Sweetened beverage taxes decrease consumption in lower-income households by nearly 50%

New research investigated responses to sweetened beverage taxes using the purchasing behavior of approximately 400 households in Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland and Philadelphia. Researchers found that after the tax was introduced, lower-income households decreased their purchases of sweetened beverages by nearly 50%, while higher-income households reduced purchases by 18%.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241021170524.htm


Weather-changing El Nino oscillation is at least 250 million years old

A new modeling study shows that the El Nino event, a huge blob of warm ocean water in the tropical Pacific Ocean that can change rainfall patterns around the globe, was present at least 250 million years in the past, and was often of greater magnitude than the oscillations we see today.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241021170400.htm


Plant CO2 uptake rises by nearly one third in new global estimates

Plants the world over are absorbing about 31% more carbon dioxide than previously thought, according to a new assessment. The research is expected to improve Earth system simulations that scientists use to predict the future climate, and spotlights the importance of natural carbon sequestration for greenhouse gas mitigation.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241021145729.htm


Rare fossils of extinct elephant document the earliest known instance of butchery in India

Scientists have discovered the earliest evidence of animal butchery by humans in India.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241021133245.htm


Scientists unveil new insights into air pollution formation

Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in understanding how air pollution forms at the molecular level. Their investigation sheds light on the complex chemical processes occurring at the boundary between liquid, in particular aqueous solutions, and vapor in our atmosphere.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241021123308.htm


Finding could help turn trees into affordable, greener industrial chemicals

Specific molecular property of lignin in trees determines difficulty of using microbial fermentation to turn trees and other plants into industrial chemicals.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241018162557.htm


'Paving the way' for improved treatment of premature aging disease

A new article could spur the development of new and improved treatments for Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), a rare genetic disorder with no known cure that causes accelerated aging in children.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241018131348.htm


American lobster population, habitat preferences shifting, study finds

Scientists found that from 1995-2021, occupancy of boulder habitats by lobsters dropped 60%. Meanwhile, the number of lobsters residing in sediment or featureless ledge habitats increased 633% and 280%, respectively. Lobster population density across all types of habitats declined too, but the mean size of an adult lobster was greater in 2021 than in 1996.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241018131215.htm


Healthy diet may help keep low grade prostate cancer from progressing to more dangerous states during active surveillance, study suggests

New research provides scientific evidence that a healthy diet may reduce the chance of low risk prostate cancer progressing to a more aggressive state in men undergoing active surveillance -- a clinical option in which men with lower risk cancer are carefully monitored for progression in lieu of treatments that could have undesired side effects or complications.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241017173408.htm


Increased autism risk linked to Y chromosome, study finds

Increased risk for autism appears to be linked to the Y chromosome, a study has found, offering a new explanation for the greater prevalence of autism in males.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241017173212.htm


Why do we love carbs? The origins predate agriculture and maybe even our split from Neanderthals

A new study reveals how the duplication of the salivary amylase gene may not only have helped shape human adaptation to starchy foods, but may have occurred as far back as more than 800,000 years ago, long before the advent of farming.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241017172950.htm


Forever Chemicals found in bottled and tap water from around the world

Scientists have discovered toxic 'Forever Chemicals' present in samples of drinking water from around the world.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241017112517.htm


Fearful memories of others seen in mouse brain

Researchers have revealed that the CA1 and CA2 regions in the brain respectively encode the locations and individuals linked with a threatening experience. The results show that, beyond simply recognizing individuals, CA2 helps record more complex aspects of social memory: in this case, whether another individual is safe or risky.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241016121031.htm


New app performs real-time, full-body motion capture with a smartphone

Engineers have developed a new system for full-body motion capture -- and it doesn't require specialized rooms, expensive equipment, bulky cameras or an array of sensors. Instead, it requires only a smartphone, smartwatch or earbuds.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241015183529.htm


NASA, NOAA: Sun reaches maximum phase in 11-year solar cycle

Experts have announced that the Sun has reached its solar maximum period, which could continue for the next year. Scientists will not be able to determine the exact peak of this solar maximum period for many months because it's only identifiable after they've tracked a consistent decline in solar activity after that peak. However, scientists have identified that the last two years on the Sun have been part of this active phase of the solar cycle, due to the consistently high number of sunspots during this period.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241015183526.htm


Seven new frog species discovered in Madagascar: Sounds like something from Star Trek

Researchers have discovered seven new species of tree frogs that make otherworldly calls in the rainforests of Madagascar. Their strange, high-pitched whistling calls sound more like sound effects from the sci-fi series Star Trek. As a result, the researchers have named the new species after seven of the series' most iconic captains.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241015141512.htm


Tube sock-like skunk covers more ground than deer, impacted by winter weather, study finds

A study in the Cascade Range in Oregon of a tiny, elusive skunk found the animal can cover more ground than deer and is sensitive to climate change, particularly severe winter weather.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241015141331.htm


Survey finds 25% of adults suspect they have undiagnosed ADHD

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder -- also known as ADHD -- is typically thought of as a childhood condition. But more adults are realizing that their struggles with attention, focus and restlessness could in fact be undiagnosed ADHD, thanks in large part to trending social media videos racking up millions of views. A new national survey of 1,000 American adults finds that 25% of adults now suspect they may have undiagnosed ADHD. But what worries mental health experts is that only 13% of survey respondents have shared their suspicions with their doctor.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241014210502.htm


Liftoff! NASA's Europa Clipper sails toward ocean moon of Jupiter

NASA's Europa Clipper has embarked on its long voyage to Jupiter, where it will investigate Europa, a moon with an enormous subsurface ocean that may have conditions to support life. The largest spacecraft NASA ever built for a mission headed to another planet, Europa Clipper also is the first NASA mission dedicated to studying an ocean world beyond Earth.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241014145904.htm


Targeting 'undruggable' diseases: New levels of detail in targeted protein degradation

Targeted protein degradation has opened up a new field of drug discovery with potential to treat previously 'undruggable' diseases. The work means new drugs can be much more accurately targeted at the molecular level, creating and hitting a metaphorical 'bull's eye.'

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241011175903.htm


Researchers identify signs tied to more severe cases of RSV

Clinician-scientists analyzed samples from patients' airways and blood, finding distinct changes in children with severe cases of RSV, including an increase in the number of natural killer (NK) cells in their airways. The descriptive study, which focuses on understanding the underpinnings of severe disease, may help to lay groundwork for identifying new targets for future treatments.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241011175858.htm


NASA's Hubble, New Horizons team up for a simultaneous look at Uranus

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and New Horizons spacecraft simultaneously set their sights on Uranus recently, allowing scientists to make a direct comparison of the planet from two very different viewpoints. The results inform future plans to study like types of planets around other stars.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241011141556.htm


How did the building blocks of life arrive on Earth?

Researchers have used the chemical fingerprints of zinc contained in meteorites to determine the origin of volatile elements on Earth. The results suggest that without 'unmelted' asteroids, there may not have been enough of these compounds on Earth for life to emerge.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241011141553.htm


Scientists cut harmful pollution from hydrogen engines

Scientists have discovered a low-cost method to significantly reduce this pollution from hydrogen internal combustion engines by improving the efficiency of their catalytic converters. The researchers found that infusing platinum in catalytic converters with a highly porous material called Y zeolites greatly enhances the reactions between nitrogen oxides and hydrogen, converting unhealthful nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen gas and water vapor.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241010205911.htm


It could take over 40 years for PFAS to leave groundwater

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, known commonly as PFAS, could take over 40 years to flush out of contaminated groundwater.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241010205903.htm


The new fashion: Clothes that help combat rising temperatures

A team of international researchers has developed a natural fabric that urban residents could wear to counter rising temperatures in cities worldwide, caused by buildings, asphalt, and concrete.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241009215428.htm


In double breakthrough, mathematician solves two long-standing problems

A professor who has devoted his career to resolving the mysteries of higher mathematics has solved two separate, fundamental problems that have perplexed mathematicians for decades.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241009183553.htm


NASA's Hubble watches Jupiter's Great Red Spot behave like a stress ball

Astronomers have observed Jupiter's legendary Great Red Spot (GRS), an anticyclone large enough to swallow Earth, for at least 150 years. But there are always new surprises -- especially when NASA's Hubble Space Telescope takes a close-up look at it. Hubble's new observations of the famous red storm, collected 90 days between December 2023 to March 2024, reveal that the GRS is not as stable as it might look. The recent data show the GRS jiggling like a bowl of gelatin. The combined Hubble images allowed astronomers to assemble a time-lapse movie of the squiggly behavior of the GRS.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241009183537.htm


Viruses are teeming on your toothbrush, showerhead

Microbiologists found that showerheads and toothbrushes are teeming with an extremely diverse collection of viruses -- most of which have never been seen before.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241009122630.htm


Nature and plastics inspire breakthrough in soft sustainable materials

Using peptides and a snippet of the large molecules in plastics, materials scientists have developed materials made of tiny, flexible nano-sized ribbons that can be charged just like a battery to store energy or record digital information.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241009121344.htm


A matter of taste: Electronic tongue reveals AI 'inner thoughts'

Researchers recently developed electronic tongue capable of identifying differences in similar liquids, such as milk with varying water content; diverse products, including soda types and coffee blends; signs of spoilage in fruit juices; and instances of food safety concerns. They found that results were even more accurate when artificial intelligence used its own assessment parameters to interpret the data generated by the electronic tongue.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241009121229.htm


Will AI tools revolutionize public health? Not if they continue following old patterns, researchers argue

A new article shares findings from an extensive literature analysis of AI's current trajectory in health care.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241008201419.htm


Transition to a circular bioeconomy requires getting prices right

A circular bioeconomy that reduces and recycles waste, transitions away from fossil fuels to renewable bio-based alternatives, and regenerates natural systems is critical for feeding and fueling the world's growing population in environmentally sustainable ways. But it's a complicated concept, and significant questions remain about how it should be implemented and how to get buy-in from farmers, industry, and consumers in a market economy. A new paper by noted agricultural economists and scientists argues that the concept of a circular bioeconomy needs to expand beyond its technical focus on reducing waste and incorporate a values-based economic lens. The authors emphasize the need for the right policies, incentives, and market signals to persuade consumers and producers to make environmentally sound decisions -- and to help ensure that the system is equitable.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241008163931.htm


Asymmetric placebo effect in response to spicy food

The expectations humans have of a pleasurable sensation asymmetrically shape neuronal responses and subjective experiences to hot sauce, according to a new study.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241008144630.htm


Key molecule in wound healing identified

A new study has identified an RNA molecule that is important for skin wound healing. The research may have implications for the treatment of hard-to-heal wounds.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241008122243.htm


Dogs contaminate ponds with parasite medications

Most dog owners didn't know that flea and tick treatments are dangerous to aquatic life, suggesting more awareness could ease the problem.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241008103814.htm


AI speeds up the discovery of energy and quantum materials

Unearthing new LEDs, solar cells, and photodetectors requires extensive knowledge surrounding the optical properties of materials. Calculating these takes time and resources. Yet researchers unveiled a new AI tool that can accurately, and crucially much faster than quantum simulations, for predicting optical properties.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241007222754.htm


AI and quantum mechanics team up to accelerate drug discovery

SMU have created SmartCADD. This open-source virtual tool combines artificial intelligence, quantum mechanics and Computer Assisted Drug Design (CADD) techniques to speed up the screening of chemical compounds, significantly reducing drug discovery timelines.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241007134022.htm


Antarctic 'greening' at dramatic rate

Vegetation cover across the Antarctic Peninsula has increased more than tenfold over the last four decades, new research shows.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241007115554.htm


New therapeutic target for cardiac arrhythmias emerges

Researchers identified a lipid that is involved in regulating cardiac ion channels, providing insights into possible mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias in heart failure and a potential pathway for future therapeutic development.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241004171115.htm


Preventing organ transplant rejection

Breakthrough research uses nanoparticles to help the body accept transplanted organs without lifelong immunosuppressive drugs, reducing risks.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241004121844.htm


Are auditory magic tricks possible for a blind audience?

Magic tricks make the impossible seem possible. Magicians have long captivated audiences with visual tricks, such as pulling a bunny from a hat or sawing someone in half, but tricks that rely on sound are scarce. A new article explores why creating a magical experience using only sound may be challenging and underscores the importance of making magic accessible to people with blindness.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241004121719.htm


Improved water quality offsets in growing cities could protect Reef

New research shows how growing Queensland regions can learn from biodiversity and carbon offsetting efforts to better meet water quality targets.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241003221637.htm


Green subsidies may have hidden costs, experts warn

Government subsidies for business practices and processes should be approached with caution, even when they seem to be environmentally friendly, writes a group of scientists and economists. They argue that subsidies can alter market pressures, leading to unintended consequences that not only perpetuate harmful subsidies over time but also diminish the overall effectiveness of those intended to promote environmental sustainability.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241003145456.htm


Balancing health: diabetes and obesity increase risk of liver cancer relapse

A research team analyzed how diabetes mellitus and obesity factor into recurrence and survival after surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of liver cancer.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241003123551.htm


Psychological distress in adults and caregivers about food allergy is widespread and unrecognized

Psychological distress is common amongst those living with food allergy, but a new study has shown that little support is available to those who are struggling.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241003123420.htm


Wastewater bacteria can breakdown plastic for food

Comamonadacae is a family of bacteria often found growing on plastics in water. New study finds a bacterium in this family can break down the plastic for food. Researchers also identified the enzyme the bacterium use to degrade plastic. The discovery opens new possibilities for developing bacteria-based engineering solutions to help clean up difficult-to-remove plastic waste.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241003123307.htm


Widespread ice deposits on the moon

Deposits of ice in lunar dust and rock (regolith) are more extensive than previously thought, according to a new analysis of data from NASA's LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) mission. Ice would be a valuable resource for future lunar expeditions. Water could be used for radiation protection and supporting human explorers, or broken into its hydrogen and oxygen components to make rocket fuel, energy, and breathable air.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241003123252.htm


Study reveals limits of using land surface temperature to explain heat hazards in Miami-Dade County

New findings underscore the importance of further research to enhance our understanding of urban heat dynamics in subtropical and tropical regions, ensuring that heat mitigation efforts are informed by the most accurate data available. A recent study examines the effectiveness of using land surface temperatures (LSTs) as proxies for surface air temperatures (SATs) in subtropical, seasonally wet regions. Scientists used satellite remote sensing data to explore how LST reflects human heat exposure in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241002224103.htm


Unpacking polar sea ice

University of Utah mathematics and climate researchers are building new models for understanding the dynamics of sea ice, which is not as solid as you might think.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241002180915.htm


Spinning out a new biomaterials startup is harder than you think

Spider silk, long prized for its strength and elasticity, has created something of a furor in the biomanufacturing world as businesses look for ways to cheaply scale up production for silks, which can be used in everything from tactical gear to sutures and textiles. However, a comprehensive study shows that there are many challenges facing the spider silk industry.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241002154715.htm


Medical and psychological harms of obesity depend on where you live, study indicates

Researchers collected archival data on more than 3.4 million people living in the United States and United Kingdom. They found evidence that obesity tends to spur lighter medical and psychological harms when those who struggle with the disorder feel less conspicuous.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241002154711.htm


NASA's TESS spots record-breaking stellar triplets

Professional and amateur astronomers teamed up with artificial intelligence to find an unmatched stellar trio called TIC 290061484, thanks to cosmic 'strobe lights' captured by NASA's TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite).

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241002123146.htm


Study links hurricanes to higher death rates long after storms pass

U.S. tropical cyclones, including hurricanes, indirectly cause thousands of deaths for nearly 15 years after a storm. Researchers estimate an average U.S. tropical cyclone indirectly causes 7,000 to 11,000 excess deaths. All told, they estimate tropical storms since 1930 have contributed to between 3.6 million and 5.2 million deaths in the U.S. -- more than all deaths nationwide from motor vehicle accidents, infectious diseases, or battle deaths in wars during the same period.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241002123012.htm


Airborne plastic chemical levels shock researchers

A new study documents how Southern Californians are chronically being exposed to toxic airborne chemicals called plasticizers, including one that's been banned from children's items and beauty products.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241001170432.htm


Researchers integrate fast OCT system into neurosurgical microscope

Clinical study of microscope-integrated system lays groundwork for using OCT to define tumor margins and reveal subsurface brain anatomy.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241001152958.htm


New security protocol shields data from attackers during cloud-based computation

Researchers developed a technique guaranteeing that data remain secure during multiparty, cloud-based computation. This method, which leverages the quantum properties of light, could enable organizations like hospitals or financial companies to use deep learning to securely analyze confidential patient or customer data.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241001142659.htm


Climate scientists express their views on possible future climate scenarios in a new study

A new survey of climate experts reveals that a majority believes the Earth to be headed for a rise in global temperatures far higher than the 2015 Paris Agreement targets of 1.5 to well-below 2 degrees Celsius. It also shows that two-thirds of respondents believe we may succeed in achieving net zero CO2 emissions during the second half of this century. This indicates some optimism that mitigation efforts may be starting to bend the emissions curve toward what would be needed to achieve the Paris temperature goal.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241001124656.htm


Carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on Pluto's moon Charon

Astronomers have detected carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on the frozen surface of Pluto's largest moon, Charon, using observations from the James Webb Space Telescope. These discoveries add to Charon's known chemical inventory, previously identified by ground- and space-based observations, that includes water ice, ammonia-bearing species and the organic materials responsible for Charon's gray and red coloration.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241001114722.htm


Traveling population wave in Canada lynx

A new study provides compelling evidence that Canada lynx populations in Interior Alaska experience a 'traveling population wave' affecting their reproduction, movement and survival. This discovery could help wildlife managers make better-informed decisions when managing one of the boreal forest's keystone predators.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240930212952.htm


Watch water form out of thin air

Palladium, a rare metallic element, can rapidly generate water from hydrogen and oxygen. Researchers witnessed this process at the nanoscale for the first time with an electron microscope. By viewing the process with extreme precision, researchers discovered how to optimize it to generate water at a faster rate. Process could be used to generate water on-demand in arid environments, including on other planets.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240930160507.htm


Could a bout of COVID protect you from a severe case of flu?

New findings on how past viral respiratory infections affect future, unrelated ones could lead to therapies for boosting general antiviral immunity -- and potentially pandemic preparedness.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240930160208.htm


Frequent fizzy or fruit drinks and high coffee consumption linked to higher stroke risk

Frequent drinking of fizzy drinks or fruit juice is associated with an increased risk of stroke, according to new findings . The research also found that drinking more than four cups of coffee per day also increases the risk of stroke.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240930123035.htm


Return of the elephants seals: From a few to thousands

A new international study has revealed the genetic impact of hunting in northern elephant seals. The research shows that this species narrowly escaped extinction by hunting, resulting in lasting genetic effects in the present population.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240927173545.htm


Rates of sudden unexpected infant death changed during the COVID-19 pandemic

Rates of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) increased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the immediate pre-pandemic period, according to a new study. The pronounced increase in SUID cases correlated with a resurgence of seasonal respiratory viruses, particularly RSV, suggesting that the shift in SUID rates may be associated with altered infectious disease transmission.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240926144922.htm


Study unveals a novel protective mechanism in bacterial cell wall

Researchers have discovered a widespread mechanism in bacteria that enhances the bacteria's defense against environmental threats. The discovery, which may be important for research into developing new treatments, shows how a specific cross-linking mode in the peptidoglycan cell wall inhibits the activity of certain cell wall degrading enzymes, and thus protects the bacteria.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240926132124.htm


How social structure influences the way people share money

A study of informal finance finds that in East Africa, money moves in very different patterns depending on whether societies are structured around family units or age-based groups.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240926132122.htm


These fish use legs to taste the seafloor

Sea robins are unusual animals with the body of a fish, wings of a bird, and walking legs of a crab. Now, researchers show that the legs of the sea robin aren't just used for walking. In fact, they are bona fide sensory organs used to find buried prey while digging.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240926132111.htm


Single-dose gene therapy is potentially life-changing for adults with hemophilia B

Adults with hemophilia B saw their number of bleeding episodes drop by an average of 71 percent after a single infusion of gene therapy, according to the new results of an international Phase III clinical trial.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240925172115.htm


How special is the Milky Way Galaxy?

The SAGA Survey just published three new research articles that provide us with new insights into the uniqueness of our own Milky Way Galaxy after completing the census of 101 satellite systems similar to the Milky Way's.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240925144014.htm


Pigs may be transmission route of rat hepatitis E to humans

New research suggests that pigs may function as a transmission vehicle for a strain of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) common in rats that has recently been found to infect humans.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240925144010.htm


Brazilian fossils reveal jaw-dropping discovery in mammal evolution

The discovery of new cynodont fossils from southern Brazil by a team of palaeontologists has led to a significant breakthrough in understanding the evolution of mammals.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240925123653.htm


Mapping distant planets: 'Ridges', 'deserts' and 'savannahs'

Researchers examined Neptunian exoplanets -- these planets share similar characteristics to our own Neptune, but orbit outside of our solar system. Scientists discovered a new area called the 'Neptunian Ridge' -- in between the 'Neptunian desert' and the 'Neptunian Savannah'. A new 'map' of distant planets shows a ridge of planets in deep space, separating a desert of planets from a more populated savannah.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240925123540.htm


Webb discovers 'weird' galaxy with gas outshining its stars

The discovery of a 'weird' and unprecedented galaxy in the early Universe could 'help us understand how the cosmic story began', astronomers say. GS-NDG-9422 (9422) was found approximately one billion years after the Big Bang and stood out because it has an odd, never-before-seen light signature -- indicating that its gas is outshining its stars. The 'totally new phenomena' is significant, researchers say, because it could be the missing-link phase of galactic evolution between the Universe's first stars and familiar, well-established galaxies.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240925122907.htm


Atmospheric methane increase during pandemic due primarily to wetland flooding

A new analysis of satellite data finds that the record surge in atmospheric methane emissions from 2020 to 2022 was driven by increased inundation and water storage in wetlands, combined with a slight decrease in atmospheric hydroxide (OH).

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240924165757.htm


New cancer diagnoses did not rebound as expected following pandemic

Cancer incidence trends in 2021 largely returned to what they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). However, there was little evidence of a rebound in incidence that would account for the decline in diagnoses in 2020, when screening and other medical care was disrupted. One exception was breast cancer, where the researchers did see an uptick in diagnoses of advanced-stage disease in 2021.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240924123048.htm


New battery cathode material could revolutionize EV market and energy storage

A research team has developed a low-cost iron chloride cathode for all-solid-state lithium-ion batteries, which could significantly reduce costs and improve performance for electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage systems.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240923212540.htm


Climate science: How a believer becomes a skeptic

Researchers explored the powerful effect of repetition on people's beliefs.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240923184943.htm


Paving the way for new treatments

Researchers have created a computer program that can unravel the mysteries of how proteins work together -- giving scientists valuable insights to better prevent, diagnose and treat cancer and other diseases. The tool uses artificial intelligence (AI) to build the three-dimensional atomic structure of large protein complexes.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240923151748.htm


New approach to defibrillation may improve cardiac arrest outcomes

A new observational study suggests the position in which responders initially place the two defibrillator pads on the body may make a significant difference in returning spontaneous blood circulation after shock from a defibrillator.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240923135609.htm


New research identifies critical gaps in mental health care for adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders

New research finds that adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders have high rates of comorbid mental and substance use disorders and significant social and economic disadvantages, and only 26% received minimally adequate treatment. Meeting the needs of people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders will require innovative interventions and implementation to improve access to and use of evidence-based approaches, the authors argue.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240923135606.htm


Biologist pioneers increased protein in staple crops, helps alleviate global protein shortage

A biologist's groundbreaking research aims at improving global nutrition and sustainability.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240923121355.htm


How the brain integrates pain prediction and stimuli

A study has uncovered new insights into how the brain processes and integrates pain information. The research goes beyond identifying brain areas that respond to pain, revealing the mechanisms behind the brain's integration of pain-related information. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), they formalized how the brain combines pain expectations with the actual intensity of painful stimuli.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240923110815.htm


Study of former NFL players finds 1 in 3 believe they have CTE

A study of nearly 2,000 former NFL players shows one-third believe that they have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Those individuals were more likely to report cognitive symptoms, and 25% of them also reported suicidal thoughts. The players who thought they had CTE also were more likely to have low testosterone, depression, pain and other treatable conditions that cause cognitive symptoms.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240923110756.htm


Compact 'gene scissor' enables effective genome editing

CRISPR-Cas is used broadly in research and medicine to edit, insert, delete or regulate genes in organisms. TnpB is an ancestor of this well-known 'gene scissor' but is much smaller and thus easier to transport into cells. Using protein engineering and AI algorithms, researchers have now enhanced TnpB capabilities to make DNA editing more efficient and versatile, paving the way for treating a genetic defect for high cholesterol in the future.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240923110731.htm


Bringing lost proteins back home

A new method for relocating proteins that have been misplaced in cells could mean new treatments for cancers and neurodegeneration.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240922232015.htm


Scientists turn to human skeletons to explore origins of horseback riding

A new, wide-ranging exploration of human remains casts doubt on a long-standing theory in archaeology known as the Kurgan hypothesis -- which, among other claims, suggests that humans first domesticated horses as early as the fourth millennium B.C.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240920165153.htm


New tool to help decision-makers navigate possible futures of the Colorado River

The Colorado River is a vital source of water in the Western United States, providing drinking water for homes and irrigation for farms in seven states, but the basin is under increasing pressure from climate change and drought. A new computational tool may help the region adapt to a complex and uncertain future.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240920160811.htm


Researchers identify sex-based differences in immune responses against tumors

Researchers investigated differences in T-cell responses between male and female patients with lung cancer that may help direct future treatments. T-cell responses are part of the adaptive immune system, which is part of the body's 'smart system' that monitors for threats and fights them with customized defenses.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240920122211.htm


Volcanoes may help reveal interior heat on Jupiter moon

By staring into the hellish landscape of Jupiter's moon Io -- the most volcanically active location in the solar system -- astronomers have been able to study a fundamental process in planetary formation and evolution: tidal heating.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240919174819.htm


Breakthrough study predicts catastrophic river shifts that threaten millions worldwide

Researchers have uncovered key insights into the dangerous phenomenon of 'river avulsion,' offering a way to predict when and where rivers may suddenly and dramatically change course.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240919174816.htm


Over nearly half a billion years, Earth's global temperature has changed drastically, driven by carbon dioxide

A new study offers the most detailed glimpse yet into how Earth's surface temperature has changed over the past 485 million years. The data show that Earth has been and can be warmer than today -- but humans and animals cannot adapt fast enough to keep up with human-caused climate change.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240919174739.htm


Nonfatal opioid overdoses in youth spiked during pandemic

Drug overdose mortality has risen faster among adolescents than the general population in recent years, largely due to fentanyl, a potent opioid pain medication. A new study sheds light on trends in nonfatal opioid overdoses in youth -- an area that was not as well characterized, but key to formulating prevention strategies to save lives.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240919120804.htm


Genetic tracing at the Huanan Seafood market further supports COVID animal origins

A new study provides a list of the wildlife species present at the market from which SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, most likely arose in late 2019. The study is based on a new analysis of metatranscriptomic data released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The data come from more than 800 samples collected in and around the Huanan Seafood Wholesale market beginning on January 1, 2020, and from viral genomes reported from early COVID-19 patients.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240919115136.htm


Clinical trial successfully repurposes cancer drug for hereditary bleeding disorder

A drug approved for treating the blood cancer multiple myeloma may offer a safe and effective way to reduce the risk of severe nosebleeds from a rare but devastating bleeding disorder. Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), the world's second-most-common inherited bleeding disorder, affects approximately 1-in-5,000 people and can have life-threatening complications, but there are currently no U.S. FDA-approved drugs to treat HHT.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240918214046.htm


Can the MIND diet lower the risk of memory problems later in life?

People whose diet more closely resembles the MIND diet may have a lower risk of cognitive impairment, according to a new study. Results were similar for Black and white participants. These results do not prove that the MIND diet prevents cognitive impairment, they only show an association.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240918165742.htm


Higher levels of leptin indicate brain protection against late-life dementia

A study more closely links obesity to dementia, finding that leptin, a hormone that helps maintain normal body weight, is associated with better signal-transmitting brain white matter in middle-aged adults.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240918142424.htm


South African rock art possibly inspired by long-extinct species

A mysterious tusked animal depicted in South African rock art might portray an ancient species preserved as fossils in the same region, according to a new study.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240918142420.htm


Sea surface temperature record in the southwestern Pacific: Coral colony from Fiji reveals warmest temperatures in over 600 years

The sea surface temperature in the Fijian archipelago in the southwestern Pacific is now at its maximum for more than 600 years. This finding is the result of an international research team's evaluation of a new coral record providing further evidence for unprecedented warming in the western Pacific Ocean. According to this, the year 2022 was the warmest year in the region since 1370.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240918135751.htm


Homemade 'play-putty' can read the body's electric signals

Researchers demonstrates the effectiveness of homemade play putty at reading brain, heart, muscle and eye activity. The research outlines the conductive properties of this material, so-named 'squishy circuits.'

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240918125110.htm


Artificial intelligence grunt work can be outsourced using a new blockchain-based framework developed by Concordians

Researchers have developed a new framework to make complex AI tasks more accessible and transparent to users. The framework specializes in providing solutions to deep reinforcement learning (DRL) requests. The framework pairs developers, companies and individuals that have specific but out-of-reach AI needs with service providers who have the resources, expertise and models they require. The service is crowdsourced, built on a blockchain and uses a smart contract -- a contract with a pre-defined set of conditions built into the code -- to match the users with the appropriate service provider.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240918125100.htm


Slow-moving landslides a growing, but ignored, threat to mountain communities

As urban centers in mountainous regions grow, more people are driven to build on steeper slopes prone to slow-moving landslides, a new study finds. Slow-moving landslides are frequently excluded from estimates of landslide risk, but they could threaten hundreds of thousands of people globally, the researchers conclude.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240917162351.htm


An OLED for compact, lightweight night vision

A new type of OLED (organic light emitting diode) could replace bulky night vision goggles with lightweight glasses, making them cheaper and more practical for prolonged use, according to researchers.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240917162342.htm


Fruit flies' visual navigation tactics differ by environment

Fruit flies use vision to head toward interesting things, but also to stay steady during flight. To accomplish this, the eyes need to fixate on the visual background while noticing objects that might indicate food or danger. Using a device that lets flies interact with a virtual environment, biologists have discovered that Mojave Desert fruit flies fixate on an object for balance and stability while also orienting toward it as an interesting resource, while common urban flies fixate on the background but move toward the object using rapid glances. Fruit flies are often used in experiments probing visual perception and processing. The finding that not all species of fruit fly navigate their environment the same way expands the possibilities for what scientists can learn.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240917162328.htm


Paving the way for antivirals against Ebola virus and its deadly relatives

Scientists share detailed, complete images of a viral structure called the Ebola virus nucleocapsid. This breakthrough may accelerate the development of antivirals that target this viral structure to combat several filoviruses at once.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240917130358.htm


One in eight is genetically protected against jaundice

One in eight newborn babies has a gene variant that almost completely protects against jaundice. The research provides the opportunity to develop a treatment that can prevent severe cases of jaundice.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240917130345.htm


How plant communities change when conquering uninhabited ground

Some plants are able to take over uninhabited spaces like sand dunes, volcanic substrates and rockfall areas. The first colonizers have specific traits that allow them to grow in such hostile environments. Other plants lack such traits but will soon follow these pioneers.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240917130334.htm


Reducing smartphone use increases work satisfaction

On average, we spend three and a quarter hours a day looking at our phones. Cutting back this time by one hour a day is not only good for our mental health, but also helps us to feel happier and more motivated at work, new research suggests.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240917125409.htm


A wobble from Mars could be sign of dark matter

Watching for changes in Mars' orbit over time could be new way to detect passing dark matter, according to researchers.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240917125338.htm


Lower neighborhood opportunity may increase risk for preterm birth

A new study has found that more than half of Black and Hispanic infants were born into very low-opportunity neighborhoods, and that babies born into these neighborhoods had a 16-percent greater risk of being born preterm. The study sheds new light on the health consequences of structural racism and historically discriminatory practices -- such as redlining and disproportionate exposures to pollutants -- that continue to shape modern-day neighborhood conditions and circumstances.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240916194027.htm


Tougher concrete, inspired by bone

Researchers used robotics and additive manufacturing to toughen cement-based material with precisely placed hollow tubes. The result is more than 5 times tougher than counterparts.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240916153447.htm


Getting autism right

Contrary to common perceptions and years of research that autistic people can't describe their emotions or often have muted emotional responses, a new study concludes that many autistic adults are in fact acutely aware of their feelings and can label them in vivid, often colorful detail.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240916115533.htm


Arsenic exposure linked to faster onset of diabetes in south Texas population

Multiyear study finds that high levels of toxic metals in urine are linked to high blood sugar.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240916115437.htm


Study links neighborhood environment to prostate cancer risk in men with West African genetic ancestry

West African genetic ancestry was associated with increased prostate cancer among men living in disadvantaged neighborhoods but not among men living in more affluent neighborhoods, according to a new study. The findings suggest that neighborhood environment may play a role in determining how genetic ancestry influences prostate cancer risk.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240916115413.htm


Breakthrough is a game changer in heart valve technology

When a patient needs a new heart valve, the current mechanical and tissue replacements each have strengths and weaknesses. Now, a team of researchers believe they have found a way to harness the strengths of both technologies in a way that could be life-changing -- and life-saving -- for many.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240913145636.htm


Flowers use adjustable 'paint by numbers' petal designs to attract pollinators

Flowers like hibiscus use an invisible blueprint established very early in petal formation that dictates the size of their bullseyes -- a crucial pre-pattern that can significantly impact their ability to attract pollinating bees.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240913145627.htm


Experimental mRNA cancer vaccine shows potential for advanced stage cancer patients in Phase 1 trial

Interim data from the Phase I dose escalation part of the mRNA cancer immunotherapy (mRNA-4359), show promise in patients with advanced solid cancers. The investigational mRNA cancer immunotherapy is targeted for patients with lung cancer, melanoma and other solid tumours. Nineteen patients with advanced stage cancers received between one and nine doses of the immunotherapy treatment. Scientists have found the immunotherapy created an immune response against cancer and was well tolerated, with adverse events including fatigue, injection site pain and fever.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240913145621.htm


Key factors that impact long-term weight loss in patients prescribed GLP-1 RA medications

A new study identified key factors that can impact the long-term weight loss of patients with obesity who were prescribed injectable semaglutide or liraglutide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes or obesity.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240913131119.htm


Babies born to women consuming a high fat, sugary diet at greater risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in later life

Babies born to pregnant women with obesity are more likely to develop heart problems and diabetes as adults due to fetal damage caused by the high-fat, high-energy diet of their mother.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240913105336.htm


Plant-derived secondary organic aerosols can act as mediators of plant-plant interactions

A new study reveals that plant-derived secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) can act as mediators of plant-plant interactions. This research was conducted through the cooperation of chemical ecologists, plant ecophysiologists and atmospheric physicists.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240913105324.htm


New method for fingerprint analysis holds great promise

Overlapping and weak fingerprints pose challenges in criminal cases. A new study offers a solution and brings hope for using chemical residues in fingerprints for personal profiling.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240913105301.htm


New discovery aims to improve the design of microelectronic devices

A new study is providing new insights into how next-generation electronics, including memory components in computers, breakdown or degrade over time.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240913105253.htm


Unveiling the math behind your calendar

In a world where organizing a simple meeting can feel like herding cats, new research reveals just how challenging finding a suitable meeting time becomes as the number of participants grows. The study dives into the mathematical complexities of this common task, offering new insights into why scheduling often feels so impossible.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240913105245.htm


Residents in San Joaquin Valley breathe chemical pesticides, according to new study

A new study found 22% of adults and 10% of children who participated in an air-quality study in California's San Joaquin Valley were breathing detectable levels of pesticides.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240913003337.htm


Enzyme-inspired catalyst puts chemicals in right position to make ethers

Taking inspiration from enzymes, chemists have developed a catalyst to simplify the synthesis of ethers, key functional components of many drugs, foods, personal care items and other consumer goods. The catalyst puts the two chemical ingredients in just the right proximity and position to come together, bypassing the need for the steps and quantities required under standard synthesis protocols.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240912161715.htm


Discovery could lead to longer-lasting EV batteries, hasten energy transition

Researchers have discovered why lithium-ion batteries, which power most electronic devices, lose capacity overtime. The findings could enable the development of electric vehicles that go far longer without needing a charge.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240912142413.htm


Trilobite fossils from upstate New York reveal 'extra' set of legs

A new study finds that a trilobite species with exceptionally well-preserved fossils from upstate New York has an additional set of legs underneath its head. The research suggests that having a fifth pair of head appendages might be more widespread among trilobites than once thought and helps researchers better understand how trilobite heads are segmented.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240912135844.htm


Sex matters in how, when, and where melanomas develop, study finds

A study analyzing long-term melanoma data reveals important insights into melanoma incidence trends in men and women.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240912135706.htm


One of world's fastest ocean currents is remarkably stable, study finds

Scientists found that the strength of the Florida Current, the beginning of the Gulf Stream system and a key component of the global Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC, has remained stable for the past four decades.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240911193135.htm


Light pollution a new Alzheimer's risk factor

Outdoor light at night could be a significant risk factor in Alzheimer's disease, according to new research from Rush.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240911175950.htm


Can having a stroke change your sleep?

People who have had a stroke may be more likely to sleep too much or too little compared to those without prior stroke, according to a new study. The study does not prove that stroke causes abnormal sleep; it only shows an association.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240911175938.htm


Researchers develop a stretchable, wearable device that lights up an LED using only the warmth of your skin

Researchers have developed a flexible, durable electronic prototype that can harvest energy from body heat and turn it into electricity that can be used to power small electronics, such as batteries, sensors or LEDs. This device is also resilient -- it still functions even after being pierced several times and then stretched 2,000 times.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240911142112.htm


Newly discovered antimicrobial could prevent or treat cholera

Researchers identified the first known microcin, a group of naturally produced antimicrobials, that targets the strains of bacteria that cause cholera.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240911142100.htm


Clinical trials inappropriately excluding people of African/Middle Eastern descent, new research shows

Many clinical trials of new cancer drugs may be inappropriately excluding some people with Duffy-null phenotype, a trait found predominantly in people of African or Middle Eastern descent, researchers report in a new study.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240911112138.htm


Mirror, mirror, in my tank, who's the biggest fish of all?

Researchers have demonstrated that bluestreak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) checked their body size in a mirror before choosing whether to attack fish that were slightly larger or smaller than themselves, saying it was the first time for a non-human animal to be demonstrated to possess some mental states that are elements of private self-awareness.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240911112117.htm


Astronomers track bubbles on star's surface in most detailed video yet

Astronomers have captured images of a star other than the Sun in enough detail to track the motion of bubbling gas on its surface. The images of the star, R Doradus, were obtained in July and August 2023. They show giant, hot bubbles of gas, 75 times the size of the Sun, appearing on the surface and sinking back into the star's interior faster than expected.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240911112026.htm


Brain-wide decision-making dynamics discovered

Neuroscientists have revealed how sensory input is transformed into motor action across multiple brain regions in mice. The research shows that decision-making is a global process across the brain that is coordinated by learning. The findings could aid artificial intelligence research by providing insights into how to design more distributed neural networks.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240911112023.htm


Flexibility of containers, and how fast they drain

A new article examines how the flexibility of containers affect how fast they drain.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240910184536.htm


Summer storms are stronger and more frequent over urban areas

Summer storms are generally more frequent, intense and concentrated over cities than over rural areas, according to new, detailed observations of eight cities and their surroundings. The results could change how city planners prepare for floods in their cities, especially as urban areas expand and as climate change alters global weather patterns.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240910155921.htm


Women with asthma are more likely to miscarry and need fertility treatment

Women who are being treated for asthma are more likely to miscarry and need fertility treatment to get pregnant, according to a large study. However, the study also suggests that most women with asthma are able to have babies.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240910121056.htm


Deserts' biggest threat? Flooding

A new study has found that the increase in soil erosion in coastal areas due to desertification is worsening flood impacts on Middle Eastern and North African port cities. The researchers focused their observations on the devastating 2023 floods in the city of Derna, Libya, which took the lives of more than 11,300 people and showed how the increase in soil erosion significantly contributed to the catastrophic toll of these unusual desert floods. The research was published almost a year after the deadly flood happened on the September 10, 2023.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240909203608.htm


New AI can ID brain patterns related to specific behavior

Scientists have developed a new AI algorithm that can separate brain patterns related to a particular behavior. This work promises to improve brain-computer interfaces and aid with the discovery of new brain patterns.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240909175239.htm


Framing climate action as patriotic and status-quo friendly increases liberals' and conservatives' belief in climate change

A new psychology study shows that framing the need to address climate change as patriotic and as necessary to preserve the American 'way of life' can increase belief in climate change and support for pro-environmental policies among both groups.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240909160337.htm


Artificial muscles propel a robotic leg to walk and jump

Researchers have developed a robotic leg with artificial muscles. Inspired by living creatures, it jumps across different terrains in an agile and energy-efficient manner.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240909113111.htm


Researchers develop analytical pipeline to identify unexploited genes that hold research value

A research team has developed an analysis pipeline to identify unexploited genes for a given disease against five databases that provide gene-disease associations. They used their pipeline to study oxidative stress and its related disease, Parkinson's disease, as a case study.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240909113045.htm


'Out-of-body' research could lead to new ways to promote social harmony

Out-of-body experiences, such as near-death experiences, can have a 'transformative' effect on people's ability to experience empathy and connect with others, new research explains.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240909113039.htm


Microwaving waste cooking oil into useful chemicals

Converting biomass such as waste cooking oil into useful chemicals through catalysis can help create a more sustainable chemical industry. However, conventional techniques require enormous energy and generate harmful chemicals. Moreover, such techniques reduce the lifetime of catalysts. Now, researchers reveal a zeolite catalyst that can be efficiently heated up using microwaves.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240909112624.htm


Falling for financial scams? It may signal early Alzheimer's disease

Findings from a new USC Dornsife study suggest that when older adults fall for financial scams, it could be an early warning sign of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers used MRI scans to find that older adults with thinner brain regions linked to memory and decision-making -- areas often affected early in Alzheimer's -- were more likely to be vulnerable to financial scams. The findings offer hope that financial vulnerability could be used as a simple screening tool to help identify early signs of cognitive decline, especially in people over 70.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240906234120.htm


Atoms on the edge

Physicists directly observed ultracold atoms in an 'edge state,' flowing along a boundary without resistance. The research could help physicists manipulate electrons to flow without friction in materials that could enable super-efficient transmission of energy and data.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240906234106.htm


'Ice bucket challenge' reveals that bacteria can anticipate the seasons

Bacteria use their internal 24-hour clocks to anticipate the arrival of new seasons, according to research carried out with the assistance of an 'ice bucket challenge.'

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240906141743.htm


'Some pterosaurs would flap, others would soar' -- new study further confirms the flight capability of these giants of the skies

Some species of pterosaurs flew by flapping their wings while others soared like vultures, demonstrates a new study. Findings include a new pterosaur with a five-meter wingspan, which is one of the most complete pterosaurs ever recovered from Afro-Arabia.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240906141730.htm


100x improvement in sight seen after gene therapy trial

The vision of people with a rare inherited condition that causes them to lose much of their sight early in childhood was 100 times better after they received gene therapy to address the genetic mutation causing it. Some patients even experienced a 10,000-fold improvement in their vision after receiving the highest dose of the therapy, according to researchers.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240906141608.htm


Scientists make tissue of living animals see-through

In a pioneering new study, researchers made the skin on the skulls and abdomens of live mice transparent by applying to the areas a mixture of water and a common yellow food coloring called tartrazine.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240905143615.htm


Gravitational waves unveil previously unseen properties of neutron stars

A better understanding of the inner workings of neutron stars will lead to a greater knowledge of the dynamics that underpin the workings of the universe and also could help drive future technology. A new study details how new insights into how dissipative tidal forces within double -- or binary -- neutron star systems will inform our understanding of the universe.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240905131242.htm


Travel could be the best defense against aging

Forget about retinol night creams, researchers believe travel could be the best way to defy premature aging. An interdisciplinary study has applied the theory of entropy to tourism, finding that travel could have positive health benefits, including slowing down the signs of aging.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240905121025.htm


Fungus-controlled robots tap into the unique power of nature

In creating a pair of new robots, researchers cultivated an unlikely component, one found on the forest floor: fungal mycelia. By harnessing mycelia's innate electrical signals, the researchers discovered a new way of controlling 'biohybrid' robots that can potentially react to their environment better than their purely synthetic counterparts.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240904192325.htm


How Earth's most intense heat wave ever impacted life in Antarctica

An atmospheric river brought warm, moist air to the coldest and driest corner of the planet in 2022, pushing temperatures 70 degrees above average. A new study reveals what happened to Antarctica's smallest animals.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240904141509.htm


Distorted galaxy forming cosmic question mark

It's 7 billion years ago, and the universe's heyday of star formation is beginning to slow. What might our Milky Way galaxy have looked like at that time? Astronomers have found clues in the form of a cosmic question mark, the result of a rare alignment across light-years of space.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240904141506.htm


Agriculture accelerated human genome evolution to capture energy from starchy foods

Scientists have suspected that modern humans have more genes to digest starch than our hunter-gatherer ancestors, but the amylase locus of the genome is hard to study. Researchers have now developed new methods to isolate the multiple amylase genes and compare the locus to ancient genomes. They found that amylase gene number has increased from an average of eight to more than 11 over the past 12,000 years.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240904141503.htm


Researchers identify mechanism underlying allergic itching, and show it can be blocked

Researchers identified a mechanism for why some people will itch from an allergen or mosquito bite exposure, while others will not in a new study, and showed this pathway can be targeted to prevent allergic responses in preclinical models.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240904131044.htm


Prescribing nature can improve happiness and reduce anxiety

Green Social Prescribing is the practice of supporting people with mental health needs to engage in nature-based activities. Referrals will typically come from GPs, community mental health teams, or social workers, but people can also self-refer. Social Prescribing Link Workers, and other trusted professionals, then connect people to community groups and agencies for practical and emotional support. There are many different types of nature-based activities and therapies, including conservation, horticulture and gardening, care farming, exercise and sports, or talking therapies in the outdoors.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240904131016.htm


Levels of one 'forever chemical' are increasing in groundwater

Rain and water in ponds and lakes slowly seeps into the soil, moving through minute cracks to refill underground aquifers. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often described as forever chemicals, can tag along into groundwater that's later removed for drinking. Researchers analyzed water from over 100 wells in Denmark for one particularly persistent PFAS: trifluoroacetate. They report steadily increasing levels of the forever chemical in recent decades.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240904130857.htm


Novel immunotherapy improves recovery from spinal cord injury

Researchers have designed, in mice, an approach to minimizing the damage from a spinal cord injury through the use of engineered immune cells. Mice given the treatment had improved recovery from injuries, demonstrating potential for developing the therapy for people.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240904130812.htm


Assorted, distinctive behavior of molten uranium salt revealed by neutrons

New research addresses the fundamental science necessary to increase the efficiency of nuclear energy. Researchers have now documented the unique chemistry dynamics and structure of high-temperature liquid uranium trichloride salt, a potential nuclear fuel source for next-generation reactors.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240903145001.htm


Gigantic asteroid impact shifted the axis of Solar System's biggest moon

Around 4 billion years ago, an asteroid hit the Jupiter moon Ganymede. Now, a researcher realized that the Solar System's biggest moon's axis has shifted as a result of the impact, which confirmed that the asteroid was around 20 times larger than the one that ended the age of the dinosaurs on Earth, and caused one of the biggest impacts with clear traces in the Solar System.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240903144929.htm


Young adults let down by 'postcode lottery' for ADHD treatment in UK

A UK survey has found huge variation in treatment for ADHD, highlighting the struggle many young adults face once they turn 18. Researchers have warned that the current system is failing many young adults as they transition from children's to adult's services -- suddenly finding themselves unable to access treatment because services do not link up effectively.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240902200800.htm


Global South cities lack cooling green spaces

Cities in the Global South are more exposed to extreme heat because they lack cooling green spaces, new research shows.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240902111802.htm


Wearable heart monitor increases diagnosis of irregular heart rhythm

Wearable, long-term continuous heart monitors helped identify 52% more cases of atrial fibrillation compared to usual care, but that did not lead to a reduction in hospitalizations due to stroke, according to a new study.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/09/240901181812.htm


Genomic dark matter solves butterfly evolutionary riddle

Researchers have uncovered a surprising genetic mechanism that influences the vibrant and complex patterns on butterfly wings. The team discovered that an RNA molecule, rather than a protein as previously thought, plays a pivotal role in determining the distribution of black pigment on butterfly wings.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240830164205.htm


Is long-term beta-blocker therapy needed after a heart attack?

The appropriate duration of beta-blocker treatment after a heart attack (a myocardial infarction [MI]) is unknown in patients who do not need to take beta-blockers for another reason. In the ABYSS trial, the cardiovascular safety of interrupting beta-blocker could not be shown in comparison with beta-blocker continuation and beta-blocker interruption did not improve quality of life. ABYSS suggests that long-term beta-blocker therapy is recommended after an MI, even in the absence of heart failure, arrhythmia or uncontrolled hypertension.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240830164159.htm


How hope beats mindfulness when times are tough

A recent study finds that hope appears to be more beneficial than mindfulness at helping people manage stress and stay professionally engaged during periods of prolonged stress at work. The study underscores the importance of looking ahead, rather than living 'in the moment,' during hard times.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240830164155.htm


Study combines data, molecular simulations to accelerate drug discovery

Researchers have found a new method to increase both speed and success rates in drug discovery. The study offers renewed promise when it comes to discovering new drugs.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240830164139.htm


Morphing facial technology sheds light on the boundaries of self-recognition

Facial recognition is a critical part of self-image and social interactions. In an era of advanced digital technology, we face intriguing questions about communication and identity. How does altering our facial identity affect our sense of 'self' and our interactions with others?

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240830110924.htm


Scientist's method could give months' warning of major earthquakes

The public could have days or months of warning about a major earthquake through identification of prior low-level tectonic unrest over large areas, according to research by scientists who analyzed two major quakes in Alaska and California.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240829223211.htm


PFAS-free synthesis of fluorinated pharmaceutical and agrochemical compounds

Chemists have developed a method to furnish a range of molecules with a trifluoromethyl group attached to a sulfur, nitrogen or oxygen atom. Their procedure avoids the use of PFAS reagents. It thus provides an environmentally friendly synthesis route for pharmaceutical and agrochemical compounds that rely on the presence of the trifluoromethyl group.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240829140831.htm


Researchers attempted to emulate a clinical trial using data from real patients

Researchers used real-world clinical data to attempt to emulate a randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of two blood thinners, apixaban and warfarin, to prevent stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. The study provides a method to explore the effects of treatments in patients who are underrepresented or excluded from clinical trials.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240829140818.htm


Neuroscientists explore the intersection of music and memory

New research explores music's impact on learning, memory, and emotions in two studies. One reveals that familiar music can enhance concentration and learning, while the other demonstrates that music with a strong emotional tone can reshape the quality of existing memories. These findings suggest that music could be used for therapeutic interventions for cognitive function, or in conditions like PTSD and depression.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240828224256.htm


Among Viking societies, Norway was much more violent than Denmark

A new study sheds light on how Viking Age societies in Norway and Denmark differed in their experiences with violence and the role social structures played in shaping those patterns.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240828155028.htm


Bacterial cells transmit memories to offspring

Bacterial cells can 'remember' brief, temporary changes to their bodies and immediate surroundings, a new study has found. And, although these changes are not encoded in the cell's genetics, the cell still passes memories of them to its offspring -- for multiple generations.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240828154929.htm


Discovery of how blood clots harm brain and body in COVID-19 points to new therapy

Scientists have solved the mystery of unusual blood clotting and inflammation in COVID-19 -- and identified a promising therapeutic strategy.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240828114448.htm


Pain identified as dominant symptom in long COVID

Pain may be the most prevalent and severe symptom reported by individuals with long COVID, according to a new study. The study analyzed data from over 1,000 people in England and Wales who logged their symptoms on an app between November 2020 and March 2022.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240828114406.htm


Aoudad, bighorn sheep share respiratory pathogens

A team of researchers has discovered that aoudad -- an animal in the sheep and goat family -- can catch and spread many of the same respiratory pathogens that can impact desert bighorn sheep, a native species in Texas that often shares its habitat with aoudad.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240827171824.htm


Work toward a cleaner way to purify critical metals

Over the past three years, a team of researchers has been pioneering an environmentally friendly method to separate critical rare-earth elements from watery mixtures.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240827140745.htm


Cutting-edge algorithm improves intracranial EEG accuracy to improve future patient care

A research team evaluated the reliability of human experts in comparison to an automated algorithm in assessing the quality of intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) data.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240827140719.htm


Brain research: Study shows what your favorite film genres reveal about your brain

Crime films, action films, comedies, or documentaries? A person's favorite film genre reveals a lot about how their brain works. Fans of action films and comedies reacted very strongly to negative emotional stimuli, while participants who favored documentaries or crime films and thrillers had a significantly weaker reaction.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240827105039.htm


Are crops worldwide sufficiently pollinated?

Scientists have analyzed crop yields of more than 1,500 fields on six continents, and found that production worldwide of important, nutritionally dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes is being limited by a lack of pollinators.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240826193131.htm


Physicists ease path to entanglement for quantum sensing

A quantum mechanical trick called 'spin squeezing' is widely recognized to hold promise for supercharging the capabilities of the world's most precise quantum sensors, but it's been notoriously difficult to achieve. In new research, physicists describe how they've put spin squeezing within better reach.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240826182940.htm


First low frequency search for alien technology in distant galaxies

Researchers have announced a groundbreaking study using the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) in Western Australia. The research is the first to search for signs of alien technology in galaxies beyond our own, focusing on low radio frequencies (100 MHz). This new approach looks at distant galaxies, making it one of the most detailed searches for super civilizations -- those more advanced than ours.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240826131354.htm


Sustaining oyster farming with sturdier rafts

Seeking affordable, sturdy rafts for oyster farming, researchers propose polyethylene rafts. Their findings show a polyethylene raft as being about five times more durable than a conventional bamboo raft.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240826131006.htm


A switch for immune memory and anti-tumor immunity

A study has identified a metabolic switch in the immune system's T cells that is essential to the generation of memory T cells -- which confer lasting immunity to previously encountered pathogens -- and a T cell subtype found in tumors that drives anti-tumor responses during immunotherapy.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240823185109.htm


Researcher finds sound progress in babies' speech development

The sounds babies make in their first year of life may be less random and more self-driven than previously believed, according to new research.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240823153453.htm


A leaky sink: Carbon emissions from forest soil will likely grow with rising temperatures

The soils of northern forests are key reservoirs that help keep the carbon dioxide that trees inhale and use for photosynthesis from making it back into the atmosphere.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240823153446.htm


Good sleep habits important for overweight adults

New research reveals harmful consequences for people who are overweight and ignore their body's signals to sleep at night, with specific differences between men and women.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240823144721.htm


Strength training activates cellular waste disposal

The elimination of damaged cell components is essential for the maintenance of the body's tissues and organs. An international research team has made significant findings on mechanisms for the clearing of cellular wastes, showing that strength training activates such mechanisms. The findings could form the basis for new therapies for heart failure and nerve diseases, and even afford benefits for manned space missions.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240823141612.htm


Multiple sclerosis appears to protect against Alzheimer's disease

A collaborative investigation among experts in Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis (MS) finds evidence that MS patients are less likely to have amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, than adults without MS.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240823141607.htm


Innovative field experiments shed light on biological clocks in nature

A new study has used a series of innovative field experiments to show how plants combine circadian clock signals with environmental cues under naturally fluctuating conditions.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240823120128.htm


Mouse study: Proteins do the damage in fetal abdominal inflammation

Inflammation of the abdominal cavity in human fetuses resulting from a perforation of their intestine is likely to be caused by proteins contained in the fetal stool. This is the result of a study that establishes a new mouse model allowing research and drug development for a condition that is otherwise difficult to approach.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240822222615.htm


Macrophage mix helps determine rate and fate of fatty liver disease

The white blood cells' typical role is to promote inflammation and stimulate the immune response, but researchers say some actually appear to temper inflammatory conditions and improve healing.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240822181046.htm


Mosquitoes sense infrared from body heat to help track humans down

While a mosquito bite is often no more than a temporary bother, in many parts of the world it can be scary. One mosquito species, Aedes aegypti, spreads the viruses that cause over 100,000,000 cases of dengue, yellow fever, Zika and other diseases every year. Another, Anopheles gambiae, spreads the parasite that causes malaria. The World Health Organization estimates that malaria alone causes more than 400,000 deaths every year. Indeed, their capacity to transmit disease has earned mosquitoes the title of deadliest animal.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240822181042.htm


New gels could protect buildings during wildfires

Researchers have developed a sprayable gel that creates a shield to protect buildings from wildfire damage. It lasts longer and is more effective than existing commercial options.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240822181039.htm


Meteor showers shed light on where comets formed in the early solar system

Researchers studying meteor showers have found that not all comets crumble the same way when they approach the Sun. In a new study, they ascribe the differences to the conditions in the protoplanetary disk where comets formed 4.5 billion years ago.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240822130027.htm


The changes to cell DNA that could revolutionize disease prevention

Researchers have discovered a mechanism in DNA that regulates how disease-causing mutations are inherited. The team identified two enzymes that regulate a chemical modification, 6mA, in mitochondrial DNA. Without the modification, DNA mutations accumulate. These mutations contribute to diseases like dementia, cancer, and diabetes. The study shows that the 6mA modification controls these mutations, suggesting that enhancing its levels could slow disease progression.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240821221840.htm


Gut molecule slows fat burning during fasting

In a struggle that probably sounds familiar to dieters everywhere, the less a Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) worm eats, the more slowly it loses fat. Now, scientists have discovered why: a small molecule produced by the worms' intestines during fasting travels to the brain to block a fat-burning signal during this time.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240821191643.htm


Next time you beat a virus, thank your microbial ancestors

When you get infected with a virus, some of the first weapons your body deploys to fight it were passed down to us from our microbial ancestors billions of years ago. According to new research, two key elements of our innate immune system came from a group of microbes called Asgard archaea.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240821164635.htm


Study of pythons could lead to new therapies for heart disease, other illnesses

In the first 24 hours after a python devours its massive prey, its heart grows bigger, softer and stronger and its metabolism speeds up forty-fold. The extraordinary process could inspire novel treatments for heart disease and metabolic disorders.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240821164629.htm


Extraterrestrial chemistry with earthbound possibilities

Who are we? Why are we here? We are stardust, the result of chemistry occurring throughout vast clouds of interstellar gas and dust. To better understand how that chemistry could create prebiotic molecules, researchers investigated the role of low-energy electrons created as cosmic radiation traverses through ice particles. Their findings may also inform medical and environmental applications on our home planet.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240821150015.htm


Chalk-based coating creates a cooling fabric

In the scorching heat of summer, anyone who spends time outside could benefit from a cooling fabric. While there are some textiles that reflect the sun's rays or wick heat away, current options require boutique fibers or complex manufacturing processes. But now, demonstrations of a durable chalk-based coating show it can cool the air underneath treated fabric by up to 8 degrees Fahrenheit.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240821124457.htm


Sharing risk to avoid power outages in an era of extreme weather

Heat waves, droughts, and fires place growing stress on the West's electric grid. New research suggests that more integrated management of electricity resources across the region could significantly reduce the risk of power outages and accelerate the transition to clean energy.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240820221859.htm


New view of North Star reveals spotted surface

High-resolution images show large spots on the surface of Polaris.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240820124556.htm


Heart data unlocks sleep secrets

Computer science researchers have developed an approach that matches the performance of expert-scored polysomnography using just a single-lead echocardiogram. In addition to simplifying a typically expensive and cumbersome process, this insight highlights a deeper connection between the heart and the brain than previously understood.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240819185146.htm


Development of a model capable of predicting the cycle lives of high-energy-density lithium-metal batteries

Scientists have developed a model capable of predicting the cycle lives of high-energy-density lithium-metal batteries by applying machine learning methods to battery performance data. The model proved able to accurately estimate batteries' longevity by analyzing their charge, discharge and voltage relaxation process data without relying on any assumption about specific battery degradation mechanisms. The technique is expected to be useful in improving the safety and reliability of devices powered by lithium-metal batteries.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240819185143.htm


For some older adults with kidney failure, dialysis may not be the best option

A recent study found that frail older patients who waited to start dialysis died only nine days earlier on average -- and spent more time at home -- than those who began treatment immediately.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240819172529.htm


Peering into the mind of artificial intelligence to make better antibiotics

Artificial intelligence (AI) has exploded in popularity as of late. But just like a human, it's hard to read an AI model's mind. Explainable AI (XAI) could help us do just that by providing justification for a model's decisions. And now, researchers are using XAI to scrutinize predictive AI models more closely, which could help make better antibiotics.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240819172516.htm


How 'winner and loser effects' impact social rank in animals -- and humans

A new article provides a narrative review of the relevant similarities and distinctions between nonhumans and humans to assess the causes and consequences of winner and loser effects in humans.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240819130756.htm


The bee's knees: New tests created to find fake honey

Researchers have developed new ways to detect sugar syrup adulteration in honey, paving the way for fast and accurate tests to discover fake products.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240818184549.htm


Ancient DNA reveals Indigenous dog lineages found at Jamestown, Virginia

Previous scientific studies have indicated that North American dog lineages were replaced with European ones between 1492 and the present day. To better understand the timing of this replacement, researchers sequenced mitochondrial DNA from archaeological dogs. Their findings suggest a complex social history of dogs during the early colonial period.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240816173937.htm


New twist on synthesis technique promises sustainable manufacturing

Researchers developed a new method known as flash-within-flash Joule heating (FWF) that could transform the synthesis of high-quality solid-state materials, offering a cleaner, faster and more sustainable manufacturing process.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240816173928.htm


Tracking down the asteroid that sealed the fate of the dinosaurs

The asteroid that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago probably came from the outer solar system.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240816123943.htm


It's a rave: Underground acoustics amplify soil health

Barely audible to human ears, healthy soils produce a cacophony of sounds in many forms -- a bit like an underground rave concert of bubble pops and clicks. Special recordings made by ecologists show this chaotic mixture of soundscapes can be a measure of the diversity of tiny living animals in the soil, which create sounds as they move and interact with their environment.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240816121531.htm


Hailstone library to improve extreme weather forecasting

Researchers are measuring and scanning samples for a global 'hailstone library'. Storm simulations using 3-D modelling of real hailstones -- in all sorts of weird shapes from oblong to flat discs or with spikes coming out -- show it behaves differently than spherical hail shapes. Data from the hail library could lead to more accurate storm forecasts.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240816121529.htm


Faster than one pixel at a time -- new imaging method for neutral atomic beam microscopes developed by researchers

Microscope images could be obtained much more quickly -- rather than one pixel at a time -- thanks to a new imaging method for neutral atomic beam microscopes. It could ultimately lead to engineers and scientists getting faster results when they are scanning samples.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240816121515.htm


Versatile fluidic platform for programmable liquid processing

Society relies heavily on diverse fluidic technologies. The ability to precisely capture and release various chemical and biological fluids plays a fundamental role in many fields. A long-standing challenge is to design a platform that enables the switchable capture and release of liquids with precise spatial and temporal control and accurate volumes of the fluid. Recently, researchers have invented a new method to effectively overcome this challenge.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240816121456.htm


Blind cavefish have extraordinary taste buds

A biologist studies blind cavefish, a species of fish that dwell in cave ponds in Mexico. He looked at the timeline for when the cavefish develop additional taste buds on the head and chin, finding the taste bud expansion starts at five months and continues into adulthood.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240815190023.htm


Why do researchers often prefer safe over risky projects? Explaining risk aversion in science

A mathematical framework that builds on the economic theory of hidden-action models provides insight into how the unobservable nature of effort and risk shapes investigators' research strategies and the incentive structures within which they work, according to a new study.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240815163634.htm


Identifying 'stealth' sources of saturated fat, added sugar in the diet

A newly compiled list of foods and drinks commonly consumed in the United States hints at why many adults unknowingly overdo it on saturated fat and added sugar in their daily diet, a new study suggests. Beyond the biggest sources of each dietary category -- cheese for saturated fat and soft drinks for added sugar -- the study identifies a longer list of popular sources that helps explain why it's so hard to limit fat and sugar to the recommended 10% of daily calories.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240815163606.htm


As human activities expand in Antarctica, scientists identify crucial conservation sites

Establishing Key Biodiversity Areas in the Southern Ocean will be vital for safeguarding the ecosystem from the impact of human activities, researchers say.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240815130613.htm


Climate reporting standards insufficient, must be expanded, say experts

A new article concludes that current climate standards are not sufficiently incentivizing the big picture innovations necessary to deliver net zero, and must be expanded to include a company's broader influence on climate action.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240814211149.htm


Researchers unveil mysteries of ancient Earth

A team of researchers has made strides in understanding the formation of massif-type anorthosites, enigmatic rocks that only formed during the middle part of Earth's history. These plagioclase-rich igneous rock formations, which can cover areas as large as 42,000 square kilometers and host titanium ore deposits, have puzzled scientists for decades due to conflicting theories about their origins.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240814170336.htm


Venting your frustrations can make friends like you better -- if you do it right

Venting about your frustrations with one friend to another may feel good, but it doesn't necessarily reduce anger. Experiments showed that people who listened to a friend vent liked and supported that person more than those who were vented about -- but only if the person venting didn't derogate or seem aggressive toward the other friend. Venting might be an effective tool of competition for listeners' affections precisely because it is not readily recognized as a tool of competition.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240814170317.htm


How bread dough gave rise to civilization

A major international study has explained how bread wheat helped to transform the ancient world on its path to becoming the iconic crop that today helps sustain a global population of eight billion.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240814124651.htm


New research identifies early sensorimotor markers for autism spectrum disorder

A study has uncovered significant findings related to the early sensorimotor features and cognitive abilities of toddlers who are later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240814124643.htm


Swipe up! Health apps deliver real results en masse

They're the little digital tools you can download in a few seconds, but despite their literal size, health and fitness apps pack a real punch when it comes to getting results, say researchers.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240813192350.htm


Common equine painkiller disrupts assisted reproduction technique efficiency in mares

Researchers have discovered that phenylbutazone, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) commonly prescribed in horses, can affect the ability of a mare's egg cells -- called 'oocytes' -- to become viable embryos, which is a crucial step in assisted reproduction in horses.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240813164647.htm


SwRI-led team finds evidence of hydration on Asteroid Psyche

Using data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have confirmed hydroxyl molecules on the surface of the metallic asteroid Psyche. The presence of hydrated minerals suggests a complex history for Psyche, important context for the NASA spacecraft en route to this interesting asteroid orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240813152147.htm