Researchers parse oddity of distantly related bats in Solomon Islands that appear identical
A study of body size in leaf-nosed bats of the Solomon Islands has revealed surprising genetic diversity among nearly indistinguishable species on different islands.
Tue, 30 Apr 2024 13:18:43 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240430131843.htm
NASA's Webb maps weather on planet 280 light-years away
Researchers have successfully used NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to map the weather on the hot gas-giant exoplanet WASP-43 b.
Tue, 30 Apr 2024 13:18:29 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240430131829.htm
Researchers identify over 2,000 genetic signals linked to blood pressure in study of over one million people
Researchers have discovered over a hundred new regions of the human genome, also known as genomic loci, that appear to influence a person's blood pressure. In total, over 2,000 independent genetic signals for blood pressure are now reported, demonstrating that blood pressure is a highly complex trait influenced by thousands of different genetic variants.
Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:55:45 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240430105545.htm
A virus could help save billions of gallons of wastewater produced by fracking
An estimated 168 billion gallons of wastewater -- or produced water -- is generated annually by the Permian Basin fracking industry, according to a 2022 report. The major waste stream has proved both difficult and costly to treat because of the chemical complexity of the water.
Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:55:40 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240430105540.htm
Discovery of mechanism plants use to change seed oil could impact industrial, food oils
Researchers have discovered a new mechanism of oil biosynthesis and found a way to genetically engineer a type of test plant to more efficiently produce different kinds of seed oil that it otherwise wouldn't make. While the engineering is proof-of-concept, this discovery could lead to improved production of valuable oils used in food and by a range of industries. The modified plant overcame metabolic bottlenecks and produced significant amounts of an oil similar to castor oil that it doesn't naturally produce.
Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:55:31 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240430105531.htm
New technology makes 3D microscopes easier to use, less expensive to manufacture
3D microscopes are used in applications from the life sciences to semiconductor manufacturing. Now engineers are developing patented and patent-pending innovations making them work faster to capture even more 3D images and less expensive to manufacture.
Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:55:14 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240430105514.htm
Trotting robots reveal emergence of animal gait transitions
A four-legged robot trained with machine learning has learned to avoid falls by spontaneously switching between walking, trotting, and pronking -- a milestone for roboticists as well as biologists interested in animal locomotion.
Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:55:11 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240430105511.htm
E-bike incentives prove to be worth the investment
Electric bicycle rebates have exploded in popularity in North America as transportation planners try to get people out of their cars and into healthier, more climate-friendly alternatives. However, questions remain: Are new cycling habits sustainable? Who benefits most from these incentives? And are they worth the cost? Researchers now have some answers.
Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:54:40 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240430105440.htm
The double-fanged adolescence of saber-toothed cats
How did North America's saber-toothed cats hunt without breaking their unwieldy saber-like canines, which are vulnerable to sideways bending stresses? A paleontologist provides mechanical evidence that during adolescence, when young cats were learning to hunt, their baby teeth remained in place for up to 30 months to laterally buttress the emerging permanent sabers. By the time the baby teeth fell out, presumably the adult cat knew how to protect its sabers during attacks.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 22:34:35 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429223435.htm
Fading lights: Multiple threats to North America's firefly populations
Scientists have applied a data-driven approach to understanding firefly population dynamics on a continental scale. Key findings from this new study indicate that fireflies, part of the beetle order, are sensitive to various environmental factors, from short-term weather conditions to longer climatic trends, including the number of growing-degree days related to temperature accumulations.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 20:19:30 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429201930.htm
Microarray patches safe and effective for vaccinating children, trial suggests
The first study of the use of microarray patches to vaccinate children has shown that the method is safe and induces strong immune responses. The phase 1/2 randomized trial compared results from the measles and rubella vaccine delivered by a microarray patch, a small sticking plaster-like device with an array of microscopic projections that painlessly penetrate the skin and deliver the vaccine, or by conventional injection with a needle and syringe.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 20:19:17 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429201917.htm
Research on RNA editing illuminates possible lifesaving treatments for genetic diseases
The research explores how CRISPR can be used to edit RNA.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 20:19:14 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429201914.htm
Study finds school entry requirements linked to increased HPV vaccination rates
A new study shows that school entry requirements are linked to an increase in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 16:58:30 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429165830.htm
Scientists harness the wind as a tool to move objects
Researchers have developed a technique to move objects around with a jet of wind. The new approach makes it possible to manipulate objects at a distance and could be integrated into robots to give machines ethereal fingers.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 16:58:22 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429165822.htm
Long snouts protect foxes when diving headfirst in snow
When hunting for mice in winter, red and arctic fox are known to plunge headfirst at speeds of 2-4 meters per second, but their sharp noses reduce the impact force in snow and protect them from injury, according to a new study.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 16:58:19 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429165819.htm
Laser imaging could offer early detection for at-risk artwork
A bright yellow pigment favored a century ago by Impressionists such as Matisse and Van Gogh is losing its luster. Researchers have developed a laser imaging technique that can detect the first tiny signs of the pigment's breakdown before they're visible to the eye. The work could help art conservators take earlier steps to make the color last.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 16:58:17 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429165817.htm
One in eight grown-ups love extreme tartness
For most people, biting into a lemon would leave them puckered up and desperate to lose that sour flavor, but a new study revealed that roughly one in eight adults like intensely sour sensations. The cross-cultural study demonstrated there is a subset of 'sour likers' who enjoy exceptionally sour foods.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 16:58:12 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429165812.htm
Enzymes open new path to universal donor blood
Researchers have discovered enzymes that remove hindrances that stood in the way of developing universal donor blood.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:36:05 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429133605.htm
Gemini south reveals origin of unexpected differences in giant binary stars
Astronomers have confirmed that differences in binary stars' composition can originate from chemical variations in the cloud of stellar material from which they formed. The results help explain why stars born from the same molecular cloud can possess different chemical composition and host different planetary systems, as well as pose challenges to current stellar and planet formation models.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:35:58 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429133558.htm
Possible alternative to antibiotics produced by bacteria
Many bacteria produce substances to gain an advantage over competitors in their highly competitive natural environment. Researchers have discovered a new so-called lantibiotic, namely epilancin A37. It is produced by staphylococci that colonize the skin and acts specifically against their main competitors there, the corynebacteria. This specificity is presumably mediated by a very special mechanism of action, which the researchers were able to decipher in detail.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:35:55 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429133555.htm
Researchers develop a new way to instruct dance in Virtual Reality
Virtual reality dance made easier with crowd wave technique. Open source code can be downloaded for Quest 2 and 3.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:35:46 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429133546.htm
Experimental type 1 diabetes drug shelters pancreas cells from immune system attack
Scientists say that an experimental monoclonal antibody drug called mAb43 appears to prevent and reverse the onset of clinical type 1 diabetes in mice, and in some cases, to lengthen the animals' lifespan.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:35:40 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429133540.htm
Intervention based on science of reading, math boosts comprehension, word problem-solving skills
Researchers tested a research-based intervention with English learners with math difficulty. The intervention proved to boost comprehension and help students synthesize and visualize information, which improved the students' math world problem-solving skills.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 13:35:37 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429133537.htm
More plants on the menu of ancient hunter-gatherers
It has long been thought that meat played an important role in the diet of hunter-gatherers before the Neolithic transition. However, due to the scarcity of well-preserved human remains from Paleolithic sites, little information exists about the dietary habits of pre-agricultural human groups. A new study challenges this notion by presenting compelling isotopic evidence of a strong preference for plants among 15,000-year-old hunter-gatherers from Morocco. This is the first time a significant amount of plant consumption has been measured for a pre-agricultural population, shedding new light on the dietary practices of ancient human societies.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 11:59:00 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429115900.htm
The aspirin conundrum: Navigating negative results, age, aging dynamics and equity
A new study examining the role of aspirin in breast cancer treatment reveals critical issues related to health equity and aging that have broad implications for cancer and other disease intervention trials, say researchers.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 11:58:57 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429115857.htm
Hornets found to be primary pollinators of two Angelica species
Researcher discovered that two species in the genus Angelica are pollinated primarily by hornets. This overturns the conventional belief that Angelica species are 'generalists,' meaning that there is not one primary pollinator but a variety of species. As hornets are rarely primary pollinators, the discovery also impacts future ecological research and conservation efforts.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 11:58:47 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429115847.htm
How can forests be reforested in a climate-friendly way?
Europe's forests have already been severely affected by climate change. Thousands of hectares of trees have already died due to drought and bark beetles. Scientists have now investigated which trees can be used for reforestation. Their findings: only a few tree species are fit for the future, such as English oak in the UK. However, mixed forests are important for the survival of forests, otherwise the forest ecosystem as a whole could be weakened.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 11:58:45 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429115845.htm
'Seeing the invisible': New tech enables deep tissue imaging during surgery
Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a state-of-the-art imaging technique useful for determining the composition of a variety of objects. Specifically, over-thousand-nanometer (OTN) HSI is particularly useful for detecting organic substances and in medical imaging. In a new study, researchers have developed the world's first rigid endoscope for visible-to-OTN HSI, utilizing supercontinuum lighting and an acoustic-opto tunable filter. This innovative system can pave the way for advanced medical imaging, helping both physicians and patients.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:31:07 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429103107.htm
Study reveals cancer vulnerabilities in popular dog breeds
Medium-sized dogs have a higher risk of developing cancer than the very largest or smallest breeds, according to a new study.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:31:04 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429103104.htm
AI algorithms can determine how well newborns nurse, study shows
A modified pacifier and AI algorithms to analyze the data it produces could determine if newborns are learning the proper mechanics of nursing, a recent study shows. Specifically, the researchers measured if babies are generating enough suckling strength to breastfeed and whether they are suckling in a regular pattern based on eight independent parameters.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:31:01 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429103101.htm
Details of hurricane Ian's aftermath captured with new remote sensing method
Using aerial imagery data and LiDAR, a study remotely identified the hardest-hit areas of Southwest Florida's Estero Island in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Researchers estimated the extent of structural damage and compared pre- and post-storm beach structural changes. They identified 2,427 structures that were impacted. The value of the heavily damaged structures was estimated at more than $200 million. The study has applied an advanced multi-faceted approach that links damage assessment to post-storm change in the structure of barrier islands.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:30:56 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429103056.htm
Cardio-fitness cuts death and disease by nearly 20%
Groundbreaking new research finds that an increased cardio fitness level will reduce your risk of death from any cause by nearly 20%.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:30:47 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429103047.htm
When does a conductor not conduct?
A new study uncovers a switchable, atomically-thin metal-organic material that could be used in future low-energy electronic technologies. The study shows that electron interactions in this material create an unusual electrically-insulating phase in which electrons are 'frozen'. By reducing the population of electrons, the authors are able to unfreeze the remaining electrons, allowing for controlled transitions between insulating and electrically-conductive phases: the key to the on-off binary operations of classical computing.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:30:39 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429103039.htm
Blood samples enhance B-cell lymphoma diagnostics and prognosis
A recently completed study indicates that circulatory protein levels can provide important information for increasingly accurate diagnoses and personalised care in patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Researchers identified a specific protein profile linked to more severe disease.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:30:36 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429103036.htm
Scientists develop strong yet reusable adhesive from smart materials
Scientists have developed a smart, reusable adhesive more than ten times stronger than a gecko's feet adhesion, pointing the way for development of reusable superglue and grippers capable of holding heavy weights across rough and smooth surfaces. The research team found a way to maximize the adhesion of the smart adhesives by using shape-memory polymers, which can stick and detach easily when needed simply by heating them. This smart adhesive can support extremely heavy weights, opening new possibilities for robotic grippers that allow humans to scale walls effortlessly, or climbing robots that can cling onto ceilings for survey or repair applications.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:30:34 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429103034.htm
Physicists show that light can generate electricity even in translucent materials
Some materials are transparent to light of a certain frequency. When such light is shone on them, electrical currents can still be generated, contrary to previous assumptions. Scientists have managed to prove this.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:30:31 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429103031.htm
Speeding up spectroscopic analysis
Ultrafast laser spectroscopy allows the ascertainment of dynamics over extremely short time scales, making it a very useful tool in many scientific and industrial applications. A major disadvantage is the considerable measuring time this technique usually requires, which often leads to lengthy acquisition times spanning minutes to hours. Researchers have now developed a technique to speed up spectroscopic analysis.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:30:28 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429103028.htm
Fixin' to be flexitarian: Scrap fish and invasive species can liven up vegetables
Greening the way we eat needn't mean going vegetarian. A healthy, more realistic solution is to adopt a flexitarian diet where seafoods add umami to 'boring' vegetables. A gastrophysicist puts mathematical equations to work in calculating the umami potential of everything from seaweed and shrimp paste to mussels and mackerel.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:30:26 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429103026.htm
After 25 years, researchers uncover genetic cause of rare neurological disease
Spinocerebellar ataxia 4 is a devastating progressive movement disease that can begin as early as the late teens. Now, a multinational research team has conclusively identified the genetic difference that causes the disease, bringing answers to families and opening the door to future treatments.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:30:23 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429103023.htm
T. Rex not as smart as previously claimed
Dinosaurs were likely as smart as reptiles but not as intelligent as monkeys.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:30:20 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429103020.htm
Breakthrough in brown fat research: Researchers have found brown fat's 'off-switch'
Researchers have found a protein that is responsible for turning off brown fat activity. This new discovery could lead to a promising strategy for safely activating brown fat and tackling obesity and related health problems.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:30:18 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429103018.htm
Probing the effects of interplanetary space on asteroid Ryugu
Samples reveal evidence of changes experienced by the surface of asteroid Ryugu, some probably due to micrometeoroid bombardment.
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:28:16 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240429102816.htm
Computer scientists unveil novel attacks on cybersecurity
Researchers have found two novel types of attacks that target the conditional branch predictor found in high-end Intel processors, which could be exploited to compromise billions of processors currently in use.
Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:52:29 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165229.htm
Breast cancer rates rising among Canadian women in their 20s, 30s and 40s
Rates of breast cancer in women under the age of 50 are rising in Canada according to a study which showed an increase in breast cancer diagnoses among females in their twenties, thirties, and forties.
Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:52:27 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165227.htm
The end of the quantum tunnel
Quantum mechanical effects such as radioactive decay, or more generally: 'tunneling', display intriguing mathematical patterns. Researchers now show that a 40-year-old mathematical discovery can be used to fully encode and understand this structure.
Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:52:24 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165224.htm
Study details a common bacterial defense against viral infection
Researchers report on the molecular assembly of one of the most common anti-phage systems -- from the family of proteins called Gabija -- that is estimated to be used by at least 8.5%, and up to 18%, of all bacteria species on Earth.
Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:52:19 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165219.htm
Researchers introduce new way to study, help prevent landslides
Landslides are one of the most destructive natural disasters on the planet, causing billions of dollars of damage and devastating loss of life every year. A global team of researchers has provided help for those who work to predict landslides and risk evaluations.
Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:52:16 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165216.htm
New algorithm cuts through 'noisy' data to better predict tipping points
A new algorithm can identify the most predictive data points that a tipping point is near.
Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:52:14 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165214.htm
Mobile device location data is already used by private companies, so why not for studying human-wildlife interactions
When did you last go anywhere without your cell phone? From maps and weather apps to social media platforms, we give consent for our phones to trace our footsteps and behavior. These curated mobility data are often used for personalized advertisements. Scientists now argue mobility data can offer so much more -- it is key to understanding human-wildlife interactions for guiding policy decisions on sustainability-related issues and should be free and accessible for research.
Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:52:11 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165211.htm
Test reveals mice think like babies
Are mice clever enough to be strategic? A neuroscientist who studies learning in humans and animals, and who has long worked with mice, wondered why rodents often performed poorly in tests when they knew how to perform well. With a simple experiment, and by acting as 'a little bit of a mouse psychologist,' he and his team figured it out.
Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:52:08 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165208.htm
From disorder to order: Flocking birds and 'spinning' particles
Researchers have demonstrated that ferromagnetism, an ordered state of atoms, can be induced by increasing particle motility and that repulsive forces between atoms are sufficient to maintain it. The discovery not only extends the concept of active matter to quantum systems but also contributes to the development of novel technologies that rely on the magnetic properties of particles, such as magnetic memory and quantum computing.
Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:52:06 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165206.htm
Energy trades could help resolve Nile conflict
Scientists have shed light on a new, transformative approach that could help resolve a dispute over the Nile river's water resources.
Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:52:04 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165204.htm
Tomography-based digital twins of Nd-Fe-B magnets
Scientists have succeeded in simulating the magnetization reversal of Nd-Fe-B magnets using large-scale finite element models constructed based on tomographic data obtained by electron microscopy. Such simulations have shed light on microstructural features that hinder the coercivity, which quantifies a magnet's resistance to demagnetization in opposing magnetic fields. New tomography-based models are expected to guide toward the development of sustainable permanent magnets with ultimate performance.
Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:52:01 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165201.htm
Florida dolphin found with highly pathogenic avian flu
Report details first-ever finding of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in North American dolphin.
Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:51:59 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165159.htm
Barcodes expand range of high-resolution sensor
A technique vastly expands the range of optical sensors used in measuring chemical signatures and molecules.
Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:51:56 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165156.htm
Imaging technique shows new details of peptide structures
Researchers outline how they used a chemical probe to light up interlocking peptides. Their technique will help scientists differentiate synthetic peptides from toxic types found in Alzheimer's disease.
Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:51:54 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165154.htm
New circuit boards can be repeatedly recycled
Researchers have developed a new PCB that performs on par with traditional materials and can be recycled repeatedly with negligible material loss. Researchers used a solvent that transforms a type of vitrimer -- a cutting-edge class of polymer -- into a jelly-like substance without damage, allowing solid components to be plucked out for reuse or recycling. With these 'vPCBs' (vitrimer printed circuit boards), researchers recovered 98% of the vitrimer and 100% of the glass fiber.
Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:51:51 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165151.htm
Blood test finds knee osteoarthritis up to eight years before it appears on x-rays
A blood test successfully predicted knee osteoarthritis at least eight years before tell-tale signs of the disease appeared on x-rays.
Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:51:47 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165147.htm
How geography acts as a structural determinant of health
In unincorporated communities in the United States-Mexico borderlands, historically and socially marginalized populations become invisible to the healthcare system, showing that geography acts as a structural determinant of health for low-income populations.
Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:51:44 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165144.htm
Getting dynamic information from static snapshots
Researchers have created TopicVelo, a powerful new method of using the static snapshots from scRNA-seq to study how cells and genes change over time. This will help researchers better study how embryos develop, cells differentiate, cancers form, and the immune system reacts.
Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:51:42 EDT
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/04/240426165142.htm
