ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• How fast is the universe expanding? Galaxies provide one answer
• Northern Hemisphere summers may last nearly half the year by 2100
• A plant's place in history can predict susceptibility to pathogens
• Young white-tailed deer that disperse survive the same as those that stay home
• Research pinpoints unique drug target in antibiotic resistant bacteria
• Lights on for silicon photonics
• Understanding the resilience of barrier islands and coastal dunes after storms
• A better way to measure acceleration
• 'Pompeii of prehistoric plants' unlocks evolutionary secret
• Life expectancy falling for adults without a bachelor's degree
• Sea otters maintain remnants of healthy kelp forest amid sea urchin barrens
• Cheap, nontoxic carbon nanodots poised to be quantum dots of the future
• Speeding treatment for urinary tract infections in children
• Rise of marine predators reshaped ocean life as dramatically as sudden mass extinctions
• Assessing regulatory fairness through machine learning
• Squids' remarkable ability to tune both the color and brightness of their iridescence comes down to a subtle but powerful mechanism
• Moral outrage is attractive among long-term relationship seekers
• Study of coronavirus variants predicts virus evolving to escape current vaccines
• Study finds two servings of fish per week can help prevent recurrent heart disease
• New discovery explains antihypertensive properties of green and black tea
• A giant, sizzling planet may be orbiting the star Vega
• Oceans were stressed preceding abrupt, prehistoric global warming
• Atmospheric drying will lead to lower crop yields, shorter trees across the globe
• New CAR T-Cell therapy extends remission in heavily relapsed multiple myeloma patients
• Scientists discover structural changes in adult mice brains as seen in young animals
• Someone to watch over AI and keep it honest - and it's not the public!
• Algorithm helps artificial intelligence systems dodge 'adversarial' inputs
• Researchers develop improved recycling process for carbon fibers
• Establishing the origin of solar-mass black holes and the connection to dark matter
• These sea slugs sever their own heads and regenerate brand-new bodies
• Sea level rise up to four times global average for coastal communities
• New method could democratize deep learning-enhanced microscopy
• In a leap for battery research, machine learning gets scientific smarts
• 'Island of Rats' recovers
• Novel hydrogen fuel purification membrane paves the way for greener future
• Study identifies resilience factors to mitigate burnout in college students
• New inhibitor found to combat drug-resistant cancer cells
• 90% of young women report using a filter or editing their photos before posting
• Research foresees an end to deregulated competitive public transport
• Paw hygiene no reason to ban assistance dogs from hospitals
• Research shows we're surprisingly similar to Earth's first animals
• Predicting success in therapy with individualized cancer models
• Hybrid microbes: Genome transfer between different bacteria strains explored
• A biosensor for measuring extracellular hydrogen peroxide concentrations
• Unique sensor network for measuring greenhouse gases
• Invasive weed may help treat some human diseases, researchers find
• Insights on how night shift work increases cancer risk
• Switzerland's energy transition
• Irrigation management key for bioenergy production to mitigate climate change
• Reduced heat leakage improves wearable health device
• Diphtheria risks becoming major global threat again as it evolves antimicrobial resistance
• Most distant quasar with powerful radio jets discovered
• Immune cells in cerebrospinal fluid predict response to immunotherapy
• Strict environmental laws 'push' firms to pollute elsewhere

How fast is the universe expanding? Galaxies provide one answer Posted: 08 Mar 2021 01:52 PM PST Among the methods astronomers have found to measure the expansion rate of the local universe, the Hubble constant, surface brightness fluctuations is potentially one of the most precise. Scientists have now published the first good SBF estimate of the Hubble constant, pegging it at 73.3 km/s/Mpc: in the ballpark of other measurements of the local expansion, including the gold standard using Type Ia supernovae. The new estimate highlights the mismatch with estimates from the early universe.

Northern Hemisphere summers may last nearly half the year by 2100 Posted: 08 Mar 2021 01:52 PM PST Without efforts to mitigate climate change, summers spanning nearly six months may become the new normal by 2100 in the Northern Hemisphere, according to a new study. The change would likely have far-reaching impacts on agriculture, human health and the environment, according to the study authors.

A plant's place in history can predict susceptibility to pathogens Posted: 08 Mar 2021 01:52 PM PST Found around the world, powdery mildew is a fungal disease especially harmful to plants within the sunflower family. Like most invasive pathogens, powdery mildew is understudied and learning how it affects hosts can help growers make more informed decisions and protect their crops.

Young white-tailed deer that disperse survive the same as those that stay home Posted: 08 Mar 2021 01:52 PM PST Juvenile white-tailed deer that strike out to find new home ranges -- despite facing more risks -- survive at about the same rate as those that stay home, according to a team of researchers who conducted the first mortality study of male and female dispersal where deer were exposed to threats such as hunting throughout their entire range.

Research pinpoints unique drug target in antibiotic resistant bacteria Posted: 08 Mar 2021 01:52 PM PST Researchers have identified a critical mechanism that allows deadly bacteria to gain resistance to antibiotics.

Lights on for silicon photonics Posted: 08 Mar 2021 12:25 PM PST The demonstration of electroluminescence at terahertz frequencies from a silicon-germanium device marks a key step towards the long-sought goal of a silicon-based laser.

Understanding the resilience of barrier islands and coastal dunes after storms Posted: 08 Mar 2021 12:25 PM PST When a coastline undergoes massive erosion, like a hurricane flattening a beach and its nearby environments, it has to rebuild itself - relying on the resilience of its natural coastal structures to begin piecing itself back together in a way that will allow it to survive the next large phenomena that comes its way.

A better way to measure acceleration Posted: 08 Mar 2021 12:25 PM PST Addressing the increasing demand to accurately measure acceleration in smaller navigation systems and other devices, researchers have developed an accelerometer a mere millimeter thick that uses laser light instead of mechanical strain to produce a signal.

'Pompeii of prehistoric plants' unlocks evolutionary secret Posted: 08 Mar 2021 12:25 PM PST Spectacular fossil plants preserved within a volcanic ash fall in China have shed light on an evolutionary race 300 million years ago, which was eventually won by the seed-bearing plants that dominate so much of the Earth today.

Life expectancy falling for adults without a bachelor's degree Posted: 08 Mar 2021 12:25 PM PST Since 2010, people without a college degree have experienced an absolute rise in mortality. Yet, while the gap in the United States widened based on whether people had a four-year college degree, it narrowed based on race.

Sea otters maintain remnants of healthy kelp forest amid sea urchin barrens Posted: 08 Mar 2021 12:24 PM PST Sea otters maintain the balance of kelp forest ecosystems by controlling populations of sea urchins, which are voracious kelp grazers. Since 2014, however, California's kelp forests have declined dramatically, and vast areas of the coast where kelp once thrived are now 'urchin barrens,' the seafloor carpeted with purple sea urchins and little else. This has occurred even in Monterey Bay, which hosts a large population of sea otters. A new study explains what happened.

Cheap, nontoxic carbon nanodots poised to be quantum dots of the future Posted: 08 Mar 2021 12:24 PM PST Tiny fluorescent semiconductor dots, called quantum dots, are useful in a variety of health and electronic technologies but are made of toxic, expensive metals. Nontoxic and economic carbon-based dots are easy to produce, but they emit less light. A new study that uses ultrafast nanometric imaging found good and bad emitters among populations of carbon dots. This observation suggests that by selecting only super-emitters, carbon nanodots can be purified to replace toxic metal quantum dots in many applications, the researchers said.

Speeding treatment for urinary tract infections in children Posted: 08 Mar 2021 12:24 PM PST A study defines parameters for the number of white blood cells that must be present in children's urine at different concentrations to suggest a urinary tract infection (UTI). The findings could help speed treatment of this common condition and prevent potentially lifelong complications.

Rise of marine predators reshaped ocean life as dramatically as sudden mass extinctions Posted: 08 Mar 2021 11:07 AM PST Evolutionary arms races between marine animals overhauled ocean ecosystems on scales similar to the mass extinctions triggered by global disasters, a new study shows.

Assessing regulatory fairness through machine learning Posted: 08 Mar 2021 10:40 AM PST Applying machine learning to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency initiative, researchers reveal how key design elements determine what communities bear the burden of pollution. The approach could help ensure fairness and accountability in machine learning used by government regulators.

Squids' remarkable ability to tune both the color and brightness of their iridescence comes down to a subtle but powerful mechanism Posted: 08 Mar 2021 10:17 AM PST Squids' remarkable ability to tune both the color and the brightness of their iridescence comes down to a subtle but powerful mechanism.

Moral outrage is attractive among long-term relationship seekers Posted: 08 Mar 2021 10:17 AM PST A psychology researcher finds that people who express moral outrage, and act on their convictions, are more attractive as long-term mates.

Study of coronavirus variants predicts virus evolving to escape current vaccines Posted: 08 Mar 2021 10:17 AM PST A new study suggests current vaccines and monoclonal antibody therapies provide less neutralizing activity against the U.K. and South Africa variants of SARS-CoV-2.

Study finds two servings of fish per week can help prevent recurrent heart disease Posted: 08 Mar 2021 10:17 AM PST An analysis of several large studies involving participants from more than 60 countries has found that eating oily fish regularly can help prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in high-risk individuals, such as those who already have heart disease or stroke.

New discovery explains antihypertensive properties of green and black tea Posted: 08 Mar 2021 10:17 AM PST A new study from the University of California, Irvine shows that compounds in both green and black tea relax blood vessels by activating ion channel proteins in the blood vessel wall. The discovery helps explain the antihypertensive properties of tea and could lead to the design of new blood pressure-lowering medications.

A giant, sizzling planet may be orbiting the star Vega Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:20 AM PST Vega, one of the brightest stars in the night sky, may play host to a giant planet with average surface temperatures of 5,390 degrees Fahrenheit.

Oceans were stressed preceding abrupt, prehistoric global warming Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:19 AM PST A new study to detect calcification stress before and across ancient ocean acidification events.

Atmospheric drying will lead to lower crop yields, shorter trees across the globe Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:19 AM PST A global observation of an ongoing atmospheric drying -- known by scientists as a rise in vapor pressure deficit -- has been observed worldwide since the early 2000s. In recent years, this concerning phenomenon has been on the rise, and is predicted to amplify even more in the coming decades as climate change intensifies.

New CAR T-Cell therapy extends remission in heavily relapsed multiple myeloma patients Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:19 AM PST A new type of CAR T-cell therapy more than triples the expected length of remission for multiple myeloma patients who have relapsed several times, according to an international clinical trial.

Scientists discover structural changes in adult mice brains as seen in young animals Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:19 AM PST Understanding cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying brain 'plasticity' is crucial for explaining many illnesses and conditions. Neurocientists managed to repeatedly image synapses, tiny contact sites between neurons, in awake adult mice. They are the first to discover that adult neurons in the primary visual cortex with an increased number of 'silent synapses' lacking a certain protein, display structural changes previously only reported in young mice.

Someone to watch over AI and keep it honest - and it's not the public! Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:19 AM PST The public doesn't need to know how Artificial Intelligence works to trust it. They just need to know that someone with the necessary skillset is examining AI and has the authority to mete out sanctions if it causes or is likely to cause harm.

Algorithm helps artificial intelligence systems dodge 'adversarial' inputs Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:19 AM PST A deep-learning algorithm developed by researchers is designed to help machines navigate in the real world, where imperfect or 'adversarial' inputs may cause uncertainty.

Researchers develop improved recycling process for carbon fibers Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:19 AM PST The process retains properties of fibers at a higher rate than previous methods, demonstrating a retention strength of up to 90 percent. Recycling of composite materials could be up to 70 percent cheaper and lead to a 90-95 percent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to standard manufacturing.

Establishing the origin of solar-mass black holes and the connection to dark matter Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:19 AM PST What is the origin of black holes and how is that question connected with another mystery, the nature of dark matter? Dark matter comprises the majority of matter in the Universe, but its nature remains unknown.

These sea slugs sever their own heads and regenerate brand-new bodies Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:19 AM PST You've heard of animals that can lose and then regenerate a tail or limb. Scientists have discovered two species of sacoglossan sea slug that can do even better, shedding and then regenerating a whole new body complete with the heart and other internal organs. The researchers also suggest that the slugs may use the photosynthetic ability of chloroplasts they incorporate from the algae in their diet to survive long enough for regeneration.

Sea level rise up to four times global average for coastal communities Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:19 AM PST New research shows that coastal populations are experiencing relative sea-level rise up to four times faster than the global average. The study is the first to analyze global sea-level rise combined with measurements of sinking land. The impacts are far larger than the global numbers reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The high rates of relative sea-level rise are most urgent in South, South East and East Asia.

New method could democratize deep learning-enhanced microscopy Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:19 AM PST Deep learning is a potential tool for scientists to glean more detail from low-resolution images in microscopy, but it's often difficult to gather enough baseline data to train computers in the process. Now, a new method developed could make the technology more accessible -- by taking high-resolution images, and artificially degrading them.

In a leap for battery research, machine learning gets scientific smarts Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:19 AM PST Researchers combined machine learning with knowledge gained from experiments and equations guided by physics to discover and explain a process that shortens the lifetimes of fast-charging lithium-ion batteries.

'Island of Rats' recovers Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:19 AM PST A coordinated conservation effort that removed rats from Hawadax Island, formerly known as 'Rat Island,' has become a new example of how ecosystems can fully recover to their natural state in little more than a decade.

Novel hydrogen fuel purification membrane paves the way for greener future Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:19 AM PST Hydrogen is a clean source of fuel, but its purification has been challenging until now. Now, a group of scientists has found a solution -- by characterizing a hybrid separation membrane for purifying hydrogen from other gases. In light of the current global warming crisis, the scientists are optimistic that their novel membrane will make the use of hydrogen fuel efficient and cost-effective.

Study identifies resilience factors to mitigate burnout in college students Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:18 AM PST Researchers demonstrated that college students possessing a higher degree of resilience were less susceptible to burnout and psychological distress. By identifying learnable components of resilience, the study points to concrete ways that young adults can learn this vital characteristic, resulting in better mental health outcomes.

New inhibitor found to combat drug-resistant cancer cells Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:18 AM PST A new substance could improve the treatment of persistent cancers. Researchers have developed a new inhibitor that makes drug-resistant tumor cells respond again to chemotherapy. The new substance blocks a protein in the cancer cells that normally transports the cancer drugs back out of the cells.

90% of young women report using a filter or editing their photos before posting Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:18 AM PST Ninety per cent of women report using a filter or editing their photos before posting to even out their skin tone, reshape their jaw or nose, shave off weight, brighten or bronze their skin or whiten their teeth. Young women in the study also described regularly seeing advertisements or push notifications for cosmetic procedures -- particularly for teeth whitening, lip fillers, and surgery to enhance face and body features.

Research foresees an end to deregulated competitive public transport Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:18 AM PST Research predicts an end to deregulated competitive pubic transport in the UK as a consequence of Covid-19 social distancing measures leading to drastically reduced ridership, requiring a major rethinking of the provision of public transport.

Paw hygiene no reason to ban assistance dogs from hospitals Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:18 AM PST According to a UN-agreement, assistance dogs like guide dogs, signal dogs and medical response dogs are welcome in hospitals and other public places. However, in practice, they are regularly refused entry. Hygiene reasons are often given as the main argument for this. Research now shows that the paws of assistance dogs are cleaner than the shoe soles of their users, and thus, paw hygiene is no reason to ban assistance dogs from hospitals.

Research shows we're surprisingly similar to Earth's first animals Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:18 AM PST The earliest multicellular organisms may have lacked heads, legs, or arms, but pieces of them remain inside of us today, new research shows. According to a new study, 555-million-year-old oceanic creatures from the Ediacaran period share genes with today's animals, including humans.

Predicting success in therapy with individualized cancer models Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:18 AM PST Scientists have established organoid culture models from prostate tumor biopsies. These are small clusters of cells which can be used to test the efficacy of various drugs. In this way, it is possible to test which treatment will most likely benefit individual patients.

Hybrid microbes: Genome transfer between different bacteria strains explored Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:18 AM PST A new study shows that the exchange of genes drives functional changes in bacteria very rapidly.

A biosensor for measuring extracellular hydrogen peroxide concentrations Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:18 AM PST Researchers report a successful test of a sensor for measuring hydrogen peroxide concentrations near cell membranes. The sensor has the potential to become a tool for new cancer therapies.

Unique sensor network for measuring greenhouse gases Posted: 08 Mar 2021 08:18 AM PST Munich is home to the world's first fully automated sensor network for measuring urban greenhouse gas emissions based on ground-based remote sensing of the atmosphere. Now, anyone can view the measurement data via an Internet platform.

Invasive weed may help treat some human diseases, researchers find Posted: 08 Mar 2021 06:43 AM PST An international team of researchers has found that A. virginicus extracts appear to be effective against several human diseases, including diabetes and cancer.

Insights on how night shift work increases cancer risk Posted: 08 Mar 2021 06:17 AM PST A recent study offers new clues as to why night shift workers are at increased risk of developing certain types of cancer compared to those who work regular daytime hours. Findings suggest that night shifts disrupt natural 24-hour rhythms in the activity of certain cancer-related genes, making night shift workers more vulnerable to DNA damage while also causing the body's DNA repair mechanisms to be mistimed to deal with that damage.

Switzerland's energy transition Posted: 08 Mar 2021 05:42 AM PST Can Switzerland, as planned, cut its CO2 emissions to zero by 2050? Researchers have investigated what measures would be necessary to achieve this reduction and how much it might cost per person.

Irrigation management key for bioenergy production to mitigate climate change Posted: 08 Mar 2021 05:42 AM PST To avoid a substantial increase in water scarcity, biomass plantations for energy production need sustainable water management, a new study shows. Bioenergy is frequently considered one of the options to reduce greenhouse gases for achieving the Paris climate goals, especially if combined with capturing the CO2 from biomass power plants and storing it underground. Yet growing large-scale bioenergy plantations worldwide does not just require land, but also considerable amounts of freshwater for irrigation.

Reduced heat leakage improves wearable health device Posted: 08 Mar 2021 05:42 AM PST By reducing heat leakage, engineers improve wearable device powered by body heat.

Diphtheria risks becoming major global threat again as it evolves antimicrobial resistance Posted: 08 Mar 2021 05:42 AM PST Diphtheria - a relatively easily-preventable infection - is evolving to become resistant to a number of classes of antibiotics and in future could lead to vaccine escape, warn an international team of researchers.

Most distant quasar with powerful radio jets discovered Posted: 08 Mar 2021 05:42 AM PST Astronomers have discovered and studied in detail the most distant source of radio emission known to date. The source is a 'radio-loud' quasar -- a bright object with powerful jets emitting at radio wavelengths -- that is so far away its light has taken 13 billion years to reach us. The discovery could provide important clues to help astronomers understand the early Universe.

Immune cells in cerebrospinal fluid predict response to immunotherapy Posted: 08 Mar 2021 05:42 AM PST Immune cells accessing cerebrospinal fluid faithfully recapitulate the characteristics of cells identified in brain metastasis, and could therefore constitute novel biomarkers of response to immune-based therapies.

Strict environmental laws 'push' firms to pollute elsewhere Posted: 08 Mar 2021 05:42 AM PST Multinational companies headquartered in countries with tougher environmental policies tend to locate their polluting factories in countries with more lax regulations, a new study finds. While countries may hope their regulations will reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, these results show that these policies can lead to 'carbon leakage' to other nations.

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