is achieved at a temperature of 2 Kelvin, making the sensors user-friendly for scientists unfamiliar with cryogenic technology.
Researchers propose that whales and hippos share a common water-loving ancestor 50-60 million years ago, which evolved into two distinct groups. The study reconciles the fossil record with molecular evidence, providing a new understanding of whale evolution.
Researchers have found evidence of coastal subsidence preceding major subduction zone quakes, potentially providing a warning system for tsunami alerts. The study suggests that areas along subduction zones should monitor subsidence to predict potential earthquakes and tsunamis.
Researchers found that hummingbirds' lifting ability declines with altitude, leaving less reserve power for quick bursts of flight. The study also revealed a clear correlation between power margin and elevation, with birds dominating territories at lower elevations.
A partnership between OneWorld Health, University of California - Berkeley, and Amyris Biotechnologies aims to produce an inexpensive antimalarial drug using synthetic biology. The goal is to reduce the cost of treatment to under $1 per adult course, making it more accessible to millions in developing countries.
Researchers detected continuous tremors near Cholame, 15 miles southeast of Parkfield, which are similar to those discovered in Japan and the Pacific Northwest. The tremors, which last more than four minutes each, may be precursory to earthquakes, potentially leading to earthquake forecasting and prediction.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have created a device that allows brain cells to respond to light, enabling the potential treatment of retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. The breakthrough involves genetically engineering nerve cells to be sensitive to light using ion channels made light-sensitive.
A new study found a strong link between low fish supply in Ghana and increased bushmeat hunting, leading to dramatic declines in terrestrial wildlife abundance. The research suggests that subsidized foreign fleets from the European Union are exacerbating the problem.
Recent Keck Telescope images of Uranus reveal an inner ring and high-altitude clouds with vigorous convection, indicating the planet is not static. The findings contradict previous assumptions about Uranus being a dull and unchanging planet.
The new center will merge nanotubes with organic molecules to create sensors or nanomachines small enough to fit on a virus. Researchers will design and assemble building blocks to develop new devices and systems.
A new analysis has found a link between breastfeeding and lower risks of both acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) in children. The study suggests that even short-term breastfeeding may be protective, particularly during the first few months.
The Huygens probe will encounter a mysterious surface of seven-kilometer-high ice mountains and liquid methane seas. Scientists expect the Cassini spacecraft to improve the current sketchy picture of Titan's surface.
A study of megafauna extinctions during the late Pleistocene reveals that both climate change and human activities played significant roles in driving species to extinction. The research, published in Science, suggests that humans and climate change were a one-two punch that led to the loss of many large mammal species.
A genetically engineered listeria bacteria-based vaccine has shown promising results in targeting metastatic cancer cells, inducing a strong innate and acquired immune response. The vaccine, aiming to target pancreatic and ovarian cancers, could potentially be used to prevent recurrence after surgery and chemotherapy.
Scientists have successfully slowed down the group velocity of light in semiconductors, achieving speeds of about 6 miles per second. This breakthrough could lead to faster optical networks and higher performance communications, enabling applications like 3-D graphics transmission and high-resolution video conferencing.
The study reveals that a gene called phytochrome-interacting factor 1 (PIF1) regulates the production of protochlorophyll, a precursor to chlorophyll. Plants with mutated PIF1 genes accumulate too much protochlorophyll, leading to photo-oxidative stress and bleaching on leaves.
Researchers from University of California, Berkeley, and other institutions will study the mechanical and neurological basis of locomotion using RHex, a short six-legged robot. The team aims to uncover the neural and muscular control and feedback loops that lead to similar patterns of movement in animals
The European common frog has a complex breeding strategy where males engage in clutch piracy, fertilizing eggs left unfertilized after the initial encounter. This behavior leads to a greater percentage of fertilized eggs and clutches with multiple fathers.
A study by Rachel Mueller and David Wake rewrites the evolutionary history of salamanders, finding inconsistencies with accepted classifications. The research suggests that some terrestrial salamanders regained their larval stage after moving back to water, contradicting previous assumptions.
Researchers use a novel chemical reaction in living mice to tag cells and attach tracer molecules to sugars on cell surfaces. This technique could help doctors pinpoint inflamed or cancerous cells for diagnosis. The method allows for the exploration of biosynthetic pathways and the examination of functional consequences.
The Cluster mission has found a new way for charged particles from the solar wind to enter Earth's magnetosphere, using giant vortices called non-linear Kelvin-Helmholtz waves. These vortices can carry particles inside the magnetosphere, potentially explaining the presence of hot plasma stored in the tail of Earth's magnetic field.
A new study reveals that cowbird chicks survive and even grow faster when raised in noisy nests with host siblings, rather than alone. By joining their nestmates in a chirping chorus, the cowbirds are able to monopolize food attempts from parents and reap the benefits of shared parental care.
The Imager of Sprites and Upper Atmospheric Lightning (ISUAL) instrument has captured unique images of sprites, jets, and elves in the upper atmosphere. The images show red sprites, blue jets, and elves, which are caused by lightning discharges into the upper atmosphere and ionosphere.
The nematode C. elegans prefers 6% oxygen, which helps it survive in environments with low oxygen. The worm's oxygen sensors are similar to those used by humans and other animals to detect nitric oxide.
Zinc sulfide nanoparticles with a disordered crystal structure exhibit increased stiffness due to constant strain, potentially impacting other properties such as strength and elasticity. The researchers' findings emphasize the importance of considering the entire particle, rather than just its bulk structure.
A study by UC Berkeley neuroscientists found that fruit flies have taste receptors similar to humans, with four types devoted to sweet and bitter flavors. The researchers mapped the taste receptor nerve cells into the brain, revealing a map both of location and type of taste.
Researchers used high-resolution interferometric synthetic aperture radar to analyze data collected between 1992 and 2001 from European Remote Sensing satellites. They found that sliding rates increased by up to 30% during heavy rains, which may be controlled by elevated water pressures in the ground subsurface.
Astronomers searched for sun-like stars exhibiting Maunder minimums, but most are not like the sun. Nearly all stars identified as Maunder minima are actually much brighter and different from the sun.
A study by UC Berkeley post-doctoral fellow Vance T. Vredenburg shows that non-native trout have devastated native frog populations in high-Sierra lakes, but removing fish allows the frogs to flourish. The mountain yellow-legged frog has declined dramatically due to introduced trout, with only 5,000 adults remaining in its range.
A study found that 28% of Central Valley sediment samples are toxic to amphipods and midge larvae due to pyrethroids. The pesticides were present in 68% of these sediments, posing a risk to freshwater organisms.
Researchers developed a novel method to pinpoint rapidly evolving genes in pathogens, revealing potential drug targets for tuberculosis and malaria. The technique analyzes genome sequences to identify genes under selective pressure, allowing for the discovery of previously unknown genes.
Researchers predict a 10-degree Celsius shift in Jupiter's average temperature as atmospheric whirlpools vanish, causing jet streams to become unstable. This will spawn new vortices and signal the end of Jupiter's current 70-year climate cycle.
Researchers recorded mantis shrimp's club-shaped front leg striking prey at peak speeds of 23 meters per second, generating forces over 100 times the shrimp's body weight. The unique saddle-shaped structure acts as a spring, storing energy until release propels the strike.
A new study by UC Berkeley finds that renewable energy generates more jobs per megawatt installed than the fossil fuel-based sector, with potential benefits for all states. Investing in renewables could create up to 240,000 new jobs by 2020, while reducing trade deficits and reestablishing US leadership in energy technology.
A team of scientists led by UC Berkeley's Richard Mathies is developing the Mars Organic Analyzer to test for amino acid handedness, a crucial characteristic of life-based amino acids. The instrument aims to provide absolute proof of life on Mars, as detecting left-handed or right-handed amino acids could indicate biological activity.
A recent UC Berkeley-led study found that vitamin C supplements can decrease levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) by 24% in healthy adults. CRP is a biomarker of inflammation linked to chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.
A study by UC Berkeley researchers found that even brief contact with wood or leaf litter increases the risk of tick exposure. Precautions such as avoiding prolonged contact and inspecting skin carefully are recommended for people frequenting endemic areas.
Astronomers successfully measured the size of Sagittarius A*, the mysterious object at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, using the National Science Foundation's Very Long Baseline Array radio telescope. The black hole has a mass nearly four million times that of the Sun and would fit easily inside Earth's orbit.
Researchers found evidence of Heterobasidion annosum pathogen originating from eastern North America, likely hitching a ride in untreated lumber from infected trees. The pathogen has since established itself in the Presidential Estate of Castelporziano, killing large swaths of stone pine trees.
Researchers successfully demonstrated precise control over molecular electronic properties using a scanning tunneling microscope. They added up to seven potassium atoms to a single buckyball molecule, altering its electrical properties.
The Berkeley Lower Extremity Exoskeleton (BLEEX) is a wearable device that enhances human strength and endurance. The system combines a human control system with robotic muscle, allowing the wearer to walk, squat, and bend without reduced agility.
The new 'Understanding Evolution' Web site offers a one-stop-shop for science teachers, providing practical examples and strategies for teaching evolution. The site features Evolution 101, a primer on evolutionary theory, as well as discussions on the nature of science and the history of evolutionary thought.
Astronomers have discovered the nearest and youngest star with a visible disk of dust that may be a nursery for planets. The dim red dwarf star AU Mic is about half the mass of the sun but only 12 million years old, and its dusty debris disk stretches around 210 astronomical units from the central star.
Researchers have taken advantage of a newly mounted laser guide star system at UC's Lick Observatory to obtain sharp, twinkle-free images of the faint dusty disks of distant massive stars. The images show that these stars form in the same way as solar-type stars inside a swirling spherical cloud.
A study published in Conservation Biology found that climate change is consistently correlated with extinction among desert bighorn sheep. The researchers identified higher temperatures and decreased precipitation as key factors contributing to the decline of these populations, which are already living on a knife's edge.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have sequenced the genomes of the most abundant members of a community of organisms in an abandoned mine, revealing four previously unknown genomes. This breakthrough in environmental genomics opens up new avenues for understanding microbial interactions and has significant implications for addressing acid mi...
Elves automates X-ray crystallography process, decreasing time to 19 minutes from days or weeks, increasing efficiency of beamlines. The software uses X-ray diffraction data to produce a 3-D layout of proteins, crucial for understanding their function and designing drugs.
A new study by University of California, Berkeley biologist Rosemary Gillespie found that Hawaiian spiders diversified to fill a wide range of habitats on the Hawaiian Islands. The research suggests that evolution plays a key role in shaping communities on these islands, similar to mainland processes.
Researchers found a periodic increase in slip rate every three years along the northern half of the central San Andreas Fault, indicating a higher probability of moderate to large quakes. This cycle is characterized by an upswing of microquakes, followed by moderate to large earthquakes six to seven times more likely to occur.
Scientists at UC Berkeley and Stanford developed a working, integrated silicon circuit that incorporates carbon nanotubes. The breakthrough allows for the creation of high-performance memory chips capable of storing orders of magnitude more data than current silicon chips.