ScienceDaily: Top News

Superficial relationship: Enzymes protect the skin by ignoring microbes and viruses

Posted: 21 May 2021 02:11 PM PDT

The human body is constantly exposed to various environmental actors, from viruses to bacteria to fungi, but most of these microbial organisms provoke little or no response from our skin, which is charged with monitoring and protecting from external dangers.

Researchers develop advanced model to improve safety of next-generation reactors

Posted: 21 May 2021 10:13 AM PDT

When one of the largest modern earthquakes struck Japan on March 11, 2011, the nuclear reactors at Fukushima-Daiichi automatically shut down, as designed. The emergency systems, which would have helped maintain the necessary cooling of the core, were destroyed by the subsequent tsunami. Because the reactor could no longer cool itself, the core overheated, resulting in a severe nuclear meltdown, the likes of which haven't been seen since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.

New mode of transmission for bacteria

Posted: 21 May 2021 10:13 AM PDT

Campylobacter infection, one of the most common foodborne illnesses in the Western world, can also be spread through sexual contact, according to a new research.

Who's in this ocean? Tracking down species on the go using environmental DNA

Posted: 21 May 2021 08:53 AM PDT

A group of researchers carried out eDNA sequencing on jelly fish in the Florida Keys using a newly developed Fieldable eDNA sequencing kit to identify species that may be endangered, invasive or dangerous.

Gene that causes canine hereditary deafness in puppies

Posted: 21 May 2021 08:53 AM PDT

Researchers have been the first to determine the cause for the nonsyndromic early-onset hereditary canine hearing loss in Rottweilers. The gene defect was identified in a gene relevant to the sense of hearing. The study can also promote the understanding of mechanisms of hearing loss in human.

Neutrons show a connection between lithium concentrations in the brain and depression

Posted: 21 May 2021 08:53 AM PDT

Depressive disorders are among the most frequent illnesses worldwide. The causes are complex and to date only partially understood. The trace element lithium appears to play a role. The distribution of lithium in the brains of depressive people is different from the distribution found in healthy humans.

In utero exposure to tiny air pollution particles is linked to asthma in preschoolers

Posted: 21 May 2021 06:45 AM PDT

Women who were highly exposed to ultra-fine particles in air pollution during their pregnancy were more likely to have children who developed asthma, according to a new study. This is the first time asthma has been linked with prenatal exposure to this type of air pollution, which is named for its tiny size and which is not regulated or routinely monitored in the United States.

A tripartite-chromosome E. coli strain allows the chromosome isolation and implantation

Posted: 21 May 2021 06:44 AM PDT

A group of researchers has succeeded in splitting the E. coli chromosome into three of 1 million base pairs. The 1 million base pairs chromosome can be used for E. coli transformation. This E. coli-based technology has the potential to greatly advance synthetic genomics.

From fire to dust: Plutonium particles from British nuclear testing in outback Australia more complex than previously thought

Posted: 21 May 2021 05:19 AM PDT

More than 100 kg of highly toxic uranium (U) and plutonium (Pu) was dispersed in the form of tiny 'hot' radioactive particles after the British detonated nine atomic bombs in remote areas of South Australia, including Maralinga.

Scientists discover gene signature for plaque-eating microglia in Alzheimer's Disease

Posted: 21 May 2021 05:19 AM PDT

Single-cell gene studies are clarifying the roles of the brain's specialised immune cell in Alzheimer's disease and offer new avenues for treatment of this incurable condition.

Thin is now in to turn terahertz polarization

Posted: 20 May 2021 01:03 PM PDT

Physicists make unique broadband polarization rotators with ultrathin carbon nanotube films. The rotators extend to the terahertz, which could simplify devices for use in telecommunications, security and manufacturing.

AI-enabled EKGs find difference between numerical age and biological age significantly affects health

Posted: 20 May 2021 01:03 PM PDT

You might be older - or younger - than you think. A new study found that differences between a person's age in years and his or her biological age, as predicted by an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled EKG, can provide measurable insights into health and longevity.

An updated understanding of how to synthesize value-added chemicals

Posted: 20 May 2021 01:03 PM PDT

New research provides an updated understanding of how to add functional groups onto simple hydrocarbons like methane. This new and highly detailed mechanism is a crucial step towards designing the next generation of catalysts and finding scalable approaches for turning greenhouse gases into value-added chemicals.

Taking more steps daily may lead to a longer life

Posted: 20 May 2021 11:53 AM PDT

Taking more steps per day, either all at once or in shorter spurts, may help you live longer. The benefits of more daily steps occurred with both uninterrupted bouts of steps (10 minutes or longer) and short spurts such as climbing stairs.

Multi-story buildings made of wood sell for 9% more than other construction in Helsinki

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:39 AM PDT

Building more homes and buildings with wood has been on the radar for years as a way to offset carbon emissions, though construction companies have been hesitant to take the material in broader use. A study is now the first to show that building with wood can be a sound investment. The findings show that multi-storied buildings made out of wood sold for an average of 8.85% more than those made from other materials.

Worrying about your heart increases risk for mental health disorders

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:39 AM PDT

Latinx young adults who experience heart-focused anxiety could be at greater risk for mental health disorders. New research indicates that heart-focused anxiety among that group is a statistically significant predictor for general depression and overall anxiety.

Ultra-sensitive light detector gives self-driving tech a jolt

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:39 AM PDT

A new light detecting device can more accurately amplify weak signals bouncing off faraway objects than current technology allows, giving autonomous vehicles a fuller picture of what's happening on the road.

Radar tracking uncovers mystery of where honeybee drones have sex

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:39 AM PDT

Scientists have used radar technology to track male honeybees, called drones, and reveal the secrets of their mating behaviors.

Technique uses fluctuations in video pixels to measure energy use of developing embryos

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:39 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a cutting edge technique which enables them to instantly examine the biological traits and behaviors of developing embryos as an energy signature, rather than focusing on individual characteristics.

Solving a natural riddle of water filtration

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:39 AM PDT

Engineers have found a way to replicate a natural process that moves water between cells, with a goal of improving how we filter out salt and other elements and molecules to create clean water while consuming less energy.

Molecule enlists patient's immune system to combat HIV

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:38 AM PDT

Antiretroviral therapy, the common approach in the treatment of HIV, halts replication of the virus and has saved the lives of millions of people. However, for patients the drug cocktail becomes a lifetime necessity because they continue to harbor latent HIV in a small number of immune system cells. In the absence of treatment, HIV can again replicate and rebound into full blown AIDs.

Challenging the standard model of cancer

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:38 AM PDT

In spite of decades of research, cancer remains an enigma. Conventional wisdom holds that cancer is driven by random mutations that create aberrant cells that run amok in the body. Researchers challenge this model by proposing that cancer is a type of genetic throwback, that progresses via a series of reversions to ancestral forms of life.

Parrot poachers striking while the market's hot

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:38 AM PDT

'Pretty' parrots are more likely to be snatched up for Indonesia's illegal wildlife trade, a new study reveals. The findings not only expose the key drivers behind the country's illegal trade in these birds, but offer lessons for the potential emergence and spread of infectious diseases that jump from animals to humans.

Making the invisible visible

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:38 AM PDT

Researchers use intense laser light in the XUV spectrum to generate second harmonics on a laboratory scale. As the team writes in Science Advances, they were able to achieve this effect for the first time with a laser source on a laboratory scale and thus investigate the surface of a titanium sample down to the atomic level.

E-scooters as a new micro-mobility service

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:38 AM PDT

Researchers found that e-scooters provide an important alternative mode of transit in urban areas, with growing utility as a micro-mobility service in Singapore. The researchers' study revealed several implications for more effective harnessing and regulation of e-scooters as a mode of transit, including where to deploy e-scooters to satisfy demand unmet by other modes of transit, and how best to strike a balance between private operators and public welfare.

These cognitive exercises help young children boost their math skills, study shows

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:37 AM PDT

Young children who practice visual working memory and reasoning tasks improve their math skills more than children who focus on spatial rotation exercises, according to a large study. The findings support the notion that training spatial cognition can enhance academic performance and that when it comes to math, the type of training matters.

Solar geoengineering may be effective in alleviating impacts of global warming on crops

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:37 AM PDT

Solar geoengineering is not a fix-all for climate change but it could be one of several tools to manage climate risks. A growing body of research has explored the ability of solar geoengineering to reduce physical climate changes. But much less is known about how solar geoengineering could affect the ecosystem and, particularly, agriculture. Now, research finds that solar geoengineering may be surprisingly effective in alleviating some of the worst impacts of global warming on crops.

Targeting abnormal cell metabolism shows promise for treating pediatric brain tumors

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:37 AM PDT

Two experimental drug approaches that target vulnerabilities in cancer cell metabolism may extend survival and enhance the effectiveness of standard chemotherapies for a highly aggressive type of pediatric brain cancer.

A stressful life in the city affects birds' genes

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:37 AM PDT

Great tits living in cities are genetically different from great tits in the countryside. This is what researchers have found in a unique study, where they examined populations of great tits in nine large European cities.

High risk of conflict between humans and elephants and lions

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:37 AM PDT

Scientists have identified the areas that are most at risk for conflicts between humans and elephants and lions in Africa.

The driving force behind tropical mudslides

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:37 AM PDT

Geological knowledge is essential for predicting what areas in a tropical mountain range are more prone to have landslides, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and the catastrophic consequences that these events might have in the surrounding populations.

New research could lead to better treatment for epilepsy

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:37 AM PDT

Scientists have discovered that the way in which neurons are connected within regions of the brain, can be a better indicator of disease progression and treatment outcomes for people with brain disorders such as epilepsy.

Economics and value of pollination

Posted: 20 May 2021 10:37 AM PDT

Scientists examine pollinators from both an economic and ecological perspective, providing much needed insight into the complexities of valuing pollination. This recent collaboration highlights the importance of characterizing the economic value of pollination services, including that of managed and wild pollinators, both for the sustainability of honey bee markets and the protection of overall ecosystem health.