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Science News Archive December 2021 - Page 15


Page 15 of 33

Harmful boomerang: PFAS pollution in ocean comes back to land

A study by Stockholm University researchers found that PFAS from the ocean re-emitted into air with crashing waves significantly contribute to PFAS air pollution in coastal areas. The transportation of toxic substances from seawater to marine air via sea spray aerosols poses a significant threat to health and the environment.

SourceStockholm University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 15, 2021

Better identification of sesame in food packaging needed to avoid anaphylaxis

A recent study found that over 50% of products containing sesame did not declare it on the label, leading to accidental ingestion and allergic reactions. Clear and specific product labeling is essential for preventing adverse reactions, especially anaphylaxis, in food-allergic individuals.

SourceAmerican College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology·JournalAnnals of Allergy Asthma & Immunology·TypeSurvey·DateDec 15, 2021

Brain study on how to slow down climate change

Researchers at the University of Bern used brain stimulation to demonstrate that mentalizing with future climate change victims encourages sustainable behavior. The study found that stimulating an area of the brain involved in perspective-taking led to more sustainable decisions, suggesting potential benefits for climate communication.

SourceUniversity of Bern·JournalCortex·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 15, 2021

Stronger drought resistance of urban vegetation due to higher temperature, CO2 and reduced O3

A recent study found that urban vegetation has a stronger ability to withstand drought compared to rural areas. The researchers attribute this enhanced drought resistance to increased temperature and CO2 concentration, as well as reduced ozone levels in urban environments.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 15, 2021

Normal 6-month outcomes in babies of women with COVID-19 during pregnancy

A study from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago found that babies born to mothers with COVID-19 during pregnancy exhibited normal growth patterns and developmental milestones at 6 months. The research included 33 Latinx infants and showed no higher rate of developmental referrals than usual.

SourceAnn & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago·JournalJournal of Perinatal Medicine·DateDec 15, 2021

The heat is on: RIPE researchers show ability to future-proof crops for changing climate

Researchers at the University of Illinois and US Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service have developed a way to future-proof crops for changing climate conditions. By bypassing a common photosynthetic glitch, crops can withstand heat stress, reducing yield losses estimated at up to 40-50% in regions around the equator.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalPlant Biotechnology Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 15, 2021

Spot the difference: can AI generate plausible Christmas BMJ titles?

A study by The BMJ found that AI-generated titles were as attractive and entertaining to readers as real titles, with performance enhanced by human input. The AI generated titles were rated as having less scientific or educational merit than the real titles, but this difference became non-significant when humans curated the AI output.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·TypeObservational study·DateDec 15, 2021

Repurposed drug shows improved results with combined therapy for triple negative breast cancer

Researchers at Houston Methodist have discovered a new combination therapy that regresses tumor growth of triple negative breast cancer and prevents the cancer from spreading. The response rate using this therapy is about 50%, compared to 25-30% with older drugs, offering new hope for patients with hard-to-treat breast cancers.

SourceHouston Methodist·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 15, 2021

UNM scientists find climate-driven tree mortality and fuel aridity increase wildfire fuel availability

UNM scientists found climate-driven tree mortality and fuel aridity are increasing fuel availability, leading to bigger, more intense wildfires. This is due to drought stress, insect outbreaks, and temperature increases causing large areas of tree mortality and rising temperatures drying out forest fuels.

SourceUniversity of New Mexico·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 15, 2021

PCR: Activated by light

Researchers at LMU developed a new approach to create photoactivatable DNA processing enzymes that can be triggered by UV light pulses. This breakthrough overcomes the limitations of traditional hot-start methods, enabling more precise diagnostics without sacrificing sensitivity.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalNucleic Acids Research·DateDec 14, 2021

What is treatment-resistant depression? New report calls for clearer definition to inform research and improve treatment.

A new report proposes a clearer definition of treatment-resistant depression, aiming to improve treatment outcomes. The study found that only about a third of studies in TRD enroll participants who met the most common definition, highlighting the need for a standardized approach.

SourceKing's College London·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·TypeLiterature review·DateDec 14, 2021

Gas-passing plankton illumine another piece of the carbon cycle puzzle

A recent study by Oregon State University reveals that a type of bacteria called SAR11 consumes acetone and isoprene, volatile organic compounds produced by phytoplankton. These findings suggest that the marine carbon cycle is not fully understood and highlights the importance of studying plankton's role in gas exchange.

SourceOregon State University·JournalEnvironmental Microbiology·TypeObservational study·DateDec 14, 2021

Overweight children are developing heart complications

A new study from the University of Georgia found that overweight youth are developing signs of artery stiffness, a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Researchers measured visceral fat levels and arterial stiffness in over 600 children, adolescents, and young adults, revealing higher levels of visceral fat and arterial ...

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalPediatric Obesity·DateDec 14, 2021

Astronomers just got better at finding “bright” black holes

A team of astronomers has developed a new technique to detect active black holes in galaxies, measuring their impact on galaxy evolution. The method can be applied to millions of galaxies, searching for bright supermassive black holes at the centre of galaxies and studying their effect on star formation.

SourceInternational Centre for Radio Astronomy Research·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeObservational study·DateDec 14, 2021

New Wilderness Medical Society guidelines may help reduce tick-borne illness

The Wilderness Medical Society has developed clinical practice guidelines for reducing tick-borne illness, emphasizing low-risk interventions in resource-limited settings. Lyme disease accounts for nearly 70% of reported cases, with other TBIs like anaplasmosis and spotted fever rickettsiosis also on the rise.

SourceElsevier·JournalWilderness and Environmental Medicine·TypeSystematic review·DateDec 14, 2021

Precise insights into the supermassive black hole in the Milky Way’s heart

A team of astronomers has made the most precise measurements yet of the motions of stars around Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. The research, using cutting-edge facilities like Gemini Observatory and the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, shows that nearly all of the mass c...

SourceAssociation of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·TypeObservational study·DateDec 14, 2021

Researchers test physics of coral as an indicator of reef health

Researchers at Stanford University have demonstrated that measuring the physics of just a small portion of a coral reef can reveal insights about the entire reef system. This new approach provides low-cost methods for scaling up monitoring efforts, which are crucial for understanding the impact of climate change on these ecosystems.

SourceStanford University·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Oceans·DateDec 14, 2021

Spacecraft enters the Sun's corona for the first time in history

The Parker Solar Probe successfully entered the corona of the Sun, a region approximately 2 million degrees Fahrenheit, and collected data using the Solar Probe Cup instrument. The probe's historic achievement sheds light on phenomena such as solar flares, high-speed solar winds, and the Sun's atmosphere's heat and magnetic fields.

SourceCenter for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 14, 2021

MSK Chief of the Lymphoma Service Gilles Salles Presents Promising New Treatment for Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center found that pola-R-CHP reduces the risk of DLBCL disease progression, relapse, or death by 27 percent. The treatment, combining Polatuzumab vedotin with Rituximab and other chemotherapy agents, shows improved progression-free survival rates compared to current standard R-CHOP therapy.

SourceMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateDec 14, 2021

Night lights: New global atlas maps out artificial light at night under the sea

A new global atlas reveals that up to 1.9 million km2 of the world's coastal waters are affected by artificial light at night, with significant impacts on marine organisms. The study uses a novel metric to determine the depth of light penetration and highlights the need for further research into the effects of ALAN pollution.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalElementa Science of the Anthropocene·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2021

Closing in on the first light in the Universe

Researchers have reduced background noise using new antennas in the Australian hinterland, allowing them to refine their search for a 13-billion-year-old signal known as the Epoch of Reionisation. By surveying over 80,000 radio signal sources, they produced models that significantly improved efforts to locate the elusive signal.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3D (ASTRO 3D)·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Australia·TypeObservational study·DateDec 14, 2021

Change in buprenorphine use in US jails, prisons

The study found that buprenorphine use for opioid use disorder increased substantially in US jails and prisons over the past five years. Despite being rare among incarcerated individuals with opioid use disorder, this increase suggests potential improvements in treatment access.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateDec 14, 2021

City of Hope researchers help find improved treatment options for patients with advanced colorectal cancer

A Phase 2 clinical trial showed sotorasib can shrink tumors and achieve disease control in heavily pretreated patients with advanced colorectal cancer. The study results exceeded the historic benefits linked to approved therapies, offering new hope for a population with limited treatment options.

SourceCity of Hope·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 14, 2021