ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• How climate change is disrupting ecosystems
• COVID-19 virus enters the brain, research strongly suggests
• Oceans without oxygen
• Study in mice shows genes may be altered through drug repurposing
• Scientists set a path for field trials of gene drive organisms
• Taking greenhouse gas analysis on the road, er, rails
• Can water saving traits help wine survive climate change?
• Polariton interactions: Light matters
• Study tracks elephant tusks from 16th century shipwreck
• Territorial red squirrels live longer when they're friendly with their neighbors
• Ultra-thin designer materials unlock quantum phenomena
• Seeking to avoid 'full lockdown,' cells monitor ribosome collisions
• Cataract surgery in infancy increases glaucoma risk
• Change in global precipitation patterns as a result of climate change
• A new means of neuronal communication discovered in the human brain
• Fertilizer runoff in streams and rivers can have cascading effects, analysis shows
• Weddell sea: Whale song reveals behavioral patterns
• Researchers discover brain area crucial for recognizing visual events
• Researchers discover brain pattern that could improve mental health disorder diagnosis
• What's up, Skip? Kangaroos really can 'talk' to us, study finds
• Talking to kids about weight: What the internet says and why researchers are wary
• Crops near Chernobyl still contaminated
• Computational model reveals how the brain manages short-term memories
• Antifungal drug improves key cystic fibrosis biomarkers in clinical study
• Transforming clean energy technology
• More West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes in lower-income areas of Baltimore
• Boosting vegetable oil production in plant leaves
• Upcycling: New catalytic process turns plastic bags into adhesives
• In fiction, we remember the deaths that make us sad
• Study reports drop in lung cancer screening, rise in malignancy during COVID-19 surge
• Scientists unlock promising key to preventing cancer relapse after immunotherapy
• Three-dimensional view of catalysts in action
• COVID-19 escalated armed conflicts in several war-torn countries
• Especially neurotic people feel worse emotionally during the coronavirus crisis
• Catalyst research: Molecular probes require highly precise calculations
• Longest intergalactic gas filament discovered
• How scientists are using declassified military photographs to analyse historical ecological change
• The most consumed species of mussels contain microplastics all around the world
• Greenland 'knickpoints' could stall spread of glacial thinning
• Genes could be key to new COVID-19 treatments, study finds
• Training methods based on punishment compromise dog welfare, study finds
• Electron-producing microbes power sustainable wastewater treatment
• Men over 50 have same success with vasectomy reversal outcomes as younger men
• How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected measles vaccination rates?
• Coronavirus spread during dental procedures could be reduced with slower drill rotation
• Shark fishing bans partially effective
• Reliable COVID-19 test could reduce virus spread
• Oral contraceptive pills protect against ovarian and endometrial cancer

How climate change is disrupting ecosystems Posted: 17 Dec 2020 12:40 PM PST When it gets warmer, organisms rise higher from the lowlands. Researchers investigated what could happen to plant communities on alpine grasslands if grasshoppers from lower elevations settled there.

COVID-19 virus enters the brain, research strongly suggests Posted: 17 Dec 2020 12:40 PM PST The SARS-CoV-2 virus, like many viruses before it, is bad news for the brain. In a new study, researchers found that the spike protein, often depicted as the red arms of the virus, can cross the blood-brain barrier in mice. The spike proteins alone can cause brain fog. Since the spike protein enters the brain, the virus also is likely to cross into the brain.

Oceans without oxygen Posted: 17 Dec 2020 12:40 PM PST With no dissolved oxygen to sustain animals or plants, ocean anoxic zones are areas where only microbes suited to the environment can live.

Study in mice shows genes may be altered through drug repurposing Posted: 17 Dec 2020 11:52 AM PST Researchers screened drugs that can enhance the PAX6 gene and found MEK inhibitors can stimulate PAX6 expression in the eye. They tested this drug in newborn PAX6 deficient mice and found that either topical or oral administration of the drug enhanced PAX6 and partially normalized their eye development. Mice treated with topical MEK inhibitor had clearer corneas (less scarring) and could see better.

Scientists set a path for field trials of gene drive organisms Posted: 17 Dec 2020 11:52 AM PST Setting a course for responsible testing of powerful gene drive technology, a multidisciplinary coalition of gene drive organism developers, ecologists and conservation biologists has joined experts in social science, ethics and policy in a policy article published in Science. The group describes core commitments that ensure that gene drive organism field trials are safely implemented, transparent, publicly accountable and scientifically, politically and socially robust.

Taking greenhouse gas analysis on the road, er, rails Posted: 17 Dec 2020 11:02 AM PST Since 2014, there have been research-grade suites of air quality instruments installed and maintained on light rail trains that move throughout the Salt Lake Valley every day. These mobile sensors, researchers estimate in a new study, cover the same area as 30 stationary sensors, providing the Salt Lake Valley with a highly cost-effective way to monitor its greenhouse emissions and fill in gaps in emissions estimates.

Can water saving traits help wine survive climate change? Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:54 AM PST Climate change is expected to make many grape-growing regions too hot and dry to produce high-quality wine from traditional varieties. But scientists have found that wine grape varieties from regions that are more prone to stress have traits that could help them cope with climate change.

Polariton interactions: Light matters Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:54 AM PST Why do 2D exciton-polaritons interact? This intriguing quasiparticle, which is part light (photon), and part matter (exciton), doesn't behave as predicted: continuing to interact with other particles when confined to two dimensions in extremely cold conditions. A new study finds the answer lies in the 'light-like' characteristics of these quasiparticles, with importance for future applications such as ultra-low energy electronics.

Study tracks elephant tusks from 16th century shipwreck Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:53 AM PST In 1533, the Bom Jesus - a Portuguese trading vessel carrying 40 tons of cargo including gold, silver, copper and more than 100 elephant tusks - sank off the coast of Africa near present-day Namibia. The wreck was found in 2008, and scientists say they now have determined the source of much of the ivory recovered from the ship.

Territorial red squirrels live longer when they're friendly with their neighbors Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:53 AM PST Researchers found that red squirrels in the Yukon have a greater chance of survival when living near neighbors. These fitness benefits depended on familiarity, or how long the same squirrels lived next to each other. These benefits were more pronounced in older squirrels, whom the data suggested could sharply offset the effects of aging by maintaining all of their neighbors from one year to the next.

Ultra-thin designer materials unlock quantum phenomena Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:53 AM PST New research has measured highly sought-after Majorana quantum states.

Seeking to avoid 'full lockdown,' cells monitor ribosome collisions Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:53 AM PST New research shows that cells monitor for ribosome collisions to determine the severity of the problem and how best to respond when things start to go awry.

Cataract surgery in infancy increases glaucoma risk Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:53 AM PST Children who undergo cataract surgery as infants have a 22% risk of glaucoma 10 years later, whether or not they receive an intraocular lens implant.

Change in global precipitation patterns as a result of climate change Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:53 AM PST Earth's climate system is largely determined by the differences in temperature between the tropics and the poles. Global warming is likely to cause global atmospheric circulation to change and progressively revert to a situation similar to that of 5,000 to 10,000 years ago.

A new means of neuronal communication discovered in the human brain Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:53 AM PST An international research group has discovered in the human brain a new functional coupling mechanism between neurons, which may serve as a communication channel between brain regions.

Fertilizer runoff in streams and rivers can have cascading effects, analysis shows Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:53 AM PST Fertilizer pollution can have significant ripple effects in the food webs of streams and rivers, according to a new analysis of global data.

Weddell sea: Whale song reveals behavioral patterns Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:53 AM PST Scientists have now used permanently installed underwater microphones, which have been recording for the past nine years, to successfully gather and analyze whale observation data from the Weddell Sea. The AWI's underwater recordings confirm: Minke whales prefer the shelter of sea ice, while humpback whales avoid it.

Researchers discover brain area crucial for recognizing visual events Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:53 AM PST Researchers report that a brain region in the superior temporal sulcus (fSTS) is crucial for processing and making decisions about visual information.

Researchers discover brain pattern that could improve mental health disorder diagnosis Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:53 AM PST A pattern in how the brain breaks down tryptophan, a common amino acid consumed through food, was discovered.

What's up, Skip? Kangaroos really can 'talk' to us, study finds Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:52 AM PST Animals that have never been domesticated, such as kangaroos, can intentionally communicate with humans, challenging the notion that this behavior is usually restricted to domesticated animals like dogs, horses or goats, a new study has found.

Talking to kids about weight: What the internet says and why researchers are wary Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:52 AM PST Researchers systematically reviewed numerous independently published guidelines for having conversations with children about weight status to analyze their content, consistency, actionability and scientific support. They recommend future guidelines unify their messages and be better supported by scholarly data.

Crops near Chernobyl still contaminated Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:52 AM PST Crops grown near Chernobyl are still contaminated due to the 1986 nuclear accident, new research shows.

Computational model reveals how the brain manages short-term memories Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:52 AM PST Scientists have developed a new computational model showing how the brain maintains information short-term using specific types of neurons. Their findings could help shed light on why working memory is impaired in a broad range of neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, as well as in normal aging.

Antifungal drug improves key cystic fibrosis biomarkers in clinical study Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:52 AM PST A drug widely used to treat fungal infections improved key biomarkers in lung tissue cultures as well as in the noses of patients with cystic fibrosis, a clinical study found.

Transforming clean energy technology Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:52 AM PST A team of researchers has developed a new method of harnessing solar energy, moving us closer to a clean energy future.

More West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes in lower-income areas of Baltimore Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:52 AM PST Researchers found higher rates of West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes in lower-income neighborhoods in urban areas of Baltimore, Maryland. This preliminary data provides another piece of the puzzle pointing to higher risk of mosquito-transmitted diseases in these neighborhoods already struggling with environmental injustices and poorer health outcomes.

Boosting vegetable oil production in plant leaves Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:52 AM PST A professor has found a way to boost the production of triacylglycerol -- the main component of vegetable oil -- in plant leaves, a technique that could allow producers to harvest oil from large, leafy plants that also have other uses. Sorghum, for example -- a global source of grain prized for its drought-resistant qualities -- could serve a dual role as a source of vegetable oil, creating a more efficient and valuable crop.

Upcycling: New catalytic process turns plastic bags into adhesives Posted: 17 Dec 2020 10:52 AM PST Only a small percentage of plastic bags and other polyethylene packaging is recycled because only low-value products can be made from this waste. Chemists have created a catalytic process that preserves the desirable properties of polyethylene while adding another attribute - stickiness - that increases the value of the recycled product. The adhesive polyethylene could be used to coat wires and metal implants or bond plastic layers. Even latex paint sticks to it.

In fiction, we remember the deaths that make us sad Posted: 17 Dec 2020 08:30 AM PST People may cheer the demise of evil villains in fiction, but the deaths we most remember are the meaningful and sad endings of the characters we loved, research suggests. In a new study, researchers found that when people were asked to recall the death of a fictional character, they were more likely to mention deaths perceived as 'meaningful' than those seen as 'pleasurable.'

Study reports drop in lung cancer screening, rise in malignancy during COVID-19 surge Posted: 17 Dec 2020 08:30 AM PST Reporting on how deferred care worsened outcomes for lung cancer patients when the COVID-19 pandemic first surged in the spring of 2020, researchers explained that they have identified a framework that could help people with serious health conditions keep up their appointments during the current surge.

Scientists unlock promising key to preventing cancer relapse after immunotherapy Posted: 17 Dec 2020 08:29 AM PST The researchers discovered that cancer immunotherapies that make use of immune system cells such as T cells and CAR-T cells kill not only tumor cells that express the drugs' target, but also adjacent tumor cells that lack the targets, because of the presence of fas. This process, known as bystander killing, can be made more effective by adding therapeutics that turn off the regulation of fas proteins, the researchers said.

Three-dimensional view of catalysts in action Posted: 17 Dec 2020 08:29 AM PST For understanding the structure and function of catalysts in action, researchers have developed a new diagnostic tool. Operando X-ray spectroscopy visualizes the structure and gradients of complex technical catalysts in three dimensions, thus allowing us to look into functioning chemical reactors.

COVID-19 escalated armed conflicts in several war-torn countries Posted: 17 Dec 2020 08:29 AM PST A new study finds that armed conflict activities increased in five countries during the first wave of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Especially neurotic people feel worse emotionally during the coronavirus crisis Posted: 17 Dec 2020 08:29 AM PST New research finds that during the coronavirus crisis, neurotic people experience more negative emotions in their everyday lives, are more unstable emotionally and worry more about their health.

Catalyst research: Molecular probes require highly precise calculations Posted: 17 Dec 2020 08:29 AM PST Catalysts are indispensable for many technologies. To further improve heterogeneous catalysts, it is required to analyze the complex processes on their surfaces, where the active sites are located. Scientists have now reached decisive progress: They use calculation methods with so-called hybrid functionals for the reliable interpretation of experimental data.

Longest intergalactic gas filament discovered Posted: 17 Dec 2020 08:29 AM PST Astrophysicists have for the first time observed a gas filament with a length of 50 million light years. Its structure is strikingly similar to the predictions of computer simulations. The observation therefore also confirms our ideas about the origin and evolution of our universe.

How scientists are using declassified military photographs to analyse historical ecological change Posted: 17 Dec 2020 08:29 AM PST Researchers are using Cold War spy satellite images to explore changes in the environment, including deforestation in Romania, marmot decline in Kazakhstan and ecological damage from bombs in Vietnam.

The most consumed species of mussels contain microplastics all around the world Posted: 17 Dec 2020 08:29 AM PST "If you eat mussels, you eat microplastics." This was already known to a limited extent about mussels from individual ocean regions. A new study reveals that this claim apparently holds true globally. The team investigated the microplastic load of four mussel species which are particularly often sold as food in supermarkets from twelve countries around the world.

Greenland 'knickpoints' could stall spread of glacial thinning Posted: 17 Dec 2020 08:28 AM PST The jagged terrain of Greenland's mountains is protecting some of the island's outlet glaciers from warm coastal waters, according to a team of researchers. However, in regions where the flat bedrock offers no such protection, runaway thinning can reach far into the ice sheet and eat away at previously unaffected ice and contribute to sea level rise.

Genes could be key to new COVID-19 treatments, study finds Posted: 17 Dec 2020 06:55 AM PST Genes involved in two molecular processes -- antiviral immunity and lung inflammation -- were pinpointed in new research. The breakthrough will help doctors understand how COVID-19 damages lungs at a molecular level.

Training methods based on punishment compromise dog welfare, study finds Posted: 17 Dec 2020 06:55 AM PST After aversive training, dogs had a lower behavioral state (higher stress and anxiety), a new study has found. If aversive methods were used in high proportions, that persisted even in other contexts.

Electron-producing microbes power sustainable wastewater treatment Posted: 17 Dec 2020 06:55 AM PST Researchers have developed a sustainable wastewater treatment system that relies on electron-producing microbial communities to clean the water. The work could someday lead to reduced reliance on the energy-intensive processes that are used to move and treat wastewater, which accounts for as much as two percent of the total electrical energy consumption in the United States.

Men over 50 have same success with vasectomy reversal outcomes as younger men Posted: 17 Dec 2020 06:04 AM PST In good news for older men, a new study shows that men over 50 who undergo a vasectomy reversal had the same rate of pregnancy with their partners as their younger counterparts.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected measles vaccination rates? Posted: 17 Dec 2020 06:04 AM PST Researchers evaluated changes in measles vaccination rates from before the pandemic to this summer, when return for clinical care was encouraged. Finding a steep and lasting decline, the researchers are making efforts to improve timely vaccination and provide safe catch-up opportunities to children in their pediatric primary care network.

Coronavirus spread during dental procedures could be reduced with slower drill rotation Posted: 17 Dec 2020 06:04 AM PST Researchers have found that careful selection and operation of dental drills can minimize the spread of COVID-19 through aerosols.

Shark fishing bans partially effective Posted: 17 Dec 2020 06:04 AM PST Bans on shark fishing are only partially effective in protecting sharks, new research suggests.

Reliable COVID-19 test could reduce virus spread Posted: 17 Dec 2020 06:04 AM PST A unique test that targets three viral genes to increase reliability could cut COVID-19 detection time to 20 minutes, according to a new study.

Oral contraceptive pills protect against ovarian and endometrial cancer Posted: 17 Dec 2020 06:04 AM PST A comprehensive study involving more than 250,000 women, shows that oral contraceptive use protects against ovarian and endometrial cancer. The protective effect remains for several decades after discontinuing the use.

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