ScienceDaily: All - January 31, 2025
Today's top research news
Ancient DNA analyses bring to life the 11,000-year intertwined genomic history of sheep and humans
The rise of pastoralist peoples in the Eurasian steppes and their westward spread some 5,000 years ago may have been fueled by sheep herding and people exploiting their milk. As early as 8,000 years ago the team found evidence that farmers were deliberately selecting their flocks -- for example, for the genes coding for coat color. Sheep have been intertwined with human livelihoods for over 11,000 years. As well as meat, their domestication led to humans being nourished by their protein-rich milk and clothed by warm, water-resistant fabrics made from their wool. Now, a team of geneticists has deciphered the prehistoric cultural trajectory of this species by analyzing 118 genomes recovered from archaeological bones dating across 12 millennia and stretching from Mongolia to Ireland.
Regular dental flossing may lower risk of stroke from blood clots, irregular heartbeats
People who regularly floss their teeth (one or more times per week) may lower their risk of stroke caused by a blood clot traveling from the heart and a stroke associated with an irregular heartbeat such as atrial fibrillation (AFib).
Why you shouldn't scratch an itchy rash: New study explains
Your parents were right: Scratching an itchy rash really does make it worse. Now we know why, thanks to new research that uncovers how scratching aggravates inflammation and swelling in a mouse model of a type of eczema called allergic contact dermatitis.
Antibody treatment prevents severe bird flu in monkeys
The antibody targets a stable part of the bird flu virus, ensuring that the immune protection can resist new variants and offer long-term protection against the globally spreading airborne infection.
Polar bear population decline the direct result of extended 'energy deficit' due to lack of food
U of T Scarborough researchers have directly linked population decline in polar bears living in Western Hudson Bay to shrinking sea ice caused by climate change.
Earth scientists study Sikkim flood in India to help others prepare for similar disasters
Experts from the global Earth science community have pieced together what happened during the massive Sikkim flood to try to help others prepare for similar disasters.
Zika uses human skin as 'mosquito magnet' to spread virus further
Zika virus hijacks the skin of its human host to send out chemical signals that lure more mosquitoes to infect and spread the disease further, new research shows.
Sharks and rays benefit from global warming, but not from CO2 in the Oceans
Sharks and rays have populated the world's oceans for around 450 million years, but more than a third of the species living today are severely threatened by overfishing and the loss of their habitat. Palaeobiologists have now investigated whether and how global warming influences the diversity of sharks based on climate fluctuations between 200 and 66 million years ago. According to the study, higher temperatures and more shallow water areas have a positive effect, while higher CO2 levels have a clearly negative effect.
Bat wings boost hovering efficiency
Researchers have designed flexible, bat-like wings that boost lift and improve flight performance. This innovation could lead to more efficient drones or energy-harvesting technologies.
Freshwater alga could be the next superfood that feeds the world
A green alga that grows in lakes and rivers could be the next 'superfood' -- helping scientists to tackle global food security challenges while promoting environmental sustainability.
A hearing aid for ... your nose?
Scientists have discovered a feedback loop in the brain's odor center that seems to put smells and sounds into context. The feedback loop may help animals adjust their behaviors in response to new sensations.
Walk like a ... gecko? Animal footpads inspire a polymer that sticks to ice
A solution to injuries from slips and falls may be found underfoot -- literally. The footpads of geckos have hydrophilic (water-loving) mechanisms that allow the little animals to easily move over moist, slick surfaces. Researchers report using silicone rubber enhanced with zirconia nanoparticles to create a gecko-inspired slip-resistant polymer. They say the material, which sticks to ice, could be incorporated into shoe soles to reduce injuries in humans.
Optimism can boost saving, especially for lower-income individuals
Being optimistic about the future may help people save more money, and the effect appears strongest among those with lower incomes, according to new research.
Researchers combine holograms and AI to create uncrackable optical encryption system
Researchers developed a new optical system that uses holograms to encode information, creating a level of encryption that traditional methods cannot penetrate.
Researchers have shown that plumes of wildfire smoke can carry contaminants hundreds of kilometers, leaving a toxic and lingering footprint which has the potential to be re-released into the environment.
From bowling balls to hip joints: Chemists create recyclable alternative to durable plastics
Researchers have developed a recyclable alternative to a durable class of plastics used for items like car tires, replacement hip joints and bowling balls.
Promoting cacao production without sacrificing biodiversity
The productivity of cacao trees decreases with time, forcing farmers to renew their plantations by either cutting down the old trees or establishing a new crop elsewhere. Frequently, new plantations are established in areas of the forest that are thinned out to accommodate new, young cacao trees. However, this comes with high economic and ecological costs. An alternative approach is to graft highly productive and native cultivars onto the existing older cacao trees. An international team found that cacao grafting is a useful measure to rejuvenate cacao plants, increasing their yield and profits with minimal impact on biodiversity.
'Sleep hygiene': How FIFO workers can get a better night's sleep
Better sleep hygiene could see fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) mining shift workers get a better night's sleep, new research has shown.
How can the latest technology, such as solar cells, be improved? An international research team is helping to find answers to questions like this with a new technique. For the first time, the formation of tiny, difficult-to-detect particles -- known as dark excitons -- can be tracked precisely in time and space. These invisible carriers of energy will play a key role in future solar cells, LEDs and detectors.
Topical mupirocin lowers lupus inflammation
Systemic lupus erythematosus commonly presents as a rash. The rashes are caused by inflammation from the immune system fighting the body.
New atom-based thermometer measures temperature more accurately
Scientists have developed a new method for measuring temperature extremely accurately by using giant 'Rydberg' atoms. This atomic thermometer provides accurate measurements 'out of the box,' without needing initial factory adjustments, because it relies on the basic principles of quantum physics. By using Rydberg atoms' sensitivity to environmental changes, this technique could simplify temperature sensing in extreme environments, from space to high-precision industries.
Scientists have successfully analyzed more than 30 years of vital data on the thickness of landfast sea ice in Antarctica's McMurdo Sound, which will prove useful to measure future impacts of climate change.
Study finds three new safe, effective ways to treat drug-resistant tuberculosis
Study finds three new safe and effective drug regimens to fight multidrug-resistant TB. The treatments, which include recently discovered TB drugs, give new options for shorter, personalized treatment and are cleared for use for more people than ever.
A weekly injection could replace painful daily treatment for rare fat disorder
A diabetes drug may beat costly shots for patients with a rare genetic condition, according to a Rutgers Health study.
New training approach could help AI agents perform better in uncertain conditions
AI agents trained in simulations that differ from the environments where they are deployed sometimes perform better than agents trained and deployed in the same environment, research shows.
Materials can 'remember' a sequence of events in an unexpected way
Many materials store information about what has happened to them in a sort of material memory, like wrinkles on a once crumpled piece of paper. Now, a team of physicists has uncovered how, under specific conditions, some materials seemingly violate underlying mathematics to store memories about the sequence of previous deformations.