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Science News for October 31, 2022


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Astronomers confirm past solar eclipses in northern Japan first mentioned in indigenous folklore and historical documents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

Largest potentially hazardous asteroid detected in eight years

An international team has discovered three near-Earth asteroids, including one that is 1.5 kilometers wide and may someday threaten Earth's path. The observations were made possible by the unique capabilities of the Dark Energy Camera mounted on the Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory.

SourceAssociation of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)·JournalThe Astronomical Journal·TypeObservational study·DateOct 31, 2022

Duke-NUS scientists shed new light on key differences in immune response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines

A new study led by Duke-NUS Medical School scientists found that inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines elicit a broad immune response against different proteins on the virus, while mRNA vaccines stimulate a single spike protein response. This broader T-cell response may be beneficial in preventing severe COVID-19 disease.

SourceDuke-NUS Medical School·JournalCell Reports Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 31, 2022

Artificial intelligence approach may help identify melanoma survivors who face a high risk of cancer recurrence

A team from Massachusetts General Hospital developed an AI-based method to predict which patients with early-stage melanoma are most likely to experience a recurrence. Machine learning algorithms extracted predictive signals from clinicopathologic features, including tumor thickness and rate of cancer cell division.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·Journalnpj Precision Oncology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 31, 2022

Cal Poly professor co-authors research article examining strategies to maintain weight loss after regain

A new study published in the Obesity journal surveyed nearly 2,500 WeightWatchers members who lost an average of almost 58 pounds and kept it off for over 3.5 years. The study found that individuals who successfully maintained weight loss resumed efforts responsively after showing limited gains and used coping skills to get back on track.

SourceCalifornia Polytechnic State University·JournalObesity·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateOct 31, 2022

Efflux pump inhibitors: Bulking up to beat bacteria

Researchers at Osaka University have discovered the spatial characteristics of an efflux pump that helps bacteria resist antibiotics. By analyzing a specific inhibitor's binding site, they found bulky mutations can prevent the inhibitor from working, offering hope for developing new countermeasures to combat antibiotic resistance.

SourceOsaka University·JournalAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy·TypeImaging analysis·DateOct 31, 2022

Arctic hydrothermal vent site could help in search for extraterrestrial life

Researchers found a significant hydrothermal vent site in the Arctic Ocean's Aurora system, which could expand estimates of seafloor mineral deposits rich in copper and gold. The discovery also has implications for understanding ultra-slow spreading mid-ocean ridges and the search for extraterrestrial life.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateOct 31, 2022

Mapping the path from smell to perception

Scientists have created an extensive new map of the brain's olfactory circuits, revealing a complex system that processes different aspects of odor information. The map suggests the existence of parallel neural circuits dedicated to assessing smell identity, pleasantness, and origin, offering new insights into olfactory processing.

Cooperation among hydropower producers could hold the answer to reviving the mighty Mekong

Researchers from Singapore University of Technology and Design show that restoring natural water availability to the Mekong's floodplains is possible through coordination among hydropower producers. By altering dam release decisions and production plans, key components of hydrological variability can be restored, leading to improved ec...

SourceSingapore University of Technology and Design·JournalNature Sustainability·DateOct 31, 2022

Vegetation regulates energy exchange in the arctic

A study led by the University of Zurich found that diverse Arctic vegetation affects the land surface energy budget. The researchers linked vegetation types to energy exchange data from 64 measuring stations, revealing a significant difference in heat flux between various vegetation types and glaciers/grasslands.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 31, 2022

Low sense of personal control increases people’s affinity for tighter, rules-based culture

Research by American Psychological Association finds people with low sense of personal control prefer states with high societal tightness, which reduces individual control but increases collective control. Tighter cultures also perpetuate themselves by reducing individuals' sense of personal control.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateOct 31, 2022

Ben-Gurion University scientist invited by NASA to present plan to power lunar colony solely through solar energy without energy storage

A Ben-Gurion University scientist has presented a plan to power a lunar colony solely through solar energy without energy storage. The concept, which exploits the unique conditions of the Moon's polar axis and low-mass transmission lines, could offer a more affordable solution than traditional nuclear reactors.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalRenewable Energy·DateOct 31, 2022

New onset chronic kidney disease in people with diabetes highest among ethnic, racial minorities

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that new onset CKD rates are higher among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic/Latino populations compared to white persons with diabetes. The rate declined from 8% in 2015-2016 to 6.4% in 2019-2020.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 31, 2022

Machine learning, from you

Researchers from the University of Tokyo's Interactive Intelligent Systems Laboratory developed a new system called LookHere that incorporates natural hand gestures into the teaching process. This approach eliminates extraneous details and provides better input data for machines to create models, resulting in improved efficiency and ac...

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 31, 2022