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Science News Archive 2020 - Page 124


Page 124 of 512

Caring for others is a key driver in getting people to use chatbots for mental health

A new study from North Carolina State University found that users' desire to help others with mental health problems is a powerful driver for using chatbots. The researchers surveyed 1,114 U.S. adults who had used chatbots for mental health services and discovered that helping others was twice as motivating as helping oneself.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJournal of Contingencies and Crisis Management·DateOct 5, 2020

Early referral to physical therapy improves function and other symptoms of back pain with sciatica

A randomized controlled trial found that early referral to physical therapy significantly improved function and reduced symptoms of back pain with sciatica compared to usual care. Patients who received physical therapy immediately after their primary care visit reported less disability than those who took the wait-and-see approach.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateOct 5, 2020

Study identifies characteristics of infused CAR T cells associated with efficacy and toxicity in in patients with large B-cell lymphoma

A study at MD Anderson Cancer Center found that monitoring early changes in circulating tumor DNA can predict patient outcomes. Infused CAR T cells with certain characteristics are associated with better treatment responses, while those with exhaustion signatures may experience poor outcomes.

Dog and human brains process faces differently

A recent study published in The Journal of Neuroscience has revealed striking similarities and differences in how dog and human brains process visual information about others. Researchers used fMRI to compare brain activity patterns between twenty dogs and thirty humans, finding both analogous and divergent patterns of species- and fac...

Some planets may be better for life than Earth

A study by Washington State University scientists has identified two dozen exoplanets that could potentially support complex life. These superhabitable planets are characterized by being older, slightly warmer, and possibly wetter than Earth, with some orbiting stars that may be more suitable for life than our sun.

SourceWashington State University·JournalAstrobiology·DateOct 5, 2020

A small switch with a big impact

Scientists have discovered that tiny point mutations in a gene can modify T cells to be less aggressive, leading to reduced inflammation and autoimmune responses. This finding has potential implications for stem cell transplantation, where T-cell transfusion is used to prevent severe side effects.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateOct 5, 2020

Blocking vibrations that remove heat could boost efficiency of next-gen solar cells

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee discovered a way to slow phonons, waves that transport heat, in photovoltaic materials. This discovery holds promise for improving novel hot-carrier solar cells, which convert sunlight to electricity more efficiently than conventional solar cells by harnessing...

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 5, 2020

Gemini South's high-def version of 'A Star is Born'

Astronomers using Gemini South's adaptive optics system have captured detailed images of the Carina Nebula with a resolution comparable to the Webb Space Telescope. The high-def images reveal intricate structures within the nebula, including parallel ridges and fragments being sheared off by strong winds.

SourceRice University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 5, 2020

Looking for the key to predict heatwaves over the Yangtze River basin 20 days in advance

Researchers from Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology evaluate subseasonal prediction skill for heatwaves in Yangtze River basin using long-term hindcast data from three operational models. They found that superior model fidelity is crucial to predicting heatwave occurrence, intensity and duration at longer lead times.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateOct 5, 2020

Watching your waste

A recent study led by ASU researcher Chris Wharton found that a values-based intervention can reduce household food waste by an average of 28%. The intervention used clear plastic bins to track food waste and highlighted the impact of cost, health, and environmental concerns. Participants reported that watching their waste build up pro...

SourceArizona State University·JournalResources·DateOct 5, 2020

Invasional meltdown in multi-species plant communities

A new experiment reveals that fungal endophytes, which live inside plants, play a key role in invasion success and invasional meltdown in multi-species communities. The study found that alien species share fewer soil microbes with each other than with native species, making them less negatively affected by each other.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateOct 5, 2020

How malaria parasites withstand a fever's heat

A Duke University-led team has discovered how malaria parasites can survive fevers by producing a special lipid molecule and binding to heat shock proteins. This could lead to new ways to fight resistant strains of the disease. The findings also suggest caution when using fever reducers with artemisinin-based compounds.

Memory of the Venus flytrap

Research team successfully visualized intracellular calcium concentrations in the Venus flytrap, revealing that its short-term memory can be explained by changes in calcium concentration. The study demonstrates how a single contact event triggers a burst of calcium ions, which then trigger a second stimulus to close the trap.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalNature Plants·DateOct 5, 2020

Turning diamond into metal

By straining diamond to change its electronic properties, researchers can dial it from insulating to highly conductive, or metallic. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new optical devices, quantum sensors, and high-efficiency solar cells.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 5, 2020