278 articles from TUESDAY 10.3.2020

March winds to roar across parts of Midwest, Northeast

As a potent storm whips across the southern tier of Canada, opening the door for chilly air in the United States, potentially disruptive winds are poised to roar across portions of the Midwest and Northeast later this week.The blustery winds will first whip across the Upper Midwest on Thursday before reaching the eastern Great Lakes and northern Appalachians by Friday.Widespread power outages are...

Looking for love? Wash your hands first, say dating apps

How dating apps are adapting to love in the time of coronavirusDating apps are adapting to love in the time of coronavirus, warning their users of the elevated risks of going on dates while trying to ensure they do not switch off entirely when the time comes to self-isolate.OKCupid, which prides itself on its data-led approach to dating, asking users to fill in detailed questionnaires and matching...

Scientists warn of 'critical gaps' in Australia's climate science capability

Exclusive: Australia needs the expertise to predict changes which have a major impact across the country, a review findsA government-backed review of Australia’s climate science capability has identified “critical gaps” in the nation’s ability to understand the processes that underpin climate change, with atmospheric modelling lagging other countries.It found Australia was in danger of...

With Italy on lockdown, fear over coronavirus is natural but we must not be alarmist | Gaby Hinsliff

It’s hard not to worry, but we have to hope the epidemiologists are giving the UK government the right adviceIn a epidemic, nothing spreads as fast as fear.There are only so many pictures of Italy’s deserted cafes and empty streets that the average Briton can look at without beginning to wonder why we’re not on lockdown too. Social media only feeds the hysteria, spawning endless...

Planet's largest ecosystems collapse faster than previously forecast

New research has shown that large ecosystems such as rainforests and coral reefs can collapse at a significantly faster rate than previously understood. The findings suggest that ecosystems the size of the Amazon forests could collapse in only 49 years and the Caribbean coral reefs in just 15 years.

Injection strategies are crucial for geothermal projects

The fear of earthquakes is one of the main reasons for reservations about geothermal energy. In order to get hot water from the depths, crevices in the rock underground often have to be created. This is done by injecting large quantities of water under high pressure. The problem is that such hydraulic stimulation is accompanied by vibrations underground, known as 'induced seismicity.' A new study...

Researchers create a new acoustic smart material inspired by shark skin

From the headphones we use to listen to our favorite songs or podcasts, to sonic camouflage employed by submarines, how we transmit and experience sound is an essential part of how we engage with our surrounding world. Acoustic metamaterials are materials designed to control, direct and manipulate soundwaves as they pass through different mediums. As such, they can be designed and inserted into a...

Scientists categorize neurons by the way the brain jiggles during a heartbeat

The brain jiggles when the heart beats, and now, researchers have found a way to use that motion to better study the differences between types of neurons. In a new study, researchers find that by analyzing the changes in the waveforms they record from neurons during a heartbeat, they can more accurately classify the different types of neurons in the human brain.

Making more MXene: Researchers unveil a scalable production system for the promising, 2-D nanomaterials

For more than a decade, two-dimensional nanomaterials, such as graphene, have been touted as the key to making better microchips, batteries, antennas and many other devices. But a significant challenge of using these atom-thin building materials for the technology of the future is ensuring that they can be produced in bulk quantities without losing their quality. For one of the most promising new...

Study reveals positive connection between nature experiences and happiness globally

The economic and ecological impact of nature on humans have long been established with prevalent environmental issues such as climate change and over-exploitation of natural resources being the first to cross one's mind. On the other hand, much less attention has been paid to the cultural and social values nature brings to humans. Even though natural wonders such as the Great Barrier Reef and the...

Common feed ingredient tested safe in bulls

Cattle feeders choose distillers grains in feedlot diets as an inexpensive alternative to corn and soybean meal. But until now, no one had studied the effects of the common feed ingredient on bull development and fertility. With bull fertility to blame for a significant portion of reproductive failures in cow-calf operations, University of Illinois researchers decided it was worth a look.