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Science News Archive October 2020 - Page 28


Page 28 of 47

Stay in touch with your emotions to reduce pandemic-induced stress

A new study led by Emily Kroska found that people who acknowledge and address their emotions during stressful times report lower stress levels than those who avoid identifying with their emotions. By maintaining relationships and engaging in valued activities, individuals can increase their psychological flexibility and reduce distress.

SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalJournal of Contextual Behavioral Science·DateOct 14, 2020

Study upends understanding about joint injuries

A new study published in Scientific Reports found that lubricin, a protein that lubricates joints, increases in dogs with ACL injuries before signs of arthritis appear. The discovery has implications for human ACL and other orthopedic injuries, suggesting increased lubricin may be a biomarker for predicting future osteoarthritis.

SourceCornell University·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 14, 2020

Distracted learning a big problem, golden opportunity for educators, students

Research shows that distracted learning significantly impairs students' attention, working memory, and learning outcomes. Educators can empower students to manage distractions by fostering an internal locus of control and promoting active learning. Strategies include removing extraneous devices, using work-reward systems, and incorpora...

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Food Science Education·DateOct 14, 2020

Robot swarms follow instructions to create art

A recent study shows that robot swarms can follow instructions to create paintings, using a system where an artist selects areas of the canvas to be painted a certain color. The resulting images are abstract and pleasing to the eye, with unique areas of color flowing into each other.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Robotics and AI·DateOct 14, 2020

Ancient maths could foil future cyber hackers

A University of Reading mathematician is collaborating with Microsoft to study ancient mathematical problems, including Diophantine equations, to aid in the development of encryption software. The project aims to create more secure data protection against quantum computers that can solve complex mathematical problems quickly.

Cultural diversity and racism in the Ancient World

A new display at Swansea University's Egypt Centre will showcase artefacts from Egypt, Greece, Rome, and other ancient civilizations to educate visitors about issues like identity, racism, and xenophobia. The exhibit aims to spark meaningful discussions on these topics, drawing from the rich material available in the ancient world.

A new toolkit for capturing how COVID-19 impacts crime

A new set of assessment tools shows promise in capturing how the COVID-19 pandemic affects patterns of criminal activity. The toolkit uses resilience theory to examine the impact of exceptional events on crime patterns, with preliminary evidence linking the pandemic to increased domestic violence and declines in other forms of crime.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 14, 2020

A new land surface model to monitor global river water environment

A new land surface model CAS-LSM was developed to assess impacts of climate change and anthropogenic disturbances on global river temperature and nitrogen transport. The model found increased river temperatures in tropical zones due to climate change, with power plants warming local rivers by up to 60% in Asia.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalJournal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems·DateOct 14, 2020

Obesity implies risk of COVID-19 regardless of age, sex, ethnicity and health condition

A systematic review of nine clinical studies involving 6,577 patients with COVID-19 found that obesity significantly increases the risk of severe illness and death. The study also highlights the importance of addressing obesity through public health policies to prevent COVID-19-related complications.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalObesity Research & Clinical Practice·DateOct 14, 2020

Protein that keeps immune system from freaking out could form basis for new therapeutics

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine discovered a molecule called Girdin (GIV) that acts as a brake on macrophages. The GIV-mimic peptide can shut down immune cells' overreaction, supporting a mechanism critical for survival in mouse models of sepsis and colitis.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 14, 2020

Restoring 30% of the world's ecosystems in priority areas could stave off more than 70% of projected extinctions and absorb nearly half of the carbon built up in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution

A new report identifies priority areas for ecosystem restoration, which could rescue land-based species and soak up vast amounts of carbon dioxide. Protecting these areas and restoring natural ecosystems can deliver significant biodiversity and climate benefits at a relatively low cost.

SourceBurness·JournalNature·DateOct 14, 2020

New scientific study shows brain injuries can be unbroken by innovative neuro-technologies

A recent scientific study led by the Centre for Neurology Studies at HealthTech Connex and Simon Fraser University reports breakthroughs in brain health recovery for Captain Trevor Greene, a Canadian veteran who survived an axe attack in Afghanistan. The study used innovative neuro-technologies, including Portable Neuromodulation Stimu...

SourceChiang Public Relations·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateOct 14, 2020

Higher average life expectancy after obesity surgery

A University of Gothenburg study finds that individuals who undergo obesity (bariatric) surgery have a higher average life expectancy compared to those given conventional treatment for obesity. The study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, shows that bariatric surgery prolongs life expectancy by 3 years, but patients sti...

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 14, 2020

Bringing people together on climate change

A study published in Science Communication found that watching high-quality, engaging media programs on climate change can reduce political polarization among Democrats and Republicans. Participants who were most engaged with the program showed greater perceptions of climate change risk and efficacy in taking action.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalScience Communication·DateOct 14, 2020