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Science News Archive June 2020 - Page 47


Page 47 of 48

Clever computing puts millions into charities' hands

A new model called Swiftaid has been developed to automate the process of claiming Gift Aid on donations, allowing charities to claim up to £2.50 for every £10 donated. This system uses formal methods to improve design and security, streamlining the process and unlocking millions in extra funding.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalFormal Aspects of Computing·DateJun 1, 2020

Disorder in fish shoals may reap rewards at dinner time

Research by the University of Bristol found that certain fish perform better in disordered groups due to their increased alertness and ability to detect food sources. This challenges the traditional view of orderly group behavior as always beneficial for foraging, highlighting individual diversity as a key factor.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 1, 2020

A boost for cancer immunotherapy

Researchers at MIT create nanoparticles that stimulate the immune system, making cancer immunotherapy more powerful. By combining these particles with checkpoint inhibitors, they achieved a synergistic effect that halted tumor growth and even stopped tumors from spreading.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 1, 2020

Extra choline may help pregnant women decrease negative effects of COVID-19 on their newborns

A new study suggests that taking extra choline supplements during pregnancy may mitigate the negative impact of viral respiratory infections, including COVID-19, on fetal brain development. Higher prenatal choline levels have been shown to protect the fetus's developing brain from the effects of virus infection.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalJournal of Psychiatric Research·DateJun 1, 2020

Ancient genomes link subsistence change and human migration in northern China

A team of researchers sequenced 55 ancient genomes from northern China, finding correlations between genetic changes and subsistence strategy shifts. The study reveals that the West Liao River region experienced significant genetic changes over time, while the Yellow River showed a general stability but received genetic contributions f...

SourceMax Planck Institute of Geoanthropology·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 1, 2020

Solar Ring mission: A new concept of space exploration for understanding Sun and the inner heliosphere

The Solar Ring mission aims to study the Sun and its influence on the inner heliosphere using a novel six-spacecraft configuration. The mission will provide unprecedented capabilities, including determining the photospheric vector magnetic field with unambiguity and resolving solar wind structures at multiple scales.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Technological Sciences·DateJun 1, 2020

The hidden underwater map of the past

A study by the University of the Basque Country reveals 12 former coastlines under the sea off the Basque coast, formed due to major climate changes and fluctuations in sea levels. The researchers used advanced technology to create 3D maps of the seabed, showing irregularly distributed rocky platforms that had not been predefined.

SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalFrontiers in Earth Science·DateJun 1, 2020

Researchers have developed a first-principles quantum Monte Carlo package called TurboRVB

Researchers have developed TurboRVB, a first-principles quantum Monte Carlo package that overcomes drawbacks of density functional theory and wavefunction-based calculations. The code features resonating valence bond-type wave functions, state-of-the-art optimization algorithms, and lattice-regularized diffusion Monte Carlo method.

SourceJapan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateJun 1, 2020

COVID-19 outbreak lasts days longer for each day's delay in social distancing

A study of 58 cities found that each day's delay in implementing social distancing measures added 2.4 days to the outbreak duration. Early intervention can save lives and reduce transmission by acting quickly upon signs of resurgence. The findings have implications for US cities, particularly those with high rapid transmission rates.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalEmerging Infectious Diseases·DateJun 1, 2020

Tracking fossil fuel emissions with carbon-14

Researchers estimate national fossil-fuel-derived CO2 emissions by observing carbon-14 in air samples. The new method uses a model of atmospheric transport to disentangle CO2 variations from natural sources, providing an independent and objective estimate.

SourceNOAA Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 1, 2020

Aiming for an enduring relationship

Recent research suggests that a higher degree of readiness is associated with higher commitment to a relationship. Readiness also predicts relationship maintenance beyond commitment, but surprisingly, it's also linked to less loyalty. The study found that individuals who feel more ready may prioritize relationships over other issues an...

SourceSingapore Management University·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·DateJun 1, 2020

A good egg: Robot chef trained to make omelettes

A team of engineers at the University of Cambridge has successfully trained a robot chef to prepare an omelette using machine learning, with improved taste and texture. The robot's culinary skills were refined to produce a reliable dish that meets human standards, overcoming the subjective nature of cooking.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalIEEE Robotics and Automation Letters·DateJun 1, 2020

A remote control for neurons

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University develop a novel material called NT-3DFG, which enables remote optical stimulation of neurons without genetic modification or cellular stress. This breakthrough has significant implications for understanding cell interactions and developing new therapies that harness the human body's own cells.

SourceCollege of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 1, 2020