99 articles from TUESDAY 8.10.2019
'Big Bang Theory' gets shout out to Nobel Prize announcement
Life imitated art Tuesday when "The Big Bang Theory" — the American TV sitcom, not the scientific explanation for how the universe began — entered the annals of Nobel Prize history. The announcement of the winners of this year's Nobel in physics began with a nod to an unlikely cultural reference: the opening lyrics to the show's theme song. "The Big Bang Theory" had its finale in May. In the...
Innovative pancreatic cancer treatment may rev up immune system
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 22:58
A research team reports that combining a type of radiation therapy with immunotherapy not only cures pancreatic cancer in mice, but appears to reprogram the immune system to create an 'immune memory' in the same way that a vaccine keeps the flu away. The result is that the combination treatment also destroyed pancreatic cells that had spread to the liver, a common site for metastatic disease.
New capsule can orally deliver drugs that usually have to be injected
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 22:58
MIT engineers designed a drug capsule that can carry insulin or other protein drugs and protect them from the harsh environment of the gastrointestinal tract. When the capsule reaches the small intestine, it breaks down to reveal dissolvable microneedles that attach to the intestinal wall and release drug for uptake into the bloodstream.
Insights on treatment and prognosis of male breast cancer
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 22:58
A recent analysis reveals that treatment of male breast cancer has evolved over the years. In addition, certain patient-, tumor-, and treatment-related factors are linked with better survival.
PET offers more precise screening method to select candidates for radionuclide therapy
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 22:58
PET scanning can offer more precise selection of patients for neuroendocrine tumor therapy, allowing some patients to qualify who would otherwise have been ineligible, according to a new article.
Why we crave junk food after a sleepless night
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 22:58
When you're sleep deprived, you reach for doughnuts and pizza. A new study has figured out why you crave more calorie-dense, high-fat foods after a sleepless night. Blame it on your sleepy nose -- or olfactory system. First, it goes into hyperdrive, sharpening the food odors for the brain. But then there is a breakdown in communication with brain areas that receive food signals. Then decisions...
Scientists identify molecule that could have helped cells thrive on early Earth
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 22:58
A new study offers an explanation for how ''protocells'' could have emerged on early Earth, eventually leading to the cells we know today. The work suggests that molecules called cyclophospholipids may have been the ingredient necessary for protocells to form important internal structures called vesicles, which likely kicked off the evolutionary process.
Genes play a role in dog breed differences in behavior
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 22:58
Border collies are highly trainable, greyhounds love to chase, and German shepherds make good guard dogs. While the environment plays a role, traits like these are highly heritable, according to a study of 101 dog breeds. The work identifies 131 genetic variants associated with breed differences in behavior.
Space pianos and upside-down shoes: innovations for life in space
Sands Fish, a researcher and scientist at MIT Media Lab's Space Exploration Initiative, talks designing for the everyday details of life in zero...
A new study reveals how the last woolly mammoths died out 4,000 years ago. That's after the Egyptians had built the pyramids.
The last of the woolly mammoths died on an Arctic island 4,000 years ago, meaning these animals went extinct much later than scientists once...
Buying less is better than buying 'green' -- for the planet and your happiness
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 21:57
A new study found that people who consume less are happier than those who engage in other pro-environmental consumer behaviors, like buying environmentally friendly products.
Mechanical engineer's simple running hack is fun and increases efficiency
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 21:57
Attention runners: The next time you go out for a jog, you might want to strap a light resistance band between your feet. This rather quirky but oddly effective hack, could make you a more efficient runner by approximately 6.4%.
Pharmacists provide patient value in team-based care
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 21:57
As part of an innovative model, pharmacists manage the care of patients with chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes and hypertension.
Screening kindergarten readiness
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 21:57
Researchers have found that a readiness test can predict kindergarteners' success in school after 18 months.
Drug can extend survival rates for heart failure patients
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 21:57
Blood pressure medication can prevent fluid retention and muscle wasting in heart failure.
Astronauts just printed meat in space for the first time — and it could change the way we grow food on Earth
A spacecraft with vials of cow cells landed at the International Space Station in September. From there, cosmonauts fed the vials into a 3D...
This 14-year-old has a science lab in her basement and will be talking biotech at MIT
When Patricia Rea finishes her school day and her homework, the 14-year-old heads straight to the basement and gets to work in her science...
Climate Activists Block Central London Streets as Boris Johnson Derides Them as ‘Uncooperative Crusties’
(LONDON) — Hundreds of climate change activists camped out in central London on Tuesday during a second day of world protests by the Extinction Rebellion movement to demand more urgent actions to counter global warming.
Determined activists glued themselves to the British government’s Department of Transport building as police working to keep streets clear appealed to protesters to...
California’s shutting off power to prevent fires. Here are some better options.
Microgrids, buried lines, better building standards and more.
Skin cancer prevention program may have reduced melanoma in Australians
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 20:04
A skin cancer prevention program called SunSmart may have contributed to a recent reduction in melanoma among younger residents of Melbourne, according to a new study. According to the authors, the findings may have substantial implications for the future delivery of skin cancer prevention programs.
Who is telling the truth about their health?
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 20:04
When researchers or policymakers ask health related questions -- which they do a lot -- they often rely on self-reported rather than tested health data. Researchers looked into how reliable this type of data is for research and found that, depending on country or age, self-reported data could be highly biased.
Research maps key signaling pathways linking calcium entry and exit in activated T cells
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 20:04
Like entrance and exit doors on a building, a cell's outer surface has doors -- channels, pumps, and transporters that selectively control what molecules enter or exit. In the immune system, T cells possess unique sets of 'doors', including ones that specialize in calcium ion movement. Now, researchers describe a unique mechanism for coordinating these calcium entrance and exit 'doors' on T cells...
What is Extinction Rebellion and what are its demands?
On Monday, the activist group Extinction Rebellion blocked bridges across Canada in Halifax, Toronto, Kitchener, Ont., Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria. While the climate action group may have been relatively unknown until now, they’ve been rapidly...
DNA metabarcoding useful for analyzing human diet
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 19:30
A new study demonstrates that DNA metabarcoding provides a promising new method for tracking human plant intake, suggesting that similar approaches could be used to characterize the animal and fungal components of human diets. The study demonstrated that dietary plant DNA can be amplified and sequenced from human stool using methods commonly applied to wildlife studies.
Lymphoma stage at diagnosis may predict when and where new cancer forms
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 19:30
A new study shows the stage at which lymphoma is originally diagnosed impacts the types of second cancers that may form after treatment.
One in three young adults receive medication for opioid use disorder after overdose
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 19:30
A new study found that one in three young adults receive medication for opioid use disorder within 12 months of a non-fatal opioid overdose. The study shows which medications -- buprenorphine, methadone or naltrexone -- are being taken, and how long after the overdose they receive the treatment.
Boeing to invest $20M in Virgin Galactic, marking a milestone team-up in commercial space
Boeing says it's planning to invest $20 million in Virgin Galactic once it goes public, potentially unlocking a new level of synergy for commercial space travel. For Virgin Galactic, the deal will provide an extra dose of cash — but also access to Boeing's decades of expertise in providing aerospace products and services. In return, Boeing will have an inside track to the market for...
Meet the 'mold pigs,' a new group of invertebrates from 30 million years ago
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 18:56
Fossils preserved in Dominican amber reveal a new family, genus and species of microinvertebrate from the mid-Tertiary period, a discovery that shows unique lineages of the tiny creatures were living 30 million years ago.
Yale study examines shifts in fertility rates among Generation X women
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 18:45
A new study examines shifts in fertility behaviors among Generation X women in the United States -- those born between 1965-1982 -- compared to their Baby Boomer counterparts, and explores whether the fertility of college-educated women is increasing more quickly across cohorts in Generation X than the fertility of their less educated counterparts.
The deeper these octopuses live, the wartier their skin
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 18:45
Deep beneath the ocean's surface, surprisingly cute pink octopuses creep along the seafloor. Some of them have super warty skin, and some are smooth. Scientists weren't sure if these octopuses were even members of the same species, and they didn't know how to explain the differences in the animals' looks. But a new study shows that the deeper in the ocean the octopuses live, the bumpier their skin...
Cheap as chips: Identifying plant genes to ensure food security
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 17:59
Scientists have developed a new approach enabling researchers to more efficiently identify the genes that control plant traits. This method will enable plant breeders and scientists to develop more affordable, desirable, and sustainable plant varieties. The application will be most valuable for the fruit, vegetable and grain crops that are critical for global food security and human nutrition.
Stabilizing multilayer flows may improve transportation of heavy oils
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 17:59
During the past 20 years, the oil industry has begun to transition away from light oils toward heavier oils. But transporting heavy oils cost-effectively is a challenge because heavy oils are viscous -- essentially a thick, sticky and semifluid mess. One way to outmaneuver this problem is a viscoplastic lubrication technique. It can complement existing methods to stabilize interfaces within...
New addiction treatments hold promise for stemming the opioid crisis
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 17:59
Concerns over the opioid epidemic have sparked a strong scientific interest in why some people become addicted while others don't. Now, researchers are proposing novel treatment strategies that could help prevent abuse of opioids and other substances.
Limitations of method for determining protein structure
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 17:59
A new study by chemists shows that X-ray crystallography, the standard method for determining the structure of proteins, can provide inaccurate information about membrane proteins, which in turn could lead to poor and inefficient drug design.
Mapping normal breast development to better understand cancer
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 17:59
Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers, and some forms rank among the most difficult to treat. Its various types and involvement of many different cells makes targeting such tumors difficult. Now, researchers have used a state-of-the-art technology to profile each cell during normal breast development in order to understand what goes wrong in cancer.
How can ultrasonic brain stimulation cure brain diseases?
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 17:59
Scientists found a calcium channel expressed in astrocytes in the brain to be a highly sensitive target for LILFU-induced neuronal activity in the motor cortex, such as tail movement.
Pressure runs high at edge of solar system
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 17:59
Out at the boundary of our solar system, pressure runs high. This pressure, the force plasma, magnetic fields and particles like ions, cosmic rays and electrons exert on one another when they flow and collide, was recently measured by scientists in totality for the first time -- and it was found to be greater than expected.
Scientists observe a single quantum vibration under ordinary conditions
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 17:59
Scientists have for the first time created and observed a single phonon in a common material at room temperature.
Back-to-back meteor showers make this a great week for stargazing
Back-to-back meteor showers make this a great week for stargazing originally appeared on abcnews.go.comCalifornia residents spotted odd lights beaming through the sky Monday night. So naturally, many took to social media to share videos and get answers.What people were observing meteor showers.“The Draconids meteor shower kicks off the fall meteor shower season,” Dave Samuhel, AccuWeather...
Saturn Is the New Moon King
And Jupiter is now in the second spot.
Pressure Runs High at Edge of Solar System
Portal origin URL: Pressure Runs High at Edge of Solar SystemPortal origin nid: 452981Published: Tuesday, October 8, 2019 - 11:00Featured (stick to top of list): noPortal text teaser: Out at the boundary of our solar system, pressure runs high. This pressure, the force plasma, magnetic fields and particles like ions, cosmic rays and electrons exert on one another when they...
Sweet corn growers, processors could dramatically increase yield, profit
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 16:47
In an industry struggling to maintain profitability, it's curious that U.S. processing sweet corn - the corn that ends up in cans and freezer bags - is falling so far below its potential. Yet, that's what a new study clearly demonstrates.
Study of past California wildfire activity suggest climate change will worsen future fires
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 16:46
A new study finds that climate has been the dominant controller of wildfire activity in the Sierra Nevada region of the past 1,400 years, suggesting that future climate change is poised to make fires worse.
Forward or backward? New pathways for protons in water or methanol
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 16:46
A collaborative ultrafast spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations study shows that proton vacancies in the form of hydroxide/methoxide ions are as relevant for proton transfer between acids and bases as hydrated excess protons, thus pointing for a clear demand for refinement of the microscopic picture for aqueous proton transport - in solution as well as in hydrogen fuel cells or...
Rice irrigation worsened landslides in deadliest earthquake of 2018
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 16:46
Irrigation significantly exacerbated the earthquake-triggered landslides in Palu, on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, in 2018, according to an international study.
Believing in climate change doesn't mean you are preparing for climate change
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 16:46
Researchers found that although coastal homeowners may perceive a worsening of climate change-related hazards, these attitudes are largely unrelated to a homeowner's expectations of actual home damage.
Cooling nanotube resonators with electrons
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 16:46
Researchers report on a technique that uses electron transport to cool a nanomechanical resonator near the quantum regime.
Modern family roles improve life satisfaction for parents
- ScienceDaily
- 19/10/8 16:46
Increased equality has a positive effect on mothers and fathers. Thanks to greater freedom to strike an individual balance between caring for children and working in paid employment, mothers and fathers today are happier with their lives than parents were 20 or 30 years ago, a study by sociologists has shown.