Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Yale University


Hail to the squid — A vampyropod fit for a president

A 328-million-year-old fossil discovered in Montana has revealed the earliest known relative of modern octopuses and vampire squid. The newly identified species, Syllipsimopodi bideni, challenges current understanding of vampyropod evolution and offers a new model for internally-shelled cephalopods.

SourceYale University·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 8, 2022

Attention! Brain scans can tell if you are paying it

Researchers at Yale University have developed a model that uses brain scans to predict an individual's ability to pay attention. The study found that the brain's activity patterns can be used to create a unique fingerprint of attention abilities, which can help diagnose ADHD and improve focus.

SourceYale University·JournalNature Human Behaviour·DateMar 3, 2022

Robots are increasing mortality among US adults

A new study found a causal link between automation and increasing mortality rates among US adults, with a significant impact on middle-aged men. The study suggests that public policy measures such as strong social safety nets and labor market policies can mitigate the effects of automation on community health.

SourceYale University·JournalDemography·DateFeb 23, 2022

From recession to pandemic, American optimism survives

A new study by Yale School of Medicine reveals that Americans' hopes for a better future have endured despite historical economic downturns and the COVID-19 pandemic. The research found that people with a more optimistic orientation tend to do better during illnesses, adhere to healthier behaviors, and exhibit better psychological health.

SourceYale University·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateFeb 23, 2022

PNAS study: Promise of EVS depends critically on electricity generation sources

A new PNAS study reveals that the benefits of electric vehicles are heavily dependent on the source of electricity used to generate it. The study found that if the US relies more on coal-fired power plants to meet increased demand, it could undo most of the emissions reductions from fewer gasoline-fueled vehicles.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 16, 2022

Reframing the controversial bushmeat trade

Researchers examine the complex relationship between bushmeat consumption and global health, finding that Western definitions of progress may overlook local cultures. By reframing conservation perspectives, they aim to create a more balanced narrative around this contentious trade.

SourceYale University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateFeb 14, 2022

Queering environmental justice

The article highlights the disproportionate impact of environmental exposures on the LGBTQ+ community due to social and economic inequalities. The authors recommend implementing a system to collect sexual orientation data and incorporating LGBTQ+ issues into environmental justice research.

SourceYale University·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 27, 2022

Vaccine used in much of the world no match for Omicron variant

A new study by Yale researchers found that the Sinovac vaccine, widely used in 48 countries, offers little protection against the Omicron variant. Booster shots are necessary to combat the dominant circulating virus, which has shown to produce no neutralizing antibodies among those who received two doses of the Sinovac vaccine.

SourceYale University·JournalNature Medicine·DateJan 20, 2022

A crabs-eye view of the ancient world

Researchers from Yale University have discovered unusually large optical features in a 95-million-year-old crab fossil, suggesting that the species was a predator. The study analyzed nearly 1,000 living crabs and fossils, finding that Callichimaera's eyes were about 16% of its body size and grew at an accelerated rate.

SourceYale University·JournaliScience·DateJan 6, 2022

Nasal vaccine may aid fight against new viral variants

A new study found that intranasal vaccination provides broad-based protection against respiratory viruses in mice, while systemic immunization did not. The nasal vaccine triggers a localized immune response through IgA antibodies, which can be used to add reinforcements at the source of infection.

SourceYale University·JournalScience Immunology·DateDec 10, 2021

Novel Lyme vaccine shows promise

Researchers developed a novel vaccine using mRNA technology that prompts a quick response to components of tick saliva, limiting infection. The vaccine offers broad-based protection against other tick-borne diseases and can be used in conjunction with traditional vaccines.

SourceYale University·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateNov 22, 2021

Immune system early responder can combat COVID-19

A new Yale School of Medicine study reveals that a simple RNA molecule called SLR14 can trigger the production of interferons, key proteins in the body's innate response to infection. The compound has shown promise in mice with chronic cases of COVID-19 and may provide important benefits for immunocompromised individuals.

SourceYale University·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateNov 10, 2021

Rivers are largest global source of mercury in oceans

A new study by Yale University researchers reveals that rivers are the main source of mercury in coastal areas, rather than atmospheric deposition. The Amazon River, Ganges, and Yangtze are among the top contributors, with levels highest in August and September.

SourceYale University·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 19, 2021

World’s biodiversity maps contain many gaps, Yale study finds

A Yale study has identified significant gaps in biodiversity maps, limiting effective conservation decisions globally. The researchers created regional trends maps to assess the distribution of 31,000 terrestrial vertebrates, highlighting opportunities for citizen scientists and government agencies to support biodiversity monitoring.

SourceYale University·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 10, 2021