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Science

A new chemistry for CRISPR

CRISPR-Cas9 has long been likened to a kind of genetic scissors, thanks to its ability to snip out any desired section of DNA with elegant precision. But it turns out that CRISPR systems have more than one strategy in their toolkit. A mechanism originally discovered in bacteria, where it has operated as an adaptive immune system for eons, CRISPR is naturally deployed by certain singled-cell organisms to protect themselves against viruses (called phages) and other foreign genetic fragments. Now, researchers at Rockefeller’s Laboratory ...

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Pythons can swallow even bigger prey than scientists realized
Science

Pythons can swallow even bigger prey than scientists realized

Burmese pythons can consume prey even larger than scientists realized, according to a new study. That means more animals are on the menu across southern Florida, where the nonnative, invasive snakes have decimated populations of foxes, bobcats, raccoons and other animals. Pythons swallow deer, alligators and other prey whole. What they eat is limited in part by how big an animal they can wrap their flexible, stretchy jaws around. Researchers call this the snake’s gape. University of Cincinnati Professor Bruce Jayne said measurements of snakes captured in and around Everglades National Park show that the biggest pythons have an even bigger gape than mathematical ...

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Science

Marzougui & Kan receive funding for crash testing

Dhafer Marzougui, Associate Professor, Physics and Astronomy, College of Science, and Cing-Dao Kan, Professor/Director, Center for Collision Safety and Analysis, College of Science, received funding for: “NCHRP Project 03-110-01.” Marzougui and Kan aim to identify and evaluate the crash performance of breakaway sign and luminaire supports and crashworthy work-zone traffic control devices that are non-proprietary and commonly used. The researchers will examine in-service safety performance, potential failure modes (and, if possible, design modifications that might address ...

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Science

Age-period-cohort analysis of cutaneous malignant melanoma incidence in the United States from 1987 to 2016

Background and objectives The prevalence and fatality rates of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) have been rising, particularly among the elderly. This study analyzes CMM incidence trends in the United States elderly population from 1987 to 2016 to inform prevention and management strategies. Methods Using incidence data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database spanning 1989 to 2008, we calculated the age-adjusted standardized population incidence rates for CMM in elderly individuals. The Joinpoint ...

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Dramatic drop in marijuana use among U.S. youth over a decade: (2011 to 2021)
Science

Dramatic drop in marijuana use among U.S. youth over a decade: (2011 to 2021)

Marijuana has emerged as one of the most commonly used illicit substances among adolescents in the United States. Given the rising number of states legalizing recreational marijuana for adults and the decreasing perception of risk among adolescents, tracking trends in youth marijuana use is more crucial than ever. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine conducted a comprehensive study using data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey between 2011 and 2021, which surveyed 88,183 adolescents in grades nine through 12. Researchers focused on the overall time trends in use of marijuana ...

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Science

Exploring unlabeled data for enhanced semi-supervised MRI segmentation

Researchers from Peking University Third Hospital have developed a novel collaborative framework that integrates various semi-supervised learning techniques to enhance MRI segmentation using unlabeled data. This new approach, published in Health Data Science, leverages advanced deep learning models to significantly improve segmentation accuracy, even when labeled data is scarce. MRI segmentation plays a crucial role in medical imaging, aiding in the precise partitioning of MR images into different regions or structures. While deep learning-based ...

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Science

Inhaled reliever therapies for asthma

About The Study: In this network meta-analysis of patients with asthma, inhaled corticosteroids combined with formoterol and inhaled corticosteroids combined with short-acting β agonists were each associated with reduced asthma exacerbations and improved asthma control compared with short-acting β agonists alone. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Derek K. Chu, MD, PhD, email chudk@mcmaster.ca. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jama.2024.22700) Editor’s ...

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Thin skin significantly blunts injury from puncture, study finds
Science

Thin skin significantly blunts injury from puncture, study finds

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Thin, stretchy skin — like that of a pig or human — significantly lessens the underlying damage that occurs when it’s punctured. Pig skin even outperforms synthetic materials that are designed to mimic skin, a new study finds. Its special qualities, in particular its ability to dissipate the energy of a puncturing object, greatly reduce the damage to deeper tissues, researchers report. Their findings appear in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface. Philip Anderson, a professor of evolution, ecology and behavior who led the study with postdoctoral researcher Bingyang Zhang at the University of Illinois ...

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A landscape of consciousness
Science

A landscape of consciousness

“Out of meat, how do you get thought? That’s the grandest question.” So said philosopher Patricia Churchland to Robert Lawrence Kuhn, the producer and host of the acclaimed PBS program, Closer to Truth. Now Kuhn, a member of FQxI’s scientific advisory council, has published a taxonomy of proposed solutions to, and theories regarding, the hard problem of consciousness. He produced the organizing framework in order to explore their impact on meaning, purpose and value (if any), AI consciousness, virtual immortality, survival beyond death, and free will. Kuhn's ‘landscape of consciousness’ ...

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Breakthrough in 3D object scanning: Boosting clarity and depth perception for complex structures
Science

Breakthrough in 3D object scanning: Boosting clarity and depth perception for complex structures

Recent advances in three-dimensional (3D) scanning, particularly in photogrammetry and laser scanning, have made it possible to quickly and accurately scan complex 3D objects in the real world. These techniques generate detailed models by collecting large-scale point cloud data, representing the object's surface geometry through millions of individual points. This technology has applications in different fields, such as the 3D scanning of cultural heritage objects. By preserving these objects in digital formats, ...

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Science

Novel self-cleaning electrode developed for alkaline-earth metal peroxide synthesis

Metal peroxide (MO2, M=Ca, Sr, Ba) is an alternative to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). It has excellent oxidative properties, superior chemical stability, high purity, and is easy to store and transport. It has been widely used in wastewater treatment and disinfection. A Chinese research group has recently developed a novel self-cleaning electrode by constructing a micro-/nanostructure of a highly active catalyst with appropriate surface modification, achieving highly stable synthesis of alkaline-earth MO2. This study was published in Nature Nanotechnology. The current primary synthesis process of MO2 involves fast decomposition of H2O2, leading to insufficient utilization ...

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New report demands greater understanding of the impact of change on academia
Science

New report demands greater understanding of the impact of change on academia

Digital Science, a technology company serving stakeholders across the research ecosystem, is today calling for greater awareness of the impact that a myriad of fast-developing technologies are having on academics and their institutions. This follows the publication of a new report from Digital Science looking at how changing attitudes and behaviors towards research are affecting traditional research models and dynamics. Key themes to emerge from the findings relate to areas of open research, impact and evaluation, tech and AI, collaboration and research security. The objective of the report – titled Research Transformation: Change in the era of AI, open and impact ...

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Science

Amsterdam UMC study proves impact of rapid first shock after cardiac arrest

It is well known that acting quickly in the event of a cardiac arrest is important, but what does a quick initial shock with a defibrillator mean exactly for patients' chances of survival? Researchers from Amsterdam UMC analysed the data of 3723 patients who had a cardiac arrest outside the hospital and concluded that for the first shock, every minute reduces the chance of survival by 6%. The results of this research were published today in the international journal Circulation. "Our research shows that every minute of delay in giving the first shock has a major impact. If the first shock was given within six minutes, it was possible ...

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Science

Children’s BMI can affect their future lung function

An abnormal BMI in children – be it high or low – can now be associated with impaired lung function, but if their BMI is normalised before they reach adulthood, the impairment can be offset, researchers from Karolinska Institutet report. Their results, which are based on data collected under the BAMSE project in Sweden, are presented in The European Respiratory Journal. One in ten people have reduced lung function development in childhood and cannot achieve maximal lung capacity in adulthood, increasing the risk of serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease, lung disease and diabetes. One risk factor associated with impaired lung function development is abnormal ...

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Science

Don't worry. Study shows you're likely a more creative writer than ChatGPT. For now

Imagine you decide to write a short story about a protagonist who creates an artificial human and then falls in love with it. What gender is your protagonist? What about the artificial human? Would you write a moving love story? A cautionary dystopian tale? Would your story be more compelling than one written by ChatGPT? Likely yes, says Nina Beguš, a researcher and lecturer in UC Berkeley's School of Information and Department of History. Leveraging her background in comparative literature ...

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When science speaks in extremes
Science

When science speaks in extremes

“Vaccines are 100% safe, and anyone who doubts this is ignorant”: Have you ever come across messages like this during the pandemic crisis a few years ago? If you often feel that certain public debates—such as those on vaccines or the climate crisis—boil down to a black-and-white clash between two sides demanding, with harsh tones, unquestioning allegiance to their view, you're not entirely wrong. We are rightly accustomed to being warned about pseudoscientific misinformation and fake news, and much research has been devoted ...

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Teens who made history with Pythagoras’ theorem discovery publish their first academic paper with new proofs
Science

Teens who made history with Pythagoras’ theorem discovery publish their first academic paper with new proofs

In 2022, U.S. high school students Calcea Johnson and Ne'Kiya Jackson astonished teachers when they discovered a new way to prove Pythagoras’ theorem using trigonometry after entering a competition at their local high school. As a result, both students were awarded keys to the city of New Orleans, and even received personal praise from Michelle Obama. Today they become published authors of a new peer-reviewed paper detailing their discoveries, published in the journal American Mathematical Monthly. Pythagoras’ famous 2,000-year-old ...

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Magicians don’t mind sharing the secrets behind tricks – if they are their own
Science

Magicians don’t mind sharing the secrets behind tricks – if they are their own

Magic is one of the oldest forms of entertainment, and much of its enchantment is said to rely on the audience not knowing how the tricks are done. However, while magicians swear to keep their secrets forever when they embark on their profession they are happy to share the tricks of their trade in certain circumstances, a new study shows. Illusionists who took part in major new research thought it was OK to expose their own techniques, but not those invented by others, and also believe it is acceptable to reveal the secrets behind tricks invented by someone who has since died. They didn’t think it was right to share the workings of a magic trick just to gain public ...

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No incentive for older birds to make new friends
Science

No incentive for older birds to make new friends

Like people, birds have fewer friends as they age, but the reasons why are unclear. New research suggests they may just have no drive to. In humans, it’s often been assumed that older people have fewer friends because they’re pickier about who they spend their time with. There’s also the issue that there are fewer people of their own age around. But it’s hard to pick apart the various potential causes for humans, so researchers have turned to animals. The team behind the new research, led by Imperial College London, studied an isolated population of sparrows on the island of Lundy, in the Bristol Channel. By mapping the ...

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Science

How the novel antibody felzartamab impacts IgA nephropathy

San Diego, CA (October 25, 2024) — IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is an autoimmune kidney disease driven by immune cells that express a protein called CD38 on their surface. A recent Phase 2 trial revealed that felzartamab, an investigational anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, helps to reduce proteinuria and maintain patients’ kidney function. Investigators evaluated the molecular mechanisms underlying felzartamab’s potential efficacy in IgAN. The findings will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2024 October 23– 27. It is hypothesized that CD38+ cells ...

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Scientific discovery scratching beneath the surface of itchiness
Science

Scientific discovery scratching beneath the surface of itchiness

Ever had an itchy nose or, worse, an unreachable spot on your back that drives you mad? Now imagine an itch that refuses to go away, no matter how hard or long you scratch. That persistent itch, or pruritus, may actually be one of the skin’s first lines of defense against harmful invaders, according to neuroimmunologist Juan Inclan-Rico of the University of Pennsylvania. “It’s inconvenient, it’s annoying, but sensations like pain and itch are crucial. They’re ever-present, especially when it comes to skin infections,” says Inclan-Rico, a postdoctoral researcher in the Herbert Lab at ...

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Science

NFL’s Bears add lifesavers to the chain of survival in Chicago

CHICAGO, October 22, 2024— The American Heart Association and the Chicago Bears brought cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training to the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Girls Flag Football State Finals on Saturday, Oct. 19. More than 150 youth athletes, coaches and league administrators learned lifesaving skills building their confidence and capabilities to respond in the event of a cardiac emergency. According to American Heart Association data, 9 out of every 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die, in part ...

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How mammals got their stride
Science

How mammals got their stride

Mammals, including humans, stand out with their distinctively upright posture, a key trait that fueled their spectacular evolutionary success. Yet, the earliest known ancestors of modern mammals more resembled reptiles, with limbs stuck out to their sides in a sprawled posture. The shift from a sprawled stance, like that of lizards, to the upright posture of modern mammals, as in humans, dogs, and horses, marked a pivotal moment in evolution. It involved a major reorganization of limb ...

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Science

Move along moose, SFU study reveals the ‘most Canadian’ animals

What is the “most Canadian” animal? Spoiler: it’s not the beaver, or the moose. Published today in the journal The Canadian Field-Naturalist, the study from a team of Simon Fraser University researchers ranks, for the first time ever, species of terrestrial vertebrates in Canada by their level of Canadian evolutionary distinctness: the amount of time animals have evolved independently from other Canadian species. High ranked species have no close national relatives and can embody up to a hundred million years of evolution shared with none other in the country. The study found that, overall, amphibians ...

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Science

Report summarizes findings from a decade of unprecedented gambling research

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have released a comprehensive, 194-page report assessing their decade-long examination of the social and economic impacts that followed the introduction of casino gambling in Massachusetts. UMass Amherst’s SEIGMA (Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling in Massachusetts) is believed to be the most comprehensive investigation of casino impacts ever undertaken. The report was presented Thursday to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission during a public meeting. It synthesizes the findings from 55 interim reports and academic publications. “We wanted to do a comprehensive ...

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