Hints of the 4th Dimension Have Been Detected by Physicists :: What would it be like to experience the 4 th dimension? Read More
Cryptocurrency rivals snap at Bitcoin's heels :: Bitcoin may be the most famous cryptocurrency but, despite a dizzying rise, it's not the most lucrative one and far from alone in a universe that counts 1,400 rivals, and counting.
Storebæltsbroen holder formen med robotter og wearables :: Fygende saltvand, bremsende lastbiler og blød bund får hele tiden Storebæltsbroen til at bevæge sig. Det slider på den 20-årige dame, der nu går digitaliseringens vej for at holde sig ung.
Surfers may be swallowing bacteria and spreading it to others :: Surfers seem to swallow more antibiotic resistant bacteria from polluted water than swimmers. They may also be spreading it to vulnerable people they know
Starwatch: Mars and Jupiter reward early risers :: The two planets appear close together this week and are conspicuous in the pre-dawn sky in the constellation Libra A pair of bright planets reward early risers this week. Mars and Jupiter are close together in the constellation Libra. Despite being more than three times closer to Earth, Mars will appear dimmer than Jupiter. This is because Jupiter is 21 times the diameter of Mars, and possesses b
Detroit auto show begins amid talk of NAFTA, tax cuts :: The Detroit Auto Show shifted into full gear Sunday with international trade and tax cuts dominating the conversation, even as an optimistic industry raced to meet Americans' seemingly insatiable appetite for trucks and SUVs.
Philippines' Mayon volcano alert raised as eruption feared :: The Philippines raised the alert level for the country's most active volcano twice in 24 hours Sunday, meaning that a hazardous eruption is possible within days.
Autonomous cars: Still many questions to answer :: Autonomous driving is generating talk at this year's Detroit Auto Show after being a star at last week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
From Ho Chi Minh Street to Boris Nemtsov Plaza: a History of the Undiplomatic Street Name Change :: Street names can cause diplomatic offence – and sometimes, that's exactly why they're there. Read More
Roots of Unity Turns 5 :: Happy birthday, dear blog! — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Milkshake duck announced as Macquarie Dictionary’s word of the year :: Racist milkshake drinking duck has come to define a particular thread of the internet’s collective fickleness Finally, justice for milkshake duck. The racist milkshake drinking duck which has come to define a particular thread of the internet’s collective fickleness was announced as the Macquarie Dictionary’s word of the year for 2017 on Monday. Continue reading…
Pandemonium and Rage in Hawaii :: Why would my 22-year-old brother be calling so early on a Saturday morning? I’d ignored the first call. But the second time the phone rang, I picked it up. He was panicking, his voice trembling uncharacteristically: He’d just received the emergency alert warning of a ballistic missile that was heading for Hawaii, where I’m from, and where he and my family still live. “THIS IS NOT A DRILL,” the al
Bitcoin fever hits US real estate market :: Bitcoin fever has hit the US real estate market, especially that of Florida, offering foreign investors a way to dodge currency controls at home and US economic sanctions.
C&A fashion chain eyes sale to Chinese investors :: The billionaire family that owns Dutch clothing retailer C&A is on the brink of selling the chain to Chinese investors, a German media report said Sunday.
Detroit Auto Show opens on Sunday :: The Detroit Auto Show kicks off Sunday, with pickup trucks and SUVs expected to take center stage in a sign of their growing might in the US car market.
Philippine volcano rumbles back to life, thousands evacuated :: The Philippines' most active volcano rumbled back to life Sunday with lava rising to its crater in a gentle eruption that has prompted authorities to evacuate thousands of villagers.
Saturday Night Live Takes a Swipe at Celebrity Journalism :: Saturday Night Live has so far struggled to produce memorable comedy about the Harvey Weinstein scandal and the #MeToo movement. The ongoing revelations about sexual assault and institutional misogyny in Hollywood have proven too much of a moving target for the show, which has seemed a little creatively adrift overall after its big ratings comeback during the 2016 election. But Saturday night’s e
Surfers three times more likely to have antibiotic-resistant bacteria in guts :: Scientists compared fecal samples from surfers and non-surfers to assess whether the surfers' guts contained E. coli bacteria that were able to grow in the presence of the antibiotic cefotaxime. Cefotaxime has previously been prescribed to kill off these bacteria, but some have acquired genes that enable them to survive this treatment.The study found that 13 of 143 (9 percent) of surfers were colo
Remember those 'spot the difference' games? Here’s why your brain is so bad at them. :: Head Trip They entertained you for entire minutes at the dentist's office. When we view something, we notice big features and fail to zero in on less important details.
U.S. Government Has a Top-Secret Airline That Flies to Area 51 and It's Hiring :: A top-secret government airline that flies to locations like Area 51 is put in a spotlight by a recent ad and an unexpected connection to the Las Vegas shooting. Read More
Paleo Profile: The Bryant's Shark :: Distinctive teeth mark the discovery of a new prehistoric shark species. — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
4 Ways How Blockchain, the Technology Behind Bitcoin, Can Transform Education :: A new study highlights how blockchain technology can be a game-changer in education. Read More
Does the Story of Adam & Eve Work Scientifically? :: How much genetic diversity is actually needed to keep a population healthy? Read More
Low-Wage Workers Finally Get a Raise :: The labor market is near full employment . The jobless rate is low. The economy is adding tens of thousands of jobs each month, and—at last—wages and earnings are increasing for workers at or just above the minimum wage. Indeed, Walmart on Thursday announced that it would provide a wage hike to and expand benefits for employees across the country, with 85,000 workers with two decades of seniority
Wild 360-Degree Video Lets You See the Milky Way As a Giant Black Hole Would :: A new 360-degree simulation that uses data from NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory is helping astronomers better understand more than 22 stellar giants found at the center of the Milky Way galaxy.
GRAFIK: Eftersøgningen af MH370 genoptages :: Specialskib lastet med otte højteknologiske undervandsdroner med avanceret sonar ligger klar til at undersøge havbunden i hidtil usete detaljer efter det forsvundne fly.
How Dirt Could Save Us From Antibiotic-Resistant Superbugs :: One chemist thinks he’s found a way for us to outrun the lethal juggernaut of antibiotic resistance.
How Gore-Tex Went From Accident to Outdoor Essential :: Gore-Tex, the waterproof material in your favorite jacket—and boots and ski pants—was born by accident.
'I Think People Have to Find Ways to Send a Message' :: Representative John Lewis, the Georgia Democrat who was one of the key leaders of the civil-rights movement before his election to Congress, announced Friday that he would skip President Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address, to be delivered by the president on January 30. “We cannot let someone go around insulting our brothers and sisters from another part of the world,” Lewis told me. “If t
Trump's 'Shithole Countries' Comment Tops This Week's Internet News :: There was no way social media was going to let the president’s comments go uncommented upon.
Readers Respond to the September 2017 Issue :: Letters to the editor from the September 2017 issue of Scientific American — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Mohamed Omar's Favorite Theorem :: The Harvey Mudd math professor tells us what dessert pairs best with Burnside’s Lemma — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Making The Case That Discrimination Is Bad For Your Health :: The researcher who coined the term "weathering" talks with Gene Demby about health, hard data, and why it took so long for people to come around to the idea that discrimination hurts bodies. (Image credit: Becky Harlan/NPR)
SPIL Kvalt, mast og brændt: 24 måder at dø i rummet :: Forholdene i vores solsystem er ekstreme. Vi har sendt Andreas Mogensen ud i rummet, så du kan teste, hvordan hans krop reagerer på de ekstreme påvirkninger.
The 'Doublespeak' of Responsible Encryption :: It's a new name for an old argument: that public agencies fighting crime and terrorism must have access to our private communications—for our own good.
Film og tv i 2018: Verden er smadret – hvad gør vi nu? :: Hvilke trækplastre for teknisk interesserede (med hang til katastrofer) byder biograferne og tv på i 2018? Her er to film med hver sin vinkel på, hvad der følger i en verden, som er ødelagt af krig eller klimaforandringer. Og så er der også masser af muligheder hos streamingtjenesterne.
Kritisk læge afviser at mødes med styrelse :: Protest mod den strammere kurs fra Styrelsen for Patientsikkerhed har søndag middag fået opbakning fra 4.950 læger via lukket gruppe på Facebook.
Kig op! 2018 byder på 8 spektakulære begivenheder i solsystemet :: I løbet af året byder solsystemet på både måneformørkelser, massive meteorsværme og en billedskøn blodmåne. Her er din astronomiske kalender for 2018.
Why an Old Theory of Everything Is Gaining New Life :: For decades, physicists have struggled to create a quantum theory of gravity. Now an approach that dates to the 1970s is attracting newfound attention.
Boeing's Skunk Works Cargo Drone Is a Heavy Lifter :: Eventually, it should be able to fly as far as 20 miles, carrying 500 pounds )or 400 large Domino's pizzas.
Diet Coke's Moment of Panic :: With sales of Diet Coke in a prolonged rut, Coca-Cola announced last Wednesday that it is tweaking the design of its most famous zero-calorie soft-drink can to be more slender and colorful. It is also launching several new flavors of Diet Coke, including “Feisty Cherry,” “Twisted Mango,” and “Zesty Blood Orange.” "You don’t mess with a good thing," Coca-Cola said in its statement. But, quite to t
Sexuel frigørelse og prævention: Få den lille pilles lange historie :: Du har selvfølgelig hørt om p-piller. Men ved du egentlig hvad, det lille "p" er en forkortelse for?
A Perfectly Postmodern White House Book :: The reviews of Fire and Fury are in, and they are pretty furious themselves. Michael Wolff, author of the best-selling expose of the Trump White House, has been accused of every kind of journalistic malfeasance: reconstructing scenes he couldn’t have witnessed, retelling gossip as if it were gospel, letting his sources’ agendas drive his portrayals. President Trump himself has attacked the book a
Instead of Work Requirements, Why Not a Jobs Guarantee? :: The Trump administration has been signaling for months that it plans to implement conservative reforms to core federal welfare programs, including by allowing states to have work requirements for Medicaid. So it was no surprise on Thursday when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued guidance for “state efforts to test incentives that make participation in work or other community en
Techtopia #35: Forstå euforien omkring bitcoin :: Podcast: Bitcoin stiger og falder i værdi. Men hvad handler det egentlig om – det der med kryptovaluta?
Can France's Far-Right Reinvent Itself? :: Through much of the last two years, the populist far-right seemed poised to conquer France. In the surreal aftermath of Trump and Brexit, the prospect of a victory by Marine Le Pen, the leader of the National Front (FN), felt alarmingly possible. After decades of mounting racism and economic insecurity, Western democracies were lashing out at the ballot box. But today, eight months after the Fren
Adam Smith: Specialization and Neurobiology :: submitted by /u/IdeasInHat [link] [comments]
Motorer vinder stadigt større udbredelse i skibe :: Petroleums- og benzinmotorer har store fordele frem for dampmaskinen og vinder indpas både i lystbåde, fiskerbåde og andre skibe. Skibskonstruktør Aage H. Larsen forklarer i Ingeniøren i 1909 om skibsmotoren og dens anvendelse.
How dependent should you and your partner be on each other? Personality quiz :: If you both have similar ‘differentiation of self’ scores, your relationship may run more smoothly Does absence make the heart grow fonder? Or is it more a case of out of sight, out of mind? Should you and your partner give each other space, or spend every possible moment together? To find out, give the statements below a rating between 1 (not at all true) and 6 (very true), and have your partner
Can early symptoms predict bipolar disorder? Evidence shows differing patterns of risk factors :: Two patterns of antecedent or 'prodromal' psychiatric symptoms may help to identify young persons at increased risk of developing bipolar disorder (BD), according to a new analysis.
Tiny dinosaur that roamed ‘lost world’ between Australia and Antarctica identified :: Fossils found in 113-million-year-old rocks in Victoria lead to discovery of turkey-sized herbivore which lived in rift valley More than 10 years after fossils were discovered sticking out of a rock platform in Victoria’s remote south-west, scientists have identified a new dinosaur that once roamed the “lost world” between Australia and Antarctica. Foot and tail fossils found in 113-million-year-
How flowering plants conquered the world :: Scientists solve Darwin's "abominable mystery": How flowers rapidly evolved and spread across the globe.
Google's Latest Acquisition? Sound Without Speakers :: Given the premium placed on slender, lightweight mobile technology, the removal of speakers could free up space inside Google devices. No speakers necessary. Read More
How the False Hawaii Missile Warning Could Have Happened :: And where was the federal government?
Rescues Continue In California Mudslide Zones :: Search and rescue operations in Southern California continue for people still missing after this week's massive mudslides and debris flow. Many areas are still unreachable in Santa Barbara County.
Tiny individual decisions really could help avert climate chaos :: A new computer model has shown individual decisions can massively influence how bad global warming might get. Time to take the human factor seriously, says Adam Corner
Virksomheder holder øje med millioner af menneskers følelser i realtid :: Det er blevet nemt at holde øje med kunders og vælgeres reaktioner på tværs af sociale medier i realtid. Fænomenet social big data boomer blandt virksomheder, partier, organisationer og forskere.
The Internet Broke Emergency AlertsHawaii Missile AlertIt’s hard to imagine a worse way to be awoken on a Saturday morning in paradise than with a blaring klaxon accompanying a government alert about an inbound ballistic missile attack. But that’s exactly what happened to more than 1.5 million residents of and visitors to Hawaii this morning. “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII,” the emergency alert read, in all-caps, on smartphones. “SEEK IM
What the Hell Happened in Hawaii? :: Early this morning, residents of Hawaii received an emergency alert on their cell phones and on their television screens : “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER.” If that wasn’t enough to spark panic in a state where Cold War-era nuclear-attack alert sirens have been undergoing testing, the warning ended with those five dreaded words: “THIS IS NOT A DRILL.” Following
A New American Leader Rises in ISIS :: The clues are out there, if you know where to look. Scattered across far-flung corners of the internet, there is evidence that Zulfi Hoxha, the son of an Albanian-American pizza-shop owner from New Jersey, had sinister plans. First there’s the defunct Twitter profile, which at one point engaged in a conversation with a State Department counter-propaganda account about the Islamic State. Then ther
Baby Panda Yuan Meng makes debut in France :: The first panda ever born in France has gone on display to the public.
Microbial signal recognition stems from existing building blocks :: Scientists have characterized a protein that enables certain microorganisms to recognize and absorb ammonium in their environment. Ammonium is considered a toxin that pollutes ecosystems – but for these bacteria it represents an important nutrient and energy source.
Stingray soft robot could lead to bio-inspired robotics :: Bioengineers have developed a tissue-based soft robot that mimics the biomechanics of a stingray. The new technology could lead to advances in bio-inspired robotics, regenerative medicine and medical diagnostics.
What stars will hatch from the Tarantula Nebula? NASA's flying observatory seeks to find out :: To have a full picture of the lives of massive stars, researchers need to study them in all stages – from when they're a mass of unformed gas and dust, to their often dynamic end-of-life explosions.
Air France-KLM denies bidding for troubled Alitalia :: The Air France-KLM group on Saturday denied it had made an offer for ailing airline Alitalia, a day after Italy's industry minister listed it among three bidders.
Company, Idaho regulators at odds over battery storage plan :: An Idaho-based energy development company is asking federal authorities to declare state regulators in violation of a law intended to promote alternative energy in a case that could have far-reaching ramifications for emerging battery-storage technologies.
Sea levels off Dutch coast highest ever recorded in 2017 :: Storm surges and tidal cycles caused record sea levels along the coast of the Netherlands last year, a Dutch marine institute has found.
Wolf found in northern Belgium, first time in over 100 years :: A wild wolf has been found in the northern Belgian region of Flanders for the first time in more than a century, an environmental group said Saturday.
'Alien megastructures' debunked. Why are we so quick to assume it's aliens? :: submitted by /u/burtzev [link] [comments]
Remembrance of Things Past :: Well maybe not “memorializing his dandyism and parvenu hijinks even as he revealed their essential hollowness” but Flies in the Ointment: Essays on Supplements, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (SCAM) is now available on Amazon and is A carefully selected and edited compendium of the best of Dr. Mark Crislip (the Puswhisperer’s) blog posts from sciencebasedmedicine.org. The sections have bee
Inside the biggest nuclear power plant tear-down in the U.S. :: Energy Unbuilding an atomic giant. Unbuilding an atomic giant, from cooling it to burying it.
Women Are More Likely to Survive a Crisis Than Men :: Girl babies may have one distinct advantage over boy babies. But what is it? Read More
Stunning New Paper Explains How Inequality in America Keeps Growing :: Comprehensive new study of economic history paints a frightening future. Read More
Connecting Kindergartners and Coding without a Screen in the World of Unstructured Play :: The KIBO robot tries to balance the huge potential young children have for learning with the physical realities of how they like to play. — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Helping Strangers May Help Teens' Self-Esteem :: Adolescents are under more pressure than ever, and many suffer from depression and anxiety. But new research suggests that volunteering to help strangers makes them feel better about themselves. (Image credit: Hero Images/Getty Images/Hero Images)
Efterskolekok: De unge har slet ikke brug for alt det kød :: På Horne Efterskole har man skåret ned på kødet for jorden, klimaet og kvalitetens skyld.
No, #MeToo Isn't McCarthyism :: One of the criticisms of the #MeToo movement that’s emerged and re-emerged most tenaciously over the past few months is that women are consistently conflating major crimes with minor ones. Violent sexual assault isn’t the same thing as a swat on the behind in a crowded bar. Targeted sexual harassment isn’t the same thing as a clumsy pass after too many vodka sodas have been consumed. But this is
Guide til supermarkedet: Sådan spiser du klimavenligt :: Hvad skal man egentlig vælge og vælge fra, når man putter mad i indkøbskurven? Eksperterne fra Klimatestamentet på P1 giver deres bud.
Crescent Moon's Innovative Snowshoe Is Built Like a Flip-Flop :: These all-foam snowshoes from Crescent Moon might look low-tech, but the combination of cleats and tire-like treads provide ample traction.
A Wolf of a Different Color :: For the first time, researchers spot a black maned wolf — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Mars er leveringsdygtig i gode byggematerialer :: Nasa vil gerne vide, hvordan man bedst muligt kan 3D-printe bebyggelser på den røde planet – hvis overflade i øvrigt er velegnet til fremstilling af mursten.
Perklorater forpester marsjord :: Planter vokser, og regn­­­- or­me formerer sig lystigt i marsagtig jord, men indholdet af perklorater er et stort problem, hvis der skal dyrkes afgrøder på Mars.
Goopy GIF: You Can't Look Away from This Mesmerizing Experiment :: A weird GIF highlights the magic of ferrofluids.
Writing a To-Do List Before Bed Could Help You Sleep :: Five minutes should be enough.
Scientists 3D-Printed Squishy, Brain-Like Tissue for the 1st Time :: A new 3D-printing technique can create tissues as soft as a human's squishy brain or spongy lungs — something that has not been possible before.
Image of the Day: An Actual Shithole :: Beetles cherish the dung they live and feed on.
Meltdown, Spectre, Malicious Apps, and More of This Week's Security News :: Meltdown, Spectre, malicious Android apps, and more of the week's top security news.
The Perfect Storm Behind This Year's Nasty Flu Season :: Every winter brings cautionary tales that the flu—just the regular old flu—can kill. And the cautionary tales this year are hard to beat. Twenty-one-year-old Kyler Baughman, for example, a fitness buff who liked to show off his six-pack, recently died a few days after getting a runny nose . According to the numbers, this year’s flu season is in fact worse than usual. It got started early, and it’
Pushing Out Immigrants Isn't About the Economy :: German Benitez has started two small businesses, both of them restaurants in the city of Gaithersburg, Maryland. His main restaurant, Jazmin Cuisine, employs nine people. He seems like one of the last people any politician interested in job creation would want to kick out of the country. And yet, on Monday, he learned that the U.S. government is planning to do just that. Benitez, who is 54, is fr
Mark Epstein, MD – I, Me, Mine – Think Again – a Big Think Podcast #130 :: While the unchecked ego might be popular at parties, it can get us into all kinds of trouble. Mark Epstein, MD combines psychotherapy and Buddhism to help people live with the self. Read More
When to Worry About Your Blood Pressure :: 130/80 is the new high blood pressure threshold. What should your personal blood pressure goal be and when should you worry? — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Space Photos of the Week: Home Is Where the Supermassive Black Hole Is :: At the heart of our own Milky Way galaxy is a big, black hole—and NASA just snapped a photo of it.
Facebook's Adam Mosseri on Why You'll See Less Video, More From Friends :: Facebook's vice president for newsfeed explains the thinking behind recent changes in the algorithm that determines what 2 billion people see on the social network.
'Black Mirror' Should Not Be a Shared Universe :: The show's most recent season hinted that its episodes are connected—but it should stay an anthology series.
Virgin Hyperloop One Is Bringing Elon Musk's Dream to Life :: The Richard Branson-backed venture wants to launch a commercial hyperloop in 2021, and it's got work to do.
Why It’s a Bad Idea to Launch Rockets Over Land :: On Friday morning in China, a rocket blasted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the Sichuan province with a pair of navigation satellites bound for orbit around Earth. As the rocket climbed higher and higher, the four strap-on boosters that launched with it began to fall away. This is supposed to happen; the boosters provide extra lift in the minutes after launch, and when they burn
Overhauling Japan's High-Stakes University-Admission System :: This weekend, more than 580,000 Japanese high-school seniors will take the country’s standardized university-entrance exam, known as the National Center Test for University Admissions. This test, commonly referred to simply as the “Center Test,” is the culmination of years of intense preparation that begins as early as kindergarten. Mothers pray in special Shinto shrines for their children’s succ
The Pop Innovations of a 50-Year-Old Soundtrack :: When Mike Nichols’s low-budget comedy-drama The Graduate premiered in December 1967, it arrived during a time of national unrest. Many Baby Boomers were pushing back against the status quo: The military draft and the escalation of the war in Vietnam, combined with movements calling for civil rights and women’s liberation, prompted students and activists to protest the political and social establi
Cloned Newmarket dachshund expecting puppies :: Minnie Winnie was created by science after her owner won a competition.
You May Be Using This Flying Taxi in Two Years :: Bell Helicopter has just premiered its electric, self-piloting air taxi design at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Read More
Everything you've ever wanted to know about my colonoscopy (but never dared to ask) :: When I had rectal bleeding, I went for a colonoscopy. The doctor prescribed more fiber – but could anxiety be the source of the pain in my backside? The thing about writers – the thing that makes us hated and occasionally liked – is that very often we have our heads up our asses. There are two ways that people in my profession can address this. We could develop a deeper sense of humility, looking
Donald Trump and a Century-Old Argument About Who's Allowed in America :: President Trump’s reported suggestion that the United States needs fewer immigrants from “shithole countries” and more from those like Norway revives an argument made vigorously a century ago—though in less profane terms—only to be discredited in the decades that followed. In 1907, alarmed by the arrival of more than a million immigrants per year, Congress established a commission to determine ex
Doubting MLK During a Strike in Memphis :: Gibson “Nibs” Stroupe is a recently retired pastor who spent decades presiding over the proudly multicultural Oakhurst Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Georgia. He traces his ministry and the ideas that informed it back to 1968, and shared his experiences with me after learning of The Atlantic’s exploration of that year . He wrote: I was a senior at what was then Southwestern Presbyterian Universi
Uranium Miners Pushed Hard for a Comeback. They Got Their Wish. :: Hundreds of mining claims fall neatly outside the new boundaries of Bears Ears National Monument, and a Navajo town scarred by uranium is bracing for new woes.
Trilobites: The Squid That Sink to the Ocean’s Floor When They Die :: Some squid sink to the ocean floor when they die, researchers found, and they make take a lot of carbon down there with them.
1.5 C climate goal 'very unlikely' but doable: draft UN report :: The Paris Agreement goal of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius will slip beyond reach unless nations act now to slash carbon pollution, curb energy demand, and suck CO2 from the air, according to a draft UN report.
How's Democracy Holding Up After Trump's First Year? :: In late 2016, shortly after the U.S. presidential election, two Harvard political scientists posed a bleak question in The New York Times : “Is Donald Trump a Threat to Democracy?” Now they’re out with an even more bleakly titled book— How Democracies Die —that seeks to answer that question by drawing on a year’s worth of evidence. At the core of the book is an apparent contradiction. Steven Levi
Facebook move will play out in long-term: analysts :: Facebook's move to highlight posts from friends and family over those from brands and publications follows months of turmoil for the social network and will result in lower advertising revenue—at least in the short-term, analysts said.
Italian govt mulling three offers for ailing Alitalia :: Italy's government said Friday it is considering three bids for troubled airline Alitalia from Lufthansa, EasyJet and a private equity firm, and hopes to have a deal wrapped up by May.
Bitcoin shouldn't become the new Swiss bank account: Mnuchin :: Dominant digital currency bitcoin should not be allowed to become the Swiss bank account of the modern era used to hide illicit activity, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Friday.
Classified US satellite launched from California after delay :: A rocket carrying a classified U.S. satellite has blasted off from California.
Man's best friend goes high tech at gadget fest :: Technology is going to the dogs. And to cats and horses, for that matter, as high-end gadgetry showcased at this week's Consumer Electronics Show offered ways that smart devices can improve the lives of animals and their human friends.
US report raps Alibaba's Taobao, others for pirated goods :: Alibaba's Taobao website and numerous public markets around the world were cited Friday as purveyors of hundreds of thousands of dollars in pirated goods in the US government's annual "notorious markets" review.
Death toll from California mudslides rises to 18 :: Authorities in southern California said Friday they had discovered the body of an elderly man killed by mudslides that battered the region earlier this week, lifting the overall death toll to 18.
Developer halts plans after likely Civil War graves found :: Developers say they're halting plans for a project in Tennessee after archaeologists discovered what they believe are graves on a site near a Civil War fort built by slaves.
US review shows pesticides harm threatened salmon, whales :: Federal scientists have determined that a family of widely used pesticides poses a threat to dozens of endangered and threatened species, including Pacific salmon, Atlantic sturgeon and Puget Sound orcas.
Top takeaways from Consumers Electronics Show :: The 2018 Consumer Electronics Show, which concluded Friday in Las Vegas, drew some 4,000 exhibitors from dozens of countries and more than 170,000 attendees, showcased some of the latest from the technology world.
Kølige pletter kan beskytte skovens dyr mod klimaforandringer :: Temperaturstigninger truer en række af skovens dyr. Men vi kan hjælpe dem ved at sikre kølige beskyttelseszoner.
The Best of the Physics arXiv (week ending January 13, 2018 :: This week’s most thought-provoking papers from the Physics arXiv.
Spørg Scientariet: Er det mest sikkert at køre hurtigt eller langsomt over Storebæltsbroen i stormvejr? :: En læser tænker, om det mon ikke er sikrest at køre hurtigt over Storebæltsbroen, når vinden blæser. Det mener Sund & Bælt ikke.
You Can Watch Carl Sagan's 'Cosmos' Marathon Right Now, For Free :: You can watch the Cosmos marathon right now, for free! Read More
Which Came First: The Proboscis or the Flower? :: A new fossil find reveals that the sucking tongue of butterflies—or proboscis—appears to have evolved before the emergence of flowers. Christopher Intagliata reports. — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
C.D.C. Postpones Session Preparing Us for Nuclear War :: After the agency’s workshop attracted considerable media attention, especially given President Trump’s recent words with North Korea, the session has been postponed.
Female engineers set for success :: The UK has the lowest percentage of female engineering professionals in Europe, at less than 10%.
You may be making cryptocurrency for hackers without realising :: Thousands of websites are tricking people into mining cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, adblockers might be the only way to stop them
Voice assistants dominate CES as Google plays catchup with Alexa :: Google had more than 350 voice-controlled devices at the Consumer Electronics Show, including speakers, cars, and a giant toy town complete with a railway
We may be able to see mountains and valleys on distant worlds :: If alien planets have canyons and mountains like ours, we may be able to catch a glimpse of them in an exoplanet’s shadow as it passes in front of its star
The universe still seems to be expanding faster than it ought to :: The universe is expanding but our measurements of the rate are all over the place and they just got worse, so we can’t tell when the cosmos is going to die
Even a small cut in global warming will help slow sea level rise :: Limiting climate change to 1.5 °C instead of 2 °C, even if we overshoot at first and then bring temperatures back down, will ease the rise in sea levels
The Montecito mudslide is a tragic reminder to respect our soil :: Environment “A nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.” The Monetico mudslide is another chapter in a long history of American soil conservation.
Smallest cat in world: Footage of rare animal :: They weigh about 1kg and their eyes are six times more powerful than ours.
The Atlantic Daily: When a President Insults the World :: What We’re Following Trump’s Offensive Comments: During a meeting Thursday with lawmakers about immigration policy, President Trump reportedly spoke disparagingly of immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador, and Africa, asking, “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” (He also reportedly said he’d prefer that more immigrants come from Norway, but not many are likely to do
Dr. Ronald Fieve, 87, Dies; Pioneered Lithium to Treat Mood Swings :: Dr. Fieve and a colleague identified lithium as the first naturally occurring medication to prevent and control a specific psychiatric disorder.
To Get Medicaid in Kentucky, Many Will Have to Work. Advocates for the Poor Say They Will Sue. :: Led by the state’s Republican governor, the plan calls for many Medicaid recipients ages 19-64 to work at least 20 hours a week, beginning in July.
Drug keeps mouse memory sharp after West Nile :: The ongoing neurological deficits caused by West Nile virus infecting the brain may be due to unresolved inflammation that hinders the brain’s ability to repair damaged neurons and grow new ones, a new study with mice suggests. When researchers used an arthritis drug to reduce the inflammation, the animals’ ability to learn and remember remained sharp. “…targeting the inflammation with the arthri
Your Facebook News Feed Is About Undergo a Massive Change :: The social media behemoth wants you to use their platform less, not more, than before. Read More
Cold weather is the best time to look at—and photograph—the night sky :: DIY Grab your coat and your camera, then head out under the stars. Winter is a fantastic time to capture night sky photos.
How To Move A Giant Boulder | Gold Rush :: #GoldRush | Friday 9p Andy and Logan encounter some giant boulders on Sluice Box Hill blocking any chance of delivering pay dirt. Can they work together to move a 100,000-pound boulder with just two excavators? Full Episodes Streaming FREE: https://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/gold-rush/ Subscribe to Discovery: http://bit.ly/SubscribeDiscovery Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Discovery
US Launches Spy Satellite on Secret Mission :: The NROL-47 spacecraft soared into Earth orbit today (Jan. 12), riding atop a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Medium rocket that lifted off from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base at 5:11 p.m. EST (2211 GMT; 2:11 p.m. local California time).
The Atlantic Politics & Policy Daily: Insult to Injury :: Today in 5 Lines President Trump said he used “tough” language during a meeting with lawmakers Thursday, but denied using the term “shithole” to describe some countries. Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, who was present for the meeting, confirmed that Trump made the remark, which he called “vile and racist,” while Republican Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia said they don’t
X-ray navigation could open up new frontiers for robotic spacecraft :: In a technology first, a team of engineers has demonstrated fully autonomous X-ray navigation in space — a capability that could revolutionize NASA's ability in the future to pilot robotic spacecraft to the far reaches of the solar system and beyond.
The Science Community's "S**thole countries" Problem :: It's easy (and right) to criticize Trump for his vulgar dismissal of developing countries, but scientists harbor their own prejudice — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Uforståelig forskning? Nu vil forskere udbrede nyt i pixibøger :: Målet er at give vigtig forskning et liv uden for de støvede forskningsrapporter.
Wild Rumors Fly as Pentagon Shuts Down Questions on Secretive 'Zuma' Mission :: It's been perhaps the weirdest week of news and mysteries in the history of private spaceflight. And it's ending in a swirl of confusion, silence, and whispers at the Pentagon.
Spaceships could use blinking dead stars to chart their way :: Timing signals from five pulsars allowed scientists to pinpoint an experiment’s place in space.
Scientists Say A Fluctuating Jet Stream May Be Causing Extreme Weather Events :: A new study says unusual patterns of the polar jet stream circling the Northern Hemisphere may have led to dramatic weather in Europe and North America. (Image credit: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
Print a 200-million-year-old dinosaur fossil in your own home :: The digital reconstruction of the skull of a 200-million-year-old South African dinosaur, Massospondylus, has made it possible for researchers to make 3-D prints and in this way facilitate research on other dinosaurs all over the world.
Finnish firm detects new Intel security flaw :: A new security flaw has been found in Intel hardware which could enable hackers to access corporate laptops remotely, Finnish cybersecurity specialist F-Secure said on Friday.
Justitsminister afviser at forbyde masseovervågning :: Justitsministeren finder det for vigtigt, at politiet har adgang til oplysninger om danskernes færden og telefonsamtaler, til at han vil ændre de danske logningsregler, som er i strid med EU-retten. Han venter i stedet på fælles EU-retningslinjer.
Scientists Say A Fluctuating Jet Stream May Be Causing Extreme Weather Events :: A new study says unusual patterns of the polar jet stream circling the Northern Hemisphere may have led to dramatic weather in Europe and North America. (Image credit: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
Newborn immune activation may have long-term negative impact on brain function :: Neuroscientists have found that even a brief episode of immune system activation within days of birth can cause persistent changes in sleep patterns concurrent with increases in epilepsy-like brain activity — a combination of symptoms common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental conditions.
New antifungal provides hope in fight against superbugs :: Microscopic yeast have been wreaking havoc in hospitals around the world — creeping into catheters, ventilator tubes, and IV lines — and causing deadly invasive infection. One culprit species, Candida auris, is resistant to many antifungals, meaning once a person is infected, there are limited treatment options. But researchers have now confirmed a new drug compound kills drug-resistant C. auris
Quantum leap: Computational approach launches new paradigm in electronic structure theory :: A group of researchers specializing in quantum calculations has proposed a radically new computational approach to solving the complex many-particle Schrödinger equation, which holds the key to explaining the motion of electrons in atoms and molecules.
Can early symptoms predict bipolar disorder? Evidence shows differing patterns of risk factors :: Two patterns of antecedent or 'prodromal' psychiatric symptoms may help to identify young persons at increased risk of developing bipolar disorder (BD), according to a new analysis in the Harvard Review of Psychiatry. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.
Looming Landslide Stokes Fears, May Help Disaster Predictions :: Rattlesnake Ridge is collapsing in Washington State. As residents hurry to safety, scientists try to figure out which way rocks will fall — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Trio of dead stars upholds a key part of Einstein’s theory of gravity :: A cosmic test fails to topple the strong equivalence principle.
'Alien' Shark with Goblin-Like Jaws Hauled Up from the Deep Sea :: Imagine this fearsome sight: an ink-black shark with gnarly, needle-like teeth; creepy, glass-like eyes; a glowing belly and a potentially extendable jaw. That's what scientists saw when they pulled up this rare creature, along with four of its pals.
Localized cooling of the heart limits damage caused by a heart attack :: Researchers have succeeded in the localized cooling of the heart during a heart attack, a world first. By cooling part of the heart prior to and following angioplasty, the cardiologists believe that the damage from a heart attack can be limited.
Species identification in the water bottle :: Environmental DNA analysis makes it possible to detect water organisms without having to capture them first. For the first time, researchers systematically investigated the effect of various environmental factors on environmental DNA analyses. By doing so, the researchers have made an important step towards the standardized application of this method for the monitoring of water bodies.
New technology will create brain wiring diagrams :: Scientists have developed new technology that allows them to see which neurons are talking to which other neurons in live fruit flies.
Black hole spin cranks-up radio volume :: Statistical analysis of supermassive black holes suggests that the spin of the black hole may play a role in the generation of powerful high-speed jets blasting radio waves. By analyzing nearly 8000 quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, research team found that the oxygen emissions are 1.5 times stronger in radio loud quasars than in radio quiet quasars. This implies that spin is an important
Emotionally demanding workload and confrontational patients key stressors for GPs :: The emotional impact of their daily workload and confrontational patients are among the key stressors for family doctors in England, reveals an analysis of feedback from general practitioners.
Fast-moving electrons create current in organic solar cells :: Researchers at Purdue University have identified the mechanism that allows organic solar cells to create a charge, solving a longstanding puzzle in physics, according to a paper published Friday (Jan. 12) in the journal Science Advances.
With headbands, sensor socks, wearable tech seeks medical inroads :: Want to manage your stress? A "neurofeedback" headband could help. Need to be sure your elderly father is taking his medication? Attach a sensor to his sock.
Stingray-inspired soft biobot :: UCLA bioengineering professor Ali Khademhosseini has led the development of a tissue-based soft robot that mimics the biomechanics of a stingray. The new technology could lead to advances in bio-inspired robotics, regenerative medicine and medical diagnostics.
Don't let skiing and snowboarding injuries take you downhill :: Skiing and snowboarding are fun winter sports. As the popularity of these winter sports continue to rise, according to a review article published in the Jan. 1, 2018, issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the number of skier and snowboarder injuries also continues to rise.
Penn-led team uncovers the physiology behind the hour-long mating call of midshipman fish :: A new study led by University of Pennsylvania researchers provides an explanation for how Pacific midshipman fish can generate a mating call that emits continuously from their bodies for a full hour, entailing 360,000 muscle contractions.
This Ancient Mnemonic Technique Builds a Palace of Memory :: Imagined memory palaces are still used by memory champions and the few who practice the memory arts, but they are best known from Greco-Roman times. Read More
New model for uncovering true HIV mortality rates in Zambia :: A new study that seeks to better ascertain HIV mortality rates in Zambia could provide a model for improved national and regional surveillance approaches, and ultimately, more effective HIV treatment strategies.
Nanostructure boosts stability of organic thin-film transistors :: A nanostructured gate dielectric may have addressed the most significant obstacle to expanding the use of organic semiconductors for thin-film transistors. The structure, composed of a fluoropolymer layer followed by a nanolaminate made from two metal oxide materials, serves as gate dielectric and protects the organic semiconductor – which had previously been vulnerable to damage from the ambient
Surprising discovery could lead to better batteries :: Scientists have observed the concentration of lithium inside individual nanoparticles reverse at a certain point, instead of constantly increasing. This discovery is a major step toward improving the battery life of consumer electronics.
Past exposures shape immune response in pediatric acute respiratory infections :: By analyzing immune cells of children who came to the emergency department with flu symptoms, researchers found that the suite of genes these early-response cells expressed was shaped by factors such as age and previous exposures to viruses. Better understanding how early infections influence long-term immune response has implications for the diagnosis and treatment of young patients who suffer fr
Trilobites: If We Ever Get to Mars, the Beer Might Not Be Bad :: College students at Villanova University found that hops, leafy greens, carrots and scallions all could grow in an approximation of Martian dirt.
Trilobites: The Swiss Consider the Lobster. It Feels Pain, They Decide. :: The Swiss government has banned tossing lobsters and other crustaceans into boiling water. But what’s the science behind that decision?
Q&A: Eyes in the Skies :: Instead of sending probes to faraway planets, why not hitch them to comets?
Clashes Over the Future of Gene Therapy and Crispr at the US's Biggest Biotech Meeting :: After 30 years in the making, gene therapy is finally an FDA-approved reality. What comes next—and how will Crispr get a slice of the action?
A New Map of the “Darknet” Suggests Your Local Drug Pusher Now Works Online :: The first-ever global map of the online drug trade shows it’s not that different from the offline one.
Stingray soft robot could lead to bio-inspired robotics :: UCLA bioengineering professor Ali Khademhosseini has led the development of a tissue-based soft robot that mimics the biomechanics of a stingray. The new technology could lead to advances in bio-inspired robotics, regenerative medicine and medical diagnostics.
'People Who Are Different Are Not the Problem in America'Donald TrumpThis year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day carries additional significance, as it marks the 50th anniversary of his tragic death. In April of 1968, King was killed in Memphis, Tennessee, at the hands of a ruthless murderer who was filled with hate and racism. One of the reasons we, as Americans and citizens around the world, remember King’s legacy is his call to freedom and racial unity through love a
New method to map miniature brain circuits :: In a feat of nanoengineering, scientists have developed a new technique to map electrical circuits in the brain far more comprehensively than ever before. Scientists worldwide could use the technique to uncover the architecture of different parts of the brain.
Print a 200-million-year-old dinosaur 'fossil' in your own home :: The digital reconstruction of the skull of a 200-million-year-old South African dinosaur, Massospondylus, has made it possible for researchers to make 3-D prints and in this way facilitate research on other dinosaurs all over the world.
Can Muesli help against arthritis? :: It is well known that healthy eating increases our general sense of wellbeing. Researchers have now discovered that a fiber-rich diet can have a positive influence on chronic inflammatory joint diseases, leading to stronger bones.
Genetic analysis can improve depression therapy :: The failure of SSRI antidepressants can be a result of genetic variations in patients. Variations within the gene that encodes the CYP2C19 enzyme results in extreme differences in the levels of escitalopram achieved in patients, according to a new study. Prescribing the dose of escitalopram based on a patient's specific genetic constitution would greatly improve therapeutic outcomes.
Thinking outside the box on climate mitigation :: A new article lays the groundwork for alternative climate mitigation scenarios that place less reliance on unproven negative emissions technologies in the future.
The combination of two proteins exerts a regenerating effect in Parkinson's disease :: Current therapies for Parkinson's disease are mainly of a replacement type and pose problems in the long term, so the challenge is to establish an early diagnosis and develop neuroprotective and neurorestorative therapies that will allow the symptoms of the disease to be slowed down or even reversed. Researcher have now documented the regenerative, neuroprotective effect of two neurotrophic factor
Expert unlocks mechanics of how snakes move in a straight line :: Biologists are studying the mechanics of snake movement to understand exactly how they can propel themselves forward like a train through a tunnel.
Does an exploding brain network cause chronic pain? :: New research reports that hyperreactive brain networks could play a part in the hypersensitivity of fibromyalgia.
Why Scientists Just Created the Creepiest Robot Baby You'll Ever See :: This dirt-dispersing robot-baby torso will crawl out of the lab and into your nightmares.
Don't Eat Laundry Pods: Why the 'Tide Pod Challenge' Is So Dangerous :: Teens are deliberately eating laundry pods as part of a new online fad called the Tide Pod Challenge.
Southern California Hillsides Remain Vulnerable After Deadly Mudslides :: Deadly mudslides occured in Santa Barbara County, Calif., after heavy rain pushed debris down fire-scarred hillsides. If it rains again, more debris could be swept down the mountains. (Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Photos of the Week: Snowy Sahara, Dancing Devils, Cryptocurrency J-Pop :: The Singapore Zoo shows off its babies, a church emerges from a drying reservoir in Spain, a different church is torn down for a coal mine in Germany, ice blankets in the U.S., fog drifts in the U.K., Saudi Arabia opens its first automotive showroom solely dedicated to women, and much more.
Surprising discovery could lead to better batteries :: A collaboration led by scientists at Brookhaven has observed the concentration of lithium inside individual nanoparticles reverse at a certain point, instead of constantly increasing. This discovery is a major step toward improving the battery life of consumer electronics
Researchers offer new model for uncovering true HIV mortality rates in Zambia :: A new study that seeks to better ascertain HIV mortality rates in Zambia could provide a model for improved national and regional surveillance approaches, and ultimately, more effective HIV treatment strategies.
Nanostructure boosts stability of organic thin-film transistors :: A nanostructured gate dielectric may have addressed the most significant obstacle to expanding the use of organic semiconductors for thin-film transistors. The structure, composed of a fluoropolymer layer followed by a nanolaminate made from two metal oxide materials, serves as gate dielectric and protects the organic semiconductor – which had previously been vulnerable to damage from the ambient
Even Chemists Are Baffled by This GIF of a Droplet Spiraling to Its Doom :: Why does this drop of liquid look like a spinning galaxy? It's complicated.
A six pack won’t make you a better runner, but these deep core exercises might :: Health Your deep core muscles aren't visible, but they could prevent chronic back pain. Runners who have weaker deep core muscles could be more likely to experience chronic back pain than runners with stronger ones.
Great Barrier Reef tourism spokesman attacks scientist over slump in visitors :: Col McKenzie calls on government to stop funding work of Terry Hughes, saying tourists ‘won’t do long-haul trips when they think the reef is dead’ A Queensland tourism representative has called one of the Great Barrier Reef’s leading researchers “a dick”, blaming the professor for a downturn in tourism growth at the state’s greatest natural asset. Col McKenzie, the head of the Association of Mari
Researchers Develop a Technique to Regenerate the Mouse Thymus :: The discovery reveals the role of a growth factor and endothelial cells in thymus repair, and could have implications for chemotherapy and radiation patients' recovery following treatment.
Nanostructure boosts stability of organic thin-film transistors :: A nanostructured gate dielectric may have addressed the most significant obstacle to expanding the use of organic semiconductors for thin-film transistors. The structure, composed of a fluoropolymer layer followed by a nanolaminate made from two metal oxide materials, serves as gate dielectric and simultaneously protects the organic semiconductor – which had previously been vulnerable to damage fr
Past exposures shape immune response in pediatric acute respiratory infections :: By analyzing immune cells of children who came to the emergency department with flu symptoms, researchers found that the suite of genes these early-response cells expressed was shaped by factors such as age and previous exposures to viruses. Better understanding how early infections influence long-term immune response has implications for the diagnosis and treatment of young patients who suffer fr
What It Took to Save a North Korean Defector's Life :: SEOUL, South Korea—In late November, a 24-year-old North Korean soldier dashed across the demilitarized zone separating North from South Korea. He barely escaped with his life as his former comrades opened fire at his back. The medical team at Ajou University Trauma Center in Suwon, about 20 miles south of Seoul, had no idea who he was when less than 25 minutes later, a military helicopter bearin
A Foreboding Similarity in Today’s Oceans and a 94-Million-Year-Old Catastrophe :: The ocean is losing its oxygen. Last week, in a sweeping analysis in the journal Science , scientists put it starkly: Over the past 50 years, the volume of the ocean with no oxygen at all has quadrupled, while oxygen-deprived swaths of the open seas have expanded by the size of the European Union. The culprits are familiar: global warming and pollution. Warmer seawater both holds less oxygen and
Scarring molecule in fat tissue links obesity with distressed fat :: The fat of obese people becomes distressed, scarred and inflamed, which can make weight loss more difficult.
Scleroderma study: Hope for a longer life for patients with rare autoimmune disorder :: The approach could represent the first new treatment to improve survival in patients with severe scleroderma in more than four decades.
New warning system discovered in the immune defense :: Researchers have discovered a previously unknown warning system that contributes to the body's immune system. Mitochondria in the white blood cells secrete a web of DNA fibers that raises the alarm. The results may lead to increased knowledge about autoinflammatory diseases and cancer.
Q&A: What Facebook's shift could mean to users, businessesFacebook Mark ZuckerbergIn coming days, Facebook users will see fewer posts from publishers, businesses and celebs they follow. Instead, Facebook wants people to see more stuff from friends, family and other people they are likely to have "meaningful" conversations with—something the company laments has been lost in the sea of videos, news stories (real and fake), and viral quizzes on which "Big Bang Theory" character yo
Gene Therapy Could Make Cancer Care More Unequal, and This Map Shows Why :: Revolutionary new cancer treatments won’t be available in many rural areas of the U.S.
Virgin Galactic conducts 7th glide test of spacecraft :: Virgin Galactic says the latest glide test of its space tourism rocket plane was a success, nearly reaching the speed of sound high over California.
A look at Facebook's changes over the years in what you seeFacebook Mark ZuckerbergFacebook is once again tweaking what you see to focus more on personal connections and take the spotlight off brands and news articles.
Pollution is endangering the future of astronomy :: Astronomers discuss multiple threats from pollution that will make it harder to observe the night sky.
Having one’s royal cake and eating it | Brief letters :: Meghan Markle handshake | Apple’s tax payment | No bull | Tabloid Guardian | Philip Hammond | Rude place names Meghan Markle visits a community radio station and meets staff on a magazine collective, in response to their invitation. She provides both with masses of invaluable publicity and, it appears, generates a great deal of pleasure. But, oh dear me, the magazine’s deputy editor, Charlie Brink
Tropical Cyclone Joyce makes landfall on Australia's Pilbara Coast :: NOAA's JPSS-1 satellite provided a visible image of the tropical storm after it made landfall along the Pilbara Coast in the northwestern part of Western Australia.
A society divided by reconstruction :: In 2004, a tsunami devastated much of the Indonesian city of Banda Aceh. An international team of researchers has studied the long-term impact that rebuilding efforts in coastal areas have had on the community.
Research shows importance of second pediatric blood-pressure screening :: Nearly one-quarter of children and teens who had their blood pressure screened at a primary care appointment showed a reading in the hypertensive range, but less than half of those readings could be confirmed after the blood pressure was repeated, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study released today in The Journal of Clinical Hypertension. The research shows the importance of taking a second
New antifungal provides hope in fight against superbugs :: Microscopic yeast have been wreaking havoc in hospitals around the world — creeping into catheters, ventilator tubes, and IV lines — and causing deadly invasive infection. One culprit species, Candida auris, is resistant to many antifungals, meaning once a person is infected, there are limited treatment options. But in a recent Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy study, researchers confirmed a
Researchers explain how snakes can crawl in a straight line :: Snakes are known for their iconic S-shaped movements. But they have a less noticeable skill that gives them a unique superpower.
Meltdown and Spectre Patches Have Caused Serious Performance Issues :: Two of the worst vulnerabilities in years are slowly being fixed—but at a cost to consumers and companies alike.
Five rad and random things I found this week :: Gadgets The end-of-week dispatch from PopSci's commerce editor. Vol. 33. Throughout the week I spend hours scouring the web for things that are ingenious or clever or ridiculously cheap. Below, gadgets that are awesome, rad, and random.
Tropical Cyclone Joyce makes landfall on Australia's Pilbara Coast :: NOAA's JPSS-1 satellite provided a visible image of the tropical storm after it made landfall along the Pilbara Coast in the northwestern part of Western Australia.
Workplaces 'should cater for menopause as they do for pregnancy' :: Exclusive: A new study shows that a simple set of CBT exercises can help with symptoms, yet many workplaces have no policies in place to support women Workplaces should start catering for the menopause in a comparable way to pregnancy, according to one of Britain’s leading women’s health experts. Myra Hunter, emeritus professor of clinical health psychology at King’s College London said that meno
VIDEO: Take A Trip Through The Orion Nebula, A Baby Star Nursery :: The constellation Orion is home to a busy, glowing nebula. Data from telescopes has been used to create a three-minute, three-dimensional tour around its colorful caverns and bright star clusters. (Image credit: NASA)
Why Do Hurricanes Have Eyes? Scientists Still Don't Really Know :: A new paper offers the most complete model yet of how a hurricane gets its eye.
Skype-samtaler bliver snart private :: Både lydsamtaler og beskeder mellem to personer er på vej til at blive totalt krypteret – hvis du aktiverer det.
Why Canada Looks like the Next Bitcoin-Mining Haven
You Have the Flu. Should You Go to the Doctor, or Wait It Out? :: When you have the flu, one choice looms large in front of your feverish eyes: Should you drag your aching body out in the cold to go to the doctor or hospital, or should you just wrap yourself in blankets, drink fluids and stay put?
Brain Cells Share Information Using a Gene that Came From Viruses :: Hundreds of millions of years ago, at a time when back-boned animals were just starting to crawl onto land, one such creature became infected by a virus. It was a retrovirus, capable of smuggling its genes into the DNA of its host. And as sometimes happens, those genes stayed put. They were passed on to the animal’s children and grandchildren. And as these viral genes cascaded through the generat
War’s Other Victims: Animals :: Over decades, armed conflict has reduced animal populations in Africa more than any other factor, according to new research.
New method to map miniature brain circuits :: In a feat of nanoengineering, scientists have developed a new technique to map electrical circuits in the brain far more comprehensively than ever before. Scientists worldwide could use the technique to uncover the architecture of different parts of the brain.
Does an exploding brain network cause chronic pain? :: New research reports that hyperreactive brain networks could play a part in the hypersensitivity of fibromyalgia.
Cancer's gene-determined 'immune landscape' dictates progression of prostate tumors :: The field of immunotherapy — the harnessing of patients' own immune systems to fend off cancer — is revolutionizing cancer treatment today. However, clinical trials often show marked improvements in only small subsets of patients, suggesting that as-yet unidentified variations among tumors result in distinct paths of disease progression and response to therapy.
The combination of two proteins exerts a regenerating effect in Parkinson's disease :: Current therapies for Parkinson's disease are mainly of a replacement type and pose problems in the long term, so the challenge is to establish an early diagnosis and develop neuroprotective and neurorestorative therapies that will allow the symptoms of the disease to be slowed down or even reversed. As part of her PhD thesis, Catalina Requejo, documented the regenerative, neuroprotective effect o
What to Expect from Cryptocurrency in 2018 :: You've heard of Bitcoin and possibly some others, but the major competitors, including central banks, have not even entered the market yet — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
This Is What Your Dashboard of the Future Looks Like
Animals Have Culture, Too :: In this episode of Animalism featuring The Atlantic science writer Ed Yong , we investigate fascinating examples of culture in the animal kingdom, including the bizarre traditions of Capuchin monkeys in Costa Rica, the long-held fashion trends of bottlenose dolphins in Australia’s Shark Bay, and the incredible "Top 20" music charts of humpback whales, which have a structure that strongly resemble
Everest vs. Mariana Trench: Results! :: Whoa, that’s like… deep, man. The winning team this week is Team Mariana Trench! Congratulations to all on a battle well fought, and enjoy your bonuses! Leaderboard: Artwork by Zoe Gillette
New warning system discovered in the immune defense :: Researchers at Linköping University in Sweden have discovered a previously unknown warning system that contributes to the body's immune system. Mitochondria in the white blood cells secrete a web of DNA fibers that raises the alarm. The results have been published in the scientific journal PNAS, and may lead to increased knowledge about autoinflammatory diseases and cancer.
Quantum leap: computational approach launches new paradigm in electronic structure theory :: A group of Michigan State University researchers specializing in quantum calculations has proposed a radically new computational approach to solving the complex many-particle Schrödinger equation, which holds the key to explaining the motion of electrons in atoms and molecules.
Expert unlocks mechanics of how snakes move in a straight line :: University of Cincinnati biologist Bruce Jayne studied the mechanics of snake movement to understand exactly how they can propel themselves forward like a train through a tunnel. His study titled 'Crawling without Wiggling' was published in the Journal of Experimental Biology.
Scleroderma study: Hope for a longer life for patients with rare autoimmune disorder :: The approach could represent the first new treatment to improve survival in patients with severe scleroderma in more than four decades.
Pitt study suggests risk management approach to combat EMS fatigue :: Extended shift work has historically been linked to interrupted sleep patterns and risk of injury, and is a persistent problem for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel who are tasked with delivering acute care under significant pressure. New guidelines, written by a team led by University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine scientists aim to mitigate the effects of fatigue by addressing the imp
Scientists are making carbon fiber from plants instead of petroleum :: Nexus Media News Cheaper, plant-based carbon fiber could be used to make lighter cars that consume less fuel. Scientists say it may soon be possible to make carbon fiber from plants instead of petroleum, driving down costs, making the material more widely available for use in…
Facebook vil blande sig i dit sociale liv: Det kan du forvente :: Facebook vil af med de passive 'scrollere' og få dig til at kommunikere mere med dine nærmeste.
Can muesli help against arthritis? :: It is well known that healthy eating increases our general sense of wellbeing. Researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) have now discovered that a fiber-rich diet can have a positive influence on chronic inflammatory joint diseases, leading to stronger bones.
How climate change alters plant growth :: Global warming affects more than just plant biodiversity — it even alters the way plants grow. A team of researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) joined forces with the Leibniz Institute for Plant Biochemistry (IPB) to discover which molecular processes are involved in plant growth. In the current edition of the internationally renowned journal "Current Biology", the group p
Researcher discovers commonalities in brains of people with HD and PD :: A new study strongly suggests that the brains of people who have died of Huntington's disease (HD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) show a similar response to a lifetime of neurodegeneration, despite being two very distinct diseases.
New epidemiological study finds no connection between cases of cancer and use of plant protection products containing glyphosate :: BfR Communication No. 036/2017 from 22 December 2017Epidemiological studies are a central element of public discussion in the debate surrounding the carcinogenic potential of glyphosate. A publication that appeared in the USA in November examined whether there is a possible connection between the use of glyphosate containing plant protection products and cases of cancer among people who work in ag
Map of ionospheric disturbances to help improve radio network systems :: The paper, titled "Collocated ionosonde and dense GPS/GLONASS network measurements of midlatitude MSTIDs", covers the first ever complex analysis of MSTIDs obtained by two methods of radio sounding. MSTIDs, which are huge wave perturbations somewhat resembling aurora borealis, are invisible in midlatitude areas.
New therapeutic approach for advanced lung disease :: Researchers have demonstrated the potential of a new class of drugs for the treatment of refractory chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, i.e. COPD. Incurable to date, the disease is one of the most frequent causes of death worldwide and is typically triggered by smoking. In the current preclinical study, two anti-inflammatory substances have proved more effective than preparations used to date.
The negative impact of climate change on freshwater bodies :: A lot of research is being conducted into the acidification of the world's oceans. A recent study has proved that freshwater bodies are likewise affected. Rising carbon dioxide levels could upset the balance of species.
How to put the power of law in people's hands | Vivek Maru :: What can you do when the wheels of justice don't turn fast enough? Or when they don't turn at all? Vivek Maru is working to transform the relationship between people and law, turning law from an abstraction or threat into something that everyone can understand, use and shape. Instead of relying solely on lawyers, Maru started a global network of community paralegals, or barefoot lawyers, who serve
AI Could Diagnose Your Heart Attack on the Phone—Even If You’re Not the Caller
Gadget Lab Podcast: The Smart Home Is Here. Are We Ready? :: This week on the show, we talk about the proliferation of smart home tech. Recorded live at CES.
Scarring molecule in fat tissue links obesity with distressed fat :: The fat of obese people becomes distressed, scarred and inflamed, which can make weight loss more difficult, research at the University of Exeter has found.
How far to the nearest city? Global map of travel time to cities published :: The Joint Research Centre, the European Commission's science and knowledge service, provided expert input on the mapping of urban accessibility worldwide to support global and local decision-making on development and environmental policies.
Genetic analysis can improve depression therapy :: The failure of SSRI antidepressants can be a result of genetic variations in patients. Variations within the gene that encodes the CYP2C19 enzyme results in extreme differences in the levels of escitalopram achieved in patients, according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Diakonhjemmet Hospital in Norway published in The American Journal of Psychiatry. Prescribing the dose of
A society divided by reconstruction :: In 2004, a tsunami devastated much of the Indonesian city of Banda Aceh. An international team of researchers has studied the long-term impact that rebuilding efforts in coastal areas have had on the community.
Jet stream changes since 1960s linked to more extreme weather :: Increased fluctuations in the path of the North Atlantic jet stream since the 1960s coincide with more extreme weather events in Europe such as heat waves, wildfires and flooding. The new research is the first reconstruction of historical changes in the North Atlantic jet stream prior to the 20th century. By using tree rings, the researchers developed a historical look at the position of the North
Anxiety: An early indicator of Alzheimer's disease? :: A new study suggests an association between elevated amyloid beta levels and the worsening of anxiety symptoms. The findings support the hypothesis that neuropsychiatric symptoms could represent the early manifestation of Alzheimer's disease in older adults.
Science Says That To Fight Ignorance, We Must Start By Admitting Our Own :: The best way to defend everything we really do know, according to science, is to begin by admitting our own ignorance — to ask "What don't you know?" says astrophysicist Adam Frank. (Image credit: robuart/Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Y Combinator Will Give You $1 Million to Try to Cure Aging
India's TCS signs 'largest deal' worth $2 billion :: India's largest IT services company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on Friday announced bagging its biggest new deal valued over $2 billion from a US-based insurance company, a day after reporting a slide in its quarterly earnings.
Rebuilding after tsunami helped segregate Banda Aceh :: In 2004, a tsunami devastated much of the Indonesian city of Banda Aceh. New research identifies an unfortunate result of the reconstruction: lower-income residents are now disproportionately exposed to coastal hazards. The massive tsunami leveled nearly half of the city and killed an estimated 160,000 people across the province. Countless others lost their families, homes, and everything they ow
This enzyme could be a drug target for Huntington’s :: Researchers have identified a new drug target for treating Huntington’s disease, a fatal neurological disorder for which there currently is no cure or preventative therapy. Huntington’s is an inherited disorder caused by a defect in a single gene, which causes mutant proteins to aggregate in cells. The disease triggers the progressive breakdown of nerve cells in the brain, producing severe physic
To tally seniors in poverty, go beyond income :: More older Americans live in deprivation than official US statistics suggest, according to research in a new book. In her research, Shatakshee Dhongde, associate professor at Georgia Institute of Technology, found that 12.27 percent of senior citizens were deprived in two or more crucial areas, including multiple disabilities, low income, a lack of education, and severe housing burden. “The main
Glucose-induced nerve damage: Research identifies underlying mechanisms :: New research has demonstrated that an enzyme she had previously identified as playing a role in peripheral neuropathy induced by cancer chemotherapy also plays a role in peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes. The significance of the identification of a common molecular mechanism is that the drug candidates she identified to treat chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy could potentially be u
Asthma costs the US economy more than $80 billion per year :: Asthma costs the US economy more than $80 billion annually in medical expenses, missed work and school days and deaths, according to new research.
White graphene makes ceramics multifunctional :: Bilayer white graphene combined with a ceramic creates a multifunctional material with high strength and toughness, according to new research. The material may be suitable for construction and refractory materials and applications in the nuclear industry, oil and gas, aerospace and other areas that require high-performance composites.
Urban insects are more resilient in extreme weather :: A new study will help researchers understand how to make predictions and conservation decisions about how organisms living in cities will respond to catastrophic weather events.
A major step forward in organic electronics :: Researchers have developed the world's first complementary electrochemical logic circuits that can function stably for long periods in water. This is a highly significant breakthrough in the development of bioelectronics.
Climate impacts of deforestation :: Deforestation is likely to warm the climate even more than originally thought, scientists warn. Research has found reactive gases emitted by trees and vegetation have an overall cooling effect on our climate, meaning deforestation would lead to higher temperatures than previously anticipated as less of the gases would be created.
Stem cell-rich cord blood donations could increase by 'nudging' parents, study suggests :: A two-year study of expectant mothers in Milan, Italy, has found that cord blood donations increased significantly when parents received information about the procedure and 'prompts' to indicate their interest in donating at both early and late stages of their pregnancies.
New biomarkers for colorectal cancer :: Researchers have found a new biomarker for colorectal cancer (CRC) that might improve therapy and survival rates of patients. Biomarkers are measurable biological indicators for a specific disease, such as changes in the amounts of certain proteins that occur in combination with certain illnesses. Such biomarkers help physicians to diagnose a condition, identify the disease stage, and determine a
Cell biology: Positioning the cleavage furrow :: Researchers have identified a signaling pathway that restricts cleavage furrow formation to the mid-plane of the cell.
NASA Discovers Clean-Water Ice Just Below Mars' SurfaceMars Ice WaterThe thick sheets of ice at these eight sites could provide the reservoir of water necessary for human expeditions to Mars. Read More
Species identification in the water bottle :: Environmental DNA analysis makes it possible to detect water organisms without having to capture them first. For the first time, a team at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) systematically investigated the effect of various environmental factors on environmental DNA analyses. By doing so, the researchers have made an important step towards the standardized application of this method for the
Thinking outside the box on climate mitigation :: A new article lays the groundwork for alternative climate mitigation scenarios that place less reliance on unproven negative emissions technologies in the future.
Her er Siemens-toget, der skal køre på Københavns letbane :: Avenio-togene, som passagererne i Københavns forstæder kan sætte sig til rette i i 2024, samles i Wien og kører blandt andet i Siemens' hjemby München og i en hybridudgave i Qatar.
Københavns nye letbanetog er en videreudvikling af gammel kending :: Modsat Aarhus og Odense har København valgt tog fra Siemens til at køre på den kommende letbane i forstæderne. Siemens-togene kører bl.a. i München.
Inside the Global Relay Race to Deliver Moly-99 :: The isotope is a cancer-detecting necessity, but is decays within days and isn’t made in North America. A company is rushing to build a plant in Wisconsin to change that.
Re-programming innate immune cells to fight tuberculosis :: Tuberculosis (TB), an infectious disease which attacks the lungs, claims someone's life every 20 seconds and 1.5 million lives worldwide every year. A cure has eluded scientists for more than a century but, now, researchers may have discovered a new weapon to combat this global killer. The team is re-programing – or 'training' – immune cells to kill TB.
Nanotube fibers in a jiffy :: Scientists are making short carbon nanotube fibers by hand as a way to quickly test materials before spinning industrial quantities of fiber for aerospace, automotive, medical and smart-clothing applications.
Cycling does not damage men's sexual or urinary functions :: Cycling is increasingly popular for transportation, exercise, and leisure, and its impact on sexual health has received a great deal of media attention, especially regarding erectile function. Researchers have now found that contrary to some previous studies, neither recreational nor intense cycling appear to have a negative impact on men's sexual and urinary function.
Do less harm: E-cigarettes a safer option than smoking, experts say :: A new article focuses on harm minimization and smoking cessation, with alternative nicotine products like e-cigarettes emerging as a promising avenue for people who want to quit smoking.
Scientists make cells that enable the sense of touch :: Researchers have, for the first time, coaxed human stem cells to become sensory interneurons — the cells that give us our sense of touch. The new protocol could be a step toward stem cell-based therapies to restore sensation in paralyzed people who have lost feeling in parts of their body.
Surprise: A virus-like protein is important for cognition and memory :: A protein pivotal to how the brain acquires knowledge originated from a chance evolutionary event that occurred hundreds of millions of years ago. The protein, called Arc, is involved in storing long-term memories and learning. But new research shows that Arc looks and acts like a protein from viruses.
Developing a secure, un-hackable quantum network :: A method of securely communicating between multiple quantum devices has been developed by a team of scientists, bringing forward the reality of a large-scale, un-hackable quantum network.
Students more engaged and attentive following outdoor lesson in nature :: A study has found that children are significantly more attentive and engaged with their schoolwork following an outdoor lesson in nature. Teachers could teach uninterrupted for almost twice as long during a subsequent indoor lesson. Outdoor lessons may be an inexpensive and convenient way to improve student engagement.
Lægeforeningens formand: Underskriftindsamling sender alvorligt signal :: Styrelsen for Patientsikkerhed bør lytte til lægernes protester og ændre adfærd, mener Lægeforeningens formand Andreas Rudkjøbing.
Augmented reality 'sandbox' shows how gravity works :: At the University of Iowa, you can see how gravity works by playing in the sand.
Russian scientists found excitons in nickel oxide for the first time :: 'We first found excitons with charge transfer at the boundary of fundamental adsorption in nickel oxide and at the impurity adsorption edge in magnesium oxide. These results may be of interest to specialists in theoretical physics who study the band structure of oxides with strong correlations. NiO has been considered as prototype of such oxides for a long time, and many calculation schemes have b
NASA Is Worried About the Safety of Commercial Space Launches
Protected Wildlife Is a Major Casualty In War-Torn Areas of Africa :: During war, rates of ivory poaching go up and animal reproduction declines — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Experts raise concerns over raw meat diets for cats and dogs :: Experts are warning dog and cat owners to be aware of the risks associated with feeding their pets raw meat-based diets, instead of the more conventional dry or canned pet foods.
Archeology of our Milky Way's ancient hub :: A new analysis of about 10,000 normal Sun-like stars in the Milky Way's bulge reveals that our galaxy’s hub is a dynamic environment of variously aged stars zipping around at different speeds.
Risk of non-infectious elephantiasis mapped in Cameroon :: Both the etiology and demographics of podoconiosis, a non-infectious disease which causes massive swelling of the legs, are poorly understood. To help contribute to the global atlas of podoconiosis knowledge, researchers have now described the distribution of podoconiosis in Cameroon.
Human protein may aid neuron invasion by virus that causes hand, foot, and mouth disease :: A human protein known as prohibitin may play a significant role in infection of the nervous system by EV71, one of several viruses that can cause hand, foot, and mouth disease.
Different strains of same bacteria trigger widely varying immune responses :: Genetic differences between different strains of the same pathogenic bacterial species appear to result in widely varying immune system responses, according to new research.
We asked for your best photos of frozen soap bubbles—and wow, did you deliver :: DIY PopSci readers made their own DIY ice orbs When temperatures plunge, there's only one thing to do: Try a Popular Science DIY project that lets you freeze soap bubbles into gorgeous ice.
Even as we use more gadgets, American energy consumption is dropping :: Gadgets More appliances? No problem. Although we're tied to more gadgets than ever, these appliances are growing so efficient that per-capita power use dropped 7 percent between 2010 and 2016.
Dansk professor: Videnskabelig artikel risikerer at blive til grin :: Russiske forskere mener, at naturlige sandstensformationer er opstået på måder, der er helt sammenlignelige med mekaniske optimeringsmetoder. Det er rent vrøvl, siger Ole Sigmund fra DTU.
'Raw' Diet for Pets Not As Healthy As You Might Think :: A "raw" diet for pets carries risks of their exposure to parasites and bacteria.
Image: Sahara snow :: The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission has captured rare snowfall in northwest Algeria, on the edge of the Sahara desert.
Black hole spin cranks-up radio volume :: Statistical analysis of supermassive black holes suggests that the spin of the black hole may play a role in the generation of powerful high-speed jets blasting radio waves. By analyzing nearly 8000 quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, research team found that the oxygen emissions are 1.5 times stronger in radio loud quasars than in radio quiet quasars. This implies that spin is an important
Newborn immune activation may have long-term negative impact on brain function :: McLean neuroscientists have found that even a brief episode of immune system activation within days of birth can cause persistent changes in sleep patterns concurrent with increases in epilepsy-like brain activity — a combination of symptoms common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental conditions.
Maintaining canola oil quality :: Canola and other edible oils are easily affected by light irradiation or heat treatment. Since such processes deteriorate the oil quality such as flavor or taste, understanding this process, called oxidation, is imperative to identify effective measures to control the oil quality such as the best way to package or store oil.
Frequent growth events and fast growth rates of fine aerosol particles in Beijing :: Secondary aerosol formation and rapid increases in aerosol particle sizes are believed to play important roles in haze formation. However, some simple but important questions remain unanswered, such as: How frequently and how fast do fine aerosol particles grow? And what affects their rates of growth?
Older adult-friendly emergency department staff help reduce hospital admissions :: When older adults arrive at a hospital's emergency department, they may face unexpected challenges. To address these challenges, geriatrics experts have developed special programs such as the "Geriatric Emergency Department Innovations in Care through Workforce, Informatics, and Structural Enhancements" (GEDI WISE) program.
Can writing your 'to-do's' help you to doze? Study suggests jotting down tasks can :: Writing a 'to-do' list at bedtime may aid in falling asleep, according to a new study. Research compared sleep patterns of participants who took five minutes to write down upcoming duties versus participants who chronicled completed activities.
Facebook Promises to Build a “More Meaningful” News FeedFacebook Mark Zuckerberg
Cognitive Test Prep Strategies For SAT/ACT :: submitted by /u/MorpheusLearning [link] [comments]
Accelerating light beams in curved space :: By shining a laser along the inside shell of an incandescent light bulb, physicists have performed the first experimental demonstration of an accelerating light beam in curved space. Rather than moving along a geodesic trajectory (the shortest path on a curved surface), the accelerating beam bends away from the geodesic trajectory as a result of its acceleration.
Study says community involvement may entice consumers to shop in-store :: Increased pressure from large online retailers is reducing brick-and-mortar retailers' sales and profits, causing numerous store closings on both local and national levels. But community engagement may be an answer for local retailers.
New technology will create brain wiring diagrams :: Scientists from Caltech have developed a technology that allows them to see which neurons are talking to which other neurons in live fruit flies.
Celluloid Ceiling study finds women still largely underrepresented in Hollywood :: The thriving #MeToo movement together with "Time's Up," a legal defense fund designed to help women combat sexual discrimination and harassment, underscore the struggle of women to succeed in male-dominated workplaces – including Hollywood.
Lanternfish reveal how ocean warming impacts the twilight zone :: A new study from the British Antarctic Survey shows how lanternfish, small bioluminescent fish, are likely to respond to the warming of the Southern Ocean.
Secretin protein with a crown :: Bacteria are consummate survivalists. They are aided in this by their ability to assimilate DNA from their surroundings, which allows them to constantly acquire new characteristics. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics and Goethe University in Frankfurt have now gained new insights into exactly how bacteria import DNA.
Meet Africa's bird master of vocal imitation :: Singing a duet in a foreign language isn't just for opera stars—red-capped robin-chats do it too. These orange-brown birds with grey wings can imitate the sounds of 40 other bird species, even other species' high-speed duets.
The State of the Food Industry Is Rotten :: If Netflix’s Chef’s Table is a delectable exercise in the art of haute cuisine food porn , Rotten , its newest docuseries, is more of an appetite suppressant. Over six episodes, the show tackles a variety of afflictions blighting the food industry, from a glut of diluted Chinese honey undercutting American beekeepers to mafiosi-like power grabs in New England fisheries. Rotten ’s scope is wide, a
Tech Companies Are Complicit in Censoring Iran Protests :: Opinion: Google, Twitter, and Signal should take steps to ensure their tools aren’t restricting Iranian’s free speech.
Image of the Day: Ancient Moth Wings :: The 200-million-year-old fossils, the earliest found of lepidopterans, show characteristics of extant moths.
Secret Eugenics Conference Uncovered at University College London :: The university says it is launching an investigation into the meeting, which was held by one of its senior lecturers.
Thirsty city :: With water usage and droughts across the globe rising, the race is on to manage water more efficiently.
How green are the Tories? :: Theresa May's environment policy pledge is the latest step in the party's journey on the issue.
Research scientists discover new production pathway for plant SOS signals :: When harmful insects attack a plant, it defends itself. It forms protective substances that are poisonous for the insects. This defense response is activated by messengers, jasmonates. Their biosynthesis had been deemed to have been elucidated for almost two decades. But now plant physiologists from the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart and the National Center for Biotechnology (CNB-CSIC) in Ma
Why do we need to know about prime numbers with millions of digits? :: Prime numbers are more than just numbers that can only be divided by themselves and one. They are a mathematical mystery, the secrets of which mathematicians have been trying to uncover ever since Euclid proved that they have no end.
Is the cosmic colossus RCS2J2327 heavier than allowed? :: An international team of scientists led by researchers from the Argelander Institute for Astronomy has mapped the mass distribution in a distant galaxy cluster (RCS2J2327). This cosmic colossus is located in the constellation Pisces at a distance of approximately 6.4 billion light years. According to current research results it consists of about 85 percent invisible dark matter.
CT-scan study makes it possible to 3-D print the skull of the dinosaur species massospondylus :: The digital reconstruction of the skull of a 200-million-year-old South African dinosaur, Massospondylus, has made it possible for researchers to make 3-D prints and in this way facilitate research on other dinosaurs all over the world.
New dams in Africa could add risk to power supplies down the line :: In the 1980s and 1990s parts of Africa saw a surge in dam building for energy production. After a brief hiatus there has been renewed interested. Many new construction projects are planned and underway across sub-Saharan Africa.
MDI Biological Laboratory discovery could lead to new therapies for diabetics :: New research by MDI Biological Laboratory scientist Sandra Rieger, Ph.D., has demonstrated that an enzyme she had previously identified as playing a role in peripheral neuropathy induced by cancer chemotherapy also plays a role in peripheral neuropathy caused by diabetes. The significance of the identification of a common molecular mechanism is that the drug candidates she identified to treat chem
Citizen science bags five-planet haul :: Astronomy enthusiasts help to confirm the existence of a five-planet system orbiting a far-off star.
Schools can't tackle child literacy levels alone—it takes a village :: The recently released NAPLAN 2017 results and findings from the latest Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) have got Australia talking again about how our children are faring when it comes to literacy.
Nature article turns theory of stellar evolution upside-down :: This week, Nature published an article that could challenge the theory of stellar evolution.
GM seeks US approval for car with no steering wheelGM Cruise AVGeneral Motors is seeking approval from US regulators for an autonomous vehicle with no steering wheel or pedals, the automaker announced Friday.
Discovery of a new source of world's deadliest toxin :: Researchers from the Quadram Institute have identified genes encoding a previously undiscovered version of the botulinum neurotoxin in bacteria from a cow's gut.
How certain quantum dots shine so brightly :: Researchers have found an explanation for why a certain class of quantum dots shines with such incredibly bright colors. The nanocrystals in question contain caesium lead halide compounds arranged in a perovskite lattice structure. Three years ago, Maksym Kovalenko, a professor at ETH Zurich and the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), succeeded in creating nano
New nanotweezers able to move sub-micrometer size objects in fluids :: Two researchers with the Indian Institute of Science have developed tiny tweezers that can manipulate objects in fluids as small as an individual bacterium. In their paper published in the journal Science Robotics, Souvik Ghosh and Ambarish Ghosh describe their nanotweezers and how well they work.
E-learning will not erode African knowledge :: When people discuss the challenges related to e-learning (the use of electronic technology to facilitate learning), they tend to focus on access. This can mean access to financial resources to buy equipment as well as geographical constraints: some regions are simply too remote and underdeveloped to be properly connected to the internet – or even the electricity grid – which are of course both cru
Collaboration between scientists and stakeholders vital to climate readiness in Alaska :: As a U.S. state, Alaska is unique not only for its massive size but also for its reserves of natural resources and its land management. Over 60 percent of the state is federally owned, and the majority of the remainder is either state land, university land or owned by Alaska Native corporations.
Why thawing permafrost matters :: In Bethel, Alaska, walls are splitting, houses are collapsing, and the main road looks like a kiddy rollercoaster. In the coastal town of Kongiganak, sinking cemeteries prevent Alaskans from burying their dead in the ground. The village of Shishmaref, located on an island five miles from the western Alaska mainland, has eroded so much that it is contemplating total relocation. These communities ar
Here's why your body stores more fat in certain places :: Fat Month We’re talkin’ bout sex (hormones), baby. We’re a little obsessed with moving fat around. And no, we’re not talking about stealing bags of liposuction fat to make soap.
Quantum speed limit may put brakes on quantum computers :: Over the past five decades, standard computer processors have gotten increasingly faster. In recent years, however, the limits to that technology have become clear: Chip components can only get so small, and be packed only so closely together, before they overlap or short-circuit. If companies are to continue building ever-faster computers, something will need to change.
Black hole spin cranks-up radio volume :: Statistical analysis of supermassive black holes suggests that the spin of the black hole may play a role in the generation of powerful high-speed jets blasting radio waves and other radiation across the universe.
Fuel aerosols reducing pollution of the environment :: A resource-efficient technology for the production of fuel aerosols has been developed at Tomsk Polytechnic University. The development can be used to quickly ignite the boilers of thermal power plants and boiler houses, in the combustion chambers of diesel generators, as well as in internal combustion engines of cars. TPU technology will contribute to the cost-effective use of fuels and the reduc
New smart sensor to help farmers spot lameness in sheep :: A new smart wearable device that can automatically detect lameness in sheep is being developed by veterinary researchers at the University of Nottingham and industry partners Intel and Farm Wizard.
Ingen panik: Sikkerhedshuller i næsten alle computere er snart lappet :: IT-ekspert opdagede et alvorligt sikkerhedshul i millioner af computere. Men han opfordrer til, at man ikke går i panik.
Huge Glaciers Found Hiding Beneath Mars Surface :: The newfound sheets are buried by just a few feet of Martian dirt in some places, meaning it might be accessible to future crewed missions.
How scientists are monitoring whale health by using drones to collect their blow :: Macquarie University researchers have led the design and construction of a new system that can be fitted to a custom-built, waterproof drone in order to sample whale microbiota – the combination of natural bacterial colonies that live in an organism – by flying over and collecting the exhaled vapours from their blowholes. The collaborative research project, which involved an array of experts inclu
Invasive worms spreading in Arboretum forests, limited effects so far :: When researchers found invasive Asian jumping worms at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum in 2013, they spotted an opportunity to follow the invaders, and their effects, from the beginning.
Please Do Not Assault the Towering Robot That Roams Walmart :: At over six feet tall, Bossa Nova navigates the aisles of Walmart on its own, blasting shelves with light and snapping photos.
Legionnaires’ Disease: The Other Disneyland Outbreak :: As 2017 came to a close, Disneyland again played a role in the outbreak of an infectious disease, this one much more deadly than measles.
Image of the Day: Ancient Moth Wing :: The 200-million-year-old fossils, the earliest found of lepidopterans, show characteristics of extant moths.
Amid Criticism, University of Rochester President Steps Down :: Academics had expressed disapproval with the college's handling of sexual harassment allegations made against a brain sciences professor.
New exotic phenomena seen in photonic crystals :: Topological effects, such as those found in crystals whose surfaces conduct electricity while their bulk does not, have been an exciting topic of physics research in recent years and were the subject of the 2016 Nobel Prize in physics. Now, a team of researchers at MIT and elsewhere has found novel topological phenomena in a different class of systems—open systems, where energy or material can ent
GeoCarb—a new view of carbon over the Americas :: A new NASA Earth science mission in the early stages of design may achieve a transformational advance in our understanding of the global carbon cycle by mapping concentrations of key carbon gases from a new vantage point: geostationary orbit. Satellites in geostationary orbit travel at the same speed as Earth's rotation, allowing them to remain over the same place on Earth's surface at all times.
Shark biologist teams up with aerospace engineer to discover behaviors of oceanic whitetips :: Oceanic whitetip sharks move with extreme efficiency, exploiting physics to maximize their energy surplus for both hunting and downtime.
The nanoscopic structure that locks up our genes :: For decades, scientists could only speculate about the shape of heterochromatin, a type of chromatin that consists of tightly packed DNA and proteins. Recently, however, researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Graduate University (OIST) and Waseda University have been able to define its structure thanks to new, high-contrast imaging in cryo-electron microscopy. Their work
New research opening for atomically thin metal nanostructures :: Researchers at the Nanoscience Center at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, have made a new opening in nanomaterial research. Opening's essence resides in the exclusive use of metallic elements in flat, atomically thin nanostructures.
The Commuter Is a Train Worth Catching :: For years now, there’s been a particular genre of action cinema that has consistently lured moviegoers to the box office—films in which Liam Neeson has “ a very particular set of skills .” Starting with Taken in 2008, Neeson began a second life as a gritty hero, someone with a talent for violence and a long, but explosive, fuse. Within this genre is an even more exciting sub-genre: films in which
Why Women Have the Survival Advantage in Times of Crisis :: Women have a longer life expectancy than men do under normal circumstances, and now a new study from Denmark and Germany reveals that women also outlive men even in the worst of times.
Serena Williams' Blood Clot After Childbirth: How Does It Happen? :: Tennis star Serena Williams has revealed that she experienced potentially life-threatening blood clots after giving birth to her daughter last year.
Silk Road Travelers' Ancient Knowledge May Have Irrigated Desert :: More than 1,700 years ago, ancient farmers in China transformed one of Earth's driest deserts into farmland, possibly by using ancient knowledge of irrigation passed along by Silk Road travelers, a new study finds.
A Clever Radio Trick Can Tell If a Drone Is Watching You :: A quirk of video compression lets spy targets see what the drone watching them sees.
CES 2018 in Photos: A Glimpse of the Gadget ZaninessCES Las Vegas ShowAs we wrap up at CES 2018, here's a peek into the massive gadget show through the lens of WIRED photographer Amy Lombard.
Hør ugens podcast om Spectre, batteritog og undervandsrobotter :: Ingeniørens ugentlige podcast, Transformator, sætter i denne uge fokus på it-sårbarhederne Meltdown og Spectre, der giver store udfordringer i disse uger. Batteritog er igen kommet på dagsordenen, og sprøjtegifte er måske ikke så farlige for os, hævder en ny undersøgelse.
The Carcass Race :: A surprising relationship between mammalian and avian scavengers might tell us something about how humans evolved — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Enighed om skitse til gebyrløsning :: Ministerium, styrelse, regioner og læger er enige om, at det stærkt kritiserede vagtlæge-gebyr skal sløjfes.
A one-man audio-visual musical phenomenon | Jacob Collier :: Jacob Collier is a one-man band and force of nature. In a dynamic, colorful performance, he recreates the magical room at his home in London where he produces music, performing three songs in which he sings every part and plays every instrument — accompanied by kaleidoscopic visuals that take cues from the music and grow in real time.
Resistance to Common Germs Poses a Hurdle to New Gene Therapies :: Exposure to everyday pathogens generates an immune response that could interfere with CRISPR-based gene-editing treatment — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Flere tusinde læger underskriver mistillidsvotum til Styrelsen for Patientsikkerhed :: 2.700 læger har i skrivende stund skrevet under på brev til styrelsen, som opfordrer til at fokusere mindre på bebrejdelser af sundhedspersonale, der begår fejl, og i stedet fokusere på læring og den kliniske virkelighed, sundhedspersonalet arbejder under.
Researchers Spot Massive Black Hole In Double 'Burp' :: The cosmic sinkhole is at the center of a galaxy 800 million light-years from Earth and supports the theory that such objects can switch their power output on and off in relatively short time-scales. (Image credit: NASA , ESA, and J. Comerford (University of Colorado-Boulder))
Benspænd kan forsinke speciale i akutmedicin :: Etableringen af det nye akutmedicinske speciale bliver mødt med talrige bekymringer fra eksisterende specialer, og det forsinker arbejdet med at skabe en målbeskrivelse for det nye speciale. Ledende overlæge i akutmedicin er nervøs for, om det er realistisk at holde fast i planen om at besætte de første introduktionsstillinger til sommer.
Kortvarig luftforurening dræber, selvom grænseværdier overholdes :: Få dages stigninger i luftens indhold af ozon og fine partikler fører til akutte dødsfald blandt ældre.
Den stædige læge og landingspladsen :: I sine 30 år som praktiserende læge i Thyborøn har Hans Asger Holmsgaard lagt arm med regions- og folketingspolitikerne. Kamppladsen har været akutberedskabet og slagene mange, det seneste om akut- lægehelikopteren. Et slag, som praksislægen vandt, og i dag kan helikopteren lande på græsplænen ved siden af klinikken. Den lander i snit hver femte dag i Lemvig Kommune.
Psykisk syge skal være herre i eget liv :: Region Hovedstadens Psykiatri gør op med ambulant behandling, hvor den syge enten møder op på et center eller permanent får intensiv behandling i eget hjem. Fra årsskiftet vil flere udgående teams overgå til en mere fleksibel model, hvor behandlingen kun er intensiv, når den syge er i krise. Det skal give hurtigere fodfæste og forebygge indlæggelser.
Do Near-Death Experiences Prove That an Afterlife Exists? :: The scientific quest for immortality is predicated on the belief that evidence may already exist in the form of Near-Death Experiences and reincarnation. Read More
Nyt it-system indkaldte sygepleje til død patient :: Ikke bare i Aarhus men også i Odsherred Kommune er et system med elektroniske omsorgsjournaler alvorlige problemer, bl.a. med manglende medicinering.
See a 360-degree visualization of the center of the Milky Way :: A 360-degree simulation, made with data from several telescopes, shows the center of the Milky Way as seen from the galaxy’s supermassive black hole.
Her er de bedste afdelinger til psykiatri :: Dagens Medicin udpeger de bedste afdelinger til udredning og behandling af centrale sygdomsområder inden for psykiatri, ADHD, skizofreni, og depression.
Kvalitetstal bærer præg af underrapportering :: Danmarks bedste til behandling af depression 2018
OVERBLIK: Sådan kan et nyt energiforlig skrues sammen :: Politikerne er kommet på prøve: Ny finansiering, indblanding fra EU og billig sol og vind er nye præmisser for energipolitikken frem mod 2030.
A major step forward in organic electronics :: Researchers at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Linköping University, have developed the world's first complementary electrochemical logic circuits that can function stably for long periods in water. This is a highly significant breakthrough in the development of bioelectronics.
The circadian clock sets the pace of plant growth :: Researchers at the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) have discovered that the members of a protein family associated with the internal clocks of plants act sequentially to limit plant growth until the end of the night. This could help researchers to understand how plants deal with different kinds of stress that affect their growth, such as drought or high temperature.
Midtjylland skiller sig positivt ud :: Danmarks bedste til behandling af skizofreni 2018
Ny smerteklinik vil tilbyde cannabis-recepter :: Ny smerteklinik, oprindeligt initieret af Klaus Riskær Petersen, har fået flere patienthenvendelser om cannabis-medicin allerede inden sin fysiske åbning. Virksomhedsansvarlig læge ser frem til at gå fordomsfrit ind i ny forsøgsordning.
What sort of stream networks do scientific ideas flow along? :: "Panta rhei, everything flows." If Heraclitus of Ephesus was correct, ideas, like rivers, should flow. Tracking the flow of ordinary ideas can be difficult. In the case of scientific ideas, it is much easier. The researchers exchanging them usually produce joint publications.
First, Pizza Hut began delivering beer. Now, a self-driving car may bring your pizza :: Your delivery order from Pizza Hut may eventually arrive in a self-driving car.
Is there an iron throne in the newly discovered chamber in Cheops' pyramid? :: In early November 2017, Nature published the results of the Scan Pyramids project, led by Mehdi Tayoubi (Hip Institute, Paris) and Kunihiro Morishima (University of Nagoya, Japan). It found a "huge void," at least 30 meters long, within the Pyramid of Cheops. Discovering its function and content clearly is a most passionate challenge for archaeologists.
Jet stream changes since 1960s linked to more extreme weather :: Increased fluctuations in the path of the North Atlantic jet stream since the 1960s coincide with more extreme weather events in Europe such as heat waves, wildfires and flooding. The new research published in Nature Communications is the first reconstruction of historical changes in the North Atlantic jet stream prior to the 20th century. By using tree rings, the researchers developed a historica
An innovative PET tracer can measure damage from multiple sclerosis in mouse models :: In the Jan. 12, 2018, Scientific Reports, a research team describes early tests of a minimally-invasive way to assess myelin damage — the hallmark of multiple sclerosis — using positron emission tomography (PET). This approach could be used to follow MS lesions over time.
Scientists identify a key mechanism regulating a protein required for muscle and heart function :: Scientists at the CNIC and Columbia University have identified a new mechanism regulating the elasticity of titin, a protein with important roles in the function of skeletal and heart muscle.
Gadgets: Device lets you keep your eyes on the road :: Now, this is cool and more important, useful.
Orlando startup faces off with high-profile investor on podcast; new guided-tour city app launches :: An Orlando entrepreneur impressed a high-profile startup backer on the experienced investor's podcast recently, although the host wasn't exactly excited that she was from Orlando.
The complexities of clouds and the seeds that make them :: Clouds are complicated. Each cloud formation depends on the timing of the water cycle, in which water evaporates from Earth's surface, condensates in the atmosphere and falls back down, as well as the types of aerosols in the atmosphere.
Jet stream changes since 1960s linked to more extreme weather :: Increased fluctuations in the path of the North Atlantic jet stream since the 1960s coincide with more extreme weather events in Europe such as heat waves, droughts, wildfires and flooding, reports a University of Arizona-led team.
BMW drives to new sales record but still lags Mercedes :: German high-end carmaker BMW said Friday it booked record sales for the seventh year in a row in 2017, but continued to trail rival Mercedes-Benz.
Nepal accesses internet through China, ending India monopoly :: Nepal opened an optical fiber link across the Himalayan mountains to China on Friday, ending years of dependency on India for internet access.
Gadgets for kids still big at tech show despite concerns :: The children's section at the giant Consumer Electronics Show this week touted "innovations that enable 21st century kids to learn and play smarter than ever."
Scientists criticise trend for raw meat pet food after analysis finds pathogens :: The trend for feeding dogs and cats raw meat has been criticised by scientists, who say it often contains bacteria and parasites that could pose dangers to both pets and their owners. A growing trend has seen pet owners plump for products such as meat, bones and organs which can be bought frozen and then thawed before being fed to dogs and cats. Among the ideas fuelling the movement is that these
California's water saving brings bonus effects :: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Water-saving measures in California have also led to substantial reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and electricity consumption in the state. That is the conclusion of new research from the University of California, Davis, published today in the journal Environmental Research Letters . Measures to cut water use by 25 per cent across California were implemented
Danmark er dybt afhængigt af træpiller, flis og brænde :: Når energipolitikerne i de kommende måneder skal forhandle om et nyt energiforlig, bør de forholde sig til de store mængder biomasse i form af afgiftsfrie træpiller, brænde og træflis, der har fyldt kraftværker, ovne og fyr siden årtusindskiftet. Det mener en række eksperter og aktører, Ingeniøren har talt med. I 2016 udgjorde biomasse 55 pct. af den vedvarende energi, som forsyner danske forbrug
Få afdelinger opfylder standarderne :: Behandlingen af børn og unge med ADHD lever sjældent op kvalitetsmålene
Novo Nordisk Fonden giver 156 mio. kr. til Danish Diabetes Academy :: Bevilling skal bl.a. bruges til uddannelse af et større antal danske diabetesforskere.
Akutmedicinere har krav på opbakning og respekt :: De etablerede specialer skylder på dette tidspunkt at vise en reel respekt for, at der rent faktisk er truffet en beslutning om at indføre et nyt speciale i akutmedicin.
Thailand seizes large elephant tusks worth over $450,000 :: Thai customs officials display seized ivory during a press conference in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Jan. 12, 2018. Thai authorities seized 148 kilograms full elephant tusk and 31 tusk fragments originating from Nigeria destined for China worth over 15 million baht ($469,800). (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Thai authorities have seized 148 kilograms (326 pounds) of African elephant ivory, including thre
Ny blogger på ing.dk: Hvornår slukker solen? :: I slutningen af juli præsenterede Ingeniøren en række korte videoer om universet lavet af den unge danske astrofysiker Sarah Pearson, der for tiden er ph.d.-studerende ved Columbia University i New York. De blev sommerens helt store hit på ing.dk. De kommende seks fredage tager vi fat på resten af sæson 1 af ‘Med Sarah i universet’, som henvender sig både til de generelt nysgerrige uden særlige f
Forår med indbygget bombe :: Mistilliden, der er opstået mellem personale og ledelsen i Region Hovedstaden, er uholdbar.
General Motors vil sende 2.500 biler uden rat og pedaler på gaden :: Hvis General Motors får sin vilje, vil en flåde af Chevrolet Bolt EV-biler uden rat og pedaler være klar til at samle passagerer op på de amerikanske gader og veje i 2019. USA's største bilproducent, der har haft travlt med at teste sine selvkørende biler i gaderne i San Francisco, har netop sendt en anmodning til de nationale trafikmyndigheder om tilladelse til at lancere en taxa-service. – Det
Tør man begynde at håbe på et bedre 1813? :: At ventetiden går den forkerte vej, sætter kun streg under, at 1813 er en dårlig idé og har været det fra starten.
Blue skies in China's capital spark joy, scepticism :: This winter, save a few grey days, the Beijing sky has been a brilliant blue Every day for the last five years, Zou Yi has photographed Beijing's smog-cloaked skyline from his 13th-floor apartment, but there is something different in the air this year. This winter, save a few grey days, the sky has been a brilliant blue, suggesting the city may finally be making progress against air pollution—an
Dozens still unaccounted for in California mudslides :: A home is surrounded by mud and debris caused by a massive mudslide in Montecito, California Authorities in southern California said Thursday that dozens of residents were still unaccounted for after powerful mudslides that have killed 17 people, including four children, and destroyed homes in a region already pummeled by massive wildfires. Heavy rain on Tuesday, which followed 10 months of droug
Facebook edits feeds to bring less news, more sharingFacebook Mark ZuckerbergIn this April 18, 2017, file photo, conference workers speak in front of a demo booth at Facebook's annual F8 developer conference in San Jose, Calif. Facebook said Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, that it is tweaking what people see to make their time on it more "meaningful." The changes come as Facebook faces criticism that social media can make people feel depressed and isolated. (AP Photo/Noah Berger
India launches rocket carrying dozens of satellites :: India launched a rocket carrying dozens of satellites from India and six other countries Friday from its island space center. A. S. Kiran Kumar, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, said the satellites successfully reached orbit after the polar satellite launch vehicle took off from Sriharikota, an island off Andhra Pradesh state in the country's southeast.. Apart from two Indian
Ugens it-job: Ørsted, Bloom og Netcompany jagter it-professionelle :: På dagens liste er der job for både konsulenter, specialister, projektledere og udviklere. Find det rette job for dig.
Experts raise concerns over raw meat diets for cats and dogs :: Experts are warning dog and cat owners to be aware of the risks associated with feeding their pets raw meat-based diets (RMBDs), instead of the more conventional dry or canned pet foods. In the Vet Record today, a team of researchers based in The Netherlands say these diets may be contaminated with bacteria and parasites, and as such may pose a risk to both animal and human health. Feeding RMBDs
Kunstig intelligens kan afsløre din krops sande alder :: 11. januar 2018 Kunstig intelligens kan afsløre din krops sande alder Kunstig intelligens Ny kunstig intelligens måler din biologiske alder med stor præcision. Det kan afsløre, om livsstilsændringer og medicinske præparater øger sandsynligheden for et langt og sundt liv. Det viser ny international forskning lavet i samarbejde med Center for Sund Aldring på Københavns Universitet. En ny kunstig in
Facebook opdaterer nyhedsstrøm for at gøre plads til venner :: Facebook har torsdag oplyst, at det vil gennemføre store opdateringer af sit system. Det sker for at sætte familiemedlemmer og venner over kendte og fansider i brugernes nyhedsstrøm. Det vil ifølge Facebook selv føre til, at folk vil bruge mindre tid på det sociale medie. Facebooks administrerende direktør, Mark Zuckerberg, har tidligere sagt, at det er en prioritet for Facebook, at man skal brin
UK satellite to make movies from space :: Image copyright EARTH-i Image caption Artwork: Manufacturer SSTL calls it Carbonite, but Earth-i refers to the satellite as VividX2 A British satellite has gone into orbit on an Indian rocket to acquire full-colour, high-definition video of the surface of the Earth. The demonstrator is expected to pave the way for a series of at least 15 such spacecraft, which will be operated by the Guildford-ba
Meltdown og Spectre varsler ilde for 2018 :: Knaldene fra bordbomber og raketter havde dårligt lagt sig, før nytårets lydkulisse fik følgeskab af endnu et brag. Denne gang fra en sikkerhedsbombe i den it-hardware, de fleste af os anvender. Få dage inde i 2018, den 3. januar, blev sløret nemlig løftet for to sårbarheder, der har fået de malende navne Meltdown og Spectre. Der er som sådan ikke noget usædvanligt i, at der dukker mere eller min
Leder: Vi siger det én gang til – få nu styr på de energiafgifter! :: Meget godt kan vi fremhæve Danmark for, når vi sidste år atter en gang satte rekord i produktionen af vindmøllestrøm: 43 procent af vores el hev vi ud af vinden. Men vi er ikke særlig begavede til at få det optimale ud af strømmen. Danmark har været fremme i skoene med at bygge milliarddyre kabler til udlandet, så vi kan sende el til Norge, når det stormer over landet – og importere, når det er v
Digital technology is helping women to explore their sexuality :: Women who consume Internet pornography are using technology to explore their sexuality and connect with others to discuss their sexual interests, according to research from the University of Waterloo. The qualitative study involved in-depth discussions with 28 women across the spectrum of sexual identities who had consumed online erotic material. Through the interviews, researchers found that por
Anxiety: An early indicator of Alzheimer's disease? :: A new study suggests an association between elevated amyloid beta levels and the worsening of anxiety symptoms. The findings support the hypothesis that neuropsychiatric symptoms could represent the early manifestation of Alzheimer's disease in older adults. Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative condition that causes the decline of cognitive function and the inability to carry out daily life
Asthma costs the US economy more than $80 billion per year :: IMAGE: Asthma costs top $80 billion per year, according to CDC study. view more Credit: ATS Jan. 12, 2018– Asthma costs the U.S. economy more than $80 billion annually in medical expenses, missed work and school days and deaths, according to new research published online in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society . In " The Economic Burden of Asthma in the United States, 2008-2013 ," r
Age is not a risk factor for complications after surgery among older patients :: TORONTO, Jan. 12, 2018–Among older patients, frailty and cognitive impairment before surgery are associated with developing complications after surgery, but age is not, a new study suggests. In addition to frailty, depressive symptoms and smoking were also associated with developing postoperative complications following elective surgery, according to the systematic review, published online today
Veterans who learn Transcendental Meditation find relief from PTSD, new study shows :: A study published in Military Medicine showed that after 30 days of practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique, 80 percent of the 46 veterans and active-duty personnel no longer had PTSD. All participants had been clinically diagnosed with PTSD using a standard assessment. By comparison, standard treatments for PTSD–prolonged exposure therapy, cognitive processing therapy, and medication-
Scientists identify immune cells that keep gut fungi under control :: Immune cells that process food and bacterial antigens in the intestines control the intestinal population of fungi, according to a new study. Defects in the fungus-fighting abilities of these cells may contribute to some cases of Crohn's disease and other forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Babies stir up clouds of bio-gunk when they crawl :: When babies crawl, their movement across floors, especially carpeted surfaces, kicks up high levels of dirt, skin cells, bacteria, pollen, and fungal spores, a new study has found. The infants inhale a dose of bio bits in their lungs that is four times (per kilogram of body mass) what an adult would breathe walking across the same floor.
And the Award for Most Nauseating Self-Driving Car Goes to … :: In many ways this year’s CES looked a lot more like an autonomous-car show than a consumer electronics show. There were announcements aplenty from the likes of Ford, Baidu, Toyota, and others about self-driving vehicles, upcoming driving tests, and new partners. In a parking lot across from the Las Vegas Convention Center, several companies offered rides; you could even schedule a ride in a self-
Magnified and stretched out image of extremely distant galaxy :: An intensive survey deep into the universe by NASA's Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes has yielded the proverbial needle-in-a-haystack: the farthest galaxy yet seen in an image that has been stretched and amplified by a phenomenon called gravitational lensing.
Dengue takes low and slow approach to replication :: Dengue virus slowly takes over the endoplasmic reticulum, the production site for a subset of host proteins, and steers clear of the cytosol, the fluid-filled space where the majority of host cellular proteins are synthesized. Its viral RNA template is translated into protein in such an inefficient, lackadaisical manner that it doesn't trip alarms.
Sådan bliver du uundværlig for din chef :: Måden, dine kolleger og chef ser dig på, afgøres ikke kun af dine evner. Faktisk betyder flere faktorer næsten mere end dine kompetencer, når din leder skal vurdere dit værd for virksomheden. Nye jobtilbud hver uge. Tjek Jobfinder. Ofte vil det bunde i subjektive indtryk og personlige oplevelser. Præcis af den grund bør du kende til et par tricks, der får dig til at se godt ud i din chefs øjne. K
California's water saving brings bonus effects :: Water-saving measures in California have also led to substantial reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and electricity consumption in the state.
Northern corn leaf blight genes identified in new study :: Midwestern corn growers know the symptoms of northern corn leaf blight all too well: greenish-gray lesions on the leaves that can add up to major yield losses if not detected and treated early. Corn resistance genes have been identified, but the fungal disease has found ways to sneak around corn's defenses. Now, researchers have discovered how the fungus is outsmarting corn, and they may be able t
All in the family: Focused genomic comparisons :: Aspergillus fungi are pathogens, decomposers, and important sources of biotechnologically-important enzymes. Scientists now report the first outcome from the large-scale sequencing of 300+ Aspergillus species. These findings are a proof of concept of novel methods to functionally annotate genomes to more quickly identify genes of interest.
Tagged tiger shark proving unstoppable :: For more than a decade, researchers have been tagging and tracking sharks in order to study their migratory patterns and more. One tiger shark – Andy – is now the longest-ever tracked tiger shark, providing years worth of data for researchers.
Supermassive black hole caught burping — twice :: Astronomers have caught a supermassive black hole in a distant galaxy snacking on gas and then "burping" — not once, but twice.
Why the Republican Party may have an advantage when it rains: Voters change their minds :: Bad weather affects US voter turnout and election outcomes with past research demonstrating that the Republican Party has the advantage. A new study finds that the Republican Party's advantage when it rains may be due in part to voters changing their partisan preference that day.
Closed marriage: An orchid that never blooms :: A flower identified as Lecanorchis nigricans has been revealed to be a different identity, Lecanorchis nigricans var. patipetala. Both species are self-pollinating, but the flowers of the true L. nigricans never open.
Swiss archaeologist discovers the earliest tomb of a Scythian prince :: Deep in a swamp in the Russian republic of Tuva, a Swiss archaeologist has discovered an undisturbed Scythian burial mound. All the evidence suggests that this is not only the largest Scythian princely tomb in South Siberia, but also the earliest — and that it may be harboring some outstandingly well-preserved treasures.
Protecting corridors is critical to preserving genetic diversity in tigers, and mizimising extinction, study finds :: Tigers have lost 95% of their historical range, and what remains is highly fragmented. According to a new study, high traffic roads and densely populated urban areas are a severe impediment to tiger movement between fragments. Unplanned development in the future will result in loss of connectivity and an increased possibility of extinction for several tiger populations. To ensure future persistenc
Spider eat spider: Scientists discover 18 new spider-hunting pelican spiders in Madagascar :: Scientists examined and analyzed hundreds of pelican spiders both in the field in Madagascar and through study of pelican spiders preserved in museum collections. Their analysis sorted the spiders studied into 26 different species — 18 of which have never before been described. The new species add to scientists' understanding of Madagascar's renowned biodiversity, and will help scientists investi
Huge black hole blasts out 'double burp' :: Image copyright NASA/Stsci/CXC Image caption Arrows point to the the two burps of gas coming from the black hole; the top arrow points to the newer burp and the bottom arrow points to the older one Astronomers have caught a massive black hole letting out a 'double burp' after binging on hot gas. When cosmic gas comes near one of these sinkholes, it gets sucked it in – but some of the energy is re
How a Mudslide Becomes a Deadly Tsunami of Rocks and Sludge :: The mudslides earlier this week that killed 17 people—eight more remain missing—came as a terrifying surprise in the early morning to the enclaves of Montecito and Summerland, nestled into the California coastline just southeast of Santa Barbara. But in most respects, they were also entirely predictable—and predicted. The Thomas Fire, the largest wildfire in California history, burned almost 450
A plastic-free high street by 2042? :: Many high street stores use plastic to protect their fruit and vegetables.
Cahokia: North America's First City :: Cahokia was a city that, at its peak from A.D. 1050-1200, was larger than many European cities, including London. The city was spread out over six square miles (16 square kilometers) and encompassed at least 120 mounds and a population between 10,000 and 20,000 people. Located across the Mississippi River from modern-day St. Louis, it was the largest pre-Columbian city north of Mexico. The
Facebook Tweaks Newsfeed to Favor Content from Friends, Family :: In November, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg started sprinkling a new phrase, or perhaps a new idea, into his quarterly call with investors . “It's important to remember that Facebook is about bringing people closer together and enabling meaningful social interactions,” he said. Research, he continued, demonstrates that interactions with friends and family on social media is particularly “meaningful
Screen time may alter the way preschoolers nap :: Increased media use is linked to preschoolers getting less sleep at night and more sleep during the day, report researchers. “…children with televisions in their bedrooms were 127 percent more likely to engage in sneaky media use…” Previous research indicates that children ages two to five should only use screen media for about one hour a day to ensure their healthy growth and development. This g
Meet the amateur astronomers who track secretive spy satellites for fun :: What the heck happened to Zuma? We know that the super-secret satellite was built by Northrop Grumman for an agency of the United States Government, and that SpaceX launched it on Sunday, January 7. But what we know is vastly outweighed by what we don’t know . We’re not sure which agency the satellite was built for, and while SpaceX has stated that their Falcon 9 rocket “did everything correctly
The High Cost Of Medical Marijuana Causes Pain In Vermont :: MaryJane Sarvis, an artist in Shaftsbury, Vt., weaned herself from the opioid painkillers she was prescribed for chronic nerve pain. "I felt tired all the time and I was still in pain," she says. Marijuana works better for her, but costs $200 per month out-of-pocket. Emily Corwin/VPR hide caption toggle caption Emily Corwin/VPR MaryJane Sarvis, an artist in Shaftsbury, Vt., weaned herself from th
California's water saving brings bonus effects :: Water-saving measures in California have also led to substantial reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and electricity consumption in the state. That is the conclusion of new research from the University of California, Davis, published today in the journal Environmental Research Letters . Measures to cut water use by 25 per cent across California were implemented in 2015, following a four-
Comcast, IBM back blockchain fund :: Comcast Corp.'s venture capital arm and IBM Corp. have agreed to finance MState, a fund that invests in early-stage firms looking to sell blockchain-based services to big corporations. The fund's first investment is in BlockDaemon, a New York firm founded by Konstantine Richter (formerly of Lookbooks) which promises clients "one-click deployment" to access blockchain nodes using the Hyperledger F
3D images of fat reveal new targets in obesity fight :: Three-dimensional images of fat cells, the first of their kind, are the latest tactic in the ongoing fight against the global obesity epidemic. The image below is part of a new report that reveals the inner workings of fat tissue in mice and identifies potential targets for new drugs to treat and prevent obesity and diabetes. A 3D image of the neural projections in a fat cell. (Credit: Rockefelle
Out-of-This-World Diamond-Studded Rock Just Got Even Weirder :: The diamonds that are studding the Hypatia stone probably formed from the shock when the space rock blasted through Earth's atmosphere. Credit: Shutterstock A tiny chunk of stone that looks like nothing else ever seen in the solar system might be even weirder than scientists thought. The Hypatia stone was found in southwestern Egypt in 1996. It was hardly more than a pebble, just 1.3 inches
What I Learned about Disability and Infanticide from Peter Singer :: In the 1970s, the Australian moral philosopher Peter Singer, perhaps best-known for his book Animal Liberation (1975), began to argue that it is ethical to give parents the option (in consultation with doctors) to euthanise infants with disabilities. He mostly, but not exclusively, discussed severe forms of disabilities such as spina bifida or anencephaly. In Practical Ethics (1979) , Singer expl
CES 2018: Day four and the gadgets are getting weird :: The first flashy days of CES are over, which means we’re getting into the weirder—and often more interesting—parts of the show. Start with a smart toilet? Sure, why not. Kohler made a really fancy, smart toilet At first glance, you could almost believe the Numi from Kohler is a high-end gaming PC, with its wacky square form factor and glowing lights. In reality, however, it’s a toilet with Alexa
A bit of white graphene could give ceramics extra powers :: Adding a little ultrathin hexagonal boron nitride to ceramics could give them outstanding properties, according to new research. Rouzbeh Shahsavari, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rice University, suggests the incorporation of ultrathin hBN sheets between layers of calcium-silicates would make an interesting bilayer crystal with multifunctional properties. These
Nurse staffing levels linked to patient satisfaction :: IMAGE: Penn Nursing. view more Credit: Penn Nursing PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA & LONDON, ENGLAND (January 11, 2018) – Satisfaction with care in hospitals declines when patients believe there are not enough nurses on wards, according to a new study based on the NHS Inpatient Survey published in the BMJ Open . Only 14 per cent of patients who reported there was never or rarely enough nurses on
Experts raise concerns over raw meat diets for cats and dogs :: Experts are warning dog and cat owners to be aware of the risks associated with feeding their pets raw meat-based diets (RMBDs), instead of the more conventional dry or canned pet foods. In the Vet Record today, a team of researchers based in The Netherlands say these diets may be contaminated with bacteria and parasites, and as such may pose a risk to both animal and human health. Feeding RMBDs
Emotionally demanding workload and confrontational patients key stressors for GPs :: The emotional impact of their daily workload and confrontational patients are among the key stressors for family doctors in England, reveals an analysis of feedback from general practitioners (GPs), published in the online journal BMJ Open . Dysfunctional working relationships and unsupportive/bullying colleagues, combined with the fear of making mistakes, complaints, and inspections, add to the
Patients' unfavorable views of hospital care strongly linked to nurse numbers :: Patients' unfavourable views of hospital care in England are strongly linked to insufficient numbers of nurses on duty, rather than uncaring staff, indicates observational research published in the online journal BMJ Open . Increasing the registered nurse headcount may boost satisfaction with the quality of care, conclude the researchers, who base their findings on national survey data from patie
Predator’s pee warns mud crabs of attack :: Researchers have identified two chemicals in the urine of predatory blue crabs that warn mud crabs of an impending attack. Beyond decoding crab-eat-crab alarm triggers, pinpointing the compounds for the first time opens new doors to understanding how chemicals invisibly regulate marine wildlife. “You might call trigonelline and homarine fear-inducing cues.” The findings, which appear in the Proce
18 new species of pelican spiders discovered :: Despite their name, pelican spiders aren’t massive, fish-eating monstrosities. In fact, the shy spiders in the family Archaeidae are as long as a grain of rice and are a threat only to other spiders. Discovering a new species of these tiny Madagascar spiders is tough, but Hannah Wood has done just that — 18 times over. Wood, an arachnologist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History i
New study reveals adverse impact of both type 2 and type 1 diabetes on pregnancy outcomes :: A new study published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]) reveals that both type 2 (T2D) and type 1 diabetes (T1D) are associated with complications during pregnancy including stillbirths and emergency Caesarean sections, as well as increasing the risk of infant mortality. The research was conducted by Dr Sharon Mackin, a Clinical Research Fe
Cuttlefish hear bow wave of looming danger :: Imagine trying to get close to your dinner only for it to be swept aside by your approach; this is the scenario faced by aquatic creatures every day as they try to snap up a tasty morsel. 'It is impossible to eat something underwater without creating a hydrodynamic disturbance', says Maria Wilson from the University of Southern Denmark, describing how a predator's approach is heralded by a bow wa
Tableau goes Hyper to keep up with customers' data needs :: Tableau Software is revamping a core part of its technology to analyze data faster, a move intended to keep up with its customers' increasing big-data needs. The Seattle company , which makes software to visualize analytics, is introducing its so-called Hyper engine in a software update Wednesday. The technology is designed to make the data-visualization process five times faster, meaning busines
Cuttlefish hear bow wave of looming danger :: Imagine trying to get close to your dinner only for it to be swept aside by your approach; this is the scenario faced by aquatic creatures every day as they try to snap up a tasty morsel. "It is impossible to eat something underwater without creating a hydrodynamic disturbance," says Maria Wilson from the University of Southern Denmark, describing how a predator's approach is heralded by a bow wa
US says snow-loving lynx no longer need special protection :: Wildlife officials say Canada lynx no longer need special protections in the United States following measures to preserve populations of the snow-loving wild cats.
French glitches put technology under review :: The goal-line technology system, provided by German company GoalControl, was "suspended immediately" by French football authorities after incidents in League Cup games on Wednesday between Amiens and Paris Saint-Germain and Angers and Montpellier The debate on using technology to help football referees took a twist on Thursday as the French league suspended its use of goal-line reviews following
Skype Introduces End-to-End Encrypted Texts and VoiceSkype Conversations SignalSkype has more than 300 million monthly users, making it one of the most popular chat platforms in the world. Now, they'll all be able to benefit from a crucial privacy protection: Microsoft announced Thursday that Skype will offer end-to-end encryption for audio calls, text, and multimedia messages through a feature called Private Conversations. Skype will use the robust, open-source Signal Prot
NASA calculated heavy rainfall leading to California mudslides :: NASA's IMERG analysis of Jan. 8 through 10, 2018 revealed that the heaviest rainfall occurred over the Sacramento Valley where over 8 inches (203 mm) were indicated. A rainfall total of 5 inches (127 mm) was reported in Ventura County. Credit: NASA/JAXA/Hal Pierce Winter rains falling on recently burned ground triggered deadly mudslides in Santa Barbara County, California on January 9. NASA calcu
Are millennials gender rebels or returning to tradition? :: "Where the Millennials Will Take Us: A New Generation Wrestles with the Gender Structure" by Barbara Risman, UIC professor of sociology and distinguished professor of liberal arts and sciences. Credit: Oxford University Some research suggests that millennials are pushing boundaries by not only rejecting traditional distinctions between the sexes, both at home and at work, but also refusing to acc
Northern corn leaf blight genes identified in new study :: Midwestern corn growers know the symptoms of northern corn leaf blight all too well: greenish-gray lesions on the leaves that can add up to major yield losses if not detected and treated early. Resistance genes have been identified in corn, but the fungal disease has found ways to sneak around corn's defenses. Now, researchers have figured out how the fungus is outsmarting corn, and they may be a
Novel Nanomaterial Highlights Path to Cheaper Carbon Capture :: Y Combinator Will Give You $1 Million to Stop Aging The famed startup incubator Y Combinator put out a call for companies that want to increase human longevity and “health span.” Who they want: Founders with new ideas for treating old-age diseases like Alzheimer’s, “but we will also consider more radical… Read more The famed startup incubator Y Combinator put out a call for companies that want
All in the family: Focused genomic comparisons :: Colonies of Aspergillus (clockwise from top left): A. campestris; A. ochraceoroseus; and, A.steynii. These 3 species were among those whose genomes were sequenced in the study published ahead the week of Jan. 8, 2018 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . Credit: Kirstine Ellen Lyhne, DTU Found in microbial communities around the world, Aspergillus fungi are pathogens, decompose
Y Combinator Will Give You $1 Million to Stop Aging :: Y Combinator Will Give You $1 Million to Stop Aging The famed startup incubator Y Combinator put out a call for companies that want to increase human longevity and “health-span.” Who they want: Founders with new ideas for treating old-age diseases like Alzheimer’s, “but we will also consider more radical… Read more The famed startup incubator Y Combinator put out a call for companies that want
Experts call for action to address physician burnout in nephrology :: Washington, DC (January 11, 2018) — Kidney specialists face increasing work demands, high rates of burnout, and declining interest in nephrology as a career. A group of articles publishing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN) sheds light on how that these factors threaten to reduce job satisfaction and impair the delivery of high-quality care
Moira Donegan Tells Her Own Story :: I created the shitty men in media list . I am the real author of the #shittymediamen list . It was me. It was me. It was me. Briefly, they were all Spartacus. On Tuesday, rumors emerged that Harper’s magazine might be publishing the identity of the woman who created the Shitty Media Men list , a spreadsheet shared among an initially small group of women who work in media to warn them about predat
Can writing your 'to-do's' help you to doze? Baylor study suggests jotting down tasks can :: Writing a "to-do" list at bedtime may aid in falling asleep, according to a Baylor University study. Research compared sleep patterns of participants who took five minutes to write down upcoming duties versus participants who chronicled completed activities. "We live in a 24/7 culture in which our to-do lists seem to be constantly growing and causing us to worry about unfinished tasks at bedtime,
All in the family: Focused genomic comparisons :: IMAGE: Colonies of Aspergillus (clockwise from top left): A. campestris; A. ochraceoroseus; and, A.steynii. These 3 species were among those whose genomes were sequenced in the study published ahead the week… view more Credit: Kirstine Ellen Lyhne, DTU Found in microbial communities around the world, Aspergillus fungi are pathogens, decomposers, and important sources of biotechnologically-i
NASA calculated heavy rainfall leading to California mudslides :: Winter rains falling on recently burned ground triggered deadly mudslides in Santa Barbara County, California on January 9. NASA calculated the amount of rain fall between January 8 and 10, 2018 and calculated the potential for landslides. At NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, a landslide potential map was generated by the global Landslide Hazard Assessment for Situational
By altering bone marrow, training can prepare innate immune system for future challenges :: Researchers have discovered how the innate immune system, which responds more generally to dangers detected in the body, can be trained to 'remember' past threats and respond more robustly to future challenges.
Autism: Brain circuit controls social behavior identified :: A new study has identified a key brain region of the neural circuit that controls social behavior. Increasing the activity of this region, called the habenula, led to social problems in rodents, whereas decreasing activity of the region prevented social problems.
Teenagers gamble away their education :: The odds are stacked against teenagers who regularly gamble. A new study shows that a 14-year-old who gambles is more likely to struggle at school.
Fast food makes the immune system more aggressive in the long term :: The immune system reacts similarly to a high fat and high calorie diet as to a bacterial infection. Unhealthy food seems to make the body's defenses more aggressive in the long term. Even long after switching to a healthy diet, inflammation towards innate immune stimulation is more pronounced. These changes may be involved in the development of arteriosclerosis and diabetes.
Starwatch: Farewell and thanks for 43 years of guiding us through the night sky :: A s readers of Starwatch already know , after supplying the monthly star notes to the Guardian for 43 years, Alan Pickup is standing down. We bid him a fond farewell. It all started with a trip to hospital back in 1974. Alan Pickup was visiting the astronomer Norman Matthew, the Guardian’s Night Sky columnist, and found Norman fretting about the column’s rapidly approaching deadline. He volunteer
Rising CO2 in lakes could keep water fleas from raising their spiky defenses :: Rising carbon dioxide levels could leave some tiny lake dwellers defenseless. Like the oceans, some lakes are experiencing increasing levels of the greenhouse gas, a new study shows. And too much CO 2 in the water may leave water fleas, an important part of many lake food webs, too sleepy to fend off predators. Detailed observations of lake chemistry over long periods of time are rare. But resear
No planets needed for rings around stars: Disk patterns can self-generate :: A new study shows rings, arcs and spirals in disks around stars may not be caused by planets. They may self-generate.
Brown dwarfs found sprinkled among newborn stars in Orion Nebula :: Astronomers have uncovered the largest known population of brown dwarfs sprinkled among newborn stars in the Orion Nebula.
Biologists peek into the past to see the future through tiny spider eyes :: Biologists look to the past for early genetic development of tiny spider and insect eyes to find potential for research into human visual challenges.
What happens when your brain's support cells aren't so supportive? :: Salk scientists use gene expression to understand how astrocytes change with age.
The brain's GPS has a buddy system :: Brain cells that reflect self position relative to others have been identified in the rat hippocampus. Sometimes these representations are processed jointly by the same cells, depending on a rat's goals and actions. This discovery deepens our understanding of the hippocampus and its role as the brain's positioning system.
The nanoscopic structure that locks up our genes :: Wireless headphones, two yo-yos connected by a string, earmuffs: all these items could be used to describe a tiny structure inside a cell's nucleus. For decades, scientists could only speculate about the shape of heterochromatin, a type of chromatin — which consists of tightly packed DNA and proteins.
Researchers map druggable genomic targets in evolving malaria parasite :: Researchers have used whole genome analyses and chemogenetics to identify new drug targets and resistance genes in 262 parasite cell lines of Plasmodium falciparum — protozoan pathogens that cause malaria — that are resistant to 37 diverse antimalarial compounds.
The circadian clock sets the pace of plant growth :: Researchers have discovered that the members of a protein family from the plant internal clock act sequentially to limit the plant growth until the end of the night. This knowledge could help to understand how plants face different kinds of stress that affect their growth, such as drought or high temperature.
Northern corn leaf blight genes identified in new study :: URBANA, Ill. – Midwestern corn growers know the symptoms of northern corn leaf blight all too well: greenish-gray lesions on the leaves that can add up to major yield losses if not detected and treated early. Resistance genes have been identified in corn, but the fungal disease has found ways to sneak around corn's defenses. Now, researchers have figured out how the fungus is outsmarting corn, an
Australian Fires Are Being Set by Legendary Pyromaniacal Raptors :: The aboriginal people of northern Australia have spoken of them for at least a century: “Firehawks” who carry fire through the sky, dropping it to the ground to spark flames that drive prey out of hiding. These creatures are even characters in certain Dreaming ceremonies. Indigenous author Phillip Waipuldanya Roberts wrote in his 1964 biography, “I have seen a hawk pick up a smouldering stick in
Want to be more creative? Go for a walk | Marily Oppezzo :: When trying to come up with a new idea, we all have times when we get stuck. But according to research by behavioral and learning scientist Marily Oppezzo, getting up and going for a walk might be all it takes to get your creative juices flowing. In this fun, fast talk, she explains how walking could help you get the most out of your next brainstorm.
Study suggests many gay and bisexual men are skeptical, but attitudes are on the rise :: Dr. Jonathon Rendina (@ProfRendina), an Assistant Professor at Hunter College and Director of Quantitative Methods at Hunter's Center for HIV Educational Studies & Training (CHEST; @CHESTNYC), and Dr. Jeffrey Parsons (@DrJeffParsons), Distinguished Professor at Hunter and Director of CHEST, have published a new paper in the Journal of the International AIDS Society focused on gay and bisexual men
I Rode in a Car in Las Vegas. Its Driver Was in Silicon Valley :: A car with an empty driver’s seat slowly pulled up in front of me at the MGM Grand Las Vegas the other night. It wasn’t exactly a driverless car, though; my driver was just sitting 540 miles away in Mountain View, California. The car belongs to a startup called Phantom Auto , which is building technology to let a remote human driver take over briefly for autonomous vehicles when they get into sit
VIDEO: Ung ingeniør fandt formlen på cykelrekord :: Ingeniøren udgives af Mediehuset Ingeniøren A/S . Powered by Drupal. Ingeniøren leverer nyheder om teknologi og naturvidenskab for fagfolk og interesserede; artikler, blogs, debat, infografik, video. Kalvebod Brygge 33 , 1550 København V – Danmark Tlf. 33 26 53 00
Toy-maker VTech to pay $650,000 to settle FTC charges over children's privacy violations :: An electronic toy-maker has agreed to pay $650,000 to settle charges from the Federal Trade Commission that it collected personal information on hundreds of thousands of children without their parents knowing. VTech Electronics, whose North American operations are based in Arlington Heights, Ill., says it did notify parents and the allegations are based on technical provisions of a children 's pr
Scientists identify immune cells that keep gut fungi under control :: Immune cells that process food and bacterial antigens in the intestines control the intestinal population of fungi, according to a new study from Weill Cornell Medicine scientists. Defects in the fungus-fighting abilities of these cells may contribute to some cases of Crohn's disease and other forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The findings, published Jan. 11 in Science , illuminate a str
Variation between strains may account for differences in vulnerability to infection :: Scientists have long sought to explain why people respond differently to bacterial infections. In the case of TB, for example, less than 10 percent of those infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis develop severe lung disease, while others remain symptom-free. In some cases, genetic defects have been shown to make the human immune system susceptible to infection. Yet human genetics may not be the
How It Became Normal to Ignore Texts and Emails :: The defining feature of conversation is the expectation of a response. It would just be a monologue without one. In person, or on the phone, those responses come astoundingly quickly: After one person has spoken, the other replies in an average of just 200 milliseconds . In recent decades, written communication has caught up—or at least come as close as it’s likely to get to mimicking the speed o
Biologists look to the past for early genetic development of tiny spider and insect eyesMars Ice WaterA Hogna wolf spider shows off his magnificent visual system consisting of four pairs of eyes around the front and sides of his head, giving him a near 360-degree view. Credit: Sean McCann With the increasing advantages of DNA sequencing, University of Cincinnati biologists are unraveling many evolutionary mysteries behind the complex world of spider vision. Looking closely at the mysterious genet
Hubble and Spitzer team up to find magnified and stretched out image of distant galaxy :: This is a Hubble Space Telescope image of the farthest galaxy yet seen in an image that has been stretched and amplified by a phenomenon called gravitational lensing. The embryonic galaxy, named SPT0615-JD, existed when the universe was just 500 million years old. Though a few other primitive galaxies have been seen at this early epoch, they have essentially all looked like red dots, given their
Faint galactic glow: Intriguing organic molecule benzonitrile in interstellar space :: Astronomers have made the first definitive interstellar detection of benzonitrile, an intriguing organic molecule that helps to chemically link simple carbon-based molecules and truly massive ones known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. This discovery is a vital clue in a 30-year-old mystery: identifying the source of a faint infrared glow that permeates the Milky Way and other galaxies.
UC biologists peek into the past to see the future through tiny spider eyes :: IMAGE: A Hogna wolf spider shows off his magnificent visual system consisting of four pairs of eyes around the front and sides of his head, giving him a near 360-degree view…. view more Credit: Sean McCann With the increasing advantages of DNA sequencing, University of Cincinnati biologists are unraveling many evolutionary mysteries behind the complex world of spider vision. Looking close
No planets needed: NASA study shows disk patterns can self-generate :: When exoplanet scientists first spotted patterns in disks of dust and gas around young stars, they thought newly formed planets might be the cause. But a recent NASA study cautions that there may be another explanation — one that doesn't involve planets at all. Exoplanet hunters watch stars for a few telltale signs that there might be planets in orbit, like changes in the color and brightness of
Hubble probes the archeology of our Milky Way's ancient hub :: his Hubble Space Telescope image of a sparkling jewel box full of stars captures the heart of our Milky Way galaxy. Aging red giant stars coexist with their more plentiful younger cousins, the smaller, white, Sun-like stars, in this crowded region of our galaxy’s ancient central hub, or bulge. Most of the bright blue stars in the image are probably recently formed stars located in the foreground,
Trilobites: You Won’t Like This News About Bedbugs, Ticks and the ‘Bomb Cyclone’ :: “Cold is widely thought of as a fairly ineffective way to deal with bed bugs,” said Mr. White. Even a prolonged polar-vortex-bomb-cyclone death trap probably wouldn’t be enough. Mr. White said he once received an email from someone who tried to freeze bedbugs out of a sofa on a snowbank in a super cold Canadian city. Three months later, they were still alive. Stink bugs and other home invaders Ph
That Recent Brutally Cold Weather? It’s Getting Rarer :: But Dr. Tebaldi, a statistician who lives in Colorado, where she works at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, acknowledged that the study might provide little comfort to Northeasterners who experienced the bone-chilling cold during the last week of December and the first week of January. While Arctic air is milder because of climate change, the question of whether global warm
Thick, 'Rather Clean' Ice Sheets Are Spotted On MarsMars Ice WaterThe researchers used the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to make observations about ice on Mars. NASA hide caption toggle caption NASA The researchers used the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to make observations about ice on Mars. NASA Scientists say that images from Mars show large slopes of ice – and provide a hint at how they were formed. One likely theory involves snowfall on the red planet. The res
Hubble finds substellar objects in the Orion Nebula :: In an unprecedented deep survey for small, faint objects in the Orion Nebula, astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have uncovered the largest known population of brown dwarfs sprinkled among newborn stars. Looking in the vicinity of the survey stars, researchers not only found several very-low-mass brown dwarf companions, but also three giant planets. They even found an example of bina
Dengue takes low and slow approach to replication :: IMAGE: These cultured cells include one (center) that is infected with a common strain of dengue virus. The genomic material of the virus is highlighted in magenta, and is localized to… view more Credit: Jessica Child DURHAM, N.C. – A new study reveals how dengue virus manages to reproduce itself in an infected person without triggering the body's normal defenses. Duke researchers report th
Emergency department program for older adults cuts hospitalizations by 33 percent :: CHICAGO — Roughly one third of all older patients age 65 and older visiting emergency departments nationwide are admitted to the hospital. But an emergency department program focused on geriatric transitional care has reduced the risk of unnecessary admission of older patients at Northwestern Medicine by 33 percent, according to a new study from Northwestern Univeristy, Mount Sinai Medical Cent
NASA space telescopes provide a 3-D journey through the Orion Nebula :: This image showcases both the visible and infrared visualizations of the Orion Nebula. Credit: NASA, ESA, F. Summers, G. Bacon, Z. Levay, J. DePasquale, L. Frattare, M. Robberto and M. Gennaro (STScI), and R. Hurt (Caltech/IPAC) Astronomers and visualization specialists from NASA's Universe of Learning program have combined visible and infrared vision of the Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes to
Researchers catch supermassive black hole burping—twice :: Credit: University of Colorado at Boulder A team led by CU Boulder researchers has caught a supermassive black hole in a distant galaxy snacking on gas and then "burping"—not once, but twice. CU Boulder Assistant Professor Julie Comerford, who led the study, said the supermassive black hole under study appears to have belched – essentially blasting out jets of bright light from the gas it inhaled
Citizen scientists discover five-planet system :: In its search for exoplanets — planets outside of our solar system — NASA's Kepler telescope trails behind Earth, measuring the brightness of stars that may potentially host planets. The instrument identifies potential planets around other stars by looking for dips in the brightness of the stars that occur when planets cross in front of, or transit, them. Typically, computer programs flag the st
Steep slopes on Mars reveal structure of buried ice on Red PlanetMars Ice WaterResearchers have found eight sites where thick deposits of ice beneath Mars' surface are exposed in faces of eroding slopes. The ice was likely deposited as snow long ago. The deposits hold clues about Mars' climate history and also may make frozen water more accessible than previously thought to future robotic or human exploration missions.
Marijuana farms expose spotted owls to rat poison in northwest California :: Spotted owls and barred owls are being exposed to high levels of rat poison in northwest California, with illegal marijuana farms the most likely source point, according to a new study. Proposition 64, which legalized recreational marijuana in the state, went into effect this month and is expected to intensify the issue.
Breaking bad metals with neutrons :: By combining the latest developments in neutron scattering and theory, researchers are close to predicting phenomena like superconductivity and magnetism in strongly correlated electron systems. It is likely that the next advances in superconductivity and magnetism will come from such systems, but they might also be used in completely new ways such as quantum computing.
Photos of California's Deadly Mudslides :: The massive wildfires that scorched parts of Southern California last month left hillsides devoid of vegetation and covered with ash and a dried-out layer of topsoil. On Tuesday, heavy rains fell north of Los Angeles, turning many of these hillsides into torrents of mud and boulders that destroyed dozens of homes and damaged hundreds more. At the moment, 17 deaths have been reported, as search an
Not all strep infections are alike and it may have nothing to do with you :: One person infected with strep bacteria might get a painful sore throat; another might face a life-threatening blood infection. Now, scientists are trying to pin down why. Variation between individuals’ immune systems may not be entirely to blame. Instead, extra genes picked up by some pathogens can cause different strains to have wildly different effects on the immune system , even in the same p
Magnetic coil springs accelerate particles on the Sun :: This images show the measurements performed by the SECCHI/EUVI-instrument onboard STEREO from 29 April 2014. The image on the left was taken ten minutes prior to the one on the right. The emissions of extreme ultraviolet light (at a wavelength of 304 Å) clearly show a helical motion of the plasma flows. Credit: © NASA/MPS In April and July 2014, the Sun emitted three jets of energetic particles i
Like Oceans, Freshwater Is Also Acidifying :: Scientists have known for some time the ocean is acidifying because of climate change. The seas’ absorption of human-generated carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is well documented, along with the harm it is causing ocean creatures like shellfish. But what about freshwater? Is it also soaking up atmospheric carbon? A new paper published today in Current Biology presents some of the first evid
Citizen scientists discover five-planet system :: Artist’s visualization of the K2-138 system, the first multi-planet system discovered by citizen scientists. The central star is slightly smaller and cooler than our sun. The five known planets are all between the size of Earth and Neptune; planet b may potentially be rocky, but planets c, d, e, and f likely contain large amounts of ice and gas. All five planets have orbital periods shorter than
Solving Darwin's 'abominable mystery': How flowering plants conquered the world :: Researchers have found that flowering plants have small cells relative to other major plant groups, made possible by a greatly reduced genome size, and this may explain how they became dominant so rapidly in ecosystems across the world.
Rising CO2 is causing trouble in freshwaters too, study suggests :: As carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere rise, more CO2 gets absorbed into seawater. As a result, the world's oceans have grown more acidic over time, causing a wide range of well-documented problems for marine animals and ecosystems. Now, researchers present some of the first evidence that similar things are happening in freshwaters too.
Possible lava tube skylights discovered near the North Pole of the Moon :: One of the highest resolution NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter images showing some of the newly discovered lava tube skylight candidates at Philolaus Crater near the North Pole of the Moon (NASA/Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter/SETI Institute/Mars Institute/Pascal Lee). The SETI Institute and the Mars Institute announced today the discovery of small pits in a large crater near the North Pole of the
GBT detection unlocks exploration of 'aromatic' interstellar chemistry :: This is a widefield image of the Taurus Molecular Cloud and surrounding sky, taken from Charlottesville, VA on January 2, 2018. The molecular cloud is the dark, obscured region in the upper left of the image, where the gas and dust are blocking the stars behind the cloud from view. To the right of the image is the Pleiades cluster, and in the bottom left is the star Aldebaran. The image was captu
This strange condition makes you feel like you just burnt your mouth on hot coffee—indefinitely :: The pain came without warning. It was February of last year, and the man was eating dinner. He’d just reached for a glass of wine. “It really burned my mouth when I started to drink,” says Greg (the healthcare worker in Toronto asked for his name to be changed). The odd and disquieting sensation had no apparent cause—no burns or cuts or other injuries. Yet the burning and tingling Greg felt on hi
No planets needed: NASA study shows disk patterns can self-generate :: Arcs, rings and spirals appear in the debris disk around the star HD 141569A. The black region in the center is caused by a mask that blocks direct light from the star. This image incorporates observations made in June and August 2015 using the Hubble Space Telescope's STIS instrument. Credit: NASA/Hubble/Konishi et al. 2016 When exoplanet scientists first spotted patterns in disks of dust and ga
Hubble finds substellar objects in the Orion Nebula :: This image is part of a Hubble Space Telescope survey for low-mass stars, brown dwarfs, and planets in the Orion Nebula. Each symbol identifies a pair of objects, which can be seen in the symbol’s center as a single dot of light. Special image processing techniques were used to separate the starlight into a pair of objects. The thicker inner circle represents the primary body, and the thinner out
Gender Discrimination in Science is Especially Common :: As the national conversation about how women are treated in the workplace continues, a new Pew Research Center report finds that half of women working in science, tech, engineering and math (STEM) jobs report experiencing discrimination at work due to their gender, more than women in non-STEM jobs (41 percent) and far more than men working in STEM jobs (19 percent). Discrimination comes in ma
Women and men military veterans, childhood adversity and alcohol and drug use :: IMAGE: Public health scientist Elizabeth Evans at UMass Amherst suggests, after study, that when people join the military or access health care as veterans would be good times to assess and… view more Credit: UMass Amherst AMHERST, Mass. – Results of a national study led by public health scientist Elizabeth Evans at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, with others at the U.S. Department
Researchers demonstrate RAS dimers are essential for cancer :: IMAGE: RAS oncogenes work in pairs, known as "dimers. " view more Credit: UT Southwestern DALLAS – Jan. 11, 2018 – Mutated RAS genes are some of the most common genetic drivers of cancer, especially in aggressive cancers like pancreatic and lung cancer, but no medicines that target RAS are available despite decades of effort. Researchers at UT Southwestern's Simmons Cancer Center have
Failed outpatient sterilization procedures not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes: Study :: BOSTON– While the risk of pregnancy is low after female sterilization procedures, 60 percent of pregnancies that do occur result in a live birth, according to a new study. Researchers looked at data from close to 1,000 pregnancies after failed outpatient and surgical sterilization procedures and found that while neither option was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, outpatient procedures
The coming of age of gene therapy: A review of the past and path forward :: IMAGE: A new gene is injected into an adenovirus vector, which is used to introduce the modified DNA into a human cell. If the treatment is successful, the new gene will… view more Credit: US National Library of Medicine After three decades of hopes tempered by setbacks, gene therapy–the process of treating a disease by modifying a person's DNA–is no longer the future of medicine, but is
GBT detection unlocks exploration of 'aromatic' interstellar chemistry :: IMAGE: The aromatic molecule benzonitrile was detected by the GBT in the Taurus Molecular Cloud 1 (TMC-1). view more Credit: B. McGuire, B. Saxton (NRAO/AUI/NSF) Summary: Astronomers using the Green Bank Telescope have made the first definitive interstellar detection of benzonitrile, an intriguing organic molecule that helps to chemically link simple carbon-based molecules and truly massive
Breaking bad metals with neutrons :: IMAGE: A comparison of the theoretical calculations (top row) and inelastic neutron scattering data from ARCS at the Spallation Neutron Source (bottom row) shows the excellent agreement between the two. The… view more Credit: DOE/Argonne National Laboratory By exploiting the properties of neutrons to probe electrons in a metal, a team of researchers led by the U.S. Department of Energy's (D
NIH study supports use of short-term HIV treatment interruption in clinical trials :: A short-term pause in HIV treatment during a carefully monitored clinical trial does not lead to lasting expansion of the HIV reservoir nor cause irreversible damage to the immune system, new findings suggest. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) benefits the health of people living with HIV, prolongs their lives and prevents transmission of the virus to others. If taken daily as directed, ART can re
Researchers map druggable genomic targets in evolving malaria parasite :: Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, with colleagues across the country and around the world, have used whole genome analyses and chemogenetics to identify new drug targets and resistance genes in 262 parasite cell lines of Plasmodium falciparum — protozoan pathogens that cause malaria — that are resistant to 37 diverse antimalarial compounds. The study, publi
How the animal brain deciphers the locations of animals nearby :: Two new studies have identified a subset of neurons in the bat and rat hippocampi, respectively, that specifically encode the spatial position of others of the same species. While scientists have been able to identify neurons that help an organism decipher its own spatial location, surprisingly little is known about how the positions of other animals, relative to the self, are represented in the
How the malarial parasite is evading our arsenal of drugs :: A team of researchers has identified numerous mutations that allow the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum to become resistant to treatment. Knowing the identity of genes that impart multidrug resistance is important for the design of new drugs, and for understanding how existing therapeutics can lose their efficacy in clinical settings. Worldwide, hundreds of thousands of people die f
Organic molecule benzonitrile detected in space :: IMAGE: This is a widefield image of the Taurus Molecular Cloud and surrounding sky, taken from Charlottesville, VA on January 2, 2018. The molecular cloud is the dark, obscured region in… view more Credit: Brett A. McGuire Scientists studying a cold molecular cloud of the Taurus region with radio telescopes have detected the presence of a particular organic molecule called benzonitrile. T
Multiple sites rich in water ice found on Mars :: Erosion on Mars is exposing deposits of water ice, starting at depths as shallow as one to two meters below the surface and extending 100 meters or more. The ice is a critical target for science and exploration: it affects modern geomorphology, is expected to preserve a record of climate history, influences the planet's habitability, and may be a potential resource for future exploration. Whilst
The brain's GPS has a buddy system :: IMAGE: These are the four types of spatial models for the hippocampus that are proposed in this paper. view more Credit: RIKEN To be successful as a social animal, you need to know where you stand relative to others. Brain cells that perform precisely this function–locating the 'self' and others in space–have now been identified. In rats, the same brain area that stores the animal's own l
NIH researchers report first 3-D structure of DHHC enzymes :: IMAGE: Human DHHC20 (yellow) is embedded in the Golgi membrane (green), a compartment located inside cells. DHHC20 attaches a fatty acid chain (white) to a target protein (blue, foreground), which anchors… view more Credit: Credit: Jeremy Swan, NICHD/NIH The first three-dimensional structure of DHHC proteins–enzymes involved in many cellular processes, including cancer–explains how they f
Different strains of same bacteria trigger widely varying immune responses :: IMAGE: Scanning electron micrograph of S. aureus bacteria escaping destruction by human white blood cells. view more Credit: NIAID via Flickr Genetic differences between different strains of the same pathogenic bacterial species appear to result in widely varying immune system responses, according to new research published in PLOS Pathogens . Previous research has found that different people va
Human protein may aid neuron invasion by virus that causes hand, foot, and mouth disease :: A human protein known as prohibitin may play a significant role in infection of the nervous system by EV71, one of several viruses that can cause hand, foot, and mouth disease. Issac Too of the National University of Singapore and colleagues highlight this finding in a new PLOS Pathogens study. Hand, foot, and mouth disease is usually mild, with symptoms such as skin rash and fever. However, espe
Risk of non-infectious elephantiasis mapped in Cameroon :: Both the etiology and demographics of podoconiosis, a non-infectious disease which causes massive swelling of the legs, are poorly understood. To help contribute to the global atlas of podoconiosis knowledge, researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have now described the distribution of podoconiosis in Cameroon. Podoconiosis, a non-filarial form of elephantiasis which was identi
Solving Darwin's 'abominable mystery': How flowering plants conquered the world :: Scientists have found an explanation for how flowering plants became dominant so rapidly in ecosystems across the world — a problem that Charles Darwin called an 'abominable mystery'. In a study publishing on January 11 in the open access journal PLOS Biology , Kevin Simonin and Adam Roddy, from San Francisco State University and Yale University respectively, found that flowering plants have sma
Mars has ice sheets 130 metres thick hiding below its red dustMars Ice WaterRoving on thick ice NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS By Leah Crane Just below the surface, Mars is full of ice. New observations have revealed steep cliffs cut out of thick sheets of ice, which may be able to tell us about the planet’s climate over the past millions of years. We know from previous radar studies that ice abounds just under Mars’s dusty surface, but where exactly it is in the Martian crus
UK’s plastic bag ban is a pitiful attempt at a greener future :: Tough on plastic bags, but it’s not enough Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty By Michael Le Page Prime Minister Theresa May today unveiled the UK government’s long-awaited 25-year plan for improving the environment . It contains much talk about protecting wildlife, making the country cleaner and greener, and so on. It all sounds wonderful, but it is mostly waffle. “The government’s 25-year environm
Hidden exoplanets could be revealed by echoing light :: A shadow may not be the only way to spot alien worlds NASA, ESA, L. Calçada By Shannon Hall Echoes can reveal the unseen. Similar to how a killer whale can “see” through pitch-black water by bouncing high-frequency sound waves off objects, we could use light to discover exoplanets. Whenever a star emits a bright flare of radiation, some of its light may reach Earth where astronomers will meas
Steep slopes on Mars reveal structure of buried iceMars Ice WaterCredit: NASA Buried glaciers have been spotted on Mars, offering new hints about how much water may be accessible on the Red Planet and where it is located, researchers said Thursday. Although ice has long been known to exist on Mars, a better understanding of its depth and location could be vital to future human explorers, said the report in the US journal Science . Erosion has exposed eight i
The 'Black Hole' Optical Illusion of the Bird of Paradise Explained :: Black doesn't get much blacker than the plumage of male birds of paradise, and new research reveals why. The blackest feathers of these rainforest birds are fundamentally differently shaped, on a microscopic level, compared with regular black feathers. The nanostructure of the feather makes them particularly prone to scattering and reabsorbing light, and that in turn makes them not only
New Study Suggests CRISPR-Cas9 May Not Work In Many People :: The story began in 1987 when Yoshimumi Ishino of Osaka University discovered that clusters of short sequences in certain bacterial DNA could target DNA within viruses. These palindromic clusters clusters were held together by spacer materials, and eventually came to be known as “Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats,” abbreviated as “CRISPR.” Researchers found that protein fam
Article provides detailed look at participants in Golden Retriever Lifetime Study :: Blaze, shown here in Durango, Colo., is the last enrolled dog in the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study. Credit: Dr. Sharon Albright, Morris Animal Foundation What do 3,044 golden retrievers across the nation have in common? They are the principal players in the second published scientific paper from Morris Animal Foundation's groundbreaking Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, highlighting characterist
Scientists Discover Clean Water Ice Just Below Mars' Surface :: Locked away beneath the surface of Mars are vast quantities of water ice. But the properties of that ice—how pure it is, how deep it goes, what shape it takes—remain a mystery to planetary geologists. Those things matter to mission planners, too: Future visitors to Mars , be they short-term sojourners or long-term settlers, will need to understand the planet's subsurface ice reserves if they want
Scientists make cells that enable the sense of touch :: Human embryonic stem cell-derived neurons (green) showing nuclei in blue. Left: with retinoic acid added. Right: with retinoic acid and BMP4 added, creating proprioceptive sensory interneurons (pink). Credit: UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center/ Stem Cell Reports Researchers at the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA have, for the first time, coaxe
Tropical Cyclone Joyce soaking northwestern Australia coast :: On Jan. 11 at 12:54 a.m. EST (0554 UTC) NOAA's JPSS-1 or NOAA-20 satellite showed Joyce's center just off the coast, while bands of thunderstorms wrapping into the center extended toward the northwest over the Southern Indian Ocean, and toward the southeast over Western Australia. Credit: NOAA/NASA Rapid Response Team Tropical Cyclone Joyce, formerly known as tropical cyclone 5S, was moving south
Babies stir up clouds of bio-gunk when they crawl :: WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — When babies crawl, their movement across floors, especially carpeted surfaces, kicks up high levels of dirt, skin cells, bacteria, pollen, and fungal spores, a new study has found. The infants inhale a dose of bio bits in their lungs that is four times (per kilogram of body mass) what an adult would breathe walking across the same floor. As alarming as that sounds, lead re
A look at participants in Morris Animal Foundation golden retriever lifetime study :: DENVER/Jan. 11, 2017 – What do 3,044 golden retrievers across the nation have in common? They are the principal players in the second published scientific paper from Morris Animal Foundation 's groundbreaking Golden Retriever Lifetime Study , highlighting characteristics of the dogs in this landmark study, including age, medical condition, preventive care and more. Published in the November issue
Tropical Cyclone Joyce soaking northwestern Australia coast :: IMAGE: On Jan. 11 at 12:54 a.m. EST (0554 UTC) NOAA's JPSS-1 or NOAA-20 satellite showed Joyce's center just off the coast, while bands of thunderstorms wrapping into the center extended… view more Credit: Credits: NOAA/NASA Rapid Response Team Tropical Cyclone Joyce, formerly known as tropical cyclone 5S, was moving south along the coast of Cape Leveque, Western Australia on Jan. 11 when a
Forskere har dna-bevis: Der er en ulv i Nordjylland :: Forskerne har nu klart bevis for, at der er en ulv i Nordjylland. Og ikke nok med det: de kan også sige præcis hvilken ulv, der er tale om – og at der ikke er tale om én, vi tidligere har haft her i landet. En dna-prøve taget i Vesthimmerland den 23. november afslørede nemlig, at ulven er en hanulv, der stammer fra et ulvekobbel med base nær den tyske by Lübtheen, der ligger 80 km sydøst for Hamb
The Flu Goes Viral :: Have you been feeling under the weather? You’re not alone. From Australia to California to your sofa, the flu has hit the world hard this year, and it might get worse From the New York Times : Even in the absence of a pandemic, a severe flu year kills nearly 650,000 people worldwide, while a mild one kills just under 300,000, the study concluded. In recent years, the C.D.C. estimates, flu has kil
Shallow ice sheets discovered on Mars could aid future astronauts :: In the Jan. 20 SN : the race to Mars, hormone replacement therapy’s second chance, soap bubble snow globes, a far-out quasar, climate change’s extreme results, an indiscriminate snake fungus and more.
Researchers map druggable genomic targets in evolving malaria parasite :: This photomicrograph of a blood smear contains a macro- and microgametocyte of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. Credit: Wikipedia. Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, with colleagues across the country and around the world, have used whole genome analyses and chemogenetics to identify new drug targets and resistance genes in 262 parasite cell lines of Plasmodi
Breaking bad metals with neutrons :: A comparison of the theoretical calculations (top row) and inelastic neutron scattering data from ARCS at the Spallation Neutron Source (bottom row) shows the excellent agreement between the two. The three figures represent different slices through the four-dimensional scattering volumes produced by the electronic excitations. Credit: DOE/Argonne National Laboratory By exploiting the properties o
Researchers report first 3-D structure of DHHC enzymes :: Human DHHC20 (yellow) is embedded in the Golgi membrane (green), a compartment located inside cells. DHHC20 attaches a fatty acid chain (white) to a target protein (blue, foreground), which anchors the protein to the Golgi membrane. Credit: Jeremy Swan, NICHD/NIH The first three-dimensional structure of DHHC proteins—enzymes involved in many cellular processes, including cancer—explains how they
Solving Darwin's 'abominable mystery': How flowering plants conquered the world :: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Scientists have found an explanation for how flowering plants became dominant so rapidly in ecosystems across the world—a problem that Charles Darwin called an 'abominable mystery'. In a study publishing on January 11 in the open access journal PLOS Biology , Kevin Simonin and Adam Roddy, from San Francisco State University and Yale University respectively, found that fl
With ‘Downsized’ DNA, Flowering Plants Took Over the World :: When people consider evolutionary events related to the origin and diversification of new species and groups, they tend to emphasize novel adaptations — specific genes giving rise to new, beneficial traits. But a growing body of research suggests that in some cases, that deciding factor may be something much more fundamental: size. In a paper published today in PLOS Biology , a pair of researcher
Molecular Clue to the Mystery of Carbon's Cosmic Origin Uncovered :: Some 18 percent of the human body’s weight is carbon. The simple element is considered the backbone of life, and is also abundant in Earth’s rocks, atmosphere and oceans. Scientists don’t know how carbon first appeared on our planet, but now astronomers have discovered a special molecule in space that could help trace this essential element back to its source. Researchers using the Green Bank
Facebook, Twitter Under Fire From Activist Investors :: A big pension fund and an activist investment firm Thursday said they had filed shareholder proposals pushing Facebook and Twitter to take more responsibility for managing content on their platforms, including mistreatment of women, fake news, election interference, violence, and hate speech—in other words, the same issues that have kept social-media giants in the crosshairs for the past year. Th
Don't Touch the Monkeys! Florida Macaques Carry Virus Lethal to Humans :: Monkeys infected with the herpes B virus may be symptom-free, but in people the virus can be fatal. Credit: Shutterstock Visitors to Florida's Silver Springs State Park should avoid monkeying around with the reserve's feral macaques; officials warn that the primates carry a strain of the herpes virus that can be fatal to humans. About 175 free-roaming rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta ) inha
Investigation Questions Transparency for Failed TB Vax :: The BMJ inquiry finds that researchers presented only select results from animal experiments when applying for funding and approval for human trials.
Frankenstein lives on :: Summary It was 200 years ago that Mary Shelley's Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus was published. Over the decades, this gothic tale has captured the popular imagination through the numerous theater productions and films it inspired. The story is commonly taken to imply a dire warning about the dangers of scientific hubris. Just mention the name Frankenstein and laypersons think of scientis
News at a glance :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
DOE pushes for useful quantum computing :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
In Pakistan, surveillance for polio reveals a paradox :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Earth scientists list top priorities for space missions :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Cuba's 100-year plan for climate change :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Cliffs of ice spied on MarsMars Ice WaterAAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
The long shadow of Frankenstein :: Summary In January 1818, Mary Shelley published her book Frankenstein , a terrifying story of a doctor who builds a creature from scavenged body parts, then recoils in horror, spurns it, and sees his friends and family destroyed by the monster. Two hundred years later, Frankenstein is still essential reading for anyone working in science. In this special issue, Science examines the lasting legacy
How a horror story haunts science :: Summary In conceiving her novel Frankenstein , Mary Shelley was influenced by the nascent medical science of the day and by early experiments on electricity. In return, Frankenstein has haunted science ever since. Shelley's book and subsequent films and plays have become what one author calls "the governing myth of modern biology": a cautionary tale of scientific hubris. The scientific literature
Creating a modern monster :: Summary When Mary Shelley published her story of Victor Frankenstein and his misshapen monster in 1818, she provided little detail about how exactly the doctor built his creation, except that "the dissecting room and the slaughter-house furnished many of [his] materials" and that he infused "a spark of being in the lifeless thing." But what if Shelley had written her book today? Here is an overvi
Taming the monsters of tomorrow :: Summary In Mary Shelley's novel, the scientist Victor Frankenstein fears that creating a female companion to his unhappy monster could lead to a "race of devils" that could drive humanity extinct. Today, some scientists worry about scientific advances in the real world that could kill all of humanity, or at least end civilization as we know it. Some two dozen researchers at three academic centers
A glossary of Frankenwords :: Summary Along with fears about scientific overreach, Mary Shelley's novel has inspired hundreds of whimsical names for products and phenomena—from Frankencells and Frankengenes to Frankenslime and Frankenswine. Here's a selection.
Detecting the building blocks of aromatics :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Improbable Big Birds :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Malaria parasite evolution in a test tube :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
TRPM channels come into focus :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Coherent excitations revealed and calculated :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Silencing stemness in T cell differentiation :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Global science for city policy :: Summary Research and data are increasingly at the heart of how we conceive of urban governance. Urban control rooms and city dashboards championed by cities like Chicago, São Paulo, and London have been promising real-time snapshots and tracking over time of urban systems, via geolocated mobility data sets, social media inputs, environmental sensors, and other tools ( 1 ). At the international le
Revisit a cautionary classic :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Our idiosyncracies :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
The next generation's Frankenstein films :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
The representation of others in space :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Neutrons peek into f-electron bands :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Water ice cliffs on MarsMars Ice WaterAAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Rapid hybrid speciation in Darwin's finches :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Phagocytes patrol intestinal fungi :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Volcanic eruptions in the deep sea :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
The many roles of ATM :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Cholera pathogen zaps competition :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Mesoporous metal-organic frameworks :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
The interferon boomerang :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Architecture of the TRPM subfamily :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Epigenetic modulation of effector T cells :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
A shared history :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
A specific interstellar aromatic molecule :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Dissecting Plasmodium drug resistance :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Fattening up proteins :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Gene therapy: The power of persistence :: AAAS login provides access to Science for AAAS members, and access to other journals in the Science family to users who have purchased individual subscriptions.
Seeing the real thing :: Colorized view of the Golgi complex surrounded by COPI-coated vesicles and other organelles CREDIT: Y. S. BYKOV ET AL., ELIFE 10.7554/ELIFE.32493 (2017) Membrane trafficking within the Golgi complex is mediated by COPI (coat protein complex I)-coated vesicles. Much is known about these vesicles and coats from in vitro studies, but their makeup in situ is less well understood. Bykov et al. used cr
A death knell for relapsed leukemia? :: A subset of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) experience partial or even complete remissions after treatment with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs. Almost invariably, however, the disease returns and is often fatal. Relapse has been attributed to the expansion of preexisting leukemic clones that are resistant to therapy. In a preclinical study, Pan et al. investigated whether better e
Multiple strategies needed to improve agricultural productivity :: Shifts in behavior and process will facilitate the integration of organic farming as a large-scale, sustainable agricultural approach. PHOTO: DON KLUMPP/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO The world will need 50% more agricultural output by 2050 to keep up with global population growth. Muller et al. ask whether organic agriculture is compatible with producing enough food to feed the world in a sustainable manner.
Labs, lectures, and gender differences :: Gendered performance differences (GPDs) remain an issue in ensuring equitable access in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Matz et al. systematically measured performance gaps across STEM courses to further investigate the contribution of GPDs to performance and/or persistence in STEM. This report is the first wide-ranging, multi-institution assessment of GPDs, encompassing
CRISPR corrects deafness in mice :: Limited treatment options are available for individuals with hereditary hearing loss. CRISPR-Cas9 editing can be used as molecular scissors that snip out mutant DNA sequences to permit gene repair. Gao et al. asked whether the Cas9 cutting enzyme could be used to correct genetic deafness caused by dominant mutations in the Tmc1 gene. The researchers performed a lipid-mediated delivery of Cas9-RNA
Make no bones about titanium :: Titanium and its alloys with aluminum or niobium have been used for medical implants, such as metal plates to hold fractured bones together, because titanium bonds well to bone. However, pure titanium is much stiffer than bone material, and it can shield the surrounding bone from normal loads and stresses. This causes the bone to weaken because remodeling depends on stress history. Takizawa et al
Shifting zwitterion reactivity :: Phosphines are often ligands for transition metal catalysts, but they can catalyze reactions at unsaturated carbon atoms by forming phosphonium zwitterions. For example, triphenylphosphine forms a zwitterion with methylvinylketone that acts as a nucleophile to convert n -alkyl aldehydes to β-hydroxy enones (the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction). Bauer et al. show that when the reaction is conducted
The epigenetic control of stemness in CD8+ T cell fate commitment :: After priming, naïve CD8 + T lymphocytes establish specific heritable transcription programs that define progression to long-lasting memory cells or to short-lived effector cells. Although lineage specification is critical for protection, it remains unclear how chromatin dynamics contributes to the control of gene expression programs. We explored the role of gene silencing by the histone methylt
Coherent band excitations in CePd3: A comparison of neutron scattering and ab initio theory :: In common with many strongly correlated electron systems, intermediate valence compounds are believed to display a crossover from a high-temperature regime of incoherently fluctuating local moments to a low-temperature regime of coherent hybridized bands. We show that inelastic neutron scattering measurements of the dynamic magnetic susceptibility of CePd 3 provides a benchmark for ab initio calc
Mapping the malaria parasite druggable genome by using in vitro evolution and chemogenomics :: Chemogenetic characterization through in vitro evolution combined with whole-genome analysis can identify antimalarial drug targets and drug-resistance genes. We performed a genome analysis of 262 Plasmodium falciparum parasites resistant to 37 diverse compounds. We found 159 gene amplifications and 148 nonsynonymous changes in 83 genes associated with drug-resistance acquisition, where gene ampl
Exposed subsurface ice sheets in the Martian mid-latitudes :: Thick deposits cover broad regions of the Martian mid-latitudes with a smooth mantle; erosion in these regions creates scarps that expose the internal structure of the mantle. We investigated eight of these locations and found that they expose deposits of water ice that can be >100 meters thick, extending downward from depths as shallow as 1 to 2 meters below the surface. The scarps are actively
Detection of the aromatic molecule benzonitrile (c-C6H5CN) in the interstellar medium :: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocycles are thought to be widespread throughout the universe, because these classes of molecules are probably responsible for the unidentified infrared bands, a set of emission features seen in numerous Galactic and extragalactic sources. Despite their expected ubiquity, astronomical identification of specific aromatic molecul
Ordered macro-microporous metal-organic framework single crystals :: We constructed highly oriented and ordered macropores within metal-organic framework (MOF) single crystals, opening up the area of three-dimensional–ordered macro-microporous materials (that is, materials containing both macro- and micropores) in single-crystalline form. Our methodology relies on the strong shaping effects of a polystyrene nanosphere monolith template and a double-solvent–induced
Antagonism toward the intestinal microbiota and its effect on Vibrio cholerae virulence :: The bacterial type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a nanomachine that delivers toxic effector proteins into target cells, killing them. In mice, we found that the Vibrio cholerae T6SS attacks members of the host commensal microbiota in vivo, facilitating the pathogen’s colonization of the gut. This microbial antagonistic interaction drives measurable changes in the pathogenicity of V. cholerae thro
Spatial representations of self and other in the hippocampus :: An animal’s awareness of its location in space depends on the activity of place cells in the hippocampus. How the brain encodes the spatial position of others has not yet been identified. We investigated neuronal representations of other animals’ locations in the dorsal CA1 region of the hippocampus with an observational T-maze task in which one rat was required to observe another rat’s trajector
Social place-cells in the bat hippocampus :: Social animals have to know the spatial positions of conspecifics. However, it is unknown how the position of others is represented in the brain. We designed a spatial observational-learning task, in which an observer bat mimicked a demonstrator bat while we recorded hippocampal dorsal-CA1 neurons from the observer bat. A neuronal subpopulation represented the position of the other bat, in alloce
Rapid hybrid speciation in Darwins finches :: Homoploid hybrid speciation in animals has been inferred frequently from patterns of variation, but few examples have withstood critical scrutiny. Here we report a directly documented example, from its origin to reproductive isolation. An immigrant Darwin’s finch to Daphne Major in the Galápagos archipelago initiated a new genetic lineage by breeding with a resident finch ( Geospiza fortis ). Gen
Structure of the human TRPM4 ion channel in a lipid nanodisc :: Transient receptor potential (TRP) melastatin 4 (TRPM4) is a widely expressed cation channel associated with a variety of cardiovascular disorders. TRPM4 is activated by increased intracellular calcium in a voltage-dependent manner but, unlike many other TRP channels, is permeable to monovalent cations only. Here we present two structures of full-length human TRPM4 embedded in lipid nanodiscs at
CX3CR1+ mononuclear phagocytes control immunity to intestinal fungi :: Intestinal fungi are an important component of the microbiota, and recent studies have unveiled their potential in modulating host immune homeostasis and inflammatory disease. Nonetheless, the mechanisms governing immunity to gut fungal communities (mycobiota) remain unknown. We identified CX3CR1 + mononuclear phagocytes (MNPs) as being essential for the initiation of innate and adaptive immune r
Structure of the cold- and menthol-sensing ion channel TRPM8 :: Transient receptor potential melastatin (TRPM) cation channels are polymodal sensors that are involved in a variety of physiological processes. Within the TRPM family, member 8 (TRPM8) is the primary cold and menthol sensor in humans. We determined the cryo–electron microscopy structure of the full-length TRPM8 from the collared flycatcher at an overall resolution of ~4.1 ångstroms. Our TRPM8 str
New Products :: Summary A weekly roundup of information on newly offered instrumentation, apparatus, and laboratory materials of potential interest to researchers.
My second life as a teacher :: For most of my educational and professional life, I pursued a fairly standard trajectory. A bachelor's degree in physics and astronomy, a master's in optical physics, and a Ph.D. in astronomy prepared me for a postdoctoral fellowship and subsequent work as a scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. I moved on to a visiting professorship and then a research professorship at Tufts Universit
Gene therapy comes of age :: Gene therapy: The power of persistence Nearly 50 years after the concept was first proposed, gene therapy is now considered a promising treatment option for several human diseases. The path to success has been long and tortuous. Serious adverse effects were encountered in early clinical studies, but this fueled basic research that led to safer and more efficient gene transfer vectors. Gene therap
Fatty acyl recognition and transfer by an integral membrane S-acyltransferase :: DHHC (Asp-His-His-Cys) palmitoyltransferases are eukaryotic integral membrane enzymes that catalyze protein palmitoylation, which is important in a range of physiological processes, including small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) signaling, cell adhesion, and neuronal receptor scaffolding. We present crystal structures of two DHHC palmitoyltransferases and a covalent intermediate mimic. The act
UCLA scientists make cells that enable the sense of touch :: IMAGE: Human embryonic stem cell-derived neurons (green) showing nuclei in blue. Left: with retinoic acid added. Right: with retinoic acid and BMP4 added, creating proprioceptive sensory interneurons (pink). view more Credit: UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center/Stem Cell Reports Researchers at the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA have, for t
Scientist's work may provide answer to martian mountain mystery :: IMAGE: In a paper published in the journal Physical Review E , Dr. William Anderson, a fluid dynamics expert at the University of Texas at Dallas, proposes a solution to a Martian… view more Credit: University of Texas at Dallas By seeing which way the wind blows, a University of Texas at Dallas fluid dynamics expert has helped propose a solution to a Martian mountain mystery. Dr. William
Hubble telescope ramps up search for Europa’s watery plumes :: OXON HILL, Md. — Astronomers may soon know for sure if Europa is spouting off. After finding signs that Jupiter’s icy moon emits repeating plumes of water near its southern pole, astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope hope to detect more evidence of the geysers. “The statistical significance is starting to look pretty good,” astronomer William Sparks of the Space Telescope Science Institute
Top European chefs take electric pulse fishing off the menu :: Electric pulse fishing involves dragging electrically charged lines just above the seafloor that shock marine life up from low-lying positions into trawling nets More than 200 top chefs across Europe have pledged to stop sourcing seafood obtained by electric pulse fishing, days before an EU vote that could expand the use of the controversial technique, an ocean advocacy group said Thursday. "We r
This Bird 'Eyeball' Survived 120 Million Years :: The fossil of an ancient bird discovered in Liaoning, China: The black box shows where the bird's well-preserved, fossilized eye tissues are located. Credit: Tanaka G. et al./Heliyon Scientists have discovered a surprisingly "visionary" detail about a dinosaur-age bird that had a tooth-filled beak: It could likely see in color. An analysis of the 120-million-year-old bird revealed that the
Boston Museum Tries New System for Protecting Artwork: A Dog’s Nose :: They wondered: Could Ms. Luongo train Riley to detect insects that tend to eat through textiles and wood when given the chance? If so, it would be another layer of defense against critters that can pose a long-term threat to the artwork. As is, the museum has a variety of pest-control tactics, including quarantining new artwork before it’s placed in galleries. But no amount of prevention tactics
Patient education brochure provides low-cost solution to avoid diversion of unused Opioids :: CHICAGO (Jan. 11, 2018): Unused prescription painkillers lying around the home have proven to be a major source of drugs supplying the nation's opioid epidemic, 1 but a new patient education brochure that describes safe disposal practices of unused pain pills can be a low-cost and effective way of getting patients to properly dispose of their leftover medications, according to study results publi
Do less harm: E-cigarettes a safer option than smoking :: Quitting smoking is among the top New Year's resolutions, but is notoriously difficult to do and often requires multiple attempts and strategies. A growing body of research points to using a harm minimization approach for smoking cessation. Harm minimization recognizes that while quitting smoking altogether is ideal, reducing exposure to harmful cigarette smoke by switching to safer nicotine prod
New polygenic hazard score predicts when men develop prostate cancer :: An international team, led by researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, has developed and validated a genetic tool for predicting age of onset of aggressive prostate cancer, a disease that kills more than 26,000 American men annually. The tool, described in the January 11 online issue of the BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal ), may potentially be used to
Stevie Wonder wows crowd on 'smart' piano at tech show :: Trying to distinguish your product among the thousands at the CES gadget show is no easy feat, so it helps when music legend Stevie Wonder pays an unexpected visit.
South Korea’s Cryptocurrency Trading Ban Is No Done Deal :: South Korea’s Cryptocurrency Trading Ban Is No Done Deal The government of South Korea is considering a ban on cryptocurrency trading, but it’s by no means guaranteed to come into effect. The news: The nation’s justice minister revealed that the government is preparing legislation that would ban cryptocurrency… Read more The government of South Korea is considering a ban on cryptocurrency tradi
EU vil bruge 7,5 milliarder på fire computere :: EU vil investere 7,5 milliarder kroner i fire supercomputere. To af disse skal være i absolut verdensklasse, mens de to andre bliver et niveau under. Ambitionen er, at computerne skal stå færdige i 2020. Det oplyser Europa-Kommissionen i en pressemeddelelse . – Supercomputere er den motor, der driver den digitale økonomi. Det er et barsk kapløb, og EU halter på nuværende tidspunkt bagefter: Vi ha
Carmaker PSA picks new head of British unit Vauxhall :: Peugeot put their man in the driver's seat at Vauxhall French auto giant PSA, maker of Citroen and Peugeot vehicles, on Thursday picked the group's sales and marketing boss Stephen Norman to run its troubled UK brand Vauxhall. Norman will become managing director of Vauxhall Motors and Opel Ireland with effect from February 1, Vauxhall said in a statement just days after it axed 250 more jobs at
Finally, a Robot Smart Enough to Hand You the Wrench You Need :: Beware robots bearing power tools. The robot shown here, called ARMAR-6, could be one of the most advanced robotic helpers tested to date. But it could also mark the beginning of further encroachment by robots into areas of manual work. ARMAR-6 can already respond to simple voice commands in useful ways. Ask it to hand you a wrench, for example, and it will ask which one before giving you the cor
The House Passed a Bill to Renew a Controversial Foreign Surveillance Tool :: NYC to Big Oil: It’s Time to Pay for Climate Change New York City is suing five of the world's biggest oil firms in a bid to cover expensive preparations for rising sea levels and extreme weather. BP, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and Shell are all being taken to court by the city, reports the… Read more New York City is suing five of the world's biggest oil firms in a bid to cover expens
Shawn Brimley's Town :: We live in an era in which writers lament the end of expertise as a virtue and the president of the United States proudly eschews the nuances and details of his own policies, preferring to spend his days watching television. Nonetheless, elsewhere in the federal government each day, committed men and women from the three branches of government study, formulate, and execute public policy to serve
Airbnb 'disappointed' by Amsterdam plan to cut rentals :: Pointing out it contributed millions in tourist taxes in 2015 and 2016, Airbnb is challenging a Dutch ruling halving the limit for private home rentals in Amsterdam Rent-a-room giant Airbnb has voiced disappointment in Amsterdam's plans to impose a 30-day limit on letting private homes, saying it will harm the local economy. "We have built a responsible home sharing community on Airbnb benefiting
Yamaha motorcycle comes on command at CES event :: Yamaha's 'Motoroid' concept electric motorcycle reaches speeds topping 200 kilometers per hour but is blind, relying on pre-programmed routes With a wave, Kinji Asamura summoned a riderless motorcycle to his side in the Yamaha booth at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. The concept electric motorcycle , called 'Motoroid,' then balanced in position, holding its place even when A
New insight into climate impacts of deforestation :: Credit: Wikipedia. Deforestation is likely to warm the climate even more than originally thought, scientists warn. An international team of scientists, led by the University of Leeds, studied the way that reactive gases emitted by trees and vegetation affect the climate. Their research, published today in Nature Communications , found these reactive gases cool our climate, meaning deforestation w
100 år med symmetri, superheterodynprincip og spansk syge :: Skal man tro Knut Hamsun, gælder det, at om hundrede år er alting glemt . Det kan være der noget rigtigt i, men alting er nu lige godt nok et stærkt udtryk. Noget husker vi – eller bør huske – selv efter hundrede år. Det er også tilfældet med 1918, som jo var et markant år i verdenshistorien med afslutningen af Første Verdenskrig, som resulterede i et helt nyt europæisk landkort. Også inden for d
New studies aim to boost social science methods in conservation research :: Scientists have produced a series of papers designed to improve research on conservation and the environment. A group of researchers, led by the University of Exeter, have contributed to a special issue of the journal Methods in Ecology and Evolution to examine commonly used social science techniques and provide a checklist for scientists to follow. Traditional conservation biology has been domin
Pulses of light to encrypt data and protect security of cryptocurrencies :: Organic-molecule enhanced frequency comb. A single input laser (left) enters the spherical frequency comb generator that includes a single layer of organic molecules (4-diethylamino(styryl)]pyridinium, DASP). The light orbits inside the sphere over 10,000x in a few nanoseconds, interacting with the molecules during each orbit and resulting in the generation of the frequency comb. Credit: Vinh Die
Machine learning predicts new details of geothermal heat flux beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet :: Geothermal heat flux predictions for Greenland. Direct GHF measurements from the coastal rock cores, inferences from ice cores, and additional Gaussian-fit GHF data around ice core sites are used as training samples. Predictions are shown for three different values. The white dashed region roughly shows the extent of elevated heat flux and a possible trajectory of Greenland's movement over the Ic
Developing a secure, un-hackable net :: Credit: CC0 Public Domain A method of securely communicating between multiple quantum devices has been developed by a UCL-led team of scientists, bringing forward the reality of a large-scale, un- hackable quantum network. To date, communicating via quantum networks has only been possible between two devices of known provenance that have been built securely. With the EU and UK committing €1 bil
Team makes short nanotube samples by hand to dramatically cut production time :: Thread-like fibers created with a new, rapid method at Rice University are made of billions of carbon nanotubes that can be quickly aligned by shear force between slides. Credit: Complex Forms of Complex Fluids/Rice University The terms "handmade" and "high tech" are not commonly found in the same sentence, but they both apply to a Rice University method to quickly produce fibers from carbon nano
Scientists shed light on new low-cost material for seeing in the dark :: Dr. Wendy Sarney uses the molecular beam epitaxy machine at the US Army Research Laboratory to produce infrared detector materials with a new synthesis process. Credit: US Army Scientists at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory and Stony Brook University have developed a new synthesis process for low-cost fabrication of a material previously discounted in literature for high-sensitivity infrared cam
NASA team first to demonstrate X-ray navigation in space :: NICER's mirror assemblies concentrate X-rays onto silicon detectors to gather data that probes the interior makeup of neutron stars, including those that appear to flash regularly, called pulsars. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Keith Gendreau In a technology first, a team of NASA engineers has demonstrated fully autonomous X-ray navigation in space—a capability that could revolutioniz
Army scientists improve human-agent teaming by making AI agents more transparent :: The Autonomous Squad Member is a small ground robot that interacts with and communicates with an infantry squad. As part of the overall ASM program, Chen and colleagues developed transparency visualization concepts, which they used to investigate the effects of agent transparency levels on operator performance. Informed by the SAT model, the ASM's user interface features an '"at a glance" transpa
Correct warm-up reduces soccer injuries in children by half :: A warm-up program developed specially for children reduces soccer injuries by around 50 percent. Sports scientists from the University of Basel reported these findings in the academic journal Sports Medicine. A total of 243 teams comprising around 3,900 children from four European countries took part in the study.
Pulses of light to encrypt data and protect security of cryptocurrencies :: IMAGE: This is an image of organic-molecule enhanced frequency comb. A single input laser (left) enters the spherical frequency comb generator that includes a single layer of organic molecules (4-diethylamino(styryl)]pyridinium,… view more Credit: Vinh Diep and Alexa Hudnut Data travels through thousands of miles of fiber optic cables underneath the world's oceans–via pulses of light. An
Mount Sinai research discovers possible link between Crohn's & Parkinson's in Jewish population :: Mount Sinai Researchers have just discovered that patients in the Ashkenazi Jewish population with Crohn's disease (a chronic inflammatory of the digestive system) are more likely to carry the LRRK2 gene mutation. This gene is the major genetic cause of Parkinson's disease, which is a movement disorder. The study's findings, published in the January 10, 2018 issue of Science Translational Medicin
The Sanskrit Effect: How Verbal Recitation Boosts Cognitive Function :: You hear a lot of strange theories in yoga studios. In my 20 years of practicing yoga I’ve listened to plenty of suspect claims based on intuition rather than verified science, regardless of modern yogis calling the system an “ancient science.” That said, yoga holds up well in certain regards, for pain, flexibility, and stress. Now, you can add to this list the recitation of Sanskrit mantras. I’v
Is This Gorilla Mother Consciously Protecting Her Baby? :: Pasika and her infant have been traveling alone for more than seven months. Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund hide caption toggle caption Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Pasika and her infant have been traveling alone for more than seven months. Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund In a post published by the conservation organization Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (DFGFI) last month, the behavior of a mountain goril
New Volcano Survey Accounts for Materials Ejected from a Volcano :: New Volcano Survey Accounts for Materials Ejected from a Volcano Researchers used autonomous and remotely operated underwater vehicles to survey the Havre volcano in the Pacific Ocean, leading to a new discovery about submarine volcano deposits. Tags: Advertisement Related Video Every Issue. Every Year. 1845 – Present Neuroscience. Evolution. Health. Chemistry. Physics. Technology. Subscribe Now!
Genetic 'switches' behind human brain evolution :: Researchers have developed the first map of gene regulation in human neurogenesis, the process by which neural stem cells turn into brain cells and the cerebral cortex expands in size. The scientists identified factors that govern the growth of our brains and, in some cases, set the stage for several brain disorders that appear later in life.
Biologists create toolkit for tuning genetic circuits :: Scientists have created a toolkit for synthetic biologists who need to precisely tune the input and output levels of genetic circuits.
Machine learning predicts new details of geothermal heat flux beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet :: A new article uses machine learning for the first time to craft an improved model for understanding geothermal heat flux — heat emanating from the Earth's interior — below the Greenland Ice Sheet.
Hormone therapy may reduce eating disorder symptoms in transgender people :: The study was led by academics at the universities of Nottingham and Loughborough who recommend that clinicians working at eating disorder services should assess patients for gender identity issues and refer them to transgender health services to be evaluated for hormone treatment. Professor Jon Arcelus, of the Institute of Mental Health, based at the University of Nottingham, and at the Nottingh
Shedding some light on life in the Arctic :: IMAGE: UD marine scientist Jonathan Cohen studies winter darkness in the Arctic. view more Credit: University of Delaware Light is an important cue for nearly all life on Earth. Plants use light for photosynthesis, animals use light to set sleep cycles, and marine organisms use light to find food, avoid predators and even hide in plain sight. Since 2014, University of Delaware marine scie
Cycling does not damage men's sexual or urinary functions :: New York, Jan. 11, 2018 – Cycling is increasingly popular for transportation, exercise, and leisure, and its impact on sexual health has received a great deal of media attention, especially regarding erectile function. In a new report in The Journal of Urology ® , researchers found that contrary to some previous studies, neither recreational nor intense cycling appear to have a negative impact on
Re-programming innate immune cells to fight tuberculosis :: Tuberculosis (TB), an infectious disease which attacks the lungs, claims someone's life every 20 seconds and 1.5 million lives worldwide every year. A cure has eluded scientists for more than a century but, now, a Montreal team of researchers may have discovered a new weapon to combat this global killer. The team is re-programing – or 'training' – immune cells to kill TB. These groundbreaking find
Fast food makes the immune system more aggressive in the long term :: IMAGE: Prof. Dr. Eicke Latz and Dr. Anette Christ from the Institute for Innate Immunity of the University of Bonn investigated this question in a study. view more Credit: Volker Lannert/Uni Bonn The immune system reacts similarly to a high fat and high calorie diet as to a bacterial infection. This is shown by a recent study led by the University of Bonn. Particularly disturbing: Unhealthy food
Re-programming innate immune cells to fight tuberculosis :: MONTREAL, Jan. 11, 2018 – Tuberculosis (TB), an infectious disease which attacks the lungs, claims a life every 20 seconds and 1.5 million lives worldwide every year. A cure has eluded scientists for more than a century but, now, a Montreal team of researchers may have discovered a new weapon to combat this global killer. The team is re-programing – or 'training' – immune cells to make them kill
Estrogen-mimicking compounds in foods may reduce effectiveness of breast cancer treatment :: LA JOLLA, CA – Jan. 11, 2018 – Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have discovered that two estrogen-mimicking compounds found in many foods appear to potently reverse the effects of palbociclib/letrozole, a popular drug combination for treating breast cancer. The study, published today in the journal Cell Chemical Biology , suggests that exposure to chemical compounds called
By altering bone marrow, training can prepare innate immune system for future challenges :: When you receive a vaccine against a disease like polio or influenza, your immune system gears up to defend against that particular infection. If you wind up getting chickenpox instead, or even a slightly different strain of the flu, you would be out of luck. That's because traditional vaccines enlist the adaptive immune system, the functions of which are carried out largely by hyperspecific T an
The circadian clock sets the pace of plant growth :: IMAGE: These are Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. The seedling on the left is a wild-type and the one at the right has a mutation in the CDF5 gene that produces the protein… view more Credit: Guiomar Martín The recent award of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to the three American researchers Hall, Rosbash and Young for their "discoveries of molecular mechanisms controllin
Marijuana farms expose spotted owls to rat poison in northwest California :: IMAGE: This is a Northern spotted owl. view more Credit: J. Mark Higley/Hoopa Tribal Forestry Wildlife species are being exposed to high levels of rat poison in northwest California, with illegal marijuana farms the most likely source point, according to a study led by the University of California, Davis, with the California Academy of Sciences. The study, released Jan. 11 in the
Long-lasting adaptations of the innate immune system through the bone marrow :: Our immune system consists of two parts: innate immunity and adaptive immunity. Both help in fighting diseases but there is one big difference. Our innate immune system works rapidly and non-specifically: it destroys all invading organisms. Our adaptive immune system is more accurate: these immune cells are able to distinguish between the body's own cells and foreign cells. If they encounter an i
The nanoscopic structure that locks up our genes :: IMAGE: Made up of nucleosomes — roll-shaped bundles of DNA and protein — heterochromatin is connected by a velcro-like feature called Heterochromatin Protein 1. view more Credit: (Image: Yoshimasa Takizawa/OIST) Wireless headphones, two yo-yos connected by a string, earmuffs: all these items could be used to describe a tiny structure inside a cell's nucleus. For decades, scientists co
Surprise: A virus-like protein is important for cognition and memory :: SALT LAKE CITY – A protein involved in cognition and storing long-term memories looks and acts like a protein from viruses. The protein, called Arc, has properties similar to those that viruses use for infecting host cells, and originated from a chance evolutionary event that occurred hundreds of millions of years ago. The prospect that virus-like proteins could be the basis for a n
Super-adsorbent MOF captures twice its weight in water :: IMAGE: This figure shows the structure Hydrolytically stable and highly porous Cr-soc-MOF-1, which can capture twice its weight in adsorbed water. view more Credit: Prof. Mohamed Eddaoudi (KAUST) Material chemists in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have developed a superporous solid made up of a patchwork of metal ions and organic linkers (a metal-organic framework, or MOF) that can suck up to
Rising CO2 is causing trouble in freshwaters too, study suggests :: IMAGE: Predator induced defenses in Daphnia longicephala (top row, credit: Linda Weiss) and Daphnia pulex (bottom row, credit: Sina Becker). Left shows an undefended morphotype, right shows the defended morphotype. Insert… view more Credit: Linda Weiss and Sina Becker As carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere rise, more CO2 gets absorbed into seawater. As a result, the world's ocea
China Is Hoovering Up a Lot of the World’s Tech Talent :: NYC to Big Oil: It’s Time to Pay for Climate Change New York City is suing five of the world's biggest oil firms in a bid to cover expensive preparations for rising sea levels and extreme weather. BP, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and Shell are all being taken to court by the city, reports the… Read more New York City is suing five of the world's biggest oil firms in a bid to cover expens
Owls Dying Near Marijuana Farms (Here's Why) :: Northern spotted owls in some California counties are succumbing to rat poison used by marijuana growers. Credit: Shutterstock If asked, spotted owls would likely vote against marijuana legalization . New research reveals that several species, including the northern spotted owl, are succumbing to rat poison from thousands of "unpermitted private marijuana grow sites" in the northwestern Cal
Mystery dark matter may be ordinary neutrons that have decayed :: VOLKER SPRINGEL/MAX PLANCK INSTITUTE FOR ASTROPHYSICS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY By Anil Ananthaswamy The humble neutron could be hiding a deep, dark secret. For 20 years, two experiments that measure the lifetime of a neutron have been at odds. Now it seems that disconnect may be the result of neutrons occasionally decaying into particles of dark matter, the stuff that is thought to make up most
Five things to remember after getting the dreaded cancer diagnosis | Ranjana Srivastava :: A mid the greetings of the new year arrives a simple text message, “What do you think?” The story is familiar enough but this time, the cast is different. The patient is related to my childhood friend and across continents and time zone, I feel it all. The desperate bid to find an oncologist, the labyrinth of investigations, the profusion of advice, and above all, the acrid taste of fear arising
2017's natural disasters are going to cost us :: It often felt like 2017 was just a serious of epic disasters, and now we have empirical proof. 2017 was a historic year for weather and climate hazards, according to a report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with 16 severe weather events that each cost more than a billion dollars. 2017 now ties with 2011 for the highest-ever frequency of these costly weather events. And t
Nanotube fibers in a jiffy :: IMAGE: Thread-like fibers created with a new, rapid method at Rice University are made of billions of carbon nanotubes that can be quickly aligned by shear force between slides. view more Credit: Complex Forms of Complex Fluids/Rice University HOUSTON – (Jan. 11, 2018) – The terms "handmade" and "high tech" are not commonly found in the same sentence, but they both apply to a Rice U
UT Dallas study: Recent spikes in homicide rates don't tell whole story :: IMAGE: This is Dr. Andrew P. Wheeler. view more Credit: The University of Texas at Dallas Recent spikes in homicide rates across the nation have been attributed to causes ranging from civil unrest to the opioid epidemic, but new UT Dallas research published in the journal Homicide Studies found a much simpler explanation: The increases follow predictable fluctuations in rates over the past
Developing a secure, un-hackable net :: A method of securely communicating between multiple quantum devices has been developed by a UCL-led team of scientists, bringing forward the reality of a large-scale, un- hackable quantum network. To date, communicating via quantum networks has only been possible between two devices of known provenance that have been built securely. With the EU and UK committing €1 billion and £270 million* r
Population-specific deep biomarkers of aging :: IMAGE: Insilico Medicine develops a novel deep-learning based hematological human aging clock. view more Credit: Insilico Medicine Thursday, Jan. 11th, Baltimore, MD – Today, Insilico Medicine, Inc., a Baltimore-based company specializing in the application of artificial intelligence for drug discovery, biomarker development and aging research, announced a publication of a research paper ti
Matter: Climate Change Is Altering Lakes and Streams, Study Suggests :: These tiny, shrimplike creatures filter algae and microbes from water. They are devoured in turn by small fish, which are eaten by bigger fish. If rising carbon dioxide were to affect water fleas, Dr. Weiss reasoned, it could influence the entire lake ecosystem. Water fleas use a bizarre but sophisticated defense to escape predators. They can sense chemicals given off by fish in their vicinity, a
Rising CO2 is causing trouble in freshwaters too, study suggests :: Predator induced defenses in Daphnia longicephala (top row, credit: Linda Weiss) and Daphnia pulex (bottom row, credit: Sina Becker). Left shows an undefended morphotype, right shows the defended morphotype. Insert shows magnification of expressed neckteeth. These morphological features render Daphnia less susceptible to predators. When the expression of these defensive traits is hampered by high
Super-adsorbent MOF captures twice its weight in water :: This figure shows the structure Hydrolytically stable and highly porous Cr-soc-MOF-1, which can capture twice its weight in adsorbed water. Credit: Prof. Mohamed Eddaoudi (KAUST) Material chemists in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have developed a superporous solid made up of a patchwork of metal ions and organic linkers (a metal-organic framework, or MOF) that can suck up to 200% of its own weight
No, Ripple Isn’t the Next Bitcoin :: Not all cryptocurrencies are created equal. Don’t tell that to investors in XRP, though. In the last month the currency owned by Ripple, a company that bills itself as using blockchain technology to build the payment system of the future, soared in price by a whopping 700 percent. XRP’s overall value pushed up to nearly $150 billion and briefly made Chris Larsen, Ripple’s cofounder, one of the ri
Going into Space Crushes the Delicate Nerves in Your Eyeballs :: Astronaut Ed White performed the first American spacewalk during the Gemini 4 mission on June 3, 1965. Credit: NASA Two delicate, bundled stalks of nerve tissue erupt forward from the brain, slip between gaps in the backs of each eyeball, and attach themselves gently to the rear of each retina. These are the optic nerves, the transmitters linking human beings to their powers of sight. And now r
Study examines genetic link between epilepsy and mood disorders :: Jan. 11, 2018 — Mood disorders, including depression, are the most common comorbid conditions in individuals with epilepsy, but the cause remains unclear, according to a latest study by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and Rutgers University. The findings suggest that there may be a shared genetic susceptibility to these conditions, expressed only in people wi
Stem cell-rich cord blood donations could increase by 'nudging' parents, study suggests :: IMAGE: Nicola Lacetera is an Associate Professor in the Department of Management at the University of Toronto Mississauga, with a cross-appointment to the University's Rotman School of Management. He is also… view more Credit: Rotman School Toronto – It contains potentially lifesaving stem cells that can treat a host of blood-based cancers and other diseases. Yet the blood found in newbor
Army scientists improve human-agent teaming by making AI agents more transparent :: IMAGE: The Autonomous Squad Member is a small ground robot that interacts with and communicates with an infantry squad. As part of the overall ASM program, Chen and colleagues developed transparency… view more Credit: Photo Courtesy Dr. Jessie Y. Chen U.S. Army Research Laboratory scientists developed ways to improve collaboration between humans and artificially intelligent agents in two
New studies aim to boost social science methods in conservation research :: Scientists have produced a series of papers designed to improve research on conservation and the environment. A group of researchers, led by the University of Exeter, have contributed to a special issue of the journal Methods in Ecology and Evolution to examine commonly used social science techniques and provide a checklist for scientists to follow. Traditional conservation biology has been domin
Researchers map out genetic 'switches' behind human brain evolution :: IMAGE: UCLA researchers mapped the genetic on/off switches driving neurogenesis in the brain and shaping the expansion of human cortex. The image shows schematics of slices of the mouse, macaque and… view more Credit: Luis de la Torre-Ubieta/UCLA Health FINDINGS UCLA researchers have developed the first map of gene regulation in human neurogenesis, the process by which neural stem c
Machine learning predicts new details of geothermal heat flux beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet :: IMAGE: These are geothermal heat flux predictions for Greenland. Direct GHF measurements from the coastal rock cores, inferences from ice cores, and additional Gaussian-fit GHF data around ice core sites are… view more Credit: KU News Service LAWRENCE — A paper appearing in Geophysical Research Letters uses machine learning to craft an improved model for understanding geothermal heat
Tracing how disaster impacts escalate will improve emergency responses :: Mapping common pathways along which the effects of natural and man-made disasters travel allows more flexible and resilient responses in the future, according to UCL researchers. Naturally occurring extreme space weather events or man-made cyber security attacks affect critical infrastructure through shared points of vulnerability, causing disasters to cascade into scenarios that threaten life
Are women really under-represented in clinical trials? :: Several studies have reported a lack of gender diversity in clinical trials, with trials including mostly adult males; however, a recent review of publicly available registration data of clinical trials at the US Food and Drug Administration for the most frequently prescribed drug classes found no evidence of any systemic significant under-representation of women. The findings are published in th
New insight into climate impacts of deforestation :: Deforestation is likely to warm the climate even more than originally thought, scientists warn. An international team of scientists, led by the University of Leeds, studied the way that reactive gases emitted by trees and vegetation affect the climate. Their research, published today in Nature Communications , found these reactive gases cool our climate, meaning deforestation would lead to higher
How Do Infant Immune Systems Learn to Tolerate Gut Bacteria? :: Scientists are beginning to unravel the ways in which we develop a healthy relationship with the bugs in our bodies.
Theresa May defends 'long-term' plastic waste plan :: Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Theresa May: A plan to 'nurture' environment Theresa May has defended her 25-year plan to protect the environment as campaigners called for "emergency" action now. The prime minister said her long-term strategy, including eradicating all avoidable plastic waste in the UK by 2042, would allow future generations to "enjoy a beautiful enviro
A major step forward in organic electronics :: IMAGE: These are the worlds first complementary electrochemical logic circuits. view more Credit: Thor Balkhed Researchers at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Linköping University, have developed the world's first complementary electrochemical logic circuits that can function stably for long periods in water. This is a highly significant breakthrough in the development of bioelectroni
Big pharma playing system to secure lucrative funding deals in Central Europe :: New research, from an international group of health policy experts led by the University of Bath (UK), reports a mixed picture of transparency in public decisions-making around new medicine approvals in Poland, one of Europe's largest pharmaceutical markets. Despite a troubled relationship with the European Commission, Poland has been hailed as a leader in modernising its assessment systems in es
New AI technology significantly improves human kidney analysis :: (Boston)–The ability to quantify the extent of kidney damage and predict the life remaining in the kidney, using an image obtained at the time when a patient visits the hospital for a kidney biopsy, now is possible using a computer model based on artificial intelligence (AI). The findings, which appear in the journal Kidney International Reports , can help make predictions at the point-of-care a
UMass Amherst team reports gambling research results to Massachusetts Gaming Commission :: IMAGE: Epidemiologist Rachel Volberg at UMass Amherst, lead investigator of the first major cohort study of adult gambling in the US, says results will lead researchers to think about gambling behavior… view more Credit: UMass Amherst AMHERST, Mass. – Results of a baseline study on gambling behavior in Massachusetts that establishes how people participated – or not – in gambling prior to
Fragments of book recovered from wreck of Blackbeard's ship :: The notorious 18th-century pirate Blackbeard may have whiled away the hours between raids by curling up with a good book, according to a new discovery. Archaeological conservators in North Carolina working on the wreckage of Blackbeard’s flagship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, found 16 tiny fragments of paper “in a mess of wet sludge” that had been in the chamber of a cannon. They worked for months t
Brain in the News :: Image: Shutterstock Are you subscribed to Brain in the News? Our free, monthly periodical has been circulating around the globe by the tens of thousands since 1994, keeping readers up to date with trending stories in the field of neuroscience. In each issue, you’ll find articles sourced online from laboratories, universities, prestigious magazines and newspapers, and the researchers themselves. E
A Tribute to Ben Barres :: A Tribute to Ben Barres Posted by Catie Profaci on January 11, 2018 in Neuroscience | Leave a comment I will never forget the first time I met Ben Barres. It was October, 2015 and I was in Chicago for the annual Society for Neuroscience conference. I was absentmindedly walking through the conference hall lobby one evening when I noticed Ben and a few former Barres lab scientists standing in a sma
Oprydning for millioner: Danmark betaler for at fjerne amerikansk forurening i Grønland :: Forvitrede kraner. Krøllede jerndragere fra flyhangarer. Bæltekøretøjer. Landingsbaner. Kemikalier. Og hundredvis af rustne olietønder dumpet i fjeldet. Efterladenskaberne fra USA’s militære aktiviteter under under Anden Verdenskrig og den kolde krig ligger overalt i landet og omfatter lidt af hvert. Affaldet og uviljen mod at rydde op har frustreret grønlænderne i årtier. Nu får de en hjælpende
Urban insects are more resilient in extreme weather :: Amy Savage searches New York City medians for ants as cars pass by. Credit: Lauren Nichols A study led by Amy Savage, a Rutgers University-Camden assistant professor of biology, will help researchers understand how to make predictions and conservation decisions about how organisms living in cities will respond to catastrophic weather events. Savage's analysis, conducted in New York City, compared
River Floods Will Threaten Tens of Millions in Next 25 Years :: Climate change will put tens of millions more people around the world at risk of exposure to flooding rivers over the next 25 years, an alarming new study reports—unless policymakers invest in significant adaptation measures. While rising sea levels can increase the risk of coastal flooding, the study focuses instead on fluvial floods, which happen when rivers overflow their banks. As global
Build a Rubber Band–Powered Car :: Key concepts Physics Potential energy Kinetic energy Conservation of energy Simple machine Introduction Admit it, you’ve probably launched a rubber band at least once—pulled one end back, and let it go flying. Did you ever suspect that rubber bands could also be a fun way to learn about physics and engineering? Find out in this project where you’ll build a rubber band–powered car.
Urban insects are more resilient in extreme weather :: CAMDEN – A study led by Amy Savage, a Rutgers University-Camden assistant professor of biology, will help researchers understand how to make predictions and conservation decisions about how organisms living in cities will respond to catastrophic weather events. Savage's analysis, conducted in New York City, compared the diversity of arthropods – insects such as ants, bees, beetles, and wasps – th
White graphene makes ceramics multifunctional :: IMAGE: Bilayer white graphene (middle layer) combined with calcium-silicate creates a multifunctional ceramic with high strength and toughness, according to a Rice University lab. The material may be suitable for construction… view more Credit: Rouzbeh Shahsavari/Rice University A little hBN in ceramics could give them outstanding properties, according to a Rice University scientist. Ro
Researchers engineer ultra-sensitive temperature sensor :: Can a "thermometer" consist of a thin film or tiny (micrometer or even nanometer scale) particles, operate in real time and in very well-defined regions with a spatial resolution ranging from a centimeter to a micrometer, and be capable of measuring temperatures with exceptional sensitivity in a wide band between 80 kelvin (minus 193 °C) and 750 kelvin (476 °C)? The answer is yes. The device, c
Rice University biologists create toolkit for tuning genetic circuits :: IMAGE: This is Escherichia coli . view more Credit: National Institutes of Health Rice University scientists have created a toolkit for synthetic biologists who need to precisely tune the input and output levels of genetic circuits. The research, which is online in Nature Communications , is a boon for life scientists who systematically engineer bacteria and other organisms to perform
Why This Popular Dating Website Can't Call Itself "Scientifically Proven" Anymore :: It is truly a golden age for introverts who want to find love but hate going out. The advent of online dating allows people to find love anytime or anywhere, and often from the comfort of their own homes. While some of the apps and websites, notably Tinder, are superficial in nature, others have found their niche in trying to match users based on compatibility. Some achieve this by reducing the s
Nets skal drifte NemID, indtil MitID en dag bliver klar :: Digitaliseringsstyrelsen har opbrugt alle muligheder for at forlænge kontrakten om NemID med Nets, men NemID’s afløser – nu kendt som MitID – er kun lige kommet i udbud. Derfor har styrelsen nu med en såkaldt profylaksebekendtgørelse meddelt, at der er lavet en ny aftale med Nets – uden et egentligt udbud – der sikrer drift af NemID indtil midten af 2021 til en pris på 128 millioner. »Det er en k
How record collectors find lost music and preserve our cultural heritage | Alexis Charpentier :: For generations, record collectors have played a vital role in the preservation of musical and cultural heritage by "digging" for obscure music created by overlooked artists. Alexis Charpentier shares his love of records — and stories of how collectors have given forgotten music a second chance at being heard. Learn more about the culture of record digging (and, maybe, pick up a new hobby) with t
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Google Photos Still Has a Problem with Gorillas :: NYC to Big Oil: It’s Time to Pay for Climate Change New York City is suing five of the world's biggest oil firms in a bid to cover expensive preparations for rising sea levels and extreme weather. BP, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and Shell are all being taken to court by the city, reports the… Read more New York City is suing five of the world's biggest oil firms in a bid to cover expens
Does Serena Williams Have The Willpower To Ace The 'Marshmallow Test'? :: German and Cameroonian kids were part of a recent experiment based on the classic "marshmallow test": Put a single treat before a child but tell the child if he or she waits, say, 10 minutes, a second treat will be given. Nathalie Dieterle for NPR hide caption toggle caption Nathalie Dieterle for NPR German and Cameroonian kids were part of a recent experiment based on the classic "marshmallow te
Kitchen welfare :: Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Lobsters may not exhibit recognisable symptoms of pain, but that doesn't mean they don't experience it, say some scientists "Lobster is one of those rare foods that you cook from a live state," the recipe says. "Quickly plunge lobsters head-first into the boiling water… Boil for 15 minutes," the recipe then instructs . It's the tried-and-trusted method
Students more engaged and attentive following outdoor lesson in nature :: A study recently published in open-access journal Frontiers in Psychology has found that 9-10 year-old children are significantly more attentive and engaged with their schoolwork following an outdoor lesson in nature. Strikingly, this "nature effect" allowed teachers to teach uninterrupted for almost twice as long during a subsequent indoor lesson. The results suggest that outdoor lessons may be
Education and income determine whether women participate in cervical screening :: IMAGE: This is professor Björn Strander, Sahlgrenksa Academy, Sweden. view more Credit: Photo by Malin Arnesson The impression that foreign-born women in Sweden more often are excluded from gynecological cancer screening needs to be reconsidered. A study from Sahlgrenska Academy, published in the journal PLOS One , makes it clear that foreign-born women participate to the same extent as wom
What happens when your brain's support cells aren't so supportive? :: IMAGE: The researchers from left: Matthew Boisvert and Nicola Allen. view more Credit: Salk Institute LA JOLLA — (Jan. 10, 2018) Potentially explaining why even healthy brains don't function well with age, Salk researchers have discovered that genes that are switched on early in brain development to sever connections between neurons as the brain fine-tunes, are again activated in aging
Pladespilleren lever det gode liv på tech-messe i Las Vegas :: På den årlige CES-messe i Las Vegas præsenteres gadgets i alle afskygninger fra både de store producenter, og nogle du sikkert ikke har hørt om. Nogle af messens evergreens er bærbare computere, musikanlæg og fladskærms-tv. Det er produkter, der kan sælges i millionvis, fordi de er en fast del af mange forbrugeres liv. Derfor præsenteres de også med pomp og pragt på messen. Men der er også andre
Busting 10 Common Myths about the "Greatest Pandemic in History" :: The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation , an online publication covering the latest research. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the great influenza pandemic of 1918 . Between 50 and 100 million people are thought to have died, representing as much as 5 percent of the world’s population. Half a billion people were infected. Especially remarkable was th
The Art of Cell Line Development :: Cell line development (CLD), like a work of art, requires a harmonious interplay between many disparate elements to create a cohesive whole. These elements each present their own potential issues, which need to be overcome in order to optimize productivity. Learn about what problems can affect your CLD processes, and how automation can help solve them, with this poster from Beckman Coulter!
Rising temperatures turning major sea turtle population female :: Scientists have used a new research approach to show that warming temperatures are turning one of the world's largest sea turtle colonies almost entirely female, running the risk that the colony cannot sustain itself in coming decades, newly published research concludes.
Evolution acceptance in children linked to aptitude, not belief :: In contrast to adults, acceptance of evolution in schoolchildren in the UK is linked to their scientific aptitude rather than conflicts with belief systems, say scientists.
This fast radio burst is unusually twisty :: Astronomers have found that fast radio burst FRB 121102—a brief, gigantic pulse of radio waves from 3 billion light years away—passes through a veil of magnetized plasma. This causes the cosmic blasts to “shout and twist, ” which will help the scientists determine the source. “This sort of enormous Faraday rotation is extremely rare.” The “shouting” represents the bursts, and the “twisting” descr
Amazon looks to build on 1st season of NFL streaming :: Amazon had a mostly successful debut into live streaming of major sports events, with increased audience and an improved viewing experience in its first season showing NFL games. The question looking ahead is how aggressively will Amazon be in the sports streaming landscape? "It's too soon to say," said Jim DeLorenzo, the head of Amazon Sports. "We're just in the early stages here. We were defi
Virus cause of more than 170 dolphin deaths in Brazil :: Brazilian scientists say a virus is the main cause for the death of close to 200 gray dolphins in little more than 40 days on the coast of Rio de Janeiro state.
Retaliatory violence between police and citizens is primed by social media :: Does social media coverage of fatal police-citizen incidents act as a virtual contagion? If a member of the public is killed by police, does it lead to future violence against law enforcement? Conversely, if an officer is killed in the line of duty, does it lead to future violence against citizens? These are some of the questions raised in a new study published today in the scientific journal PLO
Why the Republican Party may have an advantage when it rains: Voters change their minds :: Bad weather affects U.S. voter turnout and election outcomes with past research demonstrating that the Republican Party has the advantage. A new study by researchers at Dartmouth College and The Australian National University finds that the Republican Party's advantage when it rains may be due in part to voters changing their partisan preference that day. The study published in American Politics
Pelican Spiders Are the Weirdest-Looking Assassins You'll Ever See :: The pelican spider's long neck and beak-like pincers give it an almost birdy appearance. Don't be fooled: they're stone cold killers. Credit: Hannah Wood, Smithsonian Once upon a time, 165 million years ago, there lived a spider who looked like a pelican. About the size of a grain of rice and just as quiet, the pelican spider tiptoed under foliage in the leafy parts of the world, looking for pr
Maintaining tiger connectivity and minimising extinction into the next century :: Tigers have lost 95% of their historical range, and what remains is highly fragmented. According to this study, high traffic roads and densely populated urban areas are a severe impediment to tiger movement between fragments. Unplanned development in the future will result in loss of connectivity and an increased possibility of extinction for several tiger populations. To ensure future persistenc
Teenagers gamble away their education :: The odds are stacked against teenagers who regularly gamble. A new study in Springer's Journal of Gambling Studies shows that a 14-year-old who gambles is more likely to struggle at school. The study was led by Frank Vitaro of the University of Montreal, Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center and the Research Unit on Children's Psychosocial Maladjustment in Canada. In this long-term population-b
Study identifies brain circuit controlling social behavior :: A new study by researchers at Roche in Basel, Switzerland has identified a key brain region of the neural circuit that controls social behavior. Increasing the activity of this region, called the habenula, led to social problems in rodents, whereas decreasing activity of the region prevented social problems.
Maintaining tiger connectivity and minimizing extinction into the next century :: The study was undertaken by a team of researchers from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), the Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT), the Foundation for Ecological Research, Advocacy and Learning (FERAL), and the University of Montana. The team used genetic information collected on field from tiger faecal samples, to understand how landscape features–like roads and agriculture–impac
New biomarkers for colorectal cancer :: Researchers from the University of Luxembourg found a new biomarker for colorectal cancer (CRC) that might improve therapy and survival rates of patients. Biomarkers are measurable biological indicators for a specific disease, such as changes in the amounts of certain proteins that occur in combination with certain illnesses. Such biomarkers help physicians to diagnose a condition, identify the d
Why the Republican Party may have an advantage when it rains: Voters change their minds :: Bad weather affects U.S. voter turnout and election outcomes with past research demonstrating that the Republican Party has the advantage. A new study by researchers at Dartmouth College and The Australian National University finds that the Republican Party's advantage when it rains may be due in part to voters changing their partisan preference that day. The study published in American Politics
New expert guidance on contact precautions for drug-resistant infections :: NEW YORK (Jan. 11, 2018) – New expert guidance released today by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America advises hospitals on determining when they can safely discontinue contact precautions for patients with multi-drug resistant bacteria. The framework, published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology , addresses how long hospital staff should use these safety protocols to red
Spider eat spider: Scientists discover 18 new spider-hunting pelican spiders in Madagascar :: IMAGE: Pelican spiders are beautiful and iconic Madagascan spiders. They have a bizarre appearance, with a long "neck " and chelicerae ( "jaws ") that are used to prey on other spiders from a… view more Credit: Nikolaj Scharff In 1854, a curious-looking spider was found preserved in 50 million-year-old amber. With an elongated neck-like structure and long mouthparts that protruded f
Retaliatory violence between police and citizens is primed by social media :: Does social media coverage of fatal police-citizen incidents act as a virtual contagion? If a member of the public is killed by police, does it lead to future violence against law enforcement? Conversely, if an officer is killed in the line of duty, does it lead to future violence against citizens? These are some of the questions raised in a new study published today in the scientific journal PLO
Gajah Makmur Journal: Wildlife Detectives Pursue the Case of Dwindling Elephants in Indonesia :: Further complicating matters in these cases, villagers are often reluctant to give information to the police that could get community members in trouble, said Supintri Yohar, a field coordinator for Auriga, a local conservation organization. The wildlife society’s detectives typically approach poaching suspects, often posing as buyers, to track wildlife parts to market, and then deliver evidence
New hope for critically endangered Myanmar snub-nosed monkey :: Eight years after the discovery of a new primate species in Myanmar, scientists have released a new report revealing how the 'snubby' is faring.
Moog Music Drummer From Another Mother (DFAM): Price, Specs, Release Date :: The folks at Moog Music aren't content just making ridiculously fun synthesizers, iPad apps , and effects boxes for creative musicians. The company now is dipping into percussion—it's newest product, announced today, is a drum machine called the Drummer From Another Mother. Well, hang on. It's not exactly a drum machine. It's a monophonic, semi-modular, analog percussion synthesizer. That's a lot
Finally, a Drone That Could Lift a Refrigerator :: NYC to Big Oil: It’s Time to Pay for Climate Change New York City is suing five of the world's biggest oil firms in a bid to cover expensive preparations for rising sea levels and extreme weather. BP, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and Shell are all being taken to court by the city, reports the… Read more New York City is suing five of the world's biggest oil firms in a bid to cover expens
Chronic inflammation causing loss of muscle mass :: Elevated levels of the inflammation marker CRP in the blood is an underlying cause of the loss of muscle mass in elderly persons, according to a new study.
As climate is warming up, more bird nests are destroyed in Finnish farmland :: IMAGE: This is a lapwing's nest on sowed field. view more Credit: Andrea Santangeli Finnish farmers are adapting to the warming climate by anticipating the time when they sow their fields in the spring. At the same time, birds have also advanced the time of breeding as the spring temperatures are becoming milder in response to climate change. A new study shows that birds have shifted the
Clothes make the woman: Less empathy towards women showing more skin :: The way we appear, the way we look, has always been a crucial element in every social interaction, romantic or not. The use of sexualized representations of the individual, with a consequent emphasis on sexual body parts, is, especially in western society, a common way to induce emotions (especially pleasure) with the goal to increase the hedonic value of the associated object (see everyday media
Study examines link between epilepsy and mood disorders :: Mood disorders, including depression, are the most common comorbid conditions in individuals with epilepsy, but the cause remains unclear. Results from a new Epilepsia study suggest that there may be a shared genetic susceptibility to these conditions, expressed only in people with focal epilepsy (in which seizures start in one part of the brain). In the study, which included 60 unusual families
Spider eat spider: Scientists discover 18 new spider-hunting pelican spiders in Madagascar :: Eriauchenius milajaneae (pictured above) is one of the 18 new species of pelican spiders from Madagascar described by the scientists. This species was named after Wood's daughter, and is known only from one remote mountain in the southeast of Madagascar. Wood made a field expedition to this mountain to find this spider in 2008 but was unsuccessful. So far, this species is only known from two fema
Medical Marijuana: Where is the evidence? :: This year will bring a Canada Day for the history books. Only July 1, 2018, recreational marijuana (also called cannabis) will be legalized and regulated in Canada . The federal Cannabis Act creates a legal framework for producing, possessing and selling marijuana across Canada, meaning that each Canadian province will set its own rules to oversee its distribution, subject to federal government c
Climate Scientists Unlock the Secrets of Blue Carbon :: Tidal wetlands come in many forms, but they could be more alike below the surface than anyone realized. Whether it’s a mangrove forest in Florida, a freshwater swamp in Virginia or a saltwater marsh in Oregon, the amount of carbon locked in a soil sample from each of these coastal ecosystems is roughly the same. That’s the surprising message from a new analysis of some 1,900 soil cores collec
VIDEO: Sådan bruger ung ingeniør fagets værktøjer til at slå cykelrekord :: Martin Toft Madsen, cykelrytter og fuldtidsingeniør, bruger alle ingeniørfagets værktøjer på cykelbanen. Følg hans sidste træning inden dagens forsøg på at slå den danske timerekord.
How to choose the best smart TV for your viewing habits :: The right smart TV can vastly improve your home entertainment, filling your living room with on-demand content from Netflix , Hulu, Amazon Prime , and other streaming companies. But choosing the perfect set for your viewing habits means deciding on the screen resolution, display technology, and of course the platform that will serve as the device's brains. Smart-TV specs can seem confusing, but w
Objectification of women results in lack of empathy :: Sexualized representations, especially the emphasis of secondary sexual characteristics, can change the way we perceive an individual. Researchers have shown that empathic feelings and brain responses are reduced when we observe the emotions of sexualized women.
Mediterranean diet may help protect older adults from becoming frail :: An analysis of published studies indicates that following the Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of frailty in older individuals. The findings suggest that a diet emphasizing primarily plant-based foods — such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts — may help keep people healthy and independent as they age.
Turkey-sized dinosaur from Australia preserved in an ancient log-jam :: The partial skeleton of a new species of turkey-sized herbivorous dinosaur has been discovered in 113-million-year-old rocks in southeastern Australia. The fossilized tail and foot bones give new insight into the diversity of small, bipedal herbivorous dinosaurs called ornithopods that roamed the great rift valley that once existed between Australia and Antarctica.
Frozen embryos result in just as many live births in IVF :: Freezing and subsequent transfer of embryos gives infertile couples just as much of a chance of having a child as using fresh embryos for in vitro fertilization (IVF), researchers have found.
Higher-ranked colleges don't necessarily provide a better educational experience :: College rankings dominate the conversation regarding quality in postsecondary education, but new research reveals that rankings have little to no relationship to student engagement, an important indicator of collegiate quality.
'Decorated' stem cells could offer targeted heart repair :: 'Decorating' cardiac stem cells with platelet nanovesicles can increase the stem cells' ability to find and remain at the site of heart attack injury and enhance their effectiveness in treatment.
Marijuana farms expose spotted owls to rat poison in Northwest California :: Northern spotted owl. Credit: J. Mark Higley/Hoopa Tribal Forestry Wildlife species are being exposed to high levels of rat poison in northwest California, with illegal marijuana farms the most likely source point, according to a study led by the University of California, Davis, with the California Academy of Sciences. The study, released Jan. 11 in the journal Avian Conservation and Ecology , sh
New Sandia balloon-borne infrasound sensor array detects explosions :: Sandia National Laboratories geophysicists Danny Bowman, left, and Sarah Albert display an infrasound sensor and the box used to protect the sensors from the extreme temperatures experienced by balloons that take the sensors twice as high as commercial jets fly. Credit: Randy Montoya Sheets of plastic similar to that used for garbage bags, packing tape, some string, a little charcoal dust and a w
Image: China's space station Tiangong-1 :: Credit: A. Figer This vivid image shows China's space station Tiangong-1 – the name means 'heavenly palace' – and was captured by French astrophotographer Alain Figer on 27 November 2017. It was taken from a ski area in the Hautes-Alpes region of southeast France as the station passed overhead near dusk. The station is seen at lower right as a white streak, resulting from the exposure of several
Cheops' pyramid: Is there an iron throne in the newly discovered chamber? :: IMAGE: North-south section of the Great Pyramid showing (dust-filled area) the hypothetical project of the chamber, in connection with the lower southern shaft. The upper southern shaft does not intersects the… view more Credit: Giulio Magli In early November 2017, Nature published the results of the Scan Pyramids project, led by Mehdi Tayoubi (Hip Institute, Paris) and Kunihiro Moris
Cell biology: Positioning the cleavage furrow :: Researchers from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich have identified a signaling pathway that restricts cleavage furrow formation to the mid-plane of the cell. Cell division is a fundamental biological process which ensures that, following the replication of the mother cell's genome, the two sets of chromosomes are equally distributed between two daughter cells. Chromosomes are segreg
What sort of stream networks do scientific ideas flow along? :: IMAGE: This is a graph showing the flow of ideas initiated by Prof. H. Eugene Stanley. Connections between collaborators show the existence of several clearly visible sub-networks, corresponding to scientific communities… view more Credit: IFJ PAN When scientists have an interesting idea, the result is usually a joint publication. At the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish
Closed marriage: An orchid that never blooms :: IMAGE: Figure 1: L. nigricans in Iwata, Nishimuro County, Wakayama prefecture. The flowers never bloom, but the plant still fruits view more Credit: Kenji Suetsugu Lecanorchis nigricansin Kami City, Kochi Prefecture. Timelapse footage created from shots taken every 30 minutes between July 27 and August 27, 2017. The plant does not bloom for the whole month, but despite this it still b
Inhabil overlæge forstår ingenting: Det er højst mærkværdigt :: Både Region Midtjyllands jurister og Ankestyrelsen mener, at ledende overlæge og regionsrådsmedlem Ulrich Fredberg (V) er inhabil, og dermed ikke kan sidde i regionens hospitalsudvalg. Fredberg selv er uforstående.
Forhastet lovforslag kan føre os tilbage til 2007 :: I stedet for at haste et uigennemtænkt forslag igennem bør man sætte sig sammen med personer, der rent faktisk ved noget om området, og få lavet en mere langsigtet plan for, hvad der er man vil med akupunkturen i Danmark.
NYC to Big Oil: It’s Time to Pay for Climate Change :: NYC to Big Oil: It’s Time to Pay for Climate Change New York City is suing five of the world's biggest oil firms in a bid to cover expensive preparations for rising sea levels and extreme weather. BP, Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and Shell are all being taken to court by the city, reports the… Read more New York City is suing five of the world's biggest oil firms in a bid to cover expens
India's TCS records 3.6% decline in quarterly profits :: India's biggest IT sourcing firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on Thursday reported a 3.6 percent fall in quarterly earnings due to falling demand for its banking and financial services.
Researchers implement 3-qubit Grover search on a quantum computer :: The three stages of the 3-qubit Grover search algorithm: initialization, oracle, and amplification. Credit: C. Figgatt et al. Published in Nature Communications Searching large, unordered databases for a desired item is a time-consuming task for classical computers, but quantum computers are expected to perform these searches much more quickly. Previous research has shown that Grover's search alg
Gun Terrorism Is the Deadliest Kind :: Terrorist bombings garner a lot of news coverage—but gun assaults are often more coldly efficient. Although firearms are used in only a small fraction of terror strikes, a recent study found that on a per-attack basis, guns are four times deadlier than other methods in high-income countries. “What was surprising was the lethality of firearm attacks compared with other things like explosions a
Dialogmøde skal finde løsninger på vægtlægegebyr :: I dag mødes læger, regioner, Sundheds- og Ældreministeriet og Styrelsen for Patientsikkerhed for i fællesskab at kortlægge problemstillingen med vagtlægerne og at finde en løsning.
Evolution acceptance in children linked to aptitude, not belief :: In contrast to adults, acceptance of evolution in schoolchildren in the UK is linked to their scientific aptitude rather than conflicts with belief systems, say scientists at the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath. Previous studies in the USA have shown that adults that strongly reject evolution are often highly educated but reject the scientific consensus owing to conflicts wi
Cervical lesions change fastest in Hispanics, slowest in blacks–for better and worse :: IMAGE: Hispanic women progressed the fastest, moving from the innocuous ASC-US stage to worrisome HSIL lesions within 17.6 months, whereas black women took 27.6 months to reach that critical state. However,… view more Credit: Journal of the American Osteopathic Association CHICAGO–January 11, 2018–Physicians determining treatment options following abnormal Pap smears now have another factor t
The complexities of clouds and the seeds that make them :: Clouds are complicated. Each cloud formation depends on the timing of the water cycle–in which water evaporates from Earth's surface, condensates in the atmosphere and falls back down–as well as the types of aerosols in the atmosphere. In an effort to understand exactly how the micro and macro cloud properties interact with atmospheric particles, a collaborative research team conducted a modeli
Why did the passenger pigeon die out? :: The passenger pigeon was once among the most numerous species on Earth. The last passenger pigeon died in the Cinncinati Zoo just over 100 years ago. How did it all go so wrong?
Hiding from a warmer climate in the forest :: Global warming threatens forest plants adapted to cooler temperatures. An international team of scientists have unraveled where these species could survive within colder spots in the same forest. The findings can help to understand the effect of climate change on forest biodiversity and what we can do to protect it.
New hope for critically endangered Myanmar snub-nosed monkey :: Infant Myanmar or black snub-nosed monkey. Credit: Shaohua Dong Eight years after the discovery of a new primate species in Myanmar, scientists have released a new report revealing how the 'snubby' is faring. Scientists and conservation teams from Fauna & Flora International (FFI), Dali University and the German Primate Center just published a comprehensive conservation status review of one of th
Astronomers Trace Fast Radio Burst to Extreme Cosmic Neighborhood :: On Christmas Eve 2016, Andrew Seymour, an astronomer at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, kissed his 4-year-old daughter, Cora Lee, goodnight, telling her he was off to track Santa. He walked to the well-worn telescope, occasionally passing revelers riding horses through the empty streets—a common sight in Arecibo during the holidays. Sometimes a lonely firework would light up in the distan
US cold snap was a freak of nature, quick analysis finds :: Consider this cold comfort: A quick study of the brutal American cold snap found that the Arctic blast really wasn't global warming but a freak of nature.
Biologists create toolkit for tuning genetic circuits :: Escherichia coli. Credit: NIAID Rice University scientists have created a toolkit for synthetic biologists who need to precisely tune the input and output levels of genetic circuits. The research, which is online in Nature Communications, is a boon for life scientists who systematically engineer bacteria and other organisms to perform tasks they wouldn't naturally do. "Probiotics are one exampl
White graphene makes ceramics multifunctional :: Bilayer white graphene (middle layer) combined with calcium-silicate creates a multifunctional ceramic with high strength and toughness, according to a Rice University lab. The material may be suitable for construction and refractory materials and applications in the nuclear industry, oil and gas, aerospace and other areas that require high-performance composites. Credit: Rouzbeh Shahsavari A lit
Scientists identify the link between light and chloroplast development :: Schematic overview about the molecular mechanism linking light and chloroplast development (created by Daria Chrobok): When light is received for the first time by the cell, etioplasts (top left side) develop into chloroplasts (top right side). The photosystem II (PSII) starts to use the light energy to split water. The released electrons are transferred over the electron transport chain consisti
Cold-stunned manatees, sea turtles warming up at SeaWorld :: Visiting a colleague in Germany in 2012, Boston College Research Professor Paul K. Strother was examining soil samples for pollen, spores, pieces of plants and insect legs – organic debris that might otherwise have been considered …
Rising temperatures turning major sea turtle population female :: A green sea turtle returns to the water following examination by researchers. A new study finds that green sea turtle colonies in the northern Great Barrier Reef are producing almost all female hatchlings. Credit: Michael Jensen/NOAA Fisheries Scientists have used a new research approach to show that warming temperatures are turning one of the world's largest sea turtle colonies almost entirely f
Study proves that humblebragging really is the worst :: Famously #humble James Gourley/REX/Shutterstock By Alice Klein “Just won GQ style award in Germany. Obviously they made a mistake. I wonder how long till they come take it back.” If this tweet by actor Jared Leto sets your teeth on edge, you’re not alone. A study has revealed that feigning modesty while boasting – a practice known as “humblebragging” – annoys people even more than outright se
The smart humanoid robot that will help in grocery warehouses :: The ARMAR-6 robot is designed to help maintenance workers Karlsruhe Institute of Technology By Sally Adee If armies of Terminators start wiping out humanity, their ancestors might be traced to an upmarket grocery home delivery service that sells fancy toilet roll. Ocado Technology, the innovation arm of the grocery retailer, today unveiled the first prototype of its SecondHands project , a hu
Scientists discover workings of first promising Marburg virus treatment :: Scientists have discovered the workings of the first promising treatment for Marburg virus, a pathogen with the same pandemic potential as Ebola virus.
Better Instruments Give Scientists a New Way to Study the Cosmos :: On the morning of August 17 last year, a new era of astronomy dawned with a flash in the sky. The burst of gamma rays, glimpsed by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, came from the merger of two neutron stars (extremely dense objects formed when massive stars collapse and die) somewhere in the universe. But gamma rays weren't the only thing the merger produced. Within seconds of Fermi's detectio
As climate warms, more bird nests are destroyed in Finnish farmlands :: Lapwing nest Andrea Santangeli. Credit: University of Helsinki A new study shows that birds have shifted the time of their breeding much more quickly than Finnish farmers are anticipating their sowing times. This means that more birds are laying their eggs on fields that are still to be sown, a mismatch in timing that is most likely fatal for the bird nests. "As the eggs of curlew and lapwings ar
Why children should be taught to build a positive online presence :: Rather than just teaching children about internet safety and reducing their digital footprint, we should also encourage them to curate a positive digital footprint which will be an asset for them in their future. Today's children are prolific users of the internet. Concern has been raised about the future impact of the digital footprints they are generating. While much discussion of this issue fo
Rising temperatures turning major sea turtle population female :: IMAGE: A green sea turtle returns to the water following examination by researchers. A new study finds that green sea turtle colonies in the northern Great Barrier Reef are producing almost… view more Credit: Michael Jensen/NOAA Fisheries Scientists have used a new research approach to show that warming temperatures are turning one of the world's largest sea turtle colonies almost entirely fema
A new paper in Psychological Science suggests that praising kids for being smart may lead them to cheat. :: A community for those who are interested in the mind, brain, language and artificial intelligence. Want to know more? Take a look at our reading list here. If you have any suggestions for further inclusions, post them here .
Everything you never wanted to know about bed bugs, and more :: Cimex lectularius. Credit: CDC/Wikimedia If some insects could save the world, others do their best to seriously complicate life on earth. Among them the prize perhaps goes to the bed bug , which after decades of absence has returned to our homes, hotels and public facilities to seriously disturb us. These intrepid little insects aren't picky about where they set up shop – luxury suites and hospi
A call to report researcher gender to help with replication in research efforts :: Flowchart identifying the key players responsible for policy changes within science. As shown, the initiation of a crisis can induce change through several mechanisms. Prominent among these are changes in policy recommendations from government funding sources, in addition to policy changes at journals, universities, and independent funding agencies. Credit: Science Advances (2018). DOI: 10.1126/s
Four tough actions that would help fight the global plastic crisis :: Credit: Albert Karimov / shutterstock The environmental impact of plastic is finally receiving the attention it deserves. This is partly down to the BBC's Blue Planet II highlighting the problem of ocean plastics. But it's also because the Chinese government has recently imposed quality restrictions on the import of recyclable materials, in an attempt to address domestic concerns over pollution a
Image of the Day: Elephants at Sunset :: Conflict threatens already at-risk wildlife populations and conservation efforts in war-torn areas.
US Interior Department Adopts Political Screening Process for Grants :: The new policy affects academic and nonprofit grants and cooperative agreements exceeding $50,000.
Like Humans, Walruses and Bats Cuddle Infants on Their Left Sides :: These mothers and babies keep each other in their left visual fields during maternal care, which aids right-hemisphere processing.
For Serena Williams, Childbirth Was a Harrowing Ordeal. She’s Not Alone. :: When the ultrasound revealed nothing, she underwent a CT scan, which showed several small blood clots in her lungs. She was immediately put on the heparin drip. “I was like, listen to Dr. Williams!” she told the doctors. A spokeswoman for Ms. Williams declined to comment beyond the Vogue article. The need to ensure that medical professionals are responsive to new mothers’ concerns has gained atte
Virksomhedsleder: Ny teknologi må ikke kræve flere specialister :: Peter Bøgh Petersen har hørt påstanden mange gange: Der mangler kvalificeret arbejdskraft, pippes der fra virksomhedsledere og fagforeninger fra Amager til Fjaltring – herunder arbejdskraft, der forstår sig på ny teknologi. Men argumenterne bider ikke på Dykons administrerende direktør, der også sidder med i regeringens digitaliseringsråd. Som han ser det, kan robotter og andre produktionsteknolo
When you lose weight, your fat cells don't just let go of fat :: Every January, fat's in the crosshairs of health columnists, fitness magazines, and desperate Americans. This year, PopSci looks at the macronutrient beyond its most negative associations. What’s fat good for? How do we get it to go where we want it to? Where does it wander when it’s lost? This, my friends, is Fat Month . If cells were personified, each fat cell would be an overbearing grandparen
How tidal energy could help Japan with its nuclear power problem :: Credit: Shutterstock Japan was the third-largest producer of nuclear power in the world in 2011. Then, on March 11 of that year, an earthquake of magnitude 9 was followed by a catastrophic tsunami, resulting in the first nuclear disaster of the 21st century – at the Fukushima Daiichi power station . The country's nuclear plants were shut down, and within a year Japan had become the world's second
Maps that show travel times to cities all across the globe :: Global map of travel time to cities illustrating spatial disparities in accessibility to urban areas and the services they provide. The map ranges from minutes (bright yellow) to nearly a week (dark purple). Credit: The Malaria Atlas Project, University of Oxford An international team of researchers, including a representative from Google, has created a color-coded map of the planet that shows tr
'Bomb cyclones' – the intense winter storms that hit the US (and Australia too) :: A "bomb" is an old meteorological term for a low-pressure system outside the tropics (that is, an extratropical cyclone ) that intensifies very rapidly, based on how fast the atmospheric pressure drops at the centre of the storm. A common benchmark is a drop of 24 hectopascals (hPa) over 24 hours, although this varies slightly with latitude. The recent bomb in the US had a reported pressure dro
Mass Extinction in Earth's Oceans Could Begin by 2100 :: Mass Extinction in Earth’s Oceans Could Begin by 2100 Advertisement The amount of carbon in our planet's oceans has varied slowly over the ages. But 31 times in the past 542 million years the carbon level has deviated either much more than normal or much faster than usual ( dots in main graph ). Each of the five great mass extinctions occurred during the same time as the most extreme carbon event
Why Are Women Really Accused of Witchcraft? :: This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights . From medieval witch hunts in Europe to contemporary "witch doctors" in Tanzania, belief in witchcraft has existed across human societies throughout history. Anthropologists have long been fascinated by the phenomenon, but have struggled to study it
The surprising scale of China's space program :: The first Long March 5 rocket being rolled out for launch at Wenchang in late October 2016. Credit: Su Dong/China Daily It's no secret that China's growth in the past few decades has been reflected in space. In addition to the country's growing economic power and international influence, it has also made some very impressive strides in terms of its space program. This includes the development of
Swiss archaeologist discovers the earliest tomb of a Scythian prince :: Credit: Swiss National Science Foundation Deep in a swamp in the Russian republic of Tuva, SNSF-funded archaeologist Gino Caspari has discovered an undisturbed Scythian burial mound. All the evidence suggests that this is not only the largest Scythian princely tomb in South Siberia, but also the earliest – and that it may be harbouring some outstandingly well-preserved treasures. Gino Caspari mad
The night sky magic of the Atacama :: Thousands of stars glitter in the black skies above the bone-dry desert of the Atacama in northern Chile. Credit: Universe Today There's nothing an astronomer – whether professional or amateur – loves more than a clear dark night sky away from the city lights. Outside the glare and glow and cloud cover that most of us experience every day, the night sky comes alive with a life of its own. Thousan
The Best VR News at CES Isn't Even a Headset :: This week at the Consumer Electronics Show, HTC unveiled a new headset as part of its Vive virtual-reality line. The Vive Pro isn't an entirely new generation of VR hardware, but it's an impressive incremental upgrade, boasting integrated audio, a 2880 x1600 display that matches Samsung's Odyssey as the highest-resolution consumer headset, and improved ergonomic design. (How much will it be? Grea
CES 2018 Liveblog Day 4: Vegas's Biggest Gadget Show Rolls On :: Podcasts Seasteading: Come for the Algae Bacon, Stay for the Freedom echo esc_html( wired_get_the_byline_name( $related_video ) ); ?>
How Dark Matter Physicists Score Deals on Liquid Xenon :: If you want to build and run a $70 million dark matter detector, you're going to have a hefty shopping list. You'll need to buy hundreds of photomultiplier tubes, set up elaborate electronics, and pay graduate students, for starters. And 20 percent of your cash is going to go to just one thing: xenon gas. You'll need 200 steel bottles of the stuff, purified from the Earth’s atmosphere, at a price
An orchid that never blooms :: Figure 1: L. nigricans in Iwata, Nishimuro County, Wakayama prefecture. The flowers never bloom, but the plant still fruits . Credit: Kobe University A flower identified as Lecanorchis nigricans has been revealed to be a different identity, Lecanorchis nigricans var. patipetala. Both species are self-pollinating, but the flowers of the true L. nigricans never open. The findings were made by Assoc
Ny password-fejl rammer Apples computere :: Blot en måneds tid efter en alvorlig sikkerhedsfejl tillod adgang til mac-computere helt uden brug af kodeord, er der igen fundet password-slendrian på Apples dyre computere. Endnu en gang er det nyeste udgave af styresystemet High Sierra, den er gal med. Læs også: Apple lukker kritisk sikkerhedshul på Mac-computere Går man ind i computerens systemindstillinger og vælger App Store, er der en lås,
Montana Barley Fields Become Front Line For Climate Change And Beer :: A head of poor-quality malt barley taken directly from a field in Power, Mont. Heat and a lack of water resulted in small and light kernels. Grain rejected for malt barley often ends up as animal feed. Tony Bynum/Food & Environment Reporting Network hide caption toggle caption Tony Bynum/Food & Environment Reporting Network A head of poor-quality malt barley taken directly from a field in Power,
The Prevalence of Autism in the U.S. Appears Steady :: The prevalence of autism in the United States remained relatively stable from 2014 to 2016, according to a new analysis. The results were published January 2 in the Journal of the American Medical Association . The researchers report the frequency of autism in the U.S. as 2.24 percent in 2014, 2.41 percent in 2015 and 2.76 percent in 2016, respectively. The new data come from the National Hea
eHarmony's ads may not be scientifically proven, but online dating can make society less segregated :: Good news. Credit: Shutterstock The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) recently banned an ad from online dating site eHarmony which assured those looking for love that it was a "scientifically proven" matching system. The company matches users according to their personality, using their own data on existing relationships. According to the ASA, however, eHarmony failed to demonstrate that it
Samsung targeted by French lawsuit amid alleged labor abuse :: Two French rights groups have filed a lawsuit against electronics giant Samsung, accusing it of misleading advertising because of alleged labor abuses at factories in China and South Korea.
Hackers Could Blow Up Factories Using Smartphone Apps :: Many companies let workers monitor and manage machines—and sometimes entire industrial processes—via mobile apps. The apps promise efficiency gains, but they also create targets for cyberattacks. At worst, hackers could exploit the flaws to destroy machines—and potentially entire factories. Two security researchers, Alexander Bolshev of IOActive and Ivan Yushkevich of Embedi, spent last year exam
EU unveils supercomputer plan to rival China :: The EU wants to boost its supercomputer capacity The EU unveiled plans Thursday to raise one billion euros to build superfast computers that catch up with China and others to boost Europe's economy, make medical advances and fight hacking. China overtook the United States in numbers and performance for supercomputers in a ranking last November, followed by non-EU Switzerland and Japan in third an
New turkey-sized dinosaur from Australia preserved in an ancient log-jam :: Artist's impression of two Diluvicursor pickeringi foraging on the bank of a high-energy river within the Australian-Antarctic rift valley. Credit: Peter Trusler. The partial skeleton of a new species of turkey-sized herbivorous dinosaur has been discovered in 113 million year old rocks in southeastern Australia. As reported in open access journal PeerJ , the fossilized tail and foot bones give n
Småbørn tarmsflora påvirker risikoen for astma :: Nyt studie viser sammenhæng mellem astma og tarmflora hos små børn.
A Radical New Scheme to Prevent Catastrophic Sea-Level Rise :: PRINCETON, N.J.—Geo-engineering, its most enthusiastic advocates will tell you, isn’t only possible. It’s already happening. We know, they say, because we’re doing it—we just call it global warming. As humanity dumps billions of tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere every year, we’ve engineered a different climate system: one that is hotter, wetter, and more unwieldy than what people have
With his views on eugenics, why does Toby Young still have a job in education? | Polly Toynbee :: A re you free to think whatever you like? Of course you are. There are no thought police, though the paranoid right likes to imagine “politically correct” commissars are out to martyr them. But expressing outlandish or dangerous views while holding a public position may create a conflict, forcing you to choose. Look at the very different cases of Tim Farron MP, the former Liberal Democrat leader
Perceptions about what it takes to succeed in STEM fields may keep women out :: The perception that success requires being a "born genius" may discourage girls and women from pursuing certain academic fields. Credit: Shutterstock.com Why do large gender disparities exist in certain fields but not others? Research suggests that many factors perpetuate gender disparities, including implicit and explicit biases, a lack of role models and quality mentoring—and broad stereotypes
Criminologists find that homicide increases follow predictable fluctuations over past 55 years :: Credit: University of Texas at Dallas Recent spikes in homicide rates across the nation have been attributed to causes ranging from civil unrest to the opioid epidemic, but new UT Dallas research published in the journal Homicide Studies found a much simpler explanation: The increases follow predictable fluctuations in rates over the past 55 years. "If you look at the trends over time, you can of
Novo Nordisk Fonden støtter forskning i neuroner, bakterier og høreskader :: Novo Nordisk Fonden har bevilget i alt 45 mio. kr. til tre forskningsprojekter, hvor målet er at udvikle nye teknologier og metoder, der kan forbedre vores sundhed.
Tracking protein disposal could lead to improved therapies :: Hiroaki Kiyokawa, MD, PhD, professor of Pharmacology and of Pathology, was co-senior author on studies published in Nature Communications and Science Advances . Credit: Northwestern University Northwestern Medicine investigators developed a technique to catalog how cells dispose of unnecessary proteins, a process that has implications for cancer and autism-spectrum diseases, according to findings
When health deteriorates, who does the housework? :: Credit: University of Utah Older married women shoulder more housework than their husbands do even when neither of them are in the labor force—and health problems she may have don't change that arrangement unless they are significant. A new study from the University of Utah that examined gender, health and housework among married, heterosexual couples who are no longer employed found a woman's he
Study ties phosphorus loading in lakes to extreme precipitation events :: Runoff during an autumn storm flows out of a harvested cornfield. Credit: Eric Booth While April showers might bring May flowers, they also contribute to toxic algae blooms, dead zones and declining water quality in U.S. lakes, reservoirs and coastal waters, a new study shows. In the Midwest, the problem is largely due to phosphorus , a key element in fertilizers that is carried off the land and
The Birmingham high street that cut air pollution :: Local residents take part in a day-long experiment to cut traffic and improve air quality.
New turkey-sized dinosaur from Australia preserved in an ancient log-jam :: The partial skeleton of a new species of turkey-sized herbivorous dinosaur has been discovered in 113 million year old rocks in southeastern Australia. As reported in open access journal PeerJ , the fossilized tail and foot bones give new insight into the diversity of the small, bipedal herbivorous dinosaurs called ornithopods that roamed the great rift valley that once existed between Australia
As VIP online waiting lists gain in popularity, study finds potential pitfalls :: People don't like waiting in line. Some businesses shrewdly take advantage of this fact as they prepare to launch products or services by offering an enhanced type of online waiting list to potential customers who want to be initial users. Known as a "referral priority program," it lets early registrants move toward the front of the queue after they have gotten other people to sign up. The prac
Life-supporting pilot plantMars Ice WaterA prototype version of a self-sustaining life-support system, intended to allow humans to live in space indefinitely, is seen in Spain's University Autònoma of Barcelona.
Don't forget about your pets during cold weather :: It's easy to let your dog outside in the backyard for a few minutes to get some exercise or use the bathroom. But, during the winter months, cold spells or deep freezes could be hazardous. "As temperatures drop below freezing, it is important to be aware of whether a dog has been spending lots of time outside in the fall, which would make it more acclimated to the cold weather, or whether it is p
Millennials will soon dethrone boomers as largest voting bloc :: Dave Andersen sees a significant political shift on the horizon as millennials surpass baby boomers as the largest voting generation. Millennials already outnumber boomers, but because the younger generation is less likely to vote, it won't top boomers at the polls until the 2020 election, said Andersen, an assistant professor of political science at Iowa State University. Baby boomers have domin
New SOFIA observations help unravel mysteries of the birth of colossal suns :: The massive forming star Cepheus A shown at three infrared wavelengths of 8, 19 and 37 microns. The location of the star is marked by the green dot in each panel. Light from the outflow cavity facing toward the telescope is indicated with the blue arrows, while light from the cavity facing away from the telescope is indicated with the red arrows. As part of the formation process, a disk around th
Lethal management of wolves in one place may make things worse nearby :: Killing wolves to prevent predation on livestock may protect one farm but harm neighbors, according to preliminary conclusions of UW–Madison researchers. Credit: National Park Service Lethal management of wolves following wolf attacks on livestock may have unintended consequences, a new study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison suggests. When a wolf was killed under government p
Dementia is too big a problem to walk away from – for Pfizer or any of us | Bart De Strooper :: I f you were to go out on the street today and run a straw poll on big pharma, I doubt that it would come back very positive. More often than not, these companies are seen by the public as corporate behemoths committed only to the bottom line, and not particularly patient-focused. This week’s news that Pfizer is pulling out of neuroscience research will likely bolster that impression. It’s a trag
Race to save Indonesian croc stricken by tyre necklace :: Conservationists believe someone may have deliberately placed the tyre around the protected animal's neck in a failed attempt to trap it as a pet Indonesian conservation officials are racing to locate and rescue a saltwater crocodile that has had a motorbike tyre wrapped around its neck for more than a year on the island of Sulawesi. The stricken crocodile, measuring around 13-foot (4 metres) lon
When It Comes to Gorillas, Google Photos Remains Blind :: In 2015, a black software developer embarrassed Google by tweeting that the company’s Photos service had labeled photos of him with a black friend as “gorillas.” Google declared itself “ appalled and genuinely sorry .” An engineer who became the public face of the clean-up operation said the label gorilla would no longer be applied to groups of images, and that Google was “ working on longer-term
Is There Radium In Your Tap Water? New Map Can Show You :: Does your tap water contain the radioactive element radium? You might be surprised to hear that tap water for more than 170 million Americans contains the compound, and a new interactive map shows the water systems where this potentially hazardous element was found. The map was made by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit advocacy organization in Washington D.C. that focuses
Startup aims to make vision care more accessible in developing world :: MIT spinout PlenOptika has developed a highly accurate, portable autorefractor called QuickSee that measures refractive errors of the eye. More affordable than the current technology, the device has potential to reach patients in previously inaccessible areas of developing countries. Credit: PlenOptika Vision impairment is a major global issue. More than 2 billion people worldwide don't have acce
Campaigners slam UK plans on cutting plastic waste :: The British government will extend a charge on plastic bags to all businesses and encourage supermarkets to introduce plastic-free aisles Campaigners on Thursday criticised British Prime Minister Theresa May's plan to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste within 25 years , calling it a "missed opportunity" that lacked the necessary urgency. The government will extend a charge on plastic bags to a
Champagne box-sized satellite to probe distant planet :: An artist's impression of PicSat in orbit around the Earth. PicSat rendering © Lesia / Observatoire de Paris; Background image T. Pesquet ESA / NASA. France is set to launch a champagne box-sized mini satellite into Earth orbit on Friday to study a mysterious, juvenile planet system in our Milky Way galaxy, mission controllers said. The PicSat orbiter's target is the massive star Beta Pictoris, s
Polar explorer Ben Saunders shares his top tips :: Ben Saunders has led 13 expeditions since 2001 and has walked around 4,000 miles in skies.
Protein helps old blood age the brains of young mice :: In the Jan. 20 SN : the race to Mars, hormone replacement therapy’s second chance, soap bubble snow globes, a far-out quasar, climate change’s extreme results, an indiscriminate snake fungus and more.
A Different Take on Sexism in Science :: Recently Scientific American ran a blog post by John Horgan , which argued that science is sexist at its core. Horgan wrote: Is science sexist? Of course it is, in two ways. First, women in science (including engineering, math, medicine) face discrimination, harassment and other forms of maltreatment from men. Second, male scientists portray females as males’ intellectual inferiors. These two
Dansk studie: Få dråber rødvin er mere giftigt for kroppen end sprøjterester :: Kan man regne med Fødevarestyrelsens stikprøvekontroller, når det drejer sig om mængden af sprøjtegiftrester i danskernes kost? Ja, mener professor fra Københavns Universitet (KU) Nina Cedergreen, som sammen med forskere fra sprøjtemiddelgiganten Bayer har vurderet cocktail-effekter af pesticider i fødevarer. Konklusion: Vi tager ikke mere skade af sprøjtemidler i vores kost, end vi gør ved at dr
Why Are Women Accused of Witchcraft? :: The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation , an online publication covering the latest research. From medieval witch hunts in Europe to contemporary “witch doctors” in Tanzania, belief in witchcraft has existed across human societies throughout history. Anthropologists have long been fascinated by the phenomenon, but have struggled to study it with quantitative met
Witch Hunts Today: Abuse of Women, Superstition and Murder Collide in India :: Men circled the three women, their fists wrapped around thick iron pipes and wooden sticks. The women huddled on the ground at the center of their village in the western Indian state of Gujarat and whimpered as the crowd gathered. Two young men had died in the village, and the women were being called dakan, the Gujarati word for witch. They were accused of feasting on the young men’s souls. M
Ocado to wheel out C3PO-style robot to lend a hand at warehouses :: Ocado is to test a humanoid maintenance assistant in its warehouses, in the online grocery specialist’s latest move to reduce reliance on human workers. Q&A What is AI? Show Hide Artificial Intelligence has various definitions, but in general it means a program that uses data to build a model of some aspect of the world. This model is then used to make informed decisions and predictions about fut
Why did the passenger pigeon die out? :: This passenger pigeon specimen is found at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's University Museum. There are specimens everywhere, but passenger pigeons died out in the wild more than a century ago. Credit: Per Gustav Thingstad, NTNU Why do species die out? This is the overarching question being asked by many leading researchers. Knowing more about what leads to a species becoming
Study uncovers distinctions in major crop genome evolutions :: Purdue University researchers Damon Lisch (left) and Jianxin Ma have found that while soybean and maize genomes doubled around the same time, they did so in different ways. Credit: Purdue Agricultural Communication photo/Tom Campbell Sometime between 5 million and 13 million years ago, both maize and soybeans underwent genome duplications, but Purdue University scientists believe they happened in
The biennial rainfall relationship in the tropical western hemisphere has weakened in recent decades :: Biennial rainfall relationship could be observed in the tropical eastern hemisphere associated with the tropospheric biennial oscillation, and the tropical western hemisphere. In the tropical western hemisphere, previous studies have revealed that a biennial relationship exists between the interannual rainfall anomalies over Central America (CA) and equatorial South America (ESA). Understanding th
Kom med cykelfeltets aerodynamik-guru på træningsbanen før rekordforsøg :: Et forurenet kosttilskud var sidste år skyld i en positiv dopingprøve og fratagelsen af den danske timerekord i banecykling fra ingeniøren Martin Toft Madsen. I aften forsøger den evigt optimerende cykelrytter igen. Forventningerne var høje ved sidste træning inden løbet, og disciplinen timerekord er som skabt til en rytter, der ikke vil overlade noget til tilfældighederne: På cykelbanen i Baller
How Words Relate: lexical relationships :: A community for those who are interested in the mind, brain, language and artificial intelligence. Want to know more? Take a look at our reading list here. If you have any suggestions for further inclusions, post them here .
"We cannot doubt of our existence while we doubt…I doubt, therefore I think, therefore I am" – Rene Descartes :: submitted by /u/nevolutionbv [link] [comments]
LuxLeaks whistleblower's conviction overturned :: Deltour in March had received a six-month suspended jail sentence with a 1,500-euro fine. A Luxembourg court on Thursday overturned—on human rights grounds—the verdict against a "LuxLeaks" whistleblower who was convicted of leaking thousands of documents that revealed tax breaks for multinational firms. Luxembourg's highest court rejected the conviction against former PricewaterhouseCoopers emplo
Frogs reveal mechanism that determines viability of hybrids :: Crossbreeding Xenopus laevis , the African clawed frog, and Xenopus tropicalis , the Western clawed frog has asymmetric results. When a female African clawed frog is crossbred with a male Western clawed frog, the embryos are viable. However, the other way around, crossbreeding a male African clawed frog and a female Western clawed frog leads to embryos that die in the early stages of development.
The LEC—now an efficient and bright device :: The light device LEC is flexible and thin. Credit: Umeå University Researchers from Umeå University and Linköping University in Sweden have developed light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) that emit strong light at high efficiency. As such, the thin, flexible and lightweight LEC promises future and improved applications within home diagnostics, signage, illumination and healthcare. The resul
The origin of flower-making genes :: Flowering plants have evolved from plants without flowers. It is known that the function of several genes, called MADS-box genes, creates shapes peculiar to flowers such as stamens, pistils and petals. Plants that do not produce flowers, such as mosses, ferns and green algae, are also known to have the MADS-box genes. However, it was not well understood how the MADS-box genes work in plants withou
Scientists examine how aerosol types influence cloud formation :: Transport pathways of clean, continental air masses from the north and polluted, maritime air masses from the south are given by trajectory (colored lines) and meteorological (colored shading) analyses. Credit: Advances in Atmospheric Sciences Not all aerosols are made equally. Sea salt and some types of wild fire smoke can take flight to create clouds and, eventually, rain, while other aerosols,
Nasa rover Curiosity visits 'Scotland' on MarsMars Ice WaterImage copyright NASA/JPL-Caltech Image caption Curiosity's tracks in Torridon on Mars Nasa's Mars rover Curiosity is exploring a part of the planet named after Torridon in Scotland. Martian geological areas and features have been named by Nasa after places on Earth. Several of the names have been taken from Scotland and, as well as Torridon, there is a Siccar Point, Muck, Wick, Sandwick and Holyr
Intoxicatingly light-sensitive :: Two photosensitive THC derivatives and how they are embedded in the cannabinoid receptor 1. Credit: from Westphal MV et al, J. Am. Chemical Soc., 2017,139 (50), pp 18206-18212. ETH chemists have synthesised several variants of THC, the active ingredient in cannabis. Its structure can be altered with light, and the researchers have used this to create a new tool that can be used to more effectivel
Researchers report human-perceived temperature rising faster than actual air temperature :: To predict how humans will be affected by climate change, geographers and climatologists led by Professor David Chen Yongqin from the Department of Geography and Resource Management at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and Dr. Li Jianfeng from the Department of Geography at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) studied the apparent temperature (AP), the temperature equivalent perceived by
Discovering the creation era of ancient paintings at Mogao Grottoes, China :: Buddhist and mural painting in Mogao Grottoes No. 206. Credit: Science China Press Mogao Grottoes is located in the western end of the Hexi Corridor along the ancient Silk Road in Dunhuang, China. From 366 to 1368 AD, a large group of Buddha caves were constructed that consists of 735 caves, 45,000 m 2 mural paintings, and 2,415 argillaceous painted sculptures. It was listed as a World Heritage S
Artificial muscles power up with new gel-based robotics :: (a) Overview of wearing set-up of the assist wear. (b) Structure of the multilayered PVC gel actuator with two types of anode mesh electrodes. The red layer with small holes is comprised of slide electrodes to minimize the friction with the slide shafts. (c) Contraction and expansion movement of the stretching type actuator with the DC field turned on and off. (d) FlexiForce sensor-based motion d
New York sagsøger olieindustrien for klimaforandringer :: Olieselskaberne har et ansvar for klimaforandringerne. Et ansvar de skal betale for. Sådan lyder det fra USAs største by New York, der vil sagsøge de fem største olieselskaber – og samtidigt afstå deres pensionskassers store investeringer i fossile brændstoffer indenfor de næste fem år. Lige nu har byens pensionskasser investeret 5 milliarder dollars – over 30 milliarder kroner – i olieindustrien
Global warming will expose millions more to floods :: Flood damage from Hurricane Irma is seen September 14, 2017 in Naples, Florida Global warming is expected to unleash more rain, exposing millions more people to river flooding particularly in the United States and parts of Asia, Africa and central Europe, researchers said Wednesday. The study in the journal Science Advances calculates how much more flood protection will be needed to keep the risk
China says no major oil spill after Iran tanker collision :: The Iranian oil tanker was on its way to South Korea when it collided with the CF Crystal Chinese authorities battling a blaze aboard an Iranian oil tanker said Wednesday no major spill has been detected, but an explosion had forced firefighting vessels temporarily to suspend work. One body has been found but 31 sailors from the Sanchi—mainly Iranians—remained missing four days after it collided
UK plans to eliminate avoidable plastic waste by 2042 :: The UK government wants supermarkets to introduce plastic-free aisles and intends to inject new funding into plastics innovation, Prime Minister Theresa May will say in a speech outlining proposals Britain plans to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste within 25 years, Prime Minister Theresa May will announce Thursday as part of long-term plans for the environment. The government wants supermarke
Brexit could cost nearly 500,000 UK jobs: study :: Up to half a million British jobs could go up in smoke because of Brexit, a study found Brexit could cost the UK nearly 500,000 jobs in a worst-case scenario, according to a study published Thursday which was commissioned by the mayor of London. Britain could lose 482,000 jobs by 2030 if the country crashes out of the European Union, according to research by Cambridge Econometrics. A scenario i
S. Korea govt sends bitcoin on rollercoaster ride :: Bitcoin plunged 18 percent after South Korea said it was preparing to shut down cryptocurrency exchanges in the country Bitcoin and other virtual currencies were sent on rollercoaster rides in South Korea Thursday as the government said it was planning to ban cryptocurrency exchanges, before later backtracking. Justice Minister Park Sang-Ki said Seoul was preparing a bill to shut down the country
Outrage after koala found screwed to pole in Australia :: The much-loved koala has been under increasing threat across Australia in recent decades, particularly from habitat loss, disease, dog attacks and bushfires A dead koala has been found screwed to a pole in Australia in a "sickening" act that sparked outrage Thursday on social media. Koala Rescue Queensland (KRQ) responded to a report of one of the furry animals climbing a picnic shelter at Broolo
Gammelt it-system og ny kontanthjælpslov kan føre til forkerte udbetalinger :: Udbetaling Danmark advarer nu mod, at nye regler kan føre til fejl i udbetaling af sociale ydelser, da de håndteres af et »ældre it-system«. Det skriver Politiken . Til juli er planen, at en ny lov, som blandt andet skærer i integrationsydelsen, skal træde i kraft. Men Udbetaling Danmark system, KMD-Aktiv, er af så ældre dato, at systemet kan få meget svært ved at håndtere ændringerne, advarede U
Alcohol-Related ER Visits Soar, Especially Among Women :: Alcohol consumption per capita is down in the U.S., though alcohol-linked ER visits are up. Women are catching up with men nationally in overall drinking, as well as in binge drinking, drunk driving and deaths from cirrhosis of the liver caused by alcoholism. Vasyl Tretiakov / EyeEm/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Vasyl Tretiakov / EyeEm/Getty Images Alcohol consumption per capita is dow
Nu får København sin første letbane til seks milliarder :: Alt tyder på, at byggeriet af Københavns første letbane nu kan starte, selv om byggeriet bliver dyrere end budgetteret. Det står klart, efter at bestyrelsen for letbaneselskabet i aftes enstemmigt besluttede at anbefale at gå videre med projektet. Letbanen skal følge Københavns Ring 3 fra Lundtofte i nord til Ishøj i syd. Foto: MI Grafik Hovedstadens Letbane Længde 27 kilometer Antal stationer 29
Neutrons inspect salt-inclusion materials to improve long-term waste storage :: University of South Carolina researcher Gregory Morrison prepares a SIM sample to be lowered into the neutron beam. This team is studying hierarchical structures for their applications in nuclear waste storage. Eventually, they hope to develop a new material for stabilizing and storing nuclear waste. Credit: ORNL/Genevieve Martin A team of researchers from the University of South Carolina is usin
Giant bat: Remains of extinct burrowing bat found in New Zealand :: Image copyright Illustration by Gavin Mouldey Image caption Scientists say the newly found bat resembled this other kind of extinct burrowing bat The fossilised remains of a giant burrowing bat that lived in New Zealand millions of years ago have been found on the country's South Island. The teeth and bones of the extinct bat were found to be three times the size of an average modern bat. The bat
Huawei wins China patent lawsuit against rival Samsung :: Chinese tech giant Huawei won a patent infringement lawsuit against South Korea smartphone rival Samsung on Thursday, according to information released by a Chinese court.
YouTube limits Logan Paul vlog due to apparent suicide post :: In this Aug. 13, 2017, file photo, Logan Paul introduces a performance by Kyle & Lil Yachty and Rita Ora at the Teen Choice Awards at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. YouTube says it has removed blogger Logan Paul's channels from Google Preferred and will not feature him in the new season of "Foursome." Paul's new video blogs also are on hold after he shared a video on YouTube that appeared to sh
Nu kommer den: Teknologipagt skal tiltrække unge til ingeniørfag og naturvidenskab :: Sidst i januar præsenterer erhvervsminister Brian Mikkelsen (K) teknologipagten, der skal fremme de tekniske og digitale kompetencer i uddannelsessystemet. Buzzordet er STEM-kompetencer. Det er forkortelse for Science, Technology, Engineering og Math, altså naturvidenskabelige, tekniske, digitale og matematiske fag. »Vi har fået idéen fra ingeniørerne, fordi vi godt vil have flere ingeniører og f
Omfanget af patientansvarlige læger for kræftpatienter er uvist :: Der er ingen landsdækkende registrering af, hvor mange kræftpatienter, der får tildelt en patientansvarlig læge, fremgår det af svar fra sundhedsministeren til Folketingets sundhedsudvalg.
Præcisionsmedicin giver håb til patienter med galdevejskræft :: Ny forskning viser, at patienter med galdevejskræft kan have gavn af mere skræddersyet medicin.
Sjællands Universitetshospital får professor i ortopædkirurgi :: Sjællands Universitetshospital fortsætter udbygningen af sin forskning og styrker nu den ortopædkirurgiske afdeling med en professor, som skal være med til at opbygge en stærk forskningsenhed og løfte ekspertisen inden for ortopædkirurgiske behandlinger.
Old dog, new tricks: Sony unleashes 'intelligent' robot pet :: The Aibo dog comes with a hefty price tag of nearly $3,000 As Japan celebrates the year of the dog, electronics giant Sony on Thursday unleashed its new robot canine companion, packed with artificial intelligence and internet connectivity. The sleek ivory-white puppy-sized "aibo" robot shook its head and wagged its tail as if waking from a nap when it was taken out of a cocoon-shaped case at a "b
'Serious gap' in cosmic expansion rate hints at new physics :: Image copyright NASA Image caption Artwork: The expansion of the Universe has been accelerating in the billions of years since the Big Bang A mathematical discrepancy in the expansion rate of the Universe is now "pretty serious", and could point the way to a major discovery in physics, says a Nobel laureate. The most recent results suggest the inconsistency is not going away. Prof Adam Riess told
Vild overlevelse i amerikansk kulde: Alligatorer lader sig fryse fast med snuden over isen :: Hvis man tilfældigvis er ude at gå en tur i sumpen i det sydøstlige North Carolina i USA, så skal man mere end nogensinde passe på, hvor man træder. Man risikerer nemlig at træde en alligator over næsen. North Carolina har ligesom store dele af resten af det østlige USA oplevet store temperaturfald den seneste uge grundet en såkaldt ”atmosfærisk bombe” , og de rekordkolde temperaturer påvirker ma
Court OKs killing a type of owl to see effect on other owls :: Visiting a colleague in Germany in 2012, Boston College Research Professor Paul K. Strother was examining soil samples for pollen, spores, pieces of plants and insect legs – organic debris that might otherwise have been considered …
Mikroplast i drikkevand kan snart måles :: Mikroplast-partikler er overalt i vores omgivelser, ja selv i luften, vi indånder, og i det vand, vi drikker. De små partikler får meget opmærksomhed, men forskere og eksperter har umådeligt svært ved at finde ud af, hvor meget mikroplast der er i vores vand – og konsekvenserne ved at den er der. Der mangler fortsat viden på området, konkluderer en rapport fra Miljøstyrelsen. – Vi mangler mere vi
Efter nedbrud og databasefejl: Systematic må betale bod for plaget bibliotekssystem :: Seks bibliotekssystemer er blevet erstattet med én fælles løsning, der nu favner 96 af landets 98 kommuner. Men processen har ikke været smertefri. Efteråret har budt på både forlængede svartider og driftsnedbrud, og nu må leverandøren, Systematic, betale bod til Kombit for ikke at overholde kravene til drift. I et nyhedsbrev til systemets brugere beklager projektlederen ved Kombit – Jesper Munch
Facebook-aktivist: Privatlivs-folket skal til at få fingeren ud :: »Problemet med privatlivsboblen er, at vi er gode til at fortælle, hvor ondt og skidt alting er, men vi er ikke særligt gode til at gøre en skid ved det.« Sådan lyder meldingen fra Facebook-aktivisten og advokaten Max Schrems, der i 2015 startede et massesøgsmål mod Facebook, som endte med at udløse en af de største omvæltninger inden for datalovgivning, da EU-domstolen gav Schrems medhold og sam
Netbutikker bomber hinanden med links fra spam-blogs :: Mindst 430 danske netbutikker benytter sig af tusindvis af spam-blogs i kampen om at komme til tops på Googles rangliste og være det første resultat, du ser, når du mangler en ny cykel eller en yogamåtte. Det viser en kortlægning af fænomenet, som Henrik Jensen og fire andre frivillige bag sitet substandard.org er i gang med at gennemføre. Undersøgelsen afslører, at både de store butikskæder Bilk
China warns of US protectionism after Huawei setback (Update) :: Chinese tech giant Huawei faces a major setback in efforts to expand in the US smartphone market following renewed national security concerns, documents showed. Huawei, which appeared to lose a deal with AT&T that would have given it an improved foothold in the handset market, faced criticism from US lawmakers over its intellectual property protection and its ties to Chinese intelligence, accordi
Hiding from a warmer climate in the forest :: A data logger measuring near-ground temperature in the forest. Credit: Caroline Greiser When studying the effect of climate change on biodiversity, it is important to consider the climate near the ground (microclimate) which a plant or an animal actually experiences. Deep shady depressions, dense old forests or places close to water for example are always considerably cooler than their surroundin
Astronomers to build space telescope to explore nearby stars :: The SPARCS space telescope is CubeSat that will be built at ASU out of six cubical modules, each about four inches on a side. The plan is for students to be involved the design and construction of the spacecraft to provide educational and training opportunities to become future engineers, scientists, and mission leaders. Credit: Arizona State University In 2021, a spacecraft the size of a Cheerio
Malaria parasite packs genetic material for trip from mosquitoes to humans :: Because the malaria parasite Plasmodium cannot anticipate when it may be transmitted from a mosquito to a mammalian host, it uses specialized poly(A)-binding proteins to package and protect its genetic material for use after transmission. Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The parasite that causes malaria has not one, but two, specialized proteins that protect its messenger RNAs—g
Hiding from a warmer climate in the forest :: IMAGE: Cold microclimates in forests are for example created by local depressions and dense forest. They are sometimes visible by remaining snow patches in spring. view more Credit: Photo: Caroline Greiser When studying the effect of climate change on biodiversity, it is important to consider the climate near the ground (microclimate) which a plant or an animal actually experiences. Deep shady de
Why did the passenger pigeon die out? :: IMAGE: This passenger pigeon specimen is found at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's University Museum. There are specimens everywhere, but passenger pigeons died out in the wild more than… view more Credit: Per Gustav Thingstad, NTNU Why do species die out? This is the overarching question being asked by many leading researchers. Knowing more about what leads to a speci
Restaurant and bar smoking bans do reduce smoking, especially among the highly educated :: Smoking risk drops significantly in college graduates when they live near areas that have completely banned smoking in bars and restaurants, according to a new study in the American Journal of Epidemiology . The study found that the bans were associated with high gains in quit attempts by smokers with low incomes. "Our results suggest that smoking bans may help start the process among people with
Mediterranean diet may help protect older adults from becoming frail :: An analysis of published studies indicates that following the Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of frailty in older individuals. The findings, which are published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society , suggest that a diet emphasizing primarily plant-based foods–such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts–may help keep people healthy and independent as they a
Fem tegn på, at din leder kører dig i sænk :: Adskillige joboplag efterspørger stærke medarbejdere, som kan klare presset på det moderne arbejdsmarked. Men fokusset på robuste ansatte flytter ledelsens ansvar over på medarbejdernes skuldre. Nye jobtilbud hver uge. Tjek de nyeste opslag på Jobfinder. Ansatte i både offentlige og private organisationer oplever at blive tvunget ind i en trædemølle, som ikke stopper, før kroppen kollapser, mens
Nu er det nemmere at få mobilsignalet rundt i store bygninger :: Det kan ofte være svært at få hul igennem til mobiltelefonen i et nybyggeri, fordi nutidens lavenergi-løsninger er så godt isoleret, at mobilsignalerne svækkes. For første gang har Teleindustrien nu godkendt en såkaldt multioperatørløsning, hvor en tredjepart får en samlet tilladelse til at forstærke mobilsignalerne med en repeaterløsning på alle teleselskabernes frekvenser. Tidligere har der sku
Don’t like going to the gym? It could be your personality :: The effectiveness of someone’s exercise regime may depend on their individual personality type, with more creative people better suited to outdoor activities.
In 'pond scum,' scientists find answers to one of evolution's which-came-first cases :: A team of scientists report on new evidence that primitive moths and butterflies existed during the Jurassic period, approximately 50 million years earlier than the first flowering plants, shedding new light on one of the most confounding cases of co-evolution.
Adaptation now: River flood risks increase around the globe under future warming :: Rainfall changes caused by global warming will increase river flood risks across the globe. Already today, fluvial floods are among the most common and devastating natural disasters. Scientists have now calculated the required increase in flood protection until the 2040s worldwide, breaking it down to single regions and cities. They find that the need for adaptation is greatest in the US, parts of
Scientists curb growth of cancer cells by blocking access to key nutrients :: Researchers have discovered how to curb the growth of cancer cells by blocking the cells' access to certain nutrients.
Housework gender differences may affect health in elderly men and women :: Elderly men across Europe and the US spend less time on housework than elderly women, according to a new study. Researchers found that elderly women on average spent almost five hours a day doing housework compared to only around three hours a day for elderly men.
Malaria parasite packs genetic material for trip from mosquitoes to humans :: The parasite that causes malaria has not one, but two, specialized proteins that protect its genetic material until the parasite takes up residence in a new host.
Enzyme shown to regulate inflammation and metabolism in fat tissue :: New research in mice and humans suggests that an enzyme called SNRK suppresses inflammation in obesity-related 'white fat' while increasing metabolism in heat-producing 'brown fat,' making SNRK an intriguing target in the battle against obesity.
Mexican migrant health access much lower after US border crossing :: Immigrants and migrants from Mexico had worse access to health care and insurance after they crossed the border into the US — and it remained bad when they returned to Mexico again.
Light activity measured with fitness tracker linked to lower mortality in older women :: Researchers created a study to learn more about how much exercise older adults are able to perform, and how that exercise affects their health. The research team studied 6,489 female participants aged 63 to 99 years old.
NASA's newly renamed Swift Mission spies a comet slowdown :: NASA's Swift spacecraft, now renamed the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory after the mission's late principal investigator, has detected the most dramatic change in a comet's rotation ever seen.
For a banded mongoose in northern Botswana, communicating with family can be deadly :: A novel tuberculosis pathogen, Mycobacterium mungi, closely related to human TB, infects and kills banded mongooses through a surprising route — olfactory communication. Now, a detailed investigation provides a window into how this deadly disease moves between mongooses and within the mongoose host.
Robotic implants spur tissue regeneration inside the body :: An implanted, programmable medical robot can gradually lengthen tubular organs by applying traction forces — stimulating tissue growth in stunted organs without interfering with organ function or causing apparent discomfort, report researchers.
Astronomers to build space telescope to explore nearby stars :: A new mission will launch a small satellite telescope into space to study the environment in other solar systems around the Galaxy's most common type of star.
Bad air quality along Utah's Wasatch Front causes more than 200 pneumonia cases each year :: Air pollution erodes the health of adults over age 65, a population particularly vulnerable to the effects of pneumonia.
This Colorful Kit Lets Kids Build a Programmable Camera :: There are a lot of STEM toys that teach kids the joys of programming by having them build and control a robot. The Kano Camera Kit takes a different approach, providing children as young as six with the pieces to build a 5-MP camera, which they can then program. Due out in 2019 for an estimated price of $99, the kit helps kids develop serious programming skills while having fun shooting animate
You Live in a Strange Solar System :: The more astronomers study the heavens, the more they realize: our solar system is weird. "There are a few things that make the solar system kind of strange ." Lauren Weiss, an astrophysicist at the University of Montreal. "One of which is we have a giant planet. Only about 10 percent of sunlike stars have a giant planet. And there are probably even fewer that have two giant planets." In
Meet the butterflies from 200 million years ago :: Image copyright Bas van de Schootbrugge Image caption One of the scales under the microscope Newly discovered fossils show that moths and butterflies have been on the planet for at least 200 million years. Scientists found fossilised butterfly scales the size of a speck of dust inside ancient rock from Germany. The find pushes back the date for the origins of the Lepidoptera, one of the most priz
Watch the James Webb Space Telescope go through nine months of testing in two minutes :: The James Webb Space Telescope took decades to build . It won't launch until 2019 at the earliest , it's slowly but surely making its way toward that distant date, after which it will finally get a chance to capture those first glimpses of galaxies forming in the early universe. It was first assembled at Goddard , and then headed down to NASA's Johnson Space Center for testing in a massive cryoge
This Popular Pain Reliever Could Impact Male Fertility :: Generally, when a couple is trying to have a baby, the focus is put on the woman’s health. But today, more and more, fertility specialists are learning that the male’s contribution is almost as important, and male health as a consequence just as impactful. Fifteen percent of couples globally wrestle with infertility. Among these, male infertility is solely responsible for about 20-30% of cases, w
Supercomputer sheds light on ‘jets’ shooting from black holes :: Supercomputer simulations have given researchers new insight into one of the mysterious behaviors of relativistic jets that shoot from black holes, extending outward across millions of light years. Advanced simulations created with one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers show the jets’ streams gradually change direction in the sky, or precess, as a result of space-time being dragged into
Crawling babies stir up and inhale all kinds of bio-gunk :: When babies crawl, their movement across floors, especially on carpets, kicks up high levels of dirt, skin cells, bacteria, pollen, and fungal spores, according to a new study. Crawling babies inhale a dose of those bio bits into their lungs that is four times (per kilogram of body mass) what an adult would breathe walking across the same floor. “Such exposures act to stimulate and challenge your
BBC follows Blue Planet II with hard-hitting nature documentaries :: The BBC is to show two major documentaries about challenges facing the environment, and a landmark series in which animals are followed for more than two years, as it looks to build on the extraordinary success of Sir David Attenborough’s Blue Planet II. Drowning in Plastic will air on BBC1 and explore the damage that plastic is doing to the environment – an issue raised by Blue Planet II – while
Depression and epileptic seizures may share genetic cause :: Seizures and mood disorders such as depression may share the same genetic cause in some people with epilepsy, a new study suggests. The findings may lead to better screening and treatment to improve patients’ quality of life, researchers say. People have suspected a relationship between epilepsy and mood disorders for millennia. Scientists studied dozens of families with multiple relatives who ha
Tying work or school success to ‘brilliance’ turns women away :: Messages that tie success in a particular field, job opportunity, or college major to “brilliance” undermine women’s interest because of cultural stereotypes that portray it as a male trait, a new study suggests. “…the effects of these stereotypes persist over time, continuing to shape women’s educational and career trajectories well into adulthood…” “We know that women are underrepresented in fi
CES 2018 Day 3: Are you sick of new gadgets yet? :: All the lights went out in the Central Hall of CES today, but that didn’t stop companies from parading their new gadgets out into the world. Now that the big press conferences are in the rear-view mirrors of our self-driving cars, we’re getting into the slightly smaller announcements, which are often more interesting—and more practical—for humans and their disposable income. Google VR180 stuff is
Two simple tests could help to pinpoint cause of stroke :: Detecting the cause of the deadliest form of stroke could be improved by a simple blood test added alongside a routine brain scan, research suggests. Combining the test with a brain scan could provide key genetic information that may help identify those most at risk from a second stroke, doctors say. Experts say the new approach could revolutionise the way doctors manage strokes caused by bleedin
Benefits of a healthy diet greater in people at high genetic risk for obesity :: The benefits of sticking to a healthy diet to prevent long term weight gain are greater in people at high genetic risk for obesity than in those with low genetic risk, finds a study in The BMJ today. The researchers say their findings indicate that improving diet quality over time might lead to greater weight loss for people who are genetically susceptible to obesity. The study also indicates tha
Investigation raises concerns over poor quality, lack of regulation, and misrepresentation of animal research :: An investigation published by The BMJ today has unearthed concerns about how researchers misrepresented the results of animal studies to gain funding and approval for human trials to test a new tuberculosis vaccine. Led by The BMJ 's Associate Editor, Dr Deborah Cohen, the investigation and linked expert commentaries highlight the "pick and mix" approach to animal research, and raise wider questi
New prostate cancer risk score could help guide screening decisions :: A new score for predicting a man's genetic risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer could help guide decisions about who to screen and when, say researchers in The BMJ today. Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in males in developed countries, with over a million new cases and over 300,000 associated deaths estimated worldwide in 2012. Screening for prostate specific anti
This is how your stress turns into sickness :: Certain types of stress interact with immune cells and can regulate how these cells respond to allergens, ultimately causing physical symptoms and disease, a new study suggests. “We all know that stress affects the mind-body connection and increases the risk for many diseases… The question is, how?” The study, which appears in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology , shows how a stress receptor, known
New Drug Capsule May Allow Weekly HIV Treatment :: Replacing daily pills with a weekly regimen could help patients stick to their dosing schedule. Anne Trafton | MIT News Office Researchers at MIT and Brigham and Women’s Hospital have developed a capsule that can deliver a week’s worth of HIV drugs in a single dose. This advance could make it much easier for patients to adhere to the strict schedule of dosing required for the drug cocktails u
Chickens Are Not Dumb Clucks after All :: Difficult as it obviously is to know what, if anything, is on an animal’s mind, scientists have been piecing together evidence of surprising cognitive abilities in nonhumans. As the research progresses, more and more creatures are turning out to have the biological hardware for thought, even advanced thought in many cases, raising fascinating questions about the intelligence of animals. That dolp
Russian 'Fancy Bears' Hackers Target International Olympic Committee in Latest Email Dump :: On Wednesday, in the wake of Russia's December ban from the 2018 Winter Olympics, a Russia-linked group calling itself "Fancy Bears" published a set of apparently stolen emails. They purportedly belong to officials from the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee, and third-party groups associated with the organizations. It's not the first time Russia has lashed out a
Loners or social butterflies? Lemurs are both :: Ring-tailed lemurs, primate cousins that live in groups of up to two dozen on the island of Madagascar, have distinct personalities that drive their social behavior, a new study of group dynamics suggests. “…social connectedness influences health, immunity, survival. This is true for animals as well as humans.” First author Ipek Kulahci spent several years studying ring-tailed lemurs at the Duke
Australia's Heat Wave Fries Bats' Brains, Hundreds Found Dead :: Hundreds of flying fox bats died near Sydney over the weekend from dehydration during a heat wave. Ian Waldie/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Ian Waldie/Getty Images Hundreds of flying fox bats died near Sydney over the weekend from dehydration during a heat wave. Ian Waldie/Getty Images It's summer in Australia and extreme heat is causing bats' brains to fry. Hundreds of fur-covered fly
Arsenic-tainted drinking water may increase diabetes risk :: A new study reports that chronic exposure to arsenic interferes with insulin secretion in the pancreas, which may increase the risk of diabetes.
Red Light Challenge With Jeff Garlin | Cash Cab :: Cash Cab | Sundays 10p As of 2016, entities borrowing money from the international monetary fund receive it in 5 different world currencies. Can you name all 5? Full Episodes Streaming FREE: https://discovery.com/tv-shows/cash-cab/ Subscribe to Discovery: http://bit.ly/SubscribeDiscovery Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Discovery Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Discovery From:
A repeating fast radio burst from an extreme environment :: New detections of radio waves from a repeating fast radio burst have revealed an astonishingly potent magnetic field in the source's environment, indicating that it is situated near a massive black hole or within a nebula of unprecedented power.
Heart-muscle patches made with human cells improve heart attack recovery :: Large, human cardiac-muscle patches created in the lab have been tested, for the first time, on large animals in a heart attack model. This clinically relevant approach showed that the patches significantly improved recovery from heart attack injury. The results are a step closer to the goal of treating human heart attacks by suturing cardiac-muscle patches over an area of dead heart muscle in ord
Environment strategy aims to stop needless plastic waste :: Image copyright RSPB Cymru Image caption Sea birds have struggled to cope with plastic pollution Theresa May will pledge to eradicate all avoidable plastic waste in the UK by 2042. The commitment is part of a 25-year plan to improve the natural environment being launched on Thursday. In her speech to launch the plan the prime minister will say: "I think people will be shocked at how today we allo
How the Bomb Cyclone Nearly Broke JFK Airport :: Even before a water main broke and flooded much of Terminal 4 at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport early Sunday afternoon, the travel hub resembled a warzone, populated by blank-eyed employees and civilians, none of them quite sure what had happened over the past few days, and none of them happy about it. “I’m sure somebody was ready to poke a pencil in their eye,” says Patti Clark
Both fresh and frozen embryos offer similar chances of baby after IVF :: For women using in vitro fertilization to have a child, using either fresh or frozen embryos have similar success rates for most women, according to an international team of researchers. In a study — published today (Jan. 10) in the New England Journal of Medicine — researchers compared the live birth rates of in vitro fertilization procedures on women who had infertility but otherwise ovulated
Frozen embryos result in just as many live births in IVF :: Freezing and subsequent transfer of embryos gives infertile couples just as much of a chance of having a child as using fresh embryos for in vitro fertilization (IVF), research from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Adelaide, Australia has found. In results to be published this week in The New England Journal of Medicine , the research team shows that ongoing pregnancy rates and live births were equ
Rare melanoma type highly responsive to immunotherapy :: TAMPA, Fla. (Jan. 10, 2018) – Desmoplastic melanoma is a rare subtype of melanoma that is commonly found on sun-exposed areas, such as the head and neck, and usually seen in older patients. Treatment is difficult because these tumors are often resistant to chemotherapy and lack actionable mutations commonly found in other types of melanoma that are targeted by specific drugs. However, Moffitt Can
Enzyme shown to regulate inflammation and metabolism in fat tissue :: IMAGE: New research identifies an enzyme that helps regulate inflammation and metabolism in fat tissue. view more Credit: Brown University PROVIDENCE RI [Brown University] — The human body has two primary kinds of fat–white fat, which stores excess calories and is associated with obesity, and brown fat, which burns calories in order to produce heat and has garnered interest as a potential m
Malaria parasite packs genetic material for trip from mosquitoes to humans :: IMAGE: Because the malaria parasite Plasmodium cannot anticipate when it may be transmitted from a mosquito to a mammalian host, it uses specialized poly(A)-binding proteins to package and protect its genetic… view more Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The parasite that causes malaria has not one, but two, specialized proteins that protect its messenger RNAs — genetic
Finding the Oldest Fossils of Butterflies Using a Human Nose Hair :: But in analyzing the murky solution they stumbled upon a new mystery: several unknown scales were left behind in the gunk. The team soon discovered that the scales belonged to long extinct relatives of modern butterflies and moths. Mr. van Eldijk was tasked with fishing out more, and for that job he was given a dissection probe with a single nostril hair. “The nose hair has just the right length
Apparently, People Say “Thank You” to Self-Driving Pizza Delivery Vehicles :: You wouldn’t think Jim Farley would spend a lot of time thinking about pizza delivery, given his title as Ford’s executive vice president and president of global markets. But Farley, who oversees the business strategy for the car maker’s autonomous-vehicle unit, believes that delivering things such as pizza will be a key application for self-driving cars in the future, and he want to learn how pe
Climate Change Means 'Virtually No Male Turtles' Born In A Key Nesting Ground :: The sex of green sea turtles is determined by the egg's temperature as it's being incubated. Megan Nagel/USFWS Warming temperatures are having a profound and potentially devastating impact on one of the most important green sea turtle populations in the world. Scientists were surprised to find that "virtually no male turtles" are being hatched in a key breeding ground in the northern Great Barrie
When Pilots are Startled or Surprised Bad Things Can Happen :: When Pilots are Startled or Surprised Bad Things Can Happen Researchers are learning how to train pilots for the unexpected. Flightsimulator.jpg Image credits: SuperJet International via Flickr Rights information: CC BY-SA 2.0 Technology Wednesday, January 10, 2018 – 16:30 Joel Shurkin, Contributor (Inside Science) — On Jan. 15, 2009, Chesley Sullenberger III, the pilot on US Airways Flight 1549
ASU astronomers to build space telescope to explore nearby stars :: IMAGE: The SPARCS space telescope is CubeSat that will be built at ASU out of six cubical modules, each about four inches on a side. The plan is for students to… view more Credit: Arizona State University In 2021, a spacecraft the size of a Cheerios box will carry a small telescope into Earth orbit on an unusual mission. Its task is to monitor the flares and sunspots of small stars to asses
Senate commerce leader confronts Apple about iPhone slowdown :: The chairman of the U.S. Senate's commerce committee wants Apple to lift the veil on its once-secret slowdown of older iPhones. Sen. John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, issued his request for more information in a letter sent Tuesday to Apple CEO Tim Cook. Among other things, Thune wants to know if Apple made any effort to notify its customers that its recent software updates would make seve
Behind the smart gadgets, Amazon and Google are waging war :: A monorail with a Google advertisement passes the Las Vegas Convention Center during CES International, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) The flash of the CES technology show in Las Vegas is all about robots, drones and smart gadgets. But its subtext is all about Google versus Amazon. Both companies usually shun conventions like CES, preferring to debut gadgets at the
NASA sees Tropical Cyclone 5 form near northwestern Australia's coast :: At 12 p.m. EST (1700 UTC) on Jan. 10, NASA's Aqua satellite provided a look at temperatures of 05S's cloud tops. MODIS found the lowest cloud top temperature is about minus 90 degrees Celsius (minus 130 degrees Fahrenheit) in a band of thunderstorms stretching from west to north of the center and over the open waters of the Southern Indian Ocean. Credit: NASA/NRL Tropical Depression 5S was consol
Higher-ranked colleges don't necessarily provide a better educational experience :: Credit: CC0 Public Domain College rankings dominate the conversation regarding quality in postsecondary education, but new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York reveals that rankings have little to no relationship to student engagement, an important indicator of collegiate quality. John Zilvinskis, assistant professor of student affairs administration, along with Louis
A simple cell holds 42 million protein molecules, scientists reveal :: Yeast cells expressing proteins that carry green and red fluorescent tags to make them visible. Credit: Brendan Ho It's official—there are some 42 million protein molecules in a simple cell, revealed a team of researchers led by Grant Brown, a biochemistry professor in the University of Toronto's Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research. Analyzing data from almost two dozen large st
Dark Energy Survey publicly releases first three years of data :: The full area of sky mapped by the Dark Energy Survey and the 11 newly discovered stellar streams. Four of the streams in this diagram — ATLAS, Molonglo, Phoenix and Tucana III – were previously known. The others were discovered using the Dark Energy Camera, one of the most powerful astronomical cameras on Earth. Credit: Dark Energy Survey At a special session held during the American Astronomic
Higher-ranked colleges don't necessarily provide a better educational experience :: BINGHAMTON, NY- College rankings dominate the conversation regarding quality in postsecondary education, but new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York reveals that rankings have little to no relationship to student engagement, an important indicator of collegiate quality. John Zilvinskis, assistant professor of student affairs administration, along with Louis Rocconi a
NASA sees Tropical Cyclone 5 form near northwestern Australia's coast :: IMAGE: At 12 p.m. EST (1700 UTC) on Jan. 10, NASA's Aqua satellite provided a look at temperatures of 05S's cloud tops. MODIS found the lowest cloud top temperature is about… view more Credit: NASA/NRL Tropical Depression 5S was consolidating just offshore Cape Leveque, Western Australia when NASA's Aqua satellite gathered temperature data that showed the strongest part of the depression re
Researchers use Titan to accelerate design, training of deep learning networks :: ORNL's Steven Young (left) and Travis Johnston used Titan to prove the design and training of deep learning networks could be greatly accelerated with a capable computing system. Credit: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, US Department of Energy. Photographed by Jason Richards A team of researchers from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory has married artificial intelligence and h
BRIEF: Stopping Armageddon With Artificial Intelligence :: BRIEF: Stopping Armageddon With Artificial Intelligence Scientists are training computers to help us stop asteroids from crashing into our planet. BIGIMPCT.jpg An artist's depiction of a cataclysmic meteor impact. Image credits: Donald Davis /NASA Technology Wednesday, January 10, 2018 – 15:45 Yuen Yiu, Staff Writer Inside Science) – Imagine you have just spotted a giant asteroid heading straight
Mexican migrant health access much lower after US border crossing :: Health care access nosedives for Mexican immigrants and migrants once they cross into the United States — and stays that way even if they return to Mexico — a Drexel University public health study found. The study, published in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved and led by Ana Martinez-Donate, PhD, associate professor in Drexel's Dornsife School of Public Health, looked i
Heart-muscle patches made with human cells improve heart attack recovery :: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Large, human cardiac-muscle patches created in the lab have been tested, for the first time, on large animals in a heart attack model. This clinically relevant approach showed that the patches significantly improved recovery from heart attack injury. The results are a step closer to the goal of treating human heart attacks by suturing cardiac-muscle patches over an area of dead
Here's how stress may be making you sick :: IMAGE: Adam Moeser, an endowed chair and associate professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University, specializes in stress-induced diseases. view more Credit: Michigan State University EAST LANSING, Mich. — A Michigan State University researcher is providing new insight into how certain types of stress interact with immune cells and can regulate how these cells re
A simple cell holds 42 million protein molecules, scientists reveal :: IMAGE: Yeast cells expressing proteins that carry green and red fluorescent tags to make them visible. view more Credit: Brandon Ho It's official–there are some 42 million protein molecules in a simple cell, revealed a team of researchers led by Grant Brown, a biochemistry professor in the University of Toronto's Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research. Analyzing data from alm
Young adults report differing sexual effects from alcohol, marijuana, and ecstasy :: Alcohol, marijuana, and ecstasy each have very different sexual effects, from attraction and desire to sensitivity to sexual dysfunction, finds a study by the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research (CDUHR) at NYU Meyers College of Nursing. The findings, published in the journal Psychology and Sexuality , suggest that different substances are therefore associated with different sexual risks for
The Oldest Butterflies on Earth Had No Flowers to Feed On :: Before there were flowers on Earth, there were butterflies. And moths. That's what scientists found after analyzing 70 fossils of wing scales and scale fragments unearthed in northern Germany. These 200-million-year-old fossils, which date to the Triassic-Jurassic boundary, are the oldest evidence on record of insects in the order Lepidoptera, the researchers said. Some of the fossils sh
Here’s how stress may be making you sick :: A researcher is providing new insight into how certain types of stress interact with immune cells and can regulate how these cells respond to allergens, ultimately causing physical symptoms and disease.
Epileptic seizures and depression may share a common genetic cause, study suggests :: From the time of Hippocrates, physicians have suspected a link between epilepsy and depression. Now, for the first time, scientists have found evidence that seizures and mood disorders such as depression may share the same genetic cause in some people with epilepsy, which may lead to better screening and treatment to improve patients' quality of life.
Dark energy survey publicly releases first three years of data :: IMAGE: This image shows the full area of sky mapped by the Dark Energy Survey and the 11 newly discovered stellar streams. Four of the streams in this diagram — ATLAS,… view more Credit: Dark Energy Survey At a special session held during the American Astronomical Society meeting in Washington, D.C., scientists on the Dark Energy Survey (DES) announced today the public release of their fir
How a FedEx employee discovered the world’s largest prime number :: Jon Pace, a longtime FedEx employee, has loved math since high school. Today, he’s a flight operations finance manager with the Memphis-based delivery behemoth—and is also now credited with discovering the largest prime number currently known. It’s a whopping 23.2 million digits long. In case your math knowledge needs a refresher, a number is prime when it can only be divided by an integer that i
Scientists take viewers to the center of the Milky Way :: Credit: NASA/CXC/Pontifical Catholic Univ. of Chile /C.Russell et al. A new visualization provides an exceptional virtual trip—complete with a 360-degree view—to the center of our home galaxy, the Milky Way. This project, made using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes, allows viewers to control their own exploration of the fascinating environment of volatile massive st
Tiny antibiotic beads fight infections after joint replacement :: More than 1 million people undergo total joint replacements each year, and nearly 10,000 will develop infections. To reduce this infection risk, an orthopedic surgeon created small antibiotic beads that are implanted with the new joint to slowly release medicine for several weeks.
The ecological costs of war: Conflict a consistent killer of African megafauna :: Researchers report that war has been a consistent factor in the decades-long decline of Africa's large mammals. But the researchers also found that wildlife populations rarely collapsed to the point where recovery was impossible, meaning that even protected areas severely affected by conflict are promising candidates for conservation and rehabilitation efforts.
Multiresponsive nanosurfactant constructs tiny chemical factory :: Scientists have made a surfactant based on nanoparticle dimers, which is responsive to multiple stimuli. The nanosurfactant combines several characteristics of each 'active' molecular surfactant which allows a tremendous flexibility whereby liquid droplets can be manipulated.
With these special bacteria, a broccoli a day can keep the cancer doctor away :: Researchers have engineered bacteria that specifically targets colorectal cancer cells and converts a substance in some vegetables into an anticancer agent. The system reduced the number of tumors by 75 percent and shrank the remaining tumors by threefold in a mouse model of colorectal cancer. Published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, the study suggests that the probiotics taken together with a
A more complete Mediterranean diet may protect against aggressive prostate cancer :: Researchers determined that men who followed a Mediterranean diet, rich in fish, boiled potatoes, whole fruits, vegetables, legumes, and olive oil, and low consumption of juices had lower risk of aggressive prostate cancer (PC) than those who followed other dietary patterns like Prudent or Western diets.
Swarm of hydrogen clouds flying away from center of our galaxy :: Credit: S. Brunier; Design & Illustration: P. Vosteen A team of astronomers has discovered what appears to be a grand exodus of more than 100 hydrogen clouds streaming away from the center of the Milky Way and heading into intergalactic space. This observation, made with the National Science Foundation's Green Bank Telescope (GBT), may give astronomers a clearer picture of the so-called Fermi Bub
In India, subtle corruption robs villagers of roads :: Examining a major road-building program in India, researchers at Princeton University and the Paris School of Economics used an innovative technique to show that political corruption increased the chances that roads meant to connect isolated areas to the rest of the country would never be built, even though the government had paid for them. Credit: Egan Jimenez, Princeton University, Woodrow Wils
Rising Temperatures and the Elimination of Male Turtles :: The near-complete feminization of northern Great Barrier Reef sea turtles has been blamed on climate change.
Like Humans, Walruses and Bats Cuddle Infants on their Left Sides :: These mothers and babies keep each other in their left visual fields during maternal care, which aids right-hemisphere processing.
For a banded mongoose in northern Botswana, communicating with family can be deadly :: A novel TB pathogen, Mycobacterium mungi, is transmitted among banded mongoose in northern Botswana through infected scent marks used in olfactory communication, allowing information and TB disease to move through social groups. Credit: B. Fairbanks A novel tuberculosis pathogen, Mycobacterium mungi, closely related to human TB, infects and kills banded mongooses through a surprising route—olfact
A Scientist's Gender Can Skew Research Results :: Study participants often answer questions differently, depending on the questioner's gender. Sex hormones can affect results, too. sanjeri/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption sanjeri/Getty Images Study participants often answer questions differently, depending on the questioner's gender. Sex hormones can affect results, too. sanjeri/Getty Images The results of an IQ test can depend on the ge
Dramatic decline in genetic diversity of Northwest salmon :: Columbia River Chinook salmon have lost as much as two-thirds of their genetic diversity, researchers have found. The researchers reached this conclusion after extracting DNA from scores of bone samples — some harvested as many as 7,000 years ago — and comparing them to the DNA of Chinook currently swimming in the Snake and Columbia rivers. The work is 'the first direct measure of reduced geneti
Ancient Phoenician DNA from Sardinia, Lebanon reflects settlement, integration, mobility :: Ancient DNA from the Phoenician remains found in Sardinia and Lebanon could provide insight into the extent of integration with settled communities and human movement during this time period, according to a new study. The researchers looked at mitochondrial genomes, which are maternally inherited, in a search for markers of Phoenician ancestry.
Interconnected benefits of urban agriculture :: Researchers have assessed the value of urban agriculture and quantified its benefits at global scale.
Hepatitis Scare at 7-Eleven: How Do You Get The Virus? :: Up to 2,000 people in Utah who visited a 7-Eleven store may have been exposed to hepatitis A , officials warned this week. But exactly how do people contract the disease? On Sunday (Jan. 76), the Salt Lake County Health Department announced that a 7-Eleven employee in West Jordan had worked while sick with hepatitis A. Because of this, customers of that store may be at risk for hepatitis A
Robotic implants spur tissue regeneration inside the body :: BOSTON (January 10, 2018) = An implanted, programmable medical robot can gradually lengthen tubular organs by applying traction forces — stimulating tissue growth in stunted organs without interfering with organ function or causing apparent discomfort, report researchers at Boston Children's Hospital. The robotic system, described today in Science Robotics , induced cell proliferation and length
In India, subtle corruption robs villagers of roads :: PRINCETON, N.J.–Examining a major road-building program in India, researchers at Princeton University and the Paris School of Economics used an innovative technique to show that political corruption increased the chances that roads meant to connect isolated areas to the rest of the country would never be built, even though the government had paid for them. The study, published in the Journal of
For a banded mongoose in northern Botswana, communicating with family can be deadly :: A novel tuberculosis pathogen, Mycobacterium mungi, closely related to human TB, infects and kills banded mongooses through a surprising route — olfactory communication. Now, a detailed investigation published in the journal Veterinary Pathology provides a window into how this deadly disease moves between mongooses and within the mongoose host. The team, led by Kathleen Alexander , a professor o
Triassic Butterfly Park? :: Researchers studying deep-drilling cores have long noticed odd flecks of material in their samples, possibly from insects. They generally treated these as a distraction from their real work, and focused instead on pollen and spores as a continuous record for understanding past ecosystems. But a surprising abundance of those flecks in a recent sample from northern Germany has now led a team of sci
Webb Telescope's Houston highlights :: Engineers posed by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope shortly after it emerged from Chamber A at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston on Dec. 1, 2017. Credit: NASA/Chris Gunn With NASA's James Webb Space Telescope's approximately nine-month stay in Texas coming to an end, now is a good time to reflect on the memories it made in the Lone Star State. NASA has created a timelapse video that chronic
NASA's newly renamed Swift Mission spies a comet slowdown :: On March 14, 2017, two weeks before its closest approach to Earth, comet 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresák glides beneath the galaxy NGC 3198. The green glow comes from light emitted by diatomic carbon molecules. Credit: Copyright 2017 by Chis Schur, used with permission Observations by NASA's Swift spacecraft, now renamed the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory after the mission's late principal investigat
Dolphins beat humans, chimps at early signs of self-awareness :: Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the brightest mammal of them all? Using mirror images , researchers found that bottlenose dolphins show signs of self-awareness earlier in life than humans and chimpanzees. Recognizing oneself in a mirror is an indicator of self-awareness. This capacity has been identified only in humans, dolphins, great apes, elephants and magpies, the researchers said in back
A Neutron Star Hiding Out Near a Black Hole Is Pelting Earth with Radio Waves :: The Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia measured a complicated structure in a fast radio burst from the source FRB 121102. The telescope detected the burst using a new recording system from the Breakthrough Listen project. Credit: Image design: Danielle Futselaar – Photo usage: Shutterstock New work probes the extraterrestrial source of incredibly powerful explosions of radio waves, investiga
Ingredients for life revealed in meteorites that fell to Earth :: A detailed study of blue salt crystals found in two meteorites that crashed to Earth — which included X-ray experiments found that they contain both liquid water and a mix of complex organic compounds including hydrocarbons and amino acids.
New stellar streams confirm 'melting pot' history of the galaxy :: Where do the stars in our Galaxy come from? All the stars we see in the night-time sky belong to our Milky Way galaxy, and while most stars were likely born here, in the Milky Way, many appear to have originated in other galaxies and migrated to our shores. Tell-tale evidence comes from streams of stars created when small galaxies interact with the Milky Way.
A close-up look at an uncommon underwater eruption :: A new article describes the first up-close investigation of the largest underwater volcanic eruption of the past century.
New HSS study finds hope in understanding and better treating scleroderma :: IMAGE: This is the HSS Logo. view more Credit: HSS Scleroderma is a terribly debilitating disease with no effective treatments and the mortality rates are still upwards of 20%-50%, the highest of any rheumatic disease. This disabling autoimmune disorder results in inflammation and fibrosis leading to the thickening of the body's connective tissue, including the skin; and for decades its tre
NASA's newly renamed Swift Mission spies a comet slowdown :: Observations by NASA's Swift spacecraft, now renamed the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory after the mission's late principal investigator, have captured an unprecedented change in the rotation of a comet. Images taken in May 2017 reveal that comet 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresák — 41P for short — was spinning three times slower than it was in March, when it was observed by the Discovery Chann
Older adults with metabolic syndrome may be more resistant to depression treatments :: Researchers suspect that having Metabolic Syndrome makes it harder for older adults to respond to therapies for depression. (Metabolic Syndrome is a mix of conditions like increased blood pressure , high blood sugar levels, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels). In a new, first of its kind study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society , researcher
Light activity measured with fitness tracker linked to lower mortality in older women :: Experts say that a lack of physical activity leads to age-related weakness and poor health in older adults. Official guidelines suggest that healthy older adults spend at least 2.5 hours every week doing moderate activity (such as brisk walking), or at least 1.25 hours per week doing vigorous exercise (such as jogging or running). Unfortunately, many older adults are not physically able to perf
Once revolutionary, now dominant: OCT still shows rich potential for new applications :: IMAGE: Each B-scan consists of PA-scans acquired sequentially along the x-direction. An OCT volume consists of QB-scan images acquired along the y-direction. Pixels along the y-direction from N adjacent B-scans were… view more Credit: Jordi L. Tremoleda; Karl Alvarez; Abdirahman Aden; Robert Donnan; Adina T. Michael-Titus; Peter H. Tomlins BELLINGHAM, Washington, USA, and CARDIFF, UK – Opti
Recy Taylor's Truth :: Oprah Winfrey’s rousing speech at the Golden Globes on Sunday garnered headlines for catapulting the media mogul into the ranks of possible presidential candidates, but it was perhaps most remarkable for a moment in which she reframed the #MeToo moment and challenged even some people in the room who stood with her in solidarity. In a call to arms against sexual violence and for gender equality, W
'Butterfly Tongues' Are More Ancient Than Flowers, Fossil Study Finds :: A modern moth with a proboscis, the organ adapted for sucking up fluids such as nectar. Newly discovered fossil evidence suggests ancestors of such animals exists before flowering plants, raising questions about what ancient butterflies and moths used their tongue-like appendages for. Hossein Rajaei/Science Advances hide caption toggle caption Hossein Rajaei/Science Advances A modern moth with a
In Photos: SpaceX Rocket Launches Secret Zuma Spacecraft :: Liftoff for Zuma! Credit: SpaceX What Is Zuma Credit: SpaceX A Northrop Grumman Spacecraft Credit: Paul Hennessy/Polaris/Newscom Lighting Up the Night Credit: SpaceX Soaring Upward Credit: SpaceX Liftoff! Credit: Paul Hennessy/Polaris/Newscom Stunning Sight Credit: CrowdSpark/Newscom A Beach View Credit: SpaceX Returning to Earth Credit: SpaceX Touchdown! Credit: SpaceX A Delayed Flight Credit: S
ScienceTake: Dolphins Show Self-Recognition Earlier Than Children :: Dr. Reiss first reported self-recognition in dolphins in 2001 with Lori Marino, now the head of The Kimmela Center for Animal Advocacy. She and Dr. Morrison, now an assistant professor in the psychology department at the University of North Carolina Pembroke collaborated on the study and published their findings in the journal PLoS One. Dr. Reiss said the timing of the emergence of self-recogniti
Dolphins Mug for Camera in Awareness Test :: In a three-year study using mirrors, bottle-nosed dolphins were found to recognize themselves much earlier than other animals — even humans.
Dr. James Melius, Advocate for Workers’ Health, Dies at 69 :: When he testified on Capitol Hill in 2009, Dr. Melius cited the case of Leon Heyward , an inspector for the city’s Department of Consumer Affairs, who had helped evacuate disabled co-workers from ground zero and later learned he had sarcoidosis, a respiratory disease. “His disease got worse,” Dr. Melius said in his 2009 testimony. “He had to stop working. He was denied workers’ compensation. He s
Forget the self-driving car, meet the self-driving suitcase :: Self-driving cars may take a while to arrive, but the self-driving suitcase is here now. Some of the technologies used in autonomous cars have been adapted in products unveiled at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, to help travelers with the weighty problem of dealing with baggage. The "robot suitcase" from California-based startup Travelmate can be controlled with a smartphone ap
IMERG measures Tropical Cyclone Ava's disastrous rainfall :: NASA IMERG rainfall accumulation estimates between Jan. 2 and 8 of close to 700mm (27.6 inches) occurred in the Indian Ocean northeast and southeast of Madagascar. Highest rainfall totals over land were indicated in northeastern Madagascar where Ava came ashore. Credit: NASA/JAXA, Hal Pierce Tropical cyclone Ava dropped extremely heavy rainfall over Madagascar as it passed over the eastern side o
A single gene can either raise or lower Crohn’s disease risk :: Crohn’s is a severe form of inflammatory bowel disease Peter Dazeley/Getty By Andy Coghlan Screening the DNA of nearly 5700 Jewish people has identified a gene that helps determine a person’s risk of developing Crohn’s disease . Different mutations in the same gene can make someone more likely to get the condition, or help protect them from ever developing it. Crohn’s disease is the most seri
Robotic implant could help children with rare disorder eat again :: Food chute K H FUNG/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY By Timothy Revell Some children are born with their oesophagus in two segments, so the tube doesn’t connect to their stomach. A new robotic implant might help treat this serious condition, known as oesophageal atresia. The robot consists of two steel rings, some sensors and a motor, all sealed in a protective waterproof skin. The device is attached to
Las Vegas hotels bet on technology to attract, dazzle guests :: In this Nov. 15, 2017, photo, a robot named Pepper stands in the lobby of the Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas. Pepper is programmed to interact with guests and answer pre-programmed questions. (AP Photo/John Locher) It takes just minutes for a room service attendant to respond to a text message asking for a soda, bringing the Diet Coke on a tray with a glass of ice and lime wedges, no need for the
Aqua satellite finds wind shear hitting Tropical Storm Irving :: NASA's Aqua satellite passed over the Southern Indian Ocean and obtained a visible light image of Tropical Storm Irving that showed vertical wind shear was pushing storms away from its center.
NASA's IMERG measures Tropical Cyclone Ava's disastrous rainfall :: Tropical cyclone Ava dropped extremely heavy rainfall over Madagascar as it passed over the eastern side of the island country on January 5 and 6, 2018. NASA calculated how much rainfall occurred using satellite data. Ava's drenching rainfall caused flooding and landslides which resulted in the deaths of at least 29 people. An estimated 80,000 people on Madagascar were affected by the tropical cy
A close-up look at an uncommon underwater eruption :: IMAGE: The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Jason lands on the seafloor at Havre submarine volcano to retrieve a heat flow monitor. view more Credit: Multidisciplinary Instrumentation in Support of Oceanography (MISO) Facility, ©Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution On July 18, 2012, passengers on an airline flight over the Southwest Pacific Ocean glimpsed something unusual–a raft of f
In 'pond scum,' scientists find answers to one of evolution's which-came-first cases :: IMAGE: Examples of the oldest wing and body scales of primitive moths from the Schandelah-1 core photographed with transmitted light (magnification 630x). The scales are part of palynological preparations and occur… view more Credit: Bas van de Schootbrugge, Utrecht University Chestnut Hill, Mass. (1/10/2018) – Visiting a colleague in Germany in 2012, Boston College Research Profess
Ingredients for life revealed in meteorites that fell to Earth :: IMAGE: Ceres, a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt pictured here in this NASA-produced false-color image, may be the source of organic matter found on two meteorites that crashed to Earth… view more Credit: NASA Two wayward space rocks, which separately crashed to Earth in 1998 after circulating in our solar system's asteroid belt for billions of years, share something else in comm
New stellar streams confirm 'melting pot' history of the galaxy :: IMAGE: Color image of the Dark Energy Survey field. Several of the streams are visible as yellow streaks. view more Credit: Credit: Alex Drlica-Wagner (Fermilab), Nora Shipp (U. Chicago), and the DES Collaboration. Where do the stars in our Galaxy come from? All the stars we see in the night-time sky belong to our Milky Way galaxy, and while most stars were likely born here, in th
Earliest fossil evidence of butterflies and moths :: IMAGE: Example of a living representative of a primitive moth belonging to the Glossata, moths that bear a proboscid adapted for sucking up fluids, including nectar. Size of the scale bar… view more Credit: Hossein Rajaei Researchers working in Germany have unearthed the earliest known fossil evidence of insects from the order Lepidoptera, which includes butterflies and moths. The fossils,
Adaptation now: River flood risks increase around the globe under future warming :: Rainfall changes caused by global warming will increase river flood risks across the globe. Already today, fluvial floods are among the most common and devastating natural disasters. Scientists have now calculated the required increase in flood protection until the 2040s worldwide, breaking it down to single regions and cities. They find that the need for adaptation is greatest in the US, parts o
Biofilm buster treats drug-resistant infections :: Scientists have created a potent antibacterial agent that killed drug-resistant microbes and even eradicated stubborn pathogens growing in biofilms, which can be 10 to 1,000 times more tolerant to antibiotics than free-living bacteria. They say the compound, a short protein fragment called SAAP-148, could be a promising drug candidate in the ongoing battle against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A
Researchers chart dramatic decline in genetic diversity of Northwest salmon :: IMAGE: Washington State University researchers extracted ancient DNA from salmon bones like these found in garbage piles, or middens, as many as 7,000 years old. view more Credit: Washington State University PULLMAN, Wash. – Columbia River Chinook salmon have lost as much as two-thirds of their genetic diversity, Washington State University researchers have found. The researchers re
Ancient Phoenician DNA from Sardinia, Lebanon reflects settlement, integration, mobility :: IMAGE: This is a sampling from the Tomb 351 Monte Sirai. view more Credit: Michele Guirguis Ancient DNA from the Phoenician remains found in Sardinia and Lebanon could provide insight into the extent of integration with settled communities and human movement during this time period, according to a study published January 10, 2018 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by E. Matisoo-Smith from th
How Ancient Roman Ruins Ended Up 2,000 Miles Away in a British Garden :: Anyone taking a walk through the Great Windsor Park in Surrey, England, is met with an impressive sight. Through the thick coverts and oak trees, across the long lawns where deer scatter, the towering lines of roman columns loom into view. This is the Temple of Augustus, a piece of classical finery crumbling into the ground of the mossy valley. At first glance, the ruins look like they have stood
Job ads should be worded wisely to encourage women to apply :: Using the wrong type of words in a job advertisement can discourage women from applying. This is one of the findings from a study by Lien Wille and Eva Derous of Ghent University in Belgium. The research is published in Springer's journal Sex Roles . Wille and Derous recommend that human resources professionals carefully consider the kind of message and type of words they use in job ads when they
Body size of marine plankton, currents keys to dispersal in ocean :: A new international study found that the size of plankton, and the strength and direction of currents, are key to how they are dispersed in the ocean — much more so than physical conditions including differences in temperature, salinity and nutrient availability.
Astronomers detect 'whirlpool' movement in earliest galaxies; swirling gases soon after Big Bang :: Astronomers have looked back to a time soon after the Big Bang, and have discovered swirling gas in some of the earliest galaxies to have formed in the universe. These 'newborns' — observed as they appeared nearly 13 billion years ago — spun like a whirlpool, similar to our own Milky Way. This is the first time that it has been possible to detect movement in galaxies at such an early point in th
Fast radio bursts 'twists and shouts' help scientists determine source of cosmic blasts :: Astronomers have found that the fast radio burst FRB 121102 — a brief, gigantic pulse of radio waves from 3 billion light years away — passes through a veil of magnetized plasma. This causes the cosmic blasts to 'shout and twist,' which will help the scientists determine the source.
Frogs reveal mechanism that determines viability of hybrids :: Why are some hybrids viable and others not? It is known that this depends on the father species and the mother species. New research in two related frog species shows the influence of mother and father species: one hybrid is viable, the other hybrid dies in early stages of development.
We must accept more risks if we want space travel to take off :: By Leah Crane FLYING to space is just about the most dangerous thing a person can do. That’s part of the reason nobody has ventured past the International Space Station since the Apollo programme ended in 1972. But as government agencies like NASA and firms including SpaceX start to talk about putting humans on the moon and beyond , it is time to rethink how we approach risking lives in space
Mystery radio bursts may be from neutron star near a black hole :: The Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia caught some quick signals, but what are they from? Green Bank Observatory Science Center/ CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 By Leah Crane Two of the most extreme and mysterious objects in the universe might be sitting right next to each other. And they’re being flashy about it. New observations of the light from the only repeating fast radio burst we have seen show tha
If the sea floor is sinking, are we safe from sea level rise? :: Meltwater adds to sea level rise Ira Block/National Geographic/Getty By Michael Le Page “We’ve measured sea level rise wrong for 20 years – and it’s higher than previously thought.” Well, no, not really. This is just one of the misleading headlines about the first study to try to work out how much the ocean floor is sinking under the weight of all the extra water pouring into it. What’s more,
Fossil evidence reveals butterflies and moths lived 50m years earlier than thought :: The earliest known fossil evidence of butterflies and moths has been found in Germany, showing they lived at least 50m years earlier than previously believed and challenging one of the most popular beliefs about their evolution. Scales from the wings of at least seven species were found in a sample of just 10g of sediment – the weight of a UK pound coin – and researchers believe there are “many,
Out There: Magnetic Secrets of Mysterious Radio Bursts in a Faraway Galaxy :: Photo The Arecibo Observatory in Arecibo, P.R., measured a mysterious pulse of energy known as a fast radio burst, suggesting that the pulses may be emitted by black holes or neutron stars. Credit Xavier Garcia/Bloomberg, via Getty Images Snap, crackle or pop? Nature keeps coming up with new and baffling ways to blow things up. Astronomers have been baffled lately by the mysterious pulses of cosm
Study finds body size of marine plankton, currents keys to dispersal in ocean :: Credit: CC0 Public Domain When it comes to marine plankton, the smaller you are the farther you travel. A new international study found that the size of plankton, and the strength and direction of currents, are key to how they are dispersed in the ocean – much more so than physical conditions including differences in temperature, salinity and nutrient availability. Results of the study are being
Former US Energy Secretary to Lead AAAS :: Steven Chu, the president-elect of the scientific organization, is a Nobel laureate and physicist at Stanford University.
A Robot That Tugs on Pig Organs Could Save Human Babies :: The pig looks like any other pig, only it's been wearing a backpack for a week—in the name of science. Just behind its head sits a control box, with a battery and processor, from which runs a cable that enters through the pig’s flank. Once inside, the cable attaches to a very special robot clamped onto the pig's esophagus, the pathway to the stomach. Little by little, the robot lengthens, in turn
In 'pond scum,' scientists find answers to one evolution's which-came-first cases :: Example of a living representative of a primitive moth belonging to the Glossata, moths that bear a proboscid adapted for sucking up fluids, including nectar. Size of the scale bar is 1 cm. Credit: Hossein Rajaei, Museum für Naturkunde Visiting a colleague in Germany in 2012, Boston College Research Professor Paul K. Strother was examining soil samples for pollen, spores, pieces of plants and ins
Researchers chart dramatic decline in genetic diversity of Northwest salmon :: Washington State University researchers extracted ancient DNA from salmon bones like these found in garbage piles, or middens, as many as 7,000 years old. Credit: Washington State University Columbia River Chinook salmon have lost as much as two-thirds of their genetic diversity, Washington State University researchers have found. The researchers reached this conclusion after extracting DNA from
Ingredients for life revealed in meteorites that fell to Earth :: Blue halite and tweezer tips for scale. Credit: Dr. Queenie Hoi Shan Chan Two wayward space rocks, which separately crashed to Earth in 1998 after circulating in our solar system's asteroid belt for billions of years, share something else in common: the ingredients for life. They are the first meteorites found to contain both liquid water and a mix of complex organic compounds such as hydrocarbon
Ancient Phoenician DNA from Sardinia, Lebanon reflects settlement, integration, mobility :: Sampling from the Tomb 351 Monte Sirai. Credit: Michele Guirguis Ancient DNA from the Phoenician remains found in Sardinia and Lebanon could provide insight into the extent of integration with settled communities and human movement during this time period, according to a study published January 10, 2018 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by E. Matisoo-Smith from the University of Otago, New Zeal
New stellar streams confirm 'melting pot' history of the galaxy :: Color image of the Dark Energy Survey field. Several of the streams are visible as yellow streaks. Credit: Alex Drlica-Wagner (Fermilab), Nora Shipp (U. Chicago), and the DES Collaboration. Where do the stars in our Galaxy come from? All the stars we see in the night-time sky belong to our Milky Way galaxy, and while most stars were likely born here, in the Milky Way, many appear to have originat
A new gel could help in the fight against deadly, drug-resistant superbugs :: In the Jan 20 SN : the race to Mars, hormone replacement therapy’s second chance, soap bubble snow globes, a far-out quasar, climate change’s extreme results, an indiscriminate snake fungus and more.
Quantum Dot: Extremely bright and fast light emission :: A type of quantum dot that has been intensively studied in recent years can reproduce light in every color and is very bright. An international research team has now discovered why this is the case. The quantum dots could someday be used in light-emitting diodes.
NASA's Aqua satellite finds wind shear hitting Tropical Storm Irving :: NASA's Aqua satellite passed over the Southern Indian Ocean and obtained a visible light image of Tropical Storm Irving that showed vertical wind shear was pushing storms away from its center. On Jan. 10 at 4:25 a.m. EST (0925 UTC) the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument aboard Aqua provided a visible look at the effect wind shear was having on Irving. Northwesterly
Where Did 'Doggo' Come From? Wouldn't You Like to Know, Fren :: The only way to explain the reaction to Merriam-Webster’s year-end announcement that “doggo” was one of the dictionary’s “Words We're Watching” is to use another colloquialism: Twitter lost its damn mind. It wasn’t the first time Merriam, the hippest dictionary that ever was (sorry, Oxford), has incorporated internet-beloved words into its corpus; it recently added definitions for the terms “ tro
A close-up look at an uncommon underwater eruption :: High-resolution seafloor topography of the Havre caldera mapped by the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Sentry shows the new 2012 erupted lavas in red. The volcano is nearly a mile deep (1,519 meters). The top of the volcano is at 650 meters below sea level. Credit: Rebecca Carey, University of Tasmania, Adam Soule, WHOI, © Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution On July 18, 2012, passengers on a
3-D printing remakes the strain gauge :: Schematic of the porous film under linear strain showing enhanced lateral contraction (Poisson ratio greater than 0.5). Credit: Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering Rahul Panat and a team of researchers from CMU, WSU, and UT-El Paso have developed a new 3-D printing technique for manufacturing strain gauges that breaks the Poisson Ratio by 40%. Have you ever weighed your car at a wei
Changing how we view chlorine in soil :: Researchers at Linköping University have studied how combinations of different environmental factors affect the chlorination of organic matter in soils. The results show that the supply of fresh organic compounds, which promote the growth of the microorganisms, increases chlorination. The discovery could mean that chlorine in ecosystems has a different significance than previously believed. Chlor
New oxide and semiconductor combination builds new device potential :: RHEED images taken from (a) a clean GaAs surface after As-desorption, (b) after 20 u.c. of STO, (c) after 5 u.c. of GTO, and (d) after the last 5 u.c. of STO of the structure. Images are acquired along the [010] azimuth of each crystal surface. Credit: American Institute of Physics, DOI: 10.1063/1.5004576 Insulating oxides are oxygen containing compounds that do not conduct electricity, but can s
'Sniffing' out counterfeit liquors :: A portable device with an advanced sensor can "sniff" out counterfeit liquors. Credit: Kenneth S. Suslick, Ph.D. Watered-down or fake liquors can reap financial rewards for nefarious individuals, but the adulteration of liquor cheats consumers and can even lead to health hazards from added contaminants. Scientists now report in ACS Sensors a portable device with an advanced sensor array that can
Black hole breakthrough: New insight into mysterious jets :: Credit: Northwestern University Through first-of-their-kind supercomputer simulations, researchers, including a Northwestern University professor, have gained new insight into one of the most mysterious phenomena in modern astronomy: the behavior of relativistic jets that shoot from black holes, extending outward across millions of light years. Advanced simulations created with one of the world's
Light shed on mystery space radio pulses :: Image copyright DR SETH SHOSTAK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Image caption The analysis used data from the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico Astronomers say they have explained mystery radio pulses from space that were once considered to be a potential message from aliens. Fast radio bursts are one of the most persistent puzzles in astronomy; while usually short-lived, one source in the sky was sending
Robot Surgeons Are Stealing Training Opportunities from Young Doctors :: AT&T Ditching a Deal With Huawei Could Become a Political Mess American carrier AT&T has pulled out of plans to sell phones from Chinese maker Huawei, raising questions about international relations. The scrapped deal: Huawei is the world’s biggest phone maker behind Samsung and Apple, but it hasn’t had much of… Read more American carrier AT&T has pulled out of plans to sell phones from Chinese
Scaling to new heights with gecko-inspired adhesive :: Credit: American Chemical Society Some animals, such as geckos, can easily climb up walls and across ceilings. But currently, no material exists that allows everyday people to scale walls or transverse ceilings as effortlessly. Now, scientists report in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces a dry adhesive that could someday make it easier to defy gravity. Geckos can scale walls because of their un
Blue Brain Nexus: An open-source knowledge graph for data-driven science :: The Blue Brain Nexus: A knowledge graph for data-driven science. Credit: EPFL Knowledge sharing is an important driving force behind scientific progress. In an open-science approach, EPFL's Blue Brain Project has created and open sourced Blue Brain Nexus that allows the building of data integration platforms. Blue Brain Nexus enables data-driven science through searching, integrating and tracking
Giant extinct burrowing bat discovered in New Zealand :: The fossilized remains of a giant burrowing bat that lived in New Zealand millions of years ago have been found by a UNSW Sydney-led international team of scientists. Teeth and bones of the extinct bat — which was about three times the size of an average bat today — were recovered from 19 to 16-million-year-old sediments near the town of St Bathans in Central Otago on the South Island.
Fast radio bursts may be from a neutron star orbiting a black hole :: OXON HILL, Md. — Fast radio bursts could come from a turbulent home. At least one source of these bright, brief blasts of radio energy may be a young neutron star assisted by a nearby massive black hole, new research suggests. “The biggest mystery around fast radio bursts is how such powerful and short-duration bursts are emitted,” says astronomer Daniele Michilli of the University of Amsterdam.
Unexpected undulations in biological membranes :: How biological membranes – such as the plasma membrane of animal cells or the inner membrane of bacteria – fluctuate over time is not easy to understand, partly because at the sub-cellular scale, temperature-related agitation makes the membranes fluctuate constantly; and partly because they are in contact with complex media, such as the cells' structuring element, the cytoskeleton, or the extra-c
Extremely bright and fast light emission :: A cesium lead bromide nanocrystal under the electron microscope (crystal width: 14 nanometer). Individual atoms are visible as points. Credit: ETH Zurich / Empa / Maksym Kovalenko An international team of researchers from ETH Zurich, IBM Research Zurich, Empa and four American research institutions have found the explanation for why a class of nanocrystals that has been intensively studied in rec
Derek Jeter Is Finally Failing :: By just about any measure of an athlete’s “success,” Derek Jeter grades out as exceptional. Statistics? He tallied 3,465 hits, sixth all-time. Championships? He won five of them with the Yankees. Money? He earned more than $250 million in salary throughout his career. Crossover stardom? He was baseball’s most famous player and remains a staple of tabloid gossip. Adoration? Yankees fans name their
Study finds body size of marine plankton, currents keys to dispersal in ocean :: CORVALLIS, Ore. – When it comes to marine plankton, the smaller you are the farther you travel. A new international study found that the size of plankton, and the strength and direction of currents, are key to how they are dispersed in the ocean – much more so than physical conditions including differences in temperature, salinity and nutrient availability. Results of the study are being publishe
Frogs reveal mechanism that determines viability of hybrids :: IMAGE: Crossbreeding Xenopus laevis , the African clawed frog, and Xenopus tropicalis , the Western clawed frog has asymmetric results. When a female African clawed frog is crossbred with a male Western clawed… view more Credit: University of California Berkeley, Radboud University When two related species crossbreed, their genetic material crosses, which can lead to new species. But every
Multiresponsive nanosurfactant constructs tiny chemical factory :: When people hear of surfactants, they normally think of a static chemical compound used to stabilize droplets in the manufacture of soaps, detergents, or paints. Research has shown that active forms of surfactants can respond to individual external stimuli, but what if it could interact with more than one? Scientists at the Center for Soft and Living Matter, within the Institute for Basic Science
Extremely bright and fast light emission :: IMAGE: A cesium lead bromide nanocrystal under the electron microscope (crystal width: 14 nanometer). Individual atoms are visible as points. view more Credit: ETH Zurich / Empa / Maksym Kovalenko An international team of researchers from ETH Zurich, IBM Research Zurich, Empa and four American research institutions have found the explanation for why a class of nanocrystals that has been intensive
Salk scientists curb growth of cancer cells by blocking access to key nutrients :: LA JOLLA — (Jan. 10, 2018) Salk researchers have discovered how to curb the growth of cancer cells by blocking the cells' access to certain nutrients. The approach, detailed in a new paper published today in Nature , took advantage of knowledge on how healthy cells use a 24-hour cycle to regulate the production of nutrients and was tested on glioblastoma brain tumors in mice. "When we bl
The ecological costs of war: Conflict a consistent killer of African megafauna :: IMAGE: After years of examining conflict in Africa's protected areas, Princeton researchers report in the journal Nature that war has been a consistent factor in the decades-long decline of Africa's large… view more Credit: Photo by Robert Pringle, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology When Joshua Daskin traveled to Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park in 2012, the park and
Fast radio burst source linked to 'extreme' environment :: Astrophysicists have just discovered a major new clue about the environment that is home to a series of mysterious cosmic radio signals. A new study shows that the only known repeating fast radio burst (FRB) source is in an 'extreme' environment which is among the most highly magnetized regions of space ever observed. Such an environment has only been seen around massive black holes, but could al
Fast radio bursts 'twists and shouts' help scientists determine source of cosmic blasts :: ITHACA, N.Y. – An international group of astronomers has found that the Cornell University-discovered fast radio burst FRB 121102 – a brief, gigantic pulse of radio waves from 3 billion light years away – passes through a veil of magnetized plasma. This causes the cosmic blasts to "shout and twist," which will help the scientists determine the source. The research is featured on the cover of Natu
Research outlines the interconnected benefits of urban agriculture :: From a vacant plot in a blighted neighborhood springs neatly combed rows of plants put in by the neighbors. They meticulously care for this small piece of land and among the drab looking buildings sprouts a patch of green. Cultivating the land may have started as a way to unite a neighborhood; to give pride to place, or it might be the project of a local high school to teach land stewardship. The
SETI project homes in on strange 'fast radio bursts' :: Recent observations of a mysterious and distant object that emits intermittent bursts of radio waves so bright that they're visible across the universe provide new data about the source but fail to clear up the mystery of what causes them. The observations by the Breakthrough Listen team at UC Berkeley using the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia show that the fast radio bursts
Astronomers detect 'whirlpool' movement in earliest galaxies :: Astronomers have looked back to a time soon after the Big Bang, and have discovered swirling gas in some of the earliest galaxies to have formed in the Universe. These 'newborns' – observed as they appeared nearly 13 billion years ago – spun like a whirlpool, similar to our own Milky Way. This is the first time that it has been possible to detect movement in galaxies at such an early point in the
The Ghosts of Cyclists That Haunt City Streets :: What if, rather than in cemeteries, tombstones were placed at the exact location of the deceased’s final moments? That’s the premise of the ghost bike : a white bicycle, often covered with flowers and a plaque, that is chained to a fence or a street sign as a memorial of a life lost in a cycling accident there. Since the first ghost bike was anointed by a bike mechanic who witnessed an accident i
Astronomers Edge Closer to Solving a Major Cosmic Conundrum :: In 2007, astrophysicists at West Virginia University stumbled upon something strange as they reviewed archival data at the Parkes radio telescope in Australia. They found the telescope had detected a powerful flash of radio waves that lasted less than five milliseconds. The signal appeared smeared across a range of frequencies, a sign that the burst had traveled a huge distance—about 3 billion li
When Humans War, Animals Die :: In 1977, two years after declaring independence from Portugal, Mozambique erupted into civil war. Over the next 15 years, the violent conflict claimed at least a million lives—and that was just the humans. Government troops and resistance fighters also slaughtered their way through the wildlife in the nation’s renowned Gorongosa National Park, once touted as a natural paradise. Thousands of eleph
Hormone replacement therapy may prevent depression in menopause :: A way to prevent depression? Phanie / Alamy By New Scientist staff and Press Association Hormone replacement therapy seems to prevent depression in women going through the menopause . A study of 172 women without depression and aged between 45 and 60 has found that a year of HRT treatment can help stop symptoms of depression emerging in women who are entering the menopause or who are in the e
A swarm of home-made drones has bombed a Russian airbase :: An artist’s rendition of a swarm of drones iStock/Getty Images Plus By David Hambling On the night of 5 January and into the early hours of the next day, Russian forces in Syria came under attack by a “ massive application of unmanned aerial vehicles ”, says the Russian Ministry of Defence. It is the first announced use of a swarm of drones in a military action, but is unlikely to be the last
Latest measurement of a proton’s mass has got physicists puzzled :: The result of a collision between a proton and a photon OMIKRON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY By Adam Mann Something isn’t measuring up. For the second time, an extremely precise measurement of the proton’s mass is different from its recognised value. “It looks like there is a serious flaw somewhere,” says Sven Sturm at the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics in Heidelberg, Germany. The issue fi
What it really takes to power your home for a day :: Like any good consumer, you’ve filled your home with power-thirsty screens and toasters. And they make your average American abode chug 30 kilowatt-hours of electricity every single day. (A kilowatt-hour, by the way, is 1,000 watts used over one hour. But you knew that.) Producing your daily juice requires various amounts of gas, coal, oil, wind, solar, water, or nuclear fuel, depending on your e
Questioning AI: what kind of intelligence will we create? – Science Weekly podcast :: In the second episode of this mini-series, Ian Sample asks if human-level intelligence is what we should be aiming for. And can we replicate something we can’t even define? Subscribe and review on Apple Podcasts , Soundcloud , Audioboom , Mixcloud and Acast , and join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter When it comes to artificial intelligence (AI), people often obsess about creating “human-le
Astronomers may be closing in on source of mysterious fast radio bursts :: Astronomers appear to be closing in on the source of enigmatic radio pulses emanating from space that have become the subject of intense scientific speculation. Previous candidates for the origin of the fleeting blasts of radiation – known as fast radio bursts, or FRBs – have included exploding stars, the reverberations of weird objects called cosmic strings or even distant beacons from interstel
Armadillo, Hedgehog and Rabbit Genes Reveal How Pregnancy Evolved :: People, dogs and about 4,000 other species of placental mammal are distinguished by the ability to nurture a fetus within the body for extended periods of time. This vital adaptation permits the slow development of big brains. Now, a study of gene expression in early pregnancy, when the embryo implants in the uterus, suggests that placental mammals evolved the ability to turn an inflammatory atta
Dead Stars Orbiting Black Holes May Explain Mysterious Fast Radio Bursts :: Ever since their discovery more than a decade ago, enigmatic flashes of radio waves have puzzled astronomers. These “fast radio bursts” (FRBs) pop up with startling frequency and intensity all across the sky, each emerging from unknown faraway extragalactic sources and packing the power output of up to hundreds of millions of suns into just a few fleeting milliseconds. Now researchers are clo
Questioning AI: what kind of intelligence will we create? – Science Weekly podcast :: In the second episode of this mini-series, Ian Sample asks if human-level intelligence is what we should be aiming for. And can we replicate something we can’t even define?
Astronomers detect 'whirlpool' movement in earliest galaxies :: Artist's impression of spinning galaxies. Credit: Amanda Smith, University of Cambridge Astronomers have looked back to a time soon after the Big Bang, and have discovered swirling gas in some of the earliest galaxies to have formed in the Universe. These 'newborns' – observed as they appeared nearly 13 billion years ago – spun like a whirlpool, similar to our own Milky Way. This is the first tim
The ecological costs of war: Conflict a consistent killer of African megafauna :: After years of examining conflict in Africa's protected areas, Princeton researchers report in the journal Nature that war has been a consistent factor in the decades-long decline of Africa's large mammals, but that wildlife populations rarely collapsed to the point where recovery was impossible. Above, an armed park ranger stands guard in Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park where large-animal p
Research outlines the interconnected benefits of urban agriculture :: From a vacant plot in a blighted neighborhood springs neatly combed rows of plants put in by the neighbors. They meticulously care for this small piece of land and among the drab looking buildings sprouts a patch of green. Cultivating the land may have started as a way to unite a neighborhood; to give pride to place, or it might be the project of a local high school to teach land stewardship. The
Fast radio bursts 'twists and shouts' help scientists determine source of cosmic blasts :: The 305-metre Arecibo telescope, in Puerto Rico, and its suspended support platform of radio receivers is shown amid a starry night. A flash from the Fast Radio Burst source FRB 121102 is seen: originating beyond the Milky Way, from deep in extragalactic space. This radio burst is highly polarized, and the polarized signal gets twisted as a function of radio frequency because there is an extreme
Experts provide insights on the body's stress response during critical illness :: Critical illness causes the body to initiate a stress response, which activates the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis to increase the availability of the stress hormone cortisol. In a new Comprehensive Physiology article, experts give an overview of the adrenocortical stress response, with a point-by-point discussion on the causes and consequences observed during critical illness. They also dis
Astronomers Trace Radio Burst to Extreme Cosmic Neighborhood :: On Christmas Eve 2016, Andrew Seymour, an astronomer at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, kissed his 4-year-old daughter, Cora Lee, goodnight, telling her he was off to track Santa. He walked to the well-worn telescope, occasionally passing revelers riding horses through the empty streets — a common sight in Arecibo during the holidays. Sometimes a lonely firework would light up in the dist
3-D printing creates super soft structures that replicate brain and lungs :: A new 3-D printing technique allows researchers to replicate biological structures, which could be used for tissue regeneration and replica organs.
More Female Sea Turtles Born as Temperatures Rise :: But it wasn’t clear until this study that the shift was so dramatic and happening in such a large population across time, she said. “This is the first paper that’s shown this multigenerational effect,” influencing the gender of juveniles, older adolescents and adults, Dr. Wyneken said. It takes 35 to 40 years for a green sea turtle to reach sexual maturity, she said. “These animals are teenagers
Robot Surgeons Steal Training Opportunities from Young Doctors :: AT&T Ditching a Deal With Huawei Could Become a Political Mess American carrier AT&T has pulled out of plans to sell phones from Chinese maker Huawei, raising questions about international relations. The scrapped deal: Huawei is the world’s biggest phone maker behind Samsung and Apple, but it hasn’t had much of… Read more American carrier AT&T has pulled out of plans to sell phones from Chinese
A more complete Mediterranean diet may protect against aggressive prostate cancer :: IMAGE: Adjusted relative risk ratios (RRR) and 95% confidence intervals for the association between prostate cancer incidence and the scores of adherence to Western, Prudent, and Mediterranean dietary patterns in MCC-Spain… view more Credit: The Journal of Urology New York, Jan. 10, 2018 – In a new study published in The Journal of Urology ® , researchers determined that men who followed a
Personal growth often coexists with post-traumatic stress following natural disasters :: IMAGE: The 2011 tornado in Joplin, Missouri, was one of the most destructive in US history — killing 161 people, injuring 1,150 and destroying approximately one-third of the city's homes…. view more Credit: MU News Bureau COLUMBIA, Mo. – The 2011 tornado in Joplin, Missouri, was one of the most destructive in U.S. history–killing 161 people, injuring 1,150 and destroying approximately
Pancreatic cancer accelerated by stress, finds study :: NEW YORK, NY (January 10, 2018)–A new study shows that stress accelerates the development of pancreatic cancer by triggering the release of "fight-or-flight" hormones. Beta-blockers–commonly used medications that inhibit these hormones–were found to increase survival in a mouse model of the disease. An additional analysis of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer revealed that those who were
Readers wrangle with definition of ‘species’ :: Species shmecies In “ Defining ‘species’ is a fuzzy art ” ( SN: 11/11/17, p. 22 ), Susan Milius asked scientists to define “species.” Schoolbooks may define the concept as a group of organisms that create fertile offspring when mating with each other but not when mating with outsiders. But for researchers specializing in the topic, a single definition is hard to come by. “It seems to me that when
We’ll be watching the skies, plus a lot more, this year :: If this issue is any clue, 2018 may be the Year of Space. Our pages are packed with a surprising wealth of content for astronomy lovers, and anyone who dreams of otherworldly encounters. In our cover story, astronomy writer Lisa Grossman reports on the race to Mars . SpaceX announced last year that it plans to get people to the Red Planet by 2024, but the battle over what humans’ arrival would me
Man As God: 'Frankenstein' Turns 200 :: thomaguery/Getty Images/iStockphoto thomaguery/Getty Images/iStockphoto "A man is a god in ruins," wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson in the 19th century. Ever since people contemplated the existence of a divine dimension — and this belief must go back to the very early stages of Homo Sapiens or even earlier — with Neanderthals, a split occurred between the human condition and the eternal. As humans, it i
Humanitarian intervention reduces 'stress hormone' in war-affected youth :: IMAGE: Syrian youth participate in a study that measured cortisol levels in their hair to assess the impact of a mental-health intervention for war-affected adolescents. view more Credit: Taghyeer Organization New Haven, Conn. — A new study shows that a humanitarian program to improve the mental health of adolescents affected by the Syrian war has a biological benefit: For participants in th
TSRI scientists discover workings of first promising Marburg virus treatment :: IMAGE: An antibody called MR191 can neutralize the deadly Marburg virus. view more Credit: Image courtesy Ollmann Saphire Lab LA JOLLA, CA – Jan. 10, 2018 – With a mortality rate of up to 88 percent, Marburg virus can rip through a community in days. In 2005, an outbreak of Marburg virus struck a pediatric ward in the country of Angola. With no treatment available, doctors struggled to he
A New Trick Can Spoof a Speech Recognition AI Every Time :: Drugmakers Think Blockchains Could Improve Clinical Trials Three big pharmaceutical firms—Pfizer, Amgen, and Sanofi—are working together to use blockchains to speed up clinical tests of new drugs, according to CoinDesk . The problem: Patient data that’s crucial to locating individuals for clinical trials is usually… Read more Three big pharmaceutical firms—Pfizer, Amgen, and Sanofi—are working
Changing how we view chlorine in soil :: Researchers have studied how combinations of different environmental factors affect the chlorination of organic matter in soils. The results show that the supply of fresh organic compounds, which promote the growth of the microorganisms, increases chlorination. The discovery could mean that chlorine in ecosystems has a different significance than previously believed.
New oxide and semiconductor combination builds new device potential :: Researchers have now grown a 2DEG system on gallium arsenide, a semiconductor that's efficient in absorbing and emitting light. This development is promising for new electronic devices that interact with light, such as new kinds of transistors, superconducting switches and gas sensors.
Light-sensitive THC: Intoxicatingly light-sensitive :: Chemists have synthesized several variants of THC, the active ingredient in cannabis. Its structure can be altered with light, and the researchers have used this to create a new tool that can be used to more effectively study the body's own cannabinoid system.
Black hole breakthrough: New insight into mysterious jets :: Advanced simulations created with one of the world's most powerful supercomputers show the jets' streams gradually change direction in the sky, or precess, as a result of space-time being dragged into the rotation of the black hole.
New discovery may explain winter weight gain :: We may have a new reason, in addition to vitamin D generation, to bask in a little sunshine. A breakthrough has shown the fat cells that lie just beneath our skin shrink when exposed to the blue light emitted by the sun.
Biomarkers may help predict outcomes in gastric cancer patients who abuse alcohol :: Alcohol consumption has been identified as a modifiable risk factor for cancers such as gastric cancer. A new report sheds light on how specific proteins interact with alcohol, and how that interplay impacts survival and response to platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with gastric cancer who may or may not still be drinking.
JOT releases orthopaedic residency program rankings by research output :: Jan. 10, 2018 – What's the best way to rate the quality and quantity of research produced by orthopaedic surgery residency programs? A new "research impact ranking" provides a more objective approach to assessing and comparing research productivity at US orthopaedic departments, according to a study in the November Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma (JOT), published by Wolters Kluwer . Partly motiva
More dentists to discuss risks of HPV-related cancers with their patients :: Tampa, Fla (Jan. 10, 2018)- The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease. While vaccines are helping stop its spread, HPV is still the cause of 72 percent of oropharyngeal cancers, which impact the base of the tongue, tonsils and walls of the pharynx. "Given the alarming increase of HPV-attributable oropharyngeal cancers, dentists and dental hygienists may be key
'Decorated' stem cells could offer targeted heart repair :: IMAGE: Cardiac stem cells (magenta) are decorated with platelet vesicles (brown). view more Credit: NC State University Although cardiac stem cell therapy is a promising treatment for heart attack patients, directing the cells to the site of an injury – and getting them to stay there – remains challenging. In a new pilot study using an animal model, North Carolina State University researcher
New app motivates type 2 diabetes patients to be more active :: As the holidays draw to a close, 29 million Americans with type 2 diabetes had to navigate the minefield of treats, drinks, and dinners. Many patients have stepped up to meet the challenge of moderating their diet, but fewer embrace the benefits of physical activity in controlling their blood sugar. A research team led by scientists at University of Utah Health have developed an online interactiv
With these special bacteria, a broccoli a day can keep the cancer doctor away :: IMAGE: Mouse fed with the engineered microbe and a cruciferous vegetable-rich diet. view more Credit: Dr. Chun-Loong Ho [10 January, 2018] Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, especially the developed world. Although the 5-year survival rates for earlier stages of this cancer are relatively good, at later stages survival goes down and the risk of cancer recurrence goe
What AI Can Do for IVF :: Infertility treatment is an emotional and financial rollercoaster. For couples trying to conceive (“TTC” in the many on-line support forums), repeated failure of implantation, defined as three or more failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles where no clear cause can be identified, is a frequent, heartbreaking end point when the emotional, physical or financial burden of treatment becomes too hi
Altered voice processing in young children with autism and delayed language development :: Three- to five-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and delayed language development appear to process voices differently than typically developing children, according to a new study.
Life on land and tropical overheating 250 million years ago :: One of the key effects of the end-Permian mass extinction, 252 million years ago, was rapid heating of tropical waters and atmospheres. How this affected life on land has been uncertain until now. New research shows how early reptiles were expelled from the tropics.
Sleeping for longer leads to a healthier diet :: Sleeping for longer each night is a simple lifestyle intervention that could help reduce intake of sugary foods and lead to a generally healthier diet, according to a new study.
Stigma continues to hamper response to opioid epidemic :: Efforts to reverse the nation's opioid epidemic remain beset by the stigma associated with drug use, a group of OHSU researchers write in a year-end review. The stigma continues despite the fact that more than one-third of the American population used prescription opioids as of 2015, the authors report. With an estimated 60,000 drug overdose deaths in 2016 alone, the researchers emphasize the nee
The future of grocery shopping: Faster, cheaper, smaller :: IMAGE: This is Sayan Chatterjee. view more Credit: CWRU Walmart was once considered the future of grocery shopping, offering consumers a slew of discounted choices, compared to the competition. Yet, market trends point toward a faster, cheaper, smaller and more streamlined experience. The result: One of the most common shopping experiences in American life is fundamentally changing, accor
Can vitamins and dietary supplements benefit patients with mitochondrial disease? :: IMAGE: Zarazuela Zolkipli-Cunningham, MBChBD, is an attending physician at the Mitochondrial Medicine Frontier Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia view more Credit: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia, Jan. 10, 2018 – Defects in mitochondria, the tiny structures that power our cells by functioning as biological batteries, cause an array of complex, often life-threa
It Is Silly Season in the Land of Cryptocurrency :: In October, the Colorado biotech company Bioptix changed its name to Riot Blockchain. The company’s valuation doubled within a few days. This might strike you as an extraordinarily bizarre story. But even more bizarrely, it’s becoming ordinary. Weeks later, the British company Online PLC changed its name to Online Blockchain. The company’s shares jumped 400 percent. In December, the Long Island I
'Sniffing' out counterfeit liquors :: Watered-down or fake liquors can reap financial rewards for nefarious individuals, but the adulteration of liquor cheats consumers and can even lead to health hazards from added contaminants. Scientists now report in ACS Sensors a portable device with an advanced sensor array that can identify liquors and determine if they'd been altered, offering a strategy for liquor quality assurance. In the p
New oxide and semiconductor combination builds new device potential :: WASHINGTON, D.C., January 10, 2018 — Insulating oxides are oxygen containing compounds that do not conduct electricity, but can sometimes form conductive interfaces when they're layered together precisely. The conducting electrons at the interface form a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) which boasts exotic quantum properties that make the system potentially useful in electronics and photonics
Changing how we view chlorine in soil :: IMAGE: Teresia Svensson, senior lecturer. view more Credit: David Einar Researchers at Linköping University have studied how combinations of different environmental factors affect the chlorination of organic matter in soils. The results show that the supply of fresh organic compounds, which promote the growth of the microorganisms, increases chlorination. The discovery could mean that chlorine
Scaling to new heights with gecko-inspired adhesive :: Some animals, such as geckos, can easily climb up walls and across ceilings. But currently, no material exists that allows everyday people to scale walls or transverse ceilings as effortlessly. Now, scientists report in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces a dry adhesive that could someday make it easier to defy gravity. Geckos can scale walls because of their unique toe pads that help them quick
Biomarkers may help predict outcomes in gastric cancer patients who abuse alcohol :: Philadelphia, January 10, 2018 – Alcohol consumption has been identified as a modifiable risk factor for cancers such as gastric cancer. A new report in the The American Journal of Pathology sheds light on how specific proteins interact with alcohol, and how that interplay impacts survival and response to platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with gastric cancer who may or may not stil
Job ads should be worded wisely to encourage women to apply :: Using the wrong type of words in a job advertisement can discourage women from applying. This is one of the findings from a study by Lien Wille and Eva Derous of Ghent University in Belgium. The research is published in Springer's journal Sex Roles . Wille and Derous recommend that human resources professionals carefully consider the kind of message and type of words they use in job ads when they
New discovery may explain winter weight gain :: IMAGE: Peter Light and a team of researchers at the University of Alberta have found that lack of sunlight during winter may be partly to blame for why we tend to… view more Credit: University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB) We may have a new reason, in addition to vitamin D generation, to bask in a little sunshine. A breakthrough study by University of Alberta researchers has shown the fat cells t
The LEC — now an efficient and bright device :: Researchers from Umeå University and Linköping University in Sweden have developed light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) that emit strong light at high efficiency. As such, the thin, flexible and light-weight LEC promises future and improved applications within home diagnostics, signage, illumination and healthcare. The results are published in Nature Communications . The light-emitting e
Black hole breakthrough: New insight into mysterious jets :: EVANSTON, Ill. — Through first-of-their-kind supercomputer simulations, researchers, including a Northwestern University professor, have gained new insight into one of the most mysterious phenomena in modern astronomy: the behavior of relativistic jets that shoot from black holes, extending outward across millions of light years. Advanced simulations created with one of the world's most powerfu
Unexpected undulations in biological membranes :: How biological membranes – such as the plasma membrane of animal cells or the inner membrane of bacteria – fluctuate over time is not easy to understand, partly because at the sub-cellular scale, temperature-related agitation makes the membranes fluctuate constantly; and partly because they are in contact with complex media, such as the cells' structuring element, the cytoskeleton, or the extra-c
Epileptic seizures and depression may share a common genetic cause, study suggests :: IMAGE: In people with epilepsy, partial seizures are also known as focal seizures. While focal seizures start in one part of the brain, generalized seizures start in both sides of the… view more Credit: National Institutes of Health From the time of Hippocrates, physicians have suspected a link between epilepsy and depression. Now, for the first time, scientists at Rutgers University-New Brunsw
What treatment for appendicitis would most patients choose, surgery or antibiotics? :: Bottom Line: Most people picked surgery over antibiotics if they or their child had appendicitis. Why The Research Is Interesting: Studies have suggested surgery for appendicitis can be avoided for many patients with the use of antibiotics. Who and When : 1,728 participants in a survey conducted over two months in 2016. What (Study Measures) : Treatment preferences How (Study Design) : Su
Can hormone therapy prevent the onset of depressive symptoms in some women around menopause? :: Bottom Line: A year of hormone therapy was more effective than placebo at preventing the onset of depressive symptoms among women without depression in the menopause transition and early postmenopause. Why The Research Is Interesting: Risk of depression increases among women in the menopause transition and early postmenopausal period. Some studies suggest hormone therapy can help to manage exis
Storm waves can move boulders heavier than the Statue of Liberty :: Rogue waves can move rocks weighing hundreds of tonnes Noel Moore/Alamy Stock Photo By Lucas Joel MONSTROUS oceanic waves are able to transport boulders weighing hundreds of tonnes. The finding helps explain how huge rocks end up atop high cliffs . It also implies that storm waves, and other rogue waves, can be more powerful and hazardous than previously thought. Until recently, the heaviest
Smell of death tells undertaker bees it’s time to remove corpses :: Worker honey bees in action Ali McAfee By Jasmin Fox-Skelly BRING out your dead! Honeybees pick up dead or diseased nestmates and drag them out of the hive. Removing corpses protects against infection , which can spread like wildfire in densely packed hives. “The honeybees work together to fight off disease,” says Alison McAfee at the University of British Columbia, Canada. But not all hives
These bird feathers are so black your eyes can't focus on them :: W hat do birds and aerospace engineers have in common? Both have invented incredibly dark, “super-black” surfaces that absorb almost every last bit of light that strikes them. Of course scientists worked intentionally to devise these materials. It’s evolution that brought this amazing trait about in birds. My co-lead author Teresa Feo , our colleagues Todd A. Harvey and Rick Prum and I recently i
The Beautiful Brain: The Drawings of Santiago Ramón y Cajal :: Blending art and neuroscience, a new exhibit in New York City showcases the drawings of Santiago Ramón y Cajal, the father of modern neuroscience. The exhibit opened yesterday at New York University’s Grey Art Gallery, and you have until March 31 to take it in. A drawing by Cajal of astrocytes in the hippocampus of the human brain. Image: Instituto Cajal del Consjo Superior de Investigaciones Cie
New depth limit for deep-sea marine burrows :: Scientists have found fossil evidence of deep-sea marine life burrowing up to eight meters below the seabed — four times the previously observed depth for modern deep-sea life.
Company-sponsored CRISPR clinical trials set to start in 2018 :: This year could be a defining one for CRISPR, the gene editing technique, which has been hailed as an important breakthrough in laboratory research. That's because the first company-sponsored clinical studies will be conducted to see if it can help treat diseases in humans, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society.
Bridging tumor moats with potent drug delivery particles :: Credit: American Chemical Society Despite herculean efforts, cancer remains a formidable disease, with each malignant subtype responding differently to therapeutics. One hurdle specific to treating solid tumors is a protective layer called an extracellular matrix that can prevent chemotherapeutic agents from penetrating the tumor's core. Scientists now report results in ACS' Chemistry of Material
Warren Buffett’s Surprising Forecast for the American Economy :: Despite the gloomy forecasts of some fiscal analysts in recent years, Warren Buffett predicts Americans will enjoy economic prosperity for generations to come. In an editorial for Time , Buffett outlines an argument for why he believes annual GDP growth of 2 percent, the rough average of recent years, will “work wonders” for the American public over the long term. (Most recently, the New York
Governments Want Answers From Apple About Its iPhone Battery Slowdowns :: Drugmakers Think Blockchains Could Improve Clinical Trials Three big pharmaceutical firms—Pfizer, Amgen, and Sanofi—are working together to use blockchains to speed up clinical tests of new drugs, according to CoinDesk . The problem: Patient data that’s crucial to locating individuals for clinical trials is usually… Read more Three big pharmaceutical firms—Pfizer, Amgen, and Sanofi—are working
3-D printing creates super soft structures that replicate brain and lungs :: Structure of a single unit; how eight units fit together; two views of a printed and set eight-unit structure. Credit: Imperial College London A new 3D printing technique allows researchers to replicate biological structures, which could be used for tissue regeneration and replica organs. Imperial College London researchers have developed a new method for creating 3D structures using cryogenics (
The atomic dynamics of rare everlasting electric fields :: These graphs chart how groups of atoms vibrate together. The large dark red peaks are areas where the vibrations stop and the atoms become stable. Note the similarity between the theoretical model (right) and what the experiment actually measured (left). Credit: Olivier Delaire, Duke University By ricocheting neutrons off the atoms of yttrium manganite (YMnO 3 ) heated to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit
Seven new spider species from Brazil named after seven famous fictional spider characters :: The new species Ochyrocera varys predating on a fly. Credit: Igor Cizauskas Several literary classics from the fantasy genre are further immortalised and linked together thanks to a Brazilian research team who named seven new spiders after them. Spider characters from A Song of Ice and Fire, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, H. P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu and the child
The origin of flower making genes :: A research team has revealed that the MADS-box genes control sperm motility and cell division and elongation of the stem of gametophores, using the moss Physcomitrella patens.
Earthquakes as a driver for the deep-ocean carbon cycle :: Geologists have used novel methods to analyze sediment deposits in the Japan Trench in order to gain new insights into the carbon cycle.
New tipping point prediction model offers insights to diminishing bee colonies :: A new method to predict tipping points — the moment at which sudden change occurs in complex networked systems — may offer insights that prevent colony collapse disorder (CCD), a phenomenon in which the majority of worker bees in a colony disappear, threatening the agricultural economy at a global level.
Common pain reliever use during pregnancy linked to language delay in girls :: In the first study of its kind, researchers have found an elevated rate of language delay in girls at 30 months old born to mothers who used acetaminophen during pregnancy, but not in boys.
Engineered sandbars don't measure up for nesting plovers :: Dams reduce the creation of natural sandbars, which is bad news for birds that depend on them for nesting habitat. More than 200 hectares of engineered sandbars have been built along the Missouri River to address this problem — but how does this compare to the real thing? A new study takes advantage of a natural experiment created by the region's 2011 floods, demonstrating that engineered habitat
Further reducing injections of oilfield wastewater can prevent larger earthquakes :: IMAGE: Ryan Pollyea at his Computational Geofluids Laboratory. On the screen in background is a map of Oklahoma, with clusters of earthquake events displayed. view more Credit: Virginia Tech In a new study , Virginia Tech researchers have found that efforts to curb earthquakes triggered by the injection of oilfield wastewater into the ground in Oklahoma are not targeting the most dangerous tr
3-D printing creates super soft structures that replicate brain and lungs :: IMAGE: Structure of a single unit; how eight units fit together; two views of a printed and set eight-unit structure. view more Credit: Imperial College London A new 3D printing technique allows researchers to replicate biological structures, which could be used for tissue regeneration and replica organs. Imperial College London researchers have developed a new method for creating 3D structures
Company-sponsored CRISPR clinical trials set to start in 2018 :: This year could be a defining one for CRISPR, the gene editing technique, which has been hailed as an important breakthrough in laboratory research. That's because the first company-sponsored clinical studies will be conducted to see if it can help treat diseases in humans, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society. C
Bridging tumor moats with potent drug delivery particles :: Despite herculean efforts, cancer remains a formidable disease, with each malignant subtype responding differently to therapeutics. One hurdle specific to treating solid tumors is a protective layer called an extracellular matrix that can prevent chemotherapeutic agents from penetrating the tumor's core. Scientists now report results in ACS' Chemistry of Materials showing that, by cloaking anti-c
The atomic dynamics of rare everlasting electric fields :: DURHAM, N.C. — By ricocheting neutrons off the atoms of yttrium manganite (YMnO3) heated to 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit, researchers have discovered the atomic mechanisms that give the unusual material its rare electromagnetic properties. The discovery could help scientists develop new materials with similar properties for novel computing devices and micro-actuators. The experiment was conducted as
Texas A&M research shows biological clocks could improve brain cancer treatment :: IMAGE: Scan of a glioblastoma tumor. view more Credit: Credit: Gerard Toussaint, Texas A&M Health Science Center. Biological clocks throughout the body play a major role in human health and performance, from sleep and energy use to how food is metabolized and even stroke severity. Now, Texas A&M University researchers found that circadian rhythms could hold the key to novel therapies for glioblas
New research improves our understanding of cancer cell regulation :: A team of cancer researchers from the University of Liverpool, has made an important contribution to our understanding of cancer cell regulation which could better inform future cancer treatments. The research is funded by North West Cancer Research, which has ring-fenced £180,000 for the three year-long project which started in 2015. Led by Professor Ian Prior at the University of Liverpool,
Seven new spider species from Brazil named after 7 famous fictional spider characters :: IMAGE: This is the new species Ochyrocera atlachnacha on its web. view more Credit: Igor Cizauskas Several literary classics from the fantasy genre are further immortalised and linked together thanks to a Brazilian research team who named seven new spiders after them. Spider characters from A Song of Ice and Fire, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, H. P. Lovecr
How we can stop Africa's scientific brain drain | Kevin Njabo :: How can Africans find solutions to Africa's problems? Conservation biologist Kevin Njabo tells his personal story of how he nearly became part of the group of African scientists who seek an education abroad and never return — and why he's now building a permanent base on the continent to nurture and support local talent. "I'm not coming back alone. I'm bringing with me Western scientists, entrepr
AI Can Warn Researchers Where CRISPR Might Make a Mistake :: Drugmakers Think Blockchains Could Improve Clinical Trials Three big pharmaceutical firms—Pfizer, Amgen, and Sanofi—are working together to use blockchains to speed up clinical tests of new drugs, according to CoinDesk . The problem: Patient data that’s crucial to locating individuals for clinical trials is usually… Read more Three big pharmaceutical firms—Pfizer, Amgen, and Sanofi—are working
Paddington 2 Is Children's Entertainment at Its Finest :: If Hollywood is looking for a pop-culture role model in 2018, it could do worse than Paddington Bear, the adorable CGI version of the classic British children’s character. He’s voiced by Ben Whishaw, hails from “darkest Peru,” wears a pair of spectacles, is fond of orange-marmalade sandwiches, and, as his adoptive father Henry (Hugh Bonneville) puts it, “He looks for the good in all of us and he
Spørg Scientariet: Hvem har fremstillet skrifttyperne til bøger og aviser? :: Vores læser Egon Jensen spørger: Hvad for en ’mager’ fremstillede de uhyre mængder af skrifttyper, der anvendtes til bogtryk og avistryk i tidligere tider? Ervin Nielsen , tidligere direktør for Mediemuseet, svarer: Jeg går ud fra, at det drejer sig om den europæiske kulturkreds’ skrifter. I givet fald regner man traditionelt set med, at Johannes Gutenberg var den første både med hensyn til at fr
Expedition to 'health-check' southern right whales around South Georgia :: Southern right whales feed around the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. Credit: Carlos Olavarria An international team of researchers, led by British Antarctic Survey (BAS), travels to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia this month (January) to carry out the first scientific whale survey since whaling stopped in the 1970s. Southern right whale populations were decimated after nearly 30
Giant extinct burrowing bat discovered in New Zealand :: An artist's impression of a New Zealand burrowing bat, Mystacina robusta , that went extinct last century. The new fossil find, Vulcanops jennyworthyae, that lived millions of years ago in New Zealand, is an ancient relative of burrowing or short-tailed bats. Credit: Gavin Mouldey. The fossilized remains of a giant burrowing bat that lived in New Zealand millions of years ago have been found by a
Fiber OLEDs, thinner than a hair :: Scientists have succeeded in fabricating highly efficient organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) on an ultra-thin fiber. The team expects the technology, which produces high-efficiency, long-lasting OLEDs, can be widely utilized in wearable displays.
Artificial muscles power up with new gel-based robotics :: Scientists are one step closer to artificial muscles. Orthotics have come a long way, yet innovation lapsed when it came to compensating for muscle power — until now. A collaborative research team has designed a wearable robot to support a person's hip joint while walking.
Strong support for ocean protection: Study :: People around the world strongly support ocean conservation measures, according to a new study of public perceptions of marine threats and protection.
Worldwide importance of honey bees for natural habitats captured in new report :: An unprecedented study integrating data from around the globe has shown that honey bees are the world's most important single species of pollinator in natural ecosystems and a key contributor to natural ecosystem functions. The report weaves together information from 80 plant-pollinator interaction networks. The results clearly identify the honey bee (Apis mellifera) as the single most frequent vi
Family study emphasizes distinct origins for bipolar disorder subtypes :: Philadelphia, January 10, 2018 – The most common subtypes of bipolar disorder, bipolar I and bipolar II, stem–at least in part–from different biological causes, according to a new study published in Biological Psychiatry . Despite genetic overlap between the two subtypes, each subtype tended to cluster within families, suggesting a distinction between bipolar disorders I and II. The study, by
The size of marine plankton is key to its global dispersal and distribution :: IMAGE: Axayacatl Molina — Expedición Malaspina. view more Credit: Axayacatl Molina – Universidad de Oviedo In the study entitled "Large-scale ocean connectivity and planktonic body size", an international team of researchers has discovered a negative relationship between the dispersal scales of various plankton and micro-nekton groups and their body size. The groups that were addressed included
Harnessing the power of algae: New, greener fuel cells move step closer to reality :: A new design of algae-powered fuel cells that is five times more efficient than existing plant and algal models, as well as being potentially more cost-effective to produce and practical to use, has been developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge. As the global population increases, so too does energy demand. The threat of climate change means that there is an urgent need to find cle
Intoxicatingly light sensitive :: When many people hear the abbreviation THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), they immediately think of smoking marijuana and intoxication. But the substance is also of interest to medicine – when given to people suffering from serious illnesses, it relieves muscle cramps, pain, loss of appetite and nausea. THC works by binding to the corresponding cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptors, which are located in the cel
New options for more animal welfare :: In Germany, non-technical summaries of all authorized projects involving animals are published in the database AnimalTestInfo, which is operated by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and is at present unique worldwide. Using this searchable and transparent database, the general public can easily find information about animal tests.
Making the Internet of Things possible with a new breed of 'memristors' :: IMAGE: The probe-station device (the full instrument, left, and a closer view of the device connection, right) which measures the electrical responses of the basic components for computers mimicking the human… view more Credit: Tapio Reinekoski The internet of things is coming, that much we know. But still it won't; not until we have components and chips that can handle the explosion of dat
The Bilingual Brain: Why One Size Doesn’t Fit All :: There is more than one type of bilingualism. Read More
What If You Could Recall Forgotten Memories? :: New research from MIT is shedding light on how our brain forms and recalls memories. Read More
Why a “Genius” Scientist Thinks Our Consciousness Originates at the Quantum Level :: Do our minds have quantum structures that give rise to consciousness? Sir Roger Penrose, one of the world's most famous scientists, believes this and can explain how it works. Read More
Top Vets Reject Homeopathic Treatment for Animals as Primary Care :: The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons issued a statement to remind its members of their fundamental obligation to science-based medicine and animal welfare. Read More
How the Mediterranean Diet Can Help You Live Live Longer and Think Better :: New studies support the benefits of the Mediterrean Diet. Read More
Surprise Happy Hour :: It’s Martin Luther King day here in America. Today we celebrate equality and progress. Despite the news, the world is actually doing better than ever. For a dive through historical data showing that nearly every metric, from access to healthcare and electricity to wealth and education, is on the rise, check out Oxford University’s Our World in Data and continue the conversation about our ever-imp
Psykiske arbejdsskader rammer hårdere end fysiske :: Medarbejdere, der får stress eller andre psykiske lidelser på jobbet, står langt ringere…
Black Death 'spread by humans not rats' :: Human body lice, rather than rat fleas, spread plague during the Black Death, a study simulating the outbreak suggests.
Hot topic :: Can a series of scorching summers be blamed on climate change, and what do they tell us?
Huge oil spill left after burning tanker sinks off China :: Fuel from the Sanchi has spread over more than 100 sq km and could badly damage marine life.
'Floating on air' after surgeons remove 19kg tumour :: Watch surgeons as they remove a 19.5kg tumour from a woman's body.
The Milky Way ate 11 other galaxies :: Astronomers have discovered 11 new stellar streams—remnants of smaller galaxies torn apart and devoured by our Milky Way. The finding is among the highlights of the first three years of survey data from the Dark Energy Survey —research on about 400 million astronomical objects, including distant galaxies as well as stars in our own galaxy. This image shows the entire Dark Energy Survey field of v
Making these nanotube fibers by hand is actually faster :: A new method to quickly produce fibers from carbon nanotubes is both handmade and high tech. The method allows researchers to make short lengths of strong, conductive fibers from small samples of bulk nanotubes in about an hour. In 2013, Rice University chemist Matteo Pasquali found a way to spin full spools of thread-like nanotube fibers for aerospace, automotive, medical, and smart-clothing app
Watch: Drones give closer view of active volcano :: With the help of drones, researchers are investigating an active Nicaraguan volcano that could pose a hazard to millions of people. Masaya volcano is located in an active volcanic and seismic zone and is nearby Managua, Nicaragua’s capital. The researchers are using many methods, including drones, to study how the volcano and surrounding earth are changing over time. The drones are able to captur
Marijuana farms are poisoning spotted owls :: Northern spotted owls and other wildlife are being exposed to high levels of rat poison in northwest California, and illegal marijuana farms are the most likely source point, a new study suggests. Researchers found that 7 of 10 northern spotted owls collected tested positive for rat poison—as did 40 percent of 84 barred owls. The study is the first published account of anticoagulant rodenticide i
Underskriftindsamling fortsætter :: Indsamling af underskrifter med mistillidsvotum til Styrelsen for Patientsikkerhed udvides fra Facebook-grupper til også at omfatte underskrifter via nyoprettet hjemmeside, og har nu rundet 6.000 underskrifter fra læger.
Digital strategi skal styrke vidensdeling i sundhedssektoren :: Sundhedsministeriet har mandag lanceret en ny strategi for digital sundhed, der skal sikre sammenhæng i sundhedsvæsenet. Optimering af it-systemer på sundhedsområdet er nødvendig, mener Lægeforeningen.
To forskere får hæderspris fra Diabetesforeningen :: Marit Eika Jørgensen og Reimar W. Thomsen er blevet hædret med Niels Schwartz Sørensens Prisen 2018.
Læge bliver løsgænger i regionsråd :: Marianne Mørk Mathiesen melder sig ud af Liberal Alliance i protest
Nytænkning som løftestang for diabetes og folkesundheden :: Der opstod en ny model, da en erhvervsdrivende fond og det offentlige sundhedsvæsen for et år siden etablerede den store satsning Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen. Men kan en satsning på et enkelt område virkelig være til gavn for alle? Min påstand er ja!
Kinesisk rakettrin styrter og eksploderer nær landsby :: Et booster-raket fra den kinesiske Long March 3B eksploderede nær en landsby, da den faldt til jorden efter brug.
Ny metode kan afsløre ulovlige droneoptagelser :: Nu bliver det muligt at afsløre, om en drone faktisk optager video, når den flyver over et hus eller et andet objekt. Det viser nyt studie fra Ben Gurion Universitetet i Israel.
Mystikken breder sig efter hemmeligholdt, mislykket satellitopsendelse :: Amerikanske politikerne spørger til, hvad der gik galt for nylig under den militært klassificerede opsendelse af en satellit.
Strid om en tikrone: Forbrugere skal selv tjekke fjernaflæst vandmåler :: 17.000 forbrugere er blevet bedt om at aflæse deres vandmåler manuelt, selvom den kan fjernaflæses digitalt. Problemet er: Hvad koster data nu om dage?
OL-ingeniør: Sådan sniger du toptræning ind i en hektisk hverdag :: Job, familie, OL. Tre krævende ting i livet, som civilingeniør og langrendsløber ved OL i Sydkorea Martin Møller skal få til at spille.
Smart grid-system skal udnytte Samsøs vedvarende energi :: Hvis Samsø skal udnytte den egenproducerede vedvarende energi til fulde, er det nødvendigt at gentænke måden, den distribueres på.
Fremtidens batteri kan være lavet af vand og salt :: Med en øgning af spændingen i en battericelle til 2,6 volt kan vand og salt være et bud på fremtidens elektrolyt til stationære anvendelser.
DSB forsøgte at ændre Rigsrevisionens kritik af IC4-arbejdet :: DSB forsøgte flere gange at påvirke konklusionen i Rigsrevisionens beretning om forløbet med IC4, viser aktindsigt.
Ugens job: Rekordmange ledige stillinger for ingeniører og naturvidenskabere :: På dagens liste finder du job for ingeniører og naturvidenskabelige kandidater i flere forskellige firmaer. Blandt andet som specialist, projektleder, konsulent og mere endnu.
Barsel: Fem regler, du bør kende :: Husk alle de vigtige detaljer, når du skal søge barsel. Jobfinder giver en guide til ansatte i det offentlige, medarbejdere i det private og studerende under uddannelse.
Fiat Chrysler won't sell Jeep: CEO :: Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat Chrysler (FCA), swatted down speculation Monday that he might sell the group's popular Jeep brand and forecasted a future strategic plan by June in anticipation of his retirement.
With Detroit launch, BMW aims to reignite US car sales :: BMW, which has been losing ground in the US luxury market to Mercedes, is hoping to turn the tide with a spate of new SUV offerings.
Lifting barriers to citizenship for low-income immigrants :: Taking the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony is an emotional moment for many immigrants, and for good reason: it is the culmination of an often arduous process and many years of striving. Citizenship also opens a new chapter marked by possibility, from better job prospects to full participation in civic life.
New dynamic statistical model follows gene expressions over time :: Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a new dynamic statistical model to visualize changing patterns in networks, including gene expression during developmental periods of the brain.
Tiny dinosaur may have dazzled mates with rainbow ruff and a bony crest :: Ancient dinosaurs were adorned in some amazing ways, from the horns of the triceratops to the plates and spikes of the stegosaurus. A newly discovered, bird-like dinosaur fossil from China contains evidence that could add a new accessory to the list: a shaggy ruff of rainbow feathers.
From greenhouse gases to plastics: New catalyst for recycling carbon dioxide discovered :: Imagine if we could take CO2, that most notorious of greenhouse gases, and convert it into something useful. Something like plastic, for example. The positive effects could be dramatic, both diverting CO2 from the atmosphere and reducing the need for fossil fuels to make products.
CEO: Mercedes may miss emission goal if electrics don't sell :: If customers don't buy electric and more efficient cars and trucks, then Mercedes may not be able to meet government-imposed carbon dioxide emissions standards across the globe, its top executive says.
3-D-printed underwater vortex sensor mimics whiskers of sea animal :: A new study has shown that a fully 3D-printed whisker sensor made of polyurethane, graphene, and copper tape can detect underwater vortexes with very high sensitivity. The simple design, mechanical reliability, and low-cost fabrication method contribute to the important commercial implications of this versatile new sensor, as described in an article in Soft Robotics
Seized ivory probed for clues that could help save elephants :: Scientists are using information gleaned from both illegal ivory art and elephant dung to provide clues that could help save the lives of pachyderms that are being slaughtered for their tusks in Africa.
Le smartphone? France has another term in mind :: Smartphones may have become ubiquitous in France, but the country's language mavens hope there's still time to keep the word from becoming ensconced in everyday speech.
At Detroit auto show, trucks and SUVs are king :: Car makers appealed to Americans' deep love of SUVs and trucks on Monday at the Detroit Auto Show, unveiling a host of choices from luxurious to utilitarian, while also beefing up the humble sedan.
500 years later, scientists finger germ behind Mexican 'pestilence' :: In 1545, disaster struck Mexico's Aztec nation when people started coming down with high fevers and headaches, bleeding from the eyes, mouth and nose. Death generally followed in three or four days.
Gyroscopes lead scientists to unusual state of matter in a disorganized structure :: You don't have to be perfectly organized to pull off a wave, according to University of Chicago scientists.
Nature has more than one way to make methane, say biochemists :: Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, trapping more solar radiation on Earth than carbon dioxide. It's also the primary component of natural gas, a critical fuel source for heating and other uses. For these reasons and more, scientists are keenly interested in how the gas is made.
Researchers program biomaterials with 'logic gates' that release therapeutics in response to environmental triggers :: Drug treatments can save lives, but sometimes they also carry unintended costs. After all, the same therapeutics that target pathogens and tumors can also harm healthy cells.
Fast-tracking T cell therapies with immune-mimicking biomaterials :: Immunologists and oncologists are harnessing the body's immune system to fight cancers and other diseases with adoptive cell transfer techniques. In a normal immune response, a type of white blood cell known as T cells are instructed by another kind of immune cell called an antigen-presenting cell (APC) to expand their numbers and stay alive. Adoptive cell transfer procedures are mimicking exactly
Unexpected environmental source of methane discovered :: An unexpected source of methane in the environment has been inadvertently discovered.
Honda, Volvo, Ford scoop awards at Detroit auto show :: The Detroit auto show handed out its self-proclaimed "Oscars of the auto industry" on Monday, rewarding Honda, Volvo and Ford amid a crowded slate of new truck, SUV and crossover unveilings.
German startup AUTO1 gets $558 million Softbank investment :: Japan's Softbank is investing 460 million euros ($558 million) in German used car trading platform AUTO1.
France wants tougher rules on bitcoin to avoid criminal use :: France's finance minister says he wants new regulation targeted at virtual currencies, to stop them from being used for tax evasion, financing terrorism and other crime.
Intel underfoot: Floor sensors rise as retail data source :: The next phase in data collection is right under your feet.
Artisanal allure of Lamborghini marvels of modernity :: The Lamborghini factory in Sant'Agata Bolognese feels like an Aladdin's Cave of luxury Italian cars—a winning mix of modernity and craftsmanship which saw the company celebrate record production levels last year.
Progressive eugenics is hardly history – the science and politics have just evolved :: Eugenics has been science's toxic brand since the end of World War II. The point was driven home yet again recently when Toby Young, appointee to the UK's newly established Office of Students, was denounced in the House of Commons for having written favourably of "progressive eugenics". Young resigned from the post the following day amid complaints about a series of other tweets and comments made
How we created a mini 'gamma ray burst' in the lab for the first time :: Gamma ray bursts, intense explosions of light, are the brightest events ever observed in the universe – lasting no longer than seconds or minutes. Some are so luminous that they can be observed with the naked eye, such as the burst "GRB 080319B" discovered by NASA's Swift GRB Explorer mission on March 19, 2008.
Infrared photometric observations reveal insights into the nature of the dwarf nova V2051 Ophiuchi :: Brazilian astronomers have performed photometric observations of the dwarf nova V2051 Oph during its quiescent period, which revealed important insights into the nature of this object. The results were presented in a paper published January 4 on the arXiv pre-print repository.
China's dystopian social credit system is a harbinger of the global age of the algorithm :: The Chinese government's ongoing attempts to create a social credit system aimed at rating the trustworthiness of people and companies have generated equal measures of fascination and anxiety around the world. Social credit is depicted as something uniquely Chinese – a nefarious and perverse digital innovation that could only be conceived of and carried out by a regime like the Chinese Communist P
Why Instagram might be affecting your mental health (and what you can do about it) :: New research out of Notre Dame is digging into why social media isn't always good for us, especially if you're young and female.
EU tasks experts to find ways to fight fake news :: The European Union has set up an expert group to help identify fake news and propose ways to tackle the problem amid concern that false information is influencing elections.
Researchers measure single atoms in a graphene 'petri-dish' :: Researchers working at The University of Manchester have shown new possibilities for observing nanomaterials in liquids by creating a graphene 'petri-dish'.
Europe's lost forests – study shows coverage has halved over six millennia :: More than half of Europe's forests have disappeared over the past 6,000 years thanks to increasing demand for agricultural land and the use of wood as a source of fuel, new research led by the University of Plymouth suggests.
A brief history of fitness technology :: Have you recently taken ownership of a shiny new activity tracking device? For many people, the essential fitness kit now includes gadgets designed not for sitting and staring at a screen, but for encouraging users to get up and move.
A matter of mobility: multidisciplinary paper suggests new strategy for drug discovery :: A joint industry/academia study of a cancer target protein reveals unusual relation between binding site flexibility and drug-target lifetime. The results, published in Nature Communications, suggest a new strategy for drug discovery. The research was done in the framework of the Kinetics for Drug Discovery K4DD consortium, supported by the Innovative Medicines Initiative.
New record at ultracold neutron source in Mainz :: Some 10 years ago, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) entered a new field of research by starting to generate ultracold neutrons (UCN) for use in fundamental research in physics. The participating physicists and chemists now report another major breakthrough. They have been able to increase the UCN yield of their source by a factor of 3.5. This means that the prerequisites are now in place
Luminescent lizards :: Chameleons are known to communicate with conspecifics by altering their surface coloration. Munich researchers have now found that the bony tubercles on the heads of many species fluoresce under UV light and form impressive patterns.
Cows exude lots of methane, but taxing beef won't cut emissions :: Will taxing meat products based on their carbon footprint reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve public health? The answer is maybe, but not notably —and it will come with significant costs.
Study shows how Olympic Games affect the stock market :: New research reveals how global sports events such as the Olympic Games can affect stock market activity.
Another chance for the last man hanged in Dundee? :: A re-examination of the medical evidence which led to the execution of William Bury, the last man hanged in Dundee 129 years ago, will be staged at a public mock trial next month, organised by the University of Dundee.
Advancing cloud with memory disaggregation :: Here at IBM Research – Ireland, we are rethinking the very foundations on which the cloud is built. We are developing a concept and prototype for low-power and high-utilization disaggregated cloud data centres that break known boundaries, enabling the dynamic creation of fit-for-purpose computing environments from a pool of disaggregated resources.
A black cockatoo's journey back to the wild :: Would you know what to do if you found a sick or injured black cockatoo?
More research needed for responsible peatland management in Indonesia :: Indonesian peatland researchers recently gathered in Bogor, Indonesia, to examine the effectiveness of the latest government regulation on peatlands. We found some shortcomings, one being that the regulation isn't well supported by scientific evidence.
Is the future of work necessarily glamorous? Digital nomads and 'van life' :: Digital nomadism continues its steady rise in most western countries. It consists of a mobile lifestyle that encompasses corporate remote workers, freelancers and entrepreneurs. Laptops, smartphones, wi-fi connections, coworking spaces, coffee shops and public libraries are some of the key components of this new work culture.
When a country's towns and villages face extinction :: It is predicted that 896 towns and villages across Japan will no longer be viable by 2040 (see map below or an interactive Japanese version here). A former minister for internal affairs, Hiroya Masuda, describes this as "local extinction".
New species of lemur found on Madagascar :: A team of researchers with members from the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Global Wildlife Conservation and the Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership has discovered a new species of lemur living in southeastern Madagascar. In their paper published in the journal Primate Conservation, the group describes features of the new species, some of
Why it might be time to eradicate sex segregation in sports :: In many areas, gender equality has been improving gradually. But this is not the case in sport, where women continue to be banned for being insufficiently feminine to be permitted to compete.
What do cold snaps have to do with climate change? :: A record-shattering cold gripped the Northeastern United States during late December and early January. Meanwhile, a so-called bomb-cyclone brought in Winter Storm Grayson with its blizzard winds and heavy snowfall. Is all of this extreme weather normal, a product of global warming, or perhaps bone-chilling evidence that our climate is not really heating up after all?
How women in media won some pay equality in the 1970s, and why they're still fighting today :: BBC China editor Carrie Gracie resigned her position last week in an open letter protesting the BBC's "illegal" gender pay inequality and "the culture of secrecy that helps perpetuate it". The Equalities and Human Rights Commission is investigating Gracie's claims. A BBC spokesperson has responded, saying:
The first precise measurement of a single molecule's effective charge :: For the first time, scientists have precisely measured the effective electrical charge of a single molecule in solution. This fundamental insight of an SNSF Professor could also pave the way for future medical diagnostics.
Scientists have accidentally found the oldest ever butterfly or moth fossils :: Butterflies and moths, the Lepidoptera, are among the most beautiful of insects, familiar to almost everyone through thousands of different species from all around the world. But how they evolved has been something of a mystery to scientists because of a surprising lack of Lepidoptera fossils.
The stories behind Aboriginal star names now recognised by the world's astronomical body :: Four stars in the night sky have been formally recognised by their Australian Aboriginal names.
Soft material inspired by grasshoppers for better electrode adhesive :: Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new type of health-monitoring electrode that exhibits optimum adhesion to skin and can record high quality signals. Two young spin-off founders want to turn it into a marketable product as early as this year.
Smart buildings that can manage our electricity needs :: Researchers at EPFL have developed a system that can be installed in a building to collect data on people's energy usage. The aim is then to send this data directly to a smart electric grid that will allocate resources optimally.
Wavy transistors that vertically gain width without increasing their on-chip footprint for future flexible displays :: Flexible ultrahigh resolution displays have benefits for next-generation mobile electronics, such as point-of-care medical diagnostic devices. KAUST has developed a unique transistor architecture that boosts the performance of the display circuitry.
Enzyme from briny deep resurrected in the lab :: Mysterious microbes that thrive in hot and super-salty brine lakes at the bottom of the Red Sea could yield a treasure trove of new enzymes for industrial applications—if only scientists had access to their biological bounty.
A burning ambition for clean fuel :: Fuel combustion chemist Mani Sarathy began his research career as an environmental engineer studying the environmental impact of pollution. But before long, Sarathy realized that the most effective way to mitigate environmental damage was to stop pollution at its source. Sarathy tells us, "I got into combustion research to look at how we could maximize engine efficiency and minimize exhaust emissi
New technology for diagnosing immunity to Ebola :: A promising new approach to detect immunity to Ebola virus infection has been developed by researchers from i-sense in a collaboration between UCL and Imperial College London.
Light may unlock a new quantum dance for electrons in graphene :: A team of researchers has devised a simple way to tune a hallmark quantum effect in graphene—the material formed from a single layer of carbon atoms—by bathing it in light. Their theoretical work, which was published recently in Physical Review Letters , suggests a way to realize novel quantum behavior that was previously predicted but has so far remained inaccessible in experiments.
UK's Guardian daily goes tabloid to cut costs :: Britain's Guardian newspaper has adopted a new tabloid format and a re-designed masthead with simple black lettering from Monday as part of a drive to cut costs.
Seeking music edge, Apple buys song recognition app Shazam :: Apple said Monday that it would buy leading song recognition app Shazam in a fresh bid to secure an edge in the intensifying battle of streaming services.
How climate change alters plant growth :: Global warming affects more than just plant biodiversity—it even alters the way plants grow. A team of researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) joined forces with the Leibniz Institute for Plant Biochemistry (IPB) to discover which molecular processes are involved in plant growth. In Current Biology, the group presents its latest findings on the mechanism controlling growth a
Physicists observe particles acting coherently as they undergo phase transitions :: The common link between liquid-crystal TVs and the birth of the universe, when you look at the big picture, is that they are both characterized by the intriguing phenomenon in which matter abruptly changes states.
Image: Jupiter's colorful cloud belts :: Colorful swirling cloud belts dominate Jupiter's southern hemisphere in this image captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft.
Physicists unravel mystery of stable fullerenes :: Scientists at the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Russia) have explained the stability of nitrogen-doped fullerenes, which makes their industrial production and application easier. The article was published in Physica E: Low-dimensional Systems and Nanostructures.
Robots aid better understanding of phytoplankton blooms :: Phytoplankton blooms are one of the most important factors contributing to the efficiency of the carbon pump in the North Atlantic Ocean. To better understand this phenomenon, the ERC remOcean project, led by researchers at the Laboratoire d"Océanographie de Villefranche (CNRS/UPMC), has developed a new class of robots: biogeochemical profiling floats, the first robots able to collect data in the
Sanchi oil spill contamination could take three months to reach mainland :: Water contaminated by the oil currently leaking into the ocean from the Sanchi tanker collision is likely to take at least three months to reach land, and if it does the Korean coast is the most likely location. However, the oil's fate is highly uncertain, as it may burn, evaporate, or mix into the surface ocean and contaminate the environment for an extended duration.
Biochemists show how evolution combines a nutrient sensor from existing elements :: A team led by the Freiburg biochemist Prof. Dr. Susana Andrade has characterized a protein that enables certain microorganisms to recognize and absorb ammonium in their environment. Ammonium is considered a toxin that pollutes ecosystems—but for these bacteria it represents an important nutrient and energy source. The researchers have published their findings in the scientific journal Nature Commu
Subtle changes in chemical structure can affect drug toxicity :: NUS pharmaceutical scientists have discovered the mechanisms involved when small chemical modifications to certain pharmaceutical drugs may cause harm instead of improving treatment.
An efficient approach of conjugated tetraenes from butadiene and alkynes :: Conjugated tetraenes are important key substructures in electronic materials, natural products and pharmaceutical molecules. However, they are difficult to synthesize. They are conventionally prepared by repetitions of the stoichiometric reactions using phosphorus reagents and subsequent reduction and partial oxidation. For making one C=C double bond, one needs to conduct 3 step reactions by this
Future weather forecasting—it's all in the 'MRI' of clouds :: Analyzing and determining the structure of clouds remains a challenge for scientists trying to forecast weather. A team of researchers at the Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS), led by Professor Pavlos Kollias, is using news types or radar in combination with current meteorology technology to take an "MRI" of clouds. In the same way an MRI and other imaging te
Turkey unveils route of 45 km 'Istanbul Canal' :: The Turkish government on Monday unveiled the route of its planned new canal for Istanbul, a hugely ambitious 45 kilometre (28 mile) project designed to be its answer to the famed artificial shipping lanes in Panama or Egypt's Suez.
Identifying species via environmental DNA :: Environmental DNA analysis makes it possible to detect water organisms without having to capture them first. For the first time, a team at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) systematically investigated the effect of various environmental factors on environmental DNA analyses. By doing so, the researchers have made an important step towards the standardized application of this method for the
Thinking outside the box on climate mitigation :: In a new commentary in the journal Nature Climate Change, IIASA researchers argue that a broader range of scenarios is needed to support international policymakers in limiting climate change to under 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and to avoid potential negative environmental and social consequences of carbon dioxide removal on a massive scale.
Scientists found excitons in nickel oxide for the first time :: Russian scientists from Ural Federal University (UrFU), together with their colleagues from Institute of Metal Physics of the Ural Department of Russian Academy of Sciences, have studied fundamental characteristics of nickel oxide nanocrystals and found excitons on the light absorption edge for the first time. An exciton is an electron-hole pair bound with electrostatic coupling that migrates in a
Frequent growth events and fast growth rates of fine aerosol particles in Beijing :: Serious environmental problems have arisen alongside the rapid economic development of China, including the well-known issue of haze pollution. Not only does haze bring low atmospheric visibility, causing traffic-related problems, but it can also damage human health, and affect other aspects of the weather and climate, directly or indirectly. Secondary aerosol formation and rapid increases in aero
Maintaining canola oil quality :: Canola and other edible oils are easily affected by light irradiation or heat treatment. Since such processes deteriorate the oil quality, affecting flavor, understanding this oxidation process is imperative to identify effective quality control measures, such as the best way to package or store oil.
Renault posts record year for car sales :: Renault sold a record number of cars last year, the French carmaker said Monday, with global unit sales reaching 3.76 million, a rise of 8.5 percent over 2016.
World's fifth largest diamond discovered in Lesotho :: A diamond thought to be the fifth largest of gem quality ever found has been discovered in Lesotho, miner Gem Diamonds said Monday, and could be worth as much as $40 million.
Scientists use hydroacoustics to find abundance of marine life in reserve is 4 times greater than in surrounding waters :: Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego were part of an international team that for the first time used hydroacoustics as a method for comparing the abundance of fishes within and outside marine protected areas (MPAs).
'Earworm melodies with strange aspects' – what happens when AI makes music :: The first full-length mainstream music album co-written with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) was released on 12 January and experts believe that the science behind it could lead to a whole new style of music composition.
Lava flowing from Philippine volcano, thousands evacuated :: More than 9,000 people have evacuated the area around the Philippines' most active volcano as lava flowed down its crater Monday in a gentle eruption that scientists warned could turn explosive.
Airbus overtakes Boeing, says could halt A380 programme (Update) :: European aerospace giant Airbus overtook arch-rival Boeing in terms of aircraft orders last year, but warned that it could cease making its A380 jet if it does not receive any more orders for the supersize plane.
Amid tax and trade concerns, Detroit auto show offers nostalgia, glamor :: The Detroit auto show arrived Sunday with showman's flair, as the car industry tied its latest offerings to American nostalgia and Hollywood glamor.
Japan's SoftBank Group soars on listing reports :: Shares in Japan's SoftBank Group soared six percent Monday on reports it could list its mobile unit, raising up to $18 billion in one of the country's biggest public offerings.
Volkswagen reports record global car sales in 2017 :: Volkswagen said Sunday that its namesake brand sold more vehicles worldwide in 2017 than ever before, a sign it is recovering from a bruising emissions-cheating scandal three years ago.
First method to detect illicit drone filming developed :: The first technique to detect a drone camera illicitly capturing video is revealed in a new study published by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and Weizmann Institute of Science cyber security researchers. The study addresses increasing concerns about the proliferation of drone use for personal and business applications and how it is impinging on privacy and safety.
US to 'carefully' review GM request on autonomous car: Chao :: Regulators will "carefully and responsibly" review General Motors' request to test an autonomous car without a steering wheel, US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said Sunday.
Dutch millers get fresh wind in their sails :: An icy wind blows the windmill's soaring sails, turning them quickly and cranking the large stone wheels inside in a time-honoured method of grinding grain.
The Elephant in the Compounding Pharmacy :: Contaminated products from compounding pharmacies have harmed and even killed patients. Quality control measures are being implemented, but there is a bigger problem: the injudicious use of untested and potentially dangerous treatments.
The final push to pass a federal version of the cruel sham of “right-to-try” is under way :: Right-to-try laws are a cruel sham that claim to help terminally ill patients by providing them with earlier access to experimental therapeutics, even though they do very little in this regard. Promoted primarily by the libertarian think tank the Goldwater Institute, in reality they are a strategy to weaken the FDA's regulatory power to assure that marketed drugs are safe and effective. Now, a fin
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7 måder kroppen forandrer sig på i rummet :: Slatne muskler, dårligt syn og noget der ligner knogleskørhed: Astronauter må forberede sig på lidt af hvert.
Drop Bali og Barcelona: Nu går turen til solsystemet :: Bjergbestigning på Mars eller pub crawl på Venus? Her får du den ultimative rejseguide til vores solsystem.
SpaceX's genbrugs-rumkapsel bringer rumforsøg hjem til Jorden :: Efter en lille måned hos Den Internationale Rumstation er SpaceX's genbrugte Dragon-rumkapsel vendt tilbage til Jorden.
VIDEO: Rumteleskop har ligget på is i månedsvis :: NASAs kommende rumobservatorie, James Webb-teleskopet, har tilbragt ni måneder i en gigantisk dybfryser. Nu tøes det op.
Ud med nyheder: Facebook-ændring stikker medier en lussing :: Indhold fra familie og venner opprioriteres. Medier og reklamer vil omvendt tabe eksponering, vurderer iagttagere.
Don't hold your nose and close your mouth when you sneeze, doctors warn :: Pinching your nose while clamping your mouth shut to contain a forceful sneeze isn't a good idea, warn doctors in the journal BMJ Case Reports.
Starting periods before age of 12 linked to heightened risk of heart disease and stroke :: Starting periods early — before the age of 12 — is linked to a heightened risk of heart disease and stroke in later life, suggests an analysis of data from the UK Biobank study, published online in the journal Heart.
Teens likely to crave junk food after watching TV ads :: Teenagers who watch more than three hours of commercial TV a day are more likely to eat hundreds of extra junk food snacks, according to a report by Cancer Research UK.
Normal tissue BRCA1 methylation associated with risk for high-grade ovarian cancer :: Normal tissue BRCA1 methylation is associated with risk for high-grade ovarian cancer and may occur as a prenatal event. These findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Stop the clots, spare the coagulation :: In the fight to cure thromboinflammatory diseases, one of the target molecules is thrombin, a protein that promotes inflammation and can cause blood clots. However, inhibiting thrombin too much can lead to uncontrolled bleeding, limiting the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. Now, researchers from BIDMC and the Wyss Institute have found that a class of small molecule called 'parmodulins' can reduce i
New Carnegie Mellon dynamic statistical model follows gene expressions over time :: Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the model now gives researchers a tool that extends past observing static networks at a single snapshot in time, which is hugely beneficial since network data are usually dynamic.
Improvements in mortality rates are slowed by rise in obesity in the United States :: With medical advances and efforts to curb smoking, one might expect that US life expectancy would improve. Yet there's been a reduction in the rate of improvement in American mortality during the last three decades. Penn researchers say a rise in obesity is to blame, slowing declines in death rates by a half-percentage point per year. The scientists estimate that rising obesity was about twice as
Diabetes gene found that causes low and high blood sugar levels in the same family :: A Queen Mary University of London study of families with rare blood sugar conditions has revealed a new gene thought to be critical in the regulation of insulin, the key hormone in diabetes.
Researchers develop a remote-controlled cancer immunotherapy system :: A team of researchers has developed an ultrasound-based system that can non-invasively and remotely control genetic processes in live immune T cells so that they recognize and kill cancer cells.
Lifting barriers to citizenship for low-income immigrants :: Gaining citizenship brings life-changing opportunities, but high application fees make it unaffordable for many immigrants who are ineligible for a federal waiver. When the NaturalizeNY program offered vouchers covering the fee, recipients were twice as likely to apply. Local and federal governments can take action to make citizenship affordable for all.
Novel 3-D printing technique yields high-performance composites :: A team of researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) has demonstrated a novel 3-D printing method that yields unprecedented control of the arrangement of short fibers embedded in polymer matrices. They used this additive manufacturing technique to program fiber orientation within epoxy composites in specified locations, enabling the creation of str
War in Ukraine has escalated HIV spread in the country :: Conflict in Ukraine has increased the risk of HIV outbreaks throughout the country as displaced HIV-infected people move from war-affected regions to areas with higher risk of transmission, according to analysis by scientists.
Brain imaging predicts language learning in deaf children :: MRI brain scans can predict language improvement after a cochlear implant, laying the foundation for creation of brain specific therapy.
Preterm babies may suffer setbacks in auditory brain development, speech :: Preterm babies born early in the third trimester of pregnancy are likely to experience delays in the development of the auditory cortex, a brain region essential to hearing and understanding sound, a new study reveals. Such delays are associated with speech and language impairments at age 2, the researchers found.
Exploring the neuroscience of behavioral therapy in rats :: Psychotherapy may improve symptoms of psychiatric disorders by increasing activity in the medial prefrontal cortex, suggests a study of rats exposed to chronic stress. The research, published in JNeurosci, is a step toward understanding how the brain processes influenced by behavioral therapy may be targeted to improve treatment.
How preterm birth may impact language development :: Altered development of a part of the auditory cortex in preterm infants is associated with poorer language skills in early childhood, finds a brain imaging study of very early-born babies in a neonatal intensive care unit. The research, published in eNeuro, suggests that developmental disturbances to this brain region may underlie speech and language difficulties observed in this population.
Potential brain-machine interface for hand paralysis :: A brain-machine interface that combines brain stimulation with a robotic device controlling hand movement increases the output of pathways connecting the brain and spinal cord, according to a study of healthy adults published in JNeurosci. This work could have implications for restoring function in stroke patients with hand paralysis.
Unexpected environmental source of methane discovered :: Roughly 10 percent of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms contain the genetic code for manufacturing a back-up enzyme, called iron iron-only nitrogenase, to do their job. New research reveals that this enzyme allows these microorganisms to convert nitrogen gas to ammonia and carbon dioxide into methane at the same time. This enzymatic pathway is a previously unknown route for the natural biological pro
How incurable mitochondrial diseases strike previously unaffected families :: Researchers have shown for the first time how children can inherit a severe — potentially fatal — mitochondrial disease from a healthy mother. The study, led by researchers from the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit at the University of Cambridge, reveals that healthy people harbor mutations in their mitochondrial DNA and explains how cases of severe mitochondrial disease can appear unexpectedly in
Immunosuppressive cells in newborns play important role in controlling inflammation in early life :: New research led by The Wistar Institute, in collaboration with Sun Yat-sen University in China, has characterized the transitory presence of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in mouse and human newborns, revealing a critical role of these cells in regulation of inflammation in the early stages of life.
Fast-tracking T cell therapies with immune-mimicking biomaterials :: A team led by David Mooney at Harvard's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) is now reporting in Nature Biotechnology a material-based T-cell-expansion method using APC-mimetic biomaterial scaffolds, which helps achieve greater expansion of primary mouse and human T cells than existing methods.
Biomaterials with 'logic gates' release therapeutics in response to environmental triggers :: Scientists at the University of Washington announced that they have built and tested a new biomaterial-based delivery system — known as a hydrogel — that will encase a desired cargo and dissolve to release its freight only when specific physiological conditions are met.
Gyroscopes lead scientists to unusual state of matter in a disorganized structure :: You don't have to be perfectly organized to pull off a wave, according to University of Chicago scientists. Using a set of gyroscopes linked together, physicists explored the behavior of a material whose structure is arranged randomly, instead of an orderly lattice. They found they could set off one-way ripples around the edges, much like spectators in a sports arena — a 'topological wave,' chara
Possible cause of early colonial-era Mexican epidemic identified :: Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Harvard University and the Mexican National Institute of Anthropology and History have used new methods in ancient DNA research to identify Salmonella enterica Paratyphi C, a pathogen that causes enteric fever, in the skeletons of victims of the 1545-1550 cocoliztli epidemic in Mexico, identifying a possible cause of this
Dietary fat, changes in fat metabolism may promote prostate cancer metastasis :: Researchers at the Cancer Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) shed new light on the genetic mechanisms that promote metastasis in the mouse model and also implicated the typical Western high-fat diet as a key environmental factor driving metastasis.
Nature has more than one way to make methane, say Utah State University biochemists :: Utah State University biochemists, with collaborators from the University of Washington and Montana State University, report a bacterial, iron-only nitrogenase pathway for methane formation.
Energy drinks can negatively impact health of youth :: Over half of Canadian youth and young adults who have consumed energy drinks have experienced negative health effects as a result, according to a study from the University of Waterloo.
Feinstein Institute discovers genes that repair spinal cord in fish are also in humans :: Northwell Health's Feinstein Institute for Medical Research Associate Professor Ona E. Bloom, PhD, along with colleagues at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), published today in Scientific Reports that many of the genes that repair an injured spinal cord in a fish called the lamprey are also active in the repair of the peripheral nervous system in mammals.
Genes that aid spinal cord healing in lamprey also present in humans, MBL team discovers :: Many of the genes involved in natural repair of the injured spinal cord of the lamprey are also active in the repair of the peripheral nervous system in mammals, according to a study by a collaborative group of scientists at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) and other institutions.
New application for acoustics helps estimate marine life populations :: Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego were part of an international team that for the first time used hydroacoustics as a method for comparing the abundance of fishes within and outside marine protected areas (MPAs).
Robots aid better understanding of phytoplankton blooms :: Phytoplankton blooms are one of the most important factors contributing to the efficiency of the carbon pump in the North Atlantic Ocean. To better understand this phenomenon, an ERC project, led by researchers at the Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche (CNRS/UPMC), has developed a new class of robots able to collect data in the ocean throughout the year. Using these unparalleled data, the
An efficient approach of conjugated tetraenes from butadiene and alkynes :: TUAT researchers have achieved the new synthetic route of conjugated tetraenes from inexpensive and easily available 1,3-butadiene and substituted acetylenes by a one-pot approach under mild conditions. This is the most straightforward synthetic method ever reported. This new method has been published in the ACS journal, Organometallics.
The presence of sexual violence in neighborhoods erodes feelings of safety :: Feelings about the frequency of rape or other forms of sexual assault in a neighborhood are significantly tied to women's — but not men's — perceptions of its safety, according to new research.
Experts seek to standardize treatments for childhood rheumatic diseases :: Pediatric rheumatic diseases are a varied group of rare diseases including juvenile forms of arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia, and other conditions. Currently, there is considerable variability in how patients with these diseases are treated in clinical practice, making it difficult to understand which therapies work best.
An emergency response to Canada's opioid overdose crisis :: To help address the opioid overdose epidemic, Canada should develop a regulated program to distribute opioids and prevent deaths, argues a commentary in CMAJ.
Flawed research methods exaggerate the prevalence of depression :: The common practice of using patient self-report screening questionnaires rather than diagnostic interviews conducted by researchers has resulted in overestimates of the prevalence of depression, according to an analysis in CMAJ.
Teens who were severely bullied as children at higher risk of suicidal thoughts, mental health issue :: Teens who were severely bullied as children by peers are at higher risk of mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts and behaviours, according to new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
First method to detect illicit drone filming developed :: 'The beauty of this research is that someone using only a laptop and an object that flickers can detect if someone is using a drone to spy on them,' says Ben Nassi, a Ph.D. student in the BGU Department of Software and Information Systems Engineering and a researcher at the BGU Cyber Security Research Center (CSRC). 'While it has been possible to detect a drone, now someone can also tell if it is
NHS bowel scope uptake boosted by a fifth when patients sent reassuring reminders :: Bowel scope screening increased by more than a fifth (21.5 percent) when people were sent additional reminders with a leaflet that addressed common concerns, according to a new study funded by Cancer Research UK.
Electronic modulation of carotid sinus nerve can be used as a treatment for type 2 diabetes in rats :: The team lead by Sílvia Vilares Conde, from CEDOC-NOVA Medical School, in collaboration with the pharmaceutical company Galvani Bioelectronics, demonstrated through findings in rats that is possible to restore insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis, by modulating electrically the carotid sinus nerve, the sensitive nerve that connects the carotid body with the brain.
Here's a Perfect Example of Why You Shouldn't Stifle Your Sneeze :: A 34-year-old man in England ruptured his throat when he tried to stop a sneeze.
Brain Connections Set Creative Thinkers Apart :: Being creative is all about making connections — in your brain, that is.
Photos: This Dinosaur's Feathers Shimmered with Iridescence :: During the Jurassic period, about 161 million years ago, a duck-size dinosaur dazzled its fellow paleo-beasts with its rainbow-colored, iridescent feathers.
Little 'Rainbow' Dinosaur Discovered by Farmer in China :: This is the oldest iridescent dinosaur on record.
Mount Etna may not really be a ‘proper’ volcano at all :: Italy’s famous volcano Mount Etna may be fed mostly by hot water and carbon dioxide, with only a small dose of molten rock to make it resemble a classic volcano
DNA of man who died in 1827 recreated from his living relatives :: The DNA of Hans Jonaton, an ex-slave who fled to Iceland in 1802, has been reconstructed using only the genes of his descendants
Clever maths will stop hackers spying on the quantum internet :: Quantum communications are theoretically secure, but keeping a complex quantum network unhackable in practice is more difficult than expected
Copycat justice has turned US counties into execution hotspots :: Criminals assigned the death penalty are five times more likely to be executed in some US counties than in others – a trend that some argue is unconstitutional
Science helped cause the opioid crisis – now it must make amends :: A US commission recommending how to solve the painkiller addiction killing 175 Americans a day also shows how opinion got in the way of fact to help cause the problem
Altering A Species: Darwin's Shopping List :: Few scientific discoveries have caused as much excitement as that of editing our genes; yet we owe some of the most stunning wonders around us to old-fashioned breeding practices, says Jimena Canales. (Image credit: dan_wrench/Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Salmonella May Have Caused Massive Aztec Epidemic, Study Finds :: The 16th century epidemic, likely set off or exacerbated by European invaders, was one of the most deadly in human history. New evidence traces it to a type of salmonella that causes a deadly fever. (Image credit: Alexandre Meneghini/AP)
Oregon Artist Turns Dead Creatures Into Beautiful Compositions :: Christopher Marley only uses specimens that have died from natural causes or been caught as fishing bycatch. Then he freeze-dries them, which is why they seem so alive in his artwork. (Image credit: Christopher Marley Studio)
For Now, Sequencing Cancer Tumors Holds More Promise Than Proof :: Sequencing the DNA of cancer tumors to help pinpoint treatment is an emerging element of precision medicine. While patients and doctors alike want these tests, they often don't benefit patients. (Image credit: Meredith Rizzo/NPR)
The Healing Edge: After Surgery in the Womb, a Baby Kicks Up Hope :: Baby Boy Royer, who underwent an operation for spina bifida as a fetus, had the biggest defect that the surgical team had attempted to repair.
I’ve dived in hundreds of underwater caves hunting for new forms of life :: Science My primary focus is searching for new forms of life—mostly white, eyeless crustaceans. To study the biology and ecology of coastal, saltwater caves and the marine fauna that inhabit them, my cave diving partners and I head underground and underwater to…
Get off the couch and under a barbell with this weightlifting starter kit :: Gadgets You don't need to be The Mountain from Game of Thrones to start moving mass. You don't need to be The Mountain from Game of Thrones to start moving mass. This is powerlifting 101.
How to keep your iPhone but switch to Google or Microsoft apps :: DIY Your guide to a new software ecosystem. Apple may want you to use its own iPhone apps. But Google and Microsoft make excellent iOS apps too. Here's how they can replace Apple's software ecosystem.
New method to detect illicit drone filming developed :: A new technique to detect a drone camera illicitly capturing video is revealed in a new study by cyber security researchers in Israel. The study addresses increasing concerns about the proliferation of drone use for personal and business applications and how it is impinging on privacy and safety.
Youth using alternative tobacco products are more likely to smoke one year later :: Nonsmoking adolescents who use e-cigarettes, smokeless tobacco or tobacco water pipes are more likely to start smoking conventional cigarettes within a year, according to new research.
Fast-tracking T-cell therapies with immune-mimicking biomaterials :: Researchers have developed a material-based T-cell-expansion method using APC-mimetic biomaterial scaffolds, which helps achieve greater expansion of primary mouse and human T cells than existing methods.
Remote-controlled cancer immunotherapy system :: A team of researchers has developed an ultrasound-based system that can non-invasively and remotely control genetic processes in live immune T cells so that they recognize and kill cancer cells.
Stop the clots, spare the coagulation :: In the fight to cure thromboinflammatory diseases, one of the target molecules is thrombin, a protein that promotes inflammation and can cause blood clots. However, inhibiting thrombin too much can lead to uncontrolled bleeding, limiting the use of anti-inflammatory drugs. Now, researchers have found that a class of small molecule called 'parmodulins' can reduce inflammation without compromising n
Flipping the switch: Dietary fat, changes in fat metabolism may promote prostate cancer metastasis :: Researchers have shed new light on the genetic mechanisms that promote metastasis in the mouse model and also implicated the typical Western high-fat diet as a key environmental factor driving metastasis.
History of humanity does not require rewriting: The case of Untermassfeld :: In a newly published study, researchers refute a recent publication regarding the dispersal of humans in Europe.
Scientists home in on a potential Anthropocene 'Golden Spike' :: A new study suggests that key geological markers align towards a start for the Anthropocene somewhere between 1952 to 1955, based on signals from nuclear testing and fossil fuel burning.
The more competitive, the more passionate in romantic relationships, study finds :: Americans are more passionate toward their romantic partners than Japanese people are because Americans live in social environments in which people have greater freedom to choose and replace their partners, a team of Japanese researchers suggest.
Teens who were severely bullied as children at higher risk of suicidal thoughts, mental health issue :: Teens who were severely bullied as children by peers are at higher risk of mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts and behaviours, according to new research.
Flawed research methods exaggerate the prevalence of depression :: The common practice of using patient self-report screening questionnaires rather than diagnostic interviews conducted by researchers has resulted in overestimates of the prevalence of depression, according to a new analysis.
Robots aid better understanding of phytoplankton blooms :: Phytoplankton blooms are one of the most important factors contributing to the efficiency of the carbon pump in the North Atlantic Ocean. To better understand this phenomenon, researchers have developed a new class of robots able to collect data in the ocean throughout the year. Using these unparalleled data, the researchers have identified the starting point for the explosive spring phytoplankton
An efficient approach of conjugated tetraenes from butadiene and alkynes :: Conjugated tetraenes are important key substructures in electronic materials, natural products and pharmaceutical molecules. However, they are difficult to synthesize. Now, researchers in Japan have achieved a new synthetic route of conjugated tetraenes from inexpensive and easily available 1,3-butadiene and substituted acetylenes by a one-pot approach under mild conditions.
Ultracold neutron source: Yield improved by factor of 3.5 :: Researchers have improved the yield of its ultracold neutron source by a factor of 3.5 to 8.5 ultracold neutrons per cubic centimeter.
Power stations in cells may protect brain against Parkinson´s :: A new study shows that impairment in mitochondria may actually protect the brain in Parkinson’s disease.
Biomaterials with 'logic gates' release therapeutics in response to environmental triggers :: Scientists have announced that they have built and tested a new biomaterial-based delivery system — known as a hydrogel — that will encase a desired cargo and dissolve to release its freight only when specific physiological conditions are met.
Potential brain-machine interface for hand paralysis :: A brain-machine interface that combines brain stimulation with a robotic device controlling hand movement increases the output of pathways connecting the brain and spinal cord, according to a study of healthy adults. This work could have implications for restoring function in stroke patients with hand paralysis.
Surfers three times more likely to have antibiotic-resistant bacteria in guts :: Scientists compared fecal samples from surfers and non-surfers to assess whether the surfers' guts contained E. coli bacteria that were able to grow in the presence of the antibiotic cefotaxime. Cefotaxime has previously been prescribed to kill off these bacteria, but some have acquired genes that enable them to survive this treatment. The study found that 13 of 143 (9 percent) of surfers were col
New application for acoustics helps estimate marine life populations :: Researchers have for the first time have used hydroacoustics as a method for comparing the abundance of fishes within and outside marine protected areas (MPAs).
Genes that aid spinal cord healing in lamprey also present in humans, researchers discover :: Many of the genes involved in natural repair of the injured spinal cord of the lamprey are also active in the repair of the peripheral nervous system in mammals, according to a new study.
Energy drinks can negatively impact health of youth :: Over half of Canadian youth and young adults who have consumed energy drinks have experienced negative health effects as a result, according to a new study.
Impact of relatedness on grandmothers’ desire to care for their grandchildren :: Historically, grandmothers have been important to their grandchildren, and the help provided by grandmothers has increased grandchild survival during the times of high child mortality. However, there have been signs that in many populations, the impact of maternal grandmothers and paternal grandmothers on their grandchildren has been different. A recent study shows that X-chromosome relatedness be
A matter of mobility: New strategy for drug discovery :: A joint industry/academia study of a cancer target protein reveals unusual relation between binding site flexibility and drug-target lifetime. The results suggest a new strategy for drug discovery.
Possible cause of early colonial-era Mexican epidemic identified :: Researchers have used new methods in ancient DNA research to identify Salmonella enterica Paratyphi C, a pathogen that causes enteric fever, in the skeletons of victims of the 1545-1550 cocoliztli epidemic in Mexico, identifying a possible cause of this devastating colonial epidemic.
Nature has more than one way to make methane :: Biochemists report a bacterial, iron-only nitrogenase pathway for methane formation.
Insulating bricks with microscopic bubbles :: The calculation is simple: the better a building is insulated, the less heat is lost in winter – and the less energy is needed to achieve a comfortable room temperature.
We will treat cancer by making it 'slim down' :: For years, attempts have been made to understand the mechanism behind the proliferation of cancer cells: they need metabolites to grow and proliferate as much as a vehicle needs gasoline or electricity to move. However, until now it was not known which metabolites cancer cells actually need. Medical researchers have now identified one of the mechanisms behind this process.
Gyroscopes lead scientists to unusual state of matter in a disorganized structure :: You don't have to be perfectly organized to pull off a wave, according to scientists. Using a set of gyroscopes linked together, physicists explored the behavior of a material whose structure is arranged randomly, instead of an orderly lattice. They found they could set off one-way ripples around the edges, much like spectators in a sports arena — a 'topological wave,' characteristic of a particu
Solar fuels: better efficiency using microwires :: Researchers have made significant efficiency improvements to the technology used to generate solar fuels. This involves the direct conversion of energy from sunlight into a usable fuel (in this case, hydrogen). Using only earth-abundant materials, they developed the most efficient conversion method to date. The trick was to decouple the site where sunlight is captured from the site where the conve
Genes that repair spinal cord in fish are also in humans, researchers find :: Many of the genes that repair an injured spinal cord in a fish called the lamprey are also active in the repair of the peripheral nervous system in mammals, researchers report.
Electronic modulation of carotid sinus nerve can be used as a treatment for type 2 diabetes in rats :: In a new study in rats, researchers have demonstrated that is possible to restore insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis by modulating electrically the carotid sinus nerve, the sensitive nerve that connects the carotid body with the brain.
Unexpected environmental source of methane discovered :: Roughly 10 percent of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms contain the genetic code for manufacturing a back-up enzyme, called iron iron-only nitrogenase, to do their job. New research reveals that this enzyme allows these microorganisms to convert nitrogen gas to ammonia and carbon dioxide into methane at the same time. This enzymatic pathway is a previously unknown route for the natural biological pro
School climate and diversity may affect students’ delinquent behaviors :: In a new study, race, sex, perceived peer inclusion, and teacher discrimination were predictors of students’ delinquent behaviors.
Commonalities in brains of people with Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease :: A new study strongly suggests that the brains of people who have died of Huntington's disease (HD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) show a similar response to a lifetime of neurodegeneration, despite being two very distinct diseases.
A society divided by reconstruction :: In 2004, a tsunami devastated much of the Indonesian city of Banda Aceh. An international team of researchers has studied the long-term impact that rebuilding efforts in coastal areas have had on the community.
New source of world’s deadliest toxin discovered :: Researchers have identified genes encoding a previously undiscovered version of the botulinum neurotoxin in bacteria from a cow’s gut.
NASA calculated heavy rainfall leading to California mudslides :: Winter rains falling on recently burned ground triggered deadly mudslides in Santa Barbara County, California on Jan. 9. NASA calculated the amount of rain fall between Jan. 8 and 10, 2018 and calculated the potential for landslides.
Scientists Are Taking Extreme Steps to Help Corals Survive :: Scientists are urgently transplanting, fertilizing and enhancing corals to help them adapt to warmer oceans, but rebuilding entire reefs will be daunting — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Tiny scales in ancient lagoon may be the first fossil evidence of the moth-butterfly line :: Fancy liquid-sipper mouthparts might have evolved before the great burst of flower evolution
Alexa, What Are You Doing with My Family's Personal Info? :: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and several smart-home technologies that debuted at last week’s CES add convenience but also raise privacy concerns — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Sanchi oil spill contamination could take three months to reach mainland :: Water contaminated by the oil currently leaking into the ocean from the Sanchi tanker collision is likely to take at least three months to reach land, and if it does the Korean coast is the most likely location. However, the oil's fate is highly uncertain, as it may burn, evaporate, or mix into the surface ocean and contaminate the environment for an extended duration.
Aerial vehicle flying freely with independently controlled main wings :: Professor Dongsoo Har and his team in Cho Chun Shik Graduate School of Green Transportation in Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) lately developed an aerial vehicle that is able to control the main wings separately and independently.
Novel real-time undersea wireless communications and surveillance technology :: Researchers will design, deploy and evaluate a first-of-its-kind software-defined testbed for real-time undersea wireless communications (data, voice, and video streaming) and surveillance.
Estrogen-mimicking compounds in foods may reduce effectiveness of breast cancer treatment :: A new study suggests breast cancer patients taking palbociclib/letrozole combination therapy should avoid foods rich in xenoestrogens.
Researchers Race to Devise a Roadside Test for Driving While High :: Could a sensor-studded brain cap pick up signs of impairment? — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
The Tech Troubles Behind Hawaii’s False Missile Alert
AI Beats Humans at a Reading Comprehension, But It Still Doesn’t Truly Comprehend Language
Achoo! Why letting out an explosive sneeze is safer than stifling it :: Following the case of a man who ruptured this throat, medics say holding in a sneeze can cause ear damage or a brain aneurysm In a season where colds are rife, holding your nose and closing your mouth might seem like a considerate alternative to an explosive “Achoo!”. But doctors have warned of the dangers of such a move after a man was found to have ruptured the back of his throat when attemptin
Early menarche and menopause linked to cardiovascular disease risk – study :: Increase screening for women who start their periods at a young age or those reaching menopause early, experts suggest Women who start their periods at an early age, or experience an early menopause, are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease, new research suggests. While researchers say it is not clear whether reproductive factors are driving the increased risks, they say that more frequent s
Creative thought has a pattern of its own, brain activity scans reveal :: People who are flexible, original thinkers show signature forms of connectivity in their brains, study shows Donatella Versace finds it in the conflict of ideas, Jack White under pressure of deadlines. For William S Burroughs, an old Dadaist trick helped: cutting pages into pieces and rearranging the words. Every artist has their own way of generating original ideas, but what is happening inside
The Least Racist People We’ve Ever Interviewed :: President Donald Trump briefly took questions from reporters at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday. A White House transcript shows the following exchange: Reporter: What is your response to people who say you are a racist? Trump: No, no, I'm not a racist. I am the least racist person you have ever interviewed, that I can tell you. We at The Atlantic have a bi
Did you solve it? Le Sudoku français est arrivé! :: The solutions (and hints) for today’s puzzles. In my puzzle blog earlier today , I set you four Garam puzzles. You can see (and print out) the puzzles by clicking on this link . Continue reading…
A New Clue to the Mystery Disease That Once Killed Most of Mexico :: In the decades after Hernán Cortés invaded Mexico, one of the worst epidemics in human history swept through the new Spanish colony. A mysterious disease called “cocolitzli” appeared first in 1545 and then again in 1576, each time killing millions of the native population. “From morning to sunset,” wrote a Franciscan friar who witness the epidemic, “the priests did nothing else but carry the dead
Hawaii and the Horror of Human Error :: The Cold War came to an end, somehow, without any of the world’s tens of thousands of nuclear warheads being fired. But there were decades-worth of close calls, high alerts, and simple mistakes that inched world leaders shockingly close to catastrophe. Saturday’s terrifying, 38-minute episode in Hawaii will not go down as one of those close calls: Residents of the state waited for the bombs to fa
Five Decades of White Backlash :: On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated. In response, a week later President Lyndon B. Johnson scrambled to sign into law the Fair Housing Act, a final major civil-rights bill that had languished for years under the strain of white backlash to the civil-rights movement . Five years later a New York developer and his son—then only a few years out of college—became two of the fi
DOE-Sponsored Oak Ridge National Laboratory to Cut 100 More Jobs :: Previous layoffs affected research areas including climate change and fusion energy.
Kew Gardens’ Temperate House to reopen after £41m restoration :: Rare plants among hundreds of specimens being planted in new beds at world’s largest surviving Victorian glasshouse The scrawny trunk and dull leathery spiky leaves of one of the rarest plants in the world will soon be admired in a new light at Kew Gardens, as Encephalartos woodii flourishes again at the north end of the restored Temperate House, the largest Victorian glasshouse in the world. As
Toughen up, senior snowflakes, swearing at work is good for us | André Spicer :: Evidence suggests that older people are more offended by foul language, but perhaps they should embrace it and find something else to complain about Taking offence has become hobby number one among the young. According to some, today’s teens and twentysomethings are part of generation snowflake . These fragile souls are supposed to find any intrusion into their carefully curated digital universe
Don't knock the flu jab – it’s a modern miracle :: As the flu season begins to ramp up, so too do the annual complaints about the vaccine “ The flu jab DOESN’T work, officials admit ,” scolded a recent headline from the Daily Mail . Meanwhile, in the comments under that article, and in shadier regions of the internet, conspiracy theorists are having their usual annual field day: the flu vaccine actually makes people sick; the World Health Organis
The Trump Protest-Song Boom, in the Eye of History :: The first anniversary of Donald Trump’s presidency is also the first anniversary of a landmark weekend for art and politics. Trump’s inauguration festivities brought Toby Keith and 3 Doors Down to the National Mall—amid rumors that bigger performers had turned down invitations. Then came the Women’s March, in which pink-hatted protestors sang taunts at the new president, activists and pop stars s
Californias Owls Being Exposed to Rat Poison :: Researchers suspect the source of the toxins may be some of the state's 50,000 or so marijuana farms.
Can Government Officials Have You Arrested for Speaking to Them? :: If a citizen speaks at a public meeting and says something a politician doesn’t like, can the citizen be arrested, cuffed, and carted off to the hoosegow? Suppose that, during this fraught encounter, the citizen violates some law—even by accident, even one no one has ever heard of, even one dug up after the fact—does that make her arrest constitutional? Deyshia Hargrave, meet Fane Lozman. You nee
How the Tet Offensive Undermined American Faith in Government :: When Americans wince upon hearing presidents make proclamations about foreign policy, the legacy of the 1968 Tet Offensive looms large. On January 30, at the start of the sacred Vietnamese holiday of Tet, which celebrated the start of the new lunar year, the North Vietnamese and the Vietcong launched a massive military offensive that proved the battle raging in Southeast Asia was far from over, a
Can you solve it? Le Sudoku français est arrivé! :: Savour a new puzzle from across the Channel Bonjour guzzleurs! Today’s puzzle comes from France. It is called Garam, and provides some spice for the brain…. Continue reading…
Psychotherapist Philippa Perry's guide to resilience in the workplace :: Want to be less stressed in 2018? The author and broadcaster advises on how to deal with difficult times at work Your strength is not in your resilience, it is in recognising and owning your vulnerability. We need to be ourselves with other people for most of the time, not just the person we feel we ought to be. If you are in a business environment where everyone seems to be wearing a “game-face”
Gene editing – and what it really means to rewrite the code of life :: We now have a precise way to correct, replace or even delete faulty DNA. Ian Sample explains the science, the risks and what the future may hold So what is gene editing? Scientists liken it to the find and replace feature used to correct misspellings in documents written on a computer. Instead of fixing words, gene editing rewrites DNA, the biological code that makes up the instruction manuals of
The Humiliation of Aziz AnsariAziz Ansari MisconductSexual mores in the West have changed so rapidly over the past 100 years that by the time you reach 50, intimate accounts of commonplace sexual events of the young seem like science fiction: You understand the vocabulary and the sentence structure, but all of the events take place in outer space. You’re just too old. This was my experience reading the account of one young woman’s alleged sexual e
Undervisningsminister: Ingen ordentlige retningslinjer for brug af data om børn :: Merete Riisager vurderer, at der mangler dataetiske principper, efter kommuner har brugt trivselsdata om børn og unge til sagsbehandling.
Sundhedsplatformen sender ikke-anonymiserede sundhedsdata til USA :: Vi har brug for en forventningsafstemning om, hvordan man håndterer sundhedsdata, mener formand for Patientdataforeningen.
Will Your Baby Like Cilantro? These Genetic Tests Say They Can Tell :: A growing set of direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies like BabyGlimpse are aimed at new, expecting, and aspiring parents. But beware their claims.
6 GoPro Tips For Skiing and Snowboarding Shots :: Get great results from your GoPro or other action cam as you capture your snowy heroics … and your legendary bails.
Britain's Next Megaproject: A Coast-to-Coast Forest :: 50 million new trees will repopulate one of the least wooded parts of the country—and offer a natural escape from several cities in the north.
Kylo's Shirtless Look Is a Problem for Star Wars Cosplayers :: High-waisted tights are much harder to find than you might think.
A Child Abuse Prediction Model Fails Poor Families :: Why Pittsburgh’s predictive analytics misdiagnoses child maltreatment and prescribes the wrong solutions
Don’t Blame Social Media for the "Oprah For President" Talk—Blame Everyone. :: Mass disdain for the political system makes it easy for anyone with a social network to launch themselves into politics.
Texas Instruments' New Headlights Dazzle With a Million Pixels :: Too bad federal regulations won't allow the cool tech on American roads.
Tickle Is Out Of Jail And Ready To Straighten Up And Fly Right | Moonshiners :: #Moonshiners | Tuesdays 9p Tim and JT take Tickle out for his first meal as a free man in nearly a year. Will he be able to stay out of trouble? Full Episodes Streaming FREE: https://discovery.com/tv-shows/moonshiners/ Subscribe to Discovery: http://bit.ly/SubscribeDiscovery Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Discovery https://www.facebook.com/MoonshinersTV Follow on Twitter: https://t