Maintaining phenological synchrony with flowers is a key ecological challenge for pollinators that may be exacerbated by ongoing environmental change. Here, we show that bumble bee workers facing pollen scarcity damage leaves of flowerless plants and thereby accelerate flower production. Laboratory studies revealed that leaf-damaging behavior is strongly influenced by pollen availability and that

Simultaneous observation of nuclear and electronic motion is crucial for a complete understanding of molecular dynamics in excited electronic states. It is challenging for a single experiment to independently follow both electronic and nuclear dynamics at the same time. Here we show that ultrafast electron diffraction can be used to simultaneously record both electronic and nuclear dynamics in is

Optical atomic clocks are poised to redefine the Système International (SI) second, thanks to stability and accuracy more than 100 times better than the current microwave atomic clock standard. However, the best optical clocks have not seen their performance transferred to the electronic domain, where radar, navigation, communications, and fundamental research rely on less stable microwave source

Synaptic vesicles accumulate neurotransmitters, enabling the quantal release by exocytosis that underlies synaptic transmission. Specific neurotransmitter transporters are responsible for this activity and therefore are essential for brain function. The vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs) concentrate the principal excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate into synaptic vesicles, driven by membr

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) kill infected and cancerous cells. We detected transfer of cytotoxic multiprotein complexes, called supramolecular attack particles (SMAPs), from CTLs to target cells. SMAPs were rapidly released from CTLs and were autonomously cytotoxic. Mass spectrometry, immunochemical analysis, and CRISPR editing identified a carboxyl-terminal fragment of thrombospondin-1 as an

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Fusarium head blight (FHB), a fungal disease caused by Fusarium species that produce food toxins, currently devastates wheat production worldwide, yet few resistance resources have been discovered in wheat germplasm. Here, we cloned the FHB resistance gene Fhb7 by assembling the genome of Thinopyrum elongatum , a species used in wheat distant hybridization breeding. Fhb7 encodes a glutathione S-t

The social environment, both in early life and adulthood, is one of the strongest predictors of morbidity and mortality risk in humans. Evidence from long-term studies of other social mammals indicates that this relationship is similar across many species. In addition, experimental studies show that social interactions can causally alter animal physiology, disease risk, and life span itself. Thes

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Experimental cell using the potentially game-changing material perovskite passes a series of heat and humidity tests A team of Australian researchers are claiming a world first in a global race to develop cheaper, more flexible and more efficient solar panels after their experimental cell passed a series of heat and humidity tests. Using a type of crystal material known as perovskite, the group f

Red blood cells sometimes rupture when blood is sent through faulty equipment, such as a dialysis machine. This is called hemolysis. Hemolysis also can occur during blood work when blood is drawn too quickly through a needle, leading to defective laboratory samples. Researchers have now developed a method to monitor blood damage in real-time.

Mechanical and chemical engineers have developed moldable nanomaterials and a printing technology using metamaterials, which allows for the commercialization of inexpensive and thin VR and AR devices.

Research of the University of Jyväskylä demonstrates that the characteristic zig-zag pattern on a viper's back performs opposing functions during a predation event. At first, the zig-zag pattern helps the snake remain undetected. But upon exposure, it provides a conspicuous warning of the snake's dangerous defense. Most importantly the zig-zag can also produce an illusionary effect that may hide t

The carbon-hydrogen bond — 2/3 of all bonds in hydrocarbons — has defied chemists' attempts to open it up and add new chemical groups. A UC Berkeley team has now cracked the strongest of C-H bonds, those on a molecule's terminal carbon. The reaction catalyst is an iridium atom to break the bond and a methyl group to add a boron compound. Boron is easily exchanged for other groups, allowing addit

The behavior could be an evolutionary adaptation that lets bees forage more easily — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

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 rising odds of extreme weather are putting strain on aging infrastructure — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

For the first time in history, oil prices went negative last month due to plummeting demand and oil traders running out of space to store their oil. As a result, some oil and gas companies are now resorting to desperate measures. They've reportedly started to pay buyers to take oil off their hands — and in some instances, have even started pumping it back into the ground, the Texas Observer repor

Mechanical and chemical engineers have developed moldable nanomaterials and a printing technology using metamaterials, which allows for the commercialization of inexpensive and thin VR and AR devices.

Don't neglect your dental health during the pandemic, say experts. "If you up your oral hygiene game, that's going to help you get through this." While dentists and dental hygienists may remind us of the importance of six-month visits, regular checkups might not be a reality—at least not in the short term. Here, Deanne Wallaert, public health dental hygiene practitioner, and Mark Wolff, professor

Nature, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01538-8 Reported rates of influenza and other infections have fallen sharply, but some communicable diseases may see a rise.

Nature, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01545-9 See a baby planet forming at the heart of a spiralling disc of gas and dust. Plus: how coronavirus has cut carbon emissions, and why immunity passports are a bad idea.

For all the focus on the gender gap, the diploma divide over Donald Trump is looming as an even greater factor in the 2020 presidential race—just as it was in 2016. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, women generally express more financial strain and more concern about returning to their normal routines than men do. And yet a wide array of recent polls shows that, especially among white voters, educat

Researchers examine the effectiveness of consuming hemp oil extracted from the whole cannabis plant using a chronic neuropathic pain animal model. Researchers showed that legal cannabis hemp oil reduced mechanical pain sensitivity 10-fold for several hours in mice with chronic post-operative neuropathic pain.

In recent years, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified many different genetic variants associated with schizophrenia. These genetic discoveries raise the promise of developing urgently needed new treatments targeting the underlying biology and pathophysiology of schizophrenia, according to a special article in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. The journal is published in

About half of all states still have reproduction rates above one, report shows

Kathleen M. Carley and her team at Carnegie Mellon University's Center for Informed Democracy & Social Cybersecurity have been tracking bots and influence campaigns for a long time. Across US and foreign elections, natural disasters, and other politicized events, the level of bot involvement is normally between 10 and 20%, she says. But in a new study, the researchers have found that bots may acc

As people shelter in place to slow the spread of COVID-19, daily carbon dioxide emissions have dropped by as much as 17% globally, according to a new study. The paper in Nature Climate Change compiles government policies and activity data to pinpoint where energy demand has dropped off the most and to estimate the impact on annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The study's findings showcase the

In the few short years since his time in Congress, the secretary of state has conveniently reversed himself on multiple fronts.

Approaching Light Historically, people who have had near-death experiences (NDEs) described them as blissful or peaceful — and neuroscientists still aren't sure why that is. But famed neuroscientist Christof Koch , president and chief scientist of the Allen Institute for Brain Science, has some ideas. In an article for Scientific American , Koch probes historical accounts of NDEs and the underlyi

A new paper shows lobsters create sounds that travel more than a mile. spiny-lobster_cropped.jpg Image credits: Vladimir Wrangel/ Shutterstock Creature Thursday, May 21, 2020 – 12:45 Katharine Gammon, Contributor (Inside Science) — In 1956, Jacques Cousteau described underwater environments as silent worlds. These days, scientists are discovering exactly how incorrect that was: The oceans are p

Psychologists say feelings of awe go beyond good memories.

Researchers found that adding six grams of spices to a meal high in fat and carbohydrates resulted in lower inflammation markers hours later.

Add event to calendar What should you be doing with your money during the coronavirus financial crisis? In this Big Think Live session, Sallie Krawcheck, CEO and co-founder of Ellevest , a financial advisory and investment platform for women, will discuss personal finance and wealth-building career strategies, moderated by Bob Kulhan, improv comedian and founder of Business Improv . Specifically,

Nearly all people hospitalized with COVID-19 develop virus-neutralizing antibodies within six days of testing positive, new research indicates. The findings will be key in helping researchers understand protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and in informing vaccine development. The paper is available on medRxiv and has not yet undergone peer review. The test that researchers developed also could

Nature, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01530-2 A meeting planned for Addis Ababa in April was meant to diversify artificial-intelligence conferences, but the push for greater participation continues.

The viral protein known as ORF3b limits the induction of the type I interferon response, which typically alerts other immune system components to the presence of a virus, in cultured cells.

MIPT biophysicists explained ways to visualize membrane receptors in their different states. Detailed information on the structure and dynamics of these proteins will enable developing effective and safe drugs to treat many sorts of conditions.

Job postings suggest such roles will be in high demand as business life resumes

US forecasters on Thursday predicted an "above normal" Atlantic hurricane season and emergency officials said they were factoring the coronavirus pandemic into potential relief efforts.

For the first time in nearly a decade, U.S. astronauts are about to blast into orbit aboard an American rocket from American soil. And for the first time in the history of human spaceflight, a private company is running the show.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there's been a worldwide shortage of face masks—particularly, the N95 ones worn by health care workers. Although these coverings provide the highest level of protection currently available, they have limitations. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Nano have developed a membrane that can be attached to a regular N95 mask and replaced when needed. The filter has a smal

Could a trial by one's peers still work when all one's peers are WFH?

Engineers at Duke University and the New York University's Tandon School of Engineering have demonstrated a method for ensuring that an increasingly popular method of genetic identification called "DNA fingerprinting" remains secure against inadvertent mistakes or malicious attacks in the field.

The pioneering astronomer and 'mother of Hubble' paved the way for revolutionary space observatories — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

Most animals mate at a certain time of year. But humans do things a bit differently.

This year's season is complicated by the coronavirus pandemic, which makes relief strategies like group shelters risky.

Engineers at Duke University and the New York University's Tandon School of Engineering have demonstrated a method for ensuring that an increasingly popular method of genetic identification called "DNA fingerprinting" remains secure against inadvertent mistakes or malicious attacks in the field.

A new study by researchers from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE), a joint centre of UPF and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), shows that, surprisingly, the distribution of mutations in human tumours is more similar to that of chimpanzees and gorillas than that of other types of genetic mutations in humans.

Initial funding for Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda to tackle region's worst infestation in 70 years

Data show a sharp fall in residential property deals but analysts warn worse is to come

A study by the UPV/EHU and University of Cambridge explores the actual effect of the labour reforms applied between 1988 and 2012 in countries throughout Europe. Far from meeting the aim of encouraging recruitment, these reforms were found to have caused the rate of temporary employment to increase and indefinite recruitment to fall. The current economic crisis of a health origin could prompt stat

A new study by researchers from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE), a joint centre of UPF and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), shows that, surprisingly, the distribution of mutations in human tumours is more similar to that of chimpanzees and gorillas than that of other types of genetic mutations in humans.

Rice has always been the most important food in Asia and the world. About half of the population on earth use rice as their main food source. The origin, spread, evolution, and ecological adaptation of cultivated rice are still one of the most important issues which currently concerned by global archaeologists, biologists, and agricultural scientists.

Red blood cells sometimes rupture when blood is sent through faulty equipment, such as a dialysis machine. This is called hemolysis. Hemolysis also can occur during blood work when blood is drawn too quickly through a needle, leading to defective laboratory samples. University of Delaware mechanical engineer Tyler Van Buren and collaborating colleagues at Princeton University have developed a meth

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there's been a worldwide shortage of face masks — particularly, the N95 ones worn by health care workers. Although these coverings provide the highest level of protection currently available, they have limitations. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Nano have developed a membrane that can be attached to a regular N95 mask and replaced when needed. The filter has a s

The rate of strokes in COVID-19 patients appears relatively low, but a higher proportion of those strokes are presenting in younger people and are often more severe compared to strokes in people who do not have the novel coronavirus, while globally rates for stroke hospitalizations and treatments are significantly lower than for the first part of 2019, according to four separate research papers pu

Mount Sinai scientists have identified biological markers present in childhood that relate to the degenerative and often fatal neurological disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, according to a study published in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology in May.

Notorious 'Murder' hornet finds home in Smithsonian collections

Herhjemme udgør tamkatte i naturen et minimalt problem, siger professor.

Arsia Mons once spewed molten rock across the surface of Mars, but some smaller volcanic features may have come from another source. (NASA/JPL/USGS/) Mars's northern lowlands are dotted with tens of thousands of what appear to be run-of-the-mill volcanoes, given the lava-like ripples and fingers that appear around them. But geologists debate whether these bumpy landforms are really frozen magma.

And trials of 20-minute swab test to determine coronavirus infection will start next week

Nature, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01544-w Scientists from both countries must rise above political rhetoric for the sake of all, says Xiao-Nong Zhou.

Researchers of Universitat Rovira I Virgili and Harvard Medical School have demonstrated the association between the consumption of omega 3 and the reduction in the risk of suffering cardiovascular events through the analysis of lipoprotein samples from 26,034 women, the largest and most detailed study ever carried out.

Researchers from Sechenov University together with colleagues from several Russian institutes analysed data on the RNA structure of tick-borne encephalitis virus. Much larger than in previous studies, the data volume of the new study allowed them to estimate the age of the virus subtypes and track its spread in Eurasia. The results of the study were published in the journal Viruses.

A new report, Spotlight on Adolescent Health and Well-being, published today by WHO Regional Office for Europe, compiles extensive data on the physical health, social relationships and mental well-being of 227 441 schoolchildren aged 11, 13 and 15, from 45 countries. Irish children rank low on substance use such as smoking and drinking alcohol and high on physical activity. Ireland also ranks high

A study by the UPV/EHU and University of Cambridge explores the actual effect of the labour reforms applied between 1988 and 2012 in countries throughout Europe. Far from meeting the aim of encouraging recruitment, these reforms were found to have caused the rate of temporary employment to increase and indefinite recruitment to fall. The current economic crisis of a health origin could prompt Stat

Bladder cancer is associated with significant illness and mortality, particularly if treatment is delayed. Writing in the journal Bladder Cancer, researchers have outlined recommendations for treatment of both muscle invasive (MIBC) and non-muscle invasive (NMIBC) bladder cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic based on data from trials and prior studies, and taking into account the current strains on

Engineers build privacy into the design of U.S. contact tracing smartphone apps.

The microbes that inhabit our bodies are influenced by what we eat, drink, breathe and absorb through our skin, and most of us are chronically exposed to natural and human-made environmental contaminants. Scientists review the research linking dozens of environmental chemicals to changes in the gut microbiome and associated health challenges.

Engineers are the first to build a high-performance non-reciprocal device on a compact chip with a performance 25 times better than previous work. The new chip, which can handle several watts of power (enough for cellphone transmitters that put out a watt or so of power), was the leading performer in a DARPA SPAR program to miniaturize these devices and improve performance metrics.

Engineers have demonstrated a method for ensuring that an increasingly popular method of genetic identification called "DNA fingerprinting" remains secure against inadvertent mistakes or malicious attacks in the field. The technique relies on introducing genetic "barcodes" to DNA samples as they are collected and securely sending information crucial to identifying these barcodes to technicians

Every year, 8 million tons of plastic get dumped into the ocean. Scientists want your help tracking where it comes from and where it goes.

Scientists have pinpointed the electrophysiological mechanism behind upper motor neuron disease, unlocking the door to potential treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia and Primary Lateral Sclerosis.

Penn State researchers found that adding six grams of spices to a meal high in fat and carbohydrates resulted in lower inflammation markers hours later.

Researchers from the Muñiz group have published a paper in Angewandte Chemie — International Edition presenting a new metal-free methodology for the photo-catalysed nucleophilic fluorination of aliphatic hydrocarbon bonds. Daniel Bafaluy, first author of the paper shares the story behind it:

Researchers from the University of Surrey have revealed their new biodegradable motion sensor — paving the way for implanted nanotechnology that could help future sports professionals better monitor their movements to aid rapid improvements, or help caregivers remotely monitor people living with dementia.

Deep learning is driven by big data, which brings new opportunities for target classification, detection, semantic segmentation, instance segmentation, and regression in ecological resource research. However, there are still great challenges in the standardization and sharing of data, the universality and interpretability of algorithms, and the enrichment and intelligence of applications. A recent

New findings published in the Journal of Internal Medicine reveal altered gene expression in fat tissue may help explain why individuals who have regained weight after weight loss surgery still experience benefits such as metabolic improvements and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.

A new study by researchers from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE), a joint center of UPF and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), shows that, surprisingly, the distribution of mutations in human tumors is more similar to that of chimpanzees and gorillas than that of humans.

Written by top UK virologists, the article discusses the existing knowledge about immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses, and how this could be used to inform virus control strategies. The review, which is free to read in the Journal of General Virology (JGV), collates the available scientific evidence in a number of key areas, including how long immunity to coronaviruses lasts and

A new study has revealed why some corals exhibit a dazzling colorful display, instead of turning white, when they suffer 'coral bleaching' — a condition which can devastate reefs and is caused by ocean warming. The scientists behind the research think this phenomenon is a sign that corals are fighting to survive.

Researchers used a genetic database of more than 47,000 people in Estonia to identify a gene linked to thinness that may play a role in resisting weight gain in metabolically healthy thin people. They show that knocking out this gene results in thinner flies and mice and find that expression of it in the brain may be involved in regulating energy expenditure.

Researchers have released a report that presents estimates of the value of domestic coastal and marine tourism in the Republic of Ireland.

Retired doctors in Sheffield say their struggles show challenges government's system will face Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage A group of retired doctors who set up the UK's first Covid-19 contact-tracing scheme has warned that the government system faces major challenges after they struggled to persuade health and care workers to self-isolate. Dr Bing Jones, a retir

Mandatory quality assessments to be replaced with an inspection request system

John Cumbers is founder and CEO of SynBioBeta, a global network of biological engineers and entrepreneurs in a promising new scientific field known as "synthetic biology." The San Francisco Bay Area is a leader in this little-known but fast-growing industry, which reassembles the building blocks of life in imaginative and diverse ways.

John Cumbers is founder and CEO of SynBioBeta, a global network of biological engineers and entrepreneurs in a promising new scientific field known as "synthetic biology." The San Francisco Bay Area is a leader in this little-known but fast-growing industry, which reassembles the building blocks of life in imaginative and diverse ways.

Originally published in January 1917 — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

Hundreds of new links have been found between people's DNA and the heart's electrical activity, according to a study of almost 300,000 people led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

Engineers have demonstrated a method for ensuring that an increasingly popular method of genetic identification called "DNA fingerprinting" remains secure against inadvertent mistakes or malicious attacks in the field. The technique relies on introducing genetic "barcodes" to DNA samples as they are collected and securely sending information crucial to identifying these barcodes to technicians in

Rice has always been one of the most important food in Asia and the world. The spread of rice agriculture is an important part during the early crop globalization process. Recently, researchers have first discovered the carbonized rice remain in Central Asia archaeological sites, providing a new evidence to explain how rice further spreads westward, the local ethnic dietary systems and dietary cul

Most pain research remains overwhelmingly based on the study of male rodents, continuing to test hypotheses derived from earlier experiments on males. This points to an important blind spot in pain research, particularly as it relates to advancing research into new pain medications.

Research completed in NUI Galway has shown that lowering blood pressure by taking blood pressure medications reduces the risk of developing dementia and cognitive impairment by 7%. The findings are published today in a leading international medical journal, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Scientists from the Antibody and Vaccine group at the University of Southampton have discovered a way to transform antibody drugs previously developed to treat autoimmunity into antibodies with powerful anti-cancer activity through a simple molecular 'switch'.

Why can some people eat as much as they want, and still stay thin? In a study published today in the journal Cell, Life Sciences Institute Director Dr. Josef Penninger and a team of international colleagues report their discovery that a gene called ALK (Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase) plays a role in resisting weight gain.

Do you remember the challenge of waking up on winter's cold, dark days? Northwestern University neurobiologists have uncovered a clue to what's behind this behavior. In a study of the fruit fly, the researchers have identified a 'thermometer' circuit that relays information about external cold temperature from the fly antenna to the higher brain. They show how, through this circuit, seasonally col

The implementation of surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 is examined in this case series that describes symptoms of COVID-19 among residents and staff of an independent/assisted living community.

The research, published in Current Biology, is one of the first comprehensive characterizations of poorly formed memories and may offer a framework to explore different therapeutic approaches to fear, memory and anxiety disorders. It may also have implications for accuracy of some witness testimony.

A new study by the University of Southampton has revealed why some corals exhibit a dazzling colorful display, instead of turning white, when they suffer 'coral bleaching' — a condition which can devastate reefs and is caused by ocean warming. The scientists behind the research think this phenomenon is a sign that corals are fighting to survive.

Noises produced by European spiny lobsters — known as antennal rasps — may be detectable up to 3 km underwater, according to a study in Scientific Reports.

In a study publishing May 21 in the journal Cell, researchers use a genetic database of more than 47,000 people in Estonia to identify a gene linked to thinness that may play a role in resisting weight gain in metabolically healthy thin people. They show that knocking out this gene results in thinner flies and mice and find that expression of it in the brain may be involved in regulating energy ex

The saying "There are no atheists in foxholes" suggests that in stressful times people inevitably turn to God (or indeed gods). In fact, non-believers have their own set of secular worldviews which can provide them with solace in difficult times, just as religious beliefs do for the spiritually-minded.

Route map broadly matches steps for England but takes a markedly different approach to schools

NUI Galway's Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit (SEMRU) has released a report that presents estimates of the value of domestic coastal and marine tourism in the Republic of Ireland.

Administration mulls major changes to open-access policies

Originally published in January 1917 — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

The global COVID-19 quarantine has meant less air pollution in cities and clearer skies. Animals are strolling through public spaces, and sound pollution has diminished, allowing us to hear the birds sing.

A former graduate student at the University of Cincinnati falsified data in a published article, since retracted, and an unpublished manuscript, according to government investigators. The U.S. Office of Research Integrity (ORI) said Logan Fulford doctored images while working at the university on experiments supported by two federally funded grants. Fulford, who is now a … Continue reading

PM promised 'world-beating' scheme by June 1 but tech glitches and disjointed planning have held it back

How we organize information plays an integral role in memory, reasoning and the ability to acquire new knowledge. In the absence of routine education programs, the pandemic is exacerbating the disparities in educational opportunities available for children to develop new skills. While children of higher socio-economic means often benefit from enrichment programs, these opportunities are unfortunat

NUI Galway's Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit (SEMRU) has released a report that presents estimates of the value of domestic coastal and marine tourism in the Republic of Ireland.

The June 2020 issue of Journal of Dental Research brings together a collection of the latest research on the oral microbiome. This issue includes reviews and reports of new tools for analyzing microbial communities and for cultivating microbial species

The microbes that inhabit our bodies are influenced by what we eat, drink, breathe and absorb through our skin, and most of us are chronically exposed to natural and human-made environmental contaminants. In a new paper, scientists from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign review the research linking dozens of environmental chemicals to changes in the gut microbiome and associated health

A person affected by this disease has to follow a low-protein diet all his life. Otherwise, phenylalanine will accumulate in the body and can lead to severe damage to the central nervous system.

Lower levels of ACE2 nasal gene expression in children may explain why children have a lower risk of Covid-19 infection and mortality. The SARS-CoV-2 virus uses ACE2 to enter the host. ACE2 nasal gene expression could potentially be used as a biomarker to evaluate Covid-19 susceptibility.

A Malaysian state that is a major nesting site for turtles will ban the trade in their eggs, authorities said Thursday, in a boost for the threatened creatures.

Noises produced by European spiny lobsters—known as antennal rasps—may be detectable up to 3 kilometers underwater, according to a study in Scientific Reports. The sound, created when lobsters rub an extension of their antenna against a 'file' below their eyes, may be used for communication or to deter predators. Its detection could help conservation efforts, the study suggests.

A new tool gauges the danger that someone may be infected with COVID-19 in groups of different sizes — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

Dense clouds of starlings dip and soar, congregating in undulating curtains that darken the sky; hundreds of thousands of wildebeests thunder together across the plains of Africa in a coordinated, seemingly never-ending migratory loop; fireflies blink in unison; entire forests of bamboo blossom at once. Scientists have studied these mesmerizing feats of synchronization for decades, trying to teas

By incorporating art and creativity into elder care settings, gerontologist Anne Basting helps families reconnect with loved ones who have dementia. In this moving talk, she shares how asking "beautiful questions" — questions that don't have a right or wrong answer — opens up a shared path of discovery, imagination and wonder. "If we can infuse creativity into care, caregivers can invite a partn

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A Malaysian state that is a major nesting site for turtles will ban the trade in their eggs, authorities said Thursday, in a boost for the threatened creatures.

A new study by the University of Southampton has revealed why some corals exhibit a dazzling colourful display, instead of turning white, when they suffer 'coral bleaching' – a condition which can devastate reefs and is caused by ocean warming. The scientists behind the research think this phenomenon is a sign that corals are fighting to survive.

COVID-19 may cause a drop in spring wildfires as people are still being asked to self-isolate throughout May, Alberta's riskiest fire month, says a University of Alberta expert.

Noises produced by European spiny lobsters—known as antennal rasps—may be detectable up to 3 kilometers underwater, according to a study in Scientific Reports. The sound, created when lobsters rub an extension of their antenna against a 'file' below their eyes, may be used for communication or to deter predators. Its detection could help conservation efforts, the study suggests.

India and Bangladesh began a massive clean-up Thursday after the fiercest cyclone since 1999 killed at least 95 people, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

A new tool gauges the danger that someone may be infected with COVID-19 in groups of different sizes — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

Much greater efficiency is coming

It seems to manifest as a rare syndrome called Kawasaki disease

Are you good at reading your partner's emotions? Your perceptiveness may very well strengthen your relationship. Yet when anger or contempt enter the fray, little is to be gained and the quality of your relationship tanks, researchers found.

As the world increasingly turns to aqua farming to feed its growing population, there's no better time than now to design an aquaculture system that is sustainable and efficient.

Researchers have developed a new strategy that uses optical coherence tomography (OCT) to acquire both the surface and underlying details of impressionist style oil paintings. This information can be used to create detailed 3D reconstructions to enhance the viewing experience and offer a way for the visually impaired to experience paintings.

Nine states have sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for curtailing enforcement of rules on air and water pollution during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the pullback puts the public at even greater risk.

Spaceman Simulator NASA is looking for participants to spent eight months together inside a spaceflight simulator at the Russian Institute for Biomedical Problems in Moscow. The goal is to study the effects of spending time in isolation and confinement — sound familiar? — while on lengthy space missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. "Participants will experience environmental aspects similar to

New discoveries on the regulation of plant emissions of isoprenoids can help in fighting climate change – and can become key to the production of valuable green chemicals.

A new study at the University of Southern Alabama investigates the pornography viewing habits of religious, heterosexual men. Those expressing high degrees of scrupulosity feel more guilt and shame when watching porn. The researchers found no correlation with viewing frequency and religiosity, however. Pornhub is one of the most insightful data companies on the planet. Every year, the website rel

As California and the American West head into fire season amid the coronavirus pandemic, scientists are harnessing artificial intelligence and new satellite data to help predict blazes across the region.

The top 1 percent received a far greater, and faster growing, share of the nation's income pre-crisis than previously thought, if capital gains are included in official statistics, according to major new research published today (Thursday).

Every year, thousands of motivated entrepreneurs launch new businesses. While led by determined and ambitious individuals, half won't make it past the fourth year.

Running through the middle Berlin's vibrant Kreuzberg neighborhood, busy Kottbusser Damm has always been a nightmare for cyclists. For years, double-parked cars forced those brave enough to tackle the street to dodge in and out of rushing car traffic.

Americans' confidence in medical scientists has grown since the coronavirus outbreak first began to upend life in the United States, as have perceptions that medical doctors hold very high ethical standards, according to a new Pew Research Center report. But there are growing partisan divisions over the risk the coronavirus poses to public health, as well as public confidence in the scientific and

No other event in our lifetimes has brought such sudden, drastic loss to Australia's biodiversity as the last bushfire season. Governments, researchers and conservationists have committed to the long road to recovery. But in those vast burnt landscapes, where do we start?

Nature, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01450-1 Chemist and lawyer who shaped international weapons conventions.

A new study could usher in a revolutionary development in materials science, leading to big changes in the way companies create modern electronics.

A new study has confirmed and quantified, for the first time, the presence of microplastics in terrestrial and aquatic birds of prey in Florida, including hawks, ospreys and owls. The research is important because birds of prey are critical to a functioning ecosystem. The accumulation of microplastics in their digestive systems could lead to poisoning, starvation and death.

As the world looks to tighten up the illegal capture of wildlife, migratory birds are being threatened by widespread and unsustainable hunting across the Asia-Pacific region. New research has revealed that three quarters of migratory shorebird species in the region have been hunted since the 1970s.

New discoveries on the regulation of plant emissions of isoprenoids can help in fighting climate change – and can become key to the production of valuable green chemicals.

Columbia engineers are the first to build a high-performance non-reciprocal device on a compact chip with a performance 25 times better than previous work. The new chip, which can handle several watts of power (enough for cellphone transmitters that put out a watt or so of power), was the leading performer in a DARPA SPAR program to miniaturize these devices and improve performance metrics.

Scientists have discovered how liver cancer spreads, but they haven't yet learned how liver cancer cells are born. A team of Okayama University scientists has now established a model that demonstrates how, given the right body environment and without genetic mutation, normal stem cells can convert into cancer stem cells, which in turn proliferate and cause the cancer tumor to grow. Their model cou

A group of researchers, led by Osaka University, created a high-quality defect-free monocrystalline graphite, and measured the elastic constant, demonstrating that the determined value of monocrystalline graphite was above 45 gigapascal (GPa), which was higher than conventionally believed. Applying ultrasonic measurement techniques to this multilayer defect-free monocrystalline graphite thin film

As we know, a malignant tumor is a complex system of mutated cells which constantly interacts with and involves healthy cells in the body. This specificity of malignant neoplasms greatly complicates the process of therapy, since the tumor quickly becomes resistant to chemotherapy drugs. Thus, there is a growing demand not only for new drugs, but also for new in vitro test systems that take into ac

Scientists from the UK, Europe and the USA, led by the University of Surrey have published a vitamin D consensus paper warning against high doses of vitamin D supplementation as current research shows it has no benefit in preventing or treating Covid-19. Scientists advise that the population adhere to Public Health England guidance on supplementation.

New research calls for more support for older adults in community settings with respiratory illnesses against COVID-19, and not just those in care homes, as around 7 million US adults fall into this category.

No other event in our lifetimes has brought such sudden, drastic loss to Australia's biodiversity as the last bushfire season. Governments, researchers and conservationists have committed to the long road to recovery. But in those vast burnt landscapes, where do we start?

It is well-established that recessions hit young people the hardest.

Watching birds is great entertainment, and there's fascinating physics behind how some get their colours, says Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

Researchers from the University of Surrey have revealed their new biodegradable motion sensor—paving the way for implanted nanotechnology that could help future sports professionals better monitor their movements to aid rapid improvements, or help caregivers remotely monitor people living with dementia.

As the cell's protein factory, the ribosome is the only natural machine that manufactures its own parts. That is why understanding how the machine, itself, is made, could unlock the door to everything from understanding how life develops to designing new methods of drug production. An intensive, long research effort at the Weizmann Institute of Science has now demonstrated the self-synthesis and a

With contested vote tallies, concerns over Census data, and now the Covid-19 death toll, 2020 marks the ugly climax of a long dispute.

Being a parent and a police officer is a dangerous mix, or so crime dramas continuously tell us. In particular danger, it seems, are the children of these fictional police officers, who are either neglected by their parents or are in harm's way because they risk becoming victims of the criminals their parents are chasing. They may be abducted, even murdered, as criminals strike back at law enforce

'First-generation learners'—a substantial number of pupils around the world who represent the first generation in their families to receive an education—are also significantly more likely to leave school without basic literacy or numeracy skills, a study suggests.

As the cell's protein factory, the ribosome is the only natural machine that manufactures its own parts. That is why understanding how the machine, itself, is made, could unlock the door to everything from understanding how life develops to designing new methods of drug production. An intensive, long research effort at the Weizmann Institute of Science has now demonstrated the self-synthesis and a

The canopy is thick, the air heavy. The Amazon rainforest pulsates with life, sustaining an estimated 10 million species on a few centimeters of arable soil. It's also the site of war. Paramilitary groups, coca growers, narcotraffickers, insurgent groups, and government agencies all vie for control over this space. In the midst of this struggle—assassinations, aerial herbicide spraying, and crop e

Even though insects are consumed by at least 2 billion people, most Europeans turn their noses up at the idea.

There's no easy answer to how long viruses survive in dead bodies, but we've learned lessons from the past, says virologist Matt Koci. Some of the many questions about today's COVID-19 pandemic revolve around what happens to viruses in the remains of humans or animals. For example, could people get sick from digging up decades-old bodies? Or could future scientists get more information about COVI

A team of physicists has developed the first integrated photon source with the potential to deliver large-scale quantum photonics. The development of quantum technologies promises to have a profound impact across science, engineering and society. Quantum computers at scale will be able to solve problems intractable on even the most powerful current supercomputers, with many revolutionary applicati

We use cells to breathe, to moderate body temperature, to grow and many other every day processes, however the cells in these processes are so complex its left scientists perplexed into how they develop in different environments. Researchers say future research needs to look into the bioelectrical composition of cells for answers.

Children of parents with a degree are almost a year of schooling ahead in math by the age 11 than peers whose parents have just GCSEs, a new study has discovered.

Biologists how different oceanographic conditions in the Gulf of California and the Baja California Peninsula influenced formation of new species of sharks and rays.

Levels of virus infection in lobsters seem to be related to habitat and other species, new studies of Caribbean marine protected areas have shown.

Levels of virus infection in lobsters seem to be related to habitat and other species, new studies of Caribbean marine protected areas have shown.

One of the first questions scientists ask when a new disease appears is, "Where did this come from?"

If an unconscious person responds to smell through a slight change in their nasal airflow pattern — they are likely to regain consciousness. This is the conclusion from a new study conducted by Weizmann Institute scientists and colleagues at the Loewenstein Rehabilitation Hospital, Israel.

As the cell's protein factory, the ribosome is the only natural machine that manufactures its own parts. That is why understanding how the machine, itself, is made, could unlock the door to everything from understanding how life develops to designing new methods of drug production.

The skeleton of an extinct 'fish lizard' locked in a glass case over 16 feet from the ground for the last 100 years has finally been studied, thanks to a selfie stick on a fishing rod.

A new Pew Research Center report examines how Americans' confidence in scientists have shifted amid the COVID-19 outbreak and their views on whether scientists should play an active role in policy discussions about science-related topics.

Researchers have developed a way to use smartphone images of a person's eyelids to assess blood hemoglobin levels. The ability to perform one of the most common clinical lab tests without a blood draw could help reduce the need for in-person clinic visits, make it easier to monitor patients who are in critical condition, and improve care in low- and middle-income countries where access to testing

A new UCLA study in zebrafish identified the process by which air pollution can damage brain cells, potentially contributing to Parkinson's disease.

One of the first questions scientists ask when a new disease appears is, "Where did this come from?"

Over 5,000 unique maps from the Asia-Pacific Map Collection are now available online as part of an ongoing project by The Australian National University's College of Asia and the Pacific.

An international team of researchers has found evidence that suggests wild relatives of domestic goats passed on a gene to their domesticated relatives that boosts their pathogen resistance. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes their study of goat genetic history and what they learned from it.

A sea lamprey has no jaw, no proper teeth and no bones. Yet this predator can attach like a suction cup to a fish 100 times its size, use its tongue to burrow a hole into its side, liquefy its tissues and eat it.

Nature, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01531-1 Storing Edvard Munch's masterpiece at low humidity will help to preserve its colours, analysis shows.

The ocean plays a major role in the global carbon cycle. The driving force comes from tiny plankton that produce organic carbon through photosynthesis, like plants on land.

A team of researchers from the University of Lille, CNRS, Centrale Lille, University of Artois, in France, and Keele University in the U.K has developed a way to produce ethane from methane using a photochemical looping strategy. In their paper published in the journal Nature Energy, the group describes their process. Fumiaki Amano with the University of Kitakyushu in Japan has published a News &

Businesses with strong environmental and social credentials are more resilient in times of economic crisis, according to research into the COVID-19 stock market crash.

An international team of researchers has found evidence that suggests wild relatives of domestic goats passed on a gene to their domesticated relatives that boosts their pathogen resistance. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes their study of goat genetic history and what they learned from it.

In India, the second most populous country in the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed pre-existing fault lines of inequality and communalism, exposing current problems with the country's political and social structures.

A sea lamprey has no jaw, no proper teeth and no bones. Yet this predator can attach like a suction cup to a fish 100 times its size, use its tongue to burrow a hole into its side, liquefy its tissues and eat it.

The prehistoric fish Titanichthys fed by swimming through water slowly with its mouth open wide to capture high concentrations of plankton, researchers report. Their new study digs into the jaw mechanics of Titanichthys , a giant armored fish that roamed the seas and oceans of the late Devonian period 380 million years ago. The findings suggest it ate like modern-day basking sharks do. The Morocc

The ability to read your partner's emotions can weaken the relationship when anger or contempt enter the fray, research finds. A team of psychologists aimed to figure out under what circumstances the ability to read another person's emotions—"empathic accuracy"—is beneficial for a relationship and when it could be harmful. The study examined whether the accurate perception of a romantic partner's

The Artemis Accords could ensure a peaceful and prosperous future for lunar exploration—if everyone agrees to them — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

Green COVID-19 recovery packages could boost economic growth and help stop climate change, a Cardiff University academic says.

The high cost of platinum catalysts used in hydrogen fuel cells limits the commercialization of fuel cell electric vehicles. Scientists are studying alternative catalysts to increase cost-effectiveness and maintain efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells.

This year's 'lockdown spring' is likely to be the sunniest on record in parts of the UK, and may even rank among the sunniest seasons ever recorded—including all the summers.

Few recognize the vast implications of materials science. To build today's smartphone in the 1980s, it would cost about $110 million, require nearly 200 kilowatts of energy (compared to 2kW per year today), and the device would be 14 meters tall , according to Applied Materials CTO Omkaram Nalamasu. That's the power of materials advances. Materials science has democratized smartphones, bringing t

A UCLA research team has successfully used the powerful gene-editing tool known as CRISPR-Cas9 to alter the DNA of mature innate immune cells, some of the body's first responders to infections. These blood cells have been notoriously difficult to genetically engineer in the past.

Pledge of 'world-beating' system will have to look to likes of South Korea and Germany Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Boris Johnson's insistence that the UK will be able to roll out a "world-beating" coronavirus test, track and trace regime by 1 June has inevitably drawn comparisons with countries around the world that have already set up effective Covid-19 tracing

Official findings add to concerns about Sweden's laissez-faire strategy towards the pandemic Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Just 7.3% of Stockholm's inhabitants had developed Covid-19 antibodies by the end of April, according to a study , raising concerns that the country's light-touch approach to the coronavirus may not be helping it build up broad immunity. The re

PLUS. Britisk astronom kommer med ny vurdering af sandsynligheden for, at intelligent liv opstod på Jorden. Det er ikke ubetinget givet, at vi ville være her i dag, hvis der blev foretaget en genindspilning af udviklingshistorien.

The preponderance of deaths linked to care homes and hospitals raises the question of whether Covid-19 is a nosocomial infection.

With the school year coming to a close at districts across the country, education leaders fear that many students have struggled with online classrooms and fallen behind in their learning. As a result, they expect the so-called "summer slide"— the erosion of academic gains made over the prior year—to be far worse than usual and especially pronounced for children with disabilities.

So you finally hit the shops and cafes after weeks of lockdown.

If you've already recovered from the coronavirus, can you go back to the workplace carefree?

Researchers have developed a way to use smartphone images of a person's eyelids to assess blood hemoglobin levels. The ability to perform one of the most common clinical lab tests without a blood draw could help reduce the need for in-person clinic visits, make it easier to monitor patients who are in critical condition, and improve care in low- and middle-income countries where access to testing

If you even bother to think about friction at all, you might think about rubbing your hands together to warm them up.

Researchers at University of Delaware, University of Arizona and Haverford College have recently introduced the idea of searching for scalar dark matter using compact acoustic resonators. Their paper, published in Physical Review Letters, theoretically demonstrates the potential of mechanical systems in searching for dark matter.

The motion of the ocean is often thought of in horizontal terms, for instance in the powerful currents that sweep around the planet, or the waves that ride in and out along a coastline. But there is also plenty of vertical motion, particularly in the open seas, where water from the deep can rise up, bringing nutrients to the upper ocean, while surface waters sink, sending dead organisms, along wit

A UCLA research team has successfully used the powerful gene-editing tool known as CRISPR-Cas9 to alter the DNA of mature innate immune cells, some of the body's first responders to infections. These blood cells have been notoriously difficult to genetically engineer in the past.

'First-generation learners' — a substantial number of pupils around the world who represent the first generation in their families to receive an education – are also significantly more likely to leave school without basic literacy or numeracy skills, a study suggests.

Why is sex so popular in nature? A new article in Genome Biology and Evolution suggests that the molecular mechanisms underlying sex and the stress response may be more tightly coupled than previously appreciated, providing a new explanation for the widespread prevalence of sex in nature.

Just a few weeks before the first cases of COVID-19 were made public, a group of more than 100 leaders in health and medicine was imagining the future of health innovation and factors that could determine its success or failure,This hypothetical series of events, now beginning to play out in real time, is described — alongside other future-oriented scenarios — in a new report released today by t

Scientists could gain insight into atypical sex development in vertebrates, including humans, by studying how nutrition affects sex changes in fish larvae.

In the first 30 days since seeing their first patient, the number of children testing positive to COVID-19 at an Australian tertiary paediatric hospital has been low and none who contracted the virus required in-hospital treatment, according to a new study.

Are you good at reading your partner's emotions? Your perceptiveness may very well strengthen your relationship. Yet when anger or contempt enter the fray, little is to be gained and the quality of your relationship tanks, researchers found.

The Artemis Accords could ensure a peaceful and prosperous future for lunar exploration—if everyone agrees to them — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

A team at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility led by a William & Mary physicist has made a significant advancement in physics understanding that represents a key step toward practical fusion energy.

University of Liverpool scientists are part of an ambitious research project to map conditions underneath the surface of the Earth in unprecedented detail.

Scientists at the Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory are constantly pushing at the boundaries of the unknown in their attempt to understand the origin and physical properties of the universe. Yet Fermilab is more than a gateway to the subatomic world: It's also home to rare and endangered ecosystems, such as grassland prairies and riparian forests, which are becoming incr

The European Commission's new biodiversity strategy is a potential game-changer for the continent's rivers—and for all the people and nature that depend on them.

The explosive growth and success of human society over the past 10,000 years has been underpinned by a distinct range of climate conditions. But the range of weather humans can encounter on Earth—the "climate envelope"—is shifting as the planet warms, and conditions entirely new to civilization could emerge in the coming decades. Even with modern technology, this should not be taken lightly.

In daily life we are surrounded by fossil raw materials, from products in our cars, insulations in buildings to kitchenware, like pan handles. Society needs to find new ways to unlock the hidden potential of renewable raw materials.

A group of scientists from Osaka University, in cooperation with Kaneka Corporation, evaluated the interplanar bond strength of graphene by measuring the elastic constant of graphite, demonstrating that the elastic constant of monocrystalline graphite (Figure 1, top) was above 45 gigapascal (GPa), which was higher than conventionally believed. Their research results were published in Physical Revi

A group of Hokkaido University researchers has developed a paper-based device that can easily and cheaply measure lithium ion concentration in blood, which could greatly help bipolar disorder patients.

Scientists at the Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory are constantly pushing at the boundaries of the unknown in their attempt to understand the origin and physical properties of the universe. Yet Fermilab is more than a gateway to the subatomic world: It's also home to rare and endangered ecosystems, such as grassland prairies and riparian forests, which are becoming incr

A group of Hokkaido University researchers has developed a paper-based device that can easily and cheaply measure lithium ion concentration in blood, which could greatly help bipolar disorder patients.

NUS researchers have created a device called a 'shadow-effect energy generator' that makes use of the contrast in illumination between lit and shadowed areas to generate electricity. This novel concept opens up new approaches in harnessing indoor lighting conditions to power electronics.

Scientists from Queensland Museum, Griffith University, University of Melbourne and the Northern Territory Government have described a colorful new velvet gecko from Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory.

University of Technology Sydney mathematician, Professor Eckhard Platen, has shown that mathematical models normally reserved for the world of finance, very accurately predict the spread of COVID-19. Importantly, they hold clues that can be used to understand the timing of lifting control measures, he says.

Scientists from Queensland Museum, Griffith University, University of Melbourne and the Northern Territory Government have described a colorful new velvet gecko from Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory.

As parents adjust to the announcement that in-school classes will not resume in Ontario for the rest of the school year, a Brock University expert says several key steps can be taken to keep kids learning until the end of June and throughout the summer.

David Crow on the complications — and consequences — of testing for coronavirus immunity

Trying to determine how negatively charged ions squeeze through a carbon nanotube 20,000 times smaller than a human hair is no easy feat.

New research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences describes how external forces drive the rearrangement of individual particles and shape microlevel structures in disordered materials. The study, conducted by graduate student Larry Galloway, postdoc Xiaoguang Ma, and faculty members Paulo Arratia, Douglas Jerolmack, and Arjun Yodh, provides new insights into how the mic

Researchers from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) have invented a nanostructure that can stimulate neural stem cells to differentiate into nerve cells. They found that the transplantation of these nerve cells into rats with Parkinson's disease progressively improved their symptoms, with the new cells replacing damaged nerve cells around the transplantation site. This novel invention provides pr

We often think of asteroids and comets as distinct types of small bodies, but astronomers have discovered an increasing number of "crossovers." These objects initially appear to be asteroids, and later develop activity, such as tails, that are typical of comets.

Can direct advertising work for leading brands in an emerging market such as India. The question is answered with respect to the marketing of honey in the International Journal of Comparative Management.

A new weapon in the arsenal against the coronavirus may be sitting in your home entertainment console. A team led by physicist Chris Barty of the University of California, Irvine is researching the use of diodes from Blu-ray digital video disc devices as deep-ultraviolet laser photon sources to rapidly disinfect surfaces and the indoor air that swirls around us.

Larval nutrition plays a role in determining the sexual characteristics of Japanese rice fish, also called medaka (Oryzias latipes), report a team of researchers led by Nagoya University. The findings, published in the journal Biology Open, could further understanding of a rare condition in humans and other vertebrates, where they genetically belong to one sex but also have characteristics of the

A new weapon in the arsenal against the coronavirus may be sitting in your home entertainment console. A team led by physicist Chris Barty of the University of California, Irvine is researching the use of diodes from Blu-ray digital video disc devices as deep-ultraviolet laser photon sources to rapidly disinfect surfaces and the indoor air that swirls around us.

Larval nutrition plays a role in determining the sexual characteristics of Japanese rice fish, also called medaka (Oryzias latipes), report a team of researchers led by Nagoya University. The findings, published in the journal Biology Open, could further understanding of a rare condition in humans and other vertebrates, where they genetically belong to one sex but also have characteristics of the

In a step toward a more sustainable, zero-carbon future, McCourt School assistant professor Raphael Calel and UC Santa Barbara assistant professor Paasha Mahdavi propose two ideas that would encourage companies to capture methane gas flared during the oil extraction process.

Over the past two decades, astronomers have concluded that most, if not all, galaxies host massive black holes at their centers—and the masses of a black hole and its host galaxy are correlated. But how are the two connected? Now, a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Institute for Astronomy (IfA) student participating in the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (

NASA is naming its next-generation space telescope currently under development, the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), in honor of Nancy Grace Roman, NASA's first chief astronomer, who paved the way for space telescopes focused on the broader universe.

NASA's first asteroid sample return mission is officially prepared for its long-awaited touchdown on asteroid Bennu's surface. The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security—Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission has targeted Oct. 20 for its first sample collection attempt.

Scientists urge caution over hints of success emerging from small human and animal studies — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

Why is sex so popular? The question of why so many organisms reproduce sexually has mystified evolutionary biologists since before Darwin, who wrote, "The whole subject is as yet hidden in darkness." In a recent article in Genome Biology and Evolution titled "What's genetic variation got to do with it? Starvation-induced self-fertilization enhances survival in Paramecium," the authors suggest that

Monoclonal antibodies are those that originate from identical immune cells having a common origin. They are highly effective, non-toxic and can specifically target diseased cells, and are therefore used in immunotherapy to treat diseases such as psoriasis, cancer and autoimmune disorders. However, since antibodies are unable to cross the cell membrane, they have mainly been used against antigens p

There is much debate about the correct storage of tomatoes. There are two main options available to consumers: Storage in the refrigerator or at room temperature. A research team from the University of Göttingen has now investigated whether there are differences in the flavor of ripe tomatoes depending on how they are stored and taking into account the chain of harvesting from farm to fork. No per

The seeds of jojoba are one of the only known sustainable sources of liquid wax esters. They have been used as an eco-friendly replacement for similar oils that were once harvested from the spermaceti organ of the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), which nearly drove it to extinction. "Jojoba is the only plant to store wax in its seeds. Such a vegetable oil has heretofore been unavailable," say

A research team from the Pablo de Olavide University of Seville, led by Pim Edelaar, from the institution's Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, has carried out an experimental study that shows that grasshoppers are perfectly aware of their own coloration when choosing the place that provides them with better camouflage. The research findings, published in the journal Proce

A trans-Neptunian object known as 2002 TC302 appears to have a large moon at an unusually close orbit

Automated ventilators are expensive. Hand-operated ventilators require a lot of labor. So these teens are on a quest to create a mechanized bag-valve-mask that'll do the job. (Image credit: The Digital Citizen Fund)

Renewable technologies are a promising solution for addressing global energy needs in a sustainable way.

Using data from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), astronomers have investigated a nearby binary system designated WISE J135501.90-825838.9. The new research reports that the studied object is a young, extremely low-mass substellar binary. The finding is detailed in a paper published May 13 on the arXiv pre-print repository.

Why is sex so popular? The question of why so many organisms reproduce sexually has mystified evolutionary biologists since before Darwin, who wrote, "The whole subject is as yet hidden in darkness." In a recent article in Genome Biology and Evolution titled "What's genetic variation got to do with it? Starvation-induced self-fertilization enhances survival in Paramecium," the authors suggest that

Monoclonal antibodies are those that originate from identical immune cells having a common origin. They are highly effective, non-toxic and can specifically target diseased cells, and are therefore used in immunotherapy to treat diseases such as psoriasis, cancer and autoimmune disorders. However, since antibodies are unable to cross the cell membrane, they have mainly been used against antigens p

A new Tel Aviv University-led study published on May 20 in Nature offers new evidence that the complexity of contemporary analytical methods in science contributes to the variability of research outcomes.

There is much debate about the correct storage of tomatoes. There are two main options available to consumers: Storage in the refrigerator or at room temperature. A research team from the University of Göttingen has now investigated whether there are differences in the flavor of ripe tomatoes depending on how they are stored and taking into account the chain of harvesting from farm to fork. No per

The seeds of jojoba are one of the only known sustainable sources of liquid wax esters. They have been used as an eco-friendly replacement for similar oils that were once harvested from the spermaceti organ of the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), which nearly drove it to extinction. "Jojoba is the only plant to store wax in its seeds. Such a vegetable oil has heretofore been unavailable," say

A research team from the Pablo de Olavide University of Seville, led by Pim Edelaar, from the institution's Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering, has carried out an experimental study that shows that grasshoppers are perfectly aware of their own coloration when choosing the place that provides them with better camouflage. The research findings, published in the journal Proce

Researchers at Karmanos Cancer Institute of Wayne State University compiled the latest cancer research on clioquinol (CQ), an anti-fungal/anti-protozoal hydroxyquinoline family drug. The authors reported that although CQ isn't suitable for cancer therapy currently, using CQ derivatives or analogues such as nitroxoline as well as combining CQ with other drugs, including docahexaenooic acid or disul

COVID-19 infection may cause subacute thyroiditis, according to a new case study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

A study conducted by investigators at Cedars-Sinai suggests that universal testing of asymptomatic pregnant women in labor may not be necessary at every hospital. The investigation was prompted by reports from several large hospitals in New York City that nearly 14% of asymptomatic women admitted for childbirth had tested positive for COVID-19 during the early weeks of the pandemic. The women did

Levels of virus infection in lobsters seem to be related to habitat and other species, new studies of Caribbean marine protected areas have shown. The findings will support efforts to safeguard Caribbean spiny lobsters, which are a vital food source for communities across the region and world. They also boost our understanding of how viruses spread — disease dynamics — and of the ecology of frag

Warning at Tengiz field underscores danger posed by pandemic to remote energy projects

By using metadata instead of content to spot suspicious behavior, the social network can keep privacy intact.

For people who live alone, lockdown means 'touch starvation' as we go days without hugs, handshakes or other contact Coronavirus – live US updates Live global updates My friend Hannah tells me her therapist said: "A person should be hugged 10 times a day." For many of us, that's now unsafe. It was even unlikely before. Pre-quarantine, I was one of 35.7 million Americans who lived alone. My daily

Experience is the cement that holds the building blocks of knowledge together. New research suggests enrichment programs help children solidify the information they have added to their wall of knowledge.

Before putting your visor on, make some room. Bumping into your coffee table will surely break the illusion that you're in the Grand Canyon. ( Hammer & Tusk / Unsplash/) Virtual reality is not nearly as popular as video game consoles or smartphones , but the technology is improving rapidly. Software is getting better, hardware is getting cheaper, and fewer people are coming away from these experi

A close brush can leave a lasting mental legacy—and may tell us about how the mind functions under extreme conditions — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

A close brush can leave a lasting mental legacy—and may tell us about how the mind functions under extreme conditions — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

A team of scientists has successfully produced in a laboratory setting a coral that is more resistant to increased seawater temperatures.

Researchers have found that in a structured group drumming task aspects of participants' heart function synchronized. In a subsequent improvisational drumming task, groups with high physiological synchrony in the structured task showed more coordination in drumming. The data show that behavioral synchronization and enhanced physiological synchronization while drumming each uniquely predicts a heig

The fragmented U.S. health care system has hampered efforts to expand coronavirus testing, by making it difficult for hospitals to switch to new labs with ample capacity.

Firm has capacity to make 1bn doses of Oxford University drug undergoing trials Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage AstraZeneca has said it has the capacity to manufacture 1bn doses of the University of Oxford's potential Covid-19 vaccine and will begin supply in September if clinical trials are successful. The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker said it had signed the first agreeme

Data show there were 2.4m first-time benefit applications last week in line with forecasts

An antibody first identified in a blood sample from someone who recovered from SARS in 2003 inhibits related coronaviruses, including one behind COVID-19, researchers say. Researchers have put the antibody, called S309, on a fast-track development and testing path at Vir Biotechnology in the next step toward possible clinical trials. "We still need to show that this antibody is protective in livi

This article contains spoilers for all 10 episodes of Hulu's The Great . Russia in the 18th century stood on the verge of disaster, with a war raging against Sweden and its cultural and intellectual progress failing to keep pace with Western Europe's. Yet in Hulu's historical satire The Great , Emperor Peter III (played by Nicholas Hoult) appears untroubled. Surrounded by the comforts of royalty

A Maine laboratory is on the verge of supplying a much-needed animal for SARS-CoV-2 research

Nature, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01508-0 Rabies virus helps to trace the nerve network that keeps the stomach in good form.

Where in the brain is a specific ability located? This is a more complex question than it may at first seem, mainly because we first have to define each specific ability. Some are obvious, like the ability to voluntarily move your right hand. The motor strip in the cortex physically maps to the body, and it is relatively easy to correlate a specific part of the brain to weakness of any specific b

Pandemic has opened up discussions about the resilience of global supply chains

Amid the pandemic, life has moved online. That's good news for the tech giants that run data centers, and the companies that supply them.

Given the pandemic, how will emergency experts cope with evacuating people who might fear shared shelters, refuse to wear masks, and distrust authorities?

In the first two weeks of May, they've hit the dark web, hawking 200 million stolen records from over a dozen companies.

PLUS. Sollys i forbindelse med fotooxidation har større betydning for forvitring af olie på havet end hidtil antaget. Supermikrobe nedbryder olie i sandet.

T he coronavirus pandemic has eviscerated state and local finances. The country's roughly 90,000 nonfederal-government entities provide and pay for most of the government services that Americans receive. Factor out federal defense spending and the federal government's contributions to health care, and state and local governments do most of the government spending too: $4 trillion worth , or more

Many former employees see job cuts as a way to keep promises about becoming profitable

This tasty treat is additive free, and it turns iridescent with a little help from physics.

In its response to Covid-19, Carrie Lam's government seems not to know where it stands

PMI survey reveals some improvement in sentiment after easing of lockdown but reading is still second worst ever

The coronavirus has created a survival crisis for rural communities and, consequently, for wildlife — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

T he word backlash gained popularity in the summer of 1963, when, after dallying on the issue for the first two years of his presidency, President John F. Kennedy proposed significant civil-rights legislation. In response, the word, which had primarily denoted the recoil of a fishing line, was repurposed, usually as "white backlash," to refer to opposition to the increased pace of African America

A JAMA journal has retracted a 2018 paper linking physician burnout to poor patient care, after a misconduct inquiry found evidence of shoddy work but not data fabrication. The article, "Association between physician burnout and patient safety, professionalism, and patient satisfaction: a systematic review and meta-analysis," was published in JAMA Internal Medicine by a group … Continue reading

The bride and groom had a month and a half to move their ceremony online. Here's how they did it, from the AV setup to instructions for guests.

The disease once paralyzed 350,000 children each year; vaccination campaigns brought it down to just a few hundred cases. Then, the pandemic struck.

Online costume retailers and Etsy are doing what they can to keep up with demand. In other Bat-adjacent news, HBO Max is going to #ReleaseTheSnyderCut of 'Justice League'.

Participating hospitals begin enrolling volunteers to test drug's impact on coronavirus Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage A major trial to see whether the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, taken by Donald Trump to protect himself against Covid-19, can prevent health workers from getting the disease is beginning in the UK and other countries. Trump's revelation that he w

The coronavirus has created a survival crisis for rural communities and, consequently, for wildlife — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

Have you ever known anyone swindled by a scam? It's remarkable how determined they remain to defend the swindler, and for how long—and how they try to shift the blame to those who tried to warn them of the swindle. The pain of being seen as a fool hurts more than the loss of money; it's more important to protect the ego against indignity than to visit justice upon the perpetrator. We human beings

The pandemic lockdowns are providing a window into how a wariness of humans uniquely shapes other species' behavior — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

The pandemic lockdowns are providing a window into how a wariness of humans uniquely shapes other species' behavior — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

Lack of internet has cut off access to learning during pandemic, finds report

In this FT series, people share their stories of this extraordinary time

A man who lived in Siberia about 14,000 years ago is the earliest known person in the world to have the specific mix of genes seen in people with Native American ancestry, analysis of DNA from a fossilised tooth has revealed

Editor's Note: " How to Build a Life " is a biweekly column by Arthur Brooks, tackling questions of meaning and happiness. My oldest son graduates from college this month. Graduation is a leap into uncertainty even during ordinary times, and COVID-19 times are far from ordinary. It's a scary moment to be heading out into the world. But my advice to my son—and to all graduates—remains the same as

HONG KONG—Twin crises have jolted this city: one of disease, the other of dissent. Over the past year, millions of people flooded city streets, defying China's government as they demanded that Beijing honor Hong Kong's civil rights and grant the territory democracy. Those same agitators worked together this winter, at times in opposition to the territory's leaders, to limit a widespread outbreak

This image shows the disc around the young AB Aurigae star, where ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) has spotted signs of planet birth. (ESO/Boccaletti et al./) 520 light-years away from Earth, a baby planet is born. While thousands of exoplanets have been identified so far, researchers at the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, or VLT, in Chile, have captured the birth of a plane

Secretary of state has abandoned both diplomacy and logic in his quest to succeed Trump

Experts predict death toll will top 100,000 in the coming months

Shareholders who sacrifice now will prosper when growth restarts

The dramatic fall in atmospheric pressure on Pluto is much larger than astronomers expected.

Nature, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2368-8

Nature, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01451-0 Restricting movement on the basis of biology threatens freedom, fairness and public health.

Nature Communications, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16286-6 Density-dependence is rarely accounted for in plant-plant facilitation studies. Here the authors develop a framework that incorporates density-dependence in the stress-gradient hypothesis, and test it first through modeling and then empirically on Arabidopsis thaliana along salt stress gradients.

Nature Communications, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16161-4 Living organisms, like fish and bacteria, frequently change their pattern as a group to cope with environment. Here, Bäuerle et al. reproduce this phenomenon using a synthetic system of controllably interactive colloids to show their collective motions that indicates being close to a critical point.

Nature Communications, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16345-y Disease stress-induced cardiac hypertrophy is a major mechanism of pathological cardiac remodeling. Here, the authors unveil a previously unrecognized role of a FoxO1–Dio2 signaling axis in maladaptive, afterload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and intracellular thyroid hormone homeostasis.

Nature Communications, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-15706-x On the electrocardiogram, the PR interval reflects conduction from the atria to ventricles and also serves as risk indicator of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Here, the authors perform genome-wide meta-analyses for PR interval in multiple ancestries and identify 141 previously unreported genetic loci.

Nature Communications, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-15984-5 Independently measuring the tidal deformability and the fundamental oscillation mode (fmode) frequency enables tests of gravity and the nature of compact binaries. Here, the authors constrain the f-mode frequencies of the companions of GW170817 from direct measurements, demonstrating gravitational wave asteroseis

Imposing restrictions even a week earlier could have saved lives, researchers found. A Census Bureau household survey suggests income loss is widespread.

Scientific Reports, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-65439-6

Scientific Reports, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-65354-w

Scientific Reports, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-64003-6

Scientific Reports, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-65359-5

Scientific Reports, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-64974-6

Scientific Reports, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-64663-4

Scientific Reports, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-65606-9

Scientific Reports, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-65413-2

Gravitational-wave researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a new model that promises to yield fresh insights into the structure and composition of neutron stars.

Researchers from Bar-Ilan University found that in a structured group drumming task aspects of participants' heart function synchronized. In a subsequent improvisational drumming task, groups with high physiological synchrony in the structured task showed more coordination in drumming. The data show that behavioral synchronization and enhanced physiological synchronization while drumming each uniq

Nature Communications, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16227-3 Solar-driven CO2 reduction by abundant water to alcohols is hindered by the sluggish water oxidation reaction. Here, the authors demonstrate that the microwave-synthesized carbon-dots possess unique hole-accepting nature, allowing stoichiometric oxygen and methanol production from water and CO2 with nearly 100% s

Nature Communications, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16255-z The controllable synthesis of organometallic polymers that can be used in ultrahigh information storage and anti-counterfeiting security has been an unsolved challenge. Here, the authors show sequence-controlled electrosynthesis of organometallic polymers with exquisite insertion of multiple and distinct monomers

Nature Communications, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16378-3 Electronic Health Records (EHR) are subject to noise, biases and missing data. Here, the authors present MixEHR, a multi-view Bayesian framework related to collaborative filtering and latent topic models for EHR data integration and modeling.

Nature Communications, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16320-7 The consequences of postnatal Zika infection are not fully understood. Here, the authors show that postnatal Zika infection in infant rhesus macaques alters neurodevelopment resulting in social, cognitive and motor impairments, as well as structural and functional changes in the brain.

Nature Communications, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16221-9 Tandem Heck/carbonylation reaction gives access to ubiquitous carbonyl molecules, however the asymmetric version is rarely studied. Here, the authors synthesize chiral bicyclo[3.2.1]octanes with a palladium-catalyzed asymmetric tandem Heck/carbonylation desymmetrization of cyclopentenes with alcohols, phenols and

Nature Communications, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16429-9 Influenza A virus (IAV) infection can be exacerbated by bacterial co-infections but the effect of IAV on the upper respiratory tract (URT) microbiome remains unclear. Here, the authors compare the dynamics of the UTR microbiome in IAV-infected ferrets and humans, finding similar trends at the ecosystem and indivi

Nature Communications, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16370-x Terahertz imaging is promising in many applications, but still relies on complex equipment. Here, the authors develop a simplified solution that enables terahertz real-time imaging using a single-pixel detector and rapid reconstruction methods.

Nature Communications, Published online: 21 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16319-0 T cells recognize peptide antigens presented in the context of MHC but can additionally recognize non-conventional ligands. Here the authors show T cells specific for a HIV-1 associated glycopeptide antigen presented by MHC class II help envelope (Env) trimer induced humoral immune responses.

Organizations aren't just organizations—they're complex adaptive systems. Thinking of them this way, says Nathan Rosenberg, founding partner of management consulting firm Insigniam , can give your organization a competitive advantage. In complex adaptive systems, there is no cause and effect. Rules, or laws, have no causal efficacy. The system is constantly changing and adapting. But patterns in

The pro-democracy dissident as a global celebrity was a defining invention of the late 20th century. But today, critics of authoritarian governments are easily identified and suppressed on internet forums. Typewriters were simply better advocates than laptops. But it doesn't have to stay that way.

Gravitational-wave researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a new model that promises to yield fresh insights into the structure and composition of neutron stars.

Shelters struggle to cope after 500,000 people are evacuated

The health service is not a charity and it is not staffed by heroes. It has been run into the ground by successive governments Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage I work for the NHS as a doctor. I don't work "on the frontline" because there isn't one; I'm not in the army and we aren't engaged in military combat. But I do work as a consultant on a ward where we have had C

Activity falls at slower pace after bloc's largest economies relax lockdown measures

Current medical guidelines risk unlawful deaths of patients — with doctors, hospitals, and even the government potentially liable — if a second peak forces hard choices due to shortages of ventilators and other critical care resources.

The world is currently on track to fulfil scenarios on diverting atmospheric CO2 to underground reservoirs, according to a new study by Imperial.

The capture and storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) underground is one of the key components of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) reports on how to keep global warming to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100.

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Drugmaker also secures $1bn in funding from US government to aid development

COVID-19 has upended global travel and brought the world to a standstill. For the first time in history, close to 90% of the world's population now lives in countries with travel restrictions. Airlines, travel companies and the tourism sector as a whole are among the most affected businesses. An estimated 25 million aviation jobs and 100 million travel and tourism jobs are at risk. Between five a

Low-cost carrier will start limited services in UK and France amid new guidelines

It has a… tail?

Latest figures from public health authorities on the spread of Covid-19 in the United Kingdom. Find out how many confirmed cases have been reported in each of England's local authorities Coronavirus – live news updates Find all our coronavirus coverage here How to protect yourself from infection Please note: these are government figures on numbers of confirmed cases – some people who report sympt

Infections in the northeast have led officials to sequester hundreds of thousands at home. "China doesn't want to take any chances," one expert said.

Et nyt studie på Antarktis finder store området med alger, der tager til, i takt med at temperaturen stiger.

Både i Tyskland, USA og Mexico ligger kontroversielle klinikker, der bekymrer danske læger.

Floodwaters surging through Central Michigan on Wednesday were mixing with containment ponds at a Dow Chemical Co. plant and could displace sediment from a downstream Superfund site, though the company said there was no risk to people or the environment.

The Central Pacific basin including Hawaii should expect to see between two and six tropical storms or hurricanes this year, federal forecasters said Wednesday.

At least 22 people died as the fiercest cyclone to hit parts of Bangladesh and eastern India this century sent trees flying and flattened houses, with millions crammed into shelters despite the risk of coronavirus.

Maintaining social distancing and running full services poses financial and practical problems

Why do carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere wax and wane in conjunction with the warm and cold periods of Earth's past? Scientists have been trying to answer this question for many years, and thanks to chemical clues left in sediment cores extracted from deep in the ocean floor, they are starting to put together the pieces of that puzzle.

A faster, more efficient way of recycling plant-based "bioplastics" has been developed by a team of scientists at the Universities of Birmingham and Bath.

Throughout the southeastern U.S., forage production is a critical pillar of agriculture and livestock production, particularly for the cattle industry. Annual ryegrass serves as the primary forage for many late winter and early spring production systems, but grazing time is often limited due to late fall planting to avoid high soil temperatures that cause secondary seed dormancy.

Neutriner utmanar partikelfysiken med sin massa och kan ge ledtrådar till universums okända gåtor. De rör sig obehindrat genom nästan allt och är fysikens hetaste forskningsområde. Möt spökpartiklarna som redan belönats med fyra Nobelpris – och fler kan det bli.

Throughout the southeastern U.S., forage production is a critical pillar of agriculture and livestock production, particularly for the cattle industry. Annual ryegrass serves as the primary forage for many late winter and early spring production systems, but grazing time is often limited due to late fall planting to avoid high soil temperatures that cause secondary seed dormancy.

No wonder the powders are widely banned.

Government told it is running out of time to kick off testing system Fewer young adults sticking to lockdown rules, study shows Boohoo and biotech firm develop saliva home testing kit Coronavirus global updates – live Coronavirus latest: at a glance See all our coverage 7.55am BST My esteemed colleague Sarah Boseley has written a very good explainer on the government's test, track and trace strat

A seven-page report from the former president's science advisers is an implicit criticism of Donald Trump's handling of the pandemic Nine top scientists who advised Barack Obama in the White House are warning that the US has just three months to rebuild its national stockpile of emergency medical supplies or risk further drastic shortages of testing kits and protective gear should coronavirus str

A summary of the biggest developments in the global coronavirus outbreak Follow our latest coronavirus blog for live news and updates Key developments in the global coronavirus outbreak today include: Continue reading…

Warning of a potential "big explosion" in cases, China is locking down one region even as it opens others. Elsewhere, the virus and natural disasters have dealt a one-two punch.

It could be more sensitive than the real deal.

Lockdown has forced professor Mike Bradley to work out of his garden shed

NewsGuard has identified "super-spreaders" of COVID-19 misinformation on Facebook and Twitter, including Dr. Joseph Mercola, the NVIC, Rush Limbaugh, and Ty Bollinger.

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Editor's Note: The Atlantic is making vital coverage of the coronavirus available to all readers. Find the collection here . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is conflating the results of two different types of coronavirus tests, distorting several important metrics and providing the country with an inaccurate picture of the state of the pandemic. We've learned that the CDC is making

CDC director warns of coronavirus flare-up later this year

Researchers develop new annual ryegrass for earlier fall planting in the southeastern US.

Leader faces scrutiny over early pandemic management as Beijing weighs resetting economic targets

It's an experience many dog owners have been through – their adolescent pooches appear to be more moody and rebellious. Now researchers have shown that dogs really do mimic human teenagers' behaviour, becoming less responsive to instructions from their carer. To find out more about the difficult teenage doggy-years, Nicola Davis talks to Dr Lucy Asher about the study Continue reading…

It's an experience many dog owners have been through – their adolescent pooches appear to be more moody and rebellious. Now researchers have shown that dogs really do mimic human teenagers' behaviour, becoming less responsive to instructions from their carer. To find out more about the difficult teenage doggy-years, Nicola Davis talks to Dr Lucy Asher about the study. Help support our independent

A clearer picture emerges about how coronavirus lockdowns have damaged the US labour market

Teresa Ribera says free movement for citizens by July should open door for international tourists

As lockdowns begin easing, banks are wrestling with how many traders to send back to the office

US manufacturers have piled on the pressure to restart cross-border supply chains

History shows Italian economy has failed to regain lost ground after previous crises

'Converting Covid-19 from statistical barrage into individual tragedies has political consequences'

Två månaders intensiv träning förändrade hälsan hos alla de åtta deltagarna i SVT:s träningsexperiment Bästa träningen.

Nancy Grace Roman was NASA's first Chief of Astronomy.

Falls come despite Wall Street finishing higher on hopes of more Fed support

'New normal' will mean more camaraderie, less travel and more fitting in with the family

We adapted fast to remote working — now we must fight for moments that drive innovation

Capital's NHS draws up plans for navigating a second wave of coronavirus without mass cancellation of other treatment

Moncef Slaoui, a former pharmaceutical executive, is now overseeing the U.S. initiative to develop coronavirus treatments and vaccines. His financial interests and corporate roles have come under scrutiny.

The sheep seem a bit confused.

Nature Communications, Published online: 20 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-14624-2 Lake fisheries are vulnerable to environmental changes. Here, Kao et al. develop a Bayesian networks model to analyze time-series data from 31 major fisheries lake across five continents, showing that fish catches can respond either positively or negatively to climate and land-use changes.

Nature Communications, Published online: 20 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16018-w Snow algae bloom along the coast of Antarctica and are likely to be biogeochemically important. Here, the authors produced the first map of such blooms, show that they are driven by warmer temperatures and proximity to birds and mammals, and are likely to increase given projected climate changes.

Nature Communications, Published online: 20 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16077-z Red phosphorus is a promising anode for Na-ion batteries but suffers from large volume change upon cycling. Here the authors show a red-phosphorus-impregnated carbon nanofiber design in which the sodiated red phosphorus is featured by a "liquid-like" behavior and ultra-stable electrochemical performance is realiz

Nuts.

We report experimental microfluidic measurements and theoretical modeling of elastoviscoplastic materials under steady, planar elongation. Employing a theory that allows the solid state to deform, we predict the yielding and flow dynamics of such complex materials in pure extensional flows. We find a significant deviation of the ratio of the…

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is associated with epithelial and lymphoid malignancies, establishes latent infection in memory B cells, and intermittently produces infectious virions through lytic replication. Released virions play a key role in latent reservoir maintenance and transmission. Lytic EBV transcription differs from cellular transcription in requiring a virus-encoded preinitiation complex…

Stomatal guard cells control gas exchange that allows plant photosynthesis but limits water loss from plants to the environment. In Arabidopsis, stomatal development is mainly controlled by a signaling pathway comprising peptide ligands, membrane receptors, a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, and a set of transcription factors. The initiation of…

In oxygenic photosynthesis, light-driven oxidation of water to molecular oxygen is carried out by the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) in photosystem II (PS II). Recently, we reported the room-temperature structures of PS II in the four (semi)stable S-states, S1, S2, S3, and S0, showing that a water molecule is inserted during…

Transposable elements (TEs) are genomic parasites that are found in all genomes, some of which display sequence similarity to certain viruses. In insects, TEs are controlled by the Piwi-interacting small interfering RNA (piRNA) pathway in gonads, while the small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway is dedicated to TE somatic control and…

Synthetic chemical elicitors, so called plant strengtheners, can protect plants from pests and pathogens. Most plant strengtheners act by modifying defense signaling pathways, and little is known about other mechanisms by which they may increase plant resistance. Moreover, whether plant strengtheners that enhance insect resistance actually enhance crop yields is…

Extensive studies in prostate cancer and other malignancies have revealed that l-methionine (l-Met) and its metabolites play a critical role in tumorigenesis. Preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that systemic restriction of serum l-Met, either via partial dietary restriction or with bacterial l-Met–degrading enzymes exerts potent antitumor effects. However, administration…

How animals adapt their behavior according to regular time intervals between events is not well understood, especially when intervals last several seconds. One possibility is that animals use disembodied internal neuronal representations of time to decide when to initiate a given action at the end of an interval. However, animals…

The central nervous system both influences and is influenced by the gastrointestinal system. Most research on this gut–brain connection has focused on how ascending signals from the gut and its microbiome alter brain function. Less attention has focused on how descending signals from the central nervous system alter gut function….

CD5 is characterized as an inhibitory coreceptor with an important regulatory role during T cell development. The molecular mechanism by which CD5 operates has been puzzling and its function in mature T cells suggests promoting rather than repressing effects on immune responses. Here, we combined quantitative mass spectrometry and genetic…

Oil reservoirs contain significant quantities of methane, which can leak out when the oil is extracted. At oil wells around the world, more than 140 billion cubic meters (bcm) of this methane is burned off ("flared") every year, transforming it into carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming. Just as…

With globalization and immigration, societal contexts differ in sheer variety of resident social groups. Social diversity challenges individuals to think in new ways about new kinds of people and where their groups all stand, relative to each other. However, psychological science does not yet specify how human minds represent social…

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly. While the histopathology of the different disease stages is well characterized, the cause underlying the progression, from the early drusen stage to the advanced macular degeneration stage that leads to blindness, remains unknown. Here, we show that…

More than 800 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) comprise the largest class of membrane receptors in humans. While there is ample biological understanding and many approved drugs for prototypic GPCRs, most GPCRs still lack well-defined biological ligands and drugs. Here, we report our efforts to tap the potential of understudied GPCRs…

We will need collective action to avoid catastrophic climate change, and this will require valuing the long term as well as the short term. Shortsightedness and uncertainty have hindered progress in resolving this collective action problem and have been recognized as important barriers to cooperation among humans. Here, we propose…

Exclusive: Comments by CDC's Robert Redfield raise spectre of more lockdowns in colder months

Ready or not, here they come.

"We still have a long way to go in this pandemic."

A Columbia University astronomer calculates the odds of extraterrestrial life emerging. The probability comes out in favor of aliens existing. The search for life in space should be encouraged, concludes the scientist. The sheer amount of space boggles the mind and makes one wonder, where are all the aliens? Surely, we aren't the only ones who made it out onto a cosmic rock alive. Of course, ther

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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 . Joan Wong The national COVID-19 curve tells one story. The state-by-state numbers tell another, far more nuanced one. This outbreak is waning in some places (New York and New Jersey), while growi

Why do carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere wax and wane in conjunction with the warm and cold periods of Earth's past? Scientists have been trying to answer this question for many years, and thanks to chemical clues left in sediment cores extracted from deep in the ocean floor, they are starting to put together the pieces of that puzzle.

Physicists propose that the influence of cosmic rays on early life may explain nature's preference for a uniform 'handedness' among biology's critical molecules.

Scientists have found that adding cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to standardized medical care gives patients with dissociative seizures longer periods of seizure freedom, less bothersome seizures and a greater quality of life, in a study published in Lancet Psychiatry today and by the Cognitive behavioral therapy for adults with dissociative seizures (CODES) study group funded by National Inst

Things have been different at the Tumwater Family Practice Clinic since COVID-19 came. Its patients in Washington state are being triaged over the phone, tested at the curbside, and treated by the doorstep. Many patients, afraid of contracting the disease, do not come in. Revenue for the private practice has plummeted almost 50 percent. When it came time for Jennifer Tyler, Tumwater's clinic admi

The shelter-in-place orders and the massive drop in human activity in our cities, designed to slow the spread of COVID-19, have given us surprising and unexpected sightings of wildlife species across cities around the world. But beyond general awe—and a brief respite from the gloominess of the news—what can seeing all of this wildlife tell us about human-deprived spaces? Although the media has ma

Xu Jiao was anxious to get back in the gym. Living in Chengdu, the capital of China's Sichuan province, she had gone through two months of lockdown. The pandemic hadn't been particularly bad in the city. To date there have been 144 confirmed cases and three deaths, according to official statistics. Still, as with much of China, the lockdown had been severe. Almost everything had been closed and X

'The question is when and how big,' says Europe CDC chief; world sees largest daily rise in cases; Trump considers in-person G7. Follow the latest updates EU virus response chief: 'Europe should brace itself for second wave' Largest daily rise in Covid-19 cases prompts WHO warning Global cases near 5 million Australia coronavirus updates – live Coronavirus latest: at a glance 1.22am BST Mexico's

If you're experiencing unusual or scary dreams during the COVID-19 pandemic, there's simple ways to get a better night's sleep, says neurologist Patrick McNamara. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some confess to crawling into bed at an earlier hour, while others have found themselves running on just a few hours of sleep to keep up with work and personal responsibilities. Whether you're getting a ful

A recent analysis of discourse on Facebook highlights how social media and an individual's sense of identity can be used to dehumanize entire groups of people. "Fundamentally, we wanted to examine how online platforms can normalize hatred and contribute to dehumanization," says coauthor Jessica Jameson, a professor of communication at North Carolina State University. "And we found that an establi

A faster, more efficient way of recycling plant-based 'bioplastics' has been developed by a team of scientists at the universities of Birmingham and Bath.

So neat.

Study reveals cloth coverings reduce airflow but Covid-19 effectiveness remains unproven Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The wearing of cloth face masks by the public was becoming more about politics than science, one expert has argued, as a new study reveals potential benefits and problems of the coverings. At present the UK government recommends the public wear fac

Only 2,000 devices delivered after appeal to designers and manufacturers at height of crisis

DMT is arguably the most powerful psychedelic drug on the planet, capable of producing intense hallucinations. Researchers recently surveyed more than 2,000 DMT users about their encounters with 'entities' while tripping, finding that respondents often considered these strange encounters to be positive and meaningful. The majority of respondents believed the beings they encountered were not hallu

Dr. Adrien Eshraghi and Miller School coauthors published a new correspondence titled COVID-19: overcoming the challenges faced by individuals with autism and their families in The Lancet Psychiatry. In this commentary, the authors address specific challenges patients with autism and their families might encounter during the pandemic, as well as what healthcare providers should know and do to ensu

The information came from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study which followed the participants an average of 10 years.

Pregnant women who take the thrush treatment fluconazole orally appear to have a higher risk of giving birth to a baby with muscle and bone malformations, suggests research published by The BMJ today.

The current system for checking on a patient's health and how likely it is to worsen while in hospital is based on weak evidence and using poor scores may harm patients, suggests research published by The BMJ today.

As the UK and most other countries went into lockdown, the need to save lives from the coronavirus rightly took priority over longer term health issues. But experts writing in The BMJ today warn that 'if we don't prepare for emerging from the pandemic, we will see the toll of increased alcohol harm for a generation.'

President vows to investigate reports that the government overpaid for equipment

New research published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]) shows that the higher the number of pregnancy losses a woman has, the higher her risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The study is by Dr. Pia Egerup, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark, and colleagues.

Dr. Nancy Grace Roman was NASA's first chief astronomer, and the first female executive at the agency. Roman helped to usher in the era of space-based telescopes. Known as the "Mother of the Hubble," she was instrumental in making the Hubble Space Telescope a reality. Announced earlier today, NASA has renamed the Wide Field Survey Telescope (WFIRST) in honor of Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, who helped m

Tropical Storm Arthur off the coast of Florida on May 16, 2020 (NASA Worldview, EOSDIS)/) Hurricane season is here. Arthur, the first named storm of 2020, swung along the North Carolina coast before heading back to sea. While officials didn't report any major impacts , it may be just the beginning of a busy year for tropical storms. Atmospheric scientists predict that this year will be "above nor

Developing and producing a vaccine is a complicated process — one that is heavily reliant on countries sharing supplies and a common goal, says Prashant Yadav of the Center for Global Development. (Image credit: Douglas Magno /AFP via Getty Images)

Private operators claim scapegoating but legislation responds to concern over poor performance

National airline to be liquidated and embassies closed as coronavirus takes further financial toll

New program aims to have two prototype reactors running within 7 years

Researchers say they've created a proof-of-concept bionic eye that could surpass the sensitivity of a human one. "In the future, we can use this for better vision prostheses and humanoid robotics," researcher Zhiyong Fan, at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, told Science News . The eye, as detailed in a paper published in the prestigious journal Nature today, is in essence a thr

Power posing grew in prominence in 2012 after social psychologist Amy Cuddy's famous TED Talk. A new study found that power posing correlates with a positive boost in children's self-esteem and confidence. The debate over power posing remains heated in psychological circles, but there are plenty of other ways parents and teachers can boost children's self-esteem. Parents and teachers worry about

Why do carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere wax and wane in conjunction with the warm and cold periods of Earth's past? Scientists have been trying to answer this question for many years, and thanks to chemical clues left in sediment cores extracted from deep in the ocean floor, they are starting to put together the pieces of that puzzle.

A study led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital point to a potential marker of these conditions and a new therapeutic strategy.

Prostate cancer patients resistant to PSMA-targeted therapy often have potentially treatable mutations in their DNA damage-repair genes, according to research published in the May issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. In an exploratory study using a relatively new technique–targeted next-generation gene sequencing–researchers found mutations in six out of seven patients with metastatic castr

Lifesaving innovations for COVID-19 will only markedly increase the already existing racial inequalities, if public health initiatives for equitable dissemination throughout all communities are not immediately developed. The introduction of drugs for HIV, respiratory distress syndrome, and hepatitis C resulted in racial inequalities. Moreover, before the introduction of the Salk polio vaccine in 1

The two astronauts who will end a nine-year launch drought for NASA arrived at Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, exactly one week before their historic SpaceX flight.

Photosystem II is a protein complex in plants, algae and cyanobacteria that is responsible for splitting water and producing the oxygen we breathe. Over the past few years, an international collaboration between scientists at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and several other institutions have been able to observe various steps

Photosystem II is a protein complex in plants, algae and cyanobacteria that is responsible for splitting water and producing the oxygen we breathe. Over the past few years, an international collaboration between scientists at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and several other institutions have been able to observe various steps

Star cancer researcher Pier Paolo Pandolfi left Harvard. The allegations are very serious, but do his new employers in Nevada and Italy mind?

As the world increasingly turns to aqua farming to feed its growing population, there's no better time than now to design an aquaculture system that is sustainable and efficient.

Millions fled, and several deaths have been reported, but for the moment, at least, residents say it appears it could have been much worse.

As the world increasingly turns to aqua farming to feed its growing population, there's no better time than now to design an aquaculture system that is sustainable and efficient.

Before there were animals, bacteria or even DNA on Earth, self-replicating molecules were slowly evolving their way from simple matter to life beneath a constant shower of energetic particles from space.

Brazilian researchers show that the virus can infect different placental regions and that collection and storage methods should be taken into consideration to ensure that the results are trustworthy and representative.

Researchers zeroed in on a key step of photosynthetic oxygen production. What they learned brings them one step closer to obtaining a complete picture of this natural process, which could inform the next generation of artificial photosynthetic systems that produce clean and renewable energy from sunlight and water.

In his letter threatening to withdraw the U.S. from the World Health Organization and halt all funding, Trump made a number of charges about WHO's handling of the coronavirus crisis. (Image credit: @realDonaldTrump / Twitter screengrab by NPR)

Astronomers say that a massive disk galaxy from the ancient universe, known as the "Wolfe Disk," should never have existed. "Most galaxies that we find early in the universe look like train wrecks because they underwent consistent and often 'violent' merging," Max Planck Institute for Astronomy researcher Marcel Neeleman said in a statement . "These hot mergers make it difficult to form well-orde

US accused by Russia of trying to circumvent 1967 treaty banning ownership of areas of the moon Countries joining Nasa's exploration of the moon will be asked to sign up to a series of guiding principles known as the Artemis accords . Announced on 15 May, the accords are a set of broad themes that the agency hopes will form the basis of agreements to be negotiated with each country involved in th

Xi Jinping hopes to rally national pride in the face of global ire as his People's Congress begins. Brazil allows doctors to treat coronavirus patients with hydroxychloroquine despite questions over its efficacy and side effects.

All 50 states have begun to reopen to some degree, but rules vary. Flooding in Michigan forces residents to social distance in shelters after fleeing their homes.

There have been multiple confirmed cases of COVID-19 in tigers at New York City's Bronx Zoo. Scientists there are now researching the origins of the big cats' infection. (A G/Unsplash/) Lynne Peeples writes about science, health, and the environment from her home office in Seattle. Her work has also appeared in Scientific American , Reuters , Popular Science , Environmental Health News , and Audu

That calls for a fine-tuning of measures to stop the disease spreading

Mike Mackenzie's daily analysis of what's moving global markets

Health care professionals experience high rates of anxiety and burnout, a growing public health concern, particularly in light of projected physician shortages and the COVID-19 pandemic. New research led by Dr. Debora Goldberg of George Mason University's College of Health and Human Services before the COVID-19 pandemic found that primary care physicians reported burnout at twice the rate of other

A blood test may help predict which people with multiple sclerosis (MS) will get worse during the following year, according to a study published in the May 20, 2020, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Nasa's Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken are a week away from their flight to the space station.

Higher blood pressure during exercise and delayed blood pressure recovery afterward associate with a higher risk of hypertension, preclinical and clinical heart disease, and death among middle-aged to older adults, researchers report. Blood pressure responses to exercise are significant markers of cardiovascular disease and mortality risk in young to middle-aged adults. However, few studies have

Gene that protects against gut parasites spreads at "unimaginable" speed

New capital proposal envisages world's largest ever IPO next year for mortgage finance giants

A new study led by researchers at the Yale School of Public Health and published in the journal Lancet Planetary Health, finds that China's countrywide ban on traffic mobility from February 10 to March 14, 2020 greatly limited automobile emissions and sharply reduced the country's often severe air pollution. The improved air quality, in turn, prevented thousands of pollution-related deaths.

Physicists propose that the influence of cosmic rays on early life may explain nature's preference for a uniform 'handedness' among biology's critical molecules.

As the world increasingly turns to aqua farming to feed its growing population, there's no better time than now to design an aquaculture system that is sustainable and efficient.

A new Tel Aviv University-led study offers new evidence that the complexity of contemporary analytical methods in science contributes to the variability of research outcomes.

The coronavirus pandemic's life-altering effects are likely to result in lasting physical and mental health consequences for many people–particularly those from vulnerable populations–a new study led by the Yale School of Public Health finds.

Hollings Cancer Center researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina have developed a technique to quantify protein production in immune cells known as T-cells, which typically target and kill cancer cells. However, when near a tumor, most T cells produce little protein and lose their cancer-fighting ability, and the new technique could help clarify why. Interventions could then be devel

A new device offers a better way to detect blood clots, especially in pediatric patients, researchers report. Unlike what a biology textbook may show, blood vessels are not straight cylinders. They are tortuous, meaning they have complex curves, spirals, and bends. When the blood reaches these curves, it makes changes to its fluid mechanics and interactions with the vessel wall. In a healthy pers

Research shows Buchan Caves to be about 3.5 million years old and that Victoria's East Gippsland has remained tectonically active for long times, even into the present-day, which is why residents occasionally report earthquakes. Basically, the uplifting Southern Alps in New Zealand have made stress and strain on the Australian tectonic plate, stress that is then expressed as earthquakes and rising

For decades, scientists have explored the use of liposomes — hollow spheres made of lipid bilayers — to deliver chemotherapy drugs to tumor cells. But drugs can sometimes leak out of liposomes before they reach their destination, reducing the dose received by the tumor and causing side effects in healthy tissues. Now, researchers report a way to stabilize liposomes by embedding a stiff nanobowl

Play the same piece of music to two people, and their hearts can respond very differently.

Research shows that optimism is correlated with various good outcomes: higher life expectancy, better recovery rates, success at work. But is optimism a personality trait, or could it be learned?

Three studies published Wednesday suggest it should be possible to come up with a coronavirus vaccine — tests performed on animals have shown the right results to prove a vaccine could be possible.

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Prashant Yadav, senior fellow at the Center for Global Development, about why vaccines require global cooperation and how the U.S. is approaching the challenge.

A new study looked at US tax policy as it relates to carbon dioxide (CO2), from 2015 through 2030. The study found only limited short-term opportunities for decarbonization (reducing greenhouse gas emissions) outside the electricity sector. The result is substantial CO2 tax revenue. The findings shed light on future tax policy decisions.

Researchers have identified small molecules in the blood of asymptomatic pregnant women that may predict risk for preeclampsia, responsible for a significant proportion of maternal and neonatal deaths, low birth weight and is a primary cause of premature birth.

Scientists engineering valuable microbes for renewable fuels and bioproducts have developed an efficient way to identify the most promising varieties. Researchers have developed a high-throughput screening technique to rapidly profile medium-chain fatty acids produced in yeast — part of a larger group of free fatty acids that are key components in essential nutrients, soaps, industrial chemicals,

To better understand and mitigate the health risks faced by astronauts from exposure to space radiation, we ideally need to be able to test the effects of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) here on Earth under laboratory conditions.

Scientists engineering valuable microbes for renewable fuels and bioproducts have developed an efficient way to identify the most promising varieties. Researchers have developed a high-throughput screening technique to rapidly profile medium-chain fatty acids produced in yeast — part of a larger group of free fatty acids that are key components in essential nutrients, soaps, industrial chemicals,

To better understand and mitigate the health risks faced by astronauts from exposure to space radiation, we ideally need to be able to test the effects of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) here on Earth under laboratory conditions.

Without access to soap and clean water, more than 2 billion people in low- and middle-income nations — a quarter of the world's population — have a greater likelihood of acquiring and transmitting the coronavirus than those in wealthy countries. That's the conclusion of a new study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington's School of Medicine.

Robots smaller than a red blood cell can move against the flow of blood when directed by magnets, which could help deliver drugs directly to cancer cells

PM vows system for tracking contacts of Covid-19 victims will be in place by June 1

Microsoft and OpenAI announced a partnership last year to develop new artificial intelligence technologies, and Microsoft just revealed the first product of this deal: a massively powerful supercomputer. The system is one of the top five most powerful computers in the world , and it's exclusively for training AI models. The companies hope this supercomputer will be able to create more human-like

Shroom Farm A Canadian startup called Anahit Therapeutics is nearly done constructing a large psilocybin cultivation farm in Jamaica, where it hopes to grow psychedelic mushrooms to use in new pharmaceuticals. The plan is to build modular cultivation facilities that not only grow the psychedelic mushrooms but extract their active ingredient , psilocybin. Doctors have investigated psilocybin's abi

Algae Blooms A British team of biologists from the University of Cambridge have created the first-ever large-scale map of algae blooming across the Antarctic — and turning parts of the continent green. So green, in fact, that the bright pigments can be seen from space, as detailed in a new study about the work published in the journal Nature Communications today. Green Antarctic While these "snow

Buckling, the sudden loss of structural stability, is usually the stuff of engineering nightmares. But, as anyone who has ever played with a toy popper knows, buckling also releases a lot of energy. When the structure of a popper buckles, the energy released by the instability sends the toy flying through the air. Harvard researchers have harnessed that energy and used buckling to their advantage

A new UT Southwestern study shows how an effective but largely abandoned treatment for Type 2 diabetes could be used again in combination with another drug to eliminate problematic side effects.

Scientists are increasingly optimistic that a vaccine can be produced in record time. But getting it manufactured and distributed will pose huge challenges.

The news : North Dakota was one of the first American states to launch a coronavirus contact tracing app, in April. Now, several weeks into the process of reopening the state, the government in Bismarck says it will take advantage of the newly released Apple-Google exposure notification system —but that doing so will require it to run two separate apps. That even one of the lowest-population stat

Recent reports from the CDC show a decline in routine child vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has prompted medical experts to sound the alarm about the importance of these essential vaccines. Here, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School pediatricians, Joseph Schwab, an associate professor of pediatrics, and Hanan A. Tanuos, director of primary care and an associate professor of pediatric

Biologists fear for endangered species

Fewer people than previously reported suffer from stroke as a result of COVID-19, a new analysis finds. However, strokes that accompany the pandemic virus, SARS-CoV-2, appear to be more severe.

NASA satellites have been providing forecasters with various types of imagery on Typhoon Amphan as it heads toward a landfall near the border of eastern India and Bangladesh on May 20.

From testing drugs to developing vaccines, the close study of the immune system is key to improving real-world health outcomes. T-cells are integral to this research, as these white blood cells help tailor the body's immune response to specific pathogens.

Exclusive: experts warn of risk of positive results producing false sense of security Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage NHS and social care staff will be given antibody tests revealing whether they have had coronavirus from next week, ministers are to announce on Thursday. In a move designed to reduce frontline workers' anxiety and provide data on how many people have

From testing drugs to developing vaccines, the close study of the immune system is key to improving real-world health outcomes. T-cells are integral to this research, as these white blood cells help tailor the body's immune response to specific pathogens.

Engineered Plasmodium parasites form the basis of two experimental malaria vaccines that showed safety and encouraging immune responses in clinical trials.

Conventional wisdom suggests that when a company generates more carbon emissions, investors should lower its stock price. After all, the company is generating a socially undesirable byproduct.

First commercial crew flight deepens ties between company and space agency

Nature, Published online: 20 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2314-9 The results obtained by seventy different teams analysing the same functional magnetic resonance imaging dataset show substantial variation, highlighting the influence of analytical choices and the importance of sharing workflows publicly and performing multiple analyses.

Does lying down or turning over in bed make you feel dizzy? This simple question effectively identifies whether a person suffers from benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, which is harmless and treatable, recent research shows.

Scientists have collected plenty of evidence linking exercise to brain health, with some research suggesting fitness may even improve memory. But what happens during exercise to trigger these benefits?

A UC Davis study analyzes greenhouse gas emissions of Canadian companies over 12 years, finding that public disclosures translate to higher stock prices.

A new paper introduces a method to effectively analyze data from lattice light-sheet microscopy, used to closely examine individual cells, such as T-cells, in 4D.

NASA satellites have been providing forecasters with various types of imagery on Typhoon Amphan as it heads toward a landfall near the border of eastern India and Bangladesh on May 20, 2020.

In the bone marrow, blood stem cells via precursor cells give rise to a variety of blood cell types with various functions: white blood cells, red blood cells, or blood platelets. In which cell type a cell develops depends on various factors. The correct dosage of the enzyme MOF at the right time triggers developmental programs in blood stem cells and precursor cells, and the cells differentiate i

In an innovative study, Radboudumc and LUMC jointly tested a candidate vaccine based on a genetically weakened malaria parasite. The results of this clinical trial, published in Science Translational Medicine, show that the vaccine is safe and elicits a defense response against a malaria infection.

Two vaccines for malaria based on genetically engineered malaria parasites have been found to be safe in humans and show preliminary signs of protection, according to a pair of new phase 1/2a clinical trials.

University of Utah biomedical engineering assistant professor Jan Kubanek has discovered that sound waves of high frequency (ultrasound) can be emitted into a patient's brain to alter his or her state. It's a non-invasive treatment that doesn't involve medications or surgery and has a unique potential to treat mental disorders including depression and anxiety and neurological disorders such as chr

MIT scientists have identified a potential new strategy for treating Fragile X syndrome, a disorder that is the leading heritable cause of intellectual disability and autism. In a study of mice, the researchers showed that inhibiting an enzyme called GSK3 alpha reversed many of the behavioral and cellular features of Fragile X.

Noninvasive pulses of ultrasound waves aimed at specific regions in the brains of macaque monkeys can give some control over the monkeys' choices, scientists report. These findings indicate that ultrasonic brain stimulation could provide a noninvasive, drug-free avenue to study and potentially treat decision-making disorders such as addiction.

Many insects' breathing pores open and close rapidly during respiration; oxygen diffusion analysis suggests that this spiracle fluttering enables high oxygen intake and low water loss, according to a study publishing May 20, 2020 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by H. Frederik Nijhout and Michael C. Reed of Duke University, USA, and Sean D. Lawley of the University of Utah, USA.

Harvard professor Carmen Reinhart will take over amid global economic fallout from pandemic

More than 30 councils say varied Covid-19 infection rates mean some regions are not ready

Floodwaters have overtaken dams and forced the evacuation of about 10,000 people from communities in central Michigan, where the governor warned that Dow Chemical Co.'s hometown could end up under 9 feet of water by Wednesday evening and said the state will investigate the dam operators.

Researchers have developed a new strategy that uses optical coherence tomography (OCT) to acquire both the surface and underlying details of impressionist style oil paintings. This information can be used to create detailed 3-D reconstructions to enhance the viewing experience and offer a way for the visually impaired to experience paintings.

Researchers observed that people who recover from COVID-19 carry immune cells in their blood called T cells that target the novel coronavirus. (Pexels /) One of the key mysteries surrounding the novel coronavirus is whether people who recover from COVID-19 develop lasting immunity that will protect them from becoming reinfected in the future. It's still going to be awhile before we can answer thi

Tests on new designs for next-gen solar cells can now be done in minutes instead of days thanks to a new system.

The decline shows how far there is to go to curtail greenhouse gases over the long term — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite passed over the western North Atlantic Ocean and provided forecasters with a visible image of Post Tropical Storm Arthur.

Nature, Published online: 19 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01511-5 An antiretroviral injection given every two months prevents men and trans women from becoming infected with HIV, according to results that have not yet been peer-reviewed. Plus: the golden age of physical volcanology and the globe-straddling scientific endeavor to solve the structure of the coronavirus.

Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides have intrinsic spin-valley degrees of freedom, making it appealing to exploit valleytronic and optoelectronic applications at the nanoscale. Here, we demonstrate that a chiral plasmonic antenna consisting of two stacked gold nanorods can modulate strongly valley-polarized photoluminescence (PL) of monolayer MoS 2 in a broad spectral range at room tempera

SWI/SNF (switch/sucrose nonfermenting) complexes regulate transcription through chromatin remodeling and opposing gene silencing by Polycomb group (PcG) proteins. Genes encoding SWI/SNF components are critical for normal development and frequently mutated in human cancer. We characterized the in vivo contributions of SWI/SNF and PcG complexes to proliferation-differentiation decisions, making use

The biological effects of susceptibility loci are rarely reported in gastric tumorigenesis. We conducted a large-scale cross-ancestry genetic study in 18,852 individuals and identified the potential causal variant rs3850997 T>G at 16p13 significantly associated with a decreased risk of gastric cancer [odds ratio (OR) = 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.83 to 0.91, P = 2.13 x 10 –9 ]. This ri

With climate modeling predicting a raise of at least 2°C by year 2100, the fate of ice has become a serious concern, but we still do not understand how ice grows (or melts). In the atmosphere, crystal growth rates of basal and prism facets exhibit an enigmatic temperature dependence and crossover up to three times in a range between 0° and –40°. Here, we use large-scale computer simulations to ch

The environmentally responsive signaling pathways that link global transcriptomic changes through alternative splicing (AS) to plant fitness remain unclear. Here, we found that the interaction of the extracellular rapid alkalinization FACTOR 1 (RALF1) peptide with its receptor FERONIA (FER) triggered a rapid and massive RNA AS response by interacting with and phosphorylating glycine-rich RNA bind

Many annotated long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) harbor predicted short open reading frames (sORFs), but the coding capacities of these sORFs and the functions of the resulting micropeptides remain elusive. Here, we report that human lncRNA MIR155HG encodes a 17–amino acid micropeptide, which we termed miPEP155 (P155). MIR155HG is highly expressed by inflamed antigen-presenting cells, leading to the

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has transformed the care of refractory B cell malignancies and holds tremendous promise for many aggressive tumors. Despite overwhelming scientific, clinical, and public interest in this rapidly expanding field, fundamental inquiries into CAR T cell mechanistic functioning are still in their infancy. Because CAR T cells are manufactured from donor T

Optical pulling force (OPF) can make a nanoparticle (NP) move against the propagation direction of the incident light. Long-distance optical pulling is highly desired for nano-object manipulation, but its realization remains challenging. We propose an NP-in-cavity structure that can be pulled by a single plane wave to travel long distances when the spherical cavity wrapping the NP has a refractiv

The ability to modulate neural activity in specific brain circuits remotely and systematically could revolutionize studies of brain function and treatments of brain disorders. Sound waves of high frequencies (ultrasound) have shown promise in this respect, combining the ability to modulate neuronal activity with sharp spatial focus. Here, we show that the approach can have potent effects on choic

Self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are orchestrated by the combinatorial action of transcription factors and epigenetic regulators. Here, we have explored the mechanism by which histone H4 lysine 16 acetyltransferase MOF regulates erythropoiesis. Single-cell RNA sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing uncovered that MOF influences erythroid traject

The primary driver for the development of organic thin-film transistors (TFTs) over the past few decades has been the prospect of electronics applications on unconventional substrates requiring low-temperature processing. A key requirement for many such applications is high-frequency switching or amplification at the low operating voltages provided by lithium-ion batteries (~3 V). To date, howeve

Goat domestication was critical for agriculture and civilization, but its underlying genetic changes and selection regimes remain unclear. Here, we analyze the genomes of worldwide domestic goats, wild caprid species, and historical remains, providing evidence of an ancient introgression event from a West Caucasian tur-like species to the ancestor of domestic goats. One introgressed locus with a

To achieve efficient polymer-based room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials, covalently embedding phosphors into the polymer matrix appeared as the most appealing approach. However, it is still highly challenging to fabricate RTP materials on a large scale because of the inefficient binding engineering and time-consuming covalent reactions. Here, we have proposed a scalable preparation ap

The extent to which evolution is constrained by the rate at which horizontal gene transfer (HGT) allows DNA to move between genetic lineages is an open question, which we address in the context of antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae . We analyze microbiological, genomic, and epidemiological data from the largest-to-date sequenced pneumococcal carriage study in 955 infants from a ref

The continental crust is a major geochemical reservoir, the evolution of which has shaped the surface environment of Earth. In this study, we present a new model of coupled crust-mantle-atmosphere evolution to constrain the growth of continental crust with atmospheric 40 Ar/ 36 Ar. Our model is the first to combine argon degassing with the thermal evolution of Earth in a self-consistent manner an

The functional relevance and mechanistic basis of the effects of the pyroptosis executioner Gasdermin D (GSDMD) on colitis remain unclear. In this study, we observed that GSDMD protein was activated during intestinal inflammation in a model of chemically induced colitis. GSDMD deficiency exacerbated experimental colitis independent of changes in the microbiota and without affecting the production

Developing construction methods of materials tailored for given applications with absolute control over building block placement poses an immense challenge. DNA-coated colloids offer the possibility of realising programmable self-assembly, which, in principle, can assemble almost any structure in equilibrium, but remains challenging experimentally. Here, we propose an innovative system of linker-

Chemiluminescence (CL) has recently gained attention for CL resonance energy transfer (CRET)–mediated photodynamic therapy of cancer. However, the short duration of the CL signal and low quantum yield of the photosensitizer have limited its translational applications. Here, we report CRET-based nanoparticles (CRET-NPs) to achieve quantum yield–enhanced cancer phototheranostics by reinterpreting t

Explosive energy conversion materials with extremely rapid response times have broad and growing applications in energy, medical, defense, and mining areas. Research into the underlying mechanisms and the search for new candidate materials in this field are so limited that environment-unfriendly Pb(Zr,Ti)O 3 still dominates after half a century. Here, we report the discovery of a previously undis

Functional coating materials have found broad technological applications in diverse fields. Despite recent advances, few coating materials simultaneously achieve robustness and substrate independence while still retaining the capacity for genetically encodable functionalities. Here, we report Escherichia coli biofilm-inspired protein nanofiber coatings that simultaneously exhibit substrate indepe

CRISPR-Cas12a represents an efficient tool for genome editing in addition to the extensively investigated CRISPR-Cas9. However, development of efficient nonviral delivery system for CRISPR-Cas12a remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate a DNA nanoclew (NC)–based carrier for delivery of Cas12a/CRISPR RNA (crRNA) ribonucleoprotein (RNP) toward regulating serum cholesterol levels. The DNA NC could

The discovery of giant viruses infecting eukaryotes from diverse ecosystems has revolutionized our understanding of the evolution of viruses and their impact on protist biology, yet knowledge on their replication strategies and transcriptome regulation remains limited. Here, we profile single-cell transcriptomes of the globally distributed microalga Emiliania huxleyi and its specific giant virus

Microalgae, a naturally present unicellular microorganism, can undergo light photosynthesis and have been used in biofuels, nutrition, etc. Here, we report that engineered live microalgae can be delivered to hypoxic tumor regions to increase local oxygen levels and resensitize resistant cancer cells to both radio- and phototherapies. We demonstrate that the hypoxic environment in tumors is marked

Substrate-bound structures of AAA+ protein translocases reveal a conserved asymmetric spiral staircase architecture wherein a sequential ATP hydrolysis cycle drives hand-over-hand substrate translocation. However, this configuration is unlikely to represent the full conformational landscape of these enzymes, as biochemical studies suggest distinct conformational states depending on the presence o

Cellular differentiation leads to the formation of specialized cell types and complex morphological variations. Often, differentiating cells transition between states by switching how they respond to the signaling environment. However, the mechanisms regulating these transitions are poorly understood. Differentiating neurons delaminate from the neuroepithelium through the regulated process of api

UK businessman Sir Richard Branson is looking to Saturday to debut one of his new space systems.

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 US has announced the Artemis Accords, a set of agreements that aim to facilitate diplomacy and cooperation on the moon while encouraging mining and exploration

At the end of April, the artificial intelligence development firm OpenAI released a new neural net, Jukebox , which can create mashups and original music in the style of over 9,000 bands and musicians. Alongside it, OpenAI released a list of sample tracks generated with the algorithm that bend music into new genres or even reinterpret one artist's song in another's style — think a jazz-pop hybrid

How did it get there?

NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins is at the forefront of a new crop of space explorers destined for the moon and maybe one day Mars — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com

A new skill for a smart speaker — Google Home or Amazon's Alexa may listen for signs of cardiac arrest. Smart Speakers Could Detect Cardiac Arrest Video of Smart Speakers Could Detect Cardiac Arrest Human Wednesday, May 20, 2020 – 13:45 Emilie Lorditch, Contributor (Inside Science) — A cardiac arrest can happen suddenly, and patients can become unresponsive and either stop breathing or gasp fo

Evangelical support of President Trump has baffled many who find his conduct at odds with core Christian values. A recent survey found that 49 percent of white evangelical Protestants believe Trump was chosen by God. Additional data found evangelicals are mixed on his moral character but view him as critical to political victories. For non-Trumpists, one of the most baffling qualities of his pres

NASA proposes an updated treaty for peaceful cooperation in space. The Artemis Accords aim to address potential off-planet conflicts before they happen, modernizing previous agreements. The proposal was prompted by the U.S. effort to return to the Moon, India's attempts to establish a presence there, and China's current Chang'e-4 mission. We've really just taken baby steps into space, and already