Researchers identified a set of proteins that play a key role in preventing errors during healthy cell formation. The study sheds light on mechanisms involved in egg cell formation and may aid understanding of infertility, stillbirths, and birth defects.
Researchers have created detailed maps of the world's natural landscapes to better predict climate change impacts. The maps show how carbon is stored in plants, trees, and soils, revealing differences in biological properties between habitats.
A new smartphone app has enabled vets to vaccinate 70% of the dog population in Ranchi, India, minimizing the risk of rabies transmission. The app tracks vaccinated and unvaccinated dogs, allowing for targeted vaccination efforts.
Researchers have pinpointed cell types responsible for common brain diseases, including Alzheimer's and Multiple Sclerosis. The findings suggest that developing medicines targeting microglial cells could offer hope for treating these conditions.
A recent study suggests that using paracetamol during pregnancy may reduce female fertility in subsequent generations. Researchers tested the effects of paracetamol and another painkiller on rats and found that female offspring had fewer eggs, smaller ovaries, and reduced reproductive function compared to those not exposed to the drugs.
A study found that genes associated with diseases like Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and autism also impact cognitive functions. Researchers analyzed data from 100,000 people in the UK Biobank to discover shared genetic influences between health and thinking skills.
A recent study published in Genome Biology suggests that genetic factors play a significant role in determining our choice of romantic partners. The research found that the genes controlling an individual's height also influence their preference for a partner with similar height, accounting for 89% of genetic variation.
New research suggests that reducing beef production in Brazil could lead to higher global greenhouse gas emissions due to the need for farmers to recover degraded pastures and boost cattle productivity. This would potentially lower emissions by storing more carbon in the soil.
A study of wild sheep on St Kilda island found that high levels of vitamin D are associated with improved fertility and reproductive success. Sheep with higher vitamin D levels had more lambs in the following spring, suggesting an evolutionary advantage.
Researchers found that mothers' appetites impact on offspring's appetites, stabilizing population sizes. This helps prevent extinction and counteracts the effect of large numbers being preyed upon.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have identified a chemical compound that blocks KMO, fueling inflammation linked to acute pancreatitis. The approach calms inflammation in the condition and protects against organ failure, offering hope for patients with life-threatening complications.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh successfully recreated an elusive form of hydrogen, which exists only under extremely high pressures. The study found that at pressures equivalent to 3.25 million times that of Earth's atmosphere, hydrogen entered a new solid phase and showed unusual properties.
A new study suggests that global land surface temperatures will increase by an average of almost 8C by 2100 if significant efforts are not made to address climate change. This would have a devastating impact on life on Earth, posing risks from extreme temperatures, flooding, regional drought, and food shortages.
A recent study by University of Edinburgh researchers has identified two molecules, Hif-1alpha and Hif-2alpha, that work together to prevent the development of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in an aggressive type of blood cancer. The findings suggest that therapies designed to block these molecules may have no impact or worsen the disease.
A newly discovered collection of rare dinosaur tracks in Scotland is helping scientists shed light on some of the biggest animals to have lived on land. The footprints, made by plant-eating sauropods around 170 million years ago, suggest these dinosaurs grew to at least 15 meters in length and weighed over 10 tonnes.
Researchers use CT scans and 3D models to study a 90-million-year-old skull, revealing that snakes evolved to live in burrows and lost their limbs as a result. The discovery confirms Dinilysia patagonica as the largest burrowing snake ever known.
A new study has shown that human embryonic stem cells are fit for use in patients, paving the way for clinical trials of cell therapies. The research also establishes a cost-effective approach for monitoring the quality of stem cell-based products and emerging cell therapies.
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have developed a new technique for growing liver cells from stem cells using synthetic materials, which could lead to mass production of high-quality cells for patient therapies. The process is cost-effective and eliminates the need for animal products, making treatments safer for patients.
A study by the University of Edinburgh found that droughts could kill off the tallest trees in tropical rainforests as breakages in their water transport system lead to death. The research indicates smaller trees are more likely to survive long-term droughts and store less carbon.
Researchers at University of Edinburgh discover key components in algae that enable efficient photosynthesis, leading to potential breeding of high-yield crops. By understanding and replicating these mechanisms, scientists aim to create more productive varieties of wheat, rice, and barley.
Astronomers have identified a type of gas found in galaxy voids that appears to fuel star formation under certain conditions. Researchers used radio telescopes to measure atomic gas levels in galaxies with gamma-ray bursts, finding large amounts of the gas near these events.
Researchers found that treatment with Lovastatin can correct high levels of protein production in the brain linked to intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders. The study suggests that different types of intellectual disabilities may share common disease mechanisms, which could benefit from common therapeutic approaches.
Researchers found that despite increased ice melt, some areas of the ice sheet have slowed down, reducing sea level forecasts. The discovery was made using satellite data and shows that meltwater can slow glacier movement by producing channels at the base of the ice sheet.
A zebrafish study has discovered that serotonin boosts the growth of new motor neurons after a spinal cord injury, a finding that could lead to new therapies for neurodegenerative conditions. Researchers hope that understanding this repair mechanism in zebrafish may eventually trigger similar processes in human stem cells.
A small freshwater algae has evolved to live in harsh seawater, adapting to high salt levels through genetic and epigenetic changes. Researchers tracked the transition of successive generations in a lab setting, discovering two stages of adaptation that enabled the plant to thrive in seawater.
A major study found that brain cooling therapy, induced hypothermia, does not improve patients' chances of recovery from traumatic brain injuries. Despite reducing brain pressure, the therapy was associated with worse functional recovery after six months.
Researchers found similarities between horse sickness and human conditions like Alzheimer's disease in a study published in Molecular and Cellular Proteomics. The findings shed light on the causes of equine grass sickness, a rare but fatal condition that can be tricky to diagnose.
Major volcanic eruptions can trigger reduced river flow in tropical and northern Asia regions, including Amazon, Congo, and Nile, researchers found. The study also reveals increased flow in sub-tropical regions like the south-west US and parts of South America.
Recent developments in surveillance technology could enable a swifter response to potentially deadly outbreaks of disease. A team of infectious disease experts found that shortcomings in the global response to Ebola highlight the need for state-of-the-art techniques to detect and monitor outbreaks.
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh built complex computer models to understand why cells developed pathways to convert sugar into energy. The study suggests that these metabolic systems evolved to produce more energy compared to alternative pathways.
A recent study found that an Icelandic volcanic eruption released three times more sulphur dioxide gas than all of Europe's industrial emissions combined. The eruption caused significant air pollution and acid rain, with the lava flow covering an area equivalent to Manhattan.
A team of researchers decoded genetic sequences of E. coli O157, revealing its ancestor has been around for over 175 years. The study found that the bacteria's ability to produce shiga-toxins has evolved, making some strains more deadly than others.
Research suggests a treatment that boosts the immune system could improve liver failure treatment outcomes. The therapy uses an immune-boosting molecule called CSF-1 to trigger natural defence mechanisms in the liver.
A recent study of over 150,000 smokers found that varenicline does not increase the risk of heart attack or depression. The research suggests that doctors can prescribe varenicline more widely to help people quit smoking, supporting its effectiveness and safety.
Computer models of developing cancers show that small cell movements can quickly alter tumor composition. The models suggest treatments targeting these movements could slow disease progress by preventing certain cells from flourishing.
Researchers found that stronger winds forecasted by climate change could exacerbate the time females take to find food compared to males, affecting their wellbeing and potentially population sizes. This study on UK coastal seabirds highlights the impact of wind conditions on bird behavior.
A study by researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that smoking bans led to a 8% drop in stillbirths and newborn deaths in England, resulting in 1500 avoided deaths. The ban also reduced low birth weight cases by over 5000.
Researchers at University of Edinburgh's Roslin Institute discovered that prions build up in Peyer's patches before spreading to the brain. This finding could enable earlier detection and treatment of prion diseases, including variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
A recent study from the University of Edinburgh found that a slow-down in global warming is likely due to natural variation and not a sign of climate change ending. The research analyzed over 200 years' worth of temperature data and supported previous findings that short-term pauses are temporary.
A newly identified species of feathered dinosaur has been found to have complex, quill pen-like feathers and short wings, challenging previous assumptions about the diversity of winged dinosaurs. The discovery, published in Scientific Reports, provides new insights into the evolution and biology of these fascinating creatures.
A recent study published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology found that treating obese pregnant women with the diabetes drug metformin does not reduce their babies' birth weights. Despite this, the treatment did help lower blood sugar levels in mothers-to-be and markers linked to pre-eclampsia and premature births.
Researchers found worm infection in parent birds or nestlings impacts most on others in their family group, affecting survival rates and breeding success. The study's findings could have important implications for the conservation of wild animals under threat.
A recent Arctic tundra study found that climate warming is driving dramatic changes in the region's vegetation, with shrubs growing more in warmer temperatures. This increase in shrub growth can lead to more warming in tundra ecosystems and globally.
A study of populations worldwide suggests that genetic diversity is linked to increased height and better cognitive skills, as well as higher levels of education. However, this diversity has no effect on factors like high blood pressure or cholesterol levels.
Researchers found that phytoplankton exposed to fluctuating CO2 levels adapted more to future changes than those grown in stable conditions. However, the adapted algae evolved more and were smaller, potentially impacting marine animal feeding and carbon sequestration.
A digital map of the ageing brain could aid diagnosis by comparing patients' scans with a detailed map of the healthy ageing brain. The atlas was able to pinpoint changes in brain structure that can be an underlying sign of early Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that the primary visual cortex controls fast responses to animal images, contradicting previous theories. The brain categorizes scenes based on small areas of shape and texture before using complex processing to identify objects.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh discovered a trigger that allows breast cancer cells to spread to the lungs. Blocking these signals in mice significantly reduces secondary tumor formation. The study's findings may lead to new treatments to stop breast cancer progression.
Research suggests that prolonged paracetamol use during pregnancy may reduce testosterone production in unborn baby boys, potentially linked to reproductive health problems later in life. The study found a 45% decrease in testosterone levels after seven days of exposure.
A study published in Chemical Communications suggests that a natural plant chemical called trans-chalcone can help prevent tooth decay. By blocking the action of an enzyme that allows bacteria to thrive, researchers found that trans-chalcone prevents the formation of plaque and biofilms around teeth.