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Science News Archive September 2018 - Page 6


Page 6 of 37

Tracking hydrogen movement using subatomic particles

A Japanese collaboration has successfully tracked hydrogen movement in solids using negative muons, a technique that could aid the development of hydrogen storage materials. By detecting local nuclear magnetic fields, researchers were able to study the dynamics of light elements in a solid from the fixed point of the nucleus.

SourceOsaka University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 26, 2018

Clear the air

A University of Utah engineering study shows that smart controllers for home heating and cooling systems can clean pollution with minimal additional energy costs. The 'SmartAir' setting, which turns on the HVAC fan based on both temperature and air quality, cleaned the air almost as well as continuous operation but used 58% less energy.

Limiting children's recreational screen time to less than 2 hours a day linked to better cognition

An observational study of over 4,500 US children aged 8-11 found that limiting recreational screen time to less than two hours a day is associated with improved cognition. Half of the children met only one guideline, while those who met all three (sleep, screen time, and physical activity) had better cognitive development.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Child & Adolescent Health·DateSep 26, 2018

A self-powered heart monitor taped to the skin

Researchers at RIKEN developed a self-powered heart monitor that can be taped to the skin, utilizing sunlight as a power source. The device achieves high photo-conversion efficiency and demonstrates accurate heartbeat detection in both rats and humans under various lighting conditions.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature·DateSep 26, 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.