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Science News Archive December 2018 - Page 24


Page 24 of 33

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

How do schools address self-harm in adolescents?

A study found that only 53% of UK schools have received staff training on self-harm, highlighting the need for comprehensive training to support students. Despite this, many schools see themselves as a site for prevention and intervention activities, indicating a positive approach to addressing adolescent self-harm.

SourceWiley·JournalChild and Adolescent Mental Health·DateDec 6, 2018

Putting the brakes on tumor stealth

Scientists at Monash University have identified a new immune brake called CD96 that enables tumors to evade the immune system. Blocking this receptor may lead to more effective cancer treatments. The research has significant implications for cancer immunotherapy.

SourceMonash University·JournalStructure·DateDec 6, 2018

Fighting smog supports solar power

A study by ETH Zurich researchers found that clean air would increase solar radiation nationwide, allowing for a one-tenth increase in electricity production. This could lead to additional electricity generation of 85-158 terawatt hours per year, generating significant revenue for the Chinese electricity industry.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 6, 2018

Predicting the transmission of rare, genetically based diseases

A McGill-led research team has developed a computational process to track the transmission histories of rare genetic diseases, tracing CAID back to two European founding families in 17th century Quebec. The researchers hope to extend their search techniques to more common genetically based diseases and identify new genetic variants.

SourceMcGill University·JournalJournal of Human Genetics·DateDec 6, 2018

Simple steps to climate-proof farms have big potential upside for tropical farmers

A study in Central America, Africa, and Asia finds that implementing simple climate-resilient strategies can increase yields, benefit the environment, and increase farmer income. The research proposes site-specific techniques, such as crop rotation and organic fertilization, which have estimated rates of return ranging from 17% to 590%.