ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Jordan's worsening water crisis a warning for the world
• Air pollution and physical exercise: When to do more or less
• Probing wet fire smoke in clouds: Can water intensify Earth's warming?
• Protein rewires metabolism to block cancer cell death, may allow cancer spread
• Decoding smell
• Researchers notice pattern on surface of leaves, uncover new clue about plant evolution
• Mummified parrots point to trade in the ancient Atacama desert
• How coastal forests are managed can impact water cycle
• New technique provides detailed map of lung pathology in COVID-19
• Tires turned into graphene that makes stronger concrete
• Coastal lupine faces specific extinction threat from climate change
• Mental health support at schools helps male, but not female, students feel safe from bullying
• Mathematical modeling used to analyze dynamics of CAR T-cell therapy
• Early Universe explosion sheds light on elusive black hole
• Depression affects visual perception
• Deciphering the secrets of printed electronics
• Carbon labeling reduces our CO2 footprint -- even for those who try to remain uninformed
• COVID-19: Analysis of the sensitivity of the UK (B.1.1.7) and South African (B.1.351) variants to SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies
• String theory solves mystery about how particles behave outside a black hole photon sphere
• Scientists develop test to detect the virus that causes COVID-19 even when it mutates
• Electromagnetic fields of nanostructures visualized in 3D for the first time
• First steps towards revolutionary ULTRARAM™ memory chips
• Plants remember drought
• Satellites contribute significant light pollution to night skies
• Scientists use nanotechnology to detect bone-healing stem cells
• Pioneering pollinator study offers clues to Darwin's 'abominable mystery'
• Differences in herpes virus symptoms may relate to variations in strain gene expression
• Love bats? Think twice about that bat box, experts say
• GlyNAC improves multiple defects in aging to boost strength and cognition in older humans
• Narwal tusks reveal mercury exposure related to climate change
• Drug coupons and vouchers cover only a sliver of prescription drugs
• Activity is good: Varied activity is better
• First detailed look at crucial enzyme advances cancer research
• How cells transport molecules with 'active carpets'
• Genetic sleuthing reveals endangered river dolphins in Asia as different species
• Mapping policy for how the EU can reduce its impact on tropical deforestation
• Doubling down on headache pain
• Detecting for carpal tunnel syndrome with a smartphone game
• Stellar eggs near galactic center hatching into baby stars
• Genomic secrets of organisms that thrive in extreme deep-sea
• How will climate change affect hailstorms?
• Procedures identify Barrett's esophagus patients at risk for cancer progression
• Scientists discover a new auroral feature on Jupiter
• People with severe gum disease may be twice as likely to have increased blood pressure
• Artificial intelligence as a co-driver
• Cells rely on their crampons to avoid slipping
• Carried with the wind: Mass migration of Larch Budmoth to the Russian High Arctic
• Forests on caffeine: Coffee waste can boost forest recovery
• Laser lights the way
• Long-term space travelers will need high-intensity exercise to protect heart health

Jordan's worsening water crisis a warning for the world Posted: 29 Mar 2021 05:03 PM PDT Prolonged and potentially destabilizing water shortages will become commonplace in Jordan by 2100, new research finds, unless the nation implements comprehensive reform, from fixing leaky pipes to desalinating seawater. Jordan's water crisis is emblematic of challenges looming around the world as a result of climate change and rapid population growth.

Air pollution and physical exercise: When to do more or less Posted: 29 Mar 2021 05:03 PM PDT Physical activity is important in preventing heart and blood vessel disease in young people so long as they don't undertake very strenuous activity on days when air pollution levels are high, according to a nationwide study of nearly 1.5 million people published in the European Heart Journal.

Probing wet fire smoke in clouds: Can water intensify Earth's warming? Posted: 29 Mar 2021 01:00 PM PDT A new instrument that samples smoke from megafires and scans humidity will help researchers better understand the scale and long-term impact of fires -- specifically how far and high the smoke will travel, when and where it will rain, and whether the wet smoke will warm the climate by absorbing sunlight.

Protein rewires metabolism to block cancer cell death, may allow cancer spread Posted: 29 Mar 2021 12:59 PM PDT One specific protein may be a master regulator for changing how cancer cells consume nutrients from their environments, preventing cell death and increasing the likelihood the cancer could spread, a study has shown.

Decoding smell Posted: 29 Mar 2021 12:33 PM PDT How does the nose know? Scientists now detail how the inborn ability to recognize certain odors is encoded in the nervous system of mice.

Researchers notice pattern on surface of leaves, uncover new clue about plant evolution Posted: 29 Mar 2021 12:33 PM PDT A doctoral student has identified a long-overlooked pattern in how plants evolved their equivalent of lungs -- tiny pores on the surfaces of leaves called stomata. Using specialized imaging techniques and a plant species not often found in laboratories, researchers say this discovery reveals a key difference in the evolution of plants that live on land versus those that can grow in water.

Mummified parrots point to trade in the ancient Atacama desert Posted: 29 Mar 2021 12:33 PM PDT Ancient Egyptians mummified cats, dogs, ibises and other animals, but closer to home in the South American Atacama desert, parrot mummies reveal that between 1100 and 1450 CE, trade from other areas brought parrots and macaws to oasis communities, according to an international and interdisciplinary team.

How coastal forests are managed can impact water cycle Posted: 29 Mar 2021 11:07 AM PDT Using meteorological sensors perched on towers above the forest canopy, researchers are able to track water flow to and from wetland forests on the North Carolina coast. They have gathered data on forest carbon and water cycling spanning 14 years.

New technique provides detailed map of lung pathology in COVID-19 Posted: 29 Mar 2021 11:07 AM PDT Researchers have used advanced technology and analytics to map, at single-cell resolution, the cellular landscape of diseased lung tissue in severe COVID-19 and other infectious lung diseases.

Tires turned into graphene that makes stronger concrete Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:29 AM PDT Scientists optimize a process to turn rubber from discarded tires into soluble graphene for composite materials, including cement in more environmentally friendly concrete.

Coastal lupine faces specific extinction threat from climate change Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:29 AM PDT Climate change is altering the world we share with all living things. But it's surprisingly difficult to single out climate change as an extinction threat for any one particular species protected under the Endangered Species Act. A new analysis of population data shows that climate change represents a specific extinction threat for an endangered coastal lupine plant.

Mental health support at schools helps male, but not female, students feel safe from bullying Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:29 AM PDT Bullying at boarding schools has a negative impact on students' emotional health, but for male students, having a school staff member to rely on for support may mute the harmful effects of bullying, according to a new study. Support networks did not have the same effect for female students, the researchers say.

Mathematical modeling used to analyze dynamics of CAR T-cell therapy Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:29 AM PDT Researchers use mathematical modeling to help explain why CAR T cells work in some patients and not in others.

Early Universe explosion sheds light on elusive black hole Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:29 AM PDT Scientists discover one of the first black holes of its kind. Intermediate mass black holes (100 to 100,000 times the mass of the sun) have only been directly detected once before (LIGO, last year). They form an important link between the smaller black holes left behind after the deaths of stars, and the supermassive black holes which lurk in the hearts of every galaxy. The astrophysicists also find that there are about 40,000 of these objects in the neighbourhood of our galaxy.

Depression affects visual perception Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:28 AM PDT Information processing by the brain is altered in depressed individuals. A study conducted at the University of Helsinki found that in depressed patients, the processing of visual perceptions is also different.

Deciphering the secrets of printed electronics Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:28 AM PDT A team of researchers has published a comprehensive review of the development of printed electronics. This will enable researchers to address problems within the field of flexible, bendable, stretchable and intelligent electronics.

Carbon labeling reduces our CO2 footprint -- even for those who try to remain uninformed Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:28 AM PDT Climate labels informing us of a meat product's carbon footprint cause many people to opt for climate-friendlier alternatives. This applies to people who are curious about a product's carbon footprint, as well as to those who actively avoid wanting to know more.

COVID-19: Analysis of the sensitivity of the UK (B.1.1.7) and South African (B.1.351) variants to SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:28 AM PDT In a new study, scientists demonstrate that the UK variant to SARS-CoV-2 is neutralized to the same degree as the reference virus (D614G), whereas the South African variant is less sensitive to neutralizing antibodies. To neutralize the South African variant, the antibody concentrations need to be six times higher than for D614G. This difference in sensitivity was also observed in vaccinated individuals; the antibodies in their serum are effective against the UK variant but less so against the South African one.

String theory solves mystery about how particles behave outside a black hole photon sphere Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:28 AM PDT A new article explores the string theoretical effects outside the black hole photon sphere.

Scientists develop test to detect the virus that causes COVID-19 even when it mutates Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:28 AM PDT Scientists have developed a diagnostic test, which makes use of CRISPR, that can detect the virus that causes COVID-19 even after it has gone through mutations. Since viruses have the ability to evolve over time, a diagnostic test robust against potential mutations is a crucial tool for tracking and fighting the pandemic.

Electromagnetic fields of nanostructures visualized in 3D for the first time Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:28 AM PDT Researchers have succeeded in imaging so-called surface phonons in three dimensions for the first time. The research success could accelerate the development of new, efficient nanotechnologies.

First steps towards revolutionary ULTRARAM™ memory chips Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:28 AM PDT A new type of universal computer memory - ULTRARAM™ - has taken a step closer towards development with a successful experiment. 'Universal memory' is a memory where the data is robustly stored, but can also easily be changed; something that was widely considered to be unachievable until now. The new non-volatile RAM, called ULTRARAM™, is a working implementation of so-called 'universal memory', promising all the advantages of DRAM and flash, with none of the drawbacks.

Plants remember drought Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:28 AM PDT During drought, plants use a signalling molecule known from animals to limit their water loss. The molecule provides them with a kind of memory of how dry the day was.

Satellites contribute significant light pollution to night skies Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:28 AM PDT Scientists reported new research results today suggesting that artificial objects in orbit around the Earth are brightening night skies on our planet significantly more than previously understood.

Scientists use nanotechnology to detect bone-healing stem cells Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:28 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new way of using nanomaterials to identify and enrich skeletal stem cells -- a discovery which could eventually lead to new treatments for major bone fractures and the repair of lost or damaged bone.

Pioneering pollinator study offers clues to Darwin's 'abominable mystery' Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:28 AM PDT Research into the flower preferences of pollinating moths may have delivered a vital clue to the simple factors needed for the emergence of new species.

Differences in herpes virus symptoms may relate to variations in strain gene expression Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:28 AM PDT Why do some people with cold sores around their lips experience painful lesions, while others have no symptoms at all, yet still spread the virus? A new study finds that these differences could be due to variations in the way certain strains of herpes simplex (HSV-1) -- the virus that causes cold sores, as well as genital herpes -- activate gene expression in neurons.

Love bats? Think twice about that bat box, experts say Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:27 AM PDT Ever thought about buying or building a bat box to help bats? Think carefully about the design and where you put it, researchers say.

GlyNAC improves multiple defects in aging to boost strength and cognition in older humans Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:27 AM PDT GlyNAC - a combination precursors of the natural antioxidant glutathione - improved many age-associated defects in older humans boosting muscle strength and cognition.

Narwal tusks reveal mercury exposure related to climate change Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:27 AM PDT In the Arctic, climate change and pollution are the biggest threats to top predators like narwals. Studying the animals' tusks reveals that diet and exposure to pollution have shifted over the past half century in response to sea-ice decline. Human emissions have also led to a sharp rise in the presence of mercury in recent years, according to an international team of researchers.

Drug coupons and vouchers cover only a sliver of prescription drugs Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:27 AM PDT Use of vouchers and coupons offered by pharmaceutical companies to defray patients' out-of-pocket drug costs is concentrated among a small number of drugs.

Activity is good: Varied activity is better Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:24 AM PDT The recommendations are clear: physical activity is good for mental health. But it also depends on how varied it is. That's what a new study shows, pointing to one of the reasons why well-being suffers during the pandemic.

First detailed look at crucial enzyme advances cancer research Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:23 AM PDT Because Taspase 1 dysregulation is increasingly implicated in the genesis and metastasis of various cancers, it has become an attractive candidate for drug development. But before this can happen, researchers will need a highly detailed blueprint of the structure of this protease. In a new study appearing in the Cell Press journal Structure, researchers from Arizona State University describe their investigations, which reveal the structure of Taspase 1 as never before.

How cells transport molecules with 'active carpets' Posted: 29 Mar 2021 09:22 AM PDT New fundamental physics research provides insights on the process of diffusion in complex systems such as living organisms. This new theoretical framework has broad implications for active surfaces, such as ones found in bacterial biofilms, active coatings, and pathogen-clearance mechanisms for human health.

Genetic sleuthing reveals endangered river dolphins in Asia as different species Posted: 29 Mar 2021 06:48 AM PDT New genetic analysis and years of painstaking research has revealed that one of the world's most endangered marine mammals is actually two species rather than one, as scientists had long assumed.

Mapping policy for how the EU can reduce its impact on tropical deforestation Posted: 29 Mar 2021 06:48 AM PDT EU imports of products including palm oil, soybeans, and beef contribute significantly to deforestation in other parts of the world. In a new study, researchers evaluated over a thousand policy proposals for how the EU could reduce this impact, to assess which would have the largest potential to reduce deforestation - while also being politically feasible.

Doubling down on headache pain Posted: 29 Mar 2021 06:48 AM PDT It's not uncommon for people who experience a concussion to have moderate to severe headaches in the weeks after the injury. A new study has found a combination of two drugs, both common anti-nausea medications, given intravenously in the emergency room may relieve those headaches better than a placebo.

Detecting for carpal tunnel syndrome with a smartphone game Posted: 29 Mar 2021 06:48 AM PDT A research group developed a game application for smartphones that estimates the possibility of carpal tunnel syndrome with machine learning. The program acquires the trajectory of the thumb during a game play in 30 sec -- 1 minute, and detects the possibility of the disease.

Stellar eggs near galactic center hatching into baby stars Posted: 29 Mar 2021 06:48 AM PDT Astronomers found a number of stellar eggs containing baby stars around the center of the Milky Way using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). Previous studies had suggested that the environment there is too harsh to form stars. These findings indicate that star formation is more resilient than researchers thought.

Genomic secrets of organisms that thrive in extreme deep-sea Posted: 29 Mar 2021 06:48 AM PDT Scientists have decoded the genomes of the deep-sea clam (Archivesica marissinica) and the chemoautotrophic bacteria (Candidatus Vesicomyosocius marissinica) that live in its gill epithelium cells. Through analysis of their genomic structures and profiling of their gene expression patterns, the research team revealed that symbiosis between the two partners enables the clams to thrive in extreme deep-sea environments.

How will climate change affect hailstorms? Posted: 29 Mar 2021 06:48 AM PDT Hail severity will increase in most regions of the world while Australia and Europe are expected to experience more hailstorms as a result of climate change, an international review led by a UNSW Sydney researcher has found.

Procedures identify Barrett's esophagus patients at risk for cancer progression Posted: 29 Mar 2021 06:48 AM PDT A combination of esophageal brushing and extensive genetic sequencing of the sample collected can detect chromosome alterations in people with Barrett's Esophagus, identifying patients at risk for progressing to esophageal cancer, according to a new study.

Scientists discover a new auroral feature on Jupiter Posted: 29 Mar 2021 06:48 AM PDT Astronomers have detected new faint aurora features, characterized by ring-like emissions, which expand rapidly over time. Scientists determined that charged particles coming from the edge of Jupiter's massive magnetosphere triggered these auroral emissions.

People with severe gum disease may be twice as likely to have increased blood pressure Posted: 29 Mar 2021 06:00 AM PDT Research shows that periodontitis, severe gum disease, is linked to higher blood pressure in otherwise healthy individuals. This study of 500 adults with and without gum disease found that approximately 50% of adults could have undetected hypertension. Promotion of good oral health could help reduce gum disease and the risk of high blood pressure and its complications.

Artificial intelligence as a co-driver Posted: 29 Mar 2021 05:59 AM PDT Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more common in many branches of industry and online retailing. Traditional lines of work, such as transport logistics and driving, are developing in a similar direction. Scientists have now investigated how efficient the use of AI is in the commercial management of trucks. Their answer: the best option is an intelligent combination of human decision-making and AI applications.

Cells rely on their crampons to avoid slipping Posted: 29 Mar 2021 05:59 AM PDT Scientists have highlighted the key role of a protein called paxillin, which enables cells to perceive their environment and anchor at the right place with the help of cellular 'crampons'. Indeed, without functional paxillin, the cell is unable to attach properly and slips continuously. These results shed new light on how cells adhere or migrate, mechanisms essential to the good functioning of our organs, but also involved in the development of metastatic tumors.

Carried with the wind: Mass migration of Larch Budmoth to the Russian High Arctic Posted: 29 Mar 2021 05:59 AM PDT In the summer of 2020, hundreds of Larch Budmoths were observed on Vize Island, in the Russian High Arctic, likely transported over 1,200 km by air currents from Siberia. This is the first and only terrestrial invertebrate to ever be discovered on the island. This finding could mean that Vize island is less isolated from insect migrants than was commonly thought.

Forests on caffeine: Coffee waste can boost forest recovery Posted: 29 Mar 2021 05:59 AM PDT A new study finds that coffee pulp, a waste product of coffee production, can be used to speed up tropical forest recovery on post agricultural land.

Laser lights the way Posted: 29 Mar 2021 05:59 AM PDT Despite the enormous amount of research over the decades into lasers and their applications, there have been few ways to accurately, efficiently, and directly observe fine details of their interactions with materials. For the first time, researchers have found a way to acquire such data from a production laser using low-cost equipment that could vastly improve the accuracy of items cut or etched with lasers. Given the ubiquity of lasers, this could have wide-ranging implications in laboratory, commercial and industrial applications.

Long-term space travelers will need high-intensity exercise to protect heart health Posted: 29 Mar 2021 05:56 AM PDT Sustained low-intensity exercise does not completely counteract the effects of weightlessness on the heart muscle, which will atrophy over time in a gravity-free environment. Short bursts of repeated high-intensity activity during shorter space missions may be more successful in keeping the heart healthy.

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