ScienceDaily: Top News


‘Raptor-like’ dinosaur discovered in Australian mine, actually uncovered as a timid vegetarian

Posted: 21 Oct 2021 09:09 AM PDT

Fossil footprints found in an Australian coal mine around 50 years ago have long been thought to be that of a large 'raptor-like' predatory dinosaur, but scientists have in fact discovered they were instead left by a timid long-necked herbivore.

Under arrest: Using nanofibers to stop brain tumor cells from spreading

Posted: 21 Oct 2021 09:09 AM PDT

Researchers have used high-density nanofibers that mimic the microenvironment of the brain to capture tumor cells, opening doors to novel therapeutic solutions for aggressive brain cancer.

Pilot study explores neural mechanisms of balance dysfunction after traumatic brain injury

Posted: 20 Oct 2021 12:04 PM PDT

Researchers examine graph-theoretical properties of brain networks in traumatic brain injury and controls and their association with balance impairment and structural damage.

Rise of the war machines: Identifying key drivers of the evolution of military technology in pre-industrial societies

Posted: 20 Oct 2021 12:04 PM PDT

A new analysis spanning 10,000 years of history and ten major world regions has identified world population size, major technological advances, and geographical connectivity as key drivers of the evolution of military technology prior to the Industrial Revolution.

Red blood cells play much larger role in immune system through discovery of DNA-binding capability, study finds

Posted: 20 Oct 2021 12:04 PM PDT

Researchers uncover the mechanism of how red blood cells detect and bind DNA, opening the door to a new area of research for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

New cancer treatment may reawaken the immune system

Posted: 19 Oct 2021 07:33 PM PDT

Researchers have discovered a new way to jump-start the immune system to attack tumors, which could allow cancer immunotherapy to be used against more types of cancer.

Arctic krill use twilight to guide their daily rhythms through the polar winter

Posted: 19 Oct 2021 07:33 PM PDT

Most animals sync their body clocks to the daily rhythm of the sun, but what happens during the polar winter when the sun never rises above the horizon? According to a new study, arctic krill can detect tiny changes in light intensity during polar winter days, allowing them to maintain their daily biological rhythms.

AI helping to quantify enzyme activity

Posted: 19 Oct 2021 07:32 PM PDT

Enzymes are biological catalysts that facilitate biochemical transformations. An international team of bioinformatics researchers has developed a new process for predicting Michaelis constants, which determine reaction kinetics.

Genomic study revealing among diverse populations with inherited retinal disease

Posted: 19 Oct 2021 07:32 PM PDT

An international team of researchers has broadened and deepened understanding of how inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) affect different populations of people and, in the process, have identified new gene variants that may cause the diseases.

New study characterizes the gut virome

Posted: 19 Oct 2021 07:32 PM PDT

A new study has added numerous previously uncharacterized viral genomes and genes to the ever-increasing worldwide pool of human gut viromes. The study will prove helpful in investigating the role of the gut virome in human health and disease.

Space between polymer chains affects energy conversion

Posted: 19 Oct 2021 07:32 PM PDT

Researchers have new insight into molecules that change their shape in response to light. The researchers studying azobenzene-based polymers found that their free volume -- a measure of the space between polymer chains -- was strongly linked with the polymers' ability to convert visible light radiation into mechanical energy.

Targeted prostate cancer screening could benefit men with inherited cancer syndrome

Posted: 19 Oct 2021 07:32 PM PDT

Men who inherit an increased risk of cancer through 'Lynch syndrome' could benefit from regular PSA testing from age 40 to detect early signs of prostate cancer, researchers believe. Annual PSA tests were eight times more likely to spot cancer in men with genetic hallmarks of Lynch syndrome than those without. Experts say evidence could be incorporated into a targeted screening program in future.

Novel sugar detector system in the human mouth has implications for designing tastier, healthier beverages and foods

Posted: 19 Oct 2021 07:31 PM PDT

Scientists describe the first-in-human demonstration of a pathway that uses the sugar glucose, a component of table sugar and high fructose corn syrup, to signal the presence of calories, in addition to the well-studied sweet-taste receptor in taste buds.

Guidance on supplemental breast cancer screening for women with dense breast tissue

Posted: 19 Oct 2021 07:31 PM PDT

Researchers have made recommendations for clinicians and patients regarding supplemental screening for women with dense breast tissue.

Researchers find novel means of flagging inpatient pharmacy orders for intervention

Posted: 19 Oct 2021 07:31 PM PDT

Researchers developed a machine learning model to identify medication orders requiring pharmacy intervention using only provider behavior and other contextual features that may reflect these new sources of inefficiencies, rather than patients' medical records.