ScienceDaily: All - December 12, 2024
Today's top research news
Researchers discover new third class of magnetism that could transform digital devices
A new class of magnetism called altermagnetism has been imaged for the first time in a new study. The findings could lead to the development of new magnetic memory devices with the potential to increase operation speeds of up to a thousand times.
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Early-onset colorectal cancer cases surge globally
Researchers show that early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence rates are rising in 27 of 50 countries/territories worldwide, 20 of which have either exclusive or faster increases for early-onset disease. In 14 countries, including the United States, rates are increasing in young adults while stabilizing in those 50 years and older.
A new galaxy, much like our own
Stunning new photographs by a team of astronomers have revealed a newly forming galaxy that looks remarkably similar to a young Milky Way. The extraordinary images give us an unprecedented picture of what our own galaxy might have looked like when it was being born.
AI thought knee X-rays show if you drink beer -- they don't
A new study highlights a hidden challenge of using AI in medical imaging research -- the phenomenon of highly accurate yet potentially misleading results known as 'shortcut learning.' The researchers analyzed thousands of knee X-rays and found that AI models can 'predict' unrelated and implausible traits such as whether patients abstained from eating refried beans or beer. While these predictions have no medical basis, the models achieved high levels of accuracy by exploiting subtle and unintended patterns in the data.
Australia's extinction tally is worse than we thought
A new study estimates that more than 9000 insects and other native invertebrates have become extinct in Australia since European arrival in 1788 and between 1-3 additional species become extinct every week.
Is it possible to pass on the effects of malnutrition? A new animal study found that a protein-deficient diet in one generation created related health risks -- lower birth-weight, smaller kidneys -- in offspring that lasted four generations.
Well-meaning dogs led astray by rule-defying owners
While good dogs never mean harm, they are often directed to remain on-lead in nature reserves to protect wildlife. Research has found that whether dog owners follow this rule is mostly driven by social factors.
New research unlocks jaw-dropping evolution of lizards and snakes
A groundbreaking study has shed light on how lizards and snakes -- the most diverse group of land vertebrates with nearly 12,000 species -- have evolved remarkably varied jaw shapes, driving their extraordinary ecological success.
Organoids represent the complex cell landscape of pancreatic cancer
Researchers have grown tumor organoids -- three-dimensional miniature tumors in the laboratory -- that mimic the different structures and characteristics of pancreatic cancer. The scientists investigated how the various tumor organoids react to established and novel treatments. This opens the door to the development of effective new therapies.
Intelligence requires the whole brain
A team of neuroscientists investigates communication pathways in the brain and predicts intelligence. A new study approach uses machine learning to improve our conceptual understanding of intelligence.
Researchers harness copper versatility to enable control of CO2 reduction products
Just like we recycle waste, repurposing excess CO2 from the atmosphere could be one way to abate the worsening climate crisis. In electrochemical reduction, CO2 is converted into industrial products like carbon monoxide, methane, or ethanol. However, scientists have difficulty tailoring the reaction to produce specific products. Now, an international research team has harnessed the versatility of copper to find a solution to this conundrum.
'Superman' bacteria offer a sustainable boost to chemical production
Industry -- particularly the pharmaceutical industry -- is deeply reliant on bacteria in their production. Now, researchers present a 'superman suit' to put on the bacteria, so that they can produce chemicals with less energy, fewer solvents, and reduced waste.
Persistent tobacco smoking from childhood may cause heart damage by the mid-twenties
The majority of children who started smoking tobacco at age 10 years or in their later teens continued to smoke until their mid-twenties. Continuous smoking from childhood significantly increased the risk of premature heart damage, a new study shows.
Recycling human, animal excreta reduces need for fertilizers
Recycling all the human and livestock feces and urine on the planet would contribute substantially to meeting the nutrient supply for all crops worldwide, thereby reducing the need to mine fertilizers such as phosphorus and dramatically reducing the dependency on fossil fuels, according to a global analysis of nutrient recycling.
Milestone 10-GeV experiment shines light on laser-plasma interactions
With dual lasers, researchers have accelerated a high-quality beam of electrons to 10 billion electronvolts in just 30 centimeters. The experiment gives scientists a 'frame-by-frame' look at how a petawatt laser interacts with a long plasma channel, knowledge that's crucial for building future compact particle accelerators.
The maternal microbiome during pregnancy impacts offspring's stem cells in mice
Gut microbiome composition during pregnancy has long-term effects on offspring stem cell growth and development, researchers report. Treating pregnant mice with a common gut microbe resulted in offspring that had more active stem cells in both the brain and intestinal tract. As a result, the offspring were less anxious and recovered quicker from colitis, and these differences were still evident at 10 months of age.
New insights about how 'bad' cholesterol works in the body
Scientists have made a significant breakthrough in understanding how 'bad' cholesterol, known as low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol or LDL-C, builds up in the body. The researchers were able to show for the first time how the main structural protein of LDL binds to its receptor -- a process that starts the clearing of LDL from the blood -- and what happens when that process gets impaired.
Mapping the nanoscale architecture of functional materials
Researchers have pioneered a new technique called X-ray linear dichroic orientation tomography, which probes the orientation of a material's building blocks at the nanoscale in three-dimensions. First applied to study a polycrystalline catalyst, the technique allows the visualization of crystal grains, grain boundaries and defects -- key factors determining catalyst performance. Beyond catalysis, the technique allows previously inaccessible insights into the structure of diverse functional materials, including those used in information technology, energy storage and biomedical applications.
The distinct nerve wiring of human memory
The black box of the human brain is starting to open. Although animal models are instrumental in shaping our understanding of the mammalian brain, scarce human data is uncovering important specificities. Neurosurgeons nowshed light on the human hippocampal CA3 region, central for memory storage.
Personalized blood count could lead to early intervention for common diseases
A complete blood count (CBC) screening is a routine exam requested by most physicians for healthy adults. Currently, the results of CBC tests are analyzed using a one-size-fits-all reference interval, but a new study suggests that this approach can lead to overlooked deviations in health. In a retrospective analysis, researchers show that these reference intervals, or setpoints, are unique to each patient. The study revealed that one healthy patient's CBC setpoints can be distinguishable from 98 percent of other healthy adults.
Scientists transform ubiquitous skin bacterium into a topical vaccine
Scientists' findings in mice could translate into a radical, needle-free vaccination approach that would also eliminate reactions including fever, swelling and pain.
Biological diversity is not just the result of genes
How can we explain the morphological diversity of living organisms? Although genetics is the answer that typically springs to mind, it is not the only explanation. By combining observations of embryonic development, advanced microscopy, and cutting-edge computer modelling, a multi-disciplinary team demonstrates that the crocodile head scales emerge from the mechanics of growing tissues, rather than molecular genetics. The diversity of these head scales observed in different crocodilian species therefore arises from the evolution of mechanical parameters, such as the growth rate and stiffness of the skin. These results shed new light on the physical forces involved in the development and evolution of living forms.
Investigators who previously found that a daily statin pill helps prevent heart attacks and strokes in people with HIV have now discovered a potential mechanism that may help to stabilize plaques and prevent their rupture in blood vessels.
Soda taxes don't just affect sales: They help change people's minds
The city of Berkeley's first-in-the-nation soda tax a decade ago, along with more recent Bay Area tax increases on sugar-sweetened drinks, have not only led to reduced sales. They are also associated with significant changes in social norms and attitudes about the healthfulness of sweet drinks.
Enabling AI to explain its predictions in plain language
Researchers developed a system that converts AI explanations into narrative text that can be more easily understood by users. This system could help people determine when to trust a model's predictions.
Researchers discovered that three-layer graphene can naturally self-organize into specific stacking patterns (ABA/ABC domains) during growth on silicon carbide, eliminating the need for manual manipulation. This breakthrough could enable scalable production of quantum devices.
Particle that only has mass when moving in one direction observed for first time
For the first time, scientists have observed a collection of particles, also known as a quasiparticle, that's massless when moving one direction but has mass in the other direction. The quasiparticle, called a semi-Dirac fermion, was first theorized 16 years ago, but was only recently spotted inside a crystal of semi-metal material called ZrSiS. The observation of the quasiparticle opens the door to future advances in a range of emerging technologies from batteries to sensors, according to the researchers.
A new treatment is showing promise for people with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM). This precancerous condition can progress to active multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. High-risk SMM carries a higher likelihood of progression.
Mothers' language choices have double the impact in bilingual families
New research shows that mothers have twice the impact on language exposure, challenging traditional parenting advice. In a new study, researchers found that there wasn't a single strategy that could be singled out as 'best' to raise a child bilingually. But when they looked at parents' language use individually rather than the family's overall strategy, they had an unexpected and striking finding: mothers had up to twice the impact on language exposure compared to fathers. They believe these findings will have real-world impact for policymakers, health-care workers and professionals who closely work with and give advice to bilingual families.
Better environmental performance boosts profits and cuts costs
Using a new calculation method, researchers found in an international comparative study that investors value corporate environmental performance more than mere information disclosure. In some developed countries, beyond sustainability efforts, companies can improve environmental efficiency to enhance economic performance.
Scientists develop coating for enhanced thermal imaging through hot windows
A team of scientists has solved a long-standing problem in thermal imaging, making it possible to capture clear images of objects through hot windows.
A greener, cleaner way to extract cobalt from 'junk' materials
As the demand for lithium-ion batteries escalates with the proliferation of mobile phone, electric vehicles and even pacemakers, key components in these powerhouses, like cobalt, face significant ethical and environmental concerns related to their extraction. Now, scientists have pioneered a safer, more sustainable solution to separate cobalt from ores or recycled materials via precipitate.