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Science News for February 21, 2018


Magnetic field traces gas and dust swirling around supermassive black hole

A team led by Professor Pat Roche created the first high-resolution map of magnetic field lines in gas and dust swirling around a supermassive black hole at the centre of our Galaxy. The map shows intense infrared light and magnetic field lines within filaments of warm dust grains and hot gas, revealing their intricate relationship.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateFeb 21, 2018

An improved anti-addiction medication

Scientists developed a potent new medicine to fight addiction by blocking an enzyme, resulting in higher GABA levels and reduced dopamine release. The new compound, CPP-115, is 10 times more efficient than vigabatrin and has fewer side effects.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateFeb 21, 2018

Depression linked to reduced arginine levels

A new study from the University of Eastern Finland found that people with major depressive disorder have reduced arginine levels, which can affect nitric oxide production and vascular regulation. The study also suggests that depression may be linked to lower arginine bioavailability, but further research is needed

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalJournal of Affective Disorders·DateFeb 21, 2018

New tool tells bioengineers when to build microbial teams

Researchers at Duke University created a framework to determine when using multiple cell populations is beneficial. The system models how variables interact in complex bioengineering tasks, revealing that efficiency and growth rate are key factors. This tool can help industries producing chemicals with bacteria, such as pharmaceuticals...

Separate brain systems cooperate during learning, study finds

Researchers found that when memory demands are high, signals in the brain correlate to reinforcement learning become stronger, suggesting a cooperative interaction between the two systems. When participants can hold information in mind, signals associated with reinforcement learning weaken, indicating an increased role for working memory.

SourceBrown University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 21, 2018

Carbon monoxide improves effectiveness of antibiotic that fights stomach infection, study finds

A study by Georgia State University found that carbon monoxide improves the efficacy of antibiotics like metronidazole against H. pylori, a type of bacteria causing peptic ulcers. By making bacteria more sensitive to antibiotics, carbon monoxide could help combat drug resistance and allow for smaller doses or increased effectiveness.

SourceGeorgia State University·JournalOrganic Letters·DateFeb 21, 2018

Breakthrough for peptide medication

Researchers at Technical University of Munich have developed a strategy for designing peptides that can be administered orally, overcoming the major challenge of stability and absorption. This breakthrough simplifies the creation of peptide medications, potentially offering new treatments for various diseases.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateFeb 21, 2018

What a handsome schnoz!

Research at Kyoto University found that larger noses are correlated with physical strength, reproductive ability, and the number of harem females. The study suggests that nasal enlargement modifies male vocalizations, making them more attractive to females.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScience Advances·DateFeb 21, 2018

Tackling health problems in the young is crucial for their children's future

Researchers emphasize that addressing obesity, mental health issues, poor nutrition, and substance abuse in adolescents before pregnancy is essential for a healthy start to life. The study highlights the importance of engaging health services with young adults and creating healthier environments to prevent intergenerational health risks.

Study proposes practical solution to challenges faced by bilingual children

A new toolkit helps identify bilingual toddlers who need extra support with their language development, potentially improving their personal and professional prospects. The tool, developed by the University of Plymouth, uses a list of familiar words and a questionnaire to assess a child's language proficiency.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalMonographs of the Society for Research in Child Development·DateFeb 21, 2018

'Division of labor' between hemispheres of multicellular spheroidal alga controls light-sensitive movement

Scientists discovered that the anterior region of the alga is more sensitive to calcium ions than the posterior end, allowing for fine-tuned light-responsive motility. This finding advances our understanding of how multicellular organisms evolved to overcome single-celled limitations in photosynthesis.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 21, 2018

Sea urchins erode rock reefs, excavate pits for themselves

Researchers found that sea urchins sculpt medium-grain sandstone rock 37 times quicker than granite, with excavation rates varying greatly by rock type. The study estimated that on medium-grain sandstone reefs, sea urchins might produce almost 200 tonnes of sediment per hectare per year.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 21, 2018

Reinventing the inductor

The University of California - Santa Barbara team designed a new spiral inductor made of multiple layers of graphene, which offers one-and-a-half times the inductance density of traditional inductors. This innovative design enables a one-third reduction in size while maintaining high efficiency.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Electronics·DateFeb 21, 2018

Study points to risk of future sleep breathing problems in college football players

A recent study suggests that college-age football linemen may be at higher risk for sleep-disordered breathing due to their physical conditioning. The study compared data from football linemen and track athletes, finding that the linemen had significantly larger necks and increased risk for sleep apnea despite having less body fat.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte·JournalJournal of Sport Rehabilitation·DateFeb 21, 2018

How the brain tells our limbs apart

A Salk Institute study has identified distinct molecular profiles in V2a neurons that control arm and leg movements, shedding light on neural regulation of motor control. The findings could lead to personalized stem-cell-based treatments for repairing spinal cord injuries.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalNeuron·DateFeb 21, 2018

The writing on the wall

Researchers propose that cave art may have played a role in the development of human language, citing acoustic properties and visual representations. The study suggests that early humans used sound echoes to convey symbolic thinking, which eventually led to the creation of language.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateFeb 21, 2018

Smartphones are bad for some teens, not all

Research by Candice Odgers highlights both positive and negative uses of smartphones among teens. While moderate usage is linked to no negative impact on mental well-being, increased screen time among low-income teens correlates with more physical fights, arguments, and school troubles.

SourceCIFAR·JournalNature·DateFeb 21, 2018

Scientists create 'Evolutionwatch' for plants

Researchers used historic and modern plant genomes to measure the rate of evolution in a wild plant. They found that Arabidopsis had been introduced to North America by Europeans around 1600, with new mutations appearing over the past 400 years. These findings provide insights into the genetic paradox of invasion.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateFeb 21, 2018

Berkeley Lab 'minimalist machine learning' algorithms analyze images from very little data

Researchers create a new approach to machine learning using a single-layer neural network that can analyze images with limited training data. The algorithm, called MS-D, requires far fewer parameters than traditional methods and has the ability to learn from a remarkably small set of images.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 21, 2018

Bacteria produce more substances than hitherto assumed

A team of researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum has discovered that the bacterium Streptomyces chartreusis produces 1,044 different substances, exceeding expectations. Many of these substances have pharmaceutical potential and could lead to new treatments for patients who suffer from iron overdose or aluminium toxicity.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 21, 2018

Creative couples' intervention significantly helps people with Alzheimer's communicate

A new study shows that a creative couples' intervention significantly improves communication in people with Alzheimer's and their caregivers. The 10-week program increased facilitative communication in caregivers and sociable communication in care receivers, leading to better understanding, intimacy, and reduced conflict.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalInternational Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·DateFeb 21, 2018

Turn off the telly and get moving

A recent study published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis found that prolonged TV viewing increases the risk of venous thromboembolism, a potentially fatal condition. The research, which analyzed data from over 15,000 Americans, suggests that even regular exercise is not enough to offset the risks of sedentary behavior.

SourceSpringer·JournalJournal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis·DateFeb 21, 2018