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Cancer can be precisely diagnosed using a urine test with artificial intelligence
The Korea Institute of Science and Technology(KIST) announced that the collaborative research team led by Dr. Kwan Hyi Lee from the Biomaterials Research Center and Professor In Gab Jeong from Asan Medical Center developed a technique for diagnosing prostate cancer from urine within only twenty minutes with almost 100% accuracy. The research team developed this technique by introducing a smart AI
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Australian drug shortage sparks calls to loosen prescription rules
Australia hit by shortages of contraceptive pills and antidepressants The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has called on the federal government to allow pharmacists to be able to substitute medicines for same drugs of a different brand to address shortages of government-subsidised drugs. The move comes amid significant shortages of the most widely prescribed antidepressant. Continue reading…
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Local languages are dying out and taking invaluable knowledge with them
Local languages rely on both oral tradition and physical documentation (like dictionaries) for survival. (Pisit Heng/Unsplash/) Linguist Nicholas Evans had heard the Kaiadilt people, an Aboriginal group in Northern Australia, utter "malji" on the beach many times. He knew the term meant "schools of mullet" and "holes of a fishing net," but they would say it even when pointing at empty water. It w
8min
Microsoft Patented AI to Imitate Your Dead Family
It's Alive! An AI chatbot described in a December patent , first spotted by Input , filed by Microsoft is capable of imitating your dead relatives so you can have an instant messenger-style conversation with them from beyond the grave. The digital doppelganger would learn to imitate someone based on their social media posts and other publicly-available online content, which raises the disturbing,
57min
Coronavirus live news: UK variant fears while Western Australia to relax border rules
New UK Covid variant may be 30% more deadly, says Johnson ; World's poor need action, not Covid 'vaccine nationalism', say experts ; Germany's Covid death toll exceeds 50,000 Home Affairs visa letter forces Australian couple on 'nightmare' trip to Covid-hit Britain Israeli Covid chief's claim single vaccine dose less effective 'inaccurate' Covid vaccines: what are the implications of new variants
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Predictive value of blood pressure, heart rate, and blood pressure/heart rate ratio in a Chinese subpopulation with vasovagal syncope
In a new publication from Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications; DOI https://doi.org/10.15212/CVIA.2019.1266, Zhuzhi Wen, Jingying Hou, Zun Mai, Huifen Huang, Yangxin Chen, Dengfeng Geng and Jingfeng Wang from Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China and Guandong Province Key Laboratory of Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, Guangzhou, China consider predictive value of blood pressure, heart r
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SpaceX Wants to Drill for Natural Gas in Texas
Locavore SpaceX is taking its recently-increased presence in Texas to the next level. Now, the space company now plans on drilling for natural gas in the state. The Elon Musk-led company revealed its plans to drill natural gas wells near its launchpad in Boca Chica — the tiny community that SpaceX essentially tried to buy — during a Friday hearing with the Railroad Commission of Texas, Bloomberg
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Here's What SpaceX's Massive New Floating Spaceport Look Like Up Close
Deimos and Phobos SpaceX has bought two huge oil rigs to convert into floating spaceports for its Mars-bound Starship spacecraft. Named Phobos and Deimos, after the two Martian moons, SpaceX intends the massive structures to support super heavy lift launches. Thanks to recently captured photos, now we get to see the enormous scale of the two rigs. Shrouded in mist off the port of Pascagoula, Miss
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Reviving exhausted immune cells to fight cancer
Eliminating 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 suggests. The findings could offer a new way to harness the body's immune system to attack cancers.
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Top Biden Appointee Suggests Cracking Down on Bitcoin
Crypto Crackdown Early signs suggest that the Biden White House might be tougher on cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin than the Trump or Obama administrations. Janet Yellen, Biden's nominee for Secretary of the Treasury, emphasized crypto's role in illegal transactions and money laundering during her confirmation hearing this week, according to Business Insider . Responding to a question about terrori
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The FCC is about to undergo a huge shift that could drastically affect the internet
Jessica Rosenworcel is the acting chairwoman of the FCC. (FCC /) On January 20th, the day of Joe Biden's Presidential Inauguration, Ajit Pai stepped down from his role as Chair of the Federal Communications Commission. Pai's departure came well before the end of his current term, which was scheduled to finish in June of 2021. Democratic commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel has been appointed as actin
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This is the World's First Home Hydrogen Battery
Hydrogen House Australian energy company Lavo is throwing down the gauntlet to Tesla's Powerwall with a home battery storage system that doesn't conventional batteries at all, New Atlas reports — opting for hydrogen as fuel instead. For both systems, the idea is to soak up any excess energy generated through solar or wind energy systems, as well as provide an emergency ration of power in case the
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Crystal structures in super slow motion
Laser beams are used to change the properties of materials in an extremely precise way. However, the underlying processes generally take place at such unimaginably fast speeds and at such a small scale that they have so far eluded direct observation. Researchers have now managed to film, for the first time, the laser transformation of a crystal structure with nanometer resolution and in slow motio
2h
No more needles for diagnostic tests?
The lab of Srikanth Singamaneni at the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis developed a biosensing microneedle patch that can be applied to the skin, capture a biomarker of interest and, thanks to its unprecedented sensitivity, allow clinicians to detect its presence.
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Biden Predicts That More Than 600,000 Americans Will Die From COVID
In a national address on Friday, newly elected U.S. President Joe Biden said that the US is "expected to reach well over 600,000 " coronavirus deaths. So far, about 412,000 Americans have died as a result of COVID-19 according to the latest numbers — meaning that the White House is anticipating at least 200,000 more deaths, bringing the total well north of a half million. Biden took the opportuni
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Introduced species shape insular mutualistic networks [Commentaries]
Our planet's biosphere, comprising all living beings and their interactions, is experiencing unprecedented changes. Within a few decades, we could face entirely new climates, and radically altered species compositions and distributions, forming novel networks of biotic interactions. To date, however, most studies have focused on ecosystems under low levels of…
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On the adhesion-velocity relation and length adaptation of motile cells on stepped fibronectin lanes [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
The biphasic adhesion–velocity relation is a universal observation in mesenchymal cell motility. It has been explained by adhesion-promoted forces pushing the front and resisting motion at the rear. Yet, there is little quantitative understanding of how these forces control cell velocity. We study motion of MDA-MB-231 cells on microlanes with…
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Conȷugative plasmid-encoded toxin-antitoxin system PrpT/PrpA directly controls plasmid copy number [Microbiology]
Toxin–antitoxin (TA) loci were initially identified on conjugative plasmids, and one function of plasmid-encoded TA systems is to stabilize plasmids or increase plasmid competition via postsegregational killing. Here, we discovered that the type II TA system, Pseudoalteromonas rubra plasmid toxin–antitoxin PrpT/PrpA, on a low-copy-number conjugative plasmid, directly controls plasmid replication..
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The RNA helicase Dhx15 mediates Wnt-induced antimicrobial protein expression in Paneth cells [Immunology and Inflammation]
RNA helicases play roles in various essential biological processes such as RNA splicing and editing. Recent in vitro studies show that RNA helicases are involved in immune responses toward viruses, serving as viral RNA sensors or immune signaling adaptors. However, there is still a lack of in vivo data to…
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Large remodeling of the Myc-induced cell surface proteome in B cells and prostate cells creates new opportunities for immunotherapy [Biochemistry]
MYC is a powerful transcription factor overexpressed in many human cancers including B cell and prostate cancers. Antibody therapeutics are exciting opportunities to attack cancers but require knowledge of surface proteins that change due to oncogene expression. To identify how MYC overexpression remodels the cell surface proteome in a cell…
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Genome-wide CRISPR screens reveal multitiered mechanisms through which mTORC1 senses mitochondrial dysfunction [Cell Biology]
In mammalian cells, nutrients and growth factors signal through an array of upstream proteins to regulate the mTORC1 growth control pathway. Because the full complement of these proteins has not been systematically identified, we developed a FACS-based CRISPR-Cas9 genetic screening strategy to pinpoint genes that regulate mTORC1 activity. Along with…
2h
A method for calculating optimal parameters of liquid chrystal displays developed at RUDN University
A professor from RUDN University together with his colleagues from Saratov Chernyshevsky State University and D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia developed a method for calculating the parameters of diffraction optical elements used in LCDs. In particular, the new technology can be used to expand the angle of view while preserving high resolution and color rendition.
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The New Variant of Coronavirus May Be 30-40 Percent Deadlier
According to UK researchers, the fast spreading B117 variant of the coronavirus may be responsible for increasing the death rate by 30 to 40 percent, The Guardian reports . In a publicly filed document , the UK's New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) announced that "preliminary analyses" showed "that there may be an increase in the severity of disease associated with
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The best hair dryer: Get a salon-worthy blowout at home
Style with the best. (Element5 Digital via Unsplash/) Sacrificing hours to get your hair looking just right isn't the way to go; certainly not when the right styling tools are in your possession. A great hair dryer can speed up the getting ready process and leave you with stylish results that complement your cut. Nowadays, the best hair dryers are more than just a stream of heat with a cold shot
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This Free Noise Cancelling App Works on Both Ends of Calls and Video Conferences
In the last year, for reasons we're all familiar with, working from home became "the new normal" for millions of people. That, in turn, means that more and more of us are realizing the annoyances and distractions that come with video conferences. Zoom meetings and other online video calls can be easily interrupted or derailed by random noises from around your home such as kids, pets, or even hous
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Tuff barndom ökar risken för sämre livsvillkor
En svår uppväxt leder ofta till sämre förutsättningar och sämre hälsa som vuxen framför allt i par där båda har liknande upplevelser. Det visar en ny undersökning gjord av forskare vid Uppsala universitet. I studien har 818 mödrar och deras partner fått svara på en enkät, ett år efter att de fått ett gemensamt barn. – Att det finns en koppling mellan negativa barndomsupplevelser och sämre livsvil
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The Other Guys
Writing the other day about the lipid formulations used in the current mRNA vaccines makes me want to highlight something else that I hit on from time to time around here. When you learn in school about the major classes of biomolecules, you hear about proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. That's a reasonable classification, but you hear a lot more about the first and last items on
3h
Crystal structures in super slow motion
Laser beams are used to change the properties of materials in an extremely precise way. However, the underlying processes generally take place at such unimaginably fast speeds and at such a small scale that they have so far eluded direct observation. Göttingen researchers have now managed to film, for the first time, the laser transformation of a crystal structure with nanometre resolution and in
3h
Lasers create miniature robots from bubbles
Robots 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 have used lasers to create miniature robots from bubbles that lift, drop and manipulate small pieces into interconnected structures.
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FOSTA-SESTA: Have controversial sex trafficking acts done more harm than good?
SESTA (Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act) and FOSTA (Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act) started as two separate bills that were both created with a singular goal: curb online sex trafficking. They were signed into law by former President Trump in 2018. The implementation of this law in America has left an international impact, as websites attempt to protect themselves f
3h
Connect All Your Entertainment and Gaming Gear with HDMI Switchers
Switch between your devices with the press of a button. (Unsplash/) If you've ever experienced the heartache of opening a new gaming console only to discover that your TV has no more inputs, you know why the HDMI switcher was invented. This small, handy device allows you to plug additional peripherals into your TV, while also providing a quick, easy way to switch between gaming consoles, media pl
3h
From fins to limbs
In a new study an international team of researchers examined three-dimensional digital models of the bones, joints, and muscles of the fins and limbs of two extinct early tetrapods and a closely related fossil fish and discover these early tetrapods had a very distinct pattern of muscle leverage that didn't look like a fish fin or modern tetrapod limbs and their limbs were more adapted for propuls
3h
Exercising muscle combats chronic inflammation on its own
Biomedical engineers at Duke University have demonstrated that human muscle has an innate ability to ward off damaging effects of chronic inflammation when exercised. The discovery was made possible through the use of lab-grown, engineered human muscle, demonstrating the potential power of the first-of-its-kind platform in such research endeavors.
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Development of optically controlled "living electrodes" with long-projecting axon tracts for a synaptic brain-machine interface
For implantable neural interfaces, functional/clinical outcomes are challenged by limitations in specificity and stability of inorganic microelectrodes. A biological intermediary between microelectrical devices and the brain may improve specificity and longevity through (i) natural synaptic integration with deep neural circuitry, (ii) accessibility on the brain surface, and (iii) optogenetic mani
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Possible detection of hydrazine on Saturns moon Rhea
We present the first analysis of far-ultraviolet reflectance spectra of regions on Rhea's leading and trailing hemispheres collected by the Cassini Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph during targeted flybys. In particular, we aim to explain the unidentified broad absorption feature centred near 184 nm. We have used laboratory measurements of the UV spectroscopy of a set of candidate molecules and fo
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Crystallization in one-step solution deposition of perovskite films: Upward or downward?
Despite the fast progress of perovskite photovoltaic performances, understanding the crystallization and growth of perovskite films is still lagging. One unanswered fundamental question is whether the perovskite films are grown from top (air side) to bottom (substrate side) or from bottom to top despite 10 years of development. Here, by using grazing incidence x-ray diffraction and morphology cha
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Making climate projections conditional on historical observations
Many studies have sought to constrain climate projections based on recent observations. Until recently, these constraints had limited impact, and projected warming ranges were driven primarily by model outputs. Here, we use the newest climate model ensemble, improved observations, and a new statistical method to narrow uncertainty on estimates of past and future human-induced warming. Cross-valid
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Confinement-induced self-organization in growing bacterial colonies
We investigate the emergence of global alignment in colonies of dividing rod-shaped cells under confinement. Using molecular dynamics simulations and continuous modeling, we demonstrate that geometrical anisotropies in the confining environment give rise to an imbalance in the normal stresses, which, in turn, drives a collective rearrangement of the cells. This behavior crucially relies on the co
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Molecular design of stapled pentapeptides as building blocks of self-assembled coiled coil-like fibers
Peptide self-assembly inspired by natural superhelical coiled coils has been actively pursued but remains challenging due to limited helicity of short peptides. Side chain stapling can strengthen short helices but is unexplored in design of self-assembled helical nanofibers as it is unknown how staples could be adapted to coiled coil architecture. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of this desi
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Exosomal delivery of NF-{kappa}B inhibitor delays LPS-induced preterm birth and modulates fetal immune cell profile in mouse models
Accumulation of immune cells and activation of the pro-inflammatory transcription factor NF-B in feto-maternal uterine tissues is a key feature of preterm birth (PTB) pathophysiology. Reduction of the fetal inflammatory response and NF-B activation are key strategies to minimize infection-associated PTB. Therefore, we engineered extracellular vesicles (exosomes) to contain an NF-B inhibitor, term
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Reconciling atmospheric CO2, weathering, and calcite compensation depth across the Cenozoic
The Cenozoic era (66 to 0 million years) is marked by long-term aberrations in carbon cycling and large climatic shifts, some of which challenge the current understanding of carbon cycle dynamics. Here, we investigate possible mechanisms responsible for the observed long-term trends by using a novel approach that features a full-fledged ocean carbonate chemistry model. Using a compilation of pCO
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Observation of electron-induced characteristic x-ray and bremsstrahlung radiation from a waveguide cavity
We demonstrate x-ray generation based on direct emission of spontaneous x-rays into waveguide modes. Photons are generated by electron impact onto a structured anode target, which is formed as an x-ray waveguide or waveguide array. Both emission of characteristic radiation and bremsstrahlung are affected by the changes in mode density induced by the waveguide structure. We investigate how the exc
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Spatial patterns and conservation of genetic and phylogenetic diversity of wildlife in China
Genetic diversity and phylogenetic diversity reflect the evolutionary potential and history of species, respectively. However, the levels and spatial patterns of genetic and phylogenetic diversity of wildlife at the regional scale have largely remained unclear. Here, we performed meta-analyses of genetic diversity in Chinese terrestrial vertebrates based on three genetic markers and investigated
3h
Metabolic differentiation and intercellular nurturing underpin bacterial endospore formation
Despite intensive research, the role of metabolism in bacterial sporulation remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that Bacillus subtilis sporulation entails a marked metabolic differentiation of the two cells comprising the sporangium: the forespore, which becomes the dormant spore, and the mother cell, which dies as sporulation completes. Our data provide evidence that metabolic precur
3h
Evolution of forelimb musculoskeletal function across the fish-to-tetrapod transition
One of the most intriguing questions in vertebrate evolution is how tetrapods gained the ability to walk on land. Although many hypotheses have been proposed, few have been rigorously tested using the fossil record. Here, we build three-dimensional musculoskeletal models of the pectoral appendage in Eusthenopteron , Acanthostega , and Pederpes and quantitatively examine changes in forelimb functi
3h
Tumor immunological phenotype signature-based high-throughput screening for the discovery of combination immunotherapy compounds
Combination immunotherapy is promising to overcome the limited objective response rates of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Here, a tumor immunological phenotype (TIP) gene signature and high-throughput sequencing–based high-throughput screening (HTS 2 ) were combined to identify combination immunotherapy compounds. We firstly defined a TIP gene signature distinguishing "cold" tumors fro
3h
Exercise mimetics and JAK inhibition attenuate IFN-{gamma}-induced wasting in engineered human skeletal muscle
Chronic inflammatory diseases often lead to muscle wasting and contractile deficit. While exercise can have anti-inflammatory effects, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we used an in vitro tissue-engineered model of human skeletal muscle ("myobundle") to study effects of exercise-mimetic electrical stimulation (E-stim) on interferon- (IFN-)–induced muscle weakness. Chronic IFN- trea
3h
Hydroclimate footprint of pan-Asian monsoon water isotope during the last deglaciation
Oxygen isotope speleothem records exhibit coherent variability over the pan-Asian summer monsoon (AM) region. The hydroclimatic representation of these oxygen isotope records for the AM, however, has remained poorly understood. Here, combining an isotope-enabled Earth system model in transient experiments with proxy records, we show that the widespread AM 18 O c signal during the last deglaciatio
3h
A microneedle platform for buccal macromolecule delivery
Alternative means for drug delivery are needed to facilitate drug adherence and administration. Microneedles (MNs) have been previously investigated transdermally for drug delivery. To date, drug loading into MNs has been limited by drug solubility in the polymeric blend. We designed a highly drug-loaded MN patch to deliver macromolecules and applied it to the buccal area, which allows for faster
3h
Systematic engineering of artificial metalloenzymes for new-to-nature reactions
Artificial metalloenzymes (ArMs) catalyzing new-to-nature reactions could play an important role in transitioning toward a sustainable economy. While ArMs have been created for various transformations, attempts at their genetic optimization have been case specific and resulted mostly in modest improvements. To realize their full potential, methods to rapidly discover active ArM variants for ideal
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Wearable plasmonic-metasurface sensor for noninvasive and universal molecular fingerprint detection on biointerfaces
Wearable sensing technology is an essential link to future personalized medicine. However, to obtain a complete picture of human health, it is necessary but challenging to track multiple analytes inside the body simultaneously. Here, we present a wearable plasmonic-electronic sensor with "universal" molecular recognition ability. Flexible plasmonic metasurface with surface-enhanced Raman scatteri
3h
Gut microbiota from patients with arteriosclerotic CSVD induces higher IL-17A production in neutrophils via activating ROR{gamma}t
The intestinal microbiota shape the host immune system and influence the outcomes of various neurological disorders. Arteriosclerotic cerebral small vessel disease (aCSVD) is highly prevalent among the elderly with its pathological mechanisms yet is incompletely understood. The current study investigated the ecology of gut microbiota in patients with aCSVD, particularly its impact on the host imm
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Sustained and targeted delivery of checkpoint inhibitors by metal-organic frameworks for cancer immunotherapy
The major impediments to the implementation of cancer immunotherapies are the sustained immune effect and the targeted delivery of these therapeutics, as they have life-threatening adverse effects. In this work, biomimetic metal-organic frameworks [zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs)] are used for the controlled delivery of nivolumab (NV), a monoclonal antibody checkpoint inhibitor that was U.
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Revisiting evidence for widespread seismicity in the upper mantle under Los Angeles
We revisit the finding of widespread deep seismicity in the upper mantle imaged with a dense, temporary nodal seismic array in Long Beach, California using back-projection to detect candidate events and trace randomization to develop a reliable imaging threshold for candidate detections. We find that nearly all detections of small events at depths greater than 20 kilometers in the upper mantle fa
3h
Drug-delivery microcapsules tagged with zirconium-89 can be tracked by PET imaging
Polymer 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
4h
Study compares low-fat, plant-based diet to low-carb, animal-based diet
People on a low-fat, plant-based diet ate fewer daily calories but had higher insulin and blood glucose levels, compared to when they ate a low-carbohydrate, animal-based diet, according to a small but highly controlled study. The study compared the effects of the two diets on calorie intake, hormone levels, body weight, and more.
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Climate and carbon cycle trends of the past 50 million years reconciled
Predictions of future climate change require a clear and nuanced understanding of Earth's past climate. In a study published today in Science Advances, University of Hawai'i (UH) at Mānoa oceanographers fully reconciled climate and carbon cycle trends of the past 50 million years—solving a controversy debated in the scientific literature for decades.
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Plant Food Spikes To Level Up Your Foliage
Give your plants the food they need to grow big and strong. (Amazon/) Like any living thing, flora and fauna require nutrients to thrive at their maximum potential. When natural growth cycles are lagging, plant food spikes can help enhance the growth process and target specific aspects of your plant, including its color, as well as stem and leaf growth. Adding a spike to the soil of your flower,
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Reasons why Covid variant could kill more people are uncertain
Whatever the answer, everyone has to try even harder not to catch it in the first place Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Those who may have been comforted in recent weeks by the evolutionary theory of virus mutation – that the more transmissible they become, the less lethal they are – may now be pondering the news that the variant that originated in Kent not only spre
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New UK Covid variant may be 30% more deadly, says Johnson
PM warns B117 may increase death rate as well as being up to 70% more transmissible Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The new UK coronavirus variant may be 30% more deadly, Boris Johnson said on Friday as he warned of stricter travel curbs and continued lockdown measures while the infection rate remains "forbiddingly high". In findings that dampened hopes of the increa
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The Best Scuba and Snorkel Fins For Divers of All Abilities
Just keep swimming! (Unsplash/) Snorkeling and scuba diving are amazing vacation activities for all ages. Take a peek below the surface and learn more about the various forms of wildlife we rarely get to see. Before you go ahead and jump off the nearest boat, dock, or jetski, make sure you're loaded up with the right equipment, specifically snorkel fins. Snorkel fins will help propel you through
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Here's how you know when someone's lying to your face
A study uses motion-capture to assess the physical interaction between a liar and their victim. Liars unconsciously coordinate their movements to their listener. The more difficult the lie, the more the coordination occurs. Lying one-on-one is hard when done correctly. Some people lie compulsively, with little regard to getting caught — for them it's a no-brainer. But concocting a believable lie,
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SpaceX Poised to Crush Record for Most Spacecraft Launched on One Rocket
Record Setter A SpaceX mission slated for Saturday is poised to set a new record for the most spacecraft launched on a single spaceflight, as Teslarati reports . The Transporter-1 mission, a Falcon 9 rocket launching from Cape Canaveral in Florida at around 9:40 am Eastern time, will involve launching "133 commercial and government spacecraft (including CubeSats, microsats, and orbital transfer v
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Mini Circular Saws For All Your At-Home Projects
A mini circular saw gives you all the power of a larger model in the palm of your hand. (Amazon/) Whether you're operating with a small workshop or looking for a convenient device for DIY projects, having the right tool is essential. Depending on your budget, buying a mini circular saw can also save you a buck, especially if you never needed a larger model in the first place. The market for saws
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Study examines how clean air act affects municipal bond market
Research has studied the effects of climate risk on financial markets, but few studies have addressed the effect of environmental policy on those markets. A new study examined whether federal policy aimed at mitigating local air pollution—specifically, the Clean Air Act—affected the municipal bond market from 2005 to 2019. The study concludes that increases in regulatory stringency or uncertainty
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Cargo delivery by polymers
Degradable, bio-based polymers offer options for chemical recycling, and they can be a tool to store and release useful molecules. Scientists have developed a class of sugar-based polymers that are degradable through acid hydrolysis. The researchers also integrated 'cargo' molecules in the polymer, which are designed to split off after polymer degradation.
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Covid vaccines: what are the implications of new variants of virus?
UK, South Africa and Brazil variants indicate changes may be needed Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage In common with others, the virus that causes Covid-19 mutates as it spreads. Most mutations have little or no effect, but some can change the behaviour of the virus. Mutations in a variant found in the UK in September has helped the virus spread more easily and potenti
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Smart Light Switches To Best Brighten (Or Dim) Your Home
Alexa, turn on my lights! (Pexels/) If you're looking for an attainable way to make your everyday life simpler and more convenient, search no further than smart light switches. With a range of features, these devices are relatively easy to use and install—and make an instant difference in your home. They integrate or are compatible with other smart devices or apps, and they allow you to better ad
5h
PTSD link to pandemic fears
A new study of 1040 online participants from five western countries explores people's response to the stresses of the escalating pandemic, finding more than 13 percent of the sample had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related symptoms consistent with levels necessary to qualify for a clinical diagnosis.
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Cargo delivery by polymers
Degradable, bio-based polymers offer options for chemical recycling, and they can be a tool to store and release useful molecules. Scientists have developed a class of sugar-based polymers that are degradable through acid hydrolysis. The researchers also integrated 'cargo' molecules in the polymer, which are designed to split off after polymer degradation.
5h
The best microwaves: This way for buttery popcorn and tempting leftovers
Quick, easy, and reliable microwaves to nuke meals. (Naomi Hébert via Unsplash/) Some may say dogs are man's best friend, but we firmly believe that title belongs to the microwave. An ingenious little invention, this kitchen appliance can make a huge difference when it comes to quick snacks, full meals, and delicious leftovers. The best microwave is more than just a tool to heat up cold coffee; t
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What do we know about the new coronavirus strains?
Experts continue to identify new coronavirus strains—some more contagious than the prevalent strain—around the globe. David Cennimo, a pediatric infectious disease expert and assistant professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, discusses what we know about the new variants and how to stay safe: The post appeared first on Futurity .
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Fast blood test flags patients at risk for severe COVID-19
A relatively simple and rapid blood test can predict—within a day of a hospital admission—which patients with COVID-19 are at highest risk of severe complications or death. One of the most vexing aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic is doctors' inability to predict which newly hospitalized patients will go on to develop severe disease, including complications that require the insertion of a breathing
5h
Rediscovery of the 'extinct' Pinatubo volcano mouse
In June 1991, Mount Pinatubo, a volcanic peak on the Philippine Island of Luzon, literally blew its top. It was the second-most powerful volcanic eruption of the 20th century, ten times stronger than Mount Saint Helens, and its effects were devastating. Lava and ash spewed into the surrounding environment in the Zambales Mountains, pooling in layers up to 600 feet thick in the valleys. Following t
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Tiny particles that seed clouds can form from trace gases over open sea
New results from an atmospheric study over the Eastern North Atlantic reveal that tiny aerosol particles that seed the formation of clouds can form out of next to nothingness over the open ocean. This "new particle formation" occurs when sunlight reacts with molecules of trace gases in the marine boundary layer, the atmosphere within about the first kilometer above Earth's surface. The findings, p
5h
Rediscovery of the 'extinct' Pinatubo volcano mouse
In June 1991, Mount Pinatubo, a volcanic peak on the Philippine Island of Luzon, literally blew its top. It was the second-most powerful volcanic eruption of the 20th century, ten times stronger than Mount Saint Helens, and its effects were devastating. Lava and ash spewed into the surrounding environment in the Zambales Mountains, pooling in layers up to 600 feet thick in the valleys. Following t
5h
New blueprint for more stable quantum computers
Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) have put forward a detailed plan of how faster and better defined quantum bits—qubits—can be created. The central elements are magnetic atoms from the class of so-called rare-earth metals, which would be selectively implanted into the crystal lattice of a material. Each of these atoms represents one qubit. The researchers have demonstrated how these
5h
Researcher expands plant genome editing with newly engineered variant of CRISPR-Cas9
Alongside Dennis van Engelsdorp, associate professor at the University of Maryland (UMD) in Entomology named for the fifth year in a row for his work in honey bee and pollinator health, Yiping Qi, associate professor in Plant Science, represented the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources on the Web of Science 2020 list of Highly Cited Researchers for the first time. This list includes influen
5h
Researcher expands plant genome editing with newly engineered variant of CRISPR-Cas9
Alongside Dennis van Engelsdorp, associate professor at the University of Maryland (UMD) in Entomology named for the fifth year in a row for his work in honey bee and pollinator health, Yiping Qi, associate professor in Plant Science, represented the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources on the Web of Science 2020 list of Highly Cited Researchers for the first time. This list includes influen
5h
Can an immune cell fix 'de-age' the brain?
Researchers have identified a key factor in mental aging. They've also shown that it might be prevented or reversed by fixing a glitch in the immune system's front-line soldiers. Certain cells of our immune system become increasingly irascible as we grow older. Instead of stamping out embers, they stoke the flames of chronic inflammation. Biologists have long theorized that reducing this inflamma
5h
Astronomers unmask cosmic eruptions in nearby galaxies
A brief burst of high-energy light swept through the solar system on April 15, triggering many space-based instruments, including those aboard NASA and European missions. Now, multiple international science teams conclude that the blast came from a supermagnetized stellar remnant known as a magnetar located in a neighboring galaxy.
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Reducing traps increases performance of organic photodetectors
Physicists at the Dresden Integrated Center for Applied Physics and Photonic Materials (IAPP) discovered that trap states rule the performance of organic photodetectors, ultimately limiting their detectivity. These highly promising results have now been published in the renowned scientific journal Nature Communications.
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The Biden administration's AI plans: what we might expect
On Wednesday, the US waited with bated breath as president Trump handed the government reins over to president Biden. The transition of power ended up peaceful, and Biden promptly ushered in his new vision for America with a flurry of executive orders . At the moment, the most pressing issues on his table are fighting the coronavirus pandemic, providing financial relief for Americans, and reversi
5h
Electric Cars Are About to Become Cheaper Than Gas Ones
Smart Choice In the near future, electric cars are poised to finally become cheaper than gas-burning vehicles, a crucial economic tipping point that experts say will likely lead to a much greater adoption of clean transportation. The recent drops in price — and related uptick in car sales — are mainly attributable to improving battery tech, The Guardian reports , which has historically been expen
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Antigen or antibody? UK adults confused by Covid terminology
Almost half the population unclear what 'antigen' or 'epidemiologist' mean, while two in five would struggle to explain 'circuit breaker' Lots of people are unsure what many of the key words and phrases used by experts and politicians discussing Covid-19 actually mean, research shows. Almost half the population is unclear what "antigen" or "epidemiologist" mean, while two in five admit they would
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Tiny particles that seed clouds can form from trace gases over open sea
New results from an atmospheric study over the Eastern North Atlantic reveal that tiny aerosol particles that seed the formation of clouds can form out of next to nothingness over the open ocean. The findings will improve how aerosols and clouds are represented in models that describe Earth's climate so scientists can understand how the particles–and the processes that control them–might have af
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Fauci: Trump's Bungled COVID Response Probably Caused Many Deaths
Top United States infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci told CNN this morning that the Trump administration's bungled response to the COVID-19 pandemic "very likely" cost American lives. "Particularly when you're in the situation of almost being in a crisis with the number of cases and hospitalizations and deaths that we have — when you start talking about things that make no sense medically an
5h
Atomic resolution video of salt crystals forming in real time
Two 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
6h
Chemists harness synergy effect of gallium
Chemists 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.
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NIH-funded study examines mono, chronic fatigue syndrome in college students
Many college students fully recover from infectious mononucleosis (which is almost always caused by Epstein-Barr virus) within 1-6 weeks, but some go on to develop chronic fatigue syndrome, also called myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS). A longitudinal study from DePaul University and Northwestern University followed 4,501 college students to examine risk factors that may trigger longer illness.
6h
China Is Sending a Mission to Study the Sun
Solar Probe China has is making massive strides in space exploration. The country has successfully sent multiple probes to the surface of the Moon and is making moves to establish its very own orbital space station — as well as landing on Mars . Now it's also angling to get a closer look at the Sun, as the South China Morning Post reports — a further flex of what China's leadership wants to see b
6h
The Best Belt Racks To Keep Your Closet Organized
Keep your belts organized and where you want them. (Pexels/) Unlike other articles of clothing, you can't simply throw a belt in the dirty clothes at the end of the day—and getting them to stay rolled up in a drawer when not in use is nearly impossible. With a belt rack, you'll easily be able to hang up your belt and other accessories like ties or necklaces, beautifully displayed for the next mor
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New maintenance treatment for acute myeloid leukemia prolongs the lives of patients
Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the most common form of acute leukemia in adults, that has gone into remission following initial chemotherapy remain in remission longer and have improved overall survival when they are given a pill form of the cancer drug azacitidine as a maintenance treatment, according to a randomized, international phase 3 clinical trial for which Weill Cornell Medic
6h
The New Space Race Is Putting Boots on Mars
Grudge Match Next month, separate spacecraft launched by the United States and China will both attempt to land on Mars. Both missions are important and valuable from a scientific perspective. But, as Bloomberg reports , they also symbolize an emerging space race between the two superpowers — over which country gets the vast sociopolitical clout of having put the first boots on Mars . Breaking Pac
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Why Biden's Inaugural Address Succeeded
Political speeches follow a surprisingly simple set of rules—or at least the successful ones do. Newly sworn-in President Joe Biden observed them all in his inaugural address. Although his 20 minutes at the lectern are not likely to be parsed and studied for rhetorical flourishes, with this speech Biden accomplished something more important: He signaled how he will approach this job and this mome
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RIP Loon, Google's balloon-based cellular network
The balloons used solar energy to power their on-board systems, but had no engines. (Project Loon/) It always seemed like an idea that was cool, far-fetched, and possibly helpful: Balloons, high above the earth, sending cell signals to people down below. The giant polyethylene flying machines could transmit LTE signals to people in disaster zones or rural areas with no cell infrastructure. Alphab
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Ramekins for souffles, salsas, and more
Whether you're baking individual cakes or portioning snacks, a ramekin is the perfect vessel for your needs. (Amazon/) Is it a bowl? Is it a cup? No! It's a ramekin, and it's going to make a wonderful addition to your kitchen. Ramekins come in sets and will make you feel like a pro when hosting a dinner party. With these nifty receptacles, you can serve every portion of French onion soup with its
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The Grapevine Looks a Little Different Today
This story contains spoilers for Bridgerton and Dickinson. In the Netflix series Bridgerton , everyone reads the pamphlets written by the pseudonymous "Lady Whistledown," Regency England's answer to Gossip Girl. Each issue targets the wealthiest and most powerful residents of London in 1813, revealing something new about the city's high-society ecosystem. Voiced by Julie Andrews, Lady Whistledown
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New blueprint for more stable quantum computers
Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have put forward a detailed plan of how faster and better defined quantum bits – qubits – can be created. The central elements are magnetic atoms from the class of so-called rare-earth metals, which would be selectively implanted into the crystal lattice of a material. Each of these atoms represents one qubit. The researchers have demonstrated how the
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UMD researcher expands plant genome editing with newly engineered variant of CRISPR-Cas9
Recently named a Web of Science 2020 Highly Cited Researcher, Yiping Qi of the University of Maryland already has a new high-profile publication in 2021 introducing SpRY, a newly engineered variant of the famed gene editing tool CRISPR-Cas9. SpRY removes the barriers of what can and can't be targeted for gene editing, making it possible for the first time to target nearly any genomic sequence in p
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Shift in caribou movements may be tied to human activity
Human activities might have shifted the movement of caribou in and near the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, according to scientists who tracked them using isotopic analysis from shed antlers. The study is timely given the auction this year of oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Indigenous Alaskans opposed the leases, arguing development could disrupt the migration of caribo
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Consenting for treatment in advance to reduce leaving the hospital against medical advice among patients with addiction – Experts debate pros and cons
Patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) being treated for serious medical conditions are more likely to leave the hospital against medical advice (AMA) than those without addiction. A special type of contract with healthcare providers might enable patients to consent in advance to life-saving medical care – even if they later refuse treatment, according to a commentary in the Journal of Addic
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The seven rocky planets of TRAPPIST-1 seem to have very similar compositions
A new international study led by astrophysicist Eric Agol from the University of Washington has measured the densities of the seven planets of the exoplanetary system TRAPPIST-1 with extreme precision, the values obtained indicating very similar compositions for all the planets. This fact makes the system even more remarkable and helps to better understand the nature of these fascinating worlds. T
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AI trained to read electric vehicle charging station reviews to find infrastructure gaps
Although electric vehicles that reduce greenhouse gas emissions attract many drivers, the lack of confidence in charging services deters others. Building a reliable network of charging stations is difficult in part because it's challenging to aggregate data from independent station operators. But now, researchers reporting January 22 in the journal Patterns have developed an AI that can analyze us
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A quarter of known bee species haven't appeared in public records since the 1990s
Researchers at the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) in Argentina have found that, since the 1990s, up to 25% of reported bee species are no longer being reported in global records, despite a large increase in the number of records available. While this does not mean that these species are all extinct, it might indicate that these species have become rare enough
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Foosball tables that will liven up any space
Are you ready for some foosball?? (Unsplash/) Think of foosball as an indoor sport that won't ruin the carpet. It allows people to step away from whatever they're doing for a short and friendly game—though there's no promising one game won't turn into a long, intense tournament. Found in homes, bars, and office break rooms alike, foosball tables simply make spaces more fun. Looking for a morale b
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Israeli Covid chief's claim single vaccine dose less effective 'inaccurate'
Nachman Ash had said single Pfizer/BioNTech dose was less effective than expected Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Israel's health ministry has moved to row back on comments by the country's coronavirus tsar, who suggested single doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine had not given as much protection against the disease as had been hoped. The remarks by Nachman Ash, rep
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Flowery diets help predatory insects help farmers keep pests in check
Predatory insects have been shown to live longer when they have access to nectar and pollen, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Copenhagen. Thus, flowers don't just benefit insects, they help farmers farm sustainably. Predatory insects are skilled pest controllers whose hunting reduces the need for agricultural pesticides.
7h
Chimpanzee friends fight together to battle rivals
Chimpanzees, one of the closest relatives of humans, cooperate on a group level—in combative disputes, they even cooperate with group members to whom they are not related. Those involved in fights with neighboring groups put themselves at risk of serious injury or even death.
7h
Aging dams pose growing threat: UN
By 2050, most people on Earth will live downstream of tens of thousands of large dams built in the 20th century, many of them already operating at or beyond their design life, according to a UN University analysis.
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Flowery diets help predatory insects help farmers keep pests in check
Predatory insects have been shown to live longer when they have access to nectar and pollen, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Copenhagen. Thus, flowers don't just benefit insects, they help farmers farm sustainably. Predatory insects are skilled pest controllers whose hunting reduces the need for agricultural pesticides.
7h
Fungi strengthen plants to fend off aphids
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have demonstrated that unique fungi strengthen the immune systems of wheat and bean plants against aphids. Fungi enter and influence the amount of a plant's own defenses, resulting in fewer aphids. The results could serve to reduce agricultural insecticide use and bring Denmark a step further along the path towards its green transition.
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The best external hard drives: Expand your file storage
As our lives get more digital, we need more room for storage. Here are some great external hard drives that'll do the trick. (Dylan Gillis via Unsplash/) No matter your specific reason for seeking out an external hard drive—security, portability, storage capacity—you have more options than you may realize. Unless you have the highest-end computer, most models simply don't have enough storage spac
7h
Fungi strengthen plants to fend off aphids
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have demonstrated that unique fungi strengthen the immune systems of wheat and bean plants against aphids. Fungi enter and influence the amount of a plant's own defenses, resulting in fewer aphids. The results could serve to reduce agricultural insecticide use and bring Denmark a step further along the path towards its green transition.
7h
Geoscientists reconstruct 6.5 million years of sea level stands
The pressing concern posed by rising sea levels has created a critical need for scientists to precisely predict how quickly the oceans will rise in coming centuries. To gain insight into future ice sheet stability and sea-level rise, new research from an international team led by University of South Florida geoscientists is drawing on evidence from past interglacial periods when Earth's climate wa
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A quarter of known bee species haven't appeared in public records since the 1990s
Researchers at the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) in Argentina have found that, since the 1990s, up to 25% of reported bee species are no longer being reported in global records, despite a large increase in the number of records available. While this does not mean that these species are all extinct, it might indicate that these species have become rare enough
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My journey mapping the uncharted world | Tawanda Kanhema
Significant pieces of the globe are literally not on the map: they're missing from the most widely used mapping platforms, like Google Street View, leaving communities neglected of vital services and humanitarian aid. In this globetrotting talk, photographer Tawanda Kanhema takes us along on his journey to map 3,000 miles of uncharted areas in Zimbabwe, Namibia and northern Canada — and shows how
7h
A quarter of known bee species haven't appeared in public records since the 1990s
Researchers at the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) in Argentina have found that, since the 1990s, up to 25% of reported bee species are no longer being reported in global records, despite a large increase in the number of records available. While this does not mean that these species are all extinct, it might indicate that these species have become rare enough
7h
Microbiome Search Engine 2 helps researchers explore microbiome space
Metagenomics—the study of genetic material from an environmental sample—is growing as species evolve or are discovered across the globe. To correlate the newly developed microbiomes with existing data sets, a team of researchers based in China has developed the Microbiome Search Engine 2 (MSE 2). It was published on Jan. 19 in mSystems, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
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A large number of gray whales are starving and dying in the eastern North Pacific
It's mid-January 2021, and the first gray whales from the eastern North Pacific population have started to arrive in the breeding lagoons in Baja California, Mexico. Since the start of their southbound migration from their high latitude feeding grounds, several sightings of emaciated gray whales have already been reported along their migration route.
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Addressing the impact of structural racism on disparities in children with Type 1 diabetes
Advancements in diabetes technology have improved quality of life and glycemic control in children with type 1 diabetes. However, data show that a subset of children is being left behind. Those from low-income families and non-Hispanic Black (NHB) children are not experiencing benefits associated with technological advances, and are at higher risk for diabetes complications and adverse outcomes th
7h
Microbiome Search Engine 2 helps researchers explore microbiome space
Metagenomics—the study of genetic material from an environmental sample—is growing as species evolve or are discovered across the globe. To correlate the newly developed microbiomes with existing data sets, a team of researchers based in China has developed the Microbiome Search Engine 2 (MSE 2). It was published on Jan. 19 in mSystems, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
7h
A large number of gray whales are starving and dying in the eastern North Pacific
It's mid-January 2021, and the first gray whales from the eastern North Pacific population have started to arrive in the breeding lagoons in Baja California, Mexico. Since the start of their southbound migration from their high latitude feeding grounds, several sightings of emaciated gray whales have already been reported along their migration route.
7h
Research team extends 4-D printing to nanophotonics
The Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and its research collaborators have successfully demonstrated the four-dimensional (4-D) printing of shape memory polymers in submicron dimensions which are comparable to the wavelength of visible light. This novel development has allowed researchers to now explore new applications in the field of nanophotonics.
7h
Fungi strengthen plants to fend off aphids
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have demonstrated that unique fungi strengthen the "immune systems" of wheat and bean plants against aphids. Fungi enter and influence the amount of a plant's own defences, resulting in fewer aphids. The results could serve to reduce agricultural insecticide use and bring Denmark a step further along the path towards its green transition.
7h
Chimpanzee friends fight together to battle rivals
Humans cooperate with each other in large groups to defend territories or wage war. But what underlies the evolution of this kind of cooperation? Researchers at the Max PIanck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and Harvard University show that there may be a link between social bonds and participation in large-scale cooperation: Chimpanzees join their close bond partners when fighting rivals.
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Single atoms as a catalyst: Surprising effects ensue
Catalysts are getting smaller – "single-atom" catalysts are the logical end point of this downsizing. However, individual atoms can no longer be described using the rules developed from larger pieces of metal, so the rules used to predict which metals will be good catalysts must be revamped – this has now been achieved at TU Wien. As it turns out, single atom catalysts based on much cheaper materi
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Potential combined drug therapy for lung cancer
Researchers at Kanazawa University report in Clinical Cancer Research that in the most common type of lung cancer, certain secondary mutations occurring with another gene alteration known as ALK make the efficacy of alectinib, an otherwise commonly used drug for treating lung cancer, become unfavorable. Combining alectinib with another kind of drug can overcome this adverse effect, however.
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Scientists improved eye tracking technology in VR systems
The tracking of eye movement is one of the key elements of virtual and amplified reality technologies (VR/AR). A team from MSU together with a professor from RUDN University developed a mathematical model that helps accurately predict the next gaze fixation point and reduces the inaccuracy caused by blinking. The model would make VR/AR systems more realistic and sensitive to user actions.
7h
Materials Breakthrough Could Lead to Cheaper, Better Solar Panels
To improve the efficiency of solar panels, scientists have become increasingly intrigued by perovskites, an evasive natural mineral with a unique crystalline structure. Unfortunately, the mineral has proved to be uncooperative. At room temperature, three of its four possible atomic configurations are unstable and the material quickly reverts to its fourth phase, which renders it useless in the ef
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With Trump Departure, Biden Reveals a New Pandemic Plan
President Joe Biden moved away from some elements of Trump's pandemic policy on Wednesday, signing executive orders to rejoin the WHO and to require masks to be worn on federal property. The administration plans to create new vaccination centers across the country and implement a national testing strategy.
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The Books Briefing: Presidential Biographies—And Presidential Mythologies
The critic Carlos Lozada read some 150 books about the Trump era before writing his book What Were We Thinking . In those volumes, he found a regime that was appalling in its lunacy and that would leave a long-lasting carnage . As Trump left office and Biden was sworn in this week, I found myself thinking about other presidential legacies and the books that reflect on them. Some, written years af
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Lair of giant predator worms from 20 million years ago found
Scientists in Taiwan find the lair of giant predator worms that inhabited the seafloor 20 million years ago. The worm is possibly related to the modern bobbit worm (Eunice aphroditois). The creatures can reach several meters in length and famously ambush their pray. If you happened to be traversing the seafloor of Eurasia about 20 million years ago, you'd likely come across giant predator worms a
7h
What It's Like to Carry On a Tradition With a Friend Who Can't Remember It
Each installment of The Friendship Files features a conversation between The Atlantic 's Julie Beck and two or more friends, exploring the history and significance of their relationship. This week she talks with Gabe and Andy, two friends who for more than six years have walked 30 minutes once a week to give each other a high five. The tradition started as a fun way to see each other regularly an
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Akito Arima (1930–2020)
Nature, Published online: 22 January 2021; doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00189-7 Theoretician who simplified nuclear physics and revamped Japan's science.
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Low-income families struggled to pay energy bills in 2020
Nearly 4.8 million low-income American households couldn't pay an energy bill last year, a problem that intensified during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Low-income Black and Hispanic households were especially vulnerable to energy insecurity, as were households with small children or people who relied on electronic medical devices, and those with inefficient housing conditions. For a
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How the brain learns that earmuffs are not valuable at the beach
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 conditions such as Tourette syndrome, which is characterized by reduced input from these cel
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Size of connections between nerve cells determines their signaling strength
Nerve cells communicate with one another via synapses. Neuroscientists 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.
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Watch London's Cool, Quirky Augmented Reality Art Exhibit at Home
It hasn't been a great few months for museums, what with the pandemic shutting many of them down and forcing the rest to greatly limit visitors. But a new, well-timed art exhibit went on display last month in London, and no reservations or masks were required. Unreal City was an augmented reality art exhibit presented by Acute Art and Dazed Media. It took place along the Southbank of the River Th
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The US is back in the Paris Agreement. What does that mean?
Paris is a wonderful city, but it's not really responsible for the Paris Climate Agreement. (Pixabay/) In one of his first acts on his first day as President of the United States, Joe Biden signed an executive order reversing Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. It was hardly a surprise; Biden had already promised to do just that. But when the US accounts for some 15% of
8h
How salmonella uses a metabolite to reprogram the Krebs cycle to promote its own survival
A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in Israel has discovered the means by which salmonella bacteria use a metabolite to reprogram the Krebs cycle to promote their own survival. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes their study of the reaction of salmonella to the presence of succinate and what it revealed about the role succinate might play in
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How salmonella uses a metabolite to reprogram the Krebs cycle to promote its own survival
A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in Israel has discovered the means by which salmonella bacteria use a metabolite to reprogram the Krebs cycle to promote their own survival. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes their study of the reaction of salmonella to the presence of succinate and what it revealed about the role succinate might play in
8h
Regulating the ribosomal RNA production line
The enzyme that makes RNA from a DNA template is altered to slow the production of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), the most abundant type of RNA within cells, when resources are scarce and the bacteria Escherichia coli needs to slow its growth. Researchers used cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to capture the structures of the RNA polymerase while in complex with DNA and showed how its activity is changed
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Data shows slight fall in people testing positive for Covid in England
Findings chime with latest R number of between 0.8 and 1.0 for England and the UK as a whole The percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus in England has fallen slightly since the latest lockdown was introduced, but remains high, data has shown. The latest release from the Office for National Statistics , which conducts a survey based on swabs from randomly selected households, has fo
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Regulating the ribosomal RNA production line
The enzyme that makes RNA from a DNA template is altered to slow the production of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), the most abundant type of RNA within cells, when resources are scarce and the bacteria Escherichia coli needs to slow its growth. Researchers used cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to capture the structures of the RNA polymerase while in complex with DNA and showed how its activity is changed
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Researchers modify hybrid flow battery electrodes with nanomaterials
Researchers in WMG at the University of Warwick, in collaboration with Imperial College London, have found a way to enhance hybrid flow batteries and their commercial use. The new approach can store electricity in these batteries for very long durations for about a fifth the price of current technologies, with minimal location restraints and zero emissions.
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Hyperimmune response model could clarify severe COVID-19
Researchers have identified and replicated a hyperimmune response in nonhuman primates that could one day lead to treatments for people with severe cases of COVID-19. "This may be an important first step in understanding why some people become critically ill from COVID-19," says senior author Jay Rappaport, director of the Tulane National Primate Research Center. "Once we understand that, we will
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Cargo delivery by polymers
Degradable, bio-based polymers offer options for chemical recycling, and they can be a tool to store and release useful molecules. Scientists have developed a class of sugar-based polymers that are degradable through acid hydrolysis. The researchers also integrated "cargo" molecules in the polymer, which are designed to split off after polymer degradation. Degradable, cargo-bearing polymers are im
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Pancreatic β cell-derived exosomal miR-29 family enhances hepatic glucose output
In a new study published in Journal of Extracellular Vesicles , Chen-Yu Zhang's group at Nanjing University, School of Life Sciences, and Antonio Vidal-Puig's group at University of Cambridge report that pancreatic β cells secrete miR-29 family members (miR-29s) via exosomes in response to high levels of free fatty acids (FFAs). Theses β cell-derived exosomal miR-29s regulate glucose homeostasis t
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ACSL1 as a main catalyst of CoA conjugation of propionic acid-class NSAIDs in liver
Researchers from Kanazawa University have found that propionic acid-class nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen, form "conjugates" with coenzyme A (CoA) by one of the acyl-CoA synthetases, ACSL1, in liver. These conjugates have the covalent binding ability to cellular proteins that may lead to liver injury, a rare severe side effect of NSAID treatment. This knowledge c
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A large number of gray whales are starving and dying in the eastern North Pacific
It is now the third year that gray whales have been found in very poor condition or dead in large numbers along the west coast of Mexico, USA and Canada, and scientist have raised their concerns. An international study published this week in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series , led by Aarhus University researcher Dr Fredrik Christiansen, suggests that starvation is contributing to these mo
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Degradable sugar-based polymers may store and release useful molecular freight
Degradable, bio-based polymers offer options for chemical recycling, and they can be a tool to store and release useful molecules. Scientists have developed a class of sugar-based polymers that are degradable through acid hydrolysis. The researchers also integrated "cargo" molecules in the polymer, which are designed to split off after polymer degradation. Degradable, cargo-bearing polymers are im
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What is karst, and why should we care about it?
Fauna & Flora International (FFI) has made a habit of bucking the trend by working to safeguard neglected landscapes that are not necessarily a priority for other conservation organizations. Arguably one of the least familiar and most threatened habitat types is limestone—also known as karst.
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Single atoms as a catalyst
For years, the metal nanoparticles used in catalysts have been getting smaller and smaller. Now, a research team at TU Wien in Vienna, Austria have shown that everything is suddenly different when you arrive at the smallest possible size: a single atom.
8h
Degradable sugar-based polymers may store and release useful molecular freight
Degradable, bio-based polymers offer options for chemical recycling, and they can be a tool to store and release useful molecules. Scientists have developed a class of sugar-based polymers that are degradable through acid hydrolysis. The researchers also integrated "cargo" molecules in the polymer, which are designed to split off after polymer degradation. Degradable, cargo-bearing polymers are im
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Using the unpredictable nature of quantum mechanics to generate truly random numbers
A team of researchers from the U.K., Germany and Russia has used the unpredictable nature of quantum mechanics to create a device capable of generating truly random numbers. In their paper published in the journal Physical Review Letters, the group describes using aspects of quantum theory to develop a framework for building a truly random number generator.
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Treating moms with postpartum depression helps their babies' brains
For 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
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Tough childhood damages life prospects
An 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 in which 818 mothers and their partners filled in a questionnaire one year after having a child together.
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Observing chiral edge states in gapped nanomechanical graphene
Edge states are an emerging concept in physics and have been explored as an efficient strategy to manipulate electrons, photons and phonons for next-generation hybrid electro-optomechanical circuits. Scientists have used gapless chiral edge states in graphene or graphene-like materials to understand exotic quantum phenomena such as quantum spin or valley Hall effects. In a new report now published
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1965 Klan crackdown has lessons for fighting white supremacy
Sociologist David Cunningham advocates for the arrest and prosecution those who engaged in violence or other criminal action during the January 6 insurrection at the United States Capitol—even though there could be unintended consequences. In his inauguration speech, President Joe Biden said his administration would confront and defeat the rise of political extremism, white supremacy, and domesti
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Making protein 'superfood' from marine algae
Marine microalgae-based cellular agriculture is a promising new way to sustainably produce plant-based 'meat' and healthy 'superfoods' for the future.Researchers at Flinders University's Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development (CMBD) in Australia are responding to growing interest from consumers looking for healthier, more environmentally friendly, sustainable and ethical alternatives to animal
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Defects may help scientists understand the exotic physics of topology
Real-world materials are usually messier than the idealized scenarios found in textbooks. Imperfections can add complications and even limit a material's usefulness. To get around this, scientists routinely strive to remove defects and dirt entirely, pushing materials closer to perfection. Now, researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have turned this problem around and shown
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Highly functional membrane developed for producing freshwater from seawater
Researchers at Kobe University's Research Center for Membrane and Film Technology have successfully developed a new desalination membrane by laminating a two-dimensional carbon material on to the surface of a porous polymer membrane. This membrane has the potential to perform highly efficient desalination because it is possible to control the gaps between its nanosheets and the charge on the nanos
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There's a right and wrong way to be bored
Boredom is universal. (Deposit Photos/) If you're reading this, you're probably stressed. Never fear: We've dug through the evidence to reveal what science really says about finding zen—and holding onto it through tough times. Want to try meditation ? Take better baths ? Stop anxiety in its tracks ? Welcome to Calm Month . Boredom isn't fun. It shouldn't be; its entire purpose is to motivate us t
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PTSD link to pandemic panic
Even at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, people around the world became more fearful of what could happen to them or their family. A new Flinders University study of 1040 online participants from five western countries published in PLOS ONE explores people's response to the stresses of the escalating pandemic, finding more than 13% of the sample had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTS
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A new way to forecast beach water quality
Less than two days of water quality sampling at local beaches may be all that's needed to reduce illnesses among millions of beachgoers every year due to contaminated water, according to new Stanford research. The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, presents a modeling framework that dependably predicts water quality at beaches after only a day or two of frequent water sampling
9h
Smart imaging system captures individual fly life-cycle transitions
A powerful imaging tool that automatically pinpoints life-cycle transitions in fruit flies has been developed by RIKEN developmental biologists1. The high-precision system could be used for applications as diverse as screening chemicals for drug discovery and studying factors that influence development in organisms.
9h
Making masks smarter and safer against COVID-19
A new tool for monitoring COVID-19 may one day be right under your nose. Researchers at the University of California San Diego are developing a color-changing test strip that can be stuck on a mask and used to detect SARS-CoV-2 in a user's breath or saliva.
9h
How to make a legendary meme
When you have this kind of meme-making power, you can do almost anything. (John Kennedy/) Anything can become a meme, whether it's screenshots of a laughing seagull , a stock photo model with a particularly pained look in his eyes , or a US senator sitting in a folding chair . If it exists, you can make a meme out of it. We're pretty sure that's one of the rules of the internet. Anyone can make a
9h
The mystery of pointy oil droplets
A certain type of oil droplets changes shape when cooled and shrunk: from spherical through icosahedral to flat hexagonal. Two competing theories couldn't fully explain this, but now, a Physical Review Letter by Ireth García-Aguilar and Luca Giomi solves the mystery.
9h
New self-assembly method creates bioelectronics out of microscopic structures
Bringing together soft, malleable living cells with hard, inflexible electronics can be a difficult task. UChicago researchers have developed a new method to face this challenge by utilizing microscopic structures to build up bioelectronics rather than creating them from the top down—creating a highly customizable product.
9h
The influence and importance of language
In the hours immediately following the events at the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, no one quite knew how to describe what had happened. It wasn't simply because nothing like it had occurred in a century, but also because details regarding what preceded and took place during the event itself—a breach by a large, angry group of Trump supporters that resulted in five deaths—still remains murky sev
9h
The Very Large Array: Astronomical shapeshifter
When the Very Large Array was completed forty years ago, it was a different kind of radio telescope. Rather than having a single antenna dish, the VLA has 27. The data these antennas gather is combined in such a way that they act as a single radio telescope. As a radio array, the virtual dish of the VLA can cover an area roughly the size of Disney World. But the VLA can also do something ordinary
9h
How do aggregates of different sizes mediate soil-plant relationship?
Aggregates of different sizes provide heterogeneous microhabitats for soil microorganisms, which in turn drive the cycling and transformation of soil materials and energy, and have different effects on key processes related to nutrient supply and storage. The role of soil aggregates in ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, fertilizer preservation and erosion prevention has been widely s
9h
Algorithm supports cheaper, quicker microbiome functional assessment
A new algorithm may reduce the need for expensive, time-consuming whole-genome sequencing computations to understand how a microbiome functions. A team led by Jing Gongchao of the Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Su Xiaoquan of Qingdao University, published their approach, called Meta-Apo, on Jan. 6 in BMC Genomics.
9h
How do aggregates of different sizes mediate soil-plant relationship?
Aggregates of different sizes provide heterogeneous microhabitats for soil microorganisms, which in turn drive the cycling and transformation of soil materials and energy, and have different effects on key processes related to nutrient supply and storage. The role of soil aggregates in ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, fertilizer preservation and erosion prevention has been widely s
9h
Algorithm supports cheaper, quicker microbiome functional assessment
A new algorithm may reduce the need for expensive, time-consuming whole-genome sequencing computations to understand how a microbiome functions. A team led by Jing Gongchao of the Qingdao Institute of BioEnergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Su Xiaoquan of Qingdao University, published their approach, called Meta-Apo, on Jan. 6 in BMC Genomics.
9h
Researchers propose new method for accurate measurement of electro-optic coefficient
Recently, researchers from the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (SIOM) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have proposed a novel measurement method of the electro-optic (EO) coefficient based on the χ(2) nonlinear optical technology to measure the linear EO coefficients of KH2PO4 (KDP) and K(H1−xDx)2PO4 (DKDP) precisely. Relevant results were published in Optics Express on Jan.
9h
These virtual robot arms get smarter by training each other
A virtual robot arm has learned to solve a wide range of different puzzles —stacking blocks, setting the table, arranging chess pieces—without having to be retrained for each task. It did this by playing against a second robot arm that was trained to give it harder and harder challenges. Self play: Developed by researchers at OpenAI , the identical robot arms—Alice and Bob—learn by playing a game
10h
Mitochondrial mutation increases the risk of diabetes in Japanese men
A 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.
10h
SpaceX to send TU Dresden satellite into space
TU Dresden's SOMP2b satellite will be lifted into orbit by SpaceX on January 22, 2021. It will be used to investigate new nanomaterials under the extreme conditions of space, to test systems for converting the sun's heat into electricity and to precisely measure the residual atmosphere around the satellite. SOMP2b will begin its journey around the Earth at an altitude of 500 km—slightly higher tha
10h
Navigating uncertainty: Why we need decision theory during a pandemic
During a pandemic, decisions have to be made under time pressure and amid scientific uncertainty, with potential disagreements among experts and models. With COVID-19, especially during the first wave, there was uncertainty about the virus transmissibility, the disease severity, the future evolution of the pandemic and the effectiveness of the proposed policy interventions, such as wearing face ma
10h
NASA Still Undecided on New SLS Rocket Test After Early Shutdown
NASA attempted an important ground test of the Space Launch System (SLS) last weekend, aiming to fire the vessel's main engines for eight minutes to simulate a real launch. Unfortunately, the test ended after barely a minute . NASA has now analyzed the test and says there's no physical problem with the rocket. It may even re-run the test, which is one of the final pieces of the puzzle before NASA
10h
Q Shows How Pernicious Conspiracy Theories Are
In the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series, in the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, we find faithful adherents who have been waiting literally to the end of time for the return of their prophet. Now that's dedication – but more on point, that is some extreme motivated reasoning. It turns out, the prophet does return to usher in a new age of utopia, literally with 1 second left to the un
10h
Concerns grow for children's health as screen times soar during Covid crisis
Experts say rise in sleep and eyesight problems may also be linked to increased use of digital devices Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The rise in children's screen time during the pandemic has triggered calls for greater interactivity and outdoor exercise to bolster learning and guard against an epidemic of shortsightedness. Time spent online has increased dramatica
10h
'I worry about their social skills': parents on children's screen time in lockdown
While some parents have relaxed limits on devices, many are concerned about the physical and mental health fallout Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The worst part of the pandemic for 11-year-old Sandy is that he can't see his friends. The best part is that limits on how much time he spends online gaming have gone out the window. During the long months of lockdowns and
10h
I'm in a UK Covid vaccine trial – should I also accept a 'real' jab?
My turn for an AstraZeneca dose has come up, so I need to decide whether to drop out of Novavax tests Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage I had two excellent pieces of news this week. They left me feeling utterly wretched. First, my turn came up for the AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid. I was told I could have my first jab on Thursday. Continue reading…
10h
How Biden Plans to Beat Republican Obstructionism
J oe Biden's team is planning a party. His inauguration on Wednesday, held under threat from the coronavirus and pro-Trump extremists, wasn't much of a celebration. But the Biden administration hopes that January 20, 2022—a year from now—will mark what some aides are describing as a "renewing of the vows," an anniversary that could be a genuinely happy moment. By then, Biden hopes, he will have m
10h
This is Biden's seven-point plan for tackling the pandemic
The news: President Biden has said it will take a "wartime effort" to tackle the covid-19 pandemic as he unveiled a seven-point plan on his first full day in the job. He pledged to be guided by science, and to make transparency and accountability core values for his administration's response. The plan is a distillation of a 200-page strategy document which sets out his intentions, some of which h
11h
Black metal – ett sätt att tala om smärta och ondska i skolan
Den kan tyckas skränig, men framförs skickligt av självlärda musiker som hellre talar om budskap än om själva spelandet. Black metal är en genre som kan lära skolans musikundervisning att kommunicera svåra och jobbiga känslor, menar forskaren Ketil Thorgersen. – Jag tycker det är intressant hur man kan lära sig att spela musik och bli så vansinnigt duktig utan att ha någon formell skolning. Det s
11h
PODCAST: Hvilke muligheder vil 5G-nettet give os?
Hvad kommer det nye mobilnetværk til at betyde, og hvilke udfordringer kan stå i vejen for, at vi kan udnytte det på samme måde som i andre lande? Det kan du høre om i ugens podcast, hvor du også kan få en forklaring på, hvorfor fagfolk forudser, at vi bliver nødt til at rense vores drikkevand om…
11h
Can Abolition Work in an Age of Right-Wing Extremism?
In response to law enforcement's hands-off approach to the storming of the Capitol on January 6, some on the left have demanded harsher policing of right-wing extremism to match the often-brutal treatment of Black Lives Matter and leftist protest. That is, the very people who supported police reform or outright defunding over the summer seemed to want a crackdown. Skeptics of defunding were quick
11h
'Unity' Is Not What America Needs Right Now
On Tuesday, the eve of the presidential inauguration, then-President-elect Joe Biden stood on the perimeter of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to honor the more than 400,000 Americans who have died from the coronavirus. In his brief remarks, he said, "To heal, we must remember; it's hard sometimes to remember, but that's how we heal. It's important to do that as a nation." Those words set th
11h
America's Shadow Death Row
Last week, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor published a dissent in a death-penalty case that flagged the striking number of killings taking place in the last months of the Trump administration. "After seventeen years without a single federal execution, the Government has executed twelve people since July," she wrote, calling it "an unprecedented, breakneck timetable of executions." As an opp
11h
"Everyone is impressed by Israeli vaccination, but I don't think we're a success story"
Hadas Ziv, head of policy and ethics at Physicians for Human Rights-Israel Israel was originally praised for its approach to covid-19 vaccine distribution, and was hailed as a model for how to get things done. But the picture that has emerged since is a lot more complicated. Covid-19 infections have reached record highs , and a new lockdown has been extended until the end of January. Meanwhile, t
12h
Daily briefing: Why cats love catnip
Nature, Published online: 21 January 2021; doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00195-9 Catnip activates cats' opioid systems (and protects them from mosquitos). Plus, ten computer codes that transformed science and what new SARS-CoV-2 variants mean for schools.
12h
Fabrication of copper(II)-coated magnetic core-shell nanoparticles Fe3O4@SiO2-2-aminobenzohydrazide and investigation of its catalytic application in the synthesis of 1,2,3-triazole compounds
Scientific Reports, Published online: 22 January 2021; doi:10.1038/s41598-021-81632-7 Fabrication of copper(II)-coated magnetic core-shell nanoparticles Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 -2-aminobenzohydrazide and investigation of its catalytic application in the synthesis of 1,2,3-triazole compounds
12h
Skrivkramp i skolan
Då och då blossar debatten om skrivkris upp. Skriver unga så illa att de har svårt att klara högskolestudier och arbetsliv? Nja, säger forskarna. På sätt och vis har skrivförmågan aldrig varit bättre. Men det finns ändå skäl att oroas. Segregationen i skolan gör att skillnaderna växer mellan de elever som skriver bra och de som ligger långt efter. Skriver unga sämre än tidigare generationer? Fråg
12h
Growing up in a bilingual home has lasting benefits
New research has found that growing up in a bilingual home can provide unexpected cognitive benefits later in life. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, demonstrates for the first time that adults who acquired their second language as a young child (early bilinguals) are quicker at shifting attention and quicker at detecting visual changes compared to adults who learnt their sec
12h
Robust all-optical single-shot readout of nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond
Nature Communications, Published online: 22 January 2021; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-20755-3 The NV center in diamond has been used extensively in sensing; however single shot readout of its spin remains challenging, requiring complex optical setups. Here, Irber et al. demonstrate a more robust scheme that achieves single-shot readout even when using inefficient detection optics.
12h
Phosphorus(III)-assisted regioselective C–H silylation of heteroarenes
Nature Communications, Published online: 22 January 2021; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-20531-3 Indole C-H silylation preferentially occurs at the C3 and C2 positions, while functionalization of the benzene core (C4-C7 sites) remains challenging. Here, the authors report a regioselective C7-H silylation of indole derivatives assisted by strong coordination of the palladium catalyst with a phosphorus dir
12h
Adsorption separation of heavier isotope gases in subnanometer carbon pores
Nature Communications, Published online: 22 January 2021; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-20744-6 Separation of isotopes of heavier gases than hydrogen or helium is essential for biomedical applications, but current methods are very energy and time consuming. Here the authors report cryogenic separation of oxygen and methane isotopes through adsorption in nanoporous materials, based on a collective nuclea
12h
AutoMap is a high performance homozygosity mapping tool using next-generation sequencing data
Nature Communications, Published online: 22 January 2021; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-20584-4 Homozygosity mapping is a useful tool for identifying candidate mutations in recessive conditions, however application to next generation sequencing data has been sub-optimal. Here, the authors present AutoMap, which efficiently identifies runs of homozygosity in whole exome/genome sequencing data.
12h
RUNX1/RUNX1T1 mediates alternative splicing and reorganises the transcriptional landscape in leukemia
Nature Communications, Published online: 22 January 2021; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-20848-z The fusion gene RUNX1/RUNX1T1 is oncogenic in acute myeloid leukemia. Here, the authors show that the fusion gene alters the transcriptional landscape of the cells by changing the structure of the 5'UTR, altering isoform expression, and controlling the expression of splicing factors.
12h
Soft subdermal implant capable of wireless battery charging and programmable controls for applications in optogenetics
Nature Communications, Published online: 22 January 2021; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-20803-y Although wireless optogenetic technologies enable brain circuit investigation in freely moving animals, existing devices have limited their full potential, requiring special power setups. Here, the authors report fully implantable optogenetic systems that allow intervention-free wireless charging and controls
12h
Group-level cooperation in chimpanzees is shaped by strong social ties
Nature Communications, Published online: 22 January 2021; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-20709-9 Strong social bonds are known to affect pairwise cooperation in primates such chimpanzees. Here, Samuni et al. show that strong social bonds also influence participation in group-level cooperation (collective action in intergroup encounters) using a long-term dataset of wild chimpanzees.
12h
What is the 'self'? The 3 layers of your identity.
Who am I? It's a question that humans have grappled with since the dawn of time, and most of us are no closer to an answer. Trying to pin down what makes you you depends on which school of thought you prescribe to. Some argue that the self is an illusion, while others believe that finding one's "true self" is about sincerity and authenticity. In this video, author Gish Jen, Harvard professor Mich
13h
Book Review: A Fervent Call to Protect 'America's Amazon'
In "Saving America's Amazon," environmental journalist Ben Raines chronicles the threats to Alabama's wonderous Mobile River Basin. The branching network of rivers, creeks, forests, and swamps is home to a tremendous number of species — and the fastest rate of extinctions in all 50 states.
13h
AI could make healthcare fairer—by helping us believe what patients say
In the last few years, research has shown that deep learning can match expert-level performance in medical imaging tasks like early cancer detection and eye disease diagnosis . But there's also cause for caution. Other research has shown that deep learning has a tendency to perpetuate discrimination . With a healthcare system already riddled with disparities, sloppy applications of deep learning
13h
Do promotions make consumers more generous?
Researchers from Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and University of Hong Kong published a new paper in the Journal of Marketing that examines why and how charitable organizations can increase donations by soliciting consumers after retailers' price promotions.
13h
Study highlights factors that predict success for treating canine behavioral disorders
There is a saying that you can't teach old dogs new tricks. When it comes to canine behavioral problems, age is only one factor that can predict how well a pet may respond to clinical intervention. In a paper published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, researchers provide the first evidence on the importance of not just a dog's age, sex and size on treatment success, but the owner's personality
14h
Study highlights factors that predict success for treating canine behavioral disorders
There is a saying that you can't teach old dogs new tricks. When it comes to canine behavioral problems, age is only one factor that can predict how well a pet may respond to clinical intervention. In a paper published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, researchers provide the first evidence on the importance of not just a dog's age, sex and size on treatment success, but the owner's personality
14h
John Lewis to repay £300m Covid loan two months early
Retailer upgrades profit guidance after stronger than expected sales over Christmas Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage John Lewis is to repay a £300m government Covid support loan almost two months early, as the retailer upgraded its profit guidance after stronger than expected sales during the crucial festive season. The upgrade means the John Lewis Partnership, which
14h
WHO platform for pharmaceutical firms unused since pandemic began
Exclusive: 'pool' to share Covid-19 information has received no contributions since May 2020 Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage A World Health Organization program for pharmaceutical companies to voluntarily share Covid-19 related knowledge, treatments and technology so they can be more widely distributed has attracted zero contributions in the eight months since it was
15h
Care homes face devastating results of losing England's Covid jab 'lottery'
Once Sussex home lost seven of 24 residents to the virus while it waited for vaccinations A short two-mile drive past the creeks of Chichester Harbour is all that separates the Pinewood nursing home in Chidham from a similar facility in a neighbouring village. But their experiences of the campaign to vaccinate the most vulnerable could not have been more different. The two homes exemplify what ha
16h
Spacewatch: Bezos's Blue Origin 'really close' to flying humans
Space travel company, which plans to take six people on a sub-orbital flight, completes its 14th mission Jeff Bezos's space travel company, Blue Origin, says it is "getting really close" to flying humans after the successful completion of its 14th mission into space on 14 January. The New Shepard rocket blasted off at 1717 GMT (1117 CST) from the company's private launch site in west Texas, carry
17h
Photos of the Week: Ice Castles, Northern Lights, Inauguration Fireworks
Fashion Week in Berlin, the departure of former President Donald Trump, the swearing-in of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, COVID-19 burials in Turkey and Mexico, an earthquake in Indonesia, bull-taming in India, a snow-covered Great Wall in China, National Guard soldiers in the U.S. Capitol, diploma artwork in New York City, and much more
17h
Role of dams in reducing global flood exposure under climate change
A new collaborative study led by researchers at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, the University of Tokyo, and Michigan State University exposes the role of dams for mitigating flood risk under climate change. Flood is amongst the costliest natural disasters. Globally, flood risk is projected to increase in the future, driven by climate change and population growth. The role of dam
17h
Study highlights factors that predict success for treating canine behavioral disorders
Canine behavioral problems are one of the leading causes of why pets are abandoned at shelters. Researchers have identified some of the key factors in both dogs and their owners that predict the success or failure of clinical interventions to correct problems like aggression or separation anxiety. This information may be valuable for veterinarians to provide better guidance to dog owners in future
17h
Nødvendigt at rense mere drikkevand i en årrække
Nye undersøgelser tyder på, at problemerne med nye nedbrydningsstoffer som DMS ikke har toppet, og det kan være svært og dyrt at finde nye kildepladser. Både forskere, vandsektor og myndigheder åbner for mere rensning i 5-10 år.
18h
Ny bog om etniske minoriteter i sundhedsvæsenet gør os alle klogere
'Det du ikke ved får patienten ondt af' er en frit tilgængelig lærebog af professor Morten Sodemann om mødet med etniske minoriteter i klinikken. Den indeholder et overflødighedshorn af sundhedsfaglige problemstillinger, kommunikationsudfordringer og eksempler på ulighed i vores sundhedsvæsen fra et langt lægeliv dedikeret til mødet med den fremmede patient i Danmark. For de, som har appetit til
18h
Øjenpatienter mister synet, mens de står på venteliste
Patienter med øjensygdommen våd AMD risikerer uopretteligt synstab eller blindhed inden for de gældende ventetider til udredning og behandling. Øjenlægernes videnskabelige selskab og de praktiserende øjenlæger opfordrer til, at patienter med våd AMD sikres ret til et langt hurtigere forløb.
18h
Hold øje med psykiatriplanen
Det er på én gang både sørgeligt og fantastisk, at det først blev i 2020 at psykiatrien kom på finansloven. Nu handler det om at holde momentum, så psykiatriplanen ikke drukner i den sidste tour de force for at få styr på COVID-19.
18h
Velkommen 2021
Faggrupper med risiko for at blive smittet med COVID-19 bør få en økonomisk tak, og så viste 2020 at vi har et sundhedsvæsen, vi kan være stolte af, skriver Torben Mogensen, tidligere vicedirektør på Hvidovre Hospital.
18h
When a story is breaking, AI can help consumers identify fake news
Warnings 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.
19h
How to get more electric cars on the road
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.
19h
Researchers prove fish-friendly detection method more sensitive than electrofishing
Delivering 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 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 the fish.
19h
Detailed tumour profiling
As part of a clinical study, researchers are conducting a thorough and highly precise investigation into the molecular and functional properties of tumors. Their goal is to help physicians to better determine which treatment will best match every patient's cancer and thus be most effective.
19h
New, simplified genetic test effectively screens for hereditary cancers
Researchers 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
19h
Mathematical framework enables accurate characterization of shapes
In 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. Researchers have now outlined a new and improved way to describe shapes based on a network representation that can also be used to reassemble and compare shapes.
19h
Balancing brain cell activity
Electrical 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.
19h
Bringing atoms to a standstill: Miniaturizing laser cooling
Scientists 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.
19h
Innovations through hair-thin optical fibers
Scientists 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.
19h
The physics behind tumor growth
Researchers 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.
20h
Discovery of two giant radio galaxies hints at more to come
Two recently discovered radio galaxies are among the largest objects in the cosmos. The discovery implies that radio galaxies are more common than previously thought. The discovery was made while creating a radio map of the sky with a small part of a new radio array. The universe is vast, and a lot of the stuff in it is massive. In a new study published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomica
20h
The physics behind tumor growth
Researchers 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.
20h
This Great Lakes fish may have evolved to see like its ocean ancestors did
In 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.
20h
CRISPR technology to cure sickle cell disease
A new article reports two patients appear to 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 technology received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020.
20h
Message in a bottle: Info-rich bubbles respond to antibiotics
Researchers 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-carrying entities, implicated in many ce
20h
What Musk's $100 million carbon capture prize could mean
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, now the world's richest person with a net worth north of $180 billion , announced on Twitter that he plans to give away $100 million of it as a prize for the "best carbon capture technology." Am donating $100M towards a prize for best carbon capture technology — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2021 He added in a subsequent tweet that he'll provide more details next week, so
20h
Why it's important to admit when you're wrong
Admitting mistakes can be very difficult for our ego and self-image, say psychologists. Refusing to own up to guilt boosts the ego and can feel more satisfying. Not acknowledging you are wrong can lead to psychological issues and ruined relationships. We've all done something which might have seemed good at the time but turned out to be flat wrong. And then came the dread of admitting the mistake
20h
Estrogen receptors in mom's placenta critical during viral infection
A team of 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.
21h
How to Fix the Vaccine Rollout – Issue 95: Escape
At a moment when vaccines promise to end the coronavirus pandemic, emerging new variants threaten to accelerate it. The astonishingly fast development of safe and effective vaccines is being stymied by the glacial pace of actual vaccinations while 3,000 Americans die each day. Minimizing death and suffering from COVID-19 requires vaccinating the most vulnerable Americans first and fast, but the v
21h
The secret life of maladaptive daydreaming
Maladaptive daydreamers can experience intricate, vivid daydreams for hours a day. This addiction can result in disassociation from vital life tasks and relationships. Psychologists, online communities, and social pipelines are spreading awareness and hope for many. James Thurber's short story "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" follows its mild-mannered protagonist through another mundane day of t
21h
The Atlantic Daily: The Battle to Contain the Pandemic Enters a New Phase
Every weekday evening, our editors guide you through the biggest stories of the day, help you discover new ideas, and surprise you with moments of delight. Subscribe to get this delivered to your inbox . President Joe Biden delivered his inaugural address to a field of flags. And it was before those 190,000-some flags— stand-ins to represent the Americans unable to attend in person —that he pledg
21h
Climate change puts hundreds of coastal airports at risk of flooding
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 appropriate adaptation.
22h

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