RETROSPECTIVE Correction for "The sui generis Sydney Brenner," by Thoru Pederson, which was first published June 10, 2019; 10.1073/pnas.1907536116 (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 116, 13155–13157). The author notes that, on page 13155, left column, second paragraph, lines 13–14, "Cyril Hinshelwood at Oxford, a leading figure in the early bacteriophage…
EARTH, ATMOSPHERIC, AND PLANETARY SCIENCES Correction for "Earth's outgoing longwave radiation linear due to H2O greenhouse effect," by Daniel D. B. Koll and Timothy W. Cronin, which was first published September 25, 2018; 10.1073/pnas.1809868115 (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 115, 10293–10298). The authors note that, on page 10294, left column,…
BIOCHEMISTRY, BIOPHYSICS AND COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY Correction for "Enzymatic control of dioxygen binding and functionalization of the flavin cofactor," by Raspudin Saleem-Batcha, Frederick Stull, Jacob N. Sanders, Bradley S. Moore, Bruce A. Palfey, K. N. Houk, and Robin Teufel, which was first published April 23, 2018; 10.1073/pnas.1801189115 (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci….
Arctic lead pollution and economic history Drilling ice cores on the Greenland ice sheet. Industrial lead emissions captured in Arctic ice can provide insight into historical changes in Europe's economy. To measure and analyze changes in Arctic lead pollution between 500 and 2010 CE, Joseph McConnell et al. (pp. 14910–14915)…
A recent report (1) presents the long-awaited confirmation of paternal inheritance of mtDNA in humans (2). Surprisingly, paternal transmission of mtDNA (1) follows a bimodal pattern: About half of the offspring show fairly uniform paternal/maternal heteroplasmy levels, while the rest do not inherit paternal mtDNA at all. This pattern resembles…
In response to our report of biparental mtDNA inheritance (1), Annis et al. have conducted their own evaluation of our results (2). They disagreed with the autosomal dominant-like inheritance model we proposed as well as the idea of NUMT contamination suggested by others (3, 4). Instead, they offer a mathematical…
In PNAS, Su et al. (1) claim that the pyruvate cycle or "P cycle," which adds three enzymes—phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxykinase, pyruvate kinase, and pyruvate dehydrogenase—to the TCA cycle, "operates routinely as a general mechanism for energy production" in Escherichia coli, and that glutamate generates more energy through the P cycle…
Nikaido (1) claims, contrary to our work (2), that the P cycle is not a general mechanism for energy production and that it does not sensitize bacteria toward aminoglycosides. However, the argumentation for both points is not convincing to us. The P cycle is proposed from the stable-isotope–based nontargeted isotope…
Over the past decade, our understanding of the immune reactivity and, in particular, of autoimmune disorders has witnessed a silent revolution. It has become clear that many, if not all autoimmune diseases entertain an intimate connection to the bacterial gut flora, a cosmos of trillions of different bacteria, forming diverse…
Viruses and Multiple Sclerosis Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) (1). We have learned much about the pathogenesis of different stages of the disease, including involvement of both the white matter, rich in myelin, and cortical and deep gray matter. Based on histologic…
Considerable attention has been given to the well-known growth–longevity trade-off in biology, but mechanistic explanations for this trade-off remain incompletely understood. While a life history trade-off is generally assumed to result from resource allocation conflicts (1), Roskilly et al. (2) provide convincing evidence that a single trait of xylem anatomy…
The history of the carbon cycle is punctuated by enigmatic transient changes in the ocean's store of carbon. Mass extinction is always accompanied by such a disruption, but most disruptions are relatively benign. The less calamitous group exhibits a characteristic rate of change whereas greater surges accompany mass extinctions. To…
Cytoskeletal filaments assemble into dense parallel, antiparallel, or disordered networks, providing a complex environment for active cargo transport and positioning by molecular motors. The interplay between the network architecture and intrinsic motor properties clearly affects transport properties but remains poorly understood. Here, by using surface micropatterns of actin polymerization, we…
Complex crystallization pathways are common in protein crystallization, tetrahedrally coordinated systems, and biomineralization, where single or multiple precursors temporarily appear before the formation of the crystal. The emergence of precursors is often explained by a unique property of the system, such as short-range attraction, directional bonding, or ion association. But,…
The dynamics of ecological change following a major perturbation, known as succession, are influenced by random processes. Direct quantitation of the degree of contingency in succession requires chronological study of replicate ecosystems. We previously found that population dynamics in carefully controlled, replicated synthetic microbial ecosystems were strongly deterministic over several…
We exploit gas-phase cluster ion techniques to provide insight into the local interactions underlying divalent metal ion-driven changes in the spectra of carboxylic acids at the air–water interface. This information clarifies the experimental findings that the CO stretching bands of long-chain acids appear at very similar energies when the head…
Protected areas (PAs) are the leading tools to conserve forests. However, given their mixed effectiveness, we want to know when they have impacts internally and, if they do, when they have spillovers. Political economy posits roles for the level of government. One hypothesis is that federal PAs avoid more internal…
Metastasis of solid tumors is a key determinant of cancer patient survival. Targeting micrometastases using nanoparticles could offer a way to stop metastatic tumor growth before it causes excessive patient morbidity. However, nanoparticle delivery to micrometastases is difficult to investigate because micrometastases are small in size and lie deep within…
Traumatic primary spinal cord injury (SCI) results in paralysis below the level of injury and is associated with infiltration of hematogenous innate immune cells into the injured cord. Methylprednisolone has been applied to reduce inflammation following SCI, yet was discontinued due to an unfavorable risk-benefit ratio associated with off-target effects….
O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) is an X-linked gene product that is essential for normal development of the vertebrate embryo. It catalyses the O-GlcNAc posttranslational modification of nucleocytoplasmic proteins and proteolytic maturation of the transcriptional coregulator Host cell factor 1 (HCF1). Recent studies have suggested that conservative missense mutations distal to the…
Generating and improving antibodies and peptides that bind specifically to membrane protein targets such as ion channels and G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can be challenging using established selection methods. Current strategies are often limited by difficulties in the presentation of the antigen or the efficiency of the selection process. Here,…
Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is a large multidomain protein, and LRRK2 mutants are recognized risk factors for Parkinson's disease (PD). Although the precise mechanisms that control LRRK2 regulation and function are unclear, the importance of the kinase domain is strongly implicated, since 2 of the 5 most common familial…
Phosphorylation reactions, driven by competing kinases and phosphatases, are central elements of cellular signal transduction. We reconstituted a native eukaryotic lipid kinase–phosphatase reaction that drives the interconversion of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate [PI(4)P] and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-phosphate [PI(4,5)P2] on membrane surfaces. This system exhibited bistability and formed spatial
Although protein synthesis dynamics has been studied both with theoretical models and by profiling ribosome footprints, the determinants of ribosome flux along open reading frames (ORFs) are not fully understood. Combining measurements of protein synthesis rate with ribosome footprinting data, we here inferred translation initiation and elongation rates for over…
Flying birds maneuver effectively through lateral gusts, even when gust speeds are as high as flight speeds. What information birds use to sense gusts and how they compensate is largely unknown. We found that lovebirds can maneuver through 45° lateral gusts similarly well in forest-, lake-, and cave-like visual environments….
Transcription of transposable elements is tightly regulated to prevent genome damage. KRAB domain-containing zinc finger proteins (KRAB-ZFPs) and KRAB-associated protein 1 (KAP1/TRIM28) play a key role in regulating retrotransposons. KRAB-ZFPs recognize specific retrotransposon sequences and recruit KAP1, inducing the assembly of an epigenetic silencing complex, with chromatin remodeling activitie
A dense interplay between structure and dynamics underlies the working of proteins, especially enzymes. Protein kinases are molecular switches that are optimized for their regulation rather than catalytic turnover rates. Using long-simulations dynamic allostery analysis, this study describes an exploration of the dynamic kinase:peptide complex. We have used protein kinase…
The antimalarial efficacy of the most important vector control interventions—long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS)—primarily protect against mosquitoes' biting people when they are in bed and indoors. Mosquito bites taken outside of these times contribute to residual transmission which determines the maximum effectiveness of current malaria prevention….
Northern-latitude tundra soils harbor substantial carbon (C) stocks that are highly susceptible to microbial degradation with rising global temperatures. Understanding the magnitude and direction (e.g., C release or sequestration) of the microbial responses to warming is necessary to accurately model climate change. In this study, Alaskan tundra soils were subjected…
Salamanders and lungfishes are the only sarcopterygians (lobe-finned vertebrates) capable of paired appendage regeneration, regardless of the amputation level. Among actinopterygians (ray-finned fishes), regeneration after amputation at the fin endoskeleton has only been demonstrated in polypterid fishes (Cladistia). Whether this ability evolved independently in sarcopterygians and actinopterygian
The recently described Denisovan hemimandible from Xiahe, China [F. Chen et al., (2019) Nature 569, 409–412], possesses an unusual dental feature: a 3-rooted lower second molar. A survey of the clinical and bioarchaeological literature demonstrates that the 3-rooted lower molar is rare (less than 3.5% occurrence) in non-Asian Homo sapiens….
Ligand–receptor binding and unbinding are fundamental biomolecular processes and particularly essential to drug efficacy. Environmental water fluctuations, however, impact the corresponding thermodynamics and kinetics and thereby challenge theoretical descriptions. Here, we devise a holistic, implicit-solvent, multimethod approach to predict the (un)binding kinetics for a generic ligand–pocket mod
Inorganic nitrides with wurtzite crystal structures are well-known semiconductors used in optical and electronic devices. In contrast, rocksalt-structured nitrides are known for their superconducting and refractory properties. Breaking this dichotomy, here we report ternary nitride semiconductors with rocksalt crystal structures, remarkable electronic properties, and the general chemical formula M
Fibrous particles interact with cells and organisms in complex ways that can lead to cellular dysfunction, cell death, inflammation, and disease. The development of conductive transparent networks (CTNs) composed of metallic silver nanowires (AgNWs) for flexible touchscreen displays raises new possibilities for the intimate contact between novel fibers and human…
Patterns of gene expression are primarily determined by proteins that locally enhance or repress transcription. While many transcription factors target a restricted number of genes, others appear to modulate transcription levels globally. An example is MeCP2, an abundant methylated-DNA binding protein that is mutated in the neurological disorder Rett syndrome….
Most current molecular dynamics simulation and analysis methods rely on the idea that the molecular system can be represented by a single global state (e.g., a Markov state in a Markov state model [MSM]). In this approach, molecules can be extensively sampled and analyzed when they only possess a few…
High-resolution structural information is essential to understand protein function. Protein-structure determination needs a considerable amount of protein, which can be challenging to produce, often involving harsh and lengthy procedures. In contrast, the several thousand to a few million protein particles required for structure determination by cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) can…
Microrobotics extends the reach of human-controlled machines to submillimeter dimensions. We introduce a microrobot that relies on optoelectronic tweezers (OET) that is straightforward to manufacture, can take nearly any desirable shape or form, and can be programmed to carry out sophisticated, multiaxis operations. One particularly useful program is a serial…
Fully atomistic molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations of perfluoroalkylalkane molecules at the surface of water show the spontaneous formation of aggregates whose size and topography closely resemble the experimentally observed hemimicelles for this system. Furthermore, the grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) pattern calculated from the simulation trajectories reproduces the experimental GIXD
Many bacteria contain cytoplasmic chemoreceptors that lack sensor domains. Here, we demonstrate that such cytoplasmic receptors found in 8 different bacterial and archaeal phyla genetically couple to metalloproteins related to β-lactamases and nitric oxide reductases. We show that this oxygen-binding di-iron protein (ODP) acts as a sensor for chemotactic responses…
In research, it sometimes happens that advances in one field unexpectedly inform another in a fundamental way. A case in point may be what computer-generated gameplay suggests about how brains operate. Spearheaded by Demis Hassabis, David Silver, and their colleagues at the artificial intelligence (AI) company Google DeepMind, a series…
Transcriptional enhancers are short segments of DNA that switch genes on and off in response to a variety of cellular signals. Many enhancers map quite far from their target genes, on the order of tens or even hundreds of kilobases. There is extensive evidence that remote enhancers are brought into…
Immature multipotent embryonic peripheral glial cells, the Schwann cell precursors (SCPs), differentiate into melanocytes, parasympathetic neurons, chromaffin cells, and dental mesenchymal populations. Here, genetic lineage tracing revealed that, during murine embryonic development, some SCPs detach from nerve fibers to become mesenchymal cells, which differentiate further into chondrocytes and ma
The energy imbalance at the top of the atmosphere determines the temporal evolution of the global climate, and vice versa changes in the climate system can alter the planetary energy fluxes. This interplay is fundamental to our understanding of Earth's heat budget and the climate system. However, even today, the…
Sea-level rise may accelerate significantly if marine ice sheets become unstable. If such instability occurs, there would be considerable uncertainty in future sea-level rise projections due to imperfectly modeled ice sheet processes and unpredictable climate variability. In this study, we use mathematical and computational approaches to identify the ice sheet…
Seeking to employ ecological principles in agricultural management, a classical ecological debate provides a useful framing. Whether ecosystems are controlled from above (predators are the limiting force over herbivores) or from below (overutilization of plant resources is the limiting force over herbivores) is a debate that has motivated much research….
Understanding how trophic dynamics drive variation in biodiversity is essential for predicting the outcomes of trophic downgrading across the world's ecosystems. However, assessing the biodiversity of morphologically cryptic lineages can be problematic, yet may be crucial to understanding ecological patterns. Shifts in keystone predation that favor increases in herbivore abundance…
The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a critical reaction in secondary batteries based on alkali metal chemistries. The nonaqueous electrolyte mediates ion and oxygen transport and determines the heterogeneous charge transfer rates by controlling the nature and degree of solvation. This study shows that the solvent reorganization energy (λ) correlates…
Climate change is an urgent global issue, with demands for personal, collective, and governmental action. Although a large body of research has investigated the influence of communication on public engagement with climate change, few studies have investigated the role of interpersonal discussion. Here we use panel data with 2 time…
Lead pollution in Arctic ice reflects large-scale historical changes in midlatitude industrial activities such as ancient lead/silver production and recent fossil fuel burning. Here we used measurements in a broad array of 13 accurately dated ice cores from Greenland and Severnaya Zemlya to document spatial and temporal changes in Arctic…
Craniosynostosis (CS) is a frequent congenital anomaly featuring the premature fusion of 1 or more sutures of the cranial vault. Syndromic cases, featuring additional congenital anomalies, make up 15% of CS. While many genes underlying syndromic CS have been identified, the cause of many syndromic cases remains unknown. We performed…
Telomere shortening to a critical length can trigger aging and shorter life spans in mice and humans by a mechanism that involves induction of a persistent DNA damage response at chromosome ends and loss of cellular viability. However, whether telomere length is a universal determinant of species longevity is not…
Dendritic cell (DC) lectins mediate the recognition, uptake, and processing of antigens, but they can also be coopted by pathogens for infection. These distinct activities depend upon the routing of antigens within the cell. Antigens directed to endosomal compartments are degraded, and the peptides are presented on major histocompatibility complex…
Immune cells infiltrate adipose tissues and provide a framework to regulate energy homeostasis. However, the precise underlying mechanisms and signaling by which the immune system regulates energy homeostasis in metabolic tissues remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the AT-rich interactive domain 5A (Arid5a), a cytokine-induced nucleic acid binding protein,…
B cells play important roles in autoimmune diseases through autoantibody production, cytokine secretion, or antigen presentation to T cells. In most cases, the contribution of B cells as antigen-presenting cells is not well understood. We have studied the autoantibody response against the enzyme transglutaminase 2 (TG2) in celiac disease patients…
The study of orientation variant selection helps to reveal the mechanism and dynamic process of martensitic transformations driven by temperature or pressure/stress. This is challenging due to the multiple variants which may coexist. While effects of temperature and microstructure in many martensitic transformations have been studied in detail, effects of…
Evidence for perceptual periodicity emerges from studies showing periodic fluctuations in visual perception and decision making that are accompanied by neural oscillations in brain activity. We have uncovered signs of periodicity in the time course of binocular rivalry, a widely studied form of multistable perception. This was done by analyzing…
Using a pattern extraction task, we show that baboons, like humans, have a learning bias that helps them discover connected patterns more easily than disconnected ones—i.e., they favor rules like "contains between 40% and 80% red" over rules like "contains around 30% red or 100% red." The task was made…
Common sense suggests that people struggling to achieve their goals benefit from receiving motivational advice. What if the reverse is true? In a preregistered field experiment, we tested whether giving motivational advice raises academic achievement for the advisor. We randomly assigned n = 1,982 high school students to a treatment…
Efforts to increase inclusion in science face multiple barriers, including cultural and social behaviors in settings such as academic conferences. Conferences are beneficial, but the culture can promote inequities and power differentials that harm historically underrepresented groups. Science suffers when conference culture propagates exclusion and discrimination that leads to attrition…
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Struk et al. (1) report evidence that the rs13499 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the PRKG1 gene is associated with foraging and goal pursuit behavior. The authors used an expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) for PRKG1 obtained from the CommonMind Consortium (n = 467) to test for association between gene expression…
Below we directly address Lyon et al.'s (1) critique of Struk et al. (2). We do not debate the utility of genome-wide vs. candidate gene studies of complex behavioral phenotypes (3). The Struk et al. (2) paper uses a hypothesis-driven approach to test the association of the rs13499 single-nucleotide polymorphism…
Saccades are rapid eye movements that orient the visual axis toward objects of interest to allow their processing by the central, high-acuity retina. Our ability to collect visual information efficiently relies on saccadic accuracy, which is limited by a combination of uncertainty in the location of the target and motor…
In eukaryotes, N-degron pathways (formerly "N-end rule pathways") comprise a set of proteolytic systems whose unifying feature is their ability to recognize proteins containing N-terminal degradation signals called N-degrons, thereby causing degradation of these proteins by the 26S proteasome or autophagy. Gid4, a subunit of the GID ubiquitin ligase in…
Plant sap-feeding insects are widespread, having evolved to occupy diverse environmental niches despite exclusive feeding on an impoverished diet lacking in essential amino acids and vitamins. Success depends exquisitely on their symbiotic relationships with microbial symbionts housed within specialized eukaryotic bacteriocyte cells. Each bacteriocyte is packed with symbionts that are…
Stimulation emission depletion (STED) microscopy enables ultrastructural imaging of organelle dynamics with a high spatiotemporal resolution in living cells. For the visualization of the mitochondrial membrane dynamics in STED microscopy, rationally designed mitochondrial fluorescent markers with enhanced photostability are required. Herein, we report the development of a superphotostable fluoresc
Memory consolidation is augmented by repeated learning following rest intervals, which is known as the spacing effect. Although the spacing effect has been associated with cumulative cellular responses in the neurons engaged in memory, here, we report the neural circuit-based mechanism for generating the spacing effect in the memory-related mushroom…
The active site (H-cluster) of [FeFe]-hydrogenases is a blueprint for the design of a biologically inspired H2-producing catalyst. The maturation process describes the preassembly and uptake of the unique [2FeH] cluster into apo-hydrogenase, which is to date not fully understood. In this study, we targeted individual amino acids by site-directed…
Aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) formation is the macroscopic completion of liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS), a process by which aqueous solutions demix into 2 distinct phases. We report the temperature-dependent kinetics of ATPS formation for solutions containing a monoclonal antibody and polyethylene glycol. Measurements are made by capturing dark-field images of…
The regulatory network of genes and molecules in sleep/wakefulness remains to be elucidated. Here we describe the methodology and workflow of the dominant screening of randomly mutagenized mice and discuss theoretical basis of forward genetics research for sleep in mice. Our high-throughput screening employs electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) to…
G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) kinases (GRKs) are responsible for initiating desensitization of activated GPCRs. GRK5 is potently inhibited by the calcium-sensing protein calmodulin (CaM), which leads to nuclear translocation of GRK5 and promotion of cardiac hypertrophy. Herein, we report the architecture of the Ca2+·CaM–GRK5 complex determined by small-angle X-ray scattering…
Scientists have identified 12 distinct types of gene-pair interactions in which varying levels of expression in the two genes correlated with cancer patient survival. The results suggest that genes involved in such paired interactions could provide new targets for cancer therapy.
Repetitive knee stress and failure to accommodate sufficient rest between periods of strenuous exercise may be key factors behind the rapid rise in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in world sport, a new international study has found.
The anemonefish is a gender-bending marvel. It starts out as a male, but can switch to female when circumstances allow, for example, when the only female present dies or disappears. In a new study, researchers found that the male-to-female sex-change occurs first in the fish's brain and only later involves the gonads – sometimes after a delay of months or years.
Teacher incentive pay programs with a hybrid structure involving both individual and group incentives can have good results. Multiple and understandable performance metrics, combined with regular feedback to teachers, may also make incentive programs more effective. Finally, rewards should be strong enough to entice teachers to adjust their teaching practices.
This story contains major spoilers for the new season of Veronica Mars . While previewing Hulu's revival of Veronica Mars , the noir drama about the titular, once-teenage sleuth, the show's star, Kristen Bell, dropped a grim clue. "This will be a controversial season, let me just say that," she hesitantly told E! "I'm also going to probably stay off the internet once it airs … There's some stuff
The French parliament on Tuesday adopted a copyright reform to protect media against the use of their news by tech giants, the first national legislature to agree the new EU law.
A research team has found that giving mice antibiotics for 10 days prior to a liver transplant leads to better liver function after the surgery. They they found data from previously transplanted patients finding that it works in humans. It's all linked to the gut microbiome.
Neuronal networks in the brain can process information particularly well when they are close to a critical. However, experimental investigations of brain activity revealed much fewer indicators of such critical states than expected. Scientists have now proposed a possible explanation. They showed that neuronal networks can assume a second, previously unknown critical mode whose hidden dynamics are
The first record of a luminescent click beetle in Asia, representing a new to science subfamily, is reported from southwest China. Molecular analysis provided new evidence for the multiple origin of bioluminescence in the family of click beetles.
In standard communication the pigeon always carries the message; the information is linked to a physical entity/particle. Counter to intuition, in a new counterfactual communication protocol, scientists have experimentally demonstrated that in quantum mechanics this is not always true, thereby contradicting a crucial premise of communication theory.
Getting up close — and a little dirty — with farm animals just might help us fend off illness, say researchers who've further demonstrated the benefits of early exposure to a wide variety of environmental bacteria.
The Moon's south pole region is home to some of the most extreme environments in the solar system: it's unimaginably cold, massively cratered, and has areas that are either constantly bathed in sunlight or in darkness. This is precisely why NASA wants to send astronauts there in 2024 as part of its Artemis program.
An analysis of white-tailed deer remains at an archaeological site in Panama revealed signs of 'feasting behavior' associated with this animal among pre-Columbian populations.
A team of chemists built the first artificial assembler, which uses light as the energy source. These molecular machines are performing synthesis in a similar way as biological nanomachines. Advantages are fewer side products, enantioselectivity, and shorter synthetic pathways since the mechanosynthesis forces the molecules into a predefined reaction channel.
A team of chemists built the first artificial assembler, which uses light as the energy source. These molecular machines are performing synthesis in a similar way as biological nanomachines. Advantages are fewer side products, enantioselectivity, and shorter synthetic pathways since the mechanosynthesis forces the molecules into a predefined reaction channel.
Humans should not be allowed to turn the moon and planets into a junkyard, writes Phil Murray , while Ian McNicholas says space exploration is vital for the survival of our species Your recent series of articles commemorating the Apollo 11 moon landing have been both informative and stimulating. Your sidebar story ( Lunar litter: Junk humans left behind , 20 July) does, however, sound a siren warn
Model-turned-pilot Nadia Marcinko, an alleged accomplice of Jeffrey Epstein, is among a group of girls who came to the Epstein syndicate—presumably by plane—from abroad.
Next-Gen Species The first step to human colonization of the universe is fairly straightforward: we need to figure out how to get people to Mars and beyond. But evolutionary biologist Scott Solomon isn't terribly concerned with how humans plan to explore the universe. Instead, he's focused his attention on what might happen to our species once we settle into our off-world homes . His surprising c
A new study, "Wavelength-encoded laser particles for massively multiplexed cell tagging," by scientists in the Wellman Center for Photomedicine has been published in Nature Photonics.
A new study finds distinct differences in the brains of U.S. embassy workers who were potentially exposed to bizarre sensory phenomena while serving in Cuba.
Back in May, Representative Justin Amash of Michigan held a town hall to defend his position as the lone Republican calling for impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. Amash explained to voters that he'd arrived at this position after reading Special Counsel Robert Mueller's 448-page report on Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible obstruction of justice by the pre
A new paper that challenges widely held ideas about autism has attracted comments from more than 30 scholars across the disciplines of psychology, anthropology, education, and neuroscience.
Identifying with someone is an exercise that makes us understand them deeply, empathize with them, and helps us overcome mistrust and prejudice. And this occurs even when that someone is a robot. These interpersonal dynamics were confirmed by an experimental study that was published days ago in Scientific Reports. The study is the result of scientific collaboration between Italian and French scien
Tropical Depression 3 has formed about off the eastern coast of central Florida. NASA analyzed the rainfall that the new depression was generating using the Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM core satellite.
The global monsoon region, sprawling north and south from the Earth's equator, sustains nearly two-thirds of the world's population. It is characterized with abundant monsoon rainfall, a distinct wet-dry season contrast, and hence an active water cycle.
Advanced MRI scans of 40 embassy workers who developed health problems in Havana found no evidence to support claims that they were attacked or suffered brain injuries. (Image credit: Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters)
Fussy fish seeking refuge from climate change on deeper reefs can still keep their specialized diets. The corals they prey upon change their own diets to survive the different environment at depth. This ensures their fussy predators are still well-fed!
When someone is depressed and having suicidal thoughts or their depression treatment just isn't working, their caregivers might want to check to see if they have obstructive sleep apnea, investigators say.
Hoarding can often be a debilitating problem for adults and is often associated with poorer mental health functioning and response to treatment. For children however, that may not be the case. A new study reveals that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be successful for youth with hoarding symptoms.
"Legacy" mercury pollution from decades ago and miles away is an important source of contamination in New Jersey Meadowlands waterways, according to a Rutgers-led study that could help guide cleanup efforts.
Diamonds aren't just a girl's best friend—they're also crucial components for hard-wearing industrial components, such as the drill bits used to access oil and gas deposits underground. But a cost-efficient method to find other suitable materials to do the job is on the way.
Researchers at the Center for Theoretical Physics of Complex Systems (PCS), within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS, South Korea), and colleagues have reported a novel phenomenon, called Valley Acoustoelectric Effect, which takes place in 2-D materials, similar to graphene. This research is published in Physical Review Letters and brings new insights to the study of valleytronics.
An astonishing number of students start college in America without finishing it: Roughly 40 percent of college enrollees don't go on to get a degree within six years of starting to work toward one. The good news is that in recent decades things have gotten a bit less bad. By one calculation , at four-year state schools that didn't make the top 50 public universities in U.S. News & World Report 's
If former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's testimony will have any value tomorrow, it should be to guide Congress to satisfy its constitutionally distinct role. Mueller, a former FBI director, has always displayed a "just the facts approach." He already has contradicted Attorney General William Barr's sycophantic characterization of the results of the investigation by firmly stating that if his s
Researchers can confirm what data modeling systems have predicted: Climate change is increasing precipitation events like hurricanes, tropical storms and floods.
Since Newton, the foundations of physics progressed in a virtuous cycle of hypothesis and experiment until the cycle broke 40 years ago. A bigger collider will not solve the problem — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Nature, Published online: 23 July 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-02282-4 The scaly-foot snail is found at only three hydrothermal vents in the Indian Ocean. Plus: what UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson could mean for science and the part-time data detective who has exposed some of science's biggest fakers.
Physicians and consumers agree that self-care is important to health, yet 75% of patients say they haven't discussed it with their physician within the last two years, according to a new survey released today, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Samueli Integrative Health Programs. Nearly half of doctors (46%) say patients don't seem interested in the topic, while a most patients (72%) say t
A new study comparing the outcomes of different types of stents used to treat cerebral aneurysms shows that the type of stent used affects a patient's immediate and long-term health outcomes. The study was presented at the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery's (SNIS) 16th Annual Meeting.
Public Trust When Facebook unveiled its new Libra cryptocurrency , the company asked us to trust it with our finances. Now, Facebook itself is getting inundated with people posting Libra scams — and it didn't know it was happening until The Washington Post informed the social media giant of the problem. Cryptocurrency advocates will say that the whole point of blockchain technology is to build a
Some pitchers are convinced the balls are being messed with behind the scenes. (Aspen Photo/Shutterstock.com/) At the 2019 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander griped that too many home runs had been hit so far this season. He accused the league of altering, or "juicing," the balls, making it easier to hit home runs. Among players and fans, Verlander's "jui
Ten years ago, the Human Brain Project shook the neuroscience research community with the bold claim that it was going to simulate a human brain, down to the level of individual cells and genes, within ten years. Needless to say, the plan didn't work out, according to The Atlantic , which archived the shockingly well-funded initiative's rise and fall. The simulation, which locked down a billion e
Nature, Published online: 23 July 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-02229-9 Inventories sharply underestimate the quantity of methane wafting from six large US cities.
A study led by The University of Texas at Austin has found that the majority of faults underlying the Fort Worth Basin are as sensitive to changes in stress that could cause them to slip as those that have generated earthquakes in recent years.
Hyperglycemia, or high levels of glucose, is common in patients with acute ischemic stroke and is associated with worse outcomes compared to normal blood sugar levels. Animal studies also pointed to an effect of high blood sugar in worsening stroke injury. Stroke experts have debated whether intensive glucose management after acute ischemic stroke leads to better outcomes but a new study in JAMA f
IBS researchers and colleagues have reported a novel phenomenon, called Valley Acoustoelectric Effect, which takes place in 2D materials, similar to graphene. This research is published in Physical Review Letters and brings new insights to the study of valleytronics
Nature Communications, Published online: 23 July 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-11200-1 One of the proposed explanations for the unusual pseudogap behaviour of cuprate superconductors is the formation of an electron nematic phase. Murayama et al. find magnetic anisotropy in the pseudogap regime of HgBa2CuO4+δ, providing evidence for anomalous nematic ordering.
Nature Communications, Published online: 23 July 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-11120-0 Here, Robert-Paganin et al. show that myosin A from Plasmodium falciparum is critical for red blood cell invasion and that non-canonical interactions and regulated phosphorylation are important for force generation during parasite invasion.
Nature Communications, Published online: 23 July 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-10924-4 It is unclear whether species' responses to climate change tend to be adaptive or sufficient to keep up with climate change. Here, Radchuk et al. perform a meta-analysis showing that in birds phenology has advanced adaptively in some species, though not all the way to the new optima.
Nature Communications, Published online: 23 July 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-11229-2 The ability to control the internal domain structure of a nanocrystal represents a new direction in nanomaterials design. Here, the authors develop a method to controllably introduce twin boundaries in cuprous sulfide nanocrystals, and find that twinning stabilizes these nanocrystals in the superionic phase well
Nature Communications, Published online: 23 July 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-11149-1 Paralogs HIF1α and HIF2α are important modulators regulating cellular transcriptional profile following hypoxia. Here, the authors investigate evolutionary substitutions that fine tune the interaction between HIFα and their regulator VHL in the vertebrate and invertebrate lineages.
Nature Communications, Published online: 23 July 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-11182-0 There is no universal reference material to develop extracellular vesicle (EV) separation methods and carry out calibration and normalization. Here the authors use HIV-derived gag proteins to assemble recombinant fluorescent EV as a trackable reference material resembling the physical and biochemical properties
Nature Communications, Published online: 23 July 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-11246-1 Replication fork degradation can result in genome instability. Here authors reveal a role for Rif1 protein in protecting stalled replication forks from undergoing extensive, DNA2-dependent, degradation.
Nature Communications, Published online: 23 July 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-11253-2 Sharp atomic interfaces between materials dictate the interface's electronic properties. The authors use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy with a spatial resolution of ~500 nm to investigate the nanoscale electronic band structure and band alignment in a lateral heterostructure composed of WS2 placed on
Editor's Note: This article is part of a series reflecting on the Apollo 11 mission, 50 years later. The Apollo 11 mission was, in most respects, a feat of extraordinary precision. Traveling at a maximum velocity of about seven miles a second, the Saturn V rocket would have launched the crew far off course in the event of even a slight navigational error. From nearly 240,000 miles away, Houston's
Since Newton, the foundations of physics progressed in a virtuous cycle of hypothesis and experiment until the cycle broke 40 years ago. A bigger collider will not solve the problem — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
A remarkable bioluminescent click beetle was discovered in the subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests in southwest China. Scientists Mr. Wen-Xuan Bi, Dr. Jin-Wu He, Dr. Xue-Yan Li, all affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Kunming), Mr. Chang-Chin Chen of Tianjin New Wei San Industrial Company, Ltd. (Tianjing, China) and Dr. Robin Kundrata of Palacký University (Olomouc, Czech Republic
The anemonefish is a gender-bending marvel. It starts out as a male, but can switch to female when circumstances allow, for example, when the only female present dies or disappears. In a new study, researchers found that the male-to-female sex-change occurs first in the fish's brain and only later involves the gonads—sometimes after a delay of months or years. (Includes video).
A remarkable bioluminescent click beetle was discovered in the subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests in southwest China. Scientists Mr. Wen-Xuan Bi, Dr. Jin-Wu He, Dr. Xue-Yan Li, all affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Kunming), Mr. Chang-Chin Chen of Tianjin New Wei San Industrial Company, Ltd. (Tianjing, China) and Dr. Robin Kundrata of Palacký University (Olomouc, Czech Republic
The anemonefish is a gender-bending marvel. It starts out as a male, but can switch to female when circumstances allow, for example, when the only female present dies or disappears. In a new study, researchers found that the male-to-female sex-change occurs first in the fish's brain and only later involves the gonads—sometimes after a delay of months or years. (Includes video).
Existing gender categories in sport should perhaps be abandoned in favour of a more "nuanced" approach in the new transgender era, University of Otago researchers say.
A relatively small haul of 42 articles. The usual proportion of climate-related research domain output is notably reversed this week. Knock-on effects of climate change and how to deal with them dominated the raw feed of articles. The physical science of climate change remains fascinating in itself as a matter of pure abstract curiosity. We could wish we only were witnessing a scientific phenomen
Must-See TV In 1969, more than half a billion people across the globe watched on their television sets as Neil Armstrong took humanity's first steps on the Moon . They were seeing something no one had ever seen before — but by today's standards, the quality was poor. Every time the feed bounced to a new microwave tower, both the audio and video lost some of their original crispness. But now, one
With the first large fines for breaching EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) regulations upon us, and the UK government about to review GDPR guidelines, researchers have shown how even …
Global trade tensions, continued uncertainty and rising prospects for a no-deal Brexit are sapping the strength of the world economy, which faces a "precarious" 2020, the International Monetary Fund warned on Tuesday.
Monsoon rain storms have become more intense in the southwestern United States in recent decades, according to a study recently published by Agricultural Research Service scientists.
Scientists from SMU, The University of Texas at Austin and Stanford University found that the majority of faults underlying the Fort Worth Basin are as sensitive to forces that could cause them to slip as those that have hosted earthquakes in the past.
Satellite imagery on July 22 showed that wind shear was preventing the Eastern Pacific Ocean's Tropical Depression 5 from consolidating and strengthening. Infrared imagery from NASA's Aqua satellite on July 23 showed that the wind shear eased and the storm was able to strengthen.
Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg has told lawmakers at France's lower house of parliament that they need to listen to scientists on the issue of climate change and act now to avert a catastrophe.
Regal fritillary butterflies have largely disappeared from the East Coast, save for a military base in central Pennsylvania. A few days each summer, hundreds descend for guided tours to see them. (Image credit: Doug Watson/WITF)
'Legacy' mercury pollution from decades ago and miles away is an important source of contamination in New Jersey Meadowlands waterways, according to a Rutgers-led study that could help guide cleanup efforts.
A new study provides a broader understanding on the redistribution of freshwater resources across the globe induced by future changes in the monsoon system.
We know the recent extreme heat is something that we can expect more of as a result of increasing temperatures due to climate change. But a new study from the University of Delaware warns that there's another impact — worsened air quality due to an increase in the number and intensity of 'ozone alert' days.
Tropical Depression 3 has formed about off the eastern coast of central Florida. NASA analyzed the rainfall that the new depression was generating using the Global Precipitation Measurement mission or GPM core satellite.
Scientists from SMU, The University of Texas at Austin and Stanford University found that the majority of faults underlying the Fort Worth Basin are as sensitive to forces that could cause them to slip as those that have hosted earthquakes in the past.
Two related studies found evidence that women's feelings of vulnerability about being a mother are linked to their posting on social media — and those posts sometimes include their children's personally identifiable information, such as names, birthdates, and photographs.The researchers suggest the need for enhanced governmental guidance to protect children's online privacy from commercial entiti
A trio of researchers at the University of California has found evidence that suggests there is far more ice on the surface of the moon than has been thought. In their paper published in the journal Nature Geoscience, Lior Rubanenko, Jaahnavee Venkatraman and David Paige describe their study of similarities between ice on Mercury and shadowed regions on the moon and what they found.
It's too easy to identify people in supposedly anonymous personal datasets, but there are ways we can protect our privacy, says Yves-Alexandre de Montjoye
US diplomats in Havana reported a mysterious illness in 2016, but it was unclear if the effects were psychosomatic. Now scans suggest their brains have changed
All life is cellular, but the origins of cellularity remain unknown. Scientists have discovered that simple organic compounds like glycolic and lactic acid polymerize and self-assemble into cell-sized droplets when dried and rewetted, as might have happened along primitive beaches and drying puddles. These cell-like compartments can trap and concentrate biomolecules, and can merge and separate, fo
Satellite imagery on July 22 showed that wind shear was preventing the Eastern Pacific Ocean's Tropical Depression 5 from consolidating and strengthening. Infrared imagery from NASA's Aqua satellite on July 23 showed that the wind shear eased and the storm was able to strengthen.
New study from the Massachusetts General Hospital's Tobacco Research and Treatment Center provides critical evidence demonstrating that using e-cigarettes daily helps U.S. smokers to quit traditional cigarettes.
A novel method of processing — using high-pressure jets to spray milk and then quickly drying the spray — yields skim milk powders with enhanced properties and functionality, according to Penn State researchers, who say the discovery may lead to 'cleaner' labels on foods.
Repetitive knee stress and failure to accommodate sufficient rest between periods of strenuous exercise may be key factors behind the rapid rise in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in world sport, a new international study has found.
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have developed a novel vaccine consisting of DNA and recombinant proteins?proteins composed of a portion of an HIV protein and another unrelated protein.
The lab of Yongchao Ma, Ph.D., from Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, discovered how the genetic defect in fragile X syndrome — a type of autism — delays production of neurons (nerve cells) at a critical time in the embryo's brain development.
Although animals do commonly respond to climate change, such responses are in general insufficient to cope with the rapid pace of rising temperatures and sometimes go in wrong directions.
Pathology labs mounted on chips are set to revolutionize the detection and treatment of cancer by using devices as thin as a human hair to analyze bodily fluids. The technology, known as microfluidics, promises portable, cheap devices that could enable widespread screening for early signs of cancer and help to develop personalized treatments for patients, said Ciprian Iliescu, a co-author of a rev
Current methods for anonymizing data leave individuals at risk of being re-identified, according to new research from University of Louvain (UCLouvain) and Imperial College London.
Rheumatoid arthritis patients getting little or no relief from conventional small-molecule drugs and injectable biologic drugs saw substantial improvement in their condition from daily use of an experimental compound in a large 24-week study led by a Stanford University School of Medicine investigator.
Images reveal key brain differences, particularly in the cerebellum, between impacted patients and healthy individuals, which may underlie clinical findings previously reported by the Penn team.
Diamond is one of the only materials hard and tough enough for the job of constant grinding without significant wear, but diamonds are pricey. High costs drive the search for new hard and superhard materials. However, the experimental trial-and-error search is expensive. A simple, reliable way to predict new material properties is needed to facilitate modern technology development. Using a computa
The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in pregnant women at their first prenatal visit. The USPSTF routinely makes recommendations about the effectiveness of preventive care services and this statement is a reaffirmation of its 2009 recommendation.
Imaging shows differences in the brains of US government personnel who were potentially exposed to unusual audible and sensory phenomena (sound, pressure or vibration) while serving in Cuba when compared with brain images from a group of healthy individuals without such exposure, although the clinical importance of these brain differences is uncertain. A preliminary report published by JAMA in 201
In a new study, scientists at the University of Maryland and the National Cancer Institute identified 12 distinct types of gene-pair interactions in which varying levels of expression in the two genes correlated with cancer patient survival. The results, which were published in the journal Cell Reports on July 23, 2019, suggest that genes involved in such paired interactions could provide new targ
Black carbon — a contributor to global warming and a pollutant of concern to residents in urban areas — can be difficult to track. To address this problem, researchers at Berkeley Lab generated a technology that didn't exist. With more than 100 custom-built sensors installed for 100 days, the team created the largest black carbon monitoring network to be deployed in a single city, setting a foun
Nature, Published online: 23 July 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-02277-1 The research community needs to find ways to reward study design and methodology as much as the final result. A publishing format called Registered Reports offers a means of addressing this challenge.
Device tested in humans for first time, raising prospect of 'fit and forget' treatment An implant containing an HIV-prevention drug has been trialled in humans, in a step experts have hailed as an exciting development in curtailing infections. Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, with antiretroviral drugs has become a hot topic in recent years, with the drugs shown to substantially reduce the risk
Diplomats had reported falling ill after what was thought to be 'acoustic attack' Brain scans of US embassy staff who became ill in mysterious circumstances while serving in Cuba have found potential abnormalities that may be related to their symptoms. The scans taken from 40 US government workers who suffered strange concussion-like symptoms during their deployment to Havana revealed that partic
Mammal brains — including those of humans — store and recall impressive amounts of information based on our good and bad decisions and interactions in an ever-changing world. Now, in a series of new experiments with mice, scientists report they have added to evidence that such 'decision-based' memories are stored in very particular parts of the brain.
För drygt 450 miljoner år sedan kröp livet upp på land. Nu säger forskare i Sverige och Argentina att allt kan ha börjat när en supervulkan fick ett enormt utbrott i ett grunt hav utanför det som i dag är södra Sverige.
Often times, interactions that we think are "zero-sum" can actually be beneficial for both parties. Ask, What outcome will be good for both parties? How can we achieve that goal? Afraid the win-win situation might not continue? Build trust by creating a situation that increases the probability you and your counterpart will meet again.
Researchers from University of Texas A&M and University of Texas at Austin published a new paper in the Journal of Marketing that examines how incumbent domestic companies can use marketing tools to counter the threat of foreign entrants after the domestic market is liberalized.
In every modern microcircuit hidden inside a laptop or smartphone, you can see transistors—small semiconductor devices that control the flow of electric current, i.e. the flow of electrons. If we replace electrons with photons (elementary particles of light), then scientists will have the prospect of creating new computing systems that can process massive information flows at a speed close to the
Exposure to black carbon particles is 81% higher among Mozambican women who use kerosene as the main source of energy for lighting compared to those who use electricity. This was the main finding of a study undertaken by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), an institute supported by "la Caixa," in collaboration with the Manhiça Health Research Centre (CISM) in Mozambique and the I
In preliminary tests, a matchstick-size rod containing a new drug offered promise as a shield against the virus. But a large clinical trial must still be done.
The Moon's south pole region is home to some of the most extreme environments in the solar system: it's unimaginably cold, massively cratered, and has areas that are either constantly bathed in sunlight or in darkness. This is precisely why NASA wants to send astronauts there in 2024 as part of its Artemis program.
China's e-commerce juggernaut Alibaba will allow nearly 30 million small and medium-sized businesses from the U.S. to sell on its platform in the U.S. and around the globe.
Chemists usually synthesize molecules using stochastic bond-forming collisions of the reactant molecules in solution. Nature follows a different strategy in biochemical synthesis. The majority of biochemical reactions are driven by machine-type protein complexes that bind and position the reactive molecules for selective transformations. Artificial "molecular assemblers" performing "mechanosynthes
Being a fussy eater is a problem for reef fish who seek refuge from climate change on deeper reefs. But, scientists discovered, the coral that these fussy fish eat can support them.
Being a fussy eater is a problem for reef fish who seek refuge from climate change on deeper reefs. But, scientists discovered, the coral that these fussy fish eat can support them.
Europe divided into two blocs? That's not unheard of in history. However, this map of Red vs. Blue countries is indecipherable without its legend. That key is both trivial and unexpected. Can you guess what it is? Red vs. Blue What does this map show? Don't skip ahead. See if you can guess what it's about. We'd be pretty amazed if you could. It shows Europe divided into two blocs. That's not unhe
When it comes to moving forward, the slightly harder path — but in the long run, the way easier path — would be for us to develop the skill of grieving. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's theories about the five stages may be off, but she gave us a lens from which to come to understand the process of grieving. The fact that you grieve is a testimony to your love. A Beginner's Guide to the End: Practical Adv
Climate change can threaten species, and extinctions can impact ecosystem health. It is therefore of vital importance to assess to which degree animals can respond to changing environmental conditions, for example, by shifting the timing of breeding, and whether these shifts enable the persistence of populations in the long run.
Climate change can threaten species, and extinctions can impact ecosystem health. It is therefore of vital importance to assess to which degree animals can respond to changing environmental conditions, for example, by shifting the timing of breeding, and whether these shifts enable the persistence of populations in the long run.
A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that cigarette smoking boosts the risk of peripheral artery disease, and this elevated risk can persist up to 30 years after smoking cessation.
Monsoon rain storms have become more intense in the southwestern United States in recent decades, according to a study recently published by Agricultural Research Service scientists.Monsoon rains — highly localized bursts of rain — have become stronger since the 1970s, meaning the same amount of rain falls in a shorter amount of time–by 6 to 11 percent. In addition, the number of rainfall event
A phase I clinical trial is the first research monitored by the Food and Drug Administration that demonstrates the potential of regenerative therapy for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) through collecting, processing and injecting an infant's own stem cells directly into the heart at the time of surgery. A paper detailing the clinical trial was published in The Journal of Thoracic and Cardio
Custom-made artificial heart valves made with 3D printing could help meet an aging population's growing demand for replacement heart valves, according to new research. The human heart has four chambers, each equipped with a valve to ensure blood flow in one direction only. If any of the heart valves are leaking, narrowed or distended (or even ruptured), the blood runs back into the atria or ventr
On July 23, 1999, the Space Shuttle Columbia blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center carrying the Chandra X-ray Observatory. In the two decades that have passed, Chandra's powerful and unique X-ray eyes have contributed to a revolution in our understanding of the cosmos.
Genomic surveillance has revealed that malaria resistance to two first-line antimalarial drugs has spread rapidly from Cambodia to neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. Researchers discovered that descendants of one multi-drug resistant malaria strain are replacing the local parasites in Vietnam, Laos and northeastern Thailand, and are picking up additional new genetic changes which could furth
The anemonefish is a gender-bending marvel. It starts out as a male, but can switch to female when circumstances allow, for example, when the only female present dies or disappears. In a new study, researchers found that the male-to-female sex-change occurs first in the fish's brain and only later involves the gonads – sometimes after a delay of months or years. (Includes video.)
Individuals at high risk for cardiovascular events had more heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events when they were unable to obtain their prescribed LDL-cholesterol lowering medication. In a new study in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, researchers with the FH Foundation found that individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) or atherosclerotic heart disease
Teacher incentive pay programs with a hybrid structure involving both individual and group incentives can have good results. Multiple and understandable performance metrics, combined with regular feedback to teachers, may also make incentive programs more effective. Finally, rewards should be strong enough to entice teachers to adjust their teaching practices.
Federal biologists worked frantically this year to meet a deadline to assess the environmental impacts of Trump administration plans to send more water to Central Valley farmers.
The Vermont lake was the perfect setting for a mother-daughter day. The mother packed water and towels. The daughter, an excitable young girl, shoved cheese sticks into a cooler. When the two arrived at the beach, they swung the cooler between them as they walked to the water. But the mother's smile was strained, because the day of family fun would be closely watched. Joining the pair was Sharon
Absolute Unit In a publicity stunt and impressive feat of strength, an all-electric Ford F-150 pickup truck just pulled a million pounds of enormous double-decker rail cars behind it for 1,000 feet — the length of 42 fossil-fuel-chugging F-150s. To hammer the point home, Ford then parked the 42 F-150s on the rail cars and towed the whole setup for another 1,000 feet — a total of 1.25 million poun
In all likelihood, poor mental health has blighted every age of human existence. Evolutionary psychologists suggest it may be an intrinsic, even necessary, condition for our species. But there are grounds to suppose that we are now witnessing a rise in conditions such as stress, anxiety, depression, burnout and suicide, as mental health disorders are measured to have a growing toll on the global p
Scientists have an explanation for how the physics of flight in the atmosphere leads to cone-shaped meteorites. The progression, which the researchers discovered through a series of replication experiments, involves melting and erosion during flight that ultimately results in an ideal shape as meteoroids hurl through the atmosphere. "Slender or narrow cones flip over and tumble, while broad cones
Mammal brains — including those of humans — store and recall impressive amounts of information based on our good and bad decisions and interactions in an ever-changing world. Now, in a series of new experiments with mice, scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine report they have added to evidence that such 'decision-based' memories are stored in very particular parts of the brain.
A mistaken belief that coronary heart disease (CHD) affects only middle-aged men could be the reason why both women and younger people with the disease are not receiving optimal care, say the authors of a new study into Australian general practice care.
Global warming may have played a pivotal role in the emergence of Candida auris, according to a new study. C. auris, which is often multi-drug resistant and is a serious public health threat, may be the first example of a new fungal disease emerging from climate change.
Mental health awareness has risen enormously in recent years. Celebrities from athlete Michael Phelps to Prince Harry and pop star Lady Gaga have spoken publicly about their mental health struggles and the stigma surrounding them.
Increasing temperatures due to climate change will shift climatic conditions, resulting in worse air quality by increasing the number of days with high concentrations of ozone, according to a new journal article on air quality throughout the Mid-Atlantic region from researchers at the University of Delaware's College of Earth, Ocean and Environment(CEOE).
Nature, Published online: 23 July 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-02252-w In the final instalment of a three-part series on science start-ups, Nature Careers introduces investor relations: how to find investors, wow them and work with them.
Communism left distinct architectural legacies in countries across the former Soviet bloc. In Albania, it's concrete bunkers that now serve other uses.
Last week, Elon Musk's mysterious Neuralink finally revealed their master plan after two years of silence: to build high bandwidth, immune resistant, thread-like brain-machine interfaces that can be robotically implanted into the brain. In theory, the implant could allow computers to replace faulty circuits or augment healthy ones. An even more ambitious future, if technologically possible, is to
The Moon's south pole region is home to some of the most extreme environments in the solar system: it's unimaginably cold, massively cratered, and has areas that are either constantly bathed in sunlight or in darkness. This is precisely why NASA wants to send astronauts there in 2024 as part of its Artemis program.
A team of chemists at Kiel University (Germany) built the first artificial assembler, which uses light as the energy source. These molecular machines are performing synthesis in a similar way as biological nanomachines. Advantages are fewer side products, enantioselectivity, and shorter synthetic pathways since the mechanosynthesis forces the molecules into a predefined reaction channel.
Getting up close — and a little dirty — with farm animals just might help us fend off illness, say researchers who've further demonstrated the benefits of early exposure to a wide variety of environmental bacteria.
Fussy fish seeking refuge from climate change on deeper reefs can still keep their specialised diets. The corals they prey upon change their own diets to survive the different environment at depth. This ensures their fussy predators are still well-fed!
An international group of scientists including a researcher from Ural Federal University developed a mathematical model that describes the influence of regenerative and non-regenerative energy sources on the economic growth of Myanmar. The work was published in the Environmental Science and Pollution Research journal and supported with a grant of the Russian Science Foundation.
Neuronal networks in the brain can process information particularly well when they are close to a critical. However, experimental investigations of brain activity revealed much fewer indicators of such critical states than expected. Scientists from Forschungszentrum Jülich and RWTH Aachen University have now proposed a possible explanation. They showed that neuronal networks can assume a second, p
This month the world has been celebrating the 50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong setting foot on the Moon. But this week sees another scientific anniversary, perhaps just as important for the future of civilisation.
Detecting Depression The biological and behavior characteristics of mice make them ideal models for many human diseases and disorders, from cancer to the flu . Today, the little rodents are such an intrinsic part of medical research that some have described them as "test tubes with tails." However, using the animals to research depression has proven incredibly difficult. Scientists just don't hav
By 2030, the world's population is projected to be about 8.5 billion people. Global food security is a major concern for governments—zero hunger is the second most important of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
A pair of researchers with Universidad de Vigo has found that yellow-legged gull embryos respond to parental warning calls by vibrating inside their shells. In their paper published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, Jose Noguera and Alberto Velando describe their study of the gulls in their lab and what they learned.
Nature, Published online: 23 July 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-02162-x Scientists struggle to detect the unauthorized sale of gene-edited crops whose altered DNA can mimic natural mutations.
This article , from Nature 's Careers section, has a lot of sound advice for people making it through graduate school. It's presented as a list of things not to do, and I would agree with all of them. And I think that most anyone who's been through the experience would as well. Among these is an admonition not to blindly trust your own data, and I got to learn that one a few times. I would extend
A new study has found that an Inuit population in Canada's Arctic are genetically distinct from any known group, and certain genetic variants are correlated with brain aneurysm.
Plants may induce 'leaky gut syndrome' — permeability of the gut lining — in insects as part of a multipronged strategy for protecting themselves from being eaten, according to researchers. By improving our understanding of plant defenses, the findings could contribute to the development of new pest control methods.
Whatever your photography needs, there's a digital camera that fulfills them. (Kevin Grieve via Unsplash/) Your smartphone can snap pretty good photos . But let's face it—it's not a dedicated photography device, and it shows. If quality photos are your thing, buying a digital camera means you don't have to settle for blurred, dark shots. Explore the host of dedicated digital cameras, and you'll e
By 2030, the world's population is projected to be about 8.5 billion people. Global food security is a major concern for governments—zero hunger is the second most important of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
A pair of researchers with Universidad de Vigo has found that yellow-legged gull embryos respond to parental warning calls by vibrating inside their shells. In their paper published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, Jose Noguera and Alberto Velando describe their study of the gulls in their lab and what they learned.
I'm In A team of hackers going by the name ov1ru$ stole 7.5 terabytes of data from SyTech, a company working for Russian intelligence agency Federal Security Service. The hack, first reported by BBC Russia , took place earlier this month. It revealed a number of Russian intelligence projects that the hackers published on Twitter, including one with the goal of finding out how to deanonymize peopl
In pre-Columbian times, the white-tailed deer was among the most abundant and frequently consumed mammals in Panama. It was also an icon, represented on thousands of clay vessels. Through an analysis of deer remains in refuse piles at the Sitio Sierra archaeological site, researchers from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) discovered signs of "feasting behavior" associated with thi
An app that integrates navigational data and weather conditions to improve flight safety for pilots has been launched. Its inventors hope to have a full commercial version on sale by the end of the year.
Manipulation of European Union Emissions Trading system (EU ETS) by the buy, bank, burn program compensates unregulated emissions while regulated sectors carry a large part of the burden. This distorts the balance between regulated firms and non-regulated projects, so parties outside the EU ETS can be virtuous at the cost of others. Environmental economists Reyer Gerlagh and Roweno Heijmans of the
You might not really be sure you saw what you think you saw when the first one shows up. But you stare in the direction of the flicker of light and there it is again—the first firefly of the evening. If you are in good firefly habitat, soon there are dozens, or even hundreds, of the insects flying about, flashing their mysterious signals.
Hydrothermal vents host rare species at incredibly high density comparable to tropical rainforests or coral reefs. Forty years ago, the first descriptions of the ecosystems around these deep underwater heat funnels changed our understanding of deep ocean environments and the very origins of life. Now, species in even the most inaccessible parts of Earth are threatened by disturbance from human act
How much of the Swedish chemical industry's energy use is from renewables and how much from fuel oil? What are the global trends in fossil fuels consumption over the last decades? The new online World Input-Output Database (WIOD) environmental accounts, launched today by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC), helps to answer these, and similar questions through data on the industri
You might not really be sure you saw what you think you saw when the first one shows up. But you stare in the direction of the flicker of light and there it is again—the first firefly of the evening. If you are in good firefly habitat, soon there are dozens, or even hundreds, of the insects flying about, flashing their mysterious signals.
Hydrothermal vents host rare species at incredibly high density comparable to tropical rainforests or coral reefs. Forty years ago, the first descriptions of the ecosystems around these deep underwater heat funnels changed our understanding of deep ocean environments and the very origins of life. Now, species in even the most inaccessible parts of Earth are threatened by disturbance from human act
The first record of a luminescent click beetle in Asia, representing a new to science subfamily, is reported from southwest China by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, (Kunming), Tianjin New Wei San Industrial Company, Ltd. (Tianjing, China) and the Palacký University (Olomouc, Czech Republic). Molecular analysis provided new evidence for the multiple origin of bioluminescence in th
An analysis of white-tailed deer remains at an archaeological site in Panama revealed signs of 'feasting behavior' associated with this animal among pre-Columbian populations.
In standard communication the pigeon always carries the message; the information is linked to a physical entity/particle. Counter to intuition, in a new counterfactual communication protocol published in NPJ Quantum Information, scientists from the University of Vienna, the University of Cambridge and the MIT have experimentally demonstrated that in quantum mechanics this is not always true, there
Whether alone or combined with alcohol, new studies included in Birth Defects Research just published by the Teratology Society with John Wiley & Sons, suggest marijuana exposure may be capable of triggering morphological and behavioral impairments similar to those seen with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). The groundbreaking insight is part of a special journal issue of 13 studies looking
In standard communication the pigeon always carries the message; the information is linked to a physical entity/particle. Counter to intuition, in a new counterfactual communication protocol published in NPJ Quantum Information, scientists from the University of Vienna, the University of Cambridge and the MIT have experimentally demonstrated that in quantum mechanics this is not always true, there
Extreme wildfire seasons are no longer an outlier in the western United States, where climate change is drying out vegetation and people are moving deeper and deeper into western forests.
Download this case report to discover how Dr. László Kürti and his students at Rice University use automated flash purification to increase their productivity.
Engineers at the University of Maryland (UMD) have created a new multi-material 3-D nanoprinting technique that was featured on the inside front cover of the July 21 issue of Lab on a Chip.
To promote fairness and transparency in the criminal justice system, researchers at FIU and Loyola University Chicago have partnered with prosecutors in Tampa, Chicago, Jacksonville and Milwaukee to take a fresh look at prosecutorial performance and decision-making.
A new study reveals how local factors influence the Ross Ice Shelf's stability, refining predictions of how it will change and influence sea rise in the future.
The first visualization of the electronic structure in a microelectronic device may open up opportunities for finely tuned, high-performance devices, report researchers. Physicists developed a technique to measure the energy and momentum of electrons in operating microelectronic devices made of atomically thin—so-called 2D—materials. Using this information, the researchers created visual represen
A significant jump in preterm births to Latina mothers living in the US occurred in the nine months following the election of President Donald Trump, a new study shows. The new analysis, based on US government data of more than 33 million live births in the country, found an excess of 2,337 preterm births to US Latinas compared to expected given trends in preterm birth in the years prior to the e
Hoarding can often be a debilitating problem for adults and is often associated with poorer mental health functioning and response to treatment. For children however, that may not be the case. A new study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP), published by Elsevier, reveals that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) used to treat obsessive-compulsive disor
A new study shows that foreign entrants can be a boost to domestic companies if they can learn from the new entrants to improve their marketing strategies.
A UCLA-led research team has found that giving mice antibiotics for 10 days prior to a liver transplant leads to better liver function after the surgery. They they found data from previously transplanted patients finding that it works in humans. It's all linked to the gut microbiome.
Existing gender categories in sport should perhaps be abandoned in favor of a more 'nuanced' approach in the new transgender era, University of Otago researchers say.
An international research team has studied how photons travel in the plane of the world's thinnest semiconductor crystal. The results of the physicists' work open the way to the creation of monoatomic optical transistors — components for quantum computers, potentially capable of making calculations at the speed of light.
Nature, Published online: 23 July 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-02217-z How Nature reported early findings from Apollo 11, and Irish attempts to farm New Zealand flax in 1919.
Nature, Published online: 23 July 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-02251-x A new breed of protein engineers is finding that the best way to create a molecule is to build it from scratch.
Nature . We all know what it means. (Cows, the sky, puddles, volcanoes …) But what does it mean to have this single, oddly abstract word for the entire domain of the organic and nonhuman? How did we become so estranged from our own sustaining element that we could point at it and call it "nature"? I love nature : There aren't many things you can say that are simultaneously as banal and as ontolog
The president of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene talks about how the designation could help fight the nearly year-old outbreak in central Sub-Saharan Africa — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
The president of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene talks about how the designation could help fight the nearly year-old outbreak in central Sub-Saharan Africa — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
PLUS. I ti dage blev 21 kommunale elbiler om eftermiddagen og natten brug til at balancere Bornholms frekvens, mens øen var i elektrisk ø-drift. Nu skal forskere regne på, om elbilerne forbedrede kvaliteten af strømmen på nettet.
Using the LOw-Frequency ARray (LOFAR), astronomers have discovered a diffuse radio halo around the spiral galaxy NGC 4565. The finding, reported in a paper published July 16 on the arXiv pre-print server, could shed more light on the nature of NGC 4565, disclosing important insights about star-forming activity and the distribution of cosmic-ray electrons in this galaxy.
Sri Lanka customs Tuesday ordered the return of container loads of hazardous mortuary and clinical waste illegally imported into the island from Britain under the cover of metal recycling.
Air pollution, plastic packaging, nuclear power plants, genome sequencing: just before Boris Johnson becomes prime minister, the UK government has put out dozens of documents. Here's what you need to know
Everyone should participate in decision-making and politics — and it starts at home, says activist Hajer Sharief. She introduces a simple yet transformative idea: that parents can teach their children about political agency by giving them a say in how their households are run, in the form of candid family meetings where everyone can express their opinions, negotiate and compromise. "We need to te
Twelve months on, you can still see it in the faces of the survivors: the deadly wildfires that killed 102 people in the Greek coastal town of Mati has left its mark on local people.
Geared toward runners and bikers, AfterShokz' latest bone-conduction headphone is not only a little lighter but it sounds a little better and is fully waterproof.
New nationally representative Canadian study from the University of Toronto and Algoma University finds that 3-quarters of formerly suicidal Indigenous adults who are living off-reserve had been free from suicidal thoughts in the past year.
Hundreds of Portuguese firefighters aided by overnight rain gained the upper hand against massive wildfires raging in a central region for four days and said they hoped to bring them under control on Tuesday.
Our extreme weather is making me nostalgic for the damp conditions of my English childhood. But despite the climate emergency, capitalism continues regardless Do you remember when the weather was a reliable source of innocuous small talk? "Hot today, isn't it?" you would observe to a colleague as you stood awkwardly in the lift together. They would reply with something about the garden needing ra
Taking a bath between one and two hours before bedtime in water of about 104-109 degrees Fahrenheit can significantly improve your sleep, report researchers. Systematic review protocols—a method used to search for and analyze relevant data—allowed researchers to analyze thousands of studies linking water-based passive body heating, or bathing and showering with warm/hot water, with improved sleep
The successful integration of migrants contributes to the future well-being, prosperity and cohesion of any society. However, labor market inequalities involving immigrants and minorities act as a barrier to the efficient use of existing human capital and growth. The rising share of migrants and their descendants in Europe poses a major policy challenge, where their incorporation and the successfu
A collaboration with Japanese manufacturer Yanmar, the Kyoto Institute of Technology, the SUGAR Network, and Design Factory Melbourne (DFM) has created a time-saving product for organic farmers.
Singapore has made its largest ever seizure of smuggled ivory, impounding a haul of nearly nine tonnes of contraband tusks from an estimated 300 elephants, authorities said Tuesday.
Singapore has made its largest ever seizure of smuggled ivory, impounding a haul of nearly nine tonnes of contraband tusks from an estimated 300 elephants, authorities said Tuesday.
Private, independent firms are less likely to pollute and incur EPA penalties than public and private equity-owned firms, according to new research from the University of Notre Dame.
Scientists at ETH Zurich and the South African company Strait Access Technologies are using 3-D printing to produce custom-made artificial heart valves from silicone. This could help meet an aging population's growing demand for replacement heart valves.
A federal court has recently affirmed that states do indeed have the right to enforce professional licensing laws. This may seem obvious, and I think it is, but lawyers for Heather Del Castillo (from the libertarian, public-interest law firm, The Institute for Justice), a "holistic health coach" based in Florida, argued in court that their client was protected by the First Amendment's guarantee o
After the panic, the prosecution: investigators in Paris have opened an enquiry to track down the source of false reports last week that drinking water in the French capital had been contaminated.
France and western Europe were Tuesday bracing for a new record-breaking heatwave that is forcing the temporary shutdown of a French nuclear power station and will test competitors in the legendary Tour de France cycle race.
Scientists at ETH Zurich and the South African company Strait Access Technologies are using 3-D printing to produce custom-made artificial heart valves from silicone. This could help meet an aging population's growing demand for replacement heart valves.
Black carbon, commonly known as soot, is a significant contributor to global warming and is strongly linked to adverse health outcomes. Produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels—emitted from large trucks, trains, and marine vessels—it is an air pollutant of particular concern to residents in urban areas. Sensors available on the market today are expensive, making black carbon difficult to tra
By adopting a few beneficial management practices, farms—and particularly dairy farms—can play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are warming the planet, according to a team of researchers.
Most spaceflight firms would never hang around on Twitter and randomly tweet information on upcoming rocket designs. But most companies aren't SpaceX, and most CEOs aren't Elon Musk. During his daily Twitter ramblings, Musk revealed that the Starship launch platform is now up to a total of 41 Raptor engines. Although, he jokes that the design is begging for just one more. In his initial tweet, Mu
Nature, Published online: 23 July 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-02279-z The next UK prime minister is a controversial character — and his stance on Brexit concerns researchers.
All atoms and molecules emit distinctive spectral lines across the spectrum, the details of which depend on the internal structures of the species (for example, the vibration and rotation properties of molecules) and how they are excited by their environments. Measurements of the features' brightnesses, relative intensities, and shapes enable astronomers, at least in principle, to reconstruct most
An ambitious instrument for ESA's ExoMars 2020 mission has passed its testing in conditions resembling those on the Red Planet. It will now be transported to Russia for its acceptance review, followed by integration onto the Kazachok Surface Platform, scheduled for launch this time next year.
Nobody really knows — except those inside the company — what Apple has planned for self-driving cars, but it appears to be making moves to ensure it has the right people to be a major …
Between 10 million and 6 million years ago, vegetation across much of the world underwent a transformation, as warmth-adapted grasses displaced previously dominant plants, shrubs and trees. The new grasses carried out the chemical reactions required for photosynthesis in a distinct new way. Scientists have labeled this new process the C4 pathway. In East Africa, the changeover coincided with the e
Composite materials are increasingly popular. One of the primary composite materials for modern structures is glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP), which is commonly used in aviation, modern transport and wind power plants. Scientists of South Ural State University have carried out extensive studies of ballistic properties of GFRP to improve the efficiency of its use.
Between 10 million and 6 million years ago, vegetation across much of the world underwent a transformation, as warmth-adapted grasses displaced previously dominant plants, shrubs and trees. The new grasses carried out the chemical reactions required for photosynthesis in a distinct new way. Scientists have labeled this new process the C4 pathway. In East Africa, the changeover coincided with the e
Researchers have developed a "baby picture" of the Milky Way galaxy, tracing its origins back to the time before it cannibalized another, smaller galaxy.
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Bladet bringer aktuelle, spændende forskningsnyheder inden for biologi, medicin og andre naturvidenskabelige områder som f.eks. klimaændringer, nanoteknologi, partikelfysik, astronomi, seksualitet, biologiske våben, ecstasy, evolutionsbiologi, kloning, fedme, søvnforskning, muligheden for liv på mars, influenzaepidemier, livets opståen osv.
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