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Science News Archive November 2014 - Page 17


Page 17 of 31

Ocean primed for more El Niño

A new study using coral samples from a remote Pacific island in Kiribati reveals the ocean has warmed over the last sixty years, priming it for stronger El Niáo events. This warming trend could have a major impact on Australia's weather, particularly during El Niáo events when warm waters move eastward and bring droughts.

SourceAustralian National University·JournalPaleoceanography·DateNov 13, 2014

Is there such a thing as 'Facebook Murder'?

A recent investigation explored whether Facebook murders were unique and worthy of a new label. The study found that these crimes followed typical patterns, with victims knowing their killers, and social media played no more significant role than other tools in the commission of violence.

SourceWiley·JournalThe Howard Journal of Criminal Justice·DateNov 13, 2014

Solving the puzzle of cooperation in group environments

The study reveals that cooperation emerges when individuals assemble into groups that interact through repeated Public Goods Games. The authors propose an evolutionary game theory model, which suggests a large set of possible responses depending on previous levels of group cooperation. Ultimately, the most successful strategy is 'All-o...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateNov 13, 2014

Parental age at childbirth may affect metabolism of adult offspring

A study found that middle-aged men whose parents were older at birth had lower blood pressure, more favorable cholesterol levels, and improved glucose metabolism. Further research is needed to determine the causes of this effect, with epigenetics and post-natal factors being potential explanations.

SourceWiley·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Biology·DateNov 13, 2014

Bigger is not always better

A new study of over 12,000 Danish patients with hip fractures found that those treated in smaller hospital departments had a lower mortality rate and shorter length of stay. The quality of care was also higher in these departments compared to larger ones.

SourceAarhus University·JournalMedical Care·DateNov 13, 2014

Cookie Monster teaches self-control

A study by University of Iowa professor Deborah Linebarger found that preschoolers who watched videos starring Cookie Monster were better able to control impulses and remember number sequences. These executive functioning skills are crucial for school readiness and predict academic skills like reading, math, and science.

New Alzheimer's-related memory disorder identified

A new neurological disease closely resembling Alzheimer's disease, called primary age-related tauopathy (PART), has been defined and established criteria for diagnosis. PART is characterized by cognitive impairment without amyloid plaques, but with neurofibrillary tangles composed of a protein called tau.

SourceUniversity of Kentucky·JournalActa Neuropathologica·DateNov 13, 2014

Bird battles promote unity on the front line

Research from the University of Bristol found that bird groups unite at nightfall after territorial conflicts, strengthening their defense of valuable roost sites. This cooperation between group members is favored by conflict with outsiders, highlighting a link to human societal evolution.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalCurrent Biology·DateNov 13, 2014

Without security, there can be no health care

A recent review reports on the devastating effects of the Syrian conflict on the healthcare system, including outbreaks of poliomyelitis, measles, and cutaneous leishmaniasis. Vaccination coverage has dropped dramatically, hampering efforts to combat these epidemics.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateNov 13, 2014

Pulling together the early solar system

A team of researchers has provided evidence that the early solar system's protoplanetary disk was shaped by an intense magnetic field, driving gas toward the sun at a rapid rate. The study analyzed a meteorite sample, extracting individual grains and measuring their magnetic orientations to determine the original magnetic field.

Forecasting diseases using Wikipedia

A team from Los Alamos National Laboratory successfully monitored and forecasted influenza, dengue fever, and tuberculosis outbreaks worldwide. The study demonstrates the potential of using public health data to build an operational disease monitoring system.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateNov 13, 2014

It's not always the DNA

Research reveals that damaged messenger RNA can cause ribosomes to jam, leading to the production of short proteins and contributing to neurodegenerative diseases. Oxidized mRNA was found to accumulate in cells with advanced Alzheimer's, highlighting a potential mechanism for the disease.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalCell Reports·DateNov 13, 2014

Telephone coaches improve children's asthma treatment

A new program has been shown to reduce asthma symptoms and hospitalizations in low-income children by training their parents over the phone. The peer coaching model, which was tested in a two-year trial, resulted in significant reductions in ER visits and hospitalizations among families with Medicaid insurance.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateNov 13, 2014

Symbiotic plants are more diverse, finds new study

A recent study by Cornell University research found that symbiotic plants develop nectar glands to attract and feed protective animals like ants, leading to increased diversity in plant species over time. This mutualistic relationship allows plants to allocate energy resources to new traits and adapt to new environments.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 13, 2014

EPA's Clean Power Plan: Economic strengths and weaknesses

The plan aims to reduce carbon emissions from power plants by 30% by 2030 through various actions such as improving efficiency, using natural gas, expanding renewables, and creating energy efficiency programs. However, economists argue that the current design of the plan may not achieve its intended emissions reductions due to a lack o...

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalScience·DateNov 13, 2014

For female chimpanzees, no consent agreement

A new study published in Current Biology by Feldblum et al. has found that male chimpanzee aggression towards females is an adaptive strategy, increasing mating frequency and paternal likelihood for high-ranking males. Genetic analysis of fecal material reveals long-term sexual coercion as a key factor in paternity.

SourceArizona State University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateNov 13, 2014