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Science News Archive 2018 - Page 49


Page 49 of 473

Local drivers of amplified Arctic warming

A new study reveals that Arctic amplification is primarily driven by local carbon dioxide forcing and polar feedbacks, outweighing other processes. This finding highlights the importance of understanding Arctic processes in controlling sea-ice retreat and ecosystem sensitivity to global warming.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Climate Change·DateNov 19, 2018

Drug used for PTSD may worsen nightmares, not reduce suicidal thoughts

A small pilot study found that prazosin, commonly used to treat high blood pressure and PTSD-related sleep problems, may actually worsen nightmares and insomnia in PTSD patients, rather than reducing suicidal thoughts. The study, led by Dr. W. Vaughn McCall, involved 20 seriously psychiatrically ill patients with active suicidal thoughts.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·DateNov 19, 2018

Location, location, location

A team of scientists has found that translocating frogs from recovering populations to sites where the species was previously driven to extinction can lead to population recovery. The researchers tracked the health and survival of translocated frogs over several years, uncovering key insights into how disease and climate influence popu...

Chemistry freed from space and time

Researchers have successfully used remote servers in Japan to autonomously optimize conditions for synthesizing drugs in a British laboratory. The process was controlled over the internet by researchers in the USA, demonstrating the potential of cloud-based approaches for international collaboration and efficient production processes.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateNov 19, 2018

Kindergarten difficulties may predict academic achievement across primary grades

A Penn State study suggests that children's executive functions in kindergarten can predict their mathematics, reading, and science achievement, as well as classroom behavior, in second grade. Deficits in working-memory, a key component of executive functions, are strongly linked to repeated academic difficulties across elementary school.

SourcePenn State·JournalEarly Childhood Research Quarterly·DateNov 19, 2018

New drug discovery could halt spread of brain cancer

Researchers at Virginia Tech have discovered a drug that can block the spread of glioblastoma, the deadliest form of brain cancer, by halting the rapid movement of fluid within the body. The breakthrough finding could lead to improved treatment options for patients with glioblastoma.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 19, 2018

New blood test detects early stage ovarian cancer

A new blood test has been developed to detect early stage ovarian cancer using a bacterial toxin, with the test detecting significant levels of cancer glycan in over 90% of women with stage 1 ovarian cancer. The test also showed 100% accuracy for later stages of the disease and has potential for simple liquid biopsy monitoring.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·DateNov 19, 2018

White matter pathway and individual variability in human stereoacuity

A study found that neural tissue density in a specific white matter pathway, the vertical occipital fasciculus (VOF), correlates with individual differences in stereoacuity. The VOF connects key visual areas involved in stereopsis and is crucial for understanding its neural basis.

SourceNational Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 19, 2018

Duke forms prototype of robot dog nose

Researchers at Duke University have created a prototype of an artificial 'robot nose' device that uses living mouse cells to detect target odors, including cocaine and explosives. The device aims to mimic the human sense of smell and potentially replace trained dogs in security applications.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 19, 2018

Ground and stream water clues reveal shale drilling impacts

Scientists analyzed pre- and post-drilling water samples to identify methane contamination sources near Marcellus Shale gas wells. The study found that drilling-related methane leaks can change water chemistry, mobilizing metals and releasing unwanted compounds.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 19, 2018

Scientists discover new 'pinwheel' star system

Researchers have discovered a new massive star system dubbed 'Apep,' featuring a slow-moving dust pinwheel that defies current theories on how large stars die. The system's unusual rotation is thought to cause the star to collapse at its poles before the equator, producing a gamma-ray burst.

SourceNew York University·JournalNature Astronomy·DateNov 19, 2018

On guns, docs tell the NRA #ThisisOurLane

Physicians say firearms are within their lane, disagreeing with NRA's stance on gun violence prevention. The American College of Physicians is collaborating with the American Foundation for Firearm Injury Reduction in Medicine to provide funding for research and develop practice recommendations on firearm injury prevention.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateNov 19, 2018

Novel target identified for neuron regeneration, functional recovery in spinal cord injury

Scientists at Temple University Health System have identified LKB1 as a critical regulator of axon regeneration in mature neurons, leading to significant gains in functional recovery in mice with spinal cord injuries. Targeted upregulation of LKB1 protein stimulated long-distance neuron regeneration and improved locomotor function.

SourceTemple University Health System·JournalMolecular Therapy·DateNov 19, 2018

Ocean warming

Researchers at the University of Delaware have found a previously unknown pathway for heat to travel from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean, bypassing the Indonesian Throughflow. This discovery has significant implications for climate change research and could inform scientists about global warming.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalClimate Dynamics·DateNov 19, 2018

Odd bodies, rapid spins keep cosmic rings close

Research finds that gravity and unique shapes of small objects in our solar system create and maintain their own rings. Astronomers discovered that rings around Chariklo and Haumea are confined by the object's irregularities, contradicting previous assumptions about moon-dominated ring systems.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Astronomy·DateNov 19, 2018

Jumping genes shed light on how advanced life may have emerged

Researchers discovered that retrotransposons and nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) interacted to create a selection pressure that helped lead to the emergence of advanced life. This interaction enabled eukaryotes to mix and match genes, creating more complicated functions.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 19, 2018

'True polar wander' may have caused ice age

Researchers propose that changes in Earth's spin axis, known as true polar wander, triggered the latest ice age about 12 million years ago. By analyzing fossil signatures and magnetic data from ocean sediments, they found evidence of a 3-degree shift in the planet's rotation axis, which may have led to the formation of thick ice sheets.

SourceRice University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateNov 19, 2018