Scientists at UCLA have developed effective methods for decontaminating single-use N95 respirators, allowing them to be reused multiple times. The researchers found that vaporized hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet light are suitable decontamination procedures, with the former being the most effective.
Researchers created a family of benchmark quantum circuits with known optimal depths or sizes to improve quantum compilation design. This could lead to computation speeds up to 45 times faster than currently demonstrated. The benchmarks, named QUEKO, have been made open source and are available on GitHub.
Researchers developed a custom smartwatch that analyzes sweat to track medication levels in real-time. This wearable technology can help personalize treatment approaches by tailoring ideal drugs and dosages to individual needs.
A UCLA-led study suggests that relaxing public health measures too soon may lead to a similar number of infections as if distancing had never been implemented. The researchers used mathematical models to analyze data from local and national governments, highlighting the dangers of premature relaxation of distancing measures.
Researchers have discovered ancient volcanic activity and subtle, unusual movements in the Earth's surface in the Eifel region of Germany, suggesting a greater risk to northwestern Europe. The study suggests that the region is an active volcanic system with significant seismic activity.
A UCLA research team has received a two-year, $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to support development of a process that can convert carbon dioxide emissions into construction materials. The technology captures CO2 directly from raw flue gas, reducing emissions and using less traditional cement.
Researchers created a super white paint that reflects up to 98% of incoming solar radiation, potentially reducing indoor temperatures and air conditioner use by radiative cooling. The innovative paint formula replaces titanium oxide with barite and Teflon, offering improved reflectivity and reduced heat absorption.
A UCLA bioengineer designed a glove-like device that can translate American Sign Language into English speech in real-time using a smartphone app. The system uses thin sensors to pick up hand motions and finger placements, which are then translated into spoken words at the rate of about one word per second.
A new study by UCLA professors combines AI and folklore analysis to examine the storytelling elements of debunked conspiracy theories and actual news stories. The researchers found that conspiracy theories tend to form around specific elements that act as an adhesive, holding facts and characters together.
Researchers design a disposable, double-sided film that attaches to the underside of a smartwatch, detecting biomarker molecules in sweat to monitor body chemistry. The system can track glucose and lactate levels, providing real-time insights into metabolic health.
A UCLA-led study found a significant increase in domestic violence calls to police in Los Angeles and Indianapolis during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers predict that the incidence of domestic violence will decrease as people return to normal routines, but may increase again if there is a second wave of COVID-19 infections.
Researchers at UCLA have developed a new qubit with nearly ideal properties, enabling ultra-low error rate quantum devices. This breakthrough should impact various areas of quantum information science, paving the way for large-scale NISQ devices.
Researchers developed a real-time physics engine for simulating the movements of soft robots, which can be used for autonomous operations. The engine uses the discrete elastic rods (DER) algorithm, allowing for faster-than-real-time simulation of hundreds of movements.
UCLA chemists have reported the key chemical discovery necessary for creating a small, electronic marijuana breathalyzer. The research uses electricity to change the chemical structure of THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, making it easier to detect whether a person is impaired.
A UCLA-led research team has developed a new method for delivering DNA into stem cells and immune cells safely, rapidly and economically. The technique uses high-frequency acoustic waves to manipulate cells and insert cargo without damaging them, enabling the creation of gene therapies for various diseases.
Researchers developed a new type of liposome called a sterosome, which successfully activated bone regeneration on its own in mice with bone defects. The sterosomes were found to stimulate cells to develop into bone-forming cells and reduced defect size by an average of 50% in a six-week study.
A new UCLA study has identified a key gene, reprimo, which regulates body temperature and may contribute to menopause-related weight gain. The research suggests that manipulating this gene could provide a safer alternative to hormone replacement therapy for alleviating symptoms.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that COVID-19 remains detectable for up to three hours in aerosols, up to four hours on copper, and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. The virus can also be transmitted through casual contact, highlighting the importance of proper hygiene practices.
The researchers created disc-shaped magnets about 2 millimeters in diameter, called ferrobots, which can move and manipulate droplets of fluid with precision. These robots could transform various biotech-related industries, including medical diagnostics, drug development, genomics, and the synthesis of chemicals and materials.
African pastoralists, specifically the Himba community, exhibit a remarkably high rate of extra-pair paternity, with 48% of children fathered by non-marital partners. The study highlights how social norms support this practice, unlike in many Western societies where it is stigmatized.
A UCLA study found that prolonged sitting in classrooms poses significant health risks, including heart disease and obesity. The researchers recommend simple solutions such as hourly stretch breaks, more open classrooms, and adjustable desks to promote movement and reduce health concerns.
A new study published in PLoS Pathogens found that a person's ability to fight off the flu virus is determined by the sequence of flu viruses they've been infected with throughout their lives. The study also revealed that people who were first exposed to the less severe H1N1 strain during childhood had extra protection against H3N2 lat...
Astronomers have discovered a new class of bizarre objects at the center of the Milky Way galaxy, which resemble gas and behave like stars. The objects are thought to be binary stars that merged due to the strong gravitational force of the supermassive black hole, with four additional objects found in the same orbit.
A recent study published in Journal of Archaeological Science reveals that the Moai statues were believed to aid in agricultural fertility and production. The analysis of soil samples from two excavated Moai found high levels of essential nutrients, supporting the Rapanui people's practice of planting multiple crops together.
A new UCLA-led study suggests chronic opioid treatment may raise the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in individuals who are likely to experience severe emotional stress. Researchers found that mice given morphine before and after a traumatic event showed enhanced fear learning, indicating increased PTSD susceptibility.
Researchers from UCLA, Oxford, and others analyzed 10 industrial applications for carbon dioxide emissions, finding that utilizing CO2 could help the environment by reducing emissions. The study suggests a potential scale of over 10 gigatonnes of CO2 use per year at under $100 per tonne.
Researchers at UCLA have discovered that a traumatic brain injury causes changes in the amygdala, leading to increased fear responses and PTSD symptoms. The study found that rats with brain injuries exhibited abnormal neural activity in the amygdala and thalamus, suggesting potential new targets for treating PTSD.
The UCLA report grades Los Angeles County's water systems, assigning a C+ mark overall due to poor groundwater and surface water quality grades. However, expected funding for stormwater capture projects is seen as a positive step towards improvement.
A new method used to analyze geochemistry of planets outside our solar system implies that Earth is not unique, with rocks from asteroids and white dwarf stars showing similarities to those on Earth and Mars. The study's findings suggest that oxidation plays a significant role in shaping the chemistry of rocky planets.
Researchers analyzed 13,000 observations of the black hole from 133 nights since 2003 and found extreme variations in brightness, with one night seeing an area twice as bright as the next-brightest observation. The team is unsure whether this is an extraordinary singular event or a precursor to significantly increased activity.
A new study reveals that serotonin and certain antidepressants can significantly impact the gut's microbiota, a crucial system of 100 trillion microorganisms. The research identifies Turicibacter sanguinis as a key bacterium responding to serotonin levels, which can influence its growth and presence in the gut.
Researchers from UCLA School of Dentistry developed a new hydrogel that promotes tissue repair and regeneration, inducing stem cell migration to enhance bone healing. The clay-enhanced hydrogel has a more porous structure, improving its ability to deliver cells to defective areas.
Researchers have discovered a second molecular zipper in the beta amyloid protein that may contribute to the formation of brain fibrils in Alzheimer's disease. This kinked form is more harmful and can initiate a cascade of events leading to dementia.
A UCLA-led team, led by Andrea Ghez, has conducted the most comprehensive test of general relativity near a supermassive black hole. Their analysis confirms that Einstein's theory is still valid but also reveals its vulnerability in explaining gravity inside a black hole.
Researchers have identified a new cell growth pathway that could lead to better treatments for metastatic cancers. The study found that the mEAK-7 gene is highly expressed in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer cells and plays a key role in cancer metastasis.
A team of life scientists at UCLA discovered that sea otters have low genetic diversity, which could endanger their health. The researchers found evidence of potentially harmful genetic variation and mating between closely related ancestors in the sea otter genome, similar to other endangered species with small population sizes.
Researchers at UCLA found that stimulating a specific region of the brain improves people's ability to retrieve memories. The study, published in Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, used transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to increase excitability of neurons in the left rostrolateral prefrontal cortex.
Researchers discovered that high pressure deep inside the young Earth may have driven vast stores of carbon into its core, while water ice undergoes complex crystalline metamorphosis under extreme conditions. The findings provide clues about how Earth-like planets are built and could be useful for studying worlds with icy surfaces.
Researchers at UCLA designed a device that harnesses the charge from falling snow to create electricity. The snow-based triboelectric nanogenerator can work in remote areas without batteries, providing a continuous power supply for applications such as monitoring winter sports or tracking athletes.
Researchers have identified phosphodiesterase-B1 as a critical gene for the transmission of African sleeping sickness, a disease transmitted by tsetse flies. The study reveals that the parasite's movement from the fly's midgut to the salivary gland is controlled by this gene, providing new insights into the disease-causing mechanism.
Researchers at UCLA have developed a new membrane class that can regenerate gum tissue and bone, offering a viable solution for periodontitis. The membranes have tissue and bone regeneration properties along with a flexible coating that adheres to biological surfaces.
Astronomers have discovered two 'galactic center chimneys' that funnel matter and energy away from the Milky Way's central black hole, which could provide clues about the rate of star production in other galaxies. The chimneys are linked to giant structures known as the Fermi bubbles, which straddle the galaxy's center.
A UCLA-led team has developed a highly durable aerogel that can withstand intense heat and severe temperature changes, making it an ideal material for insulating spacecraft. The new ceramic aerogel is ultra-lightweight, flexible, and resistant to fire and corrosion.
The study found that the Palu earthquake propagated unusually fast, identifying it as a supershear. Supershear earthquakes release more energy in a shorter time due to the rapid movement of the rupture along the fault.
Researchers found reduced RNA editing in the brain's frontal cortex, temporal cortex and cerebellum of individuals with autism. The study identifies two proteins, FMRP and FXR1P, that regulate abnormal RNA editing in autism spectrum disorder.
A study by UCLA researchers found that Mexico's murder rate increased dramatically between 2005 and 2015, offsetting gains in life expectancy among men. Life expectancy for men only increased by half a year during this period, largely due to an increase in homicides and deaths from heart disease.
A team of UCLA astronomers has developed a new method to measure the universe's expansion rate, using double-image quasars to produce an estimate of the Hubble constant. The study's findings suggest that the universe is expanding at a speed of about 72.5 kilometers per second per megaparsec.
Researchers have made a groundbreaking finding that blocking specific brain signals in female mice can lead to enhanced bone growth, resulting in stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis. This discovery has the potential to develop new treatments for women and older individuals with fragile bones.
A recent UCLA study found that artificial intelligence, specifically deep learning computer networks, have severe limitations in distinguishing objects. The researchers demonstrated that these machines can be easily fooled, and their method of identifying objects using computer vision differs substantially from human vision.
The study found that 45% of countries provide at least one year of tuition-free pre-primary education, while just 19% make it compulsory. Countries with higher-income levels and regions such as the Americas tend to offer more tuition-free pre-primary education.