139 articles from MONDAY 25.5.2020
Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit Fails on First Rocket Launch Attempt
(LOS ANGELES) — Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit failed Monday on its first attempt to launch a test satellite into space aboard a rocket carried aloft by a Boeing 747 and released over the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California.
The inaugural launch had appeared to be going well until moments after the rocket was dropped from beneath the left wing of the jumbo jet dubbed...
Sir Richard Branson: Virgin Orbit rocket fails on debut flight
A California company owned by UK businessman Sir Richard Branson fails to launch a rocket to...
Sir Richard Branson: Virgin Orbit rocket fails on debut flight
A California company owned by UK businessman Sir Richard Branson fails to launch a rocket to orbit.
Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne rocket misses going to space during its first air launch
A new breed of launch vehicle had a shaky first outing today when Virgin Orbit released its LauncherOne rocket from a modified Boeing 747 jumbo jet flying over the Pacific Ocean for its first blastoff. "We've confirmed a clean release from the aircraft," Virgin Orbit reported in a tweet. "However, the mission terminated shortly into the flight." In a follow-up Twitter...
Scientists see through glass frogs' translucent camouflage
Glass frogs are well known for their see-through skin but, until now, the reason for this curious feature has received no experimental attention.
Researchers discover new sex hormone
When University of Ottawa biologists Kim Mitchell and Vance Trudeau began studying the effects of gene mutations in zebrafish, they uncovered new functions that regulate how males and females interact while mating. We sat down with senior author Professor Trudeau, Research Chair in Neuroendocrinology at the Faculty of Science, to learn more.
Solving the space junk problem
Space is getting crowded. Aging satellites and space debris crowd low-Earth orbit, and launching new satellites adds to the collision risk. The most effective way to solve the space junk problem, according to a new study, is not to capture debris or deorbit old satellites: it's an international agreement to charge operators "orbital-use fees" for every satellite put into orbit.
Why glass frogs have see-through skin becomes clear in study
While colour of body changes little, legs are more translucent to help amphibians to blend inThe mystery of why glass frogs have see-through skin has been solved, scientists say: the unusual feature is a type of camouflage.Glass frogs are found in tropical Central and South America, and get their name from their skin. Continue...
Galactic crash may have triggered solar system formation
The formation of the Sun, the Solar System and the subsequent emergence of life on Earth may be a consequence of a collision between our galaxy, the Milky Way, and a smaller galaxy called Sagittarius, discovered in the 1990s to be orbiting our galactic home.
Eating local and plant-based diets: how to feed cities sustainably
How do you feed a city? It is one of the great questions of our time. After all, for a species that ultimately depends on plants to feed ourselves, we do tend to cram ourselves into places that are rather unfriendly towards them. Our cities are built around cars, offices and perhaps the odd park—not fields of crops.
A child's brain activity reveals their memory ability
- ScienceDaily
- 20/5/25 19:43
A child's unique brain activity reveals how good their memories are, according to new research.
WHO halts hydroxychloroquine trial for coronavirus amid safety fears
Malaria drug taken by Trump could raise risk of death and heart problems, study showsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe World Health Organization has said it will temporarily drop hydroxychloroquine — the malaria drug Donald Trump said he is taking as a precaution — from its global study into experimental coronavirus treatments after safety concerns.The WHO’s...
SpaceX and NASA Are Set for a Historic Crewed Launch This Week. Here’s How to Watch
It’s been a long time since the country that once flew nine crewed missions to the moon has been able to launch even a single human being to space aboard its own rockets from its own soil. Ever since the final flight of the space shuttle in July 2011, the U.S. has been dependent on buying rides aboard Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft—at a current $80 million a seat—if it wants...
Johnson and Cummings have revealed their flawed view of what strong leadership is | Suzanne Moore
The question is not whether the prime minister will forgive his adviser, but whether people will forgive this government for failing to keep us safeWe must shield the vulnerable. This is what most of us have understood for the past 10 weeks. Most families have been split apart, often in dire circumstances. For adults and parents of children with compromised immune systems, this remains a...
Unique insight into development of the human brain: Model of the early embryonic brain
- ScienceDaily
- 20/5/25 17:57
Stem cell researchers have designed a model of an early embryonic brain. The model will increase our understanding of how the human brain develops and can thereby help to accelerate the development of stem cell treatments for brain disorders such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and dementia.
Cosmic Ring of Fire' 11 Billion Years Ago: How did structures in early universe form?
- ScienceDaily
- 20/5/25 17:56
Astronomers have captured an image of a super-rare type of galaxy -- described as a 'cosmic ring of fire' -- as it existed 11 billion years ago.
Problems with alcohol? 29 gene variants may explain why
- ScienceDaily
- 20/5/25 17:56
A genome-wide analysis of more than 435,000 people has identified 29 genetic variants linked to problematic drinking, researchers report.
A new law in laser physics could make eye surgery simpler
- ScienceDaily
- 20/5/25 17:56
Revisiting simple soliton lasers and their relationship to light dispersion has allowed scientists to ramp up their power. They hope these quartic-soliton lasers could have uses in eye and heart surgery and in the engineering of delicate materials.
How drones can monitor explosive volcanoes
- ScienceDaily
- 20/5/25 17:56
Due to high risk for researchers, the imaging of active volcanoes has so far been a great challenge in volcanology. Scientists used a drone for a series of repeated survey flights with optical and thermal imaging cameras at the Santa Maria volcano in Guatemala. A regular and systematic survey of dangerous volcanoes with drones seems to be close.
There is no escaping from climate change, even in the deep sea
- ScienceDaily
- 20/5/25 17:56
Even though the deeper layers of the ocean are warming at a slower pace than the surface, animals living in the deep ocean are more exposed to climate warming and will face increasing challenges to maintain their preferred thermal habitats in the future.
Scientists find genes to save ash trees from deadly beetle
- ScienceDaily
- 20/5/25 17:56
Scientists have identified candidate resistance genes that could protect ash trees from the emerald ash borer (EAB), a deadly pest that is expected to kill billions of trees worldwide.
A new critically endangered frog named after 'the man from the floodplain full of frogs'
- ScienceDaily
- 20/5/25 17:56
A new species of a criticallyendangered miniaturized stump-toed frog of the genus Stumpffia found in Madagascar is named Stumpffia froschaueri after ''the man from the floodplain full of frogs'', Christoph Froschauer.
New double-contrast technique picks up small tumors on MRI
- ScienceDaily
- 20/5/25 17:56
Early detection of tumors is extremely important in treating cancer. A new technique offers a significant advance in using magnetic resonance imaging to pick out even very small tumors from normal tissue.
Study reveals first evidence inherited genetics can drive cancer's spread
- ScienceDaily
- 20/5/25 17:56
Scientists have long struggled to understand what drives a tumor to seed itself elsewhere in the body. New research implicates own pre-existing genetics.
Record-high data transmission using a soliton crystal
- ScienceDaily
- 20/5/25 17:56
Researchers have achieved world record-high data transmission over 75 km of standard optical fiber using a powerful class of micro-comb called soliton crystals.
Astronomers see 'cosmic ring of fire,' 11 billion years ago
Astronomers have captured an image of a super-rare type of galaxy—described as a "cosmic ring of fire"—as it existed 11 billion years ago.
Scientists find genes to save ash trees from deadly beetle
An international team of scientists have identified candidate resistance genes that could protect ash trees from the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), a deadly pest that is expected to kill billions of trees worldwide.
The deep ocean is warming slowly—but dramatic changes are ahead
The world's deep oceans are warming at a slower rate than the surface, but it's still not good news for deep-sea creatures according to an international study.
New soliton laser pulses deliver high energy in a trillionth of a second
Scientists have developed a new type of laser that can deliver high amounts of energy in very short bursts of time, with potential applications in eye and heart surgery or the engineering of delicate materials.
Unique insight into development of the human brain: Model of the early embryonic brain
Stem cell researchers from the University of Copenhagen have designed a model of an early embryonic brain. The model will increase our understanding of how the human brain develops and can thereby accelerate the development of stem cell treatments for brain disorders such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and dementia.
New double-contrast technique picks up small tumors on MRI
Early detection of tumors is extremely important in treating cancer. A new technique developed by researchers at the University of California, Davis offers a significant advance in using magnetic resonance imaging to pick out even very small tumors from normal tissue. The work is published May 25 in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
Marine species are outpacing terrestrial species in the race against global warming
Global warming is causing species to search for more temperate environments to which to migrate, but it is marine species that are leading the way by moving up to six times faster towards the poles than their terrestrial congeners, according to the latest results of a Franco-American study mainly involving scientists from the CNRS, Ifremer, the Université Toulouse III—Paul Sabatier and the...
Understanding ceramic materials' 'mortar' may reveal ways to improve them
When most people think of ceramics, they might envision their favorite mug or a flowerpot. But modern technology is full of advanced ceramics, from silicon solar panels to ceramic superconductors and biomedical implants.
How well do Germans understand weather risks?
Many Germans have difficulty gauging the negative impact of weather conditions such as ground frost, heat, or UV radiation. This is one of the key results of a representative survey conducted by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, published in Weather, Climate, and Society. The study's authors advocate new impact forecasts that predict not only what the weather will be,...
RDE-3 found to add pUG tails to targets of RNA interference and to transposon RNAs
A team of researchers from Harvard Medical School, Nanjing Agricultural University and the University of Wisconsin has found that the protein RDE-3 in nematode worms adds pUG tails to targets of RNA interference and transposon RNAs. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the group describe their findings and the ways their work could impact the study of gene silencing through generations....
Watching single protons moving at water-solid interfaces
The H+ proton consists of a single ion of hydrogen, the smallest and lightest of all the chemical elements. These protons occur naturally in water where a tiny proportion of H2O molecules separate spontaneously. Their amount in a liquid determines whether the solution is acidic or basic. Protons are also extremely mobile, moving through water by jumping from one water molecule to another.
Worth their salt: Researchers report first case of hexagonal NaCl
Skoltech and MIPT scientists have predicted and then experimentally confirmed the existence of exotic hexagonal thin films of NaCl on a diamond surface. These films may be useful as gate dielectrics for field effect transistors in electric vehicles and telecommunication equipment. The research, supported by the Russian Science Foundation, was published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry...
Work needed to reduce the negative effects of heat stress on Australian dairy cows, research reveals
Researchers have investigated the impact of heat stress in Australian dairy cows grazing summer pastures, revealing high temperature and humidity leads to a significant drop in milk production, but that this can be rectified through the provision of shade and more water troughs.
Process to produce well-aligned CNT arrays on a 10-centimeter silicon wafer
A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in China has developed a new process to produce well-aligned carbon nanotube (CNT) arrays on a 10-centimeter silicon wafer. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes their process and how well it compared to similar type silicon designs.
High-speed rail on Australia's east coast would increase emissions for up to 36 years
Bullet trains are back on the political agenda. As the major parties look for ways to stimulate the economy after the COVID-19 crisis, Labor is again spruiking its vision of linking Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane with high-speed trains similar to the Eurostar, France's TGV or Japan's Shinkansen.