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• New optical tweezers put on the pressure to change color
• Plastic labelling needs 'sustainability scale'
• New screening system may point the way to clean, renewable hydrogen power
• Researchers establish first-of-its-kind framework to diagnose 3D-printing errors
• Immunotherapy drug bolsters head and neck cancer treatment
• Scientists discover a new molecular pathway shared by two neurodegenerative disorders
• Scaling laws in enzymes may help predict life ‘as we don’t know it'
• Physicists bring a once-theoretical effect of quantum matter into observable reality
• Under pressure: A new theory lets us predict when soft materials will fail
• Overlooked channels influence water flow and flooding along Gulf Coast
• Climate change: A threat to human wellbeing and health of the planet
• Physical fitness linked to lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease
• Clues to better batteries emerge from tracking lithium
• Discovery of an innate immunological memory in the intestine
• How a two-faced molecule can silence problematic genes
• Healthy gut microbiome improves success of cancer treatment
• Your lunchtime walks in the summer could be making you less productive
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs may slow down metastases
• Spintronics: Innovative crystals for future computer electronics
• Suspending syringe services programs will result in an increase of HIV infections
• Bark of neem tree may protect against coronavirus variants, study finds
• Freshwater from thin air
• Snail competition leads to fewer parasites that cause schistosomiasis
• Key genomic alterations and potential therapeutic vulnerabilities in transformed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
• Elephant seal’s map sense tells them when to head ‘home’
• New, nature-inspired concepts for turning CO2 into clean fuels
• New data analysis tool uncovers important COVID-19 clues
• For cancer patients on immunotherapy, harmful gut bacteria might matter more than helpful ones
• Separator key when it comes to 'stable' vs. 'safe' battery
• Diminished activation of specific prefrontal brain region may directly contribute to binge eating in bulimia nervosa
• Social networking for fossils shows community impacts of mass extinctions
• Gas flares tied to premature deaths
• New way viruses trigger autoimmunity discovered
• Mystery solved about the origin of the 30,000-year-old Venus of Willendorf
• When money is tight, 'purchase happiness' is low
• Antibiotic doesn’t prevent future wheezing in babies hospitalized with RSV
• Computer drug simulations offer warning about promising diabetes and cancer treatment
• Seismic study reveals key reason why Patagonia is rising as glaciers melt
• Endangered, new to science orchid discovered in Ecuador with the help of a commercial nursery
• New DNA modification system discovered in animals, captured from bacteria more than 60 MYA
• A potential breakthrough for production of superior battery technology
• A slow-motion section of the San Andreas fault may not be so harmless after all
• Research team makes breakthrough discovery in light interactions with nanoparticles, paving the way for advances in optical computing

New optical tweezers put on the pressure to change color Posted: 28 Feb 2022 02:20 PM PST Scientists demonstrate an optical trapping technique using nanotextured black silicon that can efficiently trap polymer chains. By adjusting the laser intensity, these 'optical tweezers' can control the florescence color emitted through a local concentration of a perylene-modified polymer solution. From a low intensity blue to high intensity orange, this reversible and fully remote technology can almost reach the entire RGB spectrum.

Plastic labelling needs 'sustainability scale' Posted: 28 Feb 2022 02:20 PM PST Labelling of plastic products needs a drastic overhaul including a new 'sustainability scale' to help consumers, researchers say.

New screening system may point the way to clean, renewable hydrogen power Posted: 28 Feb 2022 02:20 PM PST A new, highly sensitive system for detecting the production of hydrogen gas may play an important role in the quest to develop hydrogen as an environmentally friendly and economical alternative to fossil fuels.

Researchers establish first-of-its-kind framework to diagnose 3D-printing errors Posted: 28 Feb 2022 02:20 PM PST Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, can create custom parts for electromagnetic devices on-demand and at a low cost. These devices are highly sensitive, and each component requires precise fabrication. Until recently, though, the only way to diagnose printing errors was to make, measure and test a device or to use in-line simulation, both of which are computationally expensive and inefficient.

Immunotherapy drug bolsters head and neck cancer treatment Posted: 28 Feb 2022 02:08 PM PST A clinical trial has shown that the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab increased survival rates for head and neck cancer patients with intermediate risk.

Scientists discover a new molecular pathway shared by two neurodegenerative disorders Posted: 28 Feb 2022 01:16 PM PST Researchers from two independent research teams have discovered how the mislocalization of a protein, known as TDP-43, alters the genetic instructions for UNC13A, providing a possible therapeutic target that could also have implications in treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and other forms of dementia. ALS and FTD are two neurodegenerative disorders in which many cases are linked by mislocalization of TDP-43, where instead of being primarily located in the nucleus of the cell where genes are activated, it forms aggregates outside the nucleus in multiple neurodegenerative diseases. Rare mutations in the TDP-43 gene are known to cause ALS, but almost all cases of ALS show mislocalization of TDP-43.

Scaling laws in enzymes may help predict life ‘as we don’t know it' Posted: 28 Feb 2022 01:16 PM PST A team of researchers is developing tools to predict the features of life as we don't know it.

Physicists bring a once-theoretical effect of quantum matter into observable reality Posted: 28 Feb 2022 12:06 PM PST Physicists have experimentally observed a quirky behavior of the quantum world: a 'quantum boomerang' effect that occurs when particles in a disordered system are kicked out of their locations. Instead of landing elsewhere as one might expect, they turn around and come back to where they started and stop there.

Under pressure: A new theory lets us predict when soft materials will fail Posted: 28 Feb 2022 12:06 PM PST Researchers recently announced a major theoretical and experimental breakthrough that allows scientists to predict, with an unprecedented precision, when a soft material will crack and fail. The findings have immediate implications for the engineering and manufacture of a wide range of polymers. They also provide insights into how natural soft materials -- such as the connective tissues in our bodies and even our brains -- break down.

Overlooked channels influence water flow and flooding along Gulf Coast Posted: 28 Feb 2022 12:06 PM PST An unnoticed network of channels is cutting across the coastal plain landscape along the Gulf Coast and influencing how water flows, according to new research that could help predict flooding from major storms in the future.

Climate change: A threat to human wellbeing and health of the planet Posted: 28 Feb 2022 10:15 AM PST Human-induced climate change is causing dangerous and widespread disruption in nature and affecting the lives of billions of people around the world, despite efforts to reduce the risks. People and ecosystems least able to cope are being hardest hit, said scientists in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.

Physical fitness linked to lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease Posted: 28 Feb 2022 09:57 AM PST People who are more physically fit are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than people who are less physically fit, according to a preliminary study.

Clues to better batteries emerge from tracking lithium Posted: 28 Feb 2022 09:56 AM PST A new study tracked lithium metal deposition and removal from a battery anode while it was cycling to find clues as to how failure occurs. The research could help improve the use of pure lithium metal in anodes for electric vehicle batteries, which would reduce battery weights and dramatically extend driving range.

Discovery of an innate immunological memory in the intestine Posted: 28 Feb 2022 09:56 AM PST The innate immune system plays a crucial role in regulating host-microbe interactions, and especially in providing protection against pathogens that invade the mucosa. Using an intestinal infection model, scientists discovered that innate effector cells -- group 3 innate lymphoid cells -- act not only during the early stages of infection but can also be trained to develop an innate form of immunological memory that can protect the host during reinfection.

How a two-faced molecule can silence problematic genes Posted: 28 Feb 2022 08:44 AM PST Researchers have developed a technology, heteroduplex oligonucleotide (HDO), that silences certain genes whose high expression levels fuel disease. Adding a specific molecular tag allowed them to target the HDO to immune cells called lymphocytes safely and efficiently. Doing so with an HDO specific to a gene called Itga4 improved symptoms in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis, suggesting this technology may be developed to use in human immune disorders.

Healthy gut microbiome improves success of cancer treatment Posted: 28 Feb 2022 08:44 AM PST The largest study to date has confirmed the link between the gut microbiome and the response to cancer immunotherapy therapy for melanoma.

Your lunchtime walks in the summer could be making you less productive Posted: 28 Feb 2022 08:44 AM PST Researchers discovered that a brief 15-minute walk in a hot outdoor environment impairs cognitive function. Moreover, this effect was most pronounced in sleep-deprived men and could negatively impact the productivity and learning of workers and students in urban cities in the summer months.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs may slow down metastases Posted: 28 Feb 2022 08:43 AM PST Many people have to take statins to lower their cholesterol levels. But statins may be able to do even more: Researchers report that these drugs inhibit a gene that promotes cancer cell metastasis.

Spintronics: Innovative crystals for future computer electronics Posted: 28 Feb 2022 08:43 AM PST Computer chips and storage elements are expected to function as quickly as possible and be energy-saving at the same time. Innovative spintronic modules are at an advantage here thanks to their high speed and efficiency, as there is no lossy electrical current, rather the electrons couple with one another magnetically -- like a series of tiny magnetic needles which interact with almost no friction loss. A team of scientists has now found promising properties with crystals grown from rare-earth atoms, which offer hope on the long path towards usage as spintronic components.

Suspending syringe services programs will result in an increase of HIV infections Posted: 28 Feb 2022 08:43 AM PST A new study shows the effectiveness of syringe services programs in both curbing HIV transmission among people who use drugs and preventing future outbreaks.

Bark of neem tree may protect against coronavirus variants, study finds Posted: 28 Feb 2022 08:43 AM PST Extract from the bark of the Neem tree may help treat and reduce the spread of coronavirus, according to a new study. The research shows that components of Neem bark may target a wide range of viral proteins, suggesting its potential as an antiviral agent against emerging variants of coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2).

Freshwater from thin air Posted: 28 Feb 2022 08:43 AM PST Hydrogels have an astonishing ability to swell and take on water. In daily life, they are used in dressings, nappies, and more to lock moisture away. A team of researchers has now found another use: quickly extracting large amounts of freshwater from air using a specially developed hydrogel containing a hygroscopic salt. The study shows that the salt enhances the moisture uptake of the gel, making it suitable for water harvesting in dry regions.

Snail competition leads to fewer parasites that cause schistosomiasis Posted: 28 Feb 2022 08:43 AM PST A new study shows that schistosome transmission can actually be highest when freshwater snail populations are low. This study demonstrates how the size of a freshwater snail population relates to its parasitic infection rate.

Key genomic alterations and potential therapeutic vulnerabilities in transformed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma Posted: 28 Feb 2022 08:43 AM PST Researchers have shared a comprehensive multiomics study from a rare cohort of 56 patients with transformed CTCL and identified several genomic alterations and oncogenic programs that may be potential novel therapeutic targets.

Elephant seal’s map sense tells them when to head ‘home’ Posted: 28 Feb 2022 08:43 AM PST Each year, pregnant female elephant seals take an approximately 240-day trek over 10,000 kilometers across the Eastern North Pacific Ocean before returning to their breeding beaches to give birth within five days of their arrival. Now, a study finds that this impressive navigation ability depends on an internal map sense, which functions much like a built-in GPS.

New, nature-inspired concepts for turning CO2 into clean fuels Posted: 28 Feb 2022 08:43 AM PST Researchers have developed an efficient concept to turn carbon dioxide into clean, sustainable fuels, without any unwanted by-products or waste.

New data analysis tool uncovers important COVID-19 clues Posted: 28 Feb 2022 08:43 AM PST A new data analysis tool has revealed the specific immune cell types associated with increased risk of death from COVID-19.

For cancer patients on immunotherapy, harmful gut bacteria might matter more than helpful ones Posted: 28 Feb 2022 08:43 AM PST Melanoma patients receiving therapy that helps their immune system kill cancer cells respond to treatment differently depending on the types of microbes in their gut, and new research suggests the microorganisms hindering therapy have more influence than the beneficial ones.

Separator key when it comes to 'stable' vs. 'safe' battery Posted: 28 Feb 2022 07:38 AM PST Researchers have discovered the key to making a stable, safe battery.

Diminished activation of specific prefrontal brain region may directly contribute to binge eating in bulimia nervosa Posted: 28 Feb 2022 07:38 AM PST New research has revealed a key neural mechanism underlying the feeling of being unable to stop eating, the most salient aspect of binge episodes in eating disorders like bulimia nervosa.

Social networking for fossils shows community impacts of mass extinctions Posted: 28 Feb 2022 07:38 AM PST By applying an algorithm akin to what social media sites use to make friend suggestions, researchers have identified communities of ancient life in the fossil record and tracked how their numbers changed through each of the planet's mass extinctions.

Gas flares tied to premature deaths Posted: 28 Feb 2022 07:38 AM PST Engineers suggest that flaring of natural gas at oil and gas fields in the United States, primarily in North Dakota and Texas, contributed to dozens of premature deaths in 2019.

New way viruses trigger autoimmunity discovered Posted: 28 Feb 2022 07:38 AM PST Studying mice, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have discovered that roseolovirus can trigger autoimmunity in a previously unknown way: by disrupting the process by which immune cells learn to avoid targeting their own body's cells and tissues.

Mystery solved about the origin of the 30,000-year-old Venus of Willendorf Posted: 28 Feb 2022 06:55 AM PST The almost 11 cm high figurine from Willendorf is one of the most important examples of early art in Europe. It is made of a rock called 'oolite' which is not found in or around Willendorf. Anthropologist, geologists and prehistorians have now found out, with the help of high-resolution tomographic images, that the material from which the Venus was carved likely comes from northern Italy. This sheds new light on the remarkable mobility of the first modern humans south and north of the Alps.

When money is tight, 'purchase happiness' is low Posted: 28 Feb 2022 06:55 AM PST Whether they're getting a new shirt, a new computer, or taking a trip, people derive less 'purchase happiness' from buying things when they feel financial stress, new research shows.

Antibiotic doesn’t prevent future wheezing in babies hospitalized with RSV Posted: 28 Feb 2022 06:11 AM PST Antibiotics provide no benefit in preventing future recurrent wheezing in babies hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), according to a new study. And there is some evidence that antibiotics may make wheezing worse.

Computer drug simulations offer warning about promising diabetes and cancer treatment Posted: 28 Feb 2022 06:11 AM PST Using computer drug simulations, researchers have found that doctors need to be wary of prescribing a promising treatment for all types of cancer and patients.

Seismic study reveals key reason why Patagonia is rising as glaciers melt Posted: 28 Feb 2022 06:11 AM PST Geologists have discovered a link between recent ice mass loss, rapid rock uplift and a gap between tectonic plates that underlie Patagonia.

Endangered, new to science orchid discovered in Ecuador with the help of a commercial nursery Posted: 28 Feb 2022 06:11 AM PST An astounding new species of rare orchid has been discovered in the cloud rainforest of Northern Ecuador. Known from a restricted area in the province of Carchi, the plant is presumed to be a critically endangered species, as its rare populations already experience the ill-effects of climate change and human activity. The discovery was aided by a local commercial nursery, which was already cultivating these orchids. The study is published in the open-access journal PhytoKeys.

New DNA modification system discovered in animals, captured from bacteria more than 60 MYA Posted: 28 Feb 2022 06:11 AM PST In humans and other eukaryotes, two principal epigenetic marks are known. A team has discovered a third, novel epigenetic mark -- one formerly known only in bacteria -- in bdelloid rotifers, small freshwater animals. Epigenetic marks are modifications to DNA bases that don't change the underlying genetic code, but 'write' extra information on top of it that can be inherited along with your genome.

A potential breakthrough for production of superior battery technology Posted: 28 Feb 2022 06:11 AM PST Micro supercapacitors could revolutionize the way we use batteries by increasing their lifespan and enabling extremely fast charging. Manufacturers of everything from smartphones to electric cars are therefore investing heavily into research and development of these electronic components. Now, researchers have developed a method that represents a breakthrough for how such supercapacitors can be produced.

A slow-motion section of the San Andreas fault may not be so harmless after all Posted: 28 Feb 2022 06:11 AM PST The central section of the great fault spanning California, thought to be creeping along harmlessly at the moment, has experienced big quakes in the past, says a new study.

Research team makes breakthrough discovery in light interactions with nanoparticles, paving the way for advances in optical computing Posted: 25 Feb 2022 01:33 PM PST Researchers detail a breakthrough discovery in nanomaterials and light-wave interactions that paves the way for development of small, low-energy optical computers capable of advanced computing.

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