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Science News Archive July 2021


Page 1 of 41

Flood water: Toxins from the riverbed

A review of previous scientific studies on pollutant release from sediments during extreme flood events reveals significant risks to human and environmental health. The study highlights the need for good river management to address long-term consequences of pollutants in riverbeds.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalJournal of Hazardous Materials·TypeSystematic review·DateJul 30, 2021

Scholars gauged energy inequality among Eurasian Economic union member states

The study found that energy intensity significantly drove electricity consumption growth in the EAEU, with Kazakhstan and Russia contributing to increased energy consumption. Armenia and Belarus showed a decrease in energy intensity due to declining fossil fuel consumption and green energy development.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalRenewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews·DateJul 30, 2021

Ultramarathon Mountain Race weather was predicted; impact was not

Researchers found that high-impact weather events can be extreme, especially in context of human activities. Detailed hypothermia risk forecasts were not available for the race site, contributing to tragedy. The study highlights the need for improved warning systems and collaborations among scientists, governments, social media, and ci...

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateJul 30, 2021

Farm-centric research focuses on yield variability in Nepal’s smallholder cereal systems

Researchers developed a 'site-specific' strategy to improve cereal yields in Nepalese smallholder farms, outperforming traditional generalized approaches. The Nutrient Expert system uses machine learning to identify crop-specific nutrient requirements, optimizing yield and resource efficiency.

SourceAfrican Plant Nutrition Institute·JournalAgricultural Systems·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 30, 2021

Enabling safe delivery of RNA drugs to the lungs

Researchers at Hokkaido University created a lipid polymer that can carry genetic code into lung cells, potentially treating diseases such as acute respiratory distress syndrome and lung cancers. The delivery method bypasses the liver and targets specific lung cells without targeting ligands.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalMaterials Horizons·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 30, 2021

Scientists synthesize a material which can completely replace natural gypsum in the construction industry

Researchers develop method to produce high-quality gypsum binders from synthetic calcium sulfate dihydrate, surpassing natural gypsum in several parameters. The new material can replace natural gypsum in countries without gypsum stone deposits, reducing production costs and simplifying technology.

SourceNational University of Science and Technology MISIS·JournalJournal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry·DateJul 30, 2021

Bird brains left other dinosaurs behind

Researchers discovered a rare bird fossil with nearly complete skull, allowing them to compare ancient bird brains to living birds. The study suggests that complex brain structure may have played a key role in the survival of bird ancestors during the mass extinction event.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalScience Advances·TypeImaging analysis·DateJul 30, 2021

Bugs find bats to bite thanks to bacteria

A new study in Molecular Ecology found that blood-sucking flies specialize on bats by following chemical cues from skin bacteria. Researchers analyzed dozens of bat species and identified unique bacterial profiles associated with each group.

SourceField Museum·JournalMolecular Ecology·TypeObservational study·DateJul 30, 2021

Cracking the code of crack propagation in rubberlike materials

Researchers from The University of Tokyo Institute of Industrial Science have identified the origin of a phenomenon that occurs when rubber materials under stress rapidly break. Their simplified step-loading model replicates the non-monotonic mechanical behavior observed in these materials, shedding light on the velocity jump phenomenon.

SourceInstitute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalPhysical Review Materials·DateJul 30, 2021

Beware using telemedicine for voice and speech therapy

A study by Boston University researchers found that popular teleconferencing platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams struggle to capture accurate acoustic measures of voice, leading to clinically significant differences in voice evaluations. The team tested five platforms and discovered that only Microsoft Teams performed relatively well.

SourceBoston University·JournalJournal of Speech Language and Hearing Research·DateJul 30, 2021

Scientists explore Bacillus strains to control fungus spread in bananas

Researchers have identified five Bacillus strains with antibiotic ability against the deadly Fusiarium wilt TR4 fungus, which is threatening global banana production. The study found that these strains can trigger direct or indirect antagonism on the fungus, providing a new biocontrol method to combat TR4.

New research on the brain’s relay processes could guide treatment for certain brain disorders

Researchers discovered a convergence of sensory and motor information in the thalamus that may lead to new treatments for schizophrenia, epilepsy, and other brain disorders. The team used various tools, including electron microscopy and visualization computer, Cooley, to reconstruct images from mouse brains.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 30, 2021

Nanoparticles to help evaluate the effectiveness of radiation therapy for cervical cancer

Researchers found changes in erythrocyte morphology and nanoparticles on cell surfaces during radiation therapy, which may indicate treatment effectiveness or prognosis. The study suggests that analyzing these changes could lead to the development of a diagnostic method for assessing RT efficacy.

SourceNational University of Science and Technology MISIS·JournalInternational Journal of Biomedicine·DateJul 30, 2021

In the absence of genetic variation, asexual invasive species find new methods of adapting to their environment

Research from Wellesley College shows that asexual invasive weevils adapt to new food sources by passing down gene regulation changes to future generations. The findings reveal that these creatures can respond to different toxins in plants using shared genes, allowing them to thrive in various environments.

SourceWellesley College·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 30, 2021

Study shows how US immigration policy can have domestic health effects

A new study by Brown University found that the Trump administration's 'Muslim ban' led to an increase in emergency department visits and missed primary care appointments among residents from targeted nations. The study suggests that elevated cumulative stress due to a hostile climate toward Muslims may have contributed to these changes.

SourceBrown University·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateJul 30, 2021

Decoding how salamanders walk

Researchers at Tohoku University and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology have decoded salamanders' body-limb coordination mechanisms. Their findings provide insights into adaptive locomotion and could aid the development of agile robots.

SourceTohoku University·JournalFrontiers in Neurorobotics·DateJul 30, 2021

A novel route to energy saving technologies in the IT sector: Controlling ferrimagnets by voltage

Researchers at Chemnitz University of Technology and MIT demonstrate 180° magnetization reversal by voltage-induced hydrogen loading into ferrimagnets, promising a drastic reduction in global power consumption. The new approach could open a pathway to dramatically reduced energy consumption for data storage media.

SourceChemnitz University of Technology·JournalNature Nanotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 30, 2021

Natural mineral hackmanite enables new method of x-ray imaging

Researchers have developed a new X-ray imaging method utilizing hackmanite's colouring abilities, revealing its potential for non-expensive and reusable imaging applications. The study found that adding different atoms to the material impacts its colouring properties, and the mechanism of colour changing occurs through X-ray excitation.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·DateJul 30, 2021

Scientists obtain new polymer composite for electromagnetic shielding applications

Researchers from NUST MISIS and international partners create a radar-absorbing polymer composite with excellent magnetic and microwave properties. The composite can absorb 99.9% of incoming electromagnetic radiation, making it suitable for EMI shielding applications in industries such as 5G networks and radar absorbing coatings.

SourceNational University of Science and Technology MISIS·JournalJournal of Alloys and Compounds·DateJul 30, 2021