ScienceDaily: Most Popular News

Common medication used to reduce cholesterol levels may reduce COVID-19 severity

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 04:36 PM PDT

Using anonymized medical records from a national registry, researchers confirmed earlier findings that statins may substantially minimize adverse outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

When fawns perceive constant danger from many sources, they almost seem to relax

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 12:38 PM PDT

Burnout. It is a syndrome that is said to afflict humans who feel chronic stress. But after conducting a novel study using trail cameras showing the interactions between white-tailed deer fawns and predators, a researcher suggests that prey animals feel it, too.

Visibly transparent radiative cooler under direct sunlight

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 11:24 AM PDT

A research team develops a radiative cooling material that is transparent under direct sunlight.

A genome of photosynthetic animals decoded

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 11:24 AM PDT

Some sea slugs take up chloroplasts from the algae that they consume into their cells. These chloroplasts retain their ability to perform photosynthetic activity within the animal cells for several months, and thus provide them with photosynthesis-derived nutrition. Researchers have published the genome of the sea slug, Plakobranchus ocellatus.

High-ranking hyena mothers pass their social networks to their cubs

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 11:23 AM PDT

Hyenas inherit their social networks from their mothers, according to new research. The study found this network inheritance effect strongest for offspring of higher-ranking mothers. The finding has implications for how social groups are structured and evolve, the researchers say.

Human cells harness power of detergents to wipe out bacteria

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 11:23 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered that a molecule found within many of the body's cells kills germs by dissolving their protective membranes.

Red blood cell 'traffic' contributes to changes in brain oxygenation

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 11:23 AM PDT

Adequate blood flow supplies the brain with oxygen and nutrients, but the oxygenation tends to fluctuate in a distinct, consistent manner. The root of this varied activity, though, is poorly understood. Now, researchers have identified one cause of the fluctuations: inherent randomness in the flow rate of red blood cells through tiny blood vessels called capillaries.

How spiders distinguish living from non-living using motion-based visual cues

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 11:23 AM PDT

Jumping spiders can distinguish living from non-living objects in their peripheral vision using the same cues used by humans and other vertebrate animals, according to a new study.

Accurate protein structure prediction now accessible to all

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 11:23 AM PDT

Protein design researchers have created a freely available method, RoseTTAFold, to provide access to highly accurate protein structure prediction. Scientists around the world are using it to build protein models to accelerate their research. The tool uses deep learning to quickly predict protein structures based on limited information, thereby compressing the time for what would have taken years of lab work on just one protein. Predicting intricate shapes of proteins vital to specific biological processes could speed treatment development for many diseases.

Scientists take snapshots of ultrafast switching in a quantum electronic device

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 11:23 AM PDT

Scientist demonstrated a new way of observing atoms as they move in a tiny quantum electronic switch as it operates. Along the way, they discovered a new material state that could pave the way for faster, more energy-efficient computing.

'Get out of the water!' Monster shark movies massacre shark conservation

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 11:23 AM PDT

Undeniably the shark movie to end all shark movies, the 1975 blockbuster, Jaws, not only smashed box office expectations, but forever changed the way we felt about going into the water - and how we think about sharks.

Glaucoma test 'best yet'

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 09:46 AM PDT

The latest investigations into a promising new genetic test for glaucoma - the leading cause of blindness worldwide - has found it has the ability to identify 15 times more people at high risk of glaucoma than an existing genetic test.

Fossil rodent teeth add North American twist to Caribbean mammals' origin story

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 09:45 AM PDT

Two fossil teeth from a distant relative of North American gophers have scientists rethinking how some mammals reached the Caribbean Islands.

Modified yeast inhibits fungal growth in plants

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 09:45 AM PDT

Engineers and plant pathologists have developed a way to engineer a protein that blocks fungi from breaking down cell walls, as well as a way to produce this protein in quantity for external application as a natural fungicide. The work could lead to a new way of controlling plant disease that reduces reliance on conventional fungicides.

Human waste contaminating urban water leads to 'superbug' spread

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 09:45 AM PDT

Contamination of urban lakes, rivers and surface water by human waste is creating pools of 'superbugs' in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) - but improving access to clean water, sanitation and sewerage infrastructure could help to protect people's health, a new study reveals.

Unlocking efficient light-energy conversion with stable coordination nanosheets

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 09:45 AM PDT

Two-dimensional 'nanosheets' made of bonds between metal atoms and organic molecules are attractive candidates for photoelectric conversion, but get corroded easily. In a new study, scientists present a new nanosheet design using iron and benzene hexathiol that exhibits record stability to air exposure for 60 days, signaling the commercial optoelectronic applications of these 2D materials in the future.

Researchers create reptile-derived 'super glue' that stops bleeding in seconds using visible light

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 09:45 AM PDT

Western University bioengineer Kibret Mequanint and his international collaborators have found a novel use for snake venom: a body tissue 'super glue' that can stop life-threatening bleeding in seconds.

Engineers find imaging technique could become treatment for deep vein thrombosis

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 09:45 AM PDT

Researchers set out to develop technology capable of localizing and imaging blood clots in deep veins. Turns out their work may not only identify blood clots, but it may also be able to treat them.

What does the sleeping brain think about?

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 09:45 AM PDT

Using an artificial intelligence approach capable of decoding brain activity during sleep, scientists were able to glimpse what we think about when we are asleep. By combining fMRI and EEG, they provide unprecedented evidence that the work of sorting out the thousands of pieces of information processed during the day takes place during deep sleep. Indeed, the brain can evaluate all of these memories in order to retain only the most useful ones.

Hollow nano-objects made of DNA could trap viruses and render them harmless

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 07:30 AM PDT

To date, there are no effective antidotes against most virus infections. Scientists have now developed a new approach: they engulf and neutralize viruses with nano-capsules tailored from genetic material using the DNA origami method. The strategy has already been tested against hepatitis and adeno-associated viruses in cell cultures. It may also prove successful against corona viruses.

A rapid method to quantify antibodies against SARS-CoV-2

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 07:30 AM PDT

Scientists have developed a rapid, highly accurate test to detect antibodies against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 in human serum, opening a new avenue for understanding the full extent of the pandemic and evaluating the effectiveness of vaccines.

Biomolecular bonsai: Controlling the pruning and strengthening of neuron branches

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 07:30 AM PDT

How neuronal circuits remodel themselves over time, especially during early development, is a major question in neurobiology. Using mice, researchers have uncovered a biomolecular mechanism behind the strengthening of connections from neurons called mitral cells. The team found that the protein BMPR-2 is a key regulator of selective stabilization of neuron branching and that strengthening of a branch happens only when neural signals are transmitted.

Study highlights how resilience is dynamic, not a static character trait

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 07:30 AM PDT

A new study finds resilience is a dynamic process, rather than a fixed trait - and suggests this may have significant ramifications for the business world.

Spending time outdoors has positive effect on our brains

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 07:30 AM PDT

If you're regularly out in the fresh air, you're doing something good for both your brain and your well-being.

Bioengineering discovery paves way for improved production of bio-based goods

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 07:30 AM PDT

Scientists have uncovered a way to control many genes in engineered yeast cells, opening the door to more efficient and sustainable production of bio-based products.

Researcher creates cell lines to help treat mitochondrial diseases in children

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 07:30 AM PDT

The mitochondrion has garnered quite the reputation for its role as the 'powerhouse of the cell.' These tiny, but mighty organelles play various life-sustaining roles, from powering our own cells and organs to fueling chemical and biological processes. But when they aren't working properly, a number of rare diseases can occur.

Fluorescence lighting helps detect impurities in water

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 06:08 AM PDT

Shining a beam of light into potentially contaminated water samples may hold the key to real-time detection of hydrocarbons and pesticides in water. Researchers are testing the use of fluorescence to monitor water quality. The results, they say, show great promise.

Repairs using light signals

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 06:08 AM PDT

Repairing complex electrical appliances is time consuming and rarely cost-effective. The working group has now developed a smart microparticle that enables defective components in these appliances to be identified more quickly and easily by using light signals. In the long-term, this could make repairs easier and extend the operating life of devices.

Hope for psychosis sufferers

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 06:08 AM PDT

Scientists have opened the door to improved treatment of brain dysfunction which causes psychosis.

Thinking without a brain

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 06:08 AM PDT

If you didn't have a brain, could you still navigate your surroundings? Thanks to new research on slime molds, the answer may be 'yes.' Scientists discovered that the brainless Physarum polycephalum uses its body to sense mechanical cues in its environment, and decides where to grow based on that information. This finding provides a model for understanding different types of cognition, including our own.

Study shows strong association between perceived risk, availability and past-year cannabis use

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 06:08 AM PDT

Combined perceptions of the risk and availability of cannabis influence the risk of cannabis use more than perceived risk and perceived availability alone, according to a new study. Researchers observed that those who perceived cannabis as low-risk and available were more likely to report using the drug in the past year and almost daily compared to those individuals who perceived cannabis as high-risk and unavailable. This is the first study to consider the joint effects of perceived risk and perceived availability.

Heart problems resolve in majority of kids with COVID inflammatory syndrome, study finds

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 06:08 AM PDT

Most of the heart and immunologic problems seen in children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) -- a condition linked to COVID -- were gone within a few months, researchers have found.

Identification of over 200 long COVID symptoms prompts call for UK screening programme

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 06:08 AM PDT

Patients who experience long COVID have reported more than 200 symptoms across 10 organ systems, in the largest international study of 'long-haulers' to date.

A new avenue for fighting drug-resistant bacteria

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 06:08 AM PDT

A small regulatory RNA found in many problematic bacteria, including Escherichia coli, appears to be responsible for managing the response of these bacteria to environmental stresses. Researchers see a promising avenue for more effective treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Pandemic of antibiotic resistance is killing children in Bangladesh, researchers find

Posted: 15 Jul 2021 06:06 AM PDT

Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children worldwide. A new study identifies an unusual pattern of deadly bacteria with resistance to all standard antibiotic therapy in children with pneumonia in Bangladesh. The findings signal an emerging pandemic of fatal antibiotic resistance.

Ultra-processed food linked to higher risk of IBD

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 03:34 PM PDT

A higher intake of ultra-processed food is associated with higher risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), finds a new study.

New study suggests benefit-to-harm balance of statins for healthy adults 'generally favorable'

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 03:34 PM PDT

Statins are associated with a small increased risk of side effects in patients without a history of heart disease, but these effects are mild compared with the potential benefits of treatment in preventing major cardiovascular events, say researchers.

Think about this: Keeping your brain active may delay Alzheimer's dementia 5 years

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 02:01 PM PDT

Keeping your brain active in old age has always been a smart idea, but a new study suggests that reading, writing letters and playing card games or puzzles in later life may delay the onset of Alzheimer's dementia by up to five years.

Adult children with college degrees influence parents' health in later life

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 12:12 PM PDT

Having no children who completed college is negatively associated with parents' self-rated health and positively associated with depressive symptoms. Additionally, among parents with the highest propensity for having no children who complete college, the consequences on depressive symptoms are greatest.

New method makes vital fertilizer element in a more sustainable way

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 12:11 PM PDT

Scientists and engineers have devised a new method for making urea that is more environmentally friendly than today's process and produces enough to be competitive with energy-intensive industrial methods.

Roadless forests see more blazes and greater severity, but fire resilience is the result

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 12:11 PM PDT

Roadless national forests in the American West burn more often and at a slightly higher severity than national forests with roads, but the end result for the roadless forests is greater fire resilience, researchers say.

The delicate balance of protecting river deltas and society

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 12:11 PM PDT

Researchers have created a novel analysis tool that seeks to protect the millions of people living on urban river deltas, while preserving the environmental and commercial viability of these landscapes.

Molecular bridge mediates inhibitory synapse specificity in the cortex

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 12:11 PM PDT

Researchers have discovered that the cell adhesion protein IgSF11 determines the layer-specific synaptic connectivity of a distinct class of cortical interneurons.

Disparities of climate change mapped

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 12:11 PM PDT

New research illustrates the disparity between the narrow origins and far-reaching impacts of greenhouse emissions responsible for disrupting the global climate system.

Melanoma of the eye: Preclinical tests show path toward treatment

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 10:20 AM PDT

A preclinical study offers hope for treatment of uveal melanoma, a rare and deadly cancer of the eye. A small molecule inhibitor has been identified that dampens the potent drivers of this tumor. In mouse models, the inhibitor strongly limited primary disease in the eye and metastatic tumor dissemination to the liver, and animals survived longer, without overt side effects.

Newfound human brain cell type helps center people in mental maps

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 10:19 AM PDT

A previously unknown kind of human brain cell appears to help people center themselves in their personal maps of the world, according to a new study from neuroscientists. This discovery shed light on the cellular mechanisms underlying navigation and memory in humans, as well as what parts of the brain might get disrupted during the kinds of memory impairments common in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Quantum movements of small glass sphere controlled

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 10:19 AM PDT

The quantum movements of a small glass sphere could be controlled for the first time in Vienna by combining microscopy with control engineering, setting the course for future quantum technologies.

Scientists find way to navigate a heavy uphill climb

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 10:19 AM PDT

A team of scientists has uncovered how heavy, motorized objects climb steep slopes -- a newly discovered mechanism that also mimics how rock climbers navigate inclines.

Antidepressants may improve outcomes in people with diabetes and depression

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 10:19 AM PDT

People with diabetes and depression who take antidepressants may have a lower risk of death and of serious diabetes complications, according to a new study.

Brain organoid study highlights potential role of genetic and environmental interaction in autism spectrum disorder

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 10:19 AM PDT

Researchers have shown in a brain organoid study that exposure to a common pesticide synergizes with a frequent autism-linked gene mutation.

How climate change and fires are shaping the forests of the future

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 10:19 AM PDT

As temperatures rise, the risk of devastating forest fires is increasing. Researchers are using artificial intelligence to estimate the long-term impact that an increased number of forest fires will have on forest ecosystems. Their simulations show how Yellowstone National Park in the USA could change by the end of the century.

No more cone? Psychology researchers offer better tool for visualizing hurricane danger

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 10:19 AM PDT

Researchers are working on an easily understood, science-backed way to visually represent hurricane danger to the general public. They contend that the cone of uncertainty creates a false sense of security for people who live outside the boundary of the cone and that there are better ways to signal likely impacts.

New spray could someday help heal damage after a heart attack

Posted: 14 Jul 2021 10:19 AM PDT

Heart attack, or myocardial infarction, is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Although modern surgical techniques, diagnostics and medications have greatly improved early survival from these events, many patients struggle with the long-term effects of permanently damaged tissue, and the 5-year mortality rate remains high. Now, researchers have developed a minimally invasive exosome spray that helped repair rat hearts after myocardial infarction.