ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Anti-inflammatory compound shows potential in treating patients with severe COVID-19

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 12:06 PM PDT

An anti-inflammatory compound may have the potential to treat systemic inflammation and brain injury in patients with severe COVID-19 and significantly reduce their chances of death, according to a new study.

Introducing a protocol for using robotic pets in memory care

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 12:06 PM PDT

Researchers have developed a protocol for using robotic pets with older adults with dementia. The protocol uses a low-cost robotic pet, establishes ideal session lengths, and identifies common participant responses to the 'pets' to aid in future research.

Antibiotics affect male and female gut microbiomes differently

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 12:06 PM PDT

In a new study, researchers found that antibiotics have sex-specific effects on the gut microbiome makeup of male and female laboratory rats. The findings could have implications for using the drugs in humans to treat or prevent bacterial infection.

Plant study hints evolution may be predictable

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 12:05 PM PDT

Evolution has long been viewed as a rather random process, with the traits of species shaped by chance mutations and environmental events -- and therefore largely unpredictable. But an international team of scientists has found that a particular plant lineage independently evolved three similar leaf types over and over again in mountainous regions scattered throughout the neotropics.

Global map of lunar hydrogen: Data confirms role water played in moon's formation

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 12:05 PM PDT

Using data collected over two decades ago, scientists have compiled the first complete map of hydrogen abundances on the Moon's surface. The map identifies two types of lunar materials containing enhanced hydrogen and corroborates previous ideas about lunar hydrogen and water, including findings that water likely played a role in the Moon's original magma-ocean formation and solidification.

Going against the flow: Scientists reveal garden eels' unique way of feeding

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 12:05 PM PDT

A new lab study on garden eels shows how these shy creatures use their burrows, and change their movement and posture, when feeding in strong currents.

Paper wasps form abstract concept of 'same' and 'different'

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 12:05 PM PDT

In a series of studies over more than 20 years, evolutionary biologists have demonstrated that paper wasps, despite their tiny brains, have an impressive capacity to learn, remember and make social distinctions about others.

Physicists use quantum simulation tools to study, understand exotic state of matter

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 12:05 PM PDT

Physicists have demonstrated how simulations using quantum computing can enable observation of a distinctive state of matter taken out of its normal equilibrium. Such novel states of matter could one day lead to developments in fast, powerful quantum information storage and precision measurement science.

Idea of ice age 'species pump' in the Philippines boosted by new way of drawing evolutionary trees

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 12:05 PM PDT

A groundbreaking Bayesian method and new statistical analyses of genomic data from geckos in the Philippines shows that during the ice ages, the timing of gecko diversification gives strong statistical support for the first time to the Pleistocene aggregate island complex (PAIC) model of diversification, or 'species pump.'

Research on bacteria: Electron highway for hydrogen and carbon dioxide storage discovered

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 12:05 PM PDT

Microbiologists have shed light on the structure of an enzyme that produces formic acid from molecular hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2). The enzyme of the bacterium Thermoanaerobacter kivui was discovered a few years previously by microbiologists, and the scientists have recently presented its potential for liquid hydrogen storage. The filamentous structure of the enzyme, now described at atomic level for the first time, acts like a nanowire and is evidently responsible for the extremely efficient conversion rates of the two gases.

Racial discrimination affects brain microstructure, study finds

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 12:05 PM PDT

A new study shows that the experience of racial discrimination affects the microstructure of the brain, as well as increasing the risk for health disorders.

New research shows 2/3 of species in global shark fin trade at risk of extinction

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 09:11 AM PDT

Researchers sampled nearly 10,000 shark fin trimmings from markets in Hong Kong -- one of the largest shark fin trade hubs in the world. With a little DNA detective work, they unraveled the mystery of what fin belonged to what species, and found that endangered or threatened species were disproportionately represented in the trade, highlighting the need for additional international regulations in trade and shark management practices.

Desert climate overtaking more of Central Asia

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 09:10 AM PDT

Rising annual temperatures and dwindling yearly precipitation across the mid-latitudes of Central Asia have extended its desert climate 60 miles northward since the 1980s, says a recent study.

With just a tablespoon of blood, researchers aim to transform cancer treatment

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 09:10 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a new blood test that provides unprecedented insight into a patient's cancer make-up, potentially allowing doctors to better select treatment options that will improve patient outcomes.

Magnetic memory milestone

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 09:10 AM PDT

Computers and smartphones have different kinds of memory, which vary in speed and power efficiency depending on where they are used in the system. Typically, larger computers, especially those in data centers, will use a lot of magnetic hard drives, which are less common in consumer systems now. The magnetic technology these are based on provides very high capacity, but lack the speed of solid state system memory. Devices based on upcoming spintronic technology may be able to bridge that gap and radically improve upon even theoretical performance of classical electronic devices.

Bioinspired whisker arrays can work as antennae to detect sources of flow disturbances under water or in the air

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 09:10 AM PDT

New research could form the basis of aviation innovation. Artificial whiskers, built as models of whiskers from sea lions, can work as an array of antennae to locate the source of hydrodynamic wakes, similar to the way sea lions use their whiskers.

Could modified train cars capture carbon from the air? This team has a plan to make it happen

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 09:10 AM PDT

Direct air capture technology removes carbon dioxide from the air and compresses it for sequestration or utilization and promises to help us meet net-zero emissions goals. However, the process of direct air capture can be energy and land intensive and expensive. To design a direct air capture process that uses less energy and less land, a multi-disciplinary team outlines a plan to retrofit train cars to remove carbon from the air at a much lower than average cost per ton.

All-in-one solar-powered tower makes carbon-neutral jet fuel

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 09:10 AM PDT

Researchers have designed a fuel production system that uses water, carbon dioxide (CO2), and sunlight to produce aviation fuel. They have implemented the system in the field, and the design could help the aviation industry become carbon neutral.

New fossil shows four-legged fishapod that returned to the water while Tiktaalik ventured onto land

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 09:10 AM PDT

A new study describes a fossil species that closely resembles the four-legged fishapod Tiktaalik but has features that made it more suited to life in the water than its adventurous cousin.

Human eggs remain healthy for decades by putting 'batteries on standby mode'

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 09:10 AM PDT

Immature human egg cells skip a fundamental metabolic reaction thought to be essential for generating energy. This helps cells avoid creating reactive oxygen species, harmful molecules that can accumulate, damage DNA and cause cell death. The findings explain how human egg cells remain dormant in ovaries for up to 50 years without losing their reproductive capacity. The findings could lead to new strategies to preserve the ovarian reserves of women undergoing cancer treatment, as well as open new lines of research that explain why one in four cases of infertility are unexplained.

Making a memory positive or negative

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 09:10 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered the molecule in the brain responsible for associating good or bad feelings with a memory. Their discovery paves the way for a better understanding of why some people are more likely to retain negative emotions than positive ones -- as can occur with anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The size of mammal ancestors' ear canals reveal when warm-bloodedness evolved

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 09:10 AM PDT

Warm-bloodedness is a key mammal trait, but it's been a mystery when our ancestors evolved it. A new study points to an unlikely source for telling a fossil animal's body temperature: the size of tiny structures in their inner ears. The fluid in our ears becomes runnier at higher temperatures, so animals with warm bodies don't need as big of canals for it to flow through. Turns out, mammal ancestors became warm-blooded nearly 20 million years later than previously thought.

Engineers develop new tool that will allow for more personalized cell therapies

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 07:25 AM PDT

A team has developed a new tool to predict and customize the rate of DNA editing, paving the way for more personalized, efficient genetic and cell therapies for diseases such as diabetes and cancer.

Grab a coffee before shopping? You may want to think twice

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 07:25 AM PDT

Drinking a caffeinated beverage before shopping leads to more items purchased at the store and increased spending.

Wearable activity trackers encourage us to walk up to 40 minutes more each day

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 07:25 AM PDT

New findings have endorsed what millions of people around the world believe: fitness trackers, pedometers and smart watches motivate us to exercise more and lose weight.

Melanoma thickness equally hard for algorithms and dermatologists to judge

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 07:25 AM PDT

Assessing the thickness of melanoma is difficult, whether done by an experienced dermatologist or a well-trained machine-learning algorithm. A study shows that the algorithm and the dermatologists had an equal success rate in interpreting dermoscopic images.

Biochemistry: Peptide 'fingerprint' enables earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 07:25 AM PDT

Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease are caused by folding errors (misfolding) in proteins or peptides, i.e. by changes in their spatial structure. This is the result of minute deviations in the chemical composition of the biomolecules. Researchers have now developed a simple and effective method for detecting such misfolding at an early stage of the disease. Misfolding is revealed by the structure of dried residue from protein and peptide solutions. The method involves analyzing micrographs with neural networks and has a predictive accuracy of over 99 percent.

A new method to detect exoplanets

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 07:25 AM PDT

In recent years, a large number of exoplanets have been found around single 'normal' stars. New research shows that there may be exceptions to this trend. Researchers suggest a new way of detecting dim bodies, including planets, orbiting exotic binary stars known as Cataclysmic Variables (CVs).

Shift workers 'can't all adjust to a night shift'

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 07:25 AM PDT

Scientists have challenged the widespread belief that shift workers adjust to the night shift, using data drawn from wearable tech.

Higher voice pitch lets female faces appear younger

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 07:24 AM PDT

Psychologists and biologists have investigated whether voice pitch can influence how female faces are evaluated. Their conclusion: a higher voice does indeed influence how the corresponding face is evaluated. However, this does not apply to all ratings. Faces with a higher voice were rated as younger, but other assumptions that the faces are also rated as more attractive, more feminine or healthier do not apply.

Handling the hype around new technology -- why managers should focus on the use case

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 07:24 AM PDT

Managers face a confusing storm of new technology hype but the key to navigating through the endless promises made for technologies such as drones, blockchain or artificial intelligence is to focus on real uses for the innovations, new research shows.

Review outlines methods to estimate life expectancy

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 07:24 AM PDT

Five key methods have been explored by researchers to calculate life expectancy and the life years lost due to disease and illness.

Ultrasonic detectors reveal the detrimental effect of wind turbines at forest sites on bats

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 07:24 AM PDT

As more and more wind turbines (WTs) are installed in the course of the energy transition and distance regulations to human settlements are tightened, suitable locations are becoming increasingly difficult to find. As a result, wind turbines are increasingly being erected in forests -- to the detriment of forest specialists among bats.

A new measure of psychological safety for patients

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 07:24 AM PDT

A new scale for measuring the psychological safety of patients has been developed.

'iTEARS' could help diagnose diseases by isolating biomarkers in tears

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 05:42 AM PDT

Going to the doctor might make you want to cry, and according to a new study, doctors could someday put those tears to good use. Researchers report a nanomembrane system that harvests and purifies tiny blobs called exosomes from tears, allowing researchers to quickly analyze them for disease biomarkers. Dubbed iTEARS, the platform could enable more efficient and less invasive molecular diagnoses for many diseases and conditions, without relying solely on symptoms.

'Pulling back the curtain' to reveal a molecular key to The Wizard of Oz

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 05:42 AM PDT

Many people and companies worry about sensitive data getting hacked, so encrypting files with digital keys has become more commonplace. Now, researchers have developed a durable molecular encryption key from sequence-defined polymers that are built and deconstructed in a sequential way. They hid their molecular key in the ink of a letter, which was mailed and then used to decrypt a file with text from a classic story.

New findings reveal how neurons build and maintain their capacity to communicate

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 05:42 AM PDT

Nerve cells regulate and routinely refresh the collection of calcium channels that enable them to send messages across circuit connections.

No evidence that depression is caused by low serotonin levels, finds comprehensive review

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 05:01 AM PDT

After decades of study, there remains no clear evidence that serotonin levels or serotonin activity are responsible for depression, according to a major review of prior research.

A healthy lifestyle can offset a high genetic risk for stroke

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 05:01 AM PDT

People who are genetically at higher risk for stroke can lower that risk by as much as 43% by adopting a healthy cardiovascular lifestyle, according to new research.

Rising numbers of exotic snakebites reported in the UK

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 05:01 AM PDT

Exotic snakebites recorded in the UK have 'soared' over the course of a decade, as numbers of the exotic pet increase.

In search of the lost city of Natounia

Posted: 20 Jul 2022 05:01 AM PDT

The mountain fortress of Rabana-Merquly in modern Iraqi Kurdistan was one of the major regional centers of the Parthian Empire, which extended over parts of Iran and Mesopotamia approximately 2,000 years ago. The researchers studied the remains of the fortress.

Study finds why many IVF embryos fail to develop

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 10:02 AM PDT

Spontaneous errors in the earliest phase of cell division may be the reason why so many human embryos fail to develop normally, according to new research.

COVID-19 transmission in geriatric acute care shows need for enhanced infection control and prevention measures

Posted: 19 Jul 2022 08:34 AM PDT

A study of COVID-19 transmission in geriatric acute care wards found healthcare workers in wards with outbreaks of the virus were more likely to transmit new infections than those working in COVID-19 isolation wards.