Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive August 2014 - Page 18


Page 18 of 31

Fukushima's legacy

Studies on Fukushima radiation impact birds, monkeys, butterflies, and plants with population declines, genetic damage, and stress responses observed. Chronic low-dose radiation exposure results in genetic damage and mutation rates in reproductive cells.

SourceAmerican Genetic Association·JournalJournal of Heredity·DateAug 14, 2014

Hoopoes' eggs show their true colors

Researchers found that hoopoes' eggs change from bluish-grey to greenish-brown when exposed to preen gland secretion, which contains antimicrobial properties. This color change may serve as a signal about the mother bird's breeding quality.

Gender disparities uncovered in desire to receive living donor kidney transplants

A recent study found that black women are less likely to want to receive kidney transplants from living donors, despite receiving more unsolicited offers from family and friends. Women were also less likely to be evaluated for a transplant, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to alleviate existing disparities.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateAug 14, 2014

CF mucus defect present at birth

Research by University of Iowa scientists reveals that cystic fibrosis causes a primary defect in mucociliary transport, resulting in impaired detachment of mucus from airway glands. This leads to airway obstruction, difficulty breathing, and increased susceptibility to lung infection.

SourceUniversity of Iowa Health Care·JournalScience·DateAug 14, 2014

New non-invasive technique controls size of molecules penetrating the blood-brain barrier

Researchers at Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a new non-invasive technique using acoustic pressure to control the size of molecules penetrating the blood-brain barrier. This breakthrough may help improve localized brain drug delivery for treatment of central nervous system diseases like Par...

SourceColumbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalJournal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism·DateAug 14, 2014

Scripps Research Institute chemists uncover powerful new click chemistry reactivity

Researchers have developed a powerful new reactivity called SuFEx that enables the creation of stable, non-polar linkers for making drugs, diagnostics, and smart materials. The breakthrough opens up vast numbers of new molecules for production, with potential applications in fields such as drug discovery, biology, and materials science.

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateAug 14, 2014

New analysis links tree height to climate

Researchers link tree height to climate conditions, finding hydraulic limitation constrains maximum tree height under drier conditions, while resource allocation constrains it in moist areas. The study, led by University of Wisconsin-Madison professor Thomas Givnish, examined Eucalyptus species in Victoria state, Australia.

Memories of errors foster faster learning

Scientists discovered that people learn new motor tasks faster when they recall the errors made during the first attempt. The brain uses this information to fine-tune its performance and adapt to future similar tasks. This study sheds light on how our brains learn from mistakes.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalScience·DateAug 14, 2014

Predicting fracking policy

A new study presents a formal model to predict how countries will regulate hydraulic fracturing, helping companies assess risks and benefits. The model uses multi-criteria decision analysis to aggregate various inputs into a ranked list of policy alternatives.

SourceSpringer Science+Business Media·JournalEnvironmental Sciences Europe·DateAug 14, 2014

Mass layoffs linked to increased teen suicide attempts

A new study from Duke University found that mass layoffs can trigger increased suicide attempts and behaviors among teenagers, particularly girls and black adolescents. The research, based on a nationally representative survey of 403,457 adolescents, suggests that economic hardship worsens existing tendencies in girls.

SourceDuke University·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateAug 14, 2014

Embalming study 'rewrites' chapter in Egyptian history

A study published in PLOS ONE found evidence of ancient Egyptian mummification practices dating back to the Late Neolithic period, around 4500-3350 BC. The discovery suggests that early Egyptians may have used natural products to preserve bodies, laying the groundwork for later Pharaonic mummification techniques.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 13, 2014