A new study reveals that defective ribosomes are the root cause of human diseases, starting with anemia and bone marrow failure early in life. As quality control systems fail, more ribosomes become available, leading to changes in gene expression patterns that can result in cancer.
Male big brown bats emit a unique 'back off' call, dubbed FMB, which warns other bats to keep away from claimed prey, increasing the caller's success in snagging insects. The call is only emitted by males and helps establish dominance or claim territory.
Researchers discovered that alligators use air-filled channels in their ear canal to amplify pressure differences, allowing them to pinpoint the source of sounds. This mechanism is similar to birds' interaural canals and may be an evolutionary adaptation from dinosaur ancestors.
A study found that wild salamanders living in the Appalachian Mountains are getting smaller due to warmer and drier conditions. The changes were most marked at low elevations and in the Southern Appalachians, where climate records showed significant warming and drying.
Physicists have observed Kelvin waves on quantum 'tornadoes' for the first time, confirming a key prediction. The discovery was made using extremely cold liquid helium and provides new insights into turbulence in quantum fluids.
A 39-year study reveals that more than two-thirds of alpine flowers have changed their blooming pattern in response to warmer climate. The bloom season has lengthened by one month, with different species responding in unexpected ways, impacting pollinating insects and migratory birds.
The BRCA1 gene is expressed in skeletal muscle cells and plays a critical role in fat storage, insulin response, and mitochondrial function. Mutations in the BRCA1 gene may increase the risk of metabolic diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes.
A worldwide study found that grazing animals can improve biodiversity in over-fertilized grasslands by allowing native plants to compete for sunlight. The study, which analyzed data from 40 sites across six continents, suggests that the removal of fertilizer and introduction of grazing animals can lead to increased plant diversity.
An international study found that only 38% of children worldwide are aware of warning labels on cigarette packages, with graphic images having the greatest impact in Brazil. The study suggests that health warning labels should be large and clear, especially for low-literacy populations, to effectively communicate anti-smoking messages.
An interdisciplinary team proposes a thought-provoking answer to how plants and animals evolved different forms in response to the same mathematical and physical principles. By applying a famous mathematical formula, the team explains decades worth of real-world observations, revealing why plants and animals have similar energy efficie...
Researchers at the University of Maryland found that adult mice experienced improved hearing after simulated blindness, which could lead to new treatments for hearing loss and tinnitus. The study showed that temporary vision loss can rewire the brain's auditory system in adults, allowing for sharper sound discrimination and sensitivity.
A study found that racism-related factors, including high levels of racial discrimination and anti-Black bias, are associated with accelerated aging in African American men. This is measured by shorter leukocyte telomere length, a biomarker linked to increased risk of premature death and chronic disease.
Students used a privately owned telescope to observe and photograph asteroids 3905 Doppler, orbiting two smaller rocky bodies that block each other's light. The discovery provides an unprecedented opportunity to learn about the physical properties and orbital evolution of these objects.
Mangroves have expanded dramatically along Florida's Atlantic Coast as frost frequency declined, replacing salt marshes. This change is linked to extreme weather patterns and rising temperatures.
A US study found that women who gained too little weight during pregnancy are at increased risk of losing their baby in its first year of life. The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, showed that nearly a quarter of women did not gain enough weight during pregnancy.
A survey of over 2,500 Americans revealed that Angelina Jolie's public announcement about her preventive double mastectomy did not translate to increased knowledge of breast cancer risk and the BRCA gene mutation, highlighting a need for further education.
A study by University of Maryland researchers predicts that strong social ties and low mobility enable the evolution of third-party punishment. In contexts with high social constraint, responsible punishers can induce cooperation and benefit the community.
A 115- to 125-million-year-old flowering plant fossil, named Potomacapnos apeleutheron, has been discovered in a Virginia canal bank where freed slaves were forced to dig a canal. The find raises questions about the evolution of flowering plants and pollen.
The IceCube collaboration has detected 28 high-energy particle events, providing solid evidence for astrophysical neutrinos from cosmic sources. By studying these neutrinos, scientists can learn about distant astrophysical phenomena and potentially identify their sources.
A University of Maryland-led team created the first high-resolution global map of forest extent, loss, and gain. The study documents a global loss of 2.3 million square kilometers and a gain of 800,000 square kilometers between 2000 and 2012.
Researchers at UMD found that fruit flies have similar mechanisms to regulate blood sugar as humans, including the use of insulin. This discovery enables the use of fruit flies in screening tests for new diabetes treatments.
A study by researchers at the University of Maryland and American University has proposed a framework for hospitals to model their social networks to predict and minimize the spread of bacterial infections. The study found that sparse, social network structures are associated with lower infection transmission rates.
A new study by Neil Carter found that when Nepalese villagers are given control over local land management decisions, it benefits both people and tigers. The researchers showed that tigers prefer grasslands near water, which flow into nearby forests or grassy cover.
A UMD-led study reveals the US economy's high resource dependence on oil, making it susceptible to 'peak oil' threats. The research team identifies sectors such as iron mills, chemical manufacturing, and air transport that could put the entire economy at risk.
A study found that nearly two-thirds of young children in low- and middle-income countries can recognize cigarette brand logos. The researchers suggest stronger regulations, including larger graphic warning labels and bans on tobacco advertising, to reduce the ability of tobacco companies to market their products to children.
Researchers used seismic waves to discover long 'fingers' of heat in Earth's upper mantle, stretching thousands of miles. These finger-like structures carrying heat interact with tectonic plates and hot plumes, influencing the formation of hotspot volcanoes.
A University of Maryland-led research team found that young whooping cranes learn their migration route from older birds and get better at it with age. The study shows that individual birds' ability to stick to the route increases steadily each year up to about age 5, and remains roughly constant from that point on.
Researchers found two-thirds of Eastern US rivers have become more alkaline over 25-60 year periods, complicating drinking water treatment and harming aquatic ecosystems. Increased alkalinity also threatens metal pipe infrastructure and affects irrigated crops and fish.
Researchers at the University of Maryland say Voyager 1 has entered interstellar space, leaving a 'fuzzily-defined transition zone' behind. The spacecraft crossed the heliopause on July 27, 2012, but its exact location is still debated.
Research by the University of Maryland found that timber rattlesnakes remove 2,500-4,500 ticks from Eastern forest sites annually, potentially reducing Lyme disease incidence. The study highlights the importance of conserving all species, including those often disliked.
A University of Maryland-led research team found a specific class of inhibitory neurons controlling the timing of synaptic plasticity, which regulates amblyopia. The discovery offers hope for treating amblyopia late in life by targeting the NARP protein.
A new UMD-led study suggests that a burst of star formation in galaxies can blow out most of the remaining gas, resulting in a long period of starvation. This process is crucial in understanding the universe's surprising paucity of high-mass galaxies.
Researchers found that common fungicides and insecticides can weaken the immune systems of honey bees, making them more susceptible to infection with a deadly parasite. The study's findings highlight the need for stricter regulations on pesticide use during crop pollination.
A University of Maryland-led study found that socio-economic diversity is essential for promoting a positive campus racial climate. Students with higher levels of interaction with those from different backgrounds reported more contacts with other races and overall mixing with diverse backgrounds.
A University of Maryland-led research team is using brain measurements to study cultural differences in neural-biological processes associated with permissiveness versus restrictiveness. The goal is to advance understanding of group identities, cultural norms, and behavior, and develop tools for better intercultural interaction.
Researchers identify unique properties of K11-linked polyubiquitin chains, suggesting new cellular processes involved in disease maintenance. These findings may lead to novel treatments for diseases like cancer and diabetes.
A University of Maryland-led team is developing new models to understand the relationship between conflict, socio-economic conditions and climate. The research aims to project future conflicts and develop interventions to reduce civil disorder under climate change scenarios.
Researchers at the University of Maryland have created a nanoscale battery using wood fibers that can last over 400 charging cycles, making it a promising alternative to traditional batteries.
A new study by the University of Maryland finds that socioeconomic diversity can enhance student interactions and learning from each other, but racial diversity remains essential. The research challenges the idea that socio-economic status can serve as a substitute for considering an applicant's race in college admissions.
Researchers connect local consumption to global land use through tracking international trade flows, revealing a significant impact on developed countries' domestic resources. The study highlights the importance of developing economies like China and India in addressing environmental pressures.
A new study by University of Maryland researchers finds that peer group pressures can start in elementary schools, affecting children's development from an early age. Children show moral independence and will stand up to the group, but also struggle with conflicts between loyalty and fairness.
A study by University of Maryland biologist Daphne Soares reveals that guppies jump up to eight times their body length at speeds of over four feet per second. The biologists hypothesize that this behavior allows guppies to disperse and reach all available habitat, minimizing competition and maintaining genetic variability.
A new study reveals significant differences between rats' and bats' brain rhythms in navigation, questioning the use of rodent research as a basis for understanding spatial navigation in all mammals. The findings highlight the need to study a broader range of animals to gain a clearer picture of brain processes.
A recent study by University of Maryland researcher Waverly Ding found that women are almost 50% less likely than men to be invited to join corporate scientific advisory boards and start new companies. The study suggests that academia can counteract this inequity by utilizing technology transfer offices, which can help female professor...
A University of Maryland study found that wearing a surgical mask can significantly reduce the release of infectious flu virus in even the smallest airborne droplets. The research provides new evidence on the importance of using masks to prevent the spread of influenza, particularly among vulnerable populations.
Researchers identified HRG1 protein to safely transport heme-iron, a crucial component of red blood cells. This finding offers promise for new treatments for iron deficiency and parasitic worm infections.
The University of Maryland will continue its five-year cooperative study with NASA's Earth Sciences Division to study the impacts of the Earth's connected systems on global and regional environments. Research focuses on predicting future impacts, improving drought monitoring, and analyzing satellite observations for ground-level air po...
A joint UMCP and UMB research project has been awarded a new $2 million grant to continue developing a small robot that could aid neurosurgeons in removing difficult-to-reach brain tumors. The robot, called MINIR-II, is fully MRI-compatible and will be controlled by the physician, with targeting information obtained from real-time MRI.
A University of Maryland School of Public Health kinesiology researcher suggests that moderate exercise can help people cope with anxiety and stress for an extended period after the workout. The study found that exercise not only reduces anxiety but also helps maintain that reduced anxiety when confronted with emotional events.
Researchers have developed materials and nanofabrication techniques to build miniaturized components for medical diagnostics, sensors, and other applications. These miniaturized components can perform rapid analysis with small sample volumes.