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Science News for March 30, 2020


Exercise training better than weight loss for improving heart function in type 2 diabetes

Patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent supervised exercise training showed significantly improved heart function and increased cardiovascular fitness compared to those on a low-energy diet. A low-energy diet, however, led to favourable effects on the structure of the heart and reversal of diabetes in 83% of participants.

SourceNational Institute for Health Research·JournalDiabetes Care·DateMar 30, 2020

Artificial intelligence improves X-ray identification of patients with broken bones

A new study found that artificial intelligence (AI) can accurately identify patients at risk of osteoporosis and fractures by analyzing electronic radiology reports, outperforming traditional manual methods. The AI tool, XRAIT, detected a significant number of major fractures, improving patient outcomes and reducing the burden of illness.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalJournal of the Endocrine Society·DateMar 30, 2020

Microelectronics for birds

Scientists have developed a tiny device to study the avian magnetic orientation mechanism, challenging the prevailing photochemical theory. The experiment found that birds with portable devices attached were not disoriented when exposed to local oscillating magnetic fields, suggesting alternative components of the magnetoreception system.

SourceSt. Petersburg State University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 30, 2020

Well-engineered 'watercourts' stored live fish, fueling Florida's Calusa kingdom

The Calusa kingdom relied primarily on fishing due to the watercourts, which were built around A.D. 1300 and served as short-term holding pens for fish before consumption or preservation. The structure's design required an understanding of daily and seasonal tides, hydrology, and the biology of various fish species.

SourceFlorida Museum of Natural History·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2020

The placebo effect and psychedelic drugs: tripping on nothing?

A recent study from McGill University suggests that some people may experience psychedelic-like effects from placebos alone, with 61% of participants reporting an effect. The researchers found that context plays a significant role in these experiences, and clinicians may be able to leverage contextual factors to improve the safety of p...

SourceMcGill University·JournalPsychopharmacology·DateMar 30, 2020

Mystery solved: The origin of the colors in the first color photographs

Researchers at CNRS/Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle/Ministère de la Culture have solved the mystery of the world's first colour photographs. They found that colours were due to the presence of metallic silver nanoparticles, which reorganise according to light energy, absorbing all colours except their own.

SourceCNRS·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateMar 30, 2020

NIH-funded studies show stents and surgery no better than medication, lifestyle changes at reducing the risk for heart attack

Two NIH-funded studies find that invasive procedures like stenting and surgery provide better symptom relief but not reduced risk for heart attack and death compared to medication and lifestyle changes. The trials followed over 5,000 patients with stable ischemic heart disease for three years.

SourceNIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMar 30, 2020

Changing forests

Forests are shifting towards communities that can cope with greater water stress, driven by the death of less hardy trees and the growth of more resilient ones. This adaptation may buffer forests against climate change effects in the short term.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2020

Progress of gender revolution

Despite improved measures of gender equality since 1970, recent decades have seen stalled progress, with some gaps widening. Women now outpace men in higher education and certain occupations, but overall trends suggest a need for cultural and institutional shifts to address remaining disparities.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2020

Projecting the outcomes of people's lives with AI isn't so simple

A mass study collaboration found that AI predictive models are not accurate in predicting life outcomes, particularly in the criminal justice system and social programs. The study used a large dataset of 13,000 data points from over 4,000 families, but even state-of-the-art modeling was not very accurate.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2020

Sturgeon genome sequenced

Scientists from University of Würzburg successfully sequenced sturgeon genome, showing genetic material has changed little over 250 million years. The study sheds light on the ancestry of vertebrates and provides important insights for protecting species.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateMar 30, 2020

Unique structural fluctuations at ice surface promote autoionization of water molecules

Scientists have found that hydrate protons on the ice surface are generated through autoionization of water molecules, leading to a significant enhancement in proton activity. This discovery has implications for understanding various phenomena such as charge generation and ozone layer destruction.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateMar 30, 2020

Carbon content of Earth's core

Researchers estimate Earth's core is composed of approximately 80-90% of the planet's bulk carbon, with a tiny fraction present in the core itself. The study measured the preference of carbon for mixing with iron and nickel at high pressures and temperatures, revealing a significantly lower affinity than previously reported.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2020

A new tool for controlling reactions in microrobots and microreactors

Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed a new tool for controlling reactions in microrobots and microreactors, leveraging capillary forces to create self-assembling hanging droplets of aqueous polymer solutions. This technique enables selective transport of chemicals and can be used as encapsulated reaction vessels.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2020

New metabolism discovered in bacteria

Researchers at Goethe University discover a unique metabolism in Acetobacterium woodii that enables the bacterium to recycle hydrogen, allowing it to survive in oxygen-poor environments. This discovery has implications for our understanding of ancient life forms and their metabolic capabilities.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalThe ISME Journal·DateMar 30, 2020

Projecting the outcomes of people's lives with AI isn't so simple

A collaborative study using machine learning techniques to predict six life outcomes for children, parents, and households found that even with high-quality data and state-of-the-art modeling, the predictive models were not very accurate. The study suggests that sociologists and data scientists should use caution in predictive modeling...

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2020

Moffitt identifies novel therapeutic targets in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center identified potential therapeutic targets for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma by studying the activity of protein TAp63 and microRNAs. The study found that miR-30c-2* and miR-497, which are normally expressed in normal skin, are underexpressed in cuSCC tumors and inhibit growth when reintroduced.

Calibrating tree-ring timelines

A study employing two approaches has accurately dated a collection of wooden timbers from the East Mediterranean using radiocarbon measurements and tree-ring associations. This precise chronology can support archaeological records and provide valuable insights into climate fluctuations during the Bronze and Iron Ages.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2020

Tree rings could pin down Thera volcano eruption date

Researchers at the University of Arizona Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research used a hybrid approach to assign calendar dates to tree rings, potentially pinning down the Thera volcano eruption date. The study spans over 2,000 years and provides context for civilizations in the Bronze and Iron Ages.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2020