ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Honey bees fend off giant hornets with animal feces
• Big data offers promise of better groundwater management in California
• New study helps pinpoint when Earth's plate subduction began
• A technique to sift out the universe's first gravitational waves
• First-known fossil iguana burrow found in the Bahamas
• Breakthrough in nuclear physics
• Neanderthals buried their dead: New evidence
• How neurons form long-term memories
• Temporal crop diversity stabilizes agricultural production
• New-found phenomenon that may improve hurricane forecasts
• Silky sharks find hope in Atlantic, remain targets in Indo-Pacific
• 'Spooky Interactions', shocking adaptations discovered in electric fish of Brazil's Amazon
• Study connects diabetes, air pollution to interstitial lung disease
• Wielding a gun makes a shooter perceive others as wielding a gun, too
• Innovation in novel hybrid energy systems
• Magnesium contact ions stabilize the macromolecular structure of transfer RNA
• Warmer springs mean more offspring for prothonotary warblers
• Engineering discovery challenges heat transfer paradigm that guides electronic and photonic device design
• New tools 'turn on' quantum gases of ultracold molecules
• Paleontologists find pterosaur precursors that fill a gap in early evolutionary history
• New compound related to psychedelic ibogaine could treat addiction, depression
• Obesity impairs immune cell function, accelerates tumor growth
• Science of sandcastles is clarified, finally
• Youth depression tied to higher risk of 66 diseases and premature death
• A simple rule drives the evolution of useless complexity
• Battling COVID-19 using UV light
• Index reveals integrity issues for many of the world's forests
• Archaeopteryx fossil provides insights into the origins of flight
• Spiders in space: Without gravity, light becomes key to orientation
• 'Game changer' perovskite can detect gamma rays
• Space weather discovery puts 'habitable planets' at risk
• Researchers develop rapid genomics strategy to trace coronavirus
• Focus on human factor in designing systems
• Engineers discover new microbe for simpler, cheaper and greener wastewater treatment
• Microbes and plants: A dynamic duo
• How blood and wealth can predict future disability
• Several U.S. populations and regions exposed to high arsenic concentrations in drinking water
• Evolution may be to blame for high risk of advanced cancers in humans
• Breast cancer survivors are less likely to get pregnant, but often have healthy babies and good long-term health
• Southern Hemisphere westerly winds likely to intensify as climate warms
• Filming roaming molecular fragments in real time
• Tomatoes offer affordable source of Parkinson's disease drug
• When strains of E.coli play rock-paper-scissors, it's not the strongest that survives
• New superhighway system discovered in the Solar System
• Significant increase in depression seen among children during first UK lockdown
• Key driver of the spread of cancer to the brain

Honey bees fend off giant hornets with animal feces Posted: 09 Dec 2020 02:07 PM PST Researchers discovered honeybees in Vietnam collect and apply animal dung around hive entrances to deter deadly nest raids by giant hornets. This finding is the first to document the use of tools by honeybees. Researchers found the hornets spent less time and did less chewing at hives with moderate to heavy dung spotting. They were also less likely to launch mass attacks on the more heavily spotted hives.

Big data offers promise of better groundwater management in California Posted: 09 Dec 2020 02:07 PM PST A research team has analyzed big data of more than 200,000 groundwater samples taken from across the state and found that there are problems with the guidelines used for groundwater management. Known as the 'Base of Fresh Water', the guidelines are close to fifty years old and don't reflect current uses, knowledge, concerns or technologies related to managing groundwater in this coastal state with a multi-billion-dollar agricultural industry.

New study helps pinpoint when Earth's plate subduction began Posted: 09 Dec 2020 02:06 PM PST Plate subduction could have started 3.75 billion years ago, reshaping Earth's surface and setting the stage for a planet hospitable to life.

A technique to sift out the universe's first gravitational waves Posted: 09 Dec 2020 02:06 PM PST A new technique may sift out universe's very first gravitational waves. Identifying primordial ripples would be key to understanding conditions of the early universe.

First-known fossil iguana burrow found in the Bahamas Posted: 09 Dec 2020 02:06 PM PST The fossilized burrow dates back to the Late Pleistocene Epoch, about 115,000 years ago, and is located on the island of San Salvador -- best known as the likely spot where Christopher Columbus made his first landfall in his 1492 voyage.

Breakthrough in nuclear physics Posted: 09 Dec 2020 11:28 AM PST The positively charged protons in atomic nuclei should actually repel each other, and yet even heavy nuclei with many protons and neutrons stick together. The so-called strong interaction is responsible for this. Scientists have now developed a method to precisely measure the strong interaction utilizing particle collisions in the ALICE experiment at CERN in Geneva.

Neanderthals buried their dead: New evidence Posted: 09 Dec 2020 11:03 AM PST Was burial of the dead practiced by Neanderthals or is it an innovation specific to our species? Researchers have demonstrated, using a variety of criteria, that a Neanderthal child was buried, probably around 41,000 years ago, at the Ferrassie site (Dordogne, France).

How neurons form long-term memories Posted: 09 Dec 2020 11:03 AM PST Neuroscientists have identified genes that memory neurons use to rewire connections after new experiences. The findings shed light on the biology of long-term memory, with implications for future approaches to intervene when memory deficits occur with age or disease.

Temporal crop diversity stabilizes agricultural production Posted: 09 Dec 2020 11:03 AM PST Securing food supplies around the globe is a challenge facing humanity, especially in light of the predicted increase in the world's population and the effects of climate change. Greater crop diversity in agriculture is seen as a stabilizing factor for food security. Yet crop diversity alone is not sufficient. Researchers now argue that it is also essential that crops differ in their temporal production patterns.

New-found phenomenon that may improve hurricane forecasts Posted: 09 Dec 2020 11:03 AM PST Rapid storm intensification and decay remain a challenge for hurricane forecasts. Many factors are involved and some of them are either poorly known or not yet identified. One such factor appears to be the presence of surface-active materials of biological (e.g., coral reefs) or anthropogenic (e.g., oil spills) origin.

Silky sharks find hope in Atlantic, remain targets in Indo-Pacific Posted: 09 Dec 2020 11:03 AM PST New research shows that conservation efforts in the Atlantic Ocean may be working for one of the most popular -- and endangered -- species that ends up in the global shark fin trade.

'Spooky Interactions', shocking adaptations discovered in electric fish of Brazil's Amazon Posted: 09 Dec 2020 11:03 AM PST Researchers have shown how a cave-adapted glass knifefish species of roughly 300 living members (Eigenmannia vicentespelea) has evolved from surface-dwelling relatives (Eigenmannia trilineata) that still live just outside their cave door -- by sacrificing their eyes and pigmentation, but gaining slightly more powerful electric organs that enhance the way they sense prey and communicate in absolute darkness.

Study connects diabetes, air pollution to interstitial lung disease Posted: 09 Dec 2020 11:03 AM PST People with pre-diabetes or diabetes who live in ozone-polluted areas may have an increased risk for an irreversible disease with a high mortality rate. These findings are especially important today in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, where there is a heightened concern for the convergence of health effects from air pollution and SARS-CoV-2 in susceptible populations.

Wielding a gun makes a shooter perceive others as wielding a gun, too Posted: 09 Dec 2020 09:50 AM PST Nearly a decade ago, cognitive psychologist Jessica Witt wondered if the mere act of wielding a firearm could bias someone to perceive another person as wielding one, too -- and more importantly, if such a bias could be scientifically measured. A series of experiments later, Witt and her research team concluded, yes and yes. The team has recently published a new set of experiments further underscoring what they call the 'gun embodiment effect'.

Innovation in novel hybrid energy systems Posted: 09 Dec 2020 09:49 AM PST Future novel hybrid energy systems could lead to paradigm shifts in clean energy production, according to a new article.

Magnesium contact ions stabilize the macromolecular structure of transfer RNA Posted: 09 Dec 2020 09:49 AM PST In cells transfer RNA (tRNA) translates genetic information from the encoding messenger RNA (mRNA) for protein synthesis. New results from ultrafast spectroscopy and in-depth theoretical calculations demonstrate that the complex folded structure of tRNA is stabilized by magnesium ions in direct contact with phosphate groups at the RNA surface.

Warmer springs mean more offspring for prothonotary warblers Posted: 09 Dec 2020 09:49 AM PST Climate change contributes to gradually warming Aprils in southern Illinois, and at least one migratory bird species, the prothonotary warbler, is taking advantage of the heat. A new study analyzing 20 years of data found that the warblers start their egg-laying in southern Illinois significantly earlier in warmer springs. This increases the chances that the birds can raise two broods of offspring during the nesting season, researchers found.

Engineering discovery challenges heat transfer paradigm that guides electronic and photonic device design Posted: 09 Dec 2020 08:52 AM PST A research breakthrough demonstrates a new mechanism to control temperature and extend the lifetime of electronic and photonic devices such as sensors, smart phones and transistors.

New tools 'turn on' quantum gases of ultracold molecules Posted: 09 Dec 2020 08:52 AM PST Researchers have developed tools to 'turn on' quantum gases of ultracold molecules, gaining control of long-distance molecular interactions for potential applications such as encoding data for quantum computing and simulations.

Paleontologists find pterosaur precursors that fill a gap in early evolutionary history Posted: 09 Dec 2020 08:52 AM PST With the help of newly discovered skulls and skeletons that were unearthed in North America, Brazil, Argentina, and Madagascar in recent years, researchers have demonstrated that a group of 'dinosaur precursors,' called lagerpetids, are the closest relatives of pterosaurs.

New compound related to psychedelic ibogaine could treat addiction, depression Posted: 09 Dec 2020 08:52 AM PST A non-hallucinogenic version of the psychedelic drug ibogaine, with potential for treating addiction, depression and other psychiatric disorders, has been developed by researchers.

Obesity impairs immune cell function, accelerates tumor growth Posted: 09 Dec 2020 08:52 AM PST A new study in mice finds that a high-fat diet allows cancer cells to outcompete immune cells for fuel, impairing immune function and accelerating tumor growth. Cancer cells do so by rewiring their metabolisms to increase fat consumption. Blocking this rewiring enhances anti-tumor immunity. The findings suggest new strategies to target cancer metabolism and improve immunotherapies.

Science of sandcastles is clarified, finally Posted: 09 Dec 2020 08:52 AM PST New research provides a solution for the century-and-half-old puzzle of why capillary condensation, a fundamentally microscopic phenomenon involving a few molecular layers of water, can be described reasonably well using macroscopic equations and macroscopic characteristics of bulk water. Is it a coincidence or a hidden law of nature?

Youth depression tied to higher risk of 66 diseases and premature death Posted: 09 Dec 2020 08:52 AM PST Depressed children and teenagers have an increased risk of suffering from premature death and a wide range of illnesses later in life. That is according to a large observational study. The findings highlight the need to look for other potential diseases following childhood or adolescent depression. Other psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety and substance misuse, can explain part of the association.

A simple rule drives the evolution of useless complexity Posted: 09 Dec 2020 08:52 AM PST A new study has shown that elaborate protein structures accumulate over deep time even when they serve no purpose, because a universal biochemical property and the genetic code force natural selection to preserve them.

Battling COVID-19 using UV light Posted: 09 Dec 2020 08:52 AM PST Researchers have found a possible breakthrough in how to manage COVID-19, as well as future viruses. It involves using polymer and oligomer materials activated with UV light in order to kill microbes on surfaces.

Index reveals integrity issues for many of the world's forests Posted: 09 Dec 2020 08:52 AM PST Only 40 per cent of forests are considered to have high ecological integrity, according to a new global measure, the Forest Landscape Integrity Index. The Index was created by 47 forest and conservation experts from across the world.

Archaeopteryx fossil provides insights into the origins of flight Posted: 09 Dec 2020 08:52 AM PST Molting is thought to be unorganized in the first feathered dinosaurs because they had yet to evolve flight, so determining how molting evolved can lead to better understanding of flight origins. Recently researchers discovered that the earliest record of feather molting from the famous early fossil bird Archaeopteryx found in southern Germany in rocks that used to be tropical lagoons ~150 million years ago.

Spiders in space: Without gravity, light becomes key to orientation Posted: 09 Dec 2020 08:51 AM PST Humans have taken spiders into space more than once to study the importance of gravity to their web-building. What originally began as a somewhat unsuccessful PR experiment for high school students has yielded the surprising insight that light plays a larger role in arachnid orientation than previously thought.

'Game changer' perovskite can detect gamma rays Posted: 09 Dec 2020 08:51 AM PST Scientists have developed a game-changing perovskite material that can be used as a cheaper and highly efficient alternative to gamma-ray detectors.

Space weather discovery puts 'habitable planets' at risk Posted: 09 Dec 2020 06:43 AM PST Stellar flares with a chance of radio bursts: that's the weather from Proxima Centauri. New research suggests exoplanets around red dwarf M-type stars will likely be exposed to coronal mass ejections, making the likelihood of finding life as we know it pretty slim.

Researchers develop rapid genomics strategy to trace coronavirus Posted: 09 Dec 2020 06:43 AM PST A team of researchers is pioneering the use of a fast genomic sequencing technology to help determine the source of hard-to-trace coronavirus cases.

Focus on human factor in designing systems Posted: 09 Dec 2020 06:43 AM PST A new study has found one of the challenges in designing systems that involve people interacting with technology is to tackle the human trait of overconfidence.

Engineers discover new microbe for simpler, cheaper and greener wastewater treatment Posted: 09 Dec 2020 06:43 AM PST Researchers have discovered a new strain of bacterium that can remove both nitrogen and phosphorous from sewage wastewater. Their findings offer a simpler, cheaper and greener method of wastewater treatment.

Microbes and plants: A dynamic duo Posted: 09 Dec 2020 06:42 AM PST The unique partnership between root-dwelling microbes and the plants they inhabit can reduce drought stress.

How blood and wealth can predict future disability Posted: 09 Dec 2020 06:42 AM PST Research shows that blood tests for biomarkers such as cholesterol and inflammation can predict disability in five years. Researchers studied blood biomarkers of 5,286 participants involved in the UK Household Longitudinal Study - and found that biological health can predict disability and healthcare demand in five years' time. They also found that people on higher-incomes were more likely to seek GP appointments and outpatient treatments for their medical problems.

Several U.S. populations and regions exposed to high arsenic concentrations in drinking water Posted: 09 Dec 2020 06:42 AM PST A national study of public water systems found that arsenic levels were not uniform across the U.S., even after implementation of the latest national regulatory standard. In the first study of differences in public drinking water arsenic exposures by geographic subgroups, researchers confirmed that community water systems reliant on groundwater, serving smaller populations located in the Southwest, and Hispanic communities were more likely to continue exceeding the national maximum containment level, raising environmental justice concerns.

Evolution may be to blame for high risk of advanced cancers in humans Posted: 09 Dec 2020 06:42 AM PST Compared to chimpanzees, our closest evolutionary cousins, humans are particularly prone to developing advanced carcinomas -- the type of tumors that include prostate, breast, lung and colorectal cancers -- even in the absence of known risk factors, such as genetic predisposition or tobacco use. A recent study helps explain why.

Breast cancer survivors are less likely to get pregnant, but often have healthy babies and good long-term health Posted: 09 Dec 2020 06:42 AM PST A large meta-analysis of breast cancer survivors of childbearing age indicated that they are less likely than the general public to get pregnant, and they face higher risk of certain complications such as preterm labor. However, most survivors who do get pregnant deliver healthy babies and have no adverse effects on their long-term survival, according to new data.

Southern Hemisphere westerly winds likely to intensify as climate warms Posted: 09 Dec 2020 06:42 AM PST Polar climate scientists have created the most high resolution past record of the Southern Hemisphere westerly winds. The results describe how the winds are likely to intensify and migrate poleward as the climate warms. The study highlights the urgent need for better models to predict the future.

Filming roaming molecular fragments in real time Posted: 09 Dec 2020 06:42 AM PST An international research team has captured roaming molecular fragments for the first time.

Tomatoes offer affordable source of Parkinson's disease drug Posted: 09 Dec 2020 06:42 AM PST Scientists have produced a tomato enriched in the Parkinson's disease drug L-DOPA in what could become a new, affordable source of one of the world's essential medicines.

When strains of E.coli play rock-paper-scissors, it's not the strongest that survives Posted: 09 Dec 2020 06:42 AM PST What happens when different strains of bacteria are present in the same system? Do they co-exist? Do the strongest survive? In a microbial game of rock-paper-scissors, researchers uncovered a surprising answer.

New superhighway system discovered in the Solar System Posted: 09 Dec 2020 06:42 AM PST Researchers have discovered a new superhighway network to travel through the Solar System much faster than was previously possible. Such routes can drive comets and asteroids near Jupiter to Neptune's distance in under a decade and to 100 astronomical units in less than a century. They could be used to send spacecraft to the far reaches of our planetary system relatively fast, and to monitor and understand near-Earth objects that might collide with our planet.

Significant increase in depression seen among children during first UK lockdown Posted: 08 Dec 2020 04:34 PM PST The first lockdown led to a significant increase in symptoms of depression among children, highlighting the unintended consequences of school closures, according to a new study.

Key driver of the spread of cancer to the brain Posted: 08 Dec 2020 12:37 PM PST Approximately 200,000 cancer patients are diagnosed with brain metastases each year, yet few treatment options exist because the mechanisms that allow cancer to spread to the brain remain unclear. However, a study offers hope for the development of future therapies by showing how a poorly understood gene known as YTHDF3 plays a significant role in the process.

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