Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive March 2018 - Page 4


Page 4 of 41

'Fog harp' increases collection capacity for clean water

Researchers at Virginia Tech have improved the traditional design of fog nets to increase their collection capacity by threefold using a 'fog harp' system featuring vertical wire arrays. This innovative design sheds tiny water droplets faster and more efficiently, increasing overall water yield.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateMar 28, 2018

Majorana trilogy completed

Researchers at Delft University of Technology provide definite proof for Majorana particle existence, showcasing perfect quantization of zero-bias peak. This achievement enables exploration of Majorana quantum computing, with potential applications in topological quantum computing.

Catching the right fish

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new screening method that speeds up the search for drugs using a 35 million compound DNA-encoded chemical library. The library consists of drug candidates with a stable ring-shaped basic structure and varied attachments, allowing for highly-specific binding to proteins.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Chemistry·DateMar 28, 2018

Ragweed casts shade on soy production

Scientists found that common ragweed can drastically reduce soybean yield by 76% in some cases, highlighting its potential threat to soybean production. The study suggests that early detection of weed growth is crucial to predict crop yield losses and inform pesticide application decisions.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalAgronomy Journal·DateMar 28, 2018

UNH research finds dramatic increase in flooding on coastal roads

Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have found a dramatic increase in flooding on coastal roads along the East Coast, with 90 percent more frequent high tide floods occurring over the past 20 years. The study estimates that tidal nuisance flooding will cause over 3.4 billion hours of delays by 2100.

SourceUniversity of New Hampshire·JournalTransportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board·DateMar 28, 2018

BU study: Diagnosing Ebola before symptoms arrive

Researchers at Boston University have discovered a common pattern of immune response among monkeys exposed to Ebola virus, occurring four days before the onset of fever. This finding suggests a possible biomarker for early diagnosis and could lead to better quarantine and control of outbreaks.

SourceBoston University·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateMar 28, 2018

Scientists find link between congenital cardiac malformation and adult adrenal cancer

A genetic mutation in EPAS1/HIF2A gene is found to be the main reason for the development of adrenal gland tumors in adults with cyanotic congenital heart disease. The study also reveals that patients with this severe type of heart disease have a sixfold higher risk of developing these tumors.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMar 28, 2018

Communication via calcium wave

Scientists have identified a complex signal chain involving the auxin hormone and calcium channels in plant cells. Calcium waves are used to communicate local auxin signals over long distances, influencing root architecture and differentiation processes.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 28, 2018

Fleet of automated electric taxis could deliver environmental and energy benefits

Researchers at Berkeley Lab analyzed the cost, energy, and environmental implications of a fleet of self-driving electric vehicles operating in Manhattan. They found that shared automated electric vehicles could get the job done at a lower cost while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateMar 28, 2018

West Greenland Ice Sheet melting at the fastest rate in centuries

A study by Dartmouth College reveals that the West Greenland Ice Sheet melted at a dramatically higher rate over the last twenty years than at any other time in the modern record. The researchers attribute this unprecedented ice loss to a combination of specific weather patterns and an additional long-term warming trend associated with...

SourceDartmouth College·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMar 28, 2018

Screening high-risk individuals can reduce multiple myeloma mortality

Researchers found that screening individuals with a high lifetime risk of developing precursor conditions like MGUS can reduce the prevalence and specific mortality of symptomatic multiple myeloma. By implementing regular screening and preventative measures, mortality rates can be lowered by up to 19% in certain groups.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalJCO Clinical Cancer Informatics·DateMar 27, 2018

Understanding the strange behavior of water

Researchers uncovered the anomaly in water's properties by using supercomputers to 'untune' its interactions, revealing a specific molecular arrangement that contributes to its unusual behavior. This discovery provides a simple explanation for phenomena such as water expanding on cooling and insects walking on its surface.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 27, 2018