ScienceDaily: Top News

Diagnosing sports-related concussions may be harder than thought

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 02:18 PM PDT

The tool being used to diagnose concussions might be overestimating the condition and wrongly identifying symptoms like fatigue and neck pain caused from intense exercise and not a brain injury, according to researchers. This new research raises new questions about the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT), a questionnaire widely used along with other methods to diagnose concussions sustained during sports.

Genetic 'hotspots' that speed up and slow down brain aging could provide new targets for Alzheimer's drugs

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 02:18 PM PDT

Researchers have discovered 15 'hotspots' in the genome that either speed up brain aging or slow it down -- a finding that could provide new drug targets to resist Alzheimer's disease and other degenerative brain disorders, as well as developmental delays.

Innovation flows across regions and sectors in complex ways, study shows

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 02:18 PM PDT

Knowledge creation -- the generation of new ideas and patents -- is an important driver of economic growth. Understanding how knowledge moves across industry sectors and regions can inform research and development (R&D) efforts, promote university-industry partnerships for innovation, and impact private businesses' location decisions. A new study provides a thorough look at the flow of knowledge in five industrial sectors across the United States.

Rational neural network advances machine-human discovery

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 02:17 PM PDT

Math is the language of the physical world, and some see mathematical patterns everywhere: in weather, in the way soundwaves move, and even in the spots or stripes zebra fish develop in embryos.

Molecules produced by cells in response to stress may be indicators of various diseases

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 12:19 PM PDT

Certain small RNAs called tDRs can be found inside and outside cells during stress responses to different diseases. Researchers have created an atlas of the stress signatures for tDRs that might be used as markers of disease and identify new disease-causing pathways.

Engineers point the way to more affordable, sustainable urban neighborhoods

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 11:35 AM PDT

Analysis presents a first-of-its-kind framework to design the most efficient mix of urban buildings along with integrated systems to supply power and water services. The approach could significantly reduce costs and pollution compared to traditional systems.

The dark matter of the brain

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 11:35 AM PDT

They are part of the brain of almost every animal species, yet they remain usually invisible even under the electron microscope.

Treated plastic waste good at grabbing carbon dioxide

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 11:35 AM PDT

Rice University chemists treat waste plastic to absorb carbon dioxide from flue gas streams more efficiently than current processes.

Sugar-coated nanoparticles target macrophages, reverse pulmonary fibrosis

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 11:35 AM PDT

Scientists have developed a treatment for pulmonary fibrosis by using nanoparticles coated in mannose -- a type of sugar -- to stop a population of lung cells called macrophages that contribute to lung tissue scarring. The cell-targeting method holds promise for preventing this severe lung scarring disease, which can result in life-threatening complications like shortness of breath.

The pleasant smell of wet soil indicates danger to bacteria-eating worms, researchers find

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 11:35 AM PDT

Researchers have found that geosmin is made by certain kinds of bacteria that are known toxin producers. This acts as a warning to C. elegans, a common type of worm, that the bacteria they are about to graze on is poisonous. The chemical is an aposematic signal that triggers the blind worm's sense of taste just like a caterpillar's bright colors or a pufferfish's spines tell a sighted predator to stay away.

Women seen as happy and men as angry despite real emotions

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 09:39 AM PDT

Faces and voices are more likely to be judged as male when they are angry, and as female when they are happy, new research has revealed. The study found that how we understand the emotional expression of a face or voice is heavily influenced by perceived sex, and vice versa. He said: "This study shows how important it is not to rely too much on your first impressions, as they can easily be wrong. "Next time you find yourself attributing happiness or sadness to a woman be aware of your bias and possible misinterpretation."

'Ears' for rover Perseverance's exploration of Mars

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 09:39 AM PDT

Scientists have built instruments to give humans eyes and a nose on Mars -- and now they are helping add ears as well.

Research discovery a pearl of hope for imperiled oyster reefs

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 09:39 AM PDT

Despite a greater than 85% population loss worldwide due to overharvesting, collaborative research shows oyster reefs can rebound through restorative efforts.

How to track a shark

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 09:39 AM PDT

An international team of researchers has compiled a massive dataset that overlays years' worth of information on the position, migration and interaction of sharks and game fish. This research has immediate relevance for anglers, who have been reporting increased contact with sharks over the years. The research gives us the clearest window yet into complex ecological relationships and promises to be a useful tool in ongoing conservation efforts.

The relationship between active areas and boundaries with energy input in snapping shells

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 08:52 AM PDT

New research looks at how the geometry of shells relates to the energy input required to actuate snap-through instability.

Investigating newly synthesized thallium compounds for optoelectronic devices

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 08:52 AM PDT

The burgeoning field of optoelectronic devices is driving the development of new alkali metal-based chalcogenides with qualities that have to be robustly investigated.

Sport improves concentration and quality of life

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 08:52 AM PDT

Physically fit primary school pupils feel better and can concentrate better. They are more likely to make it to higher-level secondary grammar schools than children with less sporting ability.

Astrophysical plasma study benefits from new soft X-ray transition energies benchmark

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 08:52 AM PDT

The analysis of astrophysical plasmas is vital in the quest to learn about some of the Universe's most powerful and mysterious objects and events such as stellar coronae and winds, cataclysmic variables, X-ray binaries containing neutron stars and black holes, supernova remnants, or outflows in active galactic nuclei. The success of such research will lead to future astrophysical X-ray observatories enabling scientists to access techniques that are currently not available to X-ray astronomy. A key requirement for the accurate interpretation of high-resolution X-ray spectra is accurate knowledge of transition energies.

Solar cell keeps working long after sun sets

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 08:52 AM PDT

Researchers have constructed a photovoltaic cell that harvests energy from the environment during the day and night, making use of the heat leaking from Earth back into space. At night, solar cells radiate and lose heat to the sky, reaching temperatures a few degrees below the ambient air. The device under development uses a thermoelectric module to generate voltage and current from the temperature gradient between the cell and the air. The setup is inexpensive and, in principle, could be incorporated within existing solar cells.

Late-onset alcohol abuse can be a presenting symptom of dementia

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 07:29 AM PDT

Clinical awareness of connection between alcohol and dementia is paramount to providing the best patient care management.

Local motion detectors in fruit flies sense complex patterns generated by their own motion

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 07:28 AM PDT

Scientists have gained new insights into how the eye of Drosophila processes motion patterns that are generated by self-motion through space. They have discovered that direction-selective cells can distinguish six types of global motion patterns.

Botany: Fitness needs the right timing

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 07:28 AM PDT

Life on Earth runs in 24-hour cycles. From tiny bacteria to human beings, organisms adapt to alterations of day and night. External factors, such as changes in light and temperature, are needed to entrain the clock. Many metabolic processes are controlled by the endogenous clock. Scientists have now studied the molecular rhythms of the endogenous clock in the 'green lineage.'

New technique offers faster security for non-volatile memory tech

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 07:28 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a technique that leverages hardware and software to improve file system security for next-generation memory technologies called non-volatile memories (NVMs). The new encryption technique also permits faster performance than existing software security technologies.

HIV drug stabilizes disease progression in metastatic colorectal cancer

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 07:28 AM PDT

Many cancers exhibit high levels of the reverse transcriptase enzyme. Single-agent lamivudine, a reverse transcriptase inhibitor, stopped disease progression in over 25% of patients with fourth-line refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. These results provide evidence for the evaluation of reverse transcriptase inhibitors as a new class of anti-cancer drugs.

Tiny jumping genes fingered as culprit in rise of antibiotic resistance

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 07:28 AM PDT

Biomedical engineers believe they have discovered the physical mechanism that causes high doses of antibiotics to promote the spread of antibiotic resistance between bacteria. The culprit, they say, is an overabundance of 'jumping genes,' called transposons, that carry the genetic instructions for resistance from the cell's source code to plasmids that shuttle between cells.

Carbs, sugary foods may influence poor oral health

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 07:28 AM PDT

New research on postmenopausal women identifies associations between commonly eaten foods and the diversity and composition of oral bacteria.

Scientists connect the dots between Galilean moon, auroral emissions on Jupiter

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 07:28 AM PDT

On November 8, 2020, NASA's Juno spacecraft flew through an intense beam of electrons traveling from Ganymede, Jupiter's largest moon, to its auroral footprint on the gas giant. Scientists used data from Juno's payload to study the particle population traveling along the magnetic field line connecting Ganymede to Jupiter while, at the same time, remotely sensing the associated auroral emissions to unveil the mysterious processes creating the shimmering lights.

Bees win in survival wars

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 06:27 AM PDT

Like diseases affecting humans, parasites can wage a deadly evolutionary 'arms race' against their hosts. But can hosts and parasites upgrade their weapons at the same rate?

Scientists develop a recyclable pollen-based paper for repeated printing and ‘unprinting’

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 06:27 AM PDT

Scientists have developed a pollen-based 'paper' that, after being printed on, can be 'erased' and reused multiple times without any damage to the paper.

Honey holds potential for making brain-like computer chips

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 05:46 AM PDT

Honey might be a sweet solution for developing environmentally friendly components for neuromorphic computers, systems designed to mimic the neurons and synapses found in the human brain. Hailed by some as the future of computing, neuromorphic systems are much faster and use much less power than traditional computers. Engineers have demonstrated one way to make them more organic too by using honey to make a memristor, a component similar to a transistor that can not only process but also store data in memory. They created the memristors by processing honey into a solid form and sandwiching it between two metal electrodes, making a structure similar to a human synapse. They then tested the honey memristors' ability to mimic the work of synapses with high switching on and off speeds of 100 and 500 nanoseconds respectively. The memristors also emulated the synapse functions known as spike-timing dependent plasticity and spike-rate dependent plasticity, which are responsible for learning processes in human brains and retaining new information in neurons.

Global team of scientists determine 'fingerprint' for how much heat, drought is too much for forests

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 05:46 AM PDT

A new study has compiled a global database of climate-induced forest die-off events, from 1970-2018, across 675 locations. After analyzing the climate conditions at each location during each event, researchers found a common 'hotter-drought fingerprint' for Earth's forests, a term that describes the combination of higher temperatures and more frequent droughts for a lethal set of climate conditions. Under further warming, this hotter-drought fingerprint will appear more frequently -- the authors conclude that limiting Earth's warming will determine survivability for many of Earth's forests.

Gene deletion behind anomaly in blood cancer cells

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 05:46 AM PDT

Although clinical labs have known for almost a century that a oddly shaped nucleus resembling pince-nez glasses in blood cells could indicate leukemia, the cause of this anomaly remained unknown. Scientists have now discovered that loss of nuclear Lamin B1 induces defects in the nuclear morphology and in human hematopoietic [blood-forming] stem cells associated with malignancy. The scientists went on to detail that lamin B1 deficiency alters genome organization. This in turn causes expansion of blood-forming stem cells, a bias towards their becoming myeloids, genome instability due to defective DNA damage repair and other problems that set the stage for cancer.

Squid recorded color-matching substrate for the first time

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 05:45 AM PDT

A new study has found that squid will camouflage against coral reef and other substrate as a way of avoiding predation.

New non-destructive DNA method opens opportunities

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 05:45 AM PDT

A new method of obtaining ancient genomic data without damaging source material has been developed, creating new opportunities for museum and archaeological collections worldwide.

DNA discovery reveals a critical 'accordion effect' for switching off genes

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 05:45 AM PDT

Researchers have revealed how an 'accordion effect' is critical to switching off genes, in a study that transforms the fundamentals of what we know about gene silencing. The finding expands our understanding of how we switch genes on and off to make the different cell types in our bodies, as we develop in the womb.

‘Freeze-thaw battery’ is adept at preserving its energy

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 05:45 AM PDT

Scientists have created a battery designed for the electric grid that locks in energy for months without losing much storage capacity. It's a step toward batteries that can be used for seasonal storage: saving renewable energy in one season, such as the spring, and spending it in another, like autumn.

The global 'plastic flood' reaches the Arctic

Posted: 05 Apr 2022 05:45 AM PDT

Even the High North can't escape the global threat of plastic pollution. An international review study shows, the flood of plastic has reached all spheres of the Arctic: large quantities of plastic - transported by rivers, the air and shipping- can now be found in the Arctic Ocean.

New method for probing the bewildering diversity of the microbiome

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 03:55 PM PDT

Scientists describe a new method for probing the microbiome in unprecedented detail. The technique provides greater simplicity and ease of use compared with existing approaches. Using the new technique, the researchers demonstrate an improved ability to pinpoint biologically relevant characteristics, including a subject's age and sex based on microbiome samples.

Disbelief in human evolution linked to greater prejudice and racism

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 01:46 PM PDT

A disbelief in human evolution was associated with higher levels of prejudice, racist attitudes and support of discriminatory behavior against Blacks, immigrants and the LGBTQ community in the U.S., according to recent research.

The art of smell: Research suggests the brain processes smell both like a painting and a symphony

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 01:45 PM PDT

What happens when we smell a rose? How does our brain process the essence of its fragrance? Is it like a painting -- a snapshot of the flickering activity of cells -- captured in a moment in time? Or like a symphony, an evolving ensemble of different cells working together to capture the scent? New research suggests that our brain does both.

Millionaires more risk-tolerant and emotionally stable

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 12:27 PM PDT

Millionaires are more risk-tolerant, emotionally stable, open, extroverted, and conscientious than the general population, according to new research.

Protected tropical forest sees major bird declines over 40 years

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 12:27 PM PDT

Deep in a Panamanian rain forest, bird populations have been quietly declining for 44 years. A new study shows a whopping 70% of understory bird species declined in the forest between 1977 and 2020. And the vast majority of those are down by half or more.

The secret to better coffee? The birds and the bees

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 12:27 PM PDT

A groundbreaking study reveals that without birds and bees working together, some traveling thousands of miles, coffee farmers would see a whopping 25% drop in crop yields. Coffee is bigger and more plentiful when birds and bees team up to protect and pollinate coffee plants. The study is also the first to show, with real-world experiments, that the contributions of nature -- ie. from bees and birds -- are larger combined than their individual contributions. This suggests researchers may be underestimating how much the environment benefits society.

Firefighters with PTSD likely to have relationship problems

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 12:01 PM PDT

The stress firefighters face takes a toll. New research finds that those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are likely to have relationship problems due to an inability to regulate emotions.

Middle ear fluid common in kids on ventilators

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 12:01 PM PDT

Babies and toddlers who need a tracheostomy -- a tube surgically inserted into their windpipe to help relieve breathing problems -- are at a high risk of accumulating fluid behind their eardrum when on a ventilator. That's the conclusion of a new study by head and neck surgeons. This buildup of fluid, called a middle ear effusion, can put them at risk for ear infections, hearing loss, and delays in speech and language development.

Alternate delivery locations are viable options to offset negative impacts of increased home deliveries

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 12:01 PM PDT

As the demand for home deliveries from online purchases continues to increase, researchers recently published research showing that some -- but not all -- consumers will accept going to alternate delivery locations to get their packages rather than having them delivered directly to their front door.

Towards more effective treatments for immunocompromised patients

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 10:06 AM PDT

For severely immunocompromised patients, a bone marrow transplant restores immune defenses and allows them to resume normal life. But after observing the nasopharyngeal system, where the body's first line of immune defense is deployed, scientists have found a failure in the immune mechanisms of some of these patients.

Researchers identify neuronal mechanisms that control food cravings during pregnancy

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 10:06 AM PDT

Many people have felt the sudden and uncontrollable urge to eat a certain food. These urges --known as cravings-- are very common, especially during pregnancy. During this time, the mother's body undergoes a series of physiological and behavioral changes to create a favorable environment for the embryo's development. However, the frequent consumption of tasty and high calorie foods -- derived from the cravings -- contributes to weight gain and obesity in pregnancy, which can have negative effects on the baby's health.

Solar hydrogen: Better photoelectrodes through flash heating

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 09:05 AM PDT

Producing low-cost metal-oxide thin films with high electronic quality for solar water splitting is not an easy task. Especially since quality improvements of the upper metal oxide thin films need thermal processing at high temperatures, which would melt the underlying glass substrate. Now, a team has solved this dilemma: A high intensity and rapid light pulse directly heats the semiconducting metal-oxide thin film, allowing it to reach the optimal temperature without damaging the substrate.

Dual-mode endoscope offers unprecedented insights into uterine health

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 09:05 AM PDT

A new endoscope design that combines ultrasound with optical coherence tomography can assess the structural features of the endometrium with unprecedented detail. This dual-mode endoscope could help doctors diagnose infertility problems that are related to endometrial receptivity with greater accuracy than current imaging technologies.

Loss of neurons, not lack of sleep, makes Alzheimer’s patients drowsy

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 09:05 AM PDT

The lethargy that many Alzheimer's patients experience is caused not by a lack of sleep, but rather by the degeneration of a type of neuron that keeps us awake, according to a study that also confirms the tau protein is behind that neurodegeneration.

Cutting palm trees to harvest fruit? Better to let trees grow

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 09:05 AM PDT

Scientists have shown for the first time the widespread harm caused in Peru by cutting down the palm tree Mauritia flexuosa in order to harvest its fruit. The scientists examined where and why the trees were felled, producing detailed maps and analysis to reveal the extent of the environmental and economic damage caused by cutting down the palms.

Delicate balance of coral reef processes creates management challenges

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 09:04 AM PDT

An international team of researchers has quantified five critical ecological processes on more than 500 coral reefs worldwide to understand how these processes relate to each other, what may distinguish the most functional reefs, and what that means for our management of reef functioning.

Chemical data management: an open way forward

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 09:04 AM PDT

Scientists propose an open platform for managing the vast amounts of diverse data produced in chemical research.

'Prenatal' protoplanet upends planet formation models

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 09:04 AM PDT

An international research team has discovered a new planet so young that it has yet to emerge from the womb of matter where it is forming. This is the youngest protoplanet discovered to date. It's location and the surrounding patterns of matter suggest that an alternative method of planet formation may be at work. This discovery could help to explain the histories and features of extrasolar planets seen around other stars.

Two-faced protein both inhibits and activates B cell receptor signaling

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 09:04 AM PDT

Researchers have found that restoration of B cell function in BCR signaling deficiencies involves the interaction of CD22, normally an inhibitory factor, with binding partners on the same cell, which results in upregulation of BCR expression and paradoxically increased BCR signaling. These findings suggest that CD22 could be a novel target for the treatment of patients with B cell signaling deficiencies such as X-linked agammaglobulinemia.

People around the world like the same kinds of smell

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 09:04 AM PDT

What smells we like or dislike is primarily determined by the structure of the particular odor molecule. A collaborative study shows that people share odor preferences regardless of cultural background.

Urban agriculture in Detroit: Scattering vs. clustering and the prospects for scaling up

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 07:57 AM PDT

Despite Detroit's reputation as a mecca for urban agriculture, a new analysis of the city's Lower Eastside, which covers 15 square miles, found that community and private gardens occupy less than 1% of the vacant land.

Making a ‘sandwich’ out of magnets and topological insulators, potential for lossless electronics

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 07:57 AM PDT

A research team has discovered that sandwiching a topological insulator between two 2D ferromagnetic insulators provides a quantum avenue towards ultra-low energy future electronics, or topological photovoltaics.

Global trial demonstrates some benefits of flu shots for heart failure patients

Posted: 04 Apr 2022 07:57 AM PDT

People with heart failure who received an annual flu shot had lower rates of pneumonia and hospitalization on a year-round basis and a reduction in major cardiovascular events during peak flu season, in a new study. However, the trial did not meet its primary endpoint as patients who received the flu vaccine showed no significant reduction in rates of major cardiovascular events on a year-round basis during the study's three-year follow-up period.