198 articles from THURSDAY 14.10.2021
How the brain ignores distracting information to coordinate movements
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/14 21:41
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.
How to get the most out of a home energy audit
In this week's issue of our environment newsletter, we look at the benefits of a home energy evaluation and how Britain brought back the beaver.
Team demonstrates great promise of all-inorganic perovskite solar cells for improving solar cell efficiency
Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites have already demonstrated high photovoltaic efficiencies of greater than 25%. The prevailing wisdom in the field is that the organic (carbon- and hydrogen-containing) molecules in the material are crucial to achieving this impressive performance because they are believed to suppress defect-assisted carrier recombination.
Artificial intelligence helps to find new natural substances
More than a third of all medicines available today are based on active substances from nature, and a research team from the University of Jena has developed a procedure to identify small active substance molecules much more quickly and easily. Secondary natural substances that occur in numerous plants, bacteria and fungi can be anti-inflammatory, can ward off pathogens or even prevent the growth...
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.
Genes play key role in exercise outcomes
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/14 20:20
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
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/14 20:20
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.
New metalens focuses light with ultra-deep holes
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/14 20:20
Researchers developed a metasurface that uses very deep, very narrow holes, rather than very tall pillars, to focus light to a single spot.
Pollution’s impact on child health
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/14 20:20
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
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/14 20:20
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
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/14 20:20
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...
Aided by stem cells, a lizard regenerates a perfect tail for first time in more than 250 million years
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/14 20:19
Lizards can regrow severed tails, making them the closest relative to humans that can regenerate a lost appendage. But in lieu of the original tail that includes a spinal column and nerves, the replacement structure is an imperfect cartilage tube. Now, a study describes how stem cells can help lizards regenerate better tails.
Early modern human from Southeast Asia adapted to a rainforest environment
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/14 20:19
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...
Expansion of wind and solar power too slow to stop climate change
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/14 20:19
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...
Scientists develop fully solar-driven autonomous chemical mini-plant
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/14 20:19
Scientists have developed a fully operational standalone solar-powered mini-reactor which offers the potential for the production of fine chemicals in remote locations on Earth, and possibly even on Mars.
Study discovers unique brain signature of intimate partner aggression
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/14 20:19
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...
New technique helps researchers understand how acid damages teeth
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/14 20:19
Researchers have developed a new technique to improve understanding of how acid damages teeth at the microstructural level.
Mammals on the menu: Snake dietary diversity exploded after mass extinction 66 million years ago
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/14 20:19
Modern snakes evolved from ancestors that lived side by side with the dinosaurs and that likely fed mainly on insects and lizards.
Mito warriors: Scientists discover how T cell assassins reload their weapons to kill and kill again
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/14 20:18
Researchers have discovered how T cells -- an important component of our immune system -- are able keep on killing as they hunt down and kill cancer cells, repeatedly reloading their toxic weapons.
Study explores the decisions made by physicians in the delivery room, and why they may be making them
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/14 20:18
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...
Filling the gaps: Connecting genes to diseases through proteins
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/14 20:18
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...
Many US adults worry about facial image data in healthcare settings
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/14 20:18
Uses of facial images and facial recognition technologies -- to unlock a phone or in airport security -- are becoming increasingly common in everyday life. But how do people feel about using such data in healthcare and biomedical research?
Japanese billionaire Maezawa 'not afraid' ahead of ISS launch
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa said Thursday he had no fear ahead of his "dream-come-true" launch to the International Space Station (ISS), a Russian project aimed at boosting its space tourism credentials.
Clues emerge: How harmless bacteria go rogue turning into deadly flesh-eating variants
For bacteria, like people, lifestyle matters.