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Science News Archive June 2024 - Page 38


Page 38 of 39

YALE NEWS: Mapping the seafloor sediment superhighway

A new scientific model provides a global look at the activities of clams, worms and other invertebrate animals that burrow at the bottom of the ocean. The study found that environmental factors such as seawater depth, nutrient levels and sediment composition shape bioturbation patterns and marine ecosystems worldwide.

SourceYale University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJun 3, 2024

Wire snare removal in protected areas is labor-intensive but effective – and essential to solving the Southeast Asian snaring crisis

Intensive wire snare removal efforts reduced snaring by almost 40% in protected areas of Viet Nam, according to an 11-year study. The effectiveness of snare removal was mainly achieved within the first 6 years, but its impact alone is unlikely to protect wildlife due to ongoing snaring threats.

SourceLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW)·JournalConservation Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 3, 2024

Researchers publish first computational insights into colonic motility to aid understanding of ulcerative colitis

A novel computational model simulating shear stress distribution in the colon with varying mucus thicknesses reveals how mucus acts as a lubricant, significantly increasing faecal velocity and easing waste movement. The study highlights the protective function of mucus shielding delicate cells from mechanical forces.

SourceUniversity of Galway·JournalComputers in Biology and Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 3, 2024

New catalyst brings commercial high-efficiency zinc-air batteries closer to reality

A new metal-nitrogen-carbon catalyst has been developed for use in zinc-air batteries, outperforming noble metal catalysts and improving the efficiency and practicality of ZAB technology. The team's rechargeable battery achieved a specific capacity of 846.8 mAh·g Zn and an impressive power density of 135 mW·cm−2 in liquid electrolyte.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalNano Research Energy·DateJun 3, 2024

Paving the way for hydrogen from algae enzymes

Researchers have gained new insights into how a specific enzyme, HydF, facilitates the production of hydrogen from algae enzymes. The study reveals the importance of amino acids in anchoring and synthesizing a crucial ligand for hydrogen turnover.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 3, 2024

Retrospective study based on electronic health records finds popular diabetes and weight-loss drugs associated with reduction in incidence and recurrence of alcohol-use disorder by at least half

A retrospective study found that patients treated with semaglutide, an active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, had a 50-56% decrease in the initiation and re-occurrence of alcohol-use disorder. The study, published in Nature Communications, provides preliminary evidence for the potential benefit of semaglutide in treating AUD.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 3, 2024

Thawing permafrost: Not a climate tipping element, but nevertheless far-reaching impacts

A study by AWI experts reveals that permafrost soils are thawing in step with global warming, but there is no evidence of a single global tipping point. Instead, numerous local and regional tipping points will be exceeded at different times and warming levels, leading to cumulative effects.

SourceAlfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 3, 2024

New all-optical approach to revolutionize night vision technology

Researchers at TMOS have developed a new infrared filter thinner than cling wrap, which can be integrated into everyday eyewear, allowing users to view both visible and infrared light spectra. This breakthrough miniaturizes night vision technology, opening up new applications in safety, surveillance, and biology.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 3, 2024

Others’ words, not firsthand experience, shape scientific and religious belief formation, HKUST study finds

A recent HKUST study reveals that people's scientific and religious beliefs are primarily formed through testimony from experts or their community, rather than direct experience. This understanding can help promote greater acceptance of scientific facts, especially in emerging topics like climate change.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalTrends in Cognitive Sciences·TypeCase study·DateJun 3, 2024

Where do Nextdoor communities exist—and what do these communities talk about?

Researchers analyzed 30 Nextdoor neighborhoods and found that information sharing indicates social capital formation, while discussions on suspicious persons may prompt biased behavior by law enforcement. The study contributes to understanding the digital media ecosystem's relationship with local communities and civic life.

SourceNew York University·JournalJournal of Quantitative Description Digital Media·TypeContent analysis·DateJun 3, 2024

Cracking the aging code: Insights into lipid changes

The study reveals age-related changes in lipid metabolism, including increased BMP-type lipids in kidneys and liver, and sex-specific differences in galactosylceramide levels. These findings may lead to better understanding of chronic diseases and the development of targeted treatments.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature Aging·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 3, 2024

University of Nevada, Reno team develops new vegetation mapping tools

The University of Nevada, Reno researchers developed new digital mapping tools that provide managers with better information to make large-scale decisions on mitigating effects of grazing, wildfire and other disruptions. The technology uses robust machine learning analysis of environmental variables to create high-quality vegetation maps.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Reno·JournalRangeland Ecology & Management·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 3, 2024

Best of both worlds: Innovative positioning system enhances versatility and accuracy of drone-viewpoint mixed reality applications

Researchers at Osaka University developed an innovative positioning system for drone-based mixed reality applications, enabling accurate alignment between real and virtual worlds. This development will lead to versatile drone-based MR applications in architecture, engineering, and construction.

SourceOsaka University·JournalDrone Systems and Applications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 3, 2024

Many more women in oil-rich Gulf countries battle with breast cancer as the disease develops localized pathological features, study says

A study published in Frontiers in Oncology reveals breast cancer incidence has surged in oil-rich Gulf countries, with unique clinical and pathological features. The disease is attributed to a combination of menstrual cycle, hereditary factors, weaning children earlier than expected, hormonal treatment, obesity, and use of contraceptives.

SourceUniversity of Sharjah·JournalFrontiers·TypeObservational study·DateJun 3, 2024

The coldest lab in New York has a new quantum offering

Researchers at Columbia University have successfully created a unique quantum state of matter called a Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC) out of molecules. The breakthrough, achieved by cooling sodium-cesium molecules to just five nanoKelvin, has the potential to advance powerful quantum simulations and unlock new areas of research.

SourceColumbia University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 3, 2024

Screening for prostate cancer with first-line MRI less cost-effective than first-line PSA testing

A cost-effectiveness analysis found that first-line MRI-based screening for prostate cancer is less effective and more costly than first-line PSA testing. Despite free MRI costs, the first-line approach resulted in increased false positives and overdiagnosis without substantial reductions in mortality.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeNews article·DateJun 3, 2024

Transition-metal-free zeolite catalyst for direct conversion of methane to methanol

Researchers have discovered a novel transition-metal-free aluminosilicate ferrierite zeolite catalyst that enables direct conversion of methane to methanol. The new process achieves 305 π mol gˑ minǘ methanol production rate with high selectivity, presenting an environmentally friendly solution for converting greenhouse gases into valu...

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJun 3, 2024

The unexpected connection between brewing coffee and understanding turbulence

A team of researchers led by Nigel Goldenfeld and Björn Hof used statistical mechanics to study turbulence in fluid flows. They discovered that the transitions between laminar and turbulent flows occur through a non-equilibrium phase transition, known as directed percolation, at the critical point of the transition.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNature Physics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 3, 2024

Designing the demise of Aral Sea: strategies to sustain aesthetics and performance in anthropogenic landscapes

The Aral Sea, once the fourth-largest lake in the world, has shrunk to 10% of its original volume due to water diversion for cotton plantations. The article proposes a new design approach that acknowledges human devastation while slowing the sea's disappearance through ecological markers and materials.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalLandscape Architecture Frontiers·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 3, 2024