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Science News Archive June 2024 - Page 33


Page 33 of 39

Breakthrough in battery technology: iron-chromium redox flow batteries enhanced with N-B doped electrodes

The team introduced a novel N-B doped composite electrode for iron-chromium redox flow batteries, demonstrating significant improvements in discharge capacity and energy efficiency. The modified electrodes offered more active sites for redox reactions, enhancing the energy storage process.

SourceBeijing Institute of Technology Press Co., Ltd·JournalGreen Energy and Intelligent Transportation·DateJun 5, 2024

Major cause of inflammatory bowel disease discovered

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have identified a key biological pathway that contributes to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other autoimmune conditions. The discovery provides a potential treatment target for IBD, with existing drugs showing promise in reducing inflammation in macrophages and gut samples from patients.

SourceThe Francis Crick Institute·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 5, 2024

Researchers led by UMass Amherst solve 2,000-year-old mystery of the shipworm

Researchers have solved the mystery of shipworms' ability to digest lignin, a tough wood substance. A population of symbiotic microbes in the typhlosole sub-organ produces enzymes that break down lignin, with potential practical applications in biotech and significant impacts on climate change and human health.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalInternational Biodeterioration & Biodegradation·DateJun 5, 2024

Immunotherapy before surgery very successful in treating colorectal cancer

A short course of immunotherapy prior to surgery was highly effective in treating colon cancer, with 95% of patients showing significant tumor reduction or complete elimination. The treatment also showed promising results in preventing cancer recurrence and metastasis over a two-year follow-up period.

SourceNetherlands Cancer Institute·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 5, 2024

Enhanced decadal climate linkages discovered between Western Australia and tropical Pacific

Researchers have discovered significant interactions between sea surface temperature variations in Western Australia and the western-central tropical Pacific, driven by external forces since 1985. Warm SST anomalies in the tropical Indian Ocean drive decadal climate linkages with the two regions.

Banning false information traffickers online improved public discourse

A study found that banning 70,000 false information traffickers on Twitter reduced the number of misinformation posts by users who stayed on the platform. The study also showed that many misinformation traffickers left Twitter after being de-platformed, resulting in a spillover effect that reduced circulation on the platform.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 5, 2024

Research shows GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs are effective but come with complex concerns

Research shows that GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs are highly effective for weight management and Type 2 diabetes treatment, but they come with complex considerations such as dosages, side effects, and comparisons between specific drugs. Experts caution against overusing these drugs or viewing them as a universal cure-all for obesity.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalHealth Affairs Scholar·DateJun 5, 2024

AI approach elevates plasma performance and stability across fusion devices

A team of researchers from Princeton University and the US Department of Energy's PPPL have successfully deployed machine learning methods to suppress harmful edge instabilities in fusion devices. Their approach optimizes the system's suppression response in real-time, maintaining high plasma performance without sacrificing stability.

SourcePrinceton University, Engineering School·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 5, 2024

Study reveals how 'forever chemicals' may impact heart health in older women

Research from the University of Illinois has found a link between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and cardiovascular diseases in postmenopausal women. The study reveals how PFAS chemicals interact with pro-inflammatory pathways, providing potential explanations for the increased risk.

Food security: discovery of a gene for immunity against a disease that ravages rice and wheat crops

Researchers have identified a new type of resistance gene in plants called Ptr, which makes rice immune to certain strains of the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. This finding invalidates previous studies on another gene named Pi-ta and opens up new avenues for understanding natural resistance to disease.

Multiple randomized trials prove more stroke patients can benefit from thrombectomy

Randomized trials prove endovascular thrombectomy can be lifesaving for adult patients with severe symptoms after BAO, significantly lowering mortality rates compared to medical therapy. The Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery issues updated standards and guidelines recommending expanded access to thrombectomy treatment.

SourceSociety of NeuroInterventional Surgery·JournalJournal of NeuroInterventional Surgery·DateJun 5, 2024

Fighting fires from space in record time: how AI could prevent devastating wildfires

Australian scientists have developed an AI-powered system to detect bushfires from space, reducing detection time by 500 times compared to traditional methods. The system uses hyperspectral imagery and onboard AI to identify fire smoke before it takes hold, allowing for faster responses and preventing loss of life and property.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalIEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 5, 2024

US public opinion on social media is warming to nuclear energy, but concerns remain

A recent study analyzing 300,000 X posts found that 48 US states have a more positive than negative tone towards nuclear energy, with a national average at 54% positive. Concerns about waste, cost, and safety dominate negative sentiment, while technology themes fuel positive sentiments highlighting innovations and job creation.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalRenewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews·DateJun 5, 2024

Training cognitive control in children does not change brain or behavior

A new study published in Nature Neuroscience found that training exercises designed to improve cognitive control in children do not lead to any brain changes or improvements in related behavioral measures. The study tested 235 children aged six to 13 and found that while they improved on specific tasks, these gains did not carry over i...

SourceUniversity College London·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 5, 2024

Monell researchers identify universal bitter blocker that could help patients take their life-saving medicines as prescribed

A team of scientists at Monell Chemical Senses Center identified a temporary, universal taste blocker that works in people. The study found that rinsing with AF-353 significantly reduced bitterness in two important medicines for chronic diseases, paving the way for improving medicine compliance in children and the elderly.

SourceMonell Chemical Senses Center·JournalBritish Journal of Pharmacology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 5, 2024

HKUST researchers boost cosmological explorations with novel method of detecting high-frequency gravitational waves in planetary magnetospheres

A new detection method for high-frequency gravitational waves (HFGWs) has been proposed by HKUST researchers. This approach leverages the physical effect of GWs within magnetic fields and can be detected using existing telescopes, opening up new possibilities for studying the early universe and violent cosmic events.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 5, 2024

Virginia Tech researcher helps reach nutrition security goals

A Virginia Tech researcher is helping implement the Food is Medicine concept across the US. Her studies found that electronic medical record functionality, provider support, and leadership alignment are key factors for successful implementation of these programs. The research team developed an implementation checklist to support health...

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalBMJ Open·DateJun 5, 2024

Will the 2024 Olympic Games become the playing field for social justice protests?

The 2024 Olympic Games may face social justice protests due to the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) rule on neutrality. Human rights activists argue that the IOC's Rule 50 creates a systemic barrier to racial justice, despite team members participating in Racial and Social Justice initiatives.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalSport Management Review·TypeSystematic review·DateJun 5, 2024

Fishy mystery of Bristol marine reptile solved

Researchers have identified the remains of a local prehistoric marine reptile as belonging to a thalattosaur, a large sea-lizard that behaved like an otter. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about its identity and provides new insights into the animal's diet and behavior.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalJournal of Vertebrate Paleontology·TypeImaging analysis·DateJun 5, 2024