ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Explaining differences between the viruses that cause COVID-19 and SARS
• Remyelinating drug could improve vision in patients with multiple sclerosis
• COVID-19 lockdowns temporarily raised global temperatures, research shows
• Sea level will rise faster than previously thought
• Arctic shrubs add new piece to ecological puzzle
• Textile sensor patch could detect pressure points for amputees
• Study challenges ecology's 'Field of Dreams' hypothesis
• Modeling the brain during pain processing
• Researchers create novel photonic chip
• A new hands-off probe uses light to explore electron behavior in a topological insulator
• Deep Vision: Near-infrared imaging and machine learning can identify hidden tumors
• Lack of ICU beds tied to thousands of excess COVID-19 deaths, study finds
• An origami-inspired medical patch for sealing internal injuries
• Injection to treat skin cancer developed
• Scientists advocate breaking laws - of geography and ecology
• Sea ice kept oxygen from reaching deep ocean during last ice age
• Researchers design next-generation photodetector
• When hyperactive proteins trigger illnesses
• Sub-surface imaging technology can expose counterfeit travel documents
• Research finds COVID plasma donation is fuelled by kindness
• Neutrons probe molecular behavior of proposed COVID-19 drug candidates
• New discovery for how the brain 'tangles' in Alzheimer's Disease
• Highly deformable piezoelectric nanotruss for tactile electronics
• Beyond qubits: Next big step to scale up quantum computing
• Not too big, not too small: Goldilocks analogy found in maze navigation
• Study indicates US cities underestimate their GHG emissions by nearly 20%
• Why food sticks to nonstick frying pans
• Biosensors require robust antifouling protection
• Venus flytraps found to produce magnetic fields
• How animals could extort relatives into helping with the kids
• Native bees under threat from growing urbanization
• What did the Swiss eat during the Bronze Age?
• How do electrons close to Earth reach almost the speed of light?
• Air pollution poses risk to thinking skills in later life
• How plants stabilize their water pipes
• Iron release may contribute to cell death in heart failure
• Potential drug target found for treating rare genetic disorder in children
• Soldiers, snakes and marathon runners in the hidden world of fungi
• Could playing host to hookworms help prevent aging?
• Novel photocatalyst effectively turns carbon dioxide into methane fuel with light
• Desktop PCs run simulations of mammals' brains
• Immense hydrocarbon cycle discovered in world's ocean
• Imaging identifies breast cancer patients unlikely to benefit from hormone therapy
• Team develops portable device that creates 3D images of skin in 10 minutes
• Finding rare birds is never a picnic, contrary to popular Patagonia belief
• Surgery to heal inflamed gut may create new target for disease
• Aspirin before a diagnosis may lower colorectal cancer mortality
• The secrets of 3000 galaxies laid bare
• Tiny 3D structures enhance solar cell efficiency
• Survival tip: Start at normal weight and slowly add pounds
• Say goodbye to the dots and dashes to enhance optical storage media
• Specific bacteria in the gut prompt mother mice to neglect their pups
• Working outdoors linked to lower risk of breast cancer among older women
• Halved risk for severe retinal disease in extremely premature infants

Explaining differences between the viruses that cause COVID-19 and SARS Posted: 02 Feb 2021 04:28 PM PST Researchers have identified key variants that help explain the differences between the viruses that cause COVID-19 and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Remyelinating drug could improve vision in patients with multiple sclerosis Posted: 02 Feb 2021 02:04 PM PST Biomedical scientists reports a drug -- an estrogen receptor ligand called indazole chloride (IndCl) -- has the potential to improve vision in patients with multiple sclerosis, or MS. The study was performed on mice induced with a model of MS and the first to investigate IndCl's effect on the pathology and function of the complete afferent visual pathway.

COVID-19 lockdowns temporarily raised global temperatures, research shows Posted: 02 Feb 2021 01:45 PM PST The lockdowns and reduced societal activity related to the COVID-19 pandemic affected emissions of pollutants in ways that slightly warmed the planet for several months last year, according to new research. The counterintuitive finding highlights the influence of airborne particles, or aerosols, that block incoming sunlight.

Sea level will rise faster than previously thought Posted: 02 Feb 2021 01:45 PM PST There are two main elements to observe when assessing sea level rise. One is the loss of the ice on land and the other is that the sea will expand as it gets warmer. Researchers have constructed a new method of quantifying just how fast the sea will react to warming. Former predictions of sea level have been too conservative, so the sea will likely rise more and faster than previously believed.

Arctic shrubs add new piece to ecological puzzle Posted: 02 Feb 2021 01:45 PM PST A 15-year experiment on Arctic shrubs in Greenland lends new understanding to an enduring ecological puzzle: How do species with similar needs and life histories occur together at large scales while excluding each other at small scales? Its findings also reveal trends related to carbon sequestration and climate change as the Arctic becomes both greener and browner.

Textile sensor patch could detect pressure points for amputees Posted: 02 Feb 2021 01:45 PM PST A soft, flexible sensor system created with electrically conductive yarns could help map problematic pressure points in the socket of an amputee's prosthetic limb, researchers report in a new study.

Study challenges ecology's 'Field of Dreams' hypothesis Posted: 02 Feb 2021 01:45 PM PST A new study challenges the 'Field of Dreams' hypothesis in restoration ecology, which predicts that restoring plant biodiversity will lead to recovery of animal biodiversity. The study of restored tallgrass prairie found the effects of management strategies (specifically controlled burns and bison reintroduction) on animal communities were six times stronger on average than the effects of plant biodiversity.

Modeling the brain during pain processing Posted: 02 Feb 2021 01:45 PM PST Researchers show that inhibitory interneurons, which prevent chemical messages from passing between different regions of the brain, make up 20% of the circuitry in the brain required for pain processing. The discovery represents a significant advance in researchers' understanding of how our bodies and brains respond to pain.

Researchers create novel photonic chip Posted: 02 Feb 2021 01:45 PM PST Researchers have developed and demonstrated for the first time a photonic digital to analog converter without leaving the optical domain. Such novel converters can advance next-generation data processing hardware with high relevance for data centers, 6G networks, artificial intelligence and more.

A new hands-off probe uses light to explore electron behavior in a topological insulator Posted: 02 Feb 2021 01:45 PM PST Topological insulators are one of the most puzzling quantum materials. Their edges are electron superhighways where electrons flow with no loss, while the bulk of the material blocks electron flow - properties that could be useful in quantum computing and information processing. Researchers used a process called high harmonic generation to separately probe electron behavior in both of those domains. The method should be applicable to a broad range of quantum materials.

Deep Vision: Near-infrared imaging and machine learning can identify hidden tumors Posted: 02 Feb 2021 01:45 PM PST Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are tumors of the digestive tract that grow underneath the mucus layer covering our organs. Because they are deep inside the tissue, these 'submucosal tumors' are difficult to detect and diagnose, even with a biopsy. Now, researchers have developed a novel minimally invasive and accurate method using infrared imaging and machine learning to distinguish between normal tissue and tumor areas. This technique has a strong potential for widespread clinical use.

Lack of ICU beds tied to thousands of excess COVID-19 deaths, study finds Posted: 02 Feb 2021 01:45 PM PST A new study has found a significant association between the availability of hospital resources -- particularly ICU beds -- and patient mortality during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.

An origami-inspired medical patch for sealing internal injuries Posted: 02 Feb 2021 01:45 PM PST Engineers have designed an origami-inspired medical patch for minimally invasive sealing of internal injuries, which could also be used in robotic surgery for remote repair of damaged tissues and organs.

Injection to treat skin cancer developed Posted: 02 Feb 2021 01:44 PM PST Yale researchers are developing a skin cancer treatment that involves injecting nanoparticles into the tumor, killing cancer cells with a two-pronged approach, as a potential alternative to surgery.

Scientists advocate breaking laws - of geography and ecology Posted: 02 Feb 2021 01:44 PM PST All that's local is a lot more global, and scientists say solutions can only be found through broader views and collaborations nearby and far away.

Sea ice kept oxygen from reaching deep ocean during last ice age Posted: 02 Feb 2021 01:44 PM PST Extensive sea ice covered the world's oceans during the last ice age, which prevented oxygen from penetrating into the deep ocean waters, complicating the relationship between oxygen and carbon.

Researchers design next-generation photodetector Posted: 02 Feb 2021 01:44 PM PST The new long-wavelength infrared photodetector could be used in night vision, optical communication, and thermal and medical imaging.

When hyperactive proteins trigger illnesses Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:39 AM PST Autoimmune diseases, in which the body's own immune system attacks healthy tissue, can be life-threatening and can impact all organs. A research team has now found a possible cause for these self-destructive immune system attacks: a hyperactive RANK protein on the surface of B cells. The research opens the door to new therapeutic possibilities.

Sub-surface imaging technology can expose counterfeit travel documents Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:39 AM PST New research has found that optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging technology can be utilized to distinguish between legitimate and counterfeit travel documents.

Research finds COVID plasma donation is fuelled by kindness Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:38 AM PST Researchers have given new insights into why people would choose to donate COVID-19 plasma after recovering from the virus, which will be used to support the recruitment of convalescent plasma donors to help treat current COVID-19 patients and support ongoing trials.

Neutrons probe molecular behavior of proposed COVID-19 drug candidates Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:38 AM PST Using neutron experiments and computer simulations, researchers delved into how some of the proposed COVID-19 drug candidates behave at the molecular scale when exposed to water. The results could help experts understand the mechanisms by which drug molecules have the potential to mitigate the impact of viral infection.

New discovery for how the brain 'tangles' in Alzheimer's Disease Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:38 AM PST Researchers have discovered a new 'seeding' process in brain cells that could be a cause of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Highly deformable piezoelectric nanotruss for tactile electronics Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:38 AM PST A research team confirmed the potential of tactile devices by developing ceramic piezoelectric materials that are three times more deformable. For the fabrication of highly deformable nanomaterials, the research team built a zinc oxide hollow nanostructure using proximity field nanopatterning and atomic layered deposition.

Beyond qubits: Next big step to scale up quantum computing Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:38 AM PST Researchers have invented a device that operates at 40 times colder than deep space to directly control thousands of qubits, the building blocks of quantum computers.

Not too big, not too small: Goldilocks analogy found in maze navigation Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:38 AM PST Research has taken a close look at how fluids navigate around mazes and obstacles and has found a surprising randomness in how they choose their path.

Study indicates US cities underestimate their GHG emissions by nearly 20% Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:38 AM PST Researchers have compared the self-reported emissions inventories published by 48 major US cities to estimates from a state-of-the-art emissions information system. Researchers found large differences and a systematic under-reporting of urban emissions by cities.

Why food sticks to nonstick frying pans Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:38 AM PST Foods will sometimes get stuck to a heated surface, even if oil or a nonstick frying pan is used. Scientists have investigated the fluid properties of oil on a flat surface and their work shows convection may be to blame. When the pan is heated from below, a temperature gradient is established in the oil film, as well as a surface tension gradient. This gradient sets up a type of convection known as thermocapillary convection.

Biosensors require robust antifouling protection Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:38 AM PST Some promising biosensors and medical devices work well within pristine laboratory environments but may stop working once exposed to real-world conditions. A thick layer of foulants will quickly cover biosensors, and there is no good way to revive them once they quit working. Essentially, a biosensor is only as good as its antifouling properties. Researchers review a variety of approaches developed to combat fouling.

Venus flytraps found to produce magnetic fields Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:38 AM PST The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a carnivorous plant that encloses its prey using modified leaves as a trap. During this process, electrical signals known as action potentials trigger the closure of the leaf lobes. An interdisciplinary team of scientists has now shown that these electrical signals generate measurable magnetic fields.

How animals could extort relatives into helping with the kids Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:38 AM PST Raising kids can be tough, and sometimes you need all the help you can get. Biologists argue that some animals might be able to blackmail reluctant relatives into assisting with the rearing of young.

Native bees under threat from growing urbanization Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:38 AM PST Residential gardens are a poor substitute for native bushland and increasing urbanization is a growing threat when it comes to bees, research has found. The research looked at bee visits to flowers, which form pollination networks across different native bushland and home garden habitats.

What did the Swiss eat during the Bronze Age? Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:37 AM PST People living at the Bronze Age faced a series of challenges: climate, opening up of trade and population growth. How did they respond to changes in their diet? Researchers have carried out isotopic analyses on skeletons together with plant remains. They discovered that manure use had become widespread over time to improve crop harvests in response to demographic growth. They also found that there had been a radical change in dietary habits.

How do electrons close to Earth reach almost the speed of light? Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:37 AM PST In the Van Allen radiation belts, electrons can reach almost the speed of light. Researchers have revealed conditions for such strong accelerations. They had demonstrated in 2020: during solar storm plasma waves play a crucial role. However, it remained unclear why ultra-relativistic electron energies are not achieved in all solar storms. They now show: extreme depletions of the background plasma density are crucial.

Air pollution poses risk to thinking skills in later life Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:37 AM PST Exposure to air pollution in childhood is linked to a decline in thinking skills in later life, a study suggests. A greater exposure to air pollution at the very start of life was associated with a detrimental effect on people's cognitive skills up to 60 years later, the research found.

How plants stabilize their water pipes Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:37 AM PST New techniques allow live-observation of forming cell walls in the vascular tissue.

Iron release may contribute to cell death in heart failure Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:37 AM PST A process that releases iron in response to stress may contribute to heart failure, and blocking this process could be a way of protecting the heart, suggests a new study.

Potential drug target found for treating rare genetic disorder in children Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:37 AM PST Scientists have identified a potential new treatment approach for Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), a progressive genetic disorder that causes rapid and premature aging in children.

Soldiers, snakes and marathon runners in the hidden world of fungi Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:37 AM PST Researchers have discovered the individual traits of fungi, and how their hyphae - that is, the fungal threads that grow in soil - behave very differently as they navigate through the earth's microscopic labyrinths.

Could playing host to hookworms help prevent aging? Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:37 AM PST Parasitic worms could hold the key to living longer and free of chronic disease, according to a review article.

Novel photocatalyst effectively turns carbon dioxide into methane fuel with light Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:37 AM PST Decarbonizing has become a prioritized mission in many countries and the science community is working on the 'carbon capture' technologies. If the captured carbon dioxide could be converted into energy, then it would be killing two birds with one stone. A joint research team has developed a new photocatalyst which can produce methane gas (CH4) selectively and effectively from carbon dioxide using sunlight and mimicking photosynthesis.

Desktop PCs run simulations of mammals' brains Posted: 02 Feb 2021 08:37 AM PST Academics have established a method of turbocharging desktop PCs to give them the same capability as supercomputers worth tens of millions of pounds.

Immense hydrocarbon cycle discovered in world's ocean Posted: 02 Feb 2021 07:10 AM PST Hydrocarbons and petroleum are almost synonymous in environmental science. After all, oil reserves account for nearly all the hydrocarbons we encounter. But the few hydrocarbons that trace their origin to biological sources may play a larger ecological role than scientists originally suspected.

Imaging identifies breast cancer patients unlikely to benefit from hormone therapy Posted: 02 Feb 2021 07:10 AM PST Hormone therapy can be very effective for so-called estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. But it only works for a little more than half of women who receive the treatment. In a small study, researchers found that women whose tumors did not respond to a one-day estrogen challenge did not benefit from hormone therapy. The findings could help doctors choose treatments most likely to help their patients.

Team develops portable device that creates 3D images of skin in 10 minutes Posted: 02 Feb 2021 07:10 AM PST A team has developed a portable device that produces high-resolution 3D images of human skin within 10 minutes.

Finding rare birds is never a picnic, contrary to popular Patagonia belief Posted: 02 Feb 2021 07:10 AM PST One of birdwatching's most commonly held and colorfully named beliefs, the Patagonia Picnic Table Effect, is more a fun myth than a true phenomenon, research suggests.

Surgery to heal inflamed gut may create new target for disease Posted: 02 Feb 2021 05:55 AM PST A surgical procedure meant to counter ulcerative colitis, an immune disease affecting the colon, may trigger a second immune system attack, a new study shows.

Aspirin before a diagnosis may lower colorectal cancer mortality Posted: 02 Feb 2021 05:55 AM PST A new study finds that long-term aspirin use before a diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) may be associated with lower CRC-specific mortality.

The secrets of 3000 galaxies laid bare Posted: 02 Feb 2021 05:54 AM PST The complex mechanics determining how galaxies spin, grow, cluster and die have been revealed following the release of all the data gathered during a massive seven-year astronomy research project.

Tiny 3D structures enhance solar cell efficiency Posted: 02 Feb 2021 05:54 AM PST A new method for constructing special solar cells could significantly increase their efficiency. Not only are the cells made up of thin layers, they also consist of specifically arranged nanoblocks.

Survival tip: Start at normal weight and slowly add pounds Posted: 02 Feb 2021 05:54 AM PST People who start adulthood with a body mass index (BMI) in the normal range and move later in life to being overweight - but never obese - tend to live the longest, a new study suggests. Adults in this category lived longer than even those whose BMI stayed in the normal range throughout their life. Those who started adulthood as obese and continued to add weight had the highest mortality rate.

Say goodbye to the dots and dashes to enhance optical storage media Posted: 02 Feb 2021 05:54 AM PST A new technology is aimed at modernizing the optical digital storage technology. This advancement allows for more data to be stored and for that data to be read at a quicker rate. Rather than using the traditional dots and dashes as commonly used in these technologies, the innovators encode information in the angular position of tiny antennas, allowing them to store more data per unit area.

Specific bacteria in the gut prompt mother mice to neglect their pups Posted: 02 Feb 2021 05:54 AM PST As scientists learn more about the microorganisms that colonize the body -- collectively called the microbiota -- one area of intense interest is the effect that these microbes can have on the brain. A new study has identified a strain of E. coli bacteria that, when living in the guts of female mice, causes them to neglect their offspring.

Working outdoors linked to lower risk of breast cancer among older women Posted: 01 Feb 2021 05:00 PM PST Working outdoors over many years is linked to a lower risk of breast cancer in women after the age of 50, finds new research.

Halved risk for severe retinal disease in extremely premature infants Posted: 01 Feb 2021 02:05 PM PST Risk for a severe form of retinopathy of prematurity, which can cause blindness in extremely premature babies, was halved when the newborns were given a new supplement combining various fatty acids.

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