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Newswise: Ancient chimaeras were suction feeders, not shell crushers, new research shows
Released: 17-Jan-2023 1:20 PM EST
Ancient chimaeras were suction feeders, not shell crushers, new research shows
University of Birmingham

A rare three-dimensional fossil of an ancient chimaera has revealed new clues about the diversity of these creatures in the Carboniferous period, some 300 million years ago.

Released: 16-Jan-2023 3:30 PM EST
How the last 12,000 years have shaped what humans are today
Ohio State University

While humans have been evolving for millions of years, the past 12,000 years have been among the most dynamic and impactful for the way we live today, according to an anthropologist who organized a special journal feature on the topic. Our modern world all started with the advent of agriculture, said Clark Spencer Larsen, professor of anthropology.

   
Newswise: Researchers Create Smaller, Cheaper Flow Batteries for Clean Energy
Released: 13-Jan-2023 1:10 PM EST
Researchers Create Smaller, Cheaper Flow Batteries for Clean Energy
Georgia Institute of Technology

Flow batteries offer a solution. Electrolytes flow through electrochemical cells from storage tanks in this rechargeable battery. The existing flow battery technologies cost more than $200/kilowatt hour and are too expensive for practical application, but Liu’s lab in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE) developed a more compact flow battery cell configuration that reduces the size of the cell by 75%, and correspondingly reduces the size and cost of the entire flow battery. The work could revolutionize how everything from major commercial buildings to residential homes are powered.

Newswise: LJI scientists solve the mystery of why OGT enzyme is critical for cell survival
Released: 12-Jan-2023 1:10 PM EST
LJI scientists solve the mystery of why OGT enzyme is critical for cell survival
La Jolla Institute for Immunology

LA JOLLA, CA — Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have at last uncovered how an enzyme called O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) keeps cells healthy. Their findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences, reveals a key aspect of cellular biology and may lead to important medical advances.

   
Released: 10-Jan-2023 1:35 PM EST
Children near airports may be exposed to dangerous levels of lead
Oxford University Press

A new paper in PNAS Nexus, published by Oxford University Press, finds that children living near one California airport have higher lead levels in their blood.

Newswise: Discovery of metabolic switch could lead to targeted treatment of obesity, cancer
Released: 10-Jan-2023 1:00 PM EST
Discovery of metabolic switch could lead to targeted treatment of obesity, cancer
Iowa State University

Iowa State University researchers have discovered how to modify the function of an enzyme crucial to fat production in fruit flies, which could lead to more effective treatments of cancer and childhood obesity in humans.

Newswise: Climate ‘presses’ and ‘pulses’ impact Magellanic penguins — a marine predator — with guidance for conservationists
Released: 9-Jan-2023 3:45 PM EST
Climate ‘presses’ and ‘pulses’ impact Magellanic penguins — a marine predator — with guidance for conservationists
University of Washington

Researchers have discovered how short- and long-term climate trends have impacted Magellanic penguins — a migratory marine predator — over nearly four decades. Though individual events impacted penguins in a variety of ways, both were equally important for the future survival of this population.

Newswise: Warming oceans have decimated marine parasites — but that’s not a good thing
5-Jan-2023 7:30 PM EST
Warming oceans have decimated marine parasites — but that’s not a good thing
University of Washington

Save the ... parasites? Analyzing 140 years of parasite abundance in fish shows dramatic declines, especially in parasites that rely on three or more host species. The decline is linked to warming ocean temperatures. Parasitic species might be in real danger, researchers warn -- and that means not just fewer worms, but losses for the entire ecosystem.

Released: 5-Jan-2023 1:55 PM EST
Researchers Shed Light on How Exercise Preserves Physical Fitness During Aging
Joslin Diabetes Center

Researchers investigated the role of one cellular mechanism in improving physical fitness by exercise training and identified one anti-aging intervention that delayed the declines that occur with aging in the model organism.

Released: 4-Jan-2023 6:55 PM EST
Nature conservation needs to incorporate the human approach
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

An international study led by the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB) stresses the need to apply a biocultural approach in nature conservation programs.

Newswise: Incurable liver disease may prove curable
Released: 4-Jan-2023 4:00 PM EST
Incurable liver disease may prove curable
Sanford Burnham Prebys

Research has shown for the first time that the effects of Alagille syndrome, an incurable genetic disorder that affects the liver, could be reversed with a single drug. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has the potential to transform treatment for this rare disease and may also have implications for more common diseases.

Newswise: Lab-grown retinal eye cells make successful connections, open door for clinical trials to treat blindness
Released: 4-Jan-2023 3:35 PM EST
Lab-grown retinal eye cells make successful connections, open door for clinical trials to treat blindness
University of Wisconsin–Madison

Retinal cells grown from stem cells can reach out and connect with neighbors, according to a new study, completing a “handshake” that may show the cells are ready for trials in humans with degenerative eye disorders.Over a decade ago, researchers from the University of Wisconsin–Madison developed a way to grow organized clusters of cells, called organoids, that resemble the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

Newswise: Dry eye disease alters how the eye’s cornea heals itself after injury
29-Dec-2022 3:15 PM EST
Dry eye disease alters how the eye’s cornea heals itself after injury
Washington University in St. Louis

Studying mice, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that proteins made by stem cells to help regenerate the cornea may become new targets for treating and preventing injuries to the cornea related to dry eye disease. When eyes are dry, the cornea is more susceptible to injury.

Newswise: Bering Land Bridge formed surprisingly late during last ice age
Released: 28-Dec-2022 8:20 PM EST
Bering Land Bridge formed surprisingly late during last ice age
Princeton University

A new study shows that the Bering Land Bridge, the strip of land that once connected Asia to Alaska, emerged far later during the last ice age than previously thought.

   
Newswise: Slime for the climate, delivered by brown algae
Released: 27-Dec-2022 7:55 PM EST
Slime for the climate, delivered by brown algae
Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology

Brown algae are true wonder plants when it comes to absorbing carbon dioxide from the air.

Newswise: Spontaneous baby movements have purpose
Released: 27-Dec-2022 7:50 PM EST
Spontaneous baby movements have purpose
University of Tokyo

Spontaneous, random baby movements aid development of their sensorimotor system, according to new research led by the University of Tokyo.

Released: 27-Dec-2022 7:45 PM EST
Females on average perform better than males on a ‘theory of mind’ test across 57 countries
University of Cambridge

Females, on average, are better than males at putting themselves in others’ shoes and imagining what the other person is thinking or feeling, suggests a new study of over 300,000 people in 57 countries.

Released: 19-Dec-2022 4:25 PM EST
A New Way to Make Asthma Drugs Last Longer
Thomas Jefferson University

New research into making asthma and COPD medication more potent could also improve how long they work in patients who need frequent doses

Not for public release

This news release is embargoed until 19-Dec-2022 3:00 PM EST Released to reporters: 19-Dec-2022 9:30 AM EST

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Released: 8-Dec-2022 3:20 PM EST
FSU research links common sweetener with anxiety
Florida State University

Florida State University College of Medicine researchers have linked aspartame, an artificial sweetener found in nearly 5,000 diet foods and drinks, to anxiety-like behavior in mice. Along with producing anxiety in the mice who consumed aspartame, the effects extended up to two generations from the males exposed to the sweetener.

Newswise: Ground-breaking new method for multi-cancer early detection
Released: 7-Dec-2022 11:50 AM EST
Ground-breaking new method for multi-cancer early detection
Chalmers University of Technology

When cancer is detected at an early stage, the rates of survival increase drastically, but today only a few cancer types are screened for.

Released: 5-Dec-2022 3:15 PM EST
New blood test can detect ‘toxic’ protein years before Alzheimer’s symptoms emerge, study shows
University of Washington

Researchers can detect small "toxic" aggregates of a particular protein in the blood of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and in individuals who showed no signs of cognitive impairment at the time the blood sample was taken, but who developed it at a later date.

Newswise: Whole Ecosystem Warming Stimulates Methane Production from Plant Metabolites in Peatlands
Released: 2-Dec-2022 2:20 PM EST
Whole Ecosystem Warming Stimulates Methane Production from Plant Metabolites in Peatlands
Department of Energy, Office of Science

While peatlands have historically stored massive amounts of soil carbon, warming is expected to enhance decomposition, leading to a positive climate change feedback effect. This study experimentally warmed peatlands in northern Minnesota and observed increased methane production relative to carbon dioxide release. This methane release process is likely to amplify global climate warming.

Released: 30-Nov-2022 12:30 PM EST
Researchers identify a new marker related to the dysfunction of the glymphatic system
University of Barcelona

A new study led by researchers from the University of Barcelona shows that wasteosomes —structures that act as containers for brain waste products— indicate a malfunction of the glymphatic system, a recently discovered system that is an important brain-cleaning mechanism.

Newswise: To track disease-carrying mosquitoes, researchers tag them with DNA barcodes
Released: 29-Nov-2022 7:50 PM EST
To track disease-carrying mosquitoes, researchers tag them with DNA barcodes
Colorado State University

West Nile, Zika, dengue and malaria are all diseases spread by bites from infected mosquitoes.

Released: 28-Nov-2022 3:25 PM EST
Study finds that big rains bring big algae blooms… eventually
University of Wisconsin–Madison

In the lake-rich regions of the world, algae blooms are a growing problem. Not only are the floating green scums a nuisance for anyone hoping to enjoy the water, they can turn toxic and threaten public health.The main driver behind these blooms is phosphorus, an element used widely in agriculture to fertilize crops, that can run from the land and into lakes — especially during heavy rains.

Newswise:Video Embedded the-swimming-habits-of-gelatinous-animals-are-inspiring-underwater-vehicle-design
VIDEO
22-Nov-2022 6:05 PM EST
The swimming habits of gelatinous animals are inspiring underwater vehicle design
University of Oregon

Two different swimming styles of a marine animal related to jellyfish let the animal prioritize speed or energy efficiency, depending on its current needs, a team of University of Oregon researchers found. The UO team, led by marine biologist Kelly Sutherland and postdoctoral researcher Kevin Du Clos, report their findings in a paper published Nov. 28 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Newswise: Americans Would Rather Harm Their Own Political Cause than Help an Opposing One
Released: 28-Nov-2022 12:00 PM EST
Americans Would Rather Harm Their Own Political Cause than Help an Opposing One
University of California San Diego

Both Democrats and Republicans would rather take away funding from their political party than give money to the other party, reveals a new University of California San Diego Rady School of Management study. The research also assesses people’s preferences regarding two other contentious issues—gun rights and reproductive rights—and finds the same result: people would rather hurt the cause they believe in than support one they oppose.

Newswise: Parsing the Genetic Drivers of Head and Neck Cancers
Released: 17-Nov-2022 4:05 PM EST
Parsing the Genetic Drivers of Head and Neck Cancers
University of California San Diego

UC San Diego researchers expand and deepen understanding of how genetic aberrations fuel human papilloma virus-negative head and neck cancers and, potentially, provide paths to further refinement and improvement of immune checkpoint inhibitors for HPV-negative head and neck cancers.

Released: 16-Nov-2022 7:30 PM EST
Got the sniffles? Here's how to make the right decision around family gatherings
University of Colorado Boulder

With what some are calling a “tripledemic” of COVID-19, the influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, soaring in many parts of the country, the holiday season will come with some tough decisions again this year.

   
Newswise: Copper a clue in the fight against cancer
Released: 10-Nov-2022 1:25 PM EST
Copper a clue in the fight against cancer
Chalmers University of Technology

For cancer cells to grow and spread around the human body, they need proteins that bind copper ions.

Released: 9-Nov-2022 3:05 PM EST
Fertilizers change how bumblebees ‘see’ flowers
Oxford University Press

A new paper in PNAS Nexus, published by Oxford University Press, indicates that chemicals used in agriculture, like fertilizers and pesticides, can change the way bees ‘see’ a flower, and that this reduces the number of bees visiting a flower.

Newswise: Fertilisers Limit Pollination by Changing How Bumblebees Sense Flowers
7-Nov-2022 9:40 AM EST
Fertilisers Limit Pollination by Changing How Bumblebees Sense Flowers
University of Bristol

Pollinators are less likely to land on flowers sprayed with fertilisers or pesticides as they can detect electric field changes around the flower, researchers at the University of Bristol have found.

Newswise: Experiment unveils Berry curvature mechanism for linear positive magnetoresistance
Released: 8-Nov-2022 7:35 PM EST
Experiment unveils Berry curvature mechanism for linear positive magnetoresistance
Chinese Academy of Sciences

A research group lead by Prof. LIU Enke from the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has established a physical model of Berry-curvature-dominated linear positive magnetoresistance (LPMR), providing experimental evidence for this mechanism.

Newswise: Novel atlas shows vast urban infrastructure divide between Global South and Global North
Released: 8-Nov-2022 4:25 PM EST
Novel atlas shows vast urban infrastructure divide between Global South and Global North
Iowa State University

New data from an international research team adds another dimension – literally – to understanding the economic and environmental impacts of how cities are built. Using satellite mapping, researchers measured the height of built-up infrastructure in urban areas across the globe, which could improve projections of energy use and emissions and inform city planning and economic development efforts, including progression toward the United Nations sustainable development goals.

Newswise: Study Shows When Society Worries About Covid Concerns About Climate Change Subside
Released: 18-Oct-2022 3:30 PM EDT
Study Shows When Society Worries About Covid Concerns About Climate Change Subside
Stony Brook University

In a study that analyzed nearly 19 million publicly available tweets from 2019 to 2021, researchers found consistently that as the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths increased, fewer tweets about climate change -- another urgent global issue -- occurred.

13-Oct-2022 10:35 AM EDT
Targeting Enzyme Could Alleviate Muscle Wasting for Cancer Patients
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Targeting a specific enzyme in the muscle could help cancer patients preserve muscle mass and potentially prolong their survival, according to research from UTHealth Houston.

Released: 13-Oct-2022 12:30 AM EDT
Researchers develop system for generating oxygen within cells
Massachusetts General Hospital

With a newly developed technology, scientists can engineer cells to produce oxygen on demand in response to an added chemical

Released: 11-Oct-2022 7:05 AM EDT
Pandemic prep needs ‘smart surveillance’ to predict viral spillovers
Ohio State University

“Smart surveillance” for viral spillover from animals to humans, targeted preparedness & drug/vaccine research, & worldwide cooperation on stopping disease spread are required to reduce deaths & lessen economic consequences of the next pandemic, according to an international team of scientists.

   
Released: 10-Oct-2022 3:05 PM EDT
Genetic sequencing could be key to containing future COVID-19 variant outbreaks
University of Georgia

New COVID-19 variants could potentially be contained where they arise using genetic sequencing, a new study from the University of Georgia has found. But it will require global cooperation. Published in PNAS Nexus, the study found that standard methods that first assess a new variant’s severity are too slow to stop its spread. Next-generation genetic sequencing, however, offers a feasible alternative to spot new variants with enough time to contain variants where they first appear.

Released: 10-Oct-2022 7:05 AM EDT
Other SARS-CoV-2 Proteins are Important for Disease Severity, Aside from the Spike
University of Maryland School of Medicine

University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers have identified how multiple genes of SARS-CoV-2 affect disease severity, which could lead to new ways in how we develop future vaccines or develop newer treatments. The genes control the immune system of the host, contributing to how fiercely the body responds to a COVID-19 infection.

Newswise: UTSW researchers identify key player in cellular response to stress
Released: 3-Oct-2022 8:05 AM EDT
UTSW researchers identify key player in cellular response to stress
UT Southwestern Medical Center

An enzyme called Fic, whose biochemical role was discovered at UT Southwestern more than a dozen years ago, appears to play a crucial part in guiding the cellular response to stress, a new study suggests. The findings, published in PNAS, could eventually lead to new treatments for a variety of diseases.

Released: 30-Sep-2022 4:55 PM EDT
Study reveals main target of SARS-CoV-2 in brain and describes effects of virus on nervous system
Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)

A Brazilian study published in the journal PNAS describes some of the effects infection by SARS-CoV-2 can have on the central nervous system.

Released: 28-Sep-2022 4:35 PM EDT
How introductory courses deter minority students from STEM degrees
Oxford University Press

A new paper in PNAS Nexus, published by Oxford University Press, indicates that minority students who earn low grades in introductory science, technology, engineering, and math classes are less likely to earn degrees in these subjects than similar White students.

21-Sep-2022 6:05 AM EDT
New research shows U.S. Republican politicians increasingly spread news on social media from untrustworthy sources
University of Bristol

A study analysing millions of Tweets has revealed that Republican members of the US Congress are increasingly circulating news from dubious sources, compared to their European counterparts.

   
Released: 20-Sep-2022 11:20 AM EDT
How the brain develops: a new way to shed light on cognition
Universite de Montreal

Researchers introduce a new neurocomputational model of the human brain that could bridge the gap in understanding AI and the biological mechanisms underlying mental disorders.

   
Newswise: Researchers Advance Efforts to Tailor Drug Delivery to Cells’ ‘Power Plants’
Released: 20-Sep-2022 10:15 AM EDT
Researchers Advance Efforts to Tailor Drug Delivery to Cells’ ‘Power Plants’
Johns Hopkins Medicine

In a study using lab-grown cells, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers specializing in aging report they have successfully delivered a common blood pressure drug directly to the inner membrane of mitochondria, the “power plants” in the cells of humans, animals, plants and most other organisms.

Newswise: New study shows Indian subcontinent prone to deadly droughts
Released: 19-Sep-2022 4:45 PM EDT
New study shows Indian subcontinent prone to deadly droughts
California State University, Dominguez Hills

New data collected from stalagmites in India indicate that the region's current rainfall predictability could give way to decades-long drought, posing an enormous potential threat to human life if no mitigating measures are taken.

Newswise: Researchers combine data science and machine learning techniques to improve traditional MRI image reconstruction
Released: 14-Sep-2022 8:00 AM EDT
Researchers combine data science and machine learning techniques to improve traditional MRI image reconstruction
University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering

University of Minnesota Twin Cities researchers have found a way to improve the performance of traditional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) reconstruction techniques, allowing for faster MRIs without relying on the use of newer deep learning methods.

   
Newswise: Motion of DNA linked to its damage response, ability to repair itself
Released: 2-Sep-2022 12:05 PM EDT
Motion of DNA linked to its damage response, ability to repair itself
Indiana University

Indiana University researchers have discovered that the motion of chromatin, the material that DNA is made of, can help facilitate effective repair of DNA damage in the human nucleus -- a finding that could lead to improved cancer diagnosis and treatment.



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