ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

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• Candy-like models used to make STEM accessible to visually impaired students
• Climate change-resistant corals could provide lifeline to battered reefs
• A fiery past sheds new light on the future of global climate change
• Declining biodiversity in wild Amazon fisheries threatens human diet
• New tool activates deep brain neurons by combining ultrasound, genetics
• Lessening the cost of strategies to reach the Paris Agreement
• Same difference: Two halves of the hippocampus have different gene activity
• Exoskeleton-assisted walking may improve bowel function in people with spinal cord injury
• New CRISPR tools help contain mosquito disease transmission
• Exoskeleton therapy improves mobility, cognition and brain connectivity in people with MS
• Climate change makes West Nile virus outbreaks 'plausible' in UK
• Researchers discover drug that blocks multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants in mice
• Open, expressive family life may reduce social deprivation effects among adopted children
• Natural gas pipeline density higher overall in more vulnerable US counties
• Scientists develop transparent electrode that boosts solar cell efficiency
• Video platforms normalize exotic pets
• Tiniest of moments proves key for baby's healthy brain
• Waking just one hour earlier cuts depression risk by double digits, study finds
• Reef-building corals and the microscopic algae within their cells evolve together
• Pollen-sized technology protects bees from deadly insecticides
• Japan's hands-off formula in disciplining schoolchildren works. Is it worth a try elsewhere?
• Plant flowering in low-nitrogen soils: A mechanism revealed
• A helping hand for working robots
• DNA-based material with tunable properties
• Antarctic hotspot: Fin whales favor the waters around Elephant Island
• Alzheimer's: Blood oxygen levels could explain why memory loss is an early symptom
• Stem cell drugs surprise researchers: Could lead to better drugs in the future
• Electrons waiting for their turn: New model explains 3D quantum material
• Revenge of the seabed burrowers
• Detecting skin disorders based on tissue stiffness with a soft sensing device
• 'Good' bacteria show promise for clinical treatment of Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis
• How retroviruses become infectious
• Plastic in Galapagos seawater, beaches and animals
• When to release free and paid apps for maximal revenue
• Helping doctors manage COVID-19
• Next-gen electric vehicle batteries: These are the questions we still need to answer
• Bacterium causing deadly rabbit fever remains virulent for months in cold water, researchers report
• Changes in how cholesterol breaks down in the body may accelerate progression of dementia
• Mass gatherings during Malaysian election directly and indirectly boosted COVID-19 spread, study suggests
• Scientists overhear two atoms chatting
• The new species of bacteria killing palms in Australia

Candy-like models used to make STEM accessible to visually impaired students Posted: 28 May 2021 02:17 PM PDT A breakthrough study aims to make science more accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired through small, candy-like models.

Climate change-resistant corals could provide lifeline to battered reefs Posted: 28 May 2021 02:17 PM PDT Corals that withstood a severe bleaching event and were transplanted to a different reef maintained their resilient qualities, according to a new study.

A fiery past sheds new light on the future of global climate change Posted: 28 May 2021 12:25 PM PDT Centuries-old smoke particles preserved in the ice reveal a fiery past in the Southern Hemisphere and shed new light on the future impacts of global climate change.

Declining biodiversity in wild Amazon fisheries threatens human diet Posted: 28 May 2021 12:25 PM PDT A new study of dozens of wild fish species commonly consumed in the Peruvian Amazon says that people there could suffer major nutritional shortages if ongoing losses in fish biodiversity continue. Furthermore, the increasing use of aquaculture and other substitutes may not compensate.

New tool activates deep brain neurons by combining ultrasound, genetics Posted: 28 May 2021 12:05 PM PDT A team has developed a new brain stimulation technique using focused ultrasound that is able to turn specific types of neurons in the brain on and off and precisely control motor activity without surgical device implantation.

Lessening the cost of strategies to reach the Paris Agreement Posted: 28 May 2021 11:48 AM PDT A team of researchers offer new insight on conversion factors of greenhouse gases into their CO2 equivalent. The publication puts forward the economic benefits of reassessing periodically conversion factors according to scenarios of global warming.

Same difference: Two halves of the hippocampus have different gene activity Posted: 28 May 2021 11:48 AM PDT A study of gene activity in the brain's hippocampus has identified marked differences between the region's anterior and posterior portions. The findings could shed light on a variety of brain disorders that involve the hippocampus and may eventually help lead to new, targeted treatments.

Exoskeleton-assisted walking may improve bowel function in people with spinal cord injury Posted: 28 May 2021 11:48 AM PDT A team of researchers has shown that physical intervention plans that included exoskeleton-assisted walking helped people with spinal cord injury evacuate more efficiently and improved the consistency of their stool.

New CRISPR tools help contain mosquito disease transmission Posted: 28 May 2021 11:48 AM PDT Scientists have developed a genetics toolkit that helps pave the way to a gene drive designed to stop Culex mosquitoes from spreading disease. Much less studied than other genera, Culex mosquitoes spread devastating afflictions stemming from West Nile virus, Japanese encephalitis virus and the pathogen causing avian malaria.

Exoskeleton therapy improves mobility, cognition and brain connectivity in people with MS Posted: 28 May 2021 10:34 AM PDT A team of multiple sclerosis (MS) experts led a pilot randomized controlled trial of robotic-exoskeleton assisted exercise rehabilitation (REAER) effects on mobility, cognition, and brain connectivity in people with substantial MS-related disability. Their results showed that REAER is likely an effective intervention, and is a promising therapy for improving the lives of those with MS.

Climate change makes West Nile virus outbreaks 'plausible' in UK Posted: 28 May 2021 09:59 AM PDT Climate change will make outbreaks of West Nile virus more likely in the UK within the next 20-30 years, a new study has found. A new scientific model shows the risk of the mosquito-borne pathogen spreading to the country will increase as temperatures rise.

Researchers discover drug that blocks multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants in mice Posted: 28 May 2021 09:59 AM PDT A small molecule STING agonist was highly protective against the virus that causes COVID-19 and likely other coronaviruses, researchers have found.

Open, expressive family life may reduce social deprivation effects among adopted children Posted: 28 May 2021 08:41 AM PDT An environment in which family members support one another and express their feelings can reduce the effects of social deprivation on cognitive ability and development among adopted children, suggests a small study. In contrast, rule-driven households where family members are in conflict may increase an adopted child's chances for cognitive, behavioral and emotional difficulties.

Natural gas pipeline density higher overall in more vulnerable US counties Posted: 28 May 2021 08:41 AM PDT An analysis found counties with more socially vulnerable populations had a higher density of natural gas pipelines overall.

Scientists develop transparent electrode that boosts solar cell efficiency Posted: 28 May 2021 08:41 AM PDT Developing new ultrathin metal electrodes has allowed researchers to create semitransparent perovskite solar cells that are highly efficient and can be coupled with traditional silicon cells to greatly boost the performance of both devices, said an international team of scientists. The research represents a step toward developing completely transparent solar cells.

Video platforms normalize exotic pets Posted: 28 May 2021 08:41 AM PDT Researchers are concerned video sharing platforms could be contributing to the normalization of exotic pets and encouraging the exotic pet trade.

Tiniest of moments proves key for baby's healthy brain Posted: 28 May 2021 08:41 AM PDT The new findings identify a potential contributor to microcephaly, a birth defect in which the head is underdeveloped and abnormally small.

Waking just one hour earlier cuts depression risk by double digits, study finds Posted: 28 May 2021 08:41 AM PDT A genetic study of 840,000 people found that shifting sleep time earlier by just an hour decreases risk of major depression by 23 percent.

Reef-building corals and the microscopic algae within their cells evolve together Posted: 28 May 2021 08:41 AM PDT The microscopic algae that live inside and provide nutrients to their reef-building coral hosts may be evolving in tandem with the corals they inhabit. A new study by biologists reveals that genetic differences within a species of these microalgal symbionts correspond to the coral species they inhabit, a discovery that could have implications for the conservation of these endangered corals.

Pollen-sized technology protects bees from deadly insecticides Posted: 28 May 2021 08:40 AM PDT New technology provides beekeepers, consumers and farmers with an antidote for deadly pesticides, which kill wild bees and cause beekeepers to lose around a third of their hives every year on average.

Japan's hands-off formula in disciplining schoolchildren works. Is it worth a try elsewhere? Posted: 28 May 2021 08:40 AM PDT A look at Japan's mimamoru approach suggests that adults' non-intervention in kids' fights allows children to nurture social and interpersonal skills on their own. Is it worth a try in other countries?

Plant flowering in low-nitrogen soils: A mechanism revealed Posted: 28 May 2021 08:40 AM PDT Scientists have described a pathway leading to the accelerated flowering of plants in low-nitrogen soils. These findings could eventually lead to increases in agricultural production.

A helping hand for working robots Posted: 28 May 2021 08:40 AM PDT Researchers have developed and tested a new type of human-like mechanical hand that combines the benefits of existing robot hands while eliminating their weaknesses.

DNA-based material with tunable properties Posted: 28 May 2021 08:40 AM PDT While DNA is often idealized as the 'molecule of life', it is also a highly sophisticated polymer that can be used for next-generation materials. Now scientists have started to harness these properties to craft 'topologically tunable' DNA-based complex fluids and soft materials with potential applications in drug delivery and tissue regeneration.

Antarctic hotspot: Fin whales favor the waters around Elephant Island Posted: 28 May 2021 08:40 AM PDT During the era of commercial whaling, fin whales were hunted so intensively that only a small percentage of the population in the Southern Hemisphere survived, and even today, marine biologists know little about the life of the world's second-largest whale.

Alzheimer's: Blood oxygen levels could explain why memory loss is an early symptom Posted: 28 May 2021 08:40 AM PDT Scientists have recorded blood oxygen levels in the hippocampus and provided experimental proof for why the area, commonly referred to as 'the brain's memory center', is vulnerable to damage and degeneration, a precursor to Alzheimer's disease.

Stem cell drugs surprise researchers: Could lead to better drugs in the future Posted: 28 May 2021 08:40 AM PDT Chemotherapy destroys stem cells, which then cannot develop into immune cells and become part of the body's defenses. There are drugs that can remedy this, but previously we did not know exactly how these drugs worked. Now, a new study details their function providing new knowledge that may improve stem cell transplantation and lead to better drug design in the future.

Electrons waiting for their turn: New model explains 3D quantum material Posted: 28 May 2021 08:40 AM PDT Scientists have developed a new understanding of how electrons behave in strong magnetic fields. Their results explain measurements of electric currents in three-dimensional materials that signal a quantum Hall effect - a phenomenon thus far only associated with two-dimensional metals.

Revenge of the seabed burrowers Posted: 28 May 2021 08:40 AM PDT The ancient burrowers of the seafloor have been getting a bum rap for years. These prehistoric dirt churners -- a wide assortment of worms, trilobites, and other animals that lived in Earth's oceans hundreds of millions of years ago -- are thought to have played a key role in creating the conditions needed for marine life to flourish. Their activities altered the chemical makeup of the sea itself and the amount of oxygen in the oceans, in a process called bioturbation.

Detecting skin disorders based on tissue stiffness with a soft sensing device Posted: 28 May 2021 08:40 AM PDT A research team has designed a simple electromechanical device that can be used for deep tissue pathology diagnosis, such as psoriasis, in an automated and non-invasive fashion. The findings will lay a foundation for future applications in the clinical evaluation of skin cancers and other dermatology diseases.

'Good' bacteria show promise for clinical treatment of Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis Posted: 28 May 2021 08:40 AM PDT A new study shows how a novel consortium of bacteria that live in the digestive tracts of healthy individuals can be used to prevent and treat aggressive colitis in humanized mouse models.

How retroviruses become infectious Posted: 28 May 2021 05:53 AM PDT Understanding every step in the life cycle of a virus is crucial for identifying potential targets for treatment. Now, scientists were able to show how a virus from the retrovirus family - the same family as HIV - protects its genetic information and becomes infectious. Furthermore, they show an unexpected flexibility of the virus.

Plastic in Galapagos seawater, beaches and animals Posted: 28 May 2021 05:53 AM PDT Plastic pollution has been found in seawater, on beaches and inside marine animals at the Galapagos Islands.

When to release free and paid apps for maximal revenue Posted: 28 May 2021 05:53 AM PDT App developers can improve the profitability of free apps by strategically deploying or eliminating their paid version counterparts over an app's lifetime.

Helping doctors manage COVID-19 Posted: 28 May 2021 05:53 AM PDT New artificial intelligence (AI) technology is capable of assessing the severity of COVID-19 cases with a promising degree of accuracy, researchers report.

Next-gen electric vehicle batteries: These are the questions we still need to answer Posted: 28 May 2021 05:53 AM PDT The next generation of electric vehicle batteries, with greater range and improved safety, could be emerging in the form of lithium metal, solid-state technology.

Bacterium causing deadly rabbit fever remains virulent for months in cold water, researchers report Posted: 27 May 2021 12:54 PM PDT Disease ecologists have published study results showing how they were able to prove, by replicating environmental conditions in the lab, that Francisella tularensis can persist for months in cold water without any nutrients and remain fully virulent. Their results provide a plausible explanation for how the deadly pathogen, which causes rabbit fever, can overwinter in the environment outside of a host.

Changes in how cholesterol breaks down in the body may accelerate progression of dementia Posted: 27 May 2021 12:01 PM PDT The blood-brain barrier is impermeable to cholesterol, yet high blood cholesterol is associated with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. However, the underlying mechanisms mediating this relationship are poorly understood. A new study suggests that disturbances in the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids may play a role in the development of dementia.

Mass gatherings during Malaysian election directly and indirectly boosted COVID-19 spread, study suggests Posted: 27 May 2021 11:53 AM PDT New estimates suggest that mass gatherings during an election in the Malaysian state of Sabah directly caused 70 percent of COVID-19 cases detected in Sabah after the election, and indirectly caused 64.4 percent of cases elsewhere in Malaysia.

Scientists overhear two atoms chatting Posted: 27 May 2021 11:52 AM PDT How materials behave depends on the interactions between countless atoms. You could see this as a giant group chat in which atoms are continuously exchanging quantum information. Researchers have now been able to intercept a chat between two atoms.

The new species of bacteria killing palms in Australia Posted: 27 May 2021 11:52 AM PDT While investigating a disease outbreak in a Queensland botanical gardens, researchers discovered a new species of bacteria that causes a fatal disease in palms.

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