International Academic Excellence Awards

        Small galaxies in the early universe might have had centers dominated by dark matter. New research dives into cosmological simulations to explore what these galaxies would look like in theuniverse today and what this might mean for the Milky Way’s dark matter past. Dark Matter History of Small Galaxies Recently, a research team led by Anna de Graaff (Max Planck Institute for Astronomy) used the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to examine six small, low-mass galaxies in the early universe. They discovered something surprising: the centers of these galaxies appeared to be dominated by dark matter, a hypothetical form of matter that neither emits nor absorbs light, among other strange qualities. Though dark matter is thought to make up roughly 85% of the matter in our universe, research shows that the cores of massive galaxies in the universe today contain mostly normal matter.To check whether the intriguing new JWST observations match our theoretical understa...

As of September 2024, vaccines remain a critical tool in managing public health, particularly with the continued rollout of updated COVID-19 vaccines and the seasonal flu shot. The UK’s NHS has opened bookings for flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, prioritizing those at higher risk, including the elderly, people with chronic conditions, and healthcare workers. This year’s vaccine campaigns aim to prevent a potential "tripledemic" of flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) during the winter months​(NHS England). In the U.S., the updated COVID-19 vaccine targets newer strains like KP.3.1.1 and continues to focus on reducing severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reinforced the importance of getting the updated vaccine, particularly for people over 50, those with compromised immune systems, and individuals with chronic conditions. Studies show that receiving the vaccine helps prevent serious outcomes and ma...

  Have you looked at your local newspaper today? Odds are that there is a news tidbit related to a genetic breakthrough buried within its pages. Moreover, whereas the genetics-related news article of 5 years ago likely reported on a discovery about a clinical fascinoma, today's article probably describes a discovery about a bread and butter disorder of primary care. Since many of us lack the time to read even the newspaper, here are a few examples of discoveries about the genetics of common disease that recently made news: * Diabetes: In the last few months, seven new common genetic variants have been discovered that contribute to type 2 diabetes risk. The total is now 10! At least one model suggests that individuals inheriting the highest-risk variants are four times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than are those inheriting the lowest risk variants. * Prostate cancer. In the last year, at least seven new genetic variants have been described that contribute to prostate cance...

        When a massive star explodes as a supernova, it does more than release an extraordinary amount of energy. Supernovae explosions are responsible for creating some of the heavy elements, including iron, which is blasted out into space by the explosion.On Earth, there are two accumulations of the iron isotope 60Fe in sea-floor sediments that scientists trace back to about 2 or 3 million years ago and to about 5 to 6 million years ago. The explosions that created the iron also dosed Earth with cosmic radiation. In new research submitted to The Astrophysical Journal Letters, scientists examine how much energy reached Earth from these explosions and how that radiation may have affected life on Earth. The paper is titled "Life in the Bubble: How a nearby supernova left ephemeral footprints on the cosmic-ray spectrum and indelible imprints on life," and it is available on the arXiv preprint server. The lead author is Caitlyn Nojiri from UC Santa Cruz. "Life on Earth ...

                                       A new study conducted in young adults shows similar cancer-linked gene changes in both vapers and smokers. “These findings have significant implications for public health and tobacco regulation that aim to keep vaping products away from young people, who are a particularly vulnerable population,” said study lead author Stella Tommasi. She's an associate professor of research population and public health sciences at the University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles. At issue is a process called DNA "methylation," essentially an on/off switch for genes that tells DNA if it should operate. The new study looked at the genetics of 30 young adults averaging 23.5 years of age. Some were exclusive e-cigarette users, vaping at least three times per week for at least six months; some were exclusive smokers, smoking at least three times per week for at l...

   This improvement is linked to a reduction in the brain’s 5HT4 serotonin receptors. Further studies aim to investigate drugs targeting these receptors to potentially treat cognitive deficits in depression, affirming the critical role of serotonin in both mood and cognitive functions. SSRI Antidepressants and Cognitive Enhancement Antidepressants have the potential to improve certain cognitive functions, such as verbal memory, according to new research on SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). The scientists measured brain function in patients before and after taking the SSRI escitalopram and correlated this to a drop in the level of one of the serotonin receptors in the brain and to cognitive improvements during treatment. This work is presented for the first time at the ECNP Conference in Milan, after recent publication in the journal Biological Psychiatry. Serotonin’s Role in Well-being and Depression Serotonin is often described as a ‘feel good’ chemical, and hig...

      Indiana University researchers have uncovered key insights into the dangerous phenomenon of "river avulsion," offering a way to predict when and where rivers may suddenly and dramatically change course. Published in Nature, this breakthrough study sheds light on a process that has shaped human history through devastating floods and continues to threaten millions of people worldwide.       Led by James "Jake" Gearon, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS) within the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University Bloomington, the research team has outlined for the first time the conditions that create river avulsions. Co-authors include Harrison Martin (Ph.D. EAS '23), a post-doctoral fellow now at CalTech, Clarke DeLisle (Ph.D. EAS '23) now at EVS, Inc, Eric Barefoot, a post-doctoral researcher at IU Bloomington and now a faculty member at UC-Riverside, and Professor Douglas Edmonds, the Malcolm and Sylvia Boyc...