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Science News for October 10, 2018


Galactic archaeology

Researchers from Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias have discovered a star with an atmosphere devoid of metals, which is believed to be one of the oldest objects in the Milky Way. The study provides valuable information about the origin of the universe and the formation of the first stars.

SourceInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 10, 2018

Study to explore how cognitive development shapes attitudes about physical activity

Researchers at Iowa State University investigate how childhood emotional connections with physical activity influence adult attitudes and behaviors. They suspect the prefrontal cortex plays a significant role in regulating emotions during exercise. The study, using children aged 7-9, aims to measure brain activity, exertion, and pleasu...

SourceIowa State University·JournalTranslational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine·DateOct 10, 2018

How to make fish shine

Researchers from the University of Bath have identified the genetic basis for iridophore formation in zebrafish, a process that allows shoals to flash silver. The study used a combination of genetic techniques and mathematical modeling to pinpoint key genes driving this complex process.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateOct 10, 2018

The making of soldier ants

Scientists at McGill University found that a rudimentary 'organ' in ants regulates the balance between soldiers and workers, allowing colonies to maintain a constant ratio. By controlling the growth of this organ, ants can rapidly produce more soldiers when needed.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature·DateOct 10, 2018

Heusler, Weyl and Berry

Heusler compounds have been found to host non-trivial topological properties, including the discovery of Weyl fermions. The study also reveals the importance of Berry curvature in determining key effects like the anomalous Hall Effect. This research has significant implications for energy conversion and quantum electronic devices.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids·JournalNature Reviews Materials·DateOct 10, 2018

Boxing up ag field nitrogen

Saturated riparian buffer strips can effectively reduce nitrate loads into nearby streams and lakes by reconnecting water flow through the soil, allowing growers to continue using tile drains. The system's cost per pound of nitrate removed is $1.33 for a 40-year lifetime, making it a simpler and cheaper alternative to other systems.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalJournal of Environmental Quality·DateOct 10, 2018

Cancer patients with rare deadly brain infection treated successfully with off-the-shelf adoptive T-cell therapy

A Phase II clinical trial found marked improvement in three patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare and often fatal brain infection. Patients infused with donor T cells targeting the BK virus experienced significant reductions in JC viral load and clinical improvement.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 10, 2018

Creating custom brains from the ground up

Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital have developed a new method to create customized mouse models for studying the brain. This technique involves using a natural toxin to kill off developing brain cells, allowing scientists to reconstitute the forebrain from genetically engineered stem cells. The resulting mice have tightly contr...

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalNature·DateOct 10, 2018

Mount Sinai builds modeling systems identifying gene-drug and environment interaction

A new approach integrates genomic and temporal information to infer causal relationships between genes, drugs, and their environment, allowing for a more accurate prediction of their interactions over time. The tool demonstrates the improvements in inferring genetic causes of disease enabled by higher-resolution molecular profiling.

Tracking a killer

UCSB, UCSD, and SBP researchers developed a method to track sepsis development on a molecular level, revealing different pathways depending on host responses to various pathogens. Boosting anti-inflammatory activity or blocking TLR-4 activation showed potential as therapeutic approaches.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateOct 10, 2018

The pentagon and the bean

Researchers have revealed the structure of immune protein IgM, showing it to be an incomplete hexagon. This discovery has significant implications for developing effective medicines for various diseases, including cancer and neurological disorders. The structural connection between IgM and AIM proteins suggests that drugs targeting AIM...

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 10, 2018

Reconstructing the history of mankind with the help of fecal sterols -- first test on the Maori

Researchers at Ca' Foscari University of Venice identified and dated traces of sterols in Lake Diamond and Kirkpatrick sediments, proving the presence of the Maori people. The study demonstrates a method for reconstructing human history by analyzing fecal sterols, which also shows the impact of the Maori population on the native forest.

SourceUniversità Ca' Foscari Venezia·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 10, 2018

Altruism can be trained

Scientists discovered that specific mental trainings can improve prosocial behavior over several months. Affect Module, consisting of daily practices, boosted altruistic behaviors, making it a potential step towards a caring society.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 10, 2018

The culprit of superconductivity in cuprates

Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences found that a strong chemical bond between the apical cation and oxygen in cuprate compounds impacts superconductivity temperature. This discovery sheds light on key component of complicated phenomena in cuprates, opening up new avenue for materials design.

Study identifies gene that makes gentle touch feel painful after injury

Researchers identified PIEZO2 as a gene controlling tactile allodynia, a form of pain caused by gentle touch after injury. The study found that PIEZO2 plays an essential role in the nervous system's reaction to injury and inflammation, making it a target for developing precise treatments for relieving painful skin injuries.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateOct 10, 2018

Tiny tools for a big industry

Researchers explore using nanoparticles as tiny scouts to map connectivity between wells, optimize injection schemes, and identify oil-rich spots. Nanomaterials also show promise in keeping surfactants from sticking to rocks and magnetically separating oil microdroplets.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateOct 10, 2018

Larger families reduce cancer risk

A study of 178 countries found a strong negative correlation between family size and cancer incidence, with larger families having a protective effect against various types of cancer. The protective effects are stronger for males than females, with non-reproduction-related cancers also being involved.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalBMC Cancer·DateOct 10, 2018

The fine print

Researchers have developed a method to 3D-print cells to produce human tissue such as ligaments and tendons, eliminating the need for additional surgeries and reducing reliance on harvested tissue. The technique involves printing stem cells on hydrogel to form tissue that can grow in vitro before implantation.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalJournal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine·DateOct 10, 2018

Study of nearly 41,000 women who almost died giving birth shows who's most at risk

A new study analyzing nearly 40,000 hospital stays found that women of color and those with pre-existing health conditions had higher rates of severe maternal morbidity. The study highlights the importance of targeted prevention efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in care for women around the time of delivery.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalObstetrics and Gynecology·DateOct 10, 2018

Shrimp talent quest finds a winner

Researchers found that the peppermint shrimp outperformed other species in a set of experiments, reducing parasite infection by 87% and targeting environmental stages. This discovery provides a viable candidate for a natural biocontrol agent to combat parasites in aquaculture industries.

SourceJames Cook University·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 10, 2018

Muscular men prefer an unequal society

A study by Aarhus University researchers reveals that men's political attitudes towards inequality are influenced by their physical strength, not logic or reason. The results suggest that strong men are more likely to support unequal societies, as it aligns with their instinctual desire for status and resource control.

SourceAarhus University·JournalPolitical Psychology·DateOct 10, 2018

Innovative sensing technique could improve greenhouse gas analysis

Researchers have developed a ghost imaging technique that can measure atmospheric greenhouse gases with subnanometer resolution, improving detection sensitivity and accuracy. The new approach enables measurements using less powerful light sources and at wavelengths where highly sensitive detectors aren't available.

SourceOptica·JournalOptics Letters·DateOct 10, 2018