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Science News for September 26, 2019


Cause of antibiotic resistance identified

Researchers at Newcastle University have confirmed that bacteria can lose their cell wall to avoid detection by antibiotics, leading to recurring urinary tract infections. The study found that L-form switching allows bacteria to survive and re-form their cell wall, making it harder for the immune system to target them.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 26, 2019

Compute at the speed of light

A research team at the University of Delaware has designed an integrated photonics platform with a one-dimensional metalens and metasurfaces, limiting information loss and enabling high signal transmission. The device demonstrates functionalities of Fourier transformation and differentiation, critical techniques in physical sciences.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 26, 2019

Shocking heat waves stabilize single atoms

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory successfully stabilized single atoms using record-high temperatures of up to 2000 K. The method enables the creation of stable single atom catalysts, which can remain in their place for unprecedented periods of time, maximizing atom-use efficiency and improving catalytic performance.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateSep 26, 2019

How neuronal recognition of songbird calls unfolds over time

Scientists have created a novel approach to analyze neuronal response to different call meanings in songbirds. The analysis shows that initial responses contain information about the call's meaning, with additional information accumulating up to 600 milliseconds. Individual neurons play a significant role in categorizing call meanings.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateSep 26, 2019

The secret of motivation

Researchers identified a neural circuit in fruit flies that controls perseverance, with dopamine and octopamine neurotransmitters playing a key role. The finding suggests that simple organisms like fruit flies exhibit stamina and perseverance, challenging the idea that these traits are unique to humans.

Chemists clarify a chiral conundrum?

Rice chemists disentangled the mysterious interactions between bovine serum albumin and gold nanorods, revealing multilevel chirality and a possible way to sense single proteins' handedness. This discovery could lead to the development of drug-sensing tools with improved accuracy.

SourceRice University·JournalScience·DateSep 26, 2019

NIST goes with the (slow) flow: New technique could improve biotech, precision medicine

Researchers at NIST have created an optical system that can measure the flow of extremely small amounts of liquids with high accuracy. The technique relies on a laser interacting with light-sensitive molecules in a liquid flowing through a microchannel, allowing for precise control of flow rates as low as 2 nanoliters per minute.

Teenage acne may be a natural, transient inflammatory state

Researchers propose that teenage acne is a naturally occurring, inflammatory state caused by the sudden change in skin microbiota composition and increased sebum production during adolescence. This hypothesis challenges conventional thinking and may explain special clinical characteristics of acne.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Immunology·DateSep 26, 2019

Dishing the dirt on an early man cave

A team of scientists uncovered new details about day-to-day life in the famous Denisova Cave complex in Siberia's Altai Mountains. Microscopic studies of fossil droppings and charcoal from ancient fires indicate that large carnivores such as hyenas, wolves, and bears dominated the landscape for over 300,000 years.

SourceFlinders University·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 26, 2019

Using the immune system as a defence against cancer

Researchers at King's College London have discovered that β-Galactoside-Binding Protein (βGBP) can selectively target and kill cancer cells while stimulating the immune system to provide long-term protection against cancer recurrence. The study presents a promising new strategy for treating aggressive forms of cancer.

SourceKing's College London·JournalBritish Journal of Cancer·DateSep 26, 2019

A planet that should not exist

Astronomers detected a massive planet, GJ 3512b, orbiting the small red dwarf star GJ 3512, defying predictions of theoretical models. The discovery poses questions about planetary formation mechanisms and encourages further research.

SourceUniversity of Bern·JournalScience·DateSep 26, 2019

How to tie microscopic knots

Physicists at the University of Colorado Boulder have discovered a way to tie microscopic knots within liquid crystals, a type of material used in electronics. The researchers found that by applying voltage, they can expand or shrink the knots and even form complex shapes.

Scientists finally find superconductivity in place they have been looking for decades

Researchers successfully simulated high-temperature superconductivity in cuprate materials using the Hubbard model, a decades-old representation of electron behavior. The study suggests that tweaking electron hopping patterns can toggle superconductivity on and off, offering a promising step towards producing controlled superconductors.

New findings enable more heart donations

A new study published in The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery found that hearts from donors with acute stress-induced cardiomyopathy can be safely transplanted without affecting recipient outcomes. This breakthrough could lead to a significant increase in the supply of donor hearts, estimated at 20-30%.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalJournal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery·DateSep 26, 2019

The global phosphorus crisis

A team of 40 experts from industries, universities, and research institutes worldwide warn that the world's limited phosphate resources are being overexploited and wasted. Without sustainable management, phosphorus will eventually run out, threatening global food security.

SourceUniversity of Southern Denmark·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateSep 26, 2019

Catching evolution in the act

Researchers found that natural selection acts on signal-sensing receptors, influencing a worm's decision to stay or enter dauer based on the availability of resources. The study provides evidence that artificial and natural selection work similarly, supporting Darwin's hypothesis.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateSep 26, 2019

Jumping the gap may make electronics faster

Researchers have developed a method to transfer information using surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), enabling faster signal propagation in microelectronic chips. The technique, which uses multiple snapshots of electromagnetic fields, can potentially solve the problem of shrinking electronic components and improve the speed of chips.

SourcePenn State·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 26, 2019