Articles by Tina Shah
High concentrations of neonicotinoids in Midwest rivers, USGS study says
A U.S. Geological Survey study shows that rivers and streams in the Midwest, draining the states with the highest reported use of pollinator-threatening neonicotinoids, carry the insecticide through the waters.
'Superhydrophobic' surfaces increase efficiency: Inspired by beetles, developed by engineers
NSF-funded researchers, inspired by the water collection system of the Stenocara beetle, created nanoscale and macro-scale surfaces to increase efficiency in condensers and create more effective diagnostic tests and microfluidic circuits.
Jupiter-like exoplanets surprisingly, and disappointingly, dry
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope discover that "Hot Jupiters," exoplanets that resemble Jupiter, are much, much drier.
Acetaminophen might just be placebo when it comes to lower back pain
A study in Australia shows that paracetamol (overseas version of acetaminophen) does nothing to relieve lower back pain. It may work effectively on other types of pain; researchers are looking into specifics of back pain that may hinder the drug's performance.
Sleep-deprived? You may start forming false memories
A psychology study shows that people who are deprived of sleep are more likely to form false memories than those who get the recommended amount.
China wants to build the biggest particle collider by 2028
China aims to build a 52-km electron-positron collider, with or without international help. In 14 years, China may become the particle collider capital of the world.
Hybrid songbirds' sense of direction as mixed as their genes
A study at the University of British Columbia found that hybrid Swainson's thrushes travel an intermediate, possibly more difficult migration path than their parent populations. The mechanism behind the link between mixed genes and mixed migration remains unknown.
The power of the mind: Expectation of harm linked to airway inflammation in asthmatics
A study found that asthmatics who expected a harmless odor to be harmful exhibited more airway inflammation than those that believed the odor to be therapeutic.
Low field magnetic stimulation may offer immediate relief for patients with depression
Researchers at Harvard Medical School and Weill Cornell Medical College discovered that a single treatment of low field magnetic stimulation produced mood-elevating effects in depressed patients.
Taking probiotics regularly might help those with high blood pressure
Taking probiotics regularly for two months might moderately lower blood pressure. Further studies must be done to figure out which probiotic products are best suited for this purpose.
Antipsychotics reduce brain volume at faster rate than normal aging atrophy
Patients with schizophrenia that take antipsychotic drugs experience a faster rate of brain volume loss than healthy individuals. Study shows after 9 years, no long-term effects.
Childhood abdominal obesity leveling off, but other types are still increasing
Researchers collected data from a survey and found the the number of children between ages 2 and 18 that are abdominally obese held steady between 2003 and 2012. Abdominal obesity, however, is only one such form of the condition.
Friends and strangers send piles of birthday mail to young boy with rare brain cancer
A heartwarming amount of birthday mail is getting sent to Danny Nickerson, age 5 and diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. His greatest wish is to receive mail and people all over are working to make him smile.
Smartphone app alerts doctor when patient exhibits symptoms
MIT researchers developed an app, Ginger.io, that collects data about its users behaviors, locations, health conditions and habits and then notes inconsistencies that may predict the onset of problems such as depression. The app alerts health care providers for intervention.
MIT researchers lend a hand...or at least 2 more fingers
Researchers at MIT have developed a device that, when worn, gives the user two extra fingers to increase efficiency and easiness of routine tasks that involving basic objects. Study aims to create device for disabled and elderly people.
Study shows promising hep C cure for patients co-infected with HIV
Scientists conducted a clinical trial to determine the efficacy of a combination therapy for patients with both hepatitis C and HIV. A significant amount of patients were cured of hepatitis C.
Scientists closer to understanding development of neuron connections, implications for autism
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine found a protein complex responsible for supervising the construction of neuron connections in the cerebellum. Blocking this protein led to inhibited connections, such as those seen in autism.
World loses esteemed HIV/AIDS researchers and activists in MH17
Joep Lange, renowned HIV scientist, as well as activists and other researchers, many still unconfirmed, died Thursday, July 18 on board the Malaysia Airline flight 17 en route to Melbourne for AIDS conference. The flight was shot down over Ukraine.
Scientists discover method effective in curbing type 2 diabetes
Scientists at Salk Institute tested the application of FGF1, a growth factor, in diabetic mice and found that it positively reversed the diabetic symptoms for more than 2 days, without side effects.
Changes in baby brain activity seen live for the first time as mother rats nurture young
Scientists at NYU used electrical recordings to measure and watch, in real time, the changes that occur in infant rat brains as they are nurtured and weaned by their mothers.
Forget spoonfuls. Measure medicines in milliliters to avoid imprecision
A study conducted at NYU School of Medicine found that 40% of parents grab the nearest kitchen spoon to administer meds to their kids. This imprecise measuring method is too dangerous. Professionals are trying to implement official use of the milliliter to measure meds.
Johns Hopkins scientists find vulnerable spot in metastatic tumors via game theory
Scientists at Johns Hopkins used game theory to analyze when metastatic cancer cells switch metabolic strategies. During the switch, they are most vulnerable to attack by anti-cancer therapies.
Surprisingly high levels of genetic similarities among friends, researchers find
Researchers at UCSD and Yale University found that friends are significantly more genetically similar (sharing same DNA) than strangers. Friends with similarities may have an evolutionary advantage because positive attributes are more advantageous when shared.
Lack of smell and excess protein in eyes may indicate development of Alzheimer's
Researchers presented studies at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference that reported findings showing decreased odor identification ability by patients that eventually developed Alzheimer's, as well as buildup of beta-amyloid protein in eyes.
Journal retracts 60 papers due to fraudulent 'peer-review ring'
Sage Publication's Journal of Vibration and Control had to retract 60 papers due to implications that a researcher named Peter Chen was in the center of what they deemed a 'peer-review ring'. Chen made false online accounts to fraudulently review papers and favor his publications.
Senate asks Gilead Sciences to explain itself, high cost of Hep C drug
Two U.S. senators sent a letter to GIlead Sciences, Inc. asking the biopharmaceutical company to explain why the cost of its new, highly promising hepatitis C drug, Sovaldi, is $84,000. The senators worry it will hurt Medicare, Medicaid, and other government-funded programs.
DARPA funds two universities to produce memory-restoring device
DARPA is giving a total of $40 million to UCLA and UPenn researchers to develop an implantable device that will detect memory deficits and fix them.
Crowdfunding science: the search for public interest in research
Some researchers in the U.S. are turning to the public to raise money for scientific research projects when the government and industries cannot offer enough, or any.
Supermassive black hole may rid Milky Way of ability to form stars
Researchers found that supermassive black holes emit large amounts of hydrogen gas at incredibly fast rates due to jets of high energy electrons, and probably leech galaxies of cold gases. The phenomenon will likely prohibit galaxies from forming new stars, as it will do to the Milky Way in 5 billion years.
Researchers identify 10 key proteins that can predict Alzheimer's diagnosis
Scientists in Britain have narrowed down a set of proteins to 10 key identifiers for onset of Alzheimer's within a year, yielding 87% accuracy. The study requires further validation, but may pave way for a simple blood test to predict Alzheimer's in those with minor memory loss.
