Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive August 2015 - Page 26


Page 26 of 32

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

Paleo diet: Big brains needed carbs

A new study suggests that dietary carbohydrate, particularly in the form of starch, was critical for the accelerated expansion of the human brain over the last million years. The research, led by Dr. Karen Hardy, highlights the importance of cooked starchy foods and higher salivary amylase genes in fueling brain growth.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalThe Quarterly Review of Biology·DateAug 6, 2015

Adding price tag to medicine packs just 'headline grabbing gimmick' says dtb

A new initiative to add price tags to medicines worth over £20 in England may have unintended consequences, warns an editorial in the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB). The move could lead vulnerable patients to worry about being a burden on society, while others may view cheaper drugs as less important. Furthermore, the added cost ...

SourceBMJ Group·JournalDrug and Therapeutics Bulletin·DateAug 6, 2015

Very little evidence for cutting out certain carbs to ease irritable bowel

A review of the available data concludes that there is very little evidence to recommend a low FODMAP diet as an effective treatment for irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. While some studies suggest potential benefits, such as changes in gut bacteria profiles, more research is needed to establish its efficacy and long-term effects.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalDrug and Therapeutics Bulletin·DateAug 6, 2015

Flexible dielectric polymer can stand the heat

Researchers developed a cross-linked polymer nanocomposite containing boron nitride nanosheets, which can operate at high temperatures, store electricity, and be photo-patterned. The material has higher voltage capability, heat resistance, and bendability.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature·DateAug 6, 2015

DNA repair: Pincer attack

Researchers from LMU Munich have discovered that human DNA repair enzymes employ a 'pincer' strategy to target damaged DNA, using a sugar molecule as a key component. This finding sheds new light on the complex process of DNA repair and its importance in maintaining genome stability.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateAug 6, 2015

To beat cancer at its own game

Worcester Polytechnic Institute researcher Amity Manning is awarded $747,000 from the National Institutes of Health to explore molecular mechanisms driving genetic instability in cancer cells. The goal is to turn the genetic tables against cancer by understanding how specific molecules affect DNA packaging and organization.

SAGE to begin publishing Dose-Response

The International Dose-Response Society's official journal, Dose-Response, is now published by SAGE, covering experimental findings and non-linear dose-relationships. The journal aims to expand the reach of its research on hormone-like effects in low doses.

SourceSAGE·JournalDose-Response·DateAug 6, 2015