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Science News for February 26, 2018


Exotic state of matter: An atom full of atoms

Scientists have created a new state of matter called Rydberg polarons, where an electron orbits a nucleus at a great distance while many other atoms are bound inside the orbit. The electrons' path is only slightly influenced by neutral atoms, resulting in a weak bond between the Rydberg atom and the surrounding atoms.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 26, 2018

Flu forecasting system tracks geographic spread of disease

Researchers at Columbia's Mailman School developed a method to forecast the spatial transmission of influenza in the US, improving accuracy by 35% compared to previous versions. The system accurately predicts local onset of flu six weeks ahead of time, informing decisions on vaccine distribution and public health measures.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 26, 2018

Brain can navigate based solely on smells

Researchers developed a novel olfactory virtual reality system that enables the study of how smells engage the brain's navigation system. The study demonstrated that mice can form a map of their surroundings based solely on smells, suggesting a potential new frontier in multisensory VR experience development.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 26, 2018

Sea swimming associated with increased ailments

A large-scale research analysis found that sea bathing doubled the odds of reporting general ear ailments and increased the risk of gastrointestinal illnesses by 29%. The study suggests pollution is still an issue affecting swimmers in high-income countries like the UK.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalInternational Journal of Epidemiology·DateFeb 26, 2018

Flu may impact brain health

Research found that flu strains H3N2 and H7N7 caused memory impairments and structural changes in the hippocampus of mice. The infections also activated brain immune cells and altered gene expression, suggesting a potential threat to healthy brain function.

The giant wave that marks the beginning of the end -- the neurobiology of dying

In humans, a massive wave of electrochemical energy release in the brain occurs after oxygen deprivation, known as 'spreading depolarization', which can trigger pathophysiological cascades. Researchers have found that this event is similar to animal studies and that it remains reversible if circulation is restored before nerve cells die.

SourceCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin·JournalAnnals of Neurology·DateFeb 26, 2018

Scorpion venom component can reduce severity of rheumatoid arthritis

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered that a scorpion venom component, iberiotoxin, can specifically block the potassium channel in fibroblast-like synoviocytes, reducing rheumatoid arthritis severity. Treatment with iberiotoxin reversed joint damage and inflammation in rat models without inducing side effects.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalJournal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics·DateFeb 26, 2018

For energy experts, new method is a gas

Researchers have created a novel non-invasive method to quantify untapped natural gas reservoirs by analyzing the compositional distribution on porous surfaces inside shale rocks. This method provides both average and deviation values of material properties, aiding decision-making in the industry.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 26, 2018

Study links responsible behavior in high school to life success 50 years later

A new study by University of Illinois researchers found that students who behaved responsibly in high school, showed interest, and had good writing skills tend to earn higher incomes and have higher occupational prestige 50 years later. Education was the factor mediating this relationship.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateFeb 26, 2018

Ketamine works for female rats, too

A groundbreaking study published in eNeuro finds that low-dose ketamine promotes resilience to future adverse events in female rats, similar to its effects in males. The researchers identified a neural circuit involving the prefrontal cortex and dorsal raphe nucleus responsible for ketamine's stress-reducing properties.

SourceSociety for Neuroscience·JournaleNeuro·DateFeb 26, 2018

Could cleaning up beaches make Americans better off?

A new study by Ohio State University found that cleaning up beaches in Orange County, California could bring in significant economic benefits, ranging from $13 to $42 per resident. The research estimated that reducing ocean debris by 25-75% could lead to a $46 million boost to the county's economy in just one summer.

SourceOhio State University·JournalMarine Resource Economics·DateFeb 26, 2018

How do your friends plan to vote?

Researchers found that social-circle questions led to more accurate predictions for election outcomes than traditional polling methods. Social-circle questions provide information about people who aren't explicitly included in the sample and can help anticipate the processes of social influence.

SourceSanta Fe Institute·JournalNature Human Behaviour·DateFeb 26, 2018

Infants' expectation of ingroup support and fairness

In a series of experiments, researchers found that infants prioritize ingroup support over fairness when resources are limited. The study involved 72 participants aged 18-20 months and 48 participants aged 25-33 months, who observed resource-allocation events involving a puppet distributor and two potential recipients.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 26, 2018

Stormy weather

Researchers found a unique deposit in upper meter of marsh sediments, suggesting the 1861-62 storm season was erosive enough to remove coastal barriers. The team used sediment cores and analyzed European crop pollen and spheroidal carbonaceous particles to confirm the deposit's age.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalMarine Geology·DateFeb 26, 2018

Human activity and late Holocene rainforests

Researchers found evidence of early human impacts on African rainforests, with a switch from mature rainforest to forest-savannah mosaic occurring around 3,000 years ago. Human population growth and land-use changes are thought to have driven this transition, contradicting the current consensus that climate change was the primary cause.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 26, 2018

Improving the quality of high altitude medicine

The new guidelines aim to standardize data capture in high altitude research, enabling researchers to replicate studies and compare findings. The guidelines provide a structured approach for collecting data on factors such as local conditions, study participants' characteristics, and medical history.

SourceEurac Research·JournalHigh Altitude Medicine & Biology·DateFeb 26, 2018

Life under extreme drought conditions

Researchers have discovered an active microbial community in the Atacama Desert's most arid zones, which becomes metabolically active following periodic moisture increases. The findings have implications for the search for life on Mars, suggesting that past conditions may have supported life that could endure hyper-arid environments.

SourceGFZ GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Helmholtz Centre·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 26, 2018

Scientists move closer to treatment for Huntington's disease

Researchers have developed a safer and more specific CRISPR/Cas9 system to treat Huntington's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a defective gene. The new technique successfully inactivates the mutant gene and reduces toxic protein synthesis, offering hope for a potential cure.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·DateFeb 26, 2018

Mom's immune system shapes baby's brain

A study published in JNeurosci found that a woman's immune system during pregnancy influences the development of her child's brain network, which may be linked to psychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. Higher maternal immune activation was also associated with improved cognitive ability in infants.

Rice U. sleuths find metal in 'metal-free' catalysts

Researchers at Rice University have found that graphene catalysts contain trace amounts of manganese, which activates the oxygen reduction reaction and improves fuel-cell efficiency. The study used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to detect manganese atoms in samples made by the Rice lab.

SourceRice University·JournalCarbon·DateFeb 26, 2018

ACP calls on doctors to practice what they teach

The American College of Physicians recommends reinforcing formal curricula with hidden cultural lessons in medical education. This includes modeling empathy, encouraging reflection, and promoting learner and clinician wellness. The goal is to align positive hidden curricula with formal curricula and foster respect, inquiry, and honesty.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateFeb 26, 2018

Mechanism of diamond formation

Researchers discovered diamond formation from ankerite through spontaneous iron reduction, suggesting a possible mechanism for abundant diamond creation in Earth's lower mantle. The process occurs without melting at high pressures and temperatures, similar to those found in meteoritic impact zones.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 26, 2018

Humans changed the ecosystems of Central Africa more than 2,600 years ago

A team of scientists discovered that humans triggered the transformation of dense forests to savannahs in Central Africa around 2,600 years ago. The sudden change, known as the 'rainforest crisis,' was not caused by climate change but rather by human activities such as agriculture and population growth.

SourceGFZ GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Helmholtz Centre·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 26, 2018

Daffodils to fight against cancer

Researchers discovered that a natural alkaloid extracted from Daffodils, called haemanthamine, blocks the production of proteins by ribosomes in cancer cells, leading to their elimination. The study provides a molecular explanation for the anti-tumoral activity of Daffodils used in folk medicine.

SourceUniversité libre de Bruxelles·JournalStructure·DateFeb 26, 2018

Watch fat cells help heal a wound in a fly

Researchers found that fat body cells in Drosophila propel themselves forward towards wounds using a wave-like motion, effectively sealing them and preventing infection. The cells work together with immune cells to aid healing and increase antimicrobial peptide production.

SourceCell Press·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateFeb 26, 2018