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Science News for June 2, 2021


Can echolocation help those with vision loss?

A 10-week training program showed that both sighted and blind participants improved on echolocation tasks, with some even performing better than expert echolocators. The study's findings suggest that click-based echolocation can be a valuable tool for people with vision loss or progressive degenerative eye conditions.

SourceDurham University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 2, 2021

Gut to brain: Nerve cells detect what we eat

Researchers discovered two types of nerve cells in the vagus nerve control center that adapt feeding behavior and blood sugar levels differently. The first type detects stomach stretch, while the second type senses chemical signals from food, influencing appetite and glucose metabolism.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCell Metabolism·DateJun 2, 2021

Anyone can get super-hearing

Researchers at Aalto University developed a new audio technique that allows people to track bats in flight and localise sources of ultrasonic sound, enabling super-hearing. The device records ultrasound using microphones on a small sphere, pitch-shifts the signal, and plays it back through headphones.

SourceAalto University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 2, 2021

Experts propose 'five Cs' to tackle vaccine hesitancy

A five-pronged strategy addressing behavioural and socio-demographic factors is proposed to combat vaccine hesitancy. Confidence in vaccine safety is crucial, while addressing complacency among younger people and those of lower socioeconomic status is essential for increased uptake.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of the Royal Society of Medicine·DateJun 2, 2021

Nanomaterials with laser printing

Researchers develop a laser-driven method to synthesize nanoparticles, enabling efficient conversion of solar energy into electricity. The technology also promotes the production of green hydrogen by employing photoelectrodes that use sunlight directly.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 2, 2021

Research suggests BMI may not be best obesity indicator to assess risk for lung cancer

A new study published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology found that using traditional methods like BMI can misclassify obesity as a non-risk factor for lung cancer. The researchers measured visceral fat index through CT scans and found a clear correlation between central obesity and poor lung cancer outcomes.

SourceInternational Association for the Study of Lung Cancer·JournalJournal of Thoracic Oncology·DateJun 2, 2021

People of color twice as likely to die after traumatic brain injury, new study finds

A recent study by Oregon Health & Science University found that people of color are more than twice as likely to die after a traumatic brain injury compared to white patients. The researchers analyzed over a decade of data and attributed the disparity to underlying social determinants such as diet, lifestyle, and access to healthcare.

SourceOregon Health & Science University·JournalFrontiers in Surgery·DateJun 2, 2021

People who eat a healthy diet including whole fruits may be less likely to develop diabetes

A new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that consuming two servings of whole fruits per day significantly lowers the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The research, which analyzed data from over 7,700 participants, suggests that a healthy diet and lifestyle, including frui...

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateJun 2, 2021

The feasibility of transformation pathways for achieving the Paris Climate Agreement

A new systematic framework allows researchers to identify feasibility concerns in climate mitigation scenarios, highlighting the need for improved assessments of socio-cultural factors and demand-side mitigation. The framework is particularly useful for exploring trade-offs over time and analyzing enabling conditions for achieving ambi...

SourceInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateJun 2, 2021

Faith-community nurses promote physical activity among congregants

A West Virginia University study shows that faith communities have the potential to promote physical wellbeing along with emotional or spiritual health. A 12-week program led by faith-community nurses encouraged better time management, provided participants with more energy, and improved comfort with exercise on a regular basis.

SourceWest Virginia University·JournalJournal of Interprofessional Education & Practice·DateJun 2, 2021

Male piglets less resilient to stress when moms get sick during pregnancy

A study from the University of Illinois found that male piglets are more susceptible to neurodevelopmental and neurological anomalies when their mothers are infected with PRRSV during pregnancy. The researchers also discovered changes in gene expression associated with autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorder, and neur...

Luring bacteria into a trap

Researchers at ETH Zurich developed a vaccine that guides bacteria's evolution to make them a weaker pathogen, rather than trying to kill them. The combination vaccine was shown to be more effective in preventing Salmonella infections than existing vaccines.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Microbiology·DateJun 2, 2021

R&D exploration or exploitation? How firms respond to import competition

A study published in the Strategic Management Journal finds that firms in response to increased import penetration tend to rely more on familiar knowledge in developing innovations, rather than exploring new sources of knowledge. This shift is temporarily reversed over time, positively associated with an increased likelihood of survival.

SourceStrategic Management Society·JournalStrategic Management Journal·DateJun 2, 2021

The best strawberries to grow in hot locations

Researchers found five strawberry cultivars suitable for growing in hot, dry regions like Texas. These varieties have desirable berry characteristics, including sweetness and flavor intensity. The top performers were Albion, Sweet Charlie, Camarosa, Camino Real, and Chandler.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateJun 2, 2021

Activation of carbon-fluorine bonds via cooperation of a photocatalyst and tin

Researchers from Osaka University have successfully developed an organic reaction that selectively converts a specific carbon-fluorine bond in perfluorinated compounds to other functional groups. This breakthrough enables the synthesis of high-value fluorine-containing drugs, addressing a significant challenge in pharmaceutical applica...

SourceOsaka University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJun 2, 2021

Continuous glucose monitors help manage type 2 diabetes

The study found that continuous glucose monitors reduced emergency department visits and hospitalizations for hypoglycemia, improving blood sugar control in selected insulin-treated type 2 diabetes patients. The monitors also showed comparable results to a new diabetes medication in terms of blood sugar control.

SourceKaiser Permanente·JournalJAMA·DateJun 2, 2021

Current global environmental law and policy are failing, experts say

Leading scholars propose new frameworks for environmental governance, citing structural problems in current laws and international law-making processes. They advocate for a new environmental charter, reviving the United Nations Trusteeship Council, and strengthening the UN Environment Programme to address pressing global challenges.

SourceIOS Press·JournalEnvironmental Policy and Law·DateJun 2, 2021

At-home COVID-19 tests: How good are they?

A recent study by the American Chemical Society tested five at-home rapid tests, finding they were relatively easy to use with accurate results compared to lab testing. The cost and access to these tests are concerns, but community programs can help offset costs and build trust in testing.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateJun 2, 2021

Building green finance in Asia

The Monetary Authority of Singapore launches a $2 billion green investments program to promote environmentally sustainable projects. The Singapore Green Finance Centre, launched by SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business and Imperial College Business School, aims to build a new ecosystem for sustainable investing in Asia. Researchers wil...

DNA circuits

Scientists have created a molecular switching circuit made of DNA that can change the shape of soft matter based on pH levels. The DNA switches react differently with their surroundings, allowing for potential applications in soft robotics and logical function networks.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJun 2, 2021

How platelets help resolve lung inflammation

Researchers at the University of Münster discovered that platelet-white blood cell interactions resolve lung inflammation by secreting anti-inflammatory substances and eliminating excess neutrophil granulocytes. This finding has implications for developing new therapy concepts to combat acute respiratory failure.

SourceUniversity of Münster·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateJun 2, 2021

THOR: Driving collaboration in heavy-ion collision research

The THOR COST Action has enabled a large collection of papers on hot matter and relativistic heavy-ion collisions, thanks to extensive collaborations between researchers. Through the project, over 300 physicists have improved their methods by exchanging ideas and results.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal A·DateJun 2, 2021

US conservatives less able than liberals to distinguish truth from falsehoods in study of responses to 240 political news stories

A study of over 1,000 Americans found that conservatives were more likely to believe false claims about politics that benefited the right, while liberals were more likely to believe true claims that favored the left. This suggests that the political environment and widely shared news plays a role in shaping conservative misperceptions.

Plastic waste in the sea mainly drifts near the coast

Researchers at the University of Bern found that most plastic waste does not end up in open ocean, but instead remains near coastlines or on beaches. The study suggests that regions with large sources of plastic waste, such as Southeast Asia and the Mediterranean, are disproportionately affected.

SourceUniversity of Bern·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateJun 2, 2021

Printing a better microgrid

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh have developed a new particle-free silver microgrid conductor that surpasses traditional indium tin oxide (ITO) in flexible high-performance transparent electrodes. The microgrids demonstrate better transparency, lower roughness, and mechanical durability.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalACS Applied Electronic Materials·DateJun 2, 2021

The powerhouse future is flexoelectric

Scientists at the University of Houston have demonstrated giant flexoelectricity in soft elastomers, paving the way for improved robot movement range and self-powered pacemakers. The breakthrough could also enable human-like robots to perform physical tasks with greater flexibility.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 2, 2021

Lighting Hydrogels Via Nanomaterials

Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a new class of hydrogels that can be controlled by light, enabling precise drug delivery and regenerative medicine treatments. The hydrogels are responsive to near-infrared (NIR) light, which has a higher penetration depth than other light sources, allowing for more effective therapy.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJun 2, 2021

Shining light on two-dimensional magnets

A team of researchers has successfully controlled the magnetic state of two-dimensional van der Waals magnets using light, enabling efficient data storage and fast data processing. By inducing 'magnetic anisotropy' with ultrashort pulses of light, the scientists can manipulate the material's magnetic properties on demand.

SourceDelft University of Technology·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 2, 2021

Machine learning brings an early diagnostic for pancreatic cancer a step closer to reality

A new study published in PLOS ONE demonstrates the potential of machine learning to identify high-risk patients with pancreatic cancer up to 2 years before diagnosis. The algorithm achieved high sensitivity and specificity rates, identifying 41% of patients under 60 as high risk and 72% of those diagnosed as having a detectable risk. T...

Gender differences exist even among university students' wage expectations

A study of university students found that despite optimistic initial expectations, women tended to decrease their expected wages after being informed about the actual wages of similar graduates. In contrast, male students increased their expected wages under the same conditions. The study suggests a persistent gender gap in wage expect...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 2, 2021

Understanding feelings: When less is more

Researchers discovered a surprising paradox: as emotional expressions increase in intensity, they become more ambiguous to infer meaning from, with maximal intensity leading to decreased legibility. This challenges prevailing theories of emotion and opens new avenues for understanding affective experience and communication.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 2, 2021

The uneven benefits of CSR efforts

A study by SMU researchers found that corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities have a positive impact on future operating performance, but only in tangible asset-intensive industries such as manufacturing and utilities. For companies in intangible asset-intensive sectors like technology, there is no significant beneficial effect.

Bringing order to hydrogen energy devices

Scientists have developed a new approach to improve hydrogen transport in solids, enabling faster movement of negatively charged hydrogen 'anions' at lower temperatures. The breakthrough could lead to more sustainable sources of energy and practical applications in electrochemical devices.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 2, 2021