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Science News Archive September 2020 - Page 18


Page 18 of 49

It is time to embrace cannabis for medicinal use, say experts

Hundreds of thousands of UK patients are self-medicating with illegal cannabis-based products due to limited prescription availability. Researchers found that concerns about a perceived lack of scientific evidence and resistance from the medical profession hinder prescribing, despite substantial evidence of effectiveness in various dis...

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBMJ Open·DateSep 21, 2020

How we age

Researchers construct a composite measure of physiological dysregulation among human populations and compare it to other primates. Despite differing lifestyles, Tsimane adults show marginally higher rates of increase in physiological dysregulation, but still lower rates compared to urban populations.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateSep 21, 2020

Researchers identify new type of superconductor

A team of Cornell researchers led by Brad Ramshaw discovered a possible third type of superconductor called g-wave. They used resonant ultrasound spectroscopy to study the material's symmetry properties and found that it is a two-component superconductor with no electrical resistance. This discovery could lead to major breakthroughs in...

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Physics·DateSep 21, 2020

Vaccination insights

Researchers investigating BCG vaccination's potential COVID-19 protection find no correlation between infancy vaccination and reduced pandemic cases. Instead, they suggest other factors like public health agency strength or risk aversion may play a role.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateSep 21, 2020

Biodiversity hypothesis called into question

A new study reveals that species are better equipped to thrive in both abundant and scarce food environments, contradicting the long-held 'gleaner-exploiter' trade-off theory. The researchers argue that a risk-taking trade-off to access food is more likely, explaining the diversity of biological species.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 21, 2020

Ryugu's rocky past

Researchers discover two types of boulders on Ryugu, hinting at a collision between a small S-type and C-type parent asteroid. The findings provide clues to the asteroid's turbulent past and may shed light on Earth's history.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature Astronomy·DateSep 21, 2020

Belief in conspiracy theories is a barrier to controlling spread of COVID-19

A new study reveals that believing in COVID-19 conspiracy theories predicts increased resistance to vaccination and preventive behaviors, including mask-wearing. The researchers found a widening gap between those who strongly believed in conspiracies and those who did not, with believers being less likely to wear masks and get vaccinated.

Highly efficient perovskite solar cells with enhanced stability and minimised lead leakage

Researchers from City University of Hong Kong have developed a novel method to tackle instability and potential environmental impact in perovskite solar cells, achieving high power conversion efficiency while minimizing lead leakage. The team's innovative use of 2D metal-organic frameworks enhances device performance and stability.

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateSep 21, 2020

Minorities suffer most from COVID-19 in nursing homes, assisted living communities

Researchers found that older racial and ethnic minority residents and their caregivers are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 in nursing homes and assisted living communities. The studies also highlighted disparities in data reporting and the lack of federal assistance to assisted living communities compared to nursing homes.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateSep 21, 2020

Study suggests the average person with type 1 diabetes will live almost 8 years less, and those with type 2 diabetes almost 2 years less, than people in the general population

A new study suggests that people with type 1 diabetes will live almost 8 years less and those with type 2 diabetes will live almost 2 years less than the general population. The study used data from the UK National Diabetes Audit and Office for National Statistics to calculate life expectancy, finding a significant gap in mortality rat...

SourceDiabetologia·JournalCardiovascular Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateSep 21, 2020

Comparing effectiveness of smartphone apps for quitting smoking

A randomized clinical trial compared two smartphone apps for helping smokers quit, with one approach using gamification and the other leveraging cognitive behavioral therapy. The study found that both apps were effective in reducing cigarette use, but the gamified app had a higher quit rate at 6-month follow-up.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateSep 21, 2020

Tracking the working dogs of 9/11

A study of search and rescue dogs found that dogs at the disaster site lived a similar length of time as those in a control group, with no discernable difference in cause of death. The most common cause of death was age-related conditions such as arthritis and cancer.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalJournal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·DateSep 21, 2020

Middle-aged Americans report more pain than the elderly

A study published in PNAS found that middle-aged Americans without a college degree are reporting more pain than the elderly, which could put further strain on healthcare systems. The researchers attribute this trend to increasing social isolation, stagnant wages, and rising deaths of despair among less-educated populations.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 21, 2020

$2M USDA grant funds value-added grains project

A Cornell University scientist is leading a multi-institution team to develop value-added grains for staple foods, benefiting both humans and organic vegetable growers. Key findings include the development of new small grain varieties with improved nutritional quality and the creation of a supply chain for specialty markets.

Study on the effect of rosemary and ginger essential oils against Klebsiella pneumoniae

This study investigates the antimicrobial effect of rosemary and ginger essential oil-based nano-sized formulations on colistin-resistant K. pneumonia clinical isolates. The results show that oil-loaded chitosan nanoparticles exhibit high antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity, inhibiting the expression of the biofilm gene mrkD.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Microbiology Journal·DateSep 21, 2020