ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Evidence of Antarctic glacier's tipping point confirmed
• A robot that senses hidden objects
• Dynamic model of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein reveals potential new vaccine targets
• First-of-its-kind mechanical model simulates bending of mammalian whiskers
• Polarized photovoltaic properties emerge
• A new state of light
• Mice with hallucination-like behaviors reveal insight into psychotic illness
• global assessment of cumulative human impacts to at-risk marine species over time
• How brain cells repair their DNA reveals 'hot spots' of aging and disease
• New promise of forecasting meteotsunamis
• Connecting the dots between engagement and learning
• Smart glass has a bright future
• Undetected coronavirus variant was in at least 15 countries before its discovery, study finds
• Time to shift from 'food security' to 'nutrition security' to increase health and well-being
• Protein that blocks body's ability to clear bad cholesterol identified
• Distant, spiralling stars give clues to the forces that bind sub-atomic particles
• Disrupted biochemical pathway in the brain linked to bipolar disorder
• Why some cancer drugs may be ineffective
• Skin deep: Aquatic skin adaptations of whales and hippos evolved independently
• Successful Zika vaccine in preclinical studies
• Putting up a good fight: Regenerating the body's natural defenses by restoring lymphatic networks
• Search for strange Skyrmion phenomenon fails but finds stranger magnetic beaded necklace
• Climate change cut global farming productivity 21% since 1960s
• Chemo for glioblastoma may work better in morning than evening
• African elephants' range is just 17% of what it could be
• A gender gap in negotiation emerges between boys and girls as early as age eight
• A single injection reverses blindness in patient with rare genetic disorder
• Multilingual people have an advantage over those fluent in only two languages
• Gut microbiota in Cesarean-born babies catches up
• Plasma jets stabilize water to splash less
• BrainGate: High-bandwidth wireless brain-computer interface for humans
• Low risk of researchers passing coronavirus to North American bats
• Genome sequencing shows coronavirus variation drives pandemic surges
• Possible trigger for Crohn's disease identified
• Weight loss changes people's responsiveness to food marketing
• Where we live can affect male reproductive health
• Increased rates of organ damage after discharge from hospital with COVID-19
• COVID-19 antibody tests, even rapid finger pricks, are effective, new study finds
• Cervical cancer testing tech could replace pap smears, save lives
• Groundwater discharge affects water quality in coastal waters
• First images of freshwater plumes at sea
• Female monkeys use males as 'hired guns' for defense against predators
• Heat conduction record with tantalum nitride
• Newly discovered node in brain could expand understanding of dysfunctional social behavior
• Cone snails use sexual enticements to lure prey out of hiding
• 'Agricomb' measures multiple gas emissions from ... cows
• 'Sweat sticker' diagnoses cystic fibrosis on the skin in real time
• Invasive species costing over 1. 3 trillion over 4 decades
• Genetic and cellular mechanisms of Crohn's disease
• Insight into the evolution of bones
• Regenerating hair follicle stem cells
• Ridesharing intensifies urban road congestion

Evidence of Antarctic glacier's tipping point confirmed Posted: 01 Apr 2021 06:16 PM PDT Researchers have confirmed for the first time that Pine Island Glacier in West Antarctica could cross tipping points, leading to a rapid and irreversible retreat which would have significant consequences for global sea level.

A robot that senses hidden objects Posted: 01 Apr 2021 12:13 PM PDT RF Grasp is a picking robot that combines vision with radio frequency (RF) sensing to find and grasps objects, even if they're hidden from view. The technology could aid fulfillment in e-commerce warehouses.

Dynamic model of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein reveals potential new vaccine targets Posted: 01 Apr 2021 12:13 PM PDT A new, detailed model of the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein reveals previously unknown vulnerabilities that could inform development of vaccines.

First-of-its-kind mechanical model simulates bending of mammalian whiskers Posted: 01 Apr 2021 12:13 PM PDT Researchers have developed a new mechanical model that simulates how whiskers bend within a follicle in response to an external force, paving the way toward better understanding of how whiskers contribute to mammals' sense of touch.

Polarized photovoltaic properties emerge Posted: 01 Apr 2021 12:13 PM PDT For the first time, researchers have discovered a way to obtain polarity and photovoltaic behavior from certain nonphotovoltaic, atomically flat (2D) materials. The key lies in the special way in which the materials are arranged. The resulting effect is different from, and potentially superior to, the photovoltaic effect commonly found in solar cells.

A new state of light Posted: 01 Apr 2021 12:12 PM PDT A single 'super photon' made up of many thousands of individual light particles: About ten years ago, researchers produced such an extreme aggregate state for the first time. Researchers report of a new, previously unknown phase transition in the optical Bose-Einstein condensate. This is a overdamped phase.

Mice with hallucination-like behaviors reveal insight into psychotic illness Posted: 01 Apr 2021 12:12 PM PDT A computer game that induces mice to experience hallucination-like events could be a key to understanding the neurobiological roots of psychosis, according to a new study.

global assessment of cumulative human impacts to at-risk marine species over time Posted: 01 Apr 2021 12:12 PM PDT Despite the fact that our planet is mostly ocean and human maritime activity is more intense than it has ever been, we know remarkably little about the state of the ocean's biodiversity -- the variety and balance of species that support healthy and productive ecosystems. And it's no surprise -- marine biodiversity is complex, human impacts are uneven, and species respond differently to different stressors.

How brain cells repair their DNA reveals 'hot spots' of aging and disease Posted: 01 Apr 2021 12:12 PM PDT Neurons lack the ability to replicate their DNA, so they're constantly working to repair damage to their genome. A new study finds that these repairs are not random, but instead focus on protecting certain genetic 'hot spots' that appear to play a critical role in neural identity and function.

New promise of forecasting meteotsunamis Posted: 01 Apr 2021 12:12 PM PDT On the afternoon of April 13, 2018, a large wave of water surged across Lake Michigan and flooded the shores of the picturesque beach town of Ludington, Michigan, damaging homes and boat docks, and flooding intake pipes. Thanks to a local citizen's photos and other data, scientists reconstructed the event in models and determined this was the first ever documented meteotsunami in the Great Lakes caused by an atmospheric inertia-gravity wave.

Connecting the dots between engagement and learning Posted: 01 Apr 2021 10:11 AM PDT New collaborative research examines how changes in internal states, such as engagement, can affect the learning process using BCI technology. These findings might one day help people learn everyday skills more quickly and to a higher level of proficiency.

Smart glass has a bright future Posted: 01 Apr 2021 09:39 AM PDT Substituting the inefficient glazing areas of buildings with energy-efficient smart glazing windows has great potential to decrease energy consumption for lighting and temperature control.

Undetected coronavirus variant was in at least 15 countries before its discovery, study finds Posted: 01 Apr 2021 09:39 AM PDT A highly contagious SARS-CoV-2 variant had spread across the globe undetected for months when scientists discovered it, according to a new study.

Time to shift from 'food security' to 'nutrition security' to increase health and well-being Posted: 01 Apr 2021 09:39 AM PDT A new article argues that today's health and equity challenges call for the US to shift from 'food insecurity' to 'nutrition insecurity' in order to catalyze appropriate focus and policies on access not just to food but to healthy, nourishing food.

Protein that blocks body's ability to clear bad cholesterol identified Posted: 01 Apr 2021 09:39 AM PDT Researchers have uncovered a long-sought link in the battle to control cholesterol and heart disease. The protein that interferes with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors that clear 'bad' cholesterol from the blood was identified. Excess LDL cholesterol can lead to atherosclerosis -- a narrowing and hardening of arteries -- and ultimately, heart attack.

Distant, spiralling stars give clues to the forces that bind sub-atomic particles Posted: 01 Apr 2021 09:39 AM PDT Space scientists have found a new way to probe the internal structure of neutron stars, giving clues about the makeup of matter at an atomic level.

Disrupted biochemical pathway in the brain linked to bipolar disorder Posted: 01 Apr 2021 09:39 AM PDT In new research, scientists have found for the first time that disruptions to a particular protein called Akt can lead to the brain changes characteristic of bipolar disorder. The results offer a foundation for research into treating the often-overlooked cognitive impairments of bipolar disorder, such as memory loss, and add to a growing understanding of how the biochemistry of the brain affects health and disease.

Why some cancer drugs may be ineffective Posted: 01 Apr 2021 09:39 AM PDT A possible explanation for why many cancer drugs that kill tumor cells in mouse models won't work in human trials has been found.

Skin deep: Aquatic skin adaptations of whales and hippos evolved independently Posted: 01 Apr 2021 08:28 AM PDT A new study shows that the similarly smooth, nearly hairless skin of whales and hippopotamuses evolved independently. The work suggests that their last common ancestor was likely a land-dwelling mammal, uprooting current thinking that the skin came fine-tuned for life in the water from a shared amphibious ancestor.

Successful Zika vaccine in preclinical studies Posted: 01 Apr 2021 08:26 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated the success of a vaccine against Zika virus. The vaccine was generated using a novel platform technology.

Putting up a good fight: Regenerating the body's natural defenses by restoring lymphatic networks Posted: 01 Apr 2021 08:26 AM PDT A research team is building new lymphatic cord-like structures, which help restore normal behavior to dysfunctional lymphatic systems and allow the body to fight the disease.

Search for strange Skyrmion phenomenon fails but finds stranger magnetic beaded necklace Posted: 01 Apr 2021 08:25 AM PDT Physicists on the hunt for a rarely seen magnetic spin texture have discovered another object that bears its hallmarks, hidden in the structure of ultra-thin magnetic films, that they have called an incommensurate spin crystal.

Climate change cut global farming productivity 21% since 1960s Posted: 01 Apr 2021 08:25 AM PDT Despite important agricultural advancements to feed the world in the last 60 years, a new study shows that global farming productivity has fallen 21% since the 1960s - the equivalent of losing about seven years of farm productivity increases - all due to climate change.

Chemo for glioblastoma may work better in morning than evening Posted: 01 Apr 2021 08:25 AM PDT An aggressive type of brain cancer, glioblastoma has no cure. Patients survive an average of 15 months after diagnosis, with fewer than 10% of patients surviving longer than five years. While researchers are investigating potential new therapies via ongoing clinical trials, a new study suggests that a minor adjustment to the current standard treatment -- giving chemotherapy in the morning rather than the evening -- could add a few months to patients' survival.

African elephants' range is just 17% of what it could be Posted: 01 Apr 2021 08:25 AM PDT A study has both good news and bad news for the future of African elephants. While about 18 million square kilometers of Africa--an area bigger than the whole of Russia -- still has suitable habitat for elephants, the actual range of African elephants has shrunk to just 17%of what it could be due to human pressure and the killing of elephants for ivory.

A gender gap in negotiation emerges between boys and girls as early as age eight Posted: 01 Apr 2021 08:25 AM PDT In an effort to better understand the origins of the gender gap in negotiation that persists between men and women, a new study finds for the first time the gender gap in negotiation emerges in girls as early as age eight.

A single injection reverses blindness in patient with rare genetic disorder Posted: 01 Apr 2021 08:25 AM PDT A patient with a genetic form of childhood blindness gained vision, which lasted more than a year, after receiving a single injection of an experimental RNA therapy into the eye.

Multilingual people have an advantage over those fluent in only two languages Posted: 01 Apr 2021 08:25 AM PDT Multilingual people have trained their brains to learn languages, making it easier to acquire more new languages after mastering a second or third. In addition to demystifying the seemingly herculean genius of multilinguals, researchers say these results provide some of the first neuroscientific evidence that language skills are additive, a theory known as the cumulative-enhancement model of language acquisition.

Gut microbiota in Cesarean-born babies catches up Posted: 01 Apr 2021 08:25 AM PDT Infants born by cesarean section have a relatively meager array of bacteria in the gut. But by the age of three to five years they are broadly in line with their peers. This is shown by a study that also shows that it takes a remarkably long time for the mature intestinal microbiota to get established.

Plasma jets stabilize water to splash less Posted: 01 Apr 2021 08:25 AM PDT A study revealed that an ionized gas jet blowing onto water, also known as a 'plasma jet', produces a more stable interaction with the water's surface compared to a neutral gas jet. This finding will help improve the scientific understanding of plasma-liquid interactions and their practical applications in a wide range of industrial fields in which fluid control technology is used, including biomedical engineering, chemical production, and agriculture and food engineering.

BrainGate: High-bandwidth wireless brain-computer interface for humans Posted: 01 Apr 2021 08:24 AM PDT In an important step toward a fully implantable intracortical brain-computer interface system, BrainGate researchers demonstrated human use of a wireless transmitter capable of delivering high-bandwidth neural signals.

Low risk of researchers passing coronavirus to North American bats Posted: 01 Apr 2021 08:24 AM PDT A new study finds that the risk is low that scientists could pass coronavirus to North American bats during winter research.

Genome sequencing shows coronavirus variation drives pandemic surges Posted: 01 Apr 2021 05:12 AM PDT Genome sequencing of thousands of SARS-CoV-2 samples shows that surges of COVID-19 cases are driven by the appearance of new coronavirus variants, according to new research. Combining classical epidemiology and genomics could be a new tool for predicting the course of pandemics.

Possible trigger for Crohn's disease identified Posted: 01 Apr 2021 05:12 AM PDT AIEC bacteria grow in a biofilm that coats cells lining the intestinal wall, protecting them from both the immune system and antibiotics. In this research, the team identified a critical protein structure on the surface of the bacteria that allow them to grow in biofilms.

Weight loss changes people's responsiveness to food marketing Posted: 01 Apr 2021 05:12 AM PDT A new study reveals that people with obesity tend to be more responsive to food marketing -- but when their weight drops significantly, so does their responsiveness to marketing.

Where we live can affect male reproductive health Posted: 01 Apr 2021 05:12 AM PDT New research suggests that the environment in which men live may affect their reproductive health.

Increased rates of organ damage after discharge from hospital with COVID-19 Posted: 31 Mar 2021 05:44 PM PDT People discharged from hospital after COVID-19 appear to have increased rates of organ damage ('multiorgan dysfunction') compared with similar individuals in the general population, according to a new study.

COVID-19 antibody tests, even rapid finger pricks, are effective, new study finds Posted: 31 Mar 2021 02:37 PM PDT A new study finds that antibody tests are able to predict prior COVID-19 infection, even for people with mild symptoms. Researchers also found that low-cost rapid screening methods, including finger prick tests, detect infection with nearly the same precision as higher-complexity lab tests.

Cervical cancer testing tech could replace pap smears, save lives Posted: 31 Mar 2021 02:37 PM PDT Emerging technologies can screen for cervical cancer better than Pap smears and, if widely used, could save lives in areas where access to health care may be limited. In Biophysics Reviews, scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital write advances in nanotechnology and computer learning are among the technologies helping develop HPV screening that take the guesswork out of the precancer tests. That could mean better screening in places that lack highly trained doctors and advanced laboratories.

Groundwater discharge affects water quality in coastal waters Posted: 31 Mar 2021 12:37 PM PDT Water quality management in the ocean often targets visible pollution sources such as sewage, rivers or ships. A new global study reveals that invisible groundwater discharges may be just as important driving nitrogen into coastal waters.

First images of freshwater plumes at sea Posted: 31 Mar 2021 12:37 PM PDT Researchers demonstrated a new method to detect freshwater plumes between the seafloor and ocean surface.

Female monkeys use males as 'hired guns' for defense against predators Posted: 31 Mar 2021 11:31 AM PDT Researchers found that female putty-nosed monkeys (Cercopithecus nictitans) use males as 'hired guns' to defend from predators such as leopards.

Heat conduction record with tantalum nitride Posted: 31 Mar 2021 11:31 AM PDT In order to remove heat, for example from computer chips, materials are needed which are extremely good at conducting heat. Scientists in Vienna have analyzed materials on an atomic level and found an excellent new heat conductor: theta-phase tantalum nitride.

Newly discovered node in brain could expand understanding of dysfunctional social behavior Posted: 31 Mar 2021 11:31 AM PDT A group of scientists have discovered a node in the brains of male mice that modulates the sounds they make in social situations. This discovery could help identify similar locations in the human brain, and potentially lead to a better understanding of social disorders.

Cone snails use sexual enticements to lure prey out of hiding Posted: 31 Mar 2021 11:31 AM PDT Some cone snails use a previously undetected set of small molecules that mimic the effects of worm pheromones to drive marine worms into a sexual frenzy, making it easier to lure them out of their hiding places so the snails can gobble them up.

'Agricomb' measures multiple gas emissions from ... cows Posted: 31 Mar 2021 11:31 AM PDT Researchers used NIST's agricomb to simultaneously measure emissions of methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide and water vapor from the atmosphere around a beef cattle feedlot in Kansas.

'Sweat sticker' diagnoses cystic fibrosis on the skin in real time Posted: 31 Mar 2021 11:30 AM PDT A research team has developed a novel skin-mounted sticker that absorbs sweat and then changes color to provide an accurate, easy-to-read diagnosis of cystic fibrosis within minutes.

Invasive species costing over 1. 3 trillion over 4 decades Posted: 31 Mar 2021 11:30 AM PDT Scientists have just released the most comprehensive estimate to date of the financial toll of invasive species: nearly $1.3 trillion over four decades.

Genetic and cellular mechanisms of Crohn's disease Posted: 31 Mar 2021 11:30 AM PDT New study identifies a novel approach for tailored treatment that could be more effective for patients with the chronic disease.

Insight into the evolution of bones Posted: 31 Mar 2021 11:30 AM PDT Palaeontologists have now analyzed the bone structures of 400 million-year-old fossils of marine life at unprecedentedly high resolution and in 3D. To be able to view these structures, tomography experts examined the samples under the focused ion beam of a scanning electron microscope to calculate 3D images from the data, achieving resolutions in the nanometer range using technology that was initially developed to study battery corrosion.

Regenerating hair follicle stem cells Posted: 31 Mar 2021 11:30 AM PDT Researchers have identified the biological mechanism of how chronic stress leads to hair loss. They found that the stress hormone corticosterone causes hair follicle stem cells to stay in an extended resting phase, without regenerating tissue. The stress signal was first received by dermal cells surrounding the hair follicle, preventing them from releasing Gas6, a molecule that activates stem cells. When researchers added back Gas6, stem cells could regenerate hair even under stress.

Ridesharing intensifies urban road congestion Posted: 31 Mar 2021 11:30 AM PDT A study to assess how ridesharing impacts urban mobility in the United States, found that ridesharing increased both intensity and duration of road congestion. Ridesharing substituted for public transit ridership by almost 9% and there was no significant change in private vehicle ownership.

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