ScienceDaily: All - September 11, 2024
Today's top research news
Flexibility of containers, and how fast they drain
A new article examines how the flexibility of containers affect how fast they drain.
Solving a memristor mystery to develop efficient, long-lasting memory devices
Phase separation, when molecules part like oil and water, works alongside oxygen diffusion to help memristors -- electrical components that store information using electrical resistance -- retain information even after the power is shut off, according to a recent study.
Summer storms are stronger and more frequent over urban areas
Summer storms are generally more frequent, intense and concentrated over cities than over rural areas, according to new, detailed observations of eight cities and their surroundings. The results could change how city planners prepare for floods in their cities, especially as urban areas expand and as climate change alters global weather patterns.
Image: klyaksun/Shutterstock.com
Can chatbots help with genetic testing for cancer risk?
Demand for cancer genetic testing is on the rise, but there's not enough genetic counselors to guide patients through the process. Researchers say chatbots could be the answer.
Variety is the spice of learning, memory study suggests
Researchers found that older adults learned a memory task best after practicing multiple related tasks, suggesting that diverse cognitive training supports mental sharpness as we age.
Findings from a new study suggest that older people with mild cognitive impairment who engage in high levels of activities such as word games and hobbies have better memory, working memory, attention and processing speed than those who do not.
Due to humans, Salish Sea waters are too noisy for resident orcas to hunt successfully
New research has revealed how underwater noise produced by humans may help explain why southern resident orca populations have not recovered from historic lows. The team reports that underwater noise pollution -- from both large and small vessels -- forces northern and southern resident orcas to expend more time and energy hunting for fish. The din also lowers the overall success of their hunting efforts. Noise from ships likely has an outsized impact on southern resident orca pods, which spend more time in parts of the Salish Sea with high ship traffic.
Women with asthma are more likely to miscarry and need fertility treatment
Women who are being treated for asthma are more likely to miscarry and need fertility treatment to get pregnant, according to a large study. However, the study also suggests that most women with asthma are able to have babies.
Surprising hormone-related gene activity discovered in the early larval stage of the Malabar grouper
Researchers have highlighted patterns of gene activation during Malabar grouper larval development, revealing an unusual early peak of activation of thyroid and corticoid genes during the early larval stage of these fish. Their paper shows that thyroid and corticoid genes are activated twice during larval development, once during the early larval stage and once during metamorphosis. This early activation has never been encountered in any fish species before, making the grouper case unique.
Promoting horse welfare with an intestinal disease screening method
Researchers are developing a promising method to support the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in horses. Awareness of the prevalence of IBD in both humans and animals has increased in recent decades, and the need for effective and affordable diagnostic methods has become increasingly urgent.
Methane emissions are rising faster than ever
Methane concentrations in Earth's atmosphere increased at record speed over the past five years. At least two-thirds of annual methane emissions now come from human activities, including fossil fuel use, agriculture, and landfills and other waste.
Innovative research unveils news path to ethanol production from CO2
Researchers have introduced a novel method for converting the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) into ethanol, a sustainable fuel. This significant advancement could pave the way for more environmentally friendly and economically viable alternatives to fossil fuels.
Long-term exercisers have 'healthier' belly fat
People with obesity who are long-time exercisers have healthier belly fat tissue and can store fat there more effectively than nonexercisers with obesity, according to a new study.
Gene therapy effective in hereditary blindness
Bothnia dystrophy is a form of hereditary blindness, prevalent in the region Vasterbotten in Sweden. A new study shows that gene therapy can improve vision in patients with the disease.
Conscientiousness, not willpower, is a reliable predictor of success
According to two psychologists, the field of psychological science has a problem with the concept of self-control. It has named self-control both a 'trait' -- a key facet of personality involving attributes like conscientiousness, grit and the ability to tolerate delayed gratification -- and a 'state,' a fleeting condition that can best be described as willpower. These two concepts are at odds with one another and are often confused, the authors report.
Researchers identify new tools for anti-Acinetobacter drug development and AMR preparedness
Researchers have engineered a library of strains that can be used to develop new antibacterial compounds to help address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria.
Novel bone cancer therapy has 99% success rate, tests show
Bioactive glasses, a filling material which can bond to tissue and improve the strength of bones and teeth, has been combined with gallium to create a potential treatment for bone cancer. Tests in labs have found that bioactive glasses doped with the metal have a 99 percent success rate of eliminating cancerous cells and can even regenerate diseased bones.
Early exposure to diverse faces helps babies overcome prejudices later in life
Babies who have more diverse social contacts in the first years of their life can get over their prejudices more easily by the age of 17, according to new research.
New defect passivation strategy for perovskite solar cells
Researchers report on a new defect passivation strategy for improved power conversion efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells.
Study identifies areas of Europe at risk from dengue fever due to spread of Asian tiger mosquito
As Europe grapples with the growing threat of tropical diseases brought by the Asian tiger mosquito, new research is enabling scientists to accurately predict towns across the continent where there is a high risk of dengue fever.
Researchers develop innovative method to simplify manufacturing process of cellular ceramics
A study has developed an innovative method that overcomes the limitations of traditional additive manufacturing (3D printing), significantly simplifying and accelerating the production of geometrically complex cellular ceramics. This groundbreaking approach has the potential to revolutionize the design and processing of multifarious ceramic materials, opening up new possibilities for new applications in energy, electronics, and biomedicine, including robotics, solar cells, sensors, battery electrodes, and bactericidal devices.
Experimental blood test predicts risk for developing COPD, other severe respiratory diseases
A scientific team has created a preclinical blood test to identify adults most likely to develop severe respiratory conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The blood test analyzes 32 proteins that scientists determined accurately predicted an adult with an increased likelihood for requiring medical care for or dying from severe respiratory illness. The risk score was based on lung health data collected from nearly 2,500 U.S. adults over a 30-year period.
Girls may start puberty early due to chemical exposure
Girls exposed to certain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may be more likely to start puberty early, according to new research. EDCs mimic, block or interfere with hormones in the body's endocrine system.
Researchers have published a novel study exploring the effects of delayed feedback on learning in individuals with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury. The goal of this study was to assess the effects of delayed vs. immediate performance feedback on learning in individuals with TBI and to examine the associated brain networks.
What's really 'fueling' harmful algae in Florida's lake Okeechobee?
Historically, Lake Okeechobee was thought to be impaired only by phosphorus, focusing efforts on reducing agricultural runoff. However, new comprehensive sampling across the Lake Okeechobee Waterway and its connected estuaries shows that toxic algal blooms also are driven by rising nitrogen levels from human waste and urban runoff. Increased nitrogen, worsened by extreme rainfall, significantly fuels bloom severity. Findings underscore the need for integrated nutrient management and improved wastewater treatment to protect the lake and its estuaries.
Pressure sensing by muscles is a promising new target for treatments
A new study shows that the body's muscles sense mechanical pressure. This new discovery has important implications for movement neuroscience and may improve the design of training and rehabilitation to relieve stiff muscles.