ScienceDaily: Top News

With roommates, it's all about chemistry, molecularly speaking

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 01:07 PM PDT

Researchers describe how the microbiomes of people and the homes they live in interact and change each other.

Changed gene expression after heart surgery extends cardiomyocyte regeneration

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 01:07 PM PDT

While lower vertebrates can repair their adult hearts after a heart attack, mammals -- including humans -- cannot. The ability to regenerate dead muscle tissue in mammalian hearts disappears just a few days after birth because the heart muscle cells, called cardiomyocytes, exit the cell cycle. In 2020, researchers reported that surgery to remove the left ventricle apex of the heart of pigs, one day after birth, somehow extended the replication ability of heart muscle cells. To better understand the underlying gene expression changes in this extended regeneration window, researchers now report nuclear RNA-sequencing of heart muscle cells, using this porcine model. From such knowledge, and much further research yet to come, clinicians may potentially learn how to regenerate adult heart cardiomyocytes after a heart attack.

Flexing the power of a conductive polymer

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 01:07 PM PDT

For decades, field-effect transistors enabled by silicon-based semiconductors have powered the electronics revolution. But in recent years, manufacturers have come up against hard physical limits to further size reductions and efficiency gains of silicon chips. That has scientists and engineers looking for alternatives to conventional metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transistors.

3D printing of 'organic electronics'

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 01:06 PM PDT

A research group has explored the potential production of micro-scale organic electronics for use in bioelectronics via multiphoton 3-D printers.

Microscopy technique enables 3D super-resolution nanometer-scale imaging

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 01:06 PM PDT

Over the last two decades, microscopy has seen unprecedented advances in speed and resolution. However, cellular structures are essentially three-dimensional, and conventional super-resolution techniques often lack the necessary resolution in all three directions to capture details at a nanometer scale. A research team has now investigated a super-resolution imaging technique that involves combining the advantages of two different methods to achieve the same resolution in all three dimensions; this is 'isotropic' resolution.

Environmental factors predict risk of death

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 01:06 PM PDT

Along with high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking, environmental factors such as air pollution are highly predictive of people's chances of dying, especially from heart attack and stroke, a new study shows.

Arsenic in private well water contributes to low birth weight even at low levels

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 01:06 PM PDT

In the largest epidemiologic study of arsenic and birth outcomes to date, researchers estimated arsenic levels in U.S. private well water sources by county and compared estimates to documented birth outcomes. They found an association between estimated groundwater arsenic concentration and risk of low birth weight.

Flu vaccination linked to 40% reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 09:38 AM PDT

People who received at least one influenza vaccine were 40% less likely than their non-vaccinated peers to develop Alzheimer's disease over the course of four years, according to a new study.

'Brain bleeds' in babies first year can lead to long-term sight problems, study finds

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 08:54 AM PDT

Severe 'brain bleeds' experienced by some babies in the first year following their birth can lead to long-term sight problems, researchers have found as part of a ten-year follow-up study.

Light traveling in a distorting medium can appear undistorted

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 08:54 AM PDT

Researchers have made a new discovery on how light behaves in complex media, media that tends to distort light significantly. They demonstrated that 'distortion' is a matter of perspective, outlining a simple rule that applies to all light and a vast array of media, including underwater, optical fiber, transmission in the atmosphere and even through living biological samples. Their novel quantum approach to the problem resolves a standing debate on whether some forms of light are robust or not, correcting some misconceptions in the community.

COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy helps protect infants from needing hospital care for COVID-19

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 08:54 AM PDT

A new study provides additional evidence that COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy helps protect babies younger than 6 months from being hospitalized due to COVID-19.

Quantum network nodes with warm atoms

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 07:51 AM PDT

Communication networks need nodes at which information is processed or rerouted. Physicists have now developed a network node for quantum communication networks that can store single photons in a vapor cell and pass them on later.

New deep learning model helps the automated screening of common eye disorders

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 07:51 AM PDT

Automation in disease diagnosis is reliant on deep learning models that can accurately and efficiently identify measurements of tumors, tissue volume, or other sorts of abnormalities. Now, researchers have unveiled a new, resource-light model capable of identifying many common eye diseases.

The octopus' brain and the human brain share the same 'jumping genes'

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 07:51 AM PDT

The neural and cognitive complexity of the octopus could originate from a molecular analogy with the human brain, according to a new study. The research shows that the same 'jumping genes' are active both in the human brain and in the brain of two species, Octopus vulgaris, the common octopus, and Octopus bimaculoides, the Californian octopus.

Sight problems may increase dementia risk in older adults

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 07:49 AM PDT

Older adults with untreated sight conditions may be at increased risk of dementia, according to a new systematic review and meta-analysis of 16 studies involving 76,373 participants.

Females itch less than males

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 06:24 AM PDT

The female hormone estradiol was found to suppress psoriasis in mice by regulating neutrophil and macrophage cells. The conditional knockout mice without the natural ovarian hormones estradiol showed symptoms of severe skin inflammation.

Wearable chemical sensor is as good as gold

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 06:24 AM PDT

Researchers created a special ultrathin sensor, spun from gold, that can be attached directly to the skin without irritation or discomfort. The sensor can measure different biomarkers or substances to perform on-body chemical analysis. It works using a technique called Raman spectroscopy, where laser light aimed at the sensor is changed slightly depending on whatever chemicals are present on the skin at that point. The sensor can be finely tuned to be extremely sensitive, and is robust enough for practical use.

Developmental dyslexia essential to human adaptive success

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 06:24 AM PDT

Researchers say people with developmental dyslexia have specific strengths relating to exploring the unknown that have contributed to the successful adaptation and survival of our species.

A new model sheds light on how we learn motor skills

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 06:23 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a mathematical model of motor learning that reflects the motor learning process in the human brain. Their findings suggest that motor exploration -- that is, increased variability in movements -- is important when learning a new task. These results may lead to improved motor rehabilitation in patients after injury or disease.

Women's heart attacks are often missed: This gene may help explain why

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 03:42 PM PDT

Newly identified genes may help explain why women experience different heart disease symptoms than men do, which often leads to misdiagnosing serious problems.

Arecibo observatory scientists help unravel surprise asteroid mystery

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 03:42 PM PDT

Specifications from an asteroid that made headline news in 2019 because it appeared to come out of nowhere and was traveling fast has just been published.

Study identifies unique underlying molecular factors driving melanoma development

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 03:42 PM PDT

A new study reveals important molecular information that could help scientists develop more effective treatment and prevention strategies for a difficult-to-treat form of melanoma skin cancer.

Methods from weather forecasting can be adapted to assess risk of COVID-19 exposure

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 01:43 PM PDT

Engineers can adapt weather forecasting models to give individuals a personalized assessment of their risk of exposure to COVID-19 or other diseases.

Climate change could lead to a dramatic temperature-linked decrease in essential omega-3 fatty acids, according to new study

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 01:43 PM PDT

The effects of global climate change already are resulting in the loss of sea ice, accelerated sea level rise, and longer and more intense heat waves, among other threats. Now, a survey of planktonic lipids in the global ocean predicts a temperature-linked decrease in the production of essential omega-3 fatty acids, an important subset of lipid molecules. A significant implication of the survey is that as global warming proceeds, there will be fewer and fewer omega-3 fatty acids produced by plankton at the base of the food web, which will mean less omega-3 fatty acids available for fish and for people.

Proactive approaches needed to enable ecosystems to adapt to climate change

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 01:43 PM PDT

As the need to address climate change becomes increasingly urgent so too does the concurrent need for proactive stewardship of the Earth's rapidly changing biosphere, according to new research.

Boron nitride nanotube fibers get real

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 12:37 PM PDT

Scientists create the first boron nitride nanotube fibers using the custom wet-spinning process they developed to make carbon nanotube fibers.

Coastal marsh migration may further fuel climate change

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 12:37 PM PDT

As rising sea levels cause marshes to move inland in six mid-Atlantic states, coastal habitats will not serve as a carbon sink but instead will release more carbon into the atmosphere, a new modeling study finds. The research raises questions about the persistence of coastal habitats' carbon benefits in the face of sea level rise.

Microplastic pollution in Montana's flathead lake

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 12:37 PM PDT

Scientists have a greater understanding of the amount of microplastics polluting Flathead Lake, the likely sources of these microplastics and what can be done to prevent more from finding their way into the lake's world-renowned pristine water.

COVID's Catch-22: The paradox of masking and disease

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 12:37 PM PDT

Standard infection models for COVID-19 tend to focus only on disease states, overlooking the dynamics of a complex paradox: While masking reduces transmission rates and consequently disease prevalence, the reduction of disease inhibits mask-wearing -- thereby promoting epidemic revival.

Smart implants to monitor healing

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 12:36 PM PDT

Researchers are creating patient-specific 3D-printed smart metamaterial implants that double as sensors to monitor spinal healing.

New biomarkers unlock potential for more effective treatment of deadly cancers

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 12:36 PM PDT

A new study focused on decoding the genetic chaos found in cancer cells reveals novel biomarkers with the potential to improve the development of precision therapies and treatment selection for the deadliest types of cancer.

A potentially more effective treatment for HER2 mutant metastatic breast cancer

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 11:06 AM PDT

Researchers have identified a HER2 mutation that confers therapeutic resistance and promotes metastatic behavior in lobular breast cancer. Importantly, they also showed that the drug poziotinib, which is already approved for other cancer types, reduced tumor growth and multi-organ metastasis in laboratory tests and animal models. A phase II clinical trial is on the works to determine the value of this drug in the treatment of patients with this devastating condition.

As US obesity epidemic grows, new study shows who is gaining weight over the last decade

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 11:06 AM PDT

Research looked at the long-term weight gain of more than 13,800 U.S. adults -- a rare data point unearthed in obesity research. The study shows more than half of American adults gained 5% or more body weight over a 10-year period and more than a third of American adults gained 10% or more body weight. Just under a fifth gained 20% or more body weight.

New technology helps reveal inner workings of human genome

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 11:06 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a new method to assess on a large scale the three-dimensional structure of the human genome, or how the genome folds. The genome is the complete set of genetic instructions, DNA or RNA, enabling an organism to function.

Many human genomes shaped by past events that caused sharp dips in the population, study finds

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 11:05 AM PDT

The genomes of many human populations show evidence of founder events, which occur when a small number of initial members start a new population, and can lead to low genetic diversity as well as increase the risk of certain genetic diseases in the new population.

Giant bacteria found in Guadeloupe mangroves challenge traditional concepts

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 11:05 AM PDT

Researchers describe the morphological and genomic features of a 'macro' microbe' -- a giant filamentous bacterium composed of a single cell discovered in the mangroves of Guadeloupe. Using various microscopy techniques, the team also observed novel, membrane-bound compartments that contain DNA clusters dubbed 'pepins.'

Humans can't, but turtles can: Reduce weakening and deterioration with age

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 11:05 AM PDT

Evolutionary theories of ageing predict that all living organisms weaken and deteriorate with age (a process known as senescence) -- and eventually die. Now, researchers show that certain animal species, such as turtles (including tortoises) may exhibit slower or even absent senescence when their living conditions improve.

Modeling historical biomass could be key to buffering climate change

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 11:05 AM PDT

A new study paints a vivid image of how forests developed over centuries and contribute to Earth's carbon balance -- a crucial component to maintaining a steady global climate. The study reconstructed the natural pace and pattern of carbon storage in forests of the Midwestern United States over 10,000 years. The findings have the potential to shift ongoing debates about how landscapes can be managed to maximize carbon storage while meeting conservation goals.

Secrets of aging revealed in largest study on longevity, aging in reptiles and amphibians

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 11:05 AM PDT

An international team of 114 scientists reports the most comprehensive study of aging and longevity to date of reptiles and amphibians worldwide. Among their many findings, they document for the first time that turtles, crocodilians and salamanders have particularly low aging rates and extended lifespans for their sizes. The team also finds that protective phenotypes, such as the hard shells of most turtle species, contribute to slower aging, and in some cases even 'negligible aging' -- or lack of biological aging.

Silence for thought: Special interneuron networks in the human brain

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 11:05 AM PDT

Scientists map prominent differences in the neural circuits of mice, monkeys, and human.

Self-assembled, interlocked threads: Spinning yarn with no machine needed

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 11:05 AM PDT

Researchers unexpectedly discovered that the ability for spirals to form in nature also happens in some non-biological systems that convert chemical energy into mechanical action -- allowing two-dimensional polymer sheets to rise and rotate in spiral helices without the application of external power. This self-assembly into coherent three-dimensional structures represents the group's latest contribution in the field of soft robotics and chemo-mechanical systems.

Ultra-thin film creates vivid 3D images with large field of view

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 11:05 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a new ultra-thin film that can create detailed 3D images viewable under normal illumination without any special reading devices. The images appear to float on top of the film and can be clearly viewed from all angles. The new imaging film uses a technology known as light-field imaging, which captures the direction and intensity of all rays of light within a scene to create a 3D image. With additional development, the new glass-free approach could be used as a visual security feature or incorporated into virtual or augmented reality devices.

Climate changes lead to water imbalance, conflict in Tibetan Plateau

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 11:01 AM PDT

Climate change is putting an enormous strain on global water resources, and according to researchers, the Tibetan Plateau is suffering from a water imbalance so extreme that it could lead to an increase in international conflicts.

Researchers discover solutions to gender bias in autism diagnoses

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 09:26 AM PDT

A new study demonstrates that an equal number of girls and boys can be identified as having concerns for autism spectrum disorder when screened earlier, correcting large gender differences in current diagnoses.

Personal health trackers may include smart face mask, other wearables

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 09:26 AM PDT

New research demonstrates different ways to improve wearable bioelectronic devices and materials to provide better real-time monitoring of a person's health, including vital signs.

Artificial photosynthesis can produce food without sunshine

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 09:26 AM PDT

Scientists have found a way to bypass the need for biological photosynthesis altogether and create food independent of sunlight by using artificial photosynthesis. The technology uses a two-step electrocatalytic process to convert carbon dioxide, electricity, and water into acetate. Food-producing organisms then consume acetate in the dark to grow. The hybrid organic-inorganic system could increase the conversion efficiency of sunlight into food, up to 18 times more efficient for some foods.

Lipid nanoparticles carry gene-editing cancer drugs past tumor defenses

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 09:26 AM PDT

As they grow, solid tumors surround themselves with a thick, hard-to-penetrate wall of molecular defenses. Getting drugs past that barricade is notoriously difficult. Now, scientists have developed nanoparticles that can break down the physical barriers around tumors to reach cancer cells. Once inside, the nanoparticles release their payload: a gene editing system that alters DNA inside the tumor, blocking its growth and activating the immune system.

Researchers untangle the APOE4 gene, the most significant genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 08:10 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered two important novel aspects of the gene: 1) human genetic background inherited with APOE4 is unique to APOE4 patients and 2) the mechanistic defects due to APOE4 are unique to human cells.

Default options facilitate faster carbon offsetting in air travel

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 08:10 AM PDT

Economists find that many air travelers more readily choose faster, but more expensive carbon offsetting options online if selecting a slower option requires action. However, the readiness to do so decreases as the gap between the most and the least expensive option increases.

Cardiac rehab attendance lower among Asian, Black and Hispanic adults at all income levels, study finds

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 08:09 AM PDT

In a study of more than 107,000 people eligible for cardiac rehabilitation programs, Asian, Black and Hispanic adults were significantly less likely to attend cardiac rehabilitation programs compared to white adults. These differences in cardiac rehabilitation participation were seen at all income levels. The timeframe between hospital discharge and starting cardiac rehabilitation, which can affect recovery and health outcomes, was also at least a week longer among Asian, Black and Hispanic adults compared to white adults.

Shedding light on the impact of microplastics on lentil seedling growth

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 08:09 AM PDT

Microplastic pollution is known to negatively impact seed germination and seedling growth. Although some studies have demonstrated the effects of microplastics on seed germination, the impact of microplastics on the internal biological activity of seeds remained unknown. Now, a group of researchers has used biospeckle optical coherence tomography to reveal that microplastics significantly hinder the internal activity in lentil seeds during germination and can lead to stunted growth at later stages.

Are babies the key to the next generation of artificial intelligence?

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 08:09 AM PDT

Babies can help unlock the next generation of artificial intelligence (AI), according to neuroscientists who have just published new guiding principles for improving AI. The research examines the neuroscience and psychology of infant learning and distills three principles to guide the next generation of AI, which will help overcome the most pressing limitations of machine learning.

'Structural racism' cited in study of breast-biopsy delays

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 08:09 AM PDT

Black and Asian women are more likely than white women to experience significant delays in getting breast biopsies after a mammogram identifies an abnormality. Moreover, those delays appear to be influenced by screening site-specific factors that may stem from structural racism, according to new research.

Hair-raising research: Scientists find surprising link between immune system, hair growth

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 08:09 AM PDT

Scientists have uncovered an unexpected molecular target of a common treatment for alopecia, a condition in which a person's immune system attacks their own hair follicles, causing hair loss. The findings describe how immune cells called regulatory T cells interact with skin cells using a hormone as a messenger to generate new hair follicles and hair growth.

Stretching of the continents drove ancient global warming event, say scientists

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 08:09 AM PDT

Scientists have discovered that stretching of the continents is likely to have caused one of the most extreme and abrupt episodes of global warming in Earth history.

It sucked to be the prey of ancient cephalopods

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 08:09 AM PDT

The Jurassic cephalopod Vampyronassa rhodanica, thought to be the oldest known ancestor of the modern-day vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis), was likely an active hunter -- a mode of life that is in contrast with its opportunistic descendant. Scientists came to this conclusion after analyzing microtomographic data of this rare fossil.

Modeling a devastating childhood disease on a chip

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 08:09 AM PDT

Millions of children globally suffer from environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine that causes malnutrition and stunts their growth. A new Organ Chip models this devastating disease in living human tissue for the first time in vitro. This EED Chip allowed researchers to tease out the complex interplay of genetics and nutrition underpinning the disease, and offers clues for the development of future treatments.

Cancer survivors grew to 18 million in the US; more than two-thirds aged 65 years or older

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 07:37 AM PDT

A new report shows more than 18 million Americans (8.3 million males and 9.7 million females) with a history of cancer were living in the United States as of January 1, 2022, with a little over 12 million (67%) aged 65 years or older. The study also found substantial racial disparities in treatment and survival for common cancers.

'Travel therapy': Could holidays help mental health and wellbeing?

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 06:12 AM PDT

Many of us will have likely heard of music therapy and art therapy -- but what about 'travel therapy'? A new cross-disciplinary paper proposes we change how we view tourism, seeing it not just as a recreational experience but as an industry that can provide real health benefits.

Inside the jellyfish's sting: Exploring the micro-architecture of a cellular weapon

Posted: 23 Jun 2022 06:12 AM PDT

Summertime beachgoers are all too familiar with the painful reality of a jellyfish sting. But how do the stinging cells of jellyfish and their coral and sea anemone cousins actually work? New research unveils a precise operational model for the stinging organelle of the starlet sea anemone, Nematostella vectensis. The study involved the application of cutting-edge microscopic imaging technologies along with the development of a biophysical model to enable a comprehensive understanding of a mechanism that has remained elusive for over a century.