ScienceDaily: All - September 25, 2023
Today's top research news
Caribbean parrots thought to be endemic are actually relicts of millennial-scale extinction
For the first time, researchers have extracted ancient DNA from Caribbean parrot fossils and archaeological specimens, showing that species thought to be endemic to particular islands were historically more widespread and diverse.
Anna Shepulova/shutterstock.com
New research reveals extreme heat likely to wipe out humans and mammals in the distant future
A new study shows unprecedented heat is likely to lead to the next mass extinction, akin to when the dinosaurs died out, eliminating nearly all mammals in some 250 million years time.
Waterfleas hold key to cleaner environment and better human health
Tiny waterfleas could play a pivotal role in removing persistent chemical pollutants from wastewater -- making it safe to use in factories, farms and homes, a new study reveals.
Marker for brain inflammation finally decoded
Inflammation is the sign that our body is defending itself against an aggression. But when this response escalates, for example in the brain, it can lead to serious neurological or psychiatric diseases. A team investigated a marker protein targeted by medical imaging to visualize cerebral inflammation, but whose interpretation was still uncertain. The team reveals that a large quantity of this protein goes hand in hand with a large quantity of inflammatory cells, but its presence is not a sign of their overactivation. These results pave the way for optimal observation of neuroinflammatory processes and a re-reading of previous studies on the subject.
Hidden supermassive black holes reveal their secrets through radio signals
Astronomers have found a striking link between the amount of dust surrounding a supermassive black hole and the strength of the radio emission produced in extremely bright galaxies.
Crystallization as the driving force
Scientists have successfully developed nanomaterials using a so-called bottom-up approach. They exploit the fact that crystals often grow in a specific direction during crystallization. These resulting nanostructures, which appear as 'worm-like and decorated rods,' could be used in various technological applications.
Brain signals for good memory performance revealed
People differ significantly in their memory performance. Researchers have now discovered that certain brain signals are related to these differences.
Machine learning unravels mysteries of atomic shapes
New research has used machine learning to find the properties of atomic pieces of geometry, in pioneering work that could drive the development of new results in mathematics.
Copper-based catalysts efficiently turn carbon dioxide into methane
Copper-based catalysts developed by materials scientists help speed up the rate of carbon dioxide-to-methane conversion.
Study shows birds that have evolved greater complexity are less biodiverse
Research shows that birds with more complex skeletons are more specialized and so are less species rich.
Rivers contain hidden sinks and sources of microplastics
New research represents the first combined analysis of microplastics in water, sediment and air around a major river system. It found significant quantities of microplastics trapped in riverbed sediments, and also found they were being transported through the air and the flow of the river.
How weather patterns will change in the future
In a warming Pacific Northwest, summers are getting hotter and winters less cold, but the atmospheric patterns that influence the weather aren't necessarily expected to become stronger or more frequent by the end of the century, according to a new study.
Drug discovery on an unprecedented scale
Boosting virtual screening with machine learning allowed for a 10-fold time reduction in the processing of 1.56 billion drug-like molecules. Researchers teamed up with industry and supercomputers to carry out one of the world's largest virtual drug screens.
How can the use of plastics in agriculture become more sustainable?
It is impossible to imagine modern agriculture without plastics. 12 million tons are used every year. But what about the consequences for the environment? An international team of authors addresses this question in a recent study. The research shows the benefits and risks of using plastics in agriculture, and identifies solutions that ensure their sustainable use.
The Gulf Stream transport of water through the Florida Strait has slowed by 4% over the past four decades, with a 99% certainty that this weakening is more than expected from random chance, according to a new study.
Ocean acidification makes ecologically important seaweed species fragile
Ocean acidification will likely almost triple by the end of the century -- a drastic environmental change that could impact important marine species like fleshy seaweeds, algae that grow vertically and promote biodiversity in more than a third of the world's coastline. To get a better idea of how seaweeds might fare in a rapidly acidifying ocean, a team of marine scientists subjected a common fleshy seaweed species to the acidification levels expected by the end of the century. They report that increased acidification impacted the seaweed's chemical balance, made both its structure and its tissues weaker, and reduced its overall chances of survival.
Nanopore sequencing and DNA barcoding method gives hope of personalized medicine
With the ability to map dozens of biomarkers at once, a new method could transform testing for conditions including heart disease and cancer.
Researchers have made an important finding about Aedes aegypti mosquitoes -- one that could one day lead to better methods for reducing the mosquito-to-human transmission of dengue, yellow fever, Zika, and other harmful and sometimes deadly viruses.