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Science News for December 17, 2020


Antifungal drug improves key cystic fibrosis biomarkers in clinical study

A clinical study by researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign found that an antifungal drug improved key biomarkers in lung tissue cultures and nasal cells of patients with cystic fibrosis. The study suggests that the drug could benefit all patients, regardless of their mutation, offering a new approach to treatment.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Cystic Fibrosis·DateDec 17, 2020

Coronavirus spread during dental procedures could be reduced with slower drill rotation

Researchers at Imperial College London and King's College London suggest that dentists avoid using drills with air and water mixtures and carefully select drill rotation speeds to reduce aerosol generation. This approach can produce 60 times fewer aerosol droplets, allowing for safer dental procedures and increased patient access

SourceImperial College London·JournalJournal of Dental Research·DateDec 17, 2020

Squirrels need good neighbours

A study on North American red squirrels found that keeping the same neighbors boosts survival rates and breeding success, even for solitary species. Familiarity with neighbors reduces aggression and increases territory defense efficiency, benefiting overall fitness.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalCurrent Biology·DateDec 17, 2020

COVID-19 as leading cause of death in US

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, COVID-19 has surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death in the US. This finding highlights the significant impact of COVID-19 on public health in the country.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateDec 17, 2020

Study: the pandemic's impact on lung cancer

A recent study by University of Cincinnati Cancer Center researchers shows that the pandemic had a negative impact on both preventive screening and patient outcomes for lung cancer. The team found that total monthly CT scans and new patient scans significantly decreased during the COVID-19 period, leading to increased proportion of sus...

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateDec 17, 2020

Researchers discover brain pattern that could improve mental health disorder diagnosis

A unique brain pattern that shifts tryptophan metabolism from serotonin production to neurotoxicity has been identified in individuals with major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. This finding holds promise for developing new diagnostic tests and targeted treatments for these conditions.

Childhood intervention can prevent 'deaths of despair'

A new study from Duke University finds that an intensive childhood intervention program called Fast Track can help prevent deaths from suicide, drug overdoses, and alcohol-related liver disease. The program reduced rates of suicidal ideation, hazardous drinking, and opioid use in young adults.

SourceDuke University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 17, 2020

UBCO research takes the chill off icy build-up on planes and wind turbines

A UBCO research team has developed advanced ice sensors that can detect frost and ice build-up in real-time, enabling improved safety and efficiency in aviation and renewable energy applications. The patented sensor is being tested by the aviation industry for approval and also being adapted for use in wind farms.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia Okanagan campus·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateDec 17, 2020

Satellite tracking supports whale survival

A study by Flinders University has tracked the movements of 13 pygmy blue whales along Southern Australia's foraging grounds and migratory routes. The research provided new insights into the ecological data, highlighting the importance of upwelling centers in mitigating human activities' impacts on the species.

SourceFlinders University·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 17, 2020

Weddell sea: Whale song reveals behavioral patterns

Research from the Alfred Wegener Institute reveals that Antarctic minke whales prefer to live in regions covered with sea ice, while humpback whales avoid them. The findings provide essential information for successful marine protection in the Antarctic and highlight the importance of long-term acoustic observations.

Crops near Chernobyl still contaminated

A new study finds that crops grown near Chernobyl's exclusion zone continue to be contaminated with radioactive isotopes, including strontium 90 and caesium 137. The contamination poses significant health risks to humans and the environment, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and remediation efforts.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalEnvironment International·DateDec 17, 2020

Scientists unlock promising key to preventing cancer relapse after immunotherapy

Researchers found that targeting the fas protein can prevent cancer cells from escaping immunotherapies, leading to longer-lasting positive responses and improved survival rates. By combining immunotherapies with small molecule inhibitors, bystander tumor cell killing may be potentiated to eliminate antigen-loss variants.

When genetic data meets marketing

A new study assesses the implications of genetic testing for marketing strategy and research, highlighting potential uses and misuses of genetic data. The authors raise concerns about unique features of genetic data, including individual identification and predictive power, that may threaten consumer autonomy and privacy.

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateDec 17, 2020

Ultra-thin designer materials unlock quantum phenomena

Researchers at Aalto University have designed an ultra-thin material that creates elusive Majorana quantum states, which could be key to making topological qubits. The team successfully trapped electrons together in a two-dimensional material, overcoming the challenge of noise tolerance in quantum computing.

SourceAalto University·JournalNature·DateDec 17, 2020

Study reports drop in lung cancer screening, rise in malignancy during COVID-19 surge

A recent study reported a significant drop in low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite resuming full operations, new patient monthly LDCT rates remained low, and patients were more likely to miss appointments, increasing the no-show rate from 15% to 40%. This led to a rise in m...

SourceAmerican College of Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateDec 17, 2020

How climate change is disrupting ecosystems

A study found that herbivorous insects from lower elevations can alter alpine plant communities when introduced to higher elevations, leading to changes in biomass structure and composition. This disruption can favor the growth of small-stature plant species.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience·DateDec 17, 2020

Oceans without oxygen

Researchers have discovered that ocean anoxic zones, which lack dissolved oxygen, are teeming with life and play a crucial role in the Earth's carbon cycle. The study found that microbes can still eat organic carbon but respiring sulfate, known as cryptic sulfur cycling, leading to more organic carbon deposits in sediments.

Shark fishing bans partially effective

A blanket ban on landing thresher sharks has stopped targeted fishing, but persistent 'bycatch' continues to be a problem. The study found that bycatch is widely unrecorded due to mistrust and confusion among fishers, making it hard for authorities to enforce the ban.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalMarine Policy·DateDec 17, 2020

The Lancet Respiratory Medicine: COVID-19 causes more severe disease than seasonal influenza, comparison of data from over 130,000 hospitalised patients confirms

A comparison of data from over 130,000 hospitalised patients found that COVID-19 is associated with a higher death rate and severity of illness compared to seasonal influenza. The study also revealed that COVID-19 patients were more likely to require invasive mechanical ventilation and intensive care.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Respiratory Medicine·DateDec 17, 2020

Change in global precipitation patterns as a result of climate change

A study by Dr. Michael Deininger found that changes in regional precipitation over the past 10,000 years are connected and mainly caused by alterations to solar radiation and associated temperature differences between tropics and polar regions. This could lead to shifts in regional rainfall patterns, potentially causing droughts in som...

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 17, 2020

Multi-messenger astronomy offers new estimates of neutron star size and universe expansion

A new study using multi-messenger astronomy has estimated the radius of a typical neutron star to be around 11.75 kilometers and provided a novel calculation of the Hubble constant, which indicates the rate of universe expansion. The researchers' analysis combined gravitational-wave signals and electromagnetic emissions from neutron st...

Stevens creates entangled photons 100 times more efficiently than previously possible

Researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology have developed a chip-based photon source that's 100 times more efficient than any previous device, allowing the creation of tens of millions of entangled photon pairs per second. The new source uses nanoscale microcavities to create entangled photons with virtually no waste energy.

SourceStevens Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 17, 2020