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| Omicron 'less severe' than Delta for children ages 4 and younger, study suggests Posted: 01 Apr 2022 03:29 PM PDT New research suggests that the children younger than age 5 who are infected with the COVID-19 Omicron variant have less risk of severe health outcomes than those infected with the Delta variant. |
| New research shows what it takes to make society change for the better Posted: 01 Apr 2022 01:05 PM PDT New research suggests that social change may depend on the relationship between beneficial behaviors and policies. Using an innovative mathematical model, researchers studied a behavior that benefits groups, but does not spread without policy support, such as a costly measure to mitigate the effects of climate change. The results showed that both behavioral change and policy change are required to achieve large-scale social change, but policy change is especially critical. |
| 'Flash droughts' coming on faster, global study shows Posted: 01 Apr 2022 01:05 PM PDT Just like flash floods, flash droughts come on fast -- drying out soil in a matter of days to weeks. These events can wipe out crops and cause huge economic losses. And according to scientists, the speed at which they dry out the landscape has increased. |
| Monkeys routinely consume fruit containing alcohol, shedding light on our own taste for booze Posted: 01 Apr 2022 11:13 AM PDT Scientists analyzed the ethanol content of fruit eaten by spider monkeys in Panama, and found that the fruit regularly contained alcohol: between 1% and 2%. The researchers also collected urine samples, most of which contained secondary metabolites of ethanol. The results provide further evidence that our primate ancestors preferentially sought out fermented, alcohol-containing fruit likely for its greater nutritional value, and that humans may have inherited this proclivity for ethanol. |
| Pandemic's urgency drove new collaborative approaches worldwide Posted: 01 Apr 2022 11:13 AM PDT In a new paper, nearly 130 authors from institutions around the world describe their groundbreaking collaborative work, 'Defining the risk of SARS-CoV-2 variants on immune protection.' |
| Posted: 01 Apr 2022 11:13 AM PDT The concept of a 'person' or 'people' is, despite its definition, not gender-neutral when it comes to how we use these terms. In fact, we tend to prioritize men when referring to people in general, shows a new study by a team of psychology and linguistics researchers. |
| Study shows: Fish can calculate Posted: 01 Apr 2022 09:22 AM PDT Cichlids and stingrays can perform simple addition and subtraction in the number range of one to five. This has been shown in a recent study by the University of Bonn, which has now been published in the journal Scientific Reports. It is not known what the animals need their mathematical abilities for. |
| Can weekly prednisone treat obesity? Posted: 01 Apr 2022 09:22 AM PDT Obese mice that were fed a high-fat diet and that received prednisone one time per week had improved exercise endurance, got stronger, increased their lean body mass and lost weight, reports a new study. The mice also had increased muscle metabolism. The once-weekly prednisone promoted nutrient uptake into the muscles. |
| Polarized speech: A function of self-persuasion Posted: 01 Apr 2022 09:22 AM PDT A new study finds competitive debaters, randomly assigned a position, persuade themselves to the superiority of their side, even if it falls contrary to their own personal beliefs. |
| Are COVID-19-linked arrhythmias caused by viral damage to the heart's pacemaker cells? Posted: 01 Apr 2022 09:22 AM PDT The SARS-CoV-2 virus can infect specialized pacemaker cells that maintain the heart's rhythmic beat, setting off a self-destruction process within the cells, according to a preclinical study. The findings offer a possible explanation for the heart arrhythmias that are commonly observed in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. |
| Learning from the single cell: A new technique to unravel gene regulation Posted: 01 Apr 2022 09:22 AM PDT How is the activity of genes regulated by the packaging of DNA? To answer this question, researchers developed a technique to measure both gene expression and DNA packaging at the same time. |
| Origins of the Avars elucidated with ancient DNA Posted: 01 Apr 2022 09:21 AM PDT Less known than Attila's Huns, the Avars were their more successful successors. They ruled much of Central and Eastern Europe for almost 250 years. We know that they came from Central Asia in the sixth century CE, but ancient authors and modern historians debated their provenance. Now, a multidisciplinary research team of geneticists, archaeologists and historians has obtained and studied the first ancient genomes from the most important Avar elite sites discovered in contemporary Hungary. This study traces the genetic origin of the Avar elite to a faraway region of East Central Asia. It provides direct genetic evidence for one of the largest and most rapid long-distance migrations in ancient human history. |
| Perseverance records the first ever sounds from Mars Posted: 01 Apr 2022 09:21 AM PDT NASA's Perseverance rover, which has been surveying the surface of Mars since February 2021, has for the first time recorded the acoustic environment of the Red Planet. |
| Researchers roll out data on COVID vaccine distribution and waste Posted: 01 Apr 2022 09:21 AM PDT Researchers are rolling out a data set that provides detailed information on COVID-19 vaccine shipments and wastage across the United States, with the goal of spurring new data analysis to improve vaccination efforts in the future. |
| New polymer membrane tech improves efficiency of CO2 capture Posted: 01 Apr 2022 09:21 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new membrane technology that allows for more efficient removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from mixed gases, such as emissions from power plants. |
| Shapeshifting volcano virus points to new ways to deliver drugs, vaccines Posted: 01 Apr 2022 06:49 AM PDT A discovery about a shapeshifting virus found in hot volcanic springs could have very useful implications. |
| 3D facial analysis shows biologic basis for gender-affirming surgery Posted: 01 Apr 2022 06:49 AM PDT Gender-affirming facial surgery (GFS) is pursued by transgender individuals who desire facial features that better reflect their gender identity. Until now, there have been few objective guidelines to justify and facilitate effective surgical decision-making for gender-affirming facial surgery. In order to validate surgical decisions for GFS, researchers set out to quantify the effect of sex on adult facial size and shape through an analysis of three-dimensional (3D) facial surface images. |
| Pandemic lockdowns had severe mental health consequences for women in the developing world Posted: 01 Apr 2022 06:48 AM PDT While potentially crucial to preventing the spread of COVID-19, lockdowns are associated with increased rates of depression and anxiety as well as food insecurity among women in India and other parts of the developing world, according to a new research. |
| Lost bioscapes window into Polynesian settlement circa 12th century Posted: 01 Apr 2022 06:48 AM PDT Polynesian explorers discovered a treasure trove of unique plants and animals when they arrived in the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia, according to new research. |
| Novel nuclear microRNA is being developed for the treatment of cardiovascular disease Posted: 01 Apr 2022 06:48 AM PDT A novel angiogenic microRNA drug can be a new option for the treatment of ischemic cardiovascular disease, according to a new study. In the study, the researchers describe a novel nuclear acting microRNA. |
| Periodic volcanism triggered multiple Jurassic extinctions Posted: 01 Apr 2022 06:48 AM PDT Geologists have provided critical new evidence for the timing of volcanic activity in the Karoo province, the largest of the Jurassic magma systems. The remnants of the province are widespread in southern Africa and Antarctica. |
| Improving the targeted treatment of movement disorders Posted: 01 Apr 2022 06:48 AM PDT Recent discoveries may prove vital in improving the treatment of dystonia, a neurological movement disorder. Their findings show that very specific networks in the brain must be stimulated in order to relieve the symptoms seen in different types of dystonia. |
| Wildfire smoke exposure in early pregnancy affects infant monkey behavior Posted: 01 Apr 2022 06:48 AM PDT Infant monkeys conceived while their mothers were naturally exposed to wildfire smoke show behavioral changes compared to animals conceived days later, according to a new study. |
| Study sheds light on why immunodeficiency affects only one identical twin Posted: 01 Apr 2022 06:48 AM PDT Scientists have long queried the causes of immune disorders in only one of two identical twins with identical genes. New research has found the answer lies in both alterations in immune cell-cell communication and the epigenome, the host of biological processes that regulate how our genes function. |
| Study shows COVID-19's lingering impacts on the brain Posted: 01 Apr 2022 06:48 AM PDT Researchers have shown in detail how COVID-19 affects the central nervous system, according to a new study. The findings are the first comprehensive assessment of neuropathology associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in a nonhuman primate model. |
| Posted: 01 Apr 2022 06:48 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that key parts of the global carbon cycle used to track movement of carbon dioxide in the environment are not correct, which could significantly alter conventional carbon cycle models. This finding has the potential to change predictions for climate change, though it is unclear at this juncture if the mismatch will result in more or less carbon dioxide being accounted for in the environment. |
| Crowdsourcing campaign identifies drivers of tropical forest loss Posted: 01 Apr 2022 06:48 AM PDT To combat forest loss in the tropics, a new study uses crowdsourcing to identify the drivers of deforestation. The resulting dataset can be used to create high-resolution maps and help policymakers apply the best protection measures. |
| Higher blood fats more harmful than first thought Posted: 01 Apr 2022 06:48 AM PDT The increased levels of blood fats in people with type 2 diabetes and obesity are more harmful than previously thought, a new study has found. The research shows they can kill cells, make symptoms more severe, and worsen the illness. Increased fat in the blood has long been known to damage tissues and organs, contributing to the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases including type 2 diabetes. |
| Warmer autumns could spell bad news for butterflies, suggests study Posted: 01 Apr 2022 06:47 AM PDT New research finds that longer and warmer autumns make it less likely that green-veined white butterflies will survive winter to emerge in spring. |
| Posted: 31 Mar 2022 03:53 PM PDT Zinc's immune-boosting properties are well-established, but scientists haven't known exactly how it works. Scientists now reveal two ways the mineral supports immunity and suggest how it could be used to improve health. Using mice, the team discovered that zinc is needed for the development of disease-fighting immune cells called T cells and prompts regeneration of the thymus, the immune organ that produces T cells. |
| Scientists develop environmentally safe, frost-resistant coatings Posted: 31 Mar 2022 03:53 PM PDT Engineers have developed a longer-lasting alternative to conventional deicers. |
| Polynesian Island yields 'treasure trove' of fungal biodiversity Posted: 31 Mar 2022 02:08 PM PDT Researchers have provided a detailed description of the stunning array of fungi that make their home on the Polynesian island of Mo'orea. The collection includes more than 200 species of macrofungi -- that is, fungi producing visible, fruiting bodies -- many of which may be new to science. |
| 'We're more alike than we might think' Posted: 31 Mar 2022 02:08 PM PDT A study published in advance of World Autism Day suggests we need a more evidence-based approach to neurodiversity. |
| Easy test can see if breeding bulls have the right stuff Posted: 31 Mar 2022 12:15 PM PDT Forget sending bull semen out for complicated laboratory tests to learn whether the agricultural animal is virile. Scientists have developed a faster, easier microfluidics method. |
| MARATHON measures mirror nuclei Posted: 31 Mar 2022 12:15 PM PDT Scientists are holding up a 'mirror' to protons and neutrons to learn more about the particles that build our visible universe. The MARATHON experiment has accessed new details about these particles' structures by comparing the so-called mirror nuclei, helium-3 and triton. |
| People born in the 80s not likely to marry their first cohabiting partner Posted: 31 Mar 2022 12:15 PM PDT Compared to people born in the 70s, who are almost equally likely to marry or separate from their first cohabiting partners, 80s children are significantly more likely to separate from the first partner they live with, according to researchers. |
| German and Austrian deer thus far spared SARS-CoV-2 infections, unlike in North America Posted: 31 Mar 2022 12:15 PM PDT In North America, SARS-CoV-2 has spread from humans to white-tailed deer. The deer are now considered SARS-CoV-2 reservoirs and may even spill virus back to humans. Scientists have now shown that in Germany and Austria this has not happened as all deer tested were negative for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. |
| How giant viruses mature: New evidence from the medusavirus sheds light Posted: 31 Mar 2022 12:15 PM PDT Medusavirus, a giant virus, is more closely related to eukaryotic cells than other giant viruses are. In an exciting new study, scientists have used electron microscopy and time-course analysis to discover four different types of medusavirus particles within and outside infected amoeba cells, representing four different stages of virus maturation. Their results indicate that the medusavirus has a unique maturation process, providing new insights into the structural and behavioral diversity of giant viruses. |
| Graphene gets enhanced by flashing Posted: 31 Mar 2022 12:15 PM PDT Scientists who developed the flash Joule heating process to make graphene have found a way to produce doped graphene to customize it for applications. |
| Quantum 'shock absorbers' allow perovskite to exhibit superfluorescence at room temperature Posted: 31 Mar 2022 12:15 PM PDT Semiconducting perovskites that exhibit superfluorescence at room temperature do so due to built-in thermal 'shock absorbers' which protect dipoles within the material from thermal interference. |
| Technology has the potential to change the patient-provider relationship Posted: 31 Mar 2022 12:15 PM PDT As personal health records (AKA patient portals) allowing patients to see test results, medications and other health information gain in popularity, scientists studied cancer patients' and doctors' differing perceptions of this tool. Patients cited potential for personal health records to deepen their relationship with their healthcare provider and to allow them to be more understood. Physicians were interested in having more clinical information sharing to facilitate better patient care. |
| Viral transformations in the female genital tract can spell trouble for women’s health Posted: 31 Mar 2022 12:15 PM PDT A new study uses next-generation gene sequencing to get a clearer read on the community of viruses present in vaginal microbiome samples and its implication for the development of cervical cancer. |
| Mammals put brawn before brains to survive post-dinosaur world Posted: 31 Mar 2022 12:15 PM PDT Prehistoric mammals bulked up, rather than develop bigger brains, to boost their survival chances once dinosaurs had become extinct, research suggests. |
| Researchers generate the first complete, gapless sequence of a human genome Posted: 31 Mar 2022 12:15 PM PDT Scientists have published the first complete, gapless sequence of a human genome, two decades after the Human Genome Project produced the first draft human genome sequence. According to researchers, having a complete, gap-free sequence of the roughly 3 billion bases (or 'letters') in our DNA is critical for understanding the full spectrum of human genomic variation and for understanding the genetic contributions to certain diseases. |
| Study shows gaps in how STEM organizations collect demographic information Posted: 31 Mar 2022 12:14 PM PDT Professional organizations in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields could more effectively collect data on underrepresented groups in their fields, according to a new survey. With more robust information, STEM organizations could better target efforts to recruit and retain a more diverse membership. |
| New technology solves mystery of respiration in Tetrahymena Posted: 31 Mar 2022 12:14 PM PDT Tetrahymena, a tiny single celled-organism, turns out to be hiding a surprising secret: it's doing respiration -- using oxygen to generate cellular energy -- differently from other organisms such as plants, animals or yeasts. The discovery highlights the power of new techniques in structural biology and reveals gaps in our knowledge of a major branch of the tree of life. |
| A single gene controls species diversity in an ecosystem Posted: 31 Mar 2022 12:14 PM PDT To test if a single gene could affect an entire ecosystem, a research team conducted a lab experiment with a plant and its associated ecosystem of insects. They found that plants with a mutation at a specific gene foster ecosystems with more insect species. The discovery of such a 'keystone gene' could change current biodiversity conservation strategies. |
| Scientists bioprint tissue-like constructs capable of controlled, complex shape change Posted: 31 Mar 2022 12:14 PM PDT New cell-laden bioink, comprised of tightly-packed, flake-shaped microgels and living cells, the production of cell-rich 4D bioconstructs that can change shape under physiological conditions. |
| NIH experts discuss controlling COVID-19 in commentary on herd immunity Posted: 31 Mar 2022 12:14 PM PDT Achieving classical herd immunity against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, may not be attainable, according to a new perspective article. However, widespread use of currently available public health interventions to prevent and control COVID-19 will enable resumption of most activities of daily life with minimal disruption, the authors note. |
| Easier, faster assay enables many more laboratories to identify COVID-19 variants Posted: 31 Mar 2022 12:14 PM PDT Using a commercially available test and simplified process, any laboratory that can run a real-time PCR assay can detect known SARS-CoV-2 variants in patient samples, researchers report. |
| Light pollution increasing year round for some migrating birds Posted: 31 Mar 2022 12:12 PM PDT Nighttime light pollution levels are increasing the most in the southeastern United States, Mexico, and Central America--findings based on year-round data collected over the last two decades in the Western Hemisphere. |
| New study explores relationship between psychedelics and consciousness Posted: 31 Mar 2022 10:42 AM PDT A new study addresses the question of whether psychedelics might change the attribution of consciousness to a range of living and nonliving things. |
| Scientific consortium provides real-time risk assessment of SARS-CoV-2 variants on immune protection Posted: 31 Mar 2022 10:42 AM PDT A new program has been set up to provide a real-time risk assessment of variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The program assesses how the variants might affect transmission, virulence, and resistance to both disease-induced (convalescent) and vaccine-induced immunity. |
| Can an image-based electrocardiographic algorithm improve access to care in remote settings? Posted: 31 Mar 2022 10:42 AM PDT Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-based model for clinical diagnosis that can use electrocardiogram (ECG) images, regardless of format or layout, to diagnose multiple heart rhythm and conduction disorders. |
| Fruit flies adapt activity to 'white nights' Posted: 31 Mar 2022 10:42 AM PDT Fruit flies with a new variant of a 'clock gene' are spreading northwards. Neurobiologists have now found an explanation for this phenomenon. |
| Blood vessels are guides for stimulating implants Posted: 31 Mar 2022 10:42 AM PDT A wireless neurostimulator a little bigger than a grain of rice can be put in place alongside blood vessels to treat neurological diseases and chronic pain. |
| Increased heat and drought stunt tropical trees, a major carbon sink Posted: 31 Mar 2022 10:42 AM PDT For a long time, ecologists assumed tree rings to be absent in tropical trees because of a lack of temperature and rain fluctuations in the trees' environment. But in recent decades, the formation of growth rings has been proven for hundreds of tropical tree species, which are sensitive to drought and usually experience at least a month or two of slightly reduced rainfall every year. |
| Volcano monitoring at Mount Etna using fiber optic cables Posted: 31 Mar 2022 09:12 AM PDT In order to understand and predict volcanic events even better, a better understanding of the diverse underground processes involved is required. A new way to detect such processes, even if they are very subtle, is to use fiber optic cables as sensors. The analysis of light that is backscattered in them when the cables are deformed by vibrations, for example, has now made it possible for the first time to determine the volcanic signature of the Sicilian volcano Etna very precisely. |
| Meltwater drainage, break-away icebergs linked at shrinking Helheim Glacier Posted: 31 Mar 2022 09:12 AM PDT Dark patches of open sea that appear in the ice-choked water around Helheim Glacier may reveal new clues about how a rapidly changing Greenland glacier loses ice, according to scientists. |
| Ozone may be heating the planet more than we realize Posted: 31 Mar 2022 09:12 AM PDT New research reveals ozone in the lower atmosphere in particular contributed to warming in the Southern Ocean - which absorbs much of the planet's excess heat - more than previously realized. The study shows that ozone is more than just a pollutant, but also may be playing a significant role in climate change. |
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