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Science News for March 7, 2023


The planet that could end life on Earth

A recent experiment by UC Riverside astrophysicist Stephen Kane demonstrates that a terrestrial planet in this location would have disastrous effects on the solar system. The simulation found that such a planet could destabilize Earth's orbit, making it far less habitable and potentially ejecting Mercury and Venus from the solar system.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalThe Planetary Science Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 7, 2023

First visible-light induced simultaneous cleavage of C-C and C-N bonds with silver-modified polyoxometalate photocatalyst, researchers report

A Chinese research team developed a silver-modified polyoxometalate photocatalyst that simultaneously cleaves carbon-carbon and carbon-nitrogen bonds under visible light, unlocking new avenues for sustainable chemicals. The compound can be reused up to six times without loss of activity.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalPolyoxometalates·DateMar 7, 2023

Poor sleep linked to years of poor cardiovascular health

A new study found that poor sleep is associated with compromised cardiovascular health in middle and old age, with men losing nearly 7 years of heart disease-free life compared to healthy sleepers. Women also experienced a significant loss of normal heart health, with up to 2 years lost due to general poor sleep.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalBMC Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateMar 7, 2023

Understanding what makes senior towns in Iowa “smart”

Researchers found smart senior towns scored higher on every quality-of-life dimension compared to vulnerable senior towns, citing better medical services, shopping options, housing, child services, and entertainment venues. Small towns with a larger population tend to support more resources for community foundations and local services.

SourceIowa State University·JournalJournal of Rural Studies·TypeSurvey·DateMar 7, 2023

THE LANCET: Contracting a respiratory infection in early childhood associated with a higher risk of dying from respiratory disease as an adult, study finds

A new study published in The Lancet found that contracting a respiratory infection in early childhood is associated with a higher risk of dying from respiratory disease as an adult. Children who had a lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) before the age of two were 93% more likely to die prematurely from respiratory disease, account...

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet·TypeObservational study·DateMar 7, 2023

Unconventional spellings are a ‘Badd Choyce’ for brand names

A new study found that consumers prefer conventional spelling over unconventional ones for brand names. In various studies, participants showed less positive responses to brands with misspelled names, perceiving them as less sincere and more gimmicky. Established brands may still benefit from non-standard spellings in certain contexts.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Marketing·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 7, 2023

Release of captive-bred native fish negatively impacts ecosystems, study finds

A new study finds that releasing captive-bred native fish into the wild negatively impacts entire ecosystems, disrupting delicate balances and leading to reduced genetic diversity. The practice, which has been used for over a century, may be doing more harm than good.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 7, 2023

Whistleblowers losing faith in media impact

A study from the University of Georgia found that whistleblowers who once trusted journalism are now losing faith due to a decline in media's ability to motivate change. The erosion of media's reach has led to a decrease in trust, with many whistleblowers seeking alternative mediums to spread their message.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalJournalism Practice·DateMar 7, 2023

Soil bacteria as biocatalysts

Soil bacteria have been used to produce prodrugs by selectively epoxidating indole and indene. This breakthrough enables the sustainable biocatalysis of active pharmaceutical ingredients with high purity.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateMar 7, 2023

Exercise could help with common sexual complaint

A new study by Anglia Ruskin University found that physical activity and pelvic floor exercises can effectively increase latency time in men with premature ejaculation. The research suggests exercise as a promising non-pharmacological treatment option, potentially reducing the reliance on drugs with side effects.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalTrends in Urology & Men s Health·TypeLiterature review·DateMar 7, 2023

Evidence for the health benefits of consuming more live microbes

A new study found that increased consumption of live dietary microbes is linked to better health outcomes, including lower waist circumference and body mass index. The research suggests that a higher intake of fermented foods, raw fruits, and vegetables may support immune function and increase the diversity of microbes in the gut.

SourceInternational Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics·JournalJournal of Nutrition·TypeObservational study·DateMar 7, 2023

Hunter-gatherer childhoods may offer clues to improving education and wellbeing in developed countries, Cambridge study argues

A Cambridge study suggests that hunter-gatherer childhoods may hold the key to improving education and wellbeing in developed countries. The research highlights the importance of physical contact, non-parental caregivers, and children providing care, which are often lacking in modern societies.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry·DateMar 7, 2023

Pusan National University researchers uncover causes for increased compound droughts & heatwaves in East Asia

Researchers from Pusan National University studied compound extreme weather events in northern East Asia and found that a lack of soil moisture led to increased evaporative stress, amplifying heatwaves and triggering compound droughts and heatwaves. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for societal safety.

SourcePusan National University·Journalnpj Climate and Atmospheric Science·TypeObservational study·DateMar 7, 2023

Children at risk for autism struggle to notice mismatched audio and video

A study published in the European Journal of Pediatrics found that infants at risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulty perceiving audio-visual synchrony, a skill typically developed by typically developing children. This finding suggests that an audio-visual test could be used to diagnose ASD earlier than current methods.

SourceRutgers University·JournalEuropean Journal of Pediatrics·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 7, 2023

Elegantly modeling earth’s abrupt glacial transitions

Stefano Pierini proposes a new paradigm to simplify the verification of the Milankovitch hypothesis, combining physics concepts to link orbital parameters and glacial cycles. The deterministic excitation paradigm correctly predicts the timing of recent glacial terminations, offering insights into climate predictability.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalChaos An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science·DateMar 7, 2023

Study examines potential use of machine learning for sustainable development of biomass

A new study led by Yale School of the Environment researchers examines the application of machine learning in the sustainable development of biomass. The study found that machine learning has not been applied across the entire life cycle of biomass-derived materials (BDM), limiting its ability to advance research and development.

SourceYale University·JournalResources Conservation and Recycling·DateMar 7, 2023

Gender targets miss the mark for women in leadership

New research reveals that gender targets in the Australian public service do not lead to expected improvements in gender equity for women in leadership. The study suggests that effective policies, such as having at least two women on shortlists and leadership training, are crucial to increasing female representation in senior roles.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalAustralian Journal of Public Administration·TypeCase study·DateMar 7, 2023

CNIO researchers propose biomarkers to select breast cancer patients who could benefit from denosumab treatment

Researchers have identified a biomarker that can select breast cancer patients who may benefit from denosumab treatment. The study found that tumors with high RANK protein expression are associated with poor prognosis and response to chemotherapy, suggesting that denosumab may be effective in hormone-receptor negative tumors.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO)·JournalEMBO Molecular Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateMar 7, 2023

Pediatric investigation article details the effect of paternal influences on the health of offspring

A review highlights the impact of paternal diet, nutrition, and lifestyle on future generations, with strong evidence suggesting a western diet leads to imbalances in nutrient intake. Advanced paternal age is linked to genetic, psychiatric, and metabolic disorders in offspring, emphasizing the need for men's healthcare.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalPediatric Investigation·TypeLiterature review·DateMar 7, 2023

Grassroots data vital for reducing deadly bird-window strikes

A new study highlights the importance of grassroots data collection in reducing bird-window collisions, which kill an estimated 365 million to nearly one billion birds annually. The study emphasizes the need for better data collection methods and increased funding to support citizen science efforts.

SourceCornell University·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and the Environment·TypeCase study·DateMar 7, 2023

‘Lyft’ vs. ‘Lift’: Consumers are less likely to support brands with unconventional spellings, study shows

A new study from the University of Notre Dame reveals that consumers are less likely to support brands with unconventional spellings, compared to those using conventional spellings. The research found that unique spellings can lead to a perception of a brand as less sincere, but sincere naming origins can mitigate this effect.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalJournal of Marketing·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 7, 2023

Cited1 links sex and metabolic hormones to protect against obesity

Researchers at Helmholtz Munich discovered a new protein called Cited1 that plays a crucial role in regulating energy homeostasis and sensitivity to satiety hormones. The study found that females are better protected against obesity due to their higher levels of estrogens, which regulate energy metabolism through the hypothalamus.

COVID-19 infections raise risk of long-term gastrointestinal problems

Researchers found that COVID-19 infections are linked to an increased risk of developing liver problems, acute pancreatitis, and other GI disorders. The study analyzed over 14 million medical records and estimated that SARS-CoV-2 infections have contributed to over 6 million new cases of GI disorders in the US.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 7, 2023

A better understanding of gas exchange between the atmosphere and ocean can improve global climate models

A new study published in PNAS reveals that the dissolution of bubbles in high-latitude oceans is a dominant pathway for gases like oxygen and nitrogen to enter the deep ocean. This improved understanding can help improve the accuracy of climate models, which are crucial for predicting changes in the ocean's carbon dioxide inventory.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateMar 7, 2023

Drunk mice sober up after a hormone shot

A hormone called FGF21 protects mice from ethanol-induced loss of balance and righting reflex by activating a specific part of the brain that controls alertness. The study reveals that higher FGF21 concentrations can dramatically accelerate recovery from intoxication.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 7, 2023

SMART researchers develop novel combination bacterium- and host-targeted therapy for treating vancomycin-resistant bacterial infections

Researchers develop a novel combination therapy using mitoxantrone and vancomycin to treat vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE) infections. The therapy stimulates the host immune system, accelerating wound healing and killing bacteria more effectively.

SourceSingapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART)·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 7, 2023

Do you see me? New study examines how women of colour experience invisibility in the workplace

A recent landmark study found that women of color experience invisibility in traditionally white and male professions, with four distinct forms of invisibility identified. The study also reveals how different social power levels influence responses to invisibility, ranging from withdrawal to approach or pragmatic tactics.

SourceUniversity of Western Ontario, Ivey Business School·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·TypeSurvey·DateMar 7, 2023

Alaska study compares ground motion, magnitude estimates from satellite and seismic records

A study by Revathy Parameswaran and colleagues compared ground motion and magnitude estimates from satellite and seismic records for the 2021 Chignik earthquake. The researchers found that GNSS and strong-motion acceleration seismic data can be used interchangeably or jointly for rapid magnitude or ground motion estimation.

SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalSeismological Research Letters·TypeObservational study·DateMar 7, 2023

How fruit flies feast for pleasure as well as necessity

Researchers discovered that fruit flies have distinct hunger drives, one driven by need and the other by pleasure, which arise from unique neural mechanisms. The study found that hungry flies increase feeding event duration and total events, and identified specific brain regions activated by pleasurable food environments.

SourceeLife·JournaleLife·DateMar 7, 2023

How high altitude changes your body’s metabolism

Researchers at Gladstone Institutes discovered that chronically low oxygen levels, similar to those experienced at high elevation, rewire how mice burn sugars and fats. The study found lasting changes in metabolism, including lower blood glucose levels and body weight, which mirror what has been seen in humans who live at high altitude.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalCell Metabolism·DateMar 7, 2023

To help dry forests, fire needs to be just the right intensity, and happen more than once

Research suggests that wildfires need to fall within a narrow severity range to improve forest health. The study found that moderate severity fires are most effective at reducing community and ecosystem risk, but even these may not be enough to restore species composition. Land managers can use the predicted post-fire conditions to inf...

SourceOregon State University·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 7, 2023

New “camera” with shutter speed of 1 trillionth of a second sees through dynamic disorder of atoms

Researchers at Columbia University have developed a new 'camera' that can see atomic structures in real-time, revealing the dynamic disorder of materials. This breakthrough enables better understanding of thermoelectric devices and waste heat conversion, leading to more efficient sustainable energy applications.

Transition to adulthood brings mental health declines for Black youth who interact with juvenile justice system, Mason researcher finds

A new study from George Mason University College of Public Health found that mental health symptoms worsened in Black youth who interacted with the juvenile justice system during transition to adulthood. Connectedness, particularly to family and community, was a protective factor against declining mental health.

SourceGeorge Mason University·JournalSocial Work in Mental Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 7, 2023

Puzzle-solving behavior spreads through bumblebee colonies

Researchers found that bumblebee colonies adopt and prefer specific solution methods to a puzzle box problem, demonstrating the importance of social learning. The study suggests that bees with prior experience can teach others, leading to the spread of behavioral approaches within the colony.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 7, 2023