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Science News for July 27, 2020


Make your own greenhouse gas logger

Researchers at Linköping University developed a simple and cost-efficient logger for measuring greenhouse gases, including methane. The open-source Arduino-based system provides data on methane levels, temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide, making it easier to monitor emissions locally and globally.

SourceLinköping University·JournalBiogeosciences·DateJul 27, 2020

Invisible barriers cut down on cheating

A new study published in PNAS found that simple environmental cues, such as a see-through partition or an imaginary barrier, can significantly reduce cheating in children. The researchers used four experiments with over 350 children aged 5-6 years old and demonstrated that just the idea of a barrier discouraged cheating.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 27, 2020

New depth map of the Arctic Ocean

The IBCAO 4.0 bathymetric chart provides a detailed map of the Arctic Ocean with higher and better resolution data than previous versions. The new chart reveals a great variety of glacial origins and helps to reconstruct geological processes in arctic latitudes.

SourceUniversity of Barcelona·JournalScientific Data·DateJul 27, 2020

Grape pips reveal collapse of ancient economy in the grip of plague and climate change

A study published in PNAS reveals a significant economic downturn in the Byzantine Empire's arid Negev desert during a pandemic in the mid-6th century CE. The research analyzed seeds found in ancient trash mounds, including grape pips, which show a high frequency, suggesting an increase in viticulture and wine export.

SourceBar-Ilan University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 27, 2020

Water molecules are gold for nanocatalysis

Researchers from Ruhr-Universität Bochum have discovered that water molecules facilitate oxygen dissociation in aqueous solutions, reducing energy costs by 25%. This breakthrough helps explain the high catalytic activity of gold nanoparticles on metal oxides for selective oxidation.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalACS Catalysis·DateJul 27, 2020

RNA biology provides the key to cell identity and health

Two studies published in Genome Research provide new insights into the core regulatory networks governing cell types across different vertebrate species. The research highlights the importance of understanding RNA expression in establishing cell function, morphology, and behavior. Long non-coding RNAs were found to affect cell growth a...

SourceRIKEN·JournalGenome Research·DateJul 27, 2020

Hydrogel mimics human brain with memorizing and forgetting ability

Researchers at Hokkaido University developed a hydrogel that mimics the human brain's dynamic memory function, encoding information that fades with time depending on intensity. The hydrogel's memory system can be programmed by temperature and learning time, allowing for stable memory establishment and controlled forgetting processes.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 27, 2020

The solar cell you can print

The £6 million grant will advance organic and perovskite solar cells into new applications, including 5G, the Internet of Things, and zero-carbon buildings. The project aims to develop low-cost manufacturing methods and prototypes to showcase their potential in these areas.

COVID-19 news from Annals of Internal Medicine

A team of bioethicists from Johns Hopkins University emphasizes the need for informed consent in public health activities, including those related to COVID-19. The authors suggest that good governance of public health surveillance infrastructure is crucial to maintain public trust and prevent research abuses.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJul 27, 2020

Safe work protocols can increase the likelihood the business will fail

New research in INFORMS journal Management Science suggests that organizations with safe workplaces have lower odds of survival. Employers who don't prioritize worker safety may gain an economic advantage by reducing costs and increasing productivity. The study analyzed data from 100,000 organizations across 25 years in Oregon.

Yale to lead trial of potential COVID-19 treatment

LAM-002A has shown promise in reducing SARS-CoV-2 virus levels in infected individuals, with Yale leading a Phase II trial to test its safety and efficacy as a COVID-19 treatment. The study aims to enroll 142 newly diagnosed patients to assess the drug's effectiveness in preventing disease progression.

SourceYale University·JournalNature·DateJul 27, 2020

'Selfish and loveless' society in Uganda really is not

A Baylor University study led by Cathryn Townsend challenges the long-held notion that the Ik ethnic group in Uganda is selfish and loveless. The research found that sharing and cooperation are integral to Ik culture, with a strong emphasis on supernatural punishment for those who do not share.

SourceBaylor University·JournalEvolutionary Human Sciences·DateJul 27, 2020

Pesticides can protect crops from hydrophobic pollutants

Researchers developed two approaches to control plant proteins related to hydrophobic pollutant transport. A pesticide that suppresses MLP gene expression reduced hydrophobic pollutant accumulation, while an MLP-binding pesticide inhibited binding to pollutants. This breakthrough enables safer crop production on contaminated soil.

SourceKobe University·JournalThe Science of The Total Environment·DateJul 27, 2020

Maternal depression increases odds of depression in offspring, study shows

A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that maternal depression during and after pregnancy significantly increases the odds of depression in offspring during adolescence and adulthood. The research, which examined over 15,000 children, shows that perinatal depression can have a lasting negative impact on mental health.

SMART finds new and safe method that enhances dengue vaccination -- Paving way to wide use

A team of researchers from SMART has developed a novel approach to induce strong and broad immunity against the dengue virus. Sequential immunization was found to be more effective in inducing higher levels of neutralizing antibodies to all four DENV serotypes than traditional tetravalent-formulated immunization.

Hedonism leads to happiness

New research from the University of Zurich and Radboud University found that people's capacity for hedonism contributes at least as much to a happy life as successful self-control. Distracted thoughts can undermine immediate pleasure, while consciously planning downtime can help enjoy it more

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateJul 27, 2020

Ultra-low power brain implants find meaningful signal in grey matter noise

The team discovered a technique to compress brain signals, focusing on neural activity spikes called threshold crossing rate or TCR, which requires less data while still being able to predict firing neurons. By listening to a specific feature of neuron data called spiking-band power, the SBP method is highly accurate and takes in one-t...

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateJul 27, 2020

New study provides valuable historical dataset for Yellow River water management

Researchers reconstructed natural runoff history for the middle reach of the Yellow River from 1492 to 2013 CE, finding reduced runoff and sediment load due to human activities. The study provides an important model for distinguishing anthropogenic influence from natural variability in global change studies.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 27, 2020

Pristine environments offer a window to our cloudy past

A new study uses satellite data to understand global cloud composition during the industrial revolution, finding that early-industrial aerosol concentrations were much higher than estimated by climate models. This could mean human-generated atmospheric aerosols are not having as strong a cooling effect as previously thought.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 27, 2020

Tendency to select targeted retirement fund ending in zero may impact wealth

A new study by Iowa State University researchers reveals that individuals tend to select retirement funds ending in zero, leading to an incompatible level of risk and potentially lower total wealth at retirement. The findings suggest that demographic factors such as age, income, and education can influence the likelihood of this 'zero'...

SourceIowa State University·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJul 27, 2020

Comprehensive study of vaccine safety concludes that vaccines are 'remarkably safe'

A comprehensive review of vaccine data over 20 years found vaccines to be remarkably safe, with most safety issues identified through existing postmarketing surveillance programs. The study confirms the effectiveness of the vaccine approval system and postmarketing surveillance in ensuring public health benefits while minimizing risks.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJul 27, 2020

Molecular cause underlying rare genetic disorder revealed

Researchers discovered abnormalities in communication between brain cells and molecular changes affecting protein production due to dysfunctional CASK gene. The study also suggests an unexpected role for CASK in regulating energy production in cells, which may explain diminished brain size and dysregulated function.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalExperimental Neurology·DateJul 27, 2020

Population genetic screening shown to efficiently identify increased risk for inherited disease

A new study shows that community-based genetic screening can identify individuals at increased risk for three common inherited conditions, including Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer, Lynch Syndrome, and Familial Hypercholesterolemia. The study found that up to 90% of carriers were not previously identified in a clinical setting.

SourceDesert Research Institute·JournalNature Medicine·DateJul 27, 2020

How to stack graphene up to four layers

A novel method to grow multi-layered, single-crystalline graphene with a selected stacking order in a wafer scale has been developed. The researchers used Cu-Si alloy formation to control the number of graphene layers, allowing for uniform large-area single-crystalline layer-tunable multilayer graphene growth.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJul 27, 2020

Rising temps put desert shrubs in high-efficiency mode

Research in the Mojave Desert shows that the brittlebush shrub has adapted to increased temperature and aridity by increasing its water use efficiency. Over a 39-year study period, the shrubs' ability to open their stomata was linked to changes in carbon isotopes, revealing a remarkable adjustment to the changing climate.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 27, 2020

MU School of Nursing programs help nursing homes respond to COVID-19

The MU Sinclair School of Nursing is providing assistance to over 500 Missouri nursing homes, distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) and offering recommendations for infection control practices. This helps nursing home residents stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on isolating sick patients and supporting staff.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalJournal of Nursing Care Quality·DateJul 27, 2020

Leaving money on the table to stay in the game

A new paper by Michael Price and James Holland Jones suggests that economic choices can be guided by evolutionary principles, such as diversifying to reduce risk. By keeping a mix of goats and camels, a Kenyan herder increases the odds of household survival, which is essential for long-term persistence.

SourceSanta Fe Institute·JournalEvolutionary Human Sciences·DateJul 27, 2020

Soft robot actuators heal themselves

Researchers created a self-healing polymer that mimics squid ring teeth, enabling fast and efficient repair of soft robotic actuators. The material can heal within one second, regaining its original strength and being fully biodegradable and recyclable.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Materials·DateJul 27, 2020

Remote, real-time monitoring of post-operative lung transplant patients significantly decreases hospital stays

A two-year observational pilot study found that remote monitoring of post-operative lung transplant patients significantly reduced hospital stays and readmissions by 44% and 66%, respectively. The study also showed a significant reduction in hospital costs, with an average savings of $132,000 per patient per year.

SourceUniversity of Southern California - Health Sciences·JournalAmerican Journal of Transplantation·DateJul 27, 2020

Despite debate, even the world's oldest trees are not immortal

A recent study on ginkgoes found that they can 'escape senescence at the whole-plant level,' raising questions about the apparent lack of aging in centuries-old trees. However, plant biologist Sergi Munné-Bosch argues that these organisms still undergo physiological stress associated with senescence.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Plant Science·DateJul 27, 2020

European and American maize: Same same, but different

Researchers have decoded the European maize genome, revealing significant differences in genetic content and genome structure compared to North American lines. These findings suggest that heterosis, a phenomenon increasing crop yields, may be influenced by variations in knob regions and gene regulation.