Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive 2015 - Page 46


Page 46 of 402

Every species counts

Researchers found that biodiversity facilitates processes in an ecosystem, especially under harsh environmental conditions. The team tested this hypothesis using microbial communities and demonstrated that functional redundancy varies with prevalent environmental conditions.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 17, 2015

Brooding brittle star babies in 3-D

Researchers used microCT scanning to visualize brooding chambers and juveniles in live-bearing brittle stars. The 3D images provide an in situ view of developing young and the position of bursae inside adults, allowing for comparative morphological analyses.

SourceGigaScience·JournalGigaScience·DateNov 17, 2015

From nanocrystals to earthquakes, solid materials share similar failure characteristics

Researchers discovered that solid materials, including nanocrystals and the Earth's crust, share similar deformation properties due to slip-avalanches. This study enables the transfer of results across different scales and materials, providing new tools for predicting material deformation and hazard prevention.

Parents aiming too high can harm child's academic performance

A recent study by the American Psychological Association found that high parental aspirations for children's academic achievement can lead to decreased performance when those expectations are unrealistic. The research highlights the importance of giving parents realistic expectations to improve their children's educational success.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateNov 17, 2015

Ringing the changes 'opens the road to new medicines'

Researchers at the University of York have developed a new approach to make medicinally important molecules with large rings, called macrocycles. This method allows for their 'growth' from existing rings using ring enlargement reactions, paving the way for the development of new classes of life-saving medicines.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateNov 17, 2015

A new symmetry underlies the search for new materials

Penn State researchers develop a new symmetry operation that can reduce the number of measurements needed to find new materials. This technique uses distortion symmetry groups to analyze physical systems under stress or forces, enabling faster discovery of advanced materials with unique properties.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 17, 2015

Study shows how crop prices and climate variables affect yield and acreage

A University of Illinois study found that crop prices can increase corn yields by up to one-third due to better management practices and two-thirds due to additional planted acreage. Climate change is expected to reduce corn yields, but farmers' responsiveness to price changes can mitigate this impact.

Mitochondria on guard of human life

Researchers at Lomonosov Moscow State University developed a novel approach to study electron transport chain in living mitochondria using SERS. They successfully observed changes in cytochrome c structure during ATP synthesis and were able to initiate and stop electron transport. This method provides new insights into mitochondrial fu...

SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 17, 2015

Pioneering research boosts graphene revolution

Researchers have developed a new technique to trap light at the surface of graphene using laser pulses, enabling the steered light to be directed across the material's surface. This breakthrough has significant implications for advances in electronic products, such as sensors and miniaturized integrated circuits.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Physics·DateNov 16, 2015

Fit older adults are more active

A recent study published in Journal of Aging and Physical Activity found that fitness level is the strongest correlate of physical activity among Norwegian older adults. Higher education was associated with increased physical activity for males but not females. The study, which analyzed data from 850 participants aged 70-77, also disco...

SourceNorwegian University of Science and Technology·JournalJournal of Aging and Physical Activity·DateNov 16, 2015