ScienceDaily: All - April 01, 2024
Today's top research news
Golfers' risk from pesticides used on turfgrass is likely low
For many, spring heralds fresh air and exercise on the golf course. But do players risk exposure to unsafe levels of pesticides used to beautify and maintain a golf course's green grass? To find out, researchers asked volunteers to play 18 holes on a simulated course sprayed with common pesticides.
Image: golf course, okimo/shutterstock.com
Engineers 'symphonize' cleaner ammonia production
Among the many chemicals we use every day, ammonia is one of the worst for the atmosphere. The nitrogen-based chemical used in fertilizer, dyes, explosives and many other products ranks second only to cement in terms of carbon emissions, due to the high temperatures and energy needed to manufacture it. But by improving on a well-known electrochemical reaction and orchestrating a 'symphony' of lithium, nitrogen and hydrogen atoms, engineers have developed a new ammonia production process that meets several green targets.
Are high-purity cathode materials truly necessary?
Researchers introduce a groundbreaking alternative to reduce secondary battery costs.
Simple equations clarify cloud climate conundrum
New analysis based on simple equations has reduced uncertainty about how clouds will affect future climate change.
Canada lynx historic range in US likely wider than previously thought
A broader past could mean a brighter future for Canada lynx in the U.S., according to recent research. The study indicates that lynx might do well in the future in parts of Utah, central Idaho and the Yellowstone National Park region, even considering climate change and the lack of lynx in those areas now. Using a model validated by historic records, researchers first found that in 1900, Canada lynx had more suitable habitat in the U.S. than the few northern corners of the country where they are found currently. The study showed the elusive big cat likely roamed over a larger area in the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, Great Lakes region and parts of New England.
Machine learning provides a new picture of the great gray owl
Researchers upend the notion that the iconic great gray owl -- known as the phantom of the North -- lives far from cities, towns and other markers of human density.
Cellphone compass can measure tiny concentrations of compounds important for human health
Nearly every modern cellphone has a built-in compass, or magnetometer, that detects the direction of Earth's magnetic field, providing critical information for navigation. Now a team of researchers has developed a technique that uses an ordinary cellphone magnetometer for an entirely different purpose -- to measure the concentration of glucose, a marker for diabetes, to high accuracy.
New advance against a form of heart failure prevalent in men
Researchers have discovered a gene on the Y chromosome that contributes to the greater incidence of heart failure in men, opening the door to new treatments.
Pilot study shows ketogenic diet improves severe mental illness
A small clinical trial found that the metabolic effects of a ketogenic diet may help stabilize the brain.
Physics-based predictive tool will speed up battery and superconductor research
Researchers have developed physics-based guidelines that will benefit host-guest intercalated materials research. By using only two guest properties and eight host-derived descriptors, they correctly predicted the intercalation energies and stabilities of many host-guest systems. This work is an important advance that will minimize the extensive trial-and-error laboratory work that otherwise slows down research and development in battery and superconductor technologies.
Universal brain-computer interface lets people play games with just their thoughts
Engineers have created a brain-computer interface that doesn't require calibration for each user, paving the way for widespread clinical applicability.
Chatbot outperformed physicians in clinical reasoning in head-to-head study
ChatGPT-4, an artificial intelligence program designed to understand and generate human-like text, outperformed internal medicine residents and attending physicians at two academic medical centers at processing medical data and demonstrating clinical reasoning.
Research reveals language barriers limit effectiveness of cybersecurity resources
Non-English speaking internet users share the same concern about cyber threats and the same desire for online safety as any other individual. However, they are constrained by a lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate resources, which also hampers accurate collection of cyber victimization data among vulnerable populations.
Do sweeteners increase your appetite? New evidence from randomised controlled trial says no
Replacing sugar with artificial and natural sweeteners in foods does not make people hungrier -- and also helps to reduce blood sugar levels, a significant new study has found. The double blind randomized controlled trial found that consuming food containing sweeteners produced a similar reduction in appetite sensations and appetite-related hormone responses as sugary foods -- and provides some benefits such as lowering blood sugar, which may be particularly important in people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The use of sweeteners in place of sugar in foods can be controversial due to conflicting reports about their potential to increase appetite. Previous studies have been carried out but did not provide robust evidence. However, the researchers say their study, which meets the gold standard level of proof in scientific investigation, provides very strong evidence that sweeteners and sweetness enhancers do not negatively impact appetite and are beneficial for reducing sugar intake.