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Science News for May 27, 2016


Genomic study tracks African-American dispersal in the Great Migration

Researchers analyzed genetic data from 3,726 African-Americans to estimate patterns of ancestry, finding that 82.1% had ancestors in Africa prior to transatlantic travel. The study reveals regional differences in ancestry, with southern US residents having a greater percentage of African ancestry than those in the North or West.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateMay 27, 2016

At the top of their game

Research highlights factors necessary for successful apex predator recovery, including disease regulation and biodiversity maintenance. The study reveals that full recovery is the exception rather than the rule, with many species facing complex challenges in their recovery pathways.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 27, 2016

How Zika infects the placenta

Scientists have discovered that Zika virus can infect and replicate in immune cells from the placenta without killing them. This finding may explain how the virus passes through the placenta of a pregnant woman to infect developing brain cells in her fetus.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateMay 27, 2016

Teenage brain on social media

A new UCLA study found that teenagers' brains activate the same reward circuitry when seeing high and low social media likes, influencing their behavior. The study suggests that social media can have a significant impact on teens' willingness to conform and engage in risk-taking behavior.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalPsychological Science·DateMay 27, 2016

Telling irregularities

A clinical study confirmed a strong correlation between minor heart rate irregularities and the survival prospects of heart attack patients. The new method, measuring respiratory sinus arrhythmia, produces a specific picture of the body's functional condition.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateMay 27, 2016

Appalachian coal ash richest in rare earth elements

A study by researchers at Duke University found that coal from the Appalachian Mountains contains the highest amounts of rare earth elements. The team identified ash from this region as a potential source for extracting these critical materials, which are essential for clean energy and emerging technologies.

SourceDuke University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateMay 27, 2016

Zika virus infects human placental macrophages

Researchers found that Zika virus can infect human placental macrophages, known as Hofbauer cells, which have direct access to fetal blood vessels. This infection may allow the virus to cross the placental barrier and enter the fetal circulation, posing a risk to fetal development.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateMay 27, 2016

Predicting the spread of the Zika virus

A new tool by Japanese researchers predicts the risk of Zika virus importation and local transmission for 189 countries, identifying subtropical and tropical nations as high-risk. Countries with a history of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases face the greatest risk of infection.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalPeerJ·DateMay 27, 2016