ScienceDaily: All - February 14, 2024
Today's top research news
Great apes playfully tease each other
Babies playfully tease others as young as eight months of age. Since language is not required for this behavior, similar kinds of playful teasing might be present in non-human animals. Now cognitive biologists and primatologists have documented playful teasing in four species of great apes. Like joking behavior in humans, ape teasing is provocative, persistent, and includes elements of surprise and play. Because all four great ape species used playful teasing, it is likely that the prerequisites for humor evolved in the human lineage at least 13 million years ago.
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A century of reforestation helped keep the eastern US cool
Widespread 20th-century reforestation in the eastern United States helped counter rising temperatures due to climate change, according to new research. The authors highlight the potential of forests as regional climate adaptation tools, which are needed along with a decrease in carbon emissions.
Blocking an essential nutrient inhibits malaria parasite growth
Researchers found that by preventing the malaria parasite from scavenging fatty acids, a type of required nutrient, it could no longer grow.
New study reveals dynamic impact of nicotine on brain regions responsible for reward and aversion
A new study sheds light on the intricate interplay of brain regions involved in nicotine's effects on the human brain.
Millions of U.S. households would benefit from heat pumps, but the cost of installing the technology needs to come down to make their use a more attractive proposition.
Researchers learn how nectar-laden honey bees avoid overheating
As temperatures rise, the bees change how they fly to decrease the heat they generate from metabolism, which helps the insects avoid overheating and save precious water.
Are stressed-out brain cells the root cause of neurodegenerative disease?
Many neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia, are characterized by the abnormal aggregation of proteins inside cells, and treatments are being developed to break them up. But new research suggests that for some diseases, the aggregates are not directly killing cells. Aggregates prevent a protein, SIFI, from switching off the cells' stress response, and the constant stress kills cells. This suggests a strategy to treat these diseases without needing to mop up protein aggregates.
Astronomy observation instrument used to uncover internal structure of atomic nuclei
Researchers have used equipment originally intended for astronomy observation to capture transformations in the nuclear structure of atomic nuclei, reports a new study.
Australia's most at-risk bird species share some common traits
Australian birds that live on islands are among the species most at risk of extinction, a first-of-its-kind study has shown. Australia has over 750 native bird species. But many of them are facing an uncertain future.
Personalized adhesives for inner healing -- now tailored just for you
Scientists develop novel underwater bio-adhesive patches with mussel adhesive protein.
Desert ants: The magnetic field calibrates the navigation system
Desert ants find their way during an early learning phase with the help of the Earth's magnetic field. The associated learning process leaves clear traces in their nervous system.
Greetings from the island of enhanced stability: The quest for the limit of the periodic table
Since the turn of the century, six new chemical elements have been discovered and subsequently added to the periodic table of elements, the very icon of chemistry. These new elements have high atomic numbers up to 118 and are significantly heavier than uranium, the element with the highest atomic number (92) found in larger quantities on Earth. This raises questions such as how many more of these superheavy species are waiting to be discovered, where -- if at all -- is a fundamental limit in the creation of these elements, and what are the characteristics of the so-called island of enhanced stability. In a recent review, experts in theoretical and experimental chemistry and physics of the heaviest elements and their nuclei summarize the major challenges and offer a fresh view on new superheavy elements and the limit of the periodic table.
Greenland's ice sheet is melting -- and being replaced by vegetation
An estimated 11,000 sq miles or 28,707 sq kilometers of Greenland's ice sheet and glaciers have melted over the last three decades, according to a major analysis of historic satellite records.
Biomarker-directed combination effective in immunotherapy-resistant lung cancer
A specific combination of targeted therapy and immunotherapy may better help patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) overcome inherent immune resistance and reinvigorate anti-tumor activity, according to a new study.
Eco-friendly way to generate power from waste wood
A new study by researchers has revealed a sustainable method of efficiently converting waste heat into electricity using Irish wood products, while minimizing costs and environmental impact.
Anabolic steroid use can increase heart disease risk, study finds
People using anabolic steroids could be increasing their underlying risk of a heart condition called atrial fibrillation, according to a new study.
Oxytocin: the love hormone that holds the key to better memory
Oxytocin, a naturally occurring chemical in the brain, plays a crucial role in various cognitive functions, including memory. A recent study revealed that the activation of neurons in the supramammillary nucleus of the mouse brain enhances performance in object recognition tasks. This discovery implies that specific oxytocin neurons play a pivotal role in modulating object recognition memory in mice.
Exploring the effect of ring closing on fluorescence of supramolecular polymers
The properties of supramolecular polymers are dictated by the self-assembled state of the molecules. However, not much is known about the impact of morphologies on the properties of nano- and mesoscopic-scale polymeric assemblies. Recently, a research team demonstrated how terminus-free toroids and random coils derived from the same luminescent molecule show different photophysical properties. The team also presented a novel method for purifying the toroidal structure.
Scientists study the behaviors of chiral skyrmions in chiral flower-like obstacles
Chiral skyrmions are a special type of spin textures in magnetic materials with asymmetric exchange interactions. They can be treated as quasi-particles and carry integer topological charges. Scientists have recently studied the random walk-behaviors of chiral skyrmions by simulating their dynamics within a ferromagnetic layer surrounded by chiral flower-like obstacles. The simulations reveal that the system behaves like a topological sorting device, indicating its use in information processing and computing devices.
Low-cost microbe can speed biological discovery
Researchers have created a new version of a microbe to compete economically with E. coli -- a bacteria commonly used as a research tool due to its ability to synthesize proteins -- to conduct low-cost and scalable synthetic biological experiments.
Determining who gets blamed when cars hit pedestrians
A new study examines the circumstances behind who is found at fault when cars hit pedestrians in an urban area. Results showed that the environment where the crash took place -- especially the types of roads and the amount of access to marked crosswalks -- played a key role in whether the pedestrian or the driver was blamed for the collision.
If we can't untangle this mess, Norway's blue industry will never be green
For the first time, researchers have investigated how ropes and fishing lines are handled by the Norwegian commercial fishing industry. The fishing fleet loses almost 400 tons of rope in Norwegian waters every year.
New trial highlights incremental progress towards a cure for HIV-1
A new clinical trial suggests that a combination of the drug vorinostat and immunotherapy can coax HIV-infected cells out of latency and attack them. The findings highlight how close -- yet still far -- researchers have come to developing a cure for HIV-1.
Interactions between flu subtypes predict epidemic severity more than virus evolution
Researchers have shed new light on how viral evolution, population immunity, and the co-circulation of other flu viruses shape seasonal flu epidemics.
Type 2 diabetes alters the behavior of discs in the vertebral column
Type 2 diabetes alters the behavior of discs in the vertebral column, making them stiffer, and also causes the discs to change shape earlier than normal. As a result, the disc's ability to withstand pressure is compromised. This is one of the findings of a new study in rodents from a team of engineers and physicians.
Sandalwood oil by-product prevents prostate cancer development in mice
Sandalwood oil has been used worldwide for centuries. Now, a study is the first to demonstrate in vivo the chemo-preventive properties of a by-product of the oil in a mouse model. Results show administering alpha-santalol reduced visible prostate tumors, protected the normal tissue, and delayed progression from a precancerous condition to a high-grade form of cancer. These findings are significant because mortality in prostate cancer patients is mainly attributable to advanced stages of the disease.
Joro spiders well-poised to populate cities
The Joro spider was first spotted stateside around 2013 and has since been spotted across Georgia and the Southeast. New research has found more clues as to why the spider has been so successful in its spread. The study found the invasive orb-weaving spider is surprisingly tolerant of the vibrations and noise common in urban landscapes. In this new study, researchers examined how Joro spiders can live next to busy roads, which are notably stressful environments for many animals.
Older adults rely more on trust in decision making. It could open them up to scams
Elderly adults lose billions to financial scams by people they trust every year. New psychological research suggests this vulnerability could be linked to older adults' overrliance on initial impressions of trustworthiness.
Neural prosthetic device can help humans restore memory
A team of scientists have demonstrated the first successful use of a neural prosthetic device to recall specific memories.
A closer look at cannabis use and binge eating
New research examined how often people experiencing binge eating are also using cannabis recreationally, and whether patients who use cannabis experience more severe eating disorder symptoms or symptoms of struggling with mental health.
Polar bears unlikely to adapt to longer summers
More time stranded on land means greater risk of starvation for polar bears, a new study indicates. During three summer weeks, 20 polar bears closely observed by scientists tried different strategies to maintain energy reserves, including resting, scavenging and foraging. Yet nearly all of them lost weight rapidly: on average around 1 kilogram, or 2.2 pounds, per day. Some have speculated that polar bears might adapt to the longer ice-free seasons due to climate warming by acting like their grizzly bear relatives and either rest or eat terrestrial food. The polar bears in this study tried versions of both strategies -- with little success.
Hand-held biosensor makes breast cancer screening fast, affordable, and accurate
Researchers report successful results from a hand-held breast cancer screening device that can detect breast cancer biomarkers from a tiny sample of saliva. Their design uses common components, such as widely available glucose testing strips and the open-source hardware-software platform Arduino. A saliva sample is placed on the paper strip, which has been treated with specific antibodies that interact with the targeted cancer biomarkers.
Satellites unveil the size and nature of the world's coral reefs
New research has shown there is more coral reef area across the globe than previously thought, with detailed satellite mapping helping to conserve these vital ecosystems.
Are you depressed? Scents might help
Smelling a familiar scent can help depressed individuals recall specific autobiographical memories and potentially assist in their recovery.
Road features that predict crash sites identified in new machine-learning model
Issues such as abrupt changes in speed limits and incomplete lane markings are among the most influential factors that can predict road crashes, finds new research. The study then used machine learning to predict which roads may be the most dangerous based on these features.
Compounds released by bleaching reefs promote bacteria, potentially stressing coral further
New research revealed that when coral bleaching occurs, corals release unique organic compounds into the surrounding water that not only promote bacterial growth overall, but select for opportunistic bacteria that may further stress reefs.