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Science News for February 3, 2016


CNIC researchers discover a new target for the treatment of fatty liver disease

CNIC researchers have identified a new target for the treatment of fatty liver disease, p38 gamma and p38 delta proteins. Inhibition of these proteins with specific inhibitors has shown potential as a treatment for fatty liver disease, potentially preventing inflammation, liver damage, and diabetes linked to obesity.

Phosphine as a superconductor? Sure, but the story may be complicated

Researchers at the University of Buffalo found that phosphine's superconductivity likely results from the compound decomposing into other products containing phosphorus and hydrogen. This understanding could aid in creating new superconducting materials, which would revolutionize electric power infrastructure by reducing energy waste.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateFeb 3, 2016

Receptors inside nerve cells may be a key to controlling pain

Blocking receptors inside nerve cells may offer a more effective and safer pain relief option by reducing drug-induced side effects. The study found that targeting glutamate receptors in the nucleus of spinal nerve cells can effectively relieve neuropathic pain in rats, with no changes in pain sensitivity observed in normal rats.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 3, 2016

Orangutans: Lethal aggression between females

Researchers observed a female orangutan being killed by another female, with a male recruited as a hired gun. Female-female aggression is rare, and the case defies typical patterns of joint coalitional killings.

SourceSpringer·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·DateFeb 3, 2016

Wayne State chemistry professor earns NSF CAREER Award to examine unusual chemical structure

Jennifer Stockdill, a Wayne State University assistant professor of chemistry, has received a $650,000 NSF Faculty Early Career Development Award to investigate the reactivity of neutral aminyl radicals. The award also supports outreach programs aimed at promoting diversity in STEM fields among middle school girls and graduate students.

Breaking through insect shells at a molecular level

Scientists at the universities of Bonn and Leipzig found a way to break through insect shells using enzyme chitinase 2 and growth factor idgf6. This discovery offers new starting points for controlling agricultural parasites and disease-carrying insects, such as mosquitoes that spread Zika virus.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 3, 2016

No proof that radiation from X rays and CT scans causes cancer

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Oncology challenges the widely-held belief that low-dose radiation from medical imaging procedures can cause cancer. The authors argue that the linear no-threshold model, used to estimate cancer risks, has never been conclusively demonstrated by empirical evidence.

SourceLoyola Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Oncology·DateFeb 3, 2016

New study challenges Jupiter's role as planetary shield, protecting Earth from comet impacts

A new simulation study suggests that Jupiter's most important role in fostering life on Earth was delivering volatile materials from the outer Solar System. The study also proposes that a Solar System with one or more planets similar to Jupiter located beyond the region of potential terrestrial planets is beneficial for life development.

Parasitic ants alter how captive ants recognize nest mates

Researchers found that enslaved Formica ant colonies were more genetically and chemically diverse than their free-living counterparts. This diversity is likely caused by seasonal raids to steal pupae from adjacent host colonies, leading to changes in how the ants recognize nest mates.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 3, 2016

Helping turn waste heat into electricity

Researchers found a way to control energy transfer between electrons and bismuth crystal lattice, enabling efficient conversion of waste heat into electricity. This discovery could improve the overall efficiency of solar cells by harnessing excess heat.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateFeb 3, 2016

Smartphones for sensing

Smartphone sensors can measure various physical quantities such as ultraviolet index, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation, and air quality. A smart home system has been developed using mobile phones to detect CO2, temperature, humidity, and other parameters.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·DateFeb 3, 2016

Women are seen more than heard in online news

The study found men's views and voices are represented more in online news than women's, while women appear proportionally more in images. Women feature more in fashion and entertainment articles, but are least present in sports and politics topics. The research highlights the marginalization of women's voices in the media.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 3, 2016

Clean kitchens cut calories

A recent study conducted at the Cornell Food and Brand Lab found that cluttered kitchens can lead to over-snacking. Women who waited in a messy kitchen ate 53 more calories from cookies compared to those waiting in an organized kitchen.

SourceCornell Food & Brand Lab·JournalEnvironment and Behavior·DateFeb 3, 2016

Practice makes perfect: Switching between languages pays off

Research from Concordia University reveals that bilingual children are better at certain types of mental control, with those who practice more language switching showing greater skills. This advantage is attributed to the cognitive benefits of bilingualism, including increased cognitive flexibility and selective attention abilities.

SourceConcordia University·JournalJournal of Experimental Child Psychology·DateFeb 3, 2016

Safeguarding sturgeon

Researchers at the University of Delaware used satellite measurements to predict Atlantic sturgeon locations. They identified six seascapes that sturgeon prefer and combined them with ocean color and temperature data to create a map that can help fishermen avoid catching the vulnerable species.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalMethods in Ecology and Evolution·DateFeb 3, 2016

Financial industry coping with issues of elder exploitation, cognitive decline

The financial industry is facing a major economic threat from elder financial exploitation and cognitive decline, which can result in significant losses for individuals and society. New research and initiatives are being developed to detect, prevent, and intervene in these cases, including predictive models and algorithms.

SourceThe Gerontological Society of America·JournalPublic Policy & Aging Report·DateFeb 3, 2016

Significant changes in rhino bone health over 50 million years

A study of rhinoceros bones reveals a significant increase in osteopathology as new species evolved, from 28% to 65-80%. The black rhino showed 50% fewer osteopathologies than derived extinct taxa, suggesting that long-term bone health may have been compromised by adaptations for increased mass and activity.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 3, 2016

Same switches program taste and smell in fruit flies

Fruit flies develop complex nervous systems through a set of genetic control switches that interact early in development to generate dozens of types of olfactory neurons. The same gene network also plays a role in programming taste neurons, suggesting the same basic mechanism could be at work in other animals.

SourceDuke University·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateFeb 3, 2016