ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Rarest seal breeding site discovered
• The time is ripe! An innovative contactless method for the timely harvest of soft fruits
• Predicting microbial interactions in the human gut
• Swapping alpha cells for beta cells to treat diabetes
• Stressed-out young oysters may grow less meat on their shells
• Future of immunotherapy could be 'off-the-shelf' treatments
• Repurposed arthritis drug did not significantly improve severe COVID-19 pneumonia
• 4D bioengineering materials bend, curve like natural tissue
• Deep dive into bioarchaeological data reveals Mediterranean migration trends over 8,000 years
• COVID-19 lockdown highlights ozone chemistry in China
• Velcro-like cellular proteins key to tissue strength
• Goodbye UTIs: Scientists develop vaccine strategy for urinary tract infections
• On calm days, sunlight warms the ocean surface and drives turbulence
• Scientists describe 'hidden biodiversity crisis' as variation within species is lost
• How a plant regulates its growth
• True cost of the planet's energy and transport systems
• In era of online learning, new testing method aims to reduce cheating
• Hydrogel injection may change the way the heart muscle heals after a heart attack
• New algorithm identifies 'escaping' cells in single-cell CRISPR screens
• Novel soft tactile sensor with skin-comparable characteristics for robots
• Study examines what makes people susceptible to fake health news
• Metal whispering: Finding a better way to recover precious metals from electronic waste
• Mutant gene-targeted immunotherapy approach developed
• Transmission risk of COVID-19 from sewage spills into rivers can now be quickly quantified
• sickle cell disease: Addressing a complex world of pain in a single gene difference
• Lake turbidity mitigates impact of warming on walleyes in upper Midwest lakes
• Making new fabric from old textiles
• Individualized brain cell grafts reverse Parkinson's symptoms in monkeys
• Health risks to babies on the front line of climate change
• Global warming poses threat to food chains
• Cybersecurity researchers build a better 'canary trap'
• Neanderthals had the capacity to perceive and produce human speech
• Half a trillion corals: Coral count prompts rethink of extinction risks
• Acute breakdown of the glial network in epilepsy
• Deciphering the genetics behind eating disorders
• A new theory for how memories are stored in the brain
• Hotter, drier, CRISPR: editing for climate change
• Will we enjoy work more once routine tasks are automated? Not necessarily, a study shows
• Identified: A mechanism that protects plant fertility from stress
• Could our immune system be why COVID-19 is so deadly?
• Searching for novel targets for new antibiotics
• To sustain a thriving café culture, we must ditch the disposable cup.
• New skills of Graphene: Tunable lattice vibrations
• Protein kinases significantly contribute to the immunodeficiency in HIV patients
• Staying in the shade: How cells use molecular motors to avoid bright light
• Wrasses dazzle: How fairy wrasses got their flamboyant colors
• New treatment unlocks potential for baking raspberries
• Rocket launches reveal water vapor effect in upper atmosphere
• Climate change threatens European forests
• Scoot over! Study reveals E-scooter use in Washington D.C.
• Bottling the world's coldest plasma
• How 'great' was the great oxygenation event?
• Visiting water bodies worth billions to economies
• The right '5-a-day' mix is 2 fruit and 3 vegetable servings for longer life
• Single cell sequencing opens new avenues for eradicating leukemia at its source
• Microplastic sizes in Hudson-Raritan Estuary and coastal ocean revealed
• Paper addresses research needed to understand smoking and COVID-19
• High school students tend to get more motivated over time
• Astronomers accurately measure the temperature of red supergiant stars

Rarest seal breeding site discovered Posted: 01 Mar 2021 06:16 PM PST Scientists have discovered a previously unknown breeding site used by the world's rarest seal species.

The time is ripe! An innovative contactless method for the timely harvest of soft fruits Posted: 01 Mar 2021 06:16 PM PST In agriculture, there are many mechanical methods to indirectly measure a fruit's ripeness through its firmness. However, most fall short for soft fruits, which do not exhibit the same types of measurable vibration as harder ones. Now, scientists have developed an innovative method to measure fruit firmness using laser-induced plasma shockwaves. Their contactless, non-destructive approach works on mangoes and should be useful for other soft fruits as well.

Predicting microbial interactions in the human gut Posted: 01 Mar 2021 02:10 PM PST A new study describes how to use modeling to predict microbial interactions and metabolite composition in the human gut.

Swapping alpha cells for beta cells to treat diabetes Posted: 01 Mar 2021 02:10 PM PST Blocking cell receptors for glucagon, the counter-hormone to insulin, cured mouse models of diabetes by converting glucagon-producing cells into insulin producers instead, a team reports in a new study. The findings could offer a new way to treat both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in people.

Stressed-out young oysters may grow less meat on their shells Posted: 01 Mar 2021 02:10 PM PST Early exposure to tough conditions -- particularly warmer waters and nightly swings of low oxygen -- could leave lasting scars on oysters' ability to grow meaty tissue.

Future of immunotherapy could be 'off-the-shelf' treatments Posted: 01 Mar 2021 02:10 PM PST Scientists argue that emerging protein-based immunotherapies could lead to highly effective 'off-the-shelf' cancer treatments for more patients.

Repurposed arthritis drug did not significantly improve severe COVID-19 pneumonia Posted: 01 Mar 2021 02:10 PM PST A repurposed drug used to treat arthritis did not significantly improve the outcomes of patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Tocilizumab did not significantly improve clinical status or mortality rate at 28 days for participants who received it compared to a placebo, according to a new study.

4D bioengineering materials bend, curve like natural tissue Posted: 01 Mar 2021 12:15 PM PST Researchers have developed new 4D hydrogels -- 3D materials that have the ability to change shape over time in response to stimuli -- that can morph multiple times in a preprogrammed or on-demand manner in response to external trigger signals.

Deep dive into bioarchaeological data reveals Mediterranean migration trends over 8,000 years Posted: 01 Mar 2021 12:15 PM PST A team of international researchers has analyzed reams of data from the Neolithic to Late Roman period looking at migration patterns across the Mediterranean and found that despite evidence of cultural connections, there's little evidence of massive migration across the region.

COVID-19 lockdown highlights ozone chemistry in China Posted: 01 Mar 2021 12:15 PM PST Recently, the ozone season in China has been getting longer, spreading from summer into early spring and late winter. The COVID-19 lockdown can help explain why. Researchers found that decreases in NOx emissions are driving increased ozone pollution in late winter in China.

Velcro-like cellular proteins key to tissue strength Posted: 01 Mar 2021 12:15 PM PST Where do bodily tissues get their strength? New research provides important new clues to this long-standing mystery, identifying how specialized proteins called cadherins join forces to make cells stick -- and stay stuck -- together. The findings could lead to more life-like artificial tissues and tumor busting drugs.

Goodbye UTIs: Scientists develop vaccine strategy for urinary tract infections Posted: 01 Mar 2021 12:15 PM PST Researchers describe a new vaccination strategy that they think could re-program the body to fight off the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections.

On calm days, sunlight warms the ocean surface and drives turbulence Posted: 01 Mar 2021 12:15 PM PST In tropical oceans, a combination of sunlight and weak winds drives up surface temperatures in the afternoon, increasing atmospheric turbulence, unprecedented new observational data shows.

Scientists describe 'hidden biodiversity crisis' as variation within species is lost Posted: 01 Mar 2021 10:38 AM PST The rapid loss of variation within species is a hidden biodiversity crisis, according to a new study looking at how this variation supports essential ecological functions and the benefits nature provides for people. The study highlights the need to better understand and conserve variation within species in order to safeguard nature's contributions to people.

How a plant regulates its growth Posted: 01 Mar 2021 10:38 AM PST Plants grow in two directions: the shoots of plants grow toward the light to make the best use of it, and the roots grow toward the center of the earth into the soil. A team has now been able to describe in detail how the molecular mechanisms work that control these processes.

True cost of the planet's energy and transport systems Posted: 01 Mar 2021 10:38 AM PST The hidden social, environmental and health costs of the world's energy and transport sectors is equal to more than a quarter of the globe's entire economic output, new research reveals.

In era of online learning, new testing method aims to reduce cheating Posted: 01 Mar 2021 10:38 AM PST Engineers demonstrate how a testing strategy they call 'distanced online testing' can effectively reduce students' ability to receive help from one another in order to score higher on a test taken at individual homes during social distancing.

Hydrogel injection may change the way the heart muscle heals after a heart attack Posted: 01 Mar 2021 10:38 AM PST Researchers have developed an injectable hydrogel that could help repair and prevent further damage to the heart muscle after a heart attack.

New algorithm identifies 'escaping' cells in single-cell CRISPR screens Posted: 01 Mar 2021 10:38 AM PST A team of researchers has developed a new computational tool to help understand the function and regulation of human genes.

Novel soft tactile sensor with skin-comparable characteristics for robots Posted: 01 Mar 2021 10:38 AM PST A research team has developed a new soft tactile sensor with skin-comparable characteristics. A robotic gripper with the sensor mounted at the fingertip could accomplish challenging tasks such as stably grasping fragile objects and threading a needle. Their research provided new insight into tactile sensor design and could contribute to various applications in the robotics field, such as smart prosthetics and human-robot interaction.

Study examines what makes people susceptible to fake health news Posted: 01 Mar 2021 10:38 AM PST Researchers conducted a study to see what makes people susceptible to fake health news. They found the credentials of the author and how the info is written make little difference in how people assess health news, but that social media efficacy and labeling of potentially false info makes people think more critically about what they're reading.

Metal whispering: Finding a better way to recover precious metals from electronic waste Posted: 01 Mar 2021 10:36 AM PST With a bit of 'metal whispering,' engineers have developed technology capable of recovering pure and precious metals from the alloys in our old phones and other electrical waste. All it takes is the controlled application of oxygen and relatively low levels of heat.

Mutant gene-targeted immunotherapy approach developed Posted: 01 Mar 2021 10:36 AM PST A novel targeted immunotherapy approach employs new antibodies against genetically altered proteins to target cancers.

Transmission risk of COVID-19 from sewage spills into rivers can now be quickly quantified Posted: 01 Mar 2021 10:36 AM PST Scientists have identified that the COVID-19 virus could be transmitted through faecal contaminated river water.

sickle cell disease: Addressing a complex world of pain in a single gene difference Posted: 01 Mar 2021 10:36 AM PST A new review analyzes disparities in experience and treatment of sickle cell disease.

Lake turbidity mitigates impact of warming on walleyes in upper Midwest lakes Posted: 01 Mar 2021 10:34 AM PST Because walleyes are a cool-water fish species with a limited temperature tolerance, biologists expected them to act like the proverbial 'canary in a coal mine' that would begin to suffer and signal when lakes influenced by climate change start to warm. But a new study discovered that it is not that simple.

Making new fabric from old textiles Posted: 01 Mar 2021 08:24 AM PST A lot of us recycle our old textiles, but few of us know that they are very difficult to re-use, and often end up in landfills anyway. Now, researchers have developed a method that converts cotton into sugar, that in turn can be turned into spandex, nylon or ethanol.

Individualized brain cell grafts reverse Parkinson's symptoms in monkeys Posted: 01 Mar 2021 08:24 AM PST Grafting neurons grown from monkeys' own cells into their brains relieved the debilitating movement and depression symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease, researchers report.

Health risks to babies on the front line of climate change Posted: 01 Mar 2021 08:24 AM PST Extreme rainfall associated with climate change is causing harm to babies in some of the most forgotten places on the planet setting in motion a chain of disadvantage down the generations, according to new research. Researchers found babies born to mothers exposed to extreme rainfall shocks, were smaller due to restricted fetal growth and premature birth.

Global warming poses threat to food chains Posted: 01 Mar 2021 08:24 AM PST Rising temperatures could reduce the efficiency of food chains and threaten the survival of larger animals, new research shows.

Cybersecurity researchers build a better 'canary trap' Posted: 01 Mar 2021 08:24 AM PST This new tool uses an artificial intelligence system to generate fake documents that foil IP theft by fooling adversaries.

Neanderthals had the capacity to perceive and produce human speech Posted: 01 Mar 2021 08:23 AM PST Neanderthals -- the closest ancestor to modern humans -- possessed the ability to perceive and produce human speech, according to a new study.

Half a trillion corals: Coral count prompts rethink of extinction risks Posted: 01 Mar 2021 08:23 AM PST Scientists have assessed how many corals there are in the Pacific Ocean -- half a trillion -- and evaluated their risk of extinction at the same time.

Acute breakdown of the glial network in epilepsy Posted: 01 Mar 2021 08:23 AM PST Scientists have revealed that a first-time exposure to only a brief period of brain hyperactivity resulted in an acute breakdown of the inter-cellular network of glial cells. Pharmacological intervention of the glial plasticity may provide a new preventative strategy for fighting epilepsy.

Deciphering the genetics behind eating disorders Posted: 01 Mar 2021 08:23 AM PST By analysing the genome of tens of thousand people, a team has discovering similarities between the genetic bases of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or binge-eating disorder, and those of psychiatric disorders. Eating disorders differ in their genetic association with anthropometric traits. Thus, genetic predisposition to certain weight traits may be a distinctive feature of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or binge-eating disorder.

A new theory for how memories are stored in the brain Posted: 01 Mar 2021 08:23 AM PST Research has led to the development of the MeshCODE theory, a revolutionary new theory for understanding brain and memory function. This discovery may be the beginning of a new understanding of brain function and in treating brain diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Hotter, drier, CRISPR: editing for climate change Posted: 01 Mar 2021 08:23 AM PST Just 15 plant crops provide 90 per cent of the world's food calories. A review of genome editing technologies states gene editing technology could play a vital role to play in climate-proofing future crops to protect global food security. The review recommends integrating CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing into modern breeding programs for crop improvement in cereals.

Will we enjoy work more once routine tasks are automated? Not necessarily, a study shows Posted: 01 Mar 2021 08:23 AM PST Research suggests that when routine work tasks are being replaced with intelligent technologies, the result may be that employees no longer experience their work as meaningful.

Identified: A mechanism that protects plant fertility from stress Posted: 01 Mar 2021 08:23 AM PST As temperatures rise due to global warming the need to protect plants from stressful conditions has increased, as stress can cause a loss in yield and cause further impact economically. Researchers have successfully identified two proteins that protect crops from stress, which is key in safeguarding food production.

Could our immune system be why COVID-19 is so deadly? Posted: 01 Mar 2021 08:23 AM PST By analyzing over 5,000 scientific studies to find those containing immune response data from patients, researchers show that SARS-CoV-2 has a unique tendency of halting the rise of specific cytokines in certain patients, when compared to other similar viruses.

Searching for novel targets for new antibiotics Posted: 01 Mar 2021 08:23 AM PST Ribosome formation is viewed as a promising potential target for new antibacterial agents. Researchers have gained new insights into this multifaceted process. The formation of ribosomal components involves multiple helper proteins which, much like instruments in an orchestra, interact in a coordinated way. One of these helper proteins - protein ObgE - acts as the conductor, guiding the entire process.

To sustain a thriving café culture, we must ditch the disposable cup. Posted: 01 Mar 2021 06:59 AM PST Takeaway coffees - they're a convenient start for millions of people each day, but while the caffeine perks us up, the disposable cups drag us down, with nearly 300 billion ending up in landfill each year. While most coffee drinkers are happy to make a switch to sustainable practices, new research shows that an absence of infrastructure and a general 'throwaway' culture is severely delaying sustainable change.

New skills of Graphene: Tunable lattice vibrations Posted: 01 Mar 2021 06:59 AM PST Technological innovation in the last century was mainly based on the control of electrons or photons. Now, in the emerging research field of phononics, phonons or vibrations of the crystal lattice attract attention. A team showed a graphene-based phononic crystal whose resonant frequency can be tuned over a broad range and has used a helium-ion microscope to produce such a crystal. This is a real breakthrough in the field of phononics.

Protein kinases significantly contribute to the immunodeficiency in HIV patients Posted: 01 Mar 2021 06:59 AM PST A new study indicates that protein kinases, which initiate the process that erodes the body's immunity, significantly contribute to the immunodeficiency in HIV patients. Drugs that block these protein kinases may offer a solution to treating HIV patients whose immunity is not restored by antiretroviral therapy.

Staying in the shade: How cells use molecular motors to avoid bright light Posted: 01 Mar 2021 06:35 AM PST A team has discovered a key component of the molecular motors that drive motility in cells, such as sperm cells or unicellular algae that swim using flagella. A novel protein, named DYBLUP, is part of the linkage between the motor complexes and cellular microtubules that produce movement in flagella, and is also centrally involved in cell responses to blue light.

Wrasses dazzle: How fairy wrasses got their flamboyant colors Posted: 01 Mar 2021 06:35 AM PST With their exuberant colors, fiery personalities and captivating courtship displays, the fairy wrasses are one of the most beloved coral reef fish. Despite this, the evolutionary history of its genus was not well understood - until now. Fairy wrasses diverged in form and color after repeated sea level rises and falls during the last ice age, finds a new study. It employed a novel genome-wide dataset to make this discovery.

New treatment unlocks potential for baking raspberries Posted: 01 Mar 2021 06:35 AM PST Scientists have figured out a way to treat raspberries before they're frozen so that they maintain their structure when thawed. They describe their method of reducing syneresis, or the leaking out of liquid.

Rocket launches reveal water vapor effect in upper atmosphere Posted: 01 Mar 2021 06:11 AM PST Results of a 2018 multirocket launch will help scientists better understand the impact of more water vapor accumulating near the fringe of the Earth's atmosphere.

Climate change threatens European forests Posted: 01 Mar 2021 06:11 AM PST Well over half of Europe's forests are potentially at risk from windthrow, forest fire and insect attacks.

Scoot over! Study reveals E-scooter use in Washington D.C. Posted: 01 Mar 2021 06:11 AM PST Researchers examined e-scooter use in Washington, D.C. and found that built environment and demographics both matter. Tourist attractions, hotels and metro stops are all predictive of higher destinations. Scooter traffic is almost all in the downtown area, near the Mall, the White House and Congress. Younger median age, percentage of bachelor's degrees and population density each were positive predictors for both trip origins and destinations. This model will help transportation planners figure out what drives e-scooter use.

Bottling the world's coldest plasma Posted: 01 Mar 2021 06:11 AM PST Physicists have discovered a way to trap the world's coldest plasma in a magnetic bottle, a technological achievement that could advance research into clean energy, space weather and solar physics.

How 'great' was the great oxygenation event? Posted: 01 Mar 2021 06:11 AM PST Around 2.5 billion years ago, our planet experienced what was possibly the greatest change in its history: According to the geological record, molecular oxygen suddenly went from nonexistent to becoming freely available everywhere. Evidence for the 'great oxygenation event' (GOE) is clearly visible, for example, in banded iron formations containing oxidized iron. The GOE, of course, is what allowed oxygen-using organisms - respirators - and ultimately ourselves, to evolve.

Visiting water bodies worth billions to economies Posted: 01 Mar 2021 05:45 AM PST Europeans spend more than £700 billion (€800bn) a year on recreational visits to water bodies - but perceived poor water quality costs almost £90 billion (€100bn) in lost visits, a new study has found.

The right '5-a-day' mix is 2 fruit and 3 vegetable servings for longer life Posted: 01 Mar 2021 05:45 AM PST Higher consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of death in men and women, according to data representing nearly 2 million adults. Five daily servings of fruits and vegetables, eaten as 2 servings of fruit and 3 servings of vegetables, may be the optimal amount and combination for a longer life. These findings support current U.S. dietary recommendations to eat more fruits and vegetables and the simple public health message '5-a-day.'

Single cell sequencing opens new avenues for eradicating leukemia at its source Posted: 01 Mar 2021 05:45 AM PST Cancer stem cells that elude conventional treatments like chemotherapy drive long-term cancer growth and relapse. These cells are difficult to isolate and study because of their low abundance and similarity to other stem cells. Researchers have created a new method that can distinguish cancer stem cells, mature cancer cells and otherwise healthy stem cells based on their genetics and gene expression. The findings open new avenues for cancer research personalised medicine.

Microplastic sizes in Hudson-Raritan Estuary and coastal ocean revealed Posted: 01 Mar 2021 05:45 AM PST Scientists for the first time have pinpointed the sizes of microplastics from a highly urbanized estuarine and coastal system with numerous sources of fresh water, including the Hudson River and Raritan River.

Paper addresses research needed to understand smoking and COVID-19 Posted: 01 Mar 2021 05:45 AM PST A new paper discusses how smoking may affect risk for COVID-19 and the types of research that are needed to better understand the link between smoking and COVID-19 risk.

High school students tend to get more motivated over time Posted: 01 Mar 2021 05:45 AM PST Parents may fear that if their high school student isn't motivated to do well in classes, there's nothing that will change that. But a new study that followed more than 1,600 students over two years found that students' academic motivation often did change - and usually for the better. Results showed that increasing students' sense of 'belongingness' in school was one key way of increasing academic motivation.

Astronomers accurately measure the temperature of red supergiant stars Posted: 28 Feb 2021 08:43 AM PST Red supergiants are a class of star that end their lives in supernova explosions. Their lifecycles are not fully understood, partly due to difficulties in measuring their temperatures. For the first time, astronomers develop an accurate method to determine the surface temperatures of red supergiants.

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