For The Better

A new study examines mathematical models designed to draw inferences about how evolution operates at the level of populations of organisms. The study concludes that such models must be constructed with the greatest care, avoiding unwarranted initial as…

A recent study found that COVID-19 patients had a roughly 25% increased risk of developing a psychiatric disorder in the four months following their infection, compared with people who had other types of respiratory tract infections.

Gathering vision data for hundreds of vertebrates and invertebrates, biologists have deepened scientists’ understanding of animal vision, including the colors they see. The researchers determined that animals adapted to land are able to see more colors…

Although about 20% of Illinois cropping systems are planted to continuous corn, it’s nearly impossible to find fields planted this way for decades at a time. Yet long-term experiments, including over 40 years of continuous corn under different nitrogen…

Biomedical and genetic engineers have developed a process to change the color of a mouse’s tissue to better image its internal physiology. The approach will help researchers isolate and remove sources of strong background noise in biomedical images, gi…

Materials theorists model a contoured surface overlaid with 2D materials and find it possible to control their electronic and magnetic properties. The discovery could simplify research into many-body effects, including quantum systems.

Protein complexes that play a critical role in launching an immune response assemble in droplets that form within the liquid environment in cells much like oil droplets in water, scientists report in a new study. The work could lead to new intervention…

Many of us try to repress the thought of them, while others have come to accept them. Whatever your take on parasites is, they can tell scientists a lot about ecology, health and the environment.

Researchers found they could filter carbon dioxide from air and gas mixtures at promising rates using a proposed new textile-based filter that combines cotton fabric and an enzyme called carbonic anhydrase — one of nature’s tools for speeding chemical…

Researchers are quantifying the effects of healthcare on the environment, specifically the particularly waste-heavy and energy-intensive specialty of orthopedic surgery. The researchers reviewed existing literature and found that while data is still sp…

A team of researchers has developed a first-of-its-kind method to create a unique identifier for each copy of a cell line to allow users to verify its authenticity and protect the manufacturer’s intellectual property (IP).

A new study provides the first comprehensive explanation of how snake venom regulatory systems evolved — an important example that illuminates the evolution of new complex traits.

The largest, highest quality analysis of data ever conducted reveals that genetically modified Bt corn has little impact on nontarget insects and other organisms, especially compared to growing conventional corn.

Innovative research is exploring the use of a new cell delivery method to help cells stick and stay where they’re needed most.

A chemistry team has engineered a cobalt complex to act as a noninvasive chemical thermometer. They’ve done so by making the cobalt complex’s nuclear spin ­– a workhorse, fundamental magnetic property ­­– mimic the agile, but less stable sensitivity …

While the study looked specifically at COVID-19 deaths among members of law enforcement in 2020, there are important lessons for police and other first responder organizations going forward.