Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for January 13, 2021


A fly's eye view of evolution

Researchers found that changes in a central gene node lead to the formation of larger eyes in some species, while different mechanisms explain smaller eyes in others. The study contributes to understanding of evolution of complex traits and could inform animal and plant breeding.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalMolecular Biology and Evolution·DateJan 13, 2021

Baylor College of Medicine neuroscientist and geneticist recognized for re

Dr. Benjamin Arenkiel's research identified a convergent brain circuit that combines sensory perceptions and motivational state, linking basal forebrain circuits to behaviors such as anxiety, anorexia, addiction, and more. His work offers a new approach to treating severe eating disorders, obesity, and addictive behaviors by manipulati...

Diffractive networks light the way for optical image classification

Researchers at UCLA have developed Diffractive Deep Neural Networks (D2NNs) for all-optical object classification, achieving higher accuracy than individual constituent D2NNs and digital AI models. The success of the ensemble learning approach demonstrates the power of combining multiple predictions to obtain a more accurate prediction.

New insights into pancreatitis

This study validates the significance of two critical thresholds in pancreatitis, one for damage to acinar cells and another for clinical symptoms. It highlights the importance of cost transparency, preoperative informed financial consent, and price regulation to reduce financial hardship faced by patients and their families.

SourceFlinders University·JournalPancreatology·DateJan 13, 2021

Inferring human genomes at a fraction of the cost promises to boost biomedical research

A new statistical method called GLIMPSE allows for the inference of complete human genomes from small amounts of data, providing a cost-effective alternative to current approaches. This enables researchers to analyze understudied populations and uncover associations in complex traits such as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and obesity.

SourceSwiss Institute of Bioinformatics·JournalNature Genetics·DateJan 13, 2021

How to keep drones flying when a motor fails

Researchers at the University of Zurich have developed a solution to stabilize drones when one motor fails, using onboard camera information. The team equipped quadcopters with standard and event cameras, which enable the drone to estimate its position in space despite high-speed rotation. This innovation improves flight safety in area...

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalIEEE Robotics and Automation Letters·DateJan 13, 2021

CVIA publishes selected abstracts from the 31st GW-ICC Conference

Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications (CVIA) has published selected abstracts from the 31st Great Wall International Cardiology Conference. The abstracts cover various topics including basic and translational medicine, clinical research on cardiovascular diseases, and cardiovascular-disciplinary research.

SourceCompuscript Ltd·JournalCardiovascular Innovations and Applications·DateJan 13, 2021

Disagreeing takes up a lot of brain real estate

Researchers at Yale University used functional near-infrared spectroscopy to study brain activity during face-to-face discussions. They found that brains exhibit a calm synchronicity of activity focused on sensory areas when agreeing, but mobilize higher cognitive functions and emotional resources when disagreeing.

SourceYale University·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateJan 13, 2021

Flashing plastic ash completes recycling

Researchers at Rice University have developed a technique to convert pyrolyzed plastic ash into turbostratic graphene flakes, which can be added to materials like polyvinyl alcohol films and Portland cement to improve their compressive strength and resistance to water. The process has the potential to reduce energy use and cut pollutan...

SourceRice University·JournalCarbon·DateJan 13, 2021

Ovarian cancer cells adapt to their surroundings to aid tumor growth

Researchers discovered that ovarian cancer cells undergo structural changes in their mitochondria to survive and proliferate in the peritoneal cavity. This adaptation enables aggressive cancerous cells to grow and spread, making it harder to detect and treat. Understanding these cellular adaptations could lead to new targeted therapies.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Oncology·DateJan 13, 2021

How does your computer smell?

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a highly sensitive biohybrid olfactory sensor that can detect odor molecules in the air. The sensor uses insect olfactory receptors reconstituted into lipid bilayers and has been shown to detect concentrations as low as parts per billion.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 13, 2021

Catalysts: worth taking a closer look

A new research method has successfully investigated the role of oxygen in complex metal oxide surfaces, revealing that oxygen atoms settle down particularly easily in specific places. This breakthrough understanding will aid in improving important catalysts needed for energy and environmental technology.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 13, 2021

A niche for the eye

Researchers at Stowers Institute for Medical Research have discovered a signaling pathway that regulates the secretion of proteins important for maintaining eye structure, including the ciliary body. This finding holds promise for early detection and treatment of degenerative eye conditions such as glaucoma.

Blue-light stride in perovskite-based LEDs

Researchers at Linköping University have developed efficient blue light-emitting diodes based on mixed halide perovskites, achieving stable emission in the deep blue to sky blue range. The new LEDs are made using the vapour-assisted crystallisation technique and exhibit an energy efficiency of up to 11%.

SourceLinköping University·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 13, 2021

Illinois residents value strategies to improve water quality

A study from University of Illinois agricultural economists found that Illinois residents value efforts to reduce watershed pollution and are willing to pay for environmental improvements. Respondents were surveyed on their willingness to pay for various water quality improvements, with a 50% reduction in algal blooms estimated to be w...

Examining therapeutic targets for kidney disease

A University of Houston researcher has identified the suPAR protein as a potential therapeutic target for treating focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a common form of kidney disease. High circulating levels of suPAR have been shown to induce oxidative stress in the kidneys, leading to cell damage and kidney failure.

Combination treatment for methamphetamine use disorder shows promise in NIH study

A combination of injectable naltrexone and oral bupropion was found to be effective in treating adults with moderate or severe methamphetamine use disorder. Participants responded at a significantly higher rate to the treatment, with an NNT of 9, indicating its potential as a promising addition to current approaches.

SourceNIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJan 13, 2021

Resilience to climate change?

A recent study on octopus rubescens found a significant adaptability to short-term exposure to acidic water, with metabolic rates returning to normal after 1 week. Long-term effects were less pronounced, with reduced oxygen circulation and function in low-acidity conditions.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalPhysiological and Biochemical Zoology·DateJan 13, 2021

High-sensitivity nanophotonic sensors with passive trapping of analyte molecules in hot-spots

A new type of high-performance optical sensor has been demonstrated that utilizes the surface tension of liquid to concentrate and trap analyte molecules at sensitive locations, enhancing sensitivity performance. The sensor can detect picogram levels of analyte mass with readily detectable optical signals.

Tiny molecules with a big impact

Researchers discovered hundreds of previously unknown genetic variations affecting small molecule concentrations in the blood, which can impact diseases such as diabetes and eye disorders. The findings provide valuable biomarkers for clinical diagnosis and therapy.

SourceBIH at Charité·JournalNature Genetics·DateJan 13, 2021

How will we achieve carbon-neutral flight in future?

The ETH researchers conclude that continuing to power aircraft with fossil fuels and removing CO2 emissions using Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a cost-effective option for achieving carbon neutrality. Indirectly capturing CO2 from waste incineration gases also shows promise, costing significantly less than direct air capture.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalIndustrial & Engineering Chemistry Research·DateJan 13, 2021

Earth's terrestrial ecosystems may transition from carbon sinks to carbon sources within decades

The study suggests that up to half of land ecosystems could reach a tipping point where they release more carbon than they absorb by 2100 under a business-as-usual emissions scenario. Biomes with high carbon storage, such as rainforests and Taiga forests, may lose over 45% of their carbon sink capabilities by midcentury.

Could we harness energy from black holes?

Physicists Luca Comisso and Felipe Asenjo propose a new method to extract energy from rotating black holes by breaking and reconnecting magnetic field lines. This process could accelerate plasma particles to negative energies, allowing for massive amounts of energy extraction with an efficiency of up to 150%.

SourceColumbia University·JournalPhysical Review D·DateJan 13, 2021

Fast decisions of flying insects

Scientists are using brain recordings, flight analyses, and computational modeling to uncover the neural mechanisms behind insect decision-making. The study aims to inform autonomous robotics, computational neuroscience, and other fields by understanding how insects utilize movement to simplify information sampling.

Raman spectroscopy shows promise for diagnosing oral cancer

Researchers demonstrate that Raman spectroscopy can distinguish between healthy tissue, OSCC, and non-cancerous lesions with high accuracy. The technique could enable non-invasive cancer screening in the dentist's chair, reducing diagnostic delays and invasive procedures.

SourceOptica·JournalBiomedical Optics Express·DateJan 13, 2021

A look ahead at the year in chemistry

The American Chemical Society outlines key business and policy issues in chemistry for 2021, with a focus on climate goals and the impact of open access publishing. The organization also notes that chemical firms are looking to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic and manufacturers will remain busy producing COVID-19 vaccines.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateJan 13, 2021

Saver or spender? People are not as financially responsible as they may think, study shows

A new study from the University of Notre Dame finds that people tend to overestimate their financial responsibility, resulting in under-saving. The research developed an intervention to combat this 'positive illusion' by recognizing excessive spending and boosting self-perceptions of financial responsibility through increased savings.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateJan 13, 2021

Limits of atomic nuclei predicted

Researchers used innovative methods to calculate limits of atomic nuclei up to medium-mass nuclei, revealing new isotopes and a roadmap for verification. The study provides insights into the structure of neutron-rich nuclei and their existence, shedding light on fundamental interactions.

SourceTechnische Universitat Darmstadt·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 13, 2021

What are the links between violence and mental illness? Update from Harvard Review of Psychiatry

Research suggests that only a small fraction of violent acts are attributable to mental illness, with most perpetrators not having a diagnosable mental illness. The special issue articles review treatments to prevent violence, violence against family members, risk assessment, mass shooting events, and gun violence prevention.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalHarvard Review of Psychiatry·DateJan 13, 2021

Stats on HIV among men who have sex with men could help resolve China's epidemic

A recent study published in the Chinese Medical Journal found a high proportion of recent HIV infections among Chinese MSM college students, particularly those under 25 years old. The study suggests that regular HIV testing and TDR testing are crucial to prevent the spread of the disease. The findings highlight the need for early educa...

SourceCactus Communications·JournalChinese Medical Journal·DateJan 13, 2021