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Science News Archive February 2017 - Page 30


Page 30 of 37

How hydras know where to regrow lost body parts

A study published in Cell Reports found that hydras have a network of tough protein fibers called the cytoskeleton, which acts as structural memory and guides cell alignment. This allows the hydra to regrow lost body parts with remarkable accuracy.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Reports·DateFeb 7, 2017

Electronic depositary of living systems created

The Lomonosov Moscow State University has created an electronic depositary of living systems, featuring a unique information system with data on biological samples from various origins. The system allows for managing and sharing information about biomaterial, including descriptions of organisms and techniques for operating with them.

SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalMolecular Phylogenetics and Evolution·DateFeb 7, 2017

New method improves accuracy of imaging systems

A new research provides a mechanism to detect and correct systematic errors in data and image analysis used in many areas of science and engineering. The single-pixel interior filling function (SPIFF) method can improve the accuracy of imaging systems for tracking objects on scales ranging from nanometers to astrophysical scales.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 7, 2017

Coal ash selenium found in fish in N.C. lakes

A Duke University study has found elevated selenium levels in fish from three North Carolina lakes receiving power plants' coal ash waste, contaminating aquatic ecosystems and posing health risks. The study highlights the ongoing issue of continuous contamination of aquatic resources from hundreds of coal ash ponds across the country.

SourceDuke University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateFeb 7, 2017

How to recycle lithium batteries

Researchers have developed a hydrometallurgical method to recycle lithium batteries, recovering cobalt and lithium with reasonable efficiency. The process involves calcination, acid treatment, and leaching, resulting in useful extraction rates for the metals.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Energy Technology and Policy·DateFeb 7, 2017

New brain target for potential treatment of social pathology in autism spectrum disorder

A study by Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science identifies a specific brain circuit in the amygdala as crucial for empathy, providing hope for new treatments of social difficulties in autism. The findings suggest that targeting this region may help individuals with autism spectrum disorder develop social abilities.

Three new uranium minerals from Utah

Researchers have identified three new uranium minerals, leesite, leószilárdite, and redcanyonite, found growing on the walls of old uranium mines in southern Utah. These minerals provide valuable insights into the chemistry and structure of uranyl compounds and their interactions with the environment.

SourceMichigan Technological University·JournalMineralogical Magazine·DateFeb 7, 2017

How life survives: UNC researchers confirm basic mechanism of DNA repair

Scientists from UNC School of Medicine have confirmed the functions in bacterial cells of two important excision repair proteins, Mfd and UvrD, using an advanced sequencing technique. The study provides a genome-wide map of excision repair in bacteria and highlights the potential for developing novel antibiotic drugs.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 7, 2017

Mimicking nature's cellular architectures via 3-D printing

Scientists at Harvard and MIT have developed a new 3D printing method that can create lightweight structural materials with tunable porosity, inspired by natural cellular structures. The approach uses ceramic foam ink to produce materials with exceptional stiffness and multifunctional properties.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 6, 2017

This spiny slug blazed a trail for snails

Scientists have unearthed a 480-million-year-old creature named Calvapilosa, an early offshoot of the line leading to modern coat-of-mail shells or chitons. The discovery sheds light on the evolutionary history of mollusks, which includes squids, octopuses, snails, and clams.

SourceYale University·JournalNature·DateFeb 6, 2017

Hundreds of ancient earthworks built in the Amazon

Researchers uncovered hundreds of large, mysterious geoglyphs in Brazil's Amazon rainforest, challenging assumptions about the ecosystem. The sites were found to have been built using sustainable 'agroforestry' practices, which concentrated on economically valuable tree species.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 6, 2017

A bridge to breathing

A compact respiratory assist device is being developed to replace traditional oxygenation methods as a bridge to transplant or recovery in children with lung failure. The device aims to allow patients mobility while awaiting a transplant, potentially leading to better post-transplant outcomes.