ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Tackling alarming decline in nature requires 'safety net' of multiple, ambitious goals
• Future VR could employ new ultrahigh-res display
• Ancient Maya built sophisticated water filters
• Galactic archaeology
• Collaboration sparks new model for ceramic conductivity
• Do the twist: Making two-dimensional quantum materials using curved surfaces
• A promising discovery could lead to better treatment for Hepatitis C
• AI detects hidden earthquakes
• How'd we get so picky about friendship late in life? Ask the chimps
• Upcycling polyethylene plastic waste into valuable molecules
• Stigma impacts psychological, physical health of multiracial people
• Humans are born with brains 'prewired' to see words
• Individuals may legitimize hacking when angry with system or authority
• Increasing sleep time after trauma could ease ill effects
• Turning streetwear into solar power plants
• New tool can diagnose strokes with a smartphone
• Researchers identify how night-shift work causes internal clock confusion
• Are bushmeat hunters aware of zoonotic disease? Yes, but that's not the issue
• Toward a new staging system for prostate cancer, and why it matters
• Simplified method to modify disease signaling with light
• Reviewing multiferroics for future, low-energy data storage
• Cicada-inspired waterproof surfaces closer to reality
• Finally, a way to see molecules 'wobble'
• These two bird-sized dinosaurs evolved the ability to glide, but weren't great at it
• A wearable sensor to help ALS patients communicate
• Antiretroviral therapy can't completely stop accelerated cell aging seen in HIV
• Simple actions can help people survive landslides
• Researchers solve 'protein paradox' and suggest way to exploit cancer weakness
• Social life as a driving factor of birds' generosity
• Multiple sclerosis as the flip side of immune fitness
• New approach to fighting cancer could reduce costs and side effects
• For the first time: Realistic simulation of plasma edge instabilities in tokamaks
• Optical wiring for large quantum computers
• Preventing lead poisoning at the source
• Bacterial metabolism of dietary soy may lower risk factor for dementia
• Grafting with epigenetically-modified rootstock yields surprise
• Wildfires can cause dangerous debris flows
• Cognitive elements of language have existed for 40 million years
• Turbulent era sparked leap in human behavior, adaptability 320,000 years ago
• A new way of looking at the Earth's interior

Tackling alarming decline in nature requires 'safety net' of multiple, ambitious goals Posted: 22 Oct 2020 12:17 PM PDT A 'safety net' made up of multiple ambitious and interlinked goals is needed to tackle nature's alarming decline, according to an international team of researchers analyzing the new goals for biodiversity being drafted by the UN's Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Future VR could employ new ultrahigh-res display Posted: 22 Oct 2020 12:17 PM PDT Repurposed solar panel research could be the foundation for a new ultrahigh-resolution microdisplay. The OLED display would feature brighter images with purer colors and more than 10,000 pixels per inch.

Ancient Maya built sophisticated water filters Posted: 22 Oct 2020 12:17 PM PDT Ancient Maya in the once-bustling city of Tikal built sophisticated water filters using natural materials they imported from miles away, according to new research. A multidisciplinary team of anthropologists, geographers and biologists identified quartz and zeolite, a crystalline compound consisting of silicon and aluminum, that created a natural molecular sieve. Both minerals are used in modern water filtration.

Galactic archaeology Posted: 22 Oct 2020 12:17 PM PDT Computational astrophysics study modeled for the first time faint supernovae of metal-free first stars, yielding carbon-enhanced abundance patterns for star formation. Study investigated formation of first stars and the origin of elements heavier than hydrogen, helium, lithium.

Collaboration sparks new model for ceramic conductivity Posted: 22 Oct 2020 12:17 PM PDT As insulators, metal oxides - also known as ceramics - may not seem like obvious candidates for electrical conductivity. While electrons zip back and forth in regular metals, their movement in ceramic materials is sluggish and difficult to detect.

Do the twist: Making two-dimensional quantum materials using curved surfaces Posted: 22 Oct 2020 11:45 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a way to control the growth of twisting, microscopic spirals of materials just one atom thick. The continuously twisting stacks of two-dimensional materials built by a team create new properties that scientists can exploit to study quantum physics on the nanoscale.

A promising discovery could lead to better treatment for Hepatitis C Posted: 22 Oct 2020 11:45 AM PDT Virologists have identified a critical role played by a cellular protein in the progression of Hepatitis C virus infection, paving the way for more effective treatment. No vaccine currently exists for Hepatitis C virus infection, which affects more than 130 million people worldwide and nearly 250,000 Canadians. Antivirals exist but are expensive and not readily available in developing countries, where the disease is most prevalent.

AI detects hidden earthquakes Posted: 22 Oct 2020 11:39 AM PDT Tiny movements in Earth's outermost layer may provide a Rosetta Stone for deciphering the physics and warning signs of big quakes. New algorithms that work a little like human vision are now detecting these long-hidden microquakes in the growing mountain of seismic data.

How'd we get so picky about friendship late in life? Ask the chimps Posted: 22 Oct 2020 11:39 AM PDT When humans age, they tend to favor small circles of meaningful, already established friendships rather than seek new ones. People are also more likely to lean toward positive relationships rather than ones that bring tension or conflict. These behaviors were thought to be unique to humans but it turns out chimpanzees, one of our closest living relatives, have these traits, too. The study shows what's believed to be the first evidence of nonhuman animals actively selecting who they socialize with during aging.

Upcycling polyethylene plastic waste into valuable molecules Posted: 22 Oct 2020 11:39 AM PDT Researchers develop a one-pot, low temperature catalytic method to turn polyethylene polymers into alkylaromatic molecules.

Stigma impacts psychological, physical health of multiracial people Posted: 22 Oct 2020 10:47 AM PDT Policy changes can help to fight stigmas of multiracial Americans, one of the fasting growing minority groups in the United States according to a new study.

Humans are born with brains 'prewired' to see words Posted: 22 Oct 2020 09:55 AM PDT Humans are born with a part of the brain that is prewired to be receptive to seeing words and letters, setting the stage at birth for people to learn how to read, a new study suggests. Analyzing brain scans of newborns, researchers found that this part of the brain -- called the 'visual word form area' (VWFA) -- is connected to the language network of the brain.

Individuals may legitimize hacking when angry with system or authority Posted: 22 Oct 2020 09:55 AM PDT New research has found that when individuals feel that a system or authority is unresponsive to their demands, they are more likely to legitimize hacker activity at an organization's expense.

Increasing sleep time after trauma could ease ill effects Posted: 22 Oct 2020 09:55 AM PDT Increasing the amount of time spent asleep immediately after a traumatic experience may ease any negative consequences, suggests a new study conducted by researchers. The study helps build a case for use of sleep therapeutics following trauma exposure. The finding holds promise for populations that are routinely exposed to trauma, such as military personnel and first responders, and may also benefit victims of accidents, natural disaster, violence, and abuse.

Turning streetwear into solar power plants Posted: 22 Oct 2020 09:31 AM PDT Researchers have developed a material that works like a luminescent solar concentrator and can even be applied to textiles. This opens up numerous possibilities for producing energy directly where it is needed, i.e. in the use of everyday electronics.

New tool can diagnose strokes with a smartphone Posted: 22 Oct 2020 09:31 AM PDT A new tool could diagnose a stroke based on abnormalities in a patient's speech ability and facial muscular movements, and with the accuracy of an emergency room physician -- all within minutes from an interaction with a smartphone.

Researchers identify how night-shift work causes internal clock confusion Posted: 22 Oct 2020 09:31 AM PDT Night-shift workers face an increased risk of obesity and diabetes, but the underlying reason for that has been a mystery. Now, researchers have found a potential cause for metabolic changes during night-shift work that creates confusion between cells in the body and the central clock in the brain.

Are bushmeat hunters aware of zoonotic disease? Yes, but that's not the issue Posted: 22 Oct 2020 09:31 AM PDT A recent article outlines how researchers with the measured the attitudes, practices and zoonoses awareness among community members associated with the bushmeat trade in northern Uganda.

Toward a new staging system for prostate cancer, and why it matters Posted: 22 Oct 2020 09:31 AM PDT The development and validation of a staging system for non-metastatic prostate cancer could help doctors and patients assess treatment options, as well as improve clinical trials.

Simplified method to modify disease signaling with light Posted: 22 Oct 2020 08:26 AM PDT Cellular optogenetics is a technique that allows researchers to use light to precisely control cell signaling and function in space and time enabling the investigation of mechanisms involved in disease processes. A research team has developed a novel way to make cellular optogenetic tools much easier to monitor and apply, and showed how they can be used to investigate the cellular side effects of medicines used to treat cancer.

Reviewing multiferroics for future, low-energy data storage Posted: 22 Oct 2020 08:26 AM PDT Big data and exponential demands for computations are driving an unsustainable rise in global ICT energy use. A new study reviews the use of the 'multiferroic' material bismuth-ferrite, which allows for low-energy switching in data storage devices and could be applied in a future generation of ultra-low-energy electronics.

Cicada-inspired waterproof surfaces closer to reality Posted: 22 Oct 2020 08:26 AM PDT A multidisciplinary group that studies the physical and chemical properties of insect wings has demonstrated the ability to reproduce the nanostructures that help cicada wings repel water and prevent bacteria from establishing on the surface. The new technique - which uses commercial nail polish - is economical and straightforward, and the researchers said it will help fabricate future high-tech waterproof materials.

Finally, a way to see molecules 'wobble' Posted: 22 Oct 2020 08:26 AM PDT Researchers have found a way to visualize those molecules in even greater detail, showing their position and orientation in 3D, and even how they wobble and oscillate. This could shed invaluable insights into the biological processes involved, for example, when a cell and the proteins that regulate its functions react to a COVID-19 virus.

These two bird-sized dinosaurs evolved the ability to glide, but weren't great at it Posted: 22 Oct 2020 08:26 AM PDT Despite having bat-like wings, two small dinosaurs, Yi and Ambopteryx, struggled to fly, only managing to glide clumsily between the trees where they lived, researchers report. Unable to compete with other tree-dwelling dinosaurs and early birds, they went extinct after just a few million years. The findings support that dinosaurs evolved flight in several different ways before modern birds evolved.

A wearable sensor to help ALS patients communicate Posted: 22 Oct 2020 08:26 AM PDT Researchers have designed a skin-like device that can be attached to the face and measure small movements such as a twitch or a smile. With this approach, patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) could communicate a variety of sentiments with small movements that are measured and interpreted by the device.

Antiretroviral therapy can't completely stop accelerated cell aging seen in HIV Posted: 22 Oct 2020 08:26 AM PDT Untreated HIV infection is linked with epigenetic changes that suggest rapid aging. A new study shows that antiretroviral therapy given over two years was unable to completely restore age-appropriate epigenetic patterns, leaving patients more susceptible to aging-related illnesses.

Simple actions can help people survive landslides Posted: 22 Oct 2020 08:26 AM PDT Simple actions can dramatically improve a person's chances of surviving a landslide, according to records from 38 landslides in the US and around the world. People who survived landslides tended to show key behaviors such as being aware of the risk, moving to higher ground, and making noise if buried.

Researchers solve 'protein paradox' and suggest way to exploit cancer weakness Posted: 22 Oct 2020 08:26 AM PDT Researchers have discovered how thus far a mysterious function of the so-called MCM proteins protect the human cells against DNA instability, which can cause devastating diseases including cancer. In addition to their known role as molecular motors of genome duplication, MCM proteins control the speed of this process. How cells manage to constrain the speed of DNA replication has puzzled researchers for decades and has even been called a 'MCM paradox'.

Social life as a driving factor of birds' generosity Posted: 22 Oct 2020 08:25 AM PDT Taking a look at generosity within the crow family reveals parallels with human evolution. Working together to raise offspring and increased tolerance towards group members contribute to the emergence of generous behavior among ravens, crows, magpies and company. Biologists found that the social life of corvids is a crucial factor for whether the birds act generously or not.

Multiple sclerosis as the flip side of immune fitness Posted: 22 Oct 2020 08:25 AM PDT About half of the people with multiple sclerosis have the HLA-DR15 gene variant. A study has now shown how this genetic predisposition contributes to the development of the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis in combination with environmental factors. The decisive factor is the shaping of a repertoire of immune cells which - although they are effective in fighting off pathogens such as Epstein-Barr virus - also attack brain tissue.

New approach to fighting cancer could reduce costs and side effects Posted: 22 Oct 2020 06:39 AM PDT Researchers have developed a novel approach based on microfluidic technology to 'purify' the immune cells of patients in the fight against cancer.

For the first time: Realistic simulation of plasma edge instabilities in tokamaks Posted: 22 Oct 2020 06:39 AM PDT Among the loads to which the plasma vessel in a fusion device may be exposed, so-called edge localized modes are particularly undesirable. By computer simulations the origin and the course of this plasma-edge instability could now be explained for the first time in detail.

Optical wiring for large quantum computers Posted: 22 Oct 2020 06:39 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated a new technique for carrying out sensitive quantum operations on atoms. In this technique, the control laser light is delivered directly inside a chip. This should make it possible to build large-scale quantum computers based on trapped atoms.

Preventing lead poisoning at the source Posted: 22 Oct 2020 06:39 AM PDT Using a variety of public records, researchers examined every rental property in Cleveland from 2016-18 on factors related to the likelihood that the property could have lead-safety problems.

Bacterial metabolism of dietary soy may lower risk factor for dementia Posted: 22 Oct 2020 05:33 AM PDT A metabolite produced following consumption of dietary soy may decrease a key risk factor for dementia - with the help of the right bacteria, according to a new discovery.

Grafting with epigenetically-modified rootstock yields surprise Posted: 22 Oct 2020 05:33 AM PDT Novel grafted plants -- consisting of rootstock epigenetically modified to 'believe' it has been under stress -- joined to an unmodified scion, or above-ground shoot, give rise to progeny that are more vigorous, productive and resilient than the parental plants.

Wildfires can cause dangerous debris flows Posted: 22 Oct 2020 05:33 AM PDT Wildfires don't stop being dangerous after the flames go out. Even one modest rainfall after a fire can cause a deadly landslide, according to new research.

Cognitive elements of language have existed for 40 million years Posted: 21 Oct 2020 03:07 PM PDT Humans are not the only beings that can identify rules in complex language-like constructions -- monkeys and great apes can do so, too, a new study has shown. Researcher used a series of experiments based on an 'artificial grammar' to conclude that this ability can be traced back to our ancient primate ancestors.

Turbulent era sparked leap in human behavior, adaptability 320,000 years ago Posted: 21 Oct 2020 11:09 AM PDT The first analysis of a sedimentary drill core representing 1 million years of environmental history in the East African Rift Valley shows that at the same time early humans were abandoning old tools in favor of more sophisticated technology and broadening their trade, their landscape was experiencing frequent fluctuations in vegetation and water supply that made resources less reliably available. The findings suggest that instability in their landscape was a key driver of human adaptability.

A new way of looking at the Earth's interior Posted: 21 Oct 2020 08:24 AM PDT Current understanding is that the chemical composition of the Earth's mantle is relatively homogeneous. But experiments now show that this view is too simplistic. Their results solve a key problem facing the geosciences - and raise some new questions.

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