ScienceDaily: Latest Science News


Dead star's cannibalism of its planetary system is most far-reaching ever witnessed

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 06:13 PM PDT

The violent death throes of a nearby star so thoroughly disrupted its planetary system that the dead star left behind -- known as a white dwarf -- is sucking in debris from both the system's inner and outer reaches, astronomers report.

Gaia Data Release 3: 'Complete step change' in understanding of our Universe

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 06:13 PM PDT

Space scientists have discovered a 'super Jupiter' orbiting a white dwarf, detected using direct observations with the European Space Agency (ESA)'s Gaia mission.

Astronomers discover a multiplanet system nearby

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 06:12 PM PDT

Astronomers discovered a multiplanet system just 33 light-years from Earth, making it one of the closest known multiplanet systems. The system likely hosts at least two terrestrial, Earth-sized planets.

Researchers model accelerator magnets' history using machine learning approach

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 04:21 PM PDT

After a long day of work, you might feel tired or exhilarated. Either way, you are affected by what happened to you in the past. Accelerator magnets are no different. What they went through -- or what went through them, like an electric current -- affects how they will perform in the future. Without understanding a magnet's past, researchers might need to fully reset them before starting a new experiment, a process that can take 10 or 15 minutes. Some accelerators have hundreds of magnets, and the process can quickly become time-consuming and costly.

Giving metal to microbes could reduce greenhouse gas

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 04:21 PM PDT

Collaborative research finds a lack of available metals may be responsible for more nitrous oxide than previously thought.

Factors causing low COVID-19 vaccination have spilled over to lower flu vaccination rates, study finds

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 04:21 PM PDT

A new study finds that adult flu vaccination dropped in states with low rates of COVID-19 vaccination, suggesting that decades of successful public health vaccination efforts may be unraveling in the wake of the COVID-19 vaccine roll out.

Qatar Omicron-wave study shows slow decline of natural immunity, rapid decline of vaccine immunity

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 04:21 PM PDT

A recent Pfizer or Moderna mRNA-vaccine booster provided good but temporary protection against infection by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, according to a new study.

New maps of asteroid Psyche reveal an ancient world of metal and rock

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 12:47 PM PDT

Astronomers have mapped the surface properties of the asteroid Psyche, revealing a landscape of metal and rock.

Trade the chair for fresh air: Sitting time and cardio health

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 12:27 PM PDT

New research is adding further weight to the argument that prolonged sitting may be hazardous to your health. An international study surveying more than 100,000 individuals in 21 countries found that people who sat for six to eight hours a day had a 12-13 per cent increased risk for early death and heart disease, while those who sat for more than eight hours daily increased that to a sobering 20 per cent.

Mechanism leading to drug resistance in prostate cancer

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 11:57 AM PDT

Researchers reveal a mechanism by which prostate cancer cells become resistant through molecular modification of the androgen receptor protein and identify a potential treatment approach that could overcome this resistance.

Dog-assisted interventions lead to lower stress levels in children

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 11:21 AM PDT

Dog-assisted interventions can lead to significantly lower stress in children both with and without special needs, according to a new study using salivary cortisol levels.

Helping middle school students achieve more

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 10:47 AM PDT

A new study of intermediate school students in urban California and New York shows promise for underachievers. Researchers found that early intervention with teachers, training students that achievement is malleable and achievable, caused struggling students to flourish and improve their grades.

The tarantula's cosmic web: Astronomers map violent star formation in nebula outside our galaxy

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 10:46 AM PDT

Astronomers have unveiled intricate details of the star-forming region 30 Doradus, also known as the Tarantula Nebula, using new observations from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). Now we can see the nebula in a new light, with wispy gas clouds that provide insight into how massive stars shape this region.

To find a planet, look for the signatures of planet formation

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 10:46 AM PDT

Finding forming planets is a tough but important job for astronomers: Only three planets have ever been discovered caught in the process of forming, and the most recent of these was found just weeks ago.

No peers, no beers: Research shows youth substance use declined during the COVID-19 pandemic

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 10:08 AM PDT

With stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, youth spent more time at home with family and were more isolated from in-person interaction with peers. Largely due to this social isolation from peers, substance use among youth declined, according to researchers.

New perspective on RNA function: RNA regulates proteins and thereby can control cell growth, study shows

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 10:08 AM PDT

Scientists gained new insights into RNA-mediated regulation of proteins (riboregulation) and its role in controlling cell growth, and most importantly how undifferentiated cells (embryonic stem cells) transform into specialised cells (e.g., liver cells). They discovered this while studying how mRNA molecules bind to and regulate ENO1, an enzyme involved in glucose metabolism. This contrasts to most previous studies, which focused on how proteins regulate RNA, this one shows that an RNA regulates a protein. This new perspective on riboregulation may represent a more widespread and meaningful principle of biological control.

AI reveals scale of eelgrass vulnerability to warming, disease

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 10:08 AM PDT

A combination of ecological field methods and cutting-edge artificial intelligence has helped an interdisciplinary research group detect eelgrass wasting disease at nearly three dozen sites along a 1,700-mile stretch of the West Coast, from San Diego to southern Alaska.

Researchers discover crocodile species that likely preyed on human ancestors

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 10:08 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered two new species of crocodiles that roamed parts of Africa between 18 million and 15 million years ago and preyed on human ancestors. The giant dwarf crocodile species, called Kinyang, mysteriously disappeared, possibly due to changes in the climate.

COVID-19 on the brain: Neurological symptoms persist in majority of long-haulers

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 10:08 AM PDT

A new study describes the short- and long-term neurological symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and identifies a new group of COVID-19 long-haulers with advanced motor and cognitive symptoms.

Androgen receptor signaling contributes to targeted therapy resistance in melanoma

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 08:32 AM PDT

Androgen receptor (AR) signaling affects response to BRAF/MEK inhibitor therapy in both males and females with melanoma, researchers have shown. The findings provide a new target to combat therapeutic resistance and one possible answer to why men face a poorer prognosis than women when diagnosed with melanoma.

Sampling surfaces for COVID-19 virus at public health laboratories

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 08:32 AM PDT

A new study shows that the methodology used to detect the COVID-19 virus in nasal swabs at public health clinics can be used to detect the virus on surfaces in indoor settings such as schools.

Preadolescents exposed to high levels of air pollution in their first years of life display changes in brain connectivity

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 08:32 AM PDT

Higher exposure to air pollution is associated with higher functional brain connectivity among several brain regions in preadolescents, while exposure to traffic noise was not, according to a study. The findings also identify the first years of life as the most sensitive period of exposure to air pollution.

Opioid use disorder: Flexible treatment at home proves effective

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 08:32 AM PDT

Initial results of the Canadian OPTIMA study comparing the efficacy of two models of care for treating opioid use disorder have been completed.

Origins of the Black Death identified

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 08:32 AM PDT

The Black Death, the biggest pandemic of our history, was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and lasted in Europe between the years 1346 and 1353. Despite the pandemic's immense demographic and societal impacts, its origins have long been elusive. Now, scientists have obtained and studied ancient Y. pestis genomes that trace the pandemic's origins to Central Asia.

Previously hidden protoclusters could reveal new details of galaxy evolution

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 08:32 AM PDT

The ancestors of some of the largest galaxy clusters have been hiding in plain sight. New work demonstrates a new technique for identifying the precursors of the most extreme galactic environments.

Tumor 'signatures' could provide key to more accurate treatment for deadliest cancers

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 08:32 AM PDT

Scientists have found a way to identify and interpret 'signatures' that reveal the complex genetic causes of some of the deadliest cancers -- which often have a survival rate of less than 10%. The results could allow them to develop more accurate treatments and significantly improve survival rates.

What quantum information and snowflakes have in common, and what we can do about it

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 08:32 AM PDT

Qubits, the basic building blocks of quantum computers, are as fragile as snowflakes. Now, researchers have come up with a new way of reading out the information from certain kinds of qubits without destroying them in the process, potentially paving the way for a quantum internet.

Lager beer, whether it contains alcohol or not, could help men's gut microbes

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:29 AM PDT

Like wine, beer can have health benefits when consumed in moderation. Non-alcoholic beers have become wildly popular recently, but are these drinks also healthful? In a pilot study, researchers report that compared to their pre-trial microbiome, men who drank either one alcoholic or non-alcoholic lager daily had a more diverse set of gut microbes, which can reduce the risk for some diseases.

New material paves the way for remote-controlled medication and electronic pills

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:29 AM PDT

Biomedicines are produced by living cells and are used to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases among other things. One challenge is that the medicines are very expensive to produce, something that limits global access. Now researchers have invented a material that uses electrical signals to capture and release biomolecules. The new and efficient method may have a major impact in the development of biomedicines and pave the way for the development of electronic pills and drug implants.

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) can control prostate cancer with fewer side effects

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:29 AM PDT

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) can help some men with prostate cancer avoid surgery or radiation.

Cancer clinical trials bounce back after significant COVID-19 disruption: Data from two large US cancer centers

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:29 AM PDT

Data from two large cancer centres in the United States have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic caused substantial disruption to clinical trials for cancer treatment and care. After a 46% decrease in new patient accruals, and a 24% decrease in newly activated trials between March and May 2020, a bounceback was seen in 2021. The findings suggest ways of improving the running of clinical trials and improving patients access to them worldwide.

Moth wing-inspired sound absorbing wallpaper in sight after breakthrough

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:29 AM PDT

Experts at the University of Bristol have discovered that the scales on moth wings act as excellent sound absorbers even when placed on an artificial surface.

Australian bee helps illuminate social evolution: Bridge between flying solo or as a colony

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:29 AM PDT

Studying the unusual social behavior of an Australian native bee has enabled researchers to obtain a clear understanding of the earliest stages of social evolution. Evidence of how individuals that live a solitary lifestyle can transition to colonial life unlocks a key biological question about evolution, they say.

Near-sun comet roasted to death

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:29 AM PDT

Astronomers using a fleet of world leading telescopes on the ground and in space have captured images of a periodic rocky near-Sun comet breaking apart. This is the first time such a comet has been caught in the act of disintegrating and could help explain the scarcity of such periodic near-Sun comets.

Nordic walking improves functional capacity in people with heart disease

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:29 AM PDT

Researchers identified a greater increase in functional capacity, the ability to perform activities of daily living, as a result of Nordic walking in patients with coronary heart disease compared to standard high-intensity interval training and moderate-to-vigorous intensity continuous training.

All-optical switching on a nanometer scale

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:29 AM PDT

Ultrafast light-driven control of magnetization on the nanometer length scale is key to achieve competitive bit sizes in next generation data storage technology. Researchers have successfully demonstrated the ultrafast emergence of all-optical switching by generating a nanometer scale grating by interference of two pulses in the extreme ultraviolet spectral range.

Cholesterol-lowering gene changes may increase the risk of cataracts

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:29 AM PDT

Researchers used large-scale genotyping and exome sequencing from the UK Biobank to gain insight into the expected effects of long-term statin use on cataract risk. The analysis found that common genetic variants in more than 402,000 people, who were not taking statins, that mimic the effects of LDL-cholesterol lowering statins are associated with a higher risk of cataracts and cataract surgery. They also found that rare genetic mutations in 169,172 people, mimicking statin treatment, increased the risk of developing cataracts by nearly five times.

Genetic discovery could spell mosquitoes' death knell

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:28 AM PDT

A genetic discovery could turn disease-carrying mosquitoes into insect Peter Pans, preventing them from ever maturing or multiplying.

Parasitic worms reveal new insights into the evolution of sex and sex chromosomes

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:28 AM PDT

Studying two highly divergent phyla of worms that contain numerous parasites that cause human and livestock diseases, new research sheds light on how sexual reproduction and subsequent great diversity of sex chromosomes might have evolved.

A large predator from the Pyrenees

Posted: 15 Jun 2022 07:28 AM PDT

A fossilized lower jaw has led an international team of palaeontologists to discover a new species of predator that once lived in Europe. These large predators belong to a group of carnivores colloquially known as 'bear dogs'. They could weigh around 320 kilograms, appeared 36 million years ago before becoming extinct around 7.5 million years ago.

Military cannot rely on AI for strategy or judgment, study suggests

Posted: 14 Jun 2022 03:41 PM PDT

Using artificial intelligence (AI) for warfare has been the promise of science fiction and politicians for years, but new research argues only so much can be automated and shows the value of human judgment.

Quantum computer programming basics

Posted: 14 Jun 2022 03:41 PM PDT

For would-be quantum programmers scratching their heads over how to jump into the game as quantum computers proliferate and become publicly accessible, a new beginner's guide provides a thorough introduction to quantum algorithms and their implementation on existing hardware. Deep-diving guide explains the basics, surveys major quantum algorithms and steps through implementing them on publicly available quantum computers.

River belt discovery helps scientists understand ancient rivers

Posted: 14 Jun 2022 03:41 PM PDT

A researcher has come up with a rule that connects channel belts to river patterns, finding that, in general, the more channels a river has, the narrower its channel belt. Since the physics shaping rivers is the same over time and place, the rule should hold for ancient rivers and rivers on other planets, too.

Immunity boosting treatment enhances CAR-T cell therapy for blood cancers

Posted: 14 Jun 2022 01:44 PM PDT

A new study shows that treatment with an immunity boosting protein called interleukin 7 (IL-7) after an infusion of genetically modified T cells causes the cancer-fighting CAR-T cells to grow in number and become more effective at killing tumor cells.

Researchers develop pancreatic beta-cell restoring therapy for treating type 1 diabetes

Posted: 14 Jun 2022 01:44 PM PDT

Researchers have successfully treated type 1 diabetes in mice using pancreatic beta-cell, target-specific, chimeric antigen-receptor (CAR) regulatory T cells (Tregs), and demonstrated the feasibility of their approach to treat the human condition according to new data.

Hidden in plain sight: Biologists say southern right whale habitat choice is key to keeping young calves safe

Posted: 14 Jun 2022 01:44 PM PDT

While researchers have speculated that the up to 50-foot-long whales choose shallow, coastal locations for lack of predators and warmer and calmer waters, a team of biologists recently uncovered a new potential motive.

A warming climate decreases microbial diversity

Posted: 14 Jun 2022 01:44 PM PDT

Researchers conducted an eight-year experiment that found that climate warming played a predominant role in shaping microbial biodiversity, with significant negative effect.

Prolonged, low-level radon exposure still a leading cause of lung cancer

Posted: 14 Jun 2022 12:37 PM PDT

A study shows a strong relationship between prolonged exposure to low levels of radon and lung cancer, indicating a need for enhanced protection measures. Radon gas in the air decays into tiny radioactive particles which can damage lung cells and lead to cancer.

Rural areas near coast will bear the brunt of U.S. sea-level rise

Posted: 14 Jun 2022 12:37 PM PDT

A new analysis using highly detailed elevation maps of the Chesapeake Bay suggests that North America's extensive areas of low-lying rural land will allow coastal marshes to persist or even expand as salty water creeps upward into what are now forests and farmland.

A dynamic duo of cells identified in lung blood vessels

Posted: 14 Jun 2022 12:37 PM PDT

Scientists have identified two subtypes of lung blood vessel cells. One subtype expresses more genes involved in inflammation and the regulation of the immune response; the other expresses more genes involved in cell regeneration and proliferation. The findings could lead to better treatments for lung infections.

A biological super glue from mistletoe berries?

Posted: 14 Jun 2022 11:16 AM PDT

Researchers suggests that mistletoe viscin's ultra-stiff flexible fibers, which adhere to both skin and cartilage as well as to various synthetic materials, could have a range of applications -- both biomedical and beyond.

Research clarifies hazards posed by harmful algal blooms

Posted: 14 Jun 2022 11:15 AM PDT

Research has shed new light on the hazards associated with harmful algal blooms such as one four years ago that fouled drinking water in Oregon's capital city of Salem.

Gravity-defying spike waves rewrite the rule book

Posted: 14 Jun 2022 11:15 AM PDT

Researchers studying wave breaking have found that axisymmetric 'spike waves' can far exceed limits that were previously thought to dictate the maximum height of ocean waves.

Opioid analgesic fentanyl may cause autism-like behavior in young mice, study finds

Posted: 14 Jun 2022 11:15 AM PDT

A new study reveals that opioid analgesic fentanyl may induce autism-like behaviors in young male and female mice. The findings indicate that reduced expression of the gene Grin2b in the anterior cingulate cortex of the brain following fentanyl treatment accounts for the autism-like behavior in the mice. However, there is no current evidence that fentanyl is associated with a similar effect in humans. The outcomes of the animal study are not an indication to avoid fentanyl in clinical use.

Companies’ use of renewable energy certificates masks inaction on carbon emissions

Posted: 14 Jun 2022 11:15 AM PDT

A new study argues that renewable energy certificates -- a market-based tool that certifies the bearer owns one megawatt hour of electricity produced from renewable energy sources -- generally do not reduce emissions and firms using them are overstating their climate mitigation claims. In one calculation, the researchers show how a sample of 115 companies between 2015 and 2019 reported a 31 per cent reduction in emissions. A closer analysis of that claim reveals that without including the purchase of ineffective RECs, the actual drop in emissions was roughly 10 per cent.

Real-time imaging of dynamic atom-atom interactions

Posted: 14 Jun 2022 11:15 AM PDT

Researchers have managed to observe and characterize dynamic assembly of metallic atoms using an ingenious combination of scanning transmission electron microscopy and a video-based tracking. By visualizing short-lived molecules, such as metallic dimers and trimers, that cannot be observed using traditional methods, the researchers open up the possibility of observing more such dynamic structures predicted by simulations.

Study explores uncertainties in flood risk estimates

Posted: 14 Jun 2022 11:15 AM PDT

Flood frequency analysis is a technique used to estimate flood risk, providing statistics such as the '100-year flood' or '500-year flood' that are critical to infrastructure design, dam safety analysis, and flood mapping in flood-prone areas. But the method used to calculate these flood frequencies is due for an update, according to a new study.

Magnetic material could help monitor battery life

Posted: 14 Jun 2022 11:15 AM PDT

A new study shows how a magnetic material can be used to help monitor the amount of life left in a rechargeable battery before it needs to be recharged.

Scientists create nanoparticle that helps fight solid tumors

Posted: 14 Jun 2022 11:15 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered a possible new approach in treating solid tumors through the creation of a novel nanoparticle.

Study reveals how epilepsy and migraine drug causes birth defects

Posted: 14 Jun 2022 11:15 AM PDT

Valproic acid -- a drug used to treat epilepsy, migraine, and bipolar disorder -- can cause birth defects when taken during pregnancy. Now, a study reveals one reason why: valproic acid (VPA) puts some cells of the developing nervous system into senescence, a kind of halted state that keeps them from growing and dividing correctly.