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Science News Archive June 2019 - Page 9


Page 9 of 41

Big data says food is too sweet

A study analyzing nearly 400,000 food reviews found that many people think today's foods are too sweet, with sweet being the most frequently mentioned taste quality. The researchers used machine learning to identify words related to taste and found that over-sweetness was mentioned 25 times more often than under-sweetness.

SourceMonell Chemical Senses Center·JournalPhysiology & Behavior·DateJun 24, 2019

Seeing the doctor? Relax, you'll remember more

A new study found that patients who meditate or listen to calming music before receiving written health information are more likely to pay attention and retain the details. The researchers recommend using this time wisely by relaxing in the waiting room, such as meditating or listening to calming music.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateJun 24, 2019

What influences how parents and their gay adolescent sons discuss sexual health at home?

A study published in the American Journal of Sexuality Education found that even when parents aim to avoid heteronormative stereotypes, external factors like mass media and religion can still reinforce them. Parents' mindful awareness of their conversations with other children and their influence on what they hear from friends and see ...

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalAmerican Journal of Sexuality Education·DateJun 24, 2019

Culture shapes how we learn to reason?

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that cultural environment influences early diversity in abstract thought. Chinese children demonstrated superior relational reasoning skills compared to US children, with significant differences emerging around age 3.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 24, 2019

Stanford researchers teach robots what humans want

Researchers at Stanford University developed a new system that combines demonstrations and user preference surveys to set goals for autonomous systems, achieving better results in simulations and real-world experiments. The system improved upon previous methods, reducing the time required to generate instructions by 15-50 times.

Chronic conditions -- not infectious diseases -- are top 5 causes of early death in China

A new study reveals that chronic diseases such as stroke, ischemic heart disease, and lung cancer are now the leading causes of premature death in China. The study's findings show a significant shift from communicable to chronic conditions over nearly three decades, largely due to economic growth and increasing education levels.

Noninvasive view into the heart

A study by Goethe University Frankfurt has demonstrated the safety and efficacy of non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in guiding therapy decisions for patients with stable chest pain and coronary heart disease. MRI measurements were found to be as safe as cardiac catheterization, with reduced need for invasive procedures.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 24, 2019

Targeting individual atoms

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new method to directly track the precession of single nuclear spins, allowing for precise molecular analysis. This breakthrough enables scientists to study molecules at the atomic level, with potential applications in fields like materials science and chemistry.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature·DateJun 24, 2019

Could coffee be the secret to fighting obesity?

Researchers at the University of Nottingham discovered that drinking coffee can stimulate 'brown fat', increasing body heat and burning calories. This could be a key to tackling obesity and diabetes. The study used thermal imaging to trace brown fat reserves and found that caffeine had a direct effect on its functions.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 24, 2019

How trees affect the weather

Researchers found that certain plant and tree traits exacerbate drought conditions by rapidly releasing water vapor into the air. This can lead to more frequent and intense droughts in hot climates, even in regions with adapted plant species.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 24, 2019

More women in US receive 3D mammography but disparities remain

A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that the use of 3D mammography has risen substantially in the US, with DBT being more rapidly adopted in areas with higher incomes, greater education, and larger white populations. However, disparities in care persist, reflecting uneven adoption across regions and demographics.

SourceYale University·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateJun 24, 2019

New reports provide guidance for obesity care

The Obesity Society has developed two new resources to improve obesity medicine education in medical schools and advanced healthcare providers. The resources include the first set of competencies for caring for patients with obesity and a proposed standard of care for adults with obesity, aimed at enhancing patient care.

SourceThe Obesity Society·JournalObesity·DateJun 24, 2019

Why money cannot 'buy' housework

A new study by Lancaster University finds that household finances and control of financial decisions are linked to the time spent on routine housework, with women doing most of it. Despite earning more, women have limited control over their own earnings and household finances, leading to a glass ceiling in the labour market.

SourceLancaster University·JournalJournal of Marriage and Family·DateJun 24, 2019

Galaxy clusters caught in a first kiss

Two giant galaxy clusters are caught in the act of colliding for the first time, providing valuable insights into the formation of large-scale structures. The clusters' merger shock wave is expected to have a significant impact on the evolution of galaxy clusters and cosmic structure.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJun 24, 2019

SLAS Discovery announces its July feature article, '3D Cell-Based Assays for Drug Screens: Challenges in Imaging, Image Analysis, and High-Content Analysis'

The switch from 2D to 3D cell cultures in drug discovery improves the accuracy of human physiological conditions and increases the success rates of drugs. High-content analysis with 3D cell cultures is expected to increase the quality of compounds progressing to preclinical stages.

Speeding up single-cell genomics research

Researchers at Harvard University have developed a new platform for rapid single-cell sequencing, combining microfluidics and novel software to scale up single-cell ATAC-seq. This approach enables the analysis of gene control in individual cells, revealing new insights into cell development and disease processes.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateJun 24, 2019

Americans overestimate income for children from wealthy and middle-income families -- and underestimate it for children from poor ones

A new study by New York University sociologists found that Americans tend to overestimate the future income of children from wealthy and middle-income families while underestimating it for those from poor families. The research challenges the prior belief that Americans hold an optimistic view about economic mobility.

SourceNew York University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 24, 2019

Monarch butterflies bred in captivity may lose the ability to migrate, study finds

A new study by scientists at the University of Chicago found that commercially bred monarch butterflies do not fly southward even in offspring raised outdoors. This suggests that captive breeding disrupts the monarch's migratory behavior and genetic differences between captive and wild populations may be to blame.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 24, 2019

Tapping into the way cells communicate

Researchers have developed a platform to record cell messages in depth, uncovering the precise ways cells communicate. This breakthrough enables the creation of 'cell-less' therapies that aid in repairing cardiac tissue without stem cell transplantation.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 24, 2019