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Science News Archive November 2018 - Page 31


Page 31 of 42

Double whammy for grieving spouses with sleep problems

A new study from Northwestern University finds that grieving spouses with sleep problems have a two-to-three times higher risk of chronic immune activation and increased inflammation, making them more susceptible to heart disease or cancer. Cognitive behavioral therapy is highly effective in treating sleep disturbances, and physicians ...

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPsychosomatic Medicine·DateNov 8, 2018

Biomimetics: The chemical tricks of our blood

Researchers have created phthalocyanines with a ring structure resembling that of hemoglobin or chlorophyll, which can be switched into different states with green light, affecting their chemical behavior. This discovery opens up new avenues for biomimetics and the development of novel molecules optimized for nature-specific applications.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 8, 2018

Factors affecting turbulence scaling

Researchers investigate turbulence scaling in fluids at critical points, finding anisotropy and compressibility impact scaling behavior. Four types of scaling regimes identified, with anisotropy key to determining emerging behavior.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateNov 8, 2018

Eye contact reduces lying

A study from the University of Tampere found that direct eye contact with someone can reduce subsequent lying. In an interactive experiment, participants played a lying game on a computer against another person, with the opponent's gaze being either direct or downward towards their screen.

SourceTampere University·JournalConsciousness and Cognition·DateNov 8, 2018

Top 10 chemistry start-ups

These start-ups are using chemistry to fight disease, control agricultural pests, and make safer lithium-ion batteries. The selected companies have ignited investor interest with their groundbreaking ideas.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateNov 8, 2018

Pilot study suggests pedal desks could address health risks of sedentary workplace

A recent pilot study by kinesiologists at UMass Amherst found that pedaling while working improved insulin responses to a test meal, with lower insulin levels observed when using a pedal desk compared to a standard desk. The study suggests that pedal desks could be a feasible solution for sedentary work environments.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalMedicine & Science in Sports & Exercise·DateNov 8, 2018

One in 5 homicides of children 2 to 14 years of age is related to intimate partner violence

A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that one in five child homicides may be related to intimate partner violence. The research reveals significant discrepancies between reported data and actual cases, highlighting the need for improved reporting and prevention strategies to save children's lives.

SourceElsevier·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateNov 8, 2018

Watch a 3D-engineered human heart tissue beat

Scientists have created a model of the upper chambers of the heart using 3D-engineered human heart tissue, which can serve as a tool for evaluating disease mechanisms and testing new drugs. The tissue is derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells and responds to atrial-selective drugs.

SourceCell Press·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateNov 8, 2018

Culture may explain why brains have become bigger

A study published in PLOS Computational Biology suggests that human brain size increased significantly due to cultural factors and information availability. The cumulative cultural brain hypothesis proposes that brains expand to store and manage more information, co-evolving with group size, learning strategies, and life history.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateNov 8, 2018

Waking sleeping plants with plasmas

A team of Saudi Arabian scientists has discovered a way to control dormancy in grapes and other fruiting plants by subjecting them to high-tech plasmas. This method may help extend the cultivation of temperate zone crops to milder climates, mitigating problems caused by global warming.

History of early settlement and survival in Andean highlands revealed by ancient genomes

Researchers uncovered genetic adaptations in ancient Andeans, including cardiovascular modifications and a starch-digesting enzyme variant, allowing them to thrive in the harsh environment. The study suggests that these adaptations enabled highlanders to survive European contact with less population decline than lowlanders.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 8, 2018

Gatekeeper for poison capsule

A team of researchers has fully unveiled the sophisticated mechanism of bacterial toxins, including the Tc toxin complex used by the plague bacterium and other germs. The study reveals a molecular gatekeeper that controls the poison's exit, offering new insights for developing innovative therapies to combat bacterial infections.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateNov 8, 2018

Otago study calls for sugar tax

A New Zealand study suggests that sugary drinks contribute to an obesogenic environment, leading people to make unhealthy food choices. The researchers recommend implementing a sugar tax to encourage industry reformulation and individual responsibility for healthy consumption.

SourceUniversity of Otago·JournalPeerJ·DateNov 8, 2018

One million years of precipitation history of the monsoon reconstructed

Scientists have reconstructed the monsoon's precipitation history over the past 1 million years using sediment cores from the eastern Indian Ocean. The results show that the monsoon was weaker during peak ice ages and strongest during interglacial warm periods, with fluctuations in the Earth's axis inclination playing a subordinate role.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 8, 2018

Explaining happiness

A study by researchers at the National Research University Higher School of Economics found that people tend to attribute their happiness to internal factors such as personality traits and control over their lives. However, when they are unhappy, they often blame external factors outside of their control.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalThe Journal of Positive Psychology·DateNov 8, 2018

Graphene takes a step towards renewable fuel

Researchers at Linköping University have developed a method to produce graphene with several layers in a controlled process, enabling the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into renewable fuel. The graphene also exhibits superconducting properties when arranged in a special way.

SourceLinköping University·JournalCarbon·DateNov 7, 2018