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A Science Trailblazer Retires: Stem Cell Researcher James Thomson’s Legacy Changed The Future Of Biology

The developing human body will eventually grow from a tiny two-celled zygote to a massively complex system comprising more than 37 trillion cells. If a single cell represented one second in time, all of our cells combined would span 1.8 million years.

Ancient Example Of Modern Global Warming Was Too Hot For Tiny, Important Ocean Creatures

During another time in which Earth warmed rapidly in conjunction with a spike in atmospheric carbon similar to our modern climate, seawater temperature and chemical changes decimated an important piece of the food web in the tropical Pacific Ocean, according to new research from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

In Animal Studies, Maternal Sleep Apnea Risks ‘Constellation Of Deficits’ In Male Offspring

Sleep apnea, a common disorder in which a person repeatedly stops and starts breathing while they sleep — often hundreds of times per night — is a growing problem in pregnancy.

Microscopy Technique Reveals Hidden Nanostructures In Cells And Tissues

Separating densely packed molecules before imaging allows them to become visible for the first time.

Stronger Religious Beliefs Linked To Higher Levels Of Sexual Satisfaction, Study Shows

Having stronger religious beliefs is linked to higher levels of sexual satisfaction, a new study shows.

Majority Of Posts On Extremist Online Forums Made By “Hyper” Poster Cliques, Study Shows

Most posts in extremist online forums are made by a clique of particularly committed members, a major new study shows.

These Neurons Have Food On The Brain

MIT scientists have discovered a population of neurons that light up whenever we see images of food.

Researchers Are Using Machine Learning To Understand How Brain Cells Work

For something so small, neurons can be quite complex — not only because there are billions of them in a brain, but because their function can be influenced by many factors, like their shape and genetic makeup.

Ultraprecise Atomic Clock Poised For New Physics Discoveries

University of Wisconsin–Madison physicists have made one of the highest performance atomic clocks ever, they announced Feb. 16 in the journal Nature.

When Alzheimer’s Degrades Cells That Cross Hemispheres, Visual Memory Suffers

Research reveals cells that span brain hemispheres to coordinate activity in visual processing centers, shows Alzheimer’s degrades their structure and function.

MIT Chemists Develop A Wireless Electronic Lateral Flow Assay Test For Biosensing

Design from the Swager Lab uses electronic polymers, rather than colored lines, to indicate a positive response, enabling quantitative monitoring of biomarkers.

Using Seismology For Groundwater Management

New research showcases a pilot application using seismometers to monitor groundwater aquifers in California.

Unique Structures in the Genetic Information of a Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus

Unique structures, called guanine quadruplexes (G4), have been discovered by a team of Czech scientists in the genetic information of a tick-borne encephalitis virus. The experts found out that these structures play an important role in the virus' replication and can be targeted in the search for new antivirals. In testing potential chemicals that recognize these G4 structures, they found promising molecules with a high antiviral effect. In the future, these substances may thus expand the repertoire of potential drugs for this infection.

At Bioenergy Crossroads, Should Corn Ethanol Be Left In The Rearview Mirror?

Transportation is responsible for a larger share of greenhouse gas emissions than any other sector of the U.S. economy, making biofuels a promising strategy to mitigate human-driven climate change.

When A Task Adds More Steps, This Brain Circuit Helps You Notice

By tracking feedback during tasks, the anterior cingulate cortex notices when a new step has become necessary and signals the motor cortex to adjust.

UW Study Finds Photoreceptor Cells From Retinal Organoids Can Replicate Key Functions Of Vision

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health have successfully shown that a retinal cell type derived from human pluripotent stem cells is capable of the complex process of detecting light and converting that signal to electrical waves.

Perception Study May Explain Promising Depression Therapy

Rather than constantly repainting a new canvas with a picture of the surrounding world each time it takes in information, the human brain appears to build a working model supported by predictions constantly checked and rechecked against the sights and sounds it already expects.

Microbes Help Hibernating Animals Recycle Nutrients, Maintain Muscle Through Winter

To get through a long winter without food, hibernating animals — like the 13-lined ground squirrel — can slow their metabolism by as much as 99 percent, but they still need important nutrients like proteins to maintain muscles while they hibernate.

Coral Skeleton Formation Rate Determines Resilience To Acidifying Oceans

A new University of Wisconsin–Madison study has implications for predicting coral reef survival and developing mitigation strategies against having their bony skeletons weakened by ocean acidification.

New Method Of Measuring Economic Inequality Could Improve Policy Outcomes

Social scientists have urged policy-makers and governments to rethink how income inequality is measured.