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Science News for June 29, 2014


Watching individual neurons respond to magnetic therapy

Researchers at Duke University have developed a method to measure the response of an individual neuron to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a procedure used to treat psychiatric disorders. By recording activity from single neurons during TMS, the team gained a basic understanding of the technique's physiological mechanisms.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateJun 29, 2014

Study finds Emperor penguin in peril

A new study finds Emperor penguins in peril, with all colonies projected to decline by more than 50% by the end of the century due to sea ice concentration changes. The research highlights the need for conservation efforts and potential refuges to preserve populations, with implications for international conservation paradigms.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalNature Climate Change·DateJun 29, 2014

High CO2 levels cause warming in the tropics

New research published in Nature Geoscience contradicts previous studies on tropical temperatures, suggesting they were warmer during the Pliocene epoch. This finding indicates that few places on Earth will be immune to global warming, with potential consequences for tropical storm intensity and climate impacts.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJun 29, 2014

Noninvasive brain control

Researchers at MIT have developed a new light-sensitive protein called Jaws that allows for non-invasive brain control using a light source outside the skull. This breakthrough enables long-term studies without implanted light sources, paving the way for potential treatments of epilepsy and other neurological disorders.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateJun 29, 2014

Bending the rules

Yu Chen and colleagues find that superconductivity and dissipation can coexist under generic conditions in a universal manner, thanks to a peculiar nonequilibrium state of quasiparticles. The researchers also discover an unexpected property: when a magnetic field is applied, the superconducting area expands and is enhanced.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Physics·DateJun 29, 2014