ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Trees are out of equilibrium with climate
• Planning ahead protects fish and fisheries
• Apathy could predict onset of dementia years before other symptoms
• Characterizing wildlife consumers to guide behavior change efforts provides optimism amid the Asian Songbird Extinction Crisis
• New dinosaur showed descendants how to dress to impress
• Marine pollution: How do plastic additives dilute in water and how risky are they?
• Recovery of an endangered Caribbean coral from parrotfish predation
• Nanoengineered cement shows promise for sealing leaky gas wells
• A human gene placed in fruit flies reveals details about a human developmental disorder
• Emerging from the fog: Little understood post-stroke cognitive issues are verified
• Critical temperature for tropical tree lifespan revealed
• Endothelial cell targeting could help fight COVID-19 symptoms, study shows
• UV-emitting LED lights found to kill coronavirus
• Compound derived from thunder god vine could help pancreatic cancer patients
• Salt-tolerant bacteria with an appetite for sludge make biodegradable plastics
• Robotic exoskeleton training improves walking in adolescents with acquired brain injury
• Animals are back at Gorongosa National Park after civil war, but the savanna community doesn't look quite look like how it used to
• What happens when rain falls on desert soils? An updated model provides answers
• Irrelevant information interferes with making decisions
• Benefits of renewable energy vary from place to place
• Mystery solved with math: Cytoplasmic traffic jam disrupts sleep-wake cycles
• One's trash, another's treasure: Fertilizer made from urine could enable space agriculture
• The power of validation in helping people stay positive
• Chance played a major role in keeping Earth fit for life
• Create a realistic VR experience using a normal 360-degree camera
• Photosensitive carbon nanoparticles investigated
• How to protect neurons and encourage their growth: New clue
• Point of Care testing can improve the detection and treatment of influenza
• New combination therapy could help fight difficult-to-treat cancers with common mutations
• Oregon's Western Cascades watershed to experience larger, more frequent fires
• Drugs create balancing act for patients with non-small cell lung cancer
• When chemistry with green light mimics what happens in life
• Does sharing health data help maintain weight loss?
• Singing to preterm infants during kangaroo care reduces maternal anxiety
• What makes peppers blush?
• The moon controls the release of methane in Arctic Ocean
• Renewable energy: Frequency data for stable power supply
• Invasive harlequin ladybird causes severe decline of two-spotted ladybird, new study shows
• Young people who go to bed later drink and smoke more due to their impulsivity
• High-rate Li-ion batteries demonstrate superior safety
• More frequent and extreme marine heatwaves likely to threaten starfish
• Fans are not amused about decisions made by video assistants
• New hard-carbon anode material for sodium-ion batteries will solve the lithium conundrum
• Using play to 'school' children’s emotions
• Applying compost to landfills could have environmental benefits
• Unexpected insights into early dinosaur's brain, eating habits and agility
• High blood pressure at any age, no matter how long you have it, may speed cognitive decline
• How our brains know when something's different
• Carrots are healthy, but active enzyme unlocks full benefits
• A theory as clear as glass
• Like adults, children by age 3 prefer seeing fractal patterns
• Using water fleas, researchers investigate adaptive evolution
• Sea star listed as critically endangered
• Researchers find a better way to design metal alloys
• New tool for watching and controlling neural activity
• Carolina Sandhills Salamander: New species added to species-rich North Carolina
• New computational method validates images without 'ground truth'
• tRNA fragments are involved in post-stroke immune reactions

Trees are out of equilibrium with climate Posted: 14 Dec 2020 04:24 PM PST A research team studied the current ranges of hundreds of North American trees and shrubs to assess the degree to which species are growing in all of the places that are climatically suitable. Researchers found evidence of widespread 'underfilling' of these potential climatic habitats -- only 50% on average -- which could mean that trees already have disadvantage as the world continues to warm.

Planning ahead protects fish and fisheries Posted: 14 Dec 2020 04:23 PM PST Conservation of fish and other marine life migrating from warming ocean waters will be more effective and also protect commercial fisheries if plans are made now to cope with climate change, according to a new study.

Apathy could predict onset of dementia years before other symptoms Posted: 14 Dec 2020 04:23 PM PST Apathy -- a lack of interest or motivation -- could predict the onset of some forms of dementia many years before symptoms start, offering a 'window of opportunity' to treat the disease at an early stage, according to new research.

Characterizing wildlife consumers to guide behavior change efforts provides optimism amid the Asian Songbird Extinction Crisis Posted: 14 Dec 2020 04:23 PM PST A comprehensive new study into the key user groups in Indonesia's bird trade offers hope for protecting species through behavioural change. Novel research has identified three main groups within the Indonesian songbird owner community: 'hobbyist', 'contestant' and 'breeder'.

New dinosaur showed descendants how to dress to impress Posted: 14 Dec 2020 04:23 PM PST Scientists have found the most elaborately dressed-to-impress dinosaur ever described and say it sheds new light on how birds such as peacocks inherited their ability to show off.

Marine pollution: How do plastic additives dilute in water and how risky are they? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 04:23 PM PST New research shows that additives in plastic materials deployed or thrown in coastal environments diffuse into the environment at different rates. Their findings demonstrate how assessments of exposure risk based on the composition of the source plastic waste will be inaccurate, because this composition varies as plastics break down and additives dilute into the environment at different rates. A new evaluation method is needed, and these scientists have just the solution.

Recovery of an endangered Caribbean coral from parrotfish predation Posted: 14 Dec 2020 04:23 PM PST Orbicella annularis is an important Caribbean coral and an endangered species, yet it is also frequently predated by parrotfishes. Researchers have tracked the recovery of this coral species from parrotfish predation. They found that O. annularis coral tissue loss appears to be driven primarily by a few exceptionally large parrotfish predation scars. Fortunately, 87% of scars were small and likely to fully heal.

Nanoengineered cement shows promise for sealing leaky gas wells Posted: 14 Dec 2020 04:23 PM PST Leaking natural gas wells are considered a potential source of methane emissions, and a new nanomaterial cement mixture could provide an effective, affordable solution for sealing these wells.

A human gene placed in fruit flies reveals details about a human developmental disorder Posted: 14 Dec 2020 04:23 PM PST Meier-Gorlin syndrome, or MGS, is a rare genetic developmental disorder that causes dwarfism, small ears, a small brain, missing patella and other skeletal abnormalities. One mutation causing MGS, first reported in 2017, is a Lysine 23 to Glutamic acid (K23E) substitution in the gene for Orc6. Researchers have now put that mutant human gene into fruit flies to probe the function of Orc6 K23E.

Emerging from the fog: Little understood post-stroke cognitive issues are verified Posted: 14 Dec 2020 04:13 PM PST For the first time, researchers have measured the physical evidence of diminished neural processing within the brain after a stroke.

Critical temperature for tropical tree lifespan revealed Posted: 14 Dec 2020 01:43 PM PST For the first time scientists have provided clear evidence that tropical tree lifespan decreases above a critical temperature threshold.

Endothelial cell targeting could help fight COVID-19 symptoms, study shows Posted: 14 Dec 2020 01:43 PM PST For COVID-19 patients with serious lung disease, targeting endothelial cells -- cells that comprise the blood vessel wall which regulate oxygen exchange between airways and the bloodstream -- may be a novel approach restoring normal lung function.

UV-emitting LED lights found to kill coronavirus Posted: 14 Dec 2020 01:43 PM PST Researchers have shown that the coronavirus can be killed efficiently, quickly, and cheaply using ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs). They believe that the UV-LED technology will soon be available for private and commercial use.

Compound derived from thunder god vine could help pancreatic cancer patients Posted: 14 Dec 2020 01:43 PM PST The results of a pre-clinical study suggest how a compound derived from the thunder god vine -- an herb used in China for centuries to treat joint pain, swelling and fever -- is able to kill cancer cells and potentially improve clinical outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer.

Salt-tolerant bacteria with an appetite for sludge make biodegradable plastics Posted: 14 Dec 2020 01:43 PM PST The United States generates seven million tons of sewage sludge annually, enough to fill 2,500 Olympic-sized swimming pools. While a portion of this waste is repurposed for manure and other land applications, a substantial amount is still disposed of in landfills. In a new study, researchers have uncovered an efficient way to use leftover sludge to make biodegradable plastics.

Robotic exoskeleton training improves walking in adolescents with acquired brain injury Posted: 14 Dec 2020 01:43 PM PST Gait training using robotic exoskeletons improved motor function in adolescents and young adults with acquired brain injury.

Animals are back at Gorongosa National Park after civil war, but the savanna community doesn't look quite look like how it used to Posted: 14 Dec 2020 12:03 PM PST When civil war broke out in Mozambique more than 40 years ago, it largely spelled doom for animals in Gorongosa National Park, a 1,500-square-mile reserve on the floor of the southern end of the Great African Rift Valley, in the heart of the country. As the decades-long fighting spilled over into the reserve, many of the creatures became casualties of the conflict.

What happens when rain falls on desert soils? An updated model provides answers Posted: 14 Dec 2020 12:03 PM PST Scientists have made important improvements to our understanding of how water moves through and gets stored in dry desert soils by refining an existing computer model.

Irrelevant information interferes with making decisions Posted: 14 Dec 2020 12:03 PM PST According to new research from behavioral economists, irrelevant information or unavailable options often cause people to make bad choices. When both elements are present, the probability of a poor decision is even greater. Through an experiment involving 222 individual tests each consisting of more than 40 questions, research revealed that decisions made in an environment of irrelevant information carry time, cognitive, and consequence costs.

Benefits of renewable energy vary from place to place Posted: 14 Dec 2020 09:36 AM PST A new study finds the environmental benefits of renewable power generation vary significantly, depending on the nature of the conventional power generation that the renewable energy is offsetting. The researchers hope the work will help target future renewable energy investments in places where they can do the most good.

Mystery solved with math: Cytoplasmic traffic jam disrupts sleep-wake cycles Posted: 14 Dec 2020 09:36 AM PST Mathematicians have identified the principle of how aging and diseases like dementia and obesity cause sleep disorders. A combination of mathematical modelling and experiments demonstrated that the cytoplasmic congestion caused by aging, dementia, and/or obesity disrupts the circadian rhythms in the human body and leads to irregular sleep-wake cycles. This finding suggests new treatment strategies for addressing unstable sleep-wake cycles.

One's trash, another's treasure: Fertilizer made from urine could enable space agriculture Posted: 14 Dec 2020 09:35 AM PST From the perspective of future societies, in extremely closed environments such as a space station, self-sufficiency in food cultivation and waste management is critical. However, the technology to achieve this is still lacking. In a new study, scientists shed light on a cheap and efficient method to make liquid fertilizer (ammonia) from simplified artificial urine, serving an ideal dual purpose of growing food and treating waste.

The power of validation in helping people stay positive Posted: 14 Dec 2020 09:35 AM PST Telling a distressed friend or family member something as simple as 'I understand why you feel that way' can go a long way toward helping loved ones feel better, new research suggests.

Chance played a major role in keeping Earth fit for life Posted: 14 Dec 2020 09:35 AM PST A study gives a new perspective on why our planet has managed to stay habitable for billions of years - concluding it is almost certainly due, at least in part, to luck. The research suggests this may shorten the odds of finding life on so-called 'twin-Earths' in the Universe.

Create a realistic VR experience using a normal 360-degree camera Posted: 14 Dec 2020 09:35 AM PST Scientists have developed a quick and easy approach for capturing 360° VR photography without using expensive specialist cameras. The system uses a commercially available 360° camera on a rotating selfie stick to capture video footage and create an immersive VR experience.

Photosensitive carbon nanoparticles investigated Posted: 14 Dec 2020 09:35 AM PST Researchers have now managed to identify the fundamental problems relating to the photophysics and photochemistry of carbon nanocolloids (CNC), and ascertain possible approaches for research into these readily available, non-toxic and adaptable nanomaterials.

How to protect neurons and encourage their growth: New clue Posted: 14 Dec 2020 09:35 AM PST Researchers have identified a family of enzymes whose inhibition both protects neurons and encourages their growth, a pathway to potential new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases from Alzheimer's to glaucoma.

Point of Care testing can improve the detection and treatment of influenza Posted: 14 Dec 2020 09:35 AM PST New research has shown that implementing point-of-care testing in hospitals to diagnose influenza can lead to better treatment and faster recovery for patients. The researchers are now calling for routine use of these tests to become standard for patients admitted with acute respiratory symptoms during the influenza season.

New combination therapy could help fight difficult-to-treat cancers with common mutations Posted: 14 Dec 2020 09:34 AM PST Scientists describe a new combination therapy that suppresses the MAPK pathway by holding cancer-driving proteins in a death grip. This combination of two small molecules has the potential to treat not only BRAF mutated melanoma but also additional aggressive subtypes of cancers, including melanoma, lung, pancreatic and colon cancers that harbor common mutations in cancer genes called RAS or NF1.

Oregon's Western Cascades watershed to experience larger, more frequent fires Posted: 14 Dec 2020 09:34 AM PST Projected changes in temperature and relative humidity are expected to lead to longer fire seasons and more severe fire weather in Oregon's Western Cascade mountains, which in turn will result in larger, more frequent fires.

Drugs create balancing act for patients with non-small cell lung cancer Posted: 14 Dec 2020 07:47 AM PST Researchers identified a correlation between multisystem immune-related adverse events and improved rates of survival. This new information will be helpful in discussing with patients the spectrum of immune side effects that may occur from immunotherapy and the implications for their future.

When chemistry with green light mimics what happens in life Posted: 14 Dec 2020 07:47 AM PST Taking inspiration from nature, researchers created a green light-stabilized 3D polymer structure that unfolds itself when left in darkness - the first reported example of a reversible, light-triggered process to fold polymers into single chain nanoparticles.

Does sharing health data help maintain weight loss? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 07:47 AM PST Research suggests that health counselors having access to self-monitored health data would improve a person's weight loss maintenance.

Singing to preterm infants during kangaroo care reduces maternal anxiety Posted: 14 Dec 2020 07:47 AM PST Premature births are stressful experiences that increase the risk of anxiety for mothers and may hinder the development of interaction between mother and infant. A new study indicates that the combination of singing and kangaroo care boosts the wellbeing of the mothers of preterm infants, also making it easier for them to establish a connection with their baby.

What makes peppers blush? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 07:47 AM PST Bright red, tasty and healthy, that's how we know and love bell peppers. In a first, a team has deciphered in detail at the protein level what makes them turn red as they ripen. At the heart of the project are the so-called plastids, typical plant cell organelles in which chlorophyll is broken down and carotenoids are produced as the fruit ripens.

The moon controls the release of methane in Arctic Ocean Posted: 14 Dec 2020 07:47 AM PST The moon controls one of the most formidable forces in nature - the tides that shape our coastlines. Tides, in turn, significantly affect the intensity of methane emissions from the Arctic Ocean seafloor. High tides may even counter the potential threat of submarine methane release from the warming Arctic.

Renewable energy: Frequency data for stable power supply Posted: 14 Dec 2020 07:47 AM PST In the renewable energies era, grid frequency will be an increasingly important indicator of stability of power supply. An interdisciplinary research consortium has analyzed frequency fluctuations in twelve synchronous grid areas on three continents. For data recording, scientists have developed a portable, GPS-synchronized recorder based on a new measurement technology.

Invasive harlequin ladybird causes severe decline of two-spotted ladybird, new study shows Posted: 14 Dec 2020 07:47 AM PST Scientists have led an 11-year study which shows how the invasive harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) caused the severe decline of the two-spotted ladybird on broad-leaved trees and shrubs in northern Switzerland.

Young people who go to bed later drink and smoke more due to their impulsivity Posted: 14 Dec 2020 07:47 AM PST Young people who prefer to stay up late are more impulsive than their peers who go to bed earlier, which makes them more likely to drink alcohol and smoke.

High-rate Li-ion batteries demonstrate superior safety Posted: 14 Dec 2020 07:47 AM PST As the inevitable growth of transport electrification continues, the types of batteries that will be used in such vehicles, their charging parameters, infrastructure and timeframes are key considerations that will speed up the transition to electrification.

More frequent and extreme marine heatwaves likely to threaten starfish Posted: 14 Dec 2020 07:47 AM PST Common starfish cannot survive amplified marine heatwaves projected at the end of the century and experience lasting negative effects from current heatwaves, according to new research.

Fans are not amused about decisions made by video assistants Posted: 14 Dec 2020 07:46 AM PST Since the 2019/20 season, controversial referee calls in the English Premier League may be technically reviewed and, if deemed necessary, corrected. Using a Twitter analysis of 129 games in the English Premier League, a research team has now determined how decisions made by video referees affect the mood of the fans.

New hard-carbon anode material for sodium-ion batteries will solve the lithium conundrum Posted: 14 Dec 2020 07:46 AM PST Today, most rechargeable batteries are lithium-ion batteries, which are made from relatively scarce elements--this calls for the development of batteries using alternative materials. In a new study, scientists from Tokyo University of Science, Japan, find an energy-efficient method to fabricate a hard carbon electrode with enormously high sodium storage capacity. This could pave the way for next-generation sodium-ion batteries made with inexpensive and abundant materials, and having a higher energy density than lithium-ion batteries.

Using play to 'school' children’s emotions Posted: 14 Dec 2020 07:46 AM PST Pretend play is a pedagogical tool that can be used to stimulate a child's socio-emotional competences. A curriculum based on this approach has been introduced in classes of pupils aged five and six. The study evaluating the effects of the programme shows that pupils who followed the curriculum increased their emotional recognition capacities and emotional lexicon compared to a control group.

Applying compost to landfills could have environmental benefits Posted: 14 Dec 2020 07:46 AM PST Many people think of composting organic matter as a way of keeping solid waste out of landfills, but a new study finds there can be significant environmental benefits associated with using compost at landfills.

Unexpected insights into early dinosaur's brain, eating habits and agility Posted: 14 Dec 2020 06:01 AM PST A pioneering reconstruction of the brain belonging to one of the earliest dinosaurs to roam the Earth has shed new light on its possible diet and ability to move fast.

High blood pressure at any age, no matter how long you have it, may speed cognitive decline Posted: 14 Dec 2020 06:01 AM PST Memory, concentration and other cognitive functions decline faster among middle-aged and older adults who have high blood pressure than those who do not. Even seemingly slight blood pressure elevation during middle and older age is linked to a faster decline in cognition.

How our brains know when something's different Posted: 14 Dec 2020 06:01 AM PST Scientists discovered how a set of high frequency brain waves may help us unconsciously know when something's different by comparing memories of the past with present experiences.

Carrots are healthy, but active enzyme unlocks full benefits Posted: 12 Dec 2020 05:33 AM PST Carrots are a good source of beta-carotene, which is a precursor of vitamin A. But to get the full health benefits of this superfood, you need an active enzyme to produce this vitamin.

A theory as clear as glass Posted: 11 Dec 2020 12:06 PM PST Scientists ran molecular dynamics simulations to compose a more complete theory of the factors that drive crystallization instead of glass formation. They found that tiny changes in material composition can frustrate crystal growth, leading to vitrification. This work may lead to advances in the field of industrial glass-making.

Like adults, children by age 3 prefer seeing fractal patterns Posted: 11 Dec 2020 10:55 AM PST By the time children are 3 years old they already have an adult-like preference for visual fractal patterns commonly seen in nature, according to researchers.

Using water fleas, researchers investigate adaptive evolution Posted: 11 Dec 2020 10:55 AM PST Researchers resurrected the preserved eggs of a shrimp-like crustacean to examine long-standing questions about adaptive evolution.

Sea star listed as critically endangered Posted: 11 Dec 2020 10:54 AM PST The iconic sunflower sea star has been listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature following a groundbreaking population study.

Researchers find a better way to design metal alloys Posted: 11 Dec 2020 10:54 AM PST A new system uses machine learning to analyze boundaries between crystal grains, allowing for the selection of desired properties in a new metal alloy.

New tool for watching and controlling neural activity Posted: 11 Dec 2020 08:55 AM PST An interdisciplinary team of scientists has created a new molecular tool to help us better understand the cellular basis of behavior.

Carolina Sandhills Salamander: New species added to species-rich North Carolina Posted: 11 Dec 2020 08:55 AM PST Already possessing more salamander species than any other state in the country with 63, North Carolina has just added one more to make it 64. The aptly named Carolina Sandhills Salamander (Eurycea arenicola) is found in association with springs, seepages and small blackwater streams of the Sandhills region of North Carolina.

New computational method validates images without 'ground truth' Posted: 11 Dec 2020 08:55 AM PST Researchers have developed a computational method that allows them to determine not if an entire imaging picture is accurate, but if any given point on the image is probable, based on the assumptions built into the model.

tRNA fragments are involved in post-stroke immune reactions Posted: 11 Dec 2020 08:55 AM PST Following a stroke, the immune system triggers an inflammatory reaction that can either overshoot or turn into an immune deficiency. Now, a team of researchers has shown that tRNA fragments play a role in this immune reaction. Fragments of tRNAs, which transport amino acids during protein synthesis ('transfer RNA'), were long merely considered cellular waste. The researcher's aim: To find new target structures for therapeutics.

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