Researchers found significant spatial variations in land movement along the US Atlantic coast, with mid-Atlantic regions subsiding twice as much as northern and southern areas. Coastal subsidence enhances sea-level rise, leading to shoreline erosion and loss of wetlands.
Researchers employed a novel combination of geological and model reconstructions to address spatial variations in sea-level history along the east coast of England. Sediment compaction explained the variations in sea-level observations, revealing striking correlations to the thickness of overlying sediment.
Researchers at Penn University developed a new theory that explains the pace of evolution and determines the speed at which an organism adapts. The study predicts that some organisms, including humans, may not evolve indefinitely and that populations can accrue mutations at a constant rate even under Darwinian selection.
Researchers found that 20th-century sea-level rise in North Carolina is three times higher than the rate of sea-level rise during the last 500 years. The acceleration appears consistent with other studies from the Atlantic coast, suggesting a possible link to human-induced climate change.
A study led by Penn researchers identified a molecular pathway in the brain that causes cognitive impairment due to sleep deprivation. Reducing the concentration of a specific enzyme using PDE inhibitors reversed cognitive deficits, including impaired focus and memory.
A University of Pennsylvania team has developed a method to transform semiconducting nanowires into various nanoscale materials using ion exchange reactions. This process enables the creation of reconfigurable materials and circuits with precise control over their chemical composition, structure, and morphology.
The Penn team demonstrated a novel method for controlled formation of patchy particles using charged, self-assembling molecules. The positive electrical charges of calcium ions form bridges between negatively-charged polymers, creating patchy structures that can be used as drug-delivery vehicles or in small batteries.
A Penn study reverses conventional wisdom on fertility declines, showing high development levels can actually increase fertility rates. Researchers analyzed 24 developed countries over 30 years and found a positive association between HDI and fertility at advanced levels of development.
Researchers have created a tiny micron-sized device that allows them to measure and manipulate cellular forces as cells reorganize into tissues. This discovery has significant implications for the study of tissue mechanics and its role in coordinating cell signaling, gene expression, and behavior.
Researchers at Penn found that people ignore crucial information when making decisions, leading to miscalculations of body weight and calories. The 'Unit Bias' heuristic causes participants to focus solely on certain dimensions, neglecting others.
Engineers from Penn and Sandia National Laboratories demonstrate the formation of interconnected carbon nanostructures on graphene substrate using a simple assembly process. The discovery may lead to new approach of graphene-based electronic devices.
Researchers found that human friendship is linked to cognitive mechanisms creating a ready-made support group, prioritizing helpful individuals in conflicts. The Alliance Hypothesis suggests friendships prioritize mutual care over reciprocal benefits.
The study found a vestige of the zero-temperature jamming transition in a system of small particles where thermal energy is important. Researchers used mathematical computer simulations and an experiment to investigate how jamming affects systems at non-zero temperature.
The study reveals startling diversity in Africa, shared ancestry among geographically diverse groups, and traces the origins of Africans and African Americans. The research team mapped ancient migrations and determined that modern humans exited Africa near the middle of the Red Sea.
The study confirms individual galaxies are source of Far Infrared Background, a decade-old question answered. BLAST's submillimeter survey uncovers dust-enshrouded galaxies with properties deciphered through multi-wavelength data.
Researchers found that synonymous mutations determine mRNA folding, influencing protein levels, and identified a class of mutations slowing bacterial growth. This study improves the design of therapeutic genes by optimizing protein production while maintaining cell health.
Researchers at Penn have identified a fluorescent anesthetic compound, 1-aminoanthracene (1-AMA), that allows for precise imaging of anesthetics in the body. This new tool enables high-throughput screening of novel anesthetic compounds, which could lead to safer and more effective drugs.
A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has found that snail shells in the Atlantic Ocean have increased in size due to changes in local conditions, such as wave exposure and invasive species
A University of Pennsylvania psychology study found that individuals who identify as visual learners activate the visual cortex when reading words, while verbal learners convert pictorial information into linguistic representations. The study uses functional magnetic resonance imaging technology to scan the brain.
The study, published in Science, suggests that neurons in the substantia nigra play a central role in reward-based learning. Participants who responded to unexpected financial rewards showed improved performance in probabilistic learning tasks.
Penn Vet researchers identified colony stimulating factor 1 (Csf1) as a growth factor that enhances sperm stem cell self-renewal. The study reveals that Leydig cells secrete Csf1, which interacts with the microenvironment to support stem cell function.
A University of Pennsylvania team has successfully demonstrated a noninvasive optical device to monitor cerebral blood flow in acute stroke patients. The technology uses diffuse correlation spectroscopy to detect physiological changes, providing continuous bedside monitoring of brain blood flow and metabolism.
A new University of Pennsylvania survey found that most dogs will continue to be aggressive unless training techniques are modified. Non-aversive training methods, such as exercise and rewards, elicited few aggressive responses. The study highlights the risk of dominance-based training, which can lead to owner-directed aggression.
Archaeologists have found significant evidence of an ancient altar and cult activity on Mt. Lykaion, dating back to the Late Helladic period around 3,300 years ago. This supports the theory that Zeus was born in Arcadia, as suggested by ancient Greek poet Callimachus.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine have imaged the body's immune response to a parasitic infection in the brain for the first time. The findings provide unexpected insights into how immune cells are regulated in the brain and have implications for treating inflammatory conditions.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that network structure influences behavior, with some networks generating global adoption of minority viewpoints and others prioritizing individual self-interest. Stubborn individuals can even improve collective performance, while greater awareness of neighboring preferences leads to ...
A study by Ralph Brinster found that males housed with females had a six-month delay in fertility decline, compared to those without companionship. This could have significant implications for male fertility in wildlife and human populations.
A team of University of Pennsylvania physicists creates a simple system to study and control geometric frustration using micron-sized spheres in water. They found that the lattice deforms to relieve frustration as the material becomes more strongly frustrated.
Researchers created a new model of behavior for the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, showing that cholesterol is essential for its structure and function. The findings have broad implications for pharmacology and may shed light on recent data indicating low cholesterol's harmful effects on brain cells.
A recent study published in Social Science and Medicine found that while Americans believe mental illness has a genetic cause, this has not led to increased tolerance for people with mental illness. Genetic arguments are associated with fears regarding violence for schizophrenia but social acceptance for depression.
Researchers at Penn have developed a theoretical framework for increasing the speed of light pulses in nanoscale metal chains, potentially enabling high-speed optical computing. The discovery may overcome limitations in optics and pave the way for novel optoelectronic devices.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a method to etch graphene along flawless, crystallographic axes using thermally activated nanoparticles. This technique enables the creation of atomically precise, macroscopic length ribbons of graphene with potential applications in integrated circuits.
Graphene films have been characterized to vary their surface potential with thickness, aligning with predictions of a nonlinear Thomas-Fermi theory. This advancement clarifies electronic interaction between insulating substrates and few-layer graphene films, essential for device engineering.
Researchers have created a new method for producing functional nanoscale patterns with sub-100 nanometer features. The process uses a flexible polymer membrane and exploits elastic instability to generate long-range orientational order, resulting in stable and reusable diamond-plate patterns with high precision.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania discovered that diamond's slippery behavior is caused by passivation of atomic bonds, not graphite formation. The team found that friction increases dramatically in dry conditions, highlighting the importance of water vapor for optimal performance.
Researchers surveyed 39 tree species and found nearly constant temperatures in leaf samples. This discovery challenges the assumption that leaf temperatures are equal to ambient air conditions, suggesting adaptations towards achieving optimal temperature for photosynthesis.
Researchers found that faulty RNA plays a key role in the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. They discovered that altering the RNA structure can mitigate toxicity, suggesting a common component between different types of human triplet repeat expansion diseases.
A team of scientists identified the TEX11 gene on the X chromosome as a key player in meiosis and male infertility. Disruption of this gene causes sterility in males and reduces female fecundity, highlighting the importance of sex chromosomes in fertility.
Researchers identified a key mechanism by which macrophages recognize friendly cells, preventing them from being eaten. This discovery could lead to new treatments for inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and atherosclerosis.
Materials scientists have developed a theoretical model to predict the strength of metals at the nanoscale. Their study found that metal strengths saturate at around 10-50 nanometers diameter due to temperature and strain rate sensitivity.
Researchers found that viruses evolve to spell their genes in the same way as their bacterial hosts, demonstrating co-evolutionary behavior. The study also revealed that regions of high codon bias in viral genomes coincide with structural protein encoding, reflecting a selection for optimized protein production.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have identified a protein, ISG15, that slows down the spread of Ebola virus by blocking its ability to escape from cells. This finding offers promise for future treatments against Ebola outbreaks.
A new Penn study reveals that college-age females experience high levels of discomfort about being weighed in public, potentially leading to missed health tests and treatments. The study's findings suggest that women may avoid doctor visits due to embarrassment, highlighting the importance of private weighing for improved health outcomes.
Researchers created tiny carbon-based pipettes that can probe cells with minimal intrusion and inject fluids without damaging cell growth. These nanoscale devices have potential applications in nanosurgery and the development of new drugs and therapeutics.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have identified that dioxin targets the mitochondria, disrupting normal cellular function and promoting tumor progression. The study's findings suggest that understanding this mechanism could lead to new ways to block the propagation of mitochondrial stress signaling and inhibit cancer growth.
University of Pennsylvania researchers have uncovered the key step in how herpes simplex virus, HSV-1, invades healthy cells using cooperating proteins on its outer coat. The study used biomolecular complementation with a fluorescent protein called Venus to demonstrate the effectiveness of monitoring protein interactions.
Researchers have found that the Myc protein can stop the production of at least 13 microRNAs, which help control gene expression. Re-introducing repressed miRNAs into cancer cells suppressed tumor growth in mice, raising hopes for a novel therapy approach.
A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine has identified the pathways that lead to the production of Interleukin 10 (IL-10), a major anti-inflammatory factor. Modulating messenger molecules like IL-27 and IL-6 could increase IL-10 concentrations, tempering overactive immune responses.
A University of Pennsylvania study reveals chipmunks and shrews are major carriers of Lyme disease, not just mice. The research challenges the widely-held belief that mice are the primary animal reservoir for Lyme disease.
Researchers have pushed back the known use of cacao by 500 years, tracing it to fermented beverages made from sweet pulp and seeds between 1400 and 1100 B.C.E. This discovery sheds light on the early development of chocolate culture in the Americas.