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Science News Archive July 2017 - Page 13


Page 13 of 37

India must rethink infrastructure needs for 100 new 'smart' cities to be sustainable

A new study suggests that India's planned 'smart' cities could have a detrimental impact on the environment if adequate infrastructure is not provided. The study analyzed the environmental implications of medium-rise housing replaced with high-rise towers, predicting significant extra demands on resources and increased waste output.

SourceUniversity of Lincoln·JournalJournal of Contemporary Urban Affairs·DateJul 21, 2017

Family factors may influence a child's temperament

A new study suggests that maternal postpartum depression is associated with difficult infant temperaments when maternal sensitivity is low, but not when it is high. Family functioning also plays a critical role in shaping an infant's behavioral style.

SourceWiley·JournalChild Development·DateJul 20, 2017

Laser treatment reduces eye floaters

A study published in JAMA Ophthalmology found that laser treatment, YAG vitreolysis, significantly improved symptoms of eye floaters in 54% of patients, with 53% reporting complete improvement. The procedure also showed improvements in quality of life, including general vision and independence.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Ophthalmology·DateJul 20, 2017

Opioids and obesity, not 'despair deaths,' raising mortality rates for white Americans

A new study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that drug-related deaths have skyrocketed among middle-aged white men, increasing by over 25-fold between 1980 and 2014. The researchers argue that economic insecurities and an 'obesogenic' environment are contributing factors, rather than 'despair deaths'.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalInternational Journal of Epidemiology·DateJul 20, 2017

Gene drives likely to be foiled by rapid rise of resistance

Researchers found that mutations giving rise to resistant genetic sequences formed frequently in fruit flies, hindering the efficiency of gene drives. This development may necessitate new approaches to overcome resistance in genetically diverse populations, making gene drive technology less reliable.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateJul 20, 2017

Most precise measurement of the proton's mass

Physicists from Germany and Japan made a precise measurement of the proton's mass, improving it by a factor of three and correcting the existing value. The resulting mass is significantly smaller than current standards, providing insight into fundamental physical theories.

SourceRIKEN·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 20, 2017

A robot that grows

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara and Stanford University have created a soft robot that can extend its tip and control its growth direction based on external sensors, enabling it to navigate complex environments. The robot has potential applications in endovascular surgery, search and rescue operations, and construction.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalScience Robotics·DateJul 20, 2017