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Science News for October 10, 2022


Zinc could treat a rare genetic disorder

Researchers discovered that zinc can restore the functioning of proteins affected by mutations in the GNAO1 gene, leading to severe mental and motor disabilities. By reactivating hydrolysis, zinc enables neurons to communicate correctly with their environment.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalScience Advances·TypeNews article·DateOct 10, 2022

Through thick and thin: X-rays track the behavior of soft materials

Scientists explore the dynamics of soft materials like toothpaste and hair gel using X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS). The technique reveals microscopic dynamics and helps understand properties like viscosity and elasticity. Insights gained can aid in designing consumer products, nanotechnologies, and drug delivery systems.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 10, 2022

The world according to GARP

A team of researchers demonstrates a nonconscious cognitive system that enables humans to make intuitive judgments striking a balance between conflicting moral duties. The study's findings contradict an influential dual process model, proposing instead a system capable of making tradeoffs in an optimal way.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 10, 2022

Insects cause more damage to leaves in recent history than millions of years ago, study finds

A recent study found that insect herbivores have caused more damage to plant matter from leaves in recent history than millions of years ago. The frequency of leaf damage by insects among forest plants in recent history is more than twice that of vegetation from the Pleistocene and Late Cretaceous periods.

SourceUniversity of Maine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 10, 2022

Don’t mess with meiosis: Study suggests how reproductive health influences overall health and aging

A study in C. elegans suggests that disrupting meiosis in reproductive cells accelerates aging and triggers a decline in healthspan, similar to humans. The research highlights the importance of reproductive fitness for overall health, with potential applications for early detection and treatment of age-related diseases.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalAging Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 10, 2022

Gene therapy rapidly improves night vision in adults with congenital blindness

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have developed a gene therapy that rapidly restores night vision in adults with LCA, a common form of congenital blindness. The treatment has been shown to improve rod-based visual functions and correct severe visual deficits in patients.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournaliScience·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 10, 2022

Climate change and deforestation may drive tree-dwelling primates to the ground, large-scale study shows

A large-scale study of 47 primate species across three continents found that climate change and deforestation are driving these animals to spend more time on the ground. The study suggests that primates with certain traits, such as a generalized diet or living in larger groups, may be more likely to adapt to this new lifestyle.

SourceSan Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 10, 2022

Common approach to demystify black box AI not ready for prime time

A new study published in Nature on saliency heat maps in medical imaging reveals that these tools consistently underperform human radiologists in image assessment and identifying pathological lesions. The researchers caution that saliency-based heat maps should be further refined before being widely adopted in clinical AI models.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 10, 2022

Media coverage of hurricanes reinforces images of people of color as victims, study finds

A new study from the University of Kansas reveals that media coverage of Hurricane Harvey in 2017 perpetuated racial biases in image presentation, showing people of color as displaced migrants, women as damsels in distress, and white men as saviors. The study highlights how these representations reinforce cultural narratives and stereo...

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalCritical Studies in Media Communication·TypeObservational study·DateOct 10, 2022

Predicting the economic downturn during the pandemic

An international team of scientists developed a computer simulation to predict the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The model accurately forecasted the UK's GDP contraction and tracked relevant economic variables on both individual industries and the entire economy.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalJournal of Economic Dynamics and Control·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 10, 2022

Small-molecule drug reverses neural effects of concussion

Researchers at UCSF discovered a small molecule called ISRIB that can reverse the neural and cognitive effects of concussion in mice, weeks after an injury occurred. The drug blocks the integrated stress response, which became chronically activated in damaged neurons, restoring normal spine dynamics and cognitive function.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 10, 2022

New star rating system published in Nature Medicine helps people make informed decisions about diet and healthy habits

A new star rating system, published in Nature Medicine, provides clear and easy-to-understand guidance on the strength of evidence for links between various risk factors and health outcomes. The analysis found that nearly two-thirds of risk-outcome pairs received only a one- or two-star rating, indicating weaker associations.

SourceInstitute for Health Metrics and Evaluation·JournalNature Medicine·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 10, 2022

ACP says federal government needs to improve health support for indigenous communities

The American College of Physicians recommends increasing funding for health services and prioritizing health promotion in Indigenous communities. Community-driven public policy is also necessary to address historical trauma, social determinants of health, and inadequate access to healthcare services.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateOct 10, 2022

NUS researchers invented first-ever interactive mouthguard that controls electronic devices by biting

Researchers developed a smart mouthguard that translates complex bite patterns into instructions to control devices such as computers, smartphones and wheelchairs. The device achieves 98% accuracy and has the potential to support individuals with limited dexterity or neurological disorders.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalNature Electronics·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 10, 2022

New study undermines the theory that depressed people are just more realistic

Researchers at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business found no evidence to support the theory of depressive realism, which suggests that depressed individuals are more realistic in their judgments. The study replicated a 1979 experiment and found that depressed participants overestimated their control, contradicting the original results.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley Haas School of Business·JournalCollabra Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 10, 2022

Moffitt researchers discover connection between stress-activated signaling and immune cell evasion in melanoma

Researchers found that high PERK activity correlates with poorer outcomes and lower anti-tumor immune cells in patients with melanoma. Inhibition of PERK promoted a type of cell death called paraptosis, which involved trafficking of immune cells to tumors and matured dendritic cells triggering anti-tumor T cell immunity.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalCancer Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 10, 2022

Storytelling helps college students relieve stress, improve confidence during the COVID-19 pandemic

A study by University of Missouri researchers found that storytelling can help college students make sense of the pandemic and reduce stress. The study involved first-year college students who used stories to express personal growth during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, reporting less stress and more confidence in their schoo...

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalPsychological Science·DateOct 10, 2022

Tonga volcano eruption stimulates life: rapid, massive bloom of ocean phytoplankton

A recent study published in Geophysical Research Letters reveals that the Tonga volcano eruption stimulated a rapid and massive bloom of ocean phytoplankton, covering an area nearly 40 times the size of Oahu within just 48 hours. The bloom was triggered by the deposition of volcanic ash, which supplied nutrients for phytoplankton growth.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 10, 2022

Researchers improve vehicle for delivering gene therapies to the central nervous system

A new variant of adeno-associated virus (AAV) shows significant improvement in delivering gene therapies to the central nervous system (CNS), potentially treating brain cancers and genetic diseases. The AAV variant, identified as CPP.16, demonstrates enhanced delivery efficiency across the blood-brain barrier in preclinical models.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·TypeObservational study·DateOct 10, 2022

Survey finds more than 40% of Americans misled others about having COVID-19 and use of precautions

A nationwide survey found that over 42% of Americans misrepresented their COVID-19 status and/or failed to follow public health measures. The most common reasons were a desire to feel normal and exercise personal freedom, with younger age groups and those with greater distrust of science being more likely to engage in misrepresentation.

SourceUniversity of Utah Health·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeSurvey·DateOct 10, 2022

Decoding how plants survive drought

Researchers discovered that ABA inhibits stomatal production by phosphorylating the master regulator SPEECHLESS, reducing its levels and leading to decreased stomatal number. This finding could lead to fine-tuning crop plants' drought tolerance through targeted manipulation of the underlying 'code'.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 10, 2022

Independent Task Force on COVID-19 and other Pandemics: origins, prevention, and response

The Independent Task Force Report emphasizes the need for a One Health approach to prevent or respond adequately to the next pandemic. Key findings highlight the importance of 'Smart Surveillance' to identify high-threat pathogens and invest in R&D for innovative diagnostics, antiviral strategies, and therapeutic research.

SourceEcoHealth Alliance·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeLiterature review·DateOct 10, 2022

Digging deep

The EMBUR robot uses a novel leg design to self-burrow vertically, emulating the Pacific mole crab's underground movements. This breakthrough has significant applications in agriculture, geotechnical engineering, marine data collection, and construction, while also advancing scientific understanding of burrowing animals.

SourceUniversity of California Berkeley College of Engineering·JournalFrontiers in Robotics and AI·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 10, 2022

New regional model ensemble cycling assimilation produces more accurate typhoon intensity forecasts

A new study by Prof. Zhe-Min Tan and colleagues improves typhoon intensity forecasts using a regional ensemble Kalman filter, producing more accurate results than global models for short forecast lead times. The regional forecasts show better performance in predicting typhoon intensity, especially with higher spatial resolution.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateOct 10, 2022

Turning the spotlight on cells in tissues so RNA can tell their story

Researchers have developed a new DNA nanotechnology-driven method called Light-Seq that enables the analysis of gene expression patterns in hard-to-access cells within intact tissues. This approach overcomes limitations of existing spatial transcriptomics methods, allowing for deeper understanding of disease mechanisms and biology.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalNature Methods·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 10, 2022

A specific inhibitor allows to study an enigmatic enzyme

Scientists have synthesized a highly selective HDAC10 inhibitor that can be used to study the function of this enigmatic enzyme. The compound, DKFZ-748, suppresses the functions of HDAC10 in tumor cells, suggesting that it may remove acetyl groups from polyamines, making them usable by cancer cells for growth.

SourceGerman Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ)·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateOct 10, 2022

Scientists hit their creative peak early in their careers

A new study found that scientists tend to be most innovative and creative early in their careers, with a significant decline in impact over the course of their careers. The study analyzed 5.6 million biomedical science articles and found that the work of less-innovative researchers tends to drop out as they get older.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Human Resources·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 10, 2022

RIPE researchers show the cause of productivity loss in the fluctuating light of maize crop canopies

A team from the University of Illinois measured dynamic leakiness of CO2 from C4 plants, showing that activation of the C4 cycle is faster than the Calvin-Benson cycle during photosynthetic induction. This results in large efficiency losses due to lack of coordination in fluctuating light conditions.

Scientists unravel millet genotype-microbiota interaction insights to enhance crop adaptability and yield

Researchers identified 257 rhizoplane microbial biomarkers associated with six key agronomic traits, revealing a complex association between millet genotype, root microbiome, and crop growth. The study provides insights into precision agriculture based on genotype-dependent microbial effects in foxtail millet.

SourceBGI Genomics·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 10, 2022

Male/female plumage differences in thrushes promote species recognition

A new study of thrushes reveals that differences in plumage coloration between males and females help birds identify potential mates more quickly. The researchers found that species with the most pronounced color differences were more likely to be migratory, have short breeding seasons, and share territory with closely related species.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Evolutionary Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 10, 2022

Protecting identities of panelists in market research

A new study by Cornell University researchers found that nearly all market research panel participants are at risk of being de-anonymized due to the presence of quasi-identifiers. The reidentification risk can be up to 94% when considering multiple observations per panelist, highlighting the need for improved data privacy measures.

SourceCornell University·JournalInformation Systems Research·DateOct 10, 2022