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Science News for March 24, 2021


Aerosol formation in clouds

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute have found that isoprene, a dominant non-methane organic compound emitted into the atmosphere, can form up to 20% of secondary organic aerosols in clouds. This process affects Earth's radiation balance and climate change.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 24, 2021

Exploiting cancer cells to aid in their own destruction

Researchers at the University of Chicago developed a new therapeutic vaccine that uses a patient's own tumor cells to train their immune system to find and kill cancer. The vaccine stopped melanoma tumor growth in mouse models and promoted a broad, robust immune response, preventing new tumor growth when tumor cells were re-introduced.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 24, 2021

Bronze Age mining sites received deliveries of pre-processed foods

Cereal plant remains from Prigglitz-Gasteil show signs of processing off-site, suggesting specialized communities relied on external food sources. This discovery adds to the discussion on Bronze Age mining sites' dietary patterns and highlights the importance of processed foods in sustaining these communities.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMar 24, 2021

New sequencing approach finds triple-negative breast cancers continue accumulating genetic changes during tumor growth

A novel method for single-cell DNA sequencing has enabled faster and deeper study of chromosome evolution in triple-negative breast cancers. The technique revealed that these cancers undergo continued genetic copy number changes after an initial burst of chromosomal instability, which may explain why treatments are not always effective.

Study shows DHA supplement may offset impact of maternal stress on unborn males

A recent study published in Biology of Sex Differences suggests that DHA supplementation during periods of high stress may reverse the negative impact of maternal stress on unborn males. Researchers found that exposure to prenatal distress decreased placenta and embryo weight in males but not females, while DHA groups showed a reversal...

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalBiology of Sex Differences·DateMar 24, 2021

Snapshot of COVID-19 vaccine intentions highlights challenges of achieving community immunity goals

A recent study found that about half of Americans intend to get vaccinated as soon as possible, while others are hesitant or unlikely to get vaccinated. The survey highlights the need for targeted outreach to address vaccine hesitancy and build trust with communities, particularly among African American and Hispanic respondents.

Recharge your batteries

University of Utah professor Tao Gao's discovery reveals physics behind lithium plating and enables prediction of its occurrence. The breakthrough could lead to faster charging times for electric vehicles and smartphones, reducing charging time from over an hour to under 10 minutes.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalJoule·DateMar 24, 2021

Waste from making purple corn chips yields a natural dye, supplements, kitty litter

A new biorefinery method extracts beneficial pigments from purple corncobs, producing natural dyes, nutraceutical supplements and absorbent kitty litter, offering a sustainable solution with zero waste at the end. The process uses water as an eco-friendly agent and achieves higher pigment extraction rates compared to traditional solvents.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering·DateMar 24, 2021

Glycans are crucial in COVID-19 infection

Research reveals glycans on SARS-CoV-2 spike protein play key role in structural changes during cell invasion. Glycans help stabilize Down-form structure and facilitate change to Up-form upon electrostatic repulsion.

SourceRIKEN·JournalBiophysical Journal·DateMar 24, 2021

E. Coli calculus: Bacteria find the derivative optimally

Researchers from The University of Tokyo have shown that the standard model biologists use to describe bacterial chemotaxis is mathematically equivalent to optimal dynamics. By using nonlinear filtering theory, they found that the system used by bacteria is indeed optimal for efficient sensing and adaptation in noisy environments.

A mathematician's journey in Edo Japan

Historical documents reveal that mathematician Mitsuyoshi Yoshida was invited by the Kumamoto clan to stay in Kumamoto from Kyoto between 1636 and 1637. He brought cutting-edge knowledge of arithmetic systems, civil engineering, and hydraulic technologies. The documents also show that he will be paid for his services, including rice pr...

SourceKumamoto University·JournalJournal of the Mathematical Society of Japan·DateMar 24, 2021

Want to learn to change a tire? Virtual reality could help

A study by PLOS ONE found that virtual reality training with augmented multisensory cues improves user experience during training and task performance in the real world. The findings suggest that this technology can be a valuable tool for teaching essential skills like car maintenance.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMar 24, 2021

Doubling down on headache pain

A combination of metoclopramide and diphenhydramine has been shown to reduce headache pain by more than five points in people who experienced a head trauma. However, the study's results may not be generalizable due to the participants' limited socioeconomic access.

SourceAmerican Academy of Neurology·JournalNeurology·DateMar 24, 2021

Want a healthier home? Start with your couch

A new study shows that replacing couches with no added flame retardants significantly decreases levels of toxic chemicals in household dust. Replacing foam inside cushions is also effective, confirming that choosing healthier furniture can make a big difference in people's everyday exposures to these toxic chemicals.

SourceSilent Spring Institute·JournalEnvironment International·DateMar 24, 2021

New study finds false memories can be reversed

A new study from the University of Portsmouth and Universities of Hagen and Mainz found that false memories can be reversed using specific interview techniques. The research involved implanting false memories in participants and then using strategies to help them retract these false recollections, while leaving their true memories intact.

SourceUniversity of Portsmouth·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 24, 2021

Vaccine science and side effects: How news messages affect views on vaccination

A study by researchers at the Annenberg Public Policy Center found that news coverage of expert scientific evidence on vaccine safety increases public acceptance of vaccines. In contrast, personal narratives about real side effects diminish the positive effect of such messages. The experiment tested six video clips featuring experts an...

New drug candidate against COVID-19

Researchers at the University of Southern Denmark have identified a potential new drug candidate against COVID-19, by developing peptides that mimic the ACE2 receptor and prevent SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding. This approach aims to prevent viral entry into host cells, thereby preventing infection.

SourceUniversity of Southern Denmark·JournalChemical Communications·DateMar 24, 2021

First 3D images of a giant molecule

Researchers have successfully visualized the entire complex for the first time, revealing its dynamic behavior and function. The model provides insight into the processes leading to spinal muscular atrophy, a congenital disease affecting one in 6,000 people.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNucleic Acids Research·DateMar 24, 2021

New CABI research confirms presence of highly invasive apple snail in Kenya

Scientists at CABI have confirmed the presence of the highly invasive apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) in Kenya, posing a significant threat to the country's rice production. The discovery was made through DNA barcoding analyses and confirms the species' potential to spread further, highlighting the need for strict quarantine measures.

SourceCABI·JournalCABI Agriculture and Bioscience·DateMar 24, 2021

Reading between the diamonds

Researchers used lab tools to mimic extreme conditions, redefining the conditions under which carbonates can exist in the Earth's lower mantle. The study expands our understanding of the deep carbon cycle and the Earth's evolution.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 24, 2021

An overlooked strand of the Southern San Andreas Fault may pose a major earthquake risk

A revised position for primary strand of the Pleistocene-Holocene San Andreas Fault in Southern California suggests a previously overlooked strand poses a significant earthquake threat. The Mission Creek strand accounts for nearly its entire slip rate, indicating it may be the primary Pacific-North American plate boundary fault at this...

Lighting up bone repair

A team at Tokyo Medical and Dental University developed a material that aids in bone healing, allows for clear assessment of bone damage and clarifies probable patient outcomes. The material incorporates a fluorescent molecule, enabling real-time visual analysis and predictions of therapeutic outcomes.

SourceTokyo Medical and Dental University·JournalCommunications Chemistry·DateMar 24, 2021

Genome sequenced for pesky pumpkin pathogen

The first complete genome for the bacteria that causes bacterial spot disease in pumpkins has been assembled, providing valuable resources to understand its spread, host specificity, and potential resistance to chemical controls. The study identified key genes involved in infection and compared them with other Xanthomonas species.

Climate change has reduced ocean mixing far more than expected

Research conducted by CNRS and international collaborators reveals that climate change has made the ocean six times stabler over the past 50 years. This increased stability limits oceanic mixing, making it harder for marine organisms to access light and for the ocean to function as a global thermostat.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature·DateMar 24, 2021

Weird earthquake reveals hidden mechanism

Researchers uncovered a hidden fault mechanism in the Shumagin Islands region of Alaska, which led to an unexpected strike-slip earthquake. The discovery suggests that areas considered uncoupled or safe from earthquakes may actually be prone to other types of seismic activity.

SourcePenn State·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 24, 2021

Decades of radiation-based scientific theory disproven by Ben-Gurion University US-based study

A large-scale study found that people living in areas with high background radiation had a 2.5-year longer life expectancy and lower rates of certain cancers, including lung, pancreatic, colon, and rectal cancer. The researchers suggest re-evaluating the linear no-threshold paradigm for low-dose radiation.

Fighting 'forever chemicals' with microbes

Researchers explore using microbes to degrade per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), persistent environmental pollutants. A study suggests that certain microbe strains can defluorinate PFAS, but further research is needed to develop a feasible method for cleaning up the compounds.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateMar 24, 2021

A better treatment for sickle cell disease

A team of researchers from Texas A&M University developed an organ-on-a-chip device that can model the disease physiology of patients with sickle cell disease. The device uses blood outgrowth endothelial cells to mimic a patient's vessel, allowing for personalized treatment and predicting disease progression.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalBioengineering & Translational Medicine·DateMar 24, 2021

Harvard, Smithsonian astronomers help capture first image of black hole's magnetic fields

Astronomers have captured the first-ever image of a black hole's magnetic fields, revealing that polarized light reveals the structure of these fields just outside the event horizon. This breakthrough observation will help scientists understand how energy is extracted from spinning black holes to produce powerful jets.

SourceCenter for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateMar 24, 2021

Mixed reality gets a machine learning upgrade

Osaka University researchers use deep learning to improve mobile mixed reality generation, enabling the automatic removal of obstructions and addition of greenery. This technology may revolutionize green architecture and city revitalization by providing real-time visualizations.

SourceOsaka University·JournalAdvanced Engineering Informatics·DateMar 24, 2021

Effective Field Theories and the nature of the universe

Effective Field Theories were introduced to simplify mathematics involved in unifying interactions. Steven Weinberg shares his expertise on these theories, which unify weak and electromagnetic interactions with the strong interaction. He also discusses implications for future research and applications in diverse areas.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal H·DateMar 24, 2021

The world's earliest stone technologies are likely to be older than previously thought

Researchers have found that Oldowan and Acheulean stone tool technologies are likely to be tens of thousands of years older than previously thought. Using statistical modeling techniques, the study estimates the origins of these early stone tools at 2.617-2.644 million years ago for Oldowan and 1.815-1.823 million years ago for Acheulean.

SourceUniversity of Kent·JournalJournal of Human Evolution·DateMar 24, 2021