How SNPs can be used to detect disease pathways
Researchers have developed a new computational tool that can identify pathways related to diseases, including breast and prostate cancer, using single-nucleotide polymorphisms.
Science & Technology
Experimental drug development approach points to better targeted therapies for treatment-resistant leukemia
New research shows why some drugs in clinical trials for treating a form of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) often fail and demonstrates a way to restore their effectiveness.
New imaging system reveals solar panel defects even in bright sunlight
Researchers describe how a unique combination of new hardware and software allows defects in solar panels to be clearly imaged and analyzed even in bright light.
Capturing light: New ergonomic photodetector for the trillion-sensor era
Light-to-frequency conversion circuits (LFCs) are often used to overcome setbacks faced by conventional ultra-low power light sensors. However, use of LFCs can lead to chip area wastage and poor performance of photosensors. Researchers have now develop…
Creating order by mechanical deformation in dense active matter
Living or biological systems cannot be easily understood using the standard laws of physics, such as thermodynamics, as scientists would for gases, liquids or solids. Living systems are active, demonstrating fascinating properties such as adapting to t…
Screening device accurately detects amblyopia (lazy eye)
A handheld screening device that detects subtle misalignment of the eyes accurately identifies children with amblyopia (lazy eye), according to a new study.
Case of anthrax in wildlife in the Namib Desert: Infected zebra most likely causes death of three cheetahs
Anthrax is an infectious bacterial disease endemic in some parts of Africa. It affects people, livestock as well as wildlife. Using GPS telemetry data, a team of scientists reconstructed a special case of anthrax infection in Namibia: Three free-rangin…
Amazonian protected areas benefit both people and biodiversity
Highly positive social outcomes are linked to biodiversity efforts in Amazonian Sustainable-Use Protected Areas, according to new research. The study investigated the social consequences of living both inside and outside Sustainable-Use Protected Areas…
Deep roots of the ‘Anthropocene’ can be found in tropical forests
A new special edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showcases multidisciplinary approaches to exploring human impacts on tropical forests and their associated Earth systems.
Late Pleistocene humans may have hatched and raised cassowary chicks
As early as 18,000 years ago, humans in New Guinea may have collected cassowary eggs near maturity and then raised the birds to adulthood, according to an international team of scientists, who used eggshells to determine the developmental stage of the …
Sunlight exposure guidelines may need to be revised
Previously published solar exposure guidelines for optimal vitamin D synthesis based on a study of skin samples may need to be revised.
Additional threat to Antarctica’s floating ice shelves
Ice melange, a slushy mixture of snow and ice chunks, can heal large rifts in Antarctica’s ice shelves. Researchers found that a thinning of ice melange may have enabled a Delaware-sized iceberg to break off from the Larsen C ice shelf in 2017. A new a…
Dinosaurs’ ascent driven by volcanoes powering climate change
The rise of dinosaurs coincided with environmental changes driven by major volcanic eruptions over 230 million years ago, a new study reveals.
N95 respirators could offer robust protection from wildfire smoke
N95 respirators offer the best protection against wildfire smoke and other types of air pollution, performing better than synthetic, cotton and surgical masks. N95s were so effective in the lab experiments that the researchers estimate their widespread…
Withdrawal from psychostimulants restructures functional architecture of brain
Researchers describe how withdrawal from nicotine, methamphetamine and cocaine alters the functional architecture and patterns in the brains of mice, compared to control animals, a key to developing addiction treatments.
New approach to breast cancer prevention
Researchers suggest that advances in breast cancer prevention research have resulted in new and innovative opportunities to modify breast cancer risk and potentially reduce breast cancer incidence and mortality.
Drugs used by some Type 2 diabetics may lessen risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes, study suggests
A type of drug already used to treat obesity and Type 2 diabetes, when taken six months prior to the diagnosis of COVID-19, was associated with a decreased risk of hospitalization, respiratory complications and death in COVID-19 patients with Type 2 di…
Crayfish get more interesting at bigger parties
In many North American lakes, a tiny clawed creature has become a big bully. The invasive rusty crayfish roams lakebeds, snapping up snails, bivalves, and water plants, cutting off food supplies for native crayfish and other animals. And when they’re f…
Benefits of early intervention in autoimmune diseases
Complex autoimmune diseases affecting various organ systems remain one of the greatest medical challenges in spite of immense advances in treatment. In particular, the diffuse symptoms at the early stage of complex autoimmune diseases make it hard to d…
Detecting dementia in the blood
Researchers want to image proteins with unprecedented precision — and thus gain insights into the molecular pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s. This should pave the way for an earlier diagnosis of the dementia disorder via a simple blood test. A successful p…