ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Healthcare as a climate solution
• Floating gardens: More than just a pretty place
• DrugCell: New experimental AI platform matches tumor to best drug combo
• Sea-level rise global observing system proposed
• New insights into a potential target for autoimmune disease
• New map of the immune landscape in pancreatic cancer could guide immunotherapy
• Material properties for longer-lasting, more efficient solar cells
• On-surface synthesis of graphene nanoribbons could advance quantum devices
• Wildlife flock to backyards for food from people
• Greenhouse effect of clouds instrumental in origin of tropical storms
• Why bats excel as viral reservoirs without getting sick
• Inks containing lead were likely used as drier on ancient Egyptian papyri
• Summer road trip finds small streams have big impacts on Great Lakes
• Localized vaccination surveillance could help prevent measles outbreaks
• Most dentists have experienced aggression from patients
• Microplastics in groundwater (and our drinking water) present unknown risk
• Ancient lake contributed to past San Andreas fault ruptures
• Artificially sweetened drinks may not be heart healthier than sugary drinks
• Dog training methods help researchers teach robots to learn new tricks
• Bridges with limb-inspired architecture can withstand earthquakes, cut repair costs
• How cells use mechanical tension sensors to interact with their environment
• Neuron-based gene expression study reveals insights on fear and its regulation
• Odds are good for unique 2D compound
• Rolling out next-gen nanocars
• Can scientists take the STING out of common respiratory viruses?
• Mmore complete view of massive asteroid Psyche
• Tiny moon shadows may harbor hidden stores of ice
• US corn crop's growing sensitivity to drought revealed
• Time-keeping brain protein influences memory
• NASA's SOFIA discovers water on sunlit surface of Moon
• Data reveals evidence of molecular absorption in the atmosphere of a hot Neptune
• State gun laws may help curb violence across state lines: study
• Hard physical work may significantly increase the risk of dementia
• Land management in forest and grasslands: How much can we intensify?
• How exercise stalls cancer growth through the immune system
• Powering the future: New insights into how alkali-metal doped flexible solar cells work
• T-cells from recovered COVID-19 patients show promise to protect vulnerable patients from infection
• CRISPR screen identifies genes, drug targets to protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection
• The uncertain future of the oceans
• Surprised researchers: Number of leopards in northern China on the rise
• Estimating risk of airborne COVID-19 with mask usage, social distancing
• Extending battery life in smartphones, electric cars
• A molecular break for root growth
• Tracking evolution of SARS-CoV-2 virus mutations
• New lead screening method zooms in on highest-risk areas in Georgia
• Irregular appearances of glacial and interglacial climate states
• Hidden losses deep in the Amazon rainforest
• Mythbusting: Five common misperceptions surrounding the environmental impacts of single-use plastics
• War songs and lullabies behind origins of music
• Hydrogen sulfide helps maintain your drive to breathe
• Divide and conquer :A new formula to minimize 'mathemaphobia'
• Solar hydrogen: Let's consider the stability of photoelectrodes
• Shifts in flowering phases of plants due to reduced insect density
• Globalized economy making water, energy and land insecurity worse
• Weight-reduction surgery for severely obese adults may prevent second heart attack, death
• Single brain region links depression and anxiety, heart disease, and treatment sensitivity
• Nearly one in three young adults in the US does not know common stroke symptoms
• Robots help to answer age-old question of why fish school
• Uncertainties key to balancing flood risk and cost in elevating houses
• New York City's coronavirus outbreak spread from more European sources than first reported

Healthcare as a climate solution Posted: 26 Oct 2020 03:40 PM PDT Although the link may not be obvious, healthcare and climate change -- two issues that pose major challenges around the world -- are in fact more connected than society may realize. So say researchers, who are increasingly proving this to be true.

Floating gardens: More than just a pretty place Posted: 26 Oct 2020 03:40 PM PDT Floating gardens sound so idyllic. Now, a study proves that they are more than just a pretty place. The study demonstrates that such constructed gardens can have a measurable, positive impact on water quality.

DrugCell: New experimental AI platform matches tumor to best drug combo Posted: 26 Oct 2020 01:49 PM PDT Researchers use experimental artificial intelligence system called DrugCell to predict the best approach to treating cancer.

Sea-level rise global observing system proposed Posted: 26 Oct 2020 01:44 PM PDT A researcher proposes a new approach to monitoring global sea-level rise. Using the existing NOAA Global Drifter Program array of roughly 1,200 buoys that drift freely with ocean currents, he suggests adding additional instruments to record their height, or the 'level of the sea' they ride on, to collect long-term data on the average sea levels across the world's oceans.

New insights into a potential target for autoimmune disease Posted: 26 Oct 2020 01:44 PM PDT With insights into a molecular pathway that regulates the activity of Tregs, a type of T cell involved in immunosuppression, new research opens up possibly new avenues for treating inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

New map of the immune landscape in pancreatic cancer could guide immunotherapy Posted: 26 Oct 2020 01:44 PM PDT A new analysis highlights the diversity of immune response in pancreatic cancer, and points toward the need for treatments tailored to individual patients.

Material properties for longer-lasting, more efficient solar cells Posted: 26 Oct 2020 01:44 PM PDT Researchers are helping to understand the fundamental processes in a material known as perovskites, work that could lead to more efficient solar cells that also do a better job of resisting degradation.

On-surface synthesis of graphene nanoribbons could advance quantum devices Posted: 26 Oct 2020 01:44 PM PDT Scientists have synthesized graphene nanoribbons -- ultrathin strips of carbon atoms -- on a titanium dioxide surface using an atomically precise method that removes a barrier for custom-designed carbon nanostructures required for quantum information sciences.

Wildlife flock to backyards for food from people Posted: 26 Oct 2020 01:44 PM PDT A new study helps explain why some animals are sometimes more often found in suburban areas than wild ones.

Greenhouse effect of clouds instrumental in origin of tropical storms Posted: 26 Oct 2020 12:40 PM PDT With the tropical storm season in the Atlantic Ocean underway and already well into the Greek alphabet for naming, better storm track prediction has allowed timely evacuations and preparations. However, the formation and intensification of these storms remains challenging to predict, according to an international team of researchers who are studying the origin of tropical cyclones.

Why bats excel as viral reservoirs without getting sick Posted: 26 Oct 2020 12:40 PM PDT A new study confirms bats adopt multiple strategies to reduce pro-inflammatory responses, thus mitigating potential immune-mediated tissue damage and disease. Findings provide important insights for medical research on human diseases.

Inks containing lead were likely used as drier on ancient Egyptian papyri Posted: 26 Oct 2020 12:39 PM PDT Analyzing 12 ancient Egyptian papyri fragments with X-ray microscopy, researchers were surprised to find previously unknown lead compounds in both red and black inks and suggest they were used for their drying properties rather than as a pigment. A similar lead-based 'drying technique' has also been documented in 15th century European painting, and the discovery of it in Egyptian papyri calls for a reassessment of ancient lead-based pigments.

Summer road trip finds small streams have big impacts on Great Lakes Posted: 26 Oct 2020 12:39 PM PDT While decades of monitoring and regulatory efforts have paid little attention to Lake Michigan's tiny tributaries, new research shows that they play an outsized role in feeding algae blooms and impacting coastal waters.

Localized vaccination surveillance could help prevent measles outbreaks Posted: 26 Oct 2020 12:39 PM PDT Access to more localized data on childhood vaccination coverage, such as at the school or neighborhood levels, could help better predict and prevent measles outbreaks in the United States, according to a new study.

Most dentists have experienced aggression from patients Posted: 26 Oct 2020 12:39 PM PDT Roughly half of US dentists experienced verbal or reputational aggression by patients in the past year, and nearly one in four endured physical aggression, according to a new study.

Microplastics in groundwater (and our drinking water) present unknown risk Posted: 26 Oct 2020 12:39 PM PDT Microplastics (plastics <5mm) and their negative health impacts have been studied in oceans, rivers, and even soils, and scientists are beginning to grapple with the myriad human health impacts their presence might have. One understudied, but critical, link in the cycle is groundwater, which is often a source of drinking water.

Ancient lake contributed to past San Andreas fault ruptures Posted: 26 Oct 2020 12:39 PM PDT The San Andreas fault, which runs along the western coast of North America and crosses dense population centers like Los Angeles, California, is one of the most-studied faults in North America because of its significant hazard risk. Based on its roughly 150-year recurrence interval for magnitude 7.5 earthquakes and the fact that it's been over 300 years since that's happened, the southern San Andreas fault has long been called 'overdue' for such an earthquake.

Artificially sweetened drinks may not be heart healthier than sugary drinks Posted: 26 Oct 2020 11:45 AM PDT Sugary drinks and artificially sweetened beverages are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, which suggests artificially sweetened beverages may not be the healthy alternative they are often claimed to be, according to a research letter.

Dog training methods help researchers teach robots to learn new tricks Posted: 26 Oct 2020 10:58 AM PDT With a training technique commonly used to teach dogs to sit and stay, computer scientists showed a robot how to teach itself several new tricks, including stacking blocks. With the method, the robot, named Spot, was able to learn in days what typically takes a month.

Bridges with limb-inspired architecture can withstand earthquakes, cut repair costs Posted: 26 Oct 2020 10:58 AM PDT Structural damage to any of the nation's ailing bridges can come with a hefty price of billions of dollars in repairs. New bridge designs promise more damage-resistant structures and, consequently, lower restoration costs. But if these designs haven't been implemented in the real world, predicting how they can be damaged and what repair strategies should be implemented remain unresolved.

How cells use mechanical tension sensors to interact with their environment Posted: 26 Oct 2020 10:58 AM PDT In a painstaking experiment, scientists suspended a single protein filament between two microscopic beads. Their results have shed light on an elusive process in which cells receive and respond to mechanical cues.

Neuron-based gene expression study reveals insights on fear and its regulation Posted: 26 Oct 2020 10:57 AM PDT The expression of a gene called CREB in certain neurons may function as a switch to regulate feelings of fear and its extinction.

Odds are good for unique 2D compound Posted: 26 Oct 2020 10:57 AM PDT Engineers make 2D materials for valleytronics, a platform for information processing and storage that relies on the manipulation of electrons' positions in energetic 'valleys.'

Rolling out next-gen nanocars Posted: 26 Oct 2020 10:57 AM PDT Researchers continue to advance the science of single-molecule machines with a new lineup of nanocars, in anticipation of the next international Nanocar Race in 2022.

Can scientists take the STING out of common respiratory viruses? Posted: 26 Oct 2020 10:57 AM PDT Scientists have made a curious discovery about a well-known human protein that helps the immune system fight viral infections. Researchers found that one class of viruses actually requires this protein to infect cells and replicate.

Mmore complete view of massive asteroid Psyche Posted: 26 Oct 2020 10:57 AM PDT A new study discusses several new views of the asteroid 16 Psyche, including the first ultra-violet observations. The study paints a clearer view of the asteroid than was previously available.

Tiny moon shadows may harbor hidden stores of ice Posted: 26 Oct 2020 10:57 AM PDT Hidden pockets of water could be much more common on the surface of the moon than scientists once suspected, according to new research.

US corn crop's growing sensitivity to drought revealed Posted: 26 Oct 2020 10:57 AM PDT New management approaches and technology have allowed the US. Corn Belt to increase yields despite some changes in climate. However, soil sensitivity to drought has increased significantly, according to a new study that could help identify ways to reverse the trend.

Time-keeping brain protein influences memory Posted: 26 Oct 2020 10:57 AM PDT Upsetting the brain's timekeeping can cause cognitive impairments, like when jetlag makes you feel foggy and forgetful. These impairments may stem from disrupting a protein that aligns the brain's time-keeping mechanism to the correct time of day, according to new research in fruit flies.

NASA's SOFIA discovers water on sunlit surface of Moon Posted: 26 Oct 2020 09:59 AM PDT NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) has confirmed, for the first time, water on the sunlit surface of the Moon. This discovery indicates that water may be distributed across the lunar surface, and not limited to cold, shadowed places.

Data reveals evidence of molecular absorption in the atmosphere of a hot Neptune Posted: 26 Oct 2020 08:42 AM PDT An international team of scientists recently measured the spectrum of the atmosphere of a rare hot Neptune exoplanet, whose discovery by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) was announced just last month.

State gun laws may help curb violence across state lines: study Posted: 26 Oct 2020 08:42 AM PDT Researchers find that strong state firearm laws are associated with fewer firearm homicides -- both within the state where the laws are enacted and across state lines. Conversely, weak firearm laws in one state are linked to higher rates of homicides in neighboring states.

Hard physical work may significantly increase the risk of dementia Posted: 26 Oct 2020 08:42 AM PDT Men in jobs with hard physical work have a higher risk of developing dementia compared to men doing sedentary work, new research reveals. The researchers therefore urge the health authorities to make their recommendations concerning physical activity more specific.

Land management in forest and grasslands: How much can we intensify? Posted: 26 Oct 2020 08:42 AM PDT Intensive land-use reduces beneficial effects of biodiversity on ecosystem services. It assessed the effects of land management on the links between biodiversity, ecosystem functions and ecosystem services, identified thresholds of management intensity, most important species groups for driving services, and the ecosystem services at risk.

How exercise stalls cancer growth through the immune system Posted: 26 Oct 2020 08:42 AM PDT People with cancer who exercise generally have a better prognosis than inactive patients. Now, researchers have found a likely explanation of why exercise helps slow down cancer growth in mice: Physical activity changes the metabolism of the immune system's cytotoxic T cells and thereby improves their ability to attack cancer cells.

Powering the future: New insights into how alkali-metal doped flexible solar cells work Posted: 26 Oct 2020 08:42 AM PDT A group of scientists has discovered that the amount of alkali metal introduced into crystals of flexible thin-film solar cells influences the path that charge carriers take to traverse between electrodes, thereby affecting the light-to-electricity conversion efficiency of the solar cell. Given the immense application potential that such solar cells have today, this finding could be key to ushering in a green future.

T-cells from recovered COVID-19 patients show promise to protect vulnerable patients from infection Posted: 26 Oct 2020 08:42 AM PDT T-cells taken from the blood of people who recovered from a COVID-19 infection can be successfully multiplied in the lab and maintain the ability to effectively target proteins that are key to the virus's function, according to a new study.

CRISPR screen identifies genes, drug targets to protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection Posted: 26 Oct 2020 08:42 AM PDT A new study demonstrates how changes in human genes can reduce SARS-CoV-2 infection and describes a wide array of genes that have not previously been considered as therapeutic targets for SARS-CoV-2.

The uncertain future of the oceans Posted: 26 Oct 2020 08:42 AM PDT Marine food webs and biogeochemical cycles react very sensitively to the increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) - but the effects are far more complex than previously thought. Data were combined from five large-scale field experiments, which investigated how the carbon cycle within plankton communities reacts to the increase of CO2.

Surprised researchers: Number of leopards in northern China on the rise Posted: 26 Oct 2020 08:42 AM PDT Most of the world's leopards are endangered and generally, the number of these shy and stunning cats is decreasing. However, according to a recent study, leopard populations in northern China are on the mend.

Estimating risk of airborne COVID-19 with mask usage, social distancing Posted: 26 Oct 2020 08:42 AM PDT The Contagion Airborne Transmission inequality model illustrates correlation between physical distancing and protection, the efficacy of face masks and the impact of physical activity on transmission.

Extending battery life in smartphones, electric cars Posted: 26 Oct 2020 08:42 AM PDT A researcher is working to make portable devices and electric vehicles stay charged longer by extending the life of the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries powering them. He is doing this by making the batteries more efficient, with some of his latest work focusing on keeping the anode from falling apart over time.

A molecular break for root growth Posted: 26 Oct 2020 08:42 AM PDT The dynamic change in root growth of plants plays an important role in their adjustment to soil conditions. Depending on the location, nutrients or moisture can be found in higher or lower soil layers. This is why, depending on the situation, a short or a long root is advantageous.

Tracking evolution of SARS-CoV-2 virus mutations Posted: 26 Oct 2020 08:41 AM PDT Researchers tracked the mutation rate in SARS-CoV-2 virus's proteome -- the collection of proteins encoded by genetic material -- through time, starting with the first SARS-CoV-2 genome published in January and ending more than 15,300 genomes later in May. The team found some regions still actively spinning off new mutations, indicating continuing adaptation to the host environment. But the mutation rate in other regions showed signs of slowing, coalescing around single versions of key proteins.

New lead screening method zooms in on highest-risk areas in Georgia Posted: 26 Oct 2020 08:30 AM PDT Applying the new screening index could improve efforts to monitor for chronic, long-term exposure to low levels of lead.

Irregular appearances of glacial and interglacial climate states Posted: 26 Oct 2020 06:54 AM PDT A researcher has now discovered that the irregular appearance of interglacials has been more frequent than previously thought. His study makes a significant contribution to our understanding of Earth's fundamental climate changes.

Hidden losses deep in the Amazon rainforest Posted: 26 Oct 2020 06:54 AM PDT New research shows that animal patterns are changing in the absence of landscape change, which signals a sobering warning that simply preserving forests will not maintain rainforest biodiversity.

Mythbusting: Five common misperceptions surrounding the environmental impacts of single-use plastics Posted: 26 Oct 2020 06:54 AM PDT Stand in the soda pop aisle at the supermarket, surrounded by rows of brightly colored plastic bottles and metal cans, and it's easy to conclude that the main environmental problem here is an overabundance of single-use containers: If we simply recycled more of them, we'd go a long way toward minimizing impacts. In reality, most of the environmental impacts of many consumer products, including soft drinks, are tied to the products inside, not the packaging, according to an environmental engineer.

War songs and lullabies behind origins of music Posted: 26 Oct 2020 06:54 AM PDT Love is not the primary reason humans developed music. A new evolutionary theory of the origins of music argues more evidence supports music coming from the need for groups to impress allies and foes, and for parents to signal their attention to infants. They also argue against the theory that making music arose out of a need for social bonding, or that it is 'auditory cheesecake' a fancy evolutionary byproduct with no purpose.

Hydrogen sulfide helps maintain your drive to breathe Posted: 26 Oct 2020 06:54 AM PDT Researchers have found that the production of hydrogen sulfide gas is necessary to breathe normally. Inhibition of hydrogen sulfide production in rats prevented brain neurons that control breathing from functioning normally. These findings have identified new mediators of breathing that can now be explored in the context of human health and disease.

Divide and conquer :A new formula to minimize 'mathemaphobia' Posted: 26 Oct 2020 06:54 AM PDT Maths - it's the subject some kids love to hate, yet despite its lack of popularity, mathematics is critical for a STEM-capable workforce and vital for current and future productivity. New research finds that boosting student confidence in maths, is pivotal to greater engagement with the subject.

Solar hydrogen: Let's consider the stability of photoelectrodes Posted: 26 Oct 2020 06:54 AM PDT Scientists have examined the corrosion processes of high-quality BiVO4 photoelectrodes using different state-of-the-art characterisation methods. The result is the first operando stability study of high-purity BiVO4 photoanodes during the photoelectrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER). This work shows how the stability of photoelectrodes and catalysts can be compared and enhanced in the future.

Shifts in flowering phases of plants due to reduced insect density Posted: 26 Oct 2020 06:54 AM PDT A research group has discovered that insects have a decisive influence on the biodiversity and flowering phases of plants. If there is a lack of insects where the plants are growing, their flowering behavior changes. This can result in the lifecycles of the insects and the flowering periods of the plants no longer coinciding. If the insects seek nectar, some plants will no longer be pollinated.

Globalized economy making water, energy and land insecurity worse Posted: 26 Oct 2020 05:15 AM PDT The first large-scale study of the risks that countries face from dependence on water, energy and land resources has found that globalisation may be decreasing, rather than increasing, the security of global supply chains.

Weight-reduction surgery for severely obese adults may prevent second heart attack, death Posted: 26 Oct 2020 05:14 AM PDT Adults with severe obesity (BMI >35) and a prior heart attack who undergo weight-reduction surgery may lower their risk of a second heart attack, major cardiovascular event, heart failure and death. The effect weight-reduction surgery had on the patients' weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and A1C (a Type 2 diabetes marker) seems to play a role in decreasing the risk of heart attack and death.

Single brain region links depression and anxiety, heart disease, and treatment sensitivity Posted: 26 Oct 2020 05:14 AM PDT Over-activity in a single brain region called the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) underlies several key symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders, but an antidepressant only successfully treats some of the symptoms. A new study suggests that sgACC is a crucial region in depression and anxiety, and targeted treatment based on a patient's symptoms could lead to better outcomes.

Nearly one in three young adults in the US does not know common stroke symptoms Posted: 26 Oct 2020 05:14 AM PDT Nearly 30% of U.S. adults younger than 45 don't know all five of the most common stroke symptoms, according to a recent survey. Hispanic adults, people not born in the U.S. and less educated young adults were among the most likely to be unaware of stroke symptoms. Stroke incidence and hospitalizations are rising among young adults in the U.S.

Robots help to answer age-old question of why fish school Posted: 26 Oct 2020 05:14 AM PDT A new study using biomimetic fish-like robots shows that swimming closely together offers fish hydrodynamic benefits.

Uncertainties key to balancing flood risk and cost in elevating houses Posted: 26 Oct 2020 05:14 AM PDT What do you have on your 2020 Bingo Card? Wildfire, heat wave, global pandemic, or flooding? If it's flooding, then it's a good bet it will happen in many places in the U.S. sometime during the year.

New York City's coronavirus outbreak spread from more European sources than first reported Posted: 26 Oct 2020 05:14 AM PDT The COVID-19 pandemic started earlier than previously thought in New York City and Long Island by dozens of people infected mostly with strains from Europe. A new analysis also shows that most of the spread was within the community, as opposed to coming from people who had traveled.

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