Novel mechanism for kidney regeneration discovered

A recent study led by USC Stem Cell scientist Janos Peti-Peterdi reveals that a loss of salt and body fluid can stimulate kidney regeneration and repair in mice. This groundbreaking research, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, uncovers an innate regenerative response driven by a small population of kidney cells known as the macula … Read more

Telo-seq: A high-resolution method for studying telomere dynamics in aging and disease

Within each of our cells, long strands of DNA are folded into chromosomes and capped with protective structures called telomeres. Telomeres shorten as we age, eventually becoming so diminished that our chromosomes are exposed, leading to cell death. The specifics of this shortening process, and whether certain chromosomes are more affected than others, have remained … Read more

Study discovers promising immune response for early ovarian cancer diagnosis

Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) announced the discovery of a novel immune-based biomarker that could pave the way for potential lifesaving early detection of high-grade ovarian cancer (HGOC). The findings were published today in the journal Cell Reports Medicine. High-grade ovarian cancer (HGOC) is the fifth-leading cause of cancer-related death among women. More than 90% of … Read more

Study reveals potential cancer-fighting benefits of consuming small fish

A groundbreaking study has found compelling evidence linking the consumption of small fish, eaten whole, with a lower risk of all-cause and cancer mortality in Japanese women. Spearheaded by Dr. Chinatsu Kasahara, Associate Professor Takashi Tamura, and Professor Kenji Wakai at Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, this research underscores the potential health benefits of … Read more

Study reveals coordinated carbon fixation strategies in deep-sea vent symbionts

In the deep-sea environment of the East Pacific Rise, where sunlight does not penetrate and the surroundings are known for their extreme temperatures, skull-crushing pressures, and toxic compounds, lives Riftia pachyptila, a giant hydrothermal vent tubeworm. Growing up to 6 feet tall with a deep-red plume, Riftia does not have a digestive system but thrives … Read more

Scientists create optical Kármán vortex street

In a study published in Nature Communications, collaborating physicists from Singapore and the UK have reported an optical analog of the Kármán vortex street (KVS). This optical KVS pulse reveals fascinating parallels between fluid transport and energy flow of structured light. Yijie Shen, study lead author from Nanyang Technological University, says, “We introduce a type of light pulse … Read more

New theory quantifies information carried by waves in interaction with environment

Waves pick up information from their environment through which they propagate. A theory of information carried by waves has now been developed at TU Wien—with astonishing results that can be utilized for technical applications. Ultrasound is used to analyze the body, radar systems to study airspace or seismic waves to study the interior of our … Read more

Researchers discover skull of Australia’s megafauna bird

After 128 years of exploration, fossil excavation and investigation, Flinders University researchers have finally uncovered the skull of Australia’s own giant and charismatic megafauna bird—Genyornis newtoni. The only previously known skull for this species, reported in 1913, was heavily damaged and with little of the original bone remaining, not much could be deduced about the … Read more

Creation of a stable Bose-Einstein condensate from sodium-cesium molecules

There’s a hot new BEC in town that has nothing to do with bacon, egg, and cheese. You won’t find it at your local bodega, but in the coldest place in New York: the lab of Columbia physicist Sebastian Will, whose experimental group specializes in pushing atoms and molecules to temperatures just fractions of a … Read more

Study of skeletal remains reveals lives and deaths of knights templar successors in Spain

A research project led by the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) and the Max Planck Institute has studied the remains of 25 individuals buried between the 12th and 15th centuries in the castle at Zorita de los Canes, Guadalajara. After exhuming the remains from the castle’s cemetery, the research team was able to determine the … Read more

Galaxy cluster merger observations suggest collisional nature of dark matter

Contrary to the prevailing assumptions of the standard model, recent research suggests that dark matter may indeed be self-interacting. This groundbreaking study, published in Astronomy & Astrophysics and led by Riccardo Valdarnini of SISSA’s Astrophysics and Cosmology group, used numerical simulations to explore the dynamics within “El Gordo” (Spanish for “The Fat One”), a colossal … Read more

Early memory complaints may signal preclinical Alzheimer’s disease, new study finds

A groundbreaking study underscores the importance of addressing concerns about persistent memory loss with a healthcare provider. Conducted by researchers from Mass General Brigham, the study reveals that reports of cognitive decline by patients and their close family members or study partners may indicate early changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease. This discovery … Read more

Study links skeletal freedom in small birds to diverse flight styles

Small birds exhibit a remarkable range of flight styles, from the hovering maneuvers of hummingbirds to the bounding flight of sparrows and the soaring patterns of swifts and swallows. A recent study conducted by Cornell University researchers provides new insights into why these variations occur, suggesting that the structural evolution of wing bones in smaller … Read more

How viruses could become the next cancer treatment

In the global quest for effective cancer treatments, researchers are uncovering promising strategies in the most unexpected of places: the very viruses we typically strive to avoid. Pathogens such as the common cold and influenza, once seen solely as threats to our health, are now being studied for their potential to target and destroy cancer … Read more

Study shows breakthrough infections enhance immune response to COVID-19

New research from scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) suggests people who received COVID-19 vaccines and then experienced “breakthrough” infections are especially well armed against future SARS-CoV-2 infections. By analyzing blood samples from study volunteers, the LJI researchers discovered that people who experienced symptomatic breakthrough infections develop T cells that are better at … Read more

Scientists detect carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide ices on trans-neptunian objects for the first time

For the first time, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide ices have been observed in the far reaches of our solar system on trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs). A research team, led by planetary scientists Mário Nascimento De Prá and Noemí Pinilla-Alonso from the University of Central Florida’s Florida Space Institute (FSI), made the findings by using the … Read more

Heatmaps reveal different trematode species favor specific body locations in amphibian hosts

Trematodes, also known as flukes, are a class of parasitic flatworms with intricate lifecycles. This makes them interesting to scientists, but they are also significant to both human health and wildlife conservation. Trematodes can cause infection in humans when people eat food the flatworms have contaminated, including raw fish, crustaceans and vegetables. Though this is … Read more

Study links UV exposure to increased energy expenditure and reduced weight gain in mice

Obesity and metabolic disorders are increasingly significant global public health issues. In a novel study, a team of dermatologists has evaluated the effect of ultraviolet (UV) exposure on appetite and weight regulation. They found that UV exposure raises norepinephrine levels, decreases leptin levels, and induces the browning of subcutaneous fat, thereby increasing energy expenditure. These … Read more

Scientists design drug-like molecules to block early stage influenza infection

Currently available flu medications only target the virus after it has already established an infection, but what if a drug could prevent infection in the first place? Now, scientists at Scripps Research and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine have designed drug-like molecules to do just that, by thwarting the first stage of influenza infection. … Read more

The Role of Sweet Taste Receptors in Metabolic Regulation

The Monell Chemical Senses Center has long been at the forefront of research into sweet taste, tracing back to 2001 when Monell scientists were among the first to identify and describe the mammalian sweet taste receptor, TAS1R2-TAS1R3. Over the past two decades, Monell researchers have significantly advanced our understanding of the genetics and functionality of … Read more