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Science News Archive November 2024 - Page 14


Page 14 of 44

Robot flies like a bird

A robotic bird model with real pigeon feathers replicates the continuous adjustments made by birds to stabilize their flight. The robot's algorithm enables rudderless flight, a long-sought innovation in aviation that could lead to more fuel-efficient airplanes and improved jet fighter operations.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalScience Robotics·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 20, 2024

Analyzing the structure-performance relationships of electrocatalysts

The study proposes a strategy to use spinel oxides, particularly those involving rare-earth cerium substitution, to improve the oxygen evolution reaction. The team found that adding Ce promotes the lattice oxygen pathway, leading to highly active spinel oxide catalysts for electrochemical reactions.

SourceAdvanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), Tohoku University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateNov 20, 2024

Defect-rich heterostructures in sulfide/carbon composites trigger strong polarization coupling, enhancing electromagnetic wave absorption

Researchers developed sulfide/carbon composites enriched with sulfur-vacancy-rich sulfides, showcasing enhanced electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption performance. The optimized Co/Ni-CAs composites achieved a broad absorption bandwidth of 6.76 GHz at just 1.8 mm thickness.

SourceShanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center·JournalNano-Micro Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 20, 2024

Developing an evaluation scale to predict the risk of requiring long-term care based on three simple physical performance tests

Researchers developed an evaluation scale based on three physical performance tests: single-leg balance, timed up and go, and sit-to-stand. The scale predicts long-term care risk among older adults with high accuracy, particularly those with scores of 41 or more. It provides a comprehensive assessment method for Japanese older adults.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalGeriatrics and Gerontology International·DateNov 20, 2024

Making high-yielding rice affordable and sustainable

Plant biologists have identified two genes that work together to trigger embryo formation in rice egg cells, enabling the creation of high-yielding clonal strains. The method, which increases success rates to around 90%, has significant implications for sustainable agriculture and could provide a path forward for resource-limited farmers.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalNature Plants·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 20, 2024

Garden produce grown near Fayetteville works fluorochemical plant contains GenX, other PFAs

A new study found that residential garden produce grown near the Fayetteville Works fluorochemical plant can contain high levels of GenX and other PFAS, posing an exposure risk to consumers. Water-rich produce like berries and figs exhibited the highest PFAS levels, with daily intake estimates suggesting a significant health concern.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 20, 2024

Charge your phone just by moving your body

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have created a tiny, wearable generator that can charge laptops and power smartphones using body vibrations. The device uses piezoelectric materials to generate electricity efficiently and cost-effectively.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 20, 2024

Researchers catalog the microbiome of US rivers

Researchers have cataloged the microbiome of US rivers, finding high levels of antibiotic resistance genes near wastewater treatment plants. The study also reveals that microbes play a significant role in shaping river health and can predict water quality under current and future scenarios.

SourceColorado State University·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 20, 2024

Probiotic delivers anticancer drug to the gut

Researchers at WashU Medicine engineered a probiotic that delivers immunotherapy directly to the gut, shrinking tumors in mice. The probiotic uses a yeast-based system to produce immune checkpoint inhibitors, potentially treating hard-to-reach cancers.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalCell Chemical Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 20, 2024

Genome Research publishes a Special Issue on Long-read DNA and RNA Sequencing Applications in Biology and Medicine

This special issue highlights novel applications and developments in long-read sequencing, offering advances in genome assembly and annotation, characterization of complex genomic rearrangements, and full-length mRNA isoform resolution. Long-read technologies are expanding understanding of rare diseases and impacting germline testing.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press·JournalGenome Research·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 20, 2024

New method reveals DNA methylation in ancient tissues, unlocking secrets of human evolution

A novel method has been developed to infer DNA methylation patterns in non-skeletal tissues from ancient specimens, providing new insights into human evolution. The study found over 1,850 sites of differential methylation specifically in prefrontal cortex neurons, linked to genes crucial for brain development.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 20, 2024

An innovative antibiotic for drug-resistant bacteria

Researchers have demonstrated a potential antibacterial treatment from a modified darobactin against infections caused by bacteria such as E. coli and Acinetobacter baumannii, which are known to develop drug resistance. The compound D22 showed efficacy in animal trials, highlighting its promise for further development.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Infectious Diseases·DateNov 20, 2024

Over 4 million US adults with chronic liver disease can be grouped into unique risk groups based on barriers to care

A new UCLA study categorizes people with chronic liver disease into four unique risk groups based on barriers to outpatient care, increasing the likelihood of hospitalization. The study highlights the need for interventions aimed at reducing avoidable hospitalizations among the highest-risk individuals.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 20, 2024

Is therapeutic hypothermia an effective treatment for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a type of neurological dysfunction in newborns?

New research highlights additional therapies being tested for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in newborns, including agents blocking glutamate receptor activation and antioxidant drugs. While therapeutic hypothermia is effective in high-income countries, its efficacy is uncertain in low- and middle-income nations.

SourceWiley·JournalDevelopmental Medicine & Child Neurology·DateNov 20, 2024

Study reveals importance of student-teacher relationships in early childhood education

A new study explores the significance of student-teacher relationships in promoting children's development during early elementary school years. The research highlights the importance of close and conflict-free relationships between students and teachers, with benefits extending across multiple grade levels.

SourceSociety for Research in Child Development·JournalChild Development·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 20, 2024

Who is most vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation?

A study of 1,264 case files found that adult survivors of commercial sexual exploitation had high rates of mental health diagnoses and lower educational achievements. Childhood abuse, history of arrest, and age at entry were also associated with longer exploitation periods.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateNov 20, 2024

New hope for diabetic heart disease treatment

Researchers at Monash University have discovered that LXA4 can halve inflammation and scar formation in diabetic hearts, offering a promising new treatment option. The study's findings suggest that LXA4-based therapies could be used to manage diabetic heart disease more effectively.

SourceMonash University·JournalCardiovascular Diabetology·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 20, 2024

Study calls for city fashion waste shakeup

A study published in Nature Cities analyzed textile waste in various cities, finding that most donated clothes are exported or thrown away. Experts call for a change in how cities handle fashion waste, suggesting the need for local recycling and reuse facilities.

SourceRMIT University·JournalNature Cities·TypeCase study·DateNov 20, 2024

Diverse diets of civets in Borneo rainforest allow them to live in same geographical area

Researchers used stable isotope analyses to determine the nitrogen isotope ratios in the hair of four closely related civet species, revealing that faunivory was much more common than previously thought. The study suggests that varying degrees of consumption of animal sources is the key mechanism of niche partitioning among these species.

SourceHiroshima University·JournalProgress in Earth and Planetary Science·DateNov 20, 2024

Researchers develop clinically validated, wearable ultrasound patch for continuous blood pressure monitoring

A team of researchers at the University of California San Diego has developed a clinically validated, wearable ultrasound patch for continuous and noninvasive blood pressure monitoring. The device offers precise, real-time readings of blood pressure deep within the body, providing detailed trends in blood pressure fluctuations.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 20, 2024

Scientists develop breakthrough culture system to unlock secrets of skin microbiome

Researchers at Tokyo University of Science have developed a novel co-culture system that facilitates cultivating multiple indigenous skin bacteria in a balanced state. This breakthrough allows for detailed analysis of the biology of indigenous skin bacteria, which can lead to new treatments for skin diseases and improved quality of life.

SourceTokyo University of Science·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 20, 2024

Recycled pacemakers function as well as new devices, international study suggests

A University of Michigan-led study suggests that recycled pacemakers can be used safely and effectively in patients with life-threatening cardiac conditions. The international clinical trial involved nearly 300 people across seven countries and found no significant differences in pacemaker function up to 90 days after the procedure.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 20, 2024