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Science News Archive 2021 - Page 459


Page 459 of 510

STINGing tumors with nanoparticles

A new nanoparticle-based drug can boost the body's innate immune system and make it more effective at fighting off tumors. Researchers found that the polymer-based nanoparticles activate STING even without a small molecule activator, causing a more sustained effect on the protein.

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateFeb 8, 2021

Does Goal 7 Energy for All need a rethink?

New research by Copenhagen Business School finds that poor planning and execution of decarbonisation strategies in emerging markets challenges the aims of Goal 7. The study highlights the need for governance in energy democracy, allowing marginalized communities to participate in renewable energy investments. This can be achieved throu...

SourceCopenhagen Business School·JournalJournal of International Business Policy·DateFeb 8, 2021

Cells are collective thinkers

Researchers discovered that cells use active perception to coordinate action when creating new tissue. They found that filopodia movement helps inform a decision by detecting signals in the environment.

SourceThe Francis Crick Institute·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateFeb 8, 2021

Marmoset monkeys have personalities too

A study published in American Journal of Primatology found that common marmosets exhibit distinct personality traits, such as explorativeness, boldness, and extraversion. These findings are consistent across captive and wild settings, suggesting that personality is a stable trait in these animals.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalAmerican Journal of Primatology·DateFeb 8, 2021

Hearing acrobatics

A dynamic and delicate connection between two pairs of protein filaments, called tip links, plays a central role in hearing. The tension held by these filaments is essential for the activation of sensory cells in the inner ear.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 8, 2021

Uncovering how some corals resist bleaching

Researchers at Michigan State University and the University of Hawaii have discovered chemical signatures in corals that indicate resistance to bleaching. The study found that resistant corals host algae with saturated lipids, which differ from those found in susceptible corals with more unsaturated lipids.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateFeb 8, 2021

1918 pandemic second wave had fatal consequences

The study found that the spread of Spanish flu differed depending on the region, with a decrease in infection numbers associated with public health measures. Delayed action at the start of the second wave was fatal, contributing to its severity and duration. The researchers compared historical data from 1918 and 2020 and found parallel...

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateFeb 8, 2021

Scientists discover how a group of caterpillars became poisonous

A group of caterpillars that eat cycad plants have evolved a toxic defense mechanism, resulting in bold colors and behaviors to deter predators. The study reveals the genetic consequences of this adaptation, including rapid evolutionary change and the development of proteins that destroy cells and remove dead cell debris.

SourceSmithsonian·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 8, 2021

An interdecadal decrease in extreme heat days in August over Northeast China around the early 1990s

Researchers found a significant interdecadal decrease in extreme heat days over Northeast China from the 1980s to 2000s, driven by reduced variability of daily maximum temperature. The Silk Road and East Asian-Pacific teleconnections played a crucial role in modulating this change.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateFeb 8, 2021

A magnetic twist to graphene

Researchers create a new platform for valleytronics by combining ferromagnets and twisted graphene layers, enabling the manipulation of electrons' 'valley' property. This opens up a new realm of correlated twisted valleytronics with potential applications in topological quantum computing.

SourceAalto University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 8, 2021

79% decrease in primary care visits, 56-fold increase in virtual care: COVID-19 pandemic

Researchers found a significant shift towards virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 71.1% of all visits being virtual, compared to 1.2% before the pandemic. The study also revealed that older and sicker Ontarians maintained higher levels of care, despite overall decreases in primary care visits.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateFeb 8, 2021

Engineer and university administrator Gary S. May receives 2021 AAAS Lifetime Mentor Award

Gary S. May has received the 2021 AAAS Lifetime Mentor Award for his three-decade career as a professor of computer engineering and university administrator. He founded numerous programs to support underrepresented minority STEM students, mentoring over 100 Ph.D. candidates who are now leading positions in academia and industry.