Researchers have found a fungus, Marquandomyces marquandii, that can grow into hydrogels with unique structural properties, such as high water absorption and elasticity. These properties make it a potential candidate for biomedical uses like tissue regeneration and flexible wearable devices.
The BIRDBASE dataset covers 78 ecological traits across 11,589 bird species, revealing that 54% are insectivores, with many tropical forest species under pressure. Fruit-eating birds disperse seeds in tropical forests, and fish-eating seabirds face elevated extinction risk.
Researchers at the University of Utah create a compact camera capturing both color and fine spectral details in a single snapshot, enabling fast and efficient hyperspectral imaging. The camera's design represents a leap forward in capturing spectral data, making it cheaper, faster, and more compact.
Build up Nepal's eco-brick technology reduces CO2 emissions and makes homes safer while cutting construction costs. The company will use the prize to scale up its innovative solution.
A new study analyzing the dietary choices of wild woodrats reveals that individual diets may not be as diverse as previously assumed. The research suggests that the costs of specializing on one food source or diversifying one's diet have a strong impact on an animal's ability to survive and thrive.
Marine animals diversified over 500 million years ago, but oxygen levels didn't reach the ocean floor until later. Thallium isotopes show fluctuations in O2 levels at the ocean floor during the Paleozoic era.
Research from the University of Utah and Virginia Tech reveals that seasonal shifts in rainfall and snowfall patterns are exacerbating glacier melting across the region. Glaciers in Central Himalaya, Western Himalaya, and Eastern Himalaya are especially vulnerable to accelerated ice loss and water availability threats.
A recent genetic study by James O'Connell and colleagues concludes that humans first arrived in Australia no more than 50,000 years ago, challenging the traditional 65,000-year arrival date. The research suggests that the Sahul peoples, who are believed to be the ancestors of modern Aboriginal Australians, interbred with Neanderthals o...
Researchers found a strong correlation between industrial pollution exposure during pregnancy and the risk of intellectual disabilities in grandchildren. A study using Utah Population Database data revealed that grandmothers' prenatal exposures can increase the risk of intellectual disabilities in their grandchildren's children.
Research led by the University of Utah found that industrial private land has nearly one-and-a-half times higher odds of high-severity wildfire compared to publicly owned forests. Reducing tree density can mitigate megafire risk even in extreme weather conditions.
A University of Utah geoscientist analyzed carbon and oxygen isotopes in lake sediments to document profound changes arising from agriculture and rail causeway. The study reconstructs the lake's water and carbon budgets through time, highlighting two distinct human-driven shifts: one related to settlement arrival and another to the con...
Researchers have developed a new approach to relieving arthritic knee pain through gait retraining, which involves adjusting the angle of a person's foot while walking. The study found that participants experienced pain relief equivalent to medication and showed less knee cartilage degradation over a year.
New research finds that wildfire smoke substantially increases ozone concentrations, even in remote areas with few human emission sources. The study suggests that removing anthropogenic NOx emissions would not eliminate ozone problems, as fires can still produce ozone.
Researchers propose reforms to nature-based climate actions by accounting for feedbacks and ensuring outcomes that wouldn't have happened otherwise
Researchers created a dual-functional metal-organic framework that both adsorbs and detects perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in real-time, making it a versatile solution for water treatment and environmental monitoring. The material's ability to fluoresce in the presence of PFOA enables efficient quantification and remediation.
The US military, the world's single largest consumer of energy and emitter of climate-altering carbon pollution, can significantly reduce its emissions by reducing spending. A new study found that for every 1% increase in military expenditures, there is a corresponding 0.648% increase in energy use.
Researchers at University of Utah reveal the untold story of Black prisoners who participated in malaria experiments, leading to breakthroughs in pharmacogenetics and prevention of adverse drug reactions. The study highlights the importance of acknowledging the contributions of marginalized groups in medical research.
Researchers from the University of Utah have developed an 'optical neural engine' that encodes partial differential equations in light and feeds them into a device to accelerate machine learning. The optical approach accelerates the process and requires less energy compared to electronic methods.
Researchers at the University of Utah have developed a multifunctional device that can be adjusted on the fly to give light different degrees of circular polarization. The device leverages phase-change materials and carbon nanotubes to store information in a property of light known as chirality.
Researchers at the University of Utah found that outdoor air pollution from wildfires and dust events can infiltrate buildings using commercial HVAC systems with air-side economizers. However, indoor air quality remained good overall, and portable air filters can be an effective solution.
A study using 13 years of bird-banding data found that migratory songbirds' fall feather molt is advancing by one day every year due to climate change. This shift may impact avian survival, migration, and reproduction.
The University of Utah is partnering with XPRIZE to improve healthy aging through a 7-year, $101 million global competition. The partnership aims to validate the science of competing teams working towards extending health spans for aging populations.
Most spring runoff heading to reservoirs is actually several years old, indicating that most mountain snowfall has a years-long invisible journey as groundwater before it leaves the mountains. The findings indicate there is an order of magnitude more water stored underground than most Western water managers account for.
The Wilkes Center has announced seven finalists for the $250,000 Wilkes Climate Launch Prize, which supports innovative ideas from organizations worldwide to accelerate solutions to climate change. The finalists will present their solutions during the upcoming Wilkes Climate Summit on May 15.
Researchers used satellite data to analyze the impact of dust on snowmelt in the Colorado River Basin. The study found that dust-driven melting tends to peak earliest and be most intense in central-southern Rocky Mountains, accelerating spring melt rates by up to 1 mm water-equivalent per hour.
Researchers use artificial seismic waves to image the ground beneath Yellowstone's caldera, determining the top of the magma chamber is 3.8 kilometers below surface and comprised of volatile gases and liquids. The findings indicate the long-dormant volcano is not in immediate danger of eruption.
A new study revealed that crocodylian ancestors thrived through two mass extinctions due to their adaptable dietary habits and varied habitats. This discovery may help scientists and conservationists better protect vulnerable species today.
A study from the University of Utah reveals that urban environments can significantly contaminate natural airborne dust particles with hazardous elements. The research found higher concentrations of toxic metals such as zinc, calcium, molybdenum, cadmium, copper, lead, cobalt, and arsenic in urban dust compared to natural dust.
Researchers extracted starch granules from bedrock metates, revealing insights into ancient Indigenous diets and traditions. The team used new techniques to recover the tiny structures within plant cells, providing evidence of plant processing on these ancient cooking implements.
Researchers found systemic monitoring disparities for six major pollutants across US Census groups, with Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders facing the largest gaps. The study highlights the need to consider biases in datasets beyond algorithmic bias.
Researchers developed a method to track large herbivore movements using strontium isotope ratios in tooth enamel. They analyzed Misha, a zoo elephant, and found her teeth revealed relocation history from California to Utah.
A study from the University of Utah found that California's stricter regulations and fuel standards led to lower carbon monoxide emissions on Los Angeles freeways. In contrast, Salt Lake City saw an increase in CO emissions due to factors like older vehicles and higher speed limits.
A team of Utah engineers has developed a large aperture flat lens that focuses light as effectively as traditional curved lenses while preserving accurate color. This technology could transform astrophotography imaging systems in space-constrained applications.
Researchers at the University of Utah have developed a robotic surgery device that aims to give surgeons
Researchers at University of Utah find proposed geoengineering method to oxidize methane has low efficiency and can cause negative air-quality side effects. The study suggests that manipulating the atmosphere on a global scale is not a reliable solution to climate change.
Researchers at the University of Utah and UCI have discovered a unique quantum behavior that allows for the manipulation of electron-spin and magnetization through electrical currents. This phenomenon, dubbed anomalous Hall torque, has potential applications in neuromorphic computing.
Researchers found greater phonetic markers among Pacific Islander teens in a more diverse school, indicating prominent ethnic boundaries. The study suggests that language shifts serve as subtle signals to establish identity and connect with cultural communities.
Research found coyotes are more abundant in areas with regulated hunting, contrary to expectations. Coyotes expanded their range due to habitat loss and fragmentation, filling niches left by other species.
Researchers found that people growing up in high-sprawl neighborhoods have less earning potential, with jobs harder to access. Meanwhile, studies also showed that dense mixed-use walkable neighborhoods sometimes have lower intergenerational mobility due to high concentrations of low-income families and single-parent households.
A new analysis of 14 studies found that coffee and tea drinkers have a lower risk of developing head and neck cancers, including mouth and throat cancers. Decaf coffee was also associated with reduced risks of oral cavity and hypopharyngeal cancer.
A study by University of Utah social scientists finds that loss of urban trees leads to reduced test scores and decreased attendance among low-income students, while wealthier schools experience fewer impacts. The research highlights the complex interplay between environmental degradation and social inequities.
A new study found a strong link between pregnant mothers' ozone exposures and increases in the chances of babies developing intellectual disabilities. The research, published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, analyzed public health and air quality data from Utah's Wasatch Front.
Researchers found that birds endemic to islands, lacking flight, and with large bodies and sharply angled wings were more likely to disappear first. The study analyzed 216 bird extinctions since 1500 and identified traits that correlate with extinction timing.
A team of University of Utah chemists discovered that bicarbonate in CO₂ helps balance pH levels and alters the Fenton reaction, producing milder radicals. This finding challenges how cell damage has been studied for decades and may reshape our understanding of oxidative stress in diseases like cancer or aging.
A new study finds that access to safe, legal abortion is associated with higher college graduation rates, better financial stability, and lower poverty levels among women. Women who had an abortion were more likely to experience economic mobility compared to those who became teen parents.
Researchers explored using electric bus depots to generate solar energy and stabilize the grid. The study found that these depots could net out to be energy producers, further stabilizing the grid.
A massive study of 25 video interventions found that correcting exaggerated perceptions about the other side is effective in reducing partisan animosity. The strategy was also successful in decreasing anti-democratic attitudes and support for violent behaviors, suggesting a common underlying factor between these issues.
Research from the University of Utah suggests immigrants express a greater willingness to serve in the armed forces of both countries. This contradicts harsh narratives perpetuated by some Republicans who characterize immigrants as parasitic.
New research from University of Utah mathematicians and climate scientists sheds light on the dynamic processes driving global climate change. The studies reveal that sea ice is not a solid layer but a complex mixture of water, air, and brine, which affects heat transfer and polar ecosystems.
The SAGA Survey has found that the Milky Way Galaxy appears to be an outlier in terms of its satellite galaxies, having acquired only two large satellites recently compared to other systems. The survey also explores the mechanisms that would stop star formation in these small galaxies, finding that environmental factors play a role.