News on early, curiosity-driven science that opens new directions. Covers materials discovery, AI-guided research, pediatric research standards, and energy science.
Scientists have discovered a way to create materials that can snap and reset themselves, moving without the need for motors or external power. This breakthrough could enable future military robots to operate independently, reducing reliance on batteries and motors.
Researchers developed an agent-based model to analyze the priority rule in science, finding that excessive rewards for priority can lead to lower-quality research. However, reforms like scoop protection can help mitigate this issue. To further improve science, measures like preregistration and criticism of research plans can encourage ...
Researchers have found that three ozone-depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbons are being emitted globally, including one recently discovered. The majority of these emissions originate from Asia and southeastern France, suggesting a link to the fluorocarbon industry.
Researchers developed an AI that accurately identifies places with insufficient or out-of-service stations. The tool is particularly effective in micropolitan areas, where population growth may lead to infrastructure issues.
A literature review on cycad leaf nutrition highlights inconsistencies in data collection and analysis methods, emphasizing the need for more research to effectively manage and conserve these plant species. The study recommends considering factors such as seasonal variations, insect herbivory, and soil nutrient concentrations.
A study found that male authors, those employed at prestigious institutions, and those affiliated with STEM disciplines are more likely to author open access articles. The study analyzed characteristics of 182,320 open access authors across the US from 2014-2018.
Researchers discovered a gene that shows butterflies and flowers independently evolved to make the same chemical compound for different purposes. Male butterflies use this pheromone to repulse competitors and attract females only once.
Researchers at Northwestern University have created data-driven movies of how RNA folds in the cell, revealing unexpected mechanisms and dynamics. These findings could lead to breakthroughs in understanding and treating RNA-related diseases.
Researchers have discovered that breastfed babies have nearly twice as many regulatory T cells, which control the immune response and reduce inflammation. The study found that specific bacteria support these cells' function, emphasizing the importance of breastfeeding.
A new study published in PLOS Medicine found a significant inverse association between physical activity and the occurrence of cardiovascular disease, with participants in highest quartiles showing substantial risk reduction. The study used data from 90,211 UK Biobank participants and found no threshold for this association.
Scientists discovered molecular basis for how shapeshifting immune system protein XCL1 evolved, outlining principles for designing metamorphic proteins as transformers. These principles can be used to develop biosensors, build nanoscale machines, and even create therapeutics.
Researchers have developed a new statistical method called Sum-Share that exponentially increases the ability to discover genetic insights. The method uses summary-level data from multiple sites to generate significant insights, outperforming existing methods in detecting genetic variations associated with cardiovascular conditions.
Cell Press launches a new initiative to promote inclusion and diversity in research, allowing authors to share their efforts in paper statements. The pilot program will track progress and provide data for benchmarking goals, aiming to increase diversity and monitor outcomes.
Researchers update current research focus from 'immune-centric-only' view to better understand autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. The study identifies common gene expression changes at target tissues, highlighting the importance of studying both immune system and target tissues.
A new data-driven global climate model projects significant urban heat stress and reduced relative humidity in cities by the end of this century. The study's findings emphasize the need for local urban climate projections to support city planners' adaptation strategies, such as green infrastructure interventions.
Researchers from St Petersburg University have discovered a complex of rocks forming an ancient island arc in the Songkultau Mountains of Kyrgyzstan, dated to around 500 million years ago. The finding provides valuable insights into the geological history of Central Asia and has implications for understanding large ore deposits.
Study uses machine learning to map brain regions activated by music and finds distinct patterns for happy and sad music. Emotions evoked by films and music rely on different brain mechanisms, with films activating deeper emotion-regulating regions not seen in music.
The January issue of SLAS Discovery features the cover article 'Cryo-EM: The Resolution Revolution and Drug Discovery', which explores how Cryo-EM is influencing drug discovery projects. The journal also includes 13 articles on original research topics, such as high-throughput screening methods and protein-ligand interactions.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to researchers who discovered the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The discovery was made possible by the perseverance and determination of thousands of scientists worldwide. Their work has paved the way for future research into HCV and potential cures.
Researchers from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and UNED used big data and physics research to analyze Beethoven's metronomic marks. The study found that conductors tend to play slower than indicated, with a systematic deviation, which could be explained by the composer reading the metronome incorrectly.
A new permafrost thermal stability map for the Tibetan Plateau has been created with high accuracy, using a combination of ground observation data and remote sensing big data. The map divides the permafrost into five zones, providing critical information for engineering planning and water resource management in the region.
A research consortium has analyzed frequency fluctuations in 12 synchronous grid areas across three continents, revealing that bigger grids are more stable. The study used a new measurement technology and a portable GPS-synchronized recorder to collect high-resolution data.
A Clemson University researcher has discovered a new parasitic worm that negatively affects reproduction in the Caribbean spiny lobster. The worm, named Carcinonemertes conanobrieni, is believed to be the first of its kind to infect this species in the Caribbean and western Atlantic Ocean.
Researchers at Tohoku University have discovered a mantle plume beneath central Greenland that melts the ice from below, bolstering understanding of volcanic activities and global sea-level rising.
Researchers conducted the first-ever census of creosotes in a 135-square-mile conservation site in Nevada's Mojave Desert, counting over 23 million plants. The study discovered trends about how landscape features influence plant growth, including the impact of slope direction and soil age on creosote volume.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have discovered a new pathway in Alzheimer's disease that could lead to earlier and more effective treatments. The Drp1-HK1-NLRP3 pathway plays a key role in disrupting normal brain cell function, leading to cognitive deficits and degeneration of white matter.
The NCCU project aims to apply evidence-based findings into real-world applications, addressing health disparities in underserved communities. Community advisory boards and focus groups will be formed to engage communities and support mentoring and networking efforts.
Researchers use ultra-bright X-rays to measure ion velocity and concentration, providing unprecedented insight into battery performance. The breakthrough discovery opens doors to optimizing battery designs for specific uses.
A newly described behavior, known as reciprocity in conversation, helps balance the scales of collaborative interactions. By incorporating small talk into work settings, teams can achieve higher levels of task enjoyment and better outcomes.
Researchers from Boyce Thompson Institute created a high-quality reference genome for S. pimpinellifolium, discovering sections of the genome underlying fruit flavor, size and ripening, stress tolerance and disease resistance. The study found over 92,000 structural variants related to important traits in cultivated tomatoes.
Researchers at Tohoku University developed a new sensing method using deep learning and a structure-aware temporal bilateral filter. The system can track complex motions with higher accuracy, enabling applications such as tracking small animal movements, fluid flow, and virtual reality finger movements.
Researchers at UT Austin created the smallest memory device yet, shrinking its cross-sectional area to a single square nanometer. Defects in materials unlock dense memory storage capabilities, paving the way for ultra-dense storage, neuromorphic computing systems, and more.
The study uses data-driven techniques and machine-learning architectures to improve the accuracy and efficiency of modeling processes. The researchers found that convolutional neural networks (CNN) and physics-informed neural networks (PINN) have potential in optimizing modeling processes for specific aspects of the solution process.
Researchers developed a computer vision tool to analyze facial images of patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), revealing strong correlations between facial features and the condition. The study's findings could lead to improved phenotyping and treatment of CAH, a life-threatening genetic disorder affecting children.
Researchers at Graz University of Technology discovered a method to exploit Intel processors using power side-channel attacks, even without physical access. The technique uses the RAPL interface and misuses Intel's SGX functionality to extract sensitive data.
A national study of general practices in England found that diagnostic error (60%), medication incidents (25%), and delayed referrals (11%) are the main causes of avoidable harm. Researchers identified patient factors such as old age and multiple health problems, highlighting challenges in protecting patients from harm.
Researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill have linked quick flashes of light to growing satellite and space debris, providing a potential explanation for mysterious night sky phenomena. The study's findings may help reduce false alarms in astronomical surveys and improve data accuracy.
A new study by the University of Kent found that English practices with expanded sizes have not achieved better access to care or provided a better overall experience. The proportion of patients saying they can see their preferred GP fell by 10% in expanded practices compared to 7% in unchanged practices.
Research collaboration reveals maple trees as crucial to ecosystem structure and function due to their commonality, with many species at high risk of extinction worldwide.
Researchers at Ohio State and the University of Michigan discovered a new type of immune cell that rescues damaged nerve cells from death and partially reverses nerve fiber damage. The unique cell subset promotes nervous system repair and has been identified in human immune cells with similar characteristics.
Researchers at TU Graz have discovered a new sediment archive on the Styrian Erzberg, providing valuable insights into recent climate development. The archive features geologically young minerals formed shortly after the last ice age, challenging current understanding of mineral formation temperatures.
Researchers found that all species of lizards in Miami can tolerate temperatures as low as 42°F, despite previous individual tolerances. This unexpected finding provides evidence that tropical creatures can sometimes endure conditions beyond their established limits.
A joint research team from POSTECH and Korea University has developed a daytime radiative cooling effect that exhibits lower temperatures than its surroundings even during the day. The new material, produced in centimeters, showed a cooling efficiency of up to 6.1°C during strong sunlight.
The researchers found that even in ideal conditions, quantum superposition leads to rare events with higher heat dissipation than the Landauer limit, which challenges traditional understanding of information erasure. This finding has significant implications for future quantum chips and thermodynamics.
Gryfn, a Purdue University-affiliated agbioscience startup, is growing its space and expanding into new markets with its multisensor drone data collection technology. The company has added team members, evaluated new technologies, and is actively recruiting a research scientist to empower the future of agriculture research.
Researchers at Cornell Tech used smartphone data to predict episodes of schizophrenic relapse, analyzing movement, ambient sound and sleep patterns. The method found a median 108% increase in behavior anomalies before relapse.
Researchers at Columbia University discovered a rare form of magnetism in a three-layer graphene structure, showcasing exotic electronic states and controllable magnetic behavior. The twist angle enables the manipulation of spin-free magnetism, opening new possibilities for quantum computation and energy-efficient data storage.
Researchers at Linköping University have identified a new mechanism by which substances can open specific ion channels and regulate nerve impulses. The study reveals a large group of substances that influence the coupling between ion channel parts, opening potassium channels in a specific manner.
Oregon State University (OSU) will take over systems management of Ocean Observatories Initiative's cyberinfrastructure in September 2023. The team will handle data storage and delivery for the OOI, which consists of five instrumented observatories collecting over 800 instruments' data.
Researchers developed a comprehensive tool to explore disease development patterns, identifying main highways of disease progression. The Danish Disease Trajectory Browser analyzes 25 years of public health data to discover frequent disease trajectories.
The GDPR's restrictive approach to international data transfers is hindering global biomedical research, including essential COVID-19 studies. The authors propose amendments to address this issue, ensuring the balance between individual privacy and societal benefits in research contexts.
A new algorithm has been developed by Penn State researchers to train adversarial bots that can exploit weaknesses in master game bots using deep reinforcement learning. The algorithm successfully defeated a world-class AI bot in StarCraft II, highlighting the security threat of using such agents.
Scientists at University of Bath and UCB biopharma company produce miniaturized antibodies up to five times smaller than regular ones. These tiny antibodies may bind to sites on pathogens that larger antibodies can't, offering a potential new class of treatments.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have created a wearable exosuit that reduces lower back muscle fatigue in individuals working in physically demanding fields. The exosuit applies assistive forces to relieve strain on muscles and spine, reducing injury risks and improving safety for frontline workers.
A new species of nemertean was discovered in Panama by Natsumi Hookabe during a Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute workshop. The species, Euborlasia maycoli sp. nov., is the first of its genus to be found in the Caribbean region.
Tiny crystals containing iron, silicon, and aluminium increase magma viscosity, leading to violent eruptions. The discovery explains the mystery of sudden volcano eruptions, providing insights into geochemical processes.
A new research initiative aims to predict and help rural communities adapt to climate change's impact on biodiversity. The project develops novel approaches for modeling, visualizing, and forecasting spatial and temporal data.
Researchers have identified 11 critical cyber vulnerabilities in SweynTooth technology, which affects at least 32 medical devices in Singapore. The Greyhound framework was designed to systematically sniff out security lapses in Bluetooth-enabled devices, with 90% of affected device manufacturers implementing preventive measures.
A team of researchers from the University of Portsmouth discovered over 1,200 dinosaur teeth that confirm Spinosaurus was a river-monster. The findings support the theory that dinosaurs were adapted to an aquatic lifestyle, with Spinosaurus being the most commonly found creature in the Kem Kem river system.
A study published by VCU researchers found a significant increase in nonfatal opioid overdose visits to the Richmond emergency department during March-June 2020, with a 123% rise from 2019 data. The surge occurred despite a lower-than-average number of overall visits during this period.