ScienceDaily: Top News

Humans in the loop help robots find their way

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 03:55 PM PDT

Computer scientists develop a method that allows humans to help complex robots build efficient solutions to 'see' their environments and carry out tasks.

Microbe protects honey bees from poor nutrition, a significant cause of colony loss

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 03:55 PM PDT

Researchers have identified a specific bacterial microbe that, when fed to honey bee larvae, can reduce the effects of nutritional stress on developing bees.

New way in which T cells learn to tell friend from foe

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 03:55 PM PDT

Researchers identify new mechanism that teaches immune cells-in-training to spare the body's own tissues while attacking pathogens. As part of this early education, specialized thymus cells 'pose' as different tissues, teaching the immune system how to recognize both friend and foe. Immune cells that mistakenly react to the body's own proteins are eliminated or reassigned to other jobs. The findings shed light on the origins of autoimmune diseases and on the maturation of the adaptive immune system.

Urban density strongly correlates with house sparrow health

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 02:00 PM PDT

A new study shows that house sparrows' health closely correlates with urban density, and that sparrows are carrying surprisingly high loads of lead in their bodies.

Patients treated with monoclonal antibodies during COVID-19 delta surge had low rates of severe disease, study finds

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 02:00 PM PDT

A study of 10,775 high-risk adult patients during the COVID-19 delta variant surge in late 2021 finds that treatment with one of three anti-spike neutralizing monoclonal antibodies for mild to moderate symptoms led to low rates of severe disease, hospitalization, ICU admission and mortality, according to researchers.

Top predators could 'trap' themselves trying to adapt to climate change

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 02:00 PM PDT

Over a 30-year period, African wild dogs shifted their average birthing dates later by 22 days, an adaptation that allowed them to match the birth of new litters with the coolest temperatures in early winter. But as a result of this significant shift, fewer pups survived their most vulnerable period because temperatures during their critical post-birth 'denning period' increased over the same time period, threatening the population of this already endangered species. It is the first study to show that large mammalian carnivores are making major changes to their life history in response to a changing climate.

Structural racism drives higher COVID-19 death rates in Louisiana, study finds

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 01:59 PM PDT

Higher COVID-19 mortality rates among Black communities in Louisiana can be linked to pervasive health vulnerabilities associated with racism, including the location of many Black neighborhoods near industrial facilities and the higher likelihood among Black families of being uninsured, researchers found. The team identified the spatial distribution of social and environmental stressors across Louisiana parishes, and tracked the correlations among stressors, cumulative health risks, COVID-19 mortality rates, and the size of Black populations across the parishes.

Fossils in the 'Cradle of Humankind' may be more than a million years older than previously thought

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 01:59 PM PDT

For decades, scientists have studied these fossils of early human ancestors and their long-lost relatives. Now, a dating method developed by geologists just pushed the age of some of these fossils found at the site of Sterkfontein Caves back more than a million years. This would make them older than Dinkinesh, also called Lucy, the world's most famous Australopithecus fossil.

Doctors prescribe fewer painkillers during nightshifts than during the day, study finds

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 01:59 PM PDT

Physicians were 20 to 30 percent less likely to prescribe an analgesic during nightshifts (compared to daytime shifts) and prescribed fewer painkillers than were generally recommended by the World Health Organization, according to a new study.

Southern resident killer whales not getting enough to eat since 2018

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 01:59 PM PDT

The endangered southern resident killer whale population isn't getting enough to eat, and hasn't been since 2018, a new study has determined. The animals have been in an energy deficit, averaged across spring, summer and fall, for six of the last 40 years -- meaning the energy they get from food is less than what they expend. Three of those six years came in the most recent years of the study, 2018 to 2020. The average difference in energy is 28,716 calories, or about 17 per cent of the daily required energy for an average adult killer whale, the authors say.

Amazon landscape change study highlights ecological harms and opportunities for action

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 01:58 PM PDT

A major study into landscape changes in the Brazilian Amazon sheds new light on the many environmental threats the biome faces -- but also offers encouraging opportunities for ecological sustainability in the world's most biodiverse tropical forest. The study's findings are critical because as the Amazon moves closer towards a 'tipping point', they provide a robust evidence base to inform urgently needed conservation and regeneration priorities in the forest. They show that gains can be achieved through a range of actions -- including, but not limited to, halting deforestation.

Long-term liquid water also on non-Earth-like planets?

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 11:14 AM PDT

Liquid water is an important prerequisite for life to develop on a planet. As researchers report in a new study, liquid water could also exist for billions of years on planets that are very different from Earth. This calls our currently Earth-centred idea of potentially habitable planets into question.

New approach to treatment of deadly kidney cancer

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 11:14 AM PDT

Researchers have linked resistance to treatment for a deadly form of kidney cancer to low mitochondrial content in the cell. When the researchers increased the mitochondrial content with an inhibitor, the cancer cells responded to the treatment. Their findings offer hope for more targeted cancer drugs.

Global food supply-chain issues call for solutions

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 11:14 AM PDT

A new study sheds light on how trade, and centrality in the global wheat trade network, affect food security. The study shows that many countries depend on trade to fulfill their food needs. Further, the global wheat trade is concentrated in a handful of countries whereby disruption in only a few countries would have global impacts, researchers suggest.

COVID-19 Omicron variant leads to less severe disease in mice, study finds

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 11:14 AM PDT

Researchers found mice were more likely to get infected by Omicron than other variants but with significantly lower mortality rates.

Higher protein intake while dieting leads to healthier eating

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 11:14 AM PDT

Eating a larger proportion of protein while dieting leads to better food choices and helps avoid the loss of lean body mass, according to a new study.

New genetic associations in pediatric NAFLD affect both risk and severity

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 11:14 AM PDT

In a pair of studies, scientists have deepened investigations into the genetic origins of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in children, describing multiple gene variants that contribute to disease risk.

'Hindcasting' helps identify causes of induced earthquakes in Delaware Basin, West Texas

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 09:50 AM PDT

Using a method that works backward from a set of observed earthquakes to test seismic models that fit those observations, researchers working in the Delaware Basin were able to determine whether earthquakes in the region since 2017 were caused by oil and gas operations.

Antibiotic use and sepsis make recent improvements

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 09:50 AM PDT

Between 2013 and 2018, rates of antibiotic use and sepsis decreased in 152 hospitals, diminishing fears that sepsis improvement efforts will lead to antibiotic overuse.

Scent of a friend: Similarities in body odor may contribute to social bonding

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 09:50 AM PDT

Researchers have found that people may have a tendency to form friendships with individuals who have a similar body odor. The researchers were even able to predict the quality of social interactions between complete strangers by first 'smelling' them with a device known as an electronic nose, or eNose. These findings suggest that the sense of smell may play a larger role in human social interactions than previously thought.

Deadly fungus can multiply by having sex, which could produce more drug-resistant, virulent strains

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 09:50 AM PDT

Researchers have unlocked an evolutionary mystery of a deadly pathogen responsible for fueling the superbug crisis: it can reproduce by having sex. And while such fraternizing is infrequent, scientists report it could be producing more drug-resistant and more virulent strains of Candida auris, capable of spreading faster.

Study shows link between cyberbullying and suicidality in early adolescence

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 09:49 AM PDT

Researchers found that targets of cyberbullying were more likely to report suicidal thoughts and attempts, above and beyond offline bullying.

Virus discovery offers clues about origins of complex life

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 09:49 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered the first viruses infecting a group of microbes that may include the ancestors of all complex life. The discovery offers tantalizing clues about the origins of complex life and suggests new directions for exploring the hypothesis that viruses were essential to the evolution of humans and other complex life forms.

Study finds chaos is more common in ecological systems than previously thought

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 09:49 AM PDT

Chaos in natural populations appears to be much more common than previously recognized, according to a new analysis. Populations of organisms in natural ecosystems fluctuate a lot, and a key question for ecologists is whether those fluctuations are regular (varying around some theoretically 'stable' equilibrium), random (completely unpredictable), or chaotic. Chaotic systems, like the weather, can be predictable in the short term but not in the long term, and they are highly sensitive to small differences in the initial conditions.

What sea cucumbers can teach us about self-defense

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 09:49 AM PDT

Sea cucumbers' self defense trick could boost multi-million dollar industry.

Reaction insights help make sustainable liquid fuels

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 09:49 AM PDT

Methanol made from CO2 in the air can be transformed into carbon neutral fuels. A new mechanistic understanding aids development of this sustainable alternative.

Microbial link between Western-style diet and incidence of colorectal cancer uncovered

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 09:49 AM PDT

New research builds the case that a Western-style diet -- rich in red and processed meat, sugar and refined grains/carbohydrates -- is tied to higher risk of colorectal cancer through the intestinal microbiota.

Researchers determine 1st crystal structure of LAG3

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 09:49 AM PDT

Researchers have now visualized the molecular structure of the LAG3 protein. They describe the crystal structure of LAG3 and how it interacts with molecules produced by cancer cells.

Heat waves could lead to avian population decline

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 09:47 AM PDT

Researchers examined how heat impacts the behavior and physiology of Zebra finches. They discovered that heat altered the activity of hundreds of genes in the testis, but fewer in the brain, suggesting that the brain may be less responsive to extreme temperatures. The study also provided some hopeful insights for birds and their ability to handle the threat of climate change.

New approach reduces EV battery testing time by 75%

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 07:03 AM PDT

Testing the longevity of new electric vehicle battery designs could be four times faster with a streamlined approach, researchers have shown.

Novel metalens revolutionize conventional Vacuum UV optics technology

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 07:02 AM PDT

Engineers have successfully developed a novel Vacuum Ultra-Violet (VUV) meta-lens which can generate and focus the VUV light, a disruptive technology for the UV optics market.

Protected areas in Africa are too small to safeguard rapidly declining vulture populations

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 07:02 AM PDT

Vultures perform important ecosystem functions as they clean the landscape by eating carcasses and thus limit the spread of wildlife diseases. Yet, vulture populations are rapidly declining, mainly owing to intentional and unintentional poisoning. Against this background, an international team of scientists performed the first comprehensive comparative analysis of movement data of three species of threatened Gyps vultures across Africa. They found that individual home ranges can be as large as 75,000 km² and thus significantly exceed existing protected areas.

Chemically modified plant compounds work against hepatitis E virus

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 07:02 AM PDT

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is widespread, and so far there is no effective drug. In the search for one, the so-called rocaglates have come into focus: plant compounds that can inhibit the replication of viruses. Researchers have examined a library of chemically modified rocaglates for their antiviral effect. One group of active ingredients in particular stood out, a so-called amidino group. It was particularly effective in inhibiting viral replication.

Researchers uncover brain waves related to social behavior

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 07:02 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered electrical brain-wave patterns given off during social interactions in mice. They also observed that mice showing signs of stress, depression, or autism lacked these brain waves. The results reveal more about the mechanics underlying brain activity when socializing.

The effect of breast cancer screening is declining

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 07:02 AM PDT

A new research result questions whether the benefits of breast cancer screenings has gradually declined to a degree that it is too small in relation to the costs in the form of overdiagnosis and overtreatment.

Thin-film photovoltaic technology combines efficiency and versatility

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 07:02 AM PDT

Stacking solar cells increases their efficiency. Researchers have now produced perovskite/CIS tandem solar cells with an efficiency of nearly 25 percent -- the highest value achieved thus far with this technology. Moreover, this combination of materials is light and versatile, making it possible to envision the use of these tandem solar cells in vehicles, portable equipment, and devices that can be folded or rolled up.

Ancient microbes may help us find extraterrestrial life forms

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 07:02 AM PDT

Using light-capturing proteins in living microbes, scientists helped reconstruct what life was like for some of Earth's earliest organisms. These efforts could help us one day recognize signs of life on other planets.

Novel, sensitive, and robust single-cell RNA sequencing technique outperforms competition

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 07:02 AM PDT

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is one of the most important methods to study biological function in cells, but it is limited by potential inaccuracies in the data it generates. Now, a research team has developed a new method called terminator-assisted solid-phase complementary DNA amplification and sequencing (TAS-Seq), which overcomes these limitations and provides higher-precision data than existing scRNA-seq platforms.

Supernumerary virtual robotic arms can feel like part of our body

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 07:02 AM PDT

Researchers have developed a virtual robotic limb system which can be operated by users' feet in a virtual environment as extra, or supernumerary, limbs. After training, users reported feeling like the virtual robotic arms had become part of their own body. This study focused on the perceptual changes of the participants, understanding of which can contribute to designing real physical robotic supernumerary limb systems that people can use naturally and freely just like our own bodies.

Genome of voracious desert locust sequenced

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 07:02 AM PDT

The first high-quality genome of the desert locust -- those voracious feeders of plague and devastation infamy and the most destructive migratory insect in the world -- has been produced. The genome of the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) is enormous at just under 9 billion base pairs, nearly three times the size of the human genome. The size of the desert locust's chromosomes is remarkable; compare them to those of the model fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, the first insect genome ever assembled. Many of the desert locust's individual chromosomes are larger than the entire fruit fly genome. Next to the fruit fly, it's like an 18-wheeler next to a compact car.

Volunteer 'community scientists' do a pretty darn good job generating usable data

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 07:02 AM PDT

Volunteer community scientists, aka citizen scientists, help researchers with data collection that would otherwise be a time-consuming slog. But while community science can be a valuable learning experience, the question remains how useful the volunteer-generated data actually are in research. In this new study, researchers analyzed measurements of microscopic plant leaves done by community scientists and found that the volunteers generated high quality data -- a vote of confidence for community science.

A rethink of the building blocks for solar panels could help mass production

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 07:01 AM PDT

An original approach to mass-producing low-cost solar cell foundation blocks could lead to the wide adoption of solar panels made from perovskite ink -- a 'miracle material' -- according to new research.

The heat is on: Traces of fire uncovered dating back at least 800,000 years

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 07:01 AM PDT

Scientists reveal an advanced, innovative method that they have developed and used to detect nonvisual traces of fire dating back at least 800,000 years -- one of the earliest known pieces of evidence for the use of fire. The newly developed technique may provide a push toward a more scientific, data-driven type of archaeology, but -- perhaps more importantly -- it could help us better understand the origins of the human story, our most basic traditions and our experimental and innovative nature.

Message received: Scientists identify the molecular mechanisms behind learning and memory

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 07:01 AM PDT

Researchers identify how acetylcholine sets off a signal cascade in brain cells that directly influence aversive learning and memory formation.

People less outraged by gender discrimination caused by algorithms

Posted: 27 Jun 2022 07:01 AM PDT

People are less morally outraged when gender discrimination occurs because of an algorithm rather than direct human involvement, according to new research.

Insight into past--and future--of Western US wildfires

Posted: 26 Jun 2022 05:02 PM PDT

A new study examines the context surrounding the fires and offers insight into the historical role of large, high-severity fires -- and the future of wildfires -- west of the Cascades.

Climate damage caused by growing space tourism needs urgent mitigation

Posted: 26 Jun 2022 05:02 PM PDT

A formidable space tourism industry may have a greater climate effect than the aviation industry and undo repair to the protective ozone layer if left unregulated, according to a new study.

Biodiversity risks to persist well beyond future global temperature peak

Posted: 26 Jun 2022 05:02 PM PDT

Even if global temperatures begin to decline after peaking this century because of climate change, the risks to biodiversity could persist for decades after.

Women achieving childbearing desires drives contraception use

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 05:15 PM PDT

The increased use of contraception in many countries is not because more women at any moment want to delay pregnancy or have no further children. Instead, it is because contraception is helping more women achieve their childbearing goals, according to a new study.

Built infrastructure, hunting and climate change linked to huge migratory bird declines

Posted: 24 Jun 2022 05:15 PM PDT

New research shows how migratory birds are declining globally because of the way that humans have modified the landscape in recent decades. A total of 103 species of migrating birds were studied, including rapidly declining species like the turtle dove and the common cuckoo, using large-scale datasets. Advances in satellite imagery allowed the team to map threats across Europe, Africa and Western Asia.