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Science News Archive August 2017 - Page 39


Page 39 of 41

'Sherlock' and the case of narrative perception

The study found that brain activity in regions called the default mode network represent a kind of higher-level processing, building up representations of what's happening in the world around us. Participants who had previously watched the 'Sherlock' episode could anticipate events and recall them in the same order, suggesting that chu...

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateAug 2, 2017

A dolphin diet

Marine biologists analyzed three dolphin species' diets, revealing overlap in feeding ecology despite differences in hunting strategies. The research provides valuable insights for conservation and management of dolphin populations worldwide.

What flowers looked like 100 million years ago

A new study reconstructs the evolution of flowers and sheds light on what the earliest flowers might have looked like. The ancestral flower was bisexual, with both female and male parts, and multiple whorls of petal-like organs. This new model offers a plausible scenario to explain the spectacular diversity of floral forms.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 2, 2017

Update on the Larsen-C iceberg breakaway

The largest remaining ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula has lost 10% of its area after a giant iceberg four times the size of London broke free. Dr Anna Hogg and Dr Hilmar Gudmundsson tracked the iceberg using satellite technology, revealing that it has started to drift away from the Larsen-C and formed smaller icebergs.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalNature Climate Change·DateAug 2, 2017

Prescription opioids often go unused after surgery

A study published in JAMA Surgery found that more than two-thirds of patients reported unused prescription opioids after surgery, highlighting an important source for nonmedical use. The study also revealed low rates of safe storage and disposal practices, contributing to opioid-related injuries and deaths.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Surgery·DateAug 2, 2017

Magnetized viruses attack harmful bacteria

Researchers at Rice University and the University of Science and Technology of China have developed a combination of antibacterial phages and magnetic nanoparticle clusters that infect and destroy bacteria protected by biofilms in water treatment systems. The innovative material, which uses bacteriophages combined with nanoparticles, c...

Pennsylvania snowshoe hares differ from those in Yukon

Researchers found that Pennsylvania snowshoe hares have shorter, less-dense winter coats than their northern counterparts, producing lower coat temperatures. They also exhibit altered movement rates and resting-spot selection in response to variable winter temperatures. These adaptations may enable the hares to survive warming winters.

SourcePenn State·JournalCanadian Journal of Zoology·DateAug 1, 2017

Effects of cognitive behavior therapy on parents of children with autism

A new study from York University reveals that parents who participate in cognitive therapy with their children with autism experience improvements in their own depression, emotion regulation, and mindful parenting. The research shows that co-therapy with parents alongside their child's therapist leads to positive outcomes for the family.

SourceYork University·JournalJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·DateAug 1, 2017

Aye group discovers avenue for precision cancer treatment

A study published in Cell Chemical Biology discovered a novel chemical procedure called T-REX that can selectively target cancer cells with specific mutations, leading to more favorable treatment outcomes. The researchers found that certain enzymes' redox-specific processes could be harnessed for targeted drug design.

SourceCornell University·JournalCell Chemical Biology·DateAug 1, 2017

No simple way of predicting breathing difficulties in pugs, French bulldogs and bulldogs from external features

Research by University of Cambridge suggests that external features cannot accurately predict breathing difficulties in pugs, French bulldogs and bulldogs. Breeders should focus on breeding for open nostrils and avoiding dogs with short muzzles, wide faces and thick necks to reduce the risk of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 1, 2017

Brainiacs win big

The UCSB Brain Initiative, a cross-disciplinary program tackling the mind and brain, has received a significant boost from the Hearst Foundation. The award will support the initiative's efforts to transform our understanding of the human brain and provide new tools for neuroengineering.

Technique enables printable and rewritable color images

Scientists at Rice University have created a method for printing and rewriting color images by utilizing structural colors, which are determined by the selective reflections of certain colors at specific angles. The technique uses a single, colorless ink and can generate high-resolution images with excellent durability.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateAug 1, 2017

Study shows adolescent depression increases risk for violence

A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found a consistent pattern of increased risk of later violence among adolescents with depression. The research team identified modest increases in risk of violence in depression, with an odds ratio of two-fold in one sample.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateAug 1, 2017