ScienceDaily: All - December 12, 2023
Today's top research news
NASA's Webb stuns with new high-definition look at exploded star
Like a shiny, round ornament ready to be placed in the perfect spot on a holiday tree, supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A) gleams in a new image.
Dima Zel/shutterstock.com
Protein study could one day advance Parkinson's, breast cancer care
New research could one day lead to therapies that prevent or treat diseases and infections tied to a protein that's found in all human cells. A study describes how the protein ubiquitin is modified during a bacterial infection. The study details the steps taken to create a form of the protein known as lysine 6 polyubiquitin, where a long chain of ubiquitin molecules are linked through the amino acid lysine. Previous research has indicated that this form of ubiquitin may be linked to the development of Parkinson's disease and breast cancer.
Caregiving can be stressful, but it could also lower risk of depression
Becoming a caregiver to an aging parent or spouse can be stressful, but a new study is questioning the idea that family caregiving is also a risk factor for depression.
New AI-powered algorithm could better assess people's risk of common heart condition
Early detection of atrial fibrillation can reduce the risk of stroke and heart failure, but screening people for the condition has been historically challenging.
New technique for photon detection
Researchers have developed a new technique to detect photons -- elementary particles that span from visible light to radio frequencies and are instrumental in carrying cellular communication. The advancement could lead to more precise and efficient technologies in various fields, from improving medical imaging and communication systems to enhancing scientific research and even potentially bolstering security measures. Photon detection has typically relied on change/modulation of voltage or current amplitude. But Chanda has developed a way to detect photons by modulating the frequency of an oscillating circuit, paving the path for ultra-sensitive photon detection. Chanda's method uses a special, phase-change material (PCM) that changes its form when light touches it, making an electrical rhythm that stays steady, or a stable electrical circuit oscillation.
Hallmark quantum behavior in bouncing droplets
In a study that could help fill some holes in quantum theory, the team recreated a 'quantum bomb tester' in a classical droplet test.
Mammogram rates increase when patients schedule themselves
By making mammograms easy to schedule through personal online patient portals, researchers saw a significant increase in screenings for breast cancer.
14-inch spacecraft delivers new details about 'hot Jupiters'
The Colorado Ultraviolet Transit Experiment (CUTE) spacecraft is about the size of a cereal box. It has also recorded incredibly detailed measurements of the atmospheres of planets hundreds of light-years from Earth.
An interdisciplinary team has developed a new technique that could help farmers extract useful nutrients such as ammonia and potassium from livestock manure to efficiently make fertilizer and other useful chemical products. While the strategy still needs to be scaled up beyond a proof-of-concept stage, the group's preliminary analyses show it could offer considerable benefits by cutting water and air pollution while simultaneously creating products that farmers could use or sell.
Archaeologists unearth one of earliest known frame saddles
Recovered from looters, a new archaeological discovery from a cave in western Mongolia could change the story of the evolving relationship between humans and horses around the world.
Spinning up control: Propeller shape helps direct nanoparticles
Self-propelled nanoparticles could potentially advance drug delivery and lab-on-a-chip systems -- but they are prone to go rogue with random, directionless movements. Now, an international team of researchers has developed an approach to rein in the synthetic particles.
The silent killer gets louder as high blood pressure risks trend upward
Researchers have found an increased need for urgent dialysis and a rising mortality rate in people hospitalized for dangerously high blood pressure. Younger people needed more dialysis and leaner patients had a higher risk of dying in the hospital. The trends show that acute hypertension remains a serious condition. People affected need appropriate treatment to control their blood pressure and avoid hospital admission.
Liquid biopsy predicts immunotherapy response and toxicity in patients with advanced lung cancer
By monitoring changes in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) among 30 patients treated with immunotherapies for metastatic non-small cell lung cancers, researchers were able to determine molecular response -- the clearance of tumor genetic material in the bloodstream.
Artificial intelligence systems excel at imitation, but not innovation
Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are often depicted as sentient agents poised to overshadow the human mind. But AI lacks the crucial human ability of innovation, researchers have found.
Daily singing workout keeps songbird males attractive
It has long been a mystery why songbirds spend so much time and energy on singing. Now a new study shows that songbirds need to sing every day to keep their vocal muscles in shape. Females can hear if a male has skipped his singing workout for only a few days, and they prefer song of males that did their daily vocal gymnastics.
Is age linked to the picture of the perfect partner?
How do women picture the partner of their dreams? And how does this vary between women based on their age? A team of researchers has investigated the complex relationships between age and preferences for a partner in a large, international sample of single women. The study found that most preferences for a partner showed no variation between women of different ages. However, higher age was linked to a preference for confident and assertive partners, as well as acceptance of a larger age range, in particular a higher acceptance of a partner being younger than oneself. Age was also linked to the parenting intentions of the ideal partner: consistently high in importance until approximately age 28 and then decreasing thereafter.
The configuration of green spaces in cities determines the characteristics of their birds
An international study has analyzed the distribution of 115 species of birds in spring and 72 that spend the winter in different cities. The study provides information on how to design urban areas that favor biodiversity and public wellbeing.
How a drought led to the rise of skateboarding in 1970s California
Why did professional skateboarding arise in southern California in the 1970s? Was it a coincidence, or was it a perfect storm of multiple factors? It's fairly well-known that a drought in southern California in the mid-1970s led to a ban on filling backyard swimming pools, and these empty pools became playgrounds for freestyle skateboarders in the greater Los Angeles area. But a new cross-disciplinary study shows that beyond the drought, it was the entanglement of environmental, economic and technological factors that led to the explosive rise of professional skateboarding culture in the 1970s.
A new brew: Evaluating the flavor of roasted, lab-grown coffee cells
It may soon be time to wake up and smell the lab-grown coffee made from cultured plant cells. But it's not clear whether drinks from this product replicate coffee beans' complex flavors. Now, a study found that some of the comforting aromas and tastes of a conventional cup of coffee could be reproduced by roasting and brewing coffee cell cultures.
New study sheds light on how much methane is produced from Arctic lakes and wetlands
New study looked at lakes in the Arctic, including those at Alaska's Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, to shed light on how much methane is produced from Arctic lakes and wetlands. Small unmapped lakes in the Arctic are far less abundant than previously thought, greatly reducing the cumulative methane emissions they were thought to contribute to Earth's atmosphere.
Nearly 40% of Type 2 diabetes patients stop taking their second-line medication
Most patients with Type 2 diabetes will end up needing to add a second-line medication after metformin -- the go-to primary drug for glucose management -- to control their blood sugar levels. But adherence to these second-line drugs can be hit or miss, reports a new study. Among patients prescribed glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), half (50%) discontinued treatment.
Understudied cell in the brain could be key to treating glioblastoma
Glioblastoma is one of the most treatment-resistant cancers, with those diagnosed surviving for less than two years. In a new study, researchers have found that a largely understudied cell could offer new insight into how the aggressive, primary brain cancer is able to resist immunotherapy.
This Japanese 'dragon' terrorized ancient seas
Researchers have described a Japanese mosasaur the size of a great white shark that terrorized Pacific seas 72 million years ago. The mosasaur was named for the place where it was found, Wakayama Prefecture. Researchers call it the Wakayama Soryu, which means blue dragon.
Underwater architects: The 'burrowing effect' of foraminifera on marine environments
Impact of single-cell organisms on sediment oxygen levels and bacterial diversity measured for the first time.
Extremely rare bird captured on film
A striking and extremely rare half-female, half-male bird has been spotted by a zoologist.
Extreme rainfall increases ag nutrient runoff, conservation strategies can help
Nutrient runoff from agricultural production is a significant source of water pollution in the U.S., and climate change that produces extreme weather events is likely to exacerbate the problem. A new study looks at how extreme rainfall impacts runoff and suggests possible mitigation strategies.
'Energy droughts' in wind and solar can last nearly a week
Understanding the risk of compound energy droughts -- times when the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow -- will help grid planners understand where energy storage is needed most.
It's official: The ketogenic diet proved to be effective at controlling polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in the first randomized controlled clinical trial of ketogenic metabolic therapy for PKD.
Clues to preventing Alzheimer's come from patient who, despite genetics, evaded disease
A woman who never developed Alzheimer's despite a strong genetic predisposition may hold the key to stopping the disease in its tracks. Studying the woman's unique complement of genetic mutations, researchers have found clues that could help cut the link between the early, asymptomatic stage and the late stage, when cognitive decline sets in.
Alaskan allies: Communities unite to protect the areas they love
Natural resource management decisions in protected areas impact more than the wildlife and landscapes they're charged to conserve. They also affect neighbors, who could otherwise hunt, build, or recreate as they choose on their own land. For decades, community members primarily voiced their opinions through brief and impersonal public comment periods. But an initiative led by environmental social scientists is putting a new spin on neighborly communication.
Advancements in the care of premature babies are leading to improved survival rates. However, the incidence of neonatal diseases with life-long consequences such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is increasing. A novel study has implicated granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in both BPD and ROP, making it a promising therapeutic candidate.
Tirzepatide enhances weight loss with sustained treatment but discontinuation leads to weight regain
The current class of anti-obesity drugs is proving remarkably effective at removing excess pounds. However, a phase 3 randomized clinical trial found that people who stopped taking the medication regained much of that weight within a year. At the same time, the study shows that remaining on the drug not only promotes additional weight loss but preserves improvements in metabolic and cardiovascular health.
Stem cell study reveals how infantile cystinosis causes kidney failure -- and how to cure it
New research has identified how a misstep in the genesis of a key component of the kidney causes infantile cystinosis, a rare disease that significantly shortens the lifespan of patients. The work reveals that the mechanisms that cause the disease could be addressed and potentially cured through the genome-editing technique CRISPR. That could make kidney transplants, the most effective treatment currently available for these patients, unnecessary.
Made-to-order diagnostic tests may be on the horizon
Researchers have made a breakthrough in diagnostic technology, inventing a 'lab on a chip' that can be 3D-printed in just 30 minutes. The chip has the potential to make on-the-spot testing widely accessible.
Scientists 3D print self-heating microfluidic devices
A fabrication process can produce self-heating microfluidic devices in one step using a multimaterial 3D printer. These devices, which can be made rapidly and cheaply in large numbers, could help clinicians in remote parts of the world detect diseases without expensive lab equipment.
Permselectivity reveals a cool side of nanopores
Researchers investigated the thermal energy changes across nanopores that allow the selective flow of ions. Switching off the flow of ions in one direction led to a cooling effect. The findings have applications in nanofluidic devices and provide insight into the factors governing ion channels in cells. The nanopore material could be tailored to tune the cooling and arrays could be produced to scale up the effect.
Holidays crank up kilos for kids
On the cusp of summer holidays, Aussie kids are looking forward to some well-deserved time off. But too much downtime could create health problems, as new research shows that holidays are the prime time for excessive weight gain in kids.
Rail industry urged to consider safety risks of space weather
Train accidents could be caused by solar storms switching signalling from red to green according to new research examining the impact of space weather. Solar storms can trigger powerful magnetic disturbances on Earth, creating geomagnetically induced currents which could potentially interfere with electricity transmission and distribution grids. A study of two rail lines showed that more serious 'wrong side' failures (red to green) could occur with a weaker solar storm than for 'right side' failures, posing a serious risk which the industry needs to take on board.
Eco-friendly technologies for plastic production and biodegradation?
A new article covering an overview and trends of plastic production and degradation technology using microorganisms has been published. Eco-friendly and sustainable plastic production and degradation technology using microorganisms as a core technology to achieve a plastic circular economy was presented.
New study reveals latest data on global burden of cardiovascular disease
A world without cardiovascular disease (CVD) is possible, yet millions of lives are lost prematurely to heart disease each year, according to the new report. The report provides an update of health estimates for the global, regional and national burden and trends of CVD from 1990-2022 by analyzing the impact of cardiovascular conditions and risk factors across 21 global regions.
Millions of birds lose precious energy due to fireworks on New Year's Eve
Birds are affected by the mass use of fireworks on New Year's Eve up to a distance of 10 km away. With data from weather radars and bird counts an international team of researchers revealed how many birds take off immediately after the start of the fireworks, at what distance from fireworks this occurs and which species groups mainly react.
Scientists have recently introduced a new method called ambient noise differential adjoint tomography, which allows researchers to visualise rocks with fluids better, leading to potential advancements in the discovery of water and oil resources, as well as applications in urban geologic hazard and early warning systems for tsunamis and the understanding of the water cycle.
Ryugu samples illuminate terrestrial weathering effects on primitive meteorites
Asteroids offer valuable windows into the early solar system, given that they are remnants of planetary embryos that failed to form into planets. A recent analysis of samples from Ryugu offered insights into the composition of water- and carbon-rich small bodies in the solar system.
New therapeutic target for rare type of childhood epilepsy
Researchers have identified a potential treatment target for a genetic type of epilepsy.
Predictive models augur that at the end of the century fields will need more water than today
A team has published evapotranspiration projections for Andalusia through 2100, using a machine learning model that allows this data to be obtained based on the air temperature.
Groundbreaking research offers early clues to stomach cancer development
Scientists have decoded critical genetic factors in intestinal metaplasia patients, shedding light on early signs and prevention strategies for stomach cancer -- often a 'ticking time bomb' as patients experience no or only mild symptoms in the early stages.
