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Water impurities key to an icicle's ripples

A new study by Canadian physicists reveals that small impurities in the water are a critical factor in the formation of icicle ripples. The researchers found that icicles grown from pure distilled water exhibited no ripples, but those grown with salt impurities developed characteristic ripples.

SourceIOP Publishing·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateOct 9, 2013

UCSB researchers identify the mechanisms underlying salt-mediated behaviors in fruit flies

Researchers at UCSB have discovered the mechanisms behind salt-mediated behaviors in fruit flies, shedding light on sensory biology and its connection to human brain function. The study reveals that two distinct types of neurons compete to regulate behavioral outputs, with one type activated by low-salt and another by high-salt.

America: Time to shake the salt habit?

A review of literature suggests that lowering salt intake is associated with decreased cardiovascular disease and mortality. National studies in Finland and Great Britain show a significant decrease in death due to stroke and coronary heart disease after instituting a national salt-reduction program.

SourceMedical College of Wisconsin·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMar 27, 2013

Salt identified as autoimmune trigger

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine found that dietary salt can induce and worsen pathogenic immune system responses in mice, leading to a more severe form of multiple sclerosis. They discovered the key molecular pathway involved in this response and proposed regulatory networks that govern autoimmune disease.

SourceYale University·JournalNature·DateMar 6, 2013

Lake-effect snow sometimes needs mountains

A new study reveals that mountains can play a crucial role in triggering lake-effect snowstorms over large bodies of water. The research found that three key mountain-related factors were necessary to produce the October 2010 storm that hit metropolitan Salt Lake City and the Wasatch Range.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalMonthly Weather Review·DateFeb 18, 2013

Space-simulation study reveals sodium rhythms in the body

A new study in humans published by Cell Press reveals that sodium levels actually fluctuate rhythmically over the course of weeks, independent of salt intake. The study, which examined cosmonauts participating in space-flight simulation studies, challenges widely accepted assumptions about sodium balance.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateJan 8, 2013

High salt intake linked to social inequalities

A new study from the University of Warwick found that people from low socio-economic positions in Britain consume more salt than their wealthier counterparts, regardless of where they live. This association is significant and suggests a need for targeted interventions to address social inequalities in salt intake.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalBMJ Open·DateJan 7, 2013

New calculations solve an old problem with DNA

Scientists at the University of Luxembourg have developed a new calculation technique that accurately predicts the B-Z transition in DNA, which can lead to cancer. The breakthrough enables the prediction of material properties such as melting temperatures and elasticity with high accuracy.

SourceUniversity of Luxembourg·JournalJournal of Chemical Theory and Computation·DateDec 21, 2012

How silver turns people blue

Researchers at Brown University have discovered how ingesting too much silver leads to argyria, a rare condition where skin turns grayish-blue. The study shows that silver nanoparticles are broken down into silver salt in the stomach, which is then absorbed into the bloodstream and deposited in the skin.

SourceBrown University·JournalACS Nano·DateOct 29, 2012

New insights into salt transport in the kidney

The study discovered that the claudin-10 gene plays a crucial role in reabsorbing sodium chloride in the kidney. In its absence, mice exhibit elevated magnesium levels and excess calcium deposition in the kidneys, highlighting the importance of this gene in maintaining salt balance.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 23, 2012

New genetic target found for diuretic therapy

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have identified a new genetic target, pendrin, for diuretic therapy. The study suggests that targeting pendrin could lead to a targeted treatment option for patients with severe fluid overload who may not respond well to current diuretics.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 30, 2012

Salt cress genome yields new clues to salt tolerance

Researchers sequenced the salt cress genome, identifying genes that contribute to its high salt tolerance. The study sheds light on the genetic characteristics underlying plant stress tolerance, with potential applications for agricultural crop improvement.

SourceBGI Shenzhen·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 12, 2012