ScienceDaily: All - October 01, 2023
Today's top research news
To prepare for next pandemic, researchers tackle bird flu
Researchers have developed an improved way to test potential vaccines against bird flu.
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Can ChatGPT help us form personal narratives?
New research found that the language model can produce accurate personal narratives from stream-of-consciousness data.
Allergy study on 'wild' mice challenges the hygiene hypothesis
The notion that some level of microbial exposure might reduce our risk of developing allergies has arisen over the last few decades and has been termed the hygiene hypothesis. Now, an article challenges this hypothesis by showing that mice with high infectious exposures from birth have the same, if not an even greater ability to develop allergic immune responses than 'clean' laboratory mice.
A new bioinfomatics pipeline solves a 50-year-old blood group puzzle
Currently, a lot is known about which genes are responsible for our individual blood groups, however not much is understood about how and why the levels of the blood group molecules differ between one person and another. This can be important for blood transfusion safety. Now a research group has developed a toolbox that finds the answer – and in doing so, has solved a 50-year-old mystery.
Intense lasers shine new light on the electron dynamics of liquids
The behavior of electrons in liquids is crucial to understanding many chemical processes that occur in our world. Using advanced lasers that operate at the attosecond, a team of international researchers has revealed further insights into how electrons behave in liquids.
Ball milling provides high pressure benefits to battery materials
Cheaper, more efficient lithium-ion batteries could be produced by harnessing previously overlooked high pressures generated during the manufacturing process.
New insights into how the human brain organizes language
A new study has provided the first clear picture of where language processes are located in the brain. The findings may be useful in clinical trials involving language recovery after brain injury.
Insights into early snake evolution through brain analysis
Recent study sheds new light on the enigmatic early evolution of snakes by examining an unexpected source: their brains. The results emphasize the significance of studying both the soft parts of animals’ bodies and their bones for understanding how animals evolved.
Explosion in fish biodiversity due to genetic recycling
The rapid formation of 500 different species of fish in a single lake, each with specialized ecological roles, resulted from a small but genetically diverse hybrid population.
Timing plant evolution with a fast-ticking epigenetic clock
Recent discoveries in the field of epigenetics, the study of inheritance of traits that occur without changing the DNA sequence, have shown that chronological age in mammals correlates with epigenetic changes that accumulate during the lifetime of an individual. In humans, this observation has led to the development of epigenetic clocks, which are now extensively used as biomarkers of aging. While these clocks work accurately from birth until death, they are set back to zero in each new generation. Now, an international team shows that epigenetic clocks not only exist in plants, but that these clocks keep ticking accurately over many generations.
Skin behind the ears and between the toes can host a collection of unhealthy microbes
Scrubbing behind the ears and between the toes may help keep the skin in those regions healthy, new research suggests. The microbiome, or the collection of microbes living on and in the human body, are known to play a role in human health and the skin is no different. A new study has shown that the composition of the skin microbiome varies across dry, moist and oily regions of the skin.
Ultrasound may rid groundwater of toxic 'forever chemicals'
New research suggests that ultrasound may have potential in treating a group of harmful chemicals known as PFAS to eliminate them from contaminated groundwater.
Did animal evolution begin with a predatory lifestyle?
Surprising findings on the development of sea anemones suggest that a predatory lifestyle molded their evolution and had a significant impact on the origin of their nervous system. The researchers were able to show that the young life stages (larvae) of the small sea anemone Aiptasia actively feed on living prey and are not dependent on algae. To capture its prey, the anemone larvae use specialized stinging cells and a simple neuronal network.
Exposure to air pollution linked to increased risk of stroke within 5 days
Short-term exposure to air pollution may be linked to an increased risk of stroke. Short-term exposure was defined as occurring within five days of the stroke.
Wild Asian elephants display unique puzzle solving skills
A new study has documented the abilities of individual wild Asian elephants to access food by solving puzzles that unlocked storage boxes. It is the first research study to show that individual wild elephants have different willingness and abilities to problem solve in order to get food.
Oldest hunter-gatherer basketry in southern Europe, 9,500 years old
A team of scientists has discovered and analyzed the first direct evidence of basketry among hunter-gatherer societies and early farmers in southern Europe in the Cueva de los Murciélagos of Albuñol (Granada, Spain). This site is one of the most emblematic archaeological sites of prehistoric times in the Iberian Peninsula due to the unique preservation of organic materials found there.
Data from wearables show that deviations from normal sleep and activity in pregnancy are connected to a risk for premature delivery, a new study found.
A turtle time capsule: DNA found in ancient shell
Paleontologists discover possible DNA remains in fossil turtle that lived 6 million years ago in Panama, where continents collide.
For the lonely, a blurred line between real and fictional people
In lonely people, the boundary between real friends and favorite fictional characters gets blurred in the part of the brain that is active when thinking about others, a new study found.
Watch how hammerhead sharks get their hammer
The first-ever look at hammerhead shark development shows how they develop their hammer in stunning detail.
Three recessive genes are required to give carrots their orange color -- and the beneficial precursor of vitamin A.
Grandparent childcare for toddlers doesn’t have an impact on the wellbeing of their mothers, a new study suggests.
Why are killer whales harassing and killing porpoises without eating them?
For decades, fish-eating killer whales in the Pacific Northwest have been observed harassing and even killing porpoises without consuming them —- a perplexing behavior that has long intrigued scientists.
Atlantic walrus more vulnerable than ever to Arctic warming
Past cycles of climate change, along with human exploitation, have led to only small and isolated stocks of Atlantic walrus remaining. The current population is at high risk of the same issues affecting them severely, according to a new study.
Tiny CRISPR tool could help shred viruses
Scientists mapped out the three-dimensional structure of one of the smallest known CRISPR-Cas13 systems then used that knowledge to modify its structure and improve its accuracy.
Saturated fat may interfere with creating memories in aged brain
New research hints at a few ways fatty foods affect cells in the brain, a finding that could help explain the link between a high-fat diet and impaired memory -- especially as we age. A new study in cell cultures found the omega-3 fatty acid DHA may help protect the brain from an unhealthy diet's effects by curbing fat-induced inflammation at the cellular source.
Strength is in this glass's DNA
Scientists were able to fabricate a pure form of glass and coat specialized pieces of DNA with it to create a material that was not only stronger than steel, but incredibly lightweight.
Researchers discover that heart cells in developing zebrafish start beating suddenly and all at once
Combinations of unfavorable weather conditions over several years can cause a decline in insect biomass.
