325 articles from TUESDAY 18.8.2020
Cover crop mixtures must be 'farm-tuned' to provide maximum ecosystem services
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 23:54
Researchers, in a recent study, were surprised to learn that they could take the exact same number of seeds from the same plants, put them in agricultural fields across the Mid-Atlantic region and get profoundly different stands of cover crops a few months later.
OCT-based technique captures subtle details of photoreceptor function
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 23:54
Researchers have developed a new instrument that has, for the first time, measured tiny light-evoked deformations in individual rods and cones in a living human eye. The new approach could one day improve detection of retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in people over 55 worldwide.
Cryo-EM study yields new clues to chicken pox infection
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 23:54
Scientists studying the varicella zoster virus found that an antibody that blocks infection doesn't work exactly as they'd thought.
Researchers explore self-healing materials
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 23:54
Researchers developed a new material that can autonomously heal in air and underwater.
Songbirds, like people, sing better after warming up
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 23:54
If you've ever been woken up before sunrise by the chirping of birds outside your window, you may have wondered: why do birds sing so loud, so early in the morning? The cacophony is mostly males, whose songs are meant to impress potential mates and rivals. Researchers say there may be a good reason why birds are most vocal at first light. By singing early and often, birds perform better during the...
Citizen Scientists Discover Dozens of New Cosmic Neighbors in NASA Data
Eyebrow: Citizen Science NewsBody: Members of the public helped make 95 discoveries through Backyard Worlds: Planet 9, a NASA-funded citizen science project that is a collaboration between volunteers and professional scientists.
Link: Read...
Citizen Scientists Discover Dozens of New Cosmic Neighbors in NASA Data
We’ve never met some of the Sun’s closest neighbors until now. In a new study, astronomers report the discovery of 95 objects known as brown dwarfs, many within a few dozen light-years of the Sun. They’re well outside the solar system, so don’t experience heat from the Sun, but still inhabit a region astronomers consider our cosmic neighborhood. This collection represents some of the...
Plantwatch: how a miraculous moss keeps cool in the Mojave desert
Sheltering under translucent quartz stones shields the moss from heat, cold, drought and intense ultraviolet raysA small moss growing in the Mojave desert in California uses a remarkable protection from the desert sun – it shelters under translucent quartz stones. It is a miniature greenhouse that shields the moss from heat, cold, drought and intense ultraviolet rays.The desert gets extremely...
Enzyme cocktail developed in Brazil powers production of second-generation ethanol
Researchers at the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) have genetically engineered a fungus to produce a cocktail of enzymes that break down the carbohydrates in biomass, such as sugarcane trash (tops and leaves) and bagasse, into fermentable sugar for industrially efficient conversion into biofuel.
Machine learning unearths signature of slow-slip quake origins in seismic data
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 22:09
Combing through historical seismic data, researchers using a machine learning model have unearthed distinct statistical features marking the formative stage of slow-slip ruptures in the earth's crust months before tremor or GPS data detected a slip in the tectonic plates.
More eggs harvested from last 2 northern white rhinos
An international team of scientists said they successfully extracted eggs from the last two remaining northern white rhinos, a step on the way to possibly saving the subspecies from extinction.
Machine learning unearths signature of slow-slip quake origins in seismic data
Combing through historical seismic data, researchers using a machine learning model have unearthed distinct statistical features marking the formative stage of slow-slip ruptures in the earth's crust months before tremor or GPS data detected a slip in the tectonic plates. Given the similarity between slow-slip events and classic earthquakes, these distinct signatures may help geophysicists...
Cold-weather accounts for almost all temperature-related deaths
With the number of extreme weather days rising around the globe in recent years due to global warming, it is no surprise that there has been an upward trend in hospital visits and admissions for injuries caused by high heat over the last several years. But cold temperatures are responsible for almost all temperature-related deaths, according to a new study published in the journal Environmental...
COVID-19 pandemic likely to cause sales tax loss for Ohio municipalities
Small municipalities in Ohio that rely on retail sales taxes from apparel, vehicle sales, restaurants and tourism could see as much as a 50 percent decline in tax revenue because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study has found.
Exploding stars may have caused mass extinction on Earth, study shows
Imagine reading by the light of an exploded star, brighter than a full moon—it might be fun to think about, but this scene is the prelude to a disaster when the radiation devastates life as we know it. Killer cosmic rays from nearby supernovae could be the culprit behind at least one mass extinction event, researchers said, and finding certain radioactive isotopes in Earth's rock record could...
NASA-NOAA satellite snaps image of tropical storm Higos in South China Sea
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite passed over the South China Sea and captured a visible image of Tropical Storm Higos. Higos is headed for landfall in southeastern China.
Using a public restroom? Mask up!
Think you don't need to worry about COVID-19 while using a public restroom? A group of researchers from Yangzhou University in China recently reported that flushing public restroom toilets can release clouds of virus-laden aerosols for you to potentially inhale.
Concordia student maps global primate habitat endangered by climate change
Stewart began looking at the effects of climate change on primate habitats with spatial data from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5, which estimates regional and seasonal temperature change per unit of CO2 emission, and range data of 426 separate primate species and subspecies, courtesy of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Using these figures, she was able to...
Horse skeletons provide clues to preventing racehorse injuries
In an anatomical comparison of the third metacarpal, or cannon bone, among Thoroughbred racehorses, American Quarter Horses and feral Assateague Island ponies, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have found that fostering adaptations in these bones through training might help horses better endure the extreme conditions of racing and prevent serious, often life-ending injuries on the track.
Microplastic in Atlantic Ocean 'could weigh 21 million tonnes'
There are 12-21 million tonnes of tiny plastic fragments floating in the ocean, scientists...
Microplastic in Atlantic Ocean 'could weigh 21 million tonnes'
There are 12-21 million tonnes of tiny plastic fragments floating in the ocean, scientists say.
Under pressure, nontoxic salt-based propellant performs well
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
In smaller spacecraft such as CubeSat satellites, a salt-based monopropellant is showing promise. It can be used both in high-thrust chemical propulsion for fast time-sensitive maneuvers, and electric mode for slow maneuvers, such as orbit maintenance. Now, researchers have more knowledge about how it performs under pressure to inform rocket design.
Cold-weather accounts for almost all temperature-related deaths
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
With the number of extreme weather days rising around the globe in recent years due to global warming, it is no surprise that there has been an upward trend in hospital visits and admissions for injuries caused by high heat over the last several years. But cold temperatures are responsible for almost all temperature-related deaths, according to a new study.
Why doesn't Ebola cause disease in bats, as it does in people?
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
A new study uncovered new information on why the Ebola virus can live within bats without causing them harm, while the same virus wreaks deadly havoc to people.
Surprising coral spawning features revealed
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
When stony corals have their renowned mass spawning events, in sync with the moon's cycle, colonies simultaneously release an underwater 'cloud' of sperm and eggs for fertilization. But how do the sperm and eggs survive several hours as plankton, given threats from predators, microbes and stresses such as warming waters? A team has discovered some surprising features in coral sperm and eggs...
Police officers face multifaceted, compounding stressors that can lead to adverse events
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
Repeated exposure to high-stress calls for service and ongoing exposure to stress without relief were two of the contributing factors that could lead law enforcement officers to become susceptible to adverse events while performing their duties, according to a new study.
Bird skull evolution slowed after the extinction of the dinosaurs
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
From emus to woodpeckers, modern birds show remarkable diversity in skull shape and size, often hypothesized to be the result of a sudden hastening of evolution following the mass extinction that killed their non-avian dinosaur cousins at the end of the Cretaceous 66 million years ago. But this is not the case according to a new study.
School flu vaccine program reduces community-wide influenza hospitalizations
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
A city-wide school influenza vaccine intervention was associated with a decrease in influenza-associated hospitalizations for all age groups and a decrease in school absence rates among students in seasons with an effective influenza vaccine, according to a new study.
Cool new worlds found in our cosmic backyard
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
How complete is our census of the Sun's closest neighbors? Astronomers and a team of data-sleuthing volunteers participating in Backyard Worlds: Planet 9, a citizen science project, have discovered roughly 100 cool worlds near the Sun -- objects more massive than planets but lighter than stars, known as brown dwarfs. Several of these newly discovered worlds are among the very coolest known, with a...
Persistence of ADHD into adulthood is an important predictor of car crash risk
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
A new study reports that the risk of being involved in car crashes increases for those diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The study looked specifically at the rate of car crashes by adulthood, which was 1.45 times higher in those with a childhood history of ADHD compared to adults with no ADHD.
Half of breast cancer survivors had delays in care due to COVID-19
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
The results of an online questionnaire of 609 breast cancer survivors in the US suggest that nearly half of patients experienced delays in care during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Using a public restroom? Mask up!
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
Researchers report that flushing public restroom toilets can release clouds of virus-laden aerosols for you to potentially inhale. After running additional computer simulations, they've concluded that flushing urinals does likewise.
Down syndrome mice open door to better understanding of the disorder
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
Researchers have created and characterized a new mouse replica of Down syndrome, long considered one of the most challenging disorders to simulate in laboratory animals.
Ratio of two proteins may add kidneys to the transplant donor pool
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
Research has shown that two proteins found in deceased donor urine can be measured to define which donor organs -- including those with AKI -- are the best candidates for saving the lives of patients with kidney failure.
COVID-19 pandemic likely to cause sales tax loss for Ohio municipalities
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
Small municipalities in Ohio that rely on retail sales taxes from apparel, vehicle sales, restaurants and tourism could see as much as a 50 percent decline in tax revenue because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study has found.
Study maps the roots of global mangrove loss
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
Using high-resolution data, researchers have created the first map of the causes of change in global mangrove habitats between 2000 and 2016 - a valuable tool to aid conservation efforts for these vital coastline defenders.
Opioid use linked to pregnancy loss, lower chance of conception, study suggests
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
Opioid use among women trying to conceive may be associated with a lower chance of pregnancy, suggests a new study. Moreover, opioid use in early pregnancy may be associated with a greater chance of pregnancy loss.
This 'Cold Tube' can beat the summer heat without relying on air conditioning
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
The 'Cold Tube' can offer relief from the summer heat without relying on air conditioning. It uses half the energy of conventional air conditioners and can be used outdoors or indoors.
Naming guides how 12-month-old infants encode and remember objects
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
Even for infants just beginning to speak their first words, the way an object is named guides infants' encoding, representation and memory for that object, according to new research. Encoding objects in memory and recalling them later is fundamental to human cognition and emerges in infancy. Evidence from a new recognition memory task reveals that as they encode objects, infants are sensitive to a...
Primate habitat endangered by climate change mapped around the globe
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
Researchers have projected the effects current and estimated future global temperature increases would have on the precise territories that were home to particular primate species, based on projected emissions of CO2.
Heart attack damage reduced by shielded stem cells
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
Bioengineers and surgeons have shown in rodents that a four-week shielded stem cell treatment can reduce damage caused by a heart attack.
Exploding stars may have caused mass extinction on Earth, study shows
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/18 20:21
Imagine reading by the light of an exploded star, brighter than a full moon. It might be fun to think about, but this scene is the prelude to a disaster when the radiation devastates life as we know it. Killer cosmic rays from nearby supernovae could be the culprit behind at least one mass extinction event, researchers said, and finding certain radioactive isotopes in Earth's rock record could...
The Guardian view on scrapping Public Health England: not just wrong, but highly risky | Editorial
The government’s desire to pass the buck could put more lives in dangerThe decision to scrap Public Health England in the middle of a pandemic that has claimed 65,000 British lives is cynical and wrong. Few will be persuaded by the attempts of the health secretary, Matt Hancock, to portray it as turning a crisis into an opportunity.The opportunity here is purportedly to better serve the public...
Bird skull evolution slowed after the extinction of the dinosaurs
From emus to woodpeckers, modern birds show remarkable diversity in skull shape and size, often hypothesized to be the result of a sudden hastening of evolution following the mass extinction that killed their non-avian dinosaur cousins at the end of the Cretaceous 66 million years ago. But this is not the case according to a study by Ryan Nicholas Felice at University College London, publishing...
More eggs harvested from last 2 northern white rhinos
An international team of scientists said they successfully extracted eggs from the last two remaining northern white rhinos, a step on the way to possibly saving the subspecies from extinction. Ten eggs were harvested from the female rhinos at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. The harvested eggs — the third round to be taken from the two females since August 2019 - were immediately flown to...
Here’s how to keep California’s grid from buckling under the heat
California’s electricity system is buckling under the strains of a blistering heat wave that may have established the highest temperature ever reliably recorded.
As residents cranked up air conditioning en masse to keep cool, the state’s primary grid operator ordered a series of rolling blackouts that have left millions without power in recent days, at least briefly. These were...
More than 70 new wildfires reported in B.C. after dry lightning
More than 70 new wildfires have broken out in B.C. in the past two days amid sweltering heat in parts of the...
Study maps the roots of global mangrove loss
Using high-resolution data from the joint NASA-U.S. Geological Survey Landsat program, researchers have created the first map of the causes of change in global mangrove habitats between 2000 and 2016—a valuable tool to aid conservation efforts for these vital coastline defenders.
Analysis shows that political speeches now use simpler language, express more sentiments
Research by Kansas State University shows how politicians from both major parties have changed their political speech from previous centuries.
Calculating hadrons using supercomputers
Hadrons are elusive superstars of the subatomic world, making up almost all visible matter, and British theoretical physicist Antoni Woss has worked diligently with colleagues at the U.S. Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility to get to know them better.