ScienceDaily: All - October 04, 2024
Today's top research news
New therapeutic target for cardiac arrhythmias emerges
Researchers identified a lipid that is involved in regulating cardiac ion channels, providing insights into possible mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias in heart failure and a potential pathway for future therapeutic development.
Real-time data shows what happens when people lose their balance
The study concludes that among older adults, voice recorders are effective at capturing the circumstances and context in which they lost their balance and potentially fell, without relying on recall later.
Image: StockSmartStart/Shutterstock.com
Preventing organ transplant rejection
Breakthrough research uses nanoparticles to help the body accept transplanted organs without lifelong immunosuppressive drugs, reducing risks.
Precise control for advanced materials design
Researchers have found that exposing a certain class of particles -- micron-sized beads endowed with a special magnetic sensitivity -- to a rapidly alternating, rotating magnetic field causes them to organize into structures that are direction-dependent or anisotropic. The finding is significant because anisotropy can be manipulated to create new, tunable material structures and properties.
Are auditory magic tricks possible for a blind audience?
Magic tricks make the impossible seem possible. Magicians have long captivated audiences with visual tricks, such as pulling a bunny from a hat or sawing someone in half, but tricks that rely on sound are scarce. A new article explores why creating a magical experience using only sound may be challenging and underscores the importance of making magic accessible to people with blindness.
Research points to potential new treatment for aggressive prostate cancer subtype
Researchers describe the mechanisms of how alterations in the CDK12 gene drive prostate cancer development and report on a promising degrader that targets CDK12 and a related gene to destroy tumors.
Pterosaurs needed feet on the ground to become giants
A study determines when and how pterosaurs went from tiny tree-climbers to towering terrestrial titans Flying reptiles first came down from the trees in the mid-Jurassic Period, paving the way for giants with 10-meter wingspans. Fingers and toes point to secrets of flying reptile success.
Scientists uncover auditory 'sixth sense' in geckos
Researchers discover that geckos use a mechanism usually associated with balance to sense vibrations, leading to new insights about how animals hear and feel their surroundings.
Drier winter habitat impacts songbirds' ability to survive migration
A new study shows environmental conditions in migratory birds' winter homes carry over to affect their ability to survive spring migration and the breeding season.
Role of gamma-delta T cells in cancer immunology
A new study reveals critical insights into the role of gamma-delta T cells across 33 cancer types, shedding light on their potential as clinical biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer treatment. This comprehensive analysis represents a significant advancement in the understanding of these unique immune cells and their implications for patient outcomes in cancer therapy.
Improved water quality offsets in growing cities could protect Reef
New research shows how growing Queensland regions can learn from biodiversity and carbon offsetting efforts to better meet water quality targets.
Hoarding disorder: 'Sensory CBT' treatment strategy shows promise
Rehearsing alternative outcomes of discarding through imagery rescripting shows promise as a treatment strategy for people who hoard, a study by psychology researchers has shown.
Toddlers get nearly half their calories from ultra-processed foods
Toddlers in the UK obtain nearly half (47%) of their calories from ultra-processed foods (UPFs), and this rises to 59% by the age of seven, according to a new study. The most common UPFs consumed by the toddlers -- who were 21 months when their parents recorded their diets -- were flavored yogurts and wholegrain breakfast cereals, products typically seen as healthy. By the age of seven, the most common UPFs were sweet cereals, white bread and puddings.
Liquefied natural gas carbon footprint is worse than coal
Liquefied natural gas leaves a greenhouse gas footprint that is 33% worse than coal, when processing and shipping are taken into account, according to a new study.
Scientists develop novel method for strengthening PVC products
Researchers have developed a way to make one type of plastic material more durable and less likely to shed dangerous microplastics.
In odd galaxy, NASA's Webb finds potential missing link to first stars
Looking deep into the early universe with NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have found something unprecedented: a galaxy with an odd light signature, which they attribute to its gas outshining its stars. Found approximately one billion years after the big bang, galaxy GS-NDG-9422 (9422) may be a missing-link phase of galactic evolution between the universe's first stars and familiar, well-established galaxies.
Green subsidies may have hidden costs, experts warn
Government subsidies for business practices and processes should be approached with caution, even when they seem to be environmentally friendly, writes a group of scientists and economists. They argue that subsidies can alter market pressures, leading to unintended consequences that not only perpetuate harmful subsidies over time but also diminish the overall effectiveness of those intended to promote environmental sustainability.
Turning brain cells on using the power of light
Researchers have developed a noninvasive way of using bioluminescent optogenetics to activate parts of the brain.
How doxycycline for STI prevention affects the gut microbiome
Taking a dose of the oral antibiotic doxycycline after a high-risk sexual encounter has dramatically reduced the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in places where the strategy is being tried.
What happens in the brain when a person with schizophrenia 'hears voices'?
Auditory hallucinations are likely the result of abnormalities in two brain processes: a 'broken' corollary discharge that fails to suppress self-generated sounds, and a 'noisy' efference copy that makes the brain hear these sounds more intensely than it should, according to a new study.
According to a new study, colonies of ants began farming fungi when an asteroid struck Earth 66 million years ago. This asteroid impact caused a global mass extinction but also created ideal conditions for fungi to thrive. Innovative ants began cultivating the fungi, creating an evolutionary partnership that became even more tightly intertwined 27 million years ago and continues to this day.
A new era of solar observation
For the first time, scientists have taken near-daily measurements of the Sun's global coronal magnetic field, a region of the Sun that has only been observed irregularly in the past. The resulting observations are providing valuable insights into the processes that drive the intense solar storms that impact fundamental technologies, and thus lives and livelihoods, here on Earth.
The true global impact of species-loss caused by humans is far greater than expected
The extinction of hundreds of bird species caused by humans over the last 130,000 years has led to substantial reductions in avian functional diversity -- a measure of the range of different roles and functions that birds undertake within the environment -- and resulted in the loss of approximately 3 billion years of unique evolutionary history, according to a new study.
Balancing health: diabetes and obesity increase risk of liver cancer relapse
A research team analyzed how diabetes mellitus and obesity factor into recurrence and survival after surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of liver cancer.
2-billion-year-old rock home to living microbes
Pockets of microbes have been found living within a sealed fracture in 2-billion-year-old rock. The rock was excavated from the Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa, an area known for its rich ore deposits. This is the oldest example of living microbes being found within ancient rock so far discovered. The team involved in the study built on its previous work to perfect a technique involving three types of imaging -- infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy and fluorescent microscopy -- to confirm that the microbes were indigenous to the ancient core sample and not caused by contamination during the retrieval and study process. Research on these microbes could help us better understand the very early evolution of life, as well as the search for extraterrestrial life in similarly aged rock samples brought back from Mars.
Oyster reefs once thrived along Europe's coasts -- now they're gone
Oysters once formed extensive reefs along much of Europe's coastline -- but these complex ecosystems were destroyed over a century ago, new research shows.
Psychological distress in adults and caregivers about food allergy is widespread and unrecognized
Psychological distress is common amongst those living with food allergy, but a new study has shown that little support is available to those who are struggling.
Quantum researchers come up with a recipe that could accelerate drug development
Mathematicians have developed a recipe for upgrading quantum computers to simulate complex quantum systems, such as molecules. Their discovery brings us closer to being able to predict how new drugs will behave within our bodies and has the potential to revolutionize pharmaceutical development.
Promising 'first' in Alzheimer's drug development
An international team of researchers have made a promising breakthrough in the development of drugs to treat Alzheimer's Disease. For the first time, scientists have developed a drug that works on both major aggregation-promoting 'hotspots' of the Tau protein in the brain -- a key driver of neurodegeneration. The drug, a peptide inhibitor called RI-AG03, was effective at preventing the build-up of Tau proteins in both lab and fruit fly studies.
Plants like Arabidopsis rely on a molecule called DDM1 to pass down accurate chromosome copies to future generations. But if it's so important, why isn't Arabidopsis affected when DDM1 is lost? After 30 years, botanists have found the answer. Arabidopsis has a backup plan known as RNAi.
Body weight is an important health factor in pregnancy -- regardless of country of birth
Overweight is a major contributor to complications during pregnancy and childbirth -- this applies to both women born in Sweden and women who have moved here, something that has not been well researched so far. Interventions that promote a healthy weight have the potential to prevent complications for all women, the researchers conclude. The study was conducted by researchers at Link ping University and Karolinska Institutet and is published in The Lancet Public Health.
Logic with light: Introducing diffraction casting, optical-based parallel computing
Increasingly complex applications such as artificial intelligence require ever more powerful and power-hungry computers to run. Optical computing is a proposed solution to increase speed and power efficiency but has yet to be realized due to constraints and drawbacks. A new design architecture, called diffraction casting, seeks to address these shortcomings. It introduces some concepts to the field of optical computing that might make it more appealing for implementation in next-generation computing devices.
Wastewater bacteria can breakdown plastic for food
Comamonadacae is a family of bacteria often found growing on plastics in water. A new study finds a bacterium in this family can break down the plastic for food. Researchers also identified the enzyme the bacterium use to degrade plastic. The discovery opens new possibilities for developing bacteria-based engineering solutions to help clean up difficult-to-remove plastic waste.
Study identifies potential novel drug to treat tuberculosis
A new study identified that a semi-synthetic compound can be derived from natural compounds and shows potent activity against tuberculosis (TB), including multi-drug resistant TB.
Zooplankton play limited role in cleaning contaminated water
Scientists were recently surprised to find that the natural community of zooplankton -- tiny, aquatic animals known to graze on bacteria -- present in freshwater and saltwater do not clean water that is contaminated with fecal microorganisms.
Widespread ice deposits on the moon
Deposits of ice in lunar dust and rock (regolith) are more extensive than previously thought, according to a new analysis of data from NASA's LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) mission. Ice would be a valuable resource for future lunar expeditions. Water could be used for radiation protection and supporting human explorers, or broken into its hydrogen and oxygen components to make rocket fuel, energy, and breathable air.
Strong coupling between Andreev qubits mediated by a microwave resonator
Physicists have succeeded in coupling two Andreev qubits coherently over a macroscopic distance for the first time. They achieved this with the help of microwave photons generated in a narrow superconducting resonator. The results lay the foundation for the use of coupled Andreev qubits in quantum communication and quantum computing.
Faster, more sensitive lung cancer detection from a blood draw
A new way of diagnosing lung cancer with a blood draw is 10 times faster and 14 times more sensitive than earlier methods, according to researchers.
Engineers create a chip-based tractor beam for biological particles
A chip-based 'tractor beam' can trap and manipulate biological particles using a tightly focused beam of light emitted from a silicon-photonics chip. The device could help biologists and clinicians study DNA, classify cells, and investigate the mechanisms of disease.
New findings supply corrective to evolutionary hypothesis
The study blends math, statistics and biology to show that this long-held hyperbolic pattern is an anomaly because it doesn't account for the fact that all species on earth are defined as much by their unique traits as the variation that exists in those traits.
New imaging technique accurately detects aggressive kidney cancer
A new study has demonstrated a new, non-invasive imaging technique can accurately detect clear-cell renal cell carcinoma, the most common form of kidney cancer.
Stem cell transplants close macular holes in monkeys
Human stem cell transplants successfully repaired macular holes in a monkey model, researchers report. After transplantation, the macular holes were closed by continuous filling of the space with retinal tissue.
Our brains divide the day into chapters: New psychology research offers details on how
Mindset and expectations, not just the external environment, shape the 'table of contents' into which our brains organize the day.
Wider use of convalescent plasma might have saved thousands more lives during pandemic
A new study estimates that thousands of lives could have been saved during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic if convalescent plasma had been used more broadly, particularly in outpatients at high risk for severe disease and in hospitalized patients during their first few days of admission.
New findings underscore the importance of further research to enhance our understanding of urban heat dynamics in subtropical and tropical regions, ensuring that heat mitigation efforts are informed by the most accurate data available. A recent study examines the effectiveness of using land surface temperatures (LSTs) as proxies for surface air temperatures (SATs) in subtropical, seasonally wet regions. Scientists used satellite remote sensing data to explore how LST reflects human heat exposure in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
Methane emissions from dairy farms higher than thought -- but conversion could reduce emissions
New research has found methane emissions from slurry stores on dairy farms may be up to five times greater than official statistics suggest -- and highlights the huge potential for turning them into a renewable energy source. The study shows that if captured and turned into biogas, emitted methane could be valuable.
Early foster care gave poor women power, 17th-century records reveal
A rare collection of 300-year-old petitions gives voice to the forgotten women who cared for England's most vulnerable children while battling their local authorities.
New risk scoring system to account for role of chronic illness in post-surgery mortality
A research team has created the Comorbid Operative Risk Evaluation (CORE) score to better account for the role chronic illness plays in patient's risk of mortality after operation, allowing surgeons to adjust to patients' pre-existing conditions and more easily determine mortality risk.
University of Utah mathematics and climate researchers are building new models for understanding the dynamics of sea ice, which is not as solid as you might think.
Plant compound used in traditional medicine may help fight tuberculosis
A compound found in African wormwood -- a plant used medicinally for thousands of years to treat many types of illness -- could be effective against tuberculosis, according to a new study.
New theory demystifies crystallization process
A new theory 'demystifies' the crystallization process and shows that the material that crystallizes is the dominant component within a solution -- which is the solvent, not the solute. The theory could have implications for everything from drug development to understanding climate change.
deepSPACE design tool takes a concept to a multitude of configurations
deepSPACE isn't a futuristic film, a new videogame or the next season of a classic TV series. In fact, the new design software developed by an aerospace engineer isn't about outer space at all. This new tool takes your concept and requirements and rapidly generates design configurations from conventional to out-of-this-world, including a 3D CAD model and performance evaluations.
New design overcomes key barrier to safer, more efficient EV batteries
Researchers use AI to help people see more clearly
A serious, irreversible eye disease known as myopic maculopathy is on the rise.
Spinning out a new biomaterials startup is harder than you think
Spider silk, long prized for its strength and elasticity, has created something of a furor in the biomanufacturing world as businesses look for ways to cheaply scale up production for silks, which can be used in everything from tactical gear to sutures and textiles. However, a comprehensive study shows that there are many challenges facing the spider silk industry.
Medical and psychological harms of obesity depend on where you live, study indicates
Researchers collected archival data on more than 3.4 million people living in the United States and United Kingdom. They found evidence that obesity tends to spur lighter medical and psychological harms when those who struggle with the disorder feel less conspicuous.
How estrogen's millisecond-fast action happens
Researchers discovered a mechanism by which estrogen can trigger fast neuronal responses.
Environmental quality of life benefits women worldwide
Global evidence has revealed that women's environmental quality of life is key to their overall quality of life and health, according to a new study.
Satisfying friendships could be key for young, single adults' happiness
A new analysis assesses the heterogeneity of factors linked with happiness among single Americans who are just entering adulthood, highlighting a particularly strong link between happiness and satisfying friendships.
Iron nuggets in the Pinnacles unlock secrets of ancient and future climates
Small iron-rich formations found within Western Australia's Pinnacles, which are part of the world's largest wind-blown limestone belt spanning more than 1000km, have provided new insights into Earth's ancient climate and changing landscape.