Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive April 2017 - Page 25


Page 25 of 37

Study: Higher wages linked to immigrant diversity

A study by University at Buffalo researchers found that diverse immigrant populations lead to higher wages in cities with inclusive institutions, whereas anti-immigrant policies stunt wage growth for US-born employees. The study tracked data from 33 million people across 160 metropolitan areas and showed a significant wage increase of ...

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalEconomic Geography·DateApr 10, 2017

Life skills are important for wellbeing in later life

Researchers found that people with more life skills, such as emotional stability and control, enjoyed better health outcomes, including lower cholesterol levels and smaller waistlines. The study also found a link between increased life skills and reduced loneliness, depression, and improved physical functioning.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 10, 2017

Student and school variables can predict high school dropout, study finds

A Georgia State University study found that high school dropout rates are influenced by both student-level and school-level factors. Socioeconomic status plays a significant role in determining dropout rates, regardless of race or ethnicity. Schools can make a difference by offering extracurricular activities and limiting retention pol...

SourceGeorgia State University·JournalSchool Psychology Quarterly·DateApr 10, 2017

Weather-forecast tool adapted to evaluate brain health of oxygen-deprived newborns

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have adapted a weather-forecast tool to assess the effectiveness of therapies for reducing brain injury in newborns who suffered oxygen deprivation during birth. The non-invasive method produces real-time heat maps of the infant's brain, helping doctors determine whether therapies are working.

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 10, 2017

Logging threatens breeding turtles

Research by the University of Exeter found that logging debris on beaches in Colombia is impacting breeding turtles' movement and survival. The study revealed that females with high amounts of debris were more likely to be wounded or have eggs at risk due to flooding.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalMarine Ecology Progress Series·DateApr 10, 2017

Putting a spin on logic gates

Researchers have developed a prototype for a spin-wave majority logic gate that utilizes wave interference to process information. This innovation uses spin waves instead of classical currents or voltages, enabling the creation of nanoscale devices with improved efficiency and reliability.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateApr 10, 2017

Two new species of orchids discovered in Okinawa

Researchers have discovered two new species of parasitic orchids, Gastrodia nipponicoides and Gastrodia okinawanesis, on the main island of Okinawa. The plants are related to the common orchid Gastrodia nipponica but can be distinguished by differences in their petals' lips and column structure.

SourceKobe University·JournalPhytotaxa·DateApr 10, 2017

Rice U. scientists add to theory about Huntington's mechanism

Researchers use computer simulations to show how N-terminal sequence encourages aggregation of huntingtin protein fragments while polyproline inhibits it. This discovery offers a new target for drug development to halt Huntington's disease progression. The study also highlights the involvement of the cytoskeleton in the disease mechanism.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 10, 2017

Greenhouse gas effect caused by mangrove forest conversion is quite significant

A seven-year study reveals that mangrove conversion to agricultural uses results in a land-use carbon footprint of 1,440-1,603 pounds of CO2 for beef and shrimp production, respectively. This amounts to approximately the same greenhouse gas emissions as driving a fuel-efficient automobile from Los Angeles to New York City.

SourceOregon State University·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and the Environment·DateApr 10, 2017

Forget sponges: The earliest animals were marine jellies

A team of evolutionary biologists from Vanderbilt University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison devised a new approach to settle contentious phylogenetic tree-of-life issues. They found that comb jellies have considerably more genes supporting their 'first to diverge' status in the animal lineage than do sponges.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateApr 10, 2017