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Science News for June 19, 2018


Rush hour metro crowd governed by people's eagerness to go home

A new model examines the relative role of random interactions between individuals in a crowd compared to interactions stemming from their eagerness to be on their way. The study reveals that internal interactions between pedestrians can be negligible, and external factors such as crowd pressure drive the flow of people toward exits.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal Plus·DateJun 19, 2018

Montana burial site answers questions about early humans

The Anzick site in Montana has been dated to between 12,725 and 12,900 years ago, based on specific amino acid radiocarbon dating of human remains. This confirms the contemporaneity of human remains and Clovis artifacts, resolving long-standing dating issues and providing new insights into early human habitation in North America.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 19, 2018

Futuristic data storage

A new model of nanometric square material's changing magnetic state could be the basis for future ultrahigh density data storage. By controlling the interactions between individual nanomagnets, researchers aim to improve data storage in electronic and medical applications.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateJun 19, 2018

Is the sky the limit?

A novel theory explains how species adapt across their ranges, identifying a critical threshold that determines the success of expansion. The theory shows that dispersal can be beneficial for adaptation but also carries costs, such as reducing genetic diversity.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJun 19, 2018

Binge drinking during youth may impact future offspring

A recent rat model study found that preconception binge drinking can negatively affect future offspring's growth, social interactions, and pubertal development. The study also discovered that these effects can be passed down through generations, highlighting the importance of parental behavior in shaping offspring's traits.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalJournal of the Endocrine Society·DateJun 19, 2018

Bad habits that lead to cancer, chronic disease corrected by simple lifestyle intervention

A Northwestern University study found that a lifestyle intervention using a smartphone app, activity tracker, and small financial incentive can fully normalize unhealthy behaviors such as low fruit and vegetable intake and high screen time. Participants made significant improvements in their eating and exercise habits over a nine-month...

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·DateJun 19, 2018

Nuclear power shutdowns won't spike power prices

A new study finds that the shutdown of two nuclear power plants in Pennsylvania will not significantly impact power prices due to low natural gas prices. The research suggests that efficient natural gas power plants have increased capacity, making it difficult for nuclear power to compete with competitive market outcomes.

SourcePenn State·JournalThe Electricity Journal·DateJun 19, 2018

Ground-breaking discoveries could create superior alloys with many applications

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have made significant breakthroughs in understanding how alloys behave at high temperatures. The new findings provide a better understanding of the role of reactive elements and water vapour in promoting the growth of an aluminium oxide scale, leading to faster-growing, nanocrystalline o...

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalNature Materials·DateJun 19, 2018

'Kiss of death' cancer

Monash researchers have created a computer model that can predict which combination of drugs will be most effective in treating triple negative breast cancer. The model, developed using genetic and treatment data from hundreds of patients, reveals a previously unknown combination of two drugs that may be successful.

SourceMonash University·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateJun 19, 2018

Light pollution a reason for insect decline

Regions with sharp declines in flying insects also experience high levels of light pollution, suggesting a link between artificial light and insect population declines. Light pollution can disrupt natural behavior, cause genetic exchange limitations, and impact ecosystem services like pollination.

SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalAnnals of Applied Biology·DateJun 19, 2018

Are you sticking to your diet? Scientists may be able to tell from a blood sample

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have developed a method to determine diet adherence from a blood sample. By analyzing small molecules called 'metabolites' in the blood, they found that levels differed significantly between participants following a prescribed diet and those not adhering to it.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateJun 19, 2018

Researchers map cardiovascular disease risk across India

A study published in PLOS Medicine found that the average 10-year risk of developing cardiovascular disease varies widely among India's states, ranging from 13.2% to 19.5%. The researchers identified substantial variation in CVD risk both among states and across socio-demographic groups.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateJun 19, 2018

Success of blood test for autism affirmed

A new blood test for autism has been validated for its exceptional success, predicting autism spectrum disorder with 88% accuracy in a second trial. The test uses an algorithm to analyze metabolites in a blood sample, offering a potential solution to lower the age of diagnosis and improve treatment outcomes.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalBioengineering & Translational Medicine·DateJun 19, 2018

Study: Tax havens and limited regulation increase risk for shareholders

A new study by North Carolina State University researchers found that companies incorporated in tax haven countries with weak governance are more likely to engage in practices benefiting executives at the cost of their shareholders. These companies paid an average of 83% less in dividends to shareholders, compared to those in well-regu...

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalContemporary Accounting Research·DateJun 19, 2018

When photons spice up the energy levels of quantum particles

A team of mathematical physicists has developed a new theoretical calculation that predicts new possible states for quantum particles that have received a photon. These states are distinct from conventional coherent states and can be applied to various models satisfying shape-invariance conditions.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateJun 19, 2018

Teachers view immigrant, minority parents as less involved in their children's education

Research from the University of Pennsylvania and New York University found that teachers perceive immigrant and minority parents as less involved in their children's education. This perception affects students' grades and academic honors. The study analyzed data from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002, revealing a disparity betwe...

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalSocial Science Research·DateJun 19, 2018

Responses of the tropical atmospheric circulation to climate change

Climate change-induced tropical circulation slowdowns are linked to poleward Hadley cell expansion and intertropical convergence zone shifts. Regional precipitation redistribution involves complex thermodynamic and dynamical processes, including surface warming effects over oceans and land.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAnnual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences·DateJun 19, 2018