ScienceDaily: Top News

New genetic link found for some forms of SIDS

Posted: 11 Oct 2019 04:47 AM PDT

Some forms of sudden infant death syndrome stem from a genetic mutation that keeps infants from processing lipids in milk, a new study has discovered. The build-up of unprocessed fatty material disrupts heart functions. While no treatments are yet available, the finding could help in genetic screening. Drugs are also being tested to see if they can help.

Physicists look to navigational 'rhumb lines' to study polymer's unique spindle structure

Posted: 11 Oct 2019 04:47 AM PDT

A new study describes how spheres can be transformed into twisted spindles thanks to insights from 16th century navigational tools. Researchers show how polymers can contract into spiral structures, known as loxodromes, that have complex patterning ten times smaller than the width of a human hair.

A reliable clock for your microbiome

Posted: 11 Oct 2019 04:47 AM PDT

The microbiome is a treasure trove of information about human health and disease, but getting it to reveal its secrets is challenging. A new genetic 'repressilator' circuit acts like a clock that tracks how bacterial growth changes over time with single-cell precision. This tool allows scientists to noninvasively study the dynamics of the microbiome, and also unlocks the potential for complex, synthetic-biology-based diagnostics and therapeutics for the human gut.

Controlling superconducting regions within an exotic metal

Posted: 11 Oct 2019 04:47 AM PDT

Researchers have created a metallic microdevice in which they can define and tune patterns of superconductivity. Their discovery holds great promise for quantum technologies of the future.

Targeting immune cells may be potential therapy for Alzheimer's

Posted: 11 Oct 2019 04:47 AM PDT

A study has found that microglia drive neurodegeneration in diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, that are linked to tau protein. Targeting microglia may help treat such diseases.

Jumping genes can cause rare developmental disorders in children

Posted: 11 Oct 2019 04:47 AM PDT

The largest study of its kind into childhood developmental disorders has discovered that jumping genes cause genetic changes in some patients with undiagnosed neurodevelopmental diseases. The research enabled genetic diagnoses for three children with previously undiagnosed rare developmental diseases, enrolled in the Deciphering Developmental Disorders project. Reported in Nature Communications, these diagnoses will help the families access support and understand the disease risks for any future children.

Deciphering the early stages of Parkinson's disease is a matter of time

Posted: 11 Oct 2019 04:47 AM PDT

Researchers haveidentified for the first time the initial steps of alpha-synuclein protein aggregates related to early onsets of hereditary Parkinson cases. The results may help the understanding of the early stages of the disease and how it develops over time.

Radiation detector with the lowest noise in the world boosts quantum work

Posted: 11 Oct 2019 04:47 AM PDT

The nanoscale radiation detector is a hundred times faster than its predecessors, and can function without interruption.

Sweat monitors predict behavioral issues in teens severely affected with autism

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 01:28 PM PDT

When people become stressed, their bodies can respond by sweating. Now, researchers are monitoring how much adolescents severely affected by autism sweat in order to better understand when behavioral issues, such as aggression, are likely to occur.

That new yarn? Wearable, washable textile devices are possible with MXene-coated yarns

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 01:15 PM PDT

Researchers have figured out how to add more conductivity into functional fabric devices, by coating yarns with a 2-dimensional carbon-based material called MXene, to make conductive threads. The group has developed a dip-coating method, similar to the dyeing process, that can produce a conductive yarn strong enough for use in industrial knitting machines and durable enough to make it through wash cycles without degrading.

'Sticky' gene may help Valium calm nerves

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 01:15 PM PDT

For years, scientists thought that these powerful sedatives, which are used to treat anxiety, muscle spasms, and sleeping disorders, worked alone to calm nerves. Now, researchers show that this view of the drugs and the neural circuits they affect may have to change. In a study of mice, scientists discovered that both may need the assistance of a 'sticky' gene, named after a mythological figure, called Shisa7.

Rotavirus infection may turn on type 1 diabetes

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 01:15 PM PDT

Rotavirus infection may play a role in the development of type 1 diabetes, according to a new article.

Engineers solve 50-year-old puzzle in signal processing

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 01:15 PM PDT

Engineers have solved a 50-year-old puzzle in signal processing. They've formulated the 'inverse chirp z-transform,' an algorithm related to one that's running on your cell phone right now. It took some computing power and some math expertise to do it.

Beyond the 'replication crisis,' does research face an 'inference crisis'?

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 01:15 PM PDT

For the past decade, social scientists have been unpacking a 'replication crisis' that has revealed how findings of an alarming number of scientific studies are difficult or impossible to repeat. Efforts are underway to improve the reliability of findings, but cognitive psychology researchers say that not enough attention has been paid to the validity of theoretical inferences made from research findings.

Scientists ask: How can liquid organelles in cells coexist without merging?

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 12:16 PM PDT

New research may help to explain an intriguing phenomenon inside human cells: how wall-less liquid organelles are able to coexist as separate entities instead of just merging together.

When studying immune cells, environment matters

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 12:16 PM PDT

For years, scientists have used cells grown in petri dishes to study the metabolic processes that fuel the immune system. But a new report suggests looking outside the dish and into living organisms gives a drastically different view of the way immune cells process and use energy.

Water + air + electricity = hydrogen peroxide

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 11:21 AM PDT

A reactor produces pure hydrogen peroxide solutions from water, air and energy.

AI and big data predict which research will influence future medical treatments

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 11:21 AM PDT

An artificial intelligence/machine learning model to predict which scientific advances are likely to eventually translate to the clinic has been developed.

Twist-based refrigeration: Twisting and coiling 'twistocaloric' yarns to keep cool

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 11:21 AM PDT

Researchers have discovered a new technology for refrigeration that is based on twisting and untwisting fibers. They demonstrated twist-based refrigeration using materials as diverse as natural rubber, ordinary fishing line and nickel titanium wire.

People pay more attention to stimuli they associate with danger

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 11:21 AM PDT

A new analysis of how people prioritize their attention when determining safety and danger in busy settings, such as crossing a road, suggests that a person will pay more attention to something if they learn it is associated with danger.

New material could someday power quantum computer

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 11:21 AM PDT

Quantum computers with the ability to perform complex calculations, encrypt data more securely and more quickly predict the spread of viruses, may be within closer reach thanks to a new discovery.

CRISPR enzyme programmed to kill viruses in human cells

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 11:21 AM PDT

Researchers have now turned a CRISPR RNA-cutting enzyme into an antiviral that can be programmed to detect and destroy RNA-based viruses in human cells.

Scientists 'must be allowed to cry' about destruction of nature

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 11:21 AM PDT

Scientists witnessing the destruction of the natural world must be supported and 'allowed to cry,' researchers say.

Enhancing memory network via brain stimulation

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 11:21 AM PDT

Magnetic stimulation of the posterior parietal cortex increases functional connectivity of a neural network implicated in memory, shows human research. This finding confirms a previous study, validating further exploration of this technique for experimental and clinical applications.

'Tricked' bacteria open new pathways to antimicrobial treatments

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 11:21 AM PDT

Scientists have developed a new technique to trick bacteria into revealing hundreds of holes in their cell walls, opening the door for drugs that destroy bacteria's cells.

Carnivorous plant study captures universal rules of leaf making

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 11:21 AM PDT

Leaves display a remarkable range of forms from flat sheets with simple outlines to the cup-shaped traps found in carnivorous plants.

New tool visualizes nature's benefits worldwide

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 11:21 AM PDT

The researchers set out to understand where nature contributes the most to people and how many people may be affected by future changes. By 2050, up to 5 billion people could be at higher risk of water pollution, coastal storms and under-pollinated crops.

Archaeology: Social inequality in Bronze Age households

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 11:21 AM PDT

Archaeogenetic analyses provide new insights into social inequality 4,000 years ago: nuclear families lived together with foreign women and individuals from lower social classes in the same household.

Suicide in low- and middle-income countries

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 11:21 AM PDT

Future treatment and prevention of suicidal behavior in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) should involve a wider range of approaches beyond just the treatment of psychiatric illness, according to a new study.

Scientists are decoding the genetic mechanisms of aging

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 11:20 AM PDT

Scientists describes the mechanisms by which longevity is regulated post-transcriptionally, or after a genetic blueprint has been transcribed from an organism's DNA. The identification of these mechanisms will serve as a road map for screening new, more specific drugs to prolong healthy lifespan. The laboratory focuses on research on regeneration and aging.

Key uncertainties identified for models of mosquito distribution in the US

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 11:20 AM PDT

A computational analysis has identified key regions in the United States where model-based predictions of mosquito species distribution could be improved.

Impacts of low-dose exposure to antibiotics unveiled in zebrafish gut

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 10:57 AM PDT

An antibiotic commonly found at low concentrations in the environment can have major impacts on gut bacteria, report researchers.

E-cigarettes, tobacco and cannabis products are littering high schools

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 10:57 AM PDT

High schools in the San Francisco Bay area are being contaminated by plastics and toxic litter from e-cigarettes, cannabis products and combustible tobacco products such as cigarettes and cigarillos, a new study has found.

Five patterns of gun ownership by motivation, practices, other features

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 10:57 AM PDT

Can firearm owners be grouped into distinct groups based on the number and types of firearms owned, primary reason for having firearms and other patterns of ownership? A new study says, yes.

Ice on lunar south pole may have more than one source

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 10:57 AM PDT

New research sheds light on the ages of ice deposits reported in the area of the Moon's south pole -- information that could help identify the sources of the deposits and help in planning future human exploration.

New CEOs can raise their social game to keep their jobs

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 09:56 AM PDT

A new study shows that two key factors can make freshly appointed CEOs more vulnerable and raise the odds they'll get fired. The job security of a new CEO tends to suffer when the stock market reacts badly or when the previous CEO stays on as board chair, according to the study. But the study found that the new CEO can overcome these challenges with what researchers call ''social influence behaviors.''

How chlamydia takes up new DNA from host

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 09:56 AM PDT

Molecular biologists have pinpointed a gene that allows chlamydia to take up DNA from its host environment.

A Lego-like approach to improve nature's own ability to kill dangerous bacteria

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 09:56 AM PDT

A research team has demonstrated how it could improve upon the ability of nature's exquisitely selective collection of antimicrobial enzymes to attack bacteria in a way that's much less likely to cause bacterial resistance.

Biologically-inspired skin improves robots' sensory abilities

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 09:56 AM PDT

Sensitive synthetic skin enables robots to sense their own bodies and surroundings - a crucial capability if they are to be in close contact with people. Inspired by human skin, a team has developed a system combining artificial skin with control algorithms and used it to create the first autonomous humanoid robot with full-body artificial skin.

Sharing data for improved forest protection and monitoring

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 09:56 AM PDT

Although the mapping of aboveground biomass is now possible with satellite remote sensing, these maps still have to be calibrated and validated using on-site data gathered by researchers across the world.

Milky Way raids intergalactic 'bank accounts'

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 09:56 AM PDT

Gas blown out of the Milky Way disk from exploding stars falls back onto the galaxy to form new generations of stars. In an effort to account for this recycling process, astronomers were surprised to find a surplus of incoming gas.

Physics researchers explore unknown energy regions

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 09:56 AM PDT

Physicists are using photon-proton collisions to capture particles in an unexplored energy region, yielding new insights into the matter that binds parts of the nucleus together.

Light-based strategy effectively treats carbon monoxide poisoning in rats

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 09:56 AM PDT

Investigators recently developed a phototherapy strategy that was highly effective for removing carbon monoxide in rats.

Tracking wild pigs in real time and understanding their interaction with agro-ecosystems

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 09:56 AM PDT

A new study investigates how the success of a wild pig invasion may be dependent on how they use their surrounding food resources, and how when it comes to agriculture, the pigs continue their destructive trend.

Intelligent, shape-morphing, self-healing material for soft robotics

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 09:56 AM PDT

Advances in the fields of soft robotics, wearable technologies, and human/machine interfaces require a new class of stretchable materials that can change shape adaptively while relying only on portable electronics for power. Researchers have developed such a material that exhibits a unique combination of high electrical and thermal conductivity with actuation capabilities that are unlike any other soft composite.

Explained: The lifetime of an evaporating liquid drop

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 09:56 AM PDT

The lifespan of a liquid droplet which is transforming into vapour can now be predicted thanks to a new theory. The new understanding can now be exploited in a myriad of natural and industrial settings where the lifetime of liquid drops governs a process' behavior and efficiency.

Brain scans may provide clues to suicide risk

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 08:32 AM PDT

Researchers have identified brain circuitry differences that might be associated with suicidal behavior in individuals with mood disorders. The study provides a promising lead toward tools that can predict which individuals are at the highest risk for suicide.

Scientists track wheat aphids and their natural enemies for better pest management in Pakistan

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 08:32 AM PDT

Scientists have studied the distribution and population dynamics of wheat aphids and their natural enemies in Pakistan through seasons and periods of time. This research could be useful to develop better pest management methods and safer, healthier crops in wheat production.

Biomedical sciences researchers isolate gut bacteria that can prevent and cure rotavirus infection

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 08:32 AM PDT

The presence of specific microbiota, or microorganisms that live in the digestive tract, can prevent and cure rotavirus infection, which is the leading cause of severe, life-threatening diarrhea in children worldwide, according to a new study.

Koala epidemic provides lesson in how DNA protects itself from viruses

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 08:32 AM PDT

In animals, infections are fought by the immune system. Studies on an unusual virus infecting wild koalas reveal a new form of 'genome immunity.'

Viagra shows promise for use in bone marrow transplants

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 08:32 AM PDT

Researchers have demonstrated a new, rapid method to obtain donor stem cells for bone marrow transplants using a combination of Viagra and a second drug called Plerixafor. Bone marrow transplants, used mostly in the treatment of cancer, are life-saving procedures to restore the stem cells that generate new blood cells throughout a person's life.

Gut immunity more developed before birth than previously thought

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 08:32 AM PDT

The first comprehensive look at the immune system of the fetal gut shows that it is far more developed before birth, and could help develop new maternal vaccines and reveal if we are predisposed to autoimmune diseases before birth.

Longtime DNA mystery illuminated by buttons and flies

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 08:32 AM PDT

Biologists have uncovered an important clue in the longtime mystery of how long strands of DNA fold up to squeeze into microscopic cells, with each pair of chromosomes aligned to ensure perfect development.

Nanostructures help to reduce the adhesion of bacteria

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 08:32 AM PDT

Scientists has shown how bacteria adhere to rough surfaces at the microscopic level. The team has discovered that precise analysis of the topographical composition of nanostructured surfaces provides a direct means of deriving the adhesive forces that bind bacteria to the surface. This discovery has opened up promising new avenues of research, including ways of combating the bacteria that are so hazardous in clinical environments.

Watching energy transport through biomimetic nanotubes

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 08:32 AM PDT

Scientists have investigated a simple biomimetic light-harvesting system using advanced spectroscopy combined with a microfluidic platform. The double-walled nanotubes work very efficiently at low light intensities, while they are able to get rid of excess energy at high intensities. These properties are useful in the design of novel materials for the harvesting and transport of photon energy.

Placenta transit of an environmental estrogen

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 08:32 AM PDT

The human fetus is considered to be particularly sensitive to environmental contaminants. A team has now been able to demonstrate for the first time how the widespread food estrogen zearalenone behaves in the womb. Using a new analytical method, it was shown that the xenoestrogen migrates through the placenta and is partially converted to other harmful substances.

Serum neurofilament is a discriminative biomarker between frontotemporal dementia and psychiatric disorders

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 08:32 AM PDT

Early symptoms of frontotemporal dementia are often confused with symptoms occurring in psychiatric disorders. Researchers show that serum neurofilament levels can be used as a diagnostic tool to differentiate between these conditions.

Secrets to climate change adaptation uncovered in the European corn borer moth

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 08:32 AM PDT

Biologists have found two genes that may permit some insect species to survive climate change by adjusting their biological annual clocks while others succumb. The researchers looked at the European corn borer moth and pinpointed variation in two circadian clock genes -- per and Pdfr -- that enable different populations of the moth to adapt their transitions to longer or shorter winters.

New study analyzes FEMA-funded home buyout program

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 08:32 AM PDT

An analysis of FEMA's 30-year-old property buyout program offers new insight into the growing debate on managed retreat -- moving people and assets out of flood-prone areas.

The Milky Way kidnapped several tiny galaxies from its neighbor

Posted: 10 Oct 2019 08:32 AM PDT

A team of astronomers has discovered that several of the small -- or 'dwarf' -- galaxies orbiting the Milky Way were likely stolen from the Large Magellanic Cloud, including several ultrafaint dwarfs, but also relatively bright and well-known satellite galaxies, such as Carina and Fornax.