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Science News Archive April 2023 - Page 26


Page 26 of 37

Education and peer support cut binge-drinking by National Guard members in half, study shows

A randomized trial found tailored education and peer support significantly reduced binge-drinking among Army National Guard members over the course of a year. Participants who received online education sessions and supportive phone calls from veteran peers showed substantial declines in binge-drinking days and scores on risk assessments.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalAddiction·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 12, 2023

Assisted reproduction kids grow up just fine – but it may be better to tell them early about biological origins, twenty-year study suggests

A landmark study by University of Cambridge researchers found no difference in psychological wellbeing or quality of family relationships between children born through assisted reproduction and those born naturally. However, mothers who disclosed their child's origins early on reported more positive relationships and lower anxiety and ...

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalDevelopmental Psychology·DateApr 12, 2023

5,500 people diagnosed with rare genetic diseases in major research study

A nationwide UK research study has diagnosed around 5,500 children with severe developmental disorders, identifying the genetic cause of their condition. The Deciphering Developmental Disorders study used genomic sequencing technology to provide diagnoses for families from across the UK and Ireland.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 12, 2023

An embarrassment of riches

Researchers found that Indigenous populations with limited food availability have slower brain aging, while industrialized populations experience faster cognitive decline. Beyond a certain point, excessive energy gain from food intake is associated with smaller brain volumes and faster aging.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 11, 2023

Lessons learned from COVID: The role of social media

Researchers found that employing social media posts as visual nudges to encourage safe behaviors significantly impacted COVID-19 positivity rates. Images communicating the value of wearing masks made a real difference, with effects remaining even after accounting for various organizational characteristics and disease dynamics.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalProduction and Operations Management·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 11, 2023

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology and MIT researchers develop a natural and comfortable “seamless-walk” virtual reality locomotion system

A new VR locomotion system, Seamless-walk, offers a natural and comfortable experience without equipment or body pose recording. It uses high-resolution foot pressure imprints and machine learning to estimate the user's direction and movement speed.

SourceGIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalVirtual Reality·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 11, 2023

Primary battery system designed for efficient remediation of cadmium pollution and power generation simultaneously

A team of researchers developed a primary battery system that simultaneously removes cadmium pollution and generates electricity through Galvanic reactions. The system achieved efficient solidification and removal of Cd2+ in water and soil, with no negative impact on plants or microorganisms.

Nanoplasmonic imaging reveals real-time protein secretion

Researchers developed a novel optical imaging approach to observe cell secretions in space and time, revealing key heterogeneity and potential for pharmaceutical development. The method has tremendous potential for high-throughput screening of individual cells and studying delicate antibody-secreting human donor B-cells.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·TypeImaging analysis·DateApr 11, 2023

KAIST researchers find the key to overcome the limits in X-ray microscopy​

Researchers at KAIST have successfully developed a new X-ray microscope technology that can overcome the resolution limitations of existing microscopes. This breakthrough enables high-resolution imaging of nanoscale structures, with a resolution of 14 nm, which is comparable to that of electron microscopes. The technology uses random d...

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalLight Science & Applications·TypeMeta-analysis·DateApr 11, 2023

From greenhouse gas to value-added product

Vienna University of Technology researchers have developed MOCHAs, organometallic chalcogenolate compounds that facilitate the conversion of CO2 into synthesis gas. This process can be carried out at room temperature and requires less energy than previous methods, making it a promising solution for climate protection.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalCommunications Chemistry·DateApr 11, 2023

Impact of coronavirus on states’ fertility rates tracked with economic, social, and political divides

A new study found that the COVID-19 pandemic led to steeper declines in fertility rates in some US states than others, with factors like income inequality, racial composition, and political leaning playing a significant role. States with stronger social distancing responses and liberal politics experienced larger fertility rate declines.

Untangling the mystery of sleep

A recent study has found that sleep is necessary for survival due to its role in regulating the body's homeostasis and preventing diseases. The research also shows that the brain disconnects from the environment during sleep, and that the gut plays a crucial role in this process.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalCell·DateApr 11, 2023

Worldwide, those with ‘traditional’ values adhered more strictly to COVID precautions

A new UCLA-led study found that individuals with traditional cultural values tend to take stricter COVID-19 precautions globally, with 21 of 27 countries showing a strong link between the two. In contrast, factors like distrust of science and concerns about the economy in the US suppressed cautionary behavior among social conservatives.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 11, 2023