ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• An avocado a day keeps your gut microbes happy, study shows
• Researchers turn DNA detectives to aid rhino poaching prosecutions with forensic evidence
• Immune cell that drives breast cancer could be effective target in novel immunotherapies
• Attitudes about climate change are shifting, even in Texas
• AI model shows promise to generate faster, more accurate weather forecasts
• Error correction means California's future wetter winters may never come
• Better heart health scores in midlife linked to lower risk of late-life dementia
• Urine diversion shows multiple environmental benefits when used at city scale
• Physicians say non-contact infrared thermometers fall short as COVID-19 screeners
• Telemedicine needed to diagnose and treat dysphagia in COVID-19 patients, doctors say
• Accurate neural network computer vision without the 'black box'
• Plastics pose threat to human health, report shows
• Weak force has strong impact on nanosheets
• To the brain, reading computer code is not the same as reading language
• Researchers identify where giant jets from black holes discharge their energy
• Engineers develop soft robotic gripper
• Primitive fish fossils reveal developmental origins of teeth
• Engineers go microbial to store energy, sequester CO2
• Drug may boost vaccine responses in older adults
• RNA basic building block produced biocatalytically for the first time
• Study IDs four things that make people feel good about using chatbots
• Undruggable diseases gain a new RNA drug-discovery tool
• COVID-19 does not damage auditory system, study finds
• The melting of the Greenland ice sheet could lead to a sea level rise of 18 cm in 2100
• Fast walking in narrow corridors can increase COVID-19 transmission risk
• New approach can improve COVID-19 predictions worldwide
• Genes play a role in common knee injury
• The farthest galaxy in the universe
• Fractured bedrock in forests is overlooked source of natural CO2
• Possibilities of new one-atom-thick materials
• Powerful electrical events quickly alter surface chemistry on Mars, other planetary bodies
• Digital trackers for mental health not yet fit for purpose
• Wireless, ultra-thin and battery-free strain sensors that are 10 times more sensitive
• Creating a ground plan for stonefly evolution
• 'Alarmingly high' vitamin D deficiency in the United Kingdom
• 'Earable' computing: A new research area in the making
• Proteins enable crop-infecting fungi to 'smell' food
• Scientists show what loneliness looks like in the brain
• Poverty linked to higher risk of COVID-19 death, study suggests
• Researchers uncover blind spots at the intersection of AI and neuroscience
• Type and abundance of mouth bacteria linked to lung cancer risk in non-smokers
• Exploring the relationship between nitrogen and carbon dioxide in greenhouse gas emissions
• Ancient DNA continues to rewrite corn's 9,000-year society-shaping history
• Data-driven discovery of biomarkers pave way for improved diagnosis of contact allergy

An avocado a day keeps your gut microbes happy, study shows Posted: 15 Dec 2020 02:57 PM PST Eating avocado as part of your daily diet can help improve gut health, a new study shows. Avocados are a healthy food that is high in dietary fiber and monounsaturated fat. However, it was not clear how avocados impact the microbes in the gastrointestinal system or 'gut.'

Researchers turn DNA detectives to aid rhino poaching prosecutions with forensic evidence Posted: 15 Dec 2020 01:49 PM PST Researchers have, for the first time, used unique DNA markers to provide forensic evidence for alleged poaching cases involving the Indian rhino.

Immune cell that drives breast cancer could be effective target in novel immunotherapies Posted: 15 Dec 2020 01:49 PM PST Researchers have identified a type of immune cells that acts as a major driver of breast cancer growth by preventing the accumulation of a specific protein that induces anti-tumor responses. This new knowledge could be utilized for the development of novel immunotherapeutic approaches to treat the disease.

Attitudes about climate change are shifting, even in Texas Posted: 15 Dec 2020 11:22 AM PST Longstanding skepticism among Texans toward the climate movement has shifted, and attitudes in the nation's leading energy-producing state now mirror those in the rest of the United States, according to new research.

AI model shows promise to generate faster, more accurate weather forecasts Posted: 15 Dec 2020 11:22 AM PST A model based solely on the past 40 years of weather events uses 7,000 times less computer power than today's weather forecasting tools. An A.I.-powered model could someday provide more accurate forecasts for rain, snow and other weather events.

Error correction means California's future wetter winters may never come Posted: 15 Dec 2020 11:22 AM PST After probing a persistent error in widely used models, researchers estimate that California will likely experience drier winters in the future than projected by some climate models, meaning residents may see less spring runoff, higher spring temperatures, and an increased risk of wildfire in coming years.

Better heart health scores in midlife linked to lower risk of late-life dementia Posted: 15 Dec 2020 11:08 AM PST A long-term study of 1,449 people in Finland found that those who had better scores on standard metrics of cardiovascular health in midlife, especially for behavioral factors such as smoking, had a lower risk of dementia later in life.

Urine diversion shows multiple environmental benefits when used at city scale Posted: 15 Dec 2020 11:08 AM PST Diverting urine away from municipal wastewater treatment plants and recycling the nutrient-rich liquid to make crop fertilizer would result in multiple environmental benefits when used at city scale, according to a new study.

Physicians say non-contact infrared thermometers fall short as COVID-19 screeners Posted: 15 Dec 2020 11:08 AM PST Experts describe why temperature screening -- primarily done with a non-contact infrared thermometer (NCIT) -- doesn't work as an effective strategy for stemming the spread of COVID-19.

Telemedicine needed to diagnose and treat dysphagia in COVID-19 patients, doctors say Posted: 15 Dec 2020 11:08 AM PST Ideally, clinicians assess dysphagia through a clinical (bedside) evaluation and one of two standard tests: a videofluoroscopic swallow study or a flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. However, during the pandemic, clinicians diagnosing and treating dysphagia in COVID-19 patients are putting themselves at risk by using these up close and physical techniques. Therefore, experts say, say it's time to embrace telemedicine for dysphagia.

Accurate neural network computer vision without the 'black box' Posted: 15 Dec 2020 11:08 AM PST New research offers clues to what goes on inside the minds of machines as they learn to see. Instead of attempting to account for a neural network's decision-making on a post hoc basis, their method shows how the network learns along the way, by revealing how much the network calls to mind different concepts to help decipher what it sees as the image travels through successive layers.

Plastics pose threat to human health, report shows Posted: 15 Dec 2020 10:12 AM PST Plastics contain and leach hazardous chemicals, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that threaten human health. An authoritative new report, Plastics, EDCs, & Health, from the Endocrine Society and the IPEN (International Pollutants Elimination Network), presents a summary of international research on the health impacts of EDCs and describes the alarming health effects of widespread contamination from EDCs in plastics.

Weak force has strong impact on nanosheets Posted: 15 Dec 2020 10:12 AM PST Rice University scientists find the ubiquitous, ''weak'' van der Waals force is sufficient to indent rigid nanosheets, hinting at applications in nanoscale optics or catalytic systems.

To the brain, reading computer code is not the same as reading language Posted: 15 Dec 2020 10:12 AM PST Neuroscientists have found reading computer code does not rely on the regions of the brain involved in language processing. Instead, it activates the 'multiple demand network,' which is also recruited for complex cognitive tasks such as solving math problems or crossword puzzles.

Researchers identify where giant jets from black holes discharge their energy Posted: 15 Dec 2020 10:12 AM PST Scientists have disagreed about where powerful jets from black holes discharge their energy. A new study uses standard statistical techniques and relies on very few assumptions to determine that the jets release their energy in an area called the molecular torus, which is much farther away from the black hole's center than another prime candidate, the broadline region. This finding has implications for how jets form, pick up speed, and become column-shaped.

Engineers develop soft robotic gripper Posted: 15 Dec 2020 10:12 AM PST Scientists often look to nature for cues when designing robots - some robots mimic human hands while others simulate the actions of octopus arms or inchworms. Now, researchers have designed a new soft robotic gripper that draws inspiration from an unusual source: pole beans.

Primitive fish fossils reveal developmental origins of teeth Posted: 15 Dec 2020 10:11 AM PST Teeth and hard structures called dermal odontodes are evolutionarily related, arising from the same developmental system, a new study shows.

Engineers go microbial to store energy, sequester CO2 Posted: 15 Dec 2020 09:12 AM PST By borrowing nature's blueprints for photosynthesis, bioengineers have found a way to efficiently absorb and store large-scale, low-cost renewable energy from the sun - while sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide to use later as a biofuel.

Drug may boost vaccine responses in older adults Posted: 15 Dec 2020 09:12 AM PST A drug that boosts the removal of cellular debris in immune cells may increase the protective effects of vaccines in older adults, a new study shows.

RNA basic building block produced biocatalytically for the first time Posted: 15 Dec 2020 09:11 AM PST Researchers succeed in the first enzyme-driven biocatalytic synthesis of nucleic acid building blocks. This facilitates the development of antiviral agents and RNA-based therapeutics.

Study IDs four things that make people feel good about using chatbots Posted: 15 Dec 2020 09:11 AM PST A recent study has identified four factors that predict user satisfaction with customer service chatbots. The study also found that a positive chatbot experience was associated with customer loyalty, highlighting the potential importance of the findings to corporate brands.

Undruggable diseases gain a new RNA drug-discovery tool Posted: 15 Dec 2020 09:11 AM PST A new RNA-targeting tool enables scientists to tackle difficult molecular recognition problems to aid drug discovery for incurable diseases.

COVID-19 does not damage auditory system, study finds Posted: 15 Dec 2020 09:11 AM PST Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been reports in the professional literature on possible hearing loss caused by the disease. A new study finds no evidence of damage to the auditory system as a result of COVID-19 infection.

The melting of the Greenland ice sheet could lead to a sea level rise of 18 cm in 2100 Posted: 15 Dec 2020 08:20 AM PST A new study, applying the latest climate models, of which the MAR predicts a 60% greater melting of the Greenland ice sheet than previously predicted. Data that will be included in the next IPCC report.

Fast walking in narrow corridors can increase COVID-19 transmission risk Posted: 15 Dec 2020 08:20 AM PST Simulations have been used to predict droplet dispersal patterns in situations where COVID-19 might be spread, and results show the importance of the space shape in modeling how droplets move. The simulations are used to determine flow patterns behind a walking individual in spaces of different shape. The results reveal a higher transmission risk for children in some instances, such as behind quickly moving people in a long narrow hallway.

New approach can improve COVID-19 predictions worldwide Posted: 15 Dec 2020 08:20 AM PST Methods currently used around the world for predicting the development of COVID-19 and other pandemics fail to report precisely on the best and worst case scenarios. A newly developed prediction method for epidemics solves this problem, a new study finds.

Genes play a role in common knee injury Posted: 15 Dec 2020 08:20 AM PST It has long been known that the choice of shoe, surface and type of sport can all be contributing factors when someone suffers an anterior cruciate ligament rupture. Researchers have now observed that genes also play a decisive role.

The farthest galaxy in the universe Posted: 15 Dec 2020 07:43 AM PST A team of astronomers used the Keck I telescope to measure the distance to an ancient galaxy. They deduced the target galaxy GN-z11 is not only the oldest galaxy but also the most distant. It's so distant it defines the very boundary of the observable universe itself. The team hopes this study can shed light on a period of cosmological history when the universe was only a few hundred million years old.

Fractured bedrock in forests is overlooked source of natural CO2 Posted: 15 Dec 2020 07:43 AM PST According to a new study, CO2 is being produced deep underground in bedrock fractures. This source could account for up to 29% of the daily average CO2 emitted by the land.

Possibilities of new one-atom-thick materials Posted: 15 Dec 2020 07:43 AM PST New 2D materials have the potential to transform technologies, but they're expensive and difficult to synthesize. Researchers used computer modeling to predict the properties of 2D materials that haven't yet been made in real life. These highly-accurate predictions show the possibility of materials whose properties could be 'tuned' to make them more efficient than existing materials in particular applications. A separate paper demonstrated a way to integrate these materials into real electronic devices.

Powerful electrical events quickly alter surface chemistry on Mars, other planetary bodies Posted: 15 Dec 2020 07:43 AM PST On Earth, dust particles are viewed mainly in terms of their physical effects, like erosion. But, in exotic locales from Mars to Venus to Jupiter's icy moon Europa, electrical effects can affect the chemical composition of a planetary body's surface and atmosphere in a relatively short time, according to new research.

Digital trackers for mental health not yet fit for purpose Posted: 15 Dec 2020 07:43 AM PST Digital tracking of people with mental health conditions has the power to transform medical diagnostics and treatment, but its claims need careful scrutiny, says an expert in digital analytics.

Wireless, ultra-thin and battery-free strain sensors that are 10 times more sensitive Posted: 15 Dec 2020 06:59 AM PST A research team has developed a new range of strain sensors that are 10 times more sensitive when measuring minute movements. These sensors are ultra-thin, battery-free and can transmit data wirelessly, making them attractive for a wide range of applications.

Creating a ground plan for stonefly evolution Posted: 15 Dec 2020 06:59 AM PST A team has microscopically examined the eggs of stoneflies to identify ground plan features and shed light on the evolutionary history of the order. By identifying ancestral and derived features, the researchers reconstructed the evolution of egg structures, and confirmed that establishing an embryonic ground plan can provide unique insights into the evolution of the group.

'Alarmingly high' vitamin D deficiency in the United Kingdom Posted: 15 Dec 2020 06:16 AM PST Over 50 per cent of Asians living in the UK are severely deficient in vitamin D, leaving them more vulnerable to respiratory infections such as COVID-19 and musculoskeletal disorders, according to a large-scale population study published this week.

'Earable' computing: A new research area in the making Posted: 15 Dec 2020 06:16 AM PST A research group is defining a new sub-area of mobile technology that they call 'earable computing.' The team believes that earphones will be the next significant milestone in wearable devices, and that new hardware, software, and apps will all run on this platform.

Proteins enable crop-infecting fungi to 'smell' food Posted: 15 Dec 2020 06:03 AM PST New research shows the same proteins that enable human senses such as smell also allow certain fungi to sense something they can eat.

Scientists show what loneliness looks like in the brain Posted: 15 Dec 2020 05:20 AM PST A new study shows a sort of signature in the brains of lonely people that make them distinct in fundamental ways, based on variations in the volume of different brain regions as well as based on how those regions communicate with one another across brain networks.

Poverty linked to higher risk of COVID-19 death, study suggests Posted: 15 Dec 2020 05:20 AM PST People in the poorest areas are more likely to be affected by severe COVID-19 -- and to die from the disease -- than those in more affluent districts, according to a study of critical care units.

Researchers uncover blind spots at the intersection of AI and neuroscience Posted: 15 Dec 2020 05:20 AM PST Is it possible to read a person's mind by analyzing the electric signals from the brain? The answer may be much more complex than most people think. In a new article, researchers say a prominent dataset used to try to answer this question is confounded, and therefore many eye-popping findings that were based on this dataset and received high-profile recognition are false after all.

Type and abundance of mouth bacteria linked to lung cancer risk in non-smokers Posted: 14 Dec 2020 04:24 PM PST The type and abundance of bacteria found in the mouth may be linked to lung cancer risk in non-smokers. Fewer species and high numbers of particular types of bacteria seem to be linked to heightened risk, the findings indicate.

Exploring the relationship between nitrogen and carbon dioxide in greenhouse gas emissions Posted: 14 Dec 2020 04:23 PM PST An interdisciplinary study on a decade-long experiment (1997-2009) found that lower nitrogen levels in soil promoted release of carbon dioxide from soils under high levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and could therefore contribute to furthering rising atmospheric greenhouse gases and climate change.

Ancient DNA continues to rewrite corn's 9,000-year society-shaping history Posted: 14 Dec 2020 01:43 PM PST Scientists report the fully sequenced genomes of three roughly 2,000-year-old cobs from the El Gigante rock shelter in Honduras. Analysis of the three genomes reveals that these millennia-old varieties of Central American corn had South American ancestry and adds a new chapter in an emerging complex story of corn's domestication history.

Data-driven discovery of biomarkers pave way for improved diagnosis of contact allergy Posted: 14 Dec 2020 12:03 PM PST With the help of algorithms, researchers have identified markers that can differentiate between irritant eczema and contact allergy, two skin reactions that look similar but require different treatment.

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