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Science News Archive January 2022 - Page 7


Page 7 of 34

Bristol team chase down advantage in quantum race

Researchers at the University of Bristol have reduced simulation time for an optical quantum computer from 600 million years to just a few months, achieving a one-billion-fold speedup. This breakthrough paves the way for future studies on quantum advantage and computational power.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 26, 2022

Using nanodiamonds as sensors just got easier

University of Rochester researchers adapt excited state lifetime thermometry to extract temperatures of nanoscale materials from light emitted by nitrogen vacancy centers in single nanodiamonds. The technique allows for precise measurement of temperature changes on fast time scales and is safe for imaging sensitive nanoscale materials ...

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalApplied Physics Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2022

Stopping heavy bleeding

Case Western Reserve University researchers create nanoparticles that generate a protein mesh to stabilize blood clots and reduce blood loss. The technology could help save lives by rapidly stabilizing clots to reduce blood loss from traumatic injuries.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 26, 2022

Zoo enrichment could go further

New research reveals that zoos and aquariums can prioritize evidence-based environmental enrichment to benefit a wider range of species. The study highlights the need for greater diversity in enrichment types and species researched, as well as more attention to social enrichment.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalAnimal Welfare·DateJan 26, 2022

Starting physical activity three days post-concussion is safe, has better outcomes

A new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that resuming non-contact physical activity 72 hours after a concussion is safe for children and youth. The study, which involved 456 participants, showed that early return to physical activity can reduce symptoms and delayed recovery.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalBritish Journal of Sports Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 26, 2022

Flavonoids may reduce mortality risk for people with Parkinson’s Disease

A recent study found that people with Parkinson's Disease who consume more flavonoids have a lower mortality risk than those who don't. The researchers discovered that higher flavonoid intake is associated with improved survival rates in both men and women, particularly when it comes to anthocyanin-rich foods like berries and red wine.

SourcePenn State·JournalNeurology·TypeObservational study·DateJan 26, 2022

Female family medicine researchers submitted fewer manuscripts compared to their male counterparts in 2020, which may reflect larger disparity

A bibliometric analysis of Annals of Family Medicine submissions from 2015 to 2020 found that women represented 46.33% of all manuscript submissions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Women submitted fewer original research articles and briefs than men, potentially impacting future promotions.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJan 26, 2022

Scientists decode 450 years of boom and crisis in Europe from ages of building timber

Researchers analyzed 54,045 georeferenced pieces of building timber to track changes in building activity across Europe from 1250 to 1699. They found clear evidence for the Late Medieval Crisis, the Thirty Years' War, and economic boom periods, with building activity tracking historical price of grain and lead pollution.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and Evolution·TypeObservational study·DateJan 26, 2022

Scientists use GPS to track baboon troop's movement in urban spaces for the first time

Researchers from Swansea University and University of Cape Town used GPS collars to study baboons' collective behavior in urban and natural spaces. The study found that despite changes in movement patterns, leader-follower roles remained consistent, suggesting flexibility and robustness in group cohesion.

SourceSwansea University·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateJan 26, 2022

Integrated palliative care in ambulatory settings falls short of relieving symptom burden but improves health care utilization

A mixed-method review and meta-analysis found that integrated palliative care in ambulatory settings has limited effect on reducing symptom burden, but improves health care utilization for U.S. adults with non-cancer related chronic illnesses. The models were also effective in increasing advanced directive documentation.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJan 26, 2022

Study shows surprising breadth of plant viruses that hitchhike on pollen

A recent study by University of Pittsburgh biologists found a wide range of plant viruses associated with pollen grains from 24 plant species across the US. The research, published in Nature Communications, identifies six new species and three variants of known viruses, highlighting the potential for honeybees to spread these diseases.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2022

New diagnoses of common chronic diseases and cancers plummeted during COVID-19 pandemic

Common chronic conditions like high cholesterol, pulmonary diseases, and anxiety disorders saw significant declines in new diagnoses during the COVID-19 pandemic. A substantial increase in primary care physicians, face-to-face visits, and proactive care is needed to address this decline and prevent poor health outcomes.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJan 26, 2022

Illuminating a biological light switch

Scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine developed a new imaging technique to capture bacteriorhodopsin's motions in response to light on a millisecond time scale. This study reveals the protein's kinetics, including the speed of transitions between open and closed states, which informs optogenetics research.

SourceWeill Cornell Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 26, 2022

Black carbon and aerosol optical properties in Beijing changed due to Clean Air Action

The study found that black carbon decreased significantly in Beijing since the implementation of the Clean Air Action Plan, with a 71% reduction over nine years. However, this decrease was not accompanied by an equivalent decrease in aerosol extinction coefficient, leading to mixed effects on optical properties.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric Chemistry and Physics·DateJan 26, 2022

How to ruin the taste of a cookie with just 2 words

A recent study from Ohio State University found that labeling identical products as 'new and improved' resulted in higher overall liking ratings compared to those labeled as 'consumer complaint.' The researchers suggest that this negative bias has a bigger impact on consumer perception than positive labels.

SourceOhio State University·JournalFood Quality and Preference·DateJan 26, 2022

The genomic structure of microbial communities can predict metabolic activity

A new study reveals that the genes present in a microbial community can predict its dynamic metabolic activity, with implications for the nitrogen cycle and other biogeochemical processes. The research provides insights into how scientists can infer metabolite dynamics from aggregate gene content, design microbial communities for speci...

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2022

SLAC and Stanford researchers reveal the fourth signature of the superconducting transition in cuprates

Scientists confirmed the fourth signature of superconducting transition in cuprates, revealing how electrons pair up and condense into a quantum condensate. The discovery provides a holistic picture of unconventional superconductivity and gives researchers two knobs to tune for higher temperatures.

SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2022

Eco-friendly micro-supercapacitors using fallen leaves​

A KAIST research team has developed graphene-inorganic-hybrid micro-supercapacitors made of leaves using femtosecond direct laser writing lithography. The innovation enables mass production of flexible and green graphene-based electronic devices, reducing waste and environmental issues associated with traditional batteries.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 26, 2022

Eating disorders potentially hiding autism diagnosis

Researchers at Flinders University found that autistic individuals with eating disorders also report higher weight and shape concerns, suggesting a unique combination of symptoms. The study highlights the need for best-practice guidelines to address co-occurring autism and eating disorders in treatment.

SourceFlinders University·JournalAdvances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders·TypeSurvey·DateJan 26, 2022