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Science News for December 27, 2021


Challenging ‘rule breakers’ – children will confront their peers, but how they do so varies across cultures

A new study reveals that children globally will confront peers when rules are broken, but their approach differs across cultures. Children from rural areas tend to use verbal protests more than urban kids, who may rely on indirect methods like reputation to enforce compliance.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateDec 27, 2021
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Penn Medicine awarded $14 million NIH grant to apply CAR T immunotherapies to match more patients in need of kidney transplants

A clinical trial will harness synthetic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells to deplete immune B cells and plasma cells producing donor-specific antibodies, aiming to achieve a compatible kidney match for patients with pre-existing antibodies. The NIH-funded study, led by Penn Medicine, intends to begin enrolling patients in 2022.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·DateDec 27, 2021

How DNA is preserved in archaeological sediments for thousands of years

Scientists successfully extracted DNA from sediment blocks stored up to 40 years ago, providing access to a vast untapped repository of genetic information. The study reveals that specific sediment features are more conducive to ancient DNA preservation than others.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 27, 2021

Doesn't an excessive intake of simple sugar affect higher brain function?

A study published in Science Advances found that high-sucrose diets contribute to brain angiopathy with impaired glucose uptake, leading to psychosis-related higher brain dysfunctions in mice. The researchers created a novel mouse model exhibiting mental disorder-like symptoms after excessive sugar intake at puberty.

SourceTokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science·JournalScience Advances·DateDec 27, 2021
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Antarctic oceanographers use seals to do research where ships fear to go

Oceanographers replaced ship-based studies with sensors attached to seals to navigate icy waters, revealing seasonally varying water flows and their impact on biological production. The study found that warm, low-salinity water appears during autumn, positively affecting seal foraging behavior and potentially enhancing prey availability.

SourceResearch Organization of Information and Systems·JournalLimnology and Oceanography·DateDec 27, 2021

Stopping dementia at the nose with combination of rifampicin and resveratrol

A new combination therapy using rifampicin and resveratrol administered intranasally has shown to improve cognitive function in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and Lewy bodies. The treatment effectively reduces oligomer accumulation and restores brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression.

SourceOsaka City University·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 27, 2021

AAN issues guideline for treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy

The American Academy of Neurology has issued a guideline on oral and topical treatments for painful diabetic neuropathy, updating the 2011 AAN guideline. The guideline recommends several drug classes, including tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, gabapentinoids, and sodium channel blockers.

SourceAmerican Academy of Neurology·JournalNeurology·TypeLiterature review·DateDec 27, 2021
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Sleeping mice show busy brains

A new study reveals that the superior colliculus, a lesser-studied region responsible for saccades and facial recognition, dynamically changes its clustering of neurons depending on the mouse's conscious state. This finding suggests that the brain optimizes visual information processing based on its awake or anesthetized state.

SourceKyoto University·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 27, 2021

When a kidney transplant fails, retransplantation may offer better survival over dialysis

A recent study published in CJASN found that patients who undergo retransplantation after a failed first kidney transplant have a longer average survival time compared to those on dialysis. The study analyzed data from 2,346 adults and showed that retransplantation resulted in an additional 5.8 months of life expectancy.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateDec 27, 2021
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Physics analogies help gamify classroom quizzes and enhance student learning

A study by researchers at JAIST found that adding score-based incentives for quick answers led to higher learning gains, while varying difficulty levels boosted the thrill factor. Gamification strategies improved classroom activity, but exceeded a certain threshold, students felt disengaged.

SourceJapan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology·JournalHeliyon·DateDec 27, 2021

Study demonstrates a novel approach to target enhancer-addicted cancers

Researchers discover a chromatin degrader that blocks cancer-causing genes, offering potential treatment for over 90% of prostate cancers. The study found that blocking the SWI/SNF complex slowed cancer cell growth and induced cell death, especially in tumors driven by FOXA1 or androgen receptor.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 27, 2021

Nano-chocolates that store hydrogen

Researchers have created nanoparticles that can store hydrogen, reducing the need for pressurized tanks and cooling. The discovery could enable climate-friendly fuels and production methods for airplanes, ships, and steel.

SourceDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY·JournalACS Nano·DateDec 27, 2021

Penn Medicine researchers develop structural blueprint of nanoparticles to target white blood cells responsible for acute lung inflammation

Researchers at Penn Medicine have developed a structural blueprint for nanoparticles that can target and deliver treatment to white blood cells, such as neutrophils, that contribute to acute lung inflammation. The findings represent a significant step in understanding the condition and function of the immune system.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateDec 27, 2021

Biomolecular explosion

Scientists have observed that ionizing radiation can cause intermolecular Coulombic decay in organic molecules, leading to damage in DNA and proteins. This new understanding could lead to the development of more effective substances for radiation therapy and improve knowledge of how radiation damages healthy tissue.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Chemistry·DateDec 27, 2021
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Opioid prescribing declines, but cuts are not uniform

Per capita morphine milligram equivalents (MME) volume declined most in metropolitan counties and counties with higher fatal opioid overdoses. Clinical specialties showed significant declines, except for some states' counties with both increases and decreases.

SourceRAND Corporation·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 27, 2021

Scientists identify antibodies that can neutralize omicron

Researchers identified antibodies targeting conserved sites on the spike protein, showing promise against future variants. Antibodies from vaccinated individuals retained some activity, while those with prior infection had reduced effectiveness.

SourceUniversity of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine·JournalNature·TypeMeta-analysis·DateDec 27, 2021

Kidney damage as a result of coronavirus infection

Researchers found scarring in COVID-19 patients' kidneys, which may lead to long-term kidney outcomes. The virus directly causes cell damage, independent of the immune system, according to a new study published in Cell Stem Cell.

SourceRadboud University Medical Center·JournalCell Stem Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 27, 2021