ScienceDaily: Featured - October 27, 2024
Featured research news
Researchers flip genes on and off with AI-designed DNA switches
Researchers have used artificial intelligence to design thousands of new DNA switches that can precisely control the expression of a gene in different cell types. Their new approach opens the possibility of controlling when and where genes are expressed in the body, for the benefit of human health and medical research, in ways never before possible.
Image: majcot/Shutterstock.com
Successful experiment paves the way for new element
Scientists have found an alternative way to produce atoms of the superheavy element livermorium. The new method opens up the possibility of creating another element that could be the heaviest in the world so far: number 120.
Researchers reveal new insights into the complex evolutionary history behind the distinctive upright posture of modern placental and marsupial mammals, showing the transition was surprisingly complex and nonlinear, and occurred much later than previously believed.
Researchers complete the largest compilation of cancer prevalence across vertebrates
For all its pervasiveness and the efforts to study it, cancer is still somewhat of a mystery. Why do some animals get it at a higher rate than others? This is the question at the heart of Peto's paradox, the observation that large animals, by virtue of their number of cells, are statistically more likely than smaller animals to develop and accumulate genetic mutations that lead to cancer, yet they don't. In fact, some large animals, including whales and elephants, get much less cancer than expected for an animal of its body size and number of cells.
Watershed moment: Engineers invent high-yield atmospheric water capture device for arid regions
As a megadrought stresses the water supply throughout the Southwest, revolutionary research is answering this problem with a groundbreaking technology that pulls large amounts of water from the air in low humidities.
Saturn's moon Titan has insulating methane-rich crust up to six miles thick
A new study has revealed that methane gas may be trapped within the icy surface of Saturn's moon Titan, forming a distinct crust up to six miles thick, which warms the underlying ice shell and may also explain Titan's methane-rich atmosphere.
'Well-man' thrown from castle identified from 800-year-old Norse saga
A passage in the Norse Sverris Saga, the 800-year-old story of King Sverre Sigurdsson, describes a military raid that occurred in AD 1197, during which a body was thrown into a well at Sverresborg Castle, outside Trondheim in central Norway, likely as an attempt to poison the main water source for the local inhabitants. A new study describes how researchers used ancient DNA to corroborate the events of the saga and discover details about the 'Well-man,' blending history and archaeology with science and setting a precedent for future research on historical figures.
Millions in the U.S. may rely on groundwater contaminated with PFAS for drinking water supplies
Approximately 71 to 95 million people in the Lower 48 states -- more than 20% of the country's population -- may rely on groundwater that contains detectable concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, for their drinking water supplies.
Human actions likely cause insect color change
New Zealand's native stoneflies have changed colour in response to human-driven environmental changes, new research shows. The study provides arguably the world's most clear-cut case of animal evolution in response to change made by humans.
Beneficial gut microbe has surprising metabolic capabilities
Researchers discovered potentially far-reaching effects of a particular gut bacterium that was linked to better growth in Bangladeshi children receiving a therapeutic food designed to nurture healthy gut microbes. A strain of the bacterium harbored in the children's gut microbial communities possessed a previously unknown gene capable of producing and metabolizing key molecules involved in regulating many important functions ranging from appetite, immune responses, neuronal function, and the ability of pathogenic bacteria to produce disease.
Wildfires are becoming faster and more dangerous in Western U.S.
Fire speed, not size, drives threat to people and infrastructure.
Gut bacteria transfer genes to disable weapons of their competitors
New research shows that a large, ubiquitous mobile genetic element changes the antagonistic weaponry of Bacteroides fragilis, a common bacterium of the human gut.
A new hydrogel semiconductor represents a breakthrough for tissue-interfaced bioelectronics
The ideal material for interfacing electronics with living tissue is soft, stretchable, and just as water-loving as the tissue itself--in short, a hydrogel. Semiconductors, the key materials for bioelectronics such as pacemakers, biosensors, and drug delivery devices, on the other hand, are rigid, brittle, and water-hating, impossible to dissolve in the way hydrogels have traditionally been built. Scientists have now solved this challenge that has long stymied researchers, reimagining the process of creating hydrogels to build a powerful semiconductor in hydrogel form. The result is a bluish gel that flutters like a sea jelly in water but retains the immense semiconductive ability needed to transmit information between living tissue and machine.
Scientists develop grain-sized soft robots controlled by magnetic fields for targeted drug delivery
A team of scientists has developed grain-sized soft robots that can be controlled using magnetic fields for targeted drug delivery, paving the way to possible improved therapies in future.
Chronic pain can be predicted within three days of an injury
After only one to three days of a whiplash injury, scientists can predict which patients will develop chronic pain based on the extent of cross 'talk' between two regions of the brain, and the person's anxiety level after the injury, according to a new study . The study showed the more the hippocampus -- the brain's memory center -- talked to the cortex -- involved in long term memory storage -- the more likely the person is to develop chronic pain. In addition, the higher a person's anxiety immediately after the car accident, the more precisely scientists could predict the chronic pain people reported one year after the accident. This is the first study to show that only a few days after a given injury, the brain can adapt in a way that imparts a risk for the development of chronic pain.
Key to low-cost, long-lasting renewable batteries for electric vehicles
Lithium-sulfur batteries have never lived up to their potential as the next generation of renewable batteries for electric vehicles and other devices. But mechanical engineers have now found a way to make these Li-S batteries last longer -- with higher energy levels -- than existing renewable batteries.
Popular diabetes and weight-loss drug may reduce risk of Alzheimer's disease
Researchers have found that semaglutide may lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D).
Unnoticeable electric currents could reduce skin infections
Using a few zaps of electricity to the skin, researchers can stop bacterial infections without using any drugs. For the first time, researchers designed a skin patch that uses imperceptible electric currents to control microbes.
Dandelion-shaped supernova and zombie star
A historical supernova documented by Chinese and Japanese astronomers in 1181 has been lost for centuries, until very recently. Yet, the newly found remnant shows some stunning characteristics that are puzzling astronomers. Now, it surrenders its secrets. A team provides the first detailed study of the supernova's structure and speed of expansion in 3D.
What standing on one leg can tell you: Biological age
How long a person can stand -- on one leg -- is a more telltale measure of aging than changes in strength or gait, according to new research.
'Paleo-robots' to help scientists understand how fish started to walk on land
The transition from water to land is one of the most significant events in the history of life on Earth. Now, a team of roboticists, palaeontologists and biologists is using robots to study how the ancestors of modern land animals transitioned from swimming to walking, about 390 million years ago.
Paleontologists discover Colorado 'swamp dweller' that lived alongside dinosaurs
The new mammal lived in Colorado 70 to 75 million years ago -- a time when a vast inland sea covered large portions of the state, and animals like sharks, turtles and giant crocodiles abounded.
New parasite discovered amid decline of California's unique Channel Island fox
In the 1990s, the San Miguel Island fox nearly went extinct, with numbers dropping to just 15. A recovery program increased their population by 2010, but from 2014 to 2018, it fell to 30% of its peak due to a new acanthocephalan parasite, exacerbated by a prolonged drought. A research effort employed morphological and molecular methods, alongside necropsy records, to identify the parasite and assess its health impacts on the foxes.
Rocky planets orbiting small stars could have stable atmospheres needed to support life
A sequence of events during the evolution of certain rocky planets orbiting M-dwarfs, the most common stars in the universe, creates an atmosphere that would be stable over time. This is true for more temperate planets, orbiting a bit farther from the central star.
Bacteria and fungi from the wings of bats could play a significant role in saving them from white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease affecting the skin of wings and muzzle, which has nearly wiped out vulnerable bat populations across North America.
Photosynthesis, the chemical reaction that enables almost all life on Earth, is extremely inefficient at capturing energy -- only around 1% of light energy that a plant absorbs is converted into chemical energy within the plant. Bioengineers propose a radical new method of food production that they call 'electro-agriculture.' The method essentially replaces photosynthesis with a solar-powered chemical reaction that more efficiently converts CO2 into an organic molecule that plants would be genetically engineered to 'eat.' The researchers estimate that if all food in the US were produced using electro-agriculture, it would reduce the amount of land needed for agriculture by 94%. The method could also be used to grow food in space.
Healthy coral reefs echo with a chorus of grunts and purrs from fish feeding, looking for mates, or defending their territories, underscored by the persistent crackling of snapping shrimp. Larval corals use these sounds as cues to decide where to choose a home. The researchers found that now a second species of coral larvae responded to the sounds of a healthy reef played through a speaker, indicating 'acoustic enrichment' encourages coral to settle has the potential to be a widely applicable method among coral species for reef restoration. Golfball coral larvae settled at significantly higher rates when exposed to the sounds of a healthy reef during their first 36 hours in the water. After that window, sound had little effect. Coral reefs support more than a quarter of all marine animals, protect coastlines from strong waves and storms, and provide food and tourism opportunities for millions of people around the world. Researchers estimate that 25% of all coral reefs have been lost in the last 30 years.
Immunotherapy blocks scarring, improves heart function in mice with heart failure
Researchers have reduced scar formation and improved heart function in mouse models of heart failure using a monoclonal antibody treatment, similar to that approved by the FDA to treat other conditions. The findings point to the possibility of developing such immunotherapies for heart failure in patients who have experienced a heart attack or other injury.
Physicists discover first 'black hole triple'
A surprising discovery about the black hole V404 Cygnus is expanding our understanding of black holes, the objects they can host, and the way they form.
Capturing carbon from the air just got easier
In the face of rising CO2 levels, scientists are searching for sustainable ways of pulling carbon dioxide out of the air, so-called direct air capture. A new type of porous material, a covalent organic framework (COF) with attached amines, stands out because of its durability and efficient adsorption and desorption of CO2 at relatively low temperatures. The material would fit into carbon capture systems currently used for point source capture.
The decision to eat may come down to these three neurons
Manipulating a newly identified neural circuit can curb appetite -- or spur massive overeating.
Bilingualism may maintain protection against Alzheimer's
In a study, researchers use neuroimaging methods to examine brain resilience in regions of the brain linked to language and aging. They found that the hippocampus in bilinguals with Alzheimer's disease was noticeably larger than those who were monolingual when matched for age, education, cognitive function and memory, which suggests that there may be some form of brain maintenance related to bilingualism.
Geometric mechanics shape the dog's nose
The noses of many mammals, such as dogs, ferrets and cows, feature grooves forming a multitude of polygons. A team has analyzed in detail how these patterns form in the embryo using 3D imaging techniques and computer simulations. The researchers discovered that differential growth of the skin tissue layers leads to the formation of domes, which are mechanically supported by the underlying blood vessels. This work describes for the first time this morphogenetic process, which could help explain the formation of other biological structures associated with blood vessels.
Paws of polar bears sustaining ice-related injuries in a warming Arctic
Polar bears in some parts of the high Arctic are developing ice buildup and related injuries to their feet. The changes appear to be an unexpected consequence of climate change, related to changing conditions in a warming Arctic.
Wearable cameras allow AI to detect medication errors
A team of researchers says it has developed the first wearable camera system that, with the help of artificial intelligence, detects potential errors in medication delivery. In a test, the video system recognized and identified, with high proficiency, which medications were being drawn in busy clinical settings. The AI achieved 99.6% sensitivity and 98.8% specificity at detecting vial-swap errors. The system could become a critical safeguard, especially in operating rooms, intensive-care units and emergency-medicine settings.
What happened when a meteorite the size of four Mount Everests hit Earth?
Scientists paint a compelling picture of what happened the day the S2 meteorite crashed into Earth 3.26 billion years ago.
Weather-changing El Nino oscillation is at least 250 million years old
A new modeling study shows that the El Nino event, a huge blob of warm ocean water in the tropical Pacific Ocean that can change rainfall patterns around the globe, was present at least 250 million years in the past, and was often of greater magnitude than the oscillations we see today.
Evolution in action: How ethnic Tibetan women thrive in thin oxygen at high altitudes
New study reveals link between oxygen delivery and reproductive success among women living on the high Tibetan Plateau.
Plant CO2 uptake rises by nearly one third in new global estimates
Plants the world over are absorbing about 31% more carbon dioxide than previously thought, according to a new assessment. The research is expected to improve Earth system simulations that scientists use to predict the future climate, and spotlights the importance of natural carbon sequestration for greenhouse gas mitigation.
Rare fossils of extinct elephant document the earliest known instance of butchery in India
Scientists have discovered the earliest evidence of animal butchery by humans in India.
Scientists unveil new insights into air pollution formation
Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in understanding how air pollution forms at the molecular level. Their investigation sheds light on the complex chemical processes occurring at the boundary between liquid, in particular aqueous solutions, and vapor in our atmosphere.
Creating a simplified form of life
How can lifeless molecules come together to form a living cell?
Plant guard cells can count environmental stimuli
Plants adapt their water consumption to environmental conditions by counting and calculating environmental stimuli with their guard cells.