A meta-analysis has found that listening to music reduces postoperative pain, anxiety and reduces the use of painkillers, however the researchers found no effect upon the length of a patient’s stay. Researchers reviewed 73 randomized controlled trials of adult patients undergoing surgical procedures where music was initiated before, during or after surgery and was compared […]
Posts by Kelly Fram (KellyFram)
Wild salmon reproduce better than hatchery ones
Hatchery salmons are often introduced into rivers to support wild populations, which are in an overall state of decline, but new research suggests this may not be an effective method. A study of 196 Coho salmons (Oncorhynchus kisutch) shows hatchery males have lower reproductive success than wild ones. When occupying the same position in the […]
Powerful aurora seen 18.5 light years away
Astronomers have detected auroral activity, seen on Earth as the Northern and Southern Lights, on a stellar object, believed to be a brown dwarf, outside of our Solar System. The team simultaneously detected radio and optical auroral emissions from the extrasolar body LSR J1853, located 5.67 parsecs or 18.5 light years away from our Sun. Additionally […]
Ants too have their guides
It takes a lot of coordination for a group to carry a large load together. It’s a rare ability in the animal world, but one shared by ants and humans. Like humans, longhorn crazy ants (Paratrechina longicornis) use individuals for steering the direction of the group. This collective movement appears to arise by the […]
T. Rex’s secret weapon: Revealing a unique tooth structure
The unique tooth structure of carnivorous theropods such as Tyrannosaurus rex allowed them to tear through the flesh and bones of other dinosaurs with ease, and likely led to their success according to new research. The research team found that the deeply serrated structure, and the special arrangement of tissue inside, strengthened the teeth and […]
An antibody against MERS
Researchers have found, for the first time, an antibody against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV), which has been responsible for over 1,300 human infections and over 450 deaths since it was first identified in 2012. The research team believes the antibody, known as LCA60, can be used to develop a monoclonal antibody against MERS-CoV that […]
Using nasal balloons to treat hearing loss in children
New research indicates that nasal balloons can reduce hearing loss in children with a common middle-ear problem, avoiding the use of unnecessary antibiotics. Otitis media effusion, also known as “glue ear”, occurs when the middle ear fills with a thick fluid, affecting hearing development. Currently there is no nonsurgical intervention proven to help with the […]
Finding the function of over 150 mouse genes
The largest analysis of mouse genes to date has identified the function of 159 genes whose purpose was previously unknown. The researchers developed new statistical methods to analyse the 413 measurements and 320 genes from each mouse. The new data set is available to the scientific community as a reference resource, and provides a strategy […]
Current dietary protein recommendations are too low
Recommendations for protein intake in healthy populations may be incorrect, according to researchers who point to a meta-analysis reviewing the latest findings. Current recommendations may not be sufficient to promote optimal muscle health, especially in aging populations prone to muscle loss. Consuming moderate amounts of high-quality protein at each meal, rather than a larger quantity once […]
A new chemo delivery system minimizes impact on healthy cells
A research team developed a nanoparticle that releases chemotherapeutics inside tumor cells only, sparing healthy tissues. This nanoparticle, called ZnO-nanocarrier, activates when surrounded by high acidity – a pathological feature of tumor cells. The particle releases its chemotherapeutic load within six hours in acidic pH. During this process, the tumor cell undergoes a color change which […]
The secrets of stink bugs: A new chemical compound and selective egg colouration
Stink bugs, Podisus maculiventris, are able to change the colour of the eggs they lay to better protect them from UV radiation, according to new findings. The researchers expected the colour variation to come from differing levels of melanin, however they found a new compound responsible for the pigmentation. While stink bugs are the first […]
Boa constrictors’ victims die of circulatory arrest, not suffocation
Boa constrictors do not kill their victim by suffocation, but by quickly stopping blood flow. When attacking, boas apply several loops of their body against the prey’s chest. This not only allows them to compress the vital organs directly, but may also enable them to monitor the victim’s heartbeat according to the researchers. Researchers inserted […]
As the sea rises, Porites coral grows, until now
Around the island nation of Palau, in the Pacific Ocean, Porite coral growth may be able to ‘keep up’ with projected sea-level rise – but only if reefs are well managed and greenhouse gas concentrations are curbed, suggest international researchers. Porites are natural storm barriers and their loss would result in island and habitat loss […]
Amazonia has long been domesticated by humans
In 1492, Amazonia may have been home to about eight million human beings, challenging the 20th century idea of an undisturbed land, according to the authors of an interdisciplinary review. Amazonia was a major centre of crop domestication: at least 83 native species were domesticated, and at least 55 imported subtropical species were cultivated. Throughout […]
Measuring Arctic sea ice thickness
By measuring Arctic sea ice thickness, researchers are able to provide more accurate observations about Arctic ice melt. During the autumn of 2013 sea ice grew in thickness around Greenland by 33 per cent over the previous year’s measurement. The ice shrank in 2014, however it remained 25 per cent thicker than 2012 levels. The […]
The winners and losers of climate change in Ontario lakes
It’s difficult to predict the effects of climate change on ecosystems. Researchers in Toronto have monitored lakes in Ontario to help predict the impact of predators when their range shifts. The research team found that resident species are more likely to survive if their ancestors had a change to evolve alongside the new predator and […]
