Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive May 2023 - Page 5


Page 5 of 40

Vehicle stop study illuminates importance of officer's first words

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that officers' first 45 words during a vehicle stop with a Black driver can indicate how the stop will end. The study discovered a unique 'linguistic signature' that characterizes escalated stops, where officers give an order without stating the reaso...

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 29, 2023

Study finds similar quality and cost of care for patients treated by an allopathic (M.D.) or osteopathic (D.O.) physician

An observational study of 329,000 Medicare admissions found that older persons receiving hospital care from allopathic (M.D.) or osteopathic (D.O.) physicians experience similar quality and cost of care. Researchers also highlight systemic health inequities faced by persons with sickle cell disease.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 29, 2023

Significant presence of cesium-rich microparticles in an abandoned school close to the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant

Researchers have found significant amounts of highly radioactive cesium-rich micro-particles in an abandoned school building close to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, posing a potential health risk if inhaled. The study highlights the need for thorough cleaning and safety assessments when handling contaminated buildings.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalChemosphere·TypeCase study·DateMay 29, 2023

Pan-cancer T cell atlas reveals new details of tumor microenvironment

A pan-cancer single-cell T cell atlas provides a detailed picture of the heterogeneity of T cells within the tumor microenvironment, revealing a previously undescribed stress response state that appears to be less effective at fighting cancer. This new discovery highlights the need for further understanding of how these states contribu...

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalNature Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 29, 2023

Mapping the conflict between farming and biodiversity

A Japanese-led team used mapping techniques to quantify the impact of agriculture on high-priority conservation areas. The study found that commodities like beef, rice, and soybeans are often produced in high-conservation priority areas, while others like barley and wheat are sourced from low-priority areas.

SourceResearch Institute for Humanity and Nature·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 29, 2023

Robot centipedes go for a walk

Researchers from Osaka University developed a biomimetic robot that uses dynamic instability to navigate uneven terrain. The robot can switch between straight and curved walking motions, making it suitable for search and rescue operations or planetary exploration.

SourceOsaka University·JournalSoft Robotics·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 29, 2023

Even lawyers don’t like legalese

A new MIT study shows that lawyers prefer plain English contracts, which they find easier to understand and more appealing than traditional legal documents. The researchers found that while lawyers excel at reading and writing complex legalese, the style can be a barrier for non-lawyers.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 29, 2023

Optimal minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer: robotic versus laparoscopic techniques

A recent study compared robotic and laparoscopic surgery for gastric cancer, finding that robotic surgery has superior short-term outcomes but comparable long-term results. The authors suggest considering 3D/4K displays over traditional 2D displays as a more favorable alternative for those without robotic capabilities.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalIntelligent Surgery·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateMay 28, 2023

New catalyst design for electrocatalytic acetylene semihydrogenation

Researchers at USTC developed an undercoordinated Cu nanodots catalyst for electrocatalytic acetylene semihydrogenation, achieving over 90% Faradaic efficiency and continuous synthesis of polymer-grade ethylene. The catalyst outperforms traditional thermocatalytic methods with lower energy consumption and compact reactor design.

SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 27, 2023

A Botox discovery that could save lives

Researchers have discovered how Botox, a deadly neurotoxin, enters brain cells, allowing for potential therapeutic targets to be identified. The study, published in the EMBO Journal, reveals that Botox hijacks a complex of receptors to interrupt communication between nerves and muscle cells, causing paralysis.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalThe EMBO Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 26, 2023

Gene therapy rescues hearing for the first time in aged mouse models

Researchers successfully demonstrate AAV vector efficacy in aged animal models, showing robust hearing rescue in mice with a mutation equivalent to a defective human gene. The study suggests that virally mediated gene therapy could potentially treat genetic hearing loss, especially for patients diagnosed at advanced age.

SourceMass Eye and Ear·JournalMolecular Therapy·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 26, 2023

Optimising outcomes for older adults

Researcher Micah Tan has been recognized for his work on older adults' health and wellbeing. His research focuses on developing holistic measures of wellbeing that can span economic, psychological, social, and mental dimensions. He aims to help more people age successfully by enabling them to contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Strategic city planning can help reduce urban heat island effect

A new study found that strategic city planning can reduce the urban heat island effect by using trees, taller buildings with shade-providing effects, and pavement with high albedo levels. These design strategies can help create more comfortable thermal conditions in cities, especially for low-income communities and vulnerable populations.

SourcePenn State·JournalBuildings·DateMay 26, 2023

Hydrogen sulfide in cancer treatment

A team of researchers found that a hydrogen sulfide donor adjuvant can disrupt mitochondrial respiration, suppressing heat shock protein production and making tumor cells more sensitive to photothermal therapy. This approach led to the eradication of tumors in laboratory mice with breast tumors within just a few days.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 26, 2023

Life through rose-coloured glasses

The study found that poison frog tadpoles developing in clear environments can visually discriminate between predators, while those in darker environments exhibit weaker responses. This research provides insight into the visual plasticity of animals in response to environmental change and its implications for habitat disturbance.

SourceUniversity of Jyväskylä - Jyväskylän yliopisto·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 26, 2023

Fractons as information storage: Not yet quite tangible, but close

Researchers have modeled fractons, stationary quasiparticles, and found they are not visible even at absolute zero temperature due to quantum fluctuations. The team plans to develop a model to regulate these fluctuations, paving the way for experimental materials that could exhibit fractons.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 26, 2023

Fibromyalgia changes the brain

Researchers found changes in grey matter volume in pain-processing areas of the brain, with decreased volume in regions responsible for inhibiting pain. The study also revealed altered signal transmission in the thalamus and correlations between brain structure and perceptional characteristics.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalArthritis Research & Therapy·TypeObservational study·DateMay 26, 2023

Laser-induced monolayer graphene nanoprocessing

Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a technique to micro/nanofabricate silicon nitride thin devices using a femtosecond laser. The method enables precise machining and contaminant removal, opening doors for non-destructive cleaning of high-purity graphene. By applying this method to an ultra-thin atomic layer of graphene, t...

SourceTohoku University·JournalNano Letters·DateMay 26, 2023

State policies can boost use of anti-opioid medication

A new RAND Corporation study finds that state policies requiring additional education for buprenorphine prescribers and continuing medical education related to substance misuse significantly increase the use of anti-opioid medication. This is associated with improved quality of life and decreased fatal overdose rates.

SourceRAND Corporation·JournalJAMA Health Forum·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 26, 2023

Forging a dream material with semiconductor quantum dots

Scientists have successfully created a superlattice of lead sulfide semiconducting colloidal quantum dots that exhibits the electrical conducting properties of a metal. This breakthrough could lead to improved capabilities in devices such as solar cells, biological imaging, and quantum computing.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 26, 2023