ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

---

• Effect of odor on helpfulness in rats
• Offshore submarine freshwater discovery raises hopes for islands worldwide
• Neutrinos yield first experimental evidence of catalyzed fusion dominant in many stars
• Scientists discover a motif that guides assembly of the algal pyrenoid
• Plants: Scientists solve the mystery behind an enigmatic organelle, the pyrenoid
• Specific bacterium in the gut linked to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Community conservation reserves protect fish diversity in tropical rivers
• Ancient blanket made with 11,500 turkey feathers
• New study explains important cause of fatal influenza
• A microscope for everyone: Researchers develop open-source optical toolbox
• Novel haplotype-led approach to increase the precision of wheat breeding
• Researchers uncover the unique way stem cells protect their chromosome ends
• Ice sheets on the move: How north and south poles connect
• Space travel can adversely impact energy production in a cell
• Landmark study generates first genomic atlas for global wheat improvement
• Genetic study shows that the risk of pre-eclampsia is related to blood pressure and BMI
• Scientists determine the structure of glass-shaping protein in sponges
• New modified wheat could help tackle global food shortage
• Phytoplankton disturbed by nanoparticles
• Basketball on the brain: Neuroscientists use sports to study surprise
• Gut hormones' regulation of fat production abnormal in obesity, fatty liver disease
• Breaking the skill limit, pianists attain more delicate touch
• Everyday activities enhance personal well-being
• A new species of rare phylum Loricifera discovered in the deep-sea surrounding Japan
• A growth mindset of interest can spark innovative thinking
• New mechanism of pain control revealed
• New discovery by SMART allows early detection of shade avoidance syndrome in plants
• Cooking with wood may cause lung damage
• In fire-prone West, plants need their pollinators -- and vice versa
• Patterning method could pave the way for new fiber-based devices, smart textiles
• Ghost fishing threatens endangered river dolphins, critically endangered turtles, otters
• Research creates hydrogen-producing living droplets, paving way for alternative future energy source
• When consumers trust AI recommendations, or resist them
• Microbes help unlock phosphorus for plant growth
• Cutting edge technology to bioprint mini-kidneys
• T. rex had huge growth spurts, but other dinos grew slow and steady
• Simple new testing method aims to improve time-release drugs
• Team uses copper to image Alzheimer's aggregates in the brain
• Novel chemical process a first step to making nuclear fuel with fire
• Researchers go underwater to study how sponge species vanished
• Sestrin makes fruit flies live longer
• Strengthening the climate change scenario framework
• Secrets of the 'lost crops' revealed where bison roam
• Channeling the immune system for head and neck cancer

Effect of odor on helpfulness in rats Posted: 25 Nov 2020 01:44 PM PST Despite their reputation, rats are surprisingly sociable and regularly help each other out. Researchers have shown that a rat just has to smell another rat that is engaged in helpful behavior to increase their own helpfulness. This is the first study to show that just the smell of a cooperating rat is enough to trigger a helpful response.

Offshore submarine freshwater discovery raises hopes for islands worldwide Posted: 25 Nov 2020 12:48 PM PST Twice as much freshwater is stored offshore of Hawai'i Island than previously thought, revealed a new study with important implications for volcanic islands around the world. An extensive reservoir of freshwater within the submarine southern flank of the Hualalai aquifer was mapped by researchers with Hawai'i EPSCoR 'Ike Wai project, showing a way in which substantial volumes of freshwater are transported from onshore to offshore submarine aquifers along the coast of Hawai'i Island.

Neutrinos yield first experimental evidence of catalyzed fusion dominant in many stars Posted: 25 Nov 2020 12:48 PM PST Scientists report the detection of neutrinos from the sun, directly revealing for the first time that the carbon-nitrogen-oxygen (CNO) fusion-cycle is at work in our sun.

Scientists discover a motif that guides assembly of the algal pyrenoid Posted: 25 Nov 2020 12:48 PM PST Researchers have discovered that assembly of the algal pyrenoid, a structure that mediates the incorporation of carbon dioxide into sugars, is guided by the presence of a particular protein sequence, or motif.

Plants: Scientists solve the mystery behind an enigmatic organelle, the pyrenoid Posted: 25 Nov 2020 12:48 PM PST Researchers have discovered how Rubisco holoenzymes assemble to form the fluid-like matrix of the algal pyrenoid, an organelle that mediates the incorporation of carbon dioxide into sugars.

Specific bacterium in the gut linked to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) Posted: 25 Nov 2020 10:51 AM PST Researchers have detected a connection between Brachyspira, a genus of bacteria in the intestines, and IBS -- especially the form that causes diarrhea. Although the discovery needs confirmation in larger studies, there is hope that it might lead to new remedies for many people with irritable bowel syndrome.

Community conservation reserves protect fish diversity in tropical rivers Posted: 25 Nov 2020 10:51 AM PST Small, community-based reserves in Thailand's Salween River Basin are serving as critical refuges for fish diversity in a region whose subsistence fisheries have suffered from decades of over-harvesting.

Ancient blanket made with 11,500 turkey feathers Posted: 25 Nov 2020 10:51 AM PST New research sheds light on the production of an 800-year-old turkey feather blanket and explores the economic and cultural aspects of raising turkeys to supply feathers in the ancient Southwest.

New study explains important cause of fatal influenza Posted: 25 Nov 2020 09:23 AM PST It is largely unknown why influenza infections lead to an increased risk of bacterial pneumonia. Researchers have now described important findings leading to so-called superinfections, which claim many lives around the world every year.

A microscope for everyone: Researchers develop open-source optical toolbox Posted: 25 Nov 2020 09:23 AM PST Researchers have developed an optical toolbox to build microscopes for a few hundred euros that deliver high-resolution images comparable to commercial microscopes that cost up to a thousand times more. The 3D printed open-source modular system can be combined in the way the research question requires -- from the observation of living organisms in the incubator to a toolbox for education.

Novel haplotype-led approach to increase the precision of wheat breeding Posted: 25 Nov 2020 09:23 AM PST Wheat researchers are pioneering a new technique that promises to improve gene discovery for the globally important crop.

Researchers uncover the unique way stem cells protect their chromosome ends Posted: 25 Nov 2020 09:23 AM PST Telomeres are specialized structures at the end of chromosomes which protect our DNA and ensure healthy division of cells. According to a new study, the mechanisms of telomere protection are surprisingly unique in stem cells.

Ice sheets on the move: How north and south poles connect Posted: 25 Nov 2020 08:44 AM PST Over the past 40,000 years, ice sheets thousands of kilometers apart have influenced one another through sea level changes, according to new research. New modelling of ice sheet changes during the most recent glacial cycle demonstrates, for the first time, that during this period, changes in the Antarctic ice sheet were driven by the melting ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere.

Space travel can adversely impact energy production in a cell Posted: 25 Nov 2020 08:44 AM PST Studies of both mice and humans who have traveled into space reveal that critical parts of a cell's energy production machinery, the mitochondria, can be made dysfunctional due to changes in gravity, radiation exposure and other factors. These findings are part of an extensive research effort across many scientific disciplines to look at the health effects of travel into space.

Landmark study generates first genomic atlas for global wheat improvement Posted: 25 Nov 2020 08:44 AM PST In a landmark discovery for global wheat production, a team has sequenced the genomes for 15 wheat varieties representing breeding programs around the world, enabling scientists and breeders to much more quickly identify influential genes for improved yield, pest resistance and other important crop traits.

Genetic study shows that the risk of pre-eclampsia is related to blood pressure and BMI Posted: 25 Nov 2020 08:43 AM PST An international study has revealed that the genetic risk of pre-eclampsia - a potentially dangerous condition in pregnancy - is related to blood pressure and body mass index.

Scientists determine the structure of glass-shaping protein in sponges Posted: 25 Nov 2020 08:43 AM PST Researchers have determined the three dimensional (3D) structure of a protein responsible for glass formation in sponges. They explain how the earliest and, in fact, the only known natural protein-mineral crystal is formed.

New modified wheat could help tackle global food shortage Posted: 25 Nov 2020 08:43 AM PST Researchers at the University of York have created a new modified wheat variety that increases grain production by up to 12%.

Phytoplankton disturbed by nanoparticles Posted: 25 Nov 2020 08:43 AM PST Products derived from nanotechnology are efficient and highly sought-after, yet their effects on the environment are still poorly understood. A research team has investigated the effects of nanosilver, currently used in almost 450 products for its antibacterial properties, on the algae known as Poterioochromonas malhamensis. The results show that nanosilver disturb the alga's entire metabolism. Its membrane becomes more permeable, the cellular ROS increases and photosynthesis is less effective.

Basketball on the brain: Neuroscientists use sports to study surprise Posted: 25 Nov 2020 08:43 AM PST Neuroscientists tracked the brains and pupils of self-described basketball fans as they watched March Madness games, to study how people process surprise -- an unexpected change of circumstances that shifts an anticipated outcome. They found that that shifts in the pattern of activity in high-level brain areas only happened at moments that contradicted the watchers' current beliefs about which team was more likely to win.

Gut hormones' regulation of fat production abnormal in obesity, fatty liver disease Posted: 25 Nov 2020 07:43 AM PST Gut hormones play an important role in regulating fat production in the body. One key hormone, released a few hours after eating, turns off fat production by regulating gene expression in the liver, but this regulation is abnormal in obesity, researchers found in a new study.

Breaking the skill limit, pianists attain more delicate touch Posted: 25 Nov 2020 07:43 AM PST Scientists have discovered a training method to further improve the delicate touch of pianists by optimizing the method rather than increase the amount of training. They developed a system that freely controls the weight of piano keys using a haptic device, which enables to control the strength and direction of the force. The results of experiments showed that enhancing the somatosensory function of fingertips with AHT could improve the accuracy of keystrokes.

Everyday activities enhance personal well-being Posted: 25 Nov 2020 07:43 AM PST Physical activity makes happy and is important to maintain psychic health. Researchers studied the brain regions which play a central role in this process. Their findings reveal that even everyday activities, such as climbing stairs, significantly enhance well-being, in particular of persons susceptible to psychiatric disorders.

A new species of rare phylum Loricifera discovered in the deep-sea surrounding Japan Posted: 25 Nov 2020 07:03 AM PST The Loricifera is a microscopic, sediment-dwelling marine invertebrate, with a head covered in over 200 spines and an abdomen with a protective shell - known as a lorica. Since it was first discovered in 1983, just under 40 species have been written about. Now, that number is one more thanks to a group of scientists who reported on a new genus and species of Loricifera.

A growth mindset of interest can spark innovative thinking Posted: 25 Nov 2020 07:03 AM PST Researchers find that viewing interests as developable, not fixed, can help people make connections among diverse fields that others might miss, with implications for innovation. Their research suggests that understanding this can benefit organizations in generating innovative solutions and ideas, job seekers taking on new or wide-ranging responsibilities, and can create a culture for interdisciplinary learning and problem-solving.

New mechanism of pain control revealed Posted: 25 Nov 2020 07:03 AM PST Researchers have identified a unique population of astrocytes in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord of mice that produces pain hypersensitivity when activated by neurons carrying signals down from the brain. The findings indicate that the role of descending neurons in controlling spinal pain transmission is not limited to suppression and point to this group of astrocytes as a new target for enhancing the effect of chronic pain treatments.

New discovery by SMART allows early detection of shade avoidance syndrome in plants Posted: 25 Nov 2020 07:03 AM PST Researchers have developed a tool that allows early detection of shade avoidance syndrome (SAS) in plants using Raman spectroscopy in significantly less time compared to conventional methods. The discovery can help farmers better monitor plant health and lead to improved crop yield.

Cooking with wood may cause lung damage Posted: 25 Nov 2020 06:15 AM PST Advanced imaging with CT shows that people who cook with biomass fuels like wood are at risk of suffering considerable damage to their lungs from breathing in dangerous concentrations of pollutants and bacterial toxins, according to a new study.

In fire-prone West, plants need their pollinators -- and vice versa Posted: 25 Nov 2020 06:15 AM PST A new study grounded in the northern Rockies explores the role of wildfire in the finely tuned dance between plants and their pollinators. Previous studies have looked at how fire affects plants, or how fire affects animals. But what is largely understudied is the question of how fire affects both, and about how linkages within those ecological networks might respond to fire disturbance. The findings are particularly significant in light of recent reports about the rapid and widespread decline of insects globally.

Patterning method could pave the way for new fiber-based devices, smart textiles Posted: 25 Nov 2020 06:15 AM PST Multimaterial fibers that integrate metal, glass and semiconductors could be useful for applications such as biomedicine, smart textiles and robotics. But because the fibers are composed of the same materials along their lengths, it is difficult to position functional elements, such as electrodes or sensors, at specific locations. Now, researchers have developed a method to pattern hundreds-of-meters-long multimaterial fibers with embedded functional elements.

Ghost fishing threatens endangered river dolphins, critically endangered turtles, otters Posted: 25 Nov 2020 06:15 AM PST Waste fishing gear in the River Ganges poses a threat to wildlife including otters, turtles and dolphins, new research shows.

Research creates hydrogen-producing living droplets, paving way for alternative future energy source Posted: 25 Nov 2020 06:14 AM PST Scientists have built tiny droplet-based microbial factories that produce hydrogen, instead of oxygen, when exposed to daylight in air.

When consumers trust AI recommendations, or resist them Posted: 25 Nov 2020 06:14 AM PST The key factor in deciding how to incorporate AI recommenders is whether consumers are focused on the functional and practical aspects of a product (its utilitarian value) or on the experiential and sensory aspects of a product (its hedonic value).

Microbes help unlock phosphorus for plant growth Posted: 24 Nov 2020 04:05 PM PST A research team has shown that microbes taken from trees growing beside pristine mountain-fed streams in Western Washington could make phosphorus trapped in soils more accessible to agricultural crops.

Cutting edge technology to bioprint mini-kidneys Posted: 24 Nov 2020 04:05 PM PST Researchers have used cutting edge technology to bioprint miniature human kidneys in the lab, paving the way for new treatments for kidney failure and possibly lab-grown transplants.

T. rex had huge growth spurts, but other dinos grew slow and steady Posted: 24 Nov 2020 04:05 PM PST By cutting into dinosaur bones and analyzing the growth lines, a team of researchers discovered that T. rex and its closest relatives got big thanks to a huge growth spurt in adolescence, while its more distant cousins kept on growing a little bit every year throughout their lives.

Simple new testing method aims to improve time-release drugs Posted: 24 Nov 2020 01:14 PM PST Engineers filled a glass tube bent like a tuning fork, kept vibrating by a circuit at its resonance frequency, with simulated stomach and intestine contents and passed an over-the-counter time-release drug granule through the tube. They observed a brief change in the frequency. When plotted, they could compare the peaks of resonance frequency against the time to learn the buoyant mass of the drug granule at that moment.

Team uses copper to image Alzheimer's aggregates in the brain Posted: 24 Nov 2020 12:08 PM PST A proof-of-concept study conducted in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease offers new evidence that copper isotopes can be used to detect the amyloid-beta protein deposits that form in the brains of people living with -- or at risk of developing -- Alzheimer's.

Novel chemical process a first step to making nuclear fuel with fire Posted: 24 Nov 2020 12:08 PM PST Developing safe and sustainable fuels for nuclear energy is an integral part of an energy security mission.

Researchers go underwater to study how sponge species vanished Posted: 24 Nov 2020 12:08 PM PST Researchers embarked on an underwater journey to solve a mystery: Why did sponges of the Agelas oroides species, which used to be common in the shallow waters along the Mediterranean coast of Israel, disappear? The researchers believe that the main reason for the disappearance of the sponges was the rise in seawater temperatures during the summer months, which in the past 60 years have risen by about 3°C (37°F).

Sestrin makes fruit flies live longer Posted: 24 Nov 2020 12:08 PM PST Researchers identify positive effector behind reduced food intake.

Strengthening the climate change scenario framework Posted: 24 Nov 2020 10:46 AM PST Over the past decade, the climate change research community developed a scenario framework that combines alternative futures of climate and society to facilitate integrated research and consistent assessment to inform policy. An international team of researchers assessed how well this framework is working and what challenges it faces.

Secrets of the 'lost crops' revealed where bison roam Posted: 24 Nov 2020 09:36 AM PST Blame it on the bison. If not for the wooly, boulder-sized beasts that once roamed North America in vast herds, ancient people might have looked past the little barley that grew under those thundering hooves. But the people soon came to rely on little barley and other small-seeded native plants as staple food.

Channeling the immune system for head and neck cancer Posted: 24 Nov 2020 09:29 AM PST Researchers have discovered new clues into why some people with head and neck cancer respond to immunotherapy, while others don't.

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