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Science News Archive February 2021 - Page 10


Page 10 of 45

Traditional hydrologic models may misidentify snow as rain, new citizen science data shows

A new study published in Frontiers in Earth Science uses citizen science data to identify the temperature cutoff between rain and snow in winter storms in the Lake Tahoe region of the Sierra Nevada. The results show that a warmer temperature threshold of 39.5°F may be more accurate for predicting precipitation in this region.

SourceDesert Research Institute·JournalFrontiers in Earth Science·DateFeb 22, 2021

Magnetic effect without a magnet

Researchers find giant Hall effect in material Ce3Bi4Pd3, exceeding theoretical predictions by a thousand times. The effect is caused by complex electron interactions and the Kondo effect, leading to unexpected potential for next-generation quantum technologies.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 22, 2021

Focus on the positive to improve classroom behavior

A University of Missouri five-year study found that focusing on positive encouragement in the classroom reduces disruptive behavior and improves students' academic and social outcomes. The study implemented a classroom behavior management training intervention, resulting in decreased disruptions and increased student engagement.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalJournal of Educational Psychology·DateFeb 22, 2021

Brain seasonality: Bean bug neurons need biological clock gene for seasonal egg-laying

Researchers from Osaka University have discovered that insect neurons promoting egg-laying require a circadian clock gene for day length-dependent responses. This study provides new insights into the importance of biological clocks in regulating seasonal physiological functions like reproduction and temperature tolerance in insects.

SourceOsaka University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 22, 2021

Steady now: Unfortunate timing and rate of change may be enough to tip a climate system

A model study suggests that abrupt shifts in ocean currents could occur decades before anticipated due to rate-induced tipping. This could lead to drastic changes in agriculture, biodiversity, and the economy. The findings highlight fundamental limitations in climate predictability and emphasize the need to limit CO2 emissions.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 22, 2021

Tweaking corn kernels with CRISPR

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have successfully applied CRISPR to increase corn kernel numbers by targeting promoter regions that regulate gene activity. This technique holds promise for increasing crop yields per acre and making agriculture more sustainable.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalNature Plants·DateFeb 22, 2021

UConn researcher offers lessons learned from a pre-pandemic study of telemedicine use

A pre-pandemic study on telemedicine use in a California senior living community found that despite low intervention uptake, residents valued avoiding emergency room visits due to wait times and costs. However, frontline staff perceived the program as not valuable, highlighting the need for cultural shifts among healthcare professionals.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalJournal of Medical Internet Research·DateFeb 22, 2021

Don't focus on genetic diversity to save our species

New research suggests that genetic diversity is not a reliable predictor of species survival and highlights the importance of habitat protection in saving species. Scientists found that most genetic diversity within a genome is neutral and not correlated with overall genetic diversity.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 22, 2021

For breakthroughs in slowing aging, scientists must look beyond biology

Recent studies highlight the need to incorporate behavioral and social science alongside biological mechanisms in aging research. Behavioral and social factors are causal drivers of biological aging, with influences on healthspan and longevity being large and meaningful. Researchers emphasize the importance of including these factors i...

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalAgeing Research Reviews·DateFeb 22, 2021

Controlling deflection in construction beams

Engineers from Erbil Technical Engineering College report on the effect of applied load intensity, steel reinforcement index amount and concrete strength on beam depth-span ratio. The study suggests modifying ACI codes to include additional parameters, enabling engineers to control beam deflection within defined limits.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Civil Engineering Journal·DateFeb 22, 2021

Study could explain tuberculosis bacteria paradox

Researchers found a genetic mechanism in Mycobacterium tuberculosis that allows the bacterium to respond to stress rapidly and in manner that is 'history-dependent.' The study suggests this mechanism may be key to understanding tuberculosis latency, a global health problem affecting 2-3 billion people.

SourceRice University·JournalmSystems·DateFeb 22, 2021

Politics and the brain: Attention perks up when politicians break with party lines

A new study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln psychologist Ingrid Haas found that humans process politically incongruent statements differently, with stronger neurological responses for inconsistent positions. Participants showed increased activity in brain regions involved in cognitive function when reading statements deviating from p...

SourceUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateFeb 22, 2021

A dynamic forest floor

A mathematical model reveals how two radically different communities coexist beneath California's iconic kelp forests. The model accounts for the growth rate and mortality of algae and invertebrates, as well as the lifecycle of giant kelp and sunlight availability. This dynamic foundation species allows competing groups to dominate at ...

New sensor paves way to low-cost sensitive methane measurements

Researchers developed a new sensor using interband cascade light emitting device (ICLED) to detect methane concentrations as low as 0.1 parts per million. The ICLED-based sensors could be used to monitor emissions from livestock and dairy farms, and enable more accurate climate crisis monitoring.

SourceOptica·JournalOptics Express·DateFeb 22, 2021