ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Genetically-modified mosquitoes key to stopping Zika virus spread
• Building a corn cob; cell by cell, gene by gene
• Scientists identify flank instability at a volcano with history of collapse
• Impact of rising sea temperatures on marine life
• Biodegradable displays for sustainable electronics
• A benchmark for single-electron circuits
• Reef fish futures foretold
• When looking at species declines, nuances and long-term data are important
• The microbial life of sourdough
• Vaccine shows potential against deadly leptospirosis bacteria
• Change of course on the journey to the island of stability
• Wirelessly rechargeable soft brain implant controls brain cells
• New control mechanism in innate immune system
• Gut microbiota reveals whether drug therapies work in inflammatory bowel diseases
• Finding a way to stop chemotherapy from damaging the heart
• Energy spent avoiding humans associated with smaller home ranges for male pumas
• Toddlers who use touchscreens may be more distractible
• No overall difference in concussion recovery time for male and female college athletes
• Breakthrough design vastly improves mechanical heart valve
• Afternoon napping linked to better mental agility
• Air pollution linked to higher risk of sight loss from AMD
• Rich European countries have higher atrial fibrillation death rates than least wealthy
• Inequality in medieval Cambridge was 'recorded on the bones' of its residents
• Most patients find tele-dermatology appointments suitable alternative to office visits
• Turbulence model could enhance rotorcraft, munitions performance
• Drink and drug risk is lower among optimistic pupils with 'happy' memories
• Wetter weather affects composition, numbers of tiny estuarial phytoplankton
• Simulating 800,000 years of California earthquake history to pinpoint risks
• Anti-freeze for cell membranes
• Biologists unravel full sequence of DNA repair mechanism
• A microscopic look at aneurysm repair
• How complex oscillations in a quantum system simplify with time
• Better bundled: New principle for generating x-rays
• Borderline personality disorder: Don't ignore it
• Dietary adherence and the fight against obesity
• 3-D printed Biomesh minimizes hernia repair complications
• Boosting the efficiency of carbon capture and conversion systems
• Protein anchors as a newly discovered key molecule in cancer spread and epilepsy
• Climate change in antiquity: Mass emigration due to water scarcity
• Street trees close to the home may reduce the risk of depression
• Dramatic increase in microplastics in seagrass soil since the 1970s

Genetically-modified mosquitoes key to stopping Zika virus spread Posted: 26 Jan 2021 11:01 AM PST In 2016, the World Health Organization called the Zika virus epidemic a 'public health emergency of international concern' due to the virus causing birth defects for pregnant women in addition to neurological problems.

Building a corn cob; cell by cell, gene by gene Posted: 26 Jan 2021 11:00 AM PST Scientists analyzed where and when thousands of genes are activated in baby corn. This allowed them to build an anatomical map of important developmental genes that can be manipulated to improve crop yield and resilience.

Scientists identify flank instability at a volcano with history of collapse Posted: 26 Jan 2021 11:00 AM PST Landslides caused by the collapse of unstable volcanoes are one of the major dangers of volcanic eruptions. A method to detect long-term movements of these mountains using satellite images could help identify previously overlooked instability at some volcanoes, according to scientists.

Impact of rising sea temperatures on marine life Posted: 26 Jan 2021 11:00 AM PST Global warming or climate change. It doesn't matter what you call it. What matters is that right now it is having a direct and dramatic effect on marine environments across our planet.

Biodegradable displays for sustainable electronics Posted: 26 Jan 2021 10:40 AM PST Increasing use of electronic devices in consumables and new technologies for the internet of things are increasing the amount of electronic scrap. To save resources and minimize waste volumes, an eco-friendlier production and more sustainable lifecycle will be needed. Scientists have now been the first to produce displays, whose biodegradability has been checked and certified by an independent office.

A benchmark for single-electron circuits Posted: 26 Jan 2021 10:40 AM PST Manipulating individual electrons with the goal of employing quantum effects offers new possibilities in electronics. In order to gain new insights into the physical origin and into metrological aspects of the small, but inevitable fundamental uncertainties governed by the rules of quantum mechanics, scientists have collaborated to develop a statistical testing methodology.

Reef fish futures foretold Posted: 26 Jan 2021 10:40 AM PST There are markedly different outcomes for different species of coral reef fishes under climate change - scientists are now another step closer to uncovering the 'winners and losers'.

When looking at species declines, nuances and long-term data are important Posted: 26 Jan 2021 10:40 AM PST After an initial report told of collapsing food webs in Puerto Rico, a group of researchers conducting long-term research on the island took a closer look at the issue.

The microbial life of sourdough Posted: 26 Jan 2021 10:40 AM PST In a study of 500 sourdough starters spanning four continents, scientists have garnered new insights into the environmental factors that contribute to each sourdough starter's microbial ecosystem, and how different types of microbes influence both a sourdough's aroma and how quickly the sourdough rises. The results may surprise sourdough enthusiasts.

Vaccine shows potential against deadly leptospirosis bacteria Posted: 26 Jan 2021 10:40 AM PST Scientists have designed a single-dose universal vaccine that could protect against the many forms of leptospirosis bacteria, according to a new study.

Change of course on the journey to the island of stability Posted: 26 Jan 2021 08:37 AM PST An international research team succeeded in gaining new insights into the artificially produced superheavy element flerovium, element 114, at accelerator facilities.

Wirelessly rechargeable soft brain implant controls brain cells Posted: 26 Jan 2021 08:36 AM PST Researchers have invented a smartphone-controlled soft brain implant that can be recharged wirelessly from outside the body. It enables long-term neural circuit manipulation without the need for periodic disruptive surgeries to replace the battery of the implant. Scientists believe this technology can help uncover and treat psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases such as addiction, depression, and Parkinson's.

New control mechanism in innate immune system Posted: 26 Jan 2021 08:36 AM PST Although the protein ITIH4 is found in large amounts in the blood, its function has so far been unknown. By combining many different techniques, researchers have discovered that ITIH4 inhibits proteases in the innate immune system via an unknown mechanism.

Gut microbiota reveals whether drug therapies work in inflammatory bowel diseases Posted: 26 Jan 2021 07:59 AM PST A study indicates that the gut microbiota of patients suffering from inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders can be used to predict whether they will benefit from expensive therapies. The study also confirms the key role of therapies that have a beneficial effect on the gut microbiota in inflammatory bowel diseases.

Finding a way to stop chemotherapy from damaging the heart Posted: 26 Jan 2021 07:29 AM PST There could be an intervention on the horizon to help prevent heart damage caused by the common chemotherapy drug doxorubicin, new research suggests.

Energy spent avoiding humans associated with smaller home ranges for male pumas Posted: 26 Jan 2021 07:28 AM PST New research shows that fear of humans causes mountain lions to increase their energy expenditures as they move through the landscape, and this can ultimately limit the size of the home ranges they're able to maintain.

Toddlers who use touchscreens may be more distractible Posted: 26 Jan 2021 05:27 AM PST New research highlights some of the effects regular use of touchscreens might have on toddlers.

No overall difference in concussion recovery time for male and female college athletes Posted: 26 Jan 2021 05:27 AM PST Researchers found female and male collegiate athletes take approximately the same amount of time to recover from a concussion, with subtle differences in recovery time depending on the type of sports being played and the division level of the sport. The findings suggest that equity in access to sports medical care among college athletes may be contributing to these similar outcomes.

Breakthrough design vastly improves mechanical heart valve Posted: 26 Jan 2021 05:27 AM PST New research may take the current 'gold standard' for heart valves to a new level of reliability. A team of researchers has developed a way to improve overall blood flow through the valves, so the design of mechanical heart valves will more closely match the real thing.

Afternoon napping linked to better mental agility Posted: 25 Jan 2021 04:18 PM PST Taking a regular afternoon nap may be linked to better mental agility, suggests new research.

Air pollution linked to higher risk of sight loss from AMD Posted: 25 Jan 2021 04:18 PM PST Air pollution is linked to a heightened risk of progressive and irreversible sight loss, known as age related macular degeneration (AMD), reveals a large long term study.

Rich European countries have higher atrial fibrillation death rates than least wealthy Posted: 25 Jan 2021 04:18 PM PST The wealthiest countries in Europe have higher death rates from atrial fibrillation than the least wealthy and these death rates are increasing more rapidly than incidence rates, according to the first analysis of its kind. The study also found that women who developed the condition were more likely than men to die from it in all 20 European countries studied.

Inequality in medieval Cambridge was 'recorded on the bones' of its residents Posted: 25 Jan 2021 04:18 PM PST Evidence of 'skeletal trauma' among over 300 individuals from three very different cemeteries reveals varying levels of physical hardship across the social spectrum of Cambridge, UK, between the 10th and 14th century.

Most patients find tele-dermatology appointments suitable alternative to office visits Posted: 25 Jan 2021 04:18 PM PST Researchers surveyed dermatology patients to evaluate patient satisfaction with tele-dermatology appointments. The team found the majority of patients found the experience a suitable alternative to in-person office visits.

Turbulence model could enhance rotorcraft, munitions performance Posted: 25 Jan 2021 11:46 AM PST Design of aerial vehicles and weapon systems relies on the ability to predict aerodynamic behavior, often aided by advanced computer simulations of the flow of air over the body. High-fidelity simulations assist engineers in maximizing how much load a rotorcraft can lift or how far a missile can fly, but these simulations aren't cheap. A new turbulence model could change that.

Drink and drug risk is lower among optimistic pupils with 'happy' memories Posted: 25 Jan 2021 11:46 AM PST Teenagers with happy childhood memories are likely to drink less, take fewer drugs and enjoy learning, according to new research.

Wetter weather affects composition, numbers of tiny estuarial phytoplankton Posted: 25 Jan 2021 11:45 AM PST Extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and increased precipitation, affect both the amount and the composition of picophytoplankton in the Neuse River Estuary. The work is a first step in determining how a wetter climate may affect the estuarine ecosystem.

Simulating 800,000 years of California earthquake history to pinpoint risks Posted: 25 Jan 2021 11:45 AM PST A new study presents a prototype Rate-State earthquake simulator that simulates hundreds of thousands of years of seismic history in California. Coupled with another code, the framework can calculate the amount of shaking that would occur for each quake. The new approach improves the ability to pinpoint how big an earthquake might occur in a given location, allowing building code developers and structural engineers to design more resilient buildings that can survive earthquakes.

Anti-freeze for cell membranes Posted: 25 Jan 2021 11:45 AM PST Mosses and flowering plants took different genetic routes to evolve a similar defense mechanism.

Biologists unravel full sequence of DNA repair mechanism Posted: 25 Jan 2021 11:45 AM PST Researchers have observed the entire sequence in break-induced replication, a method by which organisms from viruses to humans repair breaks in DNA that cannot be fixed otherwise but can introduce or cause genomic rearrangements and mutations contributing to cancer development.

A microscopic look at aneurysm repair Posted: 25 Jan 2021 11:45 AM PST New research shows that there are two phases of wall restructuring after an aneurysm forms, the first beginning right away to reinforce the weakened points.

How complex oscillations in a quantum system simplify with time Posted: 25 Jan 2021 11:45 AM PST With a clever experiment, physicists have shown that in a one-dimensional quantum system, the initially complex distribution of vibrations or phonons can change over time into a simple Gaussian bell curve.

Better bundled: New principle for generating x-rays Posted: 25 Jan 2021 11:45 AM PST X-rays are usually difficult to direct and guide. X-ray physicists have developed a new method with which the X-rays can be emitted more precisely in one direction. To do this, the scientists use a structure of thin layers of materials with different densities of electrons to simultaneously deflect and focus the generated beams.

Borderline personality disorder: Don't ignore it Posted: 25 Jan 2021 11:45 AM PST Borderline Personality Disorder is treatable. New research is the first to show that adolescent borderline pathology follows a similar downward course after discharge from inpatient treatment previously demonstrated for adults.

Dietary adherence and the fight against obesity Posted: 25 Jan 2021 11:45 AM PST While eating less and moving more are the basics of weight control and obesity treatment, finding ways to help people adhere to a weight-loss regimen is more complicated. Understanding what features make a diet easier or more challenging to follow can help optimize and tailor dietary approaches for obesity treatment.

3-D printed Biomesh minimizes hernia repair complications Posted: 25 Jan 2021 11:45 AM PST A newly-designed 3D-printed Biomesh effectively minimized postsurgical complications of hernia repair in an animal model.

Boosting the efficiency of carbon capture and conversion systems Posted: 25 Jan 2021 11:45 AM PST Researchers have developed a method to boost the performance of carbon capture systems that use catalytic surfaces to enhance the rates of carbon-sequestering electrochemical reactions.

Protein anchors as a newly discovered key molecule in cancer spread and epilepsy Posted: 25 Jan 2021 08:32 AM PST Certain anchor proteins inhibit a key metabolic driver that plays an important role in cancer and developmental brain disorders. Scientists discovered this molecular mechanism, which could open up new opportunities for personalized therapies for cancer and neuronal diseases.

Climate change in antiquity: Mass emigration due to water scarcity Posted: 25 Jan 2021 08:31 AM PST The absence of monsoon rains at the source of the Nile was the cause of migrations and the demise of entire settlements in the late Roman province of Egypt. This demographic development has been compared with environmental data for the first time by professor of ancient history, leading to a discovery of climate change and its consequences.

Street trees close to the home may reduce the risk of depression Posted: 25 Jan 2021 08:31 AM PST Daily contact with trees in the street may reduce the need for antidepressants. Street tree planting in cities may be a nature-based solution in urban planning to reduce the risk of depression, also addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.

Dramatic increase in microplastics in seagrass soil since the 1970s Posted: 25 Jan 2021 08:31 AM PST Large-scale production of vegetables and fruit in Spain with intensive plastic consumption in its greenhouse industry is believed to have leaked microplastic contaminants since the 1970s into the surrounding Mediterranean seagrass beds. This is shown in a new study where researchers have succeeded in tracing plastic pollution since the 1930s and 1940s by analyzing seagrass sediments.

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