Sweetened beverage taxes decrease consumption in lower-income households by nearly 50%

New research investigated responses to sweetened beverage taxes using the purchasing behavior of approximately 400 households in Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland and Philadelphia. Researchers found that after the tax was introduced, lower-income households decreased their purchases of sweetened beverages by nearly 50%, while higher-income households reduced purchases by 18%.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241021170524.htm

Weather-changing El Nino oscillation is at least 250 million years old

A new modeling study shows that the El Nino event, a huge blob of warm ocean water in the tropical Pacific Ocean that can change rainfall patterns around the globe, was present at least 250 million years in the past, and was often of greater magnitude than the oscillations we see today.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241021170400.htm

Plant CO2 uptake rises by nearly one third in new global estimates

Plants the world over are absorbing about 31% more carbon dioxide than previously thought, according to a new assessment. The research is expected to improve Earth system simulations that scientists use to predict the future climate, and spotlights the importance of natural carbon sequestration for greenhouse gas mitigation.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241021145729.htm

Rare fossils of extinct elephant document the earliest known instance of butchery in India

Scientists have discovered the earliest evidence of animal butchery by humans in India.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241021133245.htm

Scientists unveil new insights into air pollution formation

Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in understanding how air pollution forms at the molecular level. Their investigation sheds light on the complex chemical processes occurring at the boundary between liquid, in particular aqueous solutions, and vapor in our atmosphere.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241021123308.htm

Scientists unveil new insights into air pollution formation

Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in understanding how air pollution forms at the molecular level. Their investigation sheds light on the complex chemical processes occurring at the boundary between liquid, in particular aqueous solutions, and vapor in our atmosphere.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241021123308.htm

Finding could help turn trees into affordable, greener industrial chemicals

Specific molecular property of lignin in trees determines difficulty of using microbial fermentation to turn trees and other plants into industrial chemicals.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241018162557.htm

Finding could help turn trees into affordable, greener industrial chemicals

Specific molecular property of lignin in trees determines difficulty of using microbial fermentation to turn trees and other plants into industrial chemicals.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241018162557.htm

'Paving the way' for improved treatment of premature aging disease

A new article could spur the development of new and improved treatments for Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), a rare genetic disorder with no known cure that causes accelerated aging in children.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241018131348.htm

American lobster population, habitat preferences shifting, study finds

Scientists found that from 1995-2021, occupancy of boulder habitats by lobsters dropped 60%. Meanwhile, the number of lobsters residing in sediment or featureless ledge habitats increased 633% and 280%, respectively. Lobster population density across all types of habitats declined too, but the mean size of an adult lobster was greater in 2021 than in 1996.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241018131215.htm

Healthy diet may help keep low grade prostate cancer from progressing to more dangerous states during active surveillance, study suggests

New research provides scientific evidence that a healthy diet may reduce the chance of low risk prostate cancer progressing to a more aggressive state in men undergoing active surveillance -- a clinical option in which men with lower risk cancer are carefully monitored for progression in lieu of treatments that could have undesired side effects or complications.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241017173408.htm

Increased autism risk linked to Y chromosome, study finds

Increased risk for autism appears to be linked to the Y chromosome, a study has found, offering a new explanation for the greater prevalence of autism in males.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241017173212.htm

Why do we love carbs? The origins predate agriculture and maybe even our split from Neanderthals

A new study reveals how the duplication of the salivary amylase gene may not only have helped shape human adaptation to starchy foods, but may have occurred as far back as more than 800,000 years ago, long before the advent of farming.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241017172950.htm

Forever Chemicals found in bottled and tap water from around the world

Scientists have discovered toxic 'Forever Chemicals' present in samples of drinking water from around the world.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241017112517.htm

Fearful memories of others seen in mouse brain

Researchers have revealed that the CA1 and CA2 regions in the brain respectively encode the locations and individuals linked with a threatening experience. The results show that, beyond simply recognizing individuals, CA2 helps record more complex aspects of social memory: in this case, whether another individual is safe or risky.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241016121031.htm

New app performs real-time, full-body motion capture with a smartphone

Engineers have developed a new system for full-body motion capture -- and it doesn't require specialized rooms, expensive equipment, bulky cameras or an array of sensors. Instead, it requires only a smartphone, smartwatch or earbuds.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241015183529.htm

NASA, NOAA: Sun reaches maximum phase in 11-year solar cycle

Experts have announced that the Sun has reached its solar maximum period, which could continue for the next year. Scientists will not be able to determine the exact peak of this solar maximum period for many months because it's only identifiable after they've tracked a consistent decline in solar activity after that peak. However, scientists have identified that the last two years on the Sun have been part of this active phase of the solar cycle, due to the consistently high number of sunspots during this period.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241015183526.htm

Seven new frog species discovered in Madagascar: Sounds like something from Star Trek

Researchers have discovered seven new species of tree frogs that make otherworldly calls in the rainforests of Madagascar. Their strange, high-pitched whistling calls sound more like sound effects from the sci-fi series Star Trek. As a result, the researchers have named the new species after seven of the series' most iconic captains.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241015141512.htm

Tube sock-like skunk covers more ground than deer, impacted by winter weather, study finds

A study in the Cascade Range in Oregon of a tiny, elusive skunk found the animal can cover more ground than deer and is sensitive to climate change, particularly severe winter weather.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241015141331.htm

Survey finds 25% of adults suspect they have undiagnosed ADHD

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder -- also known as ADHD -- is typically thought of as a childhood condition. But more adults are realizing that their struggles with attention, focus and restlessness could in fact be undiagnosed ADHD, thanks in large part to trending social media videos racking up millions of views. A new national survey of 1,000 American adults finds that 25% of adults now suspect they may have undiagnosed ADHD. But what worries mental health experts is that only 13% of survey respondents have shared their suspicions with their doctor.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241014210502.htm