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Science News Archive March 2019 - Page 5


Page 5 of 43

Mount Kilimanjaro: Ecosystems in global change

A recent study on Mount Kilimanjaro reveals that land use and climate interactions significantly impact tropical mountain ecosystems, resulting in reduced biodiversity and altered ecological functions. The research found that different elevation zones exhibit varying levels of change, with the savanna zone being particularly vulnerable.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature·DateMar 27, 2019

3D printer threads electronic fibers onto fabrics

Scientists have developed a method to print electronic fibers onto fabrics using a 3D printer. The technique allows for the creation of flexible, wearable hybrid materials with unprecedented properties, enabling the integration of functions such as sensing and actuating into smart wearable systems.

SourceCell Press·JournalMatter·DateMar 27, 2019

GRAVITY instrument breaks new ground in exoplanet imaging

The GRAVITY instrument has made the first direct observation of an exoplanet, revealing a complex atmosphere with clouds of iron and silicates swirling in a planet-wide storm. This achievement showcases the unique possibilities for characterising many known exoplanets.

SourceESO·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·DateMar 27, 2019

Birds bug out over coffee

A University of Delaware study found that certain native tree species provide better food resources for insects and attract migratory birds to coffee farms. Shade-grown coffee farms can serve as habitat refuges for wildlife, improving farm productivity and biodiversity.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalBiotropica·DateMar 27, 2019

Two novel pancreatic cancer cell lines with highly metastatic activity were established and analyzed

Researchers established two human pancreatic cancer cell sublines with high metastasis potential, MIA PaCa-2 In8 and Panc-1 In8, which demonstrated increased migration, invasion, and clonogenic abilities compared to their parental cells. The study also identified a dysregulated lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) net...

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Life Sciences·DateMar 27, 2019

Codifying the universal language of honey bees

Virginia Tech researchers Margaret Couvillon and Roger Schürch have decoded the universal language of honey bees, allowing scientists to interpret the insects' sophisticated communications. By deciphering waggle dances, they hope to better understand pollinators' preferred forages and food sources.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalAnimal Behaviour·DateMar 27, 2019

Physicists constrain dark matter

Researchers have constrained a theoretical model of dark matter particles using data from Earth-based radio telescopes. The study found that ultralight particles interact weakly with photons, making them hard to study, but also revealed a constraint on the available models describing dark matter composition.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalJournal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics·DateMar 27, 2019

Signs of 1906 earthquake revealed in mapping of offshore northern San Andreas Fault

A new study published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America has revealed signs of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake in a high-resolution map of the offshore northern San Andreas Fault. The map shows two large zones of slope failure on the seafloor, indicating that the fault ruptured in multiple strands.

SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalBulletin of the Seismological Society of America·DateMar 27, 2019

Solving a hairy forensic problem

Researchers developed a new method to distinguish between drug ingestion and external contamination of hair by analyzing single hairs from volunteers. The team found that splitting the hair lengthwise increased sensitivity for zolpidem detection, allowing them to separate ingestion from contamination.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalAnalytical Chemistry·DateMar 27, 2019

Rivers raged on Mars late into its history

A new study by UChicago scientists found significant river runoff persisted on Mars later into its history than previously thought. The intense runoff, which was wider than those on Earth today, occurred at hundreds of locations and suggests a complex climate with strong greenhouse effects.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 27, 2019

Helping infants survive brain cancer

Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys have created a mouse model of choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC), a challenging type of brain cancer that affects young children. The study identified three promising drug compounds with biological activity, including dinaciclib and flavopiridol.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalCancer Research·DateMar 27, 2019

The salt-craving neurons

Researchers at Caltech have identified specific neurons responsible for salt cravings in the mouse brain, which are triggered by oral sodium signals. These findings could potentially lead to new avenues for regulating sodium intake and mitigating health issues related to excessive salt consumption.

Harvesting water energy using slippery surfaces

Scientists have developed a new triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) called SLIPS-TENG, which can convert mechanical energy into electrical energy in harsh environments. The device uses a slippery lubricant-impregnated porous surface to address durability and biofilm coverage issues.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateMar 27, 2019