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Science News for March 11, 2019


Faster robots demoralize co-workers

A study by Cornell University found that when robots excel in competitions, people perceive themselves as less capable and less likable. The research suggests optimizing teams of humans and robots to minimize negative effects on human behavior and reactions.

Are eyes the window to our mistakes?

Scientists investigate how humans make mistakes and find that pupil dilation is linked to the brain's level of norepinephrine. Four sources of suboptimal decision-making are identified, including unequal weighing of evidence and noise in the brain.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature Human Behaviour·DateMar 11, 2019

Researchers say education a major barrier to following heart healthy diet

A study published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association found that people with a college education are nearly seven times more likely to adhere to a Mediterranean Diet than those with only a high school education. Women and individuals familiar with the diet also showed higher rates of adherence.

SourceAmerican Osteopathic Association·JournalThe Journal of the American Osteopathic Association·DateMar 11, 2019

Mindfulness found to improve mental health of students

A study at the University of Bristol found that mindfulness training improved mental health and wellbeing in medical students, reducing anxiety and stress. Students reported enhanced empathy, communication skills, and coping techniques, leading to better emotional wellbeing and professional development.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalEducation Research International·DateMar 11, 2019

Daylight savings sees 'sleepy consumers' with a wider variety in their shopping carts

A recent study from the UBC Sauder School of Business found that sleepier consumers tend to buy more diverse types of products to help them stay awake. The study reveals that even after controlling for other factors, sleep-deprived individuals exhibit a greater desire for variety in their shopping choices.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia - Sauder School of Business·JournalJournal of Marketing Research·DateMar 11, 2019

Cutting the standard dose of medication for acute mountain sickness in half does not reduce its effectiveness

A new study published in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine found that a lower dose of acetazolamide (62.5 mg twice daily) was as effective in preventing acute mountain sickness symptoms as the standard prophylactic dose (125 mg twice daily). However, this reduced dose showed similar side effects with both doses.

SourceElsevier·JournalWilderness and Environmental Medicine·DateMar 11, 2019

For infection-fighting cells, a guideline for expanding the troops

A team from Princeton University used mathematical modeling to explore the relationship between T cell expansion and infectious agent levels. They found that the starting amount of infectious agent and affinity for the cells are key factors in determining the expansion rate. The study suggests a simple underlying mechanism governing th...

SourcePrinceton University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 11, 2019

Brain stimulation improves depression symptoms, restores brain waves in clinical study

A clinical study led by Flavio Frohlich at UNC School of Medicine successfully reduced depression symptoms in about 70 percent of participants using transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). The treatment target specific alpha oscillations in the brain, bringing them back into balance and decreasing symptoms.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalTranslational Psychiatry·DateMar 11, 2019

Researchers turn liquid metal into a plasma

Scientists at the University of Rochester's LLE have successfully turned a liquid metal into a plasma, exhibiting classical properties at high temperatures. This discovery has implications for better understanding stars and planets, as well as realizing controlled nuclear fusion, a promising alternative energy source.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 11, 2019

Fusion science and astronomy collaboration enables investigation of the origin of heavy elements

A research team has successfully computed millions of highly accurate atomic data for neodymium ions, enabling studies of the origin of precious metals like gold and platinum. The findings show that the light of a kilonova, emitted by neutron star mergers, contains abundant heavy elements.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series·DateMar 11, 2019

When green 'fixes' actually increase the carbon footprint

A study by University of Pennsylvania sociologists found that high-income residents moving into tech-enabled neighborhoods increase carbon emissions, displacing low-income populations. The research highlights the need for affordable housing and sustainable planning to counteract gentrification's negative effects.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalInternational Journal of Urban and Regional Research·DateMar 11, 2019

AJTMH tipsheet for March 2019

Researchers analyzed sentinel chickens to detect Eastern equine encephalitis virus, finding its presence year-round in the Florida Panhandle. A new hand-washing product, SuperTowel, shows potential to limit disease spread in humanitarian crises. The global 'pandemic' of fake medicines kills over 250,000 children annually.

SourceBurness·JournalAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·DateMar 11, 2019

An international study co-led by CNIO identifies a 'sensor' that activates cell migration

A recent study has found that Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) acts as a sensor to mechanical forces generated by the cytoskeleton, activating biochemical signals regulating cell migration. This discovery provides new insights into how cancer cells invade and metastasize, potentially leading to therapies targeting this mechanism.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 11, 2019

Note-taking jurors influence verdicts, study finds

Researchers found that note-taking during trials enhances jurors' recall of critical evidence and influences verdicts. Jurors with faster handwriting speed, higher short-term memory capacity, and better sustained attention remembered more incriminating evidence, leading to a greater likelihood of finding the defendant guilty.

SourceUniversity of Liverpool·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMar 11, 2019

Pollinators need people

Research reveals that supporting local communities with cultural, spiritual, and economic connections to pollinators is key to effective conservation. The study suggests that policies like biocultural conservation can foster pollinator protection and sustainable management of resources.

SourceJames Cook University·JournalNature Sustainability·DateMar 11, 2019

How online neighborhood reviews could aid urban planning

A recent study by University at Buffalo researcher Yingjie Hu analyzed neighborhood reviews from over 7,600 users on Niche.com to identify features of neighborhoods that people talked about online. The analysis revealed discrepancies between reviewers' perceptions and other data, such as crime statistics and employment rates.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalAnnals of the American Association of Geographers·DateMar 11, 2019

How to take a census of Earth's biodiversity? One team of researchers has a plan

Researchers propose a new method to measure and track plant and animal populations, known as the 'hypercube,' which can generate health stats for the planet. The goal is to provide policymakers with accurate information to make sound conservation decisions, including assessing progress toward national and international policy goals.

SourceFlorida Museum of Natural History·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateMar 11, 2019

Remembering to forget

A human neuroimaging study suggests that intentionally redirecting attention away from an unwanted experience during memory formation and suppressing its retrieval once formed can facilitate forgetting. The research provides evidence for a new link between voluntary control of visual attention and long-term memory fate.

OHIO study: Information literacy can combat 'fake news'

A new study by Ohio University professor Dr. M. Laeeq Khan found that media and information literacy are key factors in recognizing misinformation on social media. The study suggests that individuals with strong information verification skills are less likely to share misinformation online.

SourceOhio University·JournalBehaviour and Information Technology·DateMar 11, 2019

Researchers report new light-activated micro pump

Researchers developed a laser-driven photoacoustic microfluidic pump that moves fluids in any direction without mechanical parts or electrical contacts. The device uses a plasmonic quartz plate implanted with gold atoms to generate an ultrasonic wave, driving the fluid via acoustic streaming.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 11, 2019

How to train your robot (to feed you dinner)

Researchers at the University of Washington have created a robotic system that can strategize how to use a fork to pick up and deliver bites to a person's mouth. The robot used an object-detection algorithm and a new skewing-and-feeding strategy to successfully pick up hard foods but struggled with soft foods.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalIEEE Robotics and Automation Letters·DateMar 11, 2019

For hyenas, there's no 'I' in clan

In a new study, researchers found that female spotted hyenas who form strong coalitions with other females can overthrow their superiors and improve their fitness. The study revealed that these alliances play a crucial role in maintaining stable social hierarchies and improving the overall rank of coalition members.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 11, 2019