Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive January 2022 - Page 30


Page 30 of 34

A crabs-eye view of the ancient world

Researchers from Yale University have discovered unusually large optical features in a 95-million-year-old crab fossil, suggesting that the species was a predator. The study analyzed nearly 1,000 living crabs and fossils, finding that Callichimaera's eyes were about 16% of its body size and grew at an accelerated rate.

SourceYale University·JournaliScience·DateJan 6, 2022

New study suggests N95 respirators can be safely reprocessed to augment supply in future epidemics

Researchers found that N95 respirators maintained their function and effectiveness after 25 decontamination cycles, passing user seal checks and filtration efficiency tests. Successful implementation of reprocessing requires planning and coordination among multidisciplinary teams.

SourceAssociation for Professionals in Infection Control·JournalAmerican Journal of Infection Control·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 6, 2022

Say hello to a record-setting isotope

Scientists have created the world's lightest version of magnesium, a record-setting isotope that helps refine theories on atomic structure. The unstable isotope was produced using particle accelerators and decays within tenths of a second, making it impossible to measure directly.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 6, 2022

Sorting cancers by 'immune archetypes' represents potential new approach to developing precision immunotherapies

Researchers at UCSF identify unique immune microenvironments in different types of cancer, paving the way for personalized immunotherapies. The study categorizes tumors into 12 groups based on their immune profile, suggesting that some cancers share similar characteristics despite being from different types.

Progression of nearsightedness in young adults

A recent study investigated the progression of nearsightedness in nearly 700 young adults, aged 20-28. The findings indicate a significant increase in myopia among this age group, with a substantial impact on their daily lives and vision health.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Ophthalmology·DateJan 6, 2022

Zoo air contains enough DNA to identify the animals inside

Researchers have successfully identified animal species in zoo air by collecting airborne environmental DNA, offering a valuable tool for tracking biodiversity without intensive fieldwork. By analyzing millions of DNA sequences and comparing them to reference databases, scientists can detect even elusive or inaccessible species.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeObservational study·DateJan 6, 2022

Microbes produce oxygen in the dark

Researchers have discovered that certain microorganisms, such as Nitrosopumilus maritimus, can produce oxygen in the absence of sunlight, possibly deep below the ocean surface. These microbes play a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle and remove bioavailable nitrogen from the environment.

SourceUniversity of Southern Denmark·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 6, 2022

Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis have a different composition of microbes in the airways

Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have a different microbiome composition in their lower airways than those with COPD or healthy individuals. The study found that IPF patients share similarities between their oral cavity and lower airway microbiomes, suggesting microaspiration as a potential cause.

SourceThe University of Bergen·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 6, 2022

Tracking down the origin of cholera pandemics

Researchers have discovered a molecular mechanism that contributed to the emergence of the seventh cholera pandemic. The study found that modified Vibrio cholerae bacteria used their type 6 secretion system (T6SS) to outcompete and kill older strains, leading to their displacement.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 6, 2022

Researchers develop optical biopsy system that detects liver cancer

The new technology can reliably distinguish between cancerous and healthy liver tissue, aiding diagnosis and potentially reducing errors in biopsies. The researchers plan to continue measuring fluorescence lifetime parameters in patients with different types of tumors to generate real-time diagnostic classifiers.

SourceOptica·JournalBiomedical Optics Express·DateJan 6, 2022

Employee training pays off with fewer layoffs

Investments in employee training decrease reliance on layoffs during pandemic-induced financial pressures. Banks with higher levels of training made more cuts to expenses in other areas, reducing workforce reductions. Employee training offers stronger job protection when paired with investments in physical capital and technologies.

SourceCornell University·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·DateJan 6, 2022

SMART researchers discover novel way to perform ‘general inverse design’ with high accuracy

Researchers from Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) have discovered a way to perform 'general inverse design' with high accuracy. This breakthrough enables the creation of materials with specific characteristics and properties, paving the way for revolutionizing materials science and industrial applications.

SourceSingapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART)·JournalMatter·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 6, 2022

Nematicity is a new piece in a phase diagram puzzle

Researchers have discovered a new electronic nematic phase in twisted double bilayer graphene, which breaks the material's symmetry and allows for the re-alignment of electrons. This finding adds to our understanding of graphene-based systems and may hold implications for the study of superconductivity.

SourceColumbia University·JournalNature Physics·DateJan 6, 2022

How emotions fuel fake news on social media

A new study led by a Pitt father-daughter duo found that people's emotions play a significant role in the spread of fake news on social media. The researchers discovered three distinct groups: 'hot' individuals who are highly emotional and likely to share fake news, 'upset' users who react negatively to misleading headlines, and the 'c...

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalJournal of Management Information Systems·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 6, 2022

Abnormal thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy may increase the risk of preschool boys’ behavioral problems

A study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that abnormal thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy may predict preschool boys' emotional and behavioral problems. Mothers with high thyroid hormone levels were more likely to have withdrawn, anxious, or depressed sons.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateJan 6, 2022

Mass production of revolutionary computer memory moves closer with ULTRARAM™ on silicon wafers for the first time

Researchers have successfully demonstrated ULTRARAM¼trade mark computer memory on silicon wafers for the first time, combining non-volatility with speed and energy-efficiency. The technology outperforms previous incarnations, offering data storage times of at least 1000 years and fast switching speeds.

SourceLancaster University·JournalAdvanced Electronic Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 6, 2022

Intense monocycle terahertz pulses from shifting electrons in quantum structures

Researchers have developed a novel concept for generating ultrashort THz waveforms by tailoring electronic currents in a compact optically driven quantum device. The THz pulses display a single oscillation of the electric field and can be tailored via the nonlinear generation process.

Innovative approach brings cell-reprograming therapy for heart failure closer to reality

Researchers have developed a novel strategy to enhance the reprogramming efficiency of human fibroblasts, significantly increasing their ability to become functional heart muscle. This approach uses endothelial cell plasticity to facilitate the desired change, offering new hope for patients with congestive heart failure.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 6, 2022