ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Maddening itch of liver disease comes from a surprising source
• Fossil discovery deepens snakefly mystery
• A quick morning reflection could make you a better leader -- even if you're not the boss
• Key brain molecule may play role in many brain disorders
• Womens' pain not taken as seriously as mens' pain
• Dark Energy Survey physicists open new window into dark energy
• High levels of arsenic and uranium in some wells
• Screening for skin disease on your laptop
• Leptin puts the brakes on eating via novel neurocircuit
• Novel biomarker for glucocorticoids could help tailor treatments
• A novel form of cellular logistics
• Houston flooding polluted reefs more than 100 miles offshore
• Scientists reveal elusive inner workings of antioxidant enzyme with therapeutic potential
• Deep learning networks prefer the human voice -- just like us
• Study links prenatal phthalate exposure to altered information processing in infants
• Understanding fruit fly behavior may be next step toward autonomous vehicles
• Birds can change their traditions for the better, study shows
• 'Brain glue' helps repair circuitry in severe TBI
• The sea urchin microbiome
• Silencing vibrations in the ground and sounds underwater
• Exploring comet thermal history: Burnt-out comet covered with talcum powder
• How the fly selects its reproductive male
• A new material enables the usage of 'calcium' for batteries
• Adolescents born preterm have similar self-esteem/wellbeing levels to those born full-term
• New wasp species discovered in Norway
• Rising Sika deer populations linked to bovine TB infections
• Radical attack on live cells
• Source of Zika neurodevelopmental defects
• Hubble spots double quasars in merging galaxies
• Being top baboon costs males their longevity
• First air quality profile of two sub-Saharan African cities finds troubling news
• Mapping North Carolina's ghost forests from 430 miles up
• To intervene or not to intervene? That is the future climate question
• Droughts longer, rainfall more erratic over the last 50 years in most of Western US
• Beef industry can cut emissions with land management, production efficiency
• Aquatic biodiversity key to sustainable, nutrient-rich diets
• Glass nanopore pulls DNA like spaghetti through a needle
• COVID-19: Tsunami of chronic health conditions expected, research and health care disrupted
• Discovery is key to creating heat-tolerant crops
• Raindrops also keep fallin' on exoplanets
• Separating beer waste into proteins for foods, and fiber for biofuels
• Tattoo made of gold nanoparticles revolutionizes medical diagnostics
• New deadly snake from Asia named after character from Chinese myth 'Legend of White Snake'
• How a moving platform for 3D printing can cut waste and costs
• U.S. excess deaths rose nearly 23 percent in 2020, study finds
• How climate change affects Colombia's coffee production
• Elasticity to position microplates on curved 2D fluids
• New batteries give jolt to renewables, energy storage
• New method expands the world of small RNAs
• Unique mini-microscope provides insight into complex brain functions
• Atom-based radio communications for noisy environments
• Less than a nanometer thick, stronger and more versatile than steel
• An artful study of cellular development in leaves
• This hydrogen fuel machine could be the ultimate guide to self-improvement
• Masks, ventilation stop COVID spread better than social distancing, study shows
• Ozone pollution harms maize crops, study finds
• Possible effects of bridge construction on manatees
• Researchers extend the life of a dipolar molecule
• Nonlinear wave mixing facilitates subwavelength imaging
• Study finds psychiatric disorders persist 15 years after youth are detained

Maddening itch of liver disease comes from a surprising source Posted: 06 Apr 2021 03:29 PM PDT A devastating itching of the skin driven by severe liver disease turns out to have a surprising cause. Its discovery points toward possible new therapies for itching, and shows that the outer layer of the skin is so much more than insulation. The finding indicates that the keratinocyte cells of the skin surface are acting as 'pre-neurons.'

Fossil discovery deepens snakefly mystery Posted: 06 Apr 2021 01:42 PM PDT The recent discovery of four new species of ancient insects are leading scientists to question the evolutionary history of the snakefly. The fossils, discovered in British Columbia and Washington State, are estimated to be 52 million years old and were unearthed in a region once thought uninhabitable.

A quick morning reflection could make you a better leader -- even if you're not the boss Posted: 06 Apr 2021 01:42 PM PDT Starting your day by thinking about what kind of leader you want to be can make you more effective at work, a new study finds.

Key brain molecule may play role in many brain disorders Posted: 06 Apr 2021 01:42 PM PDT Scientists have identified a molecule called microRNA-29 as a powerful controller of brain maturation in mammals. Deleting microRNA-29 in mice caused problems very similar to those seen in autism, epilepsy, and other neurodevelopmental conditions. The results, published in Cell Reports, illuminate an important process in the normal maturation of the brain and point to the possibility that disrupting this process could contribute to multiple human brain diseases.

Womens' pain not taken as seriously as mens' pain Posted: 06 Apr 2021 01:41 PM PDT Researchers found that when male and female patients expressed the same amount of pain, observers viewed female patients' pain as less intense and more likely to benefit from psychotherapy versus medication as compared to men's pain, exposing a significant patient gender bias that could lead to disparities in treatments.

Dark Energy Survey physicists open new window into dark energy Posted: 06 Apr 2021 10:59 AM PDT An analysis by Dark Energy Survey physicists yields more precise estimates of the average density of matter as well as its propensity to clump together - two key parameters that help physicists probe the nature of dark matter and dark energy.

High levels of arsenic and uranium in some wells Posted: 06 Apr 2021 10:20 AM PDT A new U.S. Geological Survey study provides an updated, statewide estimate of high levels of naturally occurring arsenic and uranium in private well water across Connecticut.

Screening for skin disease on your laptop Posted: 06 Apr 2021 10:20 AM PDT A biomedical engineer is reporting a new deep neural network architecture - to be used on a standard laptop - that provides early diagnosis of systemic sclerosis (SSc), a rare autoimmune disease marked by hardened or fibrous skin and internal organs.

Leptin puts the brakes on eating via novel neurocircuit Posted: 06 Apr 2021 10:20 AM PDT A new study in mice describes novel neurocircuitry between midbrain structures that control feeding behaviors that are under modulatory control by leptin, a hormone made by body fat. Since the discovery of leptin in the 1990s, researchers have wondered how leptin can suppress appetite.

Novel biomarker for glucocorticoids could help tailor treatments Posted: 06 Apr 2021 10:20 AM PDT Researchers have uncovered pathways involved in the body's response to glucocorticoid treatments and identified a novel biomarker that could be used to monitor how these drugs work in patients.

A novel form of cellular logistics Posted: 06 Apr 2021 10:19 AM PDT Biophysicists have shown that a phenomenon known as diffusiophoresis, which can lead to a directed particle transport, can occur in biological systems.

Houston flooding polluted reefs more than 100 miles offshore Posted: 06 Apr 2021 10:19 AM PDT Extreme storm flooding in Houston washed human waste onto coral reefs more than 100 miles offshore. Marine biologists found fecal bacteria on sponges in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary following 2016's Tax Day flood and 2017's Hurricane Harvey.

Scientists reveal elusive inner workings of antioxidant enzyme with therapeutic potential Posted: 06 Apr 2021 10:19 AM PDT The enzyme manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) plays a critical role in maintaining human health by keeping the amount of harmful reactive oxygen molecules in cells under control. By using neutron scattering, researchers have now obtained a complete atomic portrait of the enzyme, revealing key information about its catalytic mechanism. The work could help experts develop MnSOD-based treatments and design therapeutics that mimic its antioxidant behavior.

Deep learning networks prefer the human voice -- just like us Posted: 06 Apr 2021 10:19 AM PDT A study proves that AI systems might reach higher levels of performance if they are programmed with sound files of human language rather than with numerical data labels. The researchers discovered that in a side-by-side comparison, a neural network whose 'training labels' consisted of sound files reached higher levels of performance in identifying objects in images, compared to another network that had been programmed in a more traditional manner, using simple binary inputs.

Study links prenatal phthalate exposure to altered information processing in infants Posted: 06 Apr 2021 10:19 AM PDT Exposure to phthalates, a class of chemicals widely used in packaging and consumer products, is known to interfere with normal hormone function and development. Now researchers have found evidence linking pregnant women's exposure to phthalates to altered cognitive outcomes in their infants.

Understanding fruit fly behavior may be next step toward autonomous vehicles Posted: 06 Apr 2021 10:19 AM PDT With over 70% of respondents to a AAA annual survey on autonomous driving reporting they would fear being in a fully self-driving car, makers like Tesla may be back to the drawing board before rolling out fully autonomous self-driving systems. But new research shows us we may be better off putting fruit flies behind the wheel instead of robots.

Birds can change their traditions for the better, study shows Posted: 06 Apr 2021 10:19 AM PDT Researchers have found that birds are able to change their culture to become more efficient. The research reveals immigration as a powerful driver of cultural change in animal groups that could help them to adapt to rapidly changing environments.

'Brain glue' helps repair circuitry in severe TBI Posted: 06 Apr 2021 10:19 AM PDT In a new study, researchers have demonstrated the long-term benefits of a hydrogel, which they call 'brain glue,' for the treatment of traumatic brain injury. The gel protects against loss of brain tissue after a severe injury and might aid in functional neural repair.

The sea urchin microbiome Posted: 06 Apr 2021 10:19 AM PDT Sea urchins receive a lot of attention in California. Red urchins support a thriving fishery, while their purple cousins are often blamed for mowing down kelp forests to create urchin barrens. Yet for all the notice we pay them, we know surprisingly little about the microbiomes that support these spiny species.

Silencing vibrations in the ground and sounds underwater Posted: 06 Apr 2021 09:07 AM PDT POSTECH professor Junsuk Rho's research team demonstrates artificial control of elastic waves and underwater sounds applicable as stealth technology.

Exploring comet thermal history: Burnt-out comet covered with talcum powder Posted: 06 Apr 2021 09:07 AM PDT The world's first ground-based observations of the bare nucleus of a comet nearing the end of its active life revealed that the nucleus has a diameter of 800 meters and is covered with large grains of phyllosilicate; on Earth large grains of phyllosilicate are commonly available as talcum powder. This discovery provides clues to piece together the history of how this comet evolved into its current burnt-out state.

How the fly selects its reproductive male Posted: 06 Apr 2021 09:07 AM PDT A team has discovered an RNA coding for a micro-peptide - a very small protein - that plays a crucial role in the competition between spermatozoa from different males of the Drosophila with which the female mates. In addition to shedding new light on this biological mechanism, this work highlights the importance of small peptides, a class of proteins that is now emerging as a key player in complex biological processes.

A new material enables the usage of 'calcium' for batteries Posted: 06 Apr 2021 09:07 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new fluorine-free calcium (Ca) electrolyte based on a hydrogen (monocarborane) cluster that could potentially realize rechargeable Ca batteries.

Adolescents born preterm have similar self-esteem/wellbeing levels to those born full-term Posted: 06 Apr 2021 09:07 AM PDT New research has found that, contrary to previous beliefs, adolescents born preterm have the same levels of self-esteem and overall well-being as those born full-term.

New wasp species discovered in Norway Posted: 06 Apr 2021 09:07 AM PDT Cuckoo wasps are notoriously difficult to tell apart. Now an extremely rare species has been discovered based on the chemical language it adopts from its host as part of its parasitism.

Rising Sika deer populations linked to bovine TB infections Posted: 06 Apr 2021 09:07 AM PDT New research suggests Ireland's increasing populations of Sika deer may be linked to local outbreaks of TB infection in cattle. Although TB infection rates have decreased in general in recent decades, county-level data shows a correlation between higher Sika numbers and higher local TB infections - with County Wicklow a particular hotspot.

Radical attack on live cells Posted: 06 Apr 2021 09:07 AM PDT Is there a way to chemically manipulate small, confined areas on cellular surfaces? Scientists have developed a microfluidic probe to send a flow of free radicals on live cells and track the outcome using fluorescence imaging. This approach makes it possible for the first time to generate a reaction zone of free radicals with controlled size and concentration for subcellular research.

Source of Zika neurodevelopmental defects Posted: 06 Apr 2021 09:07 AM PDT A study identified how microcephaly (abnormally small heads) and blindness may develop in Zika-infected fetuses, as well as a new way to potentially prevent these neurodevelopmental defects.

Hubble spots double quasars in merging galaxies Posted: 06 Apr 2021 09:07 AM PDT NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is 'seeing double.' Peering back 10 billion years into the universe's past, Hubble astronomers found a pair of quasars that are so close to each other they look like a single object in ground-based telescopic photos, but not in Hubble's crisp view.

Being top baboon costs males their longevity Posted: 06 Apr 2021 09:07 AM PDT A male baboon's social dominance requires constant physical defense and leaves its mark on his genes. Tracing the activity of 500 methylation sites on the baboon genome, a team of researchers working with the famous Amboseli baboon troop has found that the dominant males trade longevity for fecundity. The dominant males get more babies, but they have fewer years. If a male drops in social status, his estimated rate of aging drops as well.

First air quality profile of two sub-Saharan African cities finds troubling news Posted: 06 Apr 2021 09:06 AM PDT The first multi-year air-quality data on the cities of Kinshasa and Brazzaville document rampant levels of sooty particles.

Mapping North Carolina's ghost forests from 430 miles up Posted: 06 Apr 2021 09:06 AM PDT Throughout the U.S. East Coast, trees are dying off as rising seas and higher storm surges push saltwater farther inland. While these 'ghost forests' are becoming more common in North Carolina's coastal plain, scientists had only a rough idea of their extent. A new study mining 35 years of satellite images of a 245,000-acre area in the state's Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula shows that, between 1985 and 2019, 11% of the area's tree cover succumbed to saltwater.

To intervene or not to intervene? That is the future climate question Posted: 06 Apr 2021 06:27 AM PDT Experts in climate science and ecology are bringing science to bear on the question and consequences of geoengineering a cooler Earth.

Droughts longer, rainfall more erratic over the last 50 years in most of Western US Posted: 06 Apr 2021 06:26 AM PDT Dry periods between rainstorms have become longer and more erratic across the West during the past 50 years. Total yearly rainfall has decreased by about four inches over the last five decades, with rain falling in fewer and sometimes larger storms, along with longer dry intervals between. The longest dry period in each year increased from 20 to 32 days.

Beef industry can cut emissions with land management, production efficiency Posted: 06 Apr 2021 06:26 AM PDT An assessment of 12 different strategies for reducing beef production emissions worldwide found that industry can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 50% in certain regions, with the most potential in the United States and Brazil.

Aquatic biodiversity key to sustainable, nutrient-rich diets Posted: 06 Apr 2021 06:26 AM PDT New research shows aquatic species contain distinct and complementary sets of micronutrients -- while animals offered similar amounts of protein, they varied greatly in concentrations of micronutrients that are crucial in fighting hidden hunger around the globe.

Glass nanopore pulls DNA like spaghetti through a needle Posted: 06 Apr 2021 06:26 AM PDT Nanopore sensing can extract cell-free DNA from a liquid sample. Researchers used electric current to direct free-floating DNA into the 20 nanometer opening of a glass tube. The DNA concentrated near the surface, making it relatively easy to collect numerous samples.

COVID-19: Tsunami of chronic health conditions expected, research and health care disrupted Posted: 06 Apr 2021 05:41 AM PDT Cardiometabolic diseases including heart disease, obesity, hypertension and type 2 diabetes, are at the crest of an impending tsunami of chronic health conditions as a result of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic that will affect society for decades. Interventions and universal health care are recommended to focus on prevention of cardiometabolic diseases, including programs that support healthy lifestyle behaviors, blood pressure control, obesity management and tobacco cessation.

Discovery is key to creating heat-tolerant crops Posted: 06 Apr 2021 05:40 AM PDT By 2050, global warming could reduce crop yields by one-third. To modify plants' response to heat, scientists must first understand how plants sense temperature. Researchers have discovered a gene that's key to this process.

Raindrops also keep fallin' on exoplanets Posted: 06 Apr 2021 05:40 AM PDT Researchers found that raindrops are remarkably similar across different planetary environments, even planets as drastically different as Earth and Jupiter. Understanding the behavior of raindrops on other planets is key to not only revealing the ancient climate on planets like Mars but identifying potentially habitable planets outside our solar system.

Separating beer waste into proteins for foods, and fiber for biofuels Posted: 06 Apr 2021 05:40 AM PDT All brewers experience the same result of the beer-making process: leftover grain. Once all the flavor has been extracted from grains, what's left is a protein- and fiber-rich powder that is used in cattle feed or put in landfills. Scientists now report a new way to extract the protein and fiber and use it to create new types of protein sources, biofuels and more.

Tattoo made of gold nanoparticles revolutionizes medical diagnostics Posted: 06 Apr 2021 05:40 AM PDT Scientists have developed a novel type of implantable sensor that continuously transmits information on vital values and concentrations of substances or drugs in the body and can be operated in the body for several months. The sensor is based on color-stable gold nanoparticles that are modified with receptors for specific molecules.

New deadly snake from Asia named after character from Chinese myth 'Legend of White Snake' Posted: 06 Apr 2021 05:40 AM PDT The venomous krait that caused the death of famous herpetologist Joseph B. Slowinski turns out to be new to science, according to recent research. The new species, Bungarus suzhenae, was named after the character Bai Su Zhen from the Chinese myth the Legend of White Snake.

How a moving platform for 3D printing can cut waste and costs Posted: 06 Apr 2021 05:40 AM PDT Researchers have created a low-cost reusable support method to reduce the need for 3-D printers to print wasteful supports, vastly improving cost-effectiveness and sustainability for 3-D printing.

U.S. excess deaths rose nearly 23 percent in 2020, study finds Posted: 05 Apr 2021 02:56 PM PDT Black Americans experienced the highest per capita excess death rates, while regional surges contributed to higher excess death rates from COVID-19 and other causes, a new study finds.

How climate change affects Colombia's coffee production Posted: 05 Apr 2021 02:56 PM PDT Climate change poses new challenges to coffee production in Colombia, as it does to agricultural production anywhere in the world, but a new study shows effects vary widely depending on where the coffee beans grow.

Elasticity to position microplates on curved 2D fluids Posted: 05 Apr 2021 12:02 PM PDT A team of polymer science and engineering researchers has demonstrated for the first time that the positions of tiny, flat, solid objects integrated in nanometrically thin membranes - resembling those of biological cells - can be controlled by mechanically varying the elastic forces in the membrane itself. This research milestone is a significant step toward the goal of creating ultrathin flexible materials that self-organize and respond immediately to mechanical force.

New batteries give jolt to renewables, energy storage Posted: 05 Apr 2021 11:34 AM PDT Researchers have been exploring the use of low-cost materials to create rechargeable batteries that will make energy storage more affordable. Now, they have shown that a new technique incorporating aluminum results in rechargeable batteries that offer up to 10,000 error-free cycles.

New method expands the world of small RNAs Posted: 05 Apr 2021 11:01 AM PDT Biomedical scientists have developed a new RNA-sequencing method -- 'Panoramic RNA Display by Overcoming RNA Modification Aborted Sequencing,' or PANDORA-seq -- that can help discover numerous modified small RNAs that were previously undetectable.

Unique mini-microscope provides insight into complex brain functions Posted: 05 Apr 2021 11:01 AM PDT Head-mounted device on free-moving mice reveals how regions of the brain interact.

Atom-based radio communications for noisy environments Posted: 05 Apr 2021 11:01 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated an atom-based sensor that can determine the direction of an incoming radio signal, another key part for a potential atomic communications system that could be smaller and work better in noisy environments than conventional technology.

Less than a nanometer thick, stronger and more versatile than steel Posted: 05 Apr 2021 10:10 AM PDT Scientists report a breakthrough involving a material called borophane, a sheet of boron and hydrogen a mere two atoms in thickness.

An artful study of cellular development in leaves Posted: 05 Apr 2021 10:10 AM PDT Researchers tracked 20,000 cells to find out what made each one unique and to learn how the cells coordinate to build a leaf. Collaboration with a visual artist added additional dimensions to the work.

This hydrogen fuel machine could be the ultimate guide to self-improvement Posted: 05 Apr 2021 09:33 AM PDT Scientists have uncovered an extraordinary self-improving property that transforms an ordinary semiconductor into a highly efficient and stable artificial photosynthesis device.

Masks, ventilation stop COVID spread better than social distancing, study shows Posted: 05 Apr 2021 09:33 AM PDT A new study suggests that masks and a good ventilation system are more important than social distancing for reducing the airborne spread of COVID-19 in classrooms. The research comes at a critical time when schools and universities are considering returning to more in-person classes in the fall.

Ozone pollution harms maize crops, study finds Posted: 05 Apr 2021 09:33 AM PDT A new study has shown that ozone in the lower layers of the atmosphere decreases crop yields in maize and changes the types of chemicals that are found inside the leaves.

Possible effects of bridge construction on manatees Posted: 05 Apr 2021 08:37 AM PDT Researchers examine how bridge-building and in-water construction activities may affect manatees and other large aquatic species.

Researchers extend the life of a dipolar molecule Posted: 05 Apr 2021 08:36 AM PDT Researchers lengthen the lifetime of a dipolar molecule to almost three and a half seconds, a luxury of time during which they maintained the full quantum control necessary for stable qubits, the building blocks for a wide variety of exciting quantum applications.

Nonlinear wave mixing facilitates subwavelength imaging Posted: 05 Apr 2021 08:36 AM PDT A team of researchers recently developed an alternative way to break the Abbe diffraction limit and realize subwavelength imaging in an all-optical manner. They propose localized evanescent-wave illuminations, which are excited at the silicon surface by four-wave mixing, a third-order nonlinear optical process.

Study finds psychiatric disorders persist 15 years after youth are detained Posted: 05 Apr 2021 08:36 AM PDT Research shows nearly two-thirds of males and more than one-third of females with one or more existing psychiatric disorders when they entered detention, still had a disorder 15 years later. The findings are significant because mental health struggles add to the existing racial, ethnic and economic disparities as well as academic challenges from missed school, making a successful transition to adulthood harder to attain.

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