ScienceDaily: All - August 28, 2024
Today's top research news
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.
Image: Jeff Morgan/Shutterstock.com
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.
New insight into the protein mutations that cause Rett syndrome
Findings bolster the idea that the functions of this protein -- MeCP2 -- are more centered on nucleosomes, rather than other forms of DNA.
This new technique for studying cell receptors could have sweeping implications for drug development
Researchers created a tool capable of comprehensively mapping crucial interactions underlying drug efficacy in one superfamily of cell receptors.
Keeping native bees buzzing requires rethinking pest control
New research shows a strong correlation between pesticide use and declining sightings of wild bees, with pesticide use causing appearances of some species to drop as much as 56%. The loss of wild bees could disrupt ecosystems, affecting plant survival and the wildlife dependent on those plants, while also posing a significant risk to agricultural productivity. Researchers advocate for integrated pest management strategies and more long-term studies to better understand and mitigate the impact of pesticides on wild bees and other pollinators.
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.
New technology 'lights up' bacteria in wounds for better infection prevention
New research suggests there may be a more effective method to detect bacteria during wound debridement.
Second genetic sensor for DNA methylation discovered
CDCA7, whose mutations alter DNA methylation pattern and cause immunodeficiency, is a novel sensor for a special class of methylated DNA.
Researchers develop affordable, rapid blood test for brain cancer
Researchers have developed a novel, automated device capable of diagnosing glioblastoma, a fast-growing and incurable brain cancer, in less than an hour. The average glioblastoma patient survives 12-18 months after diagnosis.
NREL advances method for recyclable wind turbine blades
Researchers see a realistic path forward to the manufacture of bio-derivable wind blades that can be chemically recycled and the components reused, ending the practice of old blades winding up in landfills at the end of their useful life.
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.
Bubbling, frothing and sloshing: Long-hypothesized plasma instabilities finally observed
Scientists have observed new details of how plasma interacts with magnetic fields, potentially providing insight into the formation of enormous plasma jets that stretch between the stars.
New study supports annual breast cancer screening for women over 40
Women diagnosed with breast cancer who had regular screening mammograms every year were less likely to have late-stage cancer and had higher overall survival than those who received screening every other year or less often, according to new research.
Highest-resolution observations yet from the surface of Earth
Astronomers have achieved the highest resolution ever obtained from the surface of Earth. They managed this feat by detecting light from distant galaxies at a frequency of around 345 GHz, equivalent to a wavelength of 0.87 mm. They estimate that in future they will be able to make black hole images that are 50% more detailed than was possible before, bringing the region immediately outside the boundary of nearby supermassive black holes into sharper focus. They will also be able to image more black holes than they have done so far. The new detections are part of a pilot experiment.
Pregnancy after sterilization turns out to be surprisingly common
Tubal sterilization is thought to be a permanent form of birth control and is the most common method of contraception nationally. But a new study reports that tubal surgery fails often enough that some other forms of birth control are usually more effective.
A finding by neuroscientists could open doors to new treatments for a range of psychiatric and neurological disorders attributed to dysfunctions in specific dopamine pathways.
Study shows reduced inflammation in residents after adding trees to their neighborhoods
A new project has found that people living in neighborhoods where the number of trees and shrubs was more than doubled showed lower levels of a blood marker of inflammation than those living outside the planted areas. General inflammation is an important risk indicator for heart disease and other chronic diseases.
Electron microscope (EM) has revolutionized our ability to visualize the intricate details inside cells. The advancement to 3D electron microscopy, known as volume EM (vEM), has further expanded this three-dimensional, nanoscale imaging capacity. However, trade-offs between imaging speed, quality, and sample size still limit the achievable imaging area and volume. Concurrently, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a pivotal force across various scientific domains, driving breakthroughs and serving as a vital tool in the scientific process.
Under the radar men's health red flags may point to heart problems
Researchers are calling for general practitioners to take a more proactive approach towards addressing erectile dysfunction (ED) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), in light of new findings suggesting these conditions may be linked to underlying cardiometabolic disorders. A study highlighted the importance of screening for urinary symptoms in men.
Hidden magmatism discovered at the Chang'e-6 lunar landing site
Lunar igneous activities including intrusive and extrusive magmatism, and their products contain significant information about the lunar interior and its thermal state. Their distribution is asymmetrical on the nearside and farside, reflecting the global lunar dichotomy. In addition to previously returned lunar samples all from nearside (Apollo, Luna, and Chang'e-5), samples from the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin on the farside have long been thought to hold the key to rebalancing the asymmetrical understandings of the Moon and disclosing the lunar dichotomy conundrum.
Six new rogue worlds: Star birth clues
The James Webb Space Telescope has spotted six likely rogue worlds -- objects with planet-like masses but untethered from any star's gravity -- including the lightest ever identified with a dusty disk around it. The elusive objects offer new evidence that the same cosmic processes that give birth to stars may also play a common role in making objects only slightly bigger than Jupiter.
Coastal cities must adapt faster to climate change
Coastal cities play a key role in the global economy and have important functions for society at large. At the same time, they are severely affected by the impact of climate change. That is why their role in global climate adaptation is crucial.
AI spots cancer and viral infections at nanoscale precision
Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence which can differentiate cancer cells from normal cells, as well as detect the very early stages of viral infection inside cells. The findings pave the way for improved diagnostic techniques and new monitoring strategies for disease. The AI can detect rearrangements inside cells as small as 20nm, or 5,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. These alterations are too small and subtle for human observers to find with traditional methods alone.
Women in global fisheries industry fall through the safety net
Millions of women who work in the fisheries industry are being left behind as technologies develop to counter the effects of climate change and economic pressures. A new study examines this global problem and suggests ways forward in policy, research and practice.
Metal baseball bats still help Little Leaguers hit a little better
While meant to simulate wood bats, regulation USA Baseball metal bats are more forgiving than wood for young players who might not connect with the ball on a bat's optimal 'sweet spot.' After testing wood bats and two types of metal bats with youth players, researchers found that the exit speed of a hit ball was as much as 5% faster with metal bats over wood. Analyzing the data, they found that the performance of the USA Baseball metal bats at the sweet spot was similar to wood. It was when the hits were on less optimal areas that there was a bigger difference: there was more of a penalty with wood bats when the hitters were not on the sweet spot than with the metal bats.
Insights from satellite data pave the way to better solar power generation
Fluctuations in solar radiation are a problem for solar power plants as they cause problems in the power grid and other reliability issues. In a recent study, scientists aimed to deepen our understanding of variations in solar irradiance in time and space over the Asia Pacific region by analyzing satellite data. Their findings provide valuable insights that could help us optimize the position of future solar power plants.
A human-centered AI tool to improve sepsis management
A proposed artificial intelligence tool to support clinician decision-making about hospital patients at risk for sepsis has an unusual feature: accounting for its lack of certainty and suggesting what demographic data, vital signs and lab test results it needs to improve its predictive performance.
New photoacoustic probes enable deep brain tissue imaging
Neuroscientists have sought to better understand brain function but lacked the capability to observe neuronal activity deep within the brain. Scientists have applied rational molecular engineering to develop photoacoustic probes that can be used deep within brain tissue to label and visualize neurons. This imaging approach expands significantly on what neuroscientists have been able to see with conventional light microscopy, offering the potential to report on deep neuron activity and better understand brain function.