ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Changes to the brain's reward system may drive overeating in mice
• A change of heart: New drug for HCM reduces heart mass
• Henderson island fossils reveal new Polynesian sandpiper species
• Quantum tunneling pushes the limits of self-powered sensors
• Biochar from agricultural waste products can adsorb contaminants in wastewater
• Novel analytic approach enhances nuclear magnetic resonance signal detection in previously 'invisible' regions
• X-ray study explores potential of hepatitis C drugs to treat COVID-19
• Making the best decision: Math shows diverse thinkers equal better results
• Researchers quantify carbon changes in Sierra Nevada meadow soils
• Fish carcasses deliver toxic mercury pollution to the deepest ocean trenches
• Who is the world's best super-recognizer? This test could help us find them
• Chronic alcohol use reshapes the brain's immune landscape, driving anxiety and addiction
• Dairy cows exposed to heavy metals worsen antibiotic-resistant pathogen crisis
• Computer scientists launch counteroffensive against video game cheaters
• New fiber optic sensors transmit data up to 100 times faster
• Paleontologists uncover three new species of extinct walruses in Orange County, California
• New technology allows more precise view of the smallest nanoparticles
• Deafening insects mask true biodiversity assessed via acoustic surveys in Japan
• Cosmic flashes come in all different sizes
• Bursts of exercise can lead to significant improvements in indicators of metabolic health
• Mediterranean diet helps reduce effects of stress in animal model
• New tool predicts geological movement and the flow of groundwater in old coalfields
• Novel glass materials made from organic and inorganic components
• Tiny cave snail with muffin-top waistline rolls out of the dark in Laos
• Scientists discover new mechanism controlling brain size
• Cellular powerplant recycles waste gases
• Liver condition identified in patients using urine samples
• Solar cells: Mapping the landscape of Caesium based inorganic halide perovskites
• Children with a migration background often misdiagnosed as having an 'impairment of language acquisition'
• Simple method to produce high performing lithium selenium batteries
• Study reconstructs ancient storms to help predict changes in tropical cyclone hotspot
• Dieting and weight worries on rise in teens
• Understanding astrophysics with laser-accelerated protons
• Scientists expand space instrument's capabilities
• Highly sensitive detection of circularly polarized light without a filter
• Quantum algorithm breakthrough
• Diabetes drug can treat and reverse heart failure and reduce hospitalizations
• Repetitive elements trigger RIG-I-like receptors to enhance hematopoietic stem cell formation
• From the inside out: How the brain forms sensory memories
• STRENGTH trial finds new fish oil medication did not reduce the risk of cardiac events
• Cannabis strength soars over past half century
• Natural approach to antiperspirants
• Rivaroxaban may be as effective as warfarin for bioprosthetic mitral valves, AF
• Plastic pollution is everywhere. Study reveals how it travels
• Antibiotic exposure in children under age 2 associated with chronic conditions
• Healthy sleep habits help lower risk of heart failure
• Novel technique 'stuns' arthritis pain in shoulder and hip
• New method brings physics to deep learning to better simulate turbulence
• Genetic code evolution and Darwin's evolution theory should consider DNA an 'energy code'
• Former piece of Pacific Ocean floor imaged deep beneath China
• Patients taking statins experience similar side effects from dummy pills
• Elastic-free face masks can help some with allergies stay safe during COVID-19, expert says
• COVID-19 survival among elderly patients could be improved by arthritis drug, study finds
• Researchers identify promising new compounds to potentially treat novel coronaviruses
• Study of infants finds that sleep differences by race, income emerge early

Changes to the brain's reward system may drive overeating in mice Posted: 16 Nov 2020 03:44 PM PST A combination of innate differences and diet-induced changes to the reward system may predispose some mice to overeat, according to research recently published in JNeurosci.

A change of heart: New drug for HCM reduces heart mass Posted: 16 Nov 2020 03:44 PM PST For the first time, a medication has impacted heart muscle thickness and function for patients with the most common inherited heart condition, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, rather than simply addressing their symptoms.

Henderson island fossils reveal new Polynesian sandpiper species Posted: 16 Nov 2020 03:44 PM PST Fossil bones collected in the early 1990s on Henderson Island, part of the Pitcairn Group, have revealed a new species of Polynesian sandpiper. The Henderson Sandpiper, a small wading bird that has been extinct for centuries, is formally named Prosobonia sauli after Cook Islands-based ornithologist and conservationist Edward K Saul.

Quantum tunneling pushes the limits of self-powered sensors Posted: 16 Nov 2020 03:44 PM PST Using quantum tunneling, scientists have developed self-powered sensors that can run for more than a year.

Biochar from agricultural waste products can adsorb contaminants in wastewater Posted: 16 Nov 2020 01:12 PM PST Biochar -- a charcoal-like substance made primarily from agricultural waste products -- holds promise for removing emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals from treated wastewater. That's the conclusion of a team of researchers that conducted a novel study that evaluated and compared the ability of biochar derived from two common leftover agricultural materials -- cotton gin waste and guayule bagasse -- to adsorb three common pharmaceutical compounds from an aqueous solution.

Novel analytic approach enhances nuclear magnetic resonance signal detection in previously 'invisible' regions Posted: 16 Nov 2020 01:12 PM PST First introduced into wide use in the middle of the 20th century, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has since become an indispensable technique for examining materials down to their atoms, revealing molecular structure and other details without interfering with the material itself.

X-ray study explores potential of hepatitis C drugs to treat COVID-19 Posted: 16 Nov 2020 01:12 PM PST Researchers investigated the binding properties of several hepatitis C drugs to determine how well they inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 main protease, a crucial protein enzyme that enables the novel coronavirus to reproduce. Inhibiting, or blocking, the protease from functioning is vital to stopping the virus from spreading in patients with COVID-19.

Making the best decision: Math shows diverse thinkers equal better results Posted: 16 Nov 2020 01:12 PM PST A researcher found that networks that consisted of both impulsive and deliberate individuals made, on average, quicker and better decisions than a group with homogenous thinkers.

Researchers quantify carbon changes in Sierra Nevada meadow soils Posted: 16 Nov 2020 01:12 PM PST Meadows in the Sierra Nevada mountains are critical components of watersheds. In addition to supplying water to over 25 million people in California and Nevada, meadows contain large quantities of carbon belowground. While it has been known for some time that meadows have large quantities of soil carbon, whether meadow soils are gaining or losing carbon has remained unclear.

Fish carcasses deliver toxic mercury pollution to the deepest ocean trenches Posted: 16 Nov 2020 01:12 PM PST The sinking carcasses of fish from near-surface waters deliver toxic mercury pollution to the most remote and inaccessible parts of the world's oceans, including the deepest spot of them all: the 36,000-foot-deep Mariana Trench in the northwest Pacific.

Who is the world's best super-recognizer? This test could help us find them Posted: 16 Nov 2020 11:51 AM PST Psychologists are hoping a new Face Test will help unearth more of Australia's top performers in facial recognition, known as super-recognizers.

Chronic alcohol use reshapes the brain's immune landscape, driving anxiety and addiction Posted: 16 Nov 2020 10:22 AM PST Deep within the brain, a small almond-shaped region called the amygdala plays a vital role in how we exhibit emotion, behavior and motivation; it's also strongly implicated in alcohol abuse. Now, for the first time, a team has identified important changes to anti-inflammatory mechanisms and cellular activity in the amygdala that drive alcohol addiction.

Dairy cows exposed to heavy metals worsen antibiotic-resistant pathogen crisis Posted: 16 Nov 2020 10:22 AM PST Dairy cows, exposed for a few years to drinking water contaminated with heavy metals, carry more pathogens loaded with antimicrobial-resistance genes able to tolerate and survive various antibiotics. That's the finding of a team of researchers that conducted a study of two dairy herds in Brazil four years after a dam holding mining waste ruptured, and it spotlights a threat to human health, the researchers contend.

Computer scientists launch counteroffensive against video game cheaters Posted: 16 Nov 2020 09:56 AM PST Computer scientists have devised a new weapon against video game players who cheat. The researchers developed their approach for detecting cheaters using the popular first-person shooter game Counter-Strike. But the mechanism can work for any massively multiplayer online (MMO) game that sends data traffic to a central server.

New fiber optic sensors transmit data up to 100 times faster Posted: 16 Nov 2020 09:56 AM PST Fiber optic sensors - used in critical applications like detecting fires in tunnels, pinpointing leaks in pipelines and predicting landslides - are about to get even faster and more accurate.

Paleontologists uncover three new species of extinct walruses in Orange County, California Posted: 16 Nov 2020 09:56 AM PST Millions of years ago, in the warm Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California, walrus species without tusks lived abundantly. But in a new study, paleontologists have identified three new walrus species discovered in Orange County and one of the new species has ''semi-tusks'' -- or longer teeth.

New technology allows more precise view of the smallest nanoparticles Posted: 16 Nov 2020 09:56 AM PST Scientists have reported a new optical imaging technology, using a glass side covered with gold nanodiscs that allows them to monitor changes in the transmission of light and determine the characteristics of nanoparticles as small as 25 nanometers in diameter.

Deafening insects mask true biodiversity assessed via acoustic surveys in Japan Posted: 16 Nov 2020 09:56 AM PST Ecologists have been using recordings of animal noises to assess biodiversity in sub-tropical Japan. The team assessed how effective these acoustic surveys were for pinpointing Okinawa's wild and wonderful fauna in different sonic conditions --and discovered that the incessant choruses of the local cicadas disguise the true diversity of the region.

Cosmic flashes come in all different sizes Posted: 16 Nov 2020 09:56 AM PST By studying the site of a spectacular stellar explosion seen in April 2020, scientists have used four European radio telescopes to confirm that astronomy's most exciting puzzle is about to be solved. Fast radio bursts, unpredictable millisecond-long radio signals seen at huge distances across the universe, are generated by extreme stars called magnetars - and are astonishingly diverse in brightness.

Bursts of exercise can lead to significant improvements in indicators of metabolic health Posted: 16 Nov 2020 09:56 AM PST Short bursts of physical exercise induce changes in the body's levels of metabolites that correlate to, and may help gauge, an individual's cardiometabolic, cardiovascular and long-term health, a study has found. Approximately 12 minutes of acute cardiopulmonary exercise impacted more than 80% of circulating metabolites, including pathways linked to a range of favorable health outcomes, thus identifying potential mechanisms that could contribute to a better understanding of cardiometabolic benefits of exercise.

Mediterranean diet helps reduce effects of stress in animal model Posted: 16 Nov 2020 09:56 AM PST Even before the pandemic and the presidential election, Americans reported some of the highest perceived levels of stress in the world, according to the American Psychological Association. Not only does stress have negative effects on work and personal relationships, it also increases the risk of many chronic conditions, such as heart disease and Alzheimer's disease, and is associated with higher mortality rates.

New tool predicts geological movement and the flow of groundwater in old coalfields Posted: 16 Nov 2020 08:29 AM PST A remote monitoring tool can help authorities manage public safety and environmental issues in recently abandoned coal mines. The tool uses satellite radar imagery to capture millimeter-scale measurements of changes in terrain height. Such measurements can be used to monitor and forecast groundwater levels and changes in geological conditions deep below the earth's surface in former mining areas.

Novel glass materials made from organic and inorganic components Posted: 16 Nov 2020 08:29 AM PST Researchers have succeeded in creating a new class of hybrid glass materials that combine organic and inorganic components. To do this, the scientists use special material combinations in which chemical bonds between organometallic and inorganic glasses can be generated. They included materials composed of organometallic networks. This is primarily because their framework structures can be created in a targeted manner.

Tiny cave snail with muffin-top waistline rolls out of the dark in Laos Posted: 16 Nov 2020 08:29 AM PST Recent cave exploration has turned up a tiny, top-heavy snail that glistens under the light of the microscope lens. Only 1.80 mm tall, this transparent snail bulges at the middle, giving a natural appearance to the ''muffin-top'' waistline. The article reveals new biodiversity from the seldom explored caves of central Laos.

Scientists discover new mechanism controlling brain size Posted: 16 Nov 2020 08:29 AM PST International research has led to the discovery of a new mechanism that controls the size of our brains. The finding, which is based on studies on a rare congenital brain disease, delivers an important piece of data in our knowledge about how the human brain is formed during development.

Cellular powerplant recycles waste gases Posted: 16 Nov 2020 08:29 AM PST Carbon monoxide is a very poisonous gas. Humans die within minutes when they inhale it. However, some microorganisms tolerate carbon monoxide. Knowledge about how these bacteria survive opens a window into the primeval times of the earth and the origin of life. At the same time, they might be useful for the future as they can be used to clean waste gases and produce biofuels. Scientists have now made a surprising discovery.

Liver condition identified in patients using urine samples Posted: 16 Nov 2020 08:29 AM PST Fifty fragments of proteins, termed peptides, have been identified in the urine of liver fibrosis patients in a new study that could pave the way for a potential diagnostic urine test for the condition if further validated.

Solar cells: Mapping the landscape of Caesium based inorganic halide perovskites Posted: 16 Nov 2020 08:29 AM PST Scientists have printed and explored different compositions of caesium based halide perovskites. In a temperature range between room temperature and 300 Celsius, they observe structural phase transitions influencing the electronic properties. The study provides a quick and easy method to assess new compositions of perovskite materials in order to identify candidates for applications in thin film solar cells and optoelectronic devices.

Children with a migration background often misdiagnosed as having an 'impairment of language acquisition' Posted: 16 Nov 2020 08:29 AM PST Around 45% of children in Austrian day nurseries have a first language other than German. Those who our experiencing difficulty in learning the second language are often diagnosed as having a suspected 'impairment of language acquisition'. In fact, this often merely reflects the fact that they have not yet fully acquired the second language.

Simple method to produce high performing lithium selenium batteries Posted: 16 Nov 2020 08:29 AM PST Engineers have developed a simple and elegant method of producing high-powered lithium-selenium (Li-Se) batteries.

Study reconstructs ancient storms to help predict changes in tropical cyclone hotspot Posted: 16 Nov 2020 08:28 AM PST New research reveals that tropical cyclones were actually more frequent in the southern Marshall Islands during the Little Ice Age, when temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere were cooler than they are today. This means that changes in atmospheric circulation, driven by differential ocean warming, heavily influence the location and intensity of tropical cyclones.

Dieting and weight worries on rise in teens Posted: 16 Nov 2020 08:28 AM PST Significantly higher numbers of Generation Z boys and girls in the UK are dieting to lose weight, and are likely to overestimate their own weight, finds a new study.

Understanding astrophysics with laser-accelerated protons Posted: 16 Nov 2020 08:28 AM PST Bringing huge amounts of protons up to speed in the shortest distance in fractions of a second -- that's what laser acceleration technology, greatly improved in recent years, can do. An international research team has succeeded in using protons accelerated with the GSI high-power laser PHELIX to split other nuclei and to analyze them.

Scientists expand space instrument's capabilities Posted: 16 Nov 2020 08:28 AM PST Scientists have expanded the capabilities of the prototype spaceflight instrument Chemistry Organic and Dating Experiment (CODEX), designed for field-based dating of extraterrestrial materials. CODEX now uses two different dating approaches based on rubidium-strontium and lead-lead geochronology methods. The instrument uses laser ablation resonance ionization mass spectrometry (LARIMS) to obtain dates using these methods.

Highly sensitive detection of circularly polarized light without a filter Posted: 16 Nov 2020 08:28 AM PST Scientists developed a photodiode using a crystalline film composed of lead perovskite compounds with organic chiral molecules to detect circularly polarized light without a filter. It is expected as a technology for visualization of the invisible change of object surfaces such as stress intensity and distribution.

Quantum algorithm breakthrough Posted: 16 Nov 2020 06:22 AM PST Physicists report the development of a quantum algorithm with the potential to study a class of many-electron quantums system using quantum computers

Diabetes drug can treat and reverse heart failure and reduce hospitalizations Posted: 16 Nov 2020 06:22 AM PST Empagliflozin, a recently developed diabetes drug, can effectively treat and reverse heart failure in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients, according to new research.

Repetitive elements trigger RIG-I-like receptors to enhance hematopoietic stem cell formation Posted: 16 Nov 2020 06:22 AM PST Hematopoietic stem cells can replenish all the different cell types of our blood system. For this reason, hematopoietic stem cells are the cells used in many blood diseases when patients need transplantations. Thus, our ability to generate, amplify and maintain these cells is important for human health.

From the inside out: How the brain forms sensory memories Posted: 16 Nov 2020 06:22 AM PST New study identifies a region of the thalamus as a key source of signals encoding past experiences in the neocortex.

STRENGTH trial finds new fish oil medication did not reduce the risk of cardiac events Posted: 16 Nov 2020 06:22 AM PST A medication derived from fish oil, containing the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, was evaluated in a large, international study of more than 13,000 people who had existing heart disease or who were at high risk of heart disease due to other medical conditions. The medication did not reduce the risk of cardiac events compared to a corn oil-based placebo in the STRENGTH trial.

Cannabis strength soars over past half century Posted: 16 Nov 2020 06:22 AM PST Largest study on how cannabis has changed over time finds increased strength putting consumers at greater risk of harm.

Natural approach to antiperspirants Posted: 16 Nov 2020 06:22 AM PST Researchers have just made a major breakthrough in the study of natural antiperspirants.

Rivaroxaban may be as effective as warfarin for bioprosthetic mitral valves, AF Posted: 16 Nov 2020 06:21 AM PST The RIVER trial is the largest study assessing the efficacy and safety of the anticoagulant rivaroxaban in patients with an artificial mitral valve to correct an irregular heart rhythm. Researchers concluded that rivaroxaban worked as well as the standard anticoagulant medication warfarin.

Plastic pollution is everywhere. Study reveals how it travels Posted: 16 Nov 2020 04:57 AM PST A study reveals the mechanism by which microplastics, like Styrofoam, and particulate pollutants are carried long distances through soil and other porous media, with implications for preventing the spread and accumulation of contaminants in food and water sources.

Antibiotic exposure in children under age 2 associated with chronic conditions Posted: 16 Nov 2020 04:57 AM PST Children under age 2 who take antibiotics are at greater risk for childhood-onset asthma, respiratory allergies, eczema, celiac disease, obesity and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to a new article. While previous studies have looked at the association of antibiotics with single diseases, this is the first to look at the association across many diseases.

Healthy sleep habits help lower risk of heart failure Posted: 16 Nov 2020 04:57 AM PST Healthy sleep habits are associated with a lower risk of heart failure. Adults with the healthiest sleep patterns (morning risers, sleeping 7-8 hours a day and no frequent insomnia, snoring or excessive daytime sleepiness) experienced a 42% reduction in the risk of heart failure compared to those with unhealthy sleep patterns.

Novel technique 'stuns' arthritis pain in shoulder and hip Posted: 16 Nov 2020 04:57 AM PST A novel outpatient procedure offers lasting pain relief for patients suffering from moderate to severe arthritis in their hip and shoulder joints.

New method brings physics to deep learning to better simulate turbulence Posted: 16 Nov 2020 04:57 AM PST Deep learning, also called machine learning, reproduces data to model problem scenarios and offer solutions. However, some problems in physics are unknown or cannot be represented in detail mathematically on a computer. Researchers developed a new method that brings physics into the machine learning process to make better predictions. The researchers used turbulence to test their method.

Genetic code evolution and Darwin's evolution theory should consider DNA an 'energy code' Posted: 16 Nov 2020 04:57 AM PST Darwin's theory of evolution should be expanded to include consideration of a DNA stability 'energy code' -- so-called 'molecular Darwinism' -- to further account for the long-term survival of species' characteristics on Earth, according to scientists.

Former piece of Pacific Ocean floor imaged deep beneath China Posted: 16 Nov 2020 04:57 AM PST In a study that gives new meaning to the term 'rock bottom,' seismic researchers have discovered the underside of a rocky slab of Earth's lithosphere that has been pulled more than 400 miles beneath northeastern China by the process of tectonic subduction.

Patients taking statins experience similar side effects from dummy pills Posted: 15 Nov 2020 03:59 PM PST People taking dummy pills and statins experienced similar side effects in a new study.

Elastic-free face masks can help some with allergies stay safe during COVID-19, expert says Posted: 13 Nov 2020 12:46 PM PST An immunologist is recommending that individuals with contact dermatitis choose facial masks made without elastic or rubber that allow them to stay safe in the midst of COVID-19 while avoiding possible allergic reactions.

COVID-19 survival among elderly patients could be improved by arthritis drug, study finds Posted: 13 Nov 2020 12:46 PM PST A type of arthritis drug may reduce the risk of dying for elderly patients with COVID-19, according to new research.

Researchers identify promising new compounds to potentially treat novel coronaviruses Posted: 13 Nov 2020 12:46 PM PST Researchers have discovered new drug compounds to potentially treat the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. This finding could lead to the development of new broad-spectrum antiviral drugs that target viruses such as influenza, Ebola and coronaviruses.

Study of infants finds that sleep differences by race, income emerge early Posted: 13 Nov 2020 12:46 PM PST A new stud takes a look at 24-hour sleep-wake cycles for infants across racial/ethnic and socioeconomic categories. The team found several distinct differences in sleep-wake patterns, largely explained by discrepancies in socioeconomic status.

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