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Science News Archive May 2023 - Page 13


Page 13 of 40

“Hightech” materials from nature

A research team at Göttingen University has discovered that mobile and stationary cells have different mechanical properties due to their cytoskeleton. The study found that intermediate filaments, which are crucial for cell stability, exhibit metal-like plasticity when stretched, similar to non-biological materials.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalMatter·TypeObservational study·DateMay 22, 2023

Research favors testing and voluntary isolation over closures in disease outbreaks

A new study by University of Wyoming researchers found that regular diagnostic testing and self-isolation can deliver higher net benefits than physical distancing strategies in combating infectious diseases. The study took into account the concept of superspreading, which made the testing-isolation approach even more effective.

SourceUniversity of Wyoming·JournalScientific Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 22, 2023

Study may explain why high-sugar diets can worsen IBD

A new study suggests that high-sugar diets can exacerbate inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptoms by disrupting the colon's lining renewal process. The research found that a high-sugar diet led to impaired cell division and altered metabolic pathways in mice, resulting in faster gut damage.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalCellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 22, 2023

ToCoTronics extended

Physicists from Würzburg's ToCoTronics CRC have made groundbreaking discoveries in topological materials, including indene and bismuthene. The renewed funding will focus on shaping these materials into nanostructures using lithographic methods.

Team led by NCKU researcher performs cosmological modeling to shed light on the nature of dark energy

A research group led by NCKU professor I-Non Chiu conducted the first cosmological study on galaxy clusters identified by eROSITA, analyzing 550 galaxy clusters. The results suggest that Dark Energy occupies up to 76% of the total energy density in the Universe.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 22, 2023

Earlier snowpack melt in the West could bring summer water scarcity

A new study from the University of Colorado Boulder documents more than 60 years of change in snowpack water storage across Western North America. The researchers found that snowpack water storage has significantly declined in over 25% of the Mountain West, leading to earlier water scarcity and impacts on agriculture and wildfire risk.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 22, 2023

Researchers call for systemic changes to improve career prospects of young people with disabilities

A special issue of the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation presents strategies to challenge the status quo that young people with disabilities face in employment. Research highlights the need for verification of evidence-based practices, competitive integrated employment, and increased utilization of vocational rehabilitation services.

SourceIOS Press·JournalJournal of Vocational Rehabilitation·TypeObservational study·DateMay 22, 2023

A commonly used tool is suboptimal in predicting osteoporosis fracture risk in younger post-menopausal women

A study of nearly 67,200 postmenopausal women found that the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) was inadequate for identifying osteoporotic fracture risk across racial/ethnic categories. However, the Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool (OST) was excellent for detecting osteoporosis within each category.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 22, 2023

Study highlights long-term benefits of family-based care following institutional care

New research highlights the benefits of family-based care for children exposed to early psychosocial deprivation, improving cognitive function, emotional well-being, and social development. The study found that high-quality foster care had a lasting impact on children's brain development and risk of psychopathology.

SourceAmerican Psychiatric Association·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 22, 2023

Identifying the bee’s knees of bumble bee diets

A new study has identified the preferred flower species of Midwest bumble bees, revealing that these social bees have more discerning dietary preferences than expected. The research found that common flower species like milkweed and thistles are favored by bumble bees, while others, such as alsike clover and black-eyed Susan, are ignored.

SourceOhio State University·JournalEcosphere·TypeObservational study·DateMay 22, 2023

Laboratory fishing expedition reels in a big catch: hidden pathogenic role of a housekeeping enzyme in Listeria

Researchers have discovered that a previously unknown strategy is used by the foodborne bacterium Listeria monocytogenes to invade and infect humans and animals. A housekeeping enzyme called LAP plays a crucial role in this process, and its attachment to the bacterial surface is essential for pathogenesis.

SourcePurdue University·JournalCell Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 22, 2023

Allowing financial trading in California’s wholesale electricity market significantly reduced volatility of prices, electricity production costs, carbon emissions

Researchers found that introducing financial trading in California's wholesale electricity market led to reduced volatility in prices, production costs, and carbon emissions. The study also showed improved physical market outcomes, including lower fuel costs and reduced complexity in real-time markets.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalAmerican Economic Journal Economic Policy·DateMay 22, 2023

Humans are unique but not exceptional species of mammal

A recent study by UC Davis researchers found that humans exhibit reproductive inequality similar to other mammals, challenging the notion of human exceptionalism. The study also revealed greater reproductive egalitarianism in societies allowing polygynous marriages, where women have equal access to resources and parenting help.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 22, 2023

Poor self-esteem and body image drive weight gain and worse mental health in teenage years

A study of over 12,000 UK children found that low self-esteem and body image were strong predictors of poor mental health outcomes, including depression and anxiety. Increasing children's satisfaction with their appearance and self-esteem from early adolescence may help protect against these negative impacts.

SourceImperial College London·JournalEClinicalMedicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 22, 2023

A guide through the genome

A research team has developed a method to identify genetic variations responsible for differences in plant traits. The study found thousands of variations associated with traits like yield and pest resistance in maize. These regions can be targeted for plant breeding, leading to improved crop varieties.

SourceHeinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf·JournalGenome Biology·DateMay 22, 2023

Modular builds may help construction industry weather a perfect storm

A new study suggests that modular production techniques can minimize construction delays caused by weather, resulting in cost savings for builders. The research estimates that using modular construction can reduce costs by approximately AUD$40,000 on a $6.4 million project.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalInternational Journal of Sustainable Building Technology and Urban Development·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 22, 2023

Effective capital markets are needed to protect the climate

A new study by Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and Mercator Research Institute finds that the current difference between savings and lending rates results in additional global heating of 0.2 degrees Celsius. Governments can effectively counteract high interest rates on loans by subsidising investment, leading to more foss...

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalJournal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists·DateMay 22, 2023