ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• More than 1.5 million children lost a primary or secondary caregiver due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Muddied waters: Sinking organics alter seafloor records
• Microbially produced fibers: Stronger than steel, tougher than Kevlar
• New technology shows promise in detecting, blocking grid cyberattacks
• Novel method for glucagon delivery
• COVID-19 shutdowns reveal racial disparities in exposure to air pollution
• New evidence of menopause in killer whales
• Microbes play critical role boosting vigor of hybrid corn, research shows
• Using snakes to monitor Fukushima radiation
• Unleashing Treg cells may lead to treatments for multiple sclerosis
• DNA assay aids in identifying and protecting North American wolves, coyotes
• 'Springing forward' affects early birds less than night owls
• Spinal fluid biomarkers detect neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's disease in living patients
• Fish friends help in a crisis
• The environmental toll of disposable masks
• Enzyme-based plastics recycling is more energy efficient, better for environment, researchers show
• Machine learning models to help photovoltaic systems find their place in the sun
• SARS-CoV-2: Achilles' heel of viral RNA
• Scientists uncover how a molecule improves appearance of surgery scars
• 15,000-year-old viruses discovered in Tibetan glacier ice
• Review evaluates the evidence for an intensifying Indian Ocean water cycle
• Renewable energies: No wind turbine disturbing the scenery
• Solar cells: Boosting photovoltaic effect in ferroelectric-paraelectric superlattices
• No excuse to continue reliance on fossil fuels, says leading nano-technologist
• Long-period oscillations of Sun discovered
• Is bacterial acidity a key to tackle antimicrobial resistance?
• Rapidly diversifying birds in Southeast Asia offer new insights into evolution
• How green is your plastic?
• Young forests are preferred summer vacation destinations for bats
• Research provides insights into high-risk younger demographics for severe COVID-19
• SARS-CoV-2 spike mutation L452R evades human immune response and enhances infectivity, researchers find
• Climate change threatens food security of many countries dependent on fish
• Gene expression mechanism may have immunity, cancer implications
• Biodiversity, climate change and the fate of coral reefs
• Antibiotic prescriptions for kids plummet during pandemic
• Tropical fly study shows that a mother's age and diet influences offspring health
• Mycoplasma mobile moves into overdrive: Twin motor modified from ATP synthase discovered
• Study finds surprising source of social influence
• Copper transporter potential new treatment target for cardiovascular disease
• Ultrathin magnet operates at room temperature
• No link between moderate coffee consumption and increased risk of cardiac arrhythmia, researchers find
• MET amplification as driver for some non-small cell lung cancers
• Untrained beer drinkers can taste different barley genotypes
• Earth's magnetosphere: The origin of bifurcated current sheets explained
• Strong signals: Modeling the dynamics of cell differentiation in the development of bile ducts
• A machine learning breakthrough: using satellite images to improve human lives
• Removal of barred owls slows decline of iconic spotted owls in Pacific Northwest
• No IgA leads to intestinal inflammation in mice
• Revealing the secrets of cell competition
• New algorithm may help autonomous vehicles navigate narrow, crowded streets
• Supermassive black holes put a brake on stellar births
• The climate impact of wild pigs greater than a million cars, study finds

More than 1.5 million children lost a primary or secondary caregiver due to the COVID-19 pandemic Posted: 20 Jul 2021 03:58 PM PDT More than 1.5 million children around the world are estimated to have lost at least one parent, custodial grandparent, or grandparent who lived with them due to death related to COVID-19 during the first 14 months of the pandemic, according to a new study.

Muddied waters: Sinking organics alter seafloor records Posted: 20 Jul 2021 03:58 PM PDT The remains of microscopic plankton blooms in near-shore ocean environments slowly sink to the seafloor, setting off processes that forever alter an important record of Earth's history, according to research from geoscientists.

Microbially produced fibers: Stronger than steel, tougher than Kevlar Posted: 20 Jul 2021 03:58 PM PDT A new fiber, made by genetically engineered bacteria is stronger than steel and tougher than Kevlar.

New technology shows promise in detecting, blocking grid cyberattacks Posted: 20 Jul 2021 01:08 PM PDT Researchers have designed and demonstrated a technology that can block cyberattacks from impacting the nation's electric power grid.

Novel method for glucagon delivery Posted: 20 Jul 2021 01:08 PM PDT A chemical and biomolecular engineer is rethinking the traditional use of glucagon as an emergency response by administering it as a preventive measure.

COVID-19 shutdowns reveal racial disparities in exposure to air pollution Posted: 20 Jul 2021 01:08 PM PDT A new study of COVID-19 shutdowns in the United States reveals pronounced disparities in air pollution -- with disenfranchised, minority neighborhoods still experiencing more exposure to a harmful air pollutant compared to wealthier, white communities.

New evidence of menopause in killer whales Posted: 20 Jul 2021 12:12 PM PDT Scientists have found new evidence of menopause in killer whales - raising fascinating questions about how and why it evolved.

Microbes play critical role boosting vigor of hybrid corn, research shows Posted: 20 Jul 2021 12:08 PM PDT A news study shows soil microbes boost 'hybrid vigor,' a well-known phenomenon where crosses between inbred lines of corn and other crops produce offspring that outperform their parents in yield, drought resistance and other desirable qualities.

Using snakes to monitor Fukushima radiation Posted: 20 Jul 2021 12:07 PM PDT Ten years after one of the largest nuclear accidents in history spewed radioactive contamination over the landscape in Fukushima, Japan, a new study has shown that radioactive contamination in the Fukushima Exclusion Zone can be measured through its resident snakes.

Unleashing Treg cells may lead to treatments for multiple sclerosis Posted: 20 Jul 2021 10:52 AM PDT In a new study, researchers found that a certain protein prevented regulatory T cells (Tregs) from effectively doing their job in controlling the damaging effects of inflammation in a model of multiple sclerosis (MS), a devastating autoimmune disease of the nervous system.

DNA assay aids in identifying and protecting North American wolves, coyotes Posted: 20 Jul 2021 10:52 AM PDT Forensics specialists can use a commercial assay targeting mitochondrial DNA to accurately discriminate between wolf, coyote and dog species. The genetic information could aid authorities in prosecuting hunting jurisdiction violations and preserving protected species.

'Springing forward' affects early birds less than night owls Posted: 20 Jul 2021 10:52 AM PDT Every spring, the Daylight Saving Time shift robs people of an hour of sleep - and a new study shows that DNA plays a role in how much the time change affects individuals. People whose genetic profile makes them more likely to be 'early birds' can adjust to the time change in a few days. But those who tend to be 'night owls' could take more than a week to get back on track.

Spinal fluid biomarkers detect neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's disease in living patients Posted: 20 Jul 2021 09:23 AM PDT Alzheimer's disease and other forms of neurodegeneration can be identified using a combination of biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid of living patients, researchers find.

Fish friends help in a crisis Posted: 20 Jul 2021 09:23 AM PDT To better understand how familiarity impacts social fishes, a group of research scientists studied this idea using schooling coral reef fish.

The environmental toll of disposable masks Posted: 20 Jul 2021 09:23 AM PDT The high monetary cost and environmental toll of disposable N95 masks could be dramatically cut by adopting reusable masks, according to a new study that calculated the financial and environmental cost of several different mask usage scenarios.

Enzyme-based plastics recycling is more energy efficient, better for environment, researchers show Posted: 20 Jul 2021 09:23 AM PDT BOTTLE Consortium effort develops model that finds sizeable energy and carbon-saving benefits for recycling PET, a common plastic used in bottles, clothing, carpet.

Machine learning models to help photovoltaic systems find their place in the sun Posted: 20 Jul 2021 09:23 AM PDT Scientists develop algorithms that predict the output of solar cells, easing their integration into existing power grids.

SARS-CoV-2: Achilles' heel of viral RNA Posted: 20 Jul 2021 09:23 AM PDT Certain regions of the SARS-CoV-2 genome might be a suitable target for future drugs, researchers have found. With the help of dedicated substance libraries, they have identified several small molecules that bind to certain areas of the SARS-CoV-2 genome that are almost never altered by mutations.

Scientists uncover how a molecule improves appearance of surgery scars Posted: 20 Jul 2021 09:05 AM PDT In a new study, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC scientists discovered that the alphaCT1 molecule may help repair the skin's collagen matrix by altering how scar-forming cells behave. The findings were published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal.

15,000-year-old viruses discovered in Tibetan glacier ice Posted: 20 Jul 2021 09:05 AM PDT Scientists who study glacier ice have found viruses nearly 15,000 years old in two ice samples taken from the Tibetan Plateau in China. Most of those viruses, which survived because they had remained frozen, are unlike any viruses that have been cataloged to date.

Review evaluates the evidence for an intensifying Indian Ocean water cycle Posted: 20 Jul 2021 09:05 AM PDT The Indian Ocean has been warming much more than other ocean basins over the last 50-60 years. While temperature changes basin-wide can be unequivocally attributed to human-induced climate change, it is difficult to assess whether contemporary heat and freshwater changes in the Indian Ocean since 1980 represent an anthropogenically-forced transformation of the hydrological cycle. What complicates the assessment is factoring in natural variations, regional-scale trends, a short observational record, climate model uncertainties, and the ocean basin's complex circulation.

Renewable energies: No wind turbine disturbing the scenery Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:44 AM PDT In the Alpine foothills, in low mountain ranges, or on the seacoast, expansion of wind energy use often meets popular resistance. Researchers have now studied what this means for the energy transition.

Solar cells: Boosting photovoltaic effect in ferroelectric-paraelectric superlattices Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:44 AM PDT The photovoltaic effect of ferroelectric crystals can be increased by a factor of 1,000 if three different materials are arranged periodically in a lattice. Researchers achieved this by creating crystalline layers of barium titanate, strontium titanate and calcium titanate which they alternately placed on top of one another. These findings could significantly increase the efficiency of solar cells.

No excuse to continue reliance on fossil fuels, says leading nano-technologist Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:44 AM PDT One of the leading thinkers in nano-science has called on the energy materials community to help finally put an end to the world's reliance on fossil fuels.

Long-period oscillations of Sun discovered Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:44 AM PDT A team of solar physicists has reported the discovery of global oscillations of the Sun with very long periods, comparable to the 27-day solar rotation period. The oscillations manifest themselves at the solar surface as swirling motions with speeds on the order of 5 kilometers per hour.

Is bacterial acidity a key to tackle antimicrobial resistance? Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:44 AM PDT Decreasing bacterial acidity could help reduce antimicrobial resistance by eliminating bacteria that can survive being treated with antibiotics.

Rapidly diversifying birds in Southeast Asia offer new insights into evolution Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:44 AM PDT New findings from zoologists working with birds in Southeast Asia are shining fresh light on the connections between animal behaviour, geology, and evolution - underlining that species can diversify surprisingly quickly under certain conditions. Sulawesi Babblers (Pellorneum celebense), shy birds that live in the undergrowth on Indonesian islands, have begun to diverge quite significantly despite being separated geographically for mere tens of thousands of years.

How green is your plastic? Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:44 AM PDT Despite the best efforts of industry to work towards sustainability, most plastics (or polymers) are still made using non-renewable fossil fuels. However, researchers have now found an economical method for producing biobased acrylate resins. The study shows how all the synthesis steps, from initial building blocks right up to polymerization, can be carried out in a single reactor (one pot), minimizing environmental impact.

Young forests are preferred summer vacation destinations for bats Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:44 AM PDT A number of bat species native to the Northeast are highly active in newly created forest spaces, foraging for food at higher rates than is typical of mature forests.

Research provides insights into high-risk younger demographics for severe COVID-19 Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:44 AM PDT Using data from 9,859 COVID-19 infections, researchers have new insights into risk factors for younger populations, some of which differ significantly from their older counterparts. People younger than 45 had a greater than threefold increased risk of severe infection if they had cancer or heart disease, or blood, neurologic or endocrine disorders, the research found. These associations were weaker in older age groups.

SARS-CoV-2 spike mutation L452R evades human immune response and enhances infectivity, researchers find Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:44 AM PDT Researchers have shown that the L452R mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is common to two variants (Epsilon and Delta), is involved in cellular immunity evasion via the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) A24, and enhances viral infectivity.

Climate change threatens food security of many countries dependent on fish Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:44 AM PDT Analyses by an international team from the UK and Canada and led by scientists reveal that climate change is the most pervasive threat to the supply of essential micronutrients from marine fish catches, and threatens the supply of vital micronutrients from fisheries in 40 per cent of countries.

Gene expression mechanism may have immunity, cancer implications Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is an RNA processing mechanism that regulates gene expression by generating different ends on RNA transcripts of the same gene. Scientists describe an important function of APA in allowing certain mRNAs to reach specific sites of protein synthesis that can determine the destination of mRNAs within the cell.

Biodiversity, climate change and the fate of coral reefs Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT An international group of researchers representing thousands of coral scientists across the globe is issuing recommendations for new commitments and actions by the world's policymakers to protect and restore coral reefs.

Antibiotic prescriptions for kids plummet during pandemic Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT A new study finds that medications prescribed for children dropped by more than a quarter during the first eight months of the pandemic compared to the previous year, with the steepest declines in infection-related medicines like antibiotics and cough-and-cold drugs.

Tropical fly study shows that a mother's age and diet influences offspring health Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT The female tsetse fly, which gives birth to adult-sized live young, produce weaker offspring as they get older, and when they feed on poor quality blood.

Mycoplasma mobile moves into overdrive: Twin motor modified from ATP synthase discovered Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT Using electron microscopy and high-speed atomic force microscopy, researchers show the internal molecular motor behind the gliding mechanism for Mycoplasma mobile to consist of two ATP synthase-like molecules. Sharing a similar structure with ATP synthase suggests a common evolutionary ancestor. This synthase-like ATPase is challenging the origin of cells and proteins themselves.

Study finds surprising source of social influence Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT New research found that social influencers are unlikely to change a person's behavior by example. To stimulate a shift in people's thinking, target small groups of people in the outer edge or fringe of a network.

Copper transporter potential new treatment target for cardiovascular disease Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT An internal transporter that enables us to use the copper we consume in foods like shellfish and nuts to enable a host of vital body functions also has the essential role of protecting the receptor that enables us to grow new blood vessels when ours become diseased, scientists report.

Ultrathin magnet operates at room temperature Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT Scientists have created an ultrathin magnet that operates at room temperature. The ultrathin magnet could lead to new applications in computing and electronics -- such as high-density, compact spintronic memory devices -- and new tools for the study of quantum physics.

No link between moderate coffee consumption and increased risk of cardiac arrhythmia, researchers find Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT In a new study, researchers found no evidence that moderate coffee consumption leads to a greater risk of cardiac arrhythmia.

MET amplification as driver for some non-small cell lung cancers Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT A study has helped define MET amplification as an actionable driver for some non-small cell lung cancers.

Untrained beer drinkers can taste different barley genotypes Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT When it comes to craft beer, the flavor doesn't have to be all in the hops. As a panel of amateur beer tasters at Washington State University recently demonstrated, malted barley, the number one ingredient in beer besides water, can have a range of desirable flavors too.

Earth's magnetosphere: The origin of bifurcated current sheets explained Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT A research team has identified the origin of bifurcated current sheets, considered one of the most unsolved mysteries in the Earth's magnetosphere and in magnetized plasma physics.

Strong signals: Modeling the dynamics of cell differentiation in the development of bile ducts Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT Scientists employed a mathematical model to simulate the differentiation of epithelial cells based on signaling molecules from the liver's portal vein. This work may lead to new tools to better understand the very complicated signaling pathways involved in cell differentiation.

A machine learning breakthrough: using satellite images to improve human lives Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT New machine learning technology has devised a machine learning system to tap the problem-solving potential of satellite imaging. The low-cost, easy-to-use technology could bring satellite image access and analytical power to researchers and governments worldwide.

Removal of barred owls slows decline of iconic spotted owls in Pacific Northwest Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT A 17-year study in Oregon, Washington and California found that removal of invasive barred owls arrested the population decline of the northern spotted owl, a native species threatened by invading barred owls and the loss of old-forest habitats.

No IgA leads to intestinal inflammation in mice Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT Researchers have found that immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency leads to disruption of the ileal gut microbiota and increased inflammation in the ileum in mice. This suggests that IgA plays an important role in mucosal homeostasis by regulating the intestinal microbiota and protecting against mucosal inflammation, especially in the ileum

Revealing the secrets of cell competition Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:43 AM PDT Cellular competition is a crucial quality control process that ensures that the development of an organism relies on healthy cells. Researchers revealed the secrets underlying cell competition and what features can pre-determine whether a cell will survive or not. Defects in energy production are critical in making cells vulnerable to elimination.

New algorithm may help autonomous vehicles navigate narrow, crowded streets Posted: 20 Jul 2021 08:39 AM PDT Autonomous vehicle researchers have tackled navigating a crowded, narrow street, with cars parked on both sides, and not enough space for vehicles traveling in both directions to pass each other.

Supermassive black holes put a brake on stellar births Posted: 19 Jul 2021 04:16 PM PDT Black holes with masses equivalent to millions of suns do put a brake on the birth of new stars, say astronomers. Using machine learning and three state of the art simulations to back up results from a large sky survey, the researchers resolve a 20-year long debate on the formation of stars.

The climate impact of wild pigs greater than a million cars, study finds Posted: 19 Jul 2021 12:35 PM PDT By uprooting carbon trapped in soil, wild pigs are releasing around 4.9 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually across the globe, the equivalent of 1.1 million cars, according to new research.

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