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Science News Archive 2021 - Page 380


Page 380 of 510

Optogenetics: Light regulates an enzyme

Researchers have developed a novel light sensor from two algae's rhodopsins that can produce the signaling molecule cGMP in response to UV or violet light, and inhibit its production with blue or green light. This breakthrough advances optogenetics by providing new tools for studying nerve cell function and other physiological processes.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalBMC Biology·DateMar 29, 2021

Activity is good. Varied activity is better

A study by researchers at the University of Basel reveals that varied physical activity is associated with improved mental health and well-being. The study found that individuals who engaged in more varied movement patterns reported better subjective well-being, but no significant impact on symptoms of mental illness.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalBMC Psychiatry·DateMar 29, 2021

More exercise, fewer screens: New Australian guidelines for kids in OSHC

The new guidelines aim to address growing concerns of children's sedentary behaviour and promote energetic play while limiting screen use. The guidelines recommend a 3:1 ratio of exercise to sedentary time and suggest that OSHC centres should schedule at least 2-3 hours of physical activities per day.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity·DateMar 29, 2021

Political beliefs shape whether we notice social inequality

A new study from Northwestern University found that individuals' ideological beliefs about equality significantly impact their perception of social inequality. Egalitarians are more likely to notice disparities affecting disadvantaged groups, while anti-egalitarians are more tolerant of inequality between groups.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 29, 2021

Getting on top of rural Asia's blood pressure

A low-cost hypertension management intervention was shown to be cost-effective and scalable for rural communities in low- and middle-income countries. The study found that scaling up the program could save governments $10.70 per participant treated, with costs decreasing over time.

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalThe Lancet Global Health·DateMar 29, 2021

Astronomy and Landscape in the city of Caral, the oldest city in the Americas

A study published in Latin American Antiquity reveals that the Supe Culture's pyramidal buildings in Caral, Peru, were aligned with lunar cycles and topographic features, indicating a sophisticated understanding of astronomy and landscape by ancient inhabitants. The researchers found that the buildings' orientations coincide with the m...

SourceInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)·JournalLatin American Antiquity·DateMar 29, 2021

Another Martini for better simulations

The Martini forcefield offers fast but accurate coarse-grained simulations for soft matter systems, such as lipid membranes and proteins. The new version has been recalibrated with more reference data, enhancing its accuracy and usability in materials science and biophysics research.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Methods·DateMar 29, 2021

String theory solves mystery about how particles behave outside a black hole photon sphere

Researchers have solved a long-standing mystery about how particles behave outside a black hole's photon sphere using string theory. The study finds that string theory resolves singularities caused by tidal effects on nearby strings, supporting the idea of extended objects like strings as degrees of freedom in quantum gravity.

New computational models to understand colon cancer

The study identified several cellular pathways that change when a tumor becomes aggressive, and developed a simple system to model their effect. The model integrated different types of experimental data, including transcription factors, to predict which targets are important for colorectal cancer aggressiveness.

Depression affects visual perception

Researchers at the University of Helsinki found that depression alters the way the brain processes visual information, with depressed individuals perceiving contrast as stronger. The study used two visual tests to compare brain function in patients with depression to those without.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalJournal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience·DateMar 29, 2021

Akane Sano wins NSF CAREER Award

Akane Sano, a Rice University electrical and computer engineer, has developed software to detect and predict emotional stress in people through data from wearable and mobile technologies. Her $550,000 NSF CAREER Award will support the development of algorithms to interpret data on personal health.

Black hole seeds key to galaxies behemoths

A newly discovered 'Goldilocks' black hole, approximately 55,000 times the sun's mass, provides insight into how supermassive black holes form and grow. The finding may indicate that these behemoths have ancient relics as seeds, potentially leading to a greater understanding of the universe.

SourceUniversity of Melbourne·JournalNature Astronomy·DateMar 29, 2021

Decoding smell

Scientists have discovered that the brain perceives odor mixtures as a new identity, rather than a combination of individual odors. This finding supports the pattern theory of sensory encoding, which suggests that multiple neurons are activated simultaneously to create a population code for each smell.

SourceStowers Institute for Medical Research·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMar 29, 2021