Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for November 1, 2019


New printer creates extremely realistic colorful holograms

The new CHIMERA printer produces digital 3D holograms with unprecedented detail and realistic color, created using low-cost commercial lasers and high-speed printing. The printer can produce wide-field-of-view holograms with full parallax, ideal for applications such as museum displays and architectural models.

SourceOptica·JournalApplied Optics·DateNov 1, 2019

Online tool speeds response to elephant poaching by tracing ivory to source

A new online tool uses an interactive database of genetic information to help authorities quickly identify the origin of confiscated ivory from African elephants. The Loxodonta Localizer matches genetic sequences from poached ivory to those stored in the database, providing a faster and cheaper analysis than current approaches.

Here's something that will raise your blood pressure

Researchers found that activating the apelin receptor led to increased blood pressure due to vasoconstriction, a process also affected by the α1A-adrenergic receptor. The study suggests a coordinated mechanism controlling blood vessel contraction and may support therapy development for vascular stenosis and vasospasm.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalThe Journal of Biochemistry·DateNov 1, 2019

What Reddit's basketball fans can tell us about online discourse

A recent study on Reddit's basketball fans reveals that mixing fans of different teams can lead to a backfire effect, resulting in more negative comments and hate speech. The researchers found that when fans interact with opposing groups online, their language patterns deteriorate, becoming increasingly negative and confrontational.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction·DateNov 1, 2019

Harvesting genes to improve watermelons

An international team of researchers has created a comprehensive watermelon genome resource to help plant breeders increase the domestic fruit's quality and ability to thrive during an era of climate change. The resource includes genetic insights into wild watermelon species and their potential for disease resistance, paving the way fo...

SourceBoyce Thompson Institute·JournalNature Genetics·DateNov 1, 2019

Disordered proteins become stable, 'super-sticky' materials

Biomedical engineers at Duke University have developed a new method to create stable IDP-based materials by controlling environmental triggers. This allows researchers to harness the phase transition properties of IDPs to build novel materials for drug delivery, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.

SourceDuke University·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 1, 2019

ADHD across racial/ethnic groups

Researchers found significant disparities in ADHD diagnoses among racial and ethnic groups, with African Americans more likely to receive a diagnosis than Asians and Hispanics. The study's findings highlight the need for culturally tailored screening tools and diagnostic practices.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateNov 1, 2019

The last Neanderthal necklace

A team of researchers has discovered a piece of jewelry made from eagle talons, believed to be the oldest known ornament in Europe. The discovery dates back to 39,000 years ago and provides insight into the cultural practices of Neanderthals.

SourceUniversity of Barcelona·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 1, 2019

Dartmouth engineers develop new way to know liars' intent

Researchers at Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth have developed an approach for detecting a speaker's intent to mislead, which could be used to extract opinion from 'fake news.' The framework uses universal features of deceptive reasoning and has been shown to outperform models based on verbal changes and personal differences.

SourceThayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth·JournalJournal of Experimental & Theoretical Artificial Intelligence·DateNov 1, 2019