https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from DePaul University A new study provides many new insights into the biology of the prehistoric gigantic shark megalodon (megatooth shark), which lived nearly worldwide 15–3.6 million years ago. Paleobiology professor Kenshu Shimada of DePaul University led the study along with 28 other shark, fossil, and vertebrate anatomy experts from around the globe. Findings from the study are published in the journal Palaeontologia Electronica. https://phys.org/news/2025-03-megalodon-body-size-uncover-aquatic.html Plants & Animals Sun, 09 Mar 2025 19:10:01 EDT news660497221 Cotton is the primary source of natural fiber on Earth, yet only four of 50 known species are suitable for textile production. Computer scientists at DePaul University applied a bioinformatics workflow to reconstruct one of the most complete genomes of a top cotton species, African domesticated Gossypium herbaceum cultivar Wagad. Experts say the results give scientists a more complete picture of how wild cotton was domesticated over time and may help to strengthen and protect the crop for farmers in the U.S., Africa and beyond. https://phys.org/news/2023-06-scientists-sequence-cotton-genome.html Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:30:04 EDT news606670202 Rapid deforestation in eastern Paraguay is changing the region's subtropical ecosystems, creating a fragmented landscape of forest remnants. Along the edges between the disappearing forests and new soy farms, species from both habitats collide in novel interactions. A study from DePaul University researcher Noé de la Sancha models new dimensions of biodiversity among small mammal populations, as a function of how far they dwell from the forest's edge. The research is published in the journal Diversity and Distributions. https://phys.org/news/2023-01-edge-small-mammals-threatened-biodiverse.html Plants & Animals Tue, 17 Jan 2023 09:52:03 EST news593171521 When the COVID-19 vaccine became widely available in spring of 2021, Black and Latinx populations had a slower uptake of the vaccine. While this gap has narrowed over time, new research from DePaul University examines why people in communities of color delayed their vaccinations. The findings may inform more persuasive messages to break down vaccine hesitancy around the COVID-19 booster, flu shot and future vaccines, said lead researcher Joanna Buscemi. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-10-covid-vaccine-effectiveness-medical-mistrust.html Vaccination Mon, 24 Oct 2022 08:30:31 EDT news585819012 The genetic evolution of freshwater fish in Ecuador could unlock new insights for conservation ecologists. A new collaboration between biologists and computer scientists at DePaul seeks to sequence the genomes of these species. https://phys.org/news/2022-07-genome-tropical-freshwater-fish-reveal.html Evolution Thu, 14 Jul 2022 15:40:32 EDT news577032027 Untreated depression in pregnant people is strongly linked to low birth weight and preterm birth, with Black pregnant people suffering worse outcomes than their white peers, according to a new meta-analysis led by Shannon Simonovich, assistant professor at DePaul University's School of Nursing. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-10-untreated-depression-pregnant-people-linked.html Psychology & Psychiatry Wed, 06 Oct 2021 10:22:52 EDT news552734569 Office clutter, such as extra papers, supplies or trash, can be a frustrating nuisance. Joseph Ferrari, a social-community psychologist at DePaul University, said it also can have a very real negative effect on mental health and productivity. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-08-clutter-real-effect-mental-health.html Psychology & Psychiatry Fri, 27 Aug 2021 12:10:52 EDT news549285049 Most youth living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) have not been diagnosed, according to a new prevalence study from researchers at DePaul University and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, published by the journal Child & Youth Care Forum. Leonard A. Jason, a professor of psychology at DePaul University, led the seven-year study to screen more than 10,000 children and teenagers in the Chicago area. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-01-youth-undiagnosed-chronic-fatigue-syndrome.html Pediatrics Thu, 23 Jan 2020 16:24:10 EST news499019045 Megalolamna paradoxodon is the name of a new extinct shark described by an international research team who based their discovery on fossilized teeth up to 4.5 centimeters (1.8 inches) tall found from the eastern and western United States (California and North Carolina), Peru and Japan. https://phys.org/news/2016-10-large-prehistoric-shark.html Archaeology Mon, 03 Oct 2016 09:26:59 EDT news394705600 The use of unmanned aerial vehicles—drones—to document and monitor a ravaged landscape on the Dead Sea Plain in Jordan for the past three years reveals that looting continues at the site, though at a measurably reduced pace, according to a DePaul University archaeologist. https://phys.org/news/2016-02-drones-archaeologist-uav-fifa.html Archaeology Sun, 14 Feb 2016 15:04:34 EST news374684665 An international team of scientists have discovered two new plankton-eating fossil fish species of the genus called Rhinconichthys (Rink-O-nik-thees) from the oceans of the Cretaceous Period, about 92 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the planet. https://phys.org/news/2016-02-fossil-discovery-extraordinary-big-mouthed-fish.html Archaeology Mon, 08 Feb 2016 16:26:50 EST news374171203 An international team of scientists has discovered a new lineage of extinct plankton-feeding sharks, Pseudomegachasma, that lived in warm oceans during the age of the dinosaurs nearly 100 million years ago. The fossil sharks had tiny teeth very similar to a modern-day, plankton-eating megamouth shark. https://phys.org/news/2015-09-lineage-prehistoric-plankton-eating-sharks.html Archaeology Tue, 22 Sep 2015 05:50:47 EDT news362119825 The odds of picking a perfect bracket for the NCAA men's basketball March Madness championship tournament are a staggering less than one in 9.2 quintillion (that's 9,223,372,036,854,775,808), according to Jeff Bergen, mathematics professor at DePaul University. https://phys.org/news/2015-03-ncaa-bracket-impossible-mathematician.html Mathematics Thu, 05 Mar 2015 14:20:33 EST news344787617