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Science News for September 21, 2018


Study: Emissions from most diesel cars in Europe greatly exceed laboratory testing levels

A new MIT study finds that 10 major European auto manufacturers produced diesel cars emitting up to 16 times more NOx on the road than in lab tests, resulting in approximately 2,700 premature deaths per year across Europe. Improving emissions control technologies could prevent up to 1,900 premature deaths annually.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalAtmospheric Environment·DateSep 21, 2018

New battery gobbles up carbon dioxide

A new type of battery developed by MIT researchers can convert carbon dioxide into a solid mineral carbonate as it discharges. This approach could potentially reduce the cost of carbon capture systems and make them more economically viable. The battery is made from lithium metal, carbon, and an electrolyte that incorporates captured CO2.

Scientists have discovered how to predict life of implants without animal testing

Researchers from NUST MISIS and TU Dortmund University developed a technology to study orthopedic implants in laboratory conditions close to the human body without involving lab animals. The technology uses biomimetic UHMWPE and synthetic plasma to accelerate wear tests, allowing for predictions of implant life.

SourceNational University of Science and Technology MISIS·JournalJournal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials·DateSep 21, 2018

New nanotherapy offers hope in treating drug-resistant renal cell carcinoma

Researchers at Wayne State University have developed a nanoplatform technology that works in combination with existing chemotherapeutic drugs to reverse drug-resistance in renal cell carcinoma. The technology uses tumor hypoxia-directed nanoparticles to target the root cause of the problem and has shown promising results in animal trials.

Cooking with wood or coal is linked to increased risk of respiratory illness and death

A study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that using solid fuels for cooking is linked to a higher risk of hospitalization or death from respiratory diseases. The research, conducted in China, suggests that switching to clean-burning fuels can significantly lower this risk.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateSep 21, 2018

EACS issues position paper to improve cancer research and care

The European Academy of Cancer Sciences (EACS) has issued a position paper to improve cancer research and care in Europe. The paper emphasizes the need for coordinated efforts between researchers, healthcare systems, and policymakers to decrease cancer incidence and increase cure rates.

SourceWiley·JournalMolecular Oncology·DateSep 21, 2018

Eight of 10 people with cancer risk genes don't know it

A study of 50,000 people found that over 80% of those with identifiable genetic risk for breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancer are unaware they carry the gene. The findings highlight the need for effective DNA-based screening to identify high-risk individuals before a cancer diagnosis.

SourceYale University·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateSep 21, 2018

Researchers explore how changes in diet alter microbiome in artificial intestine

A recent study used an artificial intestine to investigate how changes in diet affect the microbiome. The research found that a switch from a western diet to one composed exclusively of dietary fats led to increased populations of fatty-acid metabolizing bacteria and decreased production of short chain fatty acids, which are compounds ...

SourceAmerican Society for Microbiology·JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology·DateSep 21, 2018