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Science News for July 15, 2022


Scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School succeed in freezing rodent livers and preserving at subzero temperatures for five days

Researchers develop new method to preserve organs by freezing them partially, allowing for longer storage duration and improved organ matching. This breakthrough could lead to more successful transplants and increased organ availability.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 15, 2022

Risk of COVID-19 in adolescents vs older adults

According to a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, adolescents were found to have a significantly higher incidence rate and relative risk of COVID-19 infection from wild-type SARS-CoV-2 compared to older adults. The study analyzed data from the start of the pandemic through fall 2020 across 16 of the 19 states examined.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateJul 15, 2022

Towards stable, sustained Raman imaging of large samples at the nanoscale

A research team from Japan has developed a stable TERS system that enables characterization of defect analysis in large-sized WS2 layers at high pixel resolution. The team successfully imaged nanoscale defects over a period of 6 hours in a micrometer-sized WS2 film without significant signal loss.

SourceInstitute of Post-LED Photonics, Tokushima University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 15, 2022

Best available therapy for AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma is cost effective in Africa

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital found that paclitaxel improves clinical outcomes and is cost-effective compared to commonly used treatments in Kenya. Using paclitaxel instead of bleomycin-vincristine could save 6,400 years-of-life and reduce healthcare expenditures by $3.7 million over five years.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalThe Lancet Global Health·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 15, 2022

An Achilles heel shared by plants and animals

Researchers discovered that diphthamide is formed in plants and plays a crucial role in protein biosynthesis, with reduced growth rates observed when its formation is impaired. Environmental stressors such as copper and cadmium also inhibit diphthamide production, highlighting a new factor influencing plant growth rates.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 15, 2022

Online parenting skills program shields children from adverse effects of divorce

A new online parenting skills program has been shown to reduce interparental conflict, improve quality of parenting, and decrease anxiety and depression symptoms in children of divorcing parents. The eNew Beginnings Program, adapted from a 30-year research study, benefits over 1 million children affected by divorce each year.

SourceArizona State University·JournalFamily Court Review·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 15, 2022

A novel graphene based NiSe2 nanocrystalline array for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction

Researchers developed a novel graphene-based NiSe2 nanocrystalline array that significantly enhances the efficiency of hydrogen evolution reactions. The composite material achieves an overpotential of 158 mV and exhibits extremely stable performance, providing a promising approach for the development of high-efficiency electrocatalysts.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalFrontiers in Energy·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 15, 2022

The Hippo and the Hydra

A new study reveals that the Hippo signaling pathway is responsible for forming the body axis in Hydra, a process also controlling tissue growth and morphogenesis. This breakthrough discovery sheds light on the evolutionary origins of the body axis in animals.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 15, 2022

Deformable pump gives soft robots a heart

A team of researchers from Cornell University has developed a deformable pump for soft robots, mimicking the human heart's functionality. The pump uses hydrodynamic and magnetic forces to provide soft robots with a circulatory system, allowing them to store energy and power their movements more efficiently.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 15, 2022

Y-chromosome loss due to aging and other factors worsens prognosis for heart failure

Research finds that losing the Y chromosome increases mortality from cardiovascular disease by up to 1.76 times, with a significant link between Y-chromosome loss and fibrosis promoting heart failure. The study also shows that cardiac macrophages without the Y chromosome produce substances that activate fibroblasts, leading to fibrosis.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 15, 2022