Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for May 26, 2021


Quantification of the internal OH- effects in upconversion nanocrystals

Scientists have developed a method to quantify internal OH- impurities in upconversion nanocrystals, revealing an exponential relation between luminescence intensity and OH- content. This discovery enriches our understanding of the quenching mechanism and paves the way for highly efficient lanthanide-doped materials.

Better understanding membranes

Experts from the University of Goettingen and Hereon have developed new research strategies for polymer membranes, promising relatively inexpensive production and strong separation selectivity. Computer simulations will play a crucial role in understanding these systems.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Hereon·JournalChemical Reviews·DateMay 26, 2021

Studies reveal that social isolation and quarantine throughout the COVID-19 pandemic may have a detrimental impact on physical and mental health of people living with pre-existing conditions

Two studies found that social isolation and quarantine can cause significant psychological and/or physical distress on individuals with diabetes and hypocortisolism. These effects include increased anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, weight gain, and decreased physical activity.

HKUST's meta-analysis shows SARS-CoV-2 variants unlikely to affect T cell responses

A recent study by HKUST scientists analyzed data from over 850 recovered COVID-19 patients and found that most T cell epitopes targeted upon natural infection are unaffected by current SARS-CoV-2 variants. This suggests that T cell responses may be relatively robust, assuming vaccine responses mimic those of natural infection.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalCell Reports Medicine·DateMay 26, 2021

Why a vacation seems like it will end as soon as it begins

Researchers found that people anticipate positive events, such as vacations, as being both farther away and shorter in duration than negative or neutral events. This phenomenon can lead to a feeling that the vacation will end as soon as it begins, making people less likely to plan specific events during their time off.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Consumer Psychology·DateMay 26, 2021

Wireless broadband connectivity enhanced by a new communication design

Researchers have developed a new communication design that improves broadband wireless connectivity in the terahertz band, mitigating signal delay and achieving multi-Gbps speeds over short distances. The design uses multiple antennas and beamforming techniques to compensate for propagation losses and accurately estimate channels.

SourceUniversitat Pompeu Fabra - Barcelona·JournalIEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications·DateMay 26, 2021

To sting or not to sting?

Researchers study individual bees' decision to sting based on alarm pheromone concentration, revealing a 'stopping effect' at high concentrations. The study suggests environmental factors drove the evolution of pheromone-based communication in honeybees' defensive behaviour.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalBMC Biology·DateMay 26, 2021

Similar states of activity identified in supermassive and stellar mass black holes

The study reveals that supermassive black holes exhibit accretion states similar to those seen in stellar mass black holes, with properties including thermal emission by the plasma disc and intense radio emission. This new understanding helps clarify the activity cycles of supermassive black holes in galaxy centers.

SourceInstituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC)·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMay 26, 2021

Warm ice may fracture differently than cold ice

Researchers at Aalto University discovered that warm ice behaves differently than previously studied cold ice, with no significant viscoelastic recovery. The team's findings suggest that warmer conditions are increasingly expected to affect infrastructure engineering in frigid regions.

SourceAalto University·JournalThe Cryosphere·DateMay 26, 2021

Immediate skin-to-skin contact after birth improves survival of pre-term babies

A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that immediate skin-to-skin contact after birth significantly improves survival rates for pre-term babies with a very low birth weight. Continuous Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) reduced mortality by 25% and lowered the risk of low body temperature or bacterial blood poisoning.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMay 26, 2021

Can racial identity protect black teens from racism-related stress? It's complicated

A recent study found that racial identity can influence the way Black adolescents experience anticipatory stress about racism. While high private regard was associated with less psychological stress, high centrality scores were linked to worse anticipatory stress across the board. The researchers also discovered that higher public rega...

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalAmerican Journal of Orthopsychiatry·DateMay 26, 2021

Global cardiovascular organizations release joint opinion on achieving the 'tobacco endgame'

Four leading cardiovascular organizations urge governments to implement the World Health Organization's MPOWER framework to reduce tobacco use. The joint opinion outlines comprehensive strategies, including lowering nicotine concentrations in combustible tobacco products and enforcing strong systems and premarket assessments of all tob...

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateMay 26, 2021

Conquering COVID-19 with antivirals

Creating an oral antiviral has the potential to fully eradicate COVID-19 by allowing early treatment, preventing hospitalizations and fatalities. However, progress in antiviral development has been slow compared to vaccine development, highlighting the need for continued research.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateMay 26, 2021

Opiate overdoses linked to poor mental health

A national study by University of Cincinnati researchers has identified 25 geographic hot spots for fatal opioid overdoses and linked them to poor mental health. White males aged 25-29 are most at risk, followed by white males aged 30-34, with a correlation between fatal overdoses and mental distress increasing the relative risk by 39%

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 26, 2021

People who eat a plant-based dinner could reduce their risk of heart disease by ten percent

A nationwide study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that eating a plant-based dinner can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease. The study, which analyzed data from over 27,000 U.S. adults, discovered that individuals who consumed more whole carbohydrates and unsaturated ...

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateMay 26, 2021

The first blood biomarker to distinguish between myocarditis and acute myocardial infarction

Researchers at CNIC have discovered a specific blood marker for myocarditis, allowing clinicians to distinguish the disease from other cardiomyopathies. The biomarker, miR-721, was validated in numerous hospitals and has high sensitivity and specificity (>90%) for myocarditis diagnosis.

Primates change their 'accent' to avoid conflict

Researchers discovered that one species of tamarin adopts another's call patterns to communicate and avoid conflict in the Brazilian Amazon. The study found that red-handed tamarins adopt pied tamarins' long calls when entering their territory, potentially to identify each other more easily and avoid territorial disputes.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·DateMay 26, 2021

Synthetic breakthrough for controlling functional group assembly over chaotic mixing

A research team has developed a new synthetic approach for controlling functional group assemblies in porous solids by using cage-based framework, metal-organic polyhedra. This method yields identical functional groups on each cage unit and offers improved solvatochromic behavior compared to traditional mixing strategies.

Geological riddle solved: Roof of the World has gotten higher

New research from the University of Copenhagen reveals that the Tibetan plateau has increased in height over the past 15-18 million years due to a slow collision between the India and Eurasia tectonic plates. This finding sheds new light on Earth's evolution and provides a more accurate understanding of Tibet's geological history.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalGeophysical Journal International·DateMay 26, 2021

Hidden genes discovered in bovine genome

A research team at ETH Zurich has created a comprehensive bovine genome reference by integrating data from six breeds, revealing numerous new genes and functionalities. These newly discovered sequences show connections to immune functions and may provide insights into genetic variants lost during domestication.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 26, 2021

NUCLEUS - 2021

The NUCLEUS-2021 conference will cover various topics in nuclear physics, including atomic nuclei, nuclear reactions, modern methods and technologies, relativistic nuclear physics, and more. The results of the conference will be published in two Springer journals.

Stormwater could be a large source of microplastics and rubber fragments to waterways

Researchers found that stormwater can carry high concentrations of microplastic particles, including microscopic fibers and black rubbery fragments, into water bodies. A proof-of-concept experiment showed that a rain garden can capture up to 98% of these microparticles, suggesting a potential solution to reduce microplastic pollution i...

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS ES&T Water·DateMay 26, 2021

Embryos of many species use sound to prepare for the outside world

Researchers have discovered that embryos across various animal groups rely on acoustic signals to inform their development and adapt to environmental conditions. This phenomenon, known as acoustic developmental programming, suggests that sound plays a crucial role in shaping the lives of animals from the moment of birth.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Ecology & Evolution·DateMay 26, 2021

Hundreds of antibiotic resistant genes found in the gastrointestinal tracts of Danish infants

A new study from the University of Copenhagen reveals that Danish one-year-olds carry several hundred antibiotic resistant genes in their bacterial gut flora. The presence of these genes is partly attributable to antibiotic use among mothers during pregnancy, and well-developed gut flora may reduce the incidence of resistant bacteria.

Study of promising photovoltaic material leads to discovery of a new state of matter

Researchers at McGill University have gained new insight into the workings of perovskites, a semiconductor material that shows great promise for making high-efficiency, low-cost solar cells. They discovered a phenomenon known as quantum confinement occurs within bulk perovskite crystals, leading to the formation of 'quantum drops', whi...

SourceMcGill University·JournalPhysical Review Research·DateMay 26, 2021

Otago study aids understanding of invisible but mighty particles

Tiny charged electrons and protons have been studied by University of Otago scientists in a Geophysical Research Letters publication. By analyzing data from GPS satellites, the researchers found that EMIC waves can cause changes in the number of particles in Earth's radiation belts, affecting satellite orbits and atmospheric chemistry.

SourceUniversity of Otago·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMay 26, 2021

Resetting the biological clock by flipping a switch

Researchers from the University of Groningen and Nagoya University developed a compound that can elongate the 24-hour cycle and be activated or deactivated using light. The study shows that it is possible to change the 24-hour cycle in cells or tissues to a 28-hour cycle, providing a new approach to analyzing the circadian clock system.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 26, 2021