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Taking inventory of which drugs the world is using to treat COVID-19
2dNew research catalogued every COVID treatment documented in medical literature so far and found physicians have reported on the use of more than 100 different off-label and experimental treatments.
Mouse model mimics SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans
2dA mouse model of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reproduces features observed in human patients, researchers report.
Simple and readily available saline solution can reliably transport COVID-19 samples to testing labs
2dIn the face of dwindling supplies of virus transport media, cheap and readily available phosphate buffered saline can be used to safely store and transport coronavirus samples for up to 18 hours, researchers report.
Clues to COVID-19 in the brain uncovered in new study
2dA study reviewing neuroimaging and neurological symptoms in patients with COVID-19 may shed light on the virus's impact on the central nervous system.
A potential explanation for urban smog: Aerosol particle growth higher in cold climates
2dThe effect of nitric acid on aerosol particles in the atmosphere may offer an explanation for the smog seen engulfing cities on frosty days. Under laboratory conditions, researchers at CERN in Switzerland observed the formation of atmospheric aerosols and discovered new information on the link between nitrogen oxides originating in traffic and the energy industry, and the climate and air quality.
Artificial intelligence reveals mechanism for kin selection in a wild primate
2dMore like mom or dad? Human babies always get this curious look on their face combined with the question whom the child resembles most. The answers vary depending on the degree of kinship, gender and the time of assessment. Mandrills, monkeys living in Equatorial Africa, may recognize facial features coding relatedness better than humans. Scientists at the German Primate Center—Leibniz Institute f
Initial Upper Paleolithic technology reached North China by around 41,000 years ago
2dA wave of new technology in the Late Paleolithic had reached North China by around 41,000 years ago, according to a study published May 27, 2020 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Fei Peng of the Minzu University of China, Beijing and colleagues.
In stressed ecosystems Jurassic dinosaurs turned to scavenging, maybe even cannibalism
2dAmong dinosaurs of ancient Colorado, scavenging and possibly cannibalism were responses to a resource-scarce environment, according to a study published May 27, 2020 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Stephanie Drumheller of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and colleagues.
Exploring the use of 'stretchable' words in social media
2dAn investigation of Twitter messages reveals new insights and tools for studying how people use stretched words, such as "duuuuude," "heyyyyy," or "noooooooo." Tyler Gray and colleagues at the University of Vermont in Burlington present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on May 27, 2020.
New clues to deep earthquake mystery
2dA new understanding of our planet's deepest earthquakes could help unravel one of the most mysterious geophysical processes on Earth.
Study shows erosion of ozone layer responsible for mass extinction event
2dResearchers at the University of Southampton have shown that an extinction event 360 million years ago, that killed much of the Earth's plant and freshwater aquatic life, was caused by a brief breakdown of the ozone layer that shields the Earth from damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This is a newly discovered extinction mechanism with profound implications for our warming world today.
Digital contact tracing for COVID-19: an analysis of strengths and limitations
2dAn article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) analyzes the strengths and limitations of digital contact tracing for people infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to help governments decide if and how they might adopt this technology.
Algorithm speeds up ocean search-and-rescue missions
2dA new algorithm can speed up search and rescue operations at sea, according to a new study. The algorithm accurately predicts locations to which objects and people floating in water will drift. Hundreds of people die at sea every year due to vessel and airplane accidents. Emergency teams have little time to rescue those in the water because the probability of finding a person alive plummets after
Rules, not lawsuits, are the way to make workplaces safe
2dRegulation should play the main role in ensuring employers protect their workers
Watch the Astronauts Give Their Kids Virtual Hugs Before Launch
2dVirtual Hugs NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are officially on their way to Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Their journey could become the first time astronauts have returned to the International Space Station from American soil since 2011. Their ride is a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft that's lifting off at 4:33 pm Eastern time — if everything goes according to plan
Impact of a health system's three-pronged strategy to address the opioid epidemic
2dIn the past two decades more than 700,000 people have died from a drug overdose in the United States. In 2017, more than 68% of the drug overdose deaths involved an opioid. To help stem this epidemic, Highmark Inc. developed, implemented and evaluated a series of quality management-focused opioid interventions utilizing a three-pronged public health approach.
Depression viewed differently when thought to be biological
2dPeople who believe more strongly that depression is biologically caused also tend to think it is more severe and long lasting, compared to those who see less of a role for biological causes, a new Rutgers study finds.
Von der Leyen lays out EU rescue plan
2dProposals include €500bn in grants for hardest-hit countries with additional €250bn for loans
Stop locking yourselves into left/right paradigms. We need to abandon tribalism and unite in the pursuit of scientific advancement for the good all of humanity. Today at 4:30 EST SpaceX is launching NASA astronauts to the ISS. This is a very exciting time to be alive!
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Scientists find genes to save ash trees from deadly beetle
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Research reveals gene role in both dementia and severe Covid-19
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Meat on demand: Israeli company is 3D printing steaks
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Nasa and SpaceX are on course to make history today by launching two astronauts inside the Crew Dragon capsule from US soil for the first time since 2011. Watch crew demo-2 live!
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How Scientists Influenced Monkeys' Decisions Using Ultrasound in Their Brains
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The covid-19 crisis is compressing and accelerating economic trends that would have taken decades to play out in the US economy
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Hydrogen Primed For Key Role in World's Greenest Stimulus Plan. "Hydrogen is emerging as a fuel of the future in a growing number of European countries, including the Netherlands, Germany and Portugal. "
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Video shows this gamedev AI possibilities – it understands text given in two languages at once, can retell information and much more, without the usage of neural networks. Do you think it can be the future of virtual assistants and video games?
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Amazon in Advanced Talks to Buy Self-Driving-Car Tech Company Zoox
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The UK needs to invest an additional £30bn a year in shovel-ready green projects to create jobs, energise the post-lockdown economy and put the country back on track to achieve its climate targets, a new cross-party commission recommends.
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Aging Dams, Changing Climate: A Dangerous Mix – "Infrastructure currently designed for historical climate conditions is more vulnerable to future weather extremes and climate change."
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Wearable medical tech is about to become crucial for staying alive
2dMedical treatment today primarily takes the form of drugs and therapy . But a third option is slowly emerging: on-body, digital devices that can treat both mental and physical conditions. Such "wearable" therapy offers unique advantages in that it is often more targeted, cheaper, personalized, and has fewer negative side effects. submitted by /u/TruePixelg [link] [comments]
Battery Farm Could Replace Coal Plant ~ it's a collection of lithium-ion batteries on roughly eight acres of land in the Kapolei Harborside industrial project near a Hawaiian Electric substation.
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'The human fingerprint is everywhere': Met Office's alarming warning on climate – Exclusively compiled data from the Hadley Centre's supercomputer shows alarming climate trajectory
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Heatwaves: India must stand up to certain countries' climate lethargy. The increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves is becoming de rigeur. There were 484 recorded heatwaves across India in 2018, up from 21 in 2010, and last year's May-June heatwave was India's second-longest on record
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Japanese cell cultured meat co IntegriCulture raises $7.4m, aims to commercialize foie gras in 2021
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Exclusive: Machine Learning Company Insitro Raises $143 Million To Bridge Biology And AI
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Spain approves push for 100% renewable, bans all new fossil fuel projects. The draft law, once approved, would immediately ban all new coal, oil, and gas extraction projects, end fossil fuel subsidies, and lay out a pathway to generate 100% renewable energy and reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
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Companies must pay share of rent for employees working from home – Switzerland's top court has ruled that employers are required to contribute to employees' rent payments if they are expected to work from home.
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33 Million Businesses in China Have Been Assigned Rankings Under the Social Credit System
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By 2070, More Than 3 Billion People May Live Outside the "Human Climate Niche": If we don't act now to curb climate change, we may be faced with the migration of a third of the world's future population.
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Boeing to axe 12,000 US workers even as Max assembly resumes
2dAircraft manufacturer says production of grounded jet will initially be at 'low rate'
CU Anschutz surgeons study guidelines for treating cancer patients during pandemic
2dToday, new research published in Annals of Surgery from the University of Colorado Department of Surgery at the Anschutz Medical Campus provides guidance on clinical decision-making in regards to treating pancreatic cancer patients during the covid-19 pandemic.
SpaceX crewed flight is 'go for launch': NASA chief
2dSpaceX Launch NASA
SpaceX's historic first crewed launch was set to proceed as scheduled Wednesday, NASA announced at midday, but some uncertainty remained over weather conditions just over four hours before takeoff.
Bob and Doug, the best friends on historic SpaceX-NASA mission
2dRobert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, the astronauts set to launch into orbit on a SpaceX rocket Wednesday, are both former military pilots, both recruited by NASA in 2000, and both married to fellow astronauts.
Daily briefing: How scientific illustrators have made the coronavirus visible
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01594-0 Drawing the portrait of an invisible enemy, the epic battle against coronavirus conspiracy theories and a new era of human spaceflight starts today.
'Nature's antifreeze' provides formula for more durable concrete
2dSecrets to cementing the sustainability of our future infrastructure may come from nature, such as proteins that keep plants and animals from freezing in extremely cold conditions. Researchers have discovered that a synthetic molecule based on natural antifreeze proteins minimizes freeze-thaw damage and increases the strength and durability of concrete, improving the longevity of new infrastructur
How we got to this point
2dHurley SpaceX NASA
Why is SpaceX launching astronauts to the International Space Station for Nasa?
Researchers use whole living cells as 'templates' to seek for bioactive molecules
2dA study performed by researchers at the Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC) from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) pioneers the use of whole living cells (human lung adenocarcinoma) in dynamic combinatorial chemistry systems. This research, published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition, proposes a new methodology to discover new bioactive molecules in
Public parks guaranteeing sustainable well-being
2dAn international team led by the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has ascertained how green spaces contribute to the well-being of city-dwellers. The research shows that parks play an essential role in the well-being of individuals, regardless of their social class, and that they cannot be replaced by other venues where people meet, such as shopping centers. When these parks are closed—as during the C
French tests show even mild coronavirus illness leads to antibodies
2dStudy raises hope of immunity even for those without severe symptoms Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage A medical study in France suggests even mild cases of coronavirus infection, not requiring hospital treatment, produce antibodies in almost all patients, with the body's defences against the virus increasing during the weeks of recovery. The research, led by a team fr
Researchers use whole living cells as 'templates' to seek for bioactive molecules
2dA study performed by researchers at the Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC) from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) pioneers the use of whole living cells (human lung adenocarcinoma) in dynamic combinatorial chemistry systems. This research, published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition, proposes a new methodology to discover new bioactive molecules in
Scientists Have Used Fast Radio Bursts to Find The Universe's Missing Matter
2dAlways the last place you look…
Smithsonian Volcano Expert Answers Questions on Topics Ranging From Yellowstone's 'Big One' to Skunk Pee
2dGeologist Liz Cottrell answers your questions in the second season of the National Museum of Natural History's YouTube series, 'The Dr. Is In'
Alla tycker killarna är bättre – rapport från en högstadieskola
2dPrestation, tävlan, jämförelse och en norm som säger att killar är bättre än tjejer. Det fann idrottsvetaren Marie Larneby när hon följde en årskull elever genom hela högstadiet på en idrottsprofilerad högstadieskola. – Det är problematiskt när sådana normer får råda i ett skolsammanhang och det leder till rangordning, säger Marie Larneby. I avhandlingen från Malmö universitet beskriver och probl
No lockdown, few ventilators, but Ethiopia is beating Covid-19
2dThe country has harnessed community healthcare to great effect to fight the pandemic
Rijksmuseum given unique painting to remember virus victims
2dAmsterdam's Rijksmuseum will display a famous 16th-century painting donated to commemorate victims of the coronavirus when it re-opens next week, almost three months after closing its doors, the museum said Wednesday.
This pandemic is not an extended sabbatical
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01591-3 Jokes about productivity hide the toxicity of academic 'always on' culture, says Daphne S. Ling.
These bacteria have adapted to life in your nose—and that may be good news
2dMicrobes may shield you from allergies and disease
'Nature's antifreeze' provides formula for more durable concrete
2dSecrets to cementing the sustainability of our future infrastructure may come from nature, such as proteins that keep plants and animals from freezing in extremely cold conditions. Researchers have discovered that a synthetic molecule based on natural antifreeze proteins minimizes freeze-thaw damage and increases the strength and durability of concrete, improving the longevity of new infrastructur
Merck adopts 'error catastrophe' coronavirus drug
2dPill that aims to force virus to mutate to self-destruction set for extensive clinical trials in US and UK
Tanzanian president accused of covering up Covid-19 outbreak
2dJohn Magufuli has repeatedly played down the threat from the pandemic Opposition politicians in Tanzania have accused president John Magufuli of covering up a major outbreak of Covid-19 in the east African country. Magufuli has repeatedly played down the threat from the pandemic and refused to impose a strict lockdown as many other leaders on the continent have. Continue reading…
Disease Historian: US COVID Response "Incomprehensibly Incoherent"
2dFor medical historian John Barry, looking at how the U.S. government has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic is a frustrating endeavor. Barry, who was part of President George W. Bush's pandemic preparedness team and wrote extensively about the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, told The Washington Post that the Trump Administration's messaging and response to the coronavirus has been "incomprehensibly in
Head of UK 'test and trace' system warns won't be 'world-class' at start
2dProgramme to avert new spike in coronavirus infections set to launch on Thursday
SpaceX on cusp of launching astronauts, back on home turf
2dSpaceX was on the cusp of launching NASA astronauts into orbit Wednesday, a first for a private company and a giant leap forward for the booming business of space travel.
NASA chief "all in" for Tom Cruise to film on space station
2dNASA is rolling out the International Space Station's red carpet for Tom Cruise to make a movie in orbit.
Elon Musk's SpaceX Suit Is Like a Tuxedo for the Starship Enterprise
2dNASA SpaceX Hurley
It also may herald the return of wearable tech.
Cyclones can damage even distant reefs
2dBig and strong cyclones can harm coral reefs as far as 1000 kilometres away from their paths, new research shows.
Researchers take a cue from nature to create bulletproof coatings
2dShrimp, lobsters and mushrooms may not seem like great tools for the battlefield, but three engineers from the University of Houston are using chitin—a derivative of glucose found in the cellular walls of arthropods and fungi—and 3-D printing techniques to produce high-impact multilayered coatings that can protect soldiers against bullets, lasers, toxic gas and other dangers.
Public parks guaranteeing sustainable well-being
2dResearchers have ascertained how green spaces contribute to the well-being of city-dwellers. The research shows that parks play an essential role in the well-being of individuals, regardless of their social class, and that they cannot be replaced by other venues where people meet, such as shopping centers. When these parks are closed — as during the COVID-19 pandemic — it intensifies inequalitie
Researchers incorporate computer vision and uncertainty into AI for robotic prosthetics
2dResearchers have developed new software that can be integrated with existing hardware to enable people using robotic prosthetics or exoskeletons to walk in a safer, more natural manner on different types of terrain. The new framework incorporates computer vision into prosthetic leg control, and includes robust artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that allow the software to better account for un
How a network of hospitals reduced average age at cerebral palsy diagnosis to 9.5 months
2dFive hospital systems in the United States have become the first in the world to successfully implement, in clinical practice, international CP diagnosis guidelines that were released in 2017. Their efforts, which resulted in an average decrease of 10 months in time-to-diagnosis, demonstrate the practicality and effectiveness of the guidelines for improving age at diagnosis.
Training bystanders to intervene will help to prevent domestic violence and abuse, study shows
2dEmpowering people to intervene when they witness unacceptable behaviour can help to prevent domestic violence and abuse, a new study has found.
Molecular pair offers potential for Parkinson's treatment, finds NTU Singapore-Harvard study
2dA promising molecular pair has offered hope that could lead to the development of a new treatment to slow down Parkinson's disease, a study by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and Harvard University has found.
How will England's coronavirus test-and-trace system work?
2dNHS system relies upon an increase in testing and for people to be required to self-isolate Government unveils test-and-trace strategy Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage England's new "NHS test-and-trace" system kicks in when a patient receives a positive test result for coronavirus. Continue reading…
Effective test, track and tracing 'can reduce lost working hours by 50%'
2dUN research shows strong systems can reduce public fear and minimise workplace disruption Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage An effective track-and-trace system to prevent a second coronavirus peak will not only save lives, it could reduce the number of working hours lost to illness by as much as 50%, according to a major global study. The International Labour Organisat
Strange radio signals reveal the matter hiding between galaxies
2dOne space mystery has helped solve another, with the discovery that strange space signals called fast radio bursts can help pin down the universe's missing matter
Airborne science discovers complex geomorphic controls on Bornean forests
2dTropical forests contain some of the most biodiverse and dynamic ecosystems in the world. Environmental conditions such as precipitation, temperature, and soils shape the biota of the landscape. This influence is especially noticeable when comparing the towering trees found in low elevation forests to the hardier, shorter ones found at the top of tropical mountains. Together, these factors create
Oxygen-excess oxides in Earth's mid-mantle facilitate the ascent of deep oxygen
2dSubduction of hydrous materials imposes great influence on the structure, dynamics, and evolution of our planet. However, it is largely unclear how subducting slabs chemically interact with the middle mantle. Recently, an oxygen-excess phase (Mg,Fe)2O3+δ was discovered under conditions similar to the Earth's middle mantle (~1000-2000 km) by a team of scientists from the Center of High Pressure Sci
Airborne science discovers complex geomorphic controls on Bornean forests
2dTropical forests contain some of the most biodiverse and dynamic ecosystems in the world. Environmental conditions such as precipitation, temperature, and soils shape the biota of the landscape. This influence is especially noticeable when comparing the towering trees found in low elevation forests to the hardier, shorter ones found at the top of tropical mountains. Together, these factors create
Extraction of skin interstitial fluid using microneedle patches
2dInterstitial fluid is a major component of the liquid environment in the body and fills the spaces between the body's cells. In contrast, blood circulates only within the circulatory vessels of the body and is composed of blood cells and the liquid part of the blood, plasma. Both fluids contain special components called biomarkers, which are valuable indicators of bodily health. These biomarkers i
Study uncovers gender roles in physics lab courses
2dA robust body of research examines and addresses gender discrepancies in many fields, but physics is not one of them, Cornell researchers have found.
A (much) earlier birth date for tectonic plates
2dYale geophysicists reported that Earth's ever-shifting, underground network of tectonic plates was firmly in place more than 4 billion years ago—at least a billion years earlier than scientists generally thought.
Under pressure, black holes feast
2dA new, Yale-led study shows that some supermassive black holes actually thrive under pressure.
Avalanche photodiode breaks performance record for LiDAR receivers
2dElectrical and computer engineers at the University of Virginia and University of Texas-Austin have developed an avalanche photodiode that achieved record performance and has the potential to transform next generation night-vision imaging and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) receivers. For LiDAR, the team's low-noise, two-micrometer avalanche photodiode enables higher-power operation that is ey
Tuning the surface gives variations to metal foils
2dJust as cloning in biology allows for the creation of one or more replicas of the exact same genes, seeded growth in chemistry can produce a very large metal foil with the exact same surface texture as that of a seeded one. Seeded growth is very popular in synthesizing three-dimensional (3-D) single crystals: 3-D crystals are always grown into the same shapes, just as salts are invariably cubic si
Twitter Finally Fact-Checked Trump. It's a Bit of a Mess
2dLess than six months from the election, social media platforms are still not ready to deal with political disinformation.
Behind the Byline With Amanda Mull
2dIn our new series "Behind the Byline," we'll be chatting with Atlantic staffers to learn more about who they are and how they approach their work. First up, we have Amanda Mull , staff writer on the Health desk and "Material World" columnist. We spoke with her in April. This interview has been edited and condensed. Nesima Aberra: What's on your mind? Amanda Mull: My weekly Friday-night Zoom with
Qatari contact-tracing app 'put 1m people's sensitive data at risk'
2dHackers allowed access to names, national ID, health status and location data of users, says Amnesty Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage A security flaw in Qatar's coronavirus contact-tracing app put the sensitive personal details of more than a million people at risk, according to an investigation by Amnesty International. The app, which is mandatory for Qatari resident
Cyclones can damage even distant reefs
2dBig and strong cyclones can harm coral reefs as far as 1000 kilometres away from their paths, new research shows. A study led by Dr Marji Puotinen from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) sounds a warning about the way strong cyclone winds build extreme seas that affect coral reefs in Australia and around the world.
SpaceX Launch: Highlights From the Weather-Delayed Mission
2dNASA SpaceX Hurley
Follow SpaceX's launch of NASA astronauts aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft.
Stormy Weather May Delay SpaceX's Historic Launch
2dSpaceX and NASA may have to scrub their historic launch to the International Space Station this afternoon, not due to the pandemic — but because of bad weather. At 10 am, the Air Force's 45th Weather Squadron, the unit in charge of monitoring the weather near NAS's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, said that a low pressure system could "threaten the Space Coast with showers and thunderstorms this
Eye-catching advances in some AI fields are not real
2dWhen tuned up, old algorithms can match the abilities of their successors
What Isolation Does to Undocumented Immigrants
2dOne of the first times I met with Antonio, a middle-aged undocumented man in Queens, he was an hour late. When he arrived, panting, he explained that while he was on the subway, word spread among passengers that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were waiting at the next station. Antonio stayed on the train for several more stops—but when he got off, he said he saw agents at that station
Weather Delays Launch Of SpaceX Dragon With 2 Astronauts Aboard
2dSpaceX Launch NASA
With astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken strapped inside the capsule and the countdown narrowing, poor weather conditions forced an abort. The next opportunity to try will be on Saturday. (Image credit: David J. Phillip/AP)
How can any scientists stand by this government now? | Richard Horton
2dThe Cummings saga has made it plain that scientific advisers are shielding the government's collapsing reputation on coronavirus • Richard Horton is a doctor and edits the Lancet Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Dominic Cummings predicted the events that have threatened both him and the government he serves. Writing on his blog in 2014, in an essay he called The Hollo
Hancock: it is public's 'civic duty' to follow test-and-trace instructions in England
2dIf voluntary advice to stay at home for 14 days fails government will enforce compliance says health secretary How will England's test-and-trace system work? Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Matt Hancock exhorted the public to do their "civic duty" and stay at home when instructed, as he launched a new test and trace system in the face of warnings from council leaders
The Storied History Behind Saturday's Planned SpaceX Launch
2dSmithsonian curator Jennifer Levasseur examines NASA's relationship with spacecraft contractors
Researchers examine climate change perception among specialty-crop producers
2dFarmers whose operations have been impacted negatively by changing precipitation patterns—either too much or not enough water—are more likely to acknowledge the link between extreme weather conditions and climate change.
Volcanic eruptions reduce global rainfall
2dScientists have identified the mechanism behind the reduction in precipitation after volcanic eruptions. Volcano-induced El Nino amplifies the reduction in precipitation. Safety of geoengineering that mimics volcanoes is not guaranteed.
Children's temperament traits affect their motor skills
2dA recent study among 3- to 7-year-old children showed that children's motor skills benefitted if a child was older and participated in organized sports. Additionally, the study provided information about the importance of temperament traits for motor skills.
Clean without scrubbing and using chemicals
2dScientists have developed a self-cleaning metallic surface. Engineers structured an aluminum plate with a laser process in such a way that water droplets no longer adhere and dirt particles can be removed from the surface – completely without chemical cleaning agents or additional effort.
The evolutionary puzzle of the mammalian ear
2dHow could the tiny parts of the ear adapt independently to the diverse functional and environmental regimes encountered in mammals? A group of researchers proposed a new explanation for this puzzle. They suggest that the incorporation of the bones of the primary jaw joint into the ear has considerably increased the genetic, regulatory, and developmental complexity of the mammalian ear.
Study uncovers gender roles in physics lab courses
2dMen are overrepresented not only in number but in high-ranking positions within the physics community, according to a new study published May 26 in the journal Physics Education Research. A research team led by Katherine Quinn, Ph.D. '19, and Natasha Holmes, the Ann S. Bowers Assistant Professor of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences, examined gender roles in undergraduate physics lab clas
Fishing less could be a win for both lobstermen and endangered whales
2dA new study by researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) found that New England's historic lobster fishery may turn a higher profit by operating with less gear in the water and a shorter season.
Avalanche photodiode from UVA and UT-Austin breaks performance record for LiDAR receivers
2dElectrical and computer engineers at the University of Virginia and University of Texas-Austin have developed an avalanche photodiode that achieved record performance and has the potential to transform next generation night-vision imaging and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) receivers. For LiDAR, the team's low-noise, two-micrometer avalanche photodiode enables higher-power operation that is ey
Yale finds a (much) earlier birth date for tectonic plates
2dYale geophysicists reported that Earth's ever-shifting, underground network of tectonic plates was firmly in place more than 4 billion years ago — at least a billion years earlier than scientists generally thought.
ADHD: Genomic analysis in samples of Neanderthals and modern humans
2dThe frequency of genetic variants associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has decreased progressively in the evolutionary human lineage from the Palaeolithic to nowadays, according to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports.
NASA-NOAA satellite sees Tropical Storm Bertha organizing
2dThe second tropical storm of the North Atlantic Ocean hurricane season has formed off the coast of South Carolina. NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite provided forecasters with a visible image of Tropical Storm Bertha as it was organizing.
New understanding of RNA movements can be used to treat cancer
2dResearch from Karolinska Institutet published today in Nature shows that an RNA molecule involved in preventing tumour formation can change its structure and thereby control protein production in the cell. The finding can have important clinical implications as it opens for new strategies to treat different types of cancer.
As India's lockdown ends, exodus from cities risks spreading COVID-19 far and wide
2dStates scramble to deal with millions of jobless migrant workers returning home
ADHD: Genomic analysis in samples of Neanderthals and modern humans
2dThe frequency of genetic variants associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has decreased progressively in the evolutionary human lineage from the Palaeolithic to nowadays, according to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports.
New understanding of RNA movements can be used to treat cancer
2dResearch from Karolinska Institutet published today in Nature shows that an RNA molecule involved in preventing tumour formation can change its structure and thereby control protein production in the cell. The finding can have important clinical implications as it opens for new strategies to treat different types of cancer.
Scientists take first census of Arctic freshwater molluscs in 130 years
2dBased on previously released data and their own investigations, researchers at the St Petersburg University Laboratory of Macroecology and Biogeography of Invertebrates have assessed the diversity of freshwater molluscs in the Circumpolar region of the World. In total, they registered 104 species of these invertebrates living in waters within the Arctic Circle. Their hermaphroditism, their ability
How to ensure quality wheat: check for sulfur in the soil
2dA common obstacle to bountiful wheat harvests in the Central Plains is more pervasive than many growers realize, but a study led by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) spells out how it can be readily overcome.
Trump Is a Problem That Twitter Cannot Fix
2dDonald Trump's tweets pose a special problem for Twitter. Absolutely no one can be surprised that the president is using the platform to tweet false and inflammatory claims in the middle of a global pandemic and the lead-up to an election: This is the president's signature style. His recent tweets have promoted baseless conspiracy theories about the death of Lori Klausutis, a former staffer for R
Evidence of large groups responding more slowly to crises due to false information
2dA team of researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Yale University has found that larger groups of people tend to respond slower to a crisis than smaller groups because false information can impede urgency. In their paper published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society A, the group describes experiments they conducted with volunteers deciding when to "evacuate" after a simulated d
Scientists take first census of Arctic freshwater molluscs in 130 years
2dBased on previously released data and their own investigations, researchers at the St Petersburg University Laboratory of Macroecology and Biogeography of Invertebrates have assessed the diversity of freshwater molluscs in the Circumpolar region of the World. In total, they registered 104 species of these invertebrates living in waters within the Arctic Circle. Their hermaphroditism, their ability
Environmentally friendly production of mandelic acid
2dSometimes potentially useful enzymes are not easy to discover because their biocatalytic capabilities may go beyond their natural and thus known range of action. By recombining a newly discovered enzymatic capability, a research team from the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology led by Tobias Erb created a "green" way to produce mandelic acid.
How to ensure quality wheat: check for sulfur in the soil
2dA common obstacle to bountiful wheat harvests in the Central Plains is more pervasive than many growers realize, but a study led by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) spells out how it can be readily overcome.
Asteroid, climate change not responsible for mass extinction 215 million years ago
2dA team of University of Rhode Island scientists and statisticians conducted a sophisticated quantitative analysis of a mass extinction that occurred 215 million years ago and found that the cause of the extinction was not an asteroid or climate change, as had previously been believed. Instead, the scientists concluded that the extinction did not occur suddenly or simultaneously, suggesting that th
'More Blue': An Artwork Shows the Sea Changing During Lockdown
2dA data-driven media installation, created to reflect marine conditions around the world, has altered with the slowing human activity.
Uncovering the role of membrane sugars in flu infection
2dThe flu virus relies on using human cells to reproduce and spread. But before it even gets to the cell surface, the virus must navigate the tall, dense forest of sugar-coated proteins on the cell surface known as the glycocalyx. New research from Stanford reveals how a class of particularly bushy proteins in this forest, called mucins, could hinder the flu's progression.
Første måling af 5G-signaler: 500 gange under grænseværdi
2dPLUS. TDC's 5G-test i Helsingør er meget langt fra at nå grænseværdierne for stråling, viser en ny undersøgelse af mobilstrålingen omkring testmasten. Den kraftigste stråling når 0,19 pct af grænseværdien.
How to watch live as NASA and SpaceX team up for a historic crewed launch
2dSpaceX Launch NASA
Update 5/27 at 4:22pm: NASA and SpaceX scrubbed the launch due to weather, and will attempt to launch again on Saturday, May 30th at 3:22pm ET. At 4:33 p.m. ET today, a classic scene may return (weather permitting) to Cape Canaveral after a nine-year hiatus. Two astronauts will don flight suits, climb into a vehicle perched atop a powerful rocket, and blast off toward the International Space Stat
Patterns in crop data reveal new insight about plants and their environments
2dA new study unearthed patterns in datasets collected on rice plants across Asia that allowed researchers to develop a matrix to predict the traits of rice plants depending on their genetics and environment. The approach could lead to better predictability in crop production.
Four of ten adults worldwide have functional gastrointestinal disorders
2dFor every ten adults in the world, four suffer from functional gastrointestinal disorders of varying severity. This is shown by a study of more than 73,000 people in 33 countries. University of Gothenburg scientists are among those now presenting these results.
Mouse model mimics SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans
2dA mouse model of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reproduces features observed in human patients, researchers report May 26 in the journal Cell Host & Microbe. Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology, the researchers generated mice that produce human angiotensin-converting enzyme II (hACE2)–the receptor that SARS-CoV-2 binds to and uses to enter human
Doxycycline ineffective at shrinking aortic aneurysms in two-year study
2dPatients with a vascular condition called abdominal aortic aneurysm did not benefit from taking the common antibiotic doxycycline for two years to shrink the aneurysm when compared to those who took a placebo, according to a Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Under pressure, black holes feast
2dA new, Yale-led study shows that some supermassive black holes actually thrive under pressure.It has been known for some time that when distant galaxies — and the supermassive black holes within their cores — aggregate into clusters, these clusters create a volatile, highly pressurized environment. Individual galaxies falling into clusters are often deformed during the process and begin to resem
Simple and readily available saline solution can reliably transport COVID-19 samples to testing labs
2dIn a new peer-reviewed study appearing in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, published by Elsevier, investigators report that a simple salt solution commonly found in hospitals and clinical laboratories, phosphate buffered saline (PBS), can be used as a medium to reliably transport coronavirus-contaminated specimens to the testing laboratory for periods of up to 18 hours, which is often needed
Uncovering the role of membrane sugars in flu infection
2dThe flu virus relies on using human cells to reproduce and spread. But before it even gets to the cell surface, the virus must navigate the tall, dense forest of sugar-coated proteins on the cell surface known as the glycocalyx. New research from Stanford reveals how a class of particularly bushy proteins in this forest, called mucins, could hinder the flu's progression.
Scientists develop the most heat-resistant material ever created
2dA group of scientists from NUST MISIS developed a ceramic material with the highest melting point among currently known compounds. Due to the unique combination of physical, mechanical and thermal properties, the material is promising for use in the most heat-loaded components of aircraft, such as nose fairings, jet engines and sharp front edges of wings operating at temperatures above 2000 degree
Experiments with macaques show lower stress levels when working with a friend toward a goal
2dA team of researchers from the University of Vienna and the Biomedical Primate Research Centre in Rijswijk, the Netherlands, has found that macaques have lower stress levels when working toward a goal as a bonded dyad. In their paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science the group describes experiments they conducted with captive macaques and what they learned from them.
Patterns in crop data reveal new insight about plants and their environments
2dA recently published study led by Iowa State University scientists applied a fresh perspective to vast amounts of data on rice plants to find better ways to predict plant performance and new insights about how plants adapt to different environments.
Scientists find optimal age of stem cells
2dBiophysicists from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Clinical Research Institute have determined the optimal age of reprogrammed stem cells suitable for restoring heart tissue. It spans the period roughly from day 15 until day 28 of maturation. The research findings were published in Scientific Reports.
Only One in Two Americans Say They'd Take a COVID-19 Vaccine
2dEven when a vaccine for COVID-19 becomes available, many in the U.S. may decide not to take it. At least, that's the result of a new poll of 1,056 Americans conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Its alarming conclusion: only 49 percent of American adults plan on getting vaccinated against the coronavirus, AP News reports . The results were divided by political
Experiments with macaques show lower stress levels when working with a friend toward a goal
2dA team of researchers from the University of Vienna and the Biomedical Primate Research Centre in Rijswijk, the Netherlands, has found that macaques have lower stress levels when working toward a goal as a bonded dyad. In their paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science the group describes experiments they conducted with captive macaques and what they learned from them.
Patterns in crop data reveal new insight about plants and their environments
2dA recently published study led by Iowa State University scientists applied a fresh perspective to vast amounts of data on rice plants to find better ways to predict plant performance and new insights about how plants adapt to different environments.
Modern problems, primitive solutions: A glimpse into archaic protein synthesis systems
2dIn cells, protein is synthesized based on the genetic code. Each protein is coded by the triplet combination of chemicals called nucleotides, and a continuous reading of any set of triplet codes will, after a multi-step process, result in the creation of a chain of amino acids, a protein. The genetic code is matched with the correct amino acid by a special functional RNA aptly named transfer RNA o
New method for capturing carbon via root exudates in wild forests
2dIt is well known that plants use carbon dioxide obtained from the air in photosynthesis to use as energy and grow. Naoki Makita and Maiko Akatsuki of Shinshu University confirmed that a large amount of this carbon is expelled into the soil through root exudates. It had previously been confirmed that plants exude organic compounds in liquid form from their root systems in hydroponics and seedlings
Scientists find optimal age of stem cells
2dBiophysicists from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Clinical Research Institute have determined the optimal age of reprogrammed stem cells suitable for restoring heart tissue. It spans the period roughly from day 15 until day 28 of maturation. The research findings were published in Scientific Reports.
Researchers use drones, machine learning to detect dangerous 'butterfly' landmines
2dUsing advanced machine learning, drones could be used to detect dangerous 'butterfly' landmines in remote regions of post-conflict countries, according to research.
Age, gender and culture 'predict loneliness'
2dYoung people, men and people in 'individualistic' societies report higher levels of loneliness, according to a large-scale global study.
Information technology played key role in growth of ancient civilizations
2dA new article shows the ability to store and process information was as critical to the growth of early human societies as it is today.
UK regulator halts antibody home tests for coronavirus
2dMHRA warns unvalidated samples using finger prick may lead to unreliable results.
Modern problems, primitive solutions: A glimpse into archaic protein synthesis systems
2dIn cells, protein is synthesized based on the genetic code. Each protein is coded by the triplet combination of chemicals called nucleotides, and a continuous reading of any set of triplet codes will, after a multi-step process, result in the creation of a chain of amino acids, a protein. The genetic code is matched with the correct amino acid by a special functional RNA aptly named transfer RNA o
Terrestrial bacteria can grow on nutrients from space
2dIn the past decade, there has been renewed thinking about human missions to the moon and perhaps even to Mars. Inevitably, terrestrial microorganisms on the bodies of astronauts, spaceships or equipment will come into contact with extraterrestrial environments. Researchers from the Radboudumc describe in an article in Astrobiology that bacteria can survive on an "extraterrestrial diet," which affe
New method for capturing carbon via root exudates in wild forests
2dIt is well known that plants use carbon dioxide obtained from the air in photosynthesis to use as energy and grow. Naoki Makita and Maiko Akatsuki of Shinshu University confirmed that a large amount of this carbon is expelled into the soil through root exudates. It had previously been confirmed that plants exude organic compounds in liquid form from their root systems in hydroponics and seedlings
High-speed femtosecond laser plasmonic lithography of graphene oxide film
2dGraphene analogues such as graphene oxide (GO) and its reduced forms (rGO) are fascinating carbon materials due to the complementary properties endowed by the sp3-sp2 interconversion, revealing the substitutability and potential for industrialization of integrated graphene devices. Appropriate micro/nanostructural design of GO and rGO for controlling the energy band gap and surface chemical activi
Kirigami/origami: unfolding the new regime of advanced 3-D micro-/nanofabrication with 'folding'
2d3-D micro-/nanofabrication holds the key to building a large variety of micro-/nanoscale materials, structures, devices, and systems with unique properties that do not manifest in their 2-D planar counterparts. Recently, scientists have explored some very different 3-D fabrication strategies such as kirigami and origami that make use of the science of cutting and folding 2-D materials/structures t
Solving battery-free devices' short-term memory loss
2dFor decades, researchers have been searching for a better battery. Now an international team presents a bold new solution: ditch the battery altogether.
MetaviralSPAdes—New assembler for virus genomes
2dWhen a new virus emerges, biologists rush to reconstruct its genome—a prerequisite for future diagnostic and vaccine development. The challenge with viral sequencing during an outbreak is that a sample from a patient, like saliva from a COVID-19 patient that was used for the very first SARS-COV-2 coronavirus sequencing effort, contains genomes of many other, often harmless, viruses. Not to mention
Fishing less could be a win for both lobstermen and endangered whales
2dA new study by researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) found that New England's historic lobster fishery may turn a higher profit by operating with less gear in the water and a shorter season. The findings could provide a path forward for the lobster fishing industry, which is under pressure to move away from traditional pot fishing that uses long vertical lines of rope known to
Ultra long-haul: An emerging business model in the post-COVID-19 era
2dThe current crisis with its unique dynamics has been a far more catastrophic event that has created a nearly complete shutdown of the world's travel industry. Its impact on aviation has been much more severe than previous crises. Airlines came up with unusual ultra long-haul (ULH) repatriation flights worldwide. In other words, the pandemic has provided a testing ground for airlines to test the op
'Crucible' Review: Amazon Magicks Gaming Cliches Into Something Fresh
2dThe debut offering from Amazon Game Studios combines familiar elements into a surprisingly delightful concoction.
'Freakonomics' study offers simple strategy for making tough decisions
2dA recently published study asked people to make tough life choices by flipping a coin. The participants were making these decisions on the margin, meaning they couldn't determine which choice would be better. The results show that people who chose change over inaction self-reported being better off and happier after six months. What strategy do you use to make tough life decisions like whether to
MetaviralSPAdes—New assembler for virus genomes
2dWhen a new virus emerges, biologists rush to reconstruct its genome—a prerequisite for future diagnostic and vaccine development. The challenge with viral sequencing during an outbreak is that a sample from a patient, like saliva from a COVID-19 patient that was used for the very first SARS-COV-2 coronavirus sequencing effort, contains genomes of many other, often harmless, viruses. Not to mention
Fishing less could be a win for both lobstermen and endangered whales
2dA new study by researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) found that New England's historic lobster fishery may turn a higher profit by operating with less gear in the water and a shorter season. The findings could provide a path forward for the lobster fishing industry, which is under pressure to move away from traditional pot fishing that uses long vertical lines of rope known to
Modern biomechanical techniques used to explore ergonomic design of earliest human tools
2dKent's School of Sport and Exercise Sciences (SSES) and School of Anthropology and Conservation (SAC) have collaborated on a research project to investigate the design of Lower and Middle Palaeolithic stone tools from a modern ergonomic perspective.
Hotel Ruthenium: how hydrogen checks in but never leaves
2dHow does hydrogen form blisters in ruthenium mirrors for extreme UV (EUV) lithography machines? An M2i research project by Chidozie Onwudinanti and colleagues at DIFFER, Eindhoven University of Technology and University of Twente explains the blistering process: a layer of tin contamination acts as a valve that lets hydrogen into the underlying ruthenium, but blocks it from leaving again, writes t
Drill music offers a viable escape for urban youths—study shows that criminalising it does more harm than good
2dA new study published in the British Journal of Criminology argues that censuring and criminalising UK drill musicians is frequently misguided and often causes more problems than it solves.
Information drove development of early states
2dWho could imagine a 21st century without data? Sophisticated information processing is key to the way societies function today. And it turns out it was also critical to the evolution of early states. According to new research led by an SFI team, the ability to store and process information was central to sociopolitical development across civilizations ranging from the Neolithic to the last millenn
Modern biomechanical techniques used to explore ergonomic design of earliest human tools
2dKent's School of Sport and Exercise Sciences (SSES) and School of Anthropology and Conservation (SAC) have collaborated on a research project to investigate the design of Lower and Middle Palaeolithic stone tools from a modern ergonomic perspective.
Elucidation of nanostructures in practical heterogeneous catalysts
2dScientists from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) and University of Torino (UNITO) have cooperatively clarified the nanostructure of the heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalyst by means of combined synchrotron X-ray analytical techniques, vibrational spectrocopies, and molecular simulations.
Antarctic ice shelves: research reveals a missing piece of the climate puzzle
2dIce shelves, massive floating bodies of ice, are well-known for their buffering effect on land-based ice sheets as they slow their flow towards the sea. This buffering effect plays an important role in moderating global sea level rise.
The landscape determines how streams should be restored
2dThe U.N. has declared the coming decade as the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, making it particularly urgent to plan for successful restoration. Most restoration occurs in streams, and usually in short segments. Researchers at Umeå University show that projects planned at the landscape scale leads to the best results.
New research: Perchlorate in drinking water is more dangerous than previously understood
2dVanderbilt researchers have discovered that perchlorate, an environmental pollutant found in many sources of drinking water in the U.S., inhibits the uptake of iodide, an essential component of thyroid hormones, in a more pronounced and fundamental way than commonly considered.
Blue crab stock remains within healthy range
2dResults from the latest Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey—conducted annually by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and Maryland Department of Natural Resources—show the Chesapeake Bay's blue crab stock remains resilient and within healthy ranges.
How will we receive signals from interstellar probes like Starshot?
2dIn a few decades, the Breakthrough Starshot initiative hopes to send a sailcraft to the neighboring system of Alpha Centauri. Using a lightsail and a directed-energy laser array, a tiny spacecraft could be accelerated to 20% the speed of light (0.2 c). This would allow Starshot to make the journey to Alpha Centauri and study any exoplanets there in just 20 years, thus fulfilling the dream of inter
What do ants and light rays have in common when they pass through lenses?
2dLight and foraging ants seem totally unrelated, but they have one thing in common: They travel along time-reducing paths. According to Fermat's principle about the refraction of a ray of light, the light bends when it meets matter with different refractive indices and travels through time-minimizing paths. Recently, similar behavior was reported in foraging ants in a lab setting: Ants bend their t
New antiviral, antibacterial surface could reduce spread of infections in hospitals
2dThe novel coronavirus pandemic has caused an increased demand for antimicrobial treatments that can keep surfaces clean, particularly in health care settings. Although some surfaces have been developed that can combat bacteria, what's been lacking is a surface that can also kill off viruses. Now, researchers have found a way to impart durable antiviral and antibacterial properties to an aluminum a
In chimpanzees, females contribute to the protection of the territory
2dIn many social species, including humans, even if large group sizes provide competitive advantages over smaller neighboring groups, the preponderant role of adult males in territoriality has often been put forward, most likely biased by an anthropocentric perspective.
No laughing matter: A study on teaching linguistics
2dA new study involving a scientific analysis of the prevalence of "LOL" in students' text messages demonstrates important potential applications for classroom learning. The study, "Linguistics in General Education: Expanding Linguistics Course Offerings through Core Competency Alignment," will be published in the June 2020 issue of the scholarly journal Language.
Van der Waals junction spin valves without spacer layer
2dThe fundamental principle of a spin valve is that the resistance is dependent on the parallel or antiparallel configurations of the two ferromagnetic electrodes, thus associating the magnetoresistance (MR) effect, whose basic structure consists of two ferromagnetic metals decoupled by the insertion of a non-magnetic spacer. The MR effect in such a sandwiched structure is the cornerstone of magneti
New research: Perchlorate in drinking water is more dangerous than previously understood
2dVanderbilt researchers have discovered that perchlorate, an environmental pollutant found in many sources of drinking water in the U.S., inhibits the uptake of iodide, an essential component of thyroid hormones, in a more pronounced and fundamental way than commonly considered.
Blue crab stock remains within healthy range
2dResults from the latest Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey—conducted annually by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and Maryland Department of Natural Resources—show the Chesapeake Bay's blue crab stock remains resilient and within healthy ranges.
What do ants and light rays have in common when they pass through lenses?
2dLight and foraging ants seem totally unrelated, but they have one thing in common: They travel along time-reducing paths. According to Fermat's principle about the refraction of a ray of light, the light bends when it meets matter with different refractive indices and travels through time-minimizing paths. Recently, similar behavior was reported in foraging ants in a lab setting: Ants bend their t
In chimpanzees, females contribute to the protection of the territory
2dIn many social species, including humans, even if large group sizes provide competitive advantages over smaller neighboring groups, the preponderant role of adult males in territoriality has often been put forward, most likely biased by an anthropocentric perspective.
The evolutionary puzzle of the mammalian ear
2dThe vertebrate ear is a remarkable structure. Tightly encapsulated within the densest bone of the skeleton, it comprises the smallest elements of the vertebrate skeleton (auditory ossicles) and gives rise to several different senses: balance, posture control, gaze stabilization, and hearing. Nowhere else in the vertebrate skeleton are different functional units packed so close together and jointly
Study proposes a model to predict cryptocurrency defaults
2dUniversity of Vaasa (Finland) researchers propose a model that is capable of explaining 87 percent of cryptocurrency bankruptcies after only one month of trading. It could potentially serve as a screening tool for investors keen to boost overall performance of cryptocurrency investment portfolios by avoiding investing in unreliable cryptocurrencies.
Scientists get a sneak peek of a key process in battery 'life'
2dResearchers from the Skoltech Center for Energy Science and Technology (CEST) visualized the formation of a solid electrolyte interphase on battery-grade carbonaceous electrode materials using in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM). This will help researchers design and build batteries with higher performance and durability.
Superworms digest plastic, with help from their bacterial sidekicks
2dResembling giant mealworms, superworms (Zophobas atratus) are beetle larvae that are often sold in pet stores as feed for reptiles, fish and birds. In addition to their relatively large size (about 2 inches long), these worms have another superpower: They can degrade polystyrene plastic. Now, researchers reporting in ACS' Environmental Science & Technology have linked this ability to a strain of b
The evolutionary puzzle of the mammalian ear
2dThe vertebrate ear is a remarkable structure. Tightly encapsulated within the densest bone of the skeleton, it comprises the smallest elements of the vertebrate skeleton (auditory ossicles) and gives rise to several different senses: balance, posture control, gaze stabilization, and hearing. Nowhere else in the vertebrate skeleton are different functional units packed so close together and jointly
New protocol for organic synthesis using organoboron compounds and visible-light
2dAlkyl radicals are carbon radicals of normal chain and branched chain alkanes, available as reaction intermediates even at late stages of synthesis. Recently, it has become possible to generate alkyl radicals under mild conditions by using a photoredox catalyst with organic chemicals (radical precursors) under visible-light irradiation. However, since many photoredox catalysts are expensive and si
Felixer, the grooming trap, works to control feral cats
2dThe Felixer, an autonomous device that can target and cull feral cats in the wild, could be key in rebuilding Australia's decimated native animal populations.
Clean without scrubbing and using chemicals. Scientists develop self-cleaning aluminium surface
2dDresden scientists have developed a self-cleaning metallic surface. A project team of Technische Universität Dresden and the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS structured an aluminium plate with a laser process in such a way that water droplets no longer adhere and dirt particles can be removed from the surface—completely without chemical cleaning agents or additional effort
Multifunctional e-glasses monitor health, protect eyes, control video games
2dFitness tracker bracelets and watches provide useful information, such as step count and heart rate, but they usually can't provide more detailed data about the wearer's health. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have developed smart electronic glasses (e-glasses) that not only monitor a person's brain waves and body movements, but also can function as sunglasses and
Superworms digest plastic, with help from their bacterial sidekicks
2dResembling giant mealworms, superworms (Zophobas atratus) are beetle larvae that are often sold in pet stores as feed for reptiles, fish and birds. In addition to their relatively large size (about 2 inches long), these worms have another superpower: They can degrade polystyrene plastic. Now, researchers have linked this ability to a strain of bacteria that lives in the larvae's gut.
Winds spread PFAS pollution far from a manufacturing facility
2dConcerns about environmental and health risks of some fluorinated carbon compounds used to make non-stick coatings and fire-fighting foams have prompted manufacturers to develop substitutes, but these replacements are increasingly coming under fire themselves. To get a handle on the scope of the problem, scientists have been studying how widely these chemicals have contaminated the environment. No
Finding a genus home for Alaska's dinosaurs
2dA re-analysis of dinosaur skulls from northern Alaska suggests they belong to a genus Edmontosaurus, and not to the genus recently proposed by scientists in 2015.
Chimpanzees help trace the evolution of human speech back to ancient ancestors
2dOne of the most promising theories for the evolution of human speech has finally received support from chimpanzee communication.
Target trials support drug safety in pregnant patients
2dOut of concern for fetal safety, pregnant people have typically been excluded from drug trials. And when human health is on the line, drug studies assessing fetal safety in animal models may be viewed as far from definitive.
Yale researchers find where stress lives
2dYale researchers have found a neural home of the feeling of stress people experience, an insight that may help people deal with the debilitating sense of fear and anxiety that stress can evoke, Yale researchers report May 27 in the journal Nature Communications.
ADHD: genomic analysis in samples of Neanderthals and modern humans
2dThe frequency of genetic variants associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has decreased progressively in the evolutionary human lineage from the Palaeolithic to nowadays, according to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports.
No laughing matter
2dA new study involving a scientific analysis of the prevalence of 'LOL' in students' text messages demonstrates important potential applications for classroom learning. The study, 'Linguistics in General Education: Expanding Linguistics Course Offerings through Core Competency Alignment,' will be published in the June 2020 issue of the scholarly journal Language. An advance version of the article m
NASA-NOAA satellite sees Tropical Storm Bertha organizing
2dThe second tropical storm of the North Atlantic Ocean hurricane season has formed off the coast of South Carolina. NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite provided forecasters with a visible image of Tropical Storm Bertha as it was organizing.
Taking inventory of which drugs the world is using to treat COVID-19
2dNew research catalogued every COVID treatment documented in medical literature so far and found physicians have reported on the use of more than 100 different off-label and experimental treatments.
No-deductible preventive drugs lower costs, increase medication use for low-income diabetes patients
2dFor patients with diabetes — especially those with lower incomes — preventive drug lists (PDLs) of essential medications available with no deductible can reduce out-of-pocket costs while increasing use of important treatments, reports a study in a June supplement to Medical Care. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.
New understanding of RNA movements can be used to treat cancer
2dResearch from Karolinska Institutet published today in Nature shows that an RNA molecule involved in preventing tumour formation can change its structure and thereby control protein production in the cell. The finding can have important clinical implications as it opens for new strategies to treat different types of cancer.
Tuning the surface gives variations to metal foils
2dIBS researchers reported how to give variations to single crystalline metal foils. Via the oxidation-led annealing plus seeded growth strategy, they obtained over 30 types of copper foils the size of A4 paper (~30×21 cm2), which is roughly the same size as US legal.
Physicists measure a short-lived radioactive molecule for first time
2dResearchers at MIT and elsewhere have combined the power of a super collider with techniques of laser spectroscopy to precisely measure a short-lived radioactive molecule, radium monofluoride, for the first time.
Treatment shows promise in treating deadly brain cancer
2dIn this study, researchers investigated if specific targeting of CD133+ glioblastoma with cutting-edge immunotherapy drugs could eradicate the most aggressive subpopulation of cells in the tumor. They also looked at the safety of CD133-targeting therapies on normal, non-cancerous human stem cells including hematopoietic stem cells which create blood cells and progenitor cells which can form one or
Cosmic bursts unveil universe's missing matter
2dAstronomers have used mysterious fast radio bursts to solve a decades-old mystery of 'missing matter', long predicted to exist in the Universe but never detected — until now.The researchers have now found all of the missing 'normal' matter in the vast space between stars and galaxies, as detailed today in the journal Nature.
An imperative for psychiatrists to act now
2dHow psychiatrists can contribute to diminish the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is discussed.
Describing clinical characteristics of patients with asymptomatic vs symptomatic COVID-19 in China
2dClinical characteristics of patients with asymptomatic or symptomatic COVID-19 are described in this case series from Wuhan, China.
Follow-up treatments after opioid overdose rare among insured patients
2dThe majority of commercially insured patients who visited the emergency department (ED) for an opioid overdose didn't receive the timely follow-up care known to help prevent a future overdose or death. Of nearly 6,500 patients treated in EDs nationwide for an overdose or other opioid-related medical complications, only 16 percent accessed opioid use disorder (OUD) medications or another form of tr
Diversity of applicants to surgical residency, fellowship programs
2dResearchers looked at trends in diversity by sex and race/ethnicity among applicants to US surgical residency and fellowship programs from 2008-2018 to see if diversity was increasing.
'Nature's antifreeze' provides formula for more durable concrete
2dSecrets to cementing the sustainability of our future infrastructure may come from nature, such as proteins that keep plants and animals from freezing in extremely cold conditions. CU Boulder researchers have discovered that a synthetic molecule based on natural antifreeze proteins minimizes freeze-thaw damage and increases the strength and durability of concrete, improving the longevity of new in
A bio-inspired addition to concrete stops the damage caused by freezing and thawing
2dConcrete is one of the most durable building materials used in modern-day infrastructures, but it has a weakness — ice — which can cause it to crumble. Now, inspired by organisms that survive in sub-zero environments, researchers in Colorado are introducing polymer molecules with anti-freezing abilities into concrete. The method, which tests if the new concrete can stop the damage caused by free
Felixer, the grooming trap, works to control feral cats
2dThe Felixer, an autonomous device that can target and cull feral cats in the wild, could be key in rebuilding Australia's decimated native animal populations.
Landscape of multi-nucleotide variants in 125,748 human exomes and 15,708 genomes
2dNature Communications, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-12438-5 Multi-nucleotide variants (MNV) are genetic variants in close proximity of each other on the same haplotype whose functional impact is difficult to predict if they reside in the same codon. Here, Wang et al. use the gnomAD dataset to assemble a catalogue of MNVs and estimate their global mutation rate.
Characterising the loss-of-function impact of 5' untranslated region variants in 15,708 individuals
2dNature Communications, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-019-10717-9 Upstream open reading frames (uORFs), located in 5' untranslated regions, are regulators of downstream protein translation. Here, Whiffin et al. use the genomes of 15,708 individuals in the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD) to systematically assess the deleteriousness of variants creating or disrupting uORFs.
Take lessons from cancer evolution to the clinic
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01347-z The first long-term study of how lung cancer evolves is revealing that therapies targeting multiple proteins in tumour cells could help to outpace the disease.
The mutational constraint spectrum quantified from variation in 141,456 humans
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2308-7 A catalogue of predicted loss-of-function variants in 125,748 whole-exome and 15,708 whole-genome sequencing datasets from the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD) reveals the spectrum of mutational constraints that affect these human protein-coding genes.
Ensuring meiotic DNA break formation in the mouse pseudoautosomal region
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2327-4 In mice, the pseudoautosomal region of the sex chromosomes undergoes a dynamic structural rearrangement to promote a high rate of DNA double-strand breaks and to ensure X–Y recombination.
Phase and context shape the function of composite oncogenic mutations
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2315-8 Composite mutations, of two or more nonsynonymous somatic mutations in the same cancer-associated gene, are present in nearly one in four human tumours.
Podcast: Super-efficient catalyst boosts hopes for hydrogen fuel
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01590-4 Hear the latest from the world of science, with Nick Howe and Shamini Bundell.
Seeded growth of large single-crystal copper foils with high-index facets
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2298-5 Large-area single-crystal high-index copper and nickel foils with several types of facet are fabricated using mild pre-oxidation of the metal foil surface followed by annealing in a reducing atmosphere.
A census of baryons in the Universe from localized fast radio bursts
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2300-2 The baryon density determined along the lines of sight to localized fast radio bursts is consistent with that determined from the cosmic microwave background and required by Big Bang nucleosynthesis.
Hepatic NADH reductive stress underlies common variation in metabolic traits
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2337-2 The authors identify an increased hepatic NADH/NAD+ ratio as an underlying metabolic parameter that is shaped by human genetic variation and contributes causally to key metabolic traits and diseases.
Stable, high-performance sodium-based plasmonic devices in the near infrared
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2306-9 A thermo-assisted spin-coating process followed by packaging is used to fabricate sodium films that are stable for several months, enabling the realization of plasmonic devices with state-of-the-art performance at near-infrared wavelengths.
Electromechanical coupling in the hyperpolarization-activated K+ channel KAT1
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2335-4 The cryo-electron microscopy structure of the hyperpolarization-activated K+ channel KAT1 points to a direct-coupling mechanism between S4 movement and the reorientation of the C-linker.
Thousands of human sequences provide deep insight into single genomes
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01485-4 A massive genome-sequencing and analysis effort has produced the most comprehensive sets of data and tools for understanding human genetic variation so far. The resource will be invaluable to biologists of every stripe.
Coronavirus conversations: Science communication during a pandemic
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01589-x How researchers can tackle an "infodemic" of hearsay, speculation and fake news.
Spectroscopy of short-lived radioactive molecules
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2299-4 Measurements of low-energy electronic states of radium monofluoride validate predictions of the use of this short-lived radioactive molecule in exploring fundamental physics and provide evidence of its suitability for laser cooling.
Evaluating drug targets through human loss-of-function genetic variation
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2267-z Analysis of predicted loss-of-function variants from 125,748 human exomes and 15,708 whole genomes in the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD) provides a roadmap for human 'knockout' studies and a guide for future research into disease biology and drug-target selection.
A structural variation reference for medical and population genetics
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2287-8 A large empirical assessment of sequence-resolved structural variants from 14,891 genomes across diverse global populations in the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD) provides a reference map for disease-association studies, population genetics, and diagnostic screening.
A milestone in human genetics highlights diversity gaps
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01551-x Landmark study identifies the genes that it seems people can and cannot live without and highlights ongoing challenges in making data sets more representative of the world's population.
Structural transitions in influenza haemagglutinin at membrane fusion pH
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2333-6 Cryo-electron microscopy studies of the influenza haemagglutinin glycoprotein at the low pH of host endosomes reveals structural intermediates, offering a dynamic view of how the protein mediates membrane fusion.
How sex chromosomes break up to get together
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01483-6 Sex chromosomes must exchange genetic information at a short region during meiotic cell division. Molecular factors have now been found that alter sex-chromosome structure and enhance this exchange process.
An almost perfectly efficient light-activated catalyst for producing hydrogen from water
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01455-w Efforts to make hydrogen from water directly using sunlight have been hampered by the inefficiency of the catalysts that promote the process. A model system demonstrates that almost perfectly efficient catalysts can be made.
Mapping and characterization of structural variation in 17,795 human genomes
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2371-0
Transcript expression-aware annotation improves rare variant interpretation
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2329-2 A novel variant annotation metric that quantifies the level of expression of genetic variants across tissues is validated in the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD) and is shown to improve rare variant interpretation.
Photocatalytic water splitting with a quantum efficiency of almost unity
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2278-9 Water splitting with an internal quantum efficiency of almost unity is achieved using a modified semiconductor photocatalyst that selectively promotes the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions on separate crystal facets.
Structures of α-synuclein filaments from multiple system atrophy
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2317-6 Cryo-electron microscopy reveals the structures of α-synuclein filaments from the brains of individuals with multiple system atrophy.
Base-pair conformational switch modulates miR-34a targeting of Sirt1 mRNA
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2336-3 Repression of a messenger RNA by a cognate microRNA depends not only on complementary base pairing, but also on the rearrangement of a single base pair, producing a conformation that fits better within the human Ago2 protein.
Multifunctional e-glasses monitor health, protect eyes, control video games
2dFitness tracker bracelets and watches provide useful information, such as step count and heart rate, but they usually can't provide more detailed data about the wearer's health. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have developed smart electronic glasses (e-glasses) that not only monitor a person's brain waves and body movements, but also can function as sunglasses and
Archaeology is changing, slowly. But it's still too tied up in colonial practices
2dFor many people, the mention of archaeology makes them think of Indiana Jones. He's the hero of the 1980s movie franchise—but any archaeologist will tell you that Indiana isn't very good at his job.
Green bailouts: relying on carbon offsetting will let polluting airlines off the hook
2dThe coronavirus pandemic has grounded thousands of aircraft, contributing to the largest-ever annual fall in CO₂ emissions. At some point though, the planes will soar again and with them, global emissions.
Poor and black 'invisible cyclists' need to be part of post-pandemic transport planning too
2dAs states and workplaces prepare to open up after the lockdown, many people are looking for alternatives to public transit to get to work.
Melting ice reveals an ancient, once-thriving trade route
2dHigh in the mountains of Norway, melting ice has led to the discovery of an ancient remote mountain pass, complete with trail markers and artifacts from the Roman Iron Age and the time of the Vikings. The remains reveal this route served a dual function historically: It was once a significant passageway for moving livestock between grazing sites as well as for inter-regional travel and trade. This
Physicists test titanium target windows for particle beam
2dIn the late 2020s, Fermilab will begin sending the world's most intense beam of neutrinos through Earth's crust to detectors in South Dakota for the international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, or DUNE. When the new PIP-II particle accelerator comes online, an intense beam of protons will travel near the speed of light through a series of underground accelerator components before passing th
Volcanic eruptions reduce global rainfall
2dClimate change is occurring all over the globe as a 1°C increase in Earth's temperature has led to the rise in the sea level, melting of the Arctic ice, and unseasonable heat waves and heavy snow. To accurately predict the artificial climate changes set off by the increase in greenhouse gases, it is important to understand the effects of natural factors such as solar and volcanic activities. A rec
A special elemental magic
2dA staple in every science classroom is the periodic table of elements, and for many it is their first introduction to the vast mysteries of the natural world.
For første gang siden 2011 opsender Nasa astronauter fra USA
2dTo astronauter vil blive sendt afsted i en rumkapsel, som er udviklet af SpaceX.
Elon Musk: "It's My Fault" If Launch Goes Wrong
2d"It's My Fault" SpaceX could be about to write US history as it attempts to launch two NASA astronauts into orbit today, the first time anyone has tried that feat since the retirement of the Space Shuttle program in 2011. It's an exciting moment — but with human lives at stake. "I'm the chief engineer of the thing," SpaceX CEO Elon Musk told CBS during a Tuesday interview. "So, I just like to say
Mysterious radio bursts reveal missing matter in cosmos
2dEnigmatic bursts of energy used to identify half of all normal matter
European R&D review finds lagging high-tech performance despite major science investment
2dReport says scientific output is not translating into innovation
No 10 says scientific advisers will return to Covid-19 briefings
2dChris Whitty and Patrick Vallance have been regulars at Downing Street daily updates Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Downing Street has insisted that England's chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, and the chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, will reappear at Downing Street briefings "in the next few days", amid the continuing furore over Dominic Cummi
Instagram Will (Finally) Pay Influencers
2dThe company is rolling out new ways for its creators to make money—and they might sound familiar.
New antiviral, antibacterial surface could reduce spread of infections in hospitals
2dThe novel coronavirus pandemic has caused an increased demand for antimicrobial treatments that can keep surfaces clean, particularly in health care settings. Although some surfaces have been developed that can combat bacteria, what's been lacking is a surface that can also kill off viruses. Now, researchers have found a way to impart durable antiviral and antibacterial properties to an aluminum a
Study reports nursing home hip fracture rates stay persistently high
2dA recent study of hip fracture rates in nursing homes in the U.S. reports a slight rise in the rate of hip fractures among long-stay residents in recent years. Researchers looked at data collected between 2007 and 2015 and found, despite a dip in 2013, rates have begun to rise again even though long-stay nursing home admissions have declined.
Dairy consumption ineffective in preventing age-related bone loss or fractures
2dDairy products provide more bone-beneficial nutrients than any other food group. Yet a new study based on data from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) shows that during the menopause transition, when bone loss is accelerated, they offer little benefit in preventing bone mineral density loss or fractures. Study results are published online in Menopause, the journal of The North Am
In chimpanzees, females contribute to the protection of the territory
2dResearchers of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, extensively studied several neighboring groups of western chimpanzees and their findings reveal that females and even the entire group may play a more important role in between-group competition than previously thought. They found that even though adult males seem important in territory increase, territory m
Two anti-inflammatory drugs found that inhibit the replication of the COVID-19 virus
2dResearchers at the URV have used computer techniques to analyse whether 6,466 drugs authorized by various drug agencies for both human and veterinary use could be used to inhibit the M-pro enzyme. The study demonstrates that a human and a veterinary anti-inflammatory drug – Carprofen and Celecoxib – inhibit a key enzyme in the replication and transcription of the virus responsible for COVID-19. Th
University of Cincinnati study uncovers clues to COVID-19 in the brain
2dA study by University of Cincinnati researchers and three Italian institutions reviewing neuroimaging and neurological symptoms in patients with COVID-19 may shed light on the virus's impact on the central nervous system.
How would Ursula von der Leyen's coronavirus recovery fund work?
2dEuropean Commission president argues EU cannot afford to leave hard-hit countries behind
Cosmic bursts unveil universe's missing matter
2dAstronomers have used mysterious fast radio bursts to solve a decades-old mystery of "missing matter," long predicted to exist in the universe, but never before detected. The researchers have determined that all of the unaccounted normal matter exists in the vast space between stars and galaxies, as detailed today in the journal Nature.
Physicists measure a short-lived radioactive molecule for first time
2dResearchers at MIT and elsewhere have combined the power of a super collider with techniques of laser spectroscopy to precisely measure a short-lived radioactive molecule, radium monofluoride, for the first time.
'Nature's antifreeze' provides formula for more durable concrete
2dSecrets to cementing the sustainability of our future infrastructure may come from nature, such as proteins that keep plants and animals from freezing in extremely cold conditions. CU Boulder researchers have discovered that a synthetic molecule based on natural antifreeze proteins minimizes freeze-thaw damage and increases the strength and durability of concrete, improving the longevity of new in
Urine test for kidney stones gives results in 30 minutes
2dA new urine-testing system could allow people who have kidney stones to receive results within 30 minutes instead of the current turnaround time of a week or more, according to a new study. Kidney stones occur due to buildup of certain salts and minerals that form crystals , which in turn stick together and enlarge to form a hard mass in the kidneys. The stones move into the urinary tract and can
The secret weapon against pandemics | Georges C. Benjamin
2dThe coronavirus pandemic won't be the last crisis to test public health systems worldwide, says physician and health policy leader Georges C. Benjamin. He details what's needed to lead us out of the pandemic and prevent future ones — including a robust governmental health entity equipped with updated technology and well-trained staff — and explains how citizens, businesses and political leaders
Why Do 44% of Republicans Believe Bill Gates Will Use Coronavirus Vaccines to Inject Them With Microchips?
2dAccording to a recent Yahoo News/YouGov poll, 44 percent of Republicans believe that Bill Gates is plotting to use a COVID-19 vaccine campaign as cover for a mass microchip injection campaign. The survey, conducted May 20-21, showed substantial deviations between Democrats, Republicans, and independents on a host of issues. Among them: A significant gap in the belief that Bill Gates is attempting
Manufacturers Worry DDT Will Not Be Used
2dOriginally published in November 1945 — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
American Spaceflight Is Now in Elon Musk's Hands
2dSpaceX NASA Launch
nisrine la In the winter of 2010, the private aerospace company SpaceX was set to launch a capsule as a demonstration for NASA, hoping to prove that it could, someday, deliver supplies to the International Space Station. When engineers inspected the Falcon 9 rocket just days before takeoff, they discovered a crack on an engine nozzle. Dismantling the hardware, fixing the faulty piece, and putting
Spreading the Word on a Possible Alzheimer's Treatment
2dDiscoveries that transcend boundaries are among the greatest delights of scientific research, but such leaps are often overlooked because they outstrip conventional thinking. Take, for example, a new discovery for treating dementia that defies received wisdom by combining two formerly unrelated areas of research: brain waves and the brain's immune cells, called microglia. It's an important findin
Sony tried to build the perfect camera for YouTubers
2dThe puff on top prevents wind noise from hitting the microphones. It's typically called a "dead cat." (Sony/) There's a decent chance your favorite vlogger or YouTuber uses a Sony camera. The company has captured a considerable chunk of the influencer market with cameras like its compact RX-100 and the A6600 with its interchangeable-lens. The cameras are small, relatively simple to operate, and p
How do we disconnect from the environment during sleep and under anesthesia?
2dA series of new studies by researchers at Tel Aviv University's Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience finds, among other important discoveries, that noradrenaline, a neurotransmitter secreted in response to stress, lies at the heart of our ability to "shut off" our sensory responses and sleep soundly.
Study finds large disparities in use of medications for opioid use disorder in pregnancy
2dBlack non-Hispanic and Hispanic women with opioid use disorder (OUD) are significantly less likely to receive or to consistently use any medication to treat their opioid use disorder during pregnancy than their white non-Hispanic counterparts, Mass General researchers have found.
New cancer immunotherapy targeting myeloid cells slows tumor growth
2dCheckpoint inhibitors, a type of immunotherapy, that target myeloid immune cells and slow tumor growth were discovered by a team from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and other institutions. Reporting in Nature Cancer, the researchers showed for the first time in human cells and a mouse model that inhibiting the c-Rel molecule in myeloid cells — as opposed to lymp
The evolutionary puzzle of the mammalian ear
2dHow could the tiny parts of the ear adapt independently to the diverse functional and environmental regimes encountered in mammals? A group of researchers from the University of Vienna and the Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research proposed a new explanation for this puzzle. They suggest that the incorporation of the bones of the primary jaw joint into the ear has considerabl
Superworms digest plastic, with help from their bacterial sidekicks
2dResembling giant mealworms, superworms ( Zophobas atratus ) are beetle larvae that are often sold in pet stores as feed for reptiles, fish and birds. In addition to their relatively large size (about 2 inches long), these worms have another superpower: They can degrade polystyrene plastic. Now, researchers reporting in ACS' Environmental Science & Technology have linked this ability to a strain of
CSIC researchers use whole living cells as 'templates' to seek for bioactive molecules
2dA study performed by researchers at the Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC) from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) pioneers the use of whole living cells (human lung adenocarcinoma) in dynamic combinatorial chemistry systems. This research, published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition, proposes a new methodology to discover new bioactive molecul
Lyme Disease Season Is Here. These Are Tips on How to Avoid It.
2dThe basic symptoms mirror Covid-19, and that's a worry nobody needs. Plus, a serious illness like Lyme could put you at greater risk from Covid.
Mission Control Is Socially Distancing During Today's SpaceX Launch
2dThis morning's NASA briefing , leading up to SpaceX's historic Crew Dragon launch known as Demo-2, looked a little different. There were no crowds and no cheers; just a bare media room with NASA leaders spread six feet apart. If the launch is successful, the tireless workers who made it happen won't even be able to embrace each other in Mission Control — a melancholy reflection of the global pand
How Anti-Science Attitudes Have Impacted the Coronavirus Pandemic in Brazil
2dA leading Brazilian scientist discusses the challenges faced by the country, which has the world's third-highest number of COVID-19 cases — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Nyckelgen i leukemi hittad
2dAkut myeloisk leukemi (AML) är en av de vanligaste formerna av blodcancer hos vuxna och är associerad med låg överlevnad. Nu har en forskargrupp vid Lunds universitet identifierat en av de gener som är grunden till att leukemistamcellerna överlever och förökar sig. AML är resultatet av förvärvade genetiska förändringar i de blodbildande stamcellerna och drabbar bland annat gener som styr cellerna
Sundhedsstyrelsen vil have afklaring af lavdosis-CT
2dEt møde torsdag i Sundhedsstyrelsen skal afklare, om ny viden om CT-scanningsmetoder bør føre til revision af pakkeforløbet for lungekræft.
Precision Mobile Testing Is Key to Opening the Economy Safely
2dFighting COVID-19 with our antiquated paradigm of centralized health care delivery is like fighting World War III with a musket — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Fynsk robotløsning poder automatisk for covid-19
2dRobotforskere fra Syddansk Universitet har udviklet en løsning så en robotarm kan pode for covid-19 uden menneskelig indblanding. Prototypen har med succes podet flere forskere.
Bullying is common factor in LGBTQ youth suicides, YSPH study finds
2dResearchers at the Yale School of Public Health have found that death records of LGBTQ youth who died by suicide were substantially more likely to mention bullying as a factor than their non-LGBTQ peers.
Multifunctional e-glasses monitor health, protect eyes, control video game
2dFitness tracker bracelets and watches provide useful information, such as step count and heart rate, but they usually can't provide more detailed data about the wearer's health. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have developed smart electronic glasses (e-glasses) that not only monitor a person's brain waves and body movements, but also can function as sunglasses and
How to preserve the properties of polyphenols and flavonoids in oncological treatments?
2dA new technique preserves the anti-carcinogenic properties of polyphenols and flavonoids in oncological treatments. The research opens the door to developing more natural drugs that are less toxic for patients with cancer. The results of this study led by researchers from the URV have been published in the journal Scientific Reports.
WATCH: Neil deGrasse Tyson to commentate SpaceX's historic mission to ISS
2dHurley SpaceX NASA
On Wednesday afternoon, SpaceX is set to become the first private company to launch humans into orbit. The company's Crew Dragon, launched by the Falcon 9 rocket, is scheduled to take two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. Neil deGrasse Tyson will host the American Museum of Natural History's live-stream coverage of the launch. On Wednesday afternoon, a SpaceX rocket is set to la
US COVID-19 patients have longer hospital stays than in China
2dHospitalized COVID-19 patients in the US stay in the hospital longer and face higher rates of intensive care unit admission than patients in China, according to a new study. The results suggest that the coronavirus pandemic may hit hospitals in the US harder than initially thought, as many forecasts of disease burden—particularly the number of hospital beds and intensive care unit (ICU) beds need
Can you catch coronavirus twice? What we know about Covid-19 so far
2dYour questions answered based on current knowledge and the latest research from scientists Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage That remains unclear. A key question is whether antibodies produced by the body following an infection with the coronavirus provide some level of immunity, and if so, for how long. Continue reading…
Google Chrome Is Getting a Bunch of New Privacy Features
2dThe next version of the browser will be more secure than ever. Here's what you need to know.
Meet SpaceX's First NASA Astronauts | Space Launch LIVE
2dMeet Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, the astronauts who are set to make history as the first humans launched into space by SpaceX. About Space Launch LIVE: Space Launch LIVE will cover the NASA launch of SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule, which will carry veteran astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the International Space Station. Audiences can watch the launch on TV or stream it live on Discovery
How Scientists Influenced Monkeys' Decisions Using Ultrasound in Their Brains
2dA few years ago, in a pitch black room at Stanford University, a monkey sat silently in his custom-made chair, utterly bewildered. It wasn't because of the head brace, which held his head completely still. It wasn't the LCD screen blasting bright light in his face. It wasn't even the abstract shapes that randomly popped up on the screen; he knew if he picked them wisely with his gaze he'd get a s
Precision Mobile Testing Is Key to Opening the Economy Safely
2dFighting COVID-19 with our antiquated paradigm of centralized health care delivery is like fighting World War III with a musket — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Clean without scrubbing and using chemicals
2dDresden scientists have developed a self-cleaning metallic surface. A project team of Technische Universität Dresden and the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS structured an aluminium plate with a laser process in such a way that water droplets no longer adhere and dirt particles can be removed from the surface – completely without chemical cleaning agents or additional effo
Van der Waals junction spin valves without spacer layer
2dDistinct from traditional spin valves with a sandwich structure consisting of two ferromagnetic metals decoupled by the insertion of a non-magnetic spacer, recently, a research team led by Prof. Kaiyou Wang from Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences, collaborating with their colleagues, has demonstrated two-state and three-state spin-valve effects using Fe3GeTe2 vdW homo-junctio
Study: Ultra-thin fibres designed to protect nerves after brain surgery
2dThe drug nimodipine could prevent nerve cells from dying after brain surgery. Pharmacists at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), in cooperation with neurosurgeons at University Hospital Halle (Saale) (UKH), have developed a new method that enables the drug to be administered directly in the brain with fewer side effects. Their findings were published in the "European Journal of Pharma
Finnish study proposes a model to predict cryptocurrency defaults
2dUniversity of Vaasa researchers propose a model that is capable of explaining 87 percent of cryptocurrency bankruptcies after only one month of trading. It could potentially serve as a screening tool for investors keen to boost overall performance of cryptocurrency investment portfolios by avoiding investing in unreliable cryptocurrencies.
The asteroids Ryugu and Bennu were formed by the destruction of a large asteroid
2dWhat is the origin of the asteroids Bennu and Ryugu, and of their spinning-top shape? Numerical simulations of large asteroid disruptions show that during such events, fragments are ejected and then reaccumulate forming aggregates, some of which have a spinning-top shape. Scientists conclude that the overall properties of Bennu and Ryugu could directly result from the disruption of their parent bo
Elucidation of nanostructures in practical heterogeneous catalysts
2dThe nanostructure of the heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalyst was clarified on the basis of cutting-edge analytical techniques. Scientists from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) and University of Torino (UNITO) have cooperatively clarified the nanostructure of the heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalyst by means of combined synchrotron X-ray analytical techniques, vibrational
Skoltech scientists get a sneak peek of a key process in battery 'life'
2dResearchers from the Skoltech Center for Energy Science and Technology (CEST) visualized the formation of a solid electrolyte interphase on battery-grade carbonaceous electrode materials using in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM). This will help researchers design and build batteries with higher performance and durability.
New protocol for organic synthesis using organoboron compounds and visible-light
2dThe generation of alkyl radicals was achieved by direct visible-light excitation of the organoborate complex, which was designed and synthesized from 'boracene,' which has a boron atom in the tetracene-like skeleton. The alkyl radicals thus obtained could be used as a carbon source for chemical reactions, enabling the synthesis of complicated/bulky organic compounds. The present study offers a new
Scientists devise a way to determine the viability of predicted 2D materials
2dAn international team of researchers from Russia, Sweden and South Korea has proposed a new way to test the structural stability of predicted 2D materials. The testing revealed a number of materials erroneously proposed earlier. The scholars believe that the use of the new method will further help to avoid mistakes in the development of two-dimensional nanomaterials that are in high demand in the
Kraftfull röntgen avslöjar innerörats dränering
2dInnerörats olika delar som har med hörsel och balans att göra är inneslutna i tinningbenet, ett av kroppens allra hårdaste ben. Med en ny form av röntgen, kallad synkrotronröntgen, har det för första gången gått att i detalj studera det kärlsystem som tros reglera flödet av så kallad endolymfa. Denna salthaltiga vätska är nödvändig för att både hörseln och balansen ska fungera. Studien med de nya
Children's temperament traits affect their motor skills
2dA recent study among 3- to 7-year-old children showed that children's motor skills benefitted if a child was older and participated in organised sports. Additionally, the study provided information about the importance of temperament traits for motor skills.
Strong convictions can blind us to information that challenges them
2dWhen people are highly confident in a decision, they take in information that confirms their decision, but fail to process information which contradicts it, finds a UCL brain imaging study, published in Nature Communications.
Nordic countries struggle with a severe drug overdose problem
2dDespite the fact that the Nordic countries are often seen as ideal in practically every global ranking of quality of life and social equality, the number of drug-related deaths in these countries are among the highest in Europe.
Public parks guaranteeing sustainable well-being
2dAn international team led by the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has ascertained how green spaces contribute to the well-being of city-dwellers. The research shows that parks play an essential role in the well-being of individuals, regardless of their social class, and that they cannot be replaced by other venues where people meet, such as shopping centers. When these parks are closed – as during the
Volcanic eruptions reduce global rainfall
2dPOSTECH Professor Seung-Ki Min's joint research team identifies the mechanism behind the reduction in precipitation after volcanic eruptions. Volcano-induced El Niño amplifies the reduction in precipitation. Safety of geoengineering that mimic volcanoes is not guaranteed.
Extraction of skin interstitial fluid using microneedle patches
2dResearchers at the Terasaki Institute enhance tool for extraction of samples used in monitoring patient health. Improvements were made in material type, preparation, and needle design.
Finding a genus home for Alaska's dinosaurs
2dA re-analysis of dinosaur skulls from northern Alaska suggests they belong to a genus Edmontosaurus, and not to the genus recently proposed by scientists in 2015.
A special elemental magic
2dKyoto University physicists develop a 'nuclear periodic table'. While the traditional table is based on the behavior of electrons in an atom, this new table is based on the protons in the nucleus. Protons have different stable magic numbers, and the table highlights alternative ways to illustrate the laws of nature.
Oxygen-excess oxides in Earth's mid-mantle facilitate the ascent of deep oxygen
2dUnder the conditions of Earth's middle mantle, scientists discovered an oxygen-excess phase, (Mg,Fe)2O3+δ (0 1000 kilometers depths. Those oxygen-excess materials may have long-termly oxidized the shallow mantle and the crust, which is essential to allow free oxygen to build up in Earth's atmosphere.
A new method for predicting the evolution of melanoma emerges
2dResearch led by the UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country estimates that determining the mutational load of the mutation of the BRAF (BRAF-V600E) gene could predict whether the melanoma will progress to metastasis
Scientists synthesize anti-inflammatory tick spit protein for first time
2dIn a world first, scientists at the University of Sydney have synthesised evasin proteins found in tick saliva, which offer a promising pathway for anti-inflammatory medicine.
At work, school and seeing friends: How to lower your coronavirus risk
2dMany countries are relaxing coronavirus restrictions. If you've been asked to return to work or school, how can you reduce the risk of infection to yourself and your family?
Political donors want candidates to toe party lines
2dFrequent political campaign donors prefer congressional candidates who stick with the party's positions to those who promote extreme views or make bipartisan appeals, according to a new study. The finding casts doubt on a widely held assumption that frequent donors push candidates to adopt increasingly extreme policy positions. The researchers found that individuals who regularly donate to congre
Forests have higher thermal buffer ability than non-forests
2dThe contrasting structure and energy partitioning of different vegetation types moderate canopy surface temperature, and thus vegetation types may differ in their buffer ability toward temperature fluctuations. To better understand the interaction between vegetation and climate around the global, it is necessary to study the pattern of Thermal Buffer Ability (TBA, i.e. resistance to environmental
A new scheme for satellite-based quantum-secure time transfer
2dResearchers at the University of Science and Technology of China have recently introduced a new satellite-based quantum-secure time transfer (QSTT) protocol that could enable more secure communications between different satellites or other technology in space. Their protocol, presented in a paper published in Nature Physics, is based on two-way quantum key distribution in free space, a technique t
Samisk mathistoria: Inte alltid ren på menyn
2dRenkött har inte alltid varit vanligt på menyn. Samisk mathistoria visar att kulturen i Sápmi varit mycket mer varierad än man tidigare trott, enligt forskning vid Stockholms universitet. Den gängse bilden av samisk kultur i historieforskningen är att den varit likriktad och utan större influenser utifrån under århundraden. En ny avhandling i arkeologi om matkulturen i Sápmi ger nu en annan bild
Hoppkräftan klarar ett varmare Östersjön
2dTemperaturen i Östersjön ökar snabbare än i den i världshaven. Men det finns arter som klarar varmare vatten. Hoppkräftan, en viktig födokälla för sill och skarpsill, klarar 2 till 4 grader varmare vattentemperaturer än dagens nivåer – åtminstone i Stockholms skärgård. Det finns dock andra hot mot hoppkräftan, visar en studie från Stockholms universitet. Vattentemperaturen i Östersjön kommer trol
WHO Halts Hydroxychloroquine Testing Over Safety Concerns
2dA paper published in The Lancet reported that hospitalized COVID-19 patients taking the drug had a higher risk of death, although some researchers have raised questions about the data.
The chemical messenger that controls flower power
2dThe dazzling floral displays of early spring are starting to draw to a close. But wily gardeners know that they can keep plants in flower for longer by removing fruit and seeds as soon as they form.
Lead your team toward collaborative problem solving
2dIn this Big Think Live session with Keith Ferrazzi, moderated by Bob Kulhan, Ferrazzi will dive into management and leadership methods, explaining what it means to "lead without authority." How can we rethink the organizational structures that keep us in unproductive silos and learn to build true teams instead? How can we be more emotionally intelligent in meetings? And, as an exclusive for Edge
Technology is studied that could save 12% of the energy used in pressurized irrigation
2dA study, performed in two Andalusian provinces, analyzed the potential of producing electricity by means of recovering hydraulic energy by implanting new technology based on pumps working as turbines
Information technology played key role in growth of ancient civilizations
2dA new paper in Nature Communications shows the ability to store and process information was as critical to the growth of early human societies as it is today.
Pregnancy reprograms breast cells, reducing cancer risk
2dWomen who are pregnant before the age of 25 have a decreased risk of breast cancer throughout their lives. Searching for the mechanism behind this life-saver, CSHL researchers discovered that pregnancy reprograms the breast cells to turn off a cancer gene and turn on a gene that arrests cell growth.
Airborne science discovers complex geomorphic controls on Bornean forests
2dUsing tree chemistry maps created by ASU's Global Airborne Observatory, high-resolution topography data, and computer models, researchers at Stanford University and Arizona State University's Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science uncovered new insights into the processes behind how life coevolved with our planet.
Fine-tuning treatment for triple-negative breast cancer
2dResearchers at the University of Queensland may have found a way to improve treatment of triple-negative breast cancer.
The chemical messenger that controls flower power
2dThe dazzling floral displays of early spring are starting to draw to a close. But wily gardeners know that they can keep plants in flower for longer by removing fruit and seeds as soon as they form.
Similar to humans, chimpanzees develop slowly
2dFew species develop as slowly as humans, both in terms of developing adult skills and brain development. Human infants are born so underdeveloped that they cannot survive without adult care and feeding for some years after birth. Children still need to learn fundamental skills such as walking, eating, talking, using tools and much more. The timing of these developmental milestones is used by docto
Plant science discovery may help treat allergies and immune deficiencies
2dA collaboration led by Texas A&M AgriLife researchers has identified an early immune response step that could have broad-ranging implications for crop, animal and human health.
South Korea's Institute for Basic Science faces review
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01465-8 Decisions about the country's research flagship will signpost national priorities.
A guide to the Nature Index
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01571-7 A description of the terminology and methodology used in this supplement, and a guide to the functionality available free online at natureindex.com.
A new deal for South Korea's science?
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01463-w The global innovation leader confronts new research challenges.
How South Korea made itself a global innovation leader
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01466-7 Systemic reform backed by strong investment has brought rapid and long-lasting results.
Boosting South Korea's basic research
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01464-9 By redirecting funding to small teams, the country is betting on the creativity of its scientists.
South Korean institutions lure global talent
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01467-6 The country is making headway in the effort to internationalize its scientific workforce.
Washington state aims to regulate water temperature at federal dams, wading into controversy
2dThe Columbia is the great river of the West, winding from the north to meet its largest tributary, the Snake in Eastern Washington, then dividing the states of Oregon and Washington on its push to the sea. Big and powerful, its wild energy has been tamed to engineered stair steps controlled by locks and dams.
Similar to humans, chimpanzees develop slowly
2dFew species develop as slowly as humans, both in terms of developing adult skills and brain development. Human infants are born so underdeveloped that they cannot survive without adult care and feeding for some years after birth. Children still need to learn fundamental skills such as walking, eating, talking, using tools and much more. The timing of these developmental milestones is used by docto
Scientists propose novel electrode for efficient artificial synthesis of ammonia
2dAmmonia (NH3) is an important chemical in the industry and agriculture as well as an emerging energy carrier with large hydrogen content.
Plant science discovery may help treat allergies and immune deficiencies
2dA collaboration led by Texas A&M AgriLife researchers has identified an early immune response step that could have broad-ranging implications for crop, animal and human health.
Women with Neandertal gene give birth to more children
2dOne in three women in Europe inherited the receptor for progesterone from Neandertals—a gene variant associated with increased fertility, fewer bleedings during early pregnancy and fewer miscarriages. This is according to a study published in Molecular Biology and Evolution by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany and Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.
Mathematics can save lives at sea
2dHundreds of people die at sea every year due to vessel and airplane accidents. Emergency teams have little time to rescue those in the water because the probability of finding a person alive plummets after six hours. Beyond tides and challenging weather conditions, unsteady coastal currents often make search and rescue operations exceedingly difficult.
Ear infections discovered in remains of humans living in Levant 15,000 years ago
2dResearchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered evidence of ear infections in the skull remains of humans living in the Levant some 15,000 years ago.
Women with Neandertal gene give birth to more children
2dOne in three women in Europe inherited the receptor for progesterone from Neandertals—a gene variant associated with increased fertility, fewer bleedings during early pregnancy and fewer miscarriages. This is according to a study published in Molecular Biology and Evolution by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany and Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.
Portable car jump starters that'll get you out of a tight spot
2dBackup juice for your car. (Jan Baborák via Unsplash/) There's no sinking feeling quite like the one that comes when you return to your parked car to find the lights still on and your battery fully drained. Luckily, a quick jump start is usually all it takes to bring your trusty chariot back to life, but what if there's nobody around to help you boost your car battery with their own? That's where
Cyclone Amphan reinforces urgent need for climate adaptation planning
2dLast week, super cyclone Amphan (alluding to the Thai word for "sky") developed in the Bay of Bengal as the strongest cyclone ever to be recorded in the region, comparable to a Category 5 hurricane. On the evening of May 20th, Amphan made landfall in the Indian state of Bengal as a Category 2 cyclone, first ripping through the Sundarbans delta, and then proceeding north and east to rural Bengal an
Supercomputing aids scientists seeking therapies for deadly bacterial disease
2dFrancisella tularensis, a bacterium that causes the illness tularemia (also known as "rabbit fever"), is one of the most hostile organisms on the planet. Once the bacterium enters the body and tularemia sets in, an infected person can experience a range of symptoms, from ulcers to tonsillitis to pneumonia that can turn fatal.
Scratching is contagious when solitary orangutans are in groups
2dIf someone around you yawns, the chances are that you too will soon yawn. In orangutans it has now been found that scratching is very contagious. This is what cognitive psychologists from Leiden discovered at Apenheul Primate Park. Publication in American Journal of Primatology.
The Time of Trials: Waiting for a Coronavirus Vaccine
2dAn infected and impatient world needs protection from Covid-19, but rushing it won't be easy. How can we speed up a complicated process?
NASA, SpaceX Gear Up for Historic Crewed Launch Today
2dNASA and SpaceX are just hours away from making history. After years of development and testing, SpaceX is set to become the first private spaceflight firm to carry American astronauts into space as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. This is also the first crewed launch from US soil since the retirement of the Space Shuttle, a long-overdue step that will free NASA from reliance on Russian So
Supercomputing aids scientists seeking therapies for deadly bacterial disease
2dFrancisella tularensis, a bacterium that causes the illness tularemia (also known as "rabbit fever"), is one of the most hostile organisms on the planet. Once the bacterium enters the body and tularemia sets in, an infected person can experience a range of symptoms, from ulcers to tonsillitis to pneumonia that can turn fatal.
Scratching is contagious when solitary orangutans are in groups
2dIf someone around you yawns, the chances are that you too will soon yawn. In orangutans it has now been found that scratching is very contagious. This is what cognitive psychologists from Leiden discovered at Apenheul Primate Park. Publication in American Journal of Primatology.
The Coronavirus Is Democratizing Knowledge
2dDespite toxic misinformation, the pandemic has empowered us to become co-creators, co-producers, and co-distributors of what we know.
Now Is the Best—and Worst—Time to Launch HBO Max
2dPeople are stuck at home looking for movies and TV shows to watch. But the people who make the movies and shows are too.
Small Towns Won't Know They're Infected Until It's Too Late
2dHere in the plague, we are living a story that is global and yet intensely local. While all of us get reams of reporting about national and international COVID-19 trends, most of us get little or no reporting about what's happening in the communities where we actually live. Local news has largely disappeared—the phenomenon of news deserts is by now well known. And yet never has the need for local
The Great Koala Rescue Operation
2dRaging bushfires. Devastated wildlife. And the compassionate souls who went to the rescue
First map of proinsulin's 'social network' reveals new drug target for type 2 diabetes
2dScientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have mapped for the first time the vast network of proteins that interact with proinsulin, the protein the body normally processes into insulin. The study, published in Diabetes, also revealed one protein–called PRDX4–that may be essential for proinsulin folding and insulin production. The research suggests that boosting PRDX4 leve
The relationships between forests, deforestation and infectious disease emergence
2dThe global COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the importance of certain previously little-studied scientific areas such as the relationships between ecosystems, their biodiversity and the emergence of new infectious diseases. Humans are making increasing use of their environment and so they are more exposed to certain microbes lurking in the shadows, a situation that may heighten the risk of new
How seasonal allergies affect your pet
2dWith an uptick in pollen comes the torturous sneezing and watery eyes. Pets get seasonal allergies, too, but they exhibit discomfort in different ways.
Medicinal chemistry breakthrough could lead to better pharmaceuticals
2dMedications are developed to work well for most people, but those whose genetic makeup causes them to metabolize medicine too quickly often need higher doses of the drugs they take in order for them to be effective. For others, the metabolism process can create toxic byproducts, often leading to unpleasant side effects.
Australia's megafauna roamed the tropics with first humans but then disappeared
2dNew evidence shows climate change may have wiped out Australia's giant beasts.
A Monday Is a Tuesday Is a Sunday as COVID-19 Disrupts Internal Clocks
2dA global natural experiment examines the time warp of life under quarantine — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
A Monday Is a Tuesday Is a Sunday as COVID-19 Disrupts Internal Clocks
2dA global natural experiment examines the time warp of life under quarantine — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
A Monday Is a Tuesday Is a Sunday as COVID-19 Disrupts Internal Clocks
2dA global natural experiment examines the time warp of life under quarantine — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Medicinal chemistry breakthrough could lead to better pharmaceuticals
2dMedications are developed to work well for most people, but those whose genetic makeup causes them to metabolize medicine too quickly often need higher doses of the drugs they take in order for them to be effective. For others, the metabolism process can create toxic byproducts, often leading to unpleasant side effects.
The relationships between forests, deforestation and infectious disease emergence
2dThe global COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the importance of certain previously little-studied scientific areas such as the relationships between ecosystems, their biodiversity and the emergence of new infectious diseases. Humans are making increasing use of their environment and so they are more exposed to certain microbes lurking in the shadows, a situation that may heighten the risk of new
How seasonal allergies affect your pet
2dWith an uptick in pollen comes the torturous sneezing and watery eyes. Pets get seasonal allergies, too, but they exhibit discomfort in different ways.
China expected to impose coal import restrictions
2dTraders predict move to favour domestic sector at the expense of Australia
New type of coupled electronic-structural waves discovered in magnetite
2dAn international team of scientists uncovered exotic quantum properties hidden in magnetite, the oldest magnetic material known to mankind. The study reveals the existence of low-energy waves that indicate the important role of electronic interactions with the crystal lattice. This is another step toward fully understanding the metal-insulator phase transition mechanism in magnetite, and in partic
Ny teknologi vil gøre genanvendelse af kompositmaterialer nemmere
2dPLUS. Nyudviklet britisk teknologi skal gøre det lettere at genanvende og reparere kompositmaterialer i fremtiden, og det er der brug for, hvis industrien skal væk fra 'brug-og-smid-væk-mentaliteten', fortæller dansk ingeniør.
Researchers trigger enzymes with light
2dEnzymes are the central drivers for biochemical metabolic processes in every living cell, enabling reactions to take place efficiently. It is this ability that makes them useful as catalysts in biotechnology, for example, to create chemical products such as pharmaceutics. A topic that is currently being widely discussed is photoinduced catalysis, in which researchers harness the ability to start b
Neanderthal DNA linked to higher fertility in modern humans
2dSome people carry a chunk of Neanderthal DNA that appears to reduce the chance of miscarriage and increase fertility
Ancient Roman mosaic floor discovered under vines in Italy
2dPristine 'archaeological treasure' near Verona may date to 3rd century AD, say experts A perfectly preserved ancient Roman mosaic floor has been discovered near the northern Italian city of Verona. Archaeologists were astonished by the find as it came almost a century after the remains of a villa, believed to date to the 3rd century AD, were unearthed in a hilly area above the town of Negrar di V
Researchers trigger enzymes with light
2dEnzymes are the central drivers for biochemical metabolic processes in every living cell, enabling reactions to take place efficiently. It is this ability that makes them useful as catalysts in biotechnology, for example, to create chemical products such as pharmaceutics. A topic that is currently being widely discussed is photoinduced catalysis, in which researchers harness the ability to start b
Circadian oscillation of a cyanobacterium doesn't need all three Kai proteins to keep going
2dCircadian rhythms are driven by a highly autonomous, self-sustaining circadian clock within cells, telling us when to sleep or wake up in a 24-hour cycle.
Human activity threatens billions of years of evolutionary history
2dA ZSL study published in Nature Communications today maps the evolutionary history of the world's terrestrial vertebrates—amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles—for the first time, exploring how areas with large concentrations of evolutionarily distinct and threatened species are being impacted by our ever-increasing 'human footprint'.
The costly collateral damage from Elon Musk's Starlink satellite fleet
2dA colossal chess game of immense consequences is being fought in outer space, right now. On March 18 and April 22 2020, two rockets from SpaceX, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, each put 60 satellites into orbit. Those launches are but the sixth and seventh in a series intended to rapidly make 1,584 satellites available.
Circadian oscillation of a cyanobacterium doesn't need all three Kai proteins to keep going
2dCircadian rhythms are driven by a highly autonomous, self-sustaining circadian clock within cells, telling us when to sleep or wake up in a 24-hour cycle.
Human activity threatens billions of years of evolutionary history
2dA ZSL study published in Nature Communications today maps the evolutionary history of the world's terrestrial vertebrates—amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles—for the first time, exploring how areas with large concentrations of evolutionarily distinct and threatened species are being impacted by our ever-increasing 'human footprint'.
Back in Business: NASA Is Set to Return to Human Spaceflight with Historic SpaceX Launch
2dTwo astronauts will ride a privately built rocket and spacecraft to orbit, marking the first launch of humans from U.S. soil in nearly a decade — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Back in Business: NASA Is Set to Return to Human Spaceflight with Historic SpaceX Launch
2dHurley SpaceX NASA
Two astronauts will ride a privately built rocket and spacecraft to orbit, marking the first launch of humans from U.S. soil in nearly a decade — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Epic 7,500-mile cuckoo migration wows scientists
2dScientists have tracked a cuckoo's migratory flight from Africa to its breeding ground in Mongolia.
Winds spread PFAS pollution far from a manufacturing facility
2dConcerns about environmental and health risks of some fluorinated carbon compounds used to make non-stick coatings and fire-fighting foams have prompted manufacturers to develop substitutes, but these replacements are increasingly coming under fire themselves. To get a handle on the scope of the problem, scientists have been studying how widely these chemicals have contaminated the environment. No
Researchers date age of the oldest-known forest in West Junggar region, China
2dAs one of the five major extinction events in Earth history, the Frasnian-Famennian boundary (FFB) crisis caused dramatic reductions in marine and terrestrial diversity.
Why Trump's Popularity Surge Faded So Quickly
2dThe phenomenon demonstrates the rise and fall of dominant leaders in turbulent times — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Evolution of the spacesuit
2dHurley SpaceX NASA
How SpaceX's stylish spacesuit differs from other attire flown by astronauts.
Safeguarding the source of three of Asia's great rivers
2dIt is official. Everything is on track for the establishment of the Three-Rivers-Source National Park (TRSNP) in China, which—as its name suggests—protects the source of three of Asia's greatest rivers: the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang-Mekong rivers.
New approach to metabolomics research could prove game changer
2dAccurate identification of metabolites, and other small chemicals, in biological and environmental samples has historically fallen short when using traditional methods. Conventional tactics rely on pure reference compounds, called standards, to recognize the same molecules in complex samples. These approaches are limited by the availability of the pure chemicals that are used as the standards.
Youth support critical to battle COVID-19-related employment challenges
2dResearchers from The University of Western Australia's Centre for Social Impact say supporting young people is more important now than ever, highlighting the long-term impact on youth unemployment as the result of shutdowns and restrictions from COVID-19.
Researchers conduct research to better understand why young adults choose to move to rural Montana
2dIt's common to hear about young adults choosing not to live in rural Montana, but what often goes undiscussed are the reasons young adults do choose to move to rural parts of the state, according to Montana State University researcher Sarah Schmitt-Wilson.
Quantum simulators for gauge theories
2dTo simulate in a laboratory what happens in particle accelerators has been an ambitious goal in the study of the fundamental forces of nature pursued by high-energy physicists for many years. Now, thanks to research conducted by the groups of statistical physics of SISSA—Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati and the "Abdus Salam" International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), tha
Higher education system faces the inequities COVID-19 exposes
2dThe COVID-19 pandemic has created a crisis across higher education, for both institutions and learners. But these new challenges are coming to rest on old inequalities that kept many low and middle-income Americans from attending college or earning a degree.
Astronomers recategorize asteroid-like comet
2dRecently discovered object 2019 LD2, originally believed to be the first cometary "Jupiter Trojan" asteroid by astronomers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Institute for Astronomy turns out to be an interloper comet masquerading as a member of the Trojan population. The distinction was first suggested by amateur astronomers Sam Deen and Tony Dunn on the Minor Planet Mailing List on May 21 and
How do dogs help us adjust to social distancing and other COVID-19 challenges?
2dBrian Hare, Ph.D. professor of evolutionary anthropology and director of Duke Canine Cognition Center, discussed how dogs help people to adjust to the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
Individualists are less likely to obey hurricane evacuation orders
2dHurricanes may take erratic paths, but the response by those in harm's way often follows a predictable pattern. Even in the face of repeated warnings and many people evacuating, some residents of high-risk areas invariably discount the forecasts and refuse to take shelter.
How to Create a Home Meditation Space
2dYou can't leave your house, so you may as well leave your body. At least for a while.
The End of Handshakes—for Humans and for Robots
2dResearchers have spent years teaching robots to shake hands—an effort possibly doomed by a global turn against human contact.
Shadowserver, an Internet Guardian, Finds a Lifeline
2dTen weeks ago, Shadowserver's main source of funding dried up. Now it's back on level footing.
Goats get us. Or at least, our hand gestures.
2dThese goats seem to be happy together (Christian Nawroth/) It was like greeting an old friend. Each morning, without fail, Nadia, a snowy white goat with pink transparent ears, would heartily greet Christian Nawroth when he entered the goat pen. Even if Nawroth had an appointment with another goat, Nadia always made her presence known. "I'd say, 'Hi, Nadia, how are you doing?' and we'd cuddle a b
How do dogs help us adjust to social distancing and other COVID-19 challenges?
2dBrian Hare, Ph.D. professor of evolutionary anthropology and director of Duke Canine Cognition Center, discussed how dogs help people to adjust to the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
Herding wild buffalo and cattle from space
2dMore than 1000 feral buffalo and unmanaged cattle roaming Northern Australia will be tagged and tracked as part of the world's largest satellite herd-tracking program, announced today by Australia's national science agency, CSIRO.
Taming CRISPR's collateral damage
2dCRISPR-Cas9 can alter genes at pre-defined sites in specific ways, but it does not always act as planned. An LMU team has now developed a simple method to detect unintended "on-target" events, and shown that they often occur in human stem cells.
Simulations explain detonation properties in TATB
2dTwo Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists have discovered a new mechanism for ignition of high explosives that explains the unusual detonation properties of 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB).
AI identifies change in microstructure in aging materials
2dLawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists have taken a step forward in the design of future materials with improved performance by analyzing its microstructure using AI.
Herding wild buffalo and cattle from space
2dMore than 1000 feral buffalo and unmanaged cattle roaming Northern Australia will be tagged and tracked as part of the world's largest satellite herd-tracking program, announced today by Australia's national science agency, CSIRO.
Taming CRISPR's collateral damage
2dCRISPR-Cas9 can alter genes at pre-defined sites in specific ways, but it does not always act as planned. An LMU team has now developed a simple method to detect unintended "on-target" events, and shown that they often occur in human stem cells.
Heat now more lethal than cold for people with respiratory diseases in Spain
2dA new study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a center supported by the la Caixa Foundation, has analyzed deaths linked to respiratory disease in Spain between 1980 and 2016. The study, which analyzed data on more than 1.3 million deaths, found that the seasonality of temperature-attributable mortality from respiratory diseases has shifted from the coldest to the hottest mon
Winds spread PFAS pollution far from a manufacturing facility
2dConcerns about environmental and health risks of some fluorinated carbon compounds used to make non-stick coatings and fire-fighting foams have prompted manufacturers to develop substitutes, but these replacements are increasingly coming under fire themselves. To get a handle on the scope of the problem, scientists have been studying how widely these chemicals have contaminated the environment. No
Researchers use geometry and dynamics to better understand tissue organization
2dEmbryogenesis—how an organism arises from a single cell—is one of the most mysterious and complex processes in nature. The large-scale, coordinated and collective movements of cells in a tissue during embryogenesis resemble the complex and chaotic flows of fluids in the ocean or atmosphere. But how do these movements determine which cells are destined to become part of the brain, the gut or the li
Roman mosaic floor found under Italian vineyard
2dAuthorities north of Verona in Italy found the well-preserved tile floor after decades of searching.
Why Trump's Popularity Surge Faded So Quickly
2dTrump Twitter White House
The phenomenon demonstrates the rise and fall of dominant leaders in turbulent times — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Researchers use geometry and dynamics to better understand tissue organization
2dEmbryogenesis—how an organism arises from a single cell—is one of the most mysterious and complex processes in nature. The large-scale, coordinated and collective movements of cells in a tissue during embryogenesis resemble the complex and chaotic flows of fluids in the ocean or atmosphere. But how do these movements determine which cells are destined to become part of the brain, the gut or the li
Royal jelly does not a queen make
2dWhat makes a queen? For bees, it's long been believed that queenliness depends on a special diet of royal jelly—a milky white secretion of protein, water and fat that oozes from the heads of nurse bees.
Royal jelly does not a queen make
2dWhat makes a queen? For bees, it's long been believed that queenliness depends on a special diet of royal jelly—a milky white secretion of protein, water and fat that oozes from the heads of nurse bees.
Fyra av tio vuxna i världen har funktionell mag-tarmsjukdom
2d, med varierande svårighetsgrad, visar en studie med drygt 73 000 personer i 33 länder. Funktionella mag-tarmsjukdomar är ett samlingsbegrepp för kroniska sjukdomar i mag-tarmsystemet, med svåra symtom men utan tydliga förklaringar eller kopplingar till objektiva fynd från rutinundersökningar. Symtomen kan komma från hela mag-tarmkanalen. Från övre delen, matstrupe och magsäck, kan det röra sig o
What's Behind the COVID-19 Racial Disparity?
2dCOVID-19 is killing black Americans with horrifying precision. Black Americans get the disease at a higher rate than white people do. Retirement homes with black residents become outbreak clusters . Black people die of COVID-19 at a higher rate than white people do—and that rate is even higher than it may seem, according to a study released last week by Yale University's Cary P. Gross and co-auth
Coronavirus hit to eurozone set to dwarf financial crisis
2dGDP expected to shrink by 8 to 12 per cent this year, ECB president Christine Lagarde warns
Astronomers Spot Ancient 'Ring of Fire' Galaxy
2dGalaxies come in all shapes and sizes, but few are ring galaxies . Astronomers studying one of these objects on the other side of the universe have noted some startling properties. As with other ring galaxies, this one is not a result of internal processes driving stars apart. The team believes R5519 is the result of a cataclysmic collision in the early universe in which another object punched a
SpaceX to make history launching NASA astronauts on a private rocket
2dHurley SpaceX NASA
On 27 May, NASA astronauts will launch to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon, the first time a private company has flown humans into orbit
Herbal Products and Pregnancy
2dA recent review shows that herbal products do present a potential risk during pregnancy, and should not be considered automatically safe.
British Land suffers £1bn hit from retail tumult
2dProperty company dented by coronavirus impact and boom in ecommerce
Brussels wants €750bn borrowing power to fund virus recovery
2dEuropean Commission president Ursula von der Leyen must win backing from reluctant capitals
A Passion for Beetles (and Spiders) in the Time of Coronavirus
2dAlthough schools are closed for now, nature is still open for exploration and learning — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Israel's Choice, Between Shame and Pride
2dThe opening of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial on Sunday was a moment of intense national shame and intense national pride. The shame is obvious: the serving prime minister taking his place on the defendant's bench, charged with serious criminal offenses. Netanyahu is 70 years old. Even his most bitter rivals don't enjoy seeing him like that. I hope, with all my heart, that h
Danmark næsten alene: 25 ud af 27 EU-lande enten kræver eller anbefaler ansigtsmasker
2dPLUS. Sammen med Norge og Sverige går vi europæisk enegang, når vi ikke engang bruger værnemidler i offentlig transport trods EU-anbefaling. Virolog anbefaler kursskifte.
Tom Cruise space-set film moves closer to reality after adding director
2dDoug Liman on board as director of film be shot aboard International Space Station, backed by Nasa and Elon Musk The projected Tom Cruise space movie that became headline news after both Nasa and Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted about it in early May appears to be becoming closer to reality after film-maker Doug Liman was reported to be on board as director. Deadline reported that Liman, who has worke
To beat Covid-19, find today's superspreading 'Typhoid Marys'
2dA more informative factor than R is the 'dispersion parameter' known as k
Gamemakers Inject AI to Develop More Lifelike Characters
2dNew techniques could save videogame companies millions and make games more realistic.
How Kickstarter Employees Formed a Union
2dThe point wasn't so much about pay issues, but to give workers more say over what they produce—reflecting a trend of internal protest across the tech industry.
State-Based Contact Tracing Apps Could Be a Mess
2dWith no nationwide Covid-19 notification software in sight, security and interoperability issues loom large.
3 Ways Scientists Think We Could De-Germ a Covid-19 World
2dResearchers want to know if we can create an antiviral infrastructure that would protect humans from transmission. Here are a few ideas.
A Passion for Beetles (and Spiders) in the Time of Coronavirus
2dAlthough schools are closed for now, nature is still open for exploration and learning — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Boris Johnson faces grilling by MPs on Dominic Cummings crisis
2dUK prime minister to be questioned at a House of Commons liaison committee meeting
US shoppers to be wooed back with steep discounts
2dRetailers including Macy's prepare for sales after writing down value of merchandise
Which kind of face mask will best protect you against coronavirus?
2dYour questions answered on what type of mask to wear to cut the risk of getting Covid-19 Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Yes. Different types of mask offer different levels of protection. Surgical grade N95 respirators offer the highest level of protection against Covid-19 infection, followed by surgical grade masks. However, these masks are costly, in limited supply
Ströja – stor handelsplats hittad i Kolmården
2dHär satt han på järnåldern, en storman med kontroll över vägarna genom Kolmården och från Motala ström ut över Östersjön. Här slöt han allianser, höll blot och gav gästabud. Ströja utanför Norrköping träder fram som en centralplats av rang.
Japan ends its COVID-19 state of emergency
2dThe country's COVID-19 countermeasures relied on voluntary social distancing and limited testing
Regioner: Markante stigninger i medicinudgifter i 2021
2dRegionerne forventer en stigning i medicinudgifterne på op mod 750 mio. kr. i 2021 bl.a. på grund af dyr lungekræftmedicin. Det beløb skal regionerne ikke forvente at få dækket i den kommende økonomiaftale, vurderer professor i sundhedsøkonomi.
It-sikkerhed efter corona: Byg mure rundt om brugeren – ikke arbejdspladsen!
2dDer er grund til at lære af det nye trusselsbillede og post-corona vælge en ny strategisk tilgang, hvor sikkerheden følger brugeren.
Ølæge på Anholt træder af
2dEfter et langt arbejdsliv med stor diversitet takker den 70-årige praktiserende læge på Anholt af og går på pension. Og han tror ikke, at det bliver et problem at få stillingen besat igen.
Coronavirus misinformation needs researchers to respond
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01550-y Researchers must be transparent and acknowledge what is known and what isn't.
The epic battle against coronavirus misinformation and conspiracy theories
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01452-z Analysts are tracking false rumours about COVID-19 in hopes of curbing their spread.
Techtopia #152: Skal vi indføre ansigtsgenkendelse i Danmark?
2dBrugen af kameraer med ansigtsgenkendelse i det offentlige rum har siden regeringsskiftet været et politisk diskussionsemne.
'[A] disappointing situation': Stem cell group retracts with 'rectitude' after error
2dA team of stem cell researchers at the University of Maryland has lost a 2020 paper after failing to correct an error that they'd caught prior to submission. The paper, "Endothelial/mesenchymal stem cell crosstalk within bioprinted coculture," appeared in Tissue Engineering Part A, a Mary Ann Liebert publication. The senior author of the article was … Continue reading
I Will Miss What I Wanted to Lose
2d(Courtesy of Rosanne Cash) N ear the end of my tour, in March, the coronavirus cases were rising back home in New York, and the emergency declarations kept coming, as we left California, as we left Colorado, as we got to Idaho. "I just want to go home," I told John, my husband and musical partner, over and over. On the day of our Boise show, the Idaho governor declared a state of emergency. John
Estonia Already Lives Online—Why Can't the United States?
2dFor one corner of the world, life during the coronavirus pandemic has stayed shockingly the same. Like much of the globe, people there are dealing with cabin fever, a lack of physical contact, and collective grief, for both the loved ones they've lost and a way of life they may never see again. But they're exempt from the crashing halt of state services, the bumbling distribution of relief funds,
Food aid effort faulted for neglecting US north-east
2dFederal programme to ease hunger during pandemic is described as 'absolute disaster'
Ultralydsscanning: Økonomien hindrer udbredelse
2dFlere og flere praktiserende læger bruger ultralydsscanning i deres praksis. Men yderligere ekspansion sinkes af, at lægerne skal finansiere udstyret selv, ligesom der ikke er noget ydelseshonorar. Spørgsmålet bliver en del af overenskomstforhandlingerne.
Coronavirus Live Updates: Cases Climb as U.S. Approaches 100,000 Deaths
2dThe national death toll is expected to reach 100,000 soon. For renters who've survived financially with help from the government and laws barring eviction, time is running out.
Meet Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, SpaceX's First NASA Astronauts
2dSpaceX Hurley NASA
They're best friends and veterans of the astronaut corps, and each is married to another astronaut.
How to Recover From Covid-19 at Home
2dRest and fluids are essential, but not always enough. Here are some more things you can do to feel better.
India Faces Swarm of Locusts
2dIndia Pakistan Modi
Blizzards of bugs are descending on India at an already tough time. Scientists say climate change is making the infestation worse.
Author Correction: Preparation and antimicrobial activity of ZnO-NPs coated cotton/starch and their functionalized ZnO-Ag/cotton and Zn(II) curcumin/cotton materials
2dScientific Reports, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-65025-w
Author Correction: Jawbone microenvironment promotes periodontium regeneration by regulating the function of periodontal ligament stem cells
2dScientific Reports, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-65652-3
Author Correction: Interleukin-17 promotes angiogenesis by stimulating VEGF production of cancer cells via the STAT3/GIV signaling pathway in non-small-cell lung cancer
2dScientific Reports, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-65650-5
In Canada, Inuit Communities Are Shaping Research Priorities
2dOver the past decade, Inuit in Canada have demanded a greater say over the research conducted in their territories. This could transform science in the north — a region that holds vital clues about climate change, but where the legacy of science-as-usual remains shadowed by centuries of exploitation.
Studying the development of ovarian cancer with organoids
2dResearchers from the group of Hans Clevers at the Hubrecht Institute have modeled the development and progression of high-grade serous ovarian cancer in mini-versions, or organoids, of the female reproductive organs of the mouse. They found that the cells of the oviduct, the equivalent of fallopian tubes in humans, are more prone to develop into tumors than the ovarian surface epithelium, the oute
Study shows patients with hemorrhagic brain disease have disordered gut microbiomes
2dA new study shows that people with a rare genetic disease that causes bleeding in the brain have gut microbiomes distinct from those without the disease. Moreover, it is the molecules produced by this bacterial imbalance that cause lesions to form in the brains of these patients.
Anxiety needs global health attention
2dIdentifying anxiety in those with depression could be key to developing successful programmes for tackling mental health problems in low and middle income countries (LMICs), according to a new study.
Palliative care for heart failure patients may lower rehospitalization risk and improve outcomes
2dHeart failure patients who received palliative care — focused on pain relief, emotional support and quality of life while hospitalized — were less likely to be readmitted within six months.Palliative care lowered the risk of mechanical ventilation by about 25%.
Assessing the origin of high-grade serous ovarian cancer using CRISPR-modification of mouse organoids
2dNature Communications, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16432-0 The relative contribution of fallopian tube (FT) or ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) to high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HG-SOC) development is unclear. Here, the authors establish organoid models from murine oviductal and OSE tissues that allow cancer modeling via CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, and report a dual o
High-resolution annotation of the mouse preimplantation embryo transcriptome using long-read sequencing
2dNature Communications, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16444-w Until now, the transcriptome of preimplantation mouse embryos has only been analysed by short-read sequencing. Here, the authors perform long-read sequencing to provide a more detailed transcriptome of the preimplantation mouse embryo, identifying various novel transcripts, for example Kdm4dl.
Vulnerabilities in coronavirus glycan shields despite extensive glycosylation
2dNature Communications, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16567-0 Glycosylation plays a key role in shielding of immunogenic epitopes on viral spike (S) proteins. Here Watanabe et al. report that glycans of coronavirus SARS and MERS S proteins are heterogeneously distributed and do not form an efficacious high-density global shield which would ensure efficient immune evasion.
Ptychography retrieval of fully polarized holograms from geometric-phase metasurfaces
2dNature Communications, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16437-9 Controlling light with planar elements requires full polarization channels and reconstruction of optical signals. Here, the authors have demonstrated a general method relying on pixelated metasurfaces that enables wavefront shaping with arbitrary output polarization, allowing full utilization of polarization chan
Continuous crystalline graphene papers with gigapascal strength by intercalation modulated plasticization
2dNature Communications, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16494-0 Strong but flexible graphene tends to wrinkle, which compromises some properties. Here the authors report a solid plasticization method to prepare continuous graphene papers with high crystalline order, achieving high strength, stiffness, electrical and thermal conductivities.
Chemical switching of low-loss phonon polaritons in α-MoO3 by hydrogen intercalation
2dNature Communications, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16459-3 Phonon polaritons hold promises for nanophotonic applications but external control of phonon polaritons remains challenging. Here, the authors achieve reversible and non-volatile switching of phonon polariton by modifying crystal structure and lattice vibrations via hydrogenation.
The DNA methylation landscape of giant viruses
2dNature Communications, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16414-2 DNA methylation is an epigenetic marker in all domains of life. Here, Jeudy et al., using single-molecule realtime sequencing, determine DNA methylation patterns in giant viruses and evolutionary analysis of virus encoded DNA methyltransferases suggests that they affect viral fitness.
Genome and single-cell RNA-sequencing of the earthworm Eisenia andrei identifies cellular mechanisms underlying regeneration
2dNature Communications, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16454-8 The mechanisms regulating regeneration of the earthworm are unclear. Here, the authors use genomic and transcriptomic analysis of the earthworm Eisenia andrei together with Hi-C analysis to identify genes involved and show activation of LINE2 transposable elements on regeneration.
Beach Towns Are Next to Take the Hit
2dC oney Island on Memorial Day was a shadow of its usual summer self. The Cyclone and the Wonder Wheel—the iconic roller coaster and Ferris wheel—stood idle. The line for hot dogs at the nation's first Nathan's seemed long, but only because masked customers stood a few extra feet apart. A limited number of other restaurants and bars served carryout only, but there was nary a wait anywhere else. Th
Shuttle Veteran Leads First Human Space Mission Launched From U.S. Since 2011
2dHurley SpaceX NASA
When Doug Hurley launched aboard Atlantis on July 8, 2011, the future of human spaceflight from U.S. soil was uncertain. Nearly a decade later, the astronaut is piloting SpaceX's new Crew Dragon. (Image credit: Kim Shiflett/NASA)
Planet Nine will be discovered in the next decade. Here's why.
2dYears ago, California Institute of Technology professor Konstantin Batygin was inspired to embark on a journey of discovering what lurked beyond Neptune. What he and his collaborator discovered was a strange field of debris. This field of debris exhibited a clustering of orbits, and something was keeping these orbits confined. The only plausible source would be the gravitational pull of an extra
Lockdown will leave big holes on the UK high street
2dThe pandemic has changed shopping habits for ever
Robot med kunstig intelligens skal finde ridser og fejl på blankt metal
2dPLUS. Fejl på blanke metalemner er udfordrende at registrere for kameraer. MADE-projekt kombinerer vision, deflektometri og kunstig intelligens for at opdage ridser og poleringsfejl.
Radiocarbon reboot and a boost for virtual scientific conferences
2dNature, Published online: 27 May 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01539-7 The latest science news, in brief.
India wilts under heatwave as temperature hits 50 degrees Celsius
2dIndia is wilting under a heatwave, with the temperature in places reaching 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) and the capital enduring its hottest May day in nearly two decades.
SpaceX's moment of triumph arrives as astronauts ready for US launch
2dHurley SpaceX NASA
A new era in space begins Wednesday with the launch by SpaceX of two NASA astronauts into space, a capability that for six decades symbolized the power of a handful of states, and which the United States itself had been deprived of for nine years.
Public health is about trust – something Cummings has wilfully ignored | Richard Coker
2dIf the public is no longer reassured by the government's social distancing measures, I fear a second wave of coronavirus Richard Coker is emeritus professor of public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine See all our coronavirus coverage Coronavirus – latest updates Thirty-five years ago, when I was working as a newly qualified doctor, I extracted a sausage from a woman's w
2d
'Red wall' Tory MPs criticise Cummings over Barnard Castle visit
2dThree County Durham Conservatives issue joint statement but refrain from calling for aide's resignation
Virgin Orbit analyzing data to find cause of rocket failure
2dVirgin Orbit engineers were analyzing data Tuesday to find out what caused the maiden flight of its air-launched satellite booster to fail.
How exposure to negative feedback in influences goal-directed consumer behaviors
2dThreats to self-esteem and negative feedback are pervasive in today's society. Social media researchers, for example, have shown a link between frequent usage of social media websites and upward social comparison and negative affect.
Barns fritidsaktiviteter är en klassfråga
2dBarn som sjunger i kör eller spelar i en fotbollsklubb får oftast högre betyg och mår bättre än barn som inte gör det. Men det är långt ifrån alla barn som erbjuds samma möjligheter visar ny forskning. — Det är en klassfråga. Barn till föräldrar som är låginkomsttagare och som bor i utsatta områden har inte alls samma tillgång till organiserade fritidsaktiviteter så som barn med föräldrar som är
Neanderthal bones: Signs of their sex lives
2dIn a cave tucked into the limestone hills of the Asturias region of Spain, there lie the remains of a group of 13 Neanderthals that date to between 50,600 and 47,300 years ago . The site is infamous among anthropologists who study the Paleolithic period for the evidence of what appears to be the massacre and possible cannibalization of a family: Their bones seem to have been hacked at by stone to
Humans Are on Their Way to Annihilating 50 Billion Years of Evolutionary History
2dThis is why we can't have nice things.
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 Coronavirus world map Find all our coronavirus coverage here Please note: these are government figures on numbers of confirmed cases – some people who report symptoms are not being
Designing a flexible material to protect buildings, military personnel
2dStealth technology, the idea of reducing the ability of the enemy to detect an object, has driven advances in military research for decades. Today, aircraft, naval ships and submarines, missiles and satellites are often covered with radar-absorbent material, such as paint, to hide or cloak them from radar, sonar, infrared and other detection methods. A cloak is a coating material that makes an obj
Can copying your friends help you achieve your goals?
2dConsumers often struggle to achieve self-set life improvement goals, but what if deliberately emulating the successful strategies used by their friends could help them?
NASA catches the extra-tropical ending of Mangga
2dBy Sunday, May 24, Tropical Cyclone Mangga had already transitioned to an extra-tropical storm and was affecting the southwestern coast of Australia.
Scientists reveal new fundamental principles governing diving in animals
2dDiving as a lifestyle has evolved many times in the animal kingdom, and the ecology of all diving animals is essentially shaped by how long they can hold their breaths.
Huda Zoghbi (BCM/TCH) 3: Possible Future Therapies for Rett Syndrome
2dhttps://www.ibiology.org/human-disease/rett-syndrome Dr. Huda Zoghbi's seminar takes us through the scientific journey from discovering the cause of Rett Syndrome to testing possible treatments for MECP2 disorders. Dr. Huda Zoghbi's work has provided insight into Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) by focusing on Rett Syndrome, a postnatal progressive neurological disorder. By studying the genetics o
Huda Zoghbi (BCM/TCH) 2: Pathogenesis of MeCP2 Disorders
2dhttps://www.ibiology.org/human-disease/rett-syndrome Dr. Huda Zoghbi's seminar takes us through the scientific journey from discovering the cause of Rett Syndrome to testing possible treatments for MECP2 disorders. Dr. Huda Zoghbi's work has provided insight into Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) by focusing on Rett Syndrome, a postnatal progressive neurological disorder. By studying the genetics o
Huda Zoghbi (BCM/TCH) 1: Rett Syndrome: Genomes, Epigenomes and Neuropsychiatric conditions
2dhttps://www.ibiology.org/human-disease/rett-syndrome Dr. Huda Zoghbi's seminar takes us through the scientific journey from discovering the cause of Rett Syndrome to testing possible treatments for MECP2 disorders. Dr. Huda Zoghbi's work has provided insight into Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) by focusing on Rett Syndrome, a postnatal progressive neurological disorder. By studying the genetics o
Scientists reveal new fundamental principles governing diving in animals
2dDiving as a lifestyle has evolved many times in the animal kingdom, and the ecology of all diving animals is essentially shaped by how long they can hold their breaths.
Study reveals substantial quantities of tyre particles contaminating rivers and ocean
2dA major UK government-funded research study suggests particles released from vehicle tyres could be a significant and previously largely unrecorded source of microplastics in the marine environment.
Return of the Blob: Surprise link found to edge turbulence in fusion plasma
2dBlobs can wreak havoc in plasma required for fusion reactions. This bubble-like turbulence swells up at the edge of fusion plasmas and drains heat from the edge, limiting the efficiency of fusion reactions in doughnut-shaped fusion facilities called "tokamaks." Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) have now discovered a surprising correlati
Aftenens SpaceX-opsendelse udskudt til lørdag
2dOnsdag er en skæbnedag for amerikansk rumfart, når SpaceX forsøger at sende astronauter til ISS. Se opsendelsen her kl. 22.33 dansk tid.
'The human fingerprint is everywhere': Met Office's alarming warning on climate
2dExclusively compiled data from the Hadley Centre's supercomputer shows alarming climate trajectory The human fingerprint on the climate is now unmistakable and will become increasingly evident over the coming decades, the UK Met Office has confirmed after 30 years of pioneering study. Since the 1990s, global temperatures have warmed by half a degree, Arctic sea ice has shrunk by almost 2 million
Could You Replace Caffeine With Exercise For The Same Boost? Here's The Science
2dNot as crazy as it sounds.
Compounds in Brazilian berries can 'disarm' MRSA
2dSpecific compounds from the Brazilian peppertree pack a punch against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus , known as MRSA, researchers report. A new study demonstrates that triterpenoid acids in the red berries of the plant "disarm" dangerous staph bacteria by blocking its ability to produce toxins. The Brazilian peppertree ( Schinus terebinthifolia ), native to South America, is also abu
Of course billionaires like Elon Musk love outer space. The Earth is too small for their egos | Arwa Mahdawi
2dThis week, Musk's SpaceX will launch the first US astronauts into space in nine years. We're meant to be inspired, but back on the ground the workers are struggling Here is the bad news: Earth is a bit of a mess at the moment. Here is the good news: there is still an entire universe out there for humans to destroy. And thanks to the ingenuity of a few space-obsessed billionaires, we might be pois
De kartlägger hur dna är organiserat i cellkärnan
2dEn ny sekvenseringsmetod, framtagen vid Karolinska Institutet, gör det möjligt att kartlägga hur dna är organiserat i cellkärnan. Placeringen av generna avslöjar vilka regioner i arvsmassan som löper ökad risk för dna-skador och mutationer. De flesta celler i människokroppen innehåller cirka två meter dna. Den långa dna-strängen är uppdelad i 46 stora bitar – kromosomerna – som upptar åtskilda re
US drone delivery service takes flight to battle coronavirus
2dZipline launches first emergency unmanned system to transport medical supplies
Live Coronavirus Updates
2dAsian nations are balancing reopenings against new infections. China's virus apps are inching toward becoming a permanent fixture of life, with troubling implications.
SpaceX Astronaut Launch Postponed to Saturday
2dNASA SpaceX Launch
What you need to know about the mission taking two NASA astronauts to the space station on Wednesday.
Record drop in energy investment, warns International Energy Agency
2dThe pandemic has caused a record fall in energy investment and will likely lead to more pollution.
Global report: WHO says the Americas are centre of pandemic as cases surge
2dPan American Health Organization warns of 'very tough' weeks ahead; US approaches 100,000 deaths; New Zealand has fifth day with no cases Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The Americas have emerged as the new centre of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said, as a US study forecast deaths surging in Brazil and other Latin American countri
Age, gender and culture 'predict loneliness'
2dYoung people, men and people in 'individualistic' societies report higher levels of loneliness, according to a large-scale global study.
A new potential target for the treatment of alcohol-withdrawal induced depression
2dResearchers from Pennsylvania State University have discovered that alcohol withdrawal impacts somatostatin neurons in key brain regions associated with emotional processing and addiction. The findings are significant as they suggest that somatostatin neurons may be a viable new target for the treatment of depression related to alcohol withdrawal.
Loosened lockdowns, corporate debt, SpaceX flight
2dHopes of a quick economic recovery gave global stocks a lift on Tuesday
Public disclosure of COVID-19 cases is more effective than lockdowns, study shows
2dNew research shows South Korea's tech and privacy laws effectively protect the vulnerable while preserving economic stability during the pandemic.
Dementia gene raises risk of severe COVID-19
2dHaving a faulty gene linked to dementia doubles the risk of developing severe COVID-19, according to a large-scale study.
Covid-19: the role of vitamin D
2dSarah Boseley talks to Prof Susan Lanham-New about vitamin D and whether it could play a role in protecting us against Covid-19. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
Covid-19: the role of vitamin D – podcast
2dSarah Boseley talks to Prof Susan Lanham-New about vitamin D and whether it could play a role in protecting us against Covid-19 Continue reading…
Concern over 'silent' oxygen deprivation prompts new approach
2dHealth officials in Brazil order mass monitoring of patients' blood
My stay in a Seoul hospital with Covid-19
2dAfter testing positive at Incheon airport, the writer spent five weeks in the South Korean capital's National Medical Center.
Drug wars: how AstraZeneca overtook GSK in UK pharma
2dWith new cancer drugs and a vaccines partnership with Oxford university, AZ's turnround has boosted the industry in Britain
The Carlyle travel deal cursed by the coronavirus
2dWhat was billed as a 10-year deal that would be an enduring investment is now in the courts
First to close — first to reopen: Denmark's gain from virus response
2dCopenhagen turns its attention to health of economy as it emerges from lockdown
Turkey looks to weather coronavirus crisis without IMF support
2dErdogan resists taking assistance despite looming balance of payments crunch
Coronavirus accelerates shift away from cash
2dPandemic encourages more businesses to move to contactless payments
Patient notes could offer solution to the 'missing' coronavirus diagnoses
2dGP's notes currently unavailable to medical researchers could provide clues to help manage major health crises — like COVID-19. And according to a 'citizens' jury' study at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), the main thing stopping the use of such information — concerns over patient privacy — could be overcome.
Evidence shows cloth masks may help against COVID-19
2dResearchers examined a century of evidence including recent data, and found strong evidence showing that cloth and cloth masks can reduce contamination of air and surfaces.
Remdesivir for COVID-19 improves time to recovery, peer-reviewed data shows
2dRemdesivir is superior to the standard of care for the treatment of COVID-19, according to a preliminary analysis based on data from a randomized, controlled trial. Researchers found that the antiviral was most beneficial for hospitalized patients with severe disease who required supplemental oxygen.
Professor: Tidsplan for havvindmøller kan skride med regeringens nye energiøer
2dPLUS. Prisen for at etablere to energiøer med tilhørende vindmølleparker mangler at blive belyst. Medlem af Klimarådet frygter at tidsrammen for udbygningen med vindkraft skrider.
»Go away«: Populært tegneprogram afviser dansk tip om sikkerhedsbrist
2dDen udbredte software er stadigvæk kun patchet delvist, lyder det fra manden, der fandt hullet i første omgang.
UK economy faces 5% annual deficit by 2024, say economists
2dSurvey forecasts coronavirus undermining Britain's public finances until next election
Uncertainty dogs UK universities ahead of new academic year
2dLack of guidance on coronavirus measures leaves sector fearing big drop in revenue
Global stocks shake off concern over US-China tensions
2dStimulus plans in Europe and Japan trump worries about Beijing's moves in Hong Kong
Amazon in talks to buy driverless car start-up Zoox
2dAcquisition would be first by ecommerce group of an autonomous vehicle company
Chimps Smack Their Lips in Rhythms Uncannily Similar to Human Language
2dOne more puzzle piece in the evolution of human language.
Search and rescue at sea aided by hidden flow structures
2dNature Communications, Published online: 26 May 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16281-x Every year, hundreds of people die at sea because of vessel accidents, and a key challenge in reducing these fatalities is to make Search and Rescue (SAR) planning more efficient. Here, the authors uncover hidden flow features that attract floating objects, providing specific information for optimal SAR planning.
The Atlantic Daily: One Hundred Thousand
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 . Credit This pandemic is flattening time. Let's take stock of the present moment: Here are three recent developments worth watching as we enter the final days of May. 1. America is mourning the lo
Limit fire service instructors' exposures per month to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease
2dNew research published in Experimental Physiology suggests that fire service instructors are at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases due to higher levels of inflammation in their blood, and so their exposure should be limited to nine exposures per month.
Beware of false negatives in diagnostic testing of COVID-19
2dResearchers have found that the chance of a false negative result — when a virus is not detected in a person who actually is, or recently has been, infected — is greater than 1 in 5 and, at times, far higher.
Countering COVID-19 impacts on children from low-income households
2dThe COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the social, educational and health care disparities already plaguing the nearly 40 million Americans the US Census Bureau estimates are living in poverty. Perhaps the hardest hit members of that population, say pediatricians, are children from low-income households.
New drug combination being tested to conquer COVID-19
2dResearchers hope giving Remdesivir along with a powerful anti-inflammatory could be the key to treating the most severe COVID-19 cases.
Can interactive technology ease urban traffic jams?
2dTraffic congestion is a serious problem in the United States, but a new analysis shows that interactive technology — ranging from 511 traffic information systems and roadside cameras to traffic apps — is helping in cities that use it.
The CDC Has Issued a Warning About Aggressive Rat Behaviour Due to The Pandemic
2dJust when you thought things couldn't get more weird.
What Doctors And Scientists Do And Don't Know About COVID-19
2dEmergency physician Megan Ranney takes listener questions on what medical and scientific community knows about COVID-19, so far.
What Happened Today: Trump Threatens To Move RNC, Global Impact Questions
2dNPR's global health and development reporter answers listener questions on how the coronavirus is affecting the world at large.
What to Know Before the Historic Launch of SpaceX's Crew Dragon
2dAmerican astronauts haven't launched from U.S. soil since 2011, and they've never ventured to space aboard a privately built rocket. That's about to change.
Coronavirus live news: Spain begins 10 days of mourning as global deaths pass 350,000
2dLongest official mourning period in Spain's democracy; unrest grows in UK PM's party over Dominic Cummings lockdown breach; WHO says Americas are new Covid-19 epicentre. Follow the latest updates Global report: Germany to relax travel curbs as Spain mourns Covid-19 victims Tory unrest increases pressure on PM to sack Dominic Cummings Australia coronavirus – live Coronavirus latest: at a glance 2.
The world and workforce need wisdom. Why don't universities teach it?
2dMany university mission statements do not live up to their promise, writes Ben Nelson, founder of Minerva, a university designed to develop intellect over content memorization. The core competencies that students need for success—critical thinking, communication, problem solving, and cross-cultural understanding, for example—should be intentionally taught, not left to chance. These competencies c
Twitter fact-checks a misleading Trump tweet for the first time
2dTwitter Trump Scarborough
The news: Twitter added a fact-checking label to two tweets from US President Donald Trump's Twitter account on Tuesday. The tweets from @realDonaldTrump (the president's popular personal account that also serves as his main social -media presence) claimed that mail-in voting would be "substantially fraudulent" and lead to a "Rigged Election." It is the first time that Twitter has labeled tweets
SpaceX launch: What is SpaceX and why is it going to the ISS?
2dAhead of the launch of the Crew Dragon mission, the BBC explains what SpaceX does exactly
A New Mission to The Titanic Has Just Been Approved. Here's What They're Looking For
2dNot everyone is impressed.
Drowning of the Marshes Protecting New Orleans is 'Inevitable,' New Research Shows
2dThe remaining Mississippi Delta marshes, covering an area larger than Connecticut, are already doomed by sea level rise — and others around the world could be, too.
Study reveals substantial quantities of tyre particles contaminating rivers and ocean
2dResearch led by the University of Plymouth reveals vital new information that will improve our scientific understanding of how tiny particles from tyres, synthetic fibres from clothing and maritime gear enter the ocean
Scientists reveal new fundamental principles governing diving in animals
2dAn international team of scientists has examined how metabolic constraints govern the diving performance of air-breathing aquatic species, all of which have evolved to maximise the amount of time they can spend underwater
Chimpanzees help trace the evolution of human speech back to ancient ancestors
2dOne of the most promising theories for the evolution of human speech has finally received support from chimpanzee communication, in a study conducted by a group of researchers led by the University of Warwick.
Tuning environmental timescales to evolve and maintain generalists [Evolution]
2dNatural environments can present diverse challenges, but some genotypes remain fit across many environments. Such "generalists" can be hard to evolve, outcompeted by specialists fitter in any particular environment. Here, inspired by the search for broadly neutralizing antibodies during B cell affinity maturation, we demonstrate that environmental changes on an…
Quantum critical phenomena in a compressible displacive ferroelectric [Physics]
2dThe dielectric and magnetic polarizations of quantum paraelectrics and paramagnetic materials have in many cases been found to initially increase with increasing thermal disorder and hence, exhibit peaks as a function of temperature. A quantitative description of these examples of "order-by-disorder" phenomena has remained elusive in nearly ferromagnetic metals and…
Putative regulators for the continuum of erythroid differentiation revealed by single-cell transcriptome of human BM and UCB cells [Developmental Biology]
2dFine-resolution differentiation trajectories of adult human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) involved in the generation of red cells is critical for understanding dynamic developmental changes that accompany human erythropoiesis. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of primary human terminal erythroid cells (CD34−CD235a+) isolated directly from adult bone marrow (BM) and umbilical cord…
Collective effects of XMAP215, EB1, CLASP2, and MCAK lead to robust microtubule treadmilling [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
2dMicrotubule network remodeling is essential for fundamental cellular processes including cell division, differentiation, and motility. Microtubules are active biological polymers whose ends stochastically and independently switch between phases of growth and shrinkage. Microtubule treadmilling, in which the microtubule plus end grows while the minus end shrinks, is observed in cells;…
Imperfect transparency and camouflage in glass frogs [Ecology]
2dCamouflage patterns prevent detection and/or recognition by matching the background, disrupting edges, or mimicking particular background features. In variable habitats, however, a single pattern cannot match all available sites all of the time, and efficacy may therefore be reduced. Active color change provides an alternative where coloration can be altered…
Algal neurotoxin biosynthesis repurposes the terpene cyclase structural fold into an N-prenyltransferase [Biochemistry]
2dPrenylation is a common biological reaction in all domains of life wherein prenyl diphosphate donors transfer prenyl groups onto small molecules as well as large proteins. The enzymes that catalyze these reactions are structurally distinct from ubiquitous terpene cyclases that, instead, assemble terpenes via intramolecular rearrangements of a single substrate….
Neural representations of perceptual color experience in the human ventral visual pathway [Psychological and Cognitive Sciences]
2dColor is a perceptual construct that arises from neural processing in hierarchically organized cortical visual areas. Previous research, however, often failed to distinguish between neural responses driven by stimulus chromaticity versus perceptual color experience. An unsolved question is whether the neural responses at each stage of cortical processing represent a…
A methyl-TROSY approach for NMR studies of high-molecular-weight DNA with application to the nucleosome core particle [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
2dThe development of methyl-transverse relaxation-optimized spectroscopy (methyl-TROSY)–based NMR methods, in concert with robust strategies for incorporation of methyl-group probes of structure and dynamics into the protein of interest, has facilitated quantitative studies of high-molecular-weight protein complexes. Here we develop a one-pot in vitro reaction for producing NMR quantities of methyl-
Spatial frequency tuning of motor responses reveals differential contribution of dorsal and ventral systems to action comprehension [Psychological and Cognitive Sciences]
2dUnderstanding object-directed actions performed by others is central to everyday life. This ability is thought to rely on the interaction between the dorsal action observation network (AON) and a ventral object recognition pathway. On this view, the AON would encode action kinematics, and the ventral pathway, the most likely intention…
Load-induced dynamical transitions at graphene interfaces [Applied Physical Sciences]
2dThe structural superlubricity (SSL), a state of near-zero friction between two contacted solid surfaces, has been attracting rapidly increasing research interest since it was realized in microscale graphite in 2012. An obvious question concerns the implications of SSL for micro- and nanoscale devices such as actuators. The simplest actuators are…
Superdiffusive transport of energy in one-dimensional metals [Physics]
2dMetals in one spatial dimension are described at the lowest energy scales by the Luttinger liquid theory. It is well understood that this free theory, and even interacting integrable models, can support ballistic transport of conserved quantities including energy. In contrast, realistic one-dimensional metals, even without disorder, contain integrability-breaking interactions…
Membrane-tethered mucin-like polypeptides sterically inhibit binding and slow fusion kinetics of influenza A virus [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
2dThe mechanism(s) by which cell-tethered mucins modulate infection by influenza A viruses (IAVs) remain an open question. Mucins form both a protective barrier that can block virus binding and recruit IAVs to bind cells via the sialic acids of cell-tethered mucins. To elucidate the molecular role of mucins in flu…
In vivo mapping of a GPCR interactome using knockin mice [Pharmacology]
2dWith over 30% of current medications targeting this family of proteins, G-protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) remain invaluable therapeutic targets. However, due to their unique physicochemical properties, their low abundance, and the lack of highly specific antibodies, GPCRs are still challenging to study in vivo. To overcome these limitations, we combined here…
Other people's gaze encoded as implied motion in the human brain [Psychological and Cognitive Sciences]
2dKeeping track of other people's gaze is an essential task in social cognition and key for successfully reading other people's intentions and beliefs (theory of mind). Recent behavioral evidence suggests that we construct an implicit model of other people's gaze, which may incorporate physically incoherent attributes such as a construct…
The multi-faceted mechano-bactericidal mechanism of nanostructured surfaces [Microbiology]
2dThe mechano-bactericidal activity of nanostructured surfaces has become the focus of intensive research toward the development of a new generation of antibacterial surfaces, particularly in the current era of emerging antibiotic resistance. This work demonstrates the effects of an incremental increase of nanopillar height on nanostructure-induced bacterial cell death. We…
Correction for Sharma et al., Posttranscriptional regulation of interleukin-10 expression by hsa-miR-106a [Corrections]
2dIMMUNOLOGY Correction for "Posttranscriptional regulation of interleukin-10 expression by hsa-miR-106a," by Amit Sharma, Manish Kumar, Jyotirmoi Aich, Manoj Hariharan, Samir K. Brahmachari, Anurag Agrawal, and Balaram Ghosh, which was first published March 23, 2009; 10.1073/pnas.0808743106 (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 106, 5761–5766). The authors note that Fig. 4C and Fig….
Correction for Namouchi et al., Integrative approach using Yersinia pestis genomes to revisit the historical landscape of plague during the Medieval Period [Corrections]
2dMICROBIOLOGY Correction for "Integrative approach using Yersinia pestis genomes to revisit the historical landscape of plague during the Medieval Period," by Amine Namouchi, Meriam Guellil, Oliver Kersten, Stephanie Hänsch, Claudio Ottoni, Boris V. Schmid, Elsa Pacciani, Luisa Quaglia, Marco Vermunt, Egil L. Bauer, Michael Derrick, Anne Ø. Jensen, Sacha Kacki,…
Modulation of hippocampal brain networks produces changes in episodic simulation and divergent thinking [Neuroscience]
2dPrior functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies indicate that a core network of brain regions, including the hippocampus, is jointly recruited during episodic memory, episodic simulation, and divergent creative thinking. Because fMRI data are correlational, it is unknown whether activity increases in the hippocampus, and the core network more broadly,…
Past and future decline of tropical pelagic biodiversity [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
2dA major research question concerning global pelagic biodiversity remains unanswered: when did the apparent tropical biodiversity depression (i.e., bimodality of latitudinal diversity gradient [LDG]) begin? The bimodal LDG may be a consequence of recent ocean warming or of deep-time evolutionary speciation and extinction processes. Using rich fossil datasets of planktonic…
Gender imbalance in medical imaging datasets produces biased classifiers for computer-aided diagnosis [Medical Sciences]
2dArtificial intelligence (AI) systems for computer-aided diagnosis and image-based screening are being adopted worldwide by medical institutions. In such a context, generating fair and unbiased classifiers becomes of paramount importance. The research community of medical image computing is making great efforts in developing more accurate algorithms to assist medical doctors…
Forward genetic analysis using OCT screening identifies Sfxn3 mutations leading to progressive outer retinal degeneration in mice [Genetics]
2dRetinal disease and loss of vision can result from any disruption of the complex pathways controlling retinal development and homeostasis. Forward genetics provides an excellent tool to find, in an unbiased manner, genes that are essential to these processes. Using N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea mutagenesis in mice in combination with a screening protocol…
Ancient genomes from present-day France unveil 7,000 years of its demographic history [Anthropology]
2dGenomic studies conducted on ancient individuals across Europe have revealed how migrations have contributed to its present genetic landscape, but the territory of present-day France has yet to be connected to the broader European picture. We generated a large dataset comprising the complete mitochondrial genomes, Y-chromosome markers, and genotypes of…
Correction for Pedercini et al., Harvesting synergy from sustainable development goal interactions [Corrections]
2dSUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE Correction for "Harvesting synergy from sustainable development goal interactions," by Matteo Pedercini, Steve Arquitt, David Collste, and Hans Herren, which was first published October 30, 2019; 10.1073/pnas.1817276116 (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 116, 23021–23028). The authors note that the following statement should be added to the Acknowledgments: "D.C….
Migratory behavior and winter geography drive differential range shifts of eastern birds in response to recent climate change [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
2dOver the past half century, migratory birds in North America have shown divergent population trends relative to resident species, with the former declining rapidly and the latter increasing. The role that climate change has played in these observed trends is not well understood, despite significant warming over this period. We…
Orbital-use fees could more than quadruple the value of the space industry [Sustainability Science]
2dThe space industry's rapid recent growth represents the latest tragedy of the commons. Satellites launched into orbit contribute to—and risk damage from—a growing buildup of space debris and other satellites. Collision risk from this orbital congestion is costly to satellite operators. Technological and managerial solutions—such as active debris removal or…
Inflammation-related plasma and CSF biomarkers for multiple sclerosis [Immunology and Inflammation]
2dEffective biomarkers for multiple sclerosis diagnosis, assessment of prognosis, and treatment responses, in particular those measurable in blood, are largely lacking. We have investigated a broad set of protein biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma using a highly sensitive proteomic immunoassay. Cases from two independent cohorts were compared with…
Competition and hybridization drive interspecific territoriality in birds [Evolution]
2dCostly interactions between species that arise as a by-product of ancestral similarities in communication signals are expected to persist only under specific evolutionary circumstances. Territorial aggression between species, for instance, is widely assumed to persist only when extrinsic barriers prevent niche divergence or selection in sympatry is too weak to…
Prosocial polio vaccination in Israel [Population Biology]
2dRegions with insufficient vaccination have hindered worldwide poliomyelitis eradication, as they are vulnerable to sporadic outbreaks through reintroduction of the disease. Despite Israel's having been declared polio-free in 1988, a routine sewage surveillance program detected polio in 2013. To curtail transmission, the Israel Ministry of Health launched a vaccine campaign…
Atom-by-atom electrodeposition of single isolated cobalt oxide molecules and clusters for studying the oxygen evolution reaction [Chemistry]
2dWe report an electrodeposition protocol for preparing isolated cobalt oxide single molecules (Co1Ox) and clusters (ConOy) on a carbon fiber nanoelectrode. The as-prepared deposits are able to produce well-defined steady-state voltammograms for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline media, where the equivalent radius (rd) is estimated by the limiting…
Network effects govern the evolution of maritime trade [Economic Sciences]
2dMaritime transport accounts for over 80% of the world trade volume and is the backbone of the global economy. Global supply chains create a complex network of trade flows. The structure of this network impacts not only the socioeconomic development of the concerned regions but also their ecosystems. The movements…
Academic cited by Cummings wants to redraw map of research spending
2dPublic expenditure on R&D is wrongly skewed towards south-east of England, says report
Royal Jelly Does Not A Queen Make
2dFor years, people believed that royal jelly contained the secret to making queen bees. Turns out it's simply the amount of food. queen-bee-cup_cropped.jpg Mirko Graul/ Shutterstock Creature Tuesday, May 26, 2020 – 19:00 Katharine Gammon, Contributor (Inside Science) — What makes a queen? For bees, it's long been believed that queenliness depends on a special diet of royal jelly — a milky white