Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive October 2022 - Page 24


Page 24 of 37

Not so dumb: goldfish show a keen ability to estimate distances

Researchers at the University of Oxford discovered that goldfish can accurately estimate distances by processing visual cues. The study found that goldfish use 'optic flow' to estimate distance, unlike terrestrial animals which rely on changes in angle between their eye and surrounding objects.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 12, 2022

Dual-polarity photoconductivity in semiconductor nanowires

Researchers have created III-nitride/MoSx core-shell nanostructures with negative and positive photoresponsivity under different wavelengths, demonstrating a new universal photodetector architecture. This breakthrough enables spectrally sensitive photoelectrochemical photodetectors for various applications.

Wavelength stable green InGaN micro LEDs monolithically grown on silicon substrate

Scientists overcome barriers in conventional LED technology by creating III-nitride submicron-scale green µLEDs with a bottom-up approach. The devices feature arrays of nanowires with a core-shell multiple-quantum-well structure, which alleviate color instability and maintain peak wavelength stability despite changes in current injection.

Data show Mass General Brigham’s ‘Clinics on Wheels’ increased access to COVID-19 services for underserved populations

The initiative vaccinated a significantly higher rate of young people, non-white populations, and Hispanic people than the average for the state and target communities. The program used a 'double equity' model to engage with local transportation companies and administered over 20,000 COVID-19 vaccination doses.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·TypeObservational study·DateOct 12, 2022

Research shows how poliovirus takes over cells from within

Poliovirus researchers at Umeå University have gained a new understanding of how the virus behaves in infected cells, revealing key protein roles and cellular processes involved. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new antiviral treatments and vaccines targeting the autophagy system.

SourceUmea University·JournalNature Communications·TypeNews article·DateOct 12, 2022

Controversial approach aims to expand plastics recycling

Major chemical companies are backing pyrolysis plants to expand plastics recycling, but environmentalists remain skeptical. The process converts plastic waste into hydrocarbon feedstocks that can be turned into plastics again, making up for the shortcomings of traditional recycling which captures only about 9% of plastics in the US.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateOct 12, 2022

Research project seeks solutions for profitable algae production – great potential for climate change mitigation

A two-year research project aims to overcome technical difficulties in large-scale algae cultivation, a promising method for climate change mitigation. The ROBA project focuses on developing economically feasible algal cultivation processes using advanced measurement technologies and bioprocess engineering.

Fighting ovarian cancer

A new potential antitumor drug, TRIP, causes rapid protein aggregation, hyperactivating the unfolded protein response and leading to programmed cell death in ovarian cancer cells. The Fe-S cluster biogenesis factor NUBP2 is identified as the probable starting point for the cellular processes triggered by TRIP.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 12, 2022

Smoking, diabetes and obesity – not preexisting heart disease – bigger risk of COVID-19 death, study finds

A national study found that patients with cardiovascular disease had a higher mortality rate than those without, but this association was largely due to shared risk factors. Myocardial injury was common among critically ill COVID-19 patients and associated with poor outcomes.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalCirculation Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 12, 2022

Powerful enzyme that tamps down inflammation holds promise for protecting the eyes in diabetes, premature birth

Researchers found that increasing arginase 1 availability helps alleviate unhealthy responses and interrupt destructive inflammation in diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity. This is achieved by reducing L-arginine levels, which in turn reduces inducible nitric oxide synthase activity.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·JournalCell Death and Disease·DateOct 12, 2022

Bees active in woodland tree-tops, research shows

New research from the University of East Anglia reveals that wild bees are actively foraging in the sunlit woodland canopy, particularly among Sycamore trees. A diverse community of wild bees was found to thrive in this habitat, with nectar and pollen-rich trees providing essential food sources.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalInsect Conservation and Diversity·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 12, 2022

The New England Journal of Medicine published the important achievements of First Affiliate Hospital of the University of Sciences and Technology in China in the acute treatment of stroke

The study, led by Prof. Wei Hu, demonstrates that endovascular thrombectomy improves functional outcomes and reduces mortality in patients with basilar arterial occlusion compared to standard medical therapy. The trial, ATTENTION, provides high-quality evidence on the efficacy and safety of this treatment for acute basilar artery occlu...

SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 12, 2022

Reaching new heights in largest ever genome study

Researchers have analyzed data from 5.4 million people to uncover 12,000 genetic variants influencing height, explaining 40% of differences. This breakthrough enables the prediction of height with greater accuracy, particularly for children, and has implications for medical investigation and police investigations.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 12, 2022

Genetic testing helps detect children likely to have heart failure and require a transplant

Researchers have developed genetic testing to diagnose cardiomyopathy in children, identifying those at risk of heart failure and requiring a transplant. The test provides precise clinical diagnosis, enabling targeted treatment options and reducing the need for life-threatening interventions.

SourceCentenary Institute·JournalCirculation Genomic and Precision Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 12, 2022

Providence study reveals high incidence of chronic kidney disease in diabetes beset by disparities

A study reveals a high incidence of chronic kidney disease among adults with diabetes, particularly affecting Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic/Latino(a) groups. The rate of new onset CKD was higher in these groups by approximately 60%, 40%, 33%, and 25% compared to White persons with ...

SourceProvidence Health & Services·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 12, 2022

Endangered fruit-eating animals play an outsized role in a tropical forest — losing them could have dire consequences

A new study reveals that losing endangered fruit-eating animals in the Atlantic Forest could severely disrupt seed-dispersal networks, leaving plants without an effective means to regenerate. Nearly 55% of specialist plant species rely solely on these frugivores for seed dispersal.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 12, 2022

Illinois Tech researchers extract personal information from anonymous cell phone data using machine learning, raising data security and privacy concerns

A team of Illinois Tech researchers used machine learning to estimate the age and gender of individual users with high accuracy, raising questions about data security and privacy. The study highlights the need for better regulations and best practices to protect personal information from being misused.

First-of-its-kind database tracks agricultural phosphorus use world-wide

A new database quantifying cropland phosphorus budgets around the world helps identify nutrient management gaps in different regions. The study provides valuable insights into phosphorus management challenges and opportunities in various countries, shedding light on how to improve global phosphorus use efficiency.

SourceUniversity of Maryland Center for Environmental Science·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 12, 2022

New research highlights lack of follow-up care for youth and young adults after hospitalization or ER visit for mental health

A study of over 100,000 emergency room visits and 95,000 mental health hospitalizations found that less than half received follow-up care within 30 days. Having established primary care and mental health care before an acute psychiatric service use is crucial for improving follow-up rates.

SourceAmerican Psychiatric Association·JournalPsychiatric Services·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 12, 2022

Baffling ‘spiderweb’ star is a nesting binary – not an alien megastructure

Researchers from the University of Sydney explain that the James Webb Space Telescope's 'spiderweb' image is not an alien megastructure but rather a series of concentric dust shells created by a binary system. The team discovered that the stars in the system interact through stellar winds, producing shock fronts and spiral-shaped plumes.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateOct 12, 2022

How advanced optical tweezers revolutionized cell manipulation

Optical tweezers have evolved to trap, sort, transport, and enrich various biological particles with finer force strength and non-invasive nature. This enables applications in biology, pharmacology, and clinical research fields, offering a promising tool for understanding human life at the single-cell level.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal Plus·DateOct 12, 2022

Study shows that students compare their math performance with their own reading performance to determine whether they are a “math person” or “reading person”

A study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that students increasingly rely on dimensional comparisons to define their math and reading abilities. This tendency, present since grade 1, contributes to the formation of specialized academic identities in high school. The findings suggest that students tend to think...

SourceSociety for Research in Child Development·JournalChild Development·DateOct 12, 2022

Watch brain cells in a dish learn to play Pong in real time

Researchers successfully taught human and mouse neurons to play the video game Pong in real-time, showcasing their ability to exhibit sentience and adapt to a changing environment. The study's findings have potential applications in disease modeling, drug discoveries, and expanding our understanding of brain function.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 12, 2022

The ultimate death stare: How moth wing patterns scare off predatory birds with amazing optical illusion

Researchers found that moth wings with forward-facing eyespots are more effective at deterring predators than those with concentric circle patterns. The study suggests that the direction of gaze affects the predator's motivation to attack, supporting the idea that eyespots are used to maintain eye contact with predators.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and Evolution·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 12, 2022

Nine postdoctoral fellowships in aging research awarded by the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research and AFAR

The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) and the Glenn Foundation for Medical Research have announced the recipients of the 2022 Glenn Foundation for Medical Research Postdoctoral Fellowships in Aging Research. Nine postdoc fellows will receive $60,000 fellowships to advance research on aging biology, geroscience, and potentia...

New polymer made from recycled waste has real magnetic appeal

Researchers at Flinders University have created a new multi-functional material that can be used to purify water, as a recyclable construction material, and as a lightweight machine component for possible use in soft robotics. The material combines magnetic iron particles with a sulfur-rich polymer and can be moved remotely by a magnet.

SourceFlinders University·JournalPolymer Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 12, 2022

Threatened Aldabra giant tortoise genome decoded

Researchers at the University of Zurich have successfully decoded the genome of Aldabrachelys gigantea, one of the world's two remaining giant tortoise species. The reference genome provides crucial information for breeding programs in zoos to represent genetic diversity and conservation efforts across East Africa and Madagascar.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalGigaScience·DateOct 12, 2022