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Science News Archive October 2021 - Page 19


Page 19 of 40

How the brain navigates cities

A new MIT study suggests that pedestrians choose routes that point most directly toward their destination, even if those routes are longer. This strategy, known as vector-based navigation, may have evolved to allow the brain to devote more power to other tasks.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Computational Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 18, 2021

The 2nd International BioDesign Research Conference

The 2nd International BioDesign Research Conference will showcase the latest advancements in Biosystems Design and Synthetic Biology, featuring plenary talks, keynote presentations, and poster sessions. The conference aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among scientists and promote interactions between academia and industry.

Cheers! Wine’s red grape pulp offers nutritional bounty

A new study by Cornell University researchers reveals that the pulp from red grapes used in wine production contains beneficial stilbenes that can positively affect human intestines and the stomach's microbiome. The findings suggest a potential link between grape consumption and reduced risks of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

SourceCornell University·JournalNutrients·DateOct 18, 2021

Filling half of kids' plates with fruits and veggies helps increase consumption

Adding more fruit and veggie side dishes resulted in a 24% increase in veggies and 33% more fruit, while substituting produce for other foods led to a 41% boost in veggies and 38% more fruit. The study suggests ways parents and caregivers can encourage healthy eating by experimenting with different fruits and vegetables.

SourcePenn State·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 18, 2021

Anticorrosion coating sets new benchmark

Researchers created a sulfur-selenium alloy that outperforms traditional coatings in protecting steel from corrosion and oxidation. The material's self-healing properties allow it to recover from scratches and damage, making it suitable for infrastructure applications.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 18, 2021

HSE ISSEK Researchers Analyse Opportunities for Scientific Cooperation between Developing Countries in BRICS + Global South Format

The study identifies promising topics for scientific collaboration, including medicine, engineering, computer science, and agricultural sciences. BRICS Plus countries have significant growth potential in research and development, with some already ranking among the top 30 countries globally.

Medical providers less able to detect authentic pain among Black people than White people, study finds

A new study by E. Paige Lloyd found that medical providers are better at discerning real from fake pain expressions for White people than Black people. This disparity in pain detection could contribute to racial disparities in pain care and treatment recommendations.

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 18, 2021

Building a better dipstick

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a flow control technology to overcome limitations of traditional dipstick tests. This technology enables complex biomedical assays and can detect multiple pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalACS Sensors·DateOct 18, 2021

Mother’s occupational exposure to cleaning products and disinfectants could cause asthma in future children

A study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that mothers who worked with cleaning agents and disinfectants before conception had a 71% higher risk of their child developing asthma. The study investigated 3318 offspring-mother pairs and suggested that exposure to these chemicals may influence health outcome...

SourceThe University of Bergen·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateOct 18, 2021

Exploring the global environmental impacts of China's growing demand for food

A study by IIASA researchers and Chinese colleagues highlights the need for sustainable food production in China to avoid environmental destruction. The global impact of China's increasing food demand is expected to be substantial, with significant challenges facing trading partners, particularly those involved in livestock products.

Moffitt researchers use computer modeling to predict patient tumor responses to radiation therapy

Researchers at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute use computer modeling to study the relationship between tumor-immune environment and radiation response. They discover that tumor cells will either escape immune predation or be eradicated based on the numbers of immune effector and suppressor cells present. The model hel...

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalNeoplasia·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 18, 2021

The positive impact of sharing negative research results

Researchers highlight the importance of sharing well-conducted studies with negative or irreproducible results, even if they disprove a hypothesis. The Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases special issue on 'The Null Hypothesis' presents eight articles that contribute valuable information to the scientific record.

SourceIOS Press·JournalJournal of Neuromuscular Diseases·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 18, 2021

How marsh grass protects shorelines

A new MIT study provides detailed information on the wave-damping benefits of marsh plants, enabling coastal restoration planners to determine the area needed for mitigation. The analysis incorporates plant morphology and interactions with currents and waves, providing a more quantitative way to estimate the value provided by marshes.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review·DateOct 18, 2021

Researchers determine optimum pressure to improve the performance of lithium metal batteries

The study found that a stack pressure of 350 kilo Pascal increases lithium particle deposition in neat columns, improving stability and reducing the risk of short circuits. Additionally, partial discharge during cycling can also boost performance without affecting the solid electrolyte interphase structure.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNature Energy·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 18, 2021

Developing a treatment for vision loss through transplant of photoreceptor precursors

Researchers at the National University of Singapore have developed a treatment for vision loss through the transplantation of photoreceptor precursors. This innovative approach holds great promise as an alternative to gene therapy, which has limited efficacy due to genetic heterogeneity and advanced retinal degeneration.

Patients hospitalized for COVID-19 this year could pay thousands of dollars, study suggests

A new study analyzed 4,000 COVID-related hospitalizations and found that patients with private insurance could face $3,800 bills, while those with Medicare Advantage plans might owe $1,500. The lack of waivers for hospitalization costs could lead to increased financial burden on patients.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 18, 2021

Study reconstructs 232-year history of prairie fire in Midwestern US

Researchers analyzed historical documents to understand the timing, causes, and consequences of prairie fires in the Midwest. The study reveals that Native Americans intentionally set fires for hunting and land management purposes, while Europeans feared fire but also cleared land using controlled burns.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNatural Areas Journal·TypeLiterature review·DateOct 18, 2021

Sim City for food science takes on Listeria outbreaks

A new study from Cornell University uses digital twins to identify optimal times and locations for detecting Listeria bacteria in produce facilities, reducing the risk of contamination. The researchers' model provides a novel way for food safety managers to visualize microbial contamination risks and experiment with different sampling ...

SourceCornell University·JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology·DateOct 18, 2021

Life’s a beach: Finding trends in marine debris across Australia

A UNSW-led study analyzing 10 years of citizen science data found that almost half of marine debris can be linked to land-based sources. Plastic accounts for 84% of the rubbish found on Australian beaches, with a significant portion coming from external sources such as stormwater drains near capital cities.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalThe Science of The Total Environment·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 18, 2021

New active agent against parasites

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute have identified a chemical compound, parabulin, that can inhibit the protein tubulin in unicellular parasites, including those that cause malaria and toxoplasmosis. The substance blocks successful cell division by preventing tubulin from forming long, stable protein filaments.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalEMBO Molecular Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 18, 2021

3D imaging study reveals how atoms are packed in amorphous materials UCLA-led research could revise a 70-year-old model of how the fundamental building blocks of substances are assembled

Researchers used 3D atomic imaging to directly observe atom packing in amorphous materials. The findings show that pentagonal bipyramids, not icosahedral groups of 13, are the most prevalent motif for atom arrangement.

SourceCalifornia NanoSystems Institute·JournalNature Materials·TypeImaging analysis·DateOct 18, 2021

Climate change and human pressure mean migration may be “no longer worth it”, say researchers

Researchers warn that climate change and human pressure have eroded benefits of long-distance migration for animals, leading to lower reproductive success and higher mortality. This has serious consequences for ecosystem structure and function, with many species unable to adapt to changing environmental conditions.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalTrends in Ecology & Evolution·TypeLiterature review·DateOct 18, 2021

Could computer games encourage people to adhere to COVID-19 measures?

A study from Lancaster University found that a serious game, 'Point of Contact', increased players' awareness of Covid-19 transmission risk and favorability towards health over livelihood. The game's impact was significant, with 87% of participants saying they would be more careful in following Covid-19 preventative guidance.

SourceLancaster University·JournalProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 18, 2021

Depression history written in the reactions of the brain

Researchers found that patients with more severe depression histories showed less brain activity in areas processing emotions, while those who had remitted from depression showed a normal level of activity. This suggests that serious depression may change the way the brain responds to emotion over time, or that people with stronger emo...

SourceEuropean College of Neuropsychopharmacology·JournalBiological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging·TypeObservational study·DateOct 18, 2021