Research suggests that excess weight increases the risk of progression from MGUS to multiple myeloma. Maintaining a healthy weight may be a way to prevent this progression, particularly in African-American men and those with elevated M protein levels.
Archaeologists have discovered the oldest known physical evidence for chickens in Africa, dating back over 2,700 years. The discovery sheds new light on how domesticated chickens were introduced to Africa via trade routes along the Red Sea and East African coast.
Carl M. Bender was awarded the 2017 Dannie Heineman Prize for Mathematical Physics for his development of PT symmetry theory in quantum systems. This theory has generated profound new mathematics and impacted broad areas of experimental physics, inspiring generations of mathematical physicists.
Scientists have discovered that plant light sensors also respond to temperature, allowing plants to detect changes in growth conditions. Mutant plants revealed a previously unknown conversion process where thermal reversion occurs without light, affecting the plant's response to temperature and light intensity.
Researchers observed wild chimpanzee mothers teaching their offspring to use tools, including termite-fishing probes. By sharing tools and customizing the learning process for local conditions, these mothers help their young develop essential skill sets.
Researchers have discovered a giant scar beneath the Midwest using a network of seismometers. The Midcontinent Rift, which spans across the region, was formed when the core of North America nearly ripped apart millions of years ago.
A recent study using precise potassium isotopic data confirms the Moon was formed from a violent impact that vaporized Earth's mantle and mixed it with the impactor. This challenges the giant impact hypothesis, which had trouble matching geochemical signatures between Earth and Moon.
A research team from Washington University has been awarded a $1.25 million grant to study the movement and mechanics of flagella in a green alga called Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which is nearly identical to human cilia. The goal is to understand how these tiny organelles propel movements and potentially develop new discoveries in mec...
A team from Washington University in St. Louis has developed a new method to produce biofuels in E. coli bacteria, boosting BCFA manufacture to 80 percent of all fuel products, and opening up potential applications for pharmaceuticals and other useful products.
Cells have two disposal systems: proteasomes, which handle smaller proteins, and autophagy, a process that removes larger complexes. Researchers discovered a smart bin liner-like system in autophagy, involving Cue5 receptors and Hsp42 chaperones.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have created a new approach to purify water using graphene oxide and bacteria-produced cellulose. The bi-layered biofoam is light, strong, and flexible, allowing for efficient evaporation of contaminated water.
A large study of 15,000 adults found that falling up to six months before surgery is common and linked to lower quality of life and increased risk of injury. The frequency of falls among middle-aged patients was similar to those aged 65+, suggesting that a history of falls may be a powerful tool in assessing overall health.
New research from Washington University in St. Louis shows that revenge is not just bitter, but also sweet, with people experiencing both positive and negative emotions. The study used three experiments involving over 600 participants to explore the emotional consequences of revenge.
A team of engineers from Washington University in St. Louis is developing a bio-hybrid nose using the highly sensitive locust olfactory system to create new biorobotic sensing systems. The team plans to monitor neural activity and decode odorants present in the environment, paving the way for explosive detection.
Researchers suggest that hot, rocky planets could alter their bulk composition, density, and internal structure due to steam atmosphere loss. This process may have implications for understanding the early Earth's evolution and character.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered a previously unknown strategy that allows photosynthetic organisms like Chlorobaculum tepidum to survive exposure to oxygen, which could harm them. The 'photosynthetic volume control' mechanism involves two normal amino acids and works by dissipating excess energy as har...
Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a method to control the direction of light emission in microlasers using an exceptional point. By exploiting this physical phenomenon, they can create consistently directed photons, which is crucial for reliable photonic signals and applications.
Research suggests that mothers' obesity can impair the health of later generations through mitochondrial DNA passed to offspring. Healthy diets and exercise may reverse genetic metabolic abnormalities.
New Horizons team members used computer models to determine the depth and rate of Pluto's convective cells, which are 10-30 miles across and less than a million years old. These cells help support Pluto's atmosphere by refreshing its surface.
A new study from Washington University in St. Louis finds that genetically modified Golden Rice is still years away from field introduction due to scientific challenges. The research suggests that GMO opponents have not been the problem, but rather the rice's inability to yield well and meet its nutritional goals.
A team of researchers at Washington University in St. Louis has developed the first 3D multiscale mathematical model of uterine contractions, which may aid in predicting preterm birth. The model precisely replicates the electrical activity in the uterus during a contraction using data from magnetomyography measurements.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered a new culprit behind heart disease: the fragmentation of elastic fibers within the arterial wall. This finding could revolutionize the way we detect and treat heart disease, as it suggests that traditional strategies may not be effective in addressing the underlying cause.
A computer model simulates the formation of Io's mountains through the compression of rocks due to volcanic activity. The study suggests that this mechanism could have operated on early Earth, explaining why mountains like those on Io might have emerged first as land.
Research finds that isoprene emitted by trees can influence ozone production in the St. Louis area, particularly at night and into the morning. The study suggests that a specific combination of nighttime chemistry and morning isoprene emissions can drive elevated ozone levels in urban areas downwind of major deciduous forests.
Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis use a new instrument to detect light in a way that reveals the atom's evolution and potential control over entangled partners. This approach may enable quantum control and enhance fluorescence imaging.
Research from Washington University in St. Louis found that electronic monitoring significantly increased hand-hygiene compliance among healthcare workers. However, compliance rates dropped when monitoring was stopped, highlighting the need for a broader strategy to sustain improvement.
Scientists encode chaos on a weak light signal using stochastic resonance in an optomechanical microresonator. The discovery could have implications for secure optical communications and high-performance sensing.
Consuming a high-fructose diet during pregnancy may cause defects in the placenta and restrict fetal growth, potentially increasing a baby's risk for metabolic health problems later in life. However, administering allopurinol, a common drug prescribed to treat gout and kidney stones, appears to mitigate these negative effects.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have found a way to improve the growth of protein-rich bean crops by using zinc oxide nanoparticles, reducing the need for rock phosphorus fertilizer. The nanoparticles increase nutrient uptake and enzyme activity, leading to a lesser need for external phosphorus application.
A rare type of iron nucleus, with a half-life of 2.6 million years, serves as a 'clock' to measure the distance between Earth and the source of galactic cosmic rays. The data suggest that nearby supernovae in massive star clusters are responsible for creating these nuclei.
Researchers found that difficulties building cognitive maps of new surroundings could indicate Alzheimer's disease. Participants with preclinical Alzheimer's disease showed significant challenges forming cognitive maps but not route learning tasks, highlighting the hippocampus and caudate as early affected brain regions.
Research reveals that social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum relies on its symbiotic bacteria to protect itself from environmental toxins, despite having fewer detoxifying sentinel cells. The bacteria help shield the amoebae from toxins, enabling them to thrive even in toxic environments.
Working women who want to minimize career income losses related to motherhood should wait until they are about 30 years old to have their first children. For women with or without college degrees, lower lifetime incomes are found when having children before age 30.
Researchers have discovered a chemical method to immobilize uranium in contaminated groundwater, which could lead to more precise water remediation efforts. The technique involves adding specific amounts of phosphate to form a calcium phosphate barrier that traps uranium, rendering it inert.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis discovered that cancer cells can synthesize lipids from non-glucose sources, contradicting the long-held glucose hypothesis. This finding raises questions about diagnostic methods and treatment strategies for cancer.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis created a quality-control tool called PopQC to ensure hard-working cells dominate in microbial fermentation processes, resulting in threefold enhanced production of free fatty acid and tyrosine. This innovation addresses the universal problem of biological noise, which affects the work ...
Researchers have developed a unified mathematical framework to design a single global input that synchronizes nonlinear rhythmic units in nature and manmade systems. This breakthrough enables better understanding and control of oscillation in applications such as heart pacemakers, neuronal firings, and circadian timekeeping.
Researchers found that strains resistant to bacteriocins grew poorly in iron-poor environments, suggesting a potential advantage in targeting resistant bacteria. The study suggests that bacteriocins could be used to target specific strains of multidrug-resistant or highly virulent bacteria.
Researchers are developing longer-lived imaging agents to target soluble oligomers, a potentially neurotoxic form of amyloid beta peptide. This approach may lead to more accurate diagnoses and better understanding of the disease process.
A recent study from Washington University in St. Louis confirms that about 71% of Americans are fairly certain Alexander Hamilton was a U.S. president. The study found that people's confidence in Hamilton's presidency is high, higher than for six actual presidents.
A new study reveals that Australopithecus sediba did not have a jaw structure suitable for eating hard foods, contradicting earlier research. The discovery suggests that dietary changes played a significant role in shaping the evolution of early humans.
Scientists found that recent developments near the Meramec River, including a levee and landfill, significantly magnified flood levels. The study showed that floods are becoming more chaotic, unpredictable, and severe due to human activities such as development in floodways and floodplains.
Engineers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed nanoparticles of calcium carbonate that can modulate pH in solid tumors, keeping cancer from growing. The compound changes the pH of the tumor environment, making it less acidic and preventing metastasis.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have identified a virulence factor secreted by the bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii, which is resistant to traditional antibiotics. The discovery could lead to the development of new antivirulence antibiotics that can suppress pathogen growth without eliminating susceptible bacteria.
A new study suggests that as early as 3 years old, toddlers begin to grasp the fundamental difference between a written word and a drawing. The research indicates that this understanding could be an important early indicator for children who may need extra help with reading lessons.
Seismologists used a network of instruments deployed in Iraq to analyze the seismic patterns of explosions, including mortars, rockets, IEDs, helicopters, and drones. The analysis allowed them to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the 'cook-off' explosion.
The Chang'e-3 mission provided 'ground truth' for lunar volcanism, with basalts found to be unlike those returned by Apollo and Luna missions. The findings suggest the Moon's upper mantle is composed of diverse minerals, providing clues to its formation and evolution.
Astronomers measured the density of photon fog between Earth and quasar PKS 1441+25 using high-energy gamma rays. The data validated theoretical models for the number and brightness of stars and galaxies in the universe going back 7.6 billion years.
Researchers deployed seismometers to create maps of seismic velocities beneath the West Antarctic Rift System, revealing a hot zone beneath the Bentley Subglacial Trench. This discovery suggests that the rift system was active recently and may have implications for the future of the giant ice sheet in Antarctica.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have developed a new approach to imaging patients using Xbox gaming technology, which measures body-part thickness and checks for motion before taking X-rays. The technology aims to produce high-quality X-ray images at low radiation doses without repeating images.