Researchers found that culturally learned behaviors are a better explanation for altruism than genetics. Altruism was more common in neighboring social groups with similar cultural practices, suggesting a gene-culture coevolution of prosocial propensities. This challenges traditional views on the role of nature versus nurture in shapin...
The NSF's Expeditions in Computing program supports research that promises significant advances in computing while yielding great benefit to society. The new projects focus on energy-efficient computers, customizable domain-specific computing, and robotic 'bees' for search and rescue operations.
Theoretical biologist Peter Turchin and ancient historian Walter Scheidel developed a mathematical model using coin hoards to project population dynamics before and after 100 BC. The model suggests that the Roman population declined after 100 BC, contradicting the 'high count' hypothesis of vigorous growth.
Researchers estimate ancient Rome's population declined after 100 B.C. based on a unique method using coin hoards, bundles of buried Roman coins. The study suggests intense internal warfare led to the decline, with implications for understanding current Roman history and social structure.
Researchers calculate that adding small amounts of lithium can convert hydrogen to a metal at significantly lower pressures. The study predicts the formation of metallic hydrogen compounds under experimentally accessible pressures.
Termites' non-reproductive offspring may have inherited their parents' throne, answering a question posed by Charles Darwin nearly 150 years ago. This new research suggests staying at home could have given these first termites an advantage to become reproducers.
Researchers successfully built a scale model of a living meandering river, demonstrating the critical role of vegetation in slowing erosion and reinforcing banks. Sand, typically avoided in stream restoration, was found to be essential for building point bars and blocking cut-off channels, leading to a more balanced ecosystem.
A new study reveals a link between climate fluctuations in the northern hemisphere and tropical regions. Glaciers in Europe, North America, and southern Peru moved together during the Little Ice Age, suggesting a global-scale pattern of glacier activity and climate change.
A new study reconstructs Arctic summer temperatures over 1,600 years, showing that recent warming is more anomalous than previously documented. The study agrees with climate models and indicates that the Arctic's sensitivity to climate change will continue into the next century.
Scientists have identified a genetic link in reptile hearts that sheds light on the evolution of the four-chambered heart. The study reveals that the transcription factor Tbx5 plays a crucial role in forming the heart, with warm-blooded embryos showing clear restriction to the left side of the ventricle.
Researchers found that similar symptoms occur in many systems as they approach a critical state of transition, indicating 'tipping points' for abrupt changes. These early-warning signals are observed in ecosystems, financial markets, and human physiology, highlighting the potential for catastrophic bifurcations.
A team of paleontologists and ornithologists have discovered evidence of vivid iridescent colors in fossil feathers dating back 40 million years. They found a preserved color-producing nanostructure, called melanosomes, which produced black with metallic greenish, bluish or coppery colors at certain angles.
Researchers captured a one-second image of gigantic jets, which are highly charged meteorological events that flash up to the lower levels of space. The study reveals that these events have comparable electrical charges to conventional lightning, but travel farther and faster due to thinner air.
Scientists are presenting research on coupled biogeochemical cycles, which study the interactions between Earth's biology, chemistry, and geology. The study highlights the importance of understanding these interconnected processes in addressing human impacts such as global warming and acid rain.
A two-year study by scientists reveals that steps taken to curb overfishing are beginning to succeed in five of the 10 large marine ecosystems. Management solutions such as catch quotas, community management, and fishing closures offer promise for restoring fisheries and ecosystems.
Researchers developed a rapid heating treatment called Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP) to remove structural defects in zeolite membranes, improving their performance and separation efficiency. This breakthrough could significantly increase the energy efficiency of chemical separations and enable higher production rates.
Research by NSF-funded scientists reveals a scientifically feasible link between the 11-year solar cycle and ENSO, influencing climate variability globally. The study suggests that maximum solar activity can drive La Niña-like events with similar impacts on global temperature and precipitation patterns.
Researchers used high-speed ultrasound imaging to categorize N|uu clicks, a series of consonants distinct to southern Africa's Kalahari Desert. This breakthrough could change how linguists describe click languages and aid speech scientists in understanding speech production.
Research reveals that desert dust accelerates snowmelt in Colorado alpine meadows, changing how plants respond to seasonal climate cues and affecting their annual growth cycles. This could lead to increased competition for resources among plants and potentially alter the composition of alpine meadows.
A new study published in PNAS found that social norms have significant impacts on the sustainability of conservation investments. The research showed that people are more likely to enroll in conservation programs if their neighbors do so, highlighting the power of peer pressure in environmental behavior.
The National Science Foundation has awarded $399,939 to two research projects examining the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on employment in science and engineering fields. Researchers will collect data on ARRA funding of academic programs for two years.
Researchers discovered that variation in the same gene affects disease resistance in both humans and baboons, with 60% of Amboseli baboons infected with a malaria-like parasite. The findings provide new insights into the genetic basis of differences in vulnerability to infection.
University of Chicago researchers have discovered that dry granular materials can form water-like droplets when poured, revolutionizing the way we understand particle transport and manipulation. The study's findings could lead to more efficient oil refining, plastics manufacturing, and pharmaceutical production processes.
A nationwide survey found that nearly nine out of ten adult Americans obtain weather forecasts daily, placing a value of 10.5 cents on each forecast, resulting in an annual value of $31.5 billion.
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that snakes use their scales to generate friction with the ground, allowing them to move efficiently. By redistributing their weight, snakes are able to maximize thrust and propel themselves forward with minimal effort.
Scientists have identified distinct genes responsible for the evolution of pelvis and body armor loss in two species of stickleback fish. The study, published in Current Biology, shows that different genes can have similar effects on evolutionary change, contradicting earlier research.
New research suggests that moderate to high rates of ice melt from Greenland may shift ocean circulation by about 2100, causing sea levels off the northeast coast of North America to rise by 30-51 centimeters (12-20 inches) more than other coastal areas. This could lead to significant impacts on major northeastern cities.
A study finds that inner city rodents form distinct neighborhoods, with most spending majority of their lives within a city block. This understanding provides information on which populations may spread disease, highlighting the need to target entire families for eradication efforts.
Researchers found a large cylindrical blob of cold material, known as a lithospheric drip, beneath the Great Basin in central Nevada. The finding provides new insights into fine-scale mantle convection processes and their connections to volcanism and mountain-building.
A new tool helps decision-makers determine when and how to use managed relocation, a strategy considered too radical for serious consideration in the past. The approach involves moving species into more accommodating habitats where they are not currently found.
Researchers analyzed calling and mobility data from over six million mobile phone users to understand the threat of mobile phone viruses. A highly fragmented market share has hindered outbreaks so far, but predicting that viruses will become a significant threat once a single operating system's market share grows sufficiently large.
A recent study by Washington State University professor Liv Haselbach found that concrete can absorb more CO2 than previously estimated, particularly when reabsorbed into the material over time. This could lead to a lower overall carbon footprint for the concrete industry.
Climate change, fishing, and commercial shipping are major threats to the ocean off the US West Coast, with every spot affected by 10-15 human activities annually. A new study provides critical information for evaluating where certain activities can continue with little effect on the oceans.
The US wildlife trade is plagued by a lack of coordination and regulation, leading to the importation of millions of animals each year. This can have devastating effects on native species, food supply chains, and human health, as evidenced by previous disease outbreaks such as monkeypox.
A new study reveals that glaciers in New Zealand's Southern Alps have fluctuated frequently over the past 7,000 years, with some advances and declines not seen in the Northern Hemisphere. The research uses a refined method to date young moraines, allowing for more accurate reconstructions of glacial advances worldwide.
Researchers have identified a group of cells as direct targets of deep brain stimulation (DBS) using optogenetics, which reduces disease symptoms by preferentially activating neurons linked to the subthalamic nucleus region. The technique allows precise stimulation and measurement of treatment effects simultaneously in animals with Par...
Scientists found that 26-73% of fishers used tiger salamanders as bait and 26-67% released them into fishing waters. A quarantine program could help prevent the introduction of non-native pathogens into threatened populations.
Scientists discovered dynamic microbial communities in deep-sea mud volcanoes and brine pools with harsh conditions, supporting life processes on early Earth, Mars, and moons like Jupiter's Europa. These findings provide new insights into microbial adaptation and the potential for life beyond Earth.
A computer program using raw observational data teases out fundamental physical laws, particularly for biological systems that have eluded detection. The breakthrough uses a computational process inspired by biological evolution to analyze data sets and identify invariant patterns.
Researchers found evidence of maize and squash domestication in the Xihuatoxtla Shelter in southwestern Mexico, dating back 9,000 years. The findings contradict previous assumptions that maize domestication occurred in highland areas.
A two-part radio project funded by NSF explores groundbreaking research and pioneers in STEM fields, aiming to increase girls and women in science. The series features stories from middle school-age girls about their favorite women in STEM and is recognized for its impact on science education for girls and women
Researchers discovered evidence of earliest known domestic horses in Kazakhstan, which were both ridden and milked. The findings suggest horse domestication began around 5,500 years ago, earlier than previously thought, and had a significant impact on society.
Researchers at UMass Amherst and Berkeley developed a new method for producing defect-free, thin polymer films using layered block copolymers. The technique achieved densities over 15 times higher than previous efforts, enabling up to 10 terabits per square inch of storage space.
A new study finds that open access articles experience a 12% increase in usage compared to commercial formats, but have only a small positive impact on attention. Open source publications benefit researchers in developing countries with limited access to research funding and libraries.
A team of researchers observed the sequential development of new species in fruit flies and parasitic wasps after introducing apples to North America. The modification of one species triggers the modification of a second, dependent species, demonstrating biodiversity as a source for new biodiversity.
A 'hot spot' for toxic harmful algal blooms has been discovered off the Washington coast, where microorganisms can trigger harmful blooms that force shellfish bed closures.
A recent study found a nanoscale motor in the T4 virus, which drives DNA packaging into its capsid. This discovery could inspire engineers designing sophisticated nanomachines and may also help pharmaceutical companies develop methods to sabotage virus machinery.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new method to produce and sort out double-walled carbon nanotubes, overcoming the challenge of sorting valuable tubes from other types. This breakthrough discovery has significant implications for advanced solar panels, sensors, and other renewable energy technologies.
A recent discovery in Ethiopia's Gona region has challenged previous estimates of Homo erectus infant head size, indicating a possible increase in brain capacity. The findings, published in Science, suggest that the ancient human ancestor may have been born with brains comparable to those of modern humans.
A new study reveals a steady increase in East Asian monsoon intensity from 23 to 10 million years ago, followed by a weakening until about 4 million years ago. This pattern is correlated with Himalayan erosion rates and suggests a complex system between the hydrosphere and atmosphere in mountain building.