Researchers found that naturally-occurring bacteria in the Gulf of Mexico consumed and removed at least 200,000 tons of oil and natural gas from the Deepwater Horizon spill. The study measured how much oil and gas was eaten by bacteria and how its characteristics changed over time.
Researchers found that babies seek out situations with just the right amount of surprise or complexity to capture their attention. The findings suggest that babies are active information seekers who can predict what happens next based on previous observations.
Researchers have made significant breakthroughs in understanding volcanic plumbing systems, which could lead to improved predictions of eruptions. The team's study reveals that ground uplift occurred four months before an eruption due to increased pressure in one of the underground chambers.
Researchers discovered that individuals with unacknowledged attraction to the same sex and authoritarian parents are more likely to exhibit homophobic attitudes. The study suggests that homophobia can be a manifestation of internal conflict and repression, particularly in those who deny their own sexual orientation.
Bigham's proposal, Closed-Loop Crowd Support of People with Disabilities, aims to leverage the crowd to provide real-time feedback and support to individuals with visual impairments or other disabilities. The NSF CAREER Award will support his research over the next five years.
Computer scientists at the University of Rochester developed a model that can determine a person's location within a 100-meter radius using only their friends' locations on Twitter. The researchers achieved an accuracy rate of 85% in one experiment, tracking individuals to within one city block in over eight out of ten instances.
Biologists at the University of Rochester used a genetic tool from jewel wasps to find changes in cell regulator genes that affect wing growth. This discovery could help understand cell growth regulation and underlying causes of some diseases.
A new analysis of research on online dating reveals its growing popularity and convenience, but warns of pitfalls such as unrealistic expectations and a 'shopping' mentality. The study found that online dating has become the second-most-common way for couples to meet, behind only meeting through friends.
A team of astrophysicists discovered a ring system in the constellation Centaurus that is similar to Saturn's. The system consists of four thin rings of dust debris, with each ring having a mass similar to Earth's moon, and orbits tens of millions of kilometers from the central star.
A team of scientists has unraveled how the brain processes complex sensory signals, using a relatively simple computation performed by single nerve cells. The study confirms and extends a computational theory developed earlier, predicting that neurons fire in a manner predicted by a weighted summation rule.
Researchers found zircon crystals with ages matching those from western source sites, indicating a dramatic shift in atmospheric winds. The study improves climate modeling by suggesting alternating northwesterly and westerly sources for loess during glacial periods.
A team of chemists has gained new understanding of the Haber-Bosch process, which converts atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. By mimicking the process in solution using an iron-potassium complex, they discovered that three iron atoms break the strong N-N bonds to form a complex with Fe3N2 core.
A study from the University of Rochester found that chronic stress disrupts a mother's natural stress response, leading to problematic parenting behaviors. Mothers with higher depressive symptoms exhibited hyperactive stress responses, resulting in harsh and reactive parenting.
Scientists have challenged long-held assumptions about dosage compensation in male fruit flies, finding no upregulation of X chromosomes in testes cells. The study's findings suggest that dosage compensation may not be essential for male sex cell survival, sparking further investigation into the mechanisms at play.
A study published by the University of Rochester found that happily married people are more than three times as likely to survive bypass surgery for 15 years compared to unmarried individuals. The study also found that marriage quality is crucial for women's survival, with satisfying unions increasing their survival rate almost fourfold.
A study found that children's personalities are linked to their chemical response to stress, with different patterns of hormone production associated with advantages and disadvantages in navigating threatening environments. Doves were more vigilant but prone to anxiety, while hawks were bolder but riskier.
Researchers found that humans experience the Motion Aftereffect, even with brief background motion, due to neural processes in the brain. The study reveals a rapid motion adaptation that occurs every time we see moving objects, but its purpose remains unknown.
A study published in Social Psychology and Personality Science found that coming out as lesbian, gay, or bisexual increases emotional well-being, particularly in accepting environments. However, in judgmental contexts, the costs and stigma of identifying as minority outweigh the benefits.
Researchers have discovered a protein called SIRT6 that improves DNA repair efficiency under oxidative stress, potentially leading to treatments for premature aging and cancer. The study found that increasing SIRT6 levels primed the cells to respond to DNA damage, allowing for faster repair of double strand breaks.
A new study finds that color red increases the speed and force of human reactions, likely due to its association with danger cues. The effect is short-lived and may tax mental resources.
Researchers found that doubling a plant's chromosome set can grant it an immediate survival advantage in challenging environments. The experiment showed that hexaploid yarrow outperformed its tetraploid counterpart by five-fold, with the difference attributed solely to the increased chromosome number.
A study by University of Rochester researchers found that toddlers use their parents' disfluencies to learn language more efficiently. When a parent says 'um' or 'uh,' the child instinctively looks at unfamiliar objects on a screen, indicating they're paying attention to potential new words.
Researchers have developed a new method for imaging below the skin's surface using a liquid lens setup. This technology provides unprecedented images of tissue up to 1 millimeter deep, allowing for simpler and less invasive detection of skin lesions.
A recent study by Ronni Pavan of the University of Rochester and Nathaniel Baum-Snow found that larger US cities drive growing wage gaps between the rich and poor. The study used U.S. Census data and American Community Surveys from 1980 to 2007, finding that larger metropolitan areas have experienced rapid growth in wages within all sk...
Researchers at University of Rochester identify Nrf2 and Keap1 genes as key regulators of stem cell activity. Nrf2 prevents stem cell division, while Keap1 enables it when ROS levels increase.
A research team led by Richard Waugh is investigating the reasons behind the limited attraction of white blood cells to injured tissue. They aim to develop pharmaceutical treatments that can modulate the response of white blood cells.
Scientists confirm environmental limits to species diversity, extending the concept over a million years through lizard study in the Caribbean. Larger islands tend to support more distinct species of lizards.
Researchers found that video game players develop a heightened sensitivity to their surroundings, improving skills like multitasking and driving. They were up to 25% faster at making quick decisions than non-gamers.
A study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General found that wearing red or being bordered by the color increases a man's attractiveness and sexual desirability among women. The researchers attribute this effect to the cultural association between red and high status, as well as biological roots in human behavior.
Researchers at University of Rochester developed a unique light-controlled membrane that can block gas flow when ultraviolet light is applied and allow it to flow when purple light is used. This innovation has potential applications in controlled drug delivery and industrial processing tasks.
A new study confirms that unhappy families have specific difficulties for children during early school years. Disengaged families exhibit cold, controlling relationships leading to aggressive behavior and depression, while enmeshed families display high levels of conflict, anxiety, and social withdrawal as their child navigates school.
Researchers document a novel form of adaptation through natural selection in bacteria-infected flies, which use co-opted genetic material to develop a defense against nematodes. The study reveals the rapid spread of beneficial bacteria across North America, increasing frequency from 10% to 80% in just two decades.
A series of studies found that spending time in nature significantly increases feelings of vitality and energy, even in indoor settings. The research, led by Richard Ryan, suggests that nature is fuel for the soul and can provide a natural connection to living things, promoting physical and mental health.
A recent study from the University of Rochester found that humans rely on several brain regions to process sentences, not a single advanced area. The researchers used American Sign Language to investigate how different grammatical structures activate distinct brain regions.
Researchers at the University of Rochester have discovered a way to make liquid flow vertically upward along a silicon surface, overcoming gravity's pull. By carving intricate patterns in silicon with high-powered laser bursts, they increase the attraction that water molecules feel toward it, allowing the liquid to rise on its own accord.
Researchers found that the Earth's magnetic field 3.5 billion years ago was weaker than today, making it easier for solar winds to strip away water from the early atmosphere. The stronger solar wind likely caused more polar aurora and reduced water vapor levels, with potential implications for modern-day water availability.
A national study spanning 120 years found that vigorous two-party competition provides the best guarantee for meaningful governance, while modest salaries for lawmakers add a second protection against narrow-interest legislation. The research examined 13 states and found that larger party control leads to more parochial legislation.
The study provides new insights into pest control and genetics by sequencing the genomes of three parasitoid wasp species. The findings suggest that harnessing the full potential of parasitoid wasps could be a more effective alternative to chemical pesticides.
A study published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology found that people experience better moods, greater vitality, and fewer aches and pains on Fridays to Sundays. The 'weekend effect' is largely associated with freedom to choose activities and time spent with loved ones.
Researchers at the University of Rochester have discovered a method to turn metals black using a high-intensity laser burst, allowing them to detect electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz range. This technology has the potential to enable unprecedented diagnoses of diseases by detecting molecular properties of diseased tissues.
Scientists confirm volcanic processes in Ethiopian rift are similar to those at world's oceans, suggesting a new sea is forming. The rift tore open along its entire 35-mile length in just days, with magma pushing up through the middle and beginning to 'unzip' it.
Researchers found a two-tier defense mechanism in the DNA of naked mole rats, which expresses a gene called p16 that stops cell proliferation when too many cells crowd together. This discovery could potentially lead to new cancer treatments for humans.
Researchers at the University of Rochester are developing a system to derive usable hydrogen fuel from water using only sunlight. The team will investigate artificial photosynthesis and use three modules to optimize the process. The goal is to create a clean energy source that can be used in fuel cells for cars, homes, or power plants.
A team of researchers is using eye-tracking technology to study how experienced geologists view landscapes and identify clues to important discoveries. The project aims to reduce training costs by providing simulated field training, which could also give prospective geologists more 'field' experience.
Researchers at the University of Rochester have found evidence that changes in the net flow of heat into and out of the oceans correlate with past climate anomalies, including abrupt shifts in global temperatures and unusual land temperature fluctuations. The study, which analyzed high-quality data sets, suggests these oceanic shifts s...
Research found that brain processes living and non-living objects in different areas, regardless of visual experience. The brain categorizes objects based on their functional importance, such as edibility or spatial awareness.
A large-scale, five-year research project will investigate how various factors affect the well-being and mental health of children who have experienced child maltreatment. The study aims to understand the complex interactions between genetics, family environment, hormonal regulation, personality traits, and brain activity.
Researchers at the University of Rochester have developed a metal slab that can lift liquids using capillary action, moving them at speeds faster than nature. The metal's surface structure can be controlled to direct liquid flow or even create hydrophobic surfaces that prevent germ growth.
A new study by University of Rochester researchers shows that striving for materialistic goals like wealth and fame can actually decrease happiness. In contrast, focusing on personal growth, relationships, and community involvement leads to greater well-being.
Scientists have discovered a new type of non-blinking nanocrystal that can emit light continuously. The discovery, published in Nature, may lead to more affordable and versatile lasers, brighter LED lighting, and improved biological markers.