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Science News Archive February 2017 - Page 9


Page 9 of 37

Ultracool dwarf and the 7 planets

Astronomers have confirmed the existence of seven small planets orbiting TRAPPIST-1, with sizes similar to Earth and temperatures comparable to those of Venus, Earth, and Mars. The inner six planets are likely rocky in composition and potentially harbor liquid water.

SourceESO·JournalNature·DateFeb 22, 2017

Cultivating cool-for-cash-crop

Researchers explored growing cool season crops in California, finding canola achieved high yields and seed oil content, while camelina displayed greater cold and drought tolerance. The study recommends further research on more varieties of both crops for optimal growing conditions.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalCrop Science·DateFeb 22, 2017

Serendipity uncovers borophene's potential

Researchers at Northwestern University successfully integrated borophene with an organic material, forming a self-assembled monolayer next to the borophene sheet. This breakthrough enables the formation of well-controlled interfaces between distinct materials, which is crucial for creating diodes and photovoltaics.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience Advances·DateFeb 22, 2017

Neural networks promise sharpest ever images

Swiss researchers use neural networks to challenge the resolution limit of telescopes, recovering features that were previously invisible. The technique, inspired by a generative adversarial network, achieves better results than previous methods, such as deconvolution, and has vast potential for future astronomical observations.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateFeb 22, 2017

tDCS combined with computer games at home reduces cognitive symptoms of multiple sclerosis

A new study published in Neuromodulation found that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with computer games significantly improved cognitive measures in patients with multiple sclerosis. The treatment showed greater gains in complex attention and response times compared to those who played computer games alone.

Personalized skin lotions keep disease-causing bacteria at bay

Researchers discovered two new antibiotics in harmless skin bacteria that effectively fought off Staphylococcus aureus, a common cause of skin infections. Personalized lotions with these friendly bacteria prevented colonization in patients with Atopic Dermatitis, offering a potential solution to frequent skin infections.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateFeb 22, 2017

Fighting malnutrition with education

Scientists propose three main areas to fight malnutrition: Basic Nutrition focusing on nutrient science, Applied Nutrition on population health and wellbeing, and Clinical Nutrition on diagnosis and treatment. The goal is a better integration of knowledge in healthcare professionals' daily practice.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Nutrition·DateFeb 22, 2017

What's the buzz on bee parasites?

The genome of the parasitic mite Tropilaelaps mercedesae has been sequenced to better understand its interaction with honey bees and develop effective control strategies. The study revealed specific features in the mite genome shaped by its parasitic life history, highlighting the need for new targets in controlling the mites.

SourceGigaScience·JournalGigaScience·DateFeb 22, 2017

First detection of an artemisinin-resistant malaria parasite contracted in Africa

Scientists have detected an artemisinin-resistant malaria parasite originating from West Africa for the first time in Africa, posing a significant threat to malaria control efforts. The finding confirms that the parasite carries a new mutation in the Kelch13 gene, which is the primary driver of resistance in Southeast Asia.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateFeb 22, 2017

Researchers aim to disrupt egg production in dengue- and Zika-spreading mosquito

A team of scientists at UC Riverside has identified five major microRNA expression peaks in the Aedes aegypti fat body following a blood meal. By disrupting these miRNAs, researchers hope to control mosquito reproduction and prevent the spread of diseases transmitted by these mosquitoes. The study provides insight into the regulatory g...

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 22, 2017

Obesity reprograms muscle stem cells

A new study reveals that obesity reprograms muscle stem cells through DNA methylation changes, impairing insulin sensitivity and metabolism in fully developed muscle cells. The research, conducted by doctoral student Cajsa Davegårdh at Lund University, found that pro-inflammatory genes like IL-32 play a crucial role in this process.

SourceLund University·JournalBMC Medicine·DateFeb 22, 2017