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Science News Archive June 2021 - Page 49


Page 49 of 51

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

Why moms take risks to protect their infants

A new study led by Kumi Kuroda at RIKEN Center for Brain Science identified the calcitonin receptor as a crucial brain protein driving nurturing behaviors in mice. The research found that this protein motivates mothers to care for their infants, suppressing self-interest and risk-taking behaviors.

SourceRIKEN·JournalCell Reports·DateJun 1, 2021

An academic role model

Kristin Morell, a UC Santa Barbara Assistant Professor, has received the National Science Foundation's prestigious CAREER award. The award will fund her research on plate tectonics and provide opportunities for underrepresented students to get involved in geoscience through internships and workshops.

New method to improve durability of nano-electronic components, further semiconductor manufacturing

Researchers developed a novel approach to mitigate electromigration in nanoscale electronic interconnects by coating copper metal interconnects with hexagonal boron nitride. This innovation enables further scaling of device density and progression of Moore's Law, leading to improved device efficiency and decreased energy consumption.

SourceUniversity of South Florida·JournalAdvanced Electronic Materials·DateJun 1, 2021

COVID-19 simulation shows importance of safety efforts during vaccine distribution

A mathematical simulation by researchers at UNC Health Care shows that non-pharmaceutical interventions like mask-wearing and physical distancing can help prevent COVID-19 spikes as vaccines are distributed. The study found that widespread vaccine adherence and adherence to precautions can lead to a sustained decline in new cases.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateJun 1, 2021

Malaria parasite's partiality for the spleen

A study found that malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax accumulates in the spleen to a greater extent than its relative P. falciparum after infection. Imaging techniques revealed increased glucose metabolism in the spleen of participants infected with P. vivax.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateJun 1, 2021

Scientists demonstrate a better, more eco-friendly method to produce hydrogen peroxide

Researchers have developed a more efficient and environmentally friendly method to produce hydrogen peroxide by using palladium-gold nanoparticles as a catalyst. The new process produces almost 100% hydrogen peroxide with minimal water formation, making it a promising alternative to traditional methods.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Liberal Arts & Sciences·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJun 1, 2021

How news coverage affects public trust in science

A study found that exposure to negative news stories about science without context can damage public perceptions of trust and confidence in scientific work. The researchers tested the effects of different narratives on a large group of U.S. adults and found that those who read problem-focused stories were less likely to believe that sc...

SourceAnnenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania·JournalPublic Understanding of Science·DateJun 1, 2021

Hi-CO unravels the complex packing of nucleosomes

The Hi-CO technology provides high-resolution genome structural analyses combined with large-scale simulations, showing the arrangements of the genome's spool-like structures affect gene expression. Nucleosome folding influences the inner workings of genes, impacting accessibility of molecules to DNA.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Protocols·DateJun 1, 2021

Researchers Fine-Tune Control Over AI Image Generation

A new state-of-the-art method for controlling AI image generation has been developed by researchers at North Carolina State University. The approach allows users to retain certain characteristics across a series of images and manipulate specific elements while maintaining their identifiability. This technique has applications in fields...

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence·DateJun 1, 2021