ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Traces of Earth's early magma ocean identified in Greenland rocks
• Glaciers and enigmatic stone stripes in the Ethiopian highlands
• SARS-CoV-2 jumped from bats to humans without much change, study finds
• Scientists sketch aged star system using over a century of observations
• An unusual creature is coming out of winter's slumber: Here's why scientists are excited
• Study suggests role of sleep in healing traumatic brain injuries
• Farm-level study shows rising temperatures hurt rice yields
• Computing clean water
• Zealandia switch: New theory of regulation of ice age climates
• A computational guide to lead cells down desired differentiation paths
• Study uncovers clues to COVID-19 using imaging
• Adolescents with autism may engage neural control systems differently, study finds
• New review explores effective sampling techniques for collecting airborne viruses and ultrafine particles
• New perovskite LED emits a circularly polarized glow
• Shedding light on perovskite films
• High emotional intelligence 'can help to identify fake news'
• Release of serotonin from mast cells contribute to airway hyperresposivness in asthma
• How protein essential for male fertility emerged
• 'Magical' fire suppressant kills zombie fires 40% faster than water alone
• Astronomers have detected a moving supermassive black hole
• Multiple factors synergistically drive socioeconomic disparities in flu burden
• Accurate aging of wild animals thanks to first epigenetic clock for bats
• Treatment for type-2 diabetic heart disease
• Malaria devastated humans far earlier than expected
• Sea-level rise drives wastewater leakage to coastal waters
• Remote control for quantum emitters
• Study provides insights into architecture of abnormal protein deposits in brain disorders
• Controlled by light alone, new smart materials twist, bend and move
• Experts recreate a mechanical Cosmos for the world's first computer
• Breast cancer: The risks of brominated flame retardants
• RNA editing protein ADAR1 protects telomeres and supports proliferation in cancer cells
• Climate change damaging North America's largest temperate rainforest, harming salmon
• Stress reduction as a path to eating less fast food
• Preterm birth, prolonged labor influenced by progesterone balance
• Unique Ag-hydrogel composite for soft bioelectronics created
• Polarization: From better sunglasses to a better way of looking at asteroid surfaces
• New insight into how cancer spreads
• Researchers test using environmental DNA to monitor grass pollen levels
• Standard vital signs could help estimate people's pain levels
• The narwhal's tusk reveals its past living conditions
• AI analysis of how bacteria attack could help predict infection outcomes
• Adding triglyceride-lowering Omega-3 based medication to statins may lower stroke risk
• Weakened protections led to more disappearances of endangered Mexican wolves
• Paleontology: Microscope helps with dinosaur puzzle
• Scientists discover cellular stress enzyme that might play key role in neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS
• Cheaper carbon capture is on the way
• New study identifies a limit on the range of vocalizations that support infant cognition
• New ultralightweight, crush-resistant tensegrity metamaterials
• Read to succeed -- in math; study shows how reading skill shapes more than just reading

Traces of Earth's early magma ocean identified in Greenland rocks Posted: 12 Mar 2021 12:54 PM PST New research led by the University of Cambridge has found rare evidence - preserved in the chemistry of ancient rocks from Greenland - which tells of a time when Earth was almost entirely molten.

Glaciers and enigmatic stone stripes in the Ethiopian highlands Posted: 12 Mar 2021 12:54 PM PST Although past temperature variations in the tropics are of great importance to understanding the global climate system, little is known about their extent and chronological course. Researchers have now been able to demonstrate strong local cooling in the tropics during the last glacial period on the basis of glacier fluctuations and large stone stripes in the Ethiopian Highlands.

SARS-CoV-2 jumped from bats to humans without much change, study finds Posted: 12 Mar 2021 12:54 PM PST How much did SARS-CoV-2 need to change in order to adapt to its new human host? New research shows that since December 2019 and for the first 11 months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there has been very little 'important' genetic change observed in the hundreds of thousands of sequenced virus genomes.

Scientists sketch aged star system using over a century of observations Posted: 12 Mar 2021 12:54 PM PST Astronomers have painted their best picture yet of an RV Tauri variable, a rare type of stellar binary where two stars - one approaching the end of its life - orbit within a sprawling disk of dust. Their 130-year dataset spans the widest range of light yet collected for one of these systems, from radio to X-rays.

An unusual creature is coming out of winter's slumber: Here's why scientists are excited Posted: 12 Mar 2021 12:54 PM PST Animals that hibernate in the wild rarely do so in zoos and sanctuaries, with their climate controls and year-round access to food. But now our closest hibernating relative has gone into true, deep hibernation in captivity for the first time at the Duke Lemur Center. Studying dwarf lemur torpor may help humans safely enter and emerge from suspended states, such as when cardiac surgeons cool patients to slow their hearts for life-saving surgery.

Study suggests role of sleep in healing traumatic brain injuries Posted: 12 Mar 2021 12:54 PM PST Sound sleep plays a critical role in healing traumatic brain injury, a new study of military veterans suggests.

Farm-level study shows rising temperatures hurt rice yields Posted: 12 Mar 2021 12:54 PM PST A long-term, farm-level study of the relationship between warmer temperatures and rice yields in the Philippines shows that rising temperatures adversely affect rice yields.

Computing clean water Posted: 12 Mar 2021 11:00 AM PST Researchers' computational methods pave the way for next-generation membrane technology for water purification.

Zealandia switch: New theory of regulation of ice age climates Posted: 12 Mar 2021 11:00 AM PST Abrupt shifts of the Southern Hemisphere westerly winds, paced by subtle variations in Earth's orbit, lie at the heart of ice age cycles, according to an international research team. This 'Zealandia Switch' hypothesis differs from the long-held view that orbital influences on the extent of Northern Hemisphere continental ice sheets regulate ice age climates. Southern Hemisphere westerlies regulate the exchange of CO2 and heat between the ocean and atmosphere, exerting further influence on global climate.

A computational guide to lead cells down desired differentiation paths Posted: 12 Mar 2021 10:26 AM PST Scientists have developed a computer-guided design tool called IRENE, which significantly helps increase the efficiency of cell conversions by predicting highly effective combinations of cell type-specific TFs.

Study uncovers clues to COVID-19 using imaging Posted: 12 Mar 2021 10:26 AM PST A visual correlation has been found between the severity of COVID-19 in the lungs using CT scans and the severity of effects on patient's brains, using MRI scans.

Adolescents with autism may engage neural control systems differently, study finds Posted: 12 Mar 2021 10:26 AM PST Researchers studying executive control in adolescents and young adults with autism have published new research that suggests a unique approach, rather than impairment.

New review explores effective sampling techniques for collecting airborne viruses and ultrafine particles Posted: 12 Mar 2021 09:13 AM PST As the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have published a review of the best techniques to collect airborne aerosols containing viruses.

New perovskite LED emits a circularly polarized glow Posted: 12 Mar 2021 09:13 AM PST LEDs led to the high-definition viewing experience we've come to expect from our screens. A new type of LED that utilizes spintronics could take displays to the next level.

Shedding light on perovskite films Posted: 12 Mar 2021 09:13 AM PST Perovskite semiconductors are considered promising materials for solar cells of the next generation. Suitability of a semiconductor for photovoltaics is reflected among others by the so-called photoluminescence quantum efficiency. Researchers have now developed a model, by means of which photoluminescence quantum efficiency of perovskite films can be determined exactly for the first time.

High emotional intelligence 'can help to identify fake news' Posted: 12 Mar 2021 09:13 AM PST People with high levels of emotional intelligence are less likely to be susceptible to 'fake news', according to new research.

Release of serotonin from mast cells contribute to airway hyperresposivness in asthma Posted: 12 Mar 2021 09:13 AM PST In asthma, the airways become hyperresponsive. Researchers have found a new mechanism that contributes to, and explains, airway hyperresponsiveness.

How protein essential for male fertility emerged Posted: 12 Mar 2021 09:13 AM PST Researchers have analysed, at unprecedented breadth and depth, the evolutionary history of how a protein - which is essential for the fertility of male fruit flies and emerged from previously non-coding DNA became functional and took on a relatively stable structure.

'Magical' fire suppressant kills zombie fires 40% faster than water alone Posted: 12 Mar 2021 09:13 AM PST New research shows a fire suppressant, when combined with water, cuts the amount of time and water needed to extinguish peat fires by 40%.

Astronomers have detected a moving supermassive black hole Posted: 12 Mar 2021 09:13 AM PST Scientists have long theorized that supermassive black holes can wander through space -- but catching them in the act has proven difficult.

Multiple factors synergistically drive socioeconomic disparities in flu burden Posted: 12 Mar 2021 06:58 AM PST A comprehensive modeling study sheds new light on socioeconomic-based mechanisms that drive disparities in influenza burden across the U.S.

Accurate aging of wild animals thanks to first epigenetic clock for bats Posted: 12 Mar 2021 06:58 AM PST A new study found that DNA from tissue samples can be used to accurately predict the age of bats in the wild. The study also showed age-related changes to the DNA of long-lived species are different from those in short-lived species, especially in regions of the genome near genes associated with cancer and immunity. This work provides new insight into causes of age-related declines.

Treatment for type-2 diabetic heart disease Posted: 12 Mar 2021 06:58 AM PST Researchers have discovered one of the reasons why more than 50 per cent of people with type 2 diabetes die from heart disease. And perhaps more significantly, they have found a way to treat it.

Malaria devastated humans far earlier than expected Posted: 12 Mar 2021 06:58 AM PST New bioarchaeological research shows malaria has threatened human communities for more than 7000 years, earlier than when the onset of farming was thought to have sparked its devastating arrival.

Sea-level rise drives wastewater leakage to coastal waters Posted: 12 Mar 2021 06:57 AM PST A new study has provided direct evidence that tidally-driven groundwater inundation of wastewater infrastructure is occurring today in urban Honolulu, Hawai'i. The study shows that higher ocean water levels are leading to wastewater entering storm drains and the coastal ocean -- creating negative impacts to coastal water quality and ecological health.

Remote control for quantum emitters Posted: 12 Mar 2021 06:57 AM PST Quantum technologies are enabled by precise control of the state and interactions of individual quantum objects. Physicists have now proposed a way to remotely control the state of individual quantum emitters. The underlying idea is based on chirped light pulses.

Study provides insights into architecture of abnormal protein deposits in brain disorders Posted: 12 Mar 2021 05:47 AM PST Scientists have determined the structure of protein 'fibrils' linked to Lou Gehrig's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders -- findings that provide clues to how toxic proteins clump and spread between nerve cells in the brain.

Controlled by light alone, new smart materials twist, bend and move Posted: 12 Mar 2021 05:47 AM PST Engineers created light-activated materials that execute precise movements and form complex shapes without the need for wires, motors or other energy sources. The research could lead to smart light-driven systems such as high-efficiency solar cells that automatically follow the sun's direction.

Experts recreate a mechanical Cosmos for the world's first computer Posted: 12 Mar 2021 05:47 AM PST Researchers have solved a major piece of the puzzle that makes up the ancient Greek astronomical calculator known as the Antikythera Mechanism, a hand-powered mechanical device that was used to predict astronomical events.

Breast cancer: The risks of brominated flame retardants Posted: 12 Mar 2021 05:47 AM PST Brominated flame retardants may lead to early mammary gland development, which is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

RNA editing protein ADAR1 protects telomeres and supports proliferation in cancer cells Posted: 12 Mar 2021 05:46 AM PST Scientists identified a new function of ADAR1, a protein responsible for RNA editing, discovering that the ADAR1p110 isoform regulates genome stability at chromosome ends and is required for continued proliferation of cancer cells.

Climate change damaging North America's largest temperate rainforest, harming salmon Posted: 11 Mar 2021 04:00 PM PST New research found that a remote region of North America's largest temperate rainforest is experiencing changes to its ecosystem due to climate change.

Stress reduction as a path to eating less fast food Posted: 11 Mar 2021 03:59 PM PST Overweight low-income mothers of young kids ate fewer fast-food meals and high-fat snacks after participating in a study - not because researchers told them what not to eat, but because the lifestyle intervention being evaluated helped lower the moms' stress, research suggests.

Preterm birth, prolonged labor influenced by progesterone balance Posted: 11 Mar 2021 03:59 PM PST New research found that unbalanced progesterone signals may cause some pregnant women to experience preterm labor or prolonged labor. The study in mice provides novel insights for developing treatments.

Unique Ag-hydrogel composite for soft bioelectronics created Posted: 11 Mar 2021 03:59 PM PST Researchers have developed a new silver-hydrogel composite for bioelectronics that combines high electrical conductivity with soft, stretchable biocompatibility.

Polarization: From better sunglasses to a better way of looking at asteroid surfaces Posted: 11 Mar 2021 12:28 PM PST Using the same principles that make polarized sunglasses possible, a team of researchers at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico have developed a technique that will help better defend against asteroids on a collision course with Earth. A new study in The Planetary Science Journal found a better way to interpret radar signals bounced off asteroids' surfaces.

New insight into how cancer spreads Posted: 11 Mar 2021 12:28 PM PST Breast cancer is harmful enough on its own, but when cancer cells start to metastasize -- or spread into the body from their original location -- the disease becomes even more fatal and difficult to treat.

Researchers test using environmental DNA to monitor grass pollen levels Posted: 11 Mar 2021 12:28 PM PST Grass pollen is a major outdoor allergen, responsible for widespread and costly respiratory conditions including allergic asthma and hay fever (rhinitis). Now, researchers suggest that environmental DNA could help to better understand which grasses are the worst offenders.

Standard vital signs could help estimate people's pain levels Posted: 11 Mar 2021 12:27 PM PST A new study demonstrates that machine-learning strategies can be applied to routinely collected physiological data, such as heart rate and blood pressure, to provide clues about pain levels in people with sickle cell disease.

The narwhal's tusk reveals its past living conditions Posted: 11 Mar 2021 12:27 PM PST Every year, a new growth layer is added to the narwhal's spiralled tusk. The individual layers act as an archive of data that reveals what and where the animal has eaten, providing a glimpse of how the ice and environmental conditions have changed over its long life span (up to 50 years).

AI analysis of how bacteria attack could help predict infection outcomes Posted: 11 Mar 2021 12:27 PM PST Insights into how bacterial proteins work as a network to take control of our cells could help predict infection outcomes and develop new treatments.

Adding triglyceride-lowering Omega-3 based medication to statins may lower stroke risk Posted: 11 Mar 2021 12:27 PM PST Adding the triglyceride-lowering medication icosapent ethyl cut the risk of a first stroke by an additional 36% in patients already taking statin medications to treat high cholesterol. In previous research, icosapent ethyl reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events. The prescription medication is a highly purified form of an omega-3 fatty acid. The study's results do not apply to supplements available over-the-counter.

Weakened protections led to more disappearances of endangered Mexican wolves Posted: 11 Mar 2021 12:27 PM PST Mexican wolves in the American Southwest disappeared more quickly during periods of relaxed legal protections, almost certainly succumbing to poaching, according to new research.

Paleontology: Microscope helps with dinosaur puzzle Posted: 11 Mar 2021 12:27 PM PST Fossil sites sometimes resemble a living room table on which half a dozen different jigsaw puzzles have been dumped: It is often difficult to say which bone belongs to which animal. Researchers have now presented a method that allows a more certain answer to this question.

Scientists discover cellular stress enzyme that might play key role in neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS Posted: 11 Mar 2021 12:27 PM PST An enzyme called MARK2 has been identified as a key stress-response switch in cells in a new study.

Cheaper carbon capture is on the way Posted: 11 Mar 2021 12:27 PM PST A new solvent captures carbon dioxide from power plants for as little as $47.10 per metric ton, marking a significant milestone in the journey to lower the cost of carbon capture.

New study identifies a limit on the range of vocalizations that support infant cognition Posted: 11 Mar 2021 11:22 AM PST A new study finds that although human and non-human primate vocalizations facilitate core cognitive processes in very young human infants, birdsong does not.

New ultralightweight, crush-resistant tensegrity metamaterials Posted: 11 Mar 2021 11:21 AM PST Engineers describe the creation of a new class of mechanical metamaterials that delocalize deformations to prevent failure. They did so by turning to tensegrity, a century-old design principle in which isolated rigid bars are integrated into a flexible mesh of tethers to produce very lightweight, self-tensioning truss structures.

Read to succeed -- in math; study shows how reading skill shapes more than just reading Posted: 11 Mar 2021 11:20 AM PST These findings clearly demonstrate how the cooperative areas of the brain responsible for reading skill are also at work during apparently unrelated activities, such as multiplication, suggest that reading, writing and arithmetic, the foundational skills informally identified as the three Rs, might actually overlap in ways not previously imagined, let alone experimentally validated.

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