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Science News Archive May 2012 - Page 19


Page 19 of 31

Growing risks from hatchery fish

Research reveals that salmon raised in hatcheries can harm wild populations through competition for food and habitat. This has significant implications for long-term survival of wild salmon species, highlighting the need for caution and further research to ensure sustainable fisheries management.

SourceSpitfire Strategies·JournalEnvironmental Biology of Fishes·DateMay 14, 2012

Study sheds new light on importance of human breast milk ingredient

A new University of Illinois study shows that human milk oligosaccharides produce short-chain fatty acids that feed a beneficial microbial population in the infant gut. The composition of bacteria changes over time, with different HMO components producing distinct patterns of short-chain fatty acids.

Are people with HIV/AIDS more prone to sudden cardiac death?

Researchers conducted a 10-year retrospective study on HIV patients in San Francisco, finding that they suffered sudden cardiac death at a rate four times higher than the general population. The study suggests that HIV changes the electrophysiology of the heart, increasing the risk of conduction abnormalities and sudden death.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateMay 14, 2012

Anthropologists discover earliest form of wall art

Anthropologists have uncovered the earliest form of wall art, a 1.5-ton block of engraved limestone found in Abri Castanet, southern France. The piece is approximately 37,000 years old and provides evidence of the role art played in the daily lives of Early Aurignacian humans.

SourceNew York University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 14, 2012

Beyond the high-speed hard drive: Topological insulators open a path to room-temperature spintronics

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have demonstrated unique new materials for innovative electronic and magnetic applications. Bismuth selenide's surface electrons flow at room temperature, making it an attractive candidate for spintronics devices and quantum computers. The material's low electron-phonon coupling also underlines its practical...

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 14, 2012

Religion replenishes self-control

A new study suggests that religious belief serves to enhance self-control, a crucial cognitive process for fostering valuable social behaviors. The research, published in Psychological Science, found that priming volunteers with religious thoughts improved their discipline and ability to delay gratification.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateMay 14, 2012

Young children of unmarried parents fare worse when a father's support is court-ordered

A Rutgers University study found that young children of unmarried parents who receive court-mandated financial support from their fathers exhibit more aggressive behavior. In contrast, children whose fathers provide informal support without court orders have increased cognitive skills and verbal abilities. Researchers suggest that pate...

SourceRutgers University·JournalSocial Service Review·DateMay 14, 2012

Novel drug candidates offer new route to controlling inflammation

Researchers have designed and tested molecules that can block or enhance aspects of the immune system's activity, offering a potential new treatment for inflammatory diseases. The breakthrough, published in Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, uses a novel optimization-based approach to design peptides with unprecedented potency and precision.

SourcePrinceton University, Engineering School·JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry·DateMay 14, 2012

Color of robins' eggs determines parental care

A study found that male robins care for their young more when the eggs laid by their mate are brighter blue. The researchers replaced artificial eggs with baby robins in nests to test this theory, and results showed males feeding their babies twice as much when eggs were brightest blue.

SourceQueen's University·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·DateMay 14, 2012

You can't play nano-billiards on a bumpy table

A team of physicists has developed a new design for nano-billiards that eliminates the effect of small bumps on electron paths, enabling more predictable electronic devices. By removing impurities and defects, researchers have created stable billiard tables at the nanoscale, paving the way for improved nanoscale electronics.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 13, 2012

Research maps the city's heat

Researchers in Sheffield have mapped a possible expansion of the city's district heating network, which could reduce CO2 emissions by 80,000 tonnes annually. The system, powered by waste and steel plant heat, provides low-cost heating to over 140 public buildings and 3,000 homes.

SourceUniversity of Sheffield·JournalEnergy Conversion and Management·DateMay 13, 2012

Wasted milk is a real drain on our resources, study shows

A study by the University of Edinburgh finds that 360,000 tonnes of milk wasted in the UK each year results in greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 100,000 tonnes of CO2, comparable to 20,000 cars annually. Researchers suggest reducing food consumption and waste, as well as improving fertiliser efficiency, can help curb emissions.

SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalNature Climate Change·DateMay 13, 2012