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Science News for August 13, 2019


Doubling down

A new study finds that human impacts on oceans have nearly doubled over the past decade and could increase by another 50% if left unchecked. Climate change, commercial fishing, and land-based pollution are major drivers of these changes.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 13, 2019

Marijuana may boost risky effects of drinking alcohol

A new study from Penn State found that simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use is associated with heavier drinking, more frequent consumption, and higher levels of sensation-seeking characteristics. Individuals who used both substances simultaneously were also more likely to experience alcohol-related problems.

SourcePenn State·JournalSubstance Use & Misuse·DateAug 13, 2019

The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health: Mental health harms related to very frequent social media use in girls might be due to exposure to cyberbullying, loss of sleep or reduced physical activity

A study of almost 10,000 adolescents found that frequent social media use in teenage girls is linked to increased psychological distress, lower life satisfaction, and greater anxiety. Cyberbullying, sleep disruptions, and reduced physical activity are key mechanisms behind these findings.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Child & Adolescent Health·DateAug 13, 2019

Mastering a new level of success

The university will provide two-year scholarships to high-achieving, low-income students pursuing Master of Science degrees in six engineering departments. The program aims to eliminate barriers and build bridges to professional careers through industry internships and research focused on innovation and entrepreneurship.

Finding a cosmic fog within shattered intergalactic pancakes

A Yale-led team of astronomers has simulated a large patch of the intergalactic medium (IGM), revealing how cold, dense gas clouds organize themselves within larger sheets or pancakes of matter. The findings suggest that these gas clouds can be pristine and metal-free, challenging previous assumptions about their formation and composit...

SourceYale University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateAug 13, 2019

Schrödinger's cat with 20 qubits

Scientists have created a new record by entangling 20 quantum bits in a 'Schrödinger's cat' state, exceeding the previous limit of 14 qubits. The team used a programmable quantum simulator to control and manipulate the qubits, demonstrating the potential for quantum technologies.

SourceForschungszentrum Juelich·JournalScience·DateAug 13, 2019

Making microbes that transform greenhouse gases

Researchers at USF have developed a biologically-based technique to transform greenhouse gases into usable chemical compounds, reducing dependence on petroleum and lowering carbon footprint. The method utilizes human enzymes to convert specific one-carbon materials into complex compounds used in various products.

SourceUniversity of South Florida·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateAug 13, 2019

Why young men aren't eating their five-a-day

A study published in the journal Nutrients reveals that young men aged 18-24 are struggling to eat even three portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Young men with the best diets had a more positive attitude towards healthy food, enjoyed preparing and eating a wide range of fruit and veg, and had a holistic view of health and diet.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalNutrients·DateAug 13, 2019

Damaged hearts rewired with nanotube fibers

Researchers at Texas Heart Institute and Rice University have developed biocompatible nanotube fibers that can bridge damaged heart tissues and deliver electrical signals to restore heart function. The fibers were shown to be effective in restoring conduction in preclinical models, even without the presence of a pacemaker.

Non-native invasive insects, diseases decreasing carbon stored in US forests

A study by the USDA Forest Service and Purdue University finds that non-native invasive insects and diseases are reducing the amount of carbon stored in trees across the United States. The study estimates that 41% of live forest biomass is threatened, with certain species like emerald ash borer and gypsy moth causing significant damage.

SourceUSDA Forest Service - Northern Research Station·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 13, 2019

How two water molecules dance together

A team of researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum and Emory University observed the movement between individual water molecules for the first time, revealing new insights into their interactions. The findings help to better understand the intermolecular energy landscape and the strange properties of water.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateAug 13, 2019

Research drives acceleration of practice transformation and community health improvement

A new supplement to Annals of Family Medicine highlights early findings from federally funded initiatives aimed at transforming medical practices and improving community health. Key findings include the importance of monitoring clinician burnout and leveraging technical assistance to expand access to urgent care.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateAug 13, 2019

Study: 'Conversation-based' activities reduce mental illness stigma among college students

A new study by Indiana University found that college students who participate in conversation-based activities are less likely to stigmatize people with mental illness. The study, led by Bernice Pescosolido, suggests that such efforts can drive significant reductions in stigma and improve campus climate.

SourceIndiana University·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateAug 13, 2019

How plants synthesize salicylic acid

An international research team led by the University of Göttingen has unraveled the mechanism for the biosynthesis of salicylic acid in plants. The study reveals that isochorismate-derived compounds accumulate when a specific gene is removed, leading to the formation of salicylic acid.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalScience·DateAug 13, 2019

All-optical diffractive neural network closes performance gap with electronic neural networks

Researchers have developed an all-optical diffractive neural network that achieves unprecedented levels of inference accuracy, closing the performance gap with electronic neural networks. The design incorporates a differential detection scheme, which enables specialized sub-networks to recognize specific object classes.

Monitoring the Matterhorn with millions of data points

The PermaSense project has recorded a unique 10-year record of high-resolution data on the Hörnli ridge of the Matterhorn, offering a better understanding of processes that can lead to rock destabilization. The data set includes measurements of temperature, seismic activity, and deformation of the mountain ridge.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalEarth System Science Data·DateAug 13, 2019