Using Gravitational Wave Astronomy to Observe a ‘Black Hole Symphony’ [Video]
Shrouded in mystery since their discovery, the phenomenon of black holes continues to be one of the most mind-boggling enigmas in our universe. In recent…
Vanderbilt University
A Probiotic Treatment for Obesity?
Alterations in the gut microbiota — the microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract — have been implicated in the development of obesity and other chronic…
Interdisciplinary Approach to Human Evolution Yields New Insights
The evolution of human biology should be considered part and parcel with the evolution of humanity itself, proposes Nicole Creanza, assistant professor of biological sciences….
Neurologists Map Brain Lesions for Clues to Criminal Behavior
New research examining brain lesions in individuals with a history of criminal behavior found a common link to a network involved in moral decision-making. The…
A New and Improved Method for Measuring the Masses of Solitary Stars
Astronomers have come up with a new and improved method for measuring the masses of millions of solitary stars, especially those with planetary systems. Getting…
Ancient Fossil Reveals New Details About How Brittle Stars Functioned
Biologists from Yale University have found an ancient fossil relative of sea urchins and starfish that displays a markedly different water vascular system — used…
New Study Shows Dogs Possess Significantly More Neurons Than Cats
The first study to actually count the number of cortical neurons in the brains of a number of carnivores, including cats and dogs, has found…
Newly Discovered Exoplanet KELT-9b is Hotter than Most Stars
An international team of astronomers has discovered a planet like Jupiter zipping around its host star every day, boiling at temperatures hotter than most stars…
Researchers Find Antibody That ‘Neutralizes’ Zika Virus
A team of researchers has isolated a human monoclonal antibody that in a mouse model “markedly reduced” infection by the Zika virus. The antibody, called…
Bird Brains Have Significantly More Neurons Than Primate Brains Of The Same Mass
A new study systematically measures the number of neurons in the brains of birds, revealing that they have significantly more neurons packed into their small…
Astronomers Explain Mystery Star’s Unusual Behavior
New research clarifies the mystery of the unusual fluctuations in light coming from distant star KIC 8462852. Sorry, E.T. lovers, but the results of a…
Astronomers Discover Binary Star System That Produces the Longest Lasting Known Eclipse
Astronomers have discovered a binary star system where, every 69 years, the sun disappears in a near-total eclipse that lasts for three and a half…
New Cosmic Model Favors “Big Rip” Demise of Universe
A fundamentally new mathematical formulation from Vanderbilt University has some significant implications for the ultimate fate of the universe. The universe can be a very…
Astronomers Identify the Chemical Signature of Planet-Eating Stars
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have developed a new model that shows the chemical signature of a star element by element and reveals how that signature…
Astronomers Discover New Class of “Hypervelocity Stars”
A newly published study details the discovery of a new class of “hypervelocity stars” – stars that are moving at speeds of more than a…
Scientists Develop Graphene-Coated Silicon Supercapacitor
Using porous silicon coated with graphene, material scientists at Vanderbilt University have developed the first supercapacitor that is made out of silicon. Solar cells that…
New Flicker Technique Measures Surface Gravity of Distant Stars
Astronomers at Vanderbilt have developed a new flicker technique to measure the surface gravity of distant stars. The technique can also be used to significantly…
Astronomers Discover a Hot Saturn-Like Planet
Using inexpensive ground-based telescopes, researchers discovered a hot Saturn-like exoplanet when its passed in front of it host star. Louisville, Kentucky — A scientific team…