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Science News Archive April 2019 - Page 17


Page 17 of 44

How do we make moral decisions?

A recent study published in Nature Communications challenges prior research on moral decision-making by showing that people's moral behavior can shift depending on the context. The researchers identified four moral strategies: inequity aversion, guilt aversion, greed, and moral opportunism, which involves switching between these strate...

SourceDartmouth College·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 18, 2019

The FASEB Journal: DNA repair gene linked to male infertility

A recent animal study published in The FASEB Journal found that a deficiency of the DNA repair gene XRCC1 leads to impaired spermatogenesis and infertility in male mice. The researchers observed lower sperm concentration and motility, as well as disrupted stemness, DNA damage, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in XRCC1-knockout mice.

Coincidence helps with quantum measurements

A new method for characterizing complex quantum states has been developed, enabling quantum simulations on larger systems. This method is based on the repeated measurement of randomly selected transformations of individual particles and provides information about the degree of entanglement.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalScience·DateApr 18, 2019

Making digital tissue imaging better

Researchers from Case Western Reserve University have developed an open-source quality-control tool to assess the quality of digital tissue slides. The tool, called Histo-QC, incorporates measurements and classifiers to flag corrupted images and retain high-quality slides for analysis by computers.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalJCO Clinical Cancer Informatics·DateApr 18, 2019

How to hack your deadline: Admit it's uncertain

Researchers at the University of Michigan have devised a method for working with uncertainty in deadlines. By mapping out the uncertainty and incorporating it into a project management system, managers can improve their success rates. This technique can help managers save time and resources by focusing on less uncertain requirements.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalEuropean Journal of Operational Research·DateApr 18, 2019

Researchers use 3D printer to print glass

Researchers have successfully 3D printed chalcogenide glass using a modified 3D printer, enabling the creation of complex optical components and fibers for low-cost sensors, telecommunications components, and biomedical devices. This breakthrough could pave the way for efficient manufacturing of infrared optical components at a low cost.

SourceOptica·JournalOptical Materials Express·DateApr 18, 2019

Logical reasoning: An antidote or a poison for political disagreement?

A new study explores ideological belief bias, where people judge logical arguments based on their believability rather than sound premises. Liberals and conservatives showed varying levels of ability to identify flawed arguments supporting opposing views. The findings suggest that being open to the other side can lead to a better under...

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·DateApr 17, 2019

Increased screen time in preschool is linked to inattention

Children with more than two hours of screen time per day were five times more likely to report clinically significant externalizing problems and had a significantly increased risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. In contrast, children who engaged in organized sports showed fewer behavioral problems.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 17, 2019

Lessons learned from the drift analysis of MH370 debris

A team of scientists at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre of Ocean Research Kiel used simulation techniques to analyze the drift of MH370 debris and propose new strategies for tracking marine objects. The study found that Stokes drift, caused by surface waves, plays a crucial role in determining the final position of drifting objects.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)·JournalJournal of Operational Oceanography·DateApr 17, 2019

Why lightning often strikes twice

Researchers have discovered needle-like structures in positively charged lightning leaders that store negative charges, causing repeated discharges to the ground. This new finding explains why lightning often strikes twice and provides a deeper understanding of lightning development.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature·DateApr 17, 2019

A 'virtual' view with a little bit of math

Researchers developed a mathematical model to standardize the results of a ballistocardiogram, allowing for tracking of health changes and potential early detection of cardiovascular diseases. The model can capture information on elasticity of arteries, contractility of heart ventricles, and viscoelasticity of blood vessels.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalIEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering·DateApr 17, 2019

Need more energy storage? Just hit 'print'

Researchers from Drexel University and Trinity College in Ireland have created a conductive MXene ink for 3D printing micro-supercapacitors, which outperforms existing energy storage devices. The ink can be used to print flexible energy storage components of any size or shape.

SourceDrexel University·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 17, 2019

How superstitions spread

A model by theoretical biologists demonstrates how superstitious beliefs can become established in a society's social norms, guiding the behavior of large groups. The research suggests that even irrational beliefs can be beneficial when correlated with others' actions, leading to coordinated behaviors.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 17, 2019

Bacterial therapy in a dish

Researchers at Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a system called BSCC, which enables rapid screening of engineered bacterial therapies in vitro. They successfully tested a potent therapy for colon cancer using a novel bacterial toxin combined with an optimal drug delivery genetic circuit.

SourceColumbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 17, 2019