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Science News Archive October 2019 - Page 11


Page 11 of 47

Birds do not habituate to traffic noise

Researchers found that birds in constant traffic noise had lower levels of corticosterone in their blood compared to quiet environments. This suppression may protect against negative effects of chronic stress on the immune system. Chicks from noisy parents were also smaller but caught up after leaving the nest.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalConservation Biology·DateOct 25, 2019

Small magnets reveal big secrets

A microscopic process of electron spin dynamics in nanoparticles has been identified, which could have wide-ranging impact on applications in medicine, quantum computation, and spintronics. The research provides insights into the principles of energy dissipation in nanomagnets, enabling engineers to build better devices.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 25, 2019

A tale of two cities: Impact of reducing teens' access to flavored tobacco products

A new study found that enforcing restrictions on flavored tobacco products led to decreased teen use of both flavored and non-flavored tobacco. In contrast, a nearby community without such restrictions saw an increase in tobacco use among youth. The study suggests that flavor restriction policies can curb youth tobacco use in as little...

SourceElsevier·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateOct 24, 2019

Babies understand counting years earlier than believed

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University discovered that babies can recognize counting as a way to describe quantity, even before they can verbally express the numbers. The study found that when toys were counted aloud, babies showed an understanding of the approximate number and expected more than one toy to be pulled from the box.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalDevelopmental Science·DateOct 24, 2019

Scientist confirm a new 'magic number' for neutrons

Researchers at RIKEN have confirmed that atomic nuclei with 34 neutrons are more stable than expected, exhibiting strong shell closure. This finding demonstrates that 34 is a 'magic number', a set of numbers where the shells are completely filled and the nucleus exhibits unique properties.

SourceRIKEN·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 24, 2019

Lassa fever: Vaccine set to be trialed

A vaccine for Lassa fever, a hemorrhagic disease causing up to 6,000 deaths annually, is set to enter human clinical trials. The measles platform-based vaccine demonstrated the best protection against the virus in preclinical tests.

SourceInstitut Pasteur·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateOct 24, 2019

New survey shows link between comprehensive antibiotic stewardship programs and infection preventionist certification

A nationally representative survey found that nursing homes with certified infection preventionists were nearly five times more likely to have comprehensive antibiotic stewardship programs. The study highlights the importance of well-trained IPs in reducing the risk of infections and improving patient safety.

SourceElsevier·JournalAmerican Journal of Infection Control·DateOct 24, 2019

Poverty may be more critical to cognitive function than trauma in adolescent refugees

A new study found that poverty worsened the working memory of refugee youth, while exposure to war-related trauma did not have lasting impacts on executive function. The researchers suggest that addressing ongoing poverty is crucial for improving learning outcomes and educational achievement in adolescents affected by war.

SourceSociety for Research in Child Development·JournalChild Development·DateOct 24, 2019

Political affiliation may help drive and shape a person's morals

A new study found that people's moral foundations are better predicted by their political attitudes than vice versa. The researchers tracked participants' moral values and political leanings over time, revealing that those with stable political beliefs were more likely to have consistent moral foundations.

SourcePenn State·JournalAmerican Journal of Political Science·DateOct 24, 2019