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Science News for September 25, 2018


Fuels without fossils

Researchers at UD are developing a solar-driven carbon dioxide utilization technology to produce chemicals and fuels without using fossil sources. The system aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by utilizing carbon-neutral solar electricity.

Schoolyard tree cover predicts math performance in high-poverty urban schools

A new study from the University of Illinois suggests that school greening could be a solution to improving academic performance in disadvantaged schools. The research found that schoolyard tree cover positively predicted math scores, with more trees leading to better performance, while grass had no impact on learning.

Immune cell pruning of dopamine receptors may modulate behavioral changes in adolescence

Researchers at MassGeneral Hospital for Children found that microglia play a crucial role in shaping behavior during adolescence, with different effects in males and females. The study suggests that this process could improve understanding of normal behavioral changes and neuropsychiatric disorders that emerge during adolescence.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 25, 2018

Researchers seek vaccine for 'traveler's diarrhea'

A new study has identified a key factor in how Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) causes disease, giving scientists hope for a preventive vaccine. The researchers discovered that ETEC can sense oxygen levels to control toxin production, leading to breakthroughs in understanding the bacteria's virulence.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 25, 2018

Who believes in conspiracies? New research offers a theory

New research by Josh Hart suggests that people with suspicious, untrusting, and eccentric personalities are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories. The study found that these individuals tend to be more receptive to meaningful patterns where none exist and have a tendency to detect hidden forces at play.

SourceUnion College·JournalJournal of Individual Differences·DateSep 25, 2018

Invasive snakes 'hitchhiking' on planes

A team of scientists discovered why brown tree snakes have become successful invasive species by studying their toxin and biology. The snakes' venom is 100 times more toxic to birds than mammals and was responsible for devastating native bird populations on Guam.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalJournal of Molecular Evolution·DateSep 25, 2018

The gods of small things

Researchers at the Technical University of Munich have created a heterometallic copper-aluminum superatom that exhibits atomic properties. The discovery paves the way for the development of new, cost-effective catalysts for various chemical processes.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateSep 25, 2018

Oxygen vs. nanochip

Scientists at NUST MISIS discover that molybdenum disulfide, a promising basis for ultra-small electronic devices, degrades in air due to spontaneous oxidation. However, they also found that the material can be transformed into a solid solution MoS2-xOx, which is an effective catalyst for electromechanical processes.

Brigatinib becomes potential new first-line option for ALK-positive non-small lung cancer

The ALTA-1 trial found brigatinib to be a first-line treatment option for advanced ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer, with a 51% reduction in progression or death risk compared to crizotinib. Patients treated with brigatinib also showed improved response rates and longer progression-free survival.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateSep 25, 2018

What do ducks hear?

Researchers are testing pinger systems to deter diving ducks from gill nets, a major threat to sea bird populations. The study aims to determine the optimal frequency for these devices, which could save hundreds of thousands of birds annually.

To be or not to be a white blood cell, that is the question

Researchers discovered a mechanism that determines whether immature blood cells differentiate into red or subtypes of white blood cells. The study found that repression of Bach factors contributes to the development of anemia of infection/inflammation, highlighting potential therapeutic targets for treating bone marrow and blood disord...

SourceTohoku University·JournalNature Immunology·DateSep 25, 2018

Seasonal reservoir filling in India deforms rock, may trigger earthquakes

Researchers in India used GPS and satellite data to track crustal deformation around reservoirs, finding that seasonal filling can reduce the strength of nearby faults and trigger earthquakes. Even small reservoirs can cause significant deformation capable of triggering an earthquake if there are critically stressed faults in the region.

SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalBulletin of the Seismological Society of America·DateSep 25, 2018

Study shows value of breast cancer patients seeking second opinions

A study by Medical University of South Carolina found that breast cancer patients who received a second opinion at an NCI-designated center experienced a significant change in diagnosis, with 43% of cases altered. The review by a multidisciplinary tumor board led to the identification of additional cancers in 16 patients and changes in...

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalAnnals of Surgical Oncology·DateSep 25, 2018

Molecule capable of halting and reverting Parkinson's neurodegeneration identified

A team of scientists has identified a molecule called SynuClean-D that can inhibit the aggregation of alpha-synuclein protein, a key contributor to Parkinson's disease. By administering SynuClean-D to Caenorhabditis elegans worms, researchers were able to reduce alpha-synuclein aggregations and prevent neural degeneration.

SourceUniversitat Autonoma de Barcelona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 25, 2018

Retracing Antarctica's glacial past

Researchers found a centuries-long delay in West Antarctic Ice Sheet contraction after the Ross Ice Shelf collapse, adding complexity to sea level rise computer simulations. This discovery was made by analyzing sediment cores and fossilized life forms from the seafloor.

SourceLouisiana State University·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 25, 2018

Novel method produces highest-ever signals for human embryonic stem cell detection

Researchers developed a novel method to enhance native stem cell bioelectric signals, achieving ultra-high current levels two-orders of magnitude higher than previous methods. The new method uses 2D-molybdenum disulphide sheets, demonstrating improved commercialization and therapeutic safety for future stem cell-based therapies.

SourceSingapore University of Technology and Design·JournalACS Applied Bio Materials·DateSep 25, 2018

The soothing effects of strangers

A study found that pain treatment is more efficient when provided by a stranger, revealing the analgesic effect of surprise. Participants experienced reduced neural pain responses and subjective pain judgments after being treated by someone from a different social group.

Common heart condition linked to sudden death

Researchers found a link between mitral valve prolapse and sudden cardiac death, with 14 cases per 1000 per year associated with the condition. The study identified features such as scarring of the heart muscle and heavy mitral valve leakage that put patients at high risk for serious cardiac arrhythmias.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalHeart·DateSep 25, 2018

Transforming carbon dioxide

Researchers at the University of Delaware's Center for Catalytic Science and Technology have developed a novel two-step process to convert carbon dioxide into smaller molecules, increasing efficiency and producing ethylene and ethanol. The technology has the potential to drive chemical processes more affordably and environmentally-frie...

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalNature Catalysis·DateSep 25, 2018

Sensitive babies become altruistic toddlers

A study published in PLOS Biology found that infants' attention to fearful faces at seven months predicts altruistic behavior at 14 months. The analysis revealed that brain responses in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex measured through functional near-infrared spectroscopy also predicted altruistic behavior.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateSep 25, 2018

Skin wounds in older mice are less likely to scar

Researchers discovered that older mice exhibit increased tissue regeneration and decreased scar formation in skin wounds. The findings were confirmed in human studies, suggesting that aging suppresses the circulating factor SDF1, which promotes scar formation. The study's authors hope to develop a drug to prevent scarring in humans.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Reports·DateSep 25, 2018

How leaves talk to roots

A microRNA called miR2111 travels from leaves to roots, downregulating a gene that would hinder root responses to symbiotic bacteria. This finding helps understand the mechanisms of efficient nitrogen-fixing symbiosis and potential ways to exploit it agronomically.

SourceAarhus University·JournalScience·DateSep 25, 2018