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Science News Archive November 2012 - Page 3


Page 3 of 23

First-ever hyperspectral images of Earth's auroras

A new hyperspectral camera has captured the first-ever images of auroras, revealing a previously unknown atmospheric phenomenon. The camera's unprecedented capabilities have enabled scientists to study auroras in unprecedented clarity, revealing subtle changes in atmospheric behavior.

SourceOptica·JournalOptics Express·DateNov 29, 2012

Researchers create a fly to study how a normal cell turns cancerous

Scientists at IRB Barcelona created a Drosophila melanogaster fly model that reproduces the steps of healthy cell transformation into cancer. The model can help identify genes and molecules involved in cancer progression, potentially leading to specific treatments for cells with genomic instability.

SourceInstitute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 29, 2012

Clearest evidence yet of polar ice losses

An international team of satellite experts has produced the most accurate assessment of ice losses from Antarctica and Greenland to date, confirming both regions are losing ice. The study reveals that melting of the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets has contributed significantly to global sea level rise over the past two decades.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalScience·DateNov 29, 2012

University of Tennessee engineering professor looks to whirligig beetle for bio-inspired robots

A team of researchers led by Professor Mingjun Zhang discovered the secret behind the whirligig beetle's high propulsive efficiency, which inspired the development of energy-efficient propulsion mechanisms for swimming vehicles and robots. The key to the beetle's efficiency lies in its unique leg functions, alternative patterns of leg ...

SourceUniversity of Tennessee at Knoxville·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateNov 29, 2012

Greener storage for green energy

A team of Harvard engineers and chemists are working on a one-year, $600,000 grant from ARPA-E to develop a new type of storage battery that uses eco-friendly small organic molecules. The technology aims to make stationary energy storage cost-effective, enabling wind and solar power to displace fossil fuels more widely.

Study shows increase in negative messages about Muslims in the media

A new study by a University of North Carolina sociologist found that organizations spreading negative messages about Muslims have gained traction in the media, stoking public fears and anti-Muslim sentiment. The research tracked over 50,000 TV transcripts and newspaper articles from 2001 to 2008, revealing a significant rise in negativ...

SourceAmerican Sociological Association·JournalAmerican Sociological Review·DateNov 29, 2012

Brief interventions can help college students return to a healthy lifestyle

A new study from the University of Missouri found that brief interventions, as short as 30 minutes, can significantly improve exercise habits in college students. Participants who received personalized feedback and set health goals reported increased physical activity compared to those who did not receive the intervention.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalJournal of Physical Activity and Health·DateNov 29, 2012

Pitt research sheds new light on virus associated with developmental delays and deafness

A new study published in PLOS ONE reveals that human stem cells are resistant to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a leading cause of congenital intellectual disability and deafness. The research findings suggest that HCMV infection distorts cell differentiation, leading to impaired brain maturation and intellectual ability.

Record-setting X-ray jet discovered

A record-setting X-ray jet has been detected 12.4 billion light years from Earth, providing a glimpse into the explosive activity associated with supermassive black holes in the early universe. The jet is thought to be boosted by cosmic background radiation and points almost directly toward us.

SourceChandra X-ray Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateNov 28, 2012

NSAID use linked to reduced hepatocellular carcinoma risk and mortality due to chronic liver disease

Researchers found a significant association between NSAID use and reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and death from chronic liver disease. Aspirin use was found to have the strongest protective effect, with participants experiencing a 41% reduced risk of HCC and 45% reduced risk of CLD mortality.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateNov 28, 2012

Printing soil science

Researchers successfully produce intricate pieces using 3-D printing, which offers benefits over traditional manufacturing methods. The technology also enables easy sharing of designs, allowing for better replication of experiments and collaboration among soil scientists.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalSoil Science Society of America Journal·DateNov 28, 2012

Changes in nerve cells may contribute to the development of mental illness

A study published in Nature Neuroscience reveals that social isolation can reduce myelin production in mice, affecting the formation of new oligodendrocytes and leading to behavioral changes. Reintroduction into a social group reverses these effects, suggesting environmental factors play a crucial role in maintaining healthy nerve cells.

Researchers report first success of targeted therapy in most common non-small cell lung cancer

A new study demonstrates that a targeted therapy, selumetinib, and chemotherapy work better together than chemotherapy alone in treating patients with KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. The combination improved patient survival by 3.2 months and showed significant tumor shrinkage, offering hope for a potential new treatment strategy.

SourceDana-Farber Cancer Institute·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateNov 28, 2012

Family's economic situation influences brain function in children

A new study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that children from low socioeconomic status work harder to filter out irrelevant environmental information than those from a high-income background. This is due to learned differences in what they pay attention to, which requires more mental effort.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateNov 28, 2012