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Science News Archive April 2023 - Page 22


Page 22 of 37

Treasure hunt in hot springs?

A research group has successfully developed an adsorbent material that can selectively recover rare earth elements from hot spring water, a process expected to contribute to a metal resource-circulating society. The method uses environmentally friendly and inexpensive materials, such as baker's yeast and trimetaphosphate.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalEnvironmental Technology & Innovation·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 14, 2023

How drugs get into the blood

Researchers at ETH Zurich have decoded details of how cyclic peptides cross cell membranes, providing a new understanding of their mechanism. This knowledge can help speed up drug discovery by identifying ideal side chains for these molecules.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 14, 2023

Gentle method allows for eco-friendly recycling of solar cells

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology developed a new recycling method for solar cells that uses acidic solutions to separate precious metals. The process recovers up to 100% of the silver and 85% of the indium, making it more environmentally friendly and cost-effective than traditional methods.

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalSolar Energy Materials and Solar Cells·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2023

Researchers discover tiny galaxy with big star power using James Webb telescope

Researchers have discovered a tiny galaxy with big star power using the James Webb Space Telescope, providing new insights into the universe's early stars. The galaxy is one of the smallest ever discovered at this distance—around 500 million years after the Big Bang—and generated new stars at an extremely high rate for its size.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalScience·TypeObservational study·DateApr 13, 2023

One of first studies to assess new bivalent Covid-19 booster vaccine shows it is highly effective in reducing deaths and hospitalizations

A new study found that the Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine reduced hospitalization and death risks by 72% and 68%, respectively, in adults aged 65 years and older. The study highlights the importance of bivalent booster vaccination in high-risk populations.

Stay CALM when the heart skips a beat

Researchers at Kyoto University have discovered a genetic mutation that causes lethal arrhythmia in humans. The study found that a novel variant of the CALM2 gene produces robust arrhythmogenicity in human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.

SourceKyoto University·JournalCirculation Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2023

Balloon pulmonary angioplasty, a novel treatment for chronic blood clots in lung arteries, gives patients a new lease on life, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University study shows

A novel treatment approach called balloon pulmonary angioplasty has been shown to be effective in treating chronic blood clots in lung arteries. The procedure improves exercise capacity and quality of life, with some patients able to stop medications altogether. Refinements in technique have improved the procedure's safety and efficacy.

SourceTemple University Health System·JournalJACC Advances·DateApr 13, 2023

Dr. Debra Saliba to deliver the Henderson State-of-the-Art Lecture at #AGS23, focusing on giving voice to frail older adults so that the care and services they receive are more targeted to their needs and goals

Dr. Debra Saliba will deliver the Henderson State-of-the-Art Lecture at AGS23, focusing on improving care for frail older adults by targeting their needs and goals. Dr. Saliba has over 25 years of experience leading geriatrics research across the continuum of care.

East African grassy woodlands appeared 10 million years earlier than thought, influencing hominoid evolution

Scientists discovered that savannah grasses existed in East Africa over 21 million years ago, transforming the landscape and driving skeletal adaptations in early hominoids. This finding challenges a longstanding theory and supports the idea that C4 grasses led to open landscapes that promoted hominoid evolution.

First Nations populations at greater risk of severe flu, research finds

A new study by the Peter Doherty Institute found that First Nations populations are significantly more likely to be hospitalized and die from influenza compared to non-Indigenous populations. Influenza-associated hospitalization and mortality rates were consistently higher in First Nations communities globally.

SourceThe Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity·JournalPLOS Global Public Health·TypeMeta-analysis·DateApr 13, 2023

The first line of vaccines was highly effective at restricting COVID-19’s damage, according to a new Concordia study

The primary COVID-19 vaccines provided adequate protection against transmission, hospitalization, and death, but their effectiveness waned in the face of the Omicron variant. The study found that vaccines developed prior to Omicron's emergence were 83% effective against infection at baseline, but this decreased to 47% by 40 weeks.

SourceConcordia University·JournalThe Lancet Respiratory Medicine·TypeMeta-analysis·DateApr 13, 2023

One brain, multiple and simultaneous alternative decision strategies

A study published in Nature Neuroscience reveals that the brain can compute multiple alternative decision strategies simultaneously, which may facilitate cognitive flexibility and learning. Researchers used a 'virtual reality' setup to study mice searching for water in a virtual world, finding that the brain activity patterns reflected...

SourceChampalimaud Centre for the Unknown·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2023

Low-professionalism residents later draw higher patient complaints: Study

A recent study by Vanderbilt University Medical Center found that early-career physicians who scored lower on professionalism and interpersonal communication skills during their residency are more likely to receive unsolicited patient complaints in their first year of employment. The study tracked 9,340 residents and found a strong ass...

SourceVanderbilt University Medical Center·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateApr 13, 2023

T-cell vaccine for COVID-19 may last longer than current vaccines

A new AI-generated vaccine targeting T-cells provides broad coverage against future COVID-19 variants, potentially lasting longer than current antibody-based vaccines. This innovation has the potential to be used for seasonal flu and other vaccines, offering a long-lasting solution to emerging viral diseases.

SourcePenn State·JournalFrontiers in Immunology·DateApr 13, 2023

[EMBARGOED] The 2020 election saw fewer people clicking on misinformation websites, Stanford study finds

A new Stanford study found that nearly half of Americans visited unreliable websites during the 2020 U.S. election, a decline from 44.3% in 2016. The study suggests that education and mitigation efforts to identify misinformation are working. However, experts caution that exposure to misinformation can still have serious consequences.

SourceStanford University·JournalNature Human Behaviour·TypeObservational study·DateApr 13, 2023

NUS researchers report potential new treatment for leaky gut using milk-derived extracellular vesicles

Scientists discover that milk-derived extracellular vesicles can repair damaged gut barriers and prevent bacterial toxins from leaking into the bloodstream. The study shows promising results in treating leaky gut syndrome and related diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

SourceNational University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine·JournalScience Advances·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 13, 2023

Dark order in the universe

A team of scientists from Kyoto University has confirmed that galaxy alignments can be a powerful probe for dark matter and dark energy. The analysis of 1.2 million galaxy observations verified general theory of relativity at vast spatial scales, providing strong evidence for gravity's role in shaping the universe.

SourceKyoto University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 13, 2023