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Science News Archive April 2016 - Page 3


Page 3 of 39

Friends 'better than morphine'

Research at University of Oxford found that individuals with more friends have a higher pain tolerance due to increased endorphin release, which promotes social bonding and pleasure. Additionally, the study discovered correlations between fitter people, those with higher stress levels, and smaller social networks.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 28, 2016

WSU researcher improves mental health evaluations

A new assessment tool has been developed to gauge the risk of patients with mental illnesses committing crimes, improving upon the current evaluation system. The tool aims to strike a balance between patient rights and freedoms and public safety, facilitating quicker evaluations and hospitalizations for high-risk patients.

SourceWashington State University·JournalInternational Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology·DateApr 28, 2016

Science news story on Sci-Hub provides detailed view of user base; related editorial

A recent study on Sci-Hub usage reveals that the site's millions of users are scattered across the globe, with significant activity detected in China, India, and Iran. The study also highlights the unintended consequences of Sci-Hub's illegal paper acquisition methods, including the impact on libraries and scientific communities.

Bearded dragons show REM and slow wave sleep

Scientists have discovered REM and slow-wave sleep in bearded dragons, a finding that suggests brain sleep dates back at least to the evolution of amniotes. The study's authors believe that this common origin is more plausible than convergent evolution, given the early branching out of reptiles.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateApr 28, 2016

Personal cooling units on the horizon

Researchers at Penn State have developed a nanowire array that can cool about 5.5 degrees Fahrenheit using 36 volts, an electric field level safe for humans. The material is flexible, can be powered by a 500g battery pack for two hours, and could potentially be incorporated into firefighting gear or athletic uniforms.

SourcePenn State·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateApr 28, 2016

A long-noncoding RNA regulates repair of DNA breaks in triple-negative breast cancer cells

A new study has identified a long non-coding RNA that plays a crucial role in the repair of DNA breaks in triple-negative breast cancer cells. The research found that blocking this RNA significantly increases sensitivity to radiation therapy, providing new insight into the biology of this tough-to-treat breast cancer subtype.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateApr 28, 2016

How cancer cells escape from tumors and spread

Cancer cells' ability to slide past obstacles and travel out of primary tumors is enabled by abnormal protein fiber scaffolding and the agility of cancer cells themselves. The researchers developed a model environment that mimics protein fibers, allowing them to observe and quantify the behavior of breast cancer cells.

SourceNortheastern University·JournalBiophysical Journal·DateApr 28, 2016

Junk-food junkies go healthy when rewarded

Researchers at Cornell University found that consumers who have poor eating habits benefit most from long-term reward incentives for healthy food choices. In contrast, healthy eaters are more likely to purchase less healthy items when offered price breaks.

SourceCornell University·JournalCornell Hospitality Quarterly·DateApr 28, 2016

Insect outbreaks reduce wildfire severity

A University of Vermont-led study finds that insect outbreaks, such as mountain pine beetle and western spruce budworm infestations, significantly reduce wildfire severity. This contrasts with popular attitudes linking the two, and provides new insights for forest management and policy applications.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateApr 28, 2016

Brain cells divide the work to recognize bodies

Researchers from KU Leuven measured individual brain cell responses to animal and human body images, finding that each cell specializes in recognizing specific features. The findings suggest a collaborative process where different cells work together to recognize bodies.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 28, 2016

Rosacea linked to a slightly increased risk of dementia

A new study has found a link between rosacea and an increased risk of dementia, with the highest risks seen in older patients. The study published in Annals of Neurology suggests that treating rosacea may also modify patients' risk of developing dementia.

SourceWiley·JournalAnnals of Neurology·DateApr 28, 2016