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Science News Archive 2024 - Page 157


Page 157 of 484

1 in 5 COVID deaths potentially attributable to hospital caseload strain

A nationwide retrospective cohort study found a detrimental relationship between COVID-19 caseload and survival across all hospital types. Approximately 1 in every 5 COVID-19 deaths were attributed to hospital caseload strain, highlighting the importance of minimizing caseload surge during future public health emergencies.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeNews article·DateSep 9, 2024

Growing key biomethane crop on peat emits 3 times more CO2 than using natural gas

A recent study by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology found that growing maize to produce biomethane on drained peat emits up to three times more carbon dioxide than using natural gas. The production of crops like maize for bioenergy has rapidly increased, leading to a significant expansion of cultivated areas on drained peatlands.

SourceUK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 9, 2024

Researchers at UCLA identify cellular pathways whose dysregulation leads to acne lesions

A study by Min Deng and colleagues at UCLA identified two key dysregulated pathways in acne-affected skin: the GRN-SORT1 axis in TREM2 macrophages and the IL-13-IL-13RA1 axis in keratinocytes. These findings suggest modulating these pathways through gene therapy could lead to new acne treatments.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalCell Communication and Signaling·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 9, 2024

Breakthrough insights into carbon dioxide absorption using cement-based materials

Researchers discovered that structural changes and mass transfer play a crucial role in the carbonation process of cement-based materials. The study found that lower humidity conditions and high Ca/Si ratios result in smaller pores, suppressing ion leaching and improving carbonation efficiency. This breakthrough could lead to developin...

SourceChiba University·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry C·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 9, 2024

Crown-of-thorns starfish thrive in degraded coral habitats

Research reveals that crown-of-thorns starfish thrive in degraded coral habitats, benefiting from the loss of live coral. This 'degraded reef hypothesis' explains how juvenile COTS accumulate in rubble habitats, promoting a pulsed emergence as adults and exacerbating the cycle of coral loss.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalMarine Environmental Research·TypeObservational study·DateSep 9, 2024

Microwaving waste cooking oil into useful chemicals

A team from Kyushu University has developed a zeolite catalyst that can be heated using microwaves to speed up the conversion of fatty acid esters to olefins. This process improves energy efficiency and reduces carbon dioxide production, offering a more sustainable chemical industry.

SourceKyushu University·JournalChemical Engineering Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 9, 2024

Final media invitation and details of media briefing

The ESA Hera mission is set to launch in just under a month, with representatives discussing the mission's expectations and current status. The BepiColombo Mission to Mercury is also being updated following its successful flyby, with insights into previous flybys and plans for the remainder of the mission.

How the brain's inner chamber governs our state of consciousness

A new study published in Nature Communications reveals how propofol sedation alters the connections between brain cells in the thalamus and cortex, shedding light on the neural mechanisms underlying consciousness. The researchers found that disruptions to the matrix cells' activity play a crucial role in the transition to unconsciousness.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 9, 2024

Optica Quantum August 2024 Issue Press Tip Sheet

Researchers developed hybrid single-photon cameras for high-dimensional spatial correlations, enabling faster measurements of quantum optical phenomena. They also reconstructed photon number distributions in microresonators to characterize their performance without specialized detectors.

SourceOptica·JournalOptica Quantum·DateSep 9, 2024

Researchers develop reaction-induced molybdenum carbides for efficient carbon dioxide conversion

Researchers developed a facile strategy to create molybdenum carbide catalysts for efficient CO2 conversion. The catalysts exhibit excellent activity and stability, outperforming traditional methods. The unique structure of the Mo oxycarbide active sites maintains dynamic equilibrium in the reaction atmosphere.

SourceDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences·JournalNature Chemistry·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateSep 9, 2024

Large theropods thrived near South Pole, Australian tracks show

A discovery of 18 theropod tracks and four ornithopod tracks in the Wonthaggi Formation reveals that large carnivores roamed polar environments, feeding on prey like smaller dinosaurs, fish, and turtles. The finds confirm that a variety of dinosaurs lived and walked on the ground where their bones were found.

SourceEmory University·JournalAlcheringa An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology·TypeObservational study·DateSep 9, 2024

During the pandemic, employers who fostered ‘collective engagement’ had less employee turnover

A recent study found that workplaces with high levels of collective engagement saw less employee turnover during the COVID-19 pandemic. Collective engagement refers to a shared sense of mission or community among store employees. The researchers also observed that stores with higher collective engagement had lower employee turnover rat...

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·TypeObservational study·DateSep 9, 2024

UT Health San Antonio urologist discovers combined anti-seizure drug and omega-3 may lower COVID-19 risks

A study by UT Health San Antonio urologist Ronald Rodriguez found that combining valproic acid, an anti-seizure medication, with DHA, a type of omega-3 fatty acid, may reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 and lessen its severity. The combination has been shown to activate ancient antiviral pathways against coronaviruses.

Research Spotlight: association of statin, metformin, and aspirin use with hepatocellular carcinoma in the all of us research program

A recent study published in Gastro Hep Advances found that statin use was associated with a reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The research, conducted using data from the All of Us Research Program, suggests that lipophilic statins may be an effective strategy for chemoprevention in HCC. Patients with indications for stati...

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalGastro Hep Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 9, 2024

How aging affects stem cells: A fly's tale

Scientists identified key changes in chromosome structure and gene expression that affect stem cell function during aging. Blocking a specific gene, ced-6, triggered stem cell exhaustion at any age, indicating a general process that maintains balance when proliferation is too high.

SourceRIKEN·JournaliScience·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 9, 2024

Most detailed study yet of seismic activity links fault strength to likelihood of large earthquakes

Researchers from Kyushu University have identified a link between fault strength and earthquake magnitude, suggesting that stronger faults are more likely to produce large earthquakes. The study analyzed seismic activity at over 1,000 locations and estimated the stress field and characterized faults as strong or weak.

SourceKyushu University·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateSep 9, 2024

Solution to a cosmic mystery

Scientists found that a flyby of an alien star billions of years ago can explain the orbits of trans-Neptunian objects and the formation of irregular moons. The flyby caused some objects to be hurled into our solar system, which were then captured by giant planets as moons.

SourceForschungszentrum Juelich·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 9, 2024

Loss of skin’s pigment-producing cells could be related to basement membrane disruption

Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University have discovered that disruptions in the basement membrane zone between the epidermis and dermis could make it harder for pigment-producing cells to adhere. An enzyme called matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) may be overexpressed, leading to disturbance of the basement membrane.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalThe Journal of Pathology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 9, 2024

Framing climate action as patriotic and status-quo friendly increases liberals’ and conservatives’ belief in climate change

A psychology study finds that framing climate action as a way to protect American values and traditions can increase belief in climate change and support for pro-environmental policies among both liberals and conservatives. The study, which analyzed data from 50,000 participants across 60 countries, suggests that messaging that aligns ...

SourceNew York University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 9, 2024

We're closer than ever to solving mystery of deadly virus

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have identified the protein complex that enables the hepatitis C virus to infect cells. This discovery is a significant step towards developing a vaccine against the disease, which causes chronic inflammation and 300,000 deaths annually worldwide. The study's results, published in Nature maga...