ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Glitter litter could be damaging rivers
• Severe morning sickness linked to depression new study finds
• Are corals genetically equipped to survive climate change?
• Beak bone reveals pterosaur like no other
• Researchers mine data and connect the dots about processes driving neuroblastoma
• Protein that keeps immune system from freaking out could form basis for new therapeutics
• How leaves reflect light reveals evolutionary history of seed plants
• Why do identical cells act differently? Team unravels sources of cellular 'noise'
• Studies offer new evidence for possible link between blood type and COVID-19 susceptibility
• Blood test could identify COVID-19 patients at risk of 'cytokine storm' hyperinflammation
• Nerves that sense touch may play role in autism
• Novel software assesses phonologial awareness
• What laser color do you like?
• Physicists observe room-temperature superconductivity
• Scientists show jet lag conditions impair immune response in mice
• New study shows about one-third of young people in 43 low- and middle-income countries have lost a sibling before age 25
• A new, comprehensive approach to measure inequality in preventable child mortality
• Effectiveness of fitness-boosting strategies may be linked to personality traits
• Ivory Coast without ivory? Elephant populations are declining rapidly in Côte d'Ivoire
• Assessing state of the art in AI for brain disease treatment
• Gold- and bronze-like paints that don't contain metal
• More diversity needed in oil palm plantations
• New study suggests crucial role for lymphocytes in asymptomatic COVID-19 infection
• COVID-19 rapid test has successful lab results, research moves to next stages
• Impact of COVID-19 infection on patients with congenital heart disease
• Thawing permafrost releases organic compounds into the air
• Aerosols vs. droplets
• Army researchers collaborate on universal antibody test for COVID-19
• Scientists identify sensor protein that underlies bladder control
• An alternative to animal experiments
• Stay in touch with your emotions to reduce pandemic-induced stress
• Bringing people together on climate change
• Therapy plus medication better than medication alone in bipolar disorder
• Recent Atlantic ocean warming unprecedented in nearly 3,000 years
• Distracted learning a big problem, golden opportunity for educators, students
• Temperature evolution of impurities in a quantum gas
• Solar-powered system extracts drinkable water from 'dry' air
• Seeing evolution happening before your eyes
• Study linking 28 genes to developmental disorders to mean diagnoses for about 500 families
• Helping youth diagnosed with early stages of psychosis
• Plastic bags could be 'eco-friendlier' than paper and cotton
• Modern humans took detours on their way to Europe
• Bringing a power tool from math into quantum computing
• Clean and clear: How being more transparent over resources helps cut carbon emissions
• Scientists voice concerns, call for transparency and reproducibility in AI research
• New study highlights links between inflammation and Parkinson's disease
• STAT3 identified as important factor in emotional reactivity
• New blood test predicts which COVID-19 patients will develop severe infection
• Computational approach to optimize culture conditions required for cell therapy
• Plastics threat to South Pacific seabirds confirmed
• Prenatal cannabis exposure linked to cognitive deficits, altered behavior
• Biggest carbon dioxide drop: Real-time data show COVID-19's massive impact on global emissions
• Scientists shed new light on viruses' role in coral bleaching
• Molecular dance keeps your heart beating
• Swine coronavirus replicates in human cells
• An innovative method to tune lasers toward infrared wavelengths
• Even minimal physical activity measurably boosts health
• Unraveling the network of molecules that influence COVID-19 severity
• Head and neck injuries make up nearly 28 percent of all electric scooter accident injuries

Glitter litter could be damaging rivers Posted: 14 Oct 2020 05:10 PM PDT New research indicates that glitter could be causing ecological damage to our rivers and lakes.

Severe morning sickness linked to depression new study finds Posted: 14 Oct 2020 05:10 PM PDT Severe morning sickness increases the risk of depression both during and after pregnancy, new research has found.

Are corals genetically equipped to survive climate change? Posted: 14 Oct 2020 05:10 PM PDT A research team has taken a close look at the genomes of fifteen species in the coral genus, Acropora, to determine if they're suited to a warmer ocean.

Beak bone reveals pterosaur like no other Posted: 14 Oct 2020 05:10 PM PDT A new species of small pterosaur - similar in size to a turkey - has been discovered, which is unlike any other pterosaur seen before due to its long slender toothless beak.

Researchers mine data and connect the dots about processes driving neuroblastoma Posted: 14 Oct 2020 02:13 PM PDT Scientists lead genome analysis to better understand one of the most common childhood solid tumors.

Protein that keeps immune system from freaking out could form basis for new therapeutics Posted: 14 Oct 2020 02:13 PM PDT Treatment with a peptide that mimics the naturally occurring protein GIV prevents immune overreaction and supports a mechanism critical for survival in mouse models of sepsis and colitis, according to a new study.

How leaves reflect light reveals evolutionary history of seed plants Posted: 14 Oct 2020 02:13 PM PDT The way leaves reflect light, known as plant reflectance spectra, can illuminate the evolutionary history of seed plants, according to researchers. The researchers found that by measuring the light spectrum reflected by leaves, they can identify the plant and its chemistry, evolution and place in the tree of life.

Why do identical cells act differently? Team unravels sources of cellular 'noise' Posted: 14 Oct 2020 01:16 PM PDT Researchers have taken an important step toward explaining why genetically identical cells can produce varying amounts of the same protein associated with the same gene. Researchers demonstrated that most of the fluctuations in gene expression between identical cells occur in the first step of protein production, called transcription.

Studies offer new evidence for possible link between blood type and COVID-19 susceptibility Posted: 14 Oct 2020 01:15 PM PDT New studies suggest people with blood type O may have a lower risk of COVID-19 infection and reduced likelihood of severe outcomes, including organ complications, if they do get sick.

Blood test could identify COVID-19 patients at risk of 'cytokine storm' hyperinflammation Posted: 14 Oct 2020 01:05 PM PDT Researchers have identified a blood profile that could help identify COVID-19 patients at greatest risk of deterioration and direct them towards trials of specific treatments that could modify their immune systems' responses.

Nerves that sense touch may play role in autism Posted: 14 Oct 2020 01:05 PM PDT Autism is considered a disorder of the brain. But a new study suggests that the peripheral nervous system, the nerves that control our sense of touch, pain and other sensations, may play a role as well.

Novel software assesses phonologial awareness Posted: 14 Oct 2020 01:05 PM PDT Understanding sounds in language is a critical building block for child literacy, yet this skill is often overlooked. Researchers have now developed a new software tool to assess children's phonological awareness -- or, how they process the sound structure of words.

What laser color do you like? Posted: 14 Oct 2020 01:05 PM PDT Researchers have developed a microchip technology that can convert invisible near-infrared laser light into any one of a panoply of visible laser colors, including red, orange, yellow and green. Their work provides a new approach to generating laser light on integrated microchips.

Physicists observe room-temperature superconductivity Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:11 AM PDT Physicists have made a breakthrough in the long sought-after quest for a room-temperature superconductor, what they call the 'holy grail' of energy efficiency.

Scientists show jet lag conditions impair immune response in mice Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:11 AM PDT Researchers reveal in a mouse study that chronic jet lag alters the microenvironment surrounding tumor cells, making it more favorable for tumor growth, and also hinders the body's natural immune defenses.

New study shows about one-third of young people in 43 low- and middle-income countries have lost a sibling before age 25 Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:11 AM PDT On average, about a third of women between 15 and 34 years old from 43 low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) have lost at least one sibling before the age of 25, according to a new study.

A new, comprehensive approach to measure inequality in preventable child mortality Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:11 AM PDT A new model can more accurately and efficiently assess which children are at highest risk of preventable death, according to a new study.

Effectiveness of fitness-boosting strategies may be linked to personality traits Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:11 AM PDT In a randomized clinical trial, the effectiveness of different strategies for boosting physical activity varied according to participants' demographic, psychological, and behavioral characteristics.

Ivory Coast without ivory? Elephant populations are declining rapidly in Côte d'Ivoire Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:11 AM PDT Recent years have witnessed a widespread and catastrophic decline in the number of forest elephants in protected areas in Côte d'Ivoire, according to a new study.

Assessing state of the art in AI for brain disease treatment Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:11 AM PDT The range of AI technologies available for dealing with brain disease is growing fast, and exciting new methods are being applied to brain problems as computer scientists gain a deeper understanding of the capabilities of advanced algorithms. Researchers conducted a systematic literature review to understand the state of the art in the use of AI for brain disease. Their qualitative review sheds light on the most interesting corners of AI development.

Gold- and bronze-like paints that don't contain metal Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:11 AM PDT Lustrous metallic paints are used to enhance the beauty of many products, such as home decorations, cars and artwork. But most of these pigments owe their sheen to flakes of aluminum, copper, zinc or other metals, which have drawbacks. Now, researchers have developed organic-only dyes that can form films resembling gold or bronze, without the need for metals.

More diversity needed in oil palm plantations Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:10 AM PDT Growing global demand for palm oil has led to a rapid spread of oil palm monoculture plantations in South East Asia, often associated with the loss of habitats and biodiversity. Plantations are uniformly structured, offering little space for different species. Diversification using indigenous tree species can help. Researchers found diversification can be encouraged through information campaigns and free seedlings.

New study suggests crucial role for lymphocytes in asymptomatic COVID-19 infection Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:10 AM PDT A retrospective study of 52 COVID-19 patients may help researchers better understand why not everyone show symptoms of the disease. The study's authors found that asymptomatic patients hosted viral loads comparable to those of symptomatic patients, but asymptomatic patients showed higher levels of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell responsible for immune responses), cleared the viral particles faster, and had lower risks of long-term complications.

COVID-19 rapid test has successful lab results, research moves to next stages Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:10 AM PDT Rapid detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, in about 30 seconds following the test, has had successful preliminary results. The test uses a nanotube-based electrochemical biosensor, a similar technology used for detecting tuberculosis and colorectal cancer as well as detection of biomarkers for food safety.

Impact of COVID-19 infection on patients with congenital heart disease Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:10 AM PDT Results of a retrospective analysis suggest that people born with a heart defect who developed COVID-19 symptoms had a low risk of moderate or severe COVID-19 infection, according to a new article.

Thawing permafrost releases organic compounds into the air Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:10 AM PDT When permafrost thaws due to global warming, not only the greenhouse gases known to all, but also organic compounds are released from the soil. They may have a significant impact on climate change.

Aerosols vs. droplets Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:10 AM PDT A new study investigates the secret of the SARS-CoV-2 virus's unusual success: its transmissibility, or how it manages to get from host to host. The dominant mode, it turns out, changes according to environmental conditions.

Army researchers collaborate on universal antibody test for COVID-19 Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:10 AM PDT Researchers have tested alternative ways to measure COVID-19 antibody levels, resulting in a process that is faster, easier and less expensive to use on a large scale. Their method holds promise for accurately identifying potential donors who have the best chance of helping infected patients through convalescent plasma therapy.

Scientists identify sensor protein that underlies bladder control Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:09 AM PDT Scientists have found that the main sensor protein enabling our sense of touch also underlies the feeling of having a full bladder and makes normal bladder function possible. The discovery marks a key advance in basic neurobiology and may also lead to better treatments for bladder control and urination problems, which are common especially among the elderly.

An alternative to animal experiments Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:09 AM PDT Researchers have cultured so-called intestinal organoids from human intestinal tissue, which is a common byproduct when performing bowel surgery. These small 'miniature intestines' can be used for molecular biological examinations and allow for a direct application of research results to humans, thereby making animal experiments redundant.

Stay in touch with your emotions to reduce pandemic-induced stress Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:09 AM PDT The coronavirus has ushered in a lot of stress. Psychologists say people can reduce stress by identifying their emotions and taking mindful action to address them. The findings come from a national survey gauging how Americans are faring during the pandemic.

Bringing people together on climate change Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:09 AM PDT A new study suggests that engaging, high-quality media programming could help Democrats and Republicans see eye to eye when it comes to climate change.

Therapy plus medication better than medication alone in bipolar disorder Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:09 AM PDT A review of 39 randomized clinical trials has found that combining the use medication with psychoeducational therapy is more effective at preventing a recurrence of illness in people with bipolar disorder than medication alone.

Recent Atlantic ocean warming unprecedented in nearly 3,000 years Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:09 AM PDT Sediments from a lake in the Canadian High Arctic allow climate scientists to extend the record of Atlantic sea-surface temperature from about 100 to 2,900 years. It shows that the warmest interval over this period has been the past 10 years.

Distracted learning a big problem, golden opportunity for educators, students Posted: 14 Oct 2020 11:09 AM PDT Although experts say using electronic media while doing schoolwork negatively impacts learning, many students believe they're immune to any ill effects because they're good multitaskers, according to recent research.

Temperature evolution of impurities in a quantum gas Posted: 14 Oct 2020 08:46 AM PDT A new theoretical study advances our understanding of the role of thermodynamics in the 'quantum impurity' problem, which studies the behavior of deliberately introduced atoms (ie, 'impurities') that behave as particularly 'clean' quasiparticles within a background atomic gas, allowing a controllable 'perfect test bed' study of quantum correlations.

Solar-powered system extracts drinkable water from 'dry' air Posted: 14 Oct 2020 08:46 AM PDT Researchers have significantly boosted the output from a system that can extract drinkable water directly from the air even in dry regions, using heat from the sun or another source.

Seeing evolution happening before your eyes Posted: 14 Oct 2020 08:46 AM PDT Researchers have established an automated pipeline to create mutations in genomic enhancers that let them watch evolution unfold before their eyes. Their findings on fruit flies may also be relevant to the understanding of human diseases, requiring researchers to reassess assumptions about how enhancers contribute to human health.

Study linking 28 genes to developmental disorders to mean diagnoses for about 500 families Posted: 14 Oct 2020 08:46 AM PDT Research into the causes of developmental disorders has identified 285 genes linked to these conditions, including 28 newly-associated genes. The study will enable diagnoses for around 500 families living with children who have rare conditions. The authors collated anonymised healthcare and research data to create the largest available genetic resource for developmental disorders. They estimate about 1,000 genes linked to developmental disorders remain to be discovered, requiring more open access to healthcare data.

Helping youth diagnosed with early stages of psychosis Posted: 14 Oct 2020 08:46 AM PDT New research is highlighting the need for improved training when it comes to helping young people living with psychosis determine their sense of identity.

Plastic bags could be 'eco-friendlier' than paper and cotton Posted: 14 Oct 2020 08:46 AM PDT Scientists have modeled the cradle-to-grave environmental impact of using different types of shopping bags and report that in cities like Singapore, single-use plastic bags (made from high-density polyethylene plastic) have a lower environmental footprint than single-use paper and multi-use cotton bags.

Modern humans took detours on their way to Europe Posted: 14 Oct 2020 08:46 AM PDT Favourable climatic conditions influenced the sequence of settlement movements of Homo sapiens in the Levant on their way from Africa to Europe. In a first step, modern humans settled along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Only then did they spread out into the Sinai desert and the eastern Jordanian Rift Valley.

Bringing a power tool from math into quantum computing Posted: 14 Oct 2020 08:46 AM PDT The Fourier transform is a mathematical operation essential to virtually all fields of physics and engineering. Although there already exists an algorithm that computes the Fourier transform in quantum computers, it is not versatile enough for many practical applications. In a recent study, scientists tackle this problem by designing a novel quantum circuit that calculates the Fourier transform in a much quicker, versatile, and more efficient way.

Clean and clear: How being more transparent over resources helps cut carbon emissions Posted: 14 Oct 2020 08:46 AM PDT Countries that sign up to improved financial transparency over oil, gas, and mining revenues benefit from significant reductions in carbon emissions, a new study reveals.

Scientists voice concerns, call for transparency and reproducibility in AI research Posted: 14 Oct 2020 08:46 AM PDT Scientist challenge scientific journals to hold computational researchers to higher standards of transparency, and call for their colleagues to share their code, models and computational environments in publications.

New study highlights links between inflammation and Parkinson's disease Posted: 14 Oct 2020 08:46 AM PDT Researchers established an association between inflammation and specific genetic mutations in Parkinson's patients. The study highlights two biomarkers that could be used to assess Parkinson's disease state and progression. The results also suggest that targeting the immune system with anti-inflammatory medication holds the potential to influence the disease course, at least in a subset of patients.

STAT3 identified as important factor in emotional reactivity Posted: 14 Oct 2020 08:42 AM PDT Researchers showed that STAT3 plays an important role in the serotonergic system as a molecular mediator for controlling emotional reactivity, thereby establishing a mechanistic link between the immune system, serotonergic transmission and affective disorders such as depression.

New blood test predicts which COVID-19 patients will develop severe infection Posted: 14 Oct 2020 08:41 AM PDT Scientists have developed a score that can accurately predict which patients will develop a severe form of COVID-19.

Computational approach to optimize culture conditions required for cell therapy Posted: 14 Oct 2020 06:51 AM PDT Cellular therapy is a powerful strategy to produce patient-specific, personalised cells to treat many diseases, including heart disease and neurological disorders. But a major challenge for cell therapy applications is keeping cells alive and well in the lab.

Plastics threat to South Pacific seabirds confirmed Posted: 14 Oct 2020 06:51 AM PDT Plastic gathered from remote corners of the South Pacific Ocean, including nesting areas of New Zealand albatrosses, has confirmed the global threat of plastic pollution to seabirds.

Prenatal cannabis exposure linked to cognitive deficits, altered behavior Posted: 14 Oct 2020 06:51 AM PDT Regular cannabis exposure in rats during pregnancy may cause their offspring to have long-term cognitive deficiencies, asocial behavior, and anxiety later in adulthood.

Biggest carbon dioxide drop: Real-time data show COVID-19's massive impact on global emissions Posted: 14 Oct 2020 05:28 AM PDT While the ongoing coronavirus pandemic continues to threaten millions of lives around the world, the first half of 2020 saw an unprecedented decline in carbon dioxide emissions -- larger than during the financial crisis of 2008, the oil crisis of the 1979, or even World War II.

Scientists shed new light on viruses' role in coral bleaching Posted: 14 Oct 2020 05:28 AM PDT Scientists have shown that viral infection is involved in coral bleaching - the breakdown of the symbiotic relationship between corals and the algae they rely on for energy.

Molecular dance keeps your heart beating Posted: 14 Oct 2020 05:27 AM PDT New research demonstrates a molecular dance that keeps your heart beating. The findings could someday lead to improved diagnostics and medical treatments for serious and sometimes devastating hereditary heart conditions.

Swine coronavirus replicates in human cells Posted: 14 Oct 2020 05:27 AM PDT A strain of coronavirus that has devastated the pork industry has the potential to infect humans as well, according to new research.

An innovative method to tune lasers toward infrared wavelengths Posted: 14 Oct 2020 05:27 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a cost-effective way to tune the spectrum of a laser to the infrared, a band of great interest for many laser applications.

Even minimal physical activity measurably boosts health Posted: 13 Oct 2020 04:10 PM PDT Two research teams sought to understand sedentary lifestyles, with one study finding that even light physical activity, including just standing, can benefit health, and the other that Americans are sitting too much.

Unraveling the network of molecules that influence COVID-19 severity Posted: 13 Oct 2020 04:10 PM PDT Researchers have identified more than 200 molecular features that strongly correlate with COVID-19 severity, offering insight into potential treatment options for those with advanced disease.

Head and neck injuries make up nearly 28 percent of all electric scooter accident injuries Posted: 13 Oct 2020 04:10 PM PDT A new study is sounding the alarm on the rise of electric scooter injuries, and particularly head and neck injuries, since the 2017 introduction of e-scooter rideshare programs in urban centers.

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