Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for March 26, 2019


When tempers flare, nurses' injuries could rise

A study by researchers at Michigan State University found that social factors can contribute to muscle and joint pain in nurses. When support is perceived as uneven, tempers rise, leading to increased risk of injuries. Implementing strategies to improve the social environment for nurses may reduce stress and promote physical health.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalWork and Occupations·DateMar 26, 2019

Student loan forgiveness programs driving physicians to primary care

Research finds that student loan forgiveness incentives influence new doctors' choice of specialty, with 35% of top-debt-quartile physicians practicing in primary care after using loan forgiveness programs. The article emphasizes the need to expand these programs to address the growing shortage of primary care physicians.

SourceAmerican Osteopathic Association·JournalThe Journal of the American Osteopathic Association·DateMar 26, 2019

Land conservation helps local economies grow

A new analysis by Harvard University shows that land conservation modestly increases employment rates in New England cities and towns, even when controlling for other factors. The study found small gains in median household income and population, as well as employment growth in recreation and tourism industries.

SourceHarvard University·JournalConservation Biology·DateMar 26, 2019

Bacteria could become a future source of electricity

Researchers at Lund University have achieved a more efficient transfer of electrical current from bacteria to electrodes, paving the way for potential use in biofuel cells and other energy applications. The discovery also sheds light on how bacteria communicate with their surroundings, including other molecules and each other.

SourceLund University·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·DateMar 26, 2019

Droughts could hit aging power plants hard

A new study by Duke University finds that droughts and rising water temperatures will significantly impact US power plants' generating capacity. The researchers recommend replacing traditional once-through cooling systems with recirculating cooling systems to mitigate these effects.

SourceDuke University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateMar 26, 2019

Protein 'spat out' by cancer cells promotes tumor growth

Researchers at the University of Bradford discovered a protein, EN2, released by cancer cells that alters normal cell behavior, promoting tumour growth and evading the immune system. The study found that both cancer and normal cells take up the protein, leading to changes in shape or fusion, allowing cancer cells to reactivate and spread.

SourceUniversity of Bradford·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 26, 2019

Stranded dolphins have amyloid plaques in their brains

A recent study discovered amyloid plaques in the brains of stranded dolphins in Florida and Massachusetts, similar to those found in humans with Alzheimer's disease. The presence of these plaques, along with an environmental toxin produced by cyanobacterial blooms, highlights the potential risks of toxic exposures in marine environments.

SourceTager & Company, LLC·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMar 26, 2019

Artificial womb technology breaks its 4 minute mile

A major breakthrough in artificial womb technology has demonstrated its ability to support extremely preterm babies equivalent to a human fetus at 24 weeks of gestation. The study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology shows that the technology can maintain stable, growth-normal state for five days.

Illinois researchers to implement, study STEM program for high school, middle schools

The University of Illinois is launching a 3-year program to improve diversity in STEM fields through targeted support for school counselors and year-round STEM experiences. The program aims to increase diversity among underrepresented groups, with partnerships from various organizations. By providing additional resources and support, t...

The solid Earth breathes

Researchers developed a new method to investigate tectonic C cycling in the complex Sunda margin, finding that only a fraction of sedimentary carbon returns to the Earth, contributing to atmospheric CO2. This discovery has significant implications for understanding the solid Earth's role in regulating global climate.

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeology·DateMar 26, 2019

Ancient Caribbean children helped with grocery shopping in AD 400

Researchers suggest that snail and clam shells found at Caribbean archaeological sites may indicate child involvement in foraging and grocery shopping. Children's contributions to their own subsistence were more efficient and meaningful than previously thought, changing the way archaeologists think about site materials and distribution.

SourceFlorida Museum of Natural History·JournalJournal of Anthropological Archaeology·DateMar 26, 2019

Sometimes it's not good to be green

The study estimates that global lake greening could increase methane emissions by 30-90% over the next century. This is attributed to human population growth, climate change, and increased stormwater runoff, which lead to eutrophication and oxygen depletion in lakes.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 26, 2019

Probiotic bacteria evolve inside mice's GI tracts

A new study found that probiotic bacteria can evolve and change inside the mouse's gut, making them less effective and sometimes harmful. The researchers discovered that the bacteria's DNA changes and they develop new capabilities after living in the mice's intestines for a few weeks.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateMar 26, 2019

Infertility's roots in DNA packaging

Researchers at Kyoto University have made a breakthrough in understanding the root cause of abnormal sperm morphology in infertile mice. By modifying a single amino acid on a key protein, they were able to restore fertility in test mice, opening up new possibilities for treating infertility.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScience Signaling·DateMar 26, 2019

How the brain 'mentalizes' cooperation

Researchers found the temporoparietal junction significantly activated during cooperative tasks, indicating its role in facilitating cooperation. The anterior part of this region fires off information to the mentalizing system, controlling the flow of information.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalNeuroImage·DateMar 26, 2019

In the tree of life, youth has its advantages

A recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that younger groups of organisms diversify faster than older ones, challenging traditional explanations for the Tree of Life's imbalance. This suggests that time-dependent general principles govern life's diversity on Earth, operating beneath other factors

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 26, 2019

The income gap, growing

A recent study by Robert Manduca at Harvard University reveals that income inequality is a major driver of the growing income gap between different regions in the United States. The study shows that over the past forty years, the number of people living in communities at the extreme ends of the income scale has increased three-fold, wi...

SourceHarvard University·JournalSocial Forces·DateMar 26, 2019

Control of mosquito-borne diseases

Researchers identified a novel mobile genetic element, pWCP, in the Wolbachia bacterium of Culex pipiens mosquitoes. This discovery opens up new avenues for understanding interactions between the bacterium and its host, as well as its role in pathogen transmission.

SourceCirad·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 26, 2019

Bringing endangered species back from the brink

Researchers at Oxford University have developed a method to produce eggs from ovarian tissue in labs, providing new hope for the critically endangered Northern White Rhino. The technique could enable conservationists to pull species back from extinction by utilizing ovarian tissue from old or injured animals.

Immune-repelling protein prolongs function, survival of human stem-cell-derived beta cells

A team from Massachusetts General Hospital has developed a new method to encapsulate human stem-cell-derived beta cells, which restored glucose metabolism in diabetic mice and protected the cells from immune system attack. The use of an immune-repellent protein, CXCL12, significantly prolonged the survival and function of the cells.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalAmerican Journal of Transplantation·DateMar 26, 2019

Trained musicians perform better -- at paying attention

A study published in Heliyon found that trained musicians exhibit greater executive control of attention than non-musicians, with improved performance linked to increased years of training. This suggests that musical training can enhance cognitive abilities beyond music-specific skills.

SourceElsevier·JournalHeliyon·DateMar 26, 2019

Compared to sustained inflations for extremely premature infants, standard treatment prevails

A large multicenter trial found that standard intermittent positive pressure ventilation did not reduce the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or death at 36 weeks postmenstrual age for extremely preterm infants. In contrast, sustained inflations did not appear beneficial in reducing BPD risk and mortality in this vulnerable popu...