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Science News Archive November 2020 - Page 34


Page 34 of 43

Putting stock into Twitter: Social media can influence returns, WVU finance professor says

A study by WVU finance professor Alexander Kurov and his co-author Chen Gu found that firm-level Twitter content can predict next-day stock returns and contains information about upcoming analyst recommendation changes, quarterly earnings surprises, and opening prices of initial public offerings. This research has important implication...

SourceWest Virginia University·JournalJournal of Banking & Finance·DateNov 9, 2020

Why consumers think pretty food is healthier

A study published in the Journal of Marketing found that consumers rate healthy foods as more natural and nutritious when they are presented in a visually appealing way, according to classical aesthetics principles. This effect can influence consumer behavior, leading to increased willingness to pay for pretty food.

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateNov 7, 2020

New kind of superconductivity discovered

Scientists have demonstrated a novel material that exhibits superconductivity in the form of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), bridging a gap between two previously thought incompatible methods. This breakthrough could lead to new understanding and applications of superconduction, including potentially room-temperature devices.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 6, 2020

Vaccine shows promise against herpes virus

A genetically edited form of a herpes simplex virus has outperformed a leading vaccine candidate in a new study, significantly increasing antibody production and reducing viral replication. The modified live virus demonstrated cross-protection against both HSV-1 and HSV-2, suggesting an HSV-2-specific edition could be even more effective.

SourceUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln·Journalnpj Vaccines·DateNov 6, 2020

Baby dinosaurs were 'little adults'

Researchers discovered a nearly complete skeleton of a juvenile Plateosaurus, nicknamed 'Fabian', which showed a largely fully developed morphology at an early age. The young dinosaur was estimated to be around 7.5 feet long and weigh 40-60 kilograms.

Is our visual sense manipulated?

Researchers explore how standardized visualization influences our understanding of the world, linking material culture to brain development and social power dynamics. The study spans prehistoric societies to contemporary digital technologies, examining the role of reification in shaping our vision.

Study projects more rainfall in Florida during flooding season

A new study by the University of Miami finds that warmer Atlantic Ocean temperatures are linked to increased rainfall in Florida during late summer. The research highlights human influences on climate change as a key factor in this link, and suggests an increase in late summer rainfall is expected in the future.

Anti-depressant repurposed to treat childhood cancer

Researchers found that a commonly prescribed anti-depressant can halt the growth of childhood sarcoma by targeting a specific receptor, offering hope for novel treatment strategies. The study provides a new paradigm for controlling tumour-driving receptors and could lead to the development of specific therapeutics.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalCancer Research·DateNov 6, 2020

Staying in touch!

Researchers identified key enzyme PPM1F that regulates integrins' detachment from ECM, allowing cells to move in protein meshwork. The discovery sheds light on how cells balance attachment to versus detachment from extracellular matrix.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·DateNov 6, 2020

Optimizing the design of new materials

Researchers developed a new method to optimize materials exhibiting metal-insulator transitions (MIT) using Bayesian optimization and latent-variable Gaussian processes. The approach identified 12 previously unidentified MIT materials with optimal functionality and synthesizability.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalApplied Physics Reviews·DateNov 6, 2020

Seeing dark matter in a new light

Astronomers have developed a new method to detect dark matter haloes surrounding galaxies, allowing for more precise measurements of the invisible mass. By analyzing the gravitational lensing effect on galaxy rotation, researchers can infer the amount of dark matter required to explain observed distortions.

SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateNov 6, 2020

Lead-free magnetic perovskites

Scientists at Linköping University develop a lead-free magnetic double perovskite with interesting optoelectronic properties, opening the possibility of coupling spintronics with optoelectronics. The new material exhibits a magnetic response at temperatures below 30 K.

SourceLinköping University·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 6, 2020