A CU-Boulder-led study reveals that Earth's vegetation and oceans have doubled their uptake of carbon dioxide in the past 50 years, despite sharp increases in human CO2 emissions. The trend may not be sustainable, as natural carbon sinks are expected to saturate, leading to increased warming impacts.
A recent study has pushed back the estimated emergence of the Later Stone Age in South Africa to approximately 44,000 to 42,000 years ago. This finding suggests that early humans inhabited the region during this time period, coinciding with the migration of modern humans from Africa to Europe around 45,000 years ago.
A new CU-Boulder-led study reveals that rising nitrogen deposition is altering sensitive ecosystems in Rocky Mountain National Park. Plant communities are already showing changes under ambient conditions, with potential impacts on biodiversity and aquatic life.
Researchers analyzed fossilized teeth to reveal that A. sediba ate harder foods like trees and bushes, unlike most other hominids who focused on grasses and sedges. This diet was confirmed by analysis of microscopic particles trapped in tooth tarter, suggesting the individuals avoided open grasslands.
A CU-UCSC study finds that California condors continue to suffer from lead exposure, with nearly half of the population showing signs of poisoning. The research highlights the need for sustained human intervention to stabilize and grow the species' population.
Researchers have mapped the normal microbial makeup of healthy humans, revealing that nearly everyone carries pathogens but they cause no disease in healthy individuals. The human microbiome plays a vital role in human health and contributes to human metabolism.
Researchers have created a massive database of Mars' impact craters, containing 635,000 craters over 1km in diameter. This will aid in dating Mars' regions and understanding water volcanism and potential past habitability.
A CU-Boulder-led team has found a handful of bacteria, fungi and archaea in rocky soils on South American volcanoes, exhibiting unique energy conversion methods. The discovery sheds light on the limits of life on Earth, suggesting that certain organisms can survive without photosynthesis.
A research team at CU-Boulder has generated laser-like beams of X-rays from a tabletop device, enabling super-high-resolution imaging and providing insights into the nanoworld. The breakthrough device uses atoms in a gas to efficiently combine low-energy photons, generating high-energy X-ray photons.
A University of Colorado study found that increases in parasite diversity lead to a decrease in the infection success rate of virulent parasites, including one that causes malformed limbs and premature death. Higher biodiversity can help protect against certain diseases by acting as a buffer against virulent pathogens.
The Map of Life project demonstrates a Web-based endeavor to show the distribution of all living plants and animals on the planet. The database contains hundreds of millions of records on species abundance and distribution, enhancing knowledge of biodiversity.
A University of Colorado Boulder-led team developed a new monitoring system to analyze atmospheric gas emissions, separating CO2 from fossil fuels from biological sources. The method uses carbon-14 to estimate emission rates of gases impacting climate change, air quality, and ozone recovery.
Research at CU's Niwot Ridge site reveals that ecosystems sensitive to climate changes are most impacted by warming temperatures. The study shows that warmer conditions in subalpine forests can lead to enhanced surface water evaporation and transport, affecting snowpack and alpine ecosystems.
A CU-Boulder study shows that massive releases of meltwater from surface lakes on the Greenland Ice Sheet are causing it to slide faster into the ocean. This could accelerate sea-level rise and have implications for coastal communities.
Researchers at CU Boulder have discovered a protein complex involving toll-like receptor 4 and myeloid differentiation protein receptor 2 that triggers unwanted neuroinflammation in response to morphine. This finding has implications for developing new drugs to increase morphine effectiveness while preventing abuse.
ColdQuanta has finalized an agreement with the University of Colorado to commercialize cutting-edge physics research on Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC), a new form of matter created just above absolute zero. The technology has potential applications in devices such as gyroscopes, accelerometers, and navigation systems.
The University of Colorado has developed a novel technique for 3D super-resolution imaging with the help of Boulder-based Double Helix LLC. This technology combines 3D optics and signal processing to provide multifunctional imaging capability, applicable to various scientific, industrial, and consumer applications.
Researchers found pine beetles can breed twice a year, leading to up to 60 times more beetles attacking trees annually. Warmer temperatures also allow beetles to survive and attack trees with previously developed defenses.
Researchers at CU-Boulder and NIST used X-ray lasers to study magnetism in nickel and iron atoms, finding that each metal behaves differently. The findings could lead to optimized optical energy delivery for hard drive performance.
A University of Colorado Boulder study found that continued practice after mastering a task can decrease overall energy costs by up to 20%, making movements more efficient. The research, led by Assistant Professor Alaa Ahmed, used robotic arm exercises to measure metabolic cost and muscle activity in test subjects.
A new study led by CU-Boulder shows that global glaciers and ice caps are shedding roughly 150 billion tons of ice annually, contributing to sea level rise. This is equivalent to losing about 39 cubic miles of ice from 2003 to 2010.
A new University of Colorado Boulder-led study suggests that the Little Ice Age was triggered by a 50-year-long episode of four massive tropical volcanic eruptions. The onset of the cold period is believed to have been caused by an unusual sea ice-ocean feedback system originating in the North Atlantic Ocean.
A national research team led by CU-Boulder is studying the impacts of environmental factors on Arctic sea ice decline. The MIZOPEX project uses unmanned aircraft, satellites, and ocean buoys to understand sea ice characteristics and changes in the Beaufort Sea.
A team of researchers has discovered the most distant developing galaxy cluster, approximately 13.1 billion light-years away, using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The cluster is among the brightest galaxies in the early universe and is expected to grow into a massive galactic city.
A study by the University of Colorado Boulder found that nap-deprived toddlers show more anxiety, less joy and interest, and poorer problem-solving skills. Insufficient sleep alters their facial expressions, making them respond less positively to exciting events and more negatively to frustrating ones.
Voyager 1 has sailed to the edge of the solar system and is expected to punch its way into interstellar space in the coming months or years. The spacecraft was launched in 1977 and completed the Grand Tour of the Solar System, making numerous groundbreaking discoveries about the outer planets and their moons.
A four-year study assesses freshwater resources in the High Asia region, encompassing five mountain ranges and watersheds totaling 1 million square miles. The research aims to provide accurate data on snow and glacier contributions to river discharge, helping forecast water resource availability and vulnerability.
Researchers used a new 3D climate model to simulate early Earth's climate, finding that the planet was more prone to deep freezes than previously thought. The study suggests that an atmosphere containing 6% carbon dioxide could have kept temperatures warm enough for liquid water to exist.
A CU-Boulder study of twins reveals that genetic factors are playing a larger role in smoking habits, with identical twins more likely to quit together. The study suggests that current anti-smoking policies may be less effective and could benefit from a shift towards treating smoking as an addiction.
Researchers have unearthed a prehistoric bronze artifact made of cast metal found in an ancient Eskimo dwelling in Alaska, which likely originated in East Asia around A.D. 600. The discovery suggests long-distance trade between continents.
A CU-Boulder study finds that fatty acids circulating in python bloodstreams promote healthy heart growth, with no evidence of fat deposition in the heart. The researchers also saw an increase in the activity of a key enzyme protecting the heart from damage.
Researchers using new high-tech tools are rethinking early hominid diets, finding grasses and sedges as a primary food source for some species. This discovery forces anthropologists to reassess their understanding of ancient human ancestors.
A CU-led study reveals worm burrows less than three inches above the K-T boundary layer, indicating they likely emerged shortly after the asteroid impact. The findings provide direct evidence of animal activity in a peat-producing environment that was buried by sediment.
A University of Colorado Boulder-led team excavated a Maya village in El Salvador and unexpectedly hit an ancient white road, known as a sacbe, that appears to lead to and from the town. The discovery provides valuable insights into the Maya's construction methods and daily life.
SuviCa Inc. has partnered with the University of Colorado at Boulder to develop and commercialize a drug screening technology that identifies novel therapies for cancer treatments. The patented tool uses genetically modified Drosophila fruit flies to screen compounds effective against various types of cancer.
The Arctic sea ice extent fell to 1.67 million square miles in September 2011, the second lowest recorded since satellites began measuring it in 1979. Scientists attribute this decline to rising temperatures caused by human-produced greenhouse gases, which is expected to lead to ice-free summers by around 2030 or 2040.
New data from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows that radiation from some solar flares can continue for up to five hours beyond the initial minutes. The total energy from this extended phase sometimes has more energy than the initial event, increasing our understanding of flare physics and its impact on Earth's atmosphere.
A recent study by University of Colorado Boulder researchers has revealed a surprising connection between mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum, two critical cell organelles. Mitochondrial defects have been linked to various diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.
A new CU-Boulder study assesses 69 historical sites in the Southern Rockies and finds that 65 of them are still occupied by pikas, contrasting with a recent Great Basin study showing local extinctions increasing five-fold. The team found that drier conditions at abandoned sites may be driving pika disappearance.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder discovered graphene's surprisingly powerful adhesion qualities, which could guide the development of graphene manufacturing and mechanical devices. The study showed that graphene's extreme flexibility allows it to conform to even the smoothest substrates.
A new CU-Boulder study finds that a major climate oscillation in the Southern Hemisphere is expected to increase wildfire activity in southern South America. The research team used tree rings dating back 500 years to track past wildfire activity, revealing widespread fires in Patagonia during periods of positive SAM phase.
A new CU-Boulder study has found that dog feces may be a significant source of airborne bacteria in urban areas, particularly during the winter months. The research suggests that the dominant source of airborne bacteria in Cleveland and Detroit's wintertime air is actually from dog fecal material.
A small amount of exercise has been shown to prevent exaggerated inflammation in the brain and long-lasting memory impairments following a bacterial infection. This study suggests that voluntary exercise can confer robust benefits for those who exercised, especially for older adults at risk of memory loss.
The Juno Mission aims to study the origin and evolution of Jupiter, helping scientists understand planetary formation and the solar system. The spacecraft will orbit Jupiter's poles 33 times, measuring magnetic activity and water content in its atmosphere.
Researchers detected massive water vapor in a distant quasar, equivalent to 34 billion times the mass of Earth. The discovery was made using a spectrograph called Z-Spec and reveals a time when the universe was only 1.6 billion years old.
CU-Boulder alumni played a significant role in NASA's space shuttle program, with 16 astronauts flying on 40 missions. The university also contributed to numerous scientific experiments and instruments, including those for the Hubble Space Telescope.
The University of Colorado Boulder's BioServe Space Technologies will carry five CU-Boulder-built payloads aboard the final space shuttle mission. The payloads include an antibody experiment to treat bone loss in astronauts and a salmonella vaccine development project.
A new software program allows neuroscientists to produce single brain images from hundreds of individual studies, reducing the time-consuming process. The tool uses meta-analysis to extract brain scan images and analyze them rapidly.
A new study led by the University of Heidelberg and involving the University of Colorado Boulder has found strong evidence for a large-scale, subterranean saltwater ocean on Enceladus. The research suggests that the plumes shooting water vapor and ice particles into space originate from an ocean beneath the icy surface of the moon.
The University of Colorado Boulder has been awarded a six-year, $5.9 million grant to continue its long-term ecological studies in Colorado's high mountains, focusing on climate change and human-caused changes. The research at the Niwot Ridge Long-Term Ecological Research site will investigate the effects of warming temperatures, nitro...