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Endometrial cancer driver mutations detectable in uterine lavage fluid

A study published in PLOS Medicine found that mutations driving endometrial cancer can be detected in uterine lavage fluid of pre- and post-menopausal women, regardless of their cancer status. The presence of these mutations was positively associated with age and post-menopause, highlighting the potential for non-invasive screening met...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateDec 27, 2016

Fish sperm race for reproductive success

Researchers found that dominant Arctic char produce sperm swimming faster in diluted ovarian fluid, while subordinate males produce faster-swimming sperm in water. These adaptations may give them an edge in competition for mates.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and Evolution·DateDec 21, 2016

Uterine microbiota play a key role in implantation and pregnancy success in in vitro fertilization

A new study found that women with a Lactobacillus-dominated microbiota in their uterine cavity had significantly lower rates of implantation, pregnancy, and live birth compared to those with non-Lactobacillus-dominated microbiota. This research suggests that the endometrial microbiome may play a crucial role in reproductive success.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·DateDec 6, 2016

Using the force

Scientists at UCSB developed a powerful new technique to measure the mechanical properties of cells in living tissues, shedding light on how cells respond to biochemical and mechanical cues. The method reveals that cells perceive their natural habitat as a fluid-like environment, with varying stiffness and viscosity along the body axis.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Methods·DateDec 5, 2016

New maps created by Stanford scientists reveal safe locations for wastewater injection

Stanford scientists created detailed stress maps to understand earthquake triggers in Texas and Oklahoma, identifying problematic faults and ideal orientations for earthquakes. The maps help predict seismic activity resulting from fluid injection, enabling companies and regulators to avoid these faults and prevent induced earthquakes.

SourceStanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateNov 11, 2016

Towards the T-1000: Liquid metals propel future electronics

Researchers at RMIT University have developed self-propelling liquid metals, a critical step towards flexible and dynamically reconfigurable soft circuit systems. The breakthrough enables liquid metal to move autonomously in three dimensions, opening the door to new applications in smart engineering solutions and biomedicine.

SourceRMIT University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 4, 2016

Tiny 'racetracks' show how bacteria get organized

When bacteria are confined to millimeter-sized, fluid-filled oval tracks, they quickly organize into a collective motion, with individuals moving in opposite directions. The research, published in the New Journal of Physics, shows that mechanical interactions between bacteria and their surroundings drive this complex behavior.

SourceBrown University·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateJul 13, 2016

Scientists simulate tiny bacteria-powered 'windfarm'

Researchers from Oxford University used computer simulations to demonstrate how chaotic bacterial swarming can be organized to power microscopic rotors and devices. The study found that densely packed bacteria can spontaneously assemble into a 'bacterial windfarm' capable of generating persistent mechanical power.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 8, 2016

Messaging by flow in the brain

Scientists have discovered that tiny cilia on specialized cells create complex networks of dynamic flows that transport molecular 'freight' to specific destinations in the brain. These flows, powered by synchronized beating movements, could play a crucial role in distributing essential messenger substances.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateJul 8, 2016

At the droplet of a hat: Capturing mixable liquid interaction

Researchers at OIST Graduate University have successfully captured the spreading of a droplet as it interacts with another mixable liquid for the first time. The study reveals that the droplets spread in a way resembling a 'hat' shape, with the brim continuing to expand over time until fully integrated into the second liquid.

Does oral cannabidiol convert to THC, a psychoactive form of cannabinoid, in the stomach?

A new study suggests that oral cannabidiol may convert to the psychoactive compound THC in the stomach, potentially leading to adverse effects. The research found that gastric fluids can convert CBD into THC, which could explain why some children treated with CBD for epilepsy experienced unexpectedly high rates of sleepiness and fatigue.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalCannabis and Cannabinoid Research·DateJun 21, 2016

Why planes freeze

A new model developed by researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University provides a fuller understanding of supercooled large droplet icing mechanisms. The model identifies a different icing mechanism than previously identified and incorporates heat generated from impact thermodynamics.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateJun 21, 2016

Arc volcano releases mix of material from Earth's mantle and crust

A new study from the University of Washington reveals that a common type of volcano draws its lava from both the mantle and the crust, challenging traditional geological beliefs. Researchers found that the basalt's magnesium signature is similar to the crustal material, suggesting that fluid movement plays a role in seismic activity at...

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 13, 2016

Consumers sour on milk exposed to LED light

Exposure to LED light for just four hours can make milk taste like cardboard, while older milk remains at high quality for two weeks when shielded from LED exposure. Consumers overwhelmingly prefer older, fresh-looking milk over newer, LED-exposed milk.

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of Dairy Science·DateJun 9, 2016

Why cancer drugs can't take the pressure

Researchers discovered that high-pressure environments in solid tumors, fueled by hyaluronic acid, hinder drug delivery. Treatment with an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid can restore vessel expansion and improve treatment outcomes for drug-resistant cancers.

SourceCell Press·JournalBiophysical Journal·DateMay 10, 2016

The oldest crystals in the world

Researchers from Trinity College and Swedish Museum of Natural History found zircon crystals formed in younger impact craters are indistinguishable from ancient ones, suggesting many ancient crystals formed in violent impact settings. This challenges the long-held theory that these crystals formed during tectonic plate collisions.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeology·DateMay 4, 2016

It's the rain's fault

Researchers discovered that rainwater can channel up the Alpine Fault and overwhelm contributions from mantle-derived fluids, focusing it onto the fault. This finding sheds light on the trigger mechanisms for major seismic events and has implications for understanding catastrophic earthquakes.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateApr 27, 2016

2+1 is not always 3

Researchers measured critical Casimir forces with two and three particles to demonstrate nonadditivity and show that these forces are crucial for designing micro-machines. The study used colloids immersed in fluid and optical tweezers to measure the effects of many-body interaction.

SourceInternational School of Advanced Studies (SISSA)·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 21, 2016