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Key takeaways The team used the environmental circumstances and fecal samples collected from the six years prior to the El Niño drought to study the relationship between the endocrinologic stress response and survival in the white-faced capuchins. Monkeys who showed a steeper rise in these stress hormones during the mild droughts were more likely to survive the severe El Niño drought.

Science + Technology UCLA neurobiologists' discovery may lead to new treatments for millions of parasitic infections around the world Key takeaways Globally, over 600 million people are infected with the skin-penetrating threadworm, Strongyloides stercoralis, mostly in tropical and subtropical regions with poor sanitation infrastructure.

Findings could impact the interpretation of previous clinical trial results, including the EMBARK trial, which relied on standard imaging A new study led by researchers at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has found that many cases of high-risk nonmetastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer may be more advanced than previously thought.

Research from UCLA and NASA finds molecular orientation pattern likely results from factors other than chemical predisposition Key takeaways A recent paper in Nature Communications from researchers at UCLA and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, offers new insight into the mystery of life. Previous experiments focused on existing molecular biology structures suggest life is predisposed to the molecular homochirality: the preference for "one-handedness" as we see today.

Known for its axon guidance properties, new research suggests protein is critical in guiding neural development Key takeaways UCLA researchers have uncovered a surprising new role for netrin1, a crucial protein in neural development, as a regulator that limits bone morphogenetic protein signaling in the developing spinal cord.

Key takeaways Buildup of a protein called filamentous actin, or F-actin, in the brain inhibits the removal of cellular wastes, including DNA, lipids, proteins and organelles. The resulting accumulation of waste diminishes neuronal functions and contributes to cognitive decline. By tweaking a few very specific genes in the neurons of aging fruit flies, the researchers prevented F-actin buildup, maintained cellular recycling and extended the healthy lifespan of fruit flies by approximately 30%.

Simulations reveal PAHs' affinity for binding to DNA - and evading repair - in study co-led by county firefighter Science + Technology Simulations reveal PAHs' affinity for binding to DNA - and evading repair - in study co-led by county firefighter Key takeaways During a fire, chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, are released into the environment, exposing everyone from firefighters to backyard grillers.

FINDINGS UCLA scientists have identified the protein GPNMB as a critical regulator in the heart's healing process after a heart attack. Using animal models, they demonstrate that bone marrow-derived immune cells called macrophages secrete GPNMB, which binds to the receptor GPR39, promoting heart repair.

New single-dose therapy shows promise in enhancing repair after heart attacks in preclinical models New single-dose therapy shows promise in enhancing repair after heart attacks in preclinical models Key takeaways An experimental therapeutic monoclonal antibody therapy could become the first to directly enhance tissue repair in the heart following a heart attack.

Their new 'ZeroCAL' method is designed for compatibility with existing cement plants Key takeaways The current method of producing cement leaves a large carbon footprint, with nearly 1 kilogram of carbon dioxide being emitted for every kilogram of cement. UCLA engineers have developed a new method called "ZeroCAL," for zero carbon lime, that uses calcium hydroxide rather than traditional limestone to produce the lime used in cement.

Findings could help pinpoint cell types most vulnerable to conditions like schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder Findings could help pinpoint cell types most vulnerable to conditions like schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder Key takeaways A UCLA-led study has created a map of DNA modification in two regions of the brain critical to learning, memory and emotional regulation.

The discovery could lead to better noninvasive sensors for studying chemical reactions involving chiral molecules Science + Technology The discovery could lead to better noninvasive sensors for studying chemical reactions involving chiral molecules Key takeaways Chirality - a geometric property that allows molecules to exist in two distinct forms that are chemically identical but are 3D mirror images of each other, like a right and left hand - has a powerful effect on nuclear spin state but was thought to have no effect on coupling between spins.

Health + Behavior Using small 3D models that mimic a patient's tumor, UCLA researchers can quickly test hundreds of potential drugs Researchers at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have used cells from sarcoma patients to develop the largest collection of lab-grown 3D mini-tumors, or "organoids," to better understand this rare cancer and identify therapies most likely to work for each individual patient.

The discovery of genes that marked vulnerable neurons could open options for therapeutic approaches Health + Behavior The discovery of genes that marked vulnerable neurons could open options for therapeutic approaches Researchers have for the first time identified degeneration-associated "molecular markers" - observable changes in cells and their gene-regulating networks - that are shared by several forms of dementia that affect different regions of the brain.

Key takeaways UCLA researchers have discovered that squamous cell skin cancers exhibit metabolic flexibility, allowing them to switch nutrient sources and resist treatments targeting a single metabolic pathway. The study underscores the potential of combination therapies that simultaneously target multiple metabolic pathways to more effectively combat skin cancer and other cancers with similar metabolic profiles.

While the result is different from what they hoped, it's also exactly what they thought it should be Science + Technology While the result is different from what they hoped, it's also exactly what they thought it should be Key takeaways Physicists, including core UCLA researchers, have accurately measured the mass of the W boson - more precisely than a previous attempt at measuring the mass - and found that it is consistent with the Standard Model's predictions of 80 357 ± 6 MeV.

The finding could expand research on vision in humans and autonomous vehicle development Key takeaways Fruit flies use vision to head toward interesting things, but also to stay steady during flight. To accomplish this, the eyes need to fixate on the visual background while noticing objects that might indicate food or danger.

Science + Technology A cumulative adversity index created by researchers could be adapted to help conservation efforts Key takeaways The cumulative adversity index for people quantifies numerous measures of hardship, such as poverty and stress to understand health and longevity over the individual's lifespan.

Older birds tend to have more selective friendships with stronger bonds and may know better where to find food Science + Technology Older birds tend to have more selective friendships with stronger bonds and may know better where to find food Key takeaways Young griffon vultures move frequently between sleeping sites in different locations, interacting with many friends.

Science + Technology Radiation from dark matter may have kept hydrogen gas hot enough to condense into black holes Key takeaways Supermassive black holes typically take billions of years to form. But the James Webb Space Telescope is finding them not that long after the Big Bang - before they should have had time to form.