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Science News Archive 2020 - Page 431


Page 431 of 512

The dairy dilemma: Low-fat is not necessarily better for kids

Research reviewing 29 studies found no clear association between whole-fat dairy consumption and weight gain, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure in children. Full-fat dairy may actually play a role in a balanced diet for growing children due to its nutrient content.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalAdvances in Nutrition·DateMar 2, 2020

Radionuclide levels in freshwater fish differ between lakes and rivers

A new study by the National Institute for Environmental Studies in Japan found that biotic and abiotic factors affecting radionuclide accumulation in fish are dependent on the ecosystem and differ between lakes and rivers. The study analyzed 30 species of fish from five rivers and three lakes in Fukushima, revealing significant differe...

SourceNational Institute for Environmental Studies·JournalJournal of Environmental Radioactivity·DateMar 2, 2020

Atomic vacancy as quantum bit

Researchers from JMU have successfully demonstrated the existence of spin centers in boron nitride crystals, exhibiting magnetic dipole moments and optical properties. This discovery paves the way for developing artificial two-dimensional crystals with tailored properties.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature Materials·DateMar 2, 2020

Cloud data speeds set to soar with aid of laser mini-magnets

Researchers have created a single-molecule magnet that can store and access data using laser pulses, enabling hard drives to process data up to 100 times faster than current technologies. This development could improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions from cloud computing systems.

SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalNature Chemistry·DateMar 2, 2020

Egg stem cells do not exist, new study shows

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet found that so-called egg stem cells do not exist in the human ovary, contrary to previous reports. The study's comprehensive map of ovarian cells will contribute to the development of new methods for treating female infertility.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 2, 2020

UBCO professor simplifies exercise advice for spinal cord injury

A UBCO professor has developed an online platform to help people living with spinal cord injury lead a more active life. The new guideline provides clear and accessible information on the amount and type of activity needed to achieve health benefits, helping to overcome a major barrier to physical activity.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia Okanagan campus·JournalSpinal Cord·DateMar 2, 2020

A current map for improving circuit design

Researchers at KAUST developed a practical method to visualize the magnitude and direction of current flow through magnetic thin films. By using skyrmions and magneto-optical Kerr microscopy, they directly mapped nonuniform electrical current distribution in layered platinum, cobalt, and tantalum materials.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 2, 2020

Quantum mechanical simulations of Earth's lower mantle minerals

Recent advancements in quantum mechanical computation enable precise predictions of complex minerals' stability, elasticity, and transport properties. These calculations reveal new insights into the Earth's deep interior, including post-perovskite phase boundaries and potential hydrous compounds.

SourceEhime University·JournalAnnual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences·DateMar 2, 2020

Domain-specific organization in infant brains

Researchers analyzed 30 infants' brain networks and found domain-specific organization in facial recognition (by 6 days) and scene recognition (by 27 days). These findings indicate that innate connectivity plays a crucial role in shaping the developing cortex.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 2, 2020

Coping strategies, a matter of neuron

The study found that prefrontal corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neurons regulate behavioral style selection during stress. Activating these neurons promotes stress-resistant behaviors, while inhibiting them increases immobility and social avoidance.

SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalNeuron·DateMar 2, 2020

The neural basis of sensory hypersensitivity

A new study reveals a neural circuit that underlies sensory hypersensitivity in mice with autism-like traits. The research suggests that reestablishing normal levels of neuron activity could reverse this kind of hypersensitivity, providing a potential target for developing treatments.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateMar 2, 2020

Marine cyanobacteria do not survive solely on photosynthesis

A recent review article reveals that marine cyanobacteria, such as Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus, can thrive on organic compounds from their environment. These findings are crucial for understanding cycles of essential elements like carbon, iron, phosphorus, and nitrogen.

SourceUniversity of Córdoba·JournalThe ISME Journal·DateMar 2, 2020

App detecting jaundice may prevent deaths in newborns

A smartphone app detecting jaundice in newborns may prevent deaths and disabilities due to its accuracy and low cost. The app uses images captured on a smartphone camera to quantify the yellowness of the eye, similar to expensive hand-held devices.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMar 2, 2020

Signs of international trade in Chinese porcelain

Research on Chinese porcelain has uncovered evidence of international trade in cobalt-based blue pigment, suggesting a globalized industrial chain by the 15th century. The study found that blue-and-white porcelain from the Xuande Period exhibited a mixture of domestic and imported pigment particles.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 2, 2020

5,000-year-old milk proteins point to the importance of dairying in eastern Eurasia

Researchers analyzed dental calculus from ancient Mongolians and found evidence of dairy consumption dating back to around 3000 BCE. The study suggests that migration played a key role in the introduction of dairy pastoralism to East Asia, with multiple animal species being used for milk production.

SourceMax Planck Institute of Geoanthropology·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateMar 2, 2020

Deep learning rethink overcomes major obstacle in AI industry

Rice University researchers developed a cost-saving alternative to GPU acceleration called SLIDE, which uses general-purpose CPUs without specialized hardware. The algorithm outperforms traditional back-propagation training with hash tables, reducing computational overhead and enabling faster deep learning on CPUs.

SourceRice University·DateMar 2, 2020

Ocean changes almost starved life of oxygen

A new study found that ocean changes in the early Neoproterozoic era limited phytoplankton growth and oxygen release, maintaining an oxidizing atmosphere. The study suggests that phosphorus levels remained 'just sufficient' to support life.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMar 2, 2020

Earliest look at newborns' visual cortex reveals the minds babies start with

Researchers have discovered that newborns' brains show a strong connection between face and place processing networks just six days after birth. The findings suggest that babies are born with a specialized visual cortex, with patterns of brain activity similar to those of adults.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 2, 2020

Drug shows promise in reducing deadly brain swelling after stroke

A new compound has been discovered that targets a pathway causing brain swelling after stroke, potentially reducing cases of brain injury and death. The compound, called ZT-1a, was tested on mice and rats with stroke or hydrocephalus and showed promise in effectively reducing brain swelling.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 2, 2020

Swamp wallabies conceive new embryo before birth -- a unique reproductive strategy

Researchers confirm swamp wallabies ovulate and mate while carrying a full-term fetus, creating a unique reproductive strategy that supports continuous embryo development. This phenomenon allows the female to be pregnant throughout her reproductive life, exceeding the duration of the oestrous cycle.

SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 2, 2020

Despite best intentions, researchers don't always share findings with study participants

Most clinical trial participants are not informed about the results of studies they participated in, despite wanting this information. Researchers want to share findings but lack effective communication skills to reach lay public. The study highlights the need for better training on communicating research results to study participants.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalJournal of Clinical and Translational Science·DateMar 2, 2020

Mapping childhood malnutrition

Millions of children under five years old suffer from childhood malnutrition, resulting in stunted growth and cognitive impairments. The global community is working to reduce childhood stunting by 40% by 2025 through initiatives such as the World Food Programme.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalNature·DateMar 2, 2020

Beef consumption hurting river quality

A new study published in Nature Sustainability shows that irrigation of cattle feed crops is the leading driver of water shortages and fish imperilment in the Western United States. Sixty fish species are at an elevated risk of global extinction due to flow depletion, primarily caused by irrigation of cattle-feed crops.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalNature Sustainability·DateMar 2, 2020

KITE code could power new quantum developments

Researchers developed open-source software to assist in creating quantum materials, which could vastly increase computing power and reduce energy consumption. The Quantum KITE initiative uses sophisticated computer programmes to predict material properties, enabling the creation of realistic simulations with unprecedented atom numbers.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateMar 2, 2020

The world faces an air pollution 'pandemic'

Researchers estimate that air pollution causes an extra 8.8 million premature deaths annually, shortening global life expectancy by nearly three years. Cardiovascular diseases account for the greatest proportion of shortened lives, with older people disproportionately affected.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalCardiovascular Research·DateMar 2, 2020

NIH-funded research team updates online tool for extremely preterm infant outcomes

The updated online tool provides information on infant survival and neurological impairment, incorporating hospital data to inform treatment decisions. Researchers found that hospital-specific estimates of survival are as important as gestational age in determining infant outcome.

SourceNIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateMar 2, 2020

What if mysterious 'cotton candy' planets actually sport rings?

New research suggests that some 'cotton candy' exoplanets could have rings, challenging current ideas about their low densities. The discovery proposal, led by Anthony Piro and Shreyas Vissapragada, simulates how ringed exoplanets would appear to astronomers using high-precision instruments.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalThe Astronomical Journal·DateMar 2, 2020

Engendering trust in an AI world

Experts weigh the importance of balancing individual rights with innovation in regulating personal data. Singapore's Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) aims to strike a balance between privacy protection and business interests.

SourceSingapore Management University·DateMar 2, 2020

Study maps landmarks of peripheral artery disease to guide treatment development

Researchers identified key features and events over four phases of recovery in mice with surgically narrowed arteries, creating signposts for understanding PAD and developing treatments. By using multiple imaging methods, the study aims to facilitate more optimal approaches to treatment and improve diagnosis.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalTheranostics·DateMar 2, 2020

NASA finds ex-Tropical Cyclone Esther moving back inland

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Esther has turned back into Western Australia, bringing heavy rainfall and flood warnings to the region. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a Flood Watch for several areas, with widespread daily totals of 50-80 mm expected, and isolated falls of up to 150 mm possible.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateMar 2, 2020

The Lancet Oncology: Targeted treatments for pancreatic cancer may help eligible patients live an extra year

Results from 46 patients who received targeted therapies alongside standard chemotherapy showed a 31-month average survival compared to 18 months for those without molecular changes. Targeted therapy has already improved survival for many forms of cancer and could be a game-changer for pancreatic cancer patients with specific alterations.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateMar 2, 2020

New 'organ-on-a-chip' system holds promise for drug toxicity screening

Researchers developed a multi-organ-on-a-chip to test how new drugs affect vital organs, demonstrating its effectiveness in screening FDA-recalled drugs. The system showed that 3D organoids could demonstrate toxicity at human-relevant doses, while commonly used drugs remained viable.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalBiofabrication·DateMar 2, 2020

Kin selection and host manipulation

A study on the parasitic lancet fluke Dicrocoelium dendriticum found that genetically identical brain flukes are often present in both ant brains and abdomens, suggesting kin selection plays a key role in its evolution. This manipulation of host behavior supports an altruistic strategy, where clonemates are cotransmitted into ants.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 2, 2020

Blood test method may predict Alzheimer's protein deposits in brain

A new blood test detects abnormal tau protein accumulation, differentiating healthy participants from those with Alzheimer's pathology and predicting disease progression. The test shows promise for early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative disorders.

SourceNIH/National Institute on Aging·JournalNature Medicine·DateMar 2, 2020

CRISPR-HOT: A new tool to 'color' specific genes and cells

Researchers developed CRISPR-HOT to label specific genes in human organoids, enabling the study of abnormal cell division and cancer development. By disabling the cancer gene TP53, they found that unstructured divisions of abnormal hepatocytes were more frequent, contributing to cancer development.

SourceHubrecht Institute·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateMar 2, 2020

The GDP fudge: China edition

A study found that Chinese firms in provinces with lower GDP growth are more likely to engage in earnings management to prop up provincial GDP figures. This leads to a range of negative consequences for the firms, including high bad debt expenses, inventory write-offs, and asset impairment losses.

SourceSingapore Management University·DateMar 2, 2020

Carbon chains adopt fusilli or spaghetti shapes if they have odd or even numbers

Scientists at the University of Bristol discovered that carbon chains can form helical shapes dependent on their length, with even-numbered chains adopting fusilli-like structures and odd-numbered chains forming floppy spaghetti-like shapes. The researchers controlled the shape by inserting methyl substituents along the chain.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalNature Chemistry·DateMar 2, 2020

Prebiotic RNA synthesis

A team of scientists discovered ribozymes that utilize the prebiotically plausible 2-aminoimidazole group to catalyze RNA synthesis. This finding implies a complex interplay between nonenzymatic and enzymatic RNA synthesis during Earth's origin, challenging existing theories.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 2, 2020

Story Tips: Antidote chasing, traffic control and automatic modeling

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have made significant breakthroughs in developing new antidotes for certain poisons that can mitigate their effects more efficiently compared to existing remedies. Additionally, a novel system has been designed to direct traffic lights and reduce fuel consumption by identifying the most fuel...

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateMar 2, 2020

Immune cells may improve accuracy of predicting survival in colorectal cancer

Researchers at Mayo Clinic have found that combining density of immune cells with analysis of tumor budding can improve accuracy in predicting patient survival for patients with stage III colon cancer. This method provides important data on patient survival and may lead to personalized treatment recommendations.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalAnnals of Oncology·DateMar 2, 2020

Study shows rising age of first drug use in teens, young adults

The study found that the average age at which teens and young adults start using drugs has been rising, with 12 out of 18 drugs showing an increase. This delay is associated with reduced risk of negative health consequences, including drug use disorder and depression.

SourceWashington State University·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateMar 2, 2020

Paper: Disposal of wastewater from hydraulic fracturing poses dangers to drivers

A study by Yilan Xu shows that fracking-related trucking leads to a surge in road fatalities and severe accidents, with an additional 17 fatal crashes per year across sampled road segments. The researchers propose a tax or toll fee to internalize the costs of fracking-related trucking activities.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Environmental Economics and Management·DateMar 2, 2020

Soil life thrives between oil palm fronds

Researchers found high levels of biological activity in the gaps between oil palm fronds, providing microhabitats for soil creatures. This discovery may help preserve ecosystem functioning and offset damage caused by oil palm agriculture.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and the Environment·DateMar 2, 2020

The magnet that didn't exist

Scientists from QuTech have observed experimental signatures of Nagaoka ferromagnetism using an engineered quantum system. This phenomenon was predicted by Japanese physicist Yosuke Nagaoka in 1966 and has never been observed naturally. The researchers created a two-dimensional lattice of four quantum dots, which allowed them to trap t...

SourceDelft University of Technology·JournalNature·DateMar 2, 2020

Youth exposure to tobacco outlets and cigarette smoking

Researchers studied 100 youth participants' exposure to tobacco outlets and found that high exposure was associated with more cigarettes smoked. The study suggests regulating youth exposure to tobacco outlets can limit access and availability of cigarettes, particularly in disadvantaged areas.

SourcePacific Institute for Research and Evaluation·JournalAddiction·DateMar 2, 2020

Two stars merged to form massive white dwarf

Astronomers have identified a massive white dwarf star with a unique carbon-rich atmosphere, suggesting it was formed from the merger of two white dwarfs. The discovery raises questions about the evolution of massive white dwarf stars and the number of supernovae in our galaxy.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalNature Astronomy·DateMar 2, 2020

Hydrogen energy at the root of life

A new study by Dr. Martina Preiner and colleagues simulates the emergence of life in a lab environment using hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide as starting materials. The team found that these simple chemical reactions can produce the same building blocks used by early cells, providing insight into the origins of life.

SourceHeinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateMar 2, 2020

To bee, or not to bee, a question for almond growers

A study by University of Hawaii researchers found that the new 'Independence' almond variety requires bee assistance for optimal yield, contrary to marketing claims. This challenges efforts to breed pollinator-independent almonds, which could have significant consequences for the beekeeping industry and agricultural pesticide use.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 2, 2020