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Science News for October 9, 2013


Carbon's new champion

Carbyne nanorods or nanoropes have a host of remarkable and useful properties, including surpassing the tensile strength of any other known material and having twice the tensile stiffness of graphene. Stretching carbyne alters its electronic band gap significantly, making it suitable for applications such as sensors and energy storage.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Nano·DateOct 9, 2013

Scientists use blur to sharpen DNA mapping

Scientists at Rice University have created a method to locate specific sequences along single strands of DNA, which could help diagnose genetic diseases. The 'motion blur point accumulation' technique resolves structures as small as 30 nanometers by capturing images of fluorescent probes binding to target DNA.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateOct 9, 2013

Insulin 'still produced' in most people with type 1 diabetes

New technology enabled scientists to prove that most people with type 1 diabetes have active beta cells producing insulin in response to food, contrary to previous thought. This finding has significant implications for understanding the biology of Type 1 diabetes and may lead to new therapies to preserve or replenish beta cells.

SourceDiabetologia·JournalDiabetologia·DateOct 9, 2013

Crystal mysteries spiral deeper, NYU chemists find

Researchers found that L-cystine crystals form stacked hexagonal 'islands' with one screw dislocation, contradicting long-standing BCF theory. However, further analysis revealed that the crystals actually grow in a manner predicted by the theory, showcasing the complexity of crystal growth.

SourceNew York University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 9, 2013

Historic trends predict future global reforestation unlikely

Historic global trends predict that global forest cover will decline by 10% over the next century unless new technologies boost yields or strategies to decrease food consumption are introduced. Reforestation may increase global forest cover to 35% within 70 years if food production and consumption stabilize.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 9, 2013

Evidence for a new nuclear 'magic number'

Researchers at RIKEN have provided evidence for a new nuclear 'magic number' in the unstable calcium isotope 54Ca, which has 34 neutrons. This discovery challenges the traditional understanding of atomic nuclei and sheds light on the behavior of highly unstable nuclei.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature·DateOct 9, 2013

Household chaos may be hazardous to a child's health

A study by Ohio State University researchers found that households with crowding, noise, and lack of routine are associated with poorer health outcomes in preschoolers. The study suggests that chaos in the home environment can lead to stress, which in turn can increase exposure to toxins and germs.

SourceOhio State University·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·DateOct 9, 2013

Water impurities key to an icicle's ripples

A new study by Canadian physicists reveals that small impurities in the water are a critical factor in the formation of icicle ripples. The researchers found that icicles grown from pure distilled water exhibited no ripples, but those grown with salt impurities developed characteristic ripples.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateOct 9, 2013

An experiment puts auditing under scrutiny

A unique experiment involving 500 industrial plants in Gujarat, India, reveals that changing the auditing system from firm-paid to central-funded auditors significantly reduced pollution levels and increased accuracy. The study's findings have implications for the global debt-rating system and corporate financial reports.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalThe Quarterly Journal of Economics·DateOct 9, 2013

Suicidal talk on Twitter mirrors state suicide rates

Researchers used Twitter data to identify 37,717 troubling tweets from 28,088 unique users, strongly correlating with actual suicide rates. The study suggests using social media as a complement to existing suicide prevention efforts, particularly on platforms like Twitter where public tweets can be addressed and responded to.

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalCrisis·DateOct 9, 2013

Study finds readmission rates impacted by a patients' knowledge and skills

A study by Boston University School of Medicine found that patients with high activation levels were less likely to be readmitted to the hospital within 30 days. Patients with low activation had nearly twice the risk of 30-day post-discharge hospital service utilization, highlighting the need for tailored patient education.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateOct 9, 2013

Geoscience Currents No. 78

Recent geoscience graduates identify enjoyment working outdoors and lifelong interest in the subject as common motivations. The American Geosciences Institute's National Geoscience Student Exit Survey analyzed over 400 responses from 71 departments to gain insights into the profession's appeal.