Metroens styresystemer skal opgraderes for at kunne tage den nye linje mod Nordhavn i brug. Test af det nye system betyder, at Metroselskabet lukker Cityringen helt ned i to uger i januar.
University of Manitoba researchers made a recent discovery that suggests Purple Martins, unlike other long-distance migratory songbirds, show promise of being able to adapt to climate change.
New USC research into how teachers evaluate the mathematical ability of students suggests that white teachers and teachers of color alike have biases that favor white and male students.
Using Keck Observatory in Hawaii, astronomers have detected two new protoclusters of galaxies embedded in primordial superclusters. The research paper presenting the discovery and providing basic information about the newfound objects was published December 3 on the arXiv pre-print repository.
University of Manitoba researchers made a recent discovery that suggests Purple Martins, unlike other long-distance migratory songbirds, show promise of being able to adapt to climate change.
While working at the NASA Johnson Space Center during the 1970s, astrophysicist Donald Kessler predicted that collisions of space debris would become increasingly common as the density of space debris increases in orbit around the Earth, creating a cascading effect. Since 2005, the amount of debris in orbit has followed an exponential growth curve, confirming Kessler's prediction.
Leaders in artificial intelligence warn that progress is slowing, big challenges remain, and simply throwing more computers at a problem isn't sustainable.
Larry Page, one of Google's co-founders who recently stepped down as CEO, has been funneling millions of dollars into flu vaccine research in recent years. First, Page pumps cash into his charity, the Carl Victor Page Memorial Foundation. Then the Foundation gives it to two companies, Shoo the Flu and Flu Lab, according to TechCrunch , which traced Page's money across the organizations. While it'
An Antarctic field campaign last winter led by the US and Australia has successfully extracted some of the largest samples of air dating from the 1870s until today. Researchers will use the samples to look for changes in the molecules that scrub the atmosphere of methane and other gases.
A research group led by Professor HASUNUMA Tomohisa of Kobe University's Engineering Biology Research Center have succeeded in synthesizing the natural pigment astaxanthin using the fast-growing marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC7002. It is hoped that this development could be utilized to meet the demand for natural astaxanthin in the pharmaceutical and nutritional industries, amongst oth
Institutional investors tend to put their money largely in public companies, persuaded that market discipline makes their accounts more reliable than private ones' and most financial literature confirms their beliefs. A new study by scholars from University of Bolzano, Bocconi University, and Stern School of Business concludes on the contrary that, if you circumscribe the comparison to public and
Molecular drills can target and destroy deadly bacteria that have evolved resistance to nearly all antibiotics—and in some cases can even make the antibiotics effective again, a new study shows. Researchers showed that the motorized molecules can kill antibiotic-resistant microbes within minutes. "These superbugs could kill 10 million people a year by 2050, way overtaking cancer," says James Tour
What do marine mammals eat? It's a simple question with profound implications for marine-mammal conservation and fisheries research. But it can a be tough question for scientists to answer because they can't see what these animals are doing underwater. MBARI researcher Kelly Benoit-Bird is finding new ways to answer this question using specialized echosounders mounted on ships and undersea robots.
Europe's Great Famine of 1315–1317 is considered one of the worst population collapses in the continent's history. Historical records tell of unrelenting rain accompanied by mass crop failure, skyrocketing food prices, and even instances of cannibalism. These written records strongly suggest Europe's Great Famine was caused by several years of devastating floods that began in 1314, but they can't
What do marine mammals eat? It's a simple question with profound implications for marine-mammal conservation and fisheries research. But it can a be tough question for scientists to answer because they can't see what these animals are doing underwater. MBARI researcher Kelly Benoit-Bird is finding new ways to answer this question using specialized echosounders mounted on ships and undersea robots.
In the discs of dust and gasses around young stars, mysterious structures occur. Together with professor Ewine van Dishoeck, Ph.D. student Paolo Cazzoletti investigate how we can explain these forms, such as rings, spirals and holes. On 12 December, he will defend his thesis.
Simian immunodeficiency virus, the monkey- and ape-infecting virus that HIV originated from, may have influenced the genetics of chimpanzees, finds a new UCL-led study.
Indiana University School of Medicine researchers have discovered how to predict whether triple negative breast cancer will recur, and which women are likely to remain disease-free. They will present their findings on Dec. 13, 2019, at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, the most influential gathering of breast cancer researchers and physicians in the world.
Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today reported results from a pooled analysis of more than 5,100 breast cancer patients that found residual cancer burden (RCB) continuous index and classification were independently and strongly prognostic for all breast cancer phenotypes.
The fifth edition of the Dutch Soil Animal Days saw earthworms almost grab top spot thanks to the wet autumn weather. But at the end of the day, woodlice once again emerged as the most-observed soil animal in Dutch gardens. Nearly 1000 'citizen scientists' sent in their observations this year. And a surprisingly high number of people tried to do something in return for the vital services these soi
Simian immunodeficiency virus, the monkey- and ape-infecting virus that HIV originated from, may have influenced the genetics of chimpanzees, finds a new UCL-led study.
A research group led by Professor HASUNUMA Tomohisa of Kobe University's Engineering Biology Research Center have succeeded in synthesizing the natural pigment astaxanthin using the fast-growing marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC7002.
A research group led by Professor HASUNUMA Tomohisa of Kobe University's Engineering Biology Research Center have succeeded in synthesizing the natural pigment astaxanthin using the fast-growing marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC7002.
The U.S. Midwest produces at least a third of the world's corn and soybean supply each year. Feeding the world requires a lot of fertilizer, mostly in the form of nitrogen and phosphorus. While nitrogen can literally be pulled out of the air, phosphorus has to be mined from finite phosphate rock reserves and treated to be made available to plants. Most of the world's phosphate rock is in Morocco,
In a recent paper in Science Advances, researchers from the University of Amsterdam present new experimental insight into how lubrication works. They have developed a new method using fluorescent molecules to directly observe nanometric lubrication films with a sensitivity of a single molecular layer. Their quantitative description of the relation between topography, contact pressure and lubricati
Humans have a "natural" lifespan of around 38 years, according to a new method we have developed for estimating the lifespans of different species by analyzing their DNA.
People from highly educated neighborhoods are more likely to help a stranger, according to a study by researchers at The University of Western Australia and Edith Cowan University.
The North Atlantic was once home to a bird that bore a remarkable similarity to penguins. The great auk, also known as "the original penguin", was a large, flightless, black and white bird, that is said to have existed in the millions. Despite its appearance, the great auk is actually a relative of razorbills and puffins, not of penguins. However, since around 1844, the northern hemisphere has bee
Scientists are getting better at modeling the complex tangle of physics properties at play in one of the most powerful events in the known universe: the merger of two neutron stars.
There comes a point in every cell's life when it has to decide what it wants to be when it grows up. Young cells, so-called stem cells, take their clues to their future career primarily from the environment they find themselves in. But in a new embryo, that environment is constantly in flux; how does a cell know how long to wait before it makes an irrevocable choice?
In 2010, Sidi Bencherif was working in a lab at Harvard University, trying to use a surgically implantable structure to train immune cells to target cancer.
Humans have a "natural" lifespan of around 38 years, according to a new method we have developed for estimating the lifespans of different species by analyzing their DNA.
The North Atlantic was once home to a bird that bore a remarkable similarity to penguins. The great auk, also known as "the original penguin", was a large, flightless, black and white bird, that is said to have existed in the millions. Despite its appearance, the great auk is actually a relative of razorbills and puffins, not of penguins. However, since around 1844, the northern hemisphere has bee
There comes a point in every cell's life when it has to decide what it wants to be when it grows up. Young cells, so-called stem cells, take their clues to their future career primarily from the environment they find themselves in. But in a new embryo, that environment is constantly in flux; how does a cell know how long to wait before it makes an irrevocable choice?
In 2010, Sidi Bencherif was working in a lab at Harvard University, trying to use a surgically implantable structure to train immune cells to target cancer.
Ancient air samples from one of Antarctica's snowiest ice core sites may add a new molecule to the record of changes to Earth's atmosphere over the past century and a half, since the Industrial Revolution began burning fossil fuels on a massive scale.
Jupiter's south pole has a new cyclone. The discovery of the massive Jovian tempest occurred on Nov. 3, 2019, during the most recent data-gathering flyby of Jupiter by NASA's Juno spacecraft. It was the 22nd flyby during which the solar-powered spacecraft collected science data on the gas giant, soaring only 2,175 miles (3,500 kilometers) above its cloud tops. The flyby also marked a victory for t
If you want to predict which breast cancer patients will most likely stop taking aromatase inhibitors, check out their own responses to the health questions patients commonly answer in cancer clinical trials, according to research findings to be presented Friday, Dec. 13, 2019 at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
Rapa Nui (or Easter Island, as it is commonly known) is home to the enigmatic Moai, stone monoliths that have stood watch over the island landscape for hundreds of years. Their existence is a marvel of human ingenuity—and their meaning a source of some mystery.
Professor Kjeld Møller Pedersen står ved de effektiviseringskrav, som han hjalp med at udregne til de nye supersygehus – også selvom de ikke er udregnet ens. Men i dag er han i tvivl, om det var klogt at forlange effektiviseringerne et år efter starten.
Användning av artificiell intelligens för åldersbedömning ger hög tillförlitlighet visar ny forskning inom tillämpad hälsoteknik vid Blekinge Tekniska Högskola. Metodens tillförlitlighet ligger på 98,1 procent för underåriga respektive 88 procent för överåriga. Forskare vid BTH, i samarbete med forskare från Karolinska Institutet, fick 2017 ett uppdrag från Socialstyrelsen att samla in bildmater
That charcoal face mask isn't doing anything a regular face mask wouldn't In the past few years, activated charcoal has become a common ingredient in over-the-counter beauty and health products—not to mention it's also made an appearance in coffee, ice cream, and cookies, among other things, turning them all an elegant black. In particular, the substance has recently become a popular component in
According to recently released WHO/CDC data on worldwide measles mortality, 2018 marks the second year in a row with a significant increase since the historical low in 2016. And 2019 is shaping up to be even worse. The main reason for this is poverty and lack of access is resource poor regions.
The process of Earth's oxygenation, the growing number of Near-Earth asteroids and a bio-inspired gel – here are some highlights from a week in science.
The starry night harlequin toad was lost to science for nearly 30 years until an indigenous community in Colombia permitted conservation biologists to visit its habitat in April.
One of the things I like about blogging is that it is an interactive forum. Often times the conversation in the comments dwarfs the original article in scope and depth. I use this to learn as much from my readers as they do from me, and improve my understanding of topics and ability to communicate them. Sometimes points raised in the comments deserve the treatment of a full blog post, not just an
A retrospective study of 9800 women with breast cancer who participated in randomized clinical trials found that Medicaid/Medicare patients were less likely to participate in a clinical trial compared to their privately insured counterparts. The few who did were more likely to stop treatment early and had lower survival. The study was conducted by researchers in the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Grou
Should germline genetic testing be offered to all patients with breast cancer? The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) addresses this important question in a new statement published in Genetics in Medicine, 'Points to Consider: Is There Evidence to Support BRCA1/2 and Other Inherited Breast Cancer Genetic Testing for All Breast Cancer Patients? A Statement of the American Coll
UC Berkeley engineers have developed a mineral-coated sand that can soak up toxic metals like lead and cadmium from water. Along with its ability to destroy organic pollutants like bisphenol A, this material could help cities tap into stormwater, an abundant but underused water source.
Since 2016, a team of MIT researchers consisting of graduate students Linda Ye and Min Gu Kang, associate professor of physics Joseph G. Checkelsky, and Class of 1947 Career Development Assistant Professor of Physics Riccardo Comin has focused on exploring the electronic structure that arises when atoms of iron (Fe) and tin (Sn) combine in repeating patterns that look like Japanese kagome baskets,
"Everything is determined by forces over which we have no control… Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible piper," Albert Einstein wrote.
If a headless worm can grow a memory, then where is the memory stored? And, if it's not in the head but in the body, could you transfer it? Photograph by Rattiya Thongdumhyu / Shutterstock The study of memory has always been one of the stranger outposts of science. In the 1950s, an unknown psychology professor at the University of Michigan named James McConnell made headlines—and eventually becam
The city plans to lower the speed limit on major roads to 25 mph in hopes of boosting safety, following similar moves in New York, Philadelphia, and Boston.
As the world scrambles to combat deforestation, experts warn our efforts could have far fewer benefits than we think — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
A relatively small quantum computer has broken a number-factoring record, which may one day threaten data encryption methods that rely on factoring large numbers
På både den korte og lange bane skal kompetencerne inden for informationssikkerhed styrkes, lyder det fra flere myndigheder. Allerede nu mangler danske virksomheder og myndigheder medarbejdere med de rette kompetencer, og efterspørgslen stiger, viser analyse.
Mange nødopkald fra smartwatches og biler med nødknap går tabt i systemet, fordi producenterne ikke søger råd hos alarmcentralen. 11 procent af husene i en ny undersøgelse ligger over det tilladte niveau af den giftige gasart radon. Nyt Cybersikkerhedsråd bliver det 18., der indsamler den samme v…
Trust is necessary for a healthy and efficient work environment. This trust emerges when not only do we feel safe within our company, but that our leaders genuinely care about us. Establishing these relationships requires vulnerability and honesty from both leaders and their employees.
Nature, Published online: 13 December 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-03856-y US President Donald Trump thanks Iran for "a very fair negotiation" as scientists on both sides walk free.
PLUS. Det går så godt med at bygge nye signalcomputere ind i IC3-togene, at der ikke er brug for et alternativ til det nye signalsystem, mener Banedanmark.
President Donald Trump is on the verge of becoming the first president to be impeached by the House in more than two decades. A lot has changed in Congress since that time, but Steve Chabot, a Republican representative from Ohio, is still around. Back then, he was one of the House Republicans tapped as an impeachment manager to prosecute the case against Bill Clinton in the Senate. Now he has bee
One afternoon in October, Abdul Malik was sitting just inside the entrance of a New York City Probation Department building in the South Bronx when he recognized a young man coming in and beckoned him over. Like many people passing through the building, the teen had been arrested and sentenced to probation and had come for a mandatory check-in with his probation officer. But he greeted Malik warm
At its simplest level, the impeachment of President Donald Trump looks like a collision between the legislative and executive branches of government. In that fight, each side is trying to defend its prerogatives as it sees them: For Congress (or at least the Democratic-led House), this includes the power to appropriate foreign aid, and the power to conduct oversight; for the executive branch, thi
Jesse Aguirre's workday at Slack starts with a standard engineering meeting—programmers call them "standups"—where he and his coworkers plan the day's agenda. Around the circle stand graduates from Silicon Valley's top companies and the nation's top universities. Aguirre, who is 26, did not finish high school and has so far spent most of his adulthood in prison; Slack is his first full-time emplo
Serengeti National Park is home to a breathtaking array of wild animals, from lions to elephants and migrating wildebeests. But the local people living on the fringes of the area comprise an equally important part of this ecosystem.
Serengeti National Park is home to a breathtaking array of wild animals, from lions to elephants and migrating wildebeests. But the local people living on the fringes of the area comprise an equally important part of this ecosystem.
In "The First Cell," oncologist Azra Raza argues that the current focus of cancer research on diagnosing and treating the disease when patients are already sick is tragically misguided, and that attacking cancers far sooner in the process would be cheaper, less toxic, and decidedly more effective.
At the opening keynote of a prominent AI research conference, Celeste Kidd, a cognitive psychologist, challenged the audience to think critically about the future they want to build.
Nature Communications, Published online: 13 December 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-13697-y The Lys48-linked polyubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation in yeast depends on Cdc48 and its cofactors Ufd1 and Npl4. Here, the authors present crystal structures of Npl4 bound to Lys48-linked diubiquitin and the Npl4-binding motif of Ufd1, providing insights into the reaction mechanism of the Cdc48- Uf
Nature Communications, Published online: 13 December 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-13638-9 Carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and conversion provide an alternative approach to synthesis of useful fuels and chemicals. Here, Ye et al. give a comprehensive perspective on the current state of the art and outlook of CO2 catalytic hydrogenation to the synthesis of light olefins, dimethyl ether, liquid fuels,
Nature Communications, Published online: 13 December 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-13558-8 The BEN-solo proteins—including Insensitive (Insv), Elba1 and Elba2—function in both transcriptional repression and chromatin insulation. Here, the authors investigate the role of these proteins in Drosophila embryos, finding that ELBA and Insv function as general insulators and partition active chromatin to
Nature Communications, Published online: 13 December 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-13751-9 Here, the authors characterize immunological and microbiome alterations in a cohort of obese asthmatics, finding that disease severity negatively correlates with fecal abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, and show in a mouse model that administration of A. muciniphila reduces airway hyper-reactivity and air
Nature Communications, Published online: 13 December 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-13082-9 Rap1 is a telomeric protein that is highly expressed in cancers. Here, the authors show that Rap1 interacts with several DNA repair proteins independent of its telomere function to enhance DNA repair and that its deficiency leads to accelerated tumorigenesis, but enhanced sensitivity to genotoxic stress.
Scientific Reports, Published online: 13 December 2019; doi:10.1038/s41598-019-55206-7 Selective synthesis of spirobiindanes, alkenyl chlorides, and monofluoroalkenes from unactivated gem -difluoroalkanes controlled by aluminum-based Lewis acids
The European Space Agency says a self-destructing robot will be sent into orbit in 2025 to begin work on the world's first space cleanup mission. Jan Woerner of the European Space Agency discusses.
Nature Communications, Published online: 13 December 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-13614-3 Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3 is a disease caused by mutations in the gene encoding the multidrug resistance protein 3, and has limited treatment options. Here they show that adeno-associated virus mediated gene therapy prevents disease progression in a mouse disease model.
Nature Communications, Published online: 13 December 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-13701-5 Alternative carbene precursors for metal-catalyzed cross coupling may expand the portfolio of methods for C-C bond construction. Here, the authors report a Suzuki−Miyaura coupling of Pd−carbene complexes formed by desulfurization of thioureas or thioamides and affording a broad array of amidinium salts and d
Nature Communications, Published online: 13 December 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-13692-3 Identifying reacting species locally with nanometer precision is a major challenge in electrochemical surface science. Using operando Raman nanoscopy, authors image the reversible, concurrent formation of nanometer-spatially separated Au2O3 and Au2O species during Au nanodefect oxidation.
Nature Communications, Published online: 13 December 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-13651-y Multiplexed detection of luciferase-based sensors in the same sample is challenging and limited by the substrates' emission spectra. Here the authors establish a system based on three different luciferases and sequential detection to achieve measurements of up to six parameters within the same experiment.
Nature Communications, Published online: 13 December 2019; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-13392-y The authors report a co-occurrence of the U2AF1 S34F splicing factor mutation and ROS1 translocations in lung adenocarcinomas and profile effects of S34F on transcriptome-wide RNA binding. They further show that U2AF1 S34F enhances invasive potential and alters splicing of ROS1 fusion transcripts
In the eyes of history, the ballot that House Democrats cast to impeach President Donald Trump will stand as the most significant vote they take this year, and maybe in their entire careers. But in terms of whether the party can keep its House majority after 2020, impeachment may not be the most important vote the Democrats cast this month, or even this week. Policy choices—namely legislation to
En blanding af gavnlige bakterier til nyfødte kan måske forebygge forekomsten af astma hos børn, viser undersøgelse foretaget af Dansk BørneAstma Center (DBAC).
En lægestab med 26 læger fra 18 nationer, der tilsammen mestrer 30 sprog, kan lyde som en vanskelig opgave. På afdelingen for hjerne- og nervesygdomme på Sønderborg Sygehus er mangfoldigheden vendt til en styrke, som har bidraget til at sikre afdelingen markant gode resultater på det neurologiske område.
Scleroseklinikker er presset på kapaciteten, fremgår det af årsrapport fra Sclerosebehandlingsregistret. Markant flere patienter, flere nye lægemidler, nye behandlingsguidelines og vanskelig adgang til scanninger giver vanskelige arbejdsforhold.
En stadig større andel af danske apopleksipatienter bliver indlagt så hurtigt, at de kan få blodpropopløsende behandling med trombolyse eller trombektomi. Til gengæld bliver færre indlagt på apopleksiafsnit på hospitalerne, hvilket bekymrer styregruppe bag kvalitetsdatabase.
Karkirurger er uenige om, hvorvidt patienter med forbigående blodpropper, der skyldes åreforkalkning i halspulsåren, bør tilbydes et kirurgisk indgreb, fremgår det af årsrapporten for Dansk Apopleksiregister.
PLUS. TATP-bomber, kendt som Satans mor, er mistænkt i terror-sagen herhjemme, hvor ni personer er sigtet – heraf tre for at fremstille netop TATP-bomber. Sprængstoffet trækker blodige spor gennem terror-historien, og ingredienserne findes i byggemarkeder og malerforretninger, siger ekspert.
Silkeborg Sygehus finder høj andel af lungekræfttilfælde i stadie 1 af sygdommen – og meget højere end resten af landet. Tæt samarbejde med almen praksis er en del af forklaringen.
Danish Diabetes Academy har bevilget over 16 mio. kr. til 13 unge diabetesforskere og tre gæsteprofessorer. Flere af projekterne handler om psykiske virkninger af diabetes, som ifølge akademiet fylder stadigt mere i dansk diabetesforskning.
Opsigelser, politiske udmeldninger og en hårdtarbejdende overlæge med landets højeste løn pryder listen over de mest læste artikler i Dagens Medicin i år.
Hvor langt er vi nået, siden 9.000 læger stillede et mistillidsvotum til Styrelsen for Patientsikkerhed? En ankemulighed for læger lyser op som en af løsningerne på et stort problem, skriver overlæge Joachim Hoffmann-Petersen.
The preservation of Earth's pristine wildernesses and oceans, long treated as a separate issue to curbing climate change, is taking on more importance as scientists say they really need to go hand in hand.
Pumpjack oil wells peck like giant birds at the ground, plumes of yellow flames flare from gas pipelines, lakes accumulate contaminated waste—Patagonia and its indigenous people are paying a heavy price for Argentina's economic progress.
United Nations climate negotiations in Madrid were set to wrap up Friday with even the best-case outcome likely to fall well short of what science says is needed to avert a future ravaged by global warming.
The recovery of pine marten in Ireland and Britain is reversing native red squirrel replacement by invasive grey squirrels, according to new research presented at the British Ecological Society's annual meeting in Belfast today.
The recovery of pine marten in Ireland and Britain is reversing native red squirrel replacement by invasive grey squirrels, according to new research presented at the British Ecological Society's annual meeting in Belfast today.
The heady aroma of magnolia blossoms and lotus flowers might have wafted to your nostrils if you had gone for a walk 56 million years ago in the lush green forest which covered Canada's northernmost islands.
Någon gång mellan år 1600 och 350 f.Kr. upptäckte en krokusodlare i närheten av Aten en blomma som var lite annorlunda. Det röda pistillmärket var längre än vanligt, och mörkare i färgen. Dessutom var aromen starkare. Antagligen användes redan saffran som krydda, men den nya blomman var något alldeles speciellt. Sedan dess har en och samma växt förökats med sidoknölar på nedersta delen av stammen.
Minutes after last night's exit poll indicated that Boris Johnson's Conservatives would win an 86-seat majority, a friend turned to me and said: "The Tories just won the 2024 election." This was not merely a defeat for Labour and its leftwing leader Jeremy Corbyn—it was an annihilation. The party, which has been in opposition since 2010, now faces another decade out of government. When Corbyn was
The Britain that has emerged today is different from the one that came before, its old political map erased, its economic model upended, its prospects uncertain—even its very unity in doubt. The Britain built by Tony Blair is gone, fatally undermined by David Cameron's Brexit referendum and, now, swept away in a provincial tide of support for Boris Johnson's Conservatives. To understand the scale
I dag avslutas klimatmötet i Madrid, där en stor fråga har varit hur mycket vi kan förlita oss på tekniken att fånga in och lagra koldioxid. FN:s klimatpanel IPCC räknar med att infångning av koldioxid ska stå för 13 procent av utsläppsminskningarna som krävs till 2050. Både politiker, företag och organisationer har uttryckt tvekan till om detta är realistiskt, med tanke på att de här så kallade C
Loven har et åbenlyst hul, når borgere kan få tilskud til sundhedsbehandling på det sociale område, hvor der ikke er krav om autorisation, siger lektor i sundhedsjura og fagforeningsformand. Autorisationen er afgørende, siger Diabetesforeningen.
Women with bacterial vaginosis exhibit elevated levels of the pro-inflammatory protein, IL-36y, according to a new collaborative study led by the University of Arizona College of Medicine — Phoenix.
Unfortunately, cancers that occur in the back of the mouth and upper throat are often not diagnosed until they become advanced. A report in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics describes the use of acoustofluidics, a new non-invasive method that analyzes saliva for the presence of human papilloma virus (HPV)-16, the pathogenic strain associated with oropharyngeal cancers (OPCs). This novel techniq
The number of people newly infected each year and the number of people living with nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease appears to be increasing, especially among women and those 65 and older, according to new research published online in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
Ketamine might sound like an unlikely candidate for treating addiction and depression. But a growing number of scientists believe the drug could help. In the second part of this Science Weekly mini series, Hannah Devlin speaks to another expert using ketamine in their work: a physiatrist who has been conducting research on the use of ketamine for treating depression for several years Continue rea
Ketamine might sound like an unlikely candidate for treating addiction and depression. But a growing number of scientists believe the drug could help. In the second part of this Science Weekly mini series, Hannah Devlin speaks to another expert using ketamine in their work: a physiatrist who has been conducting research on the use of ketamine for treating depression for several years. Help support
10 år med produktivitetskrav og et nyt hospital med bl.a. længere afstande presser lægerne på Aarhus Universitetshospital. Overlæge frygter, at øget arbejdspres og det nye 8-procents effektiviseringskrav vil blæse afdelingen omkuld. Vi lytter, men lægerne må vænne sig til længere afstande, siger ledende overlæge.
Vurderinger truffet af machine learning er svære at gennemskue. Selv for dem, der skal træffe vigtige beslutninger på baggrund af dem, lyder det fra Velux-fonden, der har afsat 100 millioner til forskning i området.
Sundhedsministeriet har igen givet forkerte oplysninger om krav om milliardeffektiviseringer til de nye supersygehuse. Fejlene giver indtryk af, at effektiviseringerne rammer tilfældigt, vurderer sundhedsøkonom. Beklageligt, siger minister.
Most of us have drunk some form of alcohol in our lives. Many of us drink alcohol often. But we might know of only a few people who are pathologically addicted to alcohol. Are we, individually, differently prone to compulsive alcohol use? A recent paper, published in Science, attempts to answer this question using rodents. […]
Ranglisten over Danmarks bedste hospitaler til behandling af sclerose, apopleksi, forbigående blodprop og demens er baseret på data fra kliniske kvalitetsdatabaser, og speciallæger har vægtet betydningen af kvalitetsindikatorerne.
Nature, Published online: 13 December 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-03796-7 NASA's Mars InSight lander has detected more than 300 quakes and traced some back to their source.
Landets demensklinikker har stor spredning i, hvor lang tid der går med at udrede og diagnosticere patienter med demens. Men udredningstiden må heller ikke blive så kort, at det går ud over kvaliteten, påpeger styregruppen bag kvalitetsdatabasen for demens.
The guidance from the ACMG differs from a consensus guideline issued in February by the American Society of Breast Surgeons, which recommended genetic testing for all newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer. The ACMG recommends evaluations before genetic testing.
Self-care gift. (DepositPhotos /) When holiday stress runs high, it's always better to address it than let it fester. There are plenty of ways to relieve stress without spending money, like going for a run, cooking your favorite meal, confiding in a friend, screeching into a pillow, and more. But sometimes, it is easier and more fun to spend money on a frivolous face mask. From minimalist to comp
The recovery of pine marten in Ireland and Britain is reversing native red squirrel replacement by invasive grey squirrels, according to new research presented at the British Ecological Society's annual meeting in Belfast today.
Baby boys who are born small for their gestational age are at increased risk of having fertility problems in adulthood, according to research published in Human Reproduction.
People in certain ZIP codes are more likely to purchase products that flop, buy homes that are poor investments, and pick political candidates who lose. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Is it safe to give ivermectin to pregnant women? To answer this question, researchers from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), an institution supported by 'la Caixa,' conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that reported cases of accidental exposure to the drug among pregnant women. The conclusion of the analysis, published in The Lancet Global Health, is that
A new report from the inspector general's office criticized insurers for overstating patients' illnesses without adequate documentation to obtain more federal money.
People in certain ZIP codes are more likely to purchase products that flop, buy homes that are poor investments, and pick political candidates who lose. Christopher Intagliata reports. — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
People in certain ZIP codes are more likely to purchase products that flop, buy homes that are poor investments, and pick political candidates who lose. Christopher Intagliata reports. — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
It's Thursday, December 12. House Judiciary Committee members continued to spar over final tweaks to the articles of impeachment, moving closer to a final vote. In today's newsletter: To the left of the left. Plus, Anne Applebaum on the false romance of Russia. * « TODAY IN POLITICS » (JOSE LUIS MAGANA / AP) To the Left of the Left The left knows it wants to kick President Donald Trump out of the
StockUnlimited offers a premium vector graphics library including over 500,000 designs. All graphics are royalty-free and can be used in any design project. A lifetime subscription is now $34.99, over 90% off the regular price. None Using graphics in a website or online presentation isn't always so simple. Have you ever tried to take a regular jpeg or gif and blow it up beyond its original size?
Nothing says peace and quiet more than a vast, frozen expanse. (Colby Thomas via Unsplash/) The trails are devoid of human life, animals wander freely through the woods , and snow falls soundlessly on the treetops—it's wintertime in the great outdoors. But despite the sparkling vistas, uncrowded trails, and the beauty nature offers to hikers in this time of the year, many never experience the won
Photography: Christoph Bauer Postproduction: Wagnerchic – www.wagnerchic.com For the last few years, Tesla has owned the high-performance electric vehicle market. Even the company's mid-range Tesla Model 3 has better acceleration and a higher top speed than some more expensive gasoline-powered sports cars. Porsche, not accustomed to being outperformed by a cheaper car, is preparing to release the
FAQs Answered After Harvard geneticist George Church told "60 Minutes" that he was developing a dating app that matches users based on their DNA, critics quickly took to the internet to decry the plan. Many compared the app, which we now know is called Digid8 , to the eugenics movement, which advocates selective breeding based on genes. In response, Church published an FAQ page about Digid8 on We
In the updated results from NRG Oncology/NSABP B-42 trial through 10 years of observation, extending letrozole therapy for additional five years after five years of adjuvant endocrine therapy resulted in a statistically significant improvement in the 10-year disease-free survival (DFS) of postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer.
Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old Swedish climate change activist, has been named Time 's Person of the Year. The award is given to "the person or persons who most affected the news and our lives, for good or ill, and embodied what was important about the year, for better or for worse." Considering the magnitude of directly inspired protest movements and real-world impacts she has had, the award se
Space agency commissions €100m ClearSpace project after competitive bid process ClearSpace-1 is planned for launch in 2025 and will be the first mission to remove an item of space debris from orbit. After a competitive bid process, the European Space Agency has awarded a service contract to a consortium led by the Swiss startup company ClearSpace, which is staffed by space debris experts from the
Buried Treasure When NASA astronauts visit Mars, they'll probably need to harvest the planet's water ice for drinking water and fuel. It makes sense, then, for the space agency to target a landing spot near easily accessible ice — and they now have a "treasure map" detailing where that ice exists to make the process that much easier. "You wouldn't need a backhoe to dig up this ice," NASA research
Updated comprehensive background check policies were associated with an 18% increase in pre-firearm-sale checks in Oregon and a 4% increase in Washington state.
A new study by researchers at the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health is the first to compile the estimated per-case costs of 6 childhood health conditions linked to air pollution — estimates that can be incorporated into benefits assessments of air pollution regulations and climate change mitigation policies. Results appear in t
Canada's northernmost islands, Ellesmere and Axel Heiberg islands in Nunavut, were home to a vibrant, temperate forest 56 million years ago, according to fossil research just published by University of Saskatchewan (USask) scientists.
Radar Maps Scientists mapping the bedrock beneath Greenland believe they've uncovered a vast, thousand-mile-long river hiding underground. While updating spotty radar maps, Hokkaido University researchers revealed a vast underground network that likely drains melted glacier ice from the center of the massive island to the sea, according to Live Science . And since the river would run for hundreds
Molecular drills have gained the ability to target and destroy deadly bacteria that have evolved resistance to nearly all antibiotics. In some cases, the drills make the antibiotics effective once again.
NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert about why the human brain doesn't respond to threats posed by climate change as quickly or proactively as seems warranted.
When the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, declared yesterday that the league had "moved on" from the embattled quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the finality of Goodell's tone answered the question about whether Kaepernick would ever play professional football again. Kaepernick became persona non grata in the National Football League after the 2016 season, during which he protested police violence ag
Since their invention more than 60 years ago, diamond anvil cells have made it possible for scientists to recreate extreme phenomena—such as the crushing pressures deep inside the Earth's mantle—or to enable chemical reactions that can only be triggered by intense pressure, all within the confines of a laboratory apparatus that you can safely hold in the palm of your hand.
A study from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital sheds light on the mechanisms governing feeding behavior in fruit flies and how skeletal muscle communicates energy needs to the brain.
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has once again captured comet 2I/Borisov streaking through our solar system on its way back into interstellar space. At a breathtaking speed of over 175 000 kilometres per hour, Borisov is one of the fastest comets ever seen. It is only the second interstellar object known to have passed through the Solar System.
Galaxies lead a graceful existence on cosmic timescales. Over millions of years, they can engage in elaborate dances that produce some of Nature's most exquisite and striking grand designs. Few are as captivating as the galactic duo known as NGC 5394/5, sometimes nicknamed the Heron Galaxy.
Caribou, the North American cousin of reindeer, migrate farther than any terrestrial animal. They can cover thousands of miles as they move between winter feeding grounds and summer calving grounds. But many caribou herds are in decline as the warming climate changes much of the landscape they depend on. Inedible shrubs are rapidly encroaching on the tundra, and more frequent forest fires and dise
Safe nuclear waste storage, new ways of generating and storing hydrogen, and technologies for capturing and reusing greenhouse gases are all potential spinoffs of a new study by University of Guelph researchers.
In today's criminal justice system, a Play Station and iPhone are just as important pieces of evidence as eyewitness accounts. Yet, there isn't a strong understanding as to how police officers identify digital evidence—everything from a laptop to a smart television—in the field.
Caribou, the North American cousin of reindeer, migrate farther than any terrestrial animal. They can cover thousands of miles as they move between winter feeding grounds and summer calving grounds. But many caribou herds are in decline as the warming climate changes much of the landscape they depend on. Inedible shrubs are rapidly encroaching on the tundra, and more frequent forest fires and dise
Small insects that would normally be undetectable to bats using echolocation suddenly become detectable when they occur in large swarms. Arjan Boonman of Tel-Aviv University and colleagues present these findings in PLOS Computational Biology.
The normal way to study cassava roots is digging up the plant. Unfortunately, that tends to kill the plant, causing serious complications for researchers who are interested in learning more about how cassava grows. To solve this, scientists at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture grew cassava in the air—using a technique called aeroponics—and in doing so removed an obstacle for resear
Small insects that would normally be undetectable to bats using echolocation suddenly become detectable when they occur in large swarms. Arjan Boonman of Tel-Aviv University and colleagues present these findings in PLOS Computational Biology.
New research suggests that, when two people must work together on a physical task despite conflicting goals, the amount of information available about each other's actions influences how quickly and optimally they learn to collaborate. Vinil Chackochan and Vittorio Sanguineti of the University of Genoa, Italy, present these findings in PLOS Computational Biology.
The normal way to study cassava roots is digging up the plant. Unfortunately, that tends to kill the plant, causing serious complications for researchers who are interested in learning more about how cassava grows. To solve this, scientists at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture grew cassava in the air—using a technique called aeroponics—and in doing so removed an obstacle for resear
When astronomers see something in the universe that at first glance seems like one-of-a-kind, it's bound to stir up a lot of excitement and attention. Enter comet 2I/Borisov. This mysterious visitor from the depths of space is the first identified comet to arrive here from another star. We don't know from where or when the comet started heading toward our Sun, but it won't hang around for long. Th
Biologists have discovered two unexpected drivers for migration timing that dispute long-held assumptions and provide insight into potential future effects of climate change on caribou. First, the start of migration is synchronized across North America and tied to large-scale, ocean-driven climate cycles. Second, warm, windless summers that favored insect pests lead to poorer maternal health and d
Black holes should be common in our Milky Way galaxy, but their dark nature means only dozens have been discovered to date. Here are a few nearby black holes astronomers know a little about.
The bigger the whale, the tougher it is to find a decent meal. Whale_topNteaser.jpg Image credits: Seb c'est bien/Shutterstock Creature Thursday, December 12, 2019 – 15:45 Joshua Learn, Contributor (Inside Science) — Giant, krill-eating whales could grow even bigger if the size and availability of their prey could keep up, a new study finds. Whales are the heaviest animals to have ever lived on
To address the problem of counterfeit goods, African entrepreneurs like Bright Simons have come up with innovative and effective ways to confirm products are genuine. Now he asks: Why aren't these solutions everywhere? From password-protected medicines to digitally certified crops, Simons demonstrates the power of local ideas — and calls on the rest of the world to listen up.
Motorized molecules activated by light target and drill through highly antibiotic resistant bacteria and kill them within minutes. The molecules can open bacteria to attack by drugs they previously resisted. The strategy could be applied to bacterial infections or diseases on the skin, in the lungs or in the gastrointestinal tract.
Studying radiation chemistry and electronic structure of materials at scales smaller than nanometers, scientists prepared samples of clay in ultra-thin layers. Working at the TRIUMF particle accelerator, they bombarded the samples with antimatter subatomic particles. They found their system is a proven tool for radiation studies of material to be used to store nuclear waste — important for Canadi
Sickly or Super? Efforts to control urban rat populations rarely — if ever — result in the complete eradication of the pests. Most of the time, the goal is to simply reduce rodent numbers enough to minimize the spread of disease or damage to property. But according to Jonathan Richardson , an assistant professor of biology at the University of Richmond, letting some rats slip through the cracks c
Comet 2I/Borisov is a mysterious visitor from the depths of space — the first identified comet to arrive here from another star. Hubble images capture the comet streaking though our solar system and on its way back to interstellar space. It's only the second interstellar object known to have passed through the solar system.
A team of researchers has found that neural exosomes — 'cargo' molecules within the nervous system that carry messages to the brain — can minimize or even avert progression of traumatic brain injury when used as part of a new cell-to-cell messaging technology.
New research suggests that, when two people must work together on a physical task despite conflicting goals, the amount of information available about each other's actions influences how quickly and optimally they learn to collaborate.
Researchers report that they have engineered an improved colored fabric for the insecticide-treated targets used to control tsetse, based on an understanding of how flies see color.
Nipah virus, which is transmitted to humans from bats and pigs, has a high mortality rate and there are no licensed drugs against it. Now, researchers have used information on the structure of the Nipah virus to identified 150 possible inhibitors of the virus.
Researchers have shed light on how the parasite which causes sleeping sickness multiples inside its host. Human African Trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness, only occurs in Sub-Saharan Africa where an estimated 60 million people in 36 countries are at risk. The infection attacks the central nervous system and is fatal without treatment. Researchers have found that the parasite's cell division diff
Studying radiation chemistry and electronic structure of materials at scales smaller than nanometers, scientists prepared samples of clay in ultra-thin layers. Working at the TRIUMF particle accelerator, they bombarded the samples with antimatter subatomic particles. They found their system is a proven tool for radiation studies of material to be used to store nuclear waste — important for Canadi
Colon cancer cells deficient in p53, one of the most important control proteins in cell growth, activate a particular metabolic pathway to adapt to the lack of oxygen and nutrients inside the tumor. Statins, which are often prescribed to lower cholesterol, block this metabolic pathway and cause the cancer cells to die, as scientists have now discovered. The researchers now intend to investigate th
Which part of the human breast do viewers fixate on the most? The answer might have something to do with inherent mammalian instincts. (Paolo Gallo Modena/)(DepositPhotos/) What does the most attractive human body look like? Depending on who you are, you'll have a different answer—and it's probably not a bad thing, given that there's no one perfect form. But when it comes to plastic surgery, espe
Failures to predict drought and other weather extremes put people in African and small island nations at particular risk — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Compounds with noble gases don't form naturally on Earth. But in the interstellar medium, they are helping scientists probe the history of the universe.
Before the end of the year, Turkey will become the first nation to get its hands on a brand new military drone equipped with a machine gun. It's called the Songar, and it can carry 200 rounds of ammunition. A New Scientist story notes that the drone is accurate enough to hit a human target with every bullet fired from 200 meters (656 feet) away — a devastating level of accuracy in the already tro
In today's criminal justice system, a Play Station and iPhone are just as important pieces of evidence as eyewitness accounts. Thomas Holt, professor of criminal justice at Michigan State University, is among the first researchers to capture how well police officers recognize digital evidence, as well as what to do with it.
A new study led by a University of Maryland biologist discovered two unexpected drivers for migration timing that dispute long-held assumptions and provide insight into potential future effects of climate change on caribou. First, the start of migration is synchronized across North America and tied to large-scale, ocean-driven climate cycles. Second, warm, windless summers that favored insect pest
A small RNA in Pseudomonas triggers an avoidance response in C. elegans that can be passed on to the next generation, according to research presented at this week's meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology.
To advance the possibility of off-the-shelf cardiac cell therapies, scientists devise an engineered cardiac stem cell that avoids stimulating a detrimental immune attack.
Revolving Door Tesla just lost its top lawyer for the third time in 2019 alone. Jonathan Chang, the company's general counsel, left the company last Friday, according to Bloomberg . Now, Chang will take the same position at the artificial intelligence company SambaNova Systems, bookending a tumultuous year of high-profile employees deciding to leave the electric car company. Turbulent Tenure Chan
Motorized molecules activated by light target and drill through highly antibiotic resistant bacteria and kill them within minutes. The molecules can open bacteria to attack by drugs they previously resisted. The strategy could be applied to bacterial infections or diseases on the skin, in the lungs or in the gastrointestinal tract.
A single drop of seawater can contain a wide representation of ocean microbes from around the world — revealing novel insights into the ecology, evolution and biotechnology potential of the global microbiome.
A review of recent research in personality science points to the possibility that personality traits can change through persistent intervention and major life events.
The theory of the 'descended larynx' has stated that before speech can emerge, the larynx must be in a low position to produce differentiated vowels. Researcher show the production of differentiated vocalizations is not a question of anatomical variants but of control of articulators. This work leads us to think that speech could have emerged before the 200,000 years ago.
Researchers have now demonstrated a powerful 'experimental evolution' method to discover details of protein shape and function, and the method may find uses across a very broad spectrum of biomedical research.
In the first study published about Alzheimer's disease among identical triplets, researchers found that despite sharing the same DNA, two of the triplets developed Alzheimer's while one did not.
Scientists at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture grew cassava in the air — using a technique called aeroponics — to better understand the root growth of one of the world's hardiest staple crops.
The number of malnourished people is increasing worldwide. More than two billion people suffer from a lack of micronutrients. Infant mortality rates are unacceptably high. Against this background, there is a need for the global pooling of research efforts, more research funding and an international body for food security and agriculture that prepares policy decisions.
Patients with well-supported immune cells in their tumors are more likely to control their cancers' growth for a longer time, an observation that could guide treatment decisions after surgery for kidney cancer. In addition, the findings could help researchers expand the dramatic but sparse benefits of cancer immunotherapy to more people.
Researchers have used a combination of virtual reality (VR), aerial thermal-imaging and ground surveys to build a better statistical model for predicting the location of koalas and, ultimately, protecting their habitat.
The Jerezo crater is likely home to hydrated silica, a material which on Earth is especially good at preserving signs of life. Mars 2020 is set to land on the planet crater in February 2021. NASA's Curiosity rover is currently the only rover operating on Mars. The discovery of past life on Mars would be revolutionary, at least in science and philosophy. None The Mars 2020 rover is set to search f
For critically ill children needing blood transfusions, older red blood cells are just as effective and safe as fresh ones, a new study shows. Researchers compared fresh blood stored for up to seven days to older red blood cells stored for nearly four weeks. Children who suffer from traumatic blood loss, cancer, or sickle cell disease, often require red blood cell transfusions . However, until no
An international team of scientists have made drug-like molecules inspired by a chemical found in a tropical flower, that they hope could in the future help to treat deadly pancreatic cancer.
Country music songwriters must perform a careful dance when they work with famous singers who may be less talented at writing songs but bring the needed star power to attract fans — and, importantly, to get the song recorded in the first place, research suggests. A study of 39 successful country-music songwriters found that they use two strategies to navigate creative collaboration with more famo
As technology advances in the things we use every day, it's generally accepted they also become safer. But according to one engineer, that may not be true for a large portion of the population. New research has developed a innovative model to map the impact of trauma on a pregnant woman and her uterus if she were involved in an accident — with the hopes of making everything from airbags to seatbe
Aquatic researchers have long sought an easy way to determine when wild fish are under stress. Now, researchers have shown for the first time that cortisol, a key stress hormone, accumulates in fish scales slowly and remains there for weeks.
Researchers identified hundreds of metabolites that might serve as intermediates to translate variation in the genome to variation in complex traits. Findings could someday facilitate early or more accurate diagnosis of illnesses detected by metabolite variation.
Researchers have used remote sensing to measure plant biodiversity from the Amazon basin to the Andes Mountains in Peru to better understand how tropical forests will respond to climate change. The researchers used Arizona State University's Global Airborne Observatory, or GAO, to show that combining traditional on-the-ground field measurements of carbon with aerial measurements of plant chemistr
Small insects that would normally be undetectable to bats using echolocation suddenly become detectable when they occur in large swarms. Arjan Boonman of Tel-Aviv University and colleagues present these findings in PLOS Computational Biology.
Studying radiation chemistry and electronic structure of materials at scales smaller than nanometres, the University of Guelph team prepared samples of clay in ultra-thin layers. Working at the TRIUMF particle accelerator, they bombarded the samples with antimatter subatomic particles. They found their system is a proven tool for radiation studies of material to be used to store nuclear waste — i
In spite of the widespread recommendation for regular physical activity as a strategy to manage migraine, for some patients, exercise can instead trigger migraine attacks. Here, Samantha et al found that anxiety sensitivity mediates intentional avoidance of both moderate and vigorous physical activity.
New research suggests that, when two people must work together on a physical task despite conflicting goals, the amount of information available about each other's actions influences how quickly and optimally they learn to collaborate. Vinil Chackochan and Vittorio Sanguineti of the University of Genoa, Italy, present these findings in PLOS Computational Biology.
A new drug candidate is more likely to be approved for use if it targets a gene known to be linked to the disease; a finding that can help pharmaceutical companies to focus their drug development efforts. Emily King and colleagues from AbbVie report these findings in a new study published Dec. 12 in PLOS Genetics.
Strong and tough yet as light as a feather – materials with this exceptional combination of properties are urgently needed in many industrial sectors and in medicine, as well as being of great interest for scientific research. A research team from the University of Bayreuth has developed polymer fibres with precisely these properties. Together with partners in Germany, China and Switzerland, the p
A paper in Science documents the global wind patterns on any planet for the first time. Remote repogramming of the MAVEN spacecraft and its NGIMS instrument enabled the data collection. The results reveal seasonal stability in circulation patterns on Mars, but high short-term volatility in wind direction and speed. The data also allow researchers to infer the topography below based on waves create
Bans and other policies restricting e-cigarette sales could do more public harm than good, according to a group of public-health, tobacco-policy and ethics experts.
NASA's Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft has allowed researchers to map the winds that blow high above the red planet's surface, reports a new study, which measures the global circulation of Mars' upper atmosphere for the first time.
Whales' large bodies help them consume their prey at high efficiencies, a more than decade-long study of around 300 tagged whales now shows, but their gigantism is limited by prey availability and foraging efficiency.
Researchers have shed light on how the parasite which causes sleeping sickness multiples inside its host. Human African Trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness, only occurs in Sub-Saharan Africa where an estimated 60 million people in 36 countries are at risk. The infection attacks the central nervous system and is fatal without treatment. Lancaster University researchers have found that the parasite
2019 Economics Nobel Laureate co-publishes paper demonstrating the potential for digital agricultural advice to 'sustainably' raise 'agricultural productivity' at low cost for 2 billion smallholder farming families.
Scientists collected data from hundreds of feeding whales, allowing them to determine how much energy species of different sizes invest to capture their prey and which of these species reap the greatest rewards for their efforts. Their findings reveal that body size in all whales is limited by the availability of their prey, but only filter-feeding whales have evolved a feeding strategy that drive
Nipah virus, which is transmitted to humans from bats and pigs, has a high mortality rate and there are no licensed drugs against it. Now, researchers have used information on the structure of the Nipah virus to identified 150 possible inhibitors of the virus. The results are published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Around the world, women and girls suffer a greater burden of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) compared to men. Now, through a series of focus groups and interviews, researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have probed exactly why women in Ethiopia might not seek care, or might delay care seeking for NTDs. They also looked into gender-related challenges men might face when access
This week in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, researchers report that they have engineered an improved colored fabric for the insecticide-treated targets used to control tsetse, based on an understanding of how flies see color.
The gut microbiota produce hundreds of molecules that are present at high concentrations in the host circulation. Unraveling the contribution of each molecule to host biology remains difficult. We developed a system for constructing clean deletions in Clostridium spp., the source of many molecules from the gut microbiome. By applying this method to the model commensal organism Clostridium sporoge
Oxygenation of Earth's atmosphere and oceans occurred across three major steps during the Paleoproterozoic, Neoproterozoic, and Paleozoic eras, with each increase having profound consequences for the biosphere. Biological or tectonic revolutions have been proposed to explain each of these stepwise increases in oxygen, but the principal driver of each event remains unclear. Here we show, using a t
Eukaryotic genomes are folded into loops and topologically associating domains, which contribute to chromatin structure, gene regulation, and gene recombination. These structures depend on cohesin, a ring-shaped DNA-entrapping adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) complex that has been proposed to form loops by extrusion. Such an activity has been observed for condensin, which forms loops in mitosis,
Cohesin is a chromosome-bound, multisubunit adenosine triphosphatase complex. After loading onto chromosomes, it generates loops to regulate chromosome functions. It has been suggested that cohesin organizes the genome through loop extrusion, but direct evidence is lacking. Here, we used single-molecule imaging to show that the recombinant human cohesin-NIPBL complex compacts both naked and nucle
Pressure alters the physical, chemical, and electronic properties of matter. The diamond anvil cell enables tabletop experiments to investigate a diverse landscape of high-pressure phenomena. Here, we introduce and use a nanoscale sensing platform that integrates nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers directly into the culet of diamond anvils. We demonstrate the versatility of this platform by perfo
Pressure is a clean, continuous, and systematic tuning parameter among the competing ground states in strongly correlated electron systems such as superconductivity and magnetism. However, owing to the restricted access to samples enclosed in high-pressure devices, compatible magnetic field sensors with sufficient sensitivity are rare. We used nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond as a spatially re
Pressure can be used to tune the interplay among structural, electronic, and magnetic interactions in materials. High pressures are usually applied in the diamond anvil cell, making it difficult to study the magnetic properties of a micrometer-sized sample. We report a method for spatially resolved optical magnetometry based on imaging a layer of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers created at the surfa
The thermosphere of Mars is the interface through which the planet is continuously losing its reservoir of atmospheric volatiles to space. The structure and dynamics of the thermosphere is driven by a global circulation that redistributes the incident energy from the Sun. We report mapping of the global circulation in the thermosphere of Mars with the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN
The largest animals are marine filter feeders, but the underlying mechanism of their large size remains unexplained. We measured feeding performance and prey quality to demonstrate how whale gigantism is driven by the interplay of prey abundance and harvesting mechanisms that increase prey capture rates and energy intake. The foraging efficiency of toothed whales that feed on single prey is const
Oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) catalyzes the transfer of a high-mannose glycan onto secretory proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. Mammals express two distinct OST complexes that act in a cotranslational (OST-A) or posttranslocational (OST-B) manner. Here, we present high-resolution cryo–electron microscopy structures of human OST-A and OST-B. Although they have similar overall architectures,
In materials science, there is an intrinsic conflict between high strength and high toughness, which can be resolved for different materials only through the use of innovative design principles. Advanced materials must be highly resistant to both deformation and fracture. We overcome this conflict in man-made polymer fibers and show multifibrillar polyacrylonitrile yarn with a toughness of 137 ±
The large-scale synthesis of high-quality thin films with extensive tunability derived from molecular building blocks will advance the development of artificial solids with designed functionalities. We report the synthesis of two-dimensional (2D) porphyrin polymer films with wafer-scale homogeneity in the ultimate limit of monolayer thickness by growing films at a sharp pentane/water interface, w
Neural circuit analysis relies on having molecular markers for specific cell types. However, for a cell type identified only by its circuit function, the process of identifying markers remains laborious. We developed physiological optical tagging sequencing (PhOTseq), a technique for tagging and expression profiling of cells on the basis of their functional properties. PhOTseq was capable of sele
The p27 protein is a canonical negative regulator of cell proliferation and acts primarily by inhibiting cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). Under some circumstances, p27 is associated with active CDK4, but no mechanism for activation has been described. We found that p27, when phosphorylated by tyrosine kinases, allosterically activated CDK4 in complex with cyclin D1 (CDK4-CycD1). Structural and bi
The rapid spread of mobile phones creates potential for sustainably raising agricultural productivity for the 2 billion people living in smallholder farming households. Meta-analyses suggest that providing agricultural information via digital technologies increased yields by 4% and the odds of adopting recommended inputs by 22%. Benefits likely exceed the cost of information transmission by an or
The human impact on life on Earth has increased sharply since the 1970s, driven by the demands of a growing population with rising average per capita income. Nature is currently supplying more materials than ever before, but this has come at the high cost of unprecedented global declines in the extent and integrity of ecosystems, distinctness of local ecological communities, abundance and number
Extensive progress has been made in determining the effects of the microbiome on human physiology and disease, but the underlying molecules and mechanisms governing these effects remain largely unexplored. Here, we combine a new computational algorithm with synthetic biology to access biologically active small molecules encoded directly in human microbiome–derived metagenomic sequencing data. We
Natural and seminatural ecosystems must be at the forefront of efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. In the urgency of current circumstances, ecosystem restoration represents a range of available, efficient, and effective solutions to cut net greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. Although mitigation success can be measured by monitoring changing fluxes of greenhouse gas
Unity is strength: This 1920s map divides the world among just five superstates. The map was produced by count Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi, who devoted his life to European unity. This utopian map may have inspired George Orwell's dystopian world in 1984 . Geopolitical dreams If the geopolitical dreams of a 20th-century Austro-Japanese aristocrat had come true, this is what the map of the worl
A new approach could make it easier to train computer for "extreme classification problems" like speech translation and answering general questions, researchers say. The divide-and-conquer approach to machine learning can slash the time and computational resources required. Online shoppers typically string together a few words to search for the product they want, but in a world with millions of p
The near ubiquitous penetration of mobile phones among smallholder farmers in developing countries has enabled a powerful new tool for dispensing agricultural advice to farmers. Low acquisition and marginal costs make digital extension scalable at low cost when compared to traditional in person extension practices.
The survival of Earth's life is not a battle of humans versus nature. In this week's Science, an independent group of international experts, including one from Michigan State University (MSU), deliver a sweeping assessment of nature, concluding victory needs both humans and nature to thrive.
Strong and tough yet as light as a feather—materials with this exceptional combination of properties are urgently needed in many industrial sectors and in medicine, as well as being of great interest for scientific research. A research team from the University of Bayreuth has now developed polymer fibres with precisely these properties. Together with partners in Germany, China and Switzerland, the
At 100 feet long and weighing more than 100 tons, blue whales are the largest creatures to have evolved on the planet. Other whales, like killer whales, are larger than most terrestrial animals but pale in comparison to the size of blue whales. What sets these two weight classes of whales apart? And what is stopping the biggest whales from growing even bigger?
Today, a paper published in Science documents for the first time the global wind circulation patterns in the upper atmosphere of a planet, 120 to 300 kilometers above the surface. The findings are based on local observations, rather than indirect measurements, unlike many prior measurements taken on Earth's upper atmosphere. But it didn't happen on Earth: it happened on Mars. On top of that, all t
At 100 feet long and weighing more than 100 tons, blue whales are the largest creatures to have evolved on the planet. Other whales, like killer whales, are larger than most terrestrial animals but pale in comparison to the size of blue whales. What sets these two weight classes of whales apart? And what is stopping the biggest whales from growing even bigger?
While tales of Saint Nicholas feature him bringing gifts to good boys and girls, ancient folklore in Europe's Alpine region also speaks of Krampus, a frightening beastlike creature who emerges during the Yule season, looking for naughty children to punish in horrible ways—or possibly to drag back to his lair in a sack. Krampus associations in villages hold parades without Saint Nick, frightening
Nature, Published online: 12 December 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-03795-8 OSIRIS-REx probe will attempt to sample rocks and soil from crater in asteroid Bennu's northern hemisphere.
Duped Researchers at the AI firm Kneron were able to easily fool facial recognition systems at a variety of high security locations — including banks, border crossing checkpoints, and airports — using a high quality mask, Fortune reports . They suggest that anybody with the capability of creating such a mask could easily fool these systems as well — a grave reality check for widespread facial rec
A new image from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope provides important new details about the first interstellar comet astronomers have seen in our solar system. 'Data from the Hubble Space Telescope give us the best measure of the size of comet 2I/Borisov's nucleus, which is the really important part of the comet,' said David Jewitt, a UCLA professor of planetary science and astronomy who analyzed and
A review of recent research in personality science points to the possibility that personality traits can change through persistent intervention and major life events.
African night crawlers (MarvinBikolano/) An organism we rarely see is transforming the Earth. Invasive earthworms, native to Europe, have burrowed into temperate and tropical soils worldwide, and are now beginning to encroach on colder habitats. A new research project, presented at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting this week, documents these critters' spread across Alaska. Their prolife
Someday, doctors would like to grow limbs and other body tissue for soldiers who have lost arms in battle, children who need a new heart or liver, and many other people with critical needs. Scientists are supporting this field of research by developing a promising new kind of light-based sensor to study tissue growth in the lab.
For the first time, researchers can track biological molecules with unprecedented speed and precision thanks to the use of multi-metallic nanoparticles.
Nature, Published online: 12 December 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-03860-2 Cooperation and collective action. Plus: humanity's oldest story, and the top ten countries for chemistry.
Comet 2I/Borisov is a mysterious visitor from the depths of space — the first identified comet to arrive here from another star. Hubble images capture the comet streaking though our solar system and on its way back to interstellar space. It's only the second interstellar object known to have passed through the solar system.
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation and Tokyo Institute of Technology have demonstrated an ultrafast all-optical switching operation with the lowest energy consumption ever reported for all-optical switching at less than one picosecond (one trillionth of a second). The current achievement combines an ultrasmall optical waveguide with a height and width of a few dozen nanometers, called a pl
A new study from a team of clinical psychologists suggests eating added sugars — common in so many holiday foods — can trigger metabolic, inflammatory and neurobiological processes tied to depressive illness.
The Apple Mac Pro comes in many flavors. (Stan Horac/) Do a quick web search for the new Mac Pro and you'd be justified to think that Apple's powerful desktop costs roughly $52,000—more if you include the $400(!) wheels that let you roll it around your fancy studio. In reality, however, the Mac Pro starts at $5,999. That $52,000 number only comes into play if you max out every spec to its ridicul
Growing Trend This week alone, there were four high-profile cases of creeps hacking into Amazon Ring cameras that families had installed inside their homes and using them to harass or spy on them. In one, a man used the camera's speaker to harass a family with racist comments and by triggering their alarm, according to The Cut . In others, predators spied on and communicated with children through
PLUS. Det er tid til at kåre årets videnskabelige højdepunkter både internationalt og nationalt. Det videnskabelige tidsskrift Science offentliggør Breakthrough of the Year i næste uge. Ingeniøren gør det samme i magasinet Året Rundt, der udkommer 13. december. Læs her om Sciences kandidater og Ingeniø…
Without a rapid and dramatic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, fragile coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico—like those around the world—could face catastrophe, researchers warn. That could be bad for us all, says Sylvia Dee, an assistant professor of earth, environmental, and planetary sciences at Rice University. She and colleagues drew evidence from an extensive analysis of stressors on coral
A research team at Dartmouth's Norris Cotton Cancer Center has previously shown that fatty particles from the bloodstream may boost the growth of breast cancer cells. They now show that through an unexpected mechanism not previously described in cancer cells, the fat particles bind to the breast cancer cell surface and are then taken into the cell, providing a large supply of fuel that drives prol
Motorized molecules activated by light target and drill through highly antibiotic resistant bacteria and kill them within minutes. The molecules can open bacteria to attack by drugs they previously resisted. The strategy could be applied to bacterial infections or diseases on the skin, in the lungs or in the gastrointestinal tract.
The water contains bacterialike shapes that researchers plan to test for DNA. dividing-cell_cropped.gif This scanning electron microscope image shows material taken from an ancient water deposit. Researchers believe the peanut-shaped object in the middle may be a cell dividing. Image credits: Tullis Onstott and the Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials Imaging & Analysi
A computational study by chemists showed the dynamics of tumor formation don't necessarily correlate with clinical data on lifetime cancer risks. It suggests biomarkers may someday be able to help predict when mutations in cells will turn cancer-prone cells into full-blown cancer.
Scientists have developed a model that can predict the amount of mercury being released into a local ecosystem from deforestation. The research could point toward ways to mitigate the worst effects of mercury poisoning in regions already experiencing elevated mercury levels caused by small-scale gold mining practices, such as those in the Peruvian Amazon.
Researchers showed, for the first time, that a single, higher dose of vaccination to a pregnant mouse safely protects both her and her fetus from the Zika virus. The researchers found that a single, less potent dose was not enough to protect the fetus.
Glaciologists have unveiled the most accurate portrait yet of the contours of the land beneath Antarctica's ice sheet — and, by doing so, have helped identify which regions of the continent are going to be most vulnerable to the impact of future climate warming.
Vaccinia viruses serve as a vaccine against human smallpox and as the basis of new cancer therapies. Two studies now provide fascinating insights into their unusual propagation strategy at the atomic level.
Someday, doctors would like to grow limbs and other body tissue for soldiers who have lost arms in battle, children who need a new heart or liver, and many other people with critical needs. Scientists are supporting this field of research by developing a promising new kind of light-based sensor to study tissue growth in the lab.
Cold Case Physicists think they've found something unusual at the core of our galaxy: a vast, turbulent cloud of dark matter that's creating powerful blasts of cosmic radiation. Back in 2015, scientists from MIT and Princeton ruled out dark matter as the source of the gamma rays, pointing instead to highly-active neutron stars, according to an MIT press release . But after uncovering flaws in the
Night falls in Brazil's Amazon and two logging trucks without license plates emerge from the jungle. They rumble over dirt roads that lead away from a national forest, carrying trunks of trees hundreds of years old.
Leading scholars and publishers from The Ottawa Hospital's Centre for Journalology, the University of Ottawa's Telfer School of Management, and other institutions from around the world have agreed on a consensus definition of predatory publishing.
A team of researchers from the University of Georgia's Regenerative Bioscience Center has found that neural exosomes — 'cargo' molecules within the nervous system that carry messages to the brain — can minimize or even avert progression of traumatic brain injury when used as part of a new cell-to-cell messaging technology.
Among women, lower hydration levels were associated with lower scores on a task designed to measure motor speed, sustained attention, and working memory. They did not find the same result for men.
When Tarana Burke's movement became a mass phenomenon in the fall of 2017, #MeToo's expansion led to both exhilaration and anxiety: Was this reckoning sustainable? Would it lead to backlash? Two years later, the answer to both questions is yes. Below are a series of moments that demonstrate the ways #MeToo has woven itself into American culture this year. The list is not comprehensive. It is a co
Physicists have successfully developed a new instrument that significantly reduces quantum-level noise that has thus far limited experiments' ability to spot gravitational waves. Collisions between massive black holes and stars are thought to generate these ripples in space-time that were first detected in 2015. In all, about 11 detections have been fully confirmed so far.
Clinical depression and anxiety can have a negative impact on outcomes following hip surgery, such as pain, slower recoveries, and inadequate return to activity, according to new research. In one of the first large studies to focus on mental health effects associated with hip pain, the researchers analyzed data gathered in 12 smaller studies conducted since 2014. The results suggest it may be adv
New research links the monarch butterfly's uncanny ability to sense the changes in day length to circadian clock genes and clock-regulated molecular pathways. Day length, or photoperiod, is an environmental cue that signals them to migrate and triggers the reproductive dormancy they exhibit in the process. The finding establishes a clear connection between clock genes and the vitamin A pathway wi
For viruses to multiply, they usually need the support of the cells they infect. In many cases, only in their host's nucleus can they find the machines, enzymes and building blocks with which they can multiply their genetic material before infecting other cells. But not all viruses find their way into the cell nucleus. Some remain in the cytoplasm and thus must be able to multiply their genetic ma
For viruses to multiply, they usually need the support of the cells they infect. In many cases, only in their host's nucleus can they find the machines, enzymes and building blocks with which they can multiply their genetic material before infecting other cells. But not all viruses find their way into the cell nucleus. Some remain in the cytoplasm and thus must be able to multiply their genetic ma
Scientists will present more than 40 abstracts highlighting research driven in part by Bio-Rad Laboratories' Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) technology at the 2019 American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting in Orlando Florida, December 7-10.
Spider webs are one of nature's most fascinating manifestations. Many spiders extrude proteinaceous silk to weave sticky webs that ensnare unsuspecting prey who venture into their threads. Despite their elasticity, these webs possess incredible tensile strength. In recent years, scientists have expressed increased interest in the spider orb-web as a biological-mechanical system. The web's sensory
Chinese scientists recently developed a flexible electronic skin (e-skin) capable of self-powered neural stimulation and inducing a neural response. The technology will be useful in characterizing synaptic plasticity.
Scientists from Duke University have developed a model that can predict the amount of mercury being released into a local ecosystem by deforestation and small-scale gold mining.
The starry night toad has been documented by biologists for the first time since 1991 in Colombia. But unlike other such stories of rediscovered species, we never really lost it
A virus that afflicts cattle that was first discovered in Japan in 2003 has made its way to the U.S., researchers report in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Monsoons can have a significant impact on human populations all around the world, bringing heavy rainfall associated with flooding, and mudslides that can damage crops and pose a health and safety risk. In countries such as India, monsoons also provide a vital source of water needed for growing crops. Being able to accurately forecast monsoons, as well as predict climate changes that drive these e
A virus that afflicts cattle that was first discovered in Japan in 2003 has made its way to the U.S., researchers report in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Researchers from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston showed, for the first time, that a single, higher dose of vaccination to a pregnant mouse safely protects both her and her fetus from the Zika virus.The researchers found that a single, less potent dose was not enough to protect the fetus. The findings are currently available in Nature Communications.
Recent studies published in Nature Scientific Reports:Identify new biomarkers for measuring the intake of flavanols and procyanidins, key bioactives in apples, blueberries, grapes, pears and cocoa. Validate — based on rigorously established criteria – the utility of these new biomarkers. Provide researchers with a path forward to accurately assess bioactive nutrient intake in large populations.
New findings published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation suggest that specific immune T cells from people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) show disruptions in the way they produce energy. The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
New approaches are shedding light on the magnitude of sex differences in personality and the results are so strong and pervasive that they can no longer be ignored. — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Updated at 5:58 p.m. ET on December 12, 2019 A glass-walled bastion of minimalism in a retail mall in Atlanta is the first of its kind in the United States. It looks like an Apple Store, but with a bouncer. You have to be 21 or older to enter. If you want to buy what's inside, you must be a cigarette smoker. Or at least, you must tell the salesperson that you're a cigarette smoker. The store's pr
Starship Payload On Tuesday, Twitter user @justpaulinelol shared an animation of a SpaceX rocket launching a Tesla Cybertruck into space. "Cybertruck for the next Falcon Heavy payload @elonmusk?" they wrote alongside the clip — and then received a reply from Musk. "Maybe on Starship?" he mused . "It's def got the payload capacity…" Not so Crazy The idea might sound ridiculous, but it wouldn't be
Biochemist whose work was at the cutting edge of the understanding of protein structures, their function and evolution Taxonomy – the classification of objects according to their relationships to one another – conjures up images of 19th-century amateur naturalists measuring fossils or counting the stamens of flowering plants. The biochemist Cyrus Chothia, who has died aged 77, took a taxonomic ap
What are Jews? Members of a religious group? A race or an ethnicity? A nation? Some mixture of them all, or something else entirely? As a debate among the Jews, this question may be academically interesting or, depending on your point of view, incredibly tedious. But as a legal question, it matters a great deal. American antidiscrimination law covers certain protected categories. Title VI of the
This article contains spoilers about Marriage Story. It's a rare achievement for an intimate, quietly heartbreaking film about the dissolution of a relationship to light up social-media feeds with impassioned debate. But Noah Baumbach's Marriage Story , released this past weekend on Netflix, has done just that . In the days since its release, several aspects of Noah Baumbach's semiautobiographica
Nature, Published online: 12 December 2019; doi:10.1038/d41586-019-03823-7 The unproven bone-marrow-based procedure he developed was banned by Italian health authorities.
Consolation Prize Makr Shakr, the robotics firm behind the robo-bartender Toni, has announced plans to distribute monthly stipends to the human bartenders that it threatens to automate out of a job. It's an unusual twist on the concept of basic income : the company directly responsible for putting people out of work is also the one extending them some sort of lifeline. Details on the program are
A computational study by Rice University chemists showed the dynamics of tumor formation don't necessarily correlate with clinical data on lifetime cancer risks. It suggests biomarkers may someday be able to help predict when mutations in cells will turn cancer-prone cells into full-blown cancer.
Scientists from Duke University have developed a model that can predict the amount of mercury being released into a local ecosystem from deforestation. The research could point toward ways to mitigate the worst effects of mercury poisoning in regions already experiencing elevated mercury levels caused by small-scale gold mining practices, such as those in the Peruvian Amazon.
A type of Martian aurora first identified by NASA's MAVEN spacecraft in 2016 is actually the most common form of aurora occurring on the Red Planet, according to new results from the mission. The aurora is known as a proton aurora and can help scientists track water loss from Mars' atmosphere.
Scientists have known for decades that aerobic exercise strengthens the brain and contributes to the growth of new neurons, but few studies have examined how yoga affects the brain. A review of the science finds evidence that yoga enhances many of the same brain structures and functions that benefit from aerobic exercise.
Two chimpanzees housed in a zoo in the US have sparked the question about how human dance evolved after being observed performing a duo dance-like behavior, similar to a human conga line.
Much about the aerodynamic effects of larger wind farms remains poorly understood. New work looks to provide more insight in how the structures necessary for wind farms affect air flow. Using a two-scale coupled momentum balance method, researchers theoretically and computationally reconstructed conditions that large wind farms might face in the future, including the dampening effect that comes wi
Scientists have used the gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 to disrupt both latent reservoirs of the herpes simplex virus and actively replicating virus in human fibroblast cells. Experiments pinpoint weak spot that can make the virus susceptible to gene editing.
A single drop of seawater can contain a wide representation of ocean microbes from around the world—revealing novel insights into the ecology, evolution and biotechnology potential of the global microbiome. A new publication in Cell reports a staggering degree of biological diversity that defies contemporary definitions of microbial species, illuminates reasons behind challenges in metagenomic stu
A single drop of seawater can contain a wide representation of ocean microbes from around the world—revealing novel insights into the ecology, evolution and biotechnology potential of the global microbiome. A new publication in Cell reports a staggering degree of biological diversity that defies contemporary definitions of microbial species, illuminates reasons behind challenges in metagenomic stu
Astrophysicists are redrawing the textbook image of pulsars, the dense, whirling remains of exploded stars, thanks to NASA's Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER), an X-ray telescope aboard the International Space Station. Using NICER data, scientists have obtained the first precise and dependable measurements of both a pulsar's size and its mass, as well as the first-ever map of hot
Someday, doctors would like to grow limbs and other body tissue for soldiers who have lost arms in battle, children who need a new heart or liver, and many other people with critical needs. Today, medical professionals can graft cells from a patient, deposit them onto a tissue scaffold, and insert the scaffold into the body to encourage the growth of bone, cartilage and other specialized tissue. B
A project lead by an international team of researchers use publicly available data with images of the sky dating as far back as the 1950s to try to detect and analyse objects that have disappeared over time. In the project "Vanishing & Appearing Sources during a Century of Observations" (VASCO), they have particularly looked for objects that may have existed in old military sky catalogues from the
Colon cancer cells deficient in p53, one of the most important control proteins in cell growth, activate a particular metabolic pathway to adapt to the lack of oxygen and nutrients inside the tumor. Statins, which are often prescribed to lower cholesterol, block this metabolic pathway and cause the cancer cells to die, as scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now discovered
A new study from a team of clinical psychologists at the University of Kansas suggests eating added sugars — common in so many holiday foods — can trigger metabolic, inflammatory and neurobiological processes tied to depressive illness.
Psychologist observing two chimpanzees in a zoo have discovered that they performed a behaviour hitherto never seen, they coordinated together in a rhythmic social ritual.
As sea levels rise and adverse weather events become more common, vulnerable coastal communities are at increasing risk of devastation from storm surges and tsunamis. The death toll from tsunamis, at 260,000 during the past century, was higher than that from any other natural hazard. An international research team led by the University of Göttingen has now compared the effects of man-made and ecos
Psychologist observing two chimpanzees in a zoo have discovered that they performed a behaviour hitherto never seen, they coordinated together in a rhythmic social ritual.
An automated way to produce polymers makes it much easier to create advanced materials aimed at improving human health, researchers report. The work is a critical step in pushing the limits for researchers who want to explore large libraries of polymers, including plastics and fibers, for chemical and biological applications such as drugs and regenerative medicine through tissue engineering. Whil
Exoskeletons aren't just for super soldiers , automotive assembly workers and the paralyzed — they can assist the elderly in everyday tasks as well. Now, New Scientist reports that older folks in Japan are using exoskeletons to help them do their jobs as they spend more of their lives in the workforce . Japan currently has one of the oldest populations int he world. According to the U.S. Populati
Astrophysicists are redrawing the textbook image of pulsars (the dense, whirling remains of exploded stars) thanks to NICER, an X-ray telescope aboard the International Space Station. NICER data has provided the first precise and dependable measurements of both a pulsar's size and its mass, and the first-ever map of hot spots on its surface.
Caution is advised in interpreting the findings of the recent JAMA Internal Medicine publication1 on radioactive iodine treatment for hyperthyroid patients and cancer mortality. The paper's conclusion that 'in RAI-treated patients with hyperthyroidism, greater organabsorbed doses appeared to be modestly positively associated with risk of death from solid cancer, including breast cancer', has raise
A virus that afflicts cattle that was first discovered in Japan in 2003 has made its way to the US, researchers report in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.
A single drop of seawater can contain a wide representation of ocean microbes from around the world — revealing novel insights into the ecology, evolution and biotechnology potential of the global microbiome. A new publication in Cell reports a staggering degree of biological diversity that defies contemporary definitions of microbial species, illuminates reasons behind challenges in metagenomic
Vaccinia viruses serve as a vaccine against human smallpox and as the basis of new cancer therapies. Two studies now provide fascinating insights into their unusual propagation strategy at the atomic level.
University of Miami researchers published a study in JAMA Oncology-Head and Neck Surgery that examines why adult candidates for cochlear implants rarely get them.
Teams at Helmholtz Zentrum München, LMU Munich and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed a new algorithm that enables automated detection of metastases at the level of single disseminated cancer cells in whole mice.
A model that uses genetic markers to accurately estimate the lifespans of different vertebrate species is presented in a study in Scientific Reports this week. The 'lifespan clock' screens 42 selected genes for CpG sites, short pieces of DNA whose density is correlated with lifespan, to predict how long members of a given vertebrate species may live.
A University of California, Irvine-led team of glaciologists has unveiled the most accurate portrait yet of the contours of the land beneath Antarctica's ice sheet — and, by doing so, has helped identify which regions of the continent are going to be most vulnerable to the impact of future climate warming.
In the largest-ever study of its kind, published in the journal Cell, researchers identified more than 100 genetic variants that affect the risk for more than one mental health condition.
Researchers from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology, a joint institute of the Pompeu Fabra University and the Spanish National Research Council, and the Globe Institute (University of Copenhagen), have unveiled the genome of the Carolina parakeet, extinct at the beginning of the 20th century. Researchers explored the genome for signs found in endangered species but did not find them, suggesting
Colin reveals an unorthodox training regimen designed to prepare him, both physically and mentally, for the worst possible conditions. As the other team members pack in their last rounds of training, the crew is nearly ready to take on Drake Passage. Stream More Episodes of The Impossible Row: https://go.discovery.com/tv-shows/the-impossible-row/ About The Impossible Row: The Drake Passage is the
Artificial intelligence may be able to work out the maximum lifespans of extinct species and early humans. The technique relies on analysing specific regions of DNA that are linked to ageing
What's the difference between heroes and leaders? In this insightful talk, Lorna Davis explains how our idolization of heroes is holding us back from solving big problems — and shows why we need "radical interdependence" to make real change happen.
Results of a plaque assay, a test that enables CDC officials to quantify flu viruses (CDC/) If you've seen one flu season, you've seen one flu season—that's how the adage goes. Supposedly the flu varies so much from year to year, it's practically unpredictable. But over the past six years the Centers for Disease Control has been trying to forecast each flu season in advance. And their models aren
A new way to alter the intestinal microbiota could decrease the ability of a bacteria called flagellin to cause inflammation and also protect against an array of chronic inflammatory diseases, according to a study in mice. The findings suggest the approach offers a way to vaccinate against diseases associated with chronic inflammation of the digestive tract, a group of diseases that includes infl
Leading scholars and publishers from The Ottawa Hospital's Centre for Journalology, the University of Ottawa's Telfer School of Management, and other institutions from around the world have agreed on a consensus definition of predatory publishing.
Using a computerised version of cognitive-behavioural therapy to treat depression in children and young adults has the potential to improve access to psychological therapies and reduce waiting lists, a new study suggests.
Scientists have known for decades that aerobic exercise strengthens the brain and contributes to the growth of new neurons, but few studies have examined how yoga affects the brain. A review of the science finds evidence that yoga enhances many of the same brain structures and functions that benefit from aerobic exercise.
Only 23 percent of people who experience trauma develop PTSD. New research offers new clues on identifying which trauma victims will develop the disorder and suggests potential interventions. Researchers used a mobile phone app to gather information from patients in the critical 30 days after the trauma event – when symptoms interact to create the full blown disorder – the first time such extensiv
Researchers at The Ohio State University analyzed claims from more than 22 million enrollees in private insurance plans and found that out-of-pocket costs for non-emergency out-of-network hospital care nearly doubled in five years.
Published in the Journal of Neuroscience, UNC-Chapel Hill research pinpoints a specific neural circuit that when altered caused animal models to drink less alcohol.
Someday, doctors would like to grow limbs and other body tissue for soldiers who have lost arms in battle, children who need a new heart or liver, and many other people with critical needs. Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are supporting this field of research by developing a promising new kind of light-based sensor to study tissue growth in the lab.
Roughly a hundred of very red, star-like sources that have appeared and vanished in short period of time have been discovered by a team of researchers when reviewing catalogue data, according to a new paper published in the Astronomical Journal. While most likely to be natural astrophysical sources the researchers are also taking extra-terrestrial sources into account.
SIOP publishes white paper that explores how to promote your overseas workers' productivity and well-being. This white paper provides an overview of the experiences and challenges encountered by people who live and work outside of their home societies and introduces some of the solutions currently available to meet these challenges based on I-O psychology research.
A type of Martian aurora first identified by NASA's MAVEN spacecraft in 2016 is actually the most common form of aurora occurring on the Red Planet, according to new results from the mission. The aurora is known as a proton aurora and can help scientists track water loss from Mars' atmosphere.
When the Hitomi space telescope successfully reached orbit in early 2016, astronomers thought their string of bad luck was over. A predecessor, launched in 2000, had crashed into the ocean. A follow-up mission leaked helium; full operations lasted only a few weeks. Hitomi, an X-ray satellite with the unique ability to sort some of the universe's most energetic photons by energy, represented astro
Put your fingertips against your throat and say "abracadabra." (Don't whisper; it won't work. Feign a phone call if you have to.) You should feel a buzzing—that's your vocal folds vibrating inside your larynx. The larynx, also called the voice box, is where the trouble begins: Its location is, or was, supposed to be the key to language. Scientists have agreed for a while that the organ is lower d
An Australian research team say they have come up with a "lifespan clock" which provides accurate maximum age estimates for vertebrates, a key variable in the study of both living and extinct animals.
A University of California, Irvine-led team of glaciologists has unveiled the most accurate portrait yet of the contours of the land beneath Antarctica's ice sheet—and, by doing so, has helped identify which regions of the continent are going to be more, or less, vulnerable to future climate warming.
Researchers from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE, a joint institute of the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)) in Barcelona and the Globe Institute at the University of Copenhagen have unveiled the genome of the Carolina parakeet, declared extinct at the beginning of the 20th century. Researchers explored the genome for signs found in endanger
An Australian research team say they have come up with a "lifespan clock" which provides accurate maximum age estimates for vertebrates, a key variable in the study of both living and extinct animals.
Researchers from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE, a joint institute of the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)) in Barcelona and the Globe Institute at the University of Copenhagen have unveiled the genome of the Carolina parakeet, declared extinct at the beginning of the 20th century. Researchers explored the genome for signs found in endanger
Researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine conducted a two-year study of the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) telehealth program in Missouri and found the program provided participating PCPs with expert recommendations that benefited nearly 84% of adult cases and 72% of pediatric cases.
The Endocrine Society and Avalere Health introduced the first-ever quality measures to help healthcare providers assess how well they identify and care for older adults at greater risk of hypoglycemia — low blood sugar that can be a dangerous complication of diabetes treatment.
A research team led by Michigan Medicine may have discovered why certain biologic drugs can lead to deadly infections. Their study, which appears in the journal Science Advances, reveals a previously unknown function of a specific type of immune cell called dendritic cells.
Linguist Dave Kush at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's Department of Language and Literature has been studying a phenomenon in which Norwegian, Swedish and Danish stand out.
A newly published study, presented on Dec. 12 at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) meeting, reveals that a type of Martian aurora originally detected by NASA's MAVEN spacecraft is in fact the most common aurora on the Red Planet, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University researchers said.
A team of researchers at the University of Denmark has tested the popular notion that tapping a can of beer after it has been shaken will prevent it from spraying when it is opened. Their paper describes a trial they carried out along with their conclusions, and is available on the arXiv preprint server.
Researchers from Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), MIT's research enterprise in Singapore, and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have designed an antimicrobial polymer that can kill bacteria resistant to commonly used antibiotics, including the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The breakthrough can pave the way for the development of medicine to whi
Approximately 30 percent of CO2 emitted to the atmosphere by human activities, mainly through the use of fossil fuels and deforestation, is taken up by terrestrial ecosystems such as forests and grasslands. Recent reports from the IPCC concluded that new land-use options to enhance this terrestrial carbon sink are needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate. Masayuki Kondo, an assis
The process of building a tiny cube has revealed some of the fundamental mysteries of how molecules bind together in natural environments. Researchers hope to apply this knowledge to future projects designing complex structures that can mimic life.
A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in South Korea and one from the U.S. has found evidence that Arctic sea ice in the summer could vanish sooner than climate models suggest. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes comparing their simulations with real-world proxies and what they found.
A RUDN University biologist has developed a model for the analysis of photosynthesis in vivo. This method calculates the absorption coefficient of light by chlorophyll based on its reflectivity. Analysis of light absorption is important for assessing ecosystem productivity, which affects the state of the biosphere and the global climate. The article is published in the journal Remote Sensing of En
As sea levels rise and adverse weather events become more common, vulnerable coastal communities are at increasing risk of devastation from storm surges and tsunamis. The death toll from tsunamis was 260,000 during the past century. A research team led by the University of Göttingen has now compared the effects of man-made and ecosystem protection to propose an approach including mangroves and cor
Two chimpanzees housed in a zoo in the US have sparked the question about how human dance evolved after being observed performing a duo dance-like behaviour, similar to a human conga-line.
Much about the aerodynamic effects of larger wind farms remains poorly understood. New work in this week's Journal of Renewable and Sustainably Energy looks to provide more insight in how the structures necessary for wind farms affect air flow. Using a two-scale coupled momentum balance method, researchers theoretically and computationally reconstructed conditions that large wind farms might face
Moving a word to the beginning of a sentence is a useful trick to draw attention to the most important topic you want to relay. The researchers of a new study have found that the Scandinavian languages are unique in their use of this technique.
A newly published study reveals that a type of Martian aurora originally detected by NASA's MAVEN spacecraft is in fact the most common aurora on the Red Planet, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University researchers said. The research suggests a way to track water loss and better understand how the Martian climate has changed over time.
A potent drug for glioblastoma can't be used in patients. It can't reach its target because it's blocked by the blood-brain barrier, and the conventional formulation for this drug is toxic to the brain. But now scientists have used a novel technology for opening the blood-brain barrier with an implantable ultrasound, and delivered the powerful drug to the tumor in mice. Scientists also identified
A Chinese research team has developed an advanced imaging technique to achieve super-resolution microscopy at unprecedented speeds and with many fewer images. The new method should make it possible to capture processes in living cells at speeds not previously possible.
Spider webs are one of nature's most fascinating manifestations. Many spiders extrude proteinaceous silk to weave sticky webs that ensnare unsuspecting prey who venture into their threads. Despite their elasticity, these webs possess incredible tensile strength. In an article publishing this week in the SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics, Alexandre Kawano and Antonino Morassi present a theoretica
Researchers have used advanced imaging approaches to achieve super-resolution microscopy at unprecedented speeds. The new method should make it possible to capture the details of processes occurring in living cells at speeds not previously possible.
Incidence rates for hormone receptor positive (HR+) breast cancers are considerably higher in black men than white men, in stark contrast to lower incidence rates of those cancer subtypes in black versus white women.
My tween will never know the sound of me calling her name from another room after the phone rings. She'll never sit on our kitchen floor, refrigerator humming in the background, twisting a cord around her finger while talking to her best friend. I'll get it , He's not here right now , and It's for you are all phrases that are on their way out of the modern domestic vernacular. According to the fe
What are you saying yes to? Scientific research need data, biological human data in order to make scientific progress. The more the scientific community know, the more diseases we are able to cure, prevent or treat and the more diseases and disorders they want to study. Future scientific breakthroughs depend upon our will to give researchers access to biological and personal data. But how can we
PLUS. Ny lov skal i sidste sekund gøre Danmark klar til at overholde EU 2020-krav til transporten billigst muligt. Spild af penge, der ikke forhindrer palmeolie i danske biler, mener kritikere.
Nurses sleep nearly an hour and a half less before work days compared to days off, according to a new study which suggests tired nurses may hurt patient care and safety. "Nurses are sleeping, on average, less than recommended amounts prior to work, which may have an impact on their health and performance on the job," says Amy Witkoski Stimpfel, assistant professor at New York University's Rory Me
A University of Oklahoma research group is reporting the detection of extragalactic planet-mass objects in a second and third galaxy beyond the Milky Way after the first detection in 2018. With the existing observational resources, it is impossible to directly detect planet-mass objects beyond the Milky Way and to measure its rogue planetary population.
A research group is reporting the detection of extragalactic planet-mass objects in a second and third galaxy beyond the Milky Way after the first detection in 2018. With the existing observational resources, it is impossible to directly detect planet-mass objects beyond the Milky Way and to measure its rogue planetary population.
Researchers have used advanced imaging approaches to achieve super-resolution microscopy at unprecedented speeds. The new method should make it possible to capture the details of processes occurring in living cells at speeds not previously possible.
The National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Kochi Health Science Center and collaborating teams have developed a secure data backup system in an 800 km network connecting the data servers in Kochi, Osaka, Nagoya, Otemachi and Koganei, Japan, using secret sharing and secure communications technologies, and demonstrated distributed storage of medical records and promp
Daylight plays an essential role in sleep, alertness and hormone regulation. EPFL has joined forces with Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD – Genève) to develop a wearable sensor that measures how much light an individual is exposed to along with the spectral resolution of that light.
The theory of the 'descended larynx' has stated that before speech can emerge, the larynx must be in a low position to produce differentiated vowels. Researcher show the production of differentiated vocalizations is not a question of anatomical variants but of control of articulators. This work leads us to think that speech could have emerged before the 200,000 years ago.
The APS Tip Sheet highlights noteworthy research recently published in the Physical Review Journals. Unless otherwise noted, Physical Review papers are not embargoed. Please contact media@aps.org for media inquiries and complimentary access to the journals.
Last year, 1.4 billion people traveled the world. That's up from just 25 million in 1950. In China alone, overseas trips have risen from 10 million to 150 million in less than two decades. This dramatic surge in mass tourism can be attributed to the emergence of the global middle class, and in some ways, it's a good thing. But the consequences are grave—particularly for the planet. In a new episo
"The No-Fun League" isn't a new phrase. It has hung around the NFL for decades, mobilized whenever the structures and strictures of the league tip too far toward dourness. Historically, it's been brought up most often in relation to the NFL's disciplining of on-field celebration , but lately it seems to resonate more generally. For the better part of this century, following pro football hasn't be
We can already edit genes in human embryos. We can even do it in a way to pass the edits down generations, fundamentally changing a family's genetic makeup. Doing it well, however, is far more difficult. It's impossible to talk about human germline genome editing without bringing up the CRISPR baby fiasco . Over a year ago, a rogue Chinese scientist performed an edit on fertilized human embryos t
This sweater is LIT. (Barry Abrams/) People use ugly sweater parties as opportunities to get creative: Some may find tacky sweaters while rummaging through their parents' closets and browsing in thrift shops; others may craft their own with felt and a hot glue gun. Coming up with a ridiculous sweater is part of the fun. Still, you'll find sweaters that are intentionally ugly. If you go to Amazon,
Analysis finds that the planet's protective shield was in place by at least 3.7 billion years ago, as early life arose — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Yeah, Got That Water After surveying 19 exoplanets, a University of Cambridge-led research team found 14 had water vapor in their atmospheres — more than they'd expected. The amount of water vapor, meanwhile? Less than they'd anticipated. Yet: These new insights could go a long way toward narrowing our hunt for extraterrestrial life. It's important to know about even the most remote presence of w
Family caregivers and people with dementia or Alzheimer's disease are at risk for increased stress during the holidays—but holiday visits can be a joyous time with adjusted expectations and careful planning. "Music—especially singing songs together—is a wonderful way to share an experience." Mary Catherine Lundquist is program director of Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care's Care2Caregiver
2019 marks the 150th anniversary of the periodic table. Chemical elements make up everything around us. Reading this on a cell phone? Your phone contains at least 30 different naturally-occurring elements, including lithium. Or maybe you're drinking seltzer—a compound of two elements (carbon and oxygen in the form of carbon dioxide) dissolved in another two elements (hydrogen and oxygen in the fo
The House Judiciary Committee has published articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. Though potentially damning, the particular charges—abuse of power in connection with Ukraine and the 2020 election, and obstruction of Congress—face an unusual evidentiary problem compared with impeachments past. Because there is a plausible legitimate governmental justification for each of the all