Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive 2018 - Page 383


Page 383 of 473

Is your smile male or female?

Researchers at the University of Bradford have developed an AI system that can automatically assign gender based on a smile. The system uses dynamic movement analysis to distinguish between men and women, finding that women's smiles are more expansive than men's.

SourceUniversity of Bradford·JournalThe Visual Computer·DateMar 14, 2018

The element of surprise

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have found that protactinium shares chemical similarities with both actinides and transition metals, revealing a unique intersection of their properties. This discovery could lead to novel applications for these elements and a deeper understanding of the periodic table.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 14, 2018

Making new memories is a balancing act

Salk Institute scientists discover brain's memory storage is dynamic, with some synapses growing larger and others shrinking as a result of learning. This balance allows for increased overall storage capacity, enabling the brain to store more information.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 14, 2018

Zika: An accurate estimation of the neurological risks in unborn children

A recent study found that pregnant women infected with Zika virus experienced a significantly lower rate of congenital neurological abnormalities than initially thought. The study, which monitored over 2,000 women, revealed a 12.7% risk of complications when infected during the first trimester.

Fast-tracking endocrine assays

The EPA has shifted focus to high-throughput computational models to quickly identify chemicals that require more scrutiny, following a slow start in its previous approach. Researchers have made significant progress, including the development of estrogen and androgen receptor models.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateMar 14, 2018

Global warming increases the risk of avalanches

UNIGE researchers analyzed tree rings to link global warming to increasing frequency and intensity of avalanches in the Himalayas. The study found that rising temperatures have led to bigger avalanches traveling greater distances, threatening infrastructure development and socio-economic stability in regions like Himachal Pradesh.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 14, 2018

Preeclampsia screening method found superior to current tests

Researchers have developed a more accurate way to screen for preeclampsia, a condition affecting 2-3% of pregnancies, which can lead to serious health effects for both mother and child. The new screening method uses biomarkers to identify high-risk women, resulting in increased detection rates for preterm-PE by up to 82%.

SourceWiley·JournalUltrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·DateMar 14, 2018

Canada remains 7th in World Happiness Report rankings

The report ranks Canada as the seventh happiest country in the world, with immigrants reporting higher life evaluations compared to locals. The countries with the happiest immigrants have balanced social and institutional supports, such as Canada which ranked fourth most accepting for migrants.

SourceCIFAR·DateMar 14, 2018