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Science News for October 17, 2022


Neanderthals appear to have been carnivores

A new study using zinc isotope analysis found that Neanderthals were probable carnivores, contrary to earlier research suggesting a plant-based diet. The analysis of a tooth enamel sample from the Gabasa site in Spain revealed a carnivorous diet without blood consumption.

SourceCNRS·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 17, 2022

Every neuron counts!

Researchers from the University of Tsukuba have found that individual neurons in the neural circuit that processes reward information fire in accordance with prospect theory. The study used rhesus monkeys to perform lottery tasks and recorded neural activity while they completed the tasks, finding that single-neuron activity conformed ...

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 17, 2022

New approach would improve user access to electric vehicle charging stations

Researchers from NC State University have developed a dynamic computational tool to help improve user access to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The technique accounts for factors such as charging time, cost, and wait times to provide users with the most convenient options.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 17, 2022

The Ocean should be treated as a living entity with inherent rights, and Ocean-centered governance introduced to resolve crises and foster a more harmonious co-existence with humanity, advocate researchers at the Earth Law Center and elsewhere

Researchers advocate for ocean-centered governance to resolve crises and foster harmony with humanity. The Earth Law Center and other experts propose introducing rights to the ocean.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateOct 17, 2022

EMBARGOED: Targeting enzyme could alleviate muscle wasting for cancer patients

Researchers have identified a key enzyme in muscle that contributes to cancer-induced muscle wasting. Targeting this enzyme, UBR2, may help preserve muscle mass and function in cancer patients. The study's findings offer new hope for the treatment of cancer cachexia, a complication affecting 60% of all cancer patients.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 17, 2022

Climate change to increase lifetime of space pollution

New research from British Antarctic Survey predicts climate change will extend the lifetime of space debris and elevate the risk of collisions between satellites, due to reduced atmospheric density. The study's findings highlight the need for action to control space pollution and ensure the upper atmosphere remains usable in the future.

SourceBritish Antarctic Survey·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateOct 17, 2022

Photo-taking helps students remember slide content

A recent study published in the Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition found that students who took photos of PowerPoint slides during an online presentation recalled the slide content better than those who did not. Additionally, photo-taking also improved memory for spoken-word-only content. The researchers suggest that t...

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalJournal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 17, 2022

Timely interventions for depression might lower the future risk of dementia

A new study found that timely treatment of depression can reduce the risk of dementia by about 30% in certain patient groups. The study, published in Biological Psychiatry, analyzed data from over 350,000 participants and found that depression elevated the risk of dementia by 51%, but treatment reduced this risk. Those with increasing ...

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·TypeObservational study·DateOct 17, 2022

Black and Hispanic female survivors of trauma experience greatest functional limitations post-injury

Research from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that Black and Hispanic women are most likely to face functional limitations after a traumatic injury. The study identified that these disparities are largely driven by the intersection of being female, minority, and experiencing trauma.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·TypeObservational study·DateOct 17, 2022

Deep learning tool identifies bacteria in micrographs

Omnipose, a deep learning software, can identify various types of tiny objects in micrographs with high precision, including bacteria of all shapes and sizes. It overcomes limitations of previous approaches by handling object overlap and detecting cell intoxication, making it a game-changer for biological image analysis.

SourceUniversity of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine·JournalNature Methods·TypeImaging analysis·DateOct 17, 2022

Researchers uncover how breast cancer cells become resistant to therapy

A team of researchers at Baylor College of Medicine has investigated how breast cancer cells lose their ER expression, revealing a mechanism that explains the process and offers possibilities to overcome it. The study found that over-expressing 14-3-3τ in cancer cells leads to ER loss, with other molecular players such as AKT and GATA3...

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 17, 2022

Blessing or curse? How the pandemic and the war impact energy transitions

The Covid-19 pandemic and European conflict have exposed the vulnerability of the global energy system, with reduced investments in clean energy projects and increased fossil fuel reliance. This is likely to create lock-in effects that could take decades to reverse, making a sustainable energy transition increasingly challenging.

Literacy influences understanding of speech

Researchers found that literacy has no effect on auditory processing of speech, contradicting previous studies. However, literate individuals showed improved functional connectivity between brain areas responsible for handwriting and speech sound processing.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalJNeurosci·TypeObservational study·DateOct 17, 2022

How scientist researched the effects on crews under controlled and isolated conditions within simulated space habitats?

Scientists conducted two 15-day missions in the LunAres Research Base to investigate the psychological effects of isolation and confinement on astronauts. The studies revealed insights into stress responses, cognitive performance, group dynamics, and microbiota in response to living in a low-resource environment.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalSpace Science & Technology·DateOct 17, 2022

Effective communication in automobile recalls encourages corrective action among American drivers, finds Pusan National University researcher

A recent study by Prof. Yong-Kyun Bae found that recall letters with riskier defects and 'free of charge' notices prompt quicker corrective actions. The research highlights the need for effective, standardized communication in recall letters to improve public safety.

SourcePusan National University·JournalApplied Economics·TypeObservational study·DateOct 17, 2022

Wastewater testing expected to work for most infectious diseases, study says

A recent study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that wastewater surveillance can detect almost all infectious diseases classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. However, more research is needed to maximize the utility of this powerful science for public health benefit.

SourceSyracuse University·JournalAmerican Journal of Epidemiology·TypeSystematic review·DateOct 17, 2022

A new AI model can accurately predict human response to novel drug compounds

A new AI model called CODE-AE can accurately predict the efficacy of novel drug compounds in humans, addressing a major challenge in drug discovery. The technique has been shown to improve accuracy and robustness over state-of-the-art methods, with potential applications in personalized medicine.

SourceThe Graduate Center, CUNY·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 17, 2022

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology researchers demonstrate improved performance of transition metal oxide based organic photovoltaics

Researchers from Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology have developed a method to eliminate residual organic metal-binding ligands from transition metal oxide thin films, resulting in improved device stability and performance. The technique achieved a 20-fold enhancement in electrical conductivity and a 17.6% increase in efficiency.

SourceGIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 17, 2022

Eating fire ants could prepare lizards for future fire ant attack

A new study by Penn State researchers found that eating fire ants enhances a lizard's immune system, increasing its ability to survive a fire ant attack. The study revealed three immune measures were boosted in lizards fed fire ants, which could help them prepare for future venom exposure.

SourcePenn State·JournalBiological Invasions·TypeObservational study·DateOct 17, 2022

Researchers detect monkeypox virus in testes of nonhuman primate survivors

Scientists have detected monkeypox virus in the testes of macaques during acute infection and found preliminary evidence of persistent infection in two convalescent animals. The study highlights the potential for sexual transmission of the virus in humans, particularly in convalescent male patients.

SourceUS Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases·JournalNature Microbiology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 17, 2022

Future emissions from ‘country of permafrost’ significant, must be factored into global climate targets

The study forecasts cumulative emissions from the 'country of permafrost' through 2100 under low, medium, and high warming scenarios. Under a low warming scenario, permafrost would release 55 petagrams of carbon by the end of the century, while potentially releasing 232 Pg if left unchecked.

SourceNorthern Arizona University·JournalAnnual Review of Environment and Resources·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 17, 2022

New dataset reveals biological “treasure trove” of Arctic Ocean

A new dataset provides an unprecedented insight into the Arctic Ocean's biological life, revealing a year's worth of microbial communities and their responses to climate change. The EcoOmics dataset aims to guide conservation efforts and provide evidence for novel biology that may influence our understanding of evolution on Earth.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 17, 2022

CAPITAL: A major advance in single-cell RNA data analysis

Researchers at Osaka University have developed a computational tool called CAPITAL that can carry out accurate comparative analysis of complex single-cell sequencing datasets. The tool uses a pseudotime trajectory approach to align and compare cells along hypothetical paths reflecting their progress through transitional processes.

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 17, 2022

CRTAC1 is a promising biomarker of osteoarthritis

A study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology has identified CRTAC1 as a specific biomarker of osteoarthritis, associated with both prevalent and incident knee and hip OA. The protein is also a strong predictor of progression to joint replacements, holding promise for early diagnosis and treatment.

SourcedeCODE genetics·JournalArthritis & Rheumatology·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 17, 2022

1.3 million American adults with diabetes ration their insulin due to cost; younger adults and the uninsured are most likely to ration

A study found that 16.5% of American adults with diabetes ration their insulin, with younger adults and the uninsured being most affected. Insulin rationing is often linked to cost concerns, with many patients delaying purchases or taking less insulin than needed.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateOct 17, 2022

How do mushrooms become magic?

Scientists are conducting a first-of-its-kind study to investigate the origin of psychedelic compounds in fungi, including psilocybin found in 'magic mushrooms'. The research aims to understand the evolution of these compounds and their potential applications in medicine and conservation.

Cancer patients treated with immunotherapy can safely receive mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, according to JNCCN study

Researchers analyzed 408 patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and found no increased risk of side effects from receiving both immunotherapy and the vaccine. The study supports NCCN's recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination in people with cancer, citing strong protection against severe COVID-19 for all variants.

SourceNational Comprehensive Cancer Network·JournalJournal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network·DateOct 17, 2022

Two hits to the mitochondria causes severe anemia

A study found that impairing mitochondria in two different ways can cause severe anemia. Researchers used mouse models to investigate the role of mitochondria in blood cell differentiation and found that disrupting mitochondrial function and dynamics causes anemia through distinct mechanisms.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalPharmacological Research·DateOct 17, 2022

Hair straightening chemicals associated with higher uterine cancer risk

A new NIH study found that frequent use of hair straightening products was associated with a higher risk of uterine cancer, particularly among Black women. The researchers estimated that women who used these products frequently were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer compared to those who did not use them.

Antibody-based therapy eliminates circulating tumor cells in mouse models of breast and pancreatic cancer

Researchers developed an antibody-based treatment that targets cadherins on circulating tumor cells, eliminating them in mouse models of breast and pancreatic cancer. The therapy shows promise in preventing cancer metastasis, a leading cause of cancer-related deaths.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 17, 2022

Economic losses from hurricanes become too big to be offset by the US if warming continues

A new study suggests that the US economy's supply chains cannot compensate for local production losses from hurricanes if climate change continues. The researchers found that even under moderate warming scenarios, hurricane damages will exceed the economy's coping capacities, leading to indirect economic effects and price increases for...

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateOct 17, 2022

Marine diazotrophic bacteria, great little allies against climate change

Researchers have discovered that marine diazotrophic bacteria contribute directly to the biological carbon pump, exporting and sequestering carbon in the deep ocean. This process was previously attributed mainly to phytoplankton, but experts now understand that these microorganisms also store carbon on the seabed.

SourceInstitut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC)·JournalThe ISME Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 17, 2022

Advanced genomic approaches hold promise for marine conservation

Genetic and genomic technologies can protect marine life by identifying illegally harvested seafood products and monitoring disease outbreaks. Assisted evolution and synthetic biology could also benefit ocean ecosystems by introducing beneficial species or manufacturing products in the lab.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateOct 17, 2022

Study examines the impact of coral chemical compounds on reef composition and health

A new study examines the impact of coral chemical compounds on reef composition and health, finding that they vary significantly by coral species. The research also discovers an invasive reef alga releasing high quantities of caffeine, which may contribute to its ability to invade and flourish on Caribbean reefs.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalISME Communications·TypeObservational study·DateOct 17, 2022