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Science News for August 7, 2015


Big dinosaur discoveries in tiny toothy packages

Researchers have identified six additional species of carnivorous theropods from isolated teeth in the South Pyrenees Basin in Spain. The study quadrupled the known diversity of dinosaur fossils in the area, providing new insights into the evolution and extinction of these creatures.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalActa Palaeontologica Polonica·DateAug 7, 2015

Charge density and optical properties of multicomponent crystals

Researchers design multicomponent materials by combining molecular and structural properties to form a 3D architecture. The spatial distribution of molecules and electronic properties of building blocks significantly impact optical properties. The study demonstrates the feasibility of using active pharmaceutical ingredients as building...

SourceInternational Union of Crystallography·JournalActa Crystallographica Section B·DateAug 7, 2015

NSF funds industry/university center for atomically thin coatings

The NSF-funded Industry/University Collaborative Research Center will design and develop advanced two-dimensional coatings to address fundamental scientific and technological challenges. The Center for Atomically Thin Multifunctional Coatings (ATOMIC) aims to create spin-out companies and solve issues like corrosion, oxidation, and abr...

How yeast doubled its genome -- by mating between species

A new study proposes that the common baker's yeast genome was duplicated by mating between two distinct species, contradicting the current widely accepted theory. The researchers used advanced computational methods to study the origins of the whole genome duplication in yeast.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 7, 2015

NASA simulation indicates ancient flood volcanoes could have altered climate

Scientists analyzed a 14.7 million-year-old eruption in the Columbia River basalt formation, finding that it produced massive amounts of lava and gas that could have reached the stratosphere. This hypothetical scenario indicates that ancient flood volcanoes may have played a significant role in altering global climate patterns.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateAug 7, 2015

Switching mouse neural stem cells to a primate-like behavior

By expressing Pax6 in mouse basal progenitor cells, researchers mimicked the behavior of human brain cells, leading to increased cell division and a larger neocortex. This study contributes to understanding the molecular mechanisms behind brain expansion and cognitive functions.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 7, 2015