Early trauma cuts life short for squirrels, and climate change could make matters worse
Life can be tough for young red squirrels living in the Canada's Yukon territory, where frigid winters, food scarcity and predators threaten their long-term survival. Scientists want to know what factors might protect young squirrels, especially as their environment becomes more impacted by climate change.
Thu, 25 Apr 2024 16:15:49 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240425161549.htm
Climate change could become the main driver of biodiversity decline by mid-century
Global biodiversity has declined between 2% and 11% during the 20th century due to land-use change alone, according to a large multi-model study. Projections show climate change could become the main driver of biodiversity decline by the mid-21st century.
Thu, 25 Apr 2024 16:15:18 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240425161518.htm
Food in sight? The liver is ready!
What happens in the body when we are hungry and see and smell food? A team of researchers has now been able to show in mice that adaptations in the liver mitochondria take place after only a few minutes. Stimulated by the activation of a group of nerve cells in the brain, the mitochondria of the liver cells change and prepare the liver for the adaptation of the sugar metabolism. The findings could open up new avenues for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Thu, 25 Apr 2024 16:15:04 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240425161504.htm
Voluntary corporate emissions targets not enough to create real climate action
Companies' emissions reduction targets should not be the sole measure of corporate climate ambition, according to a new perspective paper.
Thu, 25 Apr 2024 16:14:59 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240425161459.htm
Curiosity promotes biodiversity
Cichlid fishes exhibit differing degrees of curiosity. The cause for this lies in their genes, as reported by researchers. This trait influences the cichlids' ability to adapt to new habitats.
Thu, 25 Apr 2024 16:14:56 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240425161456.htm
With hybrid brains, these mice smell like a rat
Mice lacking an olfactory system have had their sense of smell restored with neurons from rats, the first time scientists have successfully integrated the sensory apparatus of one species into another.
Thu, 25 Apr 2024 13:15:54 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240425131554.htm
Synthetic droplets cause a stir in the primordial soup
Our bodies are made up of trillions of different cells, each fulfilling their own unique function to keep us alive. How do cells move around inside these extremely complicated systems? How do they know where to go? And how did they get so complicated to begin with? Simple yet profound questions like these are at the heart of curiosity-driven basic research, which focuses on the fundamental principles of natural phenomena.
Thu, 25 Apr 2024 13:14:51 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240425131451.htm
Key to efficient and stable organic solar cells
A team of researchers has made a significant breakthrough in the field of organic photovoltaics.
Thu, 25 Apr 2024 13:14:45 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240425131445.htm
How do birds flock? Researchers do the math to reveal previously unknown aerodynamic phenomenon
How do birds fly in a coordinated and seemingly effortless fashion? Part of the answer lies in precise, and previously unknown, aerodynamic interactions, reports a team of mathematicians. Its breakthrough broadens our understanding of wildlife, including fish, who move in schools, and could have applications in transportation and energy.
Thu, 25 Apr 2024 13:14:16 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240425131416.htm
Advanced cell atlas opens new doors in biomedical research
Researchers have developed a web-based platform that offers an unprecedented view of the human body at the cellular level. The aim is to create an invaluable resource for researchers worldwide to increase knowledge about human health and disease.
Thu, 25 Apr 2024 13:13:51 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240425131351.htm
National trial safely scaled back prescribing of a powerful antipsychotic for the elderly
Warning letters can safely cut prescribing of a powerful but risky antipsychotic, according to a new study. Researchers used Medicare data to study the effects of the letters on hundreds of thousands of older adults with dementia. They found a significant and lasting reduction in prescribing but no signs of adverse effects on patient health.
Thu, 25 Apr 2024 13:13:21 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240425131321.htm
Solving the riddle of the sphingolipids in coronary artery disease
Investigators have uncovered a way to unleash in blood vessels the protective effects of a type of fat-related molecule known as a sphingolipid, suggesting a promising new strategy for the treatment of coronary artery disease.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 18:25:01 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424182501.htm
Human activities have an intense impact on Earth's deep subsurface fluid flow
Hydrologists predict human-induced underground fluid fluxes to rise with climate change mitigation strategies like carbon sequestration.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 18:24:58 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424182458.htm
Artificial intelligence helps scientists engineer plants to fight climate change
Scientists are using artificial intelligence software to analyze plant root systems, laying out a protocol that can be applied to gather data on crop and model plant phenotypes (physical characteristics) more efficiently and with equal or greater accuracy than existing methods.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 18:24:55 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424182455.htm
Use of acid reflux drugs linked to higher risk of migraine
People who take acid-reducing drugs may have a higher risk of migraine and other severe headache than people who do not take these medications, according to a new study. The acid-reducing drugs include proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole and esomeprazole, histamine H2-receptor antagonists, or H2 blockers, such as cimetidine and famotidine, and antacid supplements.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 18:24:53 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424182453.htm
A closed-loop drug-delivery system could improve chemotherapy
To improve chemotherapy dosing, engineers designed CLAUDIA, a way to continuously measure how much drug is in a patient's system during hours-long infusion.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 18:24:47 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424182447.htm
Scientists tune the entanglement structure in an array of qubits
A new technique can generate batches of certain entangled states in a quantum processor. This advance could help scientists study the fundamental quantum property of entanglement and enable them to build larger and more complex quantum processors.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 18:24:42 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424182442.htm
How light can vaporize water without the need for heat
Researchers discovered that light can cause evaporation of water from a surface without the need for heat. This 'photomolecular effect' could be important for understanding climate change and for improving some industrial processes.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:06:52 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424160652.htm
Positive perceptions of solar projects
A new survey has found that for residents living within three miles of a large-scale solar development, positive attitudes outnumbered negative attitudes by almost a 3-to-1 margin. Researchers surveyed almost 1,000 residents living near solar projects.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:06:49 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424160649.htm
Tumor cells evade the immune system early on: Newly discovered mechanism could significantly improve cancer immunotherapies
Tumors actively prevent the formation of immune responses by so-called cytotoxic T cells, which are essential in combating cancer. Researchers have now uncovered for the first time how this exactly happens. The study provides rationales for new cancer immunotherapies and could make existing treatments more effective.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:06:47 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424160647.htm
Hurricanes jeopardize carbon-storing New England forests
Many American companies are relying on carbon offsets to reduce their carbon footprint, especially those who have pledged to achieve 'net-zero emissions.' Sequestering carbon in forests is an example of a nature-based solution that is being used to address climate change, but a new study suggests that hurricanes could pose a risk. The results show that a single hurricane may wipe out 5% to 10% of total above-ground forest carbon, through tree damage, in New England.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:05:55 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424160555.htm
After spinal cord injury, neurons wreak havoc on metabolism
Conditions such as diabetes, heart attack and vascular diseases commonly diagnosed in people with spinal cord injuries can be traced to abnormal post-injury neuronal activity that causes abdominal fat tissue compounds to leak and pool in the liver and other organs, a new animal study has found.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:05:42 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424160542.htm
Network model unifies recency and central tendency biases
Neuroscientists have revealed that recency bias in working memory naturally leads to central tendency bias, the phenomenon where people's (and animals') judgements are biased towards the average of previous observations. Their findings may hint at why the phenomenon is so ubiquitous.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:05:39 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424160539.htm
Scientists identify and show how to target a key tumor defense against immune attack
A new study has discovered how a lipid molecule found at high levels within tumors undermines the anti-cancer immune response and compromises a recently approved immunotherapy known as adoptive cell therapy (ACT) using tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, or TIL-ACT.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:05:37 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424160537.htm
Can climate change accelerate transmission of malaria? Pioneering research sheds light on impacts of temperature
A groundbreaking study combined novel experimental data within an innovative modeling framework to examine how temperature might affect transmission risk of malaria in different environments in Africa.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:05:05 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424160505.htm
Cells may possess hidden communication system
Cells constantly navigate a dynamic environment, facing ever-changing conditions and challenges. But how do cells swiftly adapt to these environmental fluctuations? A new study is answering that question by challenging our understanding of how cells function. A team of researchers suggests that cells possess a previously unknown information processing system that allows them to make rapid decisions independent of their genes.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:04:54 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424160454.htm
Researchers uncover 'parallel universe' in tomato genetics
Researchers have made a breakthrough for evolutionary biology of the Solanaceae family, which includes peppers, potatoes and petunias.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:02:52 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424160252.htm
A flexible microdisplay can monitor brain activity in real-time during brain surgery
A thin film that combines an electrode grid and LEDs can both track and produce a visual representation of the brain's activity in real-time during surgery -- a huge improvement over the current state of the art. The device is designed to provide neurosurgeons visual information about a patient's brain to monitor brain states during surgical interventions to remove brain lesions including tumors and epileptic tissue.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:02:44 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424160244.htm
Color variants in cuckoos: The advantages of rareness
Every cuckoo is an adopted child -- raised by foster parents, into whose nest the cuckoo mother smuggled her egg. The cuckoo mother is aided in this subterfuge by her resemblance to a bird of prey. There are two variants of female cuckoos: a gray morph that looks like a sparrowhawk, and a rufous morph. Male cuckoos are always gray.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:02:36 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424160236.htm
Why can't robots outrun animals?
Robotics engineers have worked for decades and invested many millions of research dollars in attempts to create a robot that can walk or run as well as an animal. And yet, it remains the case that many animals are capable of feats that would be impossible for robots that exist today.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:02:30 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424160230.htm
Rubber-like stretchable energy storage device fabricated with laser precision
Scientists use laser ablation technology to develop a deformable micro-supercapacitor.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:16:59 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111659.htm
AI designs new drugs based on protein structures
A new computer process makes it possible to generate active pharmaceutical ingredients quickly and easily based on a protein's three-dimensional surface. The new process could revolutionize drug research.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:16:53 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111653.htm
Pattern formation in the nano-cosmos
A new model extends the theory of elastic phase separation towards nanoscopic structures. Such patterns are frequent in biological systems and also used in nano-engineering to create structural color. With their new insights, the scientists can predict the length scale of nanoscopic patterns and thus control them during production.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:16:35 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111635.htm
It takes two to TANGO: New strategy to tackle fibrosis and scarring
A study has now successfully controlled the effects of collagen hypersecretion at the cellular level. The experimental treatment consists of designer peptides which interrupt the interaction between TANGO1 and cTAGE5, two proteins important for collagen secretion. Experiments with patient-derived human cells and zebrafish showed the peptides are effective, non-toxic, and their effects reversible. The results pave the way for the development of new treatments that improve the cosmetic effects of scarring, relieve the symptoms of autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma, or help prevent the development of fibrosis, a more serious condition attributed to 45% of deaths in the industrialized world.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:16:32 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111632.htm
CAR T cell therapy targeting HER2 antigen shows promise against advanced sarcoma in phase I trial
Researchers have published results of a phase I clinical trial of a novel immunotherapy for high-risk sarcomas.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:16:24 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111624.htm
Social media can be used to increase fruit and vegetable intake in young people
Researchers have found that people following healthy eating accounts on social media for as little as two weeks ate more fruit and vegetables and less junk food.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:16:18 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111618.htm
Low intensity exercise linked to reduced depression
New research has found a significant association between participating in low to moderate intensity exercise and reduced rates of depression.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:16:12 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111612.htm
Positive effect of midazolam after cardiac arrest
If a patient is successfully resuscitated after a cardiac arrest and circulation resumes, they are not out of the woods yet. A number of factors can influence whether and how they survive the trauma in the subsequent phase. The administration of the anaesthetic midazolam has a positive effect, as shown by a multicenter study of 571 patients.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:16:09 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111609.htm
Giant viruses infect deadly parasite
The single-celled organism Naegleria fowleri ranks among the deadliest human parasites. Researchers have now discovered viruses that infect this harmful microbe. Named Naegleriavirus, these belong to the giant viruses, a group known for their unusually large particles and complex genomes.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:16:07 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111607.htm
Computer game in school made students better at detecting fake news
A computer game helped upper secondary school students become better at distinguishing between reliable and misleading news.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:16:04 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111604.htm
Researchers unveil PI3K enzyme's dual accelerator and brake mechanisms
The enzyme PI3K plays a critical role in cell migration. Scientists have long understood this function. But researchers have recently unveiled that a subunit of this enzyme also has the ability to slam on the breaks to this process.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:16:01 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111601.htm
Holographic displays offer a glimpse into an immersive future
Researchers have invented a new optical element that brings us one step closer to mixing the real and virtual worlds in an ordinary pair of eyeglasses using high-definition 3D holographic images.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:15:58 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111558.htm
How parasites shape complex food webs
A new study sheds light on how parasites, often overlooked, can dramatically affect the balance between predator and prey populations. Researchers developed a groundbreaking mathematical framework that predicts when predators, prey, and parasites can coexist, considering factors like random fluctuations and parasite effects on both populations. This research provides a valuable tool for conservation by helping predict how parasites influence ecosystem resilience and informing strategies to protect vulnerable species.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:15:52 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111552.htm
This salt battery harvests osmotic energy where the river meets the sea
Estuaries -- where freshwater rivers meet the salty sea -- are great locations for birdwatching and kayaking. In these areas, waters containing different salt concentrations mix and may be sources of sustainable, 'blue' osmotic energy. Researchers report creating a semipermeable membrane that harvests osmotic energy from salt gradients and converts it to electricity. The new design had an output power density more than two times higher than commercial membranes in lab demonstrations.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:15:49 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111549.htm
AI tool recognizes serious ocular disease in horses
Researchers have developed a deep learning tool that is capable of reliably diagnosing moon blindness in horses based on photos.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:15:47 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111547.htm
Modeling broader effects of wildfires in Siberia
As wildfires in Siberia become more common, global climate modeling estimates significant impacts on climate, air quality, health, and economies in East Asia and across the northern hemisphere.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:15:44 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111544.htm
Researchers find oldest undisputed evidence of Earth's magnetic field
A new study has recovered a 3.7-billion-year-old record of Earth's magnetic field, and found that it appears remarkably similar to the field surrounding Earth today.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:15:41 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111541.htm
Biophysics: Testing how well biomarkers work
Researchers have developed a method to determine how reliably target proteins can be labeled using super-resolution fluorescence microscopy.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:15:36 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111536.htm
Researchers show it's possible to teach old magnetic cilia new tricks
Magnetic cilia -- artificial hairs whose movement is powered by embedded magnetic particles -- have been around for a while, and are of interest for applications in soft robotics, transporting objects and mixing liquids. However, existing magnetic cilia move in a fixed way. Researchers have now demonstrated a technique for creating magnetic cilia that can be 'reprogrammed,' changing their magnetic properties at room temperature to change the motion of the cilia as needed.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:15:33 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111533.htm
Shoreline model predicts long-term future of storm protection and sea-level rise
Researchers have created a coastal evolution model to analyze how coastal management activities on barrier islands, meant to adapt to sea-level rise, can disrupt natural processes that are keeping the barrier islands above water. Replenishing beaches and clearing over-washed roads may not be the best long term strategy.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:15:30 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111530.htm
High-resolution lidar sees birth zone of cloud droplets
Scientists demonstrated the first-ever remote observations of the fine-scale structure at the base of clouds. The results show that the air-cloud interface is a transition zone where aerosol particles suspended in Earth's atmosphere give rise to the droplets that ultimately form clouds. The research will enable scientists to gain insight into how changes in atmospheric aerosol levels could affect clouds and climate.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:15:27 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111527.htm
Discovering cancers of epigenetic origin without DNA mutation
A research team has discovered that cancer, one of the leading causes of death worldwide, can be caused entirely by epigenetic changes, in other words, changes that contribute to how gene expression is regulated, and partly explain why, despite an identical genome, an individual develops very different cells (neurons, skin cells, etc.).
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:15:23 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111523.htm
Understaffed nursing homes in disadvantaged neighborhoods more likely to overuse antipsychotics
Nursing homes in disadvantaged communities are more likely to overmedicate residents with antipsychotics, especially homes that are understaffed, according to a new study.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:15:20 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111520.htm
Decoding Avar society
A multidisciplinary research team has combined ancient DNA data with a clear archaeological, anthropological and historical context to reconstruct the social dynamics of Avar-period steppe descent populations that settled in Europe's Carpathian Basin in the 6th century.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:15:18 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111518.htm
A chemical mystery solved -- the reaction explaining large carbon sinks
A mystery that has puzzled the scientific community for over 50 years has finally been solved. A team has discovered that a certain type of chemical reaction can explain why organic matter found in rivers and lakes is so resistant to degradation.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:15:10 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111510.htm
Opening up the potential of thin-film electronics for flexible chip design
The mass production of conventional silicon chips relies on a successful business model with large 'semiconductor fabrication plants' or 'foundries'. New research by shows that this 'foundry' model can also be applied to the field of flexible, thin-film electronics.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:15:07 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111507.htm
Making diamonds at ambient pressure
Researchers have grown diamonds under conditions of 1 atmosphere pressure and at 1025 degrees Celsius using a liquid metal alloy composed of gallium, iron, nickel, and silicon, thus breaking the existing paradigm. The discovery of this new growth method opens many possibilities for further basic science studies and for scaling up the growth of diamonds in new ways.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:15:04 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111504.htm
Eruption of mega-magnetic star lights up nearby galaxy
While ESA's satellite INTEGRAL was observing the sky, it spotted a burst of gamma-rays -- high-energy photons -- coming from the nearby galaxy M82. Only a few hours later, ESA's XMM-Newton X-ray space telescope searched for an afterglow from the explosion but found none. An international team realized that the burst must have been an extra-galactic flare from a magnetar, a young neutron star with an exceptionally strong magnetic field.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:15:01 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111501.htm
A simple 'twist' improves the engine of clean fuel generation
Researchers have found a way to super-charge the 'engine' of sustainable fuel generation -- by giving the materials a little twist. The researchers are developing low-cost light-harvesting semiconductors that power devices for converting water into clean hydrogen fuel, using just the power of the sun. These semiconducting materials, known as copper oxides, are cheap, abundant and non-toxic, but their performance does not come close to silicon, which dominates the semiconductor market.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:14:59 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111459.htm
Apply single-cell analysis to reveal mechanisms of a common complication of Crohn's disease
Study identifies key pathways underlying perianal fistula, a disease complication that is more prevalent and severe in African American populations.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:14:53 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111453.htm
