Articles tagged with Basic Research
Comprehensive exploration of living organisms, biological systems, and life processes across all scales from molecules to ecosystems. Encompasses cutting-edge research in biology, genetics, molecular biology, ecology, biochemistry, microbiology, botany, zoology, evolutionary biology, genomics, and biotechnology. Investigates cellular mechanisms, organism development, genetic inheritance, biodiversity conservation, metabolic processes, protein synthesis, DNA sequencing, CRISPR gene editing, stem cell research, and the fundamental principles governing all forms of life on Earth.
Comprehensive medical research, clinical studies, and healthcare sciences focused on disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Encompasses clinical medicine, public health, pharmacology, epidemiology, medical specialties, disease mechanisms, therapeutic interventions, healthcare innovation, precision medicine, telemedicine, medical devices, drug development, clinical trials, patient care, mental health, nutrition science, health policy, and the application of medical science to improve human health, wellbeing, and quality of life across diverse populations.
Comprehensive investigation of human society, behavior, relationships, and social structures through systematic research and analysis. Encompasses psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, linguistics, education, demography, communications, and social research methodologies. Examines human cognition, social interactions, cultural phenomena, economic systems, political institutions, language and communication, educational processes, population dynamics, and the complex social, cultural, economic, and political forces shaping human societies, communities, and civilizations throughout history and across the contemporary world.
Fundamental study of the non-living natural world, matter, energy, and physical phenomena governing the universe. Encompasses physics, chemistry, earth sciences, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, materials science, and the investigation of physical laws, chemical reactions, geological processes, climate systems, and planetary dynamics. Explores everything from subatomic particles and quantum mechanics to planetary systems and cosmic phenomena, including energy transformations, molecular interactions, elemental properties, weather patterns, tectonic activity, and the fundamental forces and principles underlying the physical nature of reality.
Practical application of scientific knowledge and engineering principles to solve real-world problems and develop innovative technologies. Encompasses all engineering disciplines, technology development, computer science, artificial intelligence, environmental sciences, agriculture, materials applications, energy systems, and industrial innovation. Bridges theoretical research with tangible solutions for infrastructure, manufacturing, computing, communications, transportation, construction, sustainable development, and emerging technologies that advance human capabilities, improve quality of life, and address societal challenges through scientific innovation and technological progress.
Study of the practice, culture, infrastructure, and social dimensions of science itself. Addresses how science is conducted, organized, communicated, and integrated into society. Encompasses research funding mechanisms, scientific publishing systems, peer review processes, academic ethics, science policy, research institutions, scientific collaboration networks, science education, career development, research programs, scientific methods, science communication, and the sociology of scientific discovery. Examines the human, institutional, and cultural aspects of scientific enterprise, knowledge production, and the translation of research into societal benefit.
Comprehensive study of the universe beyond Earth, encompassing celestial objects, cosmic phenomena, and space exploration. Includes astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, cosmology, space physics, astrobiology, and space technology. Investigates stars, galaxies, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, black holes, nebulae, exoplanets, dark matter, dark energy, cosmic microwave background, stellar evolution, planetary formation, space weather, solar system dynamics, the search for extraterrestrial life, and humanity's efforts to explore, understand, and unlock the mysteries of the cosmos through observation, theory, and space missions.
Comprehensive examination of tools, techniques, methodologies, and approaches used across scientific disciplines to conduct research, collect data, and analyze results. Encompasses experimental procedures, analytical methods, measurement techniques, instrumentation, imaging technologies, spectroscopic methods, laboratory protocols, observational studies, statistical analysis, computational methods, data visualization, quality control, and methodological innovations. Addresses the practical techniques and theoretical frameworks enabling scientists to investigate phenomena, test hypotheses, gather evidence, ensure reproducibility, and generate reliable knowledge through systematic, rigorous investigation across all areas of scientific inquiry.
Study of abstract structures, patterns, quantities, relationships, and logical reasoning through pure and applied mathematical disciplines. Encompasses algebra, calculus, geometry, topology, number theory, analysis, discrete mathematics, mathematical logic, set theory, probability, statistics, and computational mathematics. Investigates mathematical structures, theorems, proofs, algorithms, functions, equations, and the rigorous logical frameworks underlying quantitative reasoning. Provides the foundational language and tools for all scientific fields, enabling precise description of natural phenomena, modeling of complex systems, and the development of technologies across physics, engineering, computer science, economics, and all quantitative sciences.
The study found that the Northern Lenglongling fault was a more suitable seismogenic structure for the MS6.4 Menyuan earthquake. This is supported by field geological mapping and tectonic geomorphology analysis, which indicate the LLLF has been active since the Holocene.
Hydrogels, jelly-like materials with water-based properties, require a better understanding of their structure and mechanical properties. Professor Ullal will use super-resolution microscopy techniques to characterize the structure of hydrogels and develop new materials.
The National Institute on Aging has awarded $1.3 million to the American Federation for Aging Research as the first Nathan Shock Centers Coordinating Center. This center will coordinate activities among six basic biology of aging centers, enhance external communication with researchers and the public, and facilitate data sharing.
The National Science Foundation has awarded 156 early career engineers with a total of $78 million in grants, covering fields like smart materials, advanced robotics, and secure communications. These awardees will conduct five-year research projects and are expected to make significant advances in their respective areas.
Compressive-sensing pioneer Richard Baraniuk has won a five-year, $3 million fellowship to explore new technologies using the field of signal processing. The grant will help broaden the applicability of compressive sensing and enable radically new sensing capabilities.
The CEBAF accelerator has successfully delivered upgrade-energy electron beams into two of its experimental areas, Halls B and C. The upgrades mark progress toward the final DOE approval step for project completion.
Researchers at TIFR have identified a specific region within SIRT1 that determines its interaction with other cellular regulators, enabling it to choose which factors to interact with. This discovery provides new insights into the longevity factor's functional diversity and may lead to targeted therapies against age-related diseases.
The Canadian government is investing $125 million in a Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy to attract and retain top talent, promote collaboration among AI research centers, and drive innovation. The strategy aims to cement Canada's position as a global leader in AI.
The NSF has awarded a $6.1 million grant to US Ignite, Inc. and Northeastern University to establish city-scale testing platforms for advanced wireless research. This collaboration aims to develop faster and more robust wireless networks, addressing the growing demand from devices such as smartphones and wearable technology.
PAWR will provide unprecedented capabilities for wireless platform experimentation, potentially revolutionizing the nation's wireless infrastructure. The project aims to develop best practices and reference architectures for next-generation wireless technologies, including millimeter wave, to enable groundbreaking research.
Lithium-sulfur batteries show promise for high-energy storage, but rapid capacity fade hinders their use. A new approach using ferroelectric nanoparticles improves cycle stability by entrapping polysulfides.
Sebastian Will, a Columbia University assistant professor, has been awarded a $60,000 fellowship to investigate the fundamental understanding of quantum many-body systems. The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation recognizes his unique potential to make substantial contributions to physics.
Research found girls with low fundamental movement skills exhibit higher body fatness compared to boys, emphasizing the need for tailored strategies to enhance motor proficiency in girls. The study aims to understand the relationship between motor skills and obesity, suggesting that developmental delays may be a contributing factor.
A UNIST research team led by Professor Joonbum Bae received a commendation from the Minister of Public Safety and Security for their groundbreaking collaborative rescue robots. The award recognizes their work on humanoid avatar robots with a teleoperating system that can be deployed in disaster response.
Raju Venugopalan, a Brookhaven National Laboratory physicist, has been awarded the Humboldt Research Award for his work on quark-gluon plasma and ultra-cold atomic gases. The award will enable him to continue collaborations with German researchers and further explore connections between these systems.
Peter Baumann, a renowned chromosome researcher, joins Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz as Professor of Molecular Biology and Adjunct Director at IMB. His research focuses on telomeres and genetic diversity, aiming to understand the molecular and cellular principles behind chromosome biology.
Four Penn State researchers have been awarded a total of $450,000 by the Charles E. Kaufman Foundation to study RNA and its processes, as well as real-time gravitational wave detection. The research aims to advance methods for determining RNA structure in living cells and improve prospects for multi-messenger astrophysics.
UCSB neuroscientist Kenneth Kosik advocates for fundamental cell biology research into neurodegeneration, which may accelerate understanding of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. He argues that basic science provides a foundation for treatments beyond single diseases and early detection.
The NSF has awarded $12 million to develop systems that use photons in pre-determined quantum states for encrypting data. Researchers will engineer a quantum communication system on a chip, which could operate at room temperature with low energy.
The 'Ourobot' robot, developed by four bachelor students at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, features pressure sensors in its chain segments that enable it to detect and overcome obstacles. The project is a feasibility study, focusing on basic research and exploring the potential for future applications.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is investing over $400 million in fundamental wireless research and infrastructure development. This support will enable novel technologies, applications, and services that can transform daily life through ultra-high-speed, high-bandwidth, and low-latency connectivity.
Researchers developed innovative solutions for autonomous flight, sensing and swarm coordination. The team's breakthroughs include new manufacturing methods, ultra-low power computing architectures and adhesives for agile robots.
The International Human Frontier Science Program has selected eight researchers to receive Career Development Awards, worth $300,000 over three years. The award supports the launch of their first independent laboratory and enables fellows to return home or move to another HFSP member country.
A recent study by University of California, San Diego School of Medicine reports that educating Community Health Workers (CHWs) and other 'citizen scientists' can boost the integrity of scientific research. The Building Research Integrity and Capacity (BRIC) program uses eight modules to teach research ethics and concepts.
The University of California, Riverside, has received a nearly $1.6 million grant from the National Science Foundation to sequence the genome of the cowpea, a legume crop crucial for global food security. The research aims to develop high-yielding and disease-resistant cowpea varieties using genetically informed breeding strategies.
A study by the University of the Basque Country found that larger pitches and more players per team increase physical and physiological demands on young footballers. The research suggests adapting competition models to match the physiological development of participants, particularly for the U12 age group.
Researchers have achieved controlled movement of individual skyrmions along a magnetic wire using electrical impulses at room temperature. This breakthrough is a significant step towards the development of new data storage technologies, offering improved energy efficiency and high storage density.
A recent study in The FASEB Journal found that the number of articles dealing with basic scientific research in top medical journals has decreased dramatically over the past two decades. This decline is likely to reduce doctors' exposure to science, which could have implications for advances in medicine.
A new DFG Research Training Group at FAU will investigate the relationship between brain development and adult diseases. The group aims to uncover how development processes affect disease susceptibility and identify new targets for therapy.
The National Science Foundation has awarded $37 million to fund research on co-robots that can collaborate with people, advancing the development of robots for critical tasks like infrastructure inspection and manufacturing. The awards support projects across various fields, including healthcare and search-and-rescue operations.
A team of scientists has discovered a way to control ultraviolet light emission from a complex oxide material by adding a water molecule to its surface. This discovery enables the potential for improving chemical sensors, computing, and information storage.
A $20 million gift from the Dolby Family Fund will support UCSF's Department of Psychiatry in its research on depression, bipolar disorder, and related illnesses. The goal is to rapidly advance treatments and eliminate stigma surrounding mental illness.
Researchers at the John Innes Centre have developed a method to produce large quantities of useful natural compounds efficiently by growing them in tomatoes. The study found that one tomato can produce the same amount of Resveratrol as exists in 50 bottles of red wine, and Genistein equivalent to 2.5kg of tofu.
A team of scientists at the University of the Basque Country has successfully simulated actions that contradict the fundamental laws of quantum physics in a laboratory setting. Using trapped atoms, they have reproduced symmetry operations previously thought to be impossible in the atomic world.
A UC Davis research team has been awarded $15.5 million to develop the world's first total-body PET scanner, which could revolutionize cancer tracking and treatment. The new technology allows for simultaneous imaging of the entire body, reducing radiation dose by a factor of 40 and scanning time from 20 minutes to just 30 seconds.
Michigan State University has partnered with ExxonMobil to improve the efficiency of photosynthesis in microalgae to produce biofuels and bioproducts. The project aims to determine which algae are most efficient under various conditions, leveraging new technologies developed by MSU researchers.
Astrosat observes cosmic objects in visible light, ultraviolet waveband, and X-ray wavebands from very low to high energy. The satellite addresses fundamental scientific problems like testing Einstein's general theory of relativity and studying superdense cold matter.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new cache-coherence mechanism that significantly reduces memory usage in multicore chips. The Tardis system uses time stamps and lease management to enforce logical-time order, eliminating the need for invalidation messages and saving space in shared caches.
A study by Hanna Marno and colleagues found that languages with SVO structures prefer simplicity due to cognitive load constraints. In experiments where participants were not required to invent their own gestures, a preference for the SVO form emerged in both Italian-speaking and Farsi-speaking groups.
The researchers will investigate how variability in neuronal responses contributes to learning and performance in motor tasks. By understanding this connection, they aim to uncover the fundamental mechanisms underlying neural variability and its role in brain function.
The determination of fundamental constants is becoming increasingly accurate, according to a review paper published this week. This will aid in the redefinition of standard scientific units, including the kilogram and the Kelvin, by 2018.
Researchers at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research created bacteria to emit intense hard x-ray radiation. By using nanostructured bacterial cells and silver nanoparticles, they achieved a 10,000-fold increase in x-ray emission compared to plain glass slides.
Zdzislaw Musielak, a UT Arlington physics professor, has won the Humboldt Research Award for his exploration of extra-solar planetary systems, dark matter, and dark energy. The award provides him with the opportunity to work on research projects in Germany, furthering his cutting-edge achievements.
Kasturi Haldar and Grant McFadden emphasize the importance of basic research in their articles on PLOS Pathogens. They share their personal experiences and highlight how fundamental research can lead to breakthroughs in fields like malaria, cancer, and inflammatory diseases.
Researchers at Mascoma and BESC have developed a revolutionary strain of yeast that can efficiently convert biomass sugars into fuel, setting a new standard for biofuel production. The microbe achieves 97% conversion of xylose and glucose in less than 48 hours, significantly increasing ethanol yield.
Scientists at University of Otago challenge traditional understanding of enzyme evolution, finding evidence of rapid evolution and ancient catalysts. The research has implications for designing proteins with biomedical applications.
A new priority program funded by the German Research Foundation will develop next-generation optogenetic tools with higher light sensitivity. The program aims to expand optogenetics' application in basic research and medicine, particularly for treating vision and hearing impairments, Parkinson's disease, and cardiac diseases.
INRS Professors Patrizio Antici and Tiago Falk have been appointed to the Global Young Academy for their groundbreaking research in health, materials science, and cultural heritage. Their work aims to develop new technologies and solutions for society's pressing challenges.
The DFG is establishing new Clinical Research Units and Research Units to investigate various topics, including pregnancy complications, particle physics, and nanotechnology. The research collaborations will focus on developing systematic design rules for nanoparticle synthesis and improving public transport planning.
Scientists at OIST successfully demonstrated a more robust method for controlling single, micron-sized particles with light using higher order modes. The technique allows particles to move up to eight times faster along a microfiber, with applications in physics, biology, and quantum research.
The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) has received a $1.5 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2016, with a focus on accelerating the transition of nanotechnology-based discoveries from lab to market.
Researchers at Imperial College London have developed a new technique called BASIC for creating artificial DNA, which combines the best features of existing methods while overcoming their limitations. The system enables fast and flexible assembly of genes with high accuracy, making it suitable for industrial-scale use.
Researchers found that 'mute' cicadas produce sound by banging their forewing costa against the operculum, a newfound mechanism. This discovery expands our understanding of acoustic signaling in cicadas without tymbal organs.
Researchers aim to standardize antibody identification by defining them by their sequences, like genes. This would enable consistent results across experiments and reduce waste in the research pipeline.
Theoretical studies have predicted the existence of exotic few-body correlations and interesting pairing states in spin-orbit coupled ultracold Fermi gases. Spin-orbit coupling modifies single-particle spectra, giving rise to these phenomena.
The National Science Foundation has awarded rapid response grants to support researchers in understanding the fundamental nature of Ebola and its impact on public safety. The grants will fund projects that explore new methods for virus detection, disinfection, and medical response, as well as research into risk assessment and behavior.
The National Science Foundation has awarded $31.5 million to develop and use co-robots that work cooperatively with people, advancing fundamental understanding of robotic sensing and motion. These robots will perform critical tasks safely and resiliently near humans.
EBioMedicine brings together worlds of basic research and clinical science in an open-access journal with Cell Press and The Lancet editorial influence. The journal prioritizes rapid publication and publishes a range of research study types, including commentaries and viewpoints.
A global research effort has resolved a major biosecurity issue by identifying four destructive fruit fly species as one, Bactrocera dorsalis. The combination of these species will lead to improved international cooperation in pest management and enhanced food security for some of the world's poorest nations.
New research shows that female rhesus monkeys exhibit a bias toward images of the opposite sex when surrounded by red frames, mirroring human responses. This finding suggests an evolved biological mechanism underlying the 'red effect', which may not be unique to humans.