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Science News Archive March 2015 - Page 5


Page 5 of 38

A peek at the secret life of pandas

Researchers tracked 5 pandas for months using rare GPS collars, finding that they sometimes hang together and have complex social interactions. The data also revealed a panda's feeding strategy, showing that they return to core areas after being away for long periods of time.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalJournal of Mammalogy·DateMar 27, 2015

Recipe for antibacterial plastic: Plastic plus egg whites

Researchers have discovered bioplastics with significant antibacterial properties that could reduce hospital-acquired infections and food contamination. Albumin-based bioplastics demonstrated complete inhibition of bacterial growth, making them a potential solution for wound healing dressings and drug delivery.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalJournal of Applied Polymer Science·DateMar 27, 2015

Notre Dame researchers develop computational model to simulate bacterial behavior

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have developed a computational model that simulates the mechanical behavior of biofilms, which can be used to study issues such as blood clotting and waste treatment systems. The new model allows for the simulation of complex behavior, including viscoelastic properties, and can be adapted to ...

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateMar 27, 2015

Study provides evidence against the fetal origins of cancer and cardiovascular disease

Researchers discovered that famine exposure during the first pregnancy trimester is associated with increased mortality from non-cancer causes, challenging the fetal origins hypothesis. The study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, analyzed data from over 41,000 men born in the Netherlands during a period of famine and ...

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Epidemiology·DateMar 27, 2015

Evolutionary novelties in vision

Gene duplication events in early vertebrate evolution led to the development of novel functions in vertebrate eyes, including distinct opsins and transducin proteins. These specializations enable vertebrates to adapt to their environments, such as detecting ultraviolet light and responding to varying light intensities.

SourceUppsala University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMar 27, 2015

Solving molybdenum disulfide's 'thin' problem

Researchers at Northwestern University have successfully increased molybdenum disulfide's light emission by twelve times by combining nanotechnology, materials science, and plasmonics. This breakthrough enables the material to be used in light emitting diode technologies and has potential applications in solar cells and photodetectors.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNano Letters·DateMar 27, 2015

When attention is a deficit

Researchers found that activity in the medial prefrontal cortex monitors what's happening outside current focus of attention and shifts to a better strategy. The study used MRI scans to track volunteers' brains while they played a game with hidden patterns, revealing specific signals corresponding to color changes.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNeuron·DateMar 27, 2015

Climate change does not cause extreme winters

Scientists at ETH Zurich and the California Institute of Technology have shown that global warming reduces temperature variability, leading to fewer cold snaps and less fluctuation in mid-latitude temperatures. This contradicts the hypothesis that Arctic amplification contributes to extreme winter events in lower latitudes.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalJournal of Climate·DateMar 27, 2015

Integrative approaches key to understanding cancer, developing therapies, say Moffitt scientists

Moffitt scientists are using a new theory called the Big Bang model of cancer heterogeneity, which suggests that mutations occur early during tumor development. This approach has significant implications for treatments, as it recognizes that tumors can change during treatment and that current therapeutic approaches ignore this fact.