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Science News Archive May 2016 - Page 3


Page 3 of 38

'Dirty Blizzard' sent 2010 Gulf oil spill pollution to seafloor

A new study found that contaminants from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill persisted in the subsurface water for months, eventually accumulating on the seafloor as a 'dirty blizzard' of marine debris. The remnants of oil and drilling mud combined with microscopic algae to descend to great depths, affecting deep-sea fish and corals.

SourceColumbia Climate School·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 30, 2016

Study shows patients require less painkilling medication after breast-cancer surgery if they have opiate-free anesthesia

A study by Dr. Sarah Saxena found that breast cancer patients need fewer painkillers after non-opiate anesthesia, which may reduce side effects like nausea and vomiting. Non-opiate anesthesia could also potentially lower cancer recurrence rates, but further research is needed to confirm these findings.

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