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Science News for October 2, 2018


Transition metal dichalcogenides could increase computer speed, memory by a million times

Researchers propose using transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) to build faster computers that can process information in femtoseconds, a million times faster than current electronics. TMDCs have the potential to increase computer memory speed by a millionfold due to their unique hexagonal lattice structure and optical properties.

SourceGeorgia State University·JournalPhysical Review B·DateOct 2, 2018

Giraffe babies inherit spot patterns from their mothers

A new study reveals that giraffe babies pass on their unique spot patterns to their mothers, with larger spots and irregular shapes linked to increased survival. Researchers used modern imaging techniques to analyze coat patterns in wild Masai giraffes, confirming a 49-year-old hypothesis about heritability.

SourcePenn State·JournalPeerJ·DateOct 2, 2018

What kind of sex do German men have at 45?

A large-scale study in Germany found that nearly ten percent of gay men had engaged in vaginal sex with women in the past three months, challenging traditional notions of sexual orientation. Additionally, a significant percentage of heterosexual men were found to have had non-traditional sex practices, including oral and anal sex.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalSexual Medicine·DateOct 2, 2018

First experiments at new X-ray laser reveal unknown structure of antibiotics killer

The European XFEL has successfully obtained the first scientific results from its X-ray laser, revealing a previously unknown structure of an enzyme responsible for antibiotics resistance. The team achieved this at an unprecedented speed of 220 nanoseconds, outpacing previous X-ray lasers by more than an order of magnitude.

SourceDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 2, 2018

New technique uses umbilical cord stem cells for early repair of cleft palate

A new approach using umbilical cord blood stem cells has shown promising results in repairing cleft palates in infants. The procedure, performed as part of reconstructive surgery when the infant is a few months old, provides good results in growing new bone to close the upper jaw cleft and may avoid the need for later bone graft surgery.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalJournal of Craniofacial Surgery·DateOct 2, 2018

Robot masters human balancing act

Researchers at UT Austin successfully demonstrated a novel approach to human-like balance in a biped robot, allowing it to dynamically balance without ankle control. The technique uses whole-body controllers and inverse kinematics to mimic human movement, with implications for robots in emergency response, defense, and entertainment.

Taste is key in promoting insect-based food

A recent study found that marketing insect-based food as pleasurable and enjoyable is more effective in changing attitudes towards these foods. The research team asked participants to view advertisements highlighting either the environmental or health benefits of insect-based food, or those promoting its taste and luxury.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Nutrition·DateOct 2, 2018

Wild suburbia

A large-scale study using camera trap images from hundreds of citizen scientists reveals that suburban areas have a higher variety of mammal species than expected. The researchers found that some mammals, such as coyotes and bobcats, are adapting to urban environments, while others, like bears, are still found in nearby exurban areas.

A top-notch chemist

Kazunori Sugiyasu, a renowned Japanese chemist, has been awarded the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award for his groundbreaking work on supramolecular polymers. He will collaborate with Professor Frank Würthner at the University of Würzburg to develop artificial chloroplasts that harness light energy to produce fuels.

Howzat: Limitations of batsmen rankings revealed

A new study analyzed 2,855 test match cricketers to reveal significant uncertainty in current rankings, with players like Joe Root and Kane Williamson having uncertain positions between 9th and 343rd. The study found that batting last is difficult and playing away from home is equivalent to playing on a pitch in its third innings.

SourceNorthumbria University·JournalJournal Of The Royal Statistical Society·DateOct 2, 2018

A new model takes oxidative stress to heart

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed a new model of heart failure that allows for the specific study of oxidative stress using chemogenetics. The approach enables researchers to activate or inactivate reactive oxygen species in the heart, leading to advanced cardiac dysfunction.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 2, 2018

A web-based program is as effective as group counseling for patients with NAFLD

A new six-year single-center study found a web-based program to be an effective approach to manage lifestyle changes in patients with NAFLD, comparable to group-based interventions. The web program reduced weight loss and improved liver health, suggesting counseling as a key therapeutic option until drugs are approved.

SourceEuropean Association for the Study of the Liver·JournalJournal of Hepatology·DateOct 2, 2018

Study finds gene variant predisposes people to both Type 2 diabetes and low body weight

A study found that a gene variant commonly associated with Type 2 diabetes may also increase the risk of being lean, contradicting common assumptions about obesity and diabetes. Researchers analyzed data from over 9,000 Hispanic Latinos and used complex modeling to estimate the odds of developing Type 2 diabetes across time.

Canada's first 'state of the nation' report on children's physical literacy

A recent study published in BMC Public Health found that about two-thirds of Canadian children aged 8-12 have not reached an acceptable level of physical literacy. The Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group's Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy tool was used to assess over 10,000 children across the country, revealing lo...

New knowledge on how neurons talk to muscles

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered a new way in which nerve cells control movement by dynamically adjusting neurotransmitter production. This finding opens up new avenues for treating diseases such as myasthenia gravis and spinal muscular atrophy.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 2, 2018

Diet affects the breast microbiome in mammals

A Mediterranean diet increased Lactobacillus abundance in mammary glands of macaque monkeys, a nonhuman primate model of women's health. This finding suggests that diet directly influences microbiome populations outside the intestinal tract and may impact breast cancer risk.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Reports·DateOct 2, 2018

Pathology test uses AI to predict prostate cancer progression following surgery

A new pathology test using AI can accurately predict clinically significant prostate cancer disease progression following surgery, helping guide treatment decisions. The Precise MD post-op test reclassified 58% of intermediate risk patients as low risk and 42% as high risk for significant disease progression.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalProstate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases·DateOct 2, 2018

Gaia spots stars flying between galaxies

A team of astronomers using Gaia data found twenty high-velocity stars racing towards the Galactic centre, raising questions about their origin. The stars' velocities could be a sign of supermassive black holes or binary systems in nearby galaxies.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 2, 2018

Novel mechanism for generating our skeleton

The Mek5/Erk5 pathway plays a crucial role in skeletogenesis through the regulation of mesenchymal stem cell differentiation and chondrocyte maturation. Erk5 controls early chondrogenic differentiation and chondrogenic differentiation after condensation formation. This study improves our understanding of skeletal development and paves ...

SourceKanazawa University·JournalDevelopment·DateOct 2, 2018

Studded winter tires cost more lives than they save

A new study by Chalmers University of Technology reveals that studded winter tires have a significant negative impact on public health, costing between 60 and 770 life-years. The study also found that the use of studded tires contributes to accidents and fatalities in cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateOct 2, 2018

Biofilm reactor promises to cut production costs on vitamin K

Researchers at Penn State have developed a novel method to enhance fermentation of Menaquinone-7, a potent form of vitamin K, using biofilm reactors. The new process is expected to reduce production costs and increase efficiency, making it a promising alternative for industrial-scale production.

SourcePenn State·JournalApplied Microbiology and Biotechnology·DateOct 2, 2018

Scientists use nanoparticles to improve chemotherapy response, boost anti-tumor immunity

Scientists at University of Toronto's Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy have developed a combination approach using nanoparticles to improve chemotherapy response and boost anti-tumor immunity in breast cancer. The treatment resulted in a 60% cure rate and enhanced life expectancy by five-fold compared to treating with chemotherapy alone.

SourceUniversity of Toronto - Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateOct 2, 2018

Breakthrough in quantum physics

Researchers at Graz University of Technology have achieved a breakthrough in observing the reaction of a quantum fluid to photoexcitation of dissolved particles. By applying femtosecond spectroscopy, they were able to describe the processes in an approximately five-nanometer sized superfluid helium droplet after photoexcitation of an a...

SourceGraz University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 2, 2018

High-tech breakthrough in snakebite antivenom

Researchers at DTU Bioengineering have developed a high-tech antivenom against black mamba venom using human antibodies, which can potentially save thousands of lives annually. The breakthrough antivenom uses a biotechnological method to discover human antibodies, allowing for large-scale production and industrial use.

SourceTechnical University of Denmark·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 2, 2018

Breaking supersymmetry

Kanazawa University researcher Hajime Moriya shows that the extended Nicolai supersymmetric fermion lattice model breaks supersymmetry and has a strictly positive energy density for any homogeneous ground state. This contradicts previous claims that supersymmetry may be restored in the infinite-volume limit.

SourceKanazawa University·JournalPhysical Review D·DateOct 2, 2018