Analysis finds whole US ecosystems shifting dramatically north over nearly 50 years, with significant implications for land management. The study uses bird distribution data to quantify ecosystem shifts and identifies three distinct ecosystem boundaries.
A new mathematical model developed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln suggests that large collective of parasitic worms can kick-start a self-perpetuating cycle ensuring their survival. The study found that quantity of parasites alone determines whether they persist in a host, contrary to previous approaches.
New research finds elevated levels of fatty acid transporter protein 2 (FATP2) in immune-suppressing cells, which can slow tumor growth and aid cancer treatments. The study also discovered an energy-granting lipid that FATP2 produces and traffics into cells, leading to its potential as a therapeutic target.
A study published in Nature Communications found that the Great Dying, a massive extinction event 252 million years ago, likely targeted plant life before animal species. The research team discovered high concentrations of nickel in Australian sediment, which may have been released from Siberian volcanoes and poisoned plant life.
A recent study found that participants who decided on a post-exercise snack before exercising were more likely to choose a healthier option. The researchers suggest that making the decision early can help individuals resist temptation and make better food choices. The study's findings support the idea that planning ahead can lead to he...
Researchers have developed a stent with a sugar-based coating that can facilitate faster and more precise suturing of blood vessels. The stent, designed using 3D printing technology, was tested on pig arteries and showed significant improvements in surgical time and accuracy.
The University of Nebraska is leading a $11 million study to develop drug therapies protecting military service members from radiation exposure. The project, in collaboration with the Department of Defense, aims to identify and develop therapeutic candidates that can prevent and counteract radiation effects.
Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have identified a potential Zika vaccine that induces strong T-cell responses and substantial protection without producing antibodies. This breakthrough could be a 'huge leap' for immunology, potentially overcoming the obstacle of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of disease.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers found epigenetic traits in Sulfolobus solfataricus, a species of archaea that thrive in acidic environments. The discovery could accelerate the study of epigenetics in humans, potentially leading to new insights into trait inheritance and management.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a founding member of LaserNetUS, a national research network for high-intensity lasers. The network provides access to the country's most powerful lasers, enabling researchers to study extreme conditions and applications such as medicine and manufacturing.
The TORUS project aims to collect high-resolution data from within severe storms to improve forecasting for tornadoes and severe storms. The research goal is to improve the conceptual model of supercell thunderstorms by exposing hidden structures that lead to tornado formation.
Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have successfully accelerated plasma electrons almost instantly to speeds close to the speed of light using intense laser light pulses. The new application, dubbed an 'optical rocket,' boasts a force nearly trillion-trillion times greater than what astronauts experience in space.
Scientists have identified two rare fatty acids, Nebraskanic acid and Wuhanic acid, in the seeds of a flowering plant native to central China. The discovery could lead to improved performance of vegetable oils as lubricants and biofuels.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is partnering with Iowa State University to create an institute addressing antimicrobial resistance, an urgent global public health concern. The institute aims to accelerate discoveries and enhance stewardship of disease prevention tools.
A team of scientists from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has developed a method to increase the yield of clean, renewable energy source bio-hydrogen. By temporarily inactivating a gene that slows hydrogen production, they created a new strain of bacteria that produces 46% more hydrogen than naturally occurring forms.
A team of physicists has captured the behavior of a five-atom molecule's atomic nuclei and chemical bonds in response to a laser, revealing the clearest glimpse yet of a photochemical reaction. The study marks a significant advancement in understanding these light-fueled molecular transformations.
Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have developed a 360-degree LiDAR technique to automatically collect millions of 3-D coordinates about plant traits. This approach improves accuracy and speed in collecting phenotypic data, which is essential for breeding crops that produce more food.
A new technique doubles the conversion of carbon dioxide to an essential plastic component, ethylene. The approach uses copper coated with polyacrylamide to increase efficiency, offering a promising method for recycling CO2 and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Nebraska researchers have identified a simple equation to design less costly and more efficient catalysts for producing renewable hydrogen fuel. The team found that surrounding certain transition metals with specific environments can elevate their performance, making them viable alternatives to precious metals.
A new study links human activities to a massive extinction event that wiped out large mammals globally. The research suggests that size-biased extinctions started at least 125,000 years ago in Africa and spread to other continents as humans migrated, leaving only smaller mammals behind.
A recent study analyzing over 2,000 college classes in science, technology, engineering, and math found that conventional lecturing persists as the primary teaching method. Despite advocacy for student-centered learning, the study discovered that only 18% of classrooms emphasized group work and discussions.
A new study published in PNAS found that extreme-altitude birds on the Himalayan Plateau and Altiplano plateau evolved similar traits to capture oxygen, despite different molecular blueprints. The study identified multiple ways for closely related species to produce the same functional outcome.
The study found that intoxicated participants spent significantly less time looking at women's faces compared to sober participants. Intoxicated men were more likely to 'check out' the body parts of women they perceived as unfriendly or unintelligent.
Liberals are more likely to notice and penalize inconsistencies in conservative Democrat candidates, a study suggests. Conservatives tend to show a stronger positive response when Democrats hold conservative positions, but are less likely to scrutinize inconsistencies.
Researchers developed a 4-in-1 flu shot that provides broad protection against influenza by targeting ancestral genes of four major strains. The vaccine was shown to be effective in mice, with those receiving the highest dose not getting sick.
Researchers discovered that water-repellent surfaces force ice to grow upward, making it easier to remove. The team's findings suggest applying water-repellent coatings or engineering surfaces with built-in repelling properties could enable breeze-assisted ice removal.
Researchers have designed a smart bandage that can deliver customized medication to promote better, faster healing of chronic wounds. The bandage uses electrically conductive fibers coated in a gel to release medications tailored to specific types of wounds.
Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have identified a Zika virus mutation that contains a sugar in its protein envelope, which may help the virus enter the brain. This discovery could explain why the virus became more lethal during outbreaks in the Caribbean and South America.
A study published in Science confirms that the highest energy cosmic rays bombard the Earth come from outside the Milky Way Galaxy. The Pierre Auger Observatory collected data from 12 years, revealing an anisotropy in the distribution of arrival directions of cosmic particles.
Researchers found that glaciers may have 'switched off' migratory behavior in bird species, transforming the tropics into long-term residences. The study challenges traditional assumptions about bird migration and has implications for understanding the evolution of this complex trait.
A new technique developed by researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has improved the properties of plant-derived biodegradable plastic, allowing for large-scale industrial production. The approach involves rapidly heating bio-plastic fibers to high temperatures, resulting in enhanced resistance to heat and moisture.
Nebraska physicist Christian Binek discovered a formula that links magnetism to elasticity and temperature. This finding may enable engineers to design materials with tailored elasticity by manipulating magnetic properties or applying external fields.
Researchers found that high-load training conditions the nervous system to transmit electrical signals from the brain to muscles, increasing force production. The study replicated previous findings with similar growth in muscle but greater strength gains in the high-load group.
Physicists have observed changes in a vision-enabling interaction between light and matter by focusing laser light to unprecedented brightness. The team discovered unique X-ray pulses with potential for medical, engineering, scientific, and security applications.
Nebraska engineers have created a nano-thermal-mechanical device that allows computing at temperatures up to 630 degrees Fahrenheit. This technology has the potential to revolutionize industries such as space exploration, oil drilling, and geology by harnessing heat instead of combating it.
Researchers developed a pill-form delivery system for DNA-based vaccines and gene therapies using a corn-based protein and chitosan. The bi-particle protected the synthetic DNA from stomach enzymes and delivered it to intestinal cells, triggering an immune response in mice.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers engineer an on/off switch into a weakened form of HIV to enhance vaccine safety and effectiveness. The team demonstrates that flipping the switch allows weakened HIV to replicate at a level likely to generate immunity in a host, while also allowing for controlled replication.
A new study led by University of Nebraska-Lincoln ecologist John Benson found that eastern coyotes hunt moose and other large prey far less frequently than does the eastern wolf. The findings suggest that eastern coyotes have not filled the ecological niche left vacant when the eastern wolf became threatened.
A new equation developed by a Nebraska researcher can correctly identify athletes who attempt to sandbag on the ImPACT test, informing better decisions about return-to-play protocols. The approach was found to be more effective than existing methods in detecting poor effort, with high accuracy rates.
Researchers have revealed the nanoscale architecture of a beetle's exoskeleton, composed of chitin fibers with unique twisting patterns. The discovery could lead to the development of lighter, stronger materials for various applications, including reducing drag in vehicles and airplanes.
Researchers found that fit female college students with normal iron levels achieved higher grade point averages than their unfit counterparts.
A new study uses transgenic organisms and biochemistry to test an evolutionary hypothesis on fruit flies' ability to metabolize alcohol. The research found that the amino acid changes in the ADH protein do not improve the fruit flies' tolerance for alcohol, challenging a previous hypothesis.
A new study found that even with optimized yields, sub-Saharan Africa will not meet its grain demand by 2050. Closing the yield gap requires a large acceleration in farming practices and investments in agricultural development. The region must prioritize strategic investments to upgrade infrastructure and ensure food security.
A new study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln found that predators can catalyze the rise and fall of chlorovirus populations by exposing algae to viruses. The research suggests that the structure of food webs in an ecosystem may influence viral propagation, with a potential game-changer for virology.
Researchers found that different species can evolve the same beneficial trait through unique genetic mutations, challenging the predictability of evolutionary changes. High-altitude bird species developed red blood cells with hemoglobin proteins that bind oxygen more efficiently.
A new study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln found that male dark fishing spiders' self-sacrifice after mating benefits their offspring, producing nearly twice as many spiderlings and those growing up to 20% larger. The females who consumed their mates survived about 50% longer than those without this behavior.
A study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers found that exposure to imidacloprid, a popular insecticide, significantly reduces the number of eggs laid by queen bees. This impairment can lead to colony decline and death, highlighting the need for beekeepers to take precautions when using neonicotinoids.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has received an $11.3 million grant from the NIH to establish a research center on biomolecular communication. The center aims to investigate cellular-level miscommunications that contribute to complex diseases.
A new study by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has confirmed that certain strains of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) can infect human cells, supporting a hypothesis that HIV originated from chimpanzee transmission. The research found that SIV strains with genetic similarities to HIV-1 M were more likely to infect humans.
Researchers discover large secondary eyes in a spider species enable it to catch larger, more nutritious prey, which may explain the evolution of these enlarged eyes. The findings suggest the spiders' nocturnal nature and reliance on vision to hunt for prey on the ground.