News on early, curiosity-driven science that opens new directions. Covers materials discovery, AI-guided research, pediatric research standards, and energy science.
A study on ancient settlements in the Basin of Mexico found that larger settlements were more productive and efficient, exhibiting similar urban scaling trends as modern cities. The research team analyzed data from over 2000 years and four cultural eras to estimate populations and site use intensity.
The Medical College of Wisconsin has received a $8 million grant to fund the Rat Genome Database, providing a globally-accessible collection of data from ongoing rat genetic and genomic research. The database holds nearly 4.5 million functional data annotations for rat, human, and mouse genes, as well as files on specific animal strains.
Researchers have identified over 30 genes with a strong impact on Immunoglobulin E, allergies, and asthma. These genes offer potential novel drug targets for treating these conditions, which affect 30% of the population.
Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography have discovered a new species of seadragon, the 'Ruby Seadragon,' through DNA and anatomical research. The species, Phyllopteryx dewysea, has bright red coloration and is believed to inhabit deeper waters.
A NASA team has developed a prototype end-to-end Ka-band space communications system, promising significantly higher data rates of up to 2.4 gigabits per second. The technology could overcome S-band limitations and support future Earth-observing missions with high data-rate requirements.
The University of Washington's eScience Institute is centralizing data-scientist roles and giving them prestige and autonomy. The institute has established a postdoctoral fellow program to reward young researchers at the intersection of their domain and data science.
Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have discovered new Alzheimer's disease targets through proteomics, which may lead to a better understanding of the disease mechanism. They identified tangle-like structures that sequester proteins critical for RNA splicing in early stages of the disease.
An international team of astrophysicists has witnessed the formation of a quadruple star system, consisting of a young star and three gas clouds that will develop into stars in 40,000 years. The system is unstable and prone to interference due to its multiple members.
Researchers have standardized historical sunspot data, revealing that solar activity has been consistent throughout history, including during the Enlightenment. The study also shows that there were intense periods of solar activity in the past, such as the Maunder minimum.
Researchers found that chimpanzee grunts for 'apple' changed over time as they merged groups at the Edinburgh Zoo, sounding more similar to peers. This discovery suggests a shared building block of language between humans and chimps.
Researchers at LSU Health New Orleans have discovered Neuroprotectin D1, a molecule that protects cells from damage and promotes recovery from stroke. This breakthrough could lead to therapeutic solutions for age-related macular degeneration and ischemic stroke.
Researchers discovered that employees who returned hostility to their bosses felt less like victims, experienced less psychological distress, and were more satisfied with their jobs. This counterintuitive finding suggests that retaliation can have benefits for employees in toxic work environments.
The Tripal Gateway project aims to build a network of online research databases for fruit, hardwood trees, and legumes, using software-defined networking technology to facilitate rapid data transfer. The three-year grant will enhance genomic database capacity, enabling faster data sharing and analysis.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered a novel cell signaling pathway that may provide new insights into obesity. The discovery centers on the melanocortin-4 receptor, which plays a key role in regulating appetite, and reveals a molecular mechanism for converting an on-off switch into a rheostat.
Two new global maps, developed by IIASA and IFPRI, provide more accurate information on cropland extent and field size. The maps, released in the journal Global Change Biology, improve regional food security planning and local economic conditions.
Researchers at York University have discovered a new physiological system that continuously updates the remembered location of visual targets. This finding suggests that continuous updating of signals could emerge in other visuomotor areas of the brain.
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) reported a 35% increase in the use of biodiversity data accessed via its open-access infrastructure. Meanwhile, web traffic saw significant annual gains, with over 1.13 million sessions logged by users from 236 countries and territories.
Researchers have discovered a highly sought-after material that can lead to vastly improved organic solar cell performance, increasing efficiency from 8% to 9.3%. The new discovery enables the production of cells that are double in thickness and opens up opportunities for the development of new materials with improved performance.
Glucocorticoids suppress inflammation by targeting nuclear factor-κB and upregulating IRAK-M, a key negative regulator of inflammatory pathways. The discovery provides new insights into the mechanism of glucocorticoid action and could lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for controlling overactive inflammation.
The Helmsley Charitable Trust has awarded over $6.4 million to three nonprofit organizations: Sage Bionetworks, the Hypothes.is Project, and the Mozilla Foundation. The grants will support innovative research infrastructure solutions that promote collaboration, data management, and open science.
Researchers found a storage rate discrepancy that caused the cash and futures prices to diverge. The storage rate was set too low, resulting in a $2 difference between the two prices.
An interdisciplinary research team at Wayne State University found that older, more mature motorists are worse at texting and driving than their younger counterparts. The study suggests that age may be a factor in the negative impact of texting on driving performance.
A team of Chinese and Italian scientists have discovered a new species of blister beetle, Hycleus marcipoli, part of the understudied phaleratus group. The name 'Marco Polo' pays tribute to the collaboration during Ph.D. studies between China and Italy.
Researchers used machine learning approaches to build models that can make accurate predictions of player behavior, including passes and shots. The models also identified team formations and could accurately detect and visualize them, enabling teams to be identified based on their style of play.
Professor Christian Hertweck has been awarded the prestigious Leibniz Prize for his groundbreaking research on biologically active compounds. His team discovered that endosymbiotic bacteria living within fungal cells are responsible for producing toxins, challenging the long-held belief that fungi produce these toxins.
UTHealth School of Biomedical Informatics has received $7.3 million in grants to develop health information technology solutions. Researchers are working on projects to mine medical data, make electronic health records user-friendly, and improve patient safety.
The Allen Institute for Cell Science will create dynamic, visual models of cell behavior and share reagents, data, and tools with the scientific community. The initial project, Allen Cell Observatory, aims to accelerate disease research by predicting cell behaviors.
The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation has made landmark genomic and clinical data from the CoMMpass Study available to researchers via the MMRF's Researcher Gateway. This data includes patient-level biomarker and clinical data, genomic information, and treatment responses, offering new avenues for research into multiple myeloma.
The University of Chicago is establishing the nation's most comprehensive computational facility to store and harmonize cancer genomic data, expanding access for scientists. The Genomic Data Commons will provide an interactive system for researchers to analyze and identify potential therapeutic targets.
Researchers warn that social media datasets may be misleading due to built-in population biases and algorithmic changes. Scientists need to correct or acknowledge these biases to ensure accurate results.
A team led by a University of Oklahoma professor has discovered direct evidence of milk consumption preserved in human dental plaque from the Bronze Age to the present day. The study provides conclusive proof that humans consumed dairy products for at least 5,000 years, corroborating previous findings on milk fats.
Academic researchers are mining social media data to learn about online and offline human behavior, but flaws in studies point to need for more aware analysis methods. The study highlights issues such as user demographics, data filtering, platform design, spam bots, and biased results.
Researchers from Chongqing University have discovered a new method to compress laser linewidth based on Rayleigh backscattering, achieving ultra-narrow linewidths of hundreds of hertz. This breakthrough enables the development of portable laser devices with precise optical signals, revolutionizing fields like spectroscopy and sensing.
Researchers found a new type of immune T helper cells called TH-GM cells play a crucial role in the immune system and pathogenesis of neuronal inflammation. Blocking IL-7 or STAT5 could provide significant therapeutic benefits for MS.
Two new baryon particles, Xi_b'- and Xi_b*, have been discovered in accordance with a prediction made by York University Professor Randy Lewis and Richard Woloshyn in 2009. The discovery was made using the Large Hadron Collider at CERN.
A team of researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine has discovered a novel blood vessel receptor that causes relaxation in response to light. This finding may lead to the development of new therapeutic options for vascular diseases, such as Raynaud's phenomenon.
Preterm birth is now the world's number one killer of young children, accounting for nearly 1.1 million deaths in 2013. Direct complications from preterm births killed an additional 125,000 children between one month and five years old.
A large-scale study has found that higher-scoring GP practices tend to have predominantly higher-scoring doctors. This variation in scores is often masked by the current practice-level scoring system, which may lead to undetected doctor skill gaps.
A study by University of Maryland cybersecurity experts found that only 13% of websites patched their software correctly and implemented additional security measures to secure systems. The team's analysis revealed a significant drop in revocation rates during weekends, highlighting the human factor's role in computer security.
A NOAA-led research team discovered a new species of deep-sea coral and a catshark nursery area in the underwater canyons off the Sonoma coast. The team used innovative technologies to explore and film marine life in areas reaching 1,000 feet deep.
A new fossil discovery links dolphin-like ichthyosaurs to their terrestrial ancestors, revealing a previously unknown stage in their evolution. The 248-million-year-old fossil has flexible flippers and a shorter snout than its marine counterparts, suggesting it could have moved on land with ease.
A large national study comparing bariatric surgery procedures found that bypass resulted in greater weight loss, but more short-term complications than banding. Patients who underwent bypass also had a lower risk of reoperations over the long term.
A recent study leveraged BOLD specimen data to uncover new records of locality, provinces, territories, and states for Nearctic species of Microgastrinae wasps. The novel workflow enables researchers to utilize the vast amount of data stored on BOLD platforms, accelerating publication and dissemination of biodiversity-related research.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have discovered a signaling pathway in granulosa cells that plays a key role in enabling immature eggs to survive. This mechanism serves as a biological clock monitoring the onset of menopause, allowing the granulosa cells to decide when eggs will begin to grow and when they will die.
A study published in Bioscience explores the paradox of ecologists not sharing data, despite sharing findings. The researchers argue that increased data sharing will allow more diverse people to participate in research, leading to greater impact on science.
Gerald F. Joyce, a renowned physician scientist, has been elected to the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences. He joins Novartis as Director of the Genomics Institute, focusing on developing novel RNA and DNA enzymes for clinical diagnostics and therapeutics.
Researchers discovered that male nematode brains suppress food-seeking behavior to focus on finding a mate. This study sheds light on how subtle changes in brain circuitry dictate differences in behavior between males and females.
A new study in mice found that male and female brains respond to high-fat diets in remarkably different ways, with males experiencing greater inflammation and reduced cardiac function. The findings suggest that dietary advice should be made more sex-specific, with women allowed occasional high-fat meals and men advised to avoid them.
Vetulicolians are a group of 500-million-year-old blind water creatures that have been confirmed as distant relatives of humans. The discovery reveals the high diversity of life during the Cambrian period.
A $9.2 million grant from the NIH will help researchers share, use and cite biomedical datasets more efficiently. The project, led by UC San Diego, aims to create a searchable online digital library for health-related datasets.
The University of Pittsburgh has been awarded a four-year, $11 million grant to lead a Big Data to Knowledge Center of Excellence. The center will develop and disseminate tools that can find causal links in large biomedical data, enabling researchers to uncover new insights in health and disease.
The University of Missouri will receive funding to study open online communities and develop principles for sharing OOC data across disciplines. The goal is to increase the coherence of scientific knowledge and make OCCs more productive.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a new method called 'data smashing' that enables automated discovery without human intervention, opening doors to complex observations and expert-driven analysis.
A new web privacy system, COWL, protects users' data by confining malicious code, allowing flexible web development while improving surfing safety. The system will be freely available for download on October 15th.
Researchers at the University of California - San Diego developed SeedMe to convert labor-intensive data sharing processes into streamlined automatable ones, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration. The platform aims to provide significant time-saving benefits for researchers by enabling easy integration into existing scientific appl...
The National Science Foundation is investing $31 million in 17 innovative projects to develop tools, cyberinfrastructure, and best practices for data science. These projects aim to create a robust national data infrastructure that supports research priorities and emerging data policies.
Researchers have identified a novel source of stem cells in the corneal limbus that can be directed to behave like photoreceptor cells, potentially treating conditions like age-related macular degeneration. These cells can also be cultured from older eyes and may offer a promising approach for new treatments.
A recent study published in The Leadership Quarterly found that power can lead to corruption in leaders, regardless of their initial honesty. The researchers used experimental methods to investigate the effects of power on behavior, and found that individuals who scored lower on honesty were more likely to exhibit corrupt behavior.
Scientists discovered a new type of brain activity that forecasts when a spontaneous decision occurs more than a second in advance. The premotor cortex neurons can predict the rat's actions with remarkable accuracy.
Researchers have discovered a new mechanism, 'stable energetic embedding', where atoms and molecules become trapped within ice. This discovery has significant environmental, scientific, and defense-related implications.