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Science News Archive October 2023 - Page 13


Page 13 of 37

Social media contributing to poor body image among teenaged athletes, associated with dropping high school sports

A recent study found that social media is a significant factor in body image issues affecting teenaged athletes, with many quitting sports due to perceived imperfections. The research suggests that promoting diverse and realistic images of athleticism can help reduce dropout rates among young girls, who are more likely to quit sports t...

Research shows how airline pricing really works

Researchers found that airlines use a pricing heuristic called Expected Marginal Seat Revenue-b to set prices, resulting in large gaps between ticket prices. Airlines also don't directly incorporate competitor prices into their automated price-setting, leading to dampened competitive benefits.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley Haas School of Business·JournalThe Quarterly Journal of Economics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 20, 2023

Research finds 1 out of 4 youth screen positive for suicide risk in an emergency department; majority of those who identify as transgender, gender diverse, screen positive

Research reveals nearly 80% of emergency department encounters involving transgender or gender diverse youth ages 10 and older screened positive for suicide risk. The majority of those who identify as transgender or gender diverse screened positive for suicidal ideation.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·TypeObservational study·DateOct 20, 2023

COVID-19-related jail decarceration did not affect crime in California

A new study by researchers at UC Irvine and the University of Arizona found no consistent relation between COVID-19-related jail decarceration and violent or property crime in California. The study suggests that downsizing, on average, did not drive crime increases statewide, but notes limitations such as a short measurement period.

SourceCrime and Justice Research Alliance·JournalJournal of Contemporary Criminal Justice·DateOct 20, 2023

Does urbanization trigger plant evolution?

Researchers found that urbanized creeping woodsorrel plants exhibit red leaves, which thrive in urban areas due to high stress tolerance. Genome-wide genetic analyses revealed multiple evolutionary origins of the red-leaf variant from ancestral green-leaved plants.

SourceChiba University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 20, 2023

Johns Hopkins study supports potential for injectable ‘chemical vaccine’ for malaria using atovaquone

A study published in Nature Communications suggests that a key mutation rendering malaria parasites resistant to atovaquone also makes them non-transmissible via mosquitoes. Researchers propose an injectable formulation of atovaquone for long-acting protection against malaria, overcoming concerns about resistance.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 20, 2023

Pupil response may shed light on who responds best to transcranial magnetic stimulation for depression

New studies from UCLA Health found that measuring pupil response to light before TMS treatment correlates with improved depression symptoms. Pupil size reflects activation of the autonomic nervous system, which is negatively impacted in people with depression. Researchers discovered a significant association between baseline pupil cons...

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalBrain Stimulation·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 20, 2023

UK’s first local Net Zero Carbon planning policy likely to drive more efficient buildings and cut energy bills, review shows

A new net zero carbon planning policy in Bath & North East Somerset is expected to make new buildings much more energy efficient and boost the introduction of renewables. Despite concerns about increased costs, most planning applicants support the policy's intentions, with solar photovoltaics and heat pumps being key technologies.

SourceUniversity of Bath·TypeObservational study·DateOct 20, 2023

Father’s postpartum depression doubles child’s odds of adverse childhood experiences before age 5

New research suggests that father's depression during the child's first year of life doubles the odds of a child having three or more adverse childhood experiences by age 5. Adverse childhood experiences, including household dysfunction and child maltreatment, can have lifelong effects on children's health and wellbeing.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 20, 2023

Team looking at gene therapy for children paralyzed by rare mutations

Researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center discovered a gene therapy approach that can restore motor functions in mice with Contactin-Associated Protein 1 (Cntnap1) mutations. The study found that turning on the normal gene earlier improves the rescue outcome, and the next phase is to test this approach in humans.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio·JournalCell Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 20, 2023

The Arctic in transition

The Arctic Permafrost Atlas reveals alarming changes in landscapes, ecosystems, and human lives due to climate change. Over five million people are at risk of losing frozen ground beneath their feet by 2050, with significant economic implications for oil and gas production.

Generating clean electricity with chicken feathers

Scientists at ETH Zurich have developed a new, environmentally friendly fuel cell membrane made from chicken feathers. The keratin-based membrane replaces toxic substances and reduces carbon emissions. This breakthrough could enable the widespread adoption of hydrogen power as a sustainable energy source.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalInterfaces·DateOct 20, 2023

Why do some men not produce sperm?

Researchers discovered that a single mutation in a key synaptonemal complex protein can cause infertility in mice and is likely to have the same effect in humans. This finding may lead to new technologies for treating male infertility by pinpointing the exact location of the defect.

SourceStowers Institute for Medical Research·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 20, 2023

Pivotal breakthrough in adapting perovskite solar cells for renewable energy at City University of Hong Kong; published in Science

The CityU innovation has dramatically enhanced the thermal robustness of perovskite solar cells, retaining over 90% of efficiency even under high temperatures. This breakthrough could significantly broaden the utilisation of these cells and contribute substantially to combating the global climate crisis.

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 20, 2023

Land use: Producing more food and storing more carbon

Researchers from KIT and HeiGIT found that optimized land use can increase food production by an average of 83%, water availability by 8%, and CO2 storage capacity by 3%. This would be achieved by preserving tropical and boreal forests, using temperate latitudes for croplands, and utilizing tropical and subtropical savannas for pastures.

SourceKarlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 20, 2023

Electric scooter injuries increased more than 70% in youth age 18 and younger from 2020-2021

A recent study found a 71% increase in injuries associated with electric scooters among children and teens aged 18 and younger. The majority of these injuries were to the head, and nearly two-thirds of head injuries were not caused by helmet use. Electric scooters are an increasingly popular mode of transportation, but their popularity...

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·TypeObservational study·DateOct 20, 2023

Stolen genes allow parasitic control of behavior

Researchers discovered that parasites like horsehair worms use stolen genes to control host behavior. They found over 3,000 genes expressed more in manipulated hosts, suggesting the parasite produces its own proteins for manipulating nervous systems.

SourceRIKEN·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 19, 2023

Predicting potential problems of persistent plastic particulates

Researchers used Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and machine learning to predict adsorption capacity of pharmaceuticals and personal care products on long-term aged microplastics. The study successfully captured the complexity of the system with up to 98% accuracy, providing new insights into the interactions between microplast...

SourceSingapore University of Technology and Design·JournalJournal of Hazardous Materials·DateOct 19, 2023

Persistently high rates of severe maternal trauma during forceps, vacuum births warrant national response, analysis shows

A McMaster University-led analysis reveals persistently high rates of severe maternal trauma during forceps and vacuum deliveries in Canada. The study calls for increased recognition, transparency, and action to prevent these injuries, which have significant short- and long-term consequences for mothers.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalBMJ·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 19, 2023