Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive December 2016 - Page 28


Page 28 of 32

During last warming period, Antarctica heated up 2 to 3 times more than planet average

A new study by a team of American geophysicists found that Antarctica warmed about 11 degrees Celsius between 20,000 and 10,000 years ago, 2 to 3 times the average temperature increase worldwide. The disparity highlights the amplification of warming at poles consistent with today's climate change models.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 5, 2016

Simple steps lengthen lives of high-risk AML patients

High-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients can live longer with quicker identification and transplantation. Researchers found that rapidly identifying genetic mutations and matching donors increased two-year survival rates from 22% to 45%. The streamlined approach could establish a new standard of care for these patients.

SourceSWOG·DateDec 5, 2016

Drug/catheter combo for labor induction could save 2.4 million hours of labor annually, Penn study shows

A combination of the prostaglandin-like drug misoprostol and a balloon catheter could reduce delivery room time by several hours, potentially saving thousands of days of labor per year. The study found no significant differences in cesarean deliveries or medical complications between the methods.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalObstetrics and Gynecology·DateDec 5, 2016

Making spines from sea water

Sea urchins and microorganisms have been found to 'drink' seawater, extracting calcium ions through a network of bubbles within their cells. This method may be more energy-efficient than previous theories, but also presents challenges in manipulating ions in the sea water.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 5, 2016

Kids' restaurant menu items often include excess calories

A new study found that most kids' menu items at top restaurants exceed the recommended calorie count, with fried potatoes being the most excessive. Experts recommend adjusting portion sizes and menus to meet children's needs, providing an opportunity for restaurants to promote healthier options and reduce childhood obesity.

SourceRAND Corporation·JournalNutrition Today·DateDec 5, 2016

Parenting classes benefit all, especially lower-income families

A new study from Oregon State University suggests that parenting education can improve the skills of every parent and the behavior of all children. The study found that parenting education series serving predominantly lower-income parents resulted in greater improvements in their skills and their children's behaviors compared to series...

SourceOregon State University·JournalChildren and Youth Services Review·DateDec 5, 2016

How plants manage excess solar energy

Scientists have found that the UVR8 receptor in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii activates a safety valve to dissipate excess energy as heat. The study reveals a second protective role of these receptors, producing an anti-UV 'sunscreen'.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 5, 2016

No safe level of smoking

A study of over 290,000 adults found that even low-intensity smokers had a significantly higher risk of earlier death than never smokers. The risk was particularly strong for lung cancer mortality, with low-intensity smokers experiencing nearly 9 times the risk of dying from lung cancer.

SourceNIH/National Cancer Institute·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateDec 5, 2016

Researchers study sea spray to improve hurricane intensity forecasting

A University of Miami research team analyzed sea spray droplets generated from breaking waves and found that the amount of large droplets is 1000 times more than previously thought. This information can be applied to hurricane models to improve intensity predictions, aiding in people's safety.

Study examines the impact of climate change on freshwater species

A study examines the impact of climate change on freshwater species in New South Wales, Australia. At least a third of species are likely to lose more than half their range under climate change. The researchers hope that better communicating modeling uncertainty can inform adaptive management and balance risks.

SourceWiley·JournalFreshwater Biology·DateDec 5, 2016

Report reassesses variations in global warming

Experts reassess temperature trends, finding that global warming slowed less from 1998 to 2012, peaking in 2016 at a level around 1.5ºC above its level early in the Industrial Revolution. Global temperatures remain high due to exceptionally low sea-ice extent in both hemispheres.

SourceWiley·JournalQuarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society·DateDec 5, 2016