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Science News Archive 2024 - Page 426


Page 426 of 484

Cracking the code to a healthier potato chip

Researchers have identified the specific gene responsible for cold-induced sweetening and uncovered the regulatory element that switches it on under cold temperatures. This discovery holds promise for developing potatoes that are naturally resistant to cold-induced sweetening and producing toxic compounds.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalThe Plant Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 20, 2024

High persuasiveness of propaganda written by AI

A study published in PNAS Nexus found that AI-generated propaganda was almost as effective as real propaganda in persuading US adults. The research used a large language model to generate new articles based on existing propaganda, with 43.5% of respondents agreeing with the claims after reading the AI-written articles.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateFeb 20, 2024

Warm Atlantic water is melting Greenland’s largest floating ice tongue

A team from the Alfred Wegener Institute found that warm Atlantic water is melting Greenland's 79° North Glacier, causing it to grow thinner. The study used a high-resolution ocean model to simulate the circulation below the ice tongue, revealing that higher ocean temperatures in the Atlantic are chiefly determining the melting rates.

SourceAlfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 20, 2024

Concordia researchers identify a decline in microbial genetic richness in the western Arctic Ocean

Researchers found a decline in microbial genetic richness in the western Arctic Ocean, with subtle but statistically significant changes in community structure and function. The study suggests that warming and freshening of the ocean risks strengthening the microbial loop, potentially impacting the marine food web.

SourceConcordia University·JournalISME Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 20, 2024

Avid appetite in childhood linked to later eating disorder symptoms

A new study found that high food responsiveness in early childhood is linked to a higher likelihood of experiencing eating disorder symptoms in adolescence. Children who exhibited high levels of hunger and desire for food were more likely to develop binge eating, emotional eating, and restrictive eating behaviors.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalThe Lancet Child & Adolescent Health·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 20, 2024

A sustainable fuel and chemical from the robotic lab

The Swiss Cat+ project uses a combination of artificial intelligence and automated laboratory infrastructure to find new and better metal catalysts for producing methanol from CO2. The team successfully developed around 150 catalyst compositions in under six weeks, saving time and improving conversion rates.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalChem Catalysis·DateFeb 20, 2024

Artificial reefs help preserve coral reefs by shifting divers away from the natural ones, according to new long-term study of one in Eilat

A long-term study in Eilat found that artificial reefs reduce diving pressure on natural reefs, allowing for the preservation of both dive tourism and coral reefs. The reef has attracted many species of fish and invertebrates, making it a successful alternative to natural reefs.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalOceans·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 20, 2024

Failure to pass fire levies can lower house values

UC economists found that fire protection funding has a significant impact on housing values, with cuts resulting in an average decrease of $15,000. However, prices return to normal within a few years. In contrast, parks and recreation funding is associated with higher home values three years after renewal.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalRegional Science and Urban Economics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 20, 2024

Engineering a coating for disease-free produce

Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a coating that bolsters the safety of fresh produce and provides enhanced protection against bacteria and fungi. The coating combines wax with nano-encapsulated cinnamon-bark essential oil in protein carriers to enhance antibacterial properties.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalCurrent Research in Food Science·DateFeb 20, 2024

Princeton scientists discover exotic quantum interference effect in a topological insulator device

Physicists at Princeton University have observed long-range quantum coherence effects due to Aharonov-Bohm interference in a bismuth bromide topological insulator-based device. This finding could lead to the development of spin-based electronics with higher energy efficiency and new platforms for quantum information science.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 20, 2024

Time watching videos may stunt toddler language development, but it depends on why they're watching

A new study from Southern Methodist University reveals that passive video use among toddlers can hinder language development, but caregivers' reasons for exposing them to digital media can lessen the negative impact. When videos are used for educational or social purposes, such as video chats with family members, the risk of stunted la...

SourceSouthern Methodist University·JournalActa Paediatrica·DateFeb 20, 2024

Paderborn physicists develop new solar cell

Physicists at Paderborn University have developed a new solar cell design using tetracene, which significantly increases efficiency. The introduction of defects in the organic layer accelerates exciton transfer to silicon, reducing energy losses and increasing overall yield of usable energy.

SourceUniversität Paderborn·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 20, 2024

Orbital angular momentum-mediated machine learning for high-accuracy mode-feature encoding

A team of scientists has created a new optical neural network architecture that uses orbital angular momentum to learn data features of images, achieving high-precision intelligent encoding and decoding. This method has been tested with success in various tasks, including image classification and secure free-space transmission.

“Integrating engineering philosophy into medical education will empower future physicians”

A new article suggests incorporating open-response questions with partial credit grading into medical school curriculum to improve critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This approach is inspired by engineering education, which emphasizes repeated exposure to problems with increasingly complex solutions.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalMedical Teacher·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 20, 2024

New study of adolescents and young adults reveals that cognitive disabilities and major depressive episodes increase the risk of nicotine vaping

A new study found that adolescents and young adults with cognitive disabilities had a higher prevalence of nicotine vaping compared to those without disabilities. Major depressive episodes were also associated with an increased risk of vaping in this population.

SourceGeorge Mason University·JournalAddictive Behaviors·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 19, 2024

Genetic risk prediction for 10 chronic diseases moves closer to the clinic

A team of researchers at the Broad Institute has developed 10 polygenic risk scores for use in clinical research, optimizing them for diverse populations. The tests calculate a person's lifetime odds of developing diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and can help guide clinical decision-making.

SourceBroad Institute of MIT and Harvard·JournalNature Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 19, 2024

One step forward, no steps back: new study advances understanding of dopamine’s role in movement

Researchers discover dopamine signals affect movement sequence length, shedding light on Parkinson's Disease symptoms and potential therapeutic targets. The study's findings suggest a complex role of dopamine neurons in movement, with distinct effects on movement-related and reward-related dopamine neurons.

SourceChampalimaud Centre for the Unknown·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 19, 2024

Droughts may trigger HIV transmission increase among women in rural sub-Saharan Africa, study finds

Research at the University of Bristol found that droughts trigger behavioral changes leading to higher instances of HIV transmission among women in rural sub-Saharan Africa. The study suggests that climate change may exacerbate this issue, particularly for women who rely on farming as their livelihood.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalAIDS and Behavior·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 19, 2024

A new glue, potentially also for you

Researchers create a simple method to instantly bond layers made of the same or different types of hydrogels using a thin film of chitosan. The new approach has potential to broadly advance new biomaterials solutions for multiple unmet clinical needs, including regenerative medicine and surgical care.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 19, 2024