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Science News Archive June 2021 - Page 28


Page 28 of 51

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.

The evolution of good taste

The study found that animals have evolved to prefer tastes that correspond with their elemental needs, helping them prioritize nutrient-rich foods. Convergent evolution was observed across mammalian, fish, and insect groups, highlighting the importance of taste in foraging and nutrient cycling.

Many prolonged sick leaves for COVID-19

A University of Gothenburg study found that nearly 12,000 people in Sweden received sickness benefit for COVID-19 during the first wave, with a median sick leave duration of 35 days. For 9% of participants, sick leave was still ongoing after 4 months, and those affected by long-term COVID-19 made up 13.3% of recipients.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalBMC Public Health·DateJun 14, 2021

For transplant recipients, third time may be the charm for better COVID vaccine protection

Researchers found that a third vaccine dose increased antibody levels against SARS-CoV-2 in transplant recipients more than the standard two-dose regimen. The study suggests booster doses should be investigated for those who are immunocompromised to determine if they can receive COVID-19 vaccines as standard clinical practice.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJun 14, 2021

Researchers create switchable mirrors from liquid metal

Scientists developed a method to dynamically switch liquid metal surfaces between reflective and scattering states using electricity. This technology could be used to create electrically controllable mirrors or illumination devices, enabling new applications in art and advanced devices.

SourceOptica·JournalOptical Materials Express·DateJun 14, 2021

Sources of lead in the western Arctic Ocean

A study reveals that 60% of lead in Canadian Arctic seawater comes from human sources, particularly historic lead emissions from Europe and Russia. The findings suggest that permafrost melting and coastal erosion will continue to remobilize these contaminants, making lead isotopes a sensitive tracer for pollutants in Arctic seawater.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 14, 2021