ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Wives bore the brunt of child care during the shutdown
• No-till practices in vulnerable areas significantly reduce soil erosion
• Wildfire smoke is more cooling on climate than computer models assume
• Mothers, but not fathers, with multiple children report more fragmented sleep
• Understanding how to improve antibodies targeting OX40 for the treatment of cancer
• Killing cancer by unleashing the body's own immune system
• New process evaluates patients for elective surgeries following COVID-19
• Metabolism may play role in recurrent major depression
• New study reveals how fences hinder migratory wildlife in Western US
• Beating the 'billion-dollar bug' is a shared burden
• No limit to cardiovascular benefits of exercise, study finds
• Gene-editing produces tenfold increase in superbug slaying antibiotics
• New method helps pocket-sized DNA sequencer achieve near-perfect accuracy
• DNA in water used to uncover genes of invasive fish
• Quasar discovery sets new distance record
• Trapping light without back reflections
• Advanced light reveals how different biofuels behave
• Immune response biomarkers, novel pathways in four marine mollusk species
• Laser-based process to 3D print detailed glass objects
• Soil degradation costs U.S. corn farmers a half-billion dollars every year
• Physicists get closer to examining the symmetries underlying our universe
• Study of flowers with two types of anthers solves mystery that baffled Darwin
• Scientists identify 'immune cop' that detects SARS-CoV-2
• More than half of COVID-19 health care workers at risk for mental health problems
• Method to find toxic chemicals in drinking water
• An 'old faithful' active galaxy: Black hole rips away at star
• New treatment allows some people with spinal cord injury to regain hand and arm function
• Tapping the brain to boost stroke rehabilitation
• Unsure how to help reverse insect declines? Scientists suggest simple ways
• Simplified COVID-19 diagnostic method to ramp up widespread testing
• Nanosheet-based electronics could be one drop away
• Making hydrogen energy with the common nickel
• Fossils' soft tissues helping to solve puzzle that vexed Darwin
• Low fitness linked to higher psoriasis risk later in life
• New promising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2
• New technology reveals fast and slow twitch muscle fibers respond differently to exercise
• A bucket of water can reveal climate change impacts on marine life in the Arctic
• Rotten egg gas could guard against Alzheimer's disease
• Museum scientists: Prepare for next pandemic now by preserving animal specimens in natural history
• Scientists reveal how gut microbes can influence bone strength in mice
• Protecting lungs from ventilator-induced injury
• Scientists develop method to more efficiently isolate and identify rare T cells
• Why independent cultures think alike when it comes to categories: It's not in the brain
• New humanized mouse model provides insight into immunotherapy resistance
• Tweaking AI software to function like a human brain improves computer's learning ability
• Climate change reduces the abundance and diversity of wild bees
• Future too warm for baby sharks
• Comprehensive characterization of vascular structure in plants
• Neuroscientists identify brain circuit that encodes timing of events
• Higher coffee intake may be linked to lower prostate cancer risk

Wives bore the brunt of child care during the shutdown Posted: 12 Jan 2021 02:38 PM PST Traditional gendered patterns of child care persisted during the COVID-19 shutdown, with more than a third of couples relying on women to provide most or all of it, according to a new study.

No-till practices in vulnerable areas significantly reduce soil erosion Posted: 12 Jan 2021 02:38 PM PST Soil erosion is a major challenge in agricultural production. It affects soil quality and carries nutrient sediments that pollute waterways. While soil erosion is a naturally occurring process, agricultural activities such as conventional tilling exacerbate it. Farmers implementing no-till practices can significantly reduce soil erosion rates, a new study shows.

Wildfire smoke is more cooling on climate than computer models assume Posted: 12 Jan 2021 01:36 PM PST Many of the most advanced climate models simulate smoke that is darker, or more light absorbing, than what researchers see in observations.

Mothers, but not fathers, with multiple children report more fragmented sleep Posted: 12 Jan 2021 01:36 PM PST Mothers with multiple children report more fragmented sleep than mothers of a single child, but the number of children in a family doesn't seem to affect the quality of sleep for fathers, according to a new study.

Understanding how to improve antibodies targeting OX40 for the treatment of cancer Posted: 12 Jan 2021 01:02 PM PST Scientists have gained new insight into how the immune system can be better used to find and kill cancer cells.

Killing cancer by unleashing the body's own immune system Posted: 12 Jan 2021 01:02 PM PST The body's immune system is the first line of defense against infections like bacteria, viruses or cancers. Some cancers, however, have developed the art of molecular deception to avoid destruction by the body's immune system. Now, a researcher might have found a new way to help the body's immune system get past that deception and destroy the cancer.

New process evaluates patients for elective surgeries following COVID-19 Posted: 12 Jan 2021 01:02 PM PST Acknowledging that COVID-19 may be here to stay, experts have laid out a series of steps to prepare patients for elective surgery following their illness.

Metabolism may play role in recurrent major depression Posted: 12 Jan 2021 01:01 PM PST Researchers have found that certain metabolites -- small molecules produced by the process of metabolism -- may be predictive indicators for persons at risk for recurrent major depressive disorder.

New study reveals how fences hinder migratory wildlife in Western US Posted: 12 Jan 2021 01:01 PM PST Wildlife biologists combined GPS location data of tagged mule deer and pronghorn antelope with satellite imagery of Wyoming fences to find out just how often these animals encounter fences, and what happens when they do. The results help pinpoint which fences pose the biggest barrier to ungulates trying to access their ideal habitat.

Beating the 'billion-dollar bug' is a shared burden Posted: 12 Jan 2021 01:01 PM PST A new study linking land use patterns and pest outbreaks in Bt maize suggests that slowing the resurgence of western corn rootworm may require a larger-scale strategy than previously thought.

No limit to cardiovascular benefits of exercise, study finds Posted: 12 Jan 2021 11:48 AM PST Physical activity is not only associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, but there is no threshold for that association, with the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease seen for those who are most active, according to a new study.

Gene-editing produces tenfold increase in superbug slaying antibiotics Posted: 12 Jan 2021 11:48 AM PST Scientists have used gene-editing advances to achieve a tenfold increase in the production of super-bug targeting formicamycin antibiotics.

New method helps pocket-sized DNA sequencer achieve near-perfect accuracy Posted: 12 Jan 2021 11:48 AM PST Researchers have found a simple way to eliminate almost all sequencing errors produced by a widely used portable DNA sequencer (Oxford Nanopore Technologies' MinION device).

DNA in water used to uncover genes of invasive fish Posted: 12 Jan 2021 11:48 AM PST In a proof-of-principle study, researchers describe a new technique in which they analyzed environmental DNA - or eDNA - from water samples in Cayuga Lake to gather nuanced information about the presence of these invasive fish.

Quasar discovery sets new distance record Posted: 12 Jan 2021 09:52 AM PST Astronomers have discovered the most distant quasar yet found. The bright quasar, powered by a supermassive black hole at the core of a galaxy, is seen as it was only 670 million years after the Big Bang, and is providing valuable clues about how such huge black holes and their host galaxies formed in the early Universe.

Trapping light without back reflections Posted: 12 Jan 2021 09:52 AM PST Researchers demonstrate a new technique for suppressing back reflections of light, leading to better signal quality for sensing and information technology.

Advanced light reveals how different biofuels behave Posted: 12 Jan 2021 09:52 AM PST Vehicles have evolved to become more efficient and sophisticated, but their fuel hasn't necessarily evolved along with them. Researchers are determined to identify cleaner burning and renewable alternatives to gasoline, and are getting closer to that goal.

Immune response biomarkers, novel pathways in four marine mollusk species Posted: 12 Jan 2021 09:52 AM PST A new study assessed immune responses in four economically important marine mollusk species -- the blue mussel, soft-shell clam, Eastern oyster, and Atlantic jackknife clam -- and identified new biomarkers relating to changes in protein function involved in novel regulatory mechanisms of important metabolic and immunological pathways.

Laser-based process to 3D print detailed glass objects Posted: 12 Jan 2021 09:52 AM PST Researchers have developed a new laser-based process for 3D printing intricate parts made of glass. With further development, the new method could be useful for making complex optics for vision, imaging, illumination or laser-based applications.

Soil degradation costs U.S. corn farmers a half-billion dollars every year Posted: 12 Jan 2021 09:52 AM PST One-third of the fertilizer applied to grow corn in the U.S. each year simply compensates for the ongoing loss of soil fertility, leading to more than a half-billion dollars in extra costs to U.S. farmers every year, finds new research.

Physicists get closer to examining the symmetries underlying our universe Posted: 12 Jan 2021 09:52 AM PST Every field has its underlying principles. For economics it's the rational actor; biology has the theory of evolution; modern geology rests on the bedrock of plate tectonics.

Study of flowers with two types of anthers solves mystery that baffled Darwin Posted: 12 Jan 2021 09:52 AM PST Most flowering plants depend on pollinators such as bees to transfer pollen from the male anthers of one flower to the female stigma of another flower, enabling fertilization and the production of fruits and seeds. Bee pollination, however, involves an inherent conflict of interest, because bees are only interested in pollen as a food source. A new study describes a pollination strategy involving flowers with two distinct sets of anthers that differ in color, size, and position.

Scientists identify 'immune cop' that detects SARS-CoV-2 Posted: 12 Jan 2021 09:52 AM PST Scientists have identified the sensor in human lungs that detects SARS-CoV-2 and signals that it's time to mount an antiviral response.

More than half of COVID-19 health care workers at risk for mental health problems Posted: 12 Jan 2021 09:51 AM PST A new study suggests more than half of doctors, nurses, and emergency responders involved in COVID-19 care could be at risk for one or more mental health problems, including acute traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, problematic alcohol use, and insomnia. The researchers found that the risk of these mental health conditions was comparable to rates observed during natural disasters, such as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.

Method to find toxic chemicals in drinking water Posted: 12 Jan 2021 09:51 AM PST Most consumers of drinking water in the United States know that chemicals are used in the treatment processes to ensure the water is safe to drink. But they might not know that the use of some of these chemicals, such as chlorine, can also lead to the formation of unregulated toxic byproducts.

An 'old faithful' active galaxy: Black hole rips away at star Posted: 12 Jan 2021 09:51 AM PST Yellowstone National Park's Old Faithful geyser regularly blasts a jet of boiling water high in the air. Now, an international team of astronomers has discovered a cosmic equivalent, a distant galaxy that erupts roughly every 114 days.

New treatment allows some people with spinal cord injury to regain hand and arm function Posted: 12 Jan 2021 08:01 AM PST Researchers helped six Seattle-area people with spinal cord injuries regain some hand and arm mobility.

Tapping the brain to boost stroke rehabilitation Posted: 12 Jan 2021 08:01 AM PST Stroke survivors who had ceased to benefit from conventional rehabilitation gained clinically significant arm movement and control by using an external robotic device powered by the patients' own brains.

Unsure how to help reverse insect declines? Scientists suggest simple ways Posted: 12 Jan 2021 08:01 AM PST Entomologists' message is straightforward: We can't live without insects. They're in trouble. And there's something all of us can do to help.

Simplified COVID-19 diagnostic method to ramp up widespread testing Posted: 12 Jan 2021 08:01 AM PST A simplified COVID-19 testing protocol can detect minimal quantities of the SARS-CoV-2 using samples from the nose and throat as well as saliva and may be useful in testing patients with low viral titers such as asymptomatic patients or testing individuals prior to quarantine release. The high sensitivity method can be used in laboratories with minimal molecular biology equipment and expertise, and enables several patient samples to be pooled, decreasing the number of tests required for larger populations.

Nanosheet-based electronics could be one drop away Posted: 12 Jan 2021 08:01 AM PST A surprisingly simple method improves 'drop casting' fabrication of tiled nanosheets that could be used in next-generation electronic devices. All you need is a pipette and a hotplate.

Making hydrogen energy with the common nickel Posted: 12 Jan 2021 08:01 AM PST To resolve the energy crisis and environmental issues, research to move away from fossil fuels and convert to eco-friendly and sustainable hydrogen energy is well underway around the world. Recently, a team of researchers has proposed a way to efficiently produce hydrogen fuel via water-electrolysis using inexpensive and readily available nickel as an electrocatalyst, greenlighting the era of hydrogen economy.

Fossils' soft tissues helping to solve puzzle that vexed Darwin Posted: 12 Jan 2021 08:01 AM PST Remarkably well-preserved fossils are helping scientists unravel a mystery about the origins of early animals that puzzled Charles Darwin.

Low fitness linked to higher psoriasis risk later in life Posted: 12 Jan 2021 08:01 AM PST Scientists have now demonstrated a connection between inferior physical fitness in young adults and elevated risk of the autoimmune disease psoriasis. For the male recruits to compulsory military training who were rated as the least fit, the risk of developing psoriasis later was 35 percent higher than for the fittest.

New promising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 Posted: 12 Jan 2021 08:01 AM PST Researchers have identified and further developed novel antibody fragments against the SARS coronavirus-2. These 'nanobodies' are smaller than classic antibodies penetrating the tissue better and can be produced in larger quantities. The researchers also combined the nanobodies into potentially particularly effective molecules attacking different parts of the virus simultaneously. The approach could prevent the pathogen from evading the active agent through mutations.

New technology reveals fast and slow twitch muscle fibers respond differently to exercise Posted: 12 Jan 2021 08:01 AM PST Scientists have performed the most in-depth analysis of fast and slow twitch muscle fibers and the different ways they respond to exercise. Their novel approach uses large scale protein analysis of freeze-dried muscle samples, which opens the door for new analyses of muscle samples that are located in freezers around the world.

A bucket of water can reveal climate change impacts on marine life in the Arctic Posted: 12 Jan 2021 08:01 AM PST We know very little about marine life in the Arctic. Now researchers are trying to change that. They have shown that a simple water sample makes it possible to monitor the presence, migration patterns and genetic diversity of bowhead whales in an otherwise hard-to-reach area. The method can be used to understand how climate changes and human activities impact life in the oceans.

Rotten egg gas could guard against Alzheimer's disease Posted: 12 Jan 2021 08:01 AM PST Typically characterized as poisonous, corrosive and smelling of rotten eggs, hydrogen sulfide's reputation may soon get a face-lift thanks to researchers. In experiments in mice, researchers have shown the foul-smelling gas may help protect aging brain cells against Alzheimer's disease.

Museum scientists: Prepare for next pandemic now by preserving animal specimens in natural history Posted: 12 Jan 2021 08:00 AM PST Authors of a new article urge researchers who conduct host-pathogen studies to adopt vouchering practices and to collaborate with natural history museums to permanently archive host specimens, along with their tissue and microbiological samples.

Scientists reveal how gut microbes can influence bone strength in mice Posted: 12 Jan 2021 08:00 AM PST Gut microbes passed from female mice to their offspring, or shared between mice that live together, may influence the animals' bone mass.

Protecting lungs from ventilator-induced injury Posted: 12 Jan 2021 05:54 AM PST An unfortunate truth about using mechanical ventilation to save lives is that the pressure can cause further lung damage. Scientists have identified a helpful molecule produced by immune cells during ventilation and are working to boost that natural process in pursuit of a therapy that could lower the chances for lung damage in patients on vents.

Scientists develop method to more efficiently isolate and identify rare T cells Posted: 12 Jan 2021 05:54 AM PST Scientists have developed a technique that will enable researchers to more efficiently isolate and identify rare T cells that are capable of targeting viruses, cancer and other diseases.

Why independent cultures think alike when it comes to categories: It's not in the brain Posted: 12 Jan 2021 05:54 AM PST Scientists conducted an experiment in which people were asked to categorize unfamiliar shapes. Individuals and small groups created many different unique categorization systems while large groups created systems nearly identical to one another.

New humanized mouse model provides insight into immunotherapy resistance Posted: 12 Jan 2021 05:54 AM PST Scientists have created an advanced humanized immune system mouse model that allows them to examine resistance to immune checkpoint blockade therapies in melanoma. It has revealed a central role for mast cells.

Tweaking AI software to function like a human brain improves computer's learning ability Posted: 12 Jan 2021 05:53 AM PST Computer-based artificial intelligence can function more like human intelligence when programmed to use a much faster technique for learning new objects, say two neuroscientists who designed such a model that was designed to mirror human visual learning.

Climate change reduces the abundance and diversity of wild bees Posted: 12 Jan 2021 05:53 AM PST Wild bees are more affected by climate change than by disturbances to their habitats, according to a team of researchers. The findings suggest that addressing land-use issues alone will not be sufficient to protecting these important pollinators.

Future too warm for baby sharks Posted: 12 Jan 2021 05:53 AM PST As climate change causes the world's oceans to warm, baby sharks are born smaller, exhausted, undernourished and into environments that are already difficult for them to survive in.

Comprehensive characterization of vascular structure in plants Posted: 12 Jan 2021 05:53 AM PST Plant researchers and bioinformatics researchers have succeeded for the first time in identifying the functions of the different cell types in the leaf vasculature of plants.

Neuroscientists identify brain circuit that encodes timing of events Posted: 11 Jan 2021 04:01 PM PST Neuroscientists shed new light on how the timing of a memory is encoded in the hippocampus, and suggest that time and space are encoded separately.

Higher coffee intake may be linked to lower prostate cancer risk Posted: 11 Jan 2021 04:01 PM PST Drinking several cups of coffee every day may be linked to a lower risk of developing prostate cancer, suggests a pooled data analysis of the available evidence.

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