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Science News for December 21, 2017


The heat is on: Asylum-seeking into the EU will increase with climate change

A new study suggests that climate change will increase asylum-seeking into the European Union, with a potential 28% increase by 2100 under a slow-warming scenario. The researchers found a link between weather fluctuations and migration, with countries experiencing temperature increases having more asylum seekers, while cooler countries...

New test shows when body is fighting a virus

A new test measures RNA or protein molecules in human cells to identify viral infections, potentially replacing current methods for respiratory viral illnesses. The test was found to predict respiratory viral infection with 97% accuracy and could help diagnose patients more quickly and accurately.

SourceYale University·JournalThe Journal of Infectious Diseases·DateDec 21, 2017

Computational study of world music outliers reveals countries with distinct recordings

A computational study by Queen Mary University of London has identified Botswana as the country with the most distinct musical recordings globally. The researchers found that China has the most spatial outliers compared to its neighboring countries, highlighting unique timbral characteristics such as the butterfly harp string instrument.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 21, 2017

A catalytic balancing act

Researchers create a new catalyst by alloying iridium with osmium and then removing the osmium to achieve a balanced structure that supports chemical reactions. The resulting material exhibits enhanced catalytic stability and electron conductivity.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 21, 2017

A kiss of death for prostate cancer

Researchers at Hokkaido University have identified a cellular protein called STAP-2 that stabilizes the EGFR signaling pathway, leading to increased cell proliferation and tumor formation in prostate cancer. Suppressing STAP-2 with inhibitors could potentially treat Gefitinib-resistant prostate cancers.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateDec 21, 2017

Memristors power quick-learning neural network

Researchers at the University of Michigan have created a new type of neural network made with memristors that can dramatically improve the efficiency of teaching machines to think like humans. The system, called reservoir computing, uses fewer nodes and requires less training time than traditional neural networks.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 21, 2017

Fewer laboratory animals thanks to secondary nanobodies

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry have developed secondary nanobodies that outperform traditional antibodies in key cell-biological applications. These nanobodies can be produced in large scale by bacteria, reducing the need for animals in antibody production and improving resolution in light microscopy.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·DateDec 21, 2017

Making waves

A new approach identifies and measures changes in thousands of proteins as Xenopus eggs undergo fertilization, revealing details of protein destruction and release to prevent multiple fertilization. This method enables comprehensive analyses of protein dynamics and sheds light on cellular changes driving disease.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 21, 2017

Science's 2017 Breakthrough of the Year: The observation of two neutron stars merging

The observation of two neutron stars merging generated tiny ripples in spacetime called gravitational waves, detected by LIGO detectors on Earth. This event also triggered an explosion studied by hundreds of astronomers worldwide, marking a major breakthrough in astrophysics and offering new tools for observing the universe.

Molecular mapping made easy

Researchers have developed a standardized, freely available method for creating interactive 3D maps of molecules on the skin. The technique has been used to study the influence of environmental factors and health outcomes, with potential applications in forensics, agriculture, and microbiome studies.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNature Protocols·DateDec 21, 2017

Scientists learned to predict public corruption with neural networks

Researchers from HSE and University of Valladolid created a neural network prediction model to detect corruption cases in Spanish regions. The model uses macroeconomic and political determinants to estimate the probability of corrupt cases emerging over three years, providing valuable insights for anti-corruption measures.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalSocial Indicators Research·DateDec 21, 2017

Insect communication

Entomologist Gia Aradottir from Rothamsted Research explores insect communication through chemical signals and sound-based interactions. Her experiments with aphids and parasitic wasps demonstrate the complex ways insects convey information to each other.

Why digital strategies matter in bond markets

New research by professors Sunil Mithas and Michael Kimbrough at the University of Maryland shows that IT investments also matter to bond markets. Bond investors favor IT investments in industries where automation and richer information flows are key, but view them as riskier in transform industries.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalMIS Quarterly·DateDec 21, 2017

Nanofractionation platform with parallel mass spec to ID cytochrome CYP1A2 inhibitors

A new methodology for correlating compound identity to CYP1A2 potency of inhibitors in metabolic mixtures has been developed, providing direct identification of compounds with inhibitory properties. This approach allows for rapid assessment of pharmacokinetic properties of drugs and their metabolites, improving drug development.

Discovery of a 4,000-year-old military network in northern Syria

Archaeologists have uncovered a vast, structured surveillance and communication network dating back to the Middle Bronze Age in northern Syria. The network, comprising fortresses, small forts, towers, and enclosures, stretched across approximately 7,000 km2 and was designed to protect urban areas and transport corridors.

SourceCNRS·DateDec 21, 2017

New lensless camera creates detailed 3-D images without scanning

Researchers developed a compact and inexpensive camera that produces high-resolution 3D images from a single 2D image. The DiffuserCam uses computational imaging to reconstruct 100 million voxels from a 1.3-megapixel image, with potential applications in brain research, self-driving cars, and machine learning.

SourceOptica·JournalOptica·DateDec 21, 2017

In the mood for love

A study by Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia found that worldwide peaks of sexual interest coincide with specific religious celebrations, leading to peaks in birth rates. Online searches related to sex display a cyclical nature that correlates with a specific "loving mood" independently detected on Twitter.

SourceInstituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 21, 2017

Towards better fates for wheat crops: Gene-level insights into a deadly pathogen

Researchers have gained crucial gene-level insights into an age-old evolutionary arms race between wheat and stem rust disease, a devastating fungal pathogen. The studies identified key peptides released by the fungus that can evade plant immune systems, potentially allowing for more effective DNA testing to identify resistant crops.

Tracking a solvation process step by step

Chemists at Ruhr-Universität Bochum tracked individual water molecules attaching to an organic molecule, exploring hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity. The study uses low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy, providing insights into solvation processes.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateDec 21, 2017

Ames Lab-led team maps magnetic fields of nano-objects in liquid

A research team led by Tanya Prozorov has demonstrated the first high-resolution mapping of magnetic fields in bacterial cells and magnetic nano-objects in liquid. This capability has vast potential for scientific breakthroughs in physics, nanotechnology, biofuels conversion, biomedical engineering, catalysis, batteries, and pharmacology.

SourceDOE/Ames National Laboratory·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateDec 21, 2017

Vampire bat rabies kills hundreds of cattle a year in Peru

Researchers estimate that vampire bat rabies causes between 505-724 cattle deaths annually in Peru, with significant financial losses for farming communities. Enhancing vaccination programs can reduce the disease burden and increase awareness can encourage preventative measures.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateDec 21, 2017

Rust stemmed for wheat

A team of experts has identified a gene that triggers resistance in wheat to the devastating fungal pathogen Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt). The breakthrough allows for DNA testing to identify whether a rust strain can overcome a resistance gene, enabling targeted treatment and reducing crop devastation.

SourceRothamsted Research·JournalScience·DateDec 21, 2017