A new study by Nicolas Lehner and Christopher Howk reveals that massive clouds of ionized gas in the Milky Way's halo are a reservoir of fuel for galactic star formation. The researchers measured the distances to these clouds using the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope, confirming models that predicted gas falli...
A new paper reviews the state-of-the-art desalination technologies and their potential to improve energy demand reductions. The authors also explore advanced materials and innovative technologies for improving performance and sustainability.
A new study by University of Notre Dame researchers reveals that the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae exhibits daily rhythms in gene expression, with nearly 16% of its genome showing time-of-day specific changes. This discovery highlights potential targets for novel malarial control strategies and optimization of existing approaches.
Bennett's team found 10 free-floating planets roughly the mass of Jupiter, suggesting planetary systems often become unstable, ejecting planets from their orbits. The discovery confirms that free-floating planets exist and are quite common, estimated to be twice as many as stars.
A new study finds that human responses to a changing environment determine environmental tipping points in ecosystems. Regulatory choices can influence behavior and alter ecosystem outcomes. Strong institutional support is crucial for effective management.
Belovsky's study reveals that grasshopper behavior changes with the threat of predators, affecting survival and reproduction. At low densities, reduced feeding increases survival, but at higher densities, it worsens food shortages.
Scientists at Notre Dame and Cornell have made a breakthrough in understanding the genetic disorder Niemann-Pick Type C, which affects brain cells and causes devastating symptoms. Using histone deacetylase inhibitors, researchers were able to correct the damage done by the genetic flaw and restore normal cell function.
The study reveals that no single factor leads to a grasshopper outbreak, but rather multiple interacting factors are necessary. Grasshoppers have a significant impact on plants by altering nitrogen cycles in grasslands, which can either increase or decrease plant production depending on the type of vegetation they feed on.
A recent study by Notre Dame biologists highlights the growing issue of endangered plants being sold online, often illegally, and moved outside their native range. The researchers warn of the dangers of unchecked species redistribution, which can lead to environmental harm and economic costs, including damage to crops and ecosystems.
A team of researchers from the University of Notre Dame and The Nature Conservancy has successfully validated their environmental DNA (eDNA) technique for detecting invasive Asian carp in the Chicago-area waterway. This breakthrough method, which uses genetic material from aquatic organisms to identify species presence, has been hailed...
Researchers found a genetic difference in TEP1 gene conferring resistance to human malaria parasites in one of two emerging Anopheles gambiae species, M and S. The study suggests that this resistance could impact malaria transmission efforts.
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame discovered that streams and rivers are a significant source of nitrous oxide emission, a potent greenhouse gas. The study found that human activities such as fertilizer use and sewage discharges increase nitrogen levels in waterways, leading to higher nitrous oxide production rates.
Researchers at Notre Dame have discovered that certain bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, can move and stand upright on surfaces for extended periods. This breakthrough has significant implications for understanding bacterial behavior and potentially developing new treatments for infections.
A new study by University of Notre Dame ecologist Jennifer Tank and colleagues found that streams throughout the Midwest receive transgenic materials from corn crop byproducts six months after harvest. The research detected Cry1Ab insecticidal protein in 13% of stream sites and dissolved in 23% of water samples.
Researchers at Notre Dame are developing and assessing image-based biometrics technologies using twins, including facial and iris recognition. They found that human observers can correctly classify pairs of twins with 80% accuracy, suggesting new possibilities for automated iris analysis.
Researchers have developed a model that confirms correlation between on and off periods in blinking phenomena, providing insights into the physical mechanism behind the vast range of emission times. The finding has potential applications in quantum dot imaging, cancer cell detection, and display screen development.
A new study uses Nuclear Magnetic Resonance to predict how flexibility affects drug-like properties, enabling systematic manipulation of candidate drug molecules. The research aims to overcome issues of resistance, transportation, and oral bioavailability in drug design.
A new study by University of Notre Dame biologist Jeffrey Feder challenges the prevailing assumption about genomic speciation. The research found that speciation in the classic apple maggot fly system involves genome-wide differentiation driven by natural selection.
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame describe a significant advance in imaging cell death using synthetic probes. The new method can distinguish between healthy and dying cells in tumors, potentially aiding in tumor grading and treatment effectiveness measurement.
A Notre Dame study highlights the role of dynamic motion by proteins involved in the body's immune response. The research found that different antigens produce distinct motions, complicating but also simplifying recognition by T-cell receptors.
Astronomers discovered a distant star that exploded 7 billion years ago when its center became unstable and created matter and anti-matter particle pairs. The Y-155 supernova was 100 billion times brighter than the sun, releasing an enormous amount of energy.
Researchers discovered a gene called ID2 that regulates output from the master circadian clock in the brain and helps generate rhythms in various biological processes. The study found that ID2 plays a key role in modulating both the Circadian and metabolic systems, with implications for understanding shift work's impact on health.
A new Notre Dame study provides insights into the molecular basis by which tumor cells modulate their surroundings to favor cancer progression. The research identifies a unique population of microvesicles enriched in proteases, which facilitate tissue breakdown and remodeling at distant sites.
Researchers found that populations at the northern edge of a species' range experienced problems when exposed to warmer conditions, contradicting the assumption that they would increase. The study used two butterfly species and found that interactions among species could change under climate change.
A new study describes recent excavations in Jordan revealing the world's oldest known granaries, dating back to 11,500-10,550 B.C. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of food storage and its role in shaping Neolithic societies.
Notre Dame researchers have developed a new tool to assess the effectiveness of 'managed relocation' strategies for preserving species threatened by climate change. The tool uses multi-disciplinary criteria to score proposed relocations, considering factors such as ecosystem impact and social importance.
A study by University of Notre Dame biologist Giles Duffield and his team sheds new light on the circadian clock's response to light signals, focusing on the Inhibitor of DNA-binding 2 (Id2) gene. The research has important implications for understanding the development and functioning of the circadian clock in the brain and peripheral...
A new paper reveals how parasitic wasps and fruit flies co-evolve, leading to the formation of new species. The study shows that these interactions can create a chain reaction of biodiversity growth.
Two new papers by University of Notre Dame biologist Michael Ferdig suggest that genomics and bioinformatics may hold the key to combating malaria. The research reveals previously unrecognized transcriptional complexity in Plasmodium falciparum, a key driver of drug resistance.
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have made significant discoveries about bacterial cell wall recycling. The study reveals that a specific enzyme, M1tB, plays a crucial role in breaking down the cell wall, leading to pro-inflammatory events associated with bacterial infections.
Researchers have discovered two new β-Lactam antibiotics that target MRSA, a major global health threat responsible for approximately 20,000 US deaths annually. The novel compounds interact with the MRSA cell wall enzyme PBP 2a, inhibiting its function and leading to bacterial cell death.
A team of researchers led by University of Notre Dame physicist Bolizsár Jankó presents an overview of research into quantum jumps and fluorescence intermittency. The phenomenon, known as 'blinking,' reveals unexpected deviations from Bohr's predictions in various systems.
A team of astronomers led by David Bennett discovered a planet with a mass about three times that of Earth, orbiting a star with a mass 6% of the sun's, potentially hosting conditions suitable for life. The discovery was made using the gravitational microlensing method and confirms predictions made in 1996.
The discovery of the double planet system provides crucial evidence for the presence of multiple planet systems similar to our own solar system. The findings suggest that if OGLE-2006-BLG-109L is typical, it is possible that other systems have Jupiter- and Saturn-sized planets.
Applause dynamics studied using physics principles reveal social self-organization and synchronization processes. Researchers found that individual clapping frequencies play a crucial role in achieving synchronization, leading to increased volume and decreased noise intensity.
Researchers propose using an alternating current to pattern a sawtooth-like structure on a superconductor, directing vortices away from the device. This method avoids sophisticated material processing and can be used in both low-temperature and high-temperature superconductors.
Researchers from the University of Notre Dame and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center used an infrared spectrometer to determine the carbon monoxide/water ratio in comet Hale-Bopp. The findings suggest that the comet formed 4 billion years ago, providing clues about its history and composition.
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have developed a computer model that provides atomic details of the binding interactions between damaged DNA and the repair enzyme DNA photolyase. The model provides new insights into which parts of the enzyme are important for electron transfer, which could lead to the development of an arti...
Researchers at University of Notre Dame and Pittsburgh have successfully developed a new process to separate problematic chemicals from ionic liquids using supercritical carbon dioxide. This environmentally benign solvent eliminates the need for distillation, which is impractical with low-vapor-pressure compounds, and can effectively r...
University of Notre Dame researchers have successfully demonstrated a functioning transistorless logic gate using quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) technology. The device consists of four quantum dots connected in a ring by tunnel junctions, enabling digital data to be encoded in the positions of only two electrons.
Recent experiments by physicists at the University of Notre Dame and Tohoku University have found that current theories describing turbulence may need modifications, particularly in extreme situations. The findings suggest that ultra-hard turbulence, a predicted state of turbulent flow, may not exist as previously thought.
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame discovered that Factor VII deficient mice embryos developed normally throughout gestation, despite suffering fatal perinatal bleeding after birth. The study suggests a new avenue for exploration of coagulation proteins' role in embryonic development.
University of Notre Dame paleontologist J. Keith Rigby discovered the largest Tyrannosaur skeleton on record, but it was found to be seriously damaged by poachers on a northeastern Montana cattle ranch. The damage includes two-thirds of the left side of the skull missing and both lower jaws also destroyed.
A nearly complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossil was discovered in northeastern Montana, measuring over 52 inches. The fossil exceeds all known measurements of the dinosaur and is believed to be one of the largest carnivores on the planet.
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have discovered a new subnuclear particle, an exotic meson, which is composed of quarks and antiquarks rather than just one type. The discovery was made possible by a high-energy particle experiment conducted at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
The team, led by Gregory L. Snider, has successfully demonstrated a transistorless approach to computing using quantum dots. This technology could lead to the development of smaller, faster, and more powerful computers with increased storage capacity, potentially replacing conventional microelectronic devices.