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Science News for September 8, 2023


The green power of fungi

Biologists at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun synthesized silver nanoparticles using fungi, showing potential for medical applications. The method also improves crop protection by detecting plant pathogens and delivering nutrients to plants with minimal waste.

SourceNicolaus Copernicus University in Torun·JournalFrontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology·DateSep 8, 2023

What defines a safety-net hospital?

Researchers found that different safety-net hospital definitions captured varying hospitals and characteristics, complicating funding allocations. A universal definition or index is recommended to identify hospitals for funding, incorporating community and service characteristics beyond financial expenditures.

SourceNew York University·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateSep 8, 2023

New study highlights feasibility and optimization of ammonia-based power generation for carbon neutrality

A recent study evaluates the feasibility of ammonia-based power generation through techno-economic and carbon footprint analyses. The research reveals an impressive energy efficiency rate of 46.7% within the designed power generation process, with costs and greenhouse gas emissions considered.

SourceUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST)·JournalChemical Engineering Journal·DateSep 8, 2023

These worms have rhythm

A team of researchers has discovered that the worm C. elegans uses a unique system to regulate its development, with a quartet of molecules working in concert to control gene expression. This process shares similarities with human circadian clocks, and understanding how it operates could provide insights into developmental biology.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateSep 8, 2023

Synchrotron studies change the composition of the Earth’s core

A team of scientists has discovered a more accurate pressure scale using synchrotron studies, leading to a significant increase in the amount of light material in the inner core. The new scale found double the expected amount of lighter material in the inner core and five times that of the Earth's crust.

SourceRIKEN·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 8, 2023

Heatwaves hitting Antarctica too

A new report reveals that Antarctica experienced both a record-breaking heatwave and extreme precipitation in 2022. The coldest and driest continent's ice sheet lost significant amounts of ice, contributing to sea level rise. Despite this, the region's snowfall actually protected the world against further sea level rise.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalBulletin of the American Meteorological Society·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 8, 2023

MSU research shows table salt could be the secret ingredient for better chemical recycling

Table salt has been found to outperform expensive catalysts in the pyrolysis process, which breaks down plastics into simpler compounds. The researchers' findings have significant implications for reducing costs and increasing efficiency in plastic recycling, with potential applications in industries such as packaging and energy.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalAdvanced Sustainable Systems·DateSep 8, 2023

Study explores an underappreciated way warmer temperatures will impact ecosystems: Decomposition

A new study led by Holden Arboretum ecologists explores the impact of warmer temperatures on decomposition rates in natural ecosystems. The research reveals that interactions between microbes, plants, and warming temperatures can alter decomposition rates, providing valuable insights into how climate change affects ecosystem function.

SourceHolden Forests & Gardens·JournalFunctional Ecology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 8, 2023

The climate crisis could reshape Italian mountain forests forever

Climate change is altering Italian mountain forests, with trees potentially shifting uphill and species disappearing. The study found that some species, like the European larch and Turkey oak, may thrive in a warmer future, while others, such as the silver fir and European beech, are at risk.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Forests and Global Change·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 8, 2023

British sex lives revealed in new study

A recent study published in PLOS ONE surveyed over 5,000 British people to better understand how sexual behaviors change with age. The research found that many gay and bisexual men continue to have multiple partners well into old age, while straight women become less sexually active after 50.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeSurvey·DateSep 8, 2023

Drug approvals in clinical trials were correlated with the cells/humans discrepancy in gene perturbation effects

A recent study has successfully predicted potential drug outcomes and side effects by analyzing the discrepancy in gene perturbation effects between cells and humans. Researchers used machine learning to forecast drug approvals, improving reliability over conventional methods that only consider chemical properties.

Liver cancer and severe liver disease more common if a close relative has fatty liver disease

A nationwide study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden found that close relatives and partners of people with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) are at a higher risk of developing liver cancer and severe liver disease. This suggests that family members could benefit from the same lifestyle advice as patients with MASLD.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalJournal of Hepatology·TypeObservational study·DateSep 8, 2023

Artificial Intelligence: a step change in climate modelling predictions for climate adaptation

The article discusses how artificial intelligence can enhance climate modeling by generating large ensembles of simulations at moderately high resolutions. This approach capitalizes on advances in computing and AI to learn from data, enabling more accurate predictions and reduced uncertainty. By focusing on resolutions between 10-50 km...

How trees influence cloud formation

Researchers at PSI have identified sesquiterpenes as a major factor in cloud formation, which could reduce uncertainties in climate models. The study's findings suggest these compounds form ten times more particles than other organic substances.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 8, 2023

Silicon-based anodes for high-capacity lithium-ion batteries

Researchers at Meijo University have created silicon-based anodes for high-capacity lithium-ion batteries using a single-step plasma sputtering process. The new method produces Si/Sn nanowire anodes with higher capacity than traditional graphite anodes, demonstrating stable performance and potential for advancing battery technology.

SourceMeijo University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 8, 2023

Valleytronics is warming up at Brookhaven Lab

Scientists have discovered a method for maintaining valley polarization at room temperature using transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and chiral lead halide perovskites. This breakthrough could lead to the development of devices that store and process information in novel ways without the need for ultra-low temperatures.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 8, 2023

Study hints at the existence of the closest black holes to Earth in the Hyades star cluster

A team of astrophysicists used simulations to track the motion and evolution of stars in the Hyades cluster, finding that two or three black holes could be present at its center. The study suggests these black holes are still inside the cluster or very close to it, making them the closest ever detected.

SourceUniversity of Barcelona·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·TypeObservational study·DateSep 8, 2023