Researchers have found a way to condense a complete drug-testing lab into a device the size of a backpack. The device uses a technique called microfluidic to extract compounds from a dried urine spot and subject it to complex chemical analysis by mass spectrometry. The new device detected cocaine and other drugs at concentrations down to […]
Category: Paper of Interest
Sugar intake linked to breast density
A new study links a high intake of sugar to an increase in breast density, which is one of the indicators of breast cancer risk. The study tracked 776 premenopausal and 779 postmenopausal women from two mammographic screening clinics in Quebec City. While none of the participants had a very high sugar intake, those who reported […]
Oldest human poo shows Neanderthals ate their greens
Chemical analysis of 50,000-year-old fossilized droppings found in Spain suggest that Neanderthals ate more greens than previously thought. Researchers compared the levels of chemicals such as coprostanols – formed from meat in the digestive tract – to those of other chemicals like 5b-stigmastanol, which are digestive products of plants. They conclude that while Neanderthals ate […]
Sea salt makes for cheaper, greener solar cells
A new processing technique could enable cheaper, cleaner thin-film solar cells, according to a new study. Cadmium telluride is often touted as a replacement for silicon in solar cells; because it absorbs light so much better than silicon it could lead to thinner and more efficient cells. However, part of the manufacturing process involves cadmium […]
Lionfish hunt in groups
Like their namesakes on land, lionfish demonstrate cooperative hunting, according to a new study. Lab tests showed that lionfish use a unique ‘flared fin’ display to alert other lionfish to the presence of prey. They then work together to herd the prey into smaller areas and take turns striking at the group. This type of […]
Fungal extract could combat drug-resistant bacteria
A chemical extracted from a fungus could help maintain the effectiveness of key antibiotics. In a new study, a fungal extract called aspergillomarasmine A was shown to inhibit NDM-1 and restore the effectiveness of carbapenems against certain bacteria in lab studies. Carbapenems are considered to be ‘antibiotics of last resort’ for many infections due to […]
Comment: Experts call for moratorium on new pipelines
In a Comment piece in Nature, Eight experts in environmental science, policy and risk call for a moratorium on building new oil pipelines in North America. Both Keystone XL pipeline (which would run from Alberta through the US Midwest) and Northern Gateway pipeline which would connect Alberta with a port on British Columbia’s coast “highlight […]
Climate change effects and human migration
Long-term changes in climate have a greater impact on human migration than sudden natural disasters, a new study shows. Authors tracked 7,185 households in Indonesia between 1993 and 2007, focusing on agricultural regions. They found that when average annual air temperatures exceeded 25 °C, households were more likely to migrate permanently for economic reasons. Natural […]
Glowing proteins could help brain imaging
Scientists have developed a new protein capable of glowing red in response to electrical signals in neurons, a tool which could become a boon to brain researchers. The technology could one day be used to produce mice or fish with ‘glowing brains’ that could greatly improve the ability of neuroscientists to understand mental processes. The proteins […]
Waves or bubbles spotted on Titan’s sea
For the first time, astronomers have observed waves or surface bubbles in a methane sea on the surface of Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. While surface temperature averages around −179.5 °C, Titan is the only other planetary body in the Solar System with seas of stable liquid on its surface. The authors analyzed radar data from […]
Solving a 4000-year-old ‘cold case’
A 4000-year-old skull is missing its front two teeth on the bottom jaw and has a projectile point embedded in it, but a new study shows the two aren’t related. Researchers used advanced bone imaging analysis techniques to show that the projectile tip was part of a larger arrowhead, the rest of which was buried […]
Do morality tales actually work?
When it comes to getting kids to tell the truth, “Pinocchio” has got nothing on “George Washington and the Cherry Tree,” a new experiment suggests. Researchers tested 268 children aged 3 to 7 to see if they would admit to an innocuous lie. Those who were read stories like “Pinocchio” – in which liars are punished […]
Artistic food tastes better
Food arranged to resemble an abstract painting is perceived as tastier, according to a new study. Researchers asked 60 participants to rate the same salad arranged three ways: randomly mixed, neatly arranged or designed to resemble artist Wassily Kandinsky’s “Painting number 201.” Participants rated the artistic salad as the most tasty and were willing to […]
Fish-eating spiders found all over the world
It’s known that some spiders can catch and eat small fish, but a new survey of worldwide sightings shows the phenomenon is more widespread than previously thought. The survey found that spiders from up to five different families prey on fish, and that fish-eating spiders exist on every continent except Antarctica. One species, the striped […]
Are you working out hard enough?
A new study shows that most people underestimate what qualifies as “moderate” or “vigorous” activity. The survey asked 129 adults aged 18 to 64 to jog on a treadmill at speed that corresponded to their impressions of “light,” “moderate,” or “vigorous” intensity. They then compared their heart rates to physical activity guidelines produced by Health […]
Should we pay more attention to El Niño?
While farmers already watch El Niño closely, doctors could stand to pay more attention, according to a new analysis. The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a periodic warming and cooling of Pacific waters that has a significant impact on year-to-year variation in temperatures, rainfall, etc. In recent decades, it’s become possible to predict the […]