Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive July 2023 - Page 31


Page 31 of 36

Rice U.’s Songtao Chen wins NSF CAREER Award

Songtao Chen, an assistant professor at Rice University, has won a prestigious NSF CAREER Award to study the interaction between photons and T center qubits. The research aims to address signal-loss during transmission, which is crucial for large-scale implementation of quantum communication.

Weeks later, potentially harmful chemicals lingered in homes affected by Marshall Fire

A recent study led by the University of Colorado Boulder found that burning from the Marshall Fire left a mark on buildings, with elevated concentrations of carcinogenic materials like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) detected in dust samples. The research aims to inform best practices for recovering after future wildfires.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalAir Quality Atmosphere & Health·DateJul 6, 2023

Immunotherapy for ‘difficult to treat’ lung cancer patients improves long-term survival

A global study shows atezolizumab significantly improved overall survival and resulted in a clinically meaningful long-term survival benefit for advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer patients who were not able to be treated with platinum-containing chemotherapy. The treatment also showed stabilised or improved health-related qualit...

SourceUniversity College London·JournalThe Lancet·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 6, 2023

T cells require healthy “power plants”

The research discovered that T cells are especially sensitive to genetic disturbances in their mitochondrial power plants. Different types of T cells show varying degrees of tolerance to defects in the mitochondrial genome, with memory CD8+ T cells rarely affected.

SourceBIH at Charité·JournalNature Genetics·DateJul 6, 2023

New study shows robust pandemic preparedness strongly linked to lower COVID-19 mortality rates

A major new study found that countries with strong pandemic preparedness capacity achieved lower COVID-19 mortality rates than those with weaker capacities. The analysis accounted for age and national capabilities to diagnose COVID-19 deaths, revealing pre-pandemic investments in capacity saved lives.

SourceNuclear Threat Initiative·JournalBMJ Global Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 6, 2023

Scientists synthesize isotopic atropisomers based on carbon isotope discrimination

Researchers successfully synthesized isotopic atropisomers based on carbon isotope discrimination, exhibiting high rotational stability and stereochemical purity. The findings hold promise for fundamental understanding of isotopic atropisomers with implications in organic and medicinal chemistry.

SourceShibaura Institute of Technology·JournalThe Journal of Organic Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 6, 2023

Professor Tongming Yin 's team from State Key Laboratory for Tree Genetics and Breeding of Nanjing Forestry University proposed the role of MSL-lncRNAs in causing sex lability of female poplars

A study by Professor Tongming Yin's team reveals the proposed role of MSL-lncRNAs in causing sex lability of female poplars. The researchers detected multiple cis-activating elements in the MSL gene, which generated long non-coding RNAs promoting maleness and leading to female lability.

SourceNanjing Agricultural University The Academy of Science·JournalHorticulture Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 6, 2023

Building models to predict interactions in plant microbiomes

Plant microbiomes have the potential to make agriculture more sustainable, but understanding their complex interactions is crucial. Researchers have developed models that use metabolic capabilities of bacteria to predict how these microbial communities compete or cooperate.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 6, 2023

Ready for its close-up: The electron’s permanent electric dipole moment

A new study measures the electron's permanent electric dipole moment with unprecedented precision, offering insights into the matter-antimatter imbalance in the universe. The result improves upon previous bounds by a factor of ~2.4, with implications for understanding symmetry breaking and extending the standard model of particle physics.

Ultra-low threshold continuous-wave quantum dot mini-BIC lasers

The researchers successfully achieve ultra-low single mode lasing threshold of 17 μW with a small size of ~2.5×2.5 μm² and precise wavelength engineering capabilities. The mini-BIC lasers offer a perspective light source for future PICs aiming at high-capacity optical communications, sensing and quantum information.

In journal special edition, researchers present strategies for pandemic-related communication

This special issue highlights research and commentaries on improving future pandemic-related communication, acknowledging failures and successes of current approaches. Researchers suggest new strategies to disseminate accurate information and combat misinformation, with lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

SourceCUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy·JournalJournal of Health Communication·DateJul 6, 2023

Researchers calculate economic value of temporary carbon reduction with ‘Social Value of Offsets’ formula

A new study identifies how to calculate the economic value of temporarily reducing carbon emissions through carbon offsetting. The Social Value of Offsets (SVO) framework estimates that an offset sequestering one ton of carbon for 50 years is equivalent to between 0.3 to 0.5 tons permanently locked away, taking into account various ris...

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 6, 2023

Bat influenza A viruses use MHC-II for cell entry; this study shows that highly conserved amino acids within MHC-II are key for infection and provide an explanation for the ability of these viruses to target MHC-II from a broad range of vertebrates, inclu

Researchers found that highly conserved amino acids within MHC-II are crucial for bat influenza A virus infection. The study reveals a broad range of vertebrates, including humans, can be targeted by these viruses due to their ability to bind to MHC-II.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJul 6, 2023

Electrostatics advancing green catalysis events

Researchers have developed a new approach to control chemical reactivity and selectivity using oriented external electric fields, known as 'smart effector'. This technique eliminates the need for traditional catalyst screening and separation, reducing environmental risks and increasing predictability in reaction outcomes.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Chemistry·DateJul 6, 2023

Specific DNA modifications are linked to certain conditions including breast cancer, type II diabetes and COPD in an epigenetic study of over 18,000 people in Scotland

An epigenetic study of over 18,000 people in Scotland identified associations between certain DNA modifications and increased risks of breast cancer, type II diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The findings provide new insights into the underlying mechanisms of these diseases.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateJul 6, 2023

University of Minnesota-led study demonstrates safety of microbiota transplant therapy in stem cell transplant and leukemia patients

A University of Minnesota-led study demonstrated the safety of microbiota transplant therapy (MTT) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and recipients of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). MTT showed improved gut bacteria balance but did not significantly reduce infections. The study's results will inform a larger follo...

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJul 6, 2023

How one of nature's most fundamental molecules forms

Scientists have made a significant breakthrough in understanding the assembly of ribosomes, the essential nanomachines that translate genetic information into proteins. A new study has provided high-resolution images of the large ribosomal subunit, revealing key steps in its formation and maturation. The findings bring researchers clos...

SourceRockefeller University·JournalScience·DateJul 6, 2023

Not eating enough of these six healthy foods is associated with higher cardiovascular disease and deaths globally

A large-scale global study found that consuming six key foods in combination is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. The study recommends an average daily intake of two to three servings of fruits, vegetables, and nuts, as well as moderate amounts of fish and whole-fat dairy.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 6, 2023

Study supports “catch up” HPV test in older women

A Danish population-based nonrandomized intervention study found that a catch-up HPV screening intervention improved cervical cancer prevention in women aged 65 and above. The study showed that these women were more likely to be diagnosed with cervical neoplasia after receiving the test.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJul 6, 2023

New study shatters conventional wisdom and unlocks the future of electrochemical devices

Researchers at the University of Cambridge discovered that ions conduct faster than electrons in conjugated polymer electrodes, challenging conventional wisdom. This finding provides valuable insights into the factors influencing charging speed and offers opportunities to engineer materials with improved performance.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 6, 2023

Team develops all-species coronavirus test

Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed an all-species coronavirus test that can detect exposure to SARS-CoV-2 virus in any animal species. The new test focuses on antibodies against a protein called N-protein, which is more abundant and conserved across species, making it a good target for cross-species antibody tests.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalmSphere·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 6, 2023

High-power optical continuous-wave waveguiding in a silica micro/nanofibre

Researchers have achieved high-power optical continuous-wave waveguiding in silica micro/nanofibers, with a reported power of up to 13W, significantly higher than previous records. The MNF remained optically transmissive and showed no significant degradation even at elevated powers.