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Science News Archive December 2018 - Page 7


Page 7 of 33

Powder could help cut CO2 emissions

Scientists at the University of Waterloo have created a powder that can capture CO2 from factories and power plants, offering a promising solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The powder is twice as efficient as conventional methods and has potential applications in water filtration and energy storage.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalCarbon·DateDec 19, 2018

How to spot every solar panel in the United States

A new tool, DeepSolar, scans high-resolution images of the US for solar panels, registering their locations and sizes. Researchers found 1.47 million individual installations nationwide, correlating them with factors like income, education, and incoming solar radiation.

SourceCell Press·JournalJoule·DateDec 19, 2018

Sac with spiral surface patterns facilitate substance delivery

Researchers have found that spiral surface patterns on liquid crystal sacs facilitate the delivery of molecules to specific locations within the body. The unique structure of these sacs, with its faceted tetrahedron shape and defects at four vertices, allows for controlled release of substances, enabling potential biomedical applications.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateDec 19, 2018

Drugs of abuse: Identifying the addiction circuit

Researchers at UNIGE have pinpointed the brain circuit responsible for addictive behavior in rodents. The study found that a stronger connection between decision-making and reward systems led to compulsive behavior, which could be regulated by artificially increasing or decreasing the activity of this circuit.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature·DateDec 19, 2018

Computer hardware designed for 3D games could hold the key to replicating human brain

A team of researchers at the University of Sussex has developed a fast and energy-efficient simulation of part of a rat brain using off-the-shelf computer hardware. By leveraging Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), they achieved processing speeds up to 10% faster than current supercomputers, while reducing energy consumption by 10 times.

SourceUniversity of Sussex·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·DateDec 19, 2018

Mind-body exercises may improve cognitive function as adults age

A meta-analysis of 32 randomized controlled trials found that mind-body exercises enhance cognitive flexibility, working memory, and verbal fluency in older adults. The study suggests that these exercises can improve learning and overall mental health, offering a promising approach to supporting cognitive function as we age.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateDec 19, 2018

How does your garden grow in space?

Astronauts may have access to fresh salads in space, but the microgravity environment affects plant growth. Researchers compared two transcriptomic approaches to understand how plants adapt, finding that RNA-Seq and microarray chips have relative advantages.

SourceBotanical Society of America·JournalApplications in Plant Sciences·DateDec 19, 2018

Process makes stem-cell-derived heart cells light up

Researchers have developed a new method to analyze cardiac muscle cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells, using a non-invasive fluorescence technique that enables faster and more accurate analysis. This breakthrough method uses CRISPR-Cas9 to generate a calcium-indicating reporter stem cell line, which allows for the examinati...

SourcePenn State·JournaliScience·DateDec 19, 2018

Returning indigenous remains to their ancestral lands, thanks to ancient DNA

A new study uses ancient nuclear genomes to determine the geographic origins of Aboriginal Australian remains, enabling their return to ancestral lands. The analysis shows that for most all of the ancient nuclear genomes, the most closely related contemporary genome was from people living today in the same geographic region.

Cover crops may increase winter temperatures in North America

A new study suggests that cover crops grown in fields during winter can increase temperatures in the northern US and southern Canada by up to 3 degrees Celsius. This occurs due to reduced snow reflectivity, allowing crop stems and leaves to absorb solar heat and warm the surrounding atmosphere.

First steps

Researchers are conducting a comprehensive study of the walking cavefish to better understand the 'fin-to-limb' transition that enabled the first vertebrates to walk on land. The project aims to identify the genomic, morphological and mechanical qualities that enable fish to walk on land.

Nightlights for stream dwellers? No, thanks

A new study from Ohio State University finds that artificial light at night is detrimental to ecosystems, affecting species composition and food chain length. The research explores the impact of existing artificial light on streams and wetlands, revealing changes in energy flow and nutrient cycles.

SourceOhio State University·JournalEcological Applications·DateDec 19, 2018

Loss of forest intactness increases extinction risk in birds

A new study reveals a strong positive relationship between global extinction risk and the loss of forest intactness in bird distributions. Most global hotspots of restricted ranges now fall in degraded forests, highlighting the importance of restoring intactness to reduce extinction risk.

SourceWiley·JournalAnimal Conservation·DateDec 19, 2018