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Science News Archive April 2015 - Page 7


Page 7 of 36

Is the universe a hologram?

Researchers at TU Wien found that the holographic principle can hold true even in flat spacetime, confirming its validity in our own universe. This validation suggests that the universe may be a hologram, with three-dimensional space being an image of two-dimensional processes on a cosmic horizon.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 27, 2015

How to short circuit hunger

Scientists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have discovered a long-sought component of the neural network that controls eating, finding that the melanoncortin 4 receptor-regulated circuit inhibits and controls hunger. Activating this circuit reduces feeding in mice and removes feelings of intense hunger.

SourceBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateApr 27, 2015

Bumblebee genome mapped

The bumblebee genome has been mapped, revealing a relatively small fraction of genes involved in the immune response compared to flies and mosquitoes. Despite its weak social organization, the bumblebee has just as few immune genes as the honeybee, suggesting that diet may play a role in shaping its immune system.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalGenome Biology·DateApr 27, 2015

Patient portals could widen health disparities

A new study found that patient portals exacerbate existing health disparities, with less educated and minority patients being less likely to use electronic medical records. Patients with low health literacy skills were 3.5 times more likely to be registered than those without these skills.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of the American Medical Informatics Association·DateApr 27, 2015

Single cells seen in unprecedented detail

Researchers have developed a large-scale sequencing technique called Genome and Transcriptome Sequencing (G&T-seq) that reveals the unique genome sequence of a single cell and the activity of genes within that cell. The study found that when a cell loses or gains a copy of a chromosome, the genes in that region show decreased or in...

SourceWellcome Trust Sanger Institute·JournalNature Methods·DateApr 27, 2015

Effective sleep apnea treatment lowers diabetes risk

A new study found that using a simple device for eight hours a night can help people with prediabetes improve their blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of progressing to diabetes. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment was shown to lower glucose metabolism, insulin regulation, stress hormone levels, and blood pressure.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateApr 27, 2015

Conifer study illustrates twists of evolution

A new study analyzing over 460 conifer species found that the ancient pollination mechanism is gradually disappearing, leading to a loss of buoyant saccate pollen and droplet emission. Instead, species evolved new traits or lost existing ones, demonstrating 'stasis and release' in plant evolution.

SourceBrown University·JournalEvolution·DateApr 27, 2015

Ocean bacteria get 'pumped up'

Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution discovered that stressed and dying phytoplankton release chemicals that stimulate marine bacteria to quickly convert organic carbon back into CO2. This process reduces the amount of sinking detritus, releasing more CO2 into the shallow ocean and atmosphere.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 27, 2015

More is less in novel electronic material

Scientists at Boston College have discovered negative electronic compressibility (NEC) in a three-dimensional material, iridium oxide. Adding electrons to the system effectively shrinks its size, a phenomenon previously only observed in two-dimensional materials.

SourceBoston College·JournalNature Materials·DateApr 27, 2015

Neurons constantly rewrite their DNA

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine discovered that neurons use minor 'DNA surgeries' to toggle their activity levels, shedding light on brain disorders and learning. The study found a mechanism where Tet3 levels respond to synaptic activity, enabling neurons to maintain consistent levels of communication.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateApr 27, 2015

Inaccurate reporting jeopardizing clinical trials

A recent study analyzed 58 papers on inflammatory bowel disease and found inconsistent methods reporting, leading to difficulties in reproducing experiments. The researchers developed a critical checklist to address the issue, recommending its adoption as a publication requirement to improve study quality and standardization.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalInflammatory Bowel Diseases·DateApr 26, 2015

JCU doctors in world-first epilepsy treatment

Researchers at James Cook University are conducting a clinical trial to test the effectiveness of intravenous Levetiracetam in treating Convulsive Status Epilepticus (CSE) in children. The study aims to determine if this new treatment can work faster and have fewer serious side effects than current medications.

Could smell hold the key to ending pesticide use?

Researchers from Cardiff University and Rothamsted Research created tiny molecules that replicate a natural insect-repelling smell, offering a potential alternative to pesticides. The team's breakthrough uses an enzyme to create similar smelling insect repellent molecules, with some exhibiting attractive behavior.

SourceCardiff University·JournalChemical Communications·DateApr 26, 2015