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Science News Archive June 2024 - Page 23


Page 23 of 39

From wearables to swallowables: USC Engineering researchers create GPS-like smart pills with AI

Researchers from USC Viterbi School of Engineering have developed ingestible sensors that track gastrointestinal health in real-time. These 'smart pills' use AI and wearable technology to detect gases associated with gastritis and gastric cancers, offering a significant step forward in ingestible technology.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalCell Reports Physical Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 12, 2024

Piezocatalytically-induced controllable mineralization scaffold with bone-like microenvironment to achieve endogenous bone regeneration

Researchers developed a biomimetic tissue engineering scaffold with a bone-like microenvironment, promoting osteogenic differentiation of stem cells and enhancing bone regeneration in rat skull defects. The scaffolds exhibit piezoelectric properties and controlled mineralization, mimicking natural bone structure.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·DateJun 12, 2024

Exposure to heat and cold in early life may affect development of white matter in the brain

A study of over 2,000 preadolescents found that early life exposure to extreme temperatures can lead to slower white matter maturation, which may impact cognitive function. Children living in poorer neighborhoods are more vulnerable to the effects of cold and heat, with differences in windows of susceptibility observed.

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeImaging analysis·DateJun 12, 2024

Sweetpotato’s sweet revenge

Researchers have identified 31 effector genes from the fungus Ceratocystis fimbriata, which causes devastating black rot in sweetpotatoes. This breakthrough provides a new approach to developing disease-resistant crops using effector-assisted breeding.

SourceAmerican Phytopathological Society·JournalMolecular Plant-Microbe Interactions·DateJun 12, 2024

Some honeybees learn tasks better than others, and gene expression patterns in their brains may be associated with this difference in ability

A recent study reveals that some honeybees exhibit superior learning abilities compared to others, which may be attributed to distinct gene expression patterns in their brains. The research explores the behavioral and genetic underpinnings of individual differences in learning performance among Apis mellifera.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 12, 2024

What waves know about their surroundings

Researchers at TU Wien have developed a theory to extract information from waves, allowing for precise measurements of objects in space. The theory reveals that the information content of a wave depends on its interaction with the object's properties, enabling customised waves to be generated for optimal information transfer.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 12, 2024

Scientists show the key role of spleen and extracellular vesicles in cryptic malaria infections

Researchers have identified the spleen as a critical organ in cryptic malaria infections, where over 95% of Plasmodium vivax biomass is stored. Extracellular vesicles facilitate the parasite's adherence to spleen cells, enabling its survival and evasion of immune responses.

SourceGermans Trias i Pujol Research Institute·JournalFrontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 12, 2024

New way to spot beetle-killed spruce can help forest, wildfire managers

A new machine-learning system can automatically produce detailed maps from satellite data to show locations of likely beetle-killed spruce trees in Alaska. This helps forestry and wildfire managers make critical decisions as the beetle infestation spreads, affecting approximately 2 million acres across Southcentral Alaska.

SourceUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks·JournalISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing·DateJun 12, 2024

IEEE/CAA Journal of Automatica Sinica study presents novel protocol structure for achieving finite-time consensus of multi-agent systems

Researchers present a novel protocol structure for achieving global/semi-global finite-time consensus in multi-agent systems. The protocols use a hyperbolic tangent function to guarantee consensus and provide explicit calculation of settling time, making them practical for real-world applications.

SourceChinese Association of Automation·JournalIEEE/CAA Journal of Automatica Sinica·DateJun 12, 2024

Uncovering the nature of emergent magnetic monopoles

Scientists have discovered unique periodic structures in manganese germanide that behave like magnetic monopoles and antimonopoles. The researchers studied the collective excitation modes of these structures, revealing a way to experimentally determine their spatial configuration.

SourceWaseda University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 12, 2024

Boron nitride microribbons strengthened and toughened alumina composite ceramics with excellent mechanical, dielectric, and thermal conductivity properties

Researchers developed composite ceramics using boron nitride microribbons, resulting in improved mechanical properties, dielectric constant and thermal conductivity. The BN-based composites showed increased fracture toughness, bending strength, and thermal conductivity compared to pure alumina ceramics.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalJournal of Advanced Ceramics·DateJun 12, 2024

What is the neural mechanism behind helping someone at your own cost?

A study by Kalliopi Ioumpa and Selene Gallo investigated pro-social behaviour in self-reported mirror-pain synaesthetes, finding they donated significantly more money to alleviate others' pain. Mirror-pain synaesthetes activated their secondary somatosensory cortex more when witnessing others' pain, indicating a higher motivation to help.

SourceNetherlands Institute for Neuroscience - KNAW·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 12, 2024

When the TV show Neighbours ended, surveyed fans experienced strong grief, loss, and sometimes a lack of closure - implying that strong "parasocial" relationships link TV viewers and favorite shows

Surveyed Neighbours fans exhibited intense emotional responses, including grief and loss, indicating a deep parasocial connection with the show. The study suggests that these strong relationships can lead to feelings of abandonment or uncertainty when the series concludes.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 12, 2024

A ‘liquid battery’ advance

Researchers at Stanford University have made significant advancements in the development of a 'liquid battery' technology that uses LOHCs to store and release energy. The team discovered a novel, selective catalytic system that allows for the efficient storage of electrical energy in liquid fuels without generating gaseous hydrogen.

SourceStanford University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJun 12, 2024

Western agricultural communities need water conservation strategies to adapt to future shortages

A new study by Desert Research Institute finds that relying on water storage alone is insufficient to address future water scarcity, and that water conservation measures such as crop changes can help restore up to 20% of reservoir capacity. Agricultural communities in the Western US are advised to adopt these strategies to mitigate the...

SourceDesert Research Institute·JournalEarth's Future·DateJun 12, 2024

New study reveals combined use of Donepezil and Memantine increases the probability of five-year survival of Alzheimer’s disease patients

A new study led by Chapman University researchers found that combining Donepezil and Memantine significantly increased the probability of five-year survival for Alzheimer's disease patients. The combined use of these two medications reduced mortality rates by 0.05, or 6.4%, compared to no treatment and single-drug use.

SourceChapman University·JournalCommunications Medicine·DateJun 12, 2024

Compositional and hollow engineering of silicon carbide/carbon microspheres as high-performance microwave absorbing materials with good environmental tolerance

The research develops composite microspheres with a hollow structure, enhancing microwave absorption performance and stability in extreme environments. The results show that SiC/C composite materials demonstrate outstanding wave absorption and radar stealth performance, unaffected by temperature and environmental conditions.

SourceShanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center·JournalNano-Micro Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 12, 2024

Unlocking the secrets of plant steroid hormones: the yin and yang of diosgenin and brassinosteroids

Researchers have constructed a regulatory network showing how diosgenin and brassinosteroids balance each other in Dioscorea zingiberensis, offering new insights into plant secondary metabolism. The study provides evidence of homeostasis and regulatory mechanisms for these vital compounds.

Study demonstrates sustained reduction in child mortality following educational interventions in low-resourced countries

A study published in Frontiers of Public Health found that educational interventions, including telesimulation-based team training and customized tools, can significantly reduce child mortality rates in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in low- and middle-income countries. The interventions led to a sustained decline in mortality ...

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalFrontiers in Public Health·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 12, 2024