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Scientists Propose growing the US bio-economy in order to respond quicker to infectious diseases, secure supply chains and disrupt the dependency on foreign suppliers. (Genomics, Monoclonal Antibodies, mRNA, Adjuvants, Synthetic Bio Manufacturing, etc.)
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Today’s wind turbine blades could become tomorrow’s bridges
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This time there really is a wolf! – Commercial fusion is probably 25 years away.
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New statistical method exponentially increases ability to discover genetic insights
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Researchers have demonstrated on-demand storage of photonic qubits in an integrated solid-state quantum memory for the first time
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Scientists in China developed new gene therapy strategy to delay aging
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China gears up for space station, cargo and crewed mission launches
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These Futuristic Flying Ambulances May Soon Be Zooming Around New York
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Verdens mest glubske strømhvirvel findes ud for Norge
4dPLUS. Verdenshavene rammes af tusindvis af storme. En af de mest stabile er ‘Lofoton-strømhvirvlen’ i Norskehavet. Den lever af at sluge andre storme.
Nye, smitsomme corona-mutationer hærger: Derfor opstår de
4dVi ser mutationer nu, fordi så mange mennesker er smittede.
Transition metal 'cocktail' helps make brand new superconductors
4dResearchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University mixed and designed a new, high entropy alloy (HEA) superconductor, using extensive data on simple superconducting substances with a specific crystal structure. HEAs are known to preserve superconducting characteristics up to extremely high pressures. The new superconductor, Co 0.2 Ni 0.1 Cu 0.1 Rh 0.3 Ir 0.3 Zr 2 , has a superconducting transition at
Vaccine scepticism: needling doubts
4dConfidence in jabs will receive a boost if the Covid vaccine rollout goes well
Avskogning övervakas från rymden – minskar koldioxidutsläpp
4dAvskogningen i Afrika minskade med 18 procent under två år tack vare satellitövervakning. Det räddar djur-och växtliv och sparar in koldioxidutsläpp.
The Tweets That Got Trump Banned Were Far From His Worst
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4dTwitter US Facebook Trump
In the end, what took down @realDonaldTrump was not what he tweeted, but how it was interpreted.
Nasa's Curiosity rover: 3,000 days on Mars
4dThree thousand days and counting: Nasa's Curiosity rover continues its extraordinary exploration of Mars.
The Atlantic Daily: The Week in Review
4dEvery 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 . MIKE THEILER / REUTERS Impeachment calls grow . Donald Trump has been banned from Twitter ( justifiably so ). And those are just the latest developments in the fallout from the Capitol attack. Be
An Astronomer Who Believes in Aliens Explains Why He's Not Convinced by UFO Sightings
4dThe truth is out there.
Listen: John Bresnahan Helps Us Understand What the Hell Just Happened
4dJohn Bresnahan has covered Congress for decades, previously as Politico ’s Capitol Hill bureau chief and now as co-founder of Punchbowl News. On the podcast The Ticket , he describes what he saw inside the building as a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol this week—and what implications the searing event could have going forward. Listen to his conversation with host Edward-Isaac Dovere here: Subscr
Extreme 14th Century Droughts May Provide Insight Into Our Climate Change Crisis
4dCould it tell us where we're headed?
Twitter bans Trump
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4dTwitter US Capitol Trump
Less than 24 hours after President Trump was allowed back on Twitter, the social media platform announced on Friday afternoon, January 8, that it was permanently suspending his @realdonaltrump account “due to the risk of further incitement of violence.” The decision followed several more tweets warning that his supporters would not be “disrespected” and saying he would not attend the inauguration
Listen: How Badly Is Vaccination Going?
4dOperation Warp Speed pledged to vaccinate 20 million Americans by the end of 2020. We fell far, far short of that. How worried should we be? Juliette Kayyem, a former assistant secretary of homeland security and an Atlantic contributor , joins staff writer James Hamblin and executive producer Katherine Wells on the podcast Social Distance . She explains what’s going on, what the problems have bee
Pelosi Asks Military To Limit Trump's Nuclear Authority. Here's How That System Works
4dThe House speaker told colleagues she had spoken with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff about keeping the nuclear codes from an "unhinged President." (Image credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Seven Surprising Ways Brain Asymmetries Affect Your Daily Life
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[Paper] Probing Whether Pre-Trained Computer Vision Models Exhibit Gestalt Perceptual Properties
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False Reports of a New ‘U.S. Variant’ Came From White House Task Force
4dReports of a highly contagious new variant, published on Friday by multiple news outlets, were based on speculative statements made by Dr. Deborah Birx.
Large study finds higher burden of acute brain dysfunction for COVID-19 ICU patients
4dCOVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care in the early months of the pandemic were subject to a significantly higher burden of delirium and coma than is typically found in patients with acute respiratory failure. Choice of sedative medications and curbs on family visitation played a role in increasing acute brain dysfunction for these patients.
The Lancet: Most patients hospitalised with COVID-19 have at least one symptom six months after falling ill, Wuhan follow-up study suggests
4dMore than three quarters of COVID-19 patients have at least one ongoing symptom six months after initially becoming unwell, according to research published in The Lancet.
COVID-19: Online tool identifies patients at highest risk of deterioration
4dA new risk-stratification tool which can accurately predict the likelihood of deterioration in adults hospitalised with COVID-19 has been developed by researchers from the UK Coronavirus Clinical Characterisation Consortium (known as ISARIC4C).
Twitter Permanently Suspends Donald Trump’s Account
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4dTwitter US Capitol Trump
Bye, Don Social media giant Twitter announced on Friday evening that it was “permanently” suspending the account of embattled U.S. president Donald Trump. “After close review of recent Tweets from the@realDonaldTrump account and the context around them we have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence,” reads an announcement from the platform. “In the con
6 Months Later, Covid Survivors Plagued by Health Problems
4dA large study of patients from a Wuhan, China, hospital showed that a half-year later, three-quarters were struggling with problems like fatigue, depression and diminished lung function.
Why do men need to recharge after sex? Scientists make surprising discovery.
4dMen and other male creatures need time to recover between ejaculations, and scientists have assumed it has to do with an increase in the hormone prolactin after coitus. A new study finds that manipulating prolactin levels in mice makes no difference in their sexual behavior. The authors suspect more complex interactions may be at the heart of the wait for round two. For some time, scientists have
Beyond the Laughs, 'The Office' Delivers Some Hard Science. But How Does It Hold Up?
4dFrom a lice infestation to rabies, a beet juice diet to stinky feet, here's how the science stacks up in 5 unforgettable episodes of NBC's hit comedy series.
We May Have Dog Friends Because Wolves Once Preferred Different Food, Study Suggests
4dThey weren't our rivals.
If You’re Not Paranoid About Your Online Security, Maybe You Should Be
4dAt some point, you’ve probably felt paranoid about who might be prying into your personal information, your data, and your browsing habits online. But how paranoid is it, really? Everyone from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to law enforcement to data marketers to hackers are trying to get their hands on your data, so you have every right to be concerned. So if you care at all about your pri
Science advocacy groups join calls for Trump’s removal
4dStatements come in wake of attack on U.S. Capitol
The scramble to archive Capitol insurrection footage before it disappears
4dAs a violent mob incited by President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol on January 6, halting the procedure in Congress to formally certify Joe Biden as president-elect, a Redditor with the username Adam Lynch began a thread on the subreddit r/DataHoarder—a forum dedicated to saving data that might be erased or deleted. “Archiving videos before potential removal from various websites …” it bega
Nyt studie rykker ved forestillingen om pædofile
4dEt netop publiceret sociologisk studie analyserer et internetforum, hvor pædofile støtter hinanden…
Here's What We Know About The New COVID-19 Mutations So Far
4dThere's still a lot we don't understand.
What's Ahead for SARS-CoV-2 Research in 2021
4dFrom new treatments to an investigation into the virus's origins, here are some of the developments we can expect this year.
The Insurrectionists Would Like You to Know That They’re the Real Victims
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4dHouse Biden Trump Capitol
History is rewritten by the self-styled victims. Even after more than four years of rationalizing and excusing every violation by the president, Donald Trump’s enablers have their work cut out for them this week, after a mob incited by Trump sacked the U.S. Capitol, disrupted constitutional order , and killed a police officer. But, undeterred, they are still energetically devoted to the task. I w
Including unhealthy foods may diminish positive effects of an otherwise healthy diet
4dResearchers at Rush University Medical Center have reported diminished benefits of a Mediterranean diet among those with high frequency of eating unhealthy foods. The results of their study were published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association on Jan. 7.
COVID forced psychiatric care online. Many patients want it to stay there, study finds
4dA new study suggests that more than half of outpatient psychiatry patients whose appointments were suddenly converted to video or phone interactions by the pandemic will want to keep going with virtual mental health care even after the pandemic subsides. The convenience of seeing a provider without leaving home, and avoiding potential exposure to the coronavirus, factor heavily into this preferenc
Pfizer Says Its Covid Vaccine Works Against Key Mutation
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4dPfizer Vaccine UK SA
It’s good news, but experts cautioned that the new variants from Britain and South Africa also carry other potentially dangerous mutations that have not yet been investigated.
Phylogenomic fingerprinting of tempo and functions of horizontal gene transfer within ochrophytes [Evolution]
4dHorizontal gene transfer (HGT) is an important source of novelty in eukaryotic genomes. This is particularly true for the ochrophytes, a diverse and important group of algae. Previous studies have shown that ochrophytes possess a mosaic of genes derived from bacteria and eukaryotic algae, acquired through chloroplast endosymbiosis and from…
Mammalian cell proliferation requires noncatalytic functions of O-GlcNAc transferase [Biochemistry]
4dO-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), found in the nucleus and cytoplasm of all mammalian cell types, is essential for cell proliferation. Why OGT is required for cell growth is not known. OGT performs two enzymatic reactions in the same active site. In one, it glycosylates thousands of different proteins, and in the…
Oxide superconductors—light on a continuing mystery [Physics]
4dThe discovery of a whole new class of cuprate superconductors (1) over 30 y ago resulted in euphoria, intense research efforts, and an expectation that in the course of the next few years, we would understand why these materials displayed superconductivity at an unanticipated high temperature. However, in spite of…
On COVID-19, cognitive bias, and open access [Editorials]
4dStarting out the year 2021 by looking back at the year 2020 might seem like an exercise in masochism, given the horrific loss of life, the untold economic hardships, the resurgence of white supremacy across the country, and the rampant (and at times utterly incomprehensible) political chaos packed into those…
Lithogenic hydrogen supports microbial primary production in subglacial and proglacial environments [Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences]
4dLife in environments devoid of photosynthesis, such as on early Earth or in contemporary dark subsurface ecosystems, is supported by chemical energy. How, when, and where chemical nutrients released from the geosphere fuel chemosynthetic biospheres is fundamental to understanding the distribution and diversity of life, both today and in the…
Multiple constraints cause positive and negative feedbacks limiting grassland soil CO2 efflux under CO2 enrichment [Ecology]
4dTerrestrial ecosystems are increasingly enriched with resources such as atmospheric CO2 that limit ecosystem processes. The consequences for ecosystem carbon cycling depend on the feedbacks from other limiting resources and plant community change, which remain poorly understood for soil CO2 efflux, JCO2, a primary carbon flux from the biosphere to…
Exotic foods reveal contact between South Asia and the Near East during the second millennium BCE [Anthropology]
4dAlthough the key role of long-distance trade in the transformation of cuisines worldwide has been well-documented since at least the Roman era, the prehistory of the Eurasian food trade is less visible. In order to shed light on the transformation of Eastern Mediterranean cuisines during the Bronze Age and Early…
College roommates have a modest but significant influence on each other’s political ideology [Political Sciences]
4dDoes college change students’ political preferences? While existing research has documented associations between college education and political views, it remains unclear whether these associations reflect a causal relationship. We address this gap in previous research by analyzing a quasi-experiment in which university students are assigned to live together as roommates….
On explosive boiling of a multicomponent Leidenfrost drop [Engineering]
4dThe gasification of multicomponent fuel drops is relevant in various energy-related technologies. An interesting phenomenon associated with this process is the self-induced explosion of the drop, producing a multitude of smaller secondary droplets, which promotes overall fuel atomization and, consequently, improves the combustion efficiency and reduces emissions of liquid-fueled engines….
Permissive selection followed by affinity-based proliferation of GC light zone B cells dictates cell fate and ensures clonal breadth [Immunology and Inflammation]
4dAffinity maturation depends on how efficiently germinal centers (GCs) positively select B cells in the light zone (LZ). Positively selected GC B cells recirculate between LZs and dark zones (DZs) and ultimately differentiate into plasmablasts (PBs) and memory B cells (MBCs). Current understanding of the GC reaction presumes that cMyc-dependent…
News Feature: To understand the plight of insects, entomologists look to the past [Sustainability Science]
4dPlumbing a variety of historical data could offer important insights into trends in insect declines. When avian ecologist Nicholas Rodenhouse moved offices a few years ago, he found a potential treasure trove of data buried in some old file cabinets. Piles of forgotten spreadsheets catalogued taxonomic records of beetles collected…
Handy water: Chiral superstructures around peptide {beta}-sheets [Biophysics and Computational Biology]
4dWater is a key component of biological systems. Traditionally, water is considered as the background against which biology evolves. However, recently, it is becoming apparent that water is very much an essential part of the system. One could even ask to what extent water determines the structure of proteins, membranes,…
Chromatin phosphoproteomics unravels a function for AT-hook motif nuclear localized protein AHL13 in PAMP-triggered immunity [Plant Biology]
4dIn many eukaryotic systems during immune responses, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) link cytoplasmic signaling to chromatin events by targeting transcription factors, chromatin remodeling complexes, and the RNA polymerase machinery. So far, knowledge on these events is scarce in plants and no attempts have been made to focus on phosphorylation events…
Diversification spins a heatwave safety net for fisheries [Sustainability Science]
4dBoth stock markets and ecosystems experience shocks. Some shocks spark dramatic recessions or ecological collapse; others are just small bumps in the road of history. Understanding why some systems are fragile and others resilient to shocks is a major question across research fields, from economics to engineering, ecology to climate…
The Earth is Spinning So Fast, We Might Need to Skip a Second
4dScientists have made a surprising observation: the Earth’s spin is accelerating. In fact, the Earth is spinning faster than ever recorded lately, as Phys.org reports — and no, that’s not figuratively speaking. One rotation around the Earth’s axis is the equivalent of 24 hours, or roughly 86,400 seconds. While this period has been largely consistent despite variations caused by the movement of the
New tech helping cancer patients manage symptoms
4dHundreds of cancer patients have benefitted from using computer algorithms to manage their symptoms and improve their wellbeing in a unique UK trial by the University of Leeds. Patients tested the eRAPID system which allowed them to report online symptoms from home and receive instant advice on whether to self-manage or seek medical attention.
Could New COVID Variants Undermine Vaccines? Labs Scramble to Find Out
4dResearchers race to determine why variants identified in Britain and South Africa spread so quickly and whether they’ll compromise vaccines — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
What to know before you buy an electric vehicle
4dUnderstanding the different charging levels and types will help you make a more informed decision about EV ownership. (Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash/) Electric cars have long remained objects of fantasy, tantalizingly just out of reach for drivers who imagine the joy of whooshing silently around town, powered by electrons that were hopefully produced by renewable means. But the coming flood of
Mutation in SARS-CoV-2 Variant Does Not Affect Vaccine: Study
4dAn engineered coronavirus with the N501Y mutation–one of many mutations present in the emerging B.1.1.7 and 501.V2 variants of the coronavirus–is neutralized by the sera of COVID-19 vaccine recipients.
UCF engineering and biology researchers collaborate to aid coral reef restoration
4dFlorida's threatened coral reefs have a more than $4 billion annual economic impact on the state's economy, and University of Central Florida researchers are zeroing in on one factor that could be limiting their survival – coral skeleton strength.In a new study published in the journal Coral Reefs , UCF engineering researchers tested how well staghorn coral skeletons withstand the forces of nature
Gene therapy strategy found effective in mouse model of hereditary disease TSC
4dPatients with a genetic disorder called tuberous sclerosis complex have noncancerous tumors growing in numerous organs, and their treatment options are limited. A gene therapy strategy effectively treated mice that express one of the mutated genes that cause the disease.
UK decision to space vaccination doses sparks fierce debate over risk
4dAs more countries extend gap between jabs, scientists have expressed scepticism as well as concern over trust being eroded
Single-dose COVID-19 vaccine triggers antibody response in mice
4dResearchers have developed a nanoparticle vaccine that elicits a virus-neutralizing antibody response in mice after only a single dose.
Religion, psychology share methods for reducing distress, study finds
4dReligious people facing life crises rely on emotion-regulation strategies that psychologists also use, a new study finds. They look for positive ways of thinking about hardship, a practice known to psychologists as 'cognitive reappraisal.' They also tend to have confidence in their ability to cope with difficulty, a trait called 'coping self-efficacy.' Both have been shown to reduce symptoms of an
Heading outdoors keeps lockdown blues at bay
4dA new study has found that spending time outdoors and switching off devices, such as smartphones, is associated with higher levels of happiness during a period of COVID-19 restrictions.
Watch a Plastid Squirm from One Plant Cell to Another
4dEntire organelles bearing DNA move between strains of tobacco that were grafted to one another.
Watch a Plastid Squirm from One Plant Cell to Another
4dEntire organelles bearing DNA move between strains of tobacco that were grafted to one another.
Child marriage is legal and persists across Canada
4dCanada is at the forefront of global efforts to end child marriage abroad. Yet this practice remains legal and persists across the country. In Canada, more than 3,600 marriage certificates were issued to children, usually girls, under the age of 18 between 2000 and 2018, according to a new study from researchers at McGill University. In recent years, an increasing number of child marriages have be
NIST publishes a beginner's guide to DNA origami
4dJacob Majikes and Alex Liddle, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) who have studied DNA origami for years, have compiled the first detailed tutorial on the technique.
Nanoparticle vaccine for COVID-19
4dResearchers are working to develop a single-dose vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 that could potentially be stored at room temperature.
Single-dose COVID-19 vaccine triggers antibody response in mice
4dResearchers have developed a nanoparticle vaccine that elicits a virus-neutralizing antibody response in mice after only a single dose.
Another life-saving treatment is found for covid-19
4dTwo drugs for arthritis prove strikingly effective
Are monarchs endangered? Scientists debate as United States mulls protection
4dIconic species’ complex life history confounds assessments of its decline
Nanoparticle vaccine for COVID-19
4dResearchers are working to develop a single-dose vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 that could potentially be stored at room temperature.
Chandra X-ray Observatory studies extraordinary magnetar
4dIn 2020, astronomers added a new member to an exclusive family of exotic objects with the discovery of a magnetar. New observations from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory help support the idea that it is also a pulsar, meaning it emits regular pulses of light.
Biden Picks Dr. Nunez-Smith to Lead Health Equity Task Force
4dAppointed head of the incoming administration’s task force on health equity, the Yale University scientist “is not sitting in her ivory tower.”
Party city Dubai becomes escape hatch as Europe locks down
4dFootballers, actors and influencers head to UAE as tourist hotspot opens its doors to world
Latina mothers, often essential workers, report COVID-19 took toll
4dMore than half of Latina mothers surveyed in Yolo and Sacramento counties reported making economic cutbacks in response to the pandemic shutdown last spring — saying they bought less food and missed rent payments. Hardships were not reduced by stimulus checks.
Ændrer vaccinen dit dna, og smitter du efter stikket? Her er svar på jeres spørgsmål om corona-vaccination
4dFå svar på 11 af brugernes spørgsmål om coronavaccinen.
Cancer Researcher Sentenced for Stealing Biological Samples
4dIn December 2019, a Chinese cancer expert named Zaosong Zheng working at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, was arrested for trying to sneak 19 vials of biological samples to China so he could continue his research. Now Zheng’s been sentenced to time served, The Boston Globe reports , in part due to his value to society as a doctor and researcher. But he was forced to leave the U.S. f
The DC Insurrection Lays Bare the Fiction of America
4dThe actions of rioters showed a need to hold on to a vision of the country that’s at odds with reality.
2020 kommer ind på en delt førsteplads med 2016: De varmeste år nogensinde
4dDen globale temperaturstigning er snublende tæt på smertegrænsen på 1,5 grader. Nedlukningen under corona gør ikke en forskel.
SE BILLEDERNE: Fem steder hvor ekstremt vejr har skabt kaos i 2020
4d2020 blev ifølge EU-klimatjenesten Copernicus et af de varmeste målt nogensinde.
MAGA World Is Splintering
4dBryson Gray, a 29-year-old rapper and Donald Trump superfan from North Carolina, wants to make one thing clear: It was a group of the president’s most loyal supporters that rioted in the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday, and nobody else. When I spoke with Gray yesterday, he said he had been “too late” to get inside the Capitol itself with the rest of the mob, which broke windows and chanted thr
Scientists discover slimy microbes that may help keep coral reefs healthy
4dMicrobes living within the slimy biofilms of some coral species may help protect the coral against excess nitrogen levels, according to research from MIT and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), in collaboration with colleagues in Cuba.
California Is Packing the COVID Dead Into Refrigerated Trucks
4dSo many people are dying at the hands of the coronavirus in California that mortuaries are running out of space to store bodies. State officials are dispatching refrigerated trucks across the state to hold corpses, as the rising COVID-19 death toll is causing funeral homes to fill up, the Los Angeles Times reports . The move comes as funeral homes now have the miserable job of turning away grievi
Jamie Raskin Lost His Son. Then He Fled a Mob.
4dA s the mob seized the Capitol, Jamie Raskin thought not of himself, but of his younger daughter, Tabitha, who had asked him not to go to work that day. “This is an essential constitutional moment,” he had told her. Rather than stay home, he proposed another idea: What if she came along? When Raskin, the congressman from Maryland, rose to address the chamber around 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday, he rece
Unravelling the mystery that makes viruses infectious
4dResearchers have for the first time identified the way viruses like the poliovirus and the common cold virus 'package up' their genetic code, allowing them to infect cells. The findings, published today (Friday, 8 January) in the journal PLOS Pathogens by a team from the Universities of Leeds and York, open up the possibility that drugs or anti-viral agents can be developed that would stop such in
Researchers take key step toward cleaner, more sustainable production of hydrogen
4dEfficiently mass-producing hydrogen from water is closer to becoming a reality thanks to Oregon State University College of Engineering researchers and collaborators at Cornell University and the Argonne National Laboratory.
Bacteria can tell the time
4dNew research reveals that bacteria have internal clocks that align with the 24-hour cycle of life on Earth.
Immune cells discovered in the lungs improve virus defense
4dA research team at the University of Basel has discovered immune cells resident in the lungs that persist long after a bout of flu. Experiments with mice have shown that these helper cells improve the immune response to reinfection by a different strain of the flu virus. The discovery could yield approaches to developing longer-lasting vaccinations against quickly-mutating viruses.
COVID-19 immunity could be long term
4dMany people who catch COVID-19 may develop long-lasting immunity to the new virus, SARS-CoV-2. (Pixaba/) People who have recovered from COVID-19 mount an immune response that persists for at least eight months, scientists reported on January 6 in the journal Science . Researchers detected multiple components of the immune system specific to defending against the novel coronavirus, including antib
ITIH4 acts as a protease inhibitor by a novel inhibitory mechanism
4dInter-α-inhibitor heavy chain 4 (ITIH4) is a poorly characterized plasma protein that is proteolytically processed in multiple pathological conditions. However, no biological function of ITIH4 has been identified. Here, we show that ITIH4 is cleaved by several human proteases within a protease-susceptible region, enabling ITIH4 to function as a protease inhibitor. This is exemplified by its inhib
Rab7-harboring vesicles are carriers of the transferrin receptor through the biosynthetic secretory pathway
4dThe biosynthetic secretory pathway is particularly challenging to investigate as it is underrepresented compared to the abundance of the other intracellular trafficking routes. Here, we combined the retention using selective hook (RUSH) to a CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing approach (eRUSH) and identified Rab7-harboring vesicles as an important intermediate compartment of the Golgi–to–plasma membrane tra
Thermal stress reduces pocilloporid coral resilience to ocean acidification by impairing control over calcifying fluid chemistry
4dThe combination of thermal stress and ocean acidification (OA) can more negatively affect coral calcification than an individual stressors, but the mechanism behind this interaction is unknown. We used two independent methods (microelectrode and boron geochemistry) to measure calcifying fluid pH (pH cf ) and carbonate chemistry of the corals Pocillopora damicornis and Stylophora pistillata grown
Gene therapy for tuberous sclerosis complex type 2 in a mouse model by delivery of AAV9 encoding a condensed form of tuberin
4dTuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) results from loss of a tumor suppressor gene – TSC 1 or TSC 2, encoding hamartin and tuberin, respectively. These proteins formed a complex to inhibit mTORC1-mediated cell growth and proliferation. Loss of either protein leads to overgrowth lesions in many vital organs. Gene therapy was evaluated in a mouse model of TSC2 using an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vecto
Defects and plasticity in ultrastrong supercrystalline nanocomposites
4dSupercrystalline nanocomposites are nanoarchitected materials with a growing range of applications but unexplored in their structural behavior. They typically consist of organically functionalized inorganic nanoparticles arranged into periodic structures analogous to crystalline lattices, including superlattice imperfections induced by processing or mechanical loading. Although featuring a variet
Amorphization mechanism of SrIrO3 electrocatalyst: How oxygen redox initiates ionic diffusion and structural reorganization
4dThe use of renewable electricity to prepare materials and fuels from abundant molecules offers a tantalizing opportunity to address concerns over energy and materials sustainability. The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is integral to nearly all material and fuel electrosyntheses. However, very little is known about the structural evolution of the OER electrocatalyst, especially the amorphous laye
The nuclear piston activates mechanosensitive ion channels to generate cell migration paths in confining microenvironments
4dCell migration in confining microenvironments is limited by the ability of the stiff nucleus to deform through pores when migration paths are preexisting and elastic, but how cells generate these paths remains unclear. Here, we reveal a mechanism by which the nucleus mechanically generates migration paths for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in confining microenvironments. MSCs migrate robustly in n
Single-crystalline epitaxial TiO film: A metal and superconductor, similar to Ti metal
4dTitanium monoxide (TiO), an important member of the rock salt 3d transition-metal monoxides, has not been studied in the stoichiometric single-crystal form. It has been challenging to prepare stoichiometric TiO due to the highly reactive Ti 2+ . We adapt a closely lattice-matched MgO(001) substrate and report the successful growth of single-crystalline TiO(001) film using molecular beam epitaxy.
Structural basis for the regulation of nucleosome recognition and HDAC activity by histone deacetylase assemblies
4dThe chromatin-modifying histone deacetylases (HDACs) remove acetyl groups from acetyl-lysine residues in histone amino-terminal tails, thereby mediating transcriptional repression. Structural makeup and mechanisms by which multisubunit HDAC complexes recognize nucleosomes remain elusive. Our cryo–electron microscopy structures of the yeast class II HDAC ensembles show that the HDAC protomer compr
Tunable intraband optical conductivity and polarization-dependent epsilon-near-zero behavior in black phosphorus
4dBlack phosphorus (BP) offers considerable promise for infrared and visible photonics. Efficient tuning of the bandgap and higher subbands in BP by modulation of the Fermi level or application of vertical electric fields has been previously demonstrated, allowing electrical control of its above-bandgap optical properties. Here, we report modulation of the optical conductivity below the bandgap (5
Crystal orientation dictated epitaxy of ultrawide-bandgap 5.4- to 8.6-eV {alpha}-(AlGa)2O3 on m-plane sapphire
4dUltrawide-bandgap semiconductors are ushering in the next generation of high-power electronics. The correct crystal orientation can make or break successful epitaxy of such semiconductors. Here, it is found that single-crystalline layers of α-(AlGa) 2 O 3 alloys spanning bandgaps of 5.4 to 8.6 eV can be grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The key step is found to be the use of m-plane sapphire cryst
Genetic switch in UV response of mimicry-related pale-yellow colors in Batesian mimic butterfly, Papilio polytes
4dIn a Batesian mimic butterfly Papilio polytes , mimetic females resemble an unpalatable model, Pachliopta aristolochiae , but exhibit a different color pattern from nonmimetic females and males. In particular, the pale-yellow region on hind wings, which correspondingly sends important putative signals for mimicry and mate preference, is different in shape and chemical features between nonmimetic
Antiferromagnetic switching driven by the collective dynamics of a coexisting spin glass
4dThe theory behind the electrical switching of antiferromagnets is premised on the existence of a well-defined broken symmetry state that can be rotated to encode information. A spin glass is, in many ways, the antithesis of this state, characterized by an ergodic landscape of nearly degenerate magnetic configurations, choosing to freeze into a distribution of these in a manner that is seemingly b
TRIM26 is a critical host factor for HCV replication and contributes to host tropism
4dHepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a major human pathogen that requires better understanding of virus-host interactions. In this study, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screening and identified TRIM26, an E3 ligase, as a critical HCV host factor. Deficiency of TRIM26 specifically impairs HCV genome replication. Mechanistic studies showed that TRIM26 interacts with HCV-encoded NS5B protein and
The structure of enteric human adenovirus 41–A leading cause of diarrhea in children
4dHuman adenovirus (HAdV) types F40 and F41 are a prominent cause of diarrhea and diarrhea-associated mortality in young children worldwide. These enteric HAdVs differ notably in tissue tropism and pathogenicity from respiratory and ocular adenoviruses, but the structural basis for this divergence has been unknown. Here, we present the first structure of an enteric HAdV—HAdV-F41—determined by cryo–
A circadian clock in a nonphotosynthetic prokaryote
4dCircadian clocks create a 24-hour temporal structure, which allows organisms to occupy a niche formed by time rather than space. They are pervasive throughout nature, yet they remain unexpectedly unexplored and uncharacterized in nonphotosynthetic bacteria. Here, we identify in Bacillus subtilis circadian rhythms sharing the canonical properties of circadian clocks: free-running period, entrainme
Perfusion, cryopreservation, and nanowarming of whole hearts using colloidally stable magnetic cryopreservation agent solutions
4dNanowarming of cryopreserved organs perfused with magnetic cryopreservation agents (mCPAs) could increase donor organ utilization by extending preservation time and avoiding damage caused by slow and nonuniform rewarming. Here, we report formulation of an mCPA containing superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) that are stable against aggregation in the cryopreservation agent VS55 befo
A thin, deformable, high-performance supercapacitor implant that can be biodegraded and bioabsorbed within an animal body
4dIt has been an outstanding challenge to achieve implantable energy modules that are mechanically soft (compatible with soft organs and tissues), have compact form factors, and are biodegradable (present for a desired time frame to power biodegradable, implantable medical electronics). Here, we present a fully biodegradable and bioabsorbable high-performance supercapacitor implant, which is lightw
A smartphone-read ultrasensitive and quantitative saliva test for COVID-19
4dPoint-of-care COVID-19 assays that are more sensitive than the current RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) gold standard assay are needed to improve disease control efforts. We describe the development of a portable, ultrasensitive saliva-based COVID-19 assay with a 15-min sample-to-answer time that does not require RNA isolation or laboratory equipment. This assay uses CRISP
Feeding diverse prey as an excellent strategy of mixotrophic dinoflagellates for global dominance
4dMicroalgae fuel food webs and biogeochemical cycles of key elements in the ocean. What determines microalgal dominance in the ocean is a long-standing question. Red tide distribution data (spanning 1990 to 2019) show that mixotrophic dinoflagellates, capable of photosynthesis and predation together, were responsible for ~40% of the species forming red tides globally. Counterintuitively, the speci
Dynamic band structure measurement in the synthetic space
4dBand structure theory plays an essential role in exploring physics in both solid-state systems and photonics. Here, we demonstrate a direct experimental measurement of the dynamic band structure in a synthetic space including the frequency axis of light, realized in a ring resonator under near-resonant dynamic modulation. This synthetic lattice exhibits the physical picture of the evolution of th
A Virus Variant Spreads, Vaccine Efforts Accelerate, and More
4dCatch up on the most important updates from this week.
Bacteria can tell the time
4dHumans have them, so do other animals and plants. Now research reveals that bacteria too have internal clocks that align with the 24-hour cycle of life on Earth.
Bacteria can tell the time
4dHumans have them, so do other animals and plants. Now research reveals that bacteria too have internal clocks that align with the 24-hour cycle of life on Earth.
Scientists discover virus-like particles in Bryozoa
4dScientists from Russia, Austria, and the USA have discovered virus-like particles in the bacterial symbionts of Bryozoa—a phylum of colonial aquatic invertebrates—filter-feeders dominating in many bottom ecosystems. The research project was planned and supervised by scientists from St Petersburg University. Some of the virus-like particles resemble red blood cells, while others have a sea-urchin-l
Study reveals jellyfish create a 'virtual wall' to enhance performance
4dNew research led by the University of South Florida has uncovered one of the reasons jellyfish have come to be known as the "world's most efficient swimmer." Brad Gemmell, associate professor of integrative biology, found jellyfish produce two vortex rings, which are donut-shaped bodies of fluid underneath their translucent bodies, that spin in opposite directions. They appear as jellyfish squeeze
WhatsApp Has Shared Your Data With Facebook for Years
4dA pop-up notification has alerted the messaging app's users to a practice that's been in place since 2016.
Elon Musk, Now World’s Richest Man, Reaffirms His Intention to Live on Mars
4dFor the last few years, Jeff Bezos has been the richest person in the world — even after losing a large chunk of his fortune in a divorce. That changed this week when a Tesla stock surge made Elon Musk the world’s richest man. In celebration, he’s not going to Disneyland. Nope, Elon Musk is apparently very serious about living on Mars , and he wants to bring a million people along for the ride. A
More than half of people using cannabis for pain experience multiple withdrawal symptoms
4dMore than half of people who use medical marijuana products to ease pain also experience clusters of multiple withdrawal symptoms when they're between uses, a new study finds. And about 10% of the patients taking part in the study experienced worsening changes to their sleep, mood, mental state, energy and appetite over the next two years as they continued to use cannabis.
Botulism breakthrough? Taming botulinum toxin to deliver therapeutics
4dCurrently there's no treatment for botulism once the toxin gets into neurons. This novel treatment neutralized the toxin with a second, modified botulinum toxin that delivered a mini antibody into the cells – reversing paralysis in mice.
6 tips for sticking with your New Year’s Resolutions
4dWhile most people break New Year’s resolutions within a few weeks, neuroscientist Vera Ludwig has six tips to help you through the process and stick with your goals. For many people, the new year marks a demarcation line for a fresh start, when they set goals for better health or greater productivity. But changing behavior isn’t easy and can sometimes lead to harsh self-criticism, says Ludwig, a
Scientists discover virus-like particles in Bryozoa
4dScientists from Russia, Austria, and the USA have discovered virus-like particles in the bacterial symbionts of Bryozoa—a phylum of colonial aquatic invertebrates—filter-feeders dominating in many bottom ecosystems. The research project was planned and supervised by scientists from St Petersburg University. Some of the virus-like particles resemble red blood cells, while others have a sea-urchin-l
Study reveals jellyfish create a 'virtual wall' to enhance performance
4dNew research led by the University of South Florida has uncovered one of the reasons jellyfish have come to be known as the "world's most efficient swimmer." Brad Gemmell, associate professor of integrative biology, found jellyfish produce two vortex rings, which are donut-shaped bodies of fluid underneath their translucent bodies, that spin in opposite directions. They appear as jellyfish squeeze
People Without COVID Symptoms Are Responsible For 50% of New Infections, Per Study
4dThe number may actually be higher.
Nanoparticle vaccine for COVID-19
4dResearchers at Stanford are working to develop a single-dose vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 that could potentially be stored at room temperature.
What will convince people to get COVID-19 vaccines?
4dThe key to effective communication to promote people getting the COVID-19 vaccines may lie in behavioral economics and consumer behavior theory, experts say. As the first doses of COVID-19 vaccines roll out, it is still unclear whether enough Americans will get the vaccine to allow the nation to return to normalcy. Many believe a key part of the equation lies in how effective vaccine communicatio
Climate Change Will Roast Cities More Than Anywhere Else
4dHeat Islands Scientists are taking aim at a commonly-overlooked problem in the fight against climate change: what to do about cities . New research shows that the average temperature within a city will rise well beyond the global average temperatures that climate initiatives tend to focus on, Wired reports . In fact, the new models show that metro areas could end up 4.4 degrees Celsius hotter by
Markets rally on hopes for a Biden recovery plan
4dDisappointing jobs figures and record coronavirus deaths highlight scale of task still ahead
WHO Leads in Using Solid Science to Draft COVID-19 Policy: Study
4dGovernments are variable in their reliance on highly cited research, while international intergovernmental organizations such as the World Health Organization reliably link policy and science, according to an analysis of thousands of policy documents from the first half of 2020.
5G doesn’t cause COVID-19, but the myth spread quickly
4d5G technology doesn’t cause COVID-19 but rumors that it does have spread rapidly across the globe, researchers report. Researchers need to better understand how misinformation like this spreads in order to hone their intervention efforts and prevent misinformed perspectives from taking root. A research team led by Elaine Nsoesie, a fellow at the Hariri Institute at Boston University, investigated
Gasoline Car Sales to End by 2035 in Massachusetts
4dCharging stations will need to become as common as gas stations — Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
‘Secure the Capitol’ Misses the Point
4dThis week, a mob of extremists, incited by President Donald Trump, bypassed police lines and entered the Capitol. They smashed windows and furniture, stole a lectern and laptops, and broke into the Senate chambers. They disrupted Congress and forced lawmakers to evacuate to security bunkers. Five people died , including a Capitol Police officer, and about 50 other officers were injured. Three bom
Don’t Impeach
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4dBiden House Trump Capitol
P resident Donald Trump has staged an unprecedented attack on the peaceful transition of power. He has refused to acknowledge Joe Biden’s victory, spread wild conspiracy theories, and incited a mob that ransacked the Capitol. Those who still deny that he is, and always has been, a danger to American democracy simply don’t want to see the world for what it is. Trump’s outrageous actions help expla
The Superhero Fantasies of Trump’s Mob
4dThey thought they were heroes; that much is obvious. The animal furs and war paint, the banners and utility vests, the slogan slinging and wall climbing: Wednesday’s attack on the U.S. Capitol felt like fiction to watch, and doubtless many pro-Trump insurrectionists had Hollywood on their mind as they pillaged and took selfies. Some participants wore the logo of the Punisher, the Marvel Comics ch
Peter Raven addresses earth's dwindling resources, the value of science-informed outreach
4dThe BioScience Talks podcast (http://bioscienceaibs.libsyn.com) features discussions of topical issues related to the biological sciences.
Novel RNA factors may help cancer cells thrive
4dRecent work by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital pinpoints critical changes in an enzyme known as DICER, which create a cascade of effects on this microRNAome. The team identified primary actors circ2082, a circular RNA, and RBM3, an RNA-binding protein, which form a complex with DICER to trap it in the nucleus of glioblastoma cells, therefore disrupting the cytoplasmic microRNAome.
Apple Is Trying to Find a Manufacturer For Its Self-Driving Car
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4dHyundai Talks Apple Car
Apple x Hyundai South Korean automaker Hyundai Motors is in early stage talks with tech titan Apple to develop an electric car, CNBC reports . Shares of the manufacturer surged by 19 percent following the news. Hyundai isn’t the only carmaker in talks with Apple. “We understand that Apple is in discussion with a variety of global automakers, including Hyundai Motor,” a Hyundai Motor rep told CNBC
Jellyfish create a 'virtual wall' to enhance performance
5dA new discovery finds that jellyfish create a 'ground effect,' similar to how air squeezes between an airplane and ground during take-off, which builds pressure and a force that boosts performance. Never before has it been proven that an animal can create this phenomenon away from a solid boundary, let alone the open ocean.
Tiny wireless device sheds light on combating obesity
5dIn a new study, researchers have described a medical device that might help with weight loss and requires a simpler operative procedure for implantation.
Daily briefing: Two arthritis drugs cut the risk of death from COVID
5dNature, Published online: 08 January 2021; doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00038-7 Two more life-saving COVID drugs, identical twins are not so identical and early evidence that new SARS-CoV-2 variants do not hinder vaccines.
Author Correction: High-resolution sampling of beam-driven plasma wakefields
5dNature Communications, Published online: 08 January 2021; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-20676-1
Author Correction: Ketamine disinhibits dendrites and enhances calcium signals in prefrontal dendritic spines
5dNature Communications, Published online: 08 January 2021; doi:10.1038/s41467-020-20634-x
Law prof.: Mob attack at US Capitol was ‘insurrection’
5dWhen a group violently attacks a government institution in an effort to change the lawful governmental order, it is insurrection, says an expert on the US Constitution. “We’re experiencing a period of public political protest like nothing in recent memory,” says Greg Magarian , professor of law at Washington University in St. Louis. “It has never been more important than it is at this moment to d
Sir Arnold Wolfendale obituary
5dAstronomer royal and physicist who greatly advanced understanding of cosmic rays Sir Arnold Wolfendale, the 14th astronomer royal, who has died aged 93, did much to advance understanding of cosmic rays, the stream of charged particles from outer space that continuously bombard the Earth’s atmosphere. For this purpose he assembled a strong team at Durham University, making it one of Britain’s leadi
Your Media Diet Will Never Be the Same
5dWe have a glut of streaming options. But if recent events show us anything, it’s that live TV news is far from obsolete.
Greener planes of the future… or just pretty plans?
5dThe aerospace industry is testing models of radical looking aircraft, but will they ever make it into production?
Tiny wireless device sheds light on combating obesity
5dIn a new study, researchers have described a medical device that might help with weight loss and requires a simpler operative procedure for implantation.
Aphantasia: the rare brain condition that darkens the mind’s eye
5dAphantasia, a recently identified psychological phenomenon, describes when people can't conjure visualizations in their mind's eye. A new study published in Cortex compared the visual memories of aphantasic participants with a group of controls. Its results found experimental validation for the condition. Escapism is one of the imagination's great joys. Through fantastic literature, we can explor
Scientists from St. Petersburg University discovered the virus-like particles in Bryozoa
5dScientists from Russia, Austria, and the USA have discovered virus-like particles in the bacterial symbionts of Bryozoa — a phylum of colonial aquatic invertebrates – filter-feeders dominating in many bottom ecosystems. Some of the virus-like particles resemble red blood cells, while others have a sea-urchin-like appearance.
Study reveals jellyfish create a 'virtual wall' to enhance performance
5dNew discovery finds that Jellyfish create a "ground effect," similar to how air squeezes between an airplane and ground during take-off, which builds pressure and a force that boosts performance. Never before has it been proven that an animal can create this phenomenon away from a solid boundary, let alone the open ocean.
We hear what we expect to hear
5dNeuroscientists show that the entire auditory pathway represents sounds according to prior expectations.
How 'Iron Man' bacteria could help protect the environment
5dIn a new study, researchers show that microbes are capable of an incredible feat that could help reclaim a valuable natural resource and soak up toxic pollutants.
Ancient DNA analysis reveals Asian migration and plague
5dAncient DNA reveals a history of migrations, continuity, and diseases in northeastern Asia.
NASA Releases Hubble Images of Galaxies Smashing Into Each Other
5dGalaxy Mergers To celebrate the new year, NASA and the European Space Agency have graced us with six glorious views of mindbogglingly massive galaxy mergers, courtesy of the Hubble Space Telescope. “These interactions are a key aspect of galaxy evolution and are among the most spectacular events in the lifetime of a galaxy,” reads an ESA statement . Image Credit: ESA Each system was the subject o
Stressed? Try screaming. Yes, really.
5dA quick emotional release can do you some good, but it's not a cure for all that ails you. (Unsplash, Ryan Snaadt/) This past year has given us a lot to be angry and frustrated about. Couldn’t you just scream? But really: Shouting from the rooftops (or into your pillow) can feel like a huge relief—especially when the issues we face seem so large that we don’t know how to begin to fix them. Why is
Facial recognition still can’t prove someone’s identity
5dThis is a stock image of a crowd from an unspecified event, but it's how many TV shows and movies depict facial recognition. (Rob Curran via Unsplash/) On Wednesday night, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz (R) took to the floor of the House to claim members of the mob that descended on the Capitol building earlier that day were “Antifa.” As proof, he simply asserted that there was “some pretty compelling e
Tiny wireless device sheds light on combating obesity
5dIn a new study, researchers at Texas A&M University have described a medical device that might help with weight loss and requires a simpler operative procedure for implantation.
Chandra observations reveal extraordinary magnetar
5dIn 2020, astronomers added a new member to an exclusive family of exotic objects with the discovery of a magnetar. New observations from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory help support the idea that it is also a pulsar, meaning it emits regular pulses of light.
A Tiny, 'Cold' Star Has Released One of The Most Powerful Superflares Ever Seen
5dIt's always the quiet ones.
Researchers find horserace-style coverage harms Senate candidates' electoral success on either side
5dMedia coverage that focuses on strategy over issues can harm the electoral success of Senate candidates, according to wide-ranging research gauging news coverage of more than 150 Senate races in the United States in recent years.
The Mandalorian Is Way Better in Season 2
5dThe first season of the Star Wars series was good. But in the second, the visuals and writing make the jump to lightspeed.
'Invisible' stem cells evade natural killer cells using immune 'off-switch'
5dScientists have discovered a new way to control the immune system's 'natural killer' (NK) cells, a finding with implications for novel cell therapies and tissue implants that can evade immune rejection. The findings could also be used to enhance the ability of cancer immunotherapies to detect and destroy lurking tumors.
Scientists paint multicolor atlas of the brain
5dScientists have engineered a coloring technique, known as NeuroPAL (a Neuronal Polychromatic Atlas of Landmarks), which makes it possible to identify every single neuron in the brain of a worm.
Nanocrystals that eradicate bacteria biofilm
5dA team finds ways to control the surface texture of nanostructures.
Which came first, sleep or the brain?
5dIn work that could help unravel the origin of sleep, an international team of researchers has shown that tiny, water-dwelling hydras not only show signs of a sleep-like state despite lacking central nervous systems but also respond to molecules associated with sleep in more evolved animals. The new results suggest that many sleep-related mechanisms developed before the brain and may have been cons
Scientists develop a cheaper method that might help create fuels from plants
5dScientists have figured out a cheaper, more efficient way to conduct a chemical reaction at the heart of many biological processes, which may lead to better ways to create biofuels from plants.
More Than 4,000 Americans Died From COVID Yesterday
5dOn Thursday, the U.S. passed another horrible record as officials recorded the highest single-day coronavirus death toll, at over 4,000 fatalities, according to The New York Times . Unfortunately, experts expect things to worsen in the future, in part because of increased transmission from holiday travel and gatherings as well as a generally restless populace. “We believe things will get worse as
An indomitable bull market hides its own risks
5dThe rise in stocks depends both on cheap money and a swift recovery
Possible explanation for more efficient maize growth
5dMaize has a significantly higher productivity rate compared with many other crops. The particular leaf anatomy and special form of photosynthesis (referred to as C4) developed during its evolution allow maize to grow considerably faster than comparable plants. As a result, maize needs more efficient transport strategies to distribute the photoassimilates produced during photosynthesis throughout t
How 'Iron Man' bacteria could help protect the environment
5dWhen Michigan State University's Gemma Reguera first proposed her new research project to the National Science Foundation, one grant reviewer responded that the idea was not "environmentally relevant."
Possible explanation for more efficient maize growth
5dMaize has a significantly higher productivity rate compared with many other crops. The particular leaf anatomy and special form of photosynthesis (referred to as C4) developed during its evolution allow maize to grow considerably faster than comparable plants. As a result, maize needs more efficient transport strategies to distribute the photoassimilates produced during photosynthesis throughout t
How 'Iron Man' bacteria could help protect the environment
5dWhen Michigan State University's Gemma Reguera first proposed her new research project to the National Science Foundation, one grant reviewer responded that the idea was not "environmentally relevant."
Chandra studies extraordinary magnetar
5dIn 2020, astronomers added a new member to an exclusive family of exotic objects with the discovery of a magnetar. New observations from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory help support the idea that it is also a pulsar, meaning it emits regular pulses of light.
Single-dose COVID-19 vaccine triggers antibody response in mice
5dAcross the world, health care workers and high-risk groups are beginning to receive COVID-19 vaccines, offering hope for a return to normalcy amidst the pandemic. However, the vaccines authorized for emergency use in the U.S. require two doses to be effective, which can create problems with logistics and compliance. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have developed a nanoparticle va
Scientists develop a cheaper method that might help create fuels from plants
5dScientists have figured out a cheaper, more efficient way to conduct a chemical reaction at the heart of many biological processes, which may lead to better ways to create biofuels from plants.
Researchers realize efficient generation of high-dimensional quantum teleportation
5dIn a study published in Physical Review Letters, a team led by academician Guo Guangcan from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has made progress in high dimensional quantum teleportation. The researchers demonstrated the teleportation of high-dimensional states in a three-dimensional six-photon system.
Nanocrystals that eradicate bacterial biofilms
5dThe COVID-19 pandemic is raising fears of new pathogens such as viruses or drug-resistant bacteria. On this note, a Korean research team has recently drawn attention for developing the technology for removing antibiotic-resistant bacteria by controlling the surface texture of nanomaterials.
Covid Deaths Lowered in Trial of Tocilizumab and Sarilumab
5dThe big dip in mortality shown in the trial of about 800 patients has caught some experts by surprise because previous studies of the drugs showed little benefit.
Regular Posting Resumes Monday
5dJust wanted to put up a quick note – lots of “real life” (and real work) has been kicking in this week, so what started out as an intended light posting schedule has turned into zero. Probably not such a bad thing! But regular blog posting resumes on Monday – there’s plenty of stuff to talk about. And things are still going to be pretty corona-intensive for a while. But my fervent hope is that th
Researchers develop ultrahigh-performance plasmonic metal-oxide materials
5dIn a study published in Advanced Materials, researchers from Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the University of Science and Technology of China of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, using an electron-proton co-doping strategy, invented a new metal-like semiconductor material with excellent plasmonic resonance performance. This material achieves a metal-like ultrahig
A New Device Tracks Lobsters as They Move Through the Supply Chain
5dResearchers hope the technology can be used to reduce the number of the crustaceans that die along the way
Nanocrystals that eradicate bacteria biofilm
5dA team finds ways to control the surface texture of nanostructures.
Scientists develop a cheaper method that might help create fuels from plants
5dScientists have figured out a cheaper, more efficient way to conduct a chemical reaction at the heart of many biological processes, which may lead to better ways to create biofuels from plants.
Perceiving prosthesis as lighter thanks to neurofeedback
5dTransmitting sensory signals from prostheses to the nervous system helps leg amputees to perceive prosthesis as part of their body. While amputees generally perceive their prostheses as heavy, this feedback helps them to perceive the prostheses as significantly lighter, researchers have shown.
Cardiac MRI shows lower degrees of myocarditis in athletes recovered from COVID-19
5dIn a letter published in the December issue of the American Heart Association's medical journal Circulation a group of researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) dispute the most recent findings of the incidence of myocarditis in athletes with a history of COVID-19.
Autism theory 25 years in the making
5dA unifying explanation of the cause of autism and the reason for its rising prevalence has eluded scientists for decades, but a theoretical model published in the journal Medical Hypotheses describes the cause as a combination of socially valued traits, common in autism, and any number of co-occurring disabilities.
Possible explanation for more efficient maize growth
5dPlant researchers at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) have investigated the transport of compounds in maize. They focused on the mechanism used to transport the products of photosynthesis for further distribution in the plant through its phloem loading pathways. In the current edition of the journal "The Plant Cell", they describe how this mechanism has potentially created a special evol
How 'Iron Man' bacteria could help protect the environment
5dIn a new study, researchers show that microbes are capable of an incredible feat that could help reclaim a valuable natural resource and soak up toxic pollutants.
How to make a 3D map of a genome — as it looks inside the cell
5dNature, Published online: 08 January 2021; doi:10.1038/d41586-021-00008-z DNA barcodes help to detail the genomic architecture and sequence of an unbroken cell or even an entire embryo.
Five ways to make AI a greater force for good in 2021
5dA year ago, none the wiser about what 2020 would bring, I reflected on the pivotal moment that the AI community was in. The previous year, 2018, had seen a series of high-profile automated failures, like self-driving-car crashes and discriminatory recruiting tools . In 2019, the field responded with more talk of AI ethics than ever before. But talk, I said, was not enough. We needed to take tangi
Tasmanian tiger pups found to be extraordinary similar to wolf pups
5dResearchers find more similarities between the thylacine and wolf.
Perceiving prosthesis as lighter thanks to neurofeedback
5dTransmitting sensory signals from prostheses to the nervous system helps leg amputees to perceive prosthesis as part of their body. While amputees generally perceive their prostheses as heavy, this feedback helps them to perceive the prostheses as significantly lighter, researchers have shown.
Antibiotic resistance from random DNA sequences
5dAn important and still unanswered question is how new genes that cause antibiotic resistance arise. In a new study, researchers have shown how new genes that produce resistance can arise from completely random DNA sequences.
Pro-Trump Rioters Who Looted Capitol Likely Caused Super-Spreader Event
5dWednesday afternoon, an angry mob of insurrectionists descended upon the U.S. Capitol building, smashing their way in through the windows and looting the offices of lawmakers. It was a dark day for the country — made even worse by the fact that the same day, the U.S. broke the record for the most American lives lost during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Then it broke the record again the next day
The best rulers for home, office, and school
5dBe precise every time. (William Warby via Unsplash/) Whether you need a basic set for school or a more advanced set for professional designing – it is clear that rulers are an important tool that you don’t outgrow. It may be surprising just how many options you have when it comes to the simple ruler. Available in an amazing variety,, rulers are manufactured in various materials, from fabric, plas
The Entire Point of the 25th Amendment
5dOne of the most dangerous scenarios in American government is the possibility of two people both claiming to be president at the same time. Sections 3 and 4 of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment are meant to avoid exactly that—to make crystal clear who at any moment is in charge. Unfortunately, a common misreading of a poorly drafted part of Section 4 could cause a full-blown constitutional meltdown. Thi
Understanding how to improve antibodies targeting OX40 for the treatment of cancer
5dScientists at the University of Southampton's Centre for Cancer Immunology have gained new insight into how the immune system can be better used to find and kill cancer cells.
USTC develops ultrahigh-performance plasmonic metal-oxide materials
5dIn a study published in Advanced Materials, the researchers from Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the University of Science and Technology of China of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, using an electron-proton co-doping strategy, invented a new metal-like semiconductor material with excellent plasmonic resonance performance.
Researchers realize efficient generation of high-dimensional quantum teleportation
5dIn a study published in Physical Review Letters, the team led by academician GUO Guangcan from University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) made progress in high dimensional quantum teleportation. The researchers demonstrated the teleportation of high-dimensional states in a three-dimensional six-photon system.
We hear what we expect to hear
5dDresden neuroscientists show that the entire auditory pathway represents sounds according to prior expectations. Their findings have now been published in the renowned scientific journal eLife.
Ferroptosis resistance in cancer: An emerging crisis of new hope
5dAnnouncing a new publication for BIO Integration journal. In this opinion article the authors Daiyun Xu, Yonghui Lü, Yongxiao Li, Shengbin Li, Zhe Wang and Junqing Wang from Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China discuss ferroptosis resistance in cancer.
Study: Religion, psychology share methods for reducing distress
5dReligious people facing life crises rely on emotion-regulation strategies that psychologists also use, a new study finds. They look for positive ways of thinking about hardship, a practice known to psychologists as "cognitive reappraisal." They also tend to have confidence in their ability to cope with difficulty, a trait called "coping self-efficacy." Both have been shown to reduce symptoms of an
Measuring racial inequities in COVID-19 testing
5dThis study adapted a well-established tool for measuring inequity from economics–the Lorenz curve–to measure racial inequities in COVID-19 testing.
The best spooky board games for late night gaming
5dScary fun all year round. (Alex Chambers via Unsplash/) Traversing lands of candy, buying real estate, and spelling lengthy words are all fine board game premises. But where are the ghosts and gore for horror fans and thrill-seekers? Gather your friends and family to explore haunted houses, solve murders, and escape deadly rooms with these terrifying and tantalizing board games. Most game scenari
Earmuffs and knit bands that will absolutely keep your heads warm
5dItems that keep you warm. (Jennifer Griffin via Unsplash/) When it comes to keeping your head warm, the most important area to protect is your ears. Earmuffs are a classic trick for keeping you feeling warm and protected without a big messy hat, with minimal damage done to your hairstyle. Knit bands offer similar protection for your ears, and also keep hair out of your face, a nice option when ac
Astronauts Could Fuel Their Return Trip Using Mars’ Atmosphere
5dPit Stop Scientists are working on a portable system that could help astronauts on Mars fuel up for their return trip using the atmosphere around them. Using atmospheric carbon dioxide and water from ice on and beneath the Martian surface, the University of California, Irvine scientists believe it would be possible to create methane, which could then be used as the rocket fuel that carries them h
El Nino and La Nina, the climate cycles that blow hot and cold
5dNatural climate phenomena El Nino and La Nina are opposite phases of a complex weather pattern so powerful that it can alter the global temperature.
Bioenergetics: New features of ATP synthase
5dStructural studies of a mitochondrial ATP synthase illustrate the basis for the diversity of its membrane-shaping properties.
Scientists develop a cheaper method that might help create fuels from plants
5dScientists have figured out a cheaper, more efficient way to conduct a chemical reaction at the heart of many biological processes, which may lead to better ways to create biofuels from plants.
Arecibo is Dead. Should We Build Its Replacement on the Moon?
5dNASA may finally be serious about the idea of building a large radio telescope in a lunar crater.
Macrame wall hangings for every home
5dDecorate your walls. (Elena Putina via Unsplash/) Although Macrame is a fiber art that has been around for hundreds of years, it’s experiencing a bit of a resurgence as the decor of choice for modern bohemian homes. The art involves the tying of decorative knots with woven textiles, with a natural greige off-white cotton yarn being the most common. Often associated with the style of 1970′s, the a
How AI can help shatter barriers to equality | Jamila Gordon
5dJamila Gordon believes in the power of human connection — and artificial intelligence — to help people who might otherwise be left behind. Telling the story of her own path from refugee to global tech executive, she shows how AI is helping refugees, migrants and those from disadvantaged backgrounds find jobs and develop the skills they need to work effectively and safely.
New book explores how people build good relationships across cultural boundaries
5dIn a new book launched this week, Professor Helen Spencer-Oatey of the University of Warwick Department of Applied Linguistics and her co-author Professor Dániel Z. Kádár of the Hungarian Research Institute for Linguistics (NYTI) explore how people relate across cultural boundaries, a topic which is increasingly important in our interconnected world.
Experiments with bifluoride ions show evidence of hybrid bonds
5dA team of researchers from the University of Chicago and Emory University has found evidence of a hydrogen bond/covalent bond hybrid. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes experiments they conducted with bifluoride ions that blurred the line between hydrogen bonds and covalent bonds. Mischa Bonn and Johannes Hunger with the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research h
Managing salt pollution to protect drinking water resources and freshwater ecosystems
5dDoctors often tell us, "cut back on your salt." And just as too much dietary salt is bad for blood pressure, too much salt in our nation's streams, lakes, and reservoirs threatens ecosystem health and the security of our nation's drinking water and food supplies.
Nanocrystals that eradicate bacteria biofilm
5dPOSTECH-UNIST joint research team finds ways to control the surface texture of nanostructures.
First Philippine eagle bred in captivity dies
5dThe first Philippine eagle bred in captivity in an effort to save one of the world's most endangered birds has died from infections, conservationists said Friday.
First Philippine eagle bred in captivity dies
5dThe first Philippine eagle bred in captivity in an effort to save one of the world's most endangered birds has died from infections, conservationists said Friday.
Health crisis: Up to a billion tons of waste potentially burned in the open every year
5dAs much as one billion tons of waste could be burned in open and uncontrolled fires around the world each year, according to one estimate – close to half of all the municipal solid waste generated on Earth. But even if the true total is a fraction of that amount, the impact on human health and the environment is likely to be profound, particularly for the hundreds of millions of people living in c
Rare quadruple-helix DNA found in living human cells with glowing probes
5dNew probes allow scientists to see four-stranded DNA interacting with molecules inside living human cells, unraveling its role in cellular processes.
9 000 år gammal grav hittad i Dalarna
5dSex brända fragment av ett kranium hittades i våras vid en ledningsgrävning i Orsa. Fyndet tillhör en exklusiv samling, bara ett tjugotal brandgravar från den så kallade jägarstenåldern, cirka 7 000–5 500 f Kr, har tidigare hittats i Skandinavien. – Det är en sensationell datering! Det är inte ofta man får vara med om att hitta något sådant. De äldsta gravarna vi har hittat tidigare i Dalarna är u
Rare quadruple-helix DNA found in living human cells with glowing probes
5dNew probes allow scientists to see four-stranded DNA interacting with molecules inside living human cells, unraveling its role in cellular processes.
The Inaction of Capitol Police Was by Design
5dWhat Americans witnessed on their TV screens on Wednesday was not just an insurrection against American democracy—it was also an expression of white supremacy. As mobs of white Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building to ransack offices, terrorize lawmakers, and interrupt the certification of the presidential election, they were met with a notably weak show of force by the Capitol Police, wh
New Zealand research finds increased trust in government and science amid pandemic
5dNew Curtin University research has found a dramatic increase in people's trust in government in Australia and New Zealand as a result of the COVID pandemic.
Evidence of water movement found in meteorites that only recently fell to Earth
5dA team of researchers affiliated with institutions in Australia, the U.S. and France has found evidence of relatively recent water movement in meteorites that only recently collided with the Earth. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes their study of carbonaceous chondrite (CC) meteorites that landed on the surface of the Earth within the past century and what they f
How the pandemic will shape the workplace trends of 2021
5dThe economist John Maynard Keynes predicted in 1930 that the amount we work would gradually shrink to as little as 15 hours a week as technology made us more productive. Not only did this not happen, but we also began to spend extra time away from home due to commuting and suburban living patterns, which we often forget are recent historical inventions.
Survey shows Congress is more religious than America
5dThe newest survey of congressional religious beliefs shows our representatives aren't quite like us. Members of Congress are much more religious and more Christian than the general population. The effects of this disconnect are debatable. The Congress of the United States is much smaller than the national legislatures of other Western Democracies in proportional terms. Each member of The House of
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