ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• With a zap of light, system switches objects' colors and patterns
• New application of AI just removed one of the biggest roadblocks in astrophysics
• Being around children makes adults more generous
• Without commuter traffic, pandemic-era drivers are speeding up, increasing noise pollution
• 3D 'bioprinting' used to create nose cartilage
• Breakthrough study shows no-take marine reserves benefit overfished reefs
• Your stomach may be the secret to fighting obesity
• Hopkins-led research team takes gene mutation detection in blood to the next level
• New neuroimaging technique studies brain stimulation for depression
• Bringing up baby: A crocodile's changing niche
• Why does heart scarring cause abnormal rhythms in some people but not others?
• The sensitive brain at rest
• Confirmation of an auroral phenomenon
• Nanoplastics -- an underestimated problem?
• Nanoplastics and other harmful pollutants found in disposable face masks
• A sweet solution to hard brain implants
• People with disabilities faced pandemic triage biases
• New 'key-hole surgery' technique to extract metals from the Earth
• Little to no increase in association between adolescents' mental health problems and digital tech
• New lunar map to help guide future exploration missions
• Do people aged 105 and over live longer because they have more efficient DNA repair?
• New synapse-like phototransistor
• Changes in proteins play important role in aging kidneys
• 'Last resort' antibiotic pops bacteria like balloons
• The enzyme that could help curb chronic kidney disease
• Algorithms improve how we protect our data
• One cup of leafy green vegetables a day lowers risk of heart disease
• Surfaces can be designed with antiviral properties to mitigate COVID-19
• Study reveals the gateway to conscious awareness
• Air pollution linked to high blood pressure in children; other studies address air quality and the heart
• Chemical 'nose' sniffs critical differences in DNA structures
• Geology helps astronomers find habitable planets
• Researchers advance 3D printing to aid tissue replacement
• Complex shapes of photons to boost future quantum technologies
• Cayman Islands sea turtles back from the brink
• Greta Thunberg and Fridays For Future, from global myth to local mobilization
• Mangroves and seagrasses absorb microplastics
• Artificial intelligence to monitor water quality more effectively
• Scientists find gene mutation linked to exfoliation syndrome, most common cause of glaucoma
• The micro-environment of breast cancer in three dimensions
• Insights from color-blind octopus help fight human sight loss
• Northern Red Sea corals pass heat stress test with flying colors

With a zap of light, system switches objects' colors and patterns Posted: 04 May 2021 04:16 PM PDT ChromoUpdate is a 'programmable matter' technique to quickly change objects' color. The method uses light to alter the saturation of photochromatic ink on an item's surface and could give product designers a boost in churning out prototypes.

New application of AI just removed one of the biggest roadblocks in astrophysics Posted: 04 May 2021 04:16 PM PDT Using neural networks, researchers simulated vast, complex universes in a fraction of the time it takes with conventional methods.

Being around children makes adults more generous Posted: 04 May 2021 04:15 PM PDT New psychology research suggests adults are more compassionate and donate more to charity when they are in the presence of children.

Without commuter traffic, pandemic-era drivers are speeding up, increasing noise pollution Posted: 04 May 2021 04:15 PM PDT When millions of Americans began working from home, city traffic halted. Although the air became cleaner, researchers discovered that sound levels increased in nature conservation areas due to cars driving faster.

3D 'bioprinting' used to create nose cartilage Posted: 04 May 2021 01:17 PM PDT A team of University of Alberta researchers has discovered a way to use 3-D bioprinting technology to create custom-shaped cartilage for use in surgical procedures. The work aims to make it easier for surgeons to safely restore the features of skin cancer patients living with nasal cartilage defects after surgery.

Breakthrough study shows no-take marine reserves benefit overfished reefs Posted: 04 May 2021 12:46 PM PDT A powerful, long-term study adds scientific backing for global calls for conserving 30 percent of the world's ocean.

Your stomach may be the secret to fighting obesity Posted: 04 May 2021 12:46 PM PDT Scientists believe a stomach-specific protein plays a major role in the progression of obesity, according to new research. The study could help with development of therapeutics that would help individuals struggling with achieving and maintaining weight loss.

Hopkins-led research team takes gene mutation detection in blood to the next level Posted: 04 May 2021 10:57 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new technology to overcome the inefficiencies and high error rates common among next-generation sequencing techniques that have previously limited their clinical application.

New neuroimaging technique studies brain stimulation for depression Posted: 04 May 2021 10:57 AM PDT Despite increased use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in psychiatry, the rates at which patients respond to the therapy and experience remission of often-disabling symptoms have been modest at best. Now, a team of psychiatrists and biomedical engineers applied an emerging functional neuroimaging technology, known as diffuse optical tomography (DOT), to better understand how rTMS works so they can begin to improve the brain stimulation procedure's effectiveness in treating depression.

Bringing up baby: A crocodile's changing niche Posted: 04 May 2021 10:57 AM PDT New research sheds light on how ancient giant crocodiles changed their diet as they matured.

Why does heart scarring cause abnormal rhythms in some people but not others? Posted: 04 May 2021 10:57 AM PDT Scientists have shed light on why some people who have a stroke do not also have abnormal heart rhythms, even though their hearts contain similar scar tissue.

The sensitive brain at rest Posted: 04 May 2021 10:57 AM PDT You know that raw overwhelm people have been reporting after months of a pandemic, compounded by economic issues and social unrest? Does fatigue and compulsive social media scrolling strike a familiar chord?

Confirmation of an auroral phenomenon Posted: 04 May 2021 08:26 AM PDT A new auroral phenomenon discovered a year ago is probably caused by areas of increased oxygen atom density occurring in an atmospheric wave channel. The speculative explanation offered by the researchers gained support from a new study.

Nanoplastics -- an underestimated problem? Posted: 04 May 2021 08:26 AM PDT Giant vortices of floating plastic trash in the world's oceans with sometimes devastating consequences for their inhabitants - the sobering legacy of our modern lifestyle. Weathering and degradation processes produce countless tiny particles that can now be detected in virtually all ecosystems. But how dangerous are the smallest of them, so-called nanoplastics?

Nanoplastics and other harmful pollutants found in disposable face masks Posted: 04 May 2021 08:26 AM PDT Scientists have uncovered potentially dangerous chemical pollutants that are released from disposable face masks when submerged in water. The research reveals high levels of pollutants, including lead, antimony, and copper, within the silicon-based and plastic fibres of common disposable face masks.

A sweet solution to hard brain implants Posted: 04 May 2021 08:26 AM PDT By using silicone polymers, scientists have made the softest brain implant to date with the thickness of a thin sewing thread (~0.2 mm), and the consistency of soft pudding - as soft as the brain itself. They were then able to implant it into the brain using a trick from a cookbook.

People with disabilities faced pandemic triage biases Posted: 04 May 2021 08:26 AM PDT A new paper suggests that unconscious biases in the health care system may have influenced how individuals with intellectual disabilities were categorized in emergency triage protocols.

New 'key-hole surgery' technique to extract metals from the Earth Posted: 04 May 2021 08:26 AM PDT Researchers have developed a new method to extract metals, such as copper, from their parent ore body. The research team have provided a proof of concept for the application of an electric field to control the movement of an acid within a low permeability copper-bearing ore deposit to selectively dissolve and recover the metal in situ.

Little to no increase in association between adolescents' mental health problems and digital tech Posted: 04 May 2021 08:26 AM PDT A new study suggests that over the past 30 years, there has been little to no increase in the association between adolescents' technology engagement and mental health problems. The study also urges more transparent collaborations between academia and industry.

New lunar map to help guide future exploration missions Posted: 04 May 2021 08:26 AM PDT A new map of the Schrodinger basin of the moon could help guide future exploration missions.

Do people aged 105 and over live longer because they have more efficient DNA repair? Posted: 04 May 2021 08:26 AM PDT Researchers have found that people who live beyond 105 years tend to have a unique genetic background that makes their bodies more efficient at repairing DNA, according to a new study.

New synapse-like phototransistor Posted: 04 May 2021 08:26 AM PDT Researchers have developed a breakthrough in energy-efficient phototransistors. Such devices could eventually help computers process visual information more like the human brain and be used as sensors in things like self-driving vehicles.

Changes in proteins play important role in aging kidneys Posted: 04 May 2021 08:26 AM PDT Studying protein changes in the kidneys as we age, as well as the transcription of genes into proteins, helps provide a full picture of the age-related processes that take place in these organs.

'Last resort' antibiotic pops bacteria like balloons Posted: 04 May 2021 08:26 AM PDT Scientists have revealed how an antibiotic of 'last resort' kills bacteria.

The enzyme that could help curb chronic kidney disease Posted: 04 May 2021 08:26 AM PDT Researchers have identified an enzyme that may help to curb chronic kidney disease, which affects approximately 700 million people worldwide.

Algorithms improve how we protect our data Posted: 04 May 2021 08:26 AM PDT Scientists have developed algorithms that more efficiently measure how difficult it would be for an attacker to guess secret keys for cryptographic systems. The approach could reduce the computational complexity needed to validate encryption security.

One cup of leafy green vegetables a day lowers risk of heart disease Posted: 04 May 2021 08:26 AM PDT New research has found that by eating just one cup of nitrate-rich vegetables each day people can significantly reduce their risk of heart disease.

Surfaces can be designed with antiviral properties to mitigate COVID-19 Posted: 04 May 2021 08:26 AM PDT If a respiratory droplet from a person infected with COVID-19 lands on a surface, it becomes a possible source of disease spread, because while 99.9 percent of the droplet's liquid content evaporates within minutes, a residual thin film that allows the virus to survive can be left behind. In a new study, researchers explore how the evaporation rate of residual thin films can be accelerated by tuning surfaces' wettability and creating geometric microtextures on them.

Study reveals the gateway to conscious awareness Posted: 04 May 2021 08:25 AM PDT Researchers identify a key area in the cortex that appears to be the gate of conscious awareness.

Air pollution linked to high blood pressure in children; other studies address air quality and the heart Posted: 04 May 2021 08:25 AM PDT A meta-analysis of 14 air pollution studies from around the world found that exposure to high levels of air pollutants during childhood increases the likelihood of high blood pressure in children and adolescents, and the risk of hypertension later in life.

Chemical 'nose' sniffs critical differences in DNA structures Posted: 04 May 2021 08:25 AM PDT Small changes in the structure of DNA have been implicated in breast cancer and other diseases, but they've been extremely difficult to detect -- until now. Using what they describe as a 'chemical nose,' chemists are able to 'smell' when bits of DNA are folded in unusual ways.

Geology helps astronomers find habitable planets Posted: 04 May 2021 08:25 AM PDT Astronomers have identified more than 4,000, and counting, confirmed exoplanets -- planets orbiting stars other than the sun -- but only a fraction have the potential to sustain life. Now, new research is using the geology of early planet formation to help identify those that may be capable of supporting life.

Researchers advance 3D printing to aid tissue replacement Posted: 04 May 2021 08:25 AM PDT Researchers are looking into a possible future in which doctors can hit a button to print out a scaffold on their 3-D printers and create custom-made replacement skin, cartilage, or other tissue for their patients.

Complex shapes of photons to boost future quantum technologies Posted: 04 May 2021 08:25 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated how two interfering photons can bunch into various shapes. These complex shapes are beneficial for quantum technologies, such as performing fast photonic quantum computations and safe data transfer. The method opens new possibilities also for creating enhanced measurement and sensing techniques.

Cayman Islands sea turtles back from the brink Posted: 04 May 2021 08:25 AM PDT Sea turtles in the Cayman Islands are recovering from the brink of local extinction, new research shows.

Greta Thunberg and Fridays For Future, from global myth to local mobilization Posted: 04 May 2021 08:25 AM PDT In 2019 the climate movement experienced an unprecedented growth in its mobilization capacity and its political and media impact. The success of the movement is closely linked to the figure of Greta Thunberg and the global impact of her discourse and the 'Fridays for Future' movement in hundreds of cities around the world.

Mangroves and seagrasses absorb microplastics Posted: 04 May 2021 08:25 AM PDT Microplastics do not just end up in the open sea - in fact, a lot also end up in the ecosystems of the coastal zones, a new study shows and this may threaten wildlife.

Artificial intelligence to monitor water quality more effectively Posted: 04 May 2021 08:25 AM PDT Artificial intelligence that enhances remote monitoring of water bodies - highlighting quality shifts due to climate change or pollution - has been developed.

Scientists find gene mutation linked to exfoliation syndrome, most common cause of glaucoma Posted: 04 May 2021 08:25 AM PDT A team of researchers have identified a genetic mutation associated with exfoliation syndrome, characterized by abnormal protein material accumulating in the front of the eye. It is the most common cause of glaucoma, and a major cause of irreversible blindness. The findings could lead to further research on the causes of the systemic disorder and potential cures.

The micro-environment of breast cancer in three dimensions Posted: 04 May 2021 08:25 AM PDT Cancerous tumors thrive on blood, extending their roots deep into the fabric of the tissue of their host. They alter the genetics of surrounding cells and evolve to avoid the protective attacks of immune cells. Now, researchers have developed a way to study the relationship between solid, difficult-to-treat tumors and the microenvironment they create to support their growth.

Insights from color-blind octopus help fight human sight loss Posted: 04 May 2021 08:24 AM PDT New research into octopus vision has led to a quick and easy test that helps optometrists identify people who are at greater risk of macular degeneration, the leading cause of incurable sight loss.

Northern Red Sea corals pass heat stress test with flying colors Posted: 03 May 2021 12:13 PM PDT Scientists are beginning to understand why corals in the Gulf of Aqaba, along with their symbiotic algae and bacteria, resist higher temperatures particularly well.

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