A 100-million-year-old tick discovered in Burmese amber provides insight into the intricate relationship between ticks and spiders. The ancient arachnid is bound in spider silk, offering a unique snapshot of this interaction.
A team from the University of Kansas investigated the Speech-to-Song Illusion, where a spoken phrase is repeated and begins to sound like it's being sung. The researchers found that word detectors initially activate, giving one the perception of speech, but fatigue as the phrase is repeated, shifting perception to a songlike state.
A University of Kansas researcher found that helping others and building mutually beneficial relationships can boost an organization's reputation and build resources. The study analyzed studies from evolutionary biology and economics, concluding that indirect reciprocity is a key to effective cooperation.
A study analyzing a New Zealand database found that targeted biosecurity measures can slow the introduction and spread of fungal plant pathogens. The research showed an exponential increase in pathogens over time, but a decline after the implementation of specific measures around the 1980s.
The Specify team has adopted a biological museum-membership organization to migrate from grant-supported to community-supported funding. The new model allows institutions of all sizes to contribute to the operating budget, while maintaining open-source software licensing and free access for users.
The KAW Story project will use one-on-one book reading to expose children with DLD to new words and test their ability to retain vocabulary. Researchers will also focus on testing kids' understanding of new words to determine optimal amounts of practice for memory consolidation.
A multidisciplinary team at KU is tackling the fundamental science underpinning IoT security, focusing on solutions to side-channel attacks and securing information in the cloud. The team aims to improve resilience and trust between computers, essential for addressing growing cybersecurity concerns.
Researchers investigate how populations across different locations respond to environmental changes, aiming to improve fisheries management and conservation. By analyzing hierarchical dynamical systems, the study sheds light on species populations and predicts factors that increase the risks of extinction.
Researchers found that a person's cross-sectional annual earnings taken at one point in time have greater predictive power of their 20-year long-term earnings, ahead of occupation-based classifications. A person's level of education also had slightly better predictive power.
Research from the University of Kansas found that minority students with autism are widely underrepresented in special education, with dramatic disparities seen across states. The study showed that African-American and Hispanic students were underidentified at high rates, while Pacific Islander and Asian students were not identified at...
Scientists from CReSIS and the US/UK will deploy radar technology to map Thwaites Glacier's bed topography and measure ocean interaction. This effort aims to predict the glacier's rapid retreat and resulting sea-level rise.
A new University of Kansas research effort has resulted in a low-cost, reliable blood test that uses a small plastic chip to deliver diagnostic information similar to bone biopsies. The test has the potential to eliminate the need for invasive bone biopsies and guide treatment for multiple myeloma and other cancers.
A new study reveals the existence of a unique defensive mechanism in stonefishes, featuring a 'lachrymal saber' that can deploy from their cheeks. Genetic analysis confirms the close relationship among related species, leading to a revised taxonomy and further insights into the evolutionary history of these deadly fish.
Researchers discovered a 500-million-year-old coprolite in the Ravens Throat River Lagerstätte, providing insight into the Cambrian food web. The fossilized feces of a primordial sea worm reveal its feeding strategy and predator-prey interactions.
A study by University of Kansas researchers found that pregnant women consuming a DHA supplement had children with higher fat-free body mass at age 5. The study suggests that improving maternal DHA nutrition has a favorable programming effect on the fetus, influencing body composition in early childhood.
Researchers have developed an advanced hydrogen-bromine flow battery that can store electricity from solar farms and discharge it overnight when needed. The battery, designed by the University of Kansas, has a high surface area and could be used in large-scale remote energy storage systems.
A new study has found that Przewalski's horses are not the last wild horse species, but rather feral, descended from the earliest-known instance of horse domestication by the Botai people in northern Kazakhstan. The research also reveals that modern domesticated horses did not descend from these early domesticated horses.
The researcher aims to advance natural hazard mitigation by examining local stakeholder networks involved in planning and implementing risk reduction. His project will use a combination of methods, including surveys, interviews, and multivariate regression modeling, to better understand how compassion can be fostered in urban planning.
A new species of arachnid resembling a spider with a tail has been discovered in 100-million-year-old amber from Myanmar. The finding provides insight into arachnid evolution and suggests that tailed descendants may still be alive today.
Scientists analyzed geochemical and isotopic markers to suggest a cosmic impact triggered the disaster, which consumed 10% of the Earth's land surface in fires. The study provides evidence for human cultural shifts and population declines during this period.
The Literacy 3D program expands to more classrooms, increasing children's engagement with evidence-based literacy activities and fostering growth in pre-literacy skills. Preliminary findings show a positive impact on early literacy skills and expressive language.
Researchers at the University of Kansas have developed a method to screen millions of human antibodies for rapid therapeutic discovery, overcoming limitations of single-cell cloning. The breakthrough technology identifies highly potent antibodies and provides insights into human immune responses to vaccines and infections.
Researchers have developed a machine learning model to predict geothermal heat flux beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet, revealing an anomalously high heat flux in northern regions. The study uses 22 geologic variables to improve ice-mass loss and global sea-level rise predictions.
Two doctoral students at the University of Kansas have demonstrated methods to improve the capture of sunlight in experiments at the Center for Design Research. By analyzing data from a year-long study on rooftop materials, they found that panels installed over green roofs performed best, generating an average of 1.4% more energy compa...
The KU center will continue to enable researchers to make breakthroughs in cancer, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, and bacterial infections. The $10.8 million grant supports research at KU and regional institutions, including core labs for genomic analysis, lab-on-a-chip devices, and molecular probe synthesis.
A recent study by University of Kansas researchers found that people's racial and political identities strongly influence how they view the causes of deadly police encounters. African Americans, liberals, and Democrats generally attribute fatal encounters to broader problems in policing. The researchers recommend that police department...
The oVert project provides free, high-resolution 3D images of internal vertebrate anatomy for research and education. The database contains scanned CT scans of over 20,000 specimens from around the world.
A new smartphone app aims to improve treatment outcomes for patients with eating disorders by providing clinicians with real-time feedback on their progress. The app will guide clients through a series of questions using computer-adaptive technology, allowing therapists to track patient response and adjust treatment accordingly.
A new qualitative study found that people's desire for longevity is linked to their health status, with many wanting to live longer only if they can maintain their current level of health. Researchers recommend focusing on health and quality of life when considering policies related to aging.
A team of researchers from the University of Kansas is collecting fossilized plant remains in Antarctica to understand how plants will respond to contemporary climate change. By studying ancient plants, they aim to reconstruct the history of flora and ecosystems on a warming Earth.
A study suggests that expanding geographic sharing of donor kidneys could add 58 to 174 additional kidney transplants per year, helping more patients get off dialysis treatments. Organ quality varies from donor to donor and is concentrated in less populous regions, where patients are more willing to accept lower-quality organs.
A University of Kansas study found that genetic differences between populations of Malaysian torrent frogs were misinterpreted using common methods, leading to the overestimation of new species. The researchers suggest a more cautious approach to species identification, accounting for gene flow among populations.
A tangled mesh in a finite element simulation can lead to inaccurate results, affecting biomechanical design, product development, and large-deformation analysis. Researchers have developed new methods for untangling meshes, including constrained optimization and the finite-cell method.
A researcher at the University of Kansas is working on developing a foundational mathematical framework to account for unstructured uncertainty in complex dynamic systems. The goal is to improve predictive accuracy in fields such as engineering, nature, and global climate change.
Galaxies moving through 'cosmic web' filaments may have altered star formation rates due to compressed gas. The team will use multiple telescopes to observe neutral hydrogen and molecular gas in galaxies as they travel along filaments, aiming to determine if the amount of fuel for star formation is less abundant.
Researchers at the University of Kansas are developing a new technology called Space Time Coding to improve long-range communications for testing airborne vehicles. The goal is to enable more efficient data transmission over narrower frequencies, enabling entities like the Department of Defense to test aircraft on government ranges.
Researchers at the University of Kansas are launching a three-year study to identify how microplastics enter US waters, with goals to engage municipalities and create a publically accessible database. The study aims to quantify plastics release from municipal wastewater treatment plants and estimate national release estimates.
A new study by University of Kansas researchers found that Americans tend to overestimate the size of the gay and lesbian population, which can influence support for equal rights policies. The study used nationally representative surveys from 1977 and 2013, finding consistent overestimations despite changes in social and political land...
A new species of stalked filter feeder has been discovered in the Cambrian Spence Shale in Utah, dating back 500 million years. The ancient creature, named Siphusauctum lloydguntheri, features a unique tulip-shaped body and variations in its digestive tract compared to similar known species.
A new study by University of Kansas researchers found that cities starting with a narrower focus on connections to natural hazards appear to lay a stronger foundation for a more comprehensive approach. This approach includes addressing climate-related impacts beyond just hazards like flooding and severe storms.
A new study reveals that the Malagasy striped whirligig beetle is an ultra-rare survivor with a genetic pedigree dating back at least 206 million years to the late Triassic period. The beetle's isolated location in Madagascar may have allowed it to persist, and it now thrives in marginal environments.
A recent study from the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy found that social and cultural factors are playing a significant role in determining when patients receive opioid prescriptions. Patients with publicly funded insurance, those in the U.S. South, and Hispanic patients were more likely to be prescribed opioids.
A new study reveals that minority public managers emphasize integrating traditional values like efficiency and effectiveness with social equity, offering a unique perspective on public administration. Researchers found that these managers recognize the interconnectedness of these values, acknowledging potential conflicts between them.
Researchers propose using the element vanadium to verify microfossils for signs of life on Mars. Vanadium can substitute into biological compounds and is found in known biological sources, such as chlorophyll.
The University of Kansas will partner with four other Kansas universities to study the role of microorganisms in environmental changes and economic implications. This project aims to improve understanding of microbiomes in water, plants, and soil.
New research reveals that true frogs' rapid global dispersal was not associated with an increase in net-diversification, contradicting long-held scientific expectations. The study found that the origin of these frogs was Indochina, and their diversification occurred over millions of years through a steady accumulation of species.
A University of Kansas study found that students who participated in a social media program learned scientific argumentation better than their peers. The program, which used Twitter and Skype, improved students' ability to share scientific claims, discuss phenomena, and demonstrate knowledge.
Researchers developed a new diagnostic system, HiTOP, which predicts 68% of psychological and social functioning issues related to eating disorders. In contrast, the traditional DSM-5 approach predicts only slightly less than 10%. The study used a hierarchical taxonomy of psychopathology, combining symptoms into dimensions and sub-fact...
A new study by University of Kansas researchers finds that countries with longer punitive sentences for rape crimes are less likely to experience civil war. The study suggests that gender-neutral laws and stricter punishment for rape contribute to progressive societal norms, reducing the chances of internal conflict.
A University of Kansas researcher finds that charter school enrollment in Pennsylvania led to a 9.5% decrease in property tax revenue for public schools between 2005 and 2012. The study suggests that policymakers may not fully understand the financial impact of charter schools on traditional public education.