Nature"s DNA traps: Spider webs put new spin on wildlife research
Spiders might be silent heroes in helping us understand and keep track of animals, with new Curtin research revealing their webs act like natural traps for tiny bits of environmental DNA (eDNA) from vertebrates, which could change how we learn about.....»»
Nature"s instructions: How fungi make a key medicinal molecule
For roughly a century, ever since Alexander Fleming's accidental discovery of penicillin in 1928, fungi have proven to be a goldmine for medicines. They've provided treatments for a wide range of diseases, from infections and high cholesterol to orga.....»»
Nonlinear "skin effect" unveiled in antiferromagnetic materials
A team of researchers has identified a unique phenomenon, a "skin effect," in the nonlinear optical responses of antiferromagnetic materials. The research, published in Physical Review Letters, provides new insights into the properties of these mater.....»»
Boomerang workers: helpful returnees or resented colleagues?
While movement from job to job throughout one's career is expected, little research has evaluated the effects of hiring boomerang workers—those who return to a former employer. A new study by a University of California, Davis, researcher and collea.....»»
Researchers explore, sample and interpret lunar volatiles in polar cold traps
The moon has both a South and North Pole, but just how cold are they? For context, Antarctica's coastal temperatures average around 14°F (-10°C), while the interior drops to -76°F (-60°C), making Earth's South Pole one of the coldest places on th.....»»
UN experts urge three "transformations" for nature
Human societies need a radical overhaul to stop the destruction of the planet, according to the UN biodiversity expert panel's "transformative change" report released Wednesday......»»
New method maps hundreds of proteins in cell nuclei simultaneously
Caltech researchers have developed a new method to map the positions of hundreds of DNA-associated proteins within cell nuclei all at the same time. The method, called ChIP–DIP (Chromatin ImmunoPrecipitation Done In Parallel), is a versatile tool f.....»»
Researchers address material challenges to make commercial fusion power a reality
Imagine if we could take the energy of the sun, put it in a container, and use it to provide green, sustainable power for the world. Creating commercial fusion power plants would essentially make this idea a reality. However, there are several scient.....»»
How feelings of disconnection and lack of control fuel conspiracy beliefs—new research
Conspiracy theories have always been a part of society, offering explanations—sometimes simple, often elaborate—for complex events......»»
Fluorination strategy unlocks graphene"s potential for optoelectronic and energy applications
Researchers from Tohoku University and collaborators have developed a weak fluorination strategy to address the zero-bandgap limitation of graphene. Details of the research were published in the journal Applied Physics Letters......»»
Mobile payments used to be less "painful" than using cash. That might be changing
The act of handing over hard-earned cash has long been associated with pain. And historically, research has also found that consumers tended to spend less using cash rather than a payment card......»»
How bad will it get? Political scientists have a pessimism bias, study finds
The past decade has seen historic challenges for U.S. democracy and an intense focus by scholars on events that seem to signal democratic decline. But new research released Dec. 17 finds that a bias toward pessimism among U.S. political scientists of.....»»
Rules against insider trading also boost innovation, research finds
Strong enforcement of insider trading laws doesn't just protect investors—it encourages businesses to be more innovative, according to our new peer-reviewed research......»»
Western meritocracy traps people in emotions of envy, shame and fear, philosophers say
The rich are getting richer, and poverty is rapidly increasing in Western countries with market economies. This growing inequality has a significant impact on the well-being of citizens......»»
Spiderweb protocluster captured by Webb shows supermassive black holes can halt star formation
An international research team has used the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to observe massive galaxies discovered by the Subaru Telescope in a corner of the early universe known as the Spiderweb protocluster. The JWST results confirm what had been.....»»
Research reveals how bad bacteria trigger painful gut contractions
After a meal of questionable seafood or a few sips of contaminated water, bad bacteria can send your digestive tract into overdrive. Your intestines spasm and contract, efficiently expelling everything in the gut—poop and bacteria alike......»»
Research reveals mental health"s impact on parole rearrest likelihood
Individuals who have a mental illness are more likely to be rearrested after being released from prison than those without a mental illness, according to a new study by a University at Buffalo School of Social Work researcher......»»
Coral reef nightlife becomes more predatory with artificial light
Artificial light can wake sleeping fish and attract predators, changing nighttime coral reef communities, according to new research using novel underwater infrared cameras......»»
Brain cells mature faster in space but stay healthy: ISS study
Microgravity is known to alter the muscles, bones, the immune system and cognition, but little is known about its specific impact on the brain. To discover how brain cells respond to microgravity, Scripps Research scientists, in collaboration with th.....»»
Wind alters snow crystals, impacting climate models
Wind tunnel experiments conducted by the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF show how snow crystals change in the wind. The findings could force climate researchers to adjust their models—particularly in the polar regions, where snow.....»»
Study claims all observables in nature can be measured with a single constant: The second
A group of Brazilian researchers has presented an innovative proposal to resolve a decades-old debate among theoretical physicists: How many fundamental constants are needed to describe the observable universe? Here, the term "fundamental constants".....»»