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Science News Archive 2021 - Page 192


Page 192 of 510

When stubborn bugs refuse to make drugs

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis used comparative metabologenomics to study the genomes of Streptomyces bacteria and identify key factors that influence drug production. The study found that fine-tuning of specific nucleotides can control antibiotic production, offering new insights for next-generation drug discovery.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 29, 2021

Astronomers discover how to feed a black hole

Researchers have discovered long narrow dust filaments that surround and feed supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies. These filaments could be the natural cause of darkening at the centers of many galaxies when nuclear black holes are active, providing a new perspective on their behavior.

SourceInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeObservational study·DateJul 29, 2021

New study: Half of Americans living with diabetes may be consuming less than the recommended amount of protein, which is associated with greater physical limitations

A new study published in Nutrients highlights the importance of adequate protein intake for adults living with diabetes. The research found that nearly half of US adults with diabetes did not meet the daily recommended protein intake, leading to greater physical limitations and potentially increasing the risk of muscle loss.

SourceGCI Health NY·JournalNutrients·DateJul 29, 2021

Doctors’ complaint about promotion of harmful dairy products triggers an investigation

The American Academy of Family Physicians is investigating an 'educational' session promoting dairy products linked to increased risk of prostate cancer and other diseases disproportionately affecting African Americans. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine filed a complaint, citing standards set by the Accreditation Counci...

Researchers propose a method of magnetizing a material without applying an external magnetic field

Scientists at São Paulo State University discovered that compressing paramagnetic salts adiabatically can produce magnetization. The process aligns the particles' spins, resulting in a constant total entropy and magnetized system. This method has potential applications in investigating other interacting systems.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 29, 2021

High-precision frequency measurement

Researchers at ETH Zurich and partners have demonstrated a method to send precise reference frequencies via conventional telecommunications infrastructure, enabling chemical spectroscopy analyses that are 100 times more accurate than before. The approach uses the L band frequency, which is less congested by data traffic, allowing for h...

SourceETH Zurich·JournalOptics Express·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 29, 2021

Pretreatment fatigue can mean worse survival outcomes for patients with cancer

Patients with cancer who experience clinically significant fatigue before treatment have shorter overall survival times and more side effects. Researchers analyzed four clinical trials testing lung and prostate cancer treatments, confirming that pretreatment fatigue may be an important prognostic factor in oncology.

SourceSWOG Cancer Research Network·JournalJCO Oncology Practice·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 29, 2021

Combined effects of masking and distance on aerosol exposure potential

Researchers at Mayo Clinic found that wearing masks and maintaining physical distance significantly reduce the spread of COVID-19. The study showed that both disposable paper medical masks and two-layer cloth masks were effective in blocking aerosol particles, with increased distance reducing particle counts to near baseline levels.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalMayo Clinic Proceedings·DateJul 29, 2021

New research infuses equity principles into the algorithm development process

Researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering develop a holistic view for machine learning in healthcare, incorporating data about communities and environments. They introduce a novel approach to understanding fairness relationships using causal inference, synthesizing a means to assess effects of sensitive macro attributes.

SourceNYU Tandon School of Engineering·JournalNature·TypeLiterature review·DateJul 29, 2021

A sleep study’s eye-opening findings

A recent study conducted by MIT economists found that increasing nighttime sleep had no positive effects on work productivity, earnings, or overall sense of well-being among low-income workers in Chennai, India. However, short daytime naps did show significant improvements in these areas.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalThe Quarterly Journal of Economics·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJul 29, 2021

Hopkins Med News Update

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that hospitalized Black patients were diagnosed with aortic stenosis at half the rate of white patients, while Hispanic patients received treatment at a quarter of the rate. The study suggests racial differences may impact heart valve disease risk, highlighting the need for further exploration.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJul 29, 2021

York University planetary scientist puts Mars lake theory on ice with new study that offers alternate explanation

A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters suggests that smectites, a type of clay, are the most likely explanation for the bright radar reflections discovered at Mars' south polar cap. The research team used multiple lines of evidence to demonstrate that clays can explain all observations, putting the lake hypothesis on ice.

SourceYork University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJul 29, 2021

Equalizing the microbial research playing field

The KAUST Metagenomic Analysis Platform (KMAP) enables researchers worldwide to analyze massive microbial data, eliminating the need for advanced bioinformatics skills. KMAP allows scientists to identify proteins and enzymes with potential applications in various industries, such as agriculture and pharmaceuticals.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 29, 2021

Scientists invent a new information storage and processing device

Researchers at New York University created a new type of memory that stores and processes information similar to synapses and neurons in the brain. The device combines the unique properties of quantum materials with spintronic magnetic devices, offering promising advancements in artificial intelligence and neuromorphic computing.

SourceNew York University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 29, 2021

Presumed SARS-CoV-2 viral particles in human retina

Researchers discover presumed SARS-CoV-2 viral particles in the human retina of COVID-19 patients. The finding suggests a possible link between the virus and ocular clinical manifestations, highlighting the need for further investigation into the virus's effects on the eyes.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Ophthalmology·DateJul 29, 2021

HKU Ecologist applied a novel statistical method to analysing causal inference and revealed importance of climate change in controlling deep-sea biodiversity

A novel statistical method revealed the importance of climate change in controlling deep-sea biodiversity, with temperature being the primary driver. The study used long-term fossil records and Convergent Cross Mapping to detect causality, supporting evidence that climate change affects deep-sea ecosystems.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalBiology Letters·DateJul 29, 2021

Self-reported memory problems after COVID-19

Researchers found a significant increase in self-reported memory issues among COVID-19 patients with mild disease, compared to controls. Eight months post-infection, the prevalence of memory problems was higher in this group than in untested controls or those with negative test results.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateJul 29, 2021

Biofertiliser for better farms

Scientists create biofertilizer made from fast-growing freshwater cyanobacterium Tolypothrix, which can fix nitrogen without additional fertilization. The production process offers a cheap and renewable source of nitrogen-rich fertilizer for degraded soils.

SourceFlinders University·JournalChemosphere·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 29, 2021

Caribbean asphyxiation

Researchers at Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute characterize an acute marine hypoxic event in the Caribbean, impacting brittlestars and corals. The study reveals a resilient microbial community that adapts to deoxygenation, providing insights into the historical context of such events.

SourceSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateJul 29, 2021