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Science News Archive 2021 - Page 258


Page 258 of 510

Hippos and anthrax

A team of researchers tracked the movements of hippos in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania, to better understand how anthrax outbreaks spread. They found that infected individuals roamed just as much as healthy hippos, highlighting the importance of wildlife movement in disease transmission.

Analysis: Chile's transition to democracy slow, incomplete, fueled by social movements

A new article analyzes Chile's transition from dictatorship to democracy between 1990 and 2019, highlighting the role of social movements in expanding democracy. The authors argue that Chile's political system became illegitimate, providing space for various social movements, including feminist, student, and indigenous rights movements.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalThe Latin Americanist·DateJun 15, 2021

The long view

Researchers at UCSB's LTER sites investigate the impact of climate change on diverse ecosystems, including kelp forests and coral reefs. Their findings highlight the importance of long-term research in understanding complex relationships between environmental drivers and ecosystem responses.

The evolution of good taste

The study found that animals have evolved to prefer tastes that correspond with their elemental needs, helping them prioritize nutrient-rich foods. Convergent evolution was observed across mammalian, fish, and insect groups, highlighting the importance of taste in foraging and nutrient cycling.

Many prolonged sick leaves for COVID-19

A University of Gothenburg study found that nearly 12,000 people in Sweden received sickness benefit for COVID-19 during the first wave, with a median sick leave duration of 35 days. For 9% of participants, sick leave was still ongoing after 4 months, and those affected by long-term COVID-19 made up 13.3% of recipients.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalBMC Public Health·DateJun 14, 2021

For transplant recipients, third time may be the charm for better COVID vaccine protection

Researchers found that a third vaccine dose increased antibody levels against SARS-CoV-2 in transplant recipients more than the standard two-dose regimen. The study suggests booster doses should be investigated for those who are immunocompromised to determine if they can receive COVID-19 vaccines as standard clinical practice.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJun 14, 2021

Researchers create switchable mirrors from liquid metal

Scientists developed a method to dynamically switch liquid metal surfaces between reflective and scattering states using electricity. This technology could be used to create electrically controllable mirrors or illumination devices, enabling new applications in art and advanced devices.

SourceOptica·JournalOptical Materials Express·DateJun 14, 2021

Sources of lead in the western Arctic Ocean

A study reveals that 60% of lead in Canadian Arctic seawater comes from human sources, particularly historic lead emissions from Europe and Russia. The findings suggest that permafrost melting and coastal erosion will continue to remobilize these contaminants, making lead isotopes a sensitive tracer for pollutants in Arctic seawater.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 14, 2021

Clinical trial shows cell therapy improves clinical outcomes in heart failure

A clinical trial conducted at the University of Louisville showed that cell therapy using cells derived from a patient's own bone marrow and heart improved quality of life and reduced major adverse cardiac events. The treatment resulted in a significant reduction in hospitalizations and improved outcomes for patients with heart failure.

SourceUniversity of Louisville·JournalEuropean Journal of Heart Failure·DateJun 14, 2021