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Science News Archive November 2020 - Page 8


Page 8 of 43

Act now to meet global heart disease targets

The European Society of Cardiology report highlights alarming trends in cardiovascular disease, including rising obesity and diabetes rates, to emphasize the need for urgent action. The report also shows that middle-income countries are struggling to meet World Health Organization targets for heart disease prevention.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·DateNov 24, 2020

Head in the game

Blind soccer players use larger downward head rotations when trapping a ball, outperforming sighted non-athletes. The study may lead to improved smart-assistant devices that utilize similar techniques.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 24, 2020

Taking a shine to polymers: Fluorescent molecule betrays the breakdown of polymer materials

Researchers from Tokyo Institute of Technology developed a method to measure polymer breakdown using a fluorescent molecule, enabling the estimation of resistance to mechanical stress. This breakthrough allows for the evaluation of polymer performance and specificity, paving the way for improved material design.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateNov 24, 2020

Attosecond interferometry in time-energy domain

Researchers developed an all-optical attosecond few slit interferometer to measure ultrafast processes in the time-energy domain. The technique uses laser-driven high order harmonics and introduces a perturbing field to alter harmonic generation, enabling wave-front controlled attosecond interferometry with precise energy resolution.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateNov 24, 2020

Stronger memories can help us make sense of future changes

A study published in PNAS found that stronger initial memories are easier to update with new information, allowing for better comprehension and adaptation. Older adults showed poorer memory performance but more confidence in their recall, possibly due to relying on general, generic responses rather than specific situational features.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 24, 2020

COVID-19: Air quality influences the pandemic

Researchers found that high concentrations of fine particles less than 2.5 micrometers in size can modulate the waves of SARS-CoV-2 contamination and explain the profile of the COVID-19 pandemic. Acute exposure to these particles aggravates respiratory, pulmonary, and cardiovascular issues, promoting severe disease progression.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalEarth Systems and Environment·DateNov 24, 2020

Team uses copper to image Alzheimer's aggregates in the brain

Scientists have developed a new imaging agent using copper isotopes that can effectively detect amyloid-beta protein deposits in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. The copper-based compounds outlast traditional diagnostic agents, making it possible for clinics with PET scanners to diagnose the condition more easily.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 24, 2020

How an infectious tumor in Tasmanian devils evolved as it spread

A team of researchers analyzed 648 DFT1 tumors collected between 2003 and 2018, revealing that early on in the spread of the tumor, five clades emerged, with two dying out while three continued to spread. The study highlights the importance of geography in influencing the movements of devils and their disease.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateNov 24, 2020

Tackling metabolic complexity

Researchers applied CRISPRi technology to understand metabolic robustness in E. coli, revealing mechanisms that buffer enzyme knockdowns. The study identified specific buffering mechanisms across multiple metabolic pathways, paving the way for developing industrially useful microbes with controlled metabolism.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCell Reports·DateNov 24, 2020

Understanding frustration could lead to better drugs

A new study by Rice University scientists has developed atomic resolution protein models that show frustration is necessary for protein function and can lead to better drug specificity. The models allow for the incorporation of co-factors like drug molecules, providing insight into why ligands bind best with specific proteins.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 23, 2020