ScienceDaily: All - August 13, 2024
Today's top research news
Starvation and adhesion drive formation of keratinocyte patterns in skin
Cell-cell adhesion-induced patterning in keratinocytes can be explained by just starvation and strong adhesion researchers find.
Image: Designua/Shutterstock.com
Ships now spew less sulfur, but warming has sped up
New findings document fewer ship tracks, reduced cloud cover, and boosted warming after ship emissions regulations took effect in 2020.
Think fast -- or not: Mathematics behind decision making
New research explains the mathematics behind how initial predispositions and additional information affect decision making.
New method for orchestrating successful collaboration among robots
New research shows that programming robots to create their own teams and voluntarily wait for their teammates results in faster task completion, with the potential to improve manufacturing, agriculture and warehouse automation.
Engineers make tunable, shape-changing metamaterial inspired by vintage toys
Common push puppet toys in the shapes of animals and popular figures can move or collapse with the push of a button at the bottom of the toys' base. Now, a team of engineers has created a new class of tunable dynamic material that mimics the inner workings of push puppets, with applications for soft robotics, reconfigurable architectures and space engineering.
New study unveils 16,000 years of climate history in the tropical Andes
Researchers highlight the roles of carbon dioxide and ocean currents as key drivers of temperature fluctuations in the tropical Andes over a 16,000 year period.
AI poses no existential threat to humanity, new study finds
Large Language Models (LLMs) are entirely controllable through human prompts and lack 'emergent abilities'; that is, the means to form their own insights or conclusions. Increasing model size does not lead LLMs to gain emergent reasoning abilities, meaning they will not develop hazardous abilities and therefore do not pose an existential threat. A new study sheds light on the (until now unexplained) capabilities and shortcomings of LLMs, including the need for carefully engineered prompts to exhibit good performance.
Scientists identify genes linked to relapse in the most common form of childhood leukemia
Scientists have identified novel genetic variations that influence relapse risk in children with standard risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (SR B-ALL), the most common childhood cancer.
Study reveals oleoyl-ACP-hydrolase underpins lethal respiratory viral disease
Respiratory infections can be severe, even deadly, in some individuals, but not in others. Scientists have gained new understanding of why this is the case by uncovering an early molecular driver that underpins fatal disease. Oleoyl-ACP-hydrolase (OLAH) is an enzyme involved in fatty acid metabolism. A study shows that OLAH drives severe disease outcomes.
Scientists find oceans of water on Mars: It's just too deep to tap
Quakes and meteor impacts on Mars generate seismic waves that can help map the interior. A new study analyzed seismic waves detected by the Insight lander and concludes that 11-20 kilometers beneath the surface, a zone of pores and fractures is filled with liquid water -- more than was thought to fill Mars' surface oceans before they disappeared 3 billion years ago. Though too deep to drill, the reservoir is a possible refuge for life.
Researchers ID body's 'quality control' regulator for protein folding
Anyone who's tried to neatly gather a fitted sheet can tell you: folding is hard. Get it wrong with your laundry and the result can be a crumpled, wrinkled mess of fabric, but when folding fails among the approximately 7,000 proteins with an origami-like complexity that regulate essential cellular functions, the result can lead to one of a multitude of serious diseases ranging from emphysema and cystic fibrosis to Alzheimer's disease. Fortunately, our bodies have a quality-control system that identifies misfolded proteins and marks them either for additional folding work or destruction, but how, exactly, this quality-control process functions is not entirely known. Researchers have now made a major leap forward in our understanding of how this quality-control system works by discovering the 'hot spot' where all the action takes place.
Forest restoration can boost people, nature and climate simultaneously
Forest restoration can benefit humans, boost biodiversity and help tackle climate change simultaneously, new research suggests.
How cell nuclei organize eyes and brain
In work conducted both at UC Santa Barbara and the Physics of Life Excellence Cluster of TU Dresden, biophysicist Otger Camp s and his research group have found that cell nuclei control the architecture and mechanics of eye and brain tissues during embryonic development. These results add a new role for the cell's nucleus in tissue organization, well beyond its established role in genetic regulation.
Fallopian tubes can be safely removed during sterilization, study suggests
Women whose Fallopian tubes are removed during sterilization via laparoscopy have only marginally more surgical complications than those whose tubes are simply cut, a study shows. The removal, salpingectomy, is a safe procedure that can help protect against future ovarian cancer, according to a new study.
Low magnesium levels increase disease risk
A new study has identified why a diet rich in magnesium is so important for our health, reducing the risk of DNA damage and chronic degenerative disorders.
Alzheimer's disease: It's not only neurons
Memory loss, confusion, speech problems Alzheimer s disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting about 35 million people worldwide, and the number is growing. The protein amyloid beta, which occurs naturally in the brain, plays a central role in the disease: It accumulates in patients in insoluble clumps that form plaques between neurons in the brain, damaging them. Researchers have now shown that, in addition to neurons, special glial cells in the brain also produce amyloid beta. This finding could open up new avenues for future therapies.
Mature forests vital in frontline fight against climate change
Mature forests have a key role to play in the fight against climate change -- extracting carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and locking it into new wood.
Balancing technology and governance are key to achieving climate goals
Despite advancements in clean energy, global CO2 emissions continue to rise. IIASA researchers contributed to a new international study that underscores the importance of integrating technological advancements with robust institutional capacities to formulate effective climate policies.
How mortal filaments' self-assemble and maintain order: Align or die
A previously unknown mechanism of active matter self-organization essential for bacterial cell division follows the motto 'dying to align': Misaligned filaments 'die' spontaneously to form a ring structure at the center of the dividing cell. The work could find applications in developing synthetic self-healing materials.
State-of-the-art brain recordings reveal how neurons resonate
Researchers have shed new light on how the brain processes and synthesizes information. Findings help solve a longstanding mystery in neuroscience.
Innovative study unveils a new path in green chemistry
Researchers have introduced a new advancement in the fight against climate change. Their study showcases a novel method for understanding the mechanisms of carbon dioxide re-utilization leading to fuels and chemicals. This work paves the road for the further optimization of this catalytic process driven by renewable electricity.
Drug protects against air pollution-related Alzheimer's signs in mice
A new study shows how feeding mice a drug called GSM-15606 provided protection against air pollution-related increases in proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease.
Treating radiation wounds with aspirin hydrogels
Radiation is a powerful tool for treating cancer, but prolonged exposure can damage the skin. Radiation-induced skin injuries are painful and increase a person's chances of infection and long-term inflammation. Now, researchers report an aspirin-containing hydrogel that mimics the nutrient-rich fluid between cells and accelerates healing of skin damaged by radiation in animals. With further development, the new salve could provide effective and rapid wound healing for humans.
Parents' eating behavior influences how their children respond to food
Young children often display similar eating behavior as their parents, with a parent's own eating style influencing how they feed their children.
Gene-related metabolic dysfunction may be driving heart arrhythmia
Patients with a common heart arrhythmia called Atrial Fibrillation could benefit from future treatments that target inefficiencies in heart cell metabolism, according to a new article.
Possible explanation for link between diabetes and Alzheimer's
People with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive problems. A new study shows that the reason may be that people with type 2 diabetes have more difficulty getting rid of a protein that may cause the disease.
Taking a 'one in a million' shot to tackle dopamine-linked brain disorders
With the help of a tiny, transparent worm called Caenorhabditis elegans, researchers have identified novel players in dopamine signaling by taking advantage of a powerful platform generated via the Million Mutation Project (MMP) for the rapid identification of mutant genes based on their functional impact. They can seek insights from simpler organisms whose genes bear striking similarity to those found in humans and where opportunities for genetic insights to disease can be pursued more efficiently and inexpensively.
Just say 'climate change' -- not 'climate emergency'
The familiar terms 'climate change' and 'global warming' are more likely to resonate with people than other commonly used phrases.
Those with the biggest biases choose first, according to new math study
In a new study, researchers created a sort of simulated voting booth -- a space where people, or mathematical 'agents,' with various biases could deliberate over decisions. The results may help to reveal the mathematics of how the human brain acts when it needs to make a choice.
Scientists explain how the amyloid beta deposits long known to build up in the brains of Alzheimer's patients serve as a kind of scaffold for the accumulation of other proteins. Because many of these proteins have known signaling functions, their presence around the amyloid accumulations, known as plaques, could be the culprit causing brain cell damage rather than the amyloid itself.
Babbling babies need timely responses to learn language, social norms
New research shows the timing of others' reactions to their babbling is key to how babies begin learning language and social norms -- a process evident in infants' interactions with a robot.
Wearable display tech: Full-color fiber LEDs based on perovskite quantum wires
A research team has developed full-color fiber light-emitting diodes utilizing perovskite quantum wires (PeQWs), paving the way for innovative wearable lighting and display devices.
Heat caused over 47,000 deaths in Europe in 2023, the second highest burden of the last decade
More than 47,000 people died in Europe as a result of high temperatures in 2023, the warmest year on record globally and the second warmest in Europe.
An appetizer can stimulate immune cells' appetite, a boon for cancer treatments
The body has a veritable army constantly on guard to keep us safe from microscopic threats from infections to cancer. Chief among this force is the macrophage, a white blood cell that surveils tissues and consumes pathogens, debris, dead cells, and cancer. Macrophages have a delicate task. It's crucial that they ignore healthy cells while on patrol, otherwise they could trigger an autoimmune response while performing their duties.
New genetically engineered wood can store carbon and reduce emissions
Researchers genetically modified poplar trees to produce high-performance, structural wood without the use of chemicals or energy intensive processing.
NK cells expressing interleukin-21 show promising antitumor activity in glioblastoma cells
Natural killer (NK) cells engineered to express interleukin-21 (IL-21) demonstrated sustained antitumor activity against glioblastoma stem cell-like cells (GSCs) both in vitro and in vivo, according to new research.
Engineers bring efficient optical neural networks into focus
Researchers have published a programmable framework that overcomes a key computational bottleneck of optics-based artificial intelligence systems. In a series of image classification experiments, they used scattered light from a low-power laser to perform accurate, scalable computations using a fraction of the energy of electronics.
Parents who use humor have better relationships with their children, study finds
In a pilot study, most people viewed humor as an effective parenting tool and that a parent or caregiver's use of humor affected the quality of their relationship with their children, according to new research. Among those whose parents used humor, the majority viewed their relationship with their parents and the way they were parented in a positive light.
Redefining the computer whiz: Research shows diverse skills valued by youth
Researchers have uncovered a more nuanced view of what makes an 'ideal' computer science student, challenging long-held stereotypes of geeky, clever, detail-oriented men, who lack social skills.
The threat of mpox has returned, but public knowledge about it has declined
As the threat of mpox returns, a survey finds that U.S. adults no longer know as much about the disease as they did during the outbreak of 2022.
From doom-scrolling to mindfulness
Researchers have created Mindful Scroll, a mobile app that helps users transition from doom-scrolling to adding mindfulness into their daily routines.
A new mechanism for shaping animal tissues
A key question that remains in biology and biophysics is how three-dimensional tissue shapes emerge during animal development. Research teams have now found a mechanism by which tissues can be 'programmed' to transition from a flat state to a three-dimensional shape.
As temperatures break records, many are unaware of symptoms of heat-related illnesses
Following record breaking heat, a survey reveals that most Americans do not know where their local cooling centers are in cases of extreme heat.
Canadian wildfires are affecting US air quality and raising health concerns
Climate-driven wildfire events are rapidly transferring harmful particulate matter containing toxic chemicals over long distances, compromising air quality in the New Jersey and New York City areas, according to recent research.
New mechanism to cool buildings while saving energy
The movement of radiant heat -- felt when a hot surface warms our bodies and homes -- between buildings and their surroundings at ground level makes buildings with less skyward-facing surfaces harder to cool. A research team has demonstrated a new passive cooling technology that coats walls and windows with materials that can better manage heat movement between buildings and their surroundings at ground level. Findings could reduce the reliance on air conditioning and provide a more environmentally friendly, low-cost and scalable option for low-income communities with limited or no access to cooling and heating systems.
Long-distance relationship revealed in the seemingly random behavior of bowhead whales
Applying chaos theory to the movement of iconic arctic whales uncovered a 24-hour diving cycle and a long-range (~100 km) synchronization.
Prioritizing the elderly for COVID-19 boosters reduces overall deaths
When COVID-19 booster vaccines are in short supply, prioritizing the elderly over other age groups for booster vaccination results in the lowest loss of life, researchers report.
New two-step flu vaccine strategy shows promise in pig model
A new, two-step flu vaccination strategy that pairs intramuscular injection of a viral vectored flu vaccine with nasal spray administration of a novel attenuated live flu virus appears to be safe and effective in pigs, researchers report.