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Science News Archive 2021 - Page 506


Page 506 of 510

A third of US families face a different kind of poverty

A third of US households with children are 'net worth poor,' lacking enough financial resources to sustain their families for three months at a poverty level. The study found that Black and Latino families were twice as likely to experience net worth poverty than have poverty-level incomes.

SourceDuke University·JournalJournal of Marriage and Family·DateJan 6, 2021

When Uber and Lyft enter cities, vehicle ownership increases

Ridesourcing companies Uber and Lyft's arrival in cities leads to a significant increase in vehicle ownership, with car registrations per capita rising by 0.7% on average. This effect is more pronounced in car-dependent cities and areas with higher income and fewer children, where transit use also decreases.

SourceCell Press·JournaliScience·DateJan 6, 2021

How to talk about death and dying

A new study by palliative care specialists found that participants in an online course could use more pleasant words to express their feelings about death. The course aimed to change perspectives on death and dying, enabling better planning for end-of-life care.

SourceFlinders University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 6, 2021

Long-term study finds dozens of new genetic markers associated with lifetime bone growth

A long-term study has discovered dozens of new genetic markers associated with bone mineral accrual, which could help identify causes of osteoporosis earlier in life through genetic testing. The findings suggest that risk of fractures occurring later in life may be identifiable in childhood and could lead to tailored interventions.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalGenome Biology·DateJan 6, 2021

Mighty morphing 3D printing

Researchers at UMD developed a morphing nozzle to control fiber orientation during composite additive manufacturing, enabling the creation of materials with on-demand properties. This innovation could lead to new biomedical and defense applications for 3D printed fiber-filled composites.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalAdvanced Materials Technologies·DateJan 6, 2021

Detecting CRISPR/Cas gene doping

Researchers have developed a method to detect Cas9 protein, a key component of CRISPR/Cas gene editing technology, in human plasma and mouse models. This breakthrough aims to identify athletes who may be using gene doping to gain an unfair advantage.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalAnalytical Chemistry·DateJan 6, 2021

In changing oceans, sea stars may be 'drowning'

A new study suggests that sea star wasting disease is caused by a lack of oxygen, as elevated microbial activity depletes the water's oxygen levels. This creates a hypoxic environment that surrounds the starfish, leading to respiratory distress and ultimately, their death.

SourceCornell University·JournalFrontiers in Microbiology·DateJan 6, 2021

Identifying strategies to advance research on traumatic brain injury's effect on women

A NIH-supported workshop reveals gaps in knowledge about the effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in women, including sex-based differences in outcomes and responses to treatment. Research opportunities include imaging studies, examination of brain tissue, and longitudinal studies on military-related TBI in female servicemembers.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke·JournalJournal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation·DateJan 6, 2021

Communities and communication

The event aims to explore connections, camaraderie, and visibility within digital communities, considering their development, growth, and real-world interactions. The conference features keynote speakers, special guests, and a wide range of submissions from various media forms.

Neuronal circuits for fine motor skills

A study published in Nature reveals that a specific region of the brainstem is responsible for various fine motor activities of the forelimbs. The researchers used optogenetic and viral methods to mark neurons and observe their activity, identifying four neuronal subpopulations correlated with specific functions.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalNature·DateJan 6, 2021

The biggest chemistry stories of 2020

The novel coronavirus was a major focus of chemistry research in 2020, with thousands of papers published on mask efficacy, disinfectants and virus transmission. Other notable topics included new insights into planetary atmospheres and the impact of climate change on wildfires.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateJan 6, 2021

'Sniffing out' fruity thiols in hoppy beers

Scientists have created an automated process to analyze thiols at very low concentrations in beer, shedding light on the compounds responsible for hoppy flavors. The new method uses tandem mass spectrometry and meets requirements for detecting thiols while processing samples in a safer and quicker manner.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateJan 6, 2021

The revelation of the crustal geometry of the western Qilian Mountains, NE Tibetan Plateau

The study provides a detailed understanding of the crustal deformation mechanism in the western Qilian Mountains, northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The researchers discovered a decoupled crustal deformation with intra-crustal decollement layers, which reveals the Asian lithospheric mantle being underthrust beneath the region.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Earth Sciences·DateJan 6, 2021

Shiga toxin's not supposed to kill you

Shiga toxin, produced by enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), is thought to be a killer of host cells, but new research suggests it may actually be designed to dampen the immune system instead. This unexpected role could lead to breakthroughs in treating deadly kidney disease and bloody diarrhea caused by EHEC infections.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalScience Immunology·DateJan 6, 2021

Living alone may increase risk of dying after hip fracture

A new study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research found that living alone after experiencing a hip fracture may further elevate this risk. Living alone was associated with a 37% higher risk of death in men and a 23% higher risk in women, compared to those living with a partner.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Bone and Mineral Research·DateJan 6, 2021

A new approach to study autoimmune diseases

Researchers update current research focus from 'immune-centric-only' view to better understand autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. The study identifies common gene expression changes at target tissues, highlighting the importance of studying both immune system and target tissues.

SourceIndiana Biosciences Research Institute·JournalJournal of Mathematical Sciences Advances and Applications·DateJan 6, 2021

The Lancet Planetary Health: Meeting India's air quality targets across south Asia may prevent 7% of pregnancy losses, modelling study estimates

A modelling study suggests that pregnant women in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, exposed to poor air quality, are at higher risk of stillbirths and miscarriages. The study estimated 349,681 pregnancy losses per year associated with exposure to PM2.5 concentrations exceeding India's air quality standard.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Planetary Health·DateJan 6, 2021