ScienceDaily: All - June 12, 2024
Today's top research news
Painful truth about knee osteoarthritis: Why inactivity may be more complex than we think
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common cause of pain and joint stiffness. And while physical activity is known to ease symptoms, only one in 10 people regularly exercise.
Image: Designua/Shutterstock.com
Wind from black holes may influence development of surrounding galaxies
Clouds of gas in a distant galaxy are being pushed faster and faster -- at more than 10,000 miles per second -- out among neighboring stars by blasts of radiation from the supermassive black hole at the galaxy's center. It's a discovery that helps illuminate the way active black holes can continuously shape their galaxies by spurring on or snuffing out the development of new stars.
How do supermassive black holes get super massive?
By combining forefront X-ray observations with state-of-the-art supercomputer simulations of the buildup of galaxies over cosmic history, researchers have provided the best modeling to date of the growth of the supermassive black holes found in the centers of galaxies.
Female AI 'teammate' generates more participation from women
An artificial intelligence-powered virtual teammate with a female voice boosts participation and productivity among women on teams dominated by men, according to new research.
From seashells to cement, nature inspires tougher building material
Inspired by the material that makes up oyster and abalone shells, engineers have created a new cement composite that is 17 times more crack-resistant than standard cement and 19 times more able to stretch and deform without breaking. The findings could eventually help increase the crack resistance of a wide range of brittle ceramic materials from concrete to porcelain.
3D-printed mini-actuators can move small soft robots, lock them into new shapes
Researchers have demonstrated miniature soft hydraulic actuators that can be used to control the deformation and motion of soft robots that are less than a millimeter thick. The researchers have also demonstrated that this technique works with shape memory materials, allowing users to repeatedly lock the soft robots into a desired shape and return to the original shape as needed.
Do traumatic life experiences impact perception of distressing imagery?
Researchers have examined viewer responses to images of distressing and neutrally decorated masks and whether personal life history, particularly past experiences of trauma and difficulty, affected how the person perceived the imagery.
Scientists engineer yellow-seeded camelina with high oil output
Using tools of modern genetics, plant biochemists have produced a new high-yielding oilseed crop variety -- a yellow-seeded variety of Camelina sativa, a close relative of canola, that accumulates 21.4% more oil than ordinary camelina.
Specialist and migratory birds at greater risk under climate change
Following decades of decline, even fewer birds will darken North American skies by the end of the century, according to a new analysis. The study examines the long-term effects of climate change on the abundance and diversity of bird groups across the continent as a whole while accounting for additional factors that put birds at risk.
New biomarker database designed to improve astronaut health may also be useful to earthlings
As space travel becomes more frequent, a new biomarker tool was developed by an international team of researchers to help improve the growing field of aerospace medicine and the health of astronauts.
Haiku may shine a light on humans' relationship with insects
Haiku poems have reflected humans' experiences in nature for hundreds of years, including observations of bugs and other wildlife. Recently, researchers analyzed which insects were mentioned the most in haiku -- with butterflies, fireflies and singing insects such as crickets topping the list.
Virtual reality as a reliable shooting performance-tracking tool
Virtual reality technology can do more than teach weaponry skills in law enforcement and military personnel, a new study suggests: It can accurately record shooting performance and reliably track individuals' progress over time.
Precision medicine for sepsis in children within reach
Sepsis -- the leading cause of mortality in children around the world -- can present with a wide range of signs and symptoms, making a one-size-fits-all treatment strategy ineffective. Pursuing a precision medicine approach for pediatric sepsis, researchers used artificial intelligence to analyze a large set of clinical data and find a distinct group of patients who might respond better to targeted treatments.
Scientists spot more Milky Way-like galaxies in early universe
Scientists are peering into the past and uncovering new clues about the early universe. Since light takes a long time to travel through space, they are now able to see how galaxies looked billions of years ago. The astronomers have discovered that spiral galaxies were more common in the early universe than previously thought. The scientists found that nearly 30% of galaxies have a spiral structure about 2 billion years after the universe formed. The discovery provides a significant update to the universe's origin story as previously told using data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.
Soil bacteria respire more CO2 after sugar-free meals
Researchers tracked how plant matter moves through bacteria's metabolism. Microbes respire three times as much carbon dioxide (CO2) from non-sugar carbons from lignin compared to sugar from cellulose. Although microbes consume both types of plant matter at the same time, each type enters a different metabolic pathway. Findings could improve predictions of how climate-dependent changes in soil carbon types will affect microbial CO2 production.
New plasma escape mechanism could protect fusion vessels from excessive heat
The exhaust heat generated by a fusing plasma in a commercial-scale reactor may not be as damaging to the vessel's innards as once thought, according to new research about escaping plasma particles.
Researchers harness AI for autonomous discovery and optimization of materials
Today, researchers are developing ways to accelerate discovery by combining automated experiments, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. A novel tool that leverages those technologies has demonstrated that AI can influence materials synthesis and conduct associated experiments without human supervision.
Research on the visual rabbit illusion takes a leap forward
Researchers have discovered new variations of an illusion created when we see three rapid flashes in our side vision. Regardless of the position of the second flash, the illusion causes the brain to perceive the flashes in a straight line, with the second near the midpoint. The findings suggest that our brain processes the flashes as a whole, rather than independently, showing that later events determine our perception of past location.
Virus-like nanoparticles control the multicellular organization and reproduction of host bacteria
Researchers have discovered that virus-like nanoparticles can promote the multicellular organization and reproduction of host bacteria. These particles, which are evolutionarily related to phages (viruses that infect bacteria), contain an enzyme that helps shape the multicellular architecture and ultimately enhances morphological differentiation.
Origins of fast radio bursts come into focus through polarized light
What scientists previously thought about where Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) come from is just the tip of the iceberg. A new study details the properties of polarized light from 128 non-repeating FRBs and reveals mysterious cosmic explosions that originated in far-away galaxies, similar to our own Milky Way.
AI model may yield better outcomes for prostate cancer
By using AI to assist with cancer contouring, the researchers found predicting the cancer size was 45 times more accurate and consistent than when physicians used only conventional clinical imaging and blood tests to predict the cancer extent.
Underlying mechanisms behind regular exercise benefits
Scientists studied both male and female rats over eight weeks of endurance exercise and found thousands of molecular alterations. These findings have implications for human health, such as in liver disease, bowel disease, cardiovascular health, and tissue recovery.
Algae offer real potential as a renewable electricity source
The need to transition away from fossil fuels to more sustainable energy production is critical. That's why a team of researchers is looking at a potential power source that not only produces no carbon emissions but removes carbon as it works: algae.
Cognitive test is poor predictor of athletes' concussion
When college athletes are evaluated for a possible concussion, the diagnosis is based on an athletic trainer or team physician's assessment of three things: the player's symptoms, physical balance and cognitive skills. Research published today suggests that almost half of athletes who are ultimately diagnosed with a concussion will test normally on the recommended cognitive-skills test.
How the immune system goes awry during space travel and the implications for human aging on earth
Researching the immune system in space could have payoffs for human aging on earth. Scientists have revealed how the lack of gravity affects the cells of the immune system at single cell resolution.
Would astronauts' kidneys survive a roundtrip to Mars?
The structure and function of the kidneys is altered by space flight, with galactic radiation causing permanent damage that would jeopardise any mission to Mars, according to a new study led by researchers from UCL.
Depressive symptoms may hasten memory decline in older people
The researchers concluded that depression and memory were closely interrelated, with both seeming to affect each other.
New technique could help build quantum computers of the future
Researchers have demonstrated a new method that could enable the large-scale manufacturing of optical qubits. The advance could bring us closer to a scalable quantum computer.
Trash-sorting robot mimics complex human sense of touch
Researchers are breaking through the difficulties of robotic recognition of various common, yet complex, items. Their layered sensor is equipped with material detection at the surface and pressure sensitivity at the bottom, with a porous middle layer sensitive to thermal changes. An efficient cascade classification algorithm rules out object types in order, from easy to hard, starting with simple categories like empty cartons before moving on to orange peels or scraps of cloth.
Shedding light on the origin of a genetic variant underlying fungal infections
Variants in the CARD9 gene increase susceptibility to severe fungal infections. However, individuals in different parts of the world tend to carry specific CARD9 variants, making it complex to track the origin of these mutations. In a recent study, a research team conducted genetic analyses on Japanese, Korean, and Chinese patients, revealing that they all shared a variant of CARD9 stemming from a common ancestor from less than 4,000 years ago.
Researchers reveal new pathway to improve traumatic brain injury outcomes
Working together to understand the factors which could be used to predict outcome following TBI, researchers examined factors related to social support, health, clinical care, biological markers, acute interventions, and longer-term outcomes.
Detecting early linguistic signs of dementia by studying the natural speech of seniors
A study led by linguists has found that early linguistic signs of dementia can be detected through the study of the natural speech of senior Singaporeans. The novel study revealed that participants with memory-related mild cognitive impairment spoke less and used fewer, but more abstract, nouns that is consistent with the speech pattern of Alzheimer's patients.
Reading pleasure and pain from the brain
Researchers have revealed how the brain processes emotions related to sustained pain and pleasure.
Shaping nanoparticles with enzymes
The selective bond-breaking powers of enzymes bring new versatility for building nanoparticles with a wide range of technical and medical potential.
How did a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way come to be?
Crater 2, located approximately 380,000 light years from Earth, is one of the largest satellite galaxies of the Milky Way. Extremely cold and with slow-moving stars, Crater 2 has low surface brightness. How this galaxy originated remains unclear. A team of physicists now offers an explanation.
We spend more with cashless payments
A study has found that when using cashless methods of payment, individuals tend to spend more when purchasing.
Promising role of antidiabetic drug in cancer control
Researchers have analyzed how an antidiabetic treatment could help control the growth of tumors, potentially paving the way for the design of better cancer treatments.
Looking for a new battery platform? Focus on the essentials
In facing life's many challenges, we often opt for complex approaches to finding solutions. Yet, upon closer examination, the answers are often simpler than we expect, rooted in the core "essence" of the issue. This approach was demonstrated by a research team in their publication on addressing the inherent issues of solid-state batteries.
New insights on polymicrobial infections in chronic lung diseases
Chronic lung diseases are often accelerated and exacerbated by polymicrobial infections. An international study has identified two types of these so-called dysbioses in cystic fibrosis. They display distinct ecology and are also likely to respond differently to treatment.
Switching nanomagnets using infrared lasers
Physicists have calculated how suitable molecules can be stimulated by infrared light pulses to form tiny magnetic fields. If this is also successful in experiments, the principle could be used in quantum computer circuits.
'Self-taught' AI tool helps to diagnose and predict severity of common lung cancer
A computer program based on data from nearly a half-million tissue images and powered by artificial intelligence can accurately diagnose cases of adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer, a new study shows.
Major milestone in cutting harmful gases that deplete ozone layer and worsen global warming
A new study has revealed significant progress in the drive to reduce levels in the atmosphere of chemicals that destroy Earth's ozone layer, confirming the success of historic regulations limiting their production.
New computer vision method helps speed up screening of electronic materials
A new computer vision technique developed by engineers significantly speeds up the characterization of newly synthesized electronic materials. Such materials might be used in novel solar cells, transistors, LEDs, and batteries.
First week after birth is critical for development of senses
Researchers have found that the maturation of the senses for smell and touch is closely linked in mice and that this strong interaction takes place within a narrow developmental time window. These findings not only underline the importance of environmental stimuli for brain assembly in early life, but also the interdependent development of the senses.
Scientists have grown 'mini-guts' in the lab to help understand Crohn's disease, showing that 'switches' that modify DNA in gut cells play an important role in the disease and how it presents in patients. The researchers say these mini-guts could in future be used to identify the best treatment for an individual patient, allowing for more precise and personalized treatments.
How the brain is affected by Huntington's Disease
The genetic disease Huntington's not only affects nerve cells in the brain but also has widespread effects on microscopic blood vessels according to research. These changes to the vasculature were also observed in the pre-symptomatic stages of the disease, demonstrating the potential for this research for predicting brain health and evaluating the beneficial effects of lifestyle changes or treatments. Huntington's disease is an inherited genetic condition leading to dementia, with a progressive decline in a person's movement, memory, and cognition. There is currently no cure.