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Science News for January 1, 2020


Spectroscopy: A fine sense for molecules

A new laser-based system has been developed to detect and measure the levels of all biomolecules, including proteins, sugars, fats, and their derivatives. This technique offers unparalleled sensitivity and can be used for all known classes of biomolecules, enabling the detection of precancerous and malignant cells in body fluids.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalNature·DateJan 1, 2020

All global sustainability is local

A new study assesses country and regional progress towards 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), revealing disparities between developed and developing regions. The study suggests that sustainability progress is dynamic and may involve tradeoffs, highlighting the need for a holistic approach to address these challenges.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalNature·DateJan 1, 2020

Researchers learn more about teen-age T.Rex

Researchers from Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences studied two mid-sized, immature T. rex skeletons to understand the tyrant king's teenage years. The team found that the small T. rex were growing as fast as modern-day warm-blooded animals and underwent drastic changes as they matured.

SourceOklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 1, 2020

Switching tracks: Reversing electrons' course through nature's solar cells

Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis and Argonne National Laboratory have successfully reversed the flow of electrons in a purple photosynthetic bacteria, achieving a 90% yield on the B-branch side. This breakthrough discovery sheds light on the earliest light-driven events of photosynthesis and could aid in designing bi...

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 1, 2020
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Bone analysis suggests small T. rexes were not a separate genus; they were kids

A new study refutes the idea that small Tyrannosaurus rex specimens represent a separate genus, instead revealing they were juvenile versions of their larger counterparts. The research found evidence of rapid growth in these young T. rexes, suggesting they likely played different roles in their ecosystems than adults.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 1, 2020

Tumor DNA platform scopes out and classifies colorectal cancer

A new noninvasive diagnostic method using circulating tumor DNA can detect colorectal cancer in at-risk patients with high accuracy. The technology, developed by Huiyan Luo et al., uses methylation markers to identify patients with a sensitivity and specificity of 87.5% and 89.9%, respectively.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 1, 2020

Changed route of immunization dramatically improves efficacy of TB vaccine

Researchers found that intravenous BCG vaccination significantly increased protection against TB in rhesus macaques. The study showed that IV BCG elicited strong, sustained T cell responses in the lungs, leading to a high degree of protection against infection and disease.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalNature·DateJan 1, 2020
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Delivering TB vaccine intravenously dramatically improves potency, study shows

A new study found that delivering the TB vaccine intravenously dramatically improves its potency, offering nearly full protection against TB in monkeys. The vaccine was highly effective when administered via injection into a vein, reducing bacterial burden by 100,000-fold and inflammation in lungs to near zero.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalNature·DateJan 1, 2020

Heart attack discovery could give hope to people not able to be treated

A new study has shown that a protein therapy called rhPDGF-AB can improve the quality of scar tissue after a heart attack, leading to the formation of new blood vessels and reduced rates of dangerous heart arrhythmia. The treatment has increased survival rates in animal models and holds promise for improving patient outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 1, 2020

New study estimates the global extent of river ice loss as Earth warms

Researchers found that annual river ice cover will decline by about six days for every one degree Celsius increase in global temperatures, affecting communities and industries. The study also detected widespread declines in monthly river ice coverage, particularly in the Tibetan Plateau, eastern Europe, and Alaska.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalNature·DateJan 1, 2020