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Science News Archive October 2018 - Page 39


Page 39 of 47

Ghost objects in the sky

Astronomers have found a new type of gamma-ray burst that could not be detected by traditional telescopes. The discovery was made using archived radio data and suggests that these 'orphan' bursts may be related to the collapse of massive stars.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 4, 2018

UCLA researchers discover aggressive prostate and lung cancers are driven by common mechanisms

Researchers at UCLA have discovered that late-stage prostate and lung cancers share common molecular mechanisms. The study found that these cancers can evolve similarly, even from different organs, which could lead to the development of drugs to treat not just prostate and lung cancers but also small cell cancers of almost any organ.

Windier wind farms

Researchers at UCSB and Cambridge developed models to optimize wind farm productivity by improving airflow mixing and using vertical-axis turbines, potentially leading to orders-of-magnitude improvements in energy production. This could enable more efficient use of land and reduce costs.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalPhysical Review Fluids·DateOct 4, 2018

How malaria infection activates natural killer cells

A study published in PLOS Pathogens reveals how malaria infection triggers the immune system's first line of defense by activating natural killer cells through the MDA5 receptor. Treatment with a small molecule that activates MDA5 restores the ability of non-responder natural killer cells to clear infected red blood cells.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateOct 4, 2018

Nanoparticles to treat snakebites

Researchers developed nanoparticles that bind to venom toxins, mitigating local damage and systemic distribution of toxins in mouse experiments. The treatment has the potential to be administered subcutaneously after a bite, offering a new approach to treating snakebites in rural settings.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateOct 4, 2018

Even small gifts boost business

A study by the University of Zurich found that even small gifts can significantly increase sales, particularly when given to the boss. In a controlled experiment, sales representatives gave customers six tubes of toothpaste worth around 10 francs, leading to orders almost twice as high.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalManagement Science·DateOct 4, 2018

Light makes Rice University catalyst more effective

Rice University researchers have created a new catalyst that can convert ammonia into hydrogen fuel at ambient pressure using light energy, significantly lowering the activation barrier. The catalyst, made of copper with trace amounts of ruthenium, uses plasmonic effects to enhance its efficiency.

SourceRice University·JournalScience·DateOct 4, 2018

Large-scale wind power needs more land, causes more climatic impact than previously thought

Researchers found that large-scale wind farms would require five to 20 times more land area than previously estimated, and their operation would warm average surface temperatures by 0.24 degrees Celsius in the continental US. The study suggests that localized warming occurs even with smaller projections of wind power generation.

UMN researchers use 3D technology to identify optimal stem cells for transplantation

Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School have discovered a subset of muscle stem cells that are located close to blood vessels and are likely to be the more potent stem cell population in maintaining muscle health. This groundbreaking study uses 3D technology to study the interaction between stem cells and blood vessel...

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateOct 4, 2018

Physician experts highlight research ahead of Otolaryngology's Annual Meeting

The American Academy of Otolaryngology will present cutting-edge research on various otolaryngology topics at their Annual Meeting. Key studies include evaluating the prognostic utility of hemoglobin-to-red cell distribution width ratio in head and neck cancer, investigating the association between depression and long-term overall surv...

Rethinking lethality in youth suicide attempts

A Mayo Clinic study found that firearms were involved in 85% of first-time youth suicides, resulting in high lethality rates. The study also revealed that prior mental health concerns were absent in 41.2% of youth index attempters.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateOct 4, 2018

Gastric banding as effective as metformin in slowing prediabetes, type two diabetes

A study funded by NIH found that gastric banding is as effective as metformin in stabilizing disease for people with prediabetes or new-onset type 2 diabetes. Participants who underwent gastric banding surgery lost significantly more weight and showed similar improvements in insulin sensitivity compared to those taking metformin.

Viruses in blood lead to digestive problems

Researchers found that viruses like West Nile and Zika can kill neurons in the gut, disrupting bowel movement and causing intestinal blockages. The study provides clues to sudden onset of digestive woes and potentially points to a new strategy for preventing such conditions.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalCell·DateOct 4, 2018

Community health workers could help tackle NHS workload crisis

A modelling study suggests that integrating community health workers at scale could significantly reduce the NHS primary care workload crisis. The researchers estimate that 110,585 community health workers would be needed to cover England's general practice population, costing £2.22bn annually.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of the Royal Society of Medicine·DateOct 4, 2018

Concerns about a US defense agency program aimed at modifying crops (and more?)

A US defense agency program aims to genetically modify crops using infectious viruses, sparking concerns about its potential military applications and the risk of creating new biological weapons. The approach, known as HEGAAs, would deliver the viruses through insects, raising questions about transparency and public deliberation.