Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive August 2019 - Page 16


Page 16 of 38

The journey of the pollen

Researchers from Kiel University discovered a complex interplay of factors influencing pollen adhesion to surfaces. They found that pollen's adhesive properties change depending on the duration of contact and microstructure of the surface, providing new insights into coating processes and transporting medicinal substances.

SourceKiel University·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·DateAug 20, 2019

Biomolecular analyses of Roopkund skeletons show Mediterranean migrants in Indian Himalaya

Ancient DNA data from Roopkund Lake reveals diverse groups of people died at the lake in multiple events around 1000 years apart. The study, published in Nature Communications, found three distinct genetic groups among the skeletons, with ancestries related to present-day India, the eastern Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia.

SourceMax Planck Institute of Geoanthropology·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 20, 2019

Decades-old puzzle of the ecology of soil animals solved

An international research team deciphered the defence mechanism of filamentous fungi, discovering that certain fungal pigments like aurofusarin protect fungi from predation. These pigments were found to repel small soil animals such as worms and springtails, and may have evolved due to extremely high concentrations of defence chemicals.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 20, 2019

Antibiotic use linked to heightened bowel cancer risk

Research published in Gut journal suggests a link between antibiotic use and increased risk of bowel cancer, particularly for cancers of the proximal colon. Conversely, rectal cancer risk was found to be lower among those prescribed antibiotics, possibly due to differences in gut microbiome activity.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalGut·DateAug 20, 2019

Painting a bigger biosociological picture of chronic pain

A recent study published in PLOS Biology has made significant progress in understanding chronic pain by integrating psychosocial factors and neurobiology. The researchers found two key traits - Pain-trait and Emote-trait - that are associated with back pain characteristics, as well as a link between socioeconomic status and chronic pain.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 20, 2019

The Lancet Neurology: High blood pressure and rising blood pressure between ages 36-53 are associated with smaller brain volume and white matter lesions in later years

A study of 502 individuals found that high blood pressure and increasing blood pressure during midlife are associated with reduced brain volume and white matter lesions in later life. However, there is no evidence that these associations are linked to cognitive decline or the build-up of beta-amyloid plaques.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Neurology·DateAug 20, 2019

How to improve multiple sclerosis therapy

Researchers identify various disease mechanisms underlying progressive MS, highlighting the need for precise therapy approaches targeting different pathomechanisms. Financial obstacles, including patent expirations, also hinder the development of new drugs.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalNature Reviews Drug Discovery·DateAug 20, 2019

Is pollution linked to psychiatric disorders?

A new study suggests a possible link between environmental pollution and an increase in psychiatric disorders. Poor air quality was associated with higher rates of bipolar disorder, major depression, schizophrenia, and personality disorders in both US and Danish populations.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 20, 2019

A lack of self control during adolescence is not uniquely human

A review of adolescent brains across species reveals that impulsiveness is a biological adaptation crucial for brain maturation. The human brain undergoes significant changes during adolescence, including pruning of neural connections and strengthening of white matter tracts, which enables optimal brain function in the adult stage.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Neurosciences·DateAug 20, 2019

Global change is triggering an identity switch in grasslands

A new study found that global change is triggering a significant shift in grassland plant species, with many plots experiencing drastic changes despite minimal changes in total species count. This shift could impact the critical services provided by grasslands, including carbon storage and food production.

SourceSmithsonian·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 19, 2019

Lipophilic statins associated with significantly reduced liver cancer incidence and mortality

A nationwide cohort study found that lipophilic statin use was associated with significantly lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incident, all-cause death, and liver-related death. The benefits were dose and duration-dependent, with the greatest reduction in HCC risk occurring after at least 600 cumulative defined daily doses.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateAug 19, 2019

Peer influence, social networks might be leveraged to aid gun violence reduction efforts

A Northwestern University study found that the Violence Reduction Strategy (VRS) program reduced gunshot victimization among participants by 3.2 percentage points, with spillover effects reducing victimization among their peers by 1.5 percentage points. These findings suggest that social networks can be leveraged to enhance gun violenc...

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Human Behaviour·DateAug 19, 2019

Physical activity in adolescence and later life reduces the risk of colorectal adenoma

A study analyzing data from almost 30,000 nurses found that physical activity in adolescence and later life cumulatively reduce the risk of advanced adenomatous polyps, a precursor to colorectal cancer. The study showed that adequate physical activity in both adolescence and adulthood reduces the risk by 39%.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalBritish Journal of Cancer·DateAug 19, 2019