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Science News Archive May 2015 - Page 2


Page 2 of 31

The new digital TV standard in the USA incorporates technology developed at the UPV/EHU

The LDM system developed at UPV/EHU has been selected as the technology for the new digital standard in North America, allowing for simultaneous use of TV channels on the UHF band. This system significantly improves the use of the radioelectric spectrum, enabling services such as Ultra High Definition TV and mobile phone broadcasting.

SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalElectronics Letters·DateMay 29, 2015

Researchers find 'lost' memories

Researchers at MIT have successfully reactivated lost memories in mice using optogenetics, revealing that memories are stored in a circuit of multiple brain areas and interconnected engram cells. This breakthrough challenges the long-held storage theory and proposes a new concept of memory consolidation.

ASCO: Component in green tea may help reduce prostate cancer in men at high risk

Researchers found that Polyphenon E, a green tea extract, reduced combined rates of prostate cancer and atypical small acinar proliferation, as well as decreased levels of prostate-specific antigen in men with premalignant lesions. The study suggests that EGCG, the most abundant catechin in green tea, may play a role in these effects.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalCancer Prevention Research·DateMay 28, 2015

Life's a yawn for budgie buddies

Contagious yawning has been observed in budgies, a bird species for the first time, corroborating previous observations in social parrots. In experiments, yawns occurred more frequently when birds could see each other or viewed video clips of another bird yawning.

SourceSpringer·JournalAnimal Cognition·DateMay 28, 2015

Unlearning implicit social biases during sleep

Researchers at Northwestern University discovered that a sleep-based intervention after training can significantly reduce implicit social biases. The study, published in Science, found that participants who received the intervention showed stronger bias reduction one week later. The findings challenge traditional views on habit learnin...

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience·DateMay 28, 2015

Deciphering dark and bright

Studies reveal differences in statistical regularities between dark and bright components of the natural world, with implications for understanding cortical networks and perceptual asymmetries. The findings suggest that the brain exploits these patterns to better navigate its surroundings.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateMay 28, 2015

Out of Africa via Egypt

The study, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, used 225 human genome sequences from Egyptians and Ethiopians to determine the most likely route of human migration out of Africa. The research found that Egypt was the primary gateway for humans migrating north, supporting a northern route rather than a southern one.

SourceWellcome Trust Sanger Institute·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·DateMay 28, 2015

Microscopic sonic screwdriver invented

Researchers at University of Bristol invent a microscopic acoustic vortice that can grip and spin small particles, opening new possibilities for biological cell sorting and water purification. The device uses sound waves to rotate particles, with larger objects being drawn into the core and spinning at high speeds.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 28, 2015

Sleep quality influences the cognitive performance of autistic and neurotypical children

Research at the University of Montreal found that one night of poor sleep significantly decreases performance on intelligence tests in both autistic and neurotypical children. The study observed disruptions in protective brain waves during sleep, known as 'sleep spindles', which were associated with lower results on verbal IQ tests.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalInternational Journal of Psychophysiology·DateMay 28, 2015

How sleep helps us learn and memorize

A study published in PLOS Computational Biology found that sleep strengthens and weakens synapses, leading to memory erasure or new memories. The results provide an empirical framework for understanding the complex role of sleep in learning and memory.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateMay 28, 2015

Spinning a new version of silk

Scientists have successfully produced samples of strong and resilient synthetic silk with properties tailored for biomedical applications. The new material is created by genetically modifying bacteria to produce spider-like proteins, which are then extruded through microfluidic channels to form fibers.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 28, 2015

The Arctic: Interglacial period with a break

Researchers found indications of a 6-million-year interruption in the interglacial period in the Arctic Ocean during the Cretaceous period. The team analyzed glendonites and sediment cores to reconstruct climate conditions, including a severe cold snap that interrupted the warmest era of the past 145 million years.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalGeology·DateMay 28, 2015

Researchers retrieve 'lost' memories

Researchers from the RIKEN-MIT Center for Neural Circuit Genetics demonstrated that traces of old memories remain in the amnestic brain and can be reactivated, allowing lost memories to be found. The study suggests that past memories may not be erased but lost and inaccessible for recall.

SourceRIKEN·JournalScience·DateMay 28, 2015

Stanford breakthrough heralds super-efficient light-based computers

Researchers at Stanford University have developed a breakthrough technology that enables the efficient transmission of data using light, potentially replacing wires in computing systems. The innovation uses inverse design algorithm to fabricate silicon structures that can carry infrared light, paving the way for faster and more energy-...

SourceStanford University School of Engineering·JournalNature Photonics·DateMay 28, 2015