ScienceDaily: All - July 24, 2024
Today's top research news
A prototype device harvests drinking water from the atmosphere, even in arid places.
Image: petrmalinak/Shutterstock.com
Manufacturing perovskite solar panels with a long-term vision
Researchers working at the forefront of an emerging photovoltaic (PV) technology are thinking ahead about how to scale, deploy, and design future solar panels to be easily recyclable. Solar panels made of perovskites may eventually play an important role amid global decarbonization efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As the technology emerges from the testing stages, it is a perfect time to think critically about how best to design the solar panels to minimize their impact on the environment decades from now.
Better carbon storage with stacked geology
According to new research subsurface reservoirs that are covered by a collection of hundreds of smaller lids -- collectively called a 'composite confining system' -- may be the better option for keeping carbon trapped for the long term. That's good news for the carbon storage industry. This type of distributed system is common in a range of geological environments.
Brain's support cells contribute to Alzheimer's disease by producing toxic peptide
Oligodendrocytes are an important source of amyloid beta and play a key role in promoting neuronal dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study.
Tumor suppressor protein Par-4 triggers unique cell death pathway in cancerous cells
A team of researchers has discovered that the tumor suppressor protein Prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4) can cause a unique type of cell death called ferroptosis in human glioblastoma -- the most common and aggressive type of brain tumor -- while sparing healthy cells. This new understanding has the potential to inform the development of novel treatments for various hard-to-treat cancers and neurodegenerative diseases.
Study uses Game of Thrones to advance understanding of face blindness
Psychologists have used the hit TV series Game of Thrones to understand how the brain enables us to recognize faces. Their findings provide new insights into prosopagnosia or face blindness, a condition that impairs facial recognition.
Does the onset of daylight saving time lead to an unhealthy lifestyle?
Consumers' attitudes and health behaviors respond negatively to the switch to daylight saving time.
Could smart guide RNAs usher in an era of personalized medicine?
Scientists utilize logic gate-based decision-making to construct circuits that control genes.
Mass layoffs and data breaches could be connected
A research team has been exploring how mass layoffs and data breaches could be connected. Their theory: since layoffs create conditions where disgruntled employees face added stress or job insecurity, they are more likely to engage in risky behaviors that heighten the company's vulnerability to data breaches.
New video test for Parkinson's uses AI to track how the disease is progressing
An automated assessment technique that uses artificial intelligence could revolutionize the management of Parkinson's disease.
Researchers develop more environmentally friendly and cost-effective method for soil remediation
Chemists have developed a rapid electrothermal mineralization (REM) process, which in seconds can remediate the accumulation of synthetic chemicals that can contaminate soil and the environment.
Researchers warn of unprecedented arsenic release from wildfires
The wildfire season of 2023 was the most destructive ever recorded in Canada and a new study suggests the impact was unprecedented. It found that four of the year's wildfires in mine-impacted areas around Yellowknife, Northwest Territories potentially contributed up to half of the arsenic that wildfires emit globally each year.
Nanoscopic imaging aids in understanding protein, tissue preservation in ancient bones
A pilot study shows that nanoscopic 3-D imaging of ancient bone not only provides further insight into the changes soft tissues undergo during fossilization, it also has potential as a fast, practical way to determine which specimens are likely candidates for ancient DNA and protein sequence preservation.
3D-printed microstructure forest facilitates solar steam generator desalination
Faced with the world's impending freshwater scarcity, researchers turned to solar steam generators, which are emerging as a promising device for seawater desalination. The team sought design inspiration from trees and harnessed the potential of 3D printing. They present technology for producing efficient SSGs for desalination and introduces a novel method for printing functional nanocomposites for multi-jet fusion. Their SSGs were inspired by plant transpiration and are composed of miniature tree-shaped microstructures, forming an efficient, heat-distributing forest.
Wearable sensors help athletes achieve greater performance
Researchers have developed a low-cost, flexible, and customizable sensor for badminton players that overcomes current monitoring constraints. The team used triboelectric sensors to construct their intelligent monitoring system because they are easy to adapt for flexible, wearable devices and to minimize interference during bending and twisting, they built a 3D-printed flexible arch-shaped sensor encased in a thermoplastic elastomer. This design is comfortable during use and can be easily customized to individual athletes.
Electric scooter and bike accidents are soaring across the United States
Researchers have published new research that reports on a potential alternative and less-invasive approach to measure intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients.
Prostate cancer blood test equally effective across ethnic groups, study finds
The Stockholm3 blood test is equally effective at detecting prostate cancer in different ethnic groups, a new paper reports. The test produces significantly better results than the current PSA standard.
Study evaluates treatment interventions for severe obesity in adolescents
Adolescents with severe obesity who received meal-replacement therapy plus financial incentives experienced a greater reduction in body mass index compared to those who received meal replacement therapy alone, according to recent findings.
Researchers demonstrate that the plant hormone gibberellin (GA) is essential for the formation and maturation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules in legumes and can also increase nodule size.
How does the brain respond to sleep apnea?
Nearly 40 million adults in the U.S. have sleep apnea, and more than 30 million of them use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine while sleeping. However, the machines tend to be expensive, clunky and uncomfortable -- resulting in many users giving up on using them. High blood pressure is often linked with sleep apnea because the brain works harder to regulate blood flow and breathing during sleep. A recent study offers new insight into the underlying mechanisms within the brain contributing to hypertension for those with sleep apnea.
Best bioenergy crops for sustainable aviation fuels by U.S. region, policy goals
Researchers analyzed the financial and environmental costs and benefits of four biofuels crops used to produce sustainable aviation fuels in the U.S. They found that each feedstock -- corn stover, energy sorghum, miscanthus or switchgrass -- performed best in a specific region of the rainfed United States. Their study will help growers and policymakers select the feedstocks most suited to meeting goals like reducing production costs, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and building soil carbon stocks.
Dual action antibiotic could make bacterial resistance nearly impossible
New drug that disrupts two cellular targets would make it much harder for bacteria to evolve resistance.
Brain care score for dementia and stroke also predicts late-life depression
Researchers have shown that a higher Brain Care Score is also associated with a lower risk of late-life depression. The findings provide further evidence of shared biological risk factors for stroke, dementia and depression and highlight the potential of the BCS to help patients make lifestyle changes to better care for their brain health.
A window of opportunity for climate change and biodiversity
World leaders must take advantage of a pivotal window of opportunity for forging a much-needed joined-up approach to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, say scientists. Without this, work on tackling either crisis could inadvertently harm progress on the other.
Pioneering the cellular frontier
Scientists use a multimodal approach that combines hard X-ray computed tomography and X-ray fluorescence imaging to see the structure and chemical processes inside of a single cell.
Preclinical model offers new insights into Parkinson's disease process
A new preclinical model offers a unique platform for studying the Parkinson's disease process and suggests a relatively easy method for detecting the disease in people.
Brain-heart axis: Strokes change epigenetics of immune system
A stroke not only causes acute damage to the brain, but can also have long-term health implications for other organs -- such as the heart. Researchers have worked on the hypothesis that the high rate of comorbidities that develop after a stroke could have a common immunological cause. And they actually managed to find it: The origin of the dysfunctions in other parts of the body lies in the immunological memory of the blood-forming cells in bone marrow.
New study identifies two proteins that may contribute to stroke recurrence
A new study has identified new genetic and molecular risk factors that may reveal new pathways for treating patients after they experience their first stroke. The study identified CCL27 and TNFRSF14, two proteins that are associated with subsequent MACE, but not initial strokes. These proteins are known to activate inflammation, which plays a key role in the development of strokes and many chronic conditions and diseases. The findings suggest that inflammation is a contributing factor to MACE outcomes among people after they have their first stroke.