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Science News Archive 2020 - Page 399


Page 399 of 512

$1 million grant for UC Davis-led online learning project

The University of California, Davis, has received a $1 million innovation grant to develop and distribute an adaptive learning platform that complements its existing LibreTexts resource. The platform aims to foster inclusivity in STEM fields, address equity gaps, and reduce STEM attrition rates among disadvantaged students.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·DateMar 26, 2020

Artificial intelligence identifies optimal material formula

Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum used artificial intelligence to predict the structure of thin films, reducing the need for extensive experiments. The team developed a generative model that can generate images of the surface of a layer under specific process parameters, enabling the identification of optimal material formulas.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalCommunications Materials·DateMar 26, 2020

Under extreme heat and drought, trees hardly benefit from an increased CO2 level

Researchers found that increased CO2 levels reduced water loss and improved water use efficiency in trees during periods of drought and heat, but had no positive effect on carbon metabolism. The study suggests that the benefits of elevated CO2 are outweighed by the negative impacts of climate change.

SourceKarlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)·JournalNew Phytologist·DateMar 26, 2020

Gut enzyme IAP found to prevent aging and frailty in animal models

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital discovered that intestinal alkaline phosphotase (IAP) helps maintain gut barrier function and reduces systemic inflammation, leading to increased lifespan and reduced frailty. IAP supplementation may have therapeutic potential for conditions linked to the gut and inflammation.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalJCI Insight·DateMar 26, 2020

What can be learned from the microbes on a turtle's shell?

Research has discovered that a unique type of algae on turtle shells influences the surrounding microbial communities. This finding may contribute to supporting turtle conservation by understanding how diverse microbiomes protect animals against infections.

SourceMicrobiology Society·JournalMicrobiology·DateMar 26, 2020

Longer lives not dependent on increased energy use

A study led by University of Leeds found that energy use and fossil fuels do not contribute significantly to increases in life expectancy. Instead, growth in national income and improving healthcare systems play a more crucial role.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateMar 26, 2020

Scientists electrify aluminum to speed up important process

Researchers at Ohio State University discovered a method to convert triphenylphosphine oxide into triphenylphosphine by sending an electrical charge through an aluminum container, reducing waste and toxic chemicals. This process has implications for the manufacturing of medications, fertilizers, and other substances.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMar 26, 2020

Upgrading biomass with selective surface-modified catalysts

Researchers created a platinum-titania catalyst that selectively breaks carbon-oxygen bonds in plant derivatives, producing biofuels. The strategy could be applied to design stable and active catalysts for industrial chemical production from biomass-derived molecules.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalNature Catalysis·DateMar 26, 2020

Is the coronavirus outbreak of unnatural origins?

A modified Grunow-Finke assessment tool (mGFT) has been validated against previous outbreaks, outlining 11 criteria for determining if an outbreak is of unnatural origin. The tool helps identify unusual strain patterns, genetic manipulation, and peculiar geographic distribution, indicating potential artificial origin.

SourceSociety for Risk Analysis·JournalRisk Analysis·DateMar 26, 2020

Fleeing Nazis shaped Austrian politics for generations after World War II

A new study reveals that extremist migrants can significantly impact political developments in their destination regions, leading to persistent increases in far-right attitudes. The research found that migrated Nazi elites leveraged local party branches and intergenerational transmission of beliefs, spreading extreme views for decades.

SourceOxford University Press USA·JournalThe Economic Journal·DateMar 26, 2020

Neanderthals ate mussels, fish, and seals too

An international research team discovered that Neanderthals consumed mussels, fish, and seals over 80,000 years ago, similar to anatomically modern humans. This finding suggests a potential link between seafood consumption and the development of cognitive abilities in these ancient human populations.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalScience·DateMar 26, 2020

Female physicians drive unfunded research on pay disparity

A new study found that women are significantly overrepresented as authors and disseminators of physician compensation studies, which are largely unfunded. This may contribute to slow progress in addressing pay disparities.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateMar 26, 2020

Researchers investigate potential treatments for COVID-19

Researchers are exploring various treatment options for COVID-19, including the use of antiviral medications like remdesivir and tilarone. Several vaccine candidates are also being developed to combat the virus, with experts predicting a 12-18 month timeline for their completion.

SourceAmerican Society for Microbiology·JournalAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy·DateMar 26, 2020

Experimental model mimics early-stage myogenic deficit in boys with DMD

A new experimental model of severe Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) reveals that high TGFβ activity suppresses muscle regeneration and promotes fibroadipogenic progenitors, leading to muscle degeneration. The study identifies correcting the muscle micro-environment caused by high TGFβ as a therapeutic target.

SourceChildren's National Hospital·JournalJCI Insight·DateMar 26, 2020

Infants born to mothers with COVID-19 in China

A study of 33 newborns born to mothers with COVID-19 in China found that most infants recovered from the illness, with no long-term health consequences reported. The research aimed to better understand the impact of maternal COVID-19 on infant health and provide insights for medical professionals.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateMar 26, 2020

Mount Sinai researchers unveil mechanisms to prevent Crohn's disease

Researchers identified predictive models for Crohn's disease, including a serum biomarker model with 76% accuracy, and explored the link between metal exposure in early life and IBD risk. Achieving deep remission early on was also associated with a significant decrease in long-term complications.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalGASTROENTEROLOGY·DateMar 26, 2020

Coral tells own tale about El Niño's past

A study in Science reveals ancient coral records that show no correlation between volcanic eruptions and El Niño events. The analysis of oxygen isotopes in corals provides a high-fidelity record of ocean temperatures, spanning over 500 years of the last millennium.

SourceRice University·JournalScience·DateMar 26, 2020

Astronomers use slime mould to map the universe's largest structures

Researchers used a computer algorithm inspired by slime mould to create a three-dimensional map of the cosmic web structure in the local Universe. The analysis revealed that intergalactic gas is organised into filaments and detected at distances over 10 million light-years from galaxies.

SourceESA/Hubble Information Centre·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMar 26, 2020

New index challenges university rankings

The Academic Freedom Index (AFi) provides near global data on national levels of academic freedom, including five indicators measuring different dimensions of freedom. The index helps researchers and stakeholders analyze trends across states and regions to strengthen academic freedom.

SourceFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg·DateMar 26, 2020

The genetic quest to understand COVID-19

Researchers, led by Professor Edward Holmes, have identified a similar coronavirus in pangolins that may hold the key to understanding SARS-CoV-2's emergence. The study suggests that pangolins could be intermediate hosts for the novel virus and highlights the importance of banning 'wet markets' to prevent zoonotic transmission.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalCell·DateMar 26, 2020

Validation may be best way to support stressed out friends and family

A new study by Penn State researchers found that validating a person's feelings can be more effective in supporting friends and family than critical or diminished emotional messages. The study used six different supportive messages, with highly person-centered messages producing the most emotional improvement.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Communication·DateMar 26, 2020

As electronics shrink to nanoscale, will they still be good as gold?

Researchers successfully pressured tiny gold particles to assess their behavior under current flow, finding that gold behaves like a solid even at nanoscale. This discovery allows chip designers to continue using gold for critical wires in next-generation data processing devices.

SourceStanford University School of Engineering·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 26, 2020

Lipid helps heal the eye's frontline protection

A species of lipid DOPG has been found to aid healing of scratches on the cornea, even in humans with diabetes. The lipid stimulates cell growth and inhibits toll-like receptor activation, paving the way for potential clinical trials and treatment protocols.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science·DateMar 26, 2020

In politics and pandemics, trolls use fear, anger to drive clicks

Researchers found that Russian troll ads using fear and anger appeals worked well in getting people to engage, with a clickthrough rate of 9.2%. The study analyzed over 2,500 ads placed by the Internet Research Agency in 2016 and found that inflammatory language, such as cuss words and threats, was particularly effective.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalJournalism & Mass Communication Quarterly·DateMar 26, 2020

Researchers look for dark matter close to home

A new study from the University of Michigan and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has found no evidence that sterile neutrinos are dark matter. The research team used archival data from the XMM-Newton space X-ray telescope to search for signs of dark matter in the Milky Way galaxy, but their analysis yielded no results.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalScience·DateMar 26, 2020

FSU research shows guppies help their brothers when it comes to the opposite sex

In a new study, researchers found that male Trinidadian guppies observe nepotism when pursuing the opposite sex. They help their brothers by darting in front of other males to block access to a female. This behavior supports an evolutionary theory called kin selection, which can promote cooperation among relatives.

SourceFlorida State University·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateMar 26, 2020

New technique looks for dark matter traces in dark places

Researchers develop new technique to analyze X-ray telescope observations of 'empty' space within Milky Way galaxy, finding no evidence for 3.5 keV line associated with dark matter decay. The study's results limit simple models of dark matter and pave the way for future discoveries.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalScience·DateMar 26, 2020

The Caucasus without a cap

Glaciers in the Caucasus region are losing mass at a rate twice as fast as the average global mountain regions, with some areas decreasing by over 16% since 1986. The melting of glaciers poses significant risks to water supply and natural disasters such as rockfalls and mud flows.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalThe Cryosphere·DateMar 26, 2020

Worldwide urban expansion causing problems

A study by Texas A&M University researchers found that over 60% of urban expansion since 1970 came from agricultural land, posing serious concerns for fertility and food security. The trend, driven by small- and medium-sized cities in India, China, and Nigeria, threatens the livelihoods of millions of small farmers.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateMar 26, 2020

Artificial intelligence for very young brains

Researchers at the University of Montreal developed an AI technique to better define brain sections in newborns using MRI exams. This innovation enables quick, accurate, and reliable analysis of baby brains, supporting research on brain development and neuroprotection.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·DateMar 26, 2020

New imaging method sheds light on Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at Lund University developed a new imaging method to study protein structures within nerve cells, providing insight into the first molecular changes in neurons affected by Alzheimer's disease. This breakthrough may help explain the mechanisms behind the disease and potentially lead to effective treatments.

SourceLund University·JournalAdvanced Science·DateMar 25, 2020

Diet, nutrition have profound effects on gut microbiome

Research from George Washington University and National Institute of Standards and Technology reveals that nutrition has a profound effect on the gut microbiome. The authors found that dietary fiber serves as fuel for gut microbiota, while protein can promote harmful byproducts that increase the risk of negative health outcomes.

SourceGeorge Washington University·JournalNutrition Reviews·DateMar 25, 2020

Solving a 50-year-old puzzle in signal processing, part two:

Iowa State University engineers develop a closed-form solution for the inverse chirp z-transform, enabling efficient computation on the unit circle and lifting restrictions of existing algorithms. The algorithm achieves high accuracy with 64-bit floating-point numbers and operates in O(n log n) time.

SourceIowa State University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 25, 2020

Here be dragons: Analysis reveals new species in Smaug lizard group

Scientists discover ninth species of dragon lizard in genus Smaug, previously mistaken for similar-looking species S. barbertonensis. The new species, Smaug swazicus, is the largest southern African lizard species described since 82 years ago, with up to 13 inches from snout to tail tip.

SourceFlorida Museum of Natural History·JournalPeerJ·DateMar 25, 2020

Parents' physical activity helps kids with developmental disabilities improve motor skills

A recent study from Oregon State University found that parents who model and support physical activity in daily life can help children with developmental disabilities improve their motor skills. Parents can make a difference by spending quality time with their child, engaging in activities together and providing opportunities for them ...

SourceOregon State University·JournalDisability and Health Journal·DateMar 25, 2020

Mental health care for adolescents

Researchers examined changes in adolescent mental health problems and care settings, finding shifts towards more specialized services and online care. The study highlights the need for improved mental health support for adolescents, particularly in rural areas where access to care is limited.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateMar 25, 2020

A small forage fish should command greater notice, researchers say

A team of scientists led by Michelle Staudinger calls for increased study of sand lance, a crucial food source for seabirds and marine mammals. The research highlights the need for better understanding of sand lance's biology and populations to inform conservation efforts.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalFish and Fisheries·DateMar 25, 2020

Staining cycles with black holes

Researchers have introduced a method to rapidly cycle through staining, destaining, and restaining of cell samples using black hole quenchers in under 1 hour. This allows for precise characterization of immune cells in tumors, enabling the selection of suitable treatments.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateMar 25, 2020

'Whiskey webs' are the new 'coffee ring effect'

Researchers discovered web-like patterns in whiskey droplets that can identify different brands of American whiskey, potentially used to detect counterfeits. The unique web patterns arise from the combination of solutes in each whiskey and can be matched with over 90% accuracy.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Nano·DateMar 25, 2020