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| Cosmic flashes pinpointed to a surprising location in space Posted: 23 Feb 2022 10:35 AM PST Astronomers have been surprised by the closest source of mysterious flashes in the sky called fast radio bursts. Precision measurements with radio telescopes reveal that the bursts are made among old stars, and in a way that no one was expecting. The source of the flashes, in nearby spiral galaxy M 81, is the closest of its kind to Earth. |
| Colossal black holes locked in dance at heart of galaxy Posted: 23 Feb 2022 10:35 AM PST A sinusoidal light curve spanning 45 years points to the presence of orbiting supermassive black holes at the core of a distant galaxy. |
| Upcycling plastic waste into more valuable materials could make recycling pay for itself Posted: 23 Feb 2022 08:12 AM PST Researchers have developed a new and simple method for upcycling plastic waste at room temperature. |
| A Minecraft build can be used to teach almost any subject Posted: 23 Feb 2022 08:12 AM PST A professor has used Minecraft to teach a class on the history and culture of modernity. The course was based entirely within the game server, with instructions, in-class communication and course work almost exclusively carried out within the Minecraft world and over the messaging app Discord. This new pedagogical framework presented the researchers with the opportunity to see how the students used the game to achieve academic goals. |
| How some gut microbes awaken 'zombie' viruses in their neighbors Posted: 23 Feb 2022 08:12 AM PST Gut bacteria brew all sorts of chemicals, but we don't know what most of them do. A new study suggests that one such compound, previously linked to cancer, may serve as a bizarre weapon in microbial skirmishes. |
| Sensor breakthrough paves way for groundbreaking map of world under Earth surface Posted: 23 Feb 2022 08:12 AM PST An object hidden below ground has been located using quantum technology - a long-awaited milestone with profound implications for industry, human knowledge and national security. |
| Fate of the dinosaurs sealed in spring Posted: 23 Feb 2022 08:12 AM PST The asteroid that killed nearly all dinosaurs struck Earth during springtime. An international team of scientists have determined when the meteorite crashed onto the Earth, after analyzing the remains of fishes that died just after the impact. |
| Physicists observe an exotic 'multiferroic' state in an atomically thin material Posted: 23 Feb 2022 08:12 AM PST Physicists observed an exotic 'multiferroic' state in a perfectly two-dimensional material for the first time. The findings could lead to faster, more efficient magnetic data storage devices. |
| Ancient DNA reveals surprises about how early Africans lived, traveled and interacted Posted: 23 Feb 2022 08:12 AM PST A new analysis of human remains that were buried in African archaeological sites has produced the earliest DNA from the continent, telling a fascinating tale of how early humans lived, traveled and even found their significant others. |
| Being near pollinator habitat linked to larger soybean size Posted: 23 Feb 2022 07:49 AM PST Researchers have found that soybean crops planted near pollinator habitat produce larger soybeans than soybean crops that are not planted near pollinator habitat. |
| ‘Super pest’ Colorado potato beetle has the genetic resources to sidestep our attacks Posted: 23 Feb 2022 07:49 AM PST The Colorado potato beetle has evolved resistance to more than 50 different kinds of insecticides, making the insect a 'super pest' that wreaks havoc on potatoes around the world. New research finds that the beetle achieved this feat largely by turning to a deep pool of diversity within its genome, which allowed different populations across the U.S. to quickly evolve resistance to nearly anything humans have thrown at it. |
| Bringing out the best in wild birds on farms Posted: 23 Feb 2022 07:49 AM PST After an E.coli outbreak in 2006 devastated the spinach industry, farmers were pressured to remove natural habitat to keep wildlife -- and the foodborne pathogens they can sometimes carry -- from visiting crops. A study of California strawberry farms found that birds were actually more likely to carry pathogens and eat berries when farms did not have surrounding natural habitat. |
| Diet, malaria and substance use linked to Pacific preterm births Posted: 23 Feb 2022 07:49 AM PST A new study has found diet, malaria, substance use and a lack of antenatal care services are linked to one in 10 babies in the Pacific Island region being born preterm and of low birth weight. |
| Basis for next-gen bioprocesses Posted: 23 Feb 2022 07:49 AM PST Succinic acid is an important precursor for pharmaceutical and cosmetic products and also serves as a component in biodegradable plastics. It is currently derived mainly from petroleum-based processes. Researchers are using the marine bacterium Vibrio natriegens as a biocatalyst. This could permit the production of succinic acid in sustainable processes using renewable raw materials. |
| Agriculture: Global cropland could be almost halved Posted: 23 Feb 2022 07:49 AM PST In the context of trade-offs between land use and biodiversity, geographers have simulated land saving potentials for agriculture. |
| Astronomers map mysterious element in space Posted: 23 Feb 2022 07:49 AM PST A research team has provided an important clue to the origin of the element Ytterbium in the Milky Way, by showing that the element largely originates from supernova explosions. The groundbreaking research also provides new opportunities for studying the evolution of our galaxy. |
| Gene allowing humans to feel touch may play a role in sense of smell Posted: 23 Feb 2022 07:30 AM PST Researchers have determined that a gene linked to feeling touch may moonlight as an olfactory gene. That's the conclusion drawn from studying a very small, transparent worm that shares many similarities with the human nervous system. |
| Possible driver of Parkinson’s disease Posted: 23 Feb 2022 06:43 AM PST Study shows how blocking cellular housekeeping system leads to buildup and spread of abnormal protein aggregates in the brain. |
| More adults are falling every year, despite prevention efforts Posted: 23 Feb 2022 06:43 AM PST Falls are a leading cause of hospitalization and institutionalization for older adults in the U.S. and fall prevention efforts are an important part of geriatric education and health. |
| 'E-nose' could someday diagnose Parkinson's disease by 'smelling' skin Posted: 23 Feb 2022 05:58 AM PST Scientists have been trying to build devices that could diagnose Parkinson's disease (PD) through odor compounds on the skin. Now, researchers have developed a portable, artificially intelligent olfactory system, or 'e-nose,' that could someday diagnose the disease in a doctor's office. |
| Galaxy collision creates 'space triangle' in new Hubble image Posted: 23 Feb 2022 05:58 AM PST A spectacular head-on collision between two galaxies fueled the unusual triangular-shaped star-birthing frenzy, as captured in a new image from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. |
| 'Tatooine-like' exoplanet spotted by ground-based telescope Posted: 23 Feb 2022 05:58 AM PST A rare exoplanet which orbits around two stars at once has been detected using a ground-based telescope. The planet, called Kepler-16b, has so far only been seen using the Kepler space telescope. It orbits around two stars, with the two orbits also orbiting one another, forming a binary star system. |
| Smoking before and after conception is linked to delayed embryonic development Posted: 23 Feb 2022 05:58 AM PST Smoking by mothers during the period immediately before and after conception is linked to a delay in embryonic development, smaller fetuses at the time of the 20-week ultrasound scan, and lower birth weight. |
| Neural disruptions underlying feeding, swallowing disorders in children identified Posted: 23 Feb 2022 05:58 AM PST Scientists depict the early development of pain-sensing and movement-sensing neurons in the face and throat. The findings reveal a previously unexplored feature of brain and cranial nerve development underlying eating, swallowing, and speech. |
| RNA molecules control repair of human DNA in cancer cells Posted: 23 Feb 2022 05:57 AM PST A new study shows how certain RNA molecules control the repair of damaged DNA in cancer cells, a discovery that could eventually give rise to better cancer treatments. |
| From the streets to the stratosphere: Clean driving technology enables cleaner rocket fuel Posted: 23 Feb 2022 05:57 AM PST A chemical used in electric vehicle batteries could also give us carbon-free fuel for space flight, according to new research. |
| Detecting stressed-out polymer films, gels before they break Posted: 23 Feb 2022 05:55 AM PST Stretchy films and squishy gels help make wearable electronics, soft robotics and biocompatible tissues a reality. But too much force can cause these polymers to break apart without warning. To detect stress before it's too late, researchers show they have designed a compound with 'wings' that makes these materials change color when they are stretched or crushed. |
| Tiny probes could sail to outer planets with the help of low-power lasers Posted: 23 Feb 2022 05:54 AM PST Space travel can be agonizingly slow: For example, the New Horizons probe took almost 10 years to reach Pluto. Traveling to Proxima Centauri b, the closest habitable planet to Earth, would require thousands of years with even the biggest rockets. Now, researchers calculate that low-power lasers on Earth could launch and maneuver small probes equipped with silicon or boron nitride sails, propelling them to much faster speeds than rocket engines. |
| Children eat what they like, but food intake driven more by what they dislike Posted: 22 Feb 2022 01:18 PM PST It is often said that 'children eat what they like,' but the results of a new study by nutritionists and sensory scientists suggests that when it comes to meals, it is more accurate and more relevant to say, 'children do not eat what they dislike.' |
| Sharp decline in basking shark sightings in California Posted: 22 Feb 2022 12:19 PM PST A recent study confirms a striking decrease in basking shark sightings in the California Current Ecosystem after the 1970s and 1980s and examines what is driving their presence and distribution. |
| Evidence grows for vaping's role in gum disease Posted: 22 Feb 2022 12:19 PM PST New studies highlight how e-cigarettes alter oral health and may be contributing to gum disease. The latest research finds that e-cigarette users have a unique oral microbiome that is less healthy than nonsmokers but potentially healthier than cigarette smokers, and measures worsening gum disease over time. |
| Gene therapy for thalassemia ends need for transfusions in young children Posted: 22 Feb 2022 12:18 PM PST Over 90 percent of patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder, no longer needed monthly blood transfusions years after receiving gene therapy, according to an international Phase 3 clinical trial that for the first time included children younger than 12 years of age. Twenty-two patients were evaluated (ranging in age 4-34 years), including pediatric patients. |
| US flood damage risk is underestimated Posted: 22 Feb 2022 12:18 PM PST Researchers found a high probability of flood damage -- including monetary damage, human injury and loss of life -- for more than a million square miles of land across the United States across a 14-year period. |
| Tubal ligation no better than IUD at preventing pregnancy, study shows Posted: 22 Feb 2022 12:18 PM PST IUDs work at least as well as tubal ligation, while causing fewer side effects, according to a new study. |
| Disliking music: what’s the point? Posted: 22 Feb 2022 12:18 PM PST So, a metal head shows up at a techno party... pretty unlikely, right? Right. Disliking certain kinds of music is just as constitutive of personal taste as is liking other kinds; and because it influences music-related behavior, this has consequences for our everyday lives. Researchers have now investigated some of the possible reasons why people dislike music. |
| Building synthetic virus particles to study SARS-CoV-2 Posted: 22 Feb 2022 12:18 PM PST Researchers create minimalistic Sars-CoV-2 virions and discover the spike protein switching mechanism. |
| Adolescent psychological well-being tied to adult risk of cardiovascular disease, study finds Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:54 AM PST Scientists have known for years that a person's risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) can be lowered with lifestyle changes such as modifying diet, exercise, alcohol and tobacco use. Now a new study shows that a long-term association also exists between an adolescent's psychological well-being and their risk of CVD as an adult. Specifically, they found that people who are more optimistic or positive when they are adolescents can lower their chances of being in the high-risk category for CVD as an adult. |
| Analysis offers new insights on the placebo effect and how to harness its therapeutic potential Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:54 AM PST The placebo effect activates same brain circuits targeted by brain-stimulation therapy for depression. |
| Better understanding communication between neurons in the brain Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:54 AM PST Researchers have developed a new method for controlled interrogation and recording of neuronal activity. The system combines technology from multichannel optogenetics with laminar recordings in the brain. The research team proposes alternative design for silicon probes and develops fibers with a Lambertian emission. |
| Use of epidural in childbirth is linked to decreased severe maternal morbidity Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:54 AM PST In a study of vaginal births in New York State hospitals, labor neuraxial analgesia -- having an epidural or combined spinal and epidural -- was associated with a decreased risk of severe maternal morbidity. Deliveries with a neuraxial analgesic also lessened the risk of post-partum hemorrhaging, the leading cause of preventable severe maternal morbidity. The researchers found that a decreased risk of severe maternal morbidity associated with neuraxial analgesia was similar between non-Hispanic White women and racial and ethnic minority women. |
| Evidence for exotic magnetic phase of matter Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:54 AM PST Scientists have discovered a long-predicted magnetic state of matter called an antiferromagnetic excitonic insulator -- broadly speaking, a novel type of magnet. Understanding the connections between electrons' 'spin' and charge in such materials could have potential for realizing new technologies. |
| Monitoring Arctic permafrost with satellites, supercomputers, and deep learning Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:54 AM PST Using deep learning and supercomputers, researchers have been able to identify and map 1.2 billion ice wedge polygons in the Arctic permafrost based on satellite imagery. The data helps establish a baseline from which to detect changes to the region. The researchers trained a deep learning system to identify Arctic features and TACC's Longhorn supercomputer to analyze the data. The ice wedge data will be available for rapid analysis on the new Permafrost Discovery Gateway. |
| Light-based device uses a few drops of saliva to effectively test COVID-19 patients Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:54 AM PST Researchers report on the development of a low-cost, portable, non-invasive device that uses light and saliva to test COVID-19 patients in less than 30 minutes. The results have shown that the device can detect very low concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 with a sensitivity of 91.2 percent and a specificity of 90 percent, similar to that of PCR but as fast as an antigen test. |
| Carbon dioxide recycling and efficient drug development -- tackling two problems with one reaction Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:54 AM PST Using electricity, a new method offers the possibility of recycling carbon dioxide while also performing a notoriously difficult reaction, producing compounds potentially useful for drug development. |
| One in three young people say they felt happier during lockdown Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:54 AM PST One in three young people say their mental health and wellbeing improved during COVID-19 lockdown measures, with potential contributing factors including feeling less lonely, avoiding bullying and getting more sleep and exercise, according to researchers. |
| Ushering in safe, low-carbon electricity generated by nuclear fusion Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:54 AM PST Engineers are working to develop a new, economically viable and safe source of low carbon electricity through nuclear fusion. |
| Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:54 AM PST It has long been known that oscillatory neural activity is a key factor for attentional selection in the mammalian brain. Scientists have now investigated how this works. They found that coupling lower frequencies of oscillations with higher ones allows fine-tuning the brain and is thus the basis for higher cognitive functions, such as selective attention. |
| Interplay between brain networks in autism Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:54 AM PST Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with an increased focus on one's internal experiences along with a reduction in responsiveness to external social surroundings. Now, a new study investigates the dynamics of brain connectivity between brain networks associated with internal experiences, external attention, and switching between internal versus external states. |
| Are pandemic-related stressors impacting uninfected people's brain health? Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:53 AM PST A new study reveals that living through the COVID-19 pandemic may trigger brain inflammation that contributes to fatigue, concentration difficulties, and depression. |
| A new way to disarm antibiotic resistance in deadly bacteria Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:53 AM PST Scientists think they may have uncovered a whole new approach to fighting antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which, if successful, would help address a health crisis responsible for more deaths every year than either AIDS or malaria. A team of researchers found a new way to impair antibiotic resistance in bacteria that cause human disease. The team made the bacteria vulnerable again to antibiotics by inhibiting a particular protein that drives the formation of resistance capabilities within the bacteria, called DsbA. |
| How does the brain keep track of things moving around us? A new piece of the puzzle Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:53 AM PST A new study has found that hippocampal neurons in rats accurately map the position of a moving object even while the rat is stationary. The results challenge the idea that the hippocampus, a region of the brain involved in learning and memory, only encodes a map of space based on movement. |
| Food for thought: A high-fiber diet may reduce risk of dementia Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:53 AM PST Researchers found that higher levels of dietary fiber are associated with a reduced risk of developing dementia. In a large-scale study, over 3500 Japanese adults completed a dietary survey and were then followed up for two decades. Adults who consumed more fiber, particularly soluble fiber, were less likely to go on to develop dementia. These findings may relate to interactions between the gut and the brain. |
| New technology fused with photosynthetic life offers path to green energy Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:53 AM PST Researchers have developed a patented hybrid device -- part living organism, part bio battery, capable of producing stored energy by increasing energy flow under light conditions where natural photosynthesis is normally inhibited. |
| Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:52 AM PST Using wildlife cameras, scientists have provided new insights through a large-scale assessment of the occurrence and distribution of the Annamite striped rabbit and two Annamite dark muntjacs in six sites in Viet Nam and Laos. The team identified factors that influence the occurrence of these threatened endemics, and provided prediction maps for these sites. |
| Insect wingbeats will help quantify biodiversity Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:52 AM PST Insect populations are plummeting worldwide, with major consequences for our ecosystems and without us quite knowing why. A new AI method is set to help monitor and catalog insect biodiversity, which until now has been quite challenging. |
| What ingredients went into the galactic blender to create the Milky Way? Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:52 AM PST In its early days, the Milky Way was like a giant smoothie, as if galaxies consisting of billions of stars, and an enormous amount of gas had been thrown together into a gigantic blender. But a new study picks apart this mixture by analyzing individual stars to identify which originated inside the galaxy and which began 'life' outside. |
| Scientists engineer bacteria to cope in challenging environments Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:52 AM PST Researchers have engineered bacteria with internal nutrient reserves that can be accessed when needed to survive extreme environmental conditions. The findings pave the way for more robust biotechnologies based on engineered microbes. |
| 290 million new city dwellers benefit China's climate balance Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:52 AM PST Contrary to popular belief, China's massive emigration from rural areas to cities has been shown to have a positive effect on China's carbon stocks. Urbanization can even play a role in attaining climate neutrality. This is the conclusion of researchers based upon analyses of vast amounts of satellite data. |
| Why natural killer cells react to COVID-19 Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:52 AM PST Little has been known to date about how the immune system's natural killer (NK) cells detect which cells have been infected with SARS-CoV-2. Scientists now show that NK cells respond to a certain peptide on the surface of infected cells. The study is an important piece of the puzzle in our understanding of how the immune system reacts to COVID-19. |
| New treatment for people with asthma, food allergies? Posted: 22 Feb 2022 10:52 AM PST Researchers have made an important new discovery about how a particular molecule could improve lung function for people with asthma and food allergies. |
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