A study by University of Utah researchers identified a protein called C-terminal binding protein 1 (CTBP1) as the spark that initiates colon polyp formation. This new information opens possibilities for developing future treatments to prevent tumor progression.
A new study finds that women who have babies in their 40s or 50s tend to live longer than other women, and their brothers also live longer, but not their wives. The study suggests that genes may play a significant role in prolonging lifespan and female fertility.
A new study by University of Utah researchers reveals that tiny hair-like tubes atop hair cells in the ear act as flexoelectric motors to amplify sound mechanically. This discovery sheds light on how humans can hear very quiet sounds, and may also have implications for our sense of balance.
Researchers used GPS tracking collars and analyzed carbon isotopes in elephant tail hair to monitor the elephants' movements and diet. The study found that when rains begin, satellite measurements show increasing greenness as grasses grow, indicating peak levels of high-protein grass in the elephants' diet.
A study published in Molecular Ecology found that woodrats have genetic detoxification genes that enable them to consume creosote bushes, which are coated with a toxic resin. The researchers also discovered that these animals adapt their diets in response to climate change, and the findings may provide insights into how humans can modi...
Researchers at the University of Utah developed a new method to locate trapped miners in collapsed mines by installing seismic listening devices on the ground. The system uses unique 'fingerprints' generated by miners banging on iron plates to pinpoint their location, showing promising results in tests.
Researchers successfully used satellite images to monitor the extent of saltcedar leaf beetle defoliation on tamarisk. The study suggests that controlling tamarisk through beetle release may have unexpected environmental repercussions.
A University of Utah study finds that women in troubled marriages are more likely to experience depression, high blood pressure, and obesity, which can increase the risk of heart disease. In contrast, men in strained marriages do not face an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors for heart disease.
Young southern right whales learn from their mothers where to feed in the ocean, but researchers worry they may not be able to adapt if food sources become scarce due to global warming.
Physicists and chemists at the University of Utah developed a new method using silver nanoparticles to visualize internal structures in nearly opaque biological materials. The technique allows for the detection of fatigue in materials like carbon-fiber plastics used in aircraft, enabling regular inspections of fuselage integrity.
Scientists at the University of Utah identified a worm gene crucial for damaged nerve cells to regenerate and showed that over-activating it can speed up nerve regeneration. The study's findings offer hope for new treatments for nerves injured by trauma or disease.
A recent study by University of Utah researchers identified bigger, older mice as the culprits behind hantavirus transmission. The study used fluorescent powders and radio transmitters to track contacts between mice, revealing that larger-bodied individuals were responsible for maintaining the disease in deer mouse populations.
Researchers have discovered two enzymes involved in DNA demethylation, which could lead to targeted therapies aimed at slowing or preventing cancer. The enzymes control an 'on-and-off switch' for critical genes that trigger cancer and other diseases.
A new study by University of Utah psychologists found that drivers are more distracted by talking on a cellular phone than by conversing with a passenger in an automobile. When drivers talk on a cell phone, they drift out of their lanes and missed exits more frequently than drivers conversing with a passenger.
Researchers at the University of Utah have developed a synthetic version of sandcastle worm glue, which has shown promise in repairing shattered bone fragments. The glue performs 37% as well as commercial superglue in lab tests and may be used to align small bone fragments in joints and the face before they heal.
A team of paleontologists from the University of Utah and independent scientists have found no evidence of dinosaur tracks at the 'dinosaur dance floor' site in northern Arizona. Instead, they suggest the features may be unusual potholes eroded in the sandstone.
Researchers have developed a prototype card-swipe device that can test for dozens of diseases simultaneously, detecting as few as 800 microscopic particles. The device uses giant magnetoresistance technology, similar to hard drive reads, and could lead to fast and affordable diagnosis in medical settings.
Researchers identified over 1,000 dinosaur tracks at a site in the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, providing evidence of wet intervals during the Early Jurassic Period. The site includes rare tail-drag marks, revealing at least four dinosaur species gathered at the watering hole.
Researchers have developed a new, animated, and interactive way to analyze opinion data using radial charts that change in real time as users ask questions. The software is designed to make it easy for news reporters and citizens to easily visualize poll results by demographic characteristics.
Researchers found that when a single telomere is lost, it can cause many abnormalities in a cell's chromosomes, leading to cancer. A new treatment route for cancer may be possible by interfering with the process of adding new telomeres.
University of Utah engineers have developed a new way to slice thin wafers of germanium for use in high-efficiency solar cells. The new method, wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM), reduces waste and breakage of the brittle semiconductor, making it more economical to produce such cells.
The University of Utah is joining the third Sloan Digital Sky Survey to map distant galaxies, understand galaxy evolution, and discover planets with suitable environments for life. The survey will also help scientists test theories about dark energy and explore the mysteries of the universe.
Researchers successfully controlled an electrical current using the 'spin' within electrons, a step toward building plastic semiconductor switches. However, highly efficient organic LEDs may only convert up to 25 percent of electricity into light, contrary to earlier estimates.
A University of Utah study demonstrates fundamental new property – chaotic behavior in a quantum system – in frozen xenon nuclei, challenging conventional understanding. The findings provide new insights into the relationship between chaos theory and quantum mechanics.
Researchers found that living in a walkable neighborhood can reduce the risk of obesity by up to six pounds. The study used census data from Salt Lake County and found that neighborhoods built before 1950 were associated with lower BMI values.
Researchers discovered that European starlings and zebrafinches control their songs with the fastest-contracting muscle type yet described. These songbirds can alter volume and frequency of their songs up to 250 times per second, providing precise control over their vocalizations.
A fatal mine collapse in Utah's Crandall Canyon coal mine was actually a massive cave-in that covered an area of approximately 50 acres. New calculations reveal the disaster began near where miners were excavating and quickly grew to four times its initially estimated size.
Scientists analyzed 15 major earthquakes and found at least 12 triggered small quakes hundreds to thousands of miles away. The study shows large earthquakes routinely trigger smaller jolts globally, contradicting previous assumptions that seismically active regions were most vulnerable.
University of Utah chemists have discovered the ideal photonic crystal structure, dubbed the "champion" crystal, in the shimmering green scales of a Brazilian weevil beetle. The scale material has a diamond-like structure that can manipulate light efficiently, but its chitin composition makes it unsuitable for long-term use.
University of Utah engineers successfully created wire-like waveguides to transmit and bend terahertz radiation, a crucial step towards harnessing its potential for faster computing and communication. This breakthrough could lead to the development of superfast computers that can process data at trillions of cycles per second.
A new study by University of Utah meteorologists finds that current climate models are accurate and can be valuable tools for reversing global warming trends. The study shows that coupled models can simulate present-day climate with accuracy approaching conventional observations.
Scientists confirm 1966 prediction that most energetic particles in the universe rarely reach Earth at full strength due to cosmic microwave background radiation. The GZK cutoff is a suppression of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays, suggesting they come from galaxies beyond 150 million light years away.
A University of Utah study reveals that polar explorers saw an aerosol 'dry haze' in the late 1800s, likely generated by smelting and coal combustion. The haze was found to contain metallic particles, including vanadium and cobalt, consistent with heavy oil and coal combustion.
Researchers discovered that alligators use a combination of muscles to shift their lungs and maneuver in the water. This unique ability allows them to dive, surface, and roll sideways without creating disturbance. The study highlights the importance of specialized muscles in aquatic animals for navigation and stealth.
Researchers create hair analysis method to track past movements of suspects or unidentified murder victims based on hydrogen and oxygen isotope levels. The technique helps identify general geographic areas where individuals drank water, providing a valuable lead for law enforcement.
Scientists unveil Velafrons coahuilensis, a massive duck-billed dinosaur from Mexico's Cerro del Pueblo Formation. The discovery provides valuable insights into the region's ecosystem and mass death events, challenging previous understanding of West America's Late Cretaceous history.
The University of Utah will receive advanced software for energy research and development with the $21.2 million grant. This technology will aid in finding oil and gas resources more efficiently and help students learn cutting-edge skills.
Scientists discovered that bare subatomic protons can act like neurotransmitters, making gut muscles contract in round worms. The researchers identified genes and proteins involved in the process and found proton pumps and receptors in human intestinal cells and brains.
A University of Utah study found that drivers on cell phones drive slower, make fewer lane changes, and have lower overall speeds, leading to increased travel times. This can substantially reduce traffic flow, increasing congestion on highways.
Researchers argue that the accelerated uplift of mountains and highlands in East Africa blocked ocean moisture, favoring human ancestors who adapted to walking on two feet. The 'Wall of Africa,' spanning from Ethiopia to South Africa, played a significant role in shaping climate and vegetation.
A new study suggests humans are evolving rapidly, with genetic differences accelerating on a continental scale. The pace of change has accelerated in the last 40,000 years, especially since the end of the Ice Age, leading to increased divergence among human populations.
A new study suggests that the universe's first stars were dark, invisible 'dark stars' powered by dark matter. These massive stars could be billions of years old and would generate gamma rays, neutrinos, and antimatter.
A study by scientists has found that the most energetic particles in the universe – ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays – are correlated with the centers of active galaxies hosting violent black holes. The sources are thought to be within 326 million light years, our local neighborhood in cosmic terms.
Scientists at the University of Utah report that Yellowstone's caldera floor has risen by almost 3 inches per year for three years, with a total uplift of 7 inches during the past 30 months. This rate is more than three times faster than previous observations and may be due to an injection of a Los Angeles-sized blob of molten rock.
Researchers genetically manipulated nematode worms to be attracted to the same sex, revealing that sexual attraction is derived from a shared nervous system. The study suggests that sexual orientation may be wired in the brain and not solely caused by extra nerve cells.
Scientists discovered a unique method of reproduction in primitive plants named cycads, which heat up and emit toxic odors to repel and attract pollen-covered insects. This 'push-pull' pollination method may represent an intermediate step in the evolution of plant pollination.
Researchers from the University of Utah and California's Raymond M. Alf Museum have unearthed a new duck-billed dinosaur species, Gryposaurus monumentensis, in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The creature is estimated to have grown up to 30 feet long as an adult and had over 300 teeth embedded in its thick skull.
A University of Utah-led study rebuts critics by showing that legalizing physician-assisted suicide did not result in disproportionate deaths among the elderly, poor, women, minorities, or chronically ill. In fact, patients with psychiatric illness were not more likely to die via assisted suicide.
Researchers discovered that brine moving up or down through floating sea ice follows universal transport properties, similar to water flow through sedimentary rocks. This finding can help improve forecasts of global warming's impact on polar icepacks and understand how polar ecosystems respond to climate change.
Researchers developed a new way to predict when vegetation dries to its most vulnerable state to large-scale fires in the Santa Monica Mountains near Los Angeles. The study found that global warming has not caused any apparent long-term trend toward early fire seasons in the area.