Featured Research
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Engineers advance efforts to speed blood test results
Vanderbilt engineers are working on a process that ultimately may allow patients to get blood test results fast. Read MoreJan 13, 2020
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Vanderbilt-led team discovers new genetic disease and defines underlying mechanism
An international research team has discovered a new genetic syndrome caused by mutation of a single gene and named it CATIFA, an acronym for its core symptoms. Read MoreJan 13, 2020
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Post-9/11 wars may have killed twice as many Americans at home as in battle: Analysis
An analysis by Kip Viscusi finds that the post-9/11 wars may have resulted in more than twice as many indirect deaths back home as were lost in battle, due to the diversion of war costs from the U.S. economy and the subsequent impact on the nation’s health. Read MoreDec 17, 2019
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‘Tis the season to be stressed (and why you don’t have to be)
The holidays can be stressful - between wrapping presents, overeating, reflecting on the past year, and shopping for presents - there is a lot to deal with. But many of these common issues can be explained (and combated) with science. Read what our Vanderbilt researchers have to say about these common holiday stressors. Read MoreDec 12, 2019
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No, it doesn’t matter how nicely you wrap that gift. Except when it does.
A neatly wrapped gift will impress your acquaintances, but might leave your loved ones feeling let down when the gift doesn't live up to expectations, suggests new research by Vanderbilt postdoctoral scholar Erick Mas. Read MoreDec 5, 2019
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Study finds ‘frozen’ fear response may underlie PTSD
To explore how fear becomes entrenched, VUMC researchers traveled down the precise neuronal pathways in the brains of mice that trigger fear responses, and which normally extinguish the behaviors once the danger has passed. Read MoreNov 27, 2019
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What leads to compulsive alcohol use? With new experiments into binge drinking, researchers are finally getting answers
New study from neuroscientists at Vanderbilt provides initial answers to long-standing scientific questions on what causes the transition from moderate to compulsive alcohol consumption – and what makes some drinkers particularly vulnerable to developing alcohol use disorders. Read MoreNov 22, 2019
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High fiber, yogurt diet associated with lower lung cancer risk
A diet high in fiber and yogurt is associated with a reduced risk for lung cancer, according to a study by Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers. Read MoreOct 28, 2019
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Alert system for failing nuclear plant pipes uses thin films and sound vibrations
A failing pipe can be tough to spot. It may cause a puddle, produce another sign of damage, or simply burst before detection. A flooded kitchen or laundry room is messy and inconvenient, but the stakes are much, much higher in nuclear power plants – which on average contain many miles of pipeline. As concern... Read MoreOct 24, 2019
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High standards of female songbirds could be driving their mates to evolve
Picky females force male songbirds to become better singers. Read MoreSep 4, 2019
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Public options can strengthen society: Vanderbilt law professor
Robust public options for retirement, banking, child care and other broadly beneficial services – beyond health care – would position more Americans to participate equally in society, argues Vanderbilt law professor Ganesh Sitaraman in a new book. Read MoreSep 3, 2019
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How peer pressure does—and doesn’t—influence our choices
New research by marketing professor Kelly Haws helps explain why we match our friends' orders at a restaurant—but not exactly. Read MoreAug 27, 2019
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When it comes to investing, love at first sight doesn’t always pay off
It's very easy to get too attached to a particular investment—even when there are better options out there. New research by Vanderbilt business professors explains why it happens, and how to avoid it. Read MoreAug 20, 2019
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Rare study of Earth-sized planet uses technique pioneered by Vanderbilt professor
A groundbreaking study, using data from NASA and a technique pioneered by a Vanderbilt professor, is giving humankind a glimpse at a distant exoplanet with a size similar to Earth and a surface which may resemble Mercury or Earth’s Moon. Located nearly 49 light-years from Earth, the planet known… Read MoreAug 19, 2019
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Meet the alpacas that are helping researchers who study autism, Alzheimer’s and cancer
Written by Heidi Hall Alpacas aren’t the typical animals that drivers spot as they wind their way through rural Tennessee, but there’s a happy herd of them outside Waverly, where they eat the finest pellets, walk up and down a scenic hill and potentially save lives. They’re owned by… Read MoreAug 13, 2019
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The momentum myth: Staggering primaries didn’t affect outcome of 2016 nominating contests
During the 2016 primary season, voters didn't shift their preferences based on who was winning, according to an analysis of more than 325,000 tracking poll results. Read MoreJul 29, 2019
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When legislatures can and can’t check executive powers
The largest analysis of gubernatorial executive orders to date reveals important nuances that explain how and when legislatures can constrain executive power. Read MoreJul 29, 2019
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Cellular soldiers designed to kill cancer cells that get loose during surgery, stop metastasis
Cellular soldiers created using the body’s own defenses can track down and kill escaping cancer cells during surgeries, preventing metastasis and saving lives, a Vanderbilt University biomedical engineer has discovered, particularly in cases of triple negative breast cancer. Read MoreJul 24, 2019
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Decline of U.S. auto industry linked to midcentury shift in production models
A massive shift in production models by American automakers to limit the impact of labor unions may have unintentionally stifled innovation and led to the present decline of the U.S. auto industry, according to new research by Joshua Murray. Read MoreJul 18, 2019
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Human rights treaties benefit the world’s most oppressed
International human rights treaties really do work, and they work most effectively against the most repressive governments, argues political scientist Emily Hencken Ritter in a new book. Read MoreJun 17, 2019