ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Touted as clean, 'blue' hydrogen may be worse than gas, coal, researchers say
• CRISPR gene editing tech lead to new insights about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• How Arctic-alpine plants respond to global warming
• Genetic enigma solved: Inheritance of coat color patterns in dogs
• A mobility-based approach to optimize pandemic lockdown strategies
• Discovery of origin of esophageal cancer cells highlights importance of screening for pre-cancerous Barrett’s esophagus
• Black hole size revealed by its eating pattern
• Metabolism changes with age, just not when you might think
• Is your mobile provider tracking your location? New technology could stop it
• Red blood cell alterations contribute to lupus
• The Wendelstein 7-X concept proves its efficiency
• Toward next-generation brain-computer interface systems
• Scrap the nap: Study shows short naps don’t relieve sleep deprivation
• From blood to brain: Delivering nucleic acid therapy to the CNS
• Ultrasound remotely triggers immune cells to attack tumors in mice without toxic side effects
• Materials science engineers strive to reduce emissions from aircraft engines
• New study shows the potential of DNA-based data-structures systems
• Over 260,000 kilometers of rivers at risk due to proposed hydro dams
• Philippine Ayta people have the most Denisovan DNA, study finds
• Warfare, not climate, is driving resurgent hunger in Africa, says study
• Slow and regular earthquakes interact near Istanbul
• One-dimensional red phosphorus glows in unexpected ways
• In HIV prevention, worsening disparities among U.S. states
• Batters move their heads to keep their eyes on the ball
• For psoriasis, targeting skin protein may help control inflammation
• A fast, accurate system for quickly solving stubborn RNA structures from pond scum, the SARS-CoV-2 virus and more
• Wildfire smoke may lead to less rain in the western US
• Discovery raises possibility of new medication for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s
• New technique illuminates DNA helix
• Silica nanostructure with chemo-enzymatic compartmentalization
• Skin cells from frontotemporal dementia patients may prove useful in revealing disease mechanisms and in biomarker and drug research
• Climate change will transform cooling effects of volcanic eruptions
• NASA spacecraft provides insight into asteroid Bennu's future orbit
• Protecting coral reefs more effectively from climate change
• Increasing the immune system’s appetite for cancer protectors
• A brief history of the cabbage butterfly’s evolving tastes
• Scientists develop chain mail fabric that can stiffen on demand
• Gen Z willing to rent clothes to reduce waste
• Rare new orchid species just discovered in the Andes

Touted as clean, 'blue' hydrogen may be worse than gas, coal, researchers say Posted: 12 Aug 2021 01:19 PM PDT 'Blue' hydrogen -- an energy source that involves a process for making hydrogen by using methane in natural gas -- is being lauded as a clean, green energy to help reduce global warming. But authors of a new report believe it may harm the climate more than burning fossil fuel.

CRISPR gene editing tech lead to new insights about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Posted: 12 Aug 2021 01:18 PM PDT Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common of all genetic heart diseases and is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death. It is characterized by an abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, which over time can lead to cardiac dysfunction and, ultimately, heart failure.

How Arctic-alpine plants respond to global warming Posted: 12 Aug 2021 11:51 AM PDT Researchers have studied how two characteristic Arctic-alpine plant species respond to global warming. They did this by analyzing almost 500 million of their own readings from the mountainous region of Norway. The analyses show that potential consequences of climate change are extremely dependent on the specific location of the plants and that deciduous species in particular will benefit from warming. The result would be a further increase in the trend toward greening of the Arctic-alpine regions.

Genetic enigma solved: Inheritance of coat color patterns in dogs Posted: 12 Aug 2021 11:51 AM PDT Scientists have unraveled the enigma of inheritance of coat color patterns in dogs. The researchers discovered that a genetic variant responsible for a very light coat in dogs and wolves originated more than two million years ago in a now extinct relative of the modern wolf.

A mobility-based approach to optimize pandemic lockdown strategies Posted: 12 Aug 2021 11:50 AM PDT A new strategy for modeling the spread of COVID-19 incorporates smartphone-captured data on people's movements and shows promise for aiding development of optimal lockdown policies.

Discovery of origin of esophageal cancer cells highlights importance of screening for pre-cancerous Barrett’s esophagus Posted: 12 Aug 2021 11:50 AM PDT Abnormal cells that go on develop into esophageal cancer -- cancer that affects the tube connecting the mouth and stomach -- start life as cells of the stomach, according to scientists. The study found that a particular subtype of esophageal cancer known as esophageal adenocarcinoma is always preceded by Barrett's esophagus -- abnormal cells of the esophagus -- even if these cells are no longer visible at the time of cancer diagnosis. This confirms that screening for Barrett's is an important approach to esophageal cancer control.

Black hole size revealed by its eating pattern Posted: 12 Aug 2021 11:50 AM PDT The feeding patterns of black holes offer insight into their size, researchers report. A new study revealed that the flickering in the brightness observed in actively feeding supermassive black holes is related to their mass.

Metabolism changes with age, just not when you might think Posted: 12 Aug 2021 11:50 AM PDT Most of us remember a time when we could eat anything we wanted and not gain weight. But a new study suggests your metabolism, the rate at which you burn calories, actually peaks much earlier and starts its inevitable decline later than you might think.

Is your mobile provider tracking your location? New technology could stop it Posted: 12 Aug 2021 10:59 AM PDT Right now, there is a good chance your phone is tracking your location -- even with GPS services turned off. That's because, to receive service, our phones reveal personal identifiers to cell towers owned by major network operators. This has led to vast and largely unregulated data-harvesting industries based around selling users' location data to third parties without consent. For the first time, researchers have found a way to stop this privacy breach using existing cellular networks. The new system protects users' mobile privacy while providing normal mobile connectivity.

Red blood cell alterations contribute to lupus Posted: 12 Aug 2021 10:59 AM PDT The autoimmune disease lupus may be triggered by a defective process in the development of red blood cells (RBCs), according to a new study. The discovery could lead to new methods for classifying and treating patients with this disease.

The Wendelstein 7-X concept proves its efficiency Posted: 12 Aug 2021 10:59 AM PDT One of the most important optimization goals underlying the Wendelstein 7-X fusion device has now been confirmed. An analysis shows: In the optimized magnetic field cage, the energy losses of the plasma are reduced in the desired way. Wendelstein 7-X is intended to prove that the disadvantages of earlier stellarators can be overcome and that stellarator-type devices are suitable for power plants.

Toward next-generation brain-computer interface systems Posted: 12 Aug 2021 10:59 AM PDT A new kind of neural interface system that coordinates the activity of hundreds of tiny brain sensors could one day deepen understanding of the brain and lead to new medical therapies.

Scrap the nap: Study shows short naps don’t relieve sleep deprivation Posted: 12 Aug 2021 09:31 AM PDT The latest study shows that short naps are ineffective in mitigating the potentially dangerous cognitive effects of sleep deprivation.

From blood to brain: Delivering nucleic acid therapy to the CNS Posted: 12 Aug 2021 09:31 AM PDT Researchers have developed a drug delivery platform wherein heteroduplex oligonucleotide drugs conjugated with cholesterol are able to cross the blood-brain barrier and achieve therapeutic concentrations in the central nervous system even with intravenous or subcutaneous dosing. The ability to target gene expression in the central nervous system through systemically administered nucleic acid therapy holds great promise for the treatment of neurogenerative disease.

Ultrasound remotely triggers immune cells to attack tumors in mice without toxic side effects Posted: 12 Aug 2021 09:31 AM PDT A new cancer immunotherapy pairs ultrasound with specially engineered CAR T cells to destroy malignant tumors while sparing normal tissue. The new experimental therapy significantly slowed down the growth of solid cancerous tumors in mice.

Materials science engineers strive to reduce emissions from aircraft engines Posted: 12 Aug 2021 09:31 AM PDT Engineers found a way to greatly extend the life of materials used in jet engines.

New study shows the potential of DNA-based data-structures systems Posted: 12 Aug 2021 09:31 AM PDT Engineers have created new dynamic DNA data structures able to store and recall information in an ordered way from DNA molecules. They also analyzed how these structures are able to be interfaced with external nucleic acid computing circuits.

Over 260,000 kilometers of rivers at risk due to proposed hydro dams Posted: 12 Aug 2021 09:30 AM PDT Over 260,000 kilometers of river could potentially be severed by planned hydroelectric developments according to researchers. The Amazon, the Congo, and the Irrawaddy are just a few of the rivers at risk of losing their free-flowing status if the proposed construction of new hydro power dams takes place. The study showed that planned dams and reservoirs are leading contributors to the decline of free-flowing rivers around the world. It also provides a comprehensive list of science-based solutions to minimize the impacts of hydro power development in rivers.

Philippine Ayta people have the most Denisovan DNA, study finds Posted: 12 Aug 2021 09:30 AM PDT Researchers have known from several lines of evidence that the ancient hominins known as the Denisovans interbred with modern humans in the distant past. Now researchers have discovered that the Ayta Magbukon in the Philippines have the highest level of Denisovan ancestry in the world. In fact, they carry considerably more Denisovan DNA than the Papuan Highlanders, who were previously known as the present-day population with the highest level of Denisovan ancestry.

Warfare, not climate, is driving resurgent hunger in Africa, says study Posted: 12 Aug 2021 09:30 AM PDT A new study finds that while droughts routinely cause food insecurity in Africa, their contribution to hunger has remained steady or even shrunk in recent years. Instead, rising widespread, long-term violence has displaced people, raised food prices and blocked outside food aid, resulting in the reversal of years of progress on food security.

Slow and regular earthquakes interact near Istanbul Posted: 12 Aug 2021 07:34 AM PDT Earthquakes typically last only a few seconds, although sometimes the shifts in the subsurface occur in slow motion. Understanding these 'slow quakes', known as 'slow slip events', and their interplay with the short - sometimes violent - tremors is critically important to define the seismic hazard and subsequent risk.

One-dimensional red phosphorus glows in unexpected ways Posted: 12 Aug 2021 07:34 AM PDT Researchers have now found that fibrous red phosphorus, when electrons are confined in its one-dimensional sub-units, can show large optical responses -- that is, the material shows strong photoluminescence under light irradiation. The study shows that strong optical properties exist in a 1D van der Waal material.

In HIV prevention, worsening disparities among U.S. states Posted: 12 Aug 2021 07:34 AM PDT States with low initial use of HIV-prevention drugs are continuing to fall behind in usage among people at risk for the disease, a new study finds.

Batters move their heads to keep their eyes on the ball Posted: 12 Aug 2021 06:27 AM PDT Researchers are revisiting an age-old question in baseball: Do batters actually keep their eye on the ball? A review of the few film- and lab-based studies on the subject suggests that yes, indeed, batters' eyes are watching the pitched ball. But they're moving their heads, and not their eyes, to direct their gaze.

For psoriasis, targeting skin protein may help control inflammation Posted: 12 Aug 2021 06:27 AM PDT Results from a new study reveal that targeting interferon kappa, a protein made by skin cells, may reduce the severity of psoriasis.  Researchers say the findings will bring physicians one step closer to optimizing treatments for patients with the autoimmune disease.

A fast, accurate system for quickly solving stubborn RNA structures from pond scum, the SARS-CoV-2 virus and more Posted: 12 Aug 2021 06:27 AM PDT Scientists used a new system to zoom in on an iconic RNA catalyst and a piece of viral RNA that's a potential target for COVID-19 treatments.

Wildfire smoke may lead to less rain in the western US Posted: 12 Aug 2021 06:27 AM PDT As wildfires and heatwaves stress the western United States, concern over drought is rising: Dry landscapes burn more readily, and rain can help quell fires already raging. But wildfire smoke may keep that essential rain from falling.

Discovery raises possibility of new medication for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Posted: 12 Aug 2021 06:27 AM PDT Researchers have for the first time demonstrated it's possible to use a synthetic thyroid hormone to regulate a gene implicated in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis.

New technique illuminates DNA helix Posted: 12 Aug 2021 06:27 AM PDT Researchers have identified a new way to measure DNA torsional stiffness -- how much resistance the helix offers when twisted -- information that can potentially shed light on how cells work.

Silica nanostructure with chemo-enzymatic compartmentalization Posted: 12 Aug 2021 06:27 AM PDT A research team has recently synthesized a chemo-enzymatic nanostructure that can selectively synthesize one enantiomer while acting like an artificial organelle in the cell.

Skin cells from frontotemporal dementia patients may prove useful in revealing disease mechanisms and in biomarker and drug research Posted: 12 Aug 2021 06:27 AM PDT A new study suggests that skin fibroblasts from frontotemporal dementia patients may be useful in investigating underlying disease mechanisms as well as in biomarker and drug research.

Climate change will transform cooling effects of volcanic eruptions Posted: 12 Aug 2021 05:27 AM PDT Researchers have shown that human-caused climate change will have important consequences for how volcanic gases interact with the atmosphere.

NASA spacecraft provides insight into asteroid Bennu's future orbit Posted: 12 Aug 2021 05:21 AM PDT Along with collecting a sample from the Bennu's surface, the spacecraft provided precision data to better predict the near-Earth object's orbit around the Sun.

Protecting coral reefs more effectively from climate change Posted: 11 Aug 2021 01:28 PM PDT Identifying and researching different heat stress response patterns in corals will help to protect the world's reefs better from the effects of climate change. A new study describes the necessary test procedures and initial results.

Increasing the immune system’s appetite for cancer protectors Posted: 11 Aug 2021 01:28 PM PDT A two-arm molecule can effectively deplete cancer-protecting cells inside tumors, allowing the immune system to fight off tumors without becoming overactive. The finding, published online in Science Translational Medicine, could lead to new types of cancer immunotherapies.

A brief history of the cabbage butterfly’s evolving tastes Posted: 11 Aug 2021 01:28 PM PDT The cabbage butterfly, voracious as a caterpillar, is every gardener's menace. Turns out, these lovely white or sulfur yellow butterflies started trying to take over the planet long ago. Biologists used statistical methods to trace the path of Pieridae family butterflies as they diversified and their plant hosts fought back, over and over again. The study also finds that butterflies often regain hosts they haven't used for millions of years.

Scientists develop chain mail fabric that can stiffen on demand Posted: 11 Aug 2021 10:15 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new type of 'chain mail' fabric that is flexible like cloth but can stiffen on demand. The lightweight fabric is 3D-printed from nylon plastic polymers and comprises hollow octahedrons (a shape with eight equal triangular faces) that interlock with each other. When encased in a plastic envelope and vacuum-packed, it becomes 25 times more rigid and can hold up over 50 times its own weight.

Gen Z willing to rent clothes to reduce waste Posted: 11 Aug 2021 10:15 AM PDT Gen Z adults are interested in using apparel rental services to reduce overconsumption, according to a new study. Apparel rental, also known as collaborative apparel consumption, extends the life of an article of clothing because people don't throw it away after wearing it a few times.

Rare new orchid species just discovered in the Andes Posted: 11 Aug 2021 10:15 AM PDT Three new endemic orchid species were just discovered in Ecuador. Lepanthes microprosartima, L. caranqui and L. oro-lojaensis are proof that Ecuador -- one of the world's megadiverse countries -- hides much more biodiversity waiting to be explored.

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