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• Screening for ovarian cancer did not reduce early deaths
• Politically polarized brains share an intolerance of uncertainty
• Two-in-one: Wide-angle monitoring meets high-resolution capture in new camera platform
• The first frost is the deepest
• Study of 70,000 individuals links dementia to smoking and cardiovascular disease
• Jab-free dengue immunity could be just a click away
• Domino-like crystallization of glass
• New snailfish genome reveals how they adapted to the pressures of deep-sea life
• Two regions in the canine genome explain one third of the risk of rare blood cancer
• A sibling-guided strategy to capture the 3D shape of the human face
• Making AI algorithms show their work
• Kelp, maggots and mycoprotein among future foods that must be mass-farmed to combat malnutrition
• What makes plant cell walls both strong and extensible?
• Brain mechanism of curiosity unraveled
• Cancer has ripple effect on distant tissues
• Researchers identify a missing piece of the Lyme disease puzzle
• Fossilized tracks show earliest known evidence of mammals at the seashore
• Causes of concrete and asphalt deterioration explained
• The emergence of cooperation
• Carbon emissions from dams considerably underestimated so far
• Adolescents and older adults lack attention in social situations
• Songbird neurons for advanced cognition mirror the physiology of mammalian counterparts
• A new approach to identify genetic boundaries of species could also impact policy
• Study: Drivers with shift work sleep disorder 3x more likely to be in crash
• Tiny cloud of atoms can be turned from a heat engine into a cooler
• Evolutionary biologists discover mechanism that enables lizards to breathe underwater
• High genomic diversity is good news for California condor
• Hydrogen peroxide-producing drug boosts cancer-killing effect of radiotherapy
• Antarctic ice sheet retreat could trigger chain reaction
• Urban traffic noise causes song learning deficits in birds
• How widespread is lemur and fossa meat consumption?
• New evidence for electron's dual nature found in a quantum spin liquid
• Ticking upward: Researcher studies rise of tick-borne diseases in Midwest
• Researchers 3D print complex micro-optics with improved imaging performance
• Species losses on isolated Panamanian island show importance of habitat connectivity
• COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are immunogenic in pregnant and lactating women, study finds
• Hidden processes at work in the hearts of large stars revealed
• Ankle and foot bone evolution gave prehistoric mammals a leg up
• Ion-selective smart porous membranes
• Can fisheries benefit from biodiversity and conserve it, too?
• Quantum machine learning hits a limit
• New study reveals where memories of familiar places are stored in the brain
• Obesity slows progress against cancer deaths, study suggests
• Dental procedures during pandemic are no riskier than a drink of water, study finds
• Count your blessings: Short gratitude intervention can increase academic motivation
• Orangutan finding highlights need to protect habitat
• Congestion pricing could shrink car size
• Delaying second COVID vaccine dose may prevent deaths under certain conditions
• Academic skills least valued when assessing the 'ideal student' by academics and peers
• How AIs ask for personal information is important for gaining user trust
• Measuring brain blood flow and activity with light
• New research may explain shortages in STEM careers
• Scientists decode the 'language' of immune cells
• Standing dead trees in 'ghost forests' contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, study finds
• A delicate balance: Learning new ways that gut microbes educate the immune system
• How the body builds a healthy relationship with 'good' gut bacteria
• Breakthrough could lead to early detection of pregnancy complications
• Backyard chickens, rabbits, soybeans can meet household protein demand
• Researchers identify target for senolytic drugs
• COVID-19 is not influenza, but it offers lessons on beating it, say researchers

Screening for ovarian cancer did not reduce early deaths Posted: 13 May 2021 02:35 PM PDT The latest analysis looked at data from more than 200,000 women aged 50-74 at recruitment who were followed up for an average of 16 years. The women were randomly allocated to one of three groups: no screening, annual screening using an ultrasound scan, and annual multimodal screening involving a blood test followed by an ultrasound scan as a second line test.

Politically polarized brains share an intolerance of uncertainty Posted: 13 May 2021 02:35 PM PDT A new study on political polarization showed how an aversion to uncertainty is often associated with black-and-white political views.

Two-in-one: Wide-angle monitoring meets high-resolution capture in new camera platform Posted: 13 May 2021 02:35 PM PDT In most cameras, there is a trade-off between the field-of-view and resolution. Omnidirectional cameras offer a 360-degree field of view but poor resolution. In a new study, researchers design a dual camera-based platform employing an omnidirectional camera for target detection and a separate camera for its high-resolution capture and report an overall improved performance, opening doors to potential applications in security systems.

The first frost is the deepest Posted: 13 May 2021 12:48 PM PDT The first frost of autumn may be grim for gardeners but the latest evidence reveals it is a profound event in the life of plants.

Study of 70,000 individuals links dementia to smoking and cardiovascular disease Posted: 13 May 2021 12:48 PM PDT In the largest study of the associations between smoking and cardiovascular disease on cognitive function, researchers found both impair the ability to learn and memorize; and that the effects of smoking are more pronounced among females, while males are more impaired by cardiovascular disease.

Jab-free dengue immunity could be just a click away Posted: 13 May 2021 11:25 AM PDT A dengue virus vaccine candidate has passed an important milestone, with promising results in animal model testing providing hope to the 390 million people infected every year.

Domino-like crystallization of glass Posted: 13 May 2021 11:25 AM PDT Researchers have revealed the thermodynamics and kinetics that facilitate crystal growth in deeply supercooled liquids and glasses. Their insights will help people exploit this atypical crystal growth behavior to enhance glass stability and crystal quality for applications.

New snailfish genome reveals how they adapted to the pressures of deep-sea life Posted: 13 May 2021 11:25 AM PDT A new whole genome sequence for the Yap hadal snailfish provides insights into how the unusual fish survives in some of the deepest parts of the ocean.

Two regions in the canine genome explain one third of the risk of rare blood cancer Posted: 13 May 2021 11:25 AM PDT Mutations in two genetic regions in dogs explain over one third of the risk of developing an aggressive form of hematological cancer, according to a new study.

A sibling-guided strategy to capture the 3D shape of the human face Posted: 13 May 2021 11:25 AM PDT A new strategy for capturing the 3D shape of the human face draws on data from sibling pairs and leads to identification of novel links between facial shape traits and specific locations within the human genome.

Making AI algorithms show their work Posted: 13 May 2021 11:24 AM PDT Artificial intelligence (AI) learning machines can be trained to solve problems and puzzles on their own instead of using rules that we made for them. But often, researchers do not know what rules the machines make for themselves. A new method quizzes a machine-learning program to figure out what rules it learned on its own and if they are the right ones.

Kelp, maggots and mycoprotein among future foods that must be mass-farmed to combat malnutrition Posted: 13 May 2021 11:24 AM PDT Radical changes to the food system are needed to safeguard our food supply and combat malnutrition in the face of climate change, environmental degradation and epidemics, says new report.

What makes plant cell walls both strong and extensible? Posted: 13 May 2021 11:24 AM PDT A plant cell wall's unique ability to expand without weakening or breaking is due to the movement of its cellulose skeleton, according to new research that models the cell wall. The new study presents a new concept of the plant cell wall, gives insights into plant cell growth, and could provide inspiration for the design of polymeric materials.

Brain mechanism of curiosity unraveled Posted: 13 May 2021 11:24 AM PDT Researchers have discovered a new brain circuit underlying curiosity and novelty seeking behavior. Using several innovative techniques, the scientists uncovered a whole path of multiple brain regions that converts curiosity into action in mice.

Cancer has ripple effect on distant tissues Posted: 13 May 2021 11:24 AM PDT A new study with zebrafish shows that a deadly form of skin cancer -- melanoma -- alters the metabolism of healthy tissues elsewhere in the body. The research suggests that these other tissues could potentially be targeted to help treat cancer.

Researchers identify a missing piece of the Lyme disease puzzle Posted: 13 May 2021 11:24 AM PDT Epidemic. Pandemic. These terms have become second nature to us, popping up in everyday conversation, and for good reason -- COVID-19 is the latest pandemic to pose a threat to humanity. But in recent months, far less attention has been paid to another widely spread problem that has been proliferating since the late 1970s: Lyme disease.

Fossilized tracks show earliest known evidence of mammals at the seashore Posted: 13 May 2021 11:24 AM PDT Researchers report the discovery of several sets of fossilized tracks, likely from the brown bear-sized Coryphodon, that represent the earliest known evidence of mammals gathering near an ocean.

Causes of concrete and asphalt deterioration explained Posted: 13 May 2021 11:24 AM PDT Scientists reveal that the deterioration of modern concrete and asphalt structures is due to the presence of trace quantities of organic matter in these structures.

The emergence of cooperation Posted: 13 May 2021 11:24 AM PDT Cooperation plays a crucial role in evolution. A team of scientists has now created a new model that shows how different kinds of cooperative strategies among humans develop. Using their unified framework, they show how an individual's experience and the reputation of others influence the emergence of successful cooperation.

Carbon emissions from dams considerably underestimated so far Posted: 13 May 2021 11:24 AM PDT Among other things, dams serve as reservoirs for drinking water, agricultural irrigation, or the operation of hydropower plants. Until now, it had been assumed that dams act as net carbon stores. Researchers have now shown that dams release twice as much carbon as they store.

Adolescents and older adults lack attention in social situations Posted: 13 May 2021 11:24 AM PDT New research has found that adolescents and older adults pay less attention to social cues in real-world interactions than young adults.

Songbird neurons for advanced cognition mirror the physiology of mammalian counterparts Posted: 13 May 2021 11:23 AM PDT Neuroscientists examining genetically identified neurons in a songbird's forebrain discovered a remarkable landscape of physiology, auditory coding and network roles that mirrored those in the brains of mammals.

A new approach to identify genetic boundaries of species could also impact policy Posted: 13 May 2021 11:23 AM PDT A new approach to genomic species delineation could impact policy and lend clarity to legislation for designating a species as endangered or at risk. Evolutionary biologists model the process of speciation, which follows population formation, improving on current species delineation methods.

Study: Drivers with shift work sleep disorder 3x more likely to be in crash Posted: 13 May 2021 11:23 AM PDT People who work nontraditional work hours, such as 11 p.m.-7 a.m., or the 'graveyard' shift, are more likely than people with traditional daytime work schedules to develop a chronic medical condition -- shift work sleep disorder -- that disrupts their sleep. According to researchers, people who develop this condition are also three times more likely to be involved in a vehicle accident.

Tiny cloud of atoms can be turned from a heat engine into a cooler Posted: 13 May 2021 09:40 AM PDT The demonstration that a tiny cloud of atoms can be turned from a heat engine into a cooler by cranking up the interactions between the particles provides both deep fundamental insight and a possible template for more efficient thermoelectric devices.

Evolutionary biologists discover mechanism that enables lizards to breathe underwater Posted: 13 May 2021 09:40 AM PDT A team of evolutionary biologists has shown that Anolis lizards, or anoles, are able to breathe underwater with the aid of a bubble clinging to their snouts. Some anoles are stream specialists, and these semi-aquatic species frequently dive underwater to avoid predators, where they can remain submerged for as long as 18 minutes. The researchers termed the process 'rebreathing' after the scuba-diving technology.

High genomic diversity is good news for California condor Posted: 13 May 2021 09:40 AM PDT The wild California condor population dropped to 22 before rescue and captive breeding allowed reintroduction into the wild. A new assembly of the complete genome of the bird reveals some inbreeding as a result, but overall high genomic diversity attesting to large populations of condors in the past, likely in the tens of thousands. Comparison to Andean condor and turkey vulture genomes reveals declines in their populations also, and lower genomic diversity than California condor.

Hydrogen peroxide-producing drug boosts cancer-killing effect of radiotherapy Posted: 13 May 2021 09:40 AM PDT A small drug molecule that appears to protect normal tissue from the damaging effects of radiation, may simultaneously be able to boost the cancer-killing effect of radiation therapy, according to a new study.

Antarctic ice sheet retreat could trigger chain reaction Posted: 13 May 2021 09:39 AM PDT The Antarctic ice sheet was even more unstable in the past than previously thought, and at times possibly came close to collapse, new research suggests.

Urban traffic noise causes song learning deficits in birds Posted: 13 May 2021 09:39 AM PDT Traffic noise leads to inaccuracies and delays in the development of song learning in young birds. They also suffer from a suppressed immune system, which is an indicator of chronic stress. A new study shows that young zebra finches, just like children, are particularly vulnerable to the effects of noise because of its potential to interfere with learning at a critical developmental stage.

How widespread is lemur and fossa meat consumption? Posted: 13 May 2021 09:39 AM PDT A new study looks at the prevalence of human consumption of lemur and fossa (Madagascar's largest predator) in villages within and around Makira Natural Park, northeastern Madagascar, providing up-to-date estimates of the percentage of households who eat meat from these protected species.

New evidence for electron's dual nature found in a quantum spin liquid Posted: 13 May 2021 09:39 AM PDT New experiments provide evidence for a decades-old theory that, in the quantum regime, an electron behaves as if it is made of two particles: one particle that carries its negative charge and the other that gives it a magnet-like property called spin. The team detected evidence for this theory in materials called quantum spin liquids.

Ticking upward: Researcher studies rise of tick-borne diseases in Midwest Posted: 13 May 2021 09:39 AM PDT When a researcher heard from a former colleague at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that a 7-year-old girl had died from Rocky Mountain spotted fever as the result of a tick bite, he thought of his own daughter, also 7 years old at the time, and the potentially fatal danger posed to vulnerable populations by tick-borne diseases.

Researchers 3D print complex micro-optics with improved imaging performance Posted: 13 May 2021 09:39 AM PDT Researchers detail how they used a type of 3D printing known as two-photon lithography to create lenses that combine refractive and diffractive surfaces.

Species losses on isolated Panamanian island show importance of habitat connectivity Posted: 13 May 2021 09:39 AM PDT Free from human disturbance for a century, an inland island in Central America has nevertheless lost more than 25% of its native bird species since its creation as part of the Panama Canal's construction, and scientists say the losses continue.

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are immunogenic in pregnant and lactating women, study finds Posted: 13 May 2021 09:39 AM PDT In a new study, researchers evaluated the immunogenicity of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in pregnant and lactating women who received either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, finding that both triggered immune responses.

Hidden processes at work in the hearts of large stars revealed Posted: 13 May 2021 09:39 AM PDT Astronomers commonly refer to massive stars as the chemical factories of the Universe. They generally end their lives in spectacular supernovae, events that forge many of the elements on the periodic table. How elemental nuclei mix within these enormous stars has a major impact on our understanding of their evolution prior to their explosion. It also represents the largest uncertainty for scientists studying their structure and evolution.

Ankle and foot bone evolution gave prehistoric mammals a leg up Posted: 13 May 2021 07:00 AM PDT The evolution of ankle and foot bones into different shapes and sizes helped mammals adapt and thrive after the extinction of the dinosaurs, a study suggests.

Ion-selective smart porous membranes Posted: 13 May 2021 07:00 AM PDT Researchers have developed an ion-selective smart porous membrane that can respond to outer stimuli, potentially paving the way for new applications in molecular separation and sensing applications.

Can fisheries benefit from biodiversity and conserve it, too? Posted: 13 May 2021 07:00 AM PDT A new study reveals the trade-offs of fish biodiversity -- its costs and benefits to mixed-stock fisheries -- and points to a potential way to harness the benefits while avoiding costs to fishery performance.

Quantum machine learning hits a limit Posted: 13 May 2021 07:00 AM PDT A black hole permanently scrambles information that can't be recovered with any quantum machine learning algorithm, shedding new light on the classic Hayden-Preskill thought experiment.

New study reveals where memories of familiar places are stored in the brain Posted: 13 May 2021 07:00 AM PDT As we move through the world, what we see is seamlessly integrated with our memory of the broader spatial environment. How does the brain accomplish this feat? A new study reveals that three regions of the brain in the posterior cerebral cortex, which the researchers call 'place-memory areas,' form a link between the brain's perceptual and memory systems.

Obesity slows progress against cancer deaths, study suggests Posted: 13 May 2021 07:00 AM PDT A new study suggests that heart disease and obesity-associated cancer mortality rates have continued to improve, but at a slowing pace.

Dental procedures during pandemic are no riskier than a drink of water, study finds Posted: 13 May 2021 05:49 AM PDT A new study's findings dispel the misconception that patients and providers are at high risk of catching COVID-19 at the dentist's office.

Count your blessings: Short gratitude intervention can increase academic motivation Posted: 13 May 2021 05:49 AM PDT In a recent study, researchers explore how nurturing feelings of gratitude can enhance motivation among college students. Their results show that a keeping a daily gratitude journal for only two weeks has a positive impact on academic motivations that can last months.

Orangutan finding highlights need to protect habitat Posted: 13 May 2021 05:49 AM PDT Wild orangutans are known for their ability to survive food shortages, but scientists have made a surprising finding that highlights the need to protect the habitat of these critically endangered primates, which face rapid habitat destruction and threats linked to climate change.

Congestion pricing could shrink car size Posted: 13 May 2021 05:48 AM PDT Rush hour will likely return when pandemic lockdowns lift, but a new study suggests that congestion pricing -- policies that charge tolls for driving during peak hours -- could not only cure traffic jams but also convince motorists it is safe to buy smaller, more efficient cars.

Delaying second COVID vaccine dose may prevent deaths under certain conditions Posted: 12 May 2021 04:45 PM PDT Delaying the second dose of covid-19 vaccines, at least for people aged under 65, could result in up to 20 percent lower mortality, but only under certain conditions, a new study finds.

Academic skills least valued when assessing the 'ideal student' by academics and peers Posted: 12 May 2021 04:45 PM PDT The 'ideal student' - valued by both learners and university staff - is a punctual, organized, hard worker and enthusiastic learner - rather than someone with excellent academic results, high intelligence and good employability.

How AIs ask for personal information is important for gaining user trust Posted: 12 May 2021 04:45 PM PDT Researchers report that users responded differently when AIs either offered to help the user, or asked for help from the user. This response influenced whether the user trusted the AI with their personal information. They added that these introductions from the AI could be designed in a way to both increase users' trust, as well as raise their awareness about the importance of personal information.

Measuring brain blood flow and activity with light Posted: 12 May 2021 04:45 PM PDT A new, noninvasive method for measuring brain blood flow with light has been developed by biomedical engineers and neurologists and used to detect brain activation. The new method, functional interferometric diffusing wave spectroscopy, or fiDWS, promises to be cheaper than existing technology and could be used for assessing brain injuries, or in neuroscience research.

New research may explain shortages in STEM careers Posted: 12 May 2021 01:40 PM PDT A new study revealed that more college students change majors within the STEM pipeline than leave the career path of science, technology, engineering and mathematics altogether.

Scientists decode the 'language' of immune cells Posted: 12 May 2021 01:40 PM PDT Scientists have identified 'words' immune cells use to call up immune defense genes -- an important step toward understanding their language. The scientists also discovered that in an autoimmune disease, Sjögren's syndrome, two of these words are used incorrectly, activating the wrong genes and triggering the disease.

Standing dead trees in 'ghost forests' contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, study finds Posted: 12 May 2021 01:40 PM PDT While standing dead trees in ghost forests did not release as much greenhouse gas emissions as the soils, they did increase GHG emissions of the overall ecosystem by about 25 percent, a new study has found.

A delicate balance: Learning new ways that gut microbes educate the immune system Posted: 12 May 2021 01:40 PM PDT An immune system that mistakes our good gut bacteria for an enemy can cause a dangerous type of inflammation in the intestines called colitis. An immune system that looks the other way while gut microbes spill past their assigned borders is equally dangerous. Understanding how the immune system learns to make a brokered peace with its microbial residents, called the microbiota, is therefore an important area of research.

How the body builds a healthy relationship with 'good' gut bacteria Posted: 12 May 2021 01:40 PM PDT Research reveals insights into how the body maintains balance with 'good' gut bacteria that allows these microbes to flourish in the intestine but keeps them out of tissues and organs where they're not supposed to be.

Breakthrough could lead to early detection of pregnancy complications Posted: 12 May 2021 01:40 PM PDT Researchers have found a way to study uterine fluid in the lab, thereby avoiding invasive procedures during pregnancy, while at the same time developing a potential model for using precision medicine to improve pregnancy outcomes.

Backyard chickens, rabbits, soybeans can meet household protein demand Posted: 12 May 2021 01:40 PM PDT In 2020, stores sold out of garden seed, coops and rabbit cages. Meat shortages led many to wonder what to eat for protein when supply chains are disrupted and some people turned to gathering eggs, raising animals and growing their own food. A team assessed backyard protein sources: They looked at how a typical household with a typical backyard can raise chickens, rabbits or soybeans to meet its protein needs.

Researchers identify target for senolytic drugs Posted: 12 May 2021 01:40 PM PDT Researchers found that senescent immune cells are the most dangerous type of senescent cell.

COVID-19 is not influenza, but it offers lessons on beating it, say researchers Posted: 12 May 2021 01:39 PM PDT A study of the 2020 influenza figures from Canada, the United States, Australia and Brazil shows that there is a clear relationship between COVID-mitigation measures such as hand-washing, masking and social distancing and the spread of the annual flu, researchers report. They write that these preventive measures all but eliminated the flu in countries where it can kill tens of thousands of people a year, even as cases of COVID-19 soared.

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