ScienceDaily: All - November 01, 2023
Today's top research news
Where is a sea star's head? Maybe just about everywhere
A new study that combines genetic and molecular techniques helps solve the riddle of sea star (commonly called starfish) body plans, and how sea stars start life with bilateral body symmetry -- just like humans -- but grow up to be adults with fivefold 'pentaradial' symmetry.
Tosaphon C/shutterstock.com
A new analysis of the bones and muscles in ancient fish gives new clues about how the shoulder evolved in animals -- including us.
The remains of an ancient planet lie deep within Earth
The remnants of an ancient planet that collided with Earth to form the Moon lie deep within the earth, according to a new model.
Injectable tissue prosthesis to aid in damaged muscle/nerve regeneration
Researchers have made significant strides in biomaterial technology and rehabilitation medicine. They've developed a novel approach to healing muscle injury by employing 'injectable tissue prosthesis' in the form of conductive hydrogels and combining it with a robot-assisted rehabilitation system.
Breakthrough discovery sheds light on heart and muscle health
The human heart, often described as the body's engine, is a remarkable organ that tirelessly beats to keep us alive. At the core of this vital organ, intricate processes occur when it contracts, where thick and thin protein-filaments interact within the sarcomere, the fundamental building block of both skeletal and heart muscle cells. Any alterations in thick filament proteins can have severe consequences for our health, leading to conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and various other heart and muscle diseases.
High metabolism is an early sign of Alzheimer's disease
An early phase in the process of developing Alzheimer's disease is a metabolic increase in a part of the brain called the hippocampus, report researchers.
Mobile phone use may affect semen quality
Does electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile phones affect semen quality? While various environmental and lifestyle factors have been proposed to explain the decline in semen quality observed over the last fifty years, the role of mobile phones has yet to be demonstrated. A team has now published a major cross-sectional study on the subject. It shows that frequent use of mobile phones is associated with a lower sperm concentration and total sperm count.
Contraceptive pill users less likely to report depression
A new study has shown that women who are taking the oral contraceptive pill are less likely to report depression. The research, which analysed data from 6,239 women in the United States aged 18-55 years old, found that the prevalence of major depression amongst users of the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) was significantly lower, at 4.6%, compared to former OCP users (11.4%).
Human emissions increased mercury in the atmosphere sevenfold
Researchers estimated that before humans started pumping mercury into the atmosphere, it contained on average about 580 megagrams of mercury. However, in 2015, independent research that looked at all available atmospheric measurements estimated the atmospheric mercury reservoir was about 4,000 Mg -- nearly 7 times larger than the natural condition estimated in this study.
Having a bad boss makes you a worse employee
Researchers found that employees who prioritize career advancement are strongly affected by abusive leadership while employees who prioritized job security remained just as likely to take charge after experiencing abusive supervision. Employees who prioritize advancement tend to hunker down and reduce taking-charge behavior after experiencing abusive supervision.
Shifting nesting timing not enough to prevent fewer sea turtle hatchlings
New research shows that potential adaptive responses by sea turtles, such as shifting the timing of when they nest, may not be enough to counteract the projected impacts from climate change on hatchling production.
Sunflowers famously turn their faces to follow the sun as it crosses the sky. But how do sunflowers 'see' the sun to follow it? Plant biologists show that they use a different, novel mechanism from that previously thought.
Risk of viral airborne transmission peaks within 5 seconds of face-to-face encounters
Researchers visualized and measured the flow field of aerosol particles derived from exhaled air and examined the risk of viral exposure during face-to-face encounters, such as while walking, jogging, running, or sprinting. The results showed that the number of aerosol particles during face-to-face encounters peaked within 5 seconds after the encounter and rapidly declined thereafter.
Giant planets cast a deadly pall
Giant gas planets can be agents of chaos, ensuring nothing lives on their Earth-like neighbors around other stars. New studies show, in some planetary systems, the giants tend to kick smaller planets out of orbit and wreak havoc on their climates.
