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Science News for July 2, 2019


Tweeting while watching TV diminishes enjoyment

A new study from the University of Connecticut found that tweeting while watching TV decreases viewers' ability to become immersed in the narrative. College students who engaged in media multitasking reported lower levels of transportation into the content and intensified emotions compared to those consuming only one medium.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalJournal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media·DateJul 2, 2019

Measuring the laws of nature

Scientists have re-measured a crucial physical constant with unprecedented accuracy, setting a new benchmark for physics research. The result could help explain nuclear fusion in the sun, understand element formation after the Big Bang, and improve particle collisions at CERN.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 2, 2019

Novel computer model supports cancer therapy

Researchers developed a computer model that simulates the metabolism of cancer cells, identifying effective drug combinations and predicting tumor growth inhibition. The model has been tested for colorectal cancer and shows promise for other types of cancer, potentially reducing development time and cost.

SourceUniversity of Luxembourg·JournalEBioMedicine·DateJul 2, 2019

Higher risk of stillbirth in longer pregnancies, study finds

A meta-analysis of 15 million pregnancies found that the longer a pregnancy continues past 37 weeks gestation, the higher the risk of stillbirth. The risk increased with advancing gestation, with a 64% increase in stillbirths between 40-41 weeks and 3.18 stillbirths per 1000 pregnancies at 42 weeks.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateJul 2, 2019

Innate immune responses to high-fat diets lead to obesity

Researchers found that mice lacking group-2 innate lymphoid cells in the small intestine prevented obesity after eating a high-fat diet. Conversely, reintroducing these cells led to obesity symptoms. The study suggests targeting small intestine ILC2s could be an effective obesity treatment approach.

SourceRIKEN·JournalCell Reports·DateJul 2, 2019

What do sick kids really want in hospital?

A new questionnaire has measured children's self-reported psychosocial, physical, and emotional needs in hospital settings. The top priorities identified by sick kids include feeling safe, getting enough sleep at night, being listened to, having places for parents to go for food and drinks, and family support.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalJournal of Advanced Nursing·DateJul 2, 2019

Holy crocodiles

A study on the cultural status of saltwater crocodiles in East Timor reveals a complex relationship between humans and animals. The research highlights the importance of incorporating traditional ecological knowledge into wildlife management to address severe human-crocodile conflict.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalHuman Dimensions of Wildlife·DateJul 2, 2019

Using artificial intelligence to better predict severe weather

Researchers developed an AI framework that detects rotational movements in clouds from satellite images, pointing to potentially threatening storm formations. The method achieved 99% accuracy and predicted 64% of severe weather events, outperforming existing detection methods.

SourcePenn State·JournalIEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing·DateJul 2, 2019

Astronomers help wage war on cancer

Researchers are using computer models developed by astronomers to create a rapid diagnostic test that can detect cancerous tissue without unnecessary biopsies. The technology has also shown promise in treating non-melanoma skin cancer, with simulations indicating that it could be effective in killing cancer cells.

Antidepressants reduce deaths by more than a third in patients with diabetes

A large population-based study found that antidepressants significantly reduced mortality by 35% in patients with diabetes and depression. This significant reduction highlights the importance of addressing depression in individuals with diabetes, a condition where two to three times more people are at risk of depression.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateJul 2, 2019

Is wildfire management 'for the birds?'

A new paper argues that wildfire management through prescribed burning and restoration thinning could help save spotted owls in the West, similar to how it helped red-cockaded woodpeckers in the South. The strategy aims to reduce wildfire hazards and create more owl-friendly habitat conditions.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and the Environment·DateJul 2, 2019

Glow reveals dangerous bacteria

A new ultrasensitive chemiluminescence-based method has been developed to rapidly detect Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. This test can be carried out in the field and requires no containment laboratory, significantly faster than conventional methods.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJul 2, 2019

Integrated, multi-'omic' studies of asthma could lead to precision treatment

Researchers from Mount Sinai highlight the importance of multidimensional data for stratifying a complex disease like asthma. Carefully designed, integrated multi-'omic' studies could accelerate precision medicine for asthma patients by defining asthma subtypes through transcriptomics and other omic approaches.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateJul 2, 2019

A NEAT discovery about memory

A team of researchers has identified a tissue-specific non-coding RNA called NEAT1 that regulates memory formation in the hippocampus region of the brain. Increasing NEAT1 levels in younger mice impaired learning and memory, while decreasing NEAT1 levels improved cognitive function.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalScience Signaling·DateJul 2, 2019

Perceived threats to family increases women's willingness to sacrifice during war

A study by University of Turku researchers found that women are more likely to volunteer for all-female paramilitary organizations if they have brothers or husbands serving in the military. The study suggests that bonding with larger communities, such as the nation state or religious groups, can arise from psychology mechanisms designe...

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalEvolution and Human Behavior·DateJul 2, 2019

Unraveling the brain's reward circuits

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that food and drugs can hijack the brain's reward circuits, which are also responsible for signaling hunger. This knowledge could inform the creation of more effective weight loss drugs or addiction therapies with fewer unpleasant side effects.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalNeuron·DateJul 2, 2019

Tracking down dark matter

Researchers at Mainz University have developed a new method to detect axions, a type of dark matter, using the Cosmic Axion Spin Precession Experiment (CASPEr) program. By exploiting nuclear magnetic resonance and sophisticated shielding, the team aims to identify spin changes caused by dark matter, which can be distinguished from thos...

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJul 2, 2019

The secret of mushroom colors

A study by researchers at Technical University of Munich found that fungal communities have darker mushrooms in cold climates, suggesting a correlation between coloration and temperature regulation. This mechanism may improve reproduction by allowing fungi to harness solar energy.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 2, 2019