Chinese scientists create first injection to reverse autism symptoms through genomic editing in mice; potential treatment method applicable to other genetic neurodevelopmental disorders; disorder hinders interaction, communication leads to repetitive behaviours and intense interests; researchers target MEF2C gene mutations; treatment restores MEF2C protein levels, reverses behavioural abnormalities; disorder in some patients caused by complex mutations.from Science News - Times of India https://ift.tt/wTUV2iu
New research from the University of Amsterdam and HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences (TTK) reveals that newborn babies have the ability to hear beats in music. This study challenges the previous belief that beat recognition in newborns is solely due to their statistical learning ability, showing that beat perception is a separate cognitive mechanism that is present at birth. The findings, published in the academic journal Cognition, suggest that beat perception is an innate skill in newborns.
The defense chiefs of the United States, Australia and Britain met in California on Friday, touting high-tech co-operation on deep space radar, AI and quantum computing systems aimed at bolstering their armed forces in the face of growing global threats, including from China. On Friday, the focus was on the cutting edge, including the development of what they called a "Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability" program, which will see radar detection sites in all three countries by the end of the decade, with the capacity to peer 22,000 miles (35,000 kilometers) into space.
Penguins are champion power nappers, known for their fragmented sleeping patterns. A recent study found that penguins fall asleep thousands of times a day, each bout lasting only a few seconds. Unlike humans, penguins have slow brain waves while sleeping, and their sleep patterns vary depending on their environment. Despite the noisy and dangerous conditions in penguin colonies, these birds manage to sleep a lot, suggesting that microsleep provides some essential benefit in extreme conditions.
The discovery of planet LHS 3154 b challenges the prevailing planetary formation theory involving red dwarfs, as it is much larger than expected. The planet, orbiting a red dwarf called LHS 3154, has a mass 13 times that of Earth and a mass ratio over 100 times greater than that of Earth and the sun. The planet's close proximity to its star and its probable Neptune-like composition make it unlikely to support life. This discovery raises questions about how planets form around low mass stars, which were believed to only produce small terrestrial planets.
Archaeologists from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and Leibniz Zentrum für Archäologie have discovered cut marks on bones of two beaver species at the Bilzingsleben site in Germany. This challenges previous assumptions about the diet of Middle Pleistocene hominins and suggests a wider range of prey choices, including small animals and aquatic foods. The researchers focused on beaver carcasses, particularly young adults, indicating targeted hunting practices.
Adults who experienced childhood trauma, including abuse and neglect, are at a higher risk of death and hospitalization due to Covid-19. A study of 150,000 adults in the UK found that those with the most childhood trauma had a 25% higher likelihood of death and a 22% increase in hospitalization from Covid-19. These findings emphasize the long-lasting effects of childhood stress on health. The study also suggests that childhood trauma should be considered a risk factor for Covid-19 and other diseases. Future research will explore the connection between childhood trauma and other health outcomes, including long Covid.