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Science News Archive December 2015 - Page 30


Page 30 of 32

Conductor turned insulator amid disorder

Researchers have discovered a multifractal spatial structure in disordered materials that can turn them from conductors to insulators. This finding has significant implications for understanding the behavior of disordered materials, which are found in amorphous solids like glass and biological tissue.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateDec 2, 2015

Survival has improved for women with stage IV breast cancer

A study of over 20,000 women with stage IV breast cancer found improved survival rates, especially among those who received initial breast surgery. The median survival increased from 20 to 26 months, and age, tumor size, hormone receptor status, and year of diagnosis were associated with prolonged survival.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Surgery·DateDec 2, 2015

What is the universe made of?

Researchers discovered the majority of missing ordinary matter in the universe, found in hot gas associated with intergalactic filaments. The study validates models of galaxy formation and could lead to a better understanding of heavy elements formed by stars since the beginning of the universe.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature·DateDec 2, 2015

Stock market bubbles: Investor emotions fuel the frenzy

Researchers found that investors who experienced intense positive emotions before trading were more aggressive and pushed prices up, while those with negative emotions proceeded cautiously. This study increases understanding of how bubbles work and highlights the importance of considering emotional triggers in asset price inflation.

Fast radio burst hints at its source

Researchers analyzed 700 hours of archival data to discover a burst of radio waves from six billion light years away. The region of space it came from was highly magnetized, suggesting it could be related to a supernova or nebula forming new stars.

SourceCIFAR·JournalNature·DateDec 2, 2015

Twitter data can make roads safer during inclement weather

A University at Buffalo study uses Twitter data to enhance computer models guiding traffic during snowstorms and adverse weather. By analyzing over 360,000 tweets, researchers found that including such data improves the accuracy of models, particularly during peak tweeting hours and in densely populated areas.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalTransportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board·DateDec 2, 2015

Trapping climate pollutant methane gas in porous carbon

Researchers develop methods to accurately simulate methane adsorption and desorption in porous carbon, relevant for energy research and climate change mitigation. The study used computational methods to analyze molecular interactions between methane and activated carbon, providing insights into preventing gas adsorption.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateDec 2, 2015

Healthful hemp poised to grow in US

The US hemp industry is expected to grow as the country's demand for healthful foods increases, thanks to the nutritional profile of hemp. The crop contains all nine essential amino acids, omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, and has been shown to have potential health benefits.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateDec 2, 2015

New technology selects high-affinity proteins

Researchers at Kobe University and AIST in Japan developed a technology to select high-affinity proteins that bind with membrane proteins, a key feature in controlling physiological functions. This discovery has potential applications in the development of new biopharmaceuticals for various drug targets, including cancer treatment.

SourceKobe University·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 1, 2015

Inequalities in alcohol-related mortality in Europe

A European study reveals alcohol-related conditions significantly contribute to socioeconomic inequality in total mortality among men in some countries. Rates of alcohol-related mortality are highest in individuals with less education or manual occupations across 17 European countries. The disparities are particularly pronounced in Eas...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateDec 1, 2015

Why Europe will soon be cold?

Russian scientists have predicted a decrease in solar magnetic activity, which could lead to cooler temperatures in Europe. The researchers used analysis of solar radiation and isotopes to create a model that predicts the Sun's behavior over the next thousand years.

SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 1, 2015

Cognitive-behavioral stress management in breast cancer

A randomized trial shows that cognitive-behavioral stress management improves survival and lengthens time to recurrence in women diagnosed with breast cancer. Women who received stress management training experienced greater length of survival and longer time till disease recurrence over eight to 15 years after diagnosis.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalBreast Cancer Research and Treatment·DateDec 1, 2015

Animal evolution: Revolution averted

A recent study by an international group of evolutionary biologists has convincingly refuted the proposition that comb jellies are the phylogenetically oldest extant metazoan group. Sponges are now reaffirmed as the first phylum to diverge from the common ancestor of metazoans, restoring the classical view of early animal evolution.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 1, 2015

A radical signal to the progeny

Researchers at Ghent University found a worm globin protein that generates free radical signals, which are essential for reproductive cell generation and regulation of hydrogen peroxide concentrations. Genetic knockdown of the new globin results in sterility, suggesting a crucial role for this signaling process in biology.

SourceGhent University·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 1, 2015