ScienceDaily: Top News

Listening to the leaves: Adding bioinspired veins to foamed polymers

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 11:51 AM PST

Vascular systems found in trees transport vital nutrients from root, to branch, to leaf. In a new study, researchers have developed a chemical process to mimic this arboreal architecture in foamed polymers, enabling directional fluid transport and adding structure throughout the material.

Under a moon spell: Shark attacks related to lunar phases

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 11:51 AM PST

New research suggests that more shark attacks occur during fuller phases of the moon. While the exact cause remains unclear, the researchers found that more shark attacks than average occur during periods of higher lunar illumination and fewer attacks than average occur during periods of lower illumination. Many different types of animals show behaviors that are linked to moon phases yet few studies to date have looked at the connections between lunar phases and shark attacks.

BPA exposure of the placenta could affect fetal brain development

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 11:50 AM PST

Scientists demonstrate the direct transmission of bisphenol A (BPA) from a mother to her developing child via the placenta could negatively impact fetal brain development.

Cosmic 'spider' found to be source of powerful gamma-rays

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 11:50 AM PST

Astronomers have discovered the first example of a binary system where a star in the process of becoming a white dwarf is orbiting a neutron star that has just finished turning into a rapidly spinning pulsar. The pair is a 'missing link' in the evolution of such binary systems.

Oxygen ions in Jupiter's innermost radiation belts

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 11:50 AM PST

Researchers find high-energy oxygen and sulfur ions in Jupiter's inner radiation belts -- and a previously unknown ion source.

Face masks cut distance airborne pathogens could travel in half, new study finds

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 09:15 AM PST

The effectiveness of face masks has been a hotly debated topic since the emergence of COVID-19. However, a new study offers more evidence that they work. Researchers found that face masks reduce the distance airborne pathogens could travel, when speaking or coughing, by more than half compared to not wearing a mask.

Assessing Progression Risk in Cancer

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 09:15 AM PST

A molecular feature in prostate cancer, called endogenous retroviral (ERV) RNA, has been found to have prognostic value and also distinguish differences between men of African and European or Middle Eastern ancestry, according to a new study. The team also identified ERV expression signatures that may be useful for identifying prostate cancer patients at greatest risk of progression regardless of ancestry, which may also extend to progression in other cancers.

New spheres of knowledge on the origin of life

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 09:15 AM PST

Researchers experimentally evolved rod-shaped E. coli in conditions that mimic the primordial environment, by providing oleic-acid vesicles as a nutrient source rather than glucose. As the cells adapted to the new conditions and increased their growth rate, they became smaller and spherical. Each of the experimental lineages adapted in diverse ways. This study supports theories that the origin of life on Earth was spherical cells.

New theory finds upcoming satellite mission will be able to detect more than expected

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 09:15 AM PST

Researchers have theorized that in addition to the gravitational waves originating from vacuum fluctuations during inflation, a large amount of gravitational waves can be sourced by the quantum vacuum fluctuations of additional fields during inflation.

New treatment target ID’d for radiation-resistant cervical cancer

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 09:15 AM PST

Understanding how cells die is key to developing new treatments for many diseases, whether the goal is to make cancer cells die or keep healthy cells alive in the face of other illnesses, such as massive infections or strokes. Two new studies have identified a previously unrecognized pathway of cell death -- named lysoptosis -- and demonstrate how it could lead to new therapies for cervical cancer.

Mouse study identifies bacterial protein associated with colorectal cancers

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 09:15 AM PST

The discovery raises the possibility that some of the roughly two million new cases of colorectal cancer every year around the world originate from brief and seemingly mild food-poisoning events.

Study challenges evolutionary theory that DNA mutations are random

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 09:15 AM PST

Researchers have found that DNA mutations are not random. This changes our understanding of evolution and could one day help researchers breed better crops or even help humans fight cancer.

1,000-light-year wide bubble surrounding Earth is source of all nearby, young stars

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 09:15 AM PST

The Earth sits in a 1,000-light-year-wide void surrounded by thousands of young stars -- but how did those stars form? For the first time, astronomers have retraced the history of our galactic neighborhood, showing exactly how the young stars nearest to our solar system formed.

Earliest human remains in eastern Africa dated to more than 230,000 years ago

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 09:15 AM PST

The age of the oldest fossils in eastern Africa widely recognized as representing our species, Homo sapiens, has long been uncertain. Now, dating of a massive volcanic eruption in Ethiopia reveals they are much older than previously thought.

Rainy days harm the economy

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 09:15 AM PST

Economic growth goes down when the number of wet days and days with extreme rainfall go up, a team of scientists finds. The data analysis of more than 1,500 regions over the past 40 years shows a clear connection and suggests that intensified daily rainfall driven by climate-change from burning oil and coal will harm the global economy.

Could gene networks resembling air traffic explain arteriosclerosis?

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 09:15 AM PST

Up to 60 percent of the risk associated with coronary arteriosclerosis may be explained by changes in the activity of hundreds of genes working together in networks across several organs in the body. Moreover, fat processing hormones may play a central role in coordinating this activity. That is the primary result of a study that began nearly 20 years ago on a hunch and involved hundreds of coronary artery disease patients from Northern Europe.

Newly discovered type of 'strange metal' could lead to deep insights

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 09:14 AM PST

A new discovery could help scientists to understand 'strange metals,' a class of materials that are related to high-temperature superconductors and share fundamental quantum attributes with black holes.

Rubber material holds key to long-lasting, safer EV batteries

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 09:14 AM PST

For electric vehicles (EVs) to become mainstream, they need cost-effective, safer, longer-lasting batteries that won't explode during use or harm the environment. Researchers may have found a promising alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries made from a common material: rubber.

Rugby ball-shaped exoplanet discovered

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 08:01 AM PST

With the help of the CHEOPS space telescope, an international team was able to detect the deformation of an exoplanet for the first time. Due to strong tidal forces, the appearance of the planet WASP-103b resembles a rugby ball rather than a sphere.

Nature helps us cope with body image ‘threats’

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 07:57 AM PST

A new study has found that being in nature helps people deal with negative body image by removing some of the triggers of body image anxiety, such as the focus on social media, and strengthening coping mechanisms to keep negative feelings in perspective.

Ecological tradeoff? Utility-scale solar energy impedes endangered Florida panthers

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 07:57 AM PST

Reducing the energy industry's carbon footprint in the sunshine state is impeding a large carnivore's paw-print. A study is the first to document the effect of utility-scale solar energy (USSE) facilities in Peninsular Florida on both habitat suitability and connectivity for any large carnivore. The study examined 45 USSE facilities equaling 27,688 acres.

Chewing to stay slim: How to savor your food better and dodge weight gain

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 07:56 AM PST

Chewing well helps in digestion. Chewing is also known to help prevent obesity, possibly by increasing the thermic effect of food consumption. But the factors behind this heat-generating effect of chewing remain less explored. A new study has revealed that oral stimuli, which are linked with the duration of tasting liquid food in the mouth, and the duration of chewing, play a positive role in increasing energy expenditure after food intake.

Recycling already considered in the development of new battery materials

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 07:56 AM PST

Enormous potential consists in the circular value chain of batteries. A review article on battery recycling provides an overview of the challenges of new material concepts for battery recycling and 'Design for Recycling' as a promising approach of a sustainable battery economy.

Thaw of permafrost has vast impact on built environment

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 07:56 AM PST

Permafrost has a central role in the sustainable development of the Arctic region. The thaw of permafrost is set to damage buildings and roads, leading to tens of billions of euros in additional costs in the near future, according to an international review.

Why we feel confident about decisions we make

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 07:56 AM PST

A team of researchers has shown for the first time that decisions feel right to us if we have compared the options as attentively as possible -- and if we are conscious of having done so. This requires a capacity for introspection.

Paradigm shift: Methanogenic microbes not always limited to methane

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 07:56 AM PST

Microbiologists show that methanogenic archaea do not always need to form methane to survive. It is possible to bypass methanogenesis with the seemingly simpler and more environmentally friendly acetogenic energy metabolism. These new findings provide evidence that methanogens are not nearly as metabolically limited as previously thought, and suggest that methanogenesis may have evolved from the acetyl-CoA pathway - an important step towards fully understanding the ecology, biotechnology, and evolution of archaea.

Photon pairs are more sensitive to rotations than single photons

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 07:56 AM PST

Quantum states of light have enabled novel optical sensing schemes, e.g., for measuring distance or position, with precisions impossible to achieve with classical light sources such as lasers. The field of quantum metrology has now been pushed even further as a team of researchers showed that photons that are engineered to be entangled in complex spatial structures have, due to quantum phenomena, an advantage for sensing the smallest rotations. The new method allows for more precise measurement than what could be achieved by conventional means.

Lymphoma: Key signaling pathway involved in tumor formation identified

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 07:56 AM PST

There are myriad reasons why cancers develop. By studying genes which are altered in people with lymphoma, a multidisciplinary team of researchers has identified a key mechanism involved in disease development. This signaling pathway, which the researchers describe in detail, controls the repair of DNA damage.

Novel therapeutic target in multiple myeloma

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 07:56 AM PST

Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the bone marrow, with a life expectancy of less than 5 years post-diagnosis. Proteasome inhibitors, the therapeutic backbone of current treatments, are very effective in treating newly diagnosed cancers but resistance or intolerance to these molecules inevitably develop, leading to relapses. While studying a neglected tropical disease , Buruli ulcer, researchers discovered a novel therapeutic target for multiple myeloma that could allow to bypass this resistance.

Biologists identify neural circuits associated with aging

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 07:56 AM PST

Biologists have identified neural circuits associated with aging in fruit flies. Some circuits remain the same no matter the fly's age, while others weaken over the fly's life span.

Alzheimer’s: Inflammatory markers are conspicuous at an early stage

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 07:56 AM PST

Long before the onset of dementia, there is evidence for increased activity of the brain's immune system. Researchers from DZNE and the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) come to this conclusion based on a study of more than 1,000 older adults. To this end, various proteins were measured in the cerebrospinal fluid: They served as so-called biomarkers that indicate inflammatory processes of the nervous system. As it turned out, some of these molecules seem to be part of a damage control program of the immune system, which could be useful for the development of new drugs.

New evidence of a gravitational wave background

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 07:56 AM PST

The results of a comprehensive search for a background of ultra-low frequency gravitational waves has been announced by an international team of astronomers.

New study reveals how the lung's immune cells develop after birth

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 07:56 AM PST

From our first breath, our lungs are exposed to microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses. Thanks to immune cells in the lungs, so-called macrophages, we are protected from most infections at an early age. Researchers now show how lung macrophages develop; new findings that can help to reduce organ damage and that are significant for the continued development of important lung disease treatments.

Long-term use of blood pressure drugs may cause kidney damage, study suggests

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 06:40 AM PST

New kidney research is raising concerns that long-term use of ACE inhibitors and other drugs commonly prescribed to treat high-blood pressure and heart failure could be contributing to kidney damage.

To destroy cancer cells, team 'travels back in time'

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 06:40 AM PST

When an individual suffers from cancer, the process of programmed cell death called apoptosis does not occur normally, permitting abnormal cells to thrive.

Chemical commonly found in consumer products may disrupt a hormone needed for healthy pregnancy

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 06:40 AM PST

Exposure to phthalates -- a group of chemicals found in everything from plastics to personal care products to electronics -- may disrupt an important hormone needed to sustain a healthy pregnancy, according to a new study. The study has examined the impact that phthalates, added to plastics to increase flexibility, have on the placental corticotropin releasing hormone (pCRH) that is produced by the placenta and increases throughout the course of pregnancy.

Images of enzyme provide insights into cause of hereditary neurological disease

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 06:40 AM PST

Researchers have produced the first molecular images of an enzyme that controls proteins to signal and communicate with each other in human cells. The discovery could help to solve the mystery cause of a rare group of hereditary neurodegenerative diseases linked to deregulation of this enzyme.

Learning through ‘guided’ play can be as effective as adult-led instruction up to at least age eight

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 06:40 AM PST

Teaching younger children through 'guided' play supports key aspects of their learning and development at least as well - and sometimes better - than the traditional direct instruction they usually receive at school, a new analysis finds. Guided play broadly refers to playful educational activities which, although gently steered by an adult using open-ended questions and prompts, give children the freedom to explore a learning goal in their own way. The new study gathered data about the impact of this approach on 3,800 children aged three to eight. It found that guided play can be just as effective as more traditional methods of classroom instruction in the development of key literacy, numeracy and social skills - as well as the acquisition of executive functions (a cluster of essential thinking skills). The findings also suggest that children may master some skills - notably in maths - more effectively through guided play than via other methods.

Black hole at center of Milky Way unpredictable and chaotic

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 06:40 AM PST

Researchers have found that the black hole at the center of our galaxy, Sagittarius A*, not only flares irregularly from day to day but also in the long term.

Remembering faces and names can be improved during sleep

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 06:40 AM PST

New research has documented the effect reactivating memory during sleep has on face-name learning. The researchers found that people's name recall improved significantly when memories of newly learned face-name associations were reactivated while they were napping. Key to this improvement was uninterrupted deep sleep.

New findings may contribute to better diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 06:39 AM PST

In a new study, researchers have identified the presence of a specific connection between a protein and an lncRNA molecule in liver cancer. By increasing the presence of the lncRNA molecule, the fat depots of the tumor cell decrease, which causes the division of tumor cells to cease, and they eventually die. The study contributes to increased knowledge that can add to a better diagnosis and future cancer treatments.

Clothes dryers are an underappreciated source of airborne microfibers

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 06:39 AM PST

No one likes when their favorite clothes develop holes or unravel after many laundry cycles. But what happens to the fragments of fabric and stitching that come off? Although it's known that washing clothes releases microfibers into wastewater, it's unclear how drying impacts the environment. Now, a pilot study reports that a single dryer could discharge up to 120 million microfibers annually -- considerably more than from washing machines.

Tomato concentrate could help reduce chronic intestinal inflammation associated with HIV

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 06:39 AM PST

New research in mice suggests that adding a certain type of tomato concentrate to the diet can reduce the intestinal inflammation that is associated with HIV. Left untreated, intestinal inflammation can accelerate arterial disease, which in turn can lead to heart attack and stroke.

Possibility of vaccine to prevent skin cancer

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 06:38 AM PST

Research suggests that a vaccine stimulating production of a protein critical to the skin's antioxidant network could help people bolster their defenses against skin cancer.

Decoding inner language to treat speech disorders

Posted: 12 Jan 2022 06:37 AM PST

What if it were possible to decode the internal language of individuals deprived of the ability to express themselves? Researchers have now managed to identify promising neural signals to capture our internal monologues. They were also able to identify the brain areas to be observed to try to decipher them in the future.

New treasure trove of globular clusters holds clues about galaxy evolution

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 04:30 PM PST

Using observations of Centaurus A, a nearby elliptical galaxy, obtained with the Gaia space telescope and ground-based instruments under the PISCeS survey, a team of astronomers presents an unprecedented number of globular cluster candidates in the outer regions of the galaxy. The findings provide astronomers with an even more detailed picture of galactic architecture and history of collisions and mergers.

Molecular paddlewheels propel sodium ions through next-generation batteries

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 04:30 PM PST

Materials scientists have revealed paddlewheel-like molecular dynamics that help push sodium ions through a quickly evolving class of solid-state batteries. The insights should guide researchers in their pursuit of a new generation of sodium-ion batteries to replace lithium-ion technology in a wide range of applications such as data centers and home energy storage.

Common household cleaner can boost effort to harvest fusion energy on Earth

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 04:30 PM PST

Path-setting findings demonstrate for the first time a novel regime for confining heat in stellarators. The demonstration could advance the twisty design as a blueprint for future fusion power plants.

Alcohol consumption is affected by a protein linked to the circadian rhythm

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 04:30 PM PST

Researchers announce that the presence of the Bmal1 gene in the striatum affects alcohol consumption in both male and female mice in a sexually dimorphic manner. Male mice without the protein consumed more alcohol than those that had it, while female mice without the protein consumed less than females with it.

Researchers determine nutritional properties of protein in cricket, locust and silkworm pupae insect powders

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 04:30 PM PST

Animal farming has traditionally fulfilled human nutritional requirements for protein, but insects may serve as an alternative for direct human consumption in the future. Researchers are working to lay a foundation to develop efficient protein isolation techniques by determining the nutritional and functional properties of protein for cricket, locust and silk worm pupae powders.

Using only 100 atoms, electric fields can be detected and changed

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 04:30 PM PST

The body is full of electrical signals. Researchers have now created a new nanomaterial that is capable of both detecting and modulating the electric field. This new material can be used in vitro studies for 'reading and writing' the electric field without damaging nearby cells and tissue. In addition, researchers can use this material to conduct in vitro studies to understand how neurons transmit signals but also to understand how to potentially shut off errant neurons. This may provide critical insights on neurodegeneration.

Twelve for dinner: The Milky Way’s feeding habits shine a light on dark matter

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 12:37 PM PST

Astronomers are one step closer to revealing the properties of dark matter enveloping our Milky Way galaxy, thanks to a new map of twelve streams of stars orbiting within our galactic halo.

Ancient Mesopotamian discovery transforms knowledge of early farming

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 12:37 PM PST

Researchers have unearthed the earliest definitive evidence of broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum) in ancient Iraq, challenging our understanding of humanity's earliest agricultural practices.

Computer model seeks to explain the spread of misinformation, and suggest counter measures

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 12:37 PM PST

Researchers have come up with a computer model that mirrors the way misinformation spreads in real life. The work might provide insight on how to protect people from the current contagion of misinformation that threatens public health and the health of democracy.

Study identifies predictors of severe outcomes in children with COVID-19

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 12:36 PM PST

A new international study offers a clearer picture of the impact of COVID-19 infection and the risk of severe outcomes on young people around the world.

Safe drinking water remains out of reach for many Californians

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 12:36 PM PST

An estimated 370,000 Californians rely on drinking water that may contain high levels of arsenic, nitrate or hexavalent chromium, and contaminated drinking water disproportionately impact communities of color in the state, finds a new analysis. Because this study is limited to three common contaminants, results likely underestimate the actual number of Californians impacted by unsafe drinking water.

Mechanism controlling tertiary lymphoid structure formation in tumors discovered

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 12:36 PM PST

Tertiary lymphoid structures are formations that occur outside of the lymphatic system. They contain immune cells and are similar in structure and function to lymph nodes and other lymphoid structures. However, little is known about how tertiary lymphoid structures form. In a new article published in Immunity, Moffitt Cancer Center researchers report on the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control tertiary lymphoid structure formation within tumors.

How much do students learn when they double the speed of their class videos?

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 12:36 PM PST

A new study shows that students retain information quite well when watching lectures at up to twice their actual speed. With 85% of college students surveyed as part of the study reporting they "speed-watched" lecture videos, the researchers engaged students in a series of experiments to test how faster speeds affected learning. Recorded lectures have become a routine part of course instruction during COVID-19.

Researchers find concerns for animals tied to same habitats

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 12:36 PM PST

While site fidelity may be beneficial for animals when environmental conditions don't change very fast, those benefits may not be realized in the ever-changing world dominated by humans, researchers have found through a review of scientific literature.

Watering holes bring together wildlife, and their parasites

Posted: 11 Jan 2022 12:36 PM PST

The sun rises on the savannas of central Kenya. Grasses sway in the wind as hoof-steps fall on the dusty ground. A menagerie of Africa's iconic wildlife congregates around a watering hole to quench their thirst during the region's dry season.