ScienceDaily: Top News

Common diabetes drug shows promise as treatment for COVID-19 lung inflammation

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 01:24 PM PDT

Researchers identify the molecular mechanism for the anti-inflammatory activity of diabetes drug metformin and, in mouse studies, say it prevents lung inflammation in animals infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Cause, scope determined for deadly winter debris flow in Uttarakhand, India

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 12:01 PM PDT

The Uttarakhand region of India experienced a humanitarian tragedy on Feb. 7, 2021, when a wall of debris and water barreled down the Ronti Gad, Rishiganga and Dhauliganga river valleys. This debris flow destroyed two hydropower facilities and left more than 200 people dead or missing. A self-organized coalition of 53 scientists came together in the days following the disaster to investigate the cause, scope and impacts.

World-first discovery could fuel the new green ammonia economy

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 12:01 PM PDT

Scientists have developed a new technique using phosphonium salts that can help drive the future production of green ammonia. This process could reduce the impact of ammonia production on global carbon emissions. Each metric ton of ammonia produced today contributes to roughly 1.9 metric tons of greenhouse emissions.

How cells measure themselves

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 12:01 PM PDT

How do cells measure themselves? Now we have an answer to this long-standing biological question.

Cell phone use while driving may be tied to other risky road behaviors in young adults

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 11:45 AM PDT

A new study found that 18- to 24-year-olds who use cell phones while driving are more likely to engage in other risky driving behaviors associated with 'acting-without-thinking,' a form of impulsivity. These findings suggest the importance of developing new strategies to prevent risky driving in young adults, especially those with impulsive personalities.

Saliva can be more effective than nasopharyngeal swabs for COVID-19 testing, researchers find

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 11:44 AM PDT

The addition of a simple processing step to saliva samples before testing may improve COVID-19 detection rate, eliminate the challenges of nasopharyngeal testing, and facilitate mass surveillance, researchers report.

Pinpointing how cancer cells turn aggressive

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 11:44 AM PDT

As deadly as it is, cancer metastasis is a poorly understood process. A new study describes a cutting-edge tool for tracing the lineage and gene expression of thousands of individual metastatic cancer cells. Their findings open new angles for investigating the processes that drive metastasis.

Could naked mole rats hold key to curing cancer and dementia?

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:57 AM PDT

Scientists say naked mole rats - a rodent native to West Africa - may hold the key to new treatments for degenerative diseases such as cancer and dementia.

Bacteria-sized robots take on microplastics and win by breaking them down

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:57 AM PDT

Small pieces of plastic are everywhere, stretching from urban environments to pristine wilderness. Left to their own devices, it can take hundreds of years for them to degrade completely. Catalysts activated by sunlight could speed up the process, but getting these compounds to interact with microplastics is difficult. In a proof-of-concept study, researchers developed self-propelled microrobots that can swim, attach to plastics and break them down.

Asteroid 16 Psyche might not be what scientists expected

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:57 AM PDT

New research finds that the target asteroid of NASA's Psyche mission may not be as metallic or dense as previously predicted, hinting that it might not be an exposed planetary core after all.

Could all your digital photos be stored as DNA?

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:57 AM PDT

Biological engineers have demonstrated a way to easily retrieve data files stored as DNA. This could be a step toward using DNA archives to store enormous quantities of photos, images, and other digital content.

Dinosaurs lived in greenhouse climate with hot summers, study shows

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:56 AM PDT

Researchers have developed an innovative way to use the clumped isotope method to reconstruct climate in the geological past on the seasonal scale. They show that dinosaurs had to deal with hotter summers than previously thought. The results suggest that in the mid latitudes, seasonal temperatures will likely rise along with climate warming, while seasonal difference is maintained. This results in very high summer temperatures.

Microscopic imaging without a microscope?

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:56 AM PDT

A new technique uses high-throughput sequencing, instead of a microscope, to obtain ultra-high-resolution images of gene expression from a tissue slide.

Research establishes safe water thresholds for antimicrobials, to help mitigate resistance

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:56 AM PDT

Scientists summarize and critically appraise the current approaches to determining the concentrations of antimicrobials that increase AMR. By collating and assessing available data, they have recommended what these safe thresholds could be, to enable governments to act to reduce them.

Researchers' algorithm to make CRISPR gene editing more precise

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:56 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a new method which makes CRISPR gene editing more precise than conventional methods. The method selects the molecules best suited for helping the CRISPR-Cas9 protein with high-precision editing at the correct location in our DNA, the researchers explain.

New way to 3D-print custom medical devices to boost performance and bacterial resistance

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:56 AM PDT

Using a new 3D printing process, researchers have discovered how to tailor-make artificial body parts and other medical devices with built-in functionality that offers better shape and durability, while cutting the risk of bacterial infection at the same time.

Botany: Scent of death attracts coffin flies to pipevine flowers

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:56 AM PDT

Plant researchers have discovered an unusual and previously unknown reproductive strategy in plants: the Greek pipevine species 'Aristolochia microstoma' produces a unique mixture of volatiles that resembles the smell of dead and decaying insects to attract the pollinating fly genus 'Megaselia' (also known as 'coffin flies') to its trap-flowers.

The rocky road to accurate sea-level predictions

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:56 AM PDT

The type of material present under glaciers has a big impact on how fast they slide towards the ocean. Scientists face a challenging task to acquire data of this under-ice landscape. Choosing the wrong equations for the under-ice landscape can have the same effect on the predicted contribution to sea-level rise as a warming of several degrees, according to researchers.

Novel materials: Sound waves traveling backwards

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

Acoustic waves in gases, liquids, and solids usually travel at an almost constant speed of sound. Rotons are an exception: their speed of sound changes significantly with the wavelength, it is also possible that the waves travel backwards. Researchers are studying the possibilities of using rotons in artificial materials. These metamaterials might be used in the future to manipulate or direct sound in ways that have never been possible before.

Tuning the energy gap: A novel approach for organic semiconductors

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

What is already established for inorganic semiconductors stays a challenge for their organic counterparts: Tuning the energy gap by blending different semiconducting molecules to optimize device performance. Now, scientists demonstrated how to reach this goal.

Soot from heaters and traffic is not just a local problem

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

Soot particles from oil and wood heating systems as well as road traffic can pollute the air in Europe on a much larger scale than previously assumed. The evaluation of the sources during a measuring campaign in Germany showed that about half of the soot particles came from the surrounding area and the other half from long distances. This underlines the need to further reduce emissions of soot that is harmful to health and climate.

Discovery of ray sperms' unique swimming motion and demonstration with bio-inspired robot

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

It is generally agreed that sperms 'swim' by beating or rotating their soft tails. However, a research team has discovered that ray sperms move by rotating both the tail and the head. The team further investigated the motion pattern and demonstrated it with a robot. Their study has expanded the knowledge on the microorganisms' motion and provided inspiration for robot engineering design.

Institutional environments trap disabled geoscientists between a rock and a workplace

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

Inaccessible workplaces, normative departmental cultures and 'ableist' academic systems have all contributed to the continued under-representation and exclusion of disabled researchers, according to an expert.

Reduction of carbon monoxide through nitrogenase

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

Through the biological fixation of the element nitrogen by the enzyme nitrogenase, organisms gain access to molecular nitrogen (N2) in the Earth's atmosphere, which is essential for building cellular structures. In addition, a vanadium-dependent variant of nitrogenase can reduce the toxic gas carbon monoxide (CO) to hydrocarbons. These reductions of N2 and CO are among the most important processes in industrial chemistry, as they are used to produce both fertilizers and synthetic fuels. However, researchers have not yet been able to decipher the different pathways of the two reactions.

Three factors may predict college students' loss of self-control

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

Researchers determined willingness to try new things along with parental attachment could be indicators of self-control among first-year students.

Cells construct living composite polymers for biomedical applications

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

Biomedical engineers have demonstrated that a class of interwoven composite materials called semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (sIPNs) can be produced by living cells. The approach could make these versatile materials more biologically compatible for biomedical applications such as time-delayed drug delivery systems.

Humans are ready to take advantage of benevolent AI

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

Humans expect that AI is benevolent and trustworthy. A new study reveals that at the same time humans are unwilling to cooperate and compromise with machines. They even exploit them.

Compound blocks SARS-CoV-2 and protects lung cells, study finds

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

Researchers report that Elovanoids, bioactive chemical messengers made from omega-3 very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, may block the virus that causes COVID-19 from entering cells and protect the air cells (alveoli) of the lung.

Memory biomarkers confirm aerobic exercise helps cognitive function in older adults

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:55 AM PDT

Until now, systemic biomarkers to measure exercise effects on brain function and that link to relevant metabolic responses were lacking. A study shows a memory biomarker, myokine Cathepsin B (CTSB), increased in older adults following a 26-week structured aerobic exercise training. The positive association between CTSB and cognition, and the substantial modulation of lipid metabolites implicated in dementia, support the beneficial effects of exercise training on brain function and brain health in asymptomatic individuals at risk for Alzheimer's.

Research uncovers broadband gaps in US to help close digital divide

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:38 AM PDT

Events of the past year have exposed the crisis of the digital divide in the U.S. To tackle this problem, researchers have developed a new tool to smooth the collection of federal broadband access data that helps pinpoint coverage gaps across the US.

Solutions for fighting pollution in the oceans

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:38 AM PDT

Maritime litter is among the most urgent global pollution issues. Marine scientist have published an overview study of solutions for prevention, monitoring, and removal. They found that reducing ocean pollution requires more support, integration, and creative political decisiveness.

Cloud computing expands brain sciences

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 10:38 AM PDT

People often think about human behavior in terms of what is happening in the present -- reading a newspaper, driving a car, or catching a football. But other dimensions of behavior extend over weeks, months, and years.

Endangered blue whales recorded off southwest coast of India

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:11 AM PDT

Underwater recordings show that endangered blue whales are present and singing off the southwest coast of India. This extends the range of a known song type by 1,000 kilometers, into Indian waters. The results suggest that conservation measures should include this region.

Researchers link ancient wooden structure to water ritual

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:11 AM PDT

A team used dendrochronology and a form of radiocarbon dating called 'wiggle-matching' to pinpoint, with 95% probability, the years in which an ancient wooden structure's two main components were created: a lower tank in 1444 B.C., and an upper tank in 1432 B.C.

Ion and lipid transporters specialize for their niche

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:11 AM PDT

Cell viability require that a variety of functions at the cell membrane are maintained properly. P-type ATPases translocate substrates across the membrane, and they have evolved into different types taking care of specific substrates within a diverse range. Now, key structural aspects have been described on how two different types of P-type ATPases -- a Ca2+ transporting Ca2+-ATPase and a lipid transporting P4-ATPase - have adapted to different substrates and physical environments.

Lodgers on manganese nodules: Sponges promote a high diversity

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:11 AM PDT

Deep down in the ocean, valuable raw materials are stored, such as nodules of manganese. These resources could help meeting our increasing demand for rare metals. In addition to the nodules, there is another treasure down there: A complex ecosystem we barely understand. Researchers have discovered that sponges settling on the nodules provide a home for many other animals. Without nodules, diversity in these deep-sea regions would be significantly lower.

'Vegan spider silk' provides sustainable alternative to single-use plastics

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:11 AM PDT

Researchers have created a plant-based, sustainable, scalable material that could replace single-use plastics in many consumer products.

New twist on DNA data storage lets users preview stored files

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:11 AM PDT

Researchers have turned a longstanding challenge in DNA data storage into a tool, using it to offer users previews of stored data files -- such as thumbnail versions of image files.

Rural residents, American Indians travel farthest for certified stroke care

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:11 AM PDT

Race, age, income and health insurance status are factors in the distance patients must travel to reach the nearest certified stroke care, according to a nationwide analysis of US census data and road maps. The greatest distances were for those in rural areas and for American Indians.

Monoclonal antibody therapy for COVID-19 safe, effective for transplant patients, study finds

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:10 AM PDT

Treating transplant patients with mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies is safe and helps prevent serious illness, according to a new study. These results are especially important because transplant patients who are infected with COVID-19 have a higher risk of severe illness and death.

Flickering screens may help children with reading and writing difficulties, study suggests

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:10 AM PDT

Children with reading and writing difficulties who are presented with text on screens with flickering white noise both read better and remember what they have read better, according to a Swedish-Norwegian study.

Largescale brain epigenetics study provides new insights into dementia

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:10 AM PDT

The team looked in different regions of the brain, which are affected in Alzheimer's disease before looking for common changes across these cortical regions. They identified 220 sites in the genome, including 84 new genes, which showed different levels of DNA methylation in the cortex in individuals with more severe Alzheimer's disease, which weren't seen in the cerebellum.

Ceramics provide insights into medieval Islamic cuisine

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:10 AM PDT

Organic residues on ceramic pottery are a valuable resource for understanding medieval cuisines of Islamic-ruled Sicily, according to a new study.

How to beat the heat: Memory mechanism allows plants to adapt to heat stress

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:10 AM PDT

Researchers have found that plants adapt to heat stress via a specific 'memory' mechanism. The JUMONJI family of proteins can control small heat shock genes, allowing plants to become heat tolerant for better adaptation to future heat stress. This research is applicable to a broad range of scientific fields and understanding this mechanism could contribute to maintaining the food supply under global warming conditions.

Nearly one in five patients who die from unexplained sudden cardiac death have suspicious gene, study finds

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:10 AM PDT

Researchers have found that nearly 20 percent of patients with unexplained sudden cardiac death -- most of whom were under age 50 -- carried rare genetic variants. These variants likely raised their risk of sudden cardiac death.

Scientists identify distinctive deep infrasound rumbles of space launches

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:10 AM PDT

New research used a system for monitoring nuclear tests to track the infrasound from 1,001 rocket launches, identifying the distinctive sounds from seven different types of rockets. In some cases, like the Space Shuttle and the Falcon 9, the researchers were also able to identify the various stages of the rockets' journey.

Study confirms safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in people with cancer

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:10 AM PDT

In a review of 200 patients with a wide spectrum of cancer diagnoses, researchers found that after full vaccination, 94 percent of patients overall demonstrated seroconversion, which was determined by the presence of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Response rates were very high among patients with solid tumors and were lower in people with certain blood cancers, but even the majority of those patients mounted an immune response.

Predisposition to addiction may be genetic, study finds

Posted: 10 Jun 2021 06:10 AM PDT

People who have a high sensation-seeking trait in the brain could be more susceptible to drug addition, according to a new study.

SARS-CoV-2 protease cuts human proteins; Possible link to COVID-19 symptoms

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 11:34 AM PDT

The SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) plays an essential role in processing viral proteins needed for replication. In addition, the enzyme can cut and inactivate some human proteins important for an immune response. Now, researchers have found other targets of PLpro in the human proteome, including proteins involved in cardiovascular function, blood clotting and inflammation, suggesting a link between the inactivation of these proteins and COVID-19 symptoms.

How the amphibians got their vertebrae

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 11:34 AM PDT

A group of ancient amphibians called temnospondyls evolved stiffer spinal columns to adapt to aquatic life, contrary to previous hypotheses, according to a new study.

The impact of double-cropping

Posted: 09 Jun 2021 09:34 AM PDT

A new study quantifies for the first time the impact that double-cropping had on helping Brazil achieve its national grain boom.