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Science News Archive 2020 - Page 198


Page 198 of 512

Exploding stars may have caused mass extinction on Earth, study shows

A new study led by University of Illinois astronomer Brian Fields explores the possibility that astronomical events were responsible for an extinction event 359 million years ago. Researchers found evidence suggesting long-lasting ozone-depletion, which could be caused by killer cosmic rays from nearby supernovae.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 18, 2020

Heart attack damage reduced by shielded stem cells

Researchers from Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine have shown that shielding stem cells with a novel biomaterial can significantly enhance the healing process in rodents after heart attacks. The study demonstrated that shielded stem cells resulted in 2.5 times greater heart function recovery compared to non-shielded cells ...

SourceRice University·JournalBiomaterials Science·DateAug 18, 2020

Swans reserve aggression for each other

Researchers studied three swan species and found all were most frequently aggressive to their own kind, suggesting similar individuals compete for resources. The findings provide insight into how swan behavior affects other waterbirds over winter and highlight the importance of understanding bird competition.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalAvian Research·DateAug 18, 2020

RNA as a future cure for hereditary diseases

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed RNA molecules that can compensate for gene mutations in bone marrow cells, a potential breakthrough for treating rare hereditary diseases. The molecules bind to the body's own RNA and restore ferrochelatase enzyme production, which is deficient in patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNucleic Acids Research·DateAug 18, 2020

Study identifies optimal timing for phone calls after skin surgery

A new study found that follow-up calls made the evening after Mohs micrographic surgery best identified patients with active pain. However, no single group was able to identify bleeding complications or highest pain levels. The study suggests that standard phone calls may not strongly contribute to overall patient satisfaction.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Dermatology·DateAug 18, 2020

NUS-led study considers potential and constraints of reforestation for climate mitigation

A recent study led by NUS researchers found that financial, land-use, and operational constraints can limit the climate mitigation potential of reforestation in Southeast Asia. The study estimated that 121 million hectares of land are suitable for reforestation, but only a fraction may be achievable due to these constraints.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalNature Climate Change·DateAug 18, 2020

Police officers face multifaceted, compounding stressors that can lead to adverse events

A new study by researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston found that police officers are susceptible to adverse events due to multifaceted stressors. The study identified five themes influencing officer perception of call stress levels, including officer characteristics and civilian behavior.

Epigenetic risk for PTSD in trauma survivors

Researchers studied epigenetic modifications associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in trauma survivors, finding a link to the gene NTRK2 and reduced PTSD risk. The study revealed that epigenetic modification of NTRK2 was predictive of PTSD risk, but its relationship with PTSD is complex and influenced by multiple factors.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 17, 2020

Scientists further cowpea research--boosting canopy CO2 assimilation, water-use efficiency

A recent study published in Food and Energy Security found that optimizing cowpea canopies can significantly improve CO2 assimilation and water-use efficiency, leading to increased crop yields. Researchers used a canopy gas exchange chamber to measure plant responses to different canopy architectures, revealing that higher biomass cano...

Opioid use can trigger deafness

Researchers found a strong association between high-dose opioid use and degrees of hearing loss, with 21% experiencing permanent loss. The study suggests that health care providers should be aware of this potential link when evaluating patients with hearing issues.

SourceRutgers University·JournalJournal of Medical Toxicology·DateAug 17, 2020

Chatbots delivering psychotherapy help decrease opioid use after surgery

Researchers found that patients who received daily text messages from an automated chatbot experienced a significant decrease in opioid use, averaging 26 pills compared to 41 for non-participants. This low-effort approach aims to reduce opioid dependence and is potentially transferable to other patient populations.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·DateAug 17, 2020