ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Modern activities follow the contours of ancient Teotihuacan
• Research guides future of plastic waste chemical recycling
• Loss of picky-eating fish threatens coral reef food webs
• New discovery about meteorites informs atmospheric entry threat assessment
• Physicists probe light smashups to guide future research
• Diabetes medications linked to glaucoma prevention
• Stroke study reveals optimal timing and intensity for arm and hand rehabilitation
• Mars habitability limited by its small size, isotope study suggests
• Meeting sleep recommendations could lead to smarter snacking
• Students’ certainty about belonging and their performance in a STEM course reinforce each other – for better or worse
• Behold the humble water flea, locked in a battle of mythological proportions
• Lack of trust exacerbates loneliness spiral
• How pruning the cytoskeleton moves the cell
• Right light on the mother’s belly may be important to the fetus
• How resistant germs transport toxins at molecular level
• A sandblaster at the atomic level
• New computational platform to study biological processes
• Microbial plant bioprocessing – what can we learn from the cow?
• Scientists find a new way to reverse immune suppression in tumors
• Modern simulations could improve MRIs
• Researchers call for a focus on fitness over weight loss for obesity-related health conditions
• Astrophysicists solve 'empty sky' gamma-ray mystery
• Extreme volcanism did not cause the massive extinction of species in the late Cretaceous
• All-nitride superconducting qubit made on a silicon substrate
• How university students understand and demonstrate kindness
• Using internet in retirement boosts cognitive function
• Augmented reality helps tackle fear of spiders
• Gene for sex hormone synthesis could play key role in eczema
• The nanophotonics orchestra presents: Twisting to the light of nanoparticles
• More than 40% of adults with no known heart disease had fatty deposits in heart arteries
• Meds, surgery may help obesity-related high blood pressure if diet, exercise fall short
• South American musical instruments reflect population relationships
• Conservation study: Fostering wanderlust benefits pandas
• Vaccinated groups who are at highest risk of COVID-19 hospitalization and death identified using new QCovid tool
• Lessons from how bats resist COVID could inform new treatments in humans

Modern activities follow the contours of ancient Teotihuacan Posted: 20 Sep 2021 02:31 PM PDT A lidar mapping study shows ancient residents of Teotihuacan moved astonishing quantities of soil and bedrock for construction and reshaped the landscape in a way that continues to influence the contours of modern activities in this part of Mexico. The paper also shows how Teotihuacan's engineers re-routed two rivers to align with points of astronomical significance, identified hundreds of previously unknown architectural features, and documented over 200 archaeological features that have been destroyed by mining and urbanization since the 1960s.

Research guides future of plastic waste chemical recycling Posted: 20 Sep 2021 02:31 PM PDT New research aims to ease the process of chemical recycling -- an emerging industry that could turn waste products back into natural resources by physically breaking plastic down into the smaller molecules it was originally produced from.

Loss of picky-eating fish threatens coral reef food webs Posted: 20 Sep 2021 12:20 PM PDT The networks of predator fish and their prey found on coral reefs all over the world are remarkably similar, and those predator fish are pickier eaters than previously thought. These delicate ecosystems become even more vulnerable when these specialized hunters go extinct.

New discovery about meteorites informs atmospheric entry threat assessment Posted: 20 Sep 2021 12:20 PM PDT Researchers watched fragments of two meteors as they ramped up the heat from room temperature to the temperature it reaches as it enters Earth's atmosphere and made a significant discovery. The vaporized iron sulfide leaves behind voids, making the material more porous. This information will help when predicting the weight of a meteor, its likelihood to break apart, and the subsequent damage assessment if it should land.

Physicists probe light smashups to guide future research Posted: 20 Sep 2021 12:20 PM PDT Light has no mass, but Europe's Large Hadron Collider (LHC) can convert light's energy into massive particles. Physicists studied matter-generating collisions of light and showed the departure angle of their debris is subtly distorted by quantum interference patterns in the light prior to collision. Their findings will help physicists accurately interpret future experiments aimed at finding 'new physics' beyond the Standard Model.

Diabetes medications linked to glaucoma prevention Posted: 20 Sep 2021 12:20 PM PDT Retrospective data from more than 5,000 patients shows that GLP-1R agonists may be protective against the disease.

Stroke study reveals optimal timing and intensity for arm and hand rehabilitation Posted: 20 Sep 2021 12:20 PM PDT A phase II, randomized clinical trial found that the optimal period for intensive rehabilitation of arm and hand use after a stroke should begin 60 to 90 days after the event.

Mars habitability limited by its small size, isotope study suggests Posted: 20 Sep 2021 12:19 PM PDT Researchers measured the potassium isotope compositions of Martian meteorites in order to estimate the presence, distribution, and abundance of volatile elements and compounds, including water, on Mars, finding that Mars has lost more potassium than Earth but retained more potassium than the moon or the asteroid 4-Vesta; the results suggest that rocky planets with larger mass retain more volatile elements during planetary formation and that Mars and Mars-sized exoplanets fall below a size threshold necessary to retain enough water to enable habitability and plate tectonics.

Meeting sleep recommendations could lead to smarter snacking Posted: 20 Sep 2021 10:26 AM PDT Missing out on the recommended seven or more hours of sleep per night could lead to more opportunities to make poorer snacking choices than those made by people who meet shut-eye guidelines, a new study suggests.

Students’ certainty about belonging and their performance in a STEM course reinforce each other – for better or worse Posted: 20 Sep 2021 09:18 AM PDT New research shows that belonging insecurity in a STEM course, specifically a first-year chemistry course, can affect a student's midterm scores, which can then feed back into the student's belonging uncertainty. For students in groups that are underrepresented in STEM, there's a danger that such a feedback loop could cause them to decide that science isn't for them, deterring potential scientists from even entering a STEM field.

Behold the humble water flea, locked in a battle of mythological proportions Posted: 20 Sep 2021 09:18 AM PDT Biologists sized up an unlikely natural phenomenon: when parasitism actually causes the number of hosts to increase, an effect known as a hydra effect. A study of common water fleas and their fungal parasites includes laboratory components and an analysis of 13 fungal epidemics in nature. The scientists use consumer-resource theory to explain why -- and in what types of systems -- the hydra effect can occur.

Lack of trust exacerbates loneliness spiral Posted: 20 Sep 2021 09:18 AM PDT Loneliness is a painful feeling. If it persists, it can lead to mental illnesses such as depression or anxiety disorders. Researchers have now discovered how loneliness is associated with reduced trust. This is reflected in changes in the activity and interaction of various brain structures, especially the insular cortex. The results therefore provide clues for therapeutic options.

How pruning the cytoskeleton moves the cell Posted: 20 Sep 2021 09:17 AM PDT Cells are characterized to be stable yet highly flexible. They constantly modify their shape and even move through tissue. These vital properties are based on a dynamically organized network of branched actin filaments, which generates pushing forces to move the cell membrane. An interdisciplinary team has now revealed a previously unknown mechanism, explaining how stopping the growth of older actin filaments within the network promotes the formation of new ones, thereby maintaining the structure and function of the cytoskeleton, much like proper pruning of hedges in the garden.

Right light on the mother’s belly may be important to the fetus Posted: 20 Sep 2021 09:17 AM PDT There may be a link between exposure to light during pregnancy and fetal brain development. New findings may provide better understanding of certain neurological diseases later in life.

How resistant germs transport toxins at molecular level Posted: 20 Sep 2021 09:17 AM PDT In order to counter the increasing threat posed by multi-drug resistant germs, we need to understand how their resistance mechanisms work. Transport proteins have an important role to play in this process. Scientists have now described the three-dimensional structure of transport protein Pdr5, found also in a similar form in pathogenic fungi. The results could help develop mechanisms to combat dangerous pathogens.

A sandblaster at the atomic level Posted: 20 Sep 2021 09:17 AM PDT Modifying surfaces by shooting particles at them - this technique, called 'sputtering', is indispensable in surface science. However, if the surface is not perfectly smooth and regular, it is hard to predict the result of the sputtering process. Scientists have now managed to explain the effect of particles on rough surfaces during sputtering - with implications for fusion research and even astrophysics.

New computational platform to study biological processes Posted: 20 Sep 2021 09:17 AM PDT Scientists have launched a unique software that is able to perform highly complex simulations of a variety of biological processes.

Microbial plant bioprocessing – what can we learn from the cow? Posted: 20 Sep 2021 09:17 AM PDT The most significant sources of organic waste in South Africa is sugarcane bagasse (5.35 million metric tonnes), invasive plants (11.30 million metric tonnes) and fruit wastes (1.3 billion metric tonnes). Microbiologists from Stellenbosch University are investigation the use of mammalian rumen in the anaerobic digestive process to break down or separate organic waste into its original building blocks, from where it can subsequently be converted into various high-value products -- just as a cow does with processing the tough plant material into the basic building blocks upon which the production of milk is based.

Scientists find a new way to reverse immune suppression in tumors Posted: 20 Sep 2021 08:30 AM PDT Malignant tumors can enhance their ability to survive and spread by suppressing anti-tumor immune cells in their vicinity, but a new study has uncovered a new way to counter this immunosuppressive effect.

Modern simulations could improve MRIs Posted: 20 Sep 2021 08:30 AM PDT Rice University engineers improve simulations that analyze gadolinium-based contrast agents used in clinical magnetic resonance imaging. More efficient simulations could help make better compounds for imaging technologies.

Researchers call for a focus on fitness over weight loss for obesity-related health conditions Posted: 20 Sep 2021 08:14 AM PDT The prevalence of obesity around the world has tripled over the past 40 years, and, along with that rise, dieting and attempts to lose weight also have soared. But according to a new article, when it comes to getting healthy and reducing mortality risk, increasing physical activity and improving fitness appear to be superior to weight loss. The authors say that employing a weight-neutral approach to the treatment of obesity-related health conditions also reduces the health risks associated with yo-yo dieting.

Astrophysicists solve 'empty sky' gamma-ray mystery Posted: 20 Sep 2021 08:14 AM PDT Star-forming galaxies are responsible for creating gamma-rays that until now had not been associated with a known origin.

Extreme volcanism did not cause the massive extinction of species in the late Cretaceous Posted: 20 Sep 2021 08:14 AM PDT A new study rules out that extreme volcanic episodes had any influence on the massive extinction of species in the late Cretaceous. The results confirm the hypothesis that it was a giant meteorite impact what caused the great biological crisis that ended up with the non-avian dinosaur lineages and other marine and terrestrial organisms 66 million years ago.

All-nitride superconducting qubit made on a silicon substrate Posted: 20 Sep 2021 07:09 AM PDT Researchers have succeeded in developing an all-nitride superconducting qubit using epitaxial growth on a silicon substrate that does not use aluminum as the conductive material. This qubit uses niobium nitride (NbN) with a superconducting transition temperature of 16 K (-257 °C) as the electrode material, and aluminum nitride (AlN) for the insulating layer of the Josephson junction. It is a new type of qubit made of all-nitride materials grown epitaxially on a silicon substrate and free of any amorphous oxides, which are a major noise source. By realizing this new material qubit on a silicon substrate, long coherence times have been obtained: an energy relaxation time (T1) of 16 microseconds and a phase relaxation time (T2) of 22 microseconds as the mean values. This is about 32 times T1 and about 44 times T2 of nitride superconducting qubits grown on a conventional magnesium oxide substrate.

How university students understand and demonstrate kindness Posted: 20 Sep 2021 07:09 AM PDT A small act of kindness can go a long way, especially say researchers, towards bolstering student health and wellness. A new study explores how the inclusion of a kindness assignment in an undergraduate course impacted student perceptions of themselves, their peers and their campus.

Using internet in retirement boosts cognitive function Posted: 20 Sep 2021 07:09 AM PDT Scientists have studied the effect of internet usage on cognitive function. Examining more than 2000 retirees from 10 European countries, researchers found that, on average, retirees who used the internet were able to recall 1.22 extra words in a recall test compared to non-internet users (which equates to performing around 8 per cent better in the tests). The effects were more significant in women, with female retirees who used the internet able to recall an additional 2.37 words, than peers who did not go online. Results also showed that retirees who used the internet were more likely to be male, were younger and better educated, and had been retired for less time. They were also found to be in better health - despite drinking and smoking more.

Augmented reality helps tackle fear of spiders Posted: 20 Sep 2021 07:09 AM PDT Researchers have developed an augmented reality app for smartphones in order to help people reduce their fear of spiders. The app has already shown itself to be effective in a clinical trial, with subjects experiencing less fear of real spiders after completing just a few training units with the app at home.

Gene for sex hormone synthesis could play key role in eczema Posted: 20 Sep 2021 05:21 AM PDT A study led by dermatologists suggests that a common inflammatory skin condition may stem from poorly regulated sex hormones. The finding could offer an unexpected new target to fight this condition.

The nanophotonics orchestra presents: Twisting to the light of nanoparticles Posted: 20 Sep 2021 05:21 AM PDT Physics researchers discover a new physical effect relating to the interactions between light and twisted materials -- an effect that is likely to have implications for emerging new nanotechnologies in communications, nanorobotics and ultra-thin optical components.

More than 40% of adults with no known heart disease had fatty deposits in heart arteries Posted: 20 Sep 2021 05:21 AM PDT More than 40% of middle-aged adults with no known heart disease had signs of atherosclerosis, a buildup of fatty deposits that reduce blood flow to the heart, in a study of more than 25,000 adults in Sweden. In more than 5% of the people who had a buildup of fatty deposits, the atherosclerosis narrowed at least one artery by 50% or more. In nearly 2% of the people with artery deposits, the narrowing was so severe that blood flow was obstructed to large portions of the heart.

Meds, surgery may help obesity-related high blood pressure if diet, exercise fall short Posted: 20 Sep 2021 05:21 AM PDT Being overweight or having obesity, weight that is higher than what is considered healthy for an individual's height, is a major risk factor for high blood pressure. A healthy diet, more physical activity and less sedentary time are recommended to reduce blood pressure for people who are overweight or have obesity; however, evidence of long-term weight loss and sustained blood pressure reductions from these lifestyle changes is limited. New weight-loss medications and bariatric surgery have shown benefits in both long-term weight loss and improved blood pressure, which can reduce the long-term, negative impact of high blood pressure on organ damage.

South American musical instruments reflect population relationships Posted: 20 Sep 2021 05:21 AM PDT A new study provides a systematic review of musical instrument diversity in the archaeological and ethnographic history of the continent, suggesting cultural contact over long geographic distances, and cases of recent extinction.

Conservation study: Fostering wanderlust benefits pandas Posted: 20 Sep 2021 05:21 AM PDT New study shows home sweet home can be too sweet for some wildlife, and easing conservation standards can benefit both wildlife and people.

Vaccinated groups who are at highest risk of COVID-19 hospitalization and death identified using new QCovid tool Posted: 18 Sep 2021 05:58 AM PDT Researchers report new findings on the vaccinated people who are at greatest risk from severe COVID-19 leading to hospitalization or death from 14 days post the second dose vaccination, when substantial immunity should be expected. By updating the QCovid tool, they are able to identify groups more at risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19.

Lessons from how bats resist COVID could inform new treatments in humans Posted: 17 Sep 2021 01:11 PM PDT A new paper explores the idea that studying bats' responses to SARS-CoV-2 may provide key insights into how and when to best use existing therapies for COVID-19, and to develop new treatments. The paper is a major review of how the virus that has caused the current pandemic wreaks havoc on the human immune system.

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