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Science News for March 25, 2019


Study suggests trees are crucial to the future of our cities

A recent study suggests that trees are essential for mitigating the urban heat island effect, with 40% canopy cover required to trigger significant cooling effects. The research found that even small increases in tree density can lead to substantial reductions in temperatures, making tree planting a key strategy for city planners.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 25, 2019

Study explores why 'progressive teetotalers' may emerge from college engineering programs

A recent study by the University of Kansas researcher Margaret Kelley found that first-year engineering students who hold progressive attitudes, including those about gender equity, are more likely to drink less. The researchers argue that this behavior becomes in conjunction with their more progressive attitudes on women in the profes...

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalSociological Quarterly·DateMar 25, 2019

Engineering cellular function without living cells

Researchers at EPFL's LBNC have developed a quantitative, replicable method for studying gene expression using a cell-free system in combination with high-throughput microfluidic devices. This approach allows them to build synthetic biological logic gates that can be used to modify cellular functions and introduce new therapeutic purpo...

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 25, 2019

Traffic control of cells

Scientists have created a hydrogel matrix whose stiffness can be reversibly tuned using light, enabling the investigation of how cells respond to dynamic changes in their environment. The matrix has potential applications in cancer immunotherapy and understanding cell migration patterns.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateMar 25, 2019

Hearing loss before 50 may mean higher risk of drug and alcohol issues

A national study reveals that young and middle-aged adults with hearing loss are twice as likely to misused prescription opioids and other substances compared to their hearing peers. Health care providers may need to take special care when treating pain and mental health conditions in deaf and hard-of-hearing patients.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateMar 25, 2019

Can you 'catch' cancer?

Research suggests that parasitic worms cause majority of cancers in poor countries due to chronic inflammation and toxic egg excretions. However, some species of helminths, like the 'hyper tapeworm', inhibit cancer growth and may even enhance host's immune response to tumors.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Medicine·DateMar 25, 2019

How tree diversity affects invasive forest pests

A broad-scale study found a significant relationship between tree diversity and nonnative pest invasions. High tree diversity reduces pest invasions by creating ecological niches that make it harder for pests to find resources, while low diversity increases the risk of invasion. The study's results have important implications for fores...

SourceUSDA Forest Service ‑ Southern Research Station·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 25, 2019

How watching TV and movies helps people with attachment issues

Research suggests that people with attachment issues engage more with stories, such as movies and TV shows, to deal with relationship insecurities. They find a 'safe space' to understand their problems or imagine a functional relationship without real-life complications. This vicarious living can help them expand their social experiences.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Social and Personal Relationships·DateMar 25, 2019

Aspirin to fight an expensive global killer infection

Researchers at the Centenary Institute discovered that the tuberculosis bacterium hijacks platelets from the body's blood clotting system to weaken immune systems. Using anti-platelet drugs like aspirin, they were able to prevent hijacking and allow the body to control infection better.

SourceCentenary Institute·JournalThe Journal of Infectious Diseases·DateMar 25, 2019

Advanced imaging technology predicts cardiovascular risk from inflammation detected in arteries

Researchers used advanced PET/MRI technology to analyze inflammatory processes in arteries of individuals with atherosclerotic plaques. The study found that inflammation is present at early stages of atherosclerosis, particularly in regions without developed plaques.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (F.S.P.)·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateMar 25, 2019

Drug diversity in bacteria

Bacteria can create a wide range of derivatives from simple basic structures through mechanisms similar to pharmaceutical research. This diversification allows them to counteract unknown competitors and exhibit a wide range of biological activity.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateMar 25, 2019

Widely used malaria treatment to prevent malaria in pregnant women

The study found that the widely used antimalarial sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is no longer effective in preventing malaria in areas with high levels of resistance. In areas where more than 37% of parasites carry six mutations, the effectiveness of SP appears to be fully compromised. The researchers are calling for further investiga...

SourceLiverpool School of Tropical Medicine·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·DateMar 25, 2019

Study questions value of genetic risk scores

A recent publication touted genetic risk scores as a tool for identifying patients at high risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. However, a new study questions the value of these scores, finding they have lower accuracy when considering individual patient factors.

SourceWiley·JournalAnnals of Human Genetics·DateMar 25, 2019

A petrifying virus key to evolution

A newly discovered Medusavirus giant virus provides new insights into host-virus co-evolution, with features including DNA coding for five histones and unique capsid surface proteins. The discovery suggests a lateral gene transfer model between host and virus.

SourceKyoto University·JournalJournal of Virology·DateMar 25, 2019

Phasing out air pollution emissions

A recent study suggests that rapidly phasing out air pollution emissions can prevent approximately 3.6 million avoidable deaths each year, while also increasing rainfall in drought-prone regions and limiting global warming. The researchers found that removing fossil fuel-related and all anthropogenic emissions could achieve the 2°C tar...

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 25, 2019

Earth's deep mantle flows dynamically

A new study reveals that the Earth's lower mantle is more dynamic than previously thought, with increased flow in regions where ancient ocean floors plunge into the planet's core. This discovery has significant implications for understanding how quickly Earth is cooling and the dynamic evolution of our planet.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMar 25, 2019

Study suggests how, when to support military couples after homecoming

A new study by Leanne Knobloch and her team provides guidance on supporting military couples during the reintegration process, highlighting the importance of providing ample support for at-home partners, addressing mental health symptoms, and working with couples to address relationship questions and disruptions.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Clinical Psychology·DateMar 25, 2019

Replacing sitting time with physical activity associated with lower risk of death

A new study found that replacing a half hour of sitting time with light physical activity was associated with a nearly 50% reduction in mortality among the least active participants. Replacing sedentary time with moderate-intensity physical activity was also linked to a lower risk of death, although the association was smaller.

SourceAmerican Cancer Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateMar 25, 2019

New angle of attack drives cellular HIV-reservoirs to self-destruction

A new study from Cornell University has identified a genetic regulator called SAF that helps HIV-infected macrophages avoid cell death. By blocking SAF, researchers found that infected cells self-destructed while healthy cells remained untouched, presenting a novel angle for potential therapies to selectively eradicate reservoir cells.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 25, 2019

Handshakes or contracts?

A new study found that improvements in property damage and casualties differ for fire departments with informal, formal, or contract-based collaborations. Formal contracts improve performance on goals firefighters are motivated to achieve, but may negatively impact motivation for other important goals.

SourceUniversity of Toronto, Rotman School of Management·JournalStrategic Management Journal·DateMar 25, 2019

New properties of perovskite solar cells

Researchers found that perovskite solar cells are stable up to 300 Gy of γ-radiation but suffer a rapid drop in efficiency with further increases in dose. The study aims to find more stable materials, which could make perovskite solar cells suitable for use in space

SourceUral Federal University·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateMar 25, 2019

Deforestation and drinking water quality

A study by Hisahiro Naito and Annie Mwayi Mapulanga found that deforestation in Malawi is associated with lower safe drinking water usage, despite increased runoff. The authors estimate a 9% decrease in precipitation equivalent to a 14% loss of forest area, highlighting the importance of preserving forests for water source protection.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 25, 2019

MD Anderson study may explain why immunotherapy not effective for some patients with metastatic melanoma and kidney cancer

A new study by MD Anderson Cancer Center suggests that certain B cells with unique characteristics can predict which patients are most likely to respond to immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma and kidney cancer. The researchers found that activated B cells with specific phenotypes were associated with a better response to treatment.

A varied menu

Researchers found that the carnivorous waterwheel plant catches a wide variety of prey, including fast-swimming animals and slow-moving snails. The plant's diverse diet may be an adaptation to its fragmented habitats.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalIntegrative Organismal Biology·DateMar 25, 2019

Matter waves and quantum splinters

Researchers at Rice University and Austria's Vienna University of Technology shatter ultracold BECs, revealing two distinct phenomena depending on the frequency of shaking. The team observes grains of varying sizes in some experiments, attributed to quantum correlations that challenge standard theories.

SourceRice University·JournalPhysical Review X·DateMar 25, 2019

Listening to the quantum vacuum

Physicists have created a device that can detect and measure quantum radiation pressure noise, a significant source of uncertainty in gravitational wave detectors. The breakthrough aims to improve the sensitivity of next-generation detectors, potentially leading to more accurate detections.

SourceLouisiana State University·JournalNature·DateMar 25, 2019

New insights into genetics of fly longevity

A new study published by the Moskalev Lab has revealed how overexpressing the pro-longevity gene Gclc in Drosophila melanogaster leads to life extension and changes in the thorax's transcriptome, including genes involved in metabolism, immune system, and circadian rhythmicity.

SourceInSilico Medicine·JournalFrontiers in Genetics·DateMar 25, 2019

Study: Chinese youth more hawkish than older generations

A new study by Cornell University professor Jessica Chen Weiss reveals that younger Chinese are more hawkish in their foreign policy beliefs compared to older generations. The majority of the Chinese public supports greater military reliance and increased defense spending. However, opinions are sensitive to broader information and stra...

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of Contemporary China·DateMar 25, 2019

Hubble captures birth of giant storm on Neptune

A team of planetary scientists used Hubble images to track the growth of a new Great Dark Spot on Neptune, finding that dark spots originate deeper in the planet's atmosphere than previously thought. The study also revealed that these storms occur with a frequency of every four to six years and last up to six years.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMar 25, 2019

Wagers winter plants make to survive

Ecologists at the University of Arizona identified a tradeoff between water use and reproduction that allows winter desert plants to survive. The study found that plants conserving water and growing slowly, or spending water by tracking rainfall, are best balanced along this tradeoff.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalEcology Letters·DateMar 25, 2019

LSU Health study reports continued PTSD in women exposed to deepwater horizon oil spill

A recent LSU Health study reports high levels of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among women exposed to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The research found that nearly half of these women did not receive mental health treatment in the past year, underscoring the need for better access to care.

SourceLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center·JournalJournal of Affective Disorders·DateMar 25, 2019