|
|
 Lakes are changing worldwide: Human activities to blame
Worldwide, lake temperatures are rising and seasonal ice cover is shorter and thiner. This effects lake ecosystems, drinking water supply and fishing. International research now shows that these global changes in lake temperature and ice cover are not due to natural climate variability. They can only be explained by massive greenhouse gas emissions since the Industrial Revolution. To demonstrate this, the team has developed multiple computer simulations with models of lakes on a global scale, on
|
|
|
Mammalian motivation circuits: Maybe they're born with it
Are animals born to seek rewards or avoid punishment? Researchers found that mice have pre-programmed neurons and circuits that process 'positive' and 'negative' stimuli. Their findings may be useful for studying neurological and psychiatric disorders in humans.
|
|
|
|
Scientists discover method to boost energy generation from microalgae
The variety of humble algae that cover the surface of ponds and seas could hold the key to boosting the efficiency of artificial photosynthesis, allowing scientists to produce more energy and lower waste in the process. A study showed how encasing algae protein in liquid droplets can dramatically enhance the algae's light-harvesting and energy-conversion properties by up to three times. This energy is produced as the algae undergoes photosynthesis, which is the process used by plants, algae and
|
|
|
|
 Cigarette Smoke Kills Eye Cells
A new study reveals how tobacco from traditional or noncombusted cigarettes kills corneal cells
-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
|
|
|
Artificial chromosomes study sheds light on gene therapies
A research team led by Dr Karen Wing Yee YUEN, Associate Professor from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), revealed the mechanism of artificial chromosome (AC) formation in the embryos of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, a 1-mm long, transparent nematode.
|
|
|
Delicious discoveries: Scientists just described a new onion species from the Himalaya
While the onion, garlic, scallion, shallot and chives have been on our plates for centuries, becoming staple foods around the world, their group, the genus Allium, seems to be a long way from running out of surprises. Recently, a group of researchers from India described a new onion species from the western Himalaya region, long known to the locals as 'jambu' and 'phran.'
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 The Last Papuan Mummies
Over the last decade, researchers have delved into a disappearing technique in the highlands of New Guinea that preserves loved one's faces — even long after death.
|
|
|
|
|
|
How to Turn Your Yard Into a Wildlife Oasis
Manicured lawns are out, and diverse eco-friendly gardening is in. Use these tips and resources to create wild, pollinator-friendly spaces that cater to native species and a healthier planet.
|
|
|
|
Plant-eating lizards on the cusp of tooth evolution
Researchers found that complex teeth, a hallmark of mammals, also evolved several times in reptiles, prompting the evolutionary success of plant-eating lizards. However, contrary to mammals their tooth evolution was not unidirectional.
|
|
|
Our brains have a 'fingerprint' too
An EPFL scientist has pinpointed the signs of brain activity that make up our brain fingerprint, which -- like our regular fingerprint -- is unique.
|
|
|
|
Plankton head polewards
Ocean warming caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions will prompt many species of marine plankton to seek out new habitats, in some cases as a matter of survival. Researchers expect many organisms to head to the poles and form new communities -- with unforeseeable consequences for marine food webs.
|
|
|
|
A map of mouse brain metabolism in aging
Researchers have created an atlas of metabolites in the mouse brain. The dataset includes 1,547 different molecules across 10 brain regions in male and female laboratory mice from adolescence through adulthood and into advanced old age. The complete dataset is publicly available online.
|
|
|
Ultrafast magnetism: heating magnets, freezing time
Magnetic solids can be demagnetized quickly with a short laser pulse, and there are already so-called HAMR (Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording) memories on the market that function according to this principle. However, the microscopic mechanisms of ultrafast demagnetization remain unclear. Now, a team has developed a new method at BESSY II to quantify one of these mechanisms and applied it to the rare-earth element Gadolinium, whose magnetic properties are caused by electrons on both the 4f and th
|
|
|
Behavior resembling human ADHD seen in dogs
A study involving some 11,000 dogs demonstrated that the gender, age and breed of the dog, as well as any behavioral problems and certain environmental factors, are connected to hyperactive and impulsive behavior and inattention (ADHD).
|
|
|
Flu and heart disease: The surprising connection that should convince you to schedule your shot
Patients who have cardiovascular disease are at increased risk of serious complications from the flu, according to a new study. The study found that not only are traditional flu-related outcomes worse among some patients with CVD, but infection in those patients also is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Getting the influenza vaccine, however, substantially reduces cardiovascular risks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| | | |
|
|
|
How bacteria create a piggy bank for the lean times: Basic science discovery could lead to improved biomaterial production
Bacteria can store extra resources for the lean times. It's a bit like keeping a piggy bank or carrying a backup battery pack. One important reserve is known as cyanophycin granules, which were first noticed by an Italian scientist about 150 years ago. He saw big, dark splotches in the cells of the blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) he was studying without understanding either what they were or their purpose. Since then, scientists have realized that cyanophycin was made of a natural green biopoly
|
|
|
Key protein linked to appetite and obesity in mice
Researchers have identified a protein that plays a key role in how the brain regulates appetite and metabolism. Loss of the protein, XRN1, from the forebrain, resulted in obese mice with an insatiable appetite, according to a new study.
|
|
|
The Case for Ocean Optimism
With the health of the ocean under threat, a rallying cry for marine conservation goes global. Here are some of the good-news stories.
|
|
|
|
|
Cellular environments shape molecular architecture
An important cellular structure called the nuclear pore complex (NPC) has larger dimensions than previously thought. A research team made this discovery using cryo-focused ion beam (cryo-FIB) milling and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) -- which allowed them to analyze the NPC directly inside cells.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contraceptive pill can reduce type 2 diabetes risk in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
A study has revealed for the first time that the contraceptive pill can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by over a quarter in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The research findings also show that women with PCOS have twice the risk of developing type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes (dysglycemia) -- highlighting the urgent need to find treatments to reduce this risk.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
How highly processed foods harm memory in the aging brain
Four weeks on a diet of highly processed food led to a strong inflammatory response in the brains of aging rats that was accompanied by behavioral signs of memory loss, a new study has found. Researchers also found that supplementing the processed diet with the omega-3 fatty acid DHA prevented memory problems and reduced the inflammatory effects almost entirely in older rats.
|
|
|
|
|
Study could pave way for creating safer opioids
Researchers may have an uncovered new answers on how to create safer opioids. Design a new opioid to bypass the part of brain that feels pleasure, but retain the analgesic properties, which make opioids one of the most effective pain relievers. Researchers looked at how opioids may have become so widely abused.
|
|
|
Monitoring glucose levels, no needles required
Noninvasive glucose monitoring devices are not currently commercially available in the United States, so people with diabetes must collect blood samples or use sensors embedded under the skin to measure their blood sugar levels. Now, with a new wearable device less intrusive glucose monitoring could become the norm.
|
|
|
|
How long can fiber reinforced polymer sustain concrete structures? Scientists answer
One potential cost-effective way to sustain ageing concrete subjected to harsh environmental conditions is to externally coat the material with fiber reinforced polymer composites. But few studies have looked at the durability of such strengthening. Now, researchers from Korea and the USA conduct a 13-year long experiment to find out.
|
|
|
|
New theories and materials aid the transition to clean energy
Scientists have explored different approaches to catalysis, a chemical process that plays an essential role in biological reactions, as well as many industrial applications. Chemical catalysts have been used in a variety of human applications, ranging from pharmaceutical development to biodegradable plastics and environmentally safe fertilizers. They may also advance the development of green energy solutions to address the climate crisis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
How the brain ignores distracting information to coordinate movements
Researchers have discovered how neurons in a small area of the mammalian brain help filter distracting or disruptive signals -- specifically from the hands -- to coordinate dexterous movements. Their results may hold lessons in how the brain filters other sensory information as well.
|
|
|
Genes play key role in exercise outcomes
A new study has found that genes can explain up to 72% of the difference in outcome between people after a specific fitness exercise. The research involved data from 3,012 adults and has identified a number of specific genes which influence the outcomes of different physical activities.
|
|
|
The planet does not fall far from the star
A compositional link between planets and their respective host star has long been assumed in astronomy. Scientists now deliver empirical evidence to support the assumption -- and partly contradict it at the same time.
|
|
|
| | |
|
|
Pollution's impact on child health
Air pollution is known to harm children's respiratory health, but its specific impacts on infection rates have remained unclear. A new analysis provides evidence of a link between the two in low-income settings, and indicates one industry may play an outsized role in the problem.
|
|
|
'Broken heart' syndrome is on the rise in women
Researchers have discovered two alarming trends in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy -- also known as 'broken heart' syndrome -- a condition that is often triggered by stress or loss and can lead to long-term heart injury and impaired heart function.
|
|
|
Big differences found in male and female jojoba plant sex genes
Hot desert sex has resulted in major genetic differences between male and female jojoba plants -- one of only 6 percent of plants that require a male and female plant to reproduce. New research suggests male and female jojoba plants have diverged so much, that the jojoba plant has more novel sex genes than any other known living organism. The discovery may help researchers develop a DNA test to identify male and female jojoba plants, which cannot be distinguished from each other as seedlings - a
|
|
|
|
Early modern human from Southeast Asia adapted to a rainforest environment
Although there has been evidence of our species living in rainforest regions in Southeast Asia from at least 70,000 years ago, the poor preservation of organic material in these regions limits how much we know about their diet and ecological adaptations to these habitats. An international team of scientists has now applied a new method to investigate the diet of fossil humans: the analysis of stable zinc isotopes from tooth enamel. This method proves particularly helpful to learn whether prehist
|
|
|
Expansion of wind and solar power too slow to stop climate change
The production of renewable energy is increasing every year. But after analyzing the growth rates of wind and solar power in 60 countries, researchers conclude that virtually no country is moving sufficiently fast to avoid global warming of 1.5°C or even 2°C. The article "National growth dynamics of wind and solar power compared to the growth required for global climate targets" was published in the journal Nature Energy, written by Aleh Cherp, Vadim Vinichenko, Jale Tosun, Joel A.Gordon and ...
|
|
|
|
Study discovers unique brain signature of intimate partner aggression
A new study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine the brain activity of 51 male-female romantic couples as they experienced intimate partner aggression in real time. They found that aggression toward intimate partners was associated with aberrant activity in the brain's medial prefrontal cortex, or MPFC, which has many functions, but among them is the ability to foster perceptions of closeness with and value of other people.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Study explores the decisions made by physicians in the delivery room, and why they may be making them
Clinical decisions made in the delivery setting as to whether to employ vaginal delivery or cesarean section are often made under high pressure, and with great uncertainty, and have serious consequences for mother and baby. Now, a new study of electronic health records spanning 86,000 deliveries suggests that if their prior patient had complications in one delivery mode, a physician will be more likely to switch to the other -- and likely inappropriate -- delivery mode for the subsequent patient
|
|
|
Filling the gaps: Connecting genes to diseases through proteins
Hundreds of connections between different human diseases have been uncovered through their shared origin in our genome, challenging the categorization of diseases by organ, symptoms, or clinical specialty. A new study has generated data on thousands of proteins circulating in our blood and combined this with genetic data to produce a map showing how genetic differences that affect these proteins link together seemingly diverse as well as related diseases.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shedding light on mysterious jellyfish diets
Jellyfish have voracious appetites, and they aren't considered the most selective eaters. Almost anything that gets stuck to their tentacles winds up in the gelatinous sack that they use to digest their food. This 'take what comes' feeding strategy has clouded our understanding of which foods jellyfish survive on and how they fit in food webs. However, new research using two biochemical tools, stable isotopes and fatty acids, are beginning to unlocking the secrets of jellyfish feeding.
|
|
|
Brain 'noise' may hold the keys to psychiatric treatment efficacy
It remains a central challenge in psychiatry to reliably judge whether a patient will respond to treatment. Researchers now show that moment-to-moment fluctuations in brain activity can reliably predict whether patients with social anxiety disorder will be receptive to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
|
|
|
|
|
By 2500 Earth could be alien to humans
To fully grasp and plan for climate impacts under any scenario, researchers and policymakers must look well beyond the 2100 benchmark. Unless CO2 emissions drop significantly, global warming by 2500 will make the Amazon barren, the American Midwest tropical, and India too hot to live in, according to a team of international scientists.
|
|
|
The Southern Ocean's role in driving global carbon cycle stronger than expected
Based on the most comprehensive winter study to date, conducted in the Southern Ocean during July and August 2017, scientists were able to show that phytoplankton were indeed active during the icy cold and dark winter months. These findings are important for predictive global climate models, which currently are based predominantly on spring and summer seasons. With the addition of data from winter, the models can now better represent the atmosphere-to-ocean carbon transfer cycle over seasons. Fo
|
|
|
Evidence of superionic ice provides new insights into unusual magnetic fields of Uranus and Neptune
Not all ice is the same. The solid form of water comes in more than a dozen different - sometimes more, sometimes less crystalline - structures, depending on the conditions of pressure and temperature in the environment. Superionic ice is a special crystalline form, half solid, half liquid - and electrically conductive. Its existence has been predicted on the basis of various models and has already been observed on several occasions under - very extreme - laboratory conditions. New results provi
|
|
|
|
Scientists discover large rift in the Arctic's last bastion of thick sea ice
In May 2020, a hole a little smaller than the state of Rhode Island opened up for two weeks in the Last Ice Area, a million-square-kilometer patch of sea ice north of Greenland and Ellesmere Island that's expected to be the last refuge of ice in a rapidly warming Arctic. The polynya is the first one that has been identified in this part of the Last Ice Area.
|
|
|
Climate change threatens hydropower energy security in the Amazon basin
Hydropower is the dominant source of energy in the Amazon region, the world's largest river basin and a hotspot for future hydropower development. However, a new study warns that in the coming decades, climate change-driven reductions in precipitation and river discharge will diminish the Amazon's hydropower capacity.
|
|
|
Bridging optics and electronics
Researchers have developed a simple spatial light modulator made from gold electrodes covered by a thin film of electro-optical material that changes its optical properties in response to electric signals.
|
|
|
|
Clues emerge: How harmless bacteria go rogue turning into deadly flesh-eating variants
A new study found that the environmental lifestyle that bacteria possess reveal why some go rogue and turn deadly while others remain harmless to humans. The findings focus on Vibrio vulnificus, better known as the flesh-eating bacteria. However, what the scientists found could help create a model that may well extend to other human pathogens.
|
|
|
How Ketamine Helps Alleviate Depression
The alternative therapy treatment for mood disorders like depression and anxiety uses one of the only legal psychedelics in the U.S. Researchers still grapple with how exactly it heals the mind.
|
|
|
|
:origin()/pre00/286d/th/pre/f/2018/130/5/0/anri_sugihara___beauty_on_the_bed_by_anri_sugihara-dcb6lhh.jpg)
:origin()/pre08/63af/th/pre/f/2017/143/c/1/trixie_by_zig_word-dba8bba.jpg)
