Science
press releases.

Science9 Aug 2024

Spectral measurements capable of estimating nutrient content of forest tree leaves

The general health of forests can be estimated by the micro- and macronutrient content of tree leaves to help inform forest management decisions in the light of climate change, species loss and other variables. Traditional methods of assessing nutrient levels in forests are expensive and labor-intensive. Researchers recently analyzed the reflected spectra from tree foliage to accurately estimate the nutrients of leaves, offering a faster, larger-scale method of assessing forest health. Field methods of collecting leaf samples ...

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Science9 Aug 2024

Blueprint for blueberry improvement: genetic and epigenetic discoveries

Recent research has uncovered significant genetic and epigenetic variations in blueberry cultivars, particularly between northern highbush (NHB) and southern highbush (SHB) blueberries. The study highlights gene introgression's role in SHB's adaptation to subtropical climates and identifies key genes, such as VcTBL44, associated with fruit firmness. These findings offer valuable insights and resources for future blueberry breeding. Blueberries, part of the Vaccinium genus, are renowned for their nutritional benefits and increasing global demand. However, cultivation faces challenges like ...

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Science9 Aug 2024

Classical music lifts our mood by synchronizing our “extended amygdala”

Whether Bach, Beethoven, or Mozart, it’s widely recognized that classical music can affect a person’s mood. In a study published August 9 in the Cell Press journal Cell Reports, scientists in China use brainwave measurements and neural imaging techniques to show how Western classical music elicits its positive effects on the brain. Their goal is to find more effective ways to use music to activate the brain in those who otherwise don’t respond, such as people with treatment-resistant depression. “Our research integrates the fields of neuroscience, psychiatry, and ...

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Science9 Aug 2024

Researchers crack a key celiac mystery

People with celiac disease must navigate everyday life by avoiding gluten, a protein in wheat, rye and barley which can trigger painful symptoms in the gut, impede the absorption of nutrients and raise the risk of other serious long-term issues. The autoimmune disorder affects about 1 per cent of the population. Its rate of occurrence has roughly doubled in the past 25 years, but there is no treatment available. An interdisciplinary team of medical and engineering researchers centred at Canada’s McMaster University and including colleagues from the US, Australia, and Argentina, has spent the ...

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Science9 Aug 2024

High heat dissipation design improves thermal protection on ultrahigh temperature ablation

ZrC has drawn wide attention as an anti-ablation coating material for lightweight C/C composites but is limited by the produced porous and loose ZrO2 film. To address this issue, the second phase is introduced to improve the densification of the formed Zr-X-O film. Such as ZrC-SiC/TaC coating, the produced low-melting-point oxides, SiO2 (Tm=1650 °C), Ta2O5 (Tm=1800 °C) and Zr6Ta2O17 (Tm=1900 °C), helped to form a dense oxides film. However, the high service temperature causes heat accumulation and a large thermal stress gradient on the surface of the coatings, which will result in large local defects and accelerate the failure of the coating. To decrease the ablation heat ...

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Science9 Aug 2024

Abbruscato, Kang receive first Stocco Research Chair endowment appointments

In a July 9 ceremony, Thomas Abbruscato, Ph.D., and Min Kang, Pharm.D., became the first recipients of the Douglas Stocco Research Chair, an endowment formerly known as the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s (TTUHSC) Research Endowment. The Texas Tech University System Board of Regents officially renamed the endowed chair in late November 2023 and made two appointments available. Abbruscato, professor and chair in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, said it is an honor to receive the endowment. “Personally, I am humbled to have ...

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Science9 Aug 2024

Glossy black-cockatoos prefer the fruits of ancient rocks

New research from the University of Adelaide has shown that glossy black-cockatoos prefer to feed from trees growing in acidic soils. Glossy black-cockatoos are seed-eating birds that feed almost exclusively on the cones of drooping sheoak trees. However, counterintuitively, they select trees that grow on the poorest soils found on ancient sedimentary rocks. “Sheoak trees are three times more likely to be used as feeding trees if they are growing on non-limestone sedimentary rocks,” says Dr Gay Crowley, from the University of Adelaide’s School of Social Sciences. Dr Crowley compared 6,543 feeding records with 23,484 ...

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Science8 Aug 2024

A ‘thank you’ goes a long way in family relationships

URBANA, Ill. – You’ve probably heard that cultivating gratitude can boost your happiness. But in marriage and families, it’s not just about being more grateful for your loved ones — it’s also important to feel appreciated by them. Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have previously explored the positive impact of perceived gratitude from romantic partners for couples’ relationship quality. In a new study, they show the benefits of perceived gratitude ...

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Science8 Aug 2024

How a legal loophole allows unsafe ingredients in US foods

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is tasked with overseeing the safety of the U.S. food supply, setting requirements for nutrition labeling, working with companies on food recalls, and responding to outbreaks of foodborne illness. But when it comes to additives already in our food and the safety of certain ingredients, FDA has taken a hand-off approach, according to a new article in the American Journal of Public Health. The current FDA process allows the food industry to regulate itself when it comes to thousands of added ...

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Science8 Aug 2024

Increasing solid-state electrolyte conductivity and stability using helical structure

Solid-state electrolytes have been explored for decades for use in energy storage systems and in the pursuit of solid-state batteries. These materials are safer alternatives to the traditional liquid electrolyte—a solution that allows ions to move within the cell—used in batteries today. However, new concepts are needed to push the performance of current solid polymer electrolytes to be viable for next generation materials. Materials science and engineering researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have explored the role of helical secondary structure on the conductivity of solid-state peptide polymer ...

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Science8 Aug 2024

The threat of mpox has returned, but public knowledge about it has declined

PHILADELPHIA – It has been two years since the World Health Organization declared a global health emergency over an outbreak of mpox, a disease endemic to Africa that had spread to scores of countries. Now, in the summer of 2024, a deadlier version of the infectious disease has spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to other African nations, the strain that originally hit the United States has shown signs of a resurgence, and this week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new alert on mpox to health care providers. But while the American public quickly learned about the disease during the summer of 2022, as ...

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Science8 Aug 2024

Researchers find unexpectedly large methane source in overlooked landscape

When Katey Walter Anthony heard rumors of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, ballooning under the lawns of fellow Fairbanks residents, she nearly didn’t believe it. “I ignored it for years because I thought ‘I am a limnologist, methane is in lakes,’” she said. But when a local reporter contacted Walter Anthony, who is a research professor at the Institute of Northern Engineering at University of Alaska Fairbanks, to inspect the waterbed-like ground at a nearby golf course, she started to pay attention. Like others in Fairbanks, they lit “turf bubbles” on fire and confirmed the presence of methane ...

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Science8 Aug 2024

Royal Commission for AlUla collaborates with SETI Institute to support development of Alula Manara Observatory

Royal Commission for AlUla Collaborates with SETI Institute to Support Development of AlUla Manara Observatory Experts from SETI Institute will support the advancement of telescope technology and data analysis at AlUla Manara Observatory. The collaboration will enhance the future observatory's capabilities as it welcomes global scientists, researchers, and tourists interested in astronomy and space science. Ambitions to foster curiosity, knowledge sharing, and upskilling local capabilities in astronomical and space sciences field Mountain View, CA , 8 August 2024 -- The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and SETI Institute ...

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Science8 Aug 2024

Cutting a few calories won’t hurt your workout

A new UC Riverside study demonstrates that calorie restriction doesn’t deter mice from exercising, challenging the belief that dieting drains workout energy. The study, published in the journal Physiology & Behavior, shows that cutting calories by 20% did not significantly reduce the distance that mice voluntarily chose to run each day. The researchers set out to understand what happens to mice when the amount of food available to them is reduced. The findings, they hoped, would be relevant ...

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Science8 Aug 2024

Millions of years for plants to recover from global warming

In brief: Disruption of the functioning of vegetation due to warming can lead to the failure of climate regulating mechanisms for millions of years. Vegetation changes can alter the planet’s climate equilibrium. Geological and climatic history provide insight into the effects of global warming today. Scientists often seek answers to humanity’s most pressing challenges in nature. When it comes to global warming, geological history offers a unique, long-term perspective. Earth’s geological ...

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Science8 Aug 2024

Smooth sailing for eggplant: breakthrough in understanding prickle formation

Scientists have discovered the gene responsible for prickles in eggplants, a trait that complicates farming. Using advanced genetic techniques, they identified the Prickly Eggplant (PE) gene on chromosome 6 and pinpointed SmLOG1 as the key factor. CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing confirmed that disabling SmLOG1 eliminates prickles, paving the way for prickle-free eggplant varieties. This breakthrough not only sheds light on prickle development but also promises to streamline eggplant cultivation and harvesting, benefiting the agricultural industry. Eggplants, a staple crop globally, present significant challenges in cultivation and harvesting due to their prickles. These prickles, which serve as ...

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Science8 Aug 2024

TCR CDR3s and renalase-1 linked to increased melanoma survival

“These findings indicate that renalase-1 is a potential antigen for TCR recognition in melanoma and could be considered as a target for immunotherapy.” BUFFALO, NY- August 8, 2024 – A new research paper was published in Oncotarget's Volume 15 on August 5, 2024, entitled, “Chemical complementarity of tumor resident, T-cell receptor CDR3s and renalase-1 correlates with increased melanoma survival.” As mentioned in the Abstract of this study, overexpression of the secretory protein renalase-1 negatively impacts the survival of melanoma and pancreatic cancer patients, while inhibition of renalase-1 signaling drives tumor ...

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Science8 Aug 2024

Flow of sweetness: key sugar transporters identified for enhanced Camellia seed growth

A recent study investigates the intricate mechanisms of sugar import in developing seeds of Camellia oleifera. By identifying key sugar transporters and analyzing their roles, the research provides significant insights into the molecular regulation of seed development. The findings highlight how these transporters, working alongside sucrose-metabolizing enzymes, facilitate efficient sugar import and partitioning. This study not only advances our understanding of seed development in Camellia oleifera but also suggests potential strategies to enhance seed yield and quality in this important ...

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Science8 Aug 2024

Leading causes of death in the US, 2019-2023

About The Article: This Viewpoint from the National Center for Health Statistics reports the leading causes of death in the U.S. from 2019 to 2023, including the emergence of COVID-19 and shifts in other top causes as pandemic deaths decreased. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Farida Bhuiya Ahmad, MPH, email hhi0@cdc.gov. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jama.2024.15563) Editor’s Note: Please see the ...

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Science8 Aug 2024

Editing for resilience: CRISPR/Cas9 boosts potato stress resistance

Scientists have made a significant breakthrough in agricultural biotechnology by using CRISPR/Cas9 to edit the potato genome, resulting in plants with increased resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. This innovation could lead to a new era of sustainable farming, where crops are naturally fortified against diseases and harsh environmental conditions, ensuring a stable food supply in the face of climate change and other global challenges. The global food system is under increasing pressure due to the compounding effects of climate change, which exacerbates the prevalence of pests and diseases in crops. Potatoes, being the third most important food crop worldwide, are ...

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Science8 Aug 2024

Wide genetic diversity in South American indigenous groups highlights diversity gap in genomics research

Amazonians are as genetically different from Andeans as Europeans are from East Asians when it comes to genetic variants that affect the response to certain drugs, according to a commentary published August 8 in the journal Cell. These genetic variations can affect what side effects an individual experiences and influence drug dosage recommendations. Taking the genetic diversity within indigenous groups as an example, the scientists highlight the need to address the diversity gap in genomics research. Historically, Native American populations have been viewed as ...

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Science8 Aug 2024

Berkeley ordinance replaced junk food in store checkouts

Parents shopping with their children in Berkeley, California, can now breathe a sigh of relief when they get to the checkout lane. Likewise, Berkeley shoppers looking for an impulse snack purchase now have healthy options at the checkout. That is because in March 2021, Berkeley became the world’s first city to implement a healthy checkout policy, which sets nutritional standards for store checkouts. Berkeley, located in the San Francisco Bay Area, has been followed by Perris, a small city in Southern California, as well the United Kingdom. According to Berkeley’s policy, only the following products can be placed at checkout: ...

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Science8 Aug 2024

Lens-free fluorescence instrument detects deadly microorganisms in drinking water

WASHINGTON — Researchers have shown that a fluorescence detection system that doesn’t contain any lenses can provide highly sensitive detection of deadly microorganisms in drinking water. With further development, the new approach could provide a low-cost and easy-to-use way to monitor water quality in resource-limited settings such as developing countries or areas affected by disasters. It could also be useful when water safety results are needed quickly, such as for swimming events, a concern highlighted during the Paris Olympics. “In developing countries, unsafe water sources ...

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Science8 Aug 2024

Eating disorder risks elevated among women with PCOS

WASHINGTON—Women with the common reproductive and metabolic condition polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) face a greater risk of developing bulimia, binge eating disorder and disordered eating, according to new research published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. PCOS affects roughly one in eight women. Women who have the condition face an increased risk of developing metabolic problems such as diabetes, reproductive issues such as infertility, and psychological issues including anxiety and depression. Women are diagnosed when they have at least two of the three ...

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Science8 Aug 2024

The first universal principles for designing solid-state batteries developed by Korean researchers

A Korean research team has presented the first universal design principles for solid-state batteries, signaling a paradigm shift in battery design research that previously lacked standard benchmarks. Dr. Jinsoo Kim from the Ulsan Advanced Energy Technology R&D Center of the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) and Professor Sung-Kyun Jung's research team from the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) have jointly developed a design principles and a versatile design toolkit for implementing high-energy-density solid-state batteries and have completed performance verification. With ...

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