ScienceDaily: All - August 15, 2024
Today's top research news
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.
Image: Dignity100/Shutterstock.com
International study detects consciousness in unresponsive patients
New research found that brain scans can detect consciousness in some patients with brain injury who are unresponsive. In the study, 241 participants with severe brain injury who do not respond when given a simple instruction were assessed with functional MRI (fMRI), electroencephalography (EEG), or both tests, while hearing instructions, such as 'imagine opening and closing your hand.' Their brain responses showed that 25 percent of participants repeatedly followed this instruction covertly over minutes.
Millions of patients worldwide suffer from a chronic itching condition with no identifiable cause -- a condition known as chronic pruritus of unknown origin (CPUO) -- that has no targeted therapies approved to treat it. Many of these patients suffer for years with little relief, but a new study may provide hope for future treatments. Patients were found to have lower than normal levels of metabolite biomarkers in the blood plasma that could point to a cause of their excruciating symptoms.
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.
The remarkable affinity of the microbial enzyme iron nitrogenase for the greenhouse gas CO2 makes it promising for future biotechnologies.
New brain-computer interface allows man with ALS to 'speak' again
A new brain-computer interface translates brain signals into speech with up to 97 percent accuracy. Researchers implanted sensors in the brain of a man with severely impaired speech due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The man was able to communicate his intended speech within minutes of activating the system.
Good news for people with MS: COVID-19 vaccine not tied to relapse, study finds
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have an increased risk of severe coronavirus infection, but there has been concern regarding potential relapse after vaccination. A new study finds that people with MS may not have a higher risk of relapse after COVID-19 vaccination.
Engineers conduct first in-orbit test of 'swarm' satellite autonomous navigation
With 2D cameras and space robotics algorithms, astronautics engineers have created a navigation system able to manage multiple satellites using visual data only. They just tested it in space for the first time.
New way inflammation impacts cell communication
Researchers have made significant progress in understanding how cells communicate during inflammation.
Physicists throw world's smallest disco party
A new milestone has been set for levitated optomechanics as a group of scientists observed the Berry phase of electron spins in nano-sized diamonds levitated in vacuum.
Scientists create material that can take the temperature of nanoscale objects
Scientists recently discovered a one-dimensional nanoscale material whose color changes as temperature changes.
Dark rituals: Understanding society's fascination with death and disaster
Understanding why the popularity of organized events steeped in themes of death, disaster and suffering, such as the well-known Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Jack the Ripper Walking Tours and Remembrance Sunday, could be key to a deeper understanding of society, say researchers.
Child-parent therapy has biological benefits for traumatized kids
Psychotherapy sessions with caregivers may help prevent serious disease later in life for young children who have experienced significant trauma, a new study found.
Galaxies in dense environments tend to be larger, settling one cosmic question and raising others
A new study has found galaxies with more neighbors tend to be larger than their counterparts that have a similar shape and mass, but reside in less dense environments. The team, which used a machine-learning algorithm to analyze millions of galaxies, reports that galaxies found in denser regions of the universe are as much as 25% larger than isolated galaxies. The findings resolve a long-standing debate among astrophysicists over the relationship between a galaxy's size and its environment, but also raise new questions about how galaxies form and evolve over billions of years.
Hydrometeorology and location affect hospitalizations for waterborne infectious diseases in the US
An analysis of 12 years of data collected from over 500 hospitals in 25 different states shows that weather, geographic location, and urban or rural location all appear to influence hospitalizations for waterborne infectious diseases.
Alzheimer's cognitive decline predicted by patient's age, sex, and irregular heart rhythm
Older age, female sex, irregular heart rhythms, and daily activity levels can help to predict how much Alzheimer's Disease patients' cognitive function will decline, and how much they will depend on their caregivers over the next two years. The results suggest new ways to predict cognitive decline in patients, and that caregivers need to be considered in treatment plans.
Unveiling the brain's reward circuitry
A research team has made a significant breakthrough in understanding the complex neural circuitry underlying reward and addiction by identifying 34 distinct subtypes of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a key brain region involved in pleasure and motivation. The findings offer insights into the diversity of these neurons and their potential roles in substance use disorders.
Revealing the mysteries within microbial genomes
A new technique will make it much easier for researchers to discover the traits or activities encoded by genes of unknown function in microbes, a key step toward understanding the roles and impact of individual species within the planet's diverse microbiomes.
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.
Lake Erie walleye growth is driven by parents' size, experience
Parent size and the conditions in which actively spawning adults lived are the most influential factors affecting growth of Lake Erie walleye, a new study has found.
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).
Tropical Atlantic mixing rewrites climate pattern rules
Changes in the Atlantic Ocean's mixed layer are the primary force behind the Atlantic Multidecadal Variability (AMV).
Shingles increases risk of subsequent cognitive decline, study suggests
This new study found that an episode of shingles is associated with about a 20 percent higher long-term risk of subjective cognitive decline.
Rare archaeological site reveals 'surprising' Neanderthal behaviour at Pyrenees foothills
An unchartered area in the foothills of the Southern Pyrenees in Spain is providing insights into a poorly known period of Neanderthal history, offering clues that could help archaeologists uncover the mystery of their downfall, according to new research.
Eye-opening discovery offers fresh hope for disease that can cause blindness
Scientists have identified a rare, mutated version of a protein called TNIP1 that causes a chronic autoimmune disease similar to Sjogren's Syndrome -- a condition that leads to extreme dryness of the eyes and mouth that can cause blindness if left untreated.
Smart fabric converts body heat into electricity
Researchers have developed a smart fabric that can convert body heat and solar energy into electricity, potentially enabling continuous operation with no need for an external power source. Different sensors monitoring temperature, stress, and more can be integrated into the material.
Beige fat cells with a 'Sisyphus mechanism'
A new class of fat cells makes people healthier. The cells consume energy and produce heat through seemingly pointless biochemical reactions.
Stopping and reversing Alzheimer's at an early stage
In the fight against Alzheimer's, researchers have developed a promising, preventative therapeutic approach. They specifically targeted the amyloid beta biomolecule, which triggers the hyperactivity of nerve cells typical of the brain disease in its early stages. They succeeded in developing and using a protein drug that can suppress the effects of the harmful molecule.
Sugar intake decreasing but still too high
A high-sugar diet is seen as a risk factor for obesity and chronic illness. Researchers have analyzed data on sugar intake among children and adolescents in a long-term study, finding that intake has been declining steadily since 2010 -- but is still above the level recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
For a long time, scientists assumed that jellies (commonly known as jellyfish) were a dead-end food source for predatory fish. However, a team has now discovered that fish in Greenland waters do indeed feed on jellyfish. In two of the analyzed species, they even made up the majority of the food. The results suggest that the role of jellyfish as prey in marine food webs should be reconsidered, especially in regards to the fact that they could be profiting from climate change and spreading farther and farther north.
Impact of 700 years of Inuvialuit subsistence hunting on beluga whales
An international team of researchers analyzed beluga whale bones retrieved from archaeological sites in the Mackenzie Delta, Northwest Territories, Canada, to shed light on the sustainability of centuries of Inuvialuit beluga whale subsistence harvests.
New mechanism of action kills cancer cells
Conventional cancer drugs work by triggering apoptosis, that is programmed cell death, in tumor cells. However, tumor cells have the ability to develop strategies to escape apoptosis, rendering the drugs ineffective. A research team now describes a new mechanism of action that kills cancer cells through ferroptosis.
How air-powered computers can prevent blood clots
A new, air-powered computer sets off alarms when certain medical devices fail. The invention is a more reliable and lower-cost way to help prevent blood clots and strokes -- all without electronic sensors.
New vaccine against cervical cancer combines prophylactic and therapeutic activity
A vaccine against cancer-causing human papillomaviruses (HPV) is intended to help increase the rate of HPV vaccinations, particularly in developing countries. Scientists developed a completely new vaccination concept for this purpose. The vaccine is inexpensive and protects mice against almost all cancer-causing HPV types. In addition to preventing new infections, the vaccine also triggers cellular immune responses against HPV-infected cells and may therefore also have a therapeutic effect against existing infections.
Season of birth is associated with the development of asthma and allergic rhinitis
Being born in autumn or winter is associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis in Finland, a new registry-based study shows.
A method that paves the way for improved fuel cell vehicles
More efficient and longer-lasting fuel cells are essential for fuel cell-powered heavy-duty hydrogen vehicles to be an alternative to combustion fuelled counterparts. Researchers have developed an innovative method to study and understand how parts of fuel cells degrade over time. This is an important step towards the improved performance of fuel cells and them becoming commercially successful.
Early life exposure to common chemical permanently disrupts gut microbiome, study suggests
Early life exposure to 'forever chemicals' in the environment permanently disrupts the gut microbiome in mice, contributing to the development of metabolic disease in later life, according to new research. The results suggest that human exposure to these chemicals during early childhood may be contributing to the recent epidemic of metabolic disorders, including obesity and type 2 diabetes among adults.
Rocks collected on Mars hold key to water and perhaps life on the planet: Bring them back to Earth
Between July and November of 2022, NASA's Perseverance rover collected seven samples of sediment from an ancient alluvial fan in Jezero crater. While onboard analysis gave researchers some information about their origins, only detailed analysis on Earth can retrieve evidence of when water flowed on Mars and whether life arose there. Geophysicists had hoped to get these samples back by 2033, but NASA's sample return mission may be delayed beyond that date.
Researchers find possible inaccuracies in crash-reported child passenger injuries
Researchers found discrepancies between crash reports and hospital data that might paint an incomplete or inaccurate picture of how crashes impact the safety of child passengers. Enhancing the quality of injury data reported in crash reports can aid researchers in assessing the effectiveness of various transportation safety strategies for children.
Rocks from Mars' Jezero Crater, which likely predate life on Earth, contain signs of water
Scientists report that rock samples from Mars' Jezero Crater contain minerals that are typically formed in water. While the presence of organic matter is inconclusive, the rocks could be scientists' best chance at finding remnants of ancient Martian life.
Great Scott! Stonehenge's Altar Stone origins reveal advanced ancient Britain
New research has revealed Stonehenge's monumental six-ton Altar Stone, long believed to originate from Wales, actually hails from Scotland.
C-section antibiotics impact the infant microbiome far less than infant diet
Caesarean section recipients are usually given prophylactic antibiotics just before the procedure to prevent later infections at the surgical site. But there have been concerns about whether these antibiotics may have a negative impact on newborns and their microbiomes if the drugs travel through the umbilical cord and reach the baby before the cord is cut. Now, a study has confirmed that although these antibiotics can cause subtle changes to the infant microbiome, they are much less significant than the impact of how the babies are fed.
An implantable sensor could reverse opioid overdoses
A new implantable sensor could reverse opioid overdoses. The device rapidly releases naloxone when an overdose is detected.
A ketogenic diet could improve the response to pancreatic cancer therapy
Scientists have discovered a way to get rid of pancreatic cancer in mice by putting them on a high fat, or ketogenic, diet and giving them cancer therapy.
Decoding the world's largest animal genome
Scientists have sequenced the largest genome of all animals, the lungfish genome. Their data help to explain how the fish-ancestors of today's land vertebrates were able to conquer land.
The coordinated activity of brain cells, like birds flying in formation, helps us behave intelligently in new situations, according to a new study. The work is the first to illuminate the neurological processes known as abstraction and inference in the human brain.
Larger teams in academic research worsen career prospects, study finds
Researchers reveal that individuals who finish their PhD in situations where the average team in their field is larger have worse academic career options.
An international research team has discovered that comammox bacteria, first identified by them in 2015, can grow using guanidine, a nitrogen-rich organic compound, as their sole energy and nitrogen source. This unique ability opens new avenues for targeted cultivation of these enigmatic microbes and could also provide a key to reducing agricultural nitrous oxide emissions.
Ecologists put an insect group on century-old map of biodiversity
The distribution of species around the globe is not a random process but an outcome resulting from several evolutionary mechanisms as well as past and current environmental limitations. As a result, since the mid-19th century, biologists have identified several main regions, called biogeographic realms, that depict these large ensembles of species around the world. These biogeographic realms represent one of the most fundamental descriptions of biodiversity on Earth and are commonly used in various fields of biology.
Work-related stress may increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm
Job strain and effort-reward imbalance at work were associated with a greater chance of developing an abnormal heart rhythm condition, finds a new study.
Policing may play a role in youth mental health crises
New York City neighborhoods subject to higher rates of policing during the Stop and Frisk years also experienced higher burdens of psychiatric hospitalization among their adolescent and young adult residents -- independent of underlying neighborhood socio-economic characteristics.
Giant fossil seeds from Borneo record ancient plant migration
Ancient fossil beans about the size of modern limes, and among the largest seeds in the fossil record, may provide new insight into the evolution of today's diverse Southeast Asian and Australian rainforests, according to researchers who identified the plants.