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Science News Archive July 2021 - Page 14


Page 14 of 41

The frequency of misattributed paternity in Sweden

Researchers analyzed 1.95 million family units, finding a low overall rate of misattributed paternity (1.7%) with rates closer to 1% in recent decades. The study's findings suggest that misattributed paternity is unlikely to have significant effects on hereditary condition studies.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Internal Medicine·DateJul 21, 2021

This is how the visual system shows us a more persistent world

A study published in Nature Communications reveals the visual system retains information from moving images, providing a consistent representation of surroundings. The researchers found that neuronal responses in deeper layers of the visual cortex exhibit 'perceptual constancy' and 'intrinsic persistence', ensuring stable encoding and ...

SourceScuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 21, 2021

The challenge of capturing carbon

Current carbon capture technologies require significant energy output, making them less than optimal. Researchers are working on developing more efficient methods using solid sorbents and membranes, which already show promise in concentrated CO2 emissions sites.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateJul 21, 2021

Dynamic heart model mimics hemodynamic loads, advances engineered heart tissue technology

Researchers have created a dynamic model that accurately recreates hemodynamic loads on engineered heart muscle tissues, providing unprecedented insights into how genetics and mechanical forces contribute to heart muscle function. This breakthrough model allows for the study of various heart diseases with genetic mutations, development...

SourceCollege of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJul 21, 2021

Genome editing meets marsupials

The study contributes to deciphering genetic background of unique marsupial characteristics by creating genetically modified opossums. The researchers successfully edited a gene responsible for body pigments, producing albino offspring with inherited genes.

SourceRIKEN·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJul 21, 2021

Patricia Miguez wins AADR Procter & Gamble Underrepresented Faculty Research Fellowship

Patricia Miguez, a tenure-track Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, has won the AADR Procter & Gamble Underrepresented Faculty Research Fellowship. The fellowship supports her research on the extracellular matrix and its modifications in health and disease, with a focus on craniofacial region.

How readily does COVID-19 spread on school buses?

A study in the Journal of School Health monitored 1,154 students for asymptomatic COVID-19 cases during high community transmission. The researchers found no transmission linked to bus transportation, despite near-capacity operations with universal masking and ventilation.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of School Health·DateJul 21, 2021

New study shows Transcendental Meditation reduces emotional stress and improves academics

A new randomized controlled trial found that Transcendental Meditation significantly improved emotional stress symptoms, quality of sleep, and English Language Arts academic achievement in high school students. The study showed that meditation was more effective than sustained silent reading in improving academic outcomes.

Researchers reverse emphysema in mice by injecting blood vessel wall cells

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have discovered that injecting mice with pulmonary endothelial cells can reverse the symptoms of emphysema. The study found that targeting endothelial cell function may represent a strategy for treating patients with advanced COPD or emphysema. Injecting healthy lung endothelial cells and/or inhibi...

SourceRockefeller University Press·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateJul 21, 2021

'Backpacking' hedgehogs take permanent staycation

A recent study published in the New Zealand Journal of Ecology found that alpine-based hedgehogs hibernate in the same areas they used in summer and do not migrate to lower elevations. This discovery suggests that hedgehogs are residents in these zones, rather than just visitors.

SourceUniversity of Otago·JournalNew Zealand Journal of Ecology·DateJul 21, 2021

Fully renewable energy feasible for Samoa - Otago study

A University of Otago study reveals that high proportions of renewable generation coupled with energy storage is technically and economically viable for Samoa's electricity system. The results show that setting targets below 100% and considering biomass options can make renewable energy more attractive and affordable.

SourceUniversity of Otago·JournalRenewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews·DateJul 21, 2021

The need for nuance in carbohydrate recommendations

A new perspective piece highlights the need for a more complex approach to defining carbohydrate quality, considering nutrient intakes, balanced diets, and environmental impact. The authors propose several potential quality indices, including whole-grain, fiber, and protein content, to establish a standardized metric.

SourceFoodMinds LLC·JournalAdvances in Nutrition·DateJul 21, 2021

The weather forecast for Venus

Scientists use infrared sensors to study the nighttime weather of Venus, discovering that north-south winds run in the opposite direction at night. This observation could help build more accurate models of the Venusian weather system and provide insights into Earth's weather patterns.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature·DateJul 21, 2021

Nanostructures enable record high-harmonic generation

Engineered nanostructures overcome problems in gas-based high-harmonic generation, enabling scientists to observe molecular dynamics with a single laser shot. The record-breaking conversion efficiency covers a wide range of photon energies, opening up new opportunities for studying matter at ultrahigh fields.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 21, 2021

Microbes play role in corn 'hybrid vigor'

Research at North Carolina State University reveals that soil microbes significantly impact heterosis, or hybrid vigor, in corn plants. In experiments with sterile bags and field tests, hybrid lines outperformed inbred lines due to microbial effects on root growth and biomass.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 21, 2021

Self-collected saliva and courier service -- A feasible diagnostic strategy for COVID-19

A new saliva collection method involves self-collection by licensed dentists followed by mailing to a laboratory, demonstrating feasibility for large-scale analysis. This approach offers a cost-effective alternative for COVID-19 diagnostics, preserving saliva samples for up to 7-10 days at room temperature with stabilizers.