Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive July 2020 - Page 28


Page 28 of 47

Machine learning accurately predicts who's who in the health care workforce

A machine learning algorithm accurately identifies medical specialties and primary care physicians with 95% accuracy, providing real-time data on the US healthcare workforce. The model correctly predicted 70% of physician practice types within five percentage points, including specialties such as emergency medicine and cardiology.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJul 14, 2020

Quantum body scanner? What happens when vector vortex beams meet scattering media

A team of researchers has made significant progress in developing a quantum body scanner that can detect cancer with high accuracy. By analyzing the transmission of vector vortex beams through scattering media, they have overcome major hurdles in biomedical imaging. The study's findings suggest that vector vortex beams can preserve the...

Researchers cast doubt on earlier COVID-19 origins study citing dogs as possible hosts

A recent study claiming the coronavirus may have jumped from dogs to humans lacks direct evidence, according to a collaborative group of international researchers. The team refuted the earlier study, highlighting that dogs are not special in their content of proteins that interact with viral CpG content.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalMolecular Biology and Evolution·DateJul 14, 2020

Underused part of the electromagnetic spectrum gets optics boost from 'metasurface'

Researchers at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology develop a novel collimator using a specially designed metasurface, enabling efficient manipulation of terahertz waves. This breakthrough has significant implications for next-generation wireless communications, security systems, biomedicine, and cultural heritage science.

Tale of the tape: Sticky bits make better batteries

Rice chemist James Tour and his team use adhesive tape to create a silicon oxide film that replaces troublesome anodes in lithium metal batteries. The new coating triples the battery lifetimes of other zero-excess lithium metal batteries, delivering better performance and longer lifespan.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJul 14, 2020

Loss of a co-twin linked to heightened psychiatric risk

A new study published in eLife found that twins who survive the loss of their co-twin are at an elevated risk of psychiatric disorders in both the short and longer term. The risk is highest for identical twins and those who experienced a co-twin's death during childhood or young adulthood.

SourceeLife·DateJul 14, 2020

Towards prosperous public goods with freedom of choice

Research suggests that giving individuals the freedom to choose preferred public goods significantly increases participation rates, fostering conditional cooperation and leading to more wealth generated for players. Local circumstances are found to be more important than global social network characteristics in driving this effect.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 14, 2020

What determines a warbler's colors?

A new study has narrowed down the region of the genome that drives the black color in warblers by studying hybrid offspring. The hybrids have a mix of coloration from the parent species, allowing researchers to identify which regions of the genome are associated with which color patterns.

The plight of the Kalahari San

San communities are marginalized despite living for thousands of years, with weak land tenure protections in Botswana. In contrast, Namibia recognizes their rights through community-based natural resources management and human rights organizations play a crucial role in advocating for their welfare.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Anthropological Research·DateJul 14, 2020

Butterfly wings inspiring next-gen technological innovations

Researchers have successfully fabricated various sensor and energy systems inspired by butterfly wings, including thermal, medical, and vapor sensors, anti-counterfeit security devices, and photovoltaic systems. These systems demonstrate competitive efficiency and performance to similar systems inspired by other natural species.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateJul 14, 2020

A study on maternal mortality in Mozambique detects a major diagnostic error in a high percentage of deaths

A study published in Lancet Global Health reveals a significant diagnostic error in almost 40% of maternal deaths in Maputo's central hospital in Mozambique. The results highlight the need to improve access to specific diagnostic tests and strengthen clinical skills among healthcare workers.

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalThe Lancet Global Health·DateJul 14, 2020

Why hydration is so important when hiking in the heat of summer

A recent study found that hikers' performance during hot weather conditions was impaired, resulting in slower speeds and increased risk of heat-related illness. The researchers also discovered that most hikers did not bring enough fluid to compensate for sweat loss, with less fit participants being most negatively affected.

SourceArizona State University·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateJul 14, 2020