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Science News Archive December 2020 - Page 7


Page 7 of 39

Excess mortality in California during COVID-19 pandemic

A study estimated excess deaths in California between March and August due to the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting disparities by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and educational level. The results showed significant mortality increases among these groups, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and resources.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateDec 21, 2020

Novel combination therapy may help overcome mTOR drug resistance in AML

Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have discovered a novel method to boost the effectiveness of mTOR inhibitors against acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by targeting alternative signaling pathways. The study suggests using a combination therapy that combines an mTOR inhibitor with other drugs inhibiting CDK9, c-My...

SourceCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 21, 2020

DFG to fund 7 new Research Units

The DFG is establishing seven new Research Units to investigate topics such as gender-specific differences in immune responses and the development of more resistant dental prostheses. The units will receive a total of €25 million, with five teams funded for up to two four-year periods and two others for two three-year periods.

Targeting the deadly coils of Ebola

A team of researchers used Stampede2 and Bridges simulations to analyze the stability of the Ebola virus's nucleocapsid, a protein shell that protects its genetic material. The study found that RNA helps stabilize the nucleocapsid through electrostatic interactions with its nucleoproteins, providing potential targets for new therapeutics.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateDec 21, 2020

Synergy between biotech and classical control tactics rid US of invasive pest

A new study by ARS and UofA scientists found that genetically engineered cotton and sterile pink bollworm moths synergistically suppressed the pest. This collaboration among farmers, scientists, and industry resulted in a 90% reduction of pink bollworm population and saved US cotton farmers $192 million from 2014 to 2019.

SourceUS Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 21, 2020

Sixfold increase in risk

A new study published in The Lancet Global Health found that cervical cancer risk is six times higher in HIV-infected women worldwide. Southern and Eastern Africa are particularly affected due to high rates of HIV and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalThe Lancet Global Health·DateDec 21, 2020

Scientists and philosopher team up, propose a new way to categorize minerals

Scientists propose a new way to categorize minerals by incorporating historical data, highlighting the importance of understanding a sample's formation process. The IMA system is criticized for being time-independent, while the proposed approach uses 'historical natural kinds' to reflect changes in Earth's diversity.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 21, 2020

Discovery: How Colorado potato beetles beat pesticides

A study by University of Vermont researchers reveals that Colorado potato beetles develop resistance to pesticides through epigenetic changes, which can be passed on to descendants across at least two generations. These changes allow the beetles to rapidly adapt to new pesticides without requiring genetic mutations.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalEvolutionary Applications·DateDec 21, 2020

Muddying the waters: weathering might remove less atmospheric CO2 than thought

New research suggests that weathering of rocks at Earth's surface may be weaker in removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere than previously estimated. The team found an additional source of sodium in river waters across the globe, not from weathered silicate rocks as assumed, but from very old clays being eroded in river catchments.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 21, 2020

Concerns over infecting others matter more for vaccination in sparsely populated areas

Researchers found that prosocial concerns drive higher vaccination rates in rural areas than urban ones. The study suggests emphasizing prosocial aspects of vaccination can reduce the rural-urban disparity in vaccination. Vaccination protects not only individuals but also communities, highlighting its social nature.

SourceAnnenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 21, 2020

Scientists complete yearlong pulsar timing study after reviving dormant radio telescopes

A team of scientists from Rochester Institute of Technology and Instituto Argentino de Radioastronomiá completed a yearlong pulsar timing study using two upgraded radio telescopes in Argentina. The observations provided accurate bounds to gravitational waves, increasing the sensitivity of existing pulsar timing arrays.

SourceRochester Institute of Technology·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateDec 21, 2020

Coastal ecosystems 'bright spots'

Researchers identified successful coastal 'bright spots' for marine ecosystem restoration, which have delivered positive impacts for decades. These examples from around the world showcase effective techniques for restoring saltmarshes, coral reefs, and seagrass meadows, highlighting potential solutions to save struggling marine areas.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalCurrent Biology·DateDec 21, 2020

The upside of volatile space weather

A Northwestern University study discovered that stellar flares could play an important role in a planet's atmospheric evolution and habitability. Flares may drive a new chemical equilibrium in a planet's atmosphere, potentially making it easier to detect signs of life.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalNature Astronomy·DateDec 21, 2020

January issue ofSLAS Discovery"Cryo-EM: The Resolution Revolution and Drug Discovery"

The January issue of SLAS Discovery features the cover article 'Cryo-EM: The Resolution Revolution and Drug Discovery', which explores how Cryo-EM is influencing drug discovery projects. The journal also includes 13 articles on original research topics, such as high-throughput screening methods and protein-ligand interactions.

Corona: How the virus interacts with cells

Scientists have created a global atlas of direct interactions between SARS-CoV-2 RNA and the human proteome, revealing 18 key host proteins involved in viral replication. The study also identified two crucial regulators, CNBP and LARP1, which can inhibit viral replication, offering new avenues for treatment.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature Microbiology·DateDec 21, 2020