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Science News Archive 2019 - Page 333


Page 333 of 486

The mobile game that can detect Alzheimer's risk

A specially designed mobile game, Sea Hero Quest, can detect people at risk of Alzheimer's by analyzing their spatial navigation skills. Researchers found that those with a high genetic risk, like the APOE4 gene, performed worse on the game, highlighting a potential early detection method.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 24, 2019

High-efficiency thermoelectric materials: New insights into tin selenide

Researchers have identified a new thermoelectric material in tin selenide, which can convert 20% of heat into electrical energy, exceeding the efficiency of bismuth telluride. The material's crystal structure changes at high temperatures or pressures, producing a semi-metallic state that enhances its thermoelectric properties.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics·DateApr 24, 2019

Treatment, spending on outpatient care for depression in US

From 1998 to 2015, US spending on outpatient care for depression increased by 43%, primarily due to expanded insurance coverage for mental health conditions. The study analyzed national survey data and found a significant association between increased healthcare spending and improved mental health treatment outcomes.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateApr 24, 2019

Researchers use machine-learning system to diagnose genetic diseases

A machine-learning system using clinical natural language processing and genome sequencing diagnose rare genetic diseases in record time, providing critical information to intensive care physicians. The automated pipeline achieved significant time-savings and concurred with expert manual interpretation in 97% of cases.

SourceRady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateApr 24, 2019

Study finds differences in storefront tobacco advertising by product type

A new study by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health documents specific characteristics of storefront tobacco advertisements, highlighting variations in ad features across product categories. The research found that cigarette ads dominated window space, while cigar and ENDS ads were more commonly placed near entry points.

Researchers observe slowest atom decay ever measured

Researchers at the University of Zurich's XENON1T detector have observed the slowest atom decay ever measured, with a half-life time over a trillion times longer than the age of the universe. This rare process, called double electron capture, was detected for the first time and has implications for understanding dark matter.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature·DateApr 24, 2019

Elemental old-timer makes the universe look like a toddler

Physicists at Rice University have reported the first direct observation of two-neutrino double electron capture for xenon 124, a process that decays into tellurium 124 with an estimated half-life of 160 trillion years. This discovery puts the half-life closer to 18 sextillion years, challenging our understanding of this isotope.

SourceRice University·JournalNature·DateApr 24, 2019

Who really hit the basketball out of bounds?

A team of Arizona State University psychologists tested how people interpret the timing and sequence of physical touches, finding that people tend to prioritize their own action when sequencing events. The study used three experiments to test this effect, with consistent results showing a 50 millisecond delay in perceived time.

SourceArizona State University·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 24, 2019

Polymers to give early warning signs

Researchers developed polymers that change color or fluorescence when subjected to mechanical load, addressing limitations of previous force-transducing molecules. The new concept allows for reversible detection of stress and is versatile, enabling applications in built-in monitors and stress mapping.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalACS Central Science·DateApr 24, 2019

Genetic testing in women diagnosed with breast cancer decreases cost of care nationwide

A new study suggests that genetic testing, such as Oncotype DX, can help women with early-stage hormone-positive breast cancer avoid chemotherapy and save on treatment costs. The test is estimated to cost around $3,400, and its use could lead to a 8% reduction in chemotherapy costs, resulting in savings of about $338 million annually.

SourceGeorgetown University Medical Center·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateApr 24, 2019