Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive March 2015 - Page 17


Page 17 of 38

The new frontier in plasma medicine

Researchers developed new plasma models applicable to medicine using data on oxygen ion transport and interaction with water molecules. These models account for how discharges are created in water vapour, enabling the development of novel therapeutic treatments for wound healing and dermatology.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateMar 18, 2015

Unaweep Canyon and Earth's deep-time past

Unaweep Canyon, the only canyon with two mouths, formed in multiple stages ~300 million years ago. The inner gorge was incised by the Gunnison River as part of the incision of the Colorado Plateau, linking events on the northern and southern Plates. This study highlights the preservation of ancient landscapes from Earth's deep-time past.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeosphere·DateMar 18, 2015

Buckyballs become bucky-bombs

Scientists have created buckybombs, nanoscale explosives that could target and eliminate cancer cells at the cellular level without affecting surrounding tissue. The new explosives were built by attaching nitrous oxide molecules to a Bucky-Ball and then heating it, triggering a controlled explosion.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry·DateMar 18, 2015

Sense of smell may reveal weight bias

Researchers found that visual cues associated with overweight people influence one's sense of smell, and participants with higher BMI tend to be more critical of heavier individuals. This study suggests that weight stigma may be more pervasive than previously thought, affecting everyday life in various ways.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalInternational Journal of Obesity·DateMar 18, 2015

Fatal uncoupling in the epileptic brain

Researchers at the University of Bonn have discovered a new cause of temporal lobe epilepsy: astrocyte uncoupling. This leads to hyperexcitability of neurons and epileptic seizures. The study suggests that inflammation plays a role in uncoupling astrocytes, which can be reversed at an early stage.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalBrain·DateMar 18, 2015

Computer sims: In climatic tug of war, carbon released from thawing permafrost wins handily

New computer simulations suggest that thawing permafrost will release more carbon into the atmosphere than plants can absorb, leading to potential acceleration of climate change. The models also indicate a large range of uncertainty in the outcomes, highlighting the need for further research.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 18, 2015

Parasite turns shrimp into voracious cannibals

A new study found that a parasite significantly increases cannibalism among freshwater shrimp in Northern Ireland. Infected shrimp become voracious and consume their victims twice as much as uninfected animals. The research suggests that the parasite may be weakening the shrimp's resistance to invasive species.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateMar 18, 2015

Viewers vs. doers

A new study by the Cornell Food & Brand Lab found that women who watch cooking shows for entertainment and don't often cook tend to weigh less than those who watch for inspiration and cook from scratch. The researchers surveyed 501 women aged 20-35 and discovered a significant association between TV viewing habits and weight.

SourceCornell Food & Brand Lab·JournalAppetite·DateMar 17, 2015

How we became nature -- Anthropocene

The Anthropocene epoch is characterized by human impact on the environment, including climate disruption, overpopulation, and pollution. The authors present evidence of a new geological era where human activities determine the planet's behavior.

SourceDe Gruyter·JournalChemistry-Didactics-Ecology-Metrology·DateMar 17, 2015

UTSW neuroscientists identify cell type in the brain that controls body clock circadian rhythms

Researchers have identified a group of SCN neurons expressing neuromedin S that are necessary and sufficient for controlling circadian rhythms. The study provides new insights into the mechanisms by which light synchronizes body clock rhythms, offering potential targets for future treatments of diseases related to circadian dysfunction.

Diet soda linked to increases in belly fat in older adults

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that diet soda intake is directly linked to greater abdominal obesity in adults 65 years of age and older. Increasing waist circumference was associated with escalating cardiometabolic risk in older adults.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateMar 17, 2015

A pinch of baking soda for better vision?

A new study suggests that bicarbonate modifies the visual signal generated by rod and cone photoreceptors, leading to improved tracking of moving objects while slightly reducing sensitivity to light. The researchers hope to explore the potential of controlling bicarbonate levels in the eye to slow or prevent eye diseases.

SourceMass Eye and Ear·JournalBiological Chemistry·DateMar 17, 2015