ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Light-controlled Higgs modes found in superconductors; potential sensor, computing uses
• Fastener with microscopic mushroom design holds promise
• Land deals meant to improve food security may have hurt
• Exploring the solar wind with a new view of small sun structures
• Astronomers dissect the anatomy of planetary nebulae using Hubble Space Telescope images
• Unlocking 'the shape of water' in mechanisms of antibiotic resistance
• Exploration of toxic Tiger Rattlesnake venom advances use of genetic science techniques
• How to train a robot (using AI and supercomputers)
• Constructing termite turrets without a blueprint
• Potential COVID-19 drug is successful in lab study
• Appearance, social norms keep students off Zoom cameras
• Protected areas vulnerable to growing emphasis on food security
• Fatty acid may help combat multiple sclerosis, study finds
• Disease threatens to decimate western bats
• Where do our minds wander? Brain waves can point the way
• Counting elephants from space
• A little friction goes a long way toward stronger nanotube fibers
• Scientists reveal structure of plants' energy generators
• Study identifies a nonhuman primate model that mimics severe COVID-19 similar to humans
• New carbon budget framework provides a clearer view of our climate deadlines
• Tiny bubbles tell tales of big volcanic eruptions
• Scientists to global policymakers: Treat fish as food to help solve world hunger
• Light-induced twisting of Weyl nodes switches on giant electron current
• Acidification impedes shell development of plankton off the U.S. West Coast, study shows
• New clues help explain why PFAS chemicals resist remediation
• Researchers create 'sheets' of meat in the lab that stack up well against their natural counterparts
• New research finds connection: Inflammation, metabolism and scleroderma scarring
• How dietary choice influences lifespan in fruit flies
• Study finds COVID-19 attack on brain, not lungs, triggers severe disease in mice
• College classrooms are still chilly for women, as men speak more, study finds
• Cosmic beasts and where to find them
• Researchers identify how cancer cells adapt to survive harsh tumor microenvironments
• Eggs reveal what may happen to brain on impact
• All-purpose dinosaur opening reconstructed
• Obese, snoring mini pigs show how air flows through the throat during sleep apnea
• DNA origami enables fabricating superconducting nanowires
• Appreciating a flower's texture, color, and shape leads to better drone landings
• Mental health conditions alarmingly high among children with autism, study finds
• COVID-19 virus triggers antibodies from previous coronavirus infections, study finds
• Prenatal BPA exposure may contribute to the male bias of autism spectrum disorder
• ALS study reveals a unique population
• Solar activity reconstructed over a millennium
• New method heals skeletal injuries with synthetic bone
• Genetic rewiring behind spectacular evolutionary explosion in East Africa
• New biomaterials can be 'fine-tuned' for medical applications
• A sea of rubbish: Ocean floor landfills
• Research identifies genetic risk factor for stroke
• Alcohol consumption linked to portion of cancer incidence and mortality, report shows
• Drinking during COVID-19 up among people with anxiety and depression
• 50 million-year-old fossil assassin bug has unusually well-preserved genitalia
• Gene-editing 'scissor' tool may also be a 'dimmer switch'
• Testing the waters: Analyzing different solid states of water on other planets and moons
• One-dimensional quantum nanowires fertile ground for Majorana zero modes
• A biological strategy reveals how efficient brain circuitry develops spontaneously
• Bio-inspired: How lobsters can help make stronger 3D printed concrete
• Research establishes antibiotic potential for cannabis molecule
• Eye tests predict Parkinson's-linked cognitive decline 18 months ahead
• How short circuits in lithium metal batteries can be prevented
• Dinosaur-era sea lizard had teeth like a shark
• Clumsy kids can be fit too

Light-controlled Higgs modes found in superconductors; potential sensor, computing uses Posted: 19 Jan 2021 04:43 PM PST Researchers have discovered a short-lived form of the famous Higgs boson -- subject of a groundbreaking search at the Large Hadron Collider -- within an iron-based superconductor. This Higgs mode can be accessed and controlled by laser light flashing on the superconductor at trillions of pulses per second.

Fastener with microscopic mushroom design holds promise Posted: 19 Jan 2021 04:43 PM PST A fastener with a microscopic design that looks like tiny mushrooms could mean advances for everyday consumers and scientific fields. Currently available fasteners are called hook and loop fasteners and require harder, stiff material. In Biointerphases, researchers describe a design that can use softer materials and still be strong. The team believes a 3D mushroom design can be made with softer, more flexible materials and provide sufficient interlocking force on the fabric and hold strong.

Land deals meant to improve food security may have hurt Posted: 19 Jan 2021 04:43 PM PST Large-scale land acquisitions by foreign investors, intended to improve global food security, had little to no benefit, increasing crop production in some areas while simultaneously threatening local food security in others, according to researchers who studied their effects.

Exploring the solar wind with a new view of small sun structures Posted: 19 Jan 2021 04:43 PM PST Scientists have combined NASA data and cutting-edge image processing to gain new insight into the solar structures that create the Sun's flow of high-speed solar wind. This first look at relatively small features, dubbed 'plumelets,' could help scientists understand how and why disturbances form in the solar wind.

Astronomers dissect the anatomy of planetary nebulae using Hubble Space Telescope images Posted: 19 Jan 2021 04:43 PM PST Images of two iconic planetary nebulae taken by the Hubble Space Telescope are revealing new information about how they develop their dramatic features.

Unlocking 'the shape of water' in mechanisms of antibiotic resistance Posted: 19 Jan 2021 04:43 PM PST Researchers captured and comparted hi-res images of ribosome structures from sensitive and resistant bacteria and report that a water molecule needed for antibiotic binding was not present in the ribosomes from the drug-resistant bugs.

Exploration of toxic Tiger Rattlesnake venom advances use of genetic science techniques Posted: 19 Jan 2021 04:43 PM PST A team of researchers has decoded the genome of the Tiger Rattlesnake, which has venom 40 times more toxic than that of Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes, the largest venomous snake in North America.

How to train a robot (using AI and supercomputers) Posted: 19 Jan 2021 04:43 PM PST Computer scientists developed a deep learning method to create realistic objects for virtual environments that can be used to train robots. The researchers used TACC's Maverick2 supercomputer to train the generative adversarial network. The network is the first that can produce colored point clouds with fine details at multiple resolutions.

Constructing termite turrets without a blueprint Posted: 19 Jan 2021 04:43 PM PST Following a series of studies on termite mound physiology and morphogenesis over the past decade, researchers have now developed a mathematical model to help explain how termites construct their intricate mounds.

Potential COVID-19 drug is successful in lab study Posted: 19 Jan 2021 04:43 PM PST A new therapy is showing success as a way to prevent COVID-19 symptoms in mice.

Appearance, social norms keep students off Zoom cameras Posted: 19 Jan 2021 04:43 PM PST Researchers surveyed 312 students found that while some students had concerns about the lack of privacy or their home environment, 41% of the 276 respondents cited their appearance, as their reason not to switch on their cameras on zoom.

Protected areas vulnerable to growing emphasis on food security Posted: 19 Jan 2021 04:43 PM PST New study shows croplands are prevalent in protected areas, challenging their efficacy in meeting conservation goals.

Fatty acid may help combat multiple sclerosis, study finds Posted: 19 Jan 2021 11:02 AM PST The abnormal immune system response that causes multiple sclerosis (MS) by attacking and damaging the central nervous system can be triggered by the lack of a specific fatty acid in fat tissue, according to a new study. The finding suggests that dietary change might help treat some people with the autoimmune disease.

Disease threatens to decimate western bats Posted: 19 Jan 2021 11:02 AM PST A four-year study concludes that the fungal disease, white-nose syndrome, poses a severe threat to many western North American bats.

Where do our minds wander? Brain waves can point the way Posted: 19 Jan 2021 11:02 AM PST Anyone who has tried and failed to meditate knows that our minds are rarely still. But where do they roam? New research has come up with a way to track the flow of our internal thought processes and signal whether our minds are focused, fixated or wandering.

Counting elephants from space Posted: 19 Jan 2021 11:02 AM PST Scientists have successfully used satellite cameras coupled with deep learning to count animals in complex geographical landscapes, taking conservationists an important step forward in monitoring populations of endangered species.

A little friction goes a long way toward stronger nanotube fibers Posted: 19 Jan 2021 09:21 AM PST Carbon nanotube fibers are not nearly as strong as the nanotubes they contain, but researchers are working to close the gap with a computational model that shows nanotube length and the friction between them are equal contributors.

Scientists reveal structure of plants' energy generators Posted: 19 Jan 2021 09:21 AM PST Researchers have revealed the first atomic structures of the respiratory apparatus that plants use to generate energy.

Study identifies a nonhuman primate model that mimics severe COVID-19 similar to humans Posted: 19 Jan 2021 09:21 AM PST New research suggests that aged African green monkeys may be suitable models for the study of severe forms of COVID-19.

New carbon budget framework provides a clearer view of our climate deadlines Posted: 19 Jan 2021 09:21 AM PST Researchers present a new framework for calculating the remaining carbon budget that is able to generate a much narrower estimate and its uncertainty. The researchers estimate that between 230 and 440 billion more tonnes of CO2 from 2020 onwards can be emitted into the atmosphere and still provide a reasonable chance of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

Tiny bubbles tell tales of big volcanic eruptions Posted: 19 Jan 2021 09:20 AM PST Microscopic bubbles can tell stories about Earth's biggest volcanic eruptions and geoscientists have discovered some of those stories are written in nanoparticles.

Scientists to global policymakers: Treat fish as food to help solve world hunger Posted: 19 Jan 2021 09:20 AM PST Fish provide 17 percent of the animal protein consumed globally and are rich in micronutrients and essential fatty acids. In a new article, experts argue seeing fish in a food system perspective.

Light-induced twisting of Weyl nodes switches on giant electron current Posted: 19 Jan 2021 09:20 AM PST Scientists have discovered a new light-induced switch that twists the crystal lattice of the material, switching on a giant electron current that appears to be nearly dissipationless.

Acidification impedes shell development of plankton off the U.S. West Coast, study shows Posted: 19 Jan 2021 09:20 AM PST Results from a 2016 research cruise show ocean acidification has interfered with shell development of zooplankton that are a critical part of the marine food web.

New clues help explain why PFAS chemicals resist remediation Posted: 19 Jan 2021 09:20 AM PST Chemicals used in firefighting foam and other products can last for decades in the environment, resisting efforts to remove them. New research suggest why that happens and new avenues for remediation.

Researchers create 'sheets' of meat in the lab that stack up well against their natural counterparts Posted: 19 Jan 2021 09:20 AM PST Researchers have developed a new form of cultivated meat using a method that promises more natural flavor and texture than other alternatives to traditional meat from animals.

New research finds connection: Inflammation, metabolism and scleroderma scarring Posted: 19 Jan 2021 09:20 AM PST A new study finds that NAD+ break down leads to multi organ scarring, providing now a previously undiscovered pathogenic role of the enzyme CD38 in disease scarring.

How dietary choice influences lifespan in fruit flies Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:45 AM PST Giving flies a choice of foods changes the chemical messaging in their brain that is responsible for coordinating metabolism, shortening their lifespan as a result.

Study finds COVID-19 attack on brain, not lungs, triggers severe disease in mice Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:44 AM PST Researchers have found that infecting the nasal passages of mice with the virus that causes COVID-19 led to a rapid, escalating attack on the brain that triggered severe illness, even after the lungs were successfully clearing themselves of the virus.

College classrooms are still chilly for women, as men speak more, study finds Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:44 AM PST Men speak 1.6 times more often than women in college classrooms, revealing how gender inequities regarding classroom participation still exist, according to a new study. By comparison, women are more hesitant to speak and are more apt to use apologetic language.

Cosmic beasts and where to find them Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:44 AM PST Two giant radio galaxies have been discovered with South Africa's powerful MeerKAT telescope. These galaxies are thought to be amongst the largest single objects in the Universe.

Researchers identify how cancer cells adapt to survive harsh tumor microenvironments Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:44 AM PST To better understand the conditions that select for the Warburg Effect and the mechanisms where cells can express this metabolic adaptation, researchers subjected nonmalignant cells to the harsh tumor microenvironment that is present during early carcinogenesis, known as ductal carcinoma in situ. In a new research article, the team shows that these conditions select for cells to express a Warburg Effect.

Eggs reveal what may happen to brain on impact Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:44 AM PST Our brains consist of soft matter bathed in watery cerebrospinal fluid inside a hard skull, and in a new article, researchers describe studying another system with the same features, an egg, to search for answers about concussions. Considering that in most concussive brain injuries, the skull does not break, they wanted to find out if it was possible to break or deform the egg yolk without breaking the eggshell.

All-purpose dinosaur opening reconstructed Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:44 AM PST Researchers have described in detail a dinosaur's cloacal or vent -- the all-purpose opening used for defecation, urination and breeding.

Obese, snoring mini pigs show how air flows through the throat during sleep apnea Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:44 AM PST A study has found that obese Yucatan mini pigs have naturally occurring sleep apnea and that MRI scans taken while they're in sedated sleep can be used to gain new insights into what happens in the airways during sleep apnea episodes via computational flow dynamic (CFD) analysis.

DNA origami enables fabricating superconducting nanowires Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:44 AM PST Researchers describe how to exploit DNA origami as a platform to build superconducting nanoarchitectures. The structures they built are addressable with nanometric precision that can be used as a template for 3D architectures that are not possible today via conventional fabrication techniques. Inspired by previous works using the DNA molecule as a template for superconducting nanowires, the group took advantage of a recent bioengineering advance known as DNA origami.

Appreciating a flower's texture, color, and shape leads to better drone landings Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:44 AM PST Researchers present an optical flow-based learning process that allows robots to estimate distances through the visual appearance (shape, color, texture) of the objects in view. This artificial intelligence (AI)-based learning strategy increases the navigation skills of small flying drones and entails a new hypothesis on insect intelligence.

Mental health conditions alarmingly high among children with autism, study finds Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:43 AM PST Nearly 78 per cent of children with autism have at least one mental health condition and nearly half have more than that, according to a new study. Mental health conditions were present in 44.8 per cent of pre-school age children with autism -- a group among which prevalence had not previously been established using a large, population-based sample. Only 14.1 per cent of children without autism (ages 3-17) had mental health conditions.

COVID-19 virus triggers antibodies from previous coronavirus infections, study finds Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:43 AM PST Results from a new study suggest the immune systems of people infected with COVID-19 may rely on antibodies created during infections from earlier coronaviruses to help fight the disease.

Prenatal BPA exposure may contribute to the male bias of autism spectrum disorder Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:43 AM PST Autism has a higher prevalence in males than females. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a common chemical found in plastics, our food, and even the human placenta. Higher prenatal exposure to BPA is thought to increase the risk of autism. Researchers have identified autism candidate genes that may be responsible for the sex-specific effects of BPA.

ALS study reveals a unique population Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:43 AM PST The secrets long hidden in the DNA of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) living in Malta have been unlocked, according to a new study.

Solar activity reconstructed over a millennium Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:43 AM PST An international team of researchers has reconstructed solar activity back to the year 969 using measurements of radioactive carbon in tree rings. Those results help scientists to better understand the dynamics of the sun and allow more precise dating of organic materials using the C14 method.

New method heals skeletal injuries with synthetic bone Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:43 AM PST Researchers have developed a way of combining a bone substitute and drugs to regenerate bone and heal severe fractures in the thigh or shin bone. The study was conducted on rats, but the researchers think that the method in various combinations will soon be commonplace in clinical settings.

Genetic rewiring behind spectacular evolutionary explosion in East Africa Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:43 AM PST Genetic rewiring could have driven an evolutionary explosion in the shapes, sizes and adaptations of cichlid fish, in East Africa's answer to Darwin's Galapagos finches.

New biomaterials can be 'fine-tuned' for medical applications Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:43 AM PST Researchers have succeeded in 'fine tuning' a new thermoplastic biomaterial to enable both the rate at which it degrades in the body and its mechanical properties to be controlled independently.

A sea of rubbish: Ocean floor landfills Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:43 AM PST The Messina Strait, a submarine bridge separating the island of Sicily from the Italian Peninsula, is the area with the largest marine litter density worldwide -- more than a million objects per square kilometre in some parts, according to a new review paper.

Research identifies genetic risk factor for stroke Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:42 AM PST A team of researchers has identified a common genetic variant as a risk factor for stroke, especially in patients older than 65.

Alcohol consumption linked to portion of cancer incidence and mortality, report shows Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:42 AM PST A new study finds that alcohol consumption accounts for a considerable portion of cancer incidence and mortality in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Drinking during COVID-19 up among people with anxiety and depression Posted: 19 Jan 2021 08:32 AM PST People with anxiety and depression are more likely to report an increase in drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic than those without mental health issues, according to a new study.

50 million-year-old fossil assassin bug has unusually well-preserved genitalia Posted: 19 Jan 2021 07:28 AM PST The fossilized insect is tiny and its genital capsule, called a pygophore, is roughly the length of a grain of rice. It is remarkable, scientists say, because the bug's physical characteristics -- from the bold banding pattern on its legs to the internal features of its genitalia -- are clearly visible and well-preserved. Recovered from the Green River Formation in present-day Colorado, the fossil represents a new genus and species of predatory insects known as assassin bugs.

Gene-editing 'scissor' tool may also be a 'dimmer switch' Posted: 19 Jan 2021 07:28 AM PST In a series of experiments with laboratory-cultured bacteria, scientists have found evidence that there is a second role for the widely used gene-cutting system CRISPR-Cas9 -- as a genetic dimmer switch for CRISPR-Cas9 genes.

Testing the waters: Analyzing different solid states of water on other planets and moons Posted: 19 Jan 2021 07:28 AM PST Scientists develop theoretical models to predict the presence of clathrate hydrates outside Earth, shedding light on the evolution of other atmospheres.

One-dimensional quantum nanowires fertile ground for Majorana zero modes Posted: 19 Jan 2021 07:28 AM PST One-dimensional quantum 'nanowires' - which have length, but no width or height - provide a unique environment for the formation and detection of a quasiparticle known as a Majorana zero mode, which are their own antimatter particle. A new advance in detection of these exotic quasiparticles has potential applications in fault-resistant topological quantum computers, and topological superconductivity.

A biological strategy reveals how efficient brain circuitry develops spontaneously Posted: 19 Jan 2021 07:28 AM PST Researchers have explained how the regularly structured topographic maps in the visual cortex of the brain could arise spontaneously to efficiently process visual information. This research provides a new framework for understanding functional architectures in the visual cortex during early developmental stages.

Bio-inspired: How lobsters can help make stronger 3D printed concrete Posted: 19 Jan 2021 07:28 AM PST New research addresses some of the technical issues that still need to be solved for 3D printed concrete to be strong enough for use in more free-form structures. Researchers found lobster-inspired printing patterns can make 3DCP stronger and help direct the strength where it's needed. And combining the patterns with a concrete mix enhanced with steel fibers can deliver a material that's stronger than traditionally-made concrete.

Research establishes antibiotic potential for cannabis molecule Posted: 19 Jan 2021 07:28 AM PST The main nonpsychoactive component of cannabis has been shown to kill the bacteria responsible for gonorrhoea, meningitis and legionnaires disease, which could lead to the first new class of antibiotics for resistant bacteria in 60 years.

Eye tests predict Parkinson's-linked cognitive decline 18 months ahead Posted: 19 Jan 2021 07:28 AM PST Simple vision tests can predict which people with Parkinson's disease will develop cognitive impairment and possible dementia 18 months later, according to a new study. In a related study, the researchers also found that structural and functional connections of brain regions become decoupled throughout the entire brain in people with Parkinson's disease, particularly among people with vision problems.

How short circuits in lithium metal batteries can be prevented Posted: 19 Jan 2021 07:28 AM PST There are high hopes for the next generation of high energy-density lithium metal batteries, but before they can be used in our vehicles, there are crucial problems to solve. An international research team has now developed concrete guidelines for how the batteries should be charged and operated, maximizing efficiency while minimizing the risk of short circuits.

Dinosaur-era sea lizard had teeth like a shark Posted: 19 Jan 2021 07:28 AM PST New study identifies a bizarre new species suggesting that giant marine lizards thrived before the asteroid wiped them out 66 million years ago.

Clumsy kids can be fit too Posted: 19 Jan 2021 07:28 AM PST Clumsy kids can be as aerobically fit as their peers with better motor skills, a new study shows.

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