ScienceDaily: All - September 07, 2024
Today's top research news
'Ice bucket challenge' reveals that bacteria can anticipate the seasons
Image: Crystal Eye Studio/Shutterstock.com
New filtration material could remove long-lasting chemicals from water
A new filtration material might provide a nature-based solution to water contamination by PFAS chemicals. The material, based on natural silk and cellulose, can remove a wide variety of these 'forever' chemicals as well as heavy metals, and its antimicrobial properties can help keep the filters from fouling.
Saline nasal drops reduce the duration of the common cold in young children by two days
Using hypertonic saline nasal drops can reduce the length of the common cold in children by two days, according to a new study. They can also reduce the onward transmission of colds to family members.
Some species of pterosaurs flew by flapping their wings while others soared like vultures, demonstrates a new study. Findings include a new pterosaur with a five-meter wingspan, which is one of the most complete pterosaurs ever recovered from Afro-Arabia.
Elevating analysis of genomic data with breakthrough mathematical technique
A novel approach to analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data has been unveiled by researchers. This method promises to enhance both the precision and speed of data interpretation, potentially accelerating progress in numerous areas of biomedical investigation, including studies on cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
Serotonin in depression is highly relevant in diagnosis, treatment, and drug development. To better study this area, a team has now developed a fluorescent probe for imaging processes that is highly sensitive and selective toward serotonin.
One antibody to neutralize them all?
An antibody developed by researchers works against a wide range of COVID-19 variants and related coronaviruses, including past, present and potentially future strains.
Natural probiotic discovered in newborns microbiomes
In the largest genomic analysis of UK infant microbiomes to date, researchers have uncovered a type of bacterium that helps digest breast milk and protects a baby's gut from pathogens.
Hijacking the command center of the cell: Nuclear parasites in deep-sea mussels
Researchers now reveal how a bacterial parasite infects and reproduces in the nuclei of deep-sea mussels from hydrothermal vents and cold seeps. They show how a single bacterial cell invades the mussel's nucleus where it reproduces to over 80,000 cells, while ensuring that its host cell stays alive.
Astrophysics: AI shines a new light on exoplanets
A team models the atmospheres of distant planets using neural networks.
How microbial communities emerge
Virtually all multicellular organisms on Earth live in symbiotic associations with very large and complex microbial communities known as microbiomes. New research has just been published aimed at offering a complete understanding how those relationships form. Computational ecologists explore how associations between complex bacterial communities and multicellular hosts emerge in nature by combining theory with empirical work. The researchers are currently using the proposed framework to investigate microbes inside marine sponges.
Researchers create a one-dimensional gas out of light
Physicists have created a one-dimensional gas out of light. This has enabled them to test theoretical predictions about the transition into this exotic state of matter for the first time. The method used in the experiment by the researchers could be used for examining quantum effects.
100x improvement in sight seen after gene therapy trial
The vision of people with a rare inherited condition that causes them to lose much of their sight early in childhood was 100 times better after they received gene therapy to address the genetic mutation causing it. Some patients even experienced a 10,000-fold improvement in their vision after receiving the highest dose of the therapy, according to researchers.
Shining light on how solar power and farming can coexist
Scientists have developed a new tool to help identify optimal photovoltaic (PV) materials capable of maximizing crop growth while generating solar power.
Altered blood markers detected in individuals with periodontitis
Individuals with periodontitis have altered concentrations of various proteins in their blood, according to a new study. These findings pave the way for research into biomarkers for periodontitis and the underlying causes of the disease. Severe periodontitis affects about one in ten Swedes and, in addition to tooth loss, can also be linked to other diseases.
Massive merger: Study reveals evidence for origin of supermassive black hole at galaxy's center
Researchers have discovered compelling evidence suggesting that the supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy, known as Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), is likely the result of a past cosmic merger. The study builds on recent observations from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), which captured the first direct image of Sgr A* in 2022.
Study estimates home blood pressure devices don't fit properly for more than 17 million US adults
Over-the-counter blood pressure measuring devices offer a simple, affordable way for people to track hypertension at home, but the standard arm-size ranges for these devices won't appropriately fit millions of U.S. consumers, according to a new study.
Making baby food safer: Arsenic and cadmium contamination levels in rice
Researchers found that flooded rice fields tend to have higher amounts of arsenic and lower amounts of cadmium while drier rice fields have lower amounts of arsenic and higher amounts of cadmium. The findings could help shape policy and make infant food safer.
Brain scans reveal that mindfulness meditation for pain is not a placebo
Brain scans reveal that mindfulness meditation engages different neural pathways compared to placebo, demonstrating that pain relief from mindfulness meditation is not the result of the placebo effect.
Researchers determine molecular interactions in plants
Plant scientists have long known that phosphorus is a crucial component in plant growth. Biologists are now developing a better understanding of how plants detect and use that resource -- potentially leading to more efficient production of crops for food, fiber and fuel.
A novel study addresses a critical yet under-explored question in cancer research: Why is aging the biggest risk factor for cancer? The study reveals how an aging immune system spurs tumor growth, offering new insights into cancer prevention and treatment, especially for older adults. In preclinical models, the research team found that anakinra, a drug typically used for inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, can be repurposed to block harmful signals between early lung cancer lesions and the bone marrow. This is critical, say the investigators, because as the immune system ages, it creates harmful inflammation that can drive cancer development.
Groundwater use can be accurately monitored with satellites using OPENet
Drought is a widespread concern in the Western U.S., and water managers across the region are developing groundwater management plans to conserve the essential resource. Groundwater is often pumped to the surface to irrigate crops, and meters that measure the flow of pumped water have historically offered the best information on groundwater use. These meters are rare, however, so scientists set out to determine whether OpenET, a platform that measures evapotranspiration using satellite data, could help fill this information gap.