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Science News Archive 2018 - Page 361


Page 361 of 473

Cracking eggshell nanostructure

Researchers at McGill University have discovered a unique nanostructure in chicken eggshells that contributes to their strength and fragility. The findings, published in Science Advances, could lead to improved food safety by enabling the selection of genetic traits in laying hens that produce consistently stronger eggs.

SourceMcGill University·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 30, 2018

Butterflies of the soul

Researchers have detailed for the first time how interneurons emerge and diversify in the brain, tracing their lineage from earliest precursor states to mature forms in mice. The study identified key genetic programs that determine the fate of developing interneurons, shedding light on their functions and potential treatment strategies.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNature·DateMar 30, 2018

Is there life adrift in the clouds of Venus?

Researchers propose that Venus' cloudy atmosphere could be a niche for extraterrestrial microbial life due to its highly acidic conditions and presence of sulfuric acid. The atmosphere's unique properties, such as the dark patches composed of concentrated sulfuric acid, have sparked interest in exploring this possibility.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalAstrobiology·DateMar 30, 2018

What stops mass extinctions?

Researchers found that frogs surviving the chytridiomycosis epidemic developed stronger defenses against the fungus, inhibiting its growth. However, captive breeding programs face challenges in replicating these findings, highlighting the need for further research on disease dynamics and host resistance.

Polymers that mimic chameleon skin

Researchers have developed a biocompatible synthetic material that replicates tissue mechanics and alters color when it changes shape, like chameleon skin. The material is composed of a unique triblock copolymer with carefully selected structural parameters, exhibiting flexibility, strain profile, and optical properties.

SourceCNRS·JournalScience·DateMar 29, 2018

Flipping lipids for cell transport-tubules

Researchers developed a process to observe lipid-flipping enzymes' activity in conjunction with membrane deformation. They found that ATP10A enzyme flips phosphatidylcholine lipids, causing curvature changes that trigger tubule formation, enhancing endocytosis and membrane dynamics.

SourceKyoto University·JournalThe EMBO Journal·DateMar 29, 2018

The limits of friction

A team of physicists from Konstanz and Italy successfully suppressed static friction between two surfaces using a colloidal monolayer. This allows for the use of extremely small forces to move objects, greatly improving efficiency in micro- and nanomechanical systems.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalPhysical Review X·DateMar 29, 2018

Slow, steady waves keep brain humming

New study reveals that ultra-slow waves are not just noise in the brain, but a fundamental process that coordinates complex brain activity. The waves enhance electrical activity in areas and persist even under anesthesia, suggesting they may be linked to consciousness.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNeuron·DateMar 29, 2018

Making a leap from high-ability high school to college of lesser academic status can be a real downer

Undermatching students from high school to college show significant depression symptoms, highlighting the impact of school ability transitions on mental well-being. Researchers found that downward transitions are linked to depression at levels similar to background factors, suggesting a need for counselors to consider school environmen...

SourceBaylor University·JournalYouth & Society·DateMar 29, 2018

Workstation research could simplify jobs

A new research project led by Clemson University's Sara Riggs aims to create technology on workstations that can adapt to individual workers depending on the person, context, and environment. The goal is to make jobs easier, enable more people with disabilities to work, and retain them once employed.

Walleye fish populations are in decline

A study published in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences found that walleye production in Wisconsin lakes decreased by 27% between 1990 and 2012. Climate change, habitat degradation, and harvest rates are likely contributing factors to the decline.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalCanadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences·DateMar 29, 2018

Kidney dysfunction contributes to severe malaria

A new study finds that kidney dysfunction is a contributing factor to severe malaria cases caused by Plasmodium vivax parasites. Elevated creatinine levels were associated with increased disease severity and mortality, while certain immune molecules could predict outcome in patients.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateMar 29, 2018