Researchers developed an antiviral chewing gum containing a natural protein that neutralizes viral loads of influenza A strains and two herpes simplex viruses. The gum, made from lablab beans, was found to be safe and effective in reducing viral loads by over 95%.
A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine has made a groundbreaking discovery about the immune system's response to the latent stage of Toxoplasma gondii. The study found that certain T cells can target neurons containing cysts, promoting parasite control. However, this process also poses a...
A megastudy involving over 140,000 teachers and 3 million elementary students found that behaviorally informed email messages improved students' math progress by 1.89% compared to standard email reminders. Personalized nudges referencing students' progress updates were more effective than nonpersonalized ones.
Researchers have found that similar patterns of cracks on planets Earth, Mars and Europa may indicate past water presence and potential life. The study uses a mathematical framework to analyze two-dimensional fracture networks across the solar system.
Researchers found that training the innate immune system can exacerbate inflammatory bone loss in models of chronic diseases like periodontitis and arthritis. The study suggests that a previously thought beneficial effect of trained immunity may actually contribute to harm in certain contexts.
Researchers develop a predictive model of knitting using mathematical techniques from general relativity, allowing for the creation of self-folding and shape-morphing textiles. This breakthrough enables fabrics with precise properties and opens doors to new design applications in soft robotics and medical materials.
Archaeologists reconstructed human land use and land cover over the past 12,000 years in South Asia, revealing hunter-gatherer practices as dominant across periods. The study provides critical information for modeling climate impacts of human populations.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a protein called Melt that can be toggled by temperature, allowing for precise control over cellular pathways. The breakthrough enables non-invasive therapy options for cancer treatment and basic research, potentially leading to more targeted and less toxic treatments.
Combining data from two major surveys of the universe's evolutionary history reveals a small discrepancy between expected clumpiness and observed matter distribution. This deviation could suggest unaccounted-for physics influencing cosmic structure formation, such as dark energy.
Life expectancy in the Gaza Strip has dropped from 75.5 years to 40.5 years between October 2023 and September 2024, a decline of -46.3%.
Researchers found that hospitals with high percentages of Black patients (high-Black-serving hospitals) have 6% to 7% more patients per nurse. The study suggests policy solutions to improve staffing in these hospitals or for patients to go to better-staffed hospitals
A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience examines how different parts of the prefrontal cortex guide decisions to persist or quit. Participants with damage to specific regions waited less overall, particularly when persistence was optimal, highlighting the brain's role in evaluating subjective value and adapting to real-time fe...
Endothelial cells lining pulmonary veins contribute to blood vessel repair and angiogenesis after lung injury. The study found that these cells proliferate into the adjacent capillary bed, differentiating into capillary cells, which can help regenerate damaged tissues.
A new method developed by Penn researchers uses a chemical-separation technique to extract cobalt from 'junk' materials, increasing the capacity for purified cobalt production with minimal environmental harm. The process avoids harsh chemicals and generates lower costs than traditional methods.
A team led by Eric Stach at Penn Engineering has developed a new approach to visualize and understand molecular catalysts on semiconductor surfaces. By combining atomic-resolution imaging with machine learning analysis, they created detailed maps of the distribution and behavior of these microscopic structures.
A team of researchers has discovered that subtle changes in a lipid-binding region can dramatically alter the function of transcription factors in plants. By swapping the START domains of two near-identical paralogs, PHB and CNA, the researchers demonstrated that this single change could rewrite developmental instructions.
A collaborative study by University of Pennsylvania researchers found that an increase in Airbnbs in London led to higher rates of robbery, burglary, theft, and violence. The study suggests that Airbnbs provide opportunities for crimes, particularly against tourists or vacant properties.
A team of scientists at the University of Pennsylvania discovered a novel courtship behavior in female Drosophila santomea fruit flies, where they spread their wings to signal receptivity. This finding suggests that neural circuits can be reused and adapted to drive new behaviors, offering insights into the evolution of social communic...
The study discovered stark differences in browsing habits between countries with more education and gender equality versus less equality, with those in equal countries engaging in a 'busybody' style of information-seeking characterized by jumping from topic to topic and collecting loosely connected information. In contrast, those in un...
Researchers from Penn Vet discovered that a species of parasitic worms can evade the mammalian urge to scratch an itch by blocking the sensation, allowing it to enter the body undetected. The study found that activating specific neurons can block the entry of these parasites, preventing their dissemination through the body.
Pro-B cells, a stage in B cell development, exhibit unusual plasticity when YY1 is knocked out. This enables them to generate T lineage cells, which help B cells produce antibodies. The study published in Genes & Development reveals the potential for regenerative medicine applications.
A new study reveals a connection between NF-κB signaling pathways and X chromosome inactivation in T cells, which has implications for understanding sex-based immune responses. Researchers found that the maintenance of X chromosome inactivation depends on nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), a transcription factor.
Researchers have identified a 'forcefield-like' defense system in solid tumors, which uses small extracellular vesicles to block nanoparticle-based therapies. The study found that tumor cells release sEVs carrying proteins that block the activity of cytotoxic T cells and intercept nanoparticles like a decoy.
Researchers from Penn and Princeton developed a method of judging behavior that sustains cooperation, called 'look twice, forgive once.' This approach looks at multiple actions and forgives some bad actions to maintain consensus, confirming the original hypothesis that public institutions are not necessary for reputation-based cooperat...
A team of researchers discovered that twisting layers of a material can generate an electron-path-deflecting effect, controlling light and electrons in quantum materials. The phenomenon mimics the Coriolis force, where light is used to manipulate electrons, exhibiting new quantum behaviors.
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania finds that concern about misinformation drives Americans to seek out news sources that reflect their own political beliefs. Democrats and those with higher education levels are more concerned about misinformation, leading them to consume more liberal-leaning media sources.
A new study found that high doses of red seaweed reduce methane emissions in cows, but the effect is short-lived. The researchers discovered that the seaweed inhibits methanogenic microbes, leading to a near-total elimination of a key microbe involved in methane formation.
The University of Pennsylvania team has pioneered a novel 'one-pot platform' to produce mRNA delivery particles, accelerating the synthesis process and enabling precise targeting of specific organs. The approach leverages click-like chemistry to create lipid nanoparticles with biodegradable components, enhancing mRNA delivery into cells.
Researchers create an analog system that can learn complex tasks like XOR relationships and nonlinear regression, using local learning rules without centralized processor. The system is fast, low-power, and scalable, offering a unique opportunity for studying emergent learning.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found that sending well-designed reminder messages increased COVID-19 booster uptake by 21% on average, outperforming free round-trip Lyft rides. The most effective messages were those encouraging recipients to make a vaccination plan and highlighting high local transmission rates.
Researchers from the Mann Research Group found strong path dependence in Plio-Pleistocene glaciations, driven by a gradual decrease in regolith and volcanic outgassing. The study suggests that carbon dioxide levels determine the onset of the Mid-Pleistocene Transition, and that it's not too late to act to prevent ice sheet collapse.
A team of researchers at Penn has developed an artificial intelligence tool that can mine the vast and largely unexplored biological data from over 10 million molecules to discover new candidates for antibiotics. The deep learning approach identified thousands of candidates in just a few hours, with many showing preclinical potential.
Kotaro Sasaki and his team developed an in vitro seminoma model to study chromosomal anomalies and signaling pathways in testicular cancer. The model sheds light on the cellular origin of seminoma, providing new insights into its development.
Research from Penn Nursing found that nurses in hospitals with the highest share of Black patients face greater moral distress, poor leadership communication, and limited access to PPE. The study highlights the need for innovative solutions to support nurses in day-to-day care and reduce physical and emotional burdens.
Senescent cells, 'zombie-like' cells that resist death, accumulate in the brain with age, contributing to cognitive declines and frailty. Researchers identified a specific pathway linked to senescence in fruit fly brains, potentially paving the way for therapies to delay age-associated pathologies.
Research reveals that clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) drives inflammatory bone loss diseases like periodontitis and arthritis. Rapamycin shows promise as a potential treatment for CHIP-driven inflammation.
A new meta-analysis of 29 randomized controlled trials found that omega-3 supplementation can modestly reduce aggression across age and gender. The study suggests that omega-3 could be a useful adjunct to other interventions for reducing aggression.
Researchers found that heart rate synchrony was a reliable measure for assessing and improving team dynamics. The study used fire-walking rituals as an example to demonstrate physiological synchrony, which predicted the probability of groups reaching the correct consensus.
A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania developed a model that incorporates two forms of gossip to study indirect reciprocity. They found that there is a mathematical relationship between these forms of gossip, allowing them to understand how much gossip is required to foster cooperation and how incorrect information ...
Researchers Michael Platt and Peter Sterling link declining fertility to despair, social fragmentation, and economic uncertainty, posing existential threats to humanity. The study highlights the need for interventions addressing hopelessness and promoting social connections to prevent population collapse.
A review of meta-analyses found that interventions targeting individual determinants like habits, behavioral attitudes, and skills are more effective than those targeting knowledge, general attitudes, and beliefs. Social-structural determinants like social support and institutional policies also show promise in changing behavior.
Scientists from Penn created a non-volatile memory device using ferroelectric aluminum scandium nitride (AlScN) to retain data at high temperatures. The device's stability and fast switching properties enable efficient computation in harsh conditions, including space exploration and deep-earth drilling.
A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania explored how Bayesian and abductive reasoning can be used to model social dynamics. They found that in some scenarios, simple guesswork can lead to more cooperation than complicated calculus, while in others it may result in less cooperation due to stricter judgment criteria.
A new study found that most Americans reject democratic norm violations and political violence, with only a small percentage supporting them. Researchers also discovered that there is no significant correlation between constituents' opinions and policymakers' actions on election denial.
Researchers found that stereotypes can significantly reduce cooperation by making individuals less likely to engage in positive behaviors if they believe their actions won't be recognized. This can lead to a decrease in overall cooperation. However, the use of individual-based reputations could potentially improve cooperative outcomes.
The study reveals that rod shapes are crucial for effective swimming, enabling microbes to navigate their environments efficiently. Advanced microscopy visualized the behavior of proteins inside the cell, confirming the importance of specific proteins in shifting cell shape.
Researchers found that a language's past color vocabulary influences its ability to evolve, with constraints on vocabulary growth and changes in meaning. The study used the World Color Survey dataset to explore how new terms are introduced and their meanings change as vocabulary size increases.
A new study from the Computational Social Science Lab at the University of Pennsylvania found that YouTube's recommendation system has a moderating effect on user behavior. Contrary to popular narratives, users' own political interests and preferences play the primary role in what they choose to watch.
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine sheds light on how Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) impacts the gut microbiome, providing a potential tool for disease surveillance. Researchers found that certain types of gut bacteria can differentiate between CWD-positive and -negative deer.
Researchers have developed a new technique to repair lung tissue damaged by respiratory viruses, such as the flu and COVID-19. The technique uses vascular endothelial growth factor alpha (VEGFA) delivered via lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), which improves vascular recovery, reduces inflammation, and enhances oxygen levels in animal models.