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Science News Archive December 2023 - Page 11


Page 11 of 29

Online food shopping exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Can it catch on with bodegas?

The study found that bodega owners and customers face challenges such as high prices for fresh produce, lack of digital literacy, and mistrust of online ordering. Despite these obstacles, researchers believe that implementing online grocery shopping in bodegas can greatly benefit communities by increasing access to healthy food options.

SourceNew York University·JournalJournal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics·TypeSurvey·DateDec 15, 2023

Acid sensor and calcium store discovered in plants

Researchers have identified a previously unknown endogenous acid sensor in plant cells that responds to changes in pH levels. The acid sensor triggers the release of calcium ions from an endoplasmic reticulum, which activates cellular responses to external stimuli such as infections or drought.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 15, 2023

US adults eat a meal’s worth of calories of snacks in a day

A new study suggests that US adults consume almost a quarter of their daily calories in snacks, often more than they do at breakfast, yet these snacks offer little nutritional value. Researchers analyzed data from over 20,000 people and found that snacks accounted for between 19.5% to 22.4% of total energy intake.

SourceOhio State University·JournalPLOS Global Public Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 15, 2023

Third Pole environment researchers study the risk of glacial lake Outbursts in the Third Pole

A study published in Nature Communications reveals the Third Pole is vulnerable to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) due to climate change, with 1,499 lakes at high risk. The research estimates that 190,000 lives are directly exposed to GLOF paths and $55 billion worth of infrastructure is threatened.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 15, 2023

Physical and social activities promote healthy brain aging

A recent study published in NeuroImage found that physically active individuals experienced less decline in entorhinal cortex thickness over a seven-year period. Cognitive reserve is also boosted through regular mental stimulation, suggesting that brains can be trained like muscles to counteract age-related decline.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNeuroImage·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2023

Rice study: AI provides more accurate analysis of prehistoric and modern animals, painting picture of ancient world

A recent study published in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences found that AI technology can accurately identify prehistoric and modern African antelopes, with an accuracy rate of over 90% compared to humans. This breakthrough sheds light on ancient ecosystems and their impact on human evolution.

SourceRice University·JournalAnnals of the New York Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 14, 2023

‘Long flu’ has emerged as a consequence similar to long COVID

A new study from Washington University School of Medicine reveals that people hospitalized for seasonal influenza face increased risks of long-term health effects, including death, hospital readmission, and organ system problems. Long flu is more debilitating than initially thought, with patients experiencing health loss similar to tho...

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 14, 2023

Quantum batteries break causality

Researchers from the University of Tokyo have developed a new way to charge quantum batteries using optical apparatuses and the phenomenon of indefinite causal order. This approach enables significant gains in energy storage and thermal efficiency, even with lower power chargers.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2023

New gene therapy could significantly reduce seizures in severe childhood epilepsy

Researchers at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology have developed a new gene therapy that significantly reduces seizures in mice with focal cortical dysplasia. The treatment, which involves the overexpression of a potassium channel, has shown an average reduction of 87% in seizures without affecting the mouse's memory or behavior.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalBrain·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2023

Princeton research reveals the secret sites where America’s migrating songbirds stop to rest and refuel

Researchers have identified over 2.4 million hectares of land as critical stopover hotspots for migratory songbirds in the eastern United States, primarily consisting of deciduous forests. Protecting these sites is essential to safeguarding bird populations, which have plummeted by a quarter since 1970 due to habitat loss and climate c...

SourcePrinceton School of Public and International Affairs·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeObservational study·DateDec 14, 2023

What do Gifted dogs have in common?

A recent study published in Scientific Reports found that a group of exceptionally gifted dogs, known as Gifted Word Learners (GWLs), share common characteristics. The researchers identified 41 dogs from various breeds and countries with the ability to learn hundreds of toy names, highlighting their unique talent for language acquisition.

SourceEötvös Loránd University·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 14, 2023

Updated Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines advise against routinely taking aspirin daily for primary prevention of heart attack or death but acknowledge there may be a role for some people

The Canadian Cardiovascular Society has updated its guidelines to no longer recommend routine daily aspirin use for primary prevention of heart attacks or death. However, daily aspirin may be considered for people with high risk factors for heart attack, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and smoking. The new guidelines emphasize the ...

SourceElsevier·JournalCanadian Journal of Cardiology·TypeSystematic review·DateDec 14, 2023

How the immune system fights to keep herpes at bay

Researchers have discovered key mechanisms by which the host immune system blocks viral infection in the cell's nucleus, including the role of signaling proteins called interferons and host protein IFI16. These findings could lead to new treatments for herpesviruses and other nuclear DNA viruses.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2023

Enabling early detection of cancer

Scientists at Paul Scherrer Institute achieve breakthrough in detecting developing tumors at an early stage and monitoring therapy success. They used artificial intelligence to analyze blood cell chromatin, distinguishing between healthy and sick cells with high accuracy, and identifying tumor types with over 85% precision.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·Journalnpj Precision Oncology·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2023

Being overweight costs society far more than obesity

The study found that people who are only slightly overweight, with a BMI of 25-30, and those with mild obesity, have the highest costs for healthcare services. This is because these individuals represent a larger proportion of the population than obese individuals, who have a higher risk of disease but lower costs.

SourceNorwegian University of Science and Technology·JournalTidsskrift for Den norske legeforening·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 14, 2023

Menstrual cycles affect day-to-day suicide risk, UIC researchers find

A new study by University of Illinois Chicago researchers found that female patients with a history of suicidality experience increased suicidal ideation and planning during the premenstrual phase, offering new guidance for clinicians. The study identified individual differences in how the menstrual cycle affects symptoms and suicidality.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·DateDec 14, 2023