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Science News Archive 2023 - Page 415


Page 415 of 444

Loyalty card data could help to identify ovarian cancer symptoms sooner

A study suggests that loyalty card data on over-the-counter medicine purchases could help spot ovarian cancer cases earlier. Women with ovarian cancer were found to buy more pain and indigestion medications before diagnosis, often up to 8 months prior. This could lead to improved survival rates if symptoms are picked up earlier.

SourceImperial College London·JournalJMIR Public Health and Surveillance·TypeObservational study·DateJan 26, 2023

Qubits on strong stimulants

A team of scientists has discovered a way to preserve quantum coherence in quantum dot spin qubits by exploiting the properties of a material with the same lattice parameter. This breakthrough improves storage time beyond hundred microseconds, paving the way for practical quantum networks and computing applications.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJan 26, 2023

Researchers achieve the first observation of de Broglie-Mackinnon wave packets by exploiting loophole in 1980’s-era laser physics theorem

University of Central Florida researchers observed de Broglie-Mackinnon wave packets, a long-standing theoretical concept, by exploiting a loophole in 1980's-era laser physics theorem. The team's use of space-time wave packets, which resist stretching in dispersive media, verifies predicted properties and opens the path to studying top...

SourceUniversity of Central Florida·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2023

Research explains strength of earthquake shaking in Nenana Basin

The study found that seismometers overlying the basin's deepest areas recorded stronger low-frequency amplification, while monitors at shallow edges recorded minimal amplification. Higher frequency amplification was detected in both deeper and shallower areas. This phenomenon is making the ground motion last longer and feel stronger.

SourceUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks·JournalBulletin of the Seismological Society of America·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 26, 2023

Local water infrastructure development across rural America demonstrates ethnically, racially uneven economic outcomes

A study analyzing local government spending on water infrastructure between 1980-2015 found associations with decreased poverty, increased per capita income, and unemployment. However, communities with higher Latino or Indigenous populations showed no significant effects, while Black American counties experienced stronger correlations.

SourceUniversity of Oklahoma·JournalNature Water·DateJan 26, 2023

Astral alchemy

Scientists successfully synthesized the elusive Λ(1405) particle and measured its complex mass, revealing a temporary bound state of a K- meson and proton. The findings may provide insights into the interior of ultra-dense neutron stars and the early formation of the Universe.

SourceOsaka University·JournalPhysics Letters B·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2023

Amazon heat drives Tibet temperatures: climate tipping elements connected half around the globe

Scientists have discovered a connection between Amazon rainforest temperature changes and Tibetan Plateau climate patterns, highlighting the global impact of Earth system tipping elements. The study found a pronounced propagation pathway from South America to Tibet via Southern Africa and the Middle East.

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 26, 2023

New study is first to reveal that Indigenous communities with strong rights to their territories can resist land grabs and better protect and reforest their lands in Brazil’s fragmented Atlantic Forest (Revision)

A new study found that Indigenous communities with formal tenure rights in Brazil's Atlantic Forest reduced deforestation and improved forest cover, outperforming territories without such rights. Strengthening self-determination rights of Indigenous peoples has been shown to be crucial for forest conservation efforts globally.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 26, 2023

Disparities in kidney transplant access can be reduced through a multilevel quality improvement effort

A study found that standardizing evaluation processes and expanding telehealth use can significantly improve access to kidney transplants for African Americans. The interventions also led to increased organ acceptance rates, but post-transplant survival outcomes were not statistically significant.

SourceAmerican College of Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateJan 26, 2023

Personalized brain modeling technique may lead to breakthroughs in clinical epilepsy trial

A personalized brain modeling approach is being tested in a large-scale clinical trial for drug-resistant epilepsy, aiming to improve surgery preparation and patient specificity. The technique uses virtual models of patients' brains to simulate abnormal activity during seizures, helping clinicians identify target areas more effectively.

SourceHuman Brain Project·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 26, 2023

New study suggests a promising therapeutic target for sepsis

A new study published in The American Journal of Pathology suggests that promoting autophagy with rapamycin restores intestinal barrier function during sepsis. The study also identifies the PLK1-mTOR axis as a crucial regulator of autophagy and intestinal barrier dysfunction, providing novel insights for treatment of sepsis.

SourceElsevier·JournalAmerican Journal Of Pathology·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2023

Artificial intelligence for soil health

Researchers are using AI to assess soil datasets and measurements, aiming to build an automated data-driven decision support system for European soils. The goal is to create an effective soil health certification system that can be used by farmers, landowners, and policy makers.

Study shows prevalence of long COVID in a university community

A study published in Emerging Infectious Diseases suggests that long COVID affects up to 36% of university community members who tested positive for COVID-19. The research identifies potential risk factors, including vaccination status and underlying medical conditions, which can reduce the risk of developing long COVID.

SourceGeorge Washington University·JournalEmerging Infectious Diseases·TypeObservational study·DateJan 26, 2023

UK substantially underestimates its methane emissions from oil and gas production – and many other countries probably do too

A recent study reveals that the UK severely underestimates its greenhouse gas emissions from offshore oil and gas production by as much as five times. The researchers suggest alternative methods for calculating methane emissions, which could also apply to other countries.

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateJan 26, 2023

BepiColombo and Solar Orbiter compare notes at Venus

The BepiColombo and Solar Orbiter missions provided a unique insight into Venus' atmosphere retention through their gravity-assist flyby. The study revealed that the induced magnetosphere protects the atmosphere from solar wind erosion, extending to an unexpected distance of 1,900 km above the planet's surface.

SourceEuroplanet·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateJan 26, 2023

Hairdressers of color exposed to ‘concerning’ mix of unknown chemicals

A new study found that Black and Hispanic hairdressers are exposed to a complex mixture of unknown chemicals, many potentially hazardous, and undisclosed on product labels. Researchers used advanced screening techniques to identify these chemicals and found higher levels in hairstylists compared to women working in office jobs.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalJournal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology·DateJan 26, 2023

New technology may help inform brain stimulation

Researchers at the Queensland Brain Institute developed a new ultrafast fMRI technique to study brain activity. The technique revealed that brain activity follows preferential circuits depending on cell type organisation, and blood signals can reflect network organisation and cell type distribution.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2023

RaiBo - a versatile robo-dog runs through the sandy beach at 3 meters/sec

Researchers at KAIST developed a quadrupedal robot control technology that enables robots to walk robustly on deformable terrain like sandy beaches. The technology uses artificial neural networks to simulate ground characteristics and adapt to changing environments, allowing the robot to maintain balance and perform high-speed walking.

Poor literacy linked to worse mental health worldwide, study shows

A new study by the University of East Anglia finds a significant association between low literacy and poor mental health outcomes across multiple countries. People with lower literacy skills are more likely to experience anxiety and depression, highlighting the importance of addressing literacy as part of mental health services.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalMental Health and Social Inclusion·TypeSystematic review·DateJan 26, 2023

Researchers unveil new collection of human brain atlases that chart postnatal development

Researchers created monthly infant brain atlases to track normative trends in brain development. The atlases reveal changes in brain structure, cortical geometry, and tissue contrast, shedding light on conditions like ADHD and dyslexia. The study aims to facilitate discovery of new insights into child cognition and social behavior.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalNature Methods·TypeImaging analysis·DateJan 26, 2023

E-cigarettes potentially harmful: PET imaging shows greater lung inflammation in e-cigarette users than cigarette smokers

A new study published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine found that e-cigarette users have greater lung inflammation than cigarette smokers and non-smokers. The study used PET imaging to compare lung inflammation between e-cigarette users and cigarette smokers, revealing a unique inflammatory response in the lungs.

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateJan 26, 2023

New detector could enable high-speed quantum communication

Researchers have developed a new detector that can precisely measure single photons at very high rates, enabling practical high-speed quantum communication. The PEACOQ detector is made of superconducting nanowires and operates at extremely cold temperatures, allowing for precise measurement of photon arrival times.

SourceOptica·JournalOptica·DateJan 26, 2023

New AI tool makes speedy gene-editing possible

Researchers at NYU Langone Health and the University of Toronto have developed a new AI tool called ZFDesign, which enables customizable protein editing for treating genetic diseases. The tool promises to accelerate gene therapy development on a large scale, offering a potentially safer alternative to CRISPR.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalNature Biotechnology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 26, 2023

Cancer-selective supramolecular chemotherapy by disassembly-assembly approach

Researchers developed a cancer-selective therapeutic agent that targets cancer cells' unique acidic pH microenvironment, inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and killing only cancer cells. The agent, Mito-SA, forms charge-shielded nano-assemblies that selectively disassemble in the tumoral environment.

SourceUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST)·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateJan 26, 2023

Immunotherapy combined with targeted therapy for colorectal cancer yields promising outcomes for patients

A phase 2 clinical trial combining immunotherapy and targeted therapy showed a 24.3% confirmed response rate and 5-month median progression-free survival among patients with BRAF V600 mutations. The treatment also demonstrated increased durability, with 57% of patients remaining on treatment for more than 6 months.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalNature Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2023

Solar System formed from “poorly mixed cake batter,” isotope research shows

Researchers have discovered that primitive meteorites contain a different mix of potassium isotopes than those found in other, more-chemically processed meteorites. This suggests that the Solar System was formed from a 'poorly mixed cake batter' of materials, with some planets receiving a unique blend of elements from distant sources.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2023