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Science News Archive 2020 - Page 372


Page 372 of 512

Promiscuity in the Paleozoic: Researchers uncover clues about vertebrate evolution

Scientists used chromosomes to study early events in vertebrate evolution, including the hybridization between two species of primitive fish. They found evidence of genome duplication and identified 17 ancient chromosomal units that were shared among jawed vertebrates.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateApr 20, 2020

Why relying on new technology won't save the planet

Researchers argue that relying on new technologies to address climate change is delaying action, enabling a cycle of 'prevarication' and inadequate policies. The study maps five phases of climate targets, highlighting how technological promises have downplayed urgency and undermined societal commitment.

SourceLancaster University·JournalNature Climate Change·DateApr 20, 2020

Mental health preparedness among older youth in foster care

A study by New York University researchers found that nearly half of 17-year-old foster youth use counseling services and almost a third take medications for mental health issues. However, many report feeling unprepared to manage their mental health, highlighting the need for targeted support interventions.

SourceNew York University·JournalJournal of Adolescent Health·DateApr 20, 2020

Infant temperament and outcomes in adulthood

A 25-year study found that infants with high behavioral inhibition exhibited introverted adulthood and lower social interactions. Infants with high infant BI also showed heightened brain activity in response to errors during adolescence, associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 20, 2020

Genetics of recessive inherited autism spectrum disorder

Research implicates ACTL6B gene absence in six families with recessive autism. Altered transcriptional repression and neural circuitry defects suggest conserved function and potential for autism research.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 20, 2020

One-third of primary care physicians do not support the use of medications for treating opioid use disorders

A survey of primary care physicians found that one-third did not support the use of medications to treat opioid use disorder (OUD), despite conclusive evidence. The researchers urge policy changes to increase the acceptance of and willingness to prescribe medications for OUD among primary care physicians.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateApr 20, 2020

Actin 'avalanches' may make memories stick

Researchers at Rice University have simulated a complex network mechanism by which the brain retains information. The study suggests that cytoskeletal avalanches within neurons' dendritic spines may be one way they retain new information.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 20, 2020

Diamonds shine in energy storage solution

QUT researchers have designed a new carbon nanostructure made from diamond nanothreads that can store mechanical energy when twisted or stretched. The structure has an energy density 4-5 orders higher than conventional steel springs and up to 3 times compared to Li-ion batteries.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 20, 2020

A method for predicting antiviral drug or vaccine targets

Researchers developed a novel method to predict antiviral drug targets by analyzing conformational changes in viral glycoproteins. The method, published in Journal of Computational Biology, identifies regions with high free energy, which may be promising for future antiviral drugs or vaccines.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalJournal of Computational Biology·DateApr 20, 2020

Cannabinoid exposure and cocaine response

A rodent study found that prior cannabinoid exposure enhances adolescent rats' response to cocaine's stimulatory effects. The researchers observed increased histone acetylation and reduced levels of the enzyme histone deacetylase 6 in the prefrontal cortex.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 20, 2020

Effectiveness of ammonia emissions abatement

Researchers found that reducing ammonia emissions alone may not significantly decrease reduced forms of nitrogen deposition, which can still drop by only 60-80% despite abatement efforts. The study suggests a more comprehensive approach to mitigate nitrogen pollution is needed.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 20, 2020

First official ATS practice guidelines for Sarcoidosis cover diagnosis and detection

The American Thoracic Society has published its first official guidelines for diagnosing sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease affecting the lungs and other organs. The guidelines recommend a baseline serum test to screen for hypercalcemia, as well as conditional tests for specific symptoms and organ involvement.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateApr 20, 2020

People may know the best decision -- and not make it

A recent study published in Nature Communications found that people often take the less optimal choice when faced with a decision, despite having knowledge of what works best. The researchers discovered that nearly everyone learned the pattern, but only about 20% followed it when the pattern didn't work consistently.

SourceOhio State University·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 20, 2020

Corona and air pollution: How does nitrogen dioxide impact fatalities?

A new study found that regions with permanently high levels of nitrogen dioxide have significantly more deaths from Covid-19. This correlation suggests that persistent air pollution may have contributed to poorer health in affected populations, making them more susceptible to the virus.

SourceMartin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg·JournalThe Science of The Total Environment·DateApr 20, 2020

Scientists uncover principles of universal self-assembly

Researchers have found a way to use nature's inner dynamics to build complex systems, including cells and crystals. They observed the Tracy-Widom distribution in diverse systems, which could help predict and study new examples of systems with this universality.

SourceBilkent University Faculty of Science·JournalNature Physics·DateApr 20, 2020

Segregation and local funding gaps drive disparities in drinking water

A new study by Duke University finds that US community water systems are disproportionately affected by droughts, with low-income and minority neighborhoods facing the highest risks. The analysis highlights the need for a fundamental re-evaluation of how these systems are managed and funded to ensure equal access to safe drinking water.

SourceDuke University·JournalScience·DateApr 20, 2020

With shrinking snowpack, drought predictability melting away

New research from CU Boulder suggests that as much as two-thirds of western states will lose their ability to predict seasonal drought using snowpack by mid-century. Coastal areas and regions at lower elevations will be most affected, leading to increased reliance on reservoirs and potential water supply complications.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalNature Climate Change·DateApr 20, 2020

CUNY SPH Weekly COVID-19 Survey Update Week 6

The CUNY SPH Weekly COVID-19 Survey found that New Yorkers are more cautious than some in other parts of the country, with a strong sense of solidarity with all Americans. The survey also revealed concerning trends in mental health challenges, including high rates of anxiety and depression among residents.

SourceCUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy·JournalJournal of Health Communication·DateApr 20, 2020

Supercomputers and Archimedes' law enable calculating nanobubble diffusion in nuclear fuel

The new method makes it possible to create significantly more accurate fuel models for nuclear power plants. The researchers used atomistic models of the material comprising hundreds of thousands of atoms and supercomputers to calculate their trajectories over hundreds of millions or even billions of integration steps.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalJournal of Nuclear Materials·DateApr 20, 2020

Hubble observes aftermath of massive collision

Astronomers previously believed Fomalhaut b to be a planet, but Hubble observations reveal it may have been a cloud of dust particles from a titanic collision. The object's unusual brightness and trajectory are explained by a massive dust cloud experiencing radiative forces from the central star.

SourceESA/Hubble Information Centre·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 20, 2020

Identifying land cover from outer space

A machine learning algorithm developed by Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ can identify 19 different crop types with an accuracy of 88%. The algorithm takes into account the temporal sequence of cloud-free observations at pixel level and is not dependent on large-scale cloud-free scenes.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ·JournalRemote Sensing of Environment·DateApr 20, 2020

What did scientists learn from Deepwater Horizon?

Researchers found that much good work had been done on oil weathering and degradation by microbes, with significant implications for future research. The study also highlighted the impact of sunlight and oxygen on oil composition, reducing the effectiveness of dispersants.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalNature Reviews Earth & Environment·DateApr 20, 2020

Revealed: the secret life of godwits

A new study using geolocators shows that black-tailed godwits always start a second nest if their first one fails, revealing a longer breeding season than previously thought. This challenges traditional observation methods, which often disturb the birds' behavior and lead to inaccurate data.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalJournal of Avian Biology·DateApr 20, 2020

Ants restore Mediterranean dry grasslands

A team of ecologists and agronomists found that the Messor barbarus harvester ant accelerates plant community recovery in degraded Mediterranean dry grasslands. The ants improve soil fertility, transport seeds, and increase plant biomass next to their nests, facilitating resilience.

SourceCNRS·JournalBiological Conservation·DateApr 20, 2020

Cost-effective canopy protects health workers from COVID infection during ventilation

Researchers have designed a cost-effective canopy system to protect healthcare workers from airborne coronavirus infection while delivering non-invasive ventilation. The system, which forms an air chamber covering the upper body, has been tested against international standards and found to minimize risk of infection for medical staff.

SourceEuropean Respiratory Society·JournalEuropean Respiratory Journal·DateApr 20, 2020

North pole soon to be ice free in summer

A new study suggests that the Arctic Ocean will likely be ice-free in summer due to high future CO2 emissions. However, rapid reductions in CO2 emissions could lead to occasional ice-free summers even before 2050. The study's findings highlight humanity's impact on the Arctic ecosystem and climate.

SourceUniversity of Hamburg·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateApr 20, 2020

Arctic research expedition likely faces extreme conditions in fast-changing Arctic

A new study suggests the MOSAiC research team's ship may melt out months before its year-end goal due to rapid changes in Arctic sea ice. The team used climate models to simulate conditions along potential routes, finding that thinner sea ice and increased variability could lead to early melt-out.

SourceNational Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research·DateApr 20, 2020

European vaccination survey shows wide variety of parents' opinions across UK, Italy, France, Spain and Germany

A European survey of 1,500 parents found varying levels of support for vaccination across five countries. Parents in Spain were the most pro-vaccination, while those in France were the least favourably inclined. The UK and Germany had significant proportions of parents opposed to all vaccinations.

SourceEuropean Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases·DateApr 20, 2020

Oak genomics proves its worth

A landmark 10-article collection clarifies oak evolution from deep roots to recent adaptations, identifying key genes involved in resistance to pathogens and genomic evidence for 56 million years of oak evolution. The study provides valuable insights into tree biology, particularly in response to rapid environmental change.

SourceThe Morton Arboretum·JournalNew Phytologist·DateApr 20, 2020

Spores, please!

Researchers found that gypsy moth larvae feeding on fungal-infected poplar leaves grew faster and pupated earlier than those fed only on leaf tissue. Fungal spores contain important nutrients like amino acids, nitrogen, and vitamins, which enhance the caterpillars' performance.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology·JournalEcology Letters·DateApr 20, 2020

Self-aligning microscope smashes limits of super-resolution microscopy

Researchers at UNSW achieved unprecedented resolution capabilities in single-molecule microscopy to detect interactions between individual molecules within intact cells. Their self-aligning microscope smashed the limits of existing super-resolution microscopy technology by measuring distances between proteins with nanometre precision.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 20, 2020

Effects of fetal alcohol exposure

Early alcohol exposure affects motor control brain regions in monkeys, and may be detectable via non-invasive in utero MRI. The study suggests that diagnostic tools for fetal alcohol syndrome could be developed as early as the third trimester.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 20, 2020

Gender-based violence in the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a tripling of domestic violence reports in China's Hubei Province, with women performing most of the frontline healthcare work. Researchers call for governments to incorporate gender considerations into their response and leverage technology to support women's access to essential services.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalBioethics·DateApr 20, 2020

Interventions boost abstinence, condom use for black teens

Research from North Carolina State University found that sexual health interventions increased both abstinence and condom use in Black adolescents. The study analyzed data from 29 studies involving over 11,900 Black teens and showed modest increases in these behaviors, particularly among those who received school-based interventions.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateApr 20, 2020

Picking up threads of cotton genomics

The study reveals that despite its widespread distribution, the cotton genome is remarkably stable, with only minor differences between species. This knowledge can inform breeding practices and improve crop yields.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Genetics·DateApr 20, 2020

Unprecedented 3D images of live cells plus details of molecules inside

A new technique developed by researchers at the University of Tokyo allows for the imaging of live cells in greater detail than ever before. The method combines two pre-existing microscopy tools to create virtual color images of molecular structures without needing artificial dyes or fluorescent tags.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalOptica·DateApr 20, 2020

Photonic microwave generation using on-chip optical frequency combs

EPFL researchers have successfully generated high-speed microwave signals using integrated soliton microcombs. The breakthrough enables the miniaturization of photonic systems, paving the way for applications in metrology, spectroscopy, communications, radars, and the Internet of Things.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Photonics·DateApr 20, 2020

New high-throughput approach yields libraries of probes for immunological assays

A new method developed by UC Santa Cruz researchers allows for the creation of libraries of probes for high-throughput assessments of T cell repertoires in blood samples. This technology has the potential to accelerate research and diagnostics in immunology, cancer immunotherapy, and COVID-19 response.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 20, 2020

New therapeutic options for multiple sclerosis in sight

Researchers have identified a promising new target for multiple sclerosis therapy by focusing on monocytes rather than T and B cells. By targeting the Cxcl10+ monocyte subset, disease symptoms in mice were significantly improved, suggesting potential preventive measures against MS side effects.

SourceMax Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association·JournalNature Immunology·DateApr 20, 2020

A cheap organic steam generator to purify water

Researchers at Linköping University have created a cheap and efficient steam generator that uses sunlight to desalinate and purify water. The system utilizes a cellulose-based aerogel structure that absorbs energy from sunlight, resulting in high-quality drinking water production.

SourceLinköping University·JournalAdvanced Sustainable Systems·DateApr 20, 2020

Origins of human language pathway in the brain at least 25 million years old

Researchers have found a precursor to the human language pathway in living primates, illuminating an earlier evolutionary origin of at least 25 million years. The study reveals a segment of the language pathway that interconnects the auditory cortex with frontal lobe regions, important for processing speech and language.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateApr 20, 2020

IKBFU and Chinese scientists invented a new way of creating meat analogs

Researchers at Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University have developed a method for creating vegetable protein non-cholesterol products containing essential amino acids. By optimizing the extrusion process, they improved the texture and taste of meat analogs, making them more comparable to real meat.

SourceImmanuel Kant Baltic Federal University·JournalFood Hydrocolloids·DateApr 20, 2020

Astronomers discover planet that never was

Researchers at the University of Arizona conclude that Fomalhaut b, a suspected exoplanet, was likely an expanding cloud of dust from a cosmic collision. The team's analysis of Hubble data reveals characteristics that suggest the planet may never have existed.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 20, 2020

Artificial 'candy canes' block viruses

Scientists create glycomimetic molecules with varying lengths that mimic natural GAGs to prevent viral attachment and infection. These 'antiviral candy canes' show promise against multiple viruses, including Herpes and Influenza viruses.

SourceHeinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateApr 20, 2020