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Science News Archive February 2020 - Page 38


Page 38 of 40

Save the giants, save the planet

A new study found that protecting large animals and plants can reduce wild animal biomass by 44% and soil fertility by 92%, highlighting their fundamental role in ecosystem integrity. Larger organisms transport nutrients, promoting productivity and ecological services.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 4, 2020

JDRF honors type 1 diabetes research leaders

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) honored five researchers for their outstanding contributions to type 1 diabetes research, including breakthroughs in beta cell autoimmunity and immune therapies. The awards recognize significant progress toward curing T1D, with funded research totaling over $2.2 billion.

SourceJDRF·DateFeb 4, 2020

New hope for COPD patients possible with in-home device

In a new study, Mayo Clinic researchers discovered that in-home bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) therapy can significantly improve COPD patient outcomes, including reduced mortality rates and fewer hospital admissions. The treatment helps alleviate shortness of breath and reduces the risk of intubation.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalJAMA·DateFeb 4, 2020

Researchers successfully test coin-sized smart insulin patch, potential diabetes treatment

A new device can automatically manage glucose levels and deliver needed insulin quickly, eliminating the need for constant blood sugar checks and insulin injections. The adhesive patch, about the size of a quarter, has been successfully tested on mice and pigs, showing promise as a potential diabetes treatment.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateFeb 4, 2020

How many rare diseases are there?

Researchers estimate that there may be as many as 10 million people worldwide suffering from a rare disease, which is likely to hinder treatment development due to inconsistent and imprecise definitions. The study calls for a unified definition of rare diseases to improve care for patients and develop effective treatments.

SourceUniversity of New Mexico Health Sciences Center·JournalNature Reviews Drug Discovery·DateFeb 4, 2020

New method for removing oil from water

Researchers at the University of Bonn have developed an environmentally friendly technology to remove oil from water. Textiles with special surface properties passively skim off the oil and move it into a floating container without using chemicals.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (A )·DateFeb 3, 2020

Fragile: Handle with care

A recent study found that patients transferred between hospitals have a higher risk of dying than those admitted through the emergency department, even after controlling for patient-level characteristics. The researchers aim to improve transfer safety by identifying key variables and optimizing stabilization processes.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateFeb 3, 2020

Scientists listen to whales, walruses, and seals in a changing Arctic seascape

A year-round acoustic study in the northern Bering Sea recorded over 30,000 calls from whales, walruses, and seals, providing valuable insights into climate change's effects on these species. The study supports previous scientific knowledge with a finer-scale resolution, revealing consistent seasonal distribution and movement patterns.

SourceWildlife Conservation Society·JournalMarine Mammal Science·DateFeb 3, 2020

Weather radar records drastic drop in mayfly populations

Researchers used radar technology to quantify mayfly swarms in the Upper Mississippi River and Western Lake Erie Basin, estimating up to 88 billion mayflies can swarm annually. A 50% decline in population was observed between 2012 and 2019, raising questions about causes of such reductions in mass emergence.

SourceUniversity of Oklahoma·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 3, 2020

Tumbleweeds or fibrils: Tau proteins need to choose

Tau proteins exhibit distinct aggregation behaviors, with phosphorylation influencing their formation of either solid fibrils or disordered clumps. The researchers' findings offer new insights into the causes of Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia, potentially leading to the development of therapeutic interventions.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 3, 2020

Microplastic hotspots

Researchers discovered a substantial concentration of microplastics in the Delaware Bay, accumulating in hotspots driven by tidal, wind, and buoyancy variations. The study used field sampling and modeling to simulate microplastic distribution and found high concentrations near salinity fronts where surface currents converge.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateFeb 3, 2020

If cancer were easy, every cell would do it

A new paper explores how bodies evolve to prevent cancer by making growth factors costly to use and limiting cell proliferation. Individual cancer cells are kept in check when there's a high energetic cost for creating growth factors that signal cell growth.

SourceSanta Fe Institute·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 3, 2020

Making high-temperature superconductivity disappear to understand its origin

Researchers used a new technique to study the origin of superconductivity in cuprates by overdoping a material until it disappeared. They found that purely electronic interactions likely lead to high-temperature superconductivity and that this interaction emerges exactly when superconductivity starts, strengthening as it gets stronger.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 3, 2020

More grocery stores means less food waste -- and a big carbon cut

According to new research from Cornell University, opening more grocery stores can significantly reduce global warming by lowering food waste. The study found that even small increases in store density can have a high impact on reducing waste, with benefits comparable to converting thousands of cars to electric power.

SourceCornell University·JournalManufacturing & Service Operations Management·DateFeb 3, 2020

How the development of skulls and beaks made Darwin's finches one of the most diverse species

A new study reveals that the rapid evolution of Darwin's finches and Hawaiian honeycreepers was linked to their beaks and skulls. The researchers found that these birds had a stronger association between their beaks and skulls than other bird lineages, allowing for more versatile evolution but constrained along specific directions.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateFeb 3, 2020

Shift workers at risk for heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes

Shift workers are at a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome, heart disease and type 2 diabetes due to disrupted circadian rhythms. Employers and workers can take steps to mitigate these risks, including establishing consistent sleep schedules, controlling light exposure and promoting healthy nutrition and exercise.

SourceAmerican Osteopathic Association·JournalThe Journal of the American Osteopathic Association·DateFeb 3, 2020

HIV antibody therapy is associated with enhanced immune responses in infected individuals

Researchers have found that combining two anti-HIV antibodies with ART can suppress the virus and boost T cell responses, offering new hope for HIV treatment. The study suggests a potential interaction between humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity, which could lead to improved control of the virus.

Smartphone texting linked to compromised pedestrian safety

A pooled analysis of 14 studies found that text messaging was associated with significantly lower rates of looking left and right before crossing, as well as moderately increased rates of collisions and close calls. Listening to music was not linked to any heightened risk of pedestrian behaviours.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalInjury Prevention·DateFeb 3, 2020

Meat isn't good for you

A new study from Northwestern University and Cornell University links red and processed meat consumption to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and death. The research suggests that reducing red meat intake may be an important strategy to reduce cardiovascular disease and premature death.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateFeb 3, 2020