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Science News Archive February 2017 - Page 33


Page 33 of 37

'Brute force' can overcome antibiotic resistance

A UCL-led study published in Scientific Reports discovered that certain antibiotics, such as oritavancin, can still kill drug-resistant bacteria by exerting strong mechanical forces on their cell surfaces. The findings open up a promising new way to overcome antibiotic resistance and could lead to the development of more effective drugs.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 3, 2017

Flipping the switch on ammonia production

Researchers have created a novel method to produce ammonia at room temperature, utilizing enzymes derived from nature, which also generates a small electrical current. This process could potentially lead to a less energy-intensive source of ammonia used worldwide as a vital fertilizer.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateFeb 3, 2017

Russian researchers developed high-pressure natural gas operating turbine-generator

Scientists from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University developed a turbo expander electric generator operating on high-pressure natural gas. The device converts part of the emitted energy into electrical power, generating sustainable electricity without additional fuel.

SourcePeter the Great Saint-Petersburg Polytechnic University·JournalThe International Journal of Environmental and Science Education·DateFeb 3, 2017

Personality traits 'contagious' among children

A Michigan State University study reveals that children's personalities are contagious and influenced by their peers, with extroverted and hard-working play partners shaping younger kids' behavior. The research challenges traditional views on the role of genes in shaping personality, suggesting that environment plays a significant role.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateFeb 3, 2017

Monoclonal antibody given to preterm babies may reduce wheeze later

A new study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that preterm babies who received palivizumab had significantly lower incidence of physician-diagnosed wheeze by age six, compared to those who did not receive the drug. The researchers suggest that atopic asthma in children up to age six is pr...

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateFeb 3, 2017

Vegetation resilient to salvage logging after severe wildfire

The study found that salvage logging after a severe wildfire did not significantly affect the diversity and abundance of native plant species in the forest. However, some shrub communities were affected due to reproduction cycle timing and seed germination triggered by heat from fire. The research suggests that longer-term studies supp...

Three magnetic states for each hole

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf have developed cobalt grids that can be reliably programmed at room temperature. Three distinct magnetic states, denoted as G, C, and Q, were found around each hole in the grid. This discovery could lead to more efficient computing using spin-waves instead of electric current.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 2, 2017

Research pushes concept of entropy out of kilter

New research at Brown University finds that a non-equilibrium phenomenon relies on entropy to emerge, surprising scientists who thought disorder would decrease as systems move away from equilibrium. The study's results have implications for our understanding of entropy and may lead to new practical applications.

SourceBrown University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 2, 2017

Artificially introduced atomic-level sensors enable measurements of the electric field within a working semiconductor device

Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a technique to measure the electric field within a working semiconductor device, enabling studies of next-generation electronics. The approach exploits single electron spins and nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond, promising spatial resolution of 10 nm for complex devices.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalACS Nano·DateFeb 2, 2017