ScienceDaily: All - February 18, 2024
Today's top research news
What can bulls tell us about men?
Researchers have found genes in the reproductive organs of bulls that influence fertility. The findings can be transferred to humans, as these genes are also present in men.
𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦: 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵 𝘍𝘶𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘩𝘰𝘯/𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘬.𝘤𝘰𝘮
A new design for quantum computers
Creating a quantum computer powerful enough to tackle problems we cannot solve with current computers remains a big challenge for quantum physicists. A well-functioning quantum simulator -- a specific type of quantum computer -- could lead to new discoveries about how the world works at the smallest scales. Quantum scientists have developed a guide on how to upgrade these machines so that they can simulate even more complex quantum systems.
1,000 atomic qubits and rising
Making quantum systems more scalable is one of the key requirements for the further development of quantum computers because the advantages they offer become increasingly evident as the systems are scaled up. Researchers have recently taken a decisive step towards achieving this goal.
Evidence of geothermal activity within icy dwarf planets
A team found evidence for hydrothermal or metamorphic activity within the icy dwarf planets Eris and Makemake, located in the Kuiper Belt. Methane detected on their surfaces has the tell-tale signs of warm or even hot geochemistry in their rocky cores, which is markedly different than the signature of methane from a comet.
The brain processes speech and its echo separately
Echoes can make speech harder to understand, and tuning out echoes in an audio recording is a notoriously difficulty engineering problem. The human brain, however, appears to solve the problem successfully by separating the sound into direct speech and its echo, according to a new study.
Environmental monitoring offers low-cost tool for typhoid fever surveillance
Researchers can accurately track where typhoid fever cases are highest by monitoring environmental samples for viruses called bacteriophages that specifically infect the bacterium that causes typhoid fever.
Reforestation programs could threaten vast area of tropical grasslands
New research reveals the scale of inappropriate reforestation projects across Africa. A new study reveals that an area the size of France is threatened by forest restoration initiatives, such as the AFR100 initiative (African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative), due to inappropriate restoration in the form of tree-planting.
Discovery of new Li ion conductor unlocks new direction for sustainable batteries
Researchers have discovered a solid material that rapidly conducts lithium ions. Consisting of non-toxic earth-abundant elements, the new material has high enough Li ion conductivity to replace the liquid electrolytes in current Li ion battery technology, improving safety and energy capacity. The research team have synthesized the material in the laboratory, determined its structure and demonstrated it in a battery cell.
First-ever atomic freeze-frame of liquid water
Scientists report the first look at electrons moving in real-time in liquid water; the findings open up a whole new field of experimental physics.
Diving deeper into our oceans: Underwater drones open new doors for global coral reef research
Scientists take innovation in coral e-DNA monitoring to the next level.
A geologist has revealed intriguing insights into the volcanic activity on Mars. He proposes that Mars has significantly more diverse volcanism than previously realized, driven by an early form of crust recycling called vertical tectonics. The findings shed light on the ancient crust of Mars and its potential implications for understanding early crustal recycling on both Mars and Earth.
The number of ME/CFS patients is expected to rise drastically due to long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientists have now identified possible biomarkers that could improve the diagnosis and treatment of long-lasting and debilitating fatigue.
A new study reveals that the first farmers and herdsmen settled in Andalusia collected and consumed shellfish throughout the year, especially in winter.
The brain is 'programmed' for learning from people we like
Our brains are 'programmed' to learn more from people we like -- and less from those we dislike. This has been shown by researchers in cognitive neuroscience in a series of experiments.
Altermagnetism experimentally demonstrated
Ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism have long been known to scientists as two classes of magnetic order of materials. Back in 2019, researchers postulated a third class of magnetism, called altermagnetism. This altermagnetism has been the subject of heated debate among experts ever since, with some expressing doubts about its existence. Recently, a team of experimental researchers was able to measure for the first time at DESY (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron) an effect that is considered to be a signature of altermagnetism, thus providing evidence for the existence of this third type of magnetism.
A star like a Matryoshka doll: New theory for gravastars
If gravitational condensate stars (or gravastars) actually existed, they would look similar to black holes to a distant observer. Two theoretical physicists have now found a new solution to Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity, according to which gravitational stars could be structured like a Russian matryoshka doll, with one gravastar located inside another.
New study offers hope for thousands impacted each year by aggressive brain cancer
New research identifies protein (PANK4) as an obstacle that blocks cancer cells from responding to chemotherapeutic treatment for glioblastoma.
Early-stage subduction invasion
Our planet's lithosphere is broken into several tectonic plates. Their configuration is ever-shifting, as supercontinents are assembled and broken up, and oceans form, grow, and then start to close in what is known as the Wilson cycle.
Inflammation: Targeting the transporter
Using specially-developed nanobodies that bind to SPNS2 and enlarge the entire structure, the enlarged SPNS2 structure allows the S1P molecules to be viewed via cryogenic electron microscopy. Scientists have analyzed the structure of the SPNS2 protein at an atomic level that could provide greater insights into how S1P signalling molecules are released to communicate with the immune cells to regulate inflammatory responses.
How parents can help prevent the development of ADHD symptoms
Parents of young children with an excitable or exuberant temperament could adapt their parenting style to help moderate their child's potential development of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), according to a new study.
Do AI-driven chemistry labs actually work? New metrics promise answers
The fields of chemistry and materials science are seeing a surge of interest in 'self-driving labs,' which make use of artificial intelligence and automated systems to expedite research and discovery. Researchers are now proposing a suite of definitions and performance metrics that will allow researchers, non-experts, and future users to better understand both what these new technologies are doing and how each technology is performing in comparison to other self-driving labs.
Burnout: Identifying people at risk
Researchers have developed a new tool that can help identify the early warning signs of burnout.
Helping caregivers help people with dementia eat at home
A new study has laid the groundwork for a future intervention designed to help caregivers establish a safe and workable mealtime routine for people with dementia living at home.
Root microbes may be the secret to a better tasting cup of tea
You'd think the complex flavor in a quality cup of tea would depend mainly on the tea varieties used to make it. But a new study shows that the making of a delicious cup of tea depends on another key ingredient: the collection of microbes found on tea roots. By altering that assemblage, the authors showed that they could make good-quality tea even better.
Ancient retroviruses played a key role in the evolution of vertebrate brains
Researchers report that ancient viruses may be to thank for myelin -- and, by extension, our large, complex brains. The team found that a retrovirus-derived genetic element or 'retrotransposon' is essential for myelin production in mammals, amphibians, and fish. The gene sequence, which they dubbed 'RetroMyelin,' is likely a result of ancient viral infection, and comparisons of RetroMyelin in mammals, amphibians, and fish suggest that retroviral infection and genome-invasion events occurred separately in each of these groups.
Researchers discover that a rare fat molecule helps drive cell death
The discovery that a lipid helps induce cell death could improve treatments for certain cancers and neurodegenerative diseases.
An innovative treatment significantly increases the survival of people with malignant mesothelioma, a rare but rapidly fatal type of cancer with few effective treatment options.
Using written records -- and tweets -- as a roadmap for plant disease spread
Examining keyword terms from historic and modern texts can help researchers track and visualize plant diseases like late blight.
New 'time travel' study reveals future impact of climate change on coastal marshes
A new study offers a glimpse into the possible impact of climate change on coastal wetlands 50 years or longer into the future. Scientists are usually forced to rely on computer models to project the long-term effects of rising seas, but an unexpected set of circumstances enabled a real-world experiment along the Gulf Coast.
School uniform policies linked to students getting less exercise, study finds
School uniforms could be restricting young people from being active, particularly primary school-aged girls, according to a new study. The study used data about the physical activity of more than a million five-to-17-year-olds in 135 countries. In countries where a majority of schools require students to wear uniforms, fewer young people are meeting the World Health Organization's recommendations for physical activity (60 minutes per day). Fewer girls are meeting the guidelines than boys -- with a standard gap of 7.6 percentage points between boys and girls.
A groundbreaking scientific study has unveiled a remarkable discovery that may have far-reaching implications for the treatment of heart disease. The implications are immense offering glimpses of a future where heart disease may no longer be an irreversible condition but a challenge that can be overcome through medical intervention. The potential for developing novel therapies that leverage the body's innate regenerative capacity holds great promise for millions of individuals affected by heart disease worldwide.
A lighthouse in the Gobi desert
A new study explores the weight great fossil sites have on our understanding of evolutionary relationships between fossil groups and quantified the power these sites have on our understanding of evolutionary history. Surprisingly, the authors discovered that the wind-swept sand deposits of the Late Cretaceous Gobi Desert's extraordinarily diverse and well-preserved fossil lizard record shapes our understanding of their evolutionary history more than any other site on the planet.
Double risk of dementia after mouth ulcer virus
People who have had the herpes virus at some point in their lives are twice as likely to develop dementia compared to those who have never been infected. A new study confirms previous research on whether herpes can be a possible risk factor for dementia.
Exposure to Agent Orange damages brain tissue in ways similar to Alzheimer's disease
Agent Orange, an herbicide used during the Vietnam War, is a known toxin with wide-ranging health effects. Even though Agent Orange has not been used for decades, there is increasing interest in its effects on the brain health of aging veterans. A new study reveals the mechanisms by which Agent Orange affects the brain and how those processes can lead to neurodegenerative diseases. The research shows that exposures to Agent Orange herbicidal chemicals damage frontal lobe brain tissue of laboratory rats with molecular and biochemical abnormalities that are similar to those found in early-stage Alzheimer's disease.
Live from the brain: Visual cues inform decision to cooperate
By combining behavioral and wireless eye tracking and neural monitoring, a team of scientists studied how pairs of freely moving macaques interacting in a naturalistic setting use visual cues to guide complex, cooperative behavior.
Anthropologists' research unveils early stone plaza in the Andes
Located at the Callacpuma archaeological site in the Cajamarca Basin of northern Peru, the plaza is built with large, vertically placed megalithic stones -- a construction method previously unseen in the Andes.
New epigenetic clocks reinvent how we measure age
Investigators unveil a new form of epigenetic clock -- a machine learning model designed to predict biological age from DNA structure.
New algorithm disentangles intrinsic brain patterns from sensory inputs
Scientists have developed a new machine learning method that reveals surprisingly consistent intrinsic brain patterns across different subjects by disentangling these patterns from the effect of visual inputs.
A new test could predict how heart attack patients will respond to mechanical pumps
Researchers discovered why ventricular assist devices (VADs) used to support the left ventricle of cardiogenic shock patients can induce right ventricle dysfunction. They also developed a test that doctors could use to determine whether this dysfunction will occur.
Turning back the clock on photoaging skin
A new study examines dermal injections and their impact on skin aging.
Team creates novel rabies viral vectors for neural circuit mapping
A research team has created 20 new recombinant rabies viral vectors for neural circuit mapping that offer a range of significant advantages over existing tools, including the ability to detect microstructural changes in models of aging and Alzheimer's disease brain neurons.
Treating liver cancer with microrobots piloted by a magnetic field
Researchers have developed a novel approach to treat liver tumors using magnet-guided microrobots in an MRI device.
Key genes linked to DNA damage and human disease uncovered
Scientists unveil 145 genes vital for genome health, and possible strategies to curb progression of human genomic disorders.
Significantly more babies were born on a weekday instead of weekend day or holiday, reveals a large-scale analysis of 21 million births in Japan over almost four decades.
Vittrup Man crossed over from forager to farmer before being sacrificed in Denmark
Vittrup Man was born along the Scandinavian coast before moving to Denmark, where he was later sacrificed, according to a new study.
Some Pre-Roman humans were buried with dogs, horses and other animals
Some people from an ancient community in what is now northern Italy were interred with animals and animal parts from species such as dogs, horses and pigs. The reasons remain mysterious, but might indicate an enduring companion relationship between these humans and animals, or religious sacrificial practices, according to a new study.
Australian adults who report a good relationship that meets their original expectations tend to score higher in mental health, while adults who report loving their spouse but wished they had never entered the relationship and note relationship problems tend to score significantly lower in mental health, according to a survey of almost 7000 Australian adults.
Emojis are differently interpreted depending on gender, culture, and age of viewer
Gender, culture, and age all appear to play a role in how emojis are interpreted, according to a new study.
Cleaned surfaces may be germ-free, but they're not bare
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, surfaces in public spaces are cleaned more often. While disinfectant solutions eliminate germs, they don't leave behind a truly bare surface. They deposit a thin film that doesn't get wiped up, even after giving the surface a good polish. In a new study, researchers show that residues left by commercial cleaning products contain a wider range of compounds that could impact indoor air quality than previously thought.
Researchers uncover mechanisms behind enigmatic shapes of nuclei
White blood cells known as neutrophils feature a nucleus that is structured strikingly different than most nuclei. These unique shapes permit neutrophils to travel all over the body to combat invading pathogens. Scientists have now deciphered the shapeshifting puzzle of the neutrophil nucleus.
The role of jellies as a food source in the Arctic winter
The Arctic is changing rapidly due to climate change. It is not only affected by increasing surface temperatures, but also by warm water from the Atlantic, which is flowing in more and more -- changing the structures and functions of the ecosystem as it also leads to species from warmer regions, such as sea jellies (also known as jellyfish) arriving in the Arctic. Using DNA metabarcoding, researchers have now been able to demonstrate that these jellyfish serve as food for amphipods on Svalbard during the polar night and thus play a greater role in Arctic food webs than previously assumed.
Tawny owl's pale grey color linked to vital functions ensuring survival in extreme conditions
A recent genetic discovery has revealed that the pale grey plumage of the tawny owl is linked to crucial functions that aid the bird's survival in cold environments. As global temperatures rise, dark brown plumage is likely to become more common in tawny owls living in colder areas.
Microscopy: Overcoming the traditional resolution limit for the fast co-tracking of molecules
Researchers have developed an innovative method to simultaneously track rapid dynamic processes of multiple molecules at the molecular scale.
Red nets signal 'stop' to insect pests, reduce need for insecticides
Red nets are better at keeping away a common agricultural insect pest than typical black or white nets, according to a new study. Researchers experimented with the effect of red, white, black and combination-colored nets on deterring onion thrips from eating Kujo leeks, also called Welsh onions. In both lab and field tests, red nets were significantly better at deterring the insect than other colors. Also, in field tests, onion crops which were either partially or fully covered by red netting required 25-50% less insecticide than was needed for a totally uncovered field. Changing agricultural nets from black or white to red could help reduce pesticide use and the related negative impact it can have on the environment, while supporting more sustainable and effective agricultural practices.
Did Eurasia's dominant East-West axis 'turn the fortunes of history'?
Jared Diamond proposed that Eurasia's unique geographic axis of orientation fueled a rapid spread of critical innovations among its societies, leading to a cultural and military dominance over other regions. A team of ecologists and cultural evolutionists from the USA, Germany and New Zealand harnessed extensive cultural, environmental and linguistic databases to test these claims. They found that environmental barriers have influenced cultural spread but do not consistently favour Eurasia.
Scientists discover hidden army of lung flu fighters
Scientists have long thought of the fluid-filled sac around our lungs merely as a cushion from external damage. Turns out, it also houses potent virus-eating cells that rush into the lungs during flu infections.
Cold-water coral traps itself on mountains in the deep sea
Corals searching for food in the cold and dark waters of the deep sea are building higher and higher mountains to get closer to the source of their food. But in doing so, they may find themselves trapped when the climate changes.
Pancreatic cancer hijacks a brain-building protein
Scientists have discovered that pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) hijacks a protein called EN-1 to evade cancer-fighting genes during metastasis. Future drugs targeting EN-1 or related proteins in cancer cells could lead to better, more personalized treatments.
Pesticides to help protect seeds can adversely affect earthworms' health
While pesticides protect crops from hungry animals, pesky insects, or even microbial infections, they also impact other vital organisms, including bees and earthworms. And today, research reveals that worms are affected by the relatively small amounts of chemicals that can leach out of pesticide-treated seeds. Exposure to nonlethal amounts of these insecticides and fungicides resulted in poor weight gain and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage in the worms.
Love songs lead scientists to new populations of skywalker gibbons in Myanmar
The love songs of the Skywalker gibbon alerted scientists to a new population of the endangered primate in Myanmar.