ScienceDaily: All - February 28, 2024
Today's top research news
Teens benefit from 'forest bathing' -- even in cities
Youth mental health in urban environments is significantly better when more nature is incorporated into city design. A new study suggests that forest bathing, the simple method of being calm and quiet amongst the trees, observing nature around you while breathing deeply, can help youth de-stress and boost health and well-being.
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New disease testing component facilitates lower-cost diagnostics
Biomedical researchers have developed a new, less expensive way to detect nuclease digestion -- one of the critical steps in many nucleic acid sensing applications, such as those used to identify COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
In a new perspective article, researchers underscore the importance of integrating environmental effects into genetic research. The authors discuss how failure to do so can perpetuate deterministic thinking in genetics, as historically observed in the justification of eugenics movements and, more recently, in cases of racially motivated violence.
First DNA study of ancient Eastern Arabians reveals malaria adaptation
People living in ancient Eastern Arabia appear to have developed resistance to malaria following the appearance of agriculture in the region around five thousand years ago.
You may be breathing in more tiny nanoparticles from your gas stove than from car exhaust
Cooking on your gas stove can emit more nano-sized particles into the air than vehicles that run on gas or diesel, possibly increasing your risk of developing asthma or other respiratory illnesses, a new study has found.
Pythagoras was wrong: there are no universal musical harmonies, new study finds
The tone and tuning of musical instruments has the power to manipulate our appreciation of harmony, new research shows. The findings challenge centuries of Western music theory and encourage greater experimentation with instruments from different cultures.
Maths: Smart learning software helps children during lockdowns -- and beyond
Intelligent tutoring systems for math problems helped pupils remain or even increase their performance during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed data from five million exercises done by around 2,700 pupils in Germany over a period of five years. The study found that particularly lower-performing children benefit if they use the software regularly.
A report from the world's leading scientific and medical experts on hormone-related health conditions raises new concerns about the profound threats to human health from endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that are ubiquitous in our surroundings and everyday lives. Everyday exposures to EDCs in the environment may be linked to increasing rates of infertility, diabetes, immune deficiencies, and other serious conditions; Highly Hazardous Pesticides pose ongoing threats.
Long-term data reveals SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccine-induced antibody responses are long-lasting
A long-term analysis reveals that antibody responses induced by COVID-19 vaccines are long-lasting. The study results challenge the idea that mRNA-based vaccine immunity wanes quickly.
A new, comprehensive roadmap for the future of biomedical engineering
Experts published a detailed position paper on the field of biomedical engineering which lays the foundation for a concerted worldwide effort to achieve technological and medical breakthroughs.
Significant glacial retreat in West Antarctica began in 1940s
Among the vast expanse of Antarctica lies the Thwaites Glacier, the world's widest glacier measuring about 80 miles on the western edge of the continent. Despite its size, the massive landform is losing about 50 billion tons of ice more than it is receiving in snowfall, which places it in a precarious position in respect to its stability. Accelerating ice loss has been observed since the 1970s, but it is unclear when this significant melting initiated -- until now. A new study suggests that the significant glacial retreat of two glaciers on the west coast of Antarctica began in the 1940's, likely spurred by climate change.
What will it take for China to reach carbon neutrality by 2060?
To become carbon neutral by 2060, China will have to build eight to 10 times more wind and solar power installations than existed in 2022, according to a new study. Reaching carbon neutrality will also require major construction of transmission lines.
'Hexaplex' vaccine aims to boost flu protection
A research team has developed a recombinant protein flu vaccine candidate. It utilizes a nanoliposome vaccine platform that underwent phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials in South Korea and the Philippines as a COVID-19 vaccine candidate.
First-in-humans discovery reveals brain chemicals at work influencing social behavior
The idea that people make decisions based on social context is not a new one in neural economic games. But now, for the first time, researchers show the impact of the social context may spring from the dynamic interactions of dopamine and serotonin. Researchers built carbon-fiber electrodes that were implanted in patients receiving Deep Brain Stimulation surgery. The method allows researchers to measure more than one neurotransmitter at a time, revealing a dance that has never been seen before.
The mutual neutralization of hydronium and hydroxide
Researchers have been able to directly visualize the neutral products of the mutual neutralization of hydronium and hydroxide, and report three different product channels: two channels were attributed to a predominant electron-transfer mechanism, and a smaller channel was associated with proton transfer. The two-beam collision experiment is an important step toward understanding the quantum dynamics of this fundamental reaction.
New world record for CIGS solar cells
A new record for electrical energy generation from CIGS solar cells has been reached. Scientists have achieved a 23.64 percent efficiency.
Poison center calls for 'magic mushrooms' spiked after decriminalization, study finds
Calls to U.S. poison centers involving psilocybin, or 'magic mushrooms,' among adolescents and young adults rose sharply after several U.S. cities and states began decriminalizing the hallucinogen, researchers have found.
Metal scar found on cannibal star
When a star like our Sun reaches the end of its life, it can ingest the surrounding planets and asteroids that were born with it. Now, researchers have found a unique signature of this process for the first time -- a scar imprinted on the surface of a white dwarf star.