Curated News: PLOS

Filters close
Released: 11-May-2016 4:05 PM EDT
Sea Star Juveniles Abundant, but Recovery Is Anything but Guaranteed
Oregon State University

An unprecedented number of juvenile sea stars have been observed off the Oregon coast over the past several months – just two years after one of the most severe marine ecosystem epidemics in recorded history nearly wiped the population out.

9-May-2016 8:00 AM EDT
Treating Sleep Apnea Could Reduce Emergencies in Hospitalized Patients
Thomas Jefferson University

According to research published today in PLOS ONE, treating high-risk hospitalized patients for sleep apnea may decrease the frequency of emergency rescues from hospital personnel, known as rapid response events.

Released: 9-May-2016 1:05 PM EDT
Specific Changes to Non-Coding RNA May Be Part of What Makes Us Human
PLOS

Differences between four microRNAs in humans, other great apes linked to expression levels, function.

Released: 9-May-2016 1:05 PM EDT
Specific Changes to Non-Coding RNA May Be Part of What Makes Us Human
PLOS

Differences between four microRNAs in humans, other great apes linked to expression levels, function.

6-May-2016 4:05 PM EDT
Modern Family Planning in India
UC San Diego Health

Family planning is a major health issue in India, the world’s second most populous country. Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine describe a novel program that involves increased male engagement and gender-equity counseling to measurably improve contraceptive practices and reduced marital sexual violence.

Released: 6-May-2016 1:05 PM EDT
Deadly Fungus Threatens African Frogs
University of Florida

Misty mountains, glistening forests and blue-green lakes make Cameroon, the wettest part of Africa, a tropical wonderland for amphibians.

Released: 6-May-2016 12:05 PM EDT
How Did Birds Get Their Wings? Bacteria May Provide a Clue, Say Scientists
University of Oxford

How did birds get their wings? Bacteria may provide a clue, say scientists.

Released: 5-May-2016 2:05 PM EDT
Why Are Women Less Likely to Be Prescribed Statins Than Men?
Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Study pinpoints four factors that account for sex disparity in statin therapy.

Released: 5-May-2016 2:05 PM EDT
Why Are Women Less Likely to Be Prescribed Statins Than Men?
Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Study pinpoints four factors that account for sex disparity in statin therapy.

Released: 5-May-2016 2:00 PM EDT
How a Female Sex Hormone May Protect Against STIs: Study
McMaster University

A team of researchers led by McMaster University’s Charu Kaushic has revealed for the first time how estradiol, a female sex hormone present during the menstrual cycle and found in oral contraceptives, may work to protect women against sexually transmitted viral infections.

Released: 5-May-2016 10:05 AM EDT
The Contented Shall Inherit the Earth. The Glum? Not So Much
Cornell University

ITHACA, N.Y. The survival of the fittest might just be the survival of the steadfast instead. Having a positive attitude could be evolutionarily advantageous, according to Cornell researchers who simulated generations of evolution in a computational model.

Released: 4-May-2016 2:05 PM EDT
New Evidence Connects Dung Beetle Evolution to Dinosaurs
Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Researchers have found an evolutionary connection between dinosaurs and dung beetles. An international team of scientists uncovered the first molecular evidence indicating that dung beetles evolved in association with dinosaurs. The findings place the origin of dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in the Lower Cretaceous period, with the first major diversification occurring in the middle of the Cretaceous. This timeline places their origins approximately 30 million years earlier than previously thought. The research explores the potential of a co-extinction with dinosaurs 66 million years ago. The study was published today in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.

Released: 4-May-2016 2:05 PM EDT
New Evidence Connects Dung Beetle Evolution to Dinosaurs
Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Researchers have found an evolutionary connection between dinosaurs and dung beetles. An international team of scientists uncovered the first molecular evidence indicating that dung beetles evolved in association with dinosaurs. The findings place the origin of dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in the Lower Cretaceous period, with the first major diversification occurring in the middle of the Cretaceous. This timeline places their origins approximately 30 million years earlier than previously thought. The research explores the potential of a co-extinction with dinosaurs 66 million years ago. The study was published today in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.

3-May-2016 10:05 AM EDT
Children in Developing World Infected with Parasite – Even Without Appearing Ill – May Be More Prone to Stunted Growth
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Children infected even just once with a certain type of waterborne parasite are nearly three times as likely to suffer from moderate or severe stunted growth by the age of two than those who are not – regardless of whether their infection made them feel sick, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health-led research suggests.

Released: 3-May-2016 2:05 PM EDT
Estimates of Cheetah Numbers Are 'Guesswork', Say Researchers
University of Oxford

Current estimates of the number of cheetahs in the wild are 'guesswork', say the authors of a new study which finds that the population in the cheetah stronghold of Maasai Mara, Kenya, is lower than previously thought.

Released: 3-May-2016 2:05 PM EDT
Estimates of Cheetah Numbers Are 'Guesswork', Say Researchers
University of Oxford

Current estimates of the number of cheetahs in the wild are 'guesswork', say the authors of a new study which finds that the population in the cheetah stronghold of Maasai Mara, Kenya, is lower than previously thought.

Released: 28-Apr-2016 3:05 PM EDT
Building on Shells: UGA Interdisciplinary Study Starts Unraveling Mysteries of Calusa Kingdom
University of Georgia

Centuries before modern countries such as Dubai and China started building islands, native peoples in southwest Florida known as the Calusa were piling shells into massive heaps to construct their own water-bound towns.

Released: 28-Apr-2016 2:05 PM EDT
Hunting Wolves Near Denali, Yellowstone Cuts Wolf Sightings in Half
University of Washington

Visitors to national parks are half as likely to see wolves in their natural habitat when wolf hunting is permitted just outside park boundaries, according to a new study.

Released: 28-Apr-2016 1:05 PM EDT
Analyzing the Psyche of Risky Drivers
McGill University

Road crashes are the world’s leading cause of preventable death and injury in people under 35, accounting for around 5 million casualties every year. Repeat offenders make a disproportionate contribution to these statistics – and are known for their poor response to education and prevention efforts. But a better understanding of the subconscious and emotional processes of high-risk drivers could make a difference, according to new research from McGill University.

Released: 27-Apr-2016 2:05 PM EDT
Influenza in the Tropics Shows Variable Seasonality
PLOS

Whilst countries in the tropics and subtropics exhibit diverse patterns of seasonal flu activity, they can be grouped into eight geographical zones to optimise vaccine formulation and delivery timing, according to a study published April 27, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Siddhivinayak Hirve from the World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, and colleagues.

Released: 27-Apr-2016 8:05 AM EDT
No Time to Get Fit? Think Again. Just 1 Minute of Intense Exercise Produces Significant Health Benefits
McMaster University

Researchers at McMaster University have found that a single minute of very intense exercise produces health benefits similar to longer, traditional endurance training. The findings put to rest the common excuse for not getting in shape: there is not enough time.

Released: 26-Apr-2016 4:05 PM EDT
Measuring Happiness on Social Media
University of Iowa

In a study published in March in the journal PLOS One, University of Iowa computer scientists used two years of Twitter data to measure users' life satisfaction, a component of happiness.

Released: 26-Apr-2016 3:05 PM EDT
Zika Present in Americas Longer Than Previously Thought
University of Florida

The Zika virus was present in Haiti several months before the first Zika cases were identified in Brazil, according to new research by infectious-disease specialists at the University of Florida.

Released: 26-Apr-2016 3:05 PM EDT
Newly Discovered Titanosaurian Dinosaur From Argentina, Sarmientosaurus
PLOS

Scientists have discovered Sarmientosaurus musacchioi, a new species of titanosaurian dinosaur, based on an complete skull and partial neck fossil unearthed in Patagonia, Argentina, according to a study published April 26, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Rubén Martínez from the Laboratorio de Paleovertebrados of the Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco (UNPSJB), Argentina, and colleagues.

Released: 26-Apr-2016 3:05 PM EDT
Newly Discovered Titanosaurian Dinosaur From Argentina, Sarmientosaurus
PLOS

Scientists have discovered Sarmientosaurus musacchioi, a new species of titanosaurian dinosaur, based on an complete skull and partial neck fossil unearthed in Patagonia, Argentina, according to a study published April 26, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Rubén Martínez from the Laboratorio de Paleovertebrados of the Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco (UNPSJB), Argentina, and colleagues.

Released: 26-Apr-2016 2:05 PM EDT
Fossils May Reveal 20-Million-Year History of Penguins in Australia
PLOS

Multiple dispersals of penguins reached Australia after the continent split from Antarctica, including 'giant penguins' that may have lived there after they went extinct elsewhere, according to a study published April 26, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Travis Park from Monash University, Australia, and colleagues.

Released: 26-Apr-2016 2:05 PM EDT
Fossils May Reveal 20-Million-Year History of Penguins in Australia
PLOS

Multiple dispersals of penguins reached Australia after the continent split from Antarctica, including 'giant penguins' that may have lived there after they went extinct elsewhere, according to a study published April 26, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Travis Park from Monash University, Australia, and colleagues.

21-Apr-2016 10:00 AM EDT
The High Cost of Norovirus Worldwide
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

While norovirus is often linked in the news to outbreaks on cruise ships, the highly contagious stomach bug sickens nearly 700 million around the world every year and results in roughly $4.2 billion in health care costs and $60.3 billion in societal costs annually, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research suggests.

26-Apr-2016 8:05 AM EDT
Cholesterol Levels, Not Statins, Influence Colorectal Cancer Risk, Penn Study Suggests
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Long-term use of the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins does not appear to decrease a patient’s risk of colorectal cancer, suggests a new, large case-control study from Penn Medicine researchers published this week in PLOS Medicine.

Released: 26-Apr-2016 8:00 AM EDT
First Ever Vaccine for Deadly Parasitic Infection May Help Prevent Another Global Outbreak
Ohio State University Center for Clinical and Translational Science

As the threat of the Zika virus rips through the Americas and news headlines, another more deadly tropical disease is also on the move: Leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection that currently endangers an estimated 350 million people around the world. By combining two decades of research, ancient tribal medicine and the latest in gene editing technology – a team of scientists is creating what could be the first ever live-attenuated vaccine to prevent Leishmaniasis both here and abroad.

Released: 21-Apr-2016 3:05 PM EDT
13-Million-Year-Old 'Storyteller' Crocodylian Fossils Show Evidence for Parallel Evolution
PLOS

Long-snouted crocodylians in South America, India evolved separately to adopt river-dwelling lifestyle, protruding eyes.

Released: 21-Apr-2016 3:05 PM EDT
13-Million-Year-Old 'Storyteller' Crocodylian Fossils Show Evidence for Parallel Evolution
PLOS

Long-snouted crocodylians in South America, India evolved separately to adopt river-dwelling lifestyle, protruding eyes.

Released: 21-Apr-2016 2:05 PM EDT
Leg-Wing Cooperation in Baby Birds, Dinosaurs Is Key Transition in Origin of Flight
American Museum of Natural History

New research based on high-resolution x-ray movies reveals that despite having extremely underdeveloped muscles and wings, young birds acquire a mature flight stroke early in their development, initially relying heavily on their legs and wings to work in tandem to power the strenuous movement. The new study, published today in the journal PLOS ONE, is important for understanding the development of flight in modern birds and reconstructing its origins in extinct dinosaurs.

Released: 21-Apr-2016 2:05 PM EDT
Leg-Wing Cooperation in Baby Birds, Dinosaurs Is Key Transition in Origin of Flight
American Museum of Natural History

New research based on high-resolution x-ray movies reveals that despite having extremely underdeveloped muscles and wings, young birds acquire a mature flight stroke early in their development, initially relying heavily on their legs and wings to work in tandem to power the strenuous movement. The new study, published today in the journal PLOS ONE, is important for understanding the development of flight in modern birds and reconstructing its origins in extinct dinosaurs.

Released: 20-Apr-2016 12:05 PM EDT
Grassroots Tactics Could Improve Global Environmental Policies
Michigan State University

Much of the world may cringe as lemurs are hunted and killed or when entire forests are burnt and harvested for charcoal. However, if local residents don't perceive the actions as crimes or they believe there's a low risk of getting caught, then poaching and deforestation will continue.

Released: 20-Apr-2016 12:05 PM EDT
Grassroots Tactics Could Improve Global Environmental Policies
Michigan State University

Much of the world may cringe as lemurs are hunted and killed or when entire forests are burnt and harvested for charcoal. However, if local residents don't perceive the actions as crimes or they believe there's a low risk of getting caught, then poaching and deforestation will continue.

19-Apr-2016 11:05 AM EDT
Scientists Describe New Model to Enhance Zika Virus Research
University of Wisconsin–Madison

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) have developed one of the first mouse models for the study of Zika virus. The model will allow researchers to better understand how the virus causes disease and aid in the development of antiviral compounds and vaccines.

Released: 18-Apr-2016 2:05 PM EDT
The Size of City Parks Can Predict Residents' Well-Being
Clemson University

CLEMSON — Rapid expansion of cities around the world has raised concerns about deteriorating quality of life in urban areas. Lincoln Larson, assistant professor in the Clemson University parks, recreation and tourism management department, said people often struggle to find ways to preserve health and happiness amidst sometimes harsh, stress-inducing urban environments. However, it appears that one path to long-term happiness may lead straight through the closest park.

Released: 14-Apr-2016 5:05 PM EDT
Combination Therapy May Offer Better Outcomes for Patients with Retinoblastoma
Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Researchers at The Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) have demonstrated that targeting survivin – a protein that inhibits apoptosis or cell death – enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy in cells and mouse models of retinoblastoma (Rb).

Released: 13-Apr-2016 4:05 PM EDT
Close Encounters Don't Tell Whole Story of Hunted Species in Amazon Ecosystems
Virginia Tech

Evidence of wildlife passage, such as tracks, scat, fur, and disturbed surroundings, is a more accurate tool for assessing wildlife conservation status than actual encounters with animals, according to an international team of scientists from six universities, including Virginia Tech.

Released: 13-Apr-2016 3:05 PM EDT
Fresh Look at Trope About Eskimo Words for Snow
University of California, Berkeley

That old trope about there being at least 50 Eskimo words for snow has a new twist. Researchers at UC Berkeley and Carnegie Mellon University have taken a fresh look at words for snow, taking on an urban legend referred to by some as "the great Eskimo vocabulary hoax."

Released: 13-Apr-2016 3:05 PM EDT
Fresh Look at Trope About Eskimo Words for Snow
University of California, Berkeley

That old trope about there being at least 50 Eskimo words for snow has a new twist. Researchers at UC Berkeley and Carnegie Mellon University have taken a fresh look at words for snow, taking on an urban legend referred to by some as "the great Eskimo vocabulary hoax."

11-Apr-2016 7:00 AM EDT
Sexist Video Games Decrease Empathy for Female Violence Victims
Ohio State University

Young male gamers who strongly identify with male characters in sexist, violent video games show less empathy than others toward female violence victims, a new study found.

13-Apr-2016 2:00 PM EDT
UCLA Research Suggests That Gut Bacteria Could Help Prevent Cancer
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences

New research offers evidence that anti-inflammatory “health beneficial” gut bacteria can slow or stop the development of some types of cancer.

Released: 13-Apr-2016 1:05 PM EDT
Study Discovers Link Between Cancer and Autism
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics

A group of University of Iowa researchers has shown that although patients who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a higher burden of mutations in cancer-promoting oncogenes, they actually have lower rates of cancer.

Released: 13-Apr-2016 1:05 PM EDT
Study Discovers Link Between Cancer and Autism
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics

A group of University of Iowa researchers has shown that although patients who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a higher burden of mutations in cancer-promoting oncogenes, they actually have lower rates of cancer.

Released: 12-Apr-2016 2:05 PM EDT
First Description of 2015 Zika Virus Outbreak in Rio de Janiero
PLOS

Since the recent link to severe neurological defects in infants born to mothers infected during pregnancy, Zika virus (ZIKV) has become a public health and research priority. A study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases reports details from the 2015 Zika outbreak in Rio de Janeiro--the first with a high proportion of cases confirmed by molecular diagnosis--and proposes changes to the current diagnostic criteria for ZIKV disease.

Released: 12-Apr-2016 2:05 PM EDT
First Description of 2015 Zika Virus Outbreak in Rio de Janiero
PLOS

Since the recent link to severe neurological defects in infants born to mothers infected during pregnancy, Zika virus (ZIKV) has become a public health and research priority. A study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases reports details from the 2015 Zika outbreak in Rio de Janeiro--the first with a high proportion of cases confirmed by molecular diagnosis--and proposes changes to the current diagnostic criteria for ZIKV disease.

Released: 7-Apr-2016 10:05 PM EDT
New Models Predicting Where to Find Fossils
University of Adelaide

An international team of scientists have developed a way to help locate fossils of long-extinct animals.

22-Mar-2016 10:05 AM EDT
Want to Know Where Threatened Species Live? Look to the Clouds
University at Buffalo

A new study analyzes cloud cover around the world over 15 years. It finds that variations in cloud cover can help researchers predict where different species live — information that could aid conservation and management efforts.



close
1.50608