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Science News Archive May 2020 - Page 11


Page 11 of 42

Viewing COVID-19 through the lens of data science

The Harvard Data Science Review special issue delves into the COVID-19 pandemic's complex issues, incorporating data-driven insights to better understand its effects. The rolling publication series offers a unique perspective on the crisis, combining multiple disciplines for a comprehensive understanding.

SourceThe MIT Press·JournalHarvard Data Science Review·DateMay 22, 2020

ALMA spots twinkling heart of Milky Way

Astronomers using ALMA have spotted quasi-periodic flickers in millimeter-waves from the center of the Milky Way, suggesting a rotating radio spot circling a supermassive black hole. The findings provide insight into space-time with extreme gravity and may shed light on the behavior of gas around the black hole.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMay 22, 2020

Combinatorial screening approach opens path to better-quality joint cartilage

A collaborative research team has developed a multi-component biomaterial-based screening approach that identifies material compositions and mechanical stimuli enabling human stem cells to differentiate into cells capable of generating higher-quality articular cartilage. The study uses high-throughput screening with multiple combinatio...

Algal genome provides insights into first land plants

The Penium margaritaceum genome provides insights into the origins of land plants by revealing footprints of adaptations for UV radiation protection and cell wall structure. The genome contains genes involved in regulatory systems, hormone signaling, and mucilage production, which are essential for structural support.

SourceCornell University·JournalCell·DateMay 22, 2020

How the darter got stripes: Expanding a sexual selection theory explains animal patterns

A study led by University of Maryland Baltimore County Ph.D. candidate Samuel Hulse demonstrates a strong correlation between the visual patterns on male darter fish and their environments, supporting sensory drive theory. The findings show that male fish with colors easily perceivable in their environment are more likely to reproduce.

SourceUniversity of Maryland Baltimore County·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 22, 2020

Cell reproduction dogma challenged

Researchers from CNRS and IGBMC demonstrate that meiosis in mice begins and proceeds normally even without retinoic acid. Meiosis is a crucial process for the transmission of unique sets of genes to offspring, resulting in novel assortments of chromosomes.

SourceCNRS·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 22, 2020

BCN MedTech presents an automatic method to detect and segment the intrauterine cavity

A recent study presents an automatic method to detect and segment the intrauterine cavity using artificial intelligence and deep learning techniques on MRI data from 71 pregnancies. The proposed method achieves high segmentation performance, highlighting its potential for use in daily clinical practice as a surgical planning method.

SourceUniversitat Pompeu Fabra - Barcelona·JournalIEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging·DateMay 22, 2020

'Time is vision' after a stroke

Stroke survivors who receive early visual training can recover more of their lost vision than those trained later. Researchers discovered that the brain's visual structures degenerate over time after an occipital stroke, but early intervention can halt this loss.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalBrain·DateMay 22, 2020

Blood flow recovers faster than brain in micro strokes

A Rice University study reveals that blood flow to the brain recovers faster than brain function after a microstroke. The research used advanced neural monitoring technology to measure both blood flow and neuronal recovery simultaneously, showing a significant disconnect between the two processes.

SourceRice University·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 22, 2020

When plant pollen scarce, bumblebees biting leaves causes flowers to bloom early

A new study reveals that bumblebees bite leaves of flowerless plants to accelerate flowering, causing blooms to occur two weeks to a month earlier. This behavior suggests that bumblebees can manipulate plant flowering through deliberate damage, providing pollination systems with more plasticity and resilience to climate change.

Towable sensor free-falls to measure vertical slices of ocean conditions

Researchers at MIT and WHOI have developed a lightweight instrument that can measure both physical and biological features of the ocean's vertical layers. The EcoCTD uses a combination of sensors to capture data on temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll content, providing insights into nutrient cycles and carbon sequestration.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology·DateMay 21, 2020

Survey shows parents’ lack understanding of teens’ with cancer preferred time to talk about end-of-life issues

A survey of adolescent cancer patients and their families found that parents have a poor understanding of their teens' preferred time to discuss end-of-life issues. Family-centered pediatric advance care planning interventions can help address this gap, enabling open conversations about treatment preferences and improving quality of life.

SourceChildren's National Hospital·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateMay 21, 2020