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Here's an environmentally friendly way to get your caffeine fix
1dThe massive increase in single-use coffee pods has led to an environmental catastrophe. Plastic pods are notorious for their inability to break down in landfills. Thankfully, a new wave of eco-friendly compostable pods is coming to the market. Between 2005 and 2018, the coffee pod market grew from less than 1 percent of American users to over 41 percent. The trade-off for a quickly brewed and eas
'Pregnancy test for water' delivers fast, easy results on water quality
1dA new platform technology can assess water safety and quality with just a single drop and a few minutes. Powered by synthetic biology, when the test detects a contaminant exceeding the EPA's standards, it glows green, providing an easy-to-read positive or negative result.
It Could Be Decades Before Emissions Cuts Slow Global Warming, Scientists Warn
1d"There is no quick fix."
Science Captures Some Close Encounters Between Great White Sharks and Beachgoers With Drones
1dOver the past decade, the number of encounters between humans and sharks swimming off the coast of California has risen dramatically. Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach, says this summer is shaping up to be a major year for these sharks along the state's 840-mile coastline. In response, his lab has launched an ambitious two-year shark study using dron
LRRK2 mediates axon development by regulating Frizzled3 phosphorylation and growth cone-growth cone communication [Neuroscience]
1dAxon–axon interactions are essential for axon guidance during nervous system wiring. However, it is unknown whether and how the growth cones communicate with each other while sensing and responding to guidance cues. We found that the Parkinson's disease gene, leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2), has an unexpected role in growth…
The sun of Rome is set! Volcanic dust veils and their political fallout [Commentaries]
1dWithin a year of the slaying of Julius Caesar, Okmok volcano in the Aleutian Islands (Fig. 1) begat one of the greatest eruptions of the past 2,500 y, according to research in PNAS (1). The study explores the repercussions of climatic change induced by the eruption for the unstable Roman…
Kpi, a chaperone-usher pili system associated with the worldwide-disseminated high-risk clone Klebsiella pneumoniae ST-15 [Microbiology]
1dControl of infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae continues to be challenging. The success of this pathogen is favored by its ability to acquire antimicrobial resistance and to spread and persist in both the environment and in humans. The emergence of clinically important clones, such as sequence types 11, 15,…
Core Concept: Lava tubes may be havens for ancient alien life and future human explorers [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
1dSometimes, there's more to a lava flow than meets the eye. Beneath a fresh, sterile, and steaming hot surface, molten rock can still be chewing its way into the ground, carving caves that can stretch dozens of kilometers. On Earth, such lava tubes (once cooled) are a challenge for spelunkers….
Evolutionary origins for ecological patterns in space [Perspectives]
1dHistorically, many biologists assumed that evolution and ecology acted independently because evolution occurred over distances too great to influence most ecological patterns. Today, evidence indicates that evolution can operate over a range of spatial scales, including fine spatial scales. Thus, evolutionary divergence across space might frequently interact with the mechanisms…
PHOSPHO1 puts the breaks on thermogenesis in brown adipocytes [Commentaries]
1dThe nonshivering heat production in mitochondria-rich brown or beige adipocytes allows rodents and humans to adapt to cold stress (1). The best-characterized thermogenic effector is uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), which dissipates energy as heat by proton transport across the mitochondrial inner membrane. Of note, there are also important UCP1-independent pathways…
L-type Ca2+ channel blockers promote vascular remodeling through activation of STIM proteins [Pharmacology]
1dVoltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channel (Cav1.2) blockers (LCCBs) are major drugs for treating hypertension, the preeminent risk factor for heart failure. Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) remodeling is a pathological hallmark of chronic hypertension. VSMC remodeling is characterized by molecular rewiring of the cellular Ca2+ signaling machinery, including down-regulation of Cav1.2…
Membrane deformation by the cholera toxin beta subunit requires more than one binding site [Commentaries]
1dCholera is an acute diarrheal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae that still results in 20,000 to 140,000 deaths per year worldwide according to the World Health Organization. Once the bacterium reaches the small intestine after ingestion, it hangs on to the intestinal mucus and starts producing a proteinaceous…
Environmental racism and the need for private well protections [Commentaries]
1dThe health effects of racism are so well established that the American Public Health Association launched a National Campaign Against Racism in 2015 (1). Racial disparities in adverse environmental exposures reflect underlying structural and institutional racism ingrained in land use patterns, development policy, facility siting, and municipal zoning decisions, which…
Opinion: Midwater ecosystems must be considered when evaluating environmental risks of deep-sea mining [Environmental Sciences]
1dDespite rapidly growing interest in deep-sea mineral exploitation, environmental research and management have focused on impacts to seafloor environments, paying little attention to pelagic ecosystems. Nonetheless, research indicates that seafloor mining will generate sediment plumes and noise at the seabed and in the water column that may have extensive ecological…
The challenges of modeling and forecasting the spread of COVID-19 [Applied Mathematics]
1dThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed epidemic modeling at the forefront of worldwide public policy making. Nonetheless, modeling and forecasting the spread of COVID-19 remains a challenge. Here, we detail three regional-scale models for forecasting and assessing the course of the pandemic. This work demonstrates the utility of…
Discovery of potent thrombin inhibitors from a protease-focused DNA-encoded chemical library [Chemistry]
1dDNA-encoded chemical libraries are collections of compounds individually coupled to unique DNA tags serving as amplifiable identification barcodes. By bridging split-and-pool combinatorial synthesis with the ligation of unique encoding DNA oligomers, million- to billion-member libraries can be synthesized for use in hundreds of healthcare target screens. Although structural diversity and…
The role of turbulent fluctuations in aerosol activation and cloud formation [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
1dAerosol indirect effects are one of the leading contributors to cloud radiative properties relevant to climate. Aerosol particles become cloud droplets when the ambient relative humidity (saturation ratio) exceeds a critical value, which depends on the particle size and chemical composition. In the traditional formulation of this problem, only average,…
Cytoskeletal organization in isolated plant cells under geometry control [Plant Biology]
1dThe cytoskeleton plays a key role in establishing robust cell shape. In animals, it is well established that cell shape can also influence cytoskeletal organization. Cytoskeletal proteins are well conserved between animal and plant kingdoms; nevertheless, because plant cells exhibit major structural differences to animal cells, the question arises whether…
Mismatch-tolerant, alignment-free sequence classification using multiple spaced seeds and multiindex Bloom filters [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
1dAlignment-free classification tools have enabled high-throughput processing of sequencing data in many bioinformatics analysis pipelines primarily due to their computational efficiency. Originally k-mer based, such tools often lack sensitivity when faced with sequencing errors and polymorphisms. In response, some tools have been augmented with spaced seeds, which are capable of…
Ultrahigh-throughput magnetic sorting of large blood volumes for epitope-agnostic isolation of circulating tumor cells [Medical Sciences]
1dCirculating tumor cell (CTC)-based liquid biopsies provide unique opportunities for cancer diagnostics, treatment selection, and response monitoring, but even with advanced microfluidic technologies for rare cell detection the very low number of CTCs in standard 10-mL peripheral blood samples limits their clinical utility. Clinical leukapheresis can concentrate mononuclear cells from…
The dual nature of the dead-water phenomenology: Nansen versus Ekman wave-making drags [Applied Physical Sciences]
1dA ship encounters a higher drag in a stratified fluid compared to a homogeneous one. Grouped under the same "dead-water" vocabulary, two wave-making resistance phenomena have been historically reported. The first, the Nansen wave-making drag, generates a stationary internal wake which produces a kinematic drag with a noticeable hysteresis. The…
Atomic structure of the Campylobacter ȷeȷuni flagellar filament reveals how ϵ Proteobacteria escaped Toll-like receptor 5 surveillance [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
1dVertebrates, from zebra fish to humans, have an innate immune recognition of many bacterial flagellins. This involves a conserved eight-amino acid epitope in flagellin recognized by the Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5). Several important human pathogens, such as Helicobacter pylori and Campylobacter jejuni, have escaped TLR5 activation by mutations in this…
The Things We Can't Control Are Beautiful – Issue 87: Risk
1dPoker players like to brag they win with luck not skill. So do investment bankers. Scientists. And writers. Skill, we insist, is our ticket to success. Who can blame us? It's a useful delusion to bank our identity on skill, says Maria Konnikova. We can't stand trembling in the chaos. We need some way to convince ourselves we can cash in. That skill can ever be enough, though, is "the biggest bluf
The Damage We're Not Attending To – Issue 87: Risk
1dWorld War II bomber planes returned from their missions riddled with bullet holes. The first response was, not surprisingly, to add armor to those areas most heavily damaged. However, the statistician Abraham Wald made what seemed like the counterintuitive recommendation to add armor to those parts with no damage. Wald had uniquely understood that the planes that had been shot where no bullet hol
The Contagion Detective – Issue 87: Risk
1dThe COVID-19 pandemic was some epidemiologist's nightmare when Adam Kucharski was writing Rules of Contagion . Released this week, the book, which includes brief mentions of the encroaching COVID-19 storm, draws on ideas from "outbreak science" to illuminate how and why viruses spread. Information from biology, Kucharski expertly demonstrates, has helped scientists understand how misinformation r
Animals Appreciate Recent Traffic Lull
1dResearchers saw a third fewer vehicle collisions with deer, elk, moose and other large mammals in the four weeks following COVID-19 shutdowns in three states they tracked.
Skat: Uvist hvornår it-værn mod milliardsvindel står klar – udviklingskapacitet er »fuldt udnyttet«
1dEt nyt it-system bliver en del af et kommende værn mod svindel med udbytteskat. Men skattevæsenet har travlt med andre it-projekter, og først i 2021 begynder analysearbejdet, der skal kaste lys over pris og tidsplan for det nye projekt.
Skov-direktør om ny klimaplan: Vil betyde mindre CO2-lagring i danske skove
1dPLUS. Nu, hvor det er blevet attraktivt for varmeværker at overgå til varmepumper, kommer store dele af efterspørgslen på dansk skovflis til at falde, fortæller direktør for Dansk Skovforening, og det kommer til at gå ud over klimaet.
Global temperatures likely to hit at least 1C warming for next five years
1dExperts say new climate data shows how close world already is to breaching 1.5C Paris agreement pledge There is a one-in-five chance annual global temperatures will be at least 1.5C warmer than in pre-industrial times in the next five years, experts have said. Annual global temperatures are likely to be at least 1C above the levels they were before the industrial era in each year between 2020 and
Serious Cases of Brain Damage Are Linked to COVID-19, New Research Shows
1dEven in mild cases of coronavirus.
Another Month Gone, Another Month Entering the Global Warming Record Books
1dWith Siberia burning under unprecedented heat, our planet experienced a virtual tie for warmest June on record.
Animals Appreciate Recent Traffic Lull
1dResearchers saw a third fewer vehicle collisions with deer, elk, moose and other large mammals in the four weeks following COVID-19 shutdowns in three states they tracked. — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
The Atlantic Daily: The Politics of School Reopening
1dEvery weekday evening, our editors guide you through the biggest stories of the day, help you discover new ideas, and surprise you with moments of delight. Subscribe to get this delivered to your inbox . (BODO SCHACKOW / PICTURE ALLIANCE / GETTY) America still doesn't have a plan to safely reopen its schools. Earlier today, President Donald Trump criticized the CDC's guidelines on Twitter, callin
An Audit Slams Facebook as a Home for Misinformation and Hate
1dIn a meeting and an unusual report, activist groups that instigated an ad boycott of the social media company say it has not responded adequately to criticism.
A novel sperm selection technology to increase success rates of in vitro fertilization
1dMotile sperm are difficult to collect with a conventional cell sorter because they are vulnerable to physical damage. A research collaboration has developed a technique using a cell sorter with microfluidic chip technology to reduce cell damage and improve in vitro fertilization rates. This research is expected to increase in vitro fertilization rates to improve production of experimental animals
Venom-spitting dinosaur wasn't actually like 'Jurassic Park'
1dThough you may know the Dilophosaurus as the small, frilled, acid-spitting beast from Jurassic Park, a new comprehensive fossil analysis sets the record straight. Far from the small lizard-like dinosaur in the movies, the actual Dilophosaurus was the largest land animal of its time, reaching up to 20 feet in length, and it had much in common with modern birds . Dilophosaurus lived 183 million yea
99% of 'forever chemicals' can't survive surprising catalyst
1dResearchers have discovered a catalyst that can destroy PFAS, also known as "forever" chemicals, where they least expected. "It was the control," says Michael Wong, a professor in and chair of the chemical and biomolecular engineering department in the Brown School of Engineering at Rice University, referring to the part of a scientific experiment in which researchers don't expect surprises. The
These are the best and worst materials for face masks
1dWhile research has shown masks are effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19, not all masks or mask materials are equally effective, according to new research. "We knew that masks work, but we wanted to know how well and compare different materials' effects on health outcomes." In a study in the Journal of Hospital Infection , researchers assessed the ability of a variety of nontraditional mas
Coronavirus live news: US cases rise by world record 60,000 as Melbourne locks down
1dTrump's Tulsa rally 'likely contributed' to city's surge in cases ; global infections near 12m ; nearly 3,000 miners infected in Chile . Follow the latest updates US cases rise by world record 60,000 in one day Trump criticises Fauci and says US in a 'good place' as cases top 3m Pence pushes to reopen schools amid fears CDC is bowing to Trump's demands 'This lockdown seems different': second time
Century-old vaccine may lower coronavirus deaths, finds new study
1dA new study finds a tuberculosis BCG vaccination is linked to its COVID-19 mortality rate. More BCG vaccinations are connected to fewer severe coronavirus cases in East Germany. The study is preliminary and more research is needed to support the findings. Preliminary findings from a new study show that Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), a vaccine given to kids in countries where tuberculosis is preva
Major Study Casts Doubt on COVID-19 Herd Immunity After Patient Antibodies Disappear
1d"Immunity can be incomplete… it can last for just a short time and then disappear."
Author Correction: Reinterpretation of common pathogenic variants in ClinVar revealed a high proportion of downgrades
1dScientific Reports, Published online: 09 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-67915-5
Author Correction: Optical Absorption Exhibits Pseudo-Direct Band Gap of Wurtzite Gallium Phosphide
1dScientific Reports, Published online: 09 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-67918-2
Author Correction: Organoid culture media formulated with growth factors of defined cellular activity
1dScientific Reports, Published online: 09 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-68552-8
Author Correction: The globally invasive small Indian mongoose Urva auropunctata is likely to spread with climate change
1dScientific Reports, Published online: 09 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-68558-2
Author Correction: Identification of Two Mannosyltransferases Contributing to Biosynthesis of the Fungal-type Galactomannan α-Core-Mannan Structure in Aspergillus fumigatus
1dScientific Reports, Published online: 09 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-67911-9
Researchers develop sterilizable, alternative N95 mask
1dEarly results from modeling and a feasibility study for fit testing suggest that the iMASC system, an N95 mask alternative, could fit faces of different sizes and shapes and be sterilized for reuse.
Men and younger adults less active in lockdown
1dNew research indicates that men and younger adults have been less physically active during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Study of 17 Million Identifies Crucial Risk Factors for Coronavirus Deaths
1dThe largest study yet confirms that race, ethnicity, age and sex can raise a person's chances of dying from Covid-19.
Lung, immune function in kids could protect from severe COVID-19
1dDifferences in lung physiology and immune function in children could be why they are more often spared from severe illness associated with COVID-19 than adults.
COVID-19 cases and deaths in federal and state prisons significantly higher than in general U.S. population
1dPrison COVID-19 cases are five times higher and prison COVID-19 death rate are three times higher than the U.S. general population, according to new research.
Hong Kong's Security Law Puts Big Tech at a Crossroads
1dAs China exerts more power over the city, companies like Facebook and Google have stopped handing over data—for now.
This pocket-sized shaggy reptile hopped around a pre-dino world
1dKongonaphon kely, a newly discovered ancient reptile species, belonged to a group called Ornithodira, which also includes dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and their descendants. (Illustration by Alex Boersma/) About 237 million years ago, a tiny, bug-eating reptile hopped along the sandy riverbanks of present-day Madagascar. Standing about 4 inches tall at the hip, this little creature lived just a few mil
Indigenous Americans had contact with Polynesians 800 years ago, DNA reveals
1dStudy shows groups crossed vast ocean in about the year 1200 Proof of encounter found in DNA of present-day populations Indigenous Americans and Polynesians bridged vast expanses of open ocean around the year 1200 and mingled, leaving incontrovertible proof of their encounter in the DNA of present-day populations, new studies have revealed. Whether peoples from what is today Colombia or Ecuador d
STRIDE study results on fall injury prevention in older adults: PCORI Media Availability
1dAs reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, the STRIDE Study found that a personalized approach to delivering proven falls risk reduction strategies to high-risk older adults in typical care settings resulted in an 8% to 10% reduction in serious fall injuries, but this effect was not statistically significant. Potential impediments, such as transportation availability and copayments, are a
Experimental drug shows early promise against inherited form of ALS, trial indicates
1dA clinical trial conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and elsewhere has found evidence that the experimental drug tofersen lowers levels of a disease-causing protein in people with an inherited form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, caused by mutations in the gene SOD1.
Individualized falls prevention plan found no better than usual care for reducing injury
1dMedia Availability: Findings reported online July 8, 2020 in the New England Journal of Medicine suggest that a nurse-managed, individually tailored falls prevention plan administered for at least 20 months did not significantly reduce risk of serious fall injuries in older adults aged 70 and over who were at high risk for falls.
This year's AIDS conference has brought snippets of good news
1dBut the HIV pandemic is nowhere near over yet
Crap: NASA's Mars "Mole" Finally Started Digging, Then Hit Another Obstacle
1dNASA has been desperately trying to use the "mole" attached its InSight Mars lander to bury into the Martian soil for more than 17 long months, but progress has been slow. The Martian soil composition just wasn't what the scientists expected, forcing them to improvise. In the latest update , NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory outlined how the 16-inch, jackhammer-like mole, formally known as the Hea
Is It Game Streaming's Turn for a Labor Revolution?
1dAfter the demise of Mixer, livestreamers are taking a closer look at what their platform partnerships should look like.
To Fight COVID, Japanese Theme Parks Forbid Screaming on Roller Coasters
1dScreaming Internally In an incredible — and, unintentionally or otherwise, hilarious — video message released by Japan's Fuji-Q Highland amusement park, two executives could be seen riding a roller coaster in complete silence while wearing masks. 2020 is just no fun. The park is no longer allowing attendees to scream and howl as they're riding the park's numerous rides, as The Wall Street Journal
Retraction of paper on police killings and race not due to "'mob' pressure" or "distaste for the political views of people citing the work approvingly," say authors
1dThe researchers who earlier this week called for the retraction of their hotly debated paper on police shootings and race say the reasons for their decision to pull the article have been misinterpreted. Crime researchers David Johnson, of the University of Maryland, and Joe Cesario, of Michigan State University, initially referred in a retraction statement … Continue reading
Stress testing 'coral in a box'
1dCoral death is impacting oceans worldwide as a consequence of climate change. The concern is that corals cannot keep pace with the rate of ocean warming. In particular, because a temperature increase of only one degree Celsius can make the difference between healthy and dying coral reefs. Some corals, however, are more resistant to increasing temperatures. In order to effectively protect coral ree
What I Learned from Losing $200 Million – Issue 87: Risk
1dI'd lost almost $200 million in October. November wasn't looking any better. It was 2008, after the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy. Markets were in turmoil. Banks were failing left and right. I worked at a major investment bank, and while I didn't think the disastrous deal I'd done would cause its collapse, my losses were quickly decimating its commodities profits for the year, along with the potenti
How good gut bacteria help reduce the risk for heart disease
1dScientists have discovered that one of the good bacteria found in the human gut has a benefit that has remained unrecognized until now: The potential to reduce the risk for heart disease.
These survival tips might actually get you killed
1dThe way you respond to a grizzly attack could determine if you become a scavenger's next meal. (272447 from Pixabay/) This story originally featured on Field & Stream . My grandmother Inez used to stuff towels under her bedroom door whenever I came to visit. Steeped in Appalachian folklore, she believed that hoop snakes rolled downhill, that a milk snake would crawl into a crib to suck the breath
Mounting Evidence Suggests Coronavirus Is Airborne–but Health Advice Has Not Caught Up
1dAfter months of denying the importance of aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the World Health Organization is reconsidering its stance — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
How good gut bacteria help reduce the risk for heart disease
1dScientists have discovered that one of the good bacteria found in the human gut has a benefit that has remained unrecognized until now: The potential to reduce the risk for heart disease.
Researchers develop mobile rapid test to assess coral thermotolerance
1dCoral death is impacting oceans worldwide as a consequence of climate change. The concern is that corals cannot keep pace with the rate of ocean warming. In particular, because a temperature increase of only one degree Celsius can make the difference between healthy and dying coral reefs. Some corals, however, are more resistant to increasing temperatures. In order to effectively protect coral ree
US coronavirus cases jump by one-day record of 62,000
1dDeath toll also shows signs of rising for first time since new outbreak in south and west
Researchers develop mobile rapid test to assess coral thermotolerance
1dCoral death is impacting oceans worldwide as a consequence of climate change. The concern is that corals cannot keep pace with the rate of ocean warming. In particular, because a temperature increase of only one degree Celsius can make the difference between healthy and dying coral reefs. Some corals, however, are more resistant to increasing temperatures. In order to effectively protect coral ree
"Protect 30% of the planet for nature," scientists urge in new report
1dIn the most comprehensive report to date on the economic implications of protecting nature, over 100 economists and scientists find that the global economy would benefit from the establishment of far more protected areas on land and at sea than exist today. The report considers various scenarios of protecting at least 30% of the world's land and ocean to find that the benefits outweigh the costs b
Dozens More Cases of Neurological Problems in COVID-19 Reported
1dSARS-CoV-2 generally attacks the lungs, but researchers are also stressing its effects on the brain in a fraction of patients.
Does genomics perpetuate inequality?
1dA new Hastings Center special report takes a critical look at the role of genomics in perpetuating racism and inequality.
Drug treatment could improve effectiveness of immunotherapy for cancer patients
1dThe MDM2 gene promotes tumor growth and interferes with immunotherapy in some cancer patients — a new study from a Brown University research team suggests that an MDM2-inhibiting drug could help address this problem.
Nurses and midwives take the lead in providing HIV services in Eastern and Southern Africa
1d"Nurse-initiated and managed antiretroviral therapy" (NIMART) is an innovative approach to making effective medications more accessible to people living with HIV (PLWH) in low-resource countries. A new study identifies challenges and opportunities to promoting nurse- and midwife-led HIV services in eastern and southern Africa, reports the July/August issue of The Journal of the Association of Nurs
NFL outperforms other blood tests to predict and diagnose traumatic brain injury
1dA study from the National Institutes of Health showed that neurofilament light chain (NfL) delivered superior diagnostic and prognostic performance as a blood biomarker for mild, moderate, and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) when compared to blood proteins glial fibrillary acidic protein, tau, and ubiquitin c-terminal hydrolase-L1. The research was conducted by scientists at the NIH Clinical C
Blood-based biomarker can detect, predict severity of traumatic brain injury
1dA study from the National Institutes of Health confirms that neurofilament light chain as a blood biomarker can detect brain injury and predict recovery in multiple groups, including professional hockey players with acute or chronic concussions and clinic-based patients with mild, moderate, or severe traumatic brain injury.
Simple blood test may predict concussion severity just as well as spinal tap
1dA blood biomarker in people who have had concussions may be just as accurate at predicting the severity of the injury and how long it will last as biomarkers that are obtained through more expensive and invasive tests, according to a study published in the July 8, 2020, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Artificial Lights Tell the Story of the Pandemic
1dEven during the worst of the pandemic in New York City, when the threat of the virus had emptied out the streets, the lights of Times Square stayed on, its many towering advertisements flashing and flickering . The coronavirus had driven millions of people indoors, but the city's most recognizable plaza was illuminated—a symbol, George Lence, a spokesperson for Times Square's sign operators, told
A friendly, autonomous robot that delivers your food | Ali Kashani
2dMeet the friendly robot that could deliver your next burrito. Ali Kashani introduces us to Postmates' autonomous delivery robot and explains how it could help reduce carbon emissions and free up valuable real estate in cities everywhere. Learn more about how it was specially designed to navigate complex social interactions on busy sidewalks to bring you your food (and more) with joy.
These survival tips might actually get you killed
2dThe way you respond to a grizzly attack could determine if you become a scavenger's next meal. (272447 from Pixabay/) This story originally featured on Outdoor Life . My grandmother Inez used to stuff towels under her bedroom door whenever I came to visit. Steeped in Appalachian folklore, she believed that hoop snakes rolled downhill, that a milk snake would crawl into a crib to suck the breath f
Human brains remember certain words more easily than others
2dResearchers have found that some basic words appear to be more memorable than others. Some faces are also easier to commit to memory. Scientists suggest that these words serve as semantic bridges when the brain is searching for a memory. Cognitive psychologist Weizhen Xie (Zane) of the NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) works with people who have intractable epi
Scientists Discover A New Formula To Calculate A Dog's Age In Human Years
2dScientists have come up with a new formula to calculate a dog's age in human years — and it is much more complicated than multiplying its real age by seven.
Neutralizing antibodies in the battle against COVID-19
2dAn important line of defense against SARS-CoV-2 is the formation of neutralizing antibodies. These can eliminate the intruders and have great potential to be used for prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Researchers have elucidated how these antibodies develop and have isolated potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies.
First Alaskan juvenile predator fossil adds insight to dino migration
2dThe discovery of the first juvenile dromaeosaurid lower jaw bone on the North Slope of Alaska supports a growing theory that some Cretaceous Arctic dinosaurs did not migrate with the seasons but were year-round residents, according to new research by SMU paleontologist Anthony Fiorillo. The research was published today in PLOS ONE. Prior to this find, only tiny dromaeosaurid teeth have been discov
Fossil jawbone from Alaska is a rare case of a juvenile Arctic dromaeosaurid dinosaur
2dA small piece of fossil jawbone from Alaska represents a rare example of juvenile dromaeosaurid dinosaur remains from the Arctic, according to a new study.
Naturally perforated shells one of the earliest adornments in the Middle Paleolithic
2dAncient humans deliberately collected perforated shells in order to string them together as beads, according to a new study.
'Bystander Effect' not exclusive to humans
2dA rat is less likely to help a trapped companion if it is with other rats that aren't helping, according to new research that showed the social psychological theory of the "bystander effect" in humans is present in these long-tailed rodents.
How good gut bacteria help reduce the risk for heart disease
2dScientists have discovered that one of the good bacteria found in the human gut has a benefit that has remained unrecognized until now: the potential to reduce the risk for heart disease.
COVID-19 brain complications found across the globe
2dCases of brain complications linked to COVID-19 are occurring across the globe, a new review has shown. The research found that strokes, delirium and other neurological complications are reported from most countries where there have been large outbreaks of the disease.
Researchers propose novel approach to limit organ damage for patients with severe COVID-19
2dIn a new paper, researchers propose that controlling the local and systemic inflammatory response in COVID-19 may be as important as anti-viral and other therapies.
Tree rings show unprecedented rise in extreme weather in South America
2dA new South American Drought Atlas reveals that unprecedented widespread, intense droughts and unusually wet periods have been on the rise since the mid-20th century.
Researchers uncover a critical early step of the visual process
2dThe key components of electrical connections between light receptors in the eye and the impact of these connections on the early steps of visual signal processing have been identified for the first time, according to research published today in Science Advances by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
How Universities Can Keep Foreign Governments from Stealing Intellectual Capital
2dThe arrest of a Harvard scientist earlier this year on charges of lying about working for the Chinese government was a wake-up call — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Rats will help others in distress, but they can be influenced not to
2dThe "bystander effect" can influence humans – and now it seems rats as well – not to step in to help another, but only if the bystanders are emotionally uninterested in what is happening
Stress testing 'coral in a box'
2dSave the corals: Mobile rapid test to assess coral thermotolerance developed in an international collaboration with the University of Konstanz
Lung, immune function in kids could protect from severe COVID-19
2dDifferences in lung physiology and immune function in children could be why they are more often spared from severe illness associated with COVID-19 than adults.
Community and law enforcement partnerships best help kids who witness home violence
2dThe Child Trauma Response Team, an innovative police and community-based organization partnership, demonstrated success at screening and treating children for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) immediately following incidents of intimate partner violence, according to a Rutgers-led study published in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence.
"Protect 30% of the planet for nature," scientists urge in new report
2dA new report entitled, "Protecting 30% of the planet for nature: costs, benefits, and economic implications," represents the first multi-sector analysis that assesses the global impacts of terrestrial and marine protected areas across the nature conservation, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors.
Study reveals how bacteria build essential carbon-fixing machinery
2dScientists from the University of Liverpool have revealed new insight into how cyanobacteria construct the organelles that are essential for their ability to photosynthesise. The research, which carried out in collaboration with the University of Science and Technology of China, has been published in PNAS.
Who Wants to Be Seen With Trump Anymore?
2dDonald Trump has never been much for encouraging social distancing. He might end up getting political distancing as a result. This week, five senators announced that they will skip the Republican National Convention in August. A Republican governor up for reelection said he wouldn't attend a Trump rally in his state. And Senator Lindsey Graham disagreed publicly with Trump for what his home-state
Study reveals how bacteria build essential carbon-fixing machinery
2dScientists from the University of Liverpool have revealed new insight into how cyanobacteria construct the organelles that are essential for their ability to photosynthesise. The research, which carried out in collaboration with the University of Science and Technology of China, has been published in PNAS.
Graphene: It is all about the toppings
2dThe way graphene interacts with other materials depends on how these materials are brought into contact with the graphene. The appropriate atoms are brought into contact with the graphene in such a way that they 'grow' on the graphene in the desired crystal structure. Until now the mechanisms of the 'growth' of such other materials on graphene have often remained unclear. A new study shows now how
NASA analyzes Tropical Cyclone Damien's water vapor concentration
2dWhen NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Tropical Storm Cristina in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on July 8, it gathered water vapor data that provided information about the intensity of the storm.
Let's Defund the Pentagon, Too
2dWe must begin moving beyond militarism, as Martin Luther King urged more than 50 years ago — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
People more likely to donate when reminded of own mortality
2dNew research shows that people are 30 per cent more likely to donate their assets when faced with their own mortality.
Bespoke catalysts for power-to-X
2dSuitable catalysts are of great importance for efficient power-to-X applications — but the molecular processes occurring during their use have not yet been fully understood. Using X-rays from a synchrotron particle accelerator, scientists have now been able to observe for the first time a catalyst during the Fischer-Tropsch reaction that facilitates the production of synthetic fuels under industr
Tackling coral reefs' thorny problem: Crown-of-thorns starfish
2dResearchers have revealed the evolutionary history of the crown-of-thorns starfish — a predator of coral that can devastate coral reefs. Their findings shed light on how the populations of these starfish have changed over time and could potentially help reduce their ecological destruction.
Warming Could Lower One Barrier to Invasive Fish Reaching Great Lakes
2dMussels in the lakes, themselves invasive species, may not be able to outcompete Asian carp for food, as previously thought — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Real-time monitoring of proteins in the nuclear pore complex
2dResearchers report on a high-speed atomic-force microscopy study of protein filaments in the nuclear pore complex. The visualization in real-time of the filaments' dynamics is an important step in our understanding of molecular transport mechanisms between a cell nucleus and its surrounding medium.
Neurologists Say COVID Survivors Are Suffering Strokes and Brain Disorders
2dScientists are warning that we may be overlooking serious brain disorders that are triggered by the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, which could affect even those who only experienced mild forms of the widely-known symptoms. In some cases, they say, these neurological issues can be so severe as to be fatal. A new research paper , by a team of researchers from University College London's (UCL) In
Links between parents' and children's asthma and allergies
2dNew research found that, compared with a father's traits related to allergies and asthma, a mother's traits create a higher risk that a child will develop these same traits in early childhood.
Hearing persists at end of life
2dHearing is widely thought to be the last sense to go in the dying process. Now, the first study to investigate hearing in palliative care patients who are close to death provides evidence that some may still be able to hear while in an unresponsive state. Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to measure the dying brain's response to sound. The findings may help family and friends bring comfort to
Researchers create air filter that can kill the coronavirus
2dResearchers have designed a 'catch and kill' air filter that can trap the virus responsible for COVID-19, killing it instantly.
How carbon-sucking machines could cut aviation emissions
2dTwo companies have teamed up on a project that could provide a key test of our ability to use synthetic fuel, made from carbon dioxide captured from the air, to cut emissions from aviation. Carbon Engineering, a direct air capture company based in British Columbia, has signed a deal with Aerion, a startup based in Reno, Nevada, that is developing a supersonic business jet known as the AS2 , to ev
Columbia professor confronts healthcare inequality in time of COVID-19
2dColumbia's Kai Ruggeri uses data science to design interventions and recommend policies that help the most vulnerable populations overcome inequalities.
CHOP-pioneered spatial mapping method pinpoints potential new therapeutic targets in lupus
2dA team of researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) used a new method of pinpointing potential disease-causing changes in the genome to identify two new potential therapeutic targets for lupus, while also paving the way for more accurately identifying disease-causing variations in other autoimmune disorders.
GSA publishes articles on COVID-19 and aging; plus Spanish translations of infographics
2dThe Gerontological Society of America's highly cited, peer-reviewed journals are continuing to publish scientific articles on COVID-19, and all are free to access. The following were published between June 7 and July 4; all are free to access.
How good gut bacteria help reduce the risk for heart disease
2dScientists have discovered that one of the good bacteria found in the human gut has a benefit that has remained unrecognized until now: the potential to reduce the risk for heart disease.
5G networks have few health impacts, Oregon State study using zebrafish model finds
2dFindings from an Oregon State University study into the effects of radiofrequency radiation generated by the wireless technology that will soon be the standard for cell phones suggest few health impacts.
Study: 'Anti-vaxxers' gain traction against HPV vaccine on Facebook
2dOne of the biggest social media sites — Facebook — has allowed "anti-vaxxers" to gain a stronger voice against the use of the human papillomavirus, or HPV, vaccine, according to a new study from a media expert at the University of Missouri.
Therapy delivered electronically more effective than face to face: Hamilton researchers
2dIn this evidence review, researchers identified 17 randomized control trials comparing therapist-supported cognitive behavioural therapy delivered electronically to face to face cognitive behavioural therapy. The studies were conducted between 2003 and 2018 in the United States, Australia, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden and the United Kingdom
COVID-19 brain complications found across the globe
2dCases of brain complications linked to COVID-19 are occurring across the globe, a new review by University of Liverpool researchers has shown.Published in The Lancet Neurology, the study found that strokes, delirium and other neurological complications are reported from most countries where there have been large outbreaks of the disease.
Photos: Deadly Flooding in Japan
2dDays of torrential rainfall in central Japan have led to extensive flooding and mudslides, leaving as many as 58 people dead so far. Rivers that overflowed their banks have swept away bridges and roads, cutting off communities and making it difficult for rescue workers to reach many areas. Emergency crews are now working against the clock, trying to find people who may still be trapped.
Warming Could Lower One Barrier to Invasive Fish Reaching Great Lakes
2dMussels in the lakes, themselves invasive species, may not be able to outcompete Asian carp for food, as previously thought — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
'Disturbing and cruel.' Universities blast new visa rule for international students
2dAmid pandemic, U.S. policy could force some students back on campus
Study finds decreased rates of high-cost care after a community development initiative
2dMore than a decade into the community development initiative called Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families, the 30-block Southern Orchards neighborhood on Columbus, Ohio's South Side had clear, notable improvement. Home vacancy fell from 30% to under 6%. High school graduation rates increased. More than $40 million in investments were generated in the area.
Study reveals how bacteria build essential carbon-fixing machinery
2dScientists from the University of Liverpool have revealed new insight into how cyanobacteria construct the organelles that are essential for their ability to photosynthesise.
NASA analyzes Tropical Cyclone Cristina's water vapor concentration
2dWhen NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Tropical Storm Cristina in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on July 8, it gathered water vapor data that provided information about the intensity of the storm.
New method for simulating yarn-cloth patterns to be unveiled at ACM SIGGRAPH
2dA global team of computer scientists from the Institute of Science and Technology (IST) Austria and Indian institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) has developed a method for specifically animating yarn-level cloth effects, accurately capturing the physics of the material, including the stretching and bending response.
New clues to lung-scarring disease may aid treatment
2dScientists at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) in Phoenix, Arizona, have discovered previously unreported genetic and cellular changes that occur in the lungs of people with pulmonary fibrosis (PF).
A bioartificial system acts as 'dialysis' for failing livers in pigs
2dA bioartificial system that incorporates enhanced liver cells can act as an analogous form of dialysis for the liver in pigs, effectively carrying out the organ's detoxifying roles and preventing further liver damage in animals with acute liver failure.
Helping drug-delivering particles squeeze through a syringe
2dMIT engineers are using computing modeling to prevent microparticles from clogging during injections.
UChicago study shows 'Bystander Effect' not exclusive to humans
2dA rat is less likely to help a trapped companion if it is with other rats that aren't helping, according to new research from the University of Chicago that showed the social psychological theory of the "bystander effect" in humans is present in these long-tailed rodents.
A helping hand for cancer immunotherapy
2dScientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of PRMT5 inhibitors to sensitize unresponsive melanoma to immune checkpoint therapy. PRMT5 inhibitors are currently in clinical trials in oncology, and this research provides a strong rationale for evaluating the drugs in tumors that are not responsive to immune checkpoint therapy. The stud
When is someone old?
2dPopulations around the world are living longer lives than was the norm just a few decades ago, presenting governments with significant challenges in terms of caring for their growing elderly populations. According to a new study published in PLOS ONE, understanding how to assess who is elderly is a crucial first step for our understanding of population aging.
Like humans, rats are less likely to help victims in the presence of unhelpful bystanders
2dA study in rats demonstrates that the bystander effect – a phenomenon in which individuals are less likely to help someone in need with other bystanders around – exists in a non-human species. Furthermore, while rats were less likely to rescue a rodent in need when surrounded by unhelpful bystanders, John Havlik and colleagues also observed that they were more likely to take action when their fell
Covid-19 news: UK could eliminate coronavirus entirely, say scientists
2dThe latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews from New Scientist and essential information about the covid-19 pandemic
Gådefuldt klima hærgede oldtidens Rom: Grønlands is gemmer måske på årsagen
2dIskerner afslører, at et kæmpe vulkan-udbrud fik temperaturen til at falde med op til syv grader lige efter Cæsars død.
Helping drug-delivering particles squeeze through a syringe
2dMicroparticles offer a promising way to deliver multiple doses of a drug or vaccine at once, because they can be designed to release their payload at specific intervals. However, the particles, which are about the size of a grain of sand, can be difficult to inject because they can get clogged in a typical syringe.
Bumblebee habitats and diets change over their lifecycle
2dBumblebees change their home ranges and dietary preferences after establishing nests, suggesting that diversified landscapes help support bee populations as their needs change during different phases of their lifecycle, according to a study published July 8 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Pablo Cavigliasso of the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria in Argentina, and colleagues. As
Fossil jawbone from Alaska is a rare case of a juvenile Arctic dromaeosaurid dinosaur
2dA small piece of fossil jawbone from Alaska represents a rare example of juvenile dromaeosaurid dinosaur remains from the Arctic, according to a study published July 8, 2020 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Alfio Alessandro Chiarenza of the Imperial College London, UK, and co-authors Anthony R. Fiorillo, Ronald S. Tykoski, Paul J. McCarthy, Peter P. Flaig, and Dori L. Contreras.
Naturally perforated shells one of the earliest adornments in the Middle Paleolithic
2dAncient humans deliberately collected perforated shells in order to string them together as beads, according to a study published July 8, 2020 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Daniella Bar-Yosef Mayer (Tel Aviv University, Israel), Iris Groman-Yaroslavski (University of Haifa, Israel), and colleagues.
Study shows 'Bystander Effect' not exclusive to humans
2dA rat is less likely to help a trapped companion if it is with other rats that aren't helping, according to new research from the University of Chicago that showed the social psychological theory of the "bystander effect" in humans is present in these long-tailed rodents.
This photographer chases the Midwest's most dramatic storms. Here are some of his favorite shots.
2dLightning strikes over Stamford, Nebraska. June 21, 2017. (Eric Meola/) Eric Meola started chasing storms with his camera in 1977, almost by chance. He was traveling out West with Bruce Springsteen, photographing the classic rock artist for his album, "The Promise." While shooting film of Springsteen driving on the dusty roads, the skies darkened and filled with cumulonimbus clouds, then rain, th
Watch a Tech CEO Melt Down in a Racist Tirade
2dDisgusting Rant On Saturday, Michael Lofthouse, CEO of the San Francisco-based cloud computing firm Solid8, launched a racist, threatening rant against an Asian family sitting near him at a restaurant. What set him off was as innocuous as his comments were vile: The Washington Post reports that Lofthouse became enraged after the family sang "Happy Birthday" to their daughter. Video footage of the
To Come To The Rescue Or Not? Rats, Like People, Take Cues From Bystanders
2dExperiments in people have long shown that the presence of indifferent bystanders hurts the chances that someone will help a stranger in an emergency. Rats, it turns out, behave the same way. (Image credit: David Christopher/University of Chicago)
Habituation is not neutral or equal: Individual differences in tolerance suggest an overlooked personality trait
2dIn behavioral studies, observer effects can be substantial, even for habituated animals, but few studies account for potential observer-related phenomenon empirically. We used wild, habituated chacma baboons to explore two key assumptions of behavioral ecology (i) that observers become a "neutral" stimulus and (ii) that habituation is "equal" across group members. Using flight initiation distance
Characteristic boundaries associated with three-dimensional twins in hexagonal metals
2dTwinning is a critically important deformation mode in hexagonal close-packed metals. Twins are three-dimensional (3D) domains, whose growth is mediated by the motion of facets bounding the 3D twin domains and influences work hardening in metals. An understanding of twin transformations therefore necessitates that the atomic-scale structure and intrinsic mobilities of facets be known and characte
Evolutionarily conserved sequence motif analysis guides development of chemically defined hydrogels for therapeutic vascularization
2dBiologically active ligands (e.g., RGDS from fibronectin) play critical roles in the development of chemically defined biomaterials. However, recent decades have shown only limited progress in discovering novel extracellular matrix–protein–derived ligands for translational applications. Through motif analysis of evolutionarily conserved RGD-containing regions in laminin (LM) and peptide-functiona
Paired EMI-HIMU hotspots in the South Atlantic–Starting plume heads trigger compositionally distinct secondary plumes?
2dAge-progressive volcanism is generally accepted as the surface expression of deep-rooted mantle plumes, which are enigmatically linked with the African and Pacific large low–shear velocity provinces (LLSVPs). We present geochemical and geochronological data collected from the oldest portions of the age-progressive enriched mantle one (EMI)-type Tristan-Gough track. They are part of a 30- to 40-mi
Spin stress contribution to the lattice dynamics of FePt
2dInvar-behavior occurring in many magnetic materials has long been of interest to materials science. Here, we show not only invar behavior of a continuous film of FePt but also even negative thermal expansion of FePt nanograins upon equilibrium heating. Yet, both samples exhibit pronounced transient expansion upon laser heating in femtosecond x-ray diffraction experiments. We show that the granula
Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals profibrotic roles of distinct epithelial and mesenchymal lineages in pulmonary fibrosis
2dPulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a form of chronic lung disease characterized by pathologic epithelial remodeling and accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). To comprehensively define the cell types, mechanisms, and mediators driving fibrotic remodeling in lungs with PF, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of single-cell suspensions from 10 nonfibrotic control and 20 PF lungs. Analysis of 114,3
Single-cell RNA-seq reveals ectopic and aberrant lung-resident cell populations in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
2dWe provide a single-cell atlas of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a fatal interstitial lung disease, by profiling 312,928 cells from 32 IPF, 28 smoker and nonsmoker controls, and 18 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) lungs. Among epithelial cells enriched in IPF, we identify a previously unidentified population of aberrant basaloid cells that coexpress basal epithelial, mesenchymal
Self-powered user-interactive electronic skin for programmable touch operation platform
2dUser-interactive electronic skin is capable of spatially mapping touch via electric readout and providing visual output as a human-readable response. However, the high power consumption, complex structure, and high cost of user-interactive electronic skin are notable obstacles for practical application. Here, we report a self-powered, user-interactive electronic skin (SUE-skin), which is simple i
IRONSperm: Sperm-templated soft magnetic microrobots
2dWe develop biohybrid magnetic microrobots by electrostatic self-assembly of nonmotile sperm cells and magnetic nanoparticles. Incorporating a biological entity into microrobots entails many functional advantages beyond shape templating, such as the facile uptake of chemotherapeutic agents to achieve targeted drug delivery. We present a single-step electrostatic self-assembly technique to fabricat
Molecular and functional architecture of the mouse photoreceptor network
2dMouse photoreceptors are electrically coupled via gap junctions, but the relative importance of rod/rod, cone/cone, or rod/cone coupling is unknown. Furthermore, while connexin36 (Cx36) is expressed by cones, the identity of the rod connexin has been controversial. We report that FACS-sorted rods and cones both express Cx36 but no other connexins. We created rod- and cone-specific Cx36 knockout m
Ester dance reaction on the aromatic ring
2dAromatic rearrangement reactions are useful tools in the organic chemist's toolbox when generating uncommon substitution patterns. However, it is difficult to precisely translocate a functional group in (hetero) arene systems, with the exception of halogen atoms in a halogen dance reaction. Here, we describe an unprecedented "ester dance" reaction: a predictable translocation of an ester group fr
Cooperation between passive and active silicon transporters clarifies the ecophysiology and evolution of biosilicification in sponges
2dThe biological utilization of dissolved silicon (DSi) influences ocean ecology and biogeochemistry. In the deep sea, hexactinellid sponges are major DSi consumers that remain poorly understood. Their DSi consumption departs from the Michaelis-Menten kinetics of shallow-water demosponges and appears particularly maladapted to incorporating DSi from the modest concentrations typical of the modern o
Seismic anisotropy reveals crustal flow driven by mantle vertical loading in the Pacific NW
2dBuoyancy anomalies within Earth's mantle create large convective currents that are thought to control the evolution of the lithosphere. While tectonic plate motions provide evidence for this relation, the mechanism by which mantle processes influence near-surface tectonics remains elusive. Here, we present an azimuthal anisotropy model for the Pacific Northwest crust that strongly correlates with
Transient structures in rupturing thin films: Marangoni-induced symmetry-breaking pattern formation in viscous fluids
2dIn the minutes immediately preceding the rupture of a soap bubble, distinctive and repeatable patterns can be observed. These quasistable transient structures are associated with the instabilities of the complex Marangoni flows on the curved thin film in the presence of a surfactant solution. Here, we report a generalized Cahn-Hilliard-Swift-Hohenberg model derived using asymptotic theory that de
Smart, soft contact lens for wireless immunosensing of cortisol
2dDespite various approaches to immunoassay and chromatography for monitoring cortisol concentrations, conventional methods require bulky external equipment, which limits their use as mobile health care systems. Here, we describe a human pilot trial of a soft, smart contact lens for real-time detection of the cortisol concentration in tears using a smartphone. A cortisol sensor formed using a graph
The bystander effect in rats
2dTo investigate whether the classic bystander effect is unique to humans, the effect of bystanders on rat helping was studied. In the presence of rats rendered incompetent to help through pharmacological treatment, rats were less likely to help due to a reduction in reinforcement rather than to a lack of initial interest. Only incompetent helpers of a strain familiar to the helper rat exerted a de
Tip-induced flipping of droplets on Janus pillars: From local reconfiguration to global transport
2dDespite their simplicity, water droplets manifest a wide spectrum of forms and dynamics, which can be actuated using special texture at solid surfaces to achieve desired functions. Along this vein, natural or synthetic materials can be rendered water repellent, oleophobic, antifogging, anisotropic, etc.—all properties arising from an original design of the substrate and/or from the use of special
Chemical identification through two-dimensional electron energy-loss spectroscopy
2dWe explore a disruptive approach to nanoscale sensing by performing electron energy loss spectroscopy through the use of low-energy ballistic electrons that propagate on a two-dimensional semiconductor. In analogy to free-space electron microscopy, we show that the presence of analyte molecules in the vicinity of the semiconductor produces substantial energy losses in the electrons, which can be
One-step vapor-phase synthesis of transparent high refractive index sulfur-containing polymers
2dHigh refractive index polymers (HRIPs) have recently emerged as an important class of materials for use in a variety of optoelectronic devices including image sensors, lithography, and light-emitting diodes. However, achieving polymers having refractive index exceeding 1.8 while maintaining full transparency in the visible range still remains formidably challenging. Here, we present a unique one-
Full-color active-matrix organic light-emitting diode display on human skin based on a large-area MoS2 backplane
2dElectronic applications are continuously developing and taking new forms. Foldable, rollable, and wearable displays are applicable for human health care monitoring or robotics, and their operation relies on organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Yet, the development of semiconducting materials with high mechanical flexibility has remained a challenge and restricted their use in unusual format ele
Modeling, design, and machine learning-based framework for optimal injectability of microparticle-based drug formulations
2dInefficient injection of microparticles through conventional hypodermic needles can impose serious challenges on clinical translation of biopharmaceutical drugs and microparticle-based drug formulations. This study aims to determine the important factors affecting microparticle injectability and establish a predictive framework using computational fluid dynamics, design of experiments, and machin
Dynamic metal-polymer interaction for the design of chemoselective and long-lived hydrogenation catalysts
2dMetal catalysts are generally supported on hard inorganic materials because of their high thermochemical stabilities. Here, we support Pd catalysts on a thermochemically stable but "soft" engineering plastic, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), for acetylene partial hydrogenation. Near the glass transition temperature (~353 K), the mobile PPS chains cover the entire surface of Pd particles via strong me
The best (and worst) materials for masks
2dIt's intuitive and scientifically shown that wearing a face covering can help reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. But not all masks are created equal, according to new research.
Helping drug-delivering particles squeeze through a syringe
2dMicroparticles offer a promising way to deliver multiple doses of a drug or vaccine at once, because they can be designed to release their payload at specific intervals. However, the particles, which are about the size of a grain of sand, can be difficult to inject because they can get clogged in a typical syringe.
How Face Masks Can Help Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
2dAs communities and businesses reopen amidst the pandemic, masks–in addition to other social distancing measures–are crucial for preventing new outbreaks.
Infographic: What We Know About How Masks Can Slow Disease Spread
2dNot all masks are created equal, and how they are worn makes a difference too.
Research advances understanding of how the brain focuses while ignoring distractions
2dWhen trying to complete a task we are constantly bombarded by distracting stimuli. How does the brain filter out these distractions and enable us to focus on the task at hand? Psychologists at the University of California, Riverside, have made a discovery that could lead to an answer. Experimenting on mice, they located the precise spot in the brain where distracting stimuli are blocked.
Researchers propose novel approach to limit organ damage for patients with severe COVID-19
2dIn a paper published in Cancer and Metastasis Reviews, a team of researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Brigham and Women's Hospital propose that controlling the local and systemic inflammatory response in COVID-19 may be as important as anti-viral and other therapies.
Hepatitis C management at federally qualified health centers proves cost-effective
2dBOSTON- New research from Boston Medical Center shows that routine Hepatitis C (HCV) testing at federally qualified health centers (FQHC) improves diagnosis rates and health outcomes for people with HCV infections in the United States, and is cost-effective. The formerly recommended targeted testing approach was shown to provide worse outcomes at a higher cost when compared to routine testing.
Bumblebee habitats and diets change over their lifecycle
2dBumblebees change their home ranges and dietary preferences after establishing nests, suggesting that diversified landscapes help support bee populations as their needs change during different phases of their lifecycle, according to a study published July 8 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Pablo Cavigliasso of the Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria in Argentina, and colleagues. As
Study shows 'Bystander Effect' not exclusive to humans
2dA rat is less likely to help a trapped companion if it is with other rats that aren't helping, according to new research from the University of Chicago that showed the social psychological theory of the "bystander effect" in humans is present in these long-tailed rodents.
Daily briefing: Kill, confuse, eat — how to stop a plague of locusts
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02067-0 Inventive ways to tackle a second wave of locusts that threatens to devour East Africa's crops. Plus: Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has COVID-19, and San Quentin prison's coronavirus outbreak.
Mounting evidence suggests coronavirus is airborne — but health advice has not caught up
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02058-1 Governments are starting to change policies amid concerns that tiny droplets can carry SARS-CoV-2. And after months of denying the importance of this, the World Health Organization is reconsidering its stance.
United Airlines to send lay-off warnings to 36,000 staff
2dFurloughs to be triggered after jobs guarantee as part of industry rescue package ends on October 1
How to stop the coronavirus: What we've learned six months in
2dSome countries have all but eliminated the virus, in others it is surging and some are seeing a second wave. What can we learn from the best – and worst – strategies?
Supergenes play a larger role in evolution than previously thought
2dLarge blocks of 'plug and play' genes play a super-sized role in adaption-and may help fill lingering gaps in Darwin's theories.
Physicists use oscillations of atoms to control a phase transition
2dThe goal of "Femtochemistry" is to film and control chemical reactions with short flashes of light. Using consecutive laser pulses, atomic bonds can be excited precisely and broken as desired. So far, this has been demonstrated for selected molecules. Researchers have now succeeded in transferring this principle to a solid, controlling its crystal structure on the surface.
Monitoring for breast cancer after childhood chest radiation: When and how?
2dGirls who receive chest radiation for cancer are at risk for future breast cancers. What's the best approach to monitoring for breast cancer, and at what age should screening start? Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber/Boston Children's used simulation and modeling to compare different options.
How to do archaeology with place names
2dA place name is more than a name – it's a historical record of the name-givers. By examining some of the most common toponyms, Britain's 'deep history' is revealed. See where Danes, Welsh, and Anglo-Saxons stamped their name on the land. Trans-generational communication Giving a location a name is a possessive act. It transforms an 'anywhere', a random space, into a 'somewhere', a certain place.
Why are we 'milking' crabs for a coronavirus vaccine?
2dHorseshoe crab blood is used to help develop medicine, but some people want the practice stopped.
Bright early light of LEDs
2dLED lamps are lighting up the world more and more. Global LED sales in residential lighting have risen from five percent of the market in 2013 to 40 percent in 2018, according to the International Energy Agency, and other sectors mirror these trends. An unmatched energy efficiency and sturdiness have made LED lights popular with consumers.
NASA Rover Starts New "Road Trip" Across Martian Wasteland
2dAdventure Time NASA's Curiosity rover is about to embark on a new adventure at Mount Sharp, a gigantic summit on Mars. The trip, which the space agency dubbed the rover's "summer road trip" in an official announcement , will involve crossing about a mile of Martian wasteland to get to its next section. The rover has been exploring the unusual 3 mile-tall mountain since 2014 to look for signs of a
Abnormal cells in early-stage embryos might not preclude IVF success
2dThe presence of an abnormal number of chromosomes in the genetic profile of early-stage embryos may be far more common – and potentially less threatening – during normal human development than is currently appreciated, according to new research from Johns Hopkins University biologists.
Padma Lakshmi's New Food Show Is a Trojan Horse
2dFood, at its essence, is sustenance; that much is simple. Where things get complicated is in all the manifold ways it sustains us. Consider the burrito. In the first episode of Padma Lakshmi's new Hulu show, Taste the Nation , the food writer and longtime Top Chef host travels to El Paso, Texas, where she attempts to isolate all the different ingredients in one of America's favorite dishes. At th
Learning more about particle collisions with machine learning
2dA team of scientists has devised a machine learning algorithm that calculates, with low computational time, how the ATLAS detector in the Large Hadron Collider would respond to the ten times more data expected with a planned upgrade in 2027.
Evidence found of epic prehistoric Pacific voyages
2dNew evidence has been found for epic prehistoric voyages between the Americas and eastern Polynesia.
Learning more about particle collisions with machine learning
2dA team of scientists has devised a machine learning algorithm that calculates, with low computational time, how the ATLAS detector in the Large Hadron Collider would respond to the ten times more data expected with a planned upgrade in 2027.
Study could rewrite Earth's history
2dNew research has found evidence to suggest that the Earth's first continents were not formed by subduction in a modern-like plate tectonics environment as previously thought, and instead may have been created by an entirely different process.
7 things to know about the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission
2dIn less than a month, NASA expects to launch the Mars 2020 Perseverance mission from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Loaded with scientific instruments, advanced computational capabilities for landing, and other new systems, the Perseverance rover is the largest, heaviest, most sophisticated vehicle NASA has ever sent to the Red Planet.
With first spacecraft to Red Planet, United Arab Emirates poised to join elite Mars club
2dHope mission will gather sorely needed data on the martian atmosphere, boost Emirati space science
The Push To Turn NYC's Polluting Peaker Plants Into Publicly-Owned Solar Power
2dA soccer game next to the Ravenswood Generating Station last Fall. CLARISA DIAZ, GOTHAMIST/WNYC By Clarisa Diaz (Gothamist). John Upton (Climate Central) contributed reporting. Looming over a playground in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Queens stands the enormous Ravenswood Generating Station, the 23rd largest power plant in the country. Its functions are to operate as a fossil fueled peaker
Healthier school food and physical activity environments matter for childhood obesity
2dStudents at elementary and secondary schools that offer healthier food offerings and more opportunities for physical activities have a healthier body mass index, according to Rutgers researchers. The study, published in Preventive Medicine Reports, uses professional measures of students' height and weight — the gold standard for studying childhood obesity — in a study on the effects of a school'
Biobased chemicals take center stage
2dUsually, when oil prices fall, biobased chemical firms struggle. But these days, alternatives to petroleum-based products are undergoing a renaissance. Consumers are increasingly eco-conscious, leading companies to partner with chemical manufacturers to develop products that are both sustainable and high performing. A new article in Chemical & Engineering News, the weekly newsmagazine of the Ameri
Learning more about particle collisions with machine learning
2dThe Large Hadron Collider (LHC) near Geneva, Switzerland became famous around the world in 2012 with the detection of the Higgs boson. The observation marked a crucial confirmation of the Standard Model of particle physics, which organizes the subatomic particles into groups similar to elements in the periodic table from chemistry.
Physicists use oscillations of atoms to control a phase transition
2dThe goal of 'femtochemistry' is to film and control chemical reactions with short flashes of light. Using consecutive laser pulses, atomic bonds can be excited precisely and broken as desired. So far, this has been demonstrated for selected molecules. Researchers at the University of Göttingen and the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry have now succeeded in transferring this principle
Texas will face driest conditions of the last 1,000 years
2dTexas' future climate will feature drier summers and decreasing water supplies for much of the state for the remainder of the 21st century—likely resulting in the driest conditions the state has endured in the last 1,000 years, according to a team of researchers led by a Texas A&M University professor.
How colliding neutron stars could shed light on universal mysteries
2dResearchers have discovered an unusual pulsar – one of deep space's magnetized spinning neutron-star 'lighthouses' that emits highly focused radio waves from its magnetic poles. It is unusual because the masses of its two neutron stars are quite different — with one far larger than the other. The breakthrough provides clues about unsolved mysteries in astrophysics — including the expansion rate
New molecular tool precisely edits mitochondrial DNA
2dThe precision editing technologies that have revolutionized DNA editing in the cell nucleus have been unable to reach the mitochondrial genome. Now, researchers have broken this barrier with a new type of molecular editor that can make precise C* G-to-T* A nucleotide changes in mitochondrial DNA. The editor, engineered from a bacterial toxin, enables modeling of disease-associated mtDNA mutations,
Texas will face driest conditions of the last 1,000 years
2dTexas' future climate will feature drier summers and decreasing water supplies for much of the state for the remainder of the 21st century — likely resulting in the driest conditions the state has endured in the last 1,000 years, according to a team of researchers.
Programmable balloons pave the way for new shape-morphing devices
2dA team of researchers has designed materials that can control and mold a balloon into pre-programmed shapes. The system uses kirigami sheets — thin sheets of material with periodic cuts — embedded into an inflatable device.
Evolutionary biologists find several fish adapt in the same way to toxic water
2dSeveral species of fish have adapted to harsh environments using the same mechanism, which brings to question evolutionary chance, according to a new study.
Animals who try to sound 'bigger' are good at learning sounds
2dSome animals fake their body size by sounding 'bigger' than they actually are. Researchers studied 164 different mammals and found that animals who lower their voice to sound bigger are often skilled vocalists. Both strategies — sounding bigger and learning sounds — are likely driven by sexual selection, and may play a role in explaining the origins of human speech evolution.
The effects of smartphone use on parenting
2dParents may worry that spending time on their smartphones has a negative impact on their relationships with their children. However, a new comprehensive analysis found that this is unlikely to be the case.
Evidence for wearing face masks is clear | Letter
2dResearch strongly supports the importance of face coverings in a variety of contexts, says Dominic Abrams You report that evidence from scientists supports the wearing of face masks, and describe the case as being supported by the president of the Royal Society, Venki Ramakrishnan ( No 10 must promote face mask use more forcefully, experts warn , 7 July). Your report, however, gives the impressio
New molecular tool precisely edits mitochondrial DNA
2dThe precision editing technologies that have revolutionized DNA editing in the cell nucleus have been unable to reach the mitochondrial genome. Now, researchers have broken this barrier with a new type of molecular editor that can make precise C* G-to-T* A nucleotide changes in mitochondrial DNA. The editor, engineered from a bacterial toxin, enables modeling of disease-associated mtDNA mutations,
Voting Rights Act led to fewer racially biased arrests
2dThe Voting Rights Act of 1965 not only enabled more Black Americans to vote, but also dramatically decreased the rate of Black Americans arrested in many places, according to a new study. The working paper's findings suggest that fighting for enfranchisement for historically marginalized groups could play a major role in improving racial equality in the United States. "…giving Black people a real
Soil studies can be helpful for border control
2dUnderground tunnels have been used by warriors and smugglers for thousands of years to infiltrate battlegrounds and cross borders. A new analysis published in the Open Journal of Soil Science presents a series of medieval and modern case studies to identify the most restrictive and ideal soil and geologic conditions for tunneling.
Enforcing gender quotas increases boardroom diversity and quality
2dAn organization that is required by national law to have significant female representation on its board of directors sees higher diversity and skills than those in countries that simply advise on quotas, according to research from City, University of London's Business School.
UK sets aside £50bn extra for public services during pandemic
2dScale of emergency measures includes £15bn spent on PPE to protect frontline health workers
A conservation scientist enlists Colombia's ex-guerrillas in a new cause: preserving their country's biodiversity
2dAfter years of isolation, former combatants are learning to inventory species and launch ecotourism businesses
Curiosity Rover Begins Summer Road Trip to Avoid Sinking Sand
2dCuriosity has been on Mars since 2012 and exploring Mount Sharp since 2014. While the rover has long since exceeded its design life, NASA isn't taking any chances with its only active Mars rover, particularly when the Perseverance launch has been pushed back again . To reach the next section of Mount Sharp, Curiosity is setting off on a summer road trip that will avoid a dangerous sand trap. Curi
Milking algae mechanically: A process to succeed petroleum-derived chemicals
2dAlgae hold a lot of untapped potential for use in industry. So far algae have provided invaluable nutrition in the health food sector but have struggled to be competitive against petroleum-derived chemical production. Algae are more favorable to petroleum from an environmental standpoint but the production cost of culturing, collecting, extracting and refining adds up to make the process too expen
Regulating the properties of a single crystal via voltage and application
2dLead halide perovskites can be turned into optoelectronic devices through low-cost solution depositions, but these approaches often leave numerous charge-trapping defects in the perovskite. Continuously improving the performance of these optoelectronic devices is needed to overcome the bottleneck problem. The defect (including surface defects and volume defects) density in perovskites is a key par
Misfolded membrane proteins cleared from cells by 'reubiquitinase'
2dChinese researchers recently discovered a protein quality control mechanism called 'reubiquitination.' The mechanism, according to the researchers, could promote the elimination of misfolded membrane proteins, minimize their dwell time in cells, and thereby reduce their probability to form toxic aggregates in the human body.
The best (and worst) materials for masks
2dIt's intuitive and scientifically shown that wearing a face covering can help reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. But not all masks are created equal, according to new University of Arizona-led research.
Learning more about particle collisions with machine learning
2dA team of Argonne scientists has devised a machine learning algorithm that calculates, with low computational time, how the ATLAS detector in the Large Hadron Collider would respond to the ten times more data expected with a planned upgrade in 2027.
Rock 'n' control
2dThe goal of "Femtochemistry" is to film and control chemical reactions with short flashes of light. Using consecutive laser pulses, atomic bonds can be excited precisely and broken as desired. So far, this has been demonstrated for selected molecules. Researchers at the University of Göttingen and the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry have now succeeded in transferring this principle
Milking algae mechanically: A process to succeed petroleum-derived chemicals
2dAlgae hold a lot of untapped potential for use in industry. So far algae have provided invaluable nutrition in the health food sector but have struggled to be competitive against petroleum-derived chemical production. Algae are more favorable to petroleum from an environmental standpoint but the production cost of culturing, collecting, extracting and refining adds up to make the process too expen
Misfolded membrane proteins cleared from cells by 'reubiquitinase'
2dChinese researchers recently discovered a protein quality control mechanism called 'reubiquitination.' The mechanism, according to the researchers, could promote the elimination of misfolded membrane proteins, minimize their dwell time in cells, and thereby reduce their probability to form toxic aggregates in the human body.
Six tips for writing emails that aren't absolute garbage
2dUnless you're writing to a close friend or provider of illegal goods, "Yo Chucky" is never a good way to start an email. ( NeONBRAND / Unsplash/) Despite dozens of services trying to kill it, email isn't going anywhere —with its myriad of flaws and bad practices, it's still the best system we've got. But unless you have a totally innovative idea that will revolutionize the way we communicate fore
US Investigating "Breach" at Nuclear Weapons Facility
2dNuclear Leak U.S. officials are investigating what may have been a dangerous radiation leak at the Los Alamos National Laboratory that could have affected as many as 15 workers. The leak, which occurred on June 8, was first disclosed this week, ABC News reports . While the leak poses no risk to the public or outside world, the 15 workers may have been exposed to hazardous levels of radiation from
FirstGroup warns of 'material uncertainty' over continuing as going concern
2dRail and bus company struggles from lack of clarity over state support as it worries over pace of recovery in transport sector
Coronavirus: WHO rethinking how Covid-19 spreads in air
2dThe WHO has acknowledged there is evidence that Covid-19 can be spread by airborne particles.
Soil studies can be helpful for border control
2dUnderground tunnels have been used by warriors and smugglers for thousands of years to infiltrate battlegrounds and cross borders. A new analysis published in the Open Journal of Soil Science presents a series of medieval and modern case studies to identify the most restrictive and ideal soil and geologic conditions for tunneling.
Programmable balloons pave the way for new shape-morphing devices
2dA team of researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) has designed materials that can control and mold a balloon into pre-programmed shapes. The system uses kirigami sheets — thin sheets of material with periodic cuts — embedded into an inflatable device.
Preliminary study suggests tuberculosis vaccine may be limiting COVID-19 deaths
2dWhile a direct correlation between BCG vaccinations and a reduction in coronavirus mortalities still needs to be understood more fully, researchers hold hope that the BCG vaccine might be able to provide at least short-term protections against severe COVID-19, particularly for front-line medical workers or high-risk patients.
Native Americans and Polynesians Met Around 1200 A.D.
2dGenetic analysis of their modern descendants shows that people from the Pacific Islands and South America interacted long before Europeans arrived
Why Is Ivory So Precious? And More Questions From Our Readers
2dYou've got questions. We've got experts
A sprinkle of rock dust could help avoid catastrophic climate change
2dSpreading rock dust on cropland around the world could absorb a tenth of humanity's carbon budget, which would help avoid triggering catastrophic levels of global warming
Polynesians and Native Americans met 800 years ago after epic voyage
2dSome Polynesian people carry genes from Native Americans, which they acquired around AD 1200 – suggesting an epic journey across the Pacific Ocean
The powerhouses inside cells have been gene-edited for the first time
2dMaking precise changes to the genomes of mitochondria within our cells could lead to treatments for disorders that can result in muscle weakness or even death in early childhood
Grief over covid-19 deaths may be unusually severe and long-lasting
2dPeople who lose loved ones to covid-19 may be more at risk of developing prolonged grief disorder because of the unique circumstances surrounding the death
Native Americans Crossed the Pacific Long Before Europeans
2dGenetic evidence points to individuals from South America having possibly floated on a raft to Polynesian islands about 500 years before Europeans navigated there.
Texas will face driest conditions of the last 1,000 years
2dTexas' future climate will feature drier summers and decreasing water supplies for much of the state for the remainder of the 21st century — likely resulting in the driest conditions the state has endured in the last 1,000 years, according to a team of researchers led by a Texas A&M University professor.
Researchers work to better measure delirium severity in older patients
2dIn a study published in Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorder, researchers reported on their effort to improve and validate tools used to assess the severity of a condition called delirium, an acute confusional state often experienced by older hospitalized patients.
Astronomers Surprised to Find Stars Streaming Into the Center of Our Galaxy
2dMoving In Scientists say they've discovered a vast trail of about 200 stars is streaming towards the center of the Milky Way — a starry river they think could be the remains of an ancient dwarf galaxy devoured by our own . "I was not expecting to see new stellar streams, but it was a great surprise," Lina Necib, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the California Institute of Technology, told Newsweek . New
Ancient voyage carried Native Americans' DNA to remote Pacific islands
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02055-4 Finding that some Polynesians have genetic ancestry from South America supports long-held theory that ancient populations met and produced offspring.
Will astronauts ever visit gas giants like Jupiter?
2dEvery week, the readers of our space newsletter, The Airlock , send in their questions for space reporter Neel V. Patel to answer. This week: Can we go to Jupiter? Once we move past the asteroid belt, is it realistic to assume there is a chance humans could ever explore any of the gas giants, like Jupiter, really close to its atmosphere? And what that would look like? —Sarah Jupiter, like the oth
Native South Americans were early inhabitants of Polynesia
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01983-5 DNA analysis of Polynesians and Native South Americans has revealed an ancient genetic signature that resolves a long-running debate over Polynesian origins and early contacts between the two populations.
A mobile robotic chemist
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2442-2 A mobile robot autonomously operates analytical instruments in a wet chemistry laboratory, performing a photocatalyst optimization task much faster than a human would be able to.
Glucose metabolism links astroglial mitochondria to cannabinoid effects
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2470-y In mice, persistent activation of mitochondrial cannabinoid receptors in astroglia impairs cellular glucose metabolism and lactate production, leading to an increase in redox stress in neurons and altered behavioural responses.
Potential for large-scale CO2 removal via enhanced rock weathering with croplands
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2448-9 A detailed assessment of the techno-economic potential of enhanced rock weathering on croplands identifies national CO2 removal potentials, costs and engineering challenges if it were to be scaled up to help meet ambitious global CO2 removal targets.
Massive haplotypes underlie ecotypic differentiation in sunflowers
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2467-6 Resequencing analyses of three species of wild sunflower identify large non-recombining haplotype blocks that correlate with ecologically relevant traits, soil and climate characteristics, and that differentiate species ecotypes.
Microbiota modulate sympathetic neurons via a gut–brain circuit
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2474-7 A combination of gnotobiotic mouse models, transcriptomics, circuit tracing and chemogenetic manipulations identifies neuronal circuits that integrate microbial signals in the gut with regulation of the sympathetic nervous system.
Mitochondrial genome editing gets precise
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01974-6 A bacterial toxin has been found that allows DNA in a cellular organelle called the mitochondrion to be precisely altered. This development could help to combat diseases caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA.
Extracellular proteostasis prevents aggregation during pathogenic attack
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2461-z A systematic analysis of the proteostasis network of secreted proteins in Caenorhabditis elegans identifies numerous regulators of protein homeostasis outside the cell, and highlights the contribution of extracellular proteostasis to host defence.
Tunable spin-polarized correlated states in twisted double bilayer graphene
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2458-7 Twisted double bilayer graphene devices show tunable spin-polarized correlated states that are sensitive to electric and magnetic fields, providing further insights into correlated states in two-dimensional moiré materials.
Coherent control of a surface structural phase transition
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2440-4 A structural phase transition from metal to insulator on a solid surface is controlled by an ultrafast sequence of optical pulses.
A bacterial cytidine deaminase toxin enables CRISPR-free mitochondrial base editing
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2477-4 An interbacterial toxin that catalyses the deamination of cytidines within double-stranded DNA forms part of a CRISPR-free, RNA-free base editing system that enables manipulation of human mitochondrial DNA.
Scientists in China say US government crackdown is harming collaborations
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02015-y Investigations into foreign interference on US campuses have rattled researchers in both countries.
Removal of atmospheric CO2 by rock weathering holds promise for mitigating climate change
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01965-7 Large-scale removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere might be achieved through enhanced rock weathering. It now seems that this approach is as promising as other strategies, in terms of cost and CO2-removal potential.
Sodium regulates clock time and output via an excitatory GABAergic pathway
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2471-x The authors demonstrate that clock time can be regulated by non-photic physiologically relevant cues and that such cues can drive unscheduled homeostatic responses via clock-output networks.
Pulling carbon from the sky is necessary but not sufficient
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02001-4 Carbon dioxide removal is becoming a serious proposition. But it is not a substitute for aggressive action to cut emissions.
Native American gene flow into Polynesia predating Easter Island settlement
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2487-2 Genomic analyses of DNA from modern individuals show that, about 800 years ago, pre-European contact occurred between Polynesian individuals and Native American individuals from near present-day Colombia, while remote Pacific islands were still being settled.
Mitochondrial ubiquinol oxidation is necessary for tumour growth
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2475-6 Oxidation of ubiquinol by the mitochondrial electron transfer chain drives tumour growth by maintaining the function of the oxidative Krebs cycle and de novo pyrimidine synthesis.
How lactate links cannabis to social behaviour
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01975-5 An active component of cannabis has been shown to disrupt the delicate metabolic balance between neurons and non-neuronal cells called astrocytes, altering social behaviour in mice.
Structures of fungal and plant acetohydroxyacid synthases
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2514-3
Fitness trade-offs incurred by ovary-to-gut steroid signalling in Drosophila
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2462-y High levels of the sexually dimorphic hormone ecdysone, produced by active ovaries in Drosophila, promote the proliferation of stem cells in the female gut and maximize reproductive fitness, but also increase female susceptibility to age-dependent dysplasia and tumorigenesis.
The six-year-old space agency with hopes for Mars
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02056-3 On this week's podcast, an ambitious Mars mission from a young space agency, and how crumbling up rocks could help fight climate change.
Asymmetric mass ratios for bright double neutron-star mergers
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2439-x Pulsar timing measurements show a mass ratio of about 0.8 for the double neutron-star system PSR J1913+1102, and population synthesis models indicate that such asymmetric systems represent 2–30% of merging binaries.
Large-scale integration of artificial atoms in hybrid photonic circuits
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2441-3 An approach for integrating a large number of solid-state qubits on a photonic integrated circuit is used to construct a 128-channel artificial atom chip containing diamond quantum emitters.
Reply to: In vivo quantification of mitochondrial membrane potential
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2367-9
In vivo quantification of mitochondrial membrane potential
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2366-x
Irritant-evoked activation and calcium modulation of the TRPA1 receptor
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2480-9 Electrophiles activate the transient receptor potential ion channel TRPA1 by a two-step cysteine modification mechanism, which stabilizes a cytoplasmic loop that controls gating and calcium permeability.
Scientists make precise gene edits to mitochondrial DNA for first time
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02054-5 Weird enzyme enables researchers to study — and potentially treat — deadly diseases.
Envelope protein ubiquitination drives entry and pathogenesis of Zika virus
2dNature, Published online: 08 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2457-8 The E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM7 polyubiquitinates the envelope protein of Zika virus, adding Lys63-linked polyubiquitin chains that interact with the TIM1 receptor of host cells to enhance virus entry and replication.
Plan om produktion af 10 mio. ton grøn brint i EU: »Det er en kæmpestor ambition. Men det er muligt«
2dI dag har EU-Kommissionen fremlagt en ny plan for bæredygtig brint, og selvom den kommer til at betyde store udgifter, så skal det være med til at skabe vækst, jobs og en klimaneutral verdensdel i 2050.
COVID-19: Yin and yang and herd immunity
2dWith no guarantee that a vaccine will be available soon, and even if one is developed it will take considerable time to administer to large numbers of people before the virus is eliminated.
COVID-19 cases and deaths in federal and state prisons significantly higher than in US population
2dA new analysis led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that the number of US prison residents who tested positive for COVID-19 was 5.5 times higher than the general US population.
Scientists join forces to investigate airborne risk of coronavirus
2dWHO adviser says results from well-designed studies are needed before it changes its advice Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage A major research effort is under way to understand whether Covid-19 can spread through tiny airborne particles that are released by infected people and remain suspended in the air for hours. Scientists are working alongside sanitary engineers at
Spectroscopy approach poised to improve treatment for serious heart arrhythmia
2dResearchers have demonstrated that a new mapping approach based on near infrared spectroscopy can distinguish between fat and muscle tissue in the heart. This distinction is critical when using radiofrequency ablation to treat a serious heart rhythm problem known as ventricular tachycardia.
New study shows colliding neutron stars may unlock mysteries of universe expansion
2dThe National Science Foundation's Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico has proven itself instrumental in another major astronomical discovery.An international team of scientists, led by the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom, found an asymmetrical double neutron star system using the facility's powerful radio telescope.
How are misfolded membrane proteins cleared from cells by "reubiquitinase"?
2dChinese researchers recently discovered a protein quality control mechanism called "reubiquitination", which could promote the elimination of misfolded membrane proteins, minimize their dwell time in cells, and thereby reduce their probability to form toxic aggregates in human body.
New molecular tool precisely edits mitochondrial DNA
2dThe precision editing technologies that have revolutionized DNA editing in the cell nucleus have been unable to reach the mitochondrial genome. Now, researchers have broken this barrier with a new type of molecular editor that can make precise C* G-to-T* A nucleotide changes in mitochondrial DNA. The editor, engineered from a bacterial toxin, enables modeling of disease-associated mtDNA mutations,
Scaling up the quantum chip
2dMIT researchers have developed a process to manufacture and integrate 'artificial atoms,' created by atomic-scale defects in microscopically thin slices of diamond, with photonic circuitry, producing the largest quantum chip of its type.
Value-based payments disproportionately impact safety-net hospitals
2dA new study led by researchers at Boston Medical Center, in collaboration with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, shows that value-based incentive programs aimed at reducing health care-associated infections did not improve infection rates in either safety-net or non-safety-net hospitals. Published in JAMA Network Open, these results also demonstrate persistent disparities between infection ra
Life and death, hope and despair in era of COVID-19
2dThe response of a physician to the fear and despair associated with COVID-19 is described in this article.
Polynesians, Native Americans made contact before European arrival, genetic study finds
2dThrough deep genetic analyses, Stanford Medicine scientists and their collaborators have found conclusive scientific evidence of contact between ancient Polynesians and Native Americans from the region that is now Colombia — something that's been hotly contested in the historic and archaeological world for decades.
Late coronary stent thrombosis in patient with COVID-19
2dThis case report describes a patient with COVID-19 who developed late drug-eluting stent thrombosis.
Supergenes play a larger role in evolution than previously thought
2dLarge blocks of 'plug and play' genes play a super-sized role in adaption-and may help fill lingering gaps in Darwin's theories
Clinical characteristics, symptoms of patients with COVID-19 receiving emergency medical services
2dClinical characteristics and symptoms of patients with COVID-19 in Seattle and greater King County, Washington, who required 911 emergency medical services response are described in this study.
Examining association of COVID-19 public health campaign with improving personal hygiene, physical distancing
2dThis survey study examined whether a nationwide COVID-19 public health campaign in the Netherlands about personal hygiene and physical distancing was associated with improvement in these behaviors.
Outdoor light linked with teens' sleep and mental health
2dResearch shows that adolescents who live in areas that have high levels of artificial light at night tend to get less sleep and are more likely to have a mood disorder relative to teens who live in areas with low levels of night-time light. The research was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health, and is published in JAMA Psychiatry .
Death rate dramatically less for young heart attack survivors who quit smoking
2dAmong young people who have had a heart attack, quitting smoking is associated with a substantial benefit.
How colliding neutron stars could shed light on universal mysteries
2dResearchers have discovered an unusual pulsar – one of deep space's magnetized spinning neutron-star 'lighthouses' that emits highly focused radio waves from its magnetic poles. It is unusual because the masses of its two neutron stars are quite different — with one far larger than the other.The breakthrough provides clues about unsolved mysteries in astrophysics — including the expansion rate o
Liverpool researchers build robot scientist that has already discovered a new catalyst
2dResearchers at the University of Liverpool have built an intelligent mobile robot scientist that can work 24-7, carrying out experiments by itself. The robot scientist, the first of its kind, makes its own decisions about which chemistry experiments to perform next, and has already discovered a new catalyst.
Star-shaped brain cells shed light on the link between cannabis use and sociability
2dCannabis use can lead to behavioral changes, including reduced social interactions in some individuals. To better understand the phenomenon, Inserm researcher Giovanni Marsicano and his team from NeuroCenter Magendie (Inserm/Université de Bordeaux), in collaboration with Juan Bolaños' team from the University of Salamanca, have identified for the first time in mice the cerebral mechanisms underlyi
How to precisely edit mitochondrial DNA
2dA gene editing tool based on a bacterial toxin can make precise changes to mitochondrial DNA inside cells.
CRISPR enables one-step hybrid seed production in crops
2dCrop hybrid technologies have contributed to the significant yield improvement worldwide in the past decades. However, designing and maintaining a hybrid production line has always been complex and laborious. Now, researchers in China have developed a new system combining CRISPR-mediated genome editing with other approaches that could produce better seeds compared with conventional hybrid methods
Right Now, You Can Get This Game-Changing Workout App for 50% Off
2dCreating an effective workout regimen is hard. Actually sticking to it is even harder. However, a new workout app called Aaptiv is out to make both a whole lot easier . When it comes to working out, we all have different goals. Some people want to lose weight, others want to build muscle. Some people want to train for a 5k, while others want to run a marathon. Some people want to tone up a bit, w
Scientists Ponder Gory Mayhem of Zero-Gravity Surgery
2dSending a Mars astronaut suffering a medical emergency back to Earth would be effectively impossible — so future space travelers may have to conduct lifesaving surgical procedures in the near-zero gravity environment of space. That could be a messy — and potentially dangerous — endeavor, as Nina Louise Purvis, postgraduate researcher in space medicine at King's College London, writes in a new pie
Rain pounds central Japan as 61 feared dead in south
2dTorrential rain pounded central Japan Wednesday as authorities said 61 people were feared dead in days of heavy downpours that have triggered devastating landslides and terrifying floods.
Porous graphene ribbons doped with nitrogen for electronics and quantum computing
2dA team of physicists and chemists has produced the first porous graphene ribbons in which specific carbon atoms in the crystal lattice are replaced with nitrogen atoms. These ribbons have semiconducting properties that make them attractive for applications in electronics and quantum computing, as reported by researchers from the Universities of Basel, Bern, Lancaster and Warwick in the Journal of
New method to edit cell's 'powerhouse' DNA could help study variety of genetic diseases
2dA bacterial toxin cracks open door to new precision-editing tool for DNA in mitochondria
Polynesians steering by the stars met Native Americans long before Europeans arrived
2dStudy of modern DNA shakes up ideas of when and where contact happened
How and Why Computers Roll Loaded Dice
2dHere's a deceptively simple exercise: Come up with a random phone number. Seven digits in a sequence, chosen so that every digit is equally likely, and so that your choice of one digit doesn't affect the next. Odds are, you can't. (But don't take my word for it: Studies dating back to the 1950s reveal how mathematically nonrandom we are, even if we don't recognize it.) Don't take it to heart. Com
Sri Lanka rangers spot possible rare baby elephant twins
2dA pair of baby elephants feeding from the same mother have been spotted in a Sri Lankan national park, with officials speculating Wednesday the two could be a rare set of twins.
Native Americans Voyaged to Polynesia in Prehistoric Times, Genetics Suggests
2dThe legends were true.
Sri Lanka rangers spot possible rare baby elephant twins
2dA pair of baby elephants feeding from the same mother have been spotted in a Sri Lankan national park, with officials speculating Wednesday the two could be a rare set of twins.
Some Polynesians Carry Native American DNA, Study Finds
2dPolynesians NA Pacific
A new genetic study suggests that Polynesians made an epic voyage to South America 800 years ago.
Evolutionary biologists find several fish adapt in the same way to toxic water
2dSeveral species of fish have adapted to harsh environments using the same mechanism, which brings to question evolutionary chance, according to a study by Kansas State University and Washington State University.
Enforcing gender quotas increases boardroom diversity and quality
2dAn organisation that is required by national law to have significant female representation on its board of directors sees higher diversity and skills than those in countries that simply advise on quotas, according to research from City, University of London Business School.
How to precisely edit mitochondrial DNA
2dScientists can now precisely edit the genes inside mitochondria, the tiny energy factories inside of cells.
CRISPR enables one-step hybrid seed production in crops
2dCrop hybrid technologies have contributed to the significant yield improvement worldwide in the past decades. However, designing and maintaining a hybrid production line has always been complex and laborious. Now, researchers in China have developed a new system combining CRISPR-mediated genome editing with other approaches that could produce better seeds compared with conventional hybrid methods
Researchers build robot scientist that has already discovered a new catalyst
2dResearchers at the University of Liverpool have built an intelligent mobile robot scientist that can work 24-7, carrying out experiments by itself.
How colliding neutron stars could shed light on universal mysteries
2dAn important breakthrough in how we can understand dead star collisions and the expansion of the Universe has been made by an international team, led by the University of East Anglia.
Scaling up the quantum chip
2dMIT researchers have developed a process to manufacture and integrate "artificial atoms," created by atomic-scale defects in microscopically thin slices of diamond, with photonic circuitry, producing the largest quantum chip of its type.
Supergenes play a larger role in evolution than previously thought
2dMassive blocks of genes—inherited together 'plug and play' style—may play a larger role in evolutionary adaption than previously thought, according to new research in Nature.
Polynesians, Native Americans made contact before European arrival, genetic study finds
2dThrough deep genetic analyses, Stanford Medicine scientists and their collaborators have found conclusive scientific evidence of contact between ancient Polynesians and Native Americans from the region that is now Colombia—something that's been hotly contested in the historic and archaeological world for decades.
Hummingbirds found able to understand numerical order
2dA team of researchers from the University of St Andrews in the U.K. and the University of Lethbridge in Canada has found that hummingbirds are able to understand the concept of numerical order. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group describes experiments they conducted with wild hummingbirds and what they learned from them.
Harvard, MIT sue Trump govt over order revoking visas for foreign students
2dHarvard and MIT asked a court Wednesday to block an order by President Donald Trump's administration threatening the visas of foreign students whose entire courses have moved online because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Protein involved in corn's water stress response discovered
2dResearchers affiliated with the Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), hosted by the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, have discovered a protein involved in corn's resistance to dry weather, high temperatures, and fungal invasion.
Black Images Matter: How Cameras Helped—and Sometimes Harmed—Black People
2dFrom Frederick Douglass to George Floyd, photography has been key for racial justice. But cameras have also been used to hurt — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Hypnosis Can Cure Lying but Not Lack of Ambition
2dOriginally published in February 1900 — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Materials and Gases, Vials and Vaccines
2dLet's talk about some details that might sound small or even ridiculous, but (as you'll see) they're just the sorts of things that you have to worry about at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and physics. That makes it sound like I'm going to be going into something really high-tech here, but you be the judge – we're going to veer off into beer cans in a minute or two. Here's a detail for y
How to precisely edit mitochondrial DNA
2dScientists can now precisely edit the genes inside mitochondria, the tiny energy factories inside of cells.
CRISPR enables one-step hybrid seed production in crops
2dCrop hybrid technologies have contributed to the significant yield improvement worldwide in the past decades. However, designing and maintaining a hybrid production line has always been complex and laborious. Now, researchers in China have developed a new system combining CRISPR-mediated genome editing with other approaches that could produce better seeds compared with conventional hybrid methods
Supergenes play a larger role in evolution than previously thought
2dMassive blocks of genes—inherited together 'plug and play' style—may play a larger role in evolutionary adaption than previously thought, according to new research in Nature.
Hummingbirds found able to understand numerical order
2dA team of researchers from the University of St Andrews in the U.K. and the University of Lethbridge in Canada has found that hummingbirds are able to understand the concept of numerical order. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group describes experiments they conducted with wild hummingbirds and what they learned from them.
Protein involved in corn's water stress response discovered
2dResearchers affiliated with the Genomics for Climate Change Research Center (GCCRC), hosted by the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, have discovered a protein involved in corn's resistance to dry weather, high temperatures, and fungal invasion.
Hypnosis Can Cure Lying but Not Lack of Ambition
2dOriginally published in February 1900 — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Fluorescent peptide nanoparticles, in every color of the rainbow
2dThe discovery of green fluorescent protein (GFP), which is made by a jellyfish, transformed cell biology. It allowed scientists to stitch the GFP sequence to proteins from other organisms to trace their movements and interactions in living cells. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have designed peptide nanoparticles that can each glow in a variety of colors, opening t
Model suggests it could take decades for planet to start cooling after emissions are reduced
2dA trio of researchers at the CICERO Center for International Climate Research in Oslo, Norway, has found evidence that it could take decades for the planet to start cooling after human greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. In their paper published in the journal Nature Communications, B. H. Samset, J. S. Fuglestvedt and M. T. Lund describe the factors that went into the model and its results.
The transformative role of art during the pandemic | Anne Pasternak
2dMuseums are vessels of memory, knowledge, inspiration and dreams. Anne Pasternak, director of the Brooklyn Museum, makes the case for cultural institutions to take a leading role in supporting the world's recovery from COVID-19 — and shows how, in times of turmoil and disruption, the arts help us come together, heal and rebuild a better society. (This virtual conversation, hosted by TED arts and
Graphene: It is all about the toppings
2dThe way graphene interacts with other materials depends on how these materials are brought into contact with the graphene. The appropriate atoms are brought into contact with the graphene in such a way that they 'grow' on the graphene in the desired crystal structure. Until now the mechanisms of the 'growth' of such other materials on graphene have often remained unclear. A new study shows now how
Enhancing chemotherapy by RNA interference – BIO Integration
2dEnhancing Chemotherapy by RNA Interference – BIO Integrationhttps://doi.org/10.15212/bioi-2020-0003Announcing a new article publication for BIO Integration journal. In this review article the authors Shuwen Cao, Chunhao Lin, Shunung Liang, Chee Hwee Tan, Xiaoding Xu and Phei Er Saw from Sun Yatsen University, Guangzhou, China and Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China consider
Tackling coral reefs' thorny problem
2dResearchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) have revealed the evolutionary history of the crown-of-thorns starfish — a predator of coral that can devastate coral reefs. Their findings shed light on how the populations of these starfish have changed over time and could potentially help reduce their ecological destruction.
Milking algae mechanically: Progress to succeed petroleum derived chemicals
2dA method to extract carbohydrates and phycobiliproteins from algae was developed that does not kill the algae during harvest or rely on solvents for extraction and purification. This novel method uses mechanical shearing to 'milk' the desired compounds, greatly reducing the production cost of algae-derived compounds.
Neutralizing antibodies in the battle against COVID-19
2dAn important line of defense against SARS-CoV-2 is the formation of neutralizing antibodies. These can eliminate the intruders and have great potential to be used for prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. A team of researchers at the Cologne University Hospital and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) has elucidated how these antibodies develop and has isolated potent SARS-C
Protein involved in corn's water stress response discovered
2dThe protein could help develop drought-resistant plant varieties and products that reduce losses related to climate change.
Physical activity of older people requires tailored monitoring
2dThe ability to move about may deteriorate when ageing, a phenomenon which needs to be considered when assessing physical activity in older people.
Reducing radioactive waste in processes to dismantle nuclear facilities
2dMargarita Herranz, professor of nuclear engineering at the UPV/EHU, leads one of the working groups in the Europe H2020 INSIDER project. The project aims to improve the management of contaminated materials by designing a methodology which allows the best scenarios in the dismantling, closing down and remediation of nuclear facilities to be specified and selected; the ultimate aim is for the waste
In Parched Southwest, Warm Spring Renews Threat of 'Megadrought'
2dRapid melting this year showed that good snowpack doesn't necessarily translate into full reservoirs.
Technique fishes valuable nutrients out of shrimp processing water
2dThe seafood industry requires large amounts of water for food processing. Before used water is discharged, some organic matter, including protein, is typically removed. This sludge is usually landfilled or converted into biogas, which results in the valuable nutrients it contains being lost from the food chain. Now researchers report in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering a method to recover t
Study reveals the hidden fight within corals
2dResearchers from the School of Biological Sciences and Swire Institute of Marine Science at the University of Hong Kong are working to understand how the coral symbiosis may respond to global warming through changes in their microbiome, specifically their symbiotic algae. Using a newly developed method they revealed , which may be a determining factor in the sucthe metabolic function of algae chan
Enzymes as double agents: New mechanism discovered in protein modification
2dProteins are the workers in a cell and, as the 'basic element of life," are responsible for the most widely varying metabolic processes. In plants, for example, they take on an important function in photosynthesis. In order to be able to work purposefully, proteins change their chemical form after they have been produced in a cell—for example, through protein acetylation, when an acetyl group is t
77-year-old paper by controversial psychologist Hans Eysenck earns an expression of concern
2dJournals have issued expressions of concern for seven more papers by Hans Eysenck, including one for a paper the now-deceased psychologist published in the middle of World War II. Suspicions about Eysenck, who died in 1997, surfaced in the early 1990s, if not before. At least 14 of his papers have been retracted so far … Continue reading
Rosewood smuggling in The Gambia: Shipping firm halts timber exports
2dA BBC investigation found vast quantities of protected rosewood were being trafficked from The Gambia.
Study reveals the hidden fight within corals
2dResearchers from the School of Biological Sciences and Swire Institute of Marine Science at the University of Hong Kong are working to understand how the coral symbiosis may respond to global warming through changes in their microbiome, specifically their symbiotic algae. Using a newly developed method they revealed , which may be a determining factor in the sucthe metabolic function of algae chan
Enzymes as double agents: New mechanism discovered in protein modification
2dProteins are the workers in a cell and, as the 'basic element of life," are responsible for the most widely varying metabolic processes. In plants, for example, they take on an important function in photosynthesis. In order to be able to work purposefully, proteins change their chemical form after they have been produced in a cell—for example, through protein acetylation, when an acetyl group is t
Official Report: Boeing's Spaceship Still Really, Really Sucks
2dRiddled With Problems A final assessment by NASA of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, the aerospace giant's SpaceX Crew Dragon competitor, found that both its hardware and software are riddled with problems. The news could result in even more lengthy delays in the company's efforts to test its astronaut-ferrying shuttle. List of Demands In an announcement , NASA outlined a whopping 80 recommendation
Los Angeles: Birthplace of the Future
2dThe first time David Ulin visited Los Angeles in the late 80s, he stayed with a friend who had a giant, aerial map of the city pinned to his breakfast room wall.
Evaporative coolers to help you chill out without air conditioning
2dCooler temperatures in any room. (Fernando Hernandez via Unsplash/) Evaporative coolers, also known as swamp coolers, are environmentally friendly, cost-effective ways to make your home and outdoor areas more comfortable. These clever appliances draw warm, dry air across water-moistened pads that are fed by either small reservoirs in the machine or, for larger units, drawn from a building's water
Research explores how youth are excluded from public spaces, design practices
2dAmerica's youth have historically been excluded from using public spaces how they want, in addition to being left out of design discussions. Including them in this process will have long-term societal benefits, according to an Iowa State University researcher.
Bespoke catalysts for power-to-X
2dSuitable catalysts are of great importance for efficient power-to-X applications — but the molecular processes occurring during their use have not yet been fully understood. Using X-rays from a synchrotron particle accelerator, scientists of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have now been able to observe for the first time a catalyst during the Fischer-Tropsch reaction that facilitates the pr
Fluorescent peptide nanoparticles, in every color of the rainbow
2dThe discovery of green fluorescent protein (GFP), which is made by a jellyfish, transformed cell biology. It allowed scientists to stitch the GFP sequence to proteins from other organisms to trace their movements and interactions in living cells. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have designed peptide nanoparticles that can each glow in a variety of colors, opening t
Where did the Asian longhorned ticks in the US come from?
2dThe invasive population of Asian longhorned ticks in the United States likely began with three or more self-cloning females from northeastern Asia, according to a Rutgers-led study. Asian longhorned ticks outside the U.S. can carry debilitating diseases. In the United States and elsewhere they can threaten livestock and pets. The new study, published in the journal Zoonoses and Public Health, shed
Technique fishes valuable nutrients out of shrimp processing water
2dThe seafood industry requires large amounts of water for food processing. Before used water is discharged, some organic matter, including protein, is typically removed. This sludge is usually landfilled or converted into biogas, which results in the valuable nutrients it contains being lost from the food chain. Now researchers report in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering a method to recover t
Mirror image tumor treatment
2dOur immune system ought to be able to recognize and kill tumor cells. However, many tumors deceive the immune system. For example, they induce the so-called immune checkpoints of T-cells to shut down immune responses. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, scientists have now introduced a new approach for immunological tumor treatment. Their method is based on the specific blockade of an immune checkpo
Record efficiency for printed solar cells
2dA new study reports the highest efficiency ever recorded for full roll-to-roll printed perovskite solar cells. It marks a key step towards cheaper and more efficient ways of generating solar energy.
Hyperactive immune cells accelerate heart valve disease: Study
2dAortic valve stenosis is the most common type of heart valve disease in the elderly and affects more than one in eight people aged over 75. Researchers used organ-on-a-chip technology to discover the disease is made worse by the damaging hyperactivity of immune cells, which are activated by the constant stress of squeezing through the narrow aortic valve.
Self-isolation may increase susceptibility to COVID-19
2dPrevious research points to the effect of social stressors on developing upper respiratory infections, holding clues to COVID-19 risk.
New model of breast cancer's causes developed by UCSF-led team
2dA new model of the causes of breast cancer, created by a team led by researchers at UC San Francisco, Genentech and Stanford University, is designed to capture the complex interrelationships between dozens of primary and secondary breast cancer causes and stimulate further research.
Enzymes as double agents: New mechanism discovered in protein modification
2dProteins take on an important function in photosynthesis. In order to be able to work purposefully, they change their chemical form after they have been produced in a cell. The role of the 'driver' is played by enzymes. Researchers have now identified enzymes, which facilitate reactions in a twofold way. The study has been published in the journal "Molecular Systems Biology".
Evolutionary biologists find several fish adapt in the same way to toxic water
2dSeveral species of fish have adapted to harsh environments using the same mechanism, which brings to question evolutionary chance, according to a study by Kansas State University and Washington State University.
How animals are coping with the global 'weirding' of the Earth's seasons
2dThe UK's weather did a somersault in the first half of 2020, as the wettest February on record gave way to the sunniest spring. Climate change has warped the environmental conditions that might be considered normal, creating progressively weirder seasons that cause havoc for society. Longer, drier summers increase the risk of crop failure and fires, floods engulf homes, and less winter snowfall an
Mike Pence's Plan to Save Trump—And Himself
2dIn private moments, Donald Trump has told aides that he rescued Mike Pence from a potentially embarrassing defeat by pulling him out of a tough reelection bid in the 2016 Indiana governor's race and putting him on the ticket, a former White House official told me. Now it's Vice President Pence's turn to see what, if anything, he can do to rescue Trump from a more momentous loss—and keep alive a l
Evolutionary biologists find several fish adapt in the same way to toxic water
2dSeveral species of fish have adapted to harsh environments using the same mechanism, which brings to question evolutionary chance, according to a study by Kansas State University and Washington State University.
Love-hate relationship of solvent and water leads to better biomass breakup
2dScientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory used neutron scattering and supercomputing to better understand how an organic solvent and water work together to break down plant biomass, creating a pathway to significantly improve the production of renewable biofuels and bioproducts.
Love-hate relationship of solvent and water leads to better biomass breakup
2dScientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory used neutron scattering and supercomputing to better understand how an organic solvent and water work together to break down plant biomass, creating a pathway to significantly improve the production of renewable biofuels and bioproducts.
Researchers find safeguards for quantum communications
2dArmy researchers developed a new way to protect and safeguard quantum information, moving quantum networks a step closer to reality.
Binders for transmasculine, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming folks
2dAffordable and effective binders. (Amazon/) For transgender and gender-nonconforming people who choose to bind—the compression of chest tissue to create a flat appearance—shopping online for binders can be an overwhelming yet affirming experience. In a 2017 study of 1,800 transmasculine adults, participants reported decreased gender dysphoria, anxiety, depression, and overall improved mood after
Best video camera bags for traveling
2dKeep your gear safe on the go. (Thomas Schweighofer via Unsplash/) I've shot documentaries, TV interviews, news stories, and large events all over the country, and there are few pieces of equipment I rely on as much as my camera…bag. Whether I'm shooting with a professional documentary camera (usually a Sony FS-7 or Canon C-series), or DSLRs, or even all-in-one ENG (electronic news gathering) cam
Checkpoint blockade by a D-peptide for cancer immunotherapy
2dOur immune system ought to be able to recognize and kill tumor cells. However, many tumors deceive the immune system. For example, they induce the so-called immune checkpoints of T-cells to shut down immune responses. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, scientists have now introduced a new approach for immunological tumor treatment. Their method is based on the specific blockade of an immune checkpo
Checkpoint blockade by a D-peptide for cancer immunotherapy
2dOur immune system ought to be able to recognize and kill tumor cells. However, many tumors deceive the immune system. For example, they induce the so-called immune checkpoints of T-cells to shut down immune responses. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, scientists have now introduced a new approach for immunological tumor treatment. Their method is based on the specific blockade of an immune checkpo
Bats are hosts to a range of viruses but don't get sick – why?
2dBats harbour many diverse viruses, including coronaviruses. Indeed, SARS, Mers and COVID-19—which are all caused by coronaviruses—are thought to have emerged from bats. These diseases can be deadly to humans, yet bats seem to be unaffected by them.
Pull up to the bumper
2dIs six seconds long enough for an advertisement to woo a potential customer? The corporate executives who place short, "bumper ads" on the video-based social media service, Youtube, think so. Now, research published in the International Journal of Electronic Marketing and Retailing, shows what kind of content in bumper ads is most engaging for Youtube users. Ultimately, the insights could help gui
What kind of face mask gives the best protection against Covid-19?
2dYour questions answered on what type of mask to wear to cut the risk of getting Covid-19 Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Yes. Different types of mask offer different levels of protection. Surgical grade N95 respirators offer the highest level of protection against Covid-19 infection, followed by surgical grade masks. However, these masks are costly, in limited supply
Uncurbed COVID would cost more lives than economic shutdown
2dThe economic shutdown is worth the price of the recession in terms of lives saved, according to new research. "We hope that a lives-to-lives comparison allows for discussion about the wisdom of the economic shutdown, uncluttered by differences in people's beliefs about the value of human life." The debate over the coronavirus economic shutdown splits largely along partisan lines, with conservativ
Reliable power stations for emergencies or camping
2dPower when you need it. (Persnickety Prints via Unsplash/) If you enjoy camping, or you just want to be ready when a blackout strikes, portable power stations are an excellent investment. These large batteries reliably power many devices with AC plugs, USB connectors, and more. Unlike smaller battery packs that output enough juice to charge cell phones and other small devices, power stations are
Bats are hosts to a range of viruses but don't get sick – why?
2dBats harbour many diverse viruses, including coronaviruses. Indeed, SARS, Mers and COVID-19—which are all caused by coronaviruses—are thought to have emerged from bats. These diseases can be deadly to humans, yet bats seem to be unaffected by them.
Remdesivir can save more COVID patients where hospitals are maxed out
2dA new study outlines how remdesivir could save lives in countries with less hospital capacity, such as South Africa, where COVID-19 is beginning to overwhelm intensive care units. The research comes amid news that the United States has bought up virtually the entire global supply of the drug . "Why would you use a drug—that has limited availability—to save one life when that same drug could be us
America Has a Sick Obsession with Covid-19 Polls
2dScholars have long warned that constant polling is bad for democracy. In a pandemic, it's also bad for public health.
HKU study reveals the hidden fight within corals
2dResearchers from the School of Biological Sciences and Swire Institute of Marine Science at the University of Hong Kong are working to understand how the coral symbiosis may respond to global warming through changes in their microbiome, specifically their symbiotic algae. Using a newly developed method they revealed , which may be a determining factor in the sucthe metabolic function of algae chan
Glowing worms provide live-action movies of the body's internal scaffolding
2dDuke researchers have made the first time-lapse movies of the sheet-like mesh that surrounds and supports most animal tissues. While the thin layer of extracellular matrix known as the basement membrane plays key roles in development and disease, visualizing it in living organisms has been difficult to do. The team says their work offers a new way to study basement membrane defects underlying agin
Porous graphene ribbons doped with nitrogen for electronics and quantum computing
2dA team of physicists and chemists has produced the first porous graphene ribbons in which specific carbon atoms in the crystal lattice are replaced with nitrogen atoms. These ribbons have semiconducting properties that make them attractive for applications in electronics and quantum computing, as reported by researchers from the Universities of Basel, Bern, Lancaster and Warwick in the Journal of
Non-invasive diagnostic procedures for suspected CHD: search reveals informative evidence
2dInformative study results are available on diagnostic procedures using computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for suspected coronary heart disease (CHD).
Researchers find safeguards for quantum communications
2dArmy researchers developed a new way to protect and safeguard quantum information, moving quantum networks a step closer to reality.
The real difference between a cheap bike and an expensive one
2dFor $150, this Genesis department store bike has full-suspension and disc brakes to make it look very similar to much pricier rides. But there are key differences. (Walmart/) At first glance, it can be tough to tell why some bikes will set you back just $150 while others cost as much as a nice used car. Riding them will often make the differences more obvious, especially if you put any serious mi
Climate crisis causing families to shun farmers for arranged marriages
2dThe devastating effects of climate change on the natural environment are already well known. Temperatures are increasing. The frequency of extreme weather events is on the up. Sea levels are rising. But the social and cultural effects of the climate crisis are discussed less often. Is the climate crisis already changing societal norms? And if so, how?
From floating guts to 'sticky' blood – here's how to do surgery in space
2dEarlier this year, it was reported that an astronaut in space had developed a potentially life-threatening blood clot in the neck. This was successfully treated with medication by doctors on Earth, avoiding surgery. But given that space agencies and private spaceflight companies have committed to landing humans on Mars in the coming decades, we may not be so lucky next time.
Is the ski industry self-destructive?
2dMarch 5th. The government of Iceland was the first to declare Ischgl ski resort, in the Austrian Alps, a coronavirus risk area after a group of Icelandic skiers returned home infected. Nicknamed the "Ibiza of the Alps," Ischgl is a hub for après ski party culture and attracts 500,000 visitors every winter. The resort has so far been linked to 2,000 coronavirus cases in six European countries. The
Study shows cities have stopped providing middle-class work in recent decades
2dThe great U.S. economic boom after World War II was an urban phenomenon. Tens of millions of Americans flocked to cities to work and forge a future in the nation's middle class. And for a few decades, living in the big city paid off.
How Drones and Aerial Vehicles Could Change Cities
2dDrones, personal flying vehicles, and air taxis may be part of our everyday life in the very near future . Drones and air taxis will create new means of mobility and transport routes. Drones will be used for surveillance, delivery, and in the construction sector as it moves towards automation. The introduction of these aerial craft into cities will require the built environment to change dramatic
Releasing People From Prison Is Easier Said Than Done
2dI f the coronavirus were to design its ideal home, it would build a prison. Inmates are packed together day and night; social distancing, frequent hand-washing, and mask wearing are fantasies. Many inmates are old, sick, and prone to infection. Most prisons are operating near capacity; some house more prisoners than they were built for. The five largest clusters of the virus are in prisons; in Ma
These Waterproof, Wireless Earbuds Are the High Tech Summer Accessory You Need
2dEveryone knows that everything you do in the summer is better with music , whether you're mowing the lawn, hanging out by the pool, or just grilling burgers. However, you definitely don't want to be the annoying guy who makes everybody listen to his music by blasting it from a Bluetooth speaker. What you need for those hot summer days is a good pair of wireless and fully waterproof earbuds. And n
Finding NEMO: The future of gravitational-wave astronomy
2dA new study released today makes a compelling case for the development of "NEMO"—a new observatory in Australia that could deliver on some of the most exciting gravitational-wave science next-generation detectors have to offer, but at a fraction of the cost.
Lefties and righties: Asymmetry in fish genitalia
2dEvolutionary biologists from the University of Konstanz have resolved a century-old question regarding the asymmetric genitals of internally fertilizing fishes of the family Anablepidae. Surprisingly, the direction of genital asymmetry in these fishes is random rather than hereditary.
Old X-rays, new vision: A nano-focused X-ray laser
2dImagine taking movies of the fastest chemical processes, or imaging atomic-scale detail of single virus particles without damaging them. Researchers from Japan have advanced the state-of-the-art in such endeavors, by enhancing the utility of a special X-ray laser for nanometer-scale measurements.
Lefties and righties: Asymmetry in fish genitalia
2dEvolutionary biologists from the University of Konstanz have resolved a century-old question regarding the asymmetric genitals of internally fertilizing fishes of the family Anablepidae. Surprisingly, the direction of genital asymmetry in these fishes is random rather than hereditary.
Generator developed for harvesting energy from droplets
2dScientists of the University of Twente and South China Normal University designed an electrical generator that can harvest energy from impacting droplets and other sources of mechanical energy. Their paper recently appeared in Advanced Materials.
COVID-19 forced us to move a conference from a Greek island to the web, and quickly. Here's what we learned
2dIn May this year, we were convening a dream conference: 140 like-minded academics on a Greek island for three-and-a-half days to work on a topic we cared about—organizing sustainably.
Green glowing worms provide live-action movies of the body's internal scaffolding
2dDuke University researchers have made the first time-lapse movies of the sheet-like latticework that surrounds and supports most animal tissues.
Coronavirus spike forces hospital in UK PM's constituency to close A&E
2dEmergency admissions to Hillingdon hospital in London halted after number of staff test positive
Green glowing worms provide live-action movies of the body's internal scaffolding
2dDuke University researchers have made the first time-lapse movies of the sheet-like latticework that surrounds and supports most animal tissues.
Brigham investigators develop sterilizable, alternative N95 mask
2dEarly results from modeling and a feasibility study for fit testing suggest that the iMASC system, a N95mask alternative, could fit faces of different sizes and shapes and be sterilized for reuse.
UBCO kindness researcher challenges the notion of mean teens
2dA UBC Okanagan researcher is hoping to flip the switch on the pre-convinced stereotype that teens are mean. Associate Professor John-Tyler Binfet, a researcher in the School of Education, says teenagers often receive a negative reputation, sometimes showcased in mainstream media reports of bullying, cyber harassment or schoolyard battles.
Curtin study could rewrite Earth's history
2dCurtin University-led research has found new evidence to suggest that the Earth's first continents were not formed by subduction in a modern-like plate tectonics environment as previously thought, and instead may have been created by an entirely different process.
Old X-rays, new vision: A nano-focused X-ray laser
2dResearchers at Osaka University, in collaboration with RIKEN and Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI), have focused the beam of an X-ray free-electron laser to 6 nanometers, closer to the diameter of a typical atom than obtained in prior work. In conjunction with the extremely brief pulses and high intensities of the laser, researchers can now study matter at extremely high resol
New Red Algae Are Threatening Hawaii's Coral Reefs, Scientists Say
2dThe recently discovered species covers coral in a thick layer and suffocates it. Scientists don't know where it came from.
Ben-Gurion University researchers determine how to accurately pinpoint malicious drone operators
2dWhen tested in simulated drone paths, the model was able to predict the operator location with 78% accuracy. The next step in the project would be to repeat this experiment with data captured from real drones.
Regulating the properties of MAPbBr3 single crystal via voltage and application
2dDefect density is one of the most significant characteristics of perovskite single crystals (PSCs) that determines their optical and electrical properties, but few strategies are available to tune this property. Developing a technique for modifying the defect population of PSCs without requiring chemical additives is urgently need. Here, they demonstrate that voltage regulation engineering is help
UBC research shows hearing persists at end of life
2dHearing is widely thought to be the last sense to go in the dying process. Now, the first study to investigate hearing in palliative care patients who are close to death provides evidence that some may still be able to hear while in an unresponsive state. Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to measure the dying brain's response to sound. The findings may help family and friends bring comfort to
Lefties and righties: Asymmetry in fish genitalia
2dEvolutionary biologists from the University of Konstanz resolve a century-old question regarding the asymmetric genitals of internally fertilizing fishes of the family Anablepidae. Surprisingly, the direction of genital asymmetry in these fishes is random rather than hereditary.
Adipose-derived stem cells considerably improve fat graft retention in breast augmentation
2dResults of a clinical trial released in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine indicates that breast augmentation in patients treated with fat grafts enriched with autologous adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) had significantly superior results compared to those treated with non-enriched grafts.
New method estimates risks of hormone-disrupting substances in drinking water
2dResearchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have developed a new method that can make it easier for public authorities to assess the health risks of hormone-disrupting chemicals in the environment. The study, which is published in Environmental Health Perspectives, shows that women are particularly at risk of decreased levels of thyroid hormones related to PFAS-contaminated drinking water.
Host cell fusion in bacteria infection alarms immune system, causing host cell destruction
2dNUS Medicine researchers have identified a new trigger for our immune system–abnormal fusion of host cells to form giant cells after infection by pathogens such as the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. Cell fusion triggered the cGAS-STING pathway, activating a type 1 interferon response which kills pathogens. In extensive cell fusion, cGAS-STING caused the giant cells to self-destruct instead.
Ice cream makers to help you chill out on a hot day
2dHave as many scoops as you want. (Michelle Tsang via Unsplash/) Consistency is everything in a good dish of ice cream. Cream, milk, sugar, and vanilla in liquid form would be strange to drink, but becomes a classic dessert when churned and frozen. Ice cream machines can deliver gourmet quality ice cream for less than pricey store-bought pints, and are simple to use. Just gather your ingredients,
Spaceship Earth review – 90s Arizona eco-experiment looks like reality TV
2dThis absorbing documentary tracks how participants in the Biosphere 2 project lived, grew food and disagreed in giant biodomes If ever a documentary was in tune with the spirit of lockdown it is this very absorbing film about Biosphere 2 – a colossal eco-experimental project in the Arizona desert in the early 90s, which had its roots in 60s counterculture and which I knew nothing about before thi
Shock-dissipating fractal cubes could forge high-tech armor
2d3D printed cubes,with intricate fractal voids efficiently dissipate shockwaves, potentially leading to new types of lightweight armor and materials to better withstand explosions and impacts.
Engineers use electricity to clean up toxic water
2dPowerful electrochemical process destroys water contaminants, such as pesticides. Wastewater is a significant environment issue. Researchers say the technology could be readily applied to the wine industry, paper processing and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Professional mouse upgrades that will work wonders for your productivity
2dBest mice to get your work done. (Gunnar Sigurðarson via Unsplash/) Whether you were stuck working with a mouse from the bottom of the office-supply closet or you're an old pro who remembers having to de-gunk the trackball whenever you use your home PC, odds are you know how much a bad mouse can impact your productivity. Mice are no longer just devices that allow you to click an icon on your home
The Best Veterinary Telemedicine Services for Your Pet (2020)
2dThese days, your pet can get medical help without leaving home—but first, you need to understand the difference between telemedicine and teletriage.
Teknologisk Institut: »En god ide at investere i varmepumpen med det samme«
2dTrods tidligere anbefalinger kan det bedst betale sig for husejere at investere i en varmepumpe med det samme frem for andre energirenoveringer, konkluderer ny rapport fra Teknologisk Institut.
Study determines fundamental parameters of the chemically peculiar star HD 108662
2dAstronomers have carried out a spectroscopic analysis of the atmosphere of a magnetic chemically peculiar star designated HD 108662. The study, described in a paper published June 29 on the arXiv preprint server, resulted in determining fundamental parameters of this star.
New method estimates risks of hormone-disrupting substances in drinking water
2dResearchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a new method that can make it easier for public authorities to assess the health risks of hormone-disrupting chemicals in the environment. The method was used to evaluate the risk associated with exposure data from the population of Ronneby, Sweden, where the drinking water has been contaminated with PFAS from fire-fighting foam. The study, publi
Stereotypes Harm Black Lives and Livelihoods, but Research Suggests Ways to Improve Things
2dManagement researcher Modupe Akinola explains on how stereotypes hurt Black Americans and what we can do to counter them — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Endometrial scratch of no value to first-time IVF patients in a large randomized trial
2dAn add-on treatment commonly offered to patients in preparation for IVF has proved ineffective in a large-scale randomized trial of more than 1000 women. Those who had endometrial scratch before their first IVF treatment were found to be no more successful than a control group receiving routine treatment.
COVID-19 news from Annals of Internal Medicine
2dQuantifying and Interpreting Treatment Effects in COVID-19 Studies
Best skateboards for beginners
2dDon't forget knee pads and a helmet. (Lukas Bato via Unsplash/) Strapping a skateboard to your backpack and setting off on an adventure holds an allure for both kids and adults. You can practice your moves by yourself or hang out with friends at the local skatepark when you're feeling social. When it's beautiful outside and you'd rather walk than drive, a portable set of wheels allows you to crui
Stereotypes Harm Black Lives and Livelihoods, but Research Suggests Ways to Improve Things
2dManagement researcher Modupe Akinola explains on how stereotypes hurt Black Americans and what we can do to counter them — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
How mezcal bubbles reveal its booze level
2dArtisanal makers of mezcal use bubbles to tell when the drink has the right alcohol level. New research reveals the physics behind this skill. Makers of mezcal squirt some into a small container and look for little bubbles, known as pearls. If the alcohol content is too high or too low, the bubbles burst quickly. But if they linger for 30 seconds or so, the alcohol level is perfect and the mezcal
Excessive risky credit strongly linked to last decade's housing crisis, study says
2dIn examining one of the biggest unresolved questions surrounding the 2008 financial crisis, a new study from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin raises red flags on risky credit practices that may have once again made their way into American business operations.
Plate tectonics research rewrites history of Earth's continents
2dCurtin University-led research has found new evidence to suggest that the Earth's first continents were not formed by subduction in a modern-like plate tectonics environment as previously thought, and instead may have been created by an entirely different process.
Most lakes continuously release nitrogen into the atmosphere
2dIn a process that may help lakes maintain healthy levels of nutrients, new research from the University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences shows that a majority of the lakes examined are continuously shedding nitrogen into the atmosphere. Nitrogen, along with phosphorus, is a nutrient that can be found in excess in some lakes. This excess can cause algal blooms that can overwhelm a lake a
Tackling coral reefs' thorny problem
2dResearchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) have revealed the evolutionary history of the crown-of-thorns starfish—a predator of coral that can devastate coral reefs. Their findings shed light on how the populations of these starfish have changed over time and could potentially help reduce their ecological destruction.
American Cancer Society updates guideline for HPV vaccination
2dThe American Cancer Society has updated its guideline for HPV vaccination, adapting a 2019 update from the Federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
New biomaterial could shield against harmful radiation
2dNorthwestern University researchers have synthesized a new form of melanin enriched with selenium. Called selenomelanin, this new biomaterial shows extraordinary promise as a shield for human tissue against harmful radiation.
Biosynthetic sustainable hierarchical solar steam generator
2dNowadays, a team led by Prof. Shu-Hong Yu from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) report an efficient and sustainable biomimetic hierarchical solar steam generator (HSSG) based on bacterial cellulose (BC) nanocomposites.
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