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Science News Archive 2021 - Page 466


Page 466 of 510

More mammals are being struck by aircraft each year

The study found that bats accounted for the greatest proportion of strikes in Australia, while rabbits and dog-like carnivores dominated Canada, Germany, and the UK. Average mammal strikes per year ranged from 1.2 to 38.7 across countries, with estimated annual costs exceeding $100 million.

SourceWiley·JournalMammal Review·DateFeb 3, 2021

How does pain experienced in everyday life impact memory?

A new study found that healthy individuals experiencing everyday pain show deficits in working memory due to increased activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Pain intensity was directly associated with worse performance on a working memory task, while certain aspects of emotional distress were not linked to impairments.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalNeuropsychologia·DateFeb 3, 2021

The business of bees

Research finds economic dependence of US crops on insect pollination totaling $34 billion in 2012, with areas producing 80% of value relying on poor pollinator habitats. The study identifies key areas that need improved pollinator habitat to mitigate declining bee populations.

3D-printed bioresorbable airway stent

A team of ETH Zurich researchers has developed a 3D-printed bioresorbable airway stent that can be customized to a patient's anatomy. The stents, made from a specially designed resin, are biocompatible and gradually dissolve after implantation.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience Advances·DateFeb 3, 2021

Senolysis by glutaminolysis inhibition ameliorates various age-associated disorders

A collaborative research group identified an inhibitor of the glutamate metabolic enzyme GLS1 that selectively eliminates senescent cells in vivo. Administration of GLS1 inhibitors to aged mice removed senescent cells from various organs, ameliorating tissue dysfunction and age-related diseases such as obese diabetes and arteriosclerosis.

Tactile books adapted for blind children

Researchers have developed tactile books with 3D mini-scenarios that allow blind children to explore and identify objects using gestures and body simulations. This innovative approach has been shown to narrow the perception gap between blind and sighted children, enabling them to recognize objects more easily.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 3, 2021

On the dot: Novel quantum sensor provides new approach to early diagnosis via imaging

Scientists developed a novel quantum sensor that can detect oxidative stress in organs during MRI scans, which could lead to early diagnosis of diseases like cancer and kidney dysfunction. The sensor uses a ring-shaped sugar-like compound and nitroxide derivatives to identify reduced cell/tissue capacity.

Addressing power differences may spur advantaged racial groups to act for racial equality

Research suggests that communicating openly about group differences in power can motivate advantaged racial groups to join historically disadvantaged racial minority groups to strive for racial equality and social justice. A UMass Amherst study tested this proposition, supporting the idea that greater communication about power differen...

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalInternational Journal of Intercultural Relations·DateFeb 2, 2021

Researchers design next-generation photodetector

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new approach to quantum device design, producing the first gain-based long-wavelength infrared photodetector using band structure engineering. The advanced photodetector offers enhanced sensitivity for next-generation LWIR photodetectors and focal plane array imagers.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalLight Science & Applications·DateFeb 2, 2021

Researchers create novel photonic chip

A digital-to-analog converter has been developed without leaving the optical domain, enabling high-speed data processing with low power consumption. This innovation has the potential to advance next-generation data centers, 6G networks, artificial intelligence and more.

SourceGeorge Washington University·JournalAdvanced Photonics Research·DateFeb 2, 2021

Modeling the brain during pain processing

A new study published in EPJ B reveals that inhibitory interneurons make up 20% of the brain's circuitry required for pain processing. The researchers used graph theory to model the brain's complex networks, uncovering a specific configuration of interneurons crucial for modulating information transmission.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateFeb 2, 2021

Toward safer steroids: Scientists devise method for improving safety of drug used to treat COVID-19, autoimmune disorders and more

Researchers at Scripps Research Institute devised a method to separate beneficial anti-inflammatory properties from unwanted side effects in glucocorticoid drugs. Two new compounds show steroidal anti-inflammatory action with specific traits, including boosting muscle supply and reducing risk of muscle-wasting.

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateFeb 2, 2021