natureasia.com top ten research highlights
The following highlights are the top ten most viewed research highlights on the English website of natureasia.com during the past month.
11 May 2023 ～ 10 June 2023
Engineering: Smelling the flowers in virtual reality
Nature Communications, May 10, 2023
A small, wearable virtual reality (VR) interface that allows users to smell several different odors — including rosemary, mojito, pancake, and durian — is reported in a Nature Communications paper. The devices can quickly and accurately generate odors in a localized area and connect wirelessly to VR worlds for an immersive and more realistic user experience. Future research...
doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-37678-4
Astronomy: Lightning similarities on Jupiter and Earth
Nature Communications, May 24, 2023
Lightning initiation processes on Jupiter are found to pulsate with a similar rhythm to lightning that occurs inside clouds on Earth, according to a Nature Communications paper. The findings suggest that despite major differences in their size and structure (Jupiter is a gas giant whilst Earth is a rocky planet) some thunderstorm processes may be comparable between the two planets.
...doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-38351-6
Cancer: Personalized mRNA vaccines show promise in pancreatic cancer
Nature, May 11, 2023
A personalized mRNA vaccine induces a substantial immune response and potentially delays relapse in patients with a form of pancreatic cancer called pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), when used in conjunction with other treatments, reports a study published in Nature.
PDAC is the third largest cause of cancer death in the United States and has poor survival rates, which...
doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-06063-y
Physiology: Ultrasound induces a hibernation-like state in mice and rats
Nature Metabolism, May 26, 2023
A reversible hibernation-like state can be induced in mice and rats using ultrasound pulses directed at the head, reports a study published in Nature Metabolism. The non-invasive approach temporarily activates nerve cells in the brain that lead to a reduction in body temperature and slow down metabolism, and could have applications in the future in medicine or potentially long-distance...
doi: 10.1038/s42255-023-00804-z
First draft of a human pangenome
Nature Biotechnology, May 11, 2023
The first draft of a human pangenome reference — a collection that aims to eventually represent as many as possible of the DNA sequences found across our species — is published in Nature this week. The research combines genetic material from a population of 47 genetically diverse individuals to provide a more complete image of the human genome.
The human reference...
doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-05896-x
Pharmacology: A potential antidote for death cap mushroom poisoning
Nature Communications, May 17, 2023
The US Food and Drug Administration approved diagnostic substance indocyanine green reduces the toxicity of α-amanitin, a toxin produced by the world’s most poisonous mushroom — the death cap — in human cell lines and mice, according to a Nature Communications paper. The findings suggest that this substance could present a potential antidote treatment for death ...
doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-37714-3
Engineering: The house that diapers built
Scientific Reports, May 19, 2023
Up to eight percent of the sand in concrete and mortar used to make a single-story house could be replaced with shredded used disposable diapers without significantly diminishing their strength, according to a study published in Scientific Reports. The authors suggest that disposable diaper waste could be used as a construction material for low-cost housing in low- and middle-income co...
doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-32981-y
COVID-19: Assessing antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in Australian First Nations people
Nature Immunology, May 30, 2023
While COVID-19 vaccination elicits generally robust immunity in Australian First Nations peoples, reduced antibody responses are observed after COVID-19 vaccination in people with comorbidities, or pre-existing chronic conditions, according to a study involving Australian First Nations peoples published in Nature Immunology. The authors argue that these findings are of importance to Fi...
doi: 10.1038/s41590-023-01508-y
Palaeontology: Fossil fragments shed light on a new spinosaurid dinosaur in Spain
Scientific Reports, May 19, 2023
A dinosaur specimen from Castellón, Spain represents a new proposed species of spinosaurid, reports a paper published in Scientific Reports. The identification of a potential new species suggests that the Iberian peninsula may have been a diverse area for medium-to-large bodied spinosaurid dinosaurs and sheds light on the origin and evolution of spinosaurids.
Spinosaur...
doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-33418-2
Environmental sciences: Integrating safe and just Earth system boundaries
Nature, June 1, 2023
A set of measures assessing the impact of humanity on the Earth system, intended to help ensure safety and justice for all living things, are presented in a study published in Nature. Integrating justice considerations into safe Earth system boundaries — boundaries to maintain the resilience and stability of the Earth’s climate and resources — results in stricter limi...
doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-06083-8
