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Science News Archive February 2024


Page 1 of 38

Astronomers reveal a new link between water and planet formation

Researchers have discovered water vapor in the disc around a young star exactly where planets are forming. The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) enabled detailed images and spatially resolved observations, revealing three times as much water as Earth's oceans in the inner disc of the HL Tauri star.

SourceESO·JournalNature Astronomy·DateFeb 29, 2024

Turning waste into gold

Scientists at ETH Zurich have developed a novel method to extract gold from electronic waste using a protein matrix sponge. This sustainable approach yields a high percentage of gold recovery with minimal energy consumption, making it commercially viable.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateFeb 29, 2024

Loneliness increases the risk of health deterioration in older adults

A recent study from Amsterdam UMC and the University of Glasgow found that loneliness increases physical frailty, leading to a higher risk of depression, falls, and cognitive decline in older adults. The research analysis more than 130 studies and revealed that reduced social functioning is associated with physical decline in older adu...

SourceAmsterdam University Medical Center·JournalThe Lancet Healthy Longevity·TypeMeta-analysis·DateFeb 29, 2024

Wildfire smoke disproportionately affects California's Indigenous communities, new research shows

Researchers found that Indigenous communities in California were exposed to 1.7 times more wildfire smoke than expected, with the average annual exposure being a critical factor in understanding long-term health effects. The study proposes new metrics to measure cumulative exposure and duration of smoke exposure.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 29, 2024

Scientists ID burned bodies using technique used for extracting DNA from wooly mammoths, Neanderthals

Researchers at Binghamton University have developed a new technique to extract usable DNA from bones of fire victims, allowing identification through dental records or DNA testing. The method uses two different techniques to extract DNA, one suitable for temperatures below 350 degrees and the other for hotter fires.

SourceBinghamton University·JournalJournal of Forensic Sciences·DateFeb 29, 2024

IBEC and ISGlobal scientists develop an innovative compound effective against malaria and leishmaniasis

A team of IBEC and ISGlobal scientists developed an innovative compound effective against both malaria and leishmaniasis. The compound, YAT2150, was originally designed as an antimalarial drug but showed high efficacy against leishmaniasis, making it a promising candidate for treating co-infections.

SourceInstitute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC)·JournalAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 29, 2024

Tiny magnetic particles in air pollution linked to development of Alzheimer’s

Research suggests that magnetite particles, found in air pollution, can induce signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The study exposed mice to fine particles of iron, magnetite, and diesel hydrocarbons, finding that magnetite induced Alzheimer's disease pathologies, including neuronal cell loss and amyloid plaque formation.

SourceUniversity of Technology Sydney·JournalEnvironment International·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 29, 2024

Scientists develop novel RNA- or DNA-based substances to protect plants from viruses

Researchers at Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg developed novel RNA- or DNA-based substances that reliably fight off viral infections in plants. The new approach uses antisense oligonucleotides to target specific viral RNA molecules, achieving an impressive up to 90% success rate against a common virus.

SourceMartin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg·JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 29, 2024

New role for bacterial enzyme in gut metabolism revealed

Researchers at Penn State have identified a bacterial enzyme, bile salt hydrolase, that produces new bile acid species in humans at birth, coinciding with the establishment of the gut microbiome. This discovery opens up new avenues for exploring the role of bile acids in human health and disease.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature·DateFeb 29, 2024

A new plant’s name that tells a story

Researchers from Kobe University have discovered a new plant genus and species of Thismiaceae family, found primarily in southern Japan. The plant, named Relictithismia kimotsukiensis, feeds on fungal mycelia and is extremely rare, with only four individuals found in the same area.

SourceKobe University·JournalJournal of Plant Research·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 29, 2024

Climate: 2023 – 24 El Niño likely to cause record-breaking average temperatures in some areas

The 2023-24 El Niño phenomenon is likely to cause record-breaking average surface air temperatures in some areas, including the Bay of Bengal and the Philippines. Global mean surface temperatures are predicted to break historical records with a 90% chance under a moderate or strong El Niño scenario.

SourceScientific Reports·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 29, 2024

Childhood tonsillectomy not linked to obesity in adulthood

A new study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that childhood tonsillectomy is not associated with an increased risk of obesity in adulthood. The research followed 132 children who underwent tonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnea and found no link to weight gain in adulthood.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 29, 2024

Conventional supply-side energy policies overlook benefits of demand-side policy approaches

Conventional supply-side policies overlook benefits of demand-side policy approaches, which can improve energy security through continuity, affordability, and sustainability. A novel analysis by Nuno Bento et al. shows that demand-side actions outperform supply-side approaches in making countries more resilient to energy crises.

New model of key brain tumor feature could help scientists understand how to develop new treatments

A new model of glioblastoma's key feature, oncostreams, could help scientists understand how to develop new treatments for this aggressive brain cancer. The model, developed by a team at the University of Michigan, identifies a potential inhibitor that appears to dismantle oncostreams, leading to better survival in mouse models.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 29, 2024

General Medical Council urged to revise terminology for international medical graduates

The General Medical Council's definition of international medical graduates (IMGs) is being challenged as it overlooks doctors from the European Economic Area (EEA). A commentary argues that the term should include all doctors practicing in the UK with primary medical qualifications from outside the UK, including those from EEA countries.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of the Royal Society of Medicine·DateFeb 29, 2024

When the music changes, so does the dance: Controlling cooperative electronic states in Kagome metals

A team of scientists has developed a novel strain-free approach to investigate the intrinsic electronic ground state of Kagome superconductors. This study provides a unifying picture of the controversial charge order in Kagome metals, highlighting the need for material control at the microscopic scale.

SourceMax Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 29, 2024

A new method for successfully measuring electrical conductivity in microorganisms―approaching understanding of microbial ecosystems

A new bioelectronic system has been developed to measure electrical conductivity in microorganisms without requiring biofilm formation on electrodes. This approach has revealed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis possess conductive properties, with potential applications in environmental energy technologies.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateFeb 29, 2024