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5h
State-funded pre-K may enhance math achievement
3hStudents who attend the Georgia Prekindergarten Program are more likely to achieve in mathematics than those who do not attend pre-K, according to a new study.
Spild af strøm og plads: Skift af fiberleverandør kræver ekstra router
4hPLUS. Der bliver sat mange ekstra routere op, i forbindelse med at over 100.000 kunder har valgt ny fiberleverandør på grund af Norlys-fusionen. Vælger kunderne en anden leverandør end Norlys, skal de installere en ekstra router for få wifi-forbindelse.
LATEST
Scientists Discover an Immense, Unknown Hydrocarbon Cycle Hiding in The Oceans
8minWe missed something very big.
A Glitch in the Matrix review – deep-dive into simulation theory
29minUsing animation, archive and clips from the movie franchise, Rodney Ascher's genre-bending doc gives philosophers and kooks space to explain why we are living in a synthetic world With Room 237 , a deep dive into theories about Stanley Kubrick's The Shining, writer-director-animator Rodney Ascher practically invented a new sub-genre of documentary: the fathoms-five-low inspection of fandom theori
Så håller sig fåglar varma när det är kallt
39minFåglar har många knep för att överleva vinterns kalla, korta dagar. Men ett varmare klimat kan sätta dem ur spel.
Swirling Vortex of Bathtub Water Reveals an Elusive Mechanism of Black Hole Physics
58minWe didn't know this was possible!
California's rainy season starting nearly a month later than it did 60 years ago
1hThe start of California's annual rainy season has been pushed back from November to December, prolonging the state's increasingly destructive wildfire season by nearly a month, according to new research. The study cannot confirm the shift is connected to climate change, but the results are consistent with climate models that predict drier autumns for California in a warming climate, according to t
Helping consumers save more by bursting their bubble of financial responsibility
1hWhen people perceive that their past financial behaviors have fallen short of their desired standard, they start to save more to restore perceptions of financial responsibility.
Study links brain cells to depression
1hMajor depressive disorder is a significant medical condition that leads to a variety of serious emotional and physical problems. New research further highlights the potential implication of astrocytes in depression. These cells support the function of neurons in the brain and postmortem analysis reveals they are found in reduced numbers in depressed patients who have died by suicide. It is hoped t
From the archive: what's it like to live without smell? – podcast
1hFor many people infected with the Sars-CoV-2 virus, the first sign of contracting the disease is a loss of smell and taste; something we reported on last May. Studies have now shown that months later an unlucky minority will still be lacking these senses – while for others they may have returned somewhat distorted. While scientists try to fathom what exactly causes this and what treatments could
Stem på Danmarks mest attraktive ingeniør-arbejdspladser og vind gavekort på 5.000 kroner
1hI over 20 år har Ingeniøren kåret Danmarks mest attraktive arbejdsplads for ingeniører og ingeniørstuderende – og igen i år har vi brug for din hjælp!
What Happens if Dogs Only Eat Fresh, Human-Grade Food? One Big Change in Particular
1hFood for thought.
From the archive: what's it like to live without smell?
1hFor many people infected with the Sars-CoV-2 virus, the first sign of contracting the disease is a loss of smell and taste; something we reported on last May. Studies have now shown that months later an unlucky minority will still be lacking these senses – while for others they may have returned somewhat distorted. While scientists try to fathom what exactly causes this and what treatments could h
Cykeludlejer: Google Maps giver Lime unfair fordel
1hNår du planlægger en cykeltur gør Google det nemt at leje en elcykel gennem Lime, som Google er medejer af. Unfair, mener konkurrerende udlejningsapp.
Open Insulin Can Actually Be Stored at Warm Temperatures For Weeks, Scientists Find
2hThis could be life-changing news for millions.
Venus flytraps found to produce magnetic fields
3hThe Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a carnivorous plant that encloses its prey using modified leaves as a trap. During this process, electrical signals known as action potentials trigger the closure of the leaf lobes. An interdisciplinary team of scientists has now shown that these electrical signals generate measurable magnetic fields.
Kangaroo overgrazing could be jeopardizing land conservation, study finds
3hThe native species has reached numbers that are contributing to drier soil and less vegetation – and may be more damaging to conservation areas than rabbits.
New piezoelectric material remains effective to high temperatures
3hPiezoelectric materials hold great promise as sensors and as energy harvesters but are normally much less effective at high temperatures, limiting their use in environments such as engines or space exploration. However, a new piezoelectric device remains highly effective at elevated temperatures.
Don't climate bet against the house
3hDecades ago (it seems) when perhaps it was still possible to have good faith disagreements about the attribution of current climate trends, James Annan wrote a post here summarizing the thinking and practice of Climate Betting . That led to spate of wagers on continued global warming (a summary of his bets through 2005 and attempts to set up others is here ). There were earlier bets, the most wel
Climate change: Boris Johnson 'risks humiliation' over coal mine
3hA leading scientist warns Boris Johnson digging for coal undermines the UK's climate change efforts.
DF vil have mere AI i det offentlige: »Der er kæmpe potentiale for forbedringer«
3hDer er brug for en bredere diskussion på Christiansborg om gevinsterne ved at benytte AI i den offentlige sektor. Det mener Dennis Flydtkjær, der er it-ordfører for Dansk Folkeparti. Han er klar til at pålægge regeringen at udarbejde en strategi på området.
The business of bees
3hThe economic value of insect pollinators was $34 billion in the U.S. in 2012, much higher than previously thought. The team also found that areas that are economically most reliant on insect pollinators are the same areas where pollinator habitat and forage quality are poor.
Nanotech plastic packaging could leach silver into some types of foods and beverages
3hAntimicrobial packaging is being developed to extend the shelf life and safety of foods and beverages. However, there is concern about the transfer of potentially harmful materials, such as silver nanoparticles, from these types of containers to consumables. Now, researchers illustrate that silver embedded in an antimicrobial plastic can leave the material and form nanoparticles in foods and bever
Popular breast cancer drugs don't work the way we thought they did
3hNew research suggests that a class of drugs called PARP inhibitors, designed to treat hereditary forms of ovarian and breast cancer, don't work the way we thought they did. It also paints a fuller picture of how they work, opening the door to improvements in next-generation drugs.
New ink jet approach offers simple way to print microdisk lasers for biosensing
3hResearchers have developed a unique inkjet printing method for fabricating tiny biocompatible polymer microdisk lasers for biosensing applications. The approach enables production of both the laser and sensor in a room temperature, open-air environment, potentially enabling new uses of biosensing technologies for health monitoring and disease diagnostics.
Mechanism that regulates anti-tumor activity of immune cells
3hResearchers demonstrate why some ovarian cancer patients evolve better than others and suggest possible approaches to improve patient outcomes.
The quick choice might be a choice-overload avoidance strategy
3hMaking a choice quickly might appear effortless, but research that measured cardiovascular responses in the moment of making a choice, rather than after-the-fact, suggests that the apparent swift certainty might instead be a defense from having to think too deeply about the choices being presented to them.
How SARS-CoV-2 mutates to escape antibody binding
4hA scientific detective story starting with a single patient in Pittsburgh unearths how the SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates to create new variants, including the UK strain B.1.1.7, and escapes neutralizing antibodies.
Biodiversity is its own catalyst — to a point
4hFor decades, scientists have wrestled with rival theories to explain how interactions between species, like competition, influence biodiversity. Tracking microbial life across the planet, researchers show that biodiversity does in fact foster further diversity in microbiomes that are initially less diverse. However, diversity rates plateau with increased competition for survival and space in more
Pioneering technique paves way for fast and cheap fabrication of rapid medical diagnostic tools
4hNew technology has the potential to accelerate uptake and development of on-chip diagnostic techniques in parts of the world where rapid diagnoses are desperately needed to improve public health, mortality and morbidity.
Dishing up 3D printed food, one tasty printout at a time
4hSingapore researchers develop new method for 'printing' fresh vegetables, leading to tastier, more nutritious food for patients with swallowing difficulties
I Want to Be a Feminist Dad – Issue 95: Escape
4hOne of the kids in my house feels bad for people named Karen. He announced it at the dinner table. "They're not all annoying, or racist, or anti-vaxxer," he said. "They don't all demand to speak to the manager. How do you think the good Karens feel?" I pass a plate of steamed broccoli to my partner, Amanda, and explain to all four kids that while the Karen-meme has been controversial,1 and may in
The Doctor Will Sniff You Now – Issue 95: Escape
4hIt's 2050 and you're due for your monthly physical exam. Times have changed, so you no longer have to endure an orifices check, a needle in your vein, and a week of waiting for your blood test results. Instead, the nurse welcomes you with, "The doctor will sniff you now," and takes you into an airtight chamber wired up to a massive computer. As you rest, the volatile molecules you exhale or emit
Cognitive Scientists Are Going to the Dogs – Issue 95: Escape
4hAn old dog, it turns out, can teach humans new tricks. "In recent years the dog has grown to be one of the most important animals for researchers who aim to understand the biological background of complex traits," says Eniko Kubinyi, an ethologist at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary. Previously dogs weren't considered good models for studies into animal behavior because they were tho
Albert Camus on why accepting absurdity is the start of a fruitful life
4hCamus thought that life was absurd, but that knowing that was a beginning, not an end. By realizing it is all absurd, you have the opportunity to rebel against the meaninglessness. Søren Kierkegaard, another philosopher, went with a different answer. If you haven't noticed, life is absurd . We humans strive to find meaning in the world, and the world responds with cold indifference. This contrast
McKinsey Settles for $573 Million Over Role in Opioid Crisis
5hThe consulting firm has reached the agreement with 47 states because of its advice to drugmakers, including Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin.
Schizophrenia Identified as Second Greatest Risk Factor For COVID-19 Death
5hAn extreme vulnerability we don't fully understand.
Politicians must be held to account for mishandling the pandemic
6hPoliticians around the world must be held to account for mishandling the covid-19 pandemic, argues a senior editor at The BMJ today.
Oxford trial to test efficacy of mix of Covid vaccines for individuals
6hScientists aim to establish level of immunity in trial of 820 people, giving some a substitute vaccine at second appointment Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Volunteers are being sought for a world-first trial to establish the efficacy of giving people a first dose of one vaccine and a second dose of a different vaccine. The trial, which is being run by Oxford Univers
Ancient Mummy Found Entombed in Strange Cocoon Never Seen by Archeologists
6hA surprise from thousands of years ago.
Marine biologists discover 4 new types of photoreceptor
6hThe ocean is full of simple single-celled organisms that somehow follow day-night cycles. Researchers have just discovered four new groups of photoreceptors that help the organisms detect light. The photoreceptors may find use in studies of the human brain. When it comes to senses like ours, tiny single-celled organisms floating in the ocean don't have much going on. And yet, as Sacha Coesel , th
Okinawa researcher suspended for faking data denies committing misconduct
6hYe Zhang, who as we reported yesterday is serving a six-month suspension from her post at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), in Japan, says she did not commit misconduct, as the school contends. In response to a query from Retraction Watch, Zhang, a materials scientist, said she did not agree with … Continue reading
How New Vaccine News Gives Hope for Spring, if Enough People Get the Shots
6hNew data from several vaccine trials offer positive signs, but many public health experts say emerging variants mean the next few months will be a race against the virus.
After a Rocky Start, Novavax Vaccine Could Be Here by Summer
7hEven with two other vaccines authorized, Novavax is having no trouble recruiting volunteers for its U.S. trial. If all goes well, the U.S. could see 110 million doses in June.
Jeff Bezos Renews Focus on Blue Origin, Which Has Been Slower to Launch
8hThe Amazon founder started his private rocket company in 2000, but its busiest phase could just now be starting.
The White House Says That Space Force Has Its "Full Support"
8hNew Boss The incoming Biden administration may have gotten off on the wrong foot with the United States military's youngest service branch. During a press conference on Tuesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki appeared to make a dismissive comment about the Space Force when asked about the new military branch. "Wow, Space Force. It's the plane of today," she told reporters , a likely refere
Coronavirus latest: Thousands of Delhi schoolchildren vanish after lockdown exodus, say education officials
8h[no content]
America's Stonehenge: Inside the Rocky History of New Hampshire's Mystery Hill
8hRoadside attraction or archaeological proof of ancient civilizations on U.S. soil?
New radar tech takes unbelievably detailed moon images from Earth
8hA new, high-resolution image of the moon has been produced using radar astronomy. Objects as small as five meters wide are clearly visible. The image was part of a proof of concept test — a larger transmitter may soon be built. A successful test of a new radio transmitter by the National Science Foundation's Green Bank Observatory (GBO), the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), and Raythe
How does pain experienced in everyday life impact memory?
8hA new study conducted out of the University of Miami indicates that brain systems related to emotional distress could underlie the negative impacts of pain on memory in healthy individuals.
Dynamic 3D printing process features a light-driven twist
8hThe speed of light has come to 3D printing. Northwestern University engineers have developed a new method that uses light to improve 3D printing speed and precision while also, in combination with a high-precision robot arm, providing the freedom to move, rotate or dilate each layer as the structure is being built. The method introduces the 'on-the-fly' ability to manipulate the original design la
Partners Start Using Different Language Months Before They Break Up, Study Shows
8hWriting on the wall.
Inside the battery in 3D: Powerful X-rays watch solid state batteries charging and discharging
8hUsing high-speed X-ray tomography, researchers captured images of solid-state batteries in operation and gained new insights that may improve their efficiency.
Poll shows inequality in older adults' ability to isolate a COVID-positive person at home
8hAn important way to slow COVID-19 spread is for people who have tested positive to isolate themselves from the other people they live with. But a new poll suggests that nearly one in five older adults don't have the ability to do this, and highlights disparities by race, ethnicity, income and health. It also shows significant inequality in another key aspect of the pandemic: the ability to get out
New global 'wind atlas' propels sustainable energy
8hWind energy scientists at Cornell University have released a new global wind atlas – a digital compendium filled with documented extreme wind speeds for all parts of the world – to help engineers select the turbines in any given region and accelerate the development of sustainable energy.
RUDN University mathematicians developed new approach to 5g base stations operation
8hMathematicians from RUDN University suggested and tested a new method to assess the productivity of fifth-generation (5G) base stations. The new technology would help get rid of mobile access stations and even out traffic fluctuations.
One Pfizer/BioNTech jab gives '90% immunity' from Covid after 21 days
9hNew analysis runs counter to earlier study which suggested one dose may not give adequate protection Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage One dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine gives people about 90% protection from Covid by 21 days, according to an analysis of Israel's mass vaccination programme. The data analysis, carried out by researchers from the University of East
What Role Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 Vaccine Will Play In Ending The Pandemic
9hNPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Judy Twigg, a political scientist with Virginia Commonwealth University, about Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine and the role it will play in ending the pandemic.
What's the difference between psychological behaviorism and philosophical behaviorism?
9hsubmitted by /u/ilovechadscock [link] [comments]
Do you like weird art? Blame your brain! Researchers have now developed an algorithm that can predict art preferences by analyzing how a person's brain breaks down visual information and decides whether a painting is "good."
9hsubmitted by /u/melic [link] [comments]
What are some theories on the mental representation of language?
9hI was wondering about theories in cognitive science about language acquisition. In particular, how do cognitive scientists think language is represented in the brain? My intuition would be visual and spatial processes, but I'm curious about the diversity of competing theories out there. A very brief overview is sufficient; I can read up on them on my own. submitted by /u/Blutorangensaft [link] [c
Is there an app (Android/Windows) or at least someone who has tried 4 bit n-back etc.? I think it's an important part of n-back to allow more bits of information to be observed at once without having to separate it into unintuitive "colors" like cyan + blue and "shapes" like pentagon + star.
9hsubmitted by /u/SmolDan [link] [comments]
Vape Explodes, Knocking Out Man's Teeth
9hA man's e-cigarette exploded in his mouth, shattering several of his teeth and sending him to the hospital. Doctors at Queen's Medical Centre at Nottingham University Hospital held the 19-year-old man at the intensive are unit for about a day before sending him home, according to MEDizzy . But the patient left with several fewer teeth than he came in with, as the shattered bone was deemed irrepar
Kangaroo overgrazing could be jeopardising land conservation, study finds
9hThe native species has reached numbers that are contributing to drier soil and less vegetation – and may be more damaging to conservation areas than rabbits.
Hypoxia, a feature inside solid cancer tumors, reprograms methylation of ribosomal RNAs
9hHypoxia — where a tissue is deprived of an adequate supply of oxygen — is a feature inside solid cancer tumors that renders them highly invasive and resistant to treatment. Researchers now report that chronic hypoxia, surprisingly, upregulates RNA polymerase I activity and alters the methylation patterns on ribosomal RNAs. These altered epigenetic marks on the ribosomal RNAs appear to create a p
Heightened immigration enforcement has troubling impact on US citizen children
9hHarsher immigration law enforcement by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement leads to decreased use of prenatal care for immigrant mothers and declines in birth weight, according to new Duke University research. In the study, published in PLoS ONE, researchers examine the effects of the federal 287(g) immigration program.
New clues to how muscle wasting occurs in people with cancer
9hMuscle wasting, or the loss of muscle tissue, is a common problem for people with cancer, but the precise mechanisms have long eluded doctors and scientists. Now, a new study led by Penn State researchers gives new clues to how muscle wasting happens on a cellular level.
New piezoelectric material remains effective to high temperatures
9hPiezoelectric materials hold great promise as sensors and as energy harvesters but are normally much less effective at high temperatures, limiting their use in environments such as engines or space exploration. However, a new piezoelectric device developed by a team of researchers from Penn State and QorTek remains highly effective at elevated temperatures.
Kangaroo overgrazing could be jeopardising land conservation, study finds
9hAs a native animal, kangaroos aren't typically considered a threat to Australian vegetation.
Feed Fido fresh human-grade dog food to scoop less poop
9hFor decades, kibble has been our go-to diet for dogs. But the dog food marketplace has exploded in recent years, with grain-free, fresh, and now human-grade offerings crowding the shelves. All commercial dog foods must meet standards for complete and balanced nutrition, so how do consumers know what to choose?
Kangaroo overgrazing could be jeopardising land conservation, study finds
9hAs a native animal, kangaroos aren't typically considered a threat to Australian vegetation.
New piezoelectric material remains effective to high temperatures
9hPiezoelectric materials hold great promise as sensors and as energy harvesters but are normally much less effective at high temperatures, limiting their use in environments such as engines or space exploration. However, a new piezoelectric device developed by a team of researchers from Penn State and QorTek remains highly effective at elevated temperatures.
Feed Fido fresh human-grade dog food to scoop less poop
9hFor decades, kibble has been our go-to diet for dogs. But the dog food marketplace has exploded in recent years, with grain-free, fresh, and now human-grade offerings crowding the shelves. All commercial dog foods must meet standards for complete and balanced nutrition, so how do consumers know what to choose?
New Bacterium Linked to Chimp Deaths
9hThe newly discovered microbe seems to be responsible for a mysterious neurological disease that has killed dozens of critically endangered Western chimpanzees.
Amazon's Greatest Gadget Hits: Highlights of the Bezos Era
9hAmazon has made a lot of helpful, but also bizarre, stuff during CEO Jeff Bezos's reign. Here are some of our favorites.
Research indicates gender disparity in academic achievement and leadership positions
9hNew research on gender inequality indicates that fewer leadership prospects in the workplace apply even to women who show the most promise early on in their academic careers.
Scientists discover plants' roadblock to specialty oil production
9hHundreds of naturally occurring specialty fatty acids (building blocks of oils) have potential for use as raw materials for making lubricants, plastics, pharmaceuticals, and more—if they could be produced at large scale by crop plants. But attempts to put genes for making these specialty building blocks into crops have had the opposite effect: Seeds from plants with genes added to make specialty f
Project to block Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan moves forward
9hIt's not good news for some of the most foreboding fish in Illinois swimming their way toward Lake Michigan.
Scientists discover plants' roadblock to specialty oil production
9hHundreds of naturally occurring specialty fatty acids (building blocks of oils) have potential for use as raw materials for making lubricants, plastics, pharmaceuticals, and more—if they could be produced at large scale by crop plants. But attempts to put genes for making these specialty building blocks into crops have had the opposite effect: Seeds from plants with genes added to make specialty f
State-funded pre-K may enhance math achievement
9hIn the first longitudinal study to follow Georgia pre-K students through middle school, Stacey Neuharth-Pritchett, associate dean for academic programs and professor in UGA's Mary Frances Early College of Education, found that participating in pre-K programs positively predicted mathematical achievement in students through seventh grade.
Project to block Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan moves forward
9hIt's not good news for some of the most foreboding fish in Illinois swimming their way toward Lake Michigan.
This huge Xerox printer can create metal parts for the US Navy
9hThe printer is called the ElemX. (Xerox/) Xerox's new printer is 9 feet wide, 7 feet tall, and reaches an internal temperature of more than 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit. It's not an inkjet, of course—it's a 3D printer that can produce bespoke metal components. The Naval Postgraduate School, an grad institution for Naval officers and others, is the first place to put one of these massive Xerox machine
Science bill rankles Mexican research community
9hScientists feel ignored in debate over law that would reshape governance and funding
Research identifies more sustainable, cost-effective approach to treating citrus canker
9hAn important bacterial disease that affects citrus trees and causes lesions, citrus canker has been effectively controlled by spraying copper. However standard management techniques involve spraying excessive amounts of copper and water without consideration for the size of the trees.
Research identifies more sustainable, cost-effective approach to treating citrus canker
9hAn important bacterial disease that affects citrus trees and causes lesions, citrus canker has been effectively controlled by spraying copper. However standard management techniques involve spraying excessive amounts of copper and water without consideration for the size of the trees.
This Incredible Toy Teaches Kids Coding Without the Need for Screens
9hEducational toys aren't what they used to be. The days of flashcards, building blocks, and workbooks are as archaic as the lessons they taught. These days, if you want your child to have a competitive chance at a successful future, you have to prepare them with programs that will enrich the STEM curriculum. In fact, a recent study concluded that young children are more than capable to engage in t
MSK scientists learn how genes and environment conspire in pancreatic cancer development
9hBoth genes and environment are necessary to trigger pancreatic cancer development. A new study from Memorial Sloan Kettering researchers explains why.
Feed Fido fresh human-grade dog food to scoop less poop
9hFor decades, kibble has been our go-to diet for dogs. But the dog food marketplace has exploded in recent years, with grain-free, fresh, and now human-grade offerings crowding the shelves. All commercial dog foods must meet standards for complete and balanced nutrition, so how do consumers know what to choose?
New Photos Show Half-Finished SpaceX Super Heavy Booster
9hSuper Heavy According to new drone shots from its testing facilities in Boca Chica, Texas, SpaceX is making progress on building the first prototype of its Super Heavy rocket booster. According to Teslarati 's estimates , the prototype is roughly halfway built already. The gigantic 230-foot booster is meant to eventually ferry the company's Starship spacecraft into orbit. Starship and booster tog
Study examines role of biomarkers to evaluate kidney injury in cancer patients
9hA study by Mayo Clinic researchers published in Kidney International Reports finds that immune checkpoint inhibitors, may have negative consequences in some patients, including acute kidney inflammation, known as interstitial nephritis. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are used to treat cancer by stimulating the immune system to attack cancerous cells.
Research indicates gender disparity in academic achievement and leadership positions
9hNew research on gender inequality indicates that fewer leadership prospects in the workplace apply even to women who show the most promise early on in their academic careers.
First-in-human clinical trial confirms HIV vaccine approach by IAVI and Scripps Research
9hA phase 1 clinical trial testing a novel vaccine approach to prevent HIV has produced promising results, IAVI and Scripps Research announced today. The vaccine showed success in stimulating production of rare immune cells needed to start the process of generating antibodies against the fast-mutating virus; the targeted response was detected in 97 percent of participants who received the vaccine.
Study reveals neurons responsible for rapidly stopping behaviors, actions
9hFor the first time in humans, investigators at Cedars-Sinai have identified the neurons responsible for canceling planned behaviors or actions–a highly adaptive skill that when lost, can lead to unwanted movements.
Was 'Oumuamua a rock or an alien scout? Harvard astronomer talks controversial hypothesis in new book
9h'Oumuamua is the first known object we've observed coming to our solar system from somewhere beyond it. Most experts think it was just a very odd rock, but not everyone is so sure. Harvard astronomer Ari Loeb says the evidence is more consistent with it having been a light-sail spacecraft. If we became especially interested in another solar system and wanted to send an exploratory craft, how woul
Robots are speeding up the most boring job in astronomy
10hTelescopes retrofitted with hundreds of optical fibers dissect the light of stars and galaxies
Scientists call for fully open sharing of coronavirus genome data
10hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00305-7 Other researchers say that restrictions at the largest SARS-CoV-2 genome platform encourage fast sharing while protecting data providers' rights.
Women at higher-risk of fatal, nightime cardiac arrest
10hA new Cedars-Sinai study shows that during nighttime hours, women are more likely than men to suffer sudden death due to cardiac arrest. The findings were published in the journal Heart Rhythm.
Duckbill dinosaur's skull solves long-standing crest mystery
10hA newly-discovered, exceptionally well-preserved skull of the duckbill dinosaur Parasaurolophus answers questions about its signature crest and family tree. Parasaurolophus is instantly recognizable due to the giant crest that starts at its nose and arches back over the top of its head. But recovered specimens haven't had skulls that preserved the iconic crest very well—until now. Parasaurolophus
Research findings can help to increase population size of endangered species
10hThe findings of a new study examining the behaviors of alligator and caiman hatchlings have enhanced our understanding of how we can conserve, and increase, the population of endangered crocodilian species.
Unraveling the mystery of Gao, a protein implicated in movement disorders
10hScientists have clarified the workings of a mysterious protein called Gao, which is one of the most abundant proteins in the brain and, when mutated, causes severe movement disorders.
Digital health divide runs deep in older racial and ethnic minorities
10hResults of a study qualitatively exploring reasons for digital health information disparity reveal a deep digital health divide that has important implications for helping older adults with COVID-19 vaccinations. Participants who were older, less educated, economically disadvantaged and from ethnic groups (African American, Afro-Caribbean or Hispanic American) were up to five times less likely to
Robinhood Is Down to 1/5 Stars on Google Play
10hSecond Wave Once again, the now-infamous stock trading app Robinhood finds itself with an utterly abysmal rating on the Google Play Store. And this time, Google isn't going to save it, a company spokesperson told The Verge . Robinhood has become profoundly unpopular as of late, especially after it restricted users from buying shares in companies like GameStop and AMC in response to the Wall Stree
Multiseriate cortical sclerenchyma enhance root penetration in compacted soils [Agricultural Sciences]
10hMechanical impedance limits soil exploration and resource capture by plant roots. We examine the role of root anatomy in regulating plant adaptation to mechanical impedance and identify a root anatomical phene in maize (Zea mays) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) associated with penetration of hard soil: Multiseriate cortical sclerenchyma (MCS). We…
Macrophages inhibit and enhance endometriosis depending on their origin [Immunology and Inflammation]
10hMacrophages are intimately involved in the pathophysiology of endometriosis, a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by the growth of endometrial-like tissue (lesions) outside the uterus. By combining genetic and pharmacological monocyte and macrophage depletion strategies we determined the ontogeny and function of macrophages in a mouse model of induced endometriosis. We…
SLFN11 promotes CDT1 degradation by CUL4 in response to replicative DNA damage, while its absence leads to synthetic lethality with ATR/CHK1 inhibitors [Medical Sciences]
10hSchlafen-11 (SLFN11) inactivation in ∼50% of cancer cells confers broad chemoresistance. To identify therapeutic targets and underlying molecular mechanisms for overcoming chemoresistance, we performed an unbiased genome-wide RNAi screen in SLFN11-WT and -knockout (KO) cells. We found that inactivation of Ataxia Telangiectasia- and Rad3-related (ATR), CHK1, BRCA2, and RPA1 overcome…
Competitive history shapes rapid evolution in a seasonal climate [Evolution]
10hEco-evolutionary dynamics will play a critical role in determining species' fates as climatic conditions change. Unfortunately, we have little understanding of how rapid evolutionary responses to climate play out when species are embedded in the competitive communities that they inhabit in nature. We tested the effects of rapid evolution in…
A unified theory for organic matter accumulation [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
10hOrganic matter constitutes a key reservoir in global elemental cycles. However, our understanding of the dynamics of organic matter and its accumulation remains incomplete. Seemingly disparate hypotheses have been proposed to explain organic matter accumulation: the slow degradation of intrinsically recalcitrant substrates, the depletion to concentrations that inhibit microbial consumption,…
Pattern formation and polarity sorting of driven actin filaments on lipid membranes [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
10hCollective motion of active matter is ubiquitously observed, ranging from propelled colloids to flocks of bird, and often features the formation of complex structures composed of agents moving coherently. However, it remains extremely challenging to predict emergent patterns from the binary interaction between agents, especially as only a limited number…
Evolutionary dynamics at the tumor edge reveal metabolic imaging biomarkers [Applied Mathematics]
10hHuman cancers are biologically and morphologically heterogeneous. A variety of clonal populations emerge within these neoplasms and their interaction leads to complex spatiotemporal dynamics during tumor growth. We studied the reshaping of metabolic activity in human cancers by means of continuous and discrete mathematical models and matched the results to…
ARMC12 regulates spatiotemporal mitochondrial dynamics during spermiogenesis and is required for male fertility [Developmental Biology]
10hThe mammalian sperm midpiece has a unique double-helical structure called the mitochondrial sheath that wraps tightly around the axoneme. Despite the remarkable organization of the mitochondrial sheath, the molecular mechanisms involved in mitochondrial sheath formation are unclear. In the process of screening testis-enriched genes for functions in mice, we identified…
Kidney intercalated cells and the transcription factor FOXi1 drive cystogenesis in tuberous sclerosis complex [Medical Sciences]
10hTuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is caused by mutations in either TSC1 or TSC2 genes and affects multiple organs, including kidney, lung, and brain. In the kidney, TSC presents with the enlargement of benign tumors (angiomyolipomata) and cysts, which eventually leads to kidney failure. The factors promoting cyst formation and tumor…
Cooperativity between the orthosteric and allosteric ligand binding sites of ROR{gamma}t [Biochemistry]
10hCooperative ligand binding is an important phenomenon in biological systems where ligand binding influences the binding of another ligand at an alternative site of the protein via an intramolecular network of interactions. The underlying mechanisms behind cooperative binding remain poorly understood, primarily due to the lack of structural data of…
An mtDNA mutant mouse demonstrates that mitochondrial deficiency can result in autism endophenotypes [Neuroscience]
10hAutism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterized by a deficit in social communication, pathologic repetitive behaviors, restricted interests, and electroencephalogram (EEG) aberrations. While exhaustive analysis of nuclear DNA (nDNA) variation has revealed hundreds of copy number variants (CNVs) and loss-of-function (LOF) mutations, no unifying hypothesis as to the pathophysiology of ASD…
Comparative analysis of embryo proper and suspensor transcriptomes in plant embryos with different morphologies [Plant Biology]
10hAn important question is what genes govern the differentiation of plant embryos into suspensor and embryo proper regions following fertilization and division of the zygote. We compared embryo proper and suspensor transcriptomes of four plants that vary in embryo morphology within the suspensor region. We determined that genes encoding enzymes…
Science and Culture: Expedition artists paint a picture of science exploration [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
10hPatrick Kikut watched as the 18-foot raft carrying his supplies down the Green and Colorado Rivers headed into white water. Then the raft flipped. The walls of Utah's Cataract Canyon rose above him; his belongings, strapped to the capsized raft, bobbed along in the river before him. Seated in a…
Mechanistic transmission modeling of COVID-19 on the Diamond Princess cruise ship demonstrates the importance of aerosol transmission [Environmental Sciences]
10hSeveral lines of existing evidence support the possibility of airborne transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, quantitative information on the relative importance of transmission pathways of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains limited. To evaluate the relative importance of multiple transmission routes for SARS-CoV-2, we developed a…
Modeling SARS-CoV-2 viral kinetics and association with mortality in hospitalized patients from the French COVID cohort [Medical Sciences]
10hThe characterization of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral kinetics in hospitalized patients and its association with mortality is unknown. We analyzed death and nasopharyngeal viral kinetics in 655 hospitalized patients from the prospective French COVID cohort. The model predicted a median peak viral load that coincided with…
Mapping proteolytic neo-N termini at the surface of living cells [Biochemistry]
10hN terminomics is a powerful strategy for profiling proteolytic neo-N termini, but its application to cell surface proteolysis has been limited by the low relative abundance of plasma membrane proteins. Here we apply plasma membrane-targeted subtiligase variants (subtiligase-TM) to efficiently and specifically capture cell surface N termini in live cells….
Vaccine Centers in Cathedrals, Stadiums, and Parking Lots
10hAs more vaccines against COVID-19 become available and distribution keeps ramping up, governments and health-care institutions worldwide have set up centers to deliver as many vaccinations as possible. Gymnasiums, sports venues, and existing clinics have been readied, and early candidates are now passing through. Efforts are already underway in some areas to reach vulnerable populations living in
Danish scientists see tough times ahead as they watch more contagious COVID-19 virus surge
10hSome say the country should reopen—even if it causes cases to surge—once vulnerable populations are vaccinated
Nanotech plastic packaging could leach silver into some types of foods and beverages
10hAntimicrobial packaging is being developed to extend the shelf life and safety of foods and beverages. However, there is concern about the transfer of potentially harmful materials, such as silver nanoparticles, from these types of containers to consumables. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces illustrate that silver embedded in an antimicrobial plastic can leave the ma
Intranasal influenza vaccine spurs strong immune response in Phase 1 study
10hAn experimental single-dose, intranasal influenza vaccine was safe and produced a durable immune response when tested in a Phase 1 study. The investigational vaccine, called Ad4-H5-VTN, is a recombinant, replicating adenovirus vaccine designed to spur antibodies to hemagglutinin, a protein found on the surface of influenza viruses that attaches to human cells.
Extreme UV laser shows generation of atmospheric pollutant
10hScientists show that under laboratory conditions, ultraviolet light reacts with nitrophenol to produce smog-generating nitrous acid.
The Arctic Ocean was covered by a shelf ice and filled with freshwater
10hThe Arctic Ocean was covered by up to 900 m thick shelf ice and was filled entirely with freshwater at least twice in the last 150,000 years. This surprising finding is the result of long-term research. With a detailed analysis of the composition of marine deposits, the scientists could demonstrate that the Arctic Ocean as well as the Nordic Seas did not contain sea-salt in at least two glacial pe
Signal transfer in proteins across multiple time scales
10hConsider for a moment a tree swaying in the wind. How long does it take for the movement of a twig to reach the trunk of the tree? How is this motion actually transmitted through the tree? Researchers are transferring this kind of question to the analysis of proteins — which are the molecular machinery of cells.
State-funded pre-K may enhance math achievement
10hStudents who attend the Georgia Prekindergarten Program are more likely to achieve in mathematics than those who do not attend pre-K, according to a new study by the University of Georgia.
Rescheduling drugs to lower risk of abuse can reduce use, dangers
10hA new study examined lessons from past efforts worldwide to schedule and reschedule drugs to identify general patterns and found that rescheduling drugs can lower use as well as the dangers associated with the drug. The findings have implications for policy.
Få din smitte-status som QR-kode: 4 bud på fremtidens coronapas
10hRegeringen og erhvervslivet er klar med et digitalt coronapas om 3-4 måneder. Vi har set på nogle af de kandidater, der har en løsning klar.
New ink jet approach offers simple way to print microdisk lasers for biosensing
11hResearchers have developed a unique inkjet printing method for fabricating tiny biocompatible polymer microdisk lasers for biosensing applications. The approach enables production of both the laser and sensor in a room temperature, open-air environment, potentially enabling new uses of biosensing technologies for health monitoring and disease diagnostics.
Drone and landsat imagery shows long-term change in vegetation cover along intermittent river
11hIn the Namib Desert in southwestern Africa, the Kuiseb River, an ephemeral river which is dry most of the year, plays a vital role to the region. It provides most of the vegetation to the area and serves as a home for the local indigenous people, and migration corridor for many animals. The overall vegetation cover increased by 33% between 1984 and 2019, according to a Dartmouth study published in
Fungus that eats fungus could help coffee farmers
11hCoffee rust is a parasitic fungus and a big problem for coffee growers around the world. A study in the birthplace of coffee—Ethiopia—shows that another fungus seems to have the capacity to supress the rust outbreaks in this landscape.
A team of climatologists is studying how to minimize errors in observed climate trend
11hThe instrumental climate record is the cultural heritage of humankind, the result of the diligent work of many generations of people all over the world. However, the changes in the way in which temperature is measured, as well as the environment in which weather stations are located can produce spurious trends. An international study carried out by researchers from the Universitat Rovira i Virgili
Creating a 3-D-printed bioresorbable airway stent
11hNarrowing of the trachea or the main bronchi due to injury or illness can end very badly. If patients get too little air,oxygen, they risk suffocating and often need medical help as quickly as possible.
Could the Immune System Be Key to Alzheimer's Disease?
11hIncreasing evidence suggests that chronic inflammation takes a toll on the brain over the course of a lifetime.
Archaeologists Find a Mummy With a Golden Tongue
11hThe tongue, found at a temple on the outskirts of Alexandria, Egypt, was probably meant to help the deceased speak in the afterlife, experts said.
MIT Scientists Hack Spinach Plants to Send Emails
11hCircling Back MIT scientists are showing off engineered cyborg spinach plants that they say are capable of sending emails to their creators. The spinach doesn't have much on its mind, so it's thankfully not filling inboxes with idle chit-chat. Instead, it sticks to more crucial communications, Yahoo News reports , like sending out alerts whenever the carbon nanotubes built into its leaves detect
Fungus that eats fungus could help coffee farmers
11hCoffee rust is a parasitic fungus and a big problem for coffee growers around the world. A study in the birthplace of coffee—Ethiopia—shows that another fungus seems to have the capacity to supress the rust outbreaks in this landscape.
Marmoset monkeys eavesdrop and understand conversations between other marmosets
11hHumans continuously observe and evaluate interactions between third parties to decide with whom to interact in the future. But it is difficult to measure what information animals gain when they eavesdrop on vocal interactions between conspecifics: If they do understand such conversations, they do not necessarily exhibit behavioral expressions that can be easily observed. To overcome this hurdle, a
Marmoset monkeys eavesdrop and understand conversations between other marmosets
11hHumans continuously observe and evaluate interactions between third parties to decide with whom to interact in the future. But it is difficult to measure what information animals gain when they eavesdrop on vocal interactions between conspecifics: If they do understand such conversations, they do not necessarily exhibit behavioral expressions that can be easily observed. To overcome this hurdle, a
Author Correction: Transcript expression-aware annotation improves rare variant interpretation
11hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-03175-7
Author Correction: A structural variation reference for medical and population genetics
11hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-03176-6
Author Correction: The mutational constraint spectrum quantified from variation in 141,456 humans
11hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-03174-8
Author Correction: Evaluating drug targets through human loss-of-function genetic variation
11hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-03177-5
This AI maths whiz creates tough new problems for humans to solve
11hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00304-8 Algorithm named after mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan suggests interesting formulae, some of which are difficult to prove true.
Fewer Americans Are Getting COVID-19 Tests
11hDuring the early stages of the pandemic, the big story in the United States was testing: The federal government's initial failure to produce a working test and scale up its production meant that the country struggled for months to keep up with the virus's spread. In May, the Harvard Global Health Institute estimated that the U.S. needed to perform 1 million tests a day to contain the outbreak by
Fungus that eats fungus could help coffee farmers
11hCoffee rust is a parasitic fungus and a big problem for coffee growers around the world. A study in the birthplace of coffee – Ethiopia – shows that another fungus seems to have the capacity to supress the rust outbreaks in this landscape.
New ink jet approach offers simple way to print microdisk lasers for biosensing
11hResearchers have developed a unique inkjet printing method for fabricating tiny biocompatible polymer microdisk lasers for biosensing applications. The approach enables production of both the laser and sensor in a room temperature, open-air environment, potentially enabling new uses of biosensing technologies for health monitoring and disease diagnostics.
Uncovering recurring deletions in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that drive antibody escape
11hResearchers have identified a pattern of deletions in the spike (S) glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 that can prevent antibody binding. Virus lineages featuring this mechanism are currently being transmitted between individuals globally, they say.
How SARS-CoV-2 mutates to escape antibody binding
11hA scientific detective story starting with a single patient in Pittsburgh unearths how the SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates to create new variants, including the UK strain B.1.1.7, and escapes neutralizing antibodies.
Pioneering technique paves way for fast and cheap fabrication of rapid medical diagnostic tools
11hNew technology developed by the University of Bristol has the potential to accelerate uptake and development of on-chip diagnostic techniques in parts of the world where rapid diagnoses are desperately needed to improve public health, mortality and morbidity.
3D-printed bioresorbable airway stent
11hAn ETH Zurich research team is using 3D printing to produce a new type of bioresorbable airway stent. This could greatly simplify the future treatment of upper airway obstruction.
Marmoset monkeys eavesdrop and understand conversations between other marmosets
11hMarmoset monkeys perceive the vocal interactions between their conspecifics not just as a string of calls, but as coherent conversations. They also evaluate their content. These are the findings of a study by researchers at the University of Zurich which combined thermography methods with behavioral preference measures.
BU study: New vaginal film, MB66, is safe
11hResearchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Mapp Biopharmaceutical have now found that MB66, a vaginal film product containing monoclonal antibodies against human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) and herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and 2), is safe and effective.
Scientists propose new way to detect emotions using wireless signals
11hA novel artificial intelligence (AI) approach based on wireless signals could help to reveal our inner emotions, according to new research from Queen Mary University of London.
Forming sound memories: Autism gene plays key aspect in birdsong
11hInactivating a gene in young songbirds that's closely linked with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevents the birds from forming memories necessary to accurately reproduce their fathers' songs, a new study led by UT Southwestern shows.
Impact of spokesperson identity on sharing of public health messages
11hParticipants in an international survey study reported greater willingness to reshare a call for social distancing if the message was endorsed by well-known immunology expert Anthony Fauci, rather than a government spokesperson or celebrity. Ahmad Abu-Akel of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, and colleagues Andreas Spitz and Robert West of the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, repor
Smartwatch sensors enable remote monitoring & treatment guidance for Parkinson's patients
11hScientists have developed a monitoring system based on commercial smartwatches that can detect movement issues and tremors in patients with Parkinson's disease.
Eavesdropping marmosets understood other monkeys' conversations – and they judged
11hCaptive marmosets that listened in on recorded vocal interactions between other monkeys appeared to understand what they overheard – and formed judgements about one of the interlocutors as a result, according to behavioral analyses and thermal measurements that corresponded with the marmosets' emotional states. The findings suggest that the eavesdropping monkeys.
Spanish scientists identify a mechanism through which dendritic cells improve their antiviral and immunotherapy strategies
11hResearchers at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) have discovered that dendritic cells, which initiate specific immune responses, can reprogram their genes to improve their immune response
Insulin can be stored out of refrigeration in hot settings!
11hPatients with diabetes must keep a supply of insulin which must respect the cold chain. However not every household has a refrigerator. This forces people living with diabetes to go to hospital on a daily basis. MSF and UNIGE test insulin storage at temperatures ranging from 25°C to 37°C. The findings demonstrate that the stability of insulin stored under these conditions is the same as that of co
Martian landslides caused by underground salts and melting ice?
11hA team of researchers led by SETI Institute Senior Research Scientist Janice Bishop, a member of the SETI Institute NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) team, has come up with a theory about what is causing landslides on the surface of Mars. They hypothesize that ice melting in the near-surface regolith is causing changes at the surface that make it vulnerable to dust storms and wind. As a result, th
Vaccine milestone as global Covid jabs pass number of confirmed cases
11hFT tracker shows rapid growth in doses administered around world — but warnings come of long road ahead
After a Rocky Start, Novavax Vaccine Could Be Here by Summer
11hEven with two other vaccines authorized, Novavax is having no trouble recruiting volunteers for its U.S. trial. If all goes well, the U.S. could see 110 million doses in June.
Noninvasive imaging and quantification of bile salt hydrolase activity: From bacteria to humans
11hThe microbiome-produced enzyme bile salt hydrolase (BSH) plays a central role in human health, but its function remains unclear due to the lack of suitable methods for measuring its activity. Here, we have developed a novel optical tool based on ultrasensitive bioluminescent imaging and demonstrated that this assay can be used for quick and cost-effective quantification of BSH activity across a b
INFORM: INFrared-based ORganizational Measurements of tumor and its microenvironment to predict patient survival
11hThe structure and organization of a tumor and its microenvironment are often associated with cancer outcomes due to spatially varying molecular composition and signaling. A persistent challenge is to use this physical and chemical spatial organization to understand cancer progression. Here, we present a high-definition infrared imaging–based organizational measurement framework (INFORM) that leve
The rise of compound warm-season droughts in Europe
11hDrought is one of the main threats to food security and ecosystem productivity. During the past decades, Europe has experienced a series of droughts that caused substantial socioeconomic losses and environmental impacts. A key question is whether there are some similar characteristics in these droughts, especially when compared to the droughts that occurred further in the past. Answering this que
Immune synapse instructs epigenomic and transcriptomic functional reprogramming in dendritic cells
11hUnderstanding the fate of dendritic cells (DCs) after productive immune synapses (postsynaptic DCs) with T cells during antigen presentation has been largely neglected in favor of deciphering the nuances of T cell activation and memory generation. Here, we describe that postsynaptic DCs switch their transcriptomic signature, correlating with epigenomic changes including DNA accessibility and hist
Laminin {gamma}2-mediating T cell exclusion attenuates response to anti-PD-1 therapy
11hPD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapies provide notable clinical benefits for patients with advanced cancers, but the factors influencing the effectiveness of the treatment remain incompletely cataloged. Here, the up-regulation of laminin 2 (Ln-2) predicted the attenuated efficacy of anti–PD-1 drugs and was associated with unfavorable outcomes in patients with lung cancer or esophageal cancer. Furthermore,
Do marmosets understand others conversations? A thermography approach
11hWhat information animals derive from eavesdropping on interactions between conspecifics, and whether they assign value to it, is difficult to assess because overt behavioral reactions are often lacking. An inside perspective of how observers perceive and process such interactions is thus paramount. Here, we investigate what happens in the mind of marmoset monkeys when they hear playbacks of posit
KIF13A motors are regulated by Rab22A to function as weak dimers inside the cell
11hEndocytic recycling is a complex itinerary, critical for many cellular processes. Membrane tubulation is a hallmark of recycling endosomes (REs), mediated by KIF13A, a kinesin-3 family motor. Understanding the regulatory mechanism of KIF13A in RE tubulation and cargo recycling is of fundamental importance but is overlooked. Here, we report a unique mechanism of KIF13A dimerization modulated by Ra
Autism-linked gene FoxP1 selectively regulates the cultural transmission of learned vocalizations
11hAutism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterized by impaired learning of social skills and language. Memories of how parents and other social models behave are used to guide behavioral learning. How ASD-linked genes affect the intertwined aspects of observational learning and behavioral imitation is not known. Here, we examine how disrupted expression of the ASD gene FOXP1, which causes severe
Neural network involving medial orbitofrontal cortex and dorsal periaqueductal gray regulation in human alcohol abuse
11hPrompted by recent evidence of neural circuitry in rodent models, functional magnetic resonance imaging and functional connectivity analyses were conducted for a large adolescent population at two ages, together with alcohol abuse measures, to characterize a neural network that may underlie the onset of alcoholism. A network centered on the medial orbitofrontal cortex (mOFC), as well as including
Scalable representation of time in the hippocampus
11hHippocampal "time cells" encode specific moments of temporally organized experiences that may support hippocampal functions for episodic memory. However, little is known about the reorganization of the temporal representation of time cells during changes in temporal structures of episodes. We investigated CA1 neuronal activity during temporal bisection tasks, in which the sets of time intervals t
High-resolution 3D imaging uncovers organ-specific vascular control of tissue aging
11hBlood vessels provide supportive microenvironments for maintaining tissue functions. Age-associated vascular changes and their relation to tissue aging and pathology are poorly understood. Here, we perform 3D imaging of young and aging vascular beds. Multiple organs in mice and humans demonstrate an age-dependent decline in vessel density and pericyte numbers, while highly remodeling tissues such
Multicomponent reaction-derived covalent inhibitor space
11hThe area of covalent inhibitors is gaining momentum due to recently introduced clinical drugs, but libraries of these compounds are scarce. Multicomponent reaction (MCR) chemistry is well known for its easy access to a very large and diverse chemical space. Here, we show that MCRs are highly suitable to generate libraries of electrophiles based on different scaffolds and three-dimensional shapes
A single-nucleotide change underlies the genetic assimilation of a plastic trait
11hGenetic assimilation—the evolutionary process by which an environmentally induced phenotype is made constitutive—represents a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology. Thought to reflect adaptive phenotypic plasticity, matricidal hatching in nematodes is triggered by maternal nutrient deprivation to allow for protection or resource provisioning of offspring. Here, we report natural Caenorhabdi
Self-powered electro-tactile system for virtual tactile experiences
11hTactile sensation plays important roles in virtual reality and augmented reality systems. Here, a self-powered, painless, and highly sensitive electro-tactile (ET) system for achieving virtual tactile experiences is proposed on the basis of triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) and ET interface formed of ball-shaped electrode array. Electrostatic discharge triggered by TENG can induce notable ET sti
Martian subsurface cryosalt expansion and collapse as trigger for landslides
11hOn Mars, seasonal martian flow features known as recurring slope lineae (RSL) are prevalent on sun-facing slopes and are associated with salts. On Earth, subsurface interactions of gypsum with chlorides and oxychlorine salts wreak havoc: instigating sinkholes, cave collapse, debris flows, and upheave. Here, we illustrate (i) the disruptive potential of sulfate-chloride reactions in laboratory soi
Leveraging systems biology for predicting modulators of inflammation in patients with COVID-19
11hDysregulations in the inflammatory response of the body to pathogens could progress toward a hyperinflammatory condition amplified by positive feedback loops and associated with increased severity and mortality. Hence, there is a need for identifying therapeutic targets to modulate this pathological immune response. Here, we propose a single cell–based computational methodology for predicting pro
A diagnostic host response biosignature for COVID-19 from RNA profiling of nasal swabs and blood
11hSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), has emerged as the cause of a global pandemic. We used RNA sequencing to analyze 286 nasopharyngeal (NP) swab and 53 whole-blood (WB) samples from 333 patients with COVID-19 and controls. Overall, a muted immune response was observed in COVID-19 relative to other infections (influenza, ot
High-performance combinatorial optimization based on classical mechanics
11hQuickly obtaining optimal solutions of combinatorial optimization problems has tremendous value but is extremely difficult. Thus, various kinds of machines specially designed for combinatorial optimization have recently been proposed and developed. Toward the realization of higher-performance machines, here, we propose an algorithm based on classical mechanics, which is obtained by modifying a pr
Recruitment of archaeal DTD is a key event toward the emergence of land plants
11hStreptophyte algae emerged as a land plant with adaptations that eventually led to terrestrialization. Land plants encounter a range of biotic and abiotic stresses that elicit anaerobic stress responses. Here, we show that acetaldehyde, a toxic metabolite of anaerobic stress, targets and generates ethyl adducts on aminoacyl-tRNA, a central component of the translation machinery. However, elongati
On-demand biomanufacturing of protective conjugate vaccines
11hConjugate vaccines are among the most effective methods for preventing bacterial infections. However, existing manufacturing approaches limit access to conjugate vaccines due to centralized production and cold chain distribution requirements. To address these limitations, we developed a modular technology for in vitro conjugate vaccine expression (iVAX) in portable, freeze-dried lysates from deto
Digital light 3D printing of customized bioresorbable airway stents with elastomeric properties
11hCentral airway obstruction is a life-threatening disorder causing a high physical and psychological burden to patients. Standard-of-care airway stents are silicone tubes, which provide immediate relief but are prone to migration. Thus, they require additional surgeries to be removed, which may cause tissue damage. Customized bioresorbable airway stents produced by 3D printing would be highly need
Vaccine optimization for COVID-19: Who to vaccinate first?
11hVaccines, when available, will likely become our best tool to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Even in the most optimistic scenarios, vaccine shortages will likely occur. Using an age-stratified mathematical model paired with optimization algorithms, we determined optimal vaccine allocation for four different metrics (deaths, symptomatic infections, and maximum non-ICU and ICU hospitalizations) und
U.S. Cities Are Underestimating Their Greenhouse Gas Emissions
11hThe errors could make it more difficult for cities to meet goals for reducing their planet-warming footprint — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Why Insider 'Zoom Bombs' Are So Hard to Stop
11hResearchers have found that most calls to disrupt videoconferences originate with the participants, especially in high schools and colleges.
Life changes influence physical activity
11hLife changes influence the amount of physical activity in a person, according to a recent study. The birth of children and a change of residence, marital status and place of work all influence the number of steps of men and women in different ways.
Flower diversity may mitigate insecticide effects on wild bees
11hA higher diversity of flowering plants increases the breeding success of wild bees and may help compensate for the negative effects of insecticides. This is what researchers have found in a large-scale experimental study.
A deadly fungus is killing frogs, but the bacteria on their skin could protect them
11hResearchers have found that some bacteria on the skin of amphibians prevent growth of the fungus responsible for what has been dubbed 'the amphibian apocalypse'.
European hibernating bats cope with white-nose syndrome which kills North American bats
11hFungal diseases are a major threat to wildlife, sometimes resulting in significant population declines or even causing the extirpation of populations or species. White-nose syndrome, caused by the cold-loving fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, has become a major cause of death for millions of hibernating bats in North America. European bats survive when infected by the same fungus during hiberna
Marmosets eavesdrop on their neighbors—and judge them accordingly
11hFind has implications for understanding the evolution of socialization
New study uncovers rare 'mud carapace' mortuary treatment of Egyptian mummy
11hNew analysis of a 20th Dynasty mummified individual reveals her rare mud carapace, according to a study published February 3, 2021 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Karin Sowada from Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, and colleagues.
13-year analysis sheds new light on wheat crop disease patterns in Ethiopia
11hA new study of wheat rust—a fungal disease that can harm wheat crops—identifies previously unknown long-term trends and hotspots for wheat rust outbreaks in Ethiopia. A team of modelers from the University of Cambridge and the Universität Hamburg, along with surveillance experts from CIMMYT, EIAR and agricultural universities in Ethiopia, present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE
Martian landslides caused by underground salts and melting ice?
11hA team of researchers led by SETI Institute Senior Research Scientist Janice Bishop, a member of the SETI Institute NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) team, has come up with a theory about what is causing landslides on the surface of Mars.
Covid coughing study suggests NHS staff at far greater risk than thought
11hExclusive: Health service urged to rethink safety for frontline staff and provide better PPE and ventilation Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The NHS has been urged to rethink safety for thousands of frontline staff after new research suggested that Covid patients' coughing is putting them at far greater risk of catching the virus than previously thought. The study fo
Mars's mascara-like streaks may be caused by slush and landslides
11hThe Red Planet's dark streaks could be evidence of water, landslides, or now… both? (NASA/JPL/UArizona/) Mars appears to be weeping with the seasons. As the days grow warmer in the Martian summer, hundreds of thousands of dark streaks stain the planet's cliffs and craters, only to fade away until the following year. After more than a decade of controversy, a laboratory experiment may finally have
Consider these everlasting roses to keep on display for an entire year
11hValentine's Day Gifts (Stack Commerce/) Roses are great, especially for Valentine's Day, but those that come from a florist or traditional sources usually don't last more than a week. This holiday, why not consider roses that have been specially preserved to last a year or longer, giving your partner, friend or family member a reminder of your love all year. Here are a selection of preserved, fre
Biodiversity is its own catalyst — to a point
11hFor decades, scientists have wrestled with rival theories to explain how interactions between species, like competition, influence biodiversity. Tracking microbial life across the planet, researchers from McGill University show that biodiversity does in fact foster further diversity in microbiomes that are initially less diverse. However, diversity rates plateau with increased competition for surv
What the Biden-Harris administration means for chemistry
11hThe inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris marks a new era for science policy in the U.S. and beyond. The new administration has inherited a global pandemic and worsening climate change, among other science-related issues. A cover story in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, delves into what this means for chemists and chemistry as a w
A team of climatologists is studying how to minimize errors in observed climate trend
11hThese "homogenization methods" are a key step in converting the enormous effort made by observers into reliable data about climate change. The results of this research, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, have been published in the Journal of Climate of the American Meteorological Society.
Research identifies more sustainable, cost-effective approach to treating citrus canker
11hBehlau and his colleagues showed that it is possible to control citrus canker by spraying much less water and copper. "By adjusting both copper and water usage based on the volume of the citrus trees without affecting the quality of disease control, we have taken an important step to a more economically and environmentally sustainable citrus industry."
Can fixing protein synthesis rescue memory from Alzheimer's?
11hResearchers have identified a potential means to address the loss of cognitive function due to Alzheimer's disease by targeting protein synthesis in mice. The findings reveal that synthetic pharmaceuticals could rescue the activity of brain cells needed for memory formation. "This work is the first to show that reversing impaired protein synthesis in brains afflicted by Alzheimer's disease throug
13-year analysis sheds new light on wheat crop disease patterns in Ethiopia
11hA new study of wheat rust—a fungal disease that can harm wheat crops—identifies previously unknown long-term trends and hotspots for wheat rust outbreaks in Ethiopia. A team of modelers from the University of Cambridge and the Universität Hamburg, along with surveillance experts from CIMMYT, EIAR and agricultural universities in Ethiopia, present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE
Pioneering technique paves way for fast and cheap fabrication of rapid medical diagnostic tools
11hNew technology developed by the University of Bristol has the potential to accelerate uptake and development of on-chip diagnostic techniques in parts of the world where rapid diagnoses are desperately needed to improve public health, mortality and morbidity.
Surgeons Give Man New Face and Hands
11hJoe DiMeo, a 22-year-old from New Jersey, recently underwent an extremely rare face and hands transplant, the Associated Press reports — a testament to the advancements of modern medicine. After being badly burned in a car crash in 2018, DiMeo spent months in a medically induced coma and had to have 20 reconstructive surgeries and skin grafts. But the most recent operation carried out at the NYU
'A question of choices.' Pfizer vaccine leader on confronting new coronavirus variants
11hPhilip Dormitzer says retooled vaccines not certain, but booster shot could "lift all boats"
From waste heat to electrical power: A new generation of thermomagnetic generators
11hUse of waste heat contributes largely to sustainable energy supply. Scientists have now come much closer to their goal of converting waste heat into electrical power at small temperature differences. Electrical power per footprint of thermomagnetic generators based on Heusler alloy films has been increased by a factor of 3.4.
Fish in warming Scottish seas grow faster but reach a smaller size
11hResearchers have found new evidence that global warming is affecting the size of commercial fish species, documenting for the first time that juvenile fish are getting bigger, as well as confirming that adult fish are getting smaller as sea temperatures rise.
True identity of mysterious gamma-ray source revealed
11hAn international research team has shown that a rapidly rotating neutron star is at the core of a celestial object now known as PSR J2039?5617.
Ostriches challenged by temperature fluctuations
11hThe world's largest bird, the ostrich, has problems reproducing when the temperature deviates by 5 degrees or more from the ideal temperature of 20 °C.
How Zika virus is transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy
11hA preclinical study has discovered a new mechanism for how Zika virus can pass from mothers to their children during pregnancy – a process known as vertical transmission. The researchers showed, for the first time, that specialized maternal cells lining the uterus (decidual cells) act as reservoirs for trimester-dependent transmission of the virus through the placenta.
The quick choice might be a choice-overload avoidance strategy
11hMaking a choice quickly might appear effortless, but University at Buffalo research that measured cardiovascular responses in the moment of making a choice, rather than after-the-fact, suggests that the apparent swift certainty might instead be a defense from having to think too deeply about the choices being presented to them.
Popular breast cancer drugs don't work the way we thought they did
11hNew research suggests that a class of drugs called PARP inhibitors, designed to treat hereditary forms of ovarian and breast cancer, don't work the way we thought they did. It also paints a fuller picture of how they work, opening the door to improvements in next-generation drugs.
Drone and landsat imagery shows long-term change in vegetation cover along intermittent river
11hIn the Namib Desert in southwestern Africa, the Kuiseb River, an ephemeral river which is dry most of the year, plays a vital role to the region. It provides most of the vegetation to the area and serves as a home for the local indigenous people, and migration corridor for many animals. The overall vegetation cover increased by 33% between 1984 and 2019, according to a Dartmouth study published in
Nanotech plastic packaging could leach silver into some types of foods and beverages
11hAntimicrobial packaging is being developed to extend the shelf life and safety of foods and beverages. However, there is concern about the transfer of potentially harmful materials, such as silver nanoparticles, from these types of containers to consumables. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces illustrate that silver embedded in an antimicrobial plastic can leave the ma
Almost 30% of advanced manufacturing technologies used in Russia are acquired abroad
11hRussian enterprises have limited opportunities to carry out technological modernisation on their own. Their technological portfolios reveal a high dependence on imported solutions and a limited deployment of their own developments, HSE University researchers discovered.
Daily briefing: Court vacates the EPA's controversial 'transparency' rule
12hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00309-3 The US Environmental Protection Agency's much-maligned data rule is no more. Plus, explore the gut–brain axis and consider the pandemic's impact on mental health.
Ground-breaking evidence reveals scalp cooling physically protects hair follicles
12hGROUND-BREAKING research from the University of Huddersfield, announced ahead of World Cancer Day 2021, proves that scalp cooling physically protects hair follicles from chemotherapy drugs. It is the world's first piece of biological evidence that explains how scalp cooling actually works and the mechanism behind its protection of the hair follicle.
Altruism would undermine UK vaccine strategy | Letters
12hDonating your jab would undermine the rationale behind the prioritisation scheme, writes John Main. Plus letters from Ruth Eversley and Linda Murgatroyd It would be noble to give your vaccine slot to others ( Letters , 2 February), but it would undermine the rationale behind the prioritisation scheme. The elderly and vulnerable are hugely more likely to get seriously ill if they catch Covid and r
Book Excerpt from Resetting the Table
12hIn his book's introduction, author Robert Paarlberg advocates for the use of modern science in agriculture.
The high price of broadband is keeping people offline during the pandemic
12hBefore his 190-square-foot apartment in San Francisco's Tenderloin district was connected to the internet, Marvis Phillips depended on a friend with a laptop for his prolific letter-writing campaigns. Phillips, a community organizer, wrote each note by hand and mailed them, then his friend typed and sent the missives, via email and online comment forms, to the city supervisors, planning commissio
Scientists believe studies by colleagues are more prone to biases than their own studies
12hThe properties of human mind affect the quality of scientific knowledge through the insertion of unconscious cognitive biases. Scientists from the University of Turku, Finland, have found that the current level of awareness about research biases is generally low among ecology scientists. Underestimation of the risks associated with unconscious cognitive biases prevents avoiding these risks in a sc
Sneakerheads, not hypebeasts: Defining a sneaker-driven sub-culture
12hSneakers can be about style, history and even community. A new study reveals that for "Sneakerheads," sneakers are an important facet of their identities, particularly for African-American men who grew up in the 1970s and '80s coveting sneakers popularized by hip-hop stars and basketball legends.
This High Tech Air Purifier Is Incredibly Powerful, Incredibly Quiet, and Remarkably Eco-Friendly
12hEvery day you breathe in untold microscopic particles floating in the air. Dust, bacteria, mold, and other contaminants are often invisible to the naked eye but, can accumulate in your lungs and cause respiratory issues and other ailments. If you're concerned about the quality of the air you breathe in your home or office, an air purifier is a great way to improve the situation. And the Airdog X5
Oxygen Industry Scrambles To Keep U.S. Patients With COVID-19 Breathing
12hSupply shortages of oxygen for hospitals have plagued many countries, but the U.S. has averted the most dire — partly because the industry figured out new ways to share resources and anticipate needs. (Image credit: Frank Franklin II/AP)
Study finds consensus for arming school resource officers, division on arming teachers and other staff
12hIn the wake of repeated school shootings across the United States, today's youth have been called the mass shooting generation. A new study examined public support for arming school employees. The study found consensus for arming school resource officers, but division over whether to arm teachers and nonteaching staff. The research has clear implications for policy, including the possibility that
The economic value of insect pollination services is much higher than previously thought in the US
12hThe economic value of insect pollinators was $34 billion in the U.S. in 2012, much higher than previously thought, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and Penn State University. The team also found that areas that are economically most reliant on insect pollinators are the same areas where pollinator habitat and forage quality are poor.
The Ocean Is Rising Faster Than Anyone Feared
12hHigh Tide Bad news for the roughly 40 percent of humanity that lives near a coastline: A study shows that the sea level is rising faster than even the most pessimistic climate change models predicted. Scientists from the University of Copenhagen and Norway's Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research came up with a new way to measure the sea level's sensitivity to increasing temperature, which they pub
Moffitt researchers discover mechanism that regulates anti-tumor activity of immune cells
12hIn a new article published in Nature, Moffitt Cancer Center researchers demonstrate why some ovarian cancer patients evolve better than others and suggest possible approaches to improve patient outcomes.
Scientists discover plants' roadblock to specialty oil production
12hAttempts to put genes for making specialty fatty acids into crops have led to plants that make less oil. Now scientists have identified the mechanism behind the oil-production slowdown. The work paves the way for making at least one industrially important specialty fatty acid in plants–and may work for many others.
Most vulnerable often overlooked in clinical trials of new treatments for COVID-19
12hNot only are studies of COVID-19 treatments being conducted at locations that don't typically care for high proportions of Black and Hispanic patients, the studies frequently exclude individuals with high-risk chronic ailments or who are pregnant.
Evidence backs Darwin's theory about 'runt' flowers
12hCharles Darwin had the right idea about a type of self-pollination called cleistogamy in flowers, researchers find. Some plant species actually produce two types of flowers : "normal" ones that look great, and "runts" that are small, never open, and—rather than attract pollinating insects—instead pollinate themselves. In a study in Current Biology , Daniel Schoen of McGill University and Simon Jo
The Search for Aboriginal History Off the Coast of Australia
12hArchaeologists exploring the waters near Western Australia's Murujuga are finding ancient sites a short dive below the sea's surface
Sensor patch tracks pressure points in prosthetic limbs
12hA soft, flexible sensor system could help map problematic pressure points in the socket of an amputee's prosthetic limb, researchers report. The lightweight, soft textile-based sensor prototype patch incorporates a lattice of conductive yarns and is connected to a tiny computer. Researchers tested the system on a prosthetic limb and in walking experiments with two human volunteers and discovered
Quantum tunneling in graphene advances the age of terahertz wireless communications
12hScientists from MIPT, Moscow Pedagogical State University and the University of Manchester have created a highly sensitive terahertz detector based on the effect of quantum-mechanical tunneling in graphene. The sensitivity of the device is already superior to commercially available analogs based on semiconductors and superconductors, which opens up prospects for applications of the graphene detect
Fish in warming Scottish seas grow faster but reach a smaller size
12hResearchers have found new evidence that global warming is affecting the size of commercial fish species, documenting for the first time that juvenile fish are getting bigger, as well as confirming that adult fish are getting smaller as sea temperatures rise. The findings are published in the British Ecological Society's Journal of Applied Ecology.
'Ghost particle' ML model permits full quantum description of the solvated electron
12hThe behavior of the solvated electron e-aq has fundamental implications for electrochemistry, photochemistry, high-energy chemistry, as well as for biology—its nonequilibrium precursor is responsible for radiation damage to DNA—and it has understandably been the topic of experimental and theoretical investigation for more than 50 years.
Research highlights the need to incorporate nutritional counseling in cancer treatment
12hNew research and analysis appearing in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, published by Elsevier, highlights the barriers cancer survivors face in maintaining a healthy diet, as well as the role nutrition may play in cancer risk and treatment.
Preventive anti-clotting therapy does not boost survival of critically ill COVID patients
12hAlthough abnormal blood clotting has been identified as one of the primary causes of death from COVID-19, early treatment in an intensive care unit with therapeutic anticoagulation (anti-clotting) for adults who are critically ill with COVID-19 does not appear to improve chances of survival, and could do more harm than good by increasing the risk for major bleeding, a multicenter research group ca
The business of bees
12hThe economic value of insect pollinators was $34 billion in the U.S. in 2012, much higher than previously thought, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and Penn State University. The team also found that areas that are economically most reliant on insect pollinators are the same areas where pollinator habitat and forage quality are poor.
Standard water treatment eliminates enveloped viruses — like the coronavirus
12hAmong the many avenues that viruses can use to infect humans, drinking water may pose only a tiny risk for spreading certain viruses like the coronavirus. However, in cases where there is unauthorized wastewater disposal or other events of inadvertent mixing of wastewater with water sources, the possibility of transmission through drinking water remains unknown.
How modern robots are developed
12hRobots are interesting to neuroscience and neuroscience is interesting to robots – this is what the article 'Neuroengineering challenges of fusing robotics and neuroscience' was about in the journal Science Robotics. Such collaborative development contributes to progress in both fields, bringing us closer to developing more advanced android robots and a deeper understanding of the structure of the
Computerized adaptive screener may help identify youth at risk for suicide
12hResearchers funded by NIMH have developed a computerized adaptive screener to identify youth at risk for attempting suicide. The screener, called the computerized adaptive screen for suicidal youth, consists of 11 questions on average and correctly identified 82.4% of youth who went on to attempt suicide in the three months following screening. The results suggest this screener could serve as an e
Fish in warming Scottish seas grow faster but reach a smaller size
12hResearchers have found new evidence that global warming is affecting the size of commercial fish species, documenting for the first time that juvenile fish are getting bigger, as well as confirming that adult fish are getting smaller as sea temperatures rise. The findings are published in the British Ecological Society's Journal of Applied Ecology.
Det här säger forskningen om alkoholens hälsoeffekter
13hNu har EU lagt fram ett förslag om att märka alkoholflaskor med varningsetiketter. Detta eftersom forskning belagt att alkohol kan öka risken för flera olika cancerformer. Spela klippet för att höra alkoholforskaren berätta om tre risker med hög alkoholkonsumtion.
Ice Ages: What Causes the Earth to Freeze Over Every Few Million Years?
13hAt least five major ice ages have been documented in Earth's history. And guess what? You're living in an ice age right now. But don't expect the planet to chill over from pole to pole.
Astronomers Find Over 1,200 Dark Matter Hot Spots
13hSky Survey Scientists recently identified a whopping 1,210 new possible gravitational lenses — phenomena likely caused by enormous clumps of dark matter — thanks to artificial intelligence trained to hunt for them. Gravitational lenses, or ring-like illusions that happen when a star or galaxy's light is warped by dark matter's gravitational pull, can act as beacons that help us understand and map
Sneakerheads, not hypebeasts: Defining a sneaker-driven sub-culture
13hResearchers report new insights into the motivations, brand preferences and identity considerations of Sneakerheads.
Research looks at the link between procedures and everyday practice in community pharmacy
13hA study published in the journal Applied Ergonomics compared the standardised processes set out for community pharmacists to follow when dispending medication to what happens in reality. A gap was revealed and researchers also looked at the reasons for this.
Extreme blood sugar swings in people with type 2 diabetes may increase heart disease risk
13hIn patients with type 2 diabetes, big swings in blood sugar levels between doctors' visits are associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
Intranasal influenza vaccine spurs strong immune response in Phase 1 study
13hAn experimental single-dose, intranasal influenza vaccine was safe and produced a durable immune response when tested in a Phase 1 study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation . The investigational vaccine, called Ad4-H5-VTN, is a recombinant, replicating adenovirus vaccine designed to spur antibodies to hemagglutinin, a protein found on the surface of influenza viruses that attaches t
COVID-19 vaccination for patients with Parkinson's disease recommended
13hPatients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and healthcare professionals caring for them have expressed concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine's efficacy and safety in the specific context of PD and its symptomatic treatment. In a commentary just published in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease, a set of experts addresses these concerns from an evidence-based perspective. Their conclusion is that COVID-19
Aging-US: Sulforaphane promotes C. elegans longevity and healthspan
13h'The results in this Aging-US research output, indicate that sulforaphane prolongs the lifespan and healthspan of C. elegans through insulin/IGF-1 signaling.'
Aging-US: Sulforaphane promotes C. elegans longevity and healthspan
13h"The results in this Aging-US research output, indicate that sulforaphane prolongs the lifespan and healthspan of C. elegans through insulin/IGF-1 signaling."
Aging-US: Screening Alzheimer's disease by facial complexion using artificial intelligence
13hThis Aging-US study showed that deep learning programs such as Xception have the ability to differentiate the faces of patients with mild dementia from that of patients without dementia.
Aging-US: Anserine protected against cognitive decline
13hThe Aging-US results suggest that anserine protects elderly persons with MCI from cognitive declines by suppressing MPO-mediated neuroinflammatory responses.
Aging-US: A pro-diabetogenic mtDNA polymorphism in mitochondrial-derived peptide
13h'The m.1382A>C polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to T2D in men, possibly interacting with exercise, and contributing to the risk of T2D in sedentary males by reducing the activity of MOTS-c.'
Skin-resident innate lymphoid cells converge on a pathogenic effector state
13hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03188-w In studies using mouse models of psoriasis, a spectrum of innate lymphoid cell types is reconfigured and converges via multiple trajectories on a type 3-like state, demonstrating the range and flexibility of innate lymphoid cell responses in the skin.
Galaxy-Size Gravitational-Wave Detector Hints at Exotic Physics
13hRecent results from a pulsar timing array, which uses dead stars to hunt for gravitational waves, has scientists speculating about cosmic strings and primordial black holes — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Research findings can help to increase population size of endangered species
13hThe findings of a new study examining the behaviours of alligator and caiman hatchlings have enhanced our understanding of how we can conserve, and increase, the population of endangered crocodilian species.
Scientists believe studies by colleagues are more prone to biases than their own studies
13hThe properties of human mind affect the quality of scientific knowledge through the insertion of unconscious cognitive biases. Scientists from the University of Turku, Finland, have found that the current level of awareness about research biases is generally low among ecology scientists. Underestimation of the risks associated with unconscious cognitive biases prevents avoiding these risks in a sc
Study finds consensus for arming school resource officers, division on arming teachers and other staff
13hA new study examined public support for arming school employees. The study found consensus for arming school resource officers, but division over whether to arm teachers and nonteaching staff. The research has clear implications for policy, including the possibility that support for arming school staff may diminish over time as young people (who are less supportive) make up a larger share of voter
Study reveals gender imbalance in scholarly submissions during pandemic
13hA study conducted by Michelle Bell, Mary E. Pinchot Professor of Environmental Health at the Yale School of the Environment (YSE), and postdoctoral associate Kelvin C. Fong found the rate of manuscript submission to a major peer-reviewed journal (American Journal of Public Health) were higher during the pandemic — but also revealed a concerning imbalance in submissions by gender.
An innovative and non-destructive strategy to analyse material from Mars
13hThe UPV/EHU's IBeA research group, which includes experts in Raman spectroscopy, is currently analysing meteorites with the aim of developing non-destructive analytical strategies for upcoming explorations of Mars materials by the Perseverance rover, shortly due to arrive at the red planet. The strategies will also be used to examine materials collected by the Rosalind Franklin rover and returned
Intensity not paramount for physical training during cancer therapy
13hPeople receiving treatment for cancer are known to feel better with physical training. But does it make any difference how vigorously they exercise? A new study by researchers at Uppsala University shows that whether the training is intensive or rather less strenuous, its effect is roughly the same. The results are published in the journal Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports .
Galaxy-Size Gravitational-Wave Detector Hints at Exotic Physics
13hRecent results from a pulsar timing array, which uses dead stars to hunt for gravitational waves, has scientists speculating about cosmic strings and primordial black holes — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Tesla Will Recall 134,000+ Vehicles Affected by Inevitable eMMC Failure
13hTesla will recall every Model S and Model X vehicle that shipped with an 8GB eMMC NAND flash chip. Affected vehicles were produced between 2012-2018 (Model S) and 2016-2018 (Model X). Those produced after 2018 are configured with additional storage capacity and will not fail in the same fashion. Any Model S or Model X with an 8GB Media Control Unit (MCU) will eventually fail , as we covered last
The UK and South African Covid-19 variants are cause for vigilance, not panic | Julian Tang
13hEven a partially protective vaccine may reduce the risk of more severe illness. But that doesn't mean we can let our guard down Julian Tang is a clinical virologist and honorary associate professor at the University of Leicester Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage It's hard to believe, but Covid-19 has been with us for more than a year , and like the rest of us, it is be
These Lizards Have a Hot Trick to Escape Hungry Snakes
13hOn some Japanese islands where lizards live, the ones that fear predators have higher body temperatures that help them run faster.
How Our Relationships Affect What We Eat
13hIn my first serious long-term relationship, my ex hated three things that I loved—salmon, spicy food, and runny egg yolks. Food was often a bone of contention. I was a chef then and found it soul-crushing when my ex chose a Kraft Singles grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of Campbell's tomato soup over the many meals I made. Once, after what I thought was a successful housewarming dinner party, I
Swiss medical regulator rejects Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid vaccine
13hSwissMedic says available trial data 'not yet sufficient' to authorise its use
Study updates safer options for fall armyworm control in Africa
13hCABI scientists have updated the first major study of potential biological controls that could be used in the fight against the devastating fall armyworm in Africa. The research offers new insight into evidence of their efficacy in the field and increased availability as commercial products.
Study updates safer options for fall armyworm control in Africa
13hCABI scientists have updated the first major study of potential biological controls that could be used in the fight against the devastating fall armyworm in Africa. The research offers new insight into evidence of their efficacy in the field and increased availability as commercial products.
Improving photosynthesis: Our best bet to create a food secure world
13hAustralian agriculture plays a key role towards providing food for the planet but it is also expected to be one of the world's most impacted areas from climate change.
Thanks to machine learning, the future of catalyst research is now
13hTo date, research in the field of combinatorial catalysts has relied on serendipitous discoveries of catalyst combinations. Now, scientists from Japan have streamlined a protocol that combines random sampling, high-throughput experimentation, and data science to identify synergistic combinations of catalysts. With this breakthrough, the researchers hope to remove the limits placed on research by r
The Head of NASA Says He's Not Quite Sure About SpaceX's Starship
13hTime Crunch Steve Jurczyk, the new acting administrator of NASA, has supported SpaceX for years . But when it comes to SpaceX's Starship, the spacecraft designed to bring humans into Earth's orbit and even to the Moon and Mars, Jurczyk says he's not quite sure how it's going to fit into NASA's plans. The problem, he said, is that it's been hard to pin SpaceX down on specific timelines. That's a c
Quantum tunneling in graphene advances the age of terahertz wireless communications
13hScientists from MIPT, Moscow Pedagogical State University and the University of Manchester have created a highly sensitive terahertz detector based on the effect of quantum-mechanical tunneling in graphene. The sensitivity of the device is already superior to commercially available analogs based on semiconductors and superconductors, which opens up prospects for applications of the graphene detect
Maternal mental health needs attention during COVID-19 lockdowns
13hMothers are at increased risk of mental health problems as they struggle to balance the demands of childcare and remote working in COVID-19 lockdowns, according to new research from an international team of researchers.
Ostriches challenged by temperature fluctuations
13hThe world's largest bird, the ostrich, has problems reproducing when the temperature deviates by 5 degrees or more from the ideal temperature of 20 °C. The research, from Lund University in Sweden, is published in Nature Communications.
Fish in warming Scottish seas grow faster but reach a smaller size
13hResearchers have found new evidence that global warming is affecting the size of commercial fish species, documenting for the first time that juvenile fish are getting bigger, as well as confirming that adult fish are getting smaller as sea temperatures rise. The findings are published in the British Ecological Society's Journal of Applied Ecology .
Synthetic biology reinvents development
13hThe research team have used synthetic biology to develop a new type of genetic design that can reproduce some of the key processes that enable creating structures in natural systems, from termite nests to the development of embryos.
CDDEP's report 'The State of the World's Antibiotics' highlights the growing threat of AMR
13hResearchers at CDDEP have released, The State of the World's Antibiotics in 2021, which presents extensive data on global antimicrobial use and resistance as well as drivers and correlates of antimicrobial resistance, based on CDDEP's extensive research and data collection through ResistanceMap (www.resistancemap.org), a global repository that has been widely used by researchers, policymakers, and
Hierarchical dynamics
13hResearchers investigate signal transfer in proteins across multiple time scales
True identity of mysterious gamma-ray source revealed
13hAn international research team including members from The University of Manchester has shown that a rapidly rotating neutron star is at the core of a celestial object now known as PSR J2039?5617
"Ghost particle" ML model permits full quantum description of the solvated electron
13hPinning down the nature of bulk hydrated electrons has proven difficult experimentally because of their short lifetime and high reactivity. Theoretical exploration has been limited by the high level of electronic structure theory needed to achieve predictive accuracy. Now, joint work from teams at the University of Zurich and EPFL has resulted in a highly accurate machine-learning model inexpensiv
Minority patients miss out on cystic fibrosis drugs due to genetic test limitations
13hThere is an impassioned debate taking place in medicine on whether race-based considerations should be a factor in research, diagnoses, or treatments.
Scientists observe strange behavior in universe's strongest magnets
14hIn a new study, scientists describe a magnetar's bizarre behavior. Magnetars are neutron stars with extremely powerful magnetic fields. The strange space objects also emit radio bursts that reach Earth. Astronomers recently witnessed very strange behavior from a magnetar, a peculiar kind of rotating neutron star that also happens to be one of the strongest magnets in the universe. Magnetars are e
How will psychiatrists administer psychedelic treatments?
14hPsychedelic therapy is predicted to become a $7 billion industry by 2027. Emerging research on psilocybin, MDMA, ibogaine, and LSD is showing a lot of promise in treating a variety of conditions. Therapists will not be able to write a script and send patients on their way, which will create a new training model. Psychedelic therapy is imminent. Within six years, the market for this new wave of th
Improving photosynthesis: Our best bet to create a food secure world
14hAustralian agriculture plays a key role towards providing food for the planet but it is also expected to be one of the world's most impacted areas from climate change.
Oxford AstraZeneca Data, Again
14hWe have some more data to mull over with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. The situation so far has been pretty confused, with various efficacy numbers appearing from different people in different venues. It's fair to say that the rollout of the clinical data has not gone smoothly, and that it's done the effort no favors. As many will recall, the current big questions are whether a lower first dose
CABI study updates safer options for fall armyworm control in Africa
14hCABI scientists have updated the first major study of potential biological controls that could be used in the fight against the devastating fall armyworm in Africa. The research offers new insight into evidence of their efficacy in the field and increased availability as commercial products.
Increased risk of dying from COVID for people with severe mental disorders
14hPeople with severe mental disorders have a significantly increased risk of dying from COVID-19. This has been shown in a new study from Umeå University and Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. Among the elderly, the proportion of deaths due to COVID-19 was almost fourfold for those with severe mental disorders compared to non-mentally ill people in the same age.
Two studies shed light on how, where body can add new fat cells
14hDALLAS – Feb. 3, 2021 – Gaining more fat cells is probably not what most people want, although that might be exactly what they need to fight off diabetes and other diseases. How and where the body can add fat cells has remained a mystery – but two new studies from UT Southwestern provide answers on the way this process works.
Epigenomic map reveals circuitry of 30,000 human disease regions
14hMIT researchers have published the most comprehensive map yet of noncoding DNA circuitry, helping elucidate candidate mechanisms for 30,000 disease-associated regions.
Personalized screening to identify teens with high suicide risk
14hResearchers have developed a personalized system to better detect suicidal youths.
Soil bacteria hormone discovery provides fertile ground for new antibiotics
14hThe discovery of how hormone-like molecules turn on antibiotic production in soil bacteria could unlock the untapped opportunities for medicines that are under our very feet.An international team of scientists working at the University of Warwick, UK, and Monash University, Australia, have determined the molecular basis of a biological mechanism that could enable more efficient and cost-effective
COVID-19 outcomes among individuals living with, without HIV in New York State
14hCOVID-19 outcomes including hospitalization and in-hospital death were compared between people living with or without diagnosed HIV in New York State.
Emergency department visits for mental health, overdose and violence before, during COVID-19 pandemic
14hData from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were used to look at changes in emergency department visits for mental health, suicide attempts, drug and opioid overdoses and outcomes of violence before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Arctic Ocean was covered by a shelf ice and filled with freshwater
14hScientists from Alfred Wegener Institute: "We need to have a fresh look at the role of the Arctic Ocean."
Discoveries at the edge of the periodic table: first ever measurements of einsteinium
14hSince element 99 – einsteinium – was discovered in 1952 at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) from the debris of the first hydrogen bomb, scientists have performed very few experiments with it because it is so hard to create and is exceptionally radioactive. A team of Berkeley Lab chemists has overcome these obstacles to report the first study character
Reply to: On the measured dielectric constant of amorphous boron nitride
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-03163-x
Issues with combining incompatible and sterile insect techniques
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-03164-w Issues with combining incompatible and sterile insect techniques
On the measured dielectric constant of amorphous boron nitride
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-03162-y
Mysterious einsteinium spills its secrets
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00306-6 Exploring the properties of a vanishingly-rare man-made element, and the AI that generates new mathematical conjectures.
Reply to: Issues with combining incompatible and sterile insect techniques
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-03165-9 Reply to: Issues with combining incompatible and sterile insect techniques
Viscoelastic control of spatiotemporal order in bacterial active matter
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-03168-6 Introducing viscoelasticity by addition of DNA into the fluid surrounding a suspension of Escherichia coli produces a giant oscillating vortex with a period controllable through the DNA concentration.
Bayesian reaction optimization as a tool for chemical synthesis
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03213-y Bayesian optimization is applied in chemical synthesis towards the optimization of various organic reactions and is found to outperform scientists in both average optimization efficiency and consistency.
Elevated NSD3 histone methylation activity drives squamous cell lung cancer
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-03170-y The histone H3K36 methyltransferase NSD3, which is associated with the common 8p11–12 chromosomal amplification, is an oncogenic driver in lung squamous cell carcinoma.
A gene–environment-induced epigenetic program initiates tumorigenesis
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-03147-x In mouse models of pancreatic cancer, a cooperative interaction between tissue damage and Kras gene mutation rapidly induces cancer-associated chromatin states in pre-malignant tissue, leading to gene dysregulation and neoplastic transformation.
Ubiquitin ligation to F-box protein targets by SCF–RBR E3–E3 super-assembly
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03197-9 Cryo-electron microscopy of neddylated SCF-family ligases interacting with the RBR-type E3 ligase ARIH1 reveals the steps through which E3–E3 super-assemblies ubiquitylate a diverse set of substrates presented on F-box proteins.
Molecular basis for control of antibiotic production by a bacterial hormone
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03195-x X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy structures of the transcriptional repressor of the methylomycin gene cluster, MmfR, reveal the molecular basis for regulation of antibiotic biosynthesis by AHFCA hormones in Actinobacteria.
Regulatory genomic circuitry of human disease loci by integrative epigenomics
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-03145-z The authors present EpiMap, a compendium that comprises 10,000 epigenomic maps across more than 800 biosamples for the annotation of genome-wide association study circuitry.
Function and regulation of the divisome for mitochondrial fission
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03214-x The functional and regulatory aspects of the 'mitochondrial divisome' are separated into core and accessory machinery, thus providing a mechanistic understanding of the process of mitochondrial fission.
Antiferromagnetic half-skyrmions and bimerons at room temperature
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03219-6 A family of topological antiferromagnetic spin textures is realized at room temperature in α-Fe2O3, and their reversible and field-free stabilization using a Kibble–Zurek-like temperature cycling is demonstrated.
Glacial episodes of a freshwater Arctic Ocean covered by a thick ice shelf
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03186-y Unexpected intervals of low 230Th concentration in marine sediment cores are explained by considering that during at least two such periods, the Arctic Ocean and Nordic seas were composed entirely of fresh water and covered by a thick ice shelf.
BRCA1 and RNAi factors promote repair mediated by small RNAs and PALB2–RAD52
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-03150-2 Single-stranded, DNA-damage-associated small RNAs generated by a BRCA1–RNA-interference complex promote PALB2–RAD52-mediated DNA repair at transcriptional termination pause sites that contain R-loops and are rich in single-stranded DNA breaks in both quiescent and proliferating cells.
Structural and spectroscopic characterization of an einsteinium complex
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-03179-3 An einsteinium coordination complex is synthesized and spectroscopically characterized using less than 200 nanograms of einsteinium, enabling examination of its structure and measurement of an einsteinium bond distance.
Generating conjectures on fundamental constants with the Ramanujan Machine
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03229-4 An approach called the Ramanujan Machine demonstrates the use of algorithms to find mathematical conjectures in the form of formulas of fundamental constants, some of which remain unproved.
Developing fibrillated cellulose as a sustainable technological material
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-03167-7 Opportunities for the application of fibrillated cellulose materials—which can be extracted from renewable resources—and broader manufacturing issues of scale-up, sustainability and synergy with the paper-making industry are discussed.
IgA transcytosis and antigen recognition govern ovarian cancer immunity
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-020-03144-0 In patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer, robust and protective humoral responses are dominated by B-cell-derived polyclonal IgA that binds to polymeric IgA receptors that are universally expressed on ovarian cancer cells.
Dynamic regulation of TFH selection during the germinal centre reaction
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03187-x T follicular helper cells undergo antigen-dependent selection in germinal centres, with higher-affinity T cell receptors supporting stronger proliferation leading to their clonal dominance.
Machine learning made easy for optimizing chemical reactions
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00209-6 An accessible machine-learning tool has been developed that can accelerate the optimization of a wide range of synthetic reactions — and reveals how cognitive bias might have undermined optimization by humans.
Mutation alters chromatin changes during injury response to drive cancer
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00211-y Cancer-associated mutations promote the formation of pancreatic tumours after tissue injury, but how this occurs is unclear. Changes to chromatin in injured cells with such mutations explain this predisposition to malignancy.
An epigenetic tipping point in cancer comes under the microscope
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00002-5 Two studies show that some cancers are driven by genetic changes in the NSD3 protein that alter its enzymatic activity. Biochemical and structural characterization hints at a route to pharmacological reversal.
The Arctic Ocean might have been filled with freshwater during ice ages
14hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00208-7 A geochemical study of sediments suggests that, during recent glacial periods, the Arctic Ocean was completely isolated from the world ocean, with fresh water filling the basin for thousands of years.
FAA Says It Will Investigate SpaceX's Latest Starship Explosion
14hFAA Drama SpaceX's second massive Starship prototype, dubbed SN9, exploded in a gigantic fireball after another hard landing on Tuesday afternoon — and the Federal Aviation Administration is not happy about it. The FAA is officially investigating the explosion, according to a new statement it issued last night. The agency said in the statement that it will "oversee the investigation of [Tuesday's
The space tourism we were promised is finally here—sort of
14hSpaceX weathered through the onset of the covid-19 pandemic last year to become the first private company to launch astronauts into space using a commercial spacecraft. It's poised to build on that success with another huge milestone before 2021 is over. On Monday, the company announced plans to launch the first "all-civilian" mission into orbit by the end of the year. Called Inspiration4, the mi
Death of EPA's controversial 'censored science' rule delights researchers
14hLengthy battle over regulators' use of confidential data ends in Montana courtroom
NASA creates new senior climate advisor role
14hNASA announced Wednesday it was creating a new position of senior climate advisor as part of the administration of President Joe Biden's climate science objectives for the agency.
European hibernating bats cope with white-nose syndrome which kills North American bats
14hFungal diseases are a major threat to wildlife, sometimes resulting in significant population declines or even causing the extirpation of populations or species. White-nose syndrome, caused by the cold-loving fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, has become a major cause of death for hibernating bats in North America. European bats survive when infected by the same fungus during hibernation. What a
A revolutionary approach to increasing crop yield in rice
14hA group of scientists led by Drs Toshinori Kinoshita and Maoxing Zhang (Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules,Nagoya University, Japan) and Dr. Yiyong Zhu (Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, China) have developed a method which, by increasing the numbers of a plasma membrane proton pump gene in rice, simultaneously incr
A deadly fungus is killing frogs, but the bacteria on their skin could protect them
14hResearchers in Costa Rica have found that some bacteria on the skin of amphibians prevent growth of the fungus responsible for what has been dubbed 'the amphibian apocalypse'.
On the dot: Novel quantum sensor provides new approach to early diagnosis via imaging
14hOxygen is essential for human life, but within the body, certain biological environmental conditions can transform oxygen into aggressively reactive molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage DNA, RNA, and proteins. Normally, the body relies on molecules called antioxidants to convert ROS into less dangerous chemical species through a process called reduction. But unhealthy l
Mailing it in: Getting the word out on getting the ballots in
14hThe coronavirus pandemic forced states across the nation to transform the way their residents voted in 2020, ramping up get-out-the-vote messaging and allowing for more people than ever to vote by mail.
What impact does Airbnb have on local housing prices and rents?
14hAccording to new research, the presence of an Airbnb property can actually contribute to an increase in housing prices and rental rates in a local neighborhood. But it depends on where the property is located.
European hibernating bats cope with white-nose syndrome which kills North American bats
14hFungal diseases are a major threat to wildlife, sometimes resulting in significant population declines or even causing the extirpation of populations or species. White-nose syndrome, caused by the cold-loving fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, has become a major cause of death for hibernating bats in North America. European bats survive when infected by the same fungus during hibernation. What a
A revolutionary approach to increasing crop yield in rice
14hA group of scientists led by Drs Toshinori Kinoshita and Maoxing Zhang (Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules,Nagoya University, Japan) and Dr. Yiyong Zhu (Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, China) have developed a method which, by increasing the numbers of a plasma membrane proton pump gene in rice, simultaneously incr
A deadly fungus is killing frogs, but the bacteria on their skin could protect them
14hResearchers in Costa Rica have found that some bacteria on the skin of amphibians prevent growth of the fungus responsible for what has been dubbed 'the amphibian apocalypse'.
This fast French military boat can crawl from water to land without wheels
14hThose caterpillar treads fold back up into the boat for speedy travel when it's in the water. (Iguana Yachts/) A French amphibious boat that employs caterpillar treads instead of wheels has seduced the U.S. Navy. In late 2020 it bought two of them, called Iguana Interceptors, for shallow-water surveillance missions. Amphibious boats are certainly not a new concept. In the 20th century, notably du
Nu ökar virushalterna i avloppsvattnet igen
14hVirushalterna i avloppsvattnet sjönk de senaste veckorna i Göteborg, Stockholm och Uppsala. Preliminära resultat från tre olika forskningsstudier visar nu på att den nedåtgående trenden har brutits i alla tre städerna.
Soil bacteria hormone discovery provides fertile ground for new antibiotics
14hThe discovery of how hormone-like molecules turn on antibiotic production in soil bacteria could unlock the untapped opportunities for medicines that are under our very feet.
From rust to riches: Computing goes green—or is that brown?
14hCurrent silicon-based computing technology is energy-inefficient. Information and communications technology is projected to use over 20% of global electricity production by 2030. So finding ways to decarbonise technology is an obvious target for energy savings. Professor Paolo Radaelli from Oxford's Department of Physics, working with Diamond Light Source, the U.K."s national synchrotron, has been
The Arctic Ocean was covered by a shelf ice and filled with freshwater
14hThe Arctic Ocean was covered by up to 900-meter-thick shelf ice and was filled entirely with freshwater at least twice in the last 150,000 years. This surprising finding, reported in the latest issue of the journal Nature, is the result of long-term research by scientists from the Alfred Wegener Institute and the MARUM. With a detailed analysis of the composition of marine deposits, the scientists
Discoveries at the edge of the periodic table: First ever measurements of einsteinium
14hSince element 99—einsteinium—was discovered in 1952 at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) from the debris of the first hydrogen bomb, scientists have performed very few experiments with it because it is so hard to create and is exceptionally radioactive. A team of Berkeley Lab chemists has overcome these obstacles to report the first study characterizin
Soil bacteria hormone discovery provides fertile ground for new antibiotics
14hThe discovery of how hormone-like molecules turn on antibiotic production in soil bacteria could unlock the untapped opportunities for medicines that are under our very feet.
Mysterious Element 'Einsteinium' Measured by Scientists For The First Time
14hDiscovered in the debris of the hydrogen bomb.
Life on Venus Claim Faces Strongest Challenge Yet
14hNew studies knock down a controversial report observing phosphine in the planet's atmosphere — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
From waste heat to electrical power: A new generation of thermomagnetic generators
14hUse of waste heat contributes largely to sustainable energy supply. Scientists of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and T?hoku University in Japan have now come much closer to their goal of converting waste heat into electrical power at small temperature differences. As reported in Joule, electrical power per footprint of thermomagnetic generators based on Heusler alloy films has been increa
Life changes influence physical activity
14hLife changes influence the amount of physical activity in a person, according to a recent study by the University of Jyväskylä. The birth of children and a change of residence, marital status and place of work all influence the number of steps of men and women in different ways.
Thanks to machine learning, the future of catalyst research is now!
14hTo date, research in the field of combinatorial catalysts has relied on serendipitous discoveries of catalyst combinations. Now, scientists from Japan have streamlined a protocol that combines random sampling, high-throughput experimentation, and data science to identify synergistic combinations of catalysts. With this breakthrough, the researchers hope to remove the limits placed on research by r
Some Proteins Change Their Folds to Perform Different Jobs
14hProteins are molecular origami at its finest. Classically, a protein is imagined as a chain of amino acids that folds into a single stable configuration, one that evolution has selected over the ages for a particular function. But in the last few years, biophysicists have learned how numerous and extraordinary the exceptions to that rule are — including some two-faced proteins that can refold as
TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat — and the rise of bite-sized content | Qiuqing Tai
14hShort videos — 60 seconds or less, made and shared on apps like TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram — are more than just a fun way to pass the time; they've transformed how we work, communicate and learn. Digital strategist Qiuqing Tai explores the explosive rise of bite-sized content and forecasts its promise as an economic and social force.
Denmark to launch coronavirus 'passports'
14hMove comes as neighbouring Sweden says it will demand negative test results from foreign visitors
'I Expected a Bidding War. We Did Not Get That.'
14hShaka King's new film, Judas and the Black Messiah , is both a prestige picture and a pulpy thriller. It's a biographical portrait of the Illinois Black Panther chairman Fred Hampton (played by Daniel Kaluuya), who by the age of 21 had become a major figure in the national party and founded the Rainbow Coalition movement. But much of the movie's focus is on William O'Neal (Lakeith Stanfield): the
Svenske forskere: Fyld overskudstræ på den tunge trafik
14hNy forskning viser, at resttræ fra skovdrift kan reducere udledningen af drivhusgasser fra den tunge trafik i Sverige med op til 94 procent.
Quality of muon beams
14hA new technique has taken the first images of muon particle beams. Scientists plan to use it to assess the quality of these beams, which are being used more and more in advanced imaging applications.
This ancient fish-crocodile mashup snared its prey using a key adaptation
14hTiktaalik was technically a fish but also came equipped with a flattened head and distinctive fins, which are more characteristic of an animal that splits its time between water and land. (Nature; Daeschler /) Around 375 million years ago, the ancient fish known as Tiktaalik roseae , equipped with lobe-shaped fins that it could use to prop itself up, scooted through the shallow waters of present-
Why do 'Kevins' vote for far-right parties?
14hKevin (1), Cindy and other 'Anglo' first names are especially popular in some areas of France and Germany. These also happen to be the regions where far-right parties are very successful. The link: working-class whites, inspired by English-language pop culture and disaffected from mainstream politics. We need to talk about Kevin. No, this is not about that book . This is about why areas of German
European hibernating bats cope with white-nose syndrome which kills North American bats
14hFungal diseases are a major threat to wildlife, sometimes resulting in significant population declines or even causing the extirpation of populations or species. White-nose syndrome, caused by the cold-loving fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, has become a major cause of death for millions of hibernating bats in North America. European bats survive when infected by the same fungus during hiberna
Modern anti-cancer drugs work via tiny molecular motions
14hModern immunotherapeutic anti-cancer drugs support a natural mechanism of the immune system to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. They dock onto a specific receptor of the killer cell and prevent it from being switched off by the cancer cells. In a molecular dynamics study scientists from MedUni Vienna and the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (Boku) Vienna, have analysed
Artificial skin brings robots closer to 'touching' human lives
14hModern-day robots are often required to interact with humans intelligently and efficiently, which can be enabled by providing them the ability to perceive touch. However, previous attempts at mimicking human skin have involved bulky and complex electronics, wiring, and a risk of damage. In a recent study, researchers from Japan sidestep these difficulties by constructing a 3D vision-guided artific
A revolutionary approach to increasing crop yield in rice
14hOverexpression of a plasma membrane proton pump gene in rice increases nutrient uptake and stomatal opening, promising solutions to food supply and environmental problems.
A deadly fungus is killing frogs, but the bacteria on their skin could protect them
14hResearchers in Costa Rica have found that some bacteria on the skin of amphibians prevent growth of the fungus responsible for what has been dubbed 'the amphibian apocalypse'.
Flower diversity may mitigate insecticide effects on wild bees
14hA higher diversity of flowering plants increases the breeding success of wild bees and may help compensate for the negative effects of insecticides. This is what researchers from the Universities of Göttingen and Hohenheim, as well as the Julius Kühn Institute, have found in a large-scale experimental study. The results have been published in the scientific journal Ecology Letters.
Social interactions after isolation may counteract cravings
14hSocial interaction may help reverse food and cigarette cravings triggered by being in social isolation, a UNSW study in rats has found.The study, published in Scientific Reports , used an animal model of drug addiction to show that a return to social interaction gives the same result as living in a rich, stimulating environment in reducing cravings for both sugar and nicotine rewards.
Extreme UV laser shows generation of atmospheric pollutant
14hHokkaido University scientists show that under laboratory conditions, ultraviolet light reacts with nitrophenol to produce smog-generating nitrous acid.
Israel leads the world in vaccination rates, but a key group is missing from the data
15hIsrael has been touted for vaccinating more than a quarter of its residents at top speed. But those rates don't consider lower rates of vaccination in the West Bank. (Paul Prescott/Deposit Photos/) Yara M. Asi is a post-doctoral scholar in Health Management and Informatics at the University of Central Florida. This story originally featured on The Conversation . As nations scramble to vaccinate p
Pollinator host-switches and fig hybridization dominate fig-wasp coevolution
15hThe genus Ficus (figs) and their agaonid pollinating fig wasps are a classic example of coevolution. It represents perhaps the most extreme and ancient (about 75 million years) obligate pollination mutualism known.
Huge methane emission rise follows extreme rainfall in East Africa
15hA 30-year high in East African rainfall during 2018 and 2019 resulted in rising water levels and widespread flooding. The new study shows that emissions of methane—the second most important greenhouse gas—from flooded East African wetlands were substantially larger following these extreme rainfall events.
Pollinator host-switches and fig hybridization dominate fig-wasp coevolution
15hThe genus Ficus (figs) and their agaonid pollinating fig wasps are a classic example of coevolution. It represents perhaps the most extreme and ancient (about 75 million years) obligate pollination mutualism known.
Germany says it beat 2020 goal to cut greenhouse emissions
15hGermany's economy minister says the country beat its target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40% last year compared to 1990 levels.
Is this the end of the A-68A iceberg?
15hSatellite images have revealed that the once colossal A-68A iceberg has had yet another shattering experience. Several large cracks were spotted in the berg last week and it has since broken into multiple pieces. These little icebergs could indicate the end of A-68A's environmental threat to South Georgia.
Dynamics of radiocesium in forests after the Fukushima disaster: Concerns and some hope
15hAfter the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (FDNPP) disaster was the second worst nuclear incident in history. Its consequences were tremendous for the Japanese people and now, almost a decade later, they can still be felt both there and in the rest of the world. One of the main consequences of the event is the release of large amounts of cesium-137 (137Cs)
Retrained generic antibodies can recognize SARS-CoV-2
15hAn alternative approach to train the immunity response is offered by researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago and California State University at Sacramento who have developed a novel strategy that redirects antibodies for other diseases existing in humans to the spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2.
The morphological characteristics of precipitation areas affects precipitation intensity
15hResearchers from USTC studied the morphological characteristics of precipitation areas over Tibetan Plateau and found that morphological characteristics of precipitation areas affects precipitation intensity.
At cosmic noon, puffy galaxies make stars for longer
15hMassive galaxies with extra-large extended "puffy" disks produced stars for longer than their more compact cousins, new modelling reveals.
Oncotarget: The goal of geroscience is life extension
15hDr. Mikhail V. Blagosklonny from The Roswell Park Cancer Institute said, "Although we do not know everything about aging, we now know enough to start its pharmacologic suppression using clinically approved drugs."
When worldviews collide: Why science needs to be taught differently
15hAmerica's distrust in science in 2021 can be traced back to the separation of science from the humanities that begun with the Enlightenment in 1715. The cold centrality of 'reason above all else' left a spiritual void and created the public perception of scientists as emotionally void, data-crunching machines. The way science is taught at schools today separates scientists and citizens into two t
Load-reducing backpack powers electronics by harvesting energy from walking
15hHikers, soldiers and school children all know the burden of a heavy backpack. But now, researchers have developed a prototype that not only makes loads feel about 20% lighter, but also harvests energy from human movements to power small electronics. The new backpack could be especially useful for athletes, explorers and disaster rescuers who work in remote areas without electricity, the researcher
New stem cell therapy in dogs — a breakthrough in veterinary medicine
15hScientists have developed a novel method to induce stem cell generation from the blood samples of dogs. Through this technique, the scientists hope to advance regenerative therapies in veterinary medicine. This would mean that, in the near future, veterinarians might be able to reverse conditions in dogs that were previously thought incurable.
On the dot: Novel quantum sensor provides new approach to early diagnosis via imaging
15hA phenomenon called 'oxidative stress' is seen in affected organs during the early stages of certain difficult-to-treat diseases like cancer and kidney dysfunction. Detecting oxidative stress could thus enable early diagnosis and preventive treatments. But, the in vivo measurement of oxidative stress caused by both oxidation and reduction has historically been difficult. Now, scientists have devel
Elon Musk: "Criticisms Were Accurate" About Tesla Build Quality
15hQuality Control Auto manufacturing consultant Sandy Munro, a former Ford engineer, has never minced words in his reviews of Tesla's quality control. In a now-famous review of the company's Model 3 uploaded to YouTube in 2018, the critic likened the fit and finish issues of Tesla's vehicles to "flaws we would see on a Kia in the '90s or something." He also described panel gaps — misaligned pieces
Traces of antidepressants and painkillers found in crustaceans
15hResearchers from SINTEF, the Norwegian Polar Institute and the University Centre in Svalbard have collected samples from Arctic crustaceans close to the settlement of Ny-Ålesund on the west coast of Spitsbergen. During the spring and summer, they discovered a number of drugs in a variety of different concentrations.
Flower diversity may mitigate insecticide effects on wild bees
15hA higher diversity of flowering plants increases the breeding success of wild bees and may help compensate for the negative effects of insecticides. This is what researchers from the Universities of Göttingen and Hohenheim, as well as the Julius Kühn Institute, have found in a large-scale experimental study. The results have been published in the scientific journal Ecology Letters.
Researchers investigate signal transfer in proteins across multiple time scales
15hConsider for a moment a tree swaying in the wind. How long does it take for the movement of a twig to reach the trunk of the tree? How is this motion actually transmitted through the tree? Researchers at the University of Freiburg are transferring this kind of question to the analysis of proteins—which are the molecular machinery of cells.
The UPV/EHU prepares to analyse material from Mars using non-destructive analytical methods
15hThe UPV/EHU's IBeA research group, which includes experts in Raman spectroscopy, is currently analyzing meteorites with the aim of developing non-destructive analytical strategies for upcoming explorations of Mars materials by the Perseverance rover, shortly due to arrive at the red planet. The strategies will also be used to examine materials collected by the Rosalind Franklin rover and returned
Researchers demonstrate the potential of a new quantum material for creating two spintronic technologies
15hOver the past decade or so, physicists and engineers have been trying to identify new materials that could enable the development of electronic devices that are faster, smaller and more robust. This has become increasingly crucial, as existing technologies are made of materials that are gradually approaching their physical limits.
This Hive-Like House Is 3D Printed, Carbon-Neutral, and Made of Clay
15h3D printing homes was a really big deal a few years ago; the idea was novel, unprecedented, and crushed records for the cost and time it took to build a livable house. Now 3D printed homes, while not yet prosaic and still pretty wow-worthy, have certainly become more commonplace, with all sorts of variations: prototypes meant for Mars , two-story apartment buildings , entire communities ; it seem
Researchers investigate signal transfer in proteins across multiple time scales
15hConsider for a moment a tree swaying in the wind. How long does it take for the movement of a twig to reach the trunk of the tree? How is this motion actually transmitted through the tree? Researchers at the University of Freiburg are transferring this kind of question to the analysis of proteins—which are the molecular machinery of cells.
Newtown's Congresswoman Takes on Marjorie Taylor Greene
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15hHouse Democrats Greene
J ahana Hayes stood before her history class at John F. Kennedy High School in Waterbury, Connecticut, trying to assuage her students' fears. Someone had started shooting at an elementary school 18 miles away; Hayes's students were scrolling through texts and social media, trying to understand what was going on. She tried to keep everyone calm—to put the students first—even as she was still proce
UK passes 10m Covid vaccination milestone
15hAbout 15% of population has been offered first jab, as experts call for focus on hotspots Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Britain has given a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine to more than 10 million people, as public health experts call on ministers to target future vaccinations in hotspots where the disease is threatening to run out of control. Official figures f
In vitro study helps explain how Zika virus passes from mother to fetus during pregnancy
15hA preclinical study by a University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine team has discovered a new mechanism for how Zika virus can pass from mothers to their children during pregnancy – a process known as vertical transmission. The researchers showed, for the first time, that specialized maternal cells lining the uterus (decidual cells) act as reservoirs for trimester-dependent tra
Novel 3D printed stents deliver breakthrough treatment for oesophageal cancer
15hWorld-first 3D printed oesophageal stents developed by the University of South Australia could revolutionise the delivery of chemotherapy drugs to provide more accurate, effective and personalised treatment for patients with oesophageal cancer.
Flower diversity may mitigate insecticide effects on wild bees
15hA higher diversity of flowering plants increases the breeding success of wild bees and may help compensate for the negative effects of insecticides. This is what researchers from the Universities of Göttingen and Hohenheim, as well as the Julius Kühn Institute, have found in a large-scale experimental study. The results have been published in the scientific journal Ecology Letters.
On the dot: Novel quantum sensor provides new approach to early diagnosis via imaging
15hA phenomenon called 'oxidative stress' is seen in affected organs during the early stages of certain difficult-to-treat diseases like cancer and kidney dysfunction. Detecting oxidative stress could thus enable early diagnosis and preventive treatments. But, the in vivo measurement of oxidative stress caused by both oxidation and reduction has historically been difficult. Now, scientists have devel
Living with natural gas pipelines: Appalachian landowners describe fear, anxiety and loss
15hMore than 2 million miles of natural gas pipelines run throughout the United States. In Appalachia, they spread like spaghetti across the region.
How the cell binds the virus: SARS-CoV-2 under the helium ion microscope for the first time
15hScientists at Bielefeld University's Faculty of Physics have succeeded for the first time in imaging the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus with a helium ion microscope. In contrast to the more conventional electron microscopy, the samples do not need a thin metal coating in helium ion microscopy. This allows interactions between the coronaviruses and their host cell to be observed particularly clearly. The s
How the cell binds the virus: SARS-CoV-2 under the helium ion microscope for the first time
15hScientists at Bielefeld University's Faculty of Physics have succeeded for the first time in imaging the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus with a helium ion microscope. In contrast to the more conventional electron microscopy, the samples do not need a thin metal coating in helium ion microscopy. This allows interactions between the coronaviruses and their host cell to be observed particularly clearly. The s
AI finds more than 1,200 gravitational lensing candidates
15hA research team with participation by Berkeley Lab physicists has used artificial intelligence to identify more than 1,200 possible gravitational lenses—objects that can be powerful markers for the distribution of dark matter. The count, if all of the candidates turn out to be lenses, would more than double the number of known gravitational lenses.
Elon Musk har chippet en abes hjerne: Nu kan den spille videospil
15hTeknologimilliardæren har fået indopereret en chip i en abes hjerne, der gør, at den kan spille videospil ved tankens kraft. Målet er på sigt at forbinde menneskehjerner og computere.
Dynamics of radiocesium in forests after the Fukushima disaster: Concerns and some hope
15hThe 2011 nuclear disaster at Fukushima, Japan caused a great amount of radioactive cesium to spread to nearby forests. Now, in a chapter in the latest technical document of the International Atomic Energy Agency, researchers from Japan, in collaboration with experts in Europe, explore the dynamic flow of these radionuclides in forest ecosystems. Their compilation of data and analyses on radiocesiu
Blink! The link between aerobic fitness and cognition
15hResearchers from the University of Tsukuba have found evidence that spontaneous eye blink activity, which reflects activity in the dopaminergic system, explains the connection between fitness and cognitive function. This is the first study to indicate that dopamine has an essential role in linking aerobic fitness and cognition. These findings open the door to new research regarding the mechanisms
First images of muon beams
15hA new technique has taken the first images of muon particle beams. Nagoya University scientists designed the imaging technique with colleagues in Osaka University and KEK, Japan. They plan to use it to assess the quality of these beams, which are being used more and more in advanced imaging applications.
Unraveling the mystery of Gao, a protein implicated in movement disorders
15hScientists at Scripps Research have clarified the workings of a mysterious protein called Gao, which is one of the most abundant proteins in the brain and, when mutated, causes severe movement disorders.
Indigenous knowledge during a pandemic
15hThe COVID-19 pandemic caused by the emergent coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has forced nations to radically overhaul their healthcare systems in order to cope with the new pressures of millions of sick people. Innovation is still needed, especially in Africa. New research published in the International Journal of Technological Learning, Innovation and Development, suggests that indigenous knowledge could
Brain-related visual problems may affect one in 30 primary school children
15hA brain-related visual impairment, which until recently was thought to be rare, may affect one in every 30 children according to new research investigating the prevalence of Cerebral Visual Impairment [CVI]. The findings aim to raise awareness of CVI among parents and teachers to help them identify signs of the condition earlier.
Childhood diet has lifelong impact
15hEating too much fat and sugar as a child can alter your microbiome for life, even if you later learn to eat healthier, a new study in mice suggests.
Teaching pupils empathy measurably improves their creative abilities
15hTeaching children in a way that encourages them to empathize with others measurably improves their creativity, and could potentially lead to several other beneficial learning outcomes, new research suggests.
Temperature fluctuations over a 20-year period affect ostrich fertility traits
16hA team of researchers from, Lund University, the University of Stellenbosch and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture for South Africa has learned more about how animals cope with rising temperatures by studying ostriches living in South Africa. In their paper published in the journal Nature Communications, the group describes studying multiple attributes of reproduction in ostriches over a 2
MESSENGER saw a meteoroid strike Mercury
16hTelescopes have captured meteoroids hitting the Moon and several spacecraft imaged Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 smacking into Jupiter in 1994. But impacts as they happen on another rocky world have never been observed.
Temperature fluctuations over a 20-year period affect ostrich fertility traits
16hA team of researchers from, Lund University, the University of Stellenbosch and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture for South Africa has learned more about how animals cope with rising temperatures by studying ostriches living in South Africa. In their paper published in the journal Nature Communications, the group describes studying multiple attributes of reproduction in ostriches over a 2
Fra Qatar til Nordjylland: Aalborg Universitetshospital får ny forskningschef
16hEgon Toft tiltræder som forskningschef til oktober, og i mellemtiden giver han en hånd med i ledelsesarbejdet.
What does 'luminosity' mean in particle physics?
16hEven on the hottest and driest days, rays from the sun are too weak to ignite a fire. But with a magnifying glass (or, in some unfortunate cases, a glass garden ornament), you can focus sunlight into a beam bright enough to set tinder ablaze.
The real reason why stores ran out of toilet paper
16hIt's easy to blame panic-buying for the empty grocery store shelves shoppers have encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Municipal wastewater treatment plants to recover fertilizers to aid farmers
16hNutrients contained in wastewater, such as phosphorous and nitrogen, can be put to good use as fertilizers. Municipal wastewater treatment plants are now planning to recover more of these valuable resources, which are becoming globally scarce.
Vector-borne diseases shaped human history and reveal race disparities
16hVector-borne diseases (VBDs), such as plague, malaria and yellow fever, have significantly shaped society and culture, according to an international team of researchers. In a study published in Ecology Letters on Jan. 27, the team used historical evidence interpreted through an ecological lens to illustrate how VBDs have influenced human history, with particular attention to how VBDs have reinforc
In new book, scholar offers intimate portrait of mass incarceration's toll on society
16hIn the United States, being released from jail or prison does not mean a person has complete freedom. Millions of people living with felony records must still navigate laws and policies that limit their rights as citizens, their ability to participate in society and even their relationships with family and friends.
Huge methane emission rise follows extreme rainfall in East Africa
16hRecent heavy rainfall in East Africa has led to substantially larger seasonal emissions of a potent greenhouse gas, new research shows.
Digital health divide runs deep in older racial and ethnic minorities
16hResults of a study qualitatively exploring reasons for digital health information disparity reveal a deep digital health divide that has important implications for helping older adults with COVID-19 vaccinations. Participants who were older, less educated, economically disadvantaged and from ethnic groups (African American, Afro-Caribbean or Hispanic American) were up to five times less likely to
Pollinator host-switches and fig hybridization dominate fig-wasp coevolution
16hTogether with colleagues from 11 institutions from home and abroad, researchers from the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have recently shown that the fig hybridization mediated by pollinator host-switching in the obligate fig-wasp pollination system is more common than previously thought.
UBC study highlights the best style and fabrics for COVID-19 face masks
16hIn the race to stop the spread of COVID-19, a three-layer cloth mask that fits well can effectively filter COVID particles, says a group of UBC researchers.After testing several different mask styles and 41 types of fabrics, they found that a mask consisting of two layers of low-thread-count quilting cotton plus a three-ply dried baby wipe filter was as effective as a commercial non-surgical mask
Shark teeth offer clues to ancient climate change
16hHooper, played by Richard Dreyfus in "Jaws," says that all sharks do is "swim and eat and make little sharks."
New process can extend lifetime of metals
16hStronger, lighter, cheaper materials are the name of the game in advanced manufacturing. Keeping costs down on materials that are equally, if not more, effective than previous ones is how businesses get ahead—and, theoretically, when consumers win.
Shark teeth offer clues to ancient climate change
16hHooper, played by Richard Dreyfus in "Jaws," says that all sharks do is "swim and eat and make little sharks."
Psychic Mediums and Grieving Children
16hSelf-proclaimed psychic mediums find a new way to exploit vulnerable children. The post first appeared on Science-Based Medicine .
Surviving turbulent times: Lessons from the phytoplankton
16hPhysicists from the University of Luxembourg, together with scientists from Sweden, Israel and Switzerland, have established mechanistic links between physiological stress and migratory behavior in aquatic photosynthetic microorganisms in the face of turbulence.
To fix Australia's environment laws, wildlife experts call for these 4 crucial changes
16hThe independent review of Australia's main environment law, released last week, provided a sobering but accurate appraisal of a dire situation.
Report urges overall strategy for national security and climate crisis
16hThe Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL) and Annenberg Public Policy Center have released "Lessons from the Arctic: The Need for Intersectoral Climate Security Policy," a report on critical climate-change security issues with recommendations written by Alexandra A.K. Meise, a senior fellow at CERL.
Surviving turbulent times: Lessons from the phytoplankton
16hPhysicists from the University of Luxembourg, together with scientists from Sweden, Israel and Switzerland, have established mechanistic links between physiological stress and migratory behavior in aquatic photosynthetic microorganisms in the face of turbulence.
To fix Australia's environment laws, wildlife experts call for these 4 crucial changes
16hThe independent review of Australia's main environment law, released last week, provided a sobering but accurate appraisal of a dire situation.
AstraZeneca-vaccine yder 76 pct. beskyttelse efter blot ét stik
16hAstraZenecas COVID-19-vaccine giver god beskyttelse efter blot ét stik, og beskyttelsen bliver bedre, jo længere tid der går mellem de to vaccinestik. Det betyder, at vi hurtigere kan få beskyttet folk i Danmark, siger dansk forsker.
13.8: Why we're here
16h13.8 is relaunching on Big Think today! Visit 13.8 every week to join physicists Adam Frank and Marcelo Gleiser as they tackle the big, serious, silly, and small questions in science. What will you learn at 13.8? Adam and Marcelo will look critically at straight-up science news, from life in the universe and cognitive science to particle physics and everything that blows their minds. They're also
New software allows scientists to 'walk inside' fossil and mummy samples
16hNew software will allow scientists to see data in 3-D and create life-like models of objects like fossils and mummies, making it possible to "zoom in" on smaller details without damaging the original.
Extreme UV laser shows generation of atmospheric pollutant
16hAn advanced laser technique has allowed researchers to observe, in real-time, the decomposition of a pollutant into atmospheric nitrous acid, which plays a key role in the formation of ozone and photochemical smog. The technique, described by Hokkaido University researchers in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, could be used in a wide range of applications.
New software allows scientists to 'walk inside' fossil and mummy samples
16hNew software will allow scientists to see data in 3-D and create life-like models of objects like fossils and mummies, making it possible to "zoom in" on smaller details without damaging the original.
A case of whiskey during COVID
16hA case study of a U.S. whiskey company examines the business operations from grain to glass with particular focus on the company's downstream supply chain and how the global coronavirus pandemic has affected risks, efficiencies, and modes of distribution.
Biden has assembled a stellar science team — now they must pull together
16hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00184-y A cast of eminent science, health and climate advisers has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring a fresh, cohesive and inclusive perspective on science policy.
Among Us Taps Into Our Obsession With Betrayal
16hThe massively popular game gives players the freedom and autonomy to backstab one another—but also build connections.
The Chrome Update Is Bad for Advertisers, but Good for Google
16hThe world's most popular browser is about to make it a lot harder for advertisers to track your online activity.
The Line Between Digital Trade and Security Is Always Blurry
16hInternet regulators around the world conflate the two, which strains international relations.
America's New Vision of Astronauts
16hThe mission had gone smoothly from start to finish. "Thanks for flying SpaceX," an engineer said as the spaceship splashed back down to Earth, prompting laughs in the mission-control room. SpaceX's passengers, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, were experienced spacefarers, trained and employed by NASA, but they were the first people the private company had launched into orbit. The line was heavy with
The End of the Indian Idea
16hFor the past several years, warnings have been sounded about democracy in India—whether they be about the fate of the country's minorities, its courts, its intellectuals. These worries steadily build, before erupting into some major protest, taking over the popular consciousness, both domestically and abroad. For the past several years, India's government has steadily chipped away at the edifice
Neurons: 'String of lights' indicates excitation propagation
16hA type of novel molecular voltage sensor makes it possible to watch nerve cells at work. The principle of the method has been known for some time. However, researchers at the University of Bonn and the University of California in Los Angeles have now succeeded in significantly improving it. It allows the propagation of electrical signals in living nerve cells to be observed with high temporal and
What impact does Airbnb have on local housing prices and rents?
16hAccording to new research, the presence of an Airbnb property can actually contribute to an increase in housing prices and rental rates in a local neighborhood. But it depends on where the property is located.
LGB med students more likely to experience burnout
16hMedical students who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual are more likely than their heterosexual peers to experience burnout, research finds. Studies have shown that nearly half of all medical students in the US report symptoms of burnout , a long-term reaction to stress characterized by emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and feelings of decreased personal accomplishment. Beyond the personal toll,
16h
Researchers investigate the brightest cluster galaxy in MACS 1931.8-2635
16hUsing Very Large Telescope (VLT) and Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), researchers from the University of Vienna, Austria, and elsewhere have investigated the brightest cluster galaxy (BCG) in a massive galaxy cluster known as MACS 1931.8-2635. Results of the study, published January 28 on arXiv.org, deliver important information about the nature of this BCG.
79.000 kr. for én dags arbejde: COVID-vaccination kan være en god forretning for landets lægehuse
16hDe foreløbige erfaringer fra Region Nordjylland viser, at praktiserende læger kan vaccinere op til 20 borgere i timen. Det har kastet nogle store regninger af sig under pandemien. Ifølge de praktiserende lægers formand er arbejdet dog generelt ikke bedre lønnet end dagligt klinikarbejde.
How Covid-19 Has Hurt the Effort to Track STDs
16hAs gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia have hit their highest marks in decades, many STD contact tracers have shifted to work on the pandemic
First-of-its-kind system measures resilience, breakage of cellular bridge
16hIt took less than a day for the pair to form an organic connection that helped anchor them, that helped them communicate and share resources, that put them on the path to becoming part of something bigger than themselves.
Neural activity controls mitochondrial transfer of RNA modifiers to the nucleus
16hIn a recent paper in RNA Biology, researchers show that mitochondria translocate their key RNA methyltransferase enzyme, TRMT1, into host cell nuclei in response to neural activity. This subcellular relocalization of key RNA modifiers suggests a new understanding of how neurons plastically reconfigure their nuclei as network dynamics change.
First-of-its-kind system measures resilience, breakage of cellular bridge
16hIt took less than a day for the pair to form an organic connection that helped anchor them, that helped them communicate and share resources, that put them on the path to becoming part of something bigger than themselves.
Researchers develop new method for biomanufacturing of vascularized tissue
16hVascularized structures infiltrated within a nanofibrous extracellular matrix (ECM) play vital roles in maintaining functions and metabolism of tissue and organs. Nanofibrous scaffolds are promising in tissue engineering owing to their ECM-mimicking architectures.
Neural activity controls mitochondrial transfer of RNA modifiers to the nucleus
16hIn a recent paper in RNA Biology, researchers show that mitochondria translocate their key RNA methyltransferase enzyme, TRMT1, into host cell nuclei in response to neural activity. This subcellular relocalization of key RNA modifiers suggests a new understanding of how neurons plastically reconfigure their nuclei as network dynamics change.
Prehistoric bone etchings believed to be among oldest evidence of human use of symbols
16hWhile scientists and historians have long surmised that etchings on stones and bones have been used as a form of symbolism dating back as early as the Middle Paleolithic period (250,000-45,000 BCE), findings to support that theory are extremely rare.
Spiders use pre-tensioned silk to hoist prey off the ground
16hA pair of researchers at the University of Trento has found that some spiders use pre-tensioned silk to hoist prey off the ground. In their paper published in Journal of the Royal Society Interface, Gabriele Greco and Nicola Pugno describe experiments with two species of spiders, Steatoda paykulliana and Steatodatriangulosa.
SpaceX Plans First All-Civilian Spaceflight This Year
16hThe Dragon 2 capsule autonomously docking at the ISS in March 2019. The history of civilian human spaceflight is brief, but SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is going to have to change that if he's ever going to realize his dream of colonizing Mars. We're not there yet, but SpaceX is taking a step in that direction announcing the first all-civilian spaceflight . Musk is partnering with Shift4 Payments CEO Jar
India budget pledges billions for virus research amid COVID pandemic
16hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00298-3 Researchers welcome the investment, and say it will improve the country's response to future outbreaks.
Light years
16hNature, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00265-y There's no place like home.
Publisher Correction: An Information Theory-Inspired Strategy for Design of Re-programmable Encrypted Graphene-based Coding Metasurfaces at Terahertz Frequencies
16hScientific Reports, Published online: 03 February 2021; doi:10.1038/s41598-021-82769-1
Norge indfører VMS-overvågning for alle fiskefartøjer
16hPLUS. Nyt system skal lagre positionsdata fra alle norske fiskefartøjer. Nu kan fiskerne ikke længere blokere antennen.
Spiders use pre-tensioned silk to hoist prey off the ground
16hA pair of researchers at the University of Trento has found that some spiders use pre-tensioned silk to hoist prey off the ground. In their paper published in Journal of the Royal Society Interface, Gabriele Greco and Nicola Pugno describe experiments with two species of spiders, Steatoda paykulliana and Steatodatriangulosa.
Christian Freitag: 'Stråmandsklinikker' kan kun stoppes ved lov
16hTidligere PLO-formand Christian Freitag skriver i et åbent brev til Folketingets Sundhedsudvalg, at det kræver en ændring af sundhedsloven, hvis udviklingen med flere 'stråmandsklinikker' skal stoppes. Hvis ikke det sker, undermineres ideen om 'egen læge'. Læs det åbne brev her.
On the dot: Novel quantum sensor provides new approach to early diagnosis via imaging
16hA phenomenon called 'oxidative stress' is seen in affected organs during the early stages of certain difficult-to-treat diseases like cancer and kidney dysfunction. Detecting oxidative stress could thus enable early diagnosis and preventive treatments. But, the in vivo measurement of oxidative stress caused by both oxidation and reduction has historically been difficult. Now, scientists have devel
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