149 articles from WEDNESDAY 14.9.2022

Young genes found to adapt faster than old ones

A new study from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön and the University of Sussex in the UK shows that the age of a gene determines how fast they adapt. These findings demonstrate how gene evolution occurs as an "adaptive walk" through time.

Comparing effectiveness of camouflage in different animals

A quartet of researchers from Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Básicas, Universidade de São Paulo, and São Bernardo do Campo, all in Brazil, has conducted a study of the effectiveness of different types of camouflage strategies in animals. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, João Vitor de Alcantara Viana, Camila Vieira, Rafael Campos Duarte...

Scientist discovers new oxidation state of rhodium

Mayara da Silva Santos, doctoral candidate at the University of Freiburg's Institute of Physics, has discovered a new oxidation state of rhodium. This chemical element is one of the most catalytically important platinum-group metals and is used, for example, in catalytic converters for automobiles.

Soybean virus may give plant-munching bugs a boost in survival

Most viral infections negatively affect an organism's health, but one plant virus in particular—soybean vein necrosis orthotospovirus, often referred to as SVNV—may actually benefit a type of insect that commonly feeds on soybean plants and can transmit the virus to the plant, causing disease, according to Penn State research.

Genomics study identifies unique set of proteins that restores hearing in zebrafish

National Institutes of Health researchers have discovered a specific network of proteins that is necessary to restore hearing in zebrafish through cell regeneration. The study, led by investigators at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), may inform the development of treatments for hearing loss in humans. The findings were published in Cell Genomics.

Tropical wetlands emit more methane than previously thought

Since 2007, the world's atmospheric methane concentration has risen at an accelerated rate, but scientists aren't exactly sure why. This is a problem, because methane is a particularly potent greenhouse gas. It has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide during its first 20 years in the atmosphere, and it accounts for about 30% of global warming since preindustrial times.

Moral illusions may alter our behavior

Just as optical illusions can fool the eye to present a distorted image of reality, moral illusions can fool our decision-making ability, making us more selfish. But the results also show that we are more likely to vote for the good of all when taking part in democratic decisions.

Technique developed in mice could aid detection of cancer in dense breasts

A two-pronged approach to imaging breast density in mice resulted in better detection of changes in breast tissue, including spotting early signs of cancer. The researchers hope that this approach will be translated from mice and improve breast imaging for people; it may also help with prognosis of disease as density can be linked to specific patterns of mammary gland growth, including signs of...

Swimmer's itch: What causes this neglected snail-borne disease?

Cercarial dermatitis is caused by the larvae of blood flukes that are parasites of birds or mammals. A new study suggests that a cercarial dermatitis outbreak in South Thailand was caused by the blood fluke Schistosoma indicum. The study offers important insights on these parasites, which, apart from being a public health issue, can also infect livestock animals, threatening the sustenance of...

Single 'nanoconfined' molecules: Making and breaking of chemical bonds

Researchers around the world are working to develop efficient materials to convert CO2 into usable chemical substances -- work that is particularly pressing in view of global warming. A team has discovered a new and promising approach: catalytically active molecules are nanoconfined -- meaning they are put into an environment that leaves very little space for the single molecules -- on a surface...

Precise control of catalytic reactions

A team develops a nanoreactor combining magnetic material and plasmonic catalysts. Remote control of step-by-step catalytic reactions of precursor led to cinnamaldehyde product with 95% yield.

A switch telling the brain when to learn and when to remember

The memory system alternates between periods of learning and remembering. These two functions are controlled by different neural circuits. Using an animal model, scientists recently identified a neural signal in the hippocampus, a brain region essential for forming and recalling memories, that enables the brain to alternate between remembering and learning modes.

Air pollution may spur irregular heart rhythms in healthy teens

A first-of-its-kind study examining the impact of air pollution on healthy teenagers found that air pollution may trigger an irregular heart rhythm within two hours after exposure. Reducing the risk of irregular heart rhythms -- known as arrhythmias -- during adolescence may help reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death and developing heart disease in adulthood. Wearing face masks and avoiding...

Are we missing a crucial component of sea-level rise?

Across Antarctica, some parts of the base of the ice sheet are frozen, while others are thawed. Scientists show that if some currently frozen areas were also to thaw, it can increase ice loss from glaciers that are not currently major sea-level contributors.

Tropical insects are extremely sensitive to changing climates

Insects that are adapted to perennially wet environments, like tropical rainforests, don't tend to do well when their surroundings dry out. New research indicates they may be equally averse to heavy rainfall. The results of an extensive five-year study conducted in Peru revealed a 50% decline in arthropod biomass following short periods of both drought and increased precipitation. One of only a...

Genetic discovery could lead to better treatments for common tumor in dogs

Newly discovered genetic commonalities and differences among the most prevalent types of canine soft tissue sarcomas, a common and potentially deadly tumor, could pave the way for more accurate diagnosis and better treatments in the future. Using next-generation sequencing techniques and computation approaches, a team of researchers and veterinarians examined the genetic makeup of the three most...