ScienceDaily: All - March 07, 2025
Today's top research news
Super sapphire resists scratches, glare, fog and dust
Researchers have discovered techniques to bestow superpowers upon sapphire, a material that most of us think of as just a pretty jewel.
Paralyzed man moves robotic arm with his thoughts
Researchers have enabled a man who is paralyzed to control a robotic arm through a device that relays signals from his brain to a computer. He was able to grasp, move and drop objects just by imagining himself performing the actions.
Memory is impaired in aged rats after 3 days of high-fat eating
Just a few days of eating a diet high in saturated fat could be enough to cause memory problems and related brain inflammation in older adults, a new study in rats suggests.
Scientists identify genes that make humans and Labradors more likely to become obese
Researchers have discovered genes linked to obesity in both Labradors and humans. They say the effects can be over-ridden with a strict diet and exercise regime.
Study raises the possibility of a country without butterflies
A sweeping study for the first time tallies butterfly data from more than 76,000 surveys across the continental United States. The results: Butterflies -- all of them -- are disappearing.
Possible foundations of human intelligence observed for the first time
A study has demonstrated how neurons in the human brain generate memories and establish narratives. Contrary to previous beliefs, individual neurons represent the concepts we learn, regardless of the context in which we encounter them. This allows humans, unlike other animals, to establish higher and more abstract relationships, which lays the foundation of human intelligence.
World's oldest impact crater found, rewriting Earth's ancient history
Researchers have discovered the world's oldest known meteorite impact crater, which could significantly redefine our understanding of the origins of life and how our planet was shaped. The team found evidence of a major meteorite impact 3.5 billion years ago.
How footballers' fingers and height can predict their exercise performance
New research is studying female professional footballers to find out if if it is possible to predict just how much lactate a person will produce during exercise based on the physical attributes of finger length and height.
A new study revealed that atmospheric gravity waves play a crucial role in driving latitudinal air currents on Mars, particularly at high altitudes. The findings, based on long-term atmospheric data, offer a fresh perspective on the behaviors of Mars' middle atmosphere, highlighting fundamental differences from Earth's. The study applied methods developed to explore Earth's atmosphere to quantitatively estimate the influence of gravity waves on Mars' planetary circulation.
Touchless tech: Control fabrics with a wave of your finger
Researchers have created washable and durable magnetic field sensing electronic textiles -- thought to be the first of their kind -- which they say paves the way to transform use in clothing. This technology will allow users to interact with everyday textiles or specialized clothing by simply pointing their finger above a sensor.
The chances of anything coming from Mars
Within the next decade, space agencies plan to bring samples of rock from Mars to Earth for study. Of concern is the possibility these samples contain life, which could have unforeseen consequences. Therefore, researchers in this field strive to create methods to detect life. Researchers have now successfully demonstrated a method to detect life in ancient rocks analogous to those found on Mars.
Seismic study of Singapore could guide urban construction and renewable energy development
A new seismic study of Singapore could guide urban growth and renewable energy development in the coastal city nation, where 5.6 million residents live within an area of 734 square kilometers.
Over-the-counter pain relievers linked to improved recovery from concussion
People who take over-the-counter pain relievers after a concussion may recover faster than those who do not take pain relievers, according to a preliminary study.
Insect populations are declining -- and that is not a good thing
Using two species of flies from different climates -- one from the cool, high-altitude forests of Northern California, the other hailing from the hot, dry deserts of the Southwest -- scientists discovered remarkable differences in the way each processes external temperature.
Packets of freeze-dried bacteria grow biocement on demand
Cement manufacturing and repair could be significantly improved by using biocement-producing bacteria, but growing the microbes at construction sites remains a challenge. Now, researchers report a freeze-drying approach that preserves the bacteria, potentially allowing construction workers to ultimately use powder out of a packet to quickly make tiles, repair oil wells or strengthen the ground for makeshift roads or camps.
Researchers are working to move cold atom quantum experiments and applications from the laboratory tabletop to chip-based systems.
Psychosocial stress during pregnancy could lead to higher blood pressure during the first year postpartum according to new research.
Iron oxides act as natural catalysts to unlock phosphorus to fuel plant growth
Plants and microbes are known to secrete enzymes to transform organic phosphorus into bioavailable inorganic phosphorus. Now, researchers report iron oxides can drive the same conversion at comparable rates as enzymes. The study adds yet another missing piece to nature's mysterious phosphorus cycle that can be used to fuel plant growth.
Bad bitterness made better for everyone: Global taste differences in the flavor of medicines
Scientists examined the bitterness intensity of five medicines and two bitter modifiers in 338 adults of European descent and recent US and Canadian immigrants from Asia, South Asia, and Africa. Bitterness ratings differed by ancestry for two of the five drugs and the effectiveness of some modifiers. They also found genetic variants that explain some population differences in reaction to bitter tastes.
Study shines headlights on consumer driverless vehicle safety deficiencies
Researchers have demonstrated that multicolored stickers applied to stop or speed limit signs on the roadside can 'confuse' self-driving vehicles, causing unpredictable and possibly hazardous operations.
NASA's Hubble finds Kuiper Belt duo may be trio
The puzzle of predicting how three gravitationally bound bodies move in space has challenged mathematicians for centuries, and has most recently been popularized in the novel and television show '3 Body Problem.' There's no problem, however, with what a team of researchers say is likely a stable trio of icy space rocks in the solar system's Kuiper Belt.
New hope for immunotherapy as prostate cancer treatment
Researchers used a double-pronged approach to reduce tumor growth in tissue samples of prostate cancer.
Using computer science to save the bees
Researchers have created a system to help beekeepers monitor and analyze the health of their beehives and take corrective actions to prevent colony collapse -- when a majority of the worker bees abandon the colony and its queen. Beehives use thermoregulation to ensure the hive temperature stays between 33 and 36 degrees Celsius, about 91 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit. For example, bees might cluster to create insulation when it's cold or fan their wings when it's hot. But when beehives experience external stressors, such as pesticides or unexpected weather events, they lose the ability to regulate the hive temperature.
Breakthrough with biofuel: How alcohol damages microbes that produce it
Researchers achieved a breakthrough in understanding the vulnerability of microbes to the alcohols they produce during fermentation of plant biomass.
White blood cells use brute force to dislodge bacteria
A vivid new image is taking shape in the world of cell biology: Imagine bacteria adhering to the surface of a cell, perhaps at the site of an injury or wound. In response, a white blood cell arrives at the scene. This cell encircles the pathogen with its membrane, forming a tight, constricting ring. With remarkable force, the white blood cell yanks the pathogen off the wound's surface. The white blood cell then engulfs the pathogen in a process called phagocytosis, in which it 'eats' the foreign invader to neutralize it.
Foundation AI model predicts postoperative risks from clinical notes
A team unveils a versatile large language model to enhance perioperative care.
New research shows impact of anxiety and apathy on decision-making
New research has uncovered that anxiety and apathy -- two common but distinct emotional states -- lead to fundamentally different patterns in how people learn and make decisions.
Researcher compares AI, human evaluators in swine medicine
A research team is studying whether artificial intelligence (AI) could play a supportive role in the evaluation of respiratory disease in pigs.
A research team has recently developed a groundbreaking neuromorphic exposure control (NEC) system that revolutionizes machine vision under extreme lighting variations. This biologically inspired system mimics human peripheral vision to achieve unprecedented speed and robustness in dynamic perception environments.
A new discovery suggests a potential new approach to improving fitness in older adults.
Motion capture: M. mobile's motility apparatus clarified
The molecular structure of the motor component that powers the gliding apparatus of Mycoplasma mobile, one of the few mycoplasma bacteria that can move, has been revealed using cryo-electron microscopy.
Giant clone of seaweed in the Baltic Sea
Researchers have discovered that what was previously thought to be a unique seaweed species of bladderwrack for the Baltic Sea is in fact a giant clone of common bladderwrack, perhaps the world's largest clone overall. The discovery has implications for predicting the future of seaweed in a changing ocean.
Scientists unravel the spiraling secrets of magnetic materials for next-generation electronics
Engineers have developed a new computational approach to accurately model and predict the properties of a class of magnetic molecules called chiral helimagnets. Their work could accelerate the discovery of new materials for spintronics technologies.
World's critical food crops at imminent risk from rising temperatures
A new study offers a more precise picture of exactly where and how warming will affect our ability to grow food.
Chemistry: Triple bond formed between boron and carbon for the first time
Researchers are opening up new horizons in chemistry: They present the world's first triple bond between the atoms boron and carbon.
How the brain distinguishes between pain and itch
A research team has uncovered the neural mechanisms underlying the processing of pain and itch in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). This study provides new insights into how the brain distinguishes between these two distinct sensory experiences.
Breakthrough in clean energy: Palladium nanosheets pave way for affordable hydrogen
Hydrogen energy is widely recognized as a sustainable source for the future, but its large-scale production still relies on expensive and scarce platinum-based catalysts. In order to address this challenge, researchers have developed Bis(diimino)palladium coordination nanosheets (PdDI), a novel two-dimensional electrocatalyst that effectively facilitates the hydrogen evolution reactions while minimizing the use of precious metals like platinum, paving the way for affordable hydrogen production.
1,400 species found in guts of Asian hornets
A study of Asian hornets has found about 1,400 different species in their guts.
Smartwatches could end the next pandemic
Everyday smartwatches are extremely accurate in detecting viral infection long before symptoms appear -- now, research shows how they could help stop a pandemic before it even begins.
Study establishes 'ball and chain' mechanism inactivates key mammalian ion channel
A new study has unveiled a precise picture of how an ion channel found in most mammalian cells regulates its own function with a 'ball-and-chain' channel-plugging mechanism. The findings boost the understanding of ion channel biology and could lead to new drugs that target these channels to treat disorders such as epilepsy and hypertension.
Novel stem cell therapy repairs 'irreversible' corneal damage in clinical trial
Results from a phase 1/2 clinical trial of a novel stem cell treatment for cornea injuries found 14 patients treated and tracked for 18 months had a more than 90% success rate at restoring the cornea's surface and improvements in vision. The procedure, called CALEC (cultivated autologous limbal epithelial cells) involves taking stem cells from a healthy eye, expanding it into a graft over several weeks, then transplanting it into a patient's damaged eye. The groundbreaking procedure was developed to help people with injuries like chemical burns that lead to irreversible limbal stem cell deficiency, and the researchers hope the new findings warrant additional trials.
Heat from the sun affects seismic activity on Earth
Researchers explore the likelihood that Earth's climate, as affected by solar heat, plays a role in seismic activity. Using mathematical and computational methods, they analyzed earthquake data alongside solar activity records and surface temperatures on Earth and observed that when they included Earth surface temperatures into their model, the forecasting became more accurate, especially for shallow earthquakes.
Nearly 4 of 10 Americans report sports-related mistreatment
Nearly 40% of adult Americans say they've experienced some type of sport-related mistreatment in their lives, a new study shows. Mistreatment ranged from psychological and emotional to physical and sexual. But most people who reported mistreatment experienced more than one kind, the research found.
School absence patterns could ID children with chronic GI disorders, research suggests
Children who frequently miss school because of abdominal complaints are far more likely to be suffering from chronic disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome than diseases that can be detected with medical tests, new research has found.
Researchers have discovered a novel approach to protecting insulin-producing beta cells from the damaging effects of glucolipotoxicity - a harmful condition linked to the progression of type 2 diabetes (T2D). These findings could lead to promising treatments targeting beta cell dysfunction.
Obesity: Researchers discover a cause of leptin resistance -- and how to reverse it
Most obese patients grow resistant to satiety signals from the hormone leptin. A new study shows that leptin sensitivity can be restored in mice, leading to weight loss.
Study uncovers genetic drivers of aggressive prostate cancer
Scientists have uncovered new genetic clues that explain why some prostate cancers remain slow-growing while others become life-threatening.