ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Development of a user-friendly, hot-melt, wound-healing adhesive

Posted: 09 Jun 2022 07:18 AM PDT

Scientist have developed a hot-melt tissue adhesive (i.e., medical glue that is applied in a molten state) capable of healing operative wounds. This adhesive has excellent medical material properties in terms of its ease of use, adhesiveness to tissues, biocompatibility and ability to prevent postoperative complications.

New research shows climate change impacts on whale habitat use in the warming Gulf of Maine

Posted: 09 Jun 2022 07:00 AM PDT

New research finds climate change is having an impact on how large whale species, including the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, use habitats in the warming Gulf of Maine, showing that right whales' use of Cape Cod Bay has shifted significantly over the last 20 years.

Europe's largest land predator unearthed on the Isle of Wight

Posted: 09 Jun 2022 05:22 AM PDT

Palaeontologists have identified the remains of one of Europe's largest ever land-based hunters: a dinosaur that measured over 10m long and lived around 125 million years ago.

Unvaccinated children mount COVID-19 immune response, but vaccination may be key to strengthening immunity

Posted: 09 Jun 2022 05:22 AM PDT

A new study shows that unvaccinated children mount a rapid immune response to SARS-CoV-2 which may contribute to less severe symptoms, but which may also limit the development of an immune 'memory' response to ward off future infections.

Paving the way for faster computers, longer-lasting batteries

Posted: 09 Jun 2022 05:22 AM PDT

Scientists have finally cracked a problem that's frustrated chemists and physicists for years, potentially leading to a new age of powerful, efficient, and environmentally friendly technologies.

Phage therapy for mycobacterium infections: More than 50% success rate

Posted: 09 Jun 2022 05:22 AM PDT

The number of reported cases using viruses to treat deadly Mycobacterium infections just went up by a factor of five. Researchers report 20 new case studies on the use of the experimental treatment, showing the therapy's success in more than half of the patients.

Researchers reveal add-on benefits of natural defenses against sea-level rise

Posted: 09 Jun 2022 05:22 AM PDT

Researchers modeled how investing in environmental conservation and protection can help San Mateo County adapt to rising seas. The findings provide incentives for policymakers to prioritize nature-based approaches when planning for sea-level rise.

A bellwether for COVID-19

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 01:14 PM PDT

An analysis of data from university COVID-19 screening programs reveals omicron arrived earlier and took over more quickly than experts predicted. Data from university screening programs helped researchers alert hospitals about an imminent surge of omicron cases. The findings suggest university screening programs could be a valuable tool for surveillance of future infectious diseases.

Study identifies receptor that could alleviate need for chemo, radiation pre-T cell therapy

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 01:14 PM PDT

A research team has shown that a synthetic IL-9 receptor allows cancer-fighting T cells to do their work without the need for chemotherapy or radiation.

Social isolation is directly associated with later dementia

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 01:14 PM PDT

Interdisciplinary study shows changes to brain structures associated with memory and cognitive function are directly linked to social isolation. The data shows that socially isolated people are 26% more likely to develop later dementia. The study has implications for health and social care policy, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

High optimism linked with longer life and living past 90 in women across racial, ethnic groups

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 01:14 PM PDT

Higher levels of optimism were associated with longer lifespan and living beyond age 90 in women across racial and ethnic groups.

Radio waves for the detection of hardware tampering

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 01:14 PM PDT

Up to now, protecting hardware against manipulation has been a laborious business: expensive, and only possible on a small scale. And yet, two simple antennas might do the trick.

Faster computing results without fear of errors

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 01:14 PM PDT

A new technique can dramatically accelerate programs known as shell scripts, through a process called parallelization, while ensuring the programs return accurate results.

Bizarre meat-eating dinosaur joins 'Rogues' Gallery' of giant predators from classic fossil site in Egypt's Sahara Desert

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 01:14 PM PDT

The fossil of a still-unnamed species provides the first known record of the abelisaurid group of theropods from a middle Cretaceous-aged (approximately 98 million years old) rock unit known as the Bahariya Formation, which is exposed in the Bahariya Oasis of the Western Desert of Egypt.

The Southern Ocean as never seen before

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 01:14 PM PDT

With the second version of the International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean (IBCSO v2), an international group of researchers recently presented the best and most detailed seafloor map of the Southern Ocean, which plays a pivotal role in the Earth system.

Bluetooth signals can be used to identify and track smartphones

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 01:14 PM PDT

A team of engineers has demonstrated for the first time that the Bluetooth signals emitted constantly by our mobile phones have a unique fingerprint that can be used to track individuals' movements.

Nicotine-sired male offspring at risk of addiction behavior and memory impairments, study finds

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 01:14 PM PDT

In a new study, researchers have discovered that paternal nicotine taking is associated with addiction-like behaviors, cognitive deficits, and anxiety-like behaviors in male offspring.

Walking towards healthier knees

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 01:14 PM PDT

A new study reveals that walking for exercise can reduce new frequent knee pain among people age 50 and older diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis. Additionally, findings from the study indicate that walking for exercise may be an effective treatment to slow the damage that occurs within the joint.

Scientists observe effects of heat in materials with atomic resolution

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 01:13 PM PDT

Using cutting-edge electron microscopes and novel techniques, a team of researchers has found a way to map phonons -- vibrations in crystal lattices -- in atomic resolution, enabling deeper understanding of the way heat travels through quantum dots, engineered nanostructures in electronic components.

Rapid-fire fast radio burst shows hot space between galaxies

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 01:13 PM PDT

A recently discovered, rare and persistent rapid-fire fast radio burst source -- sending out an occasional and informative cosmic ping from more than 3.5 billion light years away -- helps to reveal the secrets of the broiling hot space between the galaxies.

The secret lives of Darwin's finches reveal daily commutes the equivalent of 30 soccer fields

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 11:29 AM PDT

Using radio transmitters, scientists have gained new insights into the behavior of medium ground finches in the Galapagos Islands. A study reveals daily movement patterns covering an area equivalent to the size of 30 soccer fields.

Preventing adverse birth outcomes could boost education, income

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 11:29 AM PDT

Reducing the excess prevalence of low birthweight, preterm birth or small-for-gestational-age birth in low- and middle-income countries may lead to substantial long-term human capital gains when it comes to both long-term schooling and lifetime income gains, according to a new study.

A new study shows benefits to dispatching mental health specialists in nonviolent 911 emergencies

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 11:29 AM PDT

As cities test different approaches to handling 911 calls, a new study shows dispatching mental health specialists for nonviolent emergencies can be beneficial. In Denver, it reduced reports of less serious crimes and lowered response costs.

Particle accelerator region revealed inside a solar flare

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 10:36 AM PDT

A new study offers direct evidence showing where near-light speed particle acceleration occurs inside the largest explosion known in the solar system, the solar flare.

COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy could protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection in infants

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 10:36 AM PDT

New research offers evidence that getting a second or third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the final stages of pregnancy offers protection for infants against SARS-CoV-2 infection (the virus that causes COVID-19 illness).

Protein discovery reinvigorates promising new therapeutic

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 10:36 AM PDT

Engineers have developed a therapeutic that they say avoids major allergic reactions that plagued previous versions while maintaining its therapeutic activity. The keys to the discovery were the use of a similar, membrane-bound version of stem cell factor delivered in engineered lipid nanocarriers.

Climate change and human exploitation to blame for historic decline in Atlantic Salmon

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 10:36 AM PDT

Research has revealed that an abrupt change in climate conditions in the North Atlantic around 800 years ago played a role in a decline in Atlantic salmon populations returning to rivers. Subsequent human exploitation of salmon combined to reduce their populations still further.

Amazon River freshwater fish show signs of overexploitation

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 10:36 AM PDT

As the cherished rainforest in South America's Amazon River region continues to shrink, the river itself now presents evidence of other dangers: the overexploitation of freshwater fish.

New delivery method allows slow-release of broader array of peptide drugs in the body

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 10:36 AM PDT

A new study describes one of the first entirely new drug delivery microencapsulation approaches in decades.

Pregnant women's drinking correlates with their partner's drinking

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 08:26 AM PDT

Pregnant women's use of alcohol correlates with that of their partner, a new study shows. Paying attention to both parents' use of alcohol may help to prevent drinking during pregnancy, as well as fetal exposure to the adverse effects of alcohol.

Updating our understanding of Earth's architecture

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 08:26 AM PDT

New models that show how the continents were assembled are providing fresh insights into the history of the Earth and will help provide a better understanding of natural hazards like earthquakes and volcanoes.

First-ever elucidation of a small protein's structure could signal help for those with epilepsy and other disorders

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 08:26 AM PDT

Scientists elucidate, for the first time, the structure of the GABA transporter 1 (GAT-1) protein using cryogenic electron microscopy. The findings could lead to new, better treatments for neurological disorders such as anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease.

Rapid Ebola diagnosis may be possible with new technology

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 08:25 AM PDT

A new tool can quickly and reliably identify the presence of Ebola virus in blood samples, according to a new study. The technology, which uses so-called optical microring resonators, potentially could be developed into a rapid diagnostic test for the deadly Ebola virus disease, which kills up to 89% of infected people.

Three distinct brain circuits in the thalamus contribute to Parkinson's symptoms

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 08:25 AM PDT

Neuroscientists identified three circuits in the thalamus that influence the development of motor and nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. And by manipulating these circuits, they could reverse Parkinson's symptoms in mice.

Stem cell research reveals detailed genetic roadmap of glaucoma

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 08:25 AM PDT

A new, detailed genetic roadmap of glaucoma will help researchers develop new drugs to combat the disease, by identifying potential target areas to stall or reverse vision loss.

Lifespan of solid-state lithium batteries extended

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 08:25 AM PDT

Researchers have successfully increased the lifespan and stability of solid-state lithium-ion batteries, creating a viable approach for future widespread usage.

How some high-energy particle 'jets' lose energy

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 08:25 AM PDT

Scientists studying particle collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) have revealed how certain particle-jets lose energy as they traverse the unique form of nuclear matter created in these collisions. The results should help them learn about key 'transport properties' of this hot particle soup, known as a quark-gluon plasma (QGP).

Most 'silent' genetic mutations are harmful, not neutral, a finding with broad implications

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 08:25 AM PDT

In the early 1960s scientists deciphered the genetic code of life, determining the rules by which information in DNA molecules is translated into proteins, the working parts of living cells. They identified three-letter units in DNA sequences, known as codons, that specify each of the 20 amino acids that make up proteins. Occasionally, single-letter misspellings in the genetic code, known as point mutations, occur. Point mutations that alter the resulting protein sequences are called nonsynonymous mutations, while those that do not alter protein sequences are called silent or synonymous mutations. Between one-quarter and one-third of point mutations in protein-coding DNA sequences are synonymous. Ever since the genetic code was cracked, those mutations have generally been assumed to be neutral, or nearly so.

Pregnant women produce super antibodies to protect newborns, now scientists know how

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 08:24 AM PDT

During pregnancy, a subtle molecular change allows immunoglobulin G -- the body's most common type of antibody -- to take on an expanded protective role. Now scientists say this natural process can be replicated to improve vaccines and other antibody-based treatments.

Unique insight into the inner workings of our cellular powerplants

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 08:24 AM PDT

Using advanced microscopy techniques, researchers have visualized in unprecedented detail the machinery that the cells' powerhouses, the mitochondria, use to form their proteins. The results raise hopes of more specific antibiotics and new cancer drugs in the future.

Lessons on how to sleep: What we can learn from worms

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 08:24 AM PDT

Caenorhabditis elegans is a worm that has been used for decades as a model organism. Researchers have found that a specific neuron, called ALA, and the amount of calcium it contains are essential for the homeostatic regulation of sleep in C. elegans. ALA was found to contain more calcium ions when the worms were awake for a long time, and less when they slept. Considering that the molecules involved in sleep regulation are widely conserved, these results may translate to other animals, including humans.

Microplastics in the Indian Ocean

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 08:22 AM PDT

Samples from the tropical Indian Ocean were investigated using a new method for extraction and identification of microplastic particles from water samples. The result: The burden is clearly measurable.

'E-nose' sniffs out mixtures of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 06:14 AM PDT

As paint thinner, ink and adhesives dry, they can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can negatively impact health. Typically, one of those VOCs is xylene, which exists as three isomers with the same elements but slightly different arrangements. Because the isomers are so similar, they're hard to monitor separately. Now, researchers have developed an electric nose ('e-nose') with porous metal-organic framework (MOF) films that can accurately distinguish xylene isomer mixtures.

Lithium-ion batteries that last longer in extreme cold

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 06:14 AM PDT

When temperatures fall below freezing, cellphones need to be recharged frequently, and electric cars have shorter driving ranges. This is because their lithium-ion batteries' anodes get sluggish, holding less charge and draining energy quickly. To improve electrical performance in the extreme cold, researchers have replaced the traditional graphite anode in a lithium-ion battery with a bumpy carbon-based material, which maintains its rechargeable storage capacity down to -31 F.

Yoyo stars responsible for off-center bubbles

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 06:14 AM PDT

Astronomers have developed a new code to simulate the formation of a cluster of baby stars. Comparison with the well-known real case of the Orion Nebula shows that its off-center bubble of ionized gas was caused by a massive star that was pushed out of the newborn cluster but is now falling back in.

New study shows how having had COVID-19 may negatively impact your performance at work

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 06:14 AM PDT

A new study shows that individuals who had contracted CCOVID-19 reported significantly more cognitive failures at work.

Tiny conservation heroes: Wild cherry blossoms could save forest landscapes

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 06:14 AM PDT

Researchers have found that symbolic species could be used for the conservation and community-based management of traditional forest landscapes. The team studied how different social groups within a local community valued wild cherry trees, a symbolic species important for connecting people with nature in Japan. The results indicated that differences in knowledge and prioritization of values must be addressed within local communities to promote community-based management of such landscapes.

Whole-body learning can boost children's letter sound recognition -- the first step toward reading

Posted: 08 Jun 2022 06:14 AM PDT

Children who move while learning sounds of letters significantly improve their ability to recognize individual letter sounds.

Bad dreams could be early warning of Parkinson's disease

Posted: 07 Jun 2022 04:44 PM PDT

Older adults who start to experience bad dreams or nightmares could be exhibiting the earliest signs of Parkinson's disease, say researchers.

Otters learn from each other -- but solve some puzzles alone

Posted: 07 Jun 2022 04:44 PM PDT

Otters learn skills from each other -- but they also solve some mysteries alone, new research shows.

'Ugly' reef fishes are most in need of conservation support

Posted: 07 Jun 2022 11:24 AM PDT

What's the relationship between people's perception of beauty and animals' conservation needs? According to a machine-learning study, the reef fishes that people find most beautiful tend to be the lowest priority for conservation support.

Rapamycin increases Alzheimer's-associated plaques in mice, study finds

Posted: 07 Jun 2022 10:09 AM PDT

Researchers found that administration of the drug rapamycin in mice was associated with increased beta-amyloid plaques. This is one of the hallmark pathologies of Alzheimer's disease. The study authors caution that rapamycin's effects in beta-amyloid-associated Alzheimer's must be studied more carefully.