Gut molecule slows fat burning during fasting

In a struggle that probably sounds familiar to dieters everywhere, the less a Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) worm eats, the more slowly it loses fat. Now, scientists have discovered why: a small molecule produced by the worms' intestines during fasting travels to the brain to block a fat-burning signal during this time.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240821191643.htm

Next time you beat a virus, thank your microbial ancestors

When you get infected with a virus, some of the first weapons your body deploys to fight it were passed down to us from our microbial ancestors billions of years ago. According to new research, two key elements of our innate immune system came from a group of microbes called Asgard archaea.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240821164635.htm

Study of pythons could lead to new therapies for heart disease, other illnesses

In the first 24 hours after a python devours its massive prey, its heart grows bigger, softer and stronger and its metabolism speeds up forty-fold. The extraordinary process could inspire novel treatments for heart disease and metabolic disorders.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240821164629.htm

Extraterrestrial chemistry with earthbound possibilities

Who are we? Why are we here? We are stardust, the result of chemistry occurring throughout vast clouds of interstellar gas and dust. To better understand how that chemistry could create prebiotic molecules, researchers investigated the role of low-energy electrons created as cosmic radiation traverses through ice particles. Their findings may also inform medical and environmental applications on our home planet.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240821150015.htm

Chalk-based coating creates a cooling fabric

In the scorching heat of summer, anyone who spends time outside could benefit from a cooling fabric. While there are some textiles that reflect the sun's rays or wick heat away, current options require boutique fibers or complex manufacturing processes. But now, demonstrations of a durable chalk-based coating show it can cool the air underneath treated fabric by up to 8 degrees Fahrenheit.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240821124457.htm

Sharing risk to avoid power outages in an era of extreme weather

Heat waves, droughts, and fires place growing stress on the West's electric grid. New research suggests that more integrated management of electricity resources across the region could significantly reduce the risk of power outages and accelerate the transition to clean energy.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240820221859.htm

New view of North Star reveals spotted surface

High-resolution images show large spots on the surface of Polaris.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240820124556.htm

Heart data unlocks sleep secrets

Computer science researchers have developed an approach that matches the performance of expert-scored polysomnography using just a single-lead echocardiogram. In addition to simplifying a typically expensive and cumbersome process, this insight highlights a deeper connection between the heart and the brain than previously understood.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240819185146.htm

Development of a model capable of predicting the cycle lives of high-energy-density lithium-metal batteries

Scientists have developed a model capable of predicting the cycle lives of high-energy-density lithium-metal batteries by applying machine learning methods to battery performance data. The model proved able to accurately estimate batteries' longevity by analyzing their charge, discharge and voltage relaxation process data without relying on any assumption about specific battery degradation mechanisms. The technique is expected to be useful in improving the safety and reliability of devices powered by lithium-metal batteries.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240819185143.htm

Peering into the mind of artificial intelligence to make better antibiotics

Artificial intelligence (AI) has exploded in popularity as of late. But just like a human, it's hard to read an AI model's mind. Explainable AI (XAI) could help us do just that by providing justification for a model's decisions. And now, researchers are using XAI to scrutinize predictive AI models more closely, which could help make better antibiotics.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240819172516.htm

How 'winner and loser effects' impact social rank in animals -- and humans

A new article provides a narrative review of the relevant similarities and distinctions between nonhumans and humans to assess the causes and consequences of winner and loser effects in humans.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240819130756.htm

The bee's knees: New tests created to find fake honey

Researchers have developed new ways to detect sugar syrup adulteration in honey, paving the way for fast and accurate tests to discover fake products.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240818184549.htm

Ancient DNA reveals Indigenous dog lineages found at Jamestown, Virginia

Previous scientific studies have indicated that North American dog lineages were replaced with European ones between 1492 and the present day. To better understand the timing of this replacement, researchers sequenced mitochondrial DNA from archaeological dogs. Their findings suggest a complex social history of dogs during the early colonial period.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240816173937.htm

New twist on synthesis technique promises sustainable manufacturing

Researchers developed a new method known as flash-within-flash Joule heating (FWF) that could transform the synthesis of high-quality solid-state materials, offering a cleaner, faster and more sustainable manufacturing process.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240816173928.htm

Tracking down the asteroid that sealed the fate of the dinosaurs

The asteroid that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago probably came from the outer solar system.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240816123943.htm

It's a rave: Underground acoustics amplify soil health

Barely audible to human ears, healthy soils produce a cacophony of sounds in many forms -- a bit like an underground rave concert of bubble pops and clicks. Special recordings made by ecologists show this chaotic mixture of soundscapes can be a measure of the diversity of tiny living animals in the soil, which create sounds as they move and interact with their environment.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240816121531.htm

Hailstone library to improve extreme weather forecasting

Researchers are measuring and scanning samples for a global 'hailstone library'. Storm simulations using 3-D modelling of real hailstones -- in all sorts of weird shapes from oblong to flat discs or with spikes coming out -- show it behaves differently than spherical hail shapes. Data from the hail library could lead to more accurate storm forecasts.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240816121529.htm

Faster than one pixel at a time -- new imaging method for neutral atomic beam microscopes developed by researchers

Microscope images could be obtained much more quickly -- rather than one pixel at a time -- thanks to a new imaging method for neutral atomic beam microscopes. It could ultimately lead to engineers and scientists getting faster results when they are scanning samples.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240816121515.htm

Versatile fluidic platform for programmable liquid processing

Society relies heavily on diverse fluidic technologies. The ability to precisely capture and release various chemical and biological fluids plays a fundamental role in many fields. A long-standing challenge is to design a platform that enables the switchable capture and release of liquids with precise spatial and temporal control and accurate volumes of the fluid. Recently, researchers have invented a new method to effectively overcome this challenge.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240816121456.htm

Blind cavefish have extraordinary taste buds

A biologist studies blind cavefish, a species of fish that dwell in cave ponds in Mexico. He looked at the timeline for when the cavefish develop additional taste buds on the head and chin, finding the taste bud expansion starts at five months and continues into adulthood.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240815190023.htm