Day February 26, 2020

University of Maryland School of Medicine’s (UMSOM) Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS) researchers have created the first catalog of genes that comprise the community of microbes, which inhabit the human vagina. The catalog, called human vaginal non-redundant gene catalog (VIRGO),…

For half a century, scientists who have developed models of how ecological communities function have arrived at an unsettling conclusion. Their models’ predictions–seen as classic tenets of community ecology–suggested that mutualistic interactions between species, such as the relationship between plants…

Boston, MA — The death of a spouse often means the loss of intimacy, companionship and everyday support for older adults. A new study finds that widowhood can have another profound effect: It may accelerate cognitive decline. Investigators from Brigham…

A new study has found that socioeconomic status (SES) has the strongest impact on whether secondary school students study the STEM sciences. A research team drew on data from over 4,300 pupils in Australia, and also looked at Indigenous students…

IMAGE: The dense microstructure of barium titanate as seen under a microscope view more  Credit: Clive Randall, Penn State Barium titanate is an important electroceramic material used in trillions of capacitors each year and found in most electronics. Penn State researchers…

UCLA engineers have developed minuscule warehouse logistics robots that could help expedite and automate medical diagnostic technologies and other applications that move and manipulate tiny drops of fluid. The study was published in Science Robotics. The robots are disc-shaped magnets…

IMAGE: A TRAX light rail train in Salt Lake City, Utah. view more  Credit: University of Utah For more than five years, University of Utah air quality sensors have hitched rides on TRAX light rail trains, scanning air pollution along the…

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive, chronic disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the central nervous system, resulting in multiple adverse effects, from numbness, fatigue and impaired speech to loss of muscle control and vision. There is no…

Flashing crosswalk lights are no match for flashy cars, according to a new UNLV study which found that drivers of expensive cars are least likely to stop for crossing pedestrians. Drivers on a whole aren’t all that great at stopping…

Wearing hearing aids may delay cognitive decline in older adults and improve brain function, according to promising new research. Cognitive decline is associated with hearing loss, which affects about 32 per cent of people aged 55 years, and more than…