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Science News Archive June 2018 - Page 28


Page 28 of 40

Making the oxygen we breathe, a photosynthesis mechanism exposed

Researchers at Georgia Tech have elucidated the role of a small metal catalyst and an amino acid in the release of oxygen from water in photosystem II, a complex protein structure found in plants and algae. The discovery sheds light on the intricate chemistry of photosynthesis and has potential applications in improving crop productivi...

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 11, 2018

Turbocharge for lithium batteries

Scientists have developed a new anode material for lithium-ion batteries that can store more energy and charge faster. The hybrid material combines tin oxide nanoparticles with antimony on a graphene base, improving stability and conductivity.

SourceForschungszentrum Juelich·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateJun 11, 2018

'Tricking' bacteria into hydroxylating benzene

Researchers have successfully used E.coli bacteria to oxidize C-H bonds in benzene to generate phenol by activating a genetically inserted cytochrome P450BM3 enzyme with a decoy molecule. This novel approach enables whole-cell biotransformation without harsh conditions or genetic modification.

SourceNagoya University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJun 11, 2018

Special issue to highlight climate science for service partnership between China and the UK

The Climate Science for Service Partnership China (CSSP China) has improved understanding of climate change effects and reduced climatic risks through research collaborations with the UK. The partnership has led to advancements in seasonal forecasting, crop security, and climate services.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateJun 11, 2018

DIY brings high throughput to continuous cell culturing

eVOLVER, an open-source system developed by Rice University, enables high-throughput continuous cell culturing using automated growth experiments. The system can support 96-chamber experiments and allows for real-time data tracking and monitoring of culture conditions, making it suitable for applications in synthetic biology and antibi...

SourceRice University·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateJun 11, 2018

Fighting tobacco use among adults with mental illness

A University of Houston researcher is targeting adults with anxiety and depression who struggle to quit smoking by providing individualized, online feedback. The goal is to increase motivation, confidence, and intention to quit while reducing perceived barriers to quitting. The study aims to improve distress tolerance skills to help pa...

Manipulated enzymes

Researchers at TU Graz have achieved a breakthrough in biocatalysis by manipulating an enzyme to create ring-shaped molecules. This innovation enables the production of novel pharmaceuticals and plant protection products with high enantiomeric purity, opening doors for sustainable 'green' chemistry.

SourceGraz University of Technology·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJun 11, 2018

The language of facial expressions

A study by University of Miami Professor Daniel Messinger and colleagues found that eye wrinkles around the eyes, known as the Duchenne marker, convey more intense and sincere emotions across multiple facial expressions. Participants rated Duchenne smiles and sad expressions as more sincere and intense than non-Duchenne expressions.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalEmotion·DateJun 11, 2018

Diamond dust shimmering around distant stars

Astronomers identify hydrogenated nanodiamonds as likely source of anomalous microwave emission (AME), a type of faint microwave light emanating from regions across the Milky Way. The discovery provides new insights into the formation of nanodiamonds in protoplanetary disks and has implications for cosmology research.

SourceGreen Bank Observatory·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJun 11, 2018

How physically active are adolescents, young adults?

Adolescents girls reported less physical activity than their male counterparts, with activity dropping off sharply during the transition to young adulthood. The study highlights disparities in physical activity among certain groups, emphasizing the importance of promoting physical activity among adolescents and young adults.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateJun 11, 2018

Ingesting honey after swallowing button battery reduces injury and improves outcomes

Researchers found that honey and sucralfate significantly reduce morbidity and mortality from highly caustic batteries. Ingesting honey before removing a button battery may protect against serious injuries in small children. The study's findings will inform clinical practice and guidelines for managing button battery ingestions.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalThe Laryngoscope·DateJun 11, 2018

New target for treating heart failure identified by Penn Medicine researchers

Researchers from Penn Medicine identified a new target for treating heart failure by reversing the stiffness of diseased heart muscle cell struts, which can improve the beating strength of cells isolated from transplant patients. The team aims to develop therapies that seek out damaged cellular struts to reverse their harmful influence.

Long periods of viral suppression shown to prevent cancer in aging HIV population

Researchers found that long-term viral suppression significantly reduces cancer risk in aging HIV-positive individuals, with lower rates seen in patients with sustained suppression compared to those with early or no suppression. The study highlights the importance of viral suppression in preventing cancer and may inform strategies for ...

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJun 11, 2018

MD Anderson Therapeutics Discovery team identifies and advances a drug that targets metabolic vulnerability and impairs cancer cell growth and survival

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center's Therapeutics Discovery team has developed a drug called IACS-10759, which targets metabolic vulnerability in cancer cells. The drug, an inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation, shows promise for treating acute myeloid leukemia and solid tumors.

RNA changes aided sunflower's rapid evolutionary transformation, domestication

A new study reveals that RNA changes played a crucial role in the domestication of sunflowers, allowing for rapid evolutionary transformation over 5,000 years. The researchers identified key genes and regulatory mechanisms involved in alternative splicing, which created useful efficiencies but also introduced variation.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 11, 2018

Discovery in the sky with nanodiamonds

A team of researchers at Cardiff University has discovered that tiny crystals of carbon, nanodiamonds, are likely the source of a mysterious microwave glow emanating from star systems in the Milky Way. The discovery was made by studying infrared light from protoplanetary disks surrounding newly formed stars.

SourceCardiff University·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJun 11, 2018

Doing right by the whales

A new study urges a more proactive conservation management strategy for North Atlantic right whales due to declining calf births and shifting distribution. Researchers recommend expanding protective policies to cover their new habitat range and implementing advanced monitoring programs.

Experiments at Berkeley Lab help trace interstellar dust back to solar system's formation

Researchers at Berkeley Lab used infrared light and electron microscopy to study interplanetary particles, finding they contain pre-solar dust leftover from the solar system's formation. The dust, consisting of carbon, ices, and disordered silicate, was mostly destroyed by planet formation processes.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 11, 2018

Rutgers physicists create new class of 2D artificial materials

A Rutgers-led international team of scientists has verified a 53-year-old theory on ferroelectric metals, creating a new class of two-dimensional artificial materials that exhibit ferroelectric-like properties at room temperature. These findings have the potential to spawn a new generation of multi-functional devices and applications.

SourceRutgers University·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 11, 2018