ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Study identifies concerning delays in TB diagnoses in the United States
• Study outlines testing strategies for safer air travel during the pandemic
• Fans prefer teams that built success over time more than teams that bought wins with purchased superstars, research finds
• A strong coffee half an hour before exercising increases fat-burning
• Fruit fly egg takes an active hand in its own growth, highlighting parallels to mammals
• Explosive origins of 'secondary' ice and snow
• Starving tumors by blocking glutamine uptake
• High vitamin D levels may protect against COVID-19, especially for Black people, study suggests
• Long-haul COVID: Physicians review what's known
• What early-budding trees tell us about genetics, climate change
• Inflammation and pressure-sensing leads to 'feed-forward' loop in osteoarthritis
• Why commercialization of carbon capture and sequestration has failed and how it can work
• As more are vaccinated, it makes economic sense to gradually open the economy, study finds
• Ultra-sensitive flow microsensors
• Antibody injections could become more affordable with new production method
• How a lithium-metal electrode ages
• Worth one's salt: An ancient Maya commodity
• Don't let the small stuff get you down -- your well-being may depend on it
• Uniform drying time for goldenseal to enhance medicinal qualities of forest herb
• Researchers tackle the 'spiders' from Mars
• Electrode interphase formation
• Arctic methane release due to melting ice is likely to happen again
• Refining the hunt for SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater
• Image analysis based on machine learning reliably identifies haematological malignancies
• Researchers create map of potential undiscovered life
• Predicting who may do best with psychedelic-assisted therapy
• Virtual lab finds the right AI tool for each chemistry problem
• Offshore pile driving noise alters feeding behaviors of longfin squid
• Making plastics production more energy efficient
• Widening political rift in U.S. may threaten science, medicine
• Heritable traits that appear in teen years raise risk for adult cannabis use
• Agricultural biodiversity: Different perceptions in science and practice
• Machine learning shows potential to enhance quantum information transfer
• Researchers' algorithm designs soft robots that sense
• Tunable smart materials
• New porous material promising for making renewable energy from water
• COVID-19 pandemic severely impacts mental health of young people
• Upgrade for CRISPR/Cas: Researchers knock out multiple genes in plants at once
• The astonishing self-organization skills of the brain
• Its curvature foreshadows the next financial bubble
• Systematic approach to forest and water supply management
• Big breakthrough for 'massless' energy storage
• Cells burn more calories after just one bout of moderate aerobic exercise, OSU study finds
• Bacteria may aid anti-cancer immune response
• Deluge of DNA changes drives progression of fatal melanomas
• Does 'harsh parenting' lead to smaller brains?
• 'Hunger hormone' ghrelin affects monetary decision making
• Weekly insulin helps patients with type 2 diabetes achieve similar blood sugar control to daily insulin
• Eating processed meat could increase dementia risk, researchers say
• A promising breakthrough for a better design of electronic materials
• Better batteries start with basics -- and a big computer
• How our microplastic waste becomes 'hubs' for pathogens, antibiotic-resistant bacteria
• Medical cannabis can reduce essential tremor: Turns on overlooked cells in central nervous system
• Tropical species are moving northward in U.S. as winters warm
• New antibiotic clears multi-drug resistant gonorrhea in mice in single dose
• Endocrine disruptors threatens semen quality
• Hidden genetic defects contain real risks for serious diseases

Study identifies concerning delays in TB diagnoses in the United States Posted: 22 Mar 2021 04:58 PM PDT Most delays ranged between 10 and 45 days, with a median of 24 days, after a visit to a doctor, which exceeds current World Health Organization recommendations of diagnosing and treating TB within two to three weeks of symptom onset. Delays were linked to greater risk for disease complications, transmission of infection to household members Older individuals and those with compromised immunity were at greater risk for delayed diagnoses

Study outlines testing strategies for safer air travel during the pandemic Posted: 22 Mar 2021 04:58 PM PDT Almost 90 percent of infectious travelers could be detected with rapid SARS-CoV-2 tests at the airport, and most imported infections could be prevented with a combination of pre-travel testing and a five-day post-travel quarantine that would only lift with a negative test result, according to new research.

Fans prefer teams that built success over time more than teams that bought wins with purchased superstars, research finds Posted: 22 Mar 2021 02:50 PM PDT A new study shows people were willing to root more for the teams built over time than those assembled from free agency and deep-pocketed owners.

A strong coffee half an hour before exercising increases fat-burning Posted: 22 Mar 2021 02:50 PM PDT In the afternoon, the effects of the caffeine are more marked than in the morning.

Fruit fly egg takes an active hand in its own growth, highlighting parallels to mammals Posted: 22 Mar 2021 02:50 PM PDT Scientists discover bidirectional communication between the Drosophila oocyte and nurse cells, challenging the long-held view that the oocyte plays a passive role in development. These findings have implications for understanding development in mammals.

Explosive origins of 'secondary' ice and snow Posted: 22 Mar 2021 02:50 PM PDT Scientists publish new direct evidence that shattering drizzle droplets drive explosive 'ice multiplication' events. The findings have implications for weather forecasts, climate modeling, water supplies -- and even energy and transportation infrastructure.

Starving tumors by blocking glutamine uptake Posted: 22 Mar 2021 02:50 PM PDT Scientists have identified a drug candidate that blocks the uptake of glutamine, a key food source for many tumors, and slows the growth of melanoma.

High vitamin D levels may protect against COVID-19, especially for Black people, study suggests Posted: 22 Mar 2021 02:50 PM PDT In a retrospective study of individuals tested for COVID-19, vitamin D levels above those traditionally considered sufficient were associated with a lower risk of COVID-19.

Long-haul COVID: Physicians review what's known Posted: 22 Mar 2021 02:50 PM PDT With more patients complaining of lingering and chronic effects from COVID-19, experts review what's known and why care for long-haulers requires an interdisciplinary approach.

What early-budding trees tell us about genetics, climate change Posted: 22 Mar 2021 02:50 PM PDT Late frosts have caused millions of dollars in losses for orchards over the years. Scientists are investigating the genes that tell trees when to bud out and blossom. A deep understanding of the genetics of bud-break enables scientists to modify or select crop varieties more resilient to late frost, warming winters, diseases and pests.

Inflammation and pressure-sensing leads to 'feed-forward' loop in osteoarthritis Posted: 22 Mar 2021 02:50 PM PDT An unfortunate biological 'feed-forward' loop drives cartilage cells in an arthritic joint to actually contribute to progression of the disease, say researchers. Excessive loading under inflammatory conditions can create a situation that can lead to progressive cartilage degeneration.

Why commercialization of carbon capture and sequestration has failed and how it can work Posted: 22 Mar 2021 02:49 PM PDT There are 12 essential attributes that explain why commercial carbon capture and sequestration projects succeed or fail in the U.S., researchers say.

As more are vaccinated, it makes economic sense to gradually open the economy, study finds Posted: 22 Mar 2021 02:49 PM PDT Researchers conducted a data analysis that has found that as a larger portion of the population gets vaccinated against COVID-19, it becomes economically advantageous to start relaxing social distancing measures and open businesses.

Ultra-sensitive flow microsensors Posted: 22 Mar 2021 02:49 PM PDT A team of scientists have developed the thinnest and most sensitive flow sensor, which could have significant implications for medical research and applications, according to new research.

Antibody injections could become more affordable with new production method Posted: 22 Mar 2021 11:33 AM PDT Antibody injections are a highly desirable treatment for people with chronic diseases such as cancer, psoriasis, Crohn's disease and arthritis. And recently, antibodies have been in the news as a promising treatment for severe cases of COVID-19.

How a lithium-metal electrode ages Posted: 22 Mar 2021 11:33 AM PDT Even when a device is turned off, its battery gradually loses its charge and eventually some of its capacity for storing energy. Scientists have now documented this aging process in next-gen lithium-metal electrodes.

Worth one's salt: An ancient Maya commodity Posted: 22 Mar 2021 11:32 AM PDT The first documented record of salt as an ancient Maya commodity at a marketplace is depicted in a mural painted more than 2,500 years ago at Calakmul, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Salt cakes could have been easily transported in canoes along the coast and up rivers in southern Belize, according to archaeologists.

Don't let the small stuff get you down -- your well-being may depend on it Posted: 22 Mar 2021 11:32 AM PDT Psychologists suggest that the longer negativity lingers in your brain, the unhappier you may be.

Uniform drying time for goldenseal to enhance medicinal qualities of forest herb Posted: 22 Mar 2021 10:52 AM PDT Developing a standardized drying protocol for goldenseal could lead to more predictable health applications and outcomes by preserving the alkaloids found in the plant, which is native to Appalachia, according to researchers who conducted a new study of the medicinal forest herb.

Researchers tackle the 'spiders' from Mars Posted: 22 Mar 2021 10:52 AM PDT Researchers have been shedding light on the enigmatic 'spiders from Mars', providing the first physical evidence that these unique features on the planet's surface can be formed by the sublimation of CO2 ice.

Electrode interphase formation Posted: 22 Mar 2021 10:52 AM PDT Batteries charge and recharge -- apparently all thanks to a perfect interplay of electrode material and electrolyte. However, for ideal battery function, the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) plays a crucial role. Materials scientists have now studied nucleation and growth of this layer in atomic detail. The properties of anions and solvent molecules need to be well balanced.

Arctic methane release due to melting ice is likely to happen again Posted: 22 Mar 2021 10:52 AM PDT Beneath the cold, dark depths of the Arctic ocean sit vast reserves of methane. These stores rest in a delicate balance, stable as a solid called methane hydrates, at very specific pressures and temperatures. If that balance gets tipped, the methane can get released into the water above and eventually make its way to the atmosphere.

Refining the hunt for SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater Posted: 22 Mar 2021 10:01 AM PDT A new study determines the best method yet for finding signs of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in municipal wastewater.

Image analysis based on machine learning reliably identifies haematological malignancies Posted: 22 Mar 2021 09:29 AM PDT Image analysis utilizing neural networks can help identify details in tissue samples which are difficult to discern by the human eye. A study demonstrated that the technique makes it possible to accurately determine genetic mutations in the cancer cells of patients suffering from myelodysplastic syndrome, a malignant blood disorder.

Researchers create map of potential undiscovered life Posted: 22 Mar 2021 09:13 AM PDT Less than a decade after unveiling the 'Map of Life,' a global database that marks the distribution of known species across the planet, researchers have launched an even more ambitious and perhaps important project -- creating a map of where life has yet to be discovered. For Walter Jetz, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Yale who spearheaded the Map of Life project, the new effort is a moral imperative that can help support biodiversity discovery and preservation around the world.

Predicting who may do best with psychedelic-assisted therapy Posted: 22 Mar 2021 09:13 AM PDT As psychedelics gain ground as a potential therapy for mental health disorders, there remains a pressing concern that patients in clinical trials may have adverse effects to the drugs. New research identifies personality traits that have been associated with positive and negative experiences on psychedelics in previous studies, information that could help predict how future clinical trial participants will respond to the drugs.

Virtual lab finds the right AI tool for each chemistry problem Posted: 22 Mar 2021 09:13 AM PDT Having the right tool for the job makes the job a lot easier, less expensive and faster. Chemical engineering researchers have now developed a virtual laboratory that can be used to determine the artificial intelligence tools best suited for addressing various chemical synthesis challenges in flow chemistry systems.

Offshore pile driving noise alters feeding behaviors of longfin squid Posted: 22 Mar 2021 09:01 AM PDT With the offshore wind industry expanding in the United States and elsewhere, a new study raises questions about how the noise from impact pile driving to install turbine supports can affect feeding behaviors of longfin squid, a commercially and ecologically important cephalopod.

Making plastics production more energy efficient Posted: 22 Mar 2021 09:01 AM PDT A research team including Professors Justin Notestein and Peter Stair has demonstrated a new approach to chemical catalysis that results in higher yields of propylene -- the basis for many plastics -- using less energy.

Widening political rift in U.S. may threaten science, medicine Posted: 22 Mar 2021 09:01 AM PDT Public participation is critical to the success of medical research. Yet recruiting volunteers for trials is increasingly challenging. New research suggests the widening ideological gap in the U.S. may be to blame.

Heritable traits that appear in teen years raise risk for adult cannabis use Posted: 22 Mar 2021 09:01 AM PDT Study finds that a small portion of the risk for repeated cannabis use into adulthood can be attributed to the genetic effects of neuroticism, risk tolerance and depression that can appear during adolescence.

Agricultural biodiversity: Different perceptions in science and practice Posted: 22 Mar 2021 08:29 AM PDT To minimize negative impacts of agriculture on biodiversity and related ecosystem services, 'biodiversity-friendly' management is needed. Why scientific results are rarely translated into agricultural practice could be explained by their different perceptions of agricultural biodiversity, according to the results of a recent survey of European scientists and farmers.

Machine learning shows potential to enhance quantum information transfer Posted: 22 Mar 2021 08:29 AM PDT New researchers demonstrated a machine learning approach that corrects quantum information in systems composed of photons, improving the outlook for deploying quantum sensing and quantum communications technologies on the battlefield.

Researchers' algorithm designs soft robots that sense Posted: 22 Mar 2021 08:29 AM PDT Researchers developed a deep learning neural network to aid the design of soft-bodied robots. The algorithm optimizes the arrangement of sensors on the robot, enabling it to complete tasks as efficiently as possible.

Tunable smart materials Posted: 22 Mar 2021 08:29 AM PDT Researchers developed a system of self-assembling polymer microparticles with adjustable concentrations of two types of attached residues. They found that tuning the concentration of each type allowed them to control the aggregation and resulting shape of the clusters. This work may lead to advances in 'smart' materials, including sensors and damage-resistant surfaces.

New porous material promising for making renewable energy from water Posted: 22 Mar 2021 08:29 AM PDT One prospective source of renewable energy is hydrogen gas produced from water with the aid of sunlight. Researchers have developed a material, nanoporous cubic silicon carbide, that exhibits promising properties to capture solar energy and split water for hydrogen gas production.

COVID-19 pandemic severely impacts mental health of young people Posted: 22 Mar 2021 08:29 AM PDT The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the mental health of young people, with increased levels of clinical depression being identified, a new study reports. A decrease in alcohol consumption was also identified amongst young people during the pandemic.

Upgrade for CRISPR/Cas: Researchers knock out multiple genes in plants at once Posted: 22 Mar 2021 08:26 AM PDT Using an improved version of the gene editing tool CRISPR/Cas9, researchers knocked out up to twelve genes in plants in a single blow. Until now, this had only been possible for single or small groups of genes. The method makes it easier to investigate the interaction of various genes.

The astonishing self-organization skills of the brain Posted: 22 Mar 2021 06:37 AM PDT Uncovering how neural circuits achieve a balance between excitation and inhibition.

Its curvature foreshadows the next financial bubble Posted: 22 Mar 2021 06:37 AM PDT A new paper sheds light on the higher-order architecture of financial systems and allow analysts to identify systemic risks like market bubbles or crashes.

Systematic approach to forest and water supply management Posted: 22 Mar 2021 06:16 AM PDT As World Water Day is observed around the globe, new research suggests a systematic approach to forest and water supply research may yield an improved assessment and understanding of connections between the two. Healthy forests play a vital role in providing a clean, stable water supply, say researchers.

Big breakthrough for 'massless' energy storage Posted: 22 Mar 2021 06:16 AM PDT Researchers have produced a structural battery that performs ten times better than all previous versions. It contains carbon fiber that serves simultaneously as an electrode, conductor, and load-bearing material. Their latest research breakthrough paves the way for essentially 'massless' energy storage in vehicles and other technology.

Cells burn more calories after just one bout of moderate aerobic exercise, OSU study finds Posted: 22 Mar 2021 05:55 AM PDT In a recent study testing the effects of exercise on overall metabolism, researchers found that even a single session of moderate aerobic exercise makes a difference in the cells of otherwise sedentary people.

Bacteria may aid anti-cancer immune response Posted: 22 Mar 2021 05:55 AM PDT Cancer immunotherapy may get a boost from an unexpected direction: bacteria residing within tumor cells. Researchers have discovered that the immune system "sees" these bacteria and shown they can be harnessed to provoke an immune reaction against the tumor. The study may also help clarify the connection between immunotherapy and the gut microbiome, explaining the findings of previous research that the microbiome affects the success of immunotherapy.

Deluge of DNA changes drives progression of fatal melanomas Posted: 22 Mar 2021 05:55 AM PDT Australian researchers have revealed how melanoma cells are flooded with DNA changes as this skin cancer progresses from early, treatable stages through to fatal end-stage disease.

Does 'harsh parenting' lead to smaller brains? Posted: 22 Mar 2021 05:55 AM PDT A study shows that harsh parenting practices in childhood have long-term repercussions for children's brain development. Repeatedly getting angry, hitting, shaking or yelling at children is linked with smaller brain structures in adolescence, according to a new study

'Hunger hormone' ghrelin affects monetary decision making Posted: 21 Mar 2021 06:54 PM PDT Higher levels of the stomach-derived hormone ghrelin, which stimulates appetite, predict a greater preference for smaller immediate monetary rewards over larger delayed financial rewards, a new study finds.

Weekly insulin helps patients with type 2 diabetes achieve similar blood sugar control to daily insulin Posted: 21 Mar 2021 06:54 PM PDT A new once-weekly basal insulin injection demonstrated similar efficacy and safety and a lower rate of low blood sugar episodes compared with a daily basal insulin, according to a phase 2 clinical trial. The study results compared an investigational drug called basal insulin Fc (BIF) with insulin degludec, a commercially available long-lasting daily insulin, in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Eating processed meat could increase dementia risk, researchers say Posted: 21 Mar 2021 06:54 PM PDT Eating processed meat has been linked with an increased risk of developing dementia, say researchers exploring a potential link between consumption of meat and development of dementia.

A promising breakthrough for a better design of electronic materials Posted: 19 Mar 2021 03:39 PM PDT Scientists have demonstrated the role played by molecular vibrations on electron conductivity on crystals of such materials. This finding is important for applications of these molecular materials in electronics, energy and information storage.

Better batteries start with basics -- and a big computer Posted: 19 Mar 2021 03:39 PM PDT Researchers ran quantum simulations to understand glycerol carbonate, a compound used in biodiesel and as a common solvent.

How our microplastic waste becomes 'hubs' for pathogens, antibiotic-resistant bacteria Posted: 19 Mar 2021 03:39 PM PDT Researchers have shown that ubiquitous microplastics can become 'hubs' for antibiotic-resistant bacteria and pathogens to grow once they wash down household drains and enter wastewater treatment plants -- forming a slimy layer of buildup, or biofilm, on their surface that allows pathogenic microorganisms and antibiotic waste to attach and comingle.

Medical cannabis can reduce essential tremor: Turns on overlooked cells in central nervous system Posted: 19 Mar 2021 09:55 AM PDT Medical cannabis can reduce essential tremor in mice. By injecting a specific synthetic cannabinoid into the spinal cord of mice suffering from essential tremor, researchers have shown that the drug can reduce involuntary shaking - as the cannabinoid activates a particular type of cell, the so-called astrocytes.

Tropical species are moving northward in U.S. as winters warm Posted: 19 Mar 2021 09:55 AM PDT Climate change is reducing the number of sub-freezing days over much of the American South, providing an opportunity for cold-sensitive tropical species -- mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, trees, shrubs and grasses -- to move northward, potentially displacing temperate species. Mosquitoes could bring infectious diseases farther north. The southern pine beetle is already moving north and devastating pine forests. While some may welcome manatees and sea turtles, few look forward to the spread of Burmese pythons.

New antibiotic clears multi-drug resistant gonorrhea in mice in single dose Posted: 19 Mar 2021 09:55 AM PDT A new antibiotic compound clears infection of multi-drug resistant gonorrhea in mice in a single oral dose, according to a new study. The compound targets a molecular pathway found in bacteria but not humans and could lead to new treatments for gonorrhea and infections from other bacteria, such as tuberculosis and MRSA.

Endocrine disruptors threatens semen quality Posted: 19 Mar 2021 09:54 AM PDT Epidemiologists analyzed the potential impact of endocrine disruptors on semen quality of men whose mothers were working at the early stages of their pregnancy. Their results show that men who have been exposed in utero to products known to contain endocrine disruptors are twice more likely to have semen volume and total sperm count per ejaculation below the reference values set by the WHO.

Hidden genetic defects contain real risks for serious diseases Posted: 19 Mar 2021 09:54 AM PDT Researchers have gained insight into the 'hidden genetic defects' of the general European population. This is important because these defects, if inherited from both father and mother, can lead to all kinds of illnesses in their children. Research in the Dutch and Estonian population shows that every person has two to four such hidden genetic defects.

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