September 2019 – PossibleThreat Articles

Biologists track the invasion of herbicide-resistant weeds into southwestern Ontario

September 30, 2019 0 Comments Ecology, Endangered Plants, Evolutionary Biology, Exotic Species, Grassland, Nature, Rainforests, Seeds

A team led by biologists have identified the ways in which herbicide-resistant strains of the invasive common waterhemp weed have emerged in fields of soy and corn in southwestern Ontario. The resistance, first detected in 2010, spread thanks to two mechanisms: either pollen and seeds of resistant plants were physically dispersed by wind, water and other means, or resistance appeared through the spontaneous emergence of mutations that then spread.

News Science

Falsification issues in higher education hiring processes

September 30, 2019 0 Comments Behavior, Education and Employment, Educational Policy, Educational Psychology, K-12 Education, Psychology, Scientific Conduct, STEM Education

When concerns are expressed about distrust in science, they often focus on whether the public trusts research findings. A new study, however, explores a different dimension of trust.

News Science

Gel-like fluid designed to prevent wildfires

September 30, 2019 0 Comments Agriculture and Food, Civil Engineering, Earthquakes, Ecology Research, Engineering and Construction, Invasive Species, Materials Science, Natural Disasters, Wildfires

Scientists and engineers worked with state and local agencies to develop and test a long-lasting, environmentally benign fire-retarding material. If used on high-risk areas, the simple, affordable treatment could dramatically cut the number of fires that occur each year.

News Science

The flagellar hook: Making sense of bacterial motility

September 30, 2019 0 Comments Bacteria, Biochemistry Research, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Extreme Survival, Microbes and More, Microbiology, Pests and Parasites, Virology

Researchers show how bacteria transmit motion from an inner motor to an outer tail through a flexible joint in the flagellum known as the hook. This finding could help in the fight against deadly bacterial infections. By better understanding how bacteria move, researchers may be able to improve disease prevention strategies.

News Science

ORNL scientists shed light on microbial 'dark matter' with new approach

September 30, 2019 0 Comments Bacteria, Evolutionary Biology, Food, Microbes and More, Microbiology, New Species, Organic, Soil Types

Scientists have demonstrated a way to isolate and grow targeted bacteria using genomic data, making strides toward resolving the grand challenge of uncultivated microbial 'dark matter' in which the vast majority of microorganisms remain unstudied in the laboratory.

News Science

AI system accurately detects key findings in chest X-rays of pneumonia patients within 10 seconds

September 30, 2019 0 Comments Diseases and Conditions, Infectious Diseases, Lung Disease, Medical Imaging, Mesothelioma, Patient Education and Counseling, Pneumonia, Today's Healthcare

From 20 minutes or more to 10 seconds. Researchers from Intermountain Healthcare and Stanford University say 10 seconds is about how quickly a new system they studied that utilizes artificial intelligence took to accurately identify key findings in chest X-rays of patients in the emergency department suspected of having pneumonia.

News Science

No need to cut down red and processed meat, study says

September 30, 2019 0 Comments Beer and Wine, Diseases and Conditions, Food, Food and Agriculture, Health Policy, Nutrition, Trees, Workplace Health

Contrary to previous advice, five new systematic reviews suggest that most people can continue to eat red and processed meat as they do now. The major studies have found cutting back has little impact on health.

News Science

First-time pregnancy complications linked to increased risk of hypertension later in life

September 30, 2019 0 Comments Diseases and Conditions, Gynecology, Heart Disease, Hypertension, Menopause, Pregnancy and Childbirth, Teen Health, Women's Health

Women who experience complications such as preterm births and preeclampsia during their first pregnancy are nearly twice more likely than women without complications to develop high blood pressure later in life — some as quickly as 3 years later, according to a new study of more than 4,000 women.

News Science

Brave new world: Simple changes in intensity of weather events 'could be lethal'

September 30, 2019 0 Comments Ecology Research, Environmental Awareness, Evolutionary Biology, Global Warming, Nature, New Species, Severe Weather, Weather

Faced with extreme weather events and unprecedented environmental change, animals and plants are scrambling to catch up — with mixed results. A new model helps to predict the types of changes that could drive a given species to extinction.

News Science

Multifactor models reveal worse picture of climate change impact on marine life

September 30, 2019 0 Comments Climate, Endangered Animals, Environmental Awareness, Fish, Nature, New Species, Oceanography, Weather

Rising ocean temperatures have long been linked to negative impacts for marine life, but a team has recently found that the long-term outlook for many marine species is much more complex — and possibly bleaker — than scientists previously believed.

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