Nanoparticles were found to be better at increasing chemical reaction rates than others due to their unique properties. However, even the most effective nanoparticles can become ineffective over time through spontaneous degradation.
A team of researchers used oceanographic data to predict the potential consequences of climate change on a global scale. They found that if current trends continue, altered ocean circulation could lead to dramatic implications for the world's climate and biosphere.
A weakening of the summer Asian Monsoons in ancient China may have contributed to the fall of three dynasties. The researchers found that periods of weak summer monsoons coincided with times of social unrest, but a strong monsoon prevailed during one of China's golden ages.
Researchers found adult beetles store beneficial fungus and bacterium in specialized compartment to aid survival. This symbiotic relationship inhibits competitor fungus growth while promoting nutrition for developing larvae.
A new sediment curve derived from Paleozoic Era sediments provides a predictive model for tracking sediment migration. The tool covers the entire Paleozoic Era, spanning 542 to 251 million years ago, and can help the oil industry with discoveries in previously unexplored areas.
Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln found that people who react strongly to threatening visual images and sounds tend to support public policies protecting society over individual privacy. This study controlled for factors like gender, age, and income, suggesting a link between biology and political opinions.
Researchers have developed a sensor array that can conform to irregular surfaces, enabling the creation of an eye-shaped camera with improved image quality. The technology has promise for applications such as advanced health monitors and prosthetic devices.
Researchers have discovered an efficient way to produce oxygen from water using a simple and inexpensive technique involving cobalt and phosphates. This breakthrough has significant implications for the large-scale deployment of solar energy, offering a cheap and easily manufactured storage mechanism.
Researchers have discovered a way to extract pure oxygen from water using relatively small amounts of electricity and common chemicals. The breakthrough could lead to the development of solar-powered energy systems that can operate 24/7.
A new study maps brain cells in midshipman fish larvae to reveal the neural network behind sound production in vertebrates. This research sheds light on the evolutionary origins of human verbal communication and social behavior, linking it to ancient fish species.
A recent study found that as more journals become available online, researchers cite fewer older papers and focus on newer publications. This trend may be limiting the creation of new ideas and theories in various academic disciplines.
Researchers created a sophisticated method to turn ordinary glass into a solar concentrator, boosting solar panel efficiency. The technology uses dye-coated glass to collect and channel photons, reducing the need for semiconductor material and increasing energy output.
Researchers have discovered that choanoflagellates, single-celled organisms, possess similar levels of proteins used for cell communication in more complex organisms like humans. This finding confirms their role as an evolutionary link between single-celled and multi-cellular organisms.
Researchers have discovered that a fundamental building block in flowering plants evolved independently from lycophytes, an ancient plant group. This finding has significant implications for understanding plant biology and developing more efficient biofuel production methods.
The study reveals that high-temperature superconductors do not rely on a 'glue' binding electrons, but instead utilize their strong repulsive forces to facilitate superconductivity. The researchers used specialized equipment to measure electron pairing mechanisms and found unique quantum properties at warmer temperatures.
Researchers are turning to advanced technologies like membrane bioreactors, nanoscale filtration, and desalination to provide clean water globally. A coordinated approach is needed to tackle complex water issues, with international cooperation key to addressing the crisis before it worsens.
Researchers discover nanominerals have a significant impact on Earth's systems, influencing climate, ecosystems and human health through their unique properties. Nanoparticles play a crucial role in the lives of ocean-dwelling phytoplankton, affecting carbon cycling and global temperatures.
A new technique called Scan and Solve uses 3-D data analysis to predict stress points in objects like Michelangelo's David and human bones. The approach could aid engineers in developing protections for heavily used components, such as ancient artifacts and implants.
The NOVA documentary 'Forgotten Genius' tells the story of African-American chemist Percy Julian, who made groundbreaking discoveries in steroids and developed life-saving drugs. The film highlights Julian's personal courage and tenacity in the face of racism and adversity.
Astronomers have discovered a solar system nearly 5,000 light years away with scaled-down versions of Jupiter and Saturn. The planets are similar in size to our own, suggesting that planetary systems like ours may be more common than previously thought.
Researchers have developed a shirt that harnesses energy from the wearer's motion to power portable devices, generating up to 80 milliwatts of power per square meter of fabric. The technology, called the piezoelectric effect, converts mechanical stress into electrical energy.
Research finds link between temperature and insect feeding on leaves, boosting foraging of plant-eating insects. The study links past climate spike to increased insect damage.
Researchers at UC Berkeley developed an adhesive that masters the gecko's grip-and-release trait, with a strong hold that gets stronger with use. The material uses tiny plastic fibers to establish traction, making it suitable for climbing equipment and medical devices.
An interdisciplinary team of Cornell scientists predicts that lithium and beryllium will bond under higher levels of pressure, forming stable Li-Be alloys that may be capable of superconductivity. The alloy with a 1:1 ratio shows the greatest potential for superconducting applications.
Scientists have developed a new tool to analyze corn's genetic makeup, enabling the identification and increased cultivation of high-vitamin A precursors. This method is designed to tap natural genetic diversity, significantly simplifying the task of finding high-vitamin corn strains.
Researchers have developed a new class of magnetic shape-memory foams with improved strain capabilities. The porous alloy's structure amplifies the shape-change effect, making it suitable for tiny motion control devices or biomedical pumps without moving parts.
The US National Science Foundation has honored 11 mentors of scientists and engineers for their work in promoting diversity and inclusion in STEM fields. These individuals have demonstrated outstanding mentoring and guidance to underrepresented students, helping to increase representation in the sciences.
Researchers have developed a new method for bacterial hydrogen production, achieving high yields and efficiency. The process uses microbes to extract energy from organic matter, producing clean hydrogen gas with an overall efficiency better than 80 percent.
A team of researchers crafted a working radio from a single carbon nanotube, performing four critical roles: antenna, tunable filter, amplifier, and demodulator. The tiny device could have applications in radio-controlled devices, cell phones, and other fields.
Researchers have created a layered material that causes light to refract in the opposite direction, enabling flat lenses and potentially capturing images of DNA molecules. This technology, developed at NSF-funded research centers, holds promise for various applications such as chemical threat sensors and medical diagnostics.
Researchers developed a hybrid technique to probe the dynamics of the Holliday junction, a four-stranded DNA structure that forms during homologous recombination. The study found that the intermediate structure is similar to that of a Holliday junction bound to its own processing enzyme.
The NSF-funded Model Institutions for Excellence program has successfully recruited underrepresented minorities to STEM fields, with a 44% increase in bachelor's degrees conferred. Key strategies include bridging the high school-college transition, mentoring programs, and faculty development.
A predictive model, sCast, uses October snow cover in Siberia to predict winter temperatures and snowfall in the Northern Hemisphere. The model has been verified to accurately forecast winter conditions over much of eastern United States and Northern Eurasia.
Scientists have developed a simple experiment to measure the mechanical properties of thin films, which could impact industries like cosmetics, coatings and nanoelectronics. The new method uses low-power optical microscopy to observe wrinkles in the film, providing insight into material properties.
Researchers developed a novel technology using light to probe tissue architecture, enabling subtle changes in tissue to be detected. The technique produced an optic fingerprint from altered tissue, distinguishing patients with cancer at an accuracy approaching 100 percent.
A team of researchers has discovered a new bacterium, Candidatus chloracidobacterium thermophilum, in the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park that can transform light into chemical energy. The discovery was made possible by metagenomics, a technique for studying organisms without culturing them.
Researchers have captured an image of Altair, a hydrogen-burning star like our own sun, for the first time. The image was made possible by a novel system to clean up distortions from Earth's atmosphere and a multi-telescope system that combines information from small, distantly spaced telescopes.
A new study by NSF shows that undergraduate students who participate in hands-on research are more likely to pursue advanced degrees and careers in STEM fields. The study's findings indicate that carefully designed undergraduate research experiences motivate students, making them effective previews of doing STEM graduate work.
A recent study found that carbon dioxide consumed by animals and bacteria in the twilight zone is often recycled back into the atmosphere, rather than being stored in the deep ocean. This discovery adds complexity to proposals for mitigating climate change through ocean fertilization.
Researchers discovered how and where plant seeds store iron, a valuable finding to address global iron deficiency and malnutrition. Iron is stored in the vacuole of Arabidopsis seeds, with protein VIT1 playing a key role in its localization.
In a study published in PNAS, researchers found that female pronghorns prioritize male vigor over ornamentation when choosing a mate. This leads to the survival advantage of offspring sired by these vigorous males, as they exhibit faster growth rates and increased survival up to five years.
Scientists reconstructed a 45,000- to 60,000-year-old record of ocean temperature and salinity using chemical traces in fossil shells. They found the Atlantic got saltier during cold periods and fresher during warm intervals.
Scientists discovered a unique evolutionary link between primitive B cells in fish and the adaptive immune response in humans. In fish, B cells participate in phagocytosis, attacking and eating foreign particles; this behavior is unexpected in mammals. The findings may lead to novel roles of B cells in mammals and improved fish vaccines.
The genome sequences of P. ramorum and P. sojae could lead to strategies to combat these destructive plant pathogens. Phytophthora species cause significant losses in various crops, including soybeans, oak trees, and cocoa beans, resulting in hundreds of billions of dollars in economic damage annually.
Researchers found that at least two objects in the Quintuplet Cluster are binary pairs forming pinwheel stars that live fast and die young. These 'Wolf-Rayet colliding-wind binaries' emit enormous amounts of radiation, with each quintuplet outshining the Sun by 10,000 to 100,000 times.
A new study reveals that Antarctic snowfall has remained stable over the past 50 years, with no statistically significant trends detected. The findings contradict climate change predictions and suggest that thickening ice sheets have not reduced sea levels.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University and the University of New Mexico have forecast an increased risk of hantavirus outbreaks in the US southwest in 2006. The study used satellite imagery to analyze ecological conditions and predict disease spread, with moderate risk levels similar to those in previous years.
Particles of toxic lead solder used in plumbing can evade detection in some water quality tests, according to researchers funded by the National Science Foundation. Larger particles can get trapped in faucet aerator screens, while smaller particles stick to sampling containers, resulting in inaccurate readings.
A long-term field experiment shows that ecosystems containing many different plant species are more productive than those containing only one species. This research suggests that a return to biodiversity may be key to meeting energy needs and restoring global ecosystems.
A 700-page report suggests key mechanisms for levee failures in the US, built upon data and field investigations supported by National Science Foundation grants. The Berkeley-led team's findings aim to improve emergency planning and response strategies for natural disasters.