173 articles from WEDNESDAY 29.6.2022
Bad news for Paxlovid? Coronavirus can find multiple ways to evade COVID-19 drug
Prescriptions for Pfizer’s blockbuster drug Paxlovid have skyrocketed in recent weeks. That’s good news for many COVID-19 patients, as the pill has been proven to reduce severe disease from SARS-CoV-2 infections. But a bevy of new lab studies shows the coronavirus can mutate in ways that make it less susceptible to the drug, by far the most widely used of the two oral antiviral drugs...
Researchers caution beachgoers ahead of white shark season
Great white shark researchers on Cape Cod are reminding visitors that warmer weather signals not just the start of the busy tourist season, but also the arrival of the region's famous predators.
Webb telescope: NASA to reveal deepest image ever taken of universe
NASA administrator Bill Nelson said Wednesday the agency will reveal the "deepest image of our universe that has ever been taken" on July 12, thanks to the newly operational James Webb Space Telescope.
Team reassesses greenhouse gas emissions from African lakes
The emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4)—the most potent greenhouse gases—into the atmosphere from African lakes are reassessed in a study undertaken by the Laboratory of Chemical Oceanography (FOCUS research unit / Faculty of Science). While it was previously assumed that these lakes were significant CO2 sources, it has since been discovered that they really emit very little...
Pentagon UFO study led by researcher who believes in the supernatural
When the U.S. government released
a much-anticipated report
on UFOs a year ago, many were perplexed that it couldn’t explain 143 of the 144 sightings it examined. (In the single closed case, the report concluded the mystery object was a large, deflating balloon.) "Where are the aliens?"
cracked
one headline.
The truth was still out there. So was...
Laser writing may enable 'electronic nose' for multi-gas sensor
Environmental sensors are a step closer to simultaneously sniffing out multiple gases that could indicate disease or pollution, thanks to a Penn State collaboration. Huanyu "Larry" Cheng, assistant professor of engineering science and mechanics in the College of Engineering, and Lauren Zarzar, assistant professor of chemistry in Eberly College of Science, and their teams combined laser writing and...
Cooking up a conductive alternative to copper with aluminum
In the world of electricity, copper is king—for now. That could change with new research from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) that is serving up a recipe to increase the conductivity of aluminum, making it economically competitive with copper. This research opens the door to experiments that—if fully realized—could lead to an ultra-conductive aluminum alternative to copper that...
Being mindful can improve your interactions with co-workers, new study finds
Although mindfulness originates within an individual, a Virginia Commonwealth University researcher has found the benefits do not end with this person. The real payoffs emerge when an individual's mindfulness is translated into mindful interactions and relationships. Such interactions—infused with intentionality, compassion and presence—can bring about more harmonious and healthy...
First national guidelines established for integrated student support programs in K-12 schools
The first national guidelines to help K-12 schools create successful, cost-effective approaches to deliver integrated student supports that address both in- and out-of-school barriers to learning—from hunger, to mental health, to basic needs—have been released by a national working group convened by Boston College.
Capturing an elusive shadow: State-by-state gun ownership
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 22:11
In a new study, researchers describe a spatio-temporal model to predict trends in firearm prevalence on a state-by-state level by fusing data from two available proxies -- background checks per capita and suicides committed with a firearm in a given state. Calibrating their results with yearly survey data, they determined that the two proxies can be simultaneously considered to draw precise...
Romantic partners can influence each other's beliefs and behaviors on climate change
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 22:11
A team of researchers surveyed couples about their ideas on climate change and found that while many partners exhibited similar beliefs and behaviors around the issue, there also were many discrepancies.
Shining some light on the obscure proteome
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 22:10
Mass-spectrometry based proteomics is the big-data science of proteins that allows the monitoring of the abundance of thousands of proteins in a sample at once. Therefore, it is a particularly well-suited readout for discovering which proteins are targeted by any small molecule. An international research team has investigated this using chemical proteomics.
Study finds women have more brain changes after menopause
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 22:09
Women who have gone through menopause may have more of a brain biomarker called white matter hyperintensities than premenopausal women or men of the same age, according to a new study.
Changes in oceanographic fronts affect the gene flow among marine crab populations
In the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, the intensity and location of the oceanographic fronts that limit the gene connectivity among populations of marine crabs vary over time. These dynamic changes, described in an article published in the journal Scientific Reports, alter the gene structure of the populations of marine crabs of commercial and gastronomic interest.
The evolution of evolutionary developmental biology
Studying evolution by focusing solely on fossils would leave many questions unanswered, but evolutionary developmental biology (otherwise known as "evo-devo") helps fill in the gaps.
How the world's rivers are changing
The way rivers function is significantly affected by how much sediment they transport and where it gets deposited. River sediment—mostly sand, silt, and clay—plays a critical ecological role, as it provides habitat for organisms downstream and in estuaries. It is also important for human life, resupplying nutrients to floodplain agricultural soils, and buffering sea level rise caused by...
Humans tamed the microbes behind cheese, soy, and more
The burst of flavor from summer’s first sweet corn and the proud stance of a show dog both testify to the power of domestication. But so does the microbial alchemy that turns milk into cheese, grain into bread, and soy into miso. Like the ancestors of the corn and the dog, the fungi and bacteria that drive these transformations were modified for human use. And their genomes have...
Enzyme of bacterial origin promoted the evolution of longhorned beetles
Larvae of longhorned beetles develop primarily in woody tissue, which is difficult for most organisms to digest. However, longhorned beetle larvae possess special enzymes to break down the various components of the plant cell wall. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, have now taken a closer look at a group of digestive enzymes found only in this beetle...
Research team captures an elusive shadow: State-by-state gun ownership
Policymakers are faced with an exceptional challenge: how to reduce harm caused by firearms while maintaining citizens' right to bear arms and protect themselves. This is especially true as the Supreme Court has hobbled New York State regulations restricting who can carry a concealed weapon.
Romantic partners can influence each other's beliefs and behaviors on climate change, new study finds
Few would argue that romantic partners have the potential to shift each other's beliefs and behaviors, but what about their views on climate change specifically? Up until now there's been little analysis of the dynamics of climate change conversations in romantic relationships and how the beliefs of one partner can influence the other.
New survey suggests charismatic songbird's numbers have dramatically declined
The evening grosbeak, a noisy and charismatic songbird, once arrived at Oregon State University in springtime flocks so vast an OSU statistics professor estimated there were up to a quarter million of the birds on campus daily.
A new design of sustainable cropping diversifications
Cropping systems are one of the most important components in the crop production system, which is intensified to feed a growing global population. Previous studies focused on high yield with less attention to production of nutrients and vitamins for human diet. Since the Green Revolution, a winter wheat-summer maize double cropping system has dominated the North China Plain (NCP), with the...
Monitoring COVID-19: Could medicine found in wastewater provide an early warning?
In a pilot project exploring ways to monitor COVID-19, University at Buffalo scientists hunted for pharmaceuticals and viral RNA simultaneously in wastewater in Western New York.
Organoids reveal similarities between myotonic dystrophy type 1 and Rett syndrome
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 21:03
Using brain organoids, researchers discover mutational commonalities between muscular dystrophy type 1 and Rett syndrome, suggesting the potential of a similar treatment for both.
Immune cells anchored in tissues offer unique defenses against pathogens and cancers
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 21:03
Researchers have gained ground in understanding unique immune cells equipped to remember the identities of malicious invaders. The researchers developed a new atlas that describes tissue-resident memory T cells in diverse tissue settings, boosting the prospects of the development of immune defense strategies to enhance immunity at sites vulnerable to infection.
'Fake' data helps robots learn the ropes faster
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 21:03
In a step toward robots that can learn on the fly like humans do, a new approach expands training data sets for robots that work with soft objects like ropes and fabrics, or in cluttered environments.
New clues on unsolved genetic diseases in children
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 21:03
Scientists have discovered a new way to interpret unsolved Mendelian diseases -- diseases inherited from either parent due to gene mutations in the developing egg or sperm -- through studying the inheritance of a protein known as SMCHD1 which is coded by the SMCHD1 gene.
Awake prone positioning does not offer benefit in reducing intubation for COVID-19 induced acute respiratory failure
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 21:03
A large multicenter, randomized clinical trial revealed no difference in the risk of endotracheal intubation requirement at 30 days between awake prone positioning and standard positioning for patients with COVID-19 who suffered from acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.
Norovirus and other 'stomach viruses' can spread through saliva
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 21:03
A class of viruses known to cause severe diarrheal diseases -- including the one famous for widespread outbreaks on cruise ships -- can grow in the salivary glands of mice and spread through their saliva, scientists have discovered. The findings show that a new route of transmission exists for these common viruses, which afflict billions of people each year worldwide and can be deadly.
Helping babies to sleep more
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 21:03
Researchers have trained new mothers in skills that help newborns sleep more during the night. New research shows that second children in these families also slept longer.
Researchers develop online portal to show how biases in RNA sequences affect gene expression
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 21:03
Researchers explain the importance of identifying and understanding how differences between tissues and cells alter gene expression without changing the underlying genetic code.
'Quake brain' effects suffered by resilient Cantabrians fade over time
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 21:03
New research suggests the brain function of otherwise-healthy individuals exposed to event trauma has the ability to 'bounce back' over time once the threat resolves. Researchers conducted a follow-up study on a group of Cantabrians, who had been exposed to trauma during the region's earthquakes over a decade ago.
How friends can work together to help protect against unwanted sexual experiences in the first year of college
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 21:03
A new study is helping researchers understand how women in their early college years can use friends-based strategies to help avoid unwanted sexual experiences.
Study reveals the job problems contributing to physician suicide
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 21:03
Physical and mental health, substance use, relationships, legal matters and finances all contribute to physician suicide, a new study shows.
Researchers identify the microbes in 100-year-old snail guts
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 21:03
The gut 'microbiomes' of long-dead animals could give researchers surprising insights into how climate change and other factors have shaped the Rocky Mountains and other ecosystems over decades.
Asteroids: Researchers simulate defense of Earth
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 21:03
NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission is the world's first full-scale planetary defense test against potential asteroid impacts on Earth. Researchers now show that instead of leaving behind a relatively small crater, the impact of the DART spacecraft on its target could leave the asteroid near unrecognizable.
An engaging leadership style may boost employee engagement
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 21:02
A new analysis suggests that a particular leadership style dubbed 'engaging leadership' can boost employees' engagement and enhance team effectiveness within the workplace.
Underwater jars reveal Roman period winemaking practices
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 21:02
Winemaking practices in coastal Italy during the Roman period involved using native grapes for making wine in jars waterproofed with imported tar pitch, according to a new study.
Pollution exposure associated with multimorbidity risk
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 21:01
Exposure to the air pollution known as fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with an increased risk of having a cluster of multiple chronic diseases, according to a new study.
'Safety in numbers' tactic keeps Pacific salmon safe from predators
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 21:01
A new study that leverages historical data has found unique support for a 'safety in numbers' strategy, where Pacific salmon living in larger groups have a lower risk of being eaten by predators. But for some salmon species, schooling comes at the cost of competition for food, and those fish may trade safety for a meal.
Could carbon monoxide foam help fight inflammation?
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 21:01
A new way to safely deliver carbon monoxide to the body might help fight inflammation. Inspired by molecular gastronomy, researchers incorporated carbon monoxide into foams that can be delivered to the digestive tract.
Charismatic songbird's numbers have dramatically declined, survey suggests
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 21:01
An new study shows the number of evening grosbeaks using the campus as a migration stop-over site has gone down an average of 2.6% per year over the last four decades, emblematic of population declines across the charismatic songbird's range.
Artificial intelligence techniques used to obtain antibiotic resistance patterns
- ScienceDaily
- 22/6/29 21:01
New research analyzes antibiotic resistance patterns, with the aim of finding trends that can help decide which treatment to apply to each type of patient and stop the spread of bacteria.
Researchers develop online portal to show how biases in RNA sequences affect gene expression
A recent publication from researchers at the University of Kentucky explains the importance of identifying and understanding how differences between tissues and cells alter gene expression without changing the underlying genetic code.
Robots are driving US co-workers to substance abuse, mental health issues, finds study
Automation enhances industry, but it's harmful to the mental health of its human co-workers.
How friends can work together to protect against unwanted sexual experiences in the first year of college
A new study from the University at Buffalo is helping researchers understand how women in their early college years can use friends-based strategies to help avoid unwanted sexual experiences.
Researchers identify the microbes in 100-year-old snail guts
On a drizzly day in July 1920, a Colorado scientist named Junius Henderson was hiking around the Dakota Hogback, a sandstone ridge north of Boulder. There, he spotted a group of Rocky Mountain snails (Oreohelix strigosa) oozing across the ground. Henderson scooped up the mollusks and brought them back to his lab at what is now called the University of Colorado Museum of Natural History, carefully...