282 articles from THURSDAY 5.12.2019

Dull teeth, long skulls, specialized bites evolved in unrelated plant-eating dinosaurs

Herbivorous dinosaurs evolved many times during the 180 million-year Mesozoic era, and while they didn't all evolve to chew, swallow, and digest their food in the same way, a few specific strategies appeared time and time again. An investigation of the skulls of 160 non-avian dinosaurs revealed the evolution of common traits in the skulls and teeth of plant-eating members of otherwise very...

Root of childhood kidney cancer discovered

A fundamental change in our understanding of the childhood kidney cancer Wilms' tumor is on the horizon, after the discovery of its earliest genetic root by scientists. By comparing genome sequences from normal kidney tissue and tumors, the team identified patches of normal-looking kidney tissue that in fact carried DNA changes that cause Wilms' tumor.

Clinical study finds eating within 10-hour window may help stave off diabetes, heart disease

Researchers have found that a 10-hour time-restricted eating intervention, when combined with traditional medications, resulted in weight loss, reduced abdominal fat, lower blood pressure and cholesterol for participants. The pilot study could lead to a new treatment option for metabolic syndrome patients who are at risk for developing life-altering and costly medical conditions such as diabetes.

Three types of cells help the brain tell day from night

Researchers report the discovery of three cell types in the eye that detect light and align the brain's circadian rhythm to our ambient light. The study marks the first direct assessment in humans of light responses from these cells, called intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) -- and the implications for health are substantial.

Technique shows how individual cancer cells react to drugs

sci-Plex, a new cell-response screening method, pools genetically different cells and shows what happens to individual cells when the sample is treated, such as with cancer drugs. The technology collects information on changes in genetic expression in each labeled cell, providing data useful in exploring mechanisms triggered by drugs or other agents.

Bats may benefit from wildfire

Bats face many threats -- from habitat loss and climate change to emerging diseases, such as white-nose syndrome. But it appears that wildfire is not among those threats.

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Mission Explains Bennu’s Mysterious Particle Events

Portal origin URL: NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Mission Explains Bennu’s Mysterious Particle EventsPortal origin nid: 456176Published: Thursday, December 5, 2019 - 14:00Featured (stick to top of list): noPortal text teaser: The discovery of particle plumes erupting from Bennu's surface was a surprise,indicating that the returned asteroid sample may unlock answers to...

SpaceX launches Dragon cargo craft with mighty mice and a tricky shipment for Seattle’s Spaceflight

A fresh SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a recycled robotic Dragon cargo capsule today, carrying 5,700 pounds of supplies, satellites and science to the International Space Station. In contrast with Wednesday's planned launch attempt, which was called off due to excessively high upper-level winds, today's countdown proceeded smoothly to liftoff at 12:29 p.m. ET (9:29 a.m. PT) from Cape...

Magma reservoir failure and the onset of caldera collapse at Kilauea Volcano in 2018

Caldera-forming eruptions are among Earth’s most hazardous natural phenomena, yet the architecture of subcaldera magma reservoirs and the conditions that trigger collapse are poorly understood. Observations from the formation of a 0.8–cubic kilometer basaltic caldera at Kīlauea Volcano in 2018 included the draining of an active lava lake, which provided a window into pressure...

The tangled tale of Kilaueas 2018 eruption as told by geochemical monitoring

Changes in magma chemistry that affect eruptive behavior occur during many volcanic eruptions, but typical analytical techniques are too slow to contribute to hazard monitoring. We used rapid energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence analysis to measure diagnostic elements in lava samples within a few hours of collection during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. The geochemical data provided important...