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United Academics Magazine publishes popular science news on a daily basis.
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- September 10, 2012
- 07:44 AM
- 192 views
They’re Alive! Changeling Proteins Transform Shape and Functions
by Andrew Porterfield in United Academics
Complete changes from one type of living thing to another have been the stuff of fiction: Dr. Jekyll’s transformation to Mr. Hyde (and back) and Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis spring to mind. But researchers at Universität Bayreuth and Ohio State University discovered that these dramatic structural and functional transformations do occur in molecules deemed least likely to change; proteins. Their study appears in the July 20 issue of the journal Cell.... Read more »
Burmann BM, Knauer SH, Sevostyanova A, Schweimer K, Mooney RA, Landick R, Artsimovitch I, & Rösch P. (2012) An α Helix to β Barrel Domain Switch Transforms the Transcription Factor RfaH into a Translation Factor. Cell, 150(2), 291-303. PMID: 22817892
- September 10, 2012
- 06:33 AM
- 257 views
Coming Soon: New Species of Metals
by Andrew Porterfield in United Academics
Most metallic things around us—bridges, microchip wires, buildings—are made of arrays of tiny crystals that owe their strength to an orderly, repeating pattern of grains. However, these mixtures, or alloys, of different metals are unstable; under heat or stress they tend to meld together and become larger and weaker. But the right mix can produce a metal that’s stronger, more heat-resistant and capable of creating structures never thought possible.... Read more »
Tongjai Chookajorn, Heather A. Murdoch, Christopher A. Schuh. (2012) Design of Stable Nanocrystalline Alloys. Science. DOI: 10.1126/science.1224737
- September 7, 2012
- 10:39 AM
- 214 views
Green Tea Good For Your Brain
by Mark Fonseca Rendeiro in United Academics
Good news green tea drinkers, researchers in China have found that properties of green tea are good for your brain in ways you may have never expected. ... Read more »
Yanyan Wang, Maoquan Li, Xueqing Xu, Min Song, Huansheng Tao, & Yun Bai. (2012) Green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) promotes neural progenitor cell proliferation and sonic hedgehog pathway activation during adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Journal of Molecular Nutrition . DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201200035
- September 7, 2012
- 09:10 AM
- 206 views
Violent Video Games May Favor Cooperation, Researchers Say
by Jaime Menchén in United Academics
Two recent studies refute the idea that violent video games make players more aggressive and antisocial. Actually, researchers argue, playing cooperatively may result on just the opposite.... Read more »
David R. Ewoldsen, Cassie A. Eno, Bradley M. Okdie, John A. Velez, Rosanna E. Guadagno, & Jamie DeCoster. (2012) Effect of Playing Violent Video Games Cooperatively or Competitively on Subsequent Cooperative Behavior. CYBERPSYCHOLOGY, BEHAVIOR, AND SOCIAL NETWORKING. DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2011.0308
John A. Velez, Chad Mahood, David R. Ewoldsen, & Emily Moyer-Gusé. (2012) Ingroup Versus Outgroup Conflict in the Context of Violent Video Game Play: The Effect of Cooperation on Increased Helping and Decreased Aggression. Communication Research. DOI: 10.1177/0093650212456202
- September 7, 2012
- 08:00 AM
- 505 views
Dirty Talk Doesn’t Predict Sexual Satisfaction
by Carian Thus in United Academics
In general, talking about sex with your partner may improve sexual satisfaction. But new research suggests that during sex it’s better to shut up and switch to non-verbal communication of pleasure.... Read more »
Babin, E. (2012) An examination of predictors of nonverbal and verbal communication of pleasure during sex and sexual satisfaction. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. DOI: 10.1177/0265407512454523
- September 7, 2012
- 07:57 AM
- 224 views
Need Willpower? Watch a Rerun of Friends
by Carian Thus in United Academics
Running low on willpower after a busy day? According to a new study, you can restore your drive to get things done in a very comfortable way: watch your favorite TV rerun.... Read more »
Derrick, JL. (2012) Energized by Television: Familiar Fictional Worlds Restore Self-Control. Social Psychological and Personality Science. DOI: 10.1177/1948550612454889
- September 6, 2012
- 09:08 AM
- 213 views
Green Tea Good for Your Brain
by Mark Fonseca Rendeiro in United Academics
Do you love green tea and drink it often? Well there’s some good news for you, according to new research published in the journal of Molecular Nutricion and Food Research, green tea is good for brain cells, specifically for memory and spatial learning.... Read more »
Yanyan Wang, Maoquan Li, Xueqing Xu, Min Song, Huansheng Tao, & Yun Bai. (2012) Green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) promotes neural progenitor cell proliferation and sonic hedgehog pathway activation during adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Journal of Molecular Nutrition . DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201200035
- September 6, 2012
- 07:02 AM
- 275 views
Tropical Deforestation Means Less Rain
by Jaime Menchén in United Academics
New research published in Nature shows a direct link between vegetation and tropical rain. Using satellite data, the researchers found that air that has passed over extensive vegetation in tropical forests could produce ‘at least twice as much rain as air that has passed over little vegetation.’... Read more »
DV Spracklen, SR Arnold, & CM Taylor. (2012) Observations of increased tropical rainfall preceded by air passage over forests. Nature. DOI: 10.1038/nature11390
- September 6, 2012
- 05:03 AM
- 198 views
Nocturnal Tiger
by Jaime Menchén in United Academics
Tigers living in and around the Chitwan National Park, in Nepal, are becoming nocturnal in order to avoid the human presence, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.... Read more »
Neil H. Cartera, Binoj K. Shresthab, Jhamak B. Karkic, Narendra Man Babu Pradhand, & Jianguo Liu. (2012) Coexistence between wildlife and humans at fine spatial scales. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1210490109
- September 5, 2012
- 04:38 AM
- 192 views
Using HIV to Fight Cancer
by Gunnar de Winter in United Academics
A recent study shows how researchers have been able to co-opt HIV’s replication machinery and its capability to introduce new genes in human cells to develop a system (called Retrovolution) for generating lots of potentially useful gene variants.... Read more »
Rossolillo P, Winter F, Simon-Loriere E, Gallois-Montbrun S, & Negroni M. (2012) Retrovolution: HIV-Driven Evolution of Cellular Genes and Improvement of Anticancer Drug Activation. PLoS genetics, 8(8). PMID: 22927829
- September 4, 2012
- 07:11 AM
- 242 views
Is Global Warming Good for Biodiversity?
by United Academics in United Academics
New findings suggest that biodiversity increases during warm periods, which may imply that global warming is actually good for the origination of species. The problem is that the process usually takes between thousands and millions of years, while current global warming is happening at a much faster pace.... Read more »
Mayhew, P. J., Bell, M. A., Benton, T. G., & McGowan, A. J. (2012) Biodiversity tracks temperature over time. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. info:/
- September 3, 2012
- 12:00 PM
- 148 views
The Collatoral Damage of Monogamy
by United Academics in United Academics
Recent research has revealed a remarkable new insight in the interaction between social behaviour and genetic expression in our immune system.... Read more »
MacManes MD, & Lacey EA. (2012) Is promiscuity associated with enhanced selection on MHC-DQα in mice (genus Peromyscus)?. PloS one, 7(5). PMID: 22649541
- September 3, 2012
- 09:19 AM
- 199 views
How Fast You Drink Your Beer Is Related to the Shape of the Glass: Research
by United Academics in United Academics
Researchers from Bristol University’s school of experimental psychology have found that people drinking beer from curved glasses tend to drink it faster than those with straight glasses. This might be so because it’s harder to calculate the amount of beer in the curved glasses.... Read more »
Attwood AS, Scott-Samuel NE, Stothart G, & Munafò MR. (2012) Glass shape influences consumption rate for alcoholic beverages. PloS one, 7(8). PMID: 22912776
- August 30, 2012
- 07:02 AM
- 194 views
Eating Chocolate May Reduce Stroke Risk
by United Academics in United Academics
It turns out that eating chocolate may bring some health benefits after all; previous studies showed that it was good for the heart, and new research published in Neurology suggests that, at least in men, it may reduce the chances of suffering a stroke.... Read more »
Susanna C. Larsson, Jarmo Virtamo, & Alicja Wolk. (2012) Chocolate consumption and risk of stroke: A prospective cohort of men and meta-analysis. Neurology. DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e31826aacfa
- August 28, 2012
- 07:02 AM
- 279 views
Heavy Use of Cannabis at Young Age May Lower Intelligence
by United Academics in United Academics
Smoking cannabis may be especially harmful among teenagers who are under 18 years of age, but it may be relatively safe for ‘over-18 brains’, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.... Read more »
Madeline H. Meier, Avshalom Caspi, Antony Ambler, HonaLee Harrington, Renate Houts, Richard S. E. Keefe, Kay McDonald, Aimee Ward, Richie Poulton, & Terrie E. Moffitt. (2012) Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1206820109
- August 27, 2012
- 09:20 AM
- 261 views
Indo-European Languages May Have Originated in Turkey
by United Academics in United Academics
New research published in Science identifies Anatolia, which comprises modern-day Turkey, as the place where Indo-European languages originated. This contrasts with the so-called "Steppe hypothesis", which maintains that these languages originated in the Russian steppes.... Read more »
Remco Bouckaert, Philippe Lemey, Michael Dunn, Simon J. Greenhill, Alexander V. Alekseyenko, Alexei J. Drummond, Russell D. Gray, Marc A. Suchard, & Quentin D. Atkinson. (2012) Mapping the Origins and Expansion of the Indo-European Language Family. Science. DOI: 10.1126/science.1219669
- August 24, 2012
- 07:29 AM
- 210 views
Recurrent Miscarriage Caused by Super-Fertility
by United Academics in United Academics
Some women are affected by recurrent miscarriages: the loss of three or more pregnancies in a row. Now a team of doctors may have found an explanation for this phenomenon.... Read more »
Weimar CH, Kavelaars A, Brosens JJ, Gellersen B, de Vreeden-Elbertse JM, Heijnen CJ, & Macklon NS. (2012) Endometrial Stromal Cells of Women with Recurrent Miscarriage Fail to Discriminate between High- and Low-Quality Human Embryos. PloS one, 7(7). PMID: 22848492
- August 23, 2012
- 06:47 AM
- 221 views
Robot Leads School of Fish
by United Academics in United Academics
Fish are willing to accept a robot as their new leader, research shows,... Read more »
Marras S, & Porfiri M. (2012) Fish and robots swimming together: attraction towards the robot demands biomimetic locomotion. Journal of the Royal Society, Interface / the Royal Society, 9(73), 1856-68. PMID: 22356819
- August 21, 2012
- 07:14 AM
- 207 views
Brushing Your Teeth Keeps Your Brain Healthy
by United Academics in United Academics
A new study underscores the importance of dental care, saying that people who keep their teeth and gums healthy by regular brushing may have a lower risk of developing dementia later in life.... Read more »
Paganini-Hill, A, White, SC, & Atchison, KA. (2012) Dentition, Dental Health Habits, and Dementia: The Leisure World Cohort Study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.04064.x
- August 20, 2012
- 05:10 AM
- 236 views
New Family of Spiders Found in US Cave
by United Academics in United Academics
For the first time since the 1870s, a new family of spiders named Trogloraptor marchingtoni has been discovered in the United States. Amateur cave explores found the spider in a cave in southern Oregon. ... Read more »
Griswold, CE, Audisio, T, & Ledford, JM. (2012) An extraordinary new family of spiders from caves in the Pacific Northwest. ZooKeys. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.215.3547
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