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Science News Archive October 2015 - Page 16


Page 16 of 38

Solar energy's land-use impact

A new study found that most utility-scale solar energy facilities in California are located in natural habitats, leading to environmental conflicts. The researchers identified areas for more sustainable siting, including built-up lands and those already affected by human activities.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 19, 2015

The smell of death can trigger fight or flight in humans

A new study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that exposure to putrescine, a chemical compound produced by dead bodies, increases vigilance and readiness for either escape or aggressive behavior. The researchers believe this discovery may help determine the sensory and brain pathways involved in chemosensory threat detection.

SourceUniversity of Kent·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateOct 19, 2015

X-citing X chromosome discovery could aid research on many sex-linked disorders

A team of scientists from the University of Michigan Medical School has discovered a new way for RNA to regulate genetic activity on the X chromosome in females. The finding, which could lead to better treatment for sex-linked disorders, shows that female cells produce a special type of RNA called XistAR to silence one of their two X c...

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 19, 2015

Study reveals new, potent way to boost immunity and fight viruses

Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine have found a new component of the interferon system that enhances the body's innate immune defenses while attacking a protein relied on by many viruses. This dual mechanism could lead to effective antiviral drugs and may explain improved survival rates in genetically engineered mice.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNature Immunology·DateOct 19, 2015

Electronics get a power boost with the addition of a simple material

Researchers at Penn State have discovered a way to give transistors a power boost by incorporating vanadium oxide into electronic devices. The material's metal-to-insulator transition property can enhance state-of-the-art non-volatile memories and improve the stability and energy efficiency of read, write, and maintain information states.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 19, 2015

Clear link between income and survival after cardiac surgery

A new registry study by Karolinska Institutet found a strong correlation between household disposable income and long-term survival after cardiac surgery. The study included 100,000 patients and showed that those with higher incomes had significantly lower mortality rates, even after adjusting for other risk factors.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateOct 19, 2015

The 20 lb. cereal box

A new Cornell study found that women who had breakfast cereal sitting on their counters weighed 20-lbs more than those without, while soft drinks contributed to a 24-26 lb weight increase. In contrast, households with fruit bowls showed a 13-lb weight loss.

SourceCornell Food & Brand Lab·JournalHealth Education & Behavior·DateOct 19, 2015

Firstborn, middle child, last-born: Birth order has only very small effects on personality

A study of over 20,000 grown-ups found no substantial effects of birth order on central personality traits, including extraversion, emotional stability, and conscientiousness. Self-reported intellect showed a small effect, with firstborns reporting better vocabulary and less difficulty understanding abstract ideas.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 19, 2015

Gene on-off switch works like backpack strap

A team of researchers has found that proteins forming loops in human chromosomes work like a sliding plastic adjuster on a backpack. This discovery could provide new clues about genetic diseases and allow for reprogramming cells by directly modifying the loops in genomes.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 19, 2015

New study explains near-annual Monsoon oscillations generated by El Niño

A new study reveals the source of near-annual pressure and wind changes in the Southeast Asian Monsoon system, attributing them to El Niño's interaction with solar radiation. The research demonstrates that these oscillations are more predictable than previously assumed and provide a new mechanism for understanding climate phenomena.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 19, 2015

Researchers learn how to steer the heart -- with light

A team of researchers from Oxford and Stony Brook universities has developed a way to precisely control electrical waves in heart cells using light. This allows for fine control over wave speed, direction, and orientation, enabling unprecedented direct control of organ-level function without manipulating individual cells.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalNature Photonics·DateOct 19, 2015

Seizures from solving sudoku puzzles

A young adult developed clonic seizures while trying to solve Sudoku puzzles after being exposed to oxygen deficiency during an avalanche. The patient stopped solving the puzzle and has been seizure-free for over five years.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Neurology·DateOct 19, 2015

Biomarker finder adjusts on the fly

Researchers at Rice University have developed a new tool to identify DNA and RNA sequences, which will help detect diseases and design therapies. The method allows for the simultaneous observation of multiple biomarkers by adjusting the brightness of fluorescent probes.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Methods·DateOct 19, 2015