ScienceDaily: All - August 31, 2024
Today's top research news
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.
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.
New findings on TB could change how we treat inflammatory disorders
The study explains why treatments for many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases raise the risk of contracting TB -- and also upends long-held assumptions about what kicks off an immune response.
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.
Like people, vultures get set in their ways and have fewer friends as they age
Young griffon vultures move frequently between sleeping sites in different locations, interacting with many friends. They get set in their ways as they age and roost in the same spots with the same individuals; older vultures follow the same paths. Roosts act as information hubs; older vultures may have a more thorough knowledge of where to find food resources and less need to learn about them from other vultures.
Image: Mohit Nagarwal/Shutterstock.com
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?
Topological quantum simulation unlocks new potential in quantum computers
Researchers have successfully simulated higher-order topological (HOT) lattices with unprecedented accuracy using digital quantum computers. These complex lattice structures can help us understand advanced quantum materials with robust quantum states that are highly sought after in various technological applications.
What a submerged ancient bridge discovered in a Spanish cave reveals about early human settlement
Geologists examined a submerged 25-foot bridge to tackle a long-lasting archaeological controversy: When humans settled on the islands in the western Mediterranean. Their findings narrow a historical gap between the settlement timelines of the eastern and western Mediterranean regions.
Transparency is often lacking in datasets used to train large language models
The Data Provenance Explorer can help machine-learning practitioners make more informed choices about the data they train their models on, which could improve the accuracy of models deployed in the real world.
Novel chemical tool aims to streamline drug-making process
The invention of a tool capable of unlocking previously impossible organic chemical reactions has opened new pathways in the pharmaceutical industry to create effective drugs more quickly.
New discoveries about how mosquitoes mate may help the fight against malaria
An international team has uncovered surprising details about mosquito mating, which could lead to improved malaria control techniques and even help develop precision drone flight. The team revealed that when a male Anopheles coluzzii mosquito hears the sound of female-specific wingbeats, his eyes 'activate' and he visually scans the immediate vicinity for a potential mate. This strong link between males hearing the female-like buzz and moving toward an object in their field of vision may open up a new route for mosquito control: a new generation of traps specific to the Anopheles mosquitoes that spread malaria.
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.
Dancing galaxies make a monster at the cosmic dawn
Astronomers have spotted a pair of galaxies in the act of merging 12.8 billion years ago. The characteristics of these galaxies indicate that the merger will form a monster galaxy, one of the brightest types of objects in the Universe.
Billions worldwide consume inadequate levels of micronutrients critical to human health
More than half of the global population consumes inadequate levels of several micronutrients essential to health, including calcium, iron, and vitamins C and E, according to a new study. It is the first study to provide global estimates of inadequate consumption of 15 micronutrients critical to human health.
Silicon chip propels 6G communications forward
A team of scientists has unlocked the potential of 6G communications with a new polarization multiplexer. This allows multiple data streams to be transmitted simultaneously over the same frequency band, effectively doubling data capacity.
Regional variations in concussion diagnoses
Researchers found significant geographic variations in concussion diagnoses in United States emergency departments -- with the highest rates in the South and lower rates in the Midwest and Northeast.
TB under the sea: A marine sponge microbe provides insights into the evolution of tuberculosis
The surprising discovery of a bacterium in a marine sponge from the Great Barrier Reef with striking similarity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the pathogen responsible for tuberculosis (TB), could unlock and inform future TB research and treatment strategies.