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Science News Archive August 2017 - Page 40


Page 40 of 41

Magic helps unmask how the brain works

Researchers at the University of Delaware used a new mirror box illusion to study how the brain processes multiple sensory inputs. The study found that the brain uses biomechanical constraints from the body schema to resolve conflicts between senses, with vision typically ruling but also considering additional information.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 1, 2017

Help from the stomach for dry eyes

Researchers have developed a new contact lens coating made from a molecule found in pig stomach mucus, which can prevent tissue damage caused by dry eyes. The coating is long-term protective and requires no repeated applications, offering an alternative to existing hyaluronic acid products.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalAdvanced Materials Interfaces·DateAug 1, 2017

Cheap and simple detection of neurotoxic chemicals

Researchers from Kumamoto University developed a novel electrochemical sensing technique for detecting neurotoxic agents, including Nereistoxin, which showed high sensitivity and specificity. The method uses gold electrodes with adsorbed NRT layers, achieving detection limits of 1-25 micro-grams per milliliter of human serum.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalAnalytical Chemistry·DateAug 1, 2017

Building bridges within the cell -- using light

Scientists have created a method to build bridges between organelles in living cells, allowing for controlled manipulation of communication between subcellular compartments. This breakthrough could lead to breakthroughs in understanding cell function and developing new treatments for diseases.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalChemical Science·DateAug 1, 2017

Big data points humanity to new minerals, new deposits

A groundbreaking study applies big data analysis to mineralogy, predicting the existence of 1,500 missing minerals and new deposits. The technique enables scientists to represent data from multiple variables on thousands of minerals in a single graph, revealing patterns of occurrence and distribution.

SourceTerry Collins Assoc·JournalAmerican Mineralogist·DateAug 1, 2017

Safely releasing genetically modified genes into the wild

Scientists use nonlinear reaction-diffusion equations to model gene movement and develop 'switches' that initiate and terminate gene drives, balancing genetic traits with embedded weaknesses. They also find that intense release in specific regions can trigger spreading, but can be stopped by barriers like pesticides.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 1, 2017

'Antibiotic stewardship teams' must be planned and paid for to halt dangerous infections

The article highlights the urgent need for specialist health workers to promote appropriate antibiotic use, improve diagnosis and treatment of infections, and prevent drug-resistant bacteria. The proposed multidisciplinary teams should be made up of infectious diseases specialists, clinical microbiologists, nurses, and pharmacists.

SourceEuropean Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases·JournalClinical Microbiology and Infection·DateAug 1, 2017

Dietary restriction can improve learning in worms

A new study reveals that dietary restriction improves learning in worms by depleting a specific amino acid metabolite. The researchers used the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans to test how food deprivation affected learning and found that restricted access to food increased learning by reducing kynurenic acid levels.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 1, 2017

It's never too cold for quantum

Researchers have made significant progress in understanding quantum critical points, which occur at absolute zero and are responsible for phase transitions. The new findings reveal that quantum fluctuations play a crucial role in these phenomena, even at extremely low temperatures.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateAug 1, 2017

Story tips from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Aug. 2017

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a novel method to convert used cooking oil into biofuel using recycled carbon materials. Additionally, they have found a way to insulate the innermost wall of a fusion reactor to maintain the delicate balance between hot plasma and cool exhaust. Furthermore, scientists have di...

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalChemistrySelect·DateAug 1, 2017

Evolution of fan worm eyes

Fan worms have developed unusual compound eyes on their tentacles to detect motion and predators, alerting them to danger. The eyes' unique genetic makeup reveals an independent evolutionary history from other visual systems.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalCurrent Biology·DateAug 1, 2017

Study examines drowning-induced brain injury in children

Children who develop brain injury due to non-fatal drowning often suffer from severe motor deficits, while maintaining relatively intact perceptual and cognitive abilities. The study used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess brain integrity in 11 children with quadriplegia caused by drowning-induced brain injury.

SourceWiley·JournalHuman Brain Mapping·DateAug 1, 2017