Science news

• Blood test cuts time to diagnosis for common, deadly yeast infection, national trial shows

  09-02-2018 23:45
  A new blood test seems to perform as well as, if not better than, traditional blood cultures at detecting candidemia, a type of fungal yeast infection that commonly strikes hospital patients. Quick detection of the infection has the potential to stop its spread and slow drug resistance.
  
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• Water filtration breakthrough using metal-organic frameworks

  09-02-2018 23:07
  With two billion people worldwide lacking access to clean and safe drinking water, new research may offer a breakthrough solution. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a next-generation material with the largest internal surface area of any known substance, can be used to capture, store and release chemical compounds -- in this case, the salt and ions in sea water.
  
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• New images reveal how the ear's sensory hairs take shape

  09-02-2018 23:07
  Our ability to hear relies on tiny bundles of hair-like sensors inside the inner ear. Scientists have identified a key component of the machinery that makes these bundles grow in an orderly fashion.
  
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• Many parents of children with disabilities don't make care plans, study finds

  09-02-2018 23:07
  Many parents of children with disabilities don't make advance care plans in the event of the parent's or other caretaker's death or disability, according to a new nationwide U.S. survey.
  
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• Liver cells with whole genome duplications protect against cancer, study shows

  09-02-2018 23:07
  Researchers have discovered that cells in the liver with whole genome duplications, known as polyploid cells, can protect the liver against cancer.
  
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• Efficient technique discovered for isolating embryonic stem cells in cows

  09-02-2018 23:05
  Scientists have developed a highly efficient method of isolating embryonic stem cells in cows. Producing embryonic stem cells from large livestock species like cattle is important for genetic testing, genome engineering, and studying human disease.
  
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• Chemist designs diabetic treatment minus harmful side effects

  09-02-2018 23:05
  Scientists have figured out how to control glucose levels in the bloodstream without the usual side effects of nausea, vomiting or malaise.
  
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• Second asteroid in a week to pass close to Earth on Friday

  09-02-2018 22:37
  (Reuters) - A recently discovered asteroid was due to zip within 39,000 thousand miles (64,000 km) of Earth on Friday, marking the second space rock to pass within the orbit of the moon this week, according to NASA scientists.
  
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• New brain disease test for Parkinson's, dementia with Lewy bodies

  09-02-2018 19:14
  Scientists have modified a test for early diagnosis of prion diseases with the goal of improving early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. The group tested cerebral spinal fluid samples from people with Parkinson's disease; people with dementia with Lewy bodies; and controls, some of whom had Alzheimer's disease. The test correctly excluded all the controls and diagnosed both Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies with 93 percent accuracy.
  
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• Mysterious lives of narwhals

  09-02-2018 19:14
  Narwhals are some of the most elusive creatures in the ocean, spending most of their lives in deep water far from shore. But new research may shed a bit of light on these enigmatic marine mammals.
  
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• Microscopic chariots deliver molecules within our cells

  09-02-2018 19:14
  Understanding how the dynein-dynactin complex is assembled and organized provides a critical foundation to explain the underlying causes of several dynein-related neurodegenerative diseases.
  
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• Direct link between glands and implanting embryos critical to pregnancy

  09-02-2018 19:14
  Researchers used 3-D imaging with molecular testing to uncover new insight into the earliest stages of mammalian pregnancy -- offering clues to unsolved questions in pregnancy. The scientists demonstrate in mice that glands in the uterus must link and communicate directly with the embryo so it will implant and begin pregnancy.
  
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• Clock protein controls daily cycle of gene expression by regulating chromosome loops

  09-02-2018 19:14
  It's well known that the human body functions on a 24-hour schedule. The up-and-down daily cycles of a long-studied clock protein called Rev-erb coordinates the ebb and flow of gene expression by tightening and loosening loops in chromosomes, according to new research.
  
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• Astrophysicists settle cosmic debate on magnetism of planets and stars

  09-02-2018 19:14
  Using one of the world's most powerful laser facilities, a team of scientists experimentally confirmed a long-held theory for cosmic magnetic field generation: the turbulent dynamo. By creating a hot turbulent plasma the size of a penny, that lasts a few billionths of a second, the researchers recorded how the turbulent motions can amplify a weak magnetic field to the strengths of those observed in our sun, distant stars, and galaxies.
  
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• Aerial imagery gives insight into water trends

  09-02-2018 19:14
  Researchers say aerial images taken from drones or helicopters are just as accurate as more conventional field methods used for estimating river discharge.
  
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• Bolivia's lonely frog: Scientists race to find mate for Romeo

  09-02-2018 18:25 via bbc.co.uk
  Romeo, a 10-year-old Sehuencas water frog, has been given a dating profile as part of the search.
  
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• The small intestine, not the liver, is the first stop for processing fructose

  09-02-2018 18:15
  
  In mice, fructose gets processed in the small intestine before getting to the liver.
  
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• Placebo pills prescribed honestly help cancer survivors manage symptoms

  09-02-2018 17:45
  Fatigue in cancer survivors is significantly reduced by placebo pill, even when it is known it is a fake pill.
  
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• Chicken pox vaccine linked with shingles at the vaccination site in some children

  09-02-2018 17:44
  New research reports several cases of shingles that developed at the original vaccination site in healthy children after they were immunized against chicken pox. Most of these cases were initially misdiagnosed as other skin rashes. While some of these patients underwent tests to help make the diagnosis, all of the children recovered without complications.
  
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• New unknown Bryozoa genera and species below thousand meters deep in the Southwestern Atlantic

  09-02-2018 17:43
  A scientific team has discovered twenty new species and two genera for unknown Bryozoa --most of them were found below 1000 meters deep- in the Southwestern Atlantic.
  
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• Stand-alone system to produce drinking water by means of solar energy

  09-02-2018 17:42
  Researchers in applied electrochemistry and electrocatalysis have developed a stand-alone system for desalinating and treating water through electrodialysis. The system is directly powered by solar energy and can be applied in off-grid areas.
  
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• Sleepless in Japan: How insomnia kills

  09-02-2018 17:42
  Lay people tend to think that insomnia is usually a symptom of something else, like stress, a bad diet or a sedentary lifestyle, but this may not be true at all. It is possible that insomnia itself causes many of the conditions that it is seen as a symptom of. Using previous research that shows that insomnia causes a decrease in blood flow in the front dorsal lobe of the brain, which correlates with depression, the authors seek to establish a link between insomnia and depression.
  
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• Cool Snake - Warmth-loving Grass Snake survived the Ice Age in Central Europe

  09-02-2018 17:25
  Using genetic analyses, scientists have discovered that not all Grass Snakes retreated to warm southern refugia during the last Central European Ice Age. They offer first evidence for the survival of a warmth-loving, egg-laying reptile during this cold period.
  
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• Scientists create functioning kidney tissue

  09-02-2018 17:24
  Scientists have successfully produced human kidney tissue within a living organism which is able to produce urine, a first for medical science. The study signifies a significant milestone in the development of treatment for kidney disease.
  
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• Water-soluble warped nanographene

  09-02-2018 17:23
  Graphene and its nano-sized little sibling, nanographene, are well known for their remarkable photoelectronic properties. However, biomedical applications are hampered by the insolubility of the materials, especially in water. A Japanese team of scientists has now introduced substituted 'warped nanographene,' which is soluble in a broad range of solvents while maintaining its photophysical properties. In their publication in Angewandte Chemie, the authors also emphasize its photodynamic potentia
  
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• Forging a quantum leap in quantum communication

  09-02-2018 17:23
  The major drawback of quantum communication today is the slow speed of data transfer, which is limited by the speed at which the parties can perform quantum measurements. Researchers have now devised a method that overcomes this.
  
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• Impact companion animals have on owners

  09-02-2018 17:17
  A new study suggests that pets provide benefits to those with mental health conditions.
  
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• Texas flood: Researchers compare pollution levels before and after Hurricane Harvey

  09-02-2018 16:07
  Recent years have seen rising interest in improving post-disaster research. Although understanding the wide-ranging effects of disasters is vital for an effective public health response, a lack of baseline data has made it difficult to attribute post-disaster changes in environmental conditions to the impacts of disasters.
  
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• Printed paper-based device could drug testing more efficient and affordable

  09-02-2018 16:07
  Engineers have devised a way to make testing for new drugs more efficient and affordable, and reduce the time for helpful medications to reach the public. The printed paper-based device can speed up and improve the accuracy of the drug screening process. Their work could also be used to diagnose diseases, identify environmental contaminants and pinpoint biological warfare agents.
  
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• Organic food provides significant environmental benefits to plant-rich diets

  09-02-2018 16:07
  A study of the diets of 34,000 people confirms that a diet high in fruit and vegetables is better for the planet than one high in animal products. The study also finds that organic food provides significant, additional climate benefits for plant-based diets, but not for diets with only moderate contribution from plant products. This is the first-ever study to look at the environmental impacts of both food choices and farm production systems.
  
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• New findings about why losartan is effective in treating Marfan syndrome may reshape our thinking about patient management

  09-02-2018 16:07
  Progressive dilation of the aortic root is considered one of the most serious manifestations of Marfan syndrome. The antihypertensive losartan is one of the two medications recommended by current guidelines attenuate the progression of this aortic enlargement, but which medication works best is still controversial. A new report confirms losartan's efficacy but finds that the underlying mechanism of action is different than previously thought, opening up new possibilities for improvements in Marf
  
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• New discovery offers hope of protecting premature babies from blindness

  09-02-2018 16:07
  Now there is hope of a new way to protect extremely premature babies from impaired vision or blindness resulting from the eye disease retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). A study points to a clear link between ROP and low levels of the fatty acid arachidonic acid, measured in children's blood.
  
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• Neanderthals' lack of drawing ability may relate to hunting techniques

  09-02-2018 16:07
  Visual imagery used in drawing regulates arm movements in manner similar to how hunters visualize the arc of a spear.
  
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• Giant lava dome confirmed in Japan's Kikai Caldera

  09-02-2018 16:07
  Researchers have confirmed that a giant lava dome was created in the Kikai Caldera, south of Japan's main islands after the caldera-forming supereruption 7,300 years ago. The dome is in the world's largest class of post-caldera volcano, with a volume of over 32 cubic kilometers. It is possible that currently a giant magma buildup may exist under the Kikai Caldera.
  
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• Drivers of hate in the United States have distinct regional differences

  09-02-2018 16:07
  In a new study, geographers sought to understand the factors fueling hate across space. Their findings paint a rather grim reality of America; hate is a national phenomenon, and more complicated than they imagined. The researchers mapped the patterns of active hate groups in every US county in the year 2014, and analyzed their potential socioeconomic and ideological drivers.
  
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• Can ultraviolet light fight the spread of influenza?

  09-02-2018 16:07
  Overhead far-UVC light, a type of ultraviolet light that is harmless to humans, effectively killed airborne flu virus, researchers have found. The lighting may offer a new weapon against the spread of flu virus in public spaces.
  
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• Workplace stress can take a toll on your brain surgeon, too

  09-02-2018 16:06
  A new study finds that two-thirds of neurosurgeons experience burnout during training, and stressors at work are partly to blame.
  
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• Stacking on the graphene

  09-02-2018 16:06
  Researchers have fabricated two types of trilayer graphene with different electrical properties.
  
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• Small gold mines in Senegal create high mercury contamination

  09-02-2018 16:06
  A new study has found high levels of mercury and methylmercury in soils, sediments and rivers near artisanal gold mines in Senegal. Nearly every sample collected from four mining villages contained mercury levels at least ten times higher than World Health Organization and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards.
  
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• How liver responds so quickly to food

  09-02-2018 16:06
  Researchers have uncovered how the liver can have a speedy response to food; liver cells store up pre-RNA molecules involved in glucose and fat metabolism.
  
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• The Arctic Permafrost Holds a Crazy Amount of Mercury--and That's Bad News

  09-02-2018 16:00 via rss.sciam.com
  A new study on the Northern Hemisphere’s mercury has troubling implications for wildlife and human health-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• Asteroid set for 'close' 43,300 mile flight past Earth on Friday

  09-02-2018 15:05 via bbc.co.uk
  The asteroid, up to 40m in size and only discovered five days ago, passes by on Friday.
  
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• Getting a grip

  09-02-2018 15:04 via bbc.co.uk
  The Bloodhound supersonic car aims to run in South Africa this October, and there is a lot to prepare.
  
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• Human eggs successfully grown in the lab

  09-02-2018 15:02 via cbc.ca
  Scientists have succeeded for the first time to grow human eggs in a laboratory from the earliest stages in ovarian tissue all the way to full maturity — a scientific step previously involving mice.
  
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• Let your kids help you, and other parenting tips from traditional societies

  09-02-2018 14:00
  
  Hunter-gatherers and villagers have some parenting tips for modern moms and dads.
  
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• Go Figure: Why Olympic Ice Skaters Don't Fall Flat on Their Faces

  09-02-2018 12:45 via rss.sciam.com
  The athletes’ brains get rewired with practice to counteract reflexes and execute complex routines-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• This rare asteroid will zip by Earth on Friday

  09-02-2018 10:00 via cbc.ca
  On Friday, around 5:30 p.m. ET, a small asteroid will make a relatively close pass to Earth. But it's no doomsday asteroid.
  
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• Asteroid will make a close pass by Earth on Friday

  09-02-2018 10:00 via cbc.ca
  On Friday, around 5:30 p.m. ET, a small asteroid will make a relatively close pass to Earth. But it's no doomsday asteroid.
  
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• Your gadget's next power supply? Your body

  09-02-2018 06:00
  (University at Buffalo) Searching for a power outlet may soon become a thing of the past. Instead, devices will receive electricity from a small metallic tab that, when attached to the body, is capable of generating electricity from bending a finger and other simple movements.
  
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• Why studying sugars matters in the fight against Alzheimer's disease

  09-02-2018 06:00
  (Canadian Glycomics Network) Each year, more than 25,000 Canadians are diagnosed with Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia (Alzheimer Society Canada).A one-year research grant funded through the Canadian Glycomics Network (GlycoNet) Networks of Centres of Excellence supports research into how glycomics -- the study of sugars in biology -- may help unlock clues as to how this debilitating disease arises and point to potential good targets for developing therapeutics to treat the disease.
  
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