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Science News for July 8, 2016


Scientists simulate tiny bacteria-powered 'windfarm'

Researchers from Oxford University used computer simulations to demonstrate how chaotic bacterial swarming can be organized to power microscopic rotors and devices. The study found that densely packed bacteria can spontaneously assemble into a 'bacterial windfarm' capable of generating persistent mechanical power.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 8, 2016

A 'time switch' in the brain improves sense of smell

Scientists have found that a time-dependent coding mechanism is essential for distinguishing between similar smells. By inhibiting signals to olfactory bulb output neurons, researchers showed that mice could no longer differentiate between odor mixtures with slightly different ratios or molecules with similar chemical structures.

New record in microwave detection

Researchers achieved a 14-fold increase in energy resolution of thermal photodetection, opening doors for ultrasensitive cameras and quantum computing applications. The detector works at extremely low temperatures, detecting single zeptojoule energy packets.

SourceAalto University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 8, 2016

A mixed response

A recent study suggests that re-wetting dried riverbeds releases dissolved carbon and greenhouse gases, including methane and CO2. This process may also contribute to ocean acidification. However, restoration of wetlands is expected to outweigh the negative effects, supporting biodiversity and mitigating storm erosion.

Why Clinton and Trump backers don't mix

A national study led by Michigan State University scholar William Chopik found that living among people with opposing political viewpoints can affect ability to form close relationships and accept perspectives. The study also suggests that segregating into 'red' and 'blue' states may stifle healthy political discourse.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·DateJul 8, 2016

When red evokes mischief

A new study found that people with high sensation-seeking personalities are more likely to engage in prank behavior when encountering the color red. This contradicts previous research suggesting that red leads to compliant behavior. The findings have implications for health campaigns, such as anti-smoking and safe sex initiatives.

SourceSociety for Consumer Psychology·JournalJournal of Consumer Psychology·DateJul 8, 2016

Deadly bug strikes in a day

A deadly bacteria, Burkholderia pseudomallei, can travel to the brain and spinal cord within 24 hours, according to a new Griffith University study. The findings could lead to discoveries on how other common bacteria enter the spinal cord.

SourceGriffith University·JournalImmunity·DateJul 8, 2016

Increase in childhood and adult asthma linked to London's 1952 Great Smog

Researchers found a statistically significant 20% increase in childhood asthma cases exposed to the Great Smog in utero or early childhood. The study suggests a strong possibility of a causal link between early childhood exposure to air pollution and later development of adult asthma.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateJul 8, 2016

Setting the gold standard

A team of University of Florida researchers has successfully used light to grow gold nanoprisms, enabling better control over the growth process. The discovery has significant implications for pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and solar panels.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalNature Materials·DateJul 8, 2016

A recipe for friendship: Similar food

A study published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology found that eating the same food as a companion increases sense of closeness and trust. This strategy can be applied to various social situations, such as first dates or business negotiations, and may even influence marketing effectiveness.

SourceSociety for Consumer Psychology·JournalJournal of Consumer Psychology·DateJul 8, 2016

Going to 'Wars' against cancer and heart disease

A new gene called Wars2 has been identified as a key player in blood vessel formation, providing a potential target for new therapies against cancer and heart disease. The discovery was made by researchers at Duke-NUS Medical School who found that inhibiting Wars2 function impaired blood vessel formation in rats and zebrafish.

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 8, 2016

Messaging by flow in the brain

Scientists have discovered that tiny cilia on specialized cells create complex networks of dynamic flows that transport molecular 'freight' to specific destinations in the brain. These flows, powered by synchronized beating movements, could play a crucial role in distributing essential messenger substances.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateJul 8, 2016

An epigenetic mechanism is involved in the development of autoinflammatory diseases

Autoinflammatory diseases are characterized by recurrent acute inflammatory episodes due to deregulation of the inflammatory process. Researchers have identified epigenetic alterations in cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS), which could lead to the development of novel biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment.

SourceIDIBELL-Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateJul 8, 2016