ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

---

• New atlas of genetic function maps complexities of immune system and immune diseases
• New optical hydrogen sensors eliminate risk of sparking
• Wearable glucose monitors shed light on progression of Type 2 diabetes in Hispanic adults
• Combining solar panels and lamb grazing increases land productivity, study finds
• High vaccination rate is key to future course of COVID-19 pandemic, computer modeling shows
• New law of physics helps humans and robots grasp the friction of touch
• Finding the optimal way to repay student debt
• Single-cell CRISPR technology deciphers role of chromatin accessibility in cancer
• Fasting lowers blood pressure by reshaping the gut microbiota
• Corals that 'spit' algae
• Was North America populated by 'stepping stone' migration across Bering Sea?
• Machine learning algorithm helps unravel the physics underlying quantum systems
• Baby's first stool can help predict risk of developing allergies
• A psychologist's guide to donating more effectively to charities
• Scientists propose improvements to precision crop irrigation
• Small generator captures heat given off by skin to power wearable devices
• Methane release rapidly increases in the wake of the melting ice sheets
• Molecular biologists travel back in time 3 billion years
• Light, in addition to ocean temperature, plays role in coral bleaching
• Many Hispanics died of COVID-19 because of work exposure, study suggests
• Time for a mass extinction metrics makeover
• Research advances emerging DNA sequencing technology
• Avocado discovery may point to leukemia treatment
• Blueprint for a robust quantum future
• How does the brain flexibly process complex information?
• More than 25% of infants not getting common childhood vaccinations
• Diseases affect brain's networks selectively, BrainMap analysis affirms
• A new strain of a well-known probiotic might offer help for infants' intestinal problems
• Global glacier retreat has accelerated
• Battery parts can be recycled without crushing or melting
• Risk factors for a severe course of COVID-19 in people with diabetes
• Expressing variety of emotions earns entrepreneurs funding
• Mammals evolved big brains after big disasters
• Team builds better tool for assessing infant brain health
• Social media and science show how ship's plastic cargo dispersed from Florida to Norway
• Fish oil supplements and heart rhythm disorder: New analysis

New atlas of genetic function maps complexities of immune system and immune diseases Posted: 29 Apr 2021 11:26 AM PDT A new genetic database for autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases will allow experts to more deeply understand how immune disorders develop and plan future drug discovery projects. Scientists also hope this atlas of immune-related genome data may eventually be applied to investigations of infectious diseases like COVID-19.

New optical hydrogen sensors eliminate risk of sparking Posted: 29 Apr 2021 09:34 AM PDT A new study documents an inexpensive, spark-free, optical-based hydrogen sensor that is more sensitive -- and faster -- than previous models.

Wearable glucose monitors shed light on progression of Type 2 diabetes in Hispanic adults Posted: 29 Apr 2021 09:34 AM PDT Researchers have shown wearable devices that continuously monitor blood sugar provide new insights into the progression of Type 2 diabetes among at-risk Hispanic/Latino adults.

Combining solar panels and lamb grazing increases land productivity, study finds Posted: 29 Apr 2021 09:34 AM PDT Land productivity could be greatly increased by combining sheep grazing and solar energy production on the same land, according to new research.

High vaccination rate is key to future course of COVID-19 pandemic, computer modeling shows Posted: 29 Apr 2021 09:33 AM PDT Data scientists who developed highly accurate computer modeling to predict trends for COVID-19 cases nationwide have new research that shows how important a high rate of vaccination is to reducing case numbers and controlling the pandemic.

New law of physics helps humans and robots grasp the friction of touch Posted: 29 Apr 2021 09:33 AM PDT Although robotic devices are used in everything from assembly lines to medicine, engineers have a hard time accounting for the friction that occurs when those robots grip objects - particularly in wet environments. Researchers have now discovered a new law of physics that accounts for this type of friction, which should advance a wide range of robotic technologies.

Finding the optimal way to repay student debt Posted: 29 Apr 2021 09:33 AM PDT Though legislative reform is necessary to combat the growing burden of student loan debt in the U.S. on a grand scale, individual borrowers can take steps to repay their loans with as low long-term costs as possible. A new mathematical model develops a strategy for minimizing the overall cost of repaying student loans.

Single-cell CRISPR technology deciphers role of chromatin accessibility in cancer Posted: 29 Apr 2021 09:33 AM PDT Researchers have developed CRISPR-sciATAC, a novel integrative genetic screening platform that jointly captures CRISPR gene perturbations and single-cell chromatin accessibility genome-wide. The new method harnesses the programmability of the gene editing system CRISPR to knock-out nearly all chromatin-related genes in parallel, offering researchers deeper insights into the role of DNA accessibility in cancer and in rare diseases involving chromatin.

Fasting lowers blood pressure by reshaping the gut microbiota Posted: 29 Apr 2021 09:33 AM PDT For the first time researchers demonstrate that intermittent fasting can reduce hypertension by reshaping the gut microbiota in an animal model.

Corals that 'spit' algae Posted: 29 Apr 2021 09:33 AM PDT Microalgae of the dinoflagellate group have engaged in intracellular symbioses with corals since primeval times. Researchers recently discovered that such symbioses depend on the ability of the algae to suppress the immune system of their host cell and thereby avoid being 'spit out' again. The researchers also found indications that this cellular immune response is an evolutionarily ancient mechanism that is more widespread than previously assumed.

Was North America populated by 'stepping stone' migration across Bering Sea? Posted: 29 Apr 2021 08:24 AM PDT A new study may answer 'one of the greatest mysteries of our time . . . when humans made the first bold journey to the Americas.'

Machine learning algorithm helps unravel the physics underlying quantum systems Posted: 29 Apr 2021 08:24 AM PDT Scientists have developed an algorithm that provides valuable insights into the physics underlying quantum systems - paving the way for significant advances in quantum computation and sensing, and potentially turning a new page in scientific investigation.

Baby's first stool can help predict risk of developing allergies Posted: 29 Apr 2021 08:24 AM PDT Researchers have shown that the composition of a baby's first feces -- a thick, dark green substance known as meconium -- is associated with whether or not a child will develop allergies within their first year of life. By analyzing meconium samples from 100 infants, they show that the development of a healthy immune system and microbiota may start well before a child is born.

A psychologist's guide to donating more effectively to charities Posted: 29 Apr 2021 08:24 AM PDT Donating to a charity is often driven by emotion rather than by calculated assessments based on how to make the biggest impact. A new article looks at how people can be encouraged to direct their charitable contributions in ways that allow them to get more bang for the buck.

Scientists propose improvements to precision crop irrigation Posted: 29 Apr 2021 08:23 AM PDT With threats of water scarcity complicating the need to feed a growing global population, it is more important than ever to get crop irrigation right. Overwatering can deplete local water supplies and lead to polluted runoff, while underwatering can lead to sub-optimal crop performance. Yet few farmers use science-based tools to help them decide when and how much to water their crops.

Small generator captures heat given off by skin to power wearable devices Posted: 29 Apr 2021 08:22 AM PDT Scientists have developed a small, flexible device that can convert heat emitted from human skin to electrical power. In their research the team showed that the device could power an LED light in real time when worn on a wristband. The findings suggest that body temperature could someday power wearable electronics such as fitness trackers.

Methane release rapidly increases in the wake of the melting ice sheets Posted: 29 Apr 2021 07:49 AM PDT Melting of the Arctic ice sheets caused rapid methane release from the ocean floor during the last two deglaciations, according to a new study. A similar release is likely to happen today, and should be included in climate models, say the scientists.

Molecular biologists travel back in time 3 billion years Posted: 29 Apr 2021 07:49 AM PDT A research group has succeeded in studying 'translation factors' - important components of a cell's protein synthesis machinery - that are several billion years old. By studying these ancient 'resurrected' factors, the researchers were able to establish that they had much broader specificities than their present-day, more specialized counterparts.

Light, in addition to ocean temperature, plays role in coral bleaching Posted: 29 Apr 2021 07:49 AM PDT A study has found that shade can mitigate the effects of heat stress on corals.

Many Hispanics died of COVID-19 because of work exposure, study suggests Posted: 29 Apr 2021 07:49 AM PDT Hispanic Americans have died of COVID-19 at a disproportionately high rate compared to whites because of workplace exposure to the virus, a new study suggests.

Time for a mass extinction metrics makeover Posted: 29 Apr 2021 07:49 AM PDT Researchers say the scientific community sorely needs a new way to compare the cascading effects of ecosystem loss due to human-induced environmental change to major crises of the past.

Research advances emerging DNA sequencing technology Posted: 29 Apr 2021 07:49 AM PDT Researchers have moved closer toward this goal by developing a nanopore sequencing platform that, for the first time, can detect the presence of nucleobases, the building blocks of DNA and RNA.

Avocado discovery may point to leukemia treatment Posted: 29 Apr 2021 07:49 AM PDT A compound in avocados may ultimately offer a route to better leukemia treatment, says a new study.

Blueprint for a robust quantum future Posted: 29 Apr 2021 07:49 AM PDT Researchers have established an invaluable resource for those looking to discover new quantum systems.

How does the brain flexibly process complex information? Posted: 29 Apr 2021 06:52 AM PDT Human decision-making depends on the flexible processing of complex information, but how the brain may adapt processing to momentary task demands has remained unclear. Researchers have now outlined several crucial neural processes revealing that our brain networks may rapidly and flexibly shift from a rhythmic to a 'noisy' state when the need to process information increases.

More than 25% of infants not getting common childhood vaccinations Posted: 29 Apr 2021 06:52 AM PDT More than a quarter of American infants in 2018 had not received common childhood vaccines that protect them from illnesses such as polio, tetanus, measles, mumps and chicken pox, new research reveals.

Diseases affect brain's networks selectively, BrainMap analysis affirms Posted: 29 Apr 2021 06:52 AM PDT Researchers studied 43 brain disorders and strongly affirmed a theory called the 'network degeneration hypothesis.' This theory holds that disease-related structural damage invades functional networks used in human behavior and often repeats in 'co-alteration networks.'

A new strain of a well-known probiotic might offer help for infants' intestinal problems Posted: 29 Apr 2021 06:51 AM PDT A new strain of the Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG probiotic is able to utilise both lactose and casein as well as reproduce in dairy products. The discovery can make it unnecessary to separately add the probiotic to dairy products, in addition to which it could fare better in the intestine, boosting gut health.

Global glacier retreat has accelerated Posted: 29 Apr 2021 06:51 AM PDT Scientists have shown that almost all the world's glaciers are becoming thinner and losing mass - and that these changes are picking up pace. The team's analysis is the most comprehensive and accurate of its kind to date.

Battery parts can be recycled without crushing or melting Posted: 29 Apr 2021 06:51 AM PDT Researchers have now discovered that electrodes in lithium batteries containing cobalt can be reused as is after being newly saturated with lithium. In comparison to traditional recycling, which typically extracts metals from crushed batteries by melting or dissolving them, the new process saves valuable raw materials, and likely also energy.

Risk factors for a severe course of COVID-19 in people with diabetes Posted: 29 Apr 2021 06:51 AM PDT Do all people with diabetes have an increased risk of severe COVID-19, or can specific risk factors also be identified within this group? A new study has focused precisely on this question and gained relevant insights.

Expressing variety of emotions earns entrepreneurs funding Posted: 29 Apr 2021 06:03 AM PDT Despite perceptions that entrepreneurs should always be positive about their ventures, a study found that entrepreneurs whose facial expressions moved through a mix of happiness, anger and fear during funding pitches were more successful. Researchers analyzed nearly 500 pitch videos from the online crowdfunding site Kickstarter. Those who varied their emotional expressions had more success on meeting their goal, total amount raised and number of contributors.

Mammals evolved big brains after big disasters Posted: 29 Apr 2021 06:02 AM PDT A large study reveals the way relative brain size of mammals changed over the last 150 million years.

Team builds better tool for assessing infant brain health Posted: 29 Apr 2021 06:02 AM PDT Researchers have created a new, open-access tool that allows doctors and scientists to evaluate infant brain health by assessing the concentration of various chemical markers, called metabolites, in the brain. The tool compiled data from 140 infants to determine normal ranges for these metabolites.

Social media and science show how ship's plastic cargo dispersed from Florida to Norway Posted: 29 Apr 2021 06:02 AM PDT Researchers combined sightings data reported by members of the public and oceanographic modelling tools to show how lost ink cartridges reached their resting place.

Fish oil supplements and heart rhythm disorder: New analysis Posted: 28 Apr 2021 04:27 PM PDT Omega-3 supplements are associated with an increased likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation in people with high blood lipids, according to a new analysis.

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