ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• NASA monitors carbon monoxide from California wildfires
• Hostility linked with higher risk of death after second heart attacks
• Combining two precision medicines can treat drug-resistant cancers
• Predicting the slow death of lithium-ion batteries
• Human activities promote disease-spreading mosquitoes; more study needed for prevention
• New rules for algae species classification
• Virtual reality trains public to reverse opioid overdoses
• Gene-edited livestock 'surrogate sires' successfully made fertile
• Antarctica: Cracks in the ice
• Dams exacerbate the consequences of climate change on river fish
• Immune system affects mind and body, study indicates
• Botox for TMJ disorders may not lead to bone loss in the short term, but more research is needed
• ARPA-type funding gives green technology an 'innovation advantage', study finds
• New method to design diamond lattices and other crystals from microscopic building blocks
• Substance use disorders linked to COVID-19 susceptibility
• Structure of ATPase, the world's smallest turbine, solved
• Excessive lung release of neutrophil DNA traps may explain severe complications in COVID-19 patients
• New X-ray microscopy technique enables comprehensive imaging of dense neural circuits
• A warm Jupiter orbiting a cool star
• Researchers create morphing crystals powered by water evaporation
• Arctic transitioning to a new climate state
• Climate change triggers migration, particularly in middle-income countries
• New treatments for deadly lung disease could be revealed by 3D modeling
• Animals' magnetic 'sixth' sense may come from bacteria
• Infinite chains of hydrogen atoms have surprising properties, including a metallic phase
• Possible marker of life spotted on venus
• DNA damage caused by migrating light energy
• Reducing nitrogen with boron and beer
• DNA unlocks a new understanding of coral
• Physicists discover new magnetoelectric effect
• Light processing improves robotic sensing, study finds
• On the road to conductors of the future
• New study explores if flirting is real and shows it can work
• Physicists 'trick' photons into behaving like electrons using a 'synthetic' magnetic field
• Fast and efficient method to produce red blood cells developed
• Bioactive nano-capsules to hijack cell behavior
• Food mechanics recipe to serve up healthy food that lasts
• Some but not all US metro areas could grow all needed food locally, estimates study
• Wildlife trade threats: The importance of genetic data in saving an endangered species
• Painless paper patch test for glucose levels uses microneedles
• Embryos taking shape via buckling
• Touch-and-know: Brain activity during tactile stimuli reveals hand preferences in people
• How civil wars affect wildlife populations
• TRESK regulates brain to track time using sunlight as its cue
• Asthma patients given risky levels of steroid tablets
• When methane-eating microbes eat ammonia instead

NASA monitors carbon monoxide from California wildfires Posted: 14 Sep 2020 06:29 PM PDT The observations from Earth orbit show high-altitude concentrations of the gas that are more than 10 times typical amounts.

Hostility linked with higher risk of death after second heart attacks Posted: 14 Sep 2020 04:40 PM PDT Heart attack patients who are sarcastic or irritable could be putting their health at risk. 'Hostility is a personality trait that includes being sarcastic, cynical, resentful, impatient or irritable.'

Combining two precision medicines can treat drug-resistant cancers Posted: 14 Sep 2020 04:40 PM PDT Launching a dual-pronged attack on tumours using a combination of two innovative precision medicines could treat patients with multiple common cancers, a new clinical trial shows.

Predicting the slow death of lithium-ion batteries Posted: 14 Sep 2020 02:29 PM PDT A new model offers a way to predict the condition of a battery's internal systems in real-time with far more accuracy than existing tools. In electric cars, the technology could improve driving range estimates and prolong battery life.

Human activities promote disease-spreading mosquitoes; more study needed for prevention Posted: 14 Sep 2020 02:29 PM PDT Disease-spreading mosquitoes may be more likely to occupy areas impacted by human activities like pesticide use and habitat destruction, than they are areas less disturbed by humans, a recent study found.

New rules for algae species classification Posted: 14 Sep 2020 01:55 PM PDT A team of evolutionary biologists and ecologists has a new idea for how scientists should classify algae species.

Virtual reality trains public to reverse opioid overdoses Posted: 14 Sep 2020 01:07 PM PDT The United States has seen a 200% increase in the rate of deaths by opioid overdose in the last 20 years. But many of these deaths were preventable. Naloxone, also called Narcan, is a prescription drug that reverses opioid overdoses, and in more than 40 states there is a standing order policy, which makes it available to anyone, without an individual prescription from a healthcare provider.

Gene-edited livestock 'surrogate sires' successfully made fertile Posted: 14 Sep 2020 01:07 PM PDT For the first time, scientists have created pigs, goats and cattle that can serve as viable 'surrogate sires,' male animals that produce sperm carrying only the genetic traits of donor animals. The advance could speed the spread of desirable characteristics in livestock and improve food production for a growing global population.

Antarctica: Cracks in the ice Posted: 14 Sep 2020 12:11 PM PDT West Antarctica's Pine Island Glacier and Thwaites Glacier have been undergoing rapid changes, with potentially major consequences for rising sea levels. However, the processes that underlie these changes and their impact on these ice sheets have not been fully charted. One of these processes has now been described in detail: the emergence and development of damage/cracks in part of the glaciers and how this process reinforces itself.

Dams exacerbate the consequences of climate change on river fish Posted: 14 Sep 2020 10:19 AM PDT A potential response of river fish to environmental changes is to colonize new habitats. But what happens when dams and weirs restrict their movement? And are native and alien species similarly affected?

Immune system affects mind and body, study indicates Posted: 14 Sep 2020 10:19 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that a molecule produced by the immune system acts on the brain to change the behavior of mice.

Botox for TMJ disorders may not lead to bone loss in the short term, but more research is needed Posted: 14 Sep 2020 10:19 AM PDT Botox injections to manage jaw and facial pain do not result in clinically significant changes in jaw bone when used short term and in low doses, according to researchers. However, they found evidence of bone loss when higher doses were used.

ARPA-type funding gives green technology an 'innovation advantage', study finds Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:59 AM PDT Startups funded by the U.S. agency ARPA-E file patents at twice the rate of similar cleantech firms. The United Kingdom should trial its own climate-focused ARPA as part of COVID-19 recovery package, argue experts.

New method to design diamond lattices and other crystals from microscopic building blocks Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:59 AM PDT Researchers describe a technique for using LEGO®-like elements at the scale of a few billionths of a meter. Further, they are able to cajole these design elements to self-assemble, with each LEGO® piece identifying its proper mate and linking up in a precise sequence to complete the desired nanostructure.

Substance use disorders linked to COVID-19 susceptibility Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:59 AM PDT A recent study found that people with substance use disorders (SUDs) are more susceptible to COVID-19 and its complications. The findings suggest that health care providers should closely monitor patients with SUDs and develop action plans to help shield them from infection and severe outcomes.

Structure of ATPase, the world's smallest turbine, solved Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:41 AM PDT The chemical ATP, adenosine triphosphate, is the fuel that powers all life. Despite ATP's central role, the structure of the enzyme generating ATP, F1Fo-ATP synthase, in mammals, including humans, has not been known so far. Now, scientists report the first complete structure of the mammalian F1Fo-ATP synthase. This structure also settles a debate on how the permeability transition pore, a structure involved in cell death, cancer, and heart attacks, forms.

Excessive lung release of neutrophil DNA traps may explain severe complications in COVID-19 patients Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:41 AM PDT Researchers have detected significant amounts of DNA traps in distinct compartments of the lungs of patients who died from Covid-19. These traps, called NETs, are released massively into the airways, the lung tissue and the blood vessels. Such excessive release could be a major contributor to severe disease complications leading to in-hospital death.

New X-ray microscopy technique enables comprehensive imaging of dense neural circuits Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:41 AM PDT A new x-ray microscopy technique could help accelerate efforts to map neural circuits and ultimately the brain itself. Combined with artificial intelligence-driven image analysis, researchers used XNH to reconstruct dense neural circuits in 3D, comprehensively cataloging neurons and even tracing individual neurons from muscles to the central nervous system in fruit flies.

A warm Jupiter orbiting a cool star Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:41 AM PDT A planet observed crossing in front of, or transiting, a low-mass star has been determined to be about the size of Jupiter.

Researchers create morphing crystals powered by water evaporation Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:22 AM PDT New study details the design of materials that enable clean and sustainable water evaporation energy that can be harvested and efficiently converted into motion with the potential to power future mechanical devices and machines.

Arctic transitioning to a new climate state Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:22 AM PDT The fast-warming Arctic has started to transition from a predominantly frozen state into an entirely different climate with significantly less sea ice, warmer temperatures, and more rain, according to a comprehensive new study of Arctic conditions.

Climate change triggers migration, particularly in middle-income countries Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:22 AM PDT Environmental hazards affect populations worldwide and can drive migration under specific conditions. Changes in temperature levels, increased rainfall variability, and rapid-onset disasters, such as tropical storms, are important factors as shown by a new study. Environmental migration is most pronounced in middle-income and agricultural countries but weaker in low-income countries, where populations often lack resources needed for migration.

New treatments for deadly lung disease could be revealed by 3D modeling Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:22 AM PDT A 3D bioengineered model of lung tissue is poking holes in decades worth of flat, Petri dish observations into how the deadly disease pulmonary fibrosis progresses.

Animals' magnetic 'sixth' sense may come from bacteria Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:22 AM PDT A researcher may help answer why some animals have a magnetic 'sixth' sense, such as sea turtles' ability to return to the beach where they were born. The researchers proposes that the magnetic sense comes from a symbiotic relationship with magnetotactic bacteria.

Infinite chains of hydrogen atoms have surprising properties, including a metallic phase Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:22 AM PDT An infinite chain of hydrogen atoms is just about the simplest bulk material imaginable -- a never-ending single-file line of protons surrounded by electrons. Yet a new computational study combining cutting-edge methods finds that the material boasts remarkable quantum properties, including the chain transforming from a magnetic insulator into a metal. The computational methods used in the study present a significant step toward custom-designing materials with sought-after properties, such as high-temperature superconductivity.

Possible marker of life spotted on venus Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:22 AM PDT Astronomers have discovered a rare molecule -- phosphine -- in the clouds of Venus. On Earth, this gas is only made industrially or by microbes that thrive in oxygen-free environments. Astronomers have speculated for decades that high clouds on Venus could offer a home for microbes -- floating free of the scorching surface but needing to tolerate very high acidity. The detection of phosphine could point to such extra-terrestrial 'aerial' life.

DNA damage caused by migrating light energy Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:22 AM PDT Ultraviolet light endangers the integrity of human genetic information and may cause skin cancer. For the first time, researchers have demonstrated that DNA damage may also occur far away from the point of incidence of the radiation. They produced an artificially modeled DNA sequence in new architecture and detected DNA damage at a distance of 30 DNA building blocks.

Reducing nitrogen with boron and beer Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:22 AM PDT The industrial conversion of nitrogen to ammonium provides fertilizer for agriculture. Chemists have now achieved this conversion at room temperature and low pressure using only light elements.

DNA unlocks a new understanding of coral Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:22 AM PDT A new study challenges more than 200 years of coral classification. Researchers say the 'traditional' method does not accurately capture the differences between species or their evolutionary relationships. They developed a new genetic tool to help better understand and ultimately work to save coral reefs.

Physicists discover new magnetoelectric effect Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:21 AM PDT A special material was found, which shows a surprising new effect: Its electrical properties can be controlled with a magnetic field. This effect works completely differently than usual. It can be controlled in a highly sensitive way.

Light processing improves robotic sensing, study finds Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:21 AM PDT A team of researchers uncovered how the human brain processes bright and contrasting light, which they say is a key to improving robotic sensing and enabling autonomous agents to team with humans.

On the road to conductors of the future Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:21 AM PDT Superconducting wires can transport electricity without loss. This would allow for less power production, reducing both costs and greenhouse gasses. Unfortunately, extensive cooling stands in the way, because existing superconductors only lose their resistance at extremely low temperatures. Scientists have now introduced new findings about hydrogen sulfide in the H(3)S form, and its deuterium analogue D(3)S, which become superconducting at the relatively high temperatures of -77 and -107 °C, respectively.

New study explores if flirting is real and shows it can work Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:21 AM PDT Misunderstandings about flirting can potentially result in awkwardness or even accusations of sexual harassment. How can we figure out what other people mean when they smile at us? Is there a unique, identifiable facial expression representing flirting — and if there is, what does it convey, and how effective is it?

Physicists 'trick' photons into behaving like electrons using a 'synthetic' magnetic field Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:21 AM PDT Scientists have discovered an elegant way of manipulating light using a 'synthetic' Lorentz force -- which in nature is responsible for many fascinating phenomena including the Aurora Borealis.

Fast and efficient method to produce red blood cells developed Posted: 14 Sep 2020 06:59 AM PDT Researchers have developed a faster and more efficient way to manufacture red blood cells that cuts down on cell culture time by half. The cells are frozen in liquid nitrogen and thawed on demand to produce matured RBCs in only 11 days, removing the need for continuous 23-day manufacturing. The team also designed complementary technology for more targeted cell sorting and purification.

Bioactive nano-capsules to hijack cell behavior Posted: 14 Sep 2020 06:59 AM PDT Many diseases are caused by defects in signaling pathways of body cells. In the future, bioactive nanocapsules could become a valuable tool for medicine to control these pathways. Researchers have taken an important step in this direction: They succeed in having several different nanocapsules work in tandem to amplify a natural signaling cascade and influence cell behavior.

Food mechanics recipe to serve up healthy food that lasts Posted: 14 Sep 2020 06:58 AM PDT Researchers are investigating the science of food drying to design faster, cheaper and better ways to store food.

Some but not all US metro areas could grow all needed food locally, estimates study Posted: 14 Sep 2020 06:58 AM PDT How local could food be in the U.S.? A modeling study estimates the distance within which metro centers could meet food needs if they tried to feed themselves locally. Some -- but not all -- could rely on nearby agricultural land, and dietary changes would increase local potential, according to the study.

Wildlife trade threats: The importance of genetic data in saving an endangered species Posted: 14 Sep 2020 06:58 AM PDT A research team analyses the genetic diversity of the endangered four-eyed turtle, a species that has fallen victim to the growing wildlife trade in Vietnam. Having identified several distinct lineages in field-collected and local trade samples, the scientists warn that confiscated animals must not be released back into the wild until they have their origin traced back to the locality they have been captured.

Painless paper patch test for glucose levels uses microneedles Posted: 14 Sep 2020 06:58 AM PDT Researchers have developed a microneedle patch for monitoring glucose levels using a paper sensor. The device painlessly monitors fluid in the skin within seconds. Anyone can use the disposable patch without training, making it highly practical. Additionally, fabrication is easy, low cost, and the glucose sensor can be swapped for other paper-based sensors that monitor other important biomarkers.

Embryos taking shape via buckling Posted: 14 Sep 2020 06:58 AM PDT The embryo of an animal first looks like a hollow sphere. Invaginations then appear at different stages of development, which will give rise to the body's structures. Although buckling could be the dominant mechanism that triggers invagination, it has never been possible of measuring the tiny forces involved. This gap has finally been filled.

Touch-and-know: Brain activity during tactile stimuli reveals hand preferences in people Posted: 14 Sep 2020 06:58 AM PDT Scientists show that it is possible to distinguish between left-handed and right-handed people by noninvasively monitoring just their brain activity during passive tactile stimulation. These results are key in haptic research (the study of sensory systems) and have various important implications for brain-computer interfaces, augmented reality, and even artificial intelligence.

How civil wars affect wildlife populations Posted: 14 Sep 2020 05:38 AM PDT A new study comprehensively reveals how civil wars impact wildlife in countries affected by conflict. Researchers found that the main impacts of civil wars on native mammals are often indirect, ultimately arising from institutional and socio-economic changes, rather than from direct military tactics.

TRESK regulates brain to track time using sunlight as its cue Posted: 14 Sep 2020 05:38 AM PDT Research has found that TRESK, a calcium regulated two-pore potassium channel, regulates the brain's central circadian clock to differentiate behavior between day and night.

Asthma patients given risky levels of steroid tablets Posted: 13 Sep 2020 01:29 PM PDT More than one quarter of asthma patients have been prescribed potentially dangerous amounts of steroid tablets, with researchers warning this puts them at greater risk of serious side-effects.

When methane-eating microbes eat ammonia instead Posted: 13 Sep 2020 01:29 PM PDT As a side effect of their metabolism, microorganisms living on methane can also convert ammonia. In the process, they produce nitric oxide (NO), a central molecule in the global nitrogen cycle. Scientists now discovered the enzyme that produces NO, closing an important gap in our understanding of how methanotrophs deal with rising environmental ammonia concentrations.

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