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Science News for January 22, 2020


Old molecule, new tricks

Researchers at UCSB have developed an electrochemical method for extracting uranium from solution, using carboranes as a key component. This technology enables efficient and reliable capture and release of uranium ions, with potential applications in nuclear waste reprocessing and seawater uranium extraction.

Sustainability claims about rubber don't stick

A new study led by the University of Göttingen calls into question the sustainability claims made by large corporations like Michelin regarding rubber production. The researchers found that local villagers' reports indicated land-ownership, ecosystems, and biodiversity suffered due to deforestation and poor pay conditions.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalJournal of Land Use Science·DateJan 22, 2020

Researchers trace coronavirus outbreak in China to snakes

A new study reveals that the 2019-nCoV coronavirus likely originated from a combination of a bat coronavirus and an unknown coronavirus, with recombination allowing cross-species transmission to humans via snakes. This finding highlights the importance of understanding viral origins for effective control of emerging outbreaks.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Medical Virology·DateJan 22, 2020

Physicists trap light in nanoresonators for record time

Researchers successfully trapped an electromagnetic wave in a gallium arsenide nanoresonator for a record-breaking time exceeding 200 periods of one wave oscillation. The study demonstrates the potential for efficient light frequency nanoconversion and applications in compact sensors, night vision devices, and optical data transmission.

SourceITMO University·JournalScience·DateJan 22, 2020

Coating helps electronics stay cool by sweating

Researchers have developed a coating that releases water vapor to dissipate heat from running devices, outperforming existing strategies in cooling efficiency. The coating uses metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and can absorb moisture from the air, providing effective cooling and quick recovery.

SourceCell Press·JournalJoule·DateJan 22, 2020

Program reduces narcotic prescriptions after surgery with over-the-counter pain medicine

A Houston Methodist study found that using long-acting local anesthetics and scheduled non-narcotic pain medication reduced opioid prescriptions from 87% to 10% after surgery. The program successfully managed pain after surgery using over-the-counter pain medication, decreasing the chance of patients becoming addicted to narcotics.

SourceHouston Methodist·JournalJournal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery·DateJan 22, 2020

Kids born to moms with gestational diabetes and preeclampsia at greater risk for obesity

A new longitudinal study shows a link between multiple metabolic disorders in mothers during pregnancy and children's body mass indexes later in life. The study found that when a mother experiences both gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, the child has an increased risk of high childhood BMI over time.

SourceAdvanced Science Research Center, GC/CUNY·JournalArchives of Gynecology and Obstetrics·DateJan 22, 2020

Mushrooms are older than we thought

Researchers at Université libre de Bruxelles discover oldest known mushroom fossil, dating back 715-810 million years, using advanced molecular analysis techniques. The findings suggest that fungi played a crucial role in the colonization of Earth's surface around 500 million years ago.

SourceUniversité libre de Bruxelles·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 22, 2020

Genetic identification of human remains from the Spanish Civil War and the dictatorship

A research team at the University of the Basque Country is using genetic analysis to identify human remains from the Spanish Civil War and dictatorship. By comparing DNA samples from remains with those from family members, they are able to determine the profile of the remains and gather enough information to enable identification.

SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalForensic Science International·DateJan 22, 2020

Locomotor engine in the spinal cord revealed

A novel principle of organisation has been discovered in the spinal cord, which coordinates locomotion by forming three recurrent rhythm-generating circuit modules acting as gears. This discovery provides new insights into how brain commands are translated into rhythmic and appropriately paced locomotion.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalNeuron·DateJan 22, 2020

Both simple and advanced imaging can predict best stroke patients for thrombectomy

A multicenter study found that both simple and advanced computed tomography (CT) can accurately predict which stroke patients will benefit from endovascular thrombectomy. Patients with favorable imaging profiles on both CT and CT perfusion had higher odds of receiving endovascular therapy and improved functional independence rates.

Industry funding of patient groups lacks governance and transparency

A systematic review of observational studies found that industry funding of patient groups is common, with estimates ranging from 20% to 83%. Few patient groups have formal policies governing corporate sponsorship, and financial transparency is inadequate. The researchers call for greater transparency in reporting industry funding and ...

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateJan 22, 2020

Domesticated wheat has complex parentage

Research reveals that domesticated wheat originated from the interbreeding of wild emmer wheat with cultivated varieties in southeast Turkey. This process occurred around 9,500 years ago, contradicting earlier theories of a single origin point.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 22, 2020

Blood tests can predict timing of final menstrual period

Researchers found that measuring anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels can predict when a woman's final menstrual period will occur. AMH serves as an indicator of remaining egg supply, decreasing with age. This new test allows for more accurate predictions within 12 to 24 months in women's late 40s and early 50s.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateJan 22, 2020

CPRIT grant bolsters Rice biosciences

Rice University has received a $6 million grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas to bolster its growing biosciences initiative. Synthetic biologist Caroline Ajo-Franklin will lead the effort, exploring biological-inorganic interfaces and developing sensors to monitor chemotherapy agents in real-time.

The secret of strong underwater mussel adhesion revealed

Researchers at POSTECH have discovered the key to strong underwater mussel adhesion, finding that Dopa and Lysine molecules work together in a synergistic effect. Their study used molecular biology techniques to analyze adhesive proteins in mussels and confirmed two molecules with strong adhesion even in underwater conditions.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalJournal of Colloid and Interface Science·DateJan 22, 2020

Self-moisturizing smart contact lenses

Researchers developed self-moisturising smart contact lenses to tackle dry eye syndrome, a common problem associated with contact lens wear. The new system uses electroosmotic flow to maintain moisture levels, powered by biobatteries and showing promise for future applications.

SourceTohoku University·JournalAdvanced Materials Technologies·DateJan 22, 2020

Ben-Gurion University researchers slash pre-drug screening time from years to days

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem developed a powerful tool that streamlines the development of disease therapies, transforming a multi-year process into just a few days. The new approach simultaneously evaluates thousands of mutations in protein-protein complexes, increasing understanding of m...

The Lancet Global Health: Guided self-help intervention reduces refugees' psychological distress and improves wellbeing in humanitarian crises

A guided self-help approach was safe and effective in reducing psychological distress and improving functioning among female South Sudanese refugee women living in Uganda. The intervention resulted in meaningful improvements in symptoms of depression, PTSD, and explosive anger, with benefits seen across different trauma histories and l...

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Global Health·DateJan 22, 2020

Light at the end of the tunnel for most individuals with low-vision

A special issue of Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience reports remarkable progress in treating conditions of partial blindness. Research explores various aspects of vision loss due to diseases like glaucoma or optic neuropathy, with a focus on stop-cell death and induce regeneration to restore vision.

SourceIOS Press·JournalRestorative Neurology and Neuroscience·DateJan 22, 2020

Study reveals pre-Hispanic history, genetic changes among indigenous Mexican populations

An international team sequenced the genomes of 78 individuals from five indigenous groups in Mexico to understand the demographic history and genetic variation of pre-Hispanic populations. They identified 120,735 single nucleotide variants and found that certain genes were associated with adaptation to physical endurance and other traits.

Tiny price gaps cost investors billions

Research from UVM and MITRE shows that near-light-speed differences in stock prices create opportunities for latency arbitrage, costing investors at least $2 billion annually. High-frequency traders exploit faster information systems to buy stocks at better prices and sell them quickly, resulting in significant profits.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 22, 2020

Life's Frankenstein beginnings

A new study proposes that the first building blocks of life on Earth were not uniform but rather patchwork molecules containing bits of RNA and DNA. The 'RNA World' hypothesis has been revised to suggest a Frankenstein-like beginning, with RNA emerging from a mixture of nucleotides.

SourceHarvard University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJan 22, 2020

Neutron source enables a look inside dino eggs

Scientists investigate three 67 million year old oviraptorid egg fossils, determining that the embryos were at different developmental stages and likely hatched at different times. The findings suggest a unique nesting biology similar to modern birds, challenging previous assumptions about oviraptorids.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalIntegrative Organismal Biology·DateJan 22, 2020

2019's new medicines

In 2019, the pharmaceutical industry approved 48 new medicines, including treatments for various cancers, sickle cell disease, and migraines. The majority of these drugs had novel mechanisms of action, such as antibody-drug conjugates and small interfering RNA.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateJan 22, 2020

How're your cells' motors running?

Researchers discovered that two types of 'kinesin' molecular motors coordinate differently, with kinesin-1 working independently and kinesin-14 interacting to tune transport speed. This breakthrough expands understanding of cellular processes and basic life functions.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 22, 2020

Study uncovers unexpected connection between gliomas, neurodegenerative diseases

A recent study discovered a connection between glioma cells expressing the protein TAU and better patient outcomes. The presence of TAU helped regulate blood vessel formation, contributing to tumor aggression. Researchers suggest TAU levels could serve as a biomarker for tumor progression in IDH1/2 mutant gliomas.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 22, 2020

Physicist obtain atomically thin molybdenum disulfide films on large-area substrates

Researchers have developed a method to synthesize large-area, atomically thin molybdenum disulfide films with modified structures depending on the synthesis temperature. The resulting films show promise for use in electronic devices and optical communication, with potential breakthroughs in transparent and flexible electronics.

SourceMoscow Institute of Physics and Technology·JournalACS Applied Nano Materials·DateJan 22, 2020