'Noisy' roundworm brains give rise to individuality

Research has demonstrated individual differences in and successfully extracted commonalities from the whole-brain activity of roundworms. The researchers also found that computer simulations based on the whole-brain activity of roundworms more accurately reflect real-brain activity when they include so-called 'noise,' or probabilistic elements.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240315161022.htm

Gut bacteria make neurotransmitters to shape the newborn immune system

Investigators discovered that unique bacteria colonize the gut shortly after birth and make the neurotransmitter serotonin to educate gut immune cells. This prevents allergic reactions to food and the bacteria themselves during early development.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240315161015.htm

How the brain translates motivation into goal-oriented behavior, according to new study

Hunger can drive a motivational state that leads an animal to a successful pursuit of a goal -- foraging for and finding food. In a highly novel study, researchers describe how two major neuronal subpopulations in a part of the brain's thalamus called the paraventricular nucleus participate in the dynamic regulation of goal pursuits. This research provides insight into the mechanisms by which the brain tracks motivational states to shape instrumental actions.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240315160859.htm

Diverse habitats help salmon weather unpredictable climate changes

Restored salmon habitat should resemble financial portfolios, offering fish diverse options for feeding and survival so that they can weather various conditions as the climate changes, a new study shows.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240314171501.htm

A pioneering way to target the culprit behind a deadly liver cancer

Researchers have translated a cutting-edge tactic for treating genetic disorders into a fresh approach for potentially stymying cancer.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240314145344.htm

FRYL gene variants linked to a new neurological disorder

A recent study links the FRYL gene to a new neurodevelopmental disorder in humans. They used fruit flies to establish that the loss of a functional copy of the FRY-like transcription coactivator (FRYL) gene is the underlying cause of this new disorder in fourteen individuals.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240314145317.htm

How home food availability affects young children's nutrient intake

Early childhood is an important time for learning about nutrition and establishing healthy eating behaviors. Young children rely on parents to provide food options, and the availability of food in the home affects their dietary choices. A new study looks at changes in home food availability and nutrient intake for children from 2 to 4 years old.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240314122211.htm

Blast-related concussions linked to higher Alzheimer's risk

U.S. veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq who suffered mild traumatic brain injury from exposure to explosive blasts were found to have changes in cerebrospinal fluid proteins that are typically seen in people who develop Alzheimer's disease, according to researchers.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240313210248.htm

Supply chain disruptions will further exacerbate economic losses from climate change

Global GDP loss from climate change will increase exponentially the warmer the planet gets when its cascading impact on global supply chains is factored in, finds a new study.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240313135634.htm

Innovative approaches for addressing difficult topics in K-12 schools

Three peer-reviewed journals have recently published research papers by Penn State's Hammel Family Human Rights Initiative. The papers illustrate how the initiative's programs help K-12 educators address difficult issues such as racism.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240313135621.htm

AI analysis of historical satellite images show USSR collapse in 1990s increased methane emissions, despite lower oil and gas production

An AI-powered analysis of 25 years of satellite images yields the surprising finding that methane emissions in Turkmenistan, a former Soviet republic and major oil-producing region, actually increased in the years following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240312221011.htm

Alaska dinosaur tracks reveal a lush, wet environment

A large find of dinosaur tracks and fossilized plants and tree stumps in far northwestern Alaska provides new information about the climate and movement of animals near the time when they began traveling between the Asian and North American continents roughly 100 million years ago.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240312221007.htm

Vaccine monitoring crucial as SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to evolve

Researchers have highlighted the importance of continued surveillance of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and vaccine performance as the virus continues to evolve.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240312133915.htm

Gene flow in giraffes and what it means for their conservation

Giraffes, with their bizarre body plan, have always held a special place in the minds of evolutionary biologists and non-experts alike. In a new study whole-genome sequencing data was used to investigate the evolutionary processes occurring within giraffes. In particular, the authors were interested in establishing whether different populations of giraffes really have been isolated from each other for extended periods of time, which is normally a requirement before new species can arise.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240312133736.htm

Cheetahs' unrivalled speed explained by their 'sweet spot' size, finds Imperial study

A new study has answered a long-held question about why medium-sized land animals like cheetahs tend to be fastest.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240312133325.htm

India's water problems set to get worse as the world warms

Winter storms known as western disturbances that provide crucial snow and rainfall to northern India are arriving significantly later in the year.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240311205204.htm

Cicadas' unique urination unlocks new understanding of fluid dynamics

While most small insects and mammals urinate in droplets, cicadas urinate in jets. Researchers say the finding could be used to create better robots and small nozzles.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240311173028.htm

For people who speak many languages, there's something special about their native tongue

A study of polyglots found the brain's language network responds more strongly when hearing languages a speaker is more proficient in -- and much more weakly to the speaker's native language.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240311145915.htm

Study explores impacts of Arctic warming on daily weather patterns in the U.S.

Arctic sea ice is shrinking as the world continues to warm, and a new study may provide a better understanding of how the loss of this ice may impact daily weather in the middle latitudes, like the United States.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240311145822.htm

No, an anti-racist program in schools didn't stress out kids, study finds

A new study of how high school students respond to a program designed to increase the frequency and quality of conversations about race in school finds that the anti-racist intervention did not cause stress or feelings of alienation among study participants. The finding rebuts concerns that anti-racist programs are harmful to children and teens.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240311145819.htm