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Science News Archive June 2014 - Page 33


Page 33 of 33

Nearly 1 in 8 American children are maltreated before age 18

According to a Yale University study, nearly 12% of American children experience confirmed maltreatment by age 18, affecting over 5.6 million children between 2004 and 2011. Black and Native American children are disproportionately affected, with one in five and one in seven experiencing maltreatment respectively.

SourceYale University·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateJun 2, 2014

New UGA research engineers microbes for the direct conversion of biomass to fuel

Researchers at the University of Georgia have successfully engineered microbes to convert switchgrass into fuel without pre-treatment. This breakthrough allows for the direct conversion of lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks into transportation fuels, marking a significant step towards affordable and sustainable energy production.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 2, 2014

Here come the 'brobots'

Researchers have developed sperm-inspired microrobots that can be controlled by oscillating weak magnetic fields, enabling applications such as targeted drug delivery and in vitro fertilization. The robots consist of a head coated in a thick cobalt-nickel layer and an uncoated tail, propelled forward by magnetic torque.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateJun 2, 2014

New materials to be developed to repair eyes

UK researchers are developing new materials to create artificial corneas and contact lenses that can be manufactured in an environmentally friendly way. The project aims to reduce the financial impact of vision loss on individuals and the economy, with potential breakthroughs in treating age-related macular degeneration.

Seniors who exercise regularly experience less physical decline as they age

Older adults who exercised regularly experienced less physical decline than their peers, according to a University of Missouri study. The researchers found that muscle-strengthening exercises, which are crucial for maintaining muscle strength, were often overlooked despite having access to recreational activities and exercise equipment.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalClinical Nursing Research·DateJun 2, 2014

American Society of Clinical Oncology recognizes MD Anderson leaders for their contributions to cancer research

The American Society of Clinical Oncology recognizes MD Anderson leaders Gabriel Hortobagyi, Waun Ki Hong, and John Mendelsohn for their significant contributions to cancer research. Mendelsohn is known for his discovery of the monoclonal antibody Erbitux, while Hong has made groundbreaking advances in treating head and neck cancers.

Shining a light on memory

Scientists have confirmed that strengthened connections between neurons, known as long-term potentiation (LTP), underlie memory formation. The study used optogenetics to strengthen and weaken these connections in genetically engineered rats, successfully forming, removing, and reactivating a memory.

A single DNA tweak leads to blond hair

HHMI researchers have pinpointed a single-letter change in the genetic code that generates blond hair in humans. This variation is common in Northern Europeans and fine-tunes the regulation of an essential gene involved in hair color, showcasing how independent changes can be encoded to produce specific traits.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalNature Genetics·DateJun 1, 2014

World's best thermometer made from light

University of Adelaide researchers have created the world's most precise thermometer, using light to measure temperature differences of 30 billionths of a degree in just one second. This breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionize industrial and medical applications where trace amount detection is crucial.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 1, 2014

Lasers create table-top supernova

Researchers used high-powered lasers to create table-top supernovae, recreating the explosive events that occur when stars reignite or collapse. The experiments revealed irregular 'knotty' features and intense radio and X-ray emissions, confirming a theory about the interaction between magnetic fields and interstellar material.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalNature Physics·DateJun 1, 2014

Graphene's multi-colored butterflies

Researchers at the University of Manchester have discovered that combining graphene with boron nitride creates an additional band gap, allowing for more control over its electrical conductivity. This phenomenon, known as the Hofstadter butterfly, results in strongly contorted replicas of the original graphene spectrum.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalNature Physics·DateJun 1, 2014

How to erase a memory -- and restore it

Scientists successfully erased and reactivated memories in rats by applying specific frequencies of light and electrical stimuli to the brain. This breakthrough study offers new hope for treating Alzheimer's disease, as it shows promise in strengthening or weakening synaptic connections that are weakened in the condition.

Children exposed to secondhand tobacco or cooking smoke have very high rates of pain and complications after tonsillectomy

Research at Euroanaesthesia meeting found that children exposed to indoor coal-burning stoves and/or second-hand tobacco smoke experience higher postoperative complications and excessive pain after tonsillectomies. Elevated carboxyhaemoglobin concentrations were linked to increased pain sensitivity and more frequent use of painkillers.