Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for August 29, 2014


Aging Africa

Researchers in southern Africa used beryllium-10 and aluminum-26 to measure erosion rates, finding five meters per million years in non-tectonically active regions. This rate is significantly lower than basin-average erosion rates, with stable upland surfaces remaining unchanged since the Pliocene.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGSA Today·DateAug 29, 2014

Intervention needed for survivors of childhood burns

A new research study by the University of Adelaide found that adults who were hospitalized for burns as children are at a higher risk of depression and suicidal thoughts. The study, which followed up with 272 people who were burned during childhood, found that 42% had suffered some form of mental illness and 30% experienced depression.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalBurns·DateAug 29, 2014

Plug n' play protein crystals

Scientists from Aalto University create ordered structures by mixing oppositely charged proteins and virus particles, enabling modular functionalization with various ligands. The method opens possibilities for biomedical and materials science research.

SourceAalto University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 29, 2014

Options for weight loss your primary care doctor might not know about

Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center found that technology-assisted weight loss interventions, including web-based applications and software, can be an effective option for primary care patients. These interventions resulted in average weight losses of up to 5.4 kilograms (12 pounds) over a 36-month period.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateAug 29, 2014

Reducing water scarcity possible by 2050

Researchers from McGill and Utrecht University outline six strategies to reduce water stress, including improving irrigation techniques, increasing water-recycling facilities, and limiting population growth. By applying these strategies simultaneously, significant reductions in water-stressed populations are possible by 2050.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateAug 29, 2014

Can YouTube save your life?

A new study found that only 11.5% of available YouTube videos on CPR and basic life support are compatible with recent health guidelines. Early recognition and treatment of sudden cardiac arrest are crucial for improving survival rates, emphasizing the importance of hands-on instruction from qualified health practitioners.

SourceWiley·JournalEmergency Medicine Australasia·DateAug 29, 2014

MERS: Low transmissibility, dangerous illness

Researchers led by the University of Bonn have found that the MERS virus has a low transmission rate from person to person, but is still a deadly disease. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, also suggests that dromedaries may be an additional source of infection.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateAug 29, 2014

Not all phytoplankton in the ocean need to take their vitamins

Researchers discovered that E. huxleyi can grow without thiamine and prefers precursor chemical HMP instead, re-evaluating the importance of vitamin B1 in regulating algal communities. This finding has implications for understanding climate change's impact on marine ecosystems and predicting global carbon cycles.

SourceCIFAR·DateAug 29, 2014

ESC launches journal on CV pharmacotherapy

The European Society of Cardiology has launched a new journal focused on cardiovascular pharmacotherapy, aiming to improve the treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease. The journal will publish original research, invited editorials, and reviews by prestigious authors, with the goal of becoming the leading journal in this field.

CCNY team defines new biodiversity metric

A CCNY team developed a new biodiversity metric to quantify phylogeographic endemism, which measures the restriction of genetic variation within species in geographical space. The research analyzed 25 vertebrates in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest and found that current climatic heterogeneity explains endemism in southern forests.