A new UCLA-led study finds that concrete's natural absorption of carbon dioxide is too slow and small to meaningfully offset the emissions released when cement is made. Researchers argue that the industry should prioritize active technological measures to reduce emissions, including reducing cement use and adopting alternative fuels.
UCLA has received a $9 million NSF award to develop an Interactive Discovery Laboratory (iDLab), a platform that will make advanced computing and data accessible to researchers, educators, and students across several universities. iDLab aims to simplify the current complex procedure of accessing high-powered computing and data, providi...
A new study by UCLA researchers found that most deaths in the LA County Jail occur after a person has been in jail for several weeks. Chronic conditions such as heart disease are also a significant cause of mortality, with effective interventions available to prevent death.
A new study by UCLA ornithologists found that female birds have a 12.4% lower adult survival rate than males in 35 species. Females lived an average of 1.36 years after reaching adulthood, while males lived 1.61 years.
Researchers at UCLA found a statistically significant relationship between cellphone ownership and lower reading scores in third and sixth graders. Children who owned cellphones had poorer comprehension regardless of whether they brought the phone to school or not.
Researchers demonstrate phonon focusing at room temperature in boron arsenide, a material with high thermal conductivity. This discovery could improve thermal management in electronics and enable advances in quantum computing technologies.
Researchers at UCLA have demonstrated a way to integrate terahertz functions onto a single chip using quantum well structures, paving the way for compact and scalable systems. This breakthrough could enable practical and widespread use of terahertz technology in applications such as ultrafast wireless communication, security screening,...
A team of researchers has developed a new chemical approach that converts a mixture of the three most common plastics directly into high-purity hydrogen fuel at temperatures far below conventional gasification. The process locks carbon dioxide away as a solid mineral without releasing the greenhouse gas into the atmosphere.
A study published in Nature reveals that a Neanderthal population around 45,000 years ago in Belgium and France was genetically healthy and well-connected, with no signs of inbreeding or pressure from modern humans. Despite being large and well-connected, the population eventually vanished around 2,000 years later.
Researchers found that forest fires now burn ten times more acreage annually than in 1985, with severe fires causing widespread tree death. The study attributed the changes to an increasingly warm and arid environment, as well as high fuel density in forests.
Research at UCLA finds that childhood abuse and neglect alter cellular energy production, affecting physical and mental health. Mitochondria in cells produce more energy in response to stress, but this can lead to maladaptive effects over time.
A UCLA-led team discovered that synchronized electron movement can trigger electrical signals more than 100 times larger than conventional electronic materials. This breakthrough could lead to smaller, more energy-efficient devices using a quantum-like collective state of matter called charge-density-wave.
Researchers at UCLA may have discovered a new way to heal damaged kidneys by blocking the protein ENPP1. Blocking this protein speeds up repair after kidney injury in mice, according to a recent study published in Cell Stem Cell.
A new study on white-faced capuchin monkeys found that larger groups consume fruit at slower rates, especially during extreme climatic conditions. The monkeys expand their home range to access more foraging options and less-depleted food patches, offsetting the costs of internal competition.
Indigenous people of the Andes have a genetic adaptation that allows them to digest starch more effectively due to their history of potato cultivation. Those with higher numbers of salivary amylase genes had an evolutionary advantage, resulting in an average of 10 copies of the gene in modern-day Peruvian Andeans.
Researchers found that dopamine signaling at event boundaries can distort time perception, making memories of distinct events feel more separate. This process allows the brain to construct a more organized format for memory retrieval.
Researchers have developed a new method to build programmable artificial organelles inside living cells using RNA, enabling customization of cellular compartments and tunable properties. This approach may lead to specialized biological functions for nanomedicine and gene engineering.
A UCLA-led study reveals that airborne desert dust traps about twice as much heat as previously estimated, leading to improved climate and weather models. This increase in precision will help forecasters predict regional temperature shifts, rainfall patterns, and atmospheric motions.
Researchers discovered that the river flowed into an upstream lake before flowing into the Grand Canyon, marking its transition to a continental-scale river. The study provides new insights into the formation of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River's path.
Researchers have discovered a new reactivity mode for phosphorus that mimics a mode performed by precious metal catalysts. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and cost-effective methods for creating complex nitrogen-containing compounds in the pharmaceutical industry.
Astronomers at UCLA and UCSD have discovered hydrogen sulfide in the atmospheres of four distant gas giant planets orbiting HR 8799, confirming their planetary status. The detection uses a new data analysis technique that will improve the search for life on other planets.
A new study by UCLA anthropology professor Molly Fox found that pregnancy and breastfeeding are associated with stronger long-term cognitive ability in postmenopausal women. The study used data from the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study and the Women’s Health Initiative Study of Cognitive Aging, which assessed over 7,000 women age...
Researchers at UCLA have developed cage-shaped, double-bonded molecules called cubene and quadricyclene that defy expectations by breaking the traditional rules of organic chemistry. The discovery has potential applications in drug development, enabling the creation of more complex 3D structures for new medicines.
A UCLA-led research team has discovered a new metallic material that conducts heat nearly three times more efficiently than copper, opening up new pathways for cooling electronics and AI hardware. The material, theta-phase tantalum nitride, boasts an ultrahigh thermal conductivity of approximately 1,100 W/mK.
Researchers developed a tool to predict when deadly salmonella outbreaks are likely to happen in wild songbird populations, allowing people to protect their feathered friends. The system is based on climate patterns, tree cone production, and avian migrations.
An international team of astrophysicists observed four baby planets in the V1298 Tau system forming into super-Earths and sub-Neptunes. The planets' low densities, comparable to Styrofoam, were measured for the first time, providing observational proof.
During the pandemic closure, UCLA's urban junco bills evolved to resemble those of mountain juncos, as they had less human-provided food. Once campus life returned, the bills reverted to their previous shape. This finding demonstrates how quickly traits can evolve under changing selective pressures.
A UCLA study found that gut microbes are evolving differently in industrialized and non-industrialized parts of the world. Gene variants associated with starch digestion have
Researchers at UCLA have developed a new method for creating thorium-based nuclear clocks using an electroplating technique. This breakthrough could lead to smaller, more efficient nuclear clocks that can be used in navigation systems, including satellite-free navigation and submarine navigation.
A study by UCLA's Brian Wood and University of Michigan's John Mitani found a link between lethal aggression, territorial expansion, and improved reproductive success in wild chimpanzees. The Ngogo group's territory grew after coordinated attacks, leading to increased fertility and survival rates among females.
A recent study published in Science reveals that Myanmar's Sagaing Fault produced a supershear earthquake with speeds up to five kilometers per second, causing widespread destruction. The researchers attribute this phenomenon to the fault's ideal geometry and contrasting rock properties.
Researchers at UCLA have developed CAR-NKT cell therapy, which can attack tumors from multiple fronts while dismantling their protective shields. The therapy uses engineered immune cells that can be mass-produced from donated blood stem cells and stored ready-to-use, offering a potentially life-changing treatment option.
A team of astronomers used a novel imaging technique on a ground-based telescope to achieve the sharpest-ever measurement of a star's surrounding disk, revealing previously unseen structure. The breakthrough enables finer resolution than traditional methods and opens new discoveries about the universe.
A new gene therapy has restored and maintained immune system function in 59 of 62 children born with ADA-SCID, a rare genetic immune disorder. The treatment involves delivering a healthy copy of the ADA gene to patients' blood stem cells, allowing them to produce healthy immune cells capable of fighting infections.
A new analysis from UCLA researchers reveals significant wage disparities for Latinas across California counties, with a median earnings gap of 49 cents per dollar. In some wealthy counties, such as San Mateo and Santa Clara, Latinas earn just 38-37-34 cents per dollar, highlighting the need for statewide enforcement of pay equity laws.
Researchers at UCLA have identified a type of neuron in the orbital region of the frontal cortex that is most active when a decision outcome is unknown, suggesting these neurons play a crucial role in learning and mental flexibility. The discovery could aid the development of new treatments for rigid thought patterns such as anxiety an...
The U.S. Latino population has reached a record high of 68 million, with a corresponding increase in the labor force to 35.1 million workers. This represents a 5.5% growth rate for Latinos and a 7.2 times faster growth rate compared to non-Latinos.
The FDA has approved AD-NP1 for human clinical trials, a monoclonal antibody that targets cellular metabolism to promote tissue repair of multiple organs. Funded by the National Institutes of Health and other sources, AD-NP1 has shown efficacy in mice and monkeys, and may benefit various organs beyond the heart after acute injury.
A UCLA study reveals that morning sickness symptoms are part of a natural inflammatory response to biological changes during pregnancy. Women's immune systems produce cytokines to protect both mother and fetus from infection while avoiding harmful substances.
A UCLA research team led by Dr. Donald Kohn has developed a one-time stem cell gene therapy treatment for alpha thalassemia major that could be curative. The therapy involves adding the missing alpha-globin gene to patient cells using a viral vector, enabling them to produce functional hemoglobin.
Researchers developed a computational tool to analyze mRNA stability, identifying genes involved in immune system function and linked to autoimmune diseases. The study suggests that mRNA stability may be a key mechanism behind many immune-related diseases.
Researchers at UCLA have developed a wearable noninvasive brain-computer interface system that utilizes AI to interpret user intent, allowing participants to complete tasks significantly faster with assistance. The system demonstrates promising results for technology to assist individuals with limited physical capabilities.
Researchers developed a comprehensive road map of ovarian reserve formation in primates, providing crucial insights into women's health. The study could lead to better treatments for infertility and hormonal disorders like PCOS.
Researchers discovered that mitochondria use folate to prevent infection by competing with invading pathogens. In a study on Toxoplasma gondii, scientists found that the parasite grew more slowly when mitochondrial metabolism consumed folate, a critical nutrient for its survival.
A new UCLA study found that the optimal level of emotional response while listening to music influences memory, with too little or too much arousal having opposite effects. Music can become a powerful therapeutic tool for improving learning and memory in conditions like Alzheimer's disease and PTSD.
A UCLA research team has discovered a key mechanism that allows parasitic worms to penetrate human skin and is now exploring a topical preparation to disrupt this pathway. The therapy aims to prevent infection by targeting the same molecule associated with pleasure in humans, but which drives parasite entry.
A UCLA team has uncovered new details about the muscle controlling blinking, offering a pathway toward developing blink-assisting prostheses. The orbicularis oculi muscle contracts in complex patterns that vary by action and move the eyelid in more than just a simple up-and-down motion.
Researchers found that heavy use of copper antimicrobials can drive antibiotic resistance in bacteria, but switching to copper with other measures can help mitigate this effect. Copper-resistant bacteria also become resistant to antibiotics, suggesting a common evolutionary pathway.
Researchers at UCLA developed a prototype alternating-pressure mattress to address the problem of inconsistent care for bedridden individuals. The mattress uses embedded sensors and compliant mechanisms to vary pressure locally across the surface, minimizing actuation energy and cost.
A recent study by UCLA researchers found that introducing new genetic variation from Texas reduced the influence of harmful mutations in Florida panthers, improving their fitness. However, the effect of this intervention may be temporary, and continued protection is needed to preserve the subspecies.