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Science News for February 15, 2022


How hunting robber flies snatch victims from the air

Researchers discovered that robber flies employ a combination of two strategies to navigate cluttered environments and capture prey. They use an obstacle avoidance strategy to swerve around obstructions, which is then followed by a resumption of the conventional interception path once the fly has passed the obstacle.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 15, 2022

Starting antiretroviral therapy early essential to battling not one, but two killers

Researchers found that starting combined antiretroviral therapy against simian immunodeficiency virus two weeks after infection significantly reduced chronic immune activation, SIV replication, and latent TB reactivation. This study contributes to the growing evidence on the complex interaction between HIV and tuberculosis.

SourceTexas Biomedical Research Institute·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateFeb 15, 2022

Decoding KODA production to augment stress resistance in plants

Scientists from Tokyo Institute of Technology have created a method to boost KODA production in plants, utilizing biotechnology. This technique involves introducing key genes into two plant species and optimizing their localization to improve yield. The findings may lead to mass-producing diverse oxylipins for fertilizers and pesticides.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Experimental Botany·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 15, 2022

Novel method produces large, high-quality crystals

Researchers developed a novel ultrafast crystal growth process using liquid metal and atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition to produce high-quality gallium selenide crystals. The new method enables the production of large-sized crystals in just five minutes, overcoming the traditional time delay in semi-conductor applications.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalNano Research·DateFeb 15, 2022

Anaerobic processes fuel carbon dioxide production in Tonle Sap Lake

Research found that anaerobic microbial transformation on Tonle Sap Lake's floodplains produces substantial amounts of dissolved carbon dioxide, highlighting the importance of this process in tropical freshwater ecosystems. This discovery has significant implications for understanding global carbon cycles and the impact of climate change.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 15, 2022

Psilocybin treatment for major depression effective for up to a year for most patients, study shows

A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers found that psilocybin-assisted therapy can lead to significant and durable improvements in depression, with effects lasting at least a year for most patients. The treatment was shown to produce large decreases in depression severity and stable rates of response throughout the follow-up period.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJournal of Psychopharmacology·DateFeb 15, 2022

What we knew about water was right after all

Researchers at KAUST investigated the formation of hydrogen peroxide in micrometre-sized water droplets and found that ambient ozone is a key player. They used an ultrasensitive fluorescence-based assay to detect H2O2 with improved sensitivity, revealing up to one micromolar levels in microdroplets from commercial ultrasonic humidifiers.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalChemical Science·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 15, 2022

Unprecedented Australian bushfire intensity linked to British colonisation

A new study found that Australian bushfires are linked to British colonisation and climate change, with forests becoming denser and more flammable due to the increase in woody biomass. Indigenous burning practices ceased after colonial settlement, leading to an increase in shrub cover and unprecedented wildfires.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and the Environment·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 15, 2022

Defense treaties affect support of military action

A new study from the University of Georgia found that Americans are more supportive of military action in foreign countries when the US has existing defense treaties with those nations. The research suggests that public opinion can be shaped by how leaders frame international commitments, particularly in relation to NATO alliances.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalContemporary Security Policy·DateFeb 15, 2022

Too soon to lift mask mandates for most elementary schools in U.S., study finds

A Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study suggests that US elementary schools should only remove masks when local COVID-19 case rates are below a certain threshold to avoid increased transmission. The study provides a framework for school decision-makers to estimate the level of mitigation needed to meet their goals.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 15, 2022

Genetic study unveils actionable variation affecting drug efficacy and safety in the Qatari population

A comprehensive genetic study found actionable pharmacogenomic variation affecting drugs in the Qatari population, highlighting diverse distribution of variants compared to other world populations. The study suggests potential implications for preemptive pharmacogenomic implementation in Qatar and beyond.

SourceQatar Foundation·Journalnpj Genomic Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 15, 2022

Wayne State study addresses major outstanding question in theoretical models of memory

A Wayne State study reveals that communication between two key brain regions determines how we remember experiences. As these regions mature, their precise interactions improve our ability to form lasting memories. The research also found that age-related differences in fast and slow theta oscillations impact memory development.

SourceWayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeSystematic review·DateFeb 15, 2022

Not just a sprained ankle: Scientists show musculoskeletal injury may affect gut microbiome

A recent study by researchers from Ritsumeikan University found that athletes with a history of sprained ankle showed reduced gut bacteria diversity compared to those without such a history. This suggests that musculoskeletal injury may have a negative impact on the gut microbiota, potentially leading to long-term health consequences.

SourceRitsumeikan University·JournalResearch in Sports Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 15, 2022

Why parents in their prime produce the best offspring

Researchers have developed a mathematical model that explains how parents allocate resources to their offspring based on age. The study found that older parents can provide more resources due to increased experience, but this decreases as they get older. This pattern is observed in many mammals and insects, including the tsetse fly.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 15, 2022

Stem cell infusion boosts sepsis survival in mice

Researchers found that infusing bone-marrow stem cells into mice with sepsis increased their survival by 50-60% and decreased inflammation. This treatment could offer an alternative to current granulocyte transfusions, which have limited benefits.

SourceeLife·JournaleLife·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 15, 2022

Gene editing now possible in ticks

Researchers successfully edited the genomes of black-legged ticks using CRISPR-Cas9, overcoming technical challenges and advancing tick genetic research. The study's findings have significant implications for understanding tick-pathogen-host interactions and developing new approaches to tick-borne disease control.

SourceCell Press·JournaliScience·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 15, 2022

Scientists show how artificial intelligence can help to study protein complexes

Researchers have developed an AI-based method to analyze cryo-electron microscopy data, enabling the simultaneous examination of multiple protein complexes in cells. This breakthrough can lead to a better understanding of protein functions and potentially create new treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer.

SourceMartin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg·JournalStructure·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 15, 2022

Gastric bypass is best weight loss option for diabetes patients, study finds

A new study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that gastric bypass surgery is the most effective treatment option for patients with severe obesity and type 2 diabetes, leading to greater weight loss and a higher rate of remission. The study found that gastric bypass produces better results regardless of diabetes severity.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 15, 2022

Human microbiome research excludes developing world

A new study found that almost half of all publicly available human microbiome samples come from the US, despite it representing only 4.3% of global population. This raises concerns about the applicability of future microbiome-based medical treatments to countries with limited resources.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 15, 2022

Eccentric fractional skyrmion discovered in numerical simulations of ultra-cold superfluids

Scientists have discovered a new type of skyrmion with half-integer topological numbers in a ferromagnetic superfluid, challenging the current understanding of these phase defects. This discovery could lead to a major breakthrough in skyrmion research and its applications in particle physics and spintronics.

SourceOsaka City University·JournalPhysical Review A·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 15, 2022

Intelligence – It's all about connectivity

A new study found that individuals with higher intelligence scores have brains that are better adapted to switch between different cognitive states. The researchers used fMRI scans to monitor brain activity in over 800 adults while they completed various tasks, and found that the brains of highly intelligent people required fewer adjus...

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalCerebral Cortex·TypeMeta-analysis·DateFeb 15, 2022

Driving conservation efforts with DNA data

Using ancient and historical DNA can assess population genetic patterns and inform conservation actions. The study reveals that a/hDNA can be compared with contemporary data to set baselines for intra-species genetic diversity and estimate changes in effective population size.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalTrends in Ecology & Evolution·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateFeb 15, 2022

Novel nanoparticles target gene therapy directly into the lungs

Scientists at Tufts University create nanoparticles that carry genetic instructions to specifically target the lungs, reducing tumors in a preclinical model of a rare genetic lung disease. The breakthrough could lead to improved treatment options for patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

SourceTufts University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 15, 2022

Introducing Nikola, the emotional android kid

Researchers from RIKEN created Nikola, an android child that can convey six basic emotions through facial expressions. The study tested the quality of these expressions and found that humans can recognize them with varying accuracy.

SourceRIKEN·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateFeb 15, 2022

Study shows high prevalence of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder after COVID-19

A study tracking 425 patients post-COVID-19 found high prevalence of cognitive deficits, psychiatric impairments, and significant memory decline. Researchers observed no correlation between the severity of the disease or socio-economic factors with psychiatric alterations, suggesting a possible link to delayed inflammatory processes.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalGeneral Hospital Psychiatry·DateFeb 15, 2022

If medicine only focuses on COVID

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected biomedical research, with a significant shift in priorities towards COVID-19-related studies. Publications and clinical trials in non-COVID fields decreased by up to 25%, while COVID-19-related research saw a surge in publications and grants.

SourceIMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 15, 2022

New LiMn2O4 electrode could pave the way for electrochemical recovery of lithium from brine

Researchers have developed a new electrode material using a truncated-octahedral LiMn2O4 design to improve lithium adsorption capacity and cycle stability in low-energy conditions. This technology has the potential to address the global challenge of extracting sufficient lithium from brine sources.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalGreen Energy & Environment·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 15, 2022

Computer models show how crop production increases soil nitrous oxide emissions

A recent ecosystem modeling study by Iowa State University scientists shows that US crop production has led to a tripling of soil nitrous oxide emissions since 1900. The study found that agricultural soils, particularly those devoted to corn and soybean production, are the primary source of these emissions.

SourceIowa State University·JournalGlobal Change Biology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 15, 2022

UH sociologist finds disparities in initial COVID-19 vaccine distribution

A new study by University of Houston sociologist Kathryn Freeman Anderson reveals significant disparities in the initial COVID-19 vaccine rollout in five urban Texas counties. The research found that Black and Latino neighborhoods were less likely to receive vaccines due to existing healthcare resource shortages.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalJournal of Health and Social Behavior·TypeMeta-analysis·DateFeb 15, 2022

Science snapshots from Berkeley Lab

Berkeley Lab researchers are working on a two-year project to develop a roadmap for Puerto Rico to meet its 100% renewable energy mandate. The study aims to analyze pathways, power system reliability, and generation planning. Meanwhile, a new fungal strain has been discovered in a spacecraft assembly facility named after Berkeley Lab m...

How the brain filters out sounds

Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt recorded brain waves of bats to understand how they filter out essential signals from echolocation calls and communication signals. The study shows that rare sounds elicit stronger neuronal responses than frequent ones.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalEuropean Journal of Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 15, 2022

Predicting complex dynamics from data

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new approach to modeling nonlinear dynamical systems using experimental data. By identifying key structures rather than detailed dynamics, the algorithm reduces calculation time from hours to just minutes.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature·DateFeb 15, 2022

Beset in mucus, Coronavirus particles likely travel farther than once thought

A new study suggests that small respiratory particles can remain moist and airborne for a longer time and greater distance than previously recognized. The mucus shell surrounding these particles likely reduces evaporation rates, keeping viral particles infectious for up to 30 minutes and traveling distances of up to 200 feet.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·JournalInternational Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 15, 2022

Strong magnets put new twist on phonons

Rice University scientists discovered that strong magnetic fields can manipulate the material's optical phonon mode, a phenomenon previously unseen. The effects were much stronger than expected by theory, revealing a new way of controlling phonons.

SourceRice University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 15, 2022