ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

---

• New class of versatile, high-performance quantum dots primed for medical imaging, quantum computing
• Molecule attacks coronavirus in a novel way
• Study exposes global ripple effects of regional water scarcity
• Climate change significantly increases population displacement risk
• Measurable changes in brain activity during first few months of studying a new language
• The brain area with which we interpret the world
• Dogs (not) gone wild: DNA tests show most 'wild dogs' in Australia are pure dingoes
• Sorting out nanodiamonds with fluorescent centers
• Controlled scar formation in the brain
• Gray's beaked whales 'resilient' to ecosystem changes
• DNA: Metal double helix
• AI used in battle against asbestos-linked cancer
• New genetic clues point to new treatments for 'silent' stroke
• Stressed brain linked to broken heart
• Chemists achieve breakthrough in the production of three-dimensional molecular structures
• Researchers harvest energy from radio waves to power wearable devices
• Cholesterol may be key to new therapies for Alzheimer's disease, diabetes
• Fast-acting, color-changing molecular probe senses when a material is about to fail
• Gene required for jumping identified in rabbits
• What is killing bald eagles in the U.S.?
• California's diesel emissions rules reduce air pollution, protect vulnerable communities
• Pregnant women show robust immune response to COVID vaccines, pass antibodies to newborns
• HIV vaccine candidate's mysteries unlocked 20 years later
• DNA damage 'hot spots' discovered within neurons
• After AIs mastered Go and Super Mario, scientists have taught them how to 'play' experiments
• Study introduces 13 new, threatened species of sparkly moths from Hawaii
• Protein fingerprinting in minutes
• Leveraging the 5G network to wirelessly power IoT devices
• Circadian clock gene Rev-erb linked to dawn phenomenon in type 2 diabetes
• Plant gene found in insect, shields it from leaf toxins
• New study sheds light on how X and Y chromosomes interact
• Combination therapy protects against advanced Marburg virus disease
• New nanotech gives boost to detection of cancer and disease
• Design could enable longer lasting, more powerful lithium batteries
• Warm water has overlooked importance for cold-water fish, like salmon and trout
• A clue to how some fast-growing tumors hide in plain sight
• Women accumulate Alzheimer's-related protein faster
• Will COVID-19 vaccines need to be adapted regularly?
• Common Alzheimer's treatment linked to slower cognitive decline
• Warriors' down bedding could ease journey to realm of the dead
• 'Break a leg' not so lucky when it leads to limb deformities
• Pumice the key to solving seabird mass death mystery
• A divided cell is a doubled cell
• Nearly half of poison control calls for supersized alcopops involve underage drinkers
• Evidence for reduced antibody protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants
• 'Keep off the grass': The biofuel that could help us achieve net zero
• Study reveals how long-term infection and inflammation impairs immune response as we age

New class of versatile, high-performance quantum dots primed for medical imaging, quantum computing Posted: 26 Mar 2021 12:24 PM PDT A new class of quantum dots deliver a stable stream of single, spectrally tunable infrared photons under ambient conditions and at room temperature, unlike other single photon emitters.

Molecule attacks coronavirus in a novel way Posted: 26 Mar 2021 09:27 AM PDT Scientists have isolated a molecule that might open new avenues in the fight against SARS-CoV-2. The active ingredient binds to the spike protein that the virus uses to dock to the cells it infects. This prevents them from entering the respective cell, at least in the case of model viruses. It appears to do this by using a different mechanism than previously known inhibitors.

Study exposes global ripple effects of regional water scarcity Posted: 26 Mar 2021 09:27 AM PDT Water scarcity is often understood as a problem for regions experiencing drought, but a new study finds that not only can localized water shortages impact the global economy, but changes in global demand send positive and negative ripple effects to water basins across the globe.

Climate change significantly increases population displacement risk Posted: 26 Mar 2021 07:47 AM PDT The risk of people being forced from their homes by flooding increases by half for each additional degree of global warming, as an international research team demonstrates.

Measurable changes in brain activity during first few months of studying a new language Posted: 26 Mar 2021 07:47 AM PDT A study with first-time learners of Japanese has measured how brain activity changes after just a few months of studying a new language. The results show that acquiring a new language initially boosts brain activity, which then reduces as language skills improve.

The brain area with which we interpret the world Posted: 26 Mar 2021 07:47 AM PDT Language, empathy, attention - as different as these abilities may be, one brain region is involved in all these processes: The inferior parietal lobe (IPL). Yet until now it was unclear exactly what role it plays in these profoundly human abilities. Scientists have now shown that the IPL comes into play when we need to interpret our environment.

Dogs (not) gone wild: DNA tests show most 'wild dogs' in Australia are pure dingoes Posted: 26 Mar 2021 07:47 AM PDT A new dingo study collates the results from over 5000 DNA samples of wild canines across Australia. It found that 99 per cent of animals tested were pure dingoes or dingo-dominant hybrids - and that there were almost no feral dogs in the country.

Sorting out nanodiamonds with fluorescent centers Posted: 26 Mar 2021 07:47 AM PDT Scientists have developed a method to use lasers to control the movement of nanodiamonds with fluorescent centers.

Controlled scar formation in the brain Posted: 26 Mar 2021 07:46 AM PDT When the brain suffers injury or infection, glial cells surrounding the affected site act to preserve the brain's sensitive nerve cells and prevent excessive damage. A team of researchers has been able to demonstrate the important role played by the reorganization of the structural and membrane elements of glial cells.

Gray's beaked whales 'resilient' to ecosystem changes Posted: 26 Mar 2021 07:46 AM PDT An elusive whale species in the Southern Ocean could be resilient to near-future ecosystem changes, according to a new study.

DNA: Metal double helix Posted: 26 Mar 2021 07:46 AM PDT Nanowires are vital components for future nanoelectronics, sensors, and nanomedicine. To achieve the required complexity, it is necessary to control the position and growth of the metal chains on an atomic level. A research team has introduced a novel approach that generates precisely controlled, helical, palladium-DNA systems that mimic the organization of natural base pairs in a double-stranded DNA molecule.

AI used in battle against asbestos-linked cancer Posted: 26 Mar 2021 05:52 AM PDT International genomics research has used artificial intelligence (AI) to study an aggressive form of cancer, which could improve patient outcomes.

New genetic clues point to new treatments for 'silent' stroke Posted: 25 Mar 2021 06:30 PM PDT Scientists have identified new genetic clues in people who've had small and often apparently 'silent' strokes that are difficult to treat and a major cause of vascular dementia, according to new research.

Stressed brain linked to broken heart Posted: 25 Mar 2021 06:30 PM PDT Heightened activity in the brain, caused by stressful events, is linked to the risk of developing a rare and sometimes fatal heart condition called Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), also known as 'broken heart' syndrome, according to new research.

Chemists achieve breakthrough in the production of three-dimensional molecular structures Posted: 25 Mar 2021 04:02 PM PDT A research team has succeeded in converting flat nitrogen-containing molecules into three-dimensional structures. These now significantly expand the range of molecules that chemists can draw on in their search for new active ingredients.

Researchers harvest energy from radio waves to power wearable devices Posted: 25 Mar 2021 04:02 PM PDT From microwave ovens to Wi-Fi connections, the radio waves that permeate the environment are not just signals of energy consumed but are also sources of energy themselves. An international team of researchers has developed a way to harvest energy from radio waves to power wearable devices.

Cholesterol may be key to new therapies for Alzheimer's disease, diabetes Posted: 25 Mar 2021 12:02 PM PDT A researcher examined the role of cholesterol in both Alzheimer's disease and Type 2 diabetes to identify a small molecule that may help regulate cholesterol levels in the brain, making it a potential new therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease.

Fast-acting, color-changing molecular probe senses when a material is about to fail Posted: 25 Mar 2021 12:02 PM PDT Materials that contain special polymer molecules may someday be able to warn us when they are about to fail, researchers said. Engineers have improved their previously developed force-sensitive molecules, called mechanophores, to produce reversible, rapid and vibrant color change when a force is applied.

Gene required for jumping identified in rabbits Posted: 25 Mar 2021 12:02 PM PDT Rabbits and other hopping animals require a functional RORB gene to move around by jumping, according to a new study.

What is killing bald eagles in the U.S.? Posted: 25 Mar 2021 12:02 PM PDT Bald eagles, as well as other wildlife, have been succumbing to a mysterious neurodegenerative disease in the southern United States since the 1990s. New research identifies the cause of these deaths: a toxin produced by cyanobacteria that grow on invasive aquatic plants. The problem is potentially exacerbated by herbicides used to control those plants.

California's diesel emissions rules reduce air pollution, protect vulnerable communities Posted: 25 Mar 2021 12:01 PM PDT Since 1990, California has used its authority under the federal Clean Air Act to enact more aggressive rules on emissions from diesel vehicles and engines compared to the rest of the U.S. Extending these standards to the rest of the U.S. could dramatically improve the nation's air quality and health, particularly in lower income communities of color, finds a new analysis.

Pregnant women show robust immune response to COVID vaccines, pass antibodies to newborns Posted: 25 Mar 2021 12:01 PM PDT Researchers have found the new mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to be highly effective in producing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus in pregnant and lactating women. They also demonstrated the vaccines confer protective immunity to newborns through breastmilk and the placenta.

HIV vaccine candidate's mysteries unlocked 20 years later Posted: 25 Mar 2021 12:01 PM PDT About two decades after first devising a new kind of vaccine, researchers are unlocking why it stops and ultimately clears the monkey form of HIV in about half of nonhuman primates - and why it's a promising candidate to stop HIV in people. Recent scientific papers describe how unusual biological mechanisms that make the cytomegalovirus vaccine platform work.

DNA damage 'hot spots' discovered within neurons Posted: 25 Mar 2021 12:00 PM PDT Researchers have discovered specific regions within the DNA of neurons that accumulate a certain type of damage (called single-strand breaks or SSBs). This accumulation of SSBs appears to be unique to neurons, and it challenges what is generally understood about the cause of DNA damage and its potential implications in neurodegenerative diseases.

After AIs mastered Go and Super Mario, scientists have taught them how to 'play' experiments Posted: 25 Mar 2021 12:00 PM PDT Inspired by the mastery of artificial intelligence (AI) over games like Go and Super Mario, scientists have trained an AI agent - an autonomous computational program that observes and acts - how to conduct research experiments at superhuman levels by using the same approach.

Study introduces 13 new, threatened species of sparkly moths from Hawaii Posted: 25 Mar 2021 12:00 PM PDT A chance sighting of an ultra-rare moth kicked off a hunt for the insects across Hawaii, resulting in the rediscovery of one of the archipelago's oldest living lineages of native animals and the description of more than a dozen new moth species to science.

Protein fingerprinting in minutes Posted: 25 Mar 2021 12:00 PM PDT Researchers have developed a mass spectrometry-based technique capable of measuring samples containing thousands of proteins within just a few minutes. It is faster and cheaper than a conventional blood count. To demonstrate the technique's potential, the researchers used blood plasma collected from COVID-19 patients. Using the new technology, they identified eleven previously unknown proteins which are markers of disease severity.

Leveraging the 5G network to wirelessly power IoT devices Posted: 25 Mar 2021 12:00 PM PDT Researchers have uncovered an innovative way to tap into the over-capacity of 5G networks, turning them into 'a wireless power grid' for powering Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The breakthrough leverages a Rotman lens-based rectifying antenna capable of millimeter-wave harvesting at 28 GHz. The innovation could help eliminate the world's reliance on batteries for charging devices by providing an alternative using excess 5G capacity.

Circadian clock gene Rev-erb linked to dawn phenomenon in type 2 diabetes Posted: 25 Mar 2021 12:00 PM PDT Researchers found that mice lacking the circadian clock gene called Rev-erb in the brain show characteristics similar to those of human dawn phenomenon in type 2 diabetes.

Plant gene found in insect, shields it from leaf toxins Posted: 25 Mar 2021 11:59 AM PDT Millions of years ago, aphid-like insects called whiteflies incorporated a portion of DNA from plants into their genome. A research team reveals that whiteflies use this stolen gene to degrade common toxins plants use to defend themselves against insects, allowing the whitefly to feed on the plants safely.

New study sheds light on how X and Y chromosomes interact Posted: 25 Mar 2021 11:54 AM PDT Researchers have investigated how the X and Y chromosomes evolve and adapt to each other within a population. The results show that breaking up coevolved sets of sex chromosomes could lead to lower survival rates among the offspring - something that could be of importance in species conservation, for example.

Combination therapy protects against advanced Marburg virus disease Posted: 25 Mar 2021 09:08 AM PDT A new study has shown substantial benefit to combining monoclonal antibodies and the antiviral remdesivir against advanced Marburg virus.

New nanotech gives boost to detection of cancer and disease Posted: 25 Mar 2021 09:08 AM PDT Early screening can mean the difference between life and death in a cancer and disease diagnosis. That's why researchers are working to develop a new screening technique that's more than 300 times as effective at detecting a biomarker for diseases like cancer than current methods. The technique uses nanoparticles to increase the sensitivity of ELISA.

Design could enable longer lasting, more powerful lithium batteries Posted: 25 Mar 2021 09:08 AM PDT MIT researchers have identified a novel electrolyte that could be useful for next-generation lithium-ion batteries, increasing their power per weight without sacrificing the cycle life.

Warm water has overlooked importance for cold-water fish, like salmon and trout Posted: 25 Mar 2021 09:08 AM PDT Warm river habitats appear to play a larger than expected role supporting the survival of cold-water fish, such as salmon and trout.

A clue to how some fast-growing tumors hide in plain sight Posted: 25 Mar 2021 09:08 AM PDT Viruses churn out genetic material in parts of the cell where it's not supposed to be. Cancer cells do too. A new study shows that a tumor-suppressor enzyme called DAPK3 is an essential component of a multi-protein system that senses misplaced genetic material in tumor cells, and slows tumor growth by activating the fierce-sounding STING pathway.

Women accumulate Alzheimer's-related protein faster Posted: 25 Mar 2021 08:54 AM PDT Alzheimer's disease seems to progress faster in women than in men. The protein tau accumulates at a higher rate in women.

Will COVID-19 vaccines need to be adapted regularly? Posted: 25 Mar 2021 08:54 AM PDT Influenza vaccines need to be evaluated every year to ensure they remain effective against new influenza viruses. Will the same apply to COVID-19 vaccines? Researchers compared the evolution of endemic 'common cold' coronaviruses with that of influenza viruses. The researchers predict that, while the pandemic is ongoing, vaccines will need to undergo regular updates. A few years into the post-pandemic period, however, vaccines are likely to remain effective for longer.

Common Alzheimer's treatment linked to slower cognitive decline Posted: 25 Mar 2021 08:54 AM PDT Cholinesterase inhibitors are a group of drugs recommended for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, but their effects on cognition have been debated and few studies have investigated their long-term effects. A new study shows persisting cognitive benefits and reduced mortality for up to five years after diagnosis.

Warriors' down bedding could ease journey to realm of the dead Posted: 25 Mar 2021 08:54 AM PDT Feathers, an owl head and oars suggest the people in this Iron Age grave were prepared for a long journey.

'Break a leg' not so lucky when it leads to limb deformities Posted: 25 Mar 2021 08:53 AM PDT Orthopaedic researchers are one step closer to preventing life-long arm and leg deformities from childhood fractures that do not heal properly.

Pumice the key to solving seabird mass death mystery Posted: 25 Mar 2021 08:53 AM PDT Researchers have used the evidence of pumice from an underwater volcanic eruption to answer a long-standing mystery about a mass death of migrating seabirds.

A divided cell is a doubled cell Posted: 25 Mar 2021 08:53 AM PDT One big challenge for the production of synthetic cells is that they must be able to divide to have offspring. Scientists have now introduced a reproducible division mechanism for synthetic vesicles. It is based on osmosis and can be controlled by an enzymatic reaction or light.

Nearly half of poison control calls for supersized alcopops involve underage drinkers Posted: 25 Mar 2021 08:53 AM PDT Supersized alcopops are ready-to-drink flavored alcoholic beverages that have up to five times the alcohol content of beer and appear to be marketed toward young drinkers. A new study found that calls to U.S. poison control centers for supersized alcopops disproportionately involved underage drinkers compared to calls for other alcohol products. Better regulation of their alcohol content and retail availability is urgently needed to protect youth, experts say.

Evidence for reduced antibody protection against SARS-CoV-2 variants Posted: 25 Mar 2021 08:53 AM PDT Researchers have found that the SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.351 and P.1 are no longer inhibited by an antibody used for COVID-19 therapy. In addition, these variants are less efficiently inhibited by antibodies from recovered patients and vaccinated individuals.

'Keep off the grass': The biofuel that could help us achieve net zero Posted: 25 Mar 2021 08:53 AM PDT Some grasses are a sustainable energy source that could be a driving force towards achieving net zero carbon emissions, according to new research that demonstrates their resilience to harsh growing environments.

Study reveals how long-term infection and inflammation impairs immune response as we age Posted: 25 Mar 2021 08:53 AM PDT A study shows for the first time that long-term infection and chronic inflammation drive CH mediated by the loss of Dnmt3a function. In addition, the study offers key insights into the mechanism by which chronic inflammation leads to CH and demonstrates the critical role of DNMT3a in regulating normal HSC responses to infections.

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