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
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
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
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
A novel universal light-based technique to control valley polarization in bulk materials
Scientists report a new method that achieves for the first time valley polarization in centrosymmetric bulk materials in a non-material-specific way. This 'universal technique' may have major applications linked to the control and analysis of different properties for 2D and 3D materials, which can in turn enable the advancement of cutting-edge fields such us information processing and quantum computing.
Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:14:39 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240424111439.htm
Bioluminescence first evolved in animals at least 540 million years ago
Bioluminescence first evolved in animals at least 540 million years ago in a group of marine invertebrates called octocorals, according to the results of a new study. The study focuses on an ancient group of marine invertebrates that includes soft corals, pushes back the previous oldest dated example of trait by nearly 300 million years.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 20:41:48 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423204148.htm
Critical minerals recovery from electronic waste
A nontoxic separation process recovers critical minerals from electronic scrap waste.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 18:47:56 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423184756.htm
Asian monsoon lofts ozone-depleting substances to stratosphere
Powerful monsoon winds, strengthened by a warming climate, are lofting unexpectedly large quantities of ozone-depleting substances high into the atmosphere over East Asia, according to new research. The study found that the East Asian Monsoon delivers more than twice the concentration of very short-lived ozone-depleting substances into the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere than previously reported.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 18:47:01 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423184701.htm
World's chocolate supply threatened by devastating virus
A rapidly spreading virus threatens the health of the cacao tree and the dried seeds from which chocolate is made, jeopardizing the global supply of the world's most popular treat. Researchers have developed a new strategy: using mathematical data to determine how far apart farmers can plant vaccinated trees to prevent mealybugs from jumping from one tree to another and spreading the virus.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 15:59:10 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423155910.htm
This tiny chip can safeguard user data while enabling efficient computing on a smartphone
A new chip can efficiently accelerate machine-learning workloads on edge devices like smartphones while protecting sensitive user data from two common types of attacks -- side-channel attacks and bus-probing attacks.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 15:58:10 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423155810.htm
Livestock abortion surveillance could protect livelihoods and detect emerging global pathogens
A study suggests timely reporting and investigating of livestock abortions is feasible in rural areas and can provide insights into emerging infectious diseases.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 15:58:04 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423155804.htm
Warming climate is putting more metals into Colorado's mountain streams
Warming temperatures are causing a steady rise in copper, zinc and sulfate in the waters of Colorado mountain streams affected by acid rock drainage. Concentrations of these metals have roughly doubled in these alpine streams over the past 30 years, presenting a concern for ecosystems, downstream water quality and mining remediation, according to a new study. Natural chemical weathering of bedrock is the source of the rising acidity and metals, but the ultimate driver of the trend is climate change, the report found, and the results point to lower stream volumes and exposure of rock once sealed away by ice as the likely causes.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 15:57:58 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423155758.htm
Don't be a stranger -- study finds rekindling old friendships as scary as making new ones
Psychologists have found that people are as hesitant to reach out to an old friend as they are to strike up a conversation with a stranger, even when they had the capacity and desire to do so.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 15:55:30 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423155530.htm
Super Mario hackers' tricks could protect software from bugs
Video gamers who exploit glitches in games can help experts better understand buggy software, students suggest.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 13:52:19 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423135219.htm
Infected: Understanding the spread of behavior
A team of researchers found that long-tie connections accelerate the speed of social contagion.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 13:52:16 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423135216.htm
Researchers create artificial cells that act like living cells
Researchers describe the steps they took to manipulate DNA and proteins -- essential building blocks of life -- to create cells that look and act like cells from the body. This accomplishment, a first in the field, has implications for efforts in regenerative medicine, drug delivery systems and diagnostic tools.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 13:52:13 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423135213.htm
Marginalized communities developed 'disaster subculture' when living through extreme climate events
An assistant professor conducted a study in which he lived among one of the poorest, most marginalized communities in Seoul, South Korea. In the ethnographic study, he asked residents how they dealt with extreme heat. He found they tended to accept the conditions, stating there was not much that could be done. That shows people accepted extreme climate events, despite evidence showing this should not be normal, which bodes the argument social work as a field has much to do to help address climate emergencies.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 13:52:10 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423135210.htm
New study uncovers lasting financial hardship associated with cancer diagnosis for working-age adults in the U.S.
A new study highlights the lasting financial impact of a cancer diagnosis for many working-age adults and their families in the United States. It shows a cancer diagnosis and the time required for its treatment can result in employment disruptions, loss of household income and loss of employment-based health insurance coverage, leading to financial hardship.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 13:52:07 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423135207.htm
Innovative microscopy demystifies metabolism of Alzheimer's
Using state-of-the-art microscopy techniques, researchers have shed new light on the underlying mechanisms driving Alzheimer's disease.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 13:52:05 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423135205.htm
'Sunny day flooding' increases fecal contamination of coastal waters
A new study finds that 'sunny day flooding,' which occurs during high tides, increases the levels of fecal bacteria in coastal waters. While the elevated bacteria levels in the coastal waters tend to dissipate quickly, the findings suggest policymakers and public health officials should be aware of potential risks associated with tidal flooding.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 13:52:02 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423135202.htm
Toward unification of turbulence framework -- weak-to-strong transition discovered in turbulence
Astrophysicists have made a significant step toward solving the last puzzle in magnetohydrodynamic turbulence theory by observing the weak to strong transition in the space plasma turbulence surrounding Earth with newly developed multi-spacecraft analysis methods.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 13:51:59 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423135159.htm
Study compares salmonella rates in backyard, commercial poultry farm samples
Researchers find less Salmonella on backyard poultry farms. But concerns remain about the prevalance of multidrug-resistant bacteria on both large and small farms.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:31:44 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423113144.htm
In the brain, bursts of beta rhythms implement cognitive control
Bursts of brain rhythms with 'beta' frequencies control where and when neurons in the cortex process sensory information and plan responses. Studying these bursts would improve understanding of cognition and clinical disorders, researchers argue in a new review.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:31:38 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423113138.htm
Major milestone reached for key weapons component
Scientists have completed a crucial weapons component development milestone, prior to full rate production.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:31:36 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423113136.htm
Magnetic microcoils unlock targeted single-neuron therapies for neurodegenerative disorders
Researchers deploy an array of microscopic coils to create a magnetic field and stimulate individual neurons. The magnetic field can induce an electric field in any nearby neurons, the same effect created by an electrode but much more precise. They used an array of eight coils, which combined can induce electric fields using much less current per coil, and employed soft magnetic materials, which boost the magnetic strength of the coils. The researchers constructed a prototype of their coil array, called MagPatch, and encapsulated it within a biocompatible coating.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:31:33 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423113133.htm
Laser-treated cork absorbs oil for carbon-neutral ocean cleanup
Researchers use laser treatments to transform ordinary cork into a powerful tool for treating oil spills. They tested variations of a fast-pulsing laser treatment, closely examining the nanoscopic structural changes and measuring the ratio of oxygen and carbon in the material, changes in the angles with which water and oil contact the surface, and the material's light wave absorption, reflection, and emission across the spectrum to determine its durability after multiple cycles of warming and cooling. The laser treatments not only help to better absorb oil, but also work to keep water out.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:31:31 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423113131.htm
Tropical fish are invading Australian ocean water
A study of shallow-water fish communities on rocky reefs in south-eastern Australia has found climate change is helping tropical fish species invade temperate Australian waters.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:31:25 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423113125.htm
No bull: How creating less-gassy cows could help fight climate change
A new study has revealed breeding less-flatulent cows and restoring agricultural land could significantly reduce rising methane emission levels, which play a considerable role in climate change.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:31:23 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423113123.htm
Hey Dave, I've got an idea for you: What's the potential of AI-led workshopping?
Sure, ChatGPT can write a poem about your pet in the style of T.S Eliot, but generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots have a potentially more useful role to play in idea generation according to a new study.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:31:20 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423113120.htm
Odor-causing bacteria in armpits targeted using bacteriophage-derived lysin
A research team has synthesized a lysin that during in vitro experiments targets bacteria responsible for producing odors in human armpits.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:31:15 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423113115.htm
Gentle defibrillation for the heart
Using light pulses as a model for electrical defibrillation, scientists developed a method to assess and modulate the heart function. The research team has thus paved the way for an efficient and direct treatment for cardiac arrhythmias. This may be an alternative for the strong and painful electrical shocks currently used.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:31:07 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423113107.htm
Manipulating the geometry of 'electron universe' in magnets
Researchers have discovered a unique property, the quantum metric, within magnetic materials, altering the 'electron universe' geometry. This distinct electric signal challenges traditional electrical conduction and could revolutionize spintronic devices.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:31:04 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423113104.htm
Unlocking spin current secrets: A new milestone in spintronics
Using neutron scattering and voltage measurements, a group of researchers have discovered that a material's magnetic properties can predict spin current changes with temperature. The finding is a major breakthrough in the field of spintronics.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:31:01 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423113101.htm
Dengue fever infections have negative impacts on infant health for three years
Dengue infections in pregnant women may have a negative impact on the first years of children's lives, new research has found.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:30:59 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423113059.htm
Perfecting the view on a crystal's imperfection
Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has gained widespread attention and application across various quantum fields and technologies because it contains single-photon emmiters (SPEs), along with a layered structure that is easy to manipulation. The precise mechanisms governing the development and function of SPEs within hBN have remained elusive. Now, a new study reveals significant insights into the properties of hBN, offering a solution to discrepancies in previous research on the proposed origins of SPEs within the material.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:30:51 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423113051.htm
Fossil frogs share their skincare secrets
Palaeontologists have solved a hundred-year-old mystery of how some fossil frogs preserve their fleshy parts -- it's all down to their skin. Palaeontologists studied 45-million-year-old fossil frogs from the Geiseltal site in central Germany. Remarkably, the fossils show full body outlines of the soft tissues. The team discovered that the excellent condition of the fossil frogs is due to preservation of ancient skin remnants.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:30:48 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423113048.htm
Exploring brain synchronization patterns during social interactions
Social interactions synchronize brain activity within individuals and between individuals. In a new study, researchers compared brain synchronization between pairs of people with relatively strong social ties (acquaintance pairs) and pairs with almost no social ties (stranger pairs). The study found that during a cooperative task, the stranger pairs exhibited more closely connected brain networks compared to the acquaintance pairs. These findings challenge the conventional understanding that stronger social bonds lead to greater brain synchronization.
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:30:41 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240423113041.htm
Bella moths use poison to attract mates: Scientists are closer to finding out how
Researchers sequence the bella moth genome, which they used to pinpoint specific genes that may confer immunity to noxious alkaloids.
Mon, 22 Apr 2024 17:08:21 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240422170821.htm
The spiciness of mustard may depend on soil microbes
New study finds microbes may influence the taste of mustard seeds.
Mon, 22 Apr 2024 17:08:18 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240422170818.htm
AI tool creates 'synthetic' images of cells for enhanced microscopy analysis
Researchers have developed a method to use an image generation AI model to create realistic images of single cells, which are then used as 'synthetic data' to train an AI model to better carry out single-cell segmentation.
Mon, 22 Apr 2024 17:08:15 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240422170815.htm
World's oases threatened by desertification, even as humans expand them
Oases are important habitats and water sources for dryland regions, sustaining 10% of the world's population despite taking up about 1.5% of land area. But in many places, climate change and anthropogenic activities threaten oases' fragile existence. New research shows how the world's oases have grown and shrunk over the past 25 years as water availability patterns changed and desertification encroaches on these wet refuges.
Mon, 22 Apr 2024 17:08:08 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240422170808.htm
Eye-opener: Pupils enlarge when people focus on tasks
Normally, a person's pupils naturally widen (or dilate) in low-light environments to allow more light into the eye. However, in a new study, researchers reported that a person's pupils also dilate when they are concentrating on tasks. In particular, they found that the more a person's eyes dilated during the task, the better they did on tests measuring their working memory.
Mon, 22 Apr 2024 17:08:05 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240422170805.htm
