ScienceDaily: All - October 22, 2024
Today's top research news
Sweetened beverage taxes decrease consumption in lower-income households by nearly 50%
New research investigated responses to sweetened beverage taxes using the purchasing behavior of approximately 400 households in Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland and Philadelphia. Researchers found that after the tax was introduced, lower-income households decreased their purchases of sweetened beverages by nearly 50%, while higher-income households reduced purchases by 18%.
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The transformative power of movies
Docudrama can lead people to be more empathetic toward people who are stigmatized in society, a new study finds.
What happened when a meteorite the size of four Mount Everests hit Earth?
Scientists paint a compelling picture of what happened the day the S2 meteorite crashed into Earth 3.26 billion years ago.
Weather-changing El Nino oscillation is at least 250 million years old
A new modeling study shows that the El Nino event, a huge blob of warm ocean water in the tropical Pacific Ocean that can change rainfall patterns around the globe, was present at least 250 million years in the past, and was often of greater magnitude than the oscillations we see today.
Microbes drove methane growth between 2020 and 2022, not fossil fuels
Microorganisms growing in landfills, on agricultural land and in wetlands are contributing to skyrocketing levels of atmospheric methane, a potent greenhouse gas, according to new research.
Rapidly increasing industrial activities in Arctic
More than 800,000 km2 of the Arctic were affected by human activity in 2013, according to an analysis of satellite-derived data on artificial light at night. On average, 85% of the light-polluted areas are due to industrial activities rather than urban development.
Plant CO2 uptake rises by nearly one third in new global estimates
Plants the world over are absorbing about 31% more carbon dioxide than previously thought, according to a new assessment. The research is expected to improve Earth system simulations that scientists use to predict the future climate, and spotlights the importance of natural carbon sequestration for greenhouse gas mitigation.
Shaking from April's sizable New Jersey earthquake traveled strangely far
When a magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck northern New Jersey's Tewksbury township on April 5, it triggered widespread alarm as the biggest event since 1884. Based on existing models, it should have done substantial damage at its epicenter, but that didn't happen. Meanwhile, relatively distant New York City shook much harder than expected, causing damage, albeit minor. Outsize shaking extended all the way to Virginia and Maine. A new study suggests why this happened, calling into question some assumptions about regional earthquake hazard.
In a massive research project spanning five years and stretching the length of the Northeast seaboard, scientists have created a spatial map of the sea that shows how individual fishing communities can change their fishing habits in order to adapt to climate change.
Rare fossils of extinct elephant document the earliest known instance of butchery in India
Scientists have discovered the earliest evidence of animal butchery by humans in India.
Study combines woodchips and biochar to clean water of pharmaceuticals, nutrients
In a new study, researchers show how a simple system using woodchips and a bit of glorified sawdust --- designer biochar --- can dramatically reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and multiple common drugs in wastewater.
Scientists unveil new insights into air pollution formation
Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in understanding how air pollution forms at the molecular level. Their investigation sheds light on the complex chemical processes occurring at the boundary between liquid, in particular aqueous solutions, and vapor in our atmosphere.
Turtle genome provides new clues on the evolution of vertebrates
Scientists have generated the genome assemblies of two hidden-neck turtles, unpublished until now. The results, which revealed a new three-dimensional structure of the genome within the phylogenetic group of reptiles, birds and mammals, will contribute to the development of more effective turtle conservation strategies, and to the study of the evolution of the genome and chromosomal organisation of vertebrates.
New guideline: Preventing a first stroke may be possible with screening, lifestyle changes
Updated clinical recommendations, including lifestyle changes, prevention strategies and treatment options, to reduce the risk of a first stroke have been outlined in a new guideline.
Creating a simplified form of life
How can lifeless molecules come together to form a living cell?
Understanding the relationship between food waste, climate change, and aging population
Household food waste is an important contributor to global food loss and waste and greenhouse gas emissions, but not much is known about what types of food are wasted the most and by whom. Now, researchers investigated the relationship between food waste, food type, and various socioeconomic and demographic factors. Their findings will help us develop sound strategies to minimize food waste in Japan and other aging developed countries.
Study finds tuberculosis changes liver metabolism and could promote diabetes
Scientists have discovered that tuberculosis disrupts glucose metabolism in the body.
The 2022 European drought: What was the role of climate change?
The drought that lasted through the summer of 2022 was especially intense and caused the soil in many regions of Europe to dry out substantially. Public discussions about the causes repeatedly broached the question of the extent to which climate change intensified this extreme weather event. A research team has now discovered that more than 30 percent of the extraordinary intensity and physical extent of the drought can be attributed to human-induced climate change. This extreme event was exacerbated by the fact that climate change had already caused soil moisture levels to drop continuously over the previous years.
Cloud computing captures chemistry code
The speed and agility of cloud computing opens doors to completing advanced computational chemistry workflows in days instead of months.
Can snake research help explain human digestion?
To understand how these large snakes can regenerate their intestines without intestinal crypts, scientists sequenced the RNA genes of pythons. By learning more about this process in reptiles, researchers hope to better inform other scientists working to improve the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases in humans, including diabetes, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, and cancer.
New discovery could change autoimmune therapy landscape
Researchers have discovered a family of enzymes that work to reduce IgG-mediated pathologies in diseases like MG. The findings, involving mouse models, show that a specific enzyme (an endoglycosidase called CU43) was particularly effective in treating those diseases caused by overactive antibodies.
Researchers develop 3D atlas of the developing mammalian brain
A team of researchers has created a 3D atlas of developing mice brains, providing a more dynamic understanding of how the mammalian brain develops. This atlas provides a common reference and anatomical framework to help researchers understand brain development and study neurodevelopmental disorders.
New research could lead to genetically tailored diets to treat patients with IBS
An international study has found that genetic variations in human carbohydrate-active enzymes may affect how people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) respond to a carbohydrate-reduced diet.
Stalking ribosomes: How cancer cells pull poker faces
The protein factories of our cells are much more diverse than we thought they were. Scientists have now shown that cancer cells can use these so-called ribosomes to boost their invisibility cloak, helping them hide from the immune system.
U.S. infant mortality increased 7 percent in months following Dobbs, researchers find
U.S. babies died at a higher rate in the months following the Supreme Court's 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health decision, and infant mortality was highest among those born with chromosomal or genetic abnormalities, new research has found. The findings mirror previous research analyzing the experience in Texas after a ban on abortions in early pregnancy and illuminate the consequences of restricting access to abortion care, said researchers who conducted the national analysis.
Plant guard cells can count environmental stimuli
Plants adapt their water consumption to environmental conditions by counting and calculating environmental stimuli with their guard cells.
AI could transform how hospitals produce quality reports
Researchers find advanced AI could lead to easier, faster and more efficient hospital quality reporting.
Research team connects loneliness with heightened risk of dementia in largest study of its kind
New research quantified the association between loneliness and dementia by analyzing data from more than 600,000 people around the world. The meta-analysis of 21 longitudinal studies showed that experiencing feelings of loneliness increased the risk of developing dementia by 31%.
Scan based on lizard saliva detects rare tumor
A new PET scan reliably detects benign tumors in the pancreas, according to new research. Current scans often fail to detect these insulinomas, even though they cause symptoms due to low blood sugar levels. Once the tumor is found, surgery is possible.