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Science News Archive June 2017


Page 1 of 40

No pain, no gain?

A recent study by University of Freiburg researchers found that an individual's expectations and self-perception play a significant role in determining the level of strenuousness experienced during physical exercise. The study, which involved 78 test subjects, showed that those who believed they were more athletic or had faith in sport...

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 30, 2017

Power to the people

A UCSB political science professor suggests that public support for renewable energy is strong in the US, with states having abundant resources at the top of the list. However, public opinion can sometimes fail to translate into state legislation, and framing context and local benefits as key factors can increase support. A study found...

Most reproductive-age women using opioids also use another substance

Most reproductive-age and pregnant women who use opioids for non-medical purposes also use at least one other substance, including nicotine, alcohol, or cocaine. This finding suggests that public health efforts addressing the opioid epidemic should include interventions targeting concurrent use of multiple substances among these women.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateJun 30, 2017

Tiny 'motors' are driven by light

A team at MIT has created a system that can manipulate particles ranging from molecules to bacteria-sized objects using ordinary light. The researchers engineered asymmetrical particles, called Janus particles, which respond to the orientation of the beam and create forces that set them spinning uniformly.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 30, 2017

Pipetting in space

Astronauts are exposed to DNA damage due to zero gravity and cosmic radiation; an automated diagnostic procedure is being adapted for use in space, promising constant conditions for each sample. The device could also be used to evaluate the effects of radiotherapy.

Genes may cause tumor aggressiveness and drug resistance in African-American prostate cancer

Research found that genes responsible for differential RNA splicing contribute to tumor aggressiveness and drug resistance in African American men with prostate cancer. The study suggests these genetic variations lead to the production of protein isoforms that make tumors more aggressive, while also causing drug resistance.

SourceGeorge Washington University·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 30, 2017

Japanese children learn to write through rhythm

Researchers found that Japanese children's handwriting development involves distinct temporal patterns of movement, which differentiate subtle features of each symbol. This process is linked to an air writing phenomenon in Chinese character-based cultures, suggesting a unique approach to learning the hiragana script.

SourceKobe University·JournalDevelopmental Psychobiology·DateJun 30, 2017

Uniting lost voices

Bioarchaeology International is a new journal that aims to unify perspectives in the field of bioarchaeology by providing a space for peer-reviewed articles and encouraging global discussion. The journal will release its inaugural issue on June 30, 2017, and will focus on integrating material and biological evidence left behind in graves.

SourceArizona State University·JournalBioarchaeology International·DateJun 30, 2017

New clues found to common respiratory virus

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have discovered clues to how respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes disease. The study reveals that a specific protein, NS1, interferes with the body's ability to fight off RSV, potentially leading to new targets for vaccine or treatment development.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNature Microbiology·DateJun 30, 2017

Fixation of powder catalysts on electrodes

Researchers developed a new method to tightly fix powder catalysts on electrode surfaces, addressing the challenge of high physical stress induced by gas evolving reactions. The technique involves applying an organic polymer that transforms into carbon at high temperatures, providing a stable and conductive surface for catalysis.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJun 30, 2017

The Black Forest and climate change

Scientists discovered silver fir and Douglas fir are more tolerant to extreme droughts than Norway spruce in the Black Forest. Replacing spruce forests with mixed-species forests of these conifers could have a greater positive effect on biodiversity.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateJun 30, 2017

How do impurities move in tungsten?

A research group at National Institutes of Natural Sciences has developed a high-speed automatic search method for the migration path of impurity atoms in materials with polycrystalline structures, enabling the investigation of collective migration and its impact on plasma confinement. This method uses molecular dynamics and parallel c...

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalNuclear Materials and Energy·DateJun 30, 2017

Birds become immune to influenza

Researchers found that water birds, particularly mallards, develop significant immunity and resistance to other variants of the low-pathogenic influenza A virus after infection. This means they can partially protect themselves against future infections, including virulent strains like H5N1 or H5N8.

SourceLund University·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateJun 30, 2017

Bringing CRISPR into focus

Researchers describe for the first time the exact chain of events as the CRISPR complex loads target DNA and prepares it for cutting by the Cas3 enzyme. The study reveals a molecular redundancy that prevents unintended genomic damage, providing insights into ways to improve CRISPR-Cas systems for precision gene editing.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalCell·DateJun 29, 2017