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Science News Archive April 2020 - Page 26


Page 26 of 37

Tech not hurting social skills of 'kids these days'

A new study from Ohio State University found that children's social skills have not declined due to increased screen time, with teachers rating both generations similarly. The study also showed that even heavy screen users showed similar development in social skills compared to those with little exposure.

SourceOhio State University·JournalAmerican Journal of Sociology·DateApr 13, 2020

Indices of health under our feet

A new study using wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) analyzes caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol consumption in a large university population, providing valuable data on psychotropic compound use. The findings highlight the utility of long-term monitoring networks for improving student health and identifying disease trends.

SourceArizona State University·JournalThe Science of The Total Environment·DateApr 11, 2020

Reducing sulfur dioxide emissions alone cannot substantially decrease air pollution

A recent study found that reducing sulfur dioxide emissions alone can significantly decrease air pollution, mainly due to the stability of ammonium nitrate formed with nitrogen oxides and ammonia. In China, nitrogen dioxide control is more effective in reducing surface PM2.5 concentrations.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateApr 11, 2020

Suicide mortality and COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to an increase in US suicide rates, according to a recent study. The researchers found that the pandemic may have contributed to rising rates of mental health problems and decreased access to healthcare services.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateApr 10, 2020

Magnet research takes giant leap

Scientists at the University of Central Florida and partners have successfully created anti-ferromagnetic devices that operate on the terahertz level, paving the way for ultra-fast electronics. This breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionize guidance systems, communications, and even mimic brain function.

SourceUniversity of Central Florida·JournalScience·DateApr 10, 2020

A new strategy to create 2D magnetic order

Researchers at Peking University and Chinese Academy of Sciences discover atomic mechanism of spin-valve magnetoresistance at asymmetry SrRuO3 grain boundary. The study reveals a new strategy to create 2D magnetic order in grain boundaries, which can dominate response in nanoscale devices.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateApr 10, 2020

A remote military medical team can offer insights to US hospitals preparing for COVID-19

A remote military surgical team transformed into a pandemic response team to provide care in an isolated population, adapting innovative solutions. Their recommendations emphasize the importance of evaluating everyone's skillsets and experience, including non-medical labor to provide medical interventions.

SourceAmerican College of Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateApr 10, 2020

Light driven proton pump in distant relative

Researchers discovered a novel light-sensitive protein in Asgard archaea that functions as an inward proton pump, opening possibilities for controlling pH levels in cells or microorganisms with light. This finding could lead to the development of new biomolecular tools and applications in optogenetics.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 10, 2020

Ordering of atoms in liquid gallium under pressure

Researchers at the University of Bristol discovered that liquid gallium maintains local order and forms regions of low entropy with five-fold symmetry even at extremely high pressures. This finding opens up new avenues for studying rapid temperature quenched melts leading to the production of metallic glass materials.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 9, 2020