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Science News for July 2, 2018


World's first animals caused global warming

Researchers found that early animals caused a decrease in oxygen levels and increase in carbon dioxide, leading to global warming. This process had a massive impact on the environment, contributing to mass extinctions during animal evolution's first 100 million years.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 2, 2018

Study identifies which marine mammals are most at risk from increased Arctic ship traffic

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that narwhals, beluga, and bowhead whales are most vulnerable to vessel traffic in the Arctic. The researchers identified two 'pinch points' where ships and animals are most likely to intersect, including the Bering Strait and Lancaster Sound.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 2, 2018

Utah soil's slippery grip on nutrients

Researchers found that lawns in Salt Lake Valley up to 100 years old show no signs of being saturated with fertilizer nutrient nitrogen, contradicting previous studies. The study suggests that natural processes may account for the unusual pattern, including storage in the soil and losses through groundwater leaching.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalOecologia·DateJul 2, 2018

Hope for new catalysts with high activity

Researchers at Osaka University have elucidated the activation mechanism of nanoporous gold catalysts, making poisonous CO gas harmless. The study used atomic-scale resolution environmental transmission electron microscopy and computer simulations to reveal the role of residual impurities in catalyzing chemical reactions.

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 2, 2018

Diesel doesn't float this boat

A zero-emissions marine research vessel, nicknamed the Zero-V, is technically and economically feasible to build using hydrogen fuel cells. The project aims to reduce air and ocean pollution while providing a stable platform for scientists to conduct research in sensitive ecological areas.

'Cataclysmic' collision shaped Uranus' evolution

Researchers at Durham University found that a massive collision with an object twice the size of Earth likely tilted Uranus on its side. The impact may have trapped heat, explaining the planet's extremely cold temperature. Simulations also suggest this event could have formed Uranus' rings and moons.

A refined magnetic sense

Researchers have developed a refined magnetic sense using algorithms and hardware from quantum computation, achieving six times higher sensitivity than classical methods. The transmon qubit-based magnetometer uses adaptive phase-estimation schemes to measure the strength of external magnetic fields.

SourceETH Zurich Department of Physics·Journalnpj Quantum Information·DateJul 2, 2018

Study reveals how polymers relax after stressful processing

A new study reveals that entangled, long-chain polymers in solutions relax at two different rates, marking an advancement in fundamental polymer physics. The findings will provide a better understanding of the physical properties of polymeric materials and individual polymer molecule behavior under high-stress processing conditions.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 2, 2018

Alzheimer's in mini format: A novel tool to study disease mechanisms and possible remedies

A novel stem cell-based model system mimics human brain tissue and reproduces features of Alzheimer's disease, indicating that modulating the immune system can trigger neuronal repair processes. The study suggests a potential approach to therapy by unlocking the potential of neural stem cells to build new neurons.

New drugs to treat top infectious disease killer a possibility with Otago discovery

Researchers at University of Otago have discovered a novel property of Bedaquiline, a new anti-tuberculosis drug that could help develop more effective treatments for tuberculosis. The study's findings suggest that the drug works by disrupting energy generation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis cells, offering potential for designing more ...

SourceUniversity of Otago·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 2, 2018

New drug and material discoveries to be untangled in VR

Scientists at the University of Bristol have developed new virtual reality cloud-based tools to accelerate research tasks in drug and material discovery. Using real-time molecular simulations, researchers can now interact with molecules in a virtual space, folding, knotting, and changing their shape to test interactions.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 2, 2018

What the satellites in your body do

Researchers found that hSATa satellite RNA directly interferes with DNA copying and damage repair in cells, leading to breast cancer. This discovery suggests targeting satellite RNAs could provide another approach for treating various cancers, including breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancer.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalMolecular Cell·DateJul 2, 2018

The spliceosome: The tailor that coordinates the 'snip and stitch' of genetic information

The study reveals the Spp42 protein plays a crucial role in regulating spliceosome components, essential for transforming genetic information into functional proteins. This understanding may lead to new drugs targeting the spliceosome function to treat diseases such as cancer and leukemia.

SourceScuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 2, 2018

Discovery of new biomarker could provide personalized treatment options for bladder cancer

Researchers at Mount Sinai have discovered two microRNA activity-based biomarkers that can predict patient outcomes and inform treatment decisions for p53-like bladder cancer. The findings hold promise for personalized treatment options, but further research is needed to translate the results into improved patient care.

Can aspirin treat Alzheimer's?

A study published in The Journal of Neuroscience found that low-dose aspirin may reduce plaques in the brain by stimulating lysosomes and increasing the activity of TFEB, a protein responsible for waste removal. This could lead to improved treatment options for Alzheimer's disease.

A new twist on how parasites invade host cells

Toxoplasmosis is a widespread infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which multiplies within a host and causes irreversible tissue damage. The parasite implements an ingenious invasive strategy involving a protein complex and rotational force to gain entry to host cells.

SourceCNRS·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateJul 2, 2018

Athletic 'pull' increases campus diversity

Research by Penn State's Clio Andris found that universities attract athletes from afar, increasing diversity on campuses. The study analyzed data from over 160,000 student-athletes and found that Ivy League schools and less centrally located schools have strong pull rankings.

SourcePenn State·JournalThe Professional Geographer·DateJul 2, 2018

Patients don't mind if doctors sport tattoos or piercings

A study of nearly 1000 emergency care patients found that visible body art has no discernible impact on perceived professionalism or competence. Patients rated doctors with tattoos and piercings highly for qualities such as caring attitude, approachability, and trustworthiness.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalEmergency Medicine Journal·DateJul 2, 2018

Eat 'em up: Next-generation therapeutic helps immune cells detect, destroy cancer

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed a supramolecular therapeutic that blocks the 'eat me not' signal sent by cancer cells and converts macrophages to the attacking M1 subtype. The approach has yielded promising results in preclinical models, showing complete inhibition of tumor growth and increased survival rates.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateJul 2, 2018

Is the Bitcoin network an oligarchy?

Researchers found a circle-type structure within Bitcoin transactions, revealing hidden communities of interconnected owners. A small fraction of users holds the majority of the network's wealth.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateJul 2, 2018

How mangroves help keep the planet cool

A new study published in Nature Climate Change found that mangroves store significantly more carbon than previously estimated, with blue carbon levels underestimated by up to 50 percent and overestimated by up to 86 percent. The research provides a higher quality dataset for tropical countries to mitigate carbon enrichment.

SourceLouisiana State University·JournalNature Climate Change·DateJul 2, 2018

Illinois' crop-counting robot earns top recognition at leading robotics conference

Researchers at the University of Illinois developed a robot called TerraSentia to count corn plants with high accuracy. The robot uses a suite of sensors, algorithms, and deep learning to capture each plant from top to bottom, overcoming challenges such as varying inter-plant spacing.

Study shows machine learning can improve catalytic design

A new study shows that combining machine learning and quantum chemistry can help chemical engineers at Rice University and Penn State find fundamental correlations in large amounts of data. This allows them to narrow down their search and design more efficient catalysts, which can translate into millions of dollars for companies.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Catalysis·DateJul 2, 2018

Can doctors identify older patients at risk of medication harm?

A new study found that doctors' predictions of medication-related harm (MRH) in older adults are not reliable. Despite clinical experience and confidence influencing accuracy, predictions were no more accurate than chance. New approaches to identify high-risk individuals are needed to mitigate serious consequences.

SourceWiley·JournalBritish Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·DateJul 2, 2018

Mutation and 3D modeling reveal new structure to cell division process

Researchers at OIST Graduate University challenge cohesin's ring-shaped model by demonstrating that a mutation can't break down the complex, suggesting it may have a different structure. A new hold-and-release model proposes cohesin is like a jaw that holds chromatids in place and then opens to allow chromatin to move.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 2, 2018

Prospective teachers more likely to view black faces than white faces as angry

A preliminary study by North Carolina State University researchers found that prospective teachers are more likely to perceive Black faces as angry and judge the behavior of Black children as more hostile. This cultural disconnect may contribute to the disproportionate number of Black students facing disciplinary actions.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalContemporary Educational Psychology·DateJul 2, 2018