ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Early molten moon’s deep secrets
• How landscapes of fear affect the songbirds in our backyards
• ‘Hey, do you have a second?’— The upside of workplace interruptions
• An overactive sweet tooth may spell trouble for our cellular powerplants
• New approach opens window into life below the seafloor
• State of the science on western wildfires, forests and climate change
• Running quantum software on a classical computer
• After 60 years, scientists find the missing link in our body’s blood pressure control
• Emperor penguins increasingly threatened by climate change
• New study details enzyme that allows coronavirus to resist antiviral medications
• Insight into underlying causes of seizure disorder in babies
• Semi-natural habitat patches complement flower strips in protecting pollinators
• Tracking circadian rhythms from your smartwatch
• New tool enables mapping of protein interaction networks at scale
• Experimental model of ovarian cancer shows effect of healthy cell arrangement in metastasis
• Does visual feedback of our tongues help in speech motor learning?
• Artificial stomach reveals fluid dynamics of food digestion
• Is reducing opioids for pain patients linked to higher rates of overdose and mental health crisis?
• Trains in the brain -- Scientists uncover switching system used in information processing and memory
• Two new genera and species of conifers discovered from upper Cretaceous in Hokkaido, Japan
• Researchers discover key stem cell dormancy mechanism which could help unlock future cancer treatments
• The music of silence: Imagining a song triggers similar brain activity to moments of mid-music silence
• Learning foreign languages can affect the processing of music in the brain
• What’s killing coral reefs in Florida is also killing them in Belize
• Novel therapy shows promise for lung cancer patients with rare EGFR mutation
• Statins may improve survival for triple-negative breast cancer patients
• Rethinking remdesivir: Researchers modify current drug, creating oral version that can be taken earlier in COVID-19 diagnoses
• New method to detect impact of sea level rise
• New viable means of storing information for quantum technologies?
• A study identified 15 novel biomarkers for diseases predisposing to dementia
• How sex cells get the right genetic mix – An interdisciplinary approach solves a century-old puzzle
• Holistic assessment of plastic pollution in the Caribbean
• Cryptic transcription, a novel phenomenon in mammalian stem cells, linked to aging
• Productivity of kelp forests, sans the iconic kelp
• Miniature brain models developed to study causes of Alzheimer’s disease and to test drugs in development
• Neanderthals indeed painted Andalusia’s Cueva de Ardales
• Non-invasive method for diagnosing celiac disease
• Preoperative screening urinalysis is widely used—but usually unnecessary, study finds

Early molten moon’s deep secrets Posted: 03 Aug 2021 02:52 PM PDT Recently, a pair of NASA studies identified the most likely locations to find pieces of the Moon's mantle on the surface, providing a map for future lunar sample return missions such as those under NASA's Artemis program. If collected and analyzed, these fragments from deep within the Moon can provide a better understanding of how the Moon, the Earth, and many other solar system worlds evolved.

How landscapes of fear affect the songbirds in our backyards Posted: 03 Aug 2021 02:52 PM PDT A team of researchers has recently discovered that fear plays an important, unrecognized role in the underdevelopment, and increased vulnerability, of backyard songbirds.

‘Hey, do you have a second?’— The upside of workplace interruptions Posted: 03 Aug 2021 02:52 PM PDT A new study finds that work place interruptions are beneficial to a sense of belonging and can counterbalance negatives such as lost productivity.

An overactive sweet tooth may spell trouble for our cellular powerplants Posted: 03 Aug 2021 02:52 PM PDT The average American eats roughly 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day -- more than three times the recommended amount for women and more than double the recommended amount for men. Although this overconsumption is known to contribute to diabetes and other disorders, the exact ways in which eating too much sugar sets the stage for metabolic diseases on a cellular level has been less clear. Now, a team has found that surplus sugar may cause our cellular powerplants -- called mitochondria -- to become less efficient, reducing their energy output.

New approach opens window into life below the seafloor Posted: 03 Aug 2021 02:52 PM PDT Scientists studied microorganisms from an underwater mountain in the Atlantic Ocean, pioneering a method that could open new windows into our understanding of how life survives deep under the sea -- or in space.

State of the science on western wildfires, forests and climate change Posted: 03 Aug 2021 02:52 PM PDT Seeing the urgent need for change, a team of scientists from leading research universities, conservation organizations and government laboratories across the West has produced a synthesis of the scientific literature that clearly lays out the established science and strength of evidence on climate change, wildfire and forest management for seasonally dry forests. The goal is to give land managers and others across the West access to a unified resource that summarizes the best-available science so they can make decisions about how to manage their landscapes.

Running quantum software on a classical computer Posted: 03 Aug 2021 09:14 AM PDT Physicists have introduced an approach for simulating the quantum approximate optimization algorithm using a traditional computer. Instead of running the algorithm on advanced quantum processors, the new approach uses a classical machine-learning algorithm that closely mimics the behavior of near-term quantum computers.

After 60 years, scientists find the missing link in our body’s blood pressure control Posted: 03 Aug 2021 09:13 AM PDT Researchers have determined the location of natural blood-pressure barometers inside our bodies that have eluded scientists for more than 60 years.

Emperor penguins increasingly threatened by climate change Posted: 03 Aug 2021 09:13 AM PDT A new study provides valuable new data that highlights how species extinction risk is accelerating due to rapid climate change and an increase in extreme climate events, such as glacial calving and sea ice loss.

New study details enzyme that allows coronavirus to resist antiviral medications Posted: 03 Aug 2021 09:13 AM PDT A new study details the structure of a critical enzyme present in SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. This enzyme removes nucleoside antiviral medications from the virus's RNA, rendering many treatments ineffective. Scientists could use data uncovered in the new study to find ways to inhibit the enzyme, possibly leading to more effective treatments.

Insight into underlying causes of seizure disorder in babies Posted: 03 Aug 2021 09:13 AM PDT Researchers report that infantile spasms, a rare but serious seizure disorder in babies, appear to be the result of a molecular pathway gone awry. In their study of a mouse model of the disorder, the researchers discovered that genetic mutations associated with the disease impair a pathway that is involved in building new synapses in the hippocampus, a brain region essential to learning and memory.

Semi-natural habitat patches complement flower strips in protecting pollinators Posted: 03 Aug 2021 09:13 AM PDT Ecologists observe the diversity of insects on the edge of apple orchards on Lake Constance.

Tracking circadian rhythms from your smartwatch Posted: 03 Aug 2021 09:13 AM PDT Smartwatches are handy devices for people to keep track of the number of steps they take per day or to track their mile time during a run. But they are also opportunities for scientists to understand people's physiological processes while they are going about their everyday lives.

New tool enables mapping of protein interaction networks at scale Posted: 03 Aug 2021 09:13 AM PDT Bioengineers have developed a technology capable of revealing the protein-protein interactions (PPI) among thousands of proteins in a cell, in a single experiment. The tool, called PROPER-seq (protein-protein interaction sequencing), allows researchers to map the PPI network from their cells of interest within several weeks, without any specialized resources such as antibodies or pre-made gene libraries.

Experimental model of ovarian cancer shows effect of healthy cell arrangement in metastasis Posted: 03 Aug 2021 09:13 AM PDT A key element to slowing metastasis in ovarian cancer is understanding the mechanisms of how tumor cells invade tissues. Biophysics researchers explain how microscopic defects in how healthy cells line up can alter how easily ovarian cancer cells invade tissue. Using an experimental model, the group found that disruptions in the normal cellular layout, called topological defects, affect the rate of tumor cell invasion.

Does visual feedback of our tongues help in speech motor learning? Posted: 03 Aug 2021 09:13 AM PDT When we speak, we use our auditory and somatosensory systems to monitor the results of the movements of our tongue or lips. Since we cannot typically see our own faces and tongues while we speak, however, the potential role of visual feedback has remained less clear. Researchers explore how readily speakers will integrate visual information about their tongue movements during a speech motor learning task.

Artificial stomach reveals fluid dynamics of food digestion Posted: 03 Aug 2021 09:13 AM PDT Scientists have extensively studied how gastric juices in the stomach break down ingested food and other substances. However, less is known about how complex flow patterns and mechanical stresses in the stomach contribute to digestion. Researchers built a prototype of an artificial antrum to present a deeper understanding of how physical forces influence food digestion based on fluid dynamics. They reveal a classifying effect based on the breakup of liquid drops combined with transport phenomena.

Is reducing opioids for pain patients linked to higher rates of overdose and mental health crisis? Posted: 03 Aug 2021 09:13 AM PDT A new study found a 68% increase in overdose events and a doubling of mental health crises among patients who were on stable opioid therapy but had their doses tapered.

Trains in the brain -- Scientists uncover switching system used in information processing and memory Posted: 03 Aug 2021 09:13 AM PDT A team of scientists has uncovered a system in the brain used in the processing of information and in the storing of memories -- akin to how railroad switches control a train's destination.

Two new genera and species of conifers discovered from upper Cretaceous in Hokkaido, Japan Posted: 03 Aug 2021 09:12 AM PDT Paleobotanists describe two new genera of ancient conifers based on two beautifully preserved 3-D fossil seed cones. These new conifers belong to the cypress family, which was important in many ecosystems during the age of dinosaurs.

Researchers discover key stem cell dormancy mechanism which could help unlock future cancer treatments Posted: 03 Aug 2021 07:56 AM PDT Researchers have made new findings which provide a broader understanding of how dormant hematopoietic stem cells are activated and could pave the way towards therapeutic treatments for a number of cancers.

The music of silence: Imagining a song triggers similar brain activity to moments of mid-music silence Posted: 03 Aug 2021 07:56 AM PDT Imagining a song triggers similar brain activity as moments of silence in music, according to new research. The results reveal how the brain continues responding to music, even when none is playing, and provide new insights into how human sensory predictions work.

Learning foreign languages can affect the processing of music in the brain Posted: 03 Aug 2021 07:55 AM PDT Research has shown that a music-related hobby boosts language skills and affects the processing of speech in the brain. According to a new study, the reverse also happens -- learning foreign languages can affect the processing of music in the brain.

What’s killing coral reefs in Florida is also killing them in Belize Posted: 03 Aug 2021 07:55 AM PDT Only 17 percent of live coral cover remains on fore-reefs in Belize. A study finds new evidence that nitrogen enrichment from land-based sources like agriculture run-off and sewage, are significantly driving macroalgal blooms to increase on the Belize Barrier Reef and causing massive decline in hard coral cover. With only 2 percent of hard coral cover remaining in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, it's too late to save that reef, but there's still hope for the Belize Barrier Reef.

Novel therapy shows promise for lung cancer patients with rare EGFR mutation Posted: 03 Aug 2021 07:55 AM PDT Researchers report on a multinational, early phase clinical trial evaluating a new targeted therapy for patients with metastatic or unresectable non-small cell lung cancer who have a specific genetic mutation: EGFR Ex20Ins.

Statins may improve survival for triple-negative breast cancer patients Posted: 03 Aug 2021 07:55 AM PDT A new study found a significant association between cholesterol-lowering drugs commonly known as statins and survival rates of triple-negative breast cancer patients. Since statins are low in cost, easy to access and produce minimal side effects, this could have an important impact on outcomes for this aggressive disease.

Rethinking remdesivir: Researchers modify current drug, creating oral version that can be taken earlier in COVID-19 diagnoses Posted: 03 Aug 2021 07:55 AM PDT In a new paper, researchers describe cell and animal studies that demonstrate how lipid modifications of remdesivir nucleoside can improve drug delivery, effectiveness and toxicity compared to remdesivir.

New method to detect impact of sea level rise Posted: 03 Aug 2021 07:55 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new simple, inexpensive and fast method to analyze sulfur isotopes, which can be used to help investigate chemical changes in environments such as oceans, and freshwater rivers and lakes.

New viable means of storing information for quantum technologies? Posted: 03 Aug 2021 05:49 AM PDT Quantum information could be behind the next technological revolution. By analogy with the bit in classical computing, the qubit is the basic element of quantum computing. However, demonstrating the existence of this information storage unit and using it remains complex, and hence limited. An international research team used theoretical calculations to show that it is possible to realize a new type of qubit, in which information is stored in the oscillation amplitude of a carbon nanotube.

A study identified 15 novel biomarkers for diseases predisposing to dementia Posted: 03 Aug 2021 05:49 AM PDT A study provides new data on potential aetiological mechanisms that are linked with dementia caused by diseases, such as Alzheimer's and vascular dementia.

How sex cells get the right genetic mix – An interdisciplinary approach solves a century-old puzzle Posted: 03 Aug 2021 05:49 AM PDT A new discovery explains what determines the number and position of genetic exchanges that occur in sex cells, such as pollen and eggs in plants, or sperm and eggs in humans.

Holistic assessment of plastic pollution in the Caribbean Posted: 02 Aug 2021 07:39 PM PDT New research has resulted in the first holistic assessment of marine and land-based plastic pollution in the Southern Caribbean and some of the environmental and human factors which might influence its distribution.

Cryptic transcription, a novel phenomenon in mammalian stem cells, linked to aging Posted: 02 Aug 2021 01:06 PM PDT Researchers have discovered that a cellular phenomenon called cryptic transcription, which had been previously described and linked to aging in yeasts and worms, is also involved in mammalian aging. They also discovered a mechanism that triggers the phenomenon in mammals.

Productivity of kelp forests, sans the iconic kelp Posted: 02 Aug 2021 01:06 PM PDT A lush canopy is a defining feature of most of the planet's forests. But canopy-forming species can be particularly vulnerable to disturbances and environmental change. So the question is: What is a forest without its trees?

Miniature brain models developed to study causes of Alzheimer’s disease and to test drugs in development Posted: 02 Aug 2021 01:06 PM PDT Researchers have developed a powerful miniature brain platform to study the mechanistic causes of Alzheimer's disease and to test dementia drugs in development.

Neanderthals indeed painted Andalusia’s Cueva de Ardales Posted: 02 Aug 2021 01:06 PM PDT The origin and date of appearance of prehistoric cave art are the subjects of ongoing debate. Spain's Cueva de Ardales is one point of discussion. There a flowstone formation is stained red in places. This coloring is apparently almost 65,000 years old but until now, a part of the scientific community attributed it to a natural coating of iron oxide deposited by flowing water. However, that hypothesis has just been rejected.

Non-invasive method for diagnosing celiac disease Posted: 02 Aug 2021 11:01 AM PDT Researchers have now developed a non-invasive method to help diagnose celiac disease and which uses saliva. This research has shown that it is possible to considerably reduce the number of endoscopies, which are currently carried out via a non-invasive method of diagnosis.

Preoperative screening urinalysis is widely used—but usually unnecessary, study finds Posted: 02 Aug 2021 08:50 AM PDT Clinicians frequently order preoperative urinalyses for patients scheduled to undergo many common procedures. A new study finds that nearly nine out of 10 of preoperative urinalyses are unnecessary. Overuse of low-value screening test wastes money, can harm patients and may contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.

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