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University of Chicago


Icy clouds could have kept early Mars warm enough for rivers and lakes, study finds

A new simulation led by University of Chicago geoscientist Edwin Kite finds that high-altitude water ice clouds could have created a greenhouse effect on early Mars, enabling the presence of flowing rivers and lakes. The study challenges previous assumptions about the Martian climate and offers insights into the planet's habitability.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 26, 2021

Exploiting cancer cells to aid in their own destruction

Researchers at the University of Chicago developed a new therapeutic vaccine that uses a patient's own tumor cells to train their immune system to find and kill cancer. The vaccine stopped melanoma tumor growth in mouse models and promoted a broad, robust immune response, preventing new tumor growth when tumor cells were re-introduced.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 24, 2021

There might be many planets with water-rich atmospheres

Researchers at University of Chicago and Stanford University propose mechanism for formation and retention of water-dominated atmospheres on hot, rocky exoplanets. The model suggests these planets could have a water-rich atmosphere for long stretches, with some potentially keeping it for billions of years.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMar 15, 2021

New clues emerge in how early tetrapods learned to live -- and eat -- on land

A team of researchers discovered that Tiktaalik roseae, a transitional fossil between fish and tetrapods, exhibited sliding joints in its skull that allowed for cranial kinesis, enabling the animal to expand its mouth and create suction. This adaptation is thought to have evolved in aquatic species before being adapted for use on land.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 1, 2021

Analysis paves way for more sensitive quantum sensors

Theoretical researchers at the University of Chicago have found a way to make quantum sensors exponentially more sensitive by harnessing a unique physics phenomenon. This breakthrough could lead to improved detection and diagnosis of diseases, prediction of natural disasters, and exploration without digging.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 16, 2020

New therapy improves treatment for multiple sclerosis

Researchers at the University of Chicago have designed a new therapy for multiple sclerosis by fusing a cytokine to a blood protein. This combination prevented destructive immune cells from infiltrating the central nervous system and decreased MS development, leading to fewer symptoms and disease prevention.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateOct 12, 2020

New testing system predicts septic shock outcomes

A new testing system developed by researchers at the University of Chicago can quantify bacteria, antibiotic-resistant genes, and immune molecule levels in sepsis patients, predicting patient outcomes with high accuracy. This innovative approach enables personalized treatment strategies and may improve patient survival rates.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 26, 2020

Monarch butterflies bred in captivity may lose the ability to migrate, study finds

A new study by scientists at the University of Chicago found that commercially bred monarch butterflies do not fly southward even in offspring raised outdoors. This suggests that captive breeding disrupts the monarch's migratory behavior and genetic differences between captive and wild populations may be to blame.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 24, 2019

Study shakes up sloth family tree

Two studies published in Nature Ecology & Evolution challenge long-standing sloth classification, revealing new relationships between ancient ground sloths and modern species. The findings use proteins in fossils to map an entire lineage for the first time, rewriting our understanding of sloth evolution.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateJun 6, 2019

Rivers raged on Mars late into its history

A new study by UChicago scientists found significant river runoff persisted on Mars later into its history than previously thought. The intense runoff, which was wider than those on Earth today, occurred at hundreds of locations and suggests a complex climate with strong greenhouse effects.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 27, 2019