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Science News Archive February 2016 - Page 37


Page 37 of 39

Transgenic plants' 'die and let live' strategy dramatically increases drought resistance

Purdue University researchers engineered rice and Arabidopsis plants to overexpress PYL9 protein, which dramatically increased drought tolerance. The study found that the transgenic plants triggered the death of old leaves, conserving resources for seeds and buds, a survival strategy known as 'die and let live.'

SourcePurdue University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 1, 2016

New hope for improved heart disease detection and treatment in type 2 diabetics

A new report identifies several forms of testing to measure the risk of heart disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. These tests include exercise testing and coronary calcium scanning, which can detect silent ischemia and identify the highest-risk patients for more effective treatments. The study suggests that a significant proporti...

SourceLA BioMed·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateFeb 1, 2016

Cling-on warriors

A new type of underwater adhesive developed at UCSB replicates the adhesion strategy of the Sandcastle worm, which is robust in wet conditions. The synthetic glue promotes adhesion between various surfaces and is more resistant to cracking due to its porous structure.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Materials·DateFeb 1, 2016

Turning good vibrations into energy

Scientists at Ohio State University develop tree-like structures that can convert random forces into strong structural vibrations ideal for generating electricity. The technology may prove valuable in small-scale situations where other renewable energy sources are not an option, powering sensors that monitor infrastructure health.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Sound and Vibration·DateFeb 1, 2016

Community lifestyle intervention reduces cardiovascular disease risk in diabetes patients

A community lifestyle intervention program reduced cardiovascular disease risk in diabetes patients by 9.6%, fasting glucose by 9%, body mass index by 3.7% and systolic blood pressure by 5.7%. Participants experienced significant reductions after completing 16 two-hour classes on healthy living basics.

SourceAmerican Osteopathic Association·JournalThe Journal of the American Osteopathic Association·DateFeb 1, 2016

Sparse coverage hinders infertility treatment access

A new review suggests that Americans are not using infertility treatments and technologies as much as they could due to limited insurance coverage. The number of women aged 25-44 who have used infertility services decreased by 16% between 1995 and 2010, with usage rates being only 40% of the likely need in the US population.

SourceBrown University·JournalFertility and Sterility·DateFeb 1, 2016

Long-term global warming not driven naturally

A study by Duke University and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory finds that global temperature remains stable in the long run due to the Planck Response and other mechanisms. Natural climate cycles alone are insufficient to explain large, sustained changes in global temperature.

SourceDuke University·JournalJournal of Climate·DateFeb 1, 2016

Chapman University publishes research on how the media influence perceptions of obesity

A study by Chapman University researchers reveals that news articles portraying obesity in different ways influence people's attitudes towards obesity-related public policies and anti-fat prejudice. The 'fat rights' frame was found to reduce prejudice, while the 'public health crisis' and 'personal responsibility' frames exacerbated it.

SourceChapman University·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·DateFeb 1, 2016

Physical parameters matter in terms of cancer cells' metastatic ability

A recent study found that the presence of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) promotes the motility of elongated mesenchymal tumour cells in breast cancer cells, which migrate along collagen fibres. This increased persistence and moderate speed suggests that EGF contributes to modulating the mobility of tumour cells.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal Plus·DateFeb 1, 2016

A uniter and a divider

A new study combining computer science, moral psychology, and sociology found that concerns about purity are the best predictor of social distance between people. The research team analyzed over 731,000 tweets and behavioral experiments to determine how five basic moral values affect social connections.

New technique to find copper deposits

Researchers at the University of Exeter have developed a new technique to identify copper deposits in magmatic rocks by analyzing their chemical composition. The method, which was tested on a major porphyry discovery in Chile, has shown promising results and could lead to the discovery of new valuable metal deposits.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Geoscience·DateFeb 1, 2016

Switching light with a silver atom

Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a working group that created a tiny, ultra-efficient optical switch using silver atoms. This breakthrough has significant implications for data transmission and storage, as it enables the creation of digital signals with unprecedented accuracy.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNano Letters·DateFeb 1, 2016

Increase in volcanic eruptions at the end of the ice age caused by melting ice caps and erosion

Numerical simulations found that erosion played a key role in driving magma production and subsequent volcanic activity at the end of the last ice age. The study's results may have implications for understanding climate change and atmospheric CO2 levels, as similar mechanisms are expected to occur at shorter timescales.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateFeb 1, 2016

Cancer drug helps combat asthma in mice

Dasatinib, a cancer treatment, reduces inflammation and improves lung mechanics in mice with allergic asthma. The drug targets tyrosine kinases involved in asthma's signaling pathways.

SourceWiley·JournalBritish Journal of Pharmacology·DateFeb 1, 2016

A better model for Parkinson's disease

Researchers at EPFL create cellular and mouse models that accurately reproduce the evolution of Parkinson's disease, using insights into protein clumps called Lewy bodies. The new models can propel research and drug development, offering a powerful tool for rapid screening of molecular pathways involved in the disease.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 1, 2016