ScienceDaily: All - November 26, 2024
Today's top research news
Most energetic cosmic-ray electrons and positrons ever observed
Scientists have recently identified electrons and positrons with the highest energies ever recorded on Earth. They provide evidence of cosmic processes emitting colossal amounts of energy, the origins of which are as yet unknown.
Image: chromatos/Shutterstock.com
Researchers recently collaborated on a novel, highly specific strategy to treat type 1 diabetes (T1D) using a tagged beta cell transplant in tandem with localized immune protection provided by specialized immune cells also tagged with a complementary but inert targeting molecule.
Potential new biomarker for psychosis diagnosis
The current standard of care for psychosis is a diagnostic interview, but what if it could be diagnosed before the first symptom emerged? Researchers are pointing toward a potential biomarker in the brain that could lead to more timely interventions and personalized care.
Fighting aging by staying compact
The secret to cellular youth may depend on keeping the nucleolus -- a condensed structure inside the nucleus of a cell -- small, according to nvestigators. The findings were elucidated in yeast, a model organism famous for making bread and beer and yet surprisingly similar to humans on the cellular level.
'Biodiversity is not a luxury': Connection between wealth and ecosystem health
This study examines the positive correlation between an area's wealth and biodiversity, known as the 'luxury effect.' The authors present an alternative framework for understanding links between socio-economic factors and ecosystem health which emphasizes the agency of less-wealthy communities in promoting healthy ecosystems where they live.
Uranus's swaying moons will help spacecraft seek out hidden oceans
A new computer model can be used to detect and measure interior oceans on the ice covered moons of Uranus. The model works by analyzing orbital wobbles that would be visible from a passing spacecraft. The research gives engineers and scientists a slide-rule to help them design NASA's upcoming Uranus Orbiter and Probe mission.
A clue to what lies beneath the bland surfaces of Uranus and Neptune
When Voyager 2 flew by Uranus and Neptune 40 years ago, astronomers were surprised that it detected no global dipole magnetic fields, like Earth's. The explanation: the ice giants are layered and unmixed, which prevents large scale convection to create a dipole field. But what substances would remain immiscible? A scientist modeled the interiors and found that water-rich and hydrocarbon-rich layers naturally form at extreme pressure and temperature, and they do not mix.
Hunger hormone leptin can direct neural development in a leptin receptor-independent manner
Researchers from the lab of Richard Simerly have uncovered the first example of activity-dependent development of hypothalamic neural circuitry. The work also suggests a novel role for the hunger hormone leptin in specifying the development of neural circuits involved in autonomic regulation and food intake.
Language used by mothers affects oxytocin levels of infants
Infants whose mothers regularly use language to describe what their child is thinking or feeling, have higher levels of the hormone oxytocin, finds a new study.
How climate change threatens this iconic Florida bird
A new analysis of data from a long-term study finds that warmer winters driven by climate change reduced the number of offspring raised annually by the federally threatened Florida scrub-jay by 25% since 1981.
Managing forests with smart technologies
Deforestation has remained a significant issue globally, with primary forests contributing to 16 per cent of the total tree cover loss in the last two decades, driven by climate change and intensive human activity. This threatens natural resources, biodiversity, and people's quality of life. To protect forests, scientists have developed Forest 4.0, an intelligent forest data processing model integrating blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. The system enables real-time monitoring of forest conditions, sustainable resource accounting, and a more transparent forest governance model.
Self-assembling proteins can be used for higher performance, more sustainable skincare products
Researchers have created a novel protein-based gel as a potential ingredient in sustainable and high-performance personal skincare products (PSCPs). This protein-based material, named Q5, could transform the rheological -- or flow-related -- properties of PSCPs, making them more stable under the slightly acidic conditions of human skin. This innovation could also streamline the creation of more eco-friendly skincare products, offering increased efficacy and durability while addressing market demands for ethically sourced ingredients.
Nonlinear compton scattering with a multi-petawatt laser producing ultra-bright gamma rays
A team of researchers has successfully demonstrated nonlinear Compton scattering (NCS) between an ultra-relativistic electron beam and an ultrahigh intensity laser pulse using the 4-Petawatt laser. The innovative approach was the usage of only a laser for electron-photon collisions, in which a multi-PW laser is applied both for particle acceleration and for collision (also called an all-optical setup). This achievement represents a significant milestone in strong field physics, in particular strong field quantum electrodynamics (QED), offering new insights into high-energy electron-photon interactions without the need for a traditional mile-long particle accelerator.
Alzheimer's: New strategy for amyloid diagnostics
A research group has investigated how Alzheimer's disease can be diagnosed more reliably in the future.
Innovative approach maps gene activity in the living human brain
A groundbreaking method to profile gene activity in the living human brain has been developed. This innovative approach opens new avenues for understanding and treating neurological conditions like epilepsy.
Prehistoric hunter-gatherers heard the elks painted on rocks 'talking'
Researchers performed acoustic impulse response measurements in front of 37 rock painting site and found that the same vertical rock surfaces that have the painted elks, humans and boats, are also effective sound reflectors.
Inceptor regulates insulin homeostasis: A new approach for diabetes therapies
In 2021, a research team discovered the insulin-inhibitory receptor 'Inceptor' and its role as a suppressor of the insulin signaling pathway. Now, the researchers have unlocked another, even more significant function of the receptor: it binds insulin and directs its breakdown within beta cells. This discovery could lead to new therapeutic approaches that not only strengthen beta cell function but also enable a causal treatment for diabetes.
Focaccia: A Neolithic culinary tradition dating back 9,000 years ago
A new study indicates that during the Late Neolithic, between 7000 and 5000 BCE, the fully agricultural communities in the Fertile Crescent region of the Near East, developed a complex culinary tradition that included the baking of large loaves of bread and 'focaccias' with different flavors on special trays known to archaeologists as husking trays.
Scientists produce high-power attosecond X-ray pulses at megahertz repetition rates
A research team has achieved a major advance in X-ray science by generating unprecedented high-power attosecond hard X-ray pulses at megahertz repetition rates. This advancement opens new frontiers in the study of ultrafast electron dynamics and enables non-destructive measurements at the atomic level.
ODS FeCrAl alloys endure liquid metal flow at 600 °C resembling a fusion blanket environment
Researchers explored protective coatings to resist corrosion in fusion reactors. They tested -Al2O3 oxide layers on ODS alloys in a high-temperature, flowing lithium-lead environment. Even bare ODS alloys formed a durable -LiAlO2 layer in situ, which suppressed further corrosion. The layers exhibited strong adhesion under mechanical stress, making these findings crucial for improving material durability in fusion reactors and high-temperature energy systems.
The future of edge AI: Dye-sensitized solar cell-based synaptic device
Physical reservoir computing (PRC) utilizing synaptic devices shows significant promise for edge AI. Researchers from the Tokyo University of Science have introduced a novel self-powered dye-sensitized solar cell-based device that mimics human synaptic behavior for efficient edge AI processing, inspired by the eye's afterimage phenomenon. The device has light intensity-controllable time constants, helping it achieve high performance during time-series data processing and motion recognition tasks. This work is a major step toward multiple time-scale PRC.
Bats' amazing plan B for when they can't hear
When bats can't hear, new research finds that these hearing-dependent animals employ a remarkable compensation strategy.
The next evolution of AI begins with ours
The genome has space for only a small fraction of the information needed to control complex behaviors. So then how, for example, does a newborn sea turtle instinctually know to follow the moonlight? Neuroscientists have devised a potential explanation for this age-old paradox. Their ideas should lead to faster, more evolved forms of artificial intelligence.
Political opinions influence our choice of chocolate
We distance ourselves from completely neutral products if they are liked by people who have political views that we find disagreeable. Even chocolate can be political, according to new research from Sweden. The behavior is reinforced if we have to make a decision when others are watching.
Using sunlight to recycle black plastics
Not all plastics are equal -- some types and colors are easier to recycle than others. For instance, black foam and black coffee lids, which are often made of polystyrene, usually end up in landfills because color additives lead to ineffective sorting. Now, researchers report on the ability to leverage one additive in black plastics, with the help of sunlight or white LEDs, to convert black and colored polystyrene waste into reusable starting materials.
Impact of climate change on water resources will increase price tag to decarbonize the grid
A new study warns that current plans to achieve zero emissions on the grid by 2050 vastly underestimate the required investments in generation and transmission infrastructure. The reason: these plans do not account for climate change's impacts on water resources. Specifically, changes in water availability caused by climate change could decrease hydropower generation by up to 23% by the year 2050, while electricity demand could increase by 2%.
Scientists find why tamoxifen works better for some people
Tamoxifen is a common and important treatment to prevent breast cancer from recurring. A new study shows that variation in a patient's gut microbiome can impact how effective the treatment is.
Study finds genetic mechanisms behind high-yield apple trees
Apples rank among the world's most valuable fruit crops, with production spanning more than 100 countries. Some apple trees naturally develop into what farmers call 'spur-type' varieties -- compact trees that are more productive and easier to maintain. But the genetic mechanisms underlying this coveted trait have remained elusive -- until now.
Phages, towards a targeted alternative to antibiotics
With the rapid development of antibiotics in the 1930s, phage therapy -- using viruses known as bacteriophages or phages to tackle bacterial infections -- fell into oblivion. But as the current rise in antibiotic resistance is making it increasingly difficult to treat bacterial infections, phage therapy is once again sparking interest among physicians and scientists -- although it remains complex in practice because of the great diversity and specificity of phages.
Researchers use fitness tracker data and machine learning to detect bipolar disorder mood swings
Investigators evaluated whether data collected from a fitness tracker could be used to accurately detect mood episodes in people with bipolar disorder.
New AI tool generates realistic satellite images of future flooding
With help from AI, scientists developed a method that generates satellite imagery from the future to depict how a region would look after a potential flooding event.
Researchers develop tools to examine neighborhood economic effects on spinal cord injury outcomes
A new study emphasizes that neighborhood conditions significantly shape recovery opportunities for individuals with SCI and advocates for environmental interventions to reduce health inequities.
Pandrug-resistant bacteria from the war in Ukraine are extremely pathogenic
It has been a year ago since bacteria from war-wounded at hospitals in Ukraine were analyzed. The study showed that some of the bacteria types had total resistance to antibiotics. Now, the same researchers have examined the infectiousness of the bacteria. 'The bacterium 'Klebsiella pneumoniae', which is resistant to all antibiotics, is also particularly aggressive and dangerous,' says the lead author of the study.
Brain shrinkage associated with Alzheimer's therapies shows effectiveness rather than harm
A loss of brain volume associated with new immunotherapies for Alzheimer's disease may be caused by the removal of amyloid plaques, rather than the loss of neurons or brain tissue, finds a new study.
Novel supernova observations grant astronomers a peek into the cosmic past
An international team of researchers has made new observations of an unusual supernova, finding the most metal-poor stellar explosion ever observed.
Social networked friendship quality can be means of combating loneliness
Spending too much time social networking appears to be a key driver in loneliness, but a new article suggests motivated uses of social networking sites for connecting with people and feeling companionship can also play a role in alleviating it.
Herodotus' theory on Armenian origins debunked by first whole-genome study
Armenians, a population in Western Asia historically inhabiting the Armenian highlands, were long believed to be descendants of Phrygian settlers from the Balkans. This theory originated largely from the accounts of the Greek historian Herodotus, who observed that Armenians were armed in Phrygian fashion when serving in the Persian army. Linguists further supported this theory, suggesting that the Armenian language shares ties with the Thraco-Phrygian subgroup of Indo-European languages. But the first whole-genome study is challenging this long-held belief, revealing no significant genetic link between Armenians and the populations in the Balkan region.
Women who suffer pregnancy complications have fewer children
Women who suffer severe complications during their first pregnancy or delivery are less inclined to have more babies, a study reports. Given the recent steady decline in birth rate in Sweden, the researchers propose monitoring in antenatal care to address the problem.
Electrical nerve stimulation eases long COVID pain and fatigue, study finds
A wearable electrical nerve stimulation device can provide relief to people experiencing the persistent pain and fatigue linked to long COVID, according to new research.
Online health care reviews turned negative following COVID pandemic
Researchers showed online reviews of health facilities took a negative turn after COVID and remain that way.
Cyanobacterial circadian clock uses an AM radio-like mechanism to control cellular processes
Cyanobacteria, an ancient lineage of bacteria that perform photosynthesis, have been found to regulate their genes using the same physics principle used in AM radio transmission.