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Science News Archive October 2020 - Page 40


Page 40 of 47

Consuming sugary beverages while breastfeeding affects cognitive development in children

A new study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that consuming sugary beverages during breastfeeding can lead to poorer cognitive development in children nearly two years later. Moms who reported greater consumption of these beverages had children with lower cognitive development scores.

SourceChildren's Hospital Los Angeles·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateOct 6, 2020

Revising climate models with new aerosol field data

Aerosol particles play a significant role in heat absorption and deflection by the atmosphere. Researchers have now detected the rate at which these tiny particles leave the atmosphere, revealing a much narrower range of lifetimes than previously suggested. This new understanding can improve climate models and air quality forecasting.

SourceColorado State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 6, 2020

Emerging field of integrative palliative care highlighted in journal special issue

A special issue on Integrative Palliative Care was published in JACM, featuring research from 11 countries on this new model of care. The issue highlights the potential value of greater mutual respect and exploratory collaborations between palliative medicine and integrative health communities.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalThe Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine·DateOct 6, 2020

Multi-institutional team extracts more energy from sunlight with advanced solar panels

A new study shows that layering advanced materials atop traditional silicon can produce multilayered solar panels with improved efficiency. The researchers used a precisely controlled fabrication process to create the new panels, which have the potential to convert more sunlight into usable electricity.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalCell Reports Physical Science·DateOct 6, 2020

How mobile apps grab our attention

Researchers at Aalto University conducted the first empirical study on mobile app design, finding that larger and brighter elements don't catch users' eyes. Instead, text elements and specific locations like the top-left corner tend to draw attention.

There's a reason bacteria stay in shape

Bacteria remain roughly the same size and shape due to a theoretical model that links random processes of growth and division, canceling each other out. This discovery may provide new insights into disease mechanisms, including cancer proliferation.

SourceRice University·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateOct 6, 2020

Evolution of the Y chromosome in great apes deciphered

Researchers reconstructed the ancestral great ape Y chromosome, showing rapid evolution in bonobo and chimpanzee. The study found accelerated rates of DNA sequence change and gene loss, suggesting mating habits may have driven this evolution.

SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 6, 2020

Fighting pandemics with plasma

Researchers use plasma to kill pathogenic bacteria and viruses on PPE, with promising results shown for N95 masks and other supplies. A low-cost approach also uses ozone generated by a plasma ball to sterilize PPE, potentially reducing thousands of tons of waste per day.

Birds risk starvation trying to "keep pace" with climate change

Birds breeding earlier due to climate change face increased risk of mortality, as chicks hatch into unpredictable weather conditions. This study examines the impact on Tree Swallows, finding that advancing breeding dates result in reduced availability of food resources, exacerbating the effects of climate change.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 6, 2020

Breaking the coupling process

Researchers at University of Freiburg and University of Zurich provide detailed understanding of allostery's dynamics and structure changes. Allostery is crucial for protein signaling, with disruptions potentially leading to diseases like cancer.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 6, 2020