Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for May 23, 2019


Initially threatened by change, people adapt to societal diversity over time

A recent study published in PNAS found that people can adapt to societal diversity and actually benefit from it. Researchers analyzed data from multiple surveys across 100 countries and found that religious diversity was initially negatively associated with quality of life but later became neutral when measured over longer spans of time.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 23, 2019

Removing carbon dioxide from an air stream

A team of UD engineers has developed a fuel cell system that can efficiently remove carbon dioxide from an air stream, making it possible to use fuel cells in transportation applications. The system uses an electrochemical pump to capture CO2, allowing for the production of a CO2-free air stream suitable for fuel cells.

New boost for ToCoTronics

The University of Würzburg's ToCoTronics SFB has secured additional funding to continue research on topological materials. The project aims to optimize material quality, generate new interfaces with superconductors and ferromagnets, and explore spin-orbital coupling with Coulomb interaction.

Phase transitions: The math behind the music

A physics professor at Case Western Reserve University has developed a theory that explains how basic ordered patterns emerge in music using statistical mechanics. The theory reveals that the same principles guiding physical systems also govern musical harmony, shedding new light on the fundamental structure of music.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 23, 2019

Chemical juggling with three particles

Chemists from Bonn University and Columbia University have discovered a novel catalytic method that can produce Markovnikov alcohols, previously thought to be impossible. The new mechanism uses two catalysts and strictly coordinated reactions to achieve the desired outcome without by-products.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalScience·DateMay 23, 2019

Did Leonardo da Vinci have ADHD?

A study suggests that Leonardo da Vinci, the iconic artist, might have had ADHD due to his chronic procrastination and difficulty completing projects. His exceptional creativity and achievements across art and science could be linked to this condition.

SourceKing's College London·JournalBrain·DateMay 23, 2019

Study reveals the evolution and diversity of Leptospira bacteria

A recent study has sequenced the genomes of Leptospira bacteria from around the globe, revealing 30 new species and reorganizing the genus into four distinct lineages. The findings provide new insights into the evolution and diversity of Leptospira bacteria, which are a major cause of zoonotic disease affecting millions worldwide.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateMay 23, 2019

Social media data reveal benefits or threats to biodiversity by visitors to nature locations

A study using social media data revealed that popular bird species sites have higher visitation rates, while sites with high tourism facilities receive more visitors. The research suggests that these areas face potentially great threats or opportunities due to high numbers of visitors, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalThe Science of The Total Environment·DateMay 23, 2019

Interactive quantum chemistry in virtual reality

Scientists from the University of Bristol and ETH Zurich have developed an interactive VR software framework that enables humans to train machine-learning algorithms using 'on-the-fly' quantum mechanics calculations. This allows for high-quality training data generation, improving machine learning models and accelerating scientific dis...

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry A·DateMay 23, 2019

Trace metal exposure among pregnant women living near fracking wells in Canada

A pilot study found pregnant women living near fracking wells in northeastern British Columbia had higher concentrations of barium, aluminium, strontium and manganese in their hair and urine compared to the general population. The study suggests that exposure to these metals could be linked to health risks for mothers and children.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalJournal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology·DateMay 23, 2019

On Mars, sands shift to a different drum

A team of planetary scientists found that processes on Mars differ significantly from those on Earth, with large-scale features and differences in landform surface temperature playing key roles. The study reveals that active sand dunes are concentrated in three distinct regions, including Syrtis Major and North Polar Erg.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalGeology·DateMay 23, 2019

Marching for climate change may sway people's beliefs and actions

Research suggests that climate change marches can increase collective efficacy beliefs, making people more optimistic about working together to address the issue. Participants who regularly consumed conservative media showed increased efficacy, while those who watched liberal media had more favorable impressions of marchers.

SourcePenn State·JournalFrontiers in Communication·DateMay 23, 2019

Creativity: A question of impulsiveness

A study by FAU economists reveals that an individual's impulsiveness plays a significant role in determining the most effective way to allocate time between creative and routine tasks. The researchers found that impulsive individuals perform better when given the freedom to choose their own working model, while less impulsive individua...

SourceFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg·JournalCreativity and Innovation Management·DateMay 23, 2019

Tiny fish a big lure for life on coral reefs

Researchers at Simon Fraser University discovered that tiny fish species around the world are a crucial food source for larger fishes on coral reefs. These 'cryptobenthic' fishes dominate larval communities near reefs and create a steady stream of babies that rapidly replaces each adult fish devoured on the reef.

SourceSimon Fraser University·JournalScience·DateMay 23, 2019

Building next gen smart materials with the power of sound

Scientists from RMIT University have created a clean, green technique to produce customised MOFs in minutes, harnessing the precision power of high-frequency sound waves. This innovative approach avoids traditional methods' environmental impacts and produces ready-to-use MOFs quickly and sustainably.

SourceRMIT University·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 23, 2019

Embedded psychiatrist in pediatric clinic improves evaluation access, short-term treatment

A novel method of embedding child psychiatric care in an urban pediatrics clinic increases access to and engagement in psychiatric care among primarily Latino patients. The study found that nearly two-thirds of referred patients completed evaluations, with younger children and those with a history of therapy more likely to do so.

SourceBoston Medical Center·JournalJournal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved·DateMay 23, 2019

ALS research reveals new treatment approach

Scientists from Sanford Burnham Prebys have revealed a new mechanism for ALS' pathogenesis and suggest that modulating membralin has potential in ALS therapy. A membralin-boosting gene therapy extended the survival of mice with ALS-like symptoms, providing an important new perspective into the disease.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMay 23, 2019

Systems biology of antibiotics

Dr. Ana Rita Brochado's research focuses on gram-negative bacteria, which are difficult to treat due to their complex cellular envelope. Her work has shown that certain bacterial strains can be effectively combated using antibiotic combinations and food compounds, like vanillin.

These fruit bats trade food for sex

In a study on Egyptian fruit bats, researchers found that females consistently take food from male peers and eventually mate with them. The findings support the 'food-for-sex' hypothesis in this species.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMay 23, 2019

The age of water

A new study from the University of Delaware has shed light on the age and origin of groundwaters in Egyptian aquifers using chlorine isotopes as chemical tracers. The research found that some groundwater samples are up to 200,000 years old, indicating a complex interaction between shallow and deep aquifers.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateMay 23, 2019

Wolf-dog 'swarms' threaten Europe's wolves

Scientists agree on the need to address wolf-dog hybridization but are divided on its management, threatening Europe's wolves. The study highlights the importance of educating people about the impact of free-roaming dogs and removing hybrids from small wild populations.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and Evolution·DateMay 23, 2019

Exposure to air pollution before and after birth may affect fundamental cognitive abilities

A new study found that exposure to particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 μm during pregnancy and childhood is associated with reduced fundamental cognitive abilities, such as working memory and executive attention in boys. The study included 2,221 children between 7 and 10 years old attending schools in Barcelona.

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalEnvironmental Health Perspectives·DateMay 23, 2019

Measuring methane from coal and gas in Pennsylvania informative

A team of researchers found that methane emissions from natural gas in Pennsylvania are significantly lower than those from coal, but not negligible. The study used a ratio of methane to ethane to determine the sources of emissions and estimated that natural gas production has about half the carbon footprint of coal mining.

SourcePenn State·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMay 23, 2019

New in Ethics & Human Research, May-June 2019

A study explores how parents make decisions about enrolling their critically ill children in research, finding that low-risk studies with potential benefits to future children are more likely to be enrolled. Another article highlights the importance of considering inclusion benefits in ethics committee assessments of research studies.

SourceThe Hastings Center·JournalEthics & Human Research·DateMay 23, 2019

Family crucial to orca survival

A CNRS and University of La Rochelle research team studied the impact of a fishing operation on orca populations. The study found that orcas who lost family members due to the fishing operation adopted erratic social behavior, leading to reduced access to food and ultimately higher mortality rates.

SourceCNRS·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 23, 2019

Group practice of Transcendental Meditation dramatically reduced violence in Cambodia, new study shows

A new study published in Studies in Asian Social Science found that group practice of Transcendental Meditation reduced sociopolitical violence in Cambodia by 96.2% between 1993 and 2008. The likelihood of this decline occurring randomly was one in 10 million, suggesting a coherence-creating effect on society.

SourceMaharishi International University·JournalStudies in Asian Social Science·DateMay 23, 2019

What we think we know -- but might not -- pushes us to learn more

A study from the University of California, Berkeley found that uncertainty about what one knows leads to the most curiosity and learning. Tailoring classroom learning to students' misconceptions can be an effective way to stimulate curiosity and motivation to learn. The study's findings expand on Maria Montessori's child-centered appro...

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalPsychonomic Bulletin & Review·DateMay 23, 2019

Strengthening fundamental research in Africa

The project aims to deepen early career researchers' understanding of the value of science for its own sake and foster their interest in conceptual fundamental research. The PAPA programme will provide an educational programme, intensive education and supervision, workshops, and a mentoring programme to support the scholars.