ScienceDaily: All - July 30, 2024
Today's top research news
MicroRNA study sets stage for crop improvements
MicroRNAs can make plants more capable of withstanding drought, salinity, pathogens and more. However, in a recent study scientists showed just how much we didn't know about the intricate processes plants use to produce them.
Image: Ievgenii Meyer/Shutterstock.com
Study reveals link between transthyretin levels and heart disease risk
Researchers reveal the impact of transthyretin protein levels on heart disease risk.
NASA data shows July 22, 2024 was Earth's hottest day on record
July 22, 2024, was the hottest day on record, according to a NASA analysis of global daily temperature data. July 21 and 23 of this year also exceeded the previous daily record, set in July 2023. These record-breaking temperatures are part of a long-term warming trend driven by human activities, primarily the emission of greenhouse gases.
Winter breeding offers lifeline for monarch butterflies in Northern California
Monarch butterflies in Northern California are adapting to a changing climate by embracing an unexpected strategy: breeding in the winter. The shift could be key to the survival of the iconic insect, according to a new study.
Everyday activities aren't enough to protect against stroke
Research shows that the physical activities we do as we go about our lives, at work or in the home, aren't enough to protect us from having a stroke. However, exercising in our free time and using active modes of transport are associated with a decreased risk of stroke.
A blue miracle: How sapphires formed in volcanoes
Sapphires are among the most precious gems, yet they consist solely of chemically 'contaminated' aluminum oxide, or corundum. It is widely assumed that these crystals with their characteristically blue color come from deep crustal rocks and accidentally ended up on the Earth's surface as magma ascended. Geoscientists have now been able to show that the sapphire grains found in the Eifel (Germany) formed in association with volcanism.
Preclinical study explores approved drug for ovarian cancer
An iron-binding drug that is already approved for treatment of other diseases could provide a novel way to attack ovarian tumors, according to a new study. The preclinical study combined the analysis of human ovarian tumors and animal models of the disease.
How an emerging disease in dogs is shedding light on cystic fibrosis
A canine gallbladder disease that involves the accumulation of abnormal mucus similar to that seen in human cystic fibrosis (CF) patients is caused by improper expression of the gene associated with CF in humans. The finding could have implications for human CF patients as well as for animal models of CF.
Fetal brain impacted when mom fights severe flu: New mouse study explains how
New research using live mouse-adapted influenza virus improves upon previous mouse experiments to explain how maternal infection impacts fetal brain development. The study also indicates fetal brain changes are more likely once the severity of the mother's infection meets a specific threshold.
Shape-shifting 'transformer bots' inspired by origami
Inspired by the paper-folding art of origami, engineers have discovered a way to make a single plastic cubed structure transform into more than 1,000 configurations using only three active motors.
New drug candidate blocks resistance to cancer therapies
A team of researchers has designed a molecule that impairs signaling mediated by two key drivers of cancer therapy resistance.
From genes to jeans: New genetic insights may lead to drought resilient cotton
Cotton is woven into the very fabric of our lives, from soft T-shirts to comfortable jeans and cozy bedsheets. It's the world's leading renewable textile fiber and the backbone of a global industry worth billions. As climate change intensifies, cotton farmers face increasing challenges from drought and heat. However, new research offers hope for developing more resilient varieties that can maintain high yields even under water-stressed conditions.
Study finds gaps in mental health care for people with chronic pain
A new study found that adults with chronic pain are more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression than people without chronic pain, yet they access mental health care at lower rates and are less likely to have their mental health needs met in treatment.
Robotics: Self-powered 'bugs' can skim across water to detect environmental data
Researchers have developed a self-powered 'bug' that can skim across the water, and they hope it will revolutionize aquatic robotics.
Young scientists face career hurdles in interdisciplinary research
Scientists agree that solving some of society's greatest challenges in biomedicine such as food sustainability, aging and disease treatment will need researchers from a variety of scientific fields working together.
Local food production saves costs and carbon
Emphasizing local food production over imported substitutes can lead to significant cost and carbon savings, according to data from the Inuvialuit Settlement Region in the Canadian Arctic. The research shows potential annual savings of more than 3.1 million Canadian dollars and roughly half the carbon emissions when locally harvested food is used instead of imported food. The study underscores the importance of climate change policies that take local food systems into account. Weakening of these local systems could lead to increased emissions and jeopardize the health and food security of remote communities.
Bold moves needed for California agriculture to adapt to climate change
California needs urgent and bold measures to adapt its $59 billion agriculture sector to climate change as the amount of water available for crops declines, according to a new report. The report provides a roadmap for more water capture, storage, and distribution systems that are in harmony with climate projections and ecosystems. It further considers how runoff and groundwater can be used repeatedly as it flows generally from mountainsides to coastal lands.
To get drivers to put down their phones, make it a game
A large trial of strategies to reduce distracted driving showed that those that were 'gamified' yielded a lasting reduction in handheld phone usage while driving.
Researchers trap atoms, forcing them to serve as photonic transistors
Researchers have developed a means to realize cold-atom integrated nanophotonic circuits.
Analogies for modeling belief dynamics
Researchers who study belief dynamics often use analogies to understand and model the complex cognitive-social systems that underlie why we believe the things we do and how those beliefs can change over time. Ideas can be transmitted like a virus, for instance, 'infecting' a population as they spread from person to person. We might be drawn -- like magnets -- to others with a similar worldview. A society's beliefs can shift slowly before reaching a tipping point that thrusts society into a new phase. A new article explores the benefits -- and potential pitfalls -- of several common analogies used to model belief dynamics.
The atmosphere, the ocean and life on Earth interacted over the past 500-plus million years in ways that improved conditions for early organisms to thrive. Now, an interdisciplinary team of scientists has produced a perspective article of this co-evolutionary history.
Healthy diet with less sugar is linked to younger biological age
Researchers have found a link between following a diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals, especially one without much added sugar, and having a younger biological age at the cellular level.
Researchers use non-invasive technique to record involuntary nervous system
A research team has shown that a wearable, non-invasive device can measure activity in human cervical nerves in clinical settings. The results could help medical professionals tailor treatments for inflammatory conditions like sepsis and PTSD.
Researchers decipher new molecular mechanisms related to biological tissue regeneration
A study opens new perspectives to better understand how the molecular mechanisms involved in regenerative medicine work. The study focuses on tumor necrosis factor- (TNF- ) and its receptors TNFR, molecules of key interest in biomedicine due to their involvement in multiple diseases such as obesity related to type 2 diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease and several types of cancer.
Hair follicle models from the 3D printer
Hair follicle infections are often difficult to treat because bacteria settle in the gap between hair and skin, where it is difficult for active substances to reach them. In order to investigate this scenario more closely in the laboratory, researchers have now developed a model with human hair follicles embedded in a matrix produced using 3D printing. In the future, this model can be used to test the effectiveness of new drug candidates against corresponding pathogens directly on human follicles.
New clues point towards how exercise reduces symptoms of depression
The processes in the brain and body through which physical exercise reduces depressive symptoms have been explored.
Countries need to co-operate on migration as climate crisis worsens
Humanity must rethink migration as the climate crisis drives rapid global changes, researchers say.
Faster, cleaner way to extract lithium from battery waste
Researchers uncover a rapid, efficient and environmentally friendly method for selective lithium recovery using microwave radiation and a readily biodegradable solvent.
Losing a loved one may speed up aging
Losing someone close, like a family member, can make you age faster. The study found that people who lost a parent, partner, sibling, or child, showed signs of older biological age compared to those who hadn't experienced such losses.
Fatty acids in umbilical cord blood might cause autism spectrum disorder, study suggests
Researchers have found a significant link between the levels of specific dihydroxy fatty acids in umbilical cord blood and ASD symptoms. Their findings highlight the role of these metabolites in the developmental trajectory of ASD and could pave the way for early diagnostic techniques and a better understanding of ASD pathophysiology.
Every minute counts: Rapid and accurate prediction model for cardiac arrest treatment
Scientists have developed the R-EDByUS score, a new model predicting neurological outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients using prehospital data only. The model allows for rapid decision-making upon hospital arrival, enhancing patient care and resource allocation. This innovation marks a significant advancement in emergency medical treatment.
Optical fibers fit for the age of quantum computing
A new generation of specialty optical fibers has been developed by physicists to cope with the challenges of data transfer expected to arise in the future age of quantum computing.
Virus that causes COVID-19 is widespread in wildlife, scientists find
SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, is widespread among wildlife species, according to new research. The virus was detected in six common backyard species, and antibodies indicating prior exposure to the virus were found in five species, with rates of exposure ranging from 40 to 60 percent depending on the species.
Study tracks exposure to air pollution through the day
For people moving through the Bronx at different times, exposure to particulate matter 2.5 microns or bigger rises by about 2.4 percent when daily travel patterns are taken into account, according to a new study.
Carpets and flames: Design rules for the morphology of ciliated organs
Scientists present a new understanding of the connection between two distinct mechanisms for pumping fluids in living organisms: the 'flame' model and the 'carpet' model of ciliated ducts. The new findings enable greater clarity when studying and managing major pathologies that are associated with cilia malfunction and fluid buildup, including bronchiectasis, hydrocephalus and ectopic pregnancy. The findings also advance understanding of the functioning of specific organs. For instance, ciliary flames that pump fluid for the purpose of excretion provide a model system for studying human kidney disease.