How our immune system detects broken DNA
Our immune system can detect when our own cells are damaged. This DNA damage can come from a variety of sources, such as the sun's UV rays, chemical agents like cigarette smoke, or from genotoxic..
Predict the onset and course of Huntington’s disease
Short protein fibers precede the formation of larger deposits that accumulate in the brains of those affected by the incurable Huntington's disease, sometimes called Huntington's chorea, res..
Galactic ‘wind’ stifling star formation is most distant yet seen
For the first time, a powerful 'wind' of molecules has been detected in a galaxy located 12 billion light-years away. Probing a time when the universe was less than 10 percent of its current..
Novel system to track brain chemicals
Researchers have developed a novel method for tracking the activity of small molecules in the brain, including the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. Pairing tiny artificial receptors with semi..
Properties of stem cells that determine cell fate identified
Researchers have identified intrinsic cell properties that influence the fate of neural stem cells, affecting what type of brain cell they will form: neurons, astrocytes, or oligodendrocytes. This dis..
Gender identities disrupted — and reinforced
New research analyzing the ways children's gender narratives reinforce or disrupt gender inequality found that older children — and girls — are more likely to tell alternative narratives that d..
Synthetic DNA vaccine effective against influenza A virus subtype
Currently available vaccines for the prevention of seasonal influenza virus infection have limited ability to induce immunity against diverse H3N2 viruses, an influenza A subtype that has led to high ..
Ancient farmers spared us from glaciers but profoundly changed Earth’s climate
New evidence shows that ancient farming practices led to a rise in the atmospheric emission of the heat-trapping gases carbon dioxide and methane — a rise that has continued since, unlike the trend a..
California’s large minority population drives state’s relatively low death rate
According to a new study, California's health profile was significantly better than the nation's as a whole — a profile largely driven by the state's minority population.
More daytime sleepiness, more Alzheimer’s risk?
Analysis of data captured during a long-term study of aging adults shows that those who report being very sleepy during the day were nearly three times more likely than those who didn't to have b..