Researchers genetically engineered the fungus Metarhizium robertsii to amplify its mercury detoxifying effects, finding it can quickly clear mercury from fresh and saltwater. The discovery suggests a potential cost-effective method for protecting crops grown in polluted areas and remediating mercury-laden waterways.
A new study found that honey bee lifespans in lab-kept conditions are 50% shorter than they were in the 1970s, corresponding with increased colony losses and reduced honey production. The researchers suggest a genetic component may be influencing this trend, which could lead to breeding programs for longer-lived bees.
A team of 70 scientists warns that climate change will drastically reduce the ability to build a sustainable future based on healthy ecosystems. Insects face extinction and ecosystem disruption due to global warming and extreme weather events.
Scientists have detected seismic surface waves on Mars for the first time, providing new insights into the planet's crust and structure. The study estimates the average properties of the Martian crust between 3 to 18.6 miles below the surface, revealing faster seismic velocities that suggest compositional differences or reduced porosity.
A University of Maryland study found that stakeholders agree on the need for a decentralized approach to stormwater management but diverge on responsibility. Two groups believe stormwater poses a public threat, while the third sees it as an underutilized resource that can be managed with technology.
A University of Maryland-led study finds that street trees in Baltimore reflect the city's history of institutionalized racism but also modern reparation efforts. Researchers discovered that green neighborhoods have more diverse tree communities and larger, older trees, while redlined areas have less diverse tree species.
Researchers located four new craters created by impacts on Mars' surface using data from a seismometer and visuals acquired from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. This is the first time that researchers have captured the dynamics of an impact on Mars.
A new study from the University of Maryland cautions that delayed interventions make it harder to eliminate monkeypox. The research suggests that stronger and better-adapted variants may evolve if case numbers are low, making it challenging to control outbreaks.
A new study by the University of Maryland found that white-tailed deer in suburban environments often bed down and spend the night within 50 meters of residential properties. This revelation has significant implications for tick management and reducing the risk of human exposure to diseases like Lyme disease and anaplasmosis.
Researchers found that infants differentiate sounds based on neighboring sounds and vowel durations. Their study suggests that babies can learn the speech contrasts of their language through naturalistic speech data.
A study led by UMD researchers found that hibernating big brown bats experience slower epigenetic aging, with their biological clock extending by nearly a year. The study established the link between hibernation and longer lifespans in small mammals.
Researchers at the University of Maryland identified AGL62 as the trigger for fruit and seed development in flowering plants. The study showed that AGL62 stimulates auxin production, which regulates endosperm growth and fruit enlargement.
Maternal mortality jumped by 33% after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with disproportionate increases among Black and Hispanic mothers. Existing disparities emerged, including a 40% jump for non-Hispanic Black women and a 74% jump for Hispanic women.
Researchers found that Black communities with high population densities and moderate levels of aggregate stress experience higher COVID-19 mortality rates. The study highlights the disproportionate burden on Black communities due to decades of institutional and societal bias, leading to increased risks of chronic illness and stroke.
A new study reconstructs the natural pace and pattern of carbon storage in forests over centuries, revealing that woody biomass nearly doubled during the last 8,000 years. This finding highlights the importance of preserving large trees to maintain carbon sequestration processes and buffer climate change.
A University of Maryland study estimates the dollar value of barriers to homeowners participating in cost-sharing programs for stormwater management. The researchers found that features requiring effort from homeowners can significantly reduce the incentive's effectiveness, with some combinations resulting in a mere $1.85/sqft cost sha...
A new study by University of Maryland researchers found that people in Republican counties were more likely to die from COVID-19, with nearly 73 more deaths per 100,000 people compared to Democratic counties. The disparity was due to structural and policy differences in the more conservative counties.
Scientists from the University of Maryland developed CRISPR-Combo, a method to edit multiple genes in plants while simultaneously changing gene expression. This new tool enables genetic engineering combinations that work together to boost functionality and improve breeding of new crops.
A new $5 million center, MIXR, aims to develop, test and certify XR technologies in medicine and healthcare. The collaboration between academia, industry and government will improve medical training, patient management and health outcomes.
A study by University of Maryland researchers found that urban homeowners are more willing to pay for stream restoration projects, despite lower environmental benefits. In contrast, exurbanites tend to have higher environmental benefits but are less willing to pay.
A new study shows that meadow ecosystems rely on 2.5 to 7.5 times more bee species for pollination than a single plant species does. Rare bees play a crucial role in pollinating plants no one else visits, emphasizing the importance of biodiversity.
A new study by University of Maryland scientists has developed a five-stage scale to track the progression of salt pollution in freshwater streams and rivers. The researchers found that road salts combined with other pollutants create
A new report identifies 10 key facts about global land use, highlighting opportunities for a more sustainable and equitable approach. The study emphasizes the need for policymakers to consider trade-offs and marginalized groups' rights in developing effective solutions.
Researchers have developed a new text-based analytics model that analyzes firms' tailoring of investments to their portfolio of products, using the four-stage product cycle. This framework provides insights into how firms exploit investment opportunities, including disclosure patterns and strategic alliances.
A new study reveals that the largest comet, Bernardinelli-Bernstein, was active long before previously thought, with its ice vaporizing and forming a coma. This finding will help determine the comet's composition and provide insight into conditions during solar system formation.
Researchers found that individual urban trees, such as street trees, can capture and store rainfall at a rate of three times that of clusters or patches. The study used sap flux sensors to monitor transpiration rates in 18 mature red maple trees, revealing significantly higher transpiration rates in single trees compared to cluster trees.
Researchers have successfully created a fault-tolerant logical qubit that works better than the worst individual quantum computing pieces. This breakthrough demonstrates a promising approach for building larger, more reliable quantum computers.
Researchers discovered that cytoquakes, rapid rearrangements of the cytoskeleton, occur due to slow buildup and sudden release of mechanical energy. These disturbances may aid cells in responding quickly to signals from their environment.
A new study funded by FDA and HHS suggests that continuous manufacturing (CM) processes could make pharmaceutical production in the US more attractive than investing in China or India. The findings show that CM processes were more economical than current batch processing, particularly under current US corporate tax rates.
Researchers used machine learning to discover that sperm with a wide head relative to length are more likely to clump together and swim collectively, a rare behavior that sometimes helps them reach an egg faster. The study provides a new method for understanding how form and function are related in cells with complex behaviors.
A new study found that people infected with COVID-19 exhale infectious virus in their breath, putting others at risk. Using tight-fitting masks can reduce the amount of virus in the air by half.
Researchers at UMD are developing CRISPR-Combo systems to improve genome editing and crop regeneration. The technology aims to reduce the time and cost of breeding new crop varieties with enhanced nutritional and agronomic traits.
Researchers found socio-cultural barriers, lack of maintenance and funding, economic challenges, institutional barriers, technological and environmental barriers hinder GI adoption. Community-based approach identified the need for increased transparency and communication from government, as well as resident participation and engagement.
A UMD researcher has been awarded a $6 million grant from the US Department of Energy to create sustainable products like biofuels and bioplastics from food waste. The project aims to understand waste sources, characterize municipal solid waste, and produce renewable resources.
Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed a new method to improve enzyme replacement therapy for Pompe disease, which could reduce treatment costs and frequency. The method involves attaching a ligand to the enzyme, increasing its efficiency in delivering it to cells where it is needed.
The University of Maryland associate professor will use genetics, cell biology, and pharmacology to examine the mechanisms of copper transport and its connection to thermogenesis and fat burning. The research aims to improve human health by understanding how copper relates to hypothermia, obesity, and diabetes.
Researchers found that socioeconomic privilege and political ideology play a significant role in racial disparities in COVID-19 vaccination rates. Counties with higher median incomes displayed lower disparities, while county-level educational disparities had a greater impact on unequal vaccination rates.
Yiping Qi's team will test new delivery technologies for CRISPR-Cas12a to develop a pipeline for genome editing in carrots. They aim to create more nutritious and hypoallergenic carrot varieties with improved nutritional value and reduced allergenicity.
Researchers at the University of Maryland discovered a gene in tuberculosis that inhibits the inflammasome, a signaling system that helps defend against pathogens. The finding may lead to effective gene-based treatments or preventative therapies for tuberculosis.
The University of Maryland has developed a new hypertension management program for older adults, integrating the DASH diet with physical activity and self-management. The program aims to improve knowledge, access, and self-monitoring skills for this demographic.
Researchers at UMD developed a supplement that improves pig muscle growth, which could lead to increased sustainability in the pork industry. The study also explored potential applications in human health, including improved immune function and reduced inflammation.
Researchers at the University of Maryland have created a soft robotic hand that can play Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. by integrating fluidic circuits into a single 3D printed unit. The breakthrough enables agile and adaptable soft robots with improved control, paving the way for applications in prosthetics, biomedical devices, and more.
Scientists have found a material, uranium ditelluride (UTe2), that exhibits hallmarks of a topological superconductor, potentially unlocking new ways to build quantum computers. The discovery was made by researchers at the University of Maryland's Quantum Materials Center and colleagues.
Researchers at UMD found that a specific combination of parents can cause epigenetic changes to last for hundreds of generations. The study used nematode worms and found that when the mother carried a gene, it was always turned on, while when the father carried the gene, the silencing signal often won.
University of Maryland researchers used EEG to quantify cybersickness in VR users, establishing a correlation between brain activity and self-reported symptoms. The study provides a new approach to interactively characterizing and mitigating cybersickness, improving the VR experience for all.
A new study from the University of Maryland disputes the prevailing hypothesis on Mercury's big core, instead attributing it to solar magnetism. The model shows that a planet's core density and proportion of iron are correlated with the strength of the sun's magnetic field during planetary formation.
The new CRISPR 3.0 system allows for simultaneous activation of up to seven genes at once, demonstrating high accuracy and efficiency. This multiplexed gene activation system has significant potential for crop breeding and enhancement, enabling the discovery and translational science in plants.
A new study shows that climate change is increasing ozone depletion over the Arctic, contrary to previous assumptions. The researchers found record-low polar vortex temperatures and highest ozone losses on record in 2020, driven by greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers used data from SOFIA to create a 3D view of an expanding stellar-wind bubble surrounding Westerlund 2, disproving earlier studies suggesting two bubbles. The team identified the source of the bubble and energy driving its expansion.
A new study suggests that when tyrannosaurs rose to dominance, their juvenile counterparts filled the ecological niche of medium-sized carnivores. The research analyzed 60 dinosaur communities and found no decline in prey species diversity, indicating that juvenile tyrannosaurs took over the role of missing middle-sized predators.