Human DNA can be extracted from the ‘cement’ head lice used to glue their eggs to hairs thousands of years ago, scientists have found, which could provide an important new window into the past. In a new study, scientists for the first time recovered DNA from cement on hairs taken from mummified remains that date back 1,500-2,000 years. This is possible because skin cells from the scalp become encased in the cement produced by female lice as they attach eggs, known as nits, to the hair.
Inspired by an ancient technology, engineers design a sensor that can measure pressure inside the digestive tract.
Contrary to popular productivity advice, the optimal time of day to write emails, conduct meetings or crunch numbers does not inherently differ from task to task, according to research led by Washington State University sleep scientists.
The findings may inform decisions on holding large outdoor gatherings amid future public health crises.
Improving social support and connectedness could not only lower depression symptoms but also help reduce cardiovascular disease and death in older American Indians, according to a new analysis.
Using a new technique, researchers are able to vacuum animal DNA from the air and identify the species that live nearby. This new so-called environmental DNA technology has been invented simultaneously by research groups in Denmark and the UK, and the researchers expect to be able to use it to map threatened and invasive animal species.
Research led by Washington State University scientists supports a novel theory that the innate immune system people are born with can respond differently to specific pathogens.
An MIT team incorporates AI to facilitate the detection of an intriguing materials phenomenon that can lead to electronics without energy dissipation.
A discovery that blocks the normal transition of semen from a thick gel to a liquid shows promise for development of a new form of non-hormonal, over-the-counter contraception.
One viral protein could provide information to deter pneumonia causing the body’s exaggerated inflammatory response to respiratory viruses, including the virus that causes COVID-19.
CRISPR has great potential within disease control due to its ability to modify our DNA. New research can prevent situations where CRISPR edits the wrong genes.
A new membrane material could make purification of gases significantly more efficient, potentially helping to reduce carbon emissions.
“Privid” could help officials gather secure public health data or enable transportation departments to monitor the density and flow of pedestrians, without learning personal information about people.
Associate professor and principal investigator with the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing’s Science Hub discusses the future of robotics and the importance of industry-academia collaborations.
Researchers confined platinum-group atoms to small cerium-oxide islands, which could minimize the amount of expensive metals required in many industrial applications. Image courtesy of Mike Perkins at PNNL.
Struggling salmon populations could get some help from the sky. A Washington State University study showed that drone photography of the Wenatchee River during spawning season can be effective in estimating the number of rocky hollows salmon create to lay their eggs, also called “redds.”
A new technique for removing bias in datasets can enable machine-learning models to make loan approval predictions that are both fair and accurate.
In June 2021, an unprecedented heat wave hit the Pacific Northwest and Canada, killing an estimated 1,400 people.
Almost all of the world’s 31 largest carnivore species, including gray wolves, grizzly bears, cheetahs and lions, have been impacted by human development and activity.
Rice University study features statewide analysis of mortality, air pollution, and assessment of disproportionate economic impacts in Harris County