Tag

Nature Communications

All articles tagged with #nature communications

health10 days ago•27 min saved

9/11 PTSD linked to signs of accelerated aging, study finds

A Stony Brook-led study of 393 World Trade Center responders (232 with PTSD) found widespread molecular changes in blood—114 proteins and seven metabolites—that affect brain function, immune activity, energy metabolism and tissue repair, with evidence of accelerated aging in organs like the heart, kidneys, liver and lungs. The findings support PTSD as a “whole-body” condition with long-term health implications and may help explain higher risks of chronic diseases, though the study shows associations rather than causation and has limitations (e.g., underrepresentation of women and a unique responder population). The research, funded by the CDC and NIH, was published in Nature Communications.

via New York Post|

#911 #aging #health

science21 days ago•6 min saved

Long-Lived Heliconius Butterflies Reveal Hidden Longevity Tricks

Some tropical Heliconius butterflies live up to 348 days, far longer than relatives, with pollen-rich diets contributing to longer lifespans but not fully explaining the longevity. The researchers found evidence of evolved anti-aging mechanisms in these butterflies, suggesting they could serve as model organisms for human aging research; even without pollen, several species remain long-lived. The study used a grip-strength test called The Pullinator to assess age-related decline, highlighting nutrition and intrinsic longevity adaptations across the genus.

via CNN|

#aging #heliconius #longevity

science29 days ago•11 min saved

Left-turning by Default: Humans Exhibit a Counterclockwise Walking Bias

Across studies in Spain and Japan, as well as with people walking alone, humans show a consistent counterclockwise bias when moving in open spaces, not explained by culture or handedness; stronger in children, suggesting a biomechanical or neural basis with possible public-space design implications.

via ZME Science|

#biomechanics #crowd-dynamics #human-behavior

science1 month ago•3 min saved

Humans show a universal anticlockwise walking bias, study finds

New experiments show people naturally drift counterclockwise when walking in crowds, a bias observed in Spain and Japan across genders and ages (more pronounced in children). The reason remains unclear, but understanding it could improve crowd and evacuation simulations and the design of everyday spaces.

via The Guardian|

#anticlockwise-walking #biomechanics #crowd-dynamics

publishing1 month ago•6 min saved

Tough Peer Feedback May Boost a Paper’s Future Impact

An AI-assisted analysis of public peer-review reports for 8,000 Nature Communications papers (2017–2024) finds that papers subjected to tougher criticism and larger revision costs tend to be more highly cited in the following three years. While the quality of reviewer comments correlates with impact, how constructive the feedback is does not, suggesting that rigorous review can both reflect ambitious work and help raise its future influence.

via Nature|

#ai #citations #nature-communications

science1 month ago•9 min saved

One Psilocybin Dose May Rewire the Brain for Weeks

A UCSF and Imperial College London study found that a single 25 mg dose of psilocybin increases brain entropy during the experience and is followed by lasting changes in brain connectivity for about a month, alongside reported boosts in psychological insight and well-being. The results suggest the psychedelic experience itself may drive durable mental health benefits and could inform optimized psilocybin-based therapies.

via SciTechDaily|

#brain-entropy #nature-communications #neural-connectivity

technology2 months ago•59 min saved

Centuries-Long, Non-Toxic Water Battery Aims to Transform Grid Storage

Chinese researchers report a non-toxic aqueous battery using covalent organic polymers as the anode with a neutral water-based electrolyte, achieving an estimated 120,000 charge cycles—about 300 years—before replacement. The electrolytes are safe enough to dispose of directly in the environment, addressing toxicity concerns of water-based batteries, though energy density remains lower than lithium-ion. The technology could be well suited for large-scale grid storage where safety and longevity are prioritized.

via Live Science|

#aqueous-battery #covalent-organic-polymers #grid-storage

science2 months ago•5 min saved

Triangular Aluminum Molecule Could Challenge Platinum in Catalysis

Researchers at King’s College London synthesized a novel Al3 triangular compound, cyclotrialumane, that remains intact in solution and reacts with ethylene at room temperature to form unprecedented aluminum–carbon rings, a reactivity once seen only in precious metals, signaling a potential path to replacing platinum-group catalysts—though the work is early-stage and lab-scale, published in Nature Communications.

via Indian Defence Review|

#aluminum #catalysis #cyclotrialumane

science2 months ago•7 min saved

Blood biomarker pTau217 flags Alzheimer's risk years before symptoms

A Mass General Brigham-led study shows a blood test measuring pTau217 can predict Alzheimer's risk years before symptoms appear, potentially enabling earlier, less invasive screening than PET scans; while promising, more research is needed to validate across diverse populations and translate these findings into clinical practice.

via Indian Defence Review|

#alzheimers #blood-biomarker #early-detection

space2 months ago•2 min saved

Curiosity Finds Ancient Organic Clues on Mars, Still No Evidence of Life

NASA's Curiosity rover detected organic molecules in a dried lakebed in Gale Crater on Mars, including benzothiophene and a nitrogen-bearing compound reminiscent of DNA precursors. While these are building blocks for life and suggest preserved chemistry from about 3.5 billion years ago, the findings do not prove life existed there and could result from meteorite delivery or geological processes. The discovery keeps Mars as a prime candidate for past habitability and sets the stage for deeper analysis by the upcoming Rosalind Franklin rover (2028), with the results published in Nature Communications.

via The Guardian|

#astrobiology #curiosity-rover #mars

science2 months ago•33 min saved

Curiosity uncovers organic clues in ancient Martian clay

NASA’s Curiosity rover analyzed clay minerals in Gale Crater’s Glen Torridon region and identified over 20 organic compounds, including a nitrogen-containing molecule resembling proto-DNA, suggesting ancient Martian environments could have supported life. While not proof of past life, the findings show large, complex organics can be preserved in the shallow subsurface and guide future missions (e.g., Rosalind Franklin, Dragonfly) in the search for life’s building blocks.

via Yahoo|

#curiosity-mars-rover #glen-torridon #mars-habitability

science3 months ago•4 min saved

Ancient North Sea asteroid sparked a colossal 100-meter tsunami

Researchers confirm that the Silverpit Crater beneath the North Sea was formed by a 160-meter-wide asteroid about 43–46 million years ago, triggering a tsunami over 100 meters tall and blasting a 1.5-km-high plume of rock and water. Using advanced seismic imaging and analyses of shocked minerals, the study resolves the crater’s origin as an asteroid impact and highlights the rare preservation of an oceanic impact site.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#asteroid-impact #nature-communications #science

science4 months ago•34 min saved

Nematodes thrive in the Atacama Desert, reshaping ideas about life in extreme dryness

A University of Cologne–led study published in Nature Communications finds a diverse nematode community in soils across six sites in the Atacama Desert, the world's driest non-polar desert, with 21 families and 36 genera; higher precipitation correlates with greater biodiversity, and asexual reproduction appears to aid survival in high-altitude areas, though some regions show simplified food webs, offering insights into life’s resilience in extreme aridity amid climate-change context.

via Yahoo|

#atacama-desert #climate-change #nature-communications

science4 months ago•34 min saved

Satellites map global bridge vulnerabilities

An international study of 744 long-span bridges shows North America and Africa have the riskiest infrastructure, with many spans dating from the 1960s; researchers say space-based radar can detect millimetre-scale deformations, offering a cost-effective, global monitoring method that could flag problems earlier and reduce the number of high-risk bridges—especially as satellites like Nisar enable near-real-time tracking.

via Yahoo|

#bridge-safety #infrastructure-monitoring #nature-communications

health4 months ago•265 min saved

Two-Day Oatmeal Diet Cuts LDL by 10%, Study Finds

A German study from the University of Bonn found that consuming 300 grams of oats per day on a calorie‑restricted diet for two days lowered “bad” LDL cholesterol by about 10%, with slight weight loss and blood pressure reductions among adults with metabolic syndrome; the effect may stem from gut microbiome changes. While oats aren’t a replacement for medication, short, regular oat-based diets could help keep cholesterol in the normal range and may reduce diabetes risk, though diabetics should monitor carbs and ensure gluten-free oats if needed.

via AOL.com|

#health #ldl-cholesterol #metabolic-syndrome