Science and Technology

What happens when the brain loses a hub?

Science Daily - 09/12/2023
Neuroscientists have obtained the first direct recordings of the human brain in the minutes before and after a brain hub crucial for language meaning was surgically disconnected. The results reveal the importance of brain hubs in neural networks and the remarkable way in which the human brain attempts to compensate when a hub is lost, with immediacy not previously observed. 

Zika's shape-shifting machinery, and a possible vulnerability

Science Daily - 09/12/2023
Viruses have limited genetic material -- and few proteins -- so all the pieces must work extra hard. Zika is a great example; the virus only produces 10 proteins. Now researchers have shown how the virus does so much with so little and may have identified a therapeutic vulnerability.

Conjoined 'racetracks' make new optical device possible

Science Daily - 09/12/2023
Kerry Vahala and collaborators from UC Santa Barbara have found a unique solution to an optics problem.

Potential new drug treatment for multiple sclerosis

Science Daily - 09/12/2023
Pre-clinical studies using a small molecule drug have shown promise as a potential new treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS).

Genetic mutations that promote reproduction tend to shorten human lifespan, study shows

Science Daily - 09/12/2023
A study based on a review of genetic and health information from more than 276,000 people finds strong support for a decades-old evolutionary theory that sought to explain aging and senescence.  

When is an aurora not an aurora?

Science Daily - 09/12/2023
While auroras occur at high latitude, the associated phenomena Steve and the picket fence occur farther south and at lower altitude. Their emissions also differ from aurora. A physics graduate student has proposed a physical mechanism behind these emissions, and a rocket launch to test the theory. She argues that an electric field in the upper atmosphere parallel to Earth's magnetic field could explain the green picket fence spectrum and perhaps Steve and the enhanced aurora.

Major breakthrough for severe asthma treatment

Science Daily - 09/12/2023
A landmark study has shown that severe asthma can be controlled using biologic therapies, without the addition of regular high-dose inhaled steroids which can have significant side effects.

Veins of bacteria could form a self-healing system for concrete infrastructure

Science Daily - 09/12/2023
In hopes of producing concrete structures that can repair their cracks, researchers are putting a new twist on an old trick for improving the durability of concrete. Fiber reinforcement has been around since the first masons were mixing horsehair into their mud. But this research team is taking this method to the next level by turning reinforcing fibers into a living tissue system that rushes concrete-healing bacteria to the site of cracks to repair the damage.

Immersive VR goggles for mice unlock new potential for brain science

Science Daily - 09/12/2023
New miniature virtual reality (VR) goggles provide more immersive experiences for mice living in laboratory settings. By more faithfully simulating natural environments, the researchers can more accurately and precisely study the neural circuitry that underlies behavior. Compared to current state-of-the-art systems, which simply surround mice with computer or projection screens, the new goggles provide a leap in advancement.

Suburban backyard home to more than 1,000 species

Science Daily - 09/12/2023
A challenge among three housemates to identify species around their inner-Brisbane home has resulted in an academic research paper, showcasing the rich biodiversity in urban landscapes.  

Formaldehyde, a carcinogen, is also used by the body to regulate our genes

Science Daily - 09/12/2023
Formaldehyde's toxicity was presumed to derive from its ability to crosslink DNA, but that happens only at huge doses. Recent discoveries that formaldehyde is found in the body in small amounts led a team to investigate its natural role. They found that formaldehyde regulates epigenetic modification of DNA, interfering with an enzyme that carries methyl groups used to modify DNA. Too much formaldehyde could suppress methylation, potentially leading to cancer.

Climate change will increase wildfire risk and lengthen fire seasons

Science Daily - 09/12/2023
Wildfires are some of the most destructive natural disasters in the country, threatening lives, destroying homes and infrastructure, and creating air pollution. In order to properly forecast and manage wildfires, managers need to understand wildfire risk and allocate resources accordingly.

Mothers need more 'exclusive breastfeeding' support

Science Daily - 09/12/2023
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life is proven to protect both mother and child health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between 2015 and 2021, 48% of mothers exclusively breastfed, meaning that their babies were not given any other food or liquids. However, this figure is based on data collected from surveys which report what a child was given in the previous 24 hours. A research team has found that this '24-hour recall' method overestimates exclusive breastfeeding by about six times compared to a 'since-birth recall' method.

Coral reefs in peril from record-breaking ocean heat

Science Daily - 09/12/2023
Record breaking marine heatwaves will cause devastating mass coral bleaching worldwide in the next few years, according to a coral reef scientist.

Hybrid device significantly improves existing, ubiquitous laser technology

Science Daily - 09/12/2023
Researchers have developed a chip-scale laser source that enhances the performance of semiconductor lasers while enabling the generation of shorter wavelengths. This pioneering work represents a significant advance in the field of photonics, with implications for telecommunications, metrology, and other high-precision applications.

Structure of a central component of the human immune system revealed

Science Daily - 09/12/2023
An international team of researchers has visualized the structure of the so-called ASC speck.

How immune cells recognize their enemies

Science Daily - 09/12/2023
In order for immune cells to do their job, they need to know against whom they should direct their attack. Research teams a have identified new details in this process.

First observation of structures resulting from 3D domain swapping in antibody light chains

Science Daily - 09/12/2023
Antibodies hold promise as therapeutic agents. However, their tendency to aggregate poses significant challenges to drug development. In a groundbreaking study, researchers now provide novel insights into the structure formed due to 3D domain swapping of the antibody light chain, the part of the antibody contributing to antigen binding. Their findings are expected to lead to improvements in antibody quality and the development of novel drugs.

Scholars say it's time to declare a new epoch on the moon, the 'lunar Anthropocene'

Science Daily - 09/12/2023
According to anthropologists and geologists, it's time to acknowledge humans have become the dominant force shaping the moon's environment by declaring a new geological epoch for the moon: the Lunar Anthropocene. They argue the new epoch may have dawned in 1959 when the USSR's unmanned spacecraft Luna 2 alighted on the lunar surface.

Engineers design a robotic replica of the heart's right chamber

Science Daily - 09/12/2023
Engineers developed a robotic replica of the heart's right ventricle, which mimics the beating and blood-pumping action of live hearts. The device could be used for studying right ventricle disorders and testing devices and therapies aimed at treating those disorders.

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