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Science News Archive December 2015 - Page 25


Page 25 of 32

Skin cells play 'dice games'

Recent research reveals that all dividing human skin cells have the potential to switch between two modes of cell division, one for maintenance and another for wound repair. This finding explains how skin grafts work and may lead to new treatments for wound healing and cancer.

SourceWellcome Trust Sanger Institute·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateDec 7, 2015

Catching cellular impacts of bubbles and jets

Cavitation bubbles, formed by ultrasonic pressure waves, can cause severe damage to nearby cells. Duke researchers used high-speed cameras to study the effects of these powerful little bubbles on individual cells, finding that membranes can withstand higher strains than previously thought and reseal allowing target cells to fully recover.

SourceDuke University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 7, 2015

Unexpected wood source for Chaco Canyon great houses

Researchers discovered that ancient Puebloans used trees from the Zuni and Chuska Mountains to build massive structures in Chaco Canyon. The switch to Chuska Mountain trees coincides with significant cultural developments in Chacoan culture, including changes in masonry style and construction volume.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 7, 2015

Discovery puts designer dopamine neurons within reach

Researchers at the University at Buffalo have developed a method to convert skin cells into functional dopamine neurons by manipulating the expression of p53 and Tet1 enzymes. This breakthrough enables the efficient generation of patient-specific neurons that can be transplanted into the brain to repair faulty dopamine neurons.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 7, 2015

Could hippos be meat eaters?

Researchers found that hippos consume meat, challenging their dietary status as herbivores, and increasing their susceptibility to anthrax outbreaks. This behavior may be linked to the unique characteristics of antelope carcasses infected with anthrax.

SourceWiley·JournalMammal Review·DateDec 7, 2015

A new genus of plant bug, plus 4 new species from Australia

Entomologists from the University of California, Riverside, discovered a new genus of plant bug, Restiophylus, and four new species from Australia. The new species are closely associated with Australian restiid clade (Poales). Detailed information on the insects is provided in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America.

SourceEntomological Society of America·JournalAnnals of the Entomological Society of America·DateDec 7, 2015

How fresh is your maple syrup?

Trees draw on stored carbon reserves when springtime sap begins to flow, integrating sugars from multiple growing seasons. This finding suggests that maple syrup production depends on long-term nutrient storage rather than just the last season.

SourceWiley·JournalNew Phytologist·DateDec 7, 2015

Study links Facebook connections, alcohol use in college-aged females

A study by the University of Georgia found a correlation between certain patterns of connections on Facebook and drug and alcohol use among female students. Students with a history of childhood physical abuse were more likely to be part of densely interconnected groups, associated with higher risk for alcohol use. In contrast, those wi...

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalJournal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs·DateDec 7, 2015

New clues for battling botulism

Researchers deciphered the atomic-scale structure of a botulism toxin-bound protein, revealing how it stays intact in acidic conditions and disassembles in neutral pH environments. This knowledge may help develop new vaccines or treatments targeting the deadly neurotoxin.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 7, 2015

Matchmaker lets calcium flow

Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology identified the matchmaker that brings critical calcium channel components together, allowing calcium to rush into cytosol. This finding provides a potential target for developing drugs to modulate T cell activation status.

SourceLa Jolla Institute for Immunology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 6, 2015

Radio shadow reveals tenuous cosmic gas cloud

Researchers detected radio absorption by gas clouds in front of bright radio sources, revealing the composition and conditions of diffuse gas in the Milky Way galaxy. The discovery of three new absorption systems and confirmation of one previously known system provides insight into tenuous gas clouds and their role in the universe.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Japan·DateDec 6, 2015

Maximum observed earthquake magnitudes along continental transform faults

Scientists have found that maximum observed earthquake magnitudes on transform faults generally scale with offset across the faults, but for some earthquakes, a larger coseismic stress drop occurs. This study contributes to developing refined building codes and risk mitigation concepts along major transform faults.

SourceGFZ GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Helmholtz Centre·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateDec 5, 2015