A new study concludes that periodical cicadas could be heading toward extinction due to the historical loss of old-growth forests, which are their sole food source. The insects are unable to adapt to new habitats, making it unlikely for them to recolonize restored forests.
Researchers demonstrate how the frontoparietal cortex handles uncertainty in decision-making, organizing and coordinating responses. The findings may guide future research into neurological disorders such as ADHD and schizophrenia.
A recent study reveals that the intense geomagnetic storm on Mother's Day in May 2024 was caused by 10 merged coronal mass eruptions from the sun. The solar outbursts created a massive magnetic cloud that collided with Earth's magnetosphere, producing the powerful storms and auroras.
Researchers studied a magnetic cloud's extreme expansion as it approached Earth, finding it expanded by 21% and heated up due to plasma collisions. The study sheds light on how these solar storms can impact our planet.
Researchers measured electron velocities and concentrations in low-Earth orbit to map the travel pattern of solar energy from magnetic reconnection to its interactions at cusps. The study provides new insights into solar effects on Earth that drive space weather.
Researchers found that pregnant women who reduced sedentary time and increased light physical activity lowered their risk of hypertensive disorders by nearly 30%. The ideal daily routine includes fewer than eight hours of sedentary time, seven hours of light physical activity, and nine hours of sleep.
A new study reveals that wildfires have led to a decade-long reversal of ozone mitigation efforts in the US. Exposure to surface ozone from wildfires contributes to thousands of additional premature deaths each year.
Researchers have created a three-dimensional lattice that captures water from the air and stores it using ultraviolet light. The material can store up to 5% of its mass in water molecules, with potential for scalability to impact global water stress.
Researchers found that pigeons tend to decrease variability in their responses when rewarded, but maintain exploratory tendencies and switch among favorite sequences. The study's findings extend beyond evolutionary biology, suggesting adaptability may be beneficial for other complex behaviors like art creation.
A new species of crocodile, named Lucy's hunter, was discovered in Ethiopia and found to have hunted the iconic Lucy's species 3 million years ago. The crocodile, named Crocodylus lucivenator, was found to have a prominent lump on its head and a snout that extended further from its nostrils than other crocodiles at that time.
A single session of exercise produces a burst of high-frequency brain waves, called ripples, in brain networks tied to learning and recall. The study, led by the University of Iowa, shows that even a single bout of exercise can rapidly alter neural rhythms and brain networks involved in memory and cognitive function.
The study reveals a new method to harness stray laser scatter to cancel out unwanted multi-photon emission, leading to a more efficient and secure single-photon line. This breakthrough could enable the development of advanced quantum computers and communication networks.
Scientists discovered a freshwater snail's genome was duplicated, revealing the species' recent evolutionary history. This finding may hold clues to major evolutionary shifts in animals.
University of Iowa researchers have created an underwater hydrofoil with a coiled spire design that reduces drag and creates more lift, enabling it to move with ease in any underwater environment. The technology mimics the skin, muscles, and tissue of an octopus, allowing for increased portability and maneuverability.
University of Iowa researchers have successfully tested a technique that stimulates a gene to prevent craniosynostosis, a condition causing infants' skulls to close prematurely. The treatment involved injecting nano-sized packets containing the miR-200a gene into newborn mice, allowing their brains to expand and preventing skull fusion.
Researchers found an association between urinary incontinence and cardiovascular disease risk factors or events, such as dyslipidemia and stroke. The study suggests that screening for urinary incontinence may be necessary to prevent CVD risk in affected women.
A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that statin use did not improve kidney function and had no ill effects in older adults. The research provides evidence supporting the kidney safety of statins, suggesting they can be used without concerns related to potential kidney harm.
Researchers discovered a gene that enables fruit flies to detect unique male courtship songs, which is also present in mosquitoes. Silencing this gene could theoretically limit mosquito populations and disease transmission. The study's findings have implications for controlling diseases like Zika and West Nile virus.
A new study by University of Iowa researchers found that physical activity reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. The study recommends health care providers survey patients on their physical activity levels to identify those at high risk.
A new study found that people with cochlear implants use the same three word-recognition dimensions as normal hearing people: Wait and See, Sustained Activation, and Slow Activation. These dimensions help explain how people recognize words, even with different ways of hearing.
Researchers studied how pre-teen children determined when it was safe to cross a residential street with self-driving cars. Children made safer choices when the light turned green later and the vehicle stopped at the crossing point, treating it like a walk light and waiting for clearance.
A recent study has linked the subthalamic nucleus to attention control, revealing that this brain region also plays a role in thoughts and impulse control. The findings suggest that deep brain stimulation, used to treat Parkinson's disease, may have adverse effects on attentional processes.
Researchers found that preterm infants fed donor milk had a lower incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis and neurological development issues. The study's findings validate the use of donor milk in NICUs, providing evidence to support its benefits for extremely premature infants.
A new study reveals that wildfires have worsened air quality in the western US, mainly due to increased frequency and ferocity of fires, resulting in a significant increase in premature deaths. The study found black carbon concentrations rose 55% annually in fire-prone areas, contributing to a decline in air quality.
Researchers found that the brain can distinguish between human error and non-error outcomes in as little as 1,000 milliseconds. In cases of human error, the brain takes additional time to catalog the mistake and inform the body to avoid repeating it.
A new study reveals that language recognition speed varies significantly across the lifespan, peaking in the mid-20s to early-30s and declining in the mid-40s. Despite controlling for hearing ability, researchers found variations in processing speed among older adults, suggesting cognitive processes may be at play.
A recent study has found that the fungus Candida auris uses a genetic agent called the Hil family to adhere to host tissue and form biofilms, making it difficult for humans to fight off infections. This adaptation allows the fungus to evade the human immune system and become resistant to anti-fungal drugs.
Researchers have definitively linked the brain's immune system to worsening epilepsy, identifying a chain of events that causes seizures to worsen. The study suggests repurposing anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants could help control epilepsy progression.
Researchers found pigeons can solve complex categorization tests through exhaustive trial and error, mirroring artificial intelligence's process. Pigeons' ability to memorize patterns and objects surpasses human performance in similar tasks.
A team of researchers at the University of Iowa has identified three genes that are directly associated with cleft lip and palate. The study, which analyzed DNA from over 1,000 patients with the disorder, found that deleting these genes can cause cleft lip or palate.
Researchers found nine locations on Mars with greater concentrations of silicon, indicating a more complex crustal history. The discovery challenges the previous assumption that Mars' crust was formed through simple volcanic processes.
Researchers developed a contrastive learning model that can detect compromised lung function in long-COVID patients from 2D chest X-ray images. The model successfully identified small airways disease and separated it from more advanced respiratory issues, offering an affordable diagnosis option for clinics without CT scanning equipment.
University of Iowa researchers confirmed a neural circuit linking two brain regions that governs how animals react to stressful situations. The study showed that activating this pathway can revive active coping behaviors and reduce stress hormone release in rats.
Researchers found that asexual freshwater snails, successful invaders worldwide, matured and reproduced more quickly than non-invasive counterparts. This combination of traits allows them to outcompete other snail lineages in new environments.
University of Iowa researchers confirmed a specific brain region, the subthalamic nucleus, plays a critical role in governing mind-body communication for motor control. The study could advance treatment options for Parkinson's disease, a disorder characterized by declining motor coordination.
A new combination of nanoparticles and a vaccine has been developed to target melanoma. In experiments using mice, this combination eliminated cancerous tumors or extended survival rates.
Two new species of giant dwarf crocodiles, Kinyang mabokoensis and Kinyang tchernovi, were discovered in East Africa between 18 million and 15 million years ago. The ancient forms were massive predators that likely posed a significant threat to human ancestors.
Scientists have learned how discrete auroras on Mars are formed through the interaction between solar wind and crustal magnetic fields. The study, published in JGR: Space Physics, reveals that aurora occurrence rates depend on solar wind conditions and orientation.
A new study from the University of Iowa has created comprehensive maps showing flood risk for farmland throughout Iowa. The researchers analyzed nearly 25 million acres of agricultural land to classify the flood risk according to eight scenarios, highlighting areas prone to chronic flooding and low productivity yields.
Researchers at the University of Iowa have identified neural circuits in fruit flies that remain resilient to aging, while others weaken. These findings hold promise for understanding genetic pathways and environmental factors contributing to healthy aging in the brain.
Researchers found a powerful black hole in a nearby galaxy that may have played a key role in the universe's reionization process. The discovery sheds light on how the first stars and galaxies formed, with implications for our understanding of the universe's evolution.
Researchers at the University of Iowa found that the fruit fly's head-heart beats much like a human's, driven by an automatic muscle contraction and relaxation. This rhythmic pulsation generates hemolymph flow to the antennae and may help keep the brain clean.
Researchers at the University of Iowa study photon properties to predict secure quantum communication limits. They describe new quantum codes that rely on indistinguishable photons, enabling fast and secure data transmission in a potential 'quantum internet'.
Biologists found that a mother roundworm's response to heat stress affects not only her offspring but also their children. The researchers discovered a protein called HSF1 that collaborates with mechanisms to establish stress memory in eggs, which are then passed on through conception.
Researchers calculate sun's electric field distribution, revealing its impact on solar wind acceleration. The study provides new insights into the sun's interaction with charged particles and their effect on Earth's activities.
A study by University of Iowa researchers found that human infants exhibit increased twitching during quiet sleep, which is synchronized with brain oscillations called sleep spindles. This discovery suggests that babies are learning about their bodies through twitching during a previously thought to be inactive period.
Researchers have identified Alfven waves as the primary cause of the most brilliant auroras. These waves accelerate electrons toward Earth, producing atmospheric light show, through a process known as Landau damping. The study, conducted at the Large Plasma Device, confirms decades-long quest to demonstrate experimentally the physical ...
Researchers used environmental DNA (eDNA) to detect the presence of invasive New Zealand mud snails in waters they inhabited incognito, revealing a new population in central Pennsylvania. The eDNA technique allowed for early detection of the snail's invasion, even when traditional methods would not have found them.
Researchers have found a new feature in the diffuse aurora, where sections of the background-like glow disappear and then reappear after a short period. This phenomenon, dubbed 'diffuse auroral erasers,' has never been mentioned in scientific literature and raises questions about its frequency and potential impact on Earth's climate.
A new study from the University of Iowa developed a 12-point list of sexual assault prevention strategies, finding that 71% of surveyed men used these tactics regularly. The research suggests that implementing these strategies could be an effective way to reduce sexually aggressive behavior in college men.