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Science News Archive March 2024 - Page 5


Page 5 of 42

Filters, coupled with Digital Health Program, reduced arsenic levels by nearly half in study participants in households relying on well water in American Indian Communities

A randomized controlled trial found that filters, coupled with a digital health program, reduced urinary arsenic levels by 47% in households relying on well water. The study, conducted in American Indian communities, also showed significant increases in household use of filtered water for drinking and cooking.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalEnvironmental Health Perspectives·DateMar 27, 2024

A combination of approved drugs enhances the delivery of anti-bacterial medications to treat tuberculosis

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital successfully repurposed approved drugs to improve drug delivery to tuberculosis bacteria, promoting anti-bacterial host responses and improving health outcomes. The study found that combining bevacizumab and losartan enhanced TB drug delivery and reduced bacterial burden in rabbits with TB.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 27, 2024

Oregon State dog-training program helps increase physical activity among kids with disabilities

Children with developmental disabilities increased their moderate to vigorous physical activity by 17 minutes per day, while reducing sedentary time by nearly an hour per day through the 'Do As I Do' training intervention. The program also helped build responsibility, independence, and awareness of nonverbal cues.

SourceOregon State University·JournalHuman-Animal Interactions·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 27, 2024

Scientists discover how caterpillars can stop their bleeding in seconds

Caterpillars of the Carolina sphinx moth have an extraordinary ability to instantly change their hemolymph's material properties, turning it into a viscoelastic fluid that helps stop bleeding. This discovery has potential applications for developing new drugs for humans to create fast-working thickeners of human blood.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Soft Matter·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 27, 2024

Undocumented immigrants faced unique mental health challenges during COVID-19 pandemic

A recent study by Rice University researchers found that undocumented immigrants and their families experienced significant mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The four main stressors identified were anti-immigrant rhetoric, family stressors, economic changes, and limited access to healthcare, which had major negativ...

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology·TypeSurvey·DateMar 27, 2024

Milk on ice: Antarctic time capsule of whole milk powder sheds light on the enduring qualities—and evolution—of dairy products past and present

A new study compares ancient and modern whole milk powders, revealing surprisingly similar compositions despite advancements in dairy production. The analysis of a 100-year-old Antarctic sample shows that key nutrients and protein structures remain largely unchanged.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Dairy Science·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 27, 2024

Europe’s forgotten forests could be 21st century ‘biodiversity hot spots’

A new study finds that Europe's forgotten forests have the potential to support high species diversity and resilience to climate change. The Eurasian aspen, a keystone species, is well-suited to thrive in these environments due to its ability to regenerate quickly and colonize new areas.

SourceS.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources, Utah State University·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 27, 2024

Connecting the dots to shape growth forces

Researchers at Kyoto University have discovered a signal protein called ERK that plays an active role in causing growing lung tissue to curve. This finding reveals a previously unknown regulatory system governing the development of intricate branching patterns in mouse lungs.

SourceKyoto University·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 27, 2024

The hidden geometry of learning: neural networks think alike

Researchers found that neural networks use a similar path to chart their way from ignorance to truth when presented with images, despite varying network designs and training recipes. This commonality holds the potential for developing more efficient image classification algorithms, reducing the computational power required by AI systems.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 27, 2024

Avoiding the gifts-in-kind trap – new research shows how influencers can make their work pay

A new study from the University of Bath reveals that social media influencers can move away from producing free content by focusing on authenticity, relationality, and quantification. The research found that building meaningful connections with followers and using data to assess impact are crucial for commercial success.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalHuman Relations·TypeCase study·DateMar 27, 2024

Understanding cattle grazing personalities may foster sustainable rangelands

Researchers tracked 50 pregnant Angus and Hereford beef cows fitted with GPS collars to understand individual grazing patterns. They found consistent and distinct patterns across the two years, even when water sources changed, suggesting that recognizing personality types can benefit both animal health and environmental conditions.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalApplied Animal Behaviour Science·TypeObservational study·DateMar 27, 2024

Parental avoidance of toxic exposures could help prevent autism, ADHD in children, new study shows

Researchers found that parents with high chemical intolerance scores were 5.7 times more likely to report a child with autism, highlighting the potential preventive role of avoiding toxic exposures. The study also suggests that reducing exposure prior to and during pregnancy could help prevention.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio·JournalJournal of Xenobiotics·TypeObservational study·DateMar 27, 2024

Australian researchers help spearhead changes to global anemia guidelines

Australian researchers have helped develop new global anaemia guidelines that could change the diagnosis and treatment of the condition for millions of people. The revised guidelines provide a clear set of haemoglobin thresholds that can be uniformly used to diagnose and treat anaemia, reducing unnecessary costs and pain.

SourceWalter and Eliza Hall Institute·JournalThe Lancet Haematology·TypeObservational study·DateMar 27, 2024

People experiencing homelessness more likely to develop dementia at younger ages, study finds

A new study found that people experiencing homelessness have a higher prevalence of dementia, especially in younger age groups. The researchers suggest that unhoused individuals should be screened for dementia at younger ages due to the complexity of diagnosing the condition in this population.

SourceInstitute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences·JournalThe Lancet Public Health·TypeObservational study·DateMar 27, 2024

Evolution of the most powerful ocean current on Earth

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current's flow speed has fluctuated significantly over the past 5.3 million years, with slower speeds during glacial periods and faster speeds during interglacials. This study provides valuable insights into the current's response to climate fluctuations and its impact on Antarctica's ice sheets.

The serious side of kid and canine play

A new study aims to understand how family dogs influence children's physical activity levels, with researchers exploring ways to promote healthy habits in young people. The study found that about 20% of daily physical activity comes from time spent with the dog.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalJournal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour·TypeObservational study·DateMar 27, 2024

Accelerating CAR T cell therapy: Lipid nanoparticles speed up manufacturing

Researchers developed a method using lipid nanoparticles to activate T cells and deliver genetic instructions in one step, simplifying the CAR T cell manufacturing process. This new approach reduces production time from 48 hours to 24 hours and increases accessibility to patients worldwide.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 27, 2024

Long-period oscillations control the Sun’s differential rotation

Researchers have discovered that high-latitude long-period oscillations play a crucial role in limiting the Sun's pole-to-equator differential rotation. The temperature difference between the poles and equator is found to be less than seven degrees, controlling the angular momentum balance in the Sun.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Solar System Research·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 27, 2024

Scientists extract genetic secrets from 4,000-year-old teeth to illuminate the impact of changing human diets over the centuries

Researchers have recovered ancient microbiomes from 4,000-year-old teeth in Ireland, revealing major changes in oral microenvironments. The study identified bacteria linked to gum disease and provided the first high-quality ancient genome of Streptococcus mutans, a major culprit behind tooth decay.

SourceTrinity College Dublin·JournalMolecular Biology and Evolution·DateMar 27, 2024

Want to feel young? Protect your sleep

Researchers at Stockholm University discovered that sleep affects how old one feels, with insufficient sleep adding 0.23 years to age perception. A study found that restricting sleep for two nights increased participants' perceived age by an average of 4.4 years, highlighting the importance of safeguarding sleep for a youthful feeling.

SourceStockholm University·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 27, 2024

New image of the center of our Milky Way: Spiral magnetic fields surround black hole Sagittarius A*

Researchers analyze data from another series of observations to study Sgr A*, finding that strong and ordered magnetic fields are critical to how black holes interact with gas and matter around them. The discovery enhances theoretical models and simulations, refining our understanding of black hole dynamics near the event horizon.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 27, 2024