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Science News Archive July 2020 - Page 23


Page 23 of 47

Timing key in understanding plant microbiomes

Researchers at Oregon State University have found that the order of microorganisms colonizing plants has a significant impact on microbiome composition and disease susceptibility. This discovery could provide farmers with important tools to combat plant diseases and maintain crop diversity.

SourceOregon State University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJul 16, 2020

Revealing Brazil's rotten agribusinesses

A peer-reviewed study published in Science finds that 18-22% of Brazil's annual soy exports to the European Union are potentially contaminated with illegal deforestation. The study identifies specific producers responsible for 'poisoning the barrel' and estimates greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation-linked soy and beef exports.

SourceBurness·JournalScience·DateJul 16, 2020

Will telehealth services become the norm following COVID-19 pandemic?

The rapid adoption of telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns about care quality and safety. Experts warn that integrating essential components of traditional doctor visits into virtual care poses challenges, including physical exams, lab work, and imaging. However, telehealth also holds promise for improvi...

Pre-brain surgery test protects language in some tumors

A pre-brain surgery test using navigated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (nrTMS) accurately maps language centers in patients with brain tumors not involved in these areas. The method's accuracy varies depending on tumor involvement, but it shows promise for improving surgical planning and patient outcomes.

SourceNagoya University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 16, 2020

Over $10 million awarded to Penn State for energy center

The US Department of Energy has awarded Penn State over $10 million to develop new ferroelectric memory materials that can be stacked in the third dimension above processor chips. This breakthrough technology aims to mitigate the von Neumann bottleneck, allowing for seamless communication between memory and computation.

Some decontamination processes damage N95 face masks

Certain decontamination methods for reusable N95 face masks can significantly impair their effectiveness. Research found that treatments using high concentrations of gas plasma hydrogen peroxide or longer processing times degrade filtration performance. In contrast, vaporized hydrogen peroxide sterilizers and shorter decontamination cy...

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalInfection Control and Hospital Epidemiology·DateJul 16, 2020

Divining monsoon rainfall months in advance with satellites and simulations

The research team created better climate model simulations that predict variation in monsoon rainfall the following season, with improved forecasts for the Indian subcontinent. The new model uses complementary satellite data to quantify the connection between snow pack characteristics and monsoon strength over the Asian monsoon region.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateJul 16, 2020

'Blinking" crystals may convert CO2 into fuels

Researchers at Rutgers University have created ultra-small nanoparticles that exhibit unusual blinking behavior, which could help produce methane and other fuels. The crystals, composed of titanium dioxide, stay charged for tens of seconds, enabling potential applications in environmental cleanups, sensors, and electronic devices.

SourceRutgers University·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateJul 16, 2020

Does "naming and shaming" of colleges with large tuition increases make a difference?

A study published in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis found that institutions included in the College Affordability and Transparency Center lists did not change their pricing policies or students' enrollment decisions. The findings suggest that relying on students to seek out affordability information is unlikely to influence...

SourceAmerican Educational Research Association·JournalEducational Evaluation and Policy Analysis·DateJul 16, 2020

Oral herpes rates are falling in children

Research published in BMJ Global Health suggests that oral herpes rates are falling among European children and young people. The prevalence of the virus is declining by 1% per year, with more than two-thirds of the population testing positive for HSV-1, but risks increasing sexually in adulthood.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBMJ Global Health·DateJul 16, 2020