ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

---

• Novel coronavirus circulated undetected months before first COVID-19 cases in Wuhan, China
• Researchers help keep pace with Moore's Law by exploring a new material class
• Melting glaciers contribute to Alaska earthquakes
• Could leak in blood-brain barrier be cause of poor memory?
• Organic crystals' ice-forming superpowers
• New perovskite fabrication method for solar cells paves way to large-scale production
• New statistical model predicts which cities could become 'superspreaders'
• Scientists uncover the underlying genetics that make flies champion fliers
• Effective interventions may prevent disease transmission in changing climate
• Scientists uncover warehouse-full of complex molecules never before seen in space
• Dogs infected with Leishmania parasites smell more attractive to female sand flies
• Vaccines alone may not be enough to end pandemic
• How a single cell gives rise to the 37 trillion cells in an average adult
• Discovery of a 'winged' shark in the Cretaceous seas
• How bushfire smoke traveled around the world
• Progesterone therapy may improve COVID-19 outcomes for men, study finds
• What is the probability of ships becoming beset in ice in Arctic waters?
• Enigmatic circling behavior captured in whales, sharks, penguins, and sea turtles
• Hubble shows torrential outflows from infant stars may not stop them from growing
• Sheep vs. goats: Who are the best problem solvers?
• Astronomers see a 'space jellyfish'
• Targeting a new antibody supersite key to COVID immunity
• Powerful stratospheric winds measured on Jupiter
• Declining caribou population victim of ecological chain reaction
• COVID-19 pandemic impacts mental health worldwide
• First images of the cosmic web reveal a myriad of unsuspected dwarf galaxies
• Advanced mouse embryos grown outside the uterus
• Ultrasound has potential to damage coronaviruses, study finds
• Jupiter's Great Red Spot feeds on smaller storms
• The a7 protein is ready for its close-up
• Proportion of gun use in TV violence statistically parallels U.S. gun homicide trends
• Honey bee behavior from within the hive
• SARS-CoV-2 infects cells via specific viral entry factors
• It's snowing plastic
• Many facets of city growth follow universal scaling laws
• Extinct Caribbean bird's closest relatives hail from Africa, South Pacific
• More precise diagnoses made possible with whole genome sequencing
• Patient wait times reduced thanks to new study by engineers
• In women, higher body fat may protect against heart disease death, study shows
• People searching for objects in 3D image stacks are less successful than those searching for the same in single 2D images

Novel coronavirus circulated undetected months before first COVID-19 cases in Wuhan, China Posted: 18 Mar 2021 03:53 PM PDT Using molecular dating tools and epidemiological simulations, researchers estimate that the SARS-CoV-2 virus likely circulated undetected for two months before the first human cases of COVID-19 were described in Wuhan, China in late-December 2019.

Researchers help keep pace with Moore's Law by exploring a new material class Posted: 18 Mar 2021 02:03 PM PDT Scientists combine disciplines to tackle the heat problem inherent in bringing integrated circuits to a much smaller scale: Nanoscale thermal transport meets molecular engineering and a new material is created that could keep chips cool.

Melting glaciers contribute to Alaska earthquakes Posted: 18 Mar 2021 02:03 PM PDT Glaciers in Southeast Alaska have been melting since the end of the Little Ice Age, many of which are in close proximity to strike-slip faults. When these glaciers melt, the land begins to rise, and the faults they'd previously sutured become unclamped. In this study, scientists determine this process has influenced the timing and location of earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.0 or greater in the area during the past century.

Could leak in blood-brain barrier be cause of poor memory? Posted: 18 Mar 2021 11:25 AM PDT One of the keys to having a healthy brain at any age is having a healthy blood-brain barrier, a complex interface of blood vessels that run through the brain. Researchers reviewed more than 150 articles to look at what happens to the blood-brain barrier as we age. For one, it leaks. And second, we lose cells called pericytes.

Organic crystals' ice-forming superpowers Posted: 18 Mar 2021 11:25 AM PDT At the heart of ice crystals, often, are aerosol particles onto which ice can form more easily than in the open air. It's a bit mysterious how this happens, though. New research shows how crystals of organic molecules, a common component of aerosols, can get the job done.

New perovskite fabrication method for solar cells paves way to large-scale production Posted: 18 Mar 2021 11:25 AM PDT A new, simpler solution process for fabricating stable perovskite solar cells overcomes the key bottleneck to large-scale production and commercialization of this promising renewable-energy technology, which has remained tantalizingly out of reach for more than a decade.

New statistical model predicts which cities could become 'superspreaders' Posted: 18 Mar 2021 11:25 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new statistical model that predicts which cities are more likely to become infectious disease hotspots, based both on interconnectivity between cities and the idea that some cities are more suitable environments for infection than others.

Scientists uncover the underlying genetics that make flies champion fliers Posted: 18 Mar 2021 11:25 AM PDT Flies have developed excellent flying skills thanks to a set of complicated interactions between numerous genes influencing wing shape, muscle function, and nervous system development, as well as the regulation of gene expression during development.

Effective interventions may prevent disease transmission in changing climate Posted: 18 Mar 2021 11:25 AM PDT Aedes aegypti are the primary vector for mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever. However, the effects of climate change-related weather anomalies on mosquito populations is not well understood. A new study suggests that early interventions may prevent disease transmission even as extreme climate events may increase the abundance of Ae. aegypti populations.

Scientists uncover warehouse-full of complex molecules never before seen in space Posted: 18 Mar 2021 11:25 AM PDT Scientists have discovered a vast, previously unknown reservoir of new aromatic material in a cold, dark molecular cloud by detecting individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon molecules in the interstellar medium for the first time, and in doing so are beginning to answer a three-decades-old scientific mystery: how and where are these molecules formed in space? The more than a dozen PAHs may hold clues as to the formation of comets, asteroids, stars, and even planets.

Dogs infected with Leishmania parasites smell more attractive to female sand flies Posted: 18 Mar 2021 11:25 AM PDT Dogs infected with the Leishmania parasite smell more attractive to female sand flies than males, say researchers. Leishmania parasites are transmitted from infected dogs to people by sand flies when they bite. As only female sand flies transmit the parasite, researchers wanted to understand if infection made dogs more attractive to the insect. Globally over 350 million people are at risk of leishmaniasis, with up to 300,000 new cases annually.

Vaccines alone may not be enough to end pandemic Posted: 18 Mar 2021 11:25 AM PDT Even as vaccines are becoming more readily available in the U.S., protecting against the asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic spread of the virus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19 is key to ending the pandemic, say disease experts in a new article.

How a single cell gives rise to the 37 trillion cells in an average adult Posted: 18 Mar 2021 11:24 AM PDT One of great mysteries of human biology is how a single cell can give rise to the 37 trillion cells contained in the average body, each with its own specialized role. Researchers have devised a way to recreate the earliest stages of cellular development that gives rise to such an amazing diversity of cell types.

Discovery of a 'winged' shark in the Cretaceous seas Posted: 18 Mar 2021 11:24 AM PDT The fossil of an unusual shark specimen reminiscent of manta rays sheds light on morphological diversity in Cretaceous sharks. This plankton feeder was discovered in Mexico and analysed by an international team of palaeontologists.

How bushfire smoke traveled around the world Posted: 18 Mar 2021 11:24 AM PDT Scientists managed to track puzzling January and February 2020 spikes in a measure of particle-laden haze to bushfires, and then uncovered the 'perfect storm' of circumstances that swept the particles emitted from those fires into the upper atmosphere and spread them over the entire Southern Hemisphere.

Progesterone therapy may improve COVID-19 outcomes for men, study finds Posted: 18 Mar 2021 11:16 AM PDT COVID-19 disproportionately affects men compared with women, raising the possibility that a hormone like progesterone may improve clinical outcomes for certain hospitalized men with the disease. New research supports this hypothesis.

What is the probability of ships becoming beset in ice in Arctic waters? Posted: 18 Mar 2021 09:25 AM PDT Statisticians have calculated the probability of ships of different Polar Ship Categories becoming beset in ice along the Northern Sea Route. Their data will help assess the risks of maritime traffic.

Enigmatic circling behavior captured in whales, sharks, penguins, and sea turtles Posted: 18 Mar 2021 08:36 AM PDT Technological advances have made it possible for researchers to track the movements of large ocean-dwelling animals in three dimensions with remarkable precision in both time and space. Researchers reporting in the journal iScience on March 18 have now used this biologging technology to find that, for reasons the researchers don't yet understand, green sea turtles, sharks, penguins, and marine mammals all do something rather unusual: swimming in circles.

Hubble shows torrential outflows from infant stars may not stop them from growing Posted: 18 Mar 2021 08:36 AM PDT In this largest-ever survey of nascent stars to date, researchers are finding that gas-clearing by a star's outflow may not be as important in determining its final mass as conventional theories suggest.

Sheep vs. goats: Who are the best problem solvers? Posted: 18 Mar 2021 07:15 AM PDT When it comes to adapting to new situations, goats are a step ahead. Compared to sheep, they can more quickly adapt to changing environmental conditions. The study investigated how well the animals were able to navigate around obstacles to reach food.

Astronomers see a 'space jellyfish' Posted: 18 Mar 2021 07:15 AM PDT A radio telescope located in outback Western Australia has observed a cosmic phenomenon with a striking resemblance to a jellyfish.

Targeting a new antibody supersite key to COVID immunity Posted: 18 Mar 2021 07:15 AM PDT Antibodies from recovered patients recognize a lesser-known site on the pandemic coronavirus and block infection in lab studies.

Powerful stratospheric winds measured on Jupiter Posted: 18 Mar 2021 06:16 AM PDT Astronomers have now directly measured winds in Jupiter's middle atmosphere. By analyzing the aftermath of a comet collision from the 1990s, the researchers have revealed incredibly powerful winds, with speeds of up to 1450 kilometers an hour, near Jupiter's poles. They could represent a 'unique meteorological beast in our Solar System'.

Declining caribou population victim of ecological chain reaction Posted: 18 Mar 2021 06:16 AM PDT A new study comparing decades of environmental monitoring records has confirmed that Canada's caribou are not faring as well as other animals like moose and wolves in the same areas -- and also teased out why. The study used 16 years of data to examine changes in vegetation, moose, wolves and caribou.

COVID-19 pandemic impacts mental health worldwide Posted: 18 Mar 2021 05:56 AM PDT A new study reports a high global prevalence of both depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic and shows how implementation of mitigation strategies including public transportation and school closures, and stay-at-home orders impacted such disorders.

First images of the cosmic web reveal a myriad of unsuspected dwarf galaxies Posted: 18 Mar 2021 05:56 AM PDT In the universe, galaxies are distributed along extremely tenuous filaments of gas millions of light years long separated by voids, forming the cosmic web. Astronomers have captured an image of several filaments in the early universe, revealing the unexpected presence of billions of dwarf galaxies in the filaments.

Advanced mouse embryos grown outside the uterus Posted: 18 Mar 2021 05:47 AM PDT To observe how a tiny ball of identical cells on its way to becoming a mammalian embryo first attaches to an awaiting uterine wall and then develops into nervous system, heart, stomach and limbs: This has been a highly-sought grail in the field of embryonic development for nearly 100 years. Scientists have now accomplished this feat.

Ultrasound has potential to damage coronaviruses, study finds Posted: 17 Mar 2021 03:16 PM PDT A new study suggests coronaviruses, including the virus that causes COVID-19, may be vulnerable to ultrasound vibrations. Simulations suggest ultrasound waves at medical imaging frequencies can cause the virus' shell and spikes to collapse and rupture.

Jupiter's Great Red Spot feeds on smaller storms Posted: 17 Mar 2021 12:51 PM PDT The stormy, centuries-old maelstrom of Jupiter's Great Red Spot was shaken but not destroyed by a series of anticyclones that crashed into it over the past few years, according to a new study.

The a7 protein is ready for its close-up Posted: 17 Mar 2021 11:17 AM PDT Researchers have identified the structure of a key member of a family of proteins called nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in three different shapes. The work could eventually lead to new pharmaceutical treatments for a large range of diseases or infections including schizophrenia, lung cancer, and even COVID-19.

Proportion of gun use in TV violence statistically parallels U.S. gun homicide trends Posted: 17 Mar 2021 11:16 AM PDT A new study shows that the proportion of gun violence relative to other forms of violence in TV dramas increased from 2000 to 2018, with statistical parallels to trends in actual gun homicides among U.S. youths.

Honey bee behavior from within the hive Posted: 17 Mar 2021 11:16 AM PDT Unique video from within beehives provides special insight into honey bee behaviors, according to a new study.

SARS-CoV-2 infects cells via specific viral entry factors Posted: 17 Mar 2021 08:18 AM PDT A new study uncovers which cell types can be infected by SARS-CoV-2 due to their viral entry factors. The study also suggests that increased gene expression of these viral entry factors in some individuals partially explains the differences of COVID-19 severity reported in relation to age, gender and smoking status.

It's snowing plastic Posted: 17 Mar 2021 08:17 AM PDT Researchesr have developed a new technique that is orders of magnitude more sensitive than any of the other current methods used for tracing plastic in the environment. It allows scientists to detect ultra-trace quantities of many of the most common soluble and insoluble plastics in snow, water, rainfall, and even in soil samples once they have been separated - down to the level of a picogram.

Many facets of city growth follow universal scaling laws Posted: 16 Mar 2021 06:46 PM PDT Many facets of city growth follow universal scaling laws. While this fact is well established, researchers are still searching for the why. Researchers now offer a simple and elegant explanation: They derive urban scaling laws from 3D city geometry.

Extinct Caribbean bird's closest relatives hail from Africa, South Pacific Posted: 16 Mar 2021 06:46 PM PDT In a genetic surprise, ancient DNA shows the closest family members of an extinct bird known as the Haitian cave-rail are not in the Americas, but Africa and the South Pacific, uncovering an unexpected link between Caribbean bird life and the Old World.

More precise diagnoses made possible with whole genome sequencing Posted: 16 Mar 2021 06:46 PM PDT More than 1,200 people with rare diseases have received a diagnosis thanks to the integration of large-scale genomics into the Stockholm region's healthcare system. This is according to a study that analyzed whole genome sequencing.

Patient wait times reduced thanks to new study by engineers Posted: 16 Mar 2021 03:36 PM PDT The first known study to explore optimal outpatient exam scheduling given the flexibility of inpatient exams has resulted in shorter wait times for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

In women, higher body fat may protect against heart disease death, study shows Posted: 16 Mar 2021 03:36 PM PDT A new study shows that while men and women who have high muscle mass are less likely to die from heart disease, it also appears that women who have higher levels of body fat -- regardless of their muscle mass -- have a greater degree of protection than women with less fat.

People searching for objects in 3D image stacks are less successful than those searching for the same in single 2D images Posted: 16 Mar 2021 01:50 PM PDT The continuous improvement of imaging technology holds great promise in areas where visual detection is necessary, such as with cancer screening. Three-dimensional imaging in particular has become popular because it provides a more complete picture of the target object and its context.

You are subscribed to email updates from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States