SCIENCE

Jan 15 2025SCIENCE

Turning Big Data into Simple Control: How Surrogate Models Help

Imagine you're trying to steer a huge, complex system, like an ecosystem or a healthcare network. Agent-based models (ABMs) help us simulate these systems, but controlling them can be tough. Enter surrogate modeling: a clever technique that simplifies things. This method turns complex ABMs into smal

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Jan 15 2025SCIENCE

Cold Snap Survival: How Pacu Fish Adapt and React

Ever wondered how fish cope with sudden temperature drops? Scientists took a close look at pacu fish, exploring how they handle intermittent cold exposure. These fish were first acclimated to a cozy 28°C. Then, they were split into two groups – one stayed at 28°C, while the other experienced two qui

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Jan 15 2025SCIENCE

Exploring the Impact of Tech Use and Research Activities on Publication Quality

Research quality assessment can be tricky, with past studies showing varied results. Let's dive into how academic scientists use information and communication technologies (ICTs) and their research activities affect the quality of their publications. We took a unique approach by combining different

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Jan 14 2025SCIENCE

Moon Missions: New Players and Old Challengers in 2025

Are you ready for a busy year on the moon? Several companies are planning to land spacecraft on the lunar surface in 2025. First up are Firefly Aerospace and Ispace, who will launch their landers using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in January. Ispace is hoping for a better outcome this time, after an uns

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Jan 14 2025SCIENCE

The Journey of Proteins: How Genes React to Stress

Every protein goes through a life cycle, from birth to death. This is managed by the protein homeostasis system, which keeps proteins stable even when conditions change. But how does this system adapt to different stresses? Scientists used bacteria called Caulobacter crescentus to find out. They

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Jan 14 2025SCIENCE

Microbes Under Pressure: New Findings from the Theobald Smith Society

In November 2024, Rutgers University-New Brunswick hosted the fall meeting of the Theobald Smith Society. Eighty-six members from New Jersey attended, including students, teachers, and professionals from government and industry. This event showcased the wide range of research done by members of the

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Jan 14 2025SCIENCE

A Mouse Model for Testing Gammaherpesvirus Vaccines

Gammaherpesviruses are known for causing cancer and lifelong infections in humans. Unfortunately, there are no approved vaccines for major types like Epstein-Barr virus or Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus. Scientists often use a virus called murine gammaherpesvirus-68 (MHV68) to study these infections in

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Jan 14 2025SCIENCE

Discovering Cell-Based Sensors for EGF Detection

Ever wondered how scientists keep an eye on cellular interactions? One fascinating approach involves using live cells as tiny detectors. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays a serious role in cancer development, so tracking its activity is crucial. Traditional lab methods have drawbacks, but now, the

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Jan 14 2025SCIENCE

Exploring Virus Detection: A Look at Enrichment Methods for Mollusk Species

Invasive snails, like the freshwater snail, have made a big impact on food, the environment, and even our health. But they don't get the attention they deserve. Scientists wanted to know the best way to study viruses in snails. So, they compared two methods: whirling them really fast in either cesiu

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Jan 14 2025SCIENCE

Plant Smells Help Bugs Beat Defenses

When plants get attacked by bugs, they release special smells called herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs). Scientists wanted to know if these smells help or hurt certain insect larvae. Using two kinds of moth pests, the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and the tobacco cutworm (S. litura),

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