An international research team, including CU-Boulder, has discovered that muon neutrinos can spontaneously change their flavor to electron neutrinos, a finding that may help explain why the universe is mostly made of matter rather than antimatter.
A CU-Boulder study indicates that mountain pine beetle infestations could lead to earlier snowmelt and increased water yields. The research found that dead trees with red needles accumulated more snow than living stands, while those with gray phase trees melted faster due to reduced snow interception and increased solar radiation.
A new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder found that female hominids preferred to move away from their residential groups, suggesting a dispersal pattern similar to modern humans and some primates. The team used high-tech analysis of strontium isotope ratios in tooth enamel to identify specific areas of landscape use.
A CU-Boulder team will participate in the OSIRIS-REx mission, which aims to map and collect samples from a primitive asteroid. The mission is expected to provide insights into the formation of the solar system and potentially shed light on the origins of life.
A new study found that Paranthropus boisei, a 1-million-year-old hominid, had a diet of 77% grasses and sedges, contradicting the long-held assumption of a nut-based diet. The analysis of carbon isotopes in fossil teeth revealed a preference for C4 grasses and sedges.
The human super-brain is believed to have emerged in Africa no later than 75,000 years ago, fueled by the development of bipedalism and tool-making. This collective mind enabled the creation of complex thoughts, language, art, and technologies.
A new study reveals that the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused significant social disruption and psychological stress among Gulf residents, similar to the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez spill. The study found that family health concerns, economic loss, and exposure to oil were key factors contributing to higher levels of stress.
The 2011 Arctic sea ice extent was the lowest maximum extent of 5,650,000 square miles since satellite record keeping began in 1979. Climate scientists believe shrinking sea ice is tied to warming temperatures and human-produced greenhouse gases.
CU-Boulder's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics designed an $8.7 million instrument onboard MESSENGER, which will help solve mysteries about Mercury's hot surface and atmosphere. The mission aims to better understand planetary systems and formation, with dozens of students involved in analyzing data.
A new study reveals that Neanderthals consistently used fire for approximately 400,000 years in Europe, contrary to previous assumptions about their abilities. The findings, based on scores of ancient archaeological sites, show evidence of sustained fire control through the presence of charcoal, heated stone artifacts, and burned bones.
InDevR received a $3 million Phase II NIH grant to develop an integrated molecular diagnostic platform for influenza screening. The technology aims to provide accurate, rapid, and cost-effective identification of influenza viruses.
A University of Colorado Boulder study indicates acupressure may improve cognitive function in individuals with mild traumatic brain injury. Researchers used a form of acupuncture called Jin Shin to stimulate specific points on the body and showed significant improvements in working memory and attention.
The Total Irradiance Monitor instrument on Glory will study short- and long-term fluctuations in the sun's energy output, influencing Earth's climate. A tiny CU-Boulder satellite, Hermes, also launched on Taurus XL, aims to improve communications systems in tiny satellites.
A recent study by the University of Colorado Boulder suggests that ignoring an unemployed spouse's job search stress can lead to decreased productivity and strained relationships in the home. The researchers found that couples are better at sharing their burden than alleviating it, leading to a negative impact on both spouses.
A new study estimates that up to two-thirds of Earth's permafrost will disappear by 2200, unleashing massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. The team predicts a release of roughly 190 billion tons of carbon, equivalent to half of the amount released since the Industrial Age.
CU-Boulder-built biomedical payloads will study bacterial growth in low gravity and cell cultivation in a tropical plant for biofuels. The experiments may help prevent infectious diseases and develop new renewable crops.
A new international study reveals that warming North Atlantic Ocean water is likely tied to the amplification of global warming in the Arctic. Water temperatures in the Fram Strait, which runs between Greenland and Svalbard, have warmed by roughly 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit in the past century.
Researchers report a lower value of total solar irradiance than previously measured, demonstrating improved accuracy and consistency. The new findings will help resolve the question of how significant a contributor solar fluctuations are to global warming.
A study by the University of Colorado at Boulder found that older adults taking zolpidem are significantly more likely to experience balance problems and cognitive impairments. Younger adults also showed significant cognitive impacts from sleep inertia, highlighting a need for further research on this topic.
A new assessment by Professor Nicholas Ambraseys and Professor Roger Bilham reveals that corrupt building practices are responsible for most earthquake-related deaths globally. The study found a strong correlation between wealth and corruption, with less wealthy nations being the most corrupt.
Researchers found that men with masculine facial features are more attractive to women during their fertile phase, but this doesn't necessarily translate to increased attraction as life partners. The study, published in Evolution and Human Behavior, suggests that a man's intelligence has no effect on the extent to which fertile female ...
A University of Colorado team found that the metabolic cost of an adult missing one night of sleep is roughly equivalent to walking two miles. The study showed a 7% increase in energy expenditure during sleep deprivation, while recovery sleep resulted in a 5% decrease.
A study led by the University of Colorado at Boulder found a four-fold increase in dissolved zinc over 30 years in the Snake River watershed, affecting stream ecology and fish populations. Climate change is believed to be the cause, linked to changes in groundwater conditions and snowmelt patterns.
Researchers are using image recognition software on unmanned aircraft to monitor Arctic seals in remote areas without risking pilots or observers. The project aims to understand the impact of warming temperatures and sea ice loss on seal populations, with potential applications for predicting future changes in seal habitats.
A CU-Boulder scientist is using data gathered by a world-class telescope flying aboard a modified Boeing 747 to observe a distant star-forming region. The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) allows scientists to study stellar targets in wavelengths that can't be observed by ground-based telescopes.
A recent CU-Boulder study found that simple writing exercises can reduce the gender gap in physics exams. Women who participated in a brief values affirmation exercise showed improved course grades and mastery over conceptual material, surpassing men's performance.
A new compound, ATL313, has shown promise in reversing multiple sclerosis (MS) effects by resetting glial cells to an anti-inflammatory state. The treatment stopped MS-caused paralysis in rats for weeks at a time and could potentially heal lesions, offering a major breakthrough in treating MS symptoms.
A University of Colorado at Boulder-led study found that specific stem cells can prevent the loss of muscle function and mass with aging. The transplanted stem cells doubled in mass and sustained themselves for two years, suggesting a potential treatment for humans with chronic degenerative muscle diseases.
Researchers discover that meltwater flowing through ice sheet interiors can warm the ice rapidly, accelerating its response to climate change. This faster-than-expected process could increase ice flows on ice sheets much faster than previously thought.
Researchers have discovered the oldest evidence of pressure flaking in South Africa's Blombos Cave, pushing the origins of a skillful stone-tool-sharpening method back more than 50,000 years. The technique, used by anatomically modern humans, allows for precise control over tool shape and sharpness.
NASA's space shuttle Discovery will carry two CU-Boulder-built biomedical payload devices, one testing the virulence of MRSA bacteria in microgravity. The experiments aim to help researchers prevent or control infectious diseases and improve our understanding of gene and protein changes in pathogens.
The CU-Boulder student-built dust counter on NASA's New Horizons mission has reached a distance of 1.67 billion miles from Earth, breaking the record for the most distant working space dust detector. The instrument collected data in agreement with earlier measurements made by NASA's Galileo and Ulysses missions to Jupiter.
A study published by a CU-led team reveals that three genes in jawless vertebrates may have been key to the development of jaws in higher vertebrates. The findings suggest that creating a jaw in a jawless ancestor was a relatively simple matter of altering when and where these few genes are used.
NASA has awarded CU-Boulder $6.7 million to design instruments for the Solar Probe Plus mission, which will orbit 22 times closer to the sun than Earth. The team aims to understand how the sun ticks and better forecast radiation environments for future space explorers.
The Arctic sea ice cover reached its minimum extent for the year in September, marking the third-lowest recorded since satellites started measuring sea ice extent in 1979. The 2010 minimum ice extent is significantly below the long-term average and outside natural climate variability.
A CU-Boulder study found that neural inhibition plays a crucial role in decision-making, particularly for people with anxiety disorders. The research suggests that increasing neural inhibition could help improve treatment options for individuals struggling with decision paralysis.
Astronomers measure velocity and composition of 'star guts' from nearby supernova Supernova 1987A using Hubble Space Telescope observations. The study reveals the deposition of energy and heavy elements into the host galaxy, including elements necessary for life on Earth.
CU-Boulder undergraduates and staff successfully decommissioned the Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) after seven years of operation. The team, led by LASP professionals, uploaded commands to burn the remaining fuel and switched off the transmitter, bringing the satellite safely into Earth re-entry.
Researchers discovered that many binary asteroid pairs do not remain bound to each other but escape, forming two separate asteroids in orbit around the sun. The study showed a specific relationship between the larger and smaller members of the pair, with the smallest one always less than 60% of the size of its companion.
A new study reveals that ancient alligators and giant tortoises lived on Ellesmere Island above the Arctic Circle despite six months of darkness, with average temperatures ranging from 66-68°F (19-20°C). The research provides insights into past and future biodiversity in the High Arctic as climate change impacts the region.
A recent study found Texas petrochemical emissions are down, but still significantly underreported. Researchers took airplane measurements to compare with industry inventories and found discrepancies in pollutant levels. The findings highlight the need for improved monitoring and regulation.
A team of 300 scientists and students from 14 countries drilled over 1.5 miles into the North Greenland ice sheet, recovering ice from the Eemian interglacial period. The cores will provide crucial information on past temperatures and greenhouse gas concentrations, helping to predict future climate change.
A new study led by University of Colorado at Boulder indicates that rising sea levels in the Indian Ocean are partly caused by human-induced climate warming, threatening coastal areas and islands. The study suggests that the Indo-Pacific warm pool is amplifying regional sea rise changes, with potential far-reaching impacts on global cl...
A recent study suggests the Arctic climate system may be more sensitive to greenhouse warming than previously thought. The researchers used three independent methods to measure Pliocene temperatures on Ellesmere Island, finding that CO2 levels of approximately 400 parts per million can produce mean annual temperatures in the High Arcti...
A recent study led by the University of Colorado at Boulder found that upgrading a wastewater treatment plant in Colorado has mitigated the problem of male fish becoming feminized due to chemical contaminants. The team observed no effects on male sex characteristics after 28 days of exposure to effluent water, contradicting previous fi...
A new study indicates that babies born vaginally have bacterial communities resembling their mother's vaginal bacteria, while C-section newborns have common skin bacterial communities. This finding has potential implications for infant health as they grow and develop.
A new CU-Boulder study provides further support for the idea of a sustained sea on Mars during the Noachian era, suggesting an ancient ocean likely covered about 36% of the planet. The research implies an Earth-like global hydrological cycle, including precipitation, runoff, cloud formation, and ice and groundwater accumulation.
A new study by CU-Boulder researchers suggests that the thick organic haze surrounding early Earth may have protected it from damaging ultraviolet radiation. The haze, composed of methane and nitrogen chemical byproducts, would have blocked UV light but allowed visible light to reach the surface. This finding has significant implicatio...
A new study shows that hammerheads evolved from a large ancestor, but their distinctive head shape changed over time due to selective environmental pressures. Small hammerheads likely evolved independently twice, and their smaller size may have led to increased energy investment in reproductive activities.
A University of Colorado at Boulder researcher found that cities with larger increases in immigration between 1990 and 2000 experienced the largest decreases in rates of homicide and robbery. The study suggests that growth in new immigrant populations may be partly responsible for the decrease in violent crime.