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Science News for October 21, 2019


Clay minerals call the shots with carbon

Researchers found that different clay minerals interact with organic matter to varying degrees, affecting carbon sequestration. Smectite and kaolinite form stable complexes with organic substances, while mica and chlorite bind tightly with continental carbon.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience·DateOct 21, 2019

OU-led study reveals dry season increase in photosynthesis in Amazon rain forest

A University of Oklahoma-led study found a significant increase in photosynthesis in the Amazon rainforest during the dry season, as measured by satellite-based solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence. The study provides new insights into the dynamics of Amazonian photosynthesis and its impact on global atmospheric carbon concentrations.

SourceUniversity of Oklahoma·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 21, 2019

'Artificial leaf' successfully produces clean gas

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have successfully developed an artificial leaf that can directly produce syngas, a widely-used gas currently made from fossil fuels, in a sustainable way. The device uses sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce clean gas without releasing additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature Materials·DateOct 21, 2019

International research community calls for recognition of forests' role in human prosperity

A new special issue of World Development examines the ways forests serve to alleviate poverty around the world. Research highlights the importance of forests in promoting broader prosperity, including through community-based forest enterprises, ecotourism, and ecosystem services.

Researchers watch quantum knots untie

Researchers at Aalto University have studied the dynamics of quantum knots, finding that they untie themselves within a short period before forming a vortex. This discovery opens up new avenues for experimental research and suggests that quantum knots may be more unstable than previously thought.

SourceAalto University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 21, 2019

Find FH® machine learning model flags individuals with FH for first time at national level

A new machine learning algorithm identified individuals with probable familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) for the first time at a national scale, reducing the number of people needed to be screened. The FIND FH model performed comparably well on diverse healthcare data and has been implemented in several US healthcare systems.

SourceFamily Heart Foundation·JournalThe Lancet Digital Health·DateOct 21, 2019

Speech and social class perception

Using audio recordings, researchers found that listening to speech patterns allowed strangers to accurately predict social class, age, gender, and race more than half the time. Speech patterns were less accurate for social class judgments compared to other categories, suggesting they may perpetuate social inequality.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 21, 2019

Forests on the radar

Researchers found that coarser radar data provide comparable and sometimes superior results to high-resolution laser scanning data in monitoring forest biodiversity. Better, standardized ground-based biodiversity data are needed nationwide for more effective monitoring.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 21, 2019

California's crashing kelp forest

A study found that a perfect storm of events led to the decline of California's bull kelp forests, resulting in the loss of over 90% of kelp and 96% of red abalone. Purple sea urchin populations exploded, devouring all available food sources. However, researchers are exploring urchin ranching as a potential solution to restore kelp beds.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 21, 2019

Volcanic ash sparks a new discovery

Researchers used plasma physics to study how volcanic ash modifies standing shock wave height, width, and lifetime. This discovery enables the tracking of standing shock waves in laboratory experiments, potentially leading to improved ash estimates and early predictions of hazardous plumes.

Bioprinting: Living cells in a 3D printer

Researchers at TU Wien have developed a new bioprinting process that integrates living cells into fine structures created in a 3D printer, achieving high resolution and speed. This technique allows for the control of cell behavior and growth, enabling studies on tissue development and disease spread.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalAdvanced Healthcare Materials·DateOct 21, 2019

Study finds no link between youth contact sports and cognitive, mental health problems

A new study of nearly 11,000 youth followed for 14 years found that adolescents who play contact sports are not more likely to experience cognitive impairment, depression, or suicidal thoughts later in life. In fact, football players were less likely to suffer from depression in early adulthood compared to other groups.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalOrthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine·DateOct 21, 2019

Research improves understanding of mechanism of atrial fibrillation

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have discovered a functional link between noncoding DNA regions called Pitx2 enhancers and the expression of the Pitx2 gene in relation to atrial fibrillation. This interaction prevents predisposition to the condition by looping and folding distant Pitx2 enhancers to make contact with the gene.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 21, 2019

Overshadowed

A study by Harvard Medical School found that local researchers from sub-Saharan Africa are often excluded from first and senior author positions when collaborating with high-income country authors. This bias affects representation of local authors, particularly in top-tier universities.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalBMJ Global Health·DateOct 21, 2019

Is cigarette type associated with lung cancer outcomes?

A study of over 14,000 participants found associations between specific cigarette characteristics and lung cancer outcomes. Researchers analyzed data from a lung screening trial to investigate the impact of cigarette filter status, tar level, and menthol flavor on lung cancer outcomes.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateOct 21, 2019

Lead poisoning reduced with safer mining practices

A pilot program introducing safer mining practices in Nigerian gold mining communities has reduced blood lead levels among miners by 32%. The study, published in the British Medical Journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, also found that women miners experienced lower reductions in lead levels. The project's success demonstrat...

SourceOK International·JournalOccupational and Environmental Medicine·DateOct 21, 2019

Images offer most detailed glimpse yet into how skin senses temperature

Columbia University researchers have captured the most detailed images yet of a temperature-sensing molecule in its open, intermediate, and closed states. The findings will help us understand the mechanics of hot and cold sensation, which could accelerate the development of drugs for inflammatory skin disease, itch, and pain.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateOct 21, 2019

GenBank can be trusted

A recent study analyzed over 4.7 million mtDNA sequences from GenBank and found fewer errors than predicted, with less than 1% of sequences mislabeled. The researchers identified potential sources of error, such as human or lab animal contamination, but overall found GenBank to be a reliable tool for environmental DNA identification.

SourceSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 21, 2019

Catastrophic events carry forests of trees thousands of miles to a burial at sea

Research team finds wood chips from ancient trees dating back 19 million years in ocean core samples, revealing a previously unrecognized way carbon remains locked away for millions of years. The discovery suggests that the amount of carbon exported and buried by modern rivers may be 50% greater than previously thought.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 21, 2019

Closures affect 1 in 8 pharmacies in the US

A study by researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago found that one in eight pharmacies in the US closed between 2009 and 2015. Independent pharmacies in urban areas are disproportionately affected, with nearly half closing due to lack of access to preferred pharmacy networks and 340B contracts.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateOct 21, 2019

Family members can assist in preventing post-operative delirium by as much as 16.8%

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that adapting the Hospital Elder Life Program for non-volunteers and family members can effectively prevent post-operative delirium. The tailored intervention reduced delirium occurrence by 19.4% compared to usual care, with greater functional and cognitive recovery afterwards.

Analysis of US pharmacy closures

Pharmacy closures in the US are becoming increasingly common, with significant implications for patient access to essential medications and care. The research letter highlights several risk factors associated with closure, including demographic changes, consolidation of pharmacies, and regulatory issues.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateOct 21, 2019

Song-learning neurons identified in songbirds

A study published in PNAS reveals that corticobasal ganglia projecting neurons play a crucial role in song learning during juvenile development. In contrast, adult birds with disrupted projection neurons maintain their pre-learned song structure and exhibit normal vocal fluctuations.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 21, 2019

Mystery solved: Ocean acidity in the last mass extinction

A Yale University study reveals that the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event was triggered by a sharp drop in ocean acidity, leading to the demise of marine calcifiers and a 50% decline in species productivity. The research provides new insights into the recovery of marine life after the event.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 21, 2019

New deep-water coral discovered

Researchers have discovered a new species of deep-water coral, Psammogorgia pax, in the Pacific Ocean off Panama. This find is significant for its contribution to understanding the ecology and biodiversity of mesophotic coral communities, which are difficult to access and require increased protection.

SourceSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute·JournalBulletin of Marine Science·DateOct 21, 2019

Uncovering the principles behind RNA folding

A Northwestern University research team discovered similarities in RNA folding among riboswitches, which could impact the design of future RNA-specific therapeutics and synthetic biology tools. The findings could also inform efforts to treat diseases triggered by RNA-level misfolding.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateOct 21, 2019