A new UCLA-led study explains that tidal heating in Enceladus' rocky core creates currents that transport silica particles to the surface. The research suggests that these flows can pick up materials from the seafloor and bring them to the ice shell, providing evidence for hydrothermal activity at the ocean floor.
Researchers have successfully replicated the type of gravity that exists on or near stars and planets using a glass sphere measuring 3 cm in diameter. This achievement could help scientists understand and predict how solar weather affects spacecraft and satellite communications systems.
Researchers at UCLA have created the first synthetic version of lissodendoric acid A, a sea sponge-derived molecule with potential therapeutic benefits for Parkinson’s disease and similar disorders. The team developed a method that employs cyclic allenes to produce only the desired enantiomer of the molecule.
Researchers analyzing Ryugu asteroid samples found minerals produced through water reactions over 4.5 billion years ago, providing insight into the solar system's infancy. The discovery sheds light on asteroid accretion and the formation of planets like Earth.
A new study finds that global atmospheric dust has a slight overall cooling effect on the planet, hiding the full amount of warming caused by greenhouse gases. The UCLA research found that desert dust levels have grown 55% since the mid-1800s, counteracting warming effects.
Researchers found a strong correlation between birds captured outside their expected range and geomagnetic disturbances. The study suggests that birds rely on magnetoreceptors for navigation, which can be affected by solar activity and other factors. This knowledge can help scientists understand threats to birds and the ways they adapt.
Researchers studied deer and elk behavior around a wildlife tunnel, finding they were less likely to use the crossing after displaying a 'vigilant' response to passing vehicles. The study suggests designers should focus on animals' perceptions of their environment when building wildlife crossings.
A new study by UCLA and USC found that people experiencing homelessness in L.A. County are 2.35 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than the general population. The researchers suggest that accelerated aging among the homeless may be a contributing factor to this increased risk.
Researchers used VR to teach language to participants, finding that those who learned in unique environments recalled more words (92%) compared to those who learned in the same environment (76%). Immersion in the VR world also played a key role in learning retention.
The largest earthquake on Mars, a 4.7 magnitude marsquake, revealed layers in the crust suggesting a massive meteoroid impact, with possible alternating volcanic and sedimentary rocks. This finding provides evidence for past collision events that shaped the planet.
A UCLA study conducted by Zili Liu and Chéla R Willey found that white, Asian American, and recent Asian immigrant college students performed similarly on a well-known visual perception test, known as the rod-and-frame task. The results suggest that basic visual functions are largely independent of cultural variation.
In a surprising twist, researchers found that starving Argentine ants exercise caution when foraging in high-risk environments, unlike expectations. This counterintuitive strategy may contribute to their success as an invasive species and agricultural pest.
A recent study analyzed over 1 million NSF proposals from 1996 to 2019 and found significant racial disparities in federal funding for science research. White researchers consistently received more funding than non-white groups, with disparities increasing steadily over the years.
A new study found that when there are more females than males in colonies of orb-weaving spiders, males fight less with each other and females exhibit less aggression. The researchers also observed cooperation among spiders in constructing their webs and wrapping prey in silk.
Researchers found that boron arsenide's thermal conductivity decreases at extremely high pressures, breaking the general rule of pressure dependence. This discovery may lead to novel materials for smart energy systems with built-in 'pressure windows'.
A handheld diagnostic lab developed by UCLA researchers can fully automate pooled testing and detect multiple diseases, reducing costs and usage of scarce supplies. The technology can be easily manufactured, deployed, and performed at a doctor's office or mass testing sites, helping authorities prepare for future pandemics.
Researchers found that supershear earthquakes occur as commonly beneath the oceans as they do on land and tend to cause more shaking and potentially more destructive damage. The study suggests disaster planning efforts should consider nearby faults capable of producing supershear earthquakes.
A UCLA study found that Black Americans' mistrust of medical professionals and lower vaccination rates are linked to poor healthcare experiences, not past injustices. Researchers call for changes within the medical community to build better trust with Black patients.
Researchers develop mechanical neural networks (MNNs) with tunable beams that can learn behaviors and adapt to external forces. The MNNs, composed of a triangular lattice pattern, exhibit smart properties through machine learning algorithms. Early prototypes overcame lag issues and achieved accurate performance in various applications.
A UCLA team has made strides toward developing a handheld tool similar to an alcohol Breathalyzer that can detect THC on a person's breath after they've smoked marijuana. The device uses oxidation to create an electric current, with the strength of the current indicating how much psychoactive compound is present.
A new study by UCLA climate scientist Karen McKinnon found that the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat wave was roughly a once-in-10,000-years event. The research analyzed historical trends and climate model simulations, concluding that climate change is increasing heat waves and average summer temperatures at the same pace.
A new UCLA study has found that anxiety specific to pregnancy and childbirth is associated with shorter gestation times and earlier births. Screening for depression in pregnancy and postpartum is now common, but adding an evaluation for anxiety could identify women who need interventions for healthier pregnancies and babies.
Scientists at UCLA discovered several molecules that can destroy tau fibers, long filaments thought to cause Alzheimer’s and similar diseases. The green tea molecule EGCG helped identify these molecules, which could lead to new treatments for Alzheimer’s and related conditions.
A recent genomic analysis reveals that all South American canid species descended from a single ancestral population that arrived on the continent between 3.5 million and 4 million years ago. The study found that genetic mutations leading to extreme variations in height, size, and diet were introduced artificially through selective bre...
Researchers Susanne Horn and Jonathan Aurnou have refined and expanded upon Elbert's original predictions about the generation of planetary magnetic fields. They predict different regimes of convective behavior when subject to both rotation and magnetic fields, making new predictions for planetary and stellar magnetic field generation.
The Mars Perseverance Rover's ground-penetrating radar instrument has obtained detailed images of the underground structure of Jezero crater, revealing unexpectedly inclined rock layers. The tilt of these layers suggests a complex geological history, with possible origins including slow-cooling lava or sediment deposits.
Chemists at UCLA and Northwestern University developed a simple way to break down nearly indestructible 'forever chemicals' at relatively low temperatures with no harmful byproducts. The technology uses common reagents in heated water to sever molecular bonds in PFAS, leaving only harmless compounds.
Researchers at UCLA create edible particles that help lab-grown meat with natural muscle-like texture, potentially revolutionizing the food industry. The process could be scaled up to produce large amounts of meat quickly and cheaply.
Researchers have developed a novel computational imaging framework, Compact Light-field Photography (CLIP), allowing the camera system to acquire wide and deep panoramic views. The technology enables the detection of hidden objects around occlusions and has potential applications in autonomous vehicles and medical imaging.
Researchers found that adult female capuchin monkeys who are well-integrated into social networks with other females survive longer. In contrast, heterosexual relationships showed no survival-related benefits to females, but may still provide benefits for some individuals in specific circumstances. The study also reveals complex behavi...
Researchers found shadowed areas within lunar pits that maintain a comfortable temperature of around 63 degrees Fahrenheit, making them suitable for human habitation. The discovery could provide safer base camps for lunar exploration and long-term stays.
A UCLA study found that conversations between liberals and conservatives over Zoom can be meaningful and congenial, with participants reporting less conflict and stress. The presence of an ideological ingroup's audience can make conversations more conflicted, but even then, participants still find them more enjoyable.
Researchers created a new material and manufacturing process for creating artificial muscles with improved flexibility and durability. The resulting material, PHDE, is thin, lightweight, and can generate high forces while maintaining its shape under high-strain conditions.
Researchers at UCLA, MIT and NIH found that AI systems can mimic human understanding of words by relating their meanings through co-occurrence. The study developed a technique called 'semantic projection' to analyze the system's knowledge and found it to be more intuitive than expected.
A team of UCLA engineers developed a new design strategy and 3D printing technique to build robots in one step. The breakthrough enables the manufacturing of mechanical and electronic systems needed to operate a robot all at once, resulting in lighter weights, bulkier volumes, and reduced force output.
Researchers found that the brain's gestalt cortex helps people make sense of ambiguous information and dismiss alternative interpretations. This phenomenon, called naive realism, leads to irrational confidence in one's own understanding of the world.
A seven-year study found that mothers with increasing levels of depression are at a greater risk of their children developing emotional, social, and academic problems. Children whose mothers experienced consistently high symptoms performed similarly to those with low symptoms on a task requiring focused attention.
A novel surface treatment, tested in laboratory and clinical settings, reduces biofilm growth by over 80% and prevents bacterial adhesion. The treatment has shown promising results in preventing urinary tract infections and improving patient outcomes.
The vaquita porpoise, the world's smallest marine mammal, has relatively healthy genetics and can potentially survive if illegal 'gillnet' fishing ceases promptly. Inbreeding poses a threat, but the species may rebound due to its naturally low genetic diversity.
A UCLA report identifies a link between raising the minimum wage and lower divorce rates among low-income Americans, with a $1 per hour increase reducing divorce rates by 7-15% over two years.
Researchers at UCLA have discovered that amyloid fibrils in the brains of patients with frontotemporal degeneration are composed of the protein TMEM106B, not TDP-43 as expected. This finding may lead to new focus on TMEM106B in FTLD and similar brain diseases.
A UCLA-led team has created a roadmap tracing each step in human blood stem cell development, providing a blueprint for producing fully functional blood stem cells. The map could help expand treatment options for blood cancers and inherited disorders.
A 80-mile wide comet, one of the oldest objects in the solar system, is heading towards Earth at 22,000 miles per hour. The comet's massive nucleus, 50 times larger than most known comets, will pass within 1 billion miles of the sun in 2031.
Researchers observed rapid electron precipitation from low-Earth orbit using the ELFIN mission, which was caused by whistler waves affecting electrons in the Earth's magnetosphere. The findings demonstrate that whistler waves are responsible for far more electron rain than current theories and space weather models predict.
Astrophysicists have witnessed the death throes of a red giant star named V Hydrae, which is expelling six slowly expanding molecular rings and an hourglass-shaped structure into space. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about star deaths, suggesting that the traditional model may be incomplete or incorrect.
Researchers found that a common surface treatment creates an electron-rich surface that destabilizes the perovskite solar cells, leading to degradation. A new method using positively and negatively charged ions resolves this issue, allowing for more stable solar cells with up to 87% efficiency retention.
Researchers found that yellow-bellied marmot's biological aging stalls during hibernation, with epigenetic changes playing a key role. The study suggests that hibernation may be a natural way to slow aging and promote longevity in other mammals.
Researchers at UCLA have created highly flexible yet mechanically robust bioelectronic membranes using van der Waals thin film technology. The membranes can be stretched and flexed over irregular geometries, making them ideal for wearable health-monitoring devices and diagnostic sensors.
A UCLA study reveals that lions and leopards in Zambia's conservation areas are injured at rates much higher than previously thought. The research found that over 37% of the lions and 22% of the leopards had snare scars and tooth notches, indicating a significant problem with poaching.
Researchers found a surprising and active microbial community in deep, hot subseafloor sediment samples. The microbes thrive under conditions that suggest temperatures near the limit for life, with high metabolic rates per cell.