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Science News for November 5, 2019


Jaw-some wombats may be great survivors

A recent study reveals that wombat jaws appear to change in relation to their diets, allowing them to adapt to tougher plants due to climate change. The research suggests that individual shapes of wombat skulls are related to an individual's diet and feeding preferences, enabling short-term adaptations.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalFrontiers in Zoology·DateNov 5, 2019

Web-based calculator predicts risk of death, complications from diabetes and obesity

A new web-based calculator predicts a patient's likelihood of dying from complications or experiencing serious health issues due to type 2 diabetes and obesity, whether they undergo metabolic surgery or continue with standard medical therapy. The Individualized Diabetes Complication Risk Calculator provides a personalized risk score ba...

Perovskite solar cells get an upgrade

Rice University scientists have overcome a major hurdle keeping perovskite-based solar cells from achieving mainstream use by engineering defects and retaining efficiency. They replaced lead with indium, resulting in cells that can be made in open air and last for months.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateNov 5, 2019

What we can learn from Indigenous land management

A new report highlights the importance of incorporating Indigenous decision-making and worldviews into environmental management, driving innovative solutions to pressing issues. By recognizing Indigenous sovereignty and relational ontologies, institutions can enhance sustainable approaches to land and water management.

SourceFlinders University·JournalGeographical Research·DateNov 5, 2019

Does climate change affect real estate prices? Only if you believe in it

A new study from the UBC Sauder School of Business reveals that homes projected to be underwater due to climate change sell for roughly 7% more than comparable homes in areas where people don't believe in climate change. The difference is significant, with implications for real estate investors and homeowners.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia - Sauder School of Business·JournalReview of Financial Studies·DateNov 5, 2019

Straight from the source

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have uncovered a novel process by which phototrophic microbes can accept electrons from solid and soluble substances. This discovery, published in mBio, could lead to the development of bacterial platforms that feed on electricity and carbon dioxide to produce valuable compounds.

STD crowd-diagnosis requests on social media

Researchers analyzed Reddit postings to understand the demand for crowd-diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases. The study found that a significant proportion of requests were made after consulting with healthcare professionals, raising questions about the role of social media in healthcare decision-making.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateNov 5, 2019

Behavioral therapy for insomnia shows benefit for children with autism and their parents

A pilot study found that cognitive behavioral therapy significantly improved sleep quality and behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as reduced parent fatigue. After eight sessions of therapy, 85% of the children no longer experienced insomnia, and their parents reported better sleep and reduced fatigue.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalAutism Research·DateNov 5, 2019

Palm oil: Less fertilizer and no herbicide but same yield?

A large-scale experiment by the University of Göttingen has shown that reducing fertilizer input and eliminating herbicides in palm oil plantations can maintain profits while promoting biodiversity and soil health. The study's preliminary results are encouraging, suggesting a potential environmentally sustainable approach to the industry.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalFrontiers in Forests and Global Change·DateNov 5, 2019

Your dog might be hiding its true colors

A study from Purdue University found that some breeds of dogs have hidden coat colors and other traits due to genetic variations. The researchers analyzed data from 212 dog breeds and discovered that up to 48 breeds possess the tailless gene variant, often at low frequencies.

SourcePurdue University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 5, 2019

Mind-body therapies alleviate pain in people prescribed opioids

A new study found that mind-body therapies such as meditation/mindfulness, hypnosis, and cognitive-behavioral therapy can significantly reduce pain severity and opioid use among patients treated with prescription opioids. These findings have critical implications for medical professionals seeking effective treatments for pain management.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateNov 5, 2019

Achilles heel of tumor cells

A team of scientists has identified a specific gene, eIF2B5, that is essential for the survival of colon cancer cells with APC mutations. Inhibiting this gene causes programmed cell death in mutated cells but not in healthy cells, providing a promising new target for antitumor therapies.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateNov 5, 2019

Changes in high-altitude winds over the South Pacific produce long-term effects

A new study found that changes in high-altitude winds over the South Pacific produce fundamental effects on ocean circulation and the stability of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. The research also reveals closer atmospheric ties between mid-latitudes and the tropics, with significant implications for global climate mechanisms.

SourceAlfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 5, 2019

Substance use, misuse and dependence: A PLOS Medicine special issue

The PLOS Medicine special issue examines the challenges of substance use and misuse, including opioid epidemic in the US and differences in risks among refugees and non-refugee migrants. Research findings suggest that programmes focusing on prescription opioids may be missing a growing proportion of people at risk of harm from opioid m...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateNov 5, 2019

SMART discovers breakthrough way to look at the surface of nanoparticles

Researchers from SMART have discovered a new method called Molecular Probe Adsorption (MPA) that enables the exploration of nanoparticle surfaces without damaging them. This breakthrough technique is substantially faster and cheaper than existing chemical methods, allowing for universal characterization of nanoparticles with any geomet...

Potential drug targets for glioblastoma identified

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified 10 novel glioblastoma-specific endothelial cell transcripts that could represent potential tumour-targets for therapy. The study uses a new method to process human brain tissue data and identifies disease-related changes in cells lining tumour blood vessels.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalCell Reports·DateNov 5, 2019

Talk to the hand

Researchers at the University of Missouri found that when a person loses a hand, both 'hand areas' of the brain become dedicated to the remaining healthy hand. Functional MRI scans revealed that the brain reorganizes its neural map and reroutes functions to the remaining hand after deprivation of input from a lost hand.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalNeuroImage·DateNov 5, 2019

Why is ice so slippery

A thin layer of liquid water, much thinner than expected, is found to reduce friction on ice, with complex viscoelastic properties. This film's unusual behavior contradicts existing theories and offers new insights into ice gliding and winter sports.

SourceCNRS·JournalPhysical Review X·DateNov 5, 2019

Ultrafast quantum motion in a nanoscale trap detected

Scientists have developed a protocol to measure ultrafast electronic dynamics with picosecond resolution, revealing the spatial oscillation of electrons at sub-terahertz frequencies. The detection scheme utilizes a quantum-mechanical resonant state formed beside the trap, providing new insights into nano-electronics and quantum computing.

Conservatives more likely to support climate policy if they report harm due to extreme weather

A new study finds that conservatives who report personal harm from extreme weather events, such as wildfires or floods, are more likely to support climate change mitigation policies. The study surveyed over 1,600 residents in communities affected by extreme weather events and found a significant link between reported harm and support f...

SourceOregon State University·JournalGlobal Environmental Change·DateNov 5, 2019

Are students getting enough air?

A recent study found that only 15% of California K-12 classrooms met the recommended ventilation standard, leading to high CO2 levels and thermal discomfort. The researchers recommend improvements such as commissioning, fan operation, filter replacement, and CO2 monitoring to ensure adequate air quality.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalBuilding and Environment·DateNov 5, 2019

Persistent drizzle at sub-zero temps in Antarctica

Researchers recorded persistent drizzle at temperatures below minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit in Antarctica, with the presence of low concentrations of airborne particles contributing to its formation. The findings have implications for improving the accuracy of climate models in polar regions.

Infectious cancer in mussels spread across the Atlantic

A study published in eLife reveals that an infectious cancer has spread to two different species of mussels on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, likely due to accidental transport on ships. The cancer is believed to have originated from a single mussel with a primary cancer and has since infected multiple species across the globe.

SourceeLife·DateNov 5, 2019

When managing a company, less is more

Michigan State University researchers identified key elements of a company's product portfolio and brand strategy that drive success in marketing. The study found that developing high-quality brands within a portfolio and innovating products are critical to maximizing sales and market share.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalJournal of Marketing Research·DateNov 5, 2019

World scientists declare climate emergency

A global team of scientists declares a climate emergency, warning of 'untold human suffering' without drastic shifts in human activities contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. The declaration outlines six areas of action, including energy conservation, reducing short-lived pollutants, and stabilizing the global population.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalBioScience·DateNov 5, 2019

'Big data' for life sciences

A new co-regulation map of the human proteome has been created, enabling the prediction and assignment of functions to uncharacterized human proteins. The map reveals unexpected partnerships between proteins, including peroxisomal membrane protein PEX11β with mitochondrial respiration factors.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateNov 5, 2019