ScienceDaily: All - December 05, 2024
Today's top research news
Manta rays inspire fast swimming soft robot yet
A team of researchers has beaten its own record for the fastest swimming soft robot, drawing inspiration from manta rays to improve their ability to control the robot's movement in the water.
Image: Luke-diver/Shutterstock.com
Eating high-processed foods impacts muscle quality, study finds
A diet high in ultra-processed foods is associated with higher amounts of fat stored inside thigh muscles, regardless of the amount of calories consumed or level of physical activity, according to a new study. Higher amounts of intramuscular fat in the thigh could also increase the risk for knee osteoarthritis.
Mammoth as key food source for ancient Americans
Scientists have uncovered the first direct evidence that ancient Americans relied primarily on mammoth and other large animals for food. Their research sheds new light on both the rapid expansion of humans throughout the Americas and the extinction of large ice age mammals.
Male African elephants develop distinct personality traits as they age
Male African elephants have distinct personality traits, but also adapt their behavior to suit the social context, according to a new study.
Natural 'biopesticide' against malaria mosquitoes successful in early field tests
An experimental bacteria-derived biopesticide is highly effective in killing malaria-carrying mosquitoes, including those that have developed resistance to chemical pesticides, according to initial field tests.
How did humans and dogs become friends? Connections in the Americas began 12,000 years ago
A new study sheds light on how long humans in the Americas have had relationships with the ancestors of today's dogs -- and asks an 'existential question': What is a dog?
Massive asteroid impacts did not change Earth's climate in the long term
Two massive asteroids hit Earth around 35.65 million years ago, but did not lead to any lasting changes in the Earth's climate, according to a new study.
A team has engineered potato to be more resilient to global warming showing 30% increases in tuber mass under heatwave conditions. This adaptation may provide greater food security for families dependent on potatoes, as these are often the same areas where the changing climate has already affected multiple crop seasons.
New research shows that the heart has a mini-brain -- its own nervous system that controls the heartbeat. A better understanding of this system, which is much more diverse and complex than previously thought, could lead to new treatments for heart diseases.
20th century lead exposure damaged American mental health
Exposure to car exhaust from leaded gas during childhood altered the balance of mental health in the U.S. population, making generations of Americans more depressed, anxious and inattentive or hyperactive, according to researchers. They estimate that 151 million cases of psychiatric disorder over the past 75 years have resulted from American children's exposure to lead.
Preventing brain injury complications with specialized optical fibers
Fiber optics are a means of transmitting information at incredibly high speeds; however, the technology can be used for more than just providing a fast internet connection. Researchers have developed an optical fiber sensing system that could help medical professionals monitor patients for complications after a traumatic brain injury. The technology tracks six biomarkers simultaneously, continuously and automatically to provide crucial information on brain health in lab tests.
AI helps researchers dig through old maps to find lost oil and gas wells
Undocumented orphaned wells pose hazards to both the environment and the climate. Scientists are building modern tools to help locate, assess, and pave the way for ultimately plugging these forgotten relics.
Perceptions of parent cannabis use shape teen attitudes
Teens who think their parents use cannabis are more likely to hold favorable attitudes toward the drug and to consider trying it themselves, according to a new study. The research also reveals that parental monitoring and the closeness of parent-child relationships play crucial roles in adolescents' views about cannabis, often with distinct effects based on the parent's gender.
Owning a home in the US linked to longer life
A new study finds that owning a home in early adult life adds approximately four months to the lives of male Americans born in the early twentieth century.
CRISPR-Cas technology: Balancing efficiency and safety
Researchers have uncovered a serious side effect of using the CRISPR-Cas gene scissors. A molecule designed to make the process more efficient destroys parts of the genome.
Insects wearing two hats solve botanical mystery
The discovery of a unique case where the same insect species both pollinate a plant and distribute its seeds not only solves a long-standing botanical mystery. The find also stresses the diverse roles insects play in our ecosystem.
We might feel love in our fingertips ---- but did the Ancient Mesopotamians?
A multidisciplinary team of researchers studied a large body of texts to find out how people in the ancient Mesopotamian region (within modern day Iraq) experienced emotions in their bodies thousands of years ago.
Lasting effects of common herbicide on brain health
New research identifies an association between glyphosate exposure in mice and symptoms of neuroinflammation, as well as accelerated Alzheimer's disease-like pathology. This study tracks both the presence and impact of glyphosate's byproducts in the brain long after exposure ends, showing an array of persistent, damaging effects on brain health. The findings suggest the brain may be much more susceptible to the damaging effects of the herbicide than previously thought. Glyphosate is one of the most pervasive herbicides used in the U.S. and worldwide.
Researchers have developed a novel computational pipeline designed to identify protein biomarkers associated with complex diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). This innovative tool analyzes biomarkers that can induce 3D structural changes in proteins, providing critical insights into disease mechanisms and highlighting potential targets for therapeutic intervention. The findings could lead to advancements in early detection and treatment strategies for Alzheimer's disease, which has long eluded effective therapies.
Scientists develop coral-inspired material to revolutionize bone repair
Researchers have developed a revolutionary bone graft substitute inspired by coral which not only promotes faster healing but dissolves naturally in the body after the repair is complete.
Access to psychotherapy has risen substantially among U.S. adults with mild to moderate distress since 2018, according to a new study. The increase in psychotherapy use is particularly notable among younger adults, women, college-educated individuals, and those with higher family incomes. Privately insured individuals also experienced greater gains in psychotherapy use compared to those who are publicly insured or uninsured.
The surprising effect of stress on your brain’s reward system
Some people bounce back from trauma, but others get caught in depressive loops that sap the joy from their lives.
An average of four minutes of incidental vigorous physical activity a day could almost halve the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks, for middle-aged women who do not engage in structured exercise, according to new research.
Long-term benefit from anti-hormonal treatment is influenced by menopausal status
Today, women with estrogen-sensitive breast cancer receive anti-hormonal therapy. Researchers now show that postmenopausal women with low-risk tumors have a long-term benefit for at least 20 years, while the benefit was more short-term for younger women with similar tumor characteristics who had not yet gone through the menopause.
Can plastic-eating bugs help with our microplastic problem?
Previous research found that insects can ingest and absorb pure, unrefined microplastics -- but only under unrealistic, food-scarce situations. Zoologists have now tested mealworms in a more realistic scenario, feeding them ground-up face masks -- a common plastic product -- mixed with bran, a tastier option. After 30 days, the research team found the mealworms ate about half the microplastics available, about 150 particles per insect, and gained weight. They excreted a small fraction of the microplastics consumed, about four to six particles per milligram of waste, absorbing the rest. Eating microplastics did not appear to affect the insects' survival and growth.