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Science News Archive February 2021 - Page 13


Page 13 of 45

Mason researchers planning ukulele workshops

Researchers at George Mason University are planning a series of four ukulele workshops as part of the National Endowment for the Arts Military Healing Arts Network initiative. The project aims to improve the health, wellness, and quality of life for military and veteran populations exposed to trauma through arts engagement.

Seeing stable topology using instabilities

Researchers have developed a method to characterize topological phases of light using nonlinear instabilities, offering a simpler way to probe and generate these states. The approach exploits the quantized properties of vortices formed during modulational instability, providing a new tool for identifying different topological phases.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 19, 2021

A better tool for the job: Laser-based technique to elucidate the mysteries of exosomes

A team of undergraduate students from Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology developed a laser-based technique to measure protein-containing vessels released by cells. The technique, known as dynamic light scattering (DLS), is reliable, convenient, and inexpensive, making it an efficient tool for studying exosomes.

A speed limit also applies in the quantum world

Researchers at the University of Bonn have determined a minimum time for transporting cesium atoms using quantum mechanics. The study reveals that complex operations are limited by both energy uncertainty and the number of intermediate states, with implications for quantum computing.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalPhysical Review X·DateFeb 19, 2021

Symptoms months after COVID-19

Researchers analyzed persistent COVID-19 symptoms in adults for up to nine months after illness onset, finding that these symptoms can significantly impact daily life. The study suggests that ongoing health issues and limitations may persist even after the initial illness has resolved.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateFeb 19, 2021

Northern Hemisphere cold surges caused by Arctic and tropical Pacific synergistic effects

Researchers analyzed temperatures from Dec. 1, 2020, to mid-January 2021, finding that warming in the Arctic and cooling in the tropical Pacific contributed to record-breaking low temperatures across 58 cities in China. The synergistic effect intensified cold air intrusions into mid-high latitudes, influencing extreme cold conditions.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateFeb 19, 2021

Good cop, bad cop

Researchers use zebrafish to study human cancer and discover that the innate immune system actively destroys cancer cells. However, tumor cells can adapt and evade immune detection through a process called 'Immunoediting', leading to immunotherapy resistance.

SourceChampalimaud Centre for the Unknown·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 19, 2021