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Science News Archive July 2021 - Page 28


Page 28 of 41

Sweet success: CABBI demonstrates first precision breeding of sugarcane with CRISPR-Cas9

Recent innovations by University of Florida researchers at CABBI demonstrate the first successful precision breeding of sugarcane using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. This technique allows for precise changes in genes and introduces superior versions, potentially increasing productivity and sustainability.

Teardrop star reveals hidden supernova doom

Astronomers have discovered a rare teardrop-shaped star system that will eventually become a Type Ia supernova. The system, HD265435, is comprised of a hot subdwarf and a white dwarf star orbiting each other closely, with the white dwarf being as heavy as our Sun but slightly smaller than Earth's radius.

SourceW. M. Keck Observatory·JournalNature Astronomy·DateJul 12, 2021

Awareness and use of sick leave

Approximately 8 million US employees used FFCRA emergency sick leave within the first 6-8 months. Unmet sick leave needs tripled during the pandemic, with women exhibiting a higher risk, and college graduates, Asian-Americans, and native-born employees being more likely to know about and use the benefit.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 12, 2021

New research reveals how the impact of ENSO on Asian-Western Pacific climate would change under global warming

A new study published in the Journal of Climate found that about 23% of uncertainty in WNPAC projection is attributed to El Nino amplitude change, while 77% comes from non-amplitude change related to El Nino decaying pace. The research highlights the importance of considering other El Nino characteristics in climate system projections.

Humans can learn from animals and insects about impact of climate change

A group of researchers studied how animals modify their habitats in response to climate change and found that understanding these modifications can improve predictions of climate change's effects on species. The study highlights the importance of understanding how animals adapt to changing environments, which can inform strategies for ...

SourceStellenbosch University·JournalTrends in Ecology & Evolution·DateJul 12, 2021

Symbionts sans frontieres: Bacterial partners travel the world

A new study reveals that some bacterial symbionts of bivalves have traveled the globe and established partnerships with host species across diverse habitats. This finding challenges previous concepts of symbiont acquisition and highlights the remarkable flexibility in this partnership, which benefits both hosts and symbionts.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 12, 2021

Sea-level rise solutions

The study reveals that seawalls can increase flooding and incur significant damages, while strategic flooding areas can absorb increased water and avoid damage. Bay Area communities need to coordinate their approaches to sea-level rise adaptation to find solutions that benefit the whole bay.

SourceStanford University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 12, 2021

New study may offer treatment guidance for MIS-C

A new study has found that treating children and adolescents with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) with intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) and glucocorticoids reduces the risk of serious short-term outcomes, including cardiovascular dysfunction. The study analyzed data from over 596 patients and showed a significan...

SourceRutgers University·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJul 12, 2021

Childhood lead exposure may adversely affect adults' personalities

A new study by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found that childhood lead exposure may lead to less mature and less healthy personalities in adulthood. Adults who grew up in areas with higher levels of atmospheric lead had lower levels of conscientiousness and agreeableness, and higher levels of neuroticism.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 12, 2021

High-tech toilets could spread antibiotic-resistant superbugs in hospitals, Japanese study suggests

Researchers found that electric toilet water-jet nozzles can harbor multidrug-resistant bacteria, which can be transmitted to patients with weakened immune systems. The study highlights the need for modified hand hygiene practices and toilet disinfection protocols in hospitals to prevent superbug transmission.

Every spot of green space counts

A global study found that urban greenspaces, including parks and gardens, harbor important microbial communities critical for sustaining productive ecosystem services. These microbes also promote effective immunoregulation functions and reduce allergies in humans. However, green spaces can also host fungal parasites and plant pathogens.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 11, 2021

Reviewing pressure effects on iron-based high-temperature superconductors

The review highlights the use of pressure as a versatile method to explore new materials and gain insight into high-temperature superconductor mechanisms. Iron-based superconductors exhibit a relatively high transition temperature, with research efforts focusing on raising this temperature through pressure-induced effects.

Dog food sold across Europe contains antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including 'superbugs' found in hospital patients

A study found that raw dog food in European supermarkets and pet shops contains antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including 'superbugs' found in hospital patients. The researchers concluded that dog food is a source of bacteria resistant to last-resort antibiotics and could potentially spread to humans.

SourceEuropean Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases·JournalInternational Journal of Food Microbiology·DateJul 10, 2021

Evolution in real time

The study reveals that Chlamydomonas reinhardtii undergoes mutations leading to the emergence of multicellular life. The experiment confirms a theory on the origin of multicellularity, where cell groups are better at reproduction and more likely to survive than single cells.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 9, 2021

Turn off the blue light!

Researchers from University of Tsukuba discovered that exposure to organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) before sleep reduces negative health effects on energy metabolism. OLEDs emit less blue light, leading to decreased energy expenditure and core body temperature during sleep.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 9, 2021

Changes in care delivery during COVID-19

Researchers characterized clinical content of ambulatory care among office-based and telemedicine visits before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found significant changes in care delivery, with a shift towards telemedicine visits during the pandemic.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Health Forum·DateJul 9, 2021

The giant panda's mystery revealed

The giant panda's temporomandibular joint and premolar teeth evolved to facilitate sideways movement of the jaw, allowing for efficient peeling of bamboo. This adaptation enabled pandas to access an endless source of nutrition in the early Pleistocene.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 9, 2021

Seeing with radio waves

Scientists from the University of Tsukuba used radio-frequency imaging to detect nitrogen-vacancy defects in diamond with improved resolution. The technique, called spin-locking, enhances accuracy and sensitivity by shielding electron spin from random noise.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalJapanese Journal of Applied Physics·DateJul 9, 2021