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Science News Archive June 2020 - Page 30


Page 30 of 48

Fentanyl tops list of drugs found in Baltimore overdose patients

A new study found fentanyl was the most prevalent drug in overdose patients at two Baltimore hospital emergency departments, detected in 73-87% of specimens. The Maryland Emergency Department Drug Surveillance System helped identify this trend, highlighting the need for hospitals to add fentanyl testing to their routine panels.

SourceUniversity of Maryland Medical Center·JournalMMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report·DateJun 11, 2020

Utah's arches continue to whisper their secrets

Researchers assess the stresses and health of Utah's natural rock arches by analyzing seismic vibrations, revealing the effects of erosion on their shapes. The studies provide valuable information on the mechanical properties of rocks and the dominant sculpting agents behind arch formation.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJun 11, 2020

Lightning in a (nano)bottle: new supercapacitor opens door to better wearable electronics

Researchers developed a stretchable, environmentally friendly, and low-cost supercapacitor with high power density and fast charge-discharge rates. The new design uses nitrogen-doped graphene electrodes in an NaCl-based electrolyte, improving volumetric performance and reducing fabrication costs.

SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalJournal of Energy Storage·DateJun 11, 2020

Lack of mitochondria causes severe disease in children

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered that a lack of mitochondria causes severe disease in children, including brain dysfunction and neurological impairment. The study, published in EMBO Molecular Medicine, suggests that inhibition of mitochondrial degradation may provide a new treatment strategy for affected patients.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalEMBO Molecular Medicine·DateJun 11, 2020

Promising path found for COVID-19 therapeutics

A team of UGA scientists has successfully demonstrated that a set of drug-like small molecules can block the activity of the SARS-CoV-2 protein PLpro, providing a promising path for new COVID-19 therapeutics. The discovery offers a potential rapid development path to generating PLpro-targeted therapeutics for use against SARS-CoV-2.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalACS Infectious Diseases·DateJun 11, 2020

Government health, safety regulations backfire with conservatives, study shows

A new study from the University of Notre Dame found that government-imposed restrictions on consumption can have unintended consequences for conservatives. The research showed that conservatives increased mobile phone usage in vehicles after a law was enacted, and were more likely to purchase unhealthy foods and view e-cigarettes more ...

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalJournal of Marketing Research·DateJun 10, 2020

Fluid mechanics mystery solved

Oregon State University professor Brian D. Wood has solved a 70-year-old puzzle in fluid mechanics, clarifying how chemicals mix in fluids and paving the way for advances in medical, industrial, and environmental applications. His research builds on Octave Levenspiel's work and resolves paradoxes in other theories.

SourceOregon State University·JournalJournal of Fluid Mechanics·DateJun 10, 2020

Acoustics put a fresh spin on electron transitions

A Cornell University team has discovered a way to control electron spin transitions using acoustic waves, eliminating the need for magnetic fields. This breakthrough enables the development of smaller, more power-efficient acoustic sensors for navigation technology and other applications.

SourceCornell University·JournalPhysical Review Applied·DateJun 10, 2020

How the brain controls our speech

Research at Goethe University Frankfurt reveals that both hemispheres of the brain contribute to speech control, with the left hemisphere handling fast processes and the right hemisphere controlling slower processes. This discovery challenges the long-held assumption that the right hemisphere only analyzes spoken words.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 10, 2020

Liquid metals break down organic fuels into ultra-thin graphitic sheets

Researchers at UNSW Sydney synthesized ultra-thin carbon-based materials using liquid metals and organic fuels at room temperature, a first for this method. The ultra-smooth surface of the liquid metals templates atomically-thin carbon-based sheets, which can be used in various applications including battery storage and solar cells.