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Science News Archive 2018 - Page 5


Page 5 of 473

Small family-run livestock farms stand out in Cordoba's dehesa

Small farms in Cordoba's dehesas are showing more intense production and increasing livestock density, with beef cattle and Iberian swine being the most common combination. These family-owned farms are intensifying production despite traditional ideas of low productivity, and their study reveals key characteristics of these farms.

SourceUniversity of Córdoba·JournalRevista Mexicana de Ciencias Pecuarias·DateDec 20, 2018

New optical memory cell achieves record data-storage density

Researchers have demonstrated a new technique that can store more optical data in a smaller space than previously possible on-chip, improving upon the phase-change optical memory cell. The new approach enables storing information in 34 levels, equivalent to 5 bits, and could help meet the growing need for computer data storage.

SourceOptica·JournalOptica·DateDec 20, 2018

New threat to ozone recovery

A new MIT study identifies chloroform as a significant threat to ozone layer recovery, with increased emissions in East Asia potentially delaying the process by four to eight years. The researchers found that production of products from chloroform is on the rise in the region, contributing to the growing problem.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Geoscience·DateDec 20, 2018

Threat of 'nightmare bacteria' exhibiting resistance to last-resort antibiotic colistin

A recent study found that colistin-resistant Escherichia coli (CR-E) was prevalent among residents in rural communities in Vietnam, with 70.4% of residents carrying the bacteria. This widespread dissemination raises concerns about the potential for 'nightmare bacteria' to spread globally and render antibiotics ineffective.

SourceOsaka University·JournalJournal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy·DateDec 20, 2018

Hidden cradle of early plant evolution discovered in the Middle East

The discovery of exceptionally preserved late-Permian plant fossils in Jordan pushes back the ages of important seed plant lineages and suggests that drought-prone tropical habitats served as evolutionary cradles for early plant diversification. The findings indicate that these plant lineages survived the mass extinction event at the e...

Health checkups for alpine lakes

Researchers at the University of Alberta found alpine zooplankton to be excellent indicators of lake health, sensitive to climate changes. By analyzing over 1,200 lakes across North America, the team showed that these tiny organisms can assess ecosystem function based on their ecological traits.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalEcography·DateDec 20, 2018

When a brand is like a secret lover

A study by Society for Consumer Psychology found that hiding information about consumption choices increases sense of connection. Researchers conducted experiments where participants were asked to keep their brand choices secret, revealing that secrecy intensified self-brand connections and increased loyalty.

SourceSociety for Consumer Psychology·JournalJournal of Consumer Psychology·DateDec 20, 2018

Female penises evolved twice in bark lice

Researchers found that female penises in geographically distinct species of bark lice evolved separately due to environmental pressures and competition for male seminal gifts. The study suggests that the evolution of female penises is linked to sexual selection and mating behaviors.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalBiology Letters·DateDec 20, 2018

Optimizing tungsten carbide for 3D printing

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are partnering with General Carbide to optimize tungsten carbide for additive manufacturing. The goal is to improve durability and reduce breakage in 3D printed parts. The project aims to develop better base powders and printing methods to enhance the use of tungsten carbide in metal printing.

Field experiment on clouds and precipitation under clean air conditions started in Chile

Scientists from Leipzig Institute for Meteorology and TROPOS conduct a field experiment to understand the relationship between aerosol particles, clouds, and precipitation. They observe the atmosphere at Punta Arenas, a region with minimal pollution, to gather data on cloud formation and life cycle.

SourceLeibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS)·JournalAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics·DateDec 20, 2018

Faint starlight in Hubble images reveals distribution of dark matter

Astronomers have developed a revolutionary method to detect dark matter using faint starlight in Hubble images. The technique accurately studies the distribution of dark matter and has been confirmed in galaxy clusters. Future studies will survey more clusters and analyze additional data with the James Webb Space Telescope.

SourceESA/Hubble Information Centre·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateDec 20, 2018

Heroes and villains influence what you buy

Researchers found that vice foods with hero labels were more compelling than the same foods shown with villain labels, while healthy foods benefited from villainous labels. In a real-world experiment, consumers were willing to pay more for bottled water and cheese curds when labeled as 'villainous' rather than 'heroic'.

SourceSociety for Consumer Psychology·JournalJournal of Consumer Psychology·DateDec 20, 2018