Researchers show dynamic soaring isn’t just for albatrosses
A new study shows how small seabirds have mastered the art of working smarter not harder when soaring at sea.
Science & Technology
High fat diet, unregulated athletic exercise endurance enhancers linked to risk of pancreatic cancer
A study suggests that substances touted to improve athletic performance can activate a receptor that accelerates the progression of pre-cancerous lesions to pancreatic cancer in mice.
Scientists developing the axolotl as a model for regeneration
Scientists are working toward establishing the Mexican salamander, or axolotl, as a laboratory model for the study of regeneration. With the ability to regenerate almost any body part, the axolotl is nature’s champion of regeneration. The development o…
VoxLens: Adding one line of code can make some interactive visualizations accessible to screen-reader users
Researchers worked with screen-reader users to design VoxLens, a plugin that allows people to interact with digital visualizations made with JavaScript.
Narcissistic bosses stymie knowledge flow, cooperation inside organizations
New research shows that narcissism can cause knowledge barriers within organizations. Narcissists hinder cooperation between units due to a sense of superiority.
Less air pollution leads to higher crop yields
New analysis shows crop yields could increase by about 25% in China and up to 10% in other parts of the world if emissions of a common air pollutant decreased by about half.
A surprising way to tamper ugly ‘Dark Triad’ personality traits
Want to be less selfish, manipulative or impulsive? A new study has found that tasks designed to make someone more agreeable also effectively reduce a trio of negative personality traits known as the ‘Dark Triad’ — Machiavellianism, narcissism, and ps…
Consumers embrace milk carton QR codes, may cut food waste
The ‘use-by’ and ‘best-by’ dates printed on milk cartons and gallon jugs may soon become a thing of the past, giving way to more accurate and informative QR codes. A new study finds that consumers will use the QR codes — to better depict how long the …
Gratitude expressions between co-workers improve cardiovascular responses to stress
A study finds teammates who thanked each other before performing a high-stress task had a better cardiovascular response compared to teams who did not express gratitude. The enhanced cardiovascular response leads to increased concentration, more confid…
Visible light triggers molecular machines to treat infections
Chemists have created light-activated molecular machines and shown they can drill holes through the membranes of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, killing them in as little as two minutes. Their study offers a potential new strategy for fightin…
How electric fish were able to evolve electric organs
A new study explains how small genetic changes enabled electric fish to evolve electric organs. The finding might also help scientists pinpoint the genetic mutations behind some human diseases.
Research shows how Gulf of Mexico escaped ancient mass extinction
An ancient bout of global warming 56 million years ago that acidified oceans and wiped-out marine life had a milder effect in the Gulf of Mexico, where life was sheltered by the basin’s unique geology. The findings could help scientists determine how c…
The persistent effects of colonialism in Caribbean science
A new study shows how the legacy of colonialism is still deeply entrenched within scientific practice across the Caribbean archipelago. Rather than solely critiquing these practices, however, the authors hope the study serves as a map to help researche…
Study examines why the memory of fear is seared into our brains
Neuroscientists have been studying the formation of fear memories in the emotional hub of the brain — the amygdala — and think they have a mechanism.
Study evaluates how to eliminate telemedicine’s virtual waiting room
Researchers have conducted a 10-week study to evaluate how text messaging a link to patients when their doctor is ready provides a way to connect patients and doctors without relying on the virtual waiting room.
Electrolyte additive offers lithium battery performance breakthrough
Chemists have learned that an electrolyte additive allows stable high-voltage cycling of nickel-rich layered cathodes. Their work could lead to improvements in the energy density of lithium batteries that power electric vehicles.
Combination anti-HIV antibody infusions suppress virus for prolonged period
Individuals with HIV who began taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the early stages of infection achieved a lengthy period of HIV suppression without ART after receiving two broadly neutralizing anti-HIV antibodies (bNAbs), according to a small stud…
Age-related lung changes provide pathway for metastatic growth of dormant melanoma cancer cells
New laboratory research finds that secreted age-induced changes in distant sites such as the lung can effectively reactivate dormant cells and cause them to grow.
A ‘Goldilocks amount’ of time spent online could be good for teenagers’ wellbeing
New research has found further evidence of a relationship between online engagement and mental wellbeing in teenagers. The study contributes to mounting international evidence on the dangers of high levels of digital media use.
Forests: Spatial aspects of biodiversity, homogenization threat to forest ecosystems
A study highlights the importance of spatial aspects of biodiversity for healthy functioning of naturally occurring forests. Biologists determined that tree beta diversity — a measure of site-to-site variation in the composition of species present wit…