ScienceDaily: Top News


Asthma may reduce risk of brain tumors -- but how?

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 12:50 PM PST

Asthma has been associated with a lowered risk of brain tumors, and researchers now think they know why: Immune cells activated under conditions of asthma are less able to promote the growth of brain tumors. The findings could lead to new therapeutic approaches.

'Human-like' brain helps robot out of a maze

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 11:07 AM PST

A maze is a popular device among psychologists to assess the learning capacity of mice or rats. But how about robots? Can they learn to successfully navigate the twists and turns of a labyrinth? Now, researchers have demonstrated they can. Their robot bases its decisions on the very system humans use to think and act: the brain. The study paves the way to exciting new applications of neuromorphic devices in health and beyond.

Chemicals from hair and beauty products impact hormones, especially during pregnancy

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 09:57 AM PST

The use of certain personal care products during pregnancy may impact maternal hormone levels, according to a new study.

Speaking 'baby talk' to infants isn’t just cute: It could help them learn to make words

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 09:18 AM PST

By mimicking the sound of a smaller vocal tract, adults may be cluing babies in to how the words should sound coming out of their own mouths.

New understanding of plant nutrient response could improve fertilizer management strategies

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 09:18 AM PST

Green is a color that is almost universally associated with plants -- for good reason. The green pigment chlorophyll is essential to plants' ability to generate food; but what happens if they don't have enough of it? New work reveals the complex, interdependent nutrient responses underpinning a potentially deadly, low-chlorophyll state called chlorosis that's associated with an anemic, yellow appearance. It could usher in more environmentally friendly agricultural practices -- using less fertilizer and fewer water resources.

Seasonal temperature impacts patient lab results

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 08:30 AM PST

Ambient temperature influences the results of some of the most used laboratory tests, and these distortions likely affect medical decision making, such as whether to prescribe medications, researchers report. The authors say that laboratories could statistically adjust for ambient temperature on test days when reporting lab results to account for day-to-day variability.

Scientists identify malfunctioning brain cells as potential target for Alzheimer's treatment

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 08:30 AM PST

Scientists have identified a rare population of potentially toxic senescent cells in human brains that can serve as a target for a new Alzheimer's disease treatment.

Dinosaurs’ last spring: Study pinpoints timing of Chicxulub asteroid impact

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:31 AM PST

Scientists conclusively confirm the time year of the catastrophic Chicxulub asteroid, responsible for the extinction of dinosaurs and 75 percent of life on Earth 66 million years ago. Springtime, the season of new beginnings, ended the 165-million-year reign of dinosaurs and changed the course of evolution on Earth.

An easy relationship between a beetle and its yeast symbiont

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:31 AM PST

Lizard beetles farm yeast inside bamboo stems for their developing larvae to eat. Scientists have now found that, contrary to other insect-fungus relationships, the job of the yeast in this one does not involve digesting the complex sugars in bamboo's woody tissues for its host.

First structure of human protein complex with 'license to kill'

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:31 AM PST

A team of researchers has for the first time visualized a human cell death complex linked to autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, and injuries associated with excessive cell death.

Development of a versatile, accurate AI prediction technique even with a small number of experiments

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:31 AM PST

Researchers have used the chemical materials open platform framework to develop an AI technique capable of increasing the accuracy of machine learning-based predictions of material properties (e.g., strength, brittleness) through efficient use of material structural data obtained from only a small number of experiments. This technique may expedite the development of various materials, including polymers.

Resolving the puzzles of graphene superconductivity

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:31 AM PST

Since superconductivity in three-layered graphene was discovered in September, the physics community has been left puzzled. Now, three months later, physicists can successfully explain the results by drawing from a theory of unconventional superconductivity.

Aging stiffens the blood vessels but their flexibility also fluctuates based on a woman’s hormone state

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:31 AM PST

A study measured arterial stiffness in women from wide age range. Increased stiffness is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Age was a strong determinant of arterial stiffness. Indicative of the role of hormones, menstrual cycle phase, contraceptive pill phase and menopausal state were also associated with arterial stiffness.

New phenomenon: Forest mammals eavesdrop on messy monkeys

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:31 AM PST

Researchers have discovered a unique phenomenon among forest mammals -- eavesdropping. Their study demonstrates that various animal species depend on one another in more ways than ever imagined when it comes to finding food. Consequently, one species' disappearance from a habitat can have major consequences.

Dinosaurs and amber: A new window to the Cretaceous world from 110 million years ago

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:31 AM PST

New findings of amber in the site of Ariño in Teruel (Spain) have enabled the reconstruction of a swampy paleoenvironment with a rich coastal resin forest from 110 million years ago, from the era of dinosaurs. This place featured conifers and understories of gymnosperms and ferns, and flower plants, where insects, turtles, crocodiles, mammals and dinosaurs such as the species Proa valdearinnoensis and Europelta carbonensis lived.

Infant stars identified at the center of our galaxy

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:31 AM PST

A cosmic object originally classified as a gas and dust cloud actually consists of three stars and could resolve a controversy among astronomers.

The tetra-neutron – experiment finds evidence for a long-sought particle comprising four neutrons

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:31 AM PST

While all atomic nuclei except hydrogen are composed of protons and neutrons, physicists have been searching for a particle consisting of two, three or four neutrons for over half a century. Experiments by a team of physicists now indicate that a particle comprising four bound neutrons may well exist.

AI models microprocessor performance in real-time

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:31 AM PST

Computer engineers have developed a new AI method for accurately predicting the power consumption of any type of computer processor more than a trillion times per second while barely using any computational power itself. Dubbed APOLLO, the technique has been validated on real-world, high-performance microprocessors and could help improve the efficiency and inform the development of new microprocessors.

Innovative silicon nanochip can reprogram biological tissue in living body

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:30 AM PST

A silicon device that can change skin tissue into blood vessels and nerve cells has advanced from prototype to standardized fabrication, meaning it can now be made in a consistent, reproducible way.

Doctoral student finds alternative cell option for organs-on-chips

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:30 AM PST

Organ-on-a-chip technology has provided a push to discover new drugs for a variety of rare and ignored diseases for which current models either don't exist or lack precision. In particular, these platforms can include the cells of a patient, resulting in patient-specific discovery.

New biosensors shine a light on CRISPR gene editing

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 07:29 AM PST

Detecting the activity of CRISPR gene editing tools in organisms with the naked eye and an ultraviolet flashlight is now possible using new technology.

A step toward 'living biotherapeutics'

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 06:30 AM PST

Chemical engineers have developed a protective coating that helps anaerobic microbes survive the manufacturing process, making it potentially easier to use them to treat gastrointestinal disease.

Development of a high-energy-resolution, LaB6 nanowire-based field emission gun

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 06:30 AM PST

Engineers have developed a lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) nanowire-based field emission gun that is installable on an aberration-corrected transmission electron microscope (TEM). This combined unit is able to perform atomic resolution observation at an energy resolution of 0.2 eV -- the highest resolution ever recorded for non-monochromatic electron guns -- with a high current stability of 0.4%.

Atom laser creates reflective patterns similar to light

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 06:30 AM PST

Cooled to almost absolute zero, atoms not only move in waves like light but also can be focused into shapes called caustics, similar to the reflecting or refracting patterns light makes on the bottom of a swimming pool or through a curved wine glass. In experiments, scientists have developed a technique to see these matter wave caustics by placing attractive or repulsive obstacles in the path of a cold atom laser. The results are curving cusps or folds, upward or downward 'V' shapes. These caustics have potential applications for highly precise measurement or timing devices such as interferometers and atomic clocks.

Real-world study shows the potential of gait authentication to enhance smartphone security

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 06:30 AM PST

A study showed that -- within an appropriate framework -- gait recognition could be a viable technique for protecting individuals and their data from potential crime.

Differentiating friends from foes in the fungal root microbiome

Posted: 10 Dec 2021 06:28 AM PST

A collaborative project has shed light on the fungal genetic determinants that explain why some fungi from the root microbiome can colonize roots and cause disease more efficiently than others.

Artificial intelligence that can discover hidden physical laws in various data

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 07:21 PM PST

Researchers have successfully developed artificial intelligence technology that can extract hidden equations of motion from regular observational data and create a model that is faithful to the laws of physics. This technology could enable us to discover the hidden equations of motion behind phenomena for which the laws were considered unexplainable. For example, it may be possible to use physics-based knowledge and simulations to examine ecosystem sustainability.

Virtual conferences are better for the environment and more inclusive

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 05:17 PM PST

A research team led by engineers found that virtual conferences are more inclusive than in-person events, and also carry a smaller environmental footprint.

Family dynamics can motivate and prevent talking about health

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 05:17 PM PST

New research explores how family dynamics factor into whether 18- to 25-year-olds share private health information and involve their parents when making medical decisions. Having open and respectful conversations and reciprocal information sharing early on could help improve an emerging adult's overall health.

Finding the recipe for a larger, greener global rice bowl

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 05:17 PM PST

A global assessment assessed rice yields and efficiency in 32 rice cropping systems. The study concluded that there is still substantial room to increase rice production while reducing the negative environmental impacts. A leading agronomist describes the study as 'the most comprehensive global evaluation of production systems for a major staple crop, (one that) will set the standard for future global comparison.'

Mini-jet found near Milky Way's supermassive black hole

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 05:16 PM PST

Our Milky Way's central black hole has a leak. This supermassive black hole looks like it still has the vestiges of a blowtorch-like jet dating back several thousand years. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope hasn't photographed the phantom jet but has helped find circumstantial evidence that it is still pushing feebly into a huge hydrogen cloud and then splattering, like the narrow stream from a hose aimed into a pile of sand.

Two-year follow up shows delaying umbilical cord clamping saves babies’ lives

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 05:16 PM PST

A new study finds that aiming to wait just 60 seconds to clamp the umbilical cord of very premature babies at birth continues to have benefits two years on - decreasing the child's risk of death or major disability.

Dinosaur faces and feet may have popped with color

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 05:16 PM PST

A study finds that there is a 50 percent chance that the common ancestor of birds and dinosaurs had bright colors on its skin, beaks and scales, but 0 percent chance that it had bright colors on its feathers or claws.

‘Super trees’ may help save Houston … and beyond

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 05:14 PM PST

Statisticians are sharing strategies to identify 'super trees' for urban areas that help mitigate pollution, flooding and heat.

Key step toward personalized medicine: Modeling biological systems

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 12:32 PM PST

A new study shows that machine learning techniques can offer powerful new tools for advancing personalized medicine, care that optimizes outcomes for individual patients based on unique aspects of their biology and disease features.

A beetle chemical defense gland offers clues about how complex organs evolve

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 11:26 AM PST

Rove beetles are among the chemists of the insect world, concocting noxious compounds within their bodies that are weaponized to ward off predators, enabling the beetles to survive in leaf litter and soil in ecosystems across the planet. Investigators studying a species of rove beetle report how two distinct cell types have come together to form a specialized gland for making and secreting these defensive cocktails. The work has implications for mapping out the evolution of more sophisticated organs found across the animal kingdom, including in humans.

Community of ethical hackers needed to prevent AI's looming 'crisis of trust'

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 11:25 AM PST

A global hacker 'red team' and rewards for hunting algorithmic biases are just some of the recommendations from experts who argue that AI faces a 'tech-lash' unless firm measures are taken to increase public trust.

Scientists solve the grass leaf conundrum

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 11:25 AM PST

The mystery of grass leaf formation has now been unraveled using the latest computational modelling and developmental genetic techniques.

Machine learning decodes tremors of the universe

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 11:25 AM PST

Researchers train a neural network to estimate -- in just a few seconds -- the precise characteristics of merging black holes based on their gravitational-wave emissions. The network determines the masses and spins of the black holes, where in the sky, at what angle, and how far away from Earth the merger took place.

How plasma swirling around black holes can produce heat and light

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 11:25 AM PST

Researchers have uncovered a process in the swirling masses of plasma surrounding black holes and neutron stars that can cause previously unexplained emissions of light and heat. These findings can increase basic understanding of fundamental astrophysical processes throughout the universe.

Common drugs affect our gut microbiome differently, with good and bad impacts on health

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 11:25 AM PST

Gut bacteria are both positively and negatively influenced by common medicines, new research shows. Medications that lower cholesterol and blood pressure are associated with a healthier composition and function of gut bacteria, while gastric acid inhibitors and antibiotics interfere with health-promoting bacterial communities.

The long-term consequences of sepsis: Years of treatment and care needs

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 11:25 AM PST

Three in four sepsis survivors experience new-onset memory problems, psychological impairments or physical diagnoses. This also applies to more than half of sepsis survivors under the age of 40 at the time of their discharge from hospital.

Quest to deliver ultra-fast and energy efficient magnetic recording moves step closer

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 11:25 AM PST

The quest to deliver ultra-fast and energy efficient magnetic recording could be a step closer to fruition, due to pioneering new research on all-optical switching of magnetization.

Are scientists homing in on a cure for Parkinson’s disease?

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 10:39 AM PST

A peptide known to prevent the protein error that gives rise to Parkinson's disease has been optimized by scientists. The new peptide is a strong candidate for future development into a cure.

Late-onset retinal degeneration mechanism and potential Rx

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 10:39 AM PST

A study has discovered how late-onset retinal degeneration can develop and a surprising potential therapeutic -- metformin.

Climate-only models likely underestimate species extinction

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 10:39 AM PST

To accurately predict species' distributions and risk of extinction, models must include more than just climate, according to new research.

A new super-cooled microwave source boosts the scale-up of quantum computers

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 09:44 AM PST

Researchers have developed a circuit that produces the high-quality microwave signals required to control quantum computers while operating at temperatures near absolute zero. This is a key step towards moving the control system closer to the quantum processor, which may make it possible to greatly increase the number of qubits in the processor.

A diet rich in plant-based products reduces the risk of cognitive impairment in the elderly

Posted: 09 Dec 2021 09:44 AM PST

A diet rich in plant products reduces the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in the elderly.