Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Precarious work associated with high BMI

A study inks precarious work with increases in body mass index and adds to a growing body of evidence that precarious work may contribute to poor health outcomes.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/YjKOP4a

Researchers identify three intestinal bacteria found in dementia with Lewy bodies

Researchers have identified gut bacteria that are associated with dementia with Lewy bodies. Changing the levels of three bacteria, Collinsella, Ruminococcus, and Bifidobacterium, may delay the onset and progression of this neurodegenerative disease.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ukrb9K

Precarious work associated with high BMI

A study inks precarious work with increases in body mass index and adds to a growing body of evidence that precarious work may contribute to poor health outcomes.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/YjKOP4a

Will future computers run on human brain cells?

A 'biocomputer' powered by human brain cells could be developed within our lifetime, according to researchers who expect such technology to exponentially expand the capabilities of modern computing and create novel fields of study.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/vVDz8xA

New purification method could make protein drugs cheaper

Engineers devised a way to purify protein drugs during manufacturing. Their approach, which uses nanoparticles to rapidly crystallize proteins, could help make protein drugs more affordable and accessible, especially in developing countries.

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

Will future computers run on human brain cells?

A 'biocomputer' powered by human brain cells could be developed within our lifetime, according to researchers who expect such technology to exponentially expand the capabilities of modern computing and create novel fields of study.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/vVDz8xA

Monday, February 27, 2023

Who are the first ancestors of present-day fish?

What is the origin of the ancestors of present-day fish? What species evolved from them? A 50-year-old scientific controversy revolved around the question of which group, the 'bony-tongues' or the 'eels', was the oldest. A study has just put an end to the debate by showing through genomic analysis that these fishes are in fact one and the same group, given the rather peculiar name of 'Eloposteoglossocephala'. These results shed new light on the evolutionary history of fish.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/UuI1l6m

Real or fake text? We can learn to spot the difference

While apprehensions about employment and schools dominate headlines, the truth is that the effects of large-scale language models such as ChatGPT will touch virtually every corner of our lives. These new tools raise society-wide concerns about artificial intelligence's role in reinforcing social biases, committing fraud and identity theft, generating fake news, spreading misinformation and more. A team of researchers is seeking to empower tech users to mitigate these risks. The authors demonstrate that people can learn to spot the difference between machine-generated and human-written text.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/tv3DyjZ

Tiny new climbing robot was inspired by geckos and inchworms

A tiny robot that could one day help doctors perform surgery was inspired by the incredible gripping ability of geckos and the efficient locomotion of inchworms.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/r8jhYPb

Tiny new climbing robot was inspired by geckos and inchworms

A tiny robot that could one day help doctors perform surgery was inspired by the incredible gripping ability of geckos and the efficient locomotion of inchworms.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/r8jhYPb

Dinosaur claws used for digging and display

Dinosaur claws had many functions, but now a team has shown some predatory dinosaurs used their claws for digging or even for display.

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

Are your strawberries bland? Pesticides could be to blame

Have you ever bitten into a plump, red strawberry, only to find it bland and watery? Certain pesticides might be responsible. A team has found that two common strawberry fungicides can impact cellular mechanisms, creating berries with subdued flavor and sweetness, as well as a lower nutritional value.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/1K2MpN4

Ancient proteins offer new clues about origin of life on Earth

By simulating early Earth conditions in the lab, researchers have found that without specific amino acids, ancient proteins would not have known how to evolve into everything alive on the planet today -- including plants, animals, and humans.

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

Satellites observe speed-up of Glaciers on the Antarctic Peninsula

Glaciers -- giant blocks of moving ice -- along Antarctica's coastline are flowing faster in the summer because of a combination of melting snow and warmer ocean waters, say researchers. On average, the glaciers travel at around one kilometre a year. But a new study has found a seasonal variation to the speed of the ice flow, which speeded up by up to 22 % in summer when temperatures are warmer. This gives an insight into the way climate change could affect the behaviour of glaciers and the role they could play in raising sea levels.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/cSK5gPL

Reducing social media use significantly improves body image in teens, young adults

Teens and young adults who reduced their social media use by 50% for just a few weeks saw significant improvement in how they felt about both their weight and their overall appearance compared with peers who maintained consistent levels of social media use, according to new research.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/6q35snj

Sunday, February 26, 2023

Research captures and separates important toxic air pollutant

A series of new stable, porous materials that capture and separate benzene have been developed.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/H6pwKDd

Head injuries could be a risk factor for developing brain cancer

Previous studies have suggested a possible link between head injury and increased rates of brain tumors but evidence has been limited and often inconclusive. A team has now identified a possible mechanism to explain this link, implicating genetic mutations acting in concert with brain tissue inflammation to change the behavior of cells, making them more likely to become cancerous. Although this study was largely carried out in mice, it suggests that it would be important to explore the relevance of these findings to human gliomas.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/La64phl

Researchers create E. coli-based water monitoring technology

People often associate Escherichia coli with contaminated food, but E. coli has long been a workhorse in biotechnology. Scientists have now demonstrated that the bacterium has further value as part of a system to detect heavy metal contamination in water.

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

MoBIE enables modern microscopy with massive data sets

High-resolution microscopy techniques, for example electron microscopy or super-resolution microscopy, produce huge amounts of data. The visualization, analysis and dissemination of such large imaging data sets poses significant challenges. Now, these tasks can be carried out using MoBIE, which stands for Multimodal Big Image Data Exploration, a new user-friendly, freely available tool. This means that researchers such as biologists, who rely on high-resolution microscopy techniques, can incorporate multiple data sets to study the processes of life at the very smallest scales.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/hm2Wwk1

Psyllium fiber protects against colitis by activating bile acid sensor, biomedical sciences researchers find

Psyllium fiber protects against ulcerative colitis and suppresses inflammation by activating the bile acid nuclear receptor, a mechanism that was previously unrecognized, according to a new study.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/PWfaFq9

Unusual atom helps in search for Universe's building blocks

An unusual form of caesium atom is helping a research team unmask unknown particles that make up the Universe.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/zsxq2nt

Friday, February 24, 2023

Climate change, urbanization drive major declines in Los Angeles' birds in California, US

Biologists use current and historical bird surveys to reveal how land use change has amplified -- and in some cases mitigated -- the impacts of climate change on bird populations in Los Angeles and the Central Valley over the past century. The study found that urbanization and much hotter and drier conditions in L.A. have driven declines in more than one-third of bird species in the region.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/sC0DawJ

Getting good sleep could add years to your life

Getting good sleep can play a role in supporting your heart and overall health -- and maybe even how long you live -- according to new research.

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

Children's lung capacity improved in cleaner air

As air pollution in Stockholm has decreased, so has the lung capacity of children and adolescents has improved, a new study reports. The researchers consider the results important, since the lung health of the young greatly affects the risk of their developing chronic lung diseases later in life.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/rcBQ7yM

Children's lung capacity improved in cleaner air

As air pollution in Stockholm has decreased, so has the lung capacity of children and adolescents has improved, a new study reports. The researchers consider the results important, since the lung health of the young greatly affects the risk of their developing chronic lung diseases later in life.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/rcBQ7yM

Sea stars able to consume kelp-eating urchins fast enough to protect kelp forests, research shows

Researchers have provided the first experimental evidence that a species of endangered sea star protects kelp forests along North America's Pacific Coast by preying on substantial numbers of kelp-eating urchins.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/07OH3mF

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Pairing students supports integration at universities

Some universities grapple with difficulties in integrating students from different countries. New research points to a method that both reduces academic and social gaps and increases well-being. The recipe for success is to work in pairs -- as chosen by the teacher.

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

Microcalcification 'fingerprints' can yield info about cancer

An interdisciplinary collaboration 10 years in the making used a materials science approach to 'fingerprint' the calcium mineral deposits known as microcalcifications that reveal pathological clues to the progression of breast cancer and potentially other diseases.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/MTYmpC2

People who regularly use laxatives may have an increased risk of dementia

People who regularly use laxatives, a common treatment for constipation, may have more than a 50% increased risk of developing dementia than people who do not use laxatives, according to a new study. Researchers also found people who used only osmotic laxatives, a type of laxative that attracts water to the colon to soften stool, had an even greater risk. Other types of laxatives are bulk-forming, stool-softening, and stimulating. The study does not prove that laxatives cause dementia. It only shows an association.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/6EvjlTN

People who regularly use laxatives may have an increased risk of dementia

People who regularly use laxatives, a common treatment for constipation, may have more than a 50% increased risk of developing dementia than people who do not use laxatives, according to a new study. Researchers also found people who used only osmotic laxatives, a type of laxative that attracts water to the colon to soften stool, had an even greater risk. Other types of laxatives are bulk-forming, stool-softening, and stimulating. The study does not prove that laxatives cause dementia. It only shows an association.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/6EvjlTN

Skipping breakfast may compromise the immune system

A new study shows fasting can trigger a negative effect on fighting infection on a cellular level in mouse models.

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

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

New research reveals 12 ways aquaculture can benefit the environment

Aquaculture, or the farming of aquatic plants and animals, contributes to biodiversity and habitat loss in freshwater and marine ecosystems globally, but when used wisely, it can also be part of the solution, new research shows.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2tTEdZ8

Human body found to predict mealtimes

The human body can predict the timing of regular meals, according to a new study. The research team also found that daily blood glucose rhythms may be driven not only by meal timing but by meal size.

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

Meteorite crater discovered in French winery

Countless meteorites have struck Earth in the past and shaped the history of our planet. It is assumed, for example, that meteorites brought with them a large part of its water. The extinction of the dinosaurs might also have been triggered by the impact of a very large meteorite. It turns out that the marketing 'gag' of the 'Domaine du Météore' winery is acutally a real impact crater. Meteorite craters which are still visible today are rare because most traces of the celestial bodies have long since disappeared again.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/tEOoqQ1

A new model offers an explanation for the huge variety of sizes of DNA in nature

A new model offers a possible solution to the scientific question of why neutral sequences, sometimes referred to as 'junk DNA', are not eliminated from the genome of living creatures in nature and continue to exist within it even millions of years later.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/bcCz9dF

When is remdesivir effective for COVID-19?

Remdesivir was one of the first medications approved for treatment of COVID-19. Clinical studies evaluated its effectiveness, but did not generate conclusive results. A new analysis of the study data shows that a specific group of patients benefits the most from the drug.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/8sfqijQ

Vibrating capsule doubles the ability for constipation sufferers to defecate without drugs

A vibrating capsule designed to stir the colon to action appears to double the ability for adults struggling with debilitating chronic constipation to defecate more normally and without drugs, researchers report.

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

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

COVID-19 vaccination linked to fewer cardiac events

Analyzing the most extensive datasets in the U.S., researchers have revealed that vaccination against COVID-19 is associated with fewer heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular issues among people who were infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/5EMvDSw

First stem cells from a bat species known to harbor SARS-CoV-2 could shed light on virus survival and molecular adaptability

Researchers have generated the first induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from bats, gaining valuable insights into the close relationship between bats and viruses.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/HdE9yQ0

COVID-19 vaccination linked to fewer cardiac events

Analyzing the most extensive datasets in the U.S., researchers have revealed that vaccination against COVID-19 is associated with fewer heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular issues among people who were infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/5EMvDSw

How can the metaverse improve public health?

The metaverse is a technological revolution in the field of virtual reality, with potential benefits to public health research. A new article proposes several new ways in which the metaverse can help us design, test, and experience health-promoting environments to minimize the risk of non-communicable diseases.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/t8JmUyh

Study unlocks clues in mystery of naked mole-rats' exceptional fertility

Unlike humans and other mammals, which become less fertile with age, naked mole-rats can reproduce throughout their remarkably long lifespans. A new study sheds light on unique processes that bestow the rodents with what seems like eternal fertility, findings that could eventually point to new therapies for people.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/wYaxQ2U

Gene variations for immune and metabolic conditions have persisted in humans for more than 700,000 years

A new study explores 'balancing selection' by analyzing thousands of modern human genomes alongside ancient hominin groups, such as Neanderthal and Denisovan genomes. The research has 'implications for understanding human diversity, the origin of diseases, and biological trade-offs that may have shaped our evolution,' says evolutionary biologists.

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

Monday, February 20, 2023

The drug fasudil is found to reverse key symptoms of schizophrenia in mice

Researchers used the drug fasudil to restore neurons and improve methamphetamine-induced cognitive dysfunction in a mouse model of schizophrenia.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/eClfRI7

Achieving a better understanding of how the blood-brain barrier works

Up to now, the use of models to research the barrier that separates the circulatory from the nervous system has proven to be either limited or extremely complicated. Researchers have now developed a more realistic model that can also be used to better explore new treatments for brain tumors.

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

Newly identified tsetse fly pheromone may help in curbing disease spread

Scientists have identified a volatile pheromone emitted by the tsetse fly, a blood-sucking insect that spreads diseases in both humans and animals across much of sub-Saharan Africa. The discovery offers new insights into how the flies communicate with one another and could yield new methods for controlling their populations and the harmful diseases they carry.

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

Significant findings related to obesity

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports the prevalence of obesity in the U.S. was 42.4% in 2018, with current estimates indicating the global prevalence of overweight and obesity may exceed 57% by 2030.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/mUGyM4r

Rationing: A fairer way to fight climate change?

World War II-style rationing could be an effective way to reduce carbon emissions, according to new research.

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

Geckos know their own odor

Geckos can use their tongue to differentiate their own odor from that of other members of their species, as researchers have shown in a new experimental study. The findings show that geckos are able to communicate socially, meaning that they are more intelligent than was previously assumed.

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

Friday, February 17, 2023

Amazon mammals threatened by climate change

Most land-based mammals in the Brazilian Amazon are threatened by climate change and the savannization of the region.

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

Does ice in the Universe contain the molecules making up the building blocks of life in planetary systems?

If you want to build a habitable planet, ice is a key ingredient. The ice can be found in enormous clouds in the Universe and it is the main carrier of the necessary elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur. These elements are part of the atmosphere around planets and part of molecules like sugar, alcohols and simple amino acids as well. The new James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has contributed to the discovery of different ices in a molecular cloud, 'Chameleon 1' -- one of the coldest and darkest regions to have ever been explored. Astronomers assume that these types of molecules were also present in the cold cloud of gas and dust forming our own solar system.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/KTM0Eba

Keeping drivers safe with a road that can melt snow, ice on its own

Slipping and sliding on snowy or icy roads is dangerous. Salt and sand help melt ice or provide traction, but excessive use is bad for the environment. And sometimes, a surprise storm can blow through before these materials can be applied. Now, researchers ave filled microcapsules with a chloride-free salt mixture that's added into asphalt before roads are paved, providing long-term snow melting capabilities in a real-world test.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/eCg463s

Newly discovered virus can kill resistant bacteria

A Danish creek has surprised researchers by containing previously unknown virus species.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/UPX9hcH

U.S. unprepared for dangers posed by zoonotic diseases, new analysis concludes

The United States, the largest importer of wildlife in the world, is not prepared for future spread of animal-borne, or zoonotic, diseases due to gaps among governmental agencies designed to combat these threats, concludes a new analysis.

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

U.S. unprepared for dangers posed by zoonotic diseases, new analysis concludes

The United States, the largest importer of wildlife in the world, is not prepared for future spread of animal-borne, or zoonotic, diseases due to gaps among governmental agencies designed to combat these threats, concludes a new analysis.

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

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

New AI tool guides users away from incendiary language

To help identify when tense online debates are inching toward irredeemable meltdown, researchers have developed an artificial intelligence tool that can track these conversations in real-time, detect when tensions are escalating and nudge users away from using incendiary language.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/eEY6o2J

'Magic' solvent creates stronger thin films

A new all-dry polymerization technique uses reactive vapors to create thin films with enhanced properties, such as mechanical strength, kinetics and morphology.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/sfbRea2

On-demand male contraceptive shows promise in preclinical study

An experimental contraceptive drug temporarily stops sperm in their tracks and prevents pregnancies in preclinical models. The study demonstrates that an on-demand male contraceptive is possible.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/uPZ194G

On-demand male contraceptive shows promise in preclinical study

An experimental contraceptive drug temporarily stops sperm in their tracks and prevents pregnancies in preclinical models. The study demonstrates that an on-demand male contraceptive is possible.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/uPZ194G

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Complex subsurface of Mars imaged by Chinese rover Zhurong

Ground-penetrating radar from China's Martian rover Zhurong reveals shallow impact craters and other geologic structures in the top five meters of the red planet's surface.

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

Complex subsurface of Mars imaged by Chinese rover Zhurong

Ground-penetrating radar from China's Martian rover Zhurong reveals shallow impact craters and other geologic structures in the top five meters of the red planet's surface.

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

Monday, February 13, 2023

The relationship between ghosting and closure

Odds are, you know someone who has been ghosted. And according to a new study, it can be a haunting experience. A recent study found nearly two-thirds of participants have ghosted -- ended a relationship by ignoring the other person, without offering a clear explanation -- and have been ghosted.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/sHJNvl6

Fructose could drive Alzheimer's disease

An ancient human foraging instinct, fueled by fructose production in the brain, may hold clues to the development and possible treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/PDmC7fp

Method found for analysing complex, tiny crystals

The atomic structure of solid substances can often be analysed quickly, easily and very precisely using X-rays. However, this requires that crystals of the corresponding substances exist. Chemists are developing methods to make this possible even for very small crystals that cannot be seen with the naked eye. These include phosphorus oxide nitrides, which consist of phosphorus, nitrogen and oxygen and do not occur in nature. Unusual properties are attributed to this novel class of compounds, which have been difficult to access until now, because of their unusual structures.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/S9wki3X

Research illuminates a therapeutic strategy to induce cancer cell death

New research illuminates the mechanisms at work that prevent the p53 gene from triggering effective cancer cell death.

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

Children use the same brain network as adults for tough problems

Children as young as 4 years old show evidence of a network in the brain found in adults that tackles difficult cognitive problems, a new study found.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/br215wT

Children use the same brain network as adults for tough problems

Children as young as 4 years old show evidence of a network in the brain found in adults that tackles difficult cognitive problems, a new study found.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/br215wT

Friday, February 10, 2023

Tracking ocean microplastics from space

New information about an emerging technique that could track microplastics from space has been uncovered. It turns out that satellites are best at spotting soapy or oily residue, and microplastics appear to tag along with that residue.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/In2DP9e

Review strengthens evidence that repetitive head impacts can cause CTE

Over 600 CTE cases have been published in the literature from multiple international research groups. And of those over 600 cases, 97 percent have confirmed exposure to RHI, primarily through contact and collision sports. CTE has been diagnosed in amateur and professional athletes, including athletes from American, Canadian, and Australian football, rugby union, rugby league, soccer, ice hockey, bull-riding, wrestling, mixed-martial arts, and boxing.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Kwi5c8P

Cockatoos know to bring along multiple tools when they fish for cashews

Goffin's cockatoos have been added to the short list of non-human animals that use and transport toolsets. Researchers show that the cockatoos carry multiple tools to their worksite when the job calls for it. This behavior has only been previously reported in chimpanzees, our closest relatives.

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

Record low sea ice cover in the Antarctic

There is currently less sea ice in the Antarctic than at any time in the forty years since the beginning of satellite observation: in early February 2023, only 2.20 million square kilometers of the Southern Ocean were covered with sea ice.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/0xtezbK

Mushrooms magnify memory by boosting nerve growth

Researchers have discovered the active compound from an edible mushroom that boosts nerve growth and enhances memory.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/L7zE3i0

Review strengthens evidence that repetitive head impacts can cause CTE

Over 600 CTE cases have been published in the literature from multiple international research groups. And of those over 600 cases, 97 percent have confirmed exposure to RHI, primarily through contact and collision sports. CTE has been diagnosed in amateur and professional athletes, including athletes from American, Canadian, and Australian football, rugby union, rugby league, soccer, ice hockey, bull-riding, wrestling, mixed-martial arts, and boxing.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Kwi5c8P

Tracing the origin of life

A team of scientists has discovered a new abiotic pathway for the formation of peptide chains from amino acids -- a key chemical step in the origin of life. The current study provides strong evidence that this crucial step for the emergence of life can indeed occur even in the very inhospitable conditions of space.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/1tsmOEA

Yellow evolution: Unique genes led to new species of monkeyflower

Monkeyflowers glow in a rich assortment of colors, from yellow to pink to deep red-orange. But about 5 million years ago, some of them lost their yellow. Botanists now explain what happened genetically to jettison the yellow pigment, and the implications for the evolution of species.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/aR43XgE

HETDEX reveals galaxy gold mine in first large survey

The Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment (HETDEX) announced their first publicly released catalog of astronomical objects. Over 200,000 astronomical objects including distant stars and galaxies have been mapped in 3D for the first time. Astronomers will use the data to better determine the Hubble constant, used to gauge the expansion of the universe. Possible 'naked black hole' early highlight of science results from HETDEX survey. TACC systems Corral, Stampede2, and Maverick were used in the data analysis and storage. Data publicly available through JupyterHub notebooks.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/O2uDQkv

2.9-million-year-old butchery site reopens case of who made first stone tools

Along the shores of Africa's Lake Victoria in Kenya roughly 2.9 million years ago, early human ancestors used some of the oldest stone tools ever found to butcher hippos and pound plant material, according to new research. The study presents what are likely to be the oldest examples of a hugely important stone-age innovation known to scientists as the Oldowan toolkit, as well as the oldest evidence of hominins consuming very large animals. Excavations at the site, named Nyayanga and located on the Homa Peninsula in western Kenya, also produced a pair of massive molars belonging to the human species' close evolutionary relative Paranthropus. The teeth are the oldest fossilized Paranthropus remains yet found, and their presence at a site loaded with stone tools raises intriguing questions about which human ancestor made those tools.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/bHwRE6a

Fossil discovery reveals complex ecosystems existed on Earth much earlier than previously thought

About 250 million years ago, the Permian-Triassic mass extinction killed over 80 per cent of the planet's species. In the aftermath, scientists believe that life on earth was dominated by simple species for up to 10 million years before more complex ecosystems could evolve. Now this longstanding theory is being challenged by a team of international researchers.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Ca1OrGP

Thursday, February 9, 2023

New AI technology could change game prep for Super Bowl teams

New artificial intelligence technology being developed by engineers could significantly cut down on the time and cost that goes into film study for Super Bowl-bound teams (and all NFL and college football teams), while also enhancing game strategy by harnessing the power of big data.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/anQtqk3

Endangered Bahamas bird may be lost from island following hurricane

The endangered Bahama Warbler may be surviving on just one island following Hurricane Dorian's devastation in 2019, according to researchers. A new study shows the bird's distribution and ecology on Grand Bahama before the hurricane struck. But the team says that the warbler may now only survive on neighboring Abaco island, after hurricane Dorian destroyed the bird's forest habitat on Grand Bahama. The research comes from the same team that found what is thought to have been the last living Bahama Nuthatch, previously thought to have been extinct.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/e5vGRkS

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

'Game-changing' findings for sustainable hydrogen production

Hydrogen fuel could be a more viable alternative to traditional fossil fuels, according to University of Surrey researchers who have found that a type of metal-free catalysts could contribute to the development of cost-effective and sustainable hydrogen production technologies.

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

Copy-cat? Youth with few friends conform to stay in a friend's 'good graces'

What gives one friend influence over another? Considerable attention has focused on who influences whom; much less is known about why one partner is prone to be influenced by the other. A study tested the hypothesis that within a friend dyad, having fewer friends than one's partner increases susceptibility to influence, because it reduces dissimilarity and promotes compatibility. Results showed that partners with fewer friends were influenced by children with more friends. In each case, the partner with fewer friends became more similar to the partner with more friends. Academic engagement was the only domain where partners with fewer friends also influenced partners with more friends.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/X0t3Ef5

How the 'construction site' of long term memory gets built in the brain

The proteins responsible for forming memories in neurons change depending on experience, a hint at how our brains build memory.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/a6eWhY3

Preference for naturally talented over hard workers emerges in childhood

Researchers have found that children think more highly of the naturally talented over hard workers, a preference that they carry into adulthood.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/5Z3Fo1S

Accepting anxiety for peace of mind

Sadly, many family members, friends, and celebrities have suffered from anorexia nervosa, a severe psychiatric disorder associated with intense anxieties concerning weight, shape, and self-esteem. AN is characterized by an eating disorder, food restriction, voluntary vomiting, and extreme emaciation.

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

Copy-cat? Youth with few friends conform to stay in a friend's 'good graces'

What gives one friend influence over another? Considerable attention has focused on who influences whom; much less is known about why one partner is prone to be influenced by the other. A study tested the hypothesis that within a friend dyad, having fewer friends than one's partner increases susceptibility to influence, because it reduces dissimilarity and promotes compatibility. Results showed that partners with fewer friends were influenced by children with more friends. In each case, the partner with fewer friends became more similar to the partner with more friends. Academic engagement was the only domain where partners with fewer friends also influenced partners with more friends.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/X0t3Ef5

Monday, February 6, 2023

Star formation in distant galaxies by the James Webb Space Telescope

Thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope's first images of galaxy clusters, researchers have, for the very first time, been able to examine very compact structures of star clusters inside galaxies, so-called clumps.

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

Life in a violent country can be years shorter and much less predictable -- even for those not involved in conflict

How long people live is less predictable and life expectancy for young people can be as much as 14 years shorter in violent countries, compared to peaceful countries, according to a new study. It reveals a direct link between the uncertainty of living in a violent setting, even for those not directly involved in the violence, and a 'double burden' of shorter and less predictable lives.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/jI3y6qv

Shark bites tied for 10-year low in 2022 but spiked in regional hotspots

The number of unprovoked shark attacks worldwide decreased last year, tying with 2020 for the fewest number of reported incidents in the last 10 years. There were a total of 57 unprovoked bites in 2022, most of which occurred in the United States and Australia. Of these, five attacks were fatal, down from nine deaths in 2021 and 10 the year prior.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/zbL483e

Life in a violent country can be years shorter and much less predictable -- even for those not involved in conflict

How long people live is less predictable and life expectancy for young people can be as much as 14 years shorter in violent countries, compared to peaceful countries, according to a new study. It reveals a direct link between the uncertainty of living in a violent setting, even for those not directly involved in the violence, and a 'double burden' of shorter and less predictable lives.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/jI3y6qv

Water crises due to climate change: more severe than previously thought

New data analyses indicate that previous models systematically underestimate how sensitively water availability reacts to certain changing climate parameters. An analysis of measurement data from over 9,500 hydrological catchments from all over the world shows that climate change can lead to local water crises to an even greater extent than previously expected.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Par1n6b

This one-atom chemical reaction could transform drug discovery

Researchers have used single carbon atom doping to form four chemical bonds in one step. Gamma-lactams (cyclic molecules that are common in antibiotics) were easily synthetically accessible from alpha, beta-unsaturated amides (an important molecule in cancer progression). The team chemically modified an anti-seizure medication in 96% yield, highlighting the work's utility to otherwise synthetically complex aspects of pharmaceutical development. The results of this work could become foundational to drug discovery and development.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Ieyvrm9

Friday, February 3, 2023

Social isolation, loneliness increase risk for heart failure

A new study shows that both social isolation and loneliness are associated with higher rates of heart failure but whether or not a person feels lonely is more important in determining risk than if they are actually alone.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/F41DdpW

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Human brain organoids respond to visual stimuli when transplanted into adult rats

Researchers show that brain organoids -- clumps of lab-grown neurons -- can integrate with rat brains and respond to visual stimulation like flashing lights.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/OBA7TX4

Researchers devise a new path toward 'quantum light'

Researchers have theorized a new mechanism to generate high-energy 'quantum light', which could be used to investigate new properties of matter at the atomic scale.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Ahuz7MY

Reducing their natural signals: How sneaky germs hide from ants

Not only humans are social, ants are too. Group members are taking care of sick ones by providing collective hygiene measures. This presents germs with a task. They must circumvent the immunity of an individual ant and avoid the group's healthcare. A new study reveals that germs develop a sneaky way to escape the ant colony's defense systems by reducing their detection cues.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/6YvTZcA

Sparse, small, but diverse neural connections help make perception reliable, efficient

First detailed mapping and modeling of thalamus inputs onto visual cortex neurons show brain leverages 'wisdom of the crowd' to process sensory information.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/8PUy7a6

Western wildfires destroying more homes per square mile burned

Between 2010 and 2020, human ignitions started 76% of the Western wildfires that destroyed structures, and those fires tended to be in flammable areas where buildings are increasingly common. Three times as many homes and other structures burned in these ten years than in the previous decade.

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

Ultra-processed foods may be linked to increased risk of cancer

Higher consumption of ultra-processed foods may be linked to an increased risk of developing and dying from cancer, an observational study suggests.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/I64Detl

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Boosting anti-cancer antibodies by reducing their grip

Changing how tightly an antibody binds to a target could improve treatments for cancer.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Bw8kKD9

Astronomers uncover a one-in-ten-billion binary star system: Kilonova progenitor system

Astronomers using data from the SMARTS 1.5-meter Telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), have made the first confirmed detection of a star system that will one day form a kilonova -- the ultra-powerful, gold-producing explosion created by merging neutron stars. These systems are so phenomenally rare that only about 10 such systems are thought to exist in the entire Milky Way.

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

Boosting anti-cancer antibodies by reducing their grip

Changing how tightly an antibody binds to a target could improve treatments for cancer.

from Top Health News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Bw8kKD9

'Ghostly' neutrinos provide new path to study protons

Scientists have discovered a new way to investigate the structure of protons using neutrinos, known as 'ghost particles.'

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/QDUwIN9

To know where the birds are going, researchers turn to citizen science and machine learning

Computer scientists recently announced a new, predictive model that is capable of accurately forecasting where a migratory bird will go next -- one of the most difficult tasks in biology. The model is called BirdFlow, and while it is still being perfected, it should be available to scientists within the year and will eventually make its way to the general public.

from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/joD1VTN

Only 13 % know: The one-minute self-exam that could save young men’s lives

A new survey shows most Americans wrongly think testicular cancer is an older man's issue, despite it most commonly affecting men aged 2...