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Science News for May 11, 2014


Hydrologists find Mississippi River network's buffering system for nitrates is overwhelmed

A new method reveals that nearly every drop of water in the Mississippi River network passes through a chemical filter, but this process is operating at max capacity due to high nitrate levels. The river's natural ability to filter out nitrates is being overwhelmed, resulting in an increased risk of dead zones and aquatic life decline.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMay 11, 2014

Patient stem cells used to make 'heart disease-on-a-chip'

Researchers at Harvard University have developed a new model of heart tissue carrying an inherited cardiovascular disease, a major step forward for personalized medicine. The study used patient-derived cardiac cells and 'organs-on-chips' technology to create a functional human heart tissue that can be replicated in the laboratory.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature Medicine·DateMay 11, 2014

Ice-loss moves the Earth 250 miles down

Researchers have discovered that the upward motion of Antarctica's crust is occurring at a rate of 15mm per year, much faster than previously thought. The land is rising due to the melting of glaciers and the subsequent reduction in weight on the Earth's crust.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateMay 11, 2014