Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive October 2022


Page 1 of 37

Natural nutrient enrichment caused today’s largest ocean “dead zone” 8 million years ago

A team of scientists found that the largest open ocean dead zone in the eastern Pacific Ocean emerged eight million years ago due to increasing nutrient content. This natural phenomenon was caused by changes in weathering and erosion on land, leading to a major transition in terrestrial ecosystems.

SourceBoston College·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 31, 2022

Stretchable battery packaging with moisture and gas barrier could power the future of wearable devices

Researchers from Yokohama National University have developed a flexible film for batteries that can operate reliably in air, offering potential for highly deformable batteries in wearable devices. The film shows excellent oxygen gas impermeability and extremely low moisture permeability, making it suitable for wearable applications.

SourceYokohama National University·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateOct 31, 2022

Study reveals how ancient fish colonized the deep sea

Scientists discovered that ancient fish favored cold, dark waters of the deep sea, challenging the assumption that shallow habitats have always been diverse. The study revealed three major events that drove speciation rates in the deep sea, including the breakup of Pangea and the Cretaceous Hot Greenhouse period.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 31, 2022

Astronomers confirm past solar eclipses in northern Japan first mentioned in indigenous folklore and historical documents

Researchers at Nagoya University analyzed three historical writings to identify past solar eclipses in Hokkaido, using modern scientific techniques. They found that these accounts matched computer simulations of the Sun and Moon positions, revealing valuable clues about the extremity of the solar-terrestrial environment.

SourceNagoya University·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of Japan·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 31, 2022

Partisan divide contributed to false sense of racial equality in pandemic mortality

Analysis by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers confirms Black Americans bear greater mortality burden, even after accounting for age and population differences. Partisan policies played a significant role in this shift, with states led by Republican governors lifting pandemic measures faster, leading to higher white death rates.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 31, 2022

Ultra-cold mini twisters

Scientists at the University of Innsbruck have developed a new method to observe and study ultra-cold mini twisters, quantized vortices that form in dipolar quantum gases. These vortices are a strong indication of superfluidity, a frictionless flow characteristic of certain quantum gases.

SourceUniversity of Innsbruck·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 31, 2022

Breakthrough in optical information transmission

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute have developed a unidirectional device that significantly increases the quality of optical vortex signals. By transmitting selective optical vortex modes exclusively unidirectionally, they largely reduce detrimental backscattering to a minimum.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 31, 2022

Efficiency and stability best-practices proposed for solar water-splitting to make hydrogen

Scientists from NREL and Berkeley Lab have developed best-practices for PEC water-splitting, providing a guide for researchers to follow uniform experimental practices. This will enable more accurate characterization of solar-to-hydrogen efficiency and help overcome the challenges of durability.

SourceDOE/National Renewable Energy Laboratory·JournalFrontiers in Energy Research·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 31, 2022

Recent progress in synthesis and surface modification of nickel-rich layered oxide cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Researchers from South China University of Technology have developed novel surface modification techniques for nickel-rich layered oxide cathode materials, improving their electrochemical performance. The techniques allow for high-performance nickel-rich cathode materials to be synthesized, enabling in-depth mechanisms to be captured a...

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateOct 31, 2022

Pandemic has worsened global childhood physical inactivity crisis – and Scotland is no exception

A new study finds that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated global childhood physical inactivity crisis, with Scotland facing inequalities in low physical activity and high screen time. The report recommends promoting physical activity early in life and limiting screen time to address these issues.

SourceUniversity of Strathclyde·JournalJournal of Exercise Science & Fitness·TypeSurvey·DateOct 31, 2022

New tech solves longstanding challenges for self-healing materials

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new self-healing composite that can repair itself in place without removal. The technology addresses two longstanding challenges, increasing the lifespan of structural components by up to 500%. This resolves limitations such as overheating and limited self-repair cycles.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 31, 2022

Stealth-care system: Scientists test ‘smart’ red blood cells to deliver antibiotics that target specific bacteria

Researchers have developed a way to load potent antibiotics like Polymyxin B into red blood cells, allowing them to selectively target and kill drug-resistant bacteria. This technology could help address the ongoing antibiotic resistance crisis and deliver drugs more quickly and directly to specific sites in the body.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalACS Infectious Diseases·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 31, 2022

Possible biological explanation for increased cancer risk in dense breasts

Research at Linköping University suggests that dense breasts have unique biological characteristics that promote cancer growth, leading to a fivefold increased risk. The study used MRI and microdialysis techniques to measure proteins in breast tissue, finding elevated levels of inflammatory markers and growth factors.

SourceLinköping University·JournalBritish Journal of Cancer·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 31, 2022

Safety net program shown effective in helping low-income households recover their livelihood following natural disasters

The Program Keluarga Harapan (PKH) has shown positive results in helping poor households develop proactive coping strategies before and during natural disasters. Researchers found that the existing program strengthened financial capital but had limited impact on human and physical capitals, highlighting the need for integrated social p...

SourceYokohama National University·JournalInternational Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction·DateOct 31, 2022

Even fruit flies count

A new computational model based on fruit fly brain data may help explain how humans process memories and experiences. The model suggests that living organisms, including humans, use a similar '1-2-3-many' count sketch to track encounters with familiar sights and smells.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 31, 2022

Different people interpret facial impressions very differently, study reveals

Researchers used 3D avatars to refine facial expressions and found substantial individual differences in interpreting emotions like happiness, fear, sadness, and anger. The study suggests people's unique understandings of facial expressions influence their responses, highlighting the need for diverse research approaches.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 31, 2022

Taking steps towards emissions reduction in healthcare

A recent study reviewed 3299 studies and found no standard tools for measuring the carbon footprint of digital health interventions globally. The researchers emphasize the need for end-to-end systems-based environmental assessments to encourage greener digital healthcare solutions.

SourceMonash University·JournalJournal of the American Medical Informatics Association·TypeSystematic review·DateOct 31, 2022

Differences in state Medicaid programs for children with medical complexity may lead to care inequity

A new study from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago highlights the variation in Medicaid programs for children with complex medical needs across states. The research reveals that these disparities can lead to delays in care and impact health outcomes for these vulnerable children.