ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

---

• Stronger treatments could cure Chagas disease
• Comparing sensitivity of all genes to chemical exposure
• Path to nanodiamond from graphene found
• Tuning biomolecular receptors for affinity and cooperativity
• World's first agreed guidance for people with diabetes to exercise safely
• Landscape to atomic scales: Researchers apply new approach to pyrite oxidation
• High-sugar diet can damage the gut, intensifying risk for colitis
• Breakthrough quantum-dot transistors create a flexible alternative to conventional electronics
• Direction decided by rate of coin flip in quantum world
• Touch and taste? It's all in the tentacles
• Spring-run and fall-run Chinook salmon aren't as different as they seem
• A groundbreaking genetic screening tool for human organoids
• Study identifies pitfall for correcting mutations in human embryos with CRISPR
• Molecular compass for cell orientation
• Study of ancient dog DNA traces canine diversity to the Ice Age
• Muscle pain and energy-rich blood: Cholesterol medicine affects the organs differently
• Denisovan DNA in the genome of early East Asians
• Streetlights contribute less to nighttime light emissions in cities than expected
• Positive outlook predicts less memory decline
• Corporations directing our attention online more than we realize
• Asteroid Ryugu shaken by Hayabusa2's impactor
• PFAS: These 'forever chemicals' are highly toxic, under-studied, and largely unregulated
• Trust levels in AI predicted by people's relationship style
• Misleading mulch: Researchers find contents of mulch bags do not match claims
• Genomic study reveals role for hypothalamus in inflammatory bowel disease
• Neutrons make structural changes in molecular brushes visible
• Decades-long effort revives ancient oak woodland
• Identifying biomolecule fragments in ionizing radiation
• Predictive model reveals function of promising energy harvester device
• Copolymer helps remove pervasive PFAS toxins from environment
• Buzz kill: Ogre-faced spiders 'hear' airborne prey with their legs
• How the immune system deals with the gut's plethora of microbes
• Where were Jupiter and Saturn born?
• Priming the immune system to attack cancer
• Boo! How do Mexican cavefish escape predators?
• Sensors driven by machine learning sniff-out gas leaks fast
• A new method to measure optical absorption in semiconductor crystals
• new gelatin microcarrier for cell production
• Positive student-teacher relationships benefit students' long-term health, study finds
• Cancer-fighting gene restrains 'jumping genes'
• Should I run, or should I not? The neural basis of aggression and flight
• Shining a (UV) light on the glow-in-the-dark platypus
• Individual red foxes prefer different foods in the city and the countryside
• Brainstem neurons control both behavior and misbehavior
• Researchers take a stand on algorithm design for job centers: Landing a job isn't always the right goal
• Measuring the expansion of the universe: Researchers focus on velocity
• Nucleus accumbens recruited by cocaine, sugar are different
• Bioenergy research team sequences miscanthus genome
• Black soldier fly larvae as protein alternative for hungry humans
• Smart solution to detect seafood spoilage
• Cut chores and kill chill time: New advice to boost children's academic achievement
• Black hole 'family portrait' is most detailed to date
• Ancient marine predator had a built-in float
• New estimates of breast cancer risks associated with HRT
• Liquid nanofoam: A game changer for future football helmets
• Physicists circumvent centuries-old theory to cancel magnetic fields
• Forecasting elections with a model of infectious diseases

Stronger treatments could cure Chagas disease Posted: 29 Oct 2020 02:16 PM PDT Researchers have found that a more intensive, less frequent drug regimen with currently available therapeutics could cure the infection that causes Chagas disease.

Comparing sensitivity of all genes to chemical exposure Posted: 29 Oct 2020 02:16 PM PDT An environmental health scientist has used an unprecedented objective approach to identify which molecular mechanisms in mammals are the most sensitive to chemical exposures.

Path to nanodiamond from graphene found Posted: 29 Oct 2020 02:16 PM PDT Researchers expand their theory on converting graphene into 2D diamond, or diamane.

Tuning biomolecular receptors for affinity and cooperativity Posted: 29 Oct 2020 02:16 PM PDT Our biological processes rely on a system of communications -- cellular signals -- that set off chain reactions in and between target cells to produce a response. The first step in these often complex communications is the moment a molecule binds to a receptor on or in a cell, prompting changes that can trigger further signals that propagate across systems. From food tasting and blood oxygenation during breathing to drug therapy, receptor binding is the fundamental mechanism that unlocks a multitude of biological functions and responses.

World's first agreed guidance for people with diabetes to exercise safely Posted: 29 Oct 2020 02:16 PM PDT An academic has helped draw up a landmark agreement amongst international experts, setting out the world's first standard guidance on how people with diabetes can use modern glucose monitoring devices to help them exercise safely. The guidance will be a crucial resource for healthcare professionals around the world, so they can help people with type 1 diabetes.

Landscape to atomic scales: Researchers apply new approach to pyrite oxidation Posted: 29 Oct 2020 02:16 PM PDT Pyrite, or fool's gold, is a common mineral that reacts quickly with oxygen when exposed to water or air, such as during mining operations, and can lead to acid mine drainage. Little is known, however, about the oxidation of pyrite in unmined rock deep underground.

High-sugar diet can damage the gut, intensifying risk for colitis Posted: 29 Oct 2020 11:20 AM PDT Mice fed diets high in sugar developed worse colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and researchers examining their large intestines found more of the bacteria that can damage the gut's protective mucus layer.

Breakthrough quantum-dot transistors create a flexible alternative to conventional electronics Posted: 29 Oct 2020 11:20 AM PDT Researchers have created fundamental electronic building blocks out of tiny structures known as quantum dots and used them to assemble functional logic circuits.

Direction decided by rate of coin flip in quantum world Posted: 29 Oct 2020 11:20 AM PDT Flip a coin. Heads? Take a step to the left. Tails? Take a step to the right. In the quantum world? Go in both directions at once, like a wave spreading out. Called the walker analogy, this random process can be applied in both classical and quantum algorithms used in state-of-the-art technologies such as artificial intelligence and data search processes. However, the randomness also makes the walk difficult to control, making it more difficult to precisely design systems.

Touch and taste? It's all in the tentacles Posted: 29 Oct 2020 11:20 AM PDT Scientists identified a novel family of sensors in the first layer of cells inside the suction cups that have adapted to react and detect molecules that don't dissolve well in water. The research suggests these sensors, called chemotactile receptors, use these molecules to help the animal figure out what it's touching and whether that object is prey.

Spring-run and fall-run Chinook salmon aren't as different as they seem Posted: 29 Oct 2020 11:20 AM PDT Historically, spring-run and fall-run Chinook salmon have been considered as separate subspecies, races, ecotypes, or even as separate species of fish. A new genetic analysis, however, shows that the timing of migration in Chinook salmon is determined entirely by differences in one short stretch of DNA in their genomes.

A groundbreaking genetic screening tool for human organoids Posted: 29 Oct 2020 11:20 AM PDT Researchers have developed CRISPR-LICHT, a revolutionary technology that allows genetic screens in human tissues such as brain organoids. By applying the novel technology to brain organoids, the ER-stress pathway was identified to play a major role in regulating the size of the human brain.

Study identifies pitfall for correcting mutations in human embryos with CRISPR Posted: 29 Oct 2020 11:20 AM PDT The most detailed analysis to date of CRISPR genome editing in human embryos finds a significant risk of chromosomal abnormalities when using the technique at earliest stage of human development.

Molecular compass for cell orientation Posted: 29 Oct 2020 11:19 AM PDT Plants have veins that transport nutrients through their body. These veins are highly organized. The hormone auxin travels directionally from cell-to-cell and provides cells with positional information, coordinating them during vein formation and regeneration. Scientists now discovered how cells translate auxin signals into forming a complex system of veins. This phenomenon also applies to wound healing and might lead to more mechanically resistant plants and further agricultural implications.

Study of ancient dog DNA traces canine diversity to the Ice Age Posted: 29 Oct 2020 11:19 AM PDT A global study of ancient dog DNA presents evidence that there were different types of dogs more than 11,000 years ago in the period immediately following the Ice Age.

Muscle pain and energy-rich blood: Cholesterol medicine affects the organs differently Posted: 29 Oct 2020 11:19 AM PDT Contrary to expectation, treatment with statins has a different effect on blood cells than on muscle cells, a new study reveals. Today, statins are mainly used in the treatment of elevated cholesterol, but the new results may help design drugs for a number of conditions.

Denisovan DNA in the genome of early East Asians Posted: 29 Oct 2020 11:17 AM PDT Researchers analyzed the genome of the oldest human fossil found in Mongolia to date and show that the 34,000-year-old woman inherited around 25 percent of her DNA from western Eurasians, demonstrating that people moved across the Eurasian continent shortly after it had first been settled by the ancestors of present-day populations. This individual and a 40,000-year-old individual from China also carried DNA from Denisovans, an extinct form of hominins that inhabited Asia before modern humans arrived.

Streetlights contribute less to nighttime light emissions in cities than expected Posted: 29 Oct 2020 10:55 AM PDT When satellites take pictures of Earth at night, how much of the light that they see comes from streetlights? A team of scientists have answered this question for the first time using the example of the U.S. city of Tucson, thanks to 'smart city' lighting technology that allows dimming. The result: only around 20 percent of the light in the Tucson satellite images comes from streetlights.

Positive outlook predicts less memory decline Posted: 29 Oct 2020 10:55 AM PDT A new study finds that people who feel enthusiastic and cheerful -- what psychologists call 'positive affect' -- are less likely to experience memory decline as they age. This result adds to a growing body of research on positive affect's role in healthy aging.

Corporations directing our attention online more than we realize Posted: 29 Oct 2020 10:54 AM PDT It's still easy to think we're in control when browsing the internet, but a new study argues much of that is 'an illusion.' Corporations are 'nudging' us online more than we realize, and often in hidden ways. Researchers analyzed click-stream data on a million people over one month of internet use to find common browsing sequences, then connected that with site and platform ownership and partnerships, as well as site design and other factors.

Asteroid Ryugu shaken by Hayabusa2's impactor Posted: 29 Oct 2020 09:29 AM PDT Hayabusa2 mission members discovered more than 200 boulders, which either newly appeared or moved as a result of the artificial impact crater created by the Japanese spacecraft's Small Carry-on Impactor. Boulders were disturbed within a 30m radius from the impact crater center- providing important insight into asteroids' resurfacing processes.

PFAS: These 'forever chemicals' are highly toxic, under-studied, and largely unregulated Posted: 29 Oct 2020 09:29 AM PDT Per-/poly-fluroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are everywhere. They are used in firefighting foam, car wax, and even fast-food wrappers. They're one of the most toxic substances ever identified -- harmful at concentrations in the parts per trillion -- yet very little is known about them.

Trust levels in AI predicted by people's relationship style Posted: 29 Oct 2020 08:58 AM PDT Relationship psychologists have shown that people's trust in artificial intelligence (AI) is tied to their relationship or attachment style.

Misleading mulch: Researchers find contents of mulch bags do not match claims Posted: 29 Oct 2020 08:58 AM PDT Your bag of mulch may not be what you think it is. In a new study, researchers found that some bags labeled as 'cypress' contain only 50% cypress, while other bags contained no cypress at all.

Genomic study reveals role for hypothalamus in inflammatory bowel disease Posted: 29 Oct 2020 08:58 AM PDT Using sophisticated 3D genomic mapping and integrating with public data resulting from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), researchers have found significant genetic correlations between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and stress and depression.

Neutrons make structural changes in molecular brushes visible Posted: 29 Oct 2020 08:58 AM PDT They look like microscopic bottle brushes: Polymers with a backbone and tufts of side arms. This molecular design gives them unusual abilities: For example, they can bind active agents and release them again when the temperature changes. With the help of neutrons, a research team has now succeeded to unveil the changes in the internal structure in course of the process.

Decades-long effort revives ancient oak woodland Posted: 29 Oct 2020 08:58 AM PDT Vestal Grove in Cook County, Illinois, looks nothing like the scrubby, buckthorn-choked tangle that first confronted restoration ecologists 37 years ago. Thanks to the efforts of a dedicated team that focused on rooting up invasive plants and periodically burning, seeding native plants and culling deer, the forest again resembles its ancient self, researchers report.

Identifying biomolecule fragments in ionizing radiation Posted: 29 Oct 2020 08:58 AM PDT Researchers define for the first time the precise exact ranges in which positively and negatively charged fragments can be produced when living cells are bombarded with fast, heavy ions.

Predictive model reveals function of promising energy harvester device Posted: 29 Oct 2020 08:58 AM PDT A small energy harvesting device that can transform subtle mechanical vibrations into electrical energy could be used to power wireless sensors and actuators for use in anything from temperature and occupancy monitoring in smart environments, to biosensing within the human body. Engineers have developed a predictive model for such a device, which will allow researchers to better understand and optimize its functionalities.

Copolymer helps remove pervasive PFAS toxins from environment Posted: 29 Oct 2020 08:58 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated that they can attract, capture and destroy PFAS - a group of federally regulated substances found in everything from nonstick coatings to shampoo and nicknamed 'the forever chemicals' due to their persistence in the natural environment.

Buzz kill: Ogre-faced spiders 'hear' airborne prey with their legs Posted: 29 Oct 2020 08:58 AM PDT In the dark of night, ogre-faced spiders with dominating big eyes dangle from a silk frame to cast a web and capture their ground prey. But these spiders also can capture insects flying behind them with precision, and scientists have now confirmed how.

How the immune system deals with the gut's plethora of microbes Posted: 29 Oct 2020 08:58 AM PDT New research suggests that our immune system may play an active role in shaping the digestive-tract flora, which is tightly linked to health and disease.

Where were Jupiter and Saturn born? Posted: 29 Oct 2020 08:58 AM PDT New work reveals the likely original locations of Saturn and Jupiter. These findings refine our understanding of the forces that determined our Solar System's unusual architecture, including the ejection of an additional planet between Saturn and Uranus, ensuring that only small, rocky planets, like Earth, formed inward of Jupiter.

Priming the immune system to attack cancer Posted: 29 Oct 2020 08:57 AM PDT New research showed how immune 'training' transforms innate immune cells to target tumors. The findings could inform new approaches to cancer immunotherapy or even strategies for preventing tumor growth.

Boo! How do Mexican cavefish escape predators? Posted: 29 Oct 2020 07:51 AM PDT When startled, do all fish respond the same way? A few fish, like Mexican cavefish, have evolved in unique environments without any predators. To see how this lack of predation impacts escape responses that are highly stereotyped across fish species, scientists explored this tiny fish to determine if there are evolved differences in them. Findings reveal that the dramatic ecological differences between cave and river environments contribute to differences in escape behavior in blind cavefish and river-dwelling surface cavefish.

Sensors driven by machine learning sniff-out gas leaks fast Posted: 29 Oct 2020 07:50 AM PDT A new study confirms the success of a natural-gas leak-detection tool that uses sensors and machine learning to locate leak points at oil and gas fields, promising new automatic, affordable sampling across vast natural gas infrastructure.

A new method to measure optical absorption in semiconductor crystals Posted: 29 Oct 2020 07:50 AM PDT Researchers have revealed more details about omnidirectional photoluminescence (ODPL) spectroscopy - a method for probing semiconducting crystals with light to detect defects and impurities.

new gelatin microcarrier for cell production Posted: 29 Oct 2020 07:50 AM PDT Researchers developed a novel microcarrier for large-scale cell production and expansion that offers higher yield and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional methods, and reduces steps required in the cell retrieval process. The findings can help treat ailments such as bone and cartilage defects and graft vs. host disease.

Positive student-teacher relationships benefit students' long-term health, study finds Posted: 29 Oct 2020 07:50 AM PDT Teens who have good, supportive relationships with their teachers enjoy better health as adults, according to new research. Perhaps surprisingly, although friendships are important to adolescents, the study did not find the same link between good peer relationships and students' health in adulthood.

Cancer-fighting gene restrains 'jumping genes' Posted: 29 Oct 2020 07:50 AM PDT About half of all tumors have mutations of the gene p53, normally responsible for warding off cancer. Now scientists have discovered a new role for p53 in its fight against tumors: preventing retrotransposons, or 'jumping genes,' from hopping around the human genome. In cells with missing or mutated p53, the team found, retrotransposons move and multiply more than usual. The finding could lead to new ways of detecting or treating cancers with p53 mutations.

Should I run, or should I not? The neural basis of aggression and flight Posted: 29 Oct 2020 07:50 AM PDT Researchers have investigated the mechanism behind defensive behavior in mice. They have identified a specific area of the brain that encodes both spatial and threat cues to drive location-specific defensive responses.

Shining a (UV) light on the glow-in-the-dark platypus Posted: 29 Oct 2020 07:50 AM PDT The fur of the platypus - an Australian species threatened with extinction - glows green under ultraviolet light, a new study finds. This is the first observation of biofluorescence in an egg-laying mammal (monotreme), suggesting this extraordinary trait may not be as rare as previously thought.

Individual red foxes prefer different foods in the city and the countryside Posted: 29 Oct 2020 07:50 AM PDT Using stable isotope analysis, scientists showed that individual red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) have a narrower diet than might be expected from their omnivorous habits. The population of country foxes had a broader diet than their urban conspecifics; the diet of urban and country foxes showed little overlap. This combination of specialization and flexibility is a key to this omnivore's adaptability.

Brainstem neurons control both behavior and misbehavior Posted: 29 Oct 2020 07:50 AM PDT A recent study reveals how gene control mechanisms define the identity of developing neurons in the brainstem. The researchers also showed that a failure in differentiation of the brainstem neurons leads to behavioral abnormalities, including hyperactivity and attention deficit.

Researchers take a stand on algorithm design for job centers: Landing a job isn't always the right goal Posted: 29 Oct 2020 07:50 AM PDT Algorithms that assess the risk of citizens becoming unemployed are currently being tested in a number of Danish municipalities. But according to a new study, gaining employment is not the only relevant goal for those out of work -- nor should it be for an algorithm.

Measuring the expansion of the universe: Researchers focus on velocity Posted: 29 Oct 2020 07:49 AM PDT There seems to be a discrepancy between measurement of the expansion of the Universe using radiation in the early Universe and using nearby objects. Researchers have now contributed to this debate by focusing on velocity.

Nucleus accumbens recruited by cocaine, sugar are different Posted: 29 Oct 2020 07:49 AM PDT In a study using genetically modified mice, researchers found that the nucleus accumbens recruited by cocaine use are largely distinct from nucleus accumbens recruited by sucrose, or table sugar. Because they are separate, this poses the possibility that drug use can be addressed without affecting biologically adaptive seeking of reward.

Bioenergy research team sequences miscanthus genome Posted: 29 Oct 2020 07:49 AM PDT An international research team has sequenced the full genome of an ornamental variety of miscanthus, a wild perennial grass emerging as a prime candidate for sustainable bioenergy crops. The genome project provides a road map for researchers exploring new avenues to maximize the plant's productivity and decipher the genetic basis for its desirable traits.

Black soldier fly larvae as protein alternative for hungry humans Posted: 29 Oct 2020 07:49 AM PDT Black soldier fly larvae contains more zinc and iron than lean meat and its calcium content is higher than milk. Less than half a hectare of black soldier fly larvae can produce more protein than cattle grazing on around 1200 hectares, or 52 hectares of soybeans. New research has identified the barriers for introducing fly protein into Western human diets as a sustainable, healthy alternative to both meat and plant proteins.

Smart solution to detect seafood spoilage Posted: 29 Oct 2020 07:49 AM PDT Existing methods for detecting seafood spoilage are far from satisfactory for ensuring food safety and security. To solve this problem, researchers have constructed and tested a solid-state fluorescent sensor loaded on filter papers that can instantly and accurately measure the rate of spoilage in Atlantic salmon - and can easily be applied to other seafood.

Cut chores and kill chill time: New advice to boost children's academic achievement Posted: 29 Oct 2020 07:49 AM PDT Determining a child's best daily balance of sleep, activity and relaxation can be a challenge, but if you're hoping to improve their academic results, then it's time to cut back on chores and chill time, according to new research.

Black hole 'family portrait' is most detailed to date Posted: 28 Oct 2020 05:32 PM PDT Astronomers have produced the most detailed family portrait of black holes to date, offering new clues as to how black holes form. An intense analysis of the most recent gravitational-wave data available led to the rich portrait as well as multiple tests of Einstein's theory of general relativity. (The theory passed each test.) The observations could be a key piece in solving the many mysteries of exactly how binary stars interact.

Ancient marine predator had a built-in float Posted: 28 Oct 2020 04:56 PM PDT About 240 million years ago, when reptiles ruled the ocean, a small lizard-like predator floated near the bottom of the edges in shallow water, picking off prey with fang-like teeth. A short and flat tail, used for balance, helps identify it as a new species, according to new research.

New estimates of breast cancer risks associated with HRT Posted: 28 Oct 2020 04:56 PM PDT A new study provides new estimates of the increased risks of breast cancer associated with use of different hormone replacement therapy (HRT) preparations.

Liquid nanofoam: A game changer for future football helmets Posted: 28 Oct 2020 02:14 PM PDT A liquid nanofoam liner undergoing testing could prolong the safe use of football helmets, says a researcher.

Physicists circumvent centuries-old theory to cancel magnetic fields Posted: 28 Oct 2020 02:14 PM PDT Physicists have found a way to circumvent a 178-year old theory which means they can effectively cancel magnetic fields at a distance. They are the first to be able to do so in a way which has practical benefits.

Forecasting elections with a model of infectious diseases Posted: 28 Oct 2020 02:14 PM PDT Election forecasting is an innately challenging endeavor, with results that can be difficult to interpret and may leave many questions unanswered after close races unfold. Researchers have now borrowed ideas from epidemiology to develop a new method for forecasting elections. The team hoped the multidisciplinary nature of their infectious disease model could expand the community that engages with polling data and raise research questions from a new perspective.

You are subscribed to email updates from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States