A transistor made of wood

Researchers have developed the first transistor made of wood. Their study paves the way for further development of wood-based electronics and control of electronic plants.

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Twilight zone at risk from climate change

Life in the ocean's 'twilight zone' could decline dramatically due to climate change, new research suggests.

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How spheres become worms

A previously unknown form of hydrogel formation has been elucidated: chemists found unusual interactions between polymers.

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Ingestible 'electroceutical' capsule stimulates hunger-regulating hormone

Engineers have shown that by using an ingestible capsule that delivers an electrical current to the cells they can stimulate the release of the hormone ghrelin. This approach could prove useful for treating diseases that involve nausea or loss of appetite, such as anorexia or cachexia.

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Nifty nanoparticles help 'peel back the curtain' into the world of super small things

Physicists are using nanoparticles to develop new sources of light that will allow us to 'peel back the curtain' into the world of extremely small objects -- thousands of times smaller than a human hair -- with major gains for medical and other technologies.

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Lead vocal tracks in popular music go quiet

Scientists carried out an analysis of hundreds of popular song recordings from 1946 to 2020 to determine the lead vocal to accompaniment ratio, or LAR. The study considered the four highest-ranked songs from the Billboard Hot 100 chart for each year and the results show that, contrary to expectations, the LAR for popular music decreased over the decades in question. This means that, relative to their bands, lead singers are getting quieter.

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A healthy but depleted herd: Predators decrease prey disease levels but also population size

Nature documentaries will tell you that lions, cheetahs, wolves and other top predators target the weakest or slowest animals and that this culling benefits prey herds, whether it's antelope in Africa or elk in Wyoming. This idea has been widely accepted by biologists for many years and was formalized in 2003 as the healthy herds hypothesis. It proposes that predators can help prey populations by picking off the sick and injured and leaving healthy, strong animals to reproduce.

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Abundance of urban honeybees adversely impacts wild bee populations

Researchers argue that the rapid growth in urban honeybee-keeping over the past decade may be negatively impacting nearby wild bee populations. Small bees with limited foraging ranges may be especially at risk, they write.

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Humidity may increase heat risk in urban climates

A new study investigated the combined effect of temperature and humidity on urban heat stress using observational data and an urban climate model calculation. Researchers found that the heat stress burden is dependent on local climate and a humidifying effect can erase the cooling benefits that would come from trees and vegetation.

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Robot fish makes splash with motion breakthrough

A coil-powered robot fish could make underwater exploration more accessible.

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Matching form and function of brain cell types

Investigators have created computer-generated models to bridge the gap between 'test tube' data about neurons and the function of those cells in the living brain. Their study could help in the development of treatments for neurological diseases and disorders that target specific neuron types based on their roles.

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Matching form and function of brain cell types

Investigators have created computer-generated models to bridge the gap between 'test tube' data about neurons and the function of those cells in the living brain. Their study could help in the development of treatments for neurological diseases and disorders that target specific neuron types based on their roles.

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Horses living in groups are better at following human indications than horses living in individual paddocks

A new study shows that horses living in big enclosures and in groups of at least three horses are better at following directional indications from humans than horses kept in individual paddocks. The results also indicate that familiarity to the human providing the indications does not matter for the horses.

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Antimicrobial use in agriculture can breed bacteria resistant to first-line human defenses

A new study has shown that overuse of antimicrobials in livestock production can drive the evolution of bacteria more resistant to the first line of the human immune response. Bacteria that had evolved resistance to colistin, an antimicrobial widely used in farming, also showed resistance to compounds that are key components of human and animal immune systems. The results indicate that farmed pigs and chickens could harbour large reservoirs of cross-resistant bacteria, capable of fuelling future epidemics.

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Is there a common path to the psychedelic experience?

A study takes a closer look at the neurobiology of psychedelic experiences caused by nitrous oxide, ketamine and LSD.

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Is there a common path to the psychedelic experience?

A study takes a closer look at the neurobiology of psychedelic experiences caused by nitrous oxide, ketamine and LSD.

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Searching for ancient bears in an Alaskan cave led to an important human discovery

Genetic analysis links 3,000-year-old bone found in cave to modern Alaska Natives.

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Poor air quality linked to cognitive problems in babies

New research shows that poor air quality could be causing cognitive problems in babies and toddlers. A new study reveals an association between poor air quality in India and impaired cognition in infants under two. Without action, the negative impact on children's long-term brain development could have consequences for life.

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For birds, blending in may result in more diversity

The adage 'birds of a feather flock together' is being given new meaning in a recent study. When multiple species join a single flock, they appear to mimic each other, with spectacular results. Researchers think this counterintuitively promotes diversity.

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Study finds early RSV infection linked to significantly increased risk of asthma in children

A new observational study has found that RSV infection in the first year of life is associated with a significantly increased risk of asthma in children. The study looks at the effects of RSV infections of all different severities on childhood asthma risk at a population level.

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Problems with 'pruning' brain connections linked to adolescent mental health disorders

Problems with the brain's ability to 'prune' itself of unnecessary connections may underlie a wide range of mental health disorders that begin during adolescence, according to research published today. The findings may help explain why people are often affected by more than one mental health disorder, and may in future help identify those at greatest risk.

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Study finds early RSV infection linked to significantly increased risk of asthma in children

A new observational study has found that RSV infection in the first year of life is associated with a significantly increased risk of asthma in children. The study looks at the effects of RSV infections of all different severities on childhood asthma risk at a population level.

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Problems with 'pruning' brain connections linked to adolescent mental health disorders

Problems with the brain's ability to 'prune' itself of unnecessary connections may underlie a wide range of mental health disorders that begin during adolescence, according to research published today. The findings may help explain why people are often affected by more than one mental health disorder, and may in future help identify those at greatest risk.

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Vaccine printer could help vaccines reach more people

Researchers have designed a tabletop-sized vaccine printer that could be scaled up to produce hundreds of vaccine doses in a day and deployed anywhere vaccines are needed. The vaccine doses are contained within microneedle patches that can be stored long-term at room temperature and applied to the skin, avoiding the need for injections.

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Effects of brain stimulation amenable to conditioning

Conditioning that once worked with Pavlov's dog does also work with an artificially induced change in nerve cell activity.

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Effects of brain stimulation amenable to conditioning

Conditioning that once worked with Pavlov's dog does also work with an artificially induced change in nerve cell activity.

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Cryo-imaging lifts the lid on fuel cell catalyst layers

Thanks to a novel combination of cryogenic transmission electron tomography and deep learning, EPFL researchers have provided a first look at the nanostructure of platinum catalyst layers, revealing how they could be optimized for fuel cell efficiency.

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Arterial stiffness may cause metabolic syndrome in adolescents via an increase in fasting insulin and LDL cholesterol

Arterial stiffness may be a novel risk factor for metabolic syndrome in teens.

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Arterial stiffness may cause metabolic syndrome in adolescents via an increase in fasting insulin and LDL cholesterol

Arterial stiffness may be a novel risk factor for metabolic syndrome in teens.

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Making better measurements of the composition of galaxies

A study using data from telescopes on Earth and in the sky resolves a problem plaguing astronomers working in the infrared and could help make better observations of the composition of the universe with the James Webb Space Telescope and other instruments.

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Long distance voyaging among the Pacific Islands

An international team of researchers has used geochemical fingerprinting to reconstruct long-distance voyages between central and western Pacific Islands during the last millennium A.D.

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A myth no more: Cranberry products can prevent urinary tract infections for women

Drinking cranberry juice has long been a mythical prevention strategy for women who develop a urinary tract infection -- and new medical evidence shows consuming cranberry products is an effective way to prevent a UTI before it gets started. A global study looking at the benefits of cranberry products has determined cranberry juice, and its supplements, reduce the risk of repeat symptomatic UTIs in women by more than a quarter, in children by more than half, and in people susceptible to UTI following medical interventions by about 53%.

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Cheaper method for making woven displays and smart fabrics -- of any size or shape

Researchers have developed next-generation smart textiles -- incorporating LEDs, sensors, energy harvesting, and storage -- that can be produced inexpensively, in any shape or size, using the same machines used to make the clothing we wear every day.

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Newly sequenced hornet genomes could help explain invasion success

The genomes of two hornet species, the European hornet and the Asian hornet (or yellow-legged hornet) have been sequenced.

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Researchers publish ground breaking clinical trial in lung transplantation

Storing donor lungs for transplant at 10 degrees Celsius markedly increases the length of time the organ can live outside the body according to new research.

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Researchers reveal a map to study novel form of cell-to-cell communication

An international team of researchers lays the foundation to examine how extracellular RNA and its carrier proteins found in bodily fluids function in a healthy as well as a diseased setting, potentially providing a means to accurately implement early detection and monitor disease processes.

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Cheetahs need more space: Reintroduction in India must consider their spatial ecology

In autumn 2022 and winter 2023, a total of 20 cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa were introduced to Kuno National Park in India to establish a free-ranging population -- for the first time since their extinction in India 70 years ago. Although the idea may be commendable, getting it right is not so easy. Scientists see shortcomings in the reintroduction plan: In southern Africa, cheetahs live in a stable socio-spatial system with widely spread territories and densities of less than one individual per 100 km².

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Researchers reveal a map to study novel form of cell-to-cell communication

An international team of researchers lays the foundation to examine how extracellular RNA and its carrier proteins found in bodily fluids function in a healthy as well as a diseased setting, potentially providing a means to accurately implement early detection and monitor disease processes.

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Synthetic biology meets fashion in engineered silk

Engineers developed a method to create synthetic spider silk at high yields while retaining strength and toughness using mussel foot proteins.

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ChatGPT is still no match for humans when it comes to accounting

ChatGPT faced off against students on accounting assessments. Students scored an overall average of 76.7%, compared to ChatGPT's score of 47.4%. On a 11.3% of questions, ChatGPT scored higher than the student average, doing particularly well on AIS and auditing. But the AI bot did worse on tax, financial, and managerial assessments, possibly because ChatGPT struggled with the mathematical processes required for the latter type.

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Elephant seals drift off to sleep while diving far below the ocean surface

For the first time, scientists have recorded brain activity in a free-ranging, wild marine mammal, revealing the sleep habits of elephant seals during the months they spend at sea. The new findings show that while elephant seals may spend 10 hours a day sleeping on the beach during the breeding season, they average just 2 hours of sleep per day when they are at sea on months-long foraging trips. They sleep for about 10 minutes at a time during deep, 30-minute dives, often spiraling downward while fast asleep, and sometimes lying motionless on the seafloor.

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Do higher-order interactions promote synchronization?

A new article shows how the choice of network representation can influence the observed effects. Their work focuses on the phenomenon of synchronization, which emerges in systems from circadian clocks to vascular networks.

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Surface steers signals for next-gen networks

5G signals known as millimeter-wave carry enormous amounts of information but are very easy to block. A new device helps these signals get around obstacles posed by walls, furniture and people.

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Simple test may predict cognitive impairment long before symptoms appear

In people with no thinking and memory problems, a simple test may predict the risk of developing cognitive impairment years later, according to a new study.

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Simple test may predict cognitive impairment long before symptoms appear

In people with no thinking and memory problems, a simple test may predict the risk of developing cognitive impairment years later, according to a new study.

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Embracing variations: Physicists analyze noise in Lambda-type quantum memory

In the future, communications networks and computers will use information stored in objects governed by the microscopic laws of quantum mechanics. This capability can potentially underpin communication with greatly enhanced security and computers with unprecedented power. A vital component of these technologies will be memory devices capable of storing quantum information to be retrieved at will.

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Warm-up time corrects creativity power imbalance

Power often boosts an employee's creativity because being powerful liberates the individual from constraints, such as worrying that their ideas will be rejected. However, new research shows that employees who are not in positions of power can become more creative when given time to 'warm up' to a task by engaging in the creative task more than once.

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Warm-up time corrects creativity power imbalance

Power often boosts an employee's creativity because being powerful liberates the individual from constraints, such as worrying that their ideas will be rejected. However, new research shows that employees who are not in positions of power can become more creative when given time to 'warm up' to a task by engaging in the creative task more than once.

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Can you describe a sensation without feeling it first?

Research with a unique, perhaps one-of-a-kind individual, shows that you can comprehend and use tactile language and metaphors without relying on previous sensory experiences. These findings challenge notions of embodied cognition that insist that language comprehension and abstract thought require direct memory of such sensations.

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A new peptide may hold potential as an Alzheimer's treatment

Neuroscientists found a way to reverse neurodegeneration and other symptoms of Alzheimer's disease in mice by using a peptide to interfere with an enzyme that is typically overactive in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.

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Genetic therapy corrects progressive muscle disorder in mice

Investigators recently used a targeted drug to restore muscle strength and correct myotonia in mice with myotonic dystrophy.

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Comprehensive atlas of gene mutations in human tissue

Researchers have created the largest atlas of post-zygotic genome mutations in healthy human tissue ever assembled -- a scientific advancement that could unlock new avenues for diagnosing and treating genetic disease. Researchers generated the atlas using 54 tissue and cell types compiled after death from 948 individuals who donated their bodies for the National Institute of Health's Genotype-Tissue Expression Program.

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First Nations populations at greater risk of severe flu, research finds

New research has found that First Nations populations around the world are significantly more likely to be hospitalized and die from influenza compared to non-Indigenous populations.

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Is this the future of farming?

On November 15, 2022, the 8 billionth person on the planet was born. With concerns about food security on the rise, experts are asking: how will we feed everyone? Climate change, natural resource depletion, soil erosion, and fossil fuel use in farming make the task even more challenging. We need to do something differently, but what?  Barath Raghavan, an associate professor of computer science at USC Viterbi, is rethinking traditional farming practices by developing computational tools to help farmers design, develop, and manage sustainable farming methods.  Raghavan, a member of the California Rare Fruit Growers organization, currently grows more than 150 different edible plants in his yard. A decade ago, he started to combine his interests by researching how computing could make agriculture more sustainable.

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Mitochondria power-supply failure may cause age-related cognitive impairment

Scientists found mitochondria size does not coincide with energy demand in the brain as it ages, potentially causing age-related working memory impairment. Their findings point to mitochondria dysfunction rather than synapse loss as cause for age-related cognitive impairment, illuminating research on aging and age-related illness, like Alzheimer's.

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Methane from megafires: More spew than we knew

Using a new detection method, scientists found a massive amount of methane, a super-potent greenhouse gas, coming from wildfires -- a source not currently being accounted for by California state air quality managers.

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New genetic target for male contraception identified

Discovery of a gene in multiple mammalian species could pave the way for a highly effective, reversible and non-hormonal male contraceptive for humans and animals. Researchers identified expression of the gene, Arrdc5, in the testicular tissue of mice, pigs, cattle and humans. When they knocked out the gene in mice, it created infertility only in the males, impacting their sperm count, movement and shape.

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2022 Tongan volcanic explosion was largest natural explosion in over a century, new study finds

The 2022 eruption of a submarine volcano in Tonga was more powerful than the largest U.S. nuclear explosion, according to a new study. The 15-megaton volcanic explosion from Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, one of the largest natural explosions in more than a century, generated a mega-tsunami with waves up to 45-meters high (148 feet) along the coast of Tonga's Tofua Island and waves up to 17 meters (56 feet) on Tongatapu, the country's most populated island.

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Assisted reproduction kids grow up just fine -- but it may be better to tell them early about biological origins, twenty-year study suggests

Landmark study finds no difference in psychological wellbeing or quality of family relationships between children born by assisted reproduction (egg or sperm donation or surrogacy) and those born naturally at age 20. However, findings suggest that telling children about their biological origins early -- before they start school -- can be advantageous for family relationships and healthy adjustment.

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People who think positively about aging are more likely to recover memory

A new study has found that older persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a common type of memory loss, were 30% more likely to regain normal cognition if they had taken in positive beliefs about aging from their culture, compared to those who had taken in negative beliefs. Researchers also found that these positive beliefs also enabled participants to recover their cognition up to two years earlier than those with negative age beliefs. This cognitive recovery advantage was found regardless of baseline MCI severity.

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Time-restricted fasting could cause fertility problems

Researchers have found that time-restricted fasting could cause fertility problems. Time-restricted fasting is an eating pattern where people limit their food consumption to certain hours of the day. It's a popular health and fitness trend and people are doing it to lose weight and improve their health. But the new study shows that time-restricted fasting affects reproduction differently in male and female zebrafish. Importantly, some of the negative effects on eggs and sperm quality can be seen after the fish returned to their normal levels of food consumption. The research team say that while the study was conducted in fish, their findings highlight the importance of considering not just the effect of fasting on weight and health, but also on fertility.

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Scientists narrow down pool of potential height genes

When it comes to height, our fate is sealed along with our growth plates -- cartilage near the ends of bones that hardens as a child develops. New research shows that cells in these plates determine the length and shape of our bones and can hint at our stature. The study identified potential 'height genes' and found that genetic changes affecting cartilage cell maturation may strongly influence adult height.

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Laser light hybrids control giant currents at ultrafast times

The flow of matter, from macroscopic water currents to the microscopic flow of electric charge, underpins much of the infrastructure of modern times. In the search for breakthroughs in energy efficiency, data storage capacity, and processing speed, scientists search for ways in which to control the flow of quantum aspects of matter such as the 'spin' of an electron -- its magnetic moment -- or its 'valley state', a novel quantum aspect of matter found in many two dimensional materials. A team of researchers has recently discovered a route to induce and control the flow of spin and valley currents at ultrafast times with specially designed laser pulses, offering a new perspective on the ongoing search for the next generation of information technologies.

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Kombucha to kimchi: Which fermented foods are best for your brain?

The consumption of fermented products is on the rise, and drinks like kombucha and kefir have gone viral in their popularity. But is there more to this than consumers searching for natural and healthy foods?

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It's all in the wrist: Energy-efficient robot hand learns how not to drop the ball

Researchers have designed a low-cost, energy-efficient robotic hand that can grasp a range of objects -- and not drop them -- using just the movement of its wrist and the feeling in its 'skin'.

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Greater fat stores and cholesterol increase with brain volume, but beyond a certain point they are associated with faster brain aging

Among Indigenous, rural non-industrial populations inhabiting the tropical forests of lowland Bolivia, researchers report, there appears to be an optimal balance between levels of food consumption and exercise that maximizes healthy brain aging and reduces the risk of disease.

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Tastes differ -- even among North Atlantic killer whales

Killer whales (also known as orcas) are intelligent predators. While it's known that killer whales in the Pacific Northwest exploit widely different food types, even within the same region, we know much less about the feeding habits of those found throughout the North Atlantic. Thanks to a new technique, it is now possible to quantify the proportion of different prey that killer whales in the North Atlantic are eating by studying the fatty acid patterns in their blubber. As climate change leads to a northward redistribution of killer whales, the results have implications not only for the health and survival of these killer whales, but also in terms of potential impacts on sensitive species within Arctic ecosystems.

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Potential drug treats fatty liver disease in animal models, brings hope for first human treatment

A potential drug successfully treats the severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in non-human primates -- bringing scientists one step closer to the first human treatment for the condition that is rapidly increasing around the world, a study suggests. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) causes scarring and inflammation in the liver and is estimated to affect up to 6.5% of the global population.

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Oldest bat skeletons ever found described from Wyoming fossils

Scientists have described a new species of bat based on the oldest bat skeletons ever recovered. The study on the extinct bat, which lived in Wyoming about 52 million years ago, supports the idea that bats diversified rapidly on multiple continents during this time.

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Sedentary time may significantly enlarge adolescents' heart

In adolescents, sedentary time may increase heart size three times more than moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, a recent article concludes. The researchers explored the associations of sedentary time, light physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity with cardiac structure and function.

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Time out: We all need a three-day weekend

As a four-day work week is trialed in countries across the globe, health researchers say they're 'all in' when it comes to a long weekend, especially as new empirical research shows that the extra time off is good for our health.

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Sedentary time may significantly enlarge adolescents' heart

In adolescents, sedentary time may increase heart size three times more than moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, a recent article concludes. The researchers explored the associations of sedentary time, light physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity with cardiac structure and function.

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Composition of joint lubricant potential culprit behind osteoarthritis

The exact mechanism of cartilage breakdown in osteoarthritis is unknown, but damage from mechanical stress with insufficient self-repair is believed to be the main culprit. The composition of synovial fluid, or joint lubricant, changes significantly: The concentration and molecular weight of hyaluronic acid tends to decrease. Researchers explore the disease-driven breakdown of hyaluronan and the mechanistic implications of these changes on the lubrication and subsequent wear of joints.

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How road rage really affects your driving -- and the self-driving cars of the future

New research has identified characteristics of aggressive driving -- which impact both road users and the transition to self-driving cars of the future.

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How road rage really affects your driving -- and the self-driving cars of the future

New research has identified characteristics of aggressive driving -- which impact both road users and the transition to self-driving cars of the future.

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Your baby's gut is crawling with unknown viruses

Babies tumble about with more than 200 previously unknown viral families within their intestines. This large number comes as a surprise to researchers, who closely studied the diapers of 647 Danish babies and made this mapping. These viruses most likely play an important role in protecting children from chronic diseases.

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Migratory birds can partially offset climate change

A new study demonstrates that birds can partially compensate for climate change by delaying the start of spring migration and completing the journey faster. But the strategy comes with a cost -- a decline in overall survival.

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Your baby's gut is crawling with unknown viruses

Babies tumble about with more than 200 previously unknown viral families within their intestines. This large number comes as a surprise to researchers, who closely studied the diapers of 647 Danish babies and made this mapping. These viruses most likely play an important role in protecting children from chronic diseases.

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Gossip influences who gets ahead in different cultures

Gossip influences if people receive advantages whether they work in an office in the U.S. or in India -- or even in a remote village in Africa, a new study found. In a set of experiments, anthropologists found that positive and negative gossip influenced whether participants were willing to give a person a resource, such as a raise or a family heirloom, especially when the gossip was specific to the circumstance.

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Nanoplasmonic imaging reveals real-time protein secretion

Researchers have used a nanoplasmonics approach to observe the real-time production of cell secretions, including proteins and antibodies; an advancement that could aid in the development of cancer treatments, vaccines, and other therapies.

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Nanoplasmonic imaging reveals real-time protein secretion

Researchers have used a nanoplasmonics approach to observe the real-time production of cell secretions, including proteins and antibodies; an advancement that could aid in the development of cancer treatments, vaccines, and other therapies.

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Cities will need more resilient electricity networks to cope with extreme weather

Dense urban areas amplify the effects of higher temperatures, due to the phenomenon of heat islands in cities. This makes cities more vulnerable to extreme climate events. Large investments in the electricity network will be necessary to cool us down during heatwaves and keep us warm during cold snaps, according to a new study.

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Warm liquid spewing from Oregon seafloor comes from Cascadia fault, could offer clues to earthquake hazards

Oceanographers discovered warm, chemically distinct liquid shooting up from the seafloor about 50 miles off Newport. They named the unique underwater spring 'Pythia's Oasis.' Observations suggest the spring is sourced from water 2.5 miles beneath the seafloor at the plate boundary, regulating stress on the offshore subduction zone fault.

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Table tennis brain teaser: Playing against robots makes our brains work harder

Brain scans taken during table tennis reveal differences in how we respond to human versus machine opponents.

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Table tennis brain teaser: Playing against robots makes our brains work harder

Brain scans taken during table tennis reveal differences in how we respond to human versus machine opponents.

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New insights on brain development sequence through adolescence

Brain development does not occur uniformly across the brain, but follows a newly identified developmental sequence, according to a new study. Brain regions that support cognitive, social, and emotional functions appear to remain malleable -- or capable of changing, adapting, and remodeling -- longer than other brain regions, rendering youth sensitive to socioeconomic environments through adolescence.

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Early crop plants were more easily 'tamed'

Borrowing a page from what we know about animal behavior, archaeologists say that we should reassess our understanding of the process of plant domestication.

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New insights on brain development sequence through adolescence

Brain development does not occur uniformly across the brain, but follows a newly identified developmental sequence, according to a new study. Brain regions that support cognitive, social, and emotional functions appear to remain malleable -- or capable of changing, adapting, and remodeling -- longer than other brain regions, rendering youth sensitive to socioeconomic environments through adolescence.

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Navigating the cosmos with CHARA Array

New instruments and plans for a seventh telescope at Georgia State's CHARA Array will allow scientists to see the stars in greater detail than ever before. The update comes after a group of international scientists gathered in Atlanta to take part in the 2023 CHARA Science Meeting to share the latest developments in high-resolution astronomical imaging using the CHARA Array.

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Study finds record-breaking rates of sea-level rise along the U.S. Southeast and Gulf coasts

New study shows sea levels along the U.S. Southeast and Gulf coasts have been rapidly accelerating, reaching record-breaking rates over the past 12 years. In the study, researchers detected rates of sea-level rise of about a half an inch per year since 2010 -- three times higher than the global average over the same period. They attribute the acceleration to the compounding effects of man-made climate change and natural climate variability.

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Bariatric surgery may reverse diabetes complications for people with obesity

For more than 100 million Americans who are obese, bariatric surgery may reverse complications related to diabetes, including regenerating damaged nerves, a new study shows. Researchers say the findings suggest that bariatric surgery likely enables the regeneration of the peripheral nerves and, therefore, may be an effective treatment for millions of individuals with obesity who are at risk of developing diabetes and peripheral neuropathy,

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What is it good for? Absolutely one thing: Luna moths use their tails solely for bat evasion

Scientists recently discovered that Luna moths use their long tails as decoys to throw bats off their trail. But their tails also make Luna moths might also make them stand out to potential mates and make them more conspicuous to lurking predators. A pair of complementary studies looked to see whether these colorful, bat-deflecting appendages might come with any additional costs or benefitt

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Teachers who struggle to cope with stress report far lower job satisfaction

As teacher shortages continue to worsen across the United States, a new study gives insight into why so many stressed and burnt-out teachers are leaving the profession. The study found teachers who struggle to cope with the stress of their job report far lower job satisfaction compared to teachers who find ways to manage the pressure.

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Scientists show how we can anticipate rather than react to extinction in mammals

Most conservation efforts are reactive. Typically, a species must reach threatened status before action is taken to prevent extinction, such as establishing protected areas. A new study shows that we can use existing conservation data to predict which currently unthreatened species could become threatened and take proactive action to prevent their decline before it is too late.

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New textile unravels warmth-trapping secrets of polar bear fur

Engineers have invented a fabric that concludes the 80-year quest to make a synthetic textile modeled on polar bear fur. The results are already being developed into commercially available products.

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Environmental impact reports hugely underestimate consequences for wildlife

Research shows that environmental impact reports hugely underestimate the consequences of new developments for wildlife. This is because they don't take into account how birds and other animals move around between different sites. The research shows how a planned airport development in Portugal could affect more than 10 times the number of Black-tailed Godwits estimated in a previous Environmental Impact Assessment. The team have been studying these Godwits across Europe for over 30 years but they say that any species that moves around is likely to be under-represented by such reports.

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Here's how a worm's embryonic cells changed its development potential

Researchers have spotted how specific proteins within the chromosomes of roundworms enable their offspring to produce specialized cells generations later, a startling finding that upends classical thinking that hereditary information for cell differentiation is mostly ingrained within DNA and other genetic factors.

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Here's how a worm's embryonic cells changed its development potential

Researchers have spotted how specific proteins within the chromosomes of roundworms enable their offspring to produce specialized cells generations later, a startling finding that upends classical thinking that hereditary information for cell differentiation is mostly ingrained within DNA and other genetic factors.

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Scientists use peroxide to peer into metal oxide reactions

Researchers to get a better look at how peroxides on the surface of copper oxide promote the oxidation of hydrogen but inhibit the oxidation of carbon monoxide, allowing them to steer oxidation reactions.

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High blood pressure in your 30s is associated with worse brain health in your 70s

High blood pressure in early adulthood is associated with worse brain health in late life, according to a new study. Men, compared to women, may be more vulnerable to the detrimental effects of high blood pressure on the brain for some brain regions.

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Lonely people's divergent thought processes may contribute to feeling 'alone in a crowded room'

The neural responses of lonely individuals differ from those of other people, suggesting that seeing the world differently may be a risk factor for loneliness regardless of friendships.

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High blood pressure in your 30s is associated with worse brain health in your 70s

High blood pressure in early adulthood is associated with worse brain health in late life, according to a new study. Men, compared to women, may be more vulnerable to the detrimental effects of high blood pressure on the brain for some brain regions.

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Overwhelmed? Your astrocytes can help with that

A brimming inbox on Monday morning sets your head spinning. You take a moment to breathe and your mind clears enough to survey the emails one by one. This calming effect occurs thanks to a newly discovered brain circuit involving a lesser-known type of brain cell, the astrocyte. According to new research, astrocytes tune into and moderate the chatter between overactive neurons.

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Activating adult-born neurons through deep brain stimulation alleviates Alzheimer's symptoms in rodent models

People with Alzheimer's disease develop defects in cognitive functions like memory as well as problems with noncognitive functions that can lead to anxiety and depression. Investigators used mice to study a process through which new neurons are generated in adulthood, called adult hippocampus neurogenesis (AHN). The research showed that deep brain stimulation of new neurons helped restore both cognitive and noncognitive functions in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease.

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Researchers create embryo-like structures from monkey embryonic stem cells

Human embryo development and early organ formation remain largely unexplored due to ethical issues surrounding the use of embryos for research as well as limited availability of materials to study. Investigators now report on the creation of embryo-like structures from monkey embryonic stem cells. The investigators also transferred these embryo-like structures into the uteruses of female monkeys and determined that the structures were able to implant and elicit a hormonal response similar to pregnancy.

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Activating adult-born neurons through deep brain stimulation alleviates Alzheimer's symptoms in rodent models

People with Alzheimer's disease develop defects in cognitive functions like memory as well as problems with noncognitive functions that can lead to anxiety and depression. Investigators used mice to study a process through which new neurons are generated in adulthood, called adult hippocampus neurogenesis (AHN). The research showed that deep brain stimulation of new neurons helped restore both cognitive and noncognitive functions in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease.

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US forests face an unclear future with climate change

Climate change might compromise how permanently forests are able to store carbon and keep it out of the air. In a new study, researchers found that the regions most at risk to lose forest carbon through fire, climate stress or insect damage are those regions where many forest carbon offset projects have been set up. The authors assert that there's an urgent need to update these carbon offsets protocols and policies.

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Complex assembly process involved in DNA virus replication

In a twist on the question, 'Which came first, the chicken or the egg?', scientists have long faced a similar question about how human adenovirus replicates: 'Which comes first, assembly of the viral particle, or packaging of the viral genome?' Now, in a new study, scientists have answered that question, showing that viral proteins use a process called phase separation to coordinate production of viral progeny.

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Is artificial intelligence better at assessing heart health?

Investigators found AI proved superior in assessing and diagnosing cardiac function when compared with echocardiogram assessments made by sonographers.

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Rats! Rodents seem to make the same logical errors humans do

Humans use mental shortcuts to estimate the likelihood of events and tend to make a logical error called a conjunction fallacy, in which two events occurring simultaneously is thought to be more likely than one occurring alone. This logical error has long been thought unique to humans, but a new study shows that rats make the same mistakes. This could make rats good research models for studying psychopathological conditions characterized by false beliefs or the perception of nonexistent events, like schizophrenia and certain anxiety disorders.

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Rats! Rodents seem to make the same logical errors humans do

Humans use mental shortcuts to estimate the likelihood of events and tend to make a logical error called a conjunction fallacy, in which two events occurring simultaneously is thought to be more likely than one occurring alone. This logical error has long been thought unique to humans, but a new study shows that rats make the same mistakes. This could make rats good research models for studying psychopathological conditions characterized by false beliefs or the perception of nonexistent events, like schizophrenia and certain anxiety disorders.

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Was plate tectonics occurring when life first formed on Earth?

Researchers used small zircon crystals to unlock information about magmas and plate tectonic activity in early Earth. The research provides chemical evidence that plate tectonics was most likely occurring more than 4.2 billion years ago when life is thought to have first formed on our planet. This finding could prove beneficial in the search for life on other planets.

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Do Earth-like exoplanets have magnetic fields? Far-off radio signal is promising sign

Earth's magnetic field does more than keep everyone's compass needles pointed in the same direction. It also helps preserve Earth's sliver of life-sustaining atmosphere by deflecting high energy particles and plasma regularly blasted out of the sun. Researchers have now identified a prospective Earth-sized planet in another solar system as a prime candidate for also having a magnetic field -- YZ Ceti b, a rocky planet orbiting a star about 12 light-years away from Earth.

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New insights into engineering climate-smart crops for the future

New research in the field of plant sciences has made significant advances towards understanding the underlying reasons behind why certain crops are better at generating more yield than others.

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Antibiotic consumption and resistance 'two-way street' between animals and humans

Scientists have demonstrated that, globally, the association between antibiotic consumption and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) between human and animals goes both ways.

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Early menopause, later start to hormone therapy may increase risk of Alzheimer's disease

Women are more likely than men to develop Alzheimer's disease (AD), with women making up two-thirds of the population living with AD. A new study sheds light on the relationship between the risk of Alzheimer's disease and age of menopause and use of hormone therapy (HT).

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Remember me? Gender, race may make you forgettable

Being a woman or racial minority can help someone stand out and be remembered when few others look like them. But they are more likely to be confused in settings where others share the same attributes.

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Remember me? Gender, race may make you forgettable

Being a woman or racial minority can help someone stand out and be remembered when few others look like them. But they are more likely to be confused in settings where others share the same attributes.

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Jet lag's harmful health impacts found to be caused by biological clock misalignment

New research zeroes in on the root cause of adverse health effects from disruption of the body's circadian rhythms, which typically occurs from jet lag and rotating work shifts.

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Forgive or forget: What happens when robots lie?

Student researchers investigate how intentional robot deception affects trust, examining the effectiveness of apologies after robots lie.

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Smart films help to make loudspeakers lighter and more energy-efficient

Scientists are developing intelligent materials that are opening up new avenues in sound reproduction technology: lightweight loudspeakers that use far less energy than their conventional counterparts, novel shapes for sound and signal generators and applications involving noise cancelling textiles. The basis for these smart materials are ultrathin silicone films that can act as artificial muscles with their own built-in sensors.

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Boosting the body's anti-viral immune response may eliminate aging cells

Aging cells express a protein that is produced by human cytomegalovirus and is targeted by certain immune cells in the body. Harnessing the immune response to this protein could have multiple health benefits during aging.

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Scallop eyes as inspiration for new microscope objectives

Neuroscientists have developed innovative objectives for light microscopy by using mirrors to produce images. Their design finds correspondence in mirror telescopes used in astronomy on the one hand and the eyes of scallops on the other. The new objectives enable high-resolution imaging of tissues and organs in a much wider variety of immersion media than with conventional microscope lenses.

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Researchers use 21st century methods to record 2,000 years of ancient graffiti in Egypt

Researchers are learning more about ancient graffiti -- and their intriguing comparisons to modern graffiti -- as they produce a state-of-the-art 3D recording of the Temple of Isis in Philae, Egypt.

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Retinal scans: A non-invasive, inexpensive method to track human aging

Is the eye a window into aging? New research has shown how imaging of the fundus, the blood vessel-rich tissue in the retina, can be used to track human aging, in a way that is noninvasive, less expensive and more accurate than other aging clocks that are currently available. Researchers also did a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to establish the genetic basis for such a clock, which they call eyeAge.

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Surgical sealing made better with robust thermosensitive bioadhesives

Scientists have employed inventive chemistry to produce an injectable biomaterial with significantly improved adhesive strength, stretchability, and toughness. This chemically modified, gelatin-based hydrogel had attractive features, including rapid gelation at room temperature and tunable levels of adhesion. This custom-engineered biomaterial is ideal as a surgical wound sealant, with its controllable adhesion and injectability and its superior adherence to a variety of tissue and organ surfaces.

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New form of omega-3 could prevent visual decline with Alzheimer's disease

For the first time, researchers have developed a form of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that is capable of crossing into the eye's retina to ward off visual declines related to Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and other disorders.

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Candidate found to inhibit malignant melanoma growth

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key factors in the tumor microenvironment, which have been implicated in cancer cell progression. It has also been reported that vesicles called exosomes produced by these CAFs play an important role in cancer progression. A research group investigated the effect of CAF-derived exosomes on the growth of malignant melanoma cells. They found that CAF-derived exosomes express CD9 and CD63 transmembrane proteins, and that the CD9-positive exosomes may inhibit the growth of malignant melanoma cells.

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Pulsing ultrasound waves could someday remove microplastics from waterways

Colorful particles of plastic drift along under the surface of most waterways. These barely visible microplastics -- less than 5 mm wide -- are potentially harmful to aquatic animals and plants, as well as humans. Now, a team reports a two-stage device made with steel tubes and pulsing sound waves that removes most of the plastic particles from real water samples.

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Social comparisons better than knowledge in climate change mitigation interventions

In interventions designed to encourage more sustainable and climate-smart behavior, examples of what other people are doing and financial 'carrots' are more important than providing knowledge and facts. This has been shown in an international second-order meta-analysis of more than four hundred primary studies. However, all types of climate mitigation interventions have a relatively small effect on how people behave.

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