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Science News Archive September 2015 - Page 22


Page 22 of 35

A more acidic ocean will bend the mermaid's wineglass

Scientists studied how a more acidic ocean affects the protective shell of the mermaid's wineglass algae. They found that in high carbon dioxide conditions, skeletons contained 32% less calcium carbonate and were 40% less stiff and droopier. This could make them more susceptible to damage from ocean currents and grazing by marine animals.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalBiology Letters·DateSep 14, 2015

Upslope migration of tropical plants due to climate change

A new study by Aarhus University researchers found that plant communities on the Chimborazo volcano in Ecuador have shifted upwards by more than 500 meters over the last two centuries. This dramatic shift is attributed to climate change and human-induced land cultivation, which has reduced precipitation and glacier coverage.

SourceAarhus University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 14, 2015

Sierra Nevada snowpack lowest in five centuries

A new report led by University of Arizona researchers reveals the Sierra Nevada snowpack was at its lowest level in 500 years in 2015, exacerbating California's ongoing drought. The study uses tree-ring data to compare snowpack levels with temperatures, finding a strong correlation between warmer winters and lower snowpack.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature Climate Change·DateSep 14, 2015

Birds reveal the evolutionary importance of love

A new study by Malika Ihle and colleagues found that zebra finches choose mates based on stimulation, leading to increased reproductive success. The research suggests that this mate-choice process is essential for the survival of the species, as it maximizes gene perpetuation through successful offspring.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateSep 14, 2015

Social factors may impact young leukemia patients' survival

A new study reveals that social factors such as insurance status, marital status, and county-level income significantly affect the chances of survival in young patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). The findings highlight the need to address these non-biological patient characteristics to improve health outcomes.

SourceWiley·JournalCancer·DateSep 14, 2015

Real X-ray vision: See-through brains ready for study

Researchers at RIKEN Brain Science Institute developed a new optical clearing technique called Sca l eS, enabling the creation of transparent brain samples for detailed analysis. The technique has provided new insights into Alzheimer's disease pathology and revealed associations between amyloid beta plaques and microglial cells.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateSep 14, 2015

Viruses flourish in guts of healthy babies

A new study found that viruses flourish in the guts of healthy infants, with diverse viral strains and a dynamic ecosystem of interacting organisms. The researchers discovered viral strains that exclusively kill bacteria, which declines as the babies grow older.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNature Medicine·DateSep 14, 2015

Researchers develop key component for terahertz wireless

Researchers from Brown University have developed a system for multiplexing terahertz waves, which enables separate streams of data to travel through a single medium. This technology has the potential to support terahertz wireless systems that can deliver data at much higher speeds than current cellular or Wi-Fi networks.

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Photonics·DateSep 14, 2015