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Science News Archive 2020 - Page 491


Page 491 of 512

Want to know what climate change will do in your back yard? There's a dataset for that

A new, high-resolution climate change dataset has been validated and described, providing valuable data for smallholder farmers and policymakers to devise adaptation strategies. The dataset includes 436 scenarios of future climate conditions at scales as small as 1 kilometer.

Record-breaking terahertz laser beam

Scientists at TU Wien have created a record-breaking terahertz laser beam that produces extremely efficient and high-intensity terahertz radiation. The technology generates a broad spectrum of terahertz radiation, enabling the creation of short pulses with extremely high radiation intensity.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 20, 2020

More than 2 million patients with heart disease report use of marijuana

A review article published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology estimates that 2 million adults with cardiovascular disease in the US have used or currently use marijuana. Observational studies link marijuana use to increased heart risk, including stroke, arrhythmia, and decreased heart muscle function.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateJan 20, 2020

Magnetized molecules used to monitor breast cancer

Researchers have developed a new scanning technique using magnetized molecules to monitor breast cancer, detecting differences in tumor size, type, and grade. The scan reveals the 'topography' of tumors, providing detailed information on metabolism and identifying potential treatment options.

SourceCancer Research UK·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 20, 2020

Wisdom of the crowd? Building better forecasts from suboptimal predictors

Researchers at the University of Tokyo and Kozo Keikaku Engineering Inc. have introduced a method for enhancing the power of existing algorithms to forecast the future of unknown time series by combining suboptimal forecasts. This approach was tested on real-world flood data and theoretical equations with chaotic behavior, resulting in...

Platelets instead of spheres make screens more economical

Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a new QLED screen technology using ultra-thin nanoplatelets that emit light in one direction, increasing energy efficiency and reducing scattering losses. The technology produces high-intensity blue light with around two-fifths of the generated light reaching the observer's eye.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 20, 2020

New research provides evidence of strong early magnetic field around Earth

Scientists have discovered evidence that the magnetic field forming around Earth was even stronger 4 billion years ago, generating a protective shield from harmful solar wind and cosmic rays. This finding has implications for understanding the future sustainability of Earth's magnetic shield and its potential for supporting life.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 20, 2020

New research confirms lingering mood benefit of psychedelics

A recent Yale study found that people who recently used psychedelics report sustained improvements in mood and feelings of social connectedness. The study, which surveyed over 1,200 festival attendees, confirms previous laboratory research indicating psychedelic substances enhance mental well-being.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 20, 2020

A new role for neurogenesis

Neurogenesis has been shown to have an additional role beyond learning and memory, with adult neural stem cells involved in regeneration. In a study published in JNeurosci, mice were exposed to a toxic substance that damaged the dentate gyrus, but recovered almost fully through neurogenesis.

An estimated 2 million people with heart disease have used marijuana, finds study

A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that approximately 2 million adults in the US who have cardiovascular disease currently use or have used marijuana. The review also reveals that cannabinoids can interact with drugs used to treat heart disease, increasing the risk of adverse effects.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateJan 20, 2020

Native Americans did not make large-scale changes to environment prior to European contact

A team of researchers from Binghamton University and Emerson College analyzed data from 14,000 years ago and found that Native Americans did not make large-scale changes to the environment. The study suggests that ancient native people thrived under changing forest conditions by adapting to them, rather than intensively managing the land.

SourceBinghamton University·JournalNature Sustainability·DateJan 20, 2020

Physics shows that imperfections make perfect

For the first time, physicists have experimentally demonstrated that certain systems with interacting entities can synchronize only if the entities within the system are different from one another. Researchers found that identical entities naturally behave identically until they start interacting and then identified scenarios in which ...

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Physics·DateJan 20, 2020

Insect bites and warmer climate means double-trouble for plants

A new study reveals that warmer temperatures worsen the productivity of infested tomato plants, causing them to produce more defense compounds in response to caterpillar attacks. This double-edged sword leads to impaired photosynthesis, decreased crop yield, and unexpected tradeoffs between defense responses and plant productivity.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 20, 2020

Editing RNA delivers precision strike on triple-negative breast cancer

Researchers developed a new compound that targets microRNA-21, a molecule linked to aggressive breast cancer, awakening its self-destruct system and killing cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unaffected. In mouse models, the compound showed promise in reducing breast cancer spread and decreasing invasiveness in other cancers.

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 20, 2020

Health of poor Brits worse than that of those born a century ago

A large study of over 200,000 working-age people found that the self-reported health of poor Brits is worse than that of people born a century ago. The gap in health has widened between the richest and poorest, with those from lower-income households more likely to have long-term conditions and poor general health.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health·DateJan 20, 2020

Water-repellent leaves

Researchers report that the leaves of the floating fern Salvinia molesta can efficiently recover air mattress trapped in microstructures due to interconnected wedge-shaped grooves. Artificially fabricated leaf surfaces also exhibit air mattress recovery and could prove useful in various underwater applications.

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