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Study suggests coffee temporarily counteracts effect of sleep loss on cognitive function
22hA new study exploring the impact of repeated sleep loss during a simulated working week has found that consuming caffeinated coffee during the day helps to reduce impacts to people's vigilance, alertness, reaction-time, accuracy, working memory, attention and cognitive function, compared to decaffeinated coffee.
New combination of immunotherapies shows great promise for treating lung cancer
22hMcMaster University researchers have established in lab settings that a novel combination of two forms of immunotherapy can be highly effective for treating lung cancer, which causes more deaths than any other form of cancer.
France to impose Covid testing on EU travellers
22hEuropean leaders ponder tighter restrictions in fight against pandemic
Alphabet Is Grounding Loon—but Won't Call It a Failure
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23hGoogle Alphabet Loon
Plus: The moon shot's launch, health care for the maskless, and a new era's inaugural meme.
F.D.A. Approves Monthly Shots to Treat H.I.V.
23hA combination of two injectable drugs will provide an alternative to daily pills for people with H.I.V.
Elon Musk Pledges $100 Million for Carbon Capture Technology
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23hElon Musk Carbon Capture
Carbon Capture SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk lobbed an environmental grenade into the discourse Thursday evening, promising to pony up a substantial $100 million toward a prize for new carbon capture technology. "Am donating $100M towards a prize for best carbon capture technology," he wrote , enigmatically. Last Gasp Technologically, Musk is referring to an umbrella of yet-unrealized concepts t
Gastrointestinal surgery can be a cure for type 2 diabetes finds new long-term study
23hThe results of a randomised clinical trial with the longest follow up to date show that metabolic surgery is more effective than medications and lifestyle interventions in the long-term control of severe type 2 diabetes.
The Lancet and The Lancet Oncology: Global demand for cancer surgery set to grow by almost 5 million procedures within 20 years, with greatest burden in low-income countries
23hDemand for cancer surgery is expected to increase from 9.1 million to 13.8 million procedures over the next twenty years, requiring a huge increase in the workforce including nearly 200,000 additional surgeons and 87,000 anaesthetists globally. With access to post-operative care strongly linked to lower mortality, improving care systems worldwide must be a priority in order to reduce disproportion
New trial finds arthritis drug no better than standard care for severe COVID-19
23hAdding the arthritis drug tocilizumab to standard care for patients in hospital with severe or critical covid-19 is no better than standard care alone in improving clinical outcomes at 15 days, according to results of a new trial.
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Buttigieg's Climate Promises: What Could He Actually Do?
23hThe Transportation Department, which holds sway over planes, trains and automobiles, faces limits on how it spends money. Still, here are five possible steps.
Study shows number and variety of issues experienced by staff wearing
23hA new study analysing the impact of PPE staff shows that the number and variety of issues they experience increases as their time in PPE without a break increases, ranging from tiredness and headaches in the first hour to nausea, vomiting and dizziness as they head towards four hours continuously in PPE.
Children 'not scared' by PPE, says study
23hA new study from one of the UK's leading children's hospitals -Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool – shows that children are not scared by PPE, and can in fact feel reassured by it.
'Inspired choice': Biden appoints sociologist Alondra Nelson to top science post
23hNature, Published online: 21 January 2021; doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00159-z Scientists praise US president's selection of the bioethics and social inequality specialist to help lead the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Dr. Fauci Just Absolutely Shredded His Former Boss, Donald Trump
23hIt was no secret that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the United States government's top infectious disease specialist, had a strained relationship with former president Donald Trump. Remember when Fauci physically cringed at one of Trump's digressions during a coronavirus briefing? Or when Trump told a rally of supporters that he might fire Fauci after the election? But now Trump is out, replaced by Joe Bide
COVID-19 is dangerous for middle-aged adults, not just the elderly
1dCOVID-19 has been spreading rapidly over the past several months, and the U.S. death toll has now reached 400,000. As evident from the age distribution of those fatalities, COVID-19 is dangerous not only for the elderly but for middle-aged adults, according to a new study.
For some, GI tract may be vulnerable to COVID-19 infection
1dResearchers have found that patients with Barrett's esophagus may be vulnerable to coronavirus infection from what they swallow.
Patients in cancer remission at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness
1dPatients with inactive cancer and not currently undergoing treatments also face a significantly higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, according to new research.
People more likely to follow COVID rules when friends and family do, research finds
1dNew research has shown that people are more likely to follow COVID-19 restrictions based on what their friends do, rather than their own principles.
The life-saving space blanket has humble origins
1dA mylar emergency blanket can come in handy on a trip in the woods or a trek to the moon. (Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay/) This story originally featured on Field & Stream . Like many sports people, I packed a space blanket for years before ever having to use it. When I finally did unwrap the crinkly Mylar sheet, it wasn't to save my life but to make a clean job of ending an animal's. An elk I'd sh
Age provides a buffer to pandemic's mental health impact, researchers say
1dOlder adults are managing the stress of the coronavirus pandemic better than younger adults, reporting less depression and anxiety despite also experiencing greater general concern about COVID-19, according to a recent study.
Researchers ID potential target for anti-viral drugs to battle COVID
1dResearchers have published the first structural biology analysis of a section of the COVID-19 viral RNA called the stem-loop II motif. This is a non-coding section of the RNA, which means that it is not translated into a protein, but it is likely key to the virus's replication.
Immune system mounts a lasting defense after recovery from COVID-19, researchers find
1dStudy participants continued to improve their antibodies months after initial infection, potentially due to exposure to remnants of the virus hidden in the gut.
Race Replay: Ryan vs. Daddy Dave | Street Outlaws
1dStream Full Episodes of Street Outlaws: https://discovery.com/tv-shows/street-outlaws/ Subscribe to Discovery: http://bit.ly/SubscribeDiscovery Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Discovery https://www.facebook.com/StreetOutlaws Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Discovery https://twitter.com/StreetOutlaws We're on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/stoutlaws/ https://instagram.co
New NASA Head Says He's Running Space Agency From His Basement
1dNew Leadership With former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine out, NASA now finds itself under the leadership of Steve Jurczyk, who had been the agency's associate administrator since May 2018. But Jurczyk's time as acting administrator — Biden has yet to name Bridenstine's permanent successor — will be a bit different than his predecessors', illustrating the unique challenges of running a massiv
A Horrible Condition Turning Starfish Into Goo Has Finally Been Identified
1dA nightmare feedback loop.
Survey: Frequent reports of missed medical care in US adults during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic
1dTwo out of five individuals delayed or missed medical care in the early phase of the pandemic — from March through mid-July 2020.
Randomized trials could help to return children safely to schools, study finds
1dSchools are closing again in response to surging levels of COVID-19 infection, but staging randomized trials when students eventually return could help to clarify uncertainties around when we should send children back to the classroom, according to a new study.
Hope for a vaccination against Staphylococcus areus infections?
1dWith an epitope-based immunization, scientists have described a new vaccination strategy against Staphylococcus aureus.
Forget the Wipes and Sprays. Sterilize Your High Touch Items With a UV Sanitizer.
1dSterilizing everyday items is a great way to protect yourself and your family from COVID-19, not to mention all sorts of other germs that cause colds, the flu, and other illnesses. However, not all high-touch everyday items are easy to sterilize with disinfectant wipes or sprays. Things like phones, earbuds, keys, and wallets have tiny nooks and crannies that are hard to get into, or are made fro
Hardware Accelerators May Dramatically Improve Robot Response Times
1dGroup of robots in warehouse (Credit: onurdongel/Getty Images) New work in robotics research at MIT suggests that long-term bottlenecks in robot responsiveness could be alleviated through the use of dedicated hardware accelerators. The research team also suggests it's possible to develop a general methodology for programming robot responsiveness to create specific templates, which would then be d
Sloan Kettering Institute scientists solve a 100-year-old mystery about cancer
1dA long-standing mystery is why fast-growing cells, like cancer cells and immune cells, rely on a seemingly inefficient form of metabolizing glucose to power their activities. In a new study, scientists at the Sloan Kettering Institute offer a compelling solution.
Study says friends are most valued in cultures where they may be needed most
1dResearchers from Michigan State University reveal cultural and health benefits of close human relationships in a new study.
Astronomers discover first cloudless, Jupiter-like planet
1dAstronomers at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian have detected the first Jupiter-like planet without clouds or haze in its observable atmosphere. The findings were published this month in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Creating a safe CAR T-Cell therapy to fight solid tumors in children
1dScientists modify CAR T-Cell therapy, making it more effective and less toxic, for possible use in solid tumors such as neuroblastoma.
A closer look at T cells reveals big differences in mild vs. severe COVID-19 cases
1dHow long does immunity to SARS-CoV-2 last following infection? Researchers have uncovered an interesting clue. Their new study suggests that people with severe COVID-19 cases may be left with more of the protective 'memory' T cells needed to fight reinfection.
Study finds genetic clues to pneumonia risk and COVID-19 disparities
1dResearchers have identified genetic factors that increase the risk for developing pneumonia and its severe, life-threatening consequences.
Why older adults must go to the front of the vaccine line
1dA new global, mathematical modeling study shows that in most cases prioritizing older adults for COVID-19 vaccines saves the most lives. It also found that, in some cases, more lives could be saved and infections prevented if those who've already tested positive step to the back of the line.
COVID-19 infection in immunodeficient patient cured by infusing convalescent plasma, doctors report
1dUnder FDA emergency-use authorization, doctors successfully resolved COVID-19 in a seriously ill, immunodeficient woman using a very high-neutralizing antibody-titer convalescent plasma from a recovered COVID-19 patient. However, further study suggested that use of convalescent plasma may not be warranted in many cases, for two reasons: 1) titer levels are too low in many convalescent plasmas, and
Search for axions from nearby star Betelgeuse comes up empty
1dA search for axions from nearby star Betelgeuse has come up empty, significantly narrowing the search for hypothetical dark matter particle.
Could lab-grown plant tissue ease the environmental toll of logging and agriculture?
1dMIT researchers have proposed a method for growing plant-based materials, like wood and fiber, in a lab. The technology is still in early development but might one day help reduce the environmental footprint of some types of agriculture.
Gold nanoparticles more stable by putting rings on them
1dScientists have found a way to prevent gold nanoparticles from clumping, which could help towards their use as an anti-cancer therapy.
How cells 'eat' their own fluid components
1dAutophagy is a fundamental cellular process by which cells capture and degrade their own dysfunctional or superfluous components for degradation and recycling. Recent research has revealed that phase separated droplets have a range of important functions in cells. Researchers has unraveled the mechanisms underpinning both how these droplets are captured through autophagy, as well as how droplets c
Well-built muscles underlie athletic performance in birds
1dMuscle structure and body size predict the athletic performance of Olympic athletes, such as sprinters. The same, it appears, is true of wild seabirds that can commute hundreds of kilometers a day to find food, according to a recent article.
New eco-friendly way to make ammonia could be boon for agriculture, hydrogen economy
1dAmmonia has sustained humanity since the early 20th century, but its production leaves a huge carbon footprint. Now researchers have found a way to make it 100 per cent renewable.
Antidepressants largely ineffective for back pain and osteoarthritis
1dAntidepressant drugs are largely ineffective for back and osteoarthritis pain, despite being widely used for these conditions, suggests a review of the evidence.
Bringing atoms to a standstill: Researchers miniaturize laser cooling
1dIt's cool to be small. Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have miniaturized the optical components required to cool atoms down to a few thousandths of a degree above absolute zero, the first step in employing them on microchips to drive a new generation of super-accurate atomic clocks, enable navigation without GPS, and simulate quantum systems.
Biden's Pick to Lead FCC is Big Supporter of Net Neutrality
1dBringing It Back U.S. President Joe Biden has appointed Jessica Rosenworcel as acting chair for the Federal Communications Commission, The Verge reports . Rosenworcel is a strong supporter of ne neutrality, the principle that ensures all internet communications must be treated equally and are classified as Title II "common carrier service," not Title I "information services." In other words, her
Advances in modeling and sensors can help farmers and insurers manage risk
1dWhen drought caused devastating crop losses in Malawi in 2015-2016, farmers in the southeastern African nation did not initially fear for the worst: the government had purchased insurance for such a calamity. But millions of farmers remained unpaid for months because the insurer's model failed to detect the extent of the losses, and a subsequent model audit moved slowly. Quicker payments would hav
Researchers prove fish-friendly detection method more sensitive than electrofishing
1dDelivering a minor electric shock into a stream to reveal any fish lurking nearby may be the gold standard for detecting fish populations, but it's not much fun for the trout.
Nature's decline risks our quality of life
1dIt is no secret that over the last few decades, humans have changed nature at an ever-increasing rate. A growing collection of research covers the many ways this is impacting our quality of life, from air quality to nutrition and income. To better understand how which areas are most at risk, scientists have combed through volumes of literature to present global trends in the relationship between h
More Than 80 Nations Sign On To A New Global Treaty To Prohibit Nuclear Weapons
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1dTreaty Nuclear Weapons
A new global treaty banning nuclear weapons will go into force on Friday. More than 80 countries have signed on to it — but none of them are countries that have nuclear weapons.
New biochemical clues in cell receptors help explain how SARS-CoV-2 may hijack human cells
1dThe SARS-CoV-2 virus may enter and replicate in human cells by exploiting newly-identified sequences within cell receptors, according to work from two teams of scientists.
Counting patients social determinants of health may help doctors avert fatal heart attacks
1dDoctors may be able to predict their patients' risks of fatal coronary heart disease more accurately by taking into account the number of adverse social factors affecting them, according to a new study led by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian.
Study reveals new insights into the link between sunlight exposure and kidney damage
1dA new collaborative study from researchers at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and the University of Washington and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), reveals unexpected insights into how skin exposure to ultraviolet light can worsen clinical symptoms in autoimmune diseases such as lupus.
Giant sand worm discovery proves truth is stranger than fiction
1dSimon Fraser University researchers have found evidence that large ambush-predatory worms–some as long as two metres–roamed the ocean floor near Taiwan over 20 million years ago.
Study finds racial disparities in breast cancer prognosis testing
1dWomen with hormone-dependent breast cancer typically have a favorable prognosis, but new research has found that even after adjusting for age at diagnosis, tumor stage and treatment, there is still a significant mortality gap between Black and non-Hispanic white women with axillary node-negative, hormone-dependent tumors that have a comparable Oncotype Recurrence Score.
Bringing atoms to a standstill: NIST miniaturizes laser cooling
1dScientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have miniaturized the optical components required to cool atoms down to a few thousandths of a degree above absolute zero, the first step in employing them on microchips to drive a new generation of super-accurate atomic clocks, enable navigation without GPS, and simulate quantum systems.
Advances in modeling and sensors can help farmers and insurers manage risk
1dA review of index insurance for smallholder farmers shows the potential of high-resolution satellite imagery to help poor farmers be compensated for potentially devastating losses.
Food insecurity spiked during early months of pandemic
1dFood insecurity grew by nearly 80 percent in two African American neighborhoods during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, erasing nearly a decade of progress in closing disparities between the communities and the national at large.
Earliest form of money found and it's a bunch of rings and axes
1dArchaeologists found the objects, sometimes numbering in the hundreds, stashed in hoards.
Researchers prove fish-friendly detection method more sensitive than electrofishing
1dDelivering a minor electric shock into a stream to reveal any fish lurking nearby may be the gold standard for detecting fish populations, but it's not much fun for the trout.
Squeezing a rock-star material could make it stable enough for solar cells
1dAmong the materials known as perovskites, one of the most exciting is a material that can convert sunlight to electricity as efficiently as today's commercial silicon solar cells and has the potential for being much cheaper and easier to manufacture.
Nature's decline risks our quality of life
1dIt is no secret that over the last few decades, humans have changed nature at an ever-increasing rate. A growing collection of research covers the many ways this is impacting our quality of life, from air quality to nutrition and income. To better understand how which areas are most at risk, scientists have combed through volumes of literature to present global trends in the relationship between h
Biden Aims for 100 Million COVID Vaccinations in First 100 Days
1dIt will not be an easy task — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
New Paper Says Black Holes Could Be as Large as an Entire Galaxy
1dGalaxy Size Step aside, supermassive black holes — scientists say that there could be black holes the size of an entire galaxy. "The supermassive black holes go up to nearly 100 billion solar masses," Queen Mary University of London astronomer Bernard Carr, who worked on the new research, told Futurism. "If we define a SLAB to be larger than this, then its radius must be at least the size of the
Squeezing a rock-star material could make it stable enough for solar cells
1dA promising lead halide perovskite is great at converting sunlight to electricity, but it breaks down at room temperature. Now scientists have discovered how to stabilize it with pressure from a diamond anvil cell. The required pressure is well within the reach of industrial manufacturing requirements.
Designing customized 'brains' for robots
1dResearchers have developed an automated way to design customized hardware that speeds up a robot's operation. The system, called robomorphic computing, accounts for the robot's physical layout in suggesting an optimized hardware architecture.
Spitting Cobra venom reveals how evolution often finds the same answer to a common problem
1dA study of spitting cobras reveals how a combination of venom components have evolved to create an instantly painful venom, not once, but on three separate occasions.
Deep sleep takes out the trash
1dBy examining fruit flies' brain activity and behavior, the researchers found that deep sleep has an ancient, restorative power to clear waste from the brain. This waste potentially includes toxic proteins that may lead to neurodegenerative disease.
New genetic disorder affects brain, craniofacial skeleton
1dResearchers have discovered a new genetic disorder characterized by developmental delays and malformations of the brain, heart, and facial features.
Squeezing a rock-star material could make it stable enough for solar cells
1dA promising lead halide perovskite is great at converting sunlight to electricity, but it breaks down at room temperature. Now scientists have discovered how to stabilize it with pressure from a diamond anvil cell. The required pressure is well within the reach of industrial manufacturing requirements.
Designing customized 'brains' for robots
1dResearchers have developed an automated way to design customized hardware that speeds up a robot's operation. The system, called robomorphic computing, accounts for the robot's physical layout in suggesting an optimized hardware architecture.
Deubiquitinating enzyme amino acid profiling reveals a class of ubiquitin esterases [Biochemistry]
1dThe reversibility of ubiquitination by the action of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) serves as an important regulatory layer within the ubiquitin system. Approximately 100 DUBs are encoded by the human genome, and many have been implicated with pathologies, including neurodegeneration and cancer. Non-lysine ubiquitination is chemically distinct, and its physiological importance…
Direct field evidence of autocatalytic iodine release from atmospheric aerosol [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
1dReactive iodine plays a key role in determining the oxidation capacity, or cleansing capacity, of the atmosphere in addition to being implicated in the formation of new particles in the marine boundary layer. The postulation that heterogeneous cycling of reactive iodine on aerosols may significantly influence the lifetime of ozone…
Novel function of N-acetyltransferase for microtubule stability and JNK signaling in Drosophila organ development [Developmental Biology]
1dRegulation of microtubule stability is crucial for the maintenance of cell structure and function. While the acetylation of α-tubulin lysine 40 by acetylase has been implicated in the regulation of microtubule stability, the in vivo functions of N-terminal acetyltransferases (NATs) involved in the acetylation of N-terminal amino acids are not…
Harnessing ultraconfined graphene plasmons to probe the electrodynamics of superconductors [Physics]
1dWe show that the Higgs mode of a superconductor, which is usually challenging to observe by far-field optics, can be made clearly visible using near-field optics by harnessing ultraconfined graphene plasmons. As near-field sources we investigate two examples: graphene plasmons and quantum emitters. In both cases the coupling to the…
A genome-scale CRISPR screen reveals factors regulating Wnt-dependent renewal of mouse gastric epithelial cells [Cell Biology]
1dAn ability to safely harness the powerful regenerative potential of adult stem cells for clinical applications is critically dependent on a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms regulating their activity. Epithelial organoid cultures accurately recapitulate many features of in vivo stem cell-driven epithelial renewal, providing an excellent ex vivo platform…
The neuropeptide allatostatin C from clock-associated DN1p neurons generates the circadian rhythm for oogenesis [Neuroscience]
1dThe link between the biological clock and reproduction is evident in most metazoans. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, a key model organism in the field of chronobiology because of its well-defined networks of molecular clock genes and pacemaker neurons in the brain, shows a pronounced diurnal rhythmicity in oogenesis. Still,…
Human subjects exploit a cognitive map for credit assignment [Psychological and Cognitive Sciences]
1dAn influential reinforcement learning framework proposes that behavior is jointly governed by model-free (MF) and model-based (MB) controllers. The former learns the values of actions directly from past encounters, and the latter exploits a cognitive map of the task to calculate these prospectively. Considerable attention has been paid to how…
Evolutionarily stable strategies in stable and periodically fluctuating populations: The Rosenzweig-MacArthur predator-prey model [Applied Mathematics]
1dAn evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) is an evolutionary strategy that, if adapted by a population, cannot be invaded by any deviating (mutant) strategy. The concept of ESS has been extensively studied and widely applied in ecology and evolutionary biology [M. Smith, On Evolution (1972)] but typically on the assumption that…
Microbial dynamics of elevated carbon flux in the open ocean's abyss [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
1dIn the open ocean, elevated carbon flux (ECF) events increase the delivery of particulate carbon from surface waters to the seafloor by severalfold compared to other times of year. Since microbes play central roles in primary production and sinking particle formation, they contribute greatly to carbon export to the deep…
Humanitarian need drives multilateral disaster aid [Sustainability Science]
1dAs the climate changes, human livelihoods will increasingly be threatened by extreme weather events. To provide adequate disaster relief, states extensively rely on multilateral institutions, in particular the United Nations (UN). However, the determinants of this multilateral disaster aid channeled through the UN are poorly understood. To fill this gap,…
Tocopherol controls D1 amino acid oxidation by oxygen radicals in Photosystem II [Plant Biology]
1dPhotosystem II (PSII) is an intrinsic membrane protein complex that functions as a light-driven water:plastoquinone oxidoreductase in oxygenic photosynthesis. Electron transport in PSII is associated with formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsible for oxidative modifications of PSII proteins. In this study, oxidative modifications of the D1 and D2 proteins…
Runx1 and Runx3 drive progenitor to T-lineage transcriptome conversion in mouse T cell commitment via dynamic genomic site switching [Developmental Biology]
1dRunt domain-related (Runx) transcription factors are essential for early T cell development in mice from uncommitted to committed stages. Single and double Runx knockouts via Cas9 show that target genes responding to Runx activity are not solely controlled by the dominant factor, Runx1. Instead, Runx1 and Runx3 are coexpressed in…
Loss of sweet taste despite the conservation of sweet receptor genes in insectivorous bats [Evolution]
1dThe evolution of taste perception is usually associated with the ecology and dietary changes of organisms. However, the association between feeding ecology and taste receptor evolution is unclear in some lineages of vertebrate animals. One example is the sweet taste receptor gene Tas1r2. Previous analysis of partial sequences has revealed…
Diagenetic formation of uranium-silica polymers in lake sediments over 3,300 years [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
1dThe long-term fate of uranium-contaminated sediments, especially downstream former mining areas, is a widespread environmental challenge. Essential for their management is the proper understanding of uranium (U) immobilization mechanisms in reducing environments. In particular, the long-term behavior of noncrystalline U(IV) species and their possible evolution to more stable phases in…
Ecological adaptation in European eels is based on phenotypic plasticity [Evolution]
1dThe relative role of genetic adaptation and phenotypic plasticity is of fundamental importance in evolutionary ecology [M. J. West-Eberhard, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 102 (suppl. 1), 6543–6549 (2005)]. European eels have a complex life cycle, including transitions between life stages across ecological conditions in the Sargasso Sea, where spawning…
Robert K. Adair: Explorer of strange particles—and baseballs [Retrospectives]
1dRobert Kemp Adair, the Sterling Professor Emeritus of Physics at Yale University, passed away on September 28, 2020, in Hamden, Connecticut, at age 96. He was a distinguished, world-renowned pioneer in particle physics, but possibly even more remarkable as a warm all-round human being, a beloved and highly respected teacher,…
He Made a Viral Bernie Meme Site. Now He Has to Keep It Going
1dNick Sawhney's "Bernie Sits" puts Sanders anywhere on Google Street View.
A cascaded dual deformable phase plate wavefront modulator enables direct AO integration with existing microscopes
1dMicroscopy is the workhorse of contemporary life science research, enabling morphological and chemical inspection of living tissue with ever-increasing spatial and temporal resolution. Even though modern microscopes are genuine marvels of engineering, minute deviations from ideal imaging conditions will still lead to optical aberrations that rapidly degrade imaging quality. A mismatch between the
Early humans used chopping tools to break animal bones and consume the bone marrow
1dResearchers found that stone tools of the type known as 'chopping tools' were used to break open the bones of animals. Tools of this type were used for over two million years. They were found in large quantities at prehistoric sites all over the Old World, but no one understood their exact function.
Using VR training to boost our sense of agency and improve motor control
1dPatients with motor dysfunctions are on the rise across Japan as its population continues to age. A researcher has developed a new method of rehabilitation using virtual reality to increase the sense of agency over our body and aid motor skills.
Biden Inherits a Vaccine Supply Unlikely to Grow Before April
1dBut with 200 million doses pledged for the first quarter of the year, some experts say President Biden's plan for 100 million shots in 100 days is far too modest.
NASA mission to test technology for satellite swarms
1dA NASA mission slated for launch on Friday will place three tiny satellites into low-Earth orbit, where they will demonstrate how satellites might track and communicate with each other, setting the stage for swarms of thousands of small satellites that can work cooperatively and autonomously.
Biden Calls on All Americans to Wear Masks in Public For 100 Days
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1dBiden US Americans COVID
Flanked by vice president Kamala Harris and the nation's top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, United States President Joe Biden signed several additional executive orders today "to change the course of this pandemic and get COVID-19 under control." Front and center among the new executive orders is a mandate for all Americans to wear masks for the next 100 days of Biden's presidency.
Communist Party gives Xuetao Cao, Meiyu Geng, Hongliang Li a slap on the wrist
1d"The 63 papers of Academician Cao Xuetao were questioned on the Internet. After investigation, no fraud, plagiarism and plagiarism were found, but many papers were found to have misuse of pictures, reflecting the lack of a strict laboratory management."
The US Army Is Testing an Auto-Aiming Part of Its "Iron Man" Suit
1dGun Stabilizer The US Army is developing a gun barrel stabilizer for its next-generation rifle that could greatly level out any unintended movement, Task & Purpose reports . The piece of tech is a leftover part of the military's Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) effort, which was originally part of the US Special Operations Command's (SOCOM) "Iron Man" suit project. The powered suit was abandon
Why Did Early Humans Leave Africa?
1dHomo sapiens have always been on the move. But the traditional out-of-Africa story explains that H. sapiens evolved in Africa and then migrated in a wave to colonize the rest of the world. What sparked this exodus?
Mitochondrial mutation increases the risk of diabetes in Japanese men
1dA new study of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Japanese populations has uncovered a previously uncharacterized genetic variant that puts male carriers at greater risk for the disease, as well as the mechanism by which it does so. The impact of the variant was most pronounced in sedentary men; those with the variant had a 65% greater rate of T2D than sedentary men without it.
Abnormal hyperactivation in the brain may be an early sign of Alzheimer's
1dA research team led by UdeM psychology and neuroscience professor Sylvie Belleville has just targeted an early biomarker of the disease.
Positive messaging plays a key role in increasing COVID-19 mask compliance
1dAmong his first acts, President Joe Biden is asking Americans to wear a mask to help curb coronavirus. Research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill suggests positive messages of unity and togetherness are critical to the effort, and work better than messages of fear or instructiveness.
Massive water projects leave a parched landscape high and dry
1dNature, Published online: 20 January 2021; doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00137-5 Ambitious irrigation schemes are planned for sub-Saharan Africa — but those already built have a dismal track record.
The Paris Climate Agreement: What You Need to Know
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1dUS Paris Climate Biden
President Biden's decision to return to the climate pact fulfills a campaign pledge, but the United States has some catching up to do.
Scientists make pivotal discovery on mechanism of Epstein-Barr virus latent infection
1dResearchers at The Wistar Institute have discovered a new enzymatic function of the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) protein EBNA1, a critical factor in EBV's ability to transform human cells and cause cancer. Published in Cell, this study provides new indications for inhibiting EBNA1 function, opening up fresh avenues for development of therapies to treat EBV-associated cancers.
Scientists make pivotal discovery on mechanism of Epstein-Barr virus latent infection
1dResearchers at The Wistar Institute have discovered a new enzymatic function of the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) protein EBNA1, a critical factor in EBV's ability to transform human cells and cause cancer. Published in Cell, this study provides new indications for inhibiting EBNA1 function, opening up fresh avenues for development of therapies to treat EBV-associated cancers.
Snake sex chromosomes say less about sex and more about survival
1dSex-specific chromosomes are a dangerous place to be, if you're a gene. Because these chromosomes—Y chromosomes, in humans—do not have a matching chromosome with which to exchange genetic information, they are prone to losing non-essential genes left and right in a process called genetic decay.
Snake sex chromosomes say less about sex and more about survival
1dSex-specific chromosomes are a dangerous place to be, if you're a gene. Because these chromosomes—Y chromosomes, in humans—do not have a matching chromosome with which to exchange genetic information, they are prone to losing non-essential genes left and right in a process called genetic decay.
Small electric fields can play decisive role in formation of diamond
1dDiamond, like graphite, is a special form of carbon. Its cubic crystal structure and its strong chemical bonds give it its unique hardness. For thousands of years, it has also been sought after as both a tool and as a thing of beauty. Only in the 1950s did it become possible to produce diamonds artificially for the first time.
Angstrom multilayer metrology by combining spectral measurements and machine learning
1dWith the recent explosive demand for data storage, ranging from data centers to various smart and connected devices, the need for higher-capacity and more compact memory devices is constantly increasing. As a result, semiconductor devices are now moving from 2-D to 3-D. The 3-D-NAND flash memory is the most commercially successful 3-D semiconductor device today, and its demand for supporting our d
Antarctica: The ocean cools at the surface but warms up at depth
1dScientists from the CNRS, CNES, IRD, Sorbonne Université, l'Université Toulouse III—Paul Sabatier and their Australian colleagues, with the support of the IPEV, have provided a comprehensive analysis on the evolution of Southern Ocean temperatures over the last 25 years.
Scientists discover how the potentially oldest coral reefs in the Mediterranean developed
1dA new study from the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC, Spain) and the National Oceanography Centre brings unprecedented insights into the environmental constraints and climatic events that controlled the formation of these reefs.
Producing green hydrogen through the exposure of nanomaterials to sunlight
1dA research team from the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) has joined forces with French researchers from the Institute of Chemistry and Processes for Energy, Environment and Health (ICPEES), a CNRS-University of Strasbourg joint research lab, to pave the way towards the production of green hydrogen. This international team has developed new sunlight-photosensitive-nanostructur
Novel effector biology research provides insights into devastating citrus greening disease
1dCitrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing (HLB), is devastating to the citrus industry, causing unprecedented amounts of damage worldwide. There is no known cure. Since the disease's introduction to the United States in the early 2000s, research efforts have increased exponentially. However, there is still a lack of information about the molecular mechanism behind the disease.
Fighting respiratory virus outbreaks through 'nano-popcorn' sensor-based rapid detection
1dViral respiratory diseases are easily transmissible and can spread rapidly across the globe, causing significant damage. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is a testament to this. In the past too, other viruses have caused massive respiratory disease outbreaks: for example, a subtype of the influenza virus, the type A H1N1 virus, was responsible for the Spanish flu and the Swine flu outbreaks. Thus, to
Saturn's tilt caused by its moons, researchers say
1dScientists have just shown that the influence of Saturn's satellites can explain the tilt of the rotation axis of the gas giant. Their work also predicts that the tilt will increase even further over the next few billion years.
Butterfly wing clap explains mystery of flight
1dThe fluttery flight of butterflies has so far been somewhat of a mystery to researchers, given their unusually large and broad wings relative to their body size. Now researchers have studied the aerodynamics of butterflies in a wind tunnel. The results suggest that butterflies use a highly effective clap technique, therefore making use of their unique wings. This helps them rapidly take off when e
'Smiling eyes' may not signify true happiness after all
1dA smile that lifts the cheeks and crinkles the eyes is thought by many to be truly genuine. But new research casts doubt on whether this joyful facial expression necessarily tells others how a person really feels inside.
Oldest carbonates in the solar system: Flensburg meteorite
1dA meteorite that fell in northern Germany in 2019 contains carbonates which are among the oldest in the solar system; it also evidences the earliest presence of liquid water on a minute planet.
California harbor porpoises rebound after coastal gillnetting stopped
1dHarbor porpoises have rebounded in a big way off California. Their populations have recovered dramatically since the end of state set-gillnet fisheries that years ago entangled and killed them in the nearshore waters they frequent. These coastal set-gillnet fisheries are distinct from federally-managed offshore drift-gillnet fisheries. They have been prohibited in inshore state waters for more tha
Rocks show Mars once felt like Iceland
1dA comparison of chemical and climate weathering of sedimentary rock in Mars' Gale Crater indicate the region's mean temperature billions of years ago was akin to current conditions on Iceland.
Saturn's moon Titan: Largest sea is 1,000-feet deep
1dFar below the gaseous atmospheric shroud on Saturn's largest moon, Titan, lies Kraken Mare, a sea of liquid methane. Astronomers have estimated that sea to be at least 1,000-feet deep near its center – enough room for a potential robotic submarine to explore.
World's largest lakes reveal climate change trends
1dSixteen years of remote sensing data reveals that in Earth's largest freshwater lakes, climate change influences carbon fixation trends.
Scientists discover how the potentially oldest coral reefs in the Mediterranean developed
1dA new study from the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC, Spain) and the National Oceanography Centre brings unprecedented insights into the environmental constraints and climatic events that controlled the formation of these reefs.
Novel effector biology research provides insights into devastating citrus greening disease
1dCitrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing (HLB), is devastating to the citrus industry, causing unprecedented amounts of damage worldwide. There is no known cure. Since the disease's introduction to the United States in the early 2000s, research efforts have increased exponentially. However, there is still a lack of information about the molecular mechanism behind the disease.
How cells 'eat' their own fluid components
1dAutophagy is a fundamental cellular process by which cells capture and degrade their own dysfunctional or superfluous components for degradation and recycling. Recent research has revealed that phase separated droplets have a range of important functions in cells. An international collaboration between German, Norwegian, and Japanese researchers has unraveled the mechanisms underpinning both how t
Boosted photocatalysis for hydrogen evolution: Reactant supply thru phosphonate groups
1dWater splitting research for solar hydrogen production has focused on physical processes inside the semiconductor, such as light absorption, charge separation, and chemical processes on the surface that are highly complex and rely on the development of new materials. However, processes inside the solution had yet to be thoroughly explored.
Two-photon polymerization of PEGda hydrogel microstructure
1dThe fabrication of shape-memory hydrogel scaffolds not only requires biocompatibility, micrometer resolution, high mechanical strength, but also requires a low polymerisation threshold in high-water content environment to incorporate microstructures with biological tissues. Towards this goal, scientists from China and Australia developed a new hydrogel formula that full fills this goal and demonst
First-ever atomic resolution video of salt crystals forming in real time
1dTwo novel techniques, atomic-resolution real-time video and conical carbon nanotube confinement, allow researchers to view never-before-seen details about crystal formation. The observations confirm theoretical predictions about how salt crystals form and could inform general theories about the way in which crystal formation produces different ordered structures from an otherwise disordered chemic
How cells 'eat' their own fluid components
1dAutophagy is a fundamental cellular process by which cells capture and degrade their own dysfunctional or superfluous components for degradation and recycling. Recent research has revealed that phase separated droplets have a range of important functions in cells. An international collaboration between German, Norwegian, and Japanese researchers has unraveled the mechanisms underpinning both how t
Early humans used chopping tools to break animal bones and consume the bone marrow
1dResearchers from the Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University unraveled the function of flint tools known as "chopping tools," found at the prehistoric site of Revadim, east of Ashdod. Applying advanced research methods, they examined use-wear traces on 53 chopping tools, as well as organic residues found on some of the tools. They also made and used replicas of the t
Pandemic Numbers Are (Finally) Tiptoeing in the Right Direction
1dEditor's Note: The Atlantic is making vital coverage of the coronavirus available to all readers. Find the collection here . In last week's update , we wrote that the United States had reported the worst weekly case, hospitalization, and death numbers of the pandemic. At the time, it wasn't clear what proportion of the case and death increases were related to postholiday reporting backlogs. This
New study: nine out of ten US infants experience gut microbiome deficiency
1dA new peer-reviewed study reveals that the vast majority of US infants may be suffering from a substantial deficiency in an important bacterium key to breast milk utilization and immune system development, as well as protection against gut pathogens linked to common newborn conditions such as colic and diaper rash. The study is the largest to date to benchmark the widespread deficiency in gut bact
As 19th Century Females, Sisters In 'The Doctors Blackwell' Achieve Many Firsts
1dHistorian Janice P. Nimura tells the story of America's first and third certified women doctors and the role these sisters played in building medical institutions. (Image credit: W.W.Norton & Co. )
'Too early' to predict when lockdown will end, warns Johnson
1dSenior scientific adviser says it would be unwise to reopen England's pubs and restaurants until May
How to get more electric cars on the road
1dMIT researchers reveal the kinds of infrastructure improvements that would make the biggest difference in increasing the number of electric cars on the road, a key step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.
Study finds genetic clues to pneumonia risk and COVID-19 disparities
1dResearchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and colleagues have identified genetic factors that increase the risk for developing pneumonia and its severe, life-threatening consequences.
Study finds bilateral agreements help developing economies spur foreign investment
1dDeveloping economies suffer from a paradox: they don't receive investment flows from developed economies because they lack stability and high-quality financial and lawmaking institutions, but they can't develop those institutions without foreign funds.A new study finds that bilateral investment treaties, known as BITs, can help developing economies overcome this paradox, but only as long as those
Dynamic competition between SARS-CoV-2 NSP1 and mRNA on the human ribosome inhibits translation initiation [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
1dSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a beta-CoV that recently emerged as a human pathogen and is the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. A molecular framework of how the virus manipulates host cellular machinery to facilitate infection remains unclear. Here, we focus on SARS-CoV-2 NSP1, which is…
Major alterations in the mononuclear phagocyte landscape associated with COVID-19 severity [Immunology and Inflammation]
1dDendritic cells (DCs) and monocytes are crucial mediators of innate and adaptive immune responses during viral infection, but misdirected responses by these cells may contribute to immunopathology. Here, we performed high-dimensional flow cytometry-analysis focusing on mononuclear phagocyte (MNP) lineages in SARS-CoV-2–infected patients with moderate and severe COVID-19. We provide a…
An insulator that regulates chromatin extrusion and class switch recombination [Commentaries]
1dIn PNAS, Zhang et al. (1) report the discovery of the insulator function of a cluster of CTCF-binding elements (CBEs) that defines the 3′-boundary of the immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy (H) chain locus and regulates IgH class switch recombination (CSR) (Fig. 1). This study not only resolves uncertainties surrounding the functional…
Much of Earth's nitrogen was locally sourced
1dScientists show evidence that nitrogen acquired during Earth's formation came from both the inner and outer regions of the protoplanetary disk. The study has implications for signs of potential habitability of exoplanets.
Scientists discover how the potentially oldest coral reefs in the Mediterranean developed
1dA new study brings unprecedented insights into the environmental constraints and climatic events that controlled the formation of the potentially oldest coral reefs in the Mediterranean.
Climate-related species extinction possibly mitigated by newly discovered effect
1dChanges in climate that occur over short periods of time influence biodiversity. For a realistic assessment of these effects, it is necessary to also consider previous temperature trends going far back into Earth's history.
Discovery of new praying mantis species from the time of the dinosaurs
1dA research team has identified a new species of praying mantis thanks to imprints of its fossilized wings. It lived in Labrador, in the Canadian Subarctic around 100 million years ago, during the time of the dinosaurs, in the Late Cretaceous period. The researchers believe that the fossils of the new genus and species, Labradormantis guilbaulti, helps to establish evolutionary relationships betwee
Methane emissions from abandoned oil and gas wells underestimated
1dA recent study finds that annual methane emissions from abandoned oil and gas (AOG) wells in Canada and the US have been greatly underestimated – by as much as 150% in Canada, and by 20% in the US. Indeed, the research suggests that methane gas emissions from AOG wells are currently the 10th and 11th largest sources of anthropogenic methane emission in the US and Canada, respectively.
As oceans warm, large fish struggle
1dWarming ocean waters could reduce the ability of fish, especially large ones, to extract the oxygen they need from their environment. Animals require oxygen to generate energy for movement, growth and reproduction. Researchers describe their newly developed model to determine how water temperature, oxygen availability, body size and activity affect metabolic demand for oxygen in fish.
'Smiling eyes' aren't a perfect gauge of emotions
1dSmiles that lift the cheeks and crinkle the eyes aren't necessarily a window to a person's emotions, research finds. In fact, these "smiling eye" smiles, called Duchenne smiles, seem to be related to smile intensity, rather than acting as an indicator of whether a person is happy or not, says Jeffrey Girard, a former postdoctoral researcher at Carnegie Mellon University's Language Technologies In
Personalizing cancer care with improved tumor models
1dWhile decades of research have resulted in substantial improvements in surviving cancer, a key challenge remains in identifying new drugs that improve outcomes for patients. In APL Bioengineering , researchers suggest a major hurdle is the paucity of models for cancer research that accurately represent patient tumors. They provide a perspective on strategies using models from individual patients a
Medicated drops may help close macular holes, helping some patients avoid surgery
1dMedicated drops may help close small macular holes over a two- to eight-week period, allowing some people to avoid surgery to fix the vision problem, a new study suggests.
Combining best of both worlds for cancer modeling
1dTreatment options for many types of cancers remain limited, due partly to the in vitro tools used to model cancers and that results from animal studies do not always translate well to human disease. These shortcomings point to a clear need for a better, patient-specific model. Researchers suggest bioengineered microscale organotypic models can address this need. They discuss the advantages and cap
The downward trend: Nature's decline risks our quality of life
1dScientists conducted a sweeping review of nature's contributions to humans in order to present a clear breakdown of global trends since 1970. Not surprisingly, the results are grim
Why older adults must go to the front of the vaccine line
1dA new global, mathematical modeling study pubilshed in the journal Science shows that in most cases prioritizing older adults for COVID-19 vaccines saves the most lives. It also found that, in some cases, more lives could be saved and infections prevented if those who've already tested positive step to the back of the line.
Age-based COVID-19 vaccine strategy that saves most lives prioritizes elderly, modeling shows
1dVaccinating people over 60 is the most effective way to mitigate mortality from COVID-19, a new age-based modeling study suggests.
A closer look at T cells reveals big differences in mild vs. severe COVID-19 cases
1dA big question on people's minds these days: how long does immunity to SARS-CoV-2 last following infection? Now a research team from La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI), The University of Liverpool and the University of Southampton has uncovered an interesting clue. Their new study suggests that people with severe COVID-19 cases may be left with more of the protective 'memory' T cells needed t
Rethink immigration policy for STEM doctorates
1dA streamlined process for awarding green cards to international STEM doctoral students graduating from U.S. universities could benefit American innovation and competitiveness, including leveling the field for startups eager to attract such highly skilled workers, according to a new study by researchers from Cornell University and the University of California, San Diego.
Developmental origins of eczema and psoriasis discovered
1dScientists have created a highly detailed map of skin, which reveals that cellular processes from development are re-activated in cells from patients with eczema and psoriasis inflammatory skin diseases. The study in Science offers potential new drug targets for treating these painful skin diseases and provides a new understanding of inflammatory disease. Part of the global Human Cell Atlas initia
Researchers demonstrate snake venom evolution for defensive purposes
1dResearchers from LSTM's Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions (CSRI) have led an international team investigating the evolutionary origins of a novel defensive trait by snakes – venom spitting – and demonstrated that defensive selection pressures can influence venom composition in snakes in a repeatable manner.
Sloppy science or groundbreaking idea? Theory for how cells organize contents divides biologists
1dCells may form dropletlike functional compartments through a process called phase separation, but not as often as some propose
Space CEO Offers $1 Million for Evidence of Life After Death
1dLife After Death Las Vegas real estate mogul and CEO of space station module startup Bigelow Aerospace Robert Bigelow is offering up $1 million in prizes for evidence of "the survival of consciousness after permanent bodily death," The New York Times reports . Bigelow, a billionaire who has also raised eyebrows for investigating UFO sightings, recently founded the Bigelow Institute for Consciousn
Ultrafast nanoimaging of the order parameter in a structural phase transition
1dUnderstanding microscopic processes in materials and devices that can be switched by light requires experimental access to dynamics on nanometer length and femtosecond time scales. Here, we introduce ultrafast dark-field electron microscopy to map the order parameter across a structural phase transition. We use ultrashort laser pulses to locally excite a 1 T- TaS 2 (1 T -polytype of tantalum disu
Unraveling CO adsorption on model single-atom catalysts
1dUnderstanding how the local environment of a "single-atom" catalyst affects stability and reactivity remains a challenge. We present an in-depth study of copper 1 , silver 1 , gold 1 , nickel 1 , palladium 1 , platinum 1 , rhodium 1 , and iridium 1 species on Fe 3 O 4 (001), a model support in which all metals occupy the same twofold-coordinated adsorption site upon deposition at room temperature
Iridium-catalyzed Z-retentive asymmetric allylic substitution reactions
1dZ -Olefins are challenging synthetic targets owing to their relative thermodynamic instability. Transition metal–catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions are well known for installing stereocenters adjacent to branched or E -linear olefins. However, analogous reactions for the synthesis of optically active Z -olefin products are rare. Here we report iridium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic
Convergent evolution of pain-inducing defensive venom components in spitting cobras
1dConvergent evolution provides insights into the selective drivers underlying evolutionary change. Snake venoms, with a direct genetic basis and clearly defined functional phenotype, provide a model system for exploring the repeated evolution of adaptations. While snakes use venom primarily for predation, and venom composition often reflects diet specificity, three lineages of cobras have independ
Nanoscale localized contacts for high fill factors in polymer-passivated perovskite solar cells
1dPolymer passivation layers can improve the open-circuit voltage of perovskite solar cells when inserted at the perovskite–charge transport layer interfaces. Unfortunately, many such layers are poor conductors, leading to a trade-off between passivation quality (voltage) and series resistance (fill factor, FF). Here, we introduce a nanopatterned electron transport layer that overcomes this trade-o
Transvection regulates the sex-biased expression of a fly X-linked gene
1dSexual dimorphism in animals results from sex-biased gene expression patterns. These patterns are controlled by genetic sex determination hierarchies that establish the sex of an individual. Here we show that the male-biased wing expression pattern of the Drosophila biarmipes gene yellow , located on the X chromosome, is independent of the fly sex determination hierarchy. Instead, we find that a
Host succinate is an activation signal for Salmonella virulence during intracellular infection
1dKey to the success of intracellular pathogens is the ability to sense and respond to a changing host cell environment. Macrophages exposed to microbial products undergo metabolic changes that drive inflammatory responses. However, the role of macrophage metabolic reprogramming in bacterial adaptation to the intracellular environment has not been explored. Here, using metabolic profiling and dual
Glycolysis fuels phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling to bolster T cell immunity
1dInfection triggers expansion and effector differentiation of T cells specific for microbial antigens in association with metabolic reprograming. We found that the glycolytic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) is induced in CD8 + T effector cells through phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling. In turn, ablation of LDHA inhibits PI3K-dependent phosphorylation of Akt and its transcription fac
Clock genes and environmental cues coordinate Anopheles pheromone synthesis, swarming, and mating
1dAnopheles mating is initiated by the swarming of males at dusk followed by females flying into the swarm. Here, we show that mosquito swarming and mating are coordinately guided by clock genes, light, and temperature. Transcriptome analysis shows up-regulation of the clock genes period ( per ) and timeless ( tim ) in the head of field-caught swarming Anopheles coluzzii males. Knockdown of per and
Ancient balancing selection maintains incompatible versions of the galactose pathway in yeast
1dMetabolic pathways differ across species but are expected to be similar within a species. We discovered two functional, incompatible versions of the galactose pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . We identified a three-locus genetic interaction for growth in galactose, and used precisely engineered alleles to show that it arises from variation in the galactose utilization genes GAL2 , GAL1/10/7 ,
JARID2 and AEBP2 regulate PRC2 in the presence of H2AK119ub1 and other histone modifications
1dPolycomb repressive complexes 1 and 2 (PRC1 and PRC2) cooperate to determine cell identity by epigenetic gene expression regulation. However, the mechanism of PRC2 recruitment by means of recognition of PRC1-mediated H2AK119ub1 remains poorly understood. Our PRC2 cryo–electron microscopy structure with cofactors JARID2 and AEBP2 bound to a H2AK119ub1-containing nucleosome reveals a bridge helix i
Mapping the molecular and cellular complexity of cortical malformations
1dThe cerebral cortex is an intricate structure that controls human features such as language and cognition. Cortical functions rely on specialized neurons that emerge during development from complex molecular and cellular interactions. Neurodevelopmental disorders occur when one or several of these steps is incorrectly executed. Although a number of causal genes and disease phenotypes have been id
Developmental cell programs are co-opted in inflammatory skin disease
1dThe skin confers biophysical and immunological protection through a complex cellular network established early in embryonic development. We profiled the transcriptomes of more than 500,000 single cells from developing human fetal skin, healthy adult skin, and adult skin with atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. We leveraged these datasets to compare cell states across development, homeostasis, and di
Regulation of the Dot1 histone H3K79 methyltransferase by histone H4K16 acetylation
1dDot1 (disruptor of telomeric silencing-1), the histone H3 lysine 79 (H3K79) methyltransferase, is conserved throughout evolution, and its deregulation is found in human leukemias. Here, we provide evidence that acetylation of histone H4 allosterically stimulates yeast Dot1 in a manner distinct from but coordinating with histone H2B ubiquitination (H2BUb). We further demonstrate that this stimulat
Bifurcation of planetary building blocks during Solar System formation
1dGeochemical and astronomical evidence demonstrates that planet formation occurred in two spatially and temporally separated reservoirs. The origin of this dichotomy is unknown. We use numerical models to investigate how the evolution of the solar protoplanetary disk influenced the timing of protoplanet formation and their internal evolution. Migration of the water snow line can generate two disti
Author Correction: General destabilizing effects of eutrophication on grassland productivity at multiple spatial scales
1dNature Communications, Published online: 21 January 2021; doi:10.1038/s41467-021-20997-9
Drug Prevents Coronavirus Infection in Nursing Homes, Maker Claims
1dA monoclonal antibody protected residents and staff members in facilities where the virus had appeared.
U.S. Vaccine Supply: What to Know
1dCan President Biden really boost production? Why are governors trying to buy directly from Pfizer? And when will supply exceed demand?
Common pesticides stop bees and flies from getting a good night's sleep
1dJust like us, many insects need a decent night's sleep to function properly, but this might not be possible if they have been exposed to neonicotinoid insecticides, the most common form of insecticide used worldwide, suggests research by academics.
On surviving—and leaving—prison during a pandemic
1dThe public health threat that prisons has never been clearer than during the COVID-19 pandemic. (ArturVerkhovetskiy, ViewApart, ArturVerkhovetskiy, Jerome-Cronenberger/Deposit Photos/) In early 2020, Alexis Triplett watched the news coming out of China, her gaze set on a TV inside her cell in La Vista Correctional Facility in Pueblo, Colorado. People over there were getting sick with a mysterious
Pace of UK vaccinations opens a chink of light
1dGovernment's strategy of delaying second doses may still backfire
Rethink immigration policy for STEM doctorates
1dA streamlined process for awarding green cards to international STEM doctoral students graduating from U.S. universities could benefit American innovation and competitiveness, including leveling the field for startups eager to attract such highly skilled workers, according to a new study by researchers from Cornell University and the University of California, San Diego.
Solar system formation in two steps
1dAn international team of researchers from the University of Oxford, LMU Munich, ETH Zurich, BGI Bayreuth, and the University of Zurich discovered that a two-step formation process of the early Solar System can explain the chronology and split in volatile and isotope content of the inner and outer Solar System.
Spitting Cobra venom reveals how evolution often finds the same answer to a common problem
1dA study of spitting cobras, published in Science reveals how a combination of venom components have evolved to create an instantly painful venom, not once, but on three separate occasions.
Designing customized "brains" for robots
1dMIT researchers have developed an automated way to design customized hardware that speeds up a robot's operation. The system, called robomorphic computing, accounts for the robot's physical layout in suggesting an optimized hardware architecture.
A new study shows the relationship between surgery and Alzheimer's disease
1dAmsterdam, January 21, 2021 – A new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease carried out by researchers at the Marqués de Valdecilla-IDIVAL University Hospital, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Bonn Medical Center, proposes that major surgery is a promoter or accelerator of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The first author of the publication was Carmen Lage and the prin
Adaptive optics with cascading corrective elements
1dAs reported in Advanced Photonics , researchers from the University of Freiburg, Germany, have made a significant advance in AO microscopy through the demonstration of a new AO module comprising two deformable phase plates (DPPs).
COVID-19 infection in immunodeficient patient cured by infusing convalescent plasma
1dUnder FDA emergency-use authorization, doctors successfully resolved COVID-19 in a seriously ill, immunodeficient woman using a very high-neutralizing antibody-titer convalescent plasma from a recovered COVID-19 patient. However, further study suggested that use of convalescent plasma may not be warranted in many cases, for two reasons: 1) titer levels are too low in many convalescent plasmas, and
'Aging well' greatly affected by hopes and fears for later life, OSU study finds
1dIf you believe you are capable of becoming the healthy, engaged person you want to be in old age, you are much more likely to experience that outcome, a recent Oregon State University study shows.
OSU researchers prove fish-friendly detection method more sensitive than electrofishing
1dDelivering a minor electric shock into a stream to reveal any fish lurking nearby may be the gold standard for detecting fish populations, but it's not much fun for the trout. Scientists at Oregon State University have found that sampling stream water for evidence of the presence of various species using environmental DNA, known as eDNA, can be more accurate than electrofishing, without disrupting
Squeezing a rock-star material could make it stable enough for solar cells
1dA promising lead halide perovskite is great at converting sunlight to electricity, but it breaks down at room temperature. Now scientists have discovered how to stabilize it with pressure from a diamond anvil cell. The required pressure is well within the reach of industrial manufacturing requirements.
Spitting Cobra venom reveals how evolution often finds the same answer to a common problem
1dA study of spitting cobras, published in Science reveals how a combination of venom components have evolved to create an instantly painful venom, not once, but on three separate occasions.
Spitting cobras' venom evolved to inflict pain
1dVenom mix arose independently in three groups of the spitting snakes
Biden Administration Appoints Acting NASA Chief
1dAssociate administrator Steve Jurczyk, who has worked at the space agency since 1988, will serve as its interim leader during the presidential transition — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
mRNA Vaccines: What Happens
1dA question that comes up a lot about mRNA vaccines is what happens at the cellular level after you're injected with one. The mechanism of any such vaccine is to cause cells to produce a viral protein antigen, but which cells actually do this? It's also understood that mRNA vaccines tend to act as their own adjuvant and stimulate a further immune response that improves their efficacy – but how doe
Biden Admin Shocked to Discover No Vaccine Distribution Plan
1dWe have good news and bad news. The bad news is that after President Joe Biden was sworn in, he and his administration quickly learned that the outgoing Trump team still hadn't developed a plan to distribute the vaccine, CNN reports . The good news is that at last, exactly one full year since the first coronavirus cases were detected in the United States, the White House is actively developing a
Cancer vaccine helped keep melanoma under control for years in small study
1dScientists tested a vaccine for melanoma in a small trial.
Ancient Mars was more like Iceland than Idaho
1dNew research indicates that, more than 3 billion years ago, seasons in Gale Crater on Mars were probably something like those in Iceland. The ancient Martian crater is the focus of a study comparing data from the Curiosity rover to places on Earth where similar geologic formations have experienced weathering in different climates. Iceland's basaltic terrain and cool weather, with temperatures typ
When a story is breaking, AI can help consumers identify fake news
1dWarnings about misinformation are now regularly posted on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms, but not all of these cautions are created equal. New research from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute shows that artificial intelligence can help form accurate news assessments — but only when a news story is first emerging.
Madrid resists regions' calls for more powers
1dDemand for changes in law to allow lockdowns comes as infection rates surge
Lava Lakes, Lava Flows, Lava Domes
1dLava can take many forms, all based on what is in it. Three volcanoes are currently showcasing different varieties of lava in spectacular fashion.
Researchers develop new graphene nanochannel water filters
1dWhen sheets of two-dimensional nanomaterials like graphene are stacked on top of each other, tiny gaps form between the sheets that have a wide variety of potential uses. In research published in the journal Nature Communications, a team of Brown University researchers has found a way to orient those gaps, called nanochannels, in a way that makes them more useful for filtering water and other liqu
Israel coronavirus cases soar even as it pushes on with vaccine drive
1dLockdown extended amid estimates B.1.1.7 variant will account for most new infections by March
Military medics to work in UK hospitals as Covid admissions soar
1dLondon and Midlands sent 400 MoD staff and 110 being deployed to Northern Ireland to ease NHS pressure
Invasive tawny crazy ants have an intense craving for calcium – with implications for their spread in the US
1dIn a recent study, my colleagues and I discovered micronutrients in the ground can control populations of invasive crazy ants (Nylanderia fulva).
Media outlets inconsistently mention uncertain status of COVID-19 preprints
1dFailure to note lack of peer review could risk overselling research
Invasive tawny crazy ants have an intense craving for calcium – with implications for their spread in the US
1dIn a recent study, my colleagues and I discovered micronutrients in the ground can control populations of invasive crazy ants (Nylanderia fulva).
Researchers develop new graphene nanochannel water filters
1dBrown University researchers have shown that tiny channels between graphene sheets can be aligned in a way that makes them ideal for water filtration.
Detailed tumour profiling
1dAs part of a clinical study involving patients from the University Hospitals in Zurich and Basel, researchers are conducting a thorough and highly precise investigation into the molecular and functional properties of tumours. Their goal is to help physicians to better determine which treatment will best match every patient's cancer and thus be most effective.
Survey: Frequent reports of missed medical care in US adults during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic
1dTwo out of five individuals delayed or missed medical care in the early phase of the pandemic–from March through mid-July 2020.
Scientists make pivotal discovery on mechanism of Epstein-Barr virus latent infection
1dWistar Researchers have discovered a new enzymatic function of the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) protein EBNA1, a critical factor in EBV's ability to transform human cells and cause cancer. Study provides new indications for inhibiting EBNA1 function, opening up fresh avenues for development of therapies to treat EBV-associated cancers.
Snake sex chromosomes say less about sex and more about survival
1dA new study looks to snakes to broaden our understanding of what makes a gene able to survive on a sex-specific chromosome. Comparing surviving genes on snake sex-specific chromosomes to those that are lost to the ravages of time can teach scientists about the evolutionary pressures that shaped sex chromosomes as we know them today.
Drinking is up for people with depression during COVID
1dPeople with anxiety and depression are more likely to report an increase in drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic than those without mental health issues, according to a new study. While drinking grew the most among younger people, older adults with anxiety and depression also saw a sharper increase in their risk for harmful alcohol use. "This increase in drinking, particularly among people with
When football clubs are less successful, fans are more loyal to each other
1dFootball fans tend to be highly loyal to their group, just as the kin groups of our ancestral past would have been. This intense state of belonging, when a person feels as one with their group, is called identity fusion.
The Biden Generation's Last Chance
1dJim Clyburn sat by himself on the dais at Joe Biden's inauguration, thinking about his late wife, Emily, who wasn't there with him. Without Clyburn, the third-ranking House Democrat, who endorsed the former vice president at a crucial moment last year, Biden might not have taken the oath of office yesterday. But without Emily's influence, Clyburn told me, that endorsement might never have happene
Amazon Offers to Help White House Distribute COVID Vaccine
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1dAmazon Offers Help Biden
In a Wednesday letter obtained by Reuters , Amazon offered to help the new American president Joe Biden with the country's efforts to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine. The retailer, which is the country's second largest employer behind Walmart, offered to open the doors of its many facilities around the country to help healthcare providers administer vaccines. "We are prepared to leverage our operat
As oceans warm, large fish struggle
1dWarming ocean waters could reduce the ability of fish, especially large ones, to extract the oxygen they need from their environment. Animals require oxygen to generate energy for movement, growth and reproduction. In a recent paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, an international team of researchers from McGill, Montana and Radboud universities describe their newly develope
The Best Cookware, According to Science
1dShould you opt for ceramic, cast iron, nonstick, or something else? Here's a guide to choosing pots and pans that will get the job done — and clear up concerns you might have about what they're made of.
SpaceX won't be the only company launching commercial rockets in 2021
1d"Looks like the blue skies went to black!" We are overjoyed to share this new video of our Launch Demo 2 flight. The adrenaline is still flowing after we aced this flight and delivered satellites for nine different @NASA and university teams exactly to their target orbit. pic.twitter.com/nVX21hXywi — Virgin Orbit (@Virgin_Orbit) January 18, 2021
As oceans warm, large fish struggle
1dWarming ocean waters could reduce the ability of fish, especially large ones, to extract the oxygen they need from their environment. Animals require oxygen to generate energy for movement, growth and reproduction. In a recent paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, an international team of researchers from McGill, Montana and Radboud universities describe their newly develope
A mathematical framework enables accurate characterization of shapes
1dIn nature, many things have evolved that differ in size, color and, above all, in shape. While the color or size of an object can be easily described, the description of a shape is more complicated. In a study now published in Nature Communications, Jacqueline Nowak of the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology and her colleagues have outlined a new and improved way to describe shapes
'Fact-checkers' proposed for Nobel peace prize
1dWith truth famously known as the "first casualty of war," a Norwegian parliamentarian announced Thursday that she is nominating "fact-checkers" for this year's Nobel Peace Prize.
'Attitude of gratitude' keeps older people in Japan feeling hopeful as they age
1dOlder people in Japan have an 'attitude of gratitude' which keeps them feeling hopeful despite the challenges of aging, a new study says.
Study defines small-cell lung cancer subtypes and distinct therapeutic vulnerabilities for each type
1dResearchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have developed the first comprehensive framework to classify small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) into four unique subtypes, based on gene expression, and have identified potential therapeutic targets for each type in a study published today in Cancer Cell.
Study updates breast cancer risk estimates for women with no family history
1dA new multi-institution study led by Fergus Couch, Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic pathologist, provides more accurate estimates of breast cancer risk for U.S. women who harbor inherited mutations in breast cancer predisposition genes. The findings of the CARRIERS Consortium study, published Jan. 20 in The New England Journal of Medicine, may allow health care providers to better assess the risk of breast ca
It's a sweet relief to be vaccinated – but it's not a return to normality | Polly Toynbee
1dAs older people relish being vaccinated, the UK government's messaging risks being confusing and contradictory Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Age brings few benefits, as far as I can see: not wisdom, not virtue, nor serenity. But what a bonus to find yourself among the ranks of septuagenarians lining up for the Covid-19 vaccine. This gift of life arrives via an auto
How work addiction negatively affects your mental and physical health
1dWork addiction is a growing public health risk in industrialized nations, with some research showing that 5–10% of the United States population meet the criteria. Workaholism comes with a variety of serious mental and physical health concerns such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, lowered immunity, substance abuse, or even chronic fatigue. Employees at the highest risk for stress-related disorder
Seeds transfer their microbes to the next generation
1dScientists have been pondering if the microbiome of plants is due to nature or nurture. Research at Stockholm University, published in Environmental Microbiology, showed that oak acorns contain a large diversity of microbes, and that oak seedlings inherit their microbiome from these acorns.
Pioneering new technique could revolutionise super-resolution imaging systems
1dScientists have developed a pioneering new technique that could revolutionize the accuracy, precision and clarity of super-resolution imaging systems.
Watch a glass frog get funky when mating croaks are too quiet
1dGlass frogs that live near loud streams add to mating calls with the flap of a hand, a wave of a foot, or a bob of the head to attract a mate, a new study shows. Researchers have documented these frogs that "dance" near rushing streams—where noise can obscure those crucial love songs—in the rainforests of India, Borneo, Brazil, and, now, Ecuador. Conservation ecologist Rebecca Brunner, a PhD cand
Embedded counseling services can improve accessibility for students
1dKerry Karaffa is the first MU Counseling Center psychologist to be embedded specifically within the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, where he provides tailored counseling services for professional students training to become veterinarians. He is also aware that veterinarians are at increased risk for mental health concerns and suicidality compared to the general public due to
Seeds transfer their microbes to the next generation
1dScientists have been pondering if the microbiome of plants is due to nature or nurture. Research at Stockholm University, published in Environmental Microbiology, showed that oak acorns contain a large diversity of microbes, and that oak seedlings inherit their microbiome from these acorns.
Pioneering new technique could revolutionise super-resolution imaging systems
1dScientists have developed a pioneering new technique that could revolutionize the accuracy, precision and clarity of super-resolution imaging systems.
A new nanomaterial for the war against counterfeits
1dDespite the anticounterfeiting devices attached to luxury handbags, marketable securities, and identification cards, counterfeit goods are on the rise. There is a demand for the next-generation anticounterfeiting technologies—that surpass the traditional ones—that are not easily forgeable and can hold various data.
Climate change puts hundreds of coastal airports at risk of flooding
1dEven a modest sea level rise, triggered by increasing global temperatures, would place 100 airports below mean sea level by 2100, a new study has found.
Teamwork in a molecule
1dChemists at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena have demonstrated the value of 'teamwork' by successfully harnessing the interaction between two gallium atoms in a novel compound to split the particularly strong bond between fluorine and carbon. The gallium compound is also cheaper and more environmentally friendly than conventional alternatives.
Dynamic, personalized treatment approach may improve outcomes in gastroesophageal cancers
1dA phase 2 clinical trial providing personalized treatments based on the genetic profile of metastatic tumors in gastroesophageal cancers has found that using customized treatment approaches, and adapting them over time as tumors become resistant, led to higher rates of survival compared to historical controls.
Modified pain management strategy reduces opioid exposure to trauma patients, study shows
1dA pain management regimen comprised mostly of over-the-counter medication reduced opioid exposure in trauma patients while achieving equal levels of pain control, according to a new study by physician-researchers at UTHealth.
Embedded counseling services can improve accessibility for students, MU study finds
1dKerry Karaffa is the first MU Counseling Center psychologist to be embedded specifically within the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, where he provides tailored counseling services for professional students training to become veterinarians.
New, simplified genetic test effectively screens for hereditary cancers
1dResearchers have developed a new integrated genetic/epigenetic DNA-sequencing protocol known as MultiMMR that can identify the presence and cause of mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency in a single test from a small sample of DNA in colon, endometrial, and other cancers. This alternative to complex, multi-step testing workflows can also determine causes of MMR deficiency often missed by current clinic
SHEA releases COVID-19 research agenda identifying gaps in knowledge
1dMassive amounts of COVID-19 research has been published since the pandemic began, but much more study is needed to understand how to prevent, identify, and treat the virus. The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America is publishing a COVID-19 research agenda outlining 10 areas where we need to learn more to fight COVID-19 and future pandemics.
Vegan diet significantly remodels metabolism in young children
1dUniversity of Helsinki researchers report a comprehensive pilot study on the metabolic effects of full vegan diet on young children. The study found vegan children to have remarkably altered metabolism and lower vitamin A and D status compared to children with no special diet.
Strange colon discovery explains racial disparities in colorectal cancer
1dThe colons of African-Americans and people of European descent age differently, new research reveals, helping explain racial disparities in colorectal cancer – the cancer that killed beloved 'Black Panther' star Chadwick Boseman at only 43.
When it comes to eyewitness accounts of earthquake shaking, representation matters
1dAs scientists increasingly rely on eyewitness accounts of earthquake shaking reported through online systems, they should consider whether those accounts are societally and spatially representative for an event, according to a new paper published in Seismological Research Letters.
Burial practices point to an interconnected early Medieval Europe
1dEarly Medieval Europe is frequently viewed as a time of cultural stagnation, often given the misnomer of the 'Dark Ages'. However, analysis has revealed new ideas could spread rapidly as communities were interconnected, creating a surprisingly unified culture in Europe.
Tree rings and the Laki volcano eruption: A closer look at climate
1dUniversity of Arizona researchers read between the lines of tree rings to reconstruct exactly what happened in Alaska the year that the Laki Volcano erupted half a world away in Iceland. What they learned can help fine-tune future climate predictions.
Much of Earth's nitrogen was locally sourced
1dWhere did Earth's nitrogen come from? Rice University scientists show one primordial source of the indispensable building block for life was close to home.
Search for axions from nearby star Betelgeuse comes up empty
1dThe elusive axion particle is many times lighter than an electron, with properties that barely make an impression on ordinary matter. As such, the ghost-like particle is a leading contender as a component of dark matter—a hypothetical, invisible type of matter that is thought to make up 85 percent of the mass in the universe.
Researchers make domestic high-performance bipolar membranes possible
1dThe bipolar membrane, a type of ion exchange membrane, is considered the pivotal material for zero emission technology. It is composed of an anode and cathode membrane layer, and an intermediate hydrolysis layer. Under reverse bias, the water molecules in the intermediate layer produce OH- and H+ by polarization.
Message in a bottle: Info-rich bubbles respond to antibiotics
1dOnce regarded as merely cast-off waste products of cellular life, bacterial membrane vesicles (MVs) have since become an exciting new avenue of research, due to the wealth of biological information they carry to other bacteria as well as other cell types.
Indigenous lands: A haven for wildlife
1dIndigenous peoples' lands may harbor a significant proportion of threatened and endangered species globally, according to University of Queensland-led research.
Space Station Captures Amazing Footage of Lightning From Above
1dLooking Down Sensitive storm-chasing equipment on the International Space Station caught a dazzling light show on video as it watched the electrical activity of a thunderstorm from above. The recordings, which were captured by the European Space Agency's Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM), help reveal how lightning originates and even how storms can distribute greenhouse gases through t
Ten suggestions for female faculty and staff during the pandemic
1dWhen university campuses sent students, staff and faculty members home in March, Padmini Rangamani, a professor at the University of California San Diego, suddenly found herself running her research lab remotely, teaching her classes online, and supervising her two children, ages 10 and 13, who are also learning online.
Astronomers estimate Titan's largest sea is 1,000-feet deep
1dFar below the gaseous atmospheric shroud on Saturn's largest moon, Titan, lies Kraken Mare, a sea of liquid methane. Cornell University astronomers have estimated that sea to be at least 1,000-feet deep near its center—enough room for a potential robotic submarine to explore.
Message in a bottle: Info-rich bubbles respond to antibiotics
1dOnce regarded as merely cast-off waste products of cellular life, bacterial membrane vesicles (MVs) have since become an exciting new avenue of research, due to the wealth of biological information they carry to other bacteria as well as other cell types.
Indigenous lands: A haven for wildlife
1dIndigenous peoples' lands may harbor a significant proportion of threatened and endangered species globally, according to University of Queensland-led research.
U.S. Vaccine Supply: What to Know
1dCan President Biden really boost production? Why are governors trying to buy directly from Pfizer? And when will supply exceed demand?
Here Are All the Climate Actions Biden Took on Day One
1dAs expected, the president signed executive orders to rejoin the Paris climate agreement and review Trump-era rollbacks — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Two cheers for science's Newtonian return under Joe Biden
1dAn ambitious reversal of Donald Trump's anti-science approach is marked by several firsts
Author Correction: Improvement of nerve imaging speed with coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering rigid endoscope using deep-learning noise reduction
1dScientific Reports, Published online: 21 January 2021; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-80630-5
Addiction researchers recount creating virtual recovery meetings during pandemic
1dResearchers at the Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment at the University of Kansas Life Span Institute have published their experience making SMART Recovery groups available via computer and telephone to the community in Douglas County.
Hair aging differs by race, ethnicity
1dWhile aging is an unavoidable biological process with many influencing factors that results in visible changes to the hair, there is limited literature examining the characteristics of hair aging across the races. Now a new study describes the unique characteristics of hair aging among different ethnicities that the authors hope will aid in a culturally sensitive approach when making recommendatio
Turbulence model could help design aircraft capable of handling extreme scenarios
1dTo help build aircraft that can better handle violent turbulence, Purdue University researchers developed a new model that allows engineers to incorporate the physics of an entire vortex collision into their design codes.
Seeds transfer their microbes to the next generation
1dScientists have been pondering if the microbiome of plants is due to nature or nurture. Research at Stockholm University, published in Environmental Microbiology , showed that oak acorns contain a large diversity of microbes, and that oak seedlings inherit their microbiome from these acorns. The microorganisms found on the seed are often valuable for the plant, promoting its growth and protecting
Pioneering new technique could revolutionise super-resolution imaging systems
1dScientists have developed a pioneering new technique that could revolutionise the accuracy, precision and clarity of super-resolution imaging systems.
New study on the role of monocytes in sarcoidosis
1dThe cause of the inflammatory lung disease sarcoidosis is unknown. In a new study, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have investigated whether a type of immune cell called a monocyte could be a key player in sarcoidosis pathogenesis and explain why some patients develop more severe and chronic disease than others. The study, which is published in The European Respiratory Journal , ope
Study suggests that gut fungi are not associated with Parkinson's disease
1dThe bacterial gut microbiome is strongly associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), but no studies had previously investigated he role of fungi in the gut. In this novel study published in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease, a team of investigators at the University of British Columbia examined whether the fungal constituents of the gut microbiome are associated with PD.
Important cause of preeclampsia discovered
1dNew findings show that cholesterol crystals in the uterine wall are the villain that researchers have been looking for. These crystals cause intensified inflammation in people who become ill.
Randomized trials could help to return children safely to schools – study
1dSchools are closing again in response to surging levels of COVID-19 infection, but staging randomized trials when students eventually return could help to clarify uncertainties around when we should send children back to the classroom, according to a new study.
Fans of less successful football clubs are more loyal to one another
1dResearch led by the universities of Kent and Oxford has found that fans of the least successful Premier League football teams have a stronger bond with fellow fans and are more 'fused' with their club than supporters of the most successful teams.
Neuronal recycling: This is how our brain allows us to read
1dIs there an area and cognitive mechanism in our brain specifically devoted to reading? Probably not. According to new research, underlying reading there is evolutionarily ancient function more generally used to process many other visual stimuli. We process letters and words similarly to how we do with any visual stimulus: we identify basic features as shape, size, structure. On the basis of the st
The interconnection of global pandemics — Obesity, impaired metabolic health and COVID-19
1dIn a Nature Reviews Endocrinology article authors from the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) highlight the interconnection of #obesity and impaired metabolic health with the severity of #COVID19. #diabetes
A display that completely blocks off counterfeits
1dPOSTECH research team led by Professor Junsuk Rho develops nanostructures capable of polarized optical encryption.
Six-fold rise in brain pressure disorder that affects mostly women
1dA brain pressure disorder that especially affects women, causing severe headaches and sometimes permanent sight loss, has risen six-fold in 15 years, and is linked to obesity and deprivation, a new study by Swansea University researchers has shown.Rates of emergency hospital admissions in Wales for people with the disorder were also five times higher than for those without.
Climate change puts hundreds of coastal airports at risk of flooding
1dNewcastle University scientists have found that 269 airports are at risk of coastal flooding now. A temperature rise of 2C – consistent with the Paris Agreement – would lead to 100 airports being below mean sea level and 364 airports at risk of flooding. If global mean temperature rise exceeds this then as many as 572 airports will be at risk by 2100, leading to major disruptions without appropria
COVID-19 virus helps block host immunity
1dSARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, blocks the processes of innate immune activation that normally direct the production and/or signaling of type I interferon (IFN-I) by the infected cell and tissues. IFN-I is a key component of host innate immunity that is responsible for eliminating the virus at the early stage of infection
Electron transfer discovery is a step toward viable grid-scale batteries
1dThe way to boost electron transfer in grid-scale batteries is different than researchers had believed, a new study from the University of Michigan has shown.
Diamonds need voltage
1dDiamonds are fascinating – as jewellery but also because of the extreme hardness of the material. How exactly this variant of carbon is formed deep underground and under extremely high pressures and temperatures remains a mystery. Now, researchers from the Russian Academy of Sciences Novosibirsk, collaborating with the German Research Centre for Geosciences GFZ, have documented a new influencing f
Lifelong lessons from my unexpected encounter with a synchrotron
1dNature, Published online: 21 January 2021; doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00181-1 Biomedical scientist Vladimira Foteva didn't imagine she would be working with physicists at an Australian particle accelerator when she began her PhD, but the experience taught her the value of collaboration across disciplines.
Fast-spreading COVID variant can elude immune responses
1dNature, Published online: 21 January 2021; doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00121-z Evidence that a variant of the coronavirus identified in South Africa might compromise immunity sparks concerns about vaccine effectiveness.
Ketamine and Psychedelics: Next-Wave Antidepressants
1dKetamine and psychedelics are making headlines as new alternative antidepressant therapeutics. For years scientists have been studying the benefits of these drugs on the brain and exciting new research has led to the idea that our understanding of what underlies depression could be wrong and these next-wave antidepressants could be another remedy of one of […]
Meet Biden's Science Team
1dAs the U.S. president announces his advisers and agency heads, Nature's guide tracks the appointees who matter most to science — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Facebook's Oversight Board to Decide on Trump Ban
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1dFacebook Board Trump
Facebook has to decide whether to give the ex-president his bullhorn back. It won't make that call itself.
Pauli-krystaller og Klein-tunneling
1dEn række besynderlige kvantefænomener forudsagt teoretisk for mange år siden er nu endelig påvist. Måske kan de give bedre forståelse af superledning og ultralydssystemer.
Sleuths scrutinize high-profile study of ultra-processed foods and weight gain
1dIn July 2019, Kevin Hall, of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and colleagues published a study in Cell Metabolism that found, according to its title, that "Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain." Not surprisingly, the paper — which nutrition researchers urged caution in interpreting in an accompanying editorial — earned media … Continue reading
RUDN University neurosurgeon created a method to collect mental activity data of software developers
1dA neurosurgeon from RUDN University studied the mental activity of developers at work. In his novel method, he combined mobile EEG devices and software that analyzes neurophysiological data.
Smooth touchdown: novel camera-based system for automated landing of drone on a fixed spot
1dWhile autonomous drones can greatly assist with difficult rescue missions, they require a safe landing procedure. In a new study, scientists from Shibaura Institute of Technology (SIT), Japan, have demonstrated automated drone landing with a simple 2D camera guiding the drone to a symbolized landing pad. The guiding camera can be further improved to include depth-related information, paving the wa
Estrogen receptors in mom's placenta critical during viral infection
1dA team of Duke and Mt. Sinai researchers has found a mechanism that protects a fetus from harm when the mother's innate immune system responds to a viral infection. Inflammation that would harm the fetus is dampened by a cell-surface estrogen receptor called GPER1 that is especially abundant in the placenta and fetal tissues.
Abandoned cropland should produce biofuels
1dMore biofuels are needed to counteract climate change. But producing them shouldn't diminish food production or wilderness areas. The solution may be to grow more grass on recently abandoned cropland.
Investigational combo therapy shows benefit for TP53 mutant MDS and AML patients
1dMoffitt Cancer Center is leading a national, multicenter clinical trial investigating a new therapy option for this group of patients. It builds upon the standard of care therapy, combining eprenetapopt (APR-246) with the chemotherapy azacitidine. Results of the phase 1b/2 trial to determine the safety, recommended dose and efficacy of the combination therapy were published in the Journal of Clini
Size of connections between nerve cells determines their signaling strength
1dNerve cells communicate with one another via synapses. Neuroscientists at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich have now found that these connections seem to be much more powerful than previously thought. The larger the synapse, the stronger the signal it transmits. These findings will enable a better understanding of how the brain functions and how neurological disorders arise.
When it comes to eyewitness accounts of earthquake shaking, representation matters
1dAs scientists increasingly rely on eyewitness accounts of earthquake shaking reported through online systems, they should consider whether those accounts are societally and spatially representative for an event, according to a new paper published in Seismological Research Letters.
Burial practices point to an interconnected early Medieval Europe
1dChanges in Western European burial practices spread rapidly during the 6th – 8th centuries AD, providing strong evidence that early Medieval Europe was a well-connected place with a shared culture.
Tough childhood damages life prospects
1dAn adverse upbringing often impairs people's circumstances and health in their adult years, especially for couples who have both had similar experiences. This is shown by a new study, carried out by Uppsala University researchers, in which 818 mothers and their partners filled in a questionnaire one year after having a child together. The study is now published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE .
Does aspirin lower colorectal cancer risk in older adults? It depends on when they start
1dA new study has found that there is no protection against colorectal cancer if people begin taking aspirin regularly after age 70. However, there appears to be such protection if aspirin is started before age 70 and continued.
Angstrom multilayer metrology by combining spectral measurements and machine learning
1dThe 3D-NAND is the most commercially successful 3D memory device today, and its demand is growing exponentially. As each layer thickness corresponds to the effective channel length, accurate characterization and control of layer-by-layer thickness is critical. Engineers in South Korea invented a nondestructive thickness characterization method of each layer in semiconductor multilayer stacks with
Eric Lander Is Not the Ideal Choice for Presidential Science Adviser
1dDespite a long list of supremely qualified people who could inspire a whole new generation of scientists, the glass ceiling in American science remains intact — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
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Watch a Fire Break Out on Board a NASA Spacecraft
1dLight It Up To make sure that future spacecraft don't run the risk of catching fire on the way to the Moon, NASA is conducting a series of Spacecraft Fire Safety Experiments ( SAFFIRE ) experiments on board a used cargo spacecraft. And yes, the experiments involve igniting actual, controlled fires on the interior of the uncrewed spacecraft, as seen in a video uploaded by the space agency. The lat
Study results show COVID-19 virus triggers antibodies from previous coronavirus infections
1dThe results of a study led by Northern Arizona University and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope, suggest the immune systems of people infected with COVID-19 may rely on antibodies created during infections from earlier coronaviruses to help fight the disease.
Electrons caught in the act
1dTsukuba University scientists create movies of the ultrafast motion of electrons traveling through an organic semiconductor with atomic-level resolution. This work may lead to more powerful and miniaturized smart devices.
Search for axions from nearby star Betelgeuse comes up empty
1dAn MIT-led search for axions from nearby star Betelgeuse has come up empty, significantly narrowing the search for hypothetical dark matter particle.
How the brain learns that earmuffs are not valuable at the beach
1dA collaboration between the University of Tsukuba and the NEI in the US has discovered that fast-spiking neurons in the basal ganglia allow monkeys to associate different values with the same objects based on the surrounding environment. Blocking input from these cells inhibited learning of new scene-based values, but did not erase already learned associations. This could help understand clinical
Researchers make domestic high-performance bipolar membranes possible
1dA team led by Prof. XU Tongwen and Prof WU Liang from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) adopted an in-situ growth idea to construct a stable and efficient membrane
COVID-19 is dangerous for middle-aged adults, not just the elderly
1dCOVID-19 has been spreading rapidly over the past several months, and the U.S. death toll has now reached 400,000. As evident from the age distribution of those fatalities, COVID-19 is dangerous not only for the elderly but for middle-aged adults, according to a Dartmouth-led study published in the European Journal of Epidemiology.
Alpha particles lurk at the surface of neutron-rich nuclei
1dScientists from an international collaboration have found evidence of alpha particles at the surface of neutron-rich heavy nuclei, providing new insights into the structure of neutron stars, as well as the process of alpha decay.
Taking sieving lessons from nature
1dNanostructure-templated electrochemical polymerization enhances speed and selectivity in organic membrane-based processes.
Ten suggestions for female faculty and staff during the pandemic
1d"Ten simple rules for women principal investigators during a pandemic" was published recently in PLOS Computational Biology . It's perhaps important to note that despite its title, the article is careful to say that the cardinal rule is that there are no rules. So all 10 points outlined are in fact suggestions. Also despite its title, Rangamani says most of the 10 points outlined in the publicatio
CNIO participates in a study that defines the most important genes that increase breast cancer risk
1d* The study will help to improve prevention programmes since it "defines the most useful genes" for breast cancer risk prediction tests, the authors write* The study will be published in the 'New England Journal of Medicine' (NEJM) and is authored by 250 researchers from dozens of institutions in more than 25 countries* Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers today. One in eight women will
NUI Galway contribute to significant breast cancer risk genes study
1dBreast cancer investigators in the Lambe Institute at NUI Galway have collaborated on a pivotal international study into breast cancer risk which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine today. The results of the study have identified that there are nine specific genes associated with breast cancer risk.
Curtin find could slash energy use and cost in making silicon
1dCurtin University researchers have uncovered a method of making silicon, found commonly in electronics such as phones, cameras and computers, at room temperature.
This Great Lakes fish may have evolved to see like its ocean ancestors did
1dIn the dark waters of Lake Superior, a fish species adapted to regain a genetic trait that may have helped its ancient ancestors see in the ocean, a study finds. "Evolution is often thought of as a one-way process, at least over deep time, but in this example, over 175 million years, we have this reversal back to a much earlier ancestral state," one of the researchers says.
Hundreds of never-before-seen life-forms live in this 6,000-foot-deep volcano's acid jets
1dResearchers discover 300 novel microbes living near the blazing hot jets of an underwater volcano near New Zealand
French bird flu outbreak coming under control: government
1dA bird flu outbreak that has required culls of hundreds of thousands of ducks in southwest France "seems under control for now," the government's top official in the region said Thursday.
What tailgating does to men's bodies
1dThe heavy eating and drinking that go along with tailgating doesn't affect all men the same way, new research suggests. Researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine simulated a tailgating situation with a small group of overweight but healthy men and examined the impact of the eating and drinking on their livers using blood tests and a liver scan. They discovered remarkably diff
French bird flu outbreak coming under control: government
1dA bird flu outbreak that has required culls of hundreds of thousands of ducks in southwest France "seems under control for now," the government's top official in the region said Thursday.
Scientists discover how the potentially oldest coral reefs in the Mediterranean developed
1dA new study from the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC, Spain) and the National Oceanography Centre brings unprecedented insights into the environmental constraints and climatic events that controlled the formation of the potentially oldest coral reefs in the Mediterranean.
Allergic reactions including anaphylaxis after receipt of 1st dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine
1dThis JAMA Insights review provides clinical details of anaphylactic reactions reported to and verified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the first week of use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in the United States.
Pain-relief regimen treats trauma patients with fewer opioid drugs
1dA multimodal pain regimen (MMPR) designed to minimize opioid exposure and relieve acute pain associated with traumatic injury kept patient self-reported pain scores low while also reducing the daily and total amount of opioid drugs given to trauma patients.
Producing green hydrogen through the exposure of nanomaterials to sunlight
1dA research team from the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) has joined forces with French researchers from the The Institute of Chemistry and Processes for Energy, Environment and Health (ICPEES), a CNRS-University of Strasbourg joint research lab, to pave the way towards the production of green hydrogen.
Effect of bamlanivimab as monotherapy or in combination with etesevimab on viral load in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19
1dThis randomized clinical trial compares the effects of three doses of bamlanivimab monotherapy (700 vs 2,800 vs 7,000 mg) vs combination bamlanivimab and etesevimab vs placebo on change in day 11 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 viral load in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.
Much of Earth's nitrogen was locally sourced
1dScientists show evidence that nitrogen acquired during Earth's formation came from both the inner and outer regions of the protoplanetary disk. The study has implications for signs of potential habitability of exoplanets.
Association of obstructive sleep apnea with risk of male infertility
1dA large health insurance database in Taiwan was used to investigate whether obstructive sleep apnea is a risk factor in male infertility and if treatment for sleep apnea is associated with risk.
Safe, efficient performance of open tracheostomies in patients with COVID-19
1dResearchers demonstrate a technique of tracheostomy that minimizes aerosolization risks while creating a tight seal around the tracheostomy tube.
Hand sanitizer-induced ocular injury
1dThe cases of two children with eye injuries after unintentional contact between alcohol-based hand rubs and the eye are described in this observation.
Pediatric eye injuries, hand sanitizers during COVID-19 pandemic
1dAn increase in pediatric cases of alcohol-based hand sanitizer eye exposure was assessed in this study, which also described the severity of ocular lesions and their management.
Racial/ethnic disparities in unintentional EMS-attended opioid overdoses during COVID-19 pandemic
1dAssociations of the COVID-19 pandemic with overdoses among racial/ethnic groups in Philadelphia are described in this observational study.
Reports of forgone medical care among US adults during initial phase of COVID-19 pandemic
1dThis study estimated the frequency of reported forgone medical care because of the COVID-19 pandemic from March to mid-July 2020, including missed doses of prescription medications, forgone preventive and other general medical care, mental health care and elective surgeries, as well as reasons for forgoing care.
Suicide deaths during COVID-19 stay-at-home advisory in Massachusetts
1dResearchers assembled suicide death data for people 10 and older from January 2015 through May 2020 in this observational study and they report stable rates of suicide deaths during the COVID-19 stay-at-home advisory in Massachusetts, a finding that paralleles others following ecological disasters.
Presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in cornea of patients with COVID-19
1dEvidence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in human corneas was examined in this study.
Suicide-related internet searches during early stages of COVID-19 pandemic
1dThis study monitored suicide-related internet search rates during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and researchers report searches for suicide decreased during that time. Although this study cannot independently confirm that changes in search rates were caused by changes in population-level suicide rates, it showed that COVID-19 may have been inversely associated with
Pre-surgery chemotherapy is possible for early stage pancreatic cancer patients
1dA first-of-its-kind randomized clinical trial found that patients with pancreatic cancer didn't live any longer than expected after receiving pre-operative chemotherapy from either of the two standard regimens, according to trial results published in JAMA Oncology.
Opiate overdoses spike in black Philadelphians, but drop in white residents since COVID-19
1dNew research into opioid overdoses that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted new disparities along racial lines that are likely fueled by existing inequality
Vaccine produces long-lasting anti-tumor response in patients with melanoma
1dPatients treated with a vaccine tailored to mutated proteins on patients' own tumor cells, continue to have a strong immune response to the cancer four years after being vaccinated. Results demonstrate the ability of personalized cancer vaccines to provide long-term immunity against some cancers.
Palaeontology: Fossil burrows point to ancient seafloor colonization by giant marine worms
1dGiant ambush-predator worms, possible ancestors of the 'bobbit worm', may have colonized the seafloor of the Eurasian continent around 20 million years ago. The findings, based on the reconstruction of large, L-shaped burrows from layers of seafloor dating back to the Miocene (23 million to 5.3 million years ago) of northeast Taiwan, are reported in Scientific Reports this week.
World's largest lakes reveal climate change trends
1dSixteen years of remote sensing data reveals that in Earth's largest freshwater lakes, climate change influences carbon fixation trends.
Drug-delivery microcapsules tagged with zirconium-89 can be tracked by PET imaging
1dPolymer and radionuclide chemists report major advance in microcapsule drug delivery systems. Their microcapsules — labeled with radioactive zirconium-89 — are the first example of hollow polymer capsules capable of long-term, multiday positron emission tomography imaging in vivo. In previous work, the researchers showed that the hollow capsules could be filled with a potent dose of the cancer d
The immune system mounts a lasting defense after recovery from COVID-19
1dThe study participants continued to improve their antibodies months after initial infection, potentially due to exposure to remnants of the virus hidden in the gut.
Treating moms with postpartum depression helps their babies' brains
1dFor the study 40 infants of women diagnosed with postpartum depression were matched with 40 infants of non-depressed mothers on infant age, gender and socioeconomic status. The mothers with postpartum depression received nine weeks of group CBT. The infants were all tested before the treatment and nine weeks later, including a questionnaire on the infant behaviour completed by the mother and her p
CRISPR technology to cure sickle cell disease at UIC
1dThe first cases treated with gene-editing technology were recently published in an article co-authored by Dr. Damiano Rondelli, the Michael Reese Professor of Hematology at the UIC College of Medicine. The article reports two patients have been cured of beta thalassemia and sickle cell disease after their own genes were edited with CRISPR-Cas9 technology. The two researchers who invented this tech
Astronomers estimate Titan's largest sea is 1,000-feet deep
1dFar below the gaseous atmospheric shroud on Saturn's largest moon, Titan, lies Kraken Mare, a sea of liquid methane. Cornell University astronomers have estimated that sea to be at least 1,000-feet deep near its center – enough room for a potential robotic submarine to explore.
Indigenous lands: A haven for wildlife
1dIndigenous peoples' lands may harbour a significant proportion of threatened and endangered species globally, according to University of Queensland-led research.
The physics behind tumor growth
1dResearchers at Duke University have developed a predictive theory for tumor growth that approaches the subject from a new point of view. Rather than focusing on the biological mechanisms of cellular growth, the researchers instead use thermodynamics and the physical space the tumor is expanding into to predict its evolution from a single cell to a complex cancerous mass.
Message in a bottle: Info-rich bubbles respond to antibiotics
1dIn a new study, Luis H. Cisneros and his colleagues describe the effects of antibiotics on membrane vesicles, demonstrating that such drugs actively modify the properties of vesicle transport. Under the influence of antibiotics, MVs were produced and released by bacteria in greater abundance and traveled faster and further from their origin. The work sheds new light on these important information-
Hand sanitizer is causing an epidemic of chemical burns to children's eyes
1dAll that sanitizer people have been using since the start of the COVID-19 epidemic has led to more than just dry hands and eye-watering smells: It's nearly blinding some children.
California harbor porpoises rebound after coastal gillnetting stopped
1dHarbor porpoises have rebounded in a big way off California. Their populations have recovered dramatically since the end of state set-gillnet fisheries that years ago entangled and killed them in the nearshore waters they frequent. These coastal set-gillnet fisheries are distinct from federally-managed offshore drift-gillnet fisheries. They have been prohibited in inshore state waters for more tha
Arnold Schwarzenegger Gets COVID Vaccine
1dFormer California Governor — and over-the-top 80s and 90s action movie star — Arnold Schwarzenegger got the first of two injections that make up the coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday. Like several other public figures , the actor-turned-politician decided to get vaccinated on camera, NBC reports , so that he could use the opportunity to encourage anyone who might be hesitant about getting the COVI
California harbor porpoises rebound after coastal gillnetting stopped
1dHarbor porpoises have rebounded in a big way off California. Their populations have recovered dramatically since the end of state set-gillnet fisheries that years ago entangled and killed them in the nearshore waters they frequent. These coastal set-gillnet fisheries are distinct from federally-managed offshore drift-gillnet fisheries. They have been prohibited in inshore state waters for more tha
Innovations through hair-thin optical fibers
1dScientists at the University of Bonn have built hair-thin optical fiber filters in a very simple way. They are not only extremely compact and stable, but also color-tunable. This means they can be used in quantum technology and as sensors for temperature or for detecting atmospheric gases. The results have been published in the journal Optics Express.
Lasers create miniature robots from bubbles
1dRobots are widely used to build cars, paint airplanes and sew clothing in factories, but the assembly of microscopic components, such as those for biomedical applications, has not yet been automated. Lasers could be the solution. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have used lasers to create miniature robots from bubbles that lift, drop and manipulate small pieces into
How fellow students improve your own grades
1dBetter grades thanks to your fellow students? A study conducted by the University of Zurich's Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics has revealed that not only the grade point average, gender and nationality peers can influence your own academic achievement, but so can their personalities. Intensive contact and interaction with persistent fellow students improve your own performance, and t
The idea of an environmental tax is finally gaining strength
1dAn extra 290,000 pounds a year for lighting and cleaning because smog darkens and pollutes everything: with this cost estimate for the industrial city of Manchester, the English economist Arthur Cecil Pigou once founded the theory of environmental taxation. In the classic "The Economics of Welfare," the first edition of which was published as early as 1920, he proved that by allowing such 'externa
Early breeding reduced harmful mutations in sorghum
1dWhen humans first domesticated maize some 9,000 years ago, those early breeding efforts led to an increase in harmful mutations to the crop's genome compared to their wild relatives, which more recent modern breeding has helped to correct.
Red Dwarf Starlight Used to Grow Photosynthesizing Bacteria
1dExtremophiles grown under a starlight simulator suggest that exoplanets orbiting red dwarf stars may have conditions ripe for photosynthesis, say researchers.
Early breeding reduced harmful mutations in sorghum
1dWhen humans first domesticated maize some 9,000 years ago, those early breeding efforts led to an increase in harmful mutations to the crop's genome compared to their wild relatives, which more recent modern breeding has helped to correct.
Giant worm's undersea lair discovered by fossil hunters in Taiwan
1dScientists believe 2-metre-long burrow once housed predator that ambushed passing sea creatures The undersea lair of a giant worm that ambushed passing marine creatures 20m years ago has been uncovered by fossil hunters in Taiwan. Researchers believe the 2-metre-long burrow found in ancient marine sediment once housed a prehistoric predator that burst out of the seabed and dragged unsuspecting an
Covid-19 peger frem mod en ny tid for forskning og innovation
1dPLUS. Forskere gav sig fuldhjertet i kast med løsninger på pandemien. Det satte systemet under pres, men viste også ny en tilgang, som fremover kan få betydning for forskning og innovation.
Is This a Fossilized Lair of the Dreaded Bobbit Worm?
1dScientists say they've got 20-million-year-old evidence of giant worms that hunted in pretty much the most nightmarish way possible.
Cheaper Yet Refined, Samsung's Latest Galaxy Phones Are Great
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1dSamsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
The price tag might still make you blink, but Samsung's new flagship has one of the best cameras in a smartphone.
Getting rescued by helicopter has risks. This gadget could make it safer.
1dThe litter stabilization system, in this configuration, consists of two units, one at each end of the rescue basket. (Scott C Childress / U.S. Army/) When Caleb Carr was 15, he was taking part in a search-and-rescue training expedition in Oregon, and an adult on the trip suffered a heart attack. A helicopter from the state's National Guard arrived to try to airlift the man out, but the operation
Dare to lead as your authentic self | Tracy Young
1dAs the founder of a startup, Tracy Young often worried that employees and investors valued male CEOs more — and that being a woman compromised her position as a leader. In this brave, personal talk, she gives an honest look at the constraints women face when trying to adapt to a male-dominated business culture — and shares how she developed the courage and vulnerability to lead as her complete,
New tool for assessing the benefits, risks and sustainability of the consumption of fish
1dResearchers from the Universitat Rovira i Virgili's (Tarragona/Spain) research group TecnATox have optimized the website FishChoice, which helps to consume fish and seafood in a sustainable fashion and not just maximize benefits and minimize risks. The tool has been developed in the framework of a project funded by the European Commission's program H2020.
Fossil burrows point to ancient seafloor colonization by giant marine worms
1dGiant ambush-predator worms, possible ancestors of the 'bobbit worm', may have colonized the seafloor of the Eurasian continent around 20 million years ago. The findings, based on the reconstruction of large, L-shaped burrows from layers of seafloor dating back to the Miocene (23 million to 5.3 million years ago) of northeast Taiwan, are reported in Scientific Reports this week.
Antarctica: the ocean cools at the surface but warms up at depth
1dScientists from the CNRS, CNES, IRD, Sorbonne Université, l'Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier and their Australian colleagues, with the support of the IPEV, have concluded that the slight cooling observed at the surface of the Southern Ocean hides a rapid and marked warming of the waters, to a depth of up to 800 metres. These results were obtained thanks to unique data acquired over the past
Medical terms for opioid addiction don't always reduce stigma, study finds
1dResearchers conducted a nationally representative study with more than 3,500 participants to test how six common terms describing someone treated for opioid-related impairment influenced perceptions. The researchers found that there was not one single term that can reduce all potential stigma biases.
See how they run: Exercise protein doubles running capacity, restores function and extends healthy lifespans in older mice
1dA new study shows that humans express a powerful hormone during exercise and that treating mice with the hormone improves physical performance, capacity and fitness. Researchers say the findings present new possibilities for addressing age-related physical decline.
California harbor porpoises rebound after coastal gillnetting stopped
1dHarbor porpoises have rebounded in a big way off California. Their populations have recovered dramatically since the end of state set-gillnet fisheries that years ago entangled and killed them in the nearshore waters they frequent. These coastal set-gillnet fisheries are distinct from federally-managed offshore drift-gillnet fisheries. They have been prohibited in inshore state waters for more tha
Early breeding reduced harmful mutations in sorghum
1dA new Cornell University study found that harmful mutations in sorghum landraces – early domesticated crops – decreased compared to their wild relatives through the course of domestication and breeding.
Merging technologies with color to avoid design failures
1dVarious software packages can be used to evaluate products and predict failure; however, these packages are extremely computationally intensive and take a significant amount of time to produce a solution. Quicker solutions mean less accurate results.
Fossil burrows point to ancient seafloor colonization by giant marine worms
1dGiant ambush-predator worms, possible ancestors of the 'bobbit worm', may have colonized the seafloor of the Eurasian continent around 20 million years ago. The findings, based on the reconstruction of large, L-shaped burrows from layers of seafloor dating back to the Miocene (23 million to 5.3 million years ago) of northeast Taiwan, are reported in Scientific Reports this week.
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English care homes 'sitting ducks' as GPs refuse Covid vaccine at infected sites
1dSuspected outbreaks recorded in 635 facilities, but vaccinations delayed despite NHS deadline to protect vulnerable people Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Covid outbreaks are slowing delivery of the vaccine to some care homes in England as GPs postpone jabs in infected facilities. Managers say they have been left as sitting ducks. Suspected Covid outbreaks were recor
Q&A: Natural History Museums' Role in Pandemic Surveillance
1dHost vouchering, the practice of preserving species known to harbor infectious diseases, can be used to help determine a pathogen's source, scientists say.
Secret Ingredient Found to Power Supernovas
1dIn 1987, a giant star exploded right next to our own Milky Way galaxy. It was the brightest and closest supernova since the invention of the telescope some four centuries earlier, and just about every observatory turned to take a look. Perhaps most excitingly, specialized observatories buried deep underground captured shy subatomic particles called neutrinos streaming out of the blast. These part
Feral colonies provide clues for enhancing honey bee tolerance to pathogens
1dUnderstanding the genetic and environmental factors that enable some feral honey bee colonies to tolerate pathogens and survive the winter in the absence of beekeeping management may help lead to breeding stocks that would enhance survival of managed colonies, according to a study led by researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.
Novel effector biology research provides insights into devastating citrus greening disease
1dMa and her colleagues at the University of California and the University of Florida used molecular plant pathology approaches to dissect the mechanisms of the ongoing tug-of-war between the citrus host and the bacterial pathogen that causes citrus greening disease.
The idea of an environmental tax is finally gaining strength
1dIn 2020, the political implementation of Arthur Cecil Pigou's insight has gained strength, important objections are being invalidated, and carbon pricing appears more efficient than regulations and bans according to a study by PIK and MCC.
Memory fail controlled by dopamine circuit, study finds
1dDistraction can make you momentarily forget things. But how? Davis lab at Scripps Research, Florida uncovers a mechanism in fruit flies.
Tiny high-tech probes reveal how information flows across the brain
1dA new study from researchers at the Allen Institute collected and analyzed the largest single dataset of neurons' electrical activity to glean principles of how we perceive the visual world around us. The study, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, captures the hundreds of split-second electrical signals that fire when an animal is interpreting what it sees.
How lockdown has changed life for Russian women
1dResearchers Yulia Chilipenok, Olga Gaponova, Nadezhda Gaponova and Lyubov Danilova of HSE – Nizhny Novgorod looked at how the lockdown has impacted Russian women during the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper was published in the Woman in Russian Society Journal.
New sodium oxide paves the way for advanced sodium-ion batteries
1dSkoltech researchers and their collaborators from France, the US, Switzerland, and Australia were able to create and describe a mixed oxide Na(Li1/3Mn2/3)O2 that holds promise as a cathode material for sodium-ion batteries, which can take one day complement or even replace lithium-ion batteries.
Inflammation caused by scorpion venom should be blocked immediately, study shows
1dIn an article published in Nature Communications , Brazilian researchers show for the first time that in severe cases of scorpion envenomation it is the neuroimmune reaction triggered by the venom that leads to death.
Innovations through hair-thin optical fibres
1dScientists at the University of Bonn have built hair-thin optical fibre filters in a very simple way. They are not only extremely compact and stable, but also colour-tunable. This means they can be used in quantum technology and as sensors for temperature or for detecting atmospheric gases. The results have been published in the journal "Optics Express".
COVID-19 model reveals key role for innate immunity in controlling viral load
1dSince SARS-CoV-2 was identified in December 2019, researchers have worked feverishly to study the novel coronavirus. Although much knowledge has been gained, scientists still have a lot to learn about how SARS-CoV-2 interacts with the human body, and how the immune system fights it. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science have developed a mathematical model of SARS-C
Rocks show Mars once felt like Iceland
1dA comparison of chemical and climate weathering of sedimentary rock in Mars' Gale Crater indicate the region's mean temperature billions of years ago was akin to current conditions on Iceland.
Lasers create miniature robots from bubbles (video)
1dRobots are widely used to build cars, paint airplanes and sew clothing in factories, but the assembly of microscopic components, such as those for biomedical applications, has not yet been automated. Lasers could be the solution. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have used lasers to create miniature robots from bubbles that lift, drop and manipulate small pieces into
How fellow students improve your own grades
1dBetter grades thanks to your fellow students? A study conducted by the University of Zurich's Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics has revealed that not only the grade point average, gender and nationality peers can influence your own academic achievement, but so can their personalities. Intensive contact and interaction with persistent fellow students improve your own performance, and t
Target of new cancer treatment valid for breast as well as blood cancers: study
1dNewly published research shows that a new anti-cancer drug developed at the University of Alberta, set to begin human trials this year, may work against breast cancer as well as blood cancer.
Incentivizing vaccine adherence: could it be the key to achieving herd immunity?
1dTo achieve success, experts estimate that at least 70 to 90 percent of the population must be inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine to achieve herd immunity, but how can we ensure folks will voluntarily receive a vaccine? An examination of scientific evidence on incentivizing vaccine adherence found that modest financial incentives resulted in as much as a 7-fold increase in adherence compared to no
What might Earth's next supercontinent look like? New study provides clues
1dResearchers say giant landmasses form at regular intervals in predictable locations
Alla ålar är från en och samma population
1dDe föds och dör i Sargassohavet, men är annars spridda över stora geografiska områden. Till skillnad från andra djur med stort utbredningsområde, har alla ålar samma genetiska uppsättning. Forskare som jämfört hela arvsmassan hos ålar från olika delar av Europa och Nordafrika är förvånade. – När vi jämför ålar från olika områden hittar vi inga som helst skillnader i frekvensen av genvarianter. Tr
Climate change: Trump's Paris withdrawal was 'reckless' – John Kerry
1dUS Special Envoy on climate John Kerry says President Trump's Paris pull-out endangered lives.
This 480 million-year-old creature is the ancestor of all starfish
1dAn ancient fossil has been identified as the ancestor of all starfish-like animals living on the planet today, according to a new study.
There's no way we could stop a rogue AI
1dArtificial intelligence that's smarter than us could potentially solve problems beyond our grasp. AI that are self-learning can absorb whatever information they need from the internet, a Pandora's Box if ever there was one. The nature of computing itself prevents us from limiting the actions of a super-intelligent AI if it gets out of control. There have been a fair number of voices— Stephen Hawk
A deep-sea trench is a plastic dump — and a biodiversity hotspot
1dNature, Published online: 21 January 2021; doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00138-4 Plastic bags and wrappers host a thriving community of ocean creatures.
The UK has record death tolls, yet still the government has no clear Covid strategy | Helen Ward
1dVaccination on its own is not a way out of this pandemic. We need to use other tools and involve ordinary people Helen Ward is professor of public health at Imperial College London Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Back in April 2020, I wrote of my despair that so many people were desperately ill and dying because politicians had "refused to listen and act on advice".
Natural hazard events and national risk reduction measures unconnected
1dCountries where massive natural hazard events occur frequently are not more likely than others to make changes to reduce risks from future disasters. This is shown in an interdisciplinary Uppsala University study now published in Nature Communications.
Mechanism that produces rapid acceleration in clicking beetles identified
1dSnap-through unbending movement of the body is the main reason for the clicking beetle's fast acceleration.
Having plants at home improved psychological well-being during lockdown
1dThis was agreed by 74% of the more than 4,200 respondents in 46 countries. In fact, more than half of them (55.8%) stated that they would have preferred to have more plants in their house during that difficult period.
Fighting respiratory virus outbreaks through 'nano-popcorn' sensor-based rapid detection
1dRespiratory diseases like influenza can spread rapidly and escalate to global health crises. Thus, to control them, simple yet sensitive detection techniques are needed. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a potential candidate but currently lacks reproducibility. To overcome this, researchers in Korea have now developed a novel SERS-based sensor that can effectively detect influenza A vir
Teamwork in a molecule
1dChemists at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena have demonstrated the value of 'teamwork' by successfully harnessing the interaction between two gallium atoms in a novel compound to split the particularly strong bond between fluorine and carbon. The gallium compound is also cheaper and more environmentally friendly than conventional alternatives.
Whole body imaging detects myeloma in more patients, treatment initiated earlier
1dResearchers from King's College London have shown that whole body magnetic resonance imaging (WBMRI) not only detects more myeloma-defining disease than positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) but that it also allows critical treatment to be initiated earlier.
Crystal close up
1dTwo novel techniques, atomic-resolution real-time video and conical carbon nanotube confinement, allow researchers to view never-before-seen details about crystal formation. The observations confirm theoretical predictions about how salt crystals form and could inform general theories about the way in which crystal formation produces different ordered structures from an otherwise disordered chemic
Direct current stimulation of the brain over Wernicke's area can help people learn new words
1dResearchers from the Laboratory of Behavioural Neurodynamics at St Petersburg University have studied how different types of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the brain affect the acquisition of new words. Their experiments have shown that cathodal tDCS over Wernicke's area enables subjects to better remember new abstract words – those that refer to non-physical entities and ideas.
Oldest carbonates in the solar system
1dA meteorite that fell in northern Germany in 2019 contains carbonates which are among the oldest in the solar system; it also evidences the earliest presence of liquid water on a minute planet. The high-resolution Ion Probe – a research instrument at the Institute of Earth Sciences at Heidelberg University – provided the measurements.
Tree rings and the Laki volcano eruption: A closer look at climate
1dWhen Iceland's Laki volcano erupted in 1783, its effects rippled around the world. UArizona researchers have analyzed Alaskan tree rings to understand how climate responded in northwestern North America. The work will aid in fine-tuning future climate models.
Researchers study what happens to your body during tailgating
1dFootball watch parties are synonymous with eating fatty foods and drinking alcohol. Have you ever wondered what all of that eating and drinking does to your body? Researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine simulated a tailgating situation with a small group of overweight but healthy men and examined the impact of the eating and drinking on their livers using blood tests and a l
Beetles reveal how to hide the body
1dA corpse is a home to the burying beetle, and UConn researchers are learning how this specialist critter keeps its home free of unwanted visitors.
Age provides a buffer to pandemic's mental health impact, University of Connecticut researchers say
1dOlder adults are managing the stress of the coronavirus pandemic better than younger adults, reporting less depression and anxiety despite also experiencing greater general concern about COVID-19, according to a study recently published by researchers at the UConn School of Nursing.
University of Kentucky researchers link low blood amylin level to reduced progression of Alzheimer's
1dThe team's work shows that early pathological processes in the brains of individuals who are genetically predisposed to develop Alzheimer's disease are modulated by a pancreatic hormone called amylin. This study is the first to show that the brains of patients with familial AD accumulate amyloid-forming amylin secreted by the pancreas.
OHIO researchers ID potential target for anti-viral drugs to battle COVID
1dThis is a non-coding section of the RNA, which means that it is not translated into a protein, but it is likely key to the virus's replication.
NUST MISIS scientists develop fastest-ever quantum random number generator
1dAn international research team has developed a fast and affordable quantum random number generator. The device created by scientists from NUST MISIS, Russian Quantum Center, University of Oxford, Goldsmiths, University of London and Freie Universität Berlin produces randomness at a rate of 8.05 gigabits per second, which makes it the fastest random number generator of its kind. The study has been
"Smiling eyes" may not signify true happiness after all
1dA smile that lifts the cheeks and crinkles the eyes is thought by many to be truly genuine. But new research at Carnegie Mellon University casts doubt on whether this joyful facial expression necessarily tells others how a person really feels inside.
Hope for a vaccination against Staphylococcus areus infections?
1dStaphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) ranks among the globally most important causes of infections in humans and is considered a dreaded hospital pathogen. Active and passive immunisation against multi-resistant strains is seen as a potentially valuable alternative to antibiotic therapy. However, all vaccine candidates so far have been clinically unsuccessful. With an epitope-based immunisation, scien
Bonobos, chimpanzees, and oxytocin
1dKyoto University researchers analyze the effects of the hormone oxytocin in our closest primate cousins, bonobos and chimpanzees by tracking their eye movement — a important indicator of social interaction. Similar to other mammals, oxytocin increases eye contact in bonobos. However, the opposite effect is observed in chimpanzees. Therefore, oxytocin could play a modulating role in the social evo
European eels – one gene pool fits all
1dEuropean eels spawn in the subtropical Sargasso Sea but spend most of their adult life in a range of fresh- and brackish waters, across Europe and Northern Africa. Using whole-genome analysis, a team of scientists led from Uppsala University provides conclusive evidence that all European eels belong to a single panmictic population irrespective of where they spend their adult life, an extraordinar
Spontaneous cell fusions amplify genetic diversity within tumors, Moffitt researchers say
1dScientists generally believe that cancers lack a powerful and important diversification mechanism available to pathogenic microbes – the ability to exchange and recombine genetic material between different cells. However, in a new article published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, Moffitt Cancer Center researchers demonstrate that this belief is wrong and that cancer cells are capable of exchanging
Researchers improve data readout by using 'quantum entanglement'
1dResearchers say they have been able to greatly improve the readout of data from digital memories – thanks to a phenomenon known as 'quantum entanglement'.
Many junior doctors feel out of their depth with the end-of-life decisions faced during COVID-19 pandemic
1dIn normal times, end-of-life care discussions are most commonly led by senior doctors. However, new research from a busy London hospital shows that the high numbers of deaths taking place in hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic, frequently out-of-hours, is leading to junior (foundation level) doctors having to lead on these difficult discussions with families, often with no formal experience or
The Lancet Public Health: Modelling study estimates impact of 'test to release' strategy to reduce – or replace – quarantine for contacts of COVID-19 cases
1dQuarantine time after contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case could potentially be reduced to 7 days without raising the risk of onward transmission of the virus by testing people on the seventh day of quarantine with either a PCR or lateral flow antigen (LFA) test, findings from an English modelling study published today in The Lancet Public Health journal suggest.
Dire wolves are actually ice age mega-foxes
1dThe giant predators weren't closely related to today's canines, even if they look quite a lot alike. (MAURICIO ANTÓN/) When you picture a dire wolf, the image that comes to mind is probably one of those unbelievably fluffy yet terrifying creatures that inhabited Winterfell in Game of Thrones. And you'd hardly be the only one, fans of the show that fell in love with its otherworldly pups started b
TikTok Star Sets Up Bed in Tesla to Sleep While Autopilot Drives
1dReckless Driving Ever since Tesla decided to advertise its self driving feature as " Autopilot ," drivers have gotten into varying degrees of trouble for letting their vehicles take the reins on the highway — while they take a nap at the wheel. The obvious danger didn't discourage TikTok star Johnathon Cook, whose over one million followers were able to watch him tuck himself in to a cozy bed in
Squid-inspired robot swims with nature's most efficient marine animals
1dScientists have developed a flexible underwater robot that can propel itself through water in the same style as nature's most efficient swimmer – the Aurelia aurita jellyfish.
New metamaterial offers reprogrammable properties
1dScientists have developed a metamaterial whose mechanical properties can be reprogrammed on demand and whose internal structure can be modified by applying a magnetic field.
Immune driver of brain aging identified
1dStanford scientists have identified a key factor in mental aging and shown that it might be prevented or reversed by fixing a glitch in the immune system's frontline soldiers.
De går på opdagelse i bronzealderens globalisering
1dPLUS. Danske forskere søger i nyt EU-projekt forklaringer på de kulturelle, genetiske og befolkningsmæssige forandringer, der opstod, da bronze blev verdens mest eftertragtede materiale.
Earth Has Stayed Habitable for Billions of Years. Exactly How Lucky Did We Get?
1dIt took evolution three or four billion years to produce Homo sapiens. If the climate had completely failed just once in that time, then evolution would have come to a crashing halt and we would not be here now. So to understand how we came to exist on planet Earth, we'll need to know how Earth managed to stay fit for life for billions of years. This is not a trivial problem. Current global warmi
Hi all! If you don't know me, my names Ava and I'm a mental health neuroscience PhD student. I make weekly science videos and this week I looked at research based tips on how to reduce anxiety during Covid and general life. I hope some of you find it helpful 🙂
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A new study in Psychological Science suggests that you shouldn't worry too much about the influence of cell phone use on performance in classes. It isn't good for you, but it isn't horrible.
1dsubmitted by /u/markmana [link] [comments]
Stickiness is a weapon some plants use to fend off hungry insects
1dImagine the texture of a plant. Many may come to mind—the smooth rubberiness of many tropical houseplants, the impossibly soft lamb's ear, the sharp spines of cacti, or the roughness of tree bark. But stickiness, in the flypaper-stick-to-your-fingers sense, probably isn't at the top of your list.
Immunology – Functionality of immune cells in early life
1dA study by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich researchers shows that putatively immature dendritic cells found in young children are able to induce robust immune responses. The results could lead to improved vaccination protocols.
Type 2 Diabetes: New Evidence Underlines the Role of Obesity in Late Complications
1dSuccessful weight loss is considered to be an integral part of the therapy for type 2 diabetes. New data from a large-scale observational study carried out at German Institute of Human Nutrition in cooperation with the German Center for Diabetes Research support the current recommendations of physicians. The findings, published in the journal Diabetologia, suggest that obesity and weight gain can
Expanded PET imaging time window adds flexibility for neuroendocrine tumor patients
1dThe imaging time window of 64Cu-DOTATATE positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms can be expanded from one hour to three hours post-injection, according to new research published in the January issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. In a head-to-head comparison of scans performed at the two time intervals, there were no significant dif
Reviving exhausted immune cells to fight cancer
1dEliminating a single gene can turn exhausted cancer-fighting immune cells known as CD8+ T cells back into refreshed soldiers that can continue to battle malignant tumors, a new study led by UT Southwestern researchers suggests. The findings, published online this week in the Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer, could offer a new way to harness the body's immune system to attack cancers.
Researchers develop a new approach to detect pancreatic cancer
1dA protein found commonly in human blood might help with the detection of hard-to-diagnose pancreatic tumours. Researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), the Alfried Krupp Hospital in Essen and the University of Witten/Herdecke have developed approach using the protein's structure and its function as a proxy for this. In a first study in ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science
Brazilian dam collapse could have been predicted with right monitoring technology
1dOne of Brazil's worst environmental disasters – a dam collapse that also killed more than 200 people – could have been foreseen with latest satellite radar imaging technique, according to a new study by the University of Nottingham and Durham University.
Cartilage matrix as natural biomaterial for cartilage regeneration
1dA working group at MedUni Vienna develops strategies for regeneration of articular cartilage and has found that natural cartilage matrix is suitable as a biomaterial for improved cartilage regeneration.
Boosted photocatalysis for hydrogen evolution: Reactant supply thru phosphonate groups
1dWater splitting research for solar hydrogen production has focused on physical processes inside the semiconductor, such as light absorption, charge separation, and chemical processes on the surface that are highly complex and rely on the development of new materials. The concept proposed in this study is design of the electrolyte-photocatalyst interface. The approach of immobilizing functional gro
Using VR training to boost our sense of agency and improve motor control
1dPatients with motor dysfunctions are on the rise across Japan as its population continues to age. A Tohoku University researcher has developed a new method of rehabilitation using virtual reality to increase the sense of agency over our body and aid motor skills.
Sunbathing after menopause may be harmful
1dUV-radiation can affect hormone levels of postmenopausal women negatively and this may contribute to several health issues, according to new research from Kai Triebner, University of Bergen, and colleagues.
Massive new dinosaur might be the largest creature to ever roam Earth
1dPaleontologists in Argentina have partially uncovered the remains of what is believed to be the largest animal to ever walk the Earth.
Twisted light from the beginning of time could reveal brand-new physics
1dA new study on the rotation of the universe's first light could suggest physicists need new rule-breaking subatomic particles
How do stars die?
1dSurprisingly, the fate of a star is easy to predict. All you need to know is how big it is.
A neutron-star crash spotted 3 years ago is still pumping out X-rays. But why?
1dThree years ago, two neutron stars collided in a cataclysmic crash, the first such merger ever observed directly. Naturally, scientists kept their eye on it — and now, something strange is happening.
Scientists set up mantis 'gladiator matches' to see why some males keep their heads after sex
1dMale springbok mantises that attack females can sometimes escape cannibalism.
SpaceX is about to run its final test of Starship SN9 before 1st launch
1dSpaceX plans to test-fire its enormous Starship prototype's engines in Boca Chica, Texas at some point today (Jan. 20).
Monster black hole spews energy as regularly as Yellowstone's 'Old Faithful'
1dRegular energy flares that emerge from galaxy ESO 253-3 are produced by a black hole about 20 times larger than the one at the center of the Milky Way.
Striking new video captures moment when Mount Etna recently erupted
1dThe eruption lit up the night sky and dropped ash miles away.
Talking is worse than coughing for spreading COVID-19 indoors
1dThe study also found that the virus can spread more than 6 feet (2 meters) in just seconds.
1st COVID-19 case in US reported a year ago
1dThe U.S. has now tallied more than 24.2 million cases and more than 400,000 deaths.
Italian cops recover stolen da Vinci replica no one knew was missing
1dA stolen copy of a da Vinci painting has turned up in an Italian apartment, even though no one knew it was missing. The museum where it was kept had been shuttered due to COVID-19.
Earth's outer shell ballooned during massive growth spurt 3 billion years ago
1dZircon crystals found in stream sediments in Greenland have revealed how the Earth's crust rapidly grew during peak mantle activity.
'Old murderer' bug died 50 million years ago, fossilized with its penis intact
1dScientists describe a new species of assassin bug from a fossil that dates to around 50 million years ago and includes the insect's intact genitals.
The pandemic broke the CDC. New director will try to fix it.
1dThe incoming CDC director has a lot of work to do, and she knows it.
1st preserved dinosaur butthole is 'perfect' and 'unique,' paleontologist says
1dHere's what a dinosaur butthole looks like (you're welcome).
Mystery particle may explain extreme X-rays shooting from the 'Magnificent 7' stars
1dParticles called axions may be the reason the 'Magnificent 7' cluster of neutron stars emits extreme X-rays.
Spinning egg yolks hint at how concussions warp the brain
1dScientists used chicken eggs as a model for the human skull and brain.
Trump's Parting Gift to Joe Biden
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1dBiden Trump America
Donald Trump's chaotic final days in the White House could present President Joe Biden with a historic opportunity to broaden his base of public support and splinter Republican opposition to his agenda. Recent polls have repeatedly found that about three-fourths or more of GOP voters accept Trump's disproven charges that Biden stole the 2020 election, a number that has understandably alarmed dome
Alexander Graham Bell Goes and Flies a Kite–for Science
1dAfter patenting the telephone, the famous inventor turned his attention to giant tetrahedral kites capable of lifting people into the air — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Stickiness is a weapon some plants use to fend off hungry insects
1dImagine the texture of a plant. Many may come to mind—the smooth rubberiness of many tropical houseplants, the impossibly soft lamb's ear, the sharp spines of cacti, or the roughness of tree bark. But stickiness, in the flypaper-stick-to-your-fingers sense, probably isn't at the top of your list.
COVID-19 vaccine: 1 dose for many or 2 doses for some?
1dUntil COVID-19 vaccine supply increases, "we are better off vaccinating twice as many people" with a first dose only, says Christopher Gill, an infectious disease specialist with vaccine development expertise. To curb the spread of coronavirus, some experts, including Gill , advocate for a vaccination strategy that prioritizes giving as many people as possible their first dose of the COVID-19 vac
Biden administration must act fast to save migratory birds
1dOn January 5, 2021, the day before the world watched in horror as the U.S. Capitol was assaulted, the Trump administration laid siege to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The revision is a major blow to conservation efforts, lifting penalties for industries that accidentally cause harm to birds protected under the act.
Squid-inspired robot swims with nature's most efficient marine animals
1dScientists have developed a flexible underwater robot that can propel itself through water in the same style as nature's most efficient swimmer – the Aurelia aurita jellyfish.
Biden administration must act fast to save migratory birds
1dOn January 5, 2021, the day before the world watched in horror as the U.S. Capitol was assaulted, the Trump administration laid siege to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The revision is a major blow to conservation efforts, lifting penalties for industries that accidentally cause harm to birds protected under the act.
Robot 'jellyfish' to protect endangered coral reefs
1dA robot inspired by the shape and delicate underwater movements of a jellyfish, allowing it to safely explore endangered coral reefs, was unveiled by British scientists on Wednesday.
Fish sex organs boosted under high-CO2
1dResearch from Australia has found that some species of fish will have higher reproductive capacity because of larger sex organs, under the more acidic oceans of the future.
COVID-19, influenza and suicide fuel increase in deaths among ICE detainees
1dThirty-five people have died in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since April 2018, with a seven-fold increase in deaths even as the average daily population decreased by nearly a third between 2019 and 2020, a new USC study shows.
Early humans used chopping tools to break animal bones and consume the bone marrow
1d– Using advanced scientific methods, researchers from Tel Aviv University found that stone tools of the type known as 'chopping tools' were used to break open the bones of animals. – The researchers: "The bones must be broken neatly in two, which requires great skill and precision". – Tools of this type were used for over two million years. They were found in large quantities at prehistoric sites
Balancing brain cell activity
1dElectrical trigger sites in neurons surprisingly change with experience; they are either becoming smaller with increasing number of experiences and, vice versa, they grow larger when less input arrives in the brain.
Saturn's tilt caused by its moons
1dTwo scientists from CNRS and Sorbonne University working at the Institute of Celestial Mechanics and Ephemeris Calculation (Paris Observatory – PSL/CNRS) have just shown that the influence of Saturn's satellites can explain the tilt of the rotation axis of the gas giant. Their work, published on 18 January 2021 in the journal Nature Astronomy, also predicts that the tilt will increase even further
Two-photon polymerization of PEGda hydrogel microstructure with low threshold power with green laser
1dThe fabrication of shape-memory hydrogel scaffolds not only requires biocompatibility, micrometre resolution, high mechanical strength, but also requires a low polymerisation threshold in high-water content environment to incorporate microstructures with biological tissues. Towards this goal, scientists from China and australite developed a new hydrogel formula that full fills this goal and demons
Butterfly wing clap explains mystery of flight
1dThe fluttery flight of butterflies has so far been somewhat of a mystery to researchers, given their unusually large and broad wings relative to their body size. Now researchers at Lund University in Sweden have studied the aerodynamics of butterflies in a wind tunnel. The results suggest that butterflies use a highly effective clap technique, therefore making use of their unique wings. This helps
Climate-related species extinction possibly mitigated by newly discovered effect
1dChanges in climate that occur over short periods of time influence biodiversity. For a realistic assessment of these effects, it is necessary to also consider previous temperature trends going far back into Earth's history. Researchers from the University of Bayreuth and the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg show this in a paper for "Nature Ecology and Evolution".
A critical review of graphene quantum dots and their application in biosensors
1dIn a paper published in NANO , researchers from Hubei, China discuss the top-down and bottom-up strategies for the synthesis of Graphene quantum dots (GQDs). The respective advantages and disadvantages of these methods are summarized. With regard to some important or novel ones, the mechanisms are proposed for reference. In addition, the application of GQDs in biosensors is highlighted in detail.
On the trail of active ingredients from marine yeasts
1dNumerous natural products are awaiting discovery in all kinds of natural habitats. Especially microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi are able to produce diverse natural products with high biomedical application potential in particular as antibiotics and anticancer agents. Researchers from GEOMAR and Kiel University isolated red yeast of the species Rhodotorula mucilaginosa from a deep-sea sedime
Methane emissions from abandoned oil and gas wells underestimated
1dA recent McGill study published in Environmental Science and Technology finds that annual methane emissions from abandoned oil and gas (AOG) wells in Canada and the US have been greatly underestimated – by as much as 150% in Canada, and by 20% in the US. Indeed, the research suggests that methane gas emissions from AOG wells are currently the 10th and 11th largest sources of anthropogenic methane
Robot 'jellyfish' to protect endangered coral reefs
1dA robot inspired by the shape and delicate underwater movements of a jellyfish, allowing it to safely explore endangered coral reefs, was unveiled by British scientists on Wednesday.
How South Africa can prepare for a data-driven education system
1dThere are significant disparities in South Africa's education system. Schools are divided into quintiles, from one to five; the poorest, in quintile one, struggle enormously with a lack of resources and support. They also tend to have poorer educational outcomes. That has a direct effect on university admission and outcomes.
Lockdown 3: Stricter rules could lead to more vulnerable people going missing
1dIn non-pandemic times, a person goes missing every 90 seconds in the UK, either intentionally, accidentally or because they are forced to. While many missing people are found quickly or return voluntarily, some do come to emotional, physical and sexual harm, including self-harm.
Is the dormancy of flies possible in people?
1dNew research raises a question straight out of science fiction: Is it possible to activate the biological impulse that prompts dormancy in some living creatures in others, such as humans? A new study models what regulates metabolism in an insect called the flesh fly during its dormant, or diapause, phase. The flies enter into a state of massive "metabolic depression" that is regularly punctuated
Study finds treaties help developing economies spur investment
1dDeveloping economies suffer from a paradox: they don't receive investment flows from developed economies because they lack stability and high-quality financial and lawmaking institutions, but they can't develop those institutions without foreign funds.
European eels: One gene pool fits all
1dEuropean eels spawn in the subtropical Sargasso Sea but spend most of their adult life in a range of fresh- and brackish waters, across Europe and Northern Africa. How eels adapt to such diverse environments has long puzzled biologists. Using whole-genome analysis, a team of scientists led from Uppsala University provides conclusive evidence that all European eels belong to a single panmictic popu
5 ways to improve theplan to protect Australia's threatened wildlife
1dAustralia's Threatened Species Strategy—a five-year plan for protecting our imperiled species and ecosystems—fizzled to an end last year. A new 10-year plan is being developed to take its place, likely from March.
The Anti-Vaxxer Playbook to Destroy Confidence in COVID-19 Vaccines
1dMajor anti-vaccination voices and organizations have coalesced around three key messages to keep people from accepting the COVID-19 vaccine. Their playbook has now been exposed. The post first appeared on Science-Based Medicine .
European eels: One gene pool fits all
1dEuropean eels spawn in the subtropical Sargasso Sea but spend most of their adult life in a range of fresh- and brackish waters, across Europe and Northern Africa. How eels adapt to such diverse environments has long puzzled biologists. Using whole-genome analysis, a team of scientists led from Uppsala University provides conclusive evidence that all European eels belong to a single panmictic popu
5 ways to improve theplan to protect Australia's threatened wildlife
1dAustralia's Threatened Species Strategy—a five-year plan for protecting our imperiled species and ecosystems—fizzled to an end last year. A new 10-year plan is being developed to take its place, likely from March.
Gigantic dinosaur unearthed in Argentina could be largest land animal ever
1dA team of researchers with Naturales y Museo, Universidad de Zaragoza and Universidad Nacional del Comahue has found evidence that suggests the remains of a dinosaur discovered in Argentina in 2012 may represent a creature that was the largest ever to walk the Earth. In their paper published in the journal Cretaceous Research, the group describes the fossilized remains that have been found so far
Scientists find black holes could reach 'stupendously large' sizes
1dA recent study suggests the possible existence of 'stupendously large black holes' or SLABS, even larger than the supermassive black holes already observed in the centers of galaxies.
3-D printing to pave the way for moon colonization
1dA research team from the Skoltech Center for Design, Manufacturing and Materials (CDMM) comprising 2nd year Ph.D. student Maxim Isachenkov, Senior Research Scientist Svyatoslav Chugunov, Professor Iskander Akhatov, and Professor Igor Shishkovsky has prepared an extensive review on the use of Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies (also known as 3-D-printing) in crewed lunar exploration. Their pa
Gigantic dinosaur unearthed in Argentina could be largest land animal ever
1dA team of researchers with Naturales y Museo, Universidad de Zaragoza and Universidad Nacional del Comahue has found evidence that suggests the remains of a dinosaur discovered in Argentina in 2012 may represent a creature that was the largest ever to walk the Earth. In their paper published in the journal Cretaceous Research, the group describes the fossilized remains that have been found so far
Conflict and environment: Building sustainable democracies
1dIn the face of ongoing conflict and environmental degradation, how might a nation, such as Nigeria, build a democracy that might be sustained? That is the question addressed by work published in the International Journal of Sustainable Society.
Turbulence model could help design aircraft capable of handling extreme scenarios
1dIn 2018, passengers onboard a flight to Australia experienced a terrifying 10-second nosedive when a vortex trailing their plane crossed into the wake of another flight. The collision of these vortices, the airline suspected, created violent turbulence that led to a free fall.
This Great Lakes fish may have evolved to see like its ocean ancestors did
1dIn the dark waters of Lake Superior, a fish species adapted to regain a genetic trait that may have helped its ancient ancestors see in the ocean, a study finds.
Methane emissions from abandoned oil and gas wells underestimated
1dA recent McGill study published in Environmental Science and Technology finds that annual methane emissions from abandoned oil and gas (AOG) wells in Canada and the US have been greatly underestimated—by as much as 150% in Canada, and by 20% in the US. Indeed, the research suggests that methane gas emissions from AOG wells are currently the 10th and 11th largest sources of anthropogenic methane em