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Science News for November 15, 2024


DOE’s Quantum Computing User Program releases request for information to father input on quantum computing access

The Department of Energy's Quantum Computing User Program is releasing a Request for Information to gather input on current and upcoming availability of quantum computing resources. The program aims to understand the readiness of these resources for quantum computing research and engage with the diversity of stakeholders in the field.

Speech Accessibility Project partners with The Matthew Foundation, Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress

The Speech Accessibility Project is working with two new partners, The Matthew Foundation and the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, to recruit adults with Down syndrome and other conditions. The project aims to provide voice command devices to improve inclusion and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

New route to ‘quantum spin liquid’ materials discovered for first time

Researchers at the University of Birmingham create a ruthenium-based material with complex disordered magnetic properties, fulfilling the Kitaev quantum spin liquid state requirements. This breakthrough opens up new pathways for exploring these states of matter and provides a route to magnetic properties that don't follow classical laws.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 15, 2024

Social media linked to early substance use in US pre-teens

A new study found that excessive social media use among 11-12-year-olds is associated with increased experimentation with substances like alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis. Schools and parents can play a crucial role in addressing this issue by implementing media literacy programs and monitoring content.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalDrug and Alcohol Dependence·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 15, 2024

A new experimental infection model in flies offers a fast and cost-effective way to test drugs

Researchers developed a new experimental infection model using Drosophila flies to test drugs for infectious diseases, reducing the use of vertebrate animals. The model assesses innate immunity against infections by Candida albicans and allows for the design of new therapeutic approaches targeting uncontrolled immune responses.

SourceGermans Trias i Pujol Research Institute·JournalFrontiers in Microbiology·TypeLiterature review·DateNov 15, 2024

New study shows how salmonella tricks gut defenses to cause infection

A new UC Davis Health study has uncovered the mechanisms by which Salmonella bacteria evade the body's natural defenses in the gut. The research found that Salmonella alters the gut's nutrient environment to fuel its replication in the large intestine, creating an imbalance that helps the pathogen survive. This new understanding could ...

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 15, 2024

The Role of Interculturalism in higher music education – Global artistic citizenship

The University of the Arts Helsinki study finds that integrating interculturalism into music education cultivates empathetic and globally-minded artists. Students benefit from engaging in intercultural dialogue, collaboration, and community-based projects, fostering a new generation of global citizens.

SourceUniversity of the Arts Helsinki·JournalNordic Research in Music Education·TypeCase study·DateNov 15, 2024

‘Walk this Way’: FSU researchers’ model explains how ants create trails to multiple food sources

A team of FSU researchers created the first model that explains the phenomenon of trail formation to multiple food sources. The model reveals that ants will leave pheromone trails connecting their colony to multiple food sources when they're available, creating an equilibrium where equidistant food sources maintain multiple trails.

SourceFlorida State University·JournalJournal of Mathematical Biology·DateNov 15, 2024

Scientists transform blood into regenerative materials, paving the way for personalized, blood-based, 3D-printed implants

Researchers develop biocooperative materials by harnessing blood-clotting and peptide self-assembly to repair bones in animal models. The new approach enables the creation of regenerative materials that can be easily assembled, manipulated, and 3D printed while maintaining normal healing functions.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 15, 2024

Traditional Mayan practices have long promoted unique levels of family harmony. But what effect is globalization having?

Research by UC Santa Cruz psychologist Barbara Rogoff finds that globalization has reduced collaborative interactions among Mayan families, but they still prioritize harmonious relations and community involvement. The traditional practice of Learning by Observing and Pitching In remains a key strength for Indigenous communities.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalChild Development·DateNov 15, 2024

Stress makes mice’s memories less specific

Researchers found that acute stress prevents mice from forming specific memories, instead forming generalized memories encoded by larger numbers of neurons. Stress disrupts engram ensembles in the lateral amygdala, leading to a loss of memory specificity.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 15, 2024

Research finds no significant negative impact of repealing a Depression-era law allowing companies to pay workers with disabilities below minimum wage

A study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found increased labor force participation among people with cognitive disabilities in states that ended the subminimum wage practice. The repeal allowed these employees to work in equal paying, fully integrated jobs as their peers without a disability.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalJAMA Health Forum·DateNov 15, 2024

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announce new research fellowship in malaria genomics in honor of professor Dominic Kwiatkowski

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) has established a new research fellowship in malaria genomic epidemiology, honoring the late Professor Dominic Kwiatkowski. The fellowship aims to support early- to mid-career researchers from low- or middle-income countries in advancing malaria research.

Rainforest protection reduces the number of respiratory diseases

A study by the University of Bonn and Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais shows that forest protection measures significantly reduce particulate matter in the air, leading to a decrease in hospital stays and deaths due to respiratory diseases. Protective measures are estimated to save around 680 human lives per year.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 15, 2024

Defects in the structure of insulating materials can trigger the transformation into a conductor

Topological defects in the structure of certain insulating materials can trigger a transition to conductivity, enabling the development of new ultra-fast devices and memories. Researchers have discovered that these defects play a crucial role in the transformation of Mott materials from an insulating to a conductive state.

SourceUniversita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 15, 2024

One or many? Exploring the population groups of the largest animal on Earth

A team of researchers analyzed historical marking data from the Discovery Marking Program to investigate Antarctic blue whale population structure. They found frequent mixing among ocean basins, indicating a single circumpolar population. This study provides valuable insights into the conservation of this endangered species.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalEndangered Species Research·TypeMeta-analysis·DateNov 15, 2024

New method of creating ultra-responsive thin films will boost electronics performance and next-generation connectivity

Researchers developed a new method to create ultra-responsive thin films, enhancing wireless communications, electronics, and other technologies. The approach enables faster data transmission speeds and reduced latency, paving the way for next-generation 5G and emerging 6G networks.

SourceAgency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 15, 2024

New microfluidic device reveals how the shape of a tumour can predict a cancer’s aggressiveness

Researchers at University of Toronto have developed a new microfluidic platform, ReSCUE, that allows for unprecedented control and manipulation of tumor shapes. This enables the formation, release, and transfer of patient-derived tumoroids, providing insights into how tumor shape predicts cancer cell behavior and aggressiveness.

Study finds cannabis-users would reduce use the most for job interviews, caring for children

A recent study published by the University of Kansas found that cannabis users tend to consume less when they have responsibilities like job interviews or caring for children. People who rated the suitability of using cannabis in these situations more highly were also more likely to consider using the drug.

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalJournal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior·TypeSurvey·DateNov 15, 2024

HKUMed meta-analysis links high-risk Epstein-Barr virus lineage to nasopharyngeal cancer in southern China

A HKUMed research team discovered a significant association between specific EBV variants and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), which is prevalent in southern China. The study identified high-risk EBV haplotype present in about 70% of NPC cases, suggesting potential new avenues for screening and diagnosis.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalPLOS Pathogens·TypeMeta-analysis·DateNov 15, 2024

CU Anschutz study shows association between climate change and eye maladies

A new study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus found a significant association between climate change and ocular surface eye conditions, particularly when particulate matter from air pollution was prevalent. The researchers discovered that clinical visits for ocular surface irritation and conjunctivitis more than d...

SourceUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus·JournalClinical Ophthalmology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 15, 2024

Recycling batteries with citric acid

A novel citric-acid-based method has been developed to recycle metals from NCM cathodes with minimal energy usage and lower emissions. The process involves a relatively small amount of citric acid, allowing for efficient separation and reclamation of lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese metals.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 15, 2024

uOttawa physicists make laser cast a shadow

Researchers at the University of Ottawa have demonstrated a new phenomenon where a laser beam casts a visible shadow, similar to traditional shadows. The study's findings suggest that under certain conditions, light can block other light, creating this effect.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalOptica·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 15, 2024

Can AI improve plant-based meats?

Stanford researchers developed a method to describe food texture with striking similarity to human taste testers using mechanical testing and machine learning. The study found that some plant-based products can already reproduce the whole texture spectrum of animal meats.

SourceStanford University·Journalnpj Science of Food·DateNov 15, 2024

Zinc deficiency promotes Acinetobacter lung infection: study

A new study found that zinc deficiency promotes lung infection by Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria, which is a leading cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Blocking IL-13 prevented infection-associated death in an animal model, suggesting anti-IL-13 antibodies may protect against bacterial pneumonia in patients with zinc deficiency.

SourceVanderbilt University Medical Center·JournalNature Microbiology·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 15, 2024

Mass General Brigham researchers find too much sitting hurts the heart

A new study by Mass General Brigham researchers found that excessive sedentary behavior increases the risk of heart failure and cardiovascular death. Even among individuals who meet guideline levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, sitting for extended periods can still pose significant health risks. The study's findings sugg...

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·TypeObservational study·DateNov 15, 2024

Language comprehension impacts medical prescriptions for Ontario's long-term care Francophone, Allophone residents: uOttawa study

A new study by uOttawa highlights the importance of providing culturally and linguistically concordant care to avoid inappropriate prescribing of antipsychotics. Francophone and Allophone residents are more likely to experience inappropriateness compared to English-language patients.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalBMC Geriatrics·TypeMeta-analysis·DateNov 15, 2024