ScienceDaily: All - September 18, 2024
Today's top research news
Slow-moving landslides a growing, but ignored, threat to mountain communities
As urban centers in mountainous regions grow, more people are driven to build on steeper slopes prone to slow-moving landslides, a new study finds. Slow-moving landslides are frequently excluded from estimates of landslide risk, but they could threaten hundreds of thousands of people globally, the researchers conclude.
Mapping out matter's building blocks in 3D
Deep inside what we perceive as solid matter, the landscape is anything but stationary. The interior of the building blocks of the atom's nucleus -- particles called hadrons that most of us would recognize as protons and neutrons -- are made up of a seething mixture of interacting quarks and gluons, known collectively as partons. The HadStruc collaboration has now come together to map out these partons and disentangle how they interact to form hadrons.
Image: Anshuman Rath/Shutterstock.com
An OLED for compact, lightweight night vision
A new type of OLED (organic light emitting diode) could replace bulky night vision goggles with lightweight glasses, making them cheaper and more practical for prolonged use, according to researchers.
Ultra-low-dose ketamine can curb opioid withdrawal
A pilot study showed that a small amount of ketamine can reduce or eliminate the withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting fentanyl.
Fruit flies' visual navigation tactics differ by environment
Fruit flies use vision to head toward interesting things, but also to stay steady during flight. To accomplish this, the eyes need to fixate on the visual background while noticing objects that might indicate food or danger. Using a device that lets flies interact with a virtual environment, biologists have discovered that Mojave Desert fruit flies fixate on an object for balance and stability while also orienting toward it as an interesting resource, while common urban flies fixate on the background but move toward the object using rapid glances. Fruit flies are often used in experiments probing visual perception and processing. The finding that not all species of fruit fly navigate their environment the same way expands the possibilities for what scientists can learn.
Shrinking the pint can reduce beer sales by almost 10%
Reducing the serving size for beer, lager and cider reduces the volume of those drinks consumed in pubs, bars and restaurants, and could be a useful alcohol control measure, according to a new study. Researchers found that over a short intervention period, venues that removed the pint and offered two third pints instead, sold 10% less beer by volume compared with when pints were available.
Unhealthy behaviors contribute to more coronary artery disease deaths in the poor
Lower socioeconomic status is associated with higher rates of death from coronary artery disease compared to higher socioeconomic status, and more than half of the disparities can be explained by four unhealthy behaviors, according to a new study.
Two common surgeries equally effective for treating blinding condition of the eyelid
Trachomatous trichiasis, a potentially blinding condition where inward-turned eyelashes scratch the front of the eye, can successfully be treated by either of the two most common types of eyelid surgery, according to findings from a large comparison trial.
A smoother way to study 'twistronics'
A new article describes a fingernail-sized machine that can twist thin materials at will, replacing the need to fabricate twisted devices one by one.
Genetic risk-factor overlap between Alzheimer's disease, and all-cause and vascular dementias
Medical researchers conducted the largest-ever genome-wide association study of all-cause dementia, finding substantial genetic overlap with vascular dementia.
Cancer cells may be using lipids to hide from the immune system
New study demonstrates that one type of lipid is so critical for immune evasion that certain cancers cannot proliferate without them. Modulating intake of dietary lipids could open up an avenue for treatment.
Paving the way for antivirals against Ebola virus and its deadly relatives
Scientists share detailed, complete images of a viral structure called the Ebola virus nucleocapsid. This breakthrough may accelerate the development of antivirals that target this viral structure to combat several filoviruses at once.
Graphite oxidation experiments reveal new type of oscillating chemical reaction
A reaction that puzzled scientists for 50 years has now been explained by researchers at Ume University. Rapid structural snapshots captured how graphite transforms into graphite oxide during electrochemical oxidation, revealing intermediate structures that appear and disappear over time. The researchers describe this as a new type of oscillating reaction.
Soil footprint: a simple indicator of a crop's impact on soil erosion
A research team proposes a method to calculate, compare and communicate how different crops affect the loss of agricultural soil, with the aim of raising awareness of this problem and promoting solutions to preserve this vital resource.
Improved epidemic monitoring via sewage
Analyzing wastewater has the potential to alert authorities about thousands of health threats at once, from antimicrobial resistance to cholera, according to new research.
One in eight is genetically protected against jaundice
One in eight newborn babies has a gene variant that almost completely protects against jaundice. The research provides the opportunity to develop a treatment that can prevent severe cases of jaundice.
An unexpected result: The mammalian inner ear is a striking example of convergent evolution
A new study reveals the surprisingly convergent evolution in the inner ear of mammals. An international research team showed that a group of highly divergent mammals known as Afrotheria and distantly related, but ecologically very similar mammals independently evolved similar inner ear shapes.
New technology produces ultrashort ion pulses
New technology has allowed scientists to create ultra short ion pulses, with a duration of less than 500 picoseconds. This can be used to analyze materials or even make chemical reactions visible in real time.
Recent study reveals reduced maths performance of adults with Dyspraxia
Dyspraxia, also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), can have a bigger impact on adult mathematical performance than previously thought, according to new research.
How plant communities change when conquering uninhabited ground
Some plants are able to take over uninhabited spaces like sand dunes, volcanic substrates and rockfall areas. The first colonizers have specific traits that allow them to grow in such hostile environments. Other plants lack such traits but will soon follow these pioneers.
New understanding of the limits on nano-noise
Thanks to nanoscale devices as small as human cells, researchers can create groundbreaking material properties, leading to smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient electronics. However, to fully unlock the potential of nanotechnology, addressing noise is crucial. A research team has taken a significant step toward unraveling fundamental constraints on noise, paving the way for future nanoelectronics.
Cutting out sugar and starch is as effective for IBS as current recommendations
Symptoms for patients with the gastrointestinal disease IBS improved as much by eating less sugar and starch as for those who followed FODMAP -- the diet currently recommended to patients. The results also show that weight loss is greater and sugar cravings are reduced among those who follow the starch and sucrose-reduced diet.
New results from the CMS experiment put W boson mass mystery to rest
Physicists on the CMS experiment announce the most elaborate mass measurement of a particle that is notoriously difficult to study and has captivated the physics community for decades.
Understanding the relationship between plasticity of muddy soil and earth pressure can be crucial to maintaining tunnel stability and predicting ground behavior during earth pressure balance (EPB) shield tunnelling, a common underground excavation method. Researchers developed small-scale model experimentation combined with moving particle simulation-based computer-aided engineering analysis that reliably predicted soil's plasticity and its correlating factors without having to deal with the cost and time of on-ground field analysis.
Identifying body-scan postures suitable for people with hyperactivity tendency
Mindfulness practices have been found to be effective in reducing symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, many people with ADHD may find static meditation techniques challenging. In a recent study, researchers assessed individualized responses of people to sitting in various postures during body-scan meditation. The findings suggest that a slumped posture may reduce the ease of practice, while supine and upright positions may improve the ease of meditation for people with high hyperactivity/impulsivity tendency.
Reducing smartphone use increases work satisfaction
On average, we spend three and a quarter hours a day looking at our phones. Cutting back this time by one hour a day is not only good for our mental health, but also helps us to feel happier and more motivated at work, new research suggests.
Antarctic krill can lock away similar levels of carbon as seagrass and mangroves
Small marine crustaceans are as valuable as key coastal habitats for storing carbon and should be similarly protected, according to new research.
Researchers identify potential new strategy to slow the development of liver fibrosis
A study reveals advances in the understanding and treatment of liver fibrosis, a serious complication in the context of metabolic fatty liver disease, also known as MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease). This study concludes that activation of the PPAR / -AMPK pathway is an effective strategy to slow the development of liver fibrosis.
Risk of clots, stroke from incorrect blood thinner dosing reduced using online dashboard
Doctors and pharmacists treating people with blood thinners can reduce the rate of inappropriate dosing -- as well as blood clots and strokes that can result from it -- using an electronic patient management system, a study suggests. Direct oral anticoagulants can be incorrectly prescribed up to 20% of the time.
Brain divides meal into different phases
The process of food intake appears to be organized at the cellular level like a relay race: during eating, the baton is passed between different teams of neurons until we have consumed the appropriate amount of energy. Through this complex mechanism, the brain likely ensures that we neither eat too little nor too much. Malfunctions of this process may lead to eating disorders such as anorexia or binge eating.
People aren't volunteering as much these days: What gives?
Volunteering used to be a mainstay of U.S. culture. But in recent years, giving back to their community hasn't played as big a role in many Americans' lives. New research suggests the economy may be to blame.
The unexpected protein connection in maize growth and defense
Recent research has revealed that a family of proteins called COI1, previously associated with defense mechanisms in other plant species like Arabidopsis and rice, primarily regulates growth in maize (corn). This finding could lead to developing more robust and productive maize varieties.
Blackcurrant supplementing mitigates postmenopausal bone loss, study finds
With aging comes bone density loss, especially in post-menopausal women. A new study finds that supplementing with blackcurrant can ameliorate a host of conditions, including postmenopausal bone loss and osteoporosis.
Consuming moderate amounts of coffee and caffeine regularly may offer a protective effect against developing multiple cardiometabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke, according to new research.
A wobble from Mars could be sign of dark matter
Watching for changes in Mars' orbit over time could be new way to detect passing dark matter, according to researchers.
Ten-year study shows tomosynthesis improves breast cancer detection
According to a new 10-year study, screening for breast cancer with digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) increases cancer detection rates and significantly reduces the rate of advanced cancers compared to conventional 2D digital mammography.
More black holes than expected in the early universe
With the help of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, an international team of scientists has found more black holes in the early universe than has previously been reported. The new result can help scientists understand how supermassive black holes were created.
Reducing the cultural bias of AI with one sentence
Cultural values and traditions differ across the globe, but large language models (LLMs), used in text-generating programs such as ChatGPT, have a tendency to reflect values from English-speaking and Protestant European countries. A research team believes there is an easy way to solve that problem.
Black hole pairs may unveil new particles
In a new paper, physicists argue that close observations of merging black hole pairs may unveil information about potential new particles.
Beneath the brushstrokes, van Gogh's sky is alive with real-world physics
Van Gogh's brushstrokes in 'The Starry Night' create an illusion of sky movement so convincing it led researchers to wonder how closely it aligns with the physics of real skies. Marine sciences and fluid dynamics specialists analyzed the painting to uncover what they call the hidden turbulence in the artwork. They used brushstrokes to examine the shape, energy, and scaling of atmospheric characteristics of the otherwise invisible atmosphere and used the relative brightness of the varying paint colors as a stand-in for the kinetic energy of physical movement.
Getting to the root of the problem: Intensive diabetes treatment reduces gum disease inflammation
A recent study reveals that intensive diabetes treatment can improve periodontal disease inflammation. Researchers found that two weeks of intensive diabetes treatment under hospitalization for patients with type 2 diabetes significantly improved not only blood sugar control but also PISA, an indicator of gum disease inflammation. Furthermore, the improvement in PISA was related to factors such as insulin secretion capacity and the severity of diabetes complications and comorbidities before diabetes treatment. These findings suggest that early intervention in diabetes is crucial for improving gum disease in diabetic patients.
New treatment extends ovarian function in older mice
Scientists have discovered a novel way to lengthen the 'healthspan' of a women's ovaries -- improving maintenance of the ovaries and preventing key age-related changes in ovarian function. 'Healthspan' refers to the length of time a person remains healthy and free from serious illness or chronic diseases.
'Marine identity' can help restore the ocean
People's deep connection with the ocean -- their 'marine identity' -- can help us reset society's relationship with the seas, new research suggests.