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Science News Archive 2021 - Page 392


Page 392 of 510

Budget impact of gene therapy for sickle cell disease

A new study evaluates the economic impact of gene therapy on severe sickle cell disease, suggesting substantial costs and potential cost savings for Medicaid programs. The analysis estimates a high prevalence of sickle cell disease among these programs, which may affect treatment affordability.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateMar 22, 2021

Renewable energy grants

Researchers will explore decision-making processes for adopting solar energy systems and electric vehicles, as well as improve the efficiency and manufacturing process for solar panels. The studies aim to identify non-technological barriers to clean-energy adoption and evaluate the effectiveness of low-cost interventions and incentives.

Reading minds with ultrasound: A less-invasive technique to decode the brain's intentions

Researchers developed a new type of minimally invasive BMI using functional ultrasound technology, which can accurately map brain activity from precise regions deep within the brain. This breakthrough allows for high-performance, less-invasive brain-machine interfaces that could benefit people with paralysis or neurological injuries.

Viruses: Evolution on the outskirts

Studies on viral evolution reveal that beneficial mutations often occur at the expense of symptom severity, while genetic novelties can arise from noncoding DNA insertion. Additionally, viruses' codon usage is constrained by host machinery, with some exhibiting unique compositions, and their effects can persist after infection clearance.

New basalt type discovered beneath the ocean

An international team of researchers has discovered a new type of basalt beneath the Pacific Ocean, which was formed during large and exceptionally hot volcanic eruptions. The discovery suggests that ocean floor eruptions sourced in the Earth's mantle were even hotter and more voluminous than previously thought.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 22, 2021

Superconductivity from buckled-honeycomb-vacancy ordering

A research team has discovered a new type of superconductor by inducing an extended buckled-honeycomb-vacancy (BHV) ordering in Ir16Sb18. The superconductivity emerges when the BHV ordering is suppressed through extra atom squeezing or Rh substitution, competing with the ordered vacancy as a potential superconducting parent phase.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·DateMar 21, 2021

Drought over the southwestern Tibetan Plateau triggered by ocean warming more than ten thousand miles away

A recent study reveals that droughts over the southwestern Tibetan Plateau are triggered by ocean warming in the eastern Pacific, approximately 18,000 km away. The researchers found that anomalous advection of moist enthalpy and suppressed rainfall contribute to this phenomenon.