Researchers Karine Nahon and Jeff Hemsley study thousands of blogs, posts, and tweets to explore the origins and impact of internet memes. They argue that viral information can shape public opinion and have a lasting impact on society.
Researchers discovered how calcium channels filter calcium ions from sodium sea to generate electrical signals. The channels use three binding sites to selectively admit calcium ions and keep out sodium, enabling fast cell signaling essential for muscle contractions, hormone secretion, and nerve impulses.
The study reveals that digital activism is more successful when targeting governments rather than businesses, with social media tools playing a crucial role in its effectiveness. Effective campaigns employ a combination of social media tools, including tweeting alone being less successful.
A recent study by Harvard University researchers found that student creative writing is showing signs of decline over the past 20 years, while visual art is experiencing an increase in sophistication and complexity. The study analyzed 354 examples of visual art and 50 examples of creative writing by teenagers between 1990 and 2011.
Researchers found that rapamycin treatment increases survival and prevents disease progression in a mouse model of Leigh syndrome. The drug delays neurological symptoms, reduces brain inflammation, and extends lifespans by more than triple.
Researchers at the University of Washington have found that tree cover causes snow to melt more quickly in warm climates. In contrast, open areas tend to keep snow on the ground longer into the spring and summer. The study used temperature data from around the world to support its findings.
A new computational method, LACHESIS, has been developed to quickly assign, order and orient DNA sequencing information along entire chromosomes. This approach can validate chromosomal abnormalities in cancer research and pave the way for low-cost, high-quality genome assemblies.
The study found that cyanobacteria in floodplains fixed a significant amount of nitrogen, making it available for plants, unlike previously assumed. This discovery could lead to more accurate models and potentially reduce fertilizer use by utilizing naturally occurring cyanobacteria in soils worldwide.
The team uses a powerful magnet and supercooled microwave receiver to detect faint interactions between axions and electromagnetic radiation. They aim to find cold dark matter axions in the Milky Way galaxy, which could make up 1/4 of the universe's mass.
New research suggests that normal glucose regulation depends on a partnership between the pancreas and brain areas regulating blood sugar levels. The brain-centered system enhances insulin-mediated glucose metabolism while stimulating glucose effectiveness, accounting for nearly half of normal glucose uptake.
Researchers found that babies' brains show distinct activation patterns when watching an adult perform a task with different body parts. This somatotopic mapping helps facilitate imitation and could play a role in the baby's ability to copy actions themselves.
Researchers developed a method to analyze redwood cores for climate reconstruction, revealing 50-year coastal conditions. The technique uses oxygen isotopes to detect fog and rainfall, providing insights into ocean temperatures and long-term climate change.
A new study reveals that global ocean currents, rather than Earth's geometry, explain why the Northern Hemisphere receives more tropical rain. Icy waters from the poles influence seasonal rains crucial for crops in Africa and India.
A team of University of Washington computer scientists has developed a software program called Eyes-Free Yoga, which uses Microsoft Kinect to track body movements and provide auditory feedback for six yoga poses. The program allows blind and low-vision individuals to participate in yoga exercises in a more comfortable setting.
Researchers developed a new way to process signals in cochlear implants, allowing users to perceive differences between musical instruments. The technique significantly improved timbre recognition, but melody perception remained challenging.
The University of Washington is partnering with OceanGate to develop a five-person deep-sea manned submarine that can reach depths of over 9,842 feet. The Cyclops submarine features a carbon-fiber hull and advanced control systems, allowing for increased safety and efficiency in ocean research and exploration.
Researchers at the University of Washington have created a programming language for chemistry that allows scientists to design and build custom DNA molecules with specific functions. This new approach enables flexible control over chemical reactions, which could lead to innovative medical applications such as smart drug delivery systems.
Researchers from the University of Washington have discovered differences in dried filters from filter-feeding rays that allow them to be identified as either giant mantas or devil rays. The study provides valuable insights into the conservation of these gentle-natured rays, which are often hunted for their supposed health benefits. Th...
A new study reveals that stronger westerly winds around the South Pole can explain 80% of the increase in Antarctic sea ice volume over the past three decades. This is achieved through the creation of thicker, longer-lasting ice and exposure to blistering cold winds.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a method to target and eliminate harmful macrophages that dampen the immune response to cancer. By depleting these 'traitor' immune cells, tumor growth is slowed and survival rates are improved in mice with cancer.
Researchers found that a combination of interferon-alpha 2b and ribavirin reduced viral replication and lung damage in monkeys infected with the MERS-CoV virus. The treatment worked by moderating the immune response and promoting repair of damaged lung tissue.
Researchers tracked 800-foot-high waves in the Samoan Passage, a key bottleneck for ocean circulation. The waves produce mixing 1,000-10,000 times that of surrounding slow-moving water.
Researchers have created a protein molecule that can be programmed to unite with three different steroids, opening up possibilities for biosensors, molecular sponges, and synthetic biology. The breakthrough could lead to detection of biomolecules in early-stage cancer and treatment of overdoses.
Researchers have developed a new tool that can predict fish habitat conditions six months in advance. The JISAO Seasonal Coastal Ocean Prediction of the Ecosystem (J-SCOPE) uses global climate models and regional coastal ocean simulations to forecast ocean temperatures, oxygen levels, and phytoplankton blooms.
A University of Washington team has developed a microneedle patch that can precisely deliver a tuberculosis test without user error. The patch uses biodegradable needles and has been shown to be as effective as the traditional skin test in detecting the infection.
Researchers at the University of Washington have accurately determined a solid-state triple point in vanadium dioxide, a material that rapidly switches between conducting and insulating states. This discovery could lead to breakthroughs in electrical and optical switch development.
Scientists have found that molten magma reservoirs in the crust can persist for far longer than previously thought, with some chambers sitting for hundreds of thousands of years. This new understanding has significant implications for volcanic arcs and the detection of magma pools beneath them.
New research shows Antarctic warming began at least two millennia earlier than previously thought, contradicting the long-held idea of a passive continent. The findings suggest that changes in Earth's orbit may not have been as influential in driving climate change as once believed.
A UW geographer proposes a 15-year plan to dismantle China's 55-year-old hukou system, which limits rural laborers from moving to cities. The plan aims to create a more sustainable consumer-based economy by reforming the household registration status of millions of rural migrants.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a new wireless communication system that allows devices to interact with each other without relying on batteries or wires for power. This technology, called ambient backscatter, takes advantage of TV and cellular transmissions to enable communication between devices.
University of Washington researchers have made significant progress in linking a rare form of epilepsy called epilepsy aphasia to genetic mutations in the GRIN2A gene. This breakthrough finding may lead to new diagnostic tools and treatments for patients with this condition, which is characterized by seizures and speech abnormalities.
Researchers at the University of Washington published a comprehensive portrait of the genome of HeLa cell line, shedding light on its unique replication properties and stability. The study also highlights the importance of haplotypes in characterizing cancer genomes and epigenomes.
Researchers have discovered a synthetic, high-performance polymer that improves efficiency by reducing electrical charge loss. The material's unique quantum mechanical property, electron 'spin,' enables it to 'rescue' charges from energy-losing pathways.
A new study from the University of Washington finds that abused children are more likely to smoke excessively in adolescence and adulthood, with girls who were sexually abused being particularly at risk. The study suggests that early intervention and prevention of child abuse can lead to long-term public health benefits.
Researchers discover that a burnt sugar derivative, THI, improves muscle regeneration in mice with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The substance protects the body's supply of sphingosine 1-phosphate, essential for turning stem cells into specific types of cells and regenerating damaged tissue.
Researchers found a lower thermal radiation threshold for the runaway greenhouse process, making it easier to initiate than previously thought. This could lead to a revised understanding of the habitable zone and potentially revoke candidacy for some planets as possible habitable worlds.
Researchers from the University of Washington monitored Arctic ice and found a melt pond at the North Pole, but it was not extreme. The pond drained in late July, revealing typical summer conditions.
Researchers found that RNA bases preferentially bound to decanoic acid, priming the system for RNA production and simplifying the emergence of primitive cells. Sugars also provided protective benefits, with ribose being more effective than glucose or xylose.
Researchers have developed a new method to pinpoint single DNA mutations, which could aid in diagnosing and treating diseases like cancer and tuberculosis. The technology is robust, easy to use, and suitable for low-resource settings.
Researchers have discovered direct geochemical evidence linking massive floods to the formation of the world's deepest gorge, the Tsangpo Gorge in the Himalayas. The study found that the presence of uranium-bearing zircon grains downstream was higher than expected, indicating a sudden and catastrophic event.
Research reveals a significant increase in nighttime heat waves in the Pacific Northwest, with quadrupled events between 1980 and 2013. The study suggests high humidity plays a key role in triggering these extreme temperature events, which can have devastating health effects.
Research led by Aomawa Shields found that planets orbiting cool stars absorb near-infrared light, warming the planet. In contrast, hotter stars' visible light is reflected by ice, cooling the planet. This interaction affects planetary habitability and may prioritize planets around cooler stars for life detection.
A recent study found that environmental conditions play a stronger role in shaping the human microbiome than competition between species. The researchers used computer models to predict nutrient and energy metabolism and estimated interactions between microbes, revealing that species tend to co-exist with those they strongly compete for.
Researchers found that speed, accuracy, and clear error messages are crucial for eye-tracking systems to succeed. A new biometric technique identifies users based on their eye movements, offering a potential alternative to traditional passwords.
Researchers analyze seismic activity at Alaska's Redoubt Volcano, documenting a sudden increase in tremor frequency just before six eruptions. This unique phenomenon may help scientists refine models and better understand volcanic pressurization.
A recent global study found that community access to computer and Internet technology remains crucial for connecting people to information and skills in an increasingly digital world. The study highlights the benefits of public access venues for marginalized groups, including education, employment, and health outcomes.
A University of Washington study found that school policies against illicit use are effective only when students perceive enforcement, with lax policies leading to more drinking. Remediation policies, such as counseling and abstinence messages, also reduced binge drinking among ninth-graders.
A study published in JAMA found that low vitamin D blood levels are associated with a greater risk of heart disease in whites and Chinese populations, but not in blacks and Hispanics. The researchers suggest that genetic factors may play a role in the varying associations between vitamin D levels and heart disease across different raci...
New research reveals that muscle power comes from multiple directions, including radial forces, which were previously overlooked. The study's findings have significant implications for understanding normal and pathological aspects of muscle function, including cardiac diseases.
A comprehensive catalog of great ape genetic diversity has been created, elucidating the evolution and population histories of six great ape species. The resource will aid in current and future conservation efforts by preserving natural genetic diversity.