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Science News Archive 2021 - Page 368


Page 368 of 510

Being top baboon costs males their longevity

A recent study by Duke University researchers reveals that male baboons who attain high social status experience accelerated aging due to the physical and energetic demands of competing for dominance. This is in contrast to humans, where high social status typically predicts better health.

Fossil discovery deepens snakefly mystery

A recent fossil discovery of four new snakefly species has deepened the mystery surrounding their evolutionary history and distribution. The ancient insects, dating back 50 million years, were found in British Columbia and Washington state, where scientists had previously believed they required cold winters to thrive.

SourceSimon Fraser University·JournalZootaxa·DateApr 6, 2021

How do lakes affect energy, heat, and carbon exchange processes in mountainous areas?

Research reveals lakes promote latent heat mixing but suppress carbon dioxide exchange compared to other land surfaces. The findings published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences highlight the need for future field experiments to investigate energy and carbon dioxide exchange at different scales.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateApr 6, 2021

How the spinifex got its hole

Researchers have found that pathogenic soil microbes impede seedling emergence and subsequent growth in the centre of spinifex rings. The study suggests that older parts of the plant succumb to a build-up of these microbes, while new seedlings establish at the outside edge of the rings.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalAustralian Journal of Botany·DateApr 6, 2021

People with HIV at high risk for intimate partner violence

A new study finds that people with HIV who experienced intimate partner violence are more likely to engage in riskier behaviors and have poor adherence to HIV treatment. IPV is associated with increased depression, anxiety, and poor clinical outcomes, highlighting the need for screening and supportive services.

SourceElsevier·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateApr 6, 2021

Spin defects under control

The team successfully controlled spin defects in a layered crystal of boron nitride, even at room temperature. This achievement opens up new avenues for precise measurements of local electromagnetic fields, with potential applications in medicine, navigation, and information technology.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 6, 2021

The sea urchin microbiome

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara have deciphered the composition and function of sea urchin microbiomes, revealing significant differences between red and purple species and habitats. The study suggests that sea urchins may be able to produce their own food using microbes in their guts.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalLimnology and Oceanography Letters·DateApr 6, 2021

COVID-19 pandemic threatens to reverse gains made on Sustainable Development Goal 1 and 2

A new study found COVID-19 restrictions significantly impacted bean production, threatening to reverse gains made in achieving no poverty and zero hunger. The pandemic exacerbated existing insecurities in food systems, with poor communities particularly affected by border closures, lockdowns, and reduced access to inputs and finance.

AGA recommends intragastric balloons as an additional weight loss strategy for obese patients

The American Gastroenterological Association has released new clinical guidelines recommending the use of intragastric balloons for patients with obesity who have not been able to lose weight with traditional strategies. The treatment is most successful when combined with lifestyle modifications and pharmacological agents, and can be u...

SourceAmerican Gastroenterological Association·JournalGASTROENTEROLOGY·DateApr 6, 2021

Gift to enable research into rare cancers

The Bertarelli Rare Cancers Fund has awarded over $9 million in grants to nine teams representing 19 lead investigators, advancing research into rare cancers that affect tens of thousands of patients annually. The fund aims to improve detection, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of rare cancers through multidisciplinary collaborations.

New material for catholytes and anolytes in organic redox flow batteries

Researchers at Skoltech have designed and synthesized new compounds that can serve as catholytes and anolytes for organic redox flow batteries, offering high cell voltage, solubility, and electrochemical properties. The materials have been tested for scalability and performance in large-scale energy storage applications.

SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A·DateApr 6, 2021

Gut microbiome plays role in autism

A new study has demonstrated a correlation between autism spectrum disorder and changes in the gut microbiome. The researchers found that individuals with autism exhibited differences in gut microbiome composition compared to neurotypical controls, with gastrointestinal symptoms being significantly higher in those with autism. Longitud...

How the fly selects its reproductive male

A team of scientists from UNIGE has identified a crucial role for a micro-peptide in determining the sperm that will fertilize an egg in Drosophila females. The peptide plays a key part in the competition between spermatozoa from different males, and its absence leads to reduced fertility in subsequent matings.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 6, 2021

Houston flooding polluted reefs more than 100 miles offshore

A Rice University study found that runoff from Houston's 2016 Tax Day flood and 2017's Hurricane Harvey flood carried human waste onto coral reefs more than 100 miles offshore. The research showed that even marine ecosystems far from shore can be affected by severe events, highlighting the need for increased monitoring and protection.

SourceRice University·JournalFrontiers in Marine Science·DateApr 6, 2021

Microbial production of a natural red colorant carminic acid

Researchers at KAIST successfully produced carminic acid from glucose in engineered Escherichia coli, overcoming the need for complex purification processes and protein contaminants. The development of a generally applicable C-glucosyltransferase also enables the production of other valuable natural products.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateApr 6, 2021

Carpal tunnel syndrome is not just an office workers' condition

A retrospective study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that manual labor jobs contribute to higher rates of carpal tunnel syndrome. Researchers estimate the overall cost of carpal tunnel syndrome cases to be between $47,000 and $119,000, including healthcare costs and lost productivity.

SourceHenry Ford Health·JournalJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine·DateApr 6, 2021

For breastfeeding moms, COVID-19 vaccinations may also protect babies

A new study found that breastfeeding mothers who receive a COVID-19 vaccine can pass protective antibodies to their babies through breast milk, providing long-lasting immune protection. The research tracked antibody levels in breast milk over an extended period and confirms the potential immune benefit of breast-feeding infants after v...

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·DateApr 6, 2021

Simple fetal heartbeat monitoring still best to reduce unnecessary cesarean sections

A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that simple fetal heartbeat monitoring is still the best method for determining whether a baby is in distress during delivery. Intermittent auscultation reduced the risk of emergency cesareans by an average 30% compared to other methods.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateApr 6, 2021