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Science News Archive July 2023 - Page 24


Page 24 of 36

Robot team on lunar exploration tour

A team of Swiss robots, including legged ANYmal and wheeled robots, is sent to explore a challenging terrain, showcasing the benefits of redundancy and specialization. The robots work together to detect minerals and identify rocks, with semi-autonomous capabilities for direct task assignment.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience Robotics·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 12, 2023

2018–2022 Southern Resident killer whale presence in the Salish Sea: continued shifts in habitat usage

Researchers have observed a dramatic shift in the seasonal usage of Southern Resident killer whales in the Salish Sea, with their fall and winter presence increasing while spring and summer presence declines. This study emphasizes the importance of regularly updating habitat protection measures to reflect changing species usage.

SourcePeerJ·JournalPeerJ·TypeObservational study·DateJul 12, 2023

How larger body sizes helped the colonizers of New Zealand

Researchers developed a model to estimate energy expenditure for thermoregulation on the first voyages from Tahiti to New Zealand. Results showed that larger body sizes helped colonizers survive harsher conditions, with males losing up to 13.3 pounds and females losing 5.9 pounds during a 25-day trip.

SourceOhio State University·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 12, 2023

New study offers hope for sensory recovery in patients with lower lip numbness

A new study published in International Journal of Oral Science reveals that 75% of patients experience nearly complete pain sensation sensory recovery within 12 months after surgery. Younger patients and those with malignant tumors show faster recovery times, highlighting potential for improved quality of life.

SourceWest China Hospital of Sichuan University·JournalInternational Journal of Oral Science·DateJul 12, 2023

Surgical and engineering innovations enable unprecedented control over every finger of a bionic hand

Researchers have successfully integrated sensors, skeletal implants, and prosthetic limbs to enable unprecedented control over every finger of a bionic hand. The innovation uses reconfigured residual limbs and redistributed nerves to provide improved prosthetic control and sensory feedback.

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeCase study·DateJul 12, 2023

Study: Juggling multiple young children hinders vigorous physical activity for parents

A new study reveals that adults with multiple young children in the household report significantly fewer minutes of vigorous physical activity each week compared to those with few or no children. This finding highlights the need for family-based physical activity interventions to promote overall physical activity levels among parents.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateJul 12, 2023

AMP biosynthesis key to longevity and metabolic health in vertebrates

A recent study led by Dr. Itamar Harel reveals that manipulating AMP biosynthesis can extend lifespan and promote metabolic health in vertebrates. The research used the turquoise killifish as a model organism and found remarkable effects on energy metabolism, including a fasting-like profile and enhanced resistance to high-fat diets.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalDevelopmental Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 12, 2023

Fungi blaze a trail to fireproof cladding

Researchers at RMIT University have developed a novel method to grow pure mycelium sheets that can be layered into different uses, including fire-retardant cladding for buildings. The fungal-based material is biodegradable, non-toxic and produces naturally occurring water and carbon dioxide.

SourceRMIT University·JournalPolymer Degradation and Stability·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 12, 2023

Daughters breastfed longer, and women accumulated greater wealth in ancient California matriarchal society

In ancient California's San Francisco Bay Area, women played a crucial role in the economy, with mothers prioritizing their female offspring through extended breastfeeding. This practice may have led to female-biased wealth disparities, as older women were buried with greater wealth than men.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalAmerican Journal of Biological Anthropology·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 12, 2023

New radar technique lets scientists probe invisible ice sheet region on Earth and icy worlds

Scientists have developed a new radar technique that can image hidden features within the upper few feet of ice sheets, including melting glaciers on Earth and potentially habitable environments on Jupiter's moon Europa. The technique boosts resolution by combining two different radar bandwidths and looking for discrepancies.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalThe Cryosphere·TypeImaging analysis·DateJul 12, 2023

Multisensory information detection by using multi-channel electrocorticography film that can place over a wide area of the cerebral cortex

Researchers developed a flexible electrocorticography film and surgical technique to detect neural activity in the cerebral cortex, evoked by somatosensory and olfactory stimuli. The device enables simultaneous recording of neural activity from multiple brain regions, advancing research on large-scale electrocorticography.

SourceToyohashi University of Technology (TUT)·JournalMolecular Brain·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 12, 2023

Simulation study of how body shapes and sizes affected energetic efficiency helps explain relative success of early Polynesian voyaging

Ancient Polynesian canoe passages from Tahiti to Hawaii and New Zealand were simulated to estimate thermoregulatory energetic demands. The results show that specific body shapes and sizes contributed significantly to the voyagers' ability to withstand extreme temperatures, leading to their relative success in these long-distance journeys.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 12, 2023

A foundation that fits just right gives superconducting nickelates a boost

Researchers at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University have developed a method to make thin films of nickelates without extended defects. This breakthrough allows scientists to study the true nature and properties of these superconductors, similar to cuprates. The discovery is a significant step towards developing ...

SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 12, 2023

Belief in animal​​s’ capacity for emotion linked to better health and welfare

A study by the University of Portsmouth and The Donkey Sanctuary found that working equids with emotional bonds to their owners had significantly better health and welfare outcomes. Animals whose owners believed they felt emotions or pain were less likely to be lame, highlighting the importance of owner attitudes on animal health.

SourceUniversity of Portsmouth·JournalJournal of Applied Animal Welfare Science·TypeSurvey·DateJul 12, 2023

Alarmingly high PFAS levels in the populations of Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Denmark and the UK

A study published in Lancet Planetary Health reveals alarmingly high PFAS levels in the blood of residents in Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland, with 92% exceeding recommended safety thresholds. The substances are widespread and bio-magnified through the food chain, posing a significant threat to public health globally.

SourceAarhus University·JournalThe Lancet Planetary Health·TypeCase study·DateJul 12, 2023

Chemical odyssey: First global analysis shows how pesticides leach into the environment

Approximately 70,000 tonnes of pesticides leach into aquifers each year, impacting ecosystems and freshwater resources. The study showed that about 80 percent of applied pesticides degrade into daughter molecules, persisting in the environment for a long time and posing significant harm to marine wildlife and coral reefs.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 12, 2023

NEW STUDY: Discovery of chemical means to reverse aging and restore cellular function

A team of scientists at Harvard Medical School has identified six chemical cocktails that can restore cellular aging and rejuvenate human cells. The study builds upon the discovery of Yamanaka factors, which can convert adult cells into induced pluripotent stem cells, raising hopes for treating age-related diseases and injuries. The im...

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalAging-US·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 12, 2023

How the immune system can alter our behavior

Researchers at Yale University have discovered that the immune system plays a crucial role in changing behavior in response to allergens and toxins. By manipulating immune system variables, scientists were able to alter the behavior of sensitized mice, demonstrating the importance of immune recognition in controlling defensive behaviors.

SourceYale University·JournalNature·DateJul 12, 2023

Research group deciphers enigmatic ancient script

A team of researchers from the University of Cologne has successfully decoded a previously unknown ancient script, known as the Kushan script. The breakthrough was made possible by analyzing inscriptions found in caves, bowls, and clay pots in Central Asia, which provided key clues to deciphering the writing system.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalTransactions of the Philological Society·TypeContent analysis·DateJul 12, 2023

A glimpse into the hexasome: 40 years on

A recent study by the Eustermann group at EMBL Heidelberg reveals that DNA packaging into hexasomes impacts the function of enzymes involved in gene regulation. The researchers used cryo-electron microscopy to visualize the molecular processes of how this packaging regulates genome expression and maintenance.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 12, 2023