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The Ancient Practice of Child Labor Is Coming to Light
2dResearchers piece together the stories of the smallest ancient laborers.
42% of jobs lost during COVID-19 may not come back
2dFor every 10 layoffs the economic slowdown to fight coronavirus has induced, just three new jobs are created, according to new research. The numbers are finally capturing the full magnitude of the economic downturn the coronavirus pandemic has caused. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics, for example, recently announced a 14.7% unemployment rate for April. The working paper is part of a special proj
The Guardian view on climate and Covid: time to make different choices | Editorial
2dDespite some fine words about the environmental crisis, ministers are pushing ahead with a trade bill that threatens to damage the planet The dust storms that devastated the US prairie during the Great Depression were the worst ecological disaster in American history. They were also, partly, manmade . Decades of farming in the Great Plains had rid the topsoil of its native grass, leaving nothing
Beer goggles and screens among Wetherspoon's post-Covid plans
2dProtective clothing for bar staff and drinks ordered to table by app among new-look guidelines from UK pub group
Sundar Pichai Says Google Doesn't Plan to Go Entirely Remote
2dIn an interview, the Google and Alphabet CEO discusses working from home, weathering antitrust probes, and how the company needs to do a better job on diversity.
Cognitive Anthropomorphism of AI: How Humans and Computers Classify Images
2dsubmitted by /u/rrp1919 [link] [comments]
Preclinical study offers hope for Hirschsprung's
2dChildren's Hospital Los Angeles surgeon Tracy Grikscheit, MD, grows functional nervous system tissue from stem cells. This preclinical study represents an important milestone in research for Hirschsprung's disease.
'Time is vision' after a stroke
2dUniversity of Rochester researchers studied stroke patients who experienced vision loss and found that the patients retained some visual abilities immediately after the stroke but these abilities diminished gradually and eventually disappeared permanently after approximately six months. Early intervention in the form of visual training appears to stop this gradual loss of visual processing that st
Ignoring Science during a Pandemic Is Poor Leadership
2dThe U.S. president's hostility to expertise puts us all in danger — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Placentas from COVID-19-positive pregnant women show injury
2dIn the largest study to examine health of placentas in women who tested positive for COVID-19, findings show placentas from 16 women who tested positive for COVID-19 while pregnant showed evidence of injury, according to pathological exams completed directly following birth.
Hydroxychloroquine: Trump's Covid-19 'cure' increases deaths, global study finds
2dMalaria drug should not be used to treat coronavirus, scientists say, after study shows high death rate Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malarial drug Donald Trump is taking to prevent Covid-19, has increased deaths in patients treated with it in hospitals around the world, a study has shown. A major study of the way hydroxychloroquine and
Cognitive behavioral therapy reduces the impact of dissociative seizures
2dScientists 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.
No improvement in death rate for COVID-19 patients who received hydroxychloroquine
2dA research team led by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital has evaluated real-world evidence related to outcomes for COVID-19 patients who were treated with hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine analogues (with or without a macrolide). Investigators found no evidence that either drug regimen reduced the death rate among patients.
Migration patterns reveal an Eden for ancient humans and animals
2dCU researcher, Jamie Hodgkins, Ph.D., discovered a new migration pattern (or lack of) at Pinnacle Point, a now-submerged region in South Africa. While it was first believed large omnivores would travel to follow the growth of vegetation to survive, our researcher came to a completely new conclusion through studying antelope teeth! Hodgkins discovered that this region was an Eden to all living spec
In Summer, Antarctic Snow Turns Green with Algae
2dClimate change could impact where the blooms, likely important to the local ecosystem, appear — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Spiegelhalter says majority of Covid deaths would not have occurred in coming year
2dStatistician revises down his estimates, reckoning only 5 to 15 per cent of those dying would have died anyway.
NASA's newest test pilots are veteran astronauts, friends
2dThe two astronauts who will test drive SpaceX's brand new rocketship are classmates and friends, veteran spacefliers married to veteran spacefliers, and fathers of young sons.
Sea turtle nesting in Florida: Loggerheads, leatherbacks off to strong start
2dSome wonders of nature continue happening despite the global pandemic, and sea turtle nesting season is no exception. In Florida, those turtles are off to a strong start.
NASA examines tropical storm Mangga in infrared light
2dNASA's Aqua satellite used infrared light to provide forecasters with a look at the temperatures of the cloud tops in Tropical Storm Mangga.
Insight into mechanism of treatment-resistant gonorrhea sets stage for new antibiotics
2dMedical University of South Carolina researchers investigated the effects of mutations altering the structure of an essential protein in an antibiotic-resistant strain of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. They report in the Journal of Biological Chemistry that the mutations do not simply block antibiotics from binding to the protein but lock the protein in a shape that reduces its ability to interact with dr
Pain doesn't take a holiday: Dental opioids study points to need for better prescribing
2dAs dentists and their teams across America get back to their regular schedules after a sharp COVID-19-related reduction, a new study shows a key opportunity to reduce the use of opioid painkillers by patients. The analysis of four years' worth of data from two million patients show that those who had dental procedures on a Friday or day before a holiday were much more likely to fill a prescription
On the Moon, the Real Gold Might Be Human Urine
2dThar Be Gold As humanity pushes to settle the Moon, we'll need to find ways to quickly build shelters and replenish the water supply. As it turns out, the solution to those life-and-death challenges may lie — well , within. When it comes to fulfilling humanity's base needs — food, water, and shelter — on the Moon, the European Space Agency (ESA) thinks that the secret ingredient could be human ur
Sea turtle nesting in Florida: Loggerheads, leatherbacks off to strong start
2dSome wonders of nature continue happening despite the global pandemic, and sea turtle nesting season is no exception. In Florida, those turtles are off to a strong start.
NASA examines tropical storm Mangga in infrared light
2dNASA's Aqua satellite used infrared light to provide forecasters with a look at the temperatures of the cloud tops in Tropical Storm Mangga.
Indigenous collaboration and leadership key to managing sea otter population recovery
2dA new study highlights the need to engage Indigenous communities in managing sea otter population recovery to improve coexistence between humans and this challenging predator.
Women quotas in politics have unintended consequences
2dAside from Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, and more recently Angela Merkel and Jacinda Ardern, women continue to be scarce in the halls of power.
Parasitic wasp discovery offers chemical-free pest control for growers
2dA species of parasitic wasp discovered by chance could provide growers with a chemical-free way of controlling a major pest.
Why toothpaste and cement harden over time
2dTake a look inside the cap of your favorite toothpaste, and you might see hard, white residue, a firm version of the smooth paste you squeeze onto your brush.
Indigenous collaboration and leadership key to managing sea otter population recovery
2dA new study highlights the need to engage Indigenous communities in managing sea otter population recovery to improve coexistence between humans and this challenging predator.
Parasitic wasp discovery offers chemical-free pest control for growers
2dA species of parasitic wasp discovered by chance could provide growers with a chemical-free way of controlling a major pest.
Algal genome provides insights into first land plants
2dCornell researchers have sequenced and analyzed the genome of a single-celled alga that belongs to the closest lineage to terrestrial plants and provides many clues to how aquatic plants first colonized land.
Can oilfield water safely be reused for irrigation in California?
2dA new study by researchers at Duke University and RTI International finds that reusing oilfield water that's been mixed with surface water to irrigate farms in the Cawelo Water District of California's Kern County does not pose major health risks, as some opponents of the practice have feared.
Algal genome provides insights into first land plants
2dCornell researchers have sequenced and analyzed the genome of a single-celled alga that belongs to the closest lineage to terrestrial plants and provides many clues to how aquatic plants first colonized land.
Climate change helped produce San Diego's huge ocean heat wave in 2018, researchers find
2dUniversity of California, San Diego researchers have confirmed that climate change helped produce the historic 43-day ocean heat wave that drew big crowds to San Diego beaches during the summer of 2018.
Oriented hexagonal boron nitride foster new type of information carrier
2dToday's computers use the presence or absence of charge (0s and 1s) to encode information, where the physical motion of charges consume energy and cause heat. A novel alternative is to utilize the wave quantum number of electrons by which information encoding is possible without physically moving the carriers. This study shows that manipulation of the wave quantum number is possible by controlling
Gov Contact-Tracing App Sends User Data to Foursquare, Google
2dPublic Access There's a troubling flaw with the coronavirus contact-tracing app used in North Dakota: it violates its own privacy policy by quietly sending users' information to companies likeFoursquare. Consumer privacy app company Jumbo studied the app, Care19, and found that it was transmitting information to third parties including Foursquare and Google, according to The Washington Post . The
Craft an impressive cutting board in eight easy steps
2dStart now so you're ready the next time you see another human being. (Courtney Starr/) The warmth and natural qualities of a handmade charcuterie board make it the perfect way to welcome a guest. This is a simple project that can be completed with a basic set of tools—without electricity, even. You'll find plenty of uses for this piece as you chop veggies on it, serve food to friends and family,
Coronavirus diaries: finding a place to have new ideas
2dNature, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01555-7 John Tregoning finds inspiration in conferences, music and running.
'Medications should be prescribed by doctors, not the president': leading Brazilian scientist discusses the pandemic
2dNature, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01506-2 Scientists across the country are battling anti-science sentiment alongside a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases.
CITES, the Treaty that Regulates Trade in International Wildlife, Is Not the Answer to Preventing Another Zoonotic Pandemic
2dIt has little power to prevent the spread of pathogens to humans — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
CITES, the Treaty that Regulates Trade in International Wildlife, Is Not the Answer to Preventing Another Zoonotic Pandemic
2dIt has little power to prevent the spread of pathogens to humans — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Coronavirus: Acting earlier would have saved lives, says Sage member
2dLocking down the UK sooner would have made a big difference to the death rate, a scientific adviser says.
Amazon under threat: fires, loggers and now virus
2dHow the loss of the Amazon goes beyond deforestation – and what the nine countries that share this natural resource are doing to protect it.
No evidence of benefit for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients, study finds
2dA new study finds that the use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine is linked to increased rates of mortality and heart arrhythmias among hospital patients with COVID-19. The authors suggest that these drug regimens should not be used to treat COVID-19 outside of clinical trials and urgent confirmation from randomised clinical trials is needed.
First human trial of COVID-19 vaccine finds it is safe and induces rapid immune response
2dA study of 108 adults finds that the vaccine produced neutralizing antibodies and T-cell response against SARS-CoV-2, but further research is needed to confirm whether the vaccine protects against SARS-COV-2 infection.
Algal genome provides insights into first land plants
2dCornell researchers have sequenced and analyzed the genome of a single-celled alga that belongs to the closest lineage to terrestrial plants and provides many clues to how aquatic plants first colonized land.
Transport of mechanical energy — even through damaged pathways — demonstrated
2dResearchers have experimentally demonstrated a new way to transport energy even through wave-guides that are defective, and even if the disorder is a transient phenomenon in time.
Chemical recycling makes useful product from waste bioplastic
2dA faster, more efficient way of recycling plant-based 'bioplastics' has been developed by a team of scientists.
Europa: Three More Clues
2dWe have alien worlds right here in our solar system — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
ALMA spots twinkling heart of the Milky Way
2dAstronomers have found quasi-periodic flickers in millimeter-waves from the center of the Milky Way, Sagittarius (Sgr) A*. The team interpreted these blinks to be due to the rotation of radio spots circling the supermassive black hole with an orbit radius smaller than that of Mercury. This is an interesting clue to investigate space-time with extreme gravity.
This 7-Story Statue of Elon Musk Looks Absolutely Terrible
2dMusk Makeover To grab the attention of Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the New York Post reports , a 75-foot statue in Tulsa, Oklahoma just got an Elon Musk makeover. The statue in question is the Golden Driller, a 43,500 pound likeness of an oil worker — the irony doesn't escape us — made from a steel frame covered in concrete and plaster. It's the fifth tallest statue in the United States. Gaze upon its h
Alibaba and Pinduoduo surpass sales growth expectations
2dOnline marketplaces experience shortages of merchants and couriers during virus lockdowns
Why Our Perpetual Energy Puzzle Fails
2dIn our April Fools' Day Insights puzzle , we offered two paradoxes for Quanta readers to resolve. As you'll see, neither paradox withstands scrutiny, but the exact way in which they fail is interesting to reason out, as several readers discovered in their lengthy responses. Paradox 1 The first problem described an object that I claimed could produce energy forever, in defiance of the second law o
When pollen's scarce, bees stab plants to speed up flowering
2dWhen pollen is in short supply, bumble bees damage plant leaves in a way that accelerates flower production, researchers report. In some areas of the world, spring has sprung earlier than ever before this year, accompanied by temperatures more typical of early summertime. Many plants were already in full bloom by mid-April, about three to four weeks earlier than normal. These types of seasonal an
First fossil nursery of the great white shark discovered
2dAn international research team discovered the first fossil nursery area of the great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias in Chile. This discovery provides a better understanding of the evolutionary success of the largest top predator in today's oceans in the past and could contribute to the protection of these endangered animals.
NanoString and OnRamp BioInformatics Partner to Develop Cloud-Based Analysis Solutions for nCounter Data
2dExpanded Functionality to Support COVID-19 Research Immediately Available Through Early Access
Parasitic wasp discovery offers chemical-free pest control for growers
2dA species of parasitic wasp discovered by chance could provide growers with a chemical-free way of controlling a major pest.
Placentas from COVID-19-positive pregnant women show injury
2dIn the largest study to examine health of placentas in women who tested positive for COVID-19, findings show placentas from 16 women who tested positive for COVID-19 while pregnant showed evidence of injury, according to pathological exams completed directly following birth.
When predictions of theoretical chemists become reality
2dThomas Heine, Professor of Theoretical Chemistry at TU Dresden, together with his team, first predicted a topological 2D polymer in 2019. Only one year later, an international team led by Italian researchers was able to synthesize these materials and experimentally prove their topological properties.
BCN MedTech presents an automatic method to detect and segment the intrauterine cavity
2dTwin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) occurs in around 10-15% of pregnancies with twins that share the same placenta. Typically, this syndrome appears before 24 weeks' gestation due to abnormal vascular communications located on the surface of the placenta. As a result, blood circulation is not balanced between the two twins, dramatically decreasing their chances of survival.
The Lancet: No evidence of benefit for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients
2d, urgent randomised trials are needed.
Why toothpaste and cement harden over time
2dCements, clays, soils, inks, paints, and even toothpaste. Many paste materials, also known as dense colloidal suspensions, stiffen as they age. Structural dynamics, or changes in the loads the materials undergo over time, are partly responsible for this change, but for decades, experts have suspected that there's more going on inside these materials. Now, a University of Delaware professor and an
COVID-19 test results after clinical recovery, hospital discharge among patients in China
2dReverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction tests were used to assess potential viral shedding among patients who previously had been diagnosed with and had clinically recovered from COVID-19.
Nursing Homes Raise Worries as U.S. Covid-19 Lockdowns Are Eased
2dFederal officials in the U.S. released new guidance for nursing homes seeking to reopen after months of Covid-19 lockdowns. Urging extreme caution, the guidelines call for widespread testing of nursing home staff and residents, as well as inspections of the most hard-hit elder care facilities.
Coronavirus video for kids explains the basics
2dA new coronavirus video for kids offers scientifically accurate information in an engaging and understandable way. The coronavirus pandemic affects everyone, including children, who may find the complexity of the situation especially difficult to understand, researchers say. "Packaging evidence-based information about the pandemic in a digestible way and delivering it directly to educators and ed
4 ways COVID-19 has exposed gaps in the US social safety net
2dThe United States is experiencing its steepest economic slide in modern history. Tens of millions of Americans have filed new unemployment claims as the coronavirus shutters businesses and forces companies to lay off staff.
NanoString and OnRamp BioInformatics Partner to Develop Cloud-Based Analysis Solutions for nCounter Data
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Cows Slaughtered to Prevent Lung Disease
2dOriginally published in April 1860 — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
'The house was on fire.' Top Chinese virologist on how China and U.S. have met the pandemic
2dShao Yiming leads the HIV program at China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention
On coronavirus, men are calling all the shots. We're seeing why it matters | Gaby Hinsliff
2dWomen are naturally more cautious: would the government have made so many missteps over the lockdown if it was more inclusive? Coronavirus – latest updates Tell us: have you been affected by the coronavirus? Don't go out alone in the dark. Don't get carried away in the heat of the moment. Work twice as hard in order to be taken half as seriously, but don't work so hard that you somehow forget to
What Do COVID-19 Antibody Tests Show — and Can the Results Be Trusted?
2dThe tests are crucial to understanding the full scope of the COVID-19 pandemic. But right now, the results aren't reliable.
Working from home: Twitter reveals why we're embracing it
2dThe effects of coronavirus on the economy already appear bleak. Unemployment and government borrowing are soaring and a recession seems inevitable.
Cows Slaughtered to Prevent Lung Disease
2dOriginally published in April 1860 — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Researchers: This AI Can Judge Personality Based on Selfies Alone
2dA team of researchers from the Higher School of Economics University and Open University in Moscow, Russia claim they have demonstrated that an artificial intelligence can make accurate personality judgments based on selfies alone — more accurately than some humans. The researchers suggest the technology could be used to help match people up in online dating services or help companies sell produc
These Are Difficult Times, but Online Therapy Can Help You Through Them
2dNo more than ever, when it comes to our overall well being, mental health is just as important as physical health . But even before the pandemic, many factors prevented people from seeking the guidance of actual mental health professionals. Some people have medical conditions that prevent them from leaving the house, or live in areas without a lot of access to mental health resources. Some people
Quarantine Has Transformed Not-TV Into Essential TV
2dCovid-19 lockdown has readjusted our appetite for entertainment—and changed our relationship to television entirely.
South Asia cyclone death toll passes 100
2dAt least 106 people died in the fiercest cyclone to hit Bangladesh and eastern India since 1999, officials said Friday as aerial footage revealed immense flooding in coastal areas.
In Mexico City, experts find bones of dozens of mammoths
2dArchaeologists have found the bones of about 60 mammoths at an airport under construction just north of Mexico City, near human-built 'traps' where more than a dozen mammoths were found last year.
Branche: Ladestandere uden for byerne kræver endnu større investeringer
2dPLUS. Forsøgsordning med ladeinfrastruktur uden for byerne viser, at ladestandere ikke kan begå sig på markedsvilkår. Brancheaktører efterlyser endnu flere og langt større investeringer til.
Actionable solutions to support the mental health of US veterans | Charles P. Smith
2dVeterans in the United States take their own lives at an alarming rate. Suggesting new ways to prioritize mental health in the military, veterans advocate Charles P. Smith offers a data-driven plan to help prevent suicide and ensure service members get proper care before, during and after active duty.
The Lancet: First human trial of COVID-19 vaccine finds it is safe and induces rapid immune response
2d.
Oriented hexagonal boron nitride foster new type of information carrier
2dPresent computers use the presence or absence of charge (0s and 1s) to encode information, where the physical motion of charges consume energy and causes heat. A novel alternative is to utilize the wave quantum number of the electrons by which the information encoding is possible without physically moving the carriers. This study shows that manipulation of the wave quantum number is possible by co
Can oilfield water safely be reused for irrigation in California?
2dReusing low-saline oilfield water mixed with surface water to irrigate farms in the Cawelo Water District of California does not pose major health risks, as some opponents of the practice have feared, a study led by Duke University and RTI International researchers finds. This finding only applies to questions about the safety in this water district, however. Oilfield water elsewhere will have dif
Skoltech team reports an important step to making optical simulators real-world devices
2dA group of Skoltech scientists, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Southampton (UK), developed a fully optical approach to control the couplings between polariton condensates in optical lattices. This study is an important step towards the practical application of optical polariton condensate lattices as a platform for simulating condensed matter phases.
Kidney transplants: Better results can be inferred from a larger number of cases
2dKidney transplants: Better results can be derived with larger numbers of cases.In clinics where kidneys are transplanted more frequently, the chances of survival are greater.
Blood test could predict diabetes years before it strikes
2dMetabolite signature composed of sugars, amino acids and lipids can predict with over 85 per cent accuracy whether a women will develop diabetes after pregnancy marked with gestational diabetes.
Glucose levels linked to maternal mortality even in non-diabetic women
2dAn elevated pre-pregnancy hemoglobin A1c–which measures average blood glucose concentration–is associated with a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes even in women without known diabetes, according to a new study published this week in PLOS Medicine by Joel Ray of ICES and the University of Toronto, Canada, and colleagues.
No evidence blanket 'do-not-resuscitate' orders for COVID-19 patients are necessary
2dIt's inappropriate to consider blanket do-not-resuscitate orders for COVID-19 patients because adequate data is not yet available on US survival rates for in-hospital resuscitation of COVID-19 patients and data from China may not relate to US patients, according to a new article published today in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal.
Algal genome provides insights into first land plants
2dCornell researchers have sequenced and analyzed the genome of a single-celled alga that belongs to the closest lineage to terrestrial plants and provides many clues to how aquatic plants first colonized land.
Bluesky examines the atmosphere during the coronavirus lockdown
2dThe COVID-19 pandemic is not only affecting almost every aspect of our daily lives, but also the environment. A German team, led by the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry and the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR), now wants to find out how strong these effects are on the atmosphere. Over the next two weeks, as part of the Bluesky research programme, scientist
The End of Hong Kong
2dOver the course of April and throughout May, while much of the world's attention was trained on the coronavirus's spiraling death toll, hardly a day passed in Hong Kong without news of arrested activists, scuffles among lawmakers, or bombastic proclamations from mainland officials. Long-standing norms were done away with at dizzying speed . In that time, Beijing was undertaking aggressive actions
Ministers rejected school reopening plan recommended by Sage experts
2dDocuments reveal that PM's current plan was not among those modelled for scientists Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage School leaders said the government's publication of scientific advice failed to make a convincing case for the early reopening of schools in England, as the government's chief scientific adviser said an effective testing and tracking system was necessar
New native grass species have been discovered on the Iberian Peninsula and Menorca
2dThe team of researchers from the project Flora ibericaX(2) have discovered two new native grasses on the Iberian Peninsula and in Menorca, respectively. These two species, which are new to science, have been featured in Systematic Botany. The article is the fruit of the collaboration between the Area of Botany and the University of Seville Herbarium, the Systematic and Evolution Unit for Vascular
Covid-19 recovery economics
2dThe chances of recession, the EU rescue plan and a call for bank payouts to end
DESI team prepares for telescope instrument's restart after unexpected shutdown
2dThe Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), installed on an Arizona mountaintop, was quickly moving through its testing stages and making headway toward the start of its 5-year observing run as project participants from around the world traveled to attend a DESI collaboration meeting in Tucson, Arizona, in early March.
When predictions of theoretical chemists become reality
2dThomas Heine, professor of theoretical chemistry at TU Dresden, together with his team, first predicted a topological 2-D polymer in 2019. Only one year later, an international team led by Italian researchers was able to synthesize these materials and experimentally prove their topological properties. For the renowned journal Nature Materials, this was the occasion to invite Thomas Heine to a News
New native grass species have been discovered on the Iberian Peninsula and Menorca
2dThe team of researchers from the project Flora ibericaX(2) have discovered two new native grasses on the Iberian Peninsula and in Menorca, respectively. These two species, which are new to science, have been featured in Systematic Botany. The article is the fruit of the collaboration between the Area of Botany and the University of Seville Herbarium, the Systematic and Evolution Unit for Vascular
Corn connects many generations of Maya
2dThat corn was highly important in the Maya culture is something that Genner Llanes Ortiz, himself a Maya from the Mexican province of Yucatan, has always known, right from his childhood. But just how important the role of corn is in the collective memory of his people, is one of the subjects of his research.
Earth's lower mantle can be oxidized in the presence of water
2dIf we took a journey from Earth's surface to the center, the midway point is roughly at 1900 km depth in the lower mantle. The lower mantle ranges from 660 to 2900 km depth and occupies 55% of our planet by volume. The chemical composition of the lower mantle is rather simple. It has long been pictured as being made up of 2 major minerals (~95%), namely bridgmanite and ferropericlase. Recently, th
Researchers review advances in 3-D printing of high-entropy alloys
2dHigh-entropy alloys (HEAs) are at the frontier of the metal materials community. They are used as alternative materials in the production of high-temperature turbine blades, high-temperature molds and dies, hard coatings on cutting tools or even components of 4th generation nuclear reactors.
When do plants help or hinder each other?
2dWhen plants grow close together, each individual plant has less chance of doing well—at least, that was the accepted wisdom in environmental research. Now Dr. Ruichang Zhang and Professor Katja Tielbörger from the Institute of Evolution and Ecology at the University of Tübingen are challenging that principle. Their investigation of the combined effects of environmental stress and competition on pl
Treadmills for an effective workout at home
2dRun toward these treadmills. (Chuttersnap via Unsplash/) Let's be real, running outdoors is just not always feasible. Perhaps the weather is poor or your neighborhood isn't jogger-friendly. Maybe you've got children at home that can't be left by themselves. Whatever it is that keeps you from stepping out for exercise, a home treadmill can help you kiss your excuses goodbye. With a treadmill at ho
When do plants help or hinder each other?
2dWhen plants grow close together, each individual plant has less chance of doing well—at least, that was the accepted wisdom in environmental research. Now Dr. Ruichang Zhang and Professor Katja Tielbörger from the Institute of Evolution and Ecology at the University of Tübingen are challenging that principle. Their investigation of the combined effects of environmental stress and competition on pl
If fees for COVID-19 care can vanish, why not others?
2dRapid shifts removed out-of-pocket costs that could keep people from getting coronavirus care. That trend may continue. Within the space of weeks, many health care payers made COVID-19 tests, treatments, and even future vaccines free, or nearly free, for the people on their plans. Co-pays for COVID-19 care went by the wayside. For people with a deductible in their insurance plan, they no longer n
Strain begins to show amid deprivations of confinement
2dIt is natural for morale to dip when our social ties have been severed
Video: Isolation in Antarctica
2dCold, dark, remote, Antarctica is as close to space as you can get on Earth. Humans conduct research in Antarctic bases on a wide range of topics, from climate studies and astronomy to glaciology and human physiology and psychology.
Environmental Factors Don't Explain Rise in Autism Prevalence
2dA large twin study in Sweden finds genetics has a much larger influence on the odds of an autism diagnosis, and has remained consistent over time.
New technology can detect antivirus antibody in 20 minutes
2dResearchers have succeeded in detecting anti-avian influenza virus antibody in blood serum within 20 minutes, using a portable analyzer they have developed to conduct rapid on-site bio tests. If a suitable reagent is developed, this technology could be used to detect antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the causative virus of COVID-19.
New native grass species have been discovered on the Iberian Peninsula and Menorca
2dThe new species belong to the genus Aira, delicate herbaceous plants, which enjoy their greatest diversity in the Mediterranean Region. One of them, Aira minoricensis is a native species of the siliceous sands of Menorca. The other new species is called Aira hercynica and is widely found in the area of the Iberia Peninsula which approximately coincides with the Iberian Massif
First fossil nursery of the great white shark discovered
2dAn international research team led by Jaime A. Villafaña from the Institute of Palaeontology at the University of Vienna discovered the first fossil nursery area of the great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias in Chile. This discovery provides a better understanding of the evolutionary success of the largest top predator in today's oceans in the past and could contribute to the protection of thes
Still not enough women and older adults in cholesterol drug trials, study finds
2dAlthough heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, and older adults are more likely to have heart and vascular disease than young people, randomized clinical trials testing medications to lower cholesterol have historically underenrolled both groups. Randomized clinical trials generate the best evidence regarding the benefits or harms of given drug, and their results are used to shape
Report looks to improve quality measures for medical care of homebound older adults
2dThere are an estimated 2 million older adults who are homebound or unable to leave their homes due to multiple chronic conditions and functional impairment. Home-based primary care provides access to care for these patients and has been shown to save costs for the Medicare program.
Viewing COVID-19 through the lens of data science
2dNew research published in the HARVARD DATA SCIENCE REVIEW addresses the societal, epidemiological, political, and educational issues that have rapidly emerged from the SARS-CoV2 pandemic
Researchers review advances in 3D printing of high-entropy alloys
2dSUTD collaborates with universities in Singapore and China to shine light on HEA manufacturing processes and inspire further research in this emerging field.
Novel biomarkers predict benefit with immunotherapy in metastatic breast cancer
2dTwo novel biomarkers have been found to correlate with improved outcomes with immunotherapy in metastatic breast cancer and may help to identify the patients most likely to benefit from this treatment, according to exploratory studies reported at the ESMO Breast Cancer Virtual Meeting 2020.
Age, male sex, obesity, and underlying illness risk factors for severe COVID-19 or death
2dAge, male sex, obesity, and underlying illness have emerged as risk factors for severe COVID-19 or death in the UK, according to the largest cohort study to date published by The BMJ today.
First fossil nursery of the great white shark discovered
2dAn international research team led by Jaime A. Villafaña from the Institute of paleontology at the University of Vienna discovered the first fossil nursery area of the great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias in Chile. This discovery provides a better understanding of the evolutionary success of the largest top predator in today's oceans in the past and could contribute to the protection of these
Is Everyone Depressed?
2dUpdated at 1:36 p.m. ET on May 22, 2020. The word I keep hearing is numbness . Not necessarily a sickness, but feeling ill at ease. A sort of detachment or removal from reality. Deb Hawkins, a tech analyst in Michigan, describes the feeling of being stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic as "sleep-walking through my life" or "wading through a physical and mental quicksand." Even though she
First fossil nursery of the great white shark discovered
2dAn international research team led by Jaime A. Villafaña from the Institute of paleontology at the University of Vienna discovered the first fossil nursery area of the great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias in Chile. This discovery provides a better understanding of the evolutionary success of the largest top predator in today's oceans in the past and could contribute to the protection of these
Research team reports an important step to making optical simulators real-world devices
2dA group of Skoltech scientists, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Southampton (UK), developed a fully optical approach to control the couplings between polariton condensates in optical lattices. This study is an important step toward the practical application of optical polariton condensate lattices as a platform for simulating condensed matter phases. The research results we
The bold plan to see continents and oceans on another Earth
2dWhat if we could take a picture of an Earth-like planet around another star that was sharp enough to see continents, oceans, and clouds?
Air deliveries bring NASA's Perseverance Mars rover closer to launch
2dProgress continues to speed along as NASA's Perseverance rover readies for its launch this summer. On May 11, the rover team at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida received the tubes tasked with holding the first samples collected at Mars for eventual return to Earth. A week later, the Atlas V launch vehicle that will hurl Perseverance to the Red Planet arrived at the launch site. Working
ALMA spots twinkling heart of Milky Way
2dAstronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) found quasi-periodic flickers in millimeter-waves from the center of the Milky Way, Sagittarius (Sgr) A*. The team interpreted these blinks to be due to the rotation of radio spots circling the supermassive black hole with an orbit radius smaller than that of Mercury. This is an interesting clue to investigate space-time wit
Snow mass estimates now more reliable
2dEstimating the amount of seasonal snow is important for understanding the water cycle and Earth's climate system, but establishing a clear and coherent picture of change has proven difficult. New research from ESA's Climate Change Initiative has helped to produce the first reliable estimate of snow mass change and has helped to identify different continental trends.
America's least educated and lowest paid remain hardest hit by pandemic
2dA new analysis of data from USC Dornsife's Understanding Coronavirus in America Study reveals that while economic insecurity has increased overall among Americans who are newly out of work, those receiving unemployment benefits are significantly more economically secure than those who aren't.
Researchers harness satellite imagery and AI to help fight poverty in Africa
2dIn combating poverty, like any fight, it's good to know the locations of your targets.
Study unveils details of how a widely used catalyst splits water
2dA crystalline compound called ruthenium dioxide is widely used in industrial processes, where it's particularly important for catalyzing a chemical reaction that splits molecules of water and releases oxygen. But the exact mechanism that takes place on this material's surface, and how that reaction is affected by the orientation of the crystal surfaces, had never been determined in detail. Now, a
Transportation policymaking in Chinese cities
2dIn recent decades, urban populations in China's cities have grown substantially, and rising incomes have led to a rapid expansion of car ownership. Indeed, China is now the world's largest market for automobiles. The combination of urbanization and motorization has led to an urgent need for transportation policies to address urban problems such as congestion, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emis
These researchers spent a winter trapped in Arctic ice to capture key climate data
2dNature, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01446-x After three months adrift on a ship, scientists with the MOSAiC mission returned with crucial information about the rapidly warming far north.
Computer models add sizzle to cultivated meat alternatives
2dExperts predict that producing meat in a lab using tissue engineering techniques—or lab-cultured meat—will one day be a much more sustainable, nutritionally equivalent and without the ethical concerns of typical meat production. However, producing meat economically in a lab remains a problem.
How the darter got stripes: Expanding a sexual selection theory explains animal patterns
2dSamuel Hulse, a Ph.D. candidate at UMBC, spent a lot of time in waders over the last two years. He traipsed from stream to stream across the eastern U.S., carefully collecting live specimens of small, colorful freshwater fish known as darters and taking photos of their habitats. Then he brought them back to the lab to capture high-quality images of their coloration patterns.
Virus Crisis Exposes Cascading Weaknesses in U.S. Disaster Response
2dNonprofits are sending fewer volunteers. Local emergency managers risk being overwhelmed. FEMA is trying "virtual" assistance. And hurricane season starts June 1.
Pandemic risks wiping out hard-won gains by women in STEM
2dUNSW Dean of Science leads report that finds women's advancement in the STEM workforce are at risk due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Google search data reveals American's concerns about abortion
2dResidents of states with limited access to contraceptives and high rates of unplanned pregnancies are more likely to turn to the internet for information about abortion. These are the findings of a new study of Google search data across all 50 states by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.
Q&A: For Black men, wearing a mask may be a health risk greater than COVID-19
2dUCLA professor Vickie Mays has been working with members of Congress on a bill that would require better data on the race and ethnicity of people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. She also is conducting research on the data needed to create better models to predict the spread of COVID-19, in order to reduce the number of infections and deaths in Black communities.
Discovery about the edge of fusion plasma could help realize fusion power
2dA major roadblock to producing safe, clean and abundant fusion energy on Earth is the lack of detailed understanding of how the hot, charged plasma gas that fuels fusion reactions behaves at the edge of fusion facilities called "tokamaks." Recent breakthroughs by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) have advanced understanding of the behav
How the darter got stripes: Expanding a sexual selection theory explains animal patterns
2dSamuel Hulse, a Ph.D. candidate at UMBC, spent a lot of time in waders over the last two years. He traipsed from stream to stream across the eastern U.S., carefully collecting live specimens of small, colorful freshwater fish known as darters and taking photos of their habitats. Then he brought them back to the lab to capture high-quality images of their coloration patterns.
Journey to uncover mysteries of the Pacific Ocean
2dOn 14 February, nine National University of Singapore (NUS) researchers hopped onboard a vessel to start a 37-day expedition to explore an understudied area nestled in the Pacific Ocean known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ). Flat and deep—reaching down between 4,000 to 6,000 metres below the surface—the CCZ is often referred to as an abyssal plain.
Computer models add sizzle to cultivated meat alternatives
2dExperts predict that producing meat in a lab using tissue engineering techniques—or lab-cultured meat—will one day be a much more sustainable, nutritionally equivalent and without the ethical concerns of typical meat production. However, producing meat economically in a lab remains a problem.
Amerikanske sundhedsmyndigheder: Meget lille risiko for coronasmitte via overflader
2dIfølge amerikanske CDC er der meget lille risiko for at blive smittet med corona via overflader. Myndigheden råder dog stadig til grundig rengøring, håndvask og håndsprit
Hydroxychloroquine: Enough Already?
2dAt this point, it's getting hard to see how the idea of a hydroxychloroquine (or hydroxychloroquine/azithromycin) therapy for coronavirus infection can be taken seriously. I reviewed some of the recent studies here , but missed a May 11 preprint from France that had claimed benefit for the combination. No matter, though: this was just withdrawn by the authors, who say that they are revising the m
ATLAS telescope discovers first-of-its-kind asteroid
2dAn extraordinary asteroid with comet-like features has researchers puzzled.
World's fastest internet speed from a single optical chip
2dA research team has recorded the world's fastest internet speed from a single optical chip of 44.2 Terabits per second.
Discovery about the edge of fusion plasma could help realize fusion power
2dUnique simulations reveal new understanding of the highly complex edge of fusion plasmas.
CRISPR a tool for conservation, not just gene editing
2dThe gene-editing technology CRISPR has been used for a variety of agricultural and public health purposes — from growing disease-resistant crops to, more recently, a diagnostic test for the virus that causes COVID-19. Now a study involving fish that look nearly identical to the endangered Delta smelt finds that CRISPR can be a conservation and resource management tool, as well. The researchers th
Brain's 'updating mechanisms' may create false memories
2dNew research 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.
Environmentalists suggest COVID-19 could represent a new opportunity for a more diverse future
2dA team of environmental researchers at the Australian Rivers Institute–Coast & Estuaries, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, is suggesting in a Letters piece in the journal Science that the COVID-19 pandemic could represent a new opportunity for a more diverse future—they suggest that with proper planning, we could use what has been learned from the global lockdown to improve
Fruit fly study unlocks insights into human mating rituals
2dA new study from Western identifies a specific gene in fruit flies that drives female mate acceptance and rejection—a vital discovery for understanding how all species, including humans, survive and thrive on Earth.
Basics of heartworm disease testing
2dSummer is growing closer and as the weather begins to warm up, mosquitos will become more active.
Supportive care to relieve cancer-related fatigue underutilised by breast cancer survivors
2dCancer-related fatigue is a prevalent and potentially persistent issue among breast cancer survivors, which can prevent them from returning to their previous life well after treatment ends and they are declared free of disease. A study, to be presented at the ESMO Breast Cancer Virtual Meeting 2020 (23-24 May), has now shown that existing recommendations and proven strategies for reducing fatigue,
The lower mantle can be oxidized in the presence of water
2dIn regions at depths greater than 1900 kilometers, scientists found active interactions between water and mantle rocks, which are oxidizing Earth's mantle. Water may have reached and dwelled at the lowermost part of the mantle over geologic time.
Mechanism underlying the development of diabetes and fatty liver illuminated
2dNon-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic liver disease often associated with diabetes. However, it is unclear how NASH develops and there is currently no approved medication for the disease. A research group including Members of Kobe University's Graduate School of Medicine has clarified the mechanism behind NASH and diabetes. It is hoped that the pathway uncovered in this study will prov
ALMA spots twinkling heart of Milky Way
2dAstronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) found quasi-periodic flickers in millimeter-waves from the center of the Milky Way, Sagittarius (Sgr) A*. The team interpreted these blinks to be due to the rotation of radio spots circling the supermassive black hole with an orbit radius smaller than that of Mercury. This is an interesting clue to investigate space-time wit
Image: Atacama minerals
2dThe Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission takes us over part of Chile's Atacama Desert, which is bound on the west by the Pacific and on the east by the Andes. The Atacama is considered one of the driest places on Earth—there are some parts of the desert where rainfall has never been recorded.
Cell tower vandals and re-open protesters: Why some people believe in coronavirus conspiracies
2dThe existential threat we're facing right now might explain the proliferation of conspiracy theories, extreme political ideologies and #Reopen protests.
Visible-light-driven arylcarboxylation of styrenes with carbon dioxide and aryl halides
2dThe use of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is an ideal one-carbon (C1) building block and is sustainable, abundant, low-cost and nontoxic, has attracted great attention in fine chemical synthesis. However, traditional CO2 fixation usually suffers from high temperature, high pressure of CO2 and the use of strong base.
Laser cooling a nanomechanical oscillator close to its ground state
2dResearchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) and IBM Research Europe recently demonstrated the laser cooling of a nanomechanical oscillator down to its zero-point energy (i.e., the point at which it contains a minimum amount of energy). Their successful demonstration, featured in Physical Review Letters, could have important implications for the development quantum tech
Environmentalists suggest COVID-19 could represent a new opportunity for a more diverse future
2dA team of environmental researchers at the Australian Rivers Institute–Coast & Estuaries, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, is suggesting in a Letters piece in the journal Science that the COVID-19 pandemic could represent a new opportunity for a more diverse future—they suggest that with proper planning, we could use what has been learned from the global lockdown to improve
Food system sustainability requires lower energy use
2dModern sustainability practices often encourage resource and energy efficiencies across separate sectors, such as food production or biofuels, but this siloed approach could actually lead to ongoing environmental decay, according to a recent commentary by researchers in the University of Georgia College of Engineering.
Fruit fly study unlocks insights into human mating rituals
2dA new study from Western identifies a specific gene in fruit flies that drives female mate acceptance and rejection—a vital discovery for understanding how all species, including humans, survive and thrive on Earth.
Visualization of functional components to characterize optimal composite electrodes
2dResearchers have developed a visualization method that will determine the distribution of components in battery electrodes using atomic force microscopy. The method provides insights into the optimal conditions of composite electrodes and takes us one step closer to being able to manufacture next-generation all-solid-state batteries.
Migration patterns reveal an Eden for ancient humans and animals
2dHome to some of the richest evidence for the behavior and culture of the earliest clearly modern humans, the submerged shelf called the Palaeo-Agulhas Plain (PAP) once formed its own ecosystem. Co-author Curtis Marean, Ph.D., Arizona State University, has worked with teams of scientists for decades to reconstruct the locale back into the Pleistocene, the time period that spanned from 2.6 million t
Basics of heartworm disease testing
2dSummer is growing closer and as the weather begins to warm up, mosquitos will become more active.
The Books Briefing: Your Socially Distanced Summer-Reading List
2dBooks to bring on an airplane . Books to enjoy at the beach . The classic categories of warm-weather-reading recommendations don't seem to apply to a summer spent mostly at home under the shadow of a pandemic. And yet, as a source of distraction and solace, books are more important than ever —especially when they can serve as portals to the outdoor adventures or social gatherings you might be mis
When Coral's Colorful Show Is a Sign That It's Sick
2dUnder stress, certain coral species put on displays to try to re-attract symbiotic algae they need to survive.
Researchers demonstrate transport of mechanical energy, even through damaged pathways
2dMost technologies today rely on devices that transport energy in the form of light, radio, or mechanical waves. However, these wave-guiding channels are susceptible to disorder and damage, either in manufacturing or after they are deployed in harsh environments.
Researchers create global arsenic-in-groundwater maps to highlight threats
2dA pair of researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology has created a global map that highlights areas where there are likely dangerous levels of arsenic in groundwater. In their paper published in the journal Science, Joel Podgorski and Michael Berg describe combining data from a variety of sources to train a machine learning algorithm to highlight possible hot spot
Rich and poor don't recover equally from epidemics: Rebuilding fairly is a global challenge
2dSince the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, disaster recovery plans are almost always framed with aspirational plans to "build back better." It's a fine sentiment—we all want to build better societies and economies. But, as the Cheshire Cat tells Alice when she is lost, where we ought to go depends very much on where we want to get to.
Scientists demonstrate new wavelength shift with diode-pumped continuous-wave Yb:CALGO laser
2dIn 1960, Maiman's first demonstration of the ruby laser initiated the beginning of the laser era. Solid-state lasers still comprise one of the most rapidly developing branches of laser science and has improved amazingly during last six decades while the gain media with good characteristics is essential for realizing a highly efficient solid-state laser.
Space Force is starting to train its soldiers to fight… in space?
2dOn February 19, 2019, the U.S. Space Force (USSF) was officially created with the signing of Space Policy Directive–4. This effectively broke it off from the U.S. Air Force Space Command (AFSC) and made it into the sixth and youngest independent branch of the armed forces. Since then, the USSF has established a headquarters, taken on staff from the U.S. Air Force, and even produced a recruitment v
Following in the footsteps of elephants
2dImagine for a moment that you're 6,000 pounds, living in one of the wildest places on Earth, with no schedule, nowhere to be. How do you decide where to spend your time? Where to go next? Do you move where food is most plentiful? Is water your main priority?
The five sexiest-sounding motorcycles
2dThis story originally featured on Motorcyclist . Raw and thrilling, the sound of combustion is an inextricable part of the appeal of motorcycles. Asked to opine on the best-sounding bikes of all time, the staff of the Barber Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, Alabama, was more than happy to wax poetic on their favorites. (Watch the video above to hear all the listed models on the track.) MV Agusta
Following in the footsteps of elephants
2dImagine for a moment that you're 6,000 pounds, living in one of the wildest places on Earth, with no schedule, nowhere to be. How do you decide where to spend your time? Where to go next? Do you move where food is most plentiful? Is water your main priority?
Peculiar behavior of the beetle Toramus larvae, carrying their exuviae
2dWhen studying the larval morphology of Toramini (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) we found that larvae of the genus Toramus attach their exuviae to their distal abdomen, with each exuvia from the preceding instar attached to the next to form a vertical pile. Exuvial attachment is facilitated by modified hook-like setae with flattened shafts inserted into the exuvia of the previous instar. We discuss the po
Pretty Litter Review: Keeping Tabs on Your Cat's Health
2dThis crystal litter subscription service claims to detect illnesses in your cat. But it's not a replacement for vets.
Understanding the 'fundamental nature' of atomic-scale defects
2dMaterials scientists study metals, polymers, and other substances at the atomic level in order to find new ways to control a material's physical properties, such as how strong or how malleable it is. One key aspect of this line of study is better understanding how a material's atoms are spatially arranged—most metals, for example, consist of atoms that are arranged in a lattice-like pattern that r
Peculiar behavior of the beetle Toramus larvae, carrying their exuviae
2dWhen studying the larval morphology of Toramini (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) we found that larvae of the genus Toramus attach their exuviae to their distal abdomen, with each exuvia from the preceding instar attached to the next to form a vertical pile. Exuvial attachment is facilitated by modified hook-like setae with flattened shafts inserted into the exuvia of the previous instar. We discuss the po
Cockle shells picked to treat dog cancer
2dThe calcium mineral from which many shellfish, such as cockles, make their shells can be used to form nanoparticles. These nanoparticles can then be "loaded" with small drug molecules, such as anticancer drugs.
Scientists find first evidence of microplastics passing from insects to predators in rivers
2dA species of river bird is swallowing hundreds of plastic fibers every day via their insect prey, research by Cardiff University and the Greenpeace Research Laboratories at the University of Exeter has shown.
Early African Muslims had cosmopolitan, halal diet, shows discovery of thousands of ancient animal bones
2dEarly Muslim communities in Africa ate a cosmopolitan diet as the region became a trading center for luxury goods, the discovery of thousands of ancient animal bones has shown.
Early Coronavirus Immunity Data Fuel Promise for a Vaccine
2dResearchers found COVID-19 infection produces a strong T cell response. Here's why they say that is good news — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Understanding the atomic details of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein complex
2dAll human cells are enclosed in a greasy membrane that is embedded with thousands of different proteins. These so-called membrane proteins carry out countless functions, from regulating our blood pressure, to coordinating our immune responses, to controlling the firing of neurons in our brains. Membrane proteins are so important that they are targeted and regulated by more than half of all pharmac
Bumblebees speed up flowering by piercing plants
2dWhen pollen is in short supply, bumblebees damage plant leaves in a way that accelerates flower production, as an ETH research team headed up by Consuelo De Moraes and Mark Mescher has demonstrated.
A New Bionic Eye Could Give Robots and the Blind 20/20 Vision
2dA bionic eye could restore sight to the blind and greatly improve robotic vision, but current visual sensors are a long way from the impressive attributes of nature's design. Now researchers have found a way to mimic its structure and create an artificial eye that reproduces many of its capabilities. A key part of what makes the eye's design so powerful is its shape, but this is also one of the h
Drug touted by Trump linked to higher Covid-19 death rates
2dLancet study suggests hydroxychloroquine not just ineffective in treating Covid-19 patients but potentially harmful
Understanding the atomic details of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein complex
2dAll human cells are enclosed in a greasy membrane that is embedded with thousands of different proteins. These so-called membrane proteins carry out countless functions, from regulating our blood pressure, to coordinating our immune responses, to controlling the firing of neurons in our brains. Membrane proteins are so important that they are targeted and regulated by more than half of all pharmac
Bumblebees speed up flowering by piercing plants
2dWhen pollen is in short supply, bumblebees damage plant leaves in a way that accelerates flower production, as an ETH research team headed up by Consuelo De Moraes and Mark Mescher has demonstrated.
Study links severe childhood deprivation to neuropsychological difficulties in adulthood
2dA team of researchers from the University of Southampton, the University of Bath and King's College London, including Dennis Golm from the University of Southampton, have provided compelling evidence of the impact of adversity in childhood on neuropsychological functioning in adulthood. They also showed that neuropsychological difficulties may explain why early adversity is linked to attention def
How the darter got stripes: Expanding a sexual selection theory explains animal patterns
2dSamuel Hulse at UMBC and colleagues have shown for the first time that there is a strong correlation between the complex patterns on male darters and their highly-variable environments. The findings support and expand upon sensory drive theory, which states that the environment influences which sexual signals, like visual patterns, are selected for. Previous sensory drive research looked at simple
Google search data reveals American's concerns about abortion
2dResidents of states with limited access to contraceptives and high rates of unplanned pregnancies are more likely to turn to the internet for information about abortion, finds of a new study of Google search data across all 50 states. The same results hold regardless of statewide opinions toward abortion or legal restrictions on abortion access.
Preserving fertility in female cancer patients and ageing populations
2dA Monash University study has uncovered the role DNA repair plays in preserving egg quality, offering hope for women whose eggs may be damaged through treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy.
Visualization of functional components to characterize optimal composite electrodes
2dResearchers have developed a visualization method that will determine the distribution of components in battery electrodes using atomic force microscopy. The method provides insights into the optimal conditions of composite electrodes and takes us one step closer to being able to manufacture next-generation all-solid-state batteries.
Early Coronavirus Immunity Data Fuel Promise for a Vaccine
2dResearchers found COVID-19 infection produces a strong T cell response. Here's why they say that is good news — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Platinum-based chemo may improve survival for some metastatic pancreatic cancer patients
2dPatients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who had germline or somatic mutations in DNA repair genes had better clinical outcomes after platinum-based chemotherapy, as compared with patients without these mutations.
Peculiar behavior of the beetle Toramus larvae
2dWhen studying the larval morphology of Toramini (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) we found that larvae of the genus Toramus attach their exuviae to their distal abdomen, with each exuvia from the preceding instar attached to the next to form a vertical pile. Exuvial attachment is facilitated by modified hook-like setae with flattened shafts inserted into the exuvia of the previous instar. We discuss the po
ATLAS telescope discovers first-of-its-kind asteroid
2dUniversity of Hawai'i telescope discovers extraordinary asteroid with comet-like features that has researchers puzzled.
Discovery about the edge of fusion plasma could help realize fusion power
2dUnique PPPL simulations reveal new understanding of the highly complex edge of fusion plasmas.
Researchers demonstrate transport of mechanical energy, even through damaged pathways
2dResearchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Grainger College of Engineering have experimentally demonstrated a new way to transport energy even through wave-guides that are defective, and even if the disorder is a transient phenomenon in time.
New technology can detect anti-virus antibody in 20 minutes
2dResearchers have succeeded in detecting anti-avian influenza virus antibody in blood serum within 20 minutes, using a portable analyzer they have developed to conduct rapid on-site bio tests. If a suitable reagent is developed, this technology could be used to detect antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the causative virus of COVID-19.
A clinical decision support system to help predict individual trauma patient outcome
2dChinese researchers from The Trauma Center of Peking University People's Hospital and National Institute of Health Data Science at Peking University are using big data to help identify trauma patients who could experience potential adverse health events in the emergency department through the aid of a clinical decision support system. It was developed using a novel real-world evidence mining and e
A sole mate to prevent diabetic foot ulcers
2dA new cooling insole developed by UT Southwestern scientists reduced the foot temperature of patients with diabetic neuropathy by several degrees, diminishing a significant risk factor for diabetic foot ulcers.
UK faces puppy shortage as demand for lockdown companions soars
2dPrices for popular pooches have doubled and waiting lists have increased fourfold, say breeders
'Quaranteens' expect a muted version of student life
2dUniversity experience will be lonelier for those entering this autumn
Textile coating could make PPE last and last
2dA new textile coating can not only repel liquids like blood and saliva but also prevent viruses from adhering to the surface, researchers say. Masks, gowns, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) are essential for protecting healthcare workers. However, the textiles and materials used to make such items can absorb and carry viruses and bacteria, inadvertently spreading the disease the wear
Researchers identify therapeutic targets to prevent cancer-associated muscle loss
2dResearchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center have identified a key cell signaling pathway that drives the devastating muscle loss, or cachexia, suffered by many cancer patients. The study, which will be published May 22 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, suggests that targeting this pathway with a drug already in phase 2 clinical trials for diabetes could prevent this syndrome.
Women quotas in politics have unintended consequences
2dWomen continue to be scarce in the halls of power. To rectify this inequality, many countries have imposed female electoral quota systems, or rules designed to increase the representation of women. The catch? Boosting gender may well curtail representation in other respects.
Would you pay to save this creature? Fake beasties reveal why some animals get conservation bucks
2dKnowing what appeals to donors could identify mascots for conservation charities
Indigenous collaboration and leadership key to managing sea otter population recovery
2dA new study highlights the need to engage Indigenous communities in managing sea otter population recovery to improve coexistence between humans and this challenging predator.
Remote-First Companies Are Another Covid-19 Calamity
2dPlus: a tradition of perks at Google, a controversial toilet paper decision, and a baffling new Netflix policy.
Chef iQ Smart Cooker Review: Guided Cooking Done Right
2dA new connected pressure cooker that has enough smarts to (someday) unseat the Instant Pot.
Computer models may make lab-grown meat cheaper
2dThe use of computer models may break down barriers to making lab-grown meat more economical on a larger scale, according to a new review. Experts predict that producing meat in a lab using tissue engineering techniques, or lab-cultured meat, will one day be more sustainable than, nutritionally equivalent to, and less ethically concerning than typical meat production. "To this day cultured meat al
How lost lizards and Hurricane Irma are helping me get through coronavirus restrictions
2dNature, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01537-9 When the coronavirus pandemic struck, field ecologist Nicholas Herrmann adopted a perspective inspired by experiences earlier in his PhD.
Gender quotas in India had unintended effects
2dGender quotas in politics may have unintended consequences for other underrepresented groups, a study in India finds. The study looked at India's caste system and female representation in local government, where female-reserved seats have been enshrined in the 73rd and 74th Amendments of the Indian Constitution since the early 1990s. "The effect of electoral quotas for women in India was to reduc
Storing Carbon to Mitigate Climate Change
2dHere is a tiny bit of good news on the climate change front: A new analysis finds that there is more than enough storage space globally to fit the carbon we would need to capture and store if we wish to meet our climate change goals. The found: No more than 2700 Gt of storage resource is required under any scenario to meet the most ambitious climate change mitigation targets. Meanwhile current es
Ægløsnings-armbånd skal opdage corona-ramte
2dPLUS. 10.000 digitale sensorarmbånd skal i et stort forsøg vise, om man tidligt kan opdage covid-19-ramte.
How Big Tech Is Setting the Work-From-Home Standard
2dThis week, we measure the impact of Silicon Valley's shift to remote work. Also, we crash the Clubhouse.
Will Wildfire Smoke Worsen the Pandemic? We're About to Find Out
2dWhen seasonal blazes descend on California, millions could be inhaling smoke, which is known to predispose people to lung diseases.
The U.S. Is Getting Shorter, as Mapmakers Race to Keep Up
2dScientists are hard at work recalibrating where and how the nation physically sits on the planet. It's not shrinkage — it's "height modernization."
Children half as likely as adults to get coronavirus, study says
2dUnder-20s appear 56% less likely to contract Covid-19, preliminary evidence suggests Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Children are about half as likely as adults to become infected with coronavirus, according to scientists who reviewed data gathered by contact tracing and population screening studies around the world. The study, which will feed into the debate on when
Space junk lights up the sky above south-east Australia – video
2dDebris from what is believed to be a Russian Soyuz rocket re-entering Earth's atmosphere created a light show across the sky in parts of Victoria, south-east Australia, on Friday evening. Residents reported seeing a meteor-like streak in the sky above Rochester, Kyneton, Echuca and Cashmore. Continue reading…
Researchers uncover the arks of genetic diversity in terrestrial mammals
2dMapping the distribution of life on Earth, from genes to species to ecosystems, is essential in informing conservation policies and protecting biodiversity. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Adelaide developed models based on longstanding evolutionary and ecological theories to explain and map genetic diversity globally, a basal, but previously hidden dimension of
The European viper uses cloak-and-dazzle method to escape predators
2dA study by researchers at the University of Jyväskylä demonstrate that the characteristic zig-zag pattern on a viper's back performs seemingly 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
Researchers uncover the arks of genetic diversity in terrestrial mammals
2dMapping the distribution of life on Earth, from genes to species to ecosystems, is essential in informing conservation policies and protecting biodiversity. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Adelaide developed models based on longstanding evolutionary and ecological theories to explain and map genetic diversity globally, a basal, but previously hidden dimension of
The European viper uses cloak-and-dazzle method to escape predators
2dA study by researchers at the University of Jyväskylä demonstrate that the characteristic zig-zag pattern on a viper's back performs seemingly 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
The Misfortune of Graduating in 2020
2dBy the end of the current academic year, American schools will have conferred an estimated 3.7 million high-school diplomas, 1 million associate's degrees, and 2 million bachelor's degrees. Many of those 6-million-plus graduates will soon pursue another degree, but many others will enter a historically terrible labor market, and one that's especially brutal for young workers. The class of 2020 ha
A diverse approach is vital in vaccine hunt
2dPandemics may wane as viral variants emerge but we cannot afford to wait
Sturgeon's dream may not be immune to Covid-19
2dScotland backs the first minister and her contrast to Boris Johnson, but she faces her own problems
We'll Be Wearing Things on Our Faces for a Long Time
2dIf you think about it, "the face mask is the condom of our generation," says Brian Castrucci, the president of the de Beaumont Foundation, a public-health nonprofit. Castrucci spent a decade working in state and local health departments, and he remembers when the HIV epidemic made condoms mainstream in the United States. No one was especially thrilled about it, but as the dangers of unprotected s
How the Pandemic Silenced the Nation's Biggest Governor's Race
2dT he conservative vying to be North Carolina's next governor has found an unlikely kindred spirit while stuck in a campaign on pause. "It's probably the first time Joe Biden and I have had anything in common," Dan Forest says with a laugh. Forest is North Carolina's lieutenant governor and the GOP's nominee against Democratic Governor Roy Cooper this fall. Four years after Cooper won by a razor-t
Community Colleges Aren't Prepared for This Crisis
2dRight now, across the country, millions of high-school graduates and their families are facing an undeniable fact: The pandemic has thrown their plans for the future into complete disarray. Some of these families were hoping to send their kids to out-of-state institutions that are now barely operational. Others were hoping their kids would find jobs right out of high school, and those jobs are al
'Absolutely amazing': space junk delivers light show across the sky in south-east Australia
2dAstronomers believe the meteor-like streak was a Russian Soyuz rocket re-entering Earth's atmosphere Debris from what is believed to be a Russian rocket re-entering Earth's atmosphere has delivered a light show across the sky in parts of Victoria on Friday evening. Victorians reported seeing a meteor-like streak in the early night sky in Rochester, Kyneton, Echuca and Cashmore on Friday night, Me
Herd Of Fuzzy Green 'Glacier Mice' Baffles Scientists
2dMoss balls seem to roll around glaciers in a coordinated way, and researchers can't explain why the whole group moves at about the same speed and in the same direction. (Image credit: Ruth Mottram)
Covid-19 Will Accelerate the AI Health Care Revolution
2dDisease diagnosis, drug discovery, robot delivery—artificial intelligence is already powering change in the pandemic's wake. That's only the beginning.
11 Best Mattress Deals and Sales for Memorial Day (2020)
2dJust about all of our WIRED Recommended bed-in-a-box mattresses are on sale for the holiday weekend.
On the Moon, Astronaut Pee Will Be a Hot Commodity
2dUrine can be used for landing pads, gardens, and drinking water. But will there be enough to go around?
Grief in the Time of COVID-19
2dWe can't visit the dying in hospitals, and we can't gather for funerals—but technology can lessen the pain — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Grief in the Time of COVID-19
2dWe can't visit the dying in hospitals, and we can't gather for funerals—but technology can lessen the pain — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Coronavirus Pandemic Threatens to Derail Polio Eradication–but There's a Silver Lining
2dCOVID-19 has stifled the world's largest immunization program. Yet polio's vast workforce is also helping in the fight against the new disease — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Coronavirus Pandemic Threatens to Derail Polio Eradication–but There's a Silver Lining
2dCOVID-19 has stifled the world's largest immunization program. Yet polio's vast workforce is also helping in the fight against the new disease — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Summer Is Approaching. Bring Camp Back.
2dChildren, too, have become victims of the pandemic. The problem goes beyond those hospitalized for COVID-19 or diagnosed with a mysterious new inflammatory syndrome associated with the coronavirus. The damage is far more widespread: Although tens of millions of American children show no medical symptoms of COVID-19, their education, mental health, and development have suffered because of the viru
Why we might not get a coronavirus vaccine
2dPoliticians have become more cautious about immunisation prospects. They are right to be Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage It would be hard to overstate the importance of developing a vaccine to Sars-CoV-2 – it's seen as the fast track to a return to normal life. That's why the health secretary, Matt Hancock, said the UK was "throwing everything at it". But while trial
Self-driving cars are being trained in virtual worlds while the real one is in chaos
2dBrandon Moak felt as if a freight train had hit him. It was mid-March, and the cofounder and CTO of the autonomous- trucking startup Embark Trucks had been keeping tabs on the emergence of covid-19. As a shelter-in-place order went into effect throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, where Embark is based, Moak and his team were forced to ground almost all their 13 self-driving semi-trucks (a few s
Social Distancing Is Not Enough
2dCOVID-19 has mounted a sustained attack on public life, especially indoor life. Many of the largest super-spreader events took place inside—at a church in South Korea , an auditorium in France , a conference in Massachusetts . The danger of the indoors is more than anecdotal. A Hong Kong paper awaiting peer review found that of 7,324 documented cases in China, only one outbreak occurred outside—d
Fake news gets shared more when it is angry and anxiety-inducing
2dAn analysis of fake news shared on social media service Weibo has found that posts flagged as fake news were more like to contain words associated with anger than real news
Forskere: Temperaturstigning kan holdes nede med langt mindre CO2-fangst end forventet
2dDet er muligt at holde temperaturstigningen under 1,5 grader i år 2100 med langt mindre indfangning og lagring af CO2 end tidligere beregnet. Men jo længere vi venter, jo mere CCS bliver der brug for.
What it takes to correct the record: Autopsy of a COVID-19 corrigendum
2dWe've been keeping track of retracted coronavirus papers, but what about corrections? Here's a guest post from Richard Jones of Cardiff University about a paper that earned widespread media coverage but turned out to be wrong. According to our best knowledge, this is the first report on COVID-19 infection and death among medical personnel in … Continue reading
Has populism made coronavirus worse?
2dIt would be foolish to ignore the blunders strongman leaders have made — it's not a coincidence
Cracking egg cups for leisurely lockdown breakfasts
2dMore time for a morning meal? Make the most of it with these alluring pieces
How we lived in lockdown: the pandemic for posterity
2dThe Museum of the Home is collecting stories about how Covid-19 changed our domestic lives
Housework wars: who is cleaning up the lockdown mess?
2dHow families across the globe manage the domestic division of labour
Live Coronavirus News and Updates
2dNew research suggested a drug championed by President Trump could be harmful. The Fed chief warned the U.S. faced a downturn "without modern precedent." Flags were ordered lowered over Memorial Day weekend for those who died from the virus.
China Abandons Growth Target for Year as Coronavirus Disrupts Economy
2dBeijing broke with precedent in abandoning an annual growth target for 2020, a sign of the difficulties of restarting its economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Which animals are benefitting from coronavirus lockdowns?
2dIt isn't true that dolphins have returned to Venice, but bees are benefitting from lower air pollution, and a drop in ocean traffic could be good for whales
Identification of prognostic signature of non–small cell lung cancer based on TCGA methylation data
2dScientific Reports, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-65479-y
In vitro human colonic microbiota utilises D-β-hydroxybutyrate to increase butyrogenesis
2dScientific Reports, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-65561-5
Differential functions of ERK1 and ERK2 in lung metastasis processes in triple-negative breast cancer
2dScientific Reports, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-65250-3
A new approach to prevent cervical stenosis in postmenopausal women after loop electrosurgical excision procedure: a randomized controlled trial
2dScientific Reports, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-65170-2
Opposing effects of acute and repeated nicotine exposure on boldness in zebrafish
2dScientific Reports, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-65382-6
A gland-sparing, intraoral sialolithotomy approach for hilar and intraparenchymal multiple stones in the submandibular gland
2dScientific Reports, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-65519-7
High-flow nasal cannula ventilation therapy for obstructive sleep apnea in ischemic stroke patients requiring nasogastric tube feeding: a preliminary study
2dScientific Reports, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-65335-z
SNHG7 is a lncRNA oncogene controlled by Insulin-like Growth Factor signaling through a negative feedback loop to tightly regulate proliferation
2dScientific Reports, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-65109-7
Prepare to be tracked and tested as you return to work
2dA day in the life of Salesforce workers will look very different when they return to the software company's offices. The San Francisco–based business says all of its 49,000 employees can continue working from home for the rest of the year. But as regions relax stay-at-home rules and the company reopens in phases, employees who are cleared to return will start their day by logging online for a dai
Artificial intelligence can make personality judgments based on our photographs
2dRussian researchers from HSE University and Open University for the Humanities and Economics have demonstrated that artificial intelligence is able to infer people's personality from 'selfie' photographs better than human raters do. Conscientiousness emerged to be more easily recognizable than the other four traits. Personality predictions based on female faces appeared to be more reliable than th
Researchers uncover the arks of genetic diversity in terrestrial mammals
2dMapping the distribution of life on Earth, from genes to species to ecosystems, is essential in informing conservation policies and protecting biodiversity. Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Adelaide developed models based on long-standing evolutionary and ecological theories to explain and map genetic diversity globally, a basal, but up-to-now hidden dimension of
Australian researchers record world's fastest internet speed from a single optical chip
2dA research team from Monash, Swinburne and RMIT universities in Australia has recorded the world's fastest internet speed from a single optical chip of 44.2 Terabits per second.
Scientists urge caution over reopening schools in England
2dRobust system to test and trace coronavirus cases should be in place, say experts
Japansk missil-data lækket i cyberangreb
2dStjålet data fra en banebrydende missil-prototype kan skade Japans nationale sikkerhed – nu er efterforskningen gået i gang.
Fracture toughness of a metal–organic framework glass
2dNature Communications, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16382-7 Metal-organic framework glasses are gaining interest, but large samples are difficult to fabricate and mechanical properties are not well understood. Here, the authors use experiments and simulations to assess fracture toughness and flexural strength of a zeolitic imidazolate framework glass.
Bringing nuclear materials discovery and qualification into the 21st century
2dNature Communications, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16406-2 Time horizons for nuclear materials development and qualification must be shortened to realize future nuclear energy concepts. Inspired by the Materials Genome Initiative, we present an integrated approach to materials discovery and qualification to insert new materials into service.
KAT3-dependent acetylation of cell type-specific genes maintains neuronal identity in the adult mouse brain
2dNature Communications, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16246-0 Neuronal identity maintenance is highly regulated. Here, the authors showed that CBP and p300 safeguard neuronal identity through histone acetylation at promoters and enhancers of neuronal specific genes. The loss of both CBP and p300 impairs gene expression, circuit activity, and behavior in mice.
A cysteine selenosulfide redox switch for protein chemical synthesis
2dNature Communications, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16359-6 Control of cysteine reactivity is of paramount importance for the synthesis of proteins using native chemical ligation. Here, the authors report a readily cleavable N-selenoethyl group attached to cysteine and apply it to the modular assembly of linear and cyclic polypeptides.
Integrated redox-active reagents for photoinduced regio- and stereoselective fluorocarboborylation
2dNature Communications, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16477-1 The synthesis of vinylboronates and alkylboronates often suffers from step-tedious and poorly stereoselective procedures. Here, the authors report a bench-stable redox-active reagent for the radical difunctionalization of alkenes and alkynes affording fluorine-containing vinylboronates and alkylboronates.
Extreme active matter at high densities
2dNature Communications, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16130-x While active matter exhibits unusual dynamics at low density, high density behavior has not been explored. Mandal et al. show that extreme dense active matter, shows a rich spectrum of behaviour from intermittent plastic bursts and turbulence, to glassy states and jamming in the limit of infinite persistence time
Continuously controllable photoconductance in freestanding BiFeO3 by the macroscopic flexoelectric effect
2dNature Communications, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16465-5 Previous methods to generate strain gradient and flexoelectricity are limited to a localized effect or cannot be tuned continuously. Here, the authors achieve macroscale continuously controllable strain gradient in freestanding ferroelectric thin film. Multilevel photoconductance in BiFeO3 films can be achieved b
Genome-scale metabolic reconstruction of the symbiosis between a leguminous plant and a nitrogen-fixing bacterium
2dNature Communications, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16484-2 The association between leguminous plants and rhizobial bacteria is a paradigmatic example of a symbiosis driven by metabolic exchanges. Here, diCenzo et al. report the reconstruction and modelling of a genome-scale metabolic network of the plant Medicago truncatula nodulated by the bacterium Sinorhizobium melilo
Chemistry for kids: Make a DIY bubble snake!
2dMost of us are staying home to help flatten the curve of COVID-19, but that doesn't mean there isn't learning and fun to be had. It's important to take a break from screen time. Kate the Chemist, professor, science entertainer, and author of "The Big Book of Experiments," has just the activity: Creating a bubble snake using common household ingredients including dish soap, food coloring, rubber b
Engineers Successfully Test New Chip With Download Speeds of 44.2 Terabits Per Second
2dThat's like 1,000 HD movies. In a second!
Fears of Japanification spreading are misplaced
2dThe country's quirks make similar deflation for the US and Europe a stretch
Book Review: Why Science Denialism Persists
2dIn "Galileo: And the Science Deniers" and "Natural: How Faith in Nature's Goodness Leads to Harmful Fads, Unjust Laws, and Flawed Science," Mario Livio and Alan Levinovitz, respectively, explore the past and present of anti-science bias, and why it's so hard to shake many of our deep-seated beliefs.
Australia's A$60bn 'reporting error' boosts coffers for virus recovery
2dTreasury grossly overestimates cost of jobkeeper scheme for furloughed employees
Microsoft overrasker med sin første supercomputer: Er blandt verdens fem største
2dPLUS. Microsoft har i al hemmelighed bygget en ny gigantisk supercomputer på 285.000 CPU-kerner og 10.000 GPU'er, der skal bruges til at træne og forbedre machine learning-algoritmer. De specifikationer bringer den op i top-5 over verdens kraftigste supercomputere.
There are few certainties in coronavirus medicine – research is our best weapon | Margaret McCartney
2dFrom drug treatments to preventive measures like wearing masks, we don't yet have the evidence we need for effective policymaking See all our coronavirus coverage Coronavirus – latest updates This pandemic is frightening for many people – especially those at the highest risk – and the need for effective prevention and treatment is pressing. When there is no direct evidence about what is best to d
Coronavirus UK map: the latest deaths and confirmed cases in each region
2dLatest 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
Priti Patel sets strict UK quarantine rules
2dMeasures dubbed 'isolationist' as only handful of exemptions granted from enforced 14-day confinement
Anti-obesity medications mitigate weight regain in RYGB surgery patients
2dResearchers have discovered that anti-obesity medications such as phentermine and topiramate, used individually or in combination, can significantly reduce weight regain in patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, according to a retrospective study published online in Obesity, the flagship journal of The Obesity Society.
Tidligere Yngre Læger-formand går efter posten som formand for Lægeforeningen
2dCamilla Rathcke er klar til at kvitte jobbet som chef under Søren Brostrøm i Sundhedsstyrelsen for at blive lægeformand. Nej, jeg løber ikke af pladsen, siger hun.
Manila lockdown diary: 'I went into labour but had to walk to the clinic to give birth'
2dPoverty, hunger and the threat of being shot by police make life under strict lockdown harder for one expectant mother Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Millions of people in the Philippine capital, Manila, have spent more than two months under lockdown. The densely populated city, once notorious for its heaving traffic, has been transformed into a ghost town. Resident
Earliest evidence of Italians' extraordinary genetic diversity dates back to 19,000 years ago
2dIn Europe, Italians have the highest genetic diversity. The gradient of their genetic variability, scattered all over the peninsula, encloses on a small scale the whole genetic variance between southern and continental Europeans. This amazing diversity started to accumulate soon after the Late Glacial Maximum, which ended approximately 19,000 years ago.
Earliest evidence of Italians' extraordinary genetic diversity dates back to 19,000 years ago
2dIn Europe, Italians have the highest genetic diversity. The gradient of their genetic variability, scattered all over the peninsula, encloses on a small scale the whole genetic variance between southern and continental Europeans. This amazing diversity started to accumulate soon after the Late Glacial Maximum, which ended approximately 19,000 years ago.
Deadly cyclone cuts destructive path in India and Bangladesh
2dWide swaths of coastal India and Bangladesh were flooded and millions were without power Thursday as Cyclone Amphan, the most powerful storm to hit the region in more than a decade, killed over 80 people and cut a path of destruction that is still being assessed.
CRISPR a tool for conservation, not just gene editing
2dThe gene-editing technology CRISPR has been used for a variety of agricultural and public health purposes—from growing disease-resistant crops to, more recently, a diagnostic test for the virus that causes COVID-19.
Modstander af screening: »Ingen effekt på totaloverlevelsen«
2dEt eventuelt screeningsprogram for lungecancer i Danmark har også kritikere, som anser evidensen for utilstrækkelig, og risikoen høj for, at programmet vil gøre mere skade end gavn.
Lungekræft: Midaldrende storrygere bør screenes
2dHele fem lægefaglige selskaber repræsenteret i Dansk Lunge Cancer Gruppe anbefaler, at midaldrende storrygere – og kun dem – screenes. Her er deres plan for, hvordan det skal ske.
CRISPR a tool for conservation, not just gene editing
2dThe gene-editing technology CRISPR has been used for a variety of agricultural and public health purposes—from growing disease-resistant crops to, more recently, a diagnostic test for the virus that causes COVID-19.
Newspapers report on car safety recalls less when manufacturers advertise more with them
2dIs the reporting of media outlets biased in favor of firms that advertise with them? A new study looked at the relationship between advertising by car manufacturers in U.S. newspapers and news coverage of car safety recalls in the early 2000s. The study found that newspapers provided less coverage of recalls issued by manufacturers that advertised more regularly in their publications than of recal
Researchers achieve broadest microcomb spectral span on record
2dXu Yi, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Virginia, collaborated with Yun-Feng Xiao's group from Peking University and researchers at Caltech to achieve the broadest recorded spectral span in a microcomb.
Xi distracts from own failings with Hong Kong security law
2dChinese leader's crackdown on city will divert attention from his handling of coronavirus
UK Covid-19 saliva test to be trialled on 5,000 key workers
2dAlternative to nasal swab to be tested on police and army staff in next two weeks Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage A potentially "game-changing" spit test for coronavirus is set to be trialled by the government on 5,000 police and army staff amid growing concern about the accuracy of invasive nasal swabs. The two-minute test requires someone to spit in a tube, and is
The Faucis of the World
2dAround the corner from Dublin's historic St. Stephen's Green lie Ireland's Government Buildings. Here sit the offices of the Irish prime minister—or Taoiseach . Since February, political ownership of this most prized piece of real estate has been up for grabs, following a general-election result that left no party with a clear claim to power. Then the pandemic struck. Ireland looked up from its o
Live Coronavirus Global News Tracker: Latest Updates
2dAmid pomp and propaganda in Beijing, the pandemic is weighing on efforts to restart the economy. Britain said it would quarantine everyone flying into the country, including citizens.
Coronavirus: Immune clue sparks treatment hope
2dBetter understanding of Covid-19's impact on the immune system gives hope an existing drug might aid recovery.
Photos of the Week: Sydney Fog, House Hat, Crow Pursuit
2dSkiing in the French Alps, flooding in Michigan, a drive-through burlesque in Las Vegas, disinfecting streets in Buenos Aires, a ballet performance in Mexico, street protests in Chile, social-distancing rings in Turkey, a fawn rescue in Germany, and much more
Global stocks fall as investors contend with Sino-US tensions
2dWeakness in European markets follows sharp drop in Asia as friction over Hong Kong intensifies
Ligner alle kinesere hinanden? Derfor har din hjerne svært ved at kende forskel på folk fra andre etniske grupper
2dDin hjerne er ikke racistisk, den er praktisk.
New to science newts from Vietnam with an important message for Biodiversity Day 2020
2dIn time for the International Day for Biological Diversity 2020, the date set by the United Nations to recognize biodiversity as 'the pillars upon which we build civilizations', a new study published in the peer-reviewed open-access journal ZooKeys describes two new to science species and one subspecies of crocodile newts from Vietnam. This manifestation of the incredible diversity of life hosted
Åben telefon: Spild af tid eller værdifuld information?
2dFlere hospitalsdirektører har 'Åben Telefon' for at tage snakke med patienter og pårørende. Men OUH har det ikke og lægeformand advarer mod at lade enkeltsager styre hospitalsdriften.
Beijing's legal force, retail woes, future of education
2dThe Chinese government is set to impose national security legislation on Hong Kong
Fredberg-sag sætter spørgsmålstegn ved hospitalsansattes ytringsfrihed
2dFrygt for konsekvenserne af at ytre sig offentligt om problemer på arbejdspladsen præger hverdagen på flere hospitaler i Region Midtjylland.
Sådan gjorde vi: Stor undersøgelse om lægers ytringsfrihed
2dEfter en række sager i Region Midtjylland ønsker Dagens Medicin at sætte fokus på lægers ret til at ytre sig offentligt om kritisable forhold på deres arbejdsplads.
Læger frygter for konsekvenser af kritiske ytringer
2dAf frygt for repressalier lægger mange læger bånd på deres ytringsfrihed og undlader at ytre sig offentligt om kritisable forhold på arbejdspladsen, viser undersøgelse, Dagens Medicin har foretaget.
Værnemidler og udredning af kræft: Lad os få ærlighed og realisme
2dHer et par måneder inde i coronakrisen burde vi have lært, at det kan give problemer, hvis vi nægter at tale om praktiske problemer og det muliges kunst.
Den dag hygiejne blev taget alvorligt
2dGod håndhygiejne og fokus på rengøring har sikret en kraftig reduktion i antal COVID-19-smittede både indenfor og udenfor sygehusene. Det skal vi lære af, skriver Mads Koch Hansen.
Meget hjertefedt øger måske risikoen for hjertekarsygdomme
2dMange, ikke mindst diabetikere, vil gerne have svar på, om fedt særlige steder øger risikoen for hjertekarsygdom. Et dansk forskerhold har bragt verden et skridt nærmere mod afklaring af den rolle, hjertefedt spiller.
Dansk forsker i spidsen for globale guidelines for diabetisk nyresygdom
2dHidtil har læger manglet internationale retningslinjer for diagnostik og behandling af diabetisk nyresygdom, men nu har dansk forsker været med til at udstikke dem. De kommer til august.
Modstridende meldinger om COVID-19 fra myndigheder gør diabetespatienter bekymrede
2dCorona-epidemien har skabt bekymring blandt patienter med diabetes – bl.a. på grund af skiftende meldinger fra Sundhedsstyrelsen, viser et dansk studie baseret på en spørgeskemaundersøgelse.
Forskere vil opspore diabetespatienter med risiko for hjertesygdom
2dSteno Diabetes Center Copenhagen vil i et stort forskningsprojekt screene 900 personer med type 2-diabetes for risiko for at udvikle hjertekarsygdom. Målet er at få en bedre forståelse af, hvilken betydning hjertets små blodkar har for at udvikle hjertekarsygdom.
Mindre kulhydrat og mere protein og fedt hjælper mod type 2-diabetes
2dEn kost med væsentligt færre kulhydrater samt mere protein og fedt hjælper type 2-diabetikere til at holde blodsukkeret nede, og gør det måske lettere at tabe sig, viser ny forskning fra Bispebjerg og Frederiksberg Hospital.
How the pandemic reinvigorated religion
2dFrom drive-through confessions to solitary funerals, faith leaders are finding new ways to connect
Unlocking the economy will divide societies
2dThe virus picks us off unevenly, and an effective response must recognise that
UK plans to track spread of coronavirus in sewage
2dBritish government looks to follow Netherlands by setting up wastewater testing programme
Ethiopia steps in to deliver respirators to Latin Americans
2dAddis Ababa becomes transit hub as richer nations compete aggressively for scarce kit
The chain of events that led to Germany's change over Europe's recovery fund
2dThreats to EU economy and ECB triggered historic Macron-Merkel deal on €500bn recovery fund
US stimulus efforts stall as Senate adjourns
2dImpasse over House-backed $3tn bill reveals partisan divide over additional economic relief
US retailers lay bare cost of being deemed 'non-essential'
2dDecisions on which businesses can stay open widens gap between sector's winners and losers
'We don't get paid for empty beds': the crisis facing UK care home operators
2dCoronavirus has piled pressure on an already struggling sector, increasing costs and hitting fees
China drops GDP target for first time in wake of coronavirus
2dThe economy has contracted but Beijing announced a 6.6% rise in military spending
Hong Kong stocks dive on China's plans for security law
2dBeijing's move to impose legislation raises concerns over city's future as a finance hub
Hungriga humlor får blommorna att blomma
2dHungriga humlor har kommit på ett sätt att få växter att slå ut i blom flera veckor i förväg. De gör hål i bladen och triggar på så vis blomningen, visar ny forskning. Spela videon ovan för att se hur de gör.
Nyt center kickstarter kampen mod danskernes overvægt
2dEt nyt Nationalt Center for Overvægt skal samle og formidle viden om forebyggelse og behandling af overvægt. Målet er at bremse væksten i den stadigt større andel af danskere, der bærer rundt på for mange kilo.
Forskere vil opspore patientspecifikke årsager til diabetisk nyresygdom
2dNyt stort forskningsprojekt skal afsløre, hvorfor nyrefunktionen falder hos patienter med diabetisk nyresygdom. Formålet er at kunne levere mere individualiseret behandling af patienter.
Coronavirus and Logistics
2dIn the first of a three-part series, we examine how the Covid-19 crisis is testing supply chains and re-engineering the distribution of goods
Spare capacity puts pressure on international freight operators
2dEstablished wisdom on lean inventories and extended supply chains is under threat
Eksperter foreslår flokimmunitetsstrategi: Smit de yngre og spar risikogrupperne
2dPLUS. Fem medlemmer af SSI's modellerings-ekspertgruppe foreslår for egen regning en alternativ strategi, som skal gøre covid-19-epidemien mere udholdelig for de mest udsatte.
Kronik: Risikobaseret genåbning af Danmark kan give færre alvorligt syge og en hurtigere genåbning
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Vil coronakrisen give højere tilslutning til vaccinationsprogrammet?
2dWHO udråbte i 2019 vaccineskepsis som en af de 10 vigtigste trusler mod verdens sundhed. Også i Danmark har vi oplevet betydelig folkelig skepsis og mytedannelse ved introduktion af nye vaccinationer til børnevaccinationsprogrammet, senest HPV-vaccinen.
Why vaccine development relies on philanthropy
2dPandemic sparks new wave of donor interest in financing research
2d
California trash-to-hydrogen plant promises dirt-cheap, super-green H2
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The Future of Hydrogen May Be Here. A new study shows that power-to-gas systems harnessing renewable energy can produce cleaner, cost-effective hydrogen for industry | Stanford Business
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Facial reenactments can now be made under 5 minutes from your phone
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Scientists believe cannabis could help prevent and treat coronavirus
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Andrew Yang Warns 42 Percent of Lost Jobs Won't Return, Economy Facing 'Two Times the Great Recession — Permanently'
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World can likely capture and store enough carbon dioxide to meet climate targets, and we appear on track to do so
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VR and AR devices at 1/100 the cost and 1/10,000 the thickness in the works
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America's Cities Could House Everyone if They Chose To – Our housing crisis is a symptom of America's wealth — and its indifference.
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Scientists create a cyborg eye that mimics the real thing | Engadget
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Now It's Getting Serious: Facebook says it will permanently shift tens of thousands of jobs to remote work
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British government will push for green coronavirus recovery. The UK was in prime position to create a "huge bonanza of jobs" in renewable energy and other green industries
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EU Commission adopts comprehensive new Biodiversity Strategy. 30% of the EU's landmass and 30% of EU's oceans should be designated as protected areas. At least a third of which – areas of very high biodiversity value – should become strictly protected areas.
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Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence for Human Resources
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The ISS is about to turn 20, and its legacy might be as a priceless proving ground for living off planet. Experiments at the International Space Station have advanced our understanding of zero gravity health effects, growing our own food, and developing new fuels for use on Mars and beyond.
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Twitter's Jack Dorsey Is Giving Andrew Yang $5 Million to Build the Case for a Universal Basic Income
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I Predict Your Predictions Are Wrong: The pandemic will alter some aspects of daily life, but probably not in radical ways.
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3 Major Materials Science Breakthroughs—and Why They Matter for the Future
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In fast-warming Minnesota, scientists are trying to plant the forests of the future – Chippewa National Forest is home to one of the world's largest climate adaptation experiments.
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No, NASA didn't find evidence of a parallel universe where time runs backwards. Please research before you spread false rumors. (The findings are interesting however.)
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DNA-repairing enzyme reverses age-related cognitive decline
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The first yeast-derived dairy proteins (animal-free milk) have hit the market
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For the First Time Ever, the World Is Mostly Middle Class and Largely Old (1 Mar 20)
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Scientists baffled by decision to stop a pioneering coronavirus testing project
2dNature, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01543-x Researchers looking to make tests widely available worry as regulators freeze the team that first identified US community spread.
2d
Plasmodium vivax spleen-dependent genes encode antigens associated with cytoadhesion and clinical protection [Microbiology]
2dPlasmodium vivax, the most widely distributed human malaria parasite, causes severe clinical syndromes despite low peripheral blood parasitemia. This conundrum is further complicated as cytoadherence in the microvasculature is still a matter of investigations. Previous reports in Plasmodium knowlesi, another parasite species shown to infect humans, demonstrated that variant genes…
TRM integrins CD103 and CD49a differentially support adherence and motility after resolution of influenza virus infection [Immunology and Inflammation]
2dTissue-resident memory CD8 T (TRM) cells are a unique immune memory subset that develops and remains in peripheral tissues at the site of infection, providing future host resistance upon reexposure to that pathogen. In the pulmonary system, TRM are identified through S1P antagonist CD69 and expression of integrins CD103/β7 and…
Ultrasensitive detection of malignant melanoma using PET molecular imaging probes [Chemistry]
2dMalignant melanoma has one of the highest mortality rates of any cancer because of its aggressive nature and high metastatic potential. Clinical staging of the disease at the time of diagnosis is very important for the prognosis and outcome of melanoma treatment. In this study, we designed and synthesized the…
Ultrastructural evidence for self-replication of Alzheimer-associated A{beta}42 amyloid along the sides of fibrils [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
2dThe nucleation of Alzheimer-associated Aβ peptide monomers can be catalyzed by preexisting Aβ fibrils. This leads to autocatalytic amplification of aggregate mass and underlies self-replication and generation of toxic oligomers associated with several neurodegenerative diseases. However, the nature of the interactions between the monomeric species and the fibrils during this…
The transient ȷoys of others—neural ensembles encode social approach in bonded voles [Commentaries]
2dSocial bonds are an essential part of the human experience. We bond with our parents, our children, our romantic partners, and our friends; these bonds not only shape our emotional well-being but have profound consequences for our health and longevity (1). Perhaps because these bonds are so profoundly important, we…
Reply to Sanchez-Pacheco et al., Chookaȷorn, and Mavian et al.: Explaining phylogenetic network analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genomes [Letters (Online Only)]
2dWe calculated a phylogenetic analysis network of the 160 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) complete genomes submitted to the international Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) database by early March 2020, to produce a snapshot of the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic (1). Phylogenetic network analysis…
Human decisions about when to act originate within a basal forebrain-nigral circuit [Neuroscience]
2dDecisions about when to act are critical for survival in humans as in animals, but how a desire is translated into the decision that an action is worth taking at any particular point in time is incompletely understood. Here we show that a simple model developed to explain when animals…
Molecular taxonomy of human ocular outflow tissues defined by single-cell transcriptomics [Cell Biology]
2dThe conventional outflow pathway is a complex tissue responsible for maintaining intraocular pressure (IOP) homeostasis. The coordinated effort of multiple cells with differing responsibilities ensures healthy outflow function and IOP maintenance. Dysfunction of one or more resident cell types results in ocular hypertension and risk for glaucoma, a leading cause…
Here's The Real Truth Behind That Viral 'NASA Finds Parallel Universe' Story
2dDon't believe everything you read.
Earliest evidence of Italians' genetic diversity dates back to end of last glacial period
2dAround 19,000 years ago, after the Late Glacial Maximum, the surprisingly heterogeneous diversity of Italians' genomic background started to develop. It is the first time that a group of scientists manages to go that back in time in retracing Italians' genetic history.
Exploring the origins of genetic divergence within the Italian population
2dGenetic adaptations of early Italian ancestors to environmental changes, such as those that occurred soon after the Last Glacial Maximum, may explain some of the genetic differences between northern and southern Italian populations today, according to a study published in BMC Biology. The research suggests that northern and southern Italian populations may have begun to diverge genetically as earl
Malaria Mosquitoes Are Biting before Bed-Net Time
2dMosquitoes that like to bite at night are being thwarted by bed nets, leading to the rise of populations that prefer to bite when the nets are not up yet.
Preventing 'cytokine storm' may ease severe COVID-19 symptoms
2dA clinical trial in people with the new coronavirus is testing a drug that may halt an overactive immune response before it ramps up.
The Atlantic Daily: American Colleges Have No Good Options
2dEvery 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 . Getty / The Atlantic This pandemic is a reminder that, despite all the American cultural lore around them, colleges are most fundamentally physical spaces, where people gather to learn and, somet
Why barrier contraceptives (like diaphragms) are so unpopular
2dThe Prorace cervical cap took off in England in 1915. (Science Museum, London/) Donna J. Drucker is senior adviser in English as the Language of Instruction at Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany. She's most recently the author of Contraception: A Concise History . This story originally featured on MIT Press Reader . Women have used internal barriers in an attempt to prevent pregnancies as
Reported Coronavirus Cases Top 5 Million Worldwide
2dGuatemala's leader protested U.S. deportations of infected migrants, as China imposed a Wuhan-style lockdown in a region where cases have flared.
'Jaw-Dropping' Fraud Reported as Jobless Claims Reach 38.6 Million
2dPresident Trump, visiting a Michigan factory, again refused to wear a mask in public. Flags were ordered lowered for Memorial Day weekend in memory of those who died from the virus.
Malaria Mosquitoes Are Biting before Bed-Net Time
2dMosquitoes that like to bite at night are being thwarted by bed nets, leading to the rise of populations that prefer to bite when the nets are not up yet. — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
App snaps a pic of the eyelid to spot anemia
2dA new app would enable medical staff to take a picture of a patient's inner eyelid with a smartphone to get an idea of whether they have anemia, researchers report. A doctor can quickly get an idea of whether someone is anemic by pulling down the person's eyelid and judging its redness, a color indicating the number of red blood cells. But even a doctor's eye isn't precise enough to give a diagno
Prominent Scientists Denounce End to Coronavirus Grant
2dA group of 77 Nobel laureates wants the U.S. government to review a grant cancellation for research in China directly related to preventing pandemics.
'Expect More': Climate Change Raises Risk of Dam Failures
2dEngineers say most dams in the United States, designed decades ago, are unsuited to a warmer world and stronger storms.
Changes needed to prevent controversial pharmaceutical deals
2dNew research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) recommends changes to the system which sees drug companies strike deals with competitors to stop them producing cheaper generic alternatives.
Malaria Mosquitoes Are Biting before Bed-Net Time
2dMosquitoes that like to bite at night are being thwarted by bed nets, leading to the rise of populations that prefer to bite when the nets are not up yet. — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Pollution: Birds 'ingesting hundreds of bits of plastic a day'
2dPlastic pollutants in UK rivers are finding their way into wildlife and moving up the food chain.
'Preposterous.' Nobel laureates demand NIH review decision to kill coronavirus grant
2dAgency killed funding after complaints from conservative media and President Donald Trump
Coronavirus drugs: how well is the hunt for covid-19 treatments going?
2dHundreds of trials are testing known antiviral drugs, as well as those that block immune responses to coronavirus, but we may need to build a covid-19 treatment from scratch
Multi-drug regimen for heart failure could meaningfully extend patients' lives
2dA team led by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital has conducted an analysis to estimate the potential benefits of using a comprehensive regimen for heart failure patients compared to using a more conventional regimen, finding that comprehensive therapy could extend lifespan up to six years and eight years free from cardiovascular death or first hospital admission for heart failure.
Study quantifies China's chronic health burden for the first time
2dUniversity of Melbourne researchers have quantified the toll that having multiple chronic diseases takes in China for the first time, which could have significant implications for its economic and health systems. Researchers say is also timely as COVID-19 has placed further pressure on the public health emergency management system in China.
We can't (and shouldn't) expect clinicians without PPE to treat COVID-19 patients
2dWe can't, and shouldn't, expect healthcare professionals without adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) to risk their lives to care for patients with COVID-19 infection, contends an expert in a stinging rebuke, published in the Journal of Medical Ethics.
Half of moms-to-be at risk of preeclampsia are missing out on preventive aspirin
2dMore than half of moms-to-be who are at risk of the dangerously high blood pressure condition, preeclampsia, are missing out on preventive aspirin treatment, says an expert in an editorial published online in Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin.
Mental ill health 'substantial health concern' among police, finds international study
2dMental health issues among police officers are a 'substantial health concern,' with around 1 in 4 potentially drinking at hazardous levels and around 1 in 7 meeting the criteria for post traumatic stress disorder and depression, finds a pooled data analysis of the available international evidence, published online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.
Social isolation increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and death from all causes
2dThe German study, due to presented at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Virtual Congress, found that those who are socially isolated are almost 50% more likely to die from any cause.
Listen: Is There a Vaccine Shortcut?
2dOn the latest episode of the Social Distance podcast, James Hamblin and Katherine Wells ask the infectious-disease expert Stephen Thomas to explain the medical and ethical issues involved in developing a new vaccine. Listen to the episode here: Subscribe to Social Distance on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or another podcast platform to receive new episodes as soon as they're published. What follows
Wandering Stars Pass Near Our Solar System Surprisingly Often
2dOur sun has had close encounters with other stars in the past, and it's due for a dangerously close one in the not-so-distant future.
Author Correction: The wide-binary origin of (2014) MU69-like Kuiper belt contact binaries
2dNature, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2351-4 Author Correction: The wide-binary origin of (2014) MU 69 -like Kuiper belt contact binaries
Author Correction: Extreme rainfall triggered the 2018 rift eruption at Kīlauea Volcano
2dNature, Published online: 22 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2356-z
French hydroxychloroquine-COVID-19 study withdrawn
3dThe authors of a preprint on use of hydroxychloroquine — the controversial drug heavily promoted by, and now apparently taken by, President Trump, at least for a few more days — along with azithromycin for COVID-19 have withdrawn the paper. The preprint, "Hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin: a potential interest in reducing in-hospital morbidity due to COVID-19 … Continue reading
American education: It's colleges, not college students, that are failing
3dCOVID-19 has magnified the challenges that underserved communities face with regard to higher education, such as widening social inequality and sky-high tuition. At College Unbound, where I am president, we get to know students individually to understand what motivates them, so they can build a curriculum based on goals they want to achieve. My teaching mantra: Everything is permitted during COVI
Certain environmental chemicals linked with poor kidney health
3dIn an analysis of blood and urine samples from 46,748 US adults, elevated levels of seven environmental chemicals were associated with markers of kidney disease.
COVID-19 contact tracing apps are coming to a phone near you. How will we know whether they work?
3dDigital contact tracing could help stop viral spread—but it has yet to prove its worth
Michigan's dam failures are just a small part of America's aging infrastructure problem
3dAmerica has 90,000 damns listed in its national inventory, including the Hoover Dam, seen here. However, many of them are in need of repair. (Pixabay/) Two broken dams in midland Michigan have prompted the evacuation of more than 10,000 residents. The Edenville and Sanford dams were expected to reach peak flooding around 8 pm Eastern Time last night, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer told report
Survey shows parents lack understanding of teens with cancer preferred time to talk about end-of-life issues
3dChildren's National Hospital study finds that family-centered pediatric advance care planning interventions are needed to close the gaps in families' knowledge of adolescents' end-of-life treatment preferences
UVA, Peking Univ. and Cal Tech team achieves broadest microcomb spectral span on record
3dXu Yi, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Virginia, collaborated with Yun-Feng Xiao's group from Peking University and researchers at Caltech to achieve the broadest recorded spectral span in a microcomb. Their peer-reviewed paper, "Chaos-assisted two-octave-spanning microcombs," was published May 11, 2020, in Nature Communications.
$1.2 Billion From U.S. to Drugmaker to Pursue Coronavirus Vaccine
3dThe Trump administration announced a grant to AstraZeneca, which has licensed a potential vaccine that is in trials by Oxford University.
Optimizing Live Cell Monitoring
3dDownload this white paper to learn how to optimize live cell monitoring workflows for advanced cell models
A 2016 particle revealed a parallel universe. Or not.
3dNASA's ANITA observatory searches for neutrinos traveling with cosmic rays as they arrive on, and crash into, Earth. ANITA detected high-energy particles that seemed to be coming out of the Earth, which isn't supposed to be possible. After years of inconclusive hypotheses, the ANITA team published a paper claiming the particles reveal a parallel universe where time runs backwards. An Antarctic pa
Capturing the coordinated dance between electrons and nuclei in a light-excited molecule
3dUsing SLAC's high-speed 'electron camera,' scientists simultaneously captured the movements of electrons and nuclei in a light-excited molecule. This marks the first time this has been done with ultrafast electron diffraction, which scatters a powerful beam of electrons off materials to pick up tiny molecular motions.
High variability is result of complex data workflows
3dA new study offers new evidence that the complexity of contemporary analytical methods in science contributes to the variability of research outcomes.
Capturing the coordinated dance between electrons and nuclei in a light-excited molecule
3dUsing SLAC's high-speed 'electron camera,' scientists simultaneously captured the movements of electrons and nuclei in a light-excited molecule. This marks the first time this has been done with ultrafast electron diffraction, which scatters a powerful beam of electrons off materials to pick up tiny molecular motions.
Newspapers report on car safety recalls less when manufacturers advertise more with them
3dA new study looked at the relationship between advertising by car manufacturers in US newspapers and news coverage of car safety recalls in the early 2000s. The study found that newspapers provided less coverage of recalls issued by manufacturers that advertised more regularly in their publications than of recalls issued by other manufacturers that did not advertise, and this occurred more frequen
Preventing 'cytokine storm' may ease severe COVID-19 symptoms
3dA clinical trial in people with the new coronavirus is testing a drug that may halt an overactive immune response before it ramps up.
Experts: China Is Pulling Ahead in Race to Identify Extraterrestrials
3dFirst Contact With China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) in place, astronomers say the country is positioning itself as the new leader in the search for extraterrestrial life. Traditionally, SETI research has been a largely Western pursuit, scientists told Space.com . But FAST bucks that trend — if there's any first contact to be made with alien civilizations, resea
Stop Phone Scammers, Text Spammers, and Robocalls Once and for All With Uncall
3dIf you have a phone number, you're probably bombarded by scammers , spammers, telemarketers, and robocalls on a daily basis. In fact, you're probably resigned to the fact that they're an inevitable part of life. But in fact, there's a way to eliminate them entirely with a one-time payment of as little as $10 per device. It's called Uncall , and you can get started right now for free. The first st
Board and card games to boost your vocabulary
3dThere are many benefits to developing one's vocabulary beyond just sounding smarter. A stronger vocabulary can boost confidence, improve comprehension, and make you a better communicator. The entire family can learn and practice new words with these fun games. Building a larger vocabulary is about much more than being able to impress people with big words. Francie Alexander, VP and chief academic
For This Psychologist, the Coronavirus Offers a Unique Opportunity to Study Ourselves
3dNew technology and a once-in-a-generation crisis are helping social scientists understand human behavior like never before.
Writing found on "blank" Dead Sea Scroll fragments
3dSeveral seemingly blank fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls have been found to have writing on them. The text was found accidentally, and only confirmed with multispectral imaging. The newly found text seems to relate to the book of Ezekiel. According to the findings of The University of Manchester, the famous Dead Sea Scrolls have a little more to tell us. A collection of scroll fragments once dis
Doctors race to understand rare inflammatory condition associated with coronavirus in young people
3dStudies launching could pinpoint children most at risk
Study unveils many ways carcinogens trigger development of breast cancer
3dScientists have created a detailed map that describes the many ways in which environmental chemicals can trigger breast cancer. Using ionizing radiation as a model, the researchers identified key mechanisms within cells that when disrupted cause the disease. Because the findings can be generalized to other environmental carcinogens, they could help regulators identify chemicals that increase breas
Lungs of deceased COVID-19 patients show distinctive features
3dIn a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), senior author, Steven J. Mentzer, MD, thoracic surgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and a team of international researchers examined seven lungs obtained during autopsy from patients who died of COVID-19.
Researchers: As Ohio abortion regulations increased, disparities in care emerged
3dOhio has seen a growing disparity between abortion rates in rural and urban communities, later abortions, and less use of medication abortion care as the state has heavily regulated abortion and clinics have closed, a new study has found.
New Bionic Eye Might See Better Than We Do
3dThe ability to restore sight to the blind is one of the most profound acts of healing medicine can achieve, in terms of the impact on the affected patient's life — and one of the most difficult for modern medicine to achieve. We can restore vision in a limited number of scenarios and there are some early bionic eyes on the market that can restore limited vision in very specific scenarios. Researc
Untangling a key step in photosynthetic oxygen production
3dResearchers 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.
High variability is result of complex data workflows
3dA new study offers new evidence that the complexity of contemporary analytical methods in science contributes to the variability of research outcomes.
Epigenetic mechanisms of blood cell differentiation
3dIn 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
Drug combination could eliminate side effects of once-popular diabetes treatment
3dA new 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.
Next generation of soft robots inspired by a children's toy
3dBuckling, 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. Researchers have harnessed that energy and used buckling to their advantage to build
New technique separates industrial noise from natural seismic signals
3dFor the first time, seismologists can characterize signals as a result of some industrial human activity on a continent-wide scale using cloud computing.
Why Oxytocin Is Incredible and How to Get More of It
3dHere are some cool facts about this amazing hormone and how you can help your brain to release more of it — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Why Oxytocin Is Incredible and How to Get More of It
3dHere are some cool facts about this amazing hormone and how you can help your brain to release more of it — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Tracking the tinderbox: Stanford scientists map wildfire fuel moisture across western US
3dResearchers have developed a deep-learning model that maps fuel moisture levels in fine detail across 12 western states, opening a door for better fire predictions.
Family environment affects adolescent brain development
3dChildhood environment and socioeconomic status affect cognitive ability and brain development during adolescence independently of genetic factors, researchers report. The study demonstrates how important the family environment is, not just during early infancy but also throughout adolescence.
Heating poppy seeds, but not baking them in muffins, reduces opiate levels
3dYou might have heard the advice to avoid eating a poppy seed bagel or muffin before a drug screen, lest you test positive for opiates. This urban legend is rooted in truth because the tiny black seeds contain small amounts of morphine and codeine that can show up in a drug test. Now, researchers have studied how different treatments affect levels of opiates in poppy seeds.
Inspiring stories from women like themselves helped these moms improve their diet
3dWhen researchers asked prospective study participants who they would like to see in videos promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors, the answer was unequivocal: They wanted to see themselves — that is, other mothers living in low-income households who were overweight or obese. The researchers obliged. And the intervention they designed produced the desired results when it came to improving participa
Obesity not related to how close you live to fast food or gyms
3dA new study has shown no correlation between obesity and how close you live to fast food restaurants or gyms. Studies from other countries have previously indicated that these factors may be important in adult obesity.
The future is knocking: Global food production to be transformed using new technology
3dThe world's growing population will necessitate a 30-70% increase in food production over the next 3 decades. If we are to succeed, it will require a complete overhaul of the way we produce food. Researchers have now created an overview of solutions that include a number of new technologies that can collectively address this global challenge.
CRISPR a tool for conservation, not just gene editing
3dThe gene-editing technology CRISPR has been used for a variety of agricultural and public health purposes — from growing disease-resistant crops to, more recently, a diagnostic test for the virus that causes COVID-19. Now a study involving fish that look nearly identical to the endangered Delta smelt finds that CRISPR can be a conservation and resource management tool, as well. The researchers th
Court says dinosaur fossils worth millions aren't minerals
3dDinosaur fossils aren't minerals under state law, a divided Montana Supreme Court said in a ruling Wednesday that has implications in an ongoing legal battle over the ownership of millions of dollars of fossils unearthed on an eastern Montana ranch.
Capturing the coordinated dance between electrons and nuclei in a light-excited molecule
3dUsing a high-speed "electron camera" at the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, scientists have simultaneously captured the movements of electrons and nuclei in a molecule after it was excited with light. This marks the first time this has been done with ultrafast electron diffraction, which scatters a powerful beam of electrons off materials to pick up tiny molecular moti
Scientists Discover A Clever Trick Bumblebees Use To Make Flowers Bloom Earlier
3dNew research published on Thursday shows that bumblebees make small moon-shaped incisions in plants' leaves — and those damaged plants appear to flower earlier than plants the bees don't visit.
Marine Biologist and Inventor John Kanwisher Dies
3dThe Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution scientist developed telemetry devices to study animals' physiology in the wild.
NASA Snow campaign wraps 2020 survey
3dAs spring and summer temperatures return to the Northern Hemisphere, winter's snow is melting, releasing precious fresh water into Earth's streams, rivers and oceans. This annual change provides liquid water for drinking, agriculture and hydropower for more than one billion people around the world. In the future, NASA plans to use a satellite mission to measure how much water the world's winter sn
Low-severity fires enhance long-term carbon retention of peatlands
3dHigh-intensity fires can destroy peat bogs and cause them to emit huge amounts of their stored carbon into the atmosphere as greenhouse gases, but a new Duke University study finds low-severity fires spark the opposite outcome.
Joe Biden Answers Your Most Searched Questions About Him
3dThe Democratic presidential candidate responds to the internet's most searched questions, including his stances on immigration, education, and gun control.
Bees force plants to flower early by cutting holes in their leaves
3dHungry bumblebees can make plants flower up to a month earlier than usual by cutting holes in their leaves, which may help them adapt to climate change
Scientists Want to Build Nuclear Reactors to Power Moon Colony
3dAdditional Pylons A team of scientists and engineers is hard at work building nuclear reactors to provide energy to settlements on the Moon and Mars . As space agencies around move to establish a permanent human presence on other worlds, the question of how to provide them with power has long lingered unsolved, Chemical & Engineering News reports . Because resupply missions are challenging and su
Get out of my personal s p a c e
3dHow does the brain dynamically represent our personal space? It's more interesting, and complicated, than you may think.
There May Be a Unique Coronavirus Immune Response
3dWe're starting to get a clearer picture of how the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus works when it infects the body, and there are some surprises emerging. This new paper in Cell is an example ( here's a writeup on it at Stat ). We already know the RNA sequence of the virus very well, naturally, and that's allowing us both to track mutations and to lay out exactly what proteins it forces a cell to make once
Low-severity fires enhance long-term carbon retention of peatlands
3dHigh-intensity fires can destroy marshy peatlands and cause them to emit huge amounts of their stored carbon into the atmosphere as greenhouse gases, but a new Duke University study finds low-severity fires spark the opposite outcome. By creating a decay-inhibiting crust on clumps of moist soil particles within the peatland, the smaller surface fires help protect the stored carbon and enhance peat
COVID-19 evidence and strategies for orthopaedic surgeons
3dHow should orthopaedic surgeons respond to the COVID-19 pandemic? A review in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery analyzes evidence and strategies for managing the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus – including critical lessons from past pandemics. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.
How you can avoid 'Zoom fatigue'
3dZoom meetings can feel more taxing than face-to-face meetings, a psychologist says. Video conferencing offers a way to stay connected with coworkers, family, and friends during the coronavirus pandemic. But too much of it can tax our brains to the point of "Zoom fatigue." Priti Shah , a psychology professor at the University of Michigan, studies cognitive tasks that require managing multiple goal
Climate change could cause droughts across North America
3dWhile increasing aridity is already a clear trend across the western United States, at the same time, human-caused warming is also driving increased aridity eastward across North America, with no end in sight, researchers report. Climate change is contributing to declining river flows, drier soils, widespread tree death, stressed agricultural crops, catastrophic wildfires , and protracted drought
Scientists identify chemicals in noxious weed that 'disarm' deadly bacteria
3dScientists have identified specific compounds from the Brazilian peppertree — a weedy, invasive shrub in Florida — that reduce the virulence of antibiotic-resistant staph bacteria. Scientific Reports published the research, demonstrating that triterpenoid acids in the red berries of the plant "disarm" dangerous staph bacteria by blocking its ability to produce toxins.
Teleradiology enables social distancing during coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic
3dTransitioning from on-site interpretation of imaging studies to remote interpretation via home PACS workstations requires a careful balancing of hospital and departmental finances, engineering choices, and educational and philosophical workflow issues, according to an open-access article published ahead-of-print by the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR).
Capturing the coordinated dance between electrons and nuclei in a light-excited molecule
3dUsing SLAC's high-speed 'electron camera,' scientists simultaneously captured the movements of electrons and nuclei in a light-excited molecule. This marks the first time this has been done with ultrafast electron diffraction, which scatters a powerful beam of electrons off materials to pick up tiny molecular motions.
UK coronavirus test with 20-minute wait being trialled
3dTrial for test, separate to antibody test, involves 4,000 people and will run for six weeks Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The government has announced the start of trials for a new test to see if people have coronavirus, with results processed on site within 20 minutes. The news came as the health secretary, Matt Hancock, said the UK had made a deal to receive up t
Population of world's strangest plant threatened by climate change
3dHardy and resilient welwitschia is unlike anything else on Earth, but climate change appears to be pushing these plants past their limits
Gilt yields sink below zero as investors brace for more rate cuts
3dYields on 2- year and 5-year UK debt drop to record lows
Coronavirus: 'Fires were tough, but closing Mogo Zoo again was even harder'
3dOnly weeks after reopening, Australia's fire-ravaged Mogo Zoo had to close again because of Covid-19.
Tracking the tinderbox: Stanford scientists map wildfire fuel moisture across western US
3dResearchers have developed a deep-learning model that maps fuel moisture levels in fine detail across 12 western states, opening a door for better fire predictions.
British banks warn BoE of pain of negative rates
3dLenders say move to deal with coronavirus impact would hit profits and ability to cope with loan losses
Hurricane Season Will Be Above Average, NOAA Warns
3dFederal forecasters expect 3 to 6 major hurricanes during the 2020 hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 1. Rising seas and a warmer climate make storms of all sizes more damaging. (Image credit: NOAA via AP)
Biophysicists find a way to take a peek at how membrane receptors work
3dIn a study published in Current Opinion in Structural Biology, 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.
Ramadan 2020: A Holy Month During a Pandemic
3dWith varying lockdowns in place, and safety measures enacted by local communities, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan has been observed very differently around the world this year. Large gatherings at mosques have been canceled, communal iftar meals have been reduced to smaller family groups in their homes, and visits to extended family have been cut short. Gathered here, some images from the past
Biophysicists find a way to take a peek at how membrane receptors work
3dIn a study published in Current Opinion in Structural Biology, 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.
Jumping rope is an unbeatable cardio workout—if you do it correctly
3dIt's challenging. (Photo by dylan nolte on Unsplash/) Jump ropes are more complex than you may realize. They range from the classic, nostalgia-inducing beaded ropes of playgrounds, to speed ropes equipped with a light, thin metal wire that can cost north of $100. With the pandemic keeping so many people at home, a good rope will allow you to exercise within whatever space you have available. Plus
SpaceX Says "High Chance" Human Launch Will Be Pushed Back
3dScrub Hub SpaceX may well make history on May 27, launching the first astronauts to space from American soil since the retirement of NASA's Space Shuttle program in 2011. But bad weather could end up delaying the historic launch. "I would expect there to be a very high chance of scrub due to the weather," SpaceX Director of Crew Mission Management Benji Reed told Click Orlando . "And given the ti
Downing Street appoints senior civil servant to new coronavirus role
3dOfficials insist promotion of Simon Case is not a snub to cabinet secretary Mark Sedwill
Bumblebees Bite Plants to Force Them to Flower (Seriously)
3dThe behavior could be an evolutionary adaptation that lets bees forage more easily — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
New Army 3-D printing study shows promise for predictive maintenance
3dArmy researchers have discovered a way to monitor the performance of 3D printed parts, which tend to have imperfections that affect performance in ways traditionally-machined parts do not.
Autistic burnout
3dhas been a matter of extreme and under-examined urgency for far too long. I hope our work opens a new avenue of research into understanding, relieving, and preventing it in our community.
High stress related to coronavirus is the new normal for many parents, says new APA survey
3dNearly half of parents of children under age 18 say their stress levels related to the coronavirus pandemic are high, with managing their kids' online learning a significant source of stress for many, according to a new survey by the American Psychological Association.
Just a little physical activity pays big dividends to high risk breast cancer patients
3dResults of a comprehensive analysis of exercise and its protective role for high-risk breast cancer patients show that women who exercise not only live longer, but also are more likely to remain cancer-free after their treatment. What's more, the study suggests that even a modest amount of exercise can be beneficial.
Social isolation linked to more severe COVID-19 outbreaks
3dRegions of Italy with higher family fragmentation and a high number of residential nursing homes experienced the highest rate of COVID-19 infections in people over age 80, according to a new study published May 21, 2020 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Giuseppe Liotta of the University of Rome, Italy, and colleagues.
Tropical forests can handle the heat, up to a point
3dTropical forests face an uncertain future under climate change, but new research published in Science suggests they can continue to store large amounts of carbon in a warmer world, if countries limit greenhouse gas emissions.
How to identify which interventions work best in a pandemic
3dIn lieu of a vaccine or reliable preventative medications, the only approaches currently available to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 are behavioral — handwashing, mask-wearing and social distancing, for example.
New map reveals global scope of groundwater arsenic risk
3dUp to 220 million people worldwide, with approximately 94% of them in Asia, could be at risk of drinking well water containing harmful levels of arsenic, a tasteless, odorless and naturally occurring poison.
Long-term resilience of Earth's tropical forests in warmer world
3dA long-term assessment of the sensitivity of hundreds of tropical forest plots to increasing temperatures brings encouraging news: in the long run, Earth's tropical forests may be more resilient to a moderately warming world than short-term predictions have suggested.
When plant pollen scarce, bumblebees biting leaves causes flowers to bloom early
3dFacing a scarcity of pollen, bumblebees will nibble on the leaves of flowerless plants, causing intentional damage in such a way that accelerates the production of flowers, according to a new study, which reports on a previously unknown behavior of bumblebees.
Next-generation solar cells pass strict international tests
3dA cost-effective method to stabilise perovskite solar cells could soon see them become commercially viable.
NIST researchers boost microwave signal stability a hundredfold
3dResearchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have used state-of-the-art atomic clocks, advanced light detectors, and a measurement tool called a frequency comb to boost the stability of microwave signals 100-fold. This marks a giant step toward better electronics to enable more accurate time dissemination, improved navigation, more reliable communications and higher-res
Learning about reporting in a public health emergency from Sierra Leone's Ebola outbreak
3dIn a paper publishing May 21 in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, researchers have interviewed Sierra Leonean journalists about their experiences reporting during the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak. The experiences of these journalists may be able to help inform current efforts to communicate about COVID-19.
Elimination of human African trypanosomiasis within reach, study finds
3dPublic health officials report in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases that the elimination of human African trypanosomiasis as a public health problem is within reach, with fewer than 1,000 new cases reported in 2018.
Meanwhile, Antarctica's snow is turning green
3dOn the Antarctic Peninsula, so-called snow algae are turning the snow green. The algae thrive on temperatures just above freezing, which are increasingly common. Antarctica's green snow could lay the groundwork for a whole new ecosystem. First ever map With COVID-19's stranglehold on the news cycle, it's enough to wax nostalgic about the other varieties of existential dread that used to stalk our
Measuring blood damage
3dRed 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.
How the coronavirus pandemic is affecting wildlife and conservation
3dPoaching is up, zoos are running out of money and conservation funding has been slashed. But there's hope the pandemic could make biodiversity a higher priority
HPV vaccine linked to fewer premature births in Australia
3dAn estimated 2000 premature births seem to have been prevented by widespread HPV vaccination in Australia, possibly by protecting against damage to the cervix
Scientists Disguise Cancer-Hunting Nanorobots as Blood Cells
3dIn order to find and treat cancerous tumors, a team of scientists is working on an aggressive new approach that involves a swarm of tiny, cancer-killing robots . The idea is to inject the nanobots, which are engineered to look and travel like white blood cells, into a patient's veins and move them around inside the body with powerful magnets. "Our vision was to create the next-generation vehicle
Hungry bumblebees make plants flower early by cutting holes in their leaves
3dA chance greenhouse discovery reveals the insects have evolved a clever strategy to order up a meal
Tropical forests soak up huge amounts of greenhouse gas. Climate change could end that
3dIf forests get too hot, they'll release carbon, not store it, study finds
Bumblebees Bite Plants to Force Them to Flower (Seriously)
3dThe behavior could be an evolutionary adaptation that lets bees forage more easily — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Bank of England pivots and starts to contemplate negative rates
3dAndrew Bailey says policy of being against move now under 'active review'
Covid recovery could 'tip the balance' for nature
3dScientists call for the conservation of nature to be at the centre of the economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic.
Nature: Bumblebees' 'clever trick' fools plants into flowering
3dScientists discover a new behaviour among bumblebees that tricks plants into flowering early.
Tropical forests can handle the heat, up to a point
3dTropical forests face an uncertain future under climate change, but new research published in Science suggests they can continue to store large amounts of carbon in a warmer world, if countries limit greenhouse gas emissions.
Scientists boost microwave signal stability a hundredfold
3dResearchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have used state-of-the-art atomic clocks, advanced light detectors, and a measurement tool called a frequency comb to boost the stability of microwave signals 100-fold. This marks a giant step toward better electronics to enable more accurate time dissemination, improved navigation, more reliable communications and higher-res
Global threat of arsenic in groundwater
3dNaturally occurring arsenic in groundwater affects millions of people worldwide. We created a global prediction map of groundwater arsenic exceeding 10 micrograms per liter using a random forest machine-learning model based on 11 geospatial environmental parameters and more than 50,000 aggregated data points of measured groundwater arsenic concentration. Our global prediction map includes known a
Aligned, high-density semiconducting carbon nanotube arrays for high-performance electronics
3dSingle-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) may enable the fabrication of integrated circuits smaller than 10 nanometers, but this would require scalable production of dense and electronically pure semiconducting nanotube arrays on wafers. We developed a multiple dispersion and sorting process that resulted in extremely high semiconducting purity and a dimension-limited self-alignment (DLSA) procedure
Observation of Floquet solitons in a topological bandgap
3dTopological protection is a universal phenomenon that applies to electronic, photonic, ultracold atomic, mechanical, and other systems. The vast majority of research in these systems has explored the linear domain, where interparticle interactions are negligible. We experimentally observed solitons—waves that propagate without changing shape as a result of nonlinearity—in a photonic Floquet topol
Projecting the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 through the postpandemic period
3dIt is urgent to understand the future of severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission. We used estimates of seasonality, immunity, and cross-immunity for human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43) and HCoV-HKU1 using time-series data from the United States to inform a model of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. We projected that recurrent wintertime outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 will probabl
Long-term thermal sensitivity of Earths tropical forests
3dThe sensitivity of tropical forest carbon to climate is a key uncertainty in predicting global climate change. Although short-term drying and warming are known to affect forests, it is unknown if such effects translate into long-term responses. Here, we analyze 590 permanent plots measured across the tropics to derive the equilibrium climate controls on forest carbon. Maximum temperature is the m
Precise pitch-scaling of carbon nanotube arrays within three-dimensional DNA nanotrenches
3dPrecise fabrication of semiconducting carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into densely aligned evenly spaced arrays is required for ultrascaled technology nodes. We report the precise scaling of inter-CNT pitch using a supramolecular assembly method called spatially hindered integration of nanotube electronics. Specifically, by using DNA brick crystal-based nanotrenches to align DNA-wrapped CNTs through DNA
DNA-directed nanofabrication of high-performance carbon nanotube field-effect transistors
3dBiofabricated semiconductor arrays exhibit smaller channel pitches than those created using existing lithographic methods. However, the metal ions within biolattices and the submicrometer dimensions of typical biotemplates result in both poor transport performance and a lack of large-area array uniformity. Using DNA-templated parallel carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays as model systems, we developed a
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