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Science News Archive April 2013 - Page 27


Page 27 of 32

Power behind primordial soup discovered

Researchers at the University of Leeds found a compound called pyrophosphite, which is similar to ATP and could have acted as an earlier form of energy transfer. This discovery suggests that chemical life could be the missing link between geology and biology.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalGeochimica et Cosmochimica Acta·DateApr 4, 2013

Online learning: It's different

Harvard researchers found that students who took short tests between online lecture segments had reduced mind-wandering, tripled note-taking, and improved material retention. The testing act as an incentive for students to pay closer attention.

SourceHarvard University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 4, 2013

Barrow researchers identify new vision of how we explore our world

Brain researchers at Barrow Neurological Institute have discovered that healthy observers and neurological patients scan visual scenes with the same general strategy, regardless of scene size or fixation status. This finding challenges previous concepts of exploration and fixation as fundamentally different behaviors.

SourceSt. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 4, 2013

Could playing 'boys' games help girls in science and math?

Research suggests that playing traditionally masculine activities can improve girls' performance in subjects requiring spatial ability. Gender-roles play a significant role in shaping individual differences in spatial ability, with both masculine and feminine identification leading to better performance in mental rotation tasks.

SourceSpringer·JournalSex Roles·DateApr 4, 2013

3-D printer can build synthetic tissues

Researchers at Oxford University have developed a custom-built 3D printer that can create materials with properties similar to living tissues. The printed 'droplet networks' are entirely synthetic and could potentially deliver drugs or replace damaged human tissues in the future.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalScience·DateApr 4, 2013

Protein maintains order in the nucleus

A single protein, NLP, has been identified as crucial for the correct arrangement of chromosome centromeres in the nucleus. The protein binds to the centromere region and causes clustering near the nucleolus, a process that can impact genome stability and potentially contribute to cancer development.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalMolecular Cell·DateApr 4, 2013

Despite free health care, household income affects chronic disease control in kids

A study by University of Montreal researchers found a negative correlation between household income and glycated hemoglobin levels in children with type 1 diabetes. The difference in glycated hemoglobin levels corresponds to a doubling of the risk of eye damage, highlighting the need for greater support for low-income families

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateApr 4, 2013

Fecal microbial transplantation found to be possible treatment

Fecal microbial transplantation has been shown to improve symptoms in most pediatric patients with active ulcerative colitis, with 78% achieving clinical response within one week. The procedure involves infusion of human stool from a healthy donor into the intestine of the patient to restore healthy microbial flora.

SourceCorewell Health·JournalJournal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition·DateApr 4, 2013

Osmosis is not driven by water dilution

A thermodynamic theory of osmosis was published in 1897, but its explanation has not been fully adopted by chemistry and biology. Key findings include the misconception that osmosis only applies to liquids, and the need for an attractive force to drive the process.

SourceDick Jones Communications·JournalTrends in Plant Science·DateApr 4, 2013

Study links suicide risk with rates of gun ownership, political conservatism

A study published in Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology found that states with high rates of gun ownership and political conservatism have higher suicide rates. However, a higher percentage of church-goers at the state level was associated with reduced individual suicide risk. The study analyzed mortality data from 2000 to 20...

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalSocial Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology·DateApr 4, 2013

Bronze warship ram reveals secrets

A team of specialists analyzed a 2,000-year-old bronze battering ram to shed light on how such an object was made in ancient times. The study found that the bronze alloy was composed of 87% copper, 6% tin, and 7% lead, with varying concentrations throughout the casting.

SourceNational Oceanography Centre, UK·JournalThe International Journal of Nautical Archaeology·DateApr 4, 2013

Overweight starting in early adulthood linked with kidney disease in older age

Individuals who are overweight starting in early adulthood are twice as likely to have chronic kidney disease at age 60 to 64 years. Larger waist-to-hip ratios during middle age are also linked with chronic kidney disease at the same age. Avoiding excess weight gain could prevent many cases of chronic kidney disease, with over one-thir...

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateApr 4, 2013