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Science News Archive July 2016 - Page 22


Page 22 of 36

What free will looks like in the brain

Johns Hopkins researchers track brain activity as participants make choices entirely on their own, pinpointing the parietal lobe's role in attention switching and frontal cortex involvement in deliberation. The findings shed light on the neural mechanisms underlying human volition and decision-making.

Ravens learn best from their affiliates

Researchers found that networks based on affiliative behaviors, like preening and sharing food, play a major role in transmitting information among ravens. These social connections, especially between siblings, emphasize the importance of family ties in learning.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateJul 13, 2016

Stand-up comics more likely to die prematurely than film comedians and dramatic actors

A landmark study published in the International Journal of Cardiology found that stand-up comedians are more likely to die prematurely compared to comedy actors and dramatic actors. The study revealed a pattern of premature mortality among elite stand-up comedians, with those at the top being more likely to die at a younger age.

SourceAustralian Catholic University·JournalInternational Journal of Cardiology·DateJul 13, 2016

ALMA makes first sighting of water snow line around young star

A team led by Lucas Cieza has made the first resolved observations of a water snow line in a protoplanetary disc using ALMA's long baselines. The discovery pushes the water snow line out to a distance of around 40 au, significantly impacting our understanding of planetary formation models.

SourceESO·JournalNature·DateJul 13, 2016

Hungry parents may feed their kids more, UF study finds

A study of 29 mother-child pairs found that mothers who were overweight or obese served larger portions to their children when they perceived their own hunger as higher. The researchers suggest that parents can intervene by providing objective guidelines and allowing children to have control over their portion sizes.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalJournal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics·DateJul 13, 2016

New method can identify chemical warfare agents more easily

A new method for extracting, enriching and identifying chemical warfare agents from oils and organic liquids has been developed, using nanoparticles to capture the chemicals. The method can identify agents at low concentrations, overcomes challenges of detecting water-repellent agents, and has potential to save lives.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Chromatography A·DateJul 13, 2016

Think a gasoline-direct injection engine is the green choice? Maybe not

A new study from University of Toronto researchers reveals that gasoline-direct injection (GDI) engines, touted for their fuel efficiency, may actually emit more climate-warming black carbon and toxic pollutants than conventional engines. The study found that GDI engines ranked in the 73rd percentile for black carbon emissions, while v...

SourceUniversity of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateJul 13, 2016

Hidden moss chloroplast 'wall' discovered

Researchers visualize peptidoglycan 'wall' in moss chloroplasts for the first time, overturning traditional understanding of chloroplast structure. The discovery has significant implications for our knowledge of plant cell biology and the origins of photosynthesis.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalThe Plant Cell·DateJul 13, 2016

Doubling up to fight pain

Researchers at Queen's University have found that combining pregabalin with duloxetine improves fibromyalgia symptoms, offering a new treatment option for patients. The study suggests that this combination can safely improve pain relief, physical function, and overall quality of life.

SourceQueen's University·JournalPain·DateJul 13, 2016

Penn preclinical study outlines cardiovascular side effects of breast cancer drug

Researchers at Penn Medicine discovered that breast cancer drug trastuzumab affects the development of blood vessels in the heart, leading to potential cardiovascular side effects. The study highlights a new role for ErbB2 protein in blood vessel formation and provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying these side effects.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 13, 2016

A 'key' to metastasis formation

Researchers at Hokkaido University found that biglycan molecule attracts tumor cells to blood vessel walls, facilitating metastasis formation. High biglycan expression linked to poor prognosis in breast, lung, and colorectal cancer patients.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 13, 2016