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Popular male dolphins produce more offspring

A recent study led by the University of Zurich found that well-integrated male dolphins with strong social bonds to many alliance partners produce the most offspring. The researchers analyzed 30 years of behavioral data from 85 male dolphins and used genetic data to conduct paternity analyses for more than 400 dolphins.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeObservational study·DateMar 24, 2022

Enhancing historical climate model data using super-resolution technology

Historical climate model data can now be improved using super-resolution technology, a new analysis tool that enhances older meteorological model data. Researchers have successfully reconstructed high-quality and high-resolution data using this method, which was previously used for image and video upscaling.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateMar 18, 2022

THE LANCET PUBLIC HEALTH: Study suggests association between severe COVID-19 and long-term mental health outcomes 16 months after an illness

A new study found that severe COVID-19 illness is associated with increased risk of long-term adverse mental health effects. Non-hospitalized patients with a SARS-CoV-2 infection were more likely to experience depressive symptoms up to 16 months after diagnosis, with those bedridden for seven days or more having higher rates of depress...

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Public Health·TypeObservational study·DateMar 14, 2022

Mysterious source of fast radio bursts

Researchers have discovered a source of fast radio bursts in the vicinity of galaxy M81, adding to the ongoing mystery surrounding these enigmatic events. The findings suggest that magnetars, highly magnetized neutron stars, may be responsible for generating FRBs, but further study is needed to fully understand this phenomenon.

SourceNicolaus Copernicus University in Torun·JournalNature·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 23, 2022

COVID-19 patients’ ZIP codes may affect hospitalization outcomes

A study found that COVID-19 patients from high-vulnerability neighborhoods presented with more severe illness and required intensive care, but did not experience higher mortality rates. Researchers suggest policies targeting socially vulnerable neighborhoods to improve access to testing, treatment, and vaccination.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 21, 2022

‘Prescribe ivermectin for COVID-19 only in large-scale randomized trials’

Researchers from Florida Atlantic University advise against prescribing ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19 due to the lack of reliable evidence. They emphasize the importance of relying on proven therapeutic innovations and vaccinations to combat the pandemic, citing the risks of unproven treatments like ivermectin.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalTherapeutic Innovation & Regulatory Science·TypeCase study·DateFeb 16, 2022

Personalizing treatment for severe limb injuries

A team of scientists at the University of Missouri used small wearable sensors to gather data on how people with a traumatic hand amputation use a prosthesis versus a transplanted hand. The study found that hand transplant recipients exhibit a more balanced pattern of limb use, while prosthesis users rely heavily on their prosthetic hand.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalNeurorehabilitation and Neural Repair·DateJan 10, 2022

A better estimate for tick numbers with ‘citizen science’ data

A team of University of Pennsylvania biologists used citizen science data to create a comprehensive abundance map of the black-legged tick, responsible for transmitting Lyme disease. By correcting biases in the data, they were able to increase its value and provide insights into tick distribution across the Northeast US.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 24, 2021

U-M Apple Watch Study provides an unprecedented look at the health status of a diverse patient population

The MIPACT study analyzed data from thousands of participants, revealing differences in heart rate, blood pressure, and activity levels by age, race, ethnicity, and clinical conditions. The study's findings have significant implications for clinicians, providing a more complete picture of daily life and resulting health.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalThe Lancet Digital Health·DateOct 26, 2021

Assessing the potential of major earthquakes near NEOM

Researchers using satellite geodesy and InSAR imagery found the Arabian side of the Dead Sea Transform fault has been moving steadily northwards at around five millimeters per year. The studies suggest that large earthquakes may be less frequent near the southern end of the Gulf, but more investigations are needed for a resilient city.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalGeophysical Journal International·TypeSurvey·DateOct 25, 2021

Missing wind variability means future impacts of climate change may be underestimated in Europe and North America

Researchers at the University of Reading found that climate models underpredict regional temperatures and rainfall, particularly in the mid-latitudes, by neglecting extratropical wind variability. This increases uncertainty and likelihood of extreme weather events like heatwaves and droughts.

SourceUniversity of Reading·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 20, 2021

Volcano analysis in real time

A new algorithm detects small surface deformations in satellite images, allowing for earlier warnings of volcanic eruptions. This enables more precise monitoring of over 1,500 active volcanoes worldwide, providing a significant basis for improving eruption forecasts.

SourceGFZ GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Helmholtz Centre·JournalIEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 6, 2021

THE LANCET DIABETES & ENDOCRINOLOGY: Mortality risk in transgender people twice as high as cisgender people, data spanning five decades suggests

A nationwide study of transgender individuals in the Netherlands found a significantly increased mortality risk compared to cisgender people. The analysis of national data from 1972 to 2018 revealed that transgender women and men faced higher risks of cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, infection, and non-natural causes of death.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology·TypeObservational study·DateSep 2, 2021

Beating the curse of dimensionality

A KAUST-led research team has developed a prediction scheme that can more reliably forecast future environmental trajectories by integrating information from past complete and partial data. This approach, called partial functional prediction (PFP), captures both long-term trends and well-matched partial trajectories to achieve improved...

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalJournal of the American Statistical Association·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 16, 2021

World’s biodiversity maps contain many gaps, Yale study finds

A Yale study has identified significant gaps in biodiversity maps, limiting effective conservation decisions globally. The researchers created regional trends maps to assess the distribution of 31,000 terrestrial vertebrates, highlighting opportunities for citizen scientists and government agencies to support biodiversity monitoring.

SourceYale University·JournalPLOS Biology·DateAug 10, 2021

New model tracks carbon in agroecosystems

A new model integrates advanced models and observational data to track carbon cycles in agroecosystems, validating its performance and demonstrating its potential for estimating different carbon components. This solution has the potential to advance precision agriculture and inform sustainable farming practices.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment·JournalAgricultural and Forest Meteorology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 2, 2021

Chasing the light from elusive ‘milky seas’: CSU researchers light a path toward unraveling mysteries of the ocean from space

Using nearly a decade of satellite data, researchers at CSU have detected the elusive ‘milky seas’ – a rare display of bioluminescence in the ocean. The study reveals that milky seas are not adequately explained by previous hypotheses and proposes new theories for their formation.

SourceColorado State University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeImaging analysis·DateJul 29, 2021

Association of remdesivir treatment with survival, length of hospital stay among US veterans hospitalized with COVID-19

An observational study of 2,344 US veterans hospitalized with COVID-19 found remdesivir treatment associated with prolonged hospitalization but no improved survival rates. The study suggests that while remdesivir may help reduce the length of hospital stays, it does not significantly impact patient outcomes in terms of survival.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateJul 15, 2021

Boring to study slow earthquakes

Researchers have collected high-pressure data from deep-sea boreholes in a subduction zone, revealing pressures up to 5 megapascals greater than typical hydrostatic pressures. This discovery sheds light on the origins of slow earthquakes and their potential role in triggering larger earthquakes.

US children, adolescents diagnosed with COVID-19

A recent observational study found that demographic and clinical characteristics are significantly associated with severe COVID-19 illness among US pediatric patients hospitalized with the virus. The study analyzed data from over 1,100 children and adolescents to identify risk factors for severe disease.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateApr 9, 2021

Weddell sea: Whale song reveals behavioral patterns

Research from the Alfred Wegener Institute reveals that Antarctic minke whales prefer to live in regions covered with sea ice, while humpback whales avoid them. The findings provide essential information for successful marine protection in the Antarctic and highlight the importance of long-term acoustic observations.

Revealed: the secret life of godwits

A new study using geolocators shows that black-tailed godwits always start a second nest if their first one fails, revealing a longer breeding season than previously thought. This challenges traditional observation methods, which often disturb the birds' behavior and lead to inaccurate data.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalJournal of Avian Biology·DateApr 20, 2020

Limitations on end-of-season photosynthesis

A study using satellite data and in-situ sensor observations found that the end date of plant photosynthesis is constrained by both temperature and water limits. As temperatures decrease, soil water demands increase to support continued vegetation growth, potentially leading to expansions of regions with limited photosynthesis.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 13, 2020