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Science News for March 12, 2020


The need for speed

Researchers at NCBS discovered that dopamine released by nerve cells activates faster motor neurons, allowing zebrafish to swim faster. This finding suggests motor neuron plasticity can be exploited for rehabilitation after spinal cord injury or stroke.

SourceNational Centre for Biological Sciences·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMar 12, 2020

Statins starve cancer cells to death

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have discovered that statins can kill cancer cells by blocking the creation of a molecule necessary for their survival. The study suggests that statins may be valuable in combating certain types of cancer and could lead to new treatment options.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 12, 2020

Genes tell a story about diabetic kidney disease

Scientists have identified several genes that may be involved in the development of diabetic kidney disease. By analysing Finnish samples with diabetes, researchers found connections between specific proteins and the condition. The study's findings suggest new potential targets for treating diabetic kidney disease.

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateMar 12, 2020

What causes an ice age to end?

A study by University of Melbourne researchers found that increased tilt angle of the Earth's axis triggers warmer summers, melting Northern Hemisphere ice sheets and ending ice ages. The team used stalagmites and ocean sediment records to determine the age of two terminations around 960,000 years ago.

SourceUniversity of Melbourne·JournalScience·DateMar 12, 2020

Healthier and happier without Facebook

Participants who reduced their Facebook usage experienced fewer depressive symptoms, were more active physically, and showed increased life satisfaction. Reducing social media time may help prevent addictive behavior and support a healthier lifestyle.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalComputers in Human Behavior·DateMar 12, 2020

Banded mongoose study reveals how its environment influences the spread of infectious disease

The study found that land type significantly influences the interaction of vigilance and scent marking behavior in banded mongooses. In environments with high predator presence, such as national parks, mongoose exhibited reduced scent marking behaviors, while in areas with low predator risk, like tourism lodges, these behaviors increased.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and Evolution·DateMar 12, 2020

Moving beyond 'defensive medicine'

A new study by MIT economists finds that doctors who have immunity from liability lawsuits perform slightly more C-section operations compared to those who are legally liable, about 4% more over a 10-year period. This challenges the common perception that defensive medicine leads to less treatment of patients.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Empirical Legal Studies·DateMar 12, 2020

Something in the water

A Brazilian study found that consuming contaminated water with saxitoxin worsens Zika neurotoxicity, tripling cell mortality and causing microcephaly-like malformations. This research highlights the public health problem of low water quality in the Northeast region, exacerbating the effects of arbovirus diseases.

SourceD'Or Institute for Research and Education·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateMar 12, 2020

At 8 months, babies already know their grammar

At 8 months, babies demonstrate a grasp of grammatical concepts in French, recognizing function words such as articles and prepositions. They exhibit limited interest in new functors, suggesting an innate understanding of their mother tongue's linguistic structure.

SourceCNRS·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMar 12, 2020

Digital tools for agriculture

The AgriSens research network is developing digital tools to assist farmers in crop production, including planning irrigation and making harvest forecasts. The project aims to create low-threshold services for farmers to utilize remote sensing data and satellite information.

Researchers create focus-free camera with new flat lens

The new flat lens design allows for a depth of focus several orders of magnitude larger than that of an equivalent conventional lens, enabling simultaneous focus on objects at varying distances. This breakthrough has significant implications for camera applications, including smartphones, biomedical imaging, and automobile cameras.

SourceOptica·JournalOptica·DateMar 12, 2020

Cancer: The immune system attacks tumors remotely

Researchers at Institut Pasteur found that immune cells can attack cancer cells remotely through soluble molecules like interferon-gamma. This discovery supports a key target for future immunotherapy approaches and may enable T lymphocytes to act on a large number of cancer cells.

SourceInstitut Pasteur·JournalNature Cancer·DateMar 12, 2020

Aerial insect trap network describes life in the skies

Scientists have been collecting soybean aphids in the Midwest for 18 years using an aerial insect trap network, revealing valuable insights into spatial and temporal migration patterns. The traps also capture other insects, including those expanding their range due to climate change or habitat suitability.

Vaping chemical creates toxic ketene gas, RCSI research

Researchers from RCSI University have discovered that heating up vitamin E acetate in vaping products produces highly toxic ketene gas, which can cause serious lung damage and impair the central nervous system. The study highlights the potential risks of vaping and calls for further investigation into the chemicals found in vape mixtures.

SourceRCSI·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 12, 2020

Zoology: Western gorillas may be territorial

A study in Scientific Reports suggests western gorillas may be territorial, with groups defending the centers of their home ranges against neighboring groups. The authors monitored eight groups across a 60 km2 area and found that gorillas tend to avoid feeding areas visited by other groups the previous day.

SourceScientific Reports·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 12, 2020

Robots popular with older adults

A study by psychologists at Friedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena found that older people are more open to robots, particularly those resembling humans. The researchers tested participants with varying levels of autistic traits and found that older individuals with stronger autistic tendencies were more accepting of machines.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalComputers in Human Behavior·DateMar 12, 2020

Separations between earthquakes reveal clear patterns

Researchers found a strong 'cross-correlation' between inter-earthquake distances and times, especially after large earthquakes. The study's results could help seismologists better understand earthquake patterns and inform policymakers about disaster preparedness.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateMar 12, 2020

Study finds gorillas display territorial behavior

A new study by researchers at Anglia Ruskin University and the University of Cambridge has found that gorillas recognize and respect 'ownership' of specific regions, influencing their movement patterns and behavior. The discovery provides important clues for understanding human evolution and social cooperation.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 12, 2020

To protect your brain, don't be (too) kind!

A new study by the University of Geneva reveals that elderly individuals with low agreeableness are better protected against Alzheimer's disease. Brain imaging and psycho-cognitive evaluations showed that these individuals have preserved brain regions damaged in normal aging and Alzheimer's disease.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNeurobiology of Aging·DateMar 12, 2020

A new record of deglaciations in last million years shows persistent role of obliquity pacing

A new record of deglaciations reveals the persistent influence of obliquity and insolation in pacing Earth's glacial-interglacial cycle. The study presents a high-resolution record of the last 11 deglaciations, showing that Earth's obliquity remained the main driver of glacial cycles throughout the Quaternary period.

Facebook users change their language before an emergency hospital visit

Researchers found that patients' Facebook posts showed a shift to more formal language and descriptions of physical pain before their ED visit, reliably predicting hospital visits. The study provides evidence that social media can be an unseen signal of medical distress and could potentially be used to trigger health care interventions.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 12, 2020

Hero proteins are here to save other proteins

Researchers discovered a new group of heat-resistant proteins called Hero proteins, which can protect other proteins from clumping and aggregation. The Hero proteins have unusual shapes and abilities to prevent protein instability and promote longevity, extending the life span of fruit flies by 30 percent.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalPLOS Biology·DateMar 12, 2020

Hair in 'stress': Analyze with care

Researchers found that commonly used hormone analysis method in animal hair can overestimate cortisol levels by up to ten times. A more comprehensive mass spectrometry analysis revealed significant discrepancies and suggested the need for careful validation of each enzyme immunoassay before using it on hormone analysis from hair samples.

SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalConservation Physiology·DateMar 12, 2020