Researchers found that a small molecule called ortho-benzyne can drive the chemical evolution of molecules in cosmic stellar nurseries. This discovery provides new insights into the complex chemistry happening in these environments.
A new analysis found that human ignitions started 76% of the wildfires that destroyed structures in Western states, leading to increased structure losses. The study suggests that policymakers can lessen the risks of wildfire damage by addressing human-related ignitions and promoting fire-resistant building materials.
A new study found that Indigenous communities with formal tenure rights in Brazil's Atlantic Forest reduced deforestation and improved forest cover, outperforming territories without such rights. Strengthening self-determination rights of Indigenous peoples has been shown to be crucial for forest conservation efforts globally.
A CU Boulder-led study finds that Indigenous communities with full, formal recognition of their land rights experience less deforestation and increased reforestation in the Atlantic Forest. The research supports ongoing efforts to recognize Indigenous peoples' land rights and mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss.
A study of 4,000 twins found no link between cannabis legalization and increases in cognitive, psychological, social, relationship or financial problems. Twins in states where cannabis is legal showed fewer symptoms of alcohol use disorder.
Research on Latino mother-child pairs reveals that prenatal pollution exposure is associated with deficits in motor coordination, language skills, and cognitive development at age 2. The study found significant correlations between exposure to particulate matter and lower composite cognitive scores.
A CU research team has developed a method to transform medical images into incredibly detailed 3D models on the computer, which can be printed and used for surgical planning. The approach uses custom software to convert scan data into volumetric pixels, allowing for more accurate representations of human anatomy.
Research finds that childhood trauma is associated with increased interest in both public and private environmental issues, suggesting a powerful motivator for engagement. Childhood experiences in nature also predict green behavior later in life.
A team led by the University of Colorado Boulder discovered a unique microbial community on the newly formed Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai island, which metabolizes sulfur and atmospheric gases. The microbes were found to be similar to those in hydrothermal vents, hot springs, and other volcanic systems.
In Florida, over one in ten minors seeking abortion care through the judicial bypass system were denied, according to a new study. The research highlights the challenges faced by young people navigating parental involvement laws and the need for coordinated services to support them.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder designed a new rubber-like film that can jump high into the air like a grasshopper. The material responds by storing and releasing energy, similar to how grasshoppers store energy in their legs.
Researchers have uncovered the most detailed look yet at Earth's recent climatic history by analyzing Antarctic ice cores. The study provides a record of summer and winter temperatures dating back 11,000 years, offering an important baseline for understanding climate change.
A new study found a clear increase in sulfur fertilizer use in the Midwest as atmospheric sulfur deposition declined. The study, which analyzed decades of data, suggests that farmers replaced lost airborne nutrient with fertilizer.
A randomized controlled trial found that community gardening increases fiber intake by 7% and physical activity levels, leading to lower stress and anxiety. The study also confirms the benefits of novice gardeners and highlights the social connections formed through community gardening.
Researchers discovered that eye movements can reveal valuable information about how humans make decisions. The study found that the speed and vigor of eye movements increased as participants considered their options before making a choice.
Researchers used bright green lasers and camera equipment to directly visualize aerosol plumes and measure the speed and spread of particles in a toilet flush. The study found that airborne particles shoot out quickly, reaching speeds of 6.6 feet per second and remaining suspended in the air for minutes or longer.
A new study published in Molecular Psychiatry sheds light on the neural mechanisms underlying stress-related behaviors, revealing that glutamate cells in the ventral tegmental area play a critical role. The research found that mice exposed to uncontrollable stressors exhibited more pronounced anxiety-like behavior, whereas those with c...
A team of international researchers has designed new kinds of materials that are potentially tougher, more versatile and more sustainable than what humans can make on their own. These materials mix different proteins and molecules to achieve properties not possible with traditional metals or plastics.
A new University of Colorado Boulder study shows that people tend to prioritize others' health and wellbeing when taking a moment to reflect on their behavior. When instructed to practice 'structured reflection,' participants were more likely to cancel gatherings and minimize public health risks, valuing others' health and wellbeing.
An international team has cracked the chemical code driving iodine particle formation, revealing its link to increased cloud cover and ozone layer depletion. The study suggests that iodine plays a catalytic role in atmospheric particle formation, contributing to global warming-related thinning of Arctic sea ice.
Researchers found a positive correlation between hybridization and human disturbance, with black-capped chickadees more likely to be found in disturbed areas. The study's results suggest that human landscape changes can lead to increased interactions between species, contributing to the evolution of hybridization.
A team of researchers at CU Boulder used X-ray CT scans to study the internal structure of bee swarms, revealing a sophisticated mathematical rule governing their arrangement. The discovery could lead to insights into how bees maintain stability despite having tiny brains and could inspire the design of more resilient buildings or robots.
Researchers from University of Colorado Boulder develop equation learning technique, WSINDy, to grasp how body rebuilds skin and accelerate wound healing. The method can apply to various phenomena in the natural world, including flocking behavior in birds.
Current high levels of fishing in Antarctica's Southern Ocean, combined with climate change, are taking a concerning toll on the region. The authors argue that allowing continued fishing will jeopardize this ecosystem and is increasingly unsustainable.
A University of Colorado Boulder-led team argues that climate scientists should focus on the most likely future, rather than solely worst-case scenarios. This approach can help understand the impacts of moderate warming, such as more severe heat waves and changes in precipitation patterns.
A new study shows that the Galépagos Islands' cool waters are due to a strengthening cold ocean current. The current, which has been getting stronger since the early 1990s, provides a buffer against warming Pacific Ocean waters.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have discovered a novel phenomenon in a type of quantum material that can change its electrical properties under specific conditions. The material, known as Mn3Si2Te6, exhibits colossal magnetoresistance when exposed to certain magnetic fields, allowing it to behave like a metal wire.
A new study suggests that lifestyle choices can help prevent severe COVID-19 by reducing chronic inflammation and regulating the immune system. By adopting healthy habits such as regular exercise, balanced diet, and stress management, individuals can lower their risk of developing severe disease and mitigate post-infection symptoms.
Researchers found that drafting can increase power by about 6% and potentially save time for middle-of-the-pack runners. For elite runners like Eliud Kipchoge, drafting alone could shave off 3:42 to 5:29, while slower runners can achieve similar time savings.
A new University of Colorado Boulder research warns that an obscure family of viruses in wild African primates may jump to humans, causing disease. The study focuses on simian arteriviruses, which have caused Ebola-like symptoms in monkeys and may attack immune cells like HIV.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a method to break down durable plastics into their most basic building blocks and reform them into the same material. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of new technologies, new materials, and enable the circular production of more plastic materials in daily life.
A recent study found that only 35% of eighth and ninth graders in the child welfare system have received information on birth control, and even fewer know how to access it. The study highlights a significant gap in sexual and reproductive health education for this vulnerable population.
A new study reveals that just five US universities have trained 1-in-8 tenure-track faculty members, highlighting the dominance of academic pedigree in academia. The research also shows that academics from less prestigious schools are more likely to leave the field and face limited job opportunities at elite institutions.
Research found that air pollution exposure in the first six months of life impacts a child's inner world of gut bacteria, increasing risk of allergies, obesity, and diabetes. The study also suggests that exposure to pollutants can influence brain development.
A new study reviews over 2,000 years of history to shed light on the delay in recognizing airborne transmission of coronavirus. Despite increasing evidence, institutions and governments initially focused on surface disinfection and handwashing, leading to millions of deaths.
A study of over 3,400 adult twins found that residents in states where cannabis is legal use it 24% more frequently than those in illegal states. This trend holds true for identical twins, with those living in legal states using cannabis 20% more often.
Research finds that grassland biodiversity and resilience are the result of a slow process over hundreds of years, not rapid recovery. Ancient grasslands have unique characteristics that develop over time and can be conserved to maintain ecosystem functions.
Researchers from CU Boulder and NCAR found that soot and burned biomass from wildfires can affect Arctic sea ice, causing ripple effects on global climatic patterns. This study suggests a feedback loop between wildfires and Arctic sea ice, highlighting the interconnectedness of climate systems.
A new study found that children from Kyoto, Japan, waited three times longer for food than for gifts, while those from Boulder, Colorado, waited nearly four times longer for gifts. The study suggests that cultural upbringing plays a significant role in shaping children's self-control and habits.
New research reveals that rattlesnakes maintain a broad and diverse toolkit of genes encoding snake venom, allowing them to adapt as local prey and conditions change. This adaptation enables snakes to overcome prey species evolving resistance to their venoms over millions of years.
A new study by the University of Colorado Boulder warns that increased demand for water, heat waves, droughts, income inequality, and political instability will threaten global food security in the next 20 years. The report emphasizes the need for increased collaboration between researchers to build more resilient food systems.
Asteroids like Bennu and Ryugu appear rough due to the loss of fine-grained regolith caused by tiny space dust grains hopping around on their surfaces. This process may help small asteroids migrate faster through space, affecting their orbits.
A team of ecologists from CU museum identified over 7,000 organisms, mostly bacteria, in the guts of Rocky Mountain snails collected between 1920 and 2018. The findings show that microbiomes can offer insights into how animals interacted with their environments centuries ago.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder and NIST have successfully demonstrated reading out signals from superconducting qubits using laser light, preserving the qubit's information. This breakthrough could enable the creation of a quantum internet, allowing for secure communication over long distances.
Researchers have discovered a new plant species that produces blue berries through structural color, which reflects light and gives the fruit a metallic finish. The unique trait is shared by only six plants in the world, highlighting the complexity of evolution and the possibility of multiple evolutionary pathways.
A new study of nearly 90,000 cannabis samples across six states found that the current labeling system does not consistently align with the observed chemical diversity of products. The researchers are now calling for a more comprehensive labeling system akin to food's nutrition facts panel.
Researchers successfully synthesize graphyne, a highly valued carbon form, using a new process called alkyne metathesis. This breakthrough opens possibilities for electronics, optics, and semiconducting material research.
Researchers from CU Boulder suggest that ancient moon volcanoes may have spewed out huge amounts of water vapor, forming stores of ice on the lunar surface. This discovery adds to evidence that the moon may be awash in more water than previously believed, with potential implications for future lunar missions.
A new study identifies 152 genetic variants shared across multiple psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This finding could lead to the development of therapies addressing multiple disorders with one treatment.
A CU Boulder study shows that tree fitbits can pinpoint precise timing of tree activities like spring bloom or autumn leaf change. The technology could predict agriculture needs, forecast leaves changing color, detect snow in forest canopies, and track tree damage.