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Science News for December 7, 2018


Molecular insights into spider silk

Researchers from the University of Würzburg have provided new insights into the molecular-level structural details responsible for spider silk's exceptional strength, extensibility, and biodegradability. The study suggests that a molecular clamp connecting protein building blocks contributes to the material's flexibility.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 7, 2018

News about a plant hormone

Scientists have found that jasmonic acid triggers the quick closure of stomata, a crucial mechanism for plants to conserve water during drought stress. The discovery also reveals a molecular crosstalk between jasmonic acid and abscisic acid, two key plant hormones involved in regulating stomatal conductance.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateDec 7, 2018

Harnessing the power of 'spin orbit' coupling in silicon: Scaling up quantum computation

Researchers have discovered a new way to manipulate spin-orbit coupling in silicon to create compact and efficient qubits for large-scale quantum computing. This breakthrough enables fast read-out of the spin state of just two boron atoms in an extremely compact circuit, hosting all devices in a commercial transistor.

Elucidating protein-protein interactions & designing small molecule inhibitors

Researchers have developed computational methods to predict and design small molecule inhibitors that can disrupt protein-protein interactions, a critical property of cell sustenance. The study provides insights into the challenges faced by researchers investigating protein-protein interactions through computational methods.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalCurrent Topics in Medicinal Chemistry·DateDec 7, 2018

A new 'spin' on kagome lattices

A recent study reveals that Fe3Sn2 exhibits nematic electronic state and giant magnetization-driven energy shift, shedding new light on the presence of spin-orbit coupling in kagome lattices. The research also shows that the material can be manipulated to change its electron energy structure through tuning the magnetic field.

SourceBoston College·JournalNature·DateDec 7, 2018

Being yelled at: Our brain on alert in a flash

A recent study by researchers at the University of Geneva found that our brains quickly differentiate between angry and happy voices, with a faster response time to perceived threats. This enhanced auditory attention enables us to detect potential dangers more effectively, leading to improved survival behavior.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalSocial Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·DateDec 7, 2018

New algorithm provides a more detailed look at urban heat islands

A new algorithm developed by Yale Ph.D. student TC Chakraborty creates a more comprehensive and consistent estimate of urban heat islands worldwide. The Global Surface UHI Explorer map uses urban agglomerations instead of administrative city boundaries, providing surface UHI intensity estimates for over 10,000 urban clusters.

SourceYale School of the Environment·JournalInternational Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation·DateDec 7, 2018

Study upends timeline for Iroquoian history

Recent studies have questioned the conventional dating of indigenous sites in Ontario, Canada, with new evidence pointing to a 50-100 year shift in dates. The findings suggest that early contact between indigenous people and Europeans may have occurred later than previously thought.

SourceCornell University·JournalScience Advances·DateDec 7, 2018

Planning processes for Chicago's 606 Trail spawned gentrification, study finds

A new case study examines the planning processes behind Chicago's 606 Trail and concludes that nonprofit coordination multiplied gentrification risks due to fragmentation. The trail's $95 million project converted an abandoned rail line into a multi-use path, but ignored displacement concerns and accelerated environmental gentrification

Double the stress slows down evolution

Bacteria adapt more slowly and less efficiently when exposed to two stress factors, leading to smaller population sizes. This affects the evolution of antibiotic resistance, as bacteria are less able to protect themselves from predators, resulting in a stronger influence on their survival rate.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateDec 7, 2018

A code for reprogramming immune sentinels

A research team at Lund University successfully reprograms mouse and human skin cells into immune cells called dendritic cells. This breakthrough enables the development of novel dendritic cell-based immunotherapies against cancer. The process is quick, effective, and opens up possibilities for patient-specific treatment.

SourceLund University·JournalScience Immunology·DateDec 7, 2018

Vitamin C may reduce harm to infants' lungs caused by smoking during pregnancy

A randomized controlled trial found that vitamin C supplementation reduced harm to infants' lungs caused by smoking during pregnancy. Infants whose mothers took 500mg of vitamin C in addition to their prenatal vitamin had significantly better lung function at three months of age, according to the study.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateDec 7, 2018

Graphic warnings snuff out cigarettes' appeal to kids

A new study from Cornell University suggests that graphic warning labels on cigarette ads have a significant anti-smoking effect on children and young adults. The research found that these warnings can cancel out the appeal of smoking as cool and fun, reducing the influence of social cues in advertising.

SourceCornell University·JournalHealth Education Research·DateDec 7, 2018

Supercomputers without waste heat

Researchers from the University of Konstanz have demonstrated that lossless electrical transfer of magnetically encoded information is possible, enabling enhanced storage density and reduced energy consumption in computing centres. This finding paves the way for novel functionalities in future energy-efficient information technologies.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 7, 2018

The privacy risks of compiling mobility data

A new study by MIT researchers finds that compiling massive, anonymized datasets about people's movement patterns can make it easier to discern users' identities. The study shows how merging different types of location-stamped data can lead to a high matchability success rate, increasing the possibility of deanonymizing real user data.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalIEEE Transactions on Big Data·DateDec 7, 2018