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Science News Archive September 2022 - Page 35


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Risk of rejecting conspiracy theories could play key role in their propagation in Western society

A new study suggests that our brains weigh up factors including personal experience, media influence, and expected cost when deciding whether to believe a conspiracy theory. The Computational Model of Conspiracy Theories (CMCT) considers these factors and finds that perceived risks, prior views, and lack of plausible non-conspiratorial...

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalReview of Philosophy and Psychology·DateSep 5, 2022

Engineers study bird flight

A new study reveals how gulls adjust their wings to control stability in the air, employing wing morphing to respond to gusts and turbulence. The findings have implications for designing more agile drones and aircraft with improved maneuverability.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 5, 2022

Open-environment machine learning

Researchers aim to develop machine learning techniques that can adapt to open environments with changing factors. The article reviews recent advances and introduces general principles for achieving robust artificial intelligence.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateSep 5, 2022

Magnetic skyrmions – ready for take-off?

A team at Max Born Institute develops methods to reliably create and guide magnetic skyrmions at controlled positions, enabling the study of their dynamics and potential applications in computing and data storage. By employing focused helium-ion irradiation and nanopatterned reflective masks, researchers can control the generation and ...

SourceMax Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy (MBI)·JournalNano Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 5, 2022

Scientists develop new method to faster – and more accurately – find antigens that trigger specific immune cells

A team of Stanford scientists has developed a new method to predict which antigens will lead to a strong immune response, allowing for more effective cancer immunotherapies. By applying a sliding force between peptides and T cell receptors, the researchers can identify the best antigen-receptor pairs in under five hours.

SourceStanford University·JournalNature Methods·DateSep 5, 2022

Penguin publishing deal helped Virginia Woolf’s work reach a mass market, study shows

A new study by Professor Vike Plock found that Virginia Woolf's husband Leonard negotiated deals with Penguin Books to make her work widely available. The arrangement allowed Penguin to publish Woolf's essays and non-fiction at affordable prices, increasing her cultural capital and making her works accessible to a broader audience.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalBook History·TypeContent analysis·DateSep 5, 2022

A temporo-spatial pharmacometabolomics method to characterize pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in the brain microregions by using ambient mass spectrometry imaging

Researchers propose a temporo-spatial pharmacometabolomics method based on ambient mass spectrometry imaging to evaluate the microregional effect of olanzapine on brain tissue, demonstrating its effectiveness in characterizing pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The method accurately illustrates levels dynamics and microregional dis...

SourceCompuscript Ltd·JournalActa Pharmaceutica Sinica B·DateSep 5, 2022

How does nature nurture the brain?

A study by the Max Planck Institute for Human Development found that a one-hour walk in nature decreases stress-related brain activity, particularly in the amygdala region. This suggests that nature has a positive impact on brain regions involved in stress processing, potentially leading to improved mental health and well-being.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Human Development·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·TypeImaging analysis·DateSep 5, 2022

Soil temperature can predict pest spread in crops

A new study from North Carolina State University shows that soil temperature can be used to predict the spread of the corn earworm, an important pest affecting various crop species. The research reveals three geographic zones where the pest can overwinter, and models suggest that these zones will shift northward due to climate change.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeMeta-analysis·DateSep 5, 2022

Faster in the past: New seafloor images – the highest resolution of any taken off the West Antarctic Ice Sheet – upend understanding of Thwaites Glacier retreat

Scientists mapped high-resolution seafloor images revealing Thwaites Glacier retreated at rates up to 2.1 km/year in the past, potentially leading to a total loss of ice and a 3-10 ft sea level rise. This study provides new insights into the glacier's future behavior.

SourceUniversity of South Florida·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateSep 5, 2022

Obstructive sleep apnoea linked to increased risk of cancer, a decline in mental processing powers and an increased risk of blood clots

A large study found that obstructive sleep apnea is independently associated with an increased risk of cancer. Patients with more severe OSA were also at a greater risk of developing blood clots. Additionally, a second study linked OSA to a decline in mental processing powers, particularly in the elderly.

SourceEuropean Respiratory Society·TypeObservational study·DateSep 5, 2022

Robo-bug: a rechargeable, remote-controllable cyborg cockroach

Researchers created a rechargeable, remote-controlled cyborg cockroach with an ultrathin organic solar cell module powered by a lithium polymer battery. The device allows for wireless control of leg segments, enabling long-term operation without recharging.

SourceRIKEN·Journalnpj Flexible Electronics·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 5, 2022

Turning over a new leaf: Local mountain climate is affected by leaf area ratio

A Japanese research group discovered that the leaf area index of mixed-forests influences seasonal changes in the formation of a nocturnal cold-air pool at a small mountain basin. The study found that weakening of the nighttime temperature inversion occurred during leaf expansion, while strengthening occurred after leaf fall.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalJournal of the Meteorological Society of Japan Ser II·DateSep 5, 2022

Bees use patterns – not just colors – to find flowers

A recent study by the University of Exeter reveals that honeybees rely on both color and pattern to identify flowers. The researchers found that bees can effectively distinguish between different flowers using a combination of these elements, suggesting that flowers don't need to evolve many different petal colors.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 5, 2022

High cholesterol, overweight and reduced physical stamina are long COVID sequelae in young adults

A new study found that young Swiss military personnel with confirmed Covid-19 infections experienced symptoms like fatigue, reduced sense of smell, and psychological problems for up to 180 days. Long-term effects included increased BMI, high cholesterol, and lower physical stamina, suggesting a higher risk of metabolic disorders and ca...

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 5, 2022

Researchers discover potential new melanoma treatment giving hope to patients

A phase II study found that treating late-stage, treatment-resistant melanoma patients with a combination of Azacitidine and Carboplatin significantly increases their survival times. The treatment re-sensitized cancer cells to immunotherapy, allowing the body's immune system to fight the cancer.

SourceHunter Medical Research Institute·JournalCancer Research Communications·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 5, 2022

Predictability and skill of convection-permitting ensemble forecast systems in predicting the record-breaking “21•7” extreme rainfall event in Henan province, China

Researchers found that convection-permitting ensemble forecast systems struggle to accurately predict extreme rainfall events like the '21•7' event in Henan province. A new neighborhood probability of precipitation method improves forecasting skills, particularly when allowing for spatial errors among ensemble members.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Earth Sciences·DateSep 5, 2022

Researchers identify key factor in exosome-mediated viral transmission from insects to plants

Exosomes have been identified as possible vehicles for virus transmission, and a recent study found that the saliva protein exportin 6 plays a crucial role in this process. The researchers isolated exosomes from the saliva of insect vectors and showed that they can transport plant virions into rice plants.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeMeta-analysis·DateSep 5, 2022

Less invasive treatment for emphysema is as good as more invasive surgery: results from first randomised controlled trial comparing lung volume surgery and bronchoscopic lung volume reduction with valve placement

A randomized controlled trial found that both BVLR and surgery lead to significant improvements in lung function, breathlessness, and exercise capacity. The study suggests that less invasive BVLR may be a good therapeutic option for suitable patients, offering a similar outcome to traditional surgery.

SourceEuropean Respiratory Society·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 5, 2022

Scientists study tourists to protect great apes

Researchers protected great apes by studying tourist behavior and expectations, finding that willingness to comply with disease prevention measures varies depending on nationality, visitor experience, and effectiveness of measures. The study identified ways to improve measures to reduce disease transmission, highlighting the importance...

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalPeople and Nature·DateSep 5, 2022

Breaking DNA Goldilocks-style

Researchers at Kyoto University have discovered a phosphorylation pathway that regulates meiotic double-strand break activity, ensuring genome stability. Enzymes ATR kinase and PP4 phosphatase work together to maintain a balance of DNA breaks, allowing for successful meiosis.

SourceKyoto University·JournaleLife·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 5, 2022