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Science News Archive 2020 - Page 391


Page 391 of 512

Researchers find that nicotinamide may help treat fibrotic eye diseases and mitigate vision loss

A new study found that nicotinamide inhibits aggressive cell transformations and reverses the development of fibrous membranes in the retina, potentially treating fibrotic eye diseases. The compound also promotes the transition from mesenchymal to epithelial cells, helping to preserve their original identity.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateApr 2, 2020

New 'law' to explain how glaciers flow over soft ground

Researchers unveil a new slip law to describe glaciers sliding on soft, deformable material, improving models of fast-flowing, marine-terminating glaciers in Antarctica and Greenland. This development enhances the understanding of glacier movement and parameterization for better sea-level rise estimations.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateApr 2, 2020

A friendlier way to deal with nitrate pollution

Scientists have developed a catalyst that converts nitrate into nitrite without high temperatures or acidity, addressing water pollution concerns. The catalyst's mechanism mimics natural enzymes, offering a promising solution for detoxifying nitrate in mild environments.

SourceRIKEN·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateApr 2, 2020

Turning cells into computers with protein logic gates

A team of researchers from the University of Washington School Medicine has created artificial proteins that function as molecular logic gates, allowing for the programming of complex biological systems. This breakthrough has implications for future medicines and synthetic biology, particularly in the development of cell-based therapies.

SourceUniversity of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine·JournalScience·DateApr 2, 2020

The facial expressions of mice

Researchers at Max Planck Institute describe different emotional facial expressions in mice, linking them to specific brain regions and emotions. The discovery enables the investigation of emotional mechanisms and their relationship with neuronal activity.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateApr 2, 2020

Machine learning offers glimpses into the emotional lives of mice

Researchers used machine learning to analyze mouse facial expressions and identified specific facial expressions correlated with emotional descriptors. The study may assist in moving towards a universal definition of emotions across species.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateApr 2, 2020

The Arctic may influence Eurasian extreme weather events in just two to three weeks

New research suggests that the Arctic may impact Eurasian extreme weather events as quickly as two to three weeks, highlighting the need for more robust analysis techniques. The study aims to improve forecast accuracy by targeting specific observations and developing simulation experiments.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateApr 2, 2020

Chilling concussed cells shows promise for full recovery

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have discovered a potential treatment approach for concussions by cooling brain cells to an optimal temperature. The study found that cooling cells to 33 degrees Celsius provided the most protective benefit after 24 and 48 hours post-injury.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 2, 2020

Oldest ever human genetic evidence clarifies dispute over our ancestors

Scientists have retrieved the oldest human genetic data set from an 800,000-year-old tooth, shedding light on the branching points in the human family tree. The findings support the idea that Homo antecessor was a sister group to modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences·JournalNature·DateApr 1, 2020

A sensational discovery: Traces of rainforests in West Antarctica

A team of researchers discovered pristinely preserved forest soil from the Cretaceous, including plant pollen and spores, in West Antarctica. The soil confirms that the region was home to temperate, swampy rainforests with an annual mean temperature of 12 degrees Celsius, much warmer than today's South Pole.

SourceAlfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research·JournalNature·DateApr 1, 2020

Predicting in-flight air density for more accurate landing

Researchers developed an onboard algorithm to estimate air density, providing critical real-time data for steering during entry, descent, and landing stages. The algorithm uses data from sensors and prior knowledge to improve accuracy and certainty of landings.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·DateApr 1, 2020

Significant global investment could save 11 million children

A significant, sustained global investment in treating children with cancer could save 11 million lives. The potential return on investment is a triple gain of almost $2 trillion to the global economy. The Lancet Oncology Commission report analyzed the benefits of investing $594 billion in interventions such as primary care and treatment.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateApr 1, 2020

Most of Earth's carbon was hidden in the core during its formative years

A team of scientists reports that most of Earth's carbon was hidden in the core during its formative years, with laboratory experiments mimicking the conditions of the planet's formation. The findings suggest that a significant amount of carbon likely exists in the core, influencing chemical and dynamic activities.

SourceSmithsonian·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 1, 2020

Elephant welfare can be assessed using two indicators

Researchers at the University of Turku found that elephants with higher cortisol levels also had higher heterophil to lymphocyte ratios, indicating a positive correlation between biological measures of stress. Additionally, elevated stress was linked to weight loss in Asian elephants.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalAnimals·DateApr 1, 2020

Chemistry education goes online

Experts emphasize the importance of using accessible technology, maintaining short lecture lengths, and adapting exams to online platforms. Online instructors also share strategies for building rapport with students from a distance, including regular email communication and conversational teaching styles.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateApr 1, 2020

Outcomes of coronavirus patients treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in China offers guidance for management of critically ill COVID-19 patients worldwide

A recent study published in the ASAIO Journal reports on the management and outcomes of eight COVID-19 patients treated with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) in China. The study highlights the potential benefits of ECMO in supporting critically ill COVID-19 patients, allowing their lungs to heal and recover.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalASAIO Journal·DateApr 1, 2020

Babies with brain tumors could benefit from targeted treatment

A new study found that babies and young children with brain tumours tend to have better outcomes due to specific genetic weaknesses that can be targeted by existing drugs. Clinical trials are set to open to test the benefit of these precision medicines, offering a potential first-line treatment for infant brain tumours.

SourceInstitute of Cancer Research·JournalCancer Discovery·DateApr 1, 2020

Tiny fly from Los Angeles has a taste for crushed invasive snails

Researchers at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County discovered that female phorid flies feed on crushed invasive snails, a behavior previously only observed in social insects like ants. The study found that species of other snail genera failed to attract the flies, hinting at a peculiar interaction worth further study.

SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalBiodiversity Data Journal·DateApr 1, 2020

Guidelines on caring for ICU patients with COVID-19

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign COVID-19 panel has released comprehensive guidelines for intensive care unit (ICU) patients with COVID-19, including infection control, laboratory diagnosis, and ventilator support. The guidelines were developed in just three weeks by a team of 36 experts from around the world.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalCritical Care Medicine·DateApr 1, 2020

About the distribution of biodiversity on our planet

A study led by Marius Roesti of the University of Bern found that predation by large fish is stronger in temperate zones than near the equator, contradicting the biotic interactions hypothesis. The researchers analyzed over 900 million predator attacks and found that fish species richness peaks at the equator.

SourceUniversity of Bern·JournalNature·DateApr 1, 2020

Stanford researchers forecast longer, more extreme wildfire seasons

A new study by Stanford researchers finds that long-term warming and decreased autumn precipitation are increasing the risk of extreme fire weather conditions in California. The risk has more than doubled over the past four decades, with human-caused global warming making these conditions more likely.

SourceStanford University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateApr 1, 2020

Study finds fish have diverse, distinct gut microbiomes

A new study reveals that fish on Caribbean coral reefs harbor unique gut microbial communities, with some microbes living broadly in the ocean while others are resident to specific species. The researchers found 59 dominant types of microbes in five fish species.

SourceBigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences·DateApr 1, 2020

Immunotherapy effective in metastatic prostate cancers with specific markers of immune activation

A Phase II trial found patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who showed active T-cell responses in their tumors experienced prolonged survival after ipilimumab treatment. Researchers identified biomarkers associated with improved responses, including higher T-cell density and interferon-γ signaling.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateApr 1, 2020

Plant disease primarily spreads via roadsides

A recent study on fungal diseases in Åland found that roadsides are a primary source of powdery mildew fungi, which can spread efficiently through the air. The researchers used advanced statistical methods to identify complex mechanisms in nature and shed light on how diseases transmit and evolve.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 1, 2020

Golden age of Hollywood was not so golden for women

Researchers analyzed a century of data to find that female representation in the film industry hit an all-time low during the Golden Age. The study found that women's roles were consistently below 50% across job types and genres, with a sharp drop in the 1920s.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 1, 2020

Rice insight gives Large Hadron Collider better eyesight

Rice University researchers are receiving $3 million to upgrade sensors for the Large Hadron Collider. The upgrades will enable the collider to discover even deeper truths about elemental matter. The research team is responsible for designing and managing the installation of next-generation sensors in the Compact Muon Solenoid.

SourceRice University·DateApr 1, 2020

Discovery by UMass Lowell-led team challenges nuclear theory

A UMass Lowell-led team discovered that a symmetry in atomic nuclei is not as fundamental as previously believed, opening up new avenues for understanding the universe. The researchers created over 400 strontium-73 nuclei and compared them to bromine-73 nuclei, finding that they behaved differently.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Lowell·JournalNature·DateApr 1, 2020

Study offers new insight into the impact of ancient migrations on the European landscape

A new study reveals that human activity led to Europe's forests being replaced with agricultural landscapes during the Bronze Age, contrary to previous assumptions about the Neolithic period. The research suggests that the Yamnaya steppe peoples' rapid expansion had a greater impact on vegetation than the earlier Neolithic farmer migra...

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 1, 2020

Scientists see energy gap modulations in a cuprate superconductor

Researchers at Brookhaven Lab have direct spectroscopic evidence for a pair density wave coexisting with superconductivity, revealing modulating energy gap structures and pairing of electrons. This finding may help understand the complex phase diagram of high-Tc cuprate superconductors.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalNature·DateApr 1, 2020

Inherited mutation can predispose children to a type of brain tumor

Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital discovered a novel predisposition gene, ELP1, in the SHH subgroup of pediatric medulloblastoma, affecting 40% of cases. The study found that patients with this mutation tend to do well on therapy and may benefit from tailored treatment in the future.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalNature·DateApr 1, 2020

Possible lives for food waste from restaurants

Researchers from the University of Córdoba have developed a methodology to assess restaurant food waste and select the best valorization path. The study identifies that food waste can be turned into various valuable products, including biodiesel, electricity, and bioplastic, which could help industries within the circular economy.

SourceUniversity of Córdoba·JournalBioresource Technology·DateApr 1, 2020

The discovery of new compounds for acting on the circadian clock

Researchers at Nagoya University's ITbM discovered two new compounds that target specific components of the circadian clock. KL101 and TH301 lengthen the period of the circadian clock and are expected to provide a promising foundation for treating obesity.

SourceInstitute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM), Nagoya University·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateApr 1, 2020

New discovery: Evidence for a 90-million-year-old rainforest near the South Pole

Researchers found fossil traces of a temperate rainforest in Antarctica dating back 90 million years, revealing a warmer climate than previously thought. The discovery suggests that the continent had an exceptionally warm climate during the Cretaceous period, with annual mean air temperatures similar to modern-day Hobart, Australia.

SourceNorthumbria University·JournalNature·DateApr 1, 2020

Managing negative thoughts helps combat depression in Parkinson's patients

A Rutgers University study found that cognitive behavioral therapy can help alleviate depression and improve quality of life for people with Parkinson's disease. The treatment was individually tailored to target negative thoughts and behaviors, resulting in improved mental health status for 40% of participants.

SourceRutgers University·JournalNeurology·DateApr 1, 2020

Health warning labels on alcohol and snacks may reduce consumption

A recent study found that image-and-text health warning labels on alcoholic drinks and energy-dense snacks can significantly reduce consumption. Labels depicting bowel cancer were associated with the highest level of negative emotions, while those on high-density snacks were judged more acceptable.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Public Health·DateApr 1, 2020

Understanding brain tumors in children

Researchers have identified a hereditary genetic defect that disrupts protein production in children with medulloblastoma, a common malignant brain tumor. The study found that 40% of children and young people with this subtype of medulloblastoma have a congenital genetic predisposition for the disease.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalNature·DateApr 1, 2020

Surprising hearing talents in cormorants

Researchers discovered that cormorants have adapted their ears for excellent underwater hearing, surprising given they spend most of their time on land. The ear structure's modifications enable the birds to detect sound pressure in both air and water with similar sensitivity.

SourceUniversity of Southern Denmark·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateApr 1, 2020

Lucy had an ape-like brain

A three-million-year-old brain imprint reveals that Australopithecus afarensis infants may have relied on caregivers for a prolonged period. The study found no evidence of human-like brain reorganization, but suggested protracted brain growth similar to modern humans.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 1, 2020

AI finds 2D materials in the blink of an eye

Researchers developed a machine learning system that can automatically detect and label 2D materials in microscope images, reducing the time required for their development. The system was trained using labeled examples and achieved accuracy in under 200 milliseconds, enabling faster testing of new electronic devices.

SourceInstitute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo·Journalnpj 2D Materials and Applications·DateApr 1, 2020

Duke to lead $50 million study of COVID-19 prevention in healthcare workers

The Duke Clinical Research Institute is leading a $50 million study to evaluate hydroxychloroquine as a preventive drug for COVID-19 in healthcare workers. The study, called HERO, aims to assess the impact of the novel coronavirus on healthcare workers' health and examine whether hydroxychloroquine can prevent infections.

SourceDuke University·DateApr 1, 2020

Uncertain climate future could disrupt energy systems

An international team of scientists has proposed a method to design climate-resilient energy systems. The study found that urban areas are expected to hold more than two-thirds of the world's population by 2050, and distributed energy systems will play a vital role in climate change adaptation and mitigation.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Energy·DateApr 1, 2020

Study shows six decades of change in plankton communities

A new study found profound long-term changes in plankton communities, which are the base of the marine food web. Changes in sea surface temperature have led to a significant reorganisation of plankton populations, with some species increasing in abundance while others decrease.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateApr 1, 2020