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Science News Archive August 2019 - Page 2


Page 2 of 38

Air pollution under clear skies reduces sunlight reaching the Earth's surface

A study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences found that air pollution under clear skies significantly reduces the amount of sunlight reaching Earth's surface. The study highlights the negative impact of air pollution on renewable energy harvesting and associated economic burdens, as well as its effects on air purity.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateAug 30, 2019

Pancreas on a chip

Researchers have developed an 'Islet-on-a-Chip' device that integrates organ-on-a-chip and stem-cell technologies to screen insulin-producing cells, test insulin-stimulating compounds, and study the fundamental biology of diabetes. The device makes it easier to monitor islet function and study cell therapies for diabetes.

SourceHarvard University·JournalLab on a Chip·DateAug 29, 2019

Marathoners, take your marks...and fluid and salt!

A new study suggests that marathon runners are at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) due to fluid and salt losses, rather than core body temperature. Researchers found that managing fluid volume and salt losses with a personalized regimen during training may help reduce the incidence of AKI.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateAug 29, 2019

Crouching lion, hidden giraffe

Research reveals that giraffes with calves prioritize predator avoidance over food in areas with high lion populations. Human presence also plays a role, with giraffes seeking safety near traditional pastoralist compounds.

SourcePenn State·JournalOecologia·DateAug 29, 2019

Delivering immunotherapy directly to brain tumors

Scientists developed a novel nanotechnology-based approach that successfully delivered checkpoint inhibitors directly to brain tumors, triggering a local immune response and inducing tumor cell death. The treatment has shown promising results in laboratory mice, providing hope for longer survival rates for patients with glioblastoma

SourceCedars-Sinai Medical Center·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 29, 2019

Blue Brain finds how neurons in the mouse neocortex form billions of synaptic connections

The Blue Brain researchers have generated statistical instances of the micro-connectome of 10 million neurons, a model spanning five orders of magnitude and containing 88 billion synaptic connections. This model reveals a surprisingly complex structure at cellular resolution, tying together neurons in different regions and at opposite ...

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 29, 2019

Entanglement sent over 50 km of optical fiber

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck have successfully transferred quantum entanglement between matter and light over 50 kilometers using fiber optic cables. This achievement paves the way for building inter-city quantum networks, which could enable secure communication and distributed sensor networks.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·Journalnpj Quantum Information·DateAug 29, 2019

Convection-permitting models better depict the heavy rainfall events in 2016 eastern China flooding

A recent study using convection-permitting models showed improved accuracy in simulating heavy rainfall events in the Yangtze River Basin. The models were found to better reproduce the spatial distribution of precipitation and smaller-scale disturbances, reducing biases compared to global models.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalQuarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society·DateAug 29, 2019

Cell-free DNA detects pathogens and quantifies damage

A new assay uses cell-free DNA to identify viruses and bacteria in the human body while also quantifying injuries to organs. This test is simple, fast, low-cost, and generalizable enough to identify thousands of pathogens, making it a major step towards personalizing therapy and making organ transplantation safer.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 29, 2019