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Science News Archive March 2018 - Page 23


Page 23 of 41

Removing heavy metals from water

Researchers have developed a new method for removing heavy metals like lead and mercury from water using metal organic frameworks (MOFs). The MOF composite can quickly and selectively remove high amounts of toxic materials from real-world water samples, down to levels deemed drinkable by health organizations.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalACS Central Science·DateMar 14, 2018

Is your smile male or female?

Researchers at the University of Bradford have developed an AI system that can automatically assign gender based on a smile. The system uses dynamic movement analysis to distinguish between men and women, finding that women's smiles are more expansive than men's.

SourceUniversity of Bradford·JournalThe Visual Computer·DateMar 14, 2018

The element of surprise

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have found that protactinium shares chemical similarities with both actinides and transition metals, revealing a unique intersection of their properties. This discovery could lead to novel applications for these elements and a deeper understanding of the periodic table.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 14, 2018

Making new memories is a balancing act

Salk Institute scientists discover brain's memory storage is dynamic, with some synapses growing larger and others shrinking as a result of learning. This balance allows for increased overall storage capacity, enabling the brain to store more information.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 14, 2018

Zika: An accurate estimation of the neurological risks in unborn children

A recent study found that pregnant women infected with Zika virus experienced a significantly lower rate of congenital neurological abnormalities than initially thought. The study, which monitored over 2,000 women, revealed a 12.7% risk of complications when infected during the first trimester.

Fast-tracking endocrine assays

The EPA has shifted focus to high-throughput computational models to quickly identify chemicals that require more scrutiny, following a slow start in its previous approach. Researchers have made significant progress, including the development of estrogen and androgen receptor models.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateMar 14, 2018