Researchers at UMD's Jewell Laboratory have developed a precision system using quantum dots to control the display of self-antigens, promoting tolerance and elimination of paralysis in pre-clinical mouse models. This breakthrough could pave the way for more selective and effective therapies for MS and other autoimmune diseases.
Scientists discovered a signaling system by which organs in C. elegans communicate their need for heme, an essential biological process. The study found that HRG-7 and BMP-5 proteins facilitate two-way communication between tissues, promoting systemic heme homeostasis.
A new study by University of Maryland School of Public Health researcher Dr. Andrew Fenelon found that people receiving subsidized housing assistance were more likely to have medical insurance and less likely to have unmet medical need compared to those on HUD waitlist.
Physicists at the University of Maryland contribute to the detection of a third gravitational wave event, GW170104, using data from Advanced LIGO detectors. The merger occurred approximately 3 billion years ago and produced a single, more massive black hole.
Researchers found that methylene blue slowed signs of aging in human skin cells, improving cellular health and reducing damage from reactive oxygen species. The antioxidant also increased cell division rates and reduced senescence markers in older donors.
A new study reveals that HAT-P-26b, a Neptune-sized planet, has a hydrogen and helium-dominated atmosphere with a strong water signature. The discovery challenges the long-held assumption that planets like Neptune formed in a region of icy debris, instead suggesting alternative formation mechanisms.
Researchers found geochemical anomalies, known as 'fingerprints' of early Earth conditions, in young volcanic rocks from Hawaii and Samoa. These signatures suggest that the planet's interior may not be well mixed after all.
A UMD study found fruit flies taking naps had strongest resistance to fungal infection and bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is a major human disease-causing agent. The research identified genes that contribute to overall immune system resistance, providing new insights into human health.
Researchers observed growing fractures, collapsing cliffs, and rolling boulders on the comet's surface during its two-year investigation. Changes were linked to geological processes like weathering, erosion, sublimation of water ice, and mechanical stresses.
A global study found steadily increasing ammonia concentrations from 2002 to 2016 over four major agricultural regions. The increases are broadly tied to crop fertilizers, livestock animal wastes, changes to atmospheric chemistry, and warming soils.
A study suggests that long ago, Earth's atmosphere spent about a million years filled with a methane-rich haze, clearing the way for massive amounts of oxygen. The transformation resulted in an atmosphere much like the one that sustains life on Earth today.
Researchers have developed a new method to create antibodies with consistent sugar groups, enhancing their ability to signal the immune system. This breakthrough could lead to more effective therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases, with the potential for customized antibody production.
Scientists have observed rapid temperature changes in ultra-fast black hole winds, which are responding to X-ray emissions from the accretion disk. This discovery provides clues for locating the origin of these outflows and their connection to galaxy formation.
Scientists found evidence of an ancient solid shell on Earth's surface using thermodynamic calculations and rock samples from Western Australia. The 'stagnant lid' model supports this theory, which contradicts the long-held assumption that plate tectonics began immediately after Earth formed.
Researchers have found a common protein involved in both sexual reproduction and viral infections, which could lead to breakthroughs in controlling parasites like malaria. The discovery reveals that the protein acts as a biochemical 'key' enabling cell fusion, and its structure is similar to that of viruses.
A new study on environmental modeling reveals that climate change is only one of many inter-related threats to natural systems supporting human societies. The research argues that incorporating inequality, consumption, and population into climate models would provide a more realistic guide for policymaking and sustainable development.
A University of Maryland physicist has improved a method for designing stellarators, complex nuclear fusion experiments that aim to explore fusion's potential as an energy source. The new method, Regularized NESCOIL, balances tradeoffs between ideal magnetic field shapes and coil shapes, resulting in designs with more space between coils.
Researchers from the University of Maryland have developed a blood test that can help doctors diagnose schizophrenia more quickly. The test measures oxidative stress in blood samples, which may be linked to the disorder and its treatment response.
The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan has achieved positive results, with more water flowing through the system than before. However, the plan's failure to account for climate change poses a significant challenge, and future updates are needed to incorporate rising sea levels and changing rainfall patterns.
Recent research suggests that coastal wetland ecosystems such as mangrove forests, tidal marshes, and seagrass meadows are effective climate buffers, storing carbon for hundreds to thousands of years. Coastal wetlands capture and store more than 200 metric tons of carbon per year globally, with 50-90% stored in soils.
Recent research from the University of Maryland found that autism-related neural defects begin early in mammalian development, when key neurons form their first circuits. This study could lead to a stronger understanding of autism and possible early intervention strategies.
Research by University of Maryland Professor Sandra Crouse Quinn explores how race influences flu vaccine attitudes and behaviors. African Americans exhibit lower confidence in the vaccine safety process, lower trust, and skepticism, which hinder vaccination rates despite public health efforts.
Scientists at UMD developed an empirical model of global climate to analyze the Paris Agreement, suggesting countries can limit warming if they achieve pledged greenhouse gas reductions. The book, Paris Climate Agreement: Beacon of Hope, recommends a transition to renewable energy by 2060 to meet the RCP 4.5 scenario.
A new collaboration between UMD and NOAA has developed reference datasets that can be used to calibrate weather satellites. This improvement enables more accurate weather forecasting and monitoring of climate change.
Researchers found that three Amazonian species have lost or disabled genes for detecting short wavelengths of light, allowing them to thrive in the murky environment. The study reveals a unique genetic adaptation that enables these fish to perceive their surroundings differently.
Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed a game-changing ultra-thin aluminum oxide layer that decreases impedance in garnet-based solid-state batteries, allowing for efficient charging and discharging. This breakthrough technology solves the primary obstacle in solid-state battery development, increasing safety, perform...
Online health communities help bridge disparities between rural and urban healthcare, providing a platform for patients to ask questions and share knowledge. The communities offer emotional support, amplifying the health capabilities of rural users and creating a supportive social network that transcends geographic constraints.
A new UMD-led study proposes that Pluto's 'icy heart', Sputnik Planitia, formed early in the dwarf planet's history due to its unique climate and spin axis. The model suggests that the ice cap's location is inevitable consequence of evolutionary processes.
Researchers at the University of Maryland have created a mutated version of the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus that is less deadly and could lead to the development of a vaccine. The discovery was made by exploiting a weakness in the virus' genetic code, which could also help combat other RNA viruses such as HIV and Zika.
A newly discovered valley on Mercury is about 250 miles wide and 600 miles long, with steep sides that dip as much as 2 miles below the surrounding terrain. The valley likely formed due to rapid cooling of Mercury's interior, which would challenge previous assumptions about the planet's geologic past.
A new research paper suggests that the impact that formed the moon also caused calamitous changes to Earth's rotation and tilt. The model indicates that the remaining anomalies in the moon's orbit are relics of the Earth-moon system's explosive past, with a large tilt of up to 80 degrees.
A study by the University of Maryland and Georgetown and Cornell Universities found that free amenities like Wi-Fi and bottled water can be profitable for hotel brands, but their effectiveness varies across brands. In contrast, fitness centers were found to have a negative ROI due to high installation costs.
Researchers found that older adults' brains degrade speech processing in quiet environments, making it harder to comprehend speech amidst background noise. The study suggests that brain training techniques may help improve speech comprehension in older adults.
Researchers from the University of Maryland have observed molecules of double-stranded RNA being passed directly from parent to offspring in Caenorhabditis elegans, suggesting a key mechanism for non-genetic inheritance. The study reveals that dsRNA can silence genes in offspring even if it doesn't match the parent's genes.
A study found that multiple pesticides within colonies closely correlate with colony death, including some 'bee-safe' fungicides. The researchers assessed 91 colonies and found that the number of different compounds was highly predictive of colony death.
Researchers will use geoneutrino detectors to measure the amount of nuclear energy inside Earth. By 2025, they expect to collect enough data to determine the planet's remaining fuel levels.
Researchers have discovered 'spatiotemporal optical vortices,' or STOVs, which are 3-D ring structures generated by high-intensity lasers. These structures have the potential to manipulate particles moving at the speed of light and may be useful for designing powerful microscopes and more efficient telecommunication lines.
A University of Maryland study found that stopping exercise for just 10 days significantly decreases blood flow to key brain regions, including the hippocampus. This decrease in cerebral blood flow can have long-term implications for brain health and cognitive function in older adults.
A new study reveals that transparent wood windows provide better thermal insulation and consistent natural lighting than glass, eliminating glare. The material's channels direct sunlight through the wood, creating a uniform indoor lighting experience.
Researchers at University of Maryland discover 'blue whirl' fire tornado that burns nearly soot-free, offering a cleaner and more efficient combustion method. This discovery could lead to better oil spill cleanup techniques with reduced harmful emissions.
A University of Maryland research team has discovered a regulatory protein named ERI-1 that helps ensure all cells in a tissue remain identical to one another. The finding could bring biologists closer to understanding some cancers and other age-related diseases.
Astronomers from UMD and Michigan document X-rays bouncing off inner accretion disk near dormant black hole Swift J1644+57. The study reveals the shape and activity of the accretion disk, opening a door to reliable measurements of black hole spin.
For the second time, scientists have detected gravitational waves, which provide information about their origins and gravity's nature. The event involved two smaller black holes that merged to form a more massive spinning black hole.
Researchers at UMD developed a method to build diamond-based hybrid nanoparticles in large quantities, enabling precise control of their properties. The technique uses nanoscale diamonds with nitrogen vacancies to create customizable semiconductors, magnets, and qubits.
A new study from the University of Maryland explores how messages about brands interact across various channels in a complex feedback loop. The research highlights the importance of Twitter in brand management and finds that negative news articles can create a spiral effect, leading to fewer deposits in banks.
The MMS mission directly observed magnetic reconnection for the first time, revealing a critical step in understanding space weather. By studying the phenomenon, scientists can better understand solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and auroras.
The US saw a significant loss of honey bee colonies, with commercial and small-scale beekeepers losing 44.1% of their colonies over the course of the year. The main cause of these losses is the varroa mite, which can easily spread between colonies.
The Maryland Climate and Health Profile report highlights the state's vulnerability to climate change, with extreme weather events increasing the risk of foodborne illnesses, heart attacks, and severe asthma attacks. The report projects higher rates of these health issues in future decades, particularly among coastal communities.
A University of Maryland School of Public Health study found that extreme heat and heavy rainfall increase the risk of asthma hospitalization in Maryland. The study showed a 23% increase in hospitalizations during summer months, particularly among children.
Researchers found high levels of varroa mites and fungal parasites, with severe correlations to viral diseases like Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus. The study provides crucial baseline data for tracking future trends in honey bee health.