244 articles from FRIDAY 14.2.2020

Earth's cousins: Upcoming missions to look for 'biosignatures' in exoplanet atmospheres

University of Washington astronomer Victoria Meadows answers questions about characterizing the atmospheres of terrestrial and potentially Earth-like exoplanets, and searching for signs of life on these worlds, ahead of her talk at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting in Seattle. Meadows will present in the 'Detecting Life and Extraterrestrial Technologies'...

ESO telescope sees surface of dim Betelgeuse

Using ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers have captured the unprecedented dimming of Betelgeuse, a red supergiant star in the constellation of Orion. The stunning new images of the star's surface show not only the fading red supergiant but also how its apparent shape is changing.

Galactic cosmic rays affect Titan's atmosphere

Planetary scientists using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) revealed the secrets of the atmosphere of Titan, the largest moon of Saturn. The team found a chemical footprint in Titan's atmosphere indicating that cosmic rays coming from outside the Solar System affect the chemical reactions involved in the formation of nitrogen-bearing organic molecules. This is the first...

Gold nanoclusters: new frontier for developing medication for treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) as the major neurodegenerative disease afflicts over 50 million individuals worldwide without cure. Zhang et al. demonstrated that Au23(CR)14, a novel gold nanocluster modified with Cys-Arg (CR) dipeptide, inhibits the misfolding and fibrillation of amyloid-β (Aβ), fully restores the natural unfolded state of Aβ from misfolded β-sheets with abolished...

Iodide salts stabilise biocatalysts for fuel cells

Contrary to theoretical predictions, oxygen inactivates biocatalysts for energy conversion within a short time, even under a protective film. A research team of the Resolv Cluster of Excellence at Ruhr Universität Bochum (RUB) has found out why: Hydrogen peroxide forms on the protective film. The addition of iodide salts to the electrolyte can prevent this from happening and considerably extend...

Leaking away essential resources isn't wasteful, actually helps cells grow

Experts have been unable to explain why cells from bacteria to humans leak essential chemicals necessary for growth into their environment. New mathematical models reveal that leaking metabolites -- substances involved in the chemical processes to sustain life with production of complex molecules and energy -- may provide cells both selfish and selfless benefits.

Longstanding flaw in sensor readings could lead to heating and cooling design errors

Standard comfort measurements used to design heating and cooling systems share a common flaw, according to new research. The researchers said the error was caused by the standard instrument used to measure thermal effects of radiant heating and cooling. The instrument and associated formulas used to calculate comfort based on the sensor's readings do not properly account for air flow called free...

Looking for aliens who might be looking for us

Data from a massive search for cosmic radio emission released Feb 14. by the Breakthrough Listen Initiative has allowed astronomers to look for technological signatures of extraterrestrial civilizations that might be looking for us.

Low-cost 'smart' diaper can notify caregiver when it's wet

MIT researchers have developed a "smart" diaper embedded with a moisture sensor that can alert a caregiver when a diaper is wet. When the sensor detects dampness in the diaper, it sends a signal to a nearby receiver, which in turn can send a notification to a smartphone or computer.

Mapping the landscape of citizen science

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has found that citizen science is reshaping research. It can greatly facilitate large-scale research by providing opportunities to study more topics while teaching people more about science and enhancing science education.The report is one of the first of its kind to examine the available information on citizen science...

Mayo Clinic study looks at changes in outcomes for coronary revascularization

The most common type of heart disease -- coronary artery disease -- affects 6.7% of adults and accounts for 20% of 2 in 10 deaths of adults under age 65. The condition builds over time as inflammation and cholesterol-containing plaques settle in the heart's arteries, where they can eventually cause narrowing and blockages that lead to a heart attack.

Mother nature and child development

A world first review of the importance of nature play could transform children's play spaces, supporting investment in city and urban parks, while also delivering important opportunities for children's physical, social and emotional development.

NASA catches the re-birth of zombie tropical cyclone Francisco

The low-pressure area that had once been Tropical Cyclone Francisco has been lingering in the Southern Indian Ocean since Feb. 6 when it weakened below tropical cyclone status. Since then, Francisco's remnants moved into an area of warm waters and low wind shear allowing the low-pressure area to re-organize, consolidate and re-form. NASA's Aqua satellite provided forecasters with a visible image...