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Science News for July 26, 2018


Extinct vegetarian cave bear diet mystery unravelled

A recent study reveals that the direct ancestor of the cave bear had a similar diet to its descendant, suggesting a dietary specialization in vegetal matter. The researchers used geometric morphometrics and micro-CT scanning to analyze ancient fossils, providing new insights into the evolution of Europe's iconic species.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalHistorical Biology·DateJul 26, 2018

The last wild ocean

A new study finds that the ocean has lost most of its untouched areas, leaving only 13% classified as wilderness due to human activity such as fishing and shipping fleets. The authors call for conservation policies to protect marine wilderness, which is home to high levels of species diversity.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJul 26, 2018

DEEP study: Modelling persistent orofacial pain management's costs and benefits

The DEEP study examined the costs and quality-of-life of individuals with persistent orofacial pain (POFP) and estimated outcomes from pain onset. The results showed that high pain levels led to increased healthcare costs and decreased quality-of-life, highlighting the burden of POFP on health.

World's marine wilderness is dwindling

A study by University of Queensland scientists reveals that only 13% of the ocean can be classified as wilderness, leaving it vulnerable to loss. Marine areas devoid of intense human impacts are being protected, but most remaining wilderness is located in remote regions and is unprotected.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJul 26, 2018

A spin trio for strong coupling

A team of scientists at ETH Zurich have found a way to avoid disturbances in qubit operations by coupling a microwave photon to a spin qubit. The researchers created a 'spin trio' consisting of three quantum dots and demonstrated strong coupling between the spin qubits and a microwave photon.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature·DateJul 26, 2018

Solution to medical mystery may help some children avoid bone marrow transplantation

A study by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and UCSF identified germline mutations in the genes SAMD9 or SAMD9L as responsible for a rare bone marrow disorder, myelodysplasia and leukemia syndrome with monosomy 7. The research found that some children with these mutations can spontaneously recover normal bone marrow function witho...

Soundwave-surfing droplets leave no traces

Researchers create a digital microfluidics platform using soundwaves and oil to avoid contamination for reusable lab-on-a-chip devices. The technology enables programmable, rewritable biomedical chips with exponentially increased combinations of reagent inputs.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 26, 2018

A calmer horse is just a sniff away

Researchers at the University of Arizona found that horses experience significant stress reduction when inhaled lavender from a diffuser, as measured by heart rate variability. The data showed a significant increase in relaxation signals such as neck lowering and licking, indicating a calming effect on the horses.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalJournal of Equine Veterinary Science·DateJul 26, 2018

Bile acids from the gut could help to treat cocaine abuse

A study published in PLOS Biology suggests that bile acids from the gut can reduce the rewarding properties of cocaine use, potentially leading to new treatment strategies. The research found that surgery that increases bile acid levels in the brain reduces dopamine release and preference for cocaine.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJul 26, 2018

Making thread in Bronze Age Britain

Researchers identified splicing as the earliest plant fibre technology for making thread in Early Bronze Age Britain and across Europe. This technology is fundamentally different from draft spinning and was previously unknown in Britain.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalArchaeological and Anthropological Sciences·DateJul 26, 2018

Plant defense mechanisms

Researchers have identified multiple enzymes and channel proteins involved in plant defense mechanisms, including a reserve system that acts as backup for immune responses. The findings have practical utility for agriculture, such as cultivating crops that can resist different stresses more effectively.

Europe may thrive on renewable energy despite unpredictable weather

A new study reveals that Europe's power system can comfortably generate at least 35% of its electricity using renewable energy alone without major impacts on prices or system stability. The research, which analyzed 30 years of meteorological data, found that Europe could use renewables for more than two-thirds of its electricity by 2030.

SourceCell Press·JournalJoule·DateJul 26, 2018

New hope for rare disorder

Researchers have made significant breakthroughs in treating hereditary angioedema with the new drug BCX7353. The medication has been shown to significantly reduce attack frequency and improve quality of life by up to 75% compared to placebo, offering a convenient oral administration without severe side effects.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJul 26, 2018

Breakthrough in industrial CO2 usage

Researchers at Technical University of Munich have developed an enzymatic process to produce methionine from gaseous CO2, replacing the current petrochemical-based method. The new process requires just two enzymes and has a yield of 40 percent, compared to photosynthesis which uses 14 enzymes with only a 20 percent yield.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Catalysis·DateJul 26, 2018

Reducing opioid prescriptions for one operation can also spill over to other procedures

Researchers developed prescribing recommendations for opioids after gall bladder removal and discovered a spillover effect that led to significant reductions in pill prescriptions for other major operations. The study found that the reduction in prescribing resulted in roughly 10,000 fewer pills entering the community.

SourceAmerican College of Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateJul 26, 2018

Manufacturing engineer Mostafa Bedewy lands $330,000 National Science Foundation grant to study 'nanotube forests'

Dr. Bedewy will explore the kinetics of activation and deactivation in large populations of carbon nanotubes known as 'nanotube forests' using experimental and modeling techniques. The research aims to gain a fundamental understanding of how these forest structures behave collectively, impacting their properties for emerging applications.

Lynchings of the past affect health today

A new study by researchers from the University of South Carolina shows that US counties with a history of lynching events have higher contemporary mortality rates for both white and black populations. The study found significant associations between past lynchings and increased mortality rates, especially among African American females.

SourceSpringer·JournalJournal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities·DateJul 26, 2018

Ability to identify genuine laughter transcends culture, UCLA-led study finds

A new study by UCLA communication researcher Greg Bryant found that people across cultures and continents can tell the difference between a fake laugh and a real one. The study, published in Psychological Science, used recordings of laughs from English-speaking friends and women who laughed on command to test participants' ability to i...

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalPsychological Science·DateJul 26, 2018

Rewriting our understanding of gastric tumors

Researchers at McGill University have made a groundbreaking discovery linking stomach tumours in patients with Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome to immune system inflammation. The study suggests targeting inflammatory pathways may lead to potential new treatments for this rare genetic disorder.

SourceMcGill University·JournalScience·DateJul 26, 2018