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Science News Archive June 2014 - Page 5


Page 5 of 33

Reorganization of crop production and trade could save China's water supply

Reducing agricultural production in provinces like Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, and Hebei, and importing food from other regions, could conserve China's water resources. A new report suggests that restructuring these regions could reduce national water use while maintaining food security.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 25, 2014

New math technique improves atomic property predictions to historic accuracy

Scientists at NIST and IU developed a tool that calculates fundamental properties of most atoms with historic accuracy, improving the prediction of atomic properties for fields like nuclear medicine and astrophysics. The technique enables precise determination of base energy levels, crucial for fundamental atomic research.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateJun 25, 2014

Finding elusive emperor penguins

A team of scientists found two emperor penguin colonies near the Mertz Glacier in East Antarctica, with a total of 7,400 breeding pairs. The study used both satellite imaging and ground surveys to monitor population trends and habitat changes.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 25, 2014

The Jackson Laboratory Cancer Center earns NCI renewal

The Jackson Laboratory Cancer Center has renewed its NCI grant for another year, solidifying its position as a world-class institution in multidisciplinary cancer research. The center supports innovative projects and collaborates with major academic medical centers to develop precise interventions for preventing cancer progression.

Are fish near extinction?

A new study by Tel Aviv University researchers has identified the biological flaw that causes most fish larvae to die within days of hatching. The 'hydrodynamic starvation' mechanism is triggered by the physical interaction between the larva and its environment, leading to poor feeding ability and high mortality rates.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 25, 2014

Deploying midwives in poorest nations could avert millions of maternal and newborn deaths

Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that deploying a small number of skilled midwives in the world's poorest nations could prevent over a quarter of maternal, fetal, and infant deaths worldwide. Increasing midwife coverage to 60% by 2015 could save nearly 2.3 million mothers and babies.

Nanoscale velcro used for molecule transport

Scientists at the University of Basel have discovered that proteins within nuclear pores function like a 'velcro', enabling controlled and selective transport of particles. This discovery has potential applications in lab-on-a-chip technology, where it could be used to miniaturize complex pump and valve systems.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJun 25, 2014

A vote for cooperation

A study by Harvard University researchers found that allowing people to vote on resource harvesting led to the preservation of these resources for future generations. The voting system used was based on the median of all votes cast, which encouraged altruistic decisions and cooperation across generations.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature·DateJun 25, 2014

Marriage and healthy hearts

A new study reveals a correlation between unhappy marital interactions and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as thicker carotid arteries. The research found that individuals with positive marital interactions had an 8.5% greater risk of heart attack or stroke.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalPsychosomatic Medicine·DateJun 25, 2014