A study by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, found that warmer temperatures increase the likelihood of capturing infected mosquitoes in Los Angeles neighborhoods. Sustained warm temperatures over weeks allow mosquitoes to acquire and spread the infection.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have obtained the first 3D structure of a base editor, a promising DNA manipulation tool that can precisely replace one nucleotide with another. This discovery could lead to more versatile and controllable base editors for use in patients, addressing 60% of known genetic diseases.
Researchers at UC Berkeley developed a new method to capture carbon dioxide from power plant flue emissions using tetraamine-modified MOFs. The technique showed a six times greater capacity for removing CO2 than current technology and was highly selective, capturing over 90% of the emitted CO2.
Researchers found that some desert mosses in the Mojave Desert grow under translucent quartz pebbles, using them as natural sunshades to retain moisture and reduce heat. This unique adaptation allows these mosses to thrive in extremely dry conditions.
Research at UC Berkeley reveals pesticides can boost schistosome parasite transmission by affecting snail survival, aquatic predators and algae composition. This increases disease burden in areas with high agricultural agrochemical use, posing a significant threat to public health.
Researchers have discovered a compact Cas protein, CasΦ, in megaphages, which could make gene editing easier and more efficient. This protein targets specific regions of DNA with high accuracy and can cut both single-stranded and double-stranded DNA, making it a promising tool for crop improvement and disease treatment.
New research reveals that indigenous Tsimane' people, American adults, preschoolers, and macaque monkeys exhibit similar recursion skills, indicating a shared cognitive process for conveying complex commands and ideas.
Astronomers have discovered 25 debris disks around young stars, revealing evidence of planets in nearly all cases. The high-resolution images were obtained using the Gemini Planet Imager and show a variety of shapes and sizes of stellar systems during their prime planet-forming years.
The COVID-19 pandemic is jeopardizing access to outdoor environmental and science education for millions of K-12 students, with potentially catastrophic consequences. The loss of these programs will disproportionately affect historically marginalized groups, exacerbating existing disparities in education.
A new study suggests that plasma exchange can rejuvenate tissues and reverse signs of aging in mice by diluting old blood plasma. The technique shows promise for improving health in older people and treating age-associated diseases. Researchers are now finalizing clinical trials to explore its potential in humans.
A recent study from University of California, Berkeley reveals that disrupted nightly sleep leads to chronic inflammation, which is linked to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. The findings suggest that poor sleep quality can be an important risk factor for heart health, highlighting the need for improved sleep hygiene.
A study of nearly 3 million California births found that living near active oil and gas wells may increase the risk of low birth weight babies, with rural residents being more affected. The study also found a slightly increased risk of small for gestational age babies in urban areas.
A study of nearly 9.6 million Kaiser Permanente patients reveals long hospital stays and high ICU admission rates for US COVID-19 patients, contradicting forecasts based on Chinese data. Social distancing measures have successfully reduced transmission intensity, but relaxed measures may lead to disease resurgence.
A new model predicts the most common type of cloud on hot Jupiters, which should consist of liquid or solid silicate droplets. The study also finds that clouds can block observations of gases beneath them, hindering research on exoplanet formation and life.
A new study of Google search data found that residents in states with limited access to contraceptives and high rates of unplanned pregnancies are more likely to seek out family planning information online. Researchers also discovered that policies restricting abortion access, such as the Title X gag rule, lead people to search for abo...
UC Berkeley researchers develop a new catalyst to add functional groups to the strongest carbon-hydrogen bonds, opening doors to novel molecule synthesis. The breakthrough could lead to rapid production of complex structures for drugs, plastics, and other chemicals.
A study led by University of California, Berkeley researchers suggests that effectively reducing encounters between domestic prey and wild predators requires knowing the principles governing ecological interactions among these players and their surrounding landscape. By considering the ecology of how predators hunt, how their prey beha...
Researchers studied geckos' unique toe mechanism, which allows them to adjust and distribute weight on various surfaces. This adaptation enables agile locomotion and is crucial for designing effective robot feet and grippers.
The pneumococcal conjugate and rotavirus vaccines significantly reduce acute respiratory infections and diarrhea among small children, resulting in fewer cases of antibiotic treatment. These vaccines have the potential to prevent millions of episodes of antibiotic-treated illness if universally adopted.
The report highlights eight urgent recommendations for reducing COVID-19 impact on urban poor, prioritizing community leadership and access to healthcare. Governments should provide basic needs like water, sanitation, and moratoriums on evictions to help vulnerable populations.
A multi-site study found that online and blended instruction produced similar learning outcomes to traditional in-person classes, with students scoring higher on course assignments but reporting slightly lower satisfaction. The study also showed significant cost savings, with blended instruction lowering costs by 15-19% and fully onlin...
Researchers found a gene influencing structural color in butterflies, which produces intricate nanostructures with optical properties. The study also reveals that most butterfly patterns have a mix of pigment color and structural color, with the latter having a stronger impact on wing color.
Researchers have developed a biohybrid system that uses bacteria on nanowires to convert carbon dioxide and water into organic building blocks. The system has achieved a record efficiency of 3.6% in converting solar energy into carbon bonds, making it comparable to sugar cane's 4-5% efficiency.
Land animal die-offs began hundreds of thousands of years before marine extinction, with terrestrial vertebrate species declining by up to 70%, while marine extinctions may have occurred over tens of thousands of years. The study suggests a lag between land and sea extinctions, potentially due to different causes.
A reanalysis of a global amphibian disease study found the main conclusions lack evidence and are unreproducible. The research review previously linked the chytrid fungus to hundreds of amphibian declines, but the new analysis identified data deficiencies and methodological issues.
Researchers have developed a high-speed microscope that can image the brain of an alert mouse 1,000 times a second, capturing millisecond electrical pulses through neurons. This technique allows neuroscientists to track sub-threshold inputs and identify transmission problems associated with disease.
Scientists have developed a new technique that can rapidly print two-dimensional arrays of cells and proteins mimicking various cellular environments. This method harnesses photolithography and programmable DNA, allowing for high-throughput study of cell interactions contributing to tissue function.
A new study led by UC Berkeley researchers found that San Francisco women firefighters are exposed to higher levels of toxic PFAS chemicals than office workers. The study aims to document the risks faced by women firefighters and ensure they receive necessary protections for cancer prevention and compensation.
Researchers found that a mere four glial cells in the worm's brain control the stress response in cells throughout its body, increasing lifespan by 75%. This discovery suggests that brain cells may play a crucial role in protecting muscles from wasting away, and potentially lead to new treatments for muscle atrophy and obesity.
A study by Stanford and UC Berkeley researchers found that algorithms are significantly more accurate than humans in predicting recidivism, approaching 90% accuracy. In contrast, human prediction rates were around 60%. The findings have important implications for criminal justice reform and the use of risk-assessment tools.
The Breakthrough Listen Initiative has released nearly 2 petabytes of data from the most comprehensive survey yet of radio emissions from the Milky Way Galaxy and its central black hole. A new analysis of nearby stars that could see Earth transiting the sun was conducted, but no technosignatures were found.
Researchers identified 351 large phages carrying bacterial genes, including CRISPR and ribosomal proteins, which blur the line between life and non-life. These enormous phages use these genes against their bacterial hosts and have the potential to provide new tools for genome engineering.
Researchers found that bats' unique immune response drives viruses to replicate faster, making them deadlier in humans. The study suggests that disrupting bat habitats could increase the threat of zoonosis.
Scientists at UC Berkeley have identified a molecular 'switch' that controls chronic inflammation, which can contribute to devastating diseases. Removing a small bit of molecular matter through deacetylation switches off the immune machinery, potentially reversing age-related conditions.
A new study challenges the narrative around Cahokia's demise by revealing a complex series of migrations, warfare, and ecological changes in the 1500s and 1600s. Fecal stanols derived from human waste preserved deep in the sediment under Horseshoe Lake provided crucial evidence for a Native American presence in the region.
Researchers created a blue light-emitting diode from halide perovskites, but discovered the materials are inherently unstable due to their weaker ionic bonds. The crystal structure changes with temperature, humidity, and chemical environment, affecting optical and electronic properties.
A study of over 2,500 people in the US and China identified 13 universal emotional responses to music, including amusement, joy, and relaxation. The research provides a framework for understanding how music evokes emotions across cultures and has potential applications in psychology, therapy, and music streaming services.
Researchers at UC Berkeley discovered that heat energy can be transferred across a few hundred nanometers of empty space through the Casimir interaction, a quantum mechanical phenomenon. This finding could have profound implications for designing microelectronic components where heat dissipation is key.
A new study by University of California, Berkeley, identified a core microbiome in commercial tomatoes that is robust and stable. The researchers used experimental evolution to select for microbes that best survived on the plants, resulting in a healthy plant microbiome.
Researchers have discovered that drugs targeting brain inflammation can reverse cognitive decline in aged mice by reducing the 'fog' of inflammatory load. This breakthrough offers a potential new treatment for dementia and age-related diseases, with two biomarkers identified to flag people with blood-brain barrier problems.
The Parker Solar Probe has mapped the source of the slow solar wind to coronal holes on the sun's surface, which are cooler and less dense than surrounding corona. The probe also detected switchbacks in the magnetic field that may accelerate particles toward Earth, posing potential damage to electrical grids and orbiting satellites.
Researchers have discovered how the sorghum plant exercises exquisite control over its genome to survive harsh conditions. The study reveals that the plant modulates the expression of tens of thousands of genes in response to drought stress, with changes occurring within a week of water scarcity.
Researchers used fiber-optic cables to create a seismic network that can detect earthquakes and map fault zones. The technique, known as Distributed Acoustic Sensing, uses laser light to measure strain in the cable, providing detailed images of the ocean floor.
Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley have found evidence that light-sensitive cells in the developing retina are networked and play a more significant role in brain development than previously thought. The discovery suggests that these cells may enhance the influence of light on behavior and brain development.
A recent study led by the University of California, Berkeley found that South African teen girls who experience depression are more likely to contract HIV. The study suggests addressing mental health needs among adolescent girls may help reduce the spread of the disease.
A new study published in Nature Human Behaviour found that deep sleep can calm the anxious brain by reorganizing connections. Participants who got more nighttime deep sleep experienced lower anxiety levels the next day, suggesting a strong causal connection between sleep and anxiety.
A new study from UC Berkeley and Yale University found that Hindu children are more likely to associate their faith with their national identity than Muslim peers. The research suggests that these associations can predict support for policies favoring Hindus over Muslims.
Scientists have identified genes associated with a common depression symptom: lack of motivation. This finding could lead to new diagnostic methods and targeted treatments for depression. The study uses mouse models to understand brain changes related to specific symptoms.
A new study from UC Berkeley and Chicago Booth reveals significant racial bias in software programs that determine access to high-risk healthcare management programs. Fixing this bias could more than double the number of black patients automatically admitted to these programs.
Researchers genetically engineered fruit flies to mimic the monarch butterfly's ability to eat milkweed without dying. The flies store toxins in their bodies and retain them through metamorphosis, making animals that eat them likely to vomit.