Even without a brain, metal-eating robots can search for food

This 'metal-eating' robot can follow a metal path without using a computer or needing a battery. By wiring the power-supplying units to the wheels on the opposite side, the robot autonomously navigates towards aluminum surfaces and away from hazards that block its energy source.

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Mothers bear the cost of the pandemic shift to remote work

At the same time the pandemic was expanding the number of people working remotely, children nationwide began attending school virtually. The result? An increase in domestic work that fell disproportionately on the shoulders of mothers, according to a new study by sociologists.

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Scientists create next gen living robots

Scientists up to create the next version of Xenobots - tiny biological robots that self-assemble, carry out tasks, and can repair themselves. Now they can move faster, and record information.

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How comorbidities increase risks for COVID patients

Comorbidities such as heart disease, respiratory disease, renal disease and cancer lead to an increased risk of death from COVID-19, according to new research.

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Why SARS-CoV-2 replicates better in the upper respiratory tract

Researchers have assessed virus growth and activation of the cellular defense mechanisms in the respiratory tract. They have shown that natural temperature differences that exist in the upper and lower respiratory tract have a profound influence on SARS-CoV-2 replication and subsequent innate immune activation in human cells. The findings can help to develop antiviral drugs and preventive measures.

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Temperature sensor could help safeguard mRNA vaccines

Researchers have developed a tamper-proof temperature indicator that can alert health care workers when a vial of vaccine reaches an unsafe temperature for a certain period, which could help ensure distribution of effective mRNA vaccines.

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B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19 spreading rapidly in United States

A genetic analysis of virus samples suggests that the UK-originating variant, which is 40-50 percent more transmissible, entered the country in late November 2020.

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Mothers bear the cost of the pandemic shift to remote work

At the same time the pandemic was expanding the number of people working remotely, children nationwide began attending school virtually. The result? An increase in domestic work that fell disproportionately on the shoulders of mothers, according to a new study by sociologists.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QUVjvE

How comorbidities increase risks for COVID patients

Comorbidities such as heart disease, respiratory disease, renal disease and cancer lead to an increased risk of death from COVID-19, according to new research.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2PoASGX

Why SARS-CoV-2 replicates better in the upper respiratory tract

Researchers have assessed virus growth and activation of the cellular defense mechanisms in the respiratory tract. They have shown that natural temperature differences that exist in the upper and lower respiratory tract have a profound influence on SARS-CoV-2 replication and subsequent innate immune activation in human cells. The findings can help to develop antiviral drugs and preventive measures.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ucBzSo

Temperature sensor could help safeguard mRNA vaccines

Researchers have developed a tamper-proof temperature indicator that can alert health care workers when a vial of vaccine reaches an unsafe temperature for a certain period, which could help ensure distribution of effective mRNA vaccines.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3fuljrZ

B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19 spreading rapidly in United States

A genetic analysis of virus samples suggests that the UK-originating variant, which is 40-50 percent more transmissible, entered the country in late November 2020.

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COVID-19-associated seizures may be common, linked to higher risk of death

Some hospitalized patients with COVID-19 experience 'nonconvulsive' seizures detected through electrode tests. Among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, those who had seizures were more likely to need lengthy hospital stays and faced a higher risk of dying.

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Fast, portable test can diagnose COVID-19 and track variants

Clinicians using a new viral screening test can not only diagnose COVID-19 in a matter of minutes with a portable, pocket-sized machine, but can also simultaneously test for other viruses -- like influenza -- that might be mistaken for the coronavirus. At the same time, they can sequence the virus, providing valuable information on the spread of COVID-19 mutations and variants.

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Ancient meteoritic impact over Antarctica 430,000 years ago

A research team of international space scientists has found new evidence of a low-altitude meteoritic touchdown event reaching the Antarctic ice sheet 430,000 years ago.

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Deep diamonds contain evidence of deep-Earth recycling processes

Diamonds that formed deep in the Earth's mantle contain evidence of chemical reactions that occurred on the seafloor. Probing these gems can help geoscientists understand how material is exchanged between the planet's surface and its depths.

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450-million-year-old sea creatures had a leg up on breathing

A new study has found the first evidence of sophisticated breathing organs in 450-million-year-old sea creatures. Contrary to previous thought, trilobites were leg breathers, with structures resembling gills hanging off their thighs.

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Fast, portable test can diagnose COVID-19 and track variants

Clinicians using a new viral screening test can not only diagnose COVID-19 in a matter of minutes with a portable, pocket-sized machine, but can also simultaneously test for other viruses -- like influenza -- that might be mistaken for the coronavirus. At the same time, they can sequence the virus, providing valuable information on the spread of COVID-19 mutations and variants.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dmlaUS

Turning back the clock on a severe vision disorder

Children born with a severe form of Leber congenital amaurosis are blind from birth. Researchers have developed a gene therapy that not only stops but reverses the damage to cone photoreceptor cells in a canine model of the condition.

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Lab-made hexagonal diamonds stiffer than natural diamonds

For the first time, researchers have hard evidence that human-made hexagonal diamonds are stiffer than cubic diamonds found in nature and often used in jewelry. Hexagonal diamonds have been found at some meteorite impact sites and others have been made in labs but were either too small or existed to briefly for measurement. Now scientists have created hexagonal diamonds large enough to measure their stiffness using sound waves.

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Exercise, healthy diet in midlife may prevent serious health conditions in senior years

Regular exercise and a healthy diet for middle-aged adults may be key to achieving optimal cardiometabolic health later in life. Cardiometabolic health risk factors include the metabolic syndrome, a cluster of health conditions such as excess body fat around the waist, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes.

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Engineers use tiny device to change songbird pitch, improve understanding of human speech

Scientific understanding of the brain regions responsible for speech and communication is limited. Consequently, knowledge of how to improve challenges such as speech impediments or language acquisition is limited as well. Using an ultra-lightweight, wireless implant, a team is researching songbirds - one of the few species that share humans' ability to learn new vocalizations - to improve scientific understanding of human speech.

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Experimental treatment offers hope of fertility for early menopausal women

Menopause typically signals the end of a woman's ability to become pregnant. However, in a small new study, a novel approach of administering platelet-rich plasma and gonadotropins near the ovarian follicles is showing promise in restoring ovarian function.

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Floating gardens as a way to keep farming despite climate change

Bangladesh's floating gardens, built to grow food during flood seasons, could offer a sustainable solution for parts of the world prone to flooding because of climate change, a new study has found.

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Impacts of sunscreen on coral reefs needs urgent attention

More research is needed on the environmental impact of sunscreen on the world's coral reefs.

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Exercise, healthy diet in midlife may prevent serious health conditions in senior years

Regular exercise and a healthy diet for middle-aged adults may be key to achieving optimal cardiometabolic health later in life. Cardiometabolic health risk factors include the metabolic syndrome, a cluster of health conditions such as excess body fat around the waist, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes.

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Experimental treatment offers hope of fertility for early menopausal women

Menopause typically signals the end of a woman's ability to become pregnant. However, in a small new study, a novel approach of administering platelet-rich plasma and gonadotropins near the ovarian follicles is showing promise in restoring ovarian function.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ftcTkw

How to talk to people about climate change

New research may offer some insight, examining biases towards climate information and offering tools to overcome these and communicate climate change more effectively.

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The 'one who causes fear' - new meat-eating predator discovered

Superbly preserved braincase of this new species is an important find - it suggests there was a greater diversity and abundance of abelisaurids late in dinosaurs' era than previously thought.

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The 'one who causes fear' - new meat-eating predator discovered

Superbly preserved braincase of this new species is an important find - it suggests there was a greater diversity and abundance of abelisaurids late in dinosaurs' era than previously thought.

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Urban squirrels, how much are we disturbing you?

Human disturbance in urban environments makes some squirrels fail, but others perform better in novel problem-solving.

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Endangered songbird challenging assumptions about evolution

New research looked at a newly discovered, endangered songbird located only in South America -- the Iberá Seedeater -- and found that this bird followed a very rare evolutionary path to come into existence at a much faster pace than the grand majority of species.

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An organic material for the next generation of HVAC technologies

On sultry summer afternoons, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems provide much-needed relief from the harsh heat and humidity. These systems, which often come with dehumidifiers, are currently not energy efficient, guzzling around 76% of the electricity in commercial and residential buildings.

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Kumon or Montessori? It may depend on your politics, according to new study of 8,500 parents

Whether parents prefer a conformance-oriented or independence-oriented supplemental education program for their children depends on political ideology, according to a study of more than 8,500 American parents.

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Architecture of Eolian successions under icehouse and greenhouse conditions

Anthropogenic climate change is one of the foremost scientific and societal challenges. In part, our response to this global challenge requires an enhanced understanding of how the Earth's surface responds to episodes of climatic heating and cooling.

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Kumon or Montessori? It may depend on your politics, according to new study of 8,500 parents

Whether parents prefer a conformance-oriented or independence-oriented supplemental education program for their children depends on political ideology, according to a study of more than 8,500 American parents.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/39wtXSO

Early Earth's hot mantle may have led to Archean 'water world'

Earth's sea level has remained fairly constant during the last 541 million years, but a new study suggests the planet may have been covered by a vast global ocean 4 to 3.2 billion years ago.

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Status of greater sage-grouse populations

A new report highlights the decline of greater sage-grouse across the American West while providing a roadmap to aid the conservation of the species.

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Synthetic mucus can mimic the real thing

Researchers have generated synthetic mucins with a polymer backbone that more accurately mimics the structure and function of naturally occurring mucins. They also showed that these synthetic mucins could effectively neutralize the bacterial toxin that causes cholera.

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Mysterious living monuments

Scientists think that climate change may have greater impact the largest trees in tropical forests, and the death of these giants has a major impact on the forest, but because these monumental trees are few and far between, almost nothing is known about what causes them to die.

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Herpesvirus triggers cervical cancer affecting nearly 1 in 4 adult sea lions

Research finds that a specific strain of herpesvirus triggers cervical cancer affecting nearly 1 in 4 necropsied California sea lions. The findings show that sea lions are a critical model for understanding how cancer develops with important parallels to human cancer research.

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Experimental hearing implant succeeds in registering brain waves

Researchers have succeeded for the first time in measuring brain waves directly via a cochlear implant. These brainwaves indicate in an objective way how good or bad a person's hearing is. The research results are important for the further development of smart hearing aids.

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Type of glaucoma linked to increased risk of cognitive impairment

A type of glaucoma called normal-tension glaucoma is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment and possibly dementia, finds new research.

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Prime editing enables precise gene editing without collateral damage

The latest gene editing technology, prime editing, expands the 'genetic toolbox' for more precisely creating disease models and correcting genetic problems, scientists say.

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Unique AI method for generating proteins will speed up drug development

Artificial Intelligence is now capable of generating novel, functionally active proteins. The new results represent a breakthrough in the field of synthetic proteins.

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Experimental hearing implant succeeds in registering brain waves

Researchers have succeeded for the first time in measuring brain waves directly via a cochlear implant. These brainwaves indicate in an objective way how good or bad a person's hearing is. The research results are important for the further development of smart hearing aids.

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Type of glaucoma linked to increased risk of cognitive impairment

A type of glaucoma called normal-tension glaucoma is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment and possibly dementia, finds new research.

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Although not venemous, a mouse's bite holds venomous potential

We are not venomous, and neither are mice - but within our genomes lurks that potential, suggest scientists The researchers found that the genetic foundation required for oral venom to evolve is present in both reptiles and mammals. The study also provides the first concrete evidence of an underlying molecular link between venom glands in snakes and salivary glands in mammals.

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Remote-friendly student project presentations enable creativity and risk-taking

In a two-year study that could help guide educators developing the post-pandemic new normal, student groups at the assigned to make video presentations showed more creativity and risk-taking than groups making conventional in-person presentations.

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An improved safety standard for bionic devices

While bionic devices are very safe, there has been no standard test for moisture leakage into the devices - until now. Researchers say a standard test will be increasingly important as bionic implants become more common.

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Remote-friendly student project presentations enable creativity and risk-taking

In a two-year study that could help guide educators developing the post-pandemic new normal, student groups at the assigned to make video presentations showed more creativity and risk-taking than groups making conventional in-person presentations.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3cxY9z2

Scientists develop test to detect the virus that causes COVID-19 even when it mutates

Scientists have developed a diagnostic test, which makes use of CRISPR, that can detect the virus that causes COVID-19 even after it has gone through mutations. Since viruses have the ability to evolve over time, a diagnostic test robust against potential mutations is a crucial tool for tracking and fighting the pandemic.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/39JhGuH

An improved safety standard for bionic devices

While bionic devices are very safe, there has been no standard test for moisture leakage into the devices - until now. Researchers say a standard test will be increasingly important as bionic implants become more common.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dl6d5g

Scientists develop test to detect the virus that causes COVID-19 even when it mutates

Scientists have developed a diagnostic test, which makes use of CRISPR, that can detect the virus that causes COVID-19 even after it has gone through mutations. Since viruses have the ability to evolve over time, a diagnostic test robust against potential mutations is a crucial tool for tracking and fighting the pandemic.

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Jordan's worsening water crisis a warning for the world

Prolonged and potentially destabilizing water shortages will become commonplace in Jordan by 2100, new research finds, unless the nation implements comprehensive reform, from fixing leaky pipes to desalinating seawater. Jordan's water crisis is emblematic of challenges looming around the world as a result of climate change and rapid population growth.

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Protein rewires metabolism to block cancer cell death, may allow cancer spread

One specific protein may be a master regulator for changing how cancer cells consume nutrients from their environments, preventing cell death and increasing the likelihood the cancer could spread, a study has shown.

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Researchers notice pattern on surface of leaves, uncover new clue about plant evolution

A doctoral student has identified a long-overlooked pattern in how plants evolved their equivalent of lungs -- tiny pores on the surfaces of leaves called stomata. Using specialized imaging techniques and a plant species not often found in laboratories, researchers say this discovery reveals a key difference in the evolution of plants that live on land versus those that can grow in water.

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Drug coupons and vouchers cover only a sliver of prescription drugs

Use of vouchers and coupons offered by pharmaceutical companies to defray patients' out-of-pocket drug costs is concentrated among a small number of drugs.

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Protein rewires metabolism to block cancer cell death, may allow cancer spread

One specific protein may be a master regulator for changing how cancer cells consume nutrients from their environments, preventing cell death and increasing the likelihood the cancer could spread, a study has shown.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3sDSBZw

Drug coupons and vouchers cover only a sliver of prescription drugs

Use of vouchers and coupons offered by pharmaceutical companies to defray patients' out-of-pocket drug costs is concentrated among a small number of drugs.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dgQiVD

Air pollution and physical exercise: When to do more or less

Physical activity is important in preventing heart and blood vessel disease in young people so long as they don't undertake very strenuous activity on days when air pollution levels are high, according to a nationwide study of nearly 1.5 million people published in the European Heart Journal.

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Air pollution and physical exercise: When to do more or less

Physical activity is important in preventing heart and blood vessel disease in young people so long as they don't undertake very strenuous activity on days when air pollution levels are high, according to a nationwide study of nearly 1.5 million people published in the European Heart Journal.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3fpeEPH

Probing wet fire smoke in clouds: Can water intensify Earth's warming?

A new instrument that samples smoke from megafires and scans humidity will help researchers better understand the scale and long-term impact of fires -- specifically how far and high the smoke will travel, when and where it will rain, and whether the wet smoke will warm the climate by absorbing sunlight.

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Mummified parrots point to trade in the ancient Atacama desert

Ancient Egyptians mummified cats, dogs, ibises and other animals, but closer to home in the South American Atacama desert, parrot mummies reveal that between 1100 and 1450 CE, trade from other areas brought parrots and macaws to oasis communities, according to an international and interdisciplinary team.

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Genetic sleuthing reveals endangered river dolphins in Asia as different species

New genetic analysis and years of painstaking research has revealed that one of the world's most endangered marine mammals is actually two species rather than one, as scientists had long assumed.

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Mapping policy for how the EU can reduce its impact on tropical deforestation

EU imports of products including palm oil, soybeans, and beef contribute significantly to deforestation in other parts of the world. In a new study, researchers evaluated over a thousand policy proposals for how the EU could reduce this impact, to assess which would have the largest potential to reduce deforestation - while also being politically feasible.

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Doubling down on headache pain

It's not uncommon for people who experience a concussion to have moderate to severe headaches in the weeks after the injury. A new study has found a combination of two drugs, both common anti-nausea medications, given intravenously in the emergency room may relieve those headaches better than a placebo.

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Detecting for carpal tunnel syndrome with a smartphone game

A research group developed a game application for smartphones that estimates the possibility of carpal tunnel syndrome with machine learning. The program acquires the trajectory of the thumb during a game play in 30 sec -- 1 minute, and detects the possibility of the disease.

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Stellar eggs near galactic center hatching into baby stars

Astronomers found a number of stellar eggs containing baby stars around the center of the Milky Way using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). Previous studies had suggested that the environment there is too harsh to form stars. These findings indicate that star formation is more resilient than researchers thought.

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Doubling down on headache pain

It's not uncommon for people who experience a concussion to have moderate to severe headaches in the weeks after the injury. A new study has found a combination of two drugs, both common anti-nausea medications, given intravenously in the emergency room may relieve those headaches better than a placebo.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3m1MT0Q

Detecting for carpal tunnel syndrome with a smartphone game

A research group developed a game application for smartphones that estimates the possibility of carpal tunnel syndrome with machine learning. The program acquires the trajectory of the thumb during a game play in 30 sec -- 1 minute, and detects the possibility of the disease.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/31ACiQZ

Genomic secrets of organisms that thrive in extreme deep-sea

Scientists have decoded the genomes of the deep-sea clam (Archivesica marissinica) and the chemoautotrophic bacteria (Candidatus Vesicomyosocius marissinica) that live in its gill epithelium cells. Through analysis of their genomic structures and profiling of their gene expression patterns, the research team revealed that symbiosis between the two partners enables the clams to thrive in extreme deep-sea environments.

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How will climate change affect hailstorms?

Hail severity will increase in most regions of the world while Australia and Europe are expected to experience more hailstorms as a result of climate change, an international review led by a UNSW Sydney researcher has found.

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Procedures identify Barrett's esophagus patients at risk for cancer progression

A combination of esophageal brushing and extensive genetic sequencing of the sample collected can detect chromosome alterations in people with Barrett's Esophagus, identifying patients at risk for progressing to esophageal cancer, according to a new study.

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Scientists discover a new auroral feature on Jupiter

Astronomers have detected new faint aurora features, characterized by ring-like emissions, which expand rapidly over time. Scientists determined that charged particles coming from the edge of Jupiter's massive magnetosphere triggered these auroral emissions.

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How will climate change affect hailstorms?

Hail severity will increase in most regions of the world while Australia and Europe are expected to experience more hailstorms as a result of climate change, an international review led by a UNSW Sydney researcher has found.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3w2mvZk

Procedures identify Barrett's esophagus patients at risk for cancer progression

A combination of esophageal brushing and extensive genetic sequencing of the sample collected can detect chromosome alterations in people with Barrett's Esophagus, identifying patients at risk for progressing to esophageal cancer, according to a new study.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dgGXx1

People with severe gum disease may be twice as likely to have increased blood pressure

Research shows that periodontitis, severe gum disease, is linked to higher blood pressure in otherwise healthy individuals. This study of 500 adults with and without gum disease found that approximately 50% of adults could have undetected hypertension. Promotion of good oral health could help reduce gum disease and the risk of high blood pressure and its complications.

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Artificial intelligence as a co-driver

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more common in many branches of industry and online retailing. Traditional lines of work, such as transport logistics and driving, are developing in a similar direction. Scientists have now investigated how efficient the use of AI is in the commercial management of trucks. Their answer: the best option is an intelligent combination of human decision-making and AI applications.

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Cells rely on their crampons to avoid slipping

Scientists have highlighted the key role of a protein called paxillin, which enables cells to perceive their environment and anchor at the right place with the help of cellular 'crampons'. Indeed, without functional paxillin, the cell is unable to attach properly and slips continuously. These results shed new light on how cells adhere or migrate, mechanisms essential to the good functioning of our organs, but also involved in the development of metastatic tumors.

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Carried with the wind: Mass migration of Larch Budmoth to the Russian High Arctic

In the summer of 2020, hundreds of Larch Budmoths were observed on Vize Island, in the Russian High Arctic, likely transported over 1,200 km by air currents from Siberia. This is the first and only terrestrial invertebrate to ever be discovered on the island. This finding could mean that Vize island is less isolated from insect migrants than was commonly thought.

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Forests on caffeine: Coffee waste can boost forest recovery

A new study finds that coffee pulp, a waste product of coffee production, can be used to speed up tropical forest recovery on post agricultural land.

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Laser lights the way

Despite the enormous amount of research over the decades into lasers and their applications, there have been few ways to accurately, efficiently, and directly observe fine details of their interactions with materials. For the first time, researchers have found a way to acquire such data from a production laser using low-cost equipment that could vastly improve the accuracy of items cut or etched with lasers. Given the ubiquity of lasers, this could have wide-ranging implications in laboratory, commercial and industrial applications.

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Long-term space travelers will need high-intensity exercise to protect heart health

Sustained low-intensity exercise does not completely counteract the effects of weightlessness on the heart muscle, which will atrophy over time in a gravity-free environment. Short bursts of repeated high-intensity activity during shorter space missions may be more successful in keeping the heart healthy.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dicnmG

People with severe gum disease may be twice as likely to have increased blood pressure

Research shows that periodontitis, severe gum disease, is linked to higher blood pressure in otherwise healthy individuals. This study of 500 adults with and without gum disease found that approximately 50% of adults could have undetected hypertension. Promotion of good oral health could help reduce gum disease and the risk of high blood pressure and its complications.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/31s7L7U

Cells rely on their crampons to avoid slipping

Scientists have highlighted the key role of a protein called paxillin, which enables cells to perceive their environment and anchor at the right place with the help of cellular 'crampons'. Indeed, without functional paxillin, the cell is unable to attach properly and slips continuously. These results shed new light on how cells adhere or migrate, mechanisms essential to the good functioning of our organs, but also involved in the development of metastatic tumors.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3szgwJw

Long-term space travelers will need high-intensity exercise to protect heart health

Sustained low-intensity exercise does not completely counteract the effects of weightlessness on the heart muscle, which will atrophy over time in a gravity-free environment. Short bursts of repeated high-intensity activity during shorter space missions may be more successful in keeping the heart healthy.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dicnmG

Uranium compound achieves record anomalous Nernst conductivity

New research has demonstrated that a magnetic uranium compound can have strong thermoelectric properties, generating four times the transverse voltage from heat than the previous record in a cobalt-manganese-gallium compound.

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Eat me: The cell signal of death

Scientists have revealed molecular mechanisms involved in eliminating unwanted cells in the body. A nuclear protein fragment released into the cytoplasm activates a plasma membrane protein to display a lipid on the cell surface, signalling other cells to get rid of it.

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Eat me: The cell signal of death

Scientists have revealed molecular mechanisms involved in eliminating unwanted cells in the body. A nuclear protein fragment released into the cytoplasm activates a plasma membrane protein to display a lipid on the cell surface, signalling other cells to get rid of it.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3wfxpLA

Signals from muscle protect from dementia

Scientists are studying how signals sent from skeletal muscle affect the brain.

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Ancient genomes trace the origin and decline of the Scythians

Generally thought of as fierce horse-warriors, the Scythians were a multitude of Iron Age cultures who ruled the Eurasian steppe, playing a major role in Eurasian history. A new study analyzes genome-wide data for 111 ancient individuals spanning the Central Asian Steppe from the first millennia BCE and CE. The results reveal new insights into the genetic events associated with the origins, development and decline of the steppe's legendary Scythians.

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How teeth sense the cold

An ion channel called TRPC5 acts as a molecular cold sensor in teeth and could serve as a new drug target for treating toothaches.

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Controlling bubble formation on electrodes

A new study finds the wettability of porous electrode surfaces is key to making efficient water-splitting or carbon-capturing systems.

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Plasmon-coupled gold nanoparticles useful for thermal history sensing

Researchers have demonstrated that stretching shape-memory polymers embedded with clusters of gold nanoparticles alters their plasmon-coupling, giving rise to desirable optical properties. One potential application for the material is a sensor that relies on optical properties to track an object or environment's thermal history.

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Signals from muscle protect from dementia

Scientists are studying how signals sent from skeletal muscle affect the brain.

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How teeth sense the cold

An ion channel called TRPC5 acts as a molecular cold sensor in teeth and could serve as a new drug target for treating toothaches.

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Hypnosis changes the way our brain processes information

In a new study, researchers showcased that the way our brain processes information is fundamentally altered during hypnosis. The research helps to understand how hypnosis produces changes in a hypnotized person's behavior and subjective experiences.

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Correcting altered brain circuit could tackle coinciding obesity and depression

Researchers have identified and characterized a novel neural circuit that mediates the reciprocal control of obesity and depression in mouse models, and a potential therapy.

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Hypnosis changes the way our brain processes information

In a new study, researchers showcased that the way our brain processes information is fundamentally altered during hypnosis. The research helps to understand how hypnosis produces changes in a hypnotized person's behavior and subjective experiences.

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Correcting altered brain circuit could tackle coinciding obesity and depression

Researchers have identified and characterized a novel neural circuit that mediates the reciprocal control of obesity and depression in mouse models, and a potential therapy.

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The persistent danger after landscape fires

Every year, an estimated four percent of the world's vegetated land surface burns, leaving more than 250 megatons of carbonized plants behind. A study has now recorded elevated concentrations of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFR) in these charcoals - in some cases even up to five years after the fire. These EPFR may generate reactive substances, which in turn harm plants and living organisms.

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A general approach to high-efficiency perovskite solar cells

Researchers developed a general methodology for the reproducible fabrication of high efficiency perovskite solar cells.

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Chemists achieve breakthrough in the production of three-dimensional molecular structures

A research team has succeeded in converting flat nitrogen-containing molecules into three-dimensional structures. These now significantly expand the range of molecules that chemists can draw on in their search for new active ingredients.

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Researchers harvest energy from radio waves to power wearable devices

From microwave ovens to Wi-Fi connections, the radio waves that permeate the environment are not just signals of energy consumed but are also sources of energy themselves. An international team of researchers has developed a way to harvest energy from radio waves to power wearable devices.

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Cholesterol may be key to new therapies for Alzheimer's disease, diabetes

A researcher examined the role of cholesterol in both Alzheimer's disease and Type 2 diabetes to identify a small molecule that may help regulate cholesterol levels in the brain, making it a potential new therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease.

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Fast-acting, color-changing molecular probe senses when a material is about to fail

Materials that contain special polymer molecules may someday be able to warn us when they are about to fail, researchers said. Engineers have improved their previously developed force-sensitive molecules, called mechanophores, to produce reversible, rapid and vibrant color change when a force is applied.

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California's diesel emissions rules reduce air pollution, protect vulnerable communities

Since 1990, California has used its authority under the federal Clean Air Act to enact more aggressive rules on emissions from diesel vehicles and engines compared to the rest of the U.S. Extending these standards to the rest of the U.S. could dramatically improve the nation's air quality and health, particularly in lower income communities of color, finds a new analysis.

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Cholesterol may be key to new therapies for Alzheimer's disease, diabetes

A researcher examined the role of cholesterol in both Alzheimer's disease and Type 2 diabetes to identify a small molecule that may help regulate cholesterol levels in the brain, making it a potential new therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease.

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California's diesel emissions rules reduce air pollution, protect vulnerable communities

Since 1990, California has used its authority under the federal Clean Air Act to enact more aggressive rules on emissions from diesel vehicles and engines compared to the rest of the U.S. Extending these standards to the rest of the U.S. could dramatically improve the nation's air quality and health, particularly in lower income communities of color, finds a new analysis.

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Moderate daily caffeine intake during pregnancy may lead to smaller birth size

Pregnant women who consumed the caffeine equivalent of as little as half a cup of coffee a day on average had slightly smaller babies than pregnant women who did not consume caffeinated beverages, according to a new study.

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Wisdom, loneliness and your intestinal multitude

Scientists have taken the connection between wisdom, loneliness and biology one step further, reporting that wisdom and loneliness appear to influence -- and/or be influenced by -- microbial diversity of the gut.

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Narcissism driven by insecurity, not grandiose sense of self

Narcissism is driven by insecurity, and not an inflated sense of self, finds a new study, which may also explain what motivates the self-focused nature of social media activity.

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Exposure to flame retardants early in pregnancy linked to premature birth

Expectant women are more likely to give birth early if they have high blood levels of a chemical used in flame retardants compared with those who have limited exposure, a new study finds.

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Ocean's mammals at crucial crossroads

The ocean's mammals are at a crucial crossroads - with some at risk of extinction and others showing signs of recovery, researchers say.

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Changes in ocean chemistry show how sea level affects global carbon cycle

A new analysis of strontium isotopes in marine sediments has enabled scientists to reconstruct fluctuations in ocean chemistry related to changing climate conditions over the past 35 million years. The results provide new insights into the inner workings of the global carbon cycle and, in particular, the processes by which carbon is removed from the environment through the deposition of carbonates.

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Moderate daily caffeine intake during pregnancy may lead to smaller birth size

Pregnant women who consumed the caffeine equivalent of as little as half a cup of coffee a day on average had slightly smaller babies than pregnant women who did not consume caffeinated beverages, according to a new study.

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New documentation: Old-growth forest carbon sinks overestimated

The claim that old-growth forests play a significant role in climate mitigation, based upon the argument that even the oldest forests keep sucking CO2 out of the atmosphere, is being refuted. Researchers document that this argument is based upon incorrectly analyzed data and that the climate mitigation effect of old and unmanaged forests has been greatly overestimated. Nevertheless, they reassert the importance of old-growth forest for biodiversity.

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Wisdom, loneliness and your intestinal multitude

Scientists have taken the connection between wisdom, loneliness and biology one step further, reporting that wisdom and loneliness appear to influence -- and/or be influenced by -- microbial diversity of the gut.

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Soft robotic dragonfly signals environmental disruptions

Engineers have developed an electronics-free, entirely soft robot shaped like a dragonfly that can skim across the water and react to environmental conditions such as pH, temperature or the presence of oil. The proof-of-principle demonstration could be the precursor to more advanced, autonomous, long-range environmental sentinels for monitoring a wide range of potential telltale signs of problems.

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'Climbing droplets' could lead to more efficient water harvesting

Researchers have discovered that a novel surface they developed to harvest water from the air encourages tiny water droplets to move spontaneously into larger droplets. When researchers placed microdroplets of water on their liquid-lubricant surface, the microdroplets propelled themselves to climb, without external force, into larger droplets along an oily, ramp-shaped meniscus that forms from the lubricant around the larger droplets. The 'coarsening droplet phenomenon' formed droplets large enough for harvesting.

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Ancient megafaunal mutualisms and extinctions as factors in plant domestication

The development of agriculture is often thought of as a human innovation in response to climate change or population pressure. A new manuscript challenges that concept, suggesting that plants that had already evolved adaptive traits for life among large-bodied grazing and browsing animals were more likely to prosper on a highly disturbed anthropogenic landscape.

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The very first structures in the Universe

The first moments of the Universe can be reconstructed mathematically even though they cannot be observed directly. Physicists have greatly improved the ability of complex computer simulations to describe this moment, discovering that a complex network of structures can form in the first trillionth of a second after the Big Bang. These microscopic clumps have masses of only a few grams and fit into volumes much smaller than particles.

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Arctic sponge survival in the extreme deep-sea

Researchers from the SponGES project collected year-round video footage and hydrodynamic data from the mysterious world of a deep-sea sponge ground in the Arctic.

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New insights into close encounters between albatross and fishing vessels

A novel analysis of encounters between albatross and commercial fishing vessels across the North Pacific Ocean is giving researchers important new understanding about seabird-vessel interactions that could help reduce harmful encounters.

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Revealing nano big bang: Scientists observe the first milliseconds of crystal formation

Scientists recruited a world-leading microscope to capture atomic-resolution, high-speed images of gold atoms self-organizing, falling apart, and then reorganizing many times before settling into a stable, ordered crystal.

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Want a longer, healthier life? Resolve your arguments by day's end

A recent study found that when people feel they have resolved an argument, the emotional response associated with that disagreement is significantly reduced and, in some situations, almost entirely erased.

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Want a longer, healthier life? Resolve your arguments by day's end

A recent study found that when people feel they have resolved an argument, the emotional response associated with that disagreement is significantly reduced and, in some situations, almost entirely erased.

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A novel marker of adult human neural stem cells discovered

Researchers have discovered BASP-1, a novel biomarker of adult human neural stem cells. With this newly discovered biomarker, scientists can better understand the relevance and intricate mechanisms of neurogenesis, which may lead to new future therapeutic approaches to treat and manage neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders associated with diminished neurogenesis.

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Lung cancer resistance: the key is glucose

Lung tumors are home to immune cells that affect their growth and resistance to treatment. Looking at neutrophils, scientists led by EPFL have discovered that the key might lie in the cells' ability to metabolize glucose, opening an entirely new target for improving radiotherapy.

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Researchers optimize materials design using computational technologies

The process of fabricating materials is complicated, time-consuming and costly. Too much of one material, or too little, can create problems with the product, forcing the design process to begin again. Advancements in the design process are needed to reduce the cost and time it takes to produce materials with targeted properties.

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A novel marker of adult human neural stem cells discovered

Researchers have discovered BASP-1, a novel biomarker of adult human neural stem cells. With this newly discovered biomarker, scientists can better understand the relevance and intricate mechanisms of neurogenesis, which may lead to new future therapeutic approaches to treat and manage neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders associated with diminished neurogenesis.

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Lung cancer resistance: the key is glucose

Lung tumors are home to immune cells that affect their growth and resistance to treatment. Looking at neutrophils, scientists led by EPFL have discovered that the key might lie in the cells' ability to metabolize glucose, opening an entirely new target for improving radiotherapy.

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Frequent consumption of meals prepared away from home linked to increased risk of early death

Dining out is a popular activity worldwide, but there has been little research into its association with health outcomes. Investigators looked at the association between eating out and risk of death and concluded that eating out very frequently is significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause death, which warrants further investigation.

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COVID-19 vaccines may not produce sufficient antibody response in transplant recipients

When clinical trials were conducted to determine the immunogenicity -- the ability to elicit an immune response -- for the first two vaccines marshaled against SARS-CoV-2the virus that causes COVID-19, one group was not among those included: people who have received solid organ transplants and others (such as those with autoimmune disorders) who are immunocompromised.

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DHA supplement may offset impact of maternal stress on unborn males

Researchers have uncovered possible reasons for male vulnerability in the womb, and they've learned a specific maternal dietary supplement called docosahexanoic acid (DHA) may guard against the impact of maternal stress on unborn males during early development.

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Scientists find evidence that novel coronavirus infects the mouth's cells

Scientists has found evidence that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, infects cells in the mouth. The findings point to the possibility that the mouth plays a role in transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to the lungs or digestive system via saliva laden with virus from infected oral cells. A better understanding of the mouth's involvement could inform strategies to reduce viral transmission within and outside the body.

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Scientists find evidence that novel coronavirus infects the mouth's cells

Scientists has found evidence that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, infects cells in the mouth. The findings point to the possibility that the mouth plays a role in transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to the lungs or digestive system via saliva laden with virus from infected oral cells. A better understanding of the mouth's involvement could inform strategies to reduce viral transmission within and outside the body.

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Large-scale genome analysis identifies differences by sex in major psychiatric disorders

Psychiatric researchers have identified interactions between genes and sex that might partly explain how major psychiatric disorders affect males and females differently.

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Engineers make filters from tree branches to purify drinking water

Filters made from tree branches can purify drinking water sources, a new study finds. Prototypes of these xylem filters, tested in India, show promise as a low-cost, natural filtration option.

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Anabolic androgenic steroids accelerate brain aging

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), a synthetic version of the male sex hormone testosterone, are sometimes used as a medical treatment for hormone imbalance, and its use is known to have many side effects, ranging from acne to heart problems to increased aggression. A new study now suggests that AAS can also have deleterious effects on the brain, causing it to age prematurely.

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Leaky blood-brain barrier linked to brain tissue damage in brain aging disease

Now a new study has found that people with cerebral small vessel disease who have blood-brain barrier leakage had more brain tissue damage over two years than people with less blood-brain barrier leakage.

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Genome sequenced for pesky pumpkin pathogen

Pumpkin growers dread the tiny tan scabs that form on their fruit, each lesion a telltale sign of bacterial spot disease. The specks don't just mar the fruit's flesh, they provide entry points for rot-inducing fungus and other pathogens that can destroy pumpkins and other cucurbits from the inside out. Either way, farmers pay the price, with marketable yields reduced by as much as 90%.

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Ancient Maya houses show wealth inequality is tied to despotic governance

Archaeologists examined the remains of houses in ancient Maya cities and compared them with other Mesoamerican societies; they found that the societies with the most wealth inequality were also the ones that had governments that concentrated power with a smaller number of people.

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Decline in black cherry regeneration may herald wider forest change

Reasons for more than a decade of black cherry regeneration decline in the Allegheny Hardwood Regions are not well-understood; a team of scientists looked at five leading hypotheses; they found that the most likely factors are pathogens and reduced nitrogen availability, and that black cherry may actually be a story of change on a much bigger scale.

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Anabolic androgenic steroids accelerate brain aging

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), a synthetic version of the male sex hormone testosterone, are sometimes used as a medical treatment for hormone imbalance, and its use is known to have many side effects, ranging from acne to heart problems to increased aggression. A new study now suggests that AAS can also have deleterious effects on the brain, causing it to age prematurely.

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Leaky blood-brain barrier linked to brain tissue damage in brain aging disease

Now a new study has found that people with cerebral small vessel disease who have blood-brain barrier leakage had more brain tissue damage over two years than people with less blood-brain barrier leakage.

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Shining a healing light on the brain

Scientists report a novel noninvasive treatment for brain disorders based on breakthroughs in both optics and genetics. It involves stimulation of neurons by means of radioluminescent nanoparticles injected into the brain and exposed to X-rays.

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Zooming in on muscle cells

An international team has produced the first high-resolution 3D image of the sarcomere, the basic contractile unit of skeletal and heart muscle cells, by using electron cryo-tomography. Electron cryo-tomography capability of imaging structures directly in frozen muscle cells could translate into future medical treatments for muscle diseases and a better understanding of the aging process.

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Shining a healing light on the brain

Scientists report a novel noninvasive treatment for brain disorders based on breakthroughs in both optics and genetics. It involves stimulation of neurons by means of radioluminescent nanoparticles injected into the brain and exposed to X-rays.

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Deadly heat waves will be common in South Asia, even at 1.5 degrees of warming

A new study projecting the amount of heat stress residents of the region will experience in the future finds with 2 degrees Celsius of warming, the population's exposure to heat stress will nearly triple.

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Zooming in on muscle cells

An international team has produced the first high-resolution 3D image of the sarcomere, the basic contractile unit of skeletal and heart muscle cells, by using electron cryo-tomography. Electron cryo-tomography capability of imaging structures directly in frozen muscle cells could translate into future medical treatments for muscle diseases and a better understanding of the aging process.

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For ancient farmers facing climate change, more grazing meant more resilience

Humans are remarkably adaptable, and our ancestors have survived challenges like the changing climate in the past. Now, research is providing insight into how people who lived over 5,000 years ago managed to adapt.

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Pollutant levels after Hurricane Harvey exceeded lifetime cancer risk in some areas

The unprecedented rainfall from Hurricane Harvey in 2017 brought more than flood damage to southeast Texas. For people living in environmental justice communities such as the Manchester neighborhood near the Houston Ship Channel, heavy rainfall and flooding may have increased risks of exposure to harmful chemicals from nearby industry.

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Dow-like index for energy prices might help smooth transition to clean power

Since the early industrial revolution in the mid-1700s, fossil fuels have acquired an ever-growing footprint in energy production. However, the environmental concerns of fossil fuels use and their inevitable depletion have led to a global shift toward renewable energy sources. These transitions, however, raise questions about the best choice of renewables and the impact of investing in these resources on consumer cost.

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Waste from making purple corn chips yields a natural dye, supplements, kitty litter

The more colorful a food, the more nutritious it probably is. For example, purple corn contains compounds associated with a reduced risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. The cobs contain the same compounds but are typically thrown out. Now, researchers report a step-wise biorefinery approach that uses the whole cob, producing a dye and a possible nutraceutical with the pigments, and an animal litter with the left-overs.

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Older than expected: Teeth reveal the origin of the tiger shark

A team of researchers has examined the fossil record of these apex predators and found out that modern tiger sharks are older than previously thought.

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Do you know the way to Berkelium, Californium?

Scientists have demonstrated how to image samples of heavy elements as small as a single nanogram. The new approach will help scientists advance new technologies for medical imaging and cancer therapies.

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Scientists improve a photosynthetic enzyme by adding fluorophores

To realize the full potential of solar energy, scientists must find efficient ways of converting light energy into chemical energy. Scientists have developed a chemically modified variant of a photosynthetic enzyme sourced from a bacterium. Their modifications enabled the enzyme to more efficiently harvest the energy available in light, which is an important advancement in the development of clean solar energy.

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Do you know the way to Berkelium, Californium?

Scientists have demonstrated how to image samples of heavy elements as small as a single nanogram. The new approach will help scientists advance new technologies for medical imaging and cancer therapies.

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Clues to start of Earth's supercontinent cycle

A research has uncovered solid clues about the very beginning of the supercontinent cycle of Earth, finding it was kick-started two billion years ago.

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Once-in-a-century UK wildfire threats could happen most years by end of century

Researchers looked at current frequency of weather conditions in the UK that present 'very high' or 'exceptional' fire danger, and found these conditions could occur hundreds of times more often in some regions by the 2050s and 2080s as temperatures rise and summer rainfall decreases.

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Extreme temperatures, heat stress and forced migration

Heat extremes will lead to climate-induced waves of migration toward the cooler north.

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Wafer-thin nanopaper changes from firm to soft at the touch of a button

Materials science likes to take nature and the special properties of living beings that could potentially be transferred to materials as a model. A research team has succeeded in endowing materials with a bioinspired property: Wafer-thin stiff nanopaper instantly becomes soft and elastic at the push of a button.

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Rugby study identifies new method to diagnose concussion using saliva

A study of top-flight UK rugby players has identified a method of accurately diagnosing concussion using saliva, paving the way for the first non-invasive clinical test for concussion.

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Researchers hunt for drugs that keep HIV latent

When the human immunodeficiency virus infects cells, it can either exploit the cells to start making more copies of itself or remain dormant -- a phenomenon called latency. Keeping these reservoirs latent is a challenge. A new paper has found a way to look for chemicals that can keep the virus suppressed into its dormant state.

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BMI1, a promising gene to protect against Alzheimer's disease

A molecular biologist discovers a new function for BMI1, which is known to counteract brain aging.

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Exercise boosts blood flow to the brain, study finds

It's not just your legs and heart that get a workout when you walk briskly; exercise affects your brain as well. A new study shows that when older adults with mild memory loss followed an exercise program for a year, the blood flow to their brains increased.

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Rugby study identifies new method to diagnose concussion using saliva

A study of top-flight UK rugby players has identified a method of accurately diagnosing concussion using saliva, paving the way for the first non-invasive clinical test for concussion.

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Researchers hunt for drugs that keep HIV latent

When the human immunodeficiency virus infects cells, it can either exploit the cells to start making more copies of itself or remain dormant -- a phenomenon called latency. Keeping these reservoirs latent is a challenge. A new paper has found a way to look for chemicals that can keep the virus suppressed into its dormant state.

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BMI1, a promising gene to protect against Alzheimer's disease

A molecular biologist discovers a new function for BMI1, which is known to counteract brain aging.

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Exercise boosts blood flow to the brain, study finds

It's not just your legs and heart that get a workout when you walk briskly; exercise affects your brain as well. A new study shows that when older adults with mild memory loss followed an exercise program for a year, the blood flow to their brains increased.

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Total knee replacement a cost-effective treatment for patients with knee osteoarthritis

Taking into consideration costs of forgoing versus pursuing total knee replacement, researchers found that across older and younger age groups, TKR is a cost-effective treatment for these patients.

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Reading minds with ultrasound: A less-invasive technique to decode the brain's intentions

A new brain imaging application uses ultrasound to predict intended movements before they happen.

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Scientists observe complex tunable magnetism in a topological material

Scientists have observed novel helical magnetic ordering in the topological compound EuIn2As2 which supports exotic electrical conduction tunable by a magnetic field.

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Changes in Antarctic marine ecosystems

Understanding the evolution of the polar sea ice is not enough to study the effects of the climate change on marine ecosystems in Antarctic seafloors. It is also necessary to determine the intensity of phytoplankton local production during the Antarctic summer.

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With drop in LA's vehicular aerosol pollution, vegetation emerges as major source

Organic aerosol pollutants have decreased in the Los Angeles area due to strict vehicle emissions controls, but aerosol levels still rise in hot weather to unhealthful levels. While some attribute these aerosols to household cleaning products, researchers have identified a more probable cause: chemicals emitted by vegetation. Given the number of trees in LA, like the isoprene-emiting Mexican fan palm, it's likely that 25% of organic aerosols are from plants.

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Union-friendly states enjoy higher economic growth, individual earnings

New research shows that state laws designed to hinder union activity and indulge corporate entities do not enhance economic productivity.

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New technology allows researchers to image wetland soil activity in real time

Researchers to create a new camera allowing for the imaging of wetland soil activity in real time. This camera gives the classic IRIS (indicator of reduction in soils) technology a big upgrade, allowing researchers to visualize the soil reduction process. This technology opens up new research avenues, and gives a compelling peak at how biochemically active wetland soils really are.

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Refining the hunt for SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater

A new study determines the best method yet for finding signs of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in municipal wastewater.

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Study outlines testing strategies for safer air travel during the pandemic

Almost 90 percent of infectious travelers could be detected with rapid SARS-CoV-2 tests at the airport, and most imported infections could be prevented with a combination of pre-travel testing and a five-day post-travel quarantine that would only lift with a negative test result, according to new research.

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High vitamin D levels may protect against COVID-19, especially for Black people, study suggests

In a retrospective study of individuals tested for COVID-19, vitamin D levels above those traditionally considered sufficient were associated with a lower risk of COVID-19.

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Long-haul COVID: Physicians review what's known

With more patients complaining of lingering and chronic effects from COVID-19, experts review what's known and why care for long-haulers requires an interdisciplinary approach.

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As more are vaccinated, it makes economic sense to gradually open the economy, study finds

Researchers conducted a data analysis that has found that as a larger portion of the population gets vaccinated against COVID-19, it becomes economically advantageous to start relaxing social distancing measures and open businesses.

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Refining the hunt for SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater

A new study determines the best method yet for finding signs of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in municipal wastewater.

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COVID-19 pandemic severely impacts mental health of young people

The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the mental health of young people, with increased levels of clinical depression being identified, a new study reports. A decrease in alcohol consumption was also identified amongst young people during the pandemic.

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Study identifies concerning delays in TB diagnoses in the United States

Most delays ranged between 10 and 45 days, with a median of 24 days, after a visit to a doctor, which exceeds current World Health Organization recommendations of diagnosing and treating TB within two to three weeks of symptom onset. Delays were linked to greater risk for disease complications, transmission of infection to household members Older individuals and those with compromised immunity were at greater risk for delayed diagnoses

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Fans prefer teams that built success over time more than teams that bought wins with purchased superstars, research finds

A new study shows people were willing to root more for the teams built over time than those assembled from free agency and deep-pocketed owners.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3s7BEWZ

A strong coffee half an hour before exercising increases fat-burning

In the afternoon, the effects of the caffeine are more marked than in the morning.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3cc6t7u

Fruit fly egg takes an active hand in its own growth, highlighting parallels to mammals

Scientists discover bidirectional communication between the Drosophila oocyte and nurse cells, challenging the long-held view that the oocyte plays a passive role in development. These findings have implications for understanding development in mammals.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3f08Pbk

Explosive origins of 'secondary' ice and snow

Scientists publish new direct evidence that shattering drizzle droplets drive explosive 'ice multiplication' events. The findings have implications for weather forecasts, climate modeling, water supplies -- and even energy and transportation infrastructure.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/399vzSy

Study identifies concerning delays in TB diagnoses in the United States

Most delays ranged between 10 and 45 days, with a median of 24 days, after a visit to a doctor, which exceeds current World Health Organization recommendations of diagnosing and treating TB within two to three weeks of symptom onset. Delays were linked to greater risk for disease complications, transmission of infection to household members Older individuals and those with compromised immunity were at greater risk for delayed diagnoses

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3riHGmA

Fans prefer teams that built success over time more than teams that bought wins with purchased superstars, research finds

A new study shows people were willing to root more for the teams built over time than those assembled from free agency and deep-pocketed owners.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3s7BEWZ

A strong coffee half an hour before exercising increases fat-burning

In the afternoon, the effects of the caffeine are more marked than in the morning.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3cc6t7u

Starving tumors by blocking glutamine uptake

Scientists have identified a drug candidate that blocks the uptake of glutamine, a key food source for many tumors, and slows the growth of melanoma.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vPRbgq

What early-budding trees tell us about genetics, climate change

Late frosts have caused millions of dollars in losses for orchards over the years. Scientists are investigating the genes that tell trees when to bud out and blossom. A deep understanding of the genetics of bud-break enables scientists to modify or select crop varieties more resilient to late frost, warming winters, diseases and pests.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ccMup7

Inflammation and pressure-sensing leads to 'feed-forward' loop in osteoarthritis

An unfortunate biological 'feed-forward' loop drives cartilage cells in an arthritic joint to actually contribute to progression of the disease, say researchers. Excessive loading under inflammatory conditions can create a situation that can lead to progressive cartilage degeneration.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/392TbIb

Why commercialization of carbon capture and sequestration has failed and how it can work

There are 12 essential attributes that explain why commercial carbon capture and sequestration projects succeed or fail in the U.S., researchers say.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vOcQ8F

Ultra-sensitive flow microsensors

A team of scientists have developed the thinnest and most sensitive flow sensor, which could have significant implications for medical research and applications, according to new research.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2NIut8P

Starving tumors by blocking glutamine uptake

Scientists have identified a drug candidate that blocks the uptake of glutamine, a key food source for many tumors, and slows the growth of melanoma.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vPRbgq

Inflammation and pressure-sensing leads to 'feed-forward' loop in osteoarthritis

An unfortunate biological 'feed-forward' loop drives cartilage cells in an arthritic joint to actually contribute to progression of the disease, say researchers. Excessive loading under inflammatory conditions can create a situation that can lead to progressive cartilage degeneration.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/392TbIb

Why commercialization of carbon capture and sequestration has failed and how it can work

There are 12 essential attributes that explain why commercial carbon capture and sequestration projects succeed or fail in the U.S., researchers say.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vOcQ8F

Hidden genetic defects contain real risks for serious diseases

Researchers have gained insight into the 'hidden genetic defects' of the general European population. This is important because these defects, if inherited from both father and mother, can lead to all kinds of illnesses in their children. Research in the Dutch and Estonian population shows that every person has two to four such hidden genetic defects.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3d0p4Tg

How flashlight fish communicate with light signals in the school

Flashlight fish have the ability to generate situation-specific blink patterns resembling a visual Morse code. Researchers have shown in laboratory and field experiments that the animals use these light signals to coordinate their behavior in the school when visibility is limited. Both the light intensity and the blinking frequency affected the animals' behavior.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2OLwiCt

Health declining in Gen X and Gen Y, US study shows

Recent generations show a worrying decline in health compared to their parents and grandparents when they were the same age, a new national study reveals. Researchers found that, compared to previous generations, members of Generation X and Generation Y showed poorer physical health, higher levels of unhealthy behaviors such as alcohol use and smoking, and more depression and anxiety.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2PcawYq

Difficulty learning nonsense words may indicate a child's high risk of dyslexia

A combined brain-scanning and behavior study has explored dyslexia in 7 & 8-year-old children learning how to read. Dyslexic youngsters were shown to have different activation in the left hemisphere compared to the control group - the area of the brain that specializes in processing language and speech. A related study by the group also found that self-confidence in reading ability helps young readers overcome some of the symptoms of dyslexia.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3c808Kf

How RNA editing affects the immune system

Researchers offer new insight into how the immune system relates to cancer. A new articl looks at how an enzyme called ADAR1 operates in pathways associated with cancer.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2PfGi6R

Solving 'barren plateaus' is the key to quantum machine learning

Many machine learning algorithms on quantum computers suffer from the dreaded 'barren plateau' of unsolvability, where they run into dead ends on optimization problems.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3c80bWr

Carbon uptake in regrowing Amazon forest threatened by climate and human disturbance

Large areas of forests regrowing in the Amazon to help reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, are being limited by climate and human activity.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3rbqzTo

Study shows stronger brain activity after writing on paper than on tablet or smartphone

A study of university students and recent graduates has revealed that writing on physical paper can lead to more brain activity when remembering the information an hour later. Researchers say that the unique, complex, spatial and tactile information associated with writing by hand on physical paper is likely what leads to improved memory.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3lD6X9D

Turns out altruism is for the fish

Through a series of prosocial choice tasks, researchers reveal prosocial and antisocial characteristics in male convict cichlid fish. The fish distinguish between female breeding partners, unknown females, and rival males by adjusting their actions to either provide food for both them and the females or avoid providing food for the rival males.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3lDduRM

Research finds surprising electron interaction in 'magic-angle' graphene

New research describes a technique that weakens the repulsive force between electrons in 'magic-angle' graphene superconductors, providing physicists with exciting new details about this strange state of matter.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2PfqoZU

Combination therapy may provide significant protection against lethal influenza

A significant proportion of hospitalized patients with influenza develop complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Investigators have found that treatment with an immune receptor blocker in combination with an antiviral agent markedly improves survival of mice infected with lethal influenza and reduces lung pathology in swine-influenza-infected piglets. Their research also provides insights into the optimal timing of treatment to prevent acute lung injury.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vNMuDJ

Chemical cocktail creates new avenues for generating muscle stem cells

A research team has identified a chemical cocktail that enables the production of large numbers of muscle stem cells, which can self-renew and give rise to all types of skeletal muscle cells.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3c79Mg4

Pancreatic cancer tumors use multiple mechanisms to avoid starvation: new target for treatment?

Researchers describe how pancreatic cancer cells use an alternative method to find necessary nutrients, defying current therapies, to help them grow and spread.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vQ0yMS

Endocrine disruptors threatens semen quality

Epidemiologists analyzed the potential impact of endocrine disruptors on semen quality of men whose mothers were working at the early stages of their pregnancy. Their results show that men who have been exposed in utero to products known to contain endocrine disruptors are twice more likely to have semen volume and total sperm count per ejaculation below the reference values set by the WHO.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3lBVNBU

Hidden genetic defects contain real risks for serious diseases

Researchers have gained insight into the 'hidden genetic defects' of the general European population. This is important because these defects, if inherited from both father and mother, can lead to all kinds of illnesses in their children. Research in the Dutch and Estonian population shows that every person has two to four such hidden genetic defects.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3d0p4Tg

How flashlight fish communicate with light signals in the school

Flashlight fish have the ability to generate situation-specific blink patterns resembling a visual Morse code. Researchers have shown in laboratory and field experiments that the animals use these light signals to coordinate their behavior in the school when visibility is limited. Both the light intensity and the blinking frequency affected the animals' behavior.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2OLwiCt

Health declining in Gen X and Gen Y, US study shows

Recent generations show a worrying decline in health compared to their parents and grandparents when they were the same age, a new national study reveals. Researchers found that, compared to previous generations, members of Generation X and Generation Y showed poorer physical health, higher levels of unhealthy behaviors such as alcohol use and smoking, and more depression and anxiety.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2PcawYq

Difficulty learning nonsense words may indicate a child's high risk of dyslexia

A combined brain-scanning and behavior study has explored dyslexia in 7 & 8-year-old children learning how to read. Dyslexic youngsters were shown to have different activation in the left hemisphere compared to the control group - the area of the brain that specializes in processing language and speech. A related study by the group also found that self-confidence in reading ability helps young readers overcome some of the symptoms of dyslexia.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3c808Kf

How RNA editing affects the immune system

Researchers offer new insight into how the immune system relates to cancer. A new articl looks at how an enzyme called ADAR1 operates in pathways associated with cancer.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2PfGi6R

Study shows stronger brain activity after writing on paper than on tablet or smartphone

A study of university students and recent graduates has revealed that writing on physical paper can lead to more brain activity when remembering the information an hour later. Researchers say that the unique, complex, spatial and tactile information associated with writing by hand on physical paper is likely what leads to improved memory.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3lD6X9D

Combination therapy may provide significant protection against lethal influenza

A significant proportion of hospitalized patients with influenza develop complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Investigators have found that treatment with an immune receptor blocker in combination with an antiviral agent markedly improves survival of mice infected with lethal influenza and reduces lung pathology in swine-influenza-infected piglets. Their research also provides insights into the optimal timing of treatment to prevent acute lung injury.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vNMuDJ

Chemical cocktail creates new avenues for generating muscle stem cells

A research team has identified a chemical cocktail that enables the production of large numbers of muscle stem cells, which can self-renew and give rise to all types of skeletal muscle cells.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3c79Mg4

Pancreatic cancer tumors use multiple mechanisms to avoid starvation: new target for treatment?

Researchers describe how pancreatic cancer cells use an alternative method to find necessary nutrients, defying current therapies, to help them grow and spread.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vQ0yMS

Parsing dopamine's different pain sensitivity role in males, females

Males and females, generally speaking, experience and respond to pain differently, but scientists have yet to understand all the brain circuits involved in these differences. Now, new research shows how neurons use dopamine to regulate pain differently in male and female mice.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3s7uQZm

Twice as much carbon flowing from land to ocean than previously thought

A new study provides new estimates of this elusive component of the global carbon cycle.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tIIFOw

A leap forward in research on CAR T cell therapy

A study looked into how CAR T immunotherapy could be used to treat solid tumors in addition to leukemias. The programming of CAR T cells opens avenues for applying cell therapies to, for example, breast cancer or ovarian cancer in the future.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3cXMxEe

Light it up: Practical metal nanostructures

Researchers have debunked the decade-old myth of metals being useless in photonics - the science and technology of light - with their findings, expected to lead to many applications in the field of nanophotonics.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3c4FeeX

New material: Rapid color change

Smart glass can change its color quickly through electricity. A new material developed by chemists has now set a speed record for such a change.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3sla74g

New analysis shows potential for 'solar canals' in California

Researchers published a new study that suggests covering California's 6,350 km network of public water delivery canals with solar panels could be an economically feasible means of advancing both renewable energy and water conservation.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3lzcJt0

System detects errors when medication is self-administered

Researchers have developed a system that uses wireless radio signals and artificial intelligence to detect errors in patients' use of inhalers and insulin pens. The technology could reduce unnecessary hospital admissions caused by poor adherence to certain medication administration guidelines.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vOspNK

Artificial neuron device could shrink energy use and size of neural network hardware

Neural network training could one day require less computing power and hardware, thanks to a new nanodevice that can run neural network computations using 100 to 1000 times less energy and area than existing CMOS-based hardware.

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Teamwork makes light shine ever brighter

Electrical current and laser light combine at a gold nanogap to prompt a dramatic burst of light. The phenomenon could be useful for nanophotonic switches in computer chips and for advanced photocatalysts.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/392kIK4

Common, serious gut disorder is under- and often misdiagnosed

Rumination syndrome is little known, but relatively common. It involves effortless, repeated regurgitation. This uncomfortable and embarrassing syndrome can be confused with other upper gastrointestinal disorders. Proper diagnosis is important because the treatment is very different from what is advised for similar gastrointestinal conditions.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3f2rd3a

A leap forward in research on CAR T cell therapy

A study looked into how CAR T immunotherapy could be used to treat solid tumors in addition to leukemias. The programming of CAR T cells opens avenues for applying cell therapies to, for example, breast cancer or ovarian cancer in the future.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3cXMxEe

System detects errors when medication is self-administered

Researchers have developed a system that uses wireless radio signals and artificial intelligence to detect errors in patients' use of inhalers and insulin pens. The technology could reduce unnecessary hospital admissions caused by poor adherence to certain medication administration guidelines.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vOspNK

Common, serious gut disorder is under- and often misdiagnosed

Rumination syndrome is little known, but relatively common. It involves effortless, repeated regurgitation. This uncomfortable and embarrassing syndrome can be confused with other upper gastrointestinal disorders. Proper diagnosis is important because the treatment is very different from what is advised for similar gastrointestinal conditions.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3f2rd3a

How gamblers plan their actions to maximize rewards

A study in biological psychology has shown that habitual gamblers use strategies during reinforcement learning that differ from those of the control group. This difference could be caused by changes in the dopamine system that influence strategic planning.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/315Q2D6

Anti-inflammatory therapies have potential to prevent heart disease in the elderly

Therapies that soothe inflammation could be effective at preventing heart disease in older people with a common blood condition, a new study suggests.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3r7sdWf

Dieting suppresses 'cellular engines', weight loss surgery gives boost to mitochondria

Dieting impairs the energy-producing machinery of fat tissue, potentially resulting in weight regain. In contrast, as indicated by a recent study, weight loss surgery gives a boost to mitochondria, improving the gene expression of these cellular engines.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3s9KG5U

How gamblers plan their actions to maximize rewards

A study in biological psychology has shown that habitual gamblers use strategies during reinforcement learning that differ from those of the control group. This difference could be caused by changes in the dopamine system that influence strategic planning.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/315Q2D6

Anti-inflammatory therapies have potential to prevent heart disease in the elderly

Therapies that soothe inflammation could be effective at preventing heart disease in older people with a common blood condition, a new study suggests.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3r7sdWf

Dieting suppresses 'cellular engines', weight loss surgery gives boost to mitochondria

Dieting impairs the energy-producing machinery of fat tissue, potentially resulting in weight regain. In contrast, as indicated by a recent study, weight loss surgery gives a boost to mitochondria, improving the gene expression of these cellular engines.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3s9KG5U

The hidden machinery of a photosynthetic giant revealed

Photosynthesis is the fundament of almost all live on earth, and yet it is not understood down to the last detail. An international research team has now unraveled one of its secrets. The researchers have successfully isolated a rare manifestation of photosystem I and studied it in detail. The study provided new insights into the transport of light-energy in this giant photosynthetic protein complex.

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'By-the-wind sailor' jellies wash ashore in massive numbers after warmer winters

Thanks to 20 years of observations from thousands of citizen scientists, researchers have discovered distinct patterns in the mass strandings of by-the-wind sailors, also called Velella velella. Specifically, large strandings happened simultaneously from the northwest tip of Washington south to the Mendocino coast in California, and in years when winters were warmer than usual.

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Christmas Island reptile-killer identified

With wild populations decimated, Lister's gecko and the blue-tailed skink only exist in captivity. Researchers have discovered a bacterium, which could cause their potential extinction.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Pg5qKr

Muscle cramp? Drink electrolytes, not water

If you reach for water when a muscle cramp strikes, you might want to think again. New research has revealed drinking electrolytes instead of pure water can help prevent muscle cramps.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2OKBFBX

Muscle cramp? Drink electrolytes, not water

If you reach for water when a muscle cramp strikes, you might want to think again. New research has revealed drinking electrolytes instead of pure water can help prevent muscle cramps.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2OKBFBX

Animal model opens way to test Alzheimer's disease therapies

Our knowledge of Alzheimer's disease has grown rapidly in the past few decades but it has proven difficult to translate fundamental discoveries about the disease into new treatments. Now researchers have developed a model of the early stages of Alzheimer's disease in rhesus macaques. The macaque model could allow better testing of new treatments.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QgtMnU

Exposure to common chemical during pregnancy may reduce protection against breast cancer

Low doses of propylparaben - a chemical preservative found in food, drugs and cosmetics - can alter pregnancy-related changes in the breast in ways that may lessen the protection against breast cancer that pregnancy hormones normally convey, according to new research.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3132WSl

Scientists shrink pancreatic tumors by starving their cellular 'neighbors'

Scientists have demonstrated that blocking 'cell drinking,' or macropinocytosis, in the thick tissue surrounding a pancreatic tumor slowed tumor growth--providing more evidence that macropinocytosis is a driver of pancreatic cancer growth and is an important therapeutic target.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tL3gBP

A modified protein appears to trigger lung fibrosis after environmental exposure

Research shows how cadmium and carbon black can trigger lung macrophages to produce a modified protein, citrullinated vimentin, which leads to lung fibrosis. Researchers also describe mechanistic steps in lung macrophages and lung fibroblasts that leads to the lung scarring. One enzyme involved in these steps, PAD2, may be a promising target to attenuate cadmium/carbon black-induced fibrosis. The study also reports a potential mouse disease model for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3tCMq7Y

Parental burnout hits individualist Western countries hardest

It's a first: approximately 100 scientists in 42 countries joined forces to learn about the incidence of parental burnout. They found that Western countries are the most affected by parental burnout. The cause? The often individualistic culture of Western countries. This international study, shows how culture, rather than socio-economic factors, plays a predominant role in parental burnout.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3lAyqso

Cellular benefits of gene therapy seen decades after treatment

Researchers have shown that the beneficial effects of gene therapy can be seen decades after the transplanted blood stem cells has been cleared by the body.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3eX1adL

Solving ancient problem of nucleic acid synthesis helps to design new antiviral drugs

Scientists have solved a long-standing mystery of how living organisms distinguish RNA and DNA building blocks during gene expression paving the way for the design of new antiviral drugs.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3cIlOeM

Stimulating the immune system to fight cancer

Cancer cells have evolved mechanisms to escape the body's immune defense. Agents that prevent immune escape are attractive targets for the development of new cancer therapies. Scientists have now developed a new cell-based test system to identify immunoregulatory modulators. Screening a library of over 150,000 substances revealed several potent substances with unprecedented structure.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3s69Sdk

Cancer survivors face elevated heart disease risk

A new study has found that about that 35% of Americans with a cancer history had an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease in the next decade, compared with about 23% of those who didn't have cancer.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2NB89Ok

How environmental exposures before conception may impact fetal development

A new report suggests older age and alcohol consumption in the year leading up to conception may have an impact by epigenetically altering a specific gene during development of human eggs, or oocytes. Although the study did not determine the ultimate physical effects of this change, it provides important insights into the intricate relationship between environmental exposures, genetic regulation and human development.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/30Vvai2

COVID-19 transmission rare in schools with masking, distancing, contact tracing, study finds

Wearing masks, social distancing and frequent hand-washing have kept in-school COVID-19 transmission low, according to results of a pilot study in Missouri aimed at identifying ways to keep elementary and secondary schools open and safe during the pandemic.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3bZC7VE

Stroke risk higher than expected among COVID-19 patients

Analysis of data from the American Heart Association's COVID-19 CVD Registry of more than 20,000 U.S. adults hospitalized with COVID-19 through November 2020 found that, overall, COVID-19 patients had an increased risk of stroke compared with patients who had influenza or sepsis. COVID-19 patients with ischemic stroke were more likely to be older, male, Black race or have high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes or an irregular heartbeat.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3c0BZVK

How do humpback whales rest?

An international research collaboration has used an omnidirectional camera attached to humpback whale to reveal how these creatures rest underwater. These findings demonstrate how wide-angle lens cameras can be useful tools for illuminating the ecology of difficult-to-observe animals in detail.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3vJqbiE

Substantially higher burden of COVID-19 compared to flu, new research shows

A new study compares the impact of COVID-19 on patients and hospital resources versus the impact of influenza.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/30W0ihr

COVID-19 transmission rare in schools with masking, distancing, contact tracing, study finds

Wearing masks, social distancing and frequent hand-washing have kept in-school COVID-19 transmission low, according to results of a pilot study in Missouri aimed at identifying ways to keep elementary and secondary schools open and safe during the pandemic.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3bZC7VE

Stroke risk higher than expected among COVID-19 patients

Analysis of data from the American Heart Association's COVID-19 CVD Registry of more than 20,000 U.S. adults hospitalized with COVID-19 through November 2020 found that, overall, COVID-19 patients had an increased risk of stroke compared with patients who had influenza or sepsis. COVID-19 patients with ischemic stroke were more likely to be older, male, Black race or have high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes or an irregular heartbeat.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3c0BZVK

Substantially higher burden of COVID-19 compared to flu, new research shows

A new study compares the impact of COVID-19 on patients and hospital resources versus the impact of influenza.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/30W0ihr

Identifying cells to better understand healthy and diseased behavior

Neuroscientists, using existing tools such as graphical models, can better identify cells in the brain. The algorithm has major implications for developmental diseases like Alzheimer's since once scientists can understand the mechanism of a disease, they can find interventions. The algorithm greatly accelerates the speed of analyzing whole-brain data and supports crowdsourcing where the larger neuroscience community can test the algorithm and build atlases.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/38ZjfUJ

Eating before 8:30 a.m. could reduce risk factors for type 2 diabetes

People who start eating before 8:30 a.m. had lower blood sugar levels and less insulin resistance, which could reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3s4FPCK

What brings olfactory receptors to the cell surface

A team of scientists has now identified address codes in odorant receptor proteins for the first time. Similar to zip codes, the codes ensure that the sensor proteins are targeted from inside the cell to the cell surface. The new findings could contribute to the development of novel test systems with which the odorant profiles of foods can be better controlled.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3eQSiX8

Not just for numbers: Anchoring biases decisions involving sight, sound, and touch

New research shows that the marketing communication technique of anchoring is not limited to decisions that involve numbers, the use and understanding of which require high-level cognitive thinking. Anchoring also biases judgments at relatively low levels of cognition when no numbers are involved.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3eWS80c

Pressure sensors could ensure a proper helmet fit to help protect the brain

Many athletes, from football players to equestrians, rely on helmets to protect their heads from impacts or falls. However, a loose or improperly fitted helmet could leave them vulnerable to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), a leading cause of death or disability in the U.S. Now researchers have developed a highly sensitive pressure sensor cap that, when worn under a helmet, could help reveal whether the headgear is a perfect fit.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/30VDvlT

Eating before 8:30 a.m. could reduce risk factors for type 2 diabetes

People who start eating before 8:30 a.m. had lower blood sugar levels and less insulin resistance, which could reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3s4FPCK

The role of adult playfulness in romantic life

While play and playfulness have been studied well in children, their structure and consequences are understudied in adults. A new article highlights available research on this topic and also examines why playfulness is important in romantic relationships.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/30YRAPq

Evidence of 55 new chemicals in people

Scientists have detected 109 chemicals in a study of pregnant women, including 55 chemicals never before reported in people and 42 'mystery chemicals,' whose sources and uses are unknown.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3eUWPYw

Researchers identify head impact rates in four major high school sports

A new study used head impact sensors in four different sports and studied male and female athletes to determine which of these sports put students at the highest risk for head impacts that could lead to concussions.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2NAcgKw

Facial recognition ID with a twist: Smiles, winks and other facial movements for access

Concurrent Two-Factor Identity Verification requires both one's facial identity and a specific facial motion to gain access. To set it up, a user faces a camera and records a short 1-2 second video of either a unique facial motion or a lip movement from reading a secret phrase. The video is then input into the device, which extracts facial features and the features of the facial motion, storing them for later ID verification.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3eSlY6d

Novel coronavirus circulated undetected months before first COVID-19 cases in Wuhan, China

Using molecular dating tools and epidemiological simulations, researchers estimate that the SARS-CoV-2 virus likely circulated undetected for two months before the first human cases of COVID-19 were described in Wuhan, China in late-December 2019.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/30WerLp

Novel coronavirus circulated undetected months before first COVID-19 cases in Wuhan, China

Using molecular dating tools and epidemiological simulations, researchers estimate that the SARS-CoV-2 virus likely circulated undetected for two months before the first human cases of COVID-19 were described in Wuhan, China in late-December 2019.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/30WerLp

Enigmatic circling behavior captured in whales, sharks, penguins, and sea turtles

Technological advances have made it possible for researchers to track the movements of large ocean-dwelling animals in three dimensions with remarkable precision in both time and space. Researchers reporting in the journal iScience on March 18 have now used this biologging technology to find that, for reasons the researchers don't yet understand, green sea turtles, sharks, penguins, and marine mammals all do something rather unusual: swimming in circles.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3bXy6Rj

Hubble shows torrential outflows from infant stars may not stop them from growing

In this largest-ever survey of nascent stars to date, researchers are finding that gas-clearing by a star's outflow may not be as important in determining its final mass as conventional theories suggest.

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Sheep vs. goats: Who are the best problem solvers?

When it comes to adapting to new situations, goats are a step ahead. Compared to sheep, they can more quickly adapt to changing environmental conditions. The study investigated how well the animals were able to navigate around obstacles to reach food.

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Astronomers see a 'space jellyfish'

A radio telescope located in outback Western Australia has observed a cosmic phenomenon with a striking resemblance to a jellyfish.

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Declining caribou population victim of ecological chain reaction

A new study comparing decades of environmental monitoring records has confirmed that Canada's caribou are not faring as well as other animals like moose and wolves in the same areas -- and also teased out why. The study used 16 years of data to examine changes in vegetation, moose, wolves and caribou.

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Jupiter's Great Red Spot feeds on smaller storms

The stormy, centuries-old maelstrom of Jupiter's Great Red Spot was shaken but not destroyed by a series of anticyclones that crashed into it over the past few years, according to a new study.

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SARS-CoV-2 infects cells via specific viral entry factors

A new study uncovers which cell types can be infected by SARS-CoV-2 due to their viral entry factors. The study also suggests that increased gene expression of these viral entry factors in some individuals partially explains the differences of COVID-19 severity reported in relation to age, gender and smoking status.

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