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| Deepest sediment core collected in the Atlantic Ocean Posted: 21 Apr 2022 03:12 PM PDT A team of scientists, engineers, and ship's crew on the research vessel Neil Armstrong operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) recently collected a 38-foot-long cylindrical sediment sample from the deepest part of the Puerto Rico Trench, nearly 5 miles below the surface. |
| New algorithm could simplify decisions for ship channel dredging Posted: 21 Apr 2022 03:12 PM PDT Every ship channel has to be dredged. With high costs involved, a dredging project's managers have to be on the money in their timing and logistics choices. A new algorithm presents decision-makers with accurate context, comparisons and boots-on-the ground observations. |
| Calming overexcited neurons may protect brain after stroke Posted: 21 Apr 2022 03:12 PM PDT By scanning the genomes of nearly 6,000 stroke patients, researchers have identified two genes associated with recovery. Both are involved in regulating neuronal excitability, suggesting that targeting overstimulated neurons may help promote recovery in the pivotal first 24 hours. |
| Kauai's 2018 record-setting rain caused by a series of supercell thunderstorms Posted: 21 Apr 2022 03:12 PM PDT A record-setting rainstorm over Kaua'i, Hawai'i in April 2018 resulted in severe flash flooding and estimated damage of nearly $180 million. The deluge damaged or destroyed 532 homes, and landslides left people along Kaua'i's north coast without access to their homes. Atmospheric scientists have now revealed that severe supercell thunderstorms were to blame. |
| 'Spring-loaded' system pops phosphorus into molecular rings Posted: 21 Apr 2022 12:41 PM PDT Chemists have devised a new chemical reaction that allows them to synthesize a phosphorus-containing ring, using a catalyst to add phosphorus to simple organic compounds called alkenes. |
| Nylon cooking bags, plastic-lined cups can release nanoparticles into liquids Posted: 21 Apr 2022 12:41 PM PDT Nylon cooking bags and plastic-lined cardboard cups are conveniences many people rely on, but a new study suggests that they are an underappreciated source of nanoparticles. They report that the plastic in these products release trillions of nanometer-sized particles into each liter of water that they come in contact with. That sounds like a lot, but the team notes that these levels are under the regulatory limits for consumption. |
| Study finds offshore wind could drive down energy costs in New England, US Posted: 21 Apr 2022 12:41 PM PDT While wind power is expected to be a 'saving grace' during extreme winter storms, researchers wanted to look at whether storms could also disrupt power supplies and drive up prices. |
| New production method promises to end medical radioisotope shortages Posted: 21 Apr 2022 11:16 AM PDT Technetium-99m is the world's most commonly used medical radioisotope, but regularly suffers from supply chain shortages, threatening the ability of doctors to diagnose a raft of ailments. But an alternative production technique looks set to make the radioisotope much more easily produced. |
| Indiana Jones was right all along: Research shows the smaller the scorpion, the deadlier Posted: 21 Apr 2022 11:16 AM PDT Researchers have shown that smaller species of scorpions, with smaller pincers, have more potent venoms compared to larger species with robust claws. The scientists tested the theory from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which warned of the dangers of small scorpions, and that 'when it comes to scorpions, the bigger the better'. While this may have simply been a throwaway movie line from the adventurous archaeologist Indiana Jones, the research shows there is truth to it. The team of scientists at NUI Galway's Ryan Institute put the quip to the test by analysing 36 species of scorpions to show that larger scorpions have less potent venoms and really are better in terms of avoiding a nasty sting. |
| Breast cancer: Why metastasis spreads to the bone Posted: 21 Apr 2022 11:16 AM PDT When cancer cells break away from a primary tumor and migrate to other organs, this is called 'metastatic cancer.' The organs affected by these metastases, however, depend in part on their tissue of origin. In the case of breast cancer, they usually form in the bones. |
| Uncovering the secret of ternary polymer solar cell success Posted: 21 Apr 2022 11:16 AM PDT A research team has used electron spin resonance spectroscopy to investigate a polymer solar cell while in operation. Molecular level comparison of the PTzBT/PC61BM system with and without added ITIC allowed them to establish the mechanism for the improvements in stability and power conversion efficiency observed when ITIC is added. It is hoped that this insight will contribute to the commercial realization of cost-effective flexible polymer solar cells. |
| Some autism spectrum disorder symptoms linked to astrocytes Posted: 21 Apr 2022 11:15 AM PDT Abnormalities in a type of brain cell called astrocytes may play a pivotal role in causing some behavioral symptoms of autism spectrum disorders, according to a preclinical study. |
| Skin bacteria may boost immune response of mice vaccinated with smallpox vaccine, study shows Posted: 21 Apr 2022 11:15 AM PDT The global eradication of smallpox in the 1980s was achieved by intradermal vaccination with vaccinia virus. A study shows that there is a large increase in skin bacteria and suggests that this may enhance the immune response. |
| Large study of whole genome sequencing data reveals 'treasure trove' of clues about causes of cancer Posted: 21 Apr 2022 11:15 AM PDT DNA analysis of thousands of tumours from patients has found a 'treasure trove' of clues about the causes of cancer, with genetic mutations providing a personal history of the damage and repair processes each patient has been through. |
| Cheaper solar cells could be on the way thanks to new materials Posted: 21 Apr 2022 11:15 AM PDT New solar cell devices that are cheaper and easier to make could soon make their way to market thanks to new materials. |
| Highway death toll messages cause more crashes Posted: 21 Apr 2022 11:15 AM PDT Displaying the highway death toll on message boards is a common awareness campaign, but new research shows this tactic actually leads to more crashes. This new study evaluated the effect of displaying crash death totals on highway message boards (e.g., '1669 deaths this year on Texas roads'). Versions of highway fatality messages have been displayed in at least 27 US states. |
| Dividing walls: How immune cells enter tissue Posted: 21 Apr 2022 11:15 AM PDT To get to the places where they are needed, immune cells not only squeeze through tiny pores. They even overcome wall-like barriers of tightly packed cells. Scientists have now discovered that cell division is key to their success. Together with other recent studies, their findings give the full picture of a process just as important for healing as for the spread of cancer. |
| Designing the perfect piece of chocolate Posted: 21 Apr 2022 11:11 AM PDT We like some foods, and dislike others. Of course, the way food tastes is important, but mouthfeel, and even the sound that food makes when we bite it, also determine whether we enjoy the eating experience. Is it possible to design edible materials that optimize this enjoyment? Physicists and food researchers show that indeed it is. |
| Environmental DNA reveals secret reef inhabitants Posted: 21 Apr 2022 11:11 AM PDT An international research team samples seawater from around the world to reveal which tropical reef fish occur where. To identify species and families, they successfully used the residual DNA shed by the animals present in the water. But not all fish can be traced in this way. |
| Earliest geochemical evidence of plate tectonics found in 3.8-billion-year-old crystal Posted: 21 Apr 2022 10:10 AM PDT Plate tectonics may be unique to Earth and may be an essential characteristic of habitable planets. Estimates for its onset range from over 4 billion years ago to just 800 million years ago. A new study reports evidence of a transition in multiple locations around the world, 3.8-3.6 billion years ago, from stable 'protocrust' to pressures and processes that look a lot like modern subduction, suggesting a time when plates first got moving. |
| Humans disrupting 66 million-year-old feature of ecosystems Posted: 21 Apr 2022 10:10 AM PDT Human-related extinctions of the largest herbivores and carnivores are disrupting what appears to be a fundamental feature of past and present ecosystems, says a new study. |
| Glowing spider fossils prompt breakthrough study of how they were preserved at Aix-en-Provence Posted: 21 Apr 2022 10:10 AM PDT A new study asks: What are the unique chemical and geological processes at Aix-en-Provence that preserve spiders from the Oligocene Period so exquisitely? |
| New materials for storing flammable industrial gases Posted: 21 Apr 2022 10:09 AM PDT Engineers have just demonstrated a promising new family of materials for storing flammable gases such as acetylene. These materials are nanoporous and flexible and can be modified to improve the adsorption of small molecules at the temperature and pressure conditions required for industrial applications. |
| Melting land-based ice raises sea levels globally but can produce lowered levels locally Posted: 21 Apr 2022 10:09 AM PDT When a large ice sheet begins to melt, global-mean sea level rises, but local sea level near the ice sheet may in fact drop. A researcher illustrates this effect through a series of calculations, beginning with a simple, analytically tractable model and progressing through more sophisticated mathematical estimations of ice distributions and gravitation of displaced seawater mass. The paper includes numerical results for sea level change resulting from a 1,000-gigatonne loss of ice, with parameter values appropriate to the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. |
| Cortisol in shelter dog hair shows signs of stress Posted: 21 Apr 2022 10:09 AM PDT Despite the good care, a shelter can be a stressful environment for dogs. Researchers investigated if the amount of the hormone cortisol in hair indicates the levels of stress that dogs experience before, during and after their stay in the shelter. |
| Study reveals set of brain regions that control complex sequences of movement Posted: 21 Apr 2022 10:09 AM PDT In a novel set of experiments with mice trained to do a sequence of movements and 'change course' at the spur of the moment, scientists report they have identified areas of the animals' brains that interact to control the ability to perform complex, sequential movements, as well as to help the mice rebound when their movements are interrupted without warning. |
| Key to improved green tech efficiency found in simple acid treatment Posted: 21 Apr 2022 10:09 AM PDT The development of new, more efficient electrochemical cells could provide a good option for carbon-free hydrogen and chemical production along with large-scale electricity generation and storage. But first, scientists must overcome several challenges, including how to make the cells more efficient and cost-effective. |
| Microdrones with light-driven nanomotors Posted: 21 Apr 2022 10:09 AM PDT Physicists have managed to propel micrometer-sized drones precisely using light only. Their microdrones are significantly smaller than red blood cells. |
| Circuit that focuses attention brings in wide array of inputs Posted: 21 Apr 2022 10:09 AM PDT With a comprehensive map of the wiring, researchers can now discern what information flows into the circuit to enable a key brain function. |
| Vision improvement is long-lasting with treatment for blinding blood vessel condition Posted: 21 Apr 2022 07:55 AM PDT New research shows that a treatment for retinal vein occlusion yields long-lasting vision gains, with visual acuity remaining significantly above baseline at five years. However, many patients require ongoing treatment. |
| In western floodplains, species adapt to bullfrog, sunfish invaders Posted: 21 Apr 2022 07:55 AM PDT A new study of a southwestern Washington floodplain finds that most native species adapt well to the invaders by shifting their food sources and feeding strategies. |
| Wearing dentures may affect a person's nutrition Posted: 21 Apr 2022 07:01 AM PDT Dentures may have a potentially negative impact on a person's overall nutrition, according to new research. The research team leveraged electronic dental and health records of 10,000+ patients to gain a better understanding of how oral health treatments affect individuals' overall health over time. The study found that people with dentures had a significant decline in nutrition markers. People who did not wear dentures did not experience this decline. This is believed to be the first study to report results of utilizing lab values of nutritional biomarkers and linking them with dental records. |
| Bonds from the past: A journey through the history of protein synthesis Posted: 21 Apr 2022 07:01 AM PDT The process of 'translation' in protein synthesis involves formation of a peptide bond between two amino acids that are attached to two distinct transfer RNAs (tRNAs). For long, scientists have been puzzled as to how these tRNAs evolutionarily lie so close to each other on the ribosome. In a new study, researchers explain how tRNA-like components act as scaffolds for peptide bond formation between amino acid-bound 'RNA minihelices,' which are half tRNA-like molecules. |
| Researchers demonstrate label-free super-resolution microscopy Posted: 21 Apr 2022 07:01 AM PDT Researchers describe a new measurement and imaging approach that can resolve nanostructures smaller than the diffraction limit of light without requiring any dyes or labels. The work is a modification of laser scanning microscopy. It represents an important advance toward a new and powerful microscopy method that could be used to see the fine features of complex samples beyond what is possible with conventional microscopes and techniques. |
| Life history: Scholars call for greater collaboration between zoos, museums Posted: 21 Apr 2022 07:01 AM PDT The animal collections housed at zoos and natural history museums -- living specimens in the first case, preserved in the other -- constitute an exhaustive trove of information about Earth's biodiversity. A new paper lays out a pathway to increasing collaboration between these groups that would enhance our understanding of the animal kingdom. |
| Sapphire fiber could enable cleaner energy and air-travel Posted: 21 Apr 2022 07:01 AM PDT Oxford University researchers have developed a sensor made of sapphire fibre that can tolerate extreme temperatures, with the potential to enable significant improvements in efficiency and emission reduction in aerospace and power generation. |
| The protein that keeps the pancreas from digesting itself Posted: 21 Apr 2022 07:01 AM PDT Scientists report that a protein known as estrogen-related receptor gamma is critical for preventing pancreatic auto-digestion in mice. Moreover, they discovered that people with pancreatitis have lower levels of this protein in cells affected by this inflammation. |
| Pain in the neck? New surgical method could be game-changing Posted: 21 Apr 2022 06:41 AM PDT Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is widely used to treat spinal disorders. The fusion involves placing a bone graft or 'cage' and/or implants where the surgically removed damaged disc was originally located to stabilize and strengthen the area. The risk factors for cage migration are multifactorial and include patient, radiological characteristics, surgical techniques and postoperative factors. |
| Extracellular vesicles offer new insights into treating endocrine disorders Posted: 21 Apr 2022 06:41 AM PDT A new statement describes the importance of extracellular vesicles as a new research target for understanding the causes of certain endocrine disorders such as cancer and diabetes and discovering new treatments for these disorders. |
| A layered approach is needed to prevent infections from becoming harder to treat Posted: 21 Apr 2022 06:41 AM PDT Counteracting antimicrobial resistance needs a multipronged approach, including training, labeling food products, working with the media and changing mindsets, according to a new study. |
| Researchers take important step towards development of biological dental enamel Posted: 21 Apr 2022 06:41 AM PDT To this day, cavities and damage to enamel are repaired by dentists with the help of synthetic white filling materials. There is no natural alternative to this. But a new 3D model with human dental stem cells could change this in the future. |
| Anglo-Saxon kings were mostly veggie but peasants treated them to huge barbecues, new study argues Posted: 21 Apr 2022 06:41 AM PDT Very few people in England ate large amounts of meat before the Vikings settled, and there is no evidence that elites ate more meat than other people, a major new bioarchaeological study suggests. Its sister study also argues that peasants occasionally hosted lavish meat feasts for their rulers. The findings overturn major assumptions about early medieval English history. |
| Expect to see more squid and less sockeye salmon on 'climate changed' menus Posted: 21 Apr 2022 06:41 AM PDT Vancouver seafood lovers may see more Humboldt squid but less sockeye salmon on restaurant menus in the near future due to climate change. That's according to a new study which examined 362 Vancouver restaurant menus from four time periods, spanning 1880 to 2021. |
| 'Whup' and 'grumble' calls reveal secrets of humpback whales Posted: 21 Apr 2022 06:41 AM PDT Sounds made by humpback whales -- including a previously unknown call -- have given researchers a glimpse of their lives in the high seas. |
| Women were less likely to return to work after a severe stroke Posted: 21 Apr 2022 06:41 AM PDT A new study has found that after a severe stroke treated with mechanical clot removal, about one third of stroke survivors resumed work three months later. Women were about half as likely to return to work three months after a severe stroke compared to men. The likelihood of returning to work for both men and women after a severe stroke was higher if they were treated with combined mechanical clot removal and clot-busting stroke medications as compared to mechanical clot removal alone. |
| Brains and brawn helped crows and ravens take over the world Posted: 21 Apr 2022 06:41 AM PDT Crows and ravens have great flying ability, which allows them to gain access to new places more easily. While these skills were key to their success, new research also shows that big bodies and big brains played an important role in helping crows and ravens survive in the new climates they occupied. |
| Spatial distribution of pores helps determine where carbon is stored in the soil Posted: 21 Apr 2022 06:41 AM PDT Soils store more carbon than all the vegetation on the Earth's surface. However, there are still many unanswered questions about precisely which processes favor accumulation in the soil. Soil scientists have now developed a new method to show where and under what conditions carbon is stored f in the soil. It turns out, it is primarily the network of soil pores that controls the spatial distribution of carbon. |
| Intense exercise while dieting may reduce cravings for fatty food Posted: 21 Apr 2022 06:40 AM PDT In a study that offers hope for human dieters, rats on a 30-day diet who exercised intensely resisted cues for favored, high-fat food pellets. The experiment was designed to test resistance to the phenomenon known as 'incubation of craving,' meaning the longer a desired substance is denied, the harder it is to ignore signals for it. The findings suggest that exercise modulated how hard the rats were willing to work for cues associated with the pellets, reflecting how much they craved them. |
| Posted: 21 Apr 2022 06:40 AM PDT Experts have developed a ground-breaking software, which combines DNA sequencing and machine learning to help them find where, and to what extent, antibiotic resistant bacteria is being transmitted between humans, animals and the environment. |
| For cooperative teams, modesty leaves the best impression Posted: 21 Apr 2022 06:40 AM PDT People may forgo displaying luxury brands and other signals of status when they want to convince others that they will collaborate well with a team, as people who signal their wealth and social status could be perceived as uncooperative, according to new research. |
| People with diabetes and cognitive decline may be at higher risk for heart disease Posted: 21 Apr 2022 06:40 AM PDT People with type 2 diabetes who have cognitive impairment could be at greater risk for stroke, heart attack or death than other individuals with diabetes, according to a new study. |
| Scientists identify new molecular strategies for tackling aggressive form of leukemia Posted: 20 Apr 2022 05:02 PM PDT A discovery has the potential to benefit leukemia patients by opening up new treatment strategies for treating the disease. |
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