First-year college students are experiencing higher rates of depression and anxiety due to social isolation and remote learning. The study found that Black students were disproportionately affected by depression, while Hispanic and first-generation students showed improvements in feelings of social isolation.
Researchers found that positive messages about togetherness and unity were more appealing than fear-based or instructive messages. Participants wore masks frequently in public settings but not when physically distanced outside or alone, highlighting the importance of community safety as a motivation for mask-wearing.
Researchers have identified and measured lithium in white dwarfs for the first time, providing clues to tracking the element's galactic evolution. The discovery sheds light on the cosmological lithium problem, a discrepancy between predicted and actual lithium levels in sun-like stars.
A study found that rap songs referencing mental health more than doubled between 1998 and 2018, a trend that could shape the conversation around mental health for young listeners. Most artists referenced love and environmental issues as stressors, using metaphors like 'pushed to the edge' or 'fighting my demons',
A new SARS-CoV-2 mutation, D614G, makes the virus more transmissible but not necessarily more severe, according to a recent study published in Science. The mutated strain replicates faster and is more infectious, but its effectiveness against vaccines remains unknown.
Researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill have linked quick flashes of light to growing satellite and space debris, providing a potential explanation for mysterious night sky phenomena. The study's findings may help reduce false alarms in astronomical surveys and improve data accuracy.
A new study from UNC-Chapel Hill reveals that the swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV) strain has the potential to spread to humans. The virus efficiently replicates in human airway and intestinal cells, raising concerns about its threat to public health.
Researchers from UNC-Chapel Hill have measured the temperature of a large sample of super flares, providing insights into life-prohibiting levels of UV radiation. The study's findings will inform the choice of planetary systems to be observed by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.
A new study found that COVID-19 cases led to significant increases in approval ratings for world leaders, with an average boost of 14 points. The study suggests a
A new mouse model developed at UNC-Chapel Hill has captured many features of human COVID-19 disease, advancing the development of vaccines and therapeutics. The model has shown promise in protecting mice from infection with various treatments, including mRNA-1273 vaccine candidate.
A recent UNC-Chapel Hill study reveals that individuals with obesity are at a greatly increased risk for hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, and death from COVID-19. Obesity is associated with numerous underlying health conditions, including hypertension, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes, which can impair immune function.
Research by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found significantly higher medical costs for treating metastatic breast cancer in younger women compared to earlier-stage cancer patients or those without cancer. Treatment continues for longer and includes end-of-life care, contributing to high costs.
Researchers at UNC Chapel Hill developed a one-way street for electrons by shaping silicon into a funnel, allowing for faster data processing and energy harvesting. This technology may enable devices to wirelessly charge themselves from the data they receive without needing to leave a person's wrist.
Researchers have discovered a new antiviral drug called EIDD-2801 that could change the way doctors treat COVID-19. The drug has shown promise in reducing lung damage and has been found to be effective in mice infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Sea turtles eat ocean plastics due to their smell, which is caused by a coating of algae and microorganisms on the plastic. This can lead to blockages in their digestive systems and even illness.
A recent Danish study found that vaccine misinformation resulted in a 50.4% drop in HPV vaccination rates, leaving around 26,000 girls unvaccinated and potentially exposing them to 180 avoidable cervical cancer cases and 45 deaths.
Researchers found that annual river ice cover will decline by about six days for every one degree Celsius increase in global temperatures, affecting communities and industries. The study also detected widespread declines in monthly river ice coverage, particularly in the Tibetan Plateau, eastern Europe, and Alaska.
A team of mathematicians has discovered a new phenomenon that generates a fluidic force capable of moving and binding particles immersed in density-layered fluids. This breakthrough offers an alternative to previously held assumptions about particle accumulation in lakes and oceans.
Researchers studied over 2,500 languages, finding that emotions like grief, fear, joy, and sadness are conceptualized differently globally. Emotions are primarily distinguished as pleasant or unpleasant, with similar levels of arousal.
The global food system has led to an intersection of undernutrition and overweight in low- and middle-income countries. More than a third of these countries face the double burden of high levels of both, primarily due to changes in food systems and increasing availability of ultra-processed foods.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is leading a $20 million project to create a platform for testing novel internet architectures. FABRIC, funded by the National Science Foundation, will allow scientists to explore what a new internet could look like at scale.
Nearshore corals, which grow faster than offshore counterparts due to warmer temperatures, have experienced a decline in growth rates over the past decade. Climate change and coastal development are believed to be major contributors to this decline, with far-reaching implications for global coral reefs.
A new study suggests that aspirin use can have varying effects on breast cancer patients depending on their DNA methylation profiles. Patients with methylated tumor promoters had a higher mortality risk, while those with unmethylated promoters saw a decrease in breast cancer-specific mortality.
Researchers analyzed a 120-year data set to confirm climate change's impact on precipitation events and floods. The study found six of seven highest precipitation events occurred within the last 20 years, with three storms resulting in abnormally large floods.
Researchers found that maternal education significantly predicts the amount and quality of a mother's language use with her child, as well as their child's later language skills at school age. This study challenges previous assumptions about racial disparities in maternal language input.
Research finds children of lower-education parents, single-parent households, and low-income families face higher risks of dying between ages 1 and 24. Family resources independently associate with increased risk.
A new study identifies 65 genetic variants in understudied minority populations, which could improve precision medicine for these groups. The findings highlight the need for equitable inclusion of diverse populations in genetic research to address chronic disease disparities.
Researchers have discovered an antibody that can bind to a highly conserved region of the virus, potentially neutralizing all GII.4 strains of norovirus. This breakthrough is a significant step forward in the development of an effective vaccine for the dreaded stomach virus.
The survey found that nearly half of American workplaces, including small employers, now offer some level of health promotion or wellness programs. Comprehensive workplace health promotion programs are more common in larger employers with a budget, experience, and assigned responsibility.
Researchers found rates of heat-related illnesses reduced by half in states with mandated guidelines, highlighting the effectiveness of safety policies. The study provides compelling evidence that exertional heat illness can be prevented through mandated safety measures.
A new study finds that ocean warming is the primary cause of coral decline, contrary to the effectiveness of managed resilience efforts. Coral reefs face devastating impacts from extreme temperatures and mass bleaching, highlighting the need for drastic greenhouse gas emissions reduction.
Researchers discovered multiple genetic variants associated with body-fat tissue regulation and distribution. The findings broaden the understanding of how genes predispose individuals to obesity.
A study found that Chilean food regulations targeting obesity have a positive impact on mothers' understanding, perceptions, and spending habits. Mothers recognized healthier choices and perceived a cultural shift toward healthier eating.
A recent study found that only 12.2% of American adults meet the recommended targets for cardiovascular risk factors management, leaving millions vulnerable to developing Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Factors such as physical activity, education, and weight status are associated with metabolic health.
A recent study found that US air pollution deaths decreased by 47% between 1990 and 2010, resulting in nearly 135,000 fewer deaths. The improvement coincided with increased federal air quality regulations.
A study found that a gene variant commonly associated with Type 2 diabetes may also increase the risk of being lean, contradicting common assumptions about obesity and diabetes. Researchers analyzed data from over 9,000 Hispanic Latinos and used complex modeling to estimate the odds of developing Type 2 diabetes across time.
Research in Florida Keys reveals coral growth rate stability but declining skeletal density due to ocean acidification. The study highlights an important distinction between acute mortality events and long-term trends in baseline growth rates.
A new study found that substandard and falsified medicines are a serious problem in much of the world. In low- and middle-income countries, over 13% of essential medicines are substandard or falsified, with antimalarials and antibiotics being the most commonly affected.
An artificial-intelligence approach called ReLeaSE can teach itself to design new drug molecules from scratch. The system comprises two neural networks that learn and improve over time, generating molecules with specified properties.
A recent study in North Carolina found that former inmates were 40 times more likely to die of an opioid overdose than the general population within two weeks of release. Even a year later, overdose death rates remained 10-18 times higher among formerly incarcerated individuals.
Scientists at UNC Chapel Hill developed a new technique to selectively send specific colors of light over long distances using nanoscale wires. This breakthrough enables the creation of more controlled and effective optical computing technology, promising faster and more efficient computers.
Researchers have recalculated global river and stream surface area, finding it's about 45 percent greater than previous estimates. This increase has significant implications for understanding greenhouse gas emissions from rivers and streams.
Researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill used a new technique to construct a composite 'face of God' reflecting Americans' diverse perceptions. The study found that people's perceptions tend to rely on their demographic characteristics, such as age, attractiveness, and ethnicity.
Scientists have calculated the axial coupling of neutrons with unprecedented precision using supercomputers, paving the way for more accurate nuclear physics predictions. This breakthrough has significant implications for fields like nuclear energy and nuclear weapon detection research.
A new study predicts that climate change will transform marine ecosystems in Marine Protected Areas, leading to extinctions and loss of biodiversity. By 2100, warming temperatures could make these areas uninhabitable for most species, with the Arctic and Antarctic regions expected to warm especially quickly.
A new study by UNC-Chapel Hill biologists found that loggerhead sea turtles genetically similar to one another nest on beaches with similar magnetic fields. The research implies that turtles can mistakenly nest at different beaches with similar magnetic fields, even if it's geographically far away from their hatching beach.
Researchers discovered that specific RNA molecules recognize and combine based on complex shapes to form cellular droplets. This understanding may help prevent the transition to an aberrant, solid state associated with neurodegenerative diseases.
A study by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that primary care physicians feel underequipped to address prenatal oral health, with only 45% feeling prepared. The authors suggest improving training and education on oral health for primary care physicians.
A new study found that women with low carbohydrate intake are 30% more likely to have babies with neural tube defects. Folic acid supplementation is crucial for minimizing this risk, as many women may not take a daily multivitamin before and during pregnancy.
A new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reveals that black and Hispanic young adults from disadvantaged childhoods face worse physical health risks despite completing college. College completion is linked to improved mental health, but not necessarily better physical health outcomes for minority individuals.