science on localnews page 408

science

The Hidden Harms of Drought: How Tomato Plants Lose Their Green Touch

December 22, 2024

Ever wondered what happens to tomato plants when they're thirsty? A recent study dug deep into this question, tracking how water shortage affects the way tomato plants process light during photosynthesis. Researchers created different drought levels (100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% of normal water), hoping

science

How Reliable is Proton MRS for Measuring Brain Creatine?

December 22, 2024

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H MRS) is gaining attention for its role in determining total creatine (tCr) concentrations in the brain. However, the trustworthiness of repeated 1 H MRS measurements has been questioned. A study delved into how well 1 H MRS can reliably and repeat

science

Video Games and Cognitive Skills: Beyond Teenage Years

December 22, 2024

A recent study looked into how playing video games, especially those with action-based mechanics, can boost cognitive performance. Researchers wondered if these benefits were due to inherent differences in cognitive skills from earlier in life. They used data from a study called CATSLife, involving

science

Celebrating Interdisciplinary Science: A Look at PLRev at 20 and Leonid Perlovsky

December 22, 2024

PLRev, a renowned journal, recently marked its 20th anniversary. At the heart of the celebration was Leonid Perlovsky, a notable figure in the world of interdisciplinary science. Instead of starting with the usual milestones, let's dive into why interdisciplinary science matters. It's like trying to

science

Saving Purple Passion Fruit: A Journey to Zero Waste

December 22, 2024

Did you know that purple passion fruit, a popular fruit, often leaves behind its peel and seeds as waste? These by-products are actually packed with nutrients and beneficial compounds. The challenge lies in the variety of these fruits, which can make it tough to use these leftovers effectively. A re

science

Light and the Brain: How Infrared Helps with Anxiety

December 22, 2024

Did you know that light can influence your brain and mood? Scientists have found that shining infrared light on a specific part of the brain, called the hippocampus, can boost the growth of new brain cells. This part of the brain is linked to mood disorders, and growing new cells there can help redu

science

Understanding Time-Dependent Factors in Long-Term Studies

December 22, 2024

In long-term studies where researchers are examining events that happen over time, it's common to find that important factors, or covariates, change over time. The old-school Cox regression model can deal with these changing factors but assumes that their impact on the likelihood of an event is just

science

The Hidden Story of Celery: From Roots to Leaves

December 22, 2024

Celery, a key player in the vegetable world, has many forms. There's common celery, known for its solid, crisp stalks, celeriac with its fleshy, underground stems, and leaf celery, which has long, hollow stalks. Here's where things get interesting: scientists recently created a detailed map of the c

science

AI's Unexpected Discoveries in 2024

December 21, 2024

In 2024, artificial intelligence (AI) showed its power in surprising ways. Scientists used AI and X-rays to read ancient scrolls from Herculaneum, Italy, that were buried by the Mount Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD. These scrolls are so delicate they can't be unrolled, but AI helped decode over 2, 000 c

science

A Retired Weather Satellite's Surprising End

December 21, 2024

Imagine a weather satellite that's been retired for a while, just floating in space. Well, an old one from a military program called DMSP-5D2 F14 has broken up into over 50 pieces. Why's this a big deal? This satellite was launched in 1997 and has been orbiting ever since its retirement in 2020. Now