News on early, curiosity-driven science that opens new directions. Covers materials discovery, AI-guided research, pediatric research standards, and energy science.
A recent study led by the University of Texas at Austin has found that liquid water detected under Mars' ice-covered south pole is likely a dusty mirage. However, the researchers suggest that ancient lakes and riverbeds may still be present on the planet, offering clues about its wetter past.
A longitudinal survey of over 3,000 adolescents aged 11-14 found that supportive relationships with family and friends, physical activity, and better sleep helped shield against the pandemic's negative impact on mental health. Girls were more likely than boys to experience psychological distress during the pandemic.
Researchers at the University of Leicester have partnered with BHP to identify new areas for nickel and copper deposits critical to the electric vehicle (EV) revolution. The project aims to challenge current understanding of the nickel mineral system, potentially opening up new exploration search space globally.
The Nutrition for Precision Health study will use data from 10,000 participants to develop algorithms predicting individual responses to food and dietary routines. The goal is to create more personalized nutrition recommendations and reduce health disparities.
The Epstein Family Foundation has donated $50 million to USC and UC San Diego to accelerate Alzheimer's research and discover effective therapies for the disease. The collaboration aims to compress study design, patient recruitment, and clinical trials to expedite the discovery of better treatments and a cure.
Researchers found that levitating ice requires a significantly higher temperature threshold than liquid water, with the meltwater layer creating a temperature differential that consumes most of the surface's heat. This results in a larger temperature window for boiling, leading to better heat transfer compared to using a liquid alone.
The NIH is awarding $170 million to clinics and centers for a precision nutrition study that will develop algorithms to predict individual responses to food and dietary routines. The Nutrition for Precision Health study will recruit 10,000 participants from the All of Us Research Program.
Researchers found that small groups of scientists are key in generating emerging topics in life sciences and medicine. The study analyzed PubMed data and author lists to identify past and current emerging keywords, revealing that smaller teams with fewer publications were crucial for generating high-performance keywords.
The new BD CellView Image Technology enables high-speed sorting of individual cells based on detailed microscopic analysis, accelerating discovery research in immunology, cell biology, and genomics. This technology has the potential to unlock new cell-based therapeutic discoveries and transform various fields of biomedical research.
The Microbiome and Metagenomics Center at UC San Diego will analyze stool samples from 10,000 All of Us Research Program participants to develop algorithms predicting individual responses to food. This will enable personalized nutrition recommendations based on an individual's genetics, gut microbes, and lifestyle factors.
The discovery of single-walled zeolitic nanotubes by researchers at Georgia Tech, Stockholm University, and Penn State University has the potential to revolutionize the field of materials science. The team found a unique arrangement of atoms in the zeolite nanotube walls that allows it to form as a 1D tube rather than a 2D or 3D material.
Scientists have developed a novel CRISPR-Cas3 editor from the bacteria Neisseria lactamica that improves editing efficiency and is more easily produced. The tool enables 50% editing efficiency in stem cells and 95% efficiency in other human cell lines, paving the way for research in genetic diseases and developmental biology.
The study found that efficient metabolic processes and recycling of components used by the enzyme RuBisCO significantly speed up photosynthesis in Chlorella ohadii. This discovery could lead to improving photosynthesis efficiency in other plants, developing new engineering tools for sustainable food production.
An international team led by the University of Ottawa has published findings on the importance of the enzyme GCN5 in maintaining muscle integrity. The study discovered that GCN5 plays a crucial role in boosting the expression of key structural proteins, notably dystrophin.
Scientists at Scripps Research have devised a method that can rapidly characterize antibodies using high-resolution, low-temperature electron microscopy (cryo-EM). This technique enables the identification of specific antibodies in fraction of time needed for traditional approach.
A new project aims to improve the performance of Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) by leveraging weak supervision and additional information. The research has potential applications in fraud detection, agriculture, and cancer diagnosis.
Epidemiologists have developed a new blood test, DunedinPACE, to measure biological aging. The test uses DNA methylation marks to track changes in organ-system integrity over time, predicting future disease and mortality.
Researchers at the University of Surrey have successfully demonstrated the use of multimodal transistors in artificial neural networks, achieving practically identical classification accuracy as pure ReLU implementations. The study paves the way for thin-film decision and classification circuits, which could be used in more complex AI ...
Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) may be rooted in impaired and inefficient muscle tissue regeneration, which enables unwanted bone growth. This discovery could lead to new therapies targeting both extra-skeletal bone formation and muscle function.
A recent study found that the number of stage 3 AKI kidneys transplanted in the US has increased significantly over the last decade, yet 44% are still discarded. This highlights the need for further efforts to optimize the use of these organs and reduce waste.
Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology found that macrophages in artery walls can sense octanal, leading to inflammation and atherosclerosis. By blocking this detection, they reversed disease progression. Further research is needed to explore the role of olfactory receptors in cardiovascular diseases.
Researchers have developed a new text-based analytics model that analyzes firms' tailoring of investments to their portfolio of products, using the four-stage product cycle. This framework provides insights into how firms exploit investment opportunities, including disclosure patterns and strategic alliances.
Researchers have discovered that heart disease causes early brain dysfunction, leading to reduced blood flow and increased risk of dementia. A combination of heart disease and a genetic predisposition for Alzheimer's Disease also trebles the amount of beta-amyloid protein in the brain.
Researchers at Cardiff University found that medical face masks increase facial attractiveness more than cloth masks, with blue masks being the most attractive. The study suggests that people associate masks with healthcare workers and find them reassuring, leading to a positive perception of the wearer.
Barrett's esophagus is caused by long-term GERD, which leads to changes in cells where the stomach and esophagus meet. Researchers found that stomach cells adopting intestinal cell qualities may be a key factor in its development.
Research led by Diego Bohórquez at Duke University has identified the cells responsible for sensing sugar in the gut. These neuropod cells produce neurotransmitters that transmit signals to the brain, allowing animals to distinguish between real sugar and artificial sweetener.
UCLA researchers found that removing brain cells linked to wakefulness and addiction reduces both physical and emotional symptoms of opioid withdrawal. The study suggests that drug therapies regulating hypocretin production may be an effective treatment for opiate addiction and withdrawal.
Astronomers have discovered a binary system consisting of a rapidly spinning neutron star and the precursor to an extremely-low-mass white dwarf, dubbed a 'cosmic spider'. The system emits powerful gamma-rays and has been observed using the SOAR Telescope in Chile.
A study reveals a powerful subset of vascular macrophages expressing CLEC4A2 fosters 'good' macrophage behavior, limiting plaque build-up. This discovery challenges the widely held belief that macrophages only play a harmful role in cardiovascular disease.
A team of Australian and international scientists has discovered a valuable new fossil site in New South Wales, containing exceptional examples of fossils from the Miocene epoch. The site, named McGraths Flat, provides insights into the history of the Australian continent and its ecosystems.
Researchers from Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) have discovered a way to perform 'general inverse design' with high accuracy. This breakthrough enables the creation of materials with specific characteristics and properties, paving the way for revolutionizing materials science and industrial applications.
Researchers have discovered that certain microorganisms, such as Nitrosopumilus maritimus, can produce oxygen in the absence of sunlight, possibly deep below the ocean surface. These microbes play a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle and remove bioavailable nitrogen from the environment.
Researchers have solved the mystery of how praziquantel works, a key to treating schistosomiasis. The discovery highlights new opportunities for drug development and may help combat this debilitating disease affecting over a billion people worldwide.
Scientists have created the world's lightest version of magnesium, a record-setting isotope that helps refine theories on atomic structure. The unstable isotope was produced using particle accelerators and decays within tenths of a second, making it impossible to measure directly.
Researchers discovered that bacterial biofilms employ a developmental patterning mechanism similar to plants and animals. The 'clock and wavefront' mechanism creates intricate composite patterns of repeating segments of distinct cell types.
Phages weigh all options and make an informed decision whether to exit the dormant state and attack their bacterial host. The study found that some phage families have developed a complex decision-making strategy, receiving information from neighboring bacteria and controlling communication via arbitrium.
A new study analyzing the rock record rules out atmospheric oxygen before the Great Oxygenation Event, potentially rewriting our understanding of Earth's past. The research team used high-resolution techniques to inspect specimens of the rock, finding evidence that chemical data suggesting early oxygen may have been introduced later.
Plants respond to heat stress by activating a molecular defense pathway involving brassinosteroids, which increase heat stress resistance. Researchers at TUM discovered the role of transcription factor BES1 in this process.
A study from Weill Cornell Medicine and Cornell University reveals that targeting protein ATF4 and its related metabolic protein SIRT3 can trick lymphoma cells into starving themselves, slowing their growth.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory developed a method to stabilize graphene nanoribbons and directly measure their unique magnetic properties. By substituting nitrogen atoms along the zigzag edges, they can discretely tune the local electronic structure without disrupting the magnetic properties.
Researchers find that toxic aggregates form inside brain cells, causing axon damage and neuronal death. Silencing specific proteins can block the aggregation process, potentially preventing or treating prion diseases and other neurodegenerative disorders.
Researchers found that certain bacteria in the human microbiome can produce an enzyme called acarbose kinase, which renders acarbose inactive. This enzyme is present in three major categories of oral and gut bacteria and may make people resistant to the antidiabetic drug.
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine discovered that deleting the EtfD Mtb enzyme renders Mycobacterium tuberculosis unable to sustain an infection in mice. The enzyme plays a critical role in fatty acid breakdown, making it an attractive target for TB treatment.
A new study reveals that New Caledonian crows prioritize the storage of complex and efficient foraging tools over basic ones. The research suggests that these birds have an understanding of the relative value of different tool types, similar to humans when handling valuable items.
The newly discovered dinosaur Vectiraptor greeni, from the Early Cretaceous period, was a large, heavily built relative of Velociraptor with powerful claws and serrated teeth. It is believed to have hunted larger prey, using its strength rather than speed.
A NTU study found that entrepreneurs quickly build trust in work-related situations and adapt to dishonesty. They also recover more easily from losing trust, making them valuable assets for organisations in negotiation and trust-building roles.
A University of Guam professor emeritus has discovered a new species of diatom, Licmophora complanata, that produces an estimated one-fifth of the oxygen in the air we breathe. The discovery was made using advanced microscopy techniques and builds on previous finds by UOG students.
Researchers confirm that skin infections, not just throat infections, trigger acute rheumatic fever, with Māori and Pacific children at highest risk. The study's findings have huge implications for prevention, suggesting a new focus on addressing skin infections to reduce the risk of rheumatic fever in New Zealand and internationally.
Researchers are part of a five-year global study examining the behavioral and long-term health impacts of different regulatory approaches to e-cigarettes and other new nicotine products among youth and adults in seven countries. The study aims to inform US public policy based on evidence, maximizing population health.
Researchers at Louisiana State University have identified 14 new endemic species of shrews on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, a significant milestone in understanding the island's extraordinary biodiversity. This discovery highlights the importance of taxonomy in understanding and preserving life.
Researchers have published an extensive 7T fMRI dataset to study how humans perceive and interpret naturalistic photographs. The Natural Scenes Dataset provides a massive scale of brain data for training complex deep-learning models that predict brain activity.
Researchers developed a material that automatically responds to changing temperatures, switching between heating and cooling. The glass can regulate both solar transmission and radiative cooling, reducing energy consumption up to 9.5% or ~330,000 kWh per year.
The MDI Biological Laboratory has been awarded a grant to promote cloud computing among researchers in Maine, aiming to level the playing field by providing access to sophisticated computing resources. The program will provide training on Google Cloud Platform and assist institutions in implementing cloud computing services.
A study published in the Futures journal found that people attending mass 'raves' during the Covid-19 lockdown broke fewer pandemic guidelines than single vaccinated 80-year-olds. The researchers suggest this is linked to the outlook of ravers, who tend to have a slower-life history strategy and are more future-oriented.
Researchers from Duke-NUS Medical School found that Zika virus infection disrupts the glucose metabolism pathway in infected foetuses, leading to birth defects and death. A potential supplement, pyruvic acid, may protect foetuses from these impacts.
Researchers at Stanford University have demonstrated that measuring the physics of just a small portion of a coral reef can reveal insights about the entire reef system. This new approach provides low-cost methods for scaling up monitoring efforts, which are crucial for understanding the impact of climate change on these ecosystems.
Researchers found that our concept of self becomes increasingly indistinct as we think about ourselves farther in the past or future, affecting decision-making and memory recall. The 'temporal self-compression' effect challenges traditional notions of identity and time perception.
Researchers found fecal transplants increase IL-25, reducing tissue inflammation and boosting immune system response to C. difficile infections. The transplants also promote beneficial microbial diversity, helping patients heal from life-threatening diarrhea.
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have developed mathematical equations explaining how individual randomness can give rise to synchronisation, applicable to systems like clocks, fireflies and metronomes. The findings provide a basis for new types of computer technology using light signals.
Cancer cells secrete type III collagen to stay dormant, and when levels decrease, they wake up and create metastatic cancer. Researchers found that enriching the environment with collagen can force cells to remain in a dormant state and prevent tumor recurrence.