Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive 2018 - Page 43


Page 43 of 473

Biorefining of microalgae

A team of researchers at the University of Konstanz is developing an integrated biorefining process to produce chemical building blocks from microalgae. The process uses supercritical carbon dioxide as a solvent and aims to simplify the extraction stage, making it more eco-friendly and efficient.

Ultracold quantum mix

A team of researchers has successfully created a Bose-Einstein condensate of Dysprosium and Erbium atoms, demonstrating quantum degeneracy of these species. This achievement opens up novel research possibilities for dipolar quantum matter due to the long-range interaction among the two species.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 23, 2018

Can Superman trigger heroic helping in people?

Priming individuals with superhero images, such as Superman, increases their likelihood of engaging in prosocial behaviors. However, the study found no direct effect on perceptions of meaning in life. The research used both self-reported and actual helping behavior experiments to explore this phenomenon.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateNov 23, 2018

Ocean circulation in North Atlantic at its weakest

A recent study by HKU researchers found that ocean circulation in the North Atlantic is at its weakest since the past 1,500 years. The weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is attributed to global warming and associated melt of the Greenland Ice-Sheet, which has significant implications for climate change.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateNov 23, 2018

Better understanding of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) regulation can lead to new insights into disease

Researchers have gained a better understanding of how cells regulate hydrogen peroxide, an intracellular messenger linked to several diseases. This discovery may enable the development of more sensitive and specific fluorescent biosensors to visualize endogenous H2O2 in real-time.

SourceVIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 22, 2018

Transparent fruit flies

Scientists have made fruit flies transparent using a new clearing method, allowing for high-resolution imaging of complex neural networks. This breakthrough enables the study of the connectome and behavior of Drosophila melanogaster, with potential applications in understanding neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 22, 2018

Gigantic mammal 'cousin' discovered

Researchers at Uppsala University discovered a new species of gigantic dicynodont, Lisowicia bojani, in Poland. The species is estimated to be around 4.5 meters long, 2.6 meters high, and weigh 9 tons, making it the largest non-dinosaurian terrestrial tetrapod from the Triassic period.

SourceUppsala University·JournalScience·DateNov 22, 2018

Scientists from CMU and NTU Singapore discover how mechanical strain shapes plants

The study reveals that biomechanical factors play a crucial role in shaping plant organs, with mechanical stress and deformation influencing leaf geometry. The research provides insights into the formation of complex 3D shapes in plants, which can inform the creation of bioinspired structures in soft materials like hydrogels.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 22, 2018

Environmental change, not hominin hunters, drove the demise of African megaherbivores

A new study challenges the traditional hypothesis that ancient hominins led to the decline of African megaherbivores. The research reveals that environmental changes, such as changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide and tropical grassland expansion, drove the long-term decline of these large-bodied species over 7 million years.

Leukemia epigenetics in focus

UK researchers identify molecules that can effectively inhibit dysregulated proteins responsible for acute myeloid leukemia, a severe and rapidly progressing cancer type. The discovery sets the stage for new biological experiments and cancer treatment approaches.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateNov 22, 2018

How we can get more out of our forests

A study by an international research group found that diverse and old forests are best able to perform multiple ecosystem services, including regulating climate and storing carbon. Foresters should focus on specific forest attributes to promote desired services, as no single 'perfect forest' exists.

SourceUniversity of Bern·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 22, 2018

Millimeter waves for the last mile

The new modulator enables efficient and low-cost high-frequency microwaves transmission, covering the last mile with high data rates, and is compatible with 5G technology and future industry standards.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Photonics·DateNov 21, 2018

Radical approach for brighter LEDs

Scientists have discovered that semiconducting radicals can fabricate highly efficient OLEDs by exploiting their quantum mechanical 'spin' property, overcoming limitations of traditional materials. The new technology could lead to brighter displays and lighting technologies, including blue- and green-light radical-based diodes.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature·DateNov 21, 2018

Antibodies from human survivors of Andes hantavirus protect rodents against infection

Researchers isolated antibodies from human survivors of Andes hantavirus infection that protected hamsters against the deadly disease. The antibodies shielded animals even after administration, suggesting they could be used as a preventative treatment for hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateNov 21, 2018