PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Amid the many mysteries of quantum physics, subatomic particles don’t always follow the rules of the physical world. They can exist in two places at once, pass through solid barriers and even communicate across vast distances instantaneously. These behaviors may seem impossible, but in the quantum realm, scientists are exploring an array properties once thought impossible. In a new study, physicists at Brown University have now observed a novel class of quantum particles called fractional excitons, which behave in unexpected ways and could significantly ...

About The Study: The results of this economic evaluation suggest that cardiovascular polypill treatment (single pill containing a statin and 3 half-standard dose antihypertensives) could be a high value intervention for a low-income, majority Black population with limited access to health care services. It could additionally reduce health disparities. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Ciaran N. Kohli-Lynch, PhD, email ciaran.kohli-lynch@northwestern.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media ...

About The Study: In this prognostic study, with the use of a statistical modeling approach, the Florey Dementia Index was developed and validated to predict the onset age of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer dementia. This tool may be useful in organizing health care for older adults with cognitive decline or dementia and in the future may help prioritize patients for the use of disease-modifying monoclonal antibody drugs. Corresponding Authors: To contact the corresponding authors, email Yijun Pan, PhD (yijun.pan@unimelb.edu.au) ...

NEW YORK, NY (Jan. 8, 2025)--Using a new artificial intelligence method, researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons can accurately predict the activity of genes within any human cell, essentially revealing the cell’s inner mechanisms. The system, described in the current issue of Nature, could transform the way scientists work to understand everything from cancer to genetic diseases. “Predictive generalizable computational models allow to uncover biological ...

Nitrogen is an essential component in the production of amino acids and nucleic acids — both necessary for cell growth and function. Although the atmosphere is composed of nearly 80% nitrogen, this nitrogen is in the form of dinitrogen (N2), which cannot be processed by most organisms. Atmospheric nitrogen must first be converted, or “fixed,” into a form that can be used by plants, often as ammonia. There are only two ways of fixing nitrogen, one industrial and one biological. To better understand a key component of the biological process, University of California San Diego Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Akif Tezcan and Assistant Professor of Chemistry ...

A new study has unravelled the hidden mechanics of how earthquakes ignite, shedding light on the mysterious transition from quiet, creeping motion to the violent ruptures that shake the Earth. Using cutting-edge experiments and innovative models, the research reveals that slow, silent stress release is a prelude and a necessary trigger for seismic activity. By incorporating the overlooked role of fault geometry, the study challenges long-held beliefs and offers a fresh perspective on how and when earthquakes begin. These findings not only deepen our understanding of nature’s ...

BUSHLAND, Texas, Jan. 8, 2025 –A new study from USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Iowa State University (ISU) reveals that generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help expedite the search for solutions to reduce enteric methane emissions caused by cows in animal agriculture, which accounts for about 33 percent of U.S. agriculture and 3 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.   "Developing solutions to address methane emissions from animal agriculture is a critical priority. Our scientists continue to use innovative and data-driven strategies to help ...

A collaborative effort between Mount Sinai and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has shed valuable light on how monoamine neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and now histamine help regulate brain physiology and behavior through chemical bonding of these monoamines to histone proteins, the core DNA-packaging proteins of our cells. By uncovering how these histone modifications influence the brain, the team has identified a novel mechanism for controlling circadian gene expression and behavioral rhythms. ...

Researchers have unearthed two fossils, named Punk and Emo, revealing that ancient molluscs were more complex and adaptable than previously known. Molluscs are one of life’s most diverse animal groups and analysis of the rare 430 million year old fossils is challenging long-held views on their early origins. The fossils dating from the Silurian period were retrieved from Herefordshire and shed light on the molluscs’ complex evolutionary history and how they moved. The discovery challenges the longstanding ...

People who live close to airports and are exposed to high aircraft noise levels could be at greater risk of poor heart function, increasing the likelihood of heart attacks, life-threatening heart rhythms and strokes, according to a new study led by UCL (University College London) researchers. The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), looked at detailed heart imaging data from 3,635 people who lived close to four major airports in England. Within this group, the research team compared the hearts of those who lived in areas with higher aircraft noise with those who lived in lower aircraft noise areas. They found that those who lived in ...

Deans of the University of Nottingham Visited Korea University's College of Medicine   Korea University's College of Medicine Dean, Sung Bom Pyun, and Deans of the University of Nottingham; successfully held a researcher meeting program for 2 days from November 11th to 12th.   Fuve representative deans visited the University of Korea: Professor Claire Stewart, the Dean and Head of the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham; Professor Nigel Mongan, Professor Alan McIntyre, Professor Srinivasan Madhusudan, and Professor Victoria James. They joined the program to conduct a tour and meeting with Korea University's researchers.   On ...

Standing dead trees in Yellowstone National Park are growing wildfire hazards, especially near park infrastructure. A new study published in Forest Ecosystems explores how these dead trees contribute to fire risk and threaten roads, buildings, and trails. Dead trees, particularly those that remain standing, are a significant fire hazard. These trees—often caused by pests, diseases, and climate change—create a large amount of dry, combustible material. As temperatures rise and droughts intensify, the risk of wildfires increases, making it essential to understand how dead trees contribute to fire danger. The team used a random forest classification model, a powerful ...

The widely used nickel-based superalloys for turbine engine materials showed a limited-service temperature of only 1200℃, and did not exceed 1500℃ even when coated with thermal barrier coatings, which is urgent to develop the advanced thermal protection system for turbine engines with higher thrust-weight ratios. Niobium alloy coated with silicide coating is undoubtedly considered the most efficient method to reach long-term service, since it can form a dense SiO2 layer with self-healing ability at high temperatures. However, the single silicide coating has a strong tendency to crack vertically ...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has selected University of California San Diego as one of three partner institutions to establish a groundbreaking pandemic preparedness initiative, the Community and Household Acute Respiratory Illness Monitoring (CHARM) Network. The new five-year cooperative agreement will help generate information on how respiratory viruses spread and provide insights into factors impacting susceptibility to respiratory illnesses. At UC San Diego, the cooperative agreement supports the $5.7 million project, “PREVENT: Preparedness through Respiratory Virus Epidemiology and Community Engagement” led by Louise Laurent, M.D., Ph.D., ...

The core message of the article is that researchers have developed an innovative technology in plasma spraying-physical vapor deposition known as alternating vapor/liquid phase deposition. By adjusting the arc current, researchers can finely control the evaporation and deposition of SiO2, and through a heat treatment process, achieve in-situ reactions that optimize the composition, structure, and nanoscale dimensions of the coating, creating an orderly arranged multi-layered teak-like biomimetic structure within it. They have conducted an in-depth analysis of the complex deposition mechanisms involved in this process. This new teak-like biomimetic structure coating is expected ...

Researchers have found a low-power, inexpensive way for large numbers of devices, such as machines in factories and equipment in labs, to share information by efficiently using signals at untapped high frequencies. The technology could immediately enable low-cost, efficient real-time monitoring in industrial settings, such as tracking the condition of manufacturing robots or detecting gas leaks in refineries, by eliminating the need for power-hungry signal transmitters. The researchers said that with some engineering improvements, the technology ...

SPOKANE, Wash.—Elderberry juice may be a potent tool for weight management and enhancing metabolic health, according to a recent Washington State University-led study. A clinical trial published in the journal Nutrients found that drinking 12 ounces of elderberry juice daily for a week causes positive changes in the gut microbiome and improves glucose tolerance and fat oxidation. Elderberry, a small dark purple berry found on elder trees native to Europe, is commonly used as a medicinal plant and supplement to promote immune function. Its other potential health benefits are poorly understood, however. “Elderberry ...

Influential inventions often combine existing tools in new ways. The iPhone, for instance, amalgamated the telephone, web browser and camera, among many other devices. The same is now possible in gene editing. Rather than employ separate tools for editing genes and regulating their expression, these distinct goals can now be combined into a single tool that can simultaneously and independently address different genetic diseases in the same cell. Merging Gene Editing and Regulation In a new paper in Nature ...

Researchers in Japan have found that the taller the Japanese black pine trees (Pinus thunbergii) along the coast, the deeper their roots go into the ground. Trees with deeper roots are more resistant to damage from tsunamis and strong winds. Their findings suggest that the resilience of coastal P. thunbergii trees may be improved by inducing deep root growth, specifically in short trees. The study was published in the Journal of Forest Research. Many P. thunbergii trees have been planted in coastal forests in Japan because they are salt-tolerant and can grow in sandy soils lacking nutrients. P. thunbergii ...

Why have males been overrepresented among geniuses in STEM fields so far? A popular biological psychological explanation is the Extreme Male Brain Theory (EMB), which suggests that an overdose of prenatal androgen (male hormone) leads to the hyper-masculine brain type, characterized by a strong geek tendency and insensitivity to others' feelings. This theory explains the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and inevitably connects prenatal androgen action with talents in specific fields. However, the current research shows evidence that the opposite story might be true: reduced androgen exposure in ...

Declining blood levels of two molecules that occur naturally in the body track closely with worsening Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in women. Levels were found to drop gradually, from women with no signs of memory, disorientation, and slowed thinking to those with early signs of mild cognitive impairment. Decreases were more prominent in women with moderate or severe stages of the disease. Declines in men were evident in only one molecule, revealing a disease-specific difference between the sexes. Six million Americans, most over the age of 65 and predominantly women, are currently ...

New international research collaboration to develop and test an improved dietary supplement for pregnant women Poor nutrition during pregnancy can have serious consequences for both maternal and child health. A new research collaboration – ‘Mother’s Micronutrient Supplement for Pregnancy and Lactation’ (MoMS) – between researchers in Kenya, Norway and Denmark aims to develop and test a new, improved dietary supplement to reduce incidences of low birth weight, improve maternal and child health, and enhance growth and cognitive development in children. MoMS ...

Continuing significant advancements in the field of xenotransplantation, surgeon-scientists from the University of Maryland School of Medicine provided an extensive analysis on the second patient in the world to receive a genetically-modified pig organ. Lawrence Faucette, 58, received a pig heart at the University of Maryland Medical Center in 2023 to treat his end-stage heart failure. He lived for 40 days before choosing to forgo additional treatment after the transplant began to fail due to rejection. The report documenting insights ...

A Cranfield University, UK, academic has used drone mapping to investigate a 3000-year-old ‘mega fortress’ in the Caucasus mountains. Dr Nathaniel Erb-Satullo, Senior Lecturer in Architectural Science at Cranfield Forensic Institute, has been researching the site since 2018 with Dimitri Jachvliani, his co-director from the Georgian National Museum, revealing details that re-shape our understanding of the site and contribute to a global reassessment of ancient settlement growth and urbanism. Fortress settlements in the South Caucasus appeared between 1500-500 BCE, and represent an ...

During IVF treatment, doctors use ultrasound scans to monitor the size of follicles - small sacs in the ovaries containing eggs - to decide when to give a hormone injection known as the ‘trigger’ to prepare the eggs for collection and ensure that they are ready to be fertilised with sperm to create embryos. The timing of the trigger is a key decision, as it works less effectively if the follicles are too small or too large at the time of administration. After the eggs are collected and fertilised by sperm, an embryo is then selected and implanted into the womb to hopefully lead to pregnancy. Researchers used ‘Explainable ...