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Venus Life Finding Might Be Based on a Data Mistake
8dProcessing Error In September, a team of scientists made a big splash when they claimed to have found possible signs of life in the atmosphere of Venus. They said they'd found traces of phosphine, a colorless gas that results from organic matter breaking down here on Earth. But a recent reanalysis of the findings are calling that conclusion into question, as Nature reports . In fact, the exact sa
Study shows delirium can signal presence of COVID-19 in asymptomatic older patients in ED
8dA study published today in JAMA Network Open/Emergency Medicine supports evidence that older persons admitted to emergency departments (ED), and subsequently diagnosed positive for COVID-19, often present with delirium when they show no other typical COVID-19 symptoms, such as fever and cough.
COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness to be affected heavily by infrastructure, public attitudes
8dThe success of a COVID-19 vaccine will depend not only on its efficacy, but will hinge at least as much on how fast and widely it can be delivered, the severity of the pandemic, and the public's willingness to be immunized, according to a study published in Health Affairs.
Experts issue recommendations for equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccine
8dA group of vaccine experts led by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has published recommendations to ensure equitable distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available. The framework, published today in Heath Affairs, focuses on five principles the authors believe would strengthen the current immunization delivery system to ensure equitable access to everyone for whom vaccinati
Daily briefing: Postdocs are disenchanted with working life, says survey
8dNature, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-03294-1 Fewer than half of postdocs surveyed would recommend a scientific career to their younger self. Plus, what the science says about asymptomatic COVID and ethical questions confront facial recognition.
Fostering creativity in researchers: How automation can revolutionize materials research
8dScientists have devised a system that combines robotics and artificial intelligence to fully automate the routine aspects of synthesizing, testing, and optimizing new materials according to fabrication conditions. Their approach can produce and test compounds ten times faster than scientists doing manual work, allowing for the rapid creation of huge shared databases. In turn, the autonomous system
Unraveling a mystery surrounding embryonic cells
8dLast year, researchers identified the early origins of neural crest cells — embryonic cells in vertebrates that travel throughout the body and generate many cell types — in chick embryos. Now the researchers have used a human model to figure out when neural crest cells acquire distinctive molecular and functional attributes.
A Facebook Messenger Flaw Could Have Let Hackers Listen In
8dThe vulnerability was found through the company's bug bounty program, now in its tenth year.
How Many Americans Are About to Die?
8dEditor's Note: The Atlantic is making vital coverage of the coronavirus available to all readers. Find the collection here . The United States has made huge advances in fighting the coronavirus. The astonishingly high death rates the country saw during the spring have fallen, and Americans are much more likely now than they were then to survive a COVID-19 hospitalization . New treatments have, in
Vibrations of coronavirus proteins may play a role in infection
8dMIT research finds vibrations of the protein spikes on coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, play a crucial part in allowing the virus to penetrate human cells. The findings could help determine how dangerous different strains or mutations of coronaviruses may be, and might point to a new approach to developing treatments.
Understanding lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis
8dFor young people with cystic fibrosis, lung infection with Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, is common and is treated with antibiotics in the hope that this will prevent a decline in lung function. However there has recently been debate over the role S. aureus plays in CF lung disease. Researchers from the University of Warwick have used a new model of CF lungs which could be used to make better decisi
Green hydrogen: Buoyancy-driven convection in the electrolyte
8dHydrogen produced by using solar energy could contribute to a climate neutral energy system of the future. But there are hurdles on the way from laboratory scale to large-scale implementation. A team at HZB has now presented a method to visualise convection in the electrolyte and to reliably simulate it in advance with a multiphysics model. The results can support the design and scaling up of this
Antibody cocktails at low doses could be more effective at treating COVID-19
8dPairs of antibodies may be more effective than single antibodies at preventing and treating COVID-19, according to a new study by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and The Rockefeller University in New York. The study, published November 19, 2020 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM), also suggests that in addition to blocking SARS-CoV-2's entry into cells, the
Nonlinear ionization dynamics of hot dense plasma observed in a laser-plasma amplifier
8dUnderstanding the behavior of light-matter interaction under extreme conditions, such as in high-density plasmas, is important for our identification of cosmologic objects and the formation of the universe. Researchers at the Universities of Jena, Germany, California in Berkeley, USA, Madrid, Spain, and the Institut Polytechnique de Paris, France have succeeded in directly observing the formation
Bruges shelters canal swans from bird flu
8dThe medieval Belgian city of Bruges has rounded up dozens of the swans that glide through its picturesque canals to shelter them from the spread of bird flu.
Mikrober på minearbejde på rumstationen
8dBakterier kan udvinde sjældne jordarter fra basalt. Nu er teknikken afprøvet ved svag tyngdekraft, som svarer til forholdene på Månen og Mars.
Bruges shelters canal swans from bird flu
8dThe medieval Belgian city of Bruges has rounded up dozens of the swans that glide through its picturesque canals to shelter them from the spread of bird flu.
Newly discovered enzyme helps make valuable bioactive saponins
8dResearchers discovered a new enzyme, closely related to the CSyGT family of enzymes involved in producing cellulose in plant cell walls. Unexpectedly, they found the new enzyme is responsible for a key step in the biosynthesis of saponins, bioactive products with high-value applications in medicine and the food industry. The new enzyme opens up novel routes for commercial production of these valua
Fishing saps the ocean's power to capture carbon
8dFishing reduces carbon sequestration in the ocean, researchers report. A fish that dies naturally in the ocean sinks to the depths, taking with it all the carbon it contains. Yet, when a fish is caught, most of this carbon is released into the atmosphere as CO2. The researchers estimate that because of this overlooked phenomenon, carbon emissions from fishing are actually 25% higher than what, un
Huge Puerto Rico radio telescope to close in blow to science
8dThe National Science Foundation announced Thursday that it will close the huge telescope at the renowned Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico in a blow to scientists worldwide who depend on it to search for planets, asteroids and extraterrestrial life.
Video: Why do my dog's paws smell like Fritos?
8dA lot of people seem to think their pup's paws smell like corn chips.
Creating chaos: Craters and collapse on Mars
8dElevation can be deceiving in satellite imagery of Mars, even when differences are extreme—as demonstrated by this image of Pyrrhae Regio from ESA's Mars Express. A chunk of terrain has collapsed and dropped more than four kilometers below its surroundings, illustrating the incredible contrast and dynamism seen across the martian surface.
Could kelp help relieve ocean acidification?
8dEthereal, swaying pillars of brown kelp along California's coasts grow up through the water column, culminating in a dense surface canopy of thick fronds that provide homes and refuge for numerous marine creatures. There's speculation that these giant algae may protect coastal ecosystems by helping alleviate acidification caused by too much atmospheric carbon being absorbed by the seas.
New membrane could pave way for cheap, efficiently made biofuels
8dScientists have developed a cost-effective method of biofuel extraction which could make them viable alternatives to fossil fuels in transport.
Giant aquatic bacterium is a master of adaptation
8dThe largest freshwater bacterium, Achromatium oxaliferum, is highly flexible in its requirements, as researchers led by the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) have now discovered: It lives in places that differ extremely in environmental conditions such as hot springs and ice water. The bacterial strains from the different ecosystems do not differ in their gene cont
Building better diffusion models for active systems
8dIn normal circumstances, particles will follow well-established random motions as they diffuse through liquids and gases. Yet in some types of system, this behavior can be disrupted—meaning the diffusion motions of particles are no longer influenced by the outcomes of chains of previous events. Through research published in EPJ E, Bernhard Mitterwallner, a Ph.D. student in the team of Roland Netz
Grazing and riparian restoration are compatible when you put in the work
8dWith a little time and effort, rangeland managers can have a dramatic impact on the resilience of California's riparian areas, which are important to the state's human, environmental and economic well-being. Rangeland ecologists at the University of California, Davis, found that when ranchers invest even one week a year in practices that keep cows away from creeks—like herding, fencing and providi
New process narrows the gap between natural and synthetic materials
8dNatural materials like skin, cartilage and tendons are tough enough to support our bodyweight and movements, yet flexible enough that they don't crack easily. Although we take these properties for granted, replicating this unique combination in synthetic materials is much harder than it sounds. Now, scientists at EPFL have developed a new way of making strong, supple composite polymers that more c
We created diamonds in minutes without heat by mimicking the force of an asteroid collision
8dIn nature, diamonds form deep in the Earth over billions of years. This process requires environments with exceptionally high pressure and temperatures exceeding 1,000℃.
A filter for environmental remediation
8dA team of researchers at Osaka University has developed a nanopowder shaped like seaweed for a water filter to help remove toxic metal ions. Made of layered sodium titanate, the randomly oriented nanofibers increase the efficacy of cobalt-II (Co2+) ion capture. This work might lead to cheaper and more effective solutions for filtering water that is currently unusable due to hazardous heavy metals
Physicist investigates unexplained behavior of cell receptors
8dJames L. Thomas, associate professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at The University of New Mexico, assisted by local high school student Ennis Quinn, has been using computational modeling to explain unusual patterns in receptor distribution on cell membranes.
Author Correction: Elephant shark genome provides unique insights into gnathostome evolution
8dNature, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2967-4
Building better diffusion models for active systems
8dResearch published in EPJ E has led to new theories detailing how some unusual diffusion behaviours can be reproduced in generalised mathematical models.
Scientists age quantum dots in a test tube
8dResearchers from MIPT and the RAS Institute of Problems of Chemical Physics have proposed a simple and convenient way to obtain arbitrarily sized quantum dots required for physical experiments via chemical aging.
Social isolation during COVID-19 pandemic linked with high blood pressure
8dA new study finds that lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with an increase in high blood pressure among patients admitted to emergency.
Smartphone screen time linked to preference for quicker but smaller rewards
8dIn a new study, people who spent more time on their phones — particularly on gaming or social media apps — were more likely to reject larger, delayed rewards in favor of smaller, immediate rewards.
Deep learning helps robots grasp and move objects with ease
8dResearchers have created new artificial intelligence software that gives robots the speed and skill to grasp and smoothly move objects, making it feasible for them to soon assist humans in warehouse environments.
Racial attitudes in a community affect COVID-19 numbers
8dImplicit racial attitudes within a community can effectively explain racial disparities seen in rates of COVID-19 in the United States, according to a new study.
Brain protein could be starting point for new treatments for pancreatic cancer
8dResearchers have discovered that a protein thought to only be involved in the development of neurons in the brain also plays a major role in the development and growth of pancreatic cancer. Their findings demonstrate for the first time how the protein, called Netrin-G1, helps pancreatic cancer cells survive by protecting them from the immune system and supplying them with nutrients.
The timeless, complimentary taste of oysters and champagne — explained
8dMatching prices aren't the only reason oysters and champagne pair so well. An uncanny umami synergy makes the combination of yeast-brewed bubbly and fresh molluscs a match made in heaven for some. Ironically, the new knowledge could help us consume more vegetables in the future.
The ultimate conditions to get the most out of high-nickel batteries
8dIt is common knowledge in battery manufacturing that many cathode materials are moisture sensitive. However, as the popularity of high nickel-based battery components increases, researchers have found that the drier the conditions that these cathodes are stored and processed in, then significant improvement in performance of the battery is gained.
Giant aquatic bacterium is a master of adaptation
8dThe largest freshwater bacterium, Achromatium oxaliferum, is highly flexible in its requirements, as researchers led by the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) have now discovered: It lives in places that differ extremely in environmental conditions such as hot springs and ice water. The bacterial strains from the different ecosystems do not differ in their gene cont
Grazing and riparian restoration are compatible when you put in the work
8dWith a little time and effort, rangeland managers can have a dramatic impact on the resilience of California's riparian areas, which are important to the state's human, environmental and economic well-being. Rangeland ecologists at the University of California, Davis, found that when ranchers invest even one week a year in practices that keep cows away from creeks—like herding, fencing and providi
Physicist investigates unexplained behavior of cell receptors
8dJames L. Thomas, associate professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at The University of New Mexico, assisted by local high school student Ennis Quinn, has been using computational modeling to explain unusual patterns in receptor distribution on cell membranes.
Research advances sustainability in surgical latex glove manufacturing
8dCranfield University researchers in partnership with Meditech Gloves, one of the leading manufacturers of high-quality examination and surgical gloves, have shown how energy savings can be made with the development of more sustainable, biodegradable, protein-free, natural rubber gloves.
Confirming simulated calculations with experiment results
8dDr. Zi Yang Meng from the Division of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science, the University of Hong Kong (HKU), is pursuing a new paradigm of quantum material research that combines theory, computation and experiment in a coherent manner. Recently, he teamed up with Dr. Wei LI from Beihang University, Professor Yang Qi from Fudan University, Professor Weiqiang YU from Renmin University and Pro
Tech stocks in driving seat as S&P 500 ekes out modest gain
8dInvestors in Europe focused on downbeat economic news and coronavirus numbers
Inclusion is key for all to thrive throughout life, report says
8dWhen it comes to optimizing 'longevity fitness' through attention to social, health, and wealth aspects of life, many Americans face intractable inequities based on the color of their skin, where they live, their sex, and who they love. The COVID-19 pandemic has further demonstrated the additional impacts affecting these demographics through the increased number of cases and mortality rates.
Army, MIT explore materials for transforming robots made of robots
8dScientists from the US Army and MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms created a new way to link materials with unique mechanical properties, opening up the possibility of future military robots made of robots.
Giant aquatic bacterium is a master of adaptation
8dThe largest freshwater bacterium, Achromatium oxaliferum, is highly flexible in its requirements, as researchers led by the IGB have now discovered: It lives in places that differ extremely in environmental conditions such as hot springs and ice water. The adaptation is probably achieved by a process which is unique to these bacteria: only relevant genes are enriched in the genomes and transcribed
Mystery solved: a 'New Kind of Electrons'
8dWhy do certain materials emit electrons with a very specific energy? This has been a mystery for decades – scientists at TU Wien have found an answer.
A gene mutation that protects against disease
8dCalled PCSK9Q152H, the mutation of the PCSK9 gene was initially thought to protect against cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies reveal that it may protect against other human illnesses, mainly liver diseases. It may allow the PCSK9Q152H mutant subjects to stay in good health and live longer.
Sidste danske teleselskab dropper 5G fra Huawei: Nu går kineserne efter 6G
8d3 har i dag bekræftet, at man indgår aftale med Ericsson om udbygning af 5G-netværket.
The universe works like a huge human brain, discover scientists
8dA new study finds similarities between the structures and processes of the human brain and the cosmic web. The research was carried out by an astrophysicist and a neurosurgeon. The two systems are vastly different in size but resemble each other in several key areas. Scientists found similarities in the workings of two systems completely different in scale – the network of neuronal cells in the h
Twisted graphene could power a new generation of superconducting electronics
8dStacked carbon sheets used to make switches that some quantum computers rely on
Iconic Arecibo Alien-Hunting Observatory Will Be Demolished
8dArecibo NSF Puerto Rico
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced that the world-renowned Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, a radiotelescope that has provided the scientific community with invaluable data for over half a century, is officially being decommissioned and demolished, The Verge reports . The aging 57-year-old structure has recently seen some major setbacks which sealed its fate. In August 2020, a
Arthritis drug offers hope for severely ill Covid patients
8dScientists optimistic it can be added to armoury of treatments for most critically sick
'Exceptional' cancer patients yield clues to better drug treatments
8dMutations and other changes in tumors appear to explain rare success stories
Arecibo Observatory, a Great Eye on the Cosmos, Is Going Dark
8dArecibo Puerto Rico
The radio telescope in Puerto Rico has to come down before it collapses.
Legendary Arecibo telescope will close forever — scientists are reeling
8dNature, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-03270-9 New satellite image reveals the damage that shut down the facility, ending an era in astronomical observation.
Being alone and socializing with others each contributes differently to personal growth
8dResearchers from Bar-Ilan University analyzed self-generated text from more than 1,700 participants who performed a sentence-completion task regarding their experience alone and their social experience when in the company of others. The results showed that a combination of constructive alone and social experiences best contributes to the formation of an integrated self.
Confirming simulated calculations with experiment results
8dDr Zi Yang MENG from Division of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science, the University of Hong Kong (HKU), is pursuing a new paradigm of quantum material research that combines theory, computation and experiment in a coherent manner. Recently, he teamed up with Dr Wei LI from Beihang University, Professor Yang QI from Fudan University, Professor Weiqiang YU from Renmin University and Professor
COVID-19 amplified America's devastating health gap. Can we bridge it?
8dThe COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated America's health disparities, widening the divide between the haves and have nots. Studies show disparities in wealth, race, and online access have disproportionately harmed underserved U.S. communities during the pandemic. To begin curing this social aliment, health systems like Northwell Health are establishing relationships of trust in these communities so
The Disastrous Idea That Won't Go Away
8dWhen President Donald Trump convened his national-security team last week to discuss whether to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, his top advisers dissuaded him from launching missile strikes, The New York Times reported. This comes as a relief, but that such a move was even under consideration is cause for alarm. The scorn now being heaped upon the president's Iran policy—which has manifestly fa
Scientists Create a Buzz With the First Ever Global Map of Bee Species
8dMost of the insects avoid the tropics and choose treeless environments in arid parts of the world
Rheumatoid arthritis drug appears to help Covid patients in ICU
8dTrial suggests that tocilizumab improves outcomes for critically ill patients, say researchers Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage A drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis appears to help patients who are admitted to intensive care with the most severe coronavirus infections, researchers say. Tocilizumab, a medicine that dampens down inflammation, improved outcomes for
Incretin hormone levels linked to arteriosclerosis
8dDiabetes is currently treated using incretin hormones to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and other medical issues that the illness can trigger. Now researchers from Lund University in Sweden have noted new links between these hormones and arteriosclerosis, and believe their discovery could be significant for treatment of diabetes in the future. The study is published in Diabetes Care .
Loneliness in youth could impact mental health over the long term
8dThe COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated widespread social isolation, affecting all ages of global society. A new rapid review reports on the available evidence about children and young people specifically, stating that loneliness is associated with mental health problems, including depression and anxiety-potentially affecting them years later. Find out more in the Journal of the American Academy of
Study finds low risk of pregnancy complications from COVID-19
8dPregnant women who test positive for COVID-19 and their newborn babies have a low risk of developing severe symptoms, according to a new study from UT Southwestern.
Bed dust microorganisms may boost children's health
8dIn the most extensive study of its kind, researchers from the University of Copenhagen, in collaboration with the Danish Pediatric Asthma Center at Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, have found a link between microorganisms living in the dust of children's beds and the children's own bacteria. The correlation suggests that microorganisms may reduce a child's risk of developing asthma, allergies and aut
Insights on a mechanism to stop COVID-19 replication
8dStopping the replication of SARS-CoV-2 is likely possible thanks to a compound called EBSELEN: a group of researchers from the Politecnico di Milano has communicated aspects relevant to the blocking of replication mechanism in the New Journal of Chemistry .
Gut microbiome link to deadly lung disease
8dResearch led by the Centenary Institute, the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Queensland has shown for the first time a link between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an often fatal lung condition, and the gut microbiome.
Famed Arecibo telescope, on the brink of collapse, will be dismantled
8dNSF Arecibo Puerto Rico
National Science Foundation decides to decommission iconic radio observatory
Scientists Uncover the Universal Geometry of Geology
8dOn a mild autumn day in 2016, the Hungarian mathematician Gábor Domokos arrived on the geophysicist Douglas Jerolmack 's doorstep in Philadelphia. Domokos carried with him his suitcases, a bad cold and a burning secret. The two men walked across a gravel lot behind the house, where Jerolmack's wife ran a taco cart. Their feet crunched over crushed limestone. Domokos pointed down. "How many facets
Coinfection: More than the sum of its parts
8dInfections with two pathogens pose a serious threat in the clinics. Researchers have developed a technique that provides new insights into this process and can be used as an early warning system.
Why Are We Closing Schools?
8dA quarter of New York City's 1.1 million public-school students have attended in-person class this academic year. Now they will all be learning from home. New York City schools have closed once again as COVID-19 cases rise in the city. The closures could last for weeks or months, depending on the percentage of positive coronavirus cases. Keeping students home is unnecessary. Reopening schools doe
Breathing problems in teens: COVID-19 or lung injury due to vaping?
8dIn a case series of three teen patients, UC Davis Health pediatricians present common manifestations of COVID-19 and lung injury due to vaping (EVALI). As EVALI and COVID-19 share many symptoms, it is critical for health providers to get the vaping history of teenagers with unexplained breathing problems.
Mediterranean diet tied to 30 percent risk reduction for diabetes in Women's Health Study
8dIn a paper published in JAMA Network Open , Brigham investigators report that women who adhered to a more Mediterranean-like diet had a 30 percent lower rate of type 2 diabetes than women who did not. The team examined several biomarkers to look for biological explanations for these results, finding key mechanisms including insulin resistance, body mass index, lipoprotein metabolism and inflammati
Frozen eggs and ovarian tissue helped women conceive children after breast cancer
8dWomen with breast cancer whose eggs or ovarian tissue were frozen had more children after their diagnosis than women who did not undergo fertility preservation using those methods before start of cancer treatment. That is according to a study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden that is published in the journal JAMA Oncology. According to the researchers, the result highlights the imp
Eye protection for patients with COVID-19 undergoing prolonged prone-position ventilation
8dResearchers report two cases of ophthalmic clinical examination findings in patients who underwent prolonged prone positioning in the intensive care unit during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Evaluation of tracheal complications in patients with COVID-19
8dWhether patients with COVID-19 had higher risk of tracheal complications after prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation and the possible reasons why were investigated in this study.
Delirium in older patients with COVID-19
8dHow frequently older adults with COVID-19 present to the emergency department with delirium was examined in this observational study.
Pregnancy outcomes among women with, without SARS-CoV-2 infection
8dA large, single-institution observational study suggests SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy wasn't associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Researchers peer inside deadly pathogen's burglary kit
8dThe bacterium that causes the tick-borne disease tularemia is a lean, mean infecting machine. It carries a relatively small genome, and a unique set of infectious tools, including a collection of chromosomal genes called 'the pathogenicity island.' Structural insights from Cryo-EM microscopy, appearing Nov. 19 in Molecular Cell, point to a way in which the bacterium's unique infectious machinery m
Study of 'exceptional responders' yields clues to cancer and potential treatments
8dIn a comprehensive analysis of patients with cancer who had exceptional responses to therapy, researchers have identified molecular changes in the patients' tumors that may explain some of the exceptional responses. The results demonstrate that genomic characterizations of cancer can uncover genetic alterations that may contribute to unexpected and long-lasting responses to treatment, according to
Archaeology: Transition to feudal living in 14th century impacted local ecosystems
8dThe transition from tribal to feudal living, which occurred throughout the 14th century in Lagow, Poland had a significant impact on the local ecosystem, according to a study published in Scientific Reports.
Very hungry and angry, caterpillars head-butt to get what they want
8dWhen food is scarce, monarch butterfly caterpillars go from docile to domineering. The results look something like a combination of boxing and "bumper" cars. The less food, the more likely caterpillars were to try to head-butt each other out of the way to get their fill, lunging and knocking aside other caterpillars to ensure their own survival. And, they are most aggressive right before the final
Researchers create first map of bee species around the globe
8dThere are over 20,000 species of bee, but accurate data about how these species are spread across the globe are sparse. However, researchers reporting in the journal Current Biology on November 19 have created a map of bee diversity by combining the most complete global checklist of known bee species with the almost 6 million additional public records of where individual species have appeared arou
The very hungry, angry caterpillars
8dIn the absence of milkweed–their favorite food–monarch butterfly caterpillars (Danaus plexippus) go from peaceful feeders to aggressive fighters. Researchers reporting in the journal iScience on November 19 observed that caterpillars with less access to food were more likely to lunge at others to knock them aside, and caterpillars were most aggressive during the final stages before metamorphosis
Granfrön för miljarder hotas av svamp
8dGranfrön från utvalda träd är nödvändiga för att trygga återväxt inom skogsbruket. Men tillgången på frön sinar, delvis på grund av en svamp som förstör grankottarna. En studie visar nu att skadesvampen är beroende av närbelägen hägg för att kunna angripa. Sverige exporterar årligen gran till ett värde motsvarande drygt 80 miljarder kronor. För att trygga återplanteringen efter avverkningarna, be
Publisher Correction: A genome-wide structure-based survey of nucleotide binding proteins in M. tuberculosis
8dScientific Reports, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77427-x
Bed dust bacteria may make babies healthier
8dResearchers have found a link between microorganisms living in the dust of babies' beds and the children's own microbiome. The correlation suggests that microorganisms may reduce a child's risk of developing asthma, allergies, and autoimmune diseases later in life. Invisible to the human eye, our beds are teeming with microbial life. It is life that, especially during early childhood, can affect
Astronomers Can't Explain Where Half the Universe's Light Is Coming From
8dStar Light Five years ago, the New Horizons spacecraft sailed past Pluto and deeper into the Kuiper Belt. Because it's so far from both the Sun and the cosmic dust in the nearer solar system that reflects its light, blinding astronomers, scientists decided to use New Horizons' instruments to determine just how bright the universe actually is. Even after filtering out every known source of illumin
Author Correction: Truncation of mutant huntingtin in knock-in mice demonstrates exon1 huntingtin is a key pathogenic form
8dNature Communications, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-19873-9
Author Correction: Identification of epilepsy-associated neuronal subtypes and gene expression underlying epileptogenesis
8dNature Communications, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-19869-5
Blue whales return to sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia after near local extinction
8dScientists have revealed the return of critically endangered Antarctic blue whales to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, 50 years after whaling all but wiped them out. The new study follows recent research that humpback whales are also returning to the region.
The single X chromosome of male fruit flies can be just as active as the two X chromosomes of females thanks to two sticky molecules
8dResearchers have discovered how the MSL complex responsible for dosage compensation can distinguish the X chromosome from autosomes in flies. A lab used a unique research approach to determine the minimal molecular components essential for recognizing the X chromosome. The study shows that the MSL2 protein and the roX RNA form a gel which 'attaches' the MSL complex to the X chromosome.
Health trade-offs for wildlife as urbanization expands
8dCity living appears to improve reproductive success for migratory tree swallows compared to breeding in more environmentally protected areas, a new five-year study suggests. But urban life comes with a big trade-off – health hazards linked to poorer water quality.
Web searches for insomnia surged at height of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders
8dA study found a significant increase in the number of online search queries for 'insomnia' between April and May 2020, when governments across the U.S. and around the world implemented stay-at-home orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Evaluating COVID Risk on Planes, Trains and Automobiles
8dStay safer on different forms of transportation — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Don't Get Between a Caterpillar and Its Milkweed
8dBefore metamorphosis, monarch butterflies will aggressively head butt each other for access to their favorite food.
China plans to bring back the first Moon rocks for 40 years
8dIf it succeeds, they will arrive in December
Researchers create first map of bee species around the globe
8dThere are over 20,000 species of bee, but accurate data about how these species are spread across the globe are sparse. However, researchers reporting in the journal Current Biology on November 19 have created a map of bee diversity by combining the most complete global checklist of known bee species with the almost 6 million additional public records of where individual species have appeared arou
Operation Moonshot ignored screening experts. No wonder it's failing | Polly Toynbee
8dPutting mass Covid testing in place before financial support for those required to self-isolate is putting the cart before the horse Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage All eyes are fixed on vaccines , waiting and yearning, but when immunisation arrives, testing and tracing will long remain essential to keeping the virus suppressed due to the staggered rollout of the pro
Palaeontologists describe a unique preservation process analyzing remains found in amber
8dA team of palaeontologists described two amber pieces found in sites in Teruel (Spain) with remains from vertebrates corresponding to the Early Cretaceous. Both pieces have their origins in the same conservation process of resins, described for the first time by the researchers. One of these remains corresponds to the finding of the oldest mammalian hair in amber worldwide, and the remains found i
'Muscular bonding': The strange psychological effects of moving together
8dMuscular bonding, a term coined by the veteran and historian William McNeill, describes how individuals engaged in synchronous movement often experience feelings of euphoria and connection to the group. Psychologists have proposed that muscular bonding, or interpersonal entrainment, is a group-level adaptation that helped early human groups outcompete other groups. Muscular bonding can help peopl
Researchers create first map of bee species around the globe
8dThere are over 20,000 species of bee, but accurate data about how these species are spread across the globe are sparse. However, researchers reporting in the journal Current Biology on November 19 have created a map of bee diversity by combining the most complete global checklist of known bee species with the almost 6 million additional public records of where individual species have appeared arou
Researchers peer inside deadly pathogen's burglary kit
8dThe bacterium that causes the tick-borne disease tularemia is a lean, mean infecting machine. It carries a relatively small genome, and a unique set of infectious tools, including a collection of chromosomal genes called 'the pathogenicity island.'
Very hungry and angry, caterpillars head-butt to get what they want
8dInspired by his own butterfly garden at home, a Florida Atlantic University neuroscientist got a unique look at how monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) caterpillars behave when food is scarce. The results look something like a combination of boxing and "bumper" cars.
Transition to feudal living in 14th century impacted local ecosystems
8dThe transition from tribal to feudal living, which occurred throughout the 14th century in Lagow, Poland had a significant impact on the local ecosystem, according to a study published in Scientific Reports. The findings demonstrate how historical changes to human society and economies may have changed local environments.
Solitary confinement by any other name is still torture
8dIn October 2020, criminologists Anthony Doob and Jane Sprott released a report on Correctional Services Canada's (CSC) use of structured intervention units (SIUs). SIUs were intended to replace the use of solitary confinement in federal prisons but are a catastrophic failure, especially for imprisoned people with mental illness.
Evaluating COVID Risk on Planes, Trains and Automobiles
8dStay safer on different forms of transportation — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
China set to bring back first rocks from the Moon in more than 40 years
8dChang'e-5's lunar samples could firm up shaky crater count dating system for the rocky planets
Scientists Create Diamonds at Room Temperature
8dBling Ring An international team of researchers have created diamonds at room temperature, in mere minutes, using extremely high levels of pressure. The team ended up with two kinds of diamonds: a regular one you'd find on a piece of jewelry and a Lonsdaleite, which is an ultra-strong kind of diamond that is usually found at the site of meteorite impacts. "Natural diamonds are usually formed over
Researchers peer inside deadly pathogen's burglary kit
8dThe bacterium that causes the tick-borne disease tularemia is a lean, mean infecting machine. It carries a relatively small genome, and a unique set of infectious tools, including a collection of chromosomal genes called 'the pathogenicity island.'
Very hungry and angry, caterpillars head-butt to get what they want
8dInspired by his own butterfly garden at home, a Florida Atlantic University neuroscientist got a unique look at how monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) caterpillars behave when food is scarce. The results look something like a combination of boxing and "bumper" cars.
Palaeontologists describe a preservation process unique to resins
8dA team of paleontologists described two amber pieces found in sites in Teruel (Spain) with remains from vertebrates corresponding to the Early Cretaceous. Both pieces have their origins in the same conservation process of resins, described for the first time by the researchers. One of these remains corresponds to the finding of the oldest mammalian hair in amber worldwide, and the remains found in
Group tables, ottomans and gym balls: Kids told us why flexible furniture helps them learn
8dThe COVID pandemic has meant many students learnt from home for a lot of the year. But with schools returning to normal across Australia, how will students readjust from learning at the kitchen table (or couch, or bedroom) to being at desks and chairs in classrooms?
Demise of a glacier, uncovering a fjord
8dThe Hardanger region in southwestern Norway is famous for a mild climate, steep rock walls and delicious apples. Towards the end of the last Ice Age, things were different. Climate was frigid, too cold for humans to settle, let alone apple trees. The Hardangerfjord Glacier reached from the Hardangervidda plateau in the east, towards the island Halsnøy towards the west. These gravelly islands were
The first battle for oil in Norway
8dAlthough it might seem like it, Norway's oil history did not begin with the first major discovery at the Ekofisk field in 1969 by Phillips Petroleum Co. It didn't even begin with the Balder discovery a couple of years earlier, or Norway's claim to large areas in the North Sea in 1963.
How quinoa can help combat hunger and malnutrition | Cedric Habiyaremye
8dOn a mission to create a hunger-free world, agricultural entrepreneur Cedric Habiyaremye makes the case for cultivating quinoa — and other versatile, nutrient-rich grains — in places experiencing malnutrition, like his native Rwanda. He shares a model to help smallholder farmers across Africa diversify their fields with nutritious and indigenous crops, taking a step towards ensuring healthy food
Solving for nuclear structure in light nuclei
8dIn nuclei, all the fundamental forces of nature are at play. The dense region at the center of an atom—where the protons and neutrons are found—is a place where scientists can test their understanding of the fundamental interactions of the smallest building blocks of matter in the universe.
Why the 'extreme intoxication' defence is dangerous for women
8d"Extreme intoxication" is used as a defense by people who commit crimes of violence after becoming highly intoxicated. If successful, the defense results in full acquittal. An aggressor will not be held criminally responsible for acts of violence against another person.
Researchers discover a new coral reef in Australia's Great Barrier Reef—the first such discovery in 120 years
8dA researcher from the University of Granada (UGR) is co-leading a geological and biological research campaign that is being carried out at Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR)—the largest coral reef in the world. Geologists, biologists, and marine ecologists from various Australian universities and research centers are participating in the campaign.
New tool to combat terrorism
8dForensic science experts at Flinders University are refining an innovative counter-terrorism technique that checks for environmental DNA in the dust on clothing, baggage, shoes or even a passport.
A novel drug target for neonatal and infant heart failure
8dResearchers have identified a new druggable target for heart failure in neonates and infants. Approximately 60 percent of children born with congenital heart abnormalities will develop overt heart failure within the first year of life. The progression of heart failure in these infants is often rapid, with a high frequency of fatalities. Stimulation of this target significantly increased the cardia
The first battle for oil in Norway
8dThe world's richest man and the world's largest oil company dominated the petroleum market in Norway long before landmark finds on the Norwegian continental shelf and the Norwegian oil fund.
Virtual reality helps measure vulnerability to stress
8dBehavioral scientists at EPFL have developed a virtual reality test that assesses a person's vulnerability to stress while exploring immersive environments. The resulting model offers the field of stress research one of the first such tools that does not rely on subjective evaluations.
New process narrows the gap between natural and synthetic materials
8dSkin and cartilage are both strong and flexible – properties that are hard to replicate in artificial materials. But a new fabrication process, developed by scientists at EPFL, brings lifelike synthetic polymers a step closer.
Infection with SARS-CoV-2 via pork meat unlikely according to current state of knowledge
8dState media in China have claimed that a worker has become infected with the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) from a knuckle of pork imported from Germany. The infection is reported to have taken place in a cold store. Traces of SARS-CoV-2 were detected on packaging as well as on a door knob.
Researchers discover a new coral reef in Australia's Great Barrier Reef—the first such discovery in 120 years
8dA researcher from the University of Granada (UGR) is co-leading a geological and biological research campaign that is being carried out at Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR)—the largest coral reef in the world. Geologists, biologists, and marine ecologists from various Australian universities and research centers are participating in the campaign.
Three reasons for information exhaustion—and what to do about it
8dAn endless flow of information is coming at us constantly: It might be an article a friend shared on Facebook with a sensational headline or wrong information about the spread of the coronavirus. It could even be a call from a relative wanting to talk about a political issue.
Enhancing crystal growth using polyelectrolyte solutions and shear flow
8dThe process of examining characteristics of drug candidates thoroughly is essential for obtaining institutional approvals of new drugs for which high-quality crystallographic data are required. Indeed, growing large crystals of good quality from various substances serves a particular purpose for such processes and analyses. A recent study, affiliated with UNIST has introduced a novel crystal growt
New electrocatalyst for hydrogen production with enhanced faradaic efficiency
8dResearchers throughout the world are working actively to accelerate the development of new catalysts that can greatly cut the cost of hydrogen production. A number of breakthrough catalysts have been reported, yet their expected performance are often unknown before implementation, and thus further research is required for practical use. A recent study, affiliated UNIST, has introduced a novel high
Glaciers in Canada found to be thicker than previously suggested
8dAmong snowy, ice-capped peaks in the northernmost section of western Canada's Columbia River Basin, a research team, led by University of British Columbia Ph.D. student Ben Pelto, collected measurements of glacier thickness. Their findings, published by the Journal of Glaciology in September, suggest that the glaciers in the basin are on average 38% thicker than previously believed.
Universal three-dimensional crosslinker for all-photopatterned electronics
8dA research team, affiliated with South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) has succeeded in fabricating highly integrated arrays of PTFTs and logic gates via all-solution processing.
Luftföroreningar leder till demens och depression
8dLuftföroreningar är ett av våra stora folkhälsoproblem. Nu visar en ny studie att de förändrar våra hjärnor genom att minska den hjärnsubstans som används vid syn, tal, hörsel och minnen.
More Vaccine Data, in Advance of More Efficacy
8dI know that it's been a run of vaccine posts around here, but the numbers just keep on coming. Today we have two more papers to look at, both published in The Lancet . – The first is from the SinoVac inactivated virus effort (the CoronaVac vaccine). In this one, the virus is grown in Vero cell culture, harvested, and inactivated by treatment with beta-propiolactone. As mentioned in previous vacci
Why we should be funding more Solyndras
8dPresident-elect Joe Biden won the US election in part by running on an ambitious climate platform promising to invest heavily to avert climate catastrophe while creating millions of well-paying jobs. But the question of how Biden's proposed nearly $2 trillion in green investment will get spent, and what other measures the government will take to put the green economy on the fast track, is still u
Newly discovered metabolic pathway uses single carbon gases as a feedstock
8dA joint research team, affiliated with UNIST has identified a new metabolic pathway, in which microorganisms use single carbon (C1) gasses (CO and CO2) as a feedstock. The new metabolic pathway is thought to be the most energetically efficient pathway, compared to the existing ones, and thus is expected to be used in a variety of industrial applications that involved the conversion of C1 gas into
Endangered juvenile smalltooth sawfish found in St. Lucie river
8dCapable of growing up to about 16 feet long, the elusive smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) is easily identified by its large, toothed rostrum or "saw." It is one of five sawfish species worldwide, and the only sawfish species found in Florida waters. Historically found along the east coast of the United States and throughout the Gulf of Mexico, this species commonly inhabited Florida's east a
Superaerophobic hydrogels for enhanced electrochemical and photoelectrochemical hydrogen production
8dA recent study, affiliated with South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) has unveiled a new technique that gives an enhanced hydrogen production yield by five times via the deposition of highly porous superaerophobichydrogels on a desired electrode surface.
Designing water splitting catalysts using waste-yeast biomass
8dA novel catalyst synthesis method, capable of generating hydrogen from yeasts, the main microorganisms involved in alcohol and bread fermentation, has been developed. The new system can efficiently decompose water into oxygen and hydrogen, using substances found in waste-yeast biomass. Besides, this method is inexpensive, has a high yield, and thus is expected to reduce the hydrogen production cos
Scattering of adiabatically aligned molecules by non-resonant optical standing waves
8dA research team, affiliated with South Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) has discovered that when the rotational quantum states of non-polar molecules change under the influence of laser fields (non-resonant laser fields), so does their motion trajectories.
Newly discovered metabolic pathway uses single carbon gases as a feedstock
8dA joint research team, affiliated with UNIST has identified a new metabolic pathway, in which microorganisms use single carbon (C1) gasses (CO and CO2) as a feedstock. The new metabolic pathway is thought to be the most energetically efficient pathway, compared to the existing ones, and thus is expected to be used in a variety of industrial applications that involved the conversion of C1 gas into
Endangered juvenile smalltooth sawfish found in St. Lucie river
8dCapable of growing up to about 16 feet long, the elusive smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) is easily identified by its large, toothed rostrum or "saw." It is one of five sawfish species worldwide, and the only sawfish species found in Florida waters. Historically found along the east coast of the United States and throughout the Gulf of Mexico, this species commonly inhabited Florida's east a
Sun-Like Star Identified As the Potential Source of the Wow! Signal
8dThe source of SETI's most famous signal has never been spotted — until now.
Blue whales return to South Georgia after near extinction
8dAn international research team led by UK scientists has revealed the return of critically endangered Antarctic blue whales to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, 50 years after whaling all but wiped them out. The new study follows recent research that humpback whales are also returning to the region.
Blue whales return to South Georgia after near extinction
8dAn international research team led by UK scientists has revealed the return of critically endangered Antarctic blue whales to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, 50 years after whaling all but wiped them out. The new study follows recent research that humpback whales are also returning to the region.
Lungsjukdomen KOL minskar i Sverige
8dAntalet personer som drabbas av kroniskt obstruktiv lungsjukdom, KOL, har minskat kraftigt i Sverige. De allvarligare fallen har mer än halverats på 15 år, visar en studie. Den främsta förklaringen är att allt färre röker. KOL är ett stort globalt hälsoproblem som årligen beräknas orsaka cirka 3 000 förtida dödsfall bara i Sverige. – Det är fantastiskt goda nyheter att vi nu får kvitto på att den
Climate change: Can sending fewer emails really save the planet?
8dUK officials are reportedly considering asking us to stop sending "thanks" emails – but why?
Stem cell transplantation: undesirable rejection mechanism identified
8dIn the treatment of leukaemia, stem cell transplantation subsequent to chemotherapy and radiation can often engender severe adverse inflammatory reactions – especially in the skin or in the gut, since these so-called barrier organs are more frequently affected. Up until now, the reason for this was unclear. A team of researchers in Vienna has now identified an immune mechanism that is partially re
A bypass route for the coronary vessels in the heart?
8dWhen the heart develops, some of its coronary blood vessels develop from cells lining the inner surface of the heart's ventricular chambers (endocardium). Novel findings suggest that new blood vessel growth in the heart can be stimulated with the VEGF-B growth factor from the same source after myocardial infarction to increase blood delivery to the damaged area.
New tool to combat terrorism
8dForensic science experts at Flinders University are refining an innovative counter-terrorism technique that checks for environmental DNA in the dust on clothing, baggage, shoes or even a passport. "This microscopic environmental trace evidence, based on soil geochemical, bacterial and fungal analysis would complement and enhance current forensic intelligence tools," lead researcher Dr Jennifer You
A filter for environmental remediation
8dScientists at Osaka University discovered a new method for producing sodium titanate mats nanostructured in a seaweed-like morphology for filtering heavy metal ions and radioactive materials from water. This work may lead to advances in treating contaminated wastewater.
Potential new target to combat inflammatory diseases
8dAn international team of researchers have uncovered a drug-like compound that blocks a crucial inflammatory pathway, potentially paving the way for a new treatment for a host of diseases – including COVID-19.WEHI's Associate Professor Seth Masters and his research team discovered the compound could prevent up-regulation of CD14, a key inflammatory protein. The discovery was recently published in E
Livet før ilteksplosionen var baseret på arsen
8dPLUS. Det er de helt særlige forhold i Laguna La Brava Channel, der nu kan bane vej for en bedre forståelse af livets udvikling.
Giant Viruses Can Integrate into the Genomes of Their Hosts
8dRather than introducing small chunks of DNA as other viruses do, some giant viruses can contribute more than 1 million base pairs to a host's genome, broadening the ways in which viruses may shape eukaryote evolution.
Epidemilov tager alt for let på patienters og lægers retssikkerhed
8dDet er afgørende, at regeringen i næste runde af forhandlingerne om en ny epidemilov respekterer det unikke, fortrolige rum, som læger har med patienterne, mener Lægeforeningen.
The GOP's Big Self-Own
8dCongressional Republicans may be engaged in the political equivalent of a murder-suicide by abetting Donald Trump's claims that the election was stolen from him. By reinforcing Trump's baseless narrative that he actually won the vote, Republicans could be suffocating President-elect Joe Biden's already-slim chances of attracting any meaningful support from rank-and-file Republican voters, which w
Bacteria convince their squid host to create a less hostile work environment
8dBacteria living symbiotically within the Hawaiian bobtail squid can direct the host squid to change its normal gene-expression program to make a more inviting home, according to a new study published in PLoS Biology by researchers at the University of Hawai'i (UH) at Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST).
Researchers collaborate to study antimicrobial use in food animal industries
8dKansas State University and University of Minnesota researchers are collaborating with the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine and food animal industries to evaluate systems for collecting and evaluating antimicrobial use data in food animal production, including U.S. beef feedlot, dairy, swine, turkey and chicken production settings. The project is largely funded by the
Blue whales have 'rediscovered' South Georgia
8dThe great whales are returning to the island that hosted the industry that nearly destroyed them.
Bacteria convince their squid host to create a less hostile work environment
8dBacteria living symbiotically within the Hawaiian bobtail squid can direct the host squid to change its normal gene-expression program to make a more inviting home, according to a new study published in PLoS Biology by researchers at the University of Hawai'i (UH) at Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST).
Researchers collaborate to study antimicrobial use in food animal industries
8dKansas State University and University of Minnesota researchers are collaborating with the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine and food animal industries to evaluate systems for collecting and evaluating antimicrobial use data in food animal production, including U.S. beef feedlot, dairy, swine, turkey and chicken production settings. The project is largely funded by the
Researchers found signs of human pollution in animals living six miles beneath the sea
8dResearchers found mercury in creatures dwelling at the deepest areas of the ocean. (Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2016 Deepwater Exploration of the Marianas. /) Tens of thousands of feet below the surface, deep-sea fish and crustaceans thrive amidst extreme pressure, freezing cold, and absolute darkness. Food is scarce in this remote environment, and fish ca
Do meal kits tick right boxes?
8dDuring the pandemic, handy meal kit delivery services are helping to develop home cooking habits incorporating healthy ingredients such as vegetables, and a balance of less harmful fats and salt. However, it's important to understand the qualities of these recipes, which vary from week to week, before deciding whether the meal kit is a suitable service for you and your family's nutritional needs a
Simple measurement could transform injury rehabilitation
8dResearchers from Edith Cowan University in Western Australia have found a simple way to analyse the effectiveness of exercise training that could one day be conducted easily at a local gym or physio.Using vertical jumps as a test activity, the researchers could predict detailed information regarding technique and muscle activation patterns just through a relatively simple analysis of forces produc
Can animals use iridescent colours to communicate?
8dNew paper sheds light on the colourful world of animal communication, highlighting the challenges of studying accurately how iridescent colours work in nature
Taking out the trash is essential for brain health
8dResearchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) have identified a protein called Wipi3 that is essential for cellular waste disposal via the alternative autophagy system. Deletion of Wipi3 in the brains of mice causes growth and motor defects attributed to neuronal accumulation of iron, resulting in neurodegeneration. However, over-expression of another alternative autophagy protein, Dra
Svårt att bo trångt under coronapandemin
8dÅ ena sidan hemmakontor, å andra sidan trångboddhet. Samtidigt som vikten av ett gott hem blivit större har också boendet blivit mer ojämlikt. Coronaviruset är inget jämlikt virus, menar Tapio Salonen och Martin Grander, som analyserat bostadsfrågan under coronapandemin. – Snarare blottlägger det djupgående klyftor i samhällsstrukturen, skriver de båda forskarna i en artikel utgiven av myndighete
New semiconductor coating may pave way for future green fuels
8dHydrogen gas and methanol for fuel cells or as raw materials for the chemicals industry, for example, could be produced more sustainably using sunlight, a new study shows. In this study, researchers have developed a new coating material for semiconductors that may create new opportunities to produce fuels in processes that combine direct sunlight with electricity.
A DNA-based nanogel for targeted chemotherapy
8dCurrent chemotherapy regimens slow cancer progression and save lives, but these powerful drugs affect both healthy and cancerous cells. Now, researchers have designed DNA-based nanogels that only break down and release their chemotherapeutic contents within cancer cells, minimizing the impacts on normal ones and potentially eliminating painful and uncomfortable side effects.
Parental restrictions on tech use have little lasting effect into adulthood
8dA new study of more than 1,200 individuals found that time spent with digital technology during adolescence has little impact on long-term use, suggesting that worries about widespread tech addiction may be overblown. Parental limits on youth tech use had no lasting impact on use in adulthood.
New technique seamlessly converts ammonia to green hydrogen
8dResearchers have developed a highly effective, environmentally friendly method for converting ammonia into hydrogen. The new technique is a major step forward for enabling a zero-pollution, hydrogen-fueled economy. The idea of using ammonia as a carrier for hydrogen delivery has gained traction in recent years because ammonia is much easier to liquify than hydrogen and is therefore much easier to
A 3D Printed Apartment Building Is Going Up in Germany
8d3D printing is making strides in the construction industry. In just a couple years we've seen the tech produce single-family homes in a day, entire communities of homes for people in need, large municipal buildings , and even an egg-shaped concept home for Mars (oh, and let's not forget the 3D printed boats and cars of the world!). Another impressive feat will soon be added to this list, as a Ger
Many women were ill-prepared for the pandemic's financial challenges, study reveals
8dA new report by the TIAA Institute and the Global Financial Literacy Excellence Center (GFLEC) at the George Washington University School of Business reveals worrying deficiencies in financial literacy among U.S. women immediately before the onset of COVID-19. These knowledge gaps may hinder women's ability to make appropriate financial decisions in times of uncertainty.
COVID-related unemployment hits people of color, women and older workers hardest
8dJob losses resulting from the coronavirus pandemic have affected wide swaths of the population, but workers in some demographic groups and industry sectors have been hit harder than others, according to "COVID-19 and Pennsylvania's Economy," a series of reports compiled by researchers in Penn State's Center for Economic and Community Development.
Tungsten develops layers under fusion reactor extreme heat conditions
8dIn tokamaks, magnetic confinement devices being explored for use as nuclear fusion reactors, anomalous events can cause a transfer of energy with 10 million times the intensity of the solar radiation on Earth's surface. These events can cause damage to structural components, potentially threatening the longevity of a tokamak.
Model filter system removes antibiotics from wastewater
8dA model for an economical filter system that can remove antibiotics from wastewater has been designed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and University of California-Riverside (UCR) collaborators.
Looking at liquid cells in variable gravity
8dWhat resembles a donut or the iris of an eye is actually a liquid cell illuminated from below.
Scientists age quantum dots in a test tube
8dResearchers from MIPT and the RAS Institute of Problems of Chemical Physics have proposed a simple and convenient way to obtain arbitrarily sized quantum dots required for physical experiments via chemical aging. The study was published in Materials Today Chemistry.
Coronapod: What could falling COVID death rates mean for the pandemic?
8dNature, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-03281-6 Around the world, COVID death rates are falling, but why?
A DNA-based nanogel for targeted chemotherapy
8dCurrent chemotherapy regimens slow cancer progression and save lives, but these powerful drugs affect both healthy and cancerous cells. Now, researchers have designed DNA-based nanogels that only break down and release their chemotherapeutic contents within cancer cells, minimizing the impacts on normal ones and potentially eliminating painful and uncomfortable side effects.
New technique seamlessly converts ammonia to green hydrogen
8dResearchers have developed a highly effective, environmentally friendly method for converting ammonia into hydrogen. The new technique is a major step forward for enabling a zero-pollution, hydrogen-fueled economy. The idea of using ammonia as a carrier for hydrogen delivery has gained traction in recent years because ammonia is much easier to liquify than hydrogen and is therefore much easier to
Surfaces help quantum switches
8dThe quantum dynamics of hydrogen are central to many problems in nature, being strongly influenced by the environment in which a reaction takes place. In their contribution to PRL, members of the Lise Meitner Group at the MPSD address hydrogen transfer within a supported molecular switch, showing that the surface support can play a decisive role in the tunneling reaction.
Topological mechanical metamaterials go beyond Newton's third law
8dA change in perspective can work wonders. This has been especially true with respect to the paradigms for explaining material properties using the concept of topology, "ideas that are currently revolutionizing condensed matter physics," according to Tel Aviv University researcher Roni Ilan. While topological physics first emerged in condensed matter physics, the ideas have now spread into many oth
Truffle munching wallabies shed new light on forest conservation
8dA researcher from Edith Cowan University in Western Australia led an investigation into how swamp wallabies spread truffle spores around the environment. Results demonstrate the importance of these animals to the survival of the forest.
A 2D perspective: stacking materials to realize a low power consuming future
8dScientists have designed a 2D material-based multi-stacked structure comprising tungsten disulfide (WS2) layer sandwiched between hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) layers that displays long-range interaction between successive WS2 layers with potential for reducing circuit design complexity and power consumption.
Bacteria convince their squid host to create a less hostile work environment
8dBacteria living symbiotically within the Hawaiian bobtail squid can direct the host squid to change its normal gene-expression program to make a more inviting home, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Hawai'i.
Some glaciers in the Tetons found to have survived the early Holocene warming
8dA trio of researchers, two with Occidental College, the other with the University of Colorado, has found evidence that some of the glaciers in the Tetons survived the early Holocene warming. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, Darren Larsen, Sarah Crump and Aria Blumm describe their study of ice core samples taken from two sites in the Tetons.
Derfor kan bakterier fra chilensk bjergsø bruges som kig til livets børneværelse
8dPLUS. Forskere har i Chile fundet levende bakteriemåtter, der bruger arsenforbindelsen arsenit til at trække vejret. Professor i mikrobiologi forklarer her, hvordan det hænger sammen.
Printable, high-performance solid-state electrolyte films for next-generation batteries
8dA team has developed a new method of printing and sintering a variety of solid-state electrolyte thin films called 'printing and radiative heating.'
Motorized sensors aim to improve and speed up early-stage disease diagnosis
8dResearchers want to make it easier to catch diseases earlier in the process, improving patient outlooks and taking some of the load off the medical system.
For neural research, wireless chip shines light on the brain
8dResearchers have developed a chip that is powered wirelessly and can be surgically implanted to read neural signals and stimulate the brain with both light and electrical current. The technology has been demonstrated successfully in rats and is designed for use as a research tool.
Single-cell technique could provide women's 'egg health' indicators
8dUsing the power of single-cell analysis, researchers have assessed the effects of age on egg cells (oocytes) in mice, particularly looking to identify genomic and epigenetic factors that relate to reduced developmental competence. The knowledge uncovered by this research provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying egg quality and is relevant to the development of techniques to assess the
New test reveals AI still lacks common sense
8dNatural language processing (NLP) has taken great strides recently — but how much does AI understand of what it reads? Less than we thought, it seems. Despite advances, AI still doesn't have the common sense needed to generate plausible sentences.
Werner Herzog's New Documentary 'Fireball' Captures Humanity's Fascination With Meteorites
8dIn this Q&A, the iconoclastic filmmaker and his co-director, volcanologist Clive Oppenheimer, discuss their new documentary on Apple TV+, which is an exploration of the role that space rocks have played in shaping humanity.
Ung læge bag forskning i genoplivning af børn med hjertestop får stor amerikansk anerkendelse
8dVed stor amerikansk hjertekongres får ung dansk forsker og læge flot anerkendelse for forskning i at forbedre genoplivning af børn med hjertestop. Studiet skal føre til gode pejlemærker i forhold til at optimere hjertemassage til børn i fremtiden, siger forskere bag.
'Oasis effect' in urban parks could contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, study finds
8dIt will come as no surprise to anyone living in Phoenix, Arizona, that 2020 has been a record-breaking year for high temperatures. According to the National Weather Service, in 2020 the Phoenix area has surpassed all previous years for average high temperatures and excessive heat warnings.
Afro-Caribbean patients with severe kidney disease at greater risk of hospitalisation from COVID-19
8dAfro-Caribbean people with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) are more likely to be hospitalised with COVID-19 than other ethnicities, a study has found.
More than 1.1 million deaths among Medicare recipients due to high cost of drugs
8dWASHINGTON, DC and SAN DIEGO, CA – Nov. 19, 2020 – More than 1.1 million Medicare patients could die over the next decade because they cannot afford to pay for their prescription medications, according to a new study released today by the West Health Policy Center, a nonprofit and nonpartisan policy research group and Xcenda, the research arm of the drug distributor AmerisourceBergen.
Blue whales return to South Georgia after near extinction
8dAn international research team led by UK scientists has revealed the return of critically endangered Antarctic blue whales to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, 50 years after whaling all but wiped them out. The new study follows recent research that humpback whales are also returning to the region.
Patients strongly favor banning bacon in hospitals, according to new survey
8dMost hospitalized patients favor eliminating processed meats–including bacon, deli meat, and sausage–from hospital menus to reduce cancer risk, according to a new survey published in the Journal of Hospital Management and Health Policy.
COVID could boost risks for seasonal affective disorder
8dThe COVID-19 pandemic could make seasonal affective disorder even tougher to deal with for many people, but there are ways to make yourself feel better, Hanne Hoffman says. Hoffmann , an assistant professor in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University, and her colleagues in the Hoffmann Lab, study how light regulates our physiology, affects our overall well-bei
Oxford scientists say they will not rush to get Covid vaccine results by Christmas
8dFurther trials required but 'delight' after early data reveals strong immune response in over-70s Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Oxford University's scientists have said they will not rush to publish efficacy results from their Covid vaccine trial, playing down expectations that some of the 100m doses the UK has ordered may be available by Christmas. Prof Andrew Pol
Slow Gains against the Virus
8dMultiple and complex underlying factors determine why some people get terribly sick from COVID-19 — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
The Physics of Materials at Minus 80 Degrees Celsius
8dPfizer's new vaccine has to be stored at extremely low temperatures. Here's how things work when it gets that cold.
Conquer Your Watch Queue on Any Streaming Service
8dDon't get buried beneath all the new, original shows you want to enjoy. Here are some tips and tricks.
Apple Will Take a Smaller Cut of Some App Store Revenues
8dThe App Store Small Business Program aims to improve the company's public image and its standing in antitrust battles.
Study investigates mode switching phenomenon in the pulsar PSR J1326−6700
8dUsing the Parkes 64-meter radio telescope, Chinese astronomers have performed a detailed study of a pulsar known as PSR J1326−6700. The results of this research provide more insights into the mode switching phenomenon observed in this pulsar. The study was published November 11 on arXiv.org.
How the polio vaccine virus occasionally becomes dangerous
8dThe polio vaccines heralded the elimination of polio from the U.S., saving countless children from sudden paralysis and death. In the developing world, however, outbreaks of poliovirus still occur sporadically, an ironic consequence of the polio vaccine itself. A new genetic study of the vaccine poliovirus reveals how this happens in real time.
Researcher aids in the development of a pathway to solve cybersickness
8dResearchers have evaluated the state of research on cybersickness and formulated a research and development agenda to eliminate cybersickness, allowing for broader adoption of immersive technologies.
Alzheimer's disease drug may help fight against antibiotic resistance
8dAn experimental Alzheimer's disease treatment is proving effective at treating some of the most persistent, life-threatening antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Researchers have discovered that the drug called PBT2 is effective at disrupting and killing a class of bacteria – known as Gram-negative bacteria – that cause infections such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections and meningitis.
Trees and green roofs can help reduce the urban heat island effect
8dAir pollution experts have found that green infrastructure (GI), such as trees, can help reduce temperatures in many of Europe's cities and towns.
Research on environmental history: 330-year-old poplar tree tells of its life
8dSimilar to genetic mutations, epigenetic changes, i.e. gene modifications that do not occur on the primary DNA sequence, sometimes arise accidentally in plants and can be transmitted across generations. Using trees as a model, researchers have now shown for the first time that these so-called epimutations accumulate continuously throughout plant development, and that they can be employed as a mole
Overlæge: Oplagt at inddrage almen praksis i screening for lungekræft
8dI stedet for at lægge hele røntgenafdelinger ned med en national screening for lungekræft bør vi først indsnævre målgruppen. Her er de praktiserende læger en oplagt samarbejdspartner, lyder det fra Erik Jakobsen, leder af det lungekirurgiske afsnit på OUH.
Letting Covid-19 circulate in hope of herd immunity 'could make it more lethal'
8dStudy says efforts to prevent spread of disease, such as social distancing, reduce virulence Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage A deeply entrenched idea, that newly emerged agents of disease inevitably evolve to become more benign over time, is scientifically unfounded, according to new research. They can, in fact, become more virulent depending on the conditions, and t
Coronavirus is evolving. Whether it gets deadlier or not may depend on us | Laura Spinney
8dThere's now evidence that ignoring social distancing rules could help more lethal strains of Covid-19 to win out Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Letting the virus that causes Covid-19 circulate more-or-less freely is dangerous not only because it risks overwhelming hospitals and so endangering lives unnecessarily, but also because it could delay the evolution of the
We Sometimes Missed the Boat–and Bridge
8dEinstein wrote for this publication, as did some non-Einsteins — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Covid could change our tolerance of flu deaths
8dShould we be locking down each winter to protect the thousands of casualties of influenza?
New US jobless claims pick up as coronavirus cases rise
8dFigure increases for first time in five weeks as latest restrictions on economic activity take hold
Status på støttefri sol i Danmark: Kun 236 MW fordelt på 14 anlæg
8dPLUS. Mens en voldsom pipeline på op imod 16 GW solcelleanlæg lurer i horisonten, er bølgen endnu ikke for alvor skyllet ind over Danmark, viser tal fra Energistyrelsen. Samlet er der tilsluttet støttefrie anlæg for 236 MW fordelt på 14 anlæg.
New wireless chip shines a light on brain function
8dA new surgically-implanted wireless chip can read neural signals and stimulate the brain with both light and electrical current, researchers say. The developers designed the technology, which they demonstrated successfully in rats, for use as a research tool. "Our goal was to create a research tool that can be used to help us better understand the behavior of different regions of the brain, parti
UK faces calls to drop opposition to patent-free Covid vaccines
8dRequest will be made at WTO meeting in order to allow mass production of treatments Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The UK will be asked to reconsider its opposition to waiving intellectual property rights for Covid-19 vaccines and treatments at a World Trade Organization meeting on Friday, a move that would allow mass production of treatments and inoculations agains
A New Generation of Autonomous Vessels Is Looking to Catch Illegal Fishers
8dA design challenge has tech companies racing to build a robot that can police illegal fishing in marine protected areas
'Oasis effect' in urban parks could contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, ASU study finds
8dFollowing a year of on-site analyses at a Phoenix-area park, hydrologist Enrique Vivoni of Arizona State University identified that the park showed what meteorologists call the "oasis effect," a microclimate that is cooler than a surrounding dry area due to the evaporation of a water source.
Team solves mystery behind oysters and bubbly combo
8dResearchers have come up with a scientific explanation for why some people consider oysters and champagne the perfect pairing. "The answer is to be found in the so-called umami taste, which along with sweet and salty, is one of the five basic flavors detectable to human taste buds. Many people associate umami with the flavor of meat. But now, we have discovered that it is also found in both oyste
Nye amerikanske guidelines ved behandling af leddegigt
8dAmerican College of Rheumatology har lavet signifikante ændringer i deres guidelines for behandling af leddegigt.
A new understanding of ionic interactions with graphene and water
8dNew findings could inform design of environmental technologies behind water purification processes and electric energy storage.
The mission to decipher a mysterious aerosol layer above Himalayan monsoon clouds
8dFor Stephan Borrmann, a day of high altitude detective work begins early. He wakes at about 05:30am in a hotel in the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal. After a quick breakfast, he and his team are driven to the city's airport. Their job is to prepare a converted Russian espionage plane so that it can investigate one of the biggest mysteries of the atmosphere.
A 2-D perspective: Stacking materials to realize a low power consuming future
8dScientists have designed a 2-D material-based multi-stacked structure comprising tungsten disulfide (WS2) layer sandwiched between hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) layers that displays long-range interaction between successive WS2 layers with potential for reducing circuit design complexity and power consumption.
Waste milk could be used to reduce power plant carbon dioxide emissions
8dClarkson University research, which shows how surplus milk may be used to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from fossil‐fuel based power plant emissions, is featured on the front cover of the November issue of Advanced Sustainable Systems.
Can animals use iridescent colors to communicate?
8dA new paper from the University of Melbourne reveals how animals use beautiful but unreliable iridescent colors as communication signals. Special adaptations enable animals to control how these shifting colors appear so that they can convey reliable information. The new work now published in Trends in Ecology and Evolution draws together studies from across the animal kingdom to discover how anima
3-D-printed glass enhances optical design flexibility
8dLawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers have used multi-material 3-D printing to create tailored gradient refractive index glass optics that could make for better military specialized eyewear and virtual reality goggles.
Near-infrared probe decodes telomere dynamics
8dA new synthetic probe offers a safe and straightforward approach for visualizing chromosome tips in living cells. The probe was designed by scientists at the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Science (iCeMS) and colleagues at Kyoto University, and could advance research into aging and a wide range of diseases, including cancers. The details were published in the Journal of the American Chemic
Can animals use iridescent colors to communicate?
8dA new paper from the University of Melbourne reveals how animals use beautiful but unreliable iridescent colors as communication signals. Special adaptations enable animals to control how these shifting colors appear so that they can convey reliable information. The new work now published in Trends in Ecology and Evolution draws together studies from across the animal kingdom to discover how anima
Chromatin regulation enables generation of diverse antibodies
8dWe need a variety of antibody types to help fight off invading foreign pathogens and our genome is exquisitely tuned to produce them to meet emerging needs. A new study finds that not just our DNA, but its configuration and packaging, help us generate diverse antibodies.
Chromatin regulation enables generation of diverse antibodies
8dWe need a variety of antibody types to help fight off invading foreign pathogens and our genome is exquisitely tuned to produce them to meet emerging needs. A new study finds that not just our DNA, but its configuration and packaging, help us generate diverse antibodies.
Near-infrared probe decodes telomere dynamics
8dA new synthetic probe offers a safe and straightforward approach for visualizing chromosome tips in living cells. The probe was designed by scientists at the Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Science (iCeMS) and colleagues at Kyoto University, and could advance research into aging and a wide range of diseases, including cancers. The details were published in the Journal of the American Chemic
Flame on! How AI may tame a complex materials technique and transform manufacturing
8dCreating nanomaterials with flame spray pyrolysis is complex, but scientists at Argonne have discovered how applying artificial intelligence can lead to an easier process and better performance.
Entropy production gets a system update
8dNature is not homogenous. Most of the universe is complex and composed of various subsystems—self-contained systems within a larger whole. Microscopic cells and their surroundings, for example, can be divided into many different subsystems: the ribosome, the cell wall, and the intracellular medium surrounding the cell.
Scientists propose machine learning method for 2-D material spectroscopy
8dMachine learning is an important branch in the field of artificial intelligence. Its basic idea is to build a statistical model based on data and use the model to analyze and predict the data. With the rapid development of big data technology, data-driven machine learning algorithms have begun to flourish in various fields of materials research.
New trilobite fossil reveals cephalic specialization of trilobites in Middle Cambrian
8dTrilobites achieved their maximum genetic diversity in the Cambrian. However, unlike this diversity measure, the morphological disparity of trilobites based on cranidial outline reached the peak in the Middle to Late Ordovician.
Solar radiation accelerates carbon cycle process of temperate forest ecosystems
8dLitter decomposition is critical for carbon (C) cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Sunlight, as the essential energy for the biogeochemical cycling, can directly break down natural organic matter and accelerate decomposition through photodegradation. However, the role of photodegradation in litter decomposition has been neglected especially in productive mesic ecosystems, where litter is exposed t
Researchers describe previously unknown mechanism for inducing electron emission in highly oriented pyrolitic graphite
8dIt is something quite common in physics: Electrons leave a certain material, fly away and are then measured. Some materials emit electrons when they are irradiated with light. These electrons are called photoelectrons. In materials research, so-called Auger electrons also play an important role—they can be emitted by atoms if an electron is first removed from one of the inner electron shells. But
Americans Got Tired of Looking Bad on Zoom
8dIn the mid-2000s, news anchors found themselves with a problem: They didn't look so hot anymore. Their real-life visages hadn't changed, but the technology that beamed them into millions of households had outpaced their faces' ability to keep up. High-definition cameras proliferated, as did the enormous HDTVs that render blemishes, pancake makeup, and flyaways in larger-than-life detail. Local ne
Solar radiation accelerates carbon cycle process of temperate forest ecosystems
8dLitter decomposition is critical for carbon (C) cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Sunlight, as the essential energy for the biogeochemical cycling, can directly break down natural organic matter and accelerate decomposition through photodegradation. However, the role of photodegradation in litter decomposition has been neglected especially in productive mesic ecosystems, where litter is exposed t
Backing up a trailer is really hard, but this $100,000 SUV offers a new solution
8dGetting a trailer into spots like these can be tricky, but new tech helps. (Dan Carney/) If you've ever tried it, you know: Backing up a car with a trailer behind it is very, very hard. But recently, we tested a new solution from Lincoln: a $100,000 Lincoln Navigator Black Label that features Pro Trailer Backup Assist technology. We rented a camping trailer via Outdoorsy.com to accompany it, so w
An Enormous Iceberg Is Headed for South Georgia Island—Again
8dIf they collide, it could cause big problems for breeding penguins and seals by cutting off their access to the open sea.
Batch's Trusty E-Bike Won't Let You Down
8dThis Bosch-powered electric bike doesn't look as elegant as its competitors, but it's more affordable and reliable.
Watch Dogs: Legion Tackles Dystopia—That It's a Part Of
8dDeveloper Ubisoft points the finger at the underlying causes in the game, but stops short of naming and shaming. Because it'd have to shame itself, too.
This GOP Lawmaker Denounced QAnon—and Fears for His Party
8d"There's a lot larger percentage in the Republican Party who believe there's a deep state coup or cabal than people might think."
In the lab, scientists identify possible COVID-19 treatment
8dImmunologists have determined the process driving life-threatening inflammation, lung damage and organ failure in patients with COVID-19, sepsis and other inflammatory disorders suggesting possible treatment using existing drugs.
A new understanding of ionic interactions with graphene and water
8dNew findings could inform design of environmental technologies behind water purification processes and electric energy storage.
The COVID Cold Chain: How a Vaccine Will Get to You
8dA vaccine logistics expert explains how millions of frozen vials will be widely distributed — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Hospitals, Health Care Workers Issue a Call to Arms for Wearing Masks
8dWith the pandemic raging in the U.S., a new ad campaign features frontline medical personnel pleading for everyone to mask up.
The COVID Cold Chain: How a Vaccine Will Get to You
8dA vaccine logistics expert explains how millions of frozen vials will be widely distributed — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
How Human Brain Works ?? ( How exactly is Human Brain organised )
8dsubmitted by /u/thoughtctrl_official [link] [comments]
Benefits of Disagreement?
8dAre there academic sources anyone can recommend on the potential relationship benefits of conversational disagreement? submitted by /u/cm_kitschklock [link] [comments]
The last 500 mSec
8dWhat process in the brain allows us to be 'in the moment'. How is it that I can remember the last keystroke entered as I type this line? It can't be LTP or Hebbian learning these take far too long. submitted by /u/JamesFBrown [link] [comments]
In this Video ThoughtCtrl brings to you answers to questions like What is Consciousness and what is the Science behind Consciousness. Study of Consciousness is explained in psychology with help of research work done by David Chalmers, John Searle, Dan Dennett and Roger Penrose.
8dsubmitted by /u/thoughtctrl_official [link] [comments]
Farming Mars
8dIt is possible that sometime this century the first human will set foot on Mars. If this happens it is then likely that those humans that do will want to stay there for a while. It takes between 150-300 days to get to Mars with current technology (depending on launch and vehicle variables), unlike the three days it takes to get to the Moon. Perhaps before we try to get to Mars we will have nuclea
Daily briefing: Pfizer–BioNTech COVID vaccine works for high-risk groups
8dNature, Published online: 18 November 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-03273-6 The Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine is highly effective across racial groups and in people over 65. Plus, trapped-ion systems heat up the quantum-computing race and why some vaccines have to be kept ultracold.
Rapport: Renovering er både billigere og grønnere end nybyggeri
8dPLUS. Renoveringer udleder mindre CO2 og har lavere omkostninger over en bygnings levetid sammenlignet med nedrivning og nybyggeri, konkluderer Rambøll.
Mange unge mænd ignorerer corona-regler: Tager gerne til fest med over 10 personer
8dMænd er mere risikovillige, når det handler om corona, siger mandeforsker.
Stirling pupils' penguin project pays off after new colony discovered
8dThe Stirling High School students used satellite imagery and computer software to search for the birds.
Uncovering the hidden side of storms: France's Taranis satellite to launch in November
8dSprites, elves, jets… few people know that scientists habitually use such other-worldly words to describe transient luminous events or TLEs, light flashes that occur during active storms just a few tens of kilometers over our heads. Few people also know that storms can act as particle accelerators generating very brief bursts of X-rays and gamma rays. But what are the physical processes and mechan
Machine learning yields a breakthrough in the study of stellar nurseries
8dArtificial intelligence can make it possible to see astrophysical phenomena that were previously beyond reach. This has now been demonstrated by scientists from the CNRS, IRAM, Observatoire de Paris-PSL, Ecole Centrale Marseille and Ecole Centrale Lille, working together in the ORION-B program. In a series of three papers published in Astronomy & Astrophysics on 19 November 2020, they present the
A research tool developed to study organelles that give color to skin, hair, and eyes
8dMelanosomes are the organelles, or structures, inside our cells, that produce melanin, the molecule that gives our skin, hair and eyes their color. Melanosomes produce several different forms of melanin, including black/brown coloration and yellow/red coloration, and the many variations in levels at which each coloration can be produced in an individual generate the wide variety of skin, hair, and
The fundamental chemistry behind electrocatalytic water splitting
8dTransitioning to a sustainable energy economy requires electrocatalytic methods to convert electrical energy to chemical energy and feedstocks. A team of researchers from TU Berlin, ETH Zurich, the National Research Council—Institute of Materials of Trieste, and led by the FHI has now uncovered the reaction mechanism of a major bottleneck in these processes, the oxygen evolution reaction. Results
One Man's Search for the DNA Data That Could Save His Life
8dThe genetic correlations that could help Bryce Olson find a drug that works against his cancer are a scattered mess. Why don't we have a better system for analyzing this kind of information?
How a Medication for OCD Ended Up in a Covid-19 Trial
8dIn a small study, the drug kept patients with mild symptoms from worsening. If it holds up in a larger test, it could help keep more people out of hospitals.
When AI Sees a Man, It Thinks 'Official.' A Woman? 'Smile'
8dA new paper renews concerns about bias in image recognition services offered by Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.
Early Black Friday Deals You'll Want to Snag Now
8dYou don't have to wait until the day after Thanksgiving—or leave your house—to get in on these discounts.
Are Covid Patients Gasping 'It Isn't Real' As They Die?
8dAn ER nurse's anecdote of deranged denialism went viral. But when the media caught wind of the story, reporters didn't do their jobs.
A research tool developed to study organelles that give color to skin, hair, and eyes
8dMelanosomes are the organelles, or structures, inside our cells, that produce melanin, the molecule that gives our skin, hair and eyes their color. Melanosomes produce several different forms of melanin, including black/brown coloration and yellow/red coloration, and the many variations in levels at which each coloration can be produced in an individual generate the wide variety of skin, hair, and
Going beyond the anti-laser may enable long-range wireless power transfer
8dEver since Nikola Tesla spewed electricity in all directions with his coil back in 1891, scientists have been thinking up ways to send electrical power through the air. The dream is to charge your phone or laptop, or maybe even a healthcare device such as a pacemaker, without the need for wires and plugs. The tricky bit is getting the electricity to find its intended target, and getting that targe
New understanding of mobility paves way for tomorrow's transport systems
8dIn recent years, big data sets from mobile phones have been used to provide increasingly accurate analyses of how we all move between home, work and leisure, holidays and everything else. The strength of basing analyses on mobile phone data is that they provide accurate data on when, how, and how far each individual moves without any particular focus on whether they are passing geographical bounda
Research team pushes back the boundaries of high-energy laser pulses
8dUsing the Advanced Laser Light Source (ALLS) facility, the research team of Professor François Légaré of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) has pushed back the boundaries of high-energy pulse propagation in a nonlinear medium through the observation of high-energy multidimensional solitary states. This breakthrough allows the direct generation of extremely short and intense,
Your Tears Might Save Your Life Someday
8dThey could ultimately be used to find diseases the way blood tests do now—but cheaper and more easily — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Social isolation during COVID-19 pandemic linked with high blood pressure
8dLockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with an increase in high blood pressure among patients admitted to emergency. That's the finding of a study presented at the 46th Argentine Congress of Cardiology (SAC). SAC 2020 is a virtual meeting during 19 to 21 November. Faculty from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) will participate in joint scientific sessions with the Argentine Soc
Politiet i Los Angeles forbyder brug af kommerciel ansigtsgenkendelse
8dLos Angeles Police Department har lavet et forbud mod, at dets medarbejdere bruger kommercielle teknologier til ansigtsgenkendelse. Det sker efter afsløringen af, at ansatte har lavet hundredevis af søgninger i det omstridte Clearview AI.
Taiwan holder alle F-16-fly på jorden efter at ét er sporløst forsvundet
8dTo minutter efter, at et taiwanesisk F-16-fly lettede fra flyvestationen i Hualien, forsvandt det fra radaren. Taiwans regering har efterfølgende grounded alle F-16-fly, alt imens den kinesiske indtrængen eskalerer.
New Space Weather Network Extends over Africa
8dSensors will monitor solar emissions that threaten GPS and radio signals — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Svenskt instrument med på resan till Jupiters isiga månar
8dSvenska partikelsensorer ska mäta partiklar omkring Jupiter och dess tre isiga månar Europa, Callisto och Ganymedes. Forskare hoppas att mätningarna ska ge svar på om det finns förutsättningar till liv under de frusna hav som finns på månarna. Mätinstrumentet Particle Environment Package, PEP, ska hjälpa forskarna vid Institutet för rymdfysik, IRF, att förstå hur tre av Jupiters isiga månar påver
Fra rekordår til corona-år i it-branchen: »Vi sad på en vækstraket«
8dDet gik lige så godt, men en virus inficerede den eksplosive vækst i it-branchen. Jagten på it-specialister er dog langtfra afblæst.
Sedentary Pandemic Life Is Bad for Our Happiness
8d" How to Build a Life " is a biweekly column by Arthur Brooks, tackling questions of meaning and happiness. O ne of the words I've seen used most often to describe life during the coronavirus pandemic is standstill . It's often in reference to the economy, but it could just as well describe our state of physical inactivity. For millions, life suddenly became very sedentary: Walking to the office
Trump Has Abdicated in the Face of Disaster
8dAlmost a quarter million Americans have died from COVID-19. Some 77,000 are now hospitalized, about a fifth of those in the ICU. The country has been reporting roughly 150,000 cases a day for a week, and the numbers seem likely to rise . Hospitals, and the people who work in them, are overwhelmed . The pandemic has been a catastrophe for months, but it seems to be reaching its worst moment in the
How Xi Jinping Blew It
8dLike Neville Chamberlain's appeasement of Adolf Hitler or George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq, Chinese President Xi Jinping has just had an epic foreign-policy failure—he just doesn't appear to have realized it yet. Through four years of Donald Trump's presidency, Xi had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to significantly, and perhaps permanently, expand Chinese influence around the world at America'
To beat Covid-19 will take far more than a new vaccine
8dWinning the fight requires globally co-ordinated distribution systems and health campaigns
Publisher infected twice with the same anti-vaccine article
8dResearchers who lost a paper derided by critics as anti-vaccine have republished their article in a different journal … owned by the same publisher (hint: rhymes with "smells of beer"). As we reported in April 2019, the original article version of "Cognition and behavior in sheep repetitively inoculated with aluminum adjuvant-containing vaccines or aluminum adjuvant … Continue reading
It might not always take years to develop vaccines
8dA patient gets a swine flu vaccine through a jet injector in 1976. (CDC/) Before vaccines, physicians would blow smallpox scabs up people's noses or stab them with pus-laced needles to build up their resistance to the virus. It usually worked: Patients would feed mildly ill, then grow immune. But because the pathogen was still living inside them, they could spread it to others. By the 1930s, medi
'Blood, sweat and tears': Building a network for Black scientists
8dNature, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-03279-0 The UK BBSTEM initiative hopes that helping Black researchers to connect and support one another professionally will boost their representation in academia and industry.
Baltic Pipe gravede mellem muslinger og ålegræs: "Burde ikke havde været godkendt"
8dPLUS. Energinet fastholder, at projektets følsomhed over for strøm og vejrforhold gjorde det nødvendigt at anlægge gasledningen midt i planternes vækstsæson.
Diabetescenter udvikler brætspil til kompetenceudvikling
8dFor at kompetenceudvikle medarbejdere og plejepersonale i Region Sjælland har Steno Diabetes Center Sjælland udviklet et brætspil, der skal gøre læringen både sjov og lærerig.
Tarmhormoner kopplas till åderförkalkning
8dTyp 2-diabetes behandlas i dag med inkretinhormoner för att minska risken för hjärtkärlsjukdomar och andra risker som kommer med sjukdomen. Forskare från Lunds universitet sett nya samband mellan inkretinhormonerna GIP och GLP-1 och åderförkalkning. Inkretinhormonerna GIP och GLP-1 utsöndras från tarmen när man äter och stimulerar insulinutsöndring i bukspottkörteln, vilket bidrar till att blodso
In a Shifting Pandemic, Can Clinical Practice Keep Up?
8dWhen Covid-19 emerged, the prevailing view was that immune-weakening drugs, prescribed to millions of Americans with autoimmune disease, would diminish the body's ability to stave off infection. As a growing body of work calls that conventional wisdom into question, will clinicians adapt their messaging?
UN climate chief: pledges by big polluters boost Paris hopes
8dThe U.N.'s climate chief says deadlines set by some of the world's top polluters to end greenhouse gas emissions, along with president-elect Joe Biden's pledge to take the United States back into the Paris accord, have boosted hopes of meeting the pact's ambitious goals.
Forskere sætter menneskers bevægelsesmønstre på ny formel
8dForskere ved DTU og KU har udviklet en model, som både giver ny viden om mobilitet og bygger bro…
One in four older refugees are in psychological distress — even decades after resettlement
8dA new study of Canadians aged 45-85, released this week in the International Journal ofSocial Psychiatry, found that 24% of refugees were in psychological distress compared to 13% of non-refugee immigrants and those born in Canada.
Food, housing insecurities may delay breast cancer diagnosis
8dWomen who experience food or housing insecurity may be at risk for undiagnosed breast cancer due to lapses in follow-up appointments, according to research being presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
The effect of dragon-kings on the estimation of scaling law parameters
8dScientific Reports, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77232-6
Multiple-beam and double-mode staggered double vane travelling wave tube with ultra-wide band
8dScientific Reports, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77204-w
Survival outcome and prognostic factors in anaplastic oligodendroglioma: a single-institution study of 95 cases
8dScientific Reports, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77228-2
Portable Raman leaf-clip sensor for rapid detection of plant stress
8dScientific Reports, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-76485-5
Corneal confocal microscopy detects small fibre neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease using automated analysis
8dScientific Reports, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-76768-x
A new fat-dissociation method to detect lymph nodes in colorectal cancer: a prospective randomized study
8dScientific Reports, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77195-8
Lipocalin 2 as a potential systemic biomarker for central serous chorioretinopathy
8dScientific Reports, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77202-y
Results of two consecutive treatment protocols in Polish children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
8dScientific Reports, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-75860-6
Få læger i Region Sjælland bruger video: Lægehuset i Bjæverskov er en undtagelse
8dGratis udstyr og særlige honoreringsaftaler har ikke fået praktiserende læger i Region Sjælland til at foretage videokonsultationer under coronakrisen. Lægehuset i Bjæverskov er en af få undtagelser. Her har konsultationsformen på ét område tilført lægearbejdet en ekstra dimension.
NASA Satellite To Measure Global Sea Level Rise
8dSpace is the best place — maybe the only place — to get a complete picture of how climate change is affecting the Earth's oceans. And what happens in the ocean does not stay in the ocean. (Image credit: NASA)
COVID-19 Denial Still Rampant In Some Coronavirus Hot Spots
8dEfforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus are being hampered because many people don't believe it's real. "It's absolute garbage," said Craig Mann of Flathead County in northwest Montana. (Image credit: Robert F. Bukaty/AP)
15 years of genome-wide association studies and no signs of slowing down
8dNature Communications, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-19653-5 Over the past 15 years, genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have generated a wealth of new information. Larger samples sizes, refined phenotypes and higher-resolution genome-screens will continue to drive gene discovery in years ahead. Meanwhile, GWAS loci are increasingly translated into new biology and
Time-resolved in situ visualization of the structural response of zeolites during catalysis
8dNature Communications, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-19728-3 Study of structural inhomogeneities in zeolites is important but limited by conventional techniques. Here the authors employ in situ free-electron-laser-based time-resolved coherent X-ray diffraction imaging to visualize the effect of these inhomogeneities during catalytic deoxygenation of NOx.
A possible route towards dissipation-protected qubits using a multidimensional dark space and its symmetries
8dNature Communications, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-19646-4 To design and manipulate qubits, it is necessary to engineer multidimensional non-equilibrium steady states immune to decoherence in an open system. Here the authors devise a symmetry-based framework to create such non-equilibrium steady states showing characteristics of degenerate vacua of a unitary topolog
Enhanced CAR-T activity against established tumors by polarizing human T cells to secrete interleukin-9
8dNature Communications, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-19672-2 Antigen-specific IL9-secreting CD4 Th9 and CD8 Tc9 cells have been previously characterized for their anti-tumour properties. Here, the authors show that ex vivo polarized Th9/Tc9 human CAR-T cells display increased anti-tumor activity in pre-clinical haematological and solid cancer models compared to conven
Locomotion in virtual environments predicts cardiovascular responsiveness to subsequent stressful challenges
8dNature Communications, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-19736-3 People differ in their susceptibility to stressors, but it is difficult to know a priori who has a higher vulnerability. Here, the authors show that machine learning algorithms applied to locomotor data from people's exploration of virtual reality scenarios predicts heart rate variability to stress.
PCM1 is necessary for focal ciliary integrity and is a candidate for severe schizophrenia
8dNature Communications, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-19637-5 The role of ciliary/centriolar components in the postnatal brain is unclear. Here, the authors show via ablation of Pcm1 in mice that degenerative ciliary/centriolar phenotypes induce neuroanatomical and behavioral changes. Sequencing of PCM1 in human cohorts and zebrafish in vivo complementation suggests PC
Cryo-electron microscopy structures of pyrene-labeled ADP-Pi- and ADP-actin filaments
8dNature Communications, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-19762-1 For almost forty years, N-(1-pyrene) iodoacetamide has been used to label actin at C374, but the mechanisms of the fluorescence changes are still unknown due to the lack of structural information. Here authors provide cryo-EM structures of actin filaments with N-1-pyrene conjugated to cysteine 374 and either
Proton-enabled activation of peptide materials for biological bimodal memory
8dNature Communications, Published online: 19 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-19750-5 The structural programmability and functionality of peptide materials can be leverage for various next-generation devices such as non-volatile memories. The authors report a proton-coupled mechanism in tyrosine-rich peptides for realizing multimodal memory devices.
Asia's biggest climate migration
8dOn May 20, Super Cyclone Amphan was expected to make landfall in the Indian state of West Bengal. That morning, as the wind picked up, Mitali Mondol and her husband, Animesh, fled their house, leaving behind everything they owned. The Mondols live in Gosaba, an island in the Sundarbans, an archipelago that is home to the world's largest mangrove forest. They knew of only one flood shelter. It was
Børnehavebørn gik rundt i asbeststøv i dagevis
8dPLUS. Vuggestue- og børnehavebørn i Albertslund har i dagevis gået op og ned af en asbestsanering uden ordentlig afskærmning. Kommunen har fyret entreprenøren, men det er endnu uklart, hvem der har ansvaret.
Kingfisher expects £175m profits boost from 'temporary cost savings'
8dSavings include government support schemes during the pandemic as DIY chain reports strong sales growth
Stärkt bild av hur tarmbakterier kan påverka diabetesutveckling
8dEn persons tarmmikrobiota, det vill säga mag– tarmkanalens bakterieflora kan kopplas till nivåerna av den molekyl, imidasolpropionat, som gör kroppens celler döva för insulin vid typ 2-diabetes och förstadier till sjukdomen. Den europeiska studien befäster den forskning som leds av Fredrik Bäckhed, professor i molekylärmedicin vid Göteborgs universitet där man tidigare har påvisat att diabetesutv
Rekordflygning för fladdermöss
8dTrollpipistrel Pipistrellus nathusii är en fladdermus som förekommer sparsamt i vårt land. Den är en av de minsta arterna på våra breddgrader, en vuxen individ väger runt 10 gram. Gråsparven väger 20–40 gram, som en jämförelse.
Los Angeles and Google partner on 'Tree Canopy' project
8dLos Angeles and Google have struck a partnership to track canopy density in the huge metropolis to determine which neighborhoods need more trees as a means of fighting extreme temperatures.
Storm Iota leaves over 30 dead in Central America
8dIota's death toll rose to over 30 on Wednesday after the storm unleashed mudslides, smashed infrastructure and left thousands homeless in its wake across Central America, revisiting areas devastated by Hurricane Eta just two weeks ago.
Konfucius og hans tanker er fundamentet under kinesisk kultur
8dDen kinesiske tænker Konfucius kan i betydning sammenlignes med Jesus, Muhammad eller Buddha. Han…
Air pollution costs Utahns billions annually and shortens life expectancy by two years
8dAir pollution has been a problem in Utah since before the territory was officially recognized as a state. The mountain valleys of this high elevation region are particularly vulnerable to the buildup of air pollution from vehicles, household heating and power production. Together with high per-capita energy use, this has resulted in periods of poor air quality. However, with so many types of pollu
Synthesis study demonstrates phytoplankton can bloom below Arctic sea ice
8dSmall photosynthetic marine algae are a key component of the Arctic marine ecosystem but their role for the ecology of the Arctic Ocean have been underestimated for decades. That's the conclusion of a team of scientists who synthesized more than half a century of research about the occurrence, magnitude and composition of phytoplankton blooms under Arctic sea ice. The results were published in a s
Mining and megaprojects emerge as alarming threat to tropical forests and biodiversity
8dA new study assessing progress on global efforts to end forest loss worldwide offers the most comprehensive overview to date of the large role that infrastructure and mining play in tropical deforestation, now and in the future. The study finds that an increasing number of megaprojects—massive and complex development projects that may combine transportation, energy and other infrastructure—planned
Centrale aktører: Sådan skal power-to-x bringes på skinner i Danmark
8dPLUS. Nyt forslag opfordrer myndighederne til at kickstarte en dansk PtX-industri med tilskud, den rette regulering og etablering af nødvendige infrastruktur. Energiprofessor roser udspil.
Author Correction: Evaluation of uttroside B, a saponin from Solanum nigrum Linn, as a promising chemotherapeutic agent against hepatocellular carcinoma
8dScientific Reports, Published online: 18 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77440-0
Author Correction: A Silurian ancestral scorpion with fossilised internal anatomy illustrating a pathway to arachnid terrestrialisation
8dScientific Reports, Published online: 18 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77333-2
Conversion of levoglucosan into glucose by the coordination of four enzymes through oxidation, elimination, hydration, and reduction
8dScientific Reports, Published online: 18 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77133-8
Clinical usefulness of high levels of C-reactive protein for diagnosing epithelial ovarian cancer
8dScientific Reports, Published online: 18 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77167-y
Precise nanoscale temperature mapping in operational microelectronic devices by use of a phase change material
8dScientific Reports, Published online: 18 November 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-77021-1
Oxford Covid vaccine trial confirms encouraging results for the elderly
8dJab generates strong immune response but data awaited on how well it protects against the disease
These Items in Your Home Are Harming America's Sea Animals
8dA new report examines how plastic waste affects marine wildlife.
Hjälp behövs redan innan minnet sviktar
8dKognitiva sjukdomar är samlingsnamnet på en mängd sjukdomar som drabbar hjärnan och förstör förmågan att tänka och agera logiskt där Alzheimers sjukdom är vanligast. Vid Lunds universitet forskar professor Oskar Hansson och hans kollegor för att hitta metoder som förbättrar diagnostiken såväl som livskvaliteten för personer med kognitiva sjukdomar.
Oxford Covid vaccine could build immunity in older people – study
8dOxford Covid Vaccine
Phase 2 trial data shows strong immune response in over-70s and better tolerance in older adults Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The University of Oxford is expected to release data on the efficacy of its coronavirus vaccine candidate in the coming weeks, with the latest trial results suggesting it produces a strong immune response in older adults. The ChAdOx1 nCov-2
The Lancet: Phase 2 trial of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine in healthy older adults finds it is safe and provokes immune response
8dThe UK's vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 shows similar safety and immunogenicity results in healthy older adults (aged 56 years and over) to those seen in adults aged 18-55 years. The promising early stage results are published in The Lancet .
Long Covid: overlap emerges with ME – including debate over treatment
8dAs more people suffer lasting symptoms from Covid including fatigue, ME patient advocates fear they will get bad advice Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Six weeks after contracting Covid-19 in April, Dr Amy Small felt well enough to attempt a walk around Holyrood park in Edinburgh with her young family. Her kids wanted to climb Arthur's Seat – the craggy hill at its c
Få söker vård för hög alkoholkonsumtion
8dEn av tio svenskar dricker för mycket alkohol, men få söker hjälp – trots att det i dag finns bra, korta behandlingar utan nykterhetstvång. Förklaringen är ett antal missuppfattningar om alkoholproblematik, menar experter.
Nya t-banan ska utrymmas med hiss – testas i VR
8d"Viktigt meddelande! En brand har utbrutit i tunnelbanan. Vi ber alla att lämna stationen omedelbart." Rösten i högtalaren upprepar budskapet medan du skyndar mot utgången. Valet står mellan att ta hissen eller trapporna. – Bara en av 32 försökspersoner tog hissen. Resten tog trapporna, säger Axel Mossberg, brandskyddskonsult och forskare inom brandskydd på Lunds universitet.
NHS assembles army of staff for mass coronavirus vaccinations
8dExclusive: Retired doctors, district nurses and physios recruited to administer jab in England's biggest programme of its kind Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The NHS is bringing together an army of retired doctors, health visitors and physiotherapists to embark on the country's biggest ever mass vaccination programme, the Guardian has learned. The extraordinary effo
FDA and FTC issue more warning letters citing products and services making illegal COVID claims
8dThe FDA and FTC have issued hundreds of warnings to companies selling products and services claiming, without adequate evidence, that they can prevent or treat COVID-19, but the possibility of government action doesn't seem to be a deterrence. The post first appeared on Science-Based Medicine .
8d
Study of hope and optimism: New paper examines research in emerging fields
8dA new paper published by the John Templeton Foundation explores the latest scientific and philosophical research on the related but distinct virtues of hope and optimism. The 45-page white paper, written by Michael Milona, a philosophy professor at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada, examines findings on the benefits and risks involved in both hope and optimism. It examines projects by more tha
An INRS research team pushes back the boundaries of high-energy laser pulses
8dUsing the Advanced Laser Light Source (ALLS) facility, the research team of Professor François Légaré of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) has pushed back the boundaries of high-energy pulse propagation in a nonlinear medium through the observation of high-energy multidimensional solitary states (MDSS). This breakthrough allows the direct generation of extremely short and i
Commentary: Want to understand health disparities? Get your antiracist goggles on
8dHow do we shrink persistent racial health disparities, especially among children? Dell Medical School's Elizabeth Matsui says it starts by applying an antiracistblueprint to guide the way we fund, evaluate and disseminate research.
Synthesis study demonstrates phytoplankton can bloom below Arctic sea ice
8dResearchers used historical scientific studies, along with contemporary observations employing autonomous floats and robotic vehicles, to demonstrate that phytoplankton blooms occur under Arctic Ocean sea ice. Previously, scientists had assumed that was impossible due to low-light conditions, particularly when ice cover was thicker before climate change. The synthesis of more than half a century o
Drug eases recovery for those with severe alcohol withdrawal
8dYale scientists say a drug originally developed to treat high blood pressure can reduce severe withdrawal symptoms for patients diagnosed with alcohol use disorder.
From the archive: an interview with Nobel laureate Sir Roger Penrose (part 2) – podcast
8dThe second part of Ian Sample's 2016 interview with Prof Sir Roger Penrose, which includes a quantum theory of consciousness and the age-old question of whether mathematics is invented or discovered Listen to the first part of the conversation here . We'll be back next week with two new episodes – see you then! Continue reading…
Finland's PM warns populists will prosper if Covid is not controlled
8dSanna Marin fears public could blame governments for closing economies and urges common EU approach
Fod- og ankelkirurger på Hvidovre Hospital undrer sig over få henvisninger
8dHvidovre Hospital får henvist for få med dropfod eller foddeformiteter betinget af neuromuskulære lidelser. Det vurderer overlæger fra hospitalets højt specialiserede fod- og ankelkirurgiske enhed, der ofte kan nå langt med de henviste patienter. 'Send os nogle flere, så kigger vi på dem', lyder opfordringen til det øvrige sundhedsvæsen.
Drop forslag om tvungen tjenestepligt
8dForslaget om tjenestepligt fra Socialdemokratiets side bidrager ikke til uddannelse, men udsætter i stedet unge lægers mulighed for at påbegynde den specialisering, de ønsker. Det har også en konsekvens for de øvrige 38 specialer, som også har brug for speciallæger, skriver KBU-læge Eva Maria Skyum.
Almen praksis har taget ansvar i forhold til reduktion af antibiotika
8dDe praktiserende læger er en stor del af årsagen til, at vi i Danmark næsten er i mål med den nationale handlingsplan for antibiotika. Sorte skyer lurer dog i horisonten.
From the archive: an interview with Nobel laureate Sir Roger Penrose (part 2)
8dThe second part of Ian Sample's 2016 interview with Prof Sir Roger Penrose, which includes a quantum theory of consciousness and the age-old question of whether mathematics is invented or discovered. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod
Impulsiva människor spenderar mer tid på mobilen
8dFlitiga användare av sociala medier och mobilspel föredrar snabba men mindre kickar. Det visar en ny studie som analyserat personlighetsdrag hos ett hundratal mobilanvändare.
De har været i krig i snart 20 år: Hvem vinder slaget om den nye generation af konsoller?
8dPlaystation 5 lignede i lang tid en sikker vinder, men nu ligger Xbox lunt i svinget, vurderer ekspert.
Klimarådet: Vi kan vådlægge over fire gange mere lavbundsjord, end regeringen foreslår
8d170.000 hektarer lavbundsjorder kan bringe os en femtedel af vejen til Danmarks CO2 mål.
Moment meteor breaks up off Tasmanian coast captured on ship camera – video
8dThe CSIRO research vessel, Investigator, has captured vision of a meteor breaking up over the ocean off Tasmania's southern coast. The meteor was filmed at 9.21pm AEDT on November 18 on the ship's 24/7 livestream camera. The ship is currently mapping the ocean floor 100km south of Tasmania, near the Huon Marine Park Continue reading…
Covid Indoors: Scrubbing Surfaces Does Little to Mitigate Threat
8dScientists who initially warned about contaminated surfaces now say that the virus spreads primarily through inhaled droplets, and that there is little to no evidence that deep cleaning mitigates the threat indoors.
Wearing Masks to Prevent Coronavirus: Here's What Scientists Know
8dThe accumulating research may be imperfect, and it's still evolving, but the takeaway is simple. Right now, masks are necessary to slow the pandemic.
The Coronavirus Is Airborne Indoors. But We're Still Scrubbing Surfaces.
8dScientists who initially warned about contaminated surfaces now say that the virus spreads primarily through inhaled droplets, and that there is little to no evidence that deep cleaning mitigates the threat indoors.
Topological Weaire-Thorpe models of amorphous matter [Physics]
8dAmorphous solids remain outside of the classification and systematic discovery of new topological materials, partially due to the lack of realistic models that are analytically tractable. Here we introduce the topological Weaire–Thorpe class of models, which are defined on amorphous lattices with fixed coordination number, a realistic feature of covalently…
Dirac cones and chiral selection of elastic waves in a soft strip [Physiology]
8dWe study the propagation of in-plane elastic waves in a soft thin strip, a specific geometrical and mechanical hybrid framework which we expect to exhibit a Dirac-like cone. We separate the low frequencies guided modes (typically 100 Hz for a 1-cm-wide strip) and obtain experimentally the full dispersion diagram. Dirac…
Multiscale structural complexity of natural patterns [Physics]
8dComplexity of patterns is key information for human brain to differ objects of about the same size and shape. Like other innate human senses, the complexity perception cannot be easily quantified. We propose a transparent and universal machine method for estimating structural (effective) complexity of two-dimensional and three-dimensional patterns that…
mGreenLantern: a bright monomeric fluorescent protein with rapid expression and cell filling properties for neuronal imaging [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
8dAlthough ubiquitous in biological studies, the enhanced green and yellow fluorescent proteins (EGFP and EYFP) were not specifically optimized for neuroscience, and their underwhelming brightness and slow expression in brain tissue limits the fidelity of dendritic spine analysis and other indispensable techniques for studying neurodevelopment and plasticity. We hypothesized that…
Methods for correcting inference based on outcomes predicted by machine learning [Statistics]
8dMany modern problems in medicine and public health leverage machine-learning methods to predict outcomes based on observable covariates. In a wide array of settings, predicted outcomes are used in subsequent statistical analysis, often without accounting for the distinction between observed and predicted outcomes. We call inference with predicted outcomes postprediction…
The origin of secondary microseism Love waves [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
8dThe interaction of ocean surface waves produces pressure fluctuations at the seafloor capable of generating seismic waves in the solid Earth. The accepted mechanism satisfactorily explains secondary microseisms of the Rayleigh type, but it does not justify the presence of transversely polarized Love waves, nevertheless widely observed. An explanation for…
Single-molecule and in silico dissection of the interaction between Polycomb repressive complex 2 and chromatin [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
8dPolycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) installs and spreads repressive histone methylation marks on eukaryotic chromosomes. Because of the key roles that PRC2 plays in development and disease, how this epigenetic machinery interacts with DNA and nucleosomes is of major interest. Nonetheless, the mechanism by which PRC2 engages with native-like chromatin…
Structure and regulation of the BsYetJ calcium channel in lipid nanodiscs [Biochemistry]
8dBsYetJ is a bacterial homolog of transmembrane BAX inhibitor-1 motif-containing 6 (TMBIM6) membrane protein that plays a key role in the control of calcium homeostasis. However, the BsYetJ (or TMBIM6) structure embedded in a lipid bilayer is uncharacterized, let alone the molecular mechanism of the calcium transport activity. Herein, we…
Opinion: Standardizing the definition of gene drive [Cell Biology]
8dGene drive has become a hot topic in the popular press and the scientific literature, yet little consensus vocabulary on the subject exists. As members of the gene drive community, we have developed a core set of definitions to help stakeholders discuss the topic and communicate using a common understanding…
Early Mammals Had Social Lives, Too
8dChipmunklike animals that lived among the dinosaurs appear to have been social creatures, which suggests that sociality arose in mammals earlier than scientists thought. Christopher Intagliata reports.
The Atlantic Daily: A Q&A With Sarah Zhang
8dEvery 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 . Julia Sellmann Prenatal testing gives expecting parents more information—and leaves them with complicated choices. In our new magazine cover story , science reporter Sarah Zhang looks at the case
Countries brace for 'silent tsunami' of antibiotic-resistant infections
8dOver half a century after antibiotics revolutionised medicine, overuse threatens existing treatments while the pipeline of replacements is thin
Brugte mælkekartoner skal indsamles – der er bare ikke modtagere til dem
8dPLUS. Der er lagt op til, at det skal være tilladt at blande fødekartoner med plast- og metalaffaldet i indsamlingen. Det huer absolut ikke Plastindustrien, der er trætte af, at plastaffaldet bliver set som en »skraldespand« for andre fraktioner.
Early Mammals Had Social Lives, Too
8dChipmunklike animals that lived among the dinosaurs appear to have been social creatures, which suggests that sociality arose in mammals earlier than scientists thought. Christopher Intagliata… — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
When Science Was the Best Show in America – Issue 93: Forerunners
8dOn May 29, 1810, Katherine Fritsch, a sister in the Moravian Church, boarded a coach in Lititz, Pennsylvania, along with a group of her friends and began the 75-mile trek to Philadelphia. Fritsch noted in her diary the one city site she most wished to see: Peale's Museum. On the grounds of the museum, whose two buildings sat on State House Square, with rows of trees and manicured lawns, Fritsch p
When Einstein Tilted at Windmills – Issue 93: Forerunners
8dWhen they met, Einstein wasn't Einstein yet. He was just Albert Einstein, a kid, about 17, with a dark cloud of teenage angst and a violin. Michele Besso was older, 23, but a kindred spirit. Growing up in Trieste, Italy he had shown an impressive knack for mathematics, but he was kicked out of high school for insubordination and had to go live with his uncle in Rome. Einstein could relate. At the
The Synchronicity of Wolfgang Pauli and Carl Jung – Issue 93: Forerunners
8dBy the end of 1930, Austrian-born theoretical physicist Wolfgang Pauli was at the height of his achievements, yet an absolute emotional wreck. His brilliant contributions to science—such as the famous exclusion principle that would eventually earn him a Nobel Prize—had cemented his reputation as a genius. Remarkably, it demonstrated, among other consequences, why the electrons in an atom don't al
Early Mammals Had Social Lives, Too
8dChipmunklike animals that lived among the dinosaurs appear to have been social creatures, which suggests that sociality arose in mammals earlier than scientists thought. Christopher Intagliata… — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Confused About Masks? Here's What Scientists Know
8dThe accumulating research may be imperfect, and it's still evolving, but the takeaway is simple. Right now, masks are necessary to slow the pandemic.
Giant virus genomes discovered lurking in DNA of common algae
8dViral stowaways could be enhancing survival of algae, and even their evolution
System can sterilize medical tools using solar heat
8dAutoclaves, which are used to sterilize medical tools, require a steady supply of hot, pressurized steam. Researchers have come up with a way to generate that steam passively, using just the power of sunlight, to help maintain safe, sterile equipment at low cost in remote locations.
Biologists Discover Ancient Microbial Ecosystems Beneath The Dinosaur-Killer Crater
8dLife may have been thriving during one of Earth's most uninhabitable periods.
COP26: Frustrated by delay, young activists stage virtual Mock COP
8dYoung climate activists call for urgent action at Mock COP as Covid delays UN climate talks.
The bull Y chromosome has evolved to bully its way into gametes
8dScientists present the first ever full, high-resolution sequence of the Y chromosome of a Hereford bull. The research, more than a decade in the making, suggests that bulls' Y chromosomes have evolved dozens of copies of the same genes in a selfish attempt to make more males — a move that is countered in the female-determining X chromosome.
Killing cancer naturally: New process to produce compounds with anti-cancer properties
8dScientists have made a breakthrough in the development of potential drugs that can kill cancer cells. They have discovered a method of synthesizing organic compounds that are four times more fatal to cancer cells and leave non-cancerous cells unharmed. Their research can assist in the creation of new anticancer drugs with minimal side effects.
Scientists Discover Outer Space Isn't Pitch-Black After All
8dScientists have used a NASA probe way out in space, beyond Pluto, to measure visible light that's not connected to any known source such as stars or galaxies. (Image credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute)
Coronavirus live news: US hospitals stretched to limits; Pfizer seeks vaccine approval 'in days'
8dNew data shows treatment more efficient than thought; US deaths pass 250,000; Swiss intensive care units at full capacity. Follow the updates Brutal second wave exposes Italy's shortage of intensive care staff 900 employees at top US hospital catch Covid-19 in two weeks Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine 95% effective and safe, further tests show Covid-19 vaccine: who are countries prioritising for first do
Faster detection of photocatalyst-generated oxygen has big implications for clean energy
8dIn the future, hydrogen produced from sunlight and water using photocatalysts could provide a source of clean energy. Researchers have developed a method to detect the oxygen produced from this water-splitting reaction 1000 times faster. This new method can be utilized to improve our understanding of artificial photosynthesis' reaction mechanisms and could contribute towards the development and la
Certain CBD oils no better than pure CBD at inhibiting certain cancer cell lines
8dCannabidiol (CBD) oils are equally or less effective at inhibiting the growth of certain cancer cells compared to pure CBD, according to researchers. The results of their recent study indicate that future research into the clinical applications of cannabinoids should include an analysis of whether the pure cannabinoid compound or intact plant material is more effective at achieving the therapeutic
Study improves ability to predict how whales travel through their ocean habitat
8dScientists recently published a study that could help researchers learn where protections are needed the most for bowhead whales.
A more sensitive way to detect circulating tumor cells
8dBreast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women, and metastasis from the breast to other areas of the body is the leading cause of death in these patients. Detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the bloodstream could help doctors find and treat metastases at an earlier stage, increasing chances of survival. Now, researchers have developed a method that could more sensitively de
Abandoning Big Cities Beats Closing Borders When Fighting Pandemics, Simulation Shows
8dHow movement affects infection.
A more sensitive way to detect circulating tumor cells
8dBreast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women, and metastasis from the breast to other areas of the body is the leading cause of death in these patients. Detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the bloodstream could help doctors find and treat metastases at an earlier stage, increasing chances of survival. Now, researchers have developed a method that could more sensitively de
It's Happening: Pfizer to Apply For Emergency Approval of Their Vaccine 'Within Days'
8dNew analysis shows it's 95% effective.
Fever, aches from Pfizer, Moderna jabs aren't dangerous but may be intense for some
8dPfizer Vaccine 95%
"Take Tylenol and suck it up": side effects show vaccine is working, physicians and researchers say
Researchers identify three drugs as possible therapeutics for COVID-19
8dResearchers have identified three drugs, already approved for other uses in humans, as possible therapeutics for COVID-19, the illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Studies focus on SARS-CoV-2 transmission in domestic cats, pigs
8dTwo recently published studies include important findings related to SARS-CoV-2 transmission and the COVID-19 pandemic: Domestic cats can be asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2, but pigs are unlikely to be significant carriers of the virus.
Technology lets clinicians objectively detect tinnitus for first time
8dA technology called functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) can be used to objectively measure tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, according to a new study.
Pandemic has surprising impacts on public transit demand
8dThe COVID-19 pandemic had surprising effects on demand for public transit in American cities, new research suggests. While demand for public transit dropped about 73 percent across the country after the pandemic hit, the reduction didn't impact all cities equally, according to the study, which analyzed activity data from a widely used public transit navigation app.
Climate change: Warmer winters linked to increased drowning risk
8dRising temperatures are destabilising lake and river ice, boosting the risk of people drowning.
A new material allows this company to 3D print most of a house in a single day
8dThis version of the Mighty Studio starts at $159,000 (Mighty Buildings/) Even when Extreme Home Makeover was still on the air, building most of a house in a single day wasn't feasible. California-based Mighty Buildings , however, has developed a proprietary 3D-printing technology and material that will let it create the curved shell of a 350-square-foot home in roughly 24 hours. How do you print
Q&A: Study Quantifies LGBQ Representation in STEM Degrees, Jobs
8dOne of the first analyses of its kind finds a smaller proportion of men in same-sex couples earn STEM degrees than do men in heterosexual couples. It's a different story for women.
As COVID-19 soars in many communities, schools attempt to find ways through the crisis
8dEarly evidence suggests schools can stay open even in the face of significant community spread
Surprises in 'active' aging
8dAging is a process that affects not only living beings. Many materials, like plastics and glasses, also age — ie they change slowly as their particles try to pack better. Biological materials, such as living tissue, show similar behavior to glasses except that the particles are actual cells with their own propulsion. Researchers used computer simulations to explore the aging behavior of these 'li
What Brining Does to Your Holiday Turkey
8dA food scientist explains why soaking a turkey in a water and salt solution makes it juicier.
Surprises in 'active' aging
8dAging is a process that affects not only living beings. Many materials, like plastics and glasses, also age — ie they change slowly as their particles try to pack better. Biological materials, such as living tissue, show similar behavior to glasses except that the particles are actual cells with their own propulsion. Researchers used computer simulations to explore the aging behavior of these 'li
Community helps scientists evaluate smoke forecasts
8dAcross the Wasatch Front, both researchers and community members maintain enough air quality sensors to provide a high-resolution picture of how the smoke moved through the valley — perfect for testing and refining smoke forecast models.
Antibiotic resistance surveillance tools in Puerto Rican watersheds after Hurricane Maria
8dResearchers have further developed an innovative antibiotic resistance surveillance approach by applying DNA sequencing techniques to detect the spread of disease in watersheds impacted by large-scale storms.
Are high-protein total diet replacements the key to maintaining healthy weight?
8dThe results of a new study suggest that high-protein total diet replacements are a promising nutritional strategy to combat rising rates of obesity. In particular, the study provides further evidence that diets with a higher proportion of protein might offer a metabolic advantage compared to a diet consisting of the same number of calories, but with a lower proportion of protein.
New understanding of mobility paves way for tomorrow's transport systems
8dResearchers at DTU and the University of Copenhagen have developed a ground-breaking model that provides a completely new understanding of our movement patterns. The model can come to play an important role when designing tomorrow's green modes of transport and has just been published in Nature.
Solving a mystery: How the TB bacterium develops rapid resistance to antibiotics
8dThese slow growing bacteria have long puzzled TB researchers with their fairly rapid resistance to antibiotics. Researchers may have been barking up the wrong tree in exploring genetics, because the answer seems to lie in the epigenetic domain.
Tau protein changes in Alzheimer's disease correlate with dementia stage
8dIn new research, Judith Steen, Ph.D. and colleagues at Boston Children's Hospital show for the first time that a pathological form of the tau protein involved in the progression of Alzheimer's disease changes over time due to chemical modifications. Observed in brain tissue from Alzheimer's patients, the modified tau forms correlated with stages of dementia. These discoveries likely mean it will t
Missing the radiological forest for the trees
8dEven experienced radiologists, when looking for one abnormality, can completely miss another. The results, published in Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, show that inattentional blindness can befall even experts.
Cellular pathway of genetic heart disease similar to neurodegenerative disease
8dResearch on a genetic heart disease has uncovered a new and unexpected mechanism for heart failure. This landmark discovery found a correlation between the clumping of RNA-binding proteins long linked to neurodegenerative disease and the aggregates of protein found in the heart tissue of patients with RBM20 dilated cardiomyopathy.
In the lab, St. Jude scientists identify possible COVID-19 treatment
8dImmunologists have determined the process driving life-threatening inflammation, lung damage and organ failure in patients with COVID-19, sepsis and other inflammatory disorders suggesting possible treatment using existing drugs.
Air pollution costs Utahns billions annually and shortens life expectancy by two years
8dThe study estimated that air pollution shortens the life of the average Utahn by around 2 years. And pollution costs Utah's economy around $1.9 billion annually. But many state-level actions, such as increasing vehicle and building efficiency, could reduce air pollution by double-digit percentages while benefitting the economy, the researchers found.
Controversy continues over '13 Reasons Why' and adolescent suicide
8dA new pair of commentaries in PLOS ONE debate a reanalysis of data concerning adolescent suicide and the Netflix series "13 Reasons Why." Although a 2019 study found a contagion effect among boys, an Annenberg Public Policy Center reanalysis concluded that, to the contrary, the series had no clear effect. The author of the reanalysis stands by his work.
Man Seen Shooting Flamethrower on Roof of NYC Bus
8dFury Road Last week, someone climbed on top of an occupied New York City bus and started firing a powerful flamethrower into the air. No one was hurt during the stunt, which NBC reports is currently under police investigation. Investigations began after drone footage of the event surfaced online — and now it seems like the bizarre pyrotechnics are illustrating the convergence point of robotic sur
Tackling food allergies at the source
8dFood allergies cost billions of dollars and cause enormous suffering for people. Researchers are trying to remove the source of food allergies altogether — troublesome proteins made by our favorite crops.
Starved, stuffed and squandered: Consequences of decades of global nutrition transition
8dJust a handful of rice and beans – a part of our world is starved. Hawaiian Pizza and ice-cream – another part of our world is stuffed, throwing away food every day. This gap is likely to worsen, while food waste will increase and pressure on the environment will go up, a new study shows.
Predicting urban water needs
8dNew Stanford research uses Zillow and census data combined with machine learning to identify residential water consumption based on housing characteristics. The approach could help cities better understand water use and design water-efficient communities.
Does air pollution affect mental health later in life?
8dIn a study of women aged 80 years and older, living in locations with higher exposures to air pollution was associated with increased depressive symptoms.
Review examines sexual aggression in mammals
8dA recent review of published studies in non-human mammals examines 'sexual disturbance,' or male behavior towards a female around mating that can be costly for the female — for example, that might inflict physical harm or cause mother-offspring separation.
Machine learning innovation to develop chemical library
8dInnovators are using machine learning models to create new options for drug discovery pipelines. Innovators have introduced chemical reactivity flowcharts to help chemists interpret reaction outcomes using statistically robust machine learning models trained on a small number of reactions.
Could your vacuum be listening to you?
8dA team of researchers demonstrated that popular robotic household vacuum cleaners can be remotely hacked to act as microphones.
New analysis refutes claim that dinosaurs were in decline before asteroid hit
8dNew research suggests that dinosaurs were not in decline before the asteroid hit. The study contradicts previous theories and concludes that had the impact not occurred dinosaurs might have continued to be the dominant group of land animals.
Teaching and complex tools 'evolved together'
8dThe human ability to teach and our use of complex tools may have evolved together, according to new research.
Farms, tables and vast impacts between and beyond
8dNew sustainability science tools show places that have no major stake in the plant-water-eat game end up paying an environmental price.
Upgraded radar can enable self-driving cars to see clearly no matter the weather
8dA new kind of radar could make it possible for self-driving cars to navigate safely in bad weather. Electrical engineers developed a clever way to improve the imaging capability of existing radar sensors so that they accurately predict the shape and size of objects in the scene. The system worked well when tested at night and in foggy conditions.
A Hox paradigm for studying protein evolution
8dIn a new study, researchers have identified a handful of variations in an amino acid sequence critical for retaining the ancestral function of a gene over the course of 600 million years of evolution.
Nasa says landing astronauts on moon by 2024 is unlikely
8dCosts and overruns on key technology have hit schedule of Artemis programme, says report Nasa has said it will be "hard-pressed to land astronauts on the moon by the end of 2024". The assessment by the agency's office of inspector general comes in a report dated 12 November and titled 2020 Report on Nasa's Top Management and Performance Challenges ". Originally, Nasa had been working towards 2028
A playful exploration of gender performance | Jo Michael Rezes
8dFrom the stage to everyday life, theater educator Jo Michael Rezes studies queer identity and the spectrum of gender performance — in its success and failure. Aided by a delightful introduction of campy charm, Rezes explores the freeing potential of playing with gender to better understand ourselves, each other and the spaces we inhabit.
What the data say about asymptomatic COVID infections
8dNature, Published online: 18 November 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-03141-3 People without symptoms can pass on the virus, but estimating their contribution to outbreaks is challenging.
Teaching and complex tools 'evolved together'
8dThe human ability to teach and our use of complex tools may have evolved together, according to new research.
Chromosomes look different than you think
8dIn high school textbooks, human chromosomes are pictured as wonky Xs like two hotdogs jammed together. But those images are far from accurate. "For 90 percent of the time," said Jun-Han Su, "chromosomes don't exist like that."
Study finds opposite-gender mentorships may be more beneficial to female researchers
8dA new study by researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi examined data representing thousands of mentor-protégé relationships and found that mentorship quality predicted the scientific impact of the papers written by protégés—without their mentors—after their mentorship. Significantly, the researchers also found that increasing the proportion of female mentors was associated not only with a reduction in post-m
Small finlets on owl feathers point the way to less aircraft noise
8dA recent research study conducted by City, University of London's Professor Christoph Bruecker and his team has revealed how micro-structured finlets on owl feathers enable silent flight and may show the way forward in reducing aircraft noise in future.
Chromosomes look different than you think
8dIn high school textbooks, human chromosomes are pictured as wonky Xs like two hotdogs jammed together. But those images are far from accurate. "For 90 percent of the time," said Jun-Han Su, "chromosomes don't exist like that."
Pandemic has surprising impacts on public transit demand
8dThe COVID-19 pandemic had surprising effects on demand for public transit in American cities, new research suggests.
The End of the Pandemic Is Now in Sight
8dEditor's Note: The Atlantic is making vital coverage of the coronavirus available to all readers. Find the collection here . F or all that scientists have done to tame the biological world, there are still things that lie outside the realm of human knowledge. The coronavirus was one such alarming reminder, when it emerged with murky origins in late 2019 and found naive, unwitting hosts in the hum
Physicists use computer simulation to investigate aging in living glassy systems
8dAging is a process that affects not only living beings. Many materials, like plastics and glasses, also age—i.e. they change slowly over time as their particles try to pack better—and there are already computer models to describe this. Biological materials, such as living tissue, can show similar behavior to glasses except that the particles are actual cells or bacteria which have their own propul
Oysters produce 3-D structures organised by physical processes
8dScientists from the University of Granada (UGR) have discovered that oysters are capable of producing three-dimensional structures organized by physical (colloidal) processes—the result of which resembles a solid foam—by using a unique technique, similar to that of a 3-D printer. This technique enables them to develop their shell structures sheet-by-sheet, which resolves the problem of limited ext
Study finds sexual lineage plays key role in transgenerational plasticity
8dA new pair of papers published in the Journal of Animal Ecology has shown that sexual lineage matters for how offspring receive adaptations from parents in stickleback fish. Researchers in the Bell lab studied how parents who were exposed to predators passed the behavioral information to their offspring in different ways based on sex.
Small finlets on owl feathers point the way to less aircraft noise
8dResearchers reveals how the microstructure of small finlets on owl feathers enable silent flight.
Cichlid fishes from African Lake Tanganyika shed light on how organismal diversity arises
8dLake Tanganyika in Africa is a true hotspot of organismal diversity. Approximately 240 species of cichlid fishes have evolved in this lake in less than 10 million years. A research team has investigated this phenomenon of 'explosive speciation' and provides new insights into the origins of biological diversity.
Vertebrate biodiversity: A glimmer of hope
8dA team of biologists found that the picture of dramatically declining vertebrate populations of all kinds is driven by a small number of outlier populations whose numbers are dropping at extreme rates. Once these outliers are separated from the mix, a very different and far more hopeful picture of global biodiversity emerges.
Lurking in genomic shadows: How giant viruses fuel the evolution of algae
8dBiologists have recently discovered that endogenous viral elements that originate from giant viruses are much more common in chlorophyte green algae than previously thought.
Gut microbiome manipulation could result from virus discovery
8dScientists have discovered how a common virus in the human gut infects and takes over bacterial cells — a finding that could be used to control the composition of the gut microbiome, which is important for human health. The research could aid efforts to engineer beneficial bacteria that produce medicines and fuels and clean up pollutants.
Prehistoric shark hid its largest teeth
8dSome, if not all, early sharks that lived 300 to 400 million years ago not only dropped their lower jaws downward but rotated them outwards when opening their mouths. This enabled them to make the best of their largest, sharpest and inward-facing teeth when catching prey, paleontologists have now shown using CT scanning and 3D printing.
Which particulate air pollution poses the greatest health risk?
8dResearchers have investigated whether particulate matter from certain sources can be especially harmful to human health. They found evidence that the amount of particulate matter alone is not the greatest health risk. Rather, it could be the so-called oxidative potential that makes particulate pollution so harmful.
Blue Ring Nebula: 16-year-old cosmic mystery solved, revealing stellar missing link
8dAstronomers have solved the 16-year-old mystery surrounding the Blue Ring Nebula – an unusual, large, faint blob of gas with a star at its center. This object is unlike any they'd ever seen before in our Milky Way galaxy. The team has discovered the nebula appears to be the first known example of a merged star system at this stage.
These chickens earned a healthier label from the USDA
8dMatt Wadiak, co-founder and CEO of Cooks Venture, at the operation's 800-acre farm in Decatur, Arkansas, hopes to fix our nation's poultry problem. (Courtesy Cooks Venture/) This story originally featured on Saveur . Roasted, grilled, pressed into nuggets—Americans sure do love chicken. Last year, we devoured almost 100 pounds of the poultry, per capita, nearly double the amount of beef or pork
Machine learning uncovers missing info about ethnicity in population health data: Study
8dMachine learning can be used to fill a significant gap in Canadian public health data related to ethnicity and Aboriginal status, according to research published in PLOS ONE by a University of Alberta research epidemiologist.
Oysters produce 3-D structures organised by physical processes
8dScientists from the University of Granada (UGR) have discovered that oysters are capable of producing three-dimensional structures organized by physical (colloidal) processes—the result of which resembles a solid foam—by using a unique technique, similar to that of a 3-D printer. This technique enables them to develop their shell structures sheet-by-sheet, which resolves the problem of limited ext
Study finds sexual lineage plays key role in transgenerational plasticity
8dA new pair of papers published in the Journal of Animal Ecology has shown that sexual lineage matters for how offspring receive adaptations from parents in stickleback fish. Researchers in the Bell lab studied how parents who were exposed to predators passed the behavioral information to their offspring in different ways based on sex.
Seeking the most effective polymers for personal protective equipment
8dPersonal protective equipment, like face masks and gowns, is generally made of polymers. But not much attention is typically given to the selection of polymers used beyond their physical properties. To help with the identification of materials that will bind to a virus and speed its inactivation for use in PPE, researchers have developed a high-throughput approach for analyzing the interactions be
8d
Where Was the Birthplace of Modern Humans?
8dAs ancient remains are uncovered and dated, archeologists expand their search for the evolutionary birthplace of Homo sapiens, and debate whether such a place exists.
Huge Amounts of Money Are Pouring Into the Electric Vehicle Market
8dFunding Rush There's a new rush in the automotive industry to invest in electric vehicles (EVs) and the companies making them. The new push comes from established companies like General Motors as well as newer startups like the U.K.-based Arrival, Axios reports . Across the board, the companies seem to be trying to cement their role in a future with cleaner, electric transportation. Pushing Ahead
Looser Christmas Covid rules will carry cost, warn scientists
8dEach day of easing over UK festive period could mean 5 days of extra restrictions
Surprises in 'active' aging
8dAging is a process that affects not only living beings. Many materials, like plastics and glasses, also age — ie they change slowly as their particles try to pack better. Biological materials, such as living tissue, show similar behaviour to glasses except that the particles are actual cells with their own propulsion. Researchers at Göttingen University used computer simulations to explore the ag
Picture this: Chromosomes look different than you think
8dA new method to capture high-resolution, 3D images of human chromosomes in single cells reveals how DNA structure might influence its function (or malfunction).
UTHSC researchers identify three drugs as possible therapeutics for COVID-19
8dResearchers at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center working with colleagues at the University of New Mexico have identified three drugs, already approved for other uses in humans, as possible therapeutics for COVID-19, the illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Just hours of training triples doctor confidence in use of handheld ultrasound devices
8dFilling a training gap, a doctor created a geriatric medicine-centered course for point-of-care-ultrasound (POCUS) devices that doubled doctor confidence.
Piecing together the Alaska coastline's fractured volcanic activity
8dAmong seismologists, the geology of Alaska's earthquake- and volcano-rich coast from the Aleutian Islands to the southeast is fascinating, but not well understood. Now, with more sophisticated tools than before, a team reports unexpected new details about the area's tectonic plates and their relationships to volcanoes.
Large predatory fish thrive on WWII shipwrecks off North Carolina coast
8dResults of an expedition to a sunken U-boat and Nicaraguan freighter offer a detailed glimpse into unexpected 'islands of habitat.'
Seeking the most effective polymers for personal protective equipment
8dPersonal protective equipment, like face masks and gowns, is generally made of polymers. But not much attention is typically given to the selection of polymers used beyond their physical properties. To help with the identification of materials that will bind to a virus and speed its inactivation for use in PPE, researchers have developed a high-throughput approach for analyzing the interactions be
Quantifying quantumness: A mathematical project 'of immense beauty'
8dLarge objects behave in accordance with the classical laws of mechanics formulated by Sir Isaac Newton and small ones are governed by quantum mechanics, where an object can behave as both a wave and a particle. The boundary between the classical and quantum realms has always been of great interest. Research now considers the question of what makes something 'more quantum' than another — is there
Spiny dogfish eat Atlantic cod: DNA may provide some answers
8dAs dogfish populations recover from overfishing, questions remain about how much Atlantic cod they are eating and its impact on the struggling cod population. Researchers used innovative genetic techniques to help shed some light on the situation.
Could key gene system discovery be suffocating corals' last gasp?
8dClimate change and localised pollution are exposing marine life worldwide to lower oxygen levels leaving fragile coral reef ecosystems especially vulnerable. A unique experiment has given scientists unprecedented insight into how some corals respond to low environmental oxygen levels and how this information could guide future coral management, including genetic modification and selection.
Permanent night shift workers at heightened risk of moderate to severe asthma
8dShift workers, especially those working permanent night shift rotas, may be at heightened risk of moderate to severe asthma, suggests new research.
Revolutionary CRISPR-based genome editing system treatment destroys cancer cells
8dResearchers at Tel Aviv University (TAU) have demonstrated that the CRISPR/Cas9 system is very effective in treating metastatic cancers, a significant step on the way to finding a cure for cancer. The researchers developed a novel lipid nanoparticle-based delivery system that specifically targets cancer cells and destroys them by genetic manipulation. The system, called CRISPR-LNPs, carries a gene
Ovarian cancer cells cooperate to metastasize
8dIn a study on human ovarian cancer cells in mice, Harvard Medical School researchers discovered a transient, cooperative interaction between cell subpopulations that allows otherwise nonmetastatic tumor cells to become aggressive and spread.
UTSA researcher examines drug overdose mortality in the Hispanic community
8dUTSA researcher Manuel Cano, assistant professor in the Department of Social Work at UTSA is shedding light to understand the topic of drug overdose deaths in the Hispanic community. In the article "Drug Overdose Deaths Among US Hispanics: Trends (2000-2017) and Recent Patterns" published in "Substance Use & Misuse" Cano used national death certificate data (data recording all deaths of U.S. resid
Leveraging collective intelligence and AI to benefit society
8dA solar-powered autonomous drone scans for forest fires. A surgeon first operates on a digital heart before she picks up a scalpel. A global community bands together to print personal protection equipment to fight a pandemic. "The future is now," says Frédéric Vacher, head of innovation at Dassault Systèmes. And all of this is possible with cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and a vir
Gray Wolf Reintroduction in Colorado Encounters Federal Kerfuffle
8dThis month, voters in the state approved the predators' reintroduction, but the species' recent delisting as an endangered species at the federal level binds up available funding.
Communist Party Secretly Supported Chinese Gene-Edited Babies, According to New Book
8dIn late 2018, the scientific world was shaken by the news that a Chinese scientist named He Jiankui had secretly created the world's first gene-edited human babies. In a new book called "The Mutant Project: Inside the Global Race to Genetically Modify Humans," as reviewed by The Wall Street Journal , cultural anthropologist Eben Kirksey examined the impact of these shocking studies. One alarming
Some fish are likely to get caught and recaught
8dA new study reports that, for several species of oceanic sport fish, individual fish that are caught, released, and recaught are more likely to be caught again than scientists anticipated. The findings raise some interesting questions about preserving sustainable fisheries. The study makes use of data from tagging programs, in which researchers tag fish and release them into the wild. When those
SynDevRx Announces Positive Data from Phase 1 Safety Trial of SDX-7320 in Late Stage Cancer Patients
8dSynDevRx has submitted to the FDA results from a Phase 1 dose escalation study in patients with metastatic and progressing solid tumors to assess the safety and tolerability of SDX-7320. Additional outcome measures suggest that SDX-7320 may slow the rate of disease progression and formation of new metastases. Exploratory endpoints suggest that SDX-7320 may induce favorable changes to insulin and i
SynDevRx Announces Positive Data from Phase 1 Safety Trial of SDX-7320 in Late Stage Cancer Patients
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Scientists Want to Gene-Hack Coral Reefs to Survive Climate Change
8dHot Water Rising ocean temperatures pose a serious threat to the world's coral reefs, leading to mass bleaching events that have killed off vast swaths of the oceanic ecosystems. But some coral doesn't seem to mind the hot water that kills off its neighbors — leading scientists to think that some genetic quirk helped is helping the outliers resist the heat. Now, scientists at the Carnegie Institu
New bed, no sleep? First night blues
8dHave you ever woken up in a new place and noted with disappointment that you are still tired? I am thinking, for example, of the first night in a hotel at the start of your holidays, a night staying with friends, or the first night of a business trip. We aren't talking here about the first night with a new lover, because then there are other variables at play that might give false results in the
3D bioprinted heart provides new tool for surgeons
8dSurgeons will soon have a powerful new tool for planning and practice with the creation of the first full-sized 3D bioprinted model of the human heart.
Pandemic has surprising impacts on public transit demand
8dThe COVID-19 pandemic had surprising effects on demand for public transit in American cities, new research suggests.While demand for public transit dropped about 73% across the country after the pandemic hit, the reduction didn't impact all cities equally, according to the study, which analyzed activity data from a widely used public transit navigation app.
Printed solid-state batteries
8dA Maryland-led team developed a new method of printing and sintering a variety of solid-state electrolyte thin films called "printing and radiative heating"
Dual brake on transport protein prevents cells from exploding
8dA high concentration of salt or sugar in the environment will dehydrate microorganisms and stop them from growing. To counter this, bacteria can increase their internal solute concentration. Scientists from the University of Groningen elucidated the structure of a transport protein OpuA, that imports glycine betaine to counter osmotic stress. The protein belongs to the well-known family of ABC tra
Found: a genetic link to molecular events that precede symptoms in Alzheimer's disease
8dTufts researchers find a key mutation causing abnormal transport of BACE1, the enzyme responsible for processing the Alzheimer's disease-linked amyloid protein. Identification of this mutation, which is more common among African Americans with Alzheimer's, may allow early intervention.
Catapult-like hydrogel actuator designed to deliver high contraction power
8dRecently, inspired by muscle-powered accelerations in biological jumpers, ZHOU Feng's group from the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics (LICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and HE Ximin's group from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have designed an elastic-driven strong contractile hydrogel through storing and releasing elastic potential energy in polymer network.
Magnetic spray: Giving inanimate objects new bionergy
8dRecently, researchers from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, together with the City University of Hong Kong (CityU), have developed an agglutinate, reprogrammable, disintegrable and biocompatible magnetic spray (M-spray) that can easily turn inanimate objects into millirobots.
Compound for Alzheimer's combats bacterial resistance to last-resort antibiotics in mice
8dAn experimental drug for neurodegenerative diseases can also reverse resistance to "last-resort" polymyxin antibiotics among bacteria that cause sepsis, a life-threatening complication from infections.
Teton range glacial ice may have persisted in a dormant state during early Holocene warming
8dA continuous 10,000-year record of alpine glacier fluctuations in Wyoming's Teton Range suggests that some glacial ice in the western US persisted in a reduced, essentially dormant state during periods of early Holocene warming. The findings challenge the paradigm that all Rocky Mountain glaciers completely disappeared during these warm, dry conditions, instead.
Racial attitudes in a community affect COVID-19 numbers
8dImplicit racial attitudes within a community can effectively explain racial disparities seen in rates of COVID-19 in the United States, according to a new study published this week in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by George Cunningham and Lisa Wigfall of Texas A&M University, USA.
JACC: BTS study looks at COVID-19's impact on cardiovascular tissue, endothelial cells
8dIn the paper, "Cardiorenal tissues express SARS-CoV-2 entry genes and basigin (BSG/CD147) increases with age in endothelial cells," publishing in JACC: Basic to Translational Research , researchers used publicly available gene expression data to determine the relative expression of key SARS-CoV-2 host entry/ processing genes in human cardiorenal tissues, including aorta, coronary artery, heart (at
Gay men 'less likely' to have degree in science, technology, engineering or maths
8dSexual orientation gap for men larger than gap between white and black men, study shows Men in same-sex relationships are significantly less likely to have a degree in a Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths) subject than their heterosexual male peers, according to research. Until now, studies have focused largely on the gender gap in Stem, where women are still hugely underrepresented
Revealing nanoscale mineralization pathways of hydroxyapatite using in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy
8dTo treat impairments in hard tissues or overcome pathological calcification in soft tissues, a detailed understanding of mineralization pathways of calcium phosphate materials is needed. Here, we report a detailed mechanistic study of hydroxyapatite (HA) mineralization pathways in an artificial saliva solution via in situ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It is found that the mi
Na+-dependent gate dynamics and electrostatic attraction ensure substrate coupling in glutamate transporters
8dExcitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) harness [Na + ], [K + ], and [H + ] gradients for fast and efficient glutamate removal from the synaptic cleft. Since each glutamate is cotransported with three Na + ions, [Na + ] gradients are the predominant driving force for glutamate uptake. We combined all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, fluorescence spectroscopy, and x-ray crystallography to s
Ion-molecule interactions enable unexpected phase transitions in organic-inorganic aerosol
8dAtmospheric aerosol particles are commonly complex, aqueous organic-inorganic mixtures, and accurately predicting the properties of these particles is essential for air quality and climate projections. The prevailing assumption is that aqueous organic-inorganic aerosols exist predominately with liquid properties and that the hygroscopic inorganic fraction lowers aerosol viscosity relative to the
Targeting actin-bundling protein L-plastin as an anabolic therapy for bone loss
8dThe actin-bundling protein L-plastin (LPL) mediates the resorption activity of osteoclasts, but its therapeutic potential in pathological bone loss remains unexplored. Here, we report that LPL knockout mice show increased bone mass and cortical thickness with more mononuclear tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase–positive cells, osteoblasts, CD31 hi Emcn hi endothelial vessels, and fewer multinucle
Trappc9 deficiency in mice impairs learning and memory by causing imbalance of dopamine D1 and D2 neurons
8dGenetic mutations in the gene encoding transport protein particle complex 9 (trappc9), a subunit of TRAPP that acts as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for rab proteins, cause intellectual disability with brain structural malformations by elusive mechanisms. Here, we report that trappc9-deficient mice exhibit a broad range of behavioral deficits and postnatal delay in growth of the brain. Con
Anomalous fracture in two-dimensional rhenium disulfide
8dLow-dimensional materials usually exhibit mechanical properties from those of their bulk counterparts. Here, we show in two-dimensional (2D) rhenium disulfide (ReS 2 ) that the fracture processes are dominated by a variety of previously unidentified phenomena, which are not present in bulk materials. Through direct transmission electron microscopy observations at the atomic scale, the structures
Social connections with COVID-19-affected areas increase compliance with mobility restrictions
8dWe study the role of social connections in compliance of U.S. households with mobility restrictions imposed in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, using aggregated and anonymized Facebook data on social connections and mobile phone data for measuring social distancing at the county level. Relative to the average restriction efficacy, a county with one-SD more social conn
A 3D culture platform enables development of zinc-binding prodrugs for targeted proliferation of {beta} cells
8dAdvances in treating β cell loss include islet replacement therapies or increasing cell proliferation rate in type 1 and type 2 diabetes, respectively. We propose developing multiple proliferation-inducing prodrugs that target high concentration of zinc ions in β cells. Unfortunately, typical two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures do not mimic in vivo conditions, displaying a markedly lowered zinc co
Caspase-8-dependent gasdermin D cleavage promotes antimicrobial defense but confers susceptibility to TNF-induced lethality
8dGasdermin D (GSDMD) is a pore-forming protein that promotes pyroptosis and release of proinflammatory cytokines. Recent studies revealed that apoptotic caspase-8 directly cleaves GSDMD to trigger pyroptosis. However, the molecular requirements for caspase-8–dependent GSDMD cleavage and the physiological impact of this signaling axis are unresolved. Here, we report that caspase-8–dependent GSDMD c
Photoreduction of inorganic carbon(+IV) by elemental sulfur: Implications for prebiotic synthesis in terrestrial hot springs
8dTerrestrial hydrothermal systems have been proposed as alternative birthplaces for early life but lacked reasonable scenarios for the supply of biomolecules. Here, we show that elemental sulfur (S 0 ), as the dominant mineral in terrestrial hot springs, can reduce carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) into formic acid (HCOOH) under ultraviolet (UV) light below 280 nm. The semiconducting S 0 is indicated to have
Engineered mutant {alpha}-ENaC subunit mRNA delivered by lipid nanoparticles reduces amiloride currents in cystic fibrosis-based cell and mice models
8dCystic fibrosis (CF) results from mutations in the chloride-conducting CF transmembrane conductance regulator ( CFTR ) gene. Airway dehydration and impaired mucociliary clearance in CF is proposed to result in tonic epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) activity, which drives amiloride-sensitive electrogenic sodium absorption. Decreasing sodium absorption by inhibiting ENaC can reverse airway surface
Network-based atrophy modeling in the common epilepsies: A worldwide ENIGMA study
8dEpilepsy is increasingly conceptualized as a network disorder. In this cross-sectional mega-analysis, we integrated neuroimaging and connectome analysis to identify network associations with atrophy patterns in 1021 adults with epilepsy compared to 1564 healthy controls from 19 international sites. In temporal lobe epilepsy, areas of atrophy colocalized with highly interconnected cortical hub reg
3D printed gradient index glass optics
8dWe demonstrate an additive manufacturing approach to produce gradient refractive index glass optics. Using direct ink writing with an active inline micromixer, we three-dimensionally print multimaterial green bodies with compositional gradients, consisting primarily of silica nanoparticles and varying concentrations of titania as the index-modifying dopant. The green bodies are then consolidated
Alpine glacier resilience and Neoglacial fluctuations linked to Holocene snowfall trends in the western United States
8dGeological evidence indicates that glaciers in the western United States fluctuated in response to Holocene changes in temperature and precipitation. However, because moraine chronologies are characteristically discontinuous, Holocene glacier fluctuations and their climatic drivers remain ambiguous, and future glacier changes are uncertain. Here, we construct a continuous 10-thousand-year (ka) re
Printable, high-performance solid-state electrolyte films
8dCurrent ceramic solid-state electrolyte (SSE) films have low ionic conductivities (10 –8 to 10 –5 S/cm ), attributed to the amorphous structure or volatile Li loss. Herein, we report a solution-based printing process followed by rapid (~3 s) high-temperature (~1500°C) reactive sintering for the fabrication of high-performance ceramic SSE films. The SSEs exhibit a dense, uniform structure and a su
CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing using targeted lipid nanoparticles for cancer therapy
8dHarnessing CRISPR-Cas9 technology for cancer therapeutics has been hampered by low editing efficiency in tumors and potential toxicity of existing delivery systems. Here, we describe a safe and efficient lipid nanoparticle (LNP) for the delivery of Cas9 mRNA and sgRNAs that use a novel amino-ionizable lipid. A single intracerebral injection of CRISPR-LNPs against PLK1 (sgPLK1-cLNPs) into aggressi
Dendritic and parallel processing of visual threats in the retina control defensive responses
8dApproaching predators cast expanding shadows (i.e., looming) that elicit innate defensive responses in most animals. Where looming is first detected and how critical parameters of predatory approaches are extracted are unclear. In mice, we identify a retinal interneuron (the VG3 amacrine cell) that responds robustly to looming, but not to related forms of motion. Looming-sensitive calcium transie
Discretely assembled mechanical metamaterials
8dMechanical metamaterials offer exotic properties based on local control of cell geometry and their global configuration into structures and mechanisms. Historically, these have been made as continuous, monolithic structures with additive manufacturing, which affords high resolution and throughput, but is inherently limited by process and machine constraints. To address this issue, we present a co
Two phenotypically and functionally distinct microglial populations in adult zebrafish
8dMicroglia are the tissue-resident macrophages in the central nervous system and are critically involved in immune defense, neural development and function, and neuroinflammation. The versatility of microglia has long been attributed to heterogeneity. Recent studies have revealed possible heterogeneity in human but not in murine microglia, yet a firm demonstration linking microglial heterogeneity
Targeted knockdown of Kv1.3 channels in T lymphocytes corrects the disease manifestations associated with systemic lupus erythematosus
8dLupus nephritis (LN) is an autoimmune disease with substantial morbidity/mortality and limited efficacy of available therapies. Memory T (Tm) lymphocytes infiltrate LN kidneys, contributing to organ damage. Analysis of LN, diabetic nephropathy, and healthy donor kidney biopsies revealed high infiltration of active CD8 + Tm cells expressing high voltage-dependent Kv1.3 potassium channels—key T cel
Bioinspired high-power-density strong contractile hydrogel by programmable elastic recoil
8dStimuli-responsive hydrogels have large deformability but—when applied as actuators, smart switch, and artificial muscles—suffer from low work density due to low deliverable forces (~2 kPa) and speed through the osmotic pressure–driven actuation. Inspired by the energy conversion mechanism of many creatures during jumping, we designed an elastic-driven strong contractile hydrogel through storing
Confinement-induced stabilization of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability and transition to the unconfined limit
8dThe prevention of hydrodynamic instabilities can lead to important insights for understanding the instabilities' underlying dynamics. The Rayleigh-Taylor instability that arises when a dense fluid sinks into and displaces a lighter one is particularly difficult to arrest. By preparing a density inversion between two miscible fluids inside the thin gap separating two flat plates, we create a clean
Gating by ionic strength and safety check by cyclic-di-AMP in the ABC transporter OpuA
8d(Micro)organisms are exposed to fluctuating environmental conditions, and adaptation to stress is essential for survival. Increased osmolality (hypertonicity) causes outflow of water and loss of turgor and is dangerous if the cell is not capable of rapidly restoring its volume. The osmoregulatory adenosine triphosphate–binding cassette transporter OpuA restores the cell volume by accumulating lar
In situ stiffness manipulation using elegant curved origami
8dThe capability of stiffness manipulation for materials and structures is essential for tuning motion, saving energy, and delivering high power. However, high-efficiency in situ stiffness manipulation has not yet been successfully achieved despite many studies from different perspectives. Here, curved origami patterns were designed to accomplish in situ stiffness manipulation covering positive, ze
Top Shots From the 2020 International Landscape Photographer of the Year
8dMore than 3,800 entries were received in this year's landscape-photography competition, from professional and amateur photographers around the world. Judges of the International Landscape Photographer of the Year contest narrowed the field down to a "Top 101" and then further, to award several category prizes and the International Landscape Photographer of the Year award, which went to Kelvin Yue
The Tattered Idealism of Barack Obama
8dI f you are north of a certain age, you might remember where you were when Barack Obama gave his star-is-born keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. I was in a broadcast booth in the mezzanine level up above, with Mark Shields and Jim Lehrer, watching tears run down Lehrer's face. He turned to me when it was over and all I could say was, "This is why we go into this business.
NYUAD researcher aids in the development of a pathway to solve cybersickness
8dAssociate Professor of Psychology and Director of the Neuroimaging Center at NYU Abu Dhabi Bas Rokers and a team of researchers have evaluated the state of research on cybersickness and formulated a research and development agenda to eliminate cybersickness, allowing for broader adoption of immersive technologies.
How the polio vaccine virus occasionally becomes dangerous
8dThe polio vaccines, developed by Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin in the mid-1950s, heralded the elimination of polio from the U.S., saving countless children from sudden paralysis and death. In the developing world, however, outbreaks of poliovirus still occur sporadically, an ironic consequence of the polio vaccine itself. A new genetic study of the vaccine poliovirus reveals how this happens in real
New test reveals AI still lacks common sense
8dNatural language processing (NLP) has taken great strides recently–but how much does AI understand of what it reads? Less than we thought, according to researchers at USC's Department of Computer Science. In a recent paper Assistant Professor Xiang Ren and PhD student Yuchen Lin found that despite advances, AI still doesn't have the common sense needed to generate plausible sentences.
Catapult-like hydrogel actuator designed to deliver high contraction power
8dInspired by muscle-powered acceleration in biological jumpers, scientists have designed an elastic-driven strong contractile hydrogel that works by storing and releasing elastic potential energy in a polymer network.
Dual brake on transport protein prevents cells from exploding
8dA high concentration of salt or sugar in the environment will dehydrate microorganisms and stop them from growing. To counter this, bacteria can increase their internal solute concentration. Scientists from the University of Groningen elucidated the structure of a transport protein OpuA, that imports glycine betaine to counter osmotic stress. The protein belongs to the well-known family of ABC tra
Green targets: Do governments meet them?
8dAs the UK government unveils new environmental targets, what about the previous ones?
Isolated island group is now one of the world's largest animal sanctuaries
8dThe small island group of Tristan da Cunha has created one of the world's largest ocean sanctuaries. Neither fishing nor extractive activities will be allowed in the area, which is three times the size of the United Kingdom. Animals protected by this zone include penguins, sharks, and many seabirds. Tristan da Cunha, a group of volcanic islands with a mere 245 permanent residents situated between
4 steps for planning the holidays during COVID-19
8dThe last several months of experience fighting the COVID-19 pandemic can help you to plan a safer holiday season, researchers say. With COVID-19 case numbers climbing in the US as pandemic fatigue wears on, there's a constant tension between staying safe and wanting to get back to normal. During the pandemic, any in-person holiday celebration is really a four-week process—not just a single event—
Catapult-like hydrogel actuator designed to deliver high contraction power
8dInspired by muscle-powered acceleration in biological jumpers, scientists have designed an elastic-driven strong contractile hydrogel that works by storing and releasing elastic potential energy in a polymer network.
Dual brake on transport protein prevents cells from exploding
8dA high concentration of salt or sugar in the environment will dehydrate microorganisms and stop them from growing. To counter this, bacteria can increase their internal solute concentration. Scientists from the University of Groningen elucidated the structure of a transport protein OpuA, that imports glycine betaine to counter osmotic stress. The protein belongs to the well-known family of ABC tra
More children and youth drowning as warming temperatures create unstable lake ice
8dAs winters become milder and lake ice less stable, more children and young adults are falling through the ice and fatally drowning, say York University researchers.
Versatile building blocks make structures with surprising mechanical properties
8dResearchers at MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms have created tiny building blocks that exhibit a variety of unique mechanical properties, such as the ability to produce a twisting motion when squeezed. These subunits could potentially be assembled by tiny robots into a nearly limitless variety of objects with built-in functionality, including vehicles, large industrial parts, or specialized robots
First US nationwide estimates of sexual minority representation in STEM fields
8dOne of the first nationwide estimates of sexual minority representation across Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) degrees and occupations in the US publishes November 18, 2020 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Dario Sansone from the University of Exeter and Christopher S. Carpenter from Vanderbilt University.
In blistering letter, Democrats demand answers on controversial appointee to U.S. standards agency
8dLawmakers say Jason Richwine's views on immigration and IQ "disqualify" him for top NIST post
Prospects for Life on Venus Fade–but Aren't Dead Yet
8dDebate continues over a controversial report of phosphine in the planet's atmosphere, as researchers reanalyze data and find a fainter signal — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
A toxic metal contaminates the ocean's deepest trenches
9dNature, Published online: 18 November 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-03261-w Dead fish drifting into the Mariana and Kermadec trenches carry mercury pollution with them.
EmTech Stage: Twitter's CTO on misinformation
9dIn the second of two exclusive interviews, Technology Review's Editor-in-Chief Gideon Lichfield sat down with Parag Agrawal, Twitter's Chief Technology officer to discuss the rise of misinformation on the social media platform. Agrawal discusses some of the measures the company has taken to fight back, while admitting Twitter is trying to thread a needle of mitigating harm caused by false content
More Frequent, Severe Climate-Fueled Disasters Exacerbate Humanitarian Crises
9dPeople have little time to recover when extreme events happen back-to-back, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warns — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
NYUAD study finds opposite-gender mentorships may be more beneficial to female researchers
9dMentorship contributes to the advancement of individual careers in scientific research and can be an important factor in minimizing persistent barriers to entry, especially for women. A new study by researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi examined data representing thousands of mentor-protégé relationships and found that mentorship quality predicted the scientific impact of the papers written by protégés
Small finlets on owl feathers point the way to less aircraft noise
9dCollaboration between City, University of London and RWTH Aachen University researchers reveals how these micro-structures enable silent flight.
The bull Y chromosome has evolved to bully its way into gametes
9dIn a new study, published Nov. 18 in the journal Genome Research, scientists in the lab of Whitehead Institute Member David Page present the first ever full, high-resolution sequence of the Y chromosome of a Hereford bull. The research, more than a decade in the making, suggests that bulls' Y chromosomes have evolved dozens of copies of the same genes in a selfish attempt to make more males — a m
Burning Fossil Fuels Helped Drive Earth's Most Massive Extinction
9dMassive volcanic eruptions ignited oil and coal deposits in Siberia in the events that led to the Permian-Triassic "Great Dying" event.
Mushroom cultivation produces three times its weight in waste. It's now being turned into burgers and fertiliser
9dCultivating mushrooms produces a lot of waste. For every kilogram of mushrooms produced, about three kilograms of soil-like material containing straw, manure and peat is left behind. In the EU, this results in more than 3 billion kilograms of waste per year.
Researchers describe fundamental processes behind movement of magnetic particles
9dThe motion of magnetic particles as they pass through a magnetic field is called magnetophoresis. Until now, not much was known about the factors influencing these particles and their movement. Now, researchers from the University of Illinois Chicago describe several fundamental processes associated with the motion of magnetic particles through fluids as they are pulled by a magnetic field.
Combining data helps birds and bird research
9dIt hasn't been more than a year and a half since the international researchers' network SPI-Birds started officially. Together they collect, secure and use long-term breeding population data of 1.5 million individually recognizable birds… and counting. Big questions in ecology and evolution can be answered using this data. Today, the publication of SPI-Birds' first scientific paper in the Journa
Combining data helps birds and bird research
9dIt hasn't been more than a year and a half since the international researchers' network SPI-Birds started officially. Together they collect, secure and use long-term breeding population data of 1.5 million individually recognizable birds… and counting. Big questions in ecology and evolution can be answered using this data. Today, the publication of SPI-Birds' first scientific paper in the Journa
More people are getting COVID-19 twice, suggesting immunity wanes quickly in some
9dReinfections give scientists clues about how long protection lasts—and how well vaccines might perform
EmTech Stage: Facebook's CTO on misinformation
9dMisinformation and social media have become inseparable from one another; as platforms like Twitter and Facebook have grown to globe-spanning size, so too has the threat posed by the spread of false content. In the midst of a volatile election season in the US and a raging global pandemic, the power of information to alter opinions and save lives (or endanger them) is on full display. In the firs
What is AI? We made this to help.
9dDefining what is, or isn't artificial intelligence can be tricky (or tough). So much so, even the experts get it wrong sometimes. That's why MIT Technology Review's Senior AI Reporter Karen Hao created a flowchart to explain it all . In this bonus content our Host Jennifer Strong and her team reimagine Hao's reporting, gamifying it into an audio postcard of sorts. Credits: This episode was report
The bull Y chromosome has evolved to bully its way into gametes
9dIn a new study, published Nov. 18 in the journal Genome Research, scientists in the lab of Whitehead Institute Member David Page present the first ever full, high-resolution sequence of the Y chromosome of a Hereford bull. The research, more than a decade in the making, suggests that bulls' Y chromosomes have evolved dozens of copies of the same genes in a selfish attempt to make more males—a move
Progressive Groups Call For Elimination of Space Force
9dAccording to a memo first obtained by Politico , progressive groups are planning to pressure president-elect Joe Biden's transition team into slashing military budgets — with one specific aim being to eliminate the US Space Force. The memo calls out the Space Force as an "unnecessary bureaucracy that costs $16 billion in 2021" and militarizes space, as quoted by SpaceNews , which obtained the mem
SpaceX and NASA officially flew people into space. What's next?
9dBaby Yoda arrives with four astronauts on board the @Space_Station as they begin a six month mission https://t.co/UDoANePjLa 🚀 pic.twitter.com/4YJgNtZgMv — Reuters (@Reuters) November 17, 2020
GSA publishes 12 research articles on COVID-19 and aging
9dThe Gerontological Society of America's highly cited, peer-reviewed journals are continuing to publish scientific articles on COVID-19, and all are free to access. The following were published between October 26 and November 13:
Study finds sexual lineage plays key role in transgenerational plasticity
9dA new pair of papers published in the Journal of Animal Ecology has shown that sexual lineage matters for how offspring receive adaptations from parents in stickleback fish. Researchers in the Bell lab studied how parents who were exposed to predators passed the behavioral information to their offspring in different ways based on sex.
The bull Y chromosome has evolved to bully its way into gametes
9dIn a new study, published Nov. 18 in the journal Genome Research, scientists in the lab of Whitehead Institute Member David Page present the first ever full, high-resolution sequence of the Y chromosome of a Hereford bull. The research, more than a decade in the making, suggests that bulls' Y chromosomes have evolved dozens of copies of the same genes in a selfish attempt to make more males—a move
Map shows risk of COVID cases at your county's schools
9dA new interactive tool can help families and school leaders estimate how many people infected with COVID-19 are likely to show up at a county's schools on a given day anywhere in the United States. "It's meant to guide families, teachers, and school leadership in understanding the risks of bringing students into classrooms and onto campuses. These risks are changing through time as the prevalence
The 'Workspace of the future,' vizLab will unlock the secrets of the universe
9dIn a refurbished Southern California garage, Carnegie astrophysicists are creating the scientific, virtual reality-enabled workspace of the future where they will unlock the mysteries of the cosmos.
The Most Famous Dogs of Science
9dThese iconic canines have helped scientists make key discoveries, from archeological finds to cures for disease
Computer vision predicts congenital adrenal hyperplasia
9dUsing computer vision, researchers have discovered strong correlations between facial morphology and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a life-threatening genetic condition of the adrenal glands and one of the most common forms of adrenal insufficiency in children. The findings could have implications for phenotyping and treating patients with CAH.
UIC researchers describe fundamental processes behind movement of magnetic particles
9dResearchers from the University of Illinois Chicago describe several fundamental processes associated with the motion of magnetic particles through fluids as they are pulled by a magnetic field.
Saving your data together helps birds and bird research
9dIt hasn't been more than a year and a half since the international researchers' network SPI-Birds started officially. Together they collect, secure and use long-term breeding population data of 1.5 million individually recognisable birds… and counting. Big questions in ecology and evolution can be answered using this data. Today, the publication of SPI-Birds' first scientific paper in the Journa
The Terracotta Army: What These Life-Size Clay Warriors Tell Us About Ancient China
9dThousands of clay figures, equipped with real weapons, stand guard over the tomb of China's first emperor. How was this army for the afterlife built, and what was its significance?
Stop the postdoc treadmill … I want to get off
9dNature, Published online: 18 November 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-03107-5 Julie Gould investigates how brain drains and demographic time bombs are forcing some countries to rethink the postdoc.
Seas are rising faster than ever
9dA new satellite will monitor coastal hot spots, where currents amplify global trends
Spacewalking astronauts prep for 2021 arrival of Russian lab
9dThe International Space Station's two Russian astronauts began spacewalking work Wednesday to prepare for next year's arrival of a long-delayed lab, but had to scrap another chore because of a stubborn bolt.
Covid-19 mink variants discovered in humans in seven countries
9dDenmark has already launched a nationwide cull of its farmed mink herd after concerns for vaccine efficacy Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Seven countries are now reporting mink-related Sars-CoV-2 mutations in humans, according to new scientific analysis. The mutations are identified as Covid-19 mink variants as they have repeatedly been found in mink and now in huma
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