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Science News Archive 2015 - Page 39


Page 39 of 402

How the Earth's Pacific plates collapsed

Researchers have found distinctive rocks formed when the Pacific plate changed direction and plunged under the Philippine Sea Plate 50 million years ago. The discovery sheds new light on the formation of copper and gold deposits, as well as the mechanism behind massive earthquakes and volcanoes.

SourceAustralian National University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateNov 23, 2015

Hydra can modify its genetic program

Researchers at the University of Geneva discovered that Hydra cells can modify their genetic program by overexpressing genes involved in nervous functions. This study sheds light on cellular plasticity, a phenomenon that could influence research into regenerative medicine and neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London·DateNov 23, 2015

Anti-fat attitudes shaped early in life

Researchers found that older toddlers as young as 32 months prefer looking at average-weight figures over obese ones, with maternal anti-fat prejudice strongly correlated. This suggests that children absorb and display societal attitudes early on, highlighting the need to address weight-based prejudice.

SourceUniversity of Otago·JournalJournal of Experimental Child Psychology·DateNov 23, 2015

Infertile worms resist infection-induced neurodegeneration

Researchers have found that infertile animals appear to be protected from neurodegeneration in a study using C. elegans worms. The study, which appears online now, showed that infected worms display hallmarks of neurodegeneration similar to those seen in humans, but infertile animals resist this process.

SourceDuke University·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateNov 23, 2015

Stem cell treatment mediates immune response to spinal cord injury in pre-clinical trials

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a stem cell treatment that mediates an immune response to spinal cord injury, reducing tissue damage and preserving function. The treatment, involving multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs), was effective in preventing the cascade of immune responses that often lead to l...

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 23, 2015

Young women who survive cardiovascular event have long-term risks

A study found that young women who survived heart attacks or strokes had higher mortality rates from cardiovascular events, with an increased risk of cardiac and cerebral events. The researchers followed up with 226 women who had a heart attack, 160 women who had ischemic stroke, and 782 comparison patients for nearly 19 years.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateNov 23, 2015

Marine airgun noise could cause turtle trauma

Scientists warn that seismic surveys may cause behavioural changes and physical harm to turtles, including auditory damage and entanglement in gear. Researchers call for more research to address knowledge gaps and propose preventative measures to minimize the impact of seismic surveys on marine turtle populations.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalBiological Conservation·DateNov 23, 2015

Blood from small children 'remembers' prenatal smoking exposure

Research led by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health finds that blood from preschoolers contains molecular evidence of prenatal smoking exposure, detectable 5 years post-birth. The study uses epigenetic analysis to identify a signature associated with smoking during pregnancy, which may also be linked to other toxins and hea...

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalEnvironmental Research·DateNov 23, 2015

Loss of mastodons aided domestication of pumpkins, squash

Research suggests that wild pumpkin and squash were initially used for non-food purposes, such as containers and tools, before humans discovered their edible value. The loss of megafauna allowed wild plants to grow in new environments, leading to the evolution of palatability.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 23, 2015

Teaching problem-solving, leadership to young African-American girls lowers relational aggression

A new CHOP study finds that teaching problem-solving skills and leadership opportunities to elementary school-aged African-American girls can lower relational aggression. The Friend to Friend program improved social problem-solving knowledge and decreased relational aggression in urban minority girls, with positive effects lasting at l...

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalPsychology of Violence·DateNov 23, 2015