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Science News Archive 2018 - Page 400


Page 400 of 473

Arthritis drug can lower sugar levels in diabetes

A common rheumatoid arthritis treatment, lefluonamide, lowered blood glucose levels and reversed insulin resistance in mouse models of type 2 diabetes. The study suggests that this therapy could be repurposed as an effective antidiabetic treatment for patients with both diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

SourceSociety for Endocrinology·JournalJournal of Endocrinology·DateMar 1, 2018

Leishmaniasis strain in Iraq outbreak identified

Researchers studied Leishmania species and strains in Iraq's hot border region, finding most cases match an Iranian strain. The study highlights the need for control programs to stop the spread of leishmaniasis, a disease that infects millions worldwide.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateMar 1, 2018

A power boost for mobile technologies

A new startup, Borês Technologies, is working on low-power-consumption electronics that will enable the haptic revolution in mobile technologies. The technology has the potential to change the way people interact with their electronic devices and with each other remotely.

Converting CO2 into usable energy

Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have identified a new electrocatalyst that efficiently converts carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, a highly energetic molecule. Single nickel atoms were found to catalyze the reaction with up to 97% efficiency, paving the way for recycling CO2 for usable energy and chemicals.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateMar 1, 2018

Paradigm shift in the diagnosis of diabetes

A new classification of diabetes has been discovered, which can predict the risk of serious complications and provide tailored treatment suggestions. The study, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, reveals that type 2 diabetes consists of several subgroups, each with unique characteristics.

SourceLund University·JournalThe Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology·DateMar 1, 2018

Durable wood 'sponges' act as green sensors of mechanical strain

Researchers created a sustainable wood carbon sponge material by treating balsa wood, making it highly compressible and suitable for strain sensing and various applications. The material's unique structure provides exceptional mechanical and fatigue resistance, outperforming most reported compressible carbonaceous materials.

SourceCell Press·JournalChem·DateMar 1, 2018

New in the Hastings Center Report: January-February 2018

The Hastings Center Report has published a new article examining the ethics of rationing healthcare resources through inconvenience. The authors argue that under certain conditions, this approach can be ethical and even preferable to direct rationing. Meanwhile, another author highlights the potential downsides of this practice, includ...

SourceThe Hastings Center·JournalHastings Center Report·DateMar 1, 2018

Using crowdsourced data, scientists build massive family tree that tells tales of humanity

Researchers created a massive crowd-sourced family tree analyzing 86 million public profiles from Geni.com, uncovering trends in migration patterns and genetic relatedness. The study found females migrate more than males, and couples born between 1800-1850 showed increased marital distances despite higher genetic relatedness.

Food abundance driving conflict in Africa, not food scarcity

A study published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics refutes the idea that climate change leads to civil war in Africa due to food scarcity. Instead, conflicts are driven by competition over abundant food resources, with most armed groups unable to sustain themselves and instead seeking control over local food supplies.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalAmerican Journal of Agricultural Economics·DateMar 1, 2018

A spinning top of light

Physicists develop new method to precisely characterise extremely short light pulses, allowing for detailed information about electron place of origin in novel materials. This enables study of superconductors and topological materials, crucial for quantum computing and energy-efficient processors.

SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 1, 2018