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Science News for December 22, 2021


How the Matterhorn sways

Researchers have discovered that the Matterhorn sways at a frequency of 0.42 Hertz, oscillating roughly in a north-south direction, with similar frequencies in an east-west direction. The mountain's summit experiences amplified vibrations up to 14 times stronger than the reference station at its base.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·TypeObservational study·DateDec 22, 2021

Jo Nelson wins NSF CAREER Award

Jo Nelson, a Rice mathematician, has received the prestigious NSF CAREER Award to investigate manifold dynamics and promote diversity in academia. Her research focuses on contact and symplectic manifolds, with applications in low-energy space travel and anti-racism studies.

The role of trust and knowledge in overcoming vaccination hesitancy

A study published in PNAS found that trust and knowledge about vaccination are stronger predictors of vaccination than Covid-specific factors. Background beliefs and behavior regarding vaccination in general were more than twice as predictive of the change in vaccination as beliefs about the pandemic itself.

SourceAnnenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeSurvey·DateDec 22, 2021

COVID-19–vaccinated kidney transplant recipients are especially vulnerable to emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants

New research reveals that COVID-19 vaccinated kidney transplant recipients have impaired antibody responses against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, including B.1.351 and B.1.617.2. The study found that these patients require additional vaccinations to maintain high levels of neutralizing antibodies.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateDec 22, 2021

VCU-led study is the first to assess dental faculty well-being during the pandemic

A VCU-led study surveyed 216 dental faculty members, assessing personal and work-related burnout, resiliency, and loneliness. The study found average scores for burnout and loneliness, highlighting the need for dental schools to provide education, training, and incentives to reduce burnout and increase resilience among faculty.

SourceVirginia Commonwealth University·JournalJournal of Dental Education·DateDec 22, 2021

T cells: No time to die

Scientists at the University of Basel have discovered a new signaling pathway that enables T cells to survive for decades. Coronin 1 regulates this pathway, which suppresses T cell death by maintaining PI3Kdelta activity. This finding has significant implications for understanding and controlling immune function.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalScience Signaling·DateDec 22, 2021

Covid-19 infections in nursing homes: Simulation model for optimal prevention and vaccination strategies

Austrian researchers developed a detailed epidemiological model to study the spread of coronavirus in nursing homes. The agent-based simulation tool helps balance safety and quality of life, considering vaccination rates and testing accuracy. With a high vaccination rate, major outbreaks are no longer expected.

SourceGraz University of Technology·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 22, 2021

Quantum marbles in a bowl of light

Researchers investigate Mandelstam-Tamm limit, finding minimum time for quantum information change depends on energy uncertainty, and second speed limit emerges when energy uncertainty exceeds average energy of atom. This discovery proves fundamental limits to quantum computers' processing power.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 22, 2021

Childhood obesity linked with mother’s unhealthy diet before pregnancy

Research by Dr. Sarah Crozier found that children aged eight or nine were more likely to be obese if their mother had a poor diet during – and before – pregnancy. The study, which analyzed data from 2,963 mother-child pairs, suggests that intervening at the earliest possible stage in a child's life can help tackle childhood obesity.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalInternational Journal of Obesity·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 22, 2021

Global study finds metabolic syndrome increased risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome, death in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

A global study published in JAMA Network Open found that patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who have metabolic syndrome are at a higher risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome and dying. The study examined records of over 46,000 patients across 26 countries and found that those with metabolic syndrome were 36% more like...

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateDec 22, 2021

Mapping the musical mind

A study by the University of Tokyo reveals that musical training can activate areas of the brain associated with language processing, regardless of experience level. This connection may explain why people enjoy music even if they're not musically inclined.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalCerebral Cortex·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 22, 2021

Machine learning models quantum devices

Scientists at the University of Tokyo have created a novel machine learning algorithm that allows for efficient and accurate verification of time-dependent quantum devices. The algorithm, inspired by quantum reservoir computing, leverages memory effects in these systems to improve verification efficiency.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 22, 2021

Transforming "undone science" into "done science"

Researchers at Bar-Ilan University used a crowd-sourced approach to test the effectiveness of mannitol in treating Parkinson's disease. The study, published in BioSocieties, chronicles the story of CliniCrowd, an Israeli company that recruited patients and collected data on mannitol's effects.

SourceBar-Ilan University·JournalBioSocieties·DateDec 22, 2021

White matter microstructure reveals developmental risk for psychosis

A new study found that white matter structural tracts are relatively stable throughout typical development, but show increased instability in children with psychosis spectrum symptoms. The integrity of these tracts was lower in children with psychosis and associated with cognitive function.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging·TypeImaging analysis·DateDec 22, 2021

Ephemeral evidence of Mediterranean mobility

The article examines modern migration in the Mediterranean by analyzing abandoned fishing boats and their contents, revealing the impact of policy decisions on displacement. The study provides a nuanced narrative of human experiences during these journeys, highlighting inequalities and varying degrees of preparation among those onboard.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalAmerican Journal of Archaeology·TypeObservational study·DateDec 22, 2021

World’s smallest microelectronic catheter for minimally invasive surgery of the future

A team of researchers from Chemnitz University of Technology, IFW Dresden, and Max Planck Institute CBG presents a new type of biomedical tool with a tiny biocompatible microelectronic micro-catheter. The catheter has sensor and actuator functions integrated into its wall, making it highly flexible and adaptable to the body.

SourceChemnitz University of Technology·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 22, 2021

Melting of the Antarctic ice sheet could cause multi-meter rise in sea levels by the end of the millennium

Scientists predict that continued global warming could lead to a five-meter sea level rise by 3000 CE, making large areas uninhabitable without extensive modification. The Antarctic ice sheet's collapse, driven by West Antarctica's grounding on a bed below sea level, is the primary reason for this decay.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalJournal of Glaciology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 22, 2021

Parkinson’s protein blueprint could help fast-track new treatments

Researchers have solved a decade-long mystery about the PINK1 protein, which plays a critical role in early onset Parkinson's disease. The discovery provides an unprecedented view of the protein and its activation process, paving the way for developing therapeutic agents that could slow or stop the progression of Parkinson's disease.

SourceWalter and Eliza Hall Institute·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 22, 2021

Nanotube fibers stand strong -- but for how long?

Researchers at Rice University found that carbon nanotubes and their fibers experience fatigue under cyclic loads, leading to slippage and strain accumulation. The fibers' endurance limit is around 30%-50% of their tensile strength, allowing them to last practically forever.

SourceRice University·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 22, 2021

Iodine in desert dust destroys ozone

A new CU Boulder study reveals that iodine from desert dust can decrease ozone air pollution but prolong greenhouse gas lifetimes. The finding has significant implications for air quality and climate, forcing researchers to re-evaluate how particles from land impact the atmosphere's chemistry.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 22, 2021

A 2.09 Mb fragment translocation on chromosome 6 causes abnormalities during meiosis and leads to less seed watermelon

A novel spontaneous chromosomal translocation on chromosome 6 in watermelon leads to meiotic abnormalities and reduced seed production. This study identifies the causal relationship between the translocation and gamete semi-sterility, providing insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying diploid less-seeded watermelon formation.

ESO telescopes help uncover largest group of rogue planets yet

Astronomers used data from ESO's large telescopes and space-based facilities to spot tens of millions of sources in a wide area of the sky, identifying over 70 rogue planets comparable to Jupiter's mass. The discovery could provide clues on how these mysterious objects form, with further advances needed to study them in greater detail.

SourceESO·JournalNature Astronomy·DateDec 22, 2021

Semiconductors reach the quantum world

A composite material consisting of superconducting and semiconducting materials has been discovered, enabling the integration of quantum devices into semiconductor technology. This breakthrough could lead to significant improvements in data transmission bandwidth, energy efficiency, and information security.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 22, 2021

Swaying mountains

The Matterhorn oscillates at two frequencies, with movements up to 14 times stronger at the summit than at the foot. Researchers detected these subtle vibrations using seismometers, which are also found in bridges and high-rise buildings, revealing a broader phenomenon.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateDec 22, 2021

Rates of premature heart attack death vary by sex, race and region in the US

A new study found significant demographic and regional disparities in premature heart attack deaths in the US, with middle-aged adults, men, Black adults, and rural residents facing higher risks. The analysis suggests that targeted interventions and evidence-based strategies can help narrow these disparities and improve outcomes

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateDec 22, 2021

Boston University School of Public Health professor joins nationwide reporting venture to reveal COVID’s hidden deaths

A Boston University School of Public Health professor is providing mortality data and modeling to identify underreported COVID-19 deaths in US counties. The true number of COVID deaths is likely much higher than recorded, with approximately 20% excess deaths occurring at home.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeNews article·DateDec 22, 2021

The shape of things

A team of researchers has identified a mechanical process by which sheets of cells morph into complex shapes, enabling organs to function. The process involves the production of hyaluronic acid, which swells with water and is constrained by thin connectors between cells.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 22, 2021

How do our organs know when to stop growing?

A multidisciplinary team of scientists from UNIGE and MPIPKS has solved the mystery of how an organ changes its size depending on the size of the animal. They developed a mathematical equation that explains how cells know when to stop growing, using the example of the Paedocypris fish.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 22, 2021