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Science News Archive 2009 - Page 176


Page 176 of 277

Human nose too cold for bird flu, says new study

Research suggests that avian influenza viruses struggle to grow and spread in the human nose due to its cooler temperature, making it less likely to cause respiratory illness. The study also found that mutated viruses with proteins from avian influenza viruses are unlikely to thrive at human nose temperatures.

SourceImperial College London·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateMay 14, 2009

Cholesterol-busting bug with a taste for waste

Researchers have isolated a new species of bacteria that can break down cholesterol, a contaminant found in urban sewage residues. The novel organism, Gordonia cholesterolivorans, has the potential to clean up cholesterol-related contamination and could be used for industrial applications.

SourceMicrobiology Society·JournalINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY·DateMay 14, 2009

Researchers gain genome-wide insights into patterns of the world's human population structures

Researchers used sophisticated statistical analyses to study genomic patterns of human population structure, revealing 18 significant axes of variation. These findings provide insights into the history of human evolution, evolutionary forces shaping local populations, and geographic correlations with genetic variation.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·DateMay 14, 2009

Brain's organization switches as children become adults

A new study reveals that child brains are differently organized than adult brains, but still capable of performing complex cognitive tasks. Researchers found that young brains have localized networks based on physical proximity, which transition to long-distance networks centered on functionality as children mature.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateMay 14, 2009

Bad side of eCommerce recommendation systems: Overemphasis on hits and blockbusters

Research in Management Science reveals that recommender systems can create self-reinforcing cycles favoring popular items, reducing diversity and serving consumers and producers poorly. To mitigate this issue, designers must consider modifications to limit popularity effects and promote exploration in their recommender systems.

DNA gripped in nanopores

A team of researchers used nanopores to investigate the movement of DNA in a gel, finding that larger pores reduce resistance and calculations based solely on electrostatic forces did not accurately predict results. The study's unique combination of techniques offers promising developments in single molecule techniques.