153 articles from WEDNESDAY 11.9.2019

It takes a 'consortium': Researchers develop metabolic engineering technique

For years, scientists have explored ways to alter the cells of microorganisms in efforts to improve how many products are made, including medicines, fuels, and even beer. But altering the genetic and regulatory processes that take place within cells presents challenges. Now bioengineers is working with a team of researchers to engineer microbial consortia, wherein cell subpopulations are...

Cell-mostly internet users place privacy burden on themselves

Do data privacy concerns disproportionately affect people who access the internet primarily through cell phones? New research indicates that cell-mostly internet users are more likely to be exploited online, be victims of data leaks, have less knowledge of phone security practices, and have attitudes of resignation with regard to their agency over their data.

Experiments at temperature of sun offer solutions to solar model problems

The theoretical model that astrophysicists have used for 40 years to determine the behavior and future of the sun is broken. It seems fixable, however, with information from experiments at Sandia's Z machine, done at the temperature of the sun, that can accurately determine how much energy the sun's components allow to pass through them.

UK still behind in cancer survival despite recent surge

Big improvement in past two decades fails to close gap with likes of Australia and CanadaCancer survival rates in the UK have improved markedly over recent decades but still lag behind those of comparable countries, a major research exercise has shown.The study looked at one-year and five-year survival of cancer patients in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway and the UK...

A precise chemical fingerprint of the Amazon

In 2017, Scot Martin, the Gordon McKay Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), envisioned a novel drone-based chemical monitoring system to track the health of the Amazon in the face of global climate change and human-caused deforestation and burning.

Professor's research paints picture of #MeToo movement's origins

On Oct. 15, 2017, actress Alyssa Milano sparked a firestorm on social media when she asked her Twitter followers to reply "me too" if they had ever been sexually harassed or assaulted. (Social justice activist Tarana Burke founded the "Me Too" movement more than 10 years ago as a way to help sexual assault survivors heal.) What followed were 1.5 million responses—many from sexual assault...

Climate change may cut soil's ability to absorb water

Coasts, oceans, ecosystems, weather and human health all face impacts from climate change, and now valuable soils may also be affected. Climate change may reduce the ability of soils to absorb water in many parts of the world, according to a new study. And that could have serious implications for groundwater supplies, food production and security, stormwater runoff, biodiversity and ecosystems.