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Science News for November 29, 2018


Discovering a new compound

A team of scientists has uncovered a new compound produced by the bacterium Chlorobaculum tepidum, which is found in volcanic hot springs. The discovery reveals that the microbe modifies a previously unknown thiol to produce a compound called N-methyl-bacillithiol, which plays a crucial role in the sulfur cycle. This finding has signif...

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalmBio·DateNov 29, 2018

Fruit flies can transmit their sexual preferences culturally

Researchers demonstrate that fruit flies meet five criteria for culturally transmitted behavior: learned socially, copied from older individuals, memorized over time, involves individual characteristics, and conformist. Computer simulations also show the emergence of long-lasting cultural traditions through transmission chains.

SourceCNRS·JournalScience·DateNov 29, 2018

Revealing hidden information in sound waves

University of Michigan researchers have developed a technique to reveal hidden information in sound waves by shifting frequencies, allowing for improved detection and tracking capabilities in sonar systems. This breakthrough could enhance performance in naval vessels and medical imaging devices, such as biomedical ultrasound.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalPhysical Review Fluids·DateNov 29, 2018

An important step towards completely secure quantum communication networks

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have developed a new technique to improve the storage time of quantum states in optical fibers, enabling secure quantum information transmission over longer distances. This breakthrough enables the creation of a completely secure quantum communication network by teleporting quantum informatio...

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 29, 2018

First study of terahertz radiation in liquids

Researchers from ITMO University and the University of Rochester successfully generated terahertz radiation in a liquid medium, demonstrating its efficiency comparable to solid-state sources. The team found that liquids have several advantages over gases, including higher electron density and lower pumping energy requirements.

SourceITMO University·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateNov 29, 2018

When good macrophages go bad

Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles discovered that cancer cells use Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) to manipulate healthy macrophages, changing their behavior from anti-cancer to pro-cancer. This mechanism is associated with more aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancers.

SourceChildren's Hospital Los Angeles·JournalCell Reports·DateNov 29, 2018

Oldest-known ancestor of modern primates may have come from North America, not Asia

New research reveals that a species of ancient primate, Teilhardina brandti, found in Wyoming, is as old or older than its Asian and European relatives. This discovery challenges the prevailing hypothesis that Teilhardina first appeared in China. The study analyzed 163 teeth and jaws to determine the species' origins and migration patt...

SourceFlorida Museum of Natural History·JournalJournal of Human Evolution·DateNov 29, 2018

Soil compound fights chronic wasting disease

A major soil organic matter compound, humic acid, has been found to degrade chronic wasting disease prions and reduce their infectivity in mice. The findings suggest that soil organic material can break down the prions, making them less infectious.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateNov 29, 2018

USC scientists find a way to enhance the performance of quantum computers

Researchers at USC have successfully implemented a method called dynamical decoupling to suppress erroneous calculations and increase the fidelity of results in quantum computers. The technique, which uses staccato bursts of energy pulses to offset ambient disturbances, improved final fidelity by threefold in IBM's 16-qubit QX5 computer.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 29, 2018

Effective new target for mood-boosting brain stimulation found

Researchers have identified a key brain region, the lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), as an effective target for electrical stimulation to improve mood in people with depression. Stimulation of this area has been shown to produce acute improvement in mood and normalize activity in mood-related neural circuitry.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateNov 29, 2018

Sweet lysine degradation

Scientists at the University of Konstanz have gained a fundamental understanding of lysine degradation in bacteria, revealing a previously unknown pathway that generates energy. The discovery also highlights the compound hydroxyglutarate as an oncometabolite with potential links to cancer and neurological disorders.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 29, 2018

New catalyst produces cheap hydrogen

A new composite material enables electrochemical water splitting into hydrogen and oxygen without emissions. The catalyst uses cobalt, nickel oxide, and gold nanoparticles to produce cheap, clean hydrogen for fuel cells. This innovation has the potential to store renewable energy on a large scale.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateNov 29, 2018

Interfacial electronic state improving hydrogen storage capacity in Pd-MOF materials

The study found that transferring an electric charge equivalent to 0.4 electrons from Pd to MOFs enables electron bands in Pd nanocubes to store more hydrogen, resulting in doubled storage capacity for hybrid materials. Hybrid materials with superior hydrogen storage properties or catalytic capabilities may be developed using this method.

SourceNational Institute for Materials Science, Japan·JournalCommunications Chemistry·DateNov 29, 2018

Hospital-wide scores underestimate readmission risk in neurocritical care patients

A new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing found that hospital-wide scores significantly underestimate readmission risk in neurocritical care patients. The study used data from 279 patients and found that only 38 were readmitted within 30 days, but nearly two-thirds were misclassified as low-risk using existing models.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalJournal of Neuroscience Nursing·DateNov 29, 2018

Climate change and air pollution damaging health and causing millions of premature deaths

A new report by IIASA researchers reveals that climate change is causing millions of premature deaths globally due to air pollution, with older people in Europe and the East Mediterranean being particularly vulnerable to heatwaves. The study also finds that phasing out coal-use can significantly reduce pollution-related deaths.

Climate change risks 'extinction domino effect'

Researchers simulated catastrophic environmental changes, leading to the extinction of all life. Co-extinctions amplify the effects of climate change, with a 5-6 degree warming globally enough to wipe out most life. This study warns humanity not to underestimate the impact of co-extinctions.

SourceFlinders University·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 29, 2018

How HIV DNA is blocked from entering the cell nucleus

A study published in PLOS Pathogens reveals how the human myxovirus resistance 2 (MX2) protein blocks HIV-1 infection by inhibiting nuclear import of viral DNA. The findings suggest that TNPO1 and nucleoporins facilitate MX2 positioning at the nuclear envelope.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateNov 29, 2018

The German Bundesliga: Are the players worth the money?

Researchers from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg investigated the relationship between footballers' performance and market value in the German Bundesliga. They found that star players tend to be overvalued, while others are traded at below-market value. The study also highlights the impact of a club's reputation and commercia...

SourceMartin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg·JournalJournal of Applied Statistics·DateNov 29, 2018

Breathlessness treatments do reduce patient distress

A new study from King's College London found that breathlessness-focused services can significantly reduce patient distress and symptoms of depression. These holistic services, which combine palliative care and self-management strategies, empower patients to take control of their breathlessness and improve their quality of life.

SourceKing's College London·JournalThorax·DateNov 29, 2018

How prions invade the brain

Researchers used genetically modified mice with a highly permeable blood-brain barrier to test whether prions in blood can enter the brain. Their results suggest that passage of prions through the blood-brain barrier may not be relevant to disease development. Instead, prions likely reach the brain by traveling along nerves.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateNov 29, 2018

How a rat and bat helped heal a 90-year cultural rift

A reconciliation ceremony between the Kwaio community and Australian scientists has set a foundation for peace, collaborative research, and healing of historical trauma. The partnership, which began in 2015, involves the protection of Kwaio land for research and conservation entities, emphasizing local cultural processes.

SourceField Museum·JournalNature·DateNov 29, 2018

How the devil ray got its horns

A new study by SF State biologists reveals that the distinctive 'horn-like' cephalic lobes of manta rays are actually modified fins, developed through a simple genetic tweak. The researchers found that the same Hox genes guiding fin development in related species also shape the horns in manta rays.

SourceSan Francisco State University·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and Evolution·DateNov 29, 2018

Stop -- hey, what's that sound?

Scientists have identified a 'bottleneck' in the brain's speech perception mechanism, revealing how it processes language in noisy environments. The study found that the brain recognizes phonetic sounds and transitions to linguistic information in under 10ms.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalCurrent Biology·DateNov 29, 2018

A prosthetic arm that decodes phantom limb movements

Researchers have developed a prosthetic arm that can detect and replicate phantom limb movements, revolutionizing amputee rehabilitation. The device uses muscle activity generated by mobilization of the phantom limb to achieve precise control, allowing patients to interact with their prostheses without extensive training or surgery.

SourceCNRS·JournalFrontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology·DateNov 29, 2018

New methods could improve, expand 3D imaging using X-rays

Researchers have developed two new approaches to 3D imaging with X-rays, enabling unprecedented detail in disease-screening, materials development, and structural information of opaque objects. The methods, including ghost imaging and single-shot techniques, reduce X-ray doses and destroy samples, paving the way for cheaper, more readi...

SourceOptica·JournalOptica·DateNov 29, 2018