A new study suggests that just four days of mindfulness meditation can significantly improve cognitive skills, including critical thinking and sustained attention. Participants who received the meditation training performed up to ten times better on a computer adaptive n-back task than those who listened to a book.
The soybean genome shows evidence of two polyploid events, 59 million and 13 million years ago, which resulted in the plant's unusual ability to produce proteins and oils. Most genes are duplicated at chromosome ends, where recombination occurs, and these duplicates have evolved into new genes.
A new study shows that a single hour of mindfulness meditation training can significantly reduce pain awareness and sensitivity. The research found that meditation subjects experienced less pain while meditating and after the activity was concluded, compared to control groups.
A pilot study is testing the effectiveness of text messaging as a medium for delivering HIV prevention education to at-risk teens. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, uses a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-approved curriculum and involves sending text, image, and video material to teen participants.
Researchers discover annual increase in anxiety and stress among male sifaka concurrent with birthing, suggesting complex social dynamics. The study found significant rise in stress-related hormones in male sifaka feces during the birth season.
Recent studies on mice have found six specific chromosomal locations that significantly correlate to the inheritance of high physical activity traits. Furthermore, 17 other genetic locations were identified that also control activity levels through interaction with each other, accounting for approximately 84% of behavioral differences ...
Researchers used computer simulations to study the effects of a minor genetic mutation on Alzheimer's disease. The mutation, which affects a protein fragment, alters its shape and increases the likelihood of toxic clumps forming in brain cells.
Researchers found barred owls thriving in Charlotte's urban areas due to open understories and birdfeeders attracting prey. The study suggests that suburban neighborhoods can serve as an 'uber-forest' for owls, contradicting previous assumptions about their habitat needs.
Research suggests human activities are amplifying the impact of Sudden Oak Death, a forest-destroying disease caused by an invasive water mold. The study found that connected forests with high host species abundance have higher pathogen loads, while smaller, isolated forests have lower disease levels.
A recent study published in Ethology revealed that older workers give signals to the queen and rest of the colony initiating swarming activities. Researchers also found worker piping, a general instruction to fly, continues in the swarm after the queen leaves with the swarm.
A new study found that even low levels of heavy metal pollution can harm oysters, while high temperatures exacerbate the damage. The combined effect can lead to fatal weakness and disease in oysters.
Recent excavations at Suba Cave have uncovered a second, unexcavated cave, suggesting a major complex of uncertain function during the Iron Age. The team found evidence of heavy use during the early Roman period and discovered seven rough stone pillars in a corridor leading to what appears to be another chamber.
A new study finds that meetings can negatively impact employee well-being for those with high 'accomplishment striving', but positively affect them for those with low striving. Meetings also boost the well-being of individuals who view them as a way to structure their day or network.
Blair Rudes, a UNC Charlotte linguist, uses historical linguistics to revive the Virginia Algonquian language spoken by Native Americans in Jamestown. He reconstructs over 1,000 words and syntax to give the film authenticity.
The UNC Charlotte and Georgia Tech partnership will create an artificial reasoning system to analyze enormous multimedia databases and provide effective intelligence analysis and decision-making support. The system will be integrated with human analyst interaction to structure data, organize it, and ultimately understand it.
Researchers use microfossils to analyze coastal sediment cores, revealing evidence of less frequent major storms in recent centuries. However, results may be affected by other environmental factors, such as rising sea levels.