Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis described for the first time the structure of CcsBA, a protein that transports heme and attaches it to cytochromes. The study revealed two conformational states of CcsBA, allowing scientists to characterize the enzyme mechanism.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis are developing a framework to understand how herbicides interact and drift onto unintended plants, affecting crops and the environment. The study found that genetically modified crop introduction influences herbicide use rates and practices, leading to increased drift.
Washington University researchers have designed a new processing-in-memory (PIM) circuit that can increase PIM computing's performance by orders of magnitude. The circuit uses resistive random-access memory PIM, allowing for analog computations and eliminating the need for digital conversions.
A team of researchers led by Guy Genin and Stavros Thomopoulos found a previously unknown fibrous architecture in the shoulder joint, revealing new features of the attachment system. The discovery sheds light on how the rotator cuff functions and why repairs fail frequently.
Researchers found that re-identifying individuals from genomic data using public face images is harder than previously thought, with success rates well below idealized settings. They developed a method to alter social media photos and reduce the risk of privacy breaches.
A multicenter clinical trial is underway to evaluate the efficacy of a novel immunosuppressant in reducing organ rejection after lung transplantation. The study involves 330 patients and aims to improve health outcomes for thousands of lung transplant patients.
Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have created a biocompatible adhesive hydrogel that can stick to various surfaces underwater, with properties similar to natural mussel foot protein and spider silk. This breakthrough has potential applications in tissue repair, particularly for tendon-bone repair.
A noninvasive diagnostic method, sonobiopsy, has been developed to detect brain tumors with improved sensitivity. The method uses focused ultrasound to target tumors and injects microbubbles that release biomarkers into the bloodstream.
Researchers have genetically engineered bacteria to detect specific chemicals in the gut, which can help maintain balanced neurotransmitter levels. The bacteria, called Escherichia coli Nissle 1917, produce enzymes that degrade or synthesize target chemicals, potentially alleviating mental health issues.
Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis have discovered a new type of exoplanet known as 'eggshell planets,' which are likely to have little topography and no plate tectonics. These planets may resemble the lowlands on Venus, with vast expanses of lava but little high-standing terrain.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a way to train microbes to produce a readily usable biofuel from CO2, solar panel-generated electricity and light. The resulting n-butanol is an authentically carbon-neutral fuel alternative that can be used in blends with diesel or gasoline.
Severely malnourished children who consumed ready-to-use therapeutic food fortified with DHA showed significant improvement in gross and fine motor abilities, language proficiencies, and social skills. The findings suggest that reducing omega-6 fatty acid levels can also aid neurological development.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis developed a new material for stretchy flexible LEDs using an inkjet printer, combining the benefits of organic and inorganic LEDs. The new material, called perovskite, can be printed onto unconventional substrates, including rubber, and is elastic and stretchable in nature.
A recent study published in eLife reveals that the shape of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) plays a crucial role in determining infection outcomes. Researchers found that RSV viruses change from long, rod-shaped particles to more rounded ones during infection, which affects the activation of complement proteins by the immune system.
Plant biologists at Washington University in St. Louis have developed the first artificial scaffolds that can support individual plant cells, mimicking the properties of plant cell walls. The scaffolds demonstrate promising results for studying plant cell adhesion and growth.
Researchers found that population density and long-term exposure to air pollution were the two factors most significantly correlated with COVID-19 transmission rates. Disproportionately affecting communities with more minority residents, these factors were identified through computer modeling and analysis of data from 12 metropolitan a...
A review by Washington University and Duke experts exposes mass incarceration's harm on families, particularly low-income communities of color. Family member incarceration has negative effects on well-being, including increased behavioral problems in children and burdens on grandparents.
A new study analyzes presolar grains in meteorites to determine their stellar origins, using improved spatial resolution and isotopic analysis techniques. The research finds that the N isotope ratios of certain grains link them to different types of carbon stars, providing insights into the history of the universe.
Research by Washington University in St. Louis explores the collision of island and mainland adaptive radiations in neotropical anoles, finding that island species can diversify greatly on the mainland. Contrary to traditional thinking, islands are not evolutionary dead ends but rather cauldrons of innovation and diversification.
Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis uncovered why hybridization among brown anoles is rare in their native range but common in new geographic territories. The study highlights the importance of environmental degradation in facilitating hybridization, which can contribute to biodiversity declines.
Scientists have determined the age of the Chang'e-5 moon rocks to be approximately 1.97 billion years old, closing a 2-billion-year gap in lunar sample dating. This precision is crucial for calibrating chronology tools and studying the moon's volcanic history.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a bifunctional catalyst for the oxygen electrode, enabling high round-trip energy efficiency in unitized regenerative fuel cells. The catalyst, Pt-Pyrochlore, has a bifunctionality index of 0.56 volts and achieved a RTE of 75%.
Research in mice reveals that coordinated clock-gene and neuronal activity rhythms are necessary for daily hormone release, with the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) working together to generate circadian rhythms. Disruption of these clocks can lead to various pathologies.
A new study led by Rachel Penczykowski investigates the hydra effect in water fleas, where parasite infections trigger a counterintuitive increase in population density. The researchers found that infected water fleas consume less algae, leading to an abundance of resources for uninfected individuals.
A new study from Washington University in St. Louis suggests that Mars' small size limits its habitability due to a lack of retained volatiles. Researchers used potassium isotopes to determine the presence and abundance of volatile elements on Mars, finding a correlation between body size and volatile composition.
Scientists designed loss in optical devices to achieve unconventional physical phenomena, leading to novel methods for optical control and engineering. The team created two whispering gallery mode microresonators with different absorption losses, coupling their fields to achieve coherent perfect absorption.
A new study published in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience found that differences in cognitive control are not absolute, but rather a matter of degree. The research team, led by Todd Braver, used functional MRI to examine brain activity and behavior across four tasks in three conditions. Consistency was found in brain regions and b...
A universal descriptor has been found to indicate the best electrolytes for organic redox flow batteries, reducing experimentation time. This breakthrough could speed up the development of new storage technologies, enabling grid-scale energy storage with a stable grid.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered that bacteria can adapt to changing environments by learning statistical regularities, enabling them to predict the future faster than traditional evolutionary methods. The study reveals a simple regulatory architecture that allows bacteria to process information and mak...
Research reveals a significant decline in kidney function among COVID-19 long-haulers and even those with mild infections. The study highlights the critical need for paying attention to kidney function and disease in caring for patients who have had COVID-19, as kidney problems can be silent and untreated until it's too late.
Weekly saliva tests contributed to low transmission rates among students, teachers, and staff at schools serving children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Safety protocols, including masking and social distancing, helped maintain low transmission rates.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have found conclusive evidence that the Native Americans who built Poverty Point, a 72-foot-tall earthen mound, were highly skilled engineers with sophisticated technical knowledge.
A hydrogel developed by Jianjun Guan at Washington University in St. Louis delivers oxygen to wounds, accelerating healing and reducing inflammation. The treatment shows promise for treating chronic wounds in people with diabetes and other conditions where oxygen levels are low.
A team of researchers at Washington University in St. Louis has received a $3.12 million NIH grant to study neurovascular recovery after stroke. They aim to develop new neurovascular imaging technology using two-photon fluorescence microscopy and photoacoustic microscopy to visualize blood oxygen delivery in response to neuronal activity.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a method to produce synthetic muscle protein using microbes, which can be spun into fibers with exceptional toughness and strength. The resulting material has potential biomedical applications, such as sutures and tissue engineering.
A new study reveals that public opposition to disaster spending is driven by a lack of knowledge about the benefits of preparedness rather than personal experience with natural disasters. The study found that investing in disaster preparedness yields significant cost savings compared to relief efforts, but many Americans remain unaware...
Researchers at Washington University found that neurons in the primary visual cortex exhibit 'drift' over time, changing their responses to the same stimulus even without learning or experience. This discovery challenges the notion of stable neural activity in sensory cortices.
Studies reveal that zero-sum beliefs about Christianity and the LGBTQ community are most common among conservative Christians, shaped by Christian values and response to institutions. Researchers offer possible interventions to reduce such all-or-nothing beliefs.
Research at Washington University in St. Louis reveals that white clover's chemical defense against insect pests comes from both of its parental species, not just one as previously thought. The plant's ecological success can be attributed to this cyanogenesis process.
Research from Washington University in St. Louis suggests that cannabis use disorder (CUD) may be a risk factor for poorer COVID-19 outcomes due to a genetic predisposition. CUD was found to account for up to 40% of genetically influenced risk factors, such as body mass index and diabetes, for severe COVID-19 presentations.
Researchers used statistical models to study the co-evolutionary history of pierid butterflies and their host plants. They found that butterfly-plant relationships are resilient to changes in species composition but can destabilize over larger structural changes.
A 17-year study found that children who experienced poverty in preschool had smaller volumes of certain subcortical brain regions, including the hippocampus and thalamus. The researchers also found that these children showed slower growth in these regions over time, leading to poorer cognitive and behavioral outcomes in adulthood.
Researchers found that lizards with sticky toepads prevail in the arboreal environment, accessing new resources unavailable to padless lizards. This evolutionary advantage enables them to stay in trees and rarely leave, whereas padless species often transition to ground life.
New research reveals Bronze Age farmers in China prioritized cattle for their diets, utilizing byproducts like millet stalks for feed. This approach differs from other regions, where cows were raised closer to human settlements.
A new study from Washington University in St. Louis shows that guided by sparsity, silicon neurons learn to pick the most energy-efficient perturbations and wave patterns, enabling an emergent phenomenon of efficient communication between neurons. This research has significant implications for designing neuromorphic AI systems.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis used comparative metabologenomics to study the genomes of Streptomyces bacteria and identify key factors that influence drug production. The study found that fine-tuning of specific nucleotides can control antibiotic production, offering new insights for next-generation drug discovery.
Researchers discovered that PIEZO channels in plant cells are located deeper within the cell, in vacuole membranes, not along the plasma membrane as in animal cells. This finding sheds light on how plant cells perceive and respond to mechanical forces.
Researchers discovered that double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is substantially more chemically stable than single-stranded RNA (ssRNA), which has implications for its use in pesticides and understanding of viral behavior. The findings suggest storing dsRNA in high pH environments can provide extra protection against degradation.
Researchers developed nanoparticles that absorb near-infrared light, creating heat and inhibiting electrical activity in neurons. The biocompatible and biodegradable nanoparticles offer a potential tool for controlling neuronal activity remotely.
A new study found that sinking organic matter influences the types of signals preserved in sediments, leading to altered geochemical signatures. This discovery can provide new insights into past local environmental conditions and modify our understanding of global biogeochemical cycling.