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Science News for April 20, 2020


Early exposure to cannabis boosts young brains' sensitivity to cocaine, rodent study finds

A Columbia-led study found that early exposure to cannabis makes young brains more sensitive to cocaine, shedding light on the neurobiology of drug use in adolescence. The research revealed key molecular and epigenetic changes in adolescent rats' brains after synthetic psychoactive cannabinoids were followed by cocaine.

SourceThe Zuckerman Institute at Columbia University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 20, 2020

Cochrane Review confirms effectiveness of MMR vaccines

A Cochrane Review confirms the effectiveness of MMR vaccines in preventing infectious diseases such as measles, mumps, and rubella. The review found that one dose of vaccine was 95% effective in preventing measles and 89% effective in preventing rubella, with no association between the vaccines and autism or other conditions.

SourceWiley·JournalCochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·DateApr 20, 2020

What's old is new again

A new strategy to overcome drug resistance in leukemia uses targeted doses of doxorubicin, inhibiting molecular pathways that promote tumor growth and resistance. Low-dose doxorubicin also stimulates the immune system, clearing the way for cancer-targeting immune cells to act.

SourceStowers Institute for Medical Research·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateApr 20, 2020

Study finds male-female cardiac repair differences in heart failure survival post-MI

A University of South Florida-led mouse cardiac healing study reveals faster heart repair and improved survival in female mice compared to males after a heart attack. The research suggests that sex-specific therapies may be more effective in managing heart failure, with potential applications for delayed or prevented cardiac inflammation.

SourceUniversity of South Florida (USF Health)·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateApr 20, 2020

How reptiles adapted to marine life

Researchers analyzed 18 extinct reptile species and 14 modern relatives, finding similarities in the vestibular system of open-ocean swimmers, including cetaceans. The study suggests that distinct evolutionary routes resulted in similar adaptations for different types of terrestrial animals transitioning to marine environments.

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

Engineering honor For Lashanda Korley

LaShanda Korley, a renowned materials scientist at the University of Delaware, has been elected as a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. Her work focuses on developing bio-inspired materials with applications in healthcare, sensing, and soft robotics.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Faster-degrading plastic could promise cleaner seas

Cornell University chemists have developed a new polymer that degrades by ultraviolet radiation, reducing persistent plastic accumulation in the environment. The material, isotactic polypropylene oxide, has mechanical properties comparable to commercial fishing gear and can break down on a realistic time scale.

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateApr 20, 2020

Advanced memory from advanced materials

Scientists at the University of Tokyo have successfully demonstrated a method to switch a novel material between two different nonvolatile states at very high speeds and with great accuracy. This breakthrough finding has potential applications in creating high-speed memory devices that are also energy-efficient.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature·DateApr 20, 2020

Catalyst enables reactions with the help of green light

Chemists have developed a titanium catalyst that makes light usable for selective chemical reactions, producing highly selective products that can be used for antiviral drugs or luminescent dyes. The new catalyst uses green light to trigger reactions without destroying organic compounds.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateApr 20, 2020

Changes in snowmelt threaten farmers in western US

Farmers in parts of the western United States will be among the hardest hit by climate change, which will reduce seasonal water availability for irrigation. The study found that basins globally most at risk include the San Joaquin and Colorado river basins, where snowmelt runoff is projected to decrease significantly.

SourceOhio State University·JournalNature Climate Change·DateApr 20, 2020

Infant temperament predicts personality more than 20 years later

A long-term study found that infant behavioral inhibition is linked to a more reserved personality and higher levels of internalizing psychopathology in adulthood. The research also identified a neurophysiological marker, error-related negativity, as a potential predictor of risk for developing anxiety disorders.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Mental Health·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 20, 2020

Large population study links blood infection with certain bacteria to increased risk of colorectal cancer

A large population study found a significant association between blood infections with anaerobic bacteria and an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. The study revealed that infections with specific bacteria, such as Clostridium septicum and Bacteroides ovatus, were linked to a substantial increased risk of CRC.

Rating pain: Not just a numbers game

A new study found that almost 4 out of 5 patients with moderate pain intensity considered it tolerable, and 30-40% of those with severe pain also described it as tolerable. This suggests an alternative to traditional 0-10 rating scales could help doctors better understand patient needs.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateApr 20, 2020