Browse Articles

Investigating Lemna minor and microorganisms for the phytoremediation of nanosilver and microplastics

Iyer et al. | Apr 01, 2024

Investigating <i>Lemna minor</i> and microorganisms for the phytoremediation of nanosilver and microplastics

The authors looked at phytoremediation, the process by which plants are used to remove pollutants from our environment, and the ability of Lemna minor to perform phytoremediation in various simulated polluted environments. The authors found that L. minor could remove pollutants from the environment and that the addition of bacteria increased this removal.

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Using satellite surface temperature data to monitor urban heat island

Meister et al. | Feb 13, 2026

Using satellite surface temperature data to monitor urban heat island
Image credit: Meister, Horvath, and Brown de Colstoun

This manuscript investigates the urban heat island (UHI) effect by utilizing two satellite datasets: Landsat (high spatial resolution, lower temporal resolution) and MODIS (lower spatial resolution, high temporal resolution). The authors hypothesized that Landsat would provide better spatial detail, while MODIS would better capture temporal variations. Their analysis in the Washington D.C.–Baltimore region supports these hypotheses, demonstrating that Landsat offers finer spatial details, whereas MODIS provides more consistent seasonal patterns and better detects heatwave frequencies.

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Obscurity of eyebrows influences recognition of human emotion and impacts older adolescents

Zhang et al. | Jan 20, 2025

Obscurity of eyebrows influences recognition of human emotion and impacts older adolescents
Image credit: Ernesto Norman

Here, seeking to better understand how facial features provide important visual cues to help convey emotions, the authors evaluated the accuracy and reaction time of participants in regards to experimental photographs where a person's eyebrows were obscured and ones where they were not. Their findings revealed that removing eyebrows resulted in a significant decrease in a participant's ability to recognize anger, with adolescents most likely to misidentify emotions.

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Lettuce seed germination in the presence of microplastic contamination

Kochar et al. | Dec 09, 2024

Lettuce seed germination in the presence of microplastic contamination

Microplastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue, particularly in the context of its potential impacts on ecosystems and human health. In this study, we explored the ability of plants, specifically those cultivated for human consumption, to absorb microplastics from their growing medium. We found no evidence of microplastic absorption in both intact and mechanically damaged roots. This outcome suggests that microplastics larger than 10 μm may not be readily absorbed by the root systems of leafy crops such as lettuce (L. sativa).

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The effect of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress on the recovery time of seizures

Kantipudi et al. | Jul 31, 2023

The effect of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress on the recovery time of seizures

Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress are both known to play a role in the occurrence and severity of seizures. This study tested effects of oxidative stress from seizures by evaluating the longevity, egg-laying, and electroshock resilience of C. elegans. Results revealed that oxidative stress and neuroinflammation diminish longevity and reproductivity while also increasing recovery time after seizures in C. elegans. This research can help lead to future studies and may also lead to finding new therapeutics for epilepsy.

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Using the COmplex PAthway SImulator, Stage Analysis, and Chemical Kinetics to Develop a Novel Solution to Lower Tau Concentrations in Alzheimer’s Disease

Carroll et al. | Sep 28, 2020

Using the COmplex PAthway SImulator, Stage Analysis, and Chemical Kinetics to Develop a Novel Solution to Lower Tau Concentrations in Alzheimer’s Disease

In this study, the authors ask whether a Tau immunotherapy treatment, Hsp70 protein treatment, or dual treatment approach of both the Tau imunotherapy treatment and Hsp70 protein treatment leads to a greater reduction in Tau protein concentration in Alzheimer's disease. Overall, they conclude that the effectiveness of the treatment ultimately relies on the stage of Alzheimer’s.

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