Researchers at Vanderbilt University have created a detailed map of the California sea lion's brain, highlighting its unique somatosensory system. The study revealed specific areas in the brain responsible for processing touch information from whiskers and flippers, similar to those found in mice and humans.
A multidisciplinary study assesses drought's effects on people and systems, going beyond economic measures to document social and environmental impacts. The research team uses machine learning and econometric techniques to estimate causal effects and identify moderators of drought's socio-environmental variables.
The FDA has cleared Indego exoskeleton for clinical and personal use, allowing people with paralysis to stand up and walk. The device offers advanced features like adjustable robotic assistance and functional electrical stimulation to aid in rehabilitation.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University and George Washington University have developed a way to convert carbon dioxide into batteries using graphite electrodes replaced with carbon material recovered from the atmosphere. This process produces carbon nanotubes that can be incorporated into lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries, offering a ...
Astronomers have discovered a binary star system with the longest duration stellar eclipse, lasting three and a half years, and the longest period between eclipses in a binary system. The system, TYC 2505-672-1, is approximately 20 astronomical units from Earth and consists of two red giant stars.
New study confirms Neanderthal DNA has a subtle but significant impact on modern human biology, including associations with skin lesions, nicotine addiction, depression, and blood coagulation. The research uses anonymized electronic health records and genomes to test the effects of archaic genetic variants on clinical traits.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have successfully created three-dimensional artificial capillary systems using cotton candy machines, which can keep living cells viable and functional for over a week. This breakthrough technique uses hydrogels as scaffolds to support cells within artificial organs.
A new research network, CompSustNet, aims to develop computational solutions for creating a sustainable future. Researchers from multiple institutions will collaborate on complex issues like smart electrical grids and renewable energy management.
A new meta-analysis found that psychological therapies can reduce IBS symptoms for at least six months after treatment ends. The study analyzed 41 clinical trials involving over 2,200 patients, revealing no significant difference in effectiveness between different types of psychotherapy.
Scientists at Vanderbilt University have made groundbreaking discoveries about the behavior of TrCel7a, a cellulase enzyme that breaks down cellulose. By studying the enzyme's movements and interactions with cellulose fibers, researchers found that it operates slowly but is self-propelling, powered by energy from cellulose bonds.
A new gamma-ray spectroscope using europium-doped strontium iodide detects valuable minerals in asteroids, moons, and other celestial objects. The breakthrough technology enables accurate analysis of rock-forming elements and precious metals at lower costs and with reduced power requirements.
The research provides greater evidence that humans were established in South America more than 15,000 years ago, supporting an earlier peopling of the Americas. The findings also underscore the importance of long-term interdisciplinary research and raise new questions about how the hemisphere was settled.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered a way to overcome the limitations of nanoscale materials in batteries by using iron pyrite quantum dots. These ultrasmall nanoparticles allow for faster charging and longer cycle life, making them a promising solution for future battery technology.
A new platform, GEneSTATION, combines diverse 'omics' data with life history information to advance scientific understanding of human pregnancy. Researchers hope it will lead to new treatments for preterm birth and other complications.
A new study found that the thickness of the cortex in the fusiform face area (FFA) can predict a person's ability to recognize faces and objects. The researchers discovered an inverse relationship between FFA cortical thickness and visual expertise, with thicker FFA cortex linked to better non-face recognition.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have developed an open-source hardware/software development kit for customizing medical capsule robots. This allows research groups to design and prototype capsules more efficiently, reducing the need for extensive redesign from scratch.
Scientists have identified a new class of DNA repair enzyme that can recognize and remove positively charged lesions, including bulky ones. This discovery expands the understanding of DNA damage repair pathways and offers insights into alternative mechanisms for repairing genetic information.
The electric eel has been found to possess intricate maneuvering techniques, allowing it to double its electrical shock on larger prey. Its electrical system also enables remote control over prey muscles, producing strong muscle contractions. The eel uses high-voltage pulses to track fast-moving prey and detect hidden meals.
Researchers developed a new 'geospeedometer' to measure the time between magma formation and eruption, finding that super-eruptions can occur within 500 years. The technique is based on analyzing quartz crystals found in magma bodies and provides an independent estimate of the duration of magmatic conditions.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have successfully created tiny drops of quark-gluon plasma using the Large Hadron Collider, exhibiting coherent behavior and flowing properties similar to those of liquids. The findings shed new light on the formation process of these primordial droplets.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that psychotherapy's effectiveness in treating depression is often overstated due to publication bias. The research team analyzed unpublished data from 55 clinical trials and concluded that the treatment works but its benefits are inflated by selective publication of positive results.
A team of engineers from Vanderbilt University developed the first integrated circularly polarized light detector on a silicon chip. The device uses metamaterials to detect the polarization state of light and has potential applications in drug screening, surveillance, optical communications, and quantum computing.
Researchers found that disrupting brain activity in a specific area can change punishment decisions without affecting blame judgments. This study suggests that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex integrates information from other parts of the brain to determine punishment and moral responsibility.
The world's first known mass extinction, which occurred around 540 million years ago, is now believed to have been caused by the emergence of complex animals capable of altering their environments. These 'ecosystem engineers' changed the planet in ways that made it difficult for earlier multicellular organisms like Ediacarans to survive.
Recent studies have shown that thinking of plants and animals as autonomous individuals is a serious over-simplification. Microbiologists propose the concept of holobionts, which consists of visible hosts plus millions of invisible microbes that significantly affect development, diseases, behavior, and social interactions.
A team of engineers and doctors at Vanderbilt University has developed a surgical robot with steerable needles equipped with wrists that provide needlescopic tools with previously lacked dexterity. This innovation allows for precise resections, suturing, and access to areas such as the nose, throat, ears, and brain.
A new mathematical formulation of cosmic viscosity bridges the gap between thermodynamics and Einstein's general theory of relativity, favoring the 'Big Rip' scenario. The model also sheds light on dark energy, suggesting it may account for the universe's accelerating expansion.
A team of Vanderbilt chemists used a novel approach called 'fight clubs' to identify promising new anti-cancer compounds from natural sources. By analyzing the interactions between bacteria and other microorganisms, they discovered a class of biomolecules with broad-spectrum activity.
Researchers found that musicians' brains can incorporate abstract music notation to enhance their visual perception of congruent musical notes. Non-musicians showed no significant difference in visual preference regardless of the melody played.
Researchers used virtual reality to investigate how humans navigate in the dark, confirming a similar navigation system to that found in rats. Participants performed tasks with varying enclosure sizes, showing consistent results with predictions from previous studies and rat experiments.
Vanderbilt University has been awarded a Grand Challenges Explorations Grant to develop a wearable insect-repellent device that creates a personal no-fly zone. The device aims to prevent mosquito-borne diseases by emitting a protective shield around the wearer.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University created nano-spirals that emit blue light when illuminated with infrared laser, providing a customizable signature that's hard to fake. The spirals could be embedded in identification cards or other objects to prevent counterfeiting.
Researchers analyzed a stalagmite's growth patterns to understand how precipitation above the cave varied over time. The study found that during El Niño Modoki events, localized storm events occurred, while in non-El Niño periods, water traveled farther before falling.
Researchers have localized the seasonal light cycle effects that drive SAD to a small region in the mid-brain called the dorsal raphe nucleus. The study found that serotonergic neurons fire faster in mice exposed to summer-like light cycles, leading to increased levels of serotonin and norepinephrine.
A team of biologists at Vanderbilt University has identified a specific signaling protein called Asef2 as crucial for forming dendritic spines, the tiny filaments that connect neurons to enable memory formation. This discovery could lead to new treatments for autism and Alzheimer's diseases.
Seth Bordenstein's research aims to understand the regulation of bacterial infections passed from mother to offspring. The study will test three hypotheses to pinpoint animal genes that control microbe density.
A study using agent-based modeling found that providing systems to low-income households at little or no cost would have done more to stimulate rooftop solar system adoption than the current incentive-based approach. Increasing economic benefits and peer influence also showed modest effects on adoption rates.
The Vanderbilt-Pittsburgh Resource for Predictive Toxicology aims to develop alternative approaches for toxicity testing, focusing on 3-D human cell cultures. The center will expose these cultures to a range of previously studied toxic chemicals to predict their effects on humans.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University developed a new approach to laparoscopic surgery using magnetic force, allowing for up to 100 times more mechanical power and improved organ retraction. The system consists of an external unit and an internal unit with powerful permanent magnets, enabling accurate positioning and precise control.
A brain imaging study has found evidence of complex processing in the initial stages of the visual system, contradicting long-held assumptions about how the brain perceives visual stimuli. The researchers used high-resolution fMRI to discover that the human lateral geniculate nucleus plays a key role in processing line orientations.
Scientists from Vanderbilt and Stanford universities created a map of past climate change in the American West using ancient lake levels, glaciation records, and vegetation evidence. The study compared these results with global climate models to improve predictions for future rainfall patterns.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University discovered a specific region of the brain that signals when a memory is being retrieved with high detail, enabling the prediction of recall order. This finding has significant implications for understanding and preserving memories in individuals with diseases like Alzheimer's.
A study published in Current Biology establishes a molecular-level link between a slow-down in the biological clock and genetic deficits in Angelman syndrome. Experimental treatments targeting the paternal copy of UBE3A gene show promise for treating sleep disorders and other symptoms.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered a new reset button for the brain's master biological clock, which can be stimulated using light to alter sleep patterns. This finding has the potential to lead to new treatments for conditions like seasonal affective disorder and reduce adverse health effects of night shifts.
Researchers investigate whether human microbiome has played a role in shaping human population structure, particularly lifespan. Their findings suggest that microbes like H. pylori may have evolved to target the aging process, benefiting the species at individual cost.
Researchers have discovered that electric eels use a Taser-like system to locate and incapacitate their prey. The eel emits high-frequency pulses that cause muscle contractions, temporarily paralyzing the prey within three to four milliseconds.
A new simulation demonstrates that hummingbirds generate lift and thrust using unsteady airflow mechanisms, creating invisible vortices of air. This unique approach sets them apart from larger birds and is more closely aligned with insect flight.
Researchers discovered a functional antibacterial gene in Archaea, which produces a broad-spectrum lysozyme enzyme. This enzyme kills certain species of bacteria, including those resistant to current antibiotics, and could lead to new antibacterial drug development.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered a new form of crystalline order that exhibits both crystal and polycrystalline properties. The 'interlaced crystals' arrangement has ideal properties for thermoelectric applications, which could increase power generation efficiency and reduce energy costs.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have developed a technique to test the effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs on individual patients' tumors in a dish, using fluorescence imaging to monitor the response. The test can detect significant drops in metabolic activity levels within 72 hours, allowing doctors to identify the most effective ...