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How racism functions and shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic
9dImagine putting on a pair of kaleidoscope glasses: now look through them to see the myriad and fractured ways racism is playing out in Canada today.
Investigating the interplay between axions and dark photons in the early universe
9dAxions and dark photons are two of the most promising types of particles for unveiling new physics. The axion scalar field explains the absence of an electric dipole moment for the neutron, while the dark photon resembles regular photons responsible for electromagnetism, but it is massive and much more weakly coupled.
Biomolecule metal-organic hybrids with high bioactivity
9dBiomacromolecules incorporated into tailored metal–organic frameworks using peptide modulators are well shielded but highly active thanks to carefully tuned nanoarchitecture. As scientists report in the journal Angewandte Chemie, this strategy can be used to synthesize an "artificial cell" that functions as an optical glucose sensor.
Copernicus Sentinels: UK industry loses out in European satellite bids
9dBritish firms fail to win leading roles in the expansion of the Copernicus Earth observation project.
Impact of shale gas "ignored" in England, new study finds
9dThe UK Government and its advisory groups "marginalised or ignored" the environmental and public health ramifications of permitting shale gas extraction in England, according to new research.
Building better electron sources with graphene
9dPhotocathodes that produce electron beams for electron microscopes and advanced accelerators can be refreshed and rebuilt repeatedly without opening the devices that rely on them, provided the electron emitting materials are deposited on single-atom-thick layers of carbon known as graphene, according to a new study published in the journal Applied Physics Letters.
Scientists expand understanding of how DNA is organised
9dScientists at The Institute of Cancer Research have uncovered new information about vital structures inside cells which are responsible for organizing our DNA.
Q&A: Researchers investigate a plague of locusts in East Africa
9dA plague of locusts has descended on East Africa, devouring crops, trees, and pasture as they move. The first generation, which emerged at the end of last year, numbered in the hundreds of billions. Left unchecked, locusts multiply by a factor of 20 per generation, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), meaning that the second generation that took flight in March and April nu
Women doing more childcare under lockdown but men more likely to feel their jobs are suffering
9dWomen in the UK are doing more childcare under lockdown—but men are more likely to say their caring or domestic responsibilities are negatively impacting their paid jobs, according to new research by King's College London and Ipsos MORI.
How to build a better Canada after COVID-19: Launch a fossil-free future
9dDemand for fossil fuels collapsed during the COVID-19 pandemic as lockdown measures were introduced. In the second quarter of 2020, experts predict that global oil demand will be down 20 percent from this time last year. Although demand is likely to recover somewhat in the next two years, some major oil company executives believe that it may never return to pre-2020 levels.
Scientists expand understanding of how DNA is organised
9dScientists at The Institute of Cancer Research have uncovered new information about vital structures inside cells which are responsible for organizing our DNA.
Q&A: Researchers investigate a plague of locusts in East Africa
9dA plague of locusts has descended on East Africa, devouring crops, trees, and pasture as they move. The first generation, which emerged at the end of last year, numbered in the hundreds of billions. Left unchecked, locusts multiply by a factor of 20 per generation, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), meaning that the second generation that took flight in March and April nu
Exercise can slow or prevent vision loss, study finds
9dExercise can slow or prevent the development of macular degeneration and may benefit other common causes of vision loss, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, new research suggests.
Tabletop quantum experiment could detect gravitational waves
9dTiny diamond crystals could be used as an incredibly sensitive and small gravitational detector capable of measuring gravitational waves, suggests new UCL-led research.
Researchers from University of Turku have described over 40 new species in 2020
9dThe researchers at the Biodiversity Unit of the University of Turku are specialised in studying poorly known species habiting some of the most remote places on earth. As a result of their scientific expeditions, the researchers constantly discover species that are unknown to science. One of the most recent discoveries is a spider which was named after actor Joaquin Phoenix and his famous portrayal
Toward principles of gene regulation in multicellular systems?
9dQuantitative biologists from Northwestern combine precision measurements and mathematical models to uncover a common mechanism regulating gene expression during development.
The "eyes" say more than the "mouth" and can distinguish English sounds
9dToyohashi University of Technology has discovered that the difference in the ability to hear and distinguish English words including L and R, which are considered difficult for Japanese people, appears in pupillary responses. The research team conducted experiments to simultaneously measure the size of the pupil while playing English words in combinations such as "Light" and "Right", and clarified
How stress affects bone marrow
9dResearchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) identified the protein CD86 as a novel marker of infection- and inflammation-induced hematopoietic responses. They showed in a mouse model of systemic bacterial infection that CD86 is superior to Sca-1, the conventional marker of early hematopoietic cells, in studying hematopoiesis under stress conditions. These findings help clarify how
Food taxes and subsidies would bring major health gains, study shows
9dA consumer tax on the saturated fat, salt and sugar content of food, accompanied by a 20 per cent subsidy on fruit and vegetables, would bring major benefits for the health sector, researchers from Otago, Auckland and Melbourne Universities say.
School absenteeism has surprising consequences for adults
9dKids who miss a lot of school from kindergarten to eighth grade may suffer unexpected costs as young adults, a new study finds. Researchers found that those who were more regularly absent in these early years of school were less likely to vote, reported having greater economic difficulties and had poorer educational outcomes when they were 22 to 23 years old.
Hidden sources of mysterious cosmic neutrinos seen on Earth
9dA new model points to the coronoe of supermassive black holes at the cores of active galaxies to help explain the excess neutrinos observed by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory.
Role models have major influence on female university choices
9dWomen exposed to successful and charismatic role models are more likely to follow them in choosing a university major.
Our laws failed these endangered flying-foxes at every turn
9dOn Saturday, Cairns Regional Council will disperse up to 8,000 endangered spectacled flying-foxes from their nationally important camp in central Cairns.
Evolution drives greater risks of mitochondrial disease in males, fruit fly study suggests
9dNew research in fruit flies suggests that males may be at greater risk than females of diseases caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA.
Scientists use a Teflon pipe to make a cheap, simple reactor for silica particle synthesis
9dResearchers in Australia and China have proposed an innovative and cost-effective new method for creating silica beads, which have a number of key uses, ranging from nanomedicine and bioimaging to the production of paper and polished concrete.
Scientists install sensors in Glasgow, Scotland schools to monitor greenhouse gases in real time
9dScientists will install sensors in primary and secondary schools across Glasgow, Scotland to monitor levels of the greenhouse gas (GHG) carbon dioxide (CO2) which contribute to climate change.
New study shows iconic golden eagle was once common throughout Wales
9dA new study has shown that golden and white-tailed eagles were widespread and common throughout historic Wales.
Our laws failed these endangered flying-foxes at every turn
9dOn Saturday, Cairns Regional Council will disperse up to 8,000 endangered spectacled flying-foxes from their nationally important camp in central Cairns.
Evolution drives greater risks of mitochondrial disease in males, fruit fly study suggests
9dNew research in fruit flies suggests that males may be at greater risk than females of diseases caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA.
New study shows iconic golden eagle was once common throughout Wales
9dA new study has shown that golden and white-tailed eagles were widespread and common throughout historic Wales.
Intelligent infrastructure: How an agile, robust, and flexible IT infrastructure can make or break digital transformation
9dIn today’s business environment, strategic technology initiatives are driven by the need to grow with greater agility and adapt to rapidly changing commercial, environmental, and regulatory conditions. A new report, sponsored by Panduit, explores how IT leaders from a variety of industries are building intelligent infrastructure that provides a platform for innovation and insights. The key findin
Strategies found for protecting island scrub jays from West Nile virus
9dIn Channel Islands National Park off the coast of California lives the island scrub jay, a vivid blue and gray songbird with a species population of around 1,700. The rare species makes its home exclusively on Santa Cruz Island, about 18 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara in a lush nature preserve of oak woodland and chaparral vegetation.
Holographic beam shaping to deliver a boost to metallic 3-D printing
9dCambridge engineers have begun a three-year research program to help speed up the manufacture of metallic 3-D printed parts and products, by using computer-generated holography.
N-carbamylglycinate in late gestation improves reproductive performance in sows
9dRecently, a research team led by Dr. Wan Dan from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture (ISA) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences investigated effects of N-carbamylglycinate (CGly) on reproductive performance of sows in the late gestation. CGly is a derivative of glycine and an analog of N-carbamylglutamate. The study was published in Food & Function.
Multi-focal Fibonacci sieve advances single-shot multi-planar wavefront measurement
9dWavefront measurement has various applications in high power amplifiers, adaptive optical system, and phase microscopy. Among methods for high-precision wavefront measurement, the coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) is a technique that employs iterative algorithms to reconstruct the phase and amplitude information of the test object from its diffraction intensities. However, it requires multiple ex
Scientists reveal void-confinement effects of hollow nanoreactors
9dHollow nanoreactors have attracted attention in catalysis research due to their unique catalytic properties, especially their void-confinement effects. Many factors affect catalytic performance, especially in the liquid phase hydrogenation reaction, such as the catalyst structure and reaction conditions.
Scientists propose redox mechanism for water-gas shift reaction
9dThe water-gas shift (WGS) reaction (CO+H2O→CO2+H2) is critical for producing high-purity hydrogen for ammonia and methanol synthesis, as well as in fuel cell applications.
Gene fate after single whole-genome duplication in angiosperm
9dMultiple whole-genome duplications (WGDs) are found in most sequenced angiosperms. WGDs help plants to survive in extreme environments and contribute to phenotypic innovations. Duplicated genes following WGD often have different fates: They can quickly disappear again, be retained for long(er) periods, or subsequently undergo small-scale duplications. But why do different genes have different fate
Why Latinos Are Hospitalized From COVID-19 Four Times The Rate Of White Americans
9dNPR's Noel King discusses the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had on Latino communities in the U.S. with Dr. Joseph Betancourt of Massachusetts General Hospital.
Air pollution likely to make coronavirus worse, say UK government advisers
9dExperts say further investigation of link is urgently required and may be relevant to managing pandemic Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Air pollution is likely to be increasing the number and severity of Covid-19 infections, according to the UK government’s expert advisers. In a report published on Wednesday , the experts said further investigation of the link betwee
Strategies found for protecting island scrub jays from West Nile virus
9dIn Channel Islands National Park off the coast of California lives the island scrub jay, a vivid blue and gray songbird with a species population of around 1,700. The rare species makes its home exclusively on Santa Cruz Island, about 18 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara in a lush nature preserve of oak woodland and chaparral vegetation.
N-carbamylglycinate in late gestation improves reproductive performance in sows
9dRecently, a research team led by Dr. Wan Dan from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture (ISA) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences investigated effects of N-carbamylglycinate (CGly) on reproductive performance of sows in the late gestation. CGly is a derivative of glycine and an analog of N-carbamylglutamate. The study was published in Food & Function.
Gene fate after single whole-genome duplication in angiosperm
9dMultiple whole-genome duplications (WGDs) are found in most sequenced angiosperms. WGDs help plants to survive in extreme environments and contribute to phenotypic innovations. Duplicated genes following WGD often have different fates: They can quickly disappear again, be retained for long(er) periods, or subsequently undergo small-scale duplications. But why do different genes have different fate
BioNTech and Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine trial yields positive results
9dShare prices jump on preliminary data showing ‘significantly elevated’ antibodies among US clinical study participants
One Free Press Coalition Spotlights Journalists Under Attack – July 2020
9dThis month’s focus is on Maria Ressa, editor of the news website Rappler, who was convicted of cyber libel in the Philippines last month.
Virtual Criminal Justice May Make the System More Equitable
9dCourtrooms can't afford to go back to their inefficient, inaccessible "normal." The innovative practices that arose from this pandemic need to be implemented now.
Shrimp shells to produce electrodes for large storage batteries
9dA project by Spanish researchers and other collaborators at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) suggests the use of chitin from shrimp shells to produce electrodes for vanadium flow batteries. The results of the work have recently been published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.
Researchers building a harder diamond, called pentadiamonds
9dResearchers at the University of Tsukuba used computer calculations to design a new carbon-based material even harder than diamond. This structure, dubbed "pentadiamond" by its creators, may be useful for replacing current synthetic diamonds in difficult cutting manufacturing tasks.
New materials of perovskite challenge traditional notions of high pressure chemistry
9dHigh-pressure materials science has taken off over the last couple of decades, with advances in previously difficult experimental techniques and from technologies such as diamond anvils, which squeeze samples of materials between two diamonds at pressures up to millions of times greater than that at the Earth's surface.
A shake-up in cell culturing: Flame sterilization may affect the culture
9dResearchers from the University of Tsukuba have found that flame-sterilizing shake-flasks, to avoid introducing microbial contaminants, considerably increases the carbon dioxide concentration in the flasks. This enhanced carbon dioxide concentration affects the growth of some microbial species, which may affect the quantity of vaccines or other valuable substances produced by the microbes.
Scientists use a Teflon pipe to make a cheap, simple reactor for silica particle synthesis
9dThe synthesis of silica particles, used in bioimaging and drug delivery, could become considerably cheaper and more efficient by adopting a new flow synthesis method demonstrated by researchers in Australia and China, which involves a spiral channel and simple Teflon pipe to promote the rapid mixing of precursor fluids.
Scientists discover a new mechanism controlling liver cancer development
9dCNIC scientists have designed an animal model to study the development of liver cancer caused by bile acids. This study, published in PNAS, shows that the PPARα protein, when blocked, dramatically reduces the impact and progression of cholangiocarcinoma
Excess neutrinos and missing gamma rays?
9dA new model points to the coronoe of supermassive black holes at the cores of active galaxies to help explain the excess neutrinos observed by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory.
An Elemental Problem with the Sun
9dA decades-long dispute over how much carbon, nitrogen and oxygen lie within our closest star has implications for the entire universe — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
School absenteeism has surprising consequences for adults
9dKids who miss a lot of school from kindergarten to eighth grade may suffer unexpected costs as young adults, a new study finds.
Coronae of supermassive black holes may be the hidden sources of mysterious cosmic neutrinos seen on Earth
9dThe origin of high-energy cosmic neutrinos observed by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, whose detector is buried deep in the Antarctic ice, is an enigma that has perplexed physicists and astronomers. A new model could help explain the unexpectedly large flux of some of these neutrinos inferred by recent neutrino and gamma-ray data. A paper by Penn State researchers describing the model, which poi
Humans and monkeys think more alike than we knew
9dHumans and monkeys may not speak the same lingo, but our ways of thinking are a lot more similar than previously thought, according to a new study. In experiments on 100 study participants across age groups, cultures, and species, researchers found that Indigenous Tsimane’ people in Bolivia’s Amazon rainforest, American adults and preschoolers, and macaque monkeys all show, to varying degrees, a
School absenteeism has surprising consequences for adults
9dKids who miss a lot of school from kindergarten to eighth grade may suffer unexpected costs as young adults, a new study finds. Researchers found that those who were more regularly absent in these early years of school were less likely to vote, reported having greater economic difficulties and had poorer educational outcomes when they were 22 to 23 years old.
Understanding molecular mechanisms of air pollution's impact on ILD critical
9dMore research must be done to investigate the role of air pollution on the epigenome in patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), in order to develop strategies that minimize the effects of these pollutants, according to a new article published online in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
What the Data Really Says About Women Leaders and the Pandemic
9dTwo new research papers try to shed some light on a popular theory, but the evidence is still very weak—and could point to confirmation bias.
Pivo Pod Review: A Camera Assistant for Aspiring Social Media Stars
9dBored in the house and you're in the house bored? This rotating gadget takes the effort out of capturing fun, quirky videos.
Autopsies are more important than ever. Here’s what they can tell us.
9dCauses of death can be harder to figure out than you'd think. (Image by skeeze from Pixabay /) When someone dies, at first it might seem like there was an obvious reason. But things are rarely that simple, especially when you get the opinion of multiple people—even if those people are experts. Autopsies are one of the ways that pathologists in hospitals and government agencies can investigate som
The Atlantic’s The American Crisis Coming from Simon & Schuster in September
9dThe past four years have been among the most turbulent in our history—and would have been so even without a global pandemic and waves of nationwide protest against racism. How did we get here? This September, The Atlantic and Simon & Schuster will release The American Crisis , a riveting, narrated collection drawn from the often prophetic journalism and commentary published by The Atlantic in rec
Brandfare: Gør-det-selv ladestandere er præget af mangelfuld vejledning
9dForhandlere af ladestandere til elbiler vejleder mangelfuldt, når de sælger ladestandere til elbiler. Dansk Elforbund og Sikkerhedsstyrelsen frygter at forbrugerne kaster sig ud i farlige gør-det-selv installationer hjemme i carporten.
A plan to redesign the internet could make apps that no one controls
9dIn 1996 John Perry Barlow, cofounder of internet rights group the Electronic Frontier Foundation, wrote “A declaration of the independence of cyberspace.” It begins: “Governments of the Industrial World, you weary giants of flesh and steel, I come from Cyberspace, the new home of Mind. On behalf of the future, I ask you of the past to leave us alone. You are not welcome among us. You have no sove
Podcast: Covid-19 has exposed a US innovation system that is badly out of date
9dIlan Gur always wanted to build things. But after finishing his PhD in material science at UC Berkeley, he says he “bounced around, feeling like a misfit.” He left the publish-or-perish world of academia, and burned through a few million dollars before realizing that venture capital isn’t the right way to fund applied research, either. If solving a problem like pandemic preparedness isn’t immedia
To Be Young, A Doctor And Black: Overcoming Racial Barriers In Medical Training
9dYoung African American doctors say they hope to change the lack of access to medicine in underserved communities. But many say the system that trains them also alienates them. (Image credit: Quraishia Ford)
The Last of Us Part II Tests the Limits of Video-Game Violence
9dThis story contains spoilers for The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part II. At the end of the bestselling video game The Last of Us, the player does something unspeakable. Living in a world overrun by zombies after a mutated fungus infects most of Earth’s populace, you play as Joel, a survivor who’s guiding a teen girl named Ellie across the country in search of civilization. The duo finally reac
Police Punish the ‘Good Apples’
9dIsaac “Ike” Lambert was a decorated detective who had served more than 24 years in the Chicago Police Department. In 2017, an off-duty officer shot a teenager named Ricardo Hayes, who had autism and whose caregivers had reported him missing hours before. Some officers, according to Lambert, then tried to charge Hayes with assault on the basis of a distorted police report. Lambert noticed that his
In These Factories, Inspector Robot Will Check Your Work
9dArtificially intelligent camera systems look for defects and misplaced parts in many industries. The coronavirus pandemic makes them extra useful.
Leigh Stein's 'Self Care' and the Death of the Girlboss
9dThe author's new novel is wildly prescient when it comes to the fortunes of female founders.
You Purged Racists From Your Website? Great, Now Get to Work
9dZuckerberg Facebook
The Covid-19 infodemic taught social media giants like YouTube and Reddit an important lesson: They can—and must—take action to control the content on their sites.
Schools Already Struggled With Cybersecurity. Then Came Covid-19
9dA lack of dedicated funding and resources made it hard to keep data secure—and that was before classes moved almost entirely online.
Where Should Covid-19 Vaccines Be Tested? It's a Moving Target
9dDevelopers need to test in hotspots, but those keep changing. And they must avoid ethical problems, like testing in low-income areas but only selling in rich ones.
Finanstilsynet bekymret over bankernes it-sikkerhed: Corona har øget presset
9dIt-sikkerhed har ofte utilstrækkeligt fokus i danske pengeinstitutter, og pandemien har kun øget risikoen, fremgår det i ny risikovurdering fra Finanstilsynet.
Money-laundering drug cartels are driving deforestation in Guatemala
9dThe practice of "narco-ranching", in which drug traffickers launder money through cattle ranches, seems to be responsible for swathes of deforestation in Guatemala, according to an analysis of aerial images
The Problem of 'Colonial Science'
9dConservation projects in the developing world should invest in local scientific talent and infrastructure — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Frisöryrket – en potentiell klassresa?
9dFör att bli en framgångsrik frisör förväntas du vara tävlingsbenägen, självständig, vilja slita hårt och vara en entreprenör. Anstränger du dig tillräckligt mycket kan du bli en av de bästa. Att utbilda sig till frisör handlar inte bara om att lära sig göra olika sorters frisyrer. Det innebär också att lära sig vilka normer och ideal som råder inom yrket. Pedagogikforskaren Eva Klope har i sitt a
Astronomers May Have Glimpsed Light from Merging Black Holes
9dIf confirmed, the controversial result could open new vistas on cosmic collisions — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
Astronomers May Have Glimpsed Light from Merging Black Holes
9dIf confirmed, the controversial result could open new vistas on cosmic collisions — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
UN approves plan to delay carbon offsetting of flights
9dA landmark deal curbing the impact of aviation on climate change has been watered down, after airlines complained that the coronavirus pandemic had made it too difficult to hit targets
Amidst Uncertainty, Flexibility Is Key in Higher Ed, Faculty Say
9dLife sciences professors and other staff make contingency plans for more coronavirus-related disruptions in the coming school year.
Sommarläsning och lyssning på Vetenskap & hälsa
9dNu tar redaktionen sommarledigt och återkommer igen den 3 augusti. Den här våren liknar ingen annan vår och många av oss siktar på en hemester. Då kan det vara extra trevlig med lite läs- och lyssingstips. Vi önskar alla våra läsare en riktigt skön sommar och hoppas att ni vill följa oss även till hösten igen. Då kan ni se fram emot nya poddar, nya artiklar och en tidning om genvägar till bättre h
Exotic never before seen particle discovered at CERN
9dThe Large Hadron Collider Beauty (LHCb) project has observed an exotic particle made up of four charm quarks for the first time.
Yale Doesn’t Need to Change Its Name
9dLast week, the conservative troll Ann Coulter needled leftists by asking whether Yale would change its name to distance itself from Elihu Yale (1649–1721), who got rich plundering India and dealt in slaves before giving books to a cash-strapped university in Connecticut. Coulter is not just a troll; she is a Founding Mother of American trolldom. She is one of the modern inventors of saying things
Coming up short: Journal retracts penis enlargement paper after realizing it was homeopathy
9dOver the objection of all of the authors, a journal has retracted an article on a homeopathic approach to penis enlargement and virility after deciding that the putative remedy wasn’t potent enough for the task at hand. The paper, “Effects of chronic treatment with the eNOS stimulator Impaza on penis length and sexual behaviors in … Continue reading
Daily briefing: Pigs in China are widely infected with a risky swine-flu strain
9dNature, Published online: 30 June 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01979-1 Scientists carrying out routine monitoring in China have found that pigs are widely infected with a virus with the potential to trigger a pandemic. Plus, cosmic rays could explain why DNA is right-handed, and quantum computers work better when no one’s around.
Podd: Lärdomar från tidigare pandemier
9dSedan 1900-talets början har mänskligheten drabbats av fem pandemier. I det här poddavsnittet blickar vi tillbaka till en av de större, den som drabbade världen 1918 och framåt: spanska sjukan. Vi beger oss även ännu längre tillbaka i tiden, till 1710 då pesten drabbade Skåne och resten av Sverige.
Live Coronavirus Updates: Global Tracker
9dAlarmed by rising cases around the United States, New York City will not resume indoor dining next week, the mayor said. The European Union reopened its borders to some travelers.
Restoring Notre-Dame’s ‘magical’ windows
9dNature, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01919-z Conservation scientist Claudine Loisel is spellbound by the stained-glass splendours that survived a devastating fire at Paris’s famous cathedral.
Virgin Group commits £200m of immediate funding for Virgin Atlantic
9dCash move comes as grounded airline races to finalise £1bn rescue package
Paris show relives Pompeii's final horrifying hours
9dIt is the most explosive Paris exhibition of the summer—Mount Vesuvius erupting several times a day in a new immersive 3D show which opens Wednesday in the Grand Palais.
Doctors call on No 10 to give councils accurate coronavirus data
9dBMA plea comes as ministers face claims of being slow to act on local lockdown in Leicester Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Leading doctors are urging the UK government to give councils accurate up-to-date data to manage localised Covid-19 surges, as No 10 continues to come under fire over claims it is failing to handle Leicester’s lockdown. The British Medical Assoc
Femtosecond laser produced periodic plasma in a colloidal crystal probed by XFEL radiation
9dScientific Reports, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-67214-z
Evaluation of enhanced recovery after surgery program components implemented in laparoscopic appendectomy: prospective randomized clinical study
9dScientific Reports, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-67591-5
Domain-specific cues improve robustness of deep learning-based segmentation of CT volumes
9dScientific Reports, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-67544-y
Genome-wide investigation of gene-cancer associations for the prediction of novel therapeutic targets in oncology
9dScientific Reports, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-67846-1
The effect of commercial functional food with probiotics on microorganisms from early carious lesions
9dScientific Reports, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-67775-z
Nurr1 performs its anti-inflammatory function by regulating RasGRP1 expression in neuro-inflammation
9dScientific Reports, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-67549-7
Comparison of uric acid reduction and renal outcomes of febuxostat vs allopurinol in patients with chronic kidney disease
9dScientific Reports, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-67026-1
Electroacupuncture at Zusanli and at Neiguan characterized point specificity in the brain by metabolomic analysis
9dScientific Reports, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-67766-0
Lifetime discrimination may increase risk of hypertension among African Americans
9dA study of African Americans in Mississippi shows an association between experiencing discrimination over a lifetime and developing hypertension (also referred to as high blood pressure).African Americans who reported medium and high levels of lifetime discrimination, compared to those who reported low lifetime discrimination, had a higher risk for hypertension.
Bringing Andrology — and Male Infertility — Out of the Shadows
9dDespite a decades-long decline in average sperm counts, men aren’t getting the fertility care they need, while women are overtreated. As recently as 2017, only three countries recognized the treatment of the male reproductive system — andrology — as a medical subspecialty. But the field is slowly changing.
Ebola outbreak ends and a quiet star is found to host planets
9dNature, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01909-1 The latest science news, in brief.
Global thirst for electricity is fuelling the rise of a potent greenhouse gas
9dNature, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01963-9 Emissions of sulfur hexafluoride soared over the 40 years to 2018, despite some countries’ efforts to curb its use.
Changing the way we grade students could trigger a wave of innovation
9dSchools are places where learning happens, but how much of what students learn there matters? "Almost all of our learning happens through experience and very little of it actually happens in these kinds of organized, contrived, constrained environments," argues Will Richardson, co-founder of The Big Questions Institute and one of the world's leading edupreneurs. There is a shift starting, Richard
Utmanar bilden av en jämställd skogsindustri
9dKvinnors upplevelser av diskriminering och sexuella trakasserier i skogsindustrin kommer i konflikt med den officiella bilden som fokuserar på affärsnytta och konkurrenskraft. De som har problemformuleringsprivilegiet inom skogsnäringen tenderar att hänföra problemet till manlig arbetarklass i glesbygd. – Det är den grupp som påstås ha fel värderingar, som har nakenkalendrar i baracken och ägnar
Publisher Correction: Glacial–interglacial Nd isotope variability of North Atlantic Deep Water modulated by North American ice sheet
9dNature Communications, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-17208-2
Impact of dual-layer solid-electrolyte interphase inhomogeneities on early-stage defect formation in Si electrodes
9dNature Communications, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-17104-9 Severe structural deformation during (de)lithiation is the main factor limiting the stability of Si anodes in Li-ion batteries. Here, a multi-modal approach is used to visualize these deformations in their early-stage and link them to inhomogeneities in the dual-layer solid-electrolyte interphase.
High-altitude populations need special considerations for COVID-19
9dNature Communications, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-17131-6
A FAK/HDAC5 signaling axis controls osteocyte mechanotransduction
9dNature Communications, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-17099-3 Osteocytes are mechanoresponsive within skeletal tissue. Here, the authors show that class IIa histone deacetylases are phosphorylated by focal adhesion kinase, suggesting that HDAC5 may propagate mechanobiological cues to regulate cell type-specific gene expression.
Flexible experimental designs for valid single-cell RNA-sequencing experiments allowing batch effects correction
9dNature Communications, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16905-2 It is not clear which designs, other than completely randomized ones, are valid for scRNA-seq experiments so that batch effects can be adjusted. Here the authors show that under flexible reference panel and chain-type designs, biological variability can also be separated from batch effects, at least by BUSseq.
NSs amyloid formation is associated with the virulence of Rift Valley fever virus in mice
9dNature Communications, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-17101-y Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) can cause severe diseases in humans, including encephalitis. Here the authors show that NSs, the major virulence factor of RVFV, is an amyloidogenic protein forming fibrils in infected mouse brains and causing increased mortality in mice.
Ved at twiste Nobel-vindende metode har DTU-forskere fundet antistoffer mod flere typer slangebid
9dHåbet er, at metoden også kan bruges til bredspektrede lægemidler mod virus og bakterier.
Kæmpe testforsøg skal afsløre om immunforsvaret husker coronavirus
9dNyt forskningsprojekt på Københavns Universitet og Rigshospitalet skal undersøge smittespredningen…
Første CCS-pilotanlæg på skinner: Næste forår starter byggeriet
9dARC har fået 30 mio. kroner i støtte til at bygge pilotversionen af Danmarks første CO2 renseanlæg på et affaldsforbrændingsanlæg. Fokus ligger på at optimere energiregnskabet i processen
Boris Johnson is gambling with shielders' lives by ending support on 1 August | Frances Ryan
9dThe government hopes it will no longer be necessary to shield – but tell that to those people in England who are at highest risk On Monday, a major change to lockdown will begin: people with underlying health conditions in England who have been shielding since March will be able to meet up outside in groups of up to six people, while those who live alone will be allowed to form a “support bubble”
What kind of face mask gives the best protection against Covid-19?
9dYour questions answered on what type of mask to wear to cut the risk of getting Covid-19 Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Yes. Different types of mask offer different levels of protection. Surgical grade N95 respirators offer the highest level of protection against Covid-19 infection, followed by surgical grade masks. However, these masks are costly, in limited supply
Government plans new office to attract scientists to UK
9dThe government says it wants to make immigration "easy and quick" for researchers and innovators.
DSAM: Godt med ny strategi til behandling af medicinoverforbrugshovedpine
9dEt nyt referenceprogram og mere evidens for behandling af medicinoverforbrugshovedpine er godt for både læger og patienter, siger formand for DSAM.
Ny forskning fører til ændring af årelang praksis for behandling af hovedpine forårsaget af medicinoverforbrug
9dDer skal forebyggende behandling til, når de praktiserende læger skal behandle patienter med hovedpine relateret til medicinoverforbrug, viser ny forskning. Resultaterne skal være en hjælp for de praktiserende læger, siger forsker bag studiet.
Læge på Fejø takker af
9dDen eneste praktiserende læge på Fejø syd for Sjælland har valgt at takke af efter næsten to årtier. Region Sjælland tror på at få en ny ø-læge i hus – dog ikke i en traditionel forstand, siger regionsdirektør.
Hver femte H-stilling er ubesat: Fremtidens praktiserende læger fravælger stadig yderområderne
9dDer er fortsat problemer med at tiltrække fremtidens praktiserende læger til yderområderne, viser nye tal. Stillingerne skal stadig være der, og desuden skal der oprettes flere stillinger i de store byer, siger Gunver Lillevang.
Första barnet hämmar mammans karriär
9dDen som har en nyckelposition på en arbetsplats kan sådant andra inte kan. Man är en person som är svår att ersätta och har ofta högre lön, bättre löneutveckling, och högre jobbsäkerhet. Innan ett par får sitt första barn är båda blivande föräldrar ungefär lika benägna att ha en sådan position. Men för mammor sjunker sannolikheten kraftigt efter att första barnet föds.
Mobilbrug i undervisningen skader ikke indlæring
9dEt stort forskningsprojekt blandt universitetsstuderende afslører, at brug af mobiltelefoner i undervisningssituationer…
Gilead donates Covid-19 drug remdesivir to Australia’s medical stockpile after US buys up supply
9dUS bought more than 500,000 doses, representing all of Gilead’s production for July and 90% of August and September The US pharmaceutical giant Gilead has donated a supply of the antiviral medication remdesivir to Australia’s national medical stockpile, with the federal health minister, Greg Hunt, saying there will be enough of the drug to meet Covid-19 patient demand. It followed news overnight
SpaceX launches Air Force's newest GPS satellite
9dSpaceX launched the military's newest, most accurate GPS satellite Tuesday after a two-month delay due to the pandemic.
Hints at jaw evolution found in marsupials and monotremes
9dInfant marsupials and monotremes use a connection between their ear and jaw bones shortly after birth to enable them to drink their mothers' milk, new findings in eLife reveal.
Ten years of the sun in one hour – Nasa releases mesmerising space film
9dThe space agency gathered 425 million high-resolution images of the sun, which have now been stitched together to form the video Nasa has released a mesmerising timelapse video of the sun that condenses an entire solar cycle into an hour of footage, using images of the star taken every hour continuously over a decade. Nasa’s Solar Dynamics Observatory has gathered 425 million high-resolution imag
We May Finally Know The Extreme Route Fish Take Through Air to Colonise New Lakes
9dTwo words: duck poop.
Hints at jaw evolution found in marsupials and monotremes
9dInfant marsupials and monotremes use a connection between their ear and jaw bones shortly after birth to enable them to drink their mothers' milk, new findings in eLife reveal.
Indices of health under our feet
9dA treasure trove of information relevant to human and environmental health is hiding in an unexpected place. Samples of wastewater from homes, institutions, towns and cities around the world can now be probed for valuable data concerning community well-being, antibiotic use and resistance, recreational substance consumption and abuse, biomarkers of disease as well as environmental hazards and degr
Novel software reveals molecular barcodes that distinguish different cell types
9dThere are about 75 different types of cells in the human brain. What makes them all different? Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have developed a new set of computational tools to help answer this question. Although different cell types from the same organism carry the same DNA, they look and function differently because a different set of genes is active or inactive in each. Cells switch
Role models have major influence on female university choices
9dWomen exposed to successful and charismatic role models are more likely to follow them in choosing a university major.
Novel software reveals molecular barcodes that distinguish different cell types
9dThere are about 75 different types of cells in the human brain. What makes them all different? Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have developed a new set of computational tools to help answer this question. Although different cell types from the same organism carry the same DNA, they look and function differently because a different set of genes is active or inactive in each. Cells switch
Kommentar: Forskningen er taberen, når økonomi og jura tager over
9dMads Melbye-sagen på SSI viser, at når forskning bliver til faktura, kan det til tider ende rivende galt. Og det kan være svært at vurdere, hvem der er de ‘skyldige’.
Research reveals more about path bacterial pathogen travels to cause tuberculosis
9dBiology students and faculty members from The University of Texas at El Paso have discovered a new target for tuberculosis drug development. Their study recently was published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, a publication of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB).
As wildfires flare up across West, research highlights risk of ecological change
9dOne of Jonathan Coop's first vivid memories as a child was watching the flames of the 1977 La Mesa Fire in north-central New Mexico. The human-caused fire burned more than 15,000 acres of pine forests in the Bandelier National Monument and areas surrounding the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Spanish language increasingly more relevant to presidential elections
9dDiscourse in and about Spanish was present on both sides of the political spectrum, more so leading up to the 2016 presidential election than in previous cycles, according to research conducted by faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York.
As wildfires flare up across West, research highlights risk of ecological change
9dOne of Jonathan Coop's first vivid memories as a child was watching the flames of the 1977 La Mesa Fire in north-central New Mexico. The human-caused fire burned more than 15,000 acres of pine forests in the Bandelier National Monument and areas surrounding the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Research reveals more about path bacterial pathogen travels to cause tuberculosis
9dBiology students and faculty members from The University of Texas at El Paso have discovered a new target for tuberculosis drug development. Their study recently was published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, a publication of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB).
Upper Crust owner SSP to cut 5,000 UK jobs as Covid-19 snarls travel
9dTravel food retailer says UK recovery is slower than elsewhere
East and West Germany exhibit health disparities 30 years after reunification
9dEast Germany has many more hospitalisations for heart failure compared to West Germany despite a nationwide healthcare system, according to research presented today on HFA Discoveries, a scientific platform of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
The Bizarre 'Flight' of Tree Snakes May Have Just Been Explained by Physics
9dThis is both impressive and terrifying.
New Analysis Says Coal's Hit a 'Tipping Point' And No Longer Makes Financial Sense
9dRenewables are no longer the 'expensive option'.
A Deadly Rabbit Virus Nicknamed 'Bunny Ebola' Is Spreading Rapidly in Southwestern US
9d2020 is the year that keeps on giving.
Terrawatch: unearthing snow's 'Fukushima layer'
9dChinese glaciologists have found the freeze-thaw process has concentrated discharge from the disaster The Fukushima nuclear accident has added a distinctive signature to snow and ice across the northern hemisphere, new research published in Environmental Research Letters shows. Triggered by the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Japan on 11 March 2011, the disaster resulted in a month
Global report: US reports another record increase in coronavirus cases
9dNew cases jump by 80% in two weeks; South Korea using remdesivir; outbreak in Australia’s state of Victoria worsens Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The United States again reported a record one-day increase in coronavirus cases on Tuesday, with 44,358 new coronavirus cases confirmed in the country, according to coronavirus database the Covid Tracking Project , as inf
Traces of Fear in Aphantasia
9dWhen reading a vivid story that describes a shark attack, do you imagine yourself in the ocean, seeing the dorsal fin approach you? “…sun glints off the waves / suddenly a dark flash / in the distant waves / maybe it was a shadow / you turn to the beach / more people are pointing / they look anxious / looking back out to sea / a large fin / slices the surface / moving closer…” Or is your “mind
South Korea: incidents of Covid-19 'mask rage' flare as summer heats up
9dHot weather is making mask wearing increasingly uncomfortable, prompting some people to refuse face coverings in defiance of government advice Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The onset of summer has sparked a rise in incidents of “mask rage” in South Korea , as more hot and bothered commuters either refuse to wear face coverings or leave parts of their faces exposed.
How to Explore the Stars Without Ever Leaving Home
9dA "Dynamic Orbital Slingshot" could be just the thing for visiting interstellar comets while they're blazing through our solar system.
Spanish language increasingly more relevant to presidential elections
9dDiscourse in and about Spanish was present on both sides of the political spectrum, more so leading up to the 2016 presidential election than in previous cycles, according to research conducted by faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York.
GPS isn't just for road trips anymore
9dPrecision agriculture technologies can improve efficiency on smaller farms
Indices of health under our feet
9dIn a pair of new studies, Rolf Halden, director of the ASU Biodesign Center for Environmental Health Engineering and author for the 2020 Book Environment, describes the process and highlights important new findings extracted from the municipal wastewater most of us contribute to on a daily basis. Halden is also a professor at ASU's School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment.
Children's National Hospital quality initiative changes culture of antibiotic prescribing in NICU
9dA quality improvement initiative in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children's National Hospital led to a significant reduction in treatment with intravenous vancomycin, an antibiotic used for resistant gram positive infections, which is often associated with acute kidney injury. The findings, published in the journal Pediatrics, show the initiative reduceed vancomycin use in patients b
New study finds that menopause increases risk of metabolic syndrome
9dPerimenopause is a time when women become more vulnerable to a number of health problems. A new study based on data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging identified menopause as a risk factor for the development of metabolic syndrome or some of its components, including hypertension, central obesity, and high blood sugar. Study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal o
New study confirms high prevalence of depression during the menopause transition
9dDepression has been shown to be prevalent during menopause, affecting as many as 70% of women transitioning into menopause. A new study not only confirms the high prevalence of depression but also the greatest risk factors for it in postmenopausal women, as well as any relationships with anxiety and fear of death. Study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North Amer
Role models have major influence on female university choices
9dWomen exposed to successful and charismatic role models are more likely to follow them in choosing a university major.
Chile’s finance minister navigates coronavirus, recession and protests
9dIgnacio Briones has won cross-party backing for one of the biggest stimulus packages of any emerging market economy
Tourism: can Europe save its summer?
9dGovernments dependent on spending by overseas visitors are desperate to reopen their economies after the coronavirus lockdowns
The increasing likelihood of temperatures above 30 to 40 °C in the United Kingdom
9dNature Communications, Published online: 30 June 2020; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-16834-0 The United Kingdom has experienced a strong heat wave in 2019 that set a new temperature record for the country of 38.7 °C. In this study the authors show that under climate change, local temperatures are increasingly likely to exceed 35 °C and 40 °C in the next decades and, hence, summers like the one of 2019 b
Nature's Goods and Services Get Priced
9dThe gross ecosystem product, or GEP, tries to take into account the contribution of nature to the economy.
Geologists identify deep-earth structures that may signal hidden metal lodes
9dScientists have discovered previously unrecognized structural lines 100 miles or more down in the earth that appear to signal the locations of giant deposits of copper, lead, zinc and other vital metals lying close enough to the surface to be mined, but too far down to be found using current exploration methods.
COVID-19: Study shows virus can infect heart cells in lab dish
9dA new study shows that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 (coronavirus), can infect heart cells in a lab dish, indicating it may be possible for heart cells in COVID-19 patients to be directly infected by the virus.
European stocks slip after strong second-quarter rally
9dGlobal markets have rebounded sharply after a heavy sell-off in the first three months of 2020
Nature's Goods and Services Get Priced
9dThe gross ecosystem product, or GEP, tries to take into account the contribution of nature to the economy. — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
9d
How AI helps historians solve ancient puzzles
9dDigital humanities battles for funding against future-focused applications of artificial intelligence
New Zealand's ancient monster penguins had northern hemisphere doppelgangers
9dNew Zealand's monster penguins, which lived 62 million years ago, had doppelgangers in Japan, the U.S. and Canada, a study published today in the Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research has found.
New Zealand's ancient monster penguins had northern hemisphere doppelgangers
9dNew Zealand's monster penguins, which lived 62 million years ago, had doppelgangers in Japan, the U.S. and Canada, a study published today in the Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research has found.
Coronavirus Was Moving Through NY in Early February
9dAntibodies appeared in blood samples taken later in the month, a new study finds.
Spider silk can create lenses useful for biological imaging
9dSpider silk is useful for a variety of biomedical applications: It exhibits mechanical properties superior to synthetic fibers for tissue engineering, and it is not toxic or harmful to living cells. One unexpected application for spider silk is its use in the creation of biocompatible lenses for biological imaging applications. Researchers now describe the feasibility of creating lenses capitalizi
Research reveals fishing pressures affect tropical and temperate reefs differently
9dAn international team of researchers focused on what can happen to ocean ecosystems when fishing pressure increases or decreases, and how this differs between tropical to temperate marine ecosystems. The team found ecosystems do not respond universally to fishing.
Organisationer: GDPR-høring har ensidigt fokus på lempelser
9dJustitsministeriet understreger, at alle relevante parter kan indsende høringssvar, men to organisationer mener, at høringen har et ensidigt fokus på lempelser.
Ny statistik: Disse kommuner udleder mest spildevand via kloakoverløb
9dPLUS. En sydsjællandsk kommune er blandt de største syndere på en ny liste over kommunernes overløb med spildevand, kvælstof og fosfor.
Goodbye northwestern crow, hello Mexican duck
9dThe latest supplement to the American Ornithological Society's Checklist of North and Middle American Birds includes several major updates to the organization of the continent's bird species, including the addition of the Mexican Duck and the removal of the Northwestern Crow. The official authority on the names and classification of the region's birds, the checklist is consulted by birdwatchers an
A revolutionary new treatment alternative to corneal transplantation
9dA new approach in ophthalmology that offers a revolutionary alternative to corneal transplantation has just been developed by researchers and clinicians in North America, Europe, and Oceania.
Is the hydrogen tech 'revolution' hope or hype?
9dCan hydrogen – a relatively clean source of fuel – help power the economy of the future?
Cartwheeling light reveals new optical phenomenon
9dResearchers have discovered details about a novel type of polarized-light matter interaction with light that literally turns end over end as it propagates from a source.
Lifting weights makes your nervous system stronger, too
9dGym-goers may get frustrated when they don't see results from weightlifting right away, but their efforts are not in vain: the first few weeks of training strengthen the nervous system, not muscles.
As wildfires flare up across West, research highlights risk of ecological change
9dFollowing high-severity fire, scientists have found forest recovery may increasingly be compromised by lack of tree seed sources, warmer and drier post-fire climate and more frequent reburning.
Novel software reveals molecular barcodes that distinguish different cell types
9dA new set of computational methods developed at Baylor College of Medicine allows researchers to identify cell-type specific methylation patterns — molecular barcodes — in complex cell mixtures. The new tools, available for free download, can be applied to existing whole-genome methylation datasets from any species.
Findings weaken notion that size equals strength for neural connections
9dAmong a new study's many surprises about synaptic plasticity may be a new approach to addressing Fragile X syndrome: Finding and targeting a "Protein X" that appears to promote shrinkage of dendritic spines.
No keys to the kingdom: New single sign-on algorithm provides superior privacy
9dSingle sign-on systems (SSOs) allow us to login to multiple websites and applications using a single username and password combination. But these are third party systems usually handled by Big Tech companies who have been reported to gather and leak personal information without user consent. Now, researchers have developed a new and secure single sign-on algorithm that eliminates all these problem
The fastest woman on Earth died setting her record
9dA year after her crash in the Oregon desert, Guinness awarded Jessi Combs the fastest land-speed record. (Jessi Combs/) This story originally featured on Motorcycle Cruiser . Jessi Combs got it done. Nearly a year after her land-speed record attempt in the Oregon desert, Guinness World Records has awarded the racer, fabricator, and motorcyclist the designation of Fastest Woman on Earth. Combs die
The Atlantic Daily: Stay Home Anyway
9dEvery weekday evening, our editors guide you through the biggest stories of the day, help you discover new ideas, and surprise you with moments of delight. Subscribe to get this delivered to your inbox . BRYAN R. SMITH / AFP / GETTY In a normal year, July would signal a bit of relief, a kind of seventh-inning stretch for the nation. But this year’s will likely bring more of the same: Americans wo
Scientists shed new light on how seabirds cruise through air and water
9dNew insight on how four species of seabirds have developed the ability to cruise through both air and water has just been published.
Mathematical noodling leads to new insights into an old fusion problem
9dScientists have gained new insight into a common type of plasma hiccup that interferes with fusion reactions. These findings could help bring fusion energy closer to reality.
Hints at jaw evolution found in marsupials and monotremes
9dInfant marsupials and monotremes use a connection between their ear and jaw bones shortly after birth to enable them to drink their mothers' milk, new findings reveal.
9d
Insects' Dazzling Colours Have Been Preserved in Myanmar Amber For 99 Million Years
9dThe Cretaceous was full of colour.
Ethics and AI: An unethical optimization principle
9dEPFL professor Anthony Davison and co-authors provide a mathematical basis for concerns about ethical implications of AI.
Amber fossils unlock true color of 99-million-year-old insects
9dA research team from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS) has now unlocked the secrets of true coloration in the 99-million-year-old insects.
Breast cancer drug, olaparib, depletes store of immature eggs in mouse ovaries
9dAustralian researchers have shown for the first time that a new drug used to treat breast cancer patients damages the store of immature eggs in the ovaries of mice. Authors of the study published in Human Reproduction journal say fertility counselling should be considered for young women who may be about to be treated with olaparib.
Coronavirus live news: US buys nearly all global remdesivir stocks as Brazil deaths near 60,000
9dThree asylum seekers at camp near US border test positive for coronavirus ; UN asks for nearly $10bn in aid for Syria; Greece faces ‘huge difficulties’ when flights resume. Follow the latest updates Fauci says new US coronavirus cases could hit 100,000 a day US buys up world stock of key Covid-19 drug remdesivir Jacinda Ardern decries ‘dangerous’ calls to reopen New Zealand borders World map: whi
In Early February, the Coronavirus Was Moving Through New York
9dAntibodies appeared in blood samples taken later in the month, a new study finds.
New mathematical idea reins in AI bias towards making unethical and costly commercial choices
9dResearchers from the University of Warwick, Imperial College London, EPFL (Lausanne) and Sciteb Ltd have found a mathematical means of helping regulators and business manage and police Artificial Intelligence systems' biases towards making unethical, and potentially very costly and damaging commercial choices—an ethical eye on AI.
Amber fossils unlock true color of 99-million-year-old insects
9dNature is full of colors, from the radiant shine of a peacock's feathers or the bright warning coloration of toxic frogs to the pearl-white camouflage of polar bears.
The best selfie lights to make your photos and videos pop
9dSee more. (Arteum.ro via Unsplash/) With influencers flooding Instagram and other internet platforms over the past few years, selfie lights have rocketed in popularity. They help enhance your filming area’s lighting by cooling or warming any overhead bulbs so your audience gets high-quality visuals. No need to wait for golden hour anymore—you can have the perfect light when you need it. There are
The Expedition to Heaven on Earth
9dAt the top of Mount Everest, where the ground juts up toward space, the highest-altitude weather stations are now taking stock of our changing planet.
Author Correction: Serotonin transporter binding is increased in Tourette syndrome with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
9dScientific Reports, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-68278-7
Author Correction: Gut microbiota plasticity is correlated with sustained weight loss on a low-carb or low-fat dietary intervention
9dScientific Reports, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-68280-z
Author Correction: Evaporation coefficient and condensation coefficient of vapor under high gas pressure conditions
9dScientific Reports, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-68283-w
Author Correction: A spatial similarity of stereochemical environments formed by amino acid residues defines a common epitope of two non-homologous proteins
9dScientific Reports, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-68279-6
Author Correction: Amylin and pramlintide modulate γ-secretase level and APP processing in lipid rafts
9dScientific Reports, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-68281-y
Author Correction: Growth, health aspects and histopathology of brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus L.): replacing fishmeal with soybean meal and brewer’s yeast
9dScientific Reports, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-67558-6 Author Correction: Growth, health aspects and histopathology of brown bullhead ( Ameiurus nebulosus L.): replacing fishmeal with soybean meal and brewer’s yeast
Publisher Correction: Sharing of hand kinematic synergies across subjects in daily living activities
9dScientific Reports, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-68284-9
Author Correction: Mutually exclusive locales for N-linked glycans and disorder in human glycoproteins
9dScientific Reports, Published online: 01 July 2020; doi:10.1038/s41598-020-68282-x
Essential seeds for starting your first garden
9dStart from the beginning. (Markus Spiske via Unsplash/) Starting a garden from seeds can make you feel proud of your cultivation skills, and it can also be more economical than purchasing young plants from a greenhouse. You’ll want to read up on how to nurture the seeds you choose based on your local climate and condition, but it’s worth it for the thrill of an abundant harvest. These seed packs
Pride Can’t Go Back to What It Was Before
9dIt might have been the sight of a muscled roller skater in a lacy tutu, or of a thong-clad twerker commanding an on-the-move cheering circle, or of a giant papier-mâché puppet of Janelle Monáe that sparked the epiphany. It could have been the sign that said ‘Productive’ Sex Sucks! , or the chant about bottoms and tops both hating cops, or the beautiful graffiti-style poster of Tony McDade , a bla
Psych journals have a structural racism problem
9dRace is almost absent from top psychological publications, according to a new study. Race plays a critical role in shaping how people experience the world around them, so one would expect a rich body of literature in mainstream psychological journals to examine its effects on people’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior. “…if we, the so-called experts, have a problem, then society really has a probl
Great sketchbooks to help you chronicle your life through art
9dPractice your skills with the right tools. (Rachael Gorjestani via Unsplash/) Many of the world’s most recognizable and beloved works of art started with a simple sketch. A quality sketchbook allows artists of any level to perfect lines and gestures, work on control and coordination, and explore bold ideas before committing paint to canvas or stylus to tablet. When choosing the right sketchbook f
‘Threat memory’ from close-up fears may last longer
9dThe way your brain handles the fear of a close-up threat may make it more likely that you’ll have some long-term stress from the experience, according to new research using virtual reality. Your brain handles a perceived threat differently depending on how close it is to you. If it’s far away, you engage more problem-solving areas of the brain. But up close, your animal instincts jump into action
Ernest Hemingway’s letters reveal feuds and friendships
9dA new volume of Ernest Hemingway’s letters reveals details about his friendships with fellow writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald, as well as bitter feuds with former mentor Gertrude Stein and literary critic Max Eastman. In the new book of letters, which Hemingway wrote from the beginning of 1932 through May 1934, he discusses a wide range of topics—from hunting and fishing to family life and politi
Key protein tweak may stop cancer’s spread
9dThe new discovery of a key protein behind cancer relapse and progression could lead to new therapies, researchers report. In a their new study, the researchers found that the MBNL1 protein acts a biomarker in cancer and is present in low amounts in different cancer types. Despite decades of research, cancer treatments are still inefficient and have unacceptable side effects that continue to promp
New White House rules restrict use of grant funding to deal with COVID-19 impacts
9dEarlier rules gave institutions more flexibility in supporting research
Traditional strength training vs jump training for physically inactive young adults
9dThe aim of this study was to compare the effects of 4-weeks of Traditional Resistance Training versus Plyometric Jump Training programs on the muscular fitness of sedentary and physically inactive participants.
Time trends in pregnancy-related outcomes among American women with type 1 diabetes
9dLargest US database of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes provides a first-time, big picture view of mother's health, and neonatal and delivery outcomes. The analysis found a threefold increase in insulin pump use at the end of the study period, compared to the start of the study, but A1c levels remained steady across the 13-year period. Over time the study showed a trend toward pre-pregnancy obe
UTEP research reveals more about path bacterial pathogen travels to cause tuberculosis
9dJianjun Sun, Ph.D., associate professor in UTEP's Department of Biological Sciences, led the research on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Sun's lab has been investigating the mechanisms of Mtb pathogenesis for more than 10 years at UTEP with a specific focus on EsxA, which is a virulence factor essential for Mtb virulence and a preferred target for developing novel anti-TB drugs and vaccines.
Hints at jaw evolution found in marsupials and monotremes
9dInfant marsupials and monotremes use a connection between their ear and jaw bones shortly after birth to enable them to drink their mothers' milk, new findings in eLife reveal.
Boeing 737 Max Completes First FAA Test Flight on Road to Recertification
9dThe Boeing 737 Max flew for the first time yesterday since the FAA grounded the aircraft in the wake of crashes by Lion Air 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. Bloomberg reports that a Max 7 landed at 2:16 PM in Seattle with an FAA pilot sharing a cockpit with a crew member from the company. Originally, the 737 Max was supposed to be back in the air in a matter of months (or at least, that was
Hat tip to 'Star Trek'? US Space Force names new unit 'SpOC'
9dThe United States' new Space Force military wing revealed Tuesday that one of its units would be named "Space Operations Command"—or "SpOC" for short, in an echo of pointy-eared "Star Trek" character Spock.
Geologists identify deep-earth structures that may signal hidden metal lodes
9dIf the world is to maintain a sustainable economy and fend off the worst effects of climate change, at least one industry will soon have to ramp up dramatically: the mining of metals needed to create a vast infrastructure for renewable power generation, storage, transmission and usage. The problem is, demand for such metals is likely to far outstrip currently both known deposits and the existing t
Scientists Say They’ve Found the Exact Center of the Solar System
9dOff-Kilter For the first time, scientists have managed to find our solar system’s precise center of gravity down to about 100 meters — a flabbergastingly precise measurement on the scale of our vast solar system. It sounds like a trivial feat — think back to the posters hanging in your classroom and you might reasonably assume that the center of our solar system is smack dab in the middle of the
Scientists shed new light on how seabirds cruise through air and water
9dNew insight on how four species of seabirds have developed the ability to cruise through both air and water has been published today in the open-access journal eLife.
Is it safe to go to the dentist yet? Here’s how COVID-19 will affect your cleanings.
9dReturning to routine dental work requires effort on both the dentists and their patients. (Pixabay/) After months of stress-eating,-drinking, and having a valid excuse to avoid the dentist, your teeth are probably ready for a cleaning. Dental offices, which have been closed for non-emergencies since early March, are starting to reopen under new CDC guidelines . But there’s a lot to consider befor
NASA astronaut drops mirror during spacewalk outside ISS
9dThe incident occurred while astronauts were servicing the International Space Station during a scheduled spacewalk. The spacewalk was successful and NASA said the mirror poses no immediate danger to the station. Space debris remains a big problem for space agencies worldwide. An astronaut dropped a small mirror during a spacewalk on Friday outside of the International Space Station (ISS), adding
Scientists shed new light on how seabirds cruise through air and water
9dNew insight on how four species of seabirds have developed the ability to cruise through both air and water has been published today in the open-access journal eLife.
Mathematical noodling leads to new insights into an old fusion problem
9dA challenge to creating fusion energy on Earth is trapping the charged gas known as plasma that fuels fusion reactions within a strong magnetic field and keeping the plasma as hot and dense as possible for as long as possible. Now, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) have gained new insight into a common type of hiccup known as the sawtoot
Florida still deadliest state for lightning as storms roll into busiest time of year
9dWhile Florida is referred to as the Sunshine State, it could also go by the name of electric reaper given its status as the deadliest state for lightning strikes.
Microscope allows gentle, continuous imaging of light-sensitive corals
9dCorals are "part animal, part plant, and part rock—and difficult to figure out, despite being studied for centuries," says Philippe Laissue of University of Essex, a Whitman Scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory. Many corals are sensitive to bright light, so capturing their dynamics with traditional microscopes is a challenge.
SwRI's SLED-W algorithms detect crude oil on water
9dSouthwest Research Institute has developed computer-based techniques to accurately detect crude oil on water using inexpensive thermal and visible cameras. This machine learning-based solution can detect and monitor oil leaks before they become major threats to lakes, rivers and coastal areas.
Pregnant During the Pandemic: How Does COVID-19 Affect Expecting Women and Their Babies?
9dSeveral research groups are still trying to tease out the long-term consequences.
Microscope allows gentle, continuous imaging of light-sensitive corals
9dCorals are "part animal, part plant, and part rock—and difficult to figure out, despite being studied for centuries," says Philippe Laissue of University of Essex, a Whitman Scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory. Many corals are sensitive to bright light, so capturing their dynamics with traditional microscopes is a challenge.
New winter squash decline research paves the way for understanding the disease
9dWinter squash is an important crop grown in the Willamette Valley, and the most important processing cultivar, Golden Delicious, has been grown in Oregon since the 1970s. Over the last two decades, however, growers have noticed yield declines throughout the valley. Agriculture specialists have identified an association between yield decline and disease symptoms such as stunting, vascular discolora
How a protein's small change leads to big trouble for cells
9dIn molecular biology, chaperones are a class of proteins that help regulate how other proteins fold. Folding is an important step in the manufacturing process for proteins. When they don't fold the way they're supposed to, it can lead to the development of diseases such as cancer.
New winter squash decline research paves the way for understanding the disease
9dWinter squash is an important crop grown in the Willamette Valley, and the most important processing cultivar, Golden Delicious, has been grown in Oregon since the 1970s. Over the last two decades, however, growers have noticed yield declines throughout the valley. Agriculture specialists have identified an association between yield decline and disease symptoms such as stunting, vascular discolora
How a protein's small change leads to big trouble for cells
9dIn molecular biology, chaperones are a class of proteins that help regulate how other proteins fold. Folding is an important step in the manufacturing process for proteins. When they don't fold the way they're supposed to, it can lead to the development of diseases such as cancer.
Scientists investigate epigenetic impact across whole genome
9dAll life depends on a genome, which acts as an instruction manual for building all the products essential for development and survival. But knowing which of these individual instructions—or genes—need to be read, and when, is key for a properly functioning organism: so how does life get this right?
Outer Banks wild horses get mass DNA testing to uncover true lineage
9dThe history of those wild horses roaming North Carolina's Outer Banks has long been shrouded in mystery, with most historians believing they descend from mustangs brought by Spanish settlers 500 years ago.
NASA Astronaut Says SpaceX Crew Dragon Looked “Awesome” During Spacewalk
9dNASA astronauts Chris Cassidy and Bob Behnken got a tremendous view during their spacewalk on Monday. Their mission was to replace the International Space Station’s old solar array batteries with lithium ion ones — but the demands of their relatively straightforward task didn’t stop them from appreciating a brand-new sight outside the station. An image snapped by Cassidy showed the gleaming exter
Scientists investigate epigenetic impact across whole genome
9dAll life depends on a genome, which acts as an instruction manual for building all the products essential for development and survival. But knowing which of these individual instructions—or genes—need to be read, and when, is key for a properly functioning organism: so how does life get this right?
EPA's relaxed enforcement of pollution reporting due to COVID-19 ends in August
9dThe Environmental Protection Agency will end a temporary policy that relaxed reporting requirements on pollutants due to the coronavirus at the end of August, amid criticism that the pandemic policy has jeopardized public health.
Outer Banks wild horses get mass DNA testing to uncover true lineage
9dThe history of those wild horses roaming North Carolina's Outer Banks has long been shrouded in mystery, with most historians believing they descend from mustangs brought by Spanish settlers 500 years ago.
Study reveals magnetic process that can lead to more energy-efficient memory in computers
9dResearchers have made an important advance that could lead to more energy efficient magnetic memory storage components for computers and other devices.
Microscope allows gentle, continuous imaging of light-sensitive corals
9dMany corals are sensitive to bright light, so capturing their dynamics with traditional microscopes is a challenge. To work around their photosensitivity, researchers developed a custom light-sheet microscope (the L-SPI) that allows gentle, non-invasive observation of corals and their polyps in detail over eight continuous hours, at high resolution.
Removing toxic chemicals from water: New environmentally-friendly method
9dResearchers have developed a new environmentally friendly method for removing toxic chemicals from water. A newly invented machine, called the Matrix Assembly Cluster Source (MACS), has been used to design a breakthrough water treatment method using a solvent-free approach.
Microscope allows gentle, continuous imaging of light-sensitive corals
9dMany corals are sensitive to bright light, so capturing their dynamics with traditional microscopes is a challenge. To work around their photosensitivity, researchers developed a custom light-sheet microscope (the L-SPI) that allows gentle, non-invasive observation of corals and their polyps in detail over eight continuous hours, at high resolution.
Removing toxic chemicals from water: New environmentally-friendly method
9dResearchers have developed a new environmentally friendly method for removing toxic chemicals from water. A newly invented machine, called the Matrix Assembly Cluster Source (MACS), has been used to design a breakthrough water treatment method using a solvent-free approach.
Study Identifies Abnormal Surge of Flu-like Illnesses in March
9dModelers try a new approach to gauge the true number of COVID-19 cases in the US by using surveillance data for flu-like illnesses.
Mathematical noodling leads to new insights into an old fusion problem
9dScientists at PPPL have gained new insight into a common type of plasma hiccup that interferes with fusion reactions. These findings could help bring fusion energy closer to reality.
Scientists shed new light on how seabirds cruise through air and water
9dNew insight on how four species of seabirds have developed the ability to cruise through both air and water has been published today in the open-access journal eLife.
New materials of perovskite challenge the chemical intuition
9dMaterials scientists have synthesized a new type of perovskite–one of the most common crystal structures of materials deployed for a range of uses, from superconductors to photovoltaics–that goes against conventional thinking about how such structures behave at extreme pressures such as those that exist deep in the Earth.
Just 50% of Americans plan to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s how to win over the rest
9dTo stop the pandemic, the world’s public health experts must win the coming “story war” over vaccine misinformation
The U.S. Isn’t in a Second Wave of Coronavirus — The First Wave Never Ended
9dThe U.S. as a whole is facing a huge surge in coronavirus cases, but the differences between states like New York and Florida are striking.
Geologists identify deep-earth structures that may signal hidden metal lodes
9dIn a new study, scientists have discovered previously unrecognized structural lines 100 miles or more down in the earth that appear to signal the locations of giant deposits of copper, lead, zinc and other vital metals lying close enough to the surface to be mined, but too far down to be found using current exploration methods.
Microscope allows gentle, continuous imaging of light-sensitive corals
9dMany corals are sensitive to bright light, so capturing their dynamics with traditional microscopes is a challenge. To work around their photosensitivity, Laissue developed a custom light-sheet microscope (the L-SPI) that allows gentle, non-invasive observation of corals and their polyps in detail over eight continuous hours, at high resolution. He and his colleagues, including MBL coral biologist
Chemist adds details of 'cold collisions of hot molecules' to theories of molecular interactions
9dWhen two cars collide at an intersection — from opposite directions — the impact is much different than when two cars — traveling in the same direction — 'bump' into each other. In the laboratory, similar types of collisions can be made to occur between molecules to study chemistry at very low temperatures, or 'cold collisions.' A team of scientists has developed a new experimental approach to
Chemist adds details of 'cold collisions of hot molecules' to theories of molecular interactions
9dWhen two cars collide at an intersection — from opposite directions — the impact is much different than when two cars — traveling in the same direction — 'bump' into each other. In the laboratory, similar types of collisions can be made to occur between molecules to study chemistry at very low temperatures, or 'cold collisions.' A team of scientists has developed a new experimental approach to
New Zealand's ancient monster penguins had northern hemisphere doppelgangers
9dNew Zealand's monster penguins that lived 62 million years ago had doppelgangers in Japan, the USA and Canada, a new study has found.
Next-generation sequencing to provide precision medicine for rare metabolic disorders
9dAdvances in next-generation-sequencing technology that allow researchers to look at billions of pieces of genetic information are changing the way a disease is diagnosed. Correct identification of changes in the human genetic code responsible for rare metabolic disorders provides scientists and physicians with fact-based guidelines for the treatment.
Going lean: How vendor consolidation creates big gains
10dThe second quarter of 2020 launched many digital transformation projects that didn’t necessarily happen at the behest of chief innovation officers, but because of the wrecking ball of disruption known as covid-19. Even if companies did succeed at rapidly orienting operations and services to digital, the transformation journey is far from over—and that means procurement and vendor management profe
The Strange Case of the Homeopathic Sex Enhancer
10dA retracted paper points to a strange story of homeopathy rebranded.
What foods did your ancestors love? | Aparna Pallavi
10dAround the world, Indigenous food cultures vanish because of industrialized agriculture and a shifting, Western-influenced concept of the ideal diet. Food researcher Aparna Pallavi explores why once-essential culinary traditions disappear from people's lives and memories almost without notice — and serves up a subtle solution to revitalize our connection to the foods we eat.
Vibrators Had a Long History as Medical Quackery Before Feminists Rebranded Them as Sex Toys
10dIn the 1930s, a vibrator was just another household appliance.
Coronavirus-Infected Cells Grow Filopodia
10dSARS-CoV-2 causes cells to put out projections that spread the virus, a study finds.
Four freeze-dried bulk foods to stash away for emergencies
10dTasty meals wherever you go. (Amazon/) Most people stockpile non-perishable canned and dry goods like beans, pasta, and energy bars in the event of a natural disaster or other crisis. But moving half the grocery store into your pantry takes up a lot of space. Lyophilization , or freeze-drying, is a food-preservation alternative designed to remove most moisture from dishes while minimizing impacts
Opinion: Use the Pandemic to Expand the Lab to the Home
10dResearchers have been forced to reckon with restrictions on lab access. Now is the time to figure out how to make science portable and widely accessible.
Study reveals magnetic process that can lead to more energy-efficient memory in computers
10dResearchers at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of California, Los Angeles have made an important advance that could lead to more energy efficient magnetic memory storage components for computers and other devices.
COVID-19: Study shows virus can infect heart cells in lab dish
10dA new study shows that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 (coronavirus), can infect heart cells in a lab dish, indicating it may be possible for heart cells in COVID-19 patients to be directly infected by the virus. The discovery, published today in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, was made using heart muscle cells that were produced by stem cell technology.
A new view of microscopic interactions
10dWhen two cars collide at an intersection — from opposite directions — the impact is much different than when two cars — traveling in the same direction — 'bump' into each other. In the laboratory, similar types of collisions can be made to occur between molecules to study chemistry at very low temperatures, or 'cold collisions.' A team of scientists led by Arthur Suits at the University of Mis
Wild bees depend on the landscape structure
10dSowing strips of wildflowers along conventional cereal fields and the increased density of flowers in organic farming encourage bumblebees as well as solitary wild bees and hoverflies. Bumblebee colonies benefit from flower strips along small fields, but in organic farming, they benefit from large fields.
Study asks who's playing 'hard-to-get' and who's attracted by the ploy
10dNew research looks at the psychological underpinnings of making yourself seem more desirable by withholding obvious signs of romantic interest.
Americans officially banned from entering EU, at least for now
10dThe European Union made an agreement on a list of 15 countries that could travel in its bloc from July 1st. Citizens of the United States, as well as Russia, Brazil, and India, are not on it. The exclusion of the U.S. reflects concerns over its coronavirus surge. From July 1st, when its external borders will re-open, American tourists won't be welcome in Europe, decrees a new agreement from the E
Pools in the Mexican desert are a window into Earth’s early life
10dDrainage threatens unique microbes in Cuatro Ciénegas oasis
Novel potassium channel activator which acts as a potential anticonvulsant discovered
10dMount Sinai neuroscience researchers discover a novel potassium channel activator which acts as a potential anticonvulsant.
New treatment strategy may benefit patients with brain cancer
10dA team led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital has uncovered a potentially promising strategy to treat gliomas with mutations in the IDH genes.
Oncotarget: IQGAP1 control of centrosome function defines variants of breast cancer
10dThe cover for issue 26 of Oncotarget features Figure 6, 'Mislocalization of IQGAP1-BRCA1 in human TNBC tumors phenocopies the dominant mutants and the TNBC cells,' by Osman, et al. and reported that IQGAP1 is a signaling scaffold implicated in TNBC, but its mechanism is unknown.
RDA publishes final version of COVID-19 recommendations and guidelines on data sharing
10dToday, 30 June 2020, the Research Data Alliance publishes the final version of the RDA COVID-19 Recommendations and Guidelines for Data Sharing covering four research areas – clinical data, omics practices, epidemiology and social sciences. This document is also complimented by overarching areas focusing on legal and ethical considerations, research software, community participation and indigenous
Plant tissue engineering improves drought and salinity tolerance
10dAfter several years of experimentation, scientists have engineered thale cress, or Arabidopsis thaliana, to behave like a succulent, improving water-use efficiency, salinity tolerance and reducing the effects of drought. The tissue succulence engineering method devised for this small flowering plant can be used in other plants to improve drought and salinity tolerance with the goal of moving this
Glowing dye may aid in eliminating cancer
10dWhen a solid cancer is surgically removed, any small piece that is left behind increases the chance of a local recurrence or spread. In a pilot study of dogs with mammary tumors, a disease very similar to human breast cancer, a team found that an injectable dye, which glows under near-infrared light, illuminated cancerous growth in the primary tumor as well as in lymph nodes.
Universal gut microbiome-derived signature predicts cirrhosis
10dResearchers report that stool microbiomes of NAFLD patients are distinct enough to potentially be used to accurately predict which persons with NAFLD are at greatest risk for having cirrhosis.
Ultrafast light wave electronics: Light from inside the tunnel
10dSteering and monitoring the light-driven motion of electrons inside matter on the time-scale of a single optical cycle is a key challenge in ultrafast light wave electronics and laser-based material processing. Physicists have now revealed a so-far overlooked nonlinear optical mechanism that emerges from the light-induced tunneling of electrons inside dielectrics.
Revisiting energy flow in photosynthetic plant cells
10dBy developing innovative methods to visualize energy changes in subcellular compartments in live plants, researchers recently solved a controversial question in photosynthesis: what is the source of NADH (Reduced Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) for mitochondria to generate ATP (Adenosine triphosphate)?
Auditory hallucinations rooted in aberrant brain connectivity
10dA study reports that auditory hallucinations, a phenomenon in which people hear voices or other sounds, may arise through altered brain connectivity between sensory and cognitive processing areas.
'Morning sickness' is misleading and inaccurate, new study argues
10dThe term 'morning sickness' is misleading and should instead be described as nausea and sickness in pregnancy, argue researchers who have demonstrated that these symptoms can occur at any time of the day — not just the morning.
Novel pathology could improve diagnosis and treatment of Huntington's and other diseases
10dScientists have discovered a novel pathology that occurs in several human neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease. The article describes how SAFB1 expression occurs in both spinocerebellar ataxias and Huntington's disease and may be a common marker of these conditions, which have a similar genetic background.
American Airlines faces pressure over booking middle seats
10dPilots union and US health officials criticise plan to fly aircraft at full capacity
“Radioactive Gobstoppers” Could Stop the Next Nuclear Reactor Meltdown
10dResearchers are hoping that tiny graphite-coated balls of uranium, likened by Wired to “radioactive gobstoppers,” could revitalize nuclear energy production in the United States by making nuclear plants completely meltdown-proof. Wired reports that the poppy-seed-sized balls, dubbed Triso fuel (tristructural isotropic particle), are low enriched uranium and oxygen surrounded by a shell of graphit
Facebook klemt mellem Trump og annoncekroner efter masseboykot
10dIfølge kilder har Facebook i flere år tilpasset sine retningslinjer for at kunne rumme Donald Trump.
Refresh your bathroom with these tasteful towel sets
10dComfort for daily use. (LumenSoft Technologies via Unsplash/) When your towels begin to feel like an exfoliating scrub as you shiver into your morning routine, it’s time to think about replacing them. Adding a few extra sets to your linen closet can also unify your bathroom decor and demonstrate your hospitality to overnight guests. Stay simple with everyday classics, choose a colorfully dyed bam
A Dire Warning From COVID-19 Test Providers
10dEditor’s Note: The Atlantic is making vital coverage of the coronavirus available to all readers. Find the collection here . The United States is once again at risk of outstripping its COVID-19 testing capacity, an ominous development that would deny the country a crucial tool to understand its pandemic in real time. The American testing supply chain is stretched to the limit, and the ongoing out
About half of people use health technology to communicate with their health providers
10dOnly 47 percent of people are using technology to communicate with healthcare providers. Less than a quarter are having conversations with their providers about using health information technology (HIT) These new findings from Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University research scientists indicate there are more opportunities to engage patients in this type of communication.
New winter squash decline research paves the way for understanding the disease
10dWinter squash is an important crop grown in the Willamette Valley, and the most important processing cultivar, Golden Delicious, has been grown in Oregon since the 1970s. Over the last two decades, however, growers have noticed yield declines throughout the valley. Agriculture specialists have identified an association between yield decline and disease symptoms such as stunting, vascular discolora
Why Boris's zero emission aircraft may be mission impossible
10dJohnson’s vision for the UK to build long-haul Jet Zero aircraft may never leave the ground Will Boris’s Jet Zero ever fly? The prime minister’s call for Jet Zero on Tuesday may owe more to his fondness for a punchy slogan than any realistic view of how UK aviation might develop in the next three decades. Continue reading…
Researchers identify multiple molecules that shut down SARS-Cov-2 polymerase reaction
10dResearchers have identified a library of molecules that shut down the SARS-CoV-2 polymerase reaction, a key step that establishes the potential of these molecules as lead compounds to be further modified for the development of COVID-19 therapeutics. Five of these molecules are already FDA-approved for use in the treatment of other viral infections including HIV/AIDS, cytomegalovirus, and hepatitis
Whole-town study reveals more than 40% of COVID-19 infections had no symptoms
10dA study of COVID-19 in the quarantined Italian town of Vò, where most of the population was tested, reveals the importance of asymptomatic cases.
Covid-19 news: UK deaths fall below five-year average
10dThe latest coronavirus news updated every day including coronavirus cases, the latest news, features and interviews from New Scientist and essential information about the covid-19 pandemic
5 ways to get the word out about your new side hustle
10dIf you want to attract customers, then you'll need to be proactive about telling the world what makes your products or services special. It's hard to point to just one issue that's holding 89 percent of people with side businesses back from earning more than $1,000 per month, but failure to drum up significant demand likely plays a significant role. To start, you'd do well to experiment with soci
The FDA’s gay and bi blood-donor ban isn’t just stigmatizing—it’s also likely outdated
10dAll US blood donations get tested for HIV and other transmittable illnesses. But a sexual-orientation questionnaire, which some say is prejudiced, serves as a second screener. (Ahmad Ardity/Pixabay/) It took until mid-April for Jack Turban to feel like he had his life back. A few weeks earlier, a cough and slight runny nose morphed into a splitting headache and chronic exhaustion. Turban, a resid
Airbus slashes 15,000 jobs as sector reels from collapse in travel
10dBiggest single cut in passenger jet business as aircraft maker faces ‘gravest crisis this industry has ever experienced’
Jeff Sessions Explains Why Christians Support Trump
10d“In Christ there is no east or west / In him no south or north, / But one great family bound by love / Throughout the whole wide earth,” goes the old hymn. But in Donald Trump, there is division among American Christians. On one side are those who insist that the president is a Christian hero who is standing up for religious rights. On the other are critics who counter that white evangelical Chri
COVID-19 causes 'hyperactivity' in blood-clotting cells
10dChanges in blood platelets triggered by COVID-19 could contribute to the onset of heart attacks, strokes, and other serious complications in some patients who have the disease, according to scientists. The researchers found that inflammatory proteins produced during infection significantly alter the function of platelets, making them 'hyperactive' and more prone to form dangerous and potentially d
Fauci: Prepare for 100,000 Daily Cases, “Disturbing” Death Toll
10dOn Tuesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci — the United States’ top doctor and a leader in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic — addressed the Senate to give a dire warning about the ongoing outbreak. As it stands right now, the country is reporting about 40,000 new COVID-19 cases every day. And if the government doesn’t take strong action to reverse the new surge of infections, Fauci warned that that
Det var syndigt att äta färskpotatis
10dPrimörer och färskpotatis blev sommarmat först under 1900-talet. I det gamla bondesamhället var det en synd att skörda något som inte var helt färdigt. Att äta färskpotatis sågs ungefär som att slakta kalvar, säger Richard Tellström, måltidshistoriker och etnolog vid Stockholms universitet som berättar om svensk sommarmat genom tiderna. Vad har vi ätit under sommaren i Sverige genom historien? –
US buys up world stock of key Covid-19 drug remdesivir
10dNo other country will be able to buy remdesivir, which can help recovery from Covid-19, for next three months at least Coronavirus – latest US updates Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The US has bought up virtually all the stocks for the next three months of one of the two drugs proven to work against Covid-19, leaving none for the UK, Europe or most of the rest of th
Rising coronavirus infections in pockets of UK raise fears of further local lockdowns
10dLeicester is unlikely to be the only place to return to tight restrictions, say scientists Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Parts of Kent, London, north Wales and Scotland are still battling significant Covid-19 outbreaks, sparking fears from scientists and public health directors that Leicester’s return to lockdown is set to be repeated. Bars and restaurants are prep
Little patience in Leicester as Johnson calls for ‘forbearance’
10dBusiness groups call for targeted support as coronavirus spike forces shop closures
There’s not one reason California’s covid-19 cases are soaring—there are many
10dIt’s troubling, though not surprising, to see covid-19 cases spiking across the American South and Southwest, where public officials delayed lockdowns, rushed to reopen businesses, or refused to require people to wear masks. But what’s the matter with California? The nation’s most populous state was the first to enact statewide shelter-in-place rules, took decisive steps to build up the recommend
Scenes From Antarctica
10dAntarctica is currently approaching the coldest months of its long winter, and the previous summer’s activities have mostly wrapped up. Collected below are recent images of the Antarctic landscape, wildlife, and research facilities, as well as some of the work taking place there.
Tejp – en genväg till läkemedelsutveckling
10dKTH-forskare har ägnat de senaste åren åt att utveckla avancerad teknik som härmar hur ett antal av människokroppens organ tar upp läkemedel. Men när det kommer till tarmarna går det lika bra med vanlig dubbelhäftande tejp. Att det fungerar har forskarna visat med hjälp av chilipeppar. I januari 2020 kom nyheten att forskning vid KTH och amerikanska Harvard University har resulterat i teknik som
Man given 'almost zero chance' of Covid-19 survival due to return home
10dMal Martin, 58, from Cardiff, spent 11 weeks in intensive care and could still lose fingers due to disease Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage A woman allowed to see her husband to say goodbye when told he had “almost zero chance” of surviving coronavirus, said he could shortly be home after more than 11 weeks in intensive care, much of it on a ventilator. Sue Martin, 49
Scientists Are Baffled By a Bizarre Black Hole-Like Object
10dMass Gap Last week, astrophysicists announced a bizarre, unprecedented celestial object that sits smack in the middle of the theoretical divider separating black holes from neutron stars. The object, too small to be a black hole and too large to be a neutron star according to existing models, has astronomers baffled about where this thing came from, Scientific American reports . But whatever this
Protests, A Retracted Paper, and a Super-Earth Planet
10dA month’s worth of cool science stories, summed up. Protests, A Retracted Paper, and a Super-Earth Planet Video of Protests, A Retracted Paper, and a Super-Earth Planet Human Tuesday, June 30, 2020 – 14:00 Alistair Jennings, Contributor (Inside Science) — This has been a month of protest, and academia is no exception. Scientists of color have been sharing their experiences of working in an acad
College Leaders Have the Wrong Incentives
10dJanet Frick, a psychology professor at the University of Georgia, isn’t happy about her institution’s plans for the fall term. As confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus swell to record highs in the state, which reopened most businesses in May, its public institutions of higher education are pressing forward with aggressive return-to-campus plans. In particular, Frick is shocked that the Univers
Don’t Build Roads, Open Schools
10dBoris Johnson loves to dress up—admittedly not an unusual pastime among alumni of Britain’s most exclusive schools. But his specific kink is looking like a builder, in a hard hat and bright high-visibility jacket. Yesterday, the British prime minister filmed a wobbly video that featured himself decked out in Day-Glo yellow at a London school, laying the groundwork for his “new deal” on infrastruc
Mechanisms of lipid preservation in archaeological clay ceramics revealed by mass spectrometry imaging [Anthropology]
10dTraces of lipids, absorbed and preserved for millennia within the inorganic matrix of ceramic vessels, act as molecular fossils and provide manifold information about past people’s subsistence, diet, and rituals. It is widely assumed that lipids become preserved after adsorption into nano- to micrometer-sized pores, but to this day the…
Complex mortuary dynamics in the Upper Paleolithic of the decorated Grotte de Cussac, France [Anthropology]
10dThe Mid-Upper Paleolithic (Gravettian) karstic Grotte de Cussac (France) contains two areas of human remains in the context of abundant (and spectacular) parietal engravings. The first area (loci 1 and 2) includes the skeleton of a young adult male in a bear nest, rearranged by postdecomposition inundation, and the variably…
Distortion matrix approach for ultrasound imaging of random scattering media [Applied Physical Sciences]
10dFocusing waves inside inhomogeneous media is a fundamental problem for imaging. Spatial variations of wave velocity can strongly distort propagating wave fronts and degrade image quality. Adaptive focusing can compensate for such aberration but is only effective over a restricted field of view. Here, we introduce a full-field approach to…
Biologically inspired flexible photonic films for efficient passive radiative cooling [Applied Physical Sciences]
10dTemperature is a fundamental parameter for all forms of lives. Natural evolution has resulted in organisms which have excellent thermoregulation capabilities in extreme climates. Bioinspired materials that mimic biological solution for thermoregulation have proven promising for passive radiative cooling. However, scalable production of artificial photonic radiators with complex structures, outstan
Microribbons composed of directionally self-assembled nanoflakes as highly stretchable ionic neural electrodes [Applied Physical Sciences]
10dMany natural materials possess built-in structural variation, endowing them with superior performance. However, it is challenging to realize programmable structural variation in self-assembled synthetic materials since self-assembly processes usually generate uniform and ordered structures. Here, we report the formation of asymmetric microribbons composed of directionally self-assembled two-dimens
Multiple states and transport properties of double-diffusive convection turbulence [Applied Physical Sciences]
10dWhen fluid stratification is induced by the vertical gradients of two scalars with different diffusivities, double-diffusive convection (DDC) may occur and play a crucial role in mixing. Such a process exists in many natural and engineering environments. Especially in the ocean, DDC is omnipresent since the seawater density is affected…
Direct discrimination of structured light by humans [Applied Physical Sciences]
10dWe predict and experimentally verify an entoptic phenomenon through which humans are able to perceive and discriminate optical spin–orbit states. Direct perception and discrimination of these particular states of light with polarization-coupled spatial modes is possible through the observation of distinct profiles induced by the interaction between polarization topologies and…
A conformation-specific ON-switch for controlling CAR T cells with an orally available drug [Biochemistry]
10dMolecular ON-switches in which a chemical compound induces protein–protein interactions can allow cellular function to be controlled with small molecules. ON-switches based on clinically applicable compounds and human proteins would greatly facilitate their therapeutic use. Here, we developed an ON-switch system in which the human retinol binding protein 4 (hRBP4)…
Modes of action of the archaeal Mre11/Rad50 DNA-repair complex revealed by fast-scan atomic force microscopy [Biochemistry]
10dMre11 and Rad50 (M/R) proteins are part of an evolutionarily conserved macromolecular apparatus that maintains genomic integrity through repair pathways. Prior structural studies have revealed that this apparatus is extremely dynamic, displaying flexibility in the long coiled-coil regions of Rad50, a member of the structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) superfamily…
RNA-dependent sterol aspartylation in fungi [Biochemistry]
10dDiverting aminoacyl-transfer RNAs (tRNAs) from protein synthesis is a well-known process used by a wide range of bacteria to aminoacylate membrane constituents. By tRNA-dependently adding amino acids to glycerolipids, bacteria change their cell surface properties, which intensifies antimicrobial drug resistance, pathogenicity, and virulence. No equivalent aminoacylated lipids have been uncovered..
E2F1 sumoylation as a protective cellular mechanism in oxidative stress response [Biochemistry]
10dOxidative stress is a ubiquitous threat to all aerobic organisms and has been implicated in numerous pathological conditions such as cancer. Here we demonstrate a pivotal role for E2F1, a cell cycle regulatory transcription factor, in cell tolerance of oxidative stress. Cells lacking E2F1 are hypersensitive to oxidative stress due…
The AAA+ ATPase Msp1 is a processive protein translocase with robust unfoldase activity [Biochemistry]
10dMsp1 is a conserved eukaryotic AAA+ ATPase localized to the outer mitochondrial membrane, where it is thought to extract mislocalized tail-anchored proteins. Despite recent in vivo and in vitro studies supporting this function, a mechanistic understanding of how Msp1 extracts its substrates is still lacking. Msp1’s ATPase activity depends on…
Protein folding from heterogeneous unfolded state revealed by time-resolved X-ray solution scattering [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
10dOne of the most challenging tasks in biological science is to understand how a protein folds. In theoretical studies, the hypothesis adopting a funnel-like free-energy landscape has been recognized as a prominent scheme for explaining protein folding in views of both internal energy and conformational heterogeneity of a protein. Despite…
Constructing artificial respiratory chain in polymer compartments: Insights into the interplay between bo3 oxidase and the membrane [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
10dCytochrome bo3 ubiquinol oxidase is a transmembrane protein, which oxidizes ubiquinone and reduces oxygen, while pumping protons. Apart from its combination with F1Fo-ATPase to assemble a minimal ATP regeneration module, the utility of the proton pump can be extended to other applications in the context of synthetic cells such as…
Allosteric control of hemoglobin S fiber formation by oxygen and its relation to the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
10dThe pathology of sickle cell disease is caused by polymerization of the abnormal hemoglobin S upon deoxygenation in the tissues to form fibers in red cells, causing them to deform and occlude the circulation. Drugs that allosterically shift the quaternary equilibrium from the polymerizing T quaternary structure to the nonpolymerizing…
A selective inference approach for false discovery rate control using multiomics covariates yields insights into disease risk [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
10dTo correct for a large number of hypothesis tests, most researchers rely on simple multiple testing corrections. Yet, new methodologies of selective inference could potentially improve power while retaining statistical guarantees, especially those that enable exploration of test statistics using auxiliary information (covariates) to weight hypothesis tests for association. We…
Superresolution imaging reveals spatiotemporal propagation of human replication foci mediated by CTCF-organized chromatin structures [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
10dMammalian DNA replication is initiated at numerous replication origins, which are clustered into thousands of replication domains (RDs) across the genome. However, it remains unclear whether the replication origins within each RD are activated stochastically or preferentially near certain chromatin features. To understand how DNA replication in single human cells…
DNA-based fluorescent probes of NOS2 activity in live brains [Cell Biology]
10dInnate immune cells destroy pathogens within a transient organelle called the phagosome. When pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) displayed on the pathogen are recognized by Toll-like receptors (TLRs) on the host cell, it activates inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) which instantly fills the phagosome with nitric oxide (NO) to clear the…
Mechanical adaptation of monocytes in model lung capillary networks [Cell Biology]
10dProper circulation of white blood cells (WBCs) in the pulmonary vascular bed is crucial for an effective immune response. In this branched vascular network, WBCs have to strongly deform to pass through the narrowest capillaries and bifurcations. Although it is known that this process depends on the cell mechanical properties,…
Loss of ZIP facilitates JAK2-STAT3 activation in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer [Cell Biology]
10dTamoxifen, a widely used modulator of the estrogen receptor (ER), targets ER-positive breast cancer preferentially. We used a powerful validation-based insertion mutagenesis method to find that expression of a dominant-negative, truncated form of the histone deacetylase ZIP led to resistance to tamoxifen. Consistently, increased expression of full-length ZIP gives the…
Phosphocholine accumulation and PHOSPHO1 depletion promote adipose tissue thermogenesis [Cell Biology]
10dPhosphocholine phosphatase-1 (PHOSPHO1) is a phosphocholine phosphatase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphocholine (PC) to choline. Here we demonstrate that the PHOSPHO1 transcript is highly enriched in mature brown adipose tissue (BAT) and is further induced by cold and isoproterenol treatments of BAT and primary brown adipocytes. In defining the…
Telomere shortening produces an inflammatory environment that increases tumor incidence in zebrafish [Cell Biology]
10dCancer incidence increases exponentially with age when human telomeres are shorter. Similarly, telomerase reverse transcriptase (tert) mutant zebrafish have premature short telomeres and anticipate cancer incidence to younger ages. However, because short telomeres constitute a road block to cell proliferation, telomere shortening is currently viewed as a tumor suppressor mechanism…
Identification of a chemical fingerprint linking the undeclared 2017 release of 106Ru to advanced nuclear fuel reprocessing [Chemistry]
10dThe undeclared release and subsequent detection of ruthenium-106 (106Ru) across Europe from late September to early October of 2017 prompted an international effort to ascertain the circumstances of the event. While dispersion modeling, corroborated by ground deposition measurements, has narrowed possible locations of origin, there has been a lack of…
A chemically stabilized sulfur cathode for lean electrolyte lithium sulfur batteries [Chemistry]
10dLithium sulfur batteries (LSBs) are promising next-generation rechargeable batteries due to the high gravimetric energy, low cost, abundance, nontoxicity, and high sustainability of sulfur. However, the dissolution of high-order polysulfide in electrolytes and low Coulombic efficiency of Li anode require excess electrolytes and Li metal, which significantly reduce the energy…
Revealing the structure of a catalytic combustion active-site ensemble combining uniform nanocrystal catalysts and theory insights [Chemistry]
10dSupported metal catalysts are extensively used in industrial and environmental applications. To improve their performance, it is crucial to identify the most active sites. This identification is, however, made challenging by the presence of a large number of potential surface structures that complicate such an assignment. Often, the active site…
Structured clustering of the glycosphingolipid GM1 is required for membrane curvature induced by cholera toxin [Chemistry]
10dAB5 bacterial toxins and polyomaviruses induce membrane curvature as a mechanism to facilitate their entry into host cells. How membrane bending is accomplished is not yet fully understood but has been linked to the simultaneous binding of the pentameric B subunit to multiple copies of glycosphingolipid receptors. Here, we probe…
Long-term association of a transcription factor with its chromatin binding site can stabilize gene expression and cell fate commitment [Developmental Biology]
10dSome lineage-determining transcription factors are overwhelmingly important in directing embryonic cells to a particular differentiation pathway, such as Ascl1 for nerve. They also have an exceptionally strong ability to force cells to change from an unrelated pathway to one preferred by their action. Transcription factors are believed to have a…
Novel genetic features of human and mouse Purkinje cell differentiation defined by comparative transcriptomics [Developmental Biology]
10dComparative transcriptomics between differentiating human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and developing mouse neurons offers a powerful approach to compare genetic and epigenetic pathways in human and mouse neurons. To analyze human Purkinje cell (PC) differentiation, we optimized a protocol to generate human pluripotent stem cell-derived Purkinje cells (hPSC-PCs) that formed…
Regulation of spatiotemporal limits of developmental gene expression via enhancer grammar [Developmental Biology]
10dThe regulatory specificity of a gene is determined by the structure of its enhancers, which contain multiple transcription factor binding sites. A unique combination of transcription factor binding sites in an enhancer determines the boundary of target gene expression, and their disruption often leads to developmental defects. Despite extensive characterization…
How canyons evolve by incision into bedrock: Rainbow Canyon, Death Valley National Park, United States [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
10dIncising rivers may be confined by low-slope, erodible hillslopes or steep, resistant sidewalls. In the latter case, the system forms a canyon. We present a morphodynamic model that includes the essential elements of a canyon incising into a plateau, including 1) abrasion-driven channel incision, 2) migration of a canyon-head knickpoint,…
The 142Nd/144Nd variations in mantle-derived rocks provide constraints on the stirring rate of the mantle from the Hadean to the present [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
10dEarly silicate differentiation events for the terrestrial planets can be traced with the short-lived 146Sm-142Nd system (∼100-My half-life). Resulting early Earth-produced 142Nd/144Nd variations are an excellent tracer of the rate of mantle mixing and thus a potential tracer of plate tectonics through time. Evidence for early silicate differentiation in the…
Enriched East Asian oxygen isotope of precipitation indicates reduced summer seasonality in regional climate and westerlies [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
10dSpeleothem oxygen isotope records over East Asia reveal apparently large and rapid paleoclimate changes over the last several hundred thousand years. However, what the isotopic variation actually represent in terms of the regional climate and circulation is debated. We present an answer that emerges from an analysis of the interannual…
Greater flood risks in response to slowdown of tropical cyclones over the coast of China [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
10dThe total amount of rainfall associated with tropical cyclones (TCs) over a given region is proportional to rainfall intensity and the inverse of TC translation speed. Although the contributions of increase in rainfall intensity to larger total rainfall amounts have been extensively examined, observational evidence on impacts of the recently…
A seawater throttle on H2 production in Precambrian serpentinizing systems [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
10dSince the initial discovery of low-temperature alkaline hydrothermal vents off the Mid-Atlantic Ridge axis nearly 20 y ago, the observation that serpentinizing systems produce abundant H2 has strongly influenced models of atmospheric evolution and geological scenarios for the origin of life. Nevertheless, the principal mechanisms that generate H2 in these…
Spontaneous formation of geysers at only one pole on Enceladus’s ice shell [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
10dThe ice shell on Enceladus, an icy moon of Saturn, exhibits strong asymmetry between the northern and southern hemispheres, with all known geysers concentrated over the south pole, even though the expected pattern of tidal forced deformation should be symmetric between the north and south poles. Using an idealized ice-evolution…
Identifying airborne transmission as the dominant route for the spread of COVID-19 [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
10dVarious mitigation measures have been implemented to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, including widely adopted social distancing and mandated face covering. However, assessing the effectiveness of those intervention practices hinges on the understanding of virus transmission, which remains uncertain. Here we show that airborne transmission is highly virulent…
Rationing social contact during the COVID-19 pandemic: Transmission risk and social benefits of US locations [Economic Sciences]
10dTo prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), some types of public spaces have been shut down while others remain open. These decisions constitute a judgment about the relative danger and benefits of those locations. Using mobility data from a large sample of smartphones, nationally representative consumer preference surveys,…
Intrinsically stretchable electrode array enabled in vivo electrophysiological mapping of atrial fibrillation at cellular resolution [Engineering]
10dElectrophysiological mapping of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) at high throughput and high resolution is critical for understanding its underlying mechanism and guiding definitive treatment such as cardiac ablation, but current electrophysiological tools are limited by either low spatial resolution or electromechanical uncoupling of the beating heart. To overcome this limitation,…
Label-free hematology analysis using deep-ultraviolet microscopy [Engineering]
10dHematological analysis, via a complete blood count (CBC) and microscopy, is critical for screening, diagnosing, and monitoring blood conditions and diseases but requires complex equipment, multiple chemical reagents, laborious system calibration and procedures, and highly trained personnel for operation. Here we introduce a hematological assay based on label-free molecular imaging…
On-demand modulation of 3D-printed elastomers using programmable droplet inclusions [Engineering]
10dOne of the key thrusts in three-dimensional (3D) printing and direct writing is to seamlessly vary composition and functional properties in printed constructs. Most inks used for extrusion-based printing, however, are compositionally static and available approaches for dynamic tuning of ink composition remain few. Here, we present an approach to…
An energy landscape approach to locomotor transitions in complex 3D terrain [Engineering]
10dEffective locomotion in nature happens by transitioning across multiple modes (e.g., walk, run, climb). Despite this, far more mechanistic understanding of terrestrial locomotion has been on how to generate and stabilize around near–steady-state movement in a single mode. We still know little about how locomotor transitions emerge from physical interaction…
Structure of the RECK CC domain, an evolutionary anomaly [Evolution]
10dFive small protein domains, the CC-domains, at the N terminus of the RECK protein, play essential roles in signaling by WNT7A and WNT7B in the context of central nervous system angiogenesis and blood–brain barrier formation and maintenance. We have determined the structure of CC domain 4 (CC4) at 1.65-Å resolution…
Wild hummingbirds discriminate nonspectral colors [Evolution]
10dMany animals have the potential to discriminate nonspectral colors. For humans, purple is the clearest example of a nonspectral color. It is perceived when two color cone types in the retina (blue and red) with nonadjacent spectral sensitivity curves are predominantly stimulated. Purple is considered nonspectral because no monochromatic light…
The Whi2p-Psr1p/Psr2p complex regulates interference competition and expansion of cells with competitive advantage in yeast colonies [Evolution]
10dYeast form complex highly organized colonies in which cells undergo spatiotemporal phenotypic differentiation in response to local gradients of nutrients, metabolites, and specific signaling molecules. Colony fitness depends on cell interactions, cooperation, and the division of labor between differentiated cell subpopulations. Here, we describe the regulation and dynamics of the…
A high-coverage Neandertal genome from Chagyrskaya Cave [Genetics]
10dWe sequenced the genome of a Neandertal from Chagyrskaya Cave in the Altai Mountains, Russia, to 27-fold genomic coverage. We show that this Neandertal was a female and that she was more related to Neandertals in western Eurasia [Prüfer et al., Science 358, 655–658 (2017); Hajdinjak et al., Nature 555,…
Pseudouridylation defect due to DKC1 and NOP10 mutations causes nephrotic syndrome with cataracts, hearing impairment, and enterocolitis [Genetics]
10dRNA modifications play a fundamental role in cellular function. Pseudouridylation, the most abundant RNA modification, is catalyzed by the H/ACA small ribonucleoprotein (snoRNP) complex that shares four core proteins, dyskerin (DKC1), NOP10, NHP2, and GAR1. Mutations in DKC1, NOP10, or NHP2 cause dyskeratosis congenita (DC), a disorder characterized by telomere…
Structure-guided engineering of the affinity and specificity of CARs against Tn-glycopeptides [Immunology and Inflammation]
10dThe potency of adoptive T cell therapies targeting the cell surface antigen CD19 has been demonstrated in hematopoietic cancers. It has been difficult to identify appropriate targets in nonhematopoietic tumors, but one class of antigens that have shown promise is aberrant O-glycoprotein epitopes. It has long been known that dysregulated…
Macrophage metabolic reprogramming presents a therapeutic target in lupus nephritis [Immunology and Inflammation]
10dIgG antibodies cause inflammation and organ damage in autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We investigated the metabolic profile of macrophages isolated from inflamed tissues in immune complex (IC)-associated diseases, including SLE and rheumatoid arthritis, and following IgG Fcγ receptor cross-linking. We found that human and mouse macrophages…
Genetic signature of prostate cancer mouse models resistant to optimized hK2 targeted {alpha}-particle therapy [Medical Sciences]
10dHu11B6 is a monoclonal antibody that internalizes in cells expressing androgen receptor (AR)-regulated prostate-specific enzyme human kallikrein-related peptidase 2 (hK2; KLK2). In multiple rodent models, Actinium-225–labeled hu11B6-IgG1 ([225Ac]hu11B6-IgG1) has shown promising treatment efficacy. In the present study, we investigated options to enhance and optimize [225Ac]hu11B6 treatment. First,
Uncoupling DNA damage from chromatin damage to detoxify doxorubicin [Medical Sciences]
10dThe anthracycline doxorubicin (Doxo) and its analogs daunorubicin (Daun), epirubicin (Epi), and idarubicin (Ida) have been cornerstones of anticancer therapy for nearly five decades. However, their clinical application is limited by severe side effects, especially dose-dependent irreversible cardiotoxicity. Other detrimental side effects of anthracyclines include therapy-related malignancies and i
Genomic determinants of pathogenicity in SARS-CoV-2 and other human coronaviruses [Microbiology]
10dSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses an immediate, major threat to public health across the globe. Here we report an in-depth molecular analysis to reconstruct the evolutionary origins of the enhanced pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses that are severe human pathogens. Using integrated comparative genomics and machine…
Impact of {alpha}-synuclein pathology on transplanted hESC-derived dopaminergic neurons in a humanized {alpha}-synuclein rat model of PD [Neuroscience]
10dPreclinical assessment of the therapeutic potential of dopamine (DA) neuron replacement in Parkinson’s disease (PD) has primarily been performed in the 6-hydroxydopamine toxin model. While this is a good model to assess graft function, it does not reflect the pathological features or progressive nature of the disease. In this study,…
A common rule governing differentiation kinetics of mouse cortical progenitors [Neuroscience]
10dThe balance between proliferation and differentiation of stem cells and progenitors determines the size of an adult brain region. While the molecular mechanisms regulating proliferation and differentiation of cortical progenitors have been intensively studied, an analysis of the kinetics of progenitor choice between self-renewal and differentiation in vivo is, due…
ALS/FTD mutations in UBQLN2 impede autophagy by reducing autophagosome acidification through loss of function [Neuroscience]
10dMutations in UBQLN2 cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and other neurodegenerations. However, the mechanism by which the UBQLN2 mutations cause disease remains unclear. Alterations in proteins involved in autophagy are prominent in neuronal tissue of human ALS UBQLN2 patients and in a transgenic P497S UBQLN2 mouse model…
Auditory representation of learned sound sequences in motor regions of the macaque brain [Neuroscience]
10dHuman speech production requires the ability to couple motor actions with their auditory consequences. Nonhuman primates might not have speech because they lack this ability. To address this question, we trained macaques to perform an auditory–motor task producing sound sequences via hand presses on a newly designed device (“monkey piano”)….
Brain networks underlying vulnerability and resilience to drug addiction [Neuroscience]
10dRegular drug use can lead to addiction, but not everyone who takes drugs makes this transition. How exactly drugs of abuse interact with individual vulnerability is not fully understood, nor is it clear how individuals defy the risks associated with drugs or addiction vulnerability. We used resting-state functional MRI (fMRI)…
Thyroid hormone receptors mediate two distinct mechanisms of long-wavelength vision [Neuroscience]
10dThyroid hormone (TH) signaling plays an important role in the regulation of long-wavelength vision in vertebrates. In the retina, thyroid hormone receptor β (thrb) is required for expression of long-wavelength-sensitive opsin (lws) in red cone photoreceptors, while in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), TH regulates expression of a cytochrome P450 enzyme,…
Functional imaging evidence for task-induced deactivation and disconnection of a major default mode network hub in the mouse brain [Neuroscience]
10dThe default mode network (DMN) has been defined in functional brain imaging studies as a set of highly connected brain areas, which are active during wakeful rest and inactivated during task-based stimulation. DMN function is characteristically impaired in major neuropsychiatric diseases, emphasizing its interest for translational research. However, in the…
Endosomal signaling of delta opioid receptors is an endogenous mechanism and therapeutic target for relief from inflammatory pain [Pharmacology]
10dWhether G protein-coupled receptors signal from endosomes to control important pathophysiological processes and are therapeutic targets is uncertain. We report that opioids from the inflamed colon activate δ-opioid receptors (DOPr) in endosomes of nociceptors. Biopsy samples of inflamed colonic mucosa from patients and mice with colitis released opioids that activated…
Atomic-scale electronic structure of the cuprate pair density wave state coexisting with superconductivity [Physics]
10dThe defining characteristic of hole-doped cuprates is d-wave high temperature superconductivity. However, intense theoretical interest is now focused on whether a pair density wave state (PDW) could coexist with cuprate superconductivity [D. F. Agterberg et al., Annu. Rev. Condens. Matter Phys. 11, 231 (2020)]. Here, we use a strong-coupling mean-field…
Power-law distribution of degree-degree distance: A better representation of the scale-free property of complex networks [Physics]
10dWhether real-world complex networks are scale free or not has long been controversial. Recently, in Broido and Clauset [A. D. Broido, A. Clauset, Nat. Commun. 10, 1017 (2019)], it was claimed that the degree distributions of real-world networks are rarely power law under statistical tests. Here, we attempt to address…
Cascaded nanooptics to probe microsecond atomic-scale phenomena [Physics]
10dPlasmonic nanostructures can focus light far below the diffraction limit, and the nearly thousandfold field enhancements obtained routinely enable few- and single-molecule detection. However, for processes happening on the molecular scale to be tracked with any relevant time resolution, the emission strengths need to be well beyond what current plasmonic…
Resolving the adsorption of molecular O2 on the rutile TiO2(110) surface by noncontact atomic force microscopy [Physics]
10dInteraction of molecular oxygen with semiconducting oxide surfaces plays a key role in many technologies. The topic is difficult to approach both by experiment and in theory, mainly due to multiple stable charge states, adsorption configurations, and reaction channels of adsorbed oxygen species. Here we use a combination of noncontact…
Molecular motor crossing the frontier of classical to quantum tunneling motion [Physics]
10dThe reliability by which molecular motor proteins convert undirected energy input into directed motion or transport has inspired the design of innumerable artificial molecular motors. We have realized and investigated an artificial molecular motor applying scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), which consists of a single acetylene (C2H2) rotor anchored to a…
Supervised learning through physical changes in a mechanical system [Physics]
10dMechanical metamaterials are usually designed to show desired responses to prescribed forces. In some applications, the desired force–response relationship is hard to specify exactly, but examples of forces and desired responses are easily available. Here, we propose a framework for supervised learning in thin, creased sheets that learn the desired…
EYES ABSENT and TIMELESS integrate photoperiodic and temperature cues to regulate seasonal physiology in Drosophila [Physiology]
10dOrganisms possess photoperiodic timing mechanisms to detect variations in day length and temperature as the seasons progress. The nature of the molecular mechanisms interpreting and signaling these environmental changes to elicit downstream neuroendocrine and physiological responses are just starting to emerge. Here, we demonstrate that, in Drosophila melanogaster, EYES ABSENT…
Abundant expression of maternal siRNAs is a conserved feature of seed development [Plant Biology]
10dSmall RNAs are abundant in plant reproductive tissues, especially 24-nucleotide (nt) small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Most 24-nt siRNAs are dependent on RNA Pol IV and RNA-DEPENDENT RNA POLYMERASE 2 (RDR2) and establish DNA methylation at thousands of genomic loci in a process called RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM). In Brassica rapa,…
The 3' processing of antisense RNAs physically links to chromatin-based transcriptional control [Plant Biology]
10dNoncoding RNA plays essential roles in transcriptional control and chromatin silencing. At Arabidopsis thaliana FLC, antisense transcription quantitatively influences transcriptional output, but the mechanism by which this occurs is still unclear. Proximal polyadenylation of the antisense transcripts by FCA, an RNA-binding protein that physically interacts with RNA 3′ processing factors,…
Wounding-induced changes in cellular pressure and localized auxin signalling spatially coordinate restorative divisions in roots [Plant Biology]
10dWound healing in plant tissues, consisting of rigid cell wall-encapsulated cells, represents a considerable challenge and occurs through largely unknown mechanisms distinct from those in animals. Owing to their inability to migrate, plant cells rely on targeted cell division and expansion to regenerate wounds. Strict coordination of these wound-induced responses…
Protein complex stoichiometry and expression dynamics of transcription factors modulate stem cell division [Plant Biology]
10dStem cells divide and differentiate to form all of the specialized cell types in a multicellular organism. In the Arabidopsis root, stem cells are maintained in an undifferentiated state by a less mitotically active population of cells called the quiescent center (QC). Determining how the QC regulates the surrounding stem…
Dynamic measurement of cytosolic pH and [NO3-] uncovers the role of the vacuolar transporter AtCLCa in cytosolic pH homeostasis [Plant Biology]
10dIon transporters are key players of cellular processes. The mechanistic properties of ion transporters have been well elucidated by biophysical methods. Meanwhile, the understanding of their exact functions in cellular homeostasis is limited by the difficulty of monitoring their activity in vivo. The development of biosensors to track subtle changes…
Plastocyanin is the long-range electron carrier between photosystem II and photosystem I in plants [Plant Biology]
10dIn photosynthetic electron transport, large multiprotein complexes are connected by small diffusible electron carriers, the mobility of which is challenged by macromolecular crowding. For thylakoid membranes of higher plants, a long-standing question has been which of the two mobile electron carriers, plastoquinone or plastocyanin, mediates electron transport from stacked grana…
Exaggerated meta-perceptions predict intergroup hostility between American political partisans [Political Sciences]
10dPeople’s actions toward a competitive outgroup can be motivated not only by their perceptions of the outgroup, but also by how they think the outgroup perceives the ingroup (i.e., meta-perceptions). Here, we examine the prevalence, accuracy, and consequences of meta-perceptions among American political partisans. Using a representative sample (n =…
Sustained representation of perspectival shape [Psychological and Cognitive Sciences]
10dArguably the most foundational principle in perception research is that our experience of the world goes beyond the retinal image; we perceive the distal environment itself, not the proximal stimulation it causes. Shape may be the paradigm case of such “unconscious inference”: When a coin is rotated in depth, we…
Temporal dynamics of sitting behavior at work [Psychological and Cognitive Sciences]
10dSitting for prolonged periods of time impairs people’s health. Prior research has mainly investigated sitting behavior on an aggregate level, for example, by analyzing total sitting time per day. By contrast, taking a dynamic approach, here we conceptualize sitting behavior as a continuous chain of sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit transitions. We…
Vaccination as a social contract [Psychological and Cognitive Sciences]
10dMost vaccines protect both the vaccinated individual and the society by reducing the transmission of infectious diseases. In order to eliminate infectious diseases, individuals need to consider social welfare beyond mere self-interest—regardless of ethnic, religious, or national group borders. It has therefore been proposed that vaccination poses a social contract…
Scaling up behavioral science interventions in online education [Psychological and Cognitive Sciences]
10dOnline education is rapidly expanding in response to rising demand for higher and continuing education, but many online students struggle to achieve their educational goals. Several behavioral science interventions have shown promise in raising student persistence and completion rates in a handful of courses, but evidence of their effectiveness across…
The ventral striatum dissociates information expectation, reward anticipation, and reward receipt [Psychological and Cognitive Sciences]
10dDo dopaminergic reward structures represent the expected utility of information similarly to a reward? Optimal experimental design models from Bayesian decision theory and statistics have proposed a theoretical framework for quantifying the expected value of information that might result from a query. In particular, this formulation quantifies the value of…
Changes in firearm mortality following the implementation of state laws regulating firearm access and use [Social Sciences]
10dAlthough 39,000 individuals die annually from gunshots in the US, research examining the effects of laws designed to reduce these deaths has sometimes produced inconclusive or contradictory findings. We evaluated the effects on total firearm-related deaths of three classes of gun laws: child access prevention (CAP), right-to-carry (RTC), and stand…
Lower socioeconomic status and the acceleration of aging: An outcome-wide analysis [Social Sciences]
10dAging involves decline in a range of functional abilities and phenotypes, many of which are also associated with socioeconomic status (SES). Here we assessed whether lower SES is a determinant of the rate of decline over 8 y in six domains—physical capability, sensory function, physiological function, cognitive performance, emotional well-being,…
The social context of nearest neighbors shapes educational attainment regardless of class origin [Social Sciences]
10dWe study the association between sociospatial neighborhood conditions throughout childhood and educational attainment in adulthood. Using unique longitudinal microdata for a medium-sized Swedish town, we geocode its population at the address level, 1939 to 1967, and link individuals to national registers, 1968 to 2015. Thus, we adopt a long-term perspective…
Mitochondrial protein interaction landscape of SS-31 [Systems Biology]
10dMitochondrial dysfunction underlies the etiology of a broad spectrum of diseases including heart disease, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and the general aging process. Therapeutics that restore healthy mitochondrial function hold promise for treatment of these conditions. The synthetic tetrapeptide, elamipretide (SS-31), improves mitochondrial function, but mechanistic details of its pharmaco
In This Issue [This Week in PNAS]
10dIce shell asymmetry and geyser formation on Enceladus Enceladus. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech. Beneath the icy shell that encases Enceladus, one of Saturn’s small icy moons, an ocean of liquid water ejects geyser-like sprays into space through fissures in the ice. All the geysers on Enceladus are clustered near the moon’s…
Inhibition of placental CYP19A1 activity remains as a valid hypothesis for 46,XX virilization in P450 oxidoreductase deficiency [Biological Sciences]
10dCytochrome P450 oxidoreductase deficiency (PORD), caused by mutations in P450 oxidoreductase (POR), is a disorder of steroid metabolism often characterized by disordered sexual development (1–3). POR is required for enzymatic activities of multiple cytochrome P450 enzymes (4). In PNAS, Reisch et al. (5) propose “alternative pathway androgen biosynthesis” as the…
Reply to Fluck et al.: Alternative androgen pathway biosynthesis drives fetal female virilization in P450 oxidoreductase deficiency [Biological Sciences]
10dNewborn girls with P450 oxidoreductase (POR) deficiency regularly present with virilized external genitalia despite low circulating androgens (1). In PNAS, we (2) explain this conundrum by enhanced prenatal activity of an alternative androgen pathway (Fig. 1) while classic androgen biosynthesis is disrupted. Fig. 1. Schematic representation of steroidogenesis including the…
QnAs with Mikhail D. Lukin [QnAs]
10dA professor of physics at Harvard University, Mikhail D. Lukin was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2018 for his work in quantum optics and quantum information science. Lukin has explored a variety of topics during his career, from quantum manipulation of atomic and nanoscale systems to nanophotonics…
QnAs with Zachary B. Lippman [QnAs]
10dZachary B. Lippman works at the interface of plant development, genetics, genomics, and agriculture. He has used some of the latest genome-editing techniques to study the mechanisms of fundamental plant processes, such as flowering, and to harness such mechanisms for crop improvement. A professor of genetics at Cold Spring Harbor…
Imaging oxygenation of retinal capillaries with depth resolution [Medical Sciences]
10dThe inner retina has a three-tiered vascular supply, with capillary beds stratifying in the nerve fiber layer/ganglion cell layer, the inner plexiform layer, and the outer plexiform layer (1). While this trilaminar architecture likely functions to serve the metabolic needs of individual retinal layers, we do not know how metabolism…
Ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal, a century in waiting [Physics]
10dIn PNAS, the liquid crystal group of the Soft Materials Research Center at the University of Colorado Boulder, led by N. A. Clark, reports on the discovery of a ferroelectric nematic fluid NF, an additional state of matter (Chen et al., ref. 1) (Fig. 1A). Such a phase has been…
Probing and manipulating embryogenesis via nanoscale thermometry and temperature control [Developmental Biology]
10dUnderstanding the coordination of cell-division timing is one of the outstanding questions in the field of developmental biology. One active control parameter of the cell-cycle duration is temperature, as it can accelerate or decelerate the rate of biochemical reactions. However, controlled experiments at the cellular scale are challenging, due to…
Opinion: We need better data about the environmental persistence of plastic goods [Sustainability Science]
10dPlastic pollution is one of the most visible and complex environmental issues today. Interested and concerned parties include researchers, governmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations, industry, media, and the general public. One key assumption behind the issue and the public outcry is that plastics last indefinitely in the environment, resulting in chronic…
X-ray processing of a realistic ice mantle can explain the gas abundances in protoplanetary disks [Astronomy]
10dThe Atacama Large Millimeter Array has allowed a detailed observation of molecules in protoplanetary disks, which can evolve toward solar systems like our own. While CO, CO2, HCO, and H2CO are often abundant species in the cold zones of the disk, CH3OH or CH3CN are only found in a few…
Genomic discovery of an evolutionarily programmed modality for small-molecule targeting of an intractable protein surface [Microbiology]
10dThe vast majority of intracellular protein targets are refractory toward small-molecule therapeutic engagement, and additional therapeutic modalities are needed to overcome this deficiency. Here, the identification and characterization of a natural product, WDB002, reveals a therapeutic modality that dramatically expands the currently accepted limits of druggability. WDB002, in complex with…
Turning up the heat on HIV-1 [Commentaries]
10dThe introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the 1990s has turned the once fatal condition of HIV-1/AIDS into a chronic illness. However, it has failed to fully eradicate the virus, which remains in a latent state in a small number of CD4+ T cells in individuals on ART. One promising…
The E3 ubiquitin ligase MARCH1 regulates antimalaria immunity through interferon signaling and T cell activation [Microbiology]
10dMalaria infection induces complex and diverse immune responses. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying host–parasite interaction, we performed a genetic screen during early (24 h) Plasmodium yoelii infection in mice and identified a large number of interacting host and parasite genes/loci after transspecies expression quantitative trait locus (Ts-eQTL) analysis. We next…
Poverty, work, and welfare: Cutting the Gordian knot [Social Sciences]
10dThe United States boasts the largest and arguably richest economy in the world, yet it leads high-income countries in the fraction of children living in poverty. Policy debates about child poverty are contentious in two important ways: 1) Although poverty itself is measured by comparing family income with a poverty…
Sir2 takes affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity in replication origin licensing [Commentaries]
10dIn all eukaryotes, chromosomal DNA replication initiates at multiple sites distributed along chromosomes called origins of replication. The initiation of DNA synthesis is a two-step process involving the loading of the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) double hexamer on origins during the G1 phase of the cell cycle and the activation of…
Breaking the silence: scientists investigate epigenetic impact across whole genome
10dResearchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) have uncovered a clue to the mystery of how epigenetic regulation impacts the entire plant genome, by looking at how plant cells suppress transcription – the first stage of how genes manufacture their products. Their findings, recently published in Nature Communications, pinpoint previously unknown sections
Facebook Built a VR Headset the Size of a Pair of Large Sunglasses
10dVR 2.0 A team researchers at Facebook have created a virtual reality headset that’s not much larger than a chunky pair of sunglasses, Ars Technica reports . The futuristic shades use a specially designed holographic film to miniaturize the lens. Conventional VR displays tend to be bulky, as the refractive lenses inside of them need a couple inches to focus the display for its wearer’s eyes. The r
Sneaky salmonella finds a backdoor into plants
10dResearchers have discovered that bacteria such as salmonella, E.coli and listeria have a backdoor to take advantage of humans' reliance on leafy greens for a healthy diet. They found that wild strains of salmonella are delivering foodborne illnesses by circumventing a plant's immune defense system, getting into the leaves of lettuce by opening up the plant's tiny breathing pores.
Could you become a 'natural' blonde by altering your genes?
10dA few weeks after preparing them, Dr Catherine Guenther checked her mouse embryos and knew that she had identified the source of a blond-haired mutation in human DNA. The not-yet-fully-formed mice looked like tiny Portuguese men o' war – bulbous, translucent and speckled blue at the edges. Guenther copied sequences of human DNA near a gene called KITLG. She fused the sequence with another piece o
Unique brain patterns fire off when you tie various knots
10dResearchers have decoded the step-by-step processing that happens in the brain when people tie various knots. “Tying a knot is an ancient and frequently performed human action that is the epitome of everyday procedural knowledge,” says senior author Marcel Just, a professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon University. Each neural signature was so distinct that the researchers could identify the k
Disruption of evolutionarily correlated tRNA elements impairs accurate decoding [Biochemistry]
10dBacterial transfer RNAs (tRNAs) contain evolutionarily conserved sequences and modifications that ensure uniform binding to the ribosome and optimal translational accuracy despite differences in their aminoacyl attachments and anticodon nucleotide sequences. In the tRNA anticodon stem−loop, the anticodon sequence is correlated with a base pair in the anticodon loop (nucleotides…
The capillary Kir channel as sensor and amplifier of neuronal signals: Modeling insights on K+-mediated neurovascular communication [Physiology]
10dNeuronal activity leads to an increase in local cerebral blood flow (CBF) to allow adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients to active neurons, a process termed neurovascular coupling (NVC). We have previously shown that capillary endothelial cell (cEC) inwardly rectifying K+ (Kir) channels can sense neuronally evoked increases in interstitial…
A demographic and evolutionary analysis of maternal effect senescence [Evolution]
10dMaternal effect senescence—a decline in offspring survival or fertility with maternal age—has been demonstrated in many taxa, including humans. Despite decades of phenotypic studies, questions remain about how maternal effect senescence impacts evolutionary fitness. To understand the influence of maternal effect senescence on population dynamics, fitness, and selection, we developed…
An essential role for cardiolipin in the stability and function of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter [Cell Biology]
10dCalcium uptake by the mitochondrial calcium uniporter coordinates cytosolic signaling events with mitochondrial bioenergetics. During the past decade all protein components of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter have been identified, including MCU, the pore-forming subunit. However, the specific lipid requirements, if any, for the function and formation of this channel complex…
Colloidal interactions get patchy and directional [Commentaries]
10dBiology is the master of self-assembly, and proteins are the proof. Relying on interactions specified by the sequence of amino acids, proteins are able to precisely assemble into a multitude of intricate configurations, each with a unique functionality dictated by its three-dimensional structure. At an abstract level, one can think…
Lower bounds to eigenvalues of the Schrodinger equation by solution of a 90-y challenge [Chemistry]
10dThe Ritz upper bound to eigenvalues of Hermitian operators is essential for many applications in science. It is a staple of quantum chemistry and physics computations. The lower bound devised by Temple in 1928 [G. Temple, Proc. R. Soc. A Math. Phys. Eng. Sci. 119, 276–293 (1928)] is not, since…
Mechanism of {beta}-arrestin recruitment by the {mu}-opioid G protein-coupled receptor [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
10dAgonists to the μ-opioid G protein-coupled receptor (μOR) can alleviate pain through activation of G protein signaling, but they can also induce β-arrestin activation, leading to such side effects as respiratory depression. Biased ligands to μOR that induce G protein signaling without inducing β-arrestin signaling can alleviate pain while reducing…
Acquirement of water-splitting ability and alteration of the charge-separation mechanism in photosynthetic reaction centers [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
10dIn photosynthetic reaction centers from purple bacteria (PbRC) and the water-oxidizing enzyme, photosystem II (PSII), charge separation occurs along one of the two symmetrical electron-transfer branches. Here we report the microscopic origin of the unidirectional charge separation, fully considering electron–hole interaction, electronic coupling of the pigments, and electrostatic interaction with.
Polarized evanescent waves reveal trochoidal dichroism [Applied Physical Sciences]
10dMatter’s sensitivity to light polarization is characterized by linear and circular polarization effects, corresponding to the system’s anisotropy and handedness, respectively. Recent investigations into the near-field properties of evanescent waves have revealed polarization states with out-of-phase transverse and longitudinal oscillations, resulting in trochoidal, or cartwheeling, field motion. H
Single-molecule dynamics of Dishevelled at the plasma membrane and Wnt pathway activation [Systems Biology]
10dDvl (Dishevelled) is one of several essential nonenzymatic components of the Wnt signaling pathway. In most current models, Dvl forms complexes with Wnt ligand receptors, Fzd and LRP5/6 at the plasma membrane, which then recruits the destruction complex, eventually leading to inactivation of β-catenin degradation. Although this model is widespread,…
A lipocalin mediates unidirectional heme biomineralization in malaria parasites [Microbiology]
10dDuring blood-stage development, malaria parasites are challenged with the detoxification of enormous amounts of heme released during the proteolytic catabolism of erythrocytic hemoglobin. They tackle this problem by sequestering heme into bioinert crystals known as hemozoin. The mechanisms underlying this biomineralization process remain enigmatic. Here, we demonstrate that both rodent…
Solving the puzzle of Enceladus’s active south pole [Commentaries]
10dEnceladus is a small moon of Saturn that has active geysers at its south pole. Why this activity is confined to one small region of the surface has been a puzzle for 15 y. Now, in PNAS, Kang and Flierl (1) provide a possible answer: Localization of activity can arise…
Experimental realization of a reconfigurable electroacoustic topological insulator [Applied Physical Sciences]
10dA substantial challenge in guiding elastic waves is the presence of reflection and scattering at sharp edges, defects, and disorder. Recently, mechanical topological insulators have sought to overcome this challenge by supporting back-scattering resistant wave transmission. In this paper, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a reconfigurable electroacoustic topological insulator exhibiting…
Active forces shape the metaphase spindle through a mechanical instability [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
10dThe metaphase spindle is a dynamic structure orchestrating chromosome segregation during cell division. Recently, soft matter approaches have shown that the spindle behaves as an active liquid crystal. Still, it remains unclear how active force generation contributes to its characteristic spindle-like shape. Here we combine theory and experiments to show…
Chaos may lurk under a cloak of neutrality [Commentaries]
10dThe astonishing diversity of species on Earth has long puzzled ecologists and evolutionary biologists alike. For instance, why are there more than 300,000 species of beetles and only 10,000 species of mammals? Is it because the Creator is inordinately fond of beetles, as J. B. S. Haldane reportedly joked (1)?…
PNAS and prejudice [Editorials]
10dOn April 10, 2020, only about 2 months ago in this terrible year, PNAS published my editorial addressing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis (1), which, at that point, had killed more than 100,000 people around the world and more than 18,500 in the United States. The escalating spread, for…
Block-spiral magnetism: An exotic type of frustrated order [Physics]
10dCompeting interactions in quantum materials induce exotic states of matter such as frustrated magnets, an extensive field of research from both the theoretical and experimental perspectives. Here, we show that competing energy scales present in the low-dimensional orbital-selective Mott phase (OSMP) induce an exotic magnetic order, never reported before. Earlier…
JNK-mediated disruption of bile acid homeostasis promotes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma [Medical Sciences]
10dMetabolic stress causes activation of the cJun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) signal transduction pathway. It is established that one consequence of JNK activation is the development of insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis through inhibition of the transcription factor PPARα. Indeed, JNK1/2 deficiency in hepatocytes protects against the development of steatosis, suggesting…
Yaravirus: A novel 80-nm virus infecting Acanthamoeba castellanii [Microbiology]
10dHere we report the discovery of Yaravirus, a lineage of amoebal virus with a puzzling origin and evolution. Yaravirus presents 80-nm-sized particles and a 44,924-bp dsDNA genome encoding for 74 predicted proteins. Yaravirus genome annotation showed that none of its genes matched with sequences of known organisms at the nucleotide…
MSH1 is required for maintenance of the low mutation rates in plant mitochondrial and plastid genomes [Genetics]
10dMitochondrial and plastid genomes in land plants exhibit some of the slowest rates of sequence evolution observed in any eukaryotic genome, suggesting an exceptional ability to prevent or correct mutations. However, the mechanisms responsible for this extreme fidelity remain unclear. We tested seven candidate genes involved in cytoplasmic DNA replication,…
Correction for Noyes and Keil, There is no privileged link between kinds and essences early in development [Corrections]
10dPSYCHOLOGICAL AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES Correction for “There is no privileged link between kinds and essences early in development,” by Alexander Noyes and Frank C. Keil, which was first published May 4, 2020; 10.1073/pnas.2003627117 (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 117, 10633–10635). The authors note that Fig. 1 appeared incorrectly. The y…
Functional network analysis reveals an immune tolerance mechanism in cancer [Applied Mathematics]
10dWe present a technique to construct a simplification of a feature network which can be used for interactive data exploration, biological hypothesis generation, and the detection of communities or modules of cofunctional features. These are modules of features that are not necessarily correlated, but nevertheless exhibit common function in their…
Folate stress induces SLX1- and RAD51-dependent mitotic DNA synthesis at the fragile X locus in human cells [Medical Sciences]
10dFolate deprivation drives the instability of a group of rare fragile sites (RFSs) characterized by CGG trinucleotide repeat (TNR) sequences. Pathological expansion of the TNR within the FRAXA locus perturbs DNA replication and is the major causative factor for fragile X syndrome, a sex-linked disorder associated with cognitive impairment. Although…
Structural basis for the broad substrate specificity of two acyl-CoA dehydrogenases FadE5 from mycobacteria [Biochemistry]
10dFadE, an acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, introduces unsaturation to carbon chains in lipid metabolism pathways. Here, we report that FadE5 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtbFadE5) and Mycobacterium smegmatis (MsFadE5) play roles in drug resistance and exhibit broad specificity for linear acyl-CoA substrates but have a preference for those with long carbon chains. Here,…
Immunity to commensal skin fungi promotes psoriasiform skin inflammation [Immunology and Inflammation]
10dUnder steady-state conditions, the immune system is poised to sense and respond to the microbiota. As such, immunity to the microbiota, including T cell responses, is expected to precede any inflammatory trigger. How this pool of preformed microbiota-specific T cells contributes to tissue pathologies remains unclear. Here, using an experimental…
Divergence of chemosensing during the early stages of speciation [Evolution]
10dChemosensory communication is essential to insect biology, playing indispensable roles during mate-finding, foraging, and oviposition behaviors. These traits are particularly important during speciation, where chemical perception may serve to establish species barriers. However, identifying genes associated with such complex behavioral traits remains a significant challenge. Through a combination
Bioclickable and mussel adhesive peptide mimics for engineering vascular stent surfaces [Applied Physical Sciences]
10dThrombogenic reaction, aggressive smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation, and sluggish endothelial cell (EC) migration onto bioinert metal vascular stents make poststenting reendothelialization a dilemma. Here, we report an easy to perform, biomimetic surface engineering strategy for multiple functionalization of metal vascular stents. We first design and graft a clickable mussel-inspired…
Observing the nonvectorial yet cotranslational folding of a multidomain protein, LDL receptor, in the ER of mammalian cells [Cell Biology]
10dProteins have evolved by incorporating several structural units within a single polypeptide. As a result, multidomain proteins constitute a large fraction of all proteomes. Their domains often fold to their native structures individually and vectorially as each domain emerges from the ribosome or the protein translocation channel, leading to the…
Highly tunable properties in pressure-treated two-dimensional Dion-Jacobson perovskites [Applied Physical Sciences]
10dThe application of pressure can achieve novel structures and exotic phenomena in condensed matters. However, such pressure-induced transformations are generally reversible and useless for engineering materials for ambient-environment applications. Here, we report comprehensive high-pressure investigations on a series of Dion–Jacobson (D-J) perovskites A′An−1PbnI3n+1 [A′ = 3-(aminomethyl) piperidin
Pharmacological disruption of the Notch transcription factor complex [Applied Biological Sciences]
10dNotch pathway signaling is implicated in several human cancers. Aberrant activation and mutations of Notch signaling components are linked to tumor initiation, maintenance, and resistance to cancer therapy. Several strategies, such as monoclonal antibodies against Notch ligands and receptors, as well as small-molecule γ-secretase inhibitors (GSIs), have been developed to…
Real-time monitoring of peroxiredoxin oligomerization dynamics in living cells [Biochemistry]
10dPeroxiredoxins are central to cellular redox homeostasis and signaling. They serve as peroxide scavengers, sensors, signal transducers, and chaperones, depending on conditions and context. Typical 2-Cys peroxiredoxins are known to switch between different oligomeric states, depending on redox state, pH, posttranslational modifications, and other factors. Quaternary states and their changes…
Mechanisms underlying homeostatic plasticity in the Drosophila mushroom body in vivo [Neuroscience]
10dNeural network function requires an appropriate balance of excitation and inhibition to be maintained by homeostatic plasticity. However, little is known about homeostatic mechanisms in the intact central brain in vivo. Here, we study homeostatic plasticity in the Drosophila mushroom body, where Kenyon cells receive feedforward excitation from olfactory projection…
Ocean mixing and heat transport processes observed under the Ross Ice Shelf control its basal melting [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
10dThe stability of large Antarctic ice shelves has important implications for global sea level, sea ice area, and ocean circulation. A significant proportion of ice mass loss from these ice shelves is through ocean-driven melting which is controlled by largely unobserved oceanic thermodynamic and circulatory processes in the cavity beneath…
Proximal threats promote enhanced acquisition and persistence of reactive fear-learning circuits [Psychological and Cognitive Sciences]
10dPhysical proximity to a traumatic event increases the severity of accompanying stress symptoms, an effect that is reminiscent of evolutionarily configured fear responses based on threat imminence. Despite being widely adopted as a model system for stress and anxiety disorders, fear-conditioning research has not yet characterized how threat proximity impacts…
Correction for Hwang et al., GABA-stimulated adipose-derived stem cells suppress subcutaneous adipose inflammation in obesity [Corrections]
10dIMMUNOLOGY AND INFLAMMATION Correction for “GABA-stimulated adipose-derived stem cells suppress subcutaneous adipose inflammation in obesity,” by Injae Hwang, Kyuri Jo, Kyung Cheul Shin, Jong In Kim, Yul Ji, Yoon Jeong Park, Jeu Park, Yong Geun Jeon, Sojeong Ka, Sujin Suk, Hye Lim Noh, Sung Sik Choe, Assim A. Alfadda, Jason…
OGT suppresses S6K1-mediated macrophage inflammation and metabolic disturbance [Physiology]
10dEnhanced inflammation is believed to contribute to overnutrition-induced metabolic disturbance. Nutrient flux has also been shown to be essential for immune cell activation. Here, we report an unexpected role of nutrient-sensing O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) signaling in suppressing macrophage proinflammatory activation and preventing diet-induced metabolic dysfunction. Overnutrition s
Asteroid impact, not volcanism, caused the end-Cretaceous dinosaur extinction [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
10dThe Cretaceous/Paleogene mass extinction, 66 Ma, included the demise of non-avian dinosaurs. Intense debate has focused on the relative roles of Deccan volcanism and the Chicxulub asteroid impact as kill mechanisms for this event. Here, we combine fossil-occurrence data with paleoclimate and habitat suitability models to evaluate dinosaur habitability in…
Maturation of the functional mouse CRES amyloid from globular form [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
10dThe epididymal lumen contains a complex cystatin-rich nonpathological amyloid matrix with putative roles in sperm maturation and sperm protection. Given our growing understanding for the biological function of this and other functional amyloids, the problem still remains: how functional amyloids assemble including their initial transition to early oligomeric forms. To…
Prevalent Eurasian avian-like H1N1 swine influenza virus with 2009 pandemic viral genes facilitating human infection [Microbiology]
10dPigs are considered as important hosts or “mixing vessels” for the generation of pandemic influenza viruses. Systematic surveillance of influenza viruses in pigs is essential for early warning and preparedness for the next potential pandemic. Here, we report on an influenza virus surveillance of pigs from 2011 to 2018 in…
Fibroblast-tumor cell signaling limits HER2 kinase therapy response via activation of MTOR and antiapoptotic pathways [Medical Sciences]
10dDespite the implementation of multiple HER2-targeted therapies, patients with advanced HER2+ breast cancer ultimately develop drug resistance. Stromal fibroblasts represent an abundant cell type in the tumor microenvironment and have been linked to poor outcomes and drug resistance. Here, we show that fibroblasts counteract the cytotoxic effects of HER2 kinase-targeted…
Inhibition of DUX4 expression with antisense LNA gapmers as a therapy for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy [Medical Sciences]
10dFacioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), characterized by progressive muscle weakness and deterioration, is genetically linked to aberrant expression of DUX4 in muscle. DUX4, in its full-length form, is cytotoxic in nongermline tissues. Here, we designed locked nucleic acid (LNA) gapmer antisense oligonucleotides (AOs) to knock down DUX4 in immortalized FSHD myoblasts…
Dissecting the mechanism of signaling-triggered nuclear export of newly synthesized influenza virus ribonucleoprotein complexes [Microbiology]
10dInfluenza viruses (IV) exploit a variety of signaling pathways. Previous studies showed that the rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma/mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Raf/MEK/ERK) pathway is functionally linked to nuclear export of viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) complexes, suggesting that vRNP export is a signaling-induced event. However, the underlying mechanism
Unusual activated processes controlling dislocation motion in body-centered-cubic high-entropy alloys [Engineering]
10dAtomistic simulations of dislocation mobility reveal that body-centered cubic (BCC) high-entropy alloys (HEAs) are distinctly different from traditional BCC metals. HEAs are concentrated solutions in which composition fluctuation is almost inevitable. The resultant inhomogeneities, while locally promoting kink nucleation on screw dislocations, trap them against propagation with an appreciable ener
Direct evidence of poison-driven widespread population decline in a wild vertebrate [Environmental Sciences]
10dToxicants such as organochlorine insecticides, lead ammunition, and veterinary drugs have caused severe wildlife poisoning, pushing the populations of several apex species to the edge of extinction. These prime cases epitomize the serious threat that wildlife poisoning poses to biodiversity. Much of the evidence on population effects of wildlife poisoning…
A tumor-associated splice-isoform of MAP2K7 drives dedifferentiation in MBNL1-low cancers via JNK activation [Cell Biology]
10dMaster splicing regulator MBNL1 shapes large transcriptomic changes that drive cellular differentiation during development. Here we demonstrate that MBNL1 is a suppressor of tumor dedifferentiation. We surveyed MBNL1 expression in matched tumor/normal pairs across The Cancer Genome Atlas and found that MBNL1 was down-regulated in several common cancers. Down-regulation of…
Oral squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed from saliva metabolic profiling [Medical Sciences]
10dSaliva is a noninvasive biofluid that can contain metabolite signatures of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Conductive polymer spray ionization mass spectrometry (CPSI-MS) is employed to record a wide range of metabolite species within a few seconds, making this technique appealing as a point-of-care method for the early detection of…
The Arabidopsis epigenetic regulator ICU11 as an accessory protein of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 [Plant Biology]
10dMolecular mechanisms enabling the switching and maintenance of epigenetic states are not fully understood. Distinct histone modifications are often associated with ON/OFF epigenetic states, but how these states are stably maintained through DNA replication, yet in certain situations switch from one to another remains unclear. Here, we address this problem…
Correction for Ding et al., Regulators of nitric oxide signaling triggered by host perception in a plant pathogen [Corrections]
10dPLANT BIOLOGY Correction for “Regulators of nitric oxide signaling triggered by host perception in a plant pathogen,” by Yi Ding, Donald M. Gardiner, Di Xiao, and Kemal Kazan, which was first published May 6, 2020; 10.1073/pnas.1918977117 (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 117, 11147–11157). The authors note that when the article…
Correction for Murakami et al., Bile acids and ceramide overcome the entry restriction for GII.3 human norovirus replication in human intestinal enteroids [Corrections]
10dMICROBIOLOGY Correction for “Bile acids and ceramide overcome the entry restriction for GII.3 human norovirus replication in human intestinal enteroids,” by Kosuke Murakami, Victoria R. Tenge, Umesh C. Karandikar, Shih-Ching Lin, Sasirekha Ramani, Khalil Ettayebi, Sue E. Crawford, Xi-Lei Zeng, Frederick H. Neill, B. Vijayalakshmi Ayyar, Kazuhiko Katayama, David Y….
Correction for Makary et al., Loss of nucleus accumbens low-frequency fluctuations is a signature of chronic pain [Corrections]
10dNEUROSCIENCE Correction for “Loss of nucleus accumbens low-frequency fluctuations is a signature of chronic pain,” by Meena M. Makary, Pablo Polosecki, Guillermo A. Cecchi, Ivan E. DeAraujo, Daniel S. Barron, Todd R. Constable, Peter G. Whang, Donna A. Thomas, Hani Mowafi, Dana M. Small, and Paul Geha, which was first…
STIM2 targets Orai1/STIM1 to the AKAP79 signaling complex and confers coupling of Ca2+ entry with NFAT1 activation [Physiology]
10dThe Orai1 channel is regulated by stromal interaction molecules STIM1 and STIM2 within endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-plasma membrane (PM) contact sites. Ca2+ signals generated by Orai1 activate Ca2+-dependent gene expression. When compared with STIM1, STIM2 is a weak activator of Orai1, but it has been suggested to have a unique role…
Dynamics of electrohydraulic soft actuators [Engineering]
10dNature has inspired the design of robots in which soft actuators enable tasks such as handling of fragile objects and adapting to unstructured environments. Those tasks are difficult for traditional robots, which predominantly consist of hard components. Electrohydraulic soft actuators are liquid-filled shells that deform upon the application of electric…
Using synthetic biology to overcome barriers to stable expression of nitrogenase in eukaryotic organelles [Microbiology]
10dEngineering biological nitrogen fixation in eukaryotic cells by direct introduction of nif genes requires elegant synthetic biology approaches to ensure that components required for the biosynthesis of active nitrogenase are stable and expressed in the appropriate stoichiometry. Previously, the NifD subunits of nitrogenase MoFe protein from Azotobacter vinelandii and Klebsiella…
QnAs with Leslie B. Vosshall [QnAs]
10dTo say that Leslie Vosshall has a nose for impactful science is to state the obvious. For more than a decade, Vosshall, a professor at The Rockefeller University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, and member of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), has used her expertise in olfaction to combat…
Enzymatic degradation of liquid droplets of DNA is modulated near the phase boundary [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
10dBiomolecules can undergo liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS), forming dense droplets that are increasingly understood to be important for cellular function. Analogous systems are studied as early-life compartmentalization mechanisms, for applications as protocells, or as drug-delivery vehicles. In many of these situations, interactions between the droplet and enzymatic solutes are important…
Observation of backscattering induced by magnetism in a topological edge state [Physics]
10dThe boundary modes of topological insulators are protected by the symmetries of the nontrivial bulk electronic states. Unless these symmetries are broken, they can give rise to novel phenomena, such as the quantum spin Hall effect in one-dimensional (1D) topological edge states, where quasiparticle backscattering is suppressed by time-reversal symmetry…
On the enigmatic disappearance of Rauber’s layer [Developmental Biology]
10dThe polar trophoblast overlays the epiblast in eutherian mammals and, depending on the species, has one of two different fates. It either remains a single-layered, thinning epithelium called “Rauber’s layer,” which soon disintegrates, or, alternatively, it keeps proliferating, contributing heavily to the population of differentiating, invasive trophoblast cells and, at…
Multiple transpolar auroral arcs reveal insight about coupling processes in the Earth’s magnetotail [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
10dA distinct class of aurora, called transpolar auroral arc (TPA) (in some cases called “theta” aurora), appears in the extremely high-latitude ionosphere of the Earth when interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is northward. The formation and evolution of TPA offers clues about processes transferring energy and momentum from the solar wind…
Ethnolinguistic diversity and urban agglomeration [Economic Sciences]
10dThis article shows that higher ethnolinguistic diversity is associated with a greater risk of social tensions and conflict, which, in turn, is a dispersion force lowering urbanization and the incentives to move to big cities. We construct a worldwide dataset at a fine-grained level on urban settlement patterns and ethnolinguistic…
The influence of packing structure and interparticle forces on ultrasound transmission in granular media [Physics]
10dUltrasound propagation through externally stressed, disordered granular materials was experimentally and numerically investigated. Experiments employed piezoelectric transducers to excite and detect longitudinal ultrasound waves of various frequencies traveling through randomly packed sapphire spheres subjected to uniaxial compression. The experiments featured in situ X-ray tomography and diffract
LIN28B regulates transcription and potentiates MYCN-induced neuroblastoma through binding to ZNF143 at target gene promotors [Medical Sciences]
10dLIN28B is highly expressed in neuroblastoma and promotes tumorigenesis, at least, in part, through inhibition of let-7 microRNA biogenesis. Here, we report that overexpression of either wild-type (WT) LIN28B or a LIN28B mutant that is unable to inhibit let-7 processing increases the penetrance of MYCN-induced neuroblastoma, potentiates the invasion and…
IL-38 inhibits microglial inflammatory mediators and is decreased in amygdala of children with autism spectrum disorder [Immunology and Inflammation]
10dAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impaired social interactions and communication. The pathogenesis of ASD is not known, but it involves activation of microglia. We had shown that the peptide neurotensin (NT) is increased in the serum of children with ASD and stimulates cultured adult human microglia to secrete…
Weather at the winter and stopover areas determines spring migration onset, progress, and advancements in Afro-Palearctic migrant birds [Ecology]
10dClimate change causes changes in the timing of life cycle events across all trophic groups. Spring phenology has mostly advanced, but large, unexplained, variations are present between and within species. Each spring, migratory birds travel tens to tens of thousands of kilometers from their wintering to their breeding grounds. For…
Sex differences in neutrophil biology modulate response to type I interferons and immunometabolism [Immunology and Inflammation]
10dDifferences between female and male immunity may contribute to variations in response to infections and predisposition to autoimmunity. We previously reported that neutrophils from reproductive-age males are more immature and less activated than their female counterparts. To further characterize the mechanisms that drive differential neutrophil phenotypes, we performed RNA sequencing…
Rocks in the auxin stream: Wound-induced auxin accumulation and ERF115 expression synergistically drive stem cell regeneration [Plant Biology]
10dPlants are known for their outstanding capacity to recover from various wounds and injuries. However, it remains largely unknown how plants sense diverse forms of injury and canalize existing developmental processes into the execution of a correct regenerative response. Auxin, a cardinal plant hormone with morphogen-like properties, has been previously…
Scotland could eliminate the coronavirus – if it weren't for England
10dScotland may be only weeks away from no new daily cases of coronavirus. As the nation gets close, cases from over the border will become a big problem
Blond without the bottle
10dA few weeks after preparing them, Dr Catherine Guenther checked her mouse embryos and knew that she had identified the source of a blond-haired mutation in human DNA. The not-yet-fully-formed mice looked like tiny Portuguese men o' war – bulbous, translucent and speckled blue at the edges. Guenther copied sequences of human DNA near a gene called KITLG. She fused the sequence with another piece o
Parents: Beware of this COVID-linked syndrome in kids
10dParents and clinicians need to watch for symptoms of multiple inflammatory syndrome in kids who’ve been diagnosed with or exposed to COVID-19, according to a new study. Multiple inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) is an inflammation impacting two or more organ systems within the body, and appears to be a late complication following an infection or exposure to COVID-19 . The study presents 186 cases of
Leicester lessons should be quickly absorbed
10dUK government needs to empower local officials to tackle virus flare-ups
UN agency: Source of radioactivity in Nordics still unclear
10dThe U.N. nuclear agency says slightly elevated levels of radioactivity that have been detected in northern Europe pose no risk to human health or to the environment but it's still unclear what the cause was.
MIPT bioinformaticians find way to personalize drug prescription against stomach cancer
10dResearchers from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and their colleagues have developed the first technique for personalizing stomach cancer therapy based on RNA sequencing of tumor cells. The study, supported by the Russian Science Foundation, was published in Cold Spring Harbor Molecular Case Studies.
Just add sugar: How a protein's small change leads to big trouble for cells
10dA study from investigators in the Sloan Kettering Institute reveals how a protein called GRP94, which is normally a 'good guy' in the cell, turns bad when it has a sugar molecule added to it.
Fire gange så stort som Samsø: Kæmpe have af koraller fundet ved Grønland
10dSelv i totalt mørke og på dybt vand, findes der koraller.
Swine Flu Strain Has Pandemic Potential: Study
10dAn influenza virus identified in pigs in China has a concerning mix of genes, but experts say there is no way to know if it will evolve to be transmissible between humans.
What Is Dexamethasone? About the Life-Saving Drug Repurposed for Coronavirus
10dPreliminary results of a study show dexamethasone improves survival more effectively than remdesivir among severely ill COVID-19 patients.
NASA's TESS delivers new insights into an ultrahot world
10dKELT-9 b is one of the hottest planets known. New measurements from NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) have enabled astronomers to greatly improve their understanding of this bizarre world.
To find giant black holes, start with Jupiter
10dOn a quest to find the Universe's largest black holes, researchers identify the center of the solar system within 100 meters.
Light drinking may protect brain function
10dLight to moderate drinking may preserve brain function in older age, according to a new study.
New genomic atlas of the developing human brain
10dResearchers have created a comprehensive region-specific atlas of the regulatory regions of the genome linked to human embryonic brain development.
Life-hack: Rituals spell anxiety relief
10dResearchers are examining the important roles rituals play in reducing our anxiety levels.
Extreme warming of the South Pole
10dThe South Pole has been warming at more than three times the global average over the past 30 years, according to recent research.
Discovery of key protein behind cancer relapse and progression can lead to new therapies
10dReports show that cancer is the second-highest leading cause of death globally. A recent study by scientists provides new evidence supporting the presence of a key mechanism behind progression and relapse in cancer. The study discusses the role of MBNL1 protein as a biomarker for cancer prognosis, which can lead to the development of new treatment strategies for cancer.
Smiling in the masked world of COVID-19
10dWith faces covered to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, some of the facial cues that people rely on to connect with others—such as a smile that shows support—are also obscured.
Beyond covid-19 lies a new normal—and new opportunities
10dThe covid-19 pandemic has unleashed changes that seemed unthinkable just a few months ago. In February, it seemed unthinkable the entire white-collar workforce of many countries would soon be working solely from home. It seemed unthinkable air travel would plummet by 96%, or millions of migrant workers in India would be forced to undertake a herculean exodus, walking thousands of miles to their h
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