ScienceDaily: All - September 26, 2024
Today's top research news
Single-dose gene therapy is potentially life-changing for adults with hemophilia B
Adults with hemophilia B saw their number of bleeding episodes drop by an average of 71 percent after a single infusion of gene therapy, according to the new results of an international Phase III clinical trial.
How special is the Milky Way Galaxy?
The SAGA Survey just published three new research articles that provide us with new insights into the uniqueness of our own Milky Way Galaxy after completing the census of 101 satellite systems similar to the Milky Way's.
Image: Denis Belitsky/Shutterstock.com
Pigs may be transmission route of rat hepatitis E to humans
New research suggests that pigs may function as a transmission vehicle for a strain of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) common in rats that has recently been found to infect humans.
How synchronization supports social interactions
Turn-taking dynamics of social interactions are important for speech and gesture synchronization, enabling conversations to proceed efficiently, according to a new study.
Researchers innovate sustainable metal-recycling method
A research team has developed a method to recycle valuable metals from electronic waste more efficiently while significantly reducing the environmental impact typically associated with metal recycling.
Drone footage provides new insight into gray whales' acrobatic feeding behavior
Drone footage is offering new insight into the acrobatics undertaken by gray whales foraging in the waters off the coast of Oregon.
Digital biomarkers shedding light on seasonality in mood disorders
Wrist-based activity sensors worn by individuals with depression and those without over the course of two weeks provided evidence for the relationship between daily sunlight exposure and physical activity, according to a new study.
Mars' missing atmosphere could be hiding in plain sight
New research suggests Mars' missing atmosphere -- which dramatically diminished 3.5 billion years ago -- could be locked in the planet's clay-covered crust. Water on Mars could have set off a chain reaction that drew CO2 out of the atmosphere and converted it into methane within clay minerals.
Obstructive sleep apnea may increase risk of abdominal aortic aneurysms
Intermittent hypoxia caused by obstructive sleep apnea increased the susceptibility of mice to develop abdominal aortic aneurysms, researchers report in a new study.
Researchers have mapped variation in human stem cells that explains how cells of an individual may shape a unique 'developmental dance' at the molecular level, thereby controlling how the brain and body are created.
Researchers establish stem cell repository focused on centenarians
A new resource allows for studies of human longevity and resilience that can fuel the discovery and validation of novel therapeutics for aging-related disease.
A new study sheds light on testosterone recovery following androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in men undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer, providing key insights for optimizing patient care.
Lack of food -- not money -- drives poaching in East African national parks, study finds
Researchers conducted a survey of 267 households near Mkomazi National Park in northern Tanzania and found that food security was much more important than financial or educational security in motivating people to engage in poaching or illegal grazing in the park.
Brazilian fossils reveal jaw-dropping discovery in mammal evolution
The discovery of new cynodont fossils from southern Brazil by a team of palaeontologists has led to a significant breakthrough in understanding the evolution of mammals.
Deep-sea discovery shines light on life in the twilight zone
A new study could change the way scientists view microbial processes in the deep ocean. The unexpected findings expand our understanding of the impacts of climate change, including how and where the ocean stores carbon.
One in two El Niño events could be extreme by mid-century
Climate change from greenhouse gas emissions could make extreme El Nino events more frequent, according to new research.
Bacterial 'flipping' allows genes to assume different forms
Imagine being one cartwheel away from changing your appearance. One flip, and your brunette locks are platinum blond. That's not too far from what happens in some prokaryotes, or single-cell organisms, such as bacteria, that undergo something called inversions. A study has now shown that inversions, which cause a physical flip of a segment of DNA and change an organism's genetic identity, can occur within a single gene, challenging a central dogma of biology -- that one gene can code for only one protein.
Manganese cathodes could boost lithium-ion batteries
Manganese is earth-abundant and cheap. A new process could help make it a contender to replace nickel and cobalt in batteries.
Fossils from the Adriatic Sea show a recent and worrying reversal of fortunes
Using shells from the recent fossil record, researchers have determine that interactions between predator and prey in the northern Adriatic Sea have significantly declined due to human activity.
New research explored the exacerbating and attenuating factors of despair-induced climate burnout to learn how people can overcome despair and maintain motivation to fight climate change.
Citizen scientists help discover microplastics along the entire German coastline
The AWI's citizen science project 'Microplastic Detectives' has analyzed 2.2 tons of sand from German coasts for microplastics.
Night-time noise linked to restless nights for airport neighbors, study finds
A research team combined measurements from activity monitors and questionnaires for a new study of impact of aircraft noise on sleep. Higher levels of noise were associated with disturbed sleep quality measured by activity monitors. Noise had little impact on sleep duration but higher likelihood of reporting sleeplessness.
Ancient reef-builders dodged extinction -- at least temporarily
Scientists discovered that ancient reef-building stromatoporoids survived the Late Devonian extinction, contrary to previous beliefs, and continued to thrive. The findings reveal how these organisms adapted to past environmental changes, offering valuable insights into the resilience of marine ecosystems and lessons for modern conservation efforts.
Campylobacter jejuni-specific antibody gives hope to vaccine development
A team has discovered an antibody that specifically binds to the food poisoning bacteria Campylobacter jejuni. It was also found that this antibody inhibits the activity of proteins involved in bacterial energy production.
Almost everyone knows about HIV. Fewer people know about its relative, HTLV-1. However, HTLV-1 can cause serious illnesses, including cancer. To develop ways to combat this virus, understanding its structure is essential.
Air pollution exposure during early life can have lasting effects on the brain's white matter
Exposure to certain pollutants, like fine particles (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), during pregnancy and childhood is associated with differences in the microstructure of the brain s white matter, and some of these effects persist throughout adolescence.
Soil and water pollution: An invisible threat to cardiovascular health
Pesticides, heavy metals, micro- and nanoplastics in the soil, and environmentally harmful chemicals can have a detrimental effect on the cardiovascular system, according to a review paper. The article provides an overview of the effects of soil and water pollution on human health and pathology and discusses the prevalence of soil and water pollutants and how they negatively affect health, particularly the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Brain development: extracellular vesicles facilitate cellular communication
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny bubbles released by cells, acting as cargo vessels through which cells exchange signals and thus communicate. A paper has demonstrated that this form of cellular exchange also plays a key role in the development of the brain.
Major boost in carbon capture and storage essential to reach 2°C climate target
Large expansion of carbon capture and storage is necessary to fulfill the Paris Climate Agreement. Yet a new study shows that without major efforts, the technology will not expand fast enough to meet the 2 C target and even with major efforts it is unlikely to expand fast enough for the 1.5 C target.
'Invisible forest' of algae thrives as ocean warms
An 'invisible forest' of phytoplankton is thriving in part of our warming ocean, new research shows.
Replacing hype about artificial intelligence with accurate measurements of success
A new article notes that journal articles reporting how well machine learning models solve certain kinds of equations are often overly optimistic. The researchers suggest two rules for reporting results and systemic changes to encourage clarity and accuracy in reporting.
Researchers harness AI to repurpose existing drugs for treatment of rare diseases
New AI model identifies possible therapies from existing medicines for thousands of diseases, including rare ones with no current treatments. The AI tool generates new insights on its own, applies them to conditions it was not trained for, and offers explanations for its predictions. AI can expedite the development of more precise treatments with fewer side effects at far lower cost than traditional drug discovery.
Combination treatment improves response to immunotherapy for lung cancer
Researchers have tested a combination of treatments in mice with lung cancer and shown that these allow immunotherapies to target non-responsive tumors.
Mapping distant planets: 'Ridges', 'deserts' and 'savannahs'
Researchers examined Neptunian exoplanets -- these planets share similar characteristics to our own Neptune, but orbit outside of our solar system. Scientists discovered a new area called the 'Neptunian Ridge' -- in between the 'Neptunian desert' and the 'Neptunian Savannah'. A new 'map' of distant planets shows a ridge of planets in deep space, separating a desert of planets from a more populated savannah.
Twice as many women as men were buried in the megalithic necropolis of Panoria, study finds
A new study uncovers gender bias at the megalithic necropolis of Panoria where twice as many women were buried.
Managing stress could be the key to helping highly impulsive people act rashly when bored
Research has explored the relationship between high impulsivity and boredom, in an effort to find out what drives rash and sometimes unhealthy decisions.
Reconstructing the evolutionary history of the grape family
Until now, it was believed that plants of the grape family arrived at the European continent less than 23 million years ago. A study on fossil plants draws a new scenario on the dispersal of the ancestors of grape plants and reveals that these species were already on the territory of Europe some 41 million years ago. The paper describes a new fossil species of the same family, Nekemias mucronata, which allows us to better understand the evolutionary history of this plant group, which inhabited Europe between 40 and 23 million years ago.
To make fluid flow in one direction down a pipe, it helps to be a shark
Researchers have discovered a new way to help liquid flow in only one direction, but without using the flaps that engines and our circulatory system rely upon to prevent fluid backup. The team created a flexible pipe with an interior helical structure inspired by the anatomy of shark intestines -- creating a prototype inspired by biology but with applications in engineering and medicine.
Bodily awareness could curb scams and fraud against older adults, study suggests
People were better at detecting lies when they were more attuned to signals from their body, according to a new study.
Webb discovers 'weird' galaxy with gas outshining its stars
The discovery of a 'weird' and unprecedented galaxy in the early Universe could 'help us understand how the cosmic story began', astronomers say. GS-NDG-9422 (9422) was found approximately one billion years after the Big Bang and stood out because it has an odd, never-before-seen light signature -- indicating that its gas is outshining its stars. The 'totally new phenomena' is significant, researchers say, because it could be the missing-link phase of galactic evolution between the Universe's first stars and familiar, well-established galaxies.
Growing divide: Rural men are living shorter, less healthy lives than their urban counterparts
With an aging population and fewer physicians available, the burden on rural communities is set to grow.
Scientists discover a single-electron bond in a carbon-based compound
The discovery of a stable single-electron covalent bond between two carbon atoms validates a century-old theory.
World's oldest cheese reveals origins of kefir
Scientists successfully extracted and analyzed DNA from ancient cheese samples found alongside the Tarim Basin mummies in China, dating back approximately 3,600 years. The research suggests a new origin for kefir cheese and sheds light on the evolution of probiotic bacteria.
Protein behavior can be predicted with simple math
Researchers have discovered that mutations affect protein stability following remarkably simple rules. The discovery has profound implications for accelerating the development of new treatments for diseases or the design of new proteins with industrial applications.
Popular diabetes and weight-loss drug associated with lower opioid overdose risk, study finds
Researchers have identified a potential new approach to address the opioid overdose epidemic. Semaglutide was shown to lower opioid overdoses in people with opioid-use disorder and type 2 diabetes.
Tree-ring data reveal that periodic shifts in strong winds high above the Earth's surface have driven opposite climates in different parts of Europe for the past 700 years and likely much longer, resulting in contrasting patterns in weather, agricultural and societal extremes.
Encoding human experience: Study reveals how brain cells compute the flow of time
A landmark study has begun to unravel one of the fundamental mysteries in neuroscience -- how the human brain encodes and makes sense of the flow of time and experiences.
How do rare genetic variants affect health? AI provides more accurate predictions
Researchers have introduced an algorithm based on deep learning that can predict the effects of rare genetic variants. The method allows persons with high risk of disease to be distinguished more precisely and facilitates the identification of genes that are involved in the development of diseases.
New milestone in plant magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a versatile technique in the biomedical field, but its application to the study of plant metabolism in vivo remains challenging. A research team reports the establishment of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) for plant MRI. This method enables noninvasive access to the metabolism of sugars and amino acids in complex sink organs (seeds, fruits, taproots, and tubers) of major crops (maize, barley, pea, potato, sugar beet, and sugarcane).
Higher doses of buprenorphine may improve treatment outcomes for people with opioid use disorder
Adults with opioid use disorder who receive a higher daily dose of the opioid addiction treatment medication buprenorphine may have a lower risk of subsequent emergency department visits or use of inpatient services related to behavioral health (such as for mental health and substance use disorders) than adults receiving the recommended dose, according to a new analysis.