Young children's future choices are influenced by their current desires, according to a new study. Researchers found that when given the option of pretzels or water now and tomorrow, three- to five-year-olds' preferences were shaped by their immediate needs, rather than their long-term goals.
Scientists found that massive erosion of the Alps was triggered by a sudden drop in Mediterranean Sea levels and prolonged warmer climate. The event, known as the Messinian salinity crisis, carved deep valleys and left behind lakes, reducing the mountain range's size over millions of years.
Scientists identified several abnormal genetic events in children with mental retardation and pinpointed a specific deletion on chromosome 17, which may account for ~1% of cases. The discovery provides unprecedented insight into the underlying biology and mechanism of genomic disease using NimbleGen's high-resolution CGH microarrays.
A new study from the University of Washington found that children of smokers are more likely to smoke, binge drink or use marijuana in adolescence and adulthood. The study also discovered a link between substance use by parents and their children's behavior problems, with a transmission link observed across generations.
Researchers have developed a method to reconstruct historic climate and vegetation changes in the Great Plains using ancient bison teeth. The study found that bison teeth can provide information on grassland productivity, temperature patterns, and carbon dioxide levels, shedding light on past climate fluctuations.
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a material that can operate at room temperature, allowing for the manipulation of electrons' magnetism. This breakthrough has the potential to create broad new capabilities for computers and digital devices, including reduced power consumption.
Research suggests that folate deficiency during pregnancy can cause genetic mutations leading to schizophrenia, challenging the conventional wisdom on psychiatric disorders. The study of two major famines in the 20th century supports a theory of medical genetics where multiple genetic mutations contribute to diseases.
Researchers discovered that different genes may be responsible for causing autism in boys than in girls, with varying degrees of severity. The study also found evidence for multiple genetic subtypes of autism, including male versus female and early versus late onset forms.
Researchers have found a nearby star system that could potentially host an Earth-like planet with the right conditions. The modelled system is expected to have a habitable zone where terrestrial planets can form, similar to our own solar system.
Researchers used a supercomputer to calculate interactions among neutrons and protons from quark and gluon properties, providing insight into how nuclear forces emerge. This breakthrough paves the way for understanding how finely tuned the universe is and could reveal essential information about carbon-based life.
Researchers tracked brain activity in newborns, 6-month-olds, and one-year-olds using magnetic field technology. The study found that the areas responsible for listening and speaking in the brain are linked by age, indicating that infants form connections between perception and production of speech through experience.
A new study by Marsha Linehan and colleagues found that women given specialized dialectical behavior therapy treatment were significantly less likely to attempt suicide. The treatment also resulted in reduced hospitalization for psychiatric reasons and improved treatment retention rates.
Researchers found that people under the influence of alcohol are more prone to 'inattentional blindness', missing important objects like a person in a gorilla suit while performing a task. This phenomenon has strong implications for drivers operating motor vehicles after consuming alcohol.
The University of Washington's Restoration Ecology Network empowers students to take on real-world restoration projects, from streamside restorations to neighborhood revitalization. By developing stewardship plans and working with clients, teams gain hands-on experience and create lasting bonds between the university and the public.
Researchers found that participants receiving growth hormone secretagogues (GHS) experienced improved physical function and increased lean body mass. The treatment also led to higher levels of growth hormone and IGF-1 in the bloodstream, suggesting potential benefits for reducing aging-related effects.
A study found that a brief intervention reduced symptoms of depression by 20% in college students, with feelings of hopelessness dropping 31%. The low-cost treatment, delivered through mail, has shown promise as a potential solution for the growing problem of depression among young adults.
Researchers found that teenage girls who engage in self-harming behaviors have lower levels of serotonin, a hormone and brain chemical, in their blood. They also have reduced levels in the parasympathetic nervous system's respiratory sinus arrhythmia, which is associated with anxiety and depression.
The CALIPSO satellite will provide detailed information on atmospheric particles, including aerosols and subvisible cloudiness. The mission aims to establish the impact of these factors on climate change, with scientists expecting up to 10% coverage of the Earth's atmosphere to be a concern.
Bacteria have a unique immune system called H-NS that protects against foreign DNA, but can also enable the expression of disease-causing genes. This discovery has major implications for the biotech industry, which uses bacteria to produce recombinant proteins.
New research finds ancient oil droplets containing biomarkers from eukaryotes and cyanobacteria that lived before the planet's glaciation, contradicting previous theories. The study suggests oxygen was produced long before the atmosphere became oxygenated, supporting life in extreme conditions.
Researchers found that mussel body temperatures vary with local climate conditions, even when air and water temperatures are the same. This means that protected areas for conservation may need to be tailored to specific locations.
A new study found that HIV infection rates among young non-Hispanic blacks are significantly higher than other racial groups, with a rate of 4.9 per 1,000 compared to 0.22 for all other races. The study suggests that segregation and differences in sexual networks contribute to the disparity.
A recent study has identified a hormone called juvenile hormone that inhibits the growth of imaginal discs in insects, which can have implications for understanding cancer treatment and long-term effects of early infant malnutrition. Without this hormone, the discs can form and grow at the expense of the rest of the animal.
Researchers found that Nepali rhesus macaques are genetically similar to Indian-origin animals, which could provide a new alternative for HIV/AIDS research. The study suggests that these animals may be representative of Nepali rhesus macaques in general, and their use in research could help address conservation concerns.
Researchers found faster subtropical warming of the troposphere, moving jet streams poleward, which could widen tropical regions and alter rainfall patterns. This shift may reduce winter precipitation in southern Europe and Australia, as well as impact regional climate patterns.
A study found that nearly a quarter of men and women consider minimal video capture a privacy violation, with women expressing greater concern than men. Women were also more likely to be uneasy about their images being viewed at off-campus locations or in public places.
The University of Washington has licensed its innovative cardiovascular software, CASCADE, to VPDiagnostics. The technology helps clinicians identify 'vulnerable' plaque, which is linked to heart attack and stroke, providing a powerful tool for researchers to study atherosclerosis.
Scientists studied earthquakes and tsunamis in the Bering Sea coastline, including magnitude 7.7 quakes, to understand the tectonic history of Kamchatka. The research suggests that Kamchatka sits atop a smaller plate called the Okhotsk block, which is being deformed by convergence zones of tectonic plates.
A study published in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry found that multiracial adolescents are more likely to engage in violent behavior, substance abuse, and smoking compared to white, black, or Asian-American youth. Perceived racial discrimination in school and home neighborhoods contributes to these problems.
Suicide is currently the third leading cause of death among teenagers and young adults ages 15 to 24, behind traffic accidents and homicide. There are no wide-scale school programs on suicide awareness and prevention largely because schools don't have the resources to effectively deal with at-risk youth they identify.
Researchers at the University of Washington discovered a regulatory gene named broad that is necessary for insect metamorphosis. The study shows that the broad gene regulates the nymphal stage in lower insects, equivalent to the pupal stage of advanced insects like butterflies.
A new screening technique using tandem mass spectrometry can detect seven devastating diseases with enzyme deficiencies in lysosomes. Early diagnosis enables the administration of treatments to repair the biochemical chain and minimize damage, offering improved quality of life for affected children.
Researchers found that wasps use biting to recruit new foragers, particularly those who haven't left the nest before. The study reveals a crucial role of biting in communication and task performance within colonies.
Scientists have detected a significant increase in glacier quakes and calving events in Greenland, suggesting that the ice is accelerating towards the sea. The researchers hypothesize that the ice is slipping on growing pockets of meltwater, which could be triggered by calving events or stick-slip processes.
Astronomers discover high-temperature minerals in comet Wild 2, challenging the formation of crystalline materials. The Stardust mission brings back samples from the coldest spot in the solar system, providing clues about the origin of these materials.
A University of Washington researcher found that salmon spawning can alter stream beds, releasing silt, minerals, and nutrients that impact nearby rivers and lakes. This
Researchers used fMRI to examine how brains process object size under illusions, finding the primary visual cortex activated more area for a distant object. This challenges the long-held view that the image is just a precise reflection of the retina.
The US has over 400 vacant positions for family physicians in Health Centers, with rural areas hit hardest. Recent funding cuts and declining medical students in primary-care fields exacerbate the problem.
Devices called PALs can detect sounds coming from ships, whales, volcanic eruptions, rainfall, and breaking waves. By analyzing these sound sources by frequency, researchers can create a 'sound budget' that helps establish noise regulations for different ecosystems.
Researchers have developed a strategy to overcome biological obstacles in cell therapy for cancer by stimulating tumor-reactive T cells with interleukin-15. This approach has shown promise in treating disseminated forms of leukemia in mice without damaging other tissues.
A student group at the University of Washington has developed a successful grassroots effort to create science policy dialogue, bringing together experts and policymakers to discuss key issues. The Forum on Science Ethics and Policy (FOSEP) aims to increase public engagement in science and policy discussions.
Researchers found that in two-thirds of world's largest marine ecosystems, fishermen chose to target additional kinds of fish, leading to changes in catch composition. Landings of more valuable fish remained the same or increased, highlighting the need for effective management strategies to ensure sustainability.
Dyslexic children exhibited different patterns of brain activity when performing language tasks related to spelling, but their brains normalized after receiving specialized instruction. The study found that a developmental approach to teaching spelling was most effective in improving dyslexic children's spelling skills.
A new study by University of Washington researchers found that more than one in 20 executable files contain piggybacked spyware, with game and celebrity sites posing the greatest risk. Drive-by download attacks also frequent pirated software sites. The density of spyware decreased from spring to fall last year but remained substantial.
Chronic oil pollution has been a long-standing problem along the Atlantic Coast in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. Researchers found that Magellanic penguins, appearing in high numbers among oiled seabirds, are particularly affected by the pollution.
Researchers found that sediment-filled basins in subduction zones can strengthen the edge of the plate above, increasing the likelihood of large earthquakes. The Cascadia subduction zone is particularly prone to severe shaking due to its forearc basins, which can be up to 3 miles deep.
The newly discovered Photocorynus spiniceps is not only the smallest fish and vertebrate, but also one of the most unique reproductive strategies in nature. The tiny male anglerfish, measuring just 6.2 mm, attaches to a much larger female and provides her body with everything she needs to reproduce, essentially turning her into a herma...
A UW astronomer has successfully collected a record-breaking amount of cosmic dust from comet Wild 2, which dates back to the formation of the solar system 4.6 billion years ago. The aerogel collector, which greatly reduced impact stress on particles, revealed tracks of larger particles visible from several feet away.
The Stardust spacecraft successfully recovered comet dust samples from Wild 2, which are believed to hold evidence about the formation of the sun and solar system. The samples will be studied using powerful instruments, including electron microscopes and nuclear accelerators.
A recent study by University of Washington researcher Scott Reynolds found that people who focus on the ends (consequences) are less sensitive to ethical issues involving rule violations. In contrast, those who prioritize means (morality) recognize both harmful and non-harmful situations as ethical issues.