er styren kræftfremkaldende?

Limited evidence that styrene causes cancer In 2011, the styrene, a high volume plastics chemical and animal carcinogen, was the focal point in a 'poison scandal' in the Danish media. Now a registry study of more than 72,000 employees from more than 400 companies that have been exposed to styrene during production of glassfibre reinforced plastics, has not found an increased incidence of a wide range of cancer types.

evolutionær baggrund for depression

Researchers Believe Depression Once Offered Humans an Evolutionary Advantage Genetic, immune, and neurological components point to evolutionary underpinnings.

gener for skaldethed

More Than 200 Baldness-Linked Genetic Markers Found More than 200 new genetic markers linked with male pattern baldness have been identified, according to a new study from the United Kingdom.

glutenfri kost forurenet med arsen og kviksølv

Gluten-free diet may increase risk of arsenic, mercury exposure People who eat a gluten-free diet may be at risk for increased exposure to arsenic and mercury — toxic metals that can lead to cardiovascular disease, cancer and neurological effects, according to a report in the journal Epidemiology.

homeopati

Human gene editing, a letter to President Trump and a no to homeopathy The week in science: 10–16 February 2017.

hvordan hjernen gemmer brugbar hukommelse

How the brain maintains useful memories Researchers have discovered a reason why we often struggle to remember the smaller details of past experiences.

hvordan flåt bekæmper bakterier

How ticks protect themselves from Lyme bacteria and other microbes For hundreds of millions of years, ticks have survived on Earth by sucking blood from their victims for days, often leaving behind terrible diseases as a thank-you note. But no one has ever looked at why ticks, themselves, are able to survive while harboring bacteria, viruses and parasites. Now, for the first time, scientists have decoded how the ingenious tick immune system fights a myriad of mic

flåt bekæmper bakterier

Researchers unravel how ticks protect themselves from Lyme bacteria and other microbes Everyone agrees that ticks are exceedingly nasty creatures. For hundreds of millions of years, they have survived on Earth by sucking blood from their victims for days, often leaving behind terrible diseases as a thank-you note. In humans, these diseases include many unpleasant and dangerous illnesses, such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, babesiosis, Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever, and

kan afkøling af hovedbund nedsætte hårtab ved kemobehandling?

Scalp cooling device may help reduce hair loss for women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy Two studies examine hair loss among women with breast cancer who received scalp cooling before, during and after chemotherapy.

mulighed for nye antibiotika

New protein discovery may lead to new, natural antibiotics Scientists have discovered a new protein that likely will advance the search for new natural antibiotics, according to a new study.

nordkorea missil

Nyt missil fra Nordkorea kan nemmere skjules Nordkorea kan let skjule og hurtigt affyre et nyt kortrækkende missil baseret på fast brændstof, der blev testet i søndags. Dermed øges landets militære styrke.

Rorschach blækklatter

Fractal secrets of Rorschach's famed ink blots revealed The simplicity of the stains' repeating patterns is key to why we see so many images in them.

søvnkontrol i hjernen

Researchers Tap a Sleep Switch in the Brain For more than a century, biologists have been studying sleep. And over the decades, interesting findings have piled up: Sleep deprivation, we now know, can be lethal. Sleep pressure — the need for sleep — increases the longer you’re awake. In humans and other mammals, sleep is very recognizable in readings of brain activity. Early on, the squiggling line of an EEG readout starts to form kinks cal

årsag til levetidsforlængelse ved mindre fødeindtag

How eating less can slow the aging process New research shows why calorie restriction made mice live longer and healthier lives.

Disruptive Behavior Disorder (DBD) Rating Scale for Georgian Population In the presented study Parent/Teacher Disruptive Behavior Disorder (DBD) rating scale based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR [APA, 2000]) which was developed by Pelham and his colleagues (Pelham et al., 1992) was translated and adopted for assessment of childhood behavioral abnormalities, especially ADHD, ODD and CD in Georgian children and adolescents. The D

Exponential distance distribution of connected neurons in simulations of two-dimensional in vitro neural network development The distribution of the geometric distances of connected neurons is a practical factor underlying neural networks in the brain. It can affect the brain's dynamic properties at the ground level. Karbowski derived a power-law decay distribution that has not yet been verified by experiment. In this work, we check its validity using simulations with a phenomenological model. Based on the in vitro two

A Practical Approximation Method for Firing Rate Models of Coupled Neural Networks with Correlated Inputs Rapid experimental advances now enable simultaneous electrophysiological recording of neural activity at single-cell resolution across large regions of the nervous system. Models of this neural network activity will necessarily increase in size and complexity, thus increasing the computational cost of simulating them and new challenges in analyzing them. Here we present a novel approximation metho

How the brain might work: statistics flowing in redundant population codes We propose that the brain performs approximate probabilistic inference using nonlinear recurrent processing in redundant population codes. Different overlapping patterns of neural population activity encode the brain's estimates and uncertainties about latent variables that could explain its sense data. Nonlinear processing implicitly passes messages about these variables along a graph that determ

A Theoretical Framework for Analyzing Coupled Neuronal Networks: Application to the Olfactory System Determining how synaptic coupling within and between regions is modulated during sensory processing is an important topic in neuroscience. Electrophysiological recordings provide detailed spiking information about neurons but have traditionally been confined to a particular region or layer of cortex. Here, we develop a novel theoretical framework that relies on efficiently calculating the first an

Autonomous line follower robot controlled by cell culture Neuro-electronic hybrid promises to bring up a model architecture for computing. Such computing architecture could help to bring the power of biological connection and electronic circuits together for better computing paradigm. Such paradigms for solving real world tasks with higher accuracy is on demand now. A robot as a autonomous system is modeled here to navigate following a particular line. S

An integrate-and-fire model to generate spike trains with long memory We consider a new model of individual neuron of Integrate-and-Fire (IF) type with fractional noise. The correlations of its spike trains are studied and proved to have long memory, unlike classical IF models. To measure correctly long-range dependence, it is often necessary to know if the data are stationary. Thus, a methodology to evaluate stationarity of the interspike intervals (ISIs) is presen

The Causal Role of Astrocytes in Slow-Wave Rhythmogenesis: A Computational Modelling Study Finding the origin of slow and infra-slow oscillations could reveal or explain brain mechanisms in health and disease. Here, we present a biophysically constrained computational model of a neural network where the inclusion of astrocytes introduced slow and infra-slow-oscillations, through two distinct mechanisms. Specifically, we show how astrocytes can modulate the fast network activity through

Real-time fMRI neurofeedback of the mediodorsal and anterior thalamus enhances correlation between thalamic BOLD activity and alpha EEG rhythm Real-time fMRI neurofeedback (rtfMRI-nf) with simultaneous EEG allows volitional modulation of BOLD activity of target brain regions and investigation of related electrophysiological activity. We applied this approach to study correlations between thalamic BOLD activity and alpha EEG rhythm. Healthy volunteers in the experimental group (EG, n=15) learned to upregulate BOLD activity of the target r

Does Boredom Really Exist? Is there such a thing as boredom, or is it an all-encompassing term for a variety of root causes like apathy, frustration, or depression?
Love Wanted: Political Opposites Need Not Apply Should political preference be a deal-breaker when looking for love? There are now dating sites for progressives , Trump fans, and Americans looking to escape the Trump presidency by marrying a Canadian. In an age of deep political polarization, dating sites based on ideology may exacerbate the problem and prevent a star-crossed love from blossoming.
Would Harold Pick Maude on Tinder? The 1971 cult classic Harold and Maude is an unlikely love story between a depressed 18-year-old Harold and a lively 79-year-old Maude who meet at a funeral. Given the rise is online dating and its impact on how couples unite, it is fair to ask: If Harold and Maude was set in 2017, would Harold pick Maude on Tinder?
15 Things You'll Do In Your Driverless Car The driverless car is coming – but what will you being doing in your self-driving car? Beyond seamless mobility and safety, robotic cars will give rise to a new ridership economy of services and experiences delivered on the go.
The Science of Popularity Shows Why Hit-Making Is So Hit-and-Miss The causes of hit products are themselves uncausable. 'Hit Makers' by Derek Thompson explains why we know how to make songs, but not hits.
The Latest Wedge Issue Dividing the U.S.? Spelling. A series of spelling errors has educated Trump opponents laughing.
The Missing Apex of Maslow’s Hierarchy Could Save Us All Maslow never got around to publishing the final tier of his pyramid: self-transcendence.
Gagauzia, Land of the Straight-Nosed Turks Yes, but are they christianised Turks, or turkified Bulgars?
Akut ikke-hospitalskrævende hjælp i hjemmet i det nære sundhedsvæsen. Hvordan? Løsningen med flere akutte lægebesøg under nuværende aftaler er tabsgivende og efter gængs økonomisk teori ikke langtidsholdbar, skriver Frede Olesen.

Genetiske mutationer blokerer effekten af immunterapi Ny opdagelse forklarer, hvorfor nogle kræftpatienter ikke reagerer på behandling med immunterapi.

Handel med ydernumre praktiserende læger i mellem kan sikre hurtigere lægedækning Den politiske aftale om lægedækning giver mulighed for, at praktiserende læger kan handle ydernumre med hinanden. Det kan sikre lægedækningen hurtigere.

Læger har uddelegeret opgaver til hjemmeplejen i hver tredje kommune I hver tredje kommune uddelegerer praktiserende læger opgaver til den kommunale hjemmepleje, viser ny rundspørge. KL ser gerne, at der kommer endnu flere rammedelegationer, hvor det giver mening.

Kunstig intelligens forudser hjertedød bedre end læger Computere kan nu via kunstig intelligens forudse visse hjertepatienters overlevelse langt bedre, end lægerne kan i dag, viser nyt forskningsstudie. Danske hjertespecialister kalder studiet lovende.

NICE lukker døren for brystkræftmiddel NICE har valgt ikke at anbefale brystkræftmidlet Ibrance. Omkostningerne er for høje sammenholdt med de potentielle fordele ved behandlingen, lyder vurderingen.

Ny medicin udgør lille del af samlet forbrug af kræftmedicin Frygt for, at ny kræftmedicin skal sprænge økonomien i det danske sundhedsvæsen er ubegrundet, mener formanden for de danske onkologer.

PCSK-9 hæmmere reducerer risiko for alvorlig hjertesygdom og død Detaljerede resultater fra længe ventet studie af PCSK-9 hæmmeren Repatha præsenteres på den amerikanske hjertekongres ACC til marts.

Region: Sådan bør honorarmodellen for almen praksis ændres En ændret honorarmodel ville være et redskab til at hjælpe praktiserende læger ud i de områder af landet, hvor lægemanglen er størst, mener Region Midtjylland, som har udarbejdet et interaktivt kort over lægedækning, som en ny honorarmodel kan kobles op på.

Rejsehold: Engangsudstyr på hospitaler koster miljøet dyrt Engangsinstrumenter betyder et stort ressourcespild, men har den fordel, at der ikke skal bruges arbejdskraft på vedligeholdelse og desinfektion.

Revlimid indstillet til udvidet indikation CHMP har på sit seneste møde indstillet til at udvide indikationen for kræftmidlet Revlimid, så midlet også kan bruges til behandling af nydiagnosticerede patienter med myelomatose.

Hospital udvikler løsning til styrketræning i hospitalssengen To afdelinger på Hospitalsenheden Horsens er gået sammen om at udvikle en loftlift, der gør det muligt for patienter at styrketræne i hospitalssengen. Håbet er, at det vil give kortere genoptræningsforløb og afhjælpe generelle gener ved at være sengeliggende.

Et år i en atrieflimmerpatients liv: 38 besøg i praksis, to operationer og fem ambulante besøg Et nyt ph.d.-projekt beskriver detaljeret et år i sundhedsvæsenet for en atrieflimmerpatient. Projektet afslører en nuanceret og kompleks virkelighed, som systemet ifølge forskeren kan lære en masse af.

Banned chemicals persist in deep ocean Chemicals banned in the 1970s have been found in the deepest reaches of the ocean, according to a new study.

The mystery of the whoop whooping bee Scientists think they have found the explanation behind sounds generated by bees

History sheds light on Amazon's rich tree diversity The rich, diverse communities of trees in the Amazon are the result of species spreading over the vast area over geological time, a study suggests.

9 ud af 10 lever i områder med høj luftforurening Hvert år dør mere end 4 millioner mennesker på verdensplan som følge af partikelforurening. Også i Danmark er luftkvaliteten dårlig.

Farlige miljøgifte finder vej til verdens dybeste punkt Kemikalier, der b.la mistænkes for at medføre kræft, er fundet i høje koncentrationer på bunden af den 11 km dybe Marianergrav.

Klimaforandringerne truer halvdelen af verdens pattedyr Langt flere fugle og pattedyr end hidtil antaget er i fare for at uddø på grund af klimaforandringer, viser en ny analyse.

Økologisk oregano skal bekæmpe køers klima-bøvse Det skal være en oregano-sort med særligt mange æteriske olier, fortæller dansk forsker.

Oregano, tang og fiskeolie kan sætte en prop i klima-truende køer Flere forskningsprojekter undersøger om man kan begrænse metan-udledning fra kvæg naturligt – ved at ændre køernes diæt.

Danskerne skal have billebank 4000 danske biller skal registreres i en billebank på nettet, hvor danskerne kan blive klogere på insekterne, der udgør over halvdelen af vores artsdiversitet.

Indien sætter rekord med over 100 satellitter på en enkelt raket Landet har dermed slået den hidtidige rekord i at sende flest satellitter afsted på én gang med flere længder.

Nyt materiale: Armeret grafen-skum kan bære 3000 gange sin egen vægt 3D-materialet er simpelt at lave og kan produceres i stor skala.

USA vil lede efter liv på Jupiters måne Europa Forskerne mener, at Europas have har gode muligheder for liv.

Ny forskning afslører mønstre i verbale overfald på nettet Ved at benytte maskinlæring har man opdaget nye adfærdsmønstre i internetbrugeres adfærd.

Why abbreviations can be bad for science “Abbreviations are meant to be shortcuts, but they end up alienating people,” says Kipling Williams, a professor of social psychology at Purdue University who has studied ostracism for more than 20 years. In a recent article, Williams and colleagues offer fellow scientists some advice: stop using abbreviations when communicating about science. They say acronyms and other abbreviations can alienat

Toxic ‘garbage day’ might explain how Alzheimer’s spreads A new study with worms may help explain how diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s spread in the brain. Sometimes when neurons dispose of toxic waste, neighboring cells get sick. “Normally the process of throwing out this trash would be a good thing,” says Monica Driscoll, professor of molecular biology and biochemistry at Rutgers University. “But we think with neurodegenerative diseases like

Biological invasions play out in jelly jars To study the long-term effects of invasive species, researchers put aquatic bacteria in glass jars. For two years they tracked how native species fared after an invasion. Biological invasions pose major threats to biodiversity, but little is known about how evolution might alter their impacts over time. “Oftentimes, we know the initial impacts of invasive species but we don’t know the long-term i

Camera could snap pics in your carotid arteries A medical camera could one day flag people at risk of stroke or heart attack by providing a better view of potential problem areas. A new paper in Nature Biomedical Engineering reports proof-of-concept results for this new imaging platform for atherosclerosis. “The camera actually goes inside the vessels,” says first author Luis Savastano, a resident neurosurgeon at the University of Michigan Med

C-sections rates aren’t climbing as quickly The rate of cesarean section births in industrialized countries remains high, but has leveled off after years of sharp increase, a new study finds. The study, in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology , examined c-section rates from 1993 to 2013 in 21 wealthy countries with at least 50,000 births. It found that the average increase in rates from 2008 to 2013 was only 1.5 percent—far less

In America, less education often means more chronic pain Older Americans with less money and education are much more like to suffer from chronic pain than wealthier adults with more education. Now a new study suggests the disparity is even greater than previously believed—as much as 370 percent greater in some categories. “People with lower levels of education and wealth don’t just have more pain, they also have more severe pain.” The results, based on

Computer program ‘stretches’ lungs to mimic emphysema Emphysema is a long-term and devastating lung disease. As it progresses, the body’s own inflammatory enzymes slowly digest and destroy alveoli, the delicate sacs where oxygen from air is transferred to the bloodstream. The damaged alveoli form large holes in lung tissue that impair gas exchange in the rest of the organ, leading to shortness of breath, wheezing, chronic cough, and, eventually, dea

Don’t freak out about Earth’s magnetic field flipping Imagine looking at a compass to see that the red part of the needle that used to point north now swings in the opposite direction. It sounds scary but it’s also a real phenomenon that’s bound to happen. Geophysicists have long known that Earth’s magnetic field, which acts as a vital shield against harmful solar radiation, has flipped many times over the course of its history—most recently, 780,00

Metal compound gets inside cancer and kills it A compound called Organo-Osmium FY26 kills cancer cells by locating and attacking their weakest part. This is the first time that an osmium-based compound—which is fifty times more active than the current cancer drug cisplatin—has been seen to target the disease. Using the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), researchers analyzed the effects of Organo-Osmium FY26 in ovarian cancer cell

Graphene foam supports more than 3,000X its weight A new type of conductive graphene foam is incredibly tough and and can be formed into just about any shape and size. A chunk of the foam, which is reinforced by carbon nanotubes, can support more than 3,000 times its own weight and easily bounce back to its original height. The Rice University lab of chemist James Tour tested this new “rebar graphene” as a highly porous, conductive electrode in l

40 years of data don’t link crime and immigration A new study finds no links between immigration to the United States and crime, and even connects immigration to a reduction in some kinds of crimes. “Our research shows strong and stable evidence that, on average, across US metropolitan areas crime and immigration are not linked,” says Robert Adelman, an associate professor of sociology at the University at Buffalo and the paper’s lead author. “T

Stress hormone drops faster in married people Married people have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol than those who never married or were previously married, new research shows. This evidence lends support to the belief that unmarried people face more psychological stress than married individuals do. Prolonged stress is associated with increased levels of cortisol, which can interfere with the body’s ability to regulate inflammation

‘Ice fishing’ for neutrinos yields new measurements New measurements of neutrino oscillations, observed at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole, shed light on outstanding questions about the fundamental properties of neutrinos. Trillions of neutrinos, or ghost particles, are passing through us every second. While scientists know this, they don’t know what role neutrinos play in the universe because they are incredibly difficult to me

If your spouse overlooks your kindness, you’ll still feel good Being compassionate to a spouse makes you feel good, even if the nice thing you did goes unnoticed. Further, the emotional benefits of compassionate acts are significant for the giver, whether or not the recipient is even aware of the act. For example, if a husband notices that the windshield on his wife’s car is covered with snow, he may scrape it off before driving to work. That gesture boosts

After combat, veterans need help getting back to ‘normal’ Public understanding of the needs of military veterans has focused largely post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, suicide rates, and poor conditions at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. But the great majority of the veterans of post-9/11 wars need social services that will help them transition back to civilian life. Between 65 percent and 80 percent of veterans surveyed betw

Sponges Ruled the World After Second-Largest Mass Extinction Sponges may be simple creatures, but they basically ruled the world some 445 million years ago, after the Ordovician mass extinction, a new study finds.

The 8 Most Famous Solar Eclipses in History For thousands of years, historians have viewed solar eclipses as omens of things to come. One eclipse even helped physicists to confirm the bending of light predicted by Einstein's general theory of relativity.

'Science Under Threat' In US – An Astrobiologist’s Take | Video “I believe in a hundred years we are going to be repairing the damage we are doing now,” says astrobiologist and “Earth In Human Hands” author David Grinspoon in regards to Earth’s climate.

Tragic Suicide Case Highlights Mental Health Needs of Refugees The recent suicides of a couple — young, newly married and expecting a child — living in a refugee camp highlights the mental health risks that refugees face, researchers say.

Ceramic Pottery Reveals an Ancient Geomagnetic Field Spike The Earth's geomagnetic field increased in intensity around the Levant during the late eighth century B.C. before rapidly weakening.

Strange Love: 11 Animals with Truly Weird Courtship Rituals For Valentine’s Day, Live Science gathers together some of the more extravagant and outlandish courtship rituals in the animal kingdom.

Climate Threat to Wildlife May Have Been Massively Underreported Nearly half of the mammals and a quarter of the birds studied are already feeling the effects of climate change.

Cyborg Future? Elon Musk's Plan to Compete with AI Elon Musk thinks human cyborgs could counter the threat from artificial intelligence.

3,000-Year-Old Child Footprints Found at Site of Ancient Egyptian Palace The prints were uncovered at the remains of a large building in the fabled Pi-Ramesse, Egypt's capital during the reign of the King Ramses II.

Sea Ice Hits Record Lows at Both Poles Warm weather could send Arctic sea ice to a record low winter peak as Antarctic sea ice sets an all-time record low.

California Dam Emergency: 5 Dams That Did Fail Here's a look back at some of the most notable dam failures in history.

Ancient Nubia: A Brief History Nubia was an early civilization that eventually ruled Egypt. Its people still live along the Nile River.

Too Hot to Handle: 7 Sizzling Places on Planet Earth Live Science has put together a list of seven sizzling, unconventional places for your travels and your imagination, as some trips might be challenging, downright dangerous or even impossible to take with your love.

Coastal Cities Could Flood 3 Times a Week by 2045 The lawns of homes purchased this year in vast swaths of coastal America could regularly be underwater before the mortgage has even been paid off, with new research showing high tide flooding could become nearly incessant in places within 30 years.

Should Cybersecurity Be a Human Right? Recent developments at the United Nations and the G-20 suggest that the well-known human rights to privacy and freedom of expression may soon be formally extended to online communications.

Coders Race to Save NASA's Climate Data Coders congregated at the University of California, Berkeley, for a hackathon to catalogue, download and save as much climate data as possible.

Ancient 'Nessie' Delivered Live Baby Sea Monsters The "birth plan" of an ancient Nessie look-alike didn't involve laying a giant egg, but rather delivering a live baby sea monster, a new study finds.

Endangered Antelopes Face 'Catastrophic' Die-Off Scientists said they think 25 percent of the endangered antelope population has been lost.

Looming Octopus 'Dances' in Winning Underwater Photo A striking photo of an octopus won diver Gabriel Barathieu the title of Underwater Photographer of the Year 2017.

Heads Up! Drones Will Fly People Around Dubai This Summer Commercial drones just got a big upgrade.

North Korea's Missile Threats to US May Not Be Empty for Long North Korea appears to be making serious progress on an intercontinental ballistic missile, which could conceivably allow the nuclear-armed nation to make good on its oft-repeated threat to turn major American cities into "seas of fire," experts say.

Shout about the European Union’s success As people in other nations watch the UK prepare to sever ties, Herman Goossens urges more scientists to stress what the EU does for them.
World’s largest wind-mapping project spins up in Portugal International team seeks better picture of wind as it moves over rugged terrain.
World's Largest Wind-Mapping Project Spins Up in Portugal International team seeks better picture of wind as it moves over rugged terrain —
The Turkish paradox: Can scientists thrive in a state of emergency? Political upheaval threatens Turkey’s ambitious plans for research and development. Nature 542 286 doi: 10.1038/542286a

Elusive triangulene created by moving atoms one at a time Unstable molecule couldn’t be made through conventional synthesis, so IBM researchers carried out molecular surgery using a microscope tip.
Solar and wind energy propel growth in US renewables Capacity has grown threefold in the past decade, but the country still lags behind Europe and China in sustainable energy. Nature News doi: 10.1038/nature.2017.21472

US science advisers outline path to genetically modified babies Modified human embryos should be allowed if researchers meet strict criteria, says long-awaited National Academies report.
German scientists regain access to Elsevier journals Publisher restores access as negotiations for a nationwide licence continue.
Science journals permit open-access publishing for Gates Foundation scholars The provisional agreement may set a precedent for other funders and journal publishers.
Hookup Culture: The Unspoken Rules of Sex on College Campuses Research suggests that college students are not having more sex than their parents were a generation ago. But sociologist Lisa Wade says the culture around sex has changed dramatically.
Don't Think Your Bias Can Boss You Around? David Byrne Says Think Again The musician and multimedia artist has created an immersive experience designed to make people aware of their implicit biases. It's called "The Institute Presents: NEUROSOCIETY."
Researchers Examine Race Factor In Car Crashes Involving Pedestrians Cars are less likely to stop when people of color step into intersections, a study says. That may partly explain why there are higher levels of pedestrian deaths among racial minority communities.

Why Killer Viruses Are On The Rise If you think there are more dangerous infectious diseases than ever, you're right. One big reason: pushing animals like this one out of their homes.
From Vector To Zoonotic: A Glossary For Infectious Diseases The world of infectious diseases has more than a few words and phrases you might want to know more about. We've got definitions for 11 key terms.
A Brain Tweak Lets Mice Abstain From Cocaine Scientists have created addiction-resistant mice by altering the reward system in their brains. The findings shed light on the biochemistry of addiction.
Scientific Panel Says Editing Heritable Human Genes Could Be OK In The Future The National Academy of Medicine and National Academy of Sciences say a long-standing taboo on editing human genes could be lifted — even if the changes can be carried through to future generations.
To Save The Planet, Give Cows Better Pasture What's the single most important thing that the world's farmers could do to reduce global warming? Give cattle — especially in the tropics — faster-growing, more nutritious pasture.
90 Percent Of Fish We Use For Fishmeal Could Be Used To Feed Humans Instead Currently, one-fourth of all fish caught globally goes to produce fishmeal and fish oil for farmed seafood, pigs and chickens. A lot of it is "food grade" and could be feeding the world's hungry.
Pollution Has Worked Its Way Down To The World's Deepest Waters Tiny creatures in the Mariana Trench have high levels of industrial contamination. The new findings suggest that even Earth's most remote locales feel the effects of human beings.
Iron Age Potters Carefully Recorded Earth's Magnetic Field — By Accident The planet's magnetic field is weakening. Scientists aren't sure why, but studying ancient jars could help them find out. The ceramics provide a remarkable window onto Earth's magnetic past.
Downside of Being a Global Hub: Invasive Species New York State, a major hub of international and interstate commerce, is an epicenter for invasive species, and is spending millions to fight back.

Lower Back Ache? Be Active and Wait It Out, New Guidelines Say A national physicians’ group says back pain is treated best by exercise, massage therapy or yoga and over-the-counter pain relievers, not medications like opioids.

Sharp Rise Reported in Older Americans’ Use of Multiple Psychotropic Drugs Almost half of these people were not diagnosed with any mood, chronic pain or sleep problem, researchers reported in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

A Race to Document Rare Plants Before These Cliffs Are Ground to Dust The species native to Cambodia’s limestone karsts exist nowhere else. Now these unique environments are being pulverized for cement.

Grisly Cleanup Follows Deaths of 400 Whales in New Zealand Excavators and dump trucks moved over 200 decomposing carcasses of pilot whales away from the coastline. Gas buildup in the carcasses risked explosions.

Humana Plans to Pull Out of Obamacare’s Insurance Exchanges President Trump seized on the company’s decision as support for his call to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

Human Gene Editing Receives Science Panel’s Support Pressed by controversial, advancing technology, an influential committee laid out the conditions under which human embryos might be engineered with heritable traits.

First Words: Is the ‘Anthropocene’ Epoch a Condemnation of Human Interference — or a Call for More? When some climate scientists began saying we’d entered a new epoch, they meant to draw attention to human effects on climate. Now, to their dismay, it’s become a tech call to arms for more disruption.

Op-Ed Contributor: When Canadian Scientists Were Muzzled by Their Government American scientists should learn from their northern neighbors. Reject interference. Stay vigilant. Stay scientists.

How to Keep the Bloom on That Valentine Rose Just like hangover cures, there are many theories about the best method for keeping cut flowers fresh. Here’s what you need to know.

Ancient Jars Hold Clues About Earth’s Fluctuating Magnetic Fields By scanning pottery from the Iron Age kingdom of Judah, geoscientists detected a spike and then a decline in the planet’s magnetic field starting in the eighth century B.C.

Intel Drops Its Sponsorship of Science Fairs, Prompting an Identity Crisis The chip giant is ending its support of the fairs and sponsoring newer events like homemade engineering contests. Critics say the traditional fairs are as vital as ever.

Dubai Plans a Taxi That Skips the Driver, and the Roads Pilotless drones, capable of carrying one passenger and a small suitcase, are set to begin buzzing above the United Arab Emirates city as early as July.

India Launches 104 Satellites From Single Rocket, Ramping Up Space Race The country nearly tripled the previous record of 37, set by Russia, establishing itself as a major player in the growing market for surveillance and communication.

Ancient jars hold clues about the intensity of Earth’s magnetic field Science These jars held more than just supplies These jars actually recorded changes in the Earth's magnetic field…

DARPA's new drone wants to cover the sea with air support Military Next step: making sure the TERN turns out okay A drone funded by DARPA and ONR advances to phase III. Read on.

Even animals deep below the ocean are being poisoned by toxic chemicals Environment Deep sea exploration uncovers crustaceans poisoned by PCBs New study finds that deep sea crustaceans are tainted with some of the highest observed levels of PCB and PDBE pollution.

This Valentine's Day, Elon Musk wants you to know that machines will take over the world and make you obsolete Technology But the best solution might be a social change—not a technical one In a world where artificial intelligence does most of the work, Elon Musk posits that brain-computer interfaces and universal basic income will help bridge the gap.

Four easy ways to extend your phone's battery life DIY Never say die Everything you can do on Android and iOS to make sure your smartphone is still going strong at the end of the day.

How New Zealand is avoiding hundreds of exploding whale corpses Animals Why do they explode in the first place? Much like a dream deferred, a beached whale explodes. And when the resulting smell is “one of the worst smells in the world,” it’s worth it to figure out a way to…

An insulated thermal coffee carafe for 70 percent off? Yeah, I'd buy it Gadgets Hot coffee—anywhere!—for $24. An insulated thermal coffee carafe for 70 percent off? Yeah, I'd buy it. Read on.

An LED-backlit gaming keyboard for 74 percent off? I'd buy it. Gadgets Trash-talk in style—for $177 off. Whether you are casting a spell, killing some ogres, or just typing up some office reports, do it with pizzazz. Read on.

The test used to see if animals are self-aware might not actually work Animals The famed mirror test might not be as useful as we thought If you can’t recognize yourself in a mirror, that means you don’t have a sense of self. But what if we just weren’t testing them properly?

Yeah, good music kind of gets you high Your favorite tunes activate the same brain systems that opioid drugs do Music activates your brain's opioid reward system: It induces the same chemical responses that make food and drugs feel good. Read on.

How NASA is planning to touch the sun Space A look behind the scenes of NASA's advanced solar probe In 2018, NASA is going to bring a probe closer to the sun than ever before. Here's how they're preparing their little robot for a very warm welcome.

Celebrate Valentine's Day by eating an actual heart (seriously) Health An ode to organ meats Most aphrodisiacs don’t work. You know what does bump up your lover’s libido? Demonstrating your passion by showing how much you care about their nutrition. Feed them a…

What is happening with the Oroville Dam spillway? Environment Pop Sci’s archives offer some context. PopSci took a look at our archives to get a better understanding of the still unfolding Oroville Dam emergency.

'Popular Science' answers a question Strong Bad asked us 13 years ago Entertainment A question about (sb)emails In 2004, Strong Bad asked Popular Science if it would be bad to get two jillion emails every two jillion seconds. That question has gone unanswered…until now.

Scientists spotted a supernova just hours after it exploded Space Its dying gasps could reveal what makes stars go out with a bang Scientists aren't sure why or how these stars detonate, but recent observations of a six-hour-old supernova are shedding light on the star's final moments…

Happy Valentine's Day! Stop being dumb about STIs. Health Stigma doesn't help keep us healthy (but safer sex does) You probably have herpes, you'll likely get a sexually transmitted infection at some point, and it's time to be smart about prevention.

Texture is the final frontier of food science Science Tweaking texture could give us healthy versions of our favorite junk foods—and that's just the beginning Texture has a lot more to do with the flavor of your food than you might think.

13 things for people who are always, always cold Gadgets Oh, and one thing for their cats, too. Don’t run from the cold. Face it head on. Here are 13 items to help you combat frigid weather.

The United Arab Emirates wants to build a city on Mars Space Look out, Elon Musk The UAE built Dubai. Now it has a vision to build an even crazier city—on Mars.

We may finally know how Rorschach tests trick us into seeing things that aren't there Science Debunked as a tool for psychoanalysis, Rorschach inkblots might still harbor some secrets We've known for a long time that Rorschach make us see things that aren't there. This study looks at why.

How to practice safe sexting | Amy Adele Hasinoff Sexting, like anything that's fun, runs its risks — but a serious violation of privacy shouldn't be one of them. Amy Adele Hasinoff looks at problematic responses to sexting in mass media, law and education, offering practical solutions for how individuals and tech companies can protect sensitive (and, ahem, potentially scandalous) digital files.

How racism harms pregnant women — and what can help | Miriam Zoila Pérez Racism is making people sick — especially black women and babies, says Miriam Zoila Pérez. The doula turned journalist explores the relationship between race, class and illness and tells us about a radically compassionate prenatal care program that can buffer pregnant women from the stress that people of color face every day.

An electrifying acoustic guitar performance | Rodrigo y Gabriela Guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela combine furiously fast riffs and dazzling rhythms to create a style that draws on both flamenco guitar and heavy metal in this live performance of their song, "The Soundmaker."

Does Living in Crowded Places Drive People Crazy? A new theoretical tool called life history theory offers an answer —
Shortchanging a Baby's Microbiome C-sections and formula feeding could be interfering with a critical biological process —
AAAS and Learning & the Brain Conferences This weekend, Dana Foundation staff are traveling to opposite coasts to exhibit at conferences in San Francisco and Boston, and we hope to see you there! In California, we’ll have a table at the Learning & the Brain conference (February 17-19), “ The Science of How We Learn: Engaging Memory, Motivation, Mindsets, Making and Mastery .” Stop by for free publications, puzzles, brain-shaped erasers,

Antallet af patienter med svine-MRSA steg i 2016 Efter et fald i 2015 steg antallet af smittede sidste år. Om et par måneder ved Statens Serum Institut, om husdyrvarianten af bakterien spreder sig uden for landbrugsmiljøet.

BAGGRUND: Presset øges på omdiskuteret energispareordning Ministeren har lige indgået en ny fireårig energispareaftale efter samme principper som den gamle. Men efter et samråd er nu også han skeptisk over for den stærkt kritiserede ordning. I horisonten lurer Rigsrevisionen.

CPH medgiver: Udvidelse af lufthavn medfører flere aflysninger og forsinkelser Københavns Lufthavn ønsker at lukke den sidste tværbane. Det kan betyde omkring 1000 forsinkelser eller aflysninger om året. Men det er eneste vej til den store udvidelse, siger projektlederen.

Droner finder lækager i fjernvarmerør Overflyvninger med droner og 500.000 termiske billeder senere har afsløret 44 lækager i fjernvarmerør omkring København.

DTU: Zink-opgørelse for dårligt valideret, til at vi kan stole på den Fødevarestyrelsen kæmper stadig med at rette en ny fejl i databasen med forbruget af resistens-fremkaldende zink-medicin til smågrise. DTU vil indføre ny kvalitetssikring af data.

Femern-selskab klar til den store tyskeksamen: 150 specialister bag 14.000 siders svar 15. februar afleverer Femern A/S’ 150 eksperter og specialister deres kommentarer til de 12.600 tyske høringssvar. Det er stadig usikkert, om byggeri kan komme i gang i 2020.

Flyvende bil kan bestilles nu Det er netop blevet muligt at bestille de første kommercielt producerede flyvende biler fra den hollandske producent PAL-V. Det er dog dyrt og kræver flylicens.

Google vil designe unikke kjoler til H&M baseret på din livsstil IT-giganten vil sammen med svensk modehus samle data op fra din telefon og designe tøj ud fra, hvor du befinder dig, og hvad du foretager dig.

Indisk verdensrekord: 104 satellitter med én raket på en halv time Den tidligere rekord var 37. Tre af satellitterne er indiske, mens resten hovedsageligt er amerikanske.

Myndigheder blev advaret om oversvømmelsestruet dæmning for 11 år siden Allerede i 2005 advarede tre miljøorganisationer om, at overløbene ved den nu oversvømmelsestruede Oroville-dæmning i Californien burde sikres bedre. Advarslen blev afvist som unødvendig bekymring. Antallet af evakuerede er nu oppe på 180.000.

Nu skal danske virksomheder på sejrspodiet inden for den globale sportsindustri Industriens Fond og Danmarks Idrætsforbund samarbejder om at få virksomheder og eliteidrætten til at udvikle trænings- og konkurrenceudstyr, der på sigt også kan bruges uden for idrætsmiljøet.

Ny type LED kan både udsende og modtage lys samtidigt Forskere har kombineret en række forskellige lysdioder til en skærm, der kan høste energi fra omgivelserne, og som kan styres uden at blive berørt.

Plastfilm med glasperler på taget køler bygningen lige så godt som airconditionanlæg Et forskerhold fra University of Colorado har opfundet en plastfilm, der fungerer som airconditionanlæg ved at sende varmen ud i rummet som infrarød stråling.

Spørg Scientariet: Hvad er fremtiden for passwords? En læser funderer over, om passwords måske er ved at være forældede i takt med, at hackerne får bedre maskiner. Professor i datalogi giver et svar.

Statsfinansierede miljøbusser kan erstattes af gamle dieselhakkere Næsten nye partikel- og NOx-filtre på københavnske busser risikerer at køre ud af byen og landet på trods af, at de statsfinansierede filtre er langt fra udtjente.

Stjerne udsendte store mængder materiale før sit endeligt Hvordan opfører en stjerne sig, inden den eksploderer? Observationer af en supernova, få timer efter at den eksploderede, har givet et unikt indblik i døende stjerner.

S-togenes nye signaler kan ikke tåle is Is blokerer radarerne i det nye signalsystem til S-tog, viser intern mail fra DSB. Banedanmark vil ikke bekræfte årsagen til sidste uges aflysninger og forsinkelser.

Vestas må pille vinger af på 21 nye vindmøller Støjdæmpende 'hajtænder' på vingerne er monteret forkert på fabrikken i Italien.

Amerikansk superchefs overraskende råd til at lede skarpe vidensarbejdere https://karriere.jobfinder.dk/da/artikel/amerikansk-superchefs-overraskende-raad-at-lede-skarpe-vidensarbejdere-6426 En af USAs mest anerkendte ledere inden for forskning leverer seks råd til at få det bedste ud af dygtige medarbejdere. Blandt andet skal de have mulighed for at lufte deres vildeste ideer. Og dumhed skal stoppes Jobfinder

Sådan hjalp IDA mig til den helt rigtige praktikplads https://karriere.jobfinder.dk/da/artikel/saadan-hjalp-ida-mig-helt-rigtige-praktikplads-6438 Anne Hansen, der læser til produktionsingeniør på Syddansk Universitet, er netop startet i praktik i Rockwool. Rådgivning i IDA har hjalp hende til at blive klar på, hvad hun skulle gå efter Jobfinder

Abbreviations exclude readers in scientific communication, experts say The universal use of abbreviations in higher education is intended to simplify, but really they stifle scientific communication, according to Purdue University ostracism experts.

Albania promotes its underwater archaeology, for tourism Albania is promoting the archaeological finds in the waters off its southwest coast to raise public interest and to attract attention of decision-makers who can help preserve the discoveries.

Amazon launches videoconferencing for cloud customers US online giant Amazon on Tuesday announced the launch of a "unified communications service" which offers video and audio conferencing through its cloud computing service.

Ancient jar handles offer record of Earth's magnetic field strength over time (Phys.org)—A team of researchers from Tel Aviv University, The Hebrew University and the University of California has used ancient jar handles to chart the strength of the Earth's magnetic field over a 600-year period. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes how they were able to accurately date the jar handles, which allowed for measuring th

Will androids dream of quantum sheep? Quantum replicants of responsive systems can be more efficient than classical models, say researchers from the Centre for Quantum Technologies in Singapore, because classical models have to store more past information than is necessary to simulate the future. They have published their findings in npj Quantum Information.

Researchers use new approach to create triangulene molecule (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with IBM Research in Switzerland and the University of Warwick in the U.K. has successfully created a triangulene molecule by manipulating a precursor molecule physically using a scanning probe microscope tip. In their paper published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, the team describes their approach and what they have learned about the molecule's properties t

Judge to hear arguments on Dakota Access pipeline work Two American Indian tribes have asked a federal judge to stop construction of the last stretch of the four-state Dakota Access pipeline, adding a religious freedom component to their argument that it would endanger their cultural sites and water supply.

Astronomers observe black hole producing cold, star-making fuel from hot plasma jets and bubbles The Phoenix cluster is an enormous accumulation of about 1,000 galaxies, located 5.7 billion light years from Earth. At its center lies a massive galaxy, which appears to be spitting out stars at a rate of about 1,000 per year. Most other galaxies in the universe are far less productive, squeaking out just a few stars each year, and scientists have wondered what has fueled the Phoenix cluster's ex

Astronomers propose a cell phone search for galactic fast radio bursts Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are brief spurts of radio emission, lasting just one-thousandth of a second, whose origins are mysterious. Fewer than two dozen have been identified in the past decade using giant radio telescopes such as the 1,000-foot dish in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. Of those, only one has been pinpointed to originate from a galaxy about 3 billion light-years away.

Astronomers zoom in on megastar's juvenile outburst A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, a supergiant red star ended its life in a spectacular explosion known as a supernova.

Searching for axion dark matter with a new detection device A detection device designed and built at Yale is narrowing the search for dark matter in the form of axions, a theorized subatomic particle that may make up as much as 80% of the matter in the universe.

Study finds that working under biased managers can impact workplace performance Researchers have long known that bias can have an impact on hiring, but a new Harvard study suggests that it may also affect workplace performance.

Why big data may be having a big effect on how our politics plays out The first week of parliament for the new year was a noisy one. Cory Bernardi's decision to leave the Liberal Party has created a flurry of speculation about whether this is the "splitting" of the political right or an indication of the end of business-as-usual politics.

Biological experiments become transparent – anywhere, any time Biological experiments are generating increasingly large and complex sets of data. This has made it difficult to reproduce experiments at other research laboratories in order to confirm – or refute – the results. The difficulty lies not only in the complexity of the data, but also in the elaborate computer programmes and systems needed to analyse them. Scientists from the Luxembourg Centre for Sys

Monitoring birds by drone Forget delivering packages or taking aerial photographs—drones can even count small birds! A new study from The Auk: Ornithological Advances tests this new approach to wildlife monitoring and concludes that despite some drawbacks, the method has the potential to become an important tool for ecologists and land managers.

Birmingham's early warning system flags global financial crises Researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a new 'early warning system' that could help policymakers around the world take action to avert or lessen the impact of financial crisis.

Black Sea study shows short-term oxygen loss at sea bottom can drive out organisms for long periods (Phys.org)—An international team of researchers has found evidence in the Black Sea that suggests that even short periods of oxygen deprivation on the sea floor can cause animals and microbes that break up plant and animal matter to leave for very long periods of time. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the team describes their study of sea floor oxygen levels in the Black S

Britain: 65 percent of large companies suffered cyberattacks Britain's treasury chief has warned that cyberattacks are increasing in severity and sophistication as authorities open a new center devoted to thwarting such threats.

Researchers looking at how brittle materials fail If you want to see what happens if your phone falls onto concrete, you can actually drop it or let an engineer work out the consequences in advance.

Canadian glaciers now major contributor to sea level change Ice loss from Canada's Arctic glaciers has transformed them into a major contributor to sea level change, new research by University of California, Irvine glaciologists has found.

Researchers use carbon nanoparticles from cellulose as sensor material By synthesizing carbon nanoparticles from sugar and a source of cellulose such as newspapers, researchers in the UPV/EHU's Department of Physical Chemistry have developed a material that could be used as a sensor as its components respond to stimuli. For example, the fluorescence of carbon nanoparticles has been found to increase or diminish in the presence of different metals, so they could be us

Chemical engineers boost bacteria's productivity MIT chemical engineers have designed a novel genetic switch that allows them to dramatically boost bacteria's production of useful chemicals by shutting down competing metabolic pathways in the cells.

Banned chemicals from the '70s found in the deepest reaches of the ocean A study, led by Newcastle University's Dr Alan Jamieson, has uncovered the first evidence that man-made pollutants have now reached the farthest corners of our earth.

Chemists seek 'game-changer' in electrochemical water catalysis The world's current reliance on fossil fuel energy, which is finite and a major source of pollution, begs for new, greener energy solutions. Electrochemical water catalysis or "water splitting," the chemical reaction by which water is separated into oxygen and hydrogen, is one means of tapping energy from such renewable energy sources as solar and wind. But development of efficient and cost-effect

Accelerated chlorophyll reaction in microdroplets to reveal secret of photosynthesis DGIST research fellow Hong-Gil Nam and the research team of Professor Richard N. Zere of Stanford University have reported that they have accelerated chlorophyll demetallation by 1000 times over current techniques using microdroplets.

Comet breaking up on flight by Earth caught by Slooh members Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann has experienced a breakup on its journey past the Earth on its way toward the Sun. On the night of February 12th, Slooh members using the company's telescopes in Chile were able to view the comet as it broke into two pieces. This seems to be the continuation of a process that was first witnessed in 1995, then again in 2006.

Cultivated scallops populations develop distinct genetic structure The scallop is one of the largest edible molluscs, and gourmets consider it to be a great delicacy. To meet this demand, the fishing industry cultivates these shellfish in coastal aquafarms. In a new analysis, behavioural ecologists at Bielefeld University have confirmed that cultivated scallops developed their own genetic structure that differs from that of natural scallops. The biologists studie

Dating on the fly—female flies are attractive to mates on sunny days Female green bottle flies attract potential mates by flashing sunlight at particular frequencies from their wings, according to research published in the open access journal, BMC Biology.

A kiss of death—mammals were the first animals to produce venom Africa is a tough place. It always has been. Especially if you have to fend off gigantic predators like sabre-toothed carnivores in order to survive. And, when you're a small, dog-sized pre-mammalian reptile, sometimes the only way to protect yourself against these monsters is to turn your saliva into a deadly venomous cocktail.

Deaths from India air pollution rivals China: study India's air now rivals China's as the world's deadliest, according to a new study published Tuesday amid warnings that efforts to curb pollution from coal won't yield results any time soon.

Diesel Cruze tops all gas or diesel cars at 52 mpg highway General Motors says its new Chevrolet Cruze diesel compact sedan will get up to 52 miles per gallon on the highway, the best mileage of any car that isn't a hybrid or electric vehicle.

Researchers develop 'living diode' using cardiac muscle cells Scientists are one step closer to mimicking the way biological systems interact and process information in the body – a vital step toward developing new forms of biorobotics and novel treatment approaches for several muscle-related health problems such as muscular degenerative disorders, arrhythmia and limb loss.

Discovery of new shark species highlights need to protect Belize waters The discovery of a new shark species in Belize waters comes as a reminder of the need to protect the waters around the Central American country, home to the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve system, the longest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere.

Disney dumps PewDiePie over anti-Semitic videos: report Disney has cut ties with YouTube's most watched blogger PewDiePie for posting several videos containing anti-Semitic remarks and Nazi references, the Wall Street Journal said Tuesday.

Are drones disturbing marine mammals? Marine researchers have made sure that their research drones aren't disturbing their research subjects, shows a report in Frontiers in Marine Science. And they're hoping that others will follow their example to help protect wildlife in the future.

Ebolaviruses need very few mutations to cause disease in new host species Kent researchers have identified how few mutations it can take for Ebolaviruses to adapt to affect previously resistant species.

Researchers develop eco-friendly concrete In the future, wide-ranging composite materials are expected to be stronger, lighter, cheaper and greener for our planet, thanks to an invention by Rutgers' Richard E. Riman.

Last year's El Nino resulted in unprecedented erosion of the Pacific coastline: study Last winter's El Niño might have felt weak to residents of Southern California, but it was in fact one of the most powerful climate events of the past 145 years.

Emergency UN meeting in Harare over armyworm outbreak International experts will hold emergency talks in Harare on Tuesday to tackle an outbreak of crop-eating "armyworm" caterpillars advancing across several African countries.

English-language learners may be over-represented in learning disabilities category For years, minorities have been disproportionately placed in special education classes, and figures available indicate the complexity of this issue for one group. National estimates reveal that English-language learners may be over-represented in the learning disabilities category due to the fact that neither a method for accurate identification nor a consistent definition of learning disabilities

No designer babies, but gene editing to avoid disease? Maybe Don't expect designer babies any time soon—but a major new ethics report leaves open the possibility of one day altering human heredity to fight genetic diseases, with stringent oversight, using new tools that precisely edit genes inside living cells.

Ethiopia dam causes Kenya water shortage: rights group A huge newly-built Ethiopian dam is cutting off the supply of water to Lake Turkana in northern Kenya, rights group Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday.

New publication on race and ethnicity in America Patterns and trends in racial and ethnic inequality over recent decades is the focus of a new publication published by John Iceland, professor and department head of sociology and criminology and Population Research Institute associate at Penn State.

New evidence of the impact of quality nurseries on children's outcomes A report published today reveals that a child's educational achievement at the end of their reception year is only very slightly higher if he or she has been taught in nursery by a qualified teacher or early years professional. Attending a nursery rated as 'outstanding' by Ofsted, the regulator of educational quality in England, also has limited benefits.

Researcher explores possible climate change link to water toxicity A Florida State University researcher has drawn a link between the impact of climate change and untreated drinking water on the rate of gastrointestinal illness in children.

Researchers explore ubiquitous interaction of biomolecules with water Experiments at ANSTO have provided supporting evidence of unexpected enhancement of water solubility of biomolecules in an aqueous solution of divalent transition-metal cations.

Extinct tortoise yields oldest tropical DNA An extinct tortoise species that accidentally tumbled into a water-filled limestone sinkhole in the Bahamas about 1,000 years ago has finally made its way out, with much of its DNA intact.

Facebook pushes video onto TV screens with new apps Facebook on Tuesday announced it was rolling out apps to allow people to view videos posted on the social network on connected televisions.

Why presenting "just the facts" won't work for GM foods When it comes to controversial science issues, scientists need to rethink their approach to engaging the public, according to the authors of a new study looking at women's attitudes towards genetically modified (GM) foods.

'Field patterns' as a new mathematical object University of Utah mathematicians propose a theoretical framework to understand how waves and other disturbances move through materials in conditions that vary in both space and time. The theory, called "field patterns," published today in Proceedings of the Royal Society A.

Learning how to fine-tune nanofabrication Daniel Packwood, Junior Associate Professor at Kyoto University's Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS), is improving methods for constructing tiny "nanomaterials" using a "bottom-up" approach called "molecular self-assembly". Using this method, molecules are chosen according to their ability to spontaneously interact and combine to form shapes with specific functions. In the fut

Fractal edges shown to be key to imagery seen in Rorschach inkblots Researchers have unlocked the mystery of why people have seen so many different images in Rorschach inkblots.

French pedestrians see green light, even when it's red: study French pedestrians have the reputation of being a law unto themselves—but an unusual study has provided some scientific backing for the stereotype.

Frequency combs—on-chip integration on track EPFL scientists have found a way to miniaturize frequency combs, realizing a new step toward miniaturization of such tools. Their device can measure light oscillations with a precision of 12 digits.

GaN express sheds new light on the path to super-fast computing The demand for faster computers is growing rapidly and the rise of big data demands novel solutions be explored to deliver quicker results.

New study helps explain how garbage patches form in the world's oceans A new study on how ocean currents transport floating marine debris is helping to explain how garbage patches form in the world's oceans. Researchers from the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and colleagues developed a mathematical model that simulates the motion of small spherical objects floating at the ocean surface.

Genes in albino orchids may hold clues to parasitic mechanism used by non-photosynthetic plants How do plants give up photosynthesis and become parasites? A research team in Japan are using comprehensive analysis of gene expression in albino and green orchids to investigate the evolution of parasitic plants.

Geneticists track the evolution of parenting University of Georgia researchers have confirmed that becoming a parent brings about more than just the obvious offspring—it also rewires the parents' brain.

Unlocking the genetic secrets of legendary bulls The genes of 50 top bulls have been sequenced in an effort to understand how genes from temperate cattle have influenced important production traits in the modern Brahman breed.

Giant radio galaxy discovered by astronomers (Phys.org)—An international team of astronomers reports the discovery of a new giant radio galaxy (GRG) associated with the galaxy triplet known as UGC 9555. The newly discovered galaxy turns out to be one of the largest GRGs so far detected. The findings were presented Feb. 6 in a paper published online on arXiv.org.

Graphene foam gets big and tough: Nanotube-reinforced material can be shaped, is highly conductive A chunk of conductive graphene foam reinforced by carbon nanotubes can support more than 3,000 times its own weight and easily bounce back to its original height, according to Rice University scientists.

Green light for next-generation dark matter detector Construction will begin on a next-generation dark matter detector with the UK taking a leading role and providing vital hardware for the project.

Hunting as a group makes sailfish attacks less predictable to prey Sailfish are large oceanic predatory fish that attack their prey with their long, sharp bills. When hunting, individuals increase their success rate by specialising in one attacking side, as a team led by researcher Dr. Ralf Kurvers from the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) has now been able to show. The crucial factor: Sailfish always hunt in groups containing ro

Gut feeling essential for migrating fish Why do trout spend so much time in potentially dangerous estuaries before migrating to sea? In a new thesis published at University Gothenburg, Jeroen Brijs reveals that the answer may lie in the gut.

Study finds that heel-down posture in great apes and humans confers a fighting advantage Walking on our heels, a feature that separates great apes, including humans, from other primates, confers advantages in fighting, according to a new University of Utah study published today in Biology Open. Although moving from the balls of the feet is important for quickness, standing with heels planted allows more swinging force, according to study lead author and biologist David Carrier, sugges

Using high-resolution satellites to measure African farm yields Stanford researchers have developed a new way to estimate crop yields from space, using high-res photos snapped by a new wave of compact satellites.

In high sierras, remnants of ice age tell a tale of future climate Aaron Putnam sits stop a boulder high in the Sierras of central California, banging away with hammer and chisel to chip out a sample of ice age history. Each hunk of rock is a piece of a vast puzzle: How did our climate system behave the last time it warmed up like it's doing today?

Building a home that helps residents stay healthy What if your house could help keep you healthy?

Image: Ariane 5's first launch this year An Ariane 5, operated by Arianespace, has delivered the Sky Brasil-1 and Telkom-3S telecom satellites into their planned orbits.

Image: ISS transits the moon This image of the International Space Station passing in front of the Moon on 4 February was taken from Rouen, France, the birth town of ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet.

Image: Rosetta's shadow crosses Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko in daring encounter Valentine's Day 2015 and ESA's Rosetta swooped in towards Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko for a daring close encounter. At just 6 km from the surface, it was the closest the spacecraft had ever been to the comet at that point in the mission.

Imaging technique for unique views of single molecules that conventional methods can't match Determining the exact configuration of proteins and other complex biological molecules is an important step toward understanding their functions, including how they bind with receptors in the body. But such imaging is difficult to do. It usually requires the molecules to be crystallized first so that X-ray diffraction techniques can be applied—and not all such molecules can be crystallized.

Impact of climate change on mammals and birds 'greatly under-estimated' An international study published today involving University of Queensland research has found large numbers of threatened species have already been impacted by climate change.

Study investigates impact of strip tillage on a high-value crop A study done by researchers at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Uvalde may help producers in the Texas Winter Garden region and other areas decide whether conservation tillage methods might benefit them in the production of high-value crops.

The importance of maintaining a diversity of habitats in the sea Researchers from University of Gothenburg and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) show that both species diversity and habitat diversity are critical to understand the functioning of ecosystems.

India to launch 104 satellites in record mission India hopes to make history by launching a record 104 satellites from a single rocket Wednesday as its famously frugal space agency looks to zoom ahead in the commercial space race.

Inscribing porous, carbonized patterns into a polymer creates sensitive electrodes that detect biological molecules Using a laser to burn patterns into a polymer sheet, KAUST researchers have created graphene electrodes that act as effective biosensors.

New insights into ubiquitin signalling Scientists at the University of Würzburg have generated new insights into the intricate molecular underpinnings of ubiquitin signaling. Their results may provide new avenues for cancer therapy.

New iron oxide nanoparticles could help avoid a rare side effect caused by current contrast agents for MRI A new, specially coated iron oxide nanoparticle developed by a team at MIT and elsewhere could provide an alternative to conventional gadolinium-based contrast agents used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures. In rare cases, the currently used gadolinium agents have been found to produce adverse effects in patients with impaired kidney function.

Researchers identify key components of blood that directly affect flow behavior Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of deaths worldwide—yet researchers still don't fully understand how blood flows or even which components within blood can lead to cardiac issues.

Possible key to regeneration found in planaria's origins A new report from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research chronicles the embryonic origins of planaria, providing new insight into the animal's remarkable regenerative abilities.

Developing knowledge of blowfly life cycles to improve accuracy of estimating post-mortem interval Post-mortems are an essential part of the investigative process after someone has died in suspicious circumstances, usually performed to establish cause of death. Definitively proving time of death later is extremely difficult. By using blowflies and sometimes other insects, forensic entomologists can provide an estimated window of time in which someone is likely to have died. This is calculated b

Lasers could give space research its 'broadband' moment Thought your Internet speeds were slow? Try being a space scientist for a day.

Researchers discover a new link to fight billion-dollar threat to soybean production Invisible to the naked eye, cyst nematodes are a major threat to agriculture, causing billions of dollars in global crop losses every year. A group of plant scientists, led by University of Missouri researchers, recently found one of the mechanisms cyst nematodes use to invade and drain life-sustaining nutrients from soybean plants. Understanding the molecular basis of interactions between plants

Lipid nanoparticles for gene therapy Lipid nanoparticles (SLNs and NLCs) are regarded as highly promising systems for delivering nucleic acids in gene therapy. Until now, viral systems have been the most effective method for delivering genetic matter but they pose significant safety problems. "Non-viral vectors, including SLNs and NLCs, are less effective but much safer even though their effectiveness has increased significantly in r

Long-term eelgrass loss due to joint effects of shade, heat A new study led by researchers at William & Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science links a long-term decline in Chesapeake Bay's eelgrass beds to both deteriorating water quality and rising summertime temperatures. It also shows that loss of the habitat and other benefits that eelgrass provides comes at a staggering ecological and economic cost.

Accelerating low-carbon innovation through policy Global climate change is affecting our planet and mankind; climate science is thus instrumental in informing policy makers about its dangers, and in suggesting emission limits. Science also shows that staying within limits, while meeting the aspirations of a growing global population requires fundamental changes in energy conversion and storage. The majority of low-carbon technology innovation obs

Luminescence switchable carbon nanodots follow intracellular trafficking and drug delivery Tiny carbon dots have, for the first time, been applied to intracellular imaging and tracking of drug delivery involving various optical and vibrational spectroscopic-based techniques such as fluorescence, Raman, and hyperspectral imaging. Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have demonstrated, for the first time, that photo luminescent carbon nanoparticles can exhibit r

Researchers apply machine learning to condensed matter physics A machine learning algorithm designed to teach computers how to recognize photos, speech patterns, and hand-written digits has now been applied to a vastly different set of data: identifying phase transitions between states of matter.

Researchers restore magnificent cake to original grandeur Cutting-edge technology has brought Queen Elizabeth II's wedding cake back to life – thanks to research by WMG at the University of Warwick.

Maize study finds genes that help crops adapt to change Over many thousands of years, farmers have bred maize varieties so the crops are optimally adapted to local environments.

Researchers calculate major cost savings of 3-D printing household items Interested in making an investment that promises a 100 percent return on your money, and then some? Buy a low-cost, open-source 3-D printer, plug it in and print household items.

Marine bacteria produce an environmentally important molecule with links to climate Scientists from the University of East Anglia and Ocean University China have discovered that tiny marine bacteria can synthesise one of the Earth's most abundant sulfur molecules, which affects atmospheric chemistry and potentially climate.

Mastering a critical step in storing radioactive waste An EPFL research project has developed a detailed profile of the sites selected to store radioactive waste from Swiss nuclear power plants. The project also helps identify sites that meet both safety and feasibility requirements.

New mechanical metamaterials can block symmetry of motion, findings suggest Engineers and scientists at The University of Texas at Austin and the AMOLF institute in the Netherlands have invented the first mechanical metamaterials that easily transfer motion effortlessly in one direction while blocking it in the other, as described in a paper published on Feb. 13 in Nature. The material can be thought of as a mechanical one-way shield that blocks energy from coming in but

The mechanics of cavitation-induced injury lend a better understanding of blast traumatic brain injuries Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a largely silent epidemic that affects roughly two million people each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the scale at which blast TBI (bTBI) injuries—in the spotlight as the signature wound of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan—occur and manifest is unknown.

New metalloid oxide reducing bacteria found in manitoba's nopiming gold mine tailings A new study published in the Canadian Journal of Microbiology has identified new toxic metalloid-reducing bacteria in highly polluted abandoned gold mine tailings in Manitoba's Nopiming Provincial Park. "These bacteria have the ability to convert toxic components that exist as a result of mining activities into less toxic forms and are prevalent in extreme environments," says Dr. Vladimir Yurkov,

New method uses heat flow to levitate variety of objects Although scientists have been able to levitate specific types of material, a pair of UChicago undergraduate physics students helped take the science to a new level.

New methods further discern extreme fluctuations in forage fish populations California sardine stocks famously crashed in John Steinbeck's "Cannery Row." New research, building on previous since the late 1960s, shows in greater detail that such forage fish stocks have undergone boom-bust cycles for centuries, with at least three species off the U.S. West Coast repeatedly experiencing steep population increases followed by declines long before commercial fishing began.

Molecules do not have colour The 2017 Pantone Color of the Year is Greenery.

Monkeys taught to pass mirror self-awareness test (Phys.org)—A team of researchers at the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences has found that rhesus monkeys can pass the mirror self-awareness test if they are first taught how mirrors work. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describes how they taught the monkeys to understand how mirrors work and how the monkeys behaved once they had it dow

Mutant maize offers key to understanding plant growth How plant cells divide and how that contributes to plant growth has been one of the longstanding unsolved mysteries of cell biology. Two conflicting ideas have fueled the mystery.

Turning up the heat for perfect (nano)diamonds Quantum mechanics, the physics that governs nature at the atomic and subatomic scale, contains a host of new physical phenomena to explore quantum states at the nanoscale. Though tricky, there are ways to exploit these inherently fragile and sensitive systems for quantum sensing. One nascent technology in particular makes use of point defects, or single-atom misplacements, in nanoscale materials,

A nanofiber matrix for healing A new nanofiber-on-microfiber matrix could help produce more and better quality stem cells for disease treatment and regenerative therapies.

NASA eyes the heart of Tropical Cyclone Dineo on Valentine's Day NASA's Terra satellite saw strong thunderstorms spiraling into the heart of Tropical Cyclone Dineo on Valentine's Day as it continued to strengthen in the Mozambique Channel.

NASA catches formation of Tropical Cyclone Dineo The fifth tropical cyclone of the Southern Indian Ocean season formed today, February 13 as NASA's Aqua satellite captured a visible image of the storm.

NASA and MIT Collaborate to develop space-based quantum-dot spectrometer A NASA technologist has teamed with the inventor of a new nanotechnology that could transform the way space scientists build spectrometers, the all-important device used by virtually all scientific disciplines to measure the properties of light emanating from astronomical objects, including Earth itself.

NASA to launch Raven to develop autonomous rendezvous capability Launching soon, aboard the 10th SpaceX commercial resupply mission, will be a technology module called Raven, which will bring NASA one step closer to having a relative navigation capability. When affixed outside the International Space Station, Raven will test foundational technologies that will enable autonomous rendezvous in space, meaning they will not necessitate any human involvement—even fr

NASA watching remnants of ex-Tropical Cyclone Carlos Tropical Cyclone Carlos became sub-tropical and weakened to a remnant low pressure area over the weekend of February 11 and 12. By February 13, as NASA's Terra satellite passed over the remnants, the storm still showed a circulation center.

NASA's TDRS-M space communications satellite begins final testing The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) project has begun final testing on a new satellite that will replenish NASA's Space Network. The spacecraft is scheduled to launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Aug. 3, 2017, on an Atlas V rocket.

NASA gives the Webb Telescope a shakedown Scientists and engineers had many challenges in designing the components of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope and then had to custom design and build ways to test it.

Next-gen dark matter detector in a race to finish line The race is on to build the most sensitive U.S.-based experiment designed to directly detect dark matter particles. Department of Energy officials have formally approved a key construction milestone that will propel the project toward its April 2020 goal for completion.

NIST to launch a dramatically improved system for measuring the intensity and spectrum of light We see the world in reflection: Nearly all the light that enters our eyes has bounced off something first, bringing with it information about the nature of the objects it encountered on the way. But that information is strongly affected by the angle at which the light strikes the object, and also the angle at which the reflected light reaches the eye of the beholder.

Norwegian ice cap 'exceptionally sensitive' to climate change How will future climate change affect our glaciers? By looking into the past 4000 years, a new study lead by Henning Åkesson at the Bjerknes Centre finds an ice cap in southern Norway to be 'exceptionally sensitive' to climate change.

Onsala Twin Telescopes ready for the world Two new radio telescopes have been built at Onsala Space Observatory on Sweden's west coast, and on 18 May 2017 they will be inaugurated. The Onsala Twin Telescopes are part of an international network of radio telescopes that use astronomical techniques – and distant black holes – to make high-precision measurements of the Earth and how it moves.

Optical fibre with Einstein effect Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light in Erlangen have discovered a new mechanism for guiding light in photonic crystal fibre (PCF). PCF is a hair-thin glass fibre with a regular array of hollow channels running along its length. When helically twisted, this spiralling array of hollow channels acts on light rays in an analogous manner to the bending of light rays when th

Optimizing data center placement and network design to strengthen cloud computing Telecommunication experts estimate the amount of data stored "in the cloud" or in remote data centers around the world, will quintuple in the next five years. Whether it's streaming video or business' database content drawn from distant servers, all of this data is—and will continue in the foreseeable future to be – accessed and transmitted by lasers sending pulses of light along long bundles of f

Casting Oscar: Foundry builds each statuette as work of art Every Oscar fist-pumped or tearfully cradled by Academy Award winners is first cast, buffed and fussed over at a foundry far from Hollywood.

OSIRIS-REx takes its first image of Jupiter This magnified, cropped image showing Jupiter and three of its moons was taken by NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft's MapCam instrument during optical navigation testing for the mission's Earth-Trojan Asteroid Search. The image shows Jupiter in the center, the moon Callisto to the left and the moons Io and Europa to the right. Ganymede, Jupiter's fourth moon, is also present in the image, but is not vi

No close partner for young, massive stars in Omega Nebula Astronomers from Leuven (Belgium) and Amsterdam (Netherlands) have discovered that massive stars in the star-forming region M17 (the Omega Nebula) are—against expectations—not part of a close binary. They have started their lives alone or with a distant partner star. The researchers base their findings on data from the X-shooter spectrograph on ESO's Very Large Telescope in northern Chile. The stu

Dubai aims to launch hover-taxi by July Dubai has tested a Chinese prototype of a self-driving hover-taxi, its transport authority said on Monday, with the aim of introducing the aerial vehicle in the emirate by July.

Showing some love: Penguins get Valentine's hearts for nests Penguins at a California aquarium got more than their daily helping of fish to celebrate Valentine's Day.

New peptide hormone aids waterproof barrier formation in plant roots Plant growth and development relies on the movement of mineral ions from the soil to the transport system of root cells (xylem tissue) and subsequent transfer to the shoot. Because this process usually occurs against a concentration gradient, passive diffusion is prevented and homeostasis ensured by the presence of a waterproof lignin-rich barrier known as the Casparian strip that surrounds xylem

Researchers determine that planetary collision can form a moon large enough for Kepler to detect The Kepler spacecraft has been prolific in its search for planets outside our solar system, known as exoplanets, discovering thousands since its launch in 2009. But the hunt for moons orbiting these exoplanets, or exomoons, is vastly more challenging. While no exomoons have been found to date, a new study shows that the search is not futile.

Predator-friendly farming—good for livestock, dingoes and the bottom line A unique study into the impact of predator-friendly farming practices on an Australian cattle station gives an inside view into the causes of livestock mortality over a two-year period. The UTS-led research team found that husbandry practices, not dingoes, were most likely the primary cause of preventable deaths for cattle on Evelyn Downs, an extensive landholding in the north of South Australia.

Cracking under pressure is no problem for high strength self-healing cement With an average life span of 30-40 years, the cement around geothermal production wells eventually cracks over time. Because wells with cracked cement are vulnerable to leakage, reduced strength, and corrosion, it's important to repair them in a timely fashion. However, repairs can easily top $1.5 million dollars; the cost of new materials, excavation, installation, and halting power production ad

New protein discovery may lead to new, natural antibiotics Scientists have discovered a new protein that likely will advance the search for new natural antibiotics, according to a study by Texas A&M AgriLife Research published Feb. 13 in the journal Nature Microbiology.

Queen to unveil Britain's new cyber security centre Queen Elizabeth II will inaugurate Britain's National Cyber Security Centre on Tuesday, spearheading the country's efforts to combat a growing wave of cyber attacks notably from Russia.

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