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Science News Archive 2021 - Page 493


Page 493 of 510

Guppies have varying levels of self-control

Researchers found guppies showed higher inhibitory control when swimming towards food in a cylinder and resisted the urge to bump into it. The study revealed consistent differences between individual guppies and a population-level difference in self-control ability compared to another strain of guppies.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalJournal of Fish Biology·DateJan 15, 2021

Changing resilience of oceans to climate change

A recent study found that ancient oceans were more resilient to climate change than previously thought, with limited expansion of seafloor anoxia during the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum. However, current human activities are expected to drive more rapid and expansive oxygen loss due to higher carbon emissions and nutrient pollution.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 15, 2021

Spreading the sound

Researchers developed a new theoretical model explaining the spread of vibrations in disordered materials, showing that sound waves lose coherence on shorter length scales. This discovery may lead to the design of heat- and shatter-resistant glass for smartphones and tablets.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateJan 15, 2021

New England Journal of Medicinepublishes COVID-19 treatment trial results

A clinical trial involving COVID-19 patients hospitalized at UT Health San Antonio and University Health found that a combination of the drugs baricitinib and remdesivir reduced time to recovery. Patients on high oxygen therapy had a recovery time of 10 days with combination treatment, compared to 18 days with remdesivir alone.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJan 14, 2021

Sexual harassment claims by less feminine women perceived as less credible

A recent study published by the American Psychological Association found that women who deviate from traditional femininity are perceived as less credible and their claims of sexual harassment are viewed as less valid. This bias can prevent non-stereotypical women from accessing legal protections, leaving them vulnerable to further vic...

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateJan 14, 2021

Borrowing from birds, experts reduce search times for novel high-entropy alloys to seconds

Computational materials scientists at Ames Laboratory have created an algorithm that uses a hybrid approach inspired by cuckoo birds' nesting habits to find novel high-entropy alloys. The new method significantly reduces the search time for these materials, which are highly sought after for their unique properties and applications.

SourceDOE/Ames National Laboratory·JournalNature Computational Science·DateJan 14, 2021

Common workplace interactions can trigger suicidal thoughts for employees with mood disorders

A study by Kayla Follmer and Jake Follmer found that low-grade forms of workplace mistreatment can amplify suicidal thoughts in employees with depression or bipolar disorder. The researchers surveyed 279 American adults and discovered that perceived mistreatment, job engagement, and suicidal ideation are linked.

SourceWest Virginia University·JournalOrganizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes·DateJan 14, 2021

Lack of managers keeps India's businesses small

A new study by Yale University economists finds that the absence of professional management hinders India's business growth, constraining innovation and economic growth. The study suggests that if Indian businesses adopted management practices common in developed countries, they would expand and boost productivity.

SourceYale University·JournalAmerican Economic Review·DateJan 14, 2021

Experts reduce search times for novel high-entropy alloys 13,000-fold using Cuckoo Search

Researchers at Lehigh University and Iowa State University have developed a hybrid Cuckoo Search algorithm that accelerates computational modeling of complex alloys by reducing search time up to 13,000-fold. This breakthrough enables the creation of physically realizable systems that can be directly compared against experimental samples.

SourceLehigh University·JournalNature Computational Science·DateJan 14, 2021

Accounting for the gaps in ancient food webs

Researchers developed a method to account for missing soft-bodied organisms in ancient food webs, revealing differences between hard- and soft-bodied taxa that have existed for at least 48 million years. This work strengthens future research in ancient food web reconstruction and allows for more robust predictions of future ecosystems.

SourceSanta Fe Institute·JournalPaleobiology·DateJan 14, 2021

Extreme fire weather

Climate scientists have long known that human activities increase wildfire risk, but the specific roles and influences were unclear. A new study quantifies competing anthropogenic influences on extreme fire weather risk, revealing heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions as a dominant contributor.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 14, 2021