In American history, we learn that the arrival of Spanish explorers led by Hernando de Soto in the 1500s was a watershed moment resulting in the collapse of Indigenous tribes and traditions across the southeastern United States.
There have always been lots of reasons to drink alcohol , and the events of 2020 have only added to that list. But one of the biggest reasons for people drink is to enhance a sense of social connection with others. For many people, that benefit alone is worth the negative side-effects associated with drinking, like hangovers or loss of control. But over time, it can also seem as if alcohol is pro
Fans of The Jetsons (and, presumably, readers of Futurism) are familiar with the science-fiction concept of perfect food at the touch of a button. And while we might still be a long way off from using a re-hydrating device to make a flawlessly cooked steak, technology is working it's way to the grill. And one prime example of this is the MEATER+ meat thermometer and Bluetooth repeater, which brin
Metal Mouth A newly-discovered bacteria is capable of gobbling up the metal manganese and use it as a source of nutrition. Jared Leadbetter, an environmental microbiologist at Caltech, found the bacteria almost purely by chance after he left glassware to soak in tapwater after conducting experiments with manganese. The next day, according to a university press release , he found the instruments c
In living organisms, DNA is the storage unit of all genetic information. It is with this information that proteins are encoded, which then enable biological systems to function as needed for the organism to survive. DNA's functioning is enabled by its structure: a double-stranded helix formed via the joining of specific pairs of molecules called 'nucleotides' in specific orders, called 'sequences'
A new study from University of Minnesota researchers provides an unprecedented look at the causes of poor air quality in the United States and its effects on human health.
University of Colorado Boulder researchers have used ultra-fast extreme ultraviolet lasers to measure the properties of materials more than 100 times thinner than a human red blood cell.
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is employed in a wide range of applications. In chemistry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is in standard use for the purposes of analysis, while in the medical field, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to see structures and metabolism in the body. Scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and the Helmholtz Institute Mainz (HIM), working
In living organisms, DNA is the storage unit of all genetic information. It is with this information that proteins are encoded, which then enable biological systems to function as needed for the organism to survive. DNA's functioning is enabled by its structure: a double-stranded helix formed via the joining of specific pairs of molecules called 'nucleotides' in specific orders, called 'sequences'
Editor's Note: Every Wednesday, James Hamblin takes questions from readers about health-related curiosities, concerns, and obsessions. Have one? Email him at paging.dr.hamblin@theatlantic.com . Dear Dr. Hamblin, I'm a healthy 76-year-old thinking about taking a nonstop flight from Las Vegas to Baltimore. I want to see my daughter and her family, including my grandkids, who have been fantastic abo
Planting huge numbers of trees to mitigate climate change is 'not always the best strategy' – with some experimental sites in Scotland failing to increase carbon stocks, a new study has found.
Researchers have conducted a trial involving 144 patients to compare the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary clinic – involving gastroenterologists, dieticians, psychiatrists and physiotherapists – with usual gastroenterology specialist-only care.
Scientists have discovered a new link between impaired brain energy metabolism and delirium — a disorienting and distressing disorder particularly common in the elderly and one that is currently occurring in a large proportion of patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The research suggests that therapies focusing on brain energy metabolism may offer new routes to mitigating delirium.
Stem cells are capable of unlimited proliferation but can be induced to form brain cells. Factors that specifically regulate human development are poorly understood. We found that human stem cells expressed high levels of the envelope protein of an endogenized human-specific retrovirus (HERV-K, HML-2) from loci in chromosomes 12 and…
Dengue virus (DENV) was designated as a top 10 public health threat by the World Health Organization in 2019. No clinically approved anti-DENV drug is currently available. Here we report the high-resolution cocrystal structure (1.5 Å) of the DENV-2 capsid protein in complex with an inhibitor that potently suppresses DENV-2…
Today, species richness is highest in the tropics and declines toward the poles. Although there are exceptions, this pattern is pervasive within both the terrestrial and marine realm and across taxonomic groups (1). This latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) was first recognized by Alexander von Humboldt over two centuries ago. Despite…
DNA mismatch repair (MMR), the guardian of the genome, commences when MutS identifies a mismatch and recruits MutL to nick the error-containing strand, allowing excision and DNA resynthesis. Dominant MMR models posit that after mismatch recognition, ATP converts MutS to a hydrolysis-independent, diffusive mobile clamp that no longer recognizes the…
Quantitative disease resistance (QDR) represents the predominant form of resistance in natural populations and crops. Surprisingly, very limited information exists on the biomolecular network of the signaling machineries underlying this form of plant immunity. This lack of information may result from its complex and quantitative nature. Here, we used an…
Orexins are neuropeptides that activate the rhodopsin-like G protein-coupled receptors OX1R and OX2R. The orexin system plays an important role in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle and the regulation of feeding and emotions. The nonselective orexin receptor antagonist suvorexant has been the first drug on the market targeting the…
Unfortunately, scientific communication and the resulting public use of research often do not reflect the painstaking and sometimes imperfect—process of peer review, and in a hyperpartisan landscape invalid conclusions can acquire a tendentious life of their own. Here we review the process by which a controversial PNAS paper was published,…
Early pregnancy loss affects ∼15% of all implantation-confirmed human conceptions. However, evolutionarily conserved molecular mechanisms that regulate self-renewal of trophoblast progenitors and their association with early pregnancy loss are poorly understood. Here, we provide evidence that transcription factor TEAD4 ensures survival of postimplantation mouse and human embryos by controlling sel
Highly heterogenous cancers, such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), remain challenging immunotherapeutic targets. Herein, we describe the synthesis and evaluation of immunotherapeutic liposomal spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) for TNBC therapy. The SNAs comprise immunostimulatory oligonucleotides (CpG-1826) as adjuvants and encapsulate lysates derived from TNBC cell lines as antigens. The res
Collective risks permeate society, triggering social dilemmas in which working toward a common goal is impeded by selfish interests. One such dilemma is mitigating runaway climate change. To study the social aspects of climate-change mitigation, we organized an experimental game and asked volunteer groups of three different sizes to invest…
Individual differences in learning can influence how animals respond to and communicate about their environment, which may nonlinearly shape how a social group accomplishes a collective task. There are few empirical examples of how differences in collective dynamics emerge from variation among individuals in cognition. Here, we use a naturally…
With the recent explosion in the size of libraries available for screening, virtual screening is positioned to assume a more prominent role in early drug discovery's search for active chemical matter. In typical virtual screens, however, only about 12% of the top-scoring compounds actually show activity when tested in biochemical…
Many microorganisms face a fundamental trade-off between reproduction and survival: Rapid growth boosts population size but makes microorganisms sensitive to external stressors. Here, we show that starved bacteria encountering new resources can break this trade-off by evolving phenotypic heterogeneity in lag time. We quantify the distribution of single-cell lag times…
Mechanical patterns control a variety of biological processes in plants. The microviscosity of cellular structures effects the diffusion rate of molecules and organelles, thereby affecting processes such as metabolism and signaling. Spatial variations in local viscosity are also generated during fundamental events in the cell life cycle. While crucial to…
DNA replication origins serve as sites of replicative helicase loading. In all eukaryotes, the six-subunit origin recognition complex (Orc1-6; ORC) recognizes the replication origin. During late M-phase of the cell-cycle, Cdc6 binds to ORC and the ORC–Cdc6 complex loads in a multistep reaction and, with the help of Cdt1, the…
Flashes of strobe lights and the beat of stereo speakers filled the otherwise pitch-black, shoebox-sized cages. The mice inside may not have danced, but their brains caught the rhythm. Pulses of light and sound delivered to mouse brains at a frequency of 40 hertz appeared to reduce the number of…
Vaccination has been used to control the spread of seasonal flu; however, the virus continues to evolve and escape from host immune response through mutation and increasing glycosylation. Efforts have been directed toward development of a universal vaccine with broadly protective activity against multiple influenza strains and subtypes. Here we…
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has cast a bright light on the importance of science and evidence (1). Epidemiologists have provided public health advice informed by experience with epidemics and are sharing best practices for halting the spread of the virus. Biomedical scientists are researching how the virus works,…
A university in France has stripped a researcher of her doctoral degree after she was found to have committed misconduct in at least two studies of yeast. As we reported in May, Marjorie Petitjean, who received her PhD from the National Institute of Applied Sciences at the University of Toulouse, was accused of having fabricated … Continue reading
Scientists are discovering potential life-saving medicines from an unlikely source: the venom of creatures like snakes, spiders and scorpions. Scorpion venom, in particular, contains a peptide that has beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system of rats with high blood pressure. Now, researchers say they know a little more about how that happens.
Wine and spirits are complex mixtures of flavor and aroma compounds, some of which arise during aging in wooden barrels. Among other compounds, oak wood releases coumarins, but how they affect wine's sensory properties is unclear. Now, researchers have detected and measured six coumarins in oak wood, wine and spirits, showing that a combination of these compounds can produce a bitter taste.
In the summer, many people enjoy walks along the beach looking for seashells. Among the most prized are those that contain iridescent mother of pearl (also known as nacre) inside. But many beachcombers would be surprised to learn that shimmery nacre is one of nature's strongest, most resilient materials. Now, researchers have made a material with interlocked mineral layers that resembles nacre and
Expanding on observations made in smaller patient cohorts, researchers studying immune responses of 125 hospitalized COVID-19 patients identified distinct immune profiles — "Immunotypes" — and showed how these signatures correlated with disease severity.
An analysis of immune responses in 42 COVID-19 patients, both infected and recovered, identified immune signatures that distinguish severe COVID-19 cases. Notably, the analysis features insights not only into adaptive immune cell responses, but also those of innate immune cells responding to the virus.
Researchers from the Penn Institute of Immunology discovered three distinct immune responses to the SARS-CoV2 infection that could help predict the trajectory of disease in severe COVID-19 patients and may ultimately inform how to best treat them. A second study from researchers at Penn uncovered new details about the innate, or initial, response to SARS-CoV2.
Prof. LI Xiaofeng from the Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS) and his collaborators from Ministry of Natural Resources and Shanghai Ocean University studied this type of complex oceanic phenomena through artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
A new study from University of Minnesota researchers provides an unprecedented look at the causes of poor air quality in the United States and its effects on human health.
Oxytocin plays a role in various mental health and sexual reproduction disorders. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now determined the three-dimensional structure of the oxytocin receptor to which the hormone binds. This knowledge could promote the development of novel drugs to treat a variety of diseases.
Smartphone accelerometers are effective tools to measure key time-under-tension indicators of muscle training — and could help in resistance-based workouts and rehabilitation protocols.
Researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine publish findings on how inhibiting the STING protein pathway can help protect against a complication from stem cell transplants.
A brief reading and writing exercise designed to alleviate worries about sense of belonging helped students at a midwestern broad-access public university with a high Hispanic population stay in school, raising continuous enrollment over 2 years by 9% among socially disadvantaged students, according to a new study. The findings suggest that social belonging
From 2010 to 2018, scientists tagged 56 tiger sharks of varying life stages to track their movements via satellite. Movement patterns varied by life stage, sex, and season. Some of their core habitats overlapped with locations designated by NOAA as Habitat Areas of Particular Concern and also were found near 2,504 oil and gas platforms. Findings may help inform studies into potential climate chang
Astronomers have discovered one type of growing supermassive black hole masquerading as another, thanks to a suite of telescopes including NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. The true identity of these black holes helps solve a long-running mystery in astrophysics.
A new review encourages researchers studying metabolism and immunity to turn their attention to ketone bodies, which are being widely studied for their role in aging, as a possible therapeutic against COVID-19, seasonal flu and other respiratory infections.
A new study has demonstrated for the first time that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can significantly enhance the cognitive performance of healthy older adults.
Flies are able to right themselves very quickly when taking off from an upside-down position. Scientists studying this phenomenon discovered the surprising way these insects begin by turning their bodies before their heads on take-off.
A common assumption of a constant nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio (N:P) of 16:1 in marine particulate organic matter (POM) appears to be invalidated by observations of major spatial variations in N:P. Two main explanations have been proposed. The first attributes the N:P variability to changes in the community composition of well-adapted phytoplankton. The second proposes that variability arises fro
The use of radiosensitizing nanoparticles with both imaging and therapeutic properties on the same nano-object is regarded as a major and promising approach to improve the effectiveness of radiotherapy. Here, we report the MRI findings of a phase 1 clinical trial with a single intravenous administration of Gd-based AGuIX nanoparticles, conducted in 15 patients with four types of brain metastases
Nanoparticle (NP) delivery to solid tumors has recently been questioned. To better understand the magnitude of NP tumor delivery, we reanalyzed published murine NP tumor pharmacokinetic (PK) data used in the Wilhelm et al . study. Studies included in their analysis reporting matched tumor and blood concentration versus time data were evaluated using classical PK endpoints and compared to the unes
Mutations in genes encoding SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes are found in approximately 20% of all human cancers, with ARID1A being the most frequently mutated subunit. Here, we show that disruption of ARID1A homologs in a zebrafish model accelerates the onset and increases the penetrance of MYCN-driven neuroblastoma by increasing cell proliferation in the sympathoadrenal lineage. Depletion
Hundreds of thousands of students drop out of school each year in the United States, despite billions of dollars of funding and myriad educational reforms. Existing research tends to look at the effect of easily measurable student characteristics. However, a vast number of harder-to-measure student traits, skills, and resources affect educational success. We present a conceptual framework for the
Oceans host communities of plankton composed of relatively few abundant species and many rare species. The number of rare protist species in these communities, as estimated in metagenomic studies, decays as a steep power law of their abundance. The ecological factors at the origin of this pattern remain elusive. We propose that chaotic advection by oceanic currents affects biodiversity patterns o
Weyl semimetals are crystals in which electron bands cross at isolated points in momentum space. Associated with each crossing point (or Weyl node) is a topological invariant known as the Berry monopole charge. The circular photogalvanic effect (CPGE), whereby circular polarized light generates a helicity-dependent photocurrent, is a notable example of a macroscopic property that emerges directly
Precipitation extremes will likely intensify under climate change. However, much uncertainty surrounds intensification of high-magnitude events that are often inadequately resolved by global climate models. In this analysis, we develop a framework involving targeted dynamical downscaling of historical and future extreme precipitation events produced by a large ensemble of a global climate model.
Forecasting fields of oceanic phenomena has long been dependent on physical equation–based numerical models. The challenge is that many natural processes need to be considered for understanding complicated phenomena. In contrast, rules of the processes are already embedded in the time-series observation itself. Thus, inspired by largely available satellite remote sensing data and the advance of d
Cytosine base editors (CBEs) enable efficient cytidine-to-thymidine (C-to-T) substitutions at targeted loci without double-stranded breaks. However, current CBEs edit all Cs within their activity windows, generating undesired bystander mutations. In the most challenging circumstance, when a bystander C is adjacent to the targeted , existing base editors fail to discriminate them and edit both Cs.
Although combination antiretroviral therapy is effective in controlling HIV-1 infection, latent HIV-1 proviruses cannot be eliminated. HIV-1 reactivation induced by the mere use of latency-reversing agents is insufficient to render death of reservoir cells, indicating that certain intrinsic survival mechanisms exist. We report that Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) plays a critical role in survival of CD
Magnetic levitational bioassembly of three-dimensional (3D) tissue constructs represents a rapidly emerging scaffold- and label-free approach and alternative conceptual advance in tissue engineering. The magnetic bioassembler has been designed, developed, and certified for life space research. To the best of our knowledge, 3D tissue constructs have been biofabricated for the first time in space u
Broad-access institutions play a democratizing role in American society, opening doors to many who might not otherwise pursue college. Yet these institutions struggle with persistence and completion. Do feelings of nonbelonging play a role, particularly for students from groups historically disadvantaged in higher education? Is belonging relevant to students' persistence—even when they form the n
When and how people first settled in the Americas is an ongoing area of research and debate. The earliest sites typically only contain lithic artifacts that cannot be directly dated. The lack of human skeletal remains in these early contexts means that alternative sources of evidence are needed. Coprolites, and the DNA contained within them, are one such source, but unresolved issues concerning a
Microfluidic methods for studying cell invasion can be subdivided into those in which cells invade into free space and those in which cells invade into hydrogels. The former techniques allow straightforward extraction of subpopulations of cells for RNA sequencing, while the latter preserve key aspects of cell interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM). Here, we introduce "cell invasion in d
Whether getting vaccinated, buying stocks, or crossing streets, people rarely make decisions alone. Rather, multiple people decide sequentially, setting the stage for information cascades whereby early-deciding individuals can influence others' choices. To understand how information cascades through social systems, it is essential to capture the dynamics of the decision-making process. We introdu
IKBKE is an oncogene in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), and we demonstrate that IKBKE small interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of TNBC cells. Despite the recent success of siRNA therapeutics targeting to the liver, there still remains a great challenge to deliver siRNAs to solid tumors. Here, we report a hybrid nanocomplex to co-deliver the IKBKE siR
Metalloenzymes are promising anticancer candidates to overcome chemoresistance by involving unique mechanisms. To date, it is still a great challenge to obtain synthetic metalloenzymes with persistent catalytic performance for cancer-specific DNA cleavage and operando imaging. Here, an artificial metalloenzyme, copper cluster firmly anchored in bovine serum albumin conjugated with tumor-targeting
The recent observation of the anomalous Hall effect (AHE) without notable magnetization in antiferromagnets has suggested that ferromagnetic ordering is not a necessary condition. Thus, recent theoretical studies have proposed that higher-rank magnetic multipoles formed by clusters of spins (cluster multipoles) can generate the AHE without magnetization. Despite such an intriguing proposal, contr
Controlled release of CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) and codelivery with other drugs remain a challenge. We demonstrate controlled release of CRISPR-Cas9 RNP and codelivery with antitumor photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) using near-infrared (NIR)– and reducing agent–responsive nanoparticles in a mouse tumor model. Nitrilotriacetic acid–decorated micelles can bind His-tagged Cas9 RNP. Lysosom
CRISPR technologies have overwhelmingly relied on the Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpyCas9), with its consensus NGG and less preferred NAG and NGA protospacer-adjacent motifs (PAMs). Here, we report that SpyCas9 also recognizes sequences within an N(A/C/T)GG motif. These sequences were identified on the basis of preferential enrichment in a growth-based screen in Escherichia coli . DNA binding, c
A previously unknown gas-solid interacted power generation is developed using triboelectric effect. We designed an adhesive, gas-tight, and self-healing supramolecular polysiloxane-dimethylglyoxime–based polyurethane (PDPU) porous elastomer based on segmented oxime-carbamate-urea. It is an intrinsically triboelectric negative material with trapped air within closed voids, exhibiting ultrahigh sta
The peptide hormone oxytocin modulates socioemotional behavior and sexual reproduction via the centrally expressed oxytocin receptor (OTR) across several species. Here, we report the crystal structure of human OTR in complex with retosiban, a nonpeptidic antagonist developed as an oral drug for the prevention of preterm labor. Our structure reveals insights into the detailed interactions between
Development of p-type transparent conducting materials has been a challenging issue. The known p-type transparent conductors unsatisfy both of high transparency and high conductivity nor exhibit superconductivity. Here, we report on epitaxial synthesis, excellent p-type transparent conductivity, and two-dimensional superconductivity of Li 1– x NbO 2 . The LiNbO 2 epitaxial films with NbO 2 sheets
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is commonly referred to as the factory of the cell, as it is responsible for a large amount of protein and lipid synthesis. As a membrane-bound organelle, the ER has a distinct environment that is ideal for its functions in synthesizing these primary cellular components. Many different quality control machineries exist to maintain ER stability under the stresses ass
Tensions over how to quell outbreak in Catalan capital as cases flare up around the world Politics live – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Part of the northern Spanish region of Catalonia has gone back into lockdown, with Barcelona suggesting it might also follow suit with restrictions in some districts, as authorities sought to control a resurgence of coronavirus cases emerging ju
Strange things often wash up on North Carolina's Outer Banks, and the National Park Service says the latest example is a big, prehistoric-looking bird that is far outside its natural range.
Chemistry researchers at the University of North Texas have developed a test to more easily identify toxic silver ions, which can be harmful to humans and the environment at high concentrations.
We may think of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care in terms of scientific advances, such as a cure for cancer or a science-fiction tricorder-like device. But in the real world, AI is making its initial impact in workflow and administrative tasks. That's not to say AI technologies aren't being used for genuinely exciting work in radiology, drug discovery, or to flag high-risk patients in
Fake News Reuters reports that somebody used deepfake tech and a false name and biography to invent the persona of a journalist — and then got the sock puppet's work published in several international newspapers. Whoever's behind the operation — Reuters was not able to track them down — managed to publish six articles and editorials in the Jerusalem Post and the Times of Israel while posting as a
Strange things often wash up on North Carolina's Outer Banks, and the National Park Service says the latest example is a big, prehistoric-looking bird that is far outside its natural range.
In the summer, many people enjoy walks along the beach looking for seashells. Among the most prized are those that contain iridescent mother of pearl (also known as nacre) inside. But many beachcombers would be surprised to learn that shimmery nacre is one of nature's strongest, most resilient materials. Now, researchers have made a material with interlocked mineral layers that resembles nacre and
Colleges and universities strive to use best practices and innovative ways to cultivate and support students' sense of belonging, a consideration that is acutely important during the COVID-19 era.
Ocean plankton are the drifters of the marine world. They include algae, animals, bacteria, and protists that are at the mercy of the tide and currents. Many are microscopic, though others, like jellyfish, can grow to relatively large sizes.
The Hyksos, who ruled during the 15th Dynasty of ancient Egypt, were not foreign invaders, but a group who rose to power from within, according to a study published July 8, 2020 in the open-access journal PLoS ONE by Chris Stantis of Bournemouth University, UK and colleagues.
A tracking study of 56 sharks provides a first look at how their patterns of movement across the Gulf of Mexico vary according to their sex, their life stage, and the season. Matthew Ajemian of Florida Atlantic University, U.S., and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLoS ONE on July 15.
With the right mix of plants, urban green spaces can be a rich habitat to support diverse pollinators, according to a study published July 15, 2020 in the open-access journal PLoS ONE by Benjamin Daniels from RWTH Aachen University, Germany, and colleagues.
Two daily fasting diets, also known as time-restricted feeding diets, are effective for weight loss, according to a new study. The study reported results from a clinical trial that compared a 4-hour time-restricted feeding diet and a 6-hour time-restricted feeding diet to a control group.
The directors of the new documentary, "Medicating Normal," want psychiatrists to require informed consent when writing prescriptions. Long-term effects of antidepressant usage do not have to be documented for FDA approval. Big Think talks to producer/director Wendy Ratcliffe and film subject, Angela Peacock. While humoral theory was finally abandoned with the acceptance of germ theory, Hippocrate
Ocean plankton are the drifters of the marine world. They include algae, animals, bacteria, and protists that are at the mercy of the tide and currents. Many are microscopic, though others, like jellyfish, can grow to relatively large sizes.
A tracking study of 56 sharks provides a first look at how their patterns of movement across the Gulf of Mexico vary according to their sex, their life stage, and the season. Matthew Ajemian of Florida Atlantic University, U.S., and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLoS ONE on July 15.
With the right mix of plants, urban green spaces can be a rich habitat to support diverse pollinators, according to a study published July 15, 2020 in the open-access journal PLoS ONE by Benjamin Daniels from RWTH Aachen University, Germany, and colleagues.
The 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
The global coronavirus pandemic has hit the tourism industry hard worldwide. Not only that, but it has exposed a lack of resilience to any type of downturn, according to new research from Lund University in Sweden. While the virus may or may not be temporary, the climate crisis is here to stay—and tourism will have to adapt, says Stefan Gössling, professor of sustainable tourism.
Top predator dinosaurs like the Allosaurus and Ceratosaurus devouring dinosaur remains isn't all that surprising, but the smaller creatures feasting on dinosaur remains may just give us a more complete picture of what life was like at Mygatt-Moore Quarry outside Fruita, Colorado 152 million years ago. A new study out in PeerJ on Wednesday, July 15th, 2020 authored by Museums of Western Colorado's
Swansea University researchers have discovered two new species of parasite, previously unknown to science, in crabs in Swansea Bay, during a study on disease in the Celtic and Irish Seas.
For the next month, comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE), otherwise known as "Neowise," will be visible in the night sky above much of the Northern Hemisphere. The comet will be at its brightest this week, dimming as it moves away from the sun. If you have clear skies, head outside about an hour after sunset and look near the horizon to the northwest. For the next week or so, if it's dark enough, Neowise mi
Swansea University researchers have discovered two new species of parasite, previously unknown to science, in crabs in Swansea Bay, during a study on disease in the Celtic and Irish Seas.
Scientists have developed a new method of observing chemical reactions in metal containers. For this purpose they use NMR spectroscopy, but with an unusual twist: There is no magnetic field.
Scientists 'disappointed' app has not been deployed since first one was scrapped Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Infection rates dropped dramatically on the Isle of Wight following the launch of an NHS contact tracing phone app, which was later scrapped in an embarrassing government U-turn, according to an analysis. After having initially suggested the app would be r
Anthony Fauci isn't about to quit, despite the White House's clumsy attempts to stain his public image. More so now than at any other point in their uneasy partnership, it seems that if President Donald Trump wants to be rid of Fauci, he'll need to fire him. In recent days especially, the White House has stepped up efforts to discredit Fauci, a move he describes as "bizarre." "Ultimately, it hurt
Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of severe disease from viral infection, according to a review of the literature performed by a team of researchers from St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, both in Memphis. The research appears this week in the Journal of Virology, a publication of the American Society for Microbiology.
University of Colorado Boulder researchers have used ultra-fast extreme ultraviolet lasers to measure the properties of materials more than 100 times thinner than a human red blood cell.
The project is the culmination of a U.S. Department of Energy ARPA-E project that began in 2014 with $3.3 million in funding and involved years of prototype development at Tulane and field testing in San Diego.
Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) have constructed "DNA droplets" comprising designed DNA nanostructures. The droplets exhibit dynamic functions such as fusion, fission, Janus-shape formation, and protein capture. Their technique is expected to be applicable to a wide variety of biomaterials, opening doors to many promising applications in materials design, drug delivery, an
Researchers have built a way that lidar could achieve higher-resolution detection of nearby fast-moving objects through mechanical control and modulation of light on a silicon chip.
Multicolour electrochromic displays are one of the most versatile applications because they can retain their colored states without the need to supply electrical power. However, the simultaneous colouration of the counter layer when operating a conventional electrochromic display restricts the color overlay effects. Additionally, the operation of conventional electrochromic displays requires exter
Researchers at the Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, used the liquid crystal elastomer technology to demonstrate a series of micro-tools grown on optical fibers. The 200-micrometer gripers are controlled remotely, without electric wiring or pneumatic tubing, with green light delivered through the fibers—absorbed light energy is directly converted into the gripper jaws' action.
A new method could help to track groundwater changes better than before. To this end, researchers from Potsdam and Oberlin, Ohio (USA), have compared gravity field data from the GRACE and GRACE-Follow On satellite missions with other measuring methods. They investigated the seasonal water storage in almost 250 river basins in Asia, whose water regime is dominated by monsoon. The results allow the
A new remote weight-loss program, called Opt-IN, provides maximum weight loss for the lowest cost and with much less hassle than the gold-standard National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), the most successful behavioral non-drug treatment currently available.
Until now, it was thought that cats weren't domesticated in Central Asia until much later. The completeness and details of the skeleton suggest it was someone's pet. Isotopic examination reveals a high-protein diet most likely provided by caring humans. Piecing together history through archaeology is inherently sketchy. Clues that tell a complete story could be anywhere — so much depends on the a
Shining 100 times brighter than its predecessor, the new European Synchrotron Radiation Facility is the first of more than a dozen of its kind in the works
Homes infested with bedbugs appear to have different bacterial communities—often referred to as microbiomes—than homes without the pests, according to a new study. In addition, once infestations were eradicated, home microbiomes became more similar to those in homes that didn't have infestations. The findings could be an important step in lifting the veil on the factors involved in indoor environ
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02126-6 A long-awaited map of the Big Bang's afterglow fails to settle a debate over how fast the Universe is expanding.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02124-8 Ethiopia has started filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, as Egypt still calls it an 'existential threat'.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02131-9 Increasing red-meat consumption propelled a 12% increase in methane emissions from agriculture in 2017 alone. Plus: promising results from the phase 1 trial of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine candidate, and Gödel's incomparable incompleteness theorems.
A chemical engineering professor at Virginia Tech has developed a surface coating that, when painted on common objects, inactivates SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
In this study which appears in Nature, researchers Yusheng Zhao and Rea Antoniou-Kourounioti in the groups of Professor Dame Caroline Dean and Professor Martin Howard at John Innes Centre show that slow growth is used as a signal to sense long-term changes in temperature.
A new study published in the Ecological Society of America's journal Ecological Applications examines how invasive mammalian predators both habituate to and generalize avian prey cues.
The team studied over 2,000 critically ill adults with COVID-19, and found that 35 percent of patients died in the 28 days after ICU admission. They also found that treatment and outcomes varied greatly between hospitals.
A study supported by the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation and published today in JAMA Network Open provides the first evidence that rotigotine, a drug that acts on dopamine transmission in the brain, improves cognitive function in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of Americans have had to delay recommended but elective orthopedic surgical procedures, such as joint replacement surgery or knee arthroscopy. Now an expert panel has issued recommendations to guide safe resumption of elective orthopedic surgery. The guidelines appear in the July 15, 2020 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, published in
In a groundbreaking new study, researchers at the University of Minnesota have 3D printed a functioning centimeter-scale human heart pump in the lab. The discovery could have major implications for studying heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States killing more than 600,000 people a year.
ew research from Washington University in St. Louis provides evidence that Indigenous people continued to live in southeastern US and actively resist European influence for nearly 150 years after the arrival of Spanish explorers in the 1500s.
Researchers from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil recently reported on the dangers of physical inactivity for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their paper was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
In a clinical trial, a child with rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of muscle cancer, that had spread to the bone marrow, showed no detectable cancer following treatment with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells that were engineered to target the HER2 protein on the surface of the cancer cells.
Scientists 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.
Given that many of the risk factors for COVID-19 are age-related, a compelling argument can be made that those infected are suffering from an aging-related disease, no matter how old they are. A review published in Med encourages researchers studying metabolism and immunity to turn their attention to ketone bodies, which are being widely studied for their role in aging, as a possible therapeutic a
Analysis of dried cyanobacterial cakes from Lake Chad show that they are rich in needed amino acids, but some exceed WHO standards for microcystin, a potent liver toxin. Cyanobacteria can supplement the diets of undernourished villagers, but periodic monitoring of toxins is needed.
A new technology can prevent lithium batteries like those in cell phones from heating up, failing, or even bursting in flames. In most cases, the culprit behind such incidents can be traced back to lithium batteries. Despite providing long-lasting electric currents that can keep devices powered up, lithium batteries can internally short circuit, heating up the device. The new carbon nanotube desi
Bob Hamblett suspects Dominic Cummings had an economic reason for the U-turn. Simon Fairlie worries about the psychological implications. Plus letters from Jonathan Myerson, Andrew Firth, and Margaret Deighan Marina Hyde ( Johnson has seen the light on 'face coverings'. Just not the toxic mask-ulinity , 14 July) takes the PM at his word that it's "the scientific evidence" that has brought about h
From mRNA vaccines entering clinical trials, to peptide-based vaccines and using molecular farming to scale vaccine production, the COVID-19 pandemic is pushing new and emerging nanotechnologies into the frontlines and the headlines. Nanoengineers detail the current approaches to COVID-19 vaccine development, and highlight how nanotechnology has enabled these advances, in a review article.
Top predators dinosaurs like the Allosaurus and Ceratosaurus devouring dinosaur remains isn't all that surprising, but the smaller creatures feasting on dinosaur remains may just give us a more complete picture of what life was like at Mygatt-Moore Quarry outside Fruita, Colorado 152 million years ago. A new study out in PeerJ on Wednesday July 15th, 2020 authored by Museums of Western Colorado's
An international study led by Dr. James White, a clinician and researcher at the University of Calgary finds magnetic resonance imaging can be used to predict major cardiac events for people diagnosed dilated cardiomyopathy. White's study confirms about 40 per cent of patients with DCM have scarring patterns on their heart muscle which can be seen with MRI. These patterns are associated with highe
Two new species of parasite, previously unknown to science, have been discovered in crabs in Swansea Bay, Wales, during a study on disease in the Celtic and Irish Seas.Both species are emerging pathogens, and were discovered infecting the common shore crab, so they could potentially have damaging effects on fisheries and other marine species. The researchers' discovery will help inform measures to
A new Cleveland Clinic study has identified genetic factors that may influence susceptibility to COVID-19. Published today in BMC Medicine, the study findings could guide personalized treatment for COVID-19.
A common drug, already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), may also be a powerful tool in fighting COVID-19, according to research published this week in Antiviral Research.
Researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine have conducted one of the first studies to measure the efficacy of social distancing in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. They found that states that were slow to implement such orders saw higher COVID-19 death rates.
Dr. Matthew Rossheim, assistant professor of global and community health in George Mason University's College of Health and Human Services, analyzed National Survey on Drug Use and Health data to test the effect of the 2009 U.S. flavored cigarette ban. The study found the ban reduced underage smoking by 43% and smoking among young adults by 27%. Researchers call for more comprehensive bans of flav
In a new study published in Clinical Cancer Research, Moffitt Cancer Center researchers identify possible factors that could help physicians know if patients are at higher risk for severe adverse events before they receive CAR T therapy.
A common drug, already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), may also be a powerful tool in fighting COVID-19, according to new research.
A new report highlights effects of COVID-19 government measures on Ireland's older population. The research finds that public health measures such as social distancing and cocooning to curb the spread of the virus has increased levels of loneliness and social isolation in older people.
A new study makes it clear: after universal masking was implemented at Mass General Brigham, the rate of COVID-19 infection among health care workers dropped significantly.
Most patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (coronavirus) pneumonia experienced improvement after receiving an FDA-approved drug normally given for rheumatoid arthritis, according to an observational study. Outcomes for patients who received the drug, tocilizumab, included reduced inflammation, oxygen requirements, blood pressure support and risk of death, compared with published reports of illness a
Pharmacists have succeeded in detecting small amounts of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 using mass spectrometry. For their investigation, they used gargle solutions of COVID-19 patients. The novel method might supplement conventional tests.
Researchers have identified brain circuitry that plays a key role in the dysfunctional social, repetitive, and inflexible behavioral differences that characterize autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The findings could lead to new therapies.
Less than a third of Antarctica is still entirely pristine and free from direct human influence, according to an analysis that scientists say shows the need for greater environmental protections in the remote region
New Ink Undeterred by its historic Google Glass flop , Google is still investing heavily in various oddball forms of wearable technology. Recent projects, according to CNET , include new mixed reality glasses, virtual reality controllers that let you feel the weight of virtual objects, and new smartwatches. But perhaps the most unusual is a high-tech temporary tattoo that basically turns your fle
From mRNA vaccines entering clinical trials, to peptide-based vaccines and using molecular farming to scale vaccine production, the COVID-19 pandemic is pushing new and emerging nanotechnologies into the frontlines and the headlines. Nanoengineers detail the current approaches to COVID-19 vaccine development, and highlight how nanotechnology has enabled these advances, in a review article.
With millions of COVID-19 test results flooding in, many healthcare systems around the US are drowning in paperwork. More than 3.4 million people have been confirmed to have caught the virus in the country — and that's just those who tested positive. That kind of volume of tests comes with a massive uptick in paperwork as well. Many health departments simply can't keep up with all that data. Outd
A global team of computer scientists has developed a novel deep-learning framework that automates the precise translation of human motion, specifically accounting for the wide array of skeletal structures and joints. The team of researchers hail from AICFVE, the Beijing Film Academy, ETH Zurich, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Peking University, and Tel Aviv University, and plan to demonstrate the
Bed bug infestations can modify the home microbiome, according to a new NC State study. When bed bugs are eradicated, home microbiomes return to normal.
Climate scientists Laura Jackson and Richard Wood from The Met Office, UK have identified metrics that may give us early warnings of abrupt changes to the European Climate. The work is part of the EU Horizon 2020 TiPES project which is coordinated by the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Homes infested by bed bugs appear to have different bacterial communities—often referred to as microbiomes—than homes without bed bugs, according to a first-of-its-kind study from North Carolina State University. In addition, once bed bug infestations were eradicated, home microbiomes became more similar to those in homes that never had bed bugs. The findings could be an important step in lifting
Flies are able to right themselves very quickly when taking off from an upside-down position. Scientists from the CNRS and from The Institute of Movement Science (ISM) at Aix-Marseille Université studying this phenomenon discovered the surprising way these insects begin by turning their bodies before their heads on take-off. The research will be published on 15 July 2020 in the Journal of Experime
Piezoelectric materials can convert electrical voltage to mechanical displacement and vice versa. They are ubiquitous in modern wireless communication networks such as in cellphones. Today, piezoelectric devices, including filters, transducers and oscillators, are used in billions of devices for wireless communications, global positioning, navigations, and space applications.
Homes infested by bed bugs appear to have different bacterial communities—often referred to as microbiomes—than homes without bed bugs, according to a first-of-its-kind study from North Carolina State University. In addition, once bed bug infestations were eradicated, home microbiomes became more similar to those in homes that never had bed bugs. The findings could be an important step in lifting
Flies are able to right themselves very quickly when taking off from an upside-down position. Scientists from the CNRS and from The Institute of Movement Science (ISM) at Aix-Marseille Université studying this phenomenon discovered the surprising way these insects begin by turning their bodies before their heads on take-off. The research will be published on 15 July 2020 in the Journal of Experime
In the summer, many people enjoy walks along the beach looking for seashells. Among the most prized are those that contain iridescent mother of pearl (also known as nacre) inside. But many beachcombers would be surprised to learn that shimmery nacre is one of nature's strongest, most resilient materials. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Nano have made a material with interlocked mineral layers th
On May 4, a slick, 26-minute video was released, alleging that the coronavirus was actually a laboratory-manipulated virus deployed to wreak havoc so that a resulting vaccine could be used for profit. None of that was true, and Plandemic 's claims were thoroughly, repeatedly debunked. Still, it went viral , getting liked on Facebook 2.5 million times . Soon after, another conspiracy theory took h
A new study finds that depressed mood or anxiety exhibited in COVID-19 patients may be a sign the virus affects the central nervous system. These two psychological symptoms were most closely associated with a loss of smell and taste rather than the more severe indicators of the novel coronavirus such as shortness of breath, cough or fever.
New research shows that some sound combinations, like those in the word 'virus,' elicit more emotionally intense responses than others. This may play a role in both children's language acquisition and how we might have evolved language in the first place.
The Navy's quest to power its ships by converting seawater into fuel is one step nearer fruition. University of Rochester chemical engineers, in collaboration with the Naval Research Laboratory, the University of Pittsburgh, and OxEon Energy, have demonstrated that a potassium-promoted molybdenum carbide catalyst efficiently and reliably converts carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide, a critical step
The global coronavirus pandemic has hit the tourism industry hard worldwide. Not only that, but it has exposed a lack of resilience to any type of downturn, according to new research from Lund University in Sweden. While the virus may or may not be temporary, the climate crisis is here to stay – and tourism will have to adapt, says Stefan Gössling, professor of sustainable tourism.
Climate scientists Laura Jackson and Richard Wood from The Met Office, UK have identified metrics that may give us early warnings of abrupt changes to the European Climate. The work is part of the EU Horizon 2020 TiPES project which is coordinated by the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
The novel system developed by National University Singapore computer scientists and materials engineers combines an artificial brain system with human-like electronic skin, and vision sensors, to make robots smarter.
A study recently published in Environmental Hazards has found that the Deepwater Horizon disaster was harmful to the mental and physical health of children in the area.
Scientists are discovering potential life-saving medicines from an unlikely source: the venom of creatures like snakes, spiders and scorpions. Scorpion venom, in particular, contains a peptide that has beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system of rats with high blood pressure. Now, researchers reporting in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research say they know a little more about how that happens.
The Sagol Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Research at Shamir Medical Center, together with the Sackler School of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience at Tel Aviv University, announced today that a peer-reviewed study has demonstrated for the first time that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can significantly enhance the cognitive performance of healthy older adults.
Flies are able to right themselves very quickly when taking off from an upside-down position. Scientists from the CNRS and from The Institute of Movement Science (ISM) at Aix-Marseille Université studying this phenomenon discovered the surprising way these insects begin by turning their bodies before their heads on take-off. The research will be published on 15 July 2020 in the Journal of Experime
A study by chemists at the Florida State University-headquartered National High Magnetic Field Laboratory shows that asphalt binder, when exposed to sun and water, leaches thousands of potentially toxic compounds into the environment. The study was published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology
Berlin Y'all Elon Musk-led electric car company Tesla is set to open the doors on its brand new Giga Factory in Berlin, Germany. Earlier this morning, Musk shared a 3D render of what the space could look like, with expanses of trees surrounding the massive, solar panel-lined facility. And the factory might even have a secret killer feature up its sleeve as well, likely meant to appease German tec
Well, I was writing just the other day about what we don't know about the T-cell response to coronavirus infection, and as of today we know quite a bit more. And from what I can see, we have encouraging news, mixed with some things that we're going to need to keep an eye on. Here's a post from May on a paper in Cell that looked at T cell responses in recovering SARS CoV-2 patients and compared th
Scientists have, for the first time, observed one of the natural mechanisms underlying the regulation of the levels of growth inhibiting hormone in plants. This mechanism had been hitherto seen in bacteria, but its discovery in plants will enable novel ways of increasing crop productivity globally.
Silver strands and graying hair is a sign of aging in humans, but things aren't so simple for our closest ape relatives –the chimpanzee. A new study found graying hair is not indicative of a chimpanzee's age.
Scientists studying thousands of oyster shells along the Georgia coast, some as old as 4,500 years, have published new insights into how Native Americans sustained oyster harvests for thousands of years, observations that may lead to better management practices of oyster reefs today.
A study published earlier this year claiming the coronavirus may have jumped from dogs to humans is scientifically flawed, offering no direct evidence to support its conclusions, according to a collaborative group of international researchers.
As data accumulates on COVID-19 cases and deaths, researchers have observed patterns of peaks and valleys that repeat on a near-weekly basis. A new study reports that those oscillations arise from variations in testing practices and data reporting, rather than from societal practices around how people are infected or treated.
A new study reveals how two key neural circuits dictate the choice between social approach and avoidance. The findings will enable researchers to evaluate social interventions in autism.
Wine and spirits are complex mixtures of flavor and aroma compounds, some of which arise during aging in wooden barrels. Among other compounds, oak wood releases coumarins, but how they affect wine's sensory properties is unclear. Now, researchers reporting in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry have detected and measured six coumarins in oak wood, wine and spirits, showing that a comb
If you've ever held a trilobite fossil, seen one in a classroom, or walked by one in a store, chances are it was Elrathia kingii, one of the most common and well-recognized trilobites, and collected by the hundreds of thousands in western Utah. But despite the popularity of this species, scientists had not determined how it grew—from hatchling to juvenile to adult—until now. New work from the Amer
Geoengineering—spraying sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere to combat global warming—would only temporarily and partially benefit apple production in northern India, according to a Rutgers co-authored study.
In the 1600s, two private chapels were erected as family burial sites for two noble families. One in the town Svendborg in Denmark, the other in Montella, Italy. They were both attached to a Franciscan Friary, and only a few meters from the chapels, more common townspeople and friars were buried in the cloister walks.
All Terrain Vehicle As NASA works toward its literal moonshot goal of establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon, one of the lingering challenges is figuring out where everyone would live . Past ideas for lunar habitats have included inflatable tents , underground bases , and even giant fungi . Now, through a partnership with Japan's space agency JAXA, NASA is exploring a new angle, Ars
A new and promising approach for treatment of lung cancer has been developed by researchers at Lund University. The treatment combines a novel surgical approach with smart nanoparticles to specifically target lung tumors. The new study has been published in the July issue of Advanced Therapeutics.
For the past century, the world has relied on combustion engines powered by fossil fuels for transportation, but now lithium-ion battery-powered vehicles are emerging as sustainable successors. As major vehicle producers, European manufacturers are looking to establish their own lithium-ion battery market to compete with firms in Asia and the US. A new report in Chemical & Engineering News , the w
Wine and spirits are complex mixtures of flavor and aroma compounds, some of which arise during aging in wooden barrels. Among other compounds, oak wood releases coumarins, but how they affect wine's sensory properties is unclear. Now, researchers reporting in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry have detected and measured six coumarins in oak wood, wine and spirits, showing that a comb
A new system can significantly lower the production costs costs of mass quantum key distribution (QKD) networks, which will make them available to a wider user audience. This will make it possible to use QDK in the regular fiber-optic cable infrastructure. The paper was published in Scientific Reports.
Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health and food security today according to the World Health Organization. This process occurs naturally, but misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals is accelerating it. In this context, mechano-bactericidal materials emerge as a promising strategy to tackle bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2479-2 Enhanced covalency is achieved for a curium complex with curium–sulfur bonds by subjecting the compound to high pressures, indicating that pressure can be used to tune covalency in actinide compounds.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02125-7 Probing the superconducting properties of graphene and bacteria that can use manganese to grow.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2506-3 Historical records reveal that although 99.6% of Antarctica is defined as wilderness, areas undisturbed by humans comprise less than 32%, largely in regions of low biodiversity.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2481-8 Current outcomes are reported from the ongoing National Lung Matrix Trial, an umbrella trial for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer in which patients are triaged according to their tumour genotype and matched with targeted therapeutic agents.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2501-8 Stem growth in rice is regulated by an accelerator gene and a decelerator gene in parallel with gibberellic acid, and the opposite selection of these genes has led to adaptations to different environments.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02008-x The strength of the interactions between electrons in a structure called twisted bilayer graphene has been tuned by adjusting the immediate environment — a major advance for tunable electronic quantum matter.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2496-1 A single-cell transcriptomic atlas across the lifespan of the mouse, denoted Tabula Muris Senis, provides molecular information about the hallmarks of ageing in a range of tissues and cell types.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02062-5 A clinical trial has tested the use of gene-sequencing results for lung cancer to match patients to targeted therapies. Some paired treatments were a good fit, but others did not succeed, for reasons that will require further exploration.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2445-z Nanoscale toroids with a high percentage of poly-catenation and radii of up to about 13 nm are kinetically organized using fibrous supramolecular assemblies with intrinsic curvature and a solvent-mixing strategy.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2465-8 By monolithically integrating piezoelectric actuators on ultralow-loss photonic circuits, soliton microcombs—a spectrum of sharp lines over a range of optical frequencies—can be modulated at high speeds with megahertz bandwidths.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2468-5 A co-culture of two newly identified microorganisms—'Candidatus Manganitrophus noduliformans' and Ramlibacter lithotrophicus—exhibits exponential growth that is dependent on manganese(II) oxidation, demonstrating the viability of this metabolism for supporting life.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02060-7 The prolonged cold of winter is required for the flowering of many plants. Now the identification of a previously unknown long-term cold-sensing mechanism helps to reveal how plants are able to time their flowering correctly.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02004-1 Many studies needed to quell this and future pandemics are not being done, and the chance is ebbing away.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2499-y Bulk RNA sequencing of organs and plasma proteomics at different ages across the mouse lifespan is integrated with data from the Tabula Muris Senis, a transcriptomic atlas of ageing mouse tissues, to describe organ-specific changes in gene expression during ageing.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2502-7 In mice, periodic fasting or a fasting-mimicking diet enhances the efficacy of endocrine therapy for breast cancer and delays acquired resistance to it; in patients with breast cancer, a fasting-mimicking diet recreates the metabolic changes observed in mice.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2497-0 RNA polymerase II has an unexpected function in the nucleolus, helping to drive the expression of ribosomal RNA and to protect nucleolar structure through a mechanism involving triplex R-loop structures.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2485-4 The authors find that slow plant growth at low temperatures during winter reduces dilution of the transcription factor NTL8, which allows slow accumulation of NTL8 and thus the gradual increase in transcription of VIN3—a gene involved in memory of cold exposure.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2505-4 A model of sequential flux bottlenecks explains a universal trade-off between steady-state growth and physiological adaptation time in bacteria exposed to fluctuating growth conditions.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02059-0 Rice in deepwater paddy fields can survive a slow-rising flood by a remarkably rapid elongation of submerged stem sections. Two genes discovered to affect this process could aid targeted improvements in crop height and flood tolerance.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2473-8 Placing a single layer of tungsten diselenide in contact with twisted bilayer graphene enables superconductivity even for non-magic twist angles where insulating behavior is absent.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2500-9 The DNA modification N6-methyladenine regulates gene expression during mouse trophoblast development by depositing at the boundaries of active chromatin and preventing its spread by antagonizing the chromatin organizer SATB1.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02007-y Non-covalent interactions can assemble molecules into complex architectures, but with limited control of the resulting topology. A method for assembling nanoscale chains shows how specific architectures can be targeted.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2464-9 Ammonia is synthesized using a dual-site approach, whereby nitrogen vacancies on LaN activate N2, which then reacts with hydrogen atoms produced over the Ni metal to give ammonia.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2463-x A single two-dimensional array of atoms trapped in an optical lattice shows a tunable cooperative subradiant optical response, acting as a single-monolayer optical mirror with controllable reflectivity.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2503-6 Using single-cell lineage tracing, the authors identify TCF15 as a novel regulator of haematopoietic stem cell quiescence and self-renewal.
Younger children in particular are ill-served by remote learning, according to a report issued by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine.
Every death from COVID-19 will affect approximately nine surviving family members, according to a new study of kinship networks in the United States. Deaths from COVID-19 will have a ripple effect causing impacts on the mental health and health of surviving family members. But the extent of that impact has been hard to assess until now. For example, if the virus kills 190,000 people, 1.7 million
Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health and food security today according to the World Health Organization. This process occurs naturally, but misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals is accelerating it. In this context, mechano-bactericidal materials emerge as a promising strategy to tackle bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
Cell phone batteries often heat up and, at times, can burst into flames. In most cases, the culprit behind such incidents can be traced back to lithium batteries. Despite providing long-lasting electric currents that can keep devices powered up, lithium batteries can internally short circuit, heating up the device.
Videos by Erin Brethauer and Tim Hussin I remember a night of insomnia a few weeks after the pandemic began. As I lay in bed early that March morning, my mind racing, the robins began to sing—a silver lining under a poor night's rest. As the sun rose, I waited for the inevitable sounds of day: the car engines of people in my Washington, D.C. apartment building headed off to work, the clamor of la
The pandemic has tugged carbon emissions down, temporarily. But levels of the powerful heat-trapping gas methane continue to climb, dragging the world further away from a path that skirts the worst effects of global warming.
Cell phone batteries often heat up and, at times, can burst into flames. In most cases, the culprit behind such incidents can be traced back to lithium batteries. Despite providing long-lasting electric currents that can keep devices powered up, lithium batteries can internally short circuit, heating up the device.
Planting huge numbers of trees to mitigate climate change is 'not always the best strategy' – with some experimental sites in Scotland failing to increase carbon stocks, a new study has found.
In the summer, many people enjoy walks along the beach looking for seashells. Among the most prized are those that contain iridescent mother of pearl (also known as nacre) inside. But many beachcombers would be surprised to learn that shimmery nacre is one of nature's strongest, most resilient materials. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Nano have made a material with interlocked mineral layers th
Researchers from IDIBELL, the University of Göttingen and the University of Münster, designed six tables, using data available at the time of diagnosis, where easily extrapolate patient's life expectancy. This model has been created with the world's largest cohort of patients with this disease, up to 1,200 patients registered since 1993.
A pioneering lung cancer study, led by the University of Birmingham's Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit, has highlighted important factors that will need to be considered in the next wave of precision medicine studies particularly in treating genomically complicated cancers.
A joint report from Trinity College Dublin researchers and age charity ALONE highlights effects of COVID-19 government measures on Ireland's older population. The research finds that public health measures such as social distancing and cocooning to curb the spread of the virus has increased levels of loneliness and social isolation in older people.
Combining integrated photonics and MEMS technology, scientists from EPFL and Purdue University demonstrate monolithic piezoelectric control of integrated optical frequency combs with bulk acoustic waves. The technology opens up integrated ultrafast acousto-optic modulation for demanding applications.
The development of the mammalian placenta depends upon an unusual twist that separates DNA's classic double helix into a single-stranded form, Yale researchers report July 15 in the journal Nature.
An international research group led by Chiba University has succeeded in forming self-assembled molecule rings called "polycatenanes" without using additional molecular templates. The research group also succeeded in observing the polycatenanes, the longest structure reaching 500 nm, by using atomic force microscopy. This work, published in the journal Nature, is the first vital step in technologi
While 93 percent of U.S. pediatricians surveyed were aware of the national guidelines on peanut allergy prevention in infants, only 30 percent were fully implementing the recommended practices and 64 percent reported partial implementation, according to the study published in JAMA Network Open.
An international team of researchers has demonstrated how curium — element 96 in the periodic table and one of the last that can be seen with the naked eye — responds to the application of high pressure created by squeezing a sample between two diamonds.
Today, new research released from faculty at the University of Colorado School of Medicine at the Anschutz Medical Campus looked at how caregivers address the issues of firearm safety when taking care of someone who has Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) and has access to a gun. The findings published today in JAMA Network Open.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have shown that an enzyme called RNA polymerase (Pol) II drives generation of the building blocks of ribosomes, the molecular machines that manufacture all proteins in cells based on the genetic code.
Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a new catalyst for synthesizing ammonia that does not comprise rare metals. By exploring a new design concept based around nitrogen vacancies, they created an inexpensive catalyst from abundantly available elements that still achieves state-of-the-art performance.
New research from Arizona State and Stanford Universities is augmenting meteorological studies that predict global warming trends and heat waves, adding human originated factors into the equation.
A new spin on the magnetic compression of plasmas could improve materials science, nuclear fusion research, X-ray generation and laboratory astrophysics, research led by the University of Michigan suggests.
Different ways of measuring how fast the expansion of the universe is accelerating disagree with one another, and new measurements are not fixing the issue
US-based biotech company Moderna has found that its COVID-19 vaccine was able to boost immune response in all volunteers during a Phase 1 human trial, according to early results published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Tuesday. The finding marks the first time a US-made vaccine candidate had results published in a peer-reviewed medical journal, CNN reports . "This is really quite good
Caltech microbiologists have discovered bacteria that feed on manganese and use the metal as their source of calories. Such microbes were predicted to exist over a century ago, but none had been found or described until now.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have shown that an enzyme called RNA polymerase (Pol) II drives generation of the building blocks of ribosomes, the molecular machines that manufacture all proteins in cells based on the genetic code.
New research shows that one of the heaviest known elements can be manipulated to a greater degree than previously thought, potentially paving the way for new strategies to recycle nuclear fuel and better long-term storage of radioactive elements.
An international research group led by Chiba University Professor Shiki Yagai has for the first time developed self-assembled polycatenanes, structures comprised of mechanically interlocked small molecule rings. The research group also succeeded in observing the geometric structure of the polycatenanes via atomic force microscopy (AFM). This work, published in the journal Nature, is the first to a
Ammonia (NH3) is one of the most commonly produced chemicals worldwide, because of its use as an important ingredient in a broad range of industrial manufacturing processes. For instance, it is pivotal in the production of fertilizers, and over 150 million tons of it are applied each year to increase the yields of various crops. Ammonia is produced naturally by many living organisms, but synthesiz
A new way of identifying cancer biomarkers has been developed by researchers at Lund University in Sweden. The new technology allows very sensitive, quick and cost-effective identification of cancer biomarkers. The research is published in Nature Communication Biology.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have shown that an enzyme called RNA polymerase (Pol) II drives generation of the building blocks of ribosomes, the molecular machines that manufacture all proteins in cells based on the genetic code.
"If you change your city, you're changing the world," says Eric Garcetti, mayor of Los Angeles and chair of C40 Cities, a network of the world's megacities committed to tackling the climate crisis. He shares tangible ways Los Angeles and other cities across the globe are promoting economic and social justice while taking concrete action on climate change — and talks about how to create a more inc
Researchers at the Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, used the liquid crystal elastomer technology to demonstrate a series of micro-tools grown on optical fibers. The 200-micrometer gripers are controlled remotely, without electric wiring or pneumatic tubing, with green light delivered through the fibers – absorbed light energy is directly converted into the gripper jaws' action.
Chemists have analyzed bones from a Danish and an Italian cemetery, casting light on the lives of nobles and common people in the north and the south of Europe.
A veteran of multiple NASA missions to Mars, Northern Arizona University planetary scientist Christopher Edwards will closely watch the upcoming launch of a space probe to Mars that carries a unique new instrument he co-designed in collaboration with engineers from the United Arab Emirates Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and Arizona State University (ASU).
Warmblood fragile foal syndrome is a severe, usually fatal, genetic disease that manifests itself after birth in affected horses. Due to the defect, the connective tissue is unstable. Under force, for instance, the skin tears from the tissue underneath and the joints can suffer dislocation. A research team from the Universities of Göttingen and Halle has now been able to prove that the disease did
When it comes to calamities, Jeffrey Schlegelmilch thinks big. In his upcoming book, "Rethinking Readiness: A Brief Guide to Twenty-First-Century Megadisasters," he explores menaces that potentially could change not just lives or communities, but entire societies. He groups these into five categories: climate change; cyber threats; nuclear war; failures of critical infrastructure such as electric
In 2015, the United Nations established 17 Sustainable Development Goals as "a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all." The goals range from eliminating poverty and hunger to reducing inequality and tackling climate change. To solve these complex and systemic challenges, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is establishing country support platforms (CSPs), or se
Researchers at EPFL have shown that electromagnetic waves coupled to precisely engineered structures known as artificial ferromagnetic quasicrystals allow for more efficient information transmission and processing at the nanoscale. Their research also represents the first practical demonstration of Conway worms, a theoretical concept for the description of quasicrystals.
Over the last decade, the field of condensed matter physics has experienced a golden age with the discovery of new materials and properties, and related technologies being developed at breakneck speed thanks to the arrival of topological physics. Topological physics took off in 2008 with the discovery of topological insulator, a type of material that is electrically insulating in bulk but metallic
People around the globe are having way fewer babies. By the year 2100, that might turn into a pretty big problem for humanity — rather than the relief one might expect. If they aren't already, dozens of countries' populations will be going into decline in this century, according to a new study published in the Lancet this week. 23 countries are expected to feel this effect intensify, with their p
Warmblood fragile foal syndrome is a severe, usually fatal, genetic disease that manifests itself after birth in affected horses. Due to the defect, the connective tissue is unstable. Under force, for instance, the skin tears from the tissue underneath and the joints can suffer dislocation. A research team from the Universities of Göttingen and Halle has now been able to prove that the disease did
In physics, we discover a new law by making a guess, and then comparing the consequences of the guess with experimental results. As the ever-quotable Richard Feynman put it: "It does not make any difference how beautiful your guess is. It does not make any difference how smart you are … if it disagrees with experiment it is wrong." This is the essence of what separates physics from, say, math. Ma
Collaborative observations with NASA's New Horizons mission have been ongoing at the Subaru Telescope since May 2020. Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC), the wide field camera mounted on the prime focus of the Subaru Telescope, is used for the observations to search for target candidates for New Horizons' next observations. Astronomers from Japan are participating in the observation team together with ones f
All known elementary particles have electric charges that are integer multiples of a third of the electron charge. But some theories predict the existence of "millicharged" elementary particles that would have a charge much smaller that the electron charge and could account for the elusive dark matter that fills the universe. An international team of researchers has now reported the first search at
It might seem as though humans have little in common with the lowly yeast cell. Humans have hair, skin, muscles, and bones, among other attributes. Yeast have, well, none of those things.
It might seem as though humans have little in common with the lowly yeast cell. Humans have hair, skin, muscles, and bones, among other attributes. Yeast have, well, none of those things.
It might seem as though humans have little in common with the lowly yeast cell. Humans have hair, skin, muscles, and bones, among other attributes. Yeast have, well, none of those things.
For many people, algae are just an odorous nuisance on their vacation beach or unwelcome guests in the garden pond and aquarium. This does not take into account, however, the enormous effects these mostly microscopic aquatic inhabitants have on the global climate and does not pay due heed to their role as nutrition for the fish of the oceans. Marine algae convert roughly the same amount of carbon
Super-agers, or individuals whose cognitive skills are above the norm even at an advanced age, have been found to have increased resistance to tau and amyloid proteins, according to research presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) 2020 Annual Meeting.
A new study led by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital and published in JAMA makes it clear: after universal masking was implemented at Mass General Brigham, the rate of COVID-19 infection among health care workers dropped significantly.
How decisions are made and how behavior is controlled is one of the most important questions in neuroscience. The neurotransmitter dopamine plays a central role in all of this. Scientists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), together with researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, looked into the role that dopamine plays in the decision-making process and in controlling movem
Researchers at the Universities of Tsukuba and Kobe re-analyzed data from three experiments that tested whether physical activity interventions lead to improved cognitive skills in children. They found that (1) the benefits of regular exercise on cognition were greater in children who have poor cognitive performance before the intervention and (2) spending time on physical activity did not hinder
Breast cancer cells grow locally, then metastasize throughout the body. They succeed in establishing tumors by sabotaging local immune cells embedded in tissues, thus evading detection and destruction by the body's roving immune defenses.
While paracetamol was the most common substance of enquiry for calls to the National Poisons Centre in 2018, new research reveals most New Zealanders have large quantities of the painkiller stockpiled in their homes.
Children who witness intimate partner violence benefit from a joint community and law enforcement intervention, research shows. The police and community-based organization partnership called the Child Trauma Response Team has demonstrated success at screening and treating children for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) immediately following incidents of intimate partner violence, according to
It might seem as though humans have little in common with the lowly yeast cell. Humans have hair, skin, muscles, and bones, among other attributes. Yeast have, well, none of those things.
For many people, algae are just an odorous nuisance on their vacation beach or unwelcome guests in the garden pond and aquarium. This does not take into account, however, the enormous effects these mostly microscopic aquatic inhabitants have on the global climate and does not pay due heed to their role as nutrition for the fish of the oceans. Marine algae convert roughly the same amount of carbon
Hybrid birds help clarify the color difference between blue-winged and golden-winged warblers. The hybrids of golden-winged and blue-winged warblers have a mix of coloration from the parent species, which allows researchers to identify which regions of the genome are associated with which color patterns. The study also reveals a more complex basis for the amount of yellow in warbler bellies and r
A survey of families in the UK finds that during lockdown some children are more emotional or disobedient, while others have lower anxiety without the pressures of school
Culture The Manhattan Project's massive effort to build the first atomic bomb led to the Trinity test on July 16, 1945 and inspired innovations and actions that continue to cascade through science and culture. 07/15/2020 Inside Science Staff To read more…
In the pandemic age of telehealth and new technologies, remote site lab or point-of-care (POC) testing of biofluids is a potentially rapid and non-invasive way to test for most diseases – including COVID-19.Now scientists at Flinders University have run tests on the bioprobe industry, recommending the potential of a novel group of bioprobes with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties, so-ca
A new method could help to track groundwater changes better than before. Researchers from Potsdam and the USA have compared gravity field data from the GRACE and GRACE-Follow On satellite missions with other measuring methods. They investigated the seasonal water storage in almost 250 river basins in Asia, whose water regime is dominated by monsoon. The results allow the large-scale GRACE data to
Pharmacists at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) have succeeded in detecting small amounts of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 using mass spectrometry. For their investigation, they used gargle solutions of COVID-19 patients. The novel method might supplement conventional tests. It is currently undergoing improvements and might be available as standard diagnostic tool for COVID-19 in the futur
Warmblood fragile foal syndrome is a severe, usually fatal, genetic disease that manifests itself after birth in affected horses. Due to the defect, the connective tissue is unstable. Under force, the skin tears from the tissue underneath and the joints can dislocate. Researchers from the Universities of Göttingen and Halle have now been able to prove that the disease did not stem from the English
The LHCb collaboration at CERN has announced the discovery of a new exotic particle: a so-called "tetraquark." The paper by more than 800 authors is yet to be evaluated by other scientists in a process called "peer review," but has been presented at a seminar. It also meets the usual statistical threshold for claiming the discovery of a new particle. The finding marks a major breakthrough in a se
ESA's Compact Antenna Test Range at its ESTEC technical centre in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. This anechoic chamber is used to test space antennas of 1 m across or less, or else entire small satellites.
The accents of educated city dwellers across the North of England are becoming more similar, according to new research from The University of Manchester.
Nuclear physicists are trying to understand how particles called quarks and gluons combine to form hadrons, composite particles made of two or three quarks. To study this process, called hadronization, a team of nuclear physicists used the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider—a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science user facility for nuclear physics research at DOE's Brookhave
Scanning the airwaves over Monterey Bay with a hand-held antenna, Stanford University researchers listen for blue whales—or, more precisely, they listen for the suction tags they've stuck on blue whales. The first beep sounds and the captain whips the boat on course, following the quickening signal to find the surfacing giant. The three-person crew must reach the animal before it disappears under
Scanning the airwaves over Monterey Bay with a hand-held antenna, Stanford University researchers listen for blue whales—or, more precisely, they listen for the suction tags they've stuck on blue whales. The first beep sounds and the captain whips the boat on course, following the quickening signal to find the surfacing giant. The three-person crew must reach the animal before it disappears under
The research team took a new approach by using the Josephson junctions to spatially resolve the supercurrent flow and to show that WTe2 does indeed appear to have hinge states and be a higher-order topological insulator. They have identified a new higher-order topological insulator. It is a layered two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) called WTe2. This is a famous material in con
New research reveals a new way to stop the spread of bone cancer in children.The discovery is thought to be the most important breakthrough in the field for more than 40 years.The researchers say their work could lead to 'kinder' treatments for children with bone cancer and save lives.
Most patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (coronavirus) pneumonia experienced improvement after receiving a Food and Drug Administration-approved drug normally given for rheumatoid arthritis, according to an observational study at Cedars-Sinai. Outcomes for patients who received the drug, tocilizumab, included reduced inflammation, oxygen requirements, blood pressure support and risk of death, comp
The COVID-19 pandemic is having a disproportionate, negative impact on the careers of scientists with young children at home, a new survey finds. They have been forced to drastically reduce the amount of time they spend on their research, which could have long-term effects on their careers and could exacerbate existing inequalities.
Electrochromic displays have been the subject of extensive research as a promising colour display technology. Herein, a transparent inorganic multicolour display platform based on Zn-based electrochromic devices was demonstrated. These devices enable independent operation of top and bottom electrochromic electrodes, thus providing additional configuration flexibility of the devices through the uti
UC Davis researchers have found that combining a Western-style high-fat diet with antibiotic use significantly increases the risk of developing pre- inflammatory bowel disease. This combination shuts down the mitochondria in cells of the colon lining, leading to gut inflammation. Mesalazine can help restart the mitochondria and treat pre-IBD condition.
Researchers in the lab of Caltech's Paul Sternberg discover how diverse forms of life are able to use the same cellular machinery for DNA transcription.
New research into the complexities of prescribed burning across varied landscapes and weather conditions is supporting the critical decisions on how and where to use fire to protect communities.
In the pandemic age of telehealth and new technologies, remote site lab or point-of-care (POC) testing of biofluids is a potentially rapid and non-invasive way to test for most diseases—including COVID-19.
The fear that people developed at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak has given way to anger over the course of the pandemic, a study of global sentiments led by NTU Singapore has found. Xenophobia, a common theme among anger-related tweets, evolved to reflect feelings arising from isolation and social seclusion. Accompanying this later shift is the emergence of tweets that show joy, which suggest
A team led by UT Southwestern researchers has identified brain circuitry that plays a key role in the dysfunctional social, repetitive, and inflexible behavioral differences that characterize autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The findings, published online this week in Nature Neuroscience, could lead to new therapies for these relatively prevalent disorders.
Scientists from Japan have, for the first time, observed one of the natural mechanisms underlying the regulation of the levels of growth inhibiting hormone in plants. This mechanism had been hitherto seen in bacteria, but its discovery in plants will enable novel ways of increasing crop productivity globally.
Mobile phones and other electronic devices made from an organic material that is thin, bendable and more powerful are now a step closer thanks to new research led by scientists at The Australian University (ANU).
Researchers from the University of Melbourne and St Vincent's Hospital in Australia have conducted a trial involving 144 patients to compare the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary clinic – involving gastroenterologists, dieticians, psychiatrists and physiotherapists – with usual gastroenterology specialist-only care.
A genomic error that causes Rett Syndrome, a serious lifelong neurological disorder, can be corrected in the brains of mice by rewriting the genetic instructions carried by the RNA.The new research, published July 14 in the journal Cell Reports, shows that RNA editing may repair the underlying cause of Rett Syndrome in a mouse model. The technology recoded enough RNA to restore half of the normal
From mRNA vaccines entering clinical trials, to peptide-based vaccines and using molecular farming to scale vaccine production, the COVID-19 pandemic is pushing new and emerging nanotechnologies into the frontlines and the headlines. Nanoengineers at UC San Diego detail the current approaches to COVID-19 vaccine development, and highlight how nanotechnology has enabled these advances, in a review
If you've ever held a trilobite fossil, seen one in a classroom, or walked by one in a store, chances are it was Elrathia kingii, one of the most common and well-recognized trilobites. New work describes the development and growth rate of Elrathia kingii–only the second such dataset to be compiled for a trilobite–allowing for the first comparison among trilobite species.
Researchers from USC and UCLA have found that exposure to flaring — the burning off of excess natural gas — at oil and gas production sites is associated with 50% higher odds of preterm birth, compared with no exposure.
A new spin on the magnetic compression of plasmas could improve materials science, nuclear fusion research, X-ray generation and laboratory astrophysics, research led by the University of Michigan suggests.
A research team led by Kenta Maruyama M.D., Ph.D. from National Institute for Physiological Sciences explored the role of St18 in the regulation of VEGF expression. Mice lacking St18 in myeloid lineages are highly susceptible to septic shock. These mice also exhibit increased retinal vasculature with enhanced serum VEGF concentrations, and pharmacological inhibition of VEGF signaling rescues the h
Stalagmites from Lake Shasta Caverns (LSC) – located in northern California within an important transitional climate zone between the Pacific Northwest and southwestern United States—hold geochemical clues to help researchers understand how climate changed during the end of the last ice age (14,000—37,000 years ago) and predict what may happen amid climatic changes in modern times.
Planting huge numbers of trees to mitigate climate change is "not always the best strategy"—with some experimental sites in Scotland failing to increase carbon stocks, a new study has found.
Myanmar's conservation ministry is considering captive breeding of as many as 175 threatened species, including tigers, Irrawaddy dolphins and rare birds that exist only in the wild.
(Nicola Muirhead) Editor's Note : The Atlantic is making vital coverage of the coronavirus available to all readers. Find the collection here . Seven years ago , the White House was bracing itself for not one pandemic, but two. In the spring of 2013, several people in China fell sick with a new and lethal strain of H7N9 bird flu, while an outbreak of MERS—a disease caused by a coronavirus—had spr
Engineers have demonstrated that just pencils and paper could create bioelectronic devices with potential for tracking health. One day, people could monitor their own health conditions by simply picking up a pencil and drawing a bioelectronic device on their skin , they say. Many existing commercial on-skin biomedical devices often contain two major components—a biomedical tracking component and
Women are almost twice as likely as men to have lost their job and suffered an anxiety attack during lockdown, according to a study that reveals how COVID-19 has driven widespread gender inequality.
When NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida later this summer, an innovative experiment will ride along: the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter. Ingenuity may weigh only about 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms), but it has some outsize ambitions.
Long before dimethylformamide (DMF) failed the squishy toy test, chemists raised concerns about its use as a solvent in the construction of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).
Highlights from our previous coverage of nuclear weapons and radiation. Links Page top image Bradbury-and-the-Gadget.jpg Norris Bradbury and one other man with the "gadget," before it exploded in the Trinity test on July 16, 1945. Image credits: U.S. Department of Energy Culture Wednesday, July 15, 2020 – 07:30 Inside Science Staff The stories and infographics below showcase Inside Science's pre
A selection of women and people of color who achieved remarkable things in science after working on the Manhattan Project. yearbook_topimage_final.jpg Image credits: Abigail Malate, Staff Illustrator Rights information: This image may only be reproduced with this Inside Science article. Culture Wednesday, July 15, 2020 – 07:45 Nala Rogers, Staff Writer (Inside Science) — The Manhattan Project w
Isotopes produced in the original Manhattan Project reactors seeded decades of research and even a few Nobel Prizes. topNteaser_X-10Reactor.jpg Workers load uranium slugs into the X-10 Graphite Reactor at Oak Ridge in 1943. Image credits: Ed Westcott/US Army/Manhattan Engineer District via Wikipedia . Rights information: Public domain Technology Wednesday, July 15, 2020 – 07:45 Catherine Meyers,
About 160 sea turtles, many of them injured after getting entangled in plastic waste, have been rescued after washing up on one of the world's longest beaches in Bangladesh, an official and conservationists said Wednesday.
About 160 sea turtles, many of them injured after getting entangled in plastic waste, have been rescued after washing up on one of the world's longest beaches in Bangladesh, an official and conservationists said Wednesday.
Using data from space observatories and ground-based telescopes, astronomers have investigated variability of a blazar known as 3C 273. The new study, presented in a paper published July 6 on the arXiv pre-print server, sheds more light on the emission from this source.
Doctoral students show high levels of stress in comparison to other students, and ongoing uncertainty in terms of graduate career outcomes can make matters worse.
Spray drying is an industrial technique based on the atomization of a solution into aerosol droplets that in turn are evaporated to produce a powder (dried particles). This technique is well known in the chemical, food, and pharmaceutical industries, where it is routinely used.
Eliana La Ferrara (Bocconi University's LEAP, Laboratory for Effective Anti-poverty Policies) and Michela Carlana (Harvard Kennedy School) have demonstrated the improvement of the academic performance, aspirations, well-being, and socio-emotional skills of disadvantaged Italian high-school students during the COVID-19 lockdown through a simple, low-cost online homework tutoring program (TOP, or: t
Holst Center has demonstrated the world's first organic near-infrared large-area image sensor capable of detecting the unique pattern of veins in a person's hand via reflected light. The sensor opens the door to highly secure, non-spoofable biometric identification for security-critical applications such as passports and payment authentication, and can be easily integrated into devices such as sma
Johannes Vermeer is one of the most celebrated artists of the 17th century's Dutch Golden Age period. Widely known today for his "Girl with a Pearl Earring," he was famed for his mastery in rendering the effects of light and shadow. Nowhere is this technical precision more evident than in his masterpiece, "View of Delft", a vibrant cityscape that has captivated viewers for centuries. Because few d
Five years ago today, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft made history. After a voyage of nearly 10 years and more than 3 billion miles, the intrepid piano-sized probe flew within 7,800 miles of Pluto. For the first time ever, we saw the surface of this distant world in spectacular, colored detail.
Dubbed the world's "happiest animal," there's still a lot we don't know about quokkas that is needed to secure the survival of the species. This is especially true for how we manage quokka habitat for mainland populations.
Mobile phones and other electronic devices made from an organic material that is thin, bendable and more powerful are now a step closer thanks to new research led by scientists at The Australian University (ANU).
Well, it's finally here – eight weeks to the day after press-releasing some top line results, the full paper is out on the Moderna mRNA vaccine candidate's Phase I trial. I'm very glad to see it – it's going to be very important for the full data sets on all the vaccine candidates to be made public. So how's it look? As we found out back in May , we're looking at three groups of 15 volunteers eac
Dubbed the world's "happiest animal," there's still a lot we don't know about quokkas that is needed to secure the survival of the species. This is especially true for how we manage quokka habitat for mainland populations.
As the first author of her first publication, Isabelle O'Bryon developed the first forensic proteomics method to more quickly detect ricin, a lethal toxin that is often crudely made in home laboratories. With this method, forensic scientists can detect ricin and better account for the clumsy methods would-be terrorists use to concentrate the toxin.
As the first author of her first publication, Isabelle O'Bryon developed the first forensic proteomics method to more quickly detect ricin, a lethal toxin that is often crudely made in home laboratories. With this method, forensic scientists can detect ricin and better account for the clumsy methods would-be terrorists use to concentrate the toxin.
People who expose a police officer or emergency worker to body fluids would be compelled to have their blood tested for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, under a proposed law in NSW.
Samsøs gasfærge Prinsesse Isabella blev ramt af en brand i en turbolader. Det er anden gang på en uge, at færgen er ramt af problemer, lige midt i sommertrafikken. Ingen er dog kommet til skade.
The story of humankind from the earliest times to the present is in many ways a story about technology. Archaeologists tend to study the development of technology to show how people lived and how they interacted with their environment.
President Donald Trump is expected to announce a new federal rule to speed up the environmental review process for proposed highways, gas pipelines and other major infrastructure, a move that critics are describing as the dismantling of a 50-year-old environmental protection law.
We tend to think of the solar system as our little corner of the universe, but there are still a lot of things we don't know about it. For example, what's perturbing the orbits of small space rocks out past the orbit of Neptune? Some scientists believe there's another planet out there, often called Planet Nine . What if it's not a planet, though? Researchers from Harvard University have published
Current industrialized food systems were optimized for a single goal—growing the maximum amount of food for the least amount of money. But when room and supplies are limited—like during space travel—you need to optimize for a different set of goals to meet the needs of the people you are trying to feed.
Smoking cessation initiatives notwithstanding, along with provocative public health campaigns and clinical guidance, quitting tobacco has remained elusive for many smokers. The American Thoracic Society's new clinical practice guideline on treatment for tobacco dependence in adults addresses how clinicians may deal with patients' reluctance to quit, one of a number of issues not previously assesse
Whether you use a taxi or a rideshare app like Uber, you're still going to get a driver who will take you to your destination. But consumers view an employee of a taxi company differently from an independent driver picking up riders via an app, a new Ohio State University study suggests.
Current industrialized food systems were optimized for a single goal—growing the maximum amount of food for the least amount of money. But when room and supplies are limited—like during space travel—you need to optimize for a different set of goals to meet the needs of the people you are trying to feed.
It's the most famous city slogan in the world: I Love New York. And yet, surprisingly, love doesn't seem to play a part in how urban planners build cities.
After 3,000 people in nine public housing towers in Melbourne were placed under the harshest coronavirus lockdown in Australia so far, acting Australian Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly referred to the towers on July 5 as "vertical cruise ships." The statement was a reference to the danger of contagion in these overcrowded buildings. However, such terms play into a long, international history of v
The impact of car travel on the environment is well known. Exhaust emissions pollute the atmosphere with gases that raise global temperatures and make the air less safe to breathe. Sadly, the problems don't end there. Scientists have been studying another problem—and one that connects your daily commute to the most remote stretches of the world's oceans.
The fate of society rests in part on how humans navigate their complicated relationship with insects—trying to save "good" insects and control "bad" ones. Some insects, like mosquitoes, bite people and make them sick—remember Zika? Now the U.S. mosquito season is already in full swing, with over 10 cases of Dengue fever reported in the Florida Keys this year. Some insects, like bees, are pollinato
The fate of society rests in part on how humans navigate their complicated relationship with insects—trying to save "good" insects and control "bad" ones. Some insects, like mosquitoes, bite people and make them sick—remember Zika? Now the U.S. mosquito season is already in full swing, with over 10 cases of Dengue fever reported in the Florida Keys this year. Some insects, like bees, are pollinato
Perhaps the purest distillation of Bruce Lee's cinematic presence is when he snapped Chuck Norris's neck at the end of a battle in the Roman Colosseum. It's the climactic showdown in The Way of the Dragon —the only movie Lee directed and the last film released in his lifetime. It's also one of the few times in Lee's career when his character faced a worthy opponent. In the scene, Lee approaches N
G20-landene investerer massivt i fossile brændstoffer i de genopretningspakker, der skal sætte gang i økonomien efter coronakrisen – trods løfter om det modsatte.
Homelessness could get a lot worse due to mass evictions, and that's only going to exacerbate hurricane season (Cameron Venti/Unsplash/) Like shelters across the country, the Good Shepherd Center in the coastal city of Wilmington, North Carolina has been operating in a state of emergency for months. By late March, the challenges of social distancing with 85 residents came to a head, and it wasn't
In a world with a consistently growing population and a climate crisis, food shortage is a looming threat. To alleviate this threat, crop scientists, botanists, genetic engineers, and others, have been exploring ways of boosting crop productivity and resilience. One way to control plant growth and physiology is to regulate the levels of "phytohormones" or plant hormones.
Virginia Tech researchers have discovered a novel process to 3-D print latex rubber, unlocking the ability to print a variety of elastic materials with complex geometric shapes.
Solar cells produced from a combination of silicon and perovskite—especially the variant with mixed halides such as iodine and bromine—can be more efficient and cheaper than traditional silicon solar cells because they convert a greater proportion of the sunlight into electricity. However, perovskites degrade under the influence of light, and so they cannot yet be used for commercial applications.
In a world with a consistently growing population and a climate crisis, food shortage is a looming threat. To alleviate this threat, crop scientists, botanists, genetic engineers, and others, have been exploring ways of boosting crop productivity and resilience. One way to control plant growth and physiology is to regulate the levels of "phytohormones" or plant hormones.
Surface functional groups in two dimensional (2-D) transition-metal carbides can undergo versatile chemical transformations to facilitate a broad class of MXene materials. In a new report on Science, Vladislav Kamysbayev, and a team of scientists in chemistry, physics and nanoscale materials at the James Franck Institute, the University of Chicago and the Argonne National Laboratory in the U.S. in
A Korean research team has developed a technology that enables the effective control of fine particulate matter and nanoplastics, which are major causes of human toxicity and ecosystem disturbances. This technology, which allows for real-time sorting, purification, and concentration of nanoparticles invisible to the human eye has great potential application, not only for the removal of toxic parti
The COVID-19 pandemic is a historical accelerant. It has compressed 10 years of online-shopping growth into a few months, bankrupted chains that were in steady decline, hastened Democratic gains in the Sun Belt , sped up an urban exodus from America's most expensive cities, and persuaded my grandmother to finally use Instacart. All of this was bound to happen eventually. The coronavirus just mash
The No. 1 song on country radio at the moment is about the joy of tequila, Jimmy Buffett, and crowds. " One Margarita, " by the 43-year-old Georgia-born superstar Luke Bryan, gives a detailed plan for losing one's faculties to lime-flavored frozen cocktails guzzled with friends. In the music video, crowds wearing sombreros gather with beach balls on some nice sandy shore as Bryan presides in boar
The numbers tell the story. US venture capital firms have $444 billion under management, including $121 billion in "dry powder" waiting in reserve—all in pursuit of the next "unicorn" startup that will grow to be worth billions. But about three-quarters of the industry's cash goes to support software innovation—a habit that's looking particularly short-sighted at a time when the nation is facing
We are raiding the Audio Long Reads archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2015: A series of experiments has produced incredible results by giving young blood to old mice. Now the findings are being tested on humans. Ian Sample meets the scientists whose research could transform our lives • Read the text version here Con
The Atlas of Surveillance shows which tech law enforcement agencies across the country have acquired. It's a sobering look at the present-day panopticon.
The 75th anniversary of what's known as the Trinity explosion, the world's first nuclear weapon test, comes as tensions over nuclear devices intensify.
Tianwen-1 will attempt to send an orbiter, lander and rover to the Red Planet, a historically difficult destination — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Tianwen-1 will attempt to send an orbiter, lander and rover to the Red Planet, a historically difficult destination — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Failed businesses and lost loved ones, empty theme parks and socially distanced funerals, a struggling economy and an unmitigated public-health disaster: This is the worst-of-both-worlds equilibrium the United States finds itself in. Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, President Donald Trump has railed against shutdowns and shelter-in-place orders, tweeting in all caps that "we canno
More than 140 teams of researchers are racing to develop a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine Researchers around the world are racing to develop a vaccine against Covid-19, with more than 140 candidate vaccines now tracked by the World Health Organization (WHO). Continue reading…
Geoengineering – spraying sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere to combat global warming – would only temporarily and partially benefit apple production in northern India, according to a Rutgers co-authored study. But abruptly ending geoengineering might lead to total crop failure faster than if geoengineering were not done, according to the study – believed to be the first of its kind – in the journ
Chinedu E. Ekuma and his colleagues at the Sensor and Electrons Devices Directorate at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory have developed a new complex material design strategy for potential use in neuromorphic computing, using metallocene intercalation in hafnium disulfide (HfS2). The work is the first to demonstrate the effectiveness of a design strategy that functionalizes a 2D material with an o
I must admit that I had not gotten around to actually reading Robin DiAngelo's White Fragility until recently. But it was time to jump in. DiAngelo is an education professor and—most prominently today—a diversity consultant who argues that whites in America must face the racist bias implanted in them by a racist society. Their resistance to acknowledging this, she maintains, constitutes a "white
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02057-2 Biennials, regional hubs and virtual attendance can slash emissions, new calculations show.
Nature, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02094-x A promising biomedical tool began life as part of efforts to answer a different question.
Nature, Published online: 14 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02122-w Vietnam has a population of 97 million people, a border shared with China — and no recorded deaths from COVID-19. Plus: Koala- and human-health researchers work together to discover a vaccine for chlamydia, and the month's best science images.
A journal has retracted a paper on the semen of diabetic rats after learning about problems with authorship, and possibly more. Physiology International, which also is called Acta Physiologica Hungarica, published the article, "The effects of sericin in recovering spermatogenesis and sexual hormone levels in diabetic rats," in 2019. The first author was Ali Olfati, … Continue reading
PLUS. Franskmanden Jean-Baptiste Segard har udviklet en lille anhænger til elbiler, så rækkevidden kan forlænges med et ekstra batteri. Nu arbejder han på at etablere et netværk af anhængere i Europa.
President Trump has used a regulatory reinterpretation to limit one of the country's bedrock environmental laws and speed permitting of infrastructure projects.
Nature Communications, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-17290-6 Air-stability is a critical challenge faced by layered sodium transition metal oxide cathodes. Here, the authors depict a general and in-depth model of the structural/chemical evolution of P2-type layered oxides in air and propose an evaluation rule for the air-stability of layered sodium cathodes.
Nature Communications, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-17314-1 Pulmonary hypertension is a devastating disease with elevation of pulmonary artery pressure and related to abnormal calcium signalling. Here, the authors show that suppression or stabilization of the calcium channel ryanodine receptor 2 may be a potential treatment approach for this disease.
Nature Communications, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-17394-z The rational design of spatiotemporal patterns in artificial molecular systems remains at an early stage of development. Here, the authors design a reaction network to control the formation and degradation of nanofibers by orthogonal chemical stimuli and describe force generation by a propagating wave of supramo
Nature Communications, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-17321-2 Structurally divergent reactions on racemic mixtures, which produce distinct chemical species from an enantiomeric mixture, are extremely rare in the literature. Here, the authors are able to use a dynamic combinatorial approach to yield structurally divergent, non-isomeric [2]catenanes from an enantiomeric mixt
Nature Communications, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-17222-4 Current methods to generate sequence-function data at large scale are either technically complex or limited to specific applications. Here the authors introduce DNA-based phenotypic recording to overcome these limitations and enable deep learning for accurate prediction of function from sequence.
Nature Communications, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-17373-4 Two dimensional lamellar membranes are attractive for anomalous water and ion transfer, but performance is hindered by swelling. Here, the authors stabilize a MXene membrane laminar architecture with fixed nanochannels, achieving highly selective acid recovery from iron-based wastewater.
Nature Communications, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-17175-8 Recurrent metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma remains largely incurable. Here, the authors describe a child with metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma who has durable response to HER2-specific CAR T cells and shows endogenous immune reactivity.
Nature Communications, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-17326-x Forcing people to choose quickly often changes pro-social behavior, but it is unclear why. Here, the authors show that under time pressure, people engage in incomplete information searches biased by concern (or lack thereof) for others, explaining effects often attributed to automatic processing.
India's prehistoric heritage, which is key to the story of early human migration, is at risk of being wiped out by modern development. The slow, deliberate, decades-long pace of fieldwork in prehistoric research requires archaeological sites to remain undisturbed, but protecting them is a challenge.
Lack of stable housing or inadequate housing is related to high blood pressure, obesity and other risk factors for cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, strokes, heart failure and others.Racial and ethnic segregation and gentrification affect heart health by limiting access to affordable, high-quality housing in under-resourced communities.
Scientific Reports, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-68011-4 Longer-term (≥ 2 years) survival in patients with glioblastoma in population-based studies pre- and post-2005: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Scientific Reports, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-68360-0 Pharmacokinetics and safety of IBI301 versus rituximab in patients with CD20 + B-cell lymphoma: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled study
Scientific Reports, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-68572-4 Chemical weathering and CO 2 consumption rates of rocks in the Bishuiyan subterranean basin of Guangxi, China
Scientific Reports, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-68426-z Development of novel and green NiFe 2 O 4 /geopolymer nanocatalyst based on bentonite for synthesis of imidazole heterocycles by ultrasonic irradiations
Science and religion (fact versus faith) are often seen as two incongruous groups. When you consider the purpose of each and the questions that they seek to answer, the comparison becomes less black and white. This video features religious scholars, a primatologist, a neuroendocrinologist, a comedian, and other brilliant minds considering, among other things, the evolutionary function that religi
There's no definition of what stage four might mean, what the new rules would be or when it could come into effect in Melbourne, but premier Daniel Andrews hasn't ruled it out Follow coronavirus live updates in Thursday's Australia blog What you need to know about Melbourne's stage 3 lockdown rules Melbourne map: where Covid-19 cases are rising or falling Sign up for Guardian Australia's coronavi
Nature Communications, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-17301-6 Though stretchable strain sensors are attractive for next-generation applications due to their high sensitivity, heat generated in these devices limits their reliability. Here, the authors report boron nitride nanosheet-based stretchable strain sensors with enhanced thermal management.
Nature Communications, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-17280-8 The sudden deterioration of patients with novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) into critical illness is of major concern and early assessment would be vital. Here, the authors show that a deep learning-based survival model can predict the risk of COVID-19 patients developing critical illness based on clinic
Nature Communications, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-17351-w The effect of the lattice degrees of freedom on the metal-insulator transition of VO2 remains a topic of debate. Here the authors show that the lattice compatibility of the high temperature tetragonal phase and the low-temperature monoclinic phase strongly influences the electronic transition, as manifested in t
Though anxiety has increased in the U.S. in recent months, a drastic spike in loneliness that psychologists expected hasn't emerged. People seem to be finding new ways to connect, researchers say. (Image credit: Janice Chang for NPR)
Your 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
Det råder lite delade meningar om betydelsen för människors hälsa av att ha hund, men många undersökningar tyder på att att hundägare i genomsnitt mår något bättre än de som inte har hund. Men vad är orsak och vad är verkan? Är man mer benägen att ha hund om man är friskare? Ett svensk-brittiskt forskarlag (Tove Fall och medarbetare 2019) har dessutom funnit att hundägande har en ärftlig komponent
It's often easy to tell when colleagues are struggling with a cold — they sound sick. Maybe their voices are lower or have a nasally tone. Infections change the quality of our voices in various ways. But MIT Lincoln Laboratory researchers are detecting these changes in Covid-19 patients even when these changes are too subtle for people to hear or even notice in themselves. By processing speech re
Authorities distributed an arrival form with outdated questions about coronavirus hotspot countries, inquiry told New South Wales Health made a "serious mistake" in using an out-of-date arrival form template for the Ruby Princess when it docked in Sydney, the special inquiry into the cruise ship that resulted in a Covid-19 cluster has heard. Commissioner Bret Walker SC on Wednesday heard the firs
Separate study shows rate of Covid-19 infection halved every eight to nine days during May Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Covid-19 deaths in England and Wales have dropped steadily for the past seven weeks, but the rate of decline slowed in the most recent week of data. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics showed 532 deaths related to Covid-19
Holding its own against aerospace giants like pan-European Airbus Space or French-Italian Thales Alenia, German minnow OHB has carved out a space as a national champion in satellite building.
The United States government rescinded its controversial decision to revoke foreign student visas whose courses move online due to coronavirus, a federal judge said Tuesday.
Earth will be home to 8.8 billion souls in 2100, two billion fewer than current UN projections, according to a major study published Wednesday that foresees new global power alignments shaped by declining fertility rates and greying populations.
The giant impacts that dominate late stages of planet formation have a wide range of consequences for young planets and their atmospheres, according to new research.
World's population likely to shrink after mid-century, forecasting major shifts in global population and economic power—new analysis, published in The Lancet forecasts global, regional, and national populations, mortality, fertility, and migration for 195 countries worldwide.
An increase of 20 to 30 per cent of invasive non-native (alien) species would lead to dramatic future biodiversity loss worldwide. This is the conclusion of a study by an international team of researchers led by Franz Essl and Bernd Lenzner from the University of Vienna. It has been published in the journal Global Change Biology.
Global emissions of methane have reached the highest levels on record. Increases are being driven primarily by growth of emissions from coal mining, oil and natural gas production, cattle and sheep ranching, and landfills.
Forskere fra KU og DTU har løst en gammel matematisk gåde, som matematikere over hele verden har arbejdet på siden 1980'erne, og den nye algoritme kan måske være med til at forbedre fremtidens elektronik.
An increase of 20 to 30 per cent of invasive non-native (alien) species would lead to dramatic future biodiversity loss worldwide. This is the conclusion of a study by an international team of researchers led by Franz Essl and Bernd Lenzner from the University of Vienna. It has been published in the journal Global Change Biology.
Examining the association between eight different types of early life stress (ELS) and youth-onset depression, a study in JAACAP, published by Elsevier, reports that individuals exposed to ELS were more likely to develop a major depressive disorder (MDD) in childhood or adolescence than individuals who had not been exposed to ELS.
A Korean research team has developed a technology that enables the effective control of fine particulate matter and nanoplastics, which are major causes of human toxicity and ecosystem disturbances. This technology, which allows for real-time sorting, purification, and concentration of nanoparticles invisible to the human eye, has great potential application, not only for the removal of toxic part
Abdominal weight gain, which is common during the postmenopause period, is associated with an array of health problems, including diabetes and heart disease. A new study suggests that the use of antidepressants, beta-blockers, and insulin during the menopause transition is partially to blame for such unhealthy weight gain. Study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The N
Hospitals have been ordered to bypass the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and send all patient information to a central database in Washington, raising questions about transparency.
Driving across the arid American Southwest, one views miles upon miles of scrubby creosote bushes. Well-adapted to the hot, thirsty landscape, the evergreen shrub, also known as greasewood, chaparral and gobernadora, produces tufts of fluffy, white fruit capsules. Living among the plants are similarly fluffy white insects, difficult to distinguish from the fruit, that are, in fact, a species of wa
PLUS. Med vægtdata fra sensorer i S-tog kan DSB estimere, hvor mange passagerer toget har med – og dermed, om de kan rejse med fornuftig afstand til hinanden.
Driving across the arid American Southwest, one views miles upon miles of scrubby creosote bushes. Well-adapted to the hot, thirsty landscape, the evergreen shrub, also known as greasewood, chaparral and gobernadora, produces tufts of fluffy, white fruit capsules. Living among the plants are similarly fluffy white insects, difficult to distinguish from the fruit, that are, in fact, a species of wa
Every 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 . DREW ANGERER / BLOOMBERG / GETTY / THE ATLANTIC The Supreme Court ended its term last week, but our writers are still processing the decisions made in recent days—and what they signal for the Cou
Extinction Rebellion activists who occupied London twice last year were largely white, middle class and highly educated – but many were first-time or inexperienced protesters, a new analysis has found
There likely won't be any trips in the Yukon like this one for American hunters in 2020. (Sloane Brown/YETI/) This story originally featured on Outdoor Life . For many of us here in the US, an annual hunting or fishing trip to Canada is a longstanding tradition. And Canadians, particularly those in the more remote western provinces, depend on American tourism dollars to bolster local economies. B
A team of underwater cave explorers in Mexico has discovered the oldest known system of red ochre mines in the Americas. The discovery sheds light on how humans lived as long as 12,000 years ago. The subterranean cave system, known as Sagitario, was once dry but is now completely submerged. Humans mined the caves during the tail-end of the Pleistocene era for the highly valued mineral pigment. Th
We are heartbroken to hear this sad news about Grant Imahara. He was an important part of our Discovery family and a really wonderful man. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. From: Discovery
Restrictions imposed on Indian city of Bangalore and state of Bihar; Venezuela's capital Caracas to go into a strict lockdown on Wednesday; Face masks mandatory in France; Follow the latest updates 133m re-enter lockdown in India as cases top 900,000 Cities worldwide reimpose lockdowns as Covid-19 cases surge France: baby boy infected with coronavirus in womb Does coronavirus spread in the air an
Hospitals have been ordered to bypass the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and send all patient information to a central database in Washington, raising questions about transparency.
Researchers have turned adhesive tape into a silicon oxide film that replaces troublesome anodes in lithium metal batteries. For the Advanced Materials study, the researchers used an infrared laser cutter to convert the silicone-based adhesive of commercial tape into the porous silicon oxide coating, mixed with a small amount of laser-induced graphene from the tape's polyimide backing. The protec
An increase of 20 to 30 per cent of invasive non-native (alien) species would lead to dramatic future biodiversity loss worldwide. This is the conclusion of a study by an international team of researchers led by Franz Essl and Bernd Lenzner from the University of Vienna.
The giant impacts that dominate late stages of planet formation have a wide range of consequences for young planets and their atmospheres, according to new research.
An exploding white dwarf star blasted itself out of its orbit with another star in a 'partial supernova' and is now hurtling across our galaxy, according to a new study from the University of Warwick.
Cuba's successful containment of COVID-19 through door-to-door screening of every home in the country, shows how 'shoe-leather' epidemiology could have averted the dramatic failure of the UK's response to the pandemic. In Cuba there have been 2,173 confirmed cases and 83 deaths, with no reported deaths throughout the first week in June, 2020.
Tourism, transport and the climate crisis found to be major drivers of rise in alien plants and animals, which can decimate ecosystems An increase in the spread of non-native plant and animals species around the world could lead to dramatic biodiversity loss, a new study has found, causing permanent damage to ecosystems as they are pushed past biological tipping points. The study, published in Gl
A maximum of 84 hotdogs in 10 minutes is possible, says sports science study The four-minute mile and the two-hour marathon were once believed impossible: now a new gauntlet has been thrown down for the world of elite competition. A scientific analysis suggests competitive eaters have come within nine hotdogs of the limits of human performance. The theoretical ceiling has been set at 84 hotdogs i
Voters, policymakers, the media, and political analysts all misunderstand the influence of campaign financing, argue two social scientists in their new book. When in 2010 the US Supreme Court ruled in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that companies and labor unions enjoy the same right to political speech as individuals, many restrictions on money in American politics went out the w
An exploding white dwarf star blasted itself out of its orbit with another star in a "partial supernova" and is now hurtling across our galaxy, according to a new study from the University of Warwick.
A new study has found evidence suggesting that conservative climate skepticism is driven by reactions to liberal support for science. This was determined both by comparing polling data to records of cues given by leaders, and through a survey. The findings could lead to new methods of influencing public opinion. Among citizens of major Western nations, Americans' acceptance of the science of clim
Scientific Reports, Published online: 15 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-69049-0 Publisher Correction: Discordance for genotypic sex in phenotypic female Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) is related to a reduced sdY copy number
Cambridge researchers have shown how rapid genome sequencing of virus samples and enhanced testing of hospital staff can help to identify clusters of healthcare-associated COVID-19 infections.
World's population likely to shrink after mid-century, forecasting major shifts in global population and economic power – new analysis, published in The Lancet forecasts global, regional, and national populations, mortality, fertility, and migration for 195 countries worldwide.
The pandemic has tugged carbon emissions down, temporarily. But levels of the powerful heat-trapping gas methane continue to climb, dragging the world further away from a path that skirts the worst effects of global warming.
If you or someone you know is attending school remotely, you are more than likely learning through emergency remote instruction, which is not the same as online learning, write Rich DeMillo and Steve Harmon. Education institutions must properly define and understand the difference between a course that is designed from inception to be taught in an online format and a course that has been rapidly
Nature, Published online: 14 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-02116-8 Annual emissions of the greenhouse gas have risen by almost 10% in the past two decades, driven by agriculture and the gas industry.
Livestock farming and fossil fuels are main causes of rise in gas, which is 28 times more powerful than CO 2 at trapping heat Animal farming and fossil fuels have driven global emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane to the highest level on record, putting the world on track for dangerously increased heat levels of 3C to 4C. Since 2000 discharges of the odourless, colourless gas have risen
An investigational vaccine, mRNA-1273, designed to protect against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), was generally well tolerated and prompted neutralizing antibody activity in healthy adults, according to interim results.
The Trump administration is trying to take control over national data about coronavirus patients by ordering hospitals to skip the US Centers for Disease Control and send all data to a database in Washington, DC, The New York Times reports . Critics are worried that the White House might be attempting to politicize the pandemic. Access to the database could allow the administration to be selectiv
An investigational vaccine, mRNA-1273, designed to protect against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was generally well tolerated and prompted neutralizing antibody activity in healthy adults, according to interim results published today in The New England Journal of Medicine. The ongoing Phase 1 trial is supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The
Joe Biden has raised the ambitions of his climate plan, in a clear sign his campaign is responding to demands for greater action among the progressive flank of his party. In a speech on Tuesday, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president announced proposals to spend $2 trillion on clean-energy projects and eliminate carbon emissions from the electricity sector by 2035, stepping up his prima
Top Secret The newly-formed US Space Force is about to launch four reconnaissance satellites into orbit on behalf of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The new military branch is launching its top secret payload on board a Minotaur IV rocket built by US defense tech company Northrop Grumman — the first time a rocket in its line has flown since 2013. The exact launch time is classified — bu
Sled dogs are not only incredibly adorable, but have unique genes that make them powerful travel-mates. (Benjamin Zanatta on Unsplash/) To an owner, every dog is special. Maybe your Beagle is brilliant, or your Goldendoodle is hilarious. But some dogs have traits that make them shockingly unique, and not just in their owners eyes—traits that date back thousands of years. One example is sled dogs,
The Trappist-1 system We live in a solar system of eight planets, none of which collide with each other, which is nice for us. How often do planets in other solar systems smash into each other, though? A new AI designed by Princeton researchers can crunch the numbers with record speed to determine which potential orbits are stable and which will result in catastrophe. This could help astronomers
An ingredient in its bark led to aspirin, now researchers are looking into the properties of another compound in the tree Willow trees are a pharmaceutical treasure trove. The ancient Egyptians used its bark for relieving pain, inflammation and fevers, and science has since shown these medical powers came from an ingredient called salicin, named after salix , the Latin name for the tree. That dis
The cover for issue 28 of Oncotarget features Figure 5, 'TMEM165 expression levels alters N-linked glycosylation,' by Murali, et al., and reported that the TMEM165 protein was not detected in non-malignant matched breast tissues and was detected in invasive ductal breast carcinoma tissues by mass spectrometry.
Volume 11, Issue 28 of Oncotarget features 'Lipid and protein tumor markers for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma identified by imaging mass spectrometry' by Schmidt et, al. which reported that the authors used MALDI imaging mass spectrometry and immunohistochemistry to seek tumor-specific expression of proteins and lipids in HNSCC samples.
Cell phone batteries often heat up and, at times, can burst into flames. In most cases, the culprit behind such incidents can be traced back to lithium batteries. Despite providing long-lasting electric currents that can keep devices powered up, lithium batteries can internally short circuit, heating up the device.
A lower total dose of radiotherapy delivered in fewer but larger doses is as safe in the long term as breast cancer radiotherapy courses giving multiple small doses, according to the final results of a 10-year study.
Over the past few decades, San (Bushmen) communities in southern Africa, former hunter-gatherers, have developed new adaptive strategies to cope with climate change, the presence of other groups on their land, and the impacts of globalization. While San have likely lived in southern Africa for 20,000 to 40,000 years, they remain politically and economically marginalized in relation to other social
Plant geneticists seeking to understand the history of the plants we eat can decode the genomes of ancient crops from rare, well-preserved samples. However, this approach leaves significant gaps in the timelines of where and when many modern-day fruits, vegetables, and cereal crops evolved, and paints an incomplete picture of what they looked like. A Science & Society article publishing July 14th
Although the current human reference genome is the most accurate and complete vertebrate genome ever produced, there are still gaps in the DNA sequence, even after two decades of improvements. Now, for the first time, scientists have determined the complete sequence of a human chromosome from one end to the other ('telomere to telomere') with no gaps and an unprecedented level of accuracy.
An interdisciplinary team of scientists studying thousands of oyster shells along the Georgia coast, some as old as 4,500 years, has published new insights into how Native Americans sustained oyster harvests for thousands of years, observations that may lead to better management practices of oyster reefs today.
NASA's Aqua satellite used infrared light to identify the strongest storms and coldest cloud top temperatures in Tropical Depression 6E. Aqua found a few small areas of strength but cooler sea surface temperatures are expected to weaken them.
Aromatic esters are chemicals that contain an aromatic ring consisting of functional groups called esters. These organic compounds are widely used as chemical feedstock in industries like food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Thus, finding efficient reactions for their synthesis is an important area of research in organic chemistry.
Silver strands and graying hair is a sign of aging in humans, but things aren't so simple for our closest ape relatives—the chimpanzee. A new study published today in the journal PLOS ONE by researchers at the George Washington University found graying hair is not indicative of a chimpanzee's age.
Nearly 20% of COVID-19-associated deaths are from cardiac complications, yet the mechanisms from which these complications arise have remained a topic of debate in the cardiology community. One hypothesis centers on the infection of the heart itself. To address this, MMRI Assistant Professor Dr. Nathan Tucker, in collaboration with the Broad Institute, the University of Pennsylvania, and Bayer US,
Plant geneticists seeking to understand the history of the plants we eat can decode the genomes of ancient crops from rare, well-preserved samples. However, this approach leaves significant gaps in the timelines of where and when many modern-day fruits, vegetables, and cereal crops evolved, and paints an incomplete picture of what they looked like. A Science & Society article publishing July 14th
Although the current human reference genome is the most accurate and complete vertebrate genome ever produced, there are still gaps in the DNA sequence, even after two decades of improvements. Now, for the first time, scientists have determined the complete sequence of a human chromosome from one end to the other ('telomere to telomere') with no gaps and an unprecedented level of accuracy.
An interdisciplinary team of scientists studying thousands of oyster shells along the Georgia coast, some as old as 4,500 years, has published new insights into how Native Americans sustained oyster harvests for thousands of years, observations that may lead to better management practices of oyster reefs today.
Silver strands and graying hair is a sign of aging in humans, but things aren't so simple for our closest ape relatives—the chimpanzee. A new study published today in the journal PLOS ONE by researchers at the George Washington University found graying hair is not indicative of a chimpanzee's age.
With clarity and insight, economist and author William "Sandy" Darity discusses how the grievous injustice of slavery in the US led to the immense wealth gap that currently exists between Black and white Americans. He explains how reparations for descendants of enslaved people would work — and why it's necessary that the US engage in this act of compensation and redemption to make progress toward
Virginia Tech researchers have proven that a single gene can convert female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes into fertile male mosquitoes and identified a gene needed for male mosquito flight.
A new study has narrowed down the region of the genome that drives the black color in throat and face of warblers by studying the hybrid offspring produced when two species mate. The hybrids of golden-winged and blue-winged warblers have a mix of coloration from the parent species, which allows researchers to identify which regions of the genome are associated with which color patterns. The study,
Electrons can interfere in the same manner as water, acoustical or light waves do. When exploited in solid-state materials, such effects promise novel functionality for electronic devices, in which elements such as interferometers, lenses or collimators could be integrated for controlling electrons at the sca