ScienceDaily: All - October 10, 2024
Today's top research news
In double breakthrough, mathematician solves two long-standing problems
A professor who has devoted his career to resolving the mysteries of higher mathematics has solved two separate, fundamental problems that have perplexed mathematicians for decades.
Image: fran_kie/Shutterstock.com
Researchers have identified how the architecture of brain circuits helps different species flexibly adapt to new mating signals across evolutionary timeframes.
Do people with MS have an increased risk of cancer?
A new study has found some cancers to be slightly more frequent in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) than in people without MS. Types of cancers found to have a small increased risk include bladder, brain and cervical cancers. The study does not prove that MS increases a person's risk of cancer. It only shows an association.
NASA's Hubble watches Jupiter's Great Red Spot behave like a stress ball
Astronomers have observed Jupiter's legendary Great Red Spot (GRS), an anticyclone large enough to swallow Earth, for at least 150 years. But there are always new surprises -- especially when NASA's Hubble Space Telescope takes a close-up look at it. Hubble's new observations of the famous red storm, collected 90 days between December 2023 to March 2024, reveal that the GRS is not as stable as it might look. The recent data show the GRS jiggling like a bowl of gelatin. The combined Hubble images allowed astronomers to assemble a time-lapse movie of the squiggly behavior of the GRS.
Gene therapy shows long-term benefit for patients with a rare pediatric brain disease
Cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (CALD) is a rare progressive, genetic brain disease that primarily presents in young boys, causing loss of neurological function and ultimately leading to early death. Researchers have shown that six years after treatment with the first gene therapy approved for CALD, 94 percent of patients have had no decline in neurological functioning, with over 80 percent remaining free of major disability.
Researchers discover new insights into bacterial photosynthesis
Researchers have discovered new understanding of bacterial photosynthesis. Using cutting-edge techniques, investigators have unveiled intricate detailed images of the key photosynthetic protein complexes of purple bacteria. These images shed new light on how these microorganisms harness solar energy.
Why people think they're right, even when they are wrong
If you smugly believe you're right in a disagreement with a friend or colleague, a new study suggests why you may actually be wrong. Researchers found that people naturally assume they have all the information they need to make a decision or support their position, even when they do not.
Viruses are teeming on your toothbrush, showerhead
Microbiologists found that showerheads and toothbrushes are teeming with an extremely diverse collection of viruses -- most of which have never been seen before.
Heavy metals in the ocean become more toxic
Toxic trace elements such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium naturally occur in small quantities in coastal seas. However, human activities, such as industry and agriculture, contribute significantly larger amounts. A new study has examined how climate change already affects the distribution and accumulation of these elements and how it could impact them in the future. One of the findings: Climate-related natural events are releasing more contaminants, which pose a risk to both human and animal health. However, there is still insufficient knowledge about how these contaminants will behave in the future.
Arrhythmic hearts after excessive alcohol consumption
Researchers find cardiac arrhythmias in partygoers who had drunk a lot of alcohol.
As flu season approaches, researchers are discovering that the flu and fake news have far more in common than we may think.
Genome-wide association studies have great potential for advancing our understanding of the genetic background of diseases, but so far, few association studies have focused on maternal and newborn diseases, and most have been based on predominantly European populations. To fill these gaps, researchers generated and analyzed full-genome DNA sequences from non-invasive prenatal blood tests collected from over 25,000 pregnant women, all of whom were Han Chinese.
Study probes how eating less can extend lifespan
Researchers tracked the health of nearly one thousand mice on a variety of diets to see if these diets would extend the mice's lifespan. The study was designed to ensure that each mouse was genetically distinct, which allowed the team to better represent the genetic diversity of the human population. By doing so, the results are made more clinically relevant, elevating the study to one of the most significant investigations into aging and lifespan to date.
Nature and plastics inspire breakthrough in soft sustainable materials
Using peptides and a snippet of the large molecules in plastics, materials scientists have developed materials made of tiny, flexible nano-sized ribbons that can be charged just like a battery to store energy or record digital information.
Over 160,000 new viruses discovered by AI
161,979 new RNA viruses have been discovered using a machine learning tool that researchers believe will vastly improve the mapping of life on Earth and could aid in the identification of many millions more viruses yet to be characterized.
Extended Timing: How neurons encode information on timescales that match learning
New research has identified a key step in how neurons encode information on timescales that match learning.
Study uncovers mutations and DNA structures driving bladder cancer
How bladder cancer originates and progresses has been illuminated as never before. Researchers found that antiviral enzymes that mutate the DNA of normal and cancer cells are key promoters of early bladder cancer development, and that standard chemotherapy is also a potent source of mutations. The researchers also discovered that overactive genes within abnormal circular DNA structures in tumor cells genes drive bladder cancer resistance to therapy. These findings are novel insights into bladder cancer biology and point to new therapeutic strategies for this difficult-to-treat cancer.
A matter of taste: Electronic tongue reveals AI 'inner thoughts'
Researchers recently developed electronic tongue capable of identifying differences in similar liquids, such as milk with varying water content; diverse products, including soda types and coffee blends; signs of spoilage in fruit juices; and instances of food safety concerns. They found that results were even more accurate when artificial intelligence used its own assessment parameters to interpret the data generated by the electronic tongue.
Another step towards decoding smell
We often only realize how important our sense of smell is when it is no longer there: food is not as tasty as it once was, or we no longer react to dangers such as the smell of smoke. Researchers have investigated the neuronal mechanisms of human odor perception for the first time. Individual nerve cells in the brain recognize odors and react specifically to the smell, the image and the written word of an object, for example a banana. The results of this study close a long-standing knowledge gap between animal and human odor research.