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Science News for August 6, 2019


Tariffs lead to creative supply chains

A Michigan State University team applied metacoupling to analyze socioeconomic and environmental interactions in global soybean trade. The results show that Chinese demand for foreign soybeans affects not only Brazil but also neighboring countries like Paraguay and Argentina.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalSustainability·DateAug 6, 2019

Streamlining fee waiver requests helped low-income immigrants become citizens

A streamlined fee waiver process enabled about 73,000 low-income immigrants to become citizens each year, according to a new study from Stanford University's Immigration Policy Lab. The reform replaced a convoluted process with clear guidelines and a simple form, making it easier for those eligible to apply.

SourceStanford University - Immigration Policy Lab·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 6, 2019

Sleep interrupted: What's keeping us up at night?

A large longitudinal sleep study found that evening use of nicotine and alcohol within four hours of bedtime was associated with disrupted sleep. In contrast, caffeine consumption did not have a significant impact on sleep parameters. The study's findings suggest that promoting the restriction of evening nicotine and alcohol use may im...

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalSLEEP·DateAug 6, 2019

Dead planets can 'broadcast' for up to a billion years

Scientists have identified the best candidate white dwarfs to hunt for exoplanet cores, which can survive for over 100 million to a billion years. The researchers plan to use radio telescopes to detect radio waves emitted by the cores, potentially leading to breakthrough discoveries.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateAug 6, 2019

Most seniors with dementia live at home, despite pain, anxiety, poor health

Researchers found that older adults with moderately severe dementia living at home have more chronic conditions, pain, and anxiety than those in nursing homes. However, they also reported higher rates of falls, depression, and poor health. The study emphasizes the importance of improving home-based medical care for these patients.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateAug 6, 2019

The limits of rainforest growth

A new study by TUM researchers suggests that rainforest growth limits are being tested due to insufficient phosphorus. Trees can only absorb additional carbon dioxide if phosphorous is available, leading to a potential 50% decrease in CO2 absorption under increased atmospheric pressure.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Geoscience·DateAug 6, 2019

Striped glow sticks

Scientists have developed a new strategy for constructing photonic heterostructure crystals with tunable properties, which can absorb and transmit photons. These crystals, in the form of striped rods, exhibit unique fluorescence behavior and serve as a prototype for a logic gate.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateAug 6, 2019

Ionic thermal up-diffusion boosts energy harvesting

Scientists have discovered that ionic thermal up-diffusion can significantly improve the efficiency of nanofluidic salinity gradient energy harvesting by promoting selectivity and suppressing ion concentration polarization. This innovative approach enables the creation of tunable ionic voltage sources, leading to enhanced power output.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateAug 6, 2019

Thyme essential oil in corn starch particles combats Aedes aegypti larvae

Researchers developed a novel, biodegradable larvicide system using thymol from thyme essential oil, which is effective against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The system uses microcapsules made of corn starch particles to control the release of larvicide, making it suitable for small water containers and reducing environmental harm.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalIndustrial Crops and Products·DateAug 6, 2019

How brain cells pick which connections to keep

Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute identified the gene and protein CPG15 that enables brain cells to select permanent synapses based on experience-driven neural activity. Without CPG15, mice exhibit slower learning and reliance on circuit architectures that haven't been refined by experience.

SourcePicower Institute at MIT·JournalCell Reports·DateAug 6, 2019

How can robots land like birds?

The study, published in eLife, reveals that birds adapt their grip by wrapping their toes and curling their claws to stick the landing. Researchers aim to apply this knowledge to develop more nimble flying robots with bimodal capabilities.

Robotic cane shown to improve stability in walking

Researchers at Columbia University School of Engineering developed a robotic cane that provides light-touch assistance in walking, improving stability and balance. The device, called CANINE, acts as a mobile assistant to track a person's gait and provide support, resulting in narrower strides and increased gait stability.

SourceColumbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalIEEE Robotics and Automation Letters·DateAug 6, 2019

Seeing how computers 'think' helps humans stump machines and reveals AI weaknesses

Researchers from the University of Maryland developed a novel approach to generate questions that challenge AI language models. By collaborating with humans and computers, they created a dataset of over 1,200 computer-stumping questions that revealed six different language phenomena consistently stumping computers. This work provides i...

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalTransactions of the Association for Computational Linguistics·DateAug 6, 2019

A hog in wolf's clothing

A new study examines the effects of feral hogs and elephants on livestock, finding significant impacts on farming livelihoods. The research highlights the importance of considering non-carnivore species in mitigating wildlife impacts, with potential consequences for conservation efforts.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 6, 2019

Heart-on-a-chip mimics drug response seen in humans

Researchers replicated human-like drug responses in TARA's engineered heart-on-a-chip system, predicting cardiac safety and efficacy. The study validated the platform's ability to model different heart diseases and measure contractile force of Cardiotype tissues.

SourceCG Life·JournalToxicological Sciences·DateAug 6, 2019

Knowing berry pests' varied diets may help control them

A Cornell University study reveals that spotted-wing drosophila adults and larvae eat mushroom and apple mixtures, as well as bird manure, to survive before and after the growing season. The results may help curb pest populations by encouraging growers to limit access to certain non-fruit food sources.

SourceCornell University·JournalEcological Entomology·DateAug 6, 2019

Staring at seagulls could save your chips

Researchers found that herring gulls take 21 seconds longer to approach food when a human is watching, suggesting that just observing the birds can reduce food-snatching. The study highlights the importance of modifying individual behavior to manage gull-nuisance issues in urban areas.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalBiology Letters·DateAug 6, 2019

Scientists create the world's thinnest gold

Researchers at the University of Leeds have created a new form of gold that is just two atoms thick, making it the thinnest unsupported gold ever created. The ultra-thin gold material has been shown to be 10 times more efficient as a catalytic substrate than traditional gold nanoparticles.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalAdvanced Science·DateAug 6, 2019

Development of flexible sensors mimicking human finger skin by DGIST

Researchers at DGIST developed flexible sensors that can detect pressure and vibration similar to human skin, with more sensitive detections. The sensors mimic 'Slow Adaptive' and 'Fast Adaptive' receptors, enabling accurate classification of fabric roughness and potential applications in artificial skin grafting and VR experiences.

New study could reset how scientists view sex determination in painted turtle populations

A new study from Iowa State University analyzed decades of data on painted turtle populations and found a wide variation in temperature sensitivity within local populations, defying theoretical expectations. The findings suggest that temperature-dependent sex determination may be more resilient to changes in temperature than previously...

SourceIowa State University·JournalFunctional Ecology·DateAug 6, 2019

Non-invasive imaging method spots cancer at the molecular level

Researchers developed a technique combining multiphoton microscopy with automated image analysis to distinguish between healthy and metastatic tissue without invasive biopsies or contrast dyes. The approach identified unique textural features in tissue that reflect cancer metastasis, allowing for early detection and improved treatment.

SourceOptica·JournalBiomedical Optics Express·DateAug 6, 2019