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Science News Archive 2023 - Page 53


Page 53 of 444

The COVID-19 pandemic imposed new burdens on already disadvantaged groups and left pre-existing social inequalities in place

The COVID-19 pandemic worsened social inequalities in Sweden, particularly among those with low incomes and education. The study found that disadvantaged groups faced higher risks of poor health, economic strain, and reduced access to medical care.

SourceStockholm University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateNov 13, 2023

How marine bristle worms use a special protein to distinguish between sunlight and moonlight

Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz discovered a unique cryptochrome protein in marine bristle worms that distinguishes between sunlight and moonlight. The protein's structure reveals an unusual light-induced change from dimer to monomer arrangements, allowing it to synchronize reproduction with lunar phases.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 13, 2023

New drug-like molecule extends lifespan, ameliorates pathology in worms and boosts function in mammalian muscle cells

Researchers at Buck Institute identified a new drug-like molecule that keeps mitochondria healthy via mitophagy, a process that removes and recycles damaged mitochondria. The compound, MIC, extended lifespan in worms and improved mitochondrial function in mouse muscle cells.

SourceBuck Institute for Research on Aging·JournalNature Aging·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 13, 2023

Some of today’s earthquakes may be aftershocks from quakes in the 1800s

A new study suggests that some modern earthquakes in the central and eastern United States could be long-lived aftershocks of past quakes, rather than foreshocks or background seismicity. The researchers analyzed earthquake data from three historic events in the 1800s to determine whether recent earthquakes were likely to be aftershocks.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth·DateNov 13, 2023

New study indicates C4 crops less sensitive to ozone pollution than C3 crops

A new study reveals that C4 crops are significantly less sensitive to ozone pollution than C3 crops, with potential implications for improving crop productivity and resilience. The research suggests that C4 bioenergy feedstocks can maintain performance in regions with high ozone levels.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 13, 2023

Faster Arctic warming hastens 2C rise by eight years

A new modelling study led by UCL researchers finds that faster Arctic warming will breach the global 1.5C and 2C temperature thresholds five and eight years earlier than expected. This accelerated warming adds substantial uncertainty to climate forecasts, highlighting the need for more extensive monitoring of temperatures in the region.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalEarth System Dynamics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 13, 2023

Exploring large language model: Construction, multimodal, evaluation and prospects

This study investigates large language model (LLM) construction, optimization, and evaluation, highlighting the importance of open-source models and cost-saving methods. The authors also identify challenges faced by LLMs, including scarcity of datasets and model instability, and propose potential research directions.

SourceBeijing Zhongke Journal Publising Co. Ltd.·JournalJournal of Image and Graphics·DateNov 13, 2023

Debunking the myth of steady male employment

A new study by Penn State researchers found that only 41% of Baby Boomer men experienced continuous high employment over their prime earning years. Most men instead followed less stable employment paths with increasing unemployment, time out of work, or intermittent work.

SourcePenn State·JournalSocius Sociological Research for a Dynamic World·DateNov 13, 2023

North Atlantic’s marine productivity may not be declining, according to new study of older ice cores

A new study by the University of Washington challenges previous findings of declining phytoplankton in the North Atlantic. The researchers analyzed an ice core from central Greenland and found that human-generated pollutants changed the atmosphere's chemistry, offsetting a decrease in marine productivity.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 13, 2023

How climate change could be affecting your brain

Research suggests that global warming can affect brain development and plasticity, as well as lead to changes in cognitive function and overall health. The study calls for further investigation into the impact of extreme weather events on brain structure and behavior.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateNov 13, 2023

Reversible adhesive

A team of scientists at Newcastle University has created a novel, water-based adhesive system that can bond surfaces in the neutral pH range but can be detached again in strongly acidic or alkaline environments. The new adhesive exhibits high adhesion strength to difficult-to-bond polypropylene surfaces.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 13, 2023

Overdose prevention sites not associated with increase in crime, according to study

A study by Brown University researchers found that government-sanctioned overdose prevention centers in New York City were not associated with a significant increase in crime. The analysis of five administrative datasets showed no changes in violent crimes, property crimes, or calls for emergency services in the surrounding neighborhoods.

SourceBrown University·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateNov 13, 2023

One step closer to Mars immigration

A team of scientists has developed an AI chemist that can synthesize an oxygen-producing catalyst from Martian meteorites, enabling long-term survival on the planet. The breakthrough technology could establish an 'oxygen factory' on Mars, producing sufficient oxygen for human survival with minimal solar irradiation.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature Synthesis·DateNov 13, 2023

Refreshing a computer chip to a “chiplet”

A team of researchers from Pitt and Notre Dame have received a $2 million NSF grant to develop 'chiplets' - refurbished integrated chips that can be reused in new products, reducing manufacturing waste and emissions. The project aims to create a more sustainable computing lifecycle by mapping the reuse of decommissioned FPGAs.

Naturally regrowing forests are helping to protect the remaining old forests in the Amazon

New research reveals that secondary forests in the Amazon cover over 190,000 km² but connect more than 2 million isolated fragments of old-growth forest, crucial for biodiversity conservation. These forests also act as a buffer zone, shielding old-growth edges from negative effects like hotter temperatures and wind.

SourceBangor University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·TypeImaging analysis·DateNov 13, 2023

Worcester Polytechnic Institute researcher leads project to develop oxygen sensor for premature infants of color

A team led by WPI researcher Ulkuhan Guler has received NIH funding to develop a wearable sensor for premature infants that can mitigate skin-color bias in oxygen level measurements. The four-year project aims to create a convenient and affordable sensor that will enable infants at risk of lung disease to leave hospitals sooner.

An intravenous needle that irreversibly softens via body temperature on insertion​

Researchers developed a new intravenous needle that softens via body temperature on insertion, reducing tissue damage and blood-borne disease risks. The P-CARE needle's variable stiffness characteristics make it flexible upon insertion, allowing for more comfortable injections.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·TypeMeta-analysis·DateNov 13, 2023

Endangered turtle population under threat as pollution may lead to excess of females being born

A study by Griffith University found that pollution can compound the female-biasing influence of rising global temperatures on sea turtles. The research, published in Frontiers in Marine Science, discovered that exposure to heavy metals and organic contaminants can feminize green sea turtle embryos.

SourceGriffith University·JournalFrontiers in Marine Science·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 13, 2023

Forming ice: There’s a fungal protein for that

A new study reveals that fungal proteins can facilitate ice formation at temperatures as warm as -10°C, challenging the long-held assumption that pure water only freezes at 0°C. The research also shows that these proteins are incredibly efficient, with some being 25 times smaller than other known ice-nucleating proteins.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 13, 2023

Mount Sinai researchers find more than 4,700 gene clusters crucial for prognosis in 32 cancer types

Researchers at Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease Modeling identified 4,749 key gene clusters that significantly influence the progression of 32 different types of cancer. The study provides a comprehensive resource for developing next-generation cancer treatments and diagnostic markers.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalGenome Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 13, 2023

Autonomous lab discovers best-in-class quantum dot in hours; it would have taken humans years

Researchers at NC State University developed an autonomous system called SmartDope to synthesize 'best-in-class' materials for specific applications in hours or days. It uses a self-driving lab to manipulate variables, characterize optical properties, and update its understanding of the synthesis chemistry through machine learning.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 13, 2023