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Science News Archive 2018 - Page 421


Page 421 of 473

Dance of auroras

Researchers have made the first direct observation of electron scattering in auroras, revealing a previously unknown mechanism behind the colorful displays. The discovery was made using a specialized sensor on the ERG satellite and confirms that chorus waves are capable of exciting electrons to create pulsating auroras.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature·DateFeb 14, 2018

Cardiac macrophages found to contribute to a currently untreatable type of heart failure

A Massachusetts General Hospital team discovered that macrophages, immune cells known for removing debris, are actively involved in the development of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Elevated levels of inflammatory cardiac macrophages were found in both mouse models and human patients with HFpEF.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateFeb 14, 2018

Understanding how the body builds immunity, to build better influenza vaccines

Researchers analyzed blood samples from 35 healthy adults and found a marked increase in antibody-producing B cells and circulating T follicular helper cells after vaccination. The study's findings suggest that intranasal vaccination might be more effective than injections, with implications for ideal inoculation routes.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateFeb 14, 2018

Living human tracheas

Case Western Reserve University scientists have engineered natural windpipe replacement structures using patient cells and self-assembling modules. This approach overcomes challenges in current tissue-engineering methods, enabling the creation of functional living tracheas that can be implanted into patients with damaged airways.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalAdvanced Science·DateFeb 14, 2018

Neural networks everywhere

MIT researchers developed a special-purpose chip that increases the speed of neural-network computations while reducing power consumption. The chip can calculate dot products for multiple nodes in a single step, improving efficiency and making neural networks more practical for handheld devices.

Tiny membrane key to safe drinking water

CSIRO scientists have developed a new filtering technique using Graphair that can remove almost all contaminants from water in a single step. The breakthrough technology has the potential to provide clean drinking water for millions of people worldwide who currently lack access to safe drinking water.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 14, 2018

Turning background room temperature heat into energy

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have developed a new kind of thermoelectric system that can harness small energy differences at low temperatures, producing an electrical energy of 2.3 meV per cycle. The device has shown promising prospects for large-scale heat energy recovery and could help industries become more efficient.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalApplied Physics Express·DateFeb 14, 2018

Plants feel the heat

A team of researchers has discovered that plants' daily cycle of heat resistance is triggered by light exposure and involves chloroplast signalling. This finding could lead to the development of crops that can withstand increasingly hot temperatures and more frequent heatwaves under climate change.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalCell Reports·DateFeb 13, 2018

The Lancet Infectious Diseases: Worldwide, more than one in ten people have infections following gastrointestinal surgery

A study of over 12,500 patients across 66 countries found that surgical site infections are a significant global health issue, with 22% of cases resistant to pre-surgery antibiotics. The incidence of infections varied greatly depending on the country's income level, with low-income countries being most at risk.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·DateFeb 13, 2018

Graphene on toast, anyone?

Rice University scientists have developed a technique to write graphene patterns onto various materials, including food, paper, and cloth. The new method uses laser-induced graphene (LIG) to create conductive identification tags and sensors that can be embedded into products.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Nano·DateFeb 13, 2018