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Science News Archive 2022 - Page 117


Page 117 of 448

Join the challenge to explore the Moon!

The 2022 EXPLORE Lunar Data Challenge identifies hazards on the Moon's surface using images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Participants train models to recognize craters and boulders, then create a map of optimal rover routes to avoid hazards.

The plate boundary between Africa and the Iberian Peninsula could cause large tsunamis

A new study led by ICM-CSIC has revealed the complex geometry of the Alboran Sea faults system, which has been absorbing most of the deformation from plate collision. The research demonstrates that this region is one of the most important fault systems in the western Mediterranean and has a significant tsunami risk.

SourceInstitut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC)·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 23, 2022

The rise to royalty; how worker wasps balance specialization and plasticity

Researchers investigated how paper wasps adapt their behavior when the queen is removed or dies, finding that they counterbalance genes that establish queen-like behavior with aggressive fighting. This enables societies to distinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic perturbations, allowing for plasticity in response to changes.

Watching the fate of molecular nitrogen with X-rays, when an electron has been kicked out

Researchers at the Max Born Institute have used novel ultrashort soft X-ray spectroscopy to study the fate of molecular nitrogen when an electron is kicked out. They found that the B state has a similar degree of excitation as the X state, contradicting previous models. Instead, a coherent interplay between light fields enables lasing ...

SourceMax Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 23, 2022

BU researchers test a novel hypothesis to explain the cause of autoimmunity in patients with type 1 diabetes

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine have developed a testable hypothesis to explain the initiation of autoimmunity in type 1 diabetes. The study suggests that metabolic communication between immune cells and pancreatic beta-cells plays a crucial role in the disease's progression.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalDiabetes·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 23, 2022

Findings explain exceptional auditory abilities in Williams-Beuren Syndrome

Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital identified the mechanism behind superior auditory abilities in Williams-Beuren Syndrome patients as hyperexcitable interneurons in the auditory cortex. The study suggests that reducing neuronal hyperexcitability might be a general mechanism for treating WBS through targeting VIPR1.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 23, 2022

Endoscopy COVID-19 testing requirements disproportionately impact medically underserved communities

Medically underserved communities face significant barriers to endoscopy-related COVID-19 testing, potentially worsening health care disparities. Researchers recommend addressing these challenges by mailing test kits or offering rapid testing to mitigate delays in diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal illnesses.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalGastroenterology·TypeSurvey·DateSep 22, 2022

Villaseñor co-authors PNAS paper on extinction of megafauna

A study co-authored by Amelia Villaseñor reveals that the extinction of megafauna in North America more than 10,000 years ago resulted in a reorganized, vulnerable ecosystem. The research found that surviving mammal communities were affected, with vacant niches and changes in dietary habits.

SourceUniversity of Arkansas·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateSep 22, 2022

Big planets get a head start in pancake-thin nurseries

A study at Europlanet Science Congress 2022 found that super-thin planet nurseries can accelerate the formation of big planets. The team observed a remarkably thin disc of dust and gas around a young star, where large particles settled into a dense midplane, creating conditions favourable for planetary growth.

Warming oceans are changing Australian reef fish populations

Researchers analyzed data from Australia's Reef Life Survey and two major reef monitoring programs to understand the effects of warming waters on reef fish populations. The study found that temperature changes had a greater impact on temperate reefs, while tropical reefs were more affected by habitat changes such as coral bleaching.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 22, 2022

UK trial shows remission from type 2 diabetes possible even in people with lower body weight – supporting idea that everyone has a ‘personal fat threshold’

A UK trial found that 70% of people with normal weight and type 2 diabetes entered remission by losing around 10% of their body weight, supporting the concept of a personal fat threshold. The study showed that even though participants had normal BMI, they had higher levels of fat in their liver and pancreas than healthy controls.

Gut microbiomes help bears with very different diets reach the same size

A recent study of Alaskan brown bears reveals that their gut microbiomes play a crucial role in supporting health and achieving comparable size despite eating vastly different diets. The research sheds light on the importance of diverse dietary niches for bears, which can help them extract nutrition from various food sources.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeObservational study·DateSep 22, 2022

University of Colorado research shows that telehealth follow-up after gall bladder surgery is just as effective as in-person clinic visits

A new research study by Danielle Abbitt, MD, shows that telehealth follow-up appointments are just as effective as in-clinic visits for detecting and addressing postoperative complications. The study found no significant difference in complication rates or emergency department utilization between telehealth and in-person follow-ups.

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalSurgical Endoscopy·DateSep 22, 2022

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology researchers design durable organic semiconductor photocathodes with metal foil encapsulation

Researchers from Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology design a novel approach to create durable organic semiconductor photocathodes, enabling high-efficiency conversion of solar energy to hydrogen. The developed photocathodes demonstrate remarkable stability and can produce hydrogen under actual sunlight.

SourceGIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 22, 2022

BU study: Monthly caps on out-of-pocket costs would provide financial relief to privately insured patients

A new study found that placing a monthly cap on out-of-pocket costs for commercially insured patients could lower their highest monthly healthcare bills by 50-60%. A $500 monthly limit would affect about 25% of enrollees and reduce in-network OOP costs over a year by 46%, while a $250 limit would show a 51% reduction.

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateSep 22, 2022

Babies react to taste and smell in the womb – new research

Scientists recorded facial expressions of 100 unborn babies to see how they reacted to carrot and kale flavours. Fetuses exposed to carrot showed more laughter-like responses, while those exposed to kale showed more crying-like responses. This study could help understand the development of human taste and smell receptors.

SourceAston University·JournalPsychological Science·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 22, 2022

Ultracold circuits

Researchers at the University of Basel have achieved a record low temperature of 220 microkelvin by cooling an electric circuit made of copper on a silicon chip using magnetic fields and an improved thermometer. This breakthrough allows for further study of quantum effects and potential applications in quantum technologies.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalPhysical Review Research·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 22, 2022