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Science News for May 20, 2024


UC Irvine-led team uncovers ‘vigorous melting’ at Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier

A UC Irvine-led team has discovered the 'vigorous melting' of West Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier using high-resolution satellite radar data. The study found that seawater intrusion causes ice to rise and fall, potentially requiring revised global sea level rise projections. The findings raise concerns for coastal communities worldwide.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateMay 20, 2024

Revolutionizing depression treatment online

A new study at Hebrew University found that guided internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy significantly improves depression and insomnia symptoms over time. The study emphasizes the importance of the therapeutic alliance and attachment styles in predicting treatment outcomes.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalPsychotherapy Research·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 20, 2024

Warm seawater speeding up melting of ‘Doomsday Glacier,’ scientists warn

Warm seawater is pumping underneath Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier, causing ice to melt intensely and leading to devastating sea level rise. Researchers predict the glacier may retreat into the deeper part of the basin within 10-20 years, accelerating glacier melt and impacting coastal communities worldwide.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateMay 20, 2024

Expanding on the fundamental principles of liquid movement

Kyushu University researchers generalize fluid dynamics of volatile liquids using mathematical modeling and experimentation. Their findings can lead to more efficient product development in various liquid-based industries, including high-end electronics manufacturing and lab-on-a-chip disease diagnosis.

SourceKyushu University·JournalJournal of Fluid Mechanics·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024

Unraveling the drought dilemma: can reservoirs be a carbon source?

Research found that during severe droughts, agricultural reservoirs in Korea's southern region experienced increased total organic carbon concentrations. The study suggests that these reservoirs may shift from carbon storage to carbon sources, emitting carbon into the atmosphere. This finding highlights the need for integrated environm...

First study from the African Ancestry Neuroscience Research Initiative identifies key genes in the brain that account for higher rates of some brain disorders in Black Americans

The study found that people of African ancestry are more likely to experience Alzheimer's disease and stroke, while being less likely to manifest Parkinson's disease. Genetic ancestry was found to influence gene expression in the brain, with 15% of variation attributed to environmental differences.

SourceLieber Institute for Brain Development·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMay 20, 2024

Should your exercise goals be in minutes or steps? Study suggests they are equally beneficial

A study of 14,399 women found that both step-based and time-based exercise targets were associated with lower risks of early death and cardiovascular disease. The research suggests that individuals should choose a goal aligned with their personal preferences rather than focusing on specific metrics.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateMay 20, 2024

Melon flavor decoded: the genetic keys to aromatic diversity

Researchers have identified over 1000 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) affecting melon aroma and ripening, revealing specific chromosomes that influence ester and aldehyde levels. These findings will aid breeding programs aimed at enhancing fruit quality and provide valuable genetic material for developing melons with enhanced flavors.

Fluoride exposure during pregnancy linked to increased risk of childhood neurobehavioral problems, study finds

A new US-based study examines the link between prenatal fluoride and childhood social, emotional and behavioral functioning. Higher fluoride exposure levels during pregnancy were associated with a higher chance of children showing neurobehavioral problems, including emotional reactivity, anxiety and somatic complaints.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateMay 20, 2024

What makes some brown algae shimmer and others not?

Kobe University researchers have discovered that the shimmering effect in some brown algae is due to the presence of tiny, uniform-sized spheres within cells called iridescent bodies. These microspheres reflect green light more than other colors, resulting in the alga's characteristic shine.

SourceKobe University·JournalEuropean Journal of Phycology·TypeObservational study·DateMay 20, 2024

Unveiling the genetic interplay in impatiens downy mildew: a transcriptome-based approach to enhancing disease resistance

Researchers analyzed Impatiens walleriana response to Plasmopara obducens infection, identifying key genes involved in susceptibility and resistance. The study provides a fundamental resource for future efforts to engineer disease resistance in this economically significant ornamental crop.

SourceMaximum Academic Press·JournalOrnamental Plant Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024

New study highlights importance of screening for rare inherited iron metabolism defects

Researchers evaluated anemia cases using stringent clinical and laboratory criteria, identifying rare congenital sideroblastic anemias and nonsideroblastic iron defects with pathogenic gene mutations. This study highlights the importance of active screening and awareness for these conditions in the Indian subcontinent.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Molecular Diagnostics·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024

Body’s ‘message in a bottle’ delivers targeted cancer treatment

A new study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering shows that targeted cancer treatment using antibody-displaying extracellular vesicles reduces tumour growth and improves survival in mice. The treatment has the potential to be used against other diseases and cancer types, offering a more effective and fewer side effects compared t...

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024

Enhancing superconductivity of graphene-calcium superconductors

Researchers from Tokyo Institute of Technology experimentally revealed that high-density Ca introduction enhances superconductivity in graphene-calcium compounds through confinement epitaxy, leading to increased critical temperatures. This breakthrough could enable the development of C6CaC6 superconductors with wide applicability in qu...

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalACS Nano·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024

Comparison of four methods on drying efficiency and physicochemical properties of chicken meat

Researchers compared four drying methods, including HAD, EOD, CIRD, and EIRD, to evaluate their effects on physicochemical properties, pet food applications, energy consumption, and costs. The study found that CIRD offered better color retention and lower fat oxidation, while EIRD resulted in higher protein denaturation.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalFood Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024

Second Phase 3 clinical trial again shows dupilumab lessens disease in COPD patients with type 2 inflammation

Researchers report that dupilumab substantially decreases exacerbation frequency and improves lung function as well as symptom burden in COPD patients with type 2 inflammation. The study's findings are promising for these patients, who have a high risk of exacerbations.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024

Alkyl-aromatic hybrid micelles formed from emergent umbrella-shaped molecules

Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed alkyl-aromatic hybrid micelles that exhibit high stability in water and excellent host functions towards aromatic guests. The new amphiphiles feature a linear alkyl-chain flanked by two aromatic panels, forming an alkyl core surrounded by an aromatic shell.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024

Tricking the Brain’s inner GPS: Grid cells responses to the illusion of self-location

Scientists have observed grid cell activity in the human brain during self-location illusions induced by multisensory virtual reality, without altering visual perspectives. This is the first clinical study to demonstrate that purely cognitive changes in magnetic positions can elicit corresponding activities of human grid cells.

SourceNational Research Council of Science & Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 20, 2024

PARC model of care associated with fewer deaths among veterans post-ICU

The Post-Acute Recovery Center (PARC) model has been associated with fewer deaths and more days outside of the hospital among veterans who received care after a serious illness. The study found that high-risk veterans who received PARC care had a median increase of four additional days at home compared to matched controls.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateMay 20, 2024

Researchers develop perovskite X-ray detector for medical imaging

Chinese researchers have developed a high-performance perovskite X-ray detector that offers improved spatial resolution, readout speed, and low-dose detection efficiency for medical imaging applications. The new detector uses a thick inorganic CsPbBr3 perovskite film printed on a dedicated CMOS pixel array.

SourceShenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalNature Communications·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateMay 20, 2024

Illuminating neuro-vascular dynamics throughout the body: 3D-printed implants and bioluminescence duet shed light on brain–spinal interactions

A team of visionaries at the Carney Institute developed 3D-printed brain and spinal cord implants, revolutionizing surgical implantations and optical access. Bioluminescence imaging overcomes limitations of traditional fluorescent microscopy, providing unprecedented observation of neural and vascular activity.

By listening, scientists learn how a protein folds

Researchers use data sonification to convert molecular data into sounds, revealing how hydrogen bonds contribute to protein folding. The process involves complex interactions between water molecules and amino acids, with faster bonds speeding up folding and slower ones slowing it down.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 20, 2024

Robot-phobia could exacerbate hotel, restaurant labor shortage

A Washington State University study found that robot-phobia increases job insecurity and stress among hospitality workers, leading to greater intentions to leave their jobs. The impact is pronounced even for managers, highlighting the need for employers to communicate technology's limitations and human workers' roles.

SourceWashington State University·JournalInternational Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management·DateMay 20, 2024

Combatting air pollution in China: Why secondary pollutants are now a primary concern

A recent study reveals that reducing primary emissions has a significant impact on decreasing fine particles and ozone levels in China's North China Plain region. The research, published in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters, found that controlling anthropogenic emissions can effectively mitigate secondary pollution during summer.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters·DateMay 20, 2024

Not sure about vaccines? How public health messaging is framed makes a difference, new research reveals

Researchers found that people with a fixed mindset respond better to loss-based messaging framing when discussing vaccination, highlighting the importance of tailored communication strategies. The study generalized its findings to various contagious viruses and has implications for public health messaging.

SourceBinghamton University·JournalInternational Journal of Research in Marketing·DateMay 20, 2024

'Hunting for treasures' with AI: Astronomers detect rare neutral atomic-carbon absorbers with deep neural network

An international team used deep learning neural networks to identify rare weak signals in quasar spectral data. They discovered 107 extremely rare neutral carbon absorbers, doubling the number of samples found in 2015, and detected more faint signals than before.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMay 20, 2024

Can coal mines be tapped for rare earth elements?

Researchers have discovered concentrated rare earth elements in coal mines and adjacent formations in Utah and Colorado. The findings could enable the extraction of these critical minerals from domestic sources, supporting the transition to renewable energy.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalFrontiers of Earth Science·TypeObservational study·DateMay 20, 2024

C-terminal frameshift mutations generate viable knockout mutants with developmental defects for three essential protein kinases

Researchers successfully generated viable and heritable knockout mutants for three essential protein kinases using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. These mutants displayed severe developmental defects and enhanced disease resistance, providing valuable resources for gene function studies and signaling network regulation.

One essential step for a germ cell, one giant leap for the future of reproductive medicine

Researchers at Kyoto University's Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology have identified a crucial signaling molecule that drives epigenetic reprogramming and differentiation in human germ cells. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of human IVG research, which aims to treat all forms of inferti...

AI chips could get a sense of time

Researchers at the University of Michigan have created a new type of memristor that can mimic the timekeeping mechanism found in biological neural networks. This breakthrough could lead to significant energy savings for AI chips, potentially reducing energy consumption by a factor of 90 compared to current graphical processing units.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalNature Electronics·DateMay 20, 2024

Purdue-led fishing expedition nets new pupfish family member in New Mexico

A new pupfish family member has been discovered in New Mexico through genetic analysis. The study found that genetic drift was the primary driver of speciation, rather than natural selection. The researchers sequenced the entire genome of individual pupfish and compared them to previous genetic sampling.

SourcePurdue University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024

“I feel like I’m Alice in Wonderland”: Why nightmares and ‘daymares’ could be early warning signs of autoimmune disease

Researchers found that patients with lupus and other autoimmune diseases often experience vivid nightmares before hallucinations appear. These symptoms can serve as an early warning sign for disease flares, allowing clinicians to take action to improve care and reduce clinic times. Recognizing these mental health and neurological sympt...

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalEClinicalMedicine·TypeSurvey·DateMay 20, 2024

Economies in South China and Indochina set to suffer under precipitation extremes brought about by climate change

A study published by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics predicts significant economic impacts on provinces like Hunan, Jiangxi, and Guangdong due to increased heavy precipitation and droughts. The region's GDP is expected to be hardest hit under certain climate change scenarios, emphasizing the need for adaptation strategies.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateMay 20, 2024

New mechanisms behind antibiotic resistance

New study reveals two novel mechanisms that contribute to antibiotic resistance in bacteria, accelerating the growth of resistant bacteria during treatment. These mechanisms can occur independently and are linked to increased gene copy number variation and heteroresistance, complicating treatment for patients.

SourceUppsala University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024

Powering wearable devices with high-performing carbon nanotube yarns

Scientists at Nara Institute of Science and Technology create flexible wearable thermoelectric generators that produce electricity from body heat using high-performing carbon nanotube yarns. The yarns, developed through a low-cost and environmentally friendly method, show three times higher power factor than previous CNT yarns.

SourceNara Institute of Science and Technology·JournalACS Applied Nano Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024

Revolutionizing plastic-greenhouse agriculture: a novel soil profile design for global sustainability and enhanced crop production

A novel conceptual framework designs four functional layers to optimize conditions for horticultural growth in plastic-greenhouse environments. The soil profile includes a mulch layer, root-carbon layer, soil-carbon mix layer, and water conservation layer tailored to address specific challenges faced by plants.

SourceMaximum Academic Press·JournalVegetable Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024

Webb cracks case of inflated exoplanet

The James Webb Space Telescope has provided new insights into the mysterious case of WASP-107 b, an exoplanet that defies explanation due to its inflated size. Data collected by Webb shows surprisingly little methane in the planet's atmosphere, indicating a significantly hotter interior and core mass than previously estimated.

U.S. drought-monitoring system outpaced by climate changes

A new study finds that the US Drought Monitor is not keeping pace with climate change, leading to frequent severe droughts being classified as rare. The consequences are dire, with some regions spending more time in extreme drought conditions than federal guidelines allow, potentially leaving them without adequate aid.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalAGU Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 20, 2024

Study explores association between fluoride exposure in pregnancy and neurobehavioral issues in young children

A new study led by University of Florida researcher Ashley Malin found a possible link between fluoride exposure during pregnancy and increased odds of neurobehavioral problems in children at age 3. The findings, based on an analysis of 229 mother-child pairs, suggest that higher fluoride levels may negatively affect fetal brain develo...

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateMay 20, 2024

Mothers live longer as child mortality declines

A new study published in Scientific Reports found that declining childhood mortality has added a full year to women's lives. The study used mathematical modeling based on CDC data and estimated that the reduction in maternal bereavement adds one year, or about 6%, to life expectancy.

SourceCornell University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMay 20, 2024

Cloudy waters causes African fish to develop bigger eyes

Researchers found that young African fish raised in cloudy water developed larger eye structures than those raised in clear water. As the fish age, they lose this ability to adapt. The study also showed that older fish have bigger brains and optic lobes, suggesting different sensory demands at various stages of life.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 20, 2024