News on research labs and their facilities. Covers lunar research sites, national-lab partnerships, obesity classification, and cloud-lab funding.
Agricultural Research Service-funded scientists found that a combination of protective nutrients and low-glycemic-index diet provides an AMD protective effect. The most protective nutrients were vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids.
The new School for Global Animal Health will support scientific staff with two floors of research laboratory space and an administrative wing. The facility aims to reduce zoonotic diseases through vaccination and strategic interventions in animal populations and the environment.
Researchers examine how consumers think about money and time, finding that accounting periods affect tracking of temporal costs. The study reveals people are more likely to return to an event if they spent time on it during the same accounting period, not when spending money.
A 110-foot long, 200-ton concrete bridge model at the University of Nevada, Reno withstood a powerful earthquake simulation three times more intense than the 1994 Northridge quake. The design and components passed the test with 10 inches of deflection in support columns, remaining standing.
Researchers have found that anoxia-induced suspended animation can protect organisms from extreme cold, preserving cell-cycle control and preventing biological instability. This discovery may lead to improved techniques for extending the shelf life of human organs for transplantation.
Research reveals that increased acidity in Chesapeake Bay is reducing rates of juvenile oyster shell formation, highlighting the need for better monitoring and measurement protocols. Acidity levels vary across different regions of the Bay, with some areas becoming more acidic and others more alkaline.
A team of UMCES scientists will study the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on plankton and fish communities in the northern Gulf. They aim to shed light on the environmental consequences by comparing data from previous research cruises.
The article discusses gel electrophoresis of RNA, a widely used technique for detection, quantification, and purification. It also highlights the use of avian imaging in live imaging of fluorescently labeled cells within a living embryo, providing insight into vertebrate development.
Scientists have successfully prevented monkeys exposed to the deadly Ebola virus from dying of hemorrhagic fever using a genetic material-based treatment. The study suggests that such protection could also be possible in humans, offering new hope for combating the highly contagious and lethal disease.
Researchers at the University of Leicester have dissected comet samples to reveal their true composition, shedding light on the Solar System's early stages and water delivery. They found unexpected signs of high-temperature iron oxides, raising questions about comet formation.
The American Society for Microbiology will honor Scripps Institution of Oceanography pioneer Claude ZoBell's contributions to marine microbiology. The event, held on May 22, recognizes ZoBell's pioneering research career and his work laying the foundation for the field.
A team of paleontologists, geochemists, and physicists used X-ray technology to analyze the Thermopolis Archaeopteryx fossil, revealing half a dozen chemical elements that were part of the living animal itself. The study confirms that feathers in the fossil are actual fossilized feathers containing phosphorus and sulfur.
Scientists at TUM developed a novel biosensor chip that can detect specific proteins with high sensitivity, enabling early disease diagnosis. The chip can analyze multiple parameters, including protein concentration and alterations caused by diseases or medications.
Bionanotechnology at Florida State University has significant applications in medicine, manufacturing, and more. The institution's cutting-edge research utilizes Dip-Pen Nanolithography to create biometamaterials with potential for diagnosis and analysis.
Age-related nerve decline is associated with metabolic factors like blood sugar levels within normal ranges. Peripheral nerves are affected more in men than women later in life, suggesting a link between aging, gender, and inflammation. Modifiable risk factors may help prevent or delay peripheral nerve function decline.
The South East Asia Infectious Disease Clinical Research Network emphasizes the importance of laboratory improvement for generating reliable data in resource-constrained settings. Local experts and scientists are vital to research, requiring active participation in scientific activities and continuing education programs.
Dr. Alecia Willis, a clinical molecular geneticist, was recognized for her platform presentation on personal medical genomics at the American College of Medical Genetics Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting. The Signature Genomic Laboratories Travel Award supports rising medical genetic researchers in the field.
Researchers use tissue engineering to create healthy organs and neuronal circuits, enabling live imaging of transplanted tissues and neural activity. The protocols provide methods for monitoring tissue perfusion, cell survival, and interaction/integration, allowing for improved culturing and implantation techniques.
The American College of Medical Genetics Foundation has recognized Dr. Marilyn M. Li's efforts in advancing the field of medical genetics. She is being supported by a $100,000 grant to promote safe and effective genetic testing services.
Mariam El-Ashmawy, a UT Southwestern Medical Center student, has been awarded a $44,000 annual fellowship from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to support her studies towards a doctoral degree in science. The Gilliam fellowships aim to increase diversity in college and university faculty members.
Researchers at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service have formulated low-fat cake mixes and frostings using Fantesk, a microdroplet of trans-fat-free cooking oil encapsulated in cornstarch or wheat flour. These innovations produce cakes with better texture and volume while containing up to 50% less fat.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that moderate alcohol consumption significantly reduces the risk of death from any cause in people who have previously suffered from ischemic vascular disease. The study analyzed data from over 16,000 patients and found a 20% risk reduction, comparable ...
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health will receive nearly $15 million in funding to renovate and modernize its laboratory space, enhancing its research capabilities. The grant supports the update of outdated facilities, including the 45-year-old Hume Wing, which houses 25% of the school's research laboratories.
Researchers found that great apes from socio-linguistically rich environments outperformed those raised in standard laboratory settings. Apes who received simultaneous pointing and vocalization cues performed best, suggesting a potential link between environment and language development.
A rare tropical cyclone system formed off Brazil's coast, exhibiting tropical storm-force winds before weakening and moving away from the area. The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite captured images of the system, which is now expected to be absorbed by a mid-latitude cold front in the next couple of days
Researchers at Arizona State University have discovered two factors controlling the antibacterial activity of clay minerals, which can kill bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. The study's findings suggest a role for acid-soluble metal species in mineral toxicity, but also present challenges for developing topical treatments.
Scientists discover a disused SCUBA tank filled with air in 1968, extending the longest record of greenhouse gases in the Southern Hemisphere. The find uses archived data to analyze propellants, refrigerants and aluminium smelter emissions not widely used in Melbourne at that time.
A new report suggests that a comprehensive assessment one week after hospital discharge can identify heart failure patients at highest risk for adverse outcomes. This evaluation includes patient history, review of medications, physical examination, laboratory data, and health status assessments.
Researchers from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard present a new method for identifying protein-bait interactions, allowing for sensitive detection and discrimination of specific interactions. The method uses quantitative proteomics approaches to compare enrichment with the bait of interest against samples using control baits.
Researchers at Georgia Tech studied sea turtle hatchlings' movement on sand, revealing they adapt by digging into the ground with their flippers. The turtles can reach high speeds on both hard and loose sand, with their movements controlled by balancing speed with stability.
A recent study published in Psychological Science found that taxing unhealthy foods reduces overall calories purchased, while subsidizing healthy food increases calorie intake. Mothers who received subsidies spent their savings on less healthy alternatives, whereas taxes encouraged healthier choices.
A Northwestern University neuroscientist argues that music training can improve children's ability to process speech in noisy classrooms and enhance everyday tasks. The research suggests that music education can be an effective strategy for helping typically developing children and those with developmental dyslexia or autism.
A new study reveals that chromatin proteins defective in RTT, CdLS, and ATR-X syndromes are associated with each other and regulate imprinted genes. This cooperation may explain similarities between the associated human syndromes.
Researchers have developed a new material that can capture heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions using a synthetic DNA-like crystal. The discovery could lead to cleaner energy and potentially create materials that convert carbon dioxide into fuel.
The University of California, Riverside's new Stem Cell Core Facility will enable faster breakthroughs in stem cell research, targeting diseases such as osteoporosis and diabetes. The facility is equipped with the first-in-country Nikon BioStation CT technology, expected to provide valuable data for attacking degenerative diseases.
Researchers developed SCGPSim, a simulation infrastructure that uses parallel processing and CUDA programming model to speed up SystemC-based hardware models. This could significantly reduce the time it takes to bring products to market, improving the efficiency of semiconductor electronics industry.
Researchers have produced high-quality graphene on a large scale, overcoming two major barriers to scaling up the technology. The material's electrical characteristics can now be measured with unprecedented precision, paving the way for widespread adoption in high-speed electronics.
Researchers developed a mathematical methodology to reduce biologic variation in laboratory results, improving the sensitivity of detecting physiologic changes. By using multiple paired sets of patient data, they found a substantial decrease in the difference necessary to achieve a given confidence interval.
A new protocol for fluorescence in situ hybridization allows phylogenetic identification of microorganisms in environmental samples. Meanwhile, a dual-color ELISPOT assay enables simultaneous detection of IL-2 and IFN-γ secreting T cells, promising to monitor immune responses to certain infectious agents.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have successfully engineered tobacco plants to produce more oil in their leaves, which can be used as a sustainable biofuel. The modified plants yielded up to 20-fold more oil than normal tobacco plant leaves, paving the way for a new energy source.
A sudden increase in antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains is spreading globally, posing a significant threat to public health. Researchers warn that the misuse of powerful antibiotics may lead to the development of even more resistant strains, rendering current treatments ineffective.
EMBO has awarded 50,000 euro grants to 5 scientists to establish research groups in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Portugal. The grantees will join the prestigious network of EMBO Young Investigators and integrate into the European scientific community.
The ASCB annual meeting featured the winners of 'Celldance 2009,' a film and still image contest recognizing scientifically important and visually engaging cell content. This year's top prize winners included Angela Stathopoulos for her video '2PEF Imaging Captures Gastrulation in Fly Embryos' and Aswati Subramanian for her scanning el...
Researchers found that first-line ART can be delivered safely without routine biochemistry and haematology monitoring, but CD4-cell count monitoring has a small benefit in disease progression and mortality. The trial suggests that monitoring should start from the second year of ART to guide the switch to second-line treatment.
Researchers developed new computerized surveillance algorithms using algebraic theories to improve object and target detection. The technology reduces manual review time by 99%, enhancing image analysis capabilities.
Researchers at NIST and Naval Research Laboratory create a technique to selectively implant atoms in crystals, enabling study of electrical and magnetic properties on an atomic scale. This development is crucial for spintronics, electronic devices that utilize electron spin instead of charge for storing information.
New live cell imaging techniques allow researchers to visualize dynamic changes in living cells, providing insights into biological processes. The application of computational image processing is also crucial for extracting meaningful data from this type of imaging.
A three-year study of six large Arctic river ecosystems reveals predictable temporal patterns among bacterial communities, suggesting they could be used to monitor climate change. The findings show that these communities shift synchronously over time, correlating with seasonal shifts in hydrology and biogeochemistry.
A recent UCLA study found that blindness causes structural changes in the brain, leading to compensatory growth in non-visual areas. This adaptation enables individuals with visual impairments to develop enhanced skills in other senses.
The project aims to create a communication network capable of supporting various military platforms and devices, while ensuring security and trustworthiness.
A recent study found that female water striders prefer non-aggressive males over highly sexually aggressive ones when it comes to mating. In contrast, groups of low-key male water striders mated with more females than did groups of highly aggressive males.
The EMBO Young Investigators Programme identifies top European young life scientists, offering academic and financial help to set up independent research labs. The selected 17 young group leaders work in nine countries, with an average age of 36 and four women, and will benefit from various activities including mentorship and networking.
The article features laboratory methods for high-throughput genotyping, including single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping and next-generation sequencing. The tandem affinity purification (TAP) procedure is also presented as a method for protein purification.
A new study by Yale University researchers reveals that learning to talk alters the way we hear speech sounds, suggesting a two-way street between sensory and motor processing. This finding has major implications for improving speech disorders such as those caused by stroke and Parkinson's disease.
Researchers at Air Force Office of Scientific Research have successfully established high-data-rate optical links over long distances using adaptive optics to overcome atmospheric distortions. The next step is to conduct flight tests at increased altitudes to demonstrate air-to-ground quantum communications capabilities.
The BU School of Medicine's CityLab program has received a five-year, $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to enhance its clinical research curriculum with hands-on laboratory experiments and computer-generated simulations.
A University of Exeter study found exercise decreases attention to smoking-related images, with participants spending 11% less time looking at these images after exercising. This suggests exercise can help reduce interest in and salience of smoking cues, making it easier for smokers to quit.
Researchers at UC Riverside successfully created metal-free 'abnormal N-heterocyclic carbenes', which are highly reactive molecules used to make catalysts. These carbenes are stable and can be used in numerous catalytic chemical reactions, greatly benefiting industry.
Researchers at the University of York have identified an enzyme called XplA that can break down royal demolition explosive (RDX) in the soil. The discovery provides significant insights into biological function and could lead to more efficient cleanup methods for RDX pollution.
Researchers will analyze fine and ultrafine particles in air pollution using the $400,000 AirCARE 2 laboratory. The study aims to understand how pollutant particles exacerbate pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease.