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Science News Archive October 2020 - Page 43


Page 43 of 47

Some planets may be better for life than Earth

A study by Washington State University scientists has identified two dozen exoplanets that could potentially support complex life. These superhabitable planets are characterized by being older, slightly warmer, and possibly wetter than Earth, with some orbiting stars that may be more suitable for life than our sun.

SourceWashington State University·JournalAstrobiology·DateOct 5, 2020

A small switch with a big impact

Scientists have discovered that tiny point mutations in a gene can modify T cells to be less aggressive, leading to reduced inflammation and autoimmune responses. This finding has potential implications for stem cell transplantation, where T-cell transfusion is used to prevent severe side effects.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateOct 5, 2020

Blocking vibrations that remove heat could boost efficiency of next-gen solar cells

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee discovered a way to slow phonons, waves that transport heat, in photovoltaic materials. This discovery holds promise for improving novel hot-carrier solar cells, which convert sunlight to electricity more efficiently than conventional solar cells by harnessing...

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 5, 2020

Gemini South's high-def version of 'A Star is Born'

Astronomers using Gemini South's adaptive optics system have captured detailed images of the Carina Nebula with a resolution comparable to the Webb Space Telescope. The high-def images reveal intricate structures within the nebula, including parallel ridges and fragments being sheared off by strong winds.

SourceRice University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 5, 2020

Looking for the key to predict heatwaves over the Yangtze River basin 20 days in advance

Researchers from Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology evaluate subseasonal prediction skill for heatwaves in Yangtze River basin using long-term hindcast data from three operational models. They found that superior model fidelity is crucial to predicting heatwave occurrence, intensity and duration at longer lead times.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateOct 5, 2020

Watching your waste

A recent study led by ASU researcher Chris Wharton found that a values-based intervention can reduce household food waste by an average of 28%. The intervention used clear plastic bins to track food waste and highlighted the impact of cost, health, and environmental concerns. Participants reported that watching their waste build up pro...

SourceArizona State University·JournalResources·DateOct 5, 2020

Invasional meltdown in multi-species plant communities

A new experiment reveals that fungal endophytes, which live inside plants, play a key role in invasion success and invasional meltdown in multi-species communities. The study found that alien species share fewer soil microbes with each other than with native species, making them less negatively affected by each other.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateOct 5, 2020

How malaria parasites withstand a fever's heat

A Duke University-led team has discovered how malaria parasites can survive fevers by producing a special lipid molecule and binding to heat shock proteins. This could lead to new ways to fight resistant strains of the disease. The findings also suggest caution when using fever reducers with artemisinin-based compounds.

Memory of the Venus flytrap

Research team successfully visualized intracellular calcium concentrations in the Venus flytrap, revealing that its short-term memory can be explained by changes in calcium concentration. The study demonstrates how a single contact event triggers a burst of calcium ions, which then trigger a second stimulus to close the trap.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalNature Plants·DateOct 5, 2020

Turning diamond into metal

By straining diamond to change its electronic properties, researchers can dial it from insulating to highly conductive, or metallic. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new optical devices, quantum sensors, and high-efficiency solar cells.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 5, 2020

Millimetre-precision drug delivery to the brain

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a non-invasive method for concentrating and releasing drugs in the brain with pinpoint accuracy using focused ultrasound. The new technique aggregates drugs at specific sites, reducing dosage requirements by 1,300 times, and preserves physiological barriers between blood and nervous tissue.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 5, 2020

Two's a crowd: Nuclear and renewables don't mix

A new study published in Nature Energy reveals that nuclear power does not deliver sufficient carbon emission reductions and should not be considered a low-carbon energy source. Renewable energy investments are found to have stronger correlations with CO2-emission reductions, particularly in countries with lower GDP per capita.

SourceUniversity of Sussex·JournalNature Energy·DateOct 5, 2020

Preliminary results of two large immune therapy studies show promise in advanced cervical cancer

Preliminary results from two large clinical trials investigating a new PD-1-based immune therapy for metastatic cervical cancer suggest improved response rates and potential new treatment options. The trials involved over 150 patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer and tested the combination of balstilimab and zalifrelimab.

Promising breath-test for cancer

Researchers at Flinders University have developed a non-invasive breath test that accurately differentiates between head and neck cancer patients and those with benign diseases. The test uses volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath to detect the presence of cancer, showing high sensitivity and specificity rates.

SourceFlinders University·JournalBritish Journal of Cancer·DateOct 5, 2020