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Science News Archive February 2018 - Page 12


Page 12 of 36

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

Sea-level legacy: more rise for each delay in peaking emissions

A new study by Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research found that delaying global CO2 emission peak by five years between 2020 and 2035 could result in an additional 20 cm of sea-level rise by 2300. The researchers used a combined climate-sea-level model to analyze the impact of delayed mitigation on global sea-level rise.

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 20, 2018

Why the boss always gets the blame

Researchers found that social role, not causal influence, determines blame distribution in real life. The study tested this assumption in an online experiment with 209 test participants and found that bosses received more criticism than employees even when they didn't make the decision.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalPhilosophical Psychology·DateFeb 20, 2018