Actions to save coral reefs could benefit all ecosystems
Scientists say bolder actions to protect the world's coral reefs will benefit all ecosystems, human livelihoods and improve food security.
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Six galaxies undergoing sudden, dramatic transitions
Astronomers observed six mild-mannered LINER galaxies suddenly and surprisingly transforming into ravenous quasars — home to the brightest of all active galactic nuclei. The team's observations could help demystify the nature of both LINERs and quasars while answering some burning questions about galactic evolution. Based on their analysis, the researchers suggest they have discovered an entirely new type of black hole activity at the centers of these six LINER galaxies.
Read moreNew drug target in fight against cancer
Researchers have discovered how a cancer-linked version of the protein mitoNEET can close voltage-dependent anion channels (VDAC), primary gateways in the outer surface of mitochondria. The researchers detail how mitoNEET regulates VDAC, and they show that the interactions between the two proteins could be disrupted by a drug that targets VDAC.
Read moreTowards better hand hygiene for flu prevention
Rubbing hands with ethanol-based sanitizers should provide a formidable defense against infection from flu viruses, which can thrive and spread in saliva and mucus. But new findings challenge that notion — and suggest that there's room for improvement in this approach to hand hygiene.
Read moreGreenland's growing 'ice slabs' intensify meltwater runoff into ocean
Thick, impenetrable ice slabs are expanding rapidly on the interior of Greenland's ice sheet, where the ice is normally porous and able to reabsorb meltwater. These slabs are instead sending meltwater spilling into the ocean, according to a new assessment, threatening to increase the country's contribution to sea level rise by as much as 2.9 inches by 2100.
Read moreFast MRIs offer alternative to CT scans for pediatric head injuries
Researchers have released a study that shows that a new imaging method 'fast MRI' is effective in identifying traumatic brain injuries in children, and can avoid exposure to ionizing radiation and anesthesia.
Read more3D virtual reality models help yield better surgical outcomes
A new study has found that using three-dimensional virtual reality models to prepare for kidney tumor surgeries resulted in substantial improvements, including shorter operating times, less blood loss during surgery and a shorter stay in the hospital afterward.
Read moreStudy questions routine sleep studies to evaluate snoring in children
A new finding suggests that the pediatric sleep study — used to diagnose pediatric sleep apnea and to measure improvement after surgery — may be an unreliable predictor of who will benefit from having an adenotonsillectomy.
Read moreBrain tumors form synapses with healthy neurons
Scientists have shown for the first time that severe brain cancers integrate into the brain's wiring.
Read moreBabies' gut bacteria affected by delivery method
Babies born vaginally have different gut bacteria — their microbiome — than those delivered by caesarean, research has shown. Scientists discovered that whereas vaginally born babies got most of their gut bacteria from their mother, caesarean babies instead had more bacteria associated with hospital environments in their guts. It isn't known if these differences at birth will have any effect on later health.
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