Connecting Research and Experts with Journalists

• share
• favorite_border

A pioneering study has completed the first gap-free genome assembly of Scutellaria baicalensis, a medicinal plant known for its potent therapeutic properties. The research decodes the genetic basis of anthocyanin production, which gives the plant its signature blue-purple flowers, as well as key flavonoid compounds. This breakthrough opens the door to enhancing the plant’s medicinal applications and developing ornamental varieties with striking blue hues.

• share
• favorite_border

Changing precipitation patterns in the Neotropics, one of Earth’s most biodiverse regions, could threaten two-thirds of the area’s bird species by the year 2100 if climate change goes unchecked, according to new research led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and George Mason University. This would represent a dramatic loss, as the region is home to 30% of all bird species globally.

• share
• favorite_border

A difficult-to-describe nanoscale object called the magnetic skyrmion might one day yield new microelectronic devices that can do much more—for example, massive data storage—all while consuming much less power. But researchers need a more detailed understanding of skyrmions if they are ever to be used reliably in computational devices, including quantum computers. Berkeley Lab scientists led a project to make 3D X-ray images of skyrmions that can characterize or measure the orientations of spins inside the whole object.

• share
• favorite_border

Disc golf is a sport growing in popularity, but there hasn’t been much research into the best techniques – until now. Researchers and disc golf enthusiasts have determined the best thumb position on a disc to maximize angular and translational speeds.

• share
• favorite_border

Chemists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a new theoretical framework for more accurately predicting the behavior of catalysts. The study reveals how conditions such as temperature and pressure can change a catalyst’s structure, efficiency, and even the products it makes — and can potentially be used to control reaction outcomes.

• share
• favorite_border

Researchers from Sandia National Laboratories and Ohio State University are taking experimental navigation technology to the skies, pioneering a backup system to keep an airplane on course when it cannot rely on global positioning system satellites.

• share
• favorite_border

The Rush Minority Aging Research Study, the longest-running study of aging in Black men and women, celebrated its 20th anniversary by honoring study participants for devoting their time and efforts in helping advance science.

• share
• favorite_border

In a significant leap forward for vehicle navigation, researchers have developed an advanced system that integrates Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Inertial Measurement Units (IMU), and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) Odometry (LO). This novel approach addresses key challenges in urban navigation, offering a substantial boost in positioning accuracy and reliability, particularly in densely built environments where navigation systems typically falter.