ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Theoretically, two layers are better than one for solar-cell efficiency
• Study connects hormones we're born with to lifetime risk for immunological diseases
• Future autonomous machines may build trust through emotion
• Evergreen needles act as air quality monitors
• Fish oil without the fishy smell or taste
• Dust may have controlled ancient human civilization
• A new approach to understanding the biology of wound healing
• Older people with early, asymptomatic Alzheimer's at risk of falls
• Going small for big solutions: Sub-nanoparticle catalysts made from coinage elements as effective catalysts
• Scientists develop mathematical index to distinguish healthy microbiome from diseased
• Key role of immune cells in brain infection
• Real neurons are noisy: Can neural implants figure that out?
• Human white blood cells use molecular paddles to swim
• New dopamine sensors could help unlock the mysteries of brain chemistry
• Chimpanzees show greater behavioral and cultural diversity in more variable environments
• Study shows difficulty in finding evidence of life on Mars
• People react better to both negative and positive events with more sleep
• To repair a damaged heart, three cells are better than one
• Risk gene for Alzheimer's has early effects on the brain
• Tiny protein motor fuels bacterial movement
• The Wnt pathway gets even more complicated
• Single photons from a silicon chip
• Satellite images display changes in the condition of European forests
• Rare pattern observed in migrating common swifts
• Ultra-fast magnetic switching with potential to transform fiber optical communications
• New shark research targets a nearly endangered species
• Rising temperatures could shift US West Nile virus transmission
• Teacher stress linked with higher risk of student suspensions
• Researchers use soy to improve bone cancer treatment
• Gender harassment and institutional betrayal in high school take toll on mental health
• Faster, on-site way to detect PFAS
• Successful improvement of the catalytic activity of photosynthetic CO2 fixing enzyme Rubisco
• Shining a light on disordered and fractal systems
• Biologic therapy for psoriasis may reduce heart disease
• Two amino acids are the Marie Kondo of molecular liquid phase separation
• Glass tables can cause life-threatening injuries
• Ocean algae get 'coup de grace' from viruses
• Study reveals impact of centuries of human activity in American tropics
• Cannabis farms are a modern slavery 'blind spot' for UK police, study suggests
• The two cultures within science outlined
• How the brain creates the experience of time
• Global study reveals time running out for many soils, but conservation measures can help
• Doctors get plenty of advice on starting treatment; this could help them know when to stop

Theoretically, two layers are better than one for solar-cell efficiency Posted: 15 Sep 2020 04:42 PM PDT Solar cells have come a long way, but inexpensive, thin film solar cells are still far behind more expensive, crystalline solar cells in efficiency. Now, a team of researchers suggests that using two thin films of different materials may be the way to go to create affordable, thin film cells with about 34% efficiency.

Study connects hormones we're born with to lifetime risk for immunological diseases Posted: 15 Sep 2020 04:42 PM PDT Differences in biological sex can dictate lifelong disease patterns, says a new study by Michigan State University researchers that links connections between specific hormones present before and after birth with immune response and lifelong immunological disease development.

Future autonomous machines may build trust through emotion Posted: 15 Sep 2020 04:42 PM PDT Research has extended the state-of-the-art in autonomy by providing a more complete picture of how actions and nonverbal signals contribute to promoting cooperation. Researchers suggested guidelines for designing autonomous machines such as robots, self-driving cars, drones and personal assistants that will effectively collaborate with Soldiers.

Evergreen needles act as air quality monitors Posted: 15 Sep 2020 04:42 PM PDT Every tree, even an evergreen, can be an air quality monitor. That's the conclusion of researchers who measured the magnetism of particulate matter on the needles of evergreen trees. That measurement, they found, correlated to general air quality, suggesting that analysis of the needles -- a relatively simple and low-cost process -- could provide a high-resolution, year-round picture of air quality.

Fish oil without the fishy smell or taste Posted: 15 Sep 2020 12:58 PM PDT A new study describes the development of a refining process that scientists deem a superior method to help produce better dietary omega-3 health and dietary supplements containing fish oil.

Dust may have controlled ancient human civilization Posted: 15 Sep 2020 12:24 PM PDT When early humans began to travel out of Africa and spread into Eurasia over a hundred thousand years ago, a fertile region around the eastern Mediterranean Sea called the Levant served as a critical gateway between northern Africa and Eurasia. A new study shows that the existence of that oasis depended almost entirely on something we almost never think about: dust.

A new approach to understanding the biology of wound healing Posted: 15 Sep 2020 12:24 PM PDT Researchers use discarded wound dressings as a novel and non-invasive way to study the mechanisms that promote healing.

Older people with early, asymptomatic Alzheimer's at risk of falls Posted: 15 Sep 2020 11:01 AM PDT Older people without cognitive problems who experience a fall may have undetected neurodegeneration in their brains that puts them at high risk of developing Alzheimer's dementia, according to a new study.

Going small for big solutions: Sub-nanoparticle catalysts made from coinage elements as effective catalysts Posted: 15 Sep 2020 11:01 AM PDT 'Sub-nanometer' particles (SNPs) are very popular because of their diverse applications, but technical difficulties in their synthesis has hindered research in this field. Scientists used an 'atom-hybridization method' to overcome this barrier they developed to study the reactivity of alloy SNPs made from three coinage metal elements. Their findings are an important step in improving the knowledge about properties of finite elements and help in building a sustainable society.

Scientists develop mathematical index to distinguish healthy microbiome from diseased Posted: 15 Sep 2020 11:01 AM PDT What causes some people to develop chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and metabolic syndrome while others stay healthy? A major clue could be found in their gut microbiome -- the trillions of microbes living inside the digestive system that regulate various bodily functions.

Key role of immune cells in brain infection Posted: 15 Sep 2020 10:31 AM PDT Researchers have identified the specific type of immune cell that induces brain inflammation in herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis. Crucially, they have also determined the signalling protein that calls this immune cell into the brain from the bloodstream. The findings could aid the development of targeted treatments for the brain infection, which is the most common cause of viral encephalitis worldwide.

Real neurons are noisy: Can neural implants figure that out? Posted: 15 Sep 2020 10:31 AM PDT Signals sent from the retina to the brain have a lot of background noise, yet we see the world clearly. Researchers show that to achieve visual clarity the brain must accurately measure how this noise is distributed across neurons when processing the signals sent down the optic nerve. These results are likely to shape the design of future retinal prosthetics and other brain-machine interfaces.

Human white blood cells use molecular paddles to swim Posted: 15 Sep 2020 10:31 AM PDT Human white blood cells, known as leukocytes, swim using a newly described mechanism called molecular paddling, researchers report. This microswimming mechanism could explain how both immune cells and cancer cells migrate in various fluid-filled niches in the body, for good or for harm.

New dopamine sensors could help unlock the mysteries of brain chemistry Posted: 15 Sep 2020 10:31 AM PDT Scientists developed dLight1, a single fluorescent protein-based biosensor. This sensor allows high resolution, real-time imaging of the spatial and temporal release of dopamine in live animals. Now, the team expanded the color spectrum of dLight1 to YdLight1 and RdLight1. The increased light penetration and imaging depth of these variants provide enhanced dopamine signal quality allowing researchers to optically dissect dopamine's release and model its effects on neural circuits.

Chimpanzees show greater behavioral and cultural diversity in more variable environments Posted: 15 Sep 2020 09:13 AM PDT Scientists have investigated the influence of environmental variability on the behavioral repertoires of 144 social groups. The scientists found that chimpanzees living further away from historical forest refugia, under more seasonal conditions, and found in savannah woodland rather than closed forested habitats, were more likely to exhibit a larger set of behaviors.

Study shows difficulty in finding evidence of life on Mars Posted: 15 Sep 2020 09:13 AM PDT While scientists are eager to study the red planet's soils for signs of life, researchers must ponder a considerable new challenge: Acidic fluids - which once flowed on the Martian surface - may have destroyed biological evidence hidden within Mars' iron-rich clays, according to researchers.

People react better to both negative and positive events with more sleep Posted: 15 Sep 2020 09:13 AM PDT New research finds that after a night of shorter sleep, people react more emotionally to stressful events the next day -- and they don't find as much joy in the good things. This has important health implications: previous research shows that being unable to maintain positive emotions in the face of stress puts people at risk of inflammation and even an earlier death.

To repair a damaged heart, three cells are better than one Posted: 15 Sep 2020 08:00 AM PDT CardioClusters use three types of cells to reduce scar tissue and improve function by integrating into and persisting within damaged heart tissue.

Risk gene for Alzheimer's has early effects on the brain Posted: 15 Sep 2020 08:00 AM PDT A genetic predisposition to late-onset Alzheimer's disease affects how the brains of young adults cope with certain memory tasks. Researchers find are based on studies with magnetic resonance imaging in individuals at the age of about 20 years. The scientists suspect that the observed effects could be related to very early disease processes.

Tiny protein motor fuels bacterial movement Posted: 15 Sep 2020 07:59 AM PDT The ability to move is key for bacteria like some strains of salmonella and E. coli to efficiently spread infections. They can propel themselves forward using threads, known as flagella, powered by the flagellar rotary motor. But how this rotary motor is powered has been a mystery among scientists. Now, researchers show that the bacterial flagellar motor is powered by yet another even tinier, rotary motor.

The Wnt pathway gets even more complicated Posted: 15 Sep 2020 07:59 AM PDT A new role for Casein Kinase-1 on RNF43 is identified.

Single photons from a silicon chip Posted: 15 Sep 2020 07:59 AM PDT Quantum technology holds great promise: Quantum computers are expected to revolutionize database searches, AI systems, and computational simulations. Today already, quantum cryptography can guarantee secure data transfer, albeit with limitations. The greatest possible compatibility with current silicon-based electronics will be a key advantage. And that is precisely where physicists have made progress: The team has designed a silicon-based light source to generate single photons that propagate well in glass fibers.

Satellite images display changes in the condition of European forests Posted: 15 Sep 2020 07:59 AM PDT The forest canopy, the closed vegetation cover consisting of treetops, is rapidly declining according to new research. The team used satellite images, to create the first high-resolution map of canopy openings in Europe's forests and reached the conclusion that the canopy of more than 36 million forest areas has been lost over the past 30 years.

Rare pattern observed in migrating common swifts Posted: 15 Sep 2020 07:59 AM PDT Compared with other migratory birds, the common swift follows a very unusual pattern when it migrates from the breeding areas in Europe to its wintering locations south of the Sahara. This is what researchers have observed in a major eleven-year international study of the birds.

Ultra-fast magnetic switching with potential to transform fiber optical communications Posted: 15 Sep 2020 07:59 AM PDT Researchers have discovered that a new material can act as a super-fast magnetic switch. When struck by successive ultra-short laser pulses it exhibits 'toggle switching' that could increase the capacity of the global fiber optic cable network by an order of magnitude.

New shark research targets a nearly endangered species Posted: 15 Sep 2020 07:59 AM PDT They are some of the most iconic and unique-looking creatures in our oceans. While some may think they look a bit 'odd,' one thing researchers agree on is that little is known about hammerhead sharks. Thanks to a team of researchers, that's all changing.

Rising temperatures could shift US West Nile virus transmission Posted: 15 Sep 2020 07:59 AM PDT West Nile virus spreads most efficiently in the US at temperatures between 24-25 degrees Celsius (75.2-77 degrees Fahrenheit), a new study shows.

Teacher stress linked with higher risk of student suspensions Posted: 15 Sep 2020 07:59 AM PDT Just how stressed are teachers? A recent Gallup poll found teachers are tied with nurses for the most stressful occupation in America today. Unfortunately, that stress can have a trickle-down effect on their students, leading to disruptive behavior that results in student suspensions.

Researchers use soy to improve bone cancer treatment Posted: 15 Sep 2020 06:01 AM PDT Researchers showed that the slow release of soy-based chemical compounds from a 3D-printed bone-like scaffold resulted in a reduction in bone cancer cells while building up healthy cells and reducing harmful inflammation.

Gender harassment and institutional betrayal in high school take toll on mental health Posted: 15 Sep 2020 06:01 AM PDT High school students who endure gender harassment in schools that don't respond well enter college and adulthood with potential mental health challenges, according to a study. Researchers found that 97 percent of women and 96 percent of men from a pool of 535 undergraduate college students had endured at least one incident during high school.

Faster, on-site way to detect PFAS Posted: 15 Sep 2020 06:01 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new and easier on-site method to immediately and accurately detect and measure levels of PFAS, which are persistent environmental pollutants sometimes found in contaminated lands and waters around the industrialized world.

Successful improvement of the catalytic activity of photosynthetic CO2 fixing enzyme Rubisco Posted: 15 Sep 2020 06:01 AM PDT A research group have succeeded in greatly increasing the catalytic activity of Rubisco, the enzyme which fixes carbon from carbon dioxide in plant photosynthesis. The research team also hypothesized the mechanism which determines the enzyme's catalytic activity. In the future, it is hoped that increasing the photosynthetic ability of agricultural crops will lead to improved yields.

Shining a light on disordered and fractal systems Posted: 15 Sep 2020 06:01 AM PDT A research team has investigated the acoustic properties of disordered lysozyme proteins by using terahertz spectroscopy. They found that the fractal nature of the proteins is responsible for its unusually large vibrations at low frequencies, which may lead to a better theory for disordered materials.

Biologic therapy for psoriasis may reduce heart disease Posted: 15 Sep 2020 06:01 AM PDT Biologic therapy for psoriasis - protein-based infusions to suppress inflammation - was associated with a significant reduction in high-risk plaque in heart arteries, over one-year, according to new research. The positive association between biologic therapy and a decrease in high-risk plaque in heart arteries was significant after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors and psoriasis severity.

Two amino acids are the Marie Kondo of molecular liquid phase separation Posted: 15 Sep 2020 06:01 AM PDT Biologists have identified unique roles for the amino acids arginine and lysine in contributing to molecule liquid phase properties and their regulation.

Glass tables can cause life-threatening injuries Posted: 15 Sep 2020 06:01 AM PDT Faulty glass in tables can cause life-threatening injuries, according to a new study, which provides evidence that stricter federal regulations are needed to protect consumers.

Ocean algae get 'coup de grace' from viruses Posted: 15 Sep 2020 06:01 AM PDT Scientists have long believed that ocean viruses always quickly kill algae, but new research shows they live in harmony with algae and viruses provide a 'coup de grace' only when blooms of algae are already stressed and dying. The study will likely change how scientists view viral infections of algae, also known as phytoplankton - especially the impact of viruses on ecosystem processes like algal bloom formation (and decline) and the cycling of carbon and other chemicals on Earth.

Study reveals impact of centuries of human activity in American tropics Posted: 15 Sep 2020 06:01 AM PDT The devastating effects of human activity on wildlife in the American tropics over the last 500 years are revealed. More than half of the species in local 'assemblages' - sets of co-existing species - of medium and large mammals living in the Neotropics of Meso and South America have died out since the region was first colonized by Europeans in the 1500s.

Cannabis farms are a modern slavery 'blind spot' for UK police, study suggests Posted: 15 Sep 2020 06:01 AM PDT Migrants arrested for tending plants in the flats, houses and attics where cannabis is grown in bulk are often victims of trafficking and 'debt bondage' - yet many are not recognized as such by police, according to a new study.

The two cultures within science outlined Posted: 14 Sep 2020 01:07 PM PDT Researchers trace the outlines of two cultures within science, one of which promotes greater equity and inclusivity.

How the brain creates the experience of time Posted: 14 Sep 2020 10:19 AM PDT On some days, time flies by, while on others it seems to drag on. A new study from JNeurosci reveals why: time-sensitive neurons get worn out and skew our perceptions of time.

Global study reveals time running out for many soils, but conservation measures can help Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:59 AM PDT Researchers found more than 90 per cent of the conventionally farmed soils in their global study were thinning, and 16 per cent had lifespans of less than a century. These rapidly thinning soils were found all over the world, including countries such as Australia, China, the UK, and the USA.

Doctors get plenty of advice on starting treatment; this could help them know when to stop Posted: 14 Sep 2020 08:59 AM PDT Decades of effort have improved the chances that patients will get the scans, routine tests and medicines that can do them the most good - and avoid the ones that won't help them at all. But in the push toward evidence-based medicine, a new study says, a key step has mostly gotten overlooked: helping doctors stop or scale back - or deintensify - treatment once it has started.

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