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Science News for August 9, 2019


Sleep, snacks and shift work

A new study found that consuming a snack reduces the impact of sleepiness and fatigue on night shift workers, compared to eating a meal or no food at all. The study's lead researcher hopes the findings will inform strategic eating patterns to help thousands of shift workers stay alert and healthy.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalNutrients·DateAug 9, 2019

Making sense of remote sensing data

Researchers introduce RadialPheno, a new tool to visualize phenocam-collected phenology data, providing meaningful insights into plant developmental events. The tool uses radial representation to identify recurrent events and integrates with common statistical methods, making it a valuable resource for phenology experts.

SourceBotanical Society of America·JournalApplications in Plant Sciences·DateAug 9, 2019

The mind-muscle connection: For aesthetes, not athletes?

Focusing on movement during weightlifting may improve performance by reducing mechanical inefficiency and increasing automatic control processes. This contradicts the traditional mind-muscle connection theory, which suggests focusing on individual muscles enhances activation and development.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Sports and Active Living·DateAug 9, 2019

Rice chemists show it's hip to be square

Rice University chemists have developed a fast and inexpensive synthetic route to azetidines, a class of molecules that can be used as building blocks in drug design. The new method allows for the creation of NH-azetidines, which contain unprotected nitrogen atoms, making them more accessible for further reactions.

SourceRice University·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateAug 9, 2019

Development of simplified new mass spectrometric technique using laser and graphene

Researchers developed a simplified new mass spectrometric technique using a continuous wave laser and graphene substrate to analyze bio samples without sample preparation. This technology can obtain high-resolution images and secure enough heat needed for specimen analysis with small amount of light generated by the continuous wave laser.

SourceDGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateAug 9, 2019

Chicago water pollution may be keeping invasive silver carp out of Great Lakes, study says

A new study by University of Illinois researchers suggests that Chicago's water pollution is likely keeping invasive silver carp out of the Great Lakes. The study found that certain compounds in the water flowing downstream from Chicago induce avoidance behaviors in fish, causing them to stop moving upstream.

Analysis of medical aid in dying in Oregon, Washington

The study examined 3,368 medical aid in dying prescriptions from Oregon (1998-2017) and Washington (2009-2017), finding that most patients were insured, non-Hispanic white individuals with cancer. The primary reasons for pursuing medical aid in dying were loss of autonomy, impaired quality of life, and loss of dignity.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateAug 9, 2019

Smuggling route for cells protects DNA from parasites

Cells use a molecular safety mechanism to smuggle genetic information molecules around the cell, which are then used to recognize and shut down parasites. This discovery provides new insight into how animal genomes defend themselves against DNA parasites and reveals a previously unknown RNA transport route.

SourceAarhus University·JournalCell·DateAug 9, 2019

Bone strength could be linked to when you reached puberty

A new study from the University of Bristol has linked puberty timing to bone strength, finding that teens who mature later may catch up on bone density but continue to have lower bone density into adulthood. The study suggests that late-maturing individuals may be at increased risk of fractures and osteoporosis later in life.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateAug 9, 2019

Cyborg organoids offer rare view into early stages of development

Researchers at Harvard have grown simplified organs with fully integrated sensors, offering a rare view into early stages of organ development. The cyborg organoids can monitor the electrophysiological activity of cells for up to 90 days, providing insights into how individual cells interact and synchronize during development.