ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• ‘Selective promiscuity,’ chaperones and the secrets of cellular health
• Direct photons offer glimpse of gluons' dynamic motion
• Personality traits linked to hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease
• Urban areas more likely to have precipitation-triggered landslides, exposing growing populations to slide hazards
• Living near oil and gas wells increases air pollution exposure
• Zebrafish could shed light into the mysteries of the human spinal cord and its influence on our body
• Mindful breathing for pain control: Like Yin and Yang
• Scientists report evidence for a new -- but now extinct -- species of ancient ground-dwelling sloth
• A computationally quick approach to predict molten droplet solidification on a solid surface
• Quantum phase transition detected on a global scale deep inside the Earth
• Mental illness associated with poor sleep quality according to large study
• Ground-breaking trial prevents loneliness among older people during Covid pandemic
• Arctic sea ice may make a last stand in this remote region; it may lose the battle
• An eco-friendly toxic cocktail could be a new weapon against malaria
• Researchers breathe new life into paper books with the Magic Bookmark
• Mixed results from sage grouse hunting restrictions
• How recovery from COVID-19's impact on energy demand could help meet climate targets
• Tracking an elusive molecule key to climate and combustion chemistry
• Greenland’s groundwater changes with thinning ice sheet
• Seasonal variability in lakes’ environmental processes reveal susceptibility to climate change
• Molecular scales on biological membranes
• Islands are cauldrons of evolution
• Toward more energy efficient power converters
• Nanosilver no ‘silver bullet’ in long-term treatment of infections
• Study at molecular level finds Indian River Lagoon green sea turtles biologically stressed
• Gorillas can tell human voices apart
• Novel habitats created by non-native mangrove trees may inform the future management of some invasive species
• Optimal blood pressure helps our brains age slower
• How to better identify dangerous volcanoes
• Wildfires affect cave diversity underneath scorched surfaces
• Nearly 6 million children are driven into severe hunger by the hot, dry shifts of a strong el Niño
• When breezy, wear masks outdoors to prevent coronavirus exposure
• No apparent shortage of prey for southern resident killer whales in Canadian waters during summer
• New scientific resource will help uncover the genetic underpinnings of type 2 diabetes
• Common respiratory virus manipulates immune genes to protect itself
• Research identifies proteins that support photosynthesis in iron deficient plants
• Stellar 'fossils' in meteorites point to distant stars
• Rye a better choice than wheat for weight loss
• Researcher discovers key gene responsible for cancer drug resistance
• Mushroom consumption may lower risk of depression
• Unraveling the mystery of why we overeat
• Research review shows intermittent fasting works for weight loss, health changes
• White matter integrity disrupted in people with Alzheimer’s gene mutation
• Aadvance in rapid cancer detection and monitoring
• ‘Pet prep’ could be key to disaster survival
• Antiviral compound blocks SARS-CoV-2 from entering cells
• Researchers find cervical cancer screening is overused – and underused as well
• Enhancing piezoelectric properties under pressure
• Is low-fat or whole-fat milk better for kids? Science says it makes no difference
• Contributing to solve the heat concentration problem in power semiconductors
• Break through the tumor’s protective shield
• New nanostructure could be the key to quantum electronics
• Ultrafast and coupled: Atomic vibrations in the quantum material boron nitride
• Brain damage from long stays in space
• Quest for bacterial cocktails to fight infections
• New avenues for the optimzation of dendritic cell-based cancer immunotherapies
• Satellite images can help with environmental land management
• 'Caramel receptor' identified
• Carbon dissolved in Arctic rivers affects our world — here’s how to study it
• Deaths linked to ‘hormone disruptor’ chemical costs billions in lost US productivity

‘Selective promiscuity,’ chaperones and the secrets of cellular health Posted: 12 Oct 2021 03:57 PM PDT A team of researchers has announced a major new advance in understanding how our genetic information eventually translates into functional proteins -- one of the building blocks of human life. The research elucidates how chaperones display 'selective promiscuity' for the specific proteins -- their 'clients' -- they serve. This property enables them to play an essential role in maintaining healthy cells and is a step forward in understanding the origins of a host of human illnesses, from cancer to ALS.

Direct photons offer glimpse of gluons' dynamic motion Posted: 12 Oct 2021 03:57 PM PDT Scientists seeking to explore the teeming microcosm of quarks and gluons inside protons and neutrons report new data delivered by particles of light. The light particles, or photons, come directly from interactions of a quark in one proton colliding with a gluon in another at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). By tracking these 'direct photons,' scientists say they are getting a glimpse -- albeit a blurry one -- of gluons' transverse motion within the building blocks of atomic nuclei.

Personality traits linked to hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease Posted: 12 Oct 2021 03:57 PM PDT New research found that changes in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease are often visible early on in individuals with personality traits associated with the condition. The study focused on two traits previously linked to the risk of dementia: neuroticism, which measures a predisposition for negative emotions, and conscientiousness, which measures the tendency to be careful, organized, goal-directed and responsible.

Urban areas more likely to have precipitation-triggered landslides, exposing growing populations to slide hazards Posted: 12 Oct 2021 03:56 PM PDT Urban areas may be at greater risk for precipitation-triggered landslides than rural areas, according to a new study that could help improve landslide predictions and hazard and risk assessments. Researchers found that urban landslide hazard was up to 10 times more sensitive to variations in precipitation than in rural areas.

Living near oil and gas wells increases air pollution exposure Posted: 12 Oct 2021 12:48 PM PDT Researchers found increased concentrations of air pollutants downwind from oil and gas wells in California, likely affecting millions of Californians who live near them.

Zebrafish could shed light into the mysteries of the human spinal cord and its influence on our body Posted: 12 Oct 2021 12:48 PM PDT Researchers believe zebrafish may provide clues to understanding how the human nervous system develops since this fish experiences new movements similarly to how babies do after birth. To understand how our nervous system enables us to move and learn new movements such as walking or swimming as we grow, researchers looked closely at the nervous system of zebrafish and built models of developing zebrafish spinal circuits to test and further understand the operation of spinal circuits for moving.

Mindful breathing for pain control: Like Yin and Yang Posted: 12 Oct 2021 12:48 PM PDT It's long been known that meditative mindful breathing helps with various health conditions, including pain.

Scientists report evidence for a new -- but now extinct -- species of ancient ground-dwelling sloth Posted: 12 Oct 2021 12:47 PM PDT Scientists report new evidence that some 5,000 years ago, a sloth smaller than a black bear roamed the forest floor of what is now the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean Sea, living a lowland life different from its cousins on the other side of the island.

A computationally quick approach to predict molten droplet solidification on a solid surface Posted: 12 Oct 2021 12:47 PM PDT The deposition of molten particles on the interior surface of jet engines can cause significant damage and degrade the performance of the engine. Now, scientists successfully simulated the solidification process of a molten droplet as it impinges on a cooler flat surface. This approach uses a mesh-less method to accurately predict the spread and the solidification of the droplet and could potentially boost the efficiency of turbines in the future.

Quantum phase transition detected on a global scale deep inside the Earth Posted: 12 Oct 2021 12:47 PM PDT A multidisciplinary team of materials physicists and geophysicists combine theoretical predictions, simulations, and seismic tomography to find spin transition in the Earth's mantle. Their findings will improve understanding of the Earth's interior, and help elucidate the impact of this phenomenon on tectonic events including volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

Mental illness associated with poor sleep quality according to large study Posted: 12 Oct 2021 12:00 PM PDT People who have been diagnosed with a mental illness are more likely to have poor sleep quality compared to the general population, according to a large study.

Ground-breaking trial prevents loneliness among older people during Covid pandemic Posted: 12 Oct 2021 12:00 PM PDT A simple form of talking therapy, delivered by trained support workers over the telephone, reduced loneliness in older people left isolated during the pandemic, the initial results of a new study has revealed.

Arctic sea ice may make a last stand in this remote region; it may lose the battle Posted: 12 Oct 2021 12:00 PM PDT With warming climate, summer sea ice in the Arctic has been shrinking fast, and now consistently spans less than half the area it did in the early 1980s. This raises the question: It this keeps up, in the future will year-round sea ice -- and the creatures who need it to survive -- persist anywhere? A new study addresses this question, and the results are daunting.

An eco-friendly toxic cocktail could be a new weapon against malaria Posted: 12 Oct 2021 10:07 AM PDT Researchers have demonstrated that blood-seeking mosquitoes can be directed to feed on a toxic plant-based solution, which in turn kills them. This result could be one solution for the global problem of diseases like malaria or dengue fever by specifically targeting the mosquitoes while other species like bees won't be affected.

Researchers breathe new life into paper books with the Magic Bookmark Posted: 12 Oct 2021 10:07 AM PDT Engineers have developed a new, cost-effective, ecological solution for augmenting the printed page with rich, up-to-date digital content.

Mixed results from sage grouse hunting restrictions Posted: 12 Oct 2021 10:07 AM PDT Wildlife agencies throughout western North America have set increasingly more conservative harvest regulations over the past 25 years to conserve sage grouse, with mixed results for bird numbers.

How recovery from COVID-19's impact on energy demand could help meet climate targets Posted: 12 Oct 2021 10:07 AM PDT The pandemic-related drop in greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 was likely the largest on record in a single year, but how our recovery might affect future emissions is less clear. New modeling examines alternative scenarios and how they could impact climate mitigation targets.

Tracking an elusive molecule key to climate and combustion chemistry Posted: 12 Oct 2021 10:07 AM PDT Researchers report they have directly observed a prototypical version of a class of molecules central to environmental and combustion chemistry. This new knowledge is important to climate change models and the design of more efficient combustion engines.

Greenland’s groundwater changes with thinning ice sheet Posted: 12 Oct 2021 10:07 AM PDT For more than a decade, a team of researchers and students have studied the dynamics of the Greenland Ice Sheet as it responds to a warming climate. But while much of their focus has been on the importance of water in controlling processes occurring on the ice sheet, their most recent research findings have flipped the order of their thinking. Researchers discovered that changes to the ice sheet have an immediate impact on the groundwater underlying the Greenland island, an area larger than the state of Alaska.

Seasonal variability in lakes’ environmental processes reveal susceptibility to climate change Posted: 12 Oct 2021 10:07 AM PDT A new study has shown how climate change could impact the ecosystems of the planet's largest lakes by revealing varying levels at which their water layers are mixed together through the seasons. Natural mixing in lakes is much stronger during winter months compared to summer months due to differences in wind strengths.

Molecular scales on biological membranes Posted: 12 Oct 2021 10:05 AM PDT With mass-sensitive particle tracking scientists can determine location and size changes of unlabeled proteins on membranes

Islands are cauldrons of evolution Posted: 12 Oct 2021 08:23 AM PDT Islands are hot spots of evolutionary adaptation that can also advantage species returning to the mainland, according to a new study.

Toward more energy efficient power converters Posted: 12 Oct 2021 08:23 AM PDT Researchers extend the mathematical approach called automatic differentiation from machine learning to the fitting of model parameters that describe the behavior of field-effect transistors. This allowed the parameters to be extracted up to 3.5 times faster compared with previous methods, which may lead to more sustainable microelectronics.

Nanosilver no ‘silver bullet’ in long-term treatment of infections Posted: 12 Oct 2021 08:23 AM PDT New research has found that pathogens that form biofilms can evolve to survive nanosilver treatment. The study is the first to demonstrate that long-term nanosilver treatment can increase the risk of recurrent infections.

Study at molecular level finds Indian River Lagoon green sea turtles biologically stressed Posted: 12 Oct 2021 08:22 AM PDT Turtles from the heavily polluted Indian River Lagoon (IRL) had compromised immune function. Those with tumors (Green Turtle Fibropapillomatosis or GTF) had less immune competence. Habitat quality, disease state, and immune function are intertwined. Polluted environments impact the immune system and make animals more prone to the expression of GTF, which in turn further compromises the immune system. This vicious cycle may explain why some areas have such a high incidence of GTF, while other areas have turtles that test positive for the GTF virus, but are clinically healthy.

Gorillas can tell human voices apart Posted: 12 Oct 2021 08:22 AM PDT A new study is the first to show that gorillas are able to recognize familiar human voices based on their relationship with the speaker.

Novel habitats created by non-native mangrove trees may inform the future management of some invasive species Posted: 12 Oct 2021 08:22 AM PDT In the face of declining fisheries, threatened reef habitat, and changing climatic conditions, non-native mangroves may provide, rather than impede, zooplankton habitat availability in novel locations.

Optimal blood pressure helps our brains age slower Posted: 12 Oct 2021 08:22 AM PDT People with elevated blood pressure that falls within the normal recommended range are at risk of accelerated brain aging, according to new research. The research also found optimal blood pressure helps our brains stay at least six months younger than our actual age.

How to better identify dangerous volcanoes Posted: 12 Oct 2021 08:22 AM PDT The more water is dissolved in the magma, the greater the risk that a volcano will explode. A new study now shows that this simple rule is only partially true. Paradoxically, high water content significantly reduces the risk of explosion.

Wildfires affect cave diversity underneath scorched surfaces Posted: 12 Oct 2021 08:22 AM PDT The landscape at Lava Beds National Monument in northern California is typically home to sage and junipers, with unique lava caves twisting underneath the surface. But in the summers of 2020 and 2021, wildfires tore through the region, burning thousands of acres and leaving the surface charred.

Nearly 6 million children are driven into severe hunger by the hot, dry shifts of a strong el Niño Posted: 12 Oct 2021 08:22 AM PDT Up to three times more children suffer severe hunger with each El Niño than from COVID-19. El Niño events provide a snapshot of the future under climate change and chronicle the lack of proactive policy action even when climate events are predictable.

When breezy, wear masks outdoors to prevent coronavirus exposure Posted: 12 Oct 2021 08:22 AM PDT As the delta variant continues to spread, guidelines from the CDC recommend even the vaccinated wear masks indoors to prevent exposure and transmission, though it is less clear what people should do when outside. Researchers used a large eddy simulation to model cough jets in breezy and calm conditions. They found when a person coughs outdoors, wind flowing in the same direction can propagate the virus faster over longer distances than in calm conditions.

No apparent shortage of prey for southern resident killer whales in Canadian waters during summer Posted: 12 Oct 2021 08:22 AM PDT A popular belief that there are fewer Chinook salmon during the summer in Canadian waters for southern resident killer whales, compared to an abundance of fish for northern resident killer whales, has been debunked by a new study.

New scientific resource will help uncover the genetic underpinnings of type 2 diabetes Posted: 12 Oct 2021 08:22 AM PDT Investigators have developed a resource for analyzing how genetic variants in cells that drive type 2 diabetes may contribute to the disease.

Common respiratory virus manipulates immune genes to protect itself Posted: 12 Oct 2021 08:22 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that the viral protein NS1 from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) alters the activity of immune genes, sabotaging the immune response to RSV infection.

Research identifies proteins that support photosynthesis in iron deficient plants Posted: 12 Oct 2021 07:27 AM PDT As climate change poses risks to plant growth and food supply, researchers have identified how iron deficient plants optimize photosynthesis and regulate light protection.

Stellar 'fossils' in meteorites point to distant stars Posted: 12 Oct 2021 07:27 AM PDT A new study analyzes a diverse set of presolar grains with the goal of realizing their true stellar origins.

Rye a better choice than wheat for weight loss Posted: 12 Oct 2021 07:27 AM PDT Eating whole grain rye products instead of refined wheat alternatives can offer worthwhile health benefits. Researchers recently published a study showing that people who ate high-fiber products made from whole grain rye lost more body fat and overall weight than those who ate corresponding products made from refined wheat.

Researcher discovers key gene responsible for cancer drug resistance Posted: 12 Oct 2021 07:27 AM PDT A researcher has discovered an enzyme that plays a key role in the ability of cancer cells to resist drug treatment.

Mushroom consumption may lower risk of depression Posted: 12 Oct 2021 07:26 AM PDT Mushrooms have been making headlines due to their many health advantages. Not only do they lower one's risk of cancer and premature death, but new research also reveals that these super-foods may benefit a person's mental health.

Unraveling the mystery of why we overeat Posted: 12 Oct 2021 07:26 AM PDT Researchers are examining neurons and hormones associated with eating too much. This study is another step in understanding the brain circuits involved in eating disorders.

Research review shows intermittent fasting works for weight loss, health changes Posted: 12 Oct 2021 07:26 AM PDT Intermittent fasting can produce clinically significant weight loss as well as improve metabolic health in individuals with obesity, according to a new study.

White matter integrity disrupted in people with Alzheimer’s gene mutation Posted: 12 Oct 2021 07:26 AM PDT The structural integrity of the brain's white matter as measured with an advanced MRI technique is lower in cognitively normal people who carry a genetic mutation associated with Alzheimer's disease than it is in non-carriers, according to a new study. Researchers said the findings show the promise of widely available imaging techniques in helping to understand early structural changes in the brain before symptoms of dementia become apparent.

Aadvance in rapid cancer detection and monitoring Posted: 12 Oct 2021 06:50 AM PDT An engineer is reporting fast screening of the surface proteins of exosomes for cancer diagnostics and biomarker discovery.

‘Pet prep’ could be key to disaster survival Posted: 12 Oct 2021 06:50 AM PDT Researchers have discovered most pet owners have inadequate plans for their pets if a natural disaster strikes -- but disaster response planners may be able to turn this into a positive.

Antiviral compound blocks SARS-CoV-2 from entering cells Posted: 12 Oct 2021 06:50 AM PDT Scientists have developed a chemical compound that interferes with a key feature of many viruses that allows the viruses to invade human cells. The compound, called MM3122, was studied in cells and mice and holds promise as a new way to prevent infection or reduce the severity of COVID-19 if given early in the course of an infection, according to the researchers.

Researchers find cervical cancer screening is overused – and underused as well Posted: 12 Oct 2021 06:50 AM PDT New research finds many women are screened too often for cervical cancer, leading to unnecessary procedures that may carry their own harms, while some women are not getting tested often enough, putting them at higher risk for poor outcomes.

Enhancing piezoelectric properties under pressure Posted: 12 Oct 2021 06:50 AM PDT Stress enhances the properties of a promising material for future technologies, with researchers' discovery of a new exotic state of a promising, room-temperature multiferroic material having exciting implications for future technologies using these enhanced properties.

Is low-fat or whole-fat milk better for kids? Science says it makes no difference Posted: 12 Oct 2021 06:50 AM PDT A new study has found whole fat dairy is just as good for kids as low-fat.

Contributing to solve the heat concentration problem in power semiconductors Posted: 12 Oct 2021 06:50 AM PDT Towards solving the heat concentration problem in power semiconductors, researchers have developed a highly efficient boiling immersion cooler using lotus metals. LTS succeeded in increasing the cooling performance from about 200 W/cm2 of the conventional cooler to 530 W/cm2 or more by using the boiling promotion technology using lotus metals. This technology is also considered as a highly efficient cooling technology for CPUs for conventional workstations and large-scale servers.

Break through the tumor’s protective shield Posted: 12 Oct 2021 06:50 AM PDT The immune system protects the body from cancer. To protect healthy body cells from its own immune system, they have developed a protective shield: the protein CD47 is a so called 'don't eat me' signal, which tells the immune cells to stand back. Tumor cells exploit this CD47-based protection strategy for evading the immune system, by increasing presentation of CD47 on their cell surface. A team has now developed a therapy concept for programming the tumor cells to produce on their own a CD47-blocking and immune-activation fusion protein. This therapy approach could stop tumor growth.

New nanostructure could be the key to quantum electronics Posted: 12 Oct 2021 06:50 AM PDT A novel electronic component could be an important key to the era of quantum information technology: Using a tailored manufacturing process, pure germanium is bonded with aluminum in a way that atomically sharp interfaces are created.

Ultrafast and coupled: Atomic vibrations in the quantum material boron nitride Posted: 12 Oct 2021 06:50 AM PDT Materials consisting of a few atomic layers display properties determined by quantum physics. In a stack of such layers, vibrations of the atoms can be triggered by infrared light. New experimental and theoretical work shows that atomic vibrations within the layers of hexagonal boron nitride, the so-called transverse optical phonons, couple directly to motions of the layers against each other. For a period of some 20 ps, the coupling results in a frequency down-shift of the optical phonons and their optical resonance. This behavior is a genuine property of the quantum material and of interest for applications in high-frequency optoelectronics.

Brain damage from long stays in space Posted: 12 Oct 2021 06:19 AM PDT Spending a long time in space appears to cause brain damage. This is shown by a study of five Russian cosmonauts who had stayed on the International Space Station (ISS).

Quest for bacterial cocktails to fight infections Posted: 12 Oct 2021 06:18 AM PDT The intestines of a healthy person contains hundreds of different bacteria that provide efficient protection against infections. However, if the equilibrium of this community, known as the microbiota, is disturbed -- for example, due to antibiotic therapy -- pathogens such as salmonella or multiresistant hospital germs such as Klebsiella pneumoniae can gain the upper hand -- sometimes with severe consequences for those affected. Scientists have been researching the interaction of intestinal bacteria and have recently identified bacterial strains that play a special role in two studies.

New avenues for the optimzation of dendritic cell-based cancer immunotherapies Posted: 12 Oct 2021 06:18 AM PDT A recent study reveals that inhibiting certain adhesion receptors on the surface of dendritic cells, the main antigen-presenting cells of the immune system, enhances antitumor responses.

Satellite images can help with environmental land management Posted: 12 Oct 2021 06:18 AM PDT Academics have undertaken research that proves Earth Observation satellite imagery can accurately assess the quality and quantity of some habitat types.

'Caramel receptor' identified Posted: 12 Oct 2021 06:18 AM PDT Who doesn't like the smell of caramel? However, the olfactory receptor that contributes decisively to this sensory impression was unknown until now. Researchers have now solved the mystery of its existence and identified the 'caramel receptor.' The new knowledge contributes to a better understanding of the molecular coding of food flavors.

Carbon dissolved in Arctic rivers affects our world — here’s how to study it Posted: 12 Oct 2021 05:01 AM PDT Scientists have made significant gains in filling out our understanding of the Arctic's carbon cycle -- or the way that carbon is transferred between the land, ocean and atmosphere. In order to better understand future trends in atmospheric carbon dioxide, and its associated global warming, we need a fuller picture of how carbon cycles between reservoirs in our world.

Deaths linked to ‘hormone disruptor’ chemical costs billions in lost US productivity Posted: 12 Oct 2021 05:01 AM PDT Daily exposure chemicals called phthalates, used in the manufacture of plastic food containers and many cosmetics, may lead to roughly 100,000 premature deaths among older Americans each year, a new study shows. The resulting annual economic burden is between $40 billion and $47 billion, a value more than quadruple that of previous estimates.

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