Drug-like inhibitor shows promise in preventing flu

Currently available flu medications only target the virus after it has already established an infection, but what if a drug could prevent infection in the first place? Now, scientists have designed drug-like molecules to do just that, by thwarting the first stage of influenza infection.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240521132302.htm


Cosmic rays illuminate the past

Researchers have for the first time been able to pin down a prehistoric settlement of early farmers in northern Greece dating back more than 7,000 years to the year. For this they combined annual growth ring measurements on wooden building elements with the sudden spike of cosmogenic radiocarbon in 5259 BC. This provides a reliable chronological reference point for many other archaeological sites in Southeast Europe.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240521124720.htm


Chocolate that harnesses the full potential of the cocoa fruit

Researchers have developed a type of chocolate that is more sustainable and nutritious than conventional varieties. Cocoa-fruit chocolate uses cocoa fruit jelly as a replacement for powdered sugar, reducing the sugar content and increasing the product's nutritional value. This new chocolate recipe also has the potential to diversify the income sources of small farmers.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240521124621.htm


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

An increase in nightmares and hallucinations -- or 'daymares' -- could herald the onset of autoimmune diseases such as lupus.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240520205844.htm


'Vigorous melting' at Antarctica's Thwaites 'Doomsday' Glacier

Glaciologists show evidence of warm ocean water intruding kilometers beneath grounded ice at Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica. The findings suggest that existing climate models are underestimating the impact of ocean and ice interactions in future sea level rise projections.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240520155541.htm


Webb Telescope offers first glimpse of an exoplanet's interior

A surprisingly low amount of methane and a super-sized core hide within the cotton candy -- like planet WASP-107 b.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240520122840.htm


Better medical record-keeping needed to fight antibiotic overuse

A lack of detailed record-keeping in clinics and emergency departments may be getting in the way of reducing the inappropriate use of antibiotics, a pair of new studies suggests. In one of the studies, about 10% of children and 35% of adults who got an antibiotic prescription during an office visit had no specific reason for the antibiotic in their record.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240517164151.htm


Physicists propose path to faster, more flexible robots

Physicists revealed a microscopic phenomenon that could greatly improve the performance of soft devices, such as agile flexible robots or microscopic capsules for drug delivery.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240517164128.htm


Zombie cells in the sea: Viruses keep the most common marine bacteria in check

Marine microbes control the flux of matter and energy essential for life in the oceans. Among them, the bacterial group SAR11 accounts for about a third of all the bacteria found in surface ocean waters. A study now reveals that at times nearly 20% of SAR11 cells are infected by viruses, significantly reducing total cell numbers. The viruses can also transform these once thriving bacteria into zombies, a phenomenon observed for the first time and widespread in the oceans.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240517111533.htm


Ancient arachnid from coal forests of America stands out for its spiny legs

The spiny legged 308-million-year-old arachnid Douglassarachne acanthopoda was discovered the famous Mazon Creek locality.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240517111509.htm


A powerful tool speeds success in achieving highly efficient thermoelectric materials

Thermoelectric materials could play an important role in the clean energy transition, as they can produce electricity from sources of heat that would otherwise go to waste. Researchers report a new approach to efficiently predict when thermoelectric materials will have improved performance in converting heat into electricity.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240516205155.htm


Otters, especially females, use tools to survive a changing world

Sea otters are one of the few animals that use tools to access their food, and a new study has found that individual sea otters that use tools -- most of whom are female -- are able to eat larger prey and reduce tooth damage when their preferred prey becomes depleted.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240516160511.htm


How did sabre-toothed tigers acquire their long upper canine teeth?

In a groundbreaking study an international team of scientists has investigated the evolutionary patterns behind the development of sabre teeth, with some unexpected results along the way.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240516122644.htm


When saying 'please' is more strategic than magic

By kindergarten age, most children have been taught that 'please' is a magic word. 'Please' is an expression of politeness that shows courtesy and respect, turning a potential demand into a request that will -- poof! -- magically be granted. But a new study on the ways people make requests of one another suggests that 'please' might not be an all-purpose marker of politeness, but rather a more focused, strategic tool to manage frictions or obstacles among family members, friends and even coworkers. The study shows that people say 'please' much less often than expected, and mostly when they expect a 'no' response is forthcoming.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240515225104.htm


Infertility treatment doubles the risk of postpartum heart disease

Researchers tie infertility treatment to a particular risk for hypertensive diseases.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240515164258.htm


Scientists want to know how the smells of nature benefit our health

Spending time in nature is good for us. And knowing more about nature's effects on our bodies could not only help our well-being, but could also improve how we care for land, preserve ecosystems and design cities, homes and parks. Many studies have focused on how seeing nature affects us. A team of scientists from around the world wants to understand what the nose knows. They are calling for more research into how odors and scents from natural settings impact our health and well-being.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240515164221.htm


Animal brain inspired AI game changer for autonomous robots

A team of researchers has developed a drone that flies autonomously using neuromorphic image processing and control based on the workings of animal brains. Animal brains use less data and energy compared to current deep neural networks running on GPUs (graphic chips). Neuromorphic processors are therefore very suitable for small drones because they don't need heavy and large hardware and batteries. The results are extraordinary: during flight the drone's deep neural network processes data up to 64 times faster and consumes three times less energy than when running on a GPU. Further developments of this technology may enable the leap for drones to become as small, agile, and smart as flying insects or birds.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240515164207.htm


Final dust settles slowly in the deep sea

'Dust clouds' at the bottom of the deep sea, that will be created by deep-sea mining activities, descend at a short distance for the biggest part. Yet, a small portion of the stirred-up bottom material remains visible in the water at long distances.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240515123007.htm


Highly pathogenic avian flu detected in New York City wild birds

A small number of New York City wild birds carry highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, according to a recent study.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240515122731.htm


Iconic baobabs: The origin and long-distance travels of upside down trees

The research cracks the code on the iconic baobab tree's origin story, revealing their surprising origins in Madagascar and incredible long-distance dispersals to Africa and Australia. The study unveils how baobabs developed unique pollination mechanisms -- some attracting hawkmoths, others lemurs, and even bats -- showcasing remarkable evolutionary adaptations. The research sheds light on how climate change has shaped the baobab's distribution and diversification over millions of years, offering valuable insights for understanding plant responses to future environmental shifts.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240515122704.htm


Promising new development in solar cell technology

Researchers who contributed to the development of record-breaking solar cells a few years ago, expanded their invention. The self-assembled monolayers can now be applied not only in inverted but also in regular structure perovskite solar cells.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240515122642.htm


Global methane emissions automatically detected in satellite imagery using AI

Methane is particularly targeted for curbing greenhouse gas emissions because its significant global-warming potential in the short term exceeds carbon dioxide by over 80-fold. However, monitoring methane emissions and compiling their quantities have been challenging due to limiting trade-offs with existing detection methods. Researchers developed a method to automatically detect methane emissions at a global scale, potentially providing methane detection at high frequency and high resolution from point sources.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240514213401.htm


Virtual reality becomes more engaging when designers use cinematic tools

Cinematography techniques can significantly increase user engagement with virtual environments and, in particular, the aesthetic appeal of what users see in virtual reality.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240514141501.htm


2023 was the hottest summer in two thousand years

Researchers have found that 2023 was the hottest summer in the Northern Hemisphere in the past two thousand years, almost four degrees warmer than the coldest summer during the same period.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240514141249.htm


Insights into protein evolution

A research team has unveiled a breakthrough in understanding how specific genetic sequences, known as pseudogenes, evolve.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240513165522.htm


Cats purrfectly demonstrate what it takes to trust robots

Would you trust a robot to look after your cat? New research suggests it takes more than a carefully designed robot to care for your cat, the environment in which they operate is also vital, as well as human interaction.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240513150538.htm


New gel breaks down alcohol in the body

Researchers have developed a protein-based gel that breaks down alcohol in the gastrointestinal tract without harming the body. In the future, people who take the gel could reduce the harmful and intoxicating effects of alcohol.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240513150509.htm


New drug makes exercise, everyday tasks easier for people with common heart condition

People with the heart condition obstructive cardiomyopathy were able to use significantly more oxygen while exercising after taking the investigational drug aficamten, according to a new study.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240513150439.htm


Research on centromere structure yields new insights into the mechanisms of chromosome segregation errors

Researchers have made a surprising new discovery in the structure of the centromere, a structure that is involved in ensuring that chromosomes are segregated properly when a cell divides. Mistakes in chromosome segregation can lead to cell death and cancer development. The researchers discovered that the centromere consists of two subdomains. This fundamental finding has important implications for the process of chromosome segregation and provides new mechanisms underlying erroneous divisions in cancer cells. The research was published in Cell on May 13th 2024.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240513133652.htm


Potential power and pitfalls of harnessing artificial intelligence for sleep medicine

A new article highlights how artificial intelligence stands on the threshold of making monumental contributions to the field of sleep medicine. Through a strategic analysis, researchers examined advancements in AI within sleep medicine and spotlighted its potential in revolutionizing care in three critical areas: clinical applications, lifestyle management, and population health. The committee also reviewed barriers and challenges associated with using AI-enabled technologies.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240513123455.htm


Study reveals patients with brain injuries who died after withdrawal of life support may have recovered

Analysis of 1,392 patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) found that some patients for whom life support was withdrawn may have survived and recovered some level of independence a few months after injury. Families are often asked to make decision to withdraw life support within 72 hours of a brain injury, and the new study suggests delaying decisions may be beneficial for some patients.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240513105222.htm


Hide and seek between atoms: Find the dopant

Collaborative efforts decode the mechanism behind stabilizing cathode doping in electric vehicle batteries.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240513105212.htm


Plant virus treatment shows promise in fighting metastatic cancers in mice

An experimental treatment made from a plant virus is effective at protecting against a broad range of metastatic cancers in mice, shows a new study. The treatment, composed of nanoparticles fashioned from the cowpea mosaic virus -- a virus that infects black-eyed pea plants -- showed remarkable success in improving survival rates and suppressing the growth of metastatic tumors across various cancer models, including colon, ovarian, melanoma and breast cancer.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240513105128.htm


Cellular activity hints that recycling is in our DNA

Introns are perhaps one of our genome's biggest mysteries. They are DNA sequences that interrupt the sensible protein-coding information in your genes, and need to be 'spliced out.'

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240510162624.htm


Melanoma in darker skin tones

Melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer that accounts for 75% of all skin-cancer-related deaths, is often detected later in people with darker skin complexions -- and the consequences can be devastating, a new study reveals.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240510142242.htm


US Navy Growler jet noise over Whidbey Island could impact 74,000 people's health

As often as four days a week, Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island fly loops overhead as pilots practice touch-and-go landings. The noise is immense. New research shows that the noise isn't just disruptive -- it presents a substantial risk to public health.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240510133022.htm


ERR-gamma 'trains' stomach stem cells to become acid-producing cells

Researchers have identified molecular and genetic pathways that direct the generation and maturation of parietal cells, the only cells in the body that produce acid, from stem cells. The findings can lead to new strategies to regulate parietal cell function in different diseases involving these cells, including autoimmune gastritis and stomach and esophageal cancers.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240510111443.htm


AI systems are already skilled at deceiving and manipulating humans

Many artificial intelligence (AI) systems have already learned how to deceive humans, even systems that have been trained to be helpful and honest. Researchers describe the risks of deception by AI systems and call for governments to develop strong regulations to address this issue as soon as possible.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240510111440.htm


Transforming common soft magnets into a next-generation thermoelectric conversion materials by 3 minutes heat treatment

A research team has demonstrated that an iron-based amorphous alloy, widely used as a soft magnetic material in transformers and motors, can be transformed into a 'transverse' thermoelectric conversion material that converts electric and thermal currents in orthogonal directions, with just a short period of heat treatment. This is the first example that highlights the importance of microstructure engineering in the development of transverse thermoelectric conversion materials, and provides new design guidelines for materials development to realize environmentally friendly power generation and thermal management technologies using magnetic materials.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240509180831.htm


GPS-like system shows promise as HIV vaccine strategy to elicit critical antibodies

A team has developed a vaccine approach that works like a GPS, guiding the immune system through the specific steps to make broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240509170244.htm


A fragment of human brain, mapped in exquisite detail

Researchers have created the largest synaptic-resolution, 3D reconstruction of a piece of human brain to date, showing in vivid detail each cell and its web of neural connections in a piece of human temporal cortex about half the size of a rice grain.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240509155503.htm


Ocean biodiversity work needs improvement

An international collaboration says the world's largest marine protected areas aren't collectively delivering the biodiversity benefits they could be because of slow implementation of management strategies and a failure to restrict the most impactful human activities.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240509124740.htm


New Rhizobia-diatom symbiosis solves long-standing marine mystery

Scientists have discovered a new partnership between a marine diatom and a bacterium that can account for a large share of nitrogen fixation in vast regions of the ocean. The newly-discovered bacterial symbiont is closely related to the nitrogen-fixing Rhizobia which live in partnership with many crop plants and may open up new avenues to engineer nitrogen-fixing plants.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240509124708.htm


Researchers harness blurred light to 3D print high quality optical components

Researchers have developed a new 3D printing method called blurred tomography that can rapidly produce microlenses with commercial-level optical quality. The new method may make it easier and faster to design and fabricate a variety of optical devices.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240509110855.htm


Saturated soils could impact survival of young trees planted to address climate change

New research has looked into the potential effects of increased rainfall in regions being earmarked for expansion of temperate rainforests. Amid global calls for more trees to be planted as part of efforts to combat climate change, this study highlights the importance of factoring in soil conditions when looking at where and how to create the temperate rainforests of the future.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240509110814.htm


Astrophysicists discover a novel method for hunting the first stars

A recent study has discovered a novel method for detecting the first-generations stars, known as Population III (Pop III) stars, which have never been directly detected. These potential discoveries about Pop III stars hold the promise of unlocking the secrets of the universe's origin and providing a deeper understanding of the remarkable journey from the primordial cosmos to the world we inhabit today.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240509110753.htm


How biological aging clocks tick

Aging clocks can measure the biological age of humans with high precision. Biological age can be influenced by environmental factors such as smoking or diet, thus deviating from the chronological age that is calculated using the date of birth. The precision of these aging clocks suggests that the aging process follows a program. Scientists have now discovered that aging clocks actually measure the increase in stochastic changes in cells.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240509110740.htm


Chemists produce new-to-nature enzyme containing boron

Chemists created an enzyme with boronic acid at its reactive center. This approach can produce more selective reactions with boron, and allows the use of directed evolution to improve its catalytic power.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508171213.htm


Neuropathy very common, underdiagnosed

Neuropathy, the nerve damage that causes pain and numbness in the feet and hands and can eventually lead to falls, infection and even amputation, is very common and underdiagnosed, according to a new study.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508161316.htm


New insight into genesis of spina bifida

Spina bifida is the most common structural disorder of the human nervous system. The causes are largely unknown, but a new study points to a link involving a chromosomal microdeletion -- and also underscores the value of folic acid as a preventive measure.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508140729.htm


Exercise, new drug class recommended for management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Experts released a new clinical guideline for effectively managing individuals diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The guideline reiterates the importance of collaborative decision-making with patients who have HCM and provides updated recommendations for the most effective treatment pathways for adult and pediatric patients.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508140641.htm


New study finds AI-generated empathy has its limits

Conversational agents (CAs) such as Alexa and Siri are designed to answer questions, offer suggestions -- and even display empathy. However, new research finds they do poorly compared to humans when interpreting and exploring a user's experience.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508121209.htm


Climate resilience strategies in urban, rural areas

Local decision-makers looking for ways to reduce the impact of heat waves on their communities have a valuable new capability at their disposal: a new study on vegetation resilience. Scientists completed a study of how well vegetation survived extreme heat events in both urban and rural communities across the country in recent years. The analysis informs pathways for climate mitigation, including ways to reduce the effect of urban heat islands.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508121206.htm


Rock steady: Study reveals new mechanism to explain how continents stabilized

Ancient, expansive tracts of continental crust called cratons have helped keep Earth's continents stable for billions of years, even as landmasses shift, mountains rise and oceans form. A new mechanism may explain how the cratons formed some 3 billion years ago, an enduring question in the study of Earth's history.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508113136.htm


Faster approach for starting extended-release naltrexone to treat opioid use disorder shown effective

Starting people with opioid use disorder on extended-release, injectable naltrexone (XR-naltrexone) within five to seven days of seeking treatment is more effective than the standard treatment method of starting within 10-15 days, but requires closer medical supervision, according to results from a clinical trial. The findings suggest that this rapid treatment protocol could make XR-naltrexone more viable as a treatment option for opioid use disorder, which continues to take lives at an alarming rate.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508113058.htm


Stilling the quantum dance of atoms

Researchers have discovered a way to stop the quantum dance of atoms 'seen' by electrons in carbon-based organic molecules. This development will help improve the performance of light emitting molecules used in displays and bio-medical imaging.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508112736.htm


Acceptance of animals in urban environments

How do city residents feel about animals in their immediate surroundings? A recent study shows how different the acceptance of various wild animals in urban areas is. Important factors are the places where the animals are found and their level of popularity -- squirrels and ladybugs come out on top here. The results have important implications for urban planning and nature conservation.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508093730.htm


THC lingers in breastmilk with no clear peak point

When breastfeeding mothers in a recent study used cannabis, its psychoactive component THC showed up in the milk they produced. The research also found that, unlike alcohol, when THC was detected in milk there was no consistent time when its concentration peaked and started to decline. Importantly, the researchers discovered that the amount of THC they detected in milk was low -- they estimated that infants received an average of 0.07 mg of THC per day. For comparison, a common low-dose edible contains 2 mg of THC. The research team stressed that it is unknown whether this amount has any impact on the infant.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508093702.htm


Swarms of miniature robots clean up microplastics and microbes, simultaneously

When old food packaging, discarded children's toys and other mismanaged plastic waste break down into microplastics, they become even harder to clean up from oceans and waterways. These tiny bits of plastic also attract bacteria, including those that cause disease. Researchers describe swarms of microscale robots (microrobots) that captured bits of plastic and bacteria from water. Afterward, the bots were decontaminated and reused.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240508093659.htm


This sound-suppressing silk can create quiet spaces

Researchers developed a silk fabric, which is barely thicker than a human hair, that can suppress unwanted noise and reduce noise transmission in a large room.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507152457.htm


Could getting enough sleep help prevent osteoporosis?

In people's early- to mid-20s, they reach what is called peak bone mineral density, which is higher for men than it is for women, according to researchers. This peak is one of the main determinants of fracture risk later in life. After reaching this peak, a person's bone density remains roughly stable for a couple of decades. Then, when women enter the menopausal transition, they experience accelerated bone loss. Men also experience bone density decline as they age. Sleep patterns also evolve over time.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150236.htm


Bee body mass, pathogens and local climate influence heat tolerance

How well bees tolerate temperature extremes could determine their ability to persist in a changing climate. But heat tolerance varies between and within populations, so entomologists examined bee physical traits to understand how these traits interact with environmental conditions, pathogens and other factors.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150124.htm


Genetics, not lack of oxygen, causes cerebral palsy in quarter of cases

The world's largest study of cerebral palsy (CP) genetics has discovered genetic defects are most likely responsible for more than a quarter of cases in Chinese children, rather than a lack of oxygen at birth as previously thought.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240507150034.htm


Geologists, biologists unearth the atomic fingerprints of cancer

Earth scientists have long turned to minute differences in hydrogen atoms to explore the ancient history of our planet. A new study suggests that these same tiny atoms might also lead to new ways to track the growth of cancer.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240506151554.htm


Venus has almost no water: A new study may reveal why

Billions of years ago, Venus may have harbored as much water as Earth. Today, almost all of it has disappeared. A new study may help to explain why.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240506131627.htm


New discoveries about Jupiter's magnetosphere

New discoveries about Jupiter could lead to a better understanding of Earth's own space environment and influence a long-running scientific debate about the solar system's largest planet.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240506131508.htm


New study reveals age-related brain changes influence recovery after stroke

A new study has revealed that areas of age-related damage in the brain relate to motor outcomes after a stroke -- a phenomenon that may be under-recognized in stroke research. The new observational study looked at the relationship between stroke recovery and white matter hyper-intensities (WMHs) -- areas of age-related damage in the brain's white matter, which represent vascular dysfunction and are known to impact cognitive functions.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240506131505.htm


Sister cities can help communities better navigate the climate crisis

Anthropologists suggest in a new study that establishing networks of 'sister cities' dedicated to addressing the impact of natural disasters can mitigate the devastation wrought by climate change.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240503172634.htm


Genomes of 'star algae' shed light on origin of plants

Land plants cover the surface of our planet and often tower over us. They form complex bodies with multiple organs that consist of a broad range of cell types. Developing this morphological complexity is underpinned by intricate networks of genes, whose coordinated action shapes plant bodies through various molecular mechanisms. All of these magnificent forms burst forth from a one-off evolutionary event: when plants conquered Earth's surface, known as plant terrestrialization.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240503135341.htm


Birdwatching can help students improve mental health, reduce distress

A new study finds people who have nature-based experiences report better well-being and lower psychological distress than those who do not. Birdwatching in particular yielded promising results, with higher gains in subjective well-being and more reduction in distress than more generic nature exposure, such as walks. Because birdwatching is an easily accessible activity, the results are encouraging for college students -- who are among those most likely to suffer from mental health problems.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240503135334.htm


Ice shelves fracture under weight of meltwater lakes

Heavy pooling meltwater can fracture ice, potentially leading to ice shelf collapse.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240503135322.htm


Source of pregnancy complications from infections revealed by placenta map

The placenta's response to infections from malaria, toxoplasmosis and listeria has been mapped in high resolution, possibly paving the way for new treatment options.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240503111946.htm


Stretchable e-skin could give robots human-level touch sensitivity

A stretchy electronic skin could equip robots and other devices with the same softness and touch sensitivity as human skin, opening up new possibilities to perform tasks that require a great deal of precision and control of force.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240503111943.htm


Climate change amplifies severity of combined wind-rain extremes over the UK and Ireland

Climate change will cause an increase in extreme winter storms combining strong winds and heavy rainfall over the UK and Ireland, new research has shown.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240503111921.htm


New Nevada experiments will improve monitoring of nuclear explosions

On an October morning in 2023, a chemical explosion detonated in a tunnel under the Nevada desert was the launch of the next set of experiments by the National Nuclear Security Administration, with the goal to improve detection of low-yield nuclear explosions around the world.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240502184353.htm


New eco-friendly lubricant additives protect turbine equipment, waterways

Scientists have developed lubricant additives that protect both water turbine equipment and the surrounding environment.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240502174811.htm


Physicists arrange atoms in extremely close proximity

Physicists developed a technique to arrange atoms in much closer proximity than previously possible, down to 50 nanometers. The group plans to use the method to manipulate atoms into configurations that could generate the first purely magnetic quantum gate -- a key building block for a new type of quantum computer.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240502141247.htm


Low intensity light to fight the effects of chronic stress

Some neurological disorders can be improved through photobiomodulation, a non-invasive technique based on the application of low-intensity light to stimulate altered functions in specific regions of the body. Now, a study reveals how photobiomodulation applied to the brain-gut axis is effective in recovering some cognitive alterations and sequelae caused by chronic stress. The study opens up new perspectives for applying the technique in future therapies for the treatment of neurological diseases in patients.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240502141226.htm


Gene signatures from tissue-resident T cells as a predictive tool for melanoma patients

A new study has revealed an association between favorable survival outcomes for melanoma patients and the presence of higher populations of tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM). Data obtained from this study could be used not only for a TRM-based machine learning model with predictive powers for melanoma prognosis but could also elucidate the role TRM cells can play in the tumor immune microenvironment. This could guide the development of more effective and personalized anti-tumor immunotherapeutic treatment regimens for cancer patients.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240502113731.htm


Scientists identify new treatment target for leading cause of blindness

Scientists report that a gene previously implicated in the development of atherosclerotic lesions in coronary arteries could be key to understanding why many people don't benefit from the most used therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240502113702.htm


Medical school scientist creates therapy to kill hypervirulent bacteria

Researchers are on a mission to kill drug-resistant bacteria, and a new study has identified a therapy that can penetrate the slime that such infections use to protect themselves from antibiotics.Researchers have shown that an antimicrobial peptide from cows has potential for treating incurable infections from the bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae. The bacteria, commonly found in the intestines, is usually harmless. It becomes a health hazard when it enters other parts of the body and can cause pneumonia, urinary tract and wound infections. Those at highest risk include seniors and patients with other health problems such as diabetes, cancer, kidney failure and liver disease.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240502113626.htm


Therapy to kill hypervirulent bacteria developed

A study has identified a therapy that can penetrate the slime that such infections use to protect themselves from antibiotics. Scientists showed that an antimicrobial peptide from cows has potential for treating incurable infections from the bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae. The bacteria, commonly found in the intestines, is usually harmless. It becomes a health hazard when it enters other parts of the body and can cause pneumonia, urinary tract and wound infections. Those at highest risk include seniors and patients with other health problems such as diabetes, cancer, kidney failure and liver disease.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240501193701.htm


Science has an AI problem: This group says they can fix it

A team of 19 prominent researchers has published guidelines for the responsible use of machine learning in science. They say it could avert a crisis that's smoldering in every field.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240501153055.htm


Physicists build new device that is foundation for quantum computing

Scientists have adapted a device called a microwave circulator for use in quantum computers, allowing them for the first time to precisely tune the exact degree of nonreciprocity between a qubit, the fundamental unit of quantum computing, and a microwave-resonant cavity. The ability to precisely tune the degree of nonreciprocity is an important tool to have in quantum information processing. In doing so, the team derived a general and widely applicable theory that simplifies and expands upon older understandings of nonreciprocity so that future work on similar topics can take advantage of the team's model, even when using different components and platforms.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240501153031.htm


Roadmap to close the carbon cycle

Reaching net-zero carbon emissions goals requires finding transformative paths to manage carbon in difficult-to-electrify economic sectors.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240501125825.htm


A 'cosmic glitch' in gravity

Researchers have discovered a potential 'cosmic glitch' in the universe's gravity, explaining its strange behavior on a cosmic scale.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240501125809.htm


Losing keys and everyday items 'not always sign of poor memory'

The mysteries of how memory works are explained in a new book that suggests anyone can boost their powers of recall -- and that losing your keys is normal.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/05/240501111615.htm


Activity in a room stirs up nanoparticles left over from consumer sprays

Common household products containing nanoparticles -- grains of engineered material so miniscule they are invisible to the eye -- could be contributing to a new form of indoor air pollution, according to a new study.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240430214506.htm


Scientists solve chemical mystery at the interface of biology and technology

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) allow current to flow in devices like implantable biosensors. But scientists long knew about a quirk of OECTs that no one could explain: When an OECT is switched on, there is a lag before current reaches the desired operational level. When switched off, there is no lag. Current drops immediately. Researchers report that they have discovered the reason for this activation lag, and in the process are paving the way to custom-tailored OECTs for a growing list of applications in biosensing, brain-inspired computation and beyond.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240430145610.htm


Loneliness grows as we age

Loneliness in adulthood follows a U-shaped pattern: it's higher in younger and older adulthood, and lowest during middle adulthood, reports a new study that examined nine longitudinal studies from around the world. The study also identified several risk factors for heightened loneliness across the whole lifespan, including social isolation, education and physical impairment.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240430131846.htm


Researchers parse oddity of distantly related bats in Solomon Islands that appear identical

A study of body size in leaf-nosed bats of the Solomon Islands has revealed surprising genetic diversity among nearly indistinguishable species on different islands.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240430131843.htm


NASA's Webb maps weather on planet 280 light-years away

Researchers have successfully used NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to map the weather on the hot gas-giant exoplanet WASP-43 b.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240430131829.htm


New technology makes 3D microscopes easier to use, less expensive to manufacture

3D microscopes are used in applications from the life sciences to semiconductor manufacturing. Now engineers are developing patented and patent-pending innovations making them work faster to capture even more 3D images and less expensive to manufacture.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240430105514.htm


Long snouts protect foxes when diving headfirst in snow

When hunting for mice in winter, red and arctic fox are known to plunge headfirst at speeds of 2-4 meters per second, but their sharp noses reduce the impact force in snow and protect them from injury, according to a new study.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429165819.htm


Enzymes open new path to universal donor blood

Researchers have discovered enzymes that remove hindrances that stood in the way of developing universal donor blood.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429133605.htm


Gemini south reveals origin of unexpected differences in giant binary stars

Astronomers have confirmed that differences in binary stars' composition can originate from chemical variations in the cloud of stellar material from which they formed. The results help explain why stars born from the same molecular cloud can possess different chemical composition and host different planetary systems, as well as pose challenges to current stellar and planet formation models.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429133558.htm


Details of hurricane Ian's aftermath captured with new remote sensing method

Using aerial imagery data and LiDAR, a study remotely identified the hardest-hit areas of Southwest Florida's Estero Island in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Researchers estimated the extent of structural damage and compared pre- and post-storm beach structural changes. They identified 2,427 structures that were impacted. The value of the heavily damaged structures was estimated at more than $200 million. The study has applied an advanced multi-faceted approach that links damage assessment to post-storm change in the structure of barrier islands.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429103056.htm


Speeding up spectroscopic analysis

Ultrafast laser spectroscopy allows the ascertainment of dynamics over extremely short time scales, making it a very useful tool in many scientific and industrial applications. A major disadvantage is the considerable measuring time this technique usually requires, which often leads to lengthy acquisition times spanning minutes to hours. Researchers have now developed a technique to speed up spectroscopic analysis.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429103028.htm


Probing the effects of interplanetary space on asteroid Ryugu

Samples reveal evidence of changes experienced by the surface of asteroid Ryugu, some probably due to micrometeoroid bombardment.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429102816.htm


Computer scientists unveil novel attacks on cybersecurity

Researchers have found two novel types of attacks that target the conditional branch predictor found in high-end Intel processors, which could be exploited to compromise billions of processors currently in use.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165229.htm


Advance in the treatment of acute heart failure identified

A multicenter study has identified a potential new treatment for acute heart failure, a leading cause of hospitalization and death.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240425161552.htm


Early trauma cuts life short for squirrels, and climate change could make matters worse

Life can be tough for young red squirrels living in the Canada's Yukon territory, where frigid winters, food scarcity and predators threaten their long-term survival. Scientists want to know what factors might protect young squirrels, especially as their environment becomes more impacted by climate change.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240425161549.htm


Climate change could become the main driver of biodiversity decline by mid-century

Global biodiversity has declined between 2% and 11% during the 20th century due to land-use change alone, according to a large multi-model study. Projections show climate change could become the main driver of biodiversity decline by the mid-21st century.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240425161518.htm


Solving the riddle of the sphingolipids in coronary artery disease

Investigators have uncovered a way to unleash in blood vessels the protective effects of a type of fat-related molecule known as a sphingolipid, suggesting a promising new strategy for the treatment of coronary artery disease.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424182501.htm


How light can vaporize water without the need for heat

Researchers discovered that light can cause evaporation of water from a surface without the need for heat. This 'photomolecular effect' could be important for understanding climate change and for improving some industrial processes.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424160652.htm


Giant viruses infect deadly parasite

The single-celled organism Naegleria fowleri ranks among the deadliest human parasites. Researchers have now discovered viruses that infect this harmful microbe. Named Naegleriavirus, these belong to the giant viruses, a group known for their unusually large particles and complex genomes.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111607.htm


Computer game in school made students better at detecting fake news

A computer game helped upper secondary school students become better at distinguishing between reliable and misleading news.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111604.htm


Holographic displays offer a glimpse into an immersive future

Researchers have invented a new optical element that brings us one step closer to mixing the real and virtual worlds in an ordinary pair of eyeglasses using high-definition 3D holographic images.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111558.htm


Making diamonds at ambient pressure

Researchers have grown diamonds under conditions of 1 atmosphere pressure and at 1025 degrees Celsius using a liquid metal alloy composed of gallium, iron, nickel, and silicon, thus breaking the existing paradigm. The discovery of this new growth method opens many possibilities for further basic science studies and for scaling up the growth of diamonds in new ways.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111504.htm


Bioluminescence first evolved in animals at least 540 million years ago

Bioluminescence first evolved in animals at least 540 million years ago in a group of marine invertebrates called octocorals, according to the results of a new study. The study focuses on an ancient group of marine invertebrates that includes soft corals, pushes back the previous oldest dated example of trait by nearly 300 million years.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423204148.htm


World's chocolate supply threatened by devastating virus

A rapidly spreading virus threatens the health of the cacao tree and the dried seeds from which chocolate is made, jeopardizing the global supply of the world's most popular treat. Researchers have developed a new strategy: using mathematical data to determine how far apart farmers can plant vaccinated trees to prevent mealybugs from jumping from one tree to another and spreading the virus.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423155910.htm


Livestock abortion surveillance could protect livelihoods and detect emerging global pathogens

A study suggests timely reporting and investigating of livestock abortions is feasible in rural areas and can provide insights into emerging infectious diseases.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423155804.htm


Researchers create artificial cells that act like living cells

Researchers describe the steps they took to manipulate DNA and proteins -- essential building blocks of life -- to create cells that look and act like cells from the body. This accomplishment, a first in the field, has implications for efforts in regenerative medicine, drug delivery systems and diagnostic tools.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423135213.htm


Bella moths use poison to attract mates: Scientists are closer to finding out how

Researchers sequence the bella moth genome, which they used to pinpoint specific genes that may confer immunity to noxious alkaloids.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240422170821.htm


Liquid droplets shape how cells respond to change

New research has shown that cells regulate cAMP/PKA signaling by forming liquid droplets that segregate excess PKA catalytic subunits where they can do no harm. Some cancers may block the formation of liquid droplets, leading to hyperactive signaling and tumor formation.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240422152122.htm


Life goals and their changes drive success

Though life goals change over time, a study of teen goals indicates that goals of education and high prestige can drive success.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240422152119.htm


2D materials rotate light polarization

Physicists have shown that ultra-thin two-dimensional materials such as tungsten diselenide can rotate the polarization of visible light by several degrees at certain wavelengths under small magnetic fields suitable for use on chips.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240422120712.htm


Simulated microgravity affects sleep and physiological rhythms

Simulated effects of microgravity significantly affect rhythmicity and sleep in humans, a new study finds. Such disturbances could negatively affect the physiology and performance of astronauts in space.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240422120629.htm


Genetically engineering a treatment for incurable brain tumors

Scientists are developing and validating a patent-pending novel immunotherapy to be used against glioblastoma brain tumors. Glioblastomas are almost always lethal with a median survival time of 14 months. Traditional methods used against other cancers, like chemotherapy and immunotherapy, are often ineffective on glioblastoma.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240422120626.htm


Invasive species sound off about impending ecosystem changes

Anticipating changes to ecosystems is often at best an educated guess, but what if there was a way to better tune into possible changes occurring? Researchers have discovered that the silent growth of non-native invasive plants can affect the soundscape of an ecosystem. These altered soundscapes, the acoustic patterns of a landscape through space and time, may provide a key to better observing the hard-to-see physical and biological changes occurring in an ecosystem as they are beginning.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240420165930.htm


New copper-catalyzed C-H activation strategy

Inspired by what human liver enzymes can do, chemists have developed a new set of copper-catalyzed organic synthesis reactions for building and modifying pharmaceuticals and other molecules. The new reactions are expected to be widely used in drug discovery and optimization, as well as in other chemistry-based industries.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240420115942.htm


Compact quantum light processing

An international collaboration of researchers has achieved a significant breakthrough in quantum technology, with the successful demonstration of quantum interference among several single photons using a novel resource-efficient platform. The work represents a notable advancement in optical quantum computing that paves the way for more scalable quantum technologies.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240419181955.htm


Toxic chemicals from microplastics can be absorbed through skin

Toxic chemicals used to flame-proof plastic materials can be absorbed into the body through skin, via contact with microplastics, new research shows.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240419131901.htm


Octopus inspires new suction mechanism for robots

A new robotic suction cup which can grasp rough, curved and heavy stone, has been developed by scientists.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240418165216.htm


Siblings with unique genetic change help scientists progress drug search for type 1 diabetes

Two siblings who have the only known mutations in a key gene anywhere in the world have helped scientists gain new insights that could help progress the search for new treatments in type 1 diabetes.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240418111749.htm


Study identifies new metric for diagnosing autism

Autism spectrum disorder has yet to be linked to a single cause, due to the wide range of its symptoms and severity. However, a recent study suggests a promising new approach to finding answers, one that could lead to advances in the study of other neurological conditions.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240417182844.htm


First evidence of human occupation in lava tube cave in Saudi Arabia

New research has highlighted an area in Arabia that once acted as a key point for cultural exchanges and trades amongst ancient people -- and it all took place in vast caves and lava tubes that have remained largely untapped reservoirs of archaeological abundance in Arabia. Through meticulous excavation and analysis, the international team uncovered a wealth of evidence at Umm Jirsan, spanning from the Neolithic to the Chalcolithic/Bronze Age periods (~10,000-3,500 years ago).

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240417182745.htm


New class of antimicrobials discovered in soil bacteria

Researchers have discovered toxic protein particles, shaped like umbrellas, that soil bacteria known as Streptomyces secrete to squelch competitors in their crowded microbial communities, especially others of their own species. What makes these newly detected antibacterial toxins different is that, unlike the Streptomyces' small-molecule antibiotics, umbrella toxins are large complexes composed of multiple proteins. They are also far more specific in the bacteria they target. They tend to go after bacteria that form branching filaments, an usual growth pattern among bacteria. The scientists are intrigued by the potential clinical clinical applications of this discovery, because they suspect the pathogens that cause tuberculosis and diphtheria might be sensitive to umbrella toxins.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240417131143.htm


Coral reef microbes point to new way to assess ecosystem health

A new study shows that ocean acidification is changing the mix of microbes in coral reef systems, which can be used to assess ecosystem health.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240416214653.htm


Real-time detection of infectious disease viruses by searching for molecular fingerprinting

Researchers develop breakthrough technology for wide-ranging and ultra-sensitive active nano-spectral sensor, surpassing current limitations.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240416214609.htm


Florida Wildlife Corridor eases worst impacts of climate change

Florida is projected to lose 3.5 million acres of land to development by 2070. A new study highlights how Florida can buffer itself against both climate change and population pressures by conserving the remaining 8 million acres of 'opportunity areas' within the Florida Wildlife Corridor (FLWC), the only designated statewide corridor in the U.S. Interactions between the FLWC and climate change had not been previously examined until now. Findings show substantial climate resilience benefits from the corridor, yielding a much higher return on investment than originally thought. About 90 percent of Floridians live within 20 miles of the corridor.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240416115958.htm


Most massive stellar black hole in our galaxy found

Astronomers have identified the most massive stellar black hole yet discovered in the Milky Way galaxy. This black hole was spotted in data from the European Space Agency's Gaia mission because it imposes an odd 'wobbling' motion on the companion star orbiting it. Astronomers have verified the mass of the black hole, putting it at an impressive 33 times that of the Sun.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240416115955.htm


Seed ferns: Plants experimented with complex leaf vein networks 201 million years ago

According to a research team led by palaeontologists, the net-like leaf veining typical for today's flowering plants developed much earlier than previously thought, but died out again several times. Using new methods, the fossilized plant Furcula granulifer was identified as such an early forerunner. The leaves of this seed fern species already exhibited the net-like veining in the late Triassic (around 201 million years ago).

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240416115952.htm


Physicists explain--and eliminate--unknown force dragging against water droplets on superhydrophobic surfaces

Researchers adapt a novel force measurement technique to uncover the previously unidentified physics at play at the thin air-film gap between water droplets and superhydrophobic surfaces.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240416115950.htm


New insights could unlock immunotherapy for rare, deadly eye cancer

New research explains why metastatic uveal melanoma is resistant to conventional immunotherapies and how adoptive therapy, which involves growing a patient's T cells outside the body before reinfusing them, can successfully treat this rare and aggressive cancer.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240416115939.htm


Twisted pollen tubes induce infertility

Plants with multiple sets of chromosomes, known as polyploids, are salt-tolerant or drought-resistant and often achieve higher yields. However, newly formed polyploid plants are often sterile or have reduced fertility and are unsuitable for breeding resistant lines. The reason is that the pollen tube in these plants grows incorrectly, which keeps fertilization from taking place. Pollen tube growth is mainly controlled by two genes that could be useful in crop breeding.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240416115917.htm


Quantum electronics: Charge travels like light in bilayer graphene

An international research team has demonstrated experimentally that electrons in naturally occurring double-layer graphene move like particles without any mass, in the same way that light travels. Furthermore, they have shown that the current can be 'switched' on and off, which has potential for developing tiny, energy-efficient transistors -- like the light switch in your house but at a nanoscale.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240416115914.htm


Scientists identify cell vulnerability 'fingerprint' related to Parkinson's, Lewy body dementia

A new study offers a first look into the complex molecular changes that occur in brain cells with Lewy bodies, which are key pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease and some dementias. The findings reveal that brain cells with Lewy bodies exhibit a specific gene expression pattern akin to a disease-related fingerprint.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240416115846.htm


Take it from the rats:  A junk food diet can cause long-term damage to adolescent brains

A study on the effects of a junk food diet on rats reinforces scientific understanding about the gut-brain connection.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240415231853.htm


Green-to-red transformation of Euglena gracilis using bonito stock and intense red light

Euglena gracilis, often regarded as a 'superfood,' is a promising microalga with many health and nutritional benefits. In a recent study, researchers found an efficient and low-resource approach to trigger a reddening reaction in E. gracilis using red light and a bonito fish-based culture medium. This reaction is a sign of higher and diverse carotenoid content ratio, meaning the proposed method could help turn E. gracilis into an even more nutritious food source.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240415110527.htm


Researchers resolve old mystery of how phages disarm pathogenic bacteria

Bacterial infections pose significant challenges to agriculture and medicine, especially as cases of antibiotic-resistant bacteria continue to rise. In response, scientists are elucidating the ways that bacteria-infecting viruses disarm these pathogens and ushering in the possibility of novel treatment methods.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240415110524.htm


Physicists solve puzzle about ancient galaxy found by Webb telescope

Physicists solve a puzzle linked to JWST-ER1g, a massive ancient galaxy that formed when the universe was just a quarter of its current age.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240415110447.htm


Cell's 'garbage disposal' may have another role: Helping neurons near skin sense the environment

The typical job of the proteasome, the garbage disposal of the cell, is to grind down proteins into smaller bits and recycle some of those bits and parts. That's still the case, for the most part, but researchers, studying nerve cells grown in the lab and mice, say that the proteasome's role may go well beyond that.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240412125428.htm


Where have all the right whales gone?

Marine researchers have mapped the density of one of the most endangered large whale species worldwide, the North Atlantic right whale, using new data to help avoid right whales' harmful exposure to commercial fisheries and vessel strikes. The resulting maps, spanning 20 years of whale observations, are publicly available to inform risk assessments, estimations of whale harm/disturbance, marine spatial planning, and industry regulations to mitigate risk to right whales.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240412125422.htm


A novel machine learning model for the characterization of material surfaces

Machine learning (ML) enables the accurate and efficient computation of fundamental electronic properties of binary and ternary oxide surfaces, as shown by scientists. Their ML-based model could be extended to other compounds and properties. The present research findings can aid in the screening of surface properties of materials as well as in the development of functional materials.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240412113453.htm


Bonobos are more aggressive than previously thought

Chimpanzees and bonobos are often thought to reflect two different sides of human nature -- the conflict-ready chimpanzee versus the peaceful bonobo -- but a new study shows that, within their own communities, male bonobos are more frequently aggressive than male chimpanzees. For both species, more aggressive males had more mating opportunities.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240412113444.htm


Stellar winds of three sun-like stars detected for the first time

An international research team has for the first time directly detected stellar winds from three Sun-like stars by recording the X-ray emission from their astrospheres, and placed constraints on the mass loss rate of the stars via their stellar winds.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240412113407.htm


Melanomas resist drugs by 'breaking' genes

A study has disentangled the mechanisms behind one of the ways melanoma cancer cells develop resistance to treatment. The study found that, in response to some drugs, melanomas can 'break' parts of their BRAF gene, which is mutated in 1 in 2 melanomas. This helps the tumor create alternative versions of the protein which lack regions targeted by one BRAF inhibitors, one of the main drugs used to treat this type of cancer, making treatment less effective. The findings pave the way for alternative strategies to treat BRAF-mutated melanoma, which leads to relapse in 50% of patients within a one-year period.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240412113036.htm


Artificial intelligence can help people feel heard

New research reveals AI-generated responses can make humans 'feel heard' but an underlying bias toward AI devalues its effectiveness.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240411165916.htm


Beautiful nebula, violent history: Clash of stars solves stellar mystery

When astronomers looked at a stellar pair at the heart of a stunning cloud of gas and dust, they were in for a surprise. Star pairs are typically very similar, like twins, but in HD 148937, one star appears younger and, unlike the other, is magnetic. New data suggest there were originally three stars in the system, until two of them clashed and merged. This violent event created the surrounding cloud and forever altered the system's fate.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240411165905.htm


Breakthrough promises secure quantum computing at home

The full power of next-generation quantum computing could soon be harnessed by millions of individuals and companies, thanks to a breakthrough guaranteeing security and privacy. This advance promises to unlock the transformative potential of cloud-based quantum computing.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240411130238.htm


People who use willpower alone to achieve goals, resist temptation, deemed more trustworthy

People who use willpower to overcome temptations and achieve their goals are perceived as more trustworthy than those who use strategies that involve external incentives or deterrents -- such as swear jars or internet-blocking apps -- according to new research.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240411130119.htm


Scientists create octopus survival guide to minimize impacts of fishing

Scientists have created a step-by-step aging guide for octopus to ensure fisheries remain sustainable, protecting the longevity of this ancient animal while guaranteeing the world doesn't go hungry.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240410234256.htm


New way to generate human cartilage

University of Montana researchers and their partners have found a new method to generate human cartilage of the head and neck.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240410161547.htm


A faster, better way to prevent an AI chatbot from giving toxic responses

A new technique can more effectively perform a safety check on an AI chatbot. Researchers enabled their model to prompt a chatbot to generate toxic responses, which are used to prevent the chatbot from giving hateful or harmful answers when deployed.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240410125617.htm


Researchers discover how we perceive bitter taste

A new study reveals the detailed protein structure of the TAS2R14, a bitter taste receptor that allows us to perceive bitter taste. In addition to solving the structure of this taste receptor, the researchers were also able to determine where bitter-tasting substances bind to TAS2R14 and how they activate them. The findings may lead to the development of drugs that targeting taste receptors.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240410112824.htm


A microbial plastic factory for high-quality green plastic

Engineered bacteria can produce a plastic modifier that makes renewably sourced plastic more processable, more fracture resistant and highly biodegradable even in sea water. The development provides a platform for the industrial-scale, tunable production of a material that holds great potential for turning the plastic industry green.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240409205601.htm


The genomic architecture of inherited DNA variants

In a study that spans more than a decade, researchers have looked at generations of families in a specific population to reveal the role newly inherited DNA variants play on recessive disease traits, and in the process, they have created a population specific database revealing unique DNA information unseen in larger cohorts.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240409184033.htm


Beating back bitter taste in medicine

The bitter taste of certain drugs is a barrier to taking some medications as prescribed, especially for people who are particularly sensitive to bitter taste. A team found that the diabetes drug rosiglitazone could partially block the bitter taste of some especially bad-tasting medications. The hope is that repurposed drugs could be added in small doses to other medicines to make them less bitter and taste better, thereby encouraging compliance with bitter drug regimens.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240409170152.htm


Nasal spray safely treats recurrent abnormal heart rhythms, clinical trial suggests

A clinical trial showed that a nasal spray that patients administer at home, without a physician, successfully and safely treated recurrent episodes of a condition that causes rapid abnormal heart rhythms. The study provides real-world evidence that a wide range of patients can safely and effectively use the experimental drug, called etripamil, to treat recurrent paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) episodes at home, potentially sparing them the need for repeated hospital trips for more invasive treatments.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240409152324.htm


Birdfeeders are designed to keep unwanted guests away

The first birdfeeders were made in the 19th century, and their design rapidly evolved during the 20th century. Researchers at the consider the evolution of the birdfeeder to be an example of multispecies design, where unwanted guests have shaped the human-made artifact.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240409124025.htm


Subterranean storage of hydrogen

Scientists are using computer simulations and laboratory experiments to see if depleted oil and natural gas reservoirs can be used for storing carbon-free hydrogen fuel. Hydrogen is an important clean fuel: It can be made by splitting water using solar or wind power, it can be used to generate electricity and power heavy industry, and it could be used to power fuel-cell-based vehicles. Additionally, hydrogen could be stored for months and used when energy needs outpace the supply delivered by renewable energy sources.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240409124002.htm


Humans converted at least 250,000 acres of estuaries to cities, farms in last 35 years

Worldwide over the past 35 years, dams and land reclamation activities converted 250,000 acres of estuary -- an area roughly 17 times the size of Manhattan -- to urban land or agricultural fields, with most land conversion and estuary loss in rapidly developing countries, a new study finds. The findings could help developing countries avoid problems faced by countries that have already lost or degraded their estuaries.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240409123956.htm


New technique lets scientists create resistance-free electron channels

A team has taken the first atomic-resolution images and demonstrated electrical control of a chiral interface state -- an exotic quantum phenomenon that could help researchers advance quantum computing and energy-efficient electronics.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240409123920.htm


Cognitive decline may be detected using network analysis, according to Concordia researchers

Researchers use network analysis to study whether it can reveal the subtle changes associated with subjective cognitive decline that cannot otherwise be detected through standard test analyses. By running a statistical analysis of data merged from two large Canadian data sets, the researchers were able to visualize the strength of relationships between the nodes among people who are classified as cognitively normal (CN), or who have diagnoses of subjective cognitive decline (SCD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD).

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240409123914.htm


Research could unlock more precise prognoses and targeted treatments for children with cancer

Researchers have identified new variations in neuroblastoma that could lead to a more accurate prognosis and better-targeted treatments for this devastating childhood cancer. A study reveals three new subgroups of the most common type of neuroblastoma, each with different genetic traits, expected outcomes, and distinguishing features that offer clues as to which treatments may be most effective.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240409123911.htm


A natural touch for coastal defense

Common 'hard' coastal defenses, like concrete sea walls, might struggle to keep up with increasing climate risks. A new study shows that combining them with nature-based solutions could, in some contexts, create defenses which are better able to adapt.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240409123903.htm


Are lab-grown brain tissues ethical? There is no no-brainer answer

Researchers offer insights into the ethical dilemmas and legal complexities surrounding brain organoids, especially those derived from human fetal tissue. Their findings advocate for thorough regulatory frameworks to ensure that scientific and medical progress in this field is conducted responsibly and ethically, with strong regulations supported by sound ethical and legal principles.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240408225709.htm


How climate change will impact food production and financial institutions

Researchers have developed a new method to predict the financial impacts climate change will have on agriculture, which can help support food security and financial stability for countries increasingly prone to climate catastrophes.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240408150513.htm


A pulse of innovation: AI at the service of heart research

Researchers unveiled BeatProfiler, a groundbreaking new tool -- a comprehensive software that automates the analysis of heart cell function from video data. It's the first system to integrate the analysis of different heart function indicators, such as contractility, calcium handling, and force output into one tool, speeding up the process significantly and reducing the chance for errors. BeatProfiler enabled the researchers to not only distinguish between different diseases and levels of their severity but also to rapidly and objectively test drugs that affect heart function.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240408150501.htm


Different means to the same end: How a worm protects its chromosomes

Researchers have discovered that a worm commonly used in the study of biology uses a set of proteins unlike those seen in other studied organisms to protect the ends of its DNA.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240408150446.htm


Deep parts of Great Barrier Reef 'insulated' from global warming -- for now

Some deeper areas of the Great Barrier Reef are insulated from harmful heatwaves -- but that protection will be lost if global warming continues, according to new research.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240408150441.htm


Inexplicable flying fox found in Hydra galaxy cluster

High sensitivity radio observations have discovered a cloud of magnetized plasma in the Hydra galaxy cluster. The odd location and shape of this plasma defy all conventional explanations. Dubbed the Flying Fox based on its silhouette, this plasma will remain a mystery until additional observations can provide more insight.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240408130801.htm


Disparities in sleep health and insomnia may begin at a young age

Children and teens from racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected by persistent insomnia symptoms that begin in childhood and continue through young adulthood, according to a new study. This study is one of the first to look at how childhood insomnia symptoms evolve over the long-term and investigate how the trajectory of insomnia differs between racial and ethnic groups.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240408130630.htm


PFAS 'forever chemicals' above drinking water guidelines in global source water

PFAS (aka 'forever chemicals') are notoriously difficult to destroy. They've been linked to environmental and health issues, including some cancers, but a lot remains unknown about the true scale and potential impacts of the problem -- including how much is in our water supply. A new study assessed the levels of PFAS contamination in surface and ground water around the globe -- and found that much of our global source water exceeds PFAS safe drinking limits.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240408130619.htm


Climate change threatens Antarctic meteorites

Antarctica harbors a large concentration of meteorites imbuing the icy continent with an unparalleled wealth of information on our solar system. However, these precious meteorites are rapidly disappearing from the ice sheet surface due to global warming, according to a new study.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240408130613.htm


Unnecessary use of beta-blockers after a heart attack?

Half of all patients discharged from hospital after a heart attack are treated with beta-blockers unnecessarily, new study suggests.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240408130546.htm


Atlas of the human ovary with cell-level resolution is a step toward artificial ovary

A new 'atlas' of the human ovary provides insights that could lead to treatments restoring ovarian hormone production and the ability to have biologically related children, according to engineers.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240405231840.htm


Common loons threatened by declining water clarity

The Common Loon, an icon of the northern wilderness, is under threat from climate change due to reduced water clarity, according to a new study. The study followed up an earlier paper that showed substantial reproductive decline in the author's study area in northern Wisconsin.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240405231821.htm


Heat stress from ocean warming harms octopus vision

While climate change has led to an increase in the abundance of octopuses, heat stress from projected ocean warming could impair their vision and impact the survivability of the species.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240405130454.htm


Ocean floor a 'reservoir' of plastic pollution

New science has taken a deep dive into plastic waste, providing the first estimate of how much ends up on the sea floor.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240404190801.htm


Climate change impacts terrorist activity

Changing weather patterns induced by climate change are contributing to shifts in the location of terrorist activity, according to new research.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240403224905.htm


Are universities connected to local sustainability? A new study suggests yes...and no.

A new study finds that universities scoring strongly on measures of sustainability are associated with innovation and economic growth in their surrounding communities. However, the study did not find similar connections between university sustainability performance and environmental sustainability in their home communities.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240403130521.htm


Intelligent liquid

Researchers have developed a programmable meta-fluid with tunable springiness, optical properties, viscosity and even the ability to transition between a Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluid. The first-of-its-kind meta-fluid uses a suspension of small, elastomer spheres -- between 50 to 500 microns -- that buckle under pressure, radically changing the characteristics of the fluid. The meta-fluid could be used in everything from hydraulic actuators to program robots, to intelligent shock absorbers that can dissipate energy depending on the intensity of the impact, to optical devices that can transition from clear to opaque.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240403130513.htm


Last chance to record archaic Greek language 'heading for extinction'

A new data crowdsourcing platform aims to preserve the sound of Romeyka, an endangered millennia-old variety of Greek. Experts consider the language to be a linguistic goldmine and a living bridge to the ancient world.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240402192601.htm


Increasing positive affect in adolescence could lead to improved health and well-being in adulthood

Adolescents with high positive affect may have improved physical and mental health as adults, according to a new study.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240402192555.htm


A new estimate of U.S. soil organic carbon to improve Earth system models

Emory environmentals scientist combined field-level data with machine-learning techniques to estimate soil organic carbon at the U.S. scale, another step toward providing more accurate baseline data to improve Earth system models for climate change.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240402192552.htm


These plants evolved in Florida millions of years ago: They may be gone in decades

Scrub mints are among the most endangered plants you've probably never heard of. More than half of the 24 species currently known to exist are considered threatened or endangered at the state or federal level. In a new study, researchers show there are likely more scrub mint species waiting to be scientifically described. And at least one species has been left without federal protection because of a technicality.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240402140406.htm


Golfers' risk from pesticides used on turfgrass is likely low

For many, spring heralds fresh air and exercise on the golf course. But do players risk exposure to unsafe levels of pesticides used to beautify and maintain a golf course's green grass? To find out, researchers asked volunteers to play 18 holes on a simulated course sprayed with common pesticides.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240401190426.htm


Engineers 'symphonize' cleaner ammonia production

Among the many chemicals we use every day, ammonia is one of the worst for the atmosphere. The nitrogen-based chemical used in fertilizer, dyes, explosives and many other products ranks second only to cement in terms of carbon emissions, due to the high temperatures and energy needed to manufacture it. But by improving on a well-known electrochemical reaction and orchestrating a 'symphony' of lithium, nitrogen and hydrogen atoms, engineers have developed a new ammonia production process that meets several green targets.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240401142536.htm


Are high-purity cathode materials truly necessary?

Researchers introduce a groundbreaking alternative to reduce secondary battery costs.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240401142530.htm


Chatbot outperformed physicians in clinical reasoning in head-to-head study

ChatGPT-4, an artificial intelligence program designed to understand and generate human-like text, outperformed internal medicine residents and attending physicians at two academic medical centers at processing medical data and demonstrating clinical reasoning.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240401142448.htm


Do sweeteners increase your appetite? New evidence from randomised controlled trial says no

Replacing sugar with artificial and natural sweeteners in foods does not make people hungrier -- and also helps to reduce blood sugar levels, a significant new study has found. The double blind randomized controlled trial found that consuming food containing sweeteners produced a similar reduction in appetite sensations and appetite-related hormone responses as sugary foods -- and provides some benefits such as lowering blood sugar, which may be particularly important in people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The use of sweeteners in place of sugar in foods can be controversial due to conflicting reports about their potential to increase appetite. Previous studies have been carried out but did not provide robust evidence. However, the researchers say their study, which meets the gold standard level of proof in scientific investigation, provides very strong evidence that sweeteners and sweetness enhancers do not negatively impact appetite and are beneficial for reducing sugar intake.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240328194638.htm


Is it the school, or the students?

School quality ratings significantly reflect the preparation of a school's students, not just the school's contribution to learning gains, according to new research.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240328162639.htm


Mechanism found to determine which memories last

Neuroscientists have established in recent decades the idea that some of each day's experiences are converted by the brain into permanent memories during sleep the same night. Now, a new study proposes a mechanism that determines which memories are tagged as important enough to linger in the brain until sleep makes them permanent.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240328162613.htm


Revolutionary biomimetic olfactory chips to enable advanced gas sensing and odor detection

A research team has addressed the long-standing challenge of creating artificial olfactory sensors with arrays of diverse high-performance gas sensors. Their newly developed biomimetic olfactory chips (BOC) are able to integrate nanotube sensor arrays on nanoporous substrates with up to 10,000 individually addressable gas sensors per chip, a configuration that is similar to how olfaction works for humans and other animals.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240328110552.htm


Reverse effects of trauma? Older brain cells linger unexpectedly before their death

Researchers report that mature oligodendrocytes -- the central nervous system cells critical for brain function -- cling to life following a fatal trauma for much, much longer than scientists knew. The findings suggest a new pathway for efforts to reverse or prevent the damage that aging and diseases such as multiple sclerosis cause to these important cells.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240328110254.htm


Long-period oscillations control the Sun's differential rotation

The interior of the Sun does not rotate at the same rate at all latitudes. The physical origin of this differential rotation is not fully understood. It turns out, long-period solar oscillations discovered in 2021 play a crucial role in controlling the Sun's rotational pattern. The long-period oscillations are analogous to the baroclinically unstable waves in Earth's atmosphere that shape the weather. In the Sun, these oscillations carry heat from the slightly hotter poles to the slightly cooler equator.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240327182542.htm


Artificial reef designed by MIT engineers could protect marine life, reduce storm damage

Engineers designed an 'architected' reef that can mimic the wave-buffering effects of natural reefs while providing pockets for marine life. The sustainable and cost-saving structure could dissipate more than 95 percent of incoming wave energy using a small fraction of the material normally needed.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240327165145.htm


Sweet success: Sugarcane's complex genetic code cracked

Scientists created a highly accurate reference genome for one of the most important modern crops and found a rare example of how genes confer disease resistance in plants. Exploring sugarcane's genetic code could help researchers develop more resilient and productive crops, with implications for both sugar production and biofuels.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240327124802.htm


The behavior of ant queens is shaped by their social environment

The queens in colonies of social insects, such as ants, bees, and wasps, are considered the veritable embodiment of specialization in the animal kingdom. The common perception is that the queen's only task is to lay eggs -- and that this attribute is an inherent trait, not influenced by external factors. In contrast, recent research has demonstrated that in certain ant colonies the social environment can play a crucial role in shaping the behavioral specialization of the queens.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240326170119.htm


Sleeping supermassive black holes awakened briefly by shredded stars

Astronomers have concluded that an obscure class of galaxies known as Compact Symmetric Objects, or CSOs, are not young as previously thought but rather lead relatively short lives.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240326170117.htm


Using 'time travel' to think about technology from the perspective of future generations

Researchers have conducted a series of participatory deliberation workshops in which the participants were asked to consider issues of future society and manufacturing, in general, and as they relate to hydrothermally produced porous glass. In workshops where the perspective of 'imaginary future generations' was adopted, participants' perceptions of the technology's feasibility and future potentiality changed significantly.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240326122611.htm


New maps help decision-makers factor albedo into tree-planting decisions

A new study provides a global analysis of where restoration of tree cover is most effective at cooling the global climate system, considering not just the cooling from carbon storage but also the warming from decreased albedo. The researchers provide a tool practitioners and land managers can use to determine just how much of a problem albedo is for any reforestation or afforestation project on the globe.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240326103853.htm


Treatment for blindness-causing retinal detachment using viscous seaweed

Scientists have created a biocompatible artificial vitreous body derived from algae-derived carbohydrates.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240325201623.htm


Engineering household robots to have a little common sense

Engineers aim to give robots a bit of common sense when faced with situations that push them off their trained path, so they can self-correct after missteps and carry on with their chores. The team's method connects robot motion data with the common sense knowledge of large language models, or LLMs.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240325172439.htm


Researchers uncover protein interactions controlling fertility in female mice

Researchers have shed light on the proteins controlling the development of ovaries in mice before and after birth. This could lead to a better understanding of how female infertility develops.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240325114257.htm


Citizen scientists contribute vital information about 35 seahorse species

Thanks to diligent observers, seahorses, those enigmatic and charismatic fish, are not only being discovered in new habitats and expanded geographic ranges, they are also being found at new ocean depths. While their capacity for male pregnancy has long fascinated people, new information on sex ratio and pregnancy seasonality has been discovered.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240325114250.htm


The world is one step closer to secure quantum communication on a global scale

Researchers have brought together two Nobel prize-winning research concepts to advance the field of quantum communication. Scientists can now efficiently produce nearly perfect entangled photon pairs from quantum dot sources.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240325114206.htm


Cool paint coatings help pedestrians feel up to 1.5 degrees Celsius cooler in urban setting

A real-world study has shown that the use of cool paint coatings in cities can help pedestrians feel up to 1.5 degrees Celsius cooler, making the urban area more comfortable for work and play.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240325114204.htm


Wild bird gestures 'after you'

A small-bird species, the Japanese tit (Parus minor), uses wing movements as a gesture to convey the message 'after you,' according to new research. When a mating pair arrives at their nest box with food, they will wait outside on perches. One will then often flutter its wings toward the other, apparently indicating for the latter to enter first. The researchers say that this discovery challenges the previous belief that gestural communication is prominent only in humans and great apes, significantly advancing our understanding of visual communication in birds.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240325112940.htm


Researchers take major step toward developing next-generation solar cells

Engineers have discovered a new way to manufacture solar cells using perovskite semiconductors. It could lead to lower-cost, more efficient systems for powering homes, cars, boats and drones.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240322145604.htm


Scientists close in on TB blood test which could detect millions of silent spreaders

Millions of people are spreading tuberculosis unknowingly - now scientists say they are close to developing a new test that is as simple as the lateral flows used during the Covid pandemic.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240322145447.htm


Your dog understands that some words 'stand for' objects

It's no surprise that your dog can learn to sit when you say 'sit' and come when called. But a new study has made the unexpected discovery that dogs generally also know that certain words 'stand for' certain objects. When dogs hear those words, brain activity recordings suggest they activate a matching mental representation in their minds.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240322145438.htm


Two of the Milky Way's earliest building blocks identified

Astronomers have identified what could be two of the Milky Way's earliest building blocks: Named 'Shakti' and 'Shiva', these appear to be the remnants of two galaxies that merged between 12 and 13 billion years ago with an early version of the Milky Way, contributing to our home galaxy's initial growth. The new find is the astronomical equivalent of archeologists identifying traces of an initial settlement that grew into a large present-day city.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240321155515.htm


Say hello to biodegradable microplastics

Finding viable alternatives to traditional petroleum-based plastics and microplastics has never been more important. New research shows that their plant-based polymers biodegrade -- even at the microplastic level -- in under seven months.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240321155439.htm


AI can now detect COVID-19 in lung ultrasound images

Artificial intelligence can spot COVID-19 in lung ultrasound images much like facial recognition software can spot a face in a crowd, new research shows. The findings boost AI-driven medical diagnostics and bring health care professionals closer to being able to quickly diagnose patients with COVID-19 and other pulmonary diseases with algorithms that comb through ultrasound images to identify signs of disease.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240320160609.htm


8-hour time-restricted eating linked to a 91% higher risk of cardiovascular death

A study of over 20,000 adults found that those who followed an 8-hour time-restricted eating schedule, a type of intermittent fasting, had a 91% higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240320115727.htm


Tanks of the Triassic: New crocodile ancestor identified

Dinosaurs get all the glory. But aetosaurs, a heavily armored cousin of modern crocodiles, ruled the world before dinosaurs did. These tanks of the Triassic came in a variety of shapes and sizes before going extinct around 200 million years ago. Today, their fossils are found on every continent except Antarctica and Australia.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240318164517.htm


Speaking without vocal cords, thanks to a new AI-assisted wearable device

Bioengineers have invented a thin, flexible device that adheres to the neck and translates the muscle movements of the larynx into audible speech. The device is trained through machine learning to recognize which muscle movements correspond to which words. The self-powered technology could serve as a non-invasive tool for people who have lost the ability to speak due to vocal cord problems.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240315161029.htm


'Noisy' roundworm brains give rise to individuality

Research has demonstrated individual differences in and successfully extracted commonalities from the whole-brain activity of roundworms. The researchers also found that computer simulations based on the whole-brain activity of roundworms more accurately reflect real-brain activity when they include so-called 'noise,' or probabilistic elements.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240315161022.htm


Gut bacteria make neurotransmitters to shape the newborn immune system

Investigators discovered that unique bacteria colonize the gut shortly after birth and make the neurotransmitter serotonin to educate gut immune cells. This prevents allergic reactions to food and the bacteria themselves during early development.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240315161015.htm


How the brain translates motivation into goal-oriented behavior, according to new study

Hunger can drive a motivational state that leads an animal to a successful pursuit of a goal -- foraging for and finding food. In a highly novel study, researchers describe how two major neuronal subpopulations in a part of the brain's thalamus called the paraventricular nucleus participate in the dynamic regulation of goal pursuits. This research provides insight into the mechanisms by which the brain tracks motivational states to shape instrumental actions.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/03/240315160859.htm