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Science News for June 15, 2021


EMBO Gold Medal 2021 awarded to Andrea Ablasser

Andrea Ablasser is awarded the EMBO Gold Medal 2021 for her groundbreaking research on how cells recognize double-stranded DNA as a danger signal. Her work may pave the way for therapeutic opportunities for inflammatory conditions and cancer treatment.

SourceEMBO·DateJun 15, 2021

New Web Tool Fights Antibacterial Resistance

A new web tool, webSalvador, offers more accurate methods for constructing confidence intervals and comparing mutation rates in bacteria mutation research. This tool eliminates the need for scientists to learn programming languages, increasing efficiency and efficacy of the Luria-Delbrück experiment.

How political bias impacts believing sexual assault victims

A study published in Violence Against Women found that political biases strongly influence attitudes towards sexual assault. Both Republicans and Democrats tend to blame victims more when strongly identifying with their party affiliation. The researchers also discovered that partisan identity often supersedes gender in shaping these at...

SourceSyracuse University·JournalViolence Against Women·DateJun 15, 2021

Malicious content exploits pathways between platforms to thrive online, subvert moderation

A new study by George Washington University researchers has mapped online hate clusters across six major social media platforms, revealing how malicious content exploits pathways between platforms to spread. The team suggests several strategies for social media companies to slow or block online hate content, including artificially leng...

SourceGeorge Washington University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 15, 2021

Those breakfast foods are fortified for a reason

A new study suggests that skipping breakfast leads to a nutritional gap, with adults who skip morning meals likely missing out on calcium, vitamin C, and fiber. The research analyzed data from over 30,000 American adults and found that those who skipped breakfast had lower intakes of essential nutrients for the entire day.

SourceOhio State University·JournalProceedings of The Nutrition Society·DateJun 15, 2021

Use of PFAS in cosmetics 'widespread,' new study finds

A new study from the University of Notre Dame reveals that many cosmetics sold in the US and Canada contain high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), linked to serious health conditions. The research found 56% of foundations and eye products, as well as lip products and mascaras, contained high fluorine levels.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology Letters·DateJun 15, 2021

Common cold combats COVID-19

A study by Yale researchers found that the common cold virus can trigger an immune response that halts replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Exposure to rhinovirus was shown to protect against COVID-19 infection, with the immune system responding rapidly to the threat.

SourceYale University·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateJun 15, 2021

PSMA-targeted radiotracer pinpoints metastatic prostate cancer across anatomic regions

A phase III clinical trial validates the effectiveness of 18F-DCFPyL in detecting and localizing recurrent prostate cancer, achieving high positive predictive values across various regions. The study's results support the use of PSMA-targeted radiotracers as the most sensitive and accurate agents for imaging prostate cancer.

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateJun 15, 2021

Unlabeled PFAS chemicals detected in makeup

A new study found high fluorine levels in most waterproof mascara, liquid lipsticks, and foundations tested, indicating probable presence of PFAS. Many products with confirmed PFAS had no PFAS listed on the label, making it impossible for consumers to avoid these chemicals through labeling.

SourceGreen Science Policy Institute·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology Letters·DateJun 15, 2021

Liver cancer call for help

Research reveals liver cancer incidence is 2.6 times higher in Indigenous Australians compared to non-Indigenous patients. Mobile liver clinics and regular ultrasound surveillance can help prevent the disease, according to expert calls for action.

Obesity and hypertension: Researchers discover novel mechanisms

New research reveals that obese mice do not increase the density of blood vessels in the hypothalamus when leptin is absent. However, increasing leptin levels promotes vessel growth via astrocyte activity. This study provides a paradigm shift in understanding how the hypothalamus controls blood pressure in obesity.

Can encroachment benefit hotel franchisees?

Researchers found that adding a new outlet can modestly benefit existing locations in markets with few same-brand outlets, leading to increased revenues and profits. The study's findings suggest prioritizing markets with few same-brand outlets, newer brands, cross-brands, and online travel agency sales channels for expansion.

SourceAmerican Marketing Association·JournalJournal of Marketing·DateJun 15, 2021

Keeping the peace

A new study suggests that peacekeeping patrols can increase individuals' optimism about cooperation with outgroups, making them more willing to engage in intergroup cooperation. This cooperation limits communal violence, promotes economic development, and bolsters social trust. The research, conducted by William Nomikos, found that UN ...

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalThe Journal of Politics·DateJun 15, 2021

Inducing and tuning spin interactions in layered material

A Chinese-Australia collaboration successfully induced Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions (DMI) in TaS2 by intercalating iron atoms, which can be further tuned by gate-induced proton intercalation. This enables electrical control of chiral spin textures and potential applications in energy-efficient spintronic devices.

Computers predict people's tastes in art

A new study by California Institute of Technology researchers found that a computer program can accurately predict which paintings a person will like, using low-level visual attributes such as contrast, saturation, and hue. The program achieved similar accuracy to deep convolutional neural networks in predicting art preferences.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Human Behaviour·DateJun 15, 2021

The electron merry-go-round

Researchers at the University of Freiburg have detected a previously unknown quantum effect in metal clusters, where electrons exhibit behavior similar to classical particles. The team's findings contradict previous predictions and suggest that decoherence suppresses interferences, leading to almost classical distributions.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 15, 2021

Teenagers at greatest risk of self-harming could be identified almost a decade earlier

Researchers found two subgroups of adolescents who self-harm, one with emotional and behavioral difficulties, and a second group without those difficulties but with different risk factors. The study suggests that it may be possible to predict which individuals are most at risk of self-harm up to a decade ahead of time.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateJun 15, 2021

Cosmic rays: Coronal mass ejections and cosmic ray observations at Syowa Station in the Antarctic

Researchers at Shinshu University and the National Polar Research Institute found a Forbush decrease in cosmic ray counts during a CME event, but the CR density exceeded its original level before exiting the Magnetic Flux Rope. The high-speed solar wind caused this unusual enhancement of CR density through local compression of the MFR.

SourceShinshu University·JournalJournal of Space Weather and Space Climate·DateJun 15, 2021

From symmetry to asymmetry: The two sides of life

The study uses innovative imaging techniques to demonstrate the role of symmetric cell nucleus alignment in left-right asymmetric development. Collective nuclear behavior and proper nuclear positioning are found to be responsible for subsequent LR-asymmetric development of the midgut.

SourceOsaka University·JournalDevelopment·DateJun 15, 2021

What makes us sneeze?

A study published in Cell identified specific nerve cells and proteins that trigger the sneeze reflex, which may lead to new treatments for infectious respiratory diseases. The researchers found that stimulating these cells with a molecule called neuromedin B could induce sneezing, even without exposure to allergens or viruses.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalCell·DateJun 15, 2021

Hippos and anthrax

A team of researchers tracked the movements of hippos in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania, to better understand how anthrax outbreaks spread. They found that infected individuals roamed just as much as healthy hippos, highlighting the importance of wildlife movement in disease transmission.

Analysis: Chile's transition to democracy slow, incomplete, fueled by social movements

A new article analyzes Chile's transition from dictatorship to democracy between 1990 and 2019, highlighting the role of social movements in expanding democracy. The authors argue that Chile's political system became illegitimate, providing space for various social movements, including feminist, student, and indigenous rights movements.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalThe Latin Americanist·DateJun 15, 2021

The long view

Researchers at UCSB's LTER sites investigate the impact of climate change on diverse ecosystems, including kelp forests and coral reefs. Their findings highlight the importance of long-term research in understanding complex relationships between environmental drivers and ecosystem responses.