Researchers investigate whether equilibrium is a good assumption in economics, finding that it breaks down in complicated games. They suggest new approaches are needed to simulate human behavior in complex situations.
A study of over 30,000 Americans reveals significant differences in managing heart disease risk between women and men. Women have better control of high blood pressure, while both sexes struggle with obesity and cholesterol management.
A new study has identified multiple genetic variants linked to how the body stores and distributes fat, paving the way for targeted interventions to reduce chronic illness risk. The findings also highlight the importance of lipid metabolism in body-fat distribution.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found cannabis use among adolescents is associated with a significant increased risk of depression in adulthood. The study's findings suggest that widespread cannabis use among young people makes the scale of the risk more serious, with a population attributable risk of around 7%.
A study of 96,000 UK men and women found that those with chronic conditions spent significantly less time on moderate and vigorous physical activity than their healthy peers. Those with mental health disorders had the lowest moderate activity levels, spending 2.5 hours less per week.
A Lancet study found that statin therapy reduced the risk of a major vascular event by about a quarter for each millimole per litre reduction in LDL cholesterol, even in older people. Statins also did not increase the risk of deaths from non-cardiovascular disease or cancer at any age.
Archaeologists have dated the archaeological site of Denisova cave to at least 200,000 years ago, with stone tools suggesting human occupation may have begun as early as 300,000 years ago. Neanderthals visited the site between 200,000 and 100,000 years ago, interbreeding with Denisovans around 100,000 years ago.
A 34,950-33,900 year old skull from Mongolia has been identified as the oldest known modern human in the region. The ancient skull's presence confirms its link to the Early Upper Palaeolithic industry, which is typically associated with modern humans.
The UKRI Global Research Hubs aim to improve the health and life prospects of Africa's youth by identifying effective service combinations. Researchers will test 'accelerator synergy' services in various sectors, aiming to lead better lives for teenagers across Africa.
Researchers successfully recreated Hokusai's famous 'Great Wave' using laboratory mirrors, gaining insights into the physics of freak waves. The study found that a crossing angle of approximately 120 degrees was critical to reproducing the wave, highlighting new wave breaking behavior.
Researchers found that female fruit flies' increased promiscuity influences the evolution of male traits, prioritizing fertility over enticing females. The study suggests a shift in the balance between pre- and post-mating sexual selection, with males adapting to optimize fertilization success.
A new study published in Nature Human Behaviour found that technology use has at most a 0.4% association with adolescent wellbeing, surpassing the negative effect of eating potatoes. Activities like getting enough sleep and eating breakfast had a stronger positive association with wellbeing.
A century and a half of reconstructed ocean warming offers insights into the Earth system's energy balance. The study suggests that global warming of the oceans has occurred over the past 150 years, with comparable warming patterns observed in the 1920s-1940s and 1990s-2015.
A University of Oxford study reveals that genomic research has been limited by a lack of diversity, with most subjects from the UK, US, and Iceland. The study analyzed nearly 4,000 scientific studies between 2005 and 2018, finding that ancestral diversity has stalled and non-white groups are under-represented.
Fossilized newborns and egg shells found together in 130-million-year-old Lebanese amber provide the first direct evidence of how tiny insects hatched in deep time. The discovery sheds light on the evolution of the hatching mechanism used by modern green lacewings.
Scientists discovered that the Atlantic Ocean's connection to the global thermohaline circulation occurred at a climatic tipping point around 59 million years ago. This enabled a more efficient distribution of heat over the planet, marking the end of a long-term cooling phase and the beginning of a new greenhouse period.
A new study from The George Institute for Global Health at the University of Oxford found that machine learning models can accurately predict the risk of emergency hospital admissions. By analyzing electronic health records, these models identified factors such as age, sex, and socioeconomic status to provide a more robust prediction t...
Researchers developed a new method to analyze cell membrane proteins directly, enabling new discoveries on protein function and behavior. This breakthrough could lead to better understanding of diseases such as cancer, metabolic disorders, and heart disease.
The study reveals that online labor platforms provide companies with a simple and cheap mechanism to hire knowledge workers in lower-income countries. Workers from emerging economies can earn more and have more predictable work hours through these platforms, but their income can be less stable.
A new study published in the Journal of Pediatrics found that screen time has a negligible effect on children's sleep. The study analyzed data from over 10,000 children and found that each hour of screen time resulted in only 3-8 fewer minutes of sleep per night.
Researchers found that New Caledonian crows can combine short parts to create novel functional tools, similar to early human tool manufacture. The birds' ability to anticipate object properties and solve complex problems is remarkable and sheds light on cognitive processes necessary for physical problem-solving.
A study by Oxford University found that individual personalities of male great tits influence their bonding with future breeding partners. Bold, proactive males choose partners sooner and invest more effort in relationships before breeding begins.
A study published in PNAS reveals that an ancient retrovirus, HK2, is more frequently found in drug addicts and associated with addiction. The virus integrates near a gene involved in dopaminergic activity, manipulating nearby genes and predisposing individuals to addictive behavior.
Researchers at the University of Oxford have demonstrated pre-clinical success for a universal flu vaccine by identifying regions of limited variability in the influenza virus. The vaccine targets these regions, which are targeted by the immune system and can induce cross-reactivity to historical strains.
A new Oxford University study finds that parenting interventions are just as effective in school-age children as they are in younger children. The research, published in Child Development, analyzed data from over 15,000 families worldwide and found no evidence to support the common belief that earlier intervention is more powerful.
A new study uses weather forecasts and machine learning to predict bird migration across the United States, explaining 80% of variation in intensity. This tool helps reduce human-made threats during the migration journey, crucial for conserving migratory birds.
Researchers used genomic and epidemiological approaches to understand the mode of transmission of the South America's largest yellow fever virus outbreak. The study revealed that the virus lineage had spread through a sylvatic cycle of transmission in primates before spilling over into human populations.
Scientists discovered transitional root fossils from the earliest land ecosystem, shedding light on plant root evolution. The findings suggest that modern-day plant roots have evolved multiple times, with each characteristic emerging separately.
A new study published in the Journals of Gerontology, Series B, found that men respond to their spouse's illness just as much as women do and are better caregivers in later life. The research reveals similar levels of care given by male and female caregivers when a spouse is severely ill.
Scientists have discovered a new species of lobopodian, an ancient relative of modern-day velvet worms, in 430 million-year-old Silurian rocks. The creature was fully three-dimensionally preserved and reconstructed using digital technology.
A new study published in PLOS ONE found that sleep boosts 'fitness' and future family line reproductive success, suggesting it plays a significant role in evolutionary adaptation. The research used mathematical modeling to compare the fitness of sleeping and non-sleeping strategies under various conditions.
A University of Oxford study suggests that some people buried at Stonehenge had moved with and transported bluestones from the Preseli Mountains in west Wales. The research combined radiocarbon-dating with new developments in archaeological analysis to investigate the lives of those buried at the iconic monument.
Researchers have found that injection of adalimumab into Dupuytren's disease nodules reduces the development of myofibroblasts, the cell type causing Dupuytren's disease. The study shows promising results, bringing new hope to patients with this disabling condition.
Research reveals that ancient American dogs disappeared rapidly following the arrival of Europeans, leaving little genetic signature in modern American dogs. A close relative of these dogs lives on as a transmissible cancer, with its genome mirroring that of the original dog.
A study published in Evolution & Human Behaviour found that social bonding and a desire to protect fellow fans are key motivations for football hooliganism and extremist group behaviour. The research suggests that reducing membership to extreme groups may not prevent violence, but tapping into their commitment could have positive effects.
Researchers at Oxford University and Agroscope found large differences in environmental impact between producers of the same product. A plant-based diet can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 73% and global agricultural land use by ~3.1 billion hectares, according to a new database.
The study, led by Dr Christian Brand, finds that both lifestyle change and zero-emission technologies are needed to meet Scotland's 80% carbon reduction target by 2050. Lifestyle changes such as walking, cycling, and using clean public transport can show quicker results than gradual transitions to electric vehicles.
Researchers at Oxford University have created a lab-based approach to develop defensive relationships between hosts and bacteria, which can work together to prevent infection. The study found that these relationships can evolve quickly in a matter of weeks, providing a new potential solution to the growing superbug crisis.
A comprehensive analysis of fossil euarthropods suggests the 'Cambrian Explosion' was a gradual process, with the origin of animals dating back to around 550 million years ago. The study challenges two competing hypotheses on early animal evolution, presenting a middle-ground between slow and rapid evolution.
Research finds current Kyl-Bingaman Amendment limits US satellite imagery resolution, restricting scientific research opportunities in Israel and Palestine. An 'open-skies policy' is recommended to meet international standard of 0.5m.
Researchers discovered that plant-fungal relationships can break down due to the emergence of more efficient nutrient sources. Plants often replace fungi with other cooperative partners or evolve new strategies, such as becoming carnivorous plants to obtain essential nutrients.
Researchers have developed a new method for weighing single molecules using light scattering, enabling the measurement of mass with high accuracy. This breakthrough has potential applications in fields such as protein-protein interactions, drug discovery, and point-of-care diagnostics.
Researchers at Oxford University have identified a genetic catalyst, ampR, that accelerates the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The study found that species carrying the ampR gene evolve resistance at a higher rate than those lacking it.
A new study from the University of Oxford recommends regulating the digital afterlife industry to ensure ethical usage of digital remains. The guidelines used for managing human remains in archaeological exhibitions could be applied to regulate commercial use of digital remains, treating them with care and respect rather than manipulat...
Research suggests that past environmental changes have impacted the geographic range and species diversity of deep-sea yeti crabs. The study reveals that these animals are likely descended from a common ancestor that inhabited mid-ocean ridges in the SE Pacific, but their populations have declined due to climate change.
Scientists have achieved a world record for trapped-ion logic gate precision, reaching accuracy of 99.8% and speeds of up to 60 times faster than previous records. The breakthrough could enable practical quantum computing by scaling up the system.
Scientists have found that rocks rich in the mineral berthierine, a toxic to decay bacteria, are more likely to preserve soft tissue fossils. This discovery provides a mineralogical signature to find exceptional fossils and potentially supports the search for life on other planets.
A widely used parental guidance program has been shown to reduce domestic conflict and boost economic resilience in South Africa's poorest communities. The Sinovuyo Caring Families Programme for Parents and Teens transformed family relationships in severely at risk communities, improving teenagers' safety and family relationships.
A study by Dr Shona Minson explores the lived experience of children whose mothers are imprisoned, revealing negative impacts on their relationships, education, health, and wellbeing. The research highlights the importance of considering child dependents in sentencing decisions to safeguard their welfare.
A study by University of Oxford researchers reveals that bacteria approach conflict in a coordinated manner, responding to threats with collective retaliation. The research shows that different strains exhibit varying levels of aggression and can even detect incoming attacks to warn other cells, enabling sophisticated defense strategies.