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Science News Archive August 2020 - Page 5


Page 5 of 45

Using the past to maintain future biodiversity

Researchers analyzed past warming events to understand how species and ecosystems will cope with future climate change, identifying potential causes of extinction and ways to improve early-warning systems. The study informs effective conservation practice and policy for managing biodiversity under ongoing and future climate change.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalScience·DateAug 27, 2020

Decoded: The structure of the barrier between three cells

A team of researchers has discovered the crucial role of two proteins, Anakonda and M6, in maintaining a functional barrier at tricellular junctions. The study found that the M6 protein anchors the Anakonda protein to the cell membrane, preventing it from being destabilized and allowing for the formation of a stable epithelial barrier.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalCurrent Biology·DateAug 27, 2020

How sticklebacks dominate perch

A 40-year study reveals that the rise of sticklebacks, a key predator of algae, is driven by reduced numbers of larger fish species. This shift from predator-dominated to algae-dominated ecosystems has significant implications for ecosystem restoration and management.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalCommunications Biology·DateAug 27, 2020

Earth may always have been wet

Scientists analyzed enstatite chondrites, rare meteorites with primitive composition, to estimate the Earth's initial water content. Their findings indicate that the planet's rocks probably contained enough water to supply three times the amount of oceans, with only a small percentage delivered by comets or asteroids.

SourceCNRS·JournalScience·DateAug 27, 2020

How to make AI trustworthy

A new tool, DeepTrust, generated automatic indicators of data and prediction trustworthiness in neural networks, addressing the need for trust in AI. The researchers used subjective logic to assess neural network architectures, providing insights into testing reliability and maximizing accuracy.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalFrontiers in Artificial Intelligence·DateAug 27, 2020

Duchenne: "Crosstalk" between muscle and spleen

The study found a connection between dystrophic muscles and the lymphatic system in mice with Duchenne disease. The researchers identified changes in protein expression in the spleen, which suggests that the disease causes secondary effects on the immune response and inflammatory processes.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournaliScience·DateAug 27, 2020

Trapping of acetylene

Researchers developed a Ni-MOF that can capture acetylene with extraordinary efficiency and selectively from ethylene streams. The material has a synergistic combination of tailor-made pore sizes and chemical docking sites, making it especially efficient.

SourceWiley·DateAug 27, 2020

First in situ radiation measurements 21 km up into the air over Tibetan Plateau

Researchers developed a balloon-based system to study stratospheric radiation over the Tibetan Plateau, providing in situ measurements for the first time. The data helps understand radiation variations and thermal conditions associated with clouds and aerosols during the Asian summer monsoon period.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateAug 27, 2020

For healthcare organizations responding to COVID-19, 'creative destruction' leads to accelerated innovation

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked accelerated innovation in healthcare, particularly through the implementation of digital health capabilities. Montefiore Health System's 'creative destruction' approach led to rapid development of AI-based chatbots, telehealth solutions, and real-time performance management.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalFrontiers of Health Services Management·DateAug 27, 2020

Growing demand for zero-deforestation cacao might not help Colombian forests

Research finds that despite cocoa not driving deforestation in Colombia, small producers risk being cut out of supply chains if they don't comply with zero-deforestation requirements. Contextualized value-addition strategies are needed to support sustainable markets and peace.

Binding sites for protein-making machinery

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a method to determine how tightly ribosomes bind to hundreds of thousands of RNA sequences in a single experiment, using machine learning and deep sequencing technology. This approach enables precise control over protein production in bacteria, with potential applications in genetic diseases.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 27, 2020