A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that a high-soybean-oil diet caused significant weight gain, diabetes, and insulin resistance in mice compared to diets high in coconut oil or fructose. The researchers used mice fed different diets containing various types of fats to investigate the effects on obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Researchers will investigate how early childhood influences versus recent influences affect cognitive and physical health in middle age. The study will analyze data from over 1,600 participants, including adoptees and twins, to better understand the role of genetic and environmental factors on cognition.
Researchers found that Elegant Terns have expanded their breeding range from the Gulf of California into Southern California, driven by declining productivity in the Gulf. The study suggests that ocean warming and overfishing are causing ecological collapse in the region.
Researchers found that early-age exercise in mice had positive effects on adult levels of voluntary exercise, including a reduction in body mass. The study suggests that early-life exercise may increase the likelihood of adults engaging in regular physical activity.
Scientists at UC Riverside identified a safe and affordable repellent, butyl anthranilate (BA), to protect fruits from the spotted wing Drosophila insect. Lab experiments showed BA effectively warded off the insect from blueberries, reducing fruit damage during ripening.
Researchers have discovered that the mantis shrimp's dactyl club can filter out certain frequencies of shear waves, making it an effective material for body armor and athletic gear. The study aims to develop synthetic materials with similar filtering properties for various industries, including aerospace and automotive.
A team of astronomers using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope discovered the brightest galaxy yet found in the early universe. The galaxy, CR7, contains massive blue stars - the first generation of stars that forged the heavy elements necessary for life.
A study by UC Riverside researchers used a computer model to simulate observed behavior in moths, finding that random walks can create the most efficient paths for discovering odor plumes. The simulations suggest that airborne robots programmed to contact an odor plume need not involve wind flow detection.
A UC Riverside-led study identifies racial socialization strategies used by minority parents to promote school readiness, cultural pride, and identity. Approaches that gave children a sense of pride and identity provided protection against racism and promoted positive outcomes.
A new study by researchers found that maternal obesity compromises the immune system of babies born at time of birth, putting them at risk for diseases such as heart disease and asthma. The study, led by Ilhem Messaoudi, analyzed umbilical cord blood samples from infants born to lean, overweight, and obese mothers.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that a universal sliding mechanism operates for earthquakes of all depths. The research, led by UC Riverside geologists, suggests that both shallow and deep earthquakes share the same physics once started.
Researchers at UC Riverside's Bourns College of Engineering will work with three Southern California water districts to deploy customized smart systems and controls. The project aims to cut electricity use by 10% and save millions of dollars.
Researchers have developed a magnonic holographic memory device that can recognize patterns and improve speech and image recognition hardware. The device uses spin waves to encode and decode information, allowing for parallel processing and potentially more efficient computation.
Undergraduates Connor Richards, Hanni Schoniger, and Jade Zamorano have been awarded the Donald A. Strauss Foundation Scholarship for their STEM-focused projects. The recipients aim to improve college enrollment in science and math among underrepresented high school students through outreach programs.
The five-year research project will train underrepresented minority students in STEM fields to address a critical shortfall in the workforce essential for future NASA missions. The project will include undergraduate training, research, and doctoral studies, aiming to develop new approaches to visualize and analyze massive data sets.
Researchers at UC Riverside found that certain Dickinsonia fossils are incomplete due to ancient currents lifting them from the sea floor. The team measured the direction of missing parts and showed they aligned with features formed under wave action, indicating the fossils were not 'missing' but rather not preserved.
Bai-Lian Li, a professor of ecology at UC Riverside, has been awarded the 2015 Prigogine Gold Medal for his work on mathematical and statistical modeling applications in ecological studies. His research focuses on self-organization, emergence, and non-equilibrium biological systems.
Researchers at UC Riverside found that perceptual learning training improved contrast sensitivity and visual acuity for both younger and older adults. The study also produced an unexpected improvement in visual acuity for older adults after just five days of training.
Research on mice by UC Riverside scientists reveals that genetically modified soybean oil is just as unhealthy as conventional soybean oil, inducing obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver. However, GM soybean oil does not cause insulin resistance, unlike regular soybean oil.
Researchers found that employees do not disinvest in their company's stock even when the company is failing, resulting in average losses of nearly $30 million. Employees should diversify their retirement plans to avoid significant financial losses.
UC Riverside researchers develop unique model system to study environmental effects of copper nanoparticles. The studies show that properly functioning septic tanks can eliminate toxicity of nanoparticles, providing encouraging results for human health and ecosystem implications.
Researchers at University of California - Riverside developed a glass cage-like coating and graphene oxide to improve lithium-sulfur battery performance. The silica-caged sulfur particles provided substantially higher battery performance, and incorporating mildly reduced graphene oxide improved the design further.
A unique combination of ecological, environmental, and behavioral factors led to the abundant production and preservation of Early Triassic swim tracks. Delayed ecologic recovery, depositional environments, and tetrapod swimming behavior contributed to their formation.
A new pretreatment process called Co-solvent Enhanced Lignocellulosic Fractionation (CELF) reduces the need for enzymes in biofuel production by up to 90%, cutting costs by 30% or more. This technology also extracts up to 90% of lignin from biomass, paving the way for additional high-value chemicals and fuels.
Scientists have created ultra-small and highly sensitive gas sensors made of molybdenum disulfide, which can selectively detect ethanol, acetonitrile, toluene, chloroform and methanol vapors. The sensors are ideal for various applications due to their small size, high selectivity and sensitivity.
Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have developed a novel paper-like material composed of silicon nanofibers to boost lithium-ion battery performance. The material has the potential to increase specific energy by several times, making it suitable for electric vehicles and personal electronics.
A new species of hummingbird has been discovered in the Bahamas, characterized by its distinctive lyre-tailed plumage and unique courtship displays. Genetic analysis reveals that the two subspecies diverged around 400,000 to 1 million years ago.
A team of scientists led by Sean Cutler at UC Riverside successfully repurposed an agrochemical to enhance plant drought tolerance. The researchers engineered plant receptors to respond to mandipropamid, a widely used agricultural chemical, and found that the plants effectively survived drought conditions.
A team of scientists has discovered potent natural compounds in plants that can counteract the action of juvenile hormone in insects, making them effective against mosquitoes and other pests. The newly identified compounds could lead to the development of a new class of safe and effective pesticides.
A team of physicists at UC Riverside created magnetic graphene by bringing it close to a magnetic insulator, preserving its electronic properties. This breakthrough has the potential to increase graphene's use in computers with more robust and multi-functional electronic devices.
Researchers found that mosquitoes respond weakly to human skin odor alone and require a fluctuating concentration of carbon dioxide to land on human skin. This suggests that upwind flight towards human odor may be used to locate dwellings rather than feeding sites.
Researchers at UC Riverside have identified microRNA-8 as a crucial regulator of mosquito reproduction, which plays an essential role in the female mosquito's 'fat body'. Depletion of miR-8 results in severe defects in egg development and deposition, highlighting its potential as a novel control strategy for mosquito populations.
Researchers at UC Riverside devised a method to isolate hydrocarbon molecules used by insects for communication and differentiation. The study found that nearly all insects produce the R form of these chemicals, paving the way for understanding their functions and potential applications in controlling pest species.
Resistin, an immune protein found in human serum, instigates an inappropriate inflammatory response to worm infections, impairing clearance. Targeting this pathway with drugs or antibodies could lead to new therapeutic strategies for worm infections and associated pathology.
A UC Riverside study found that geckos without an adhesive system evolved faster in terms of morphology and locomotion. This suggests that losing adaptations can be beneficial for the species, allowing it to occupy a new niche.
A team of scientists led by UC Riverside expert Richard Vetter analyzed spider bite data to conclude that the evidence for spider-vectored infections is scarce. The study found that bacterial infections are often misattributed to spider bites, and spiders should not be blamed for human skin infections.
Researchers found that older adults' acquired financial knowledge and experience can compensate for declining fluid intelligence, leading to more efficient financial decision-making. The study used credit scores and cognitive tests to demonstrate the importance of crystallized intelligence in finance.
A research team has found that tooth loss in birds occurred convergently with turtles and multiple mammalian lineages about 116 million years ago. The study used degraded remnants of tooth genes to determine when birds lost their teeth, suggesting a single loss of mineralized teeth in the common ancestor of all modern birds.
Researchers from UC Riverside have discovered that dead geckos can adhere to surfaces with the same force as living geckos, eliminating the need for active control. This finding has significant implications for robotics and other fields where adhesion is crucial.
Researchers have created novel rewritable paper based on color switching property of commercial chemicals, allowing for up to 20 erasures without significant loss in contrast or resolution. The paper has potential applications in meeting increasing global needs for sustainability and environmental conservation.
A team of researchers has identified a chemical compound called indazole chloride that can decrease the effects of multiple sclerosis. Ind-Cl works by inhibiting selective inflammation and remyelinating axons, restoring neuronal function and potentially reducing MS progression.
Researchers propose that filaments in the cosmic web played a critical role in the evolution of galaxies in the distant universe. Galaxies residing in these filaments have a higher chance of actively forming stars, with a process known as 'pre-processing' accelerating their evolution.
Researchers have discovered that the yellow fever virus replicates primarily in the liver, causing significant damage to liver cells. A new clinical parameter has been identified, which could help manage cases of yellow fever, allowing for earlier diagnosis and treatment.
Research finds middle managers are less likely to share their ideas with superiors as organizational hierarchy increases, leading to a lack of control and evaluation apprehension. The study suggests that top management can adjust the idea funnel to promote or counterbalance employee behavior.
UC Riverside professors Eamonn Keogh and Sang-Hee Lee, along with Mindy Marks, are developing a cell phone-based game to encourage healthy behaviors. The team aims to use financial incentives to motivate participants in both the US and sub-Saharan Africa.
Susan R. Wessler, a world-renowned expert in transposable elements, has been awarded the McClintock Prize for her exceptional contributions to plant genome structure, function, and evolution. Her research on plant transposable elements has led to significant findings on the impact of these elements on plant genomes.
Researchers identified a suite of odorants that the Asian citrus psyllid detects, which can modify its behavior. The developed odor-based lure caught nearly 230 percent more ACP than conventional yellow traps.
UC Riverside researchers have identified a new molecular mechanism for resistance and susceptibility to Fusarium oxysporum, a common fungus causing wilt in tomato plants. The study reveals that microRNAs play a crucial role in regulating gene expression, with specific targets contributing to resistance.
UC Riverside researchers are investigating the mechanisms of auditory hypersensitivity in Fragile X syndrome (FXS), a genetic disorder that affects social impairments, repetitive behaviors, and cognitive deficits. The study aims to identify underlying neural mechanisms and develop new therapeutic targets for FXS and autism.
Biologists at UC Riverside found that geckos reverse hind foot position to use the adhesive system as a brake and stabilizer when moving downhill. The study, published in Biology Letters, sheds light on gecko locomotion on non-level terrain and has applications in robotics.