304 articles from MONDAY 21.9.2020
Fightback against rise in Covid cases thrashed out at No 10 summit
Boris Johnson held lengthy meeting with scientists about bringing down UK infection rateCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageDeep into Sunday night, a debate was playing out in the heart of Downing Street. The prime minister had gathered the UK’s most eminent scientists – and was learning that “follow the science” is not as simple as it sounds.After more than a...
Archaeologists unearthed 27 sarcophagi in an ancient Egyptian city of the dead. They've been sealed for more than 2,500 years.
Egyptians buried their dead in Saqqara for thousands of years. The ancient city has yielded countless discoveries, including human and animal...
Researchers combine photoacoustic and fluorescence imaging in tiny package
- ScienceDaily
- 20/9/21 23:05
Researchers have demonstrated a new endoscope that uniquely combines photoacoustic and fluorescent imaging in a device about the thickness of a human hair. The device could one day provide new insights into the brain by enabling blood dynamics to be measured at the same time as neuronal activity.
40% of O'ahu, Hawai'i beaches could be lost by mid-century
- ScienceDaily
- 20/9/21 23:05
The reactive and piecemeal approach historically used to manage beaches in Hawai'i has failed to protect them. If policies are not changed, as much as 40% of all beaches on O'ahu, Hawai'i could be lost before mid-century, according to a new study.
E. coli bacteria offer path to improving photosynthesis
- ScienceDaily
- 20/9/21 23:05
Scientists have engineered a key plant enzyme and introduced it in Escherichia coli bacteria in order to create an optimal experimental environment for studying how to speed up photosynthesis, a holy grail for improving crop yields.
Suspension of fertility treatments during COVID-19 has mental health impacts
- ScienceDaily
- 20/9/21 23:05
The suspension of fertility treatments due to the COVID-19 pandemic has had a variety of psychological impacts on women whose treatments were cancelled, but there are several protective factors that can be fostered to help in the future, according to a new study.
New type of superconductor identified
- ScienceDaily
- 20/9/21 23:05
Until now, the history of superconducting materials has been a tale of two types: s-wave and d-wave. Now, researchers have discovered a possible third type: g-wave.
Marine sponges inspire the next generation of skyscrapers and bridges
- ScienceDaily
- 20/9/21 23:04
Researchers are using the glassy skeletons of marine sponges as inspiration for the next generation of stronger and taller buildings, longer bridges, and lighter spacecraft. The researchers showed that the diagonally-reinforced square lattice-like skeletal structure of Euplectella aspergillum, a deep-water marine sponge, has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than the traditional lattice designs...
Low-cost, frequent COVID-19 screening of asymptomatic people could decrease infections, deaths and be cost-effective
- ScienceDaily
- 20/9/21 23:04
When the COVID-19 pandemic is slowing, low-cost, recurring screening of asymptomatic people could decrease infections and deaths and be cost-effective.
2020 Arctic sea ice minimum at second lowest on record
- ScienceDaily
- 20/9/21 23:04
The 2020 minimum extent, which was likely reached on Sept. 15, 2020 measured 1.44 million square miles (3.74 million square kilometers).
Anthropologists compare a composite measure of physiological dysregulation among humans and other primates
- ScienceDaily
- 20/9/21 23:04
It is well understood that mortality rates increase with age. Whether you live in Tokyo, rural Tennessee or the forests of Papua, New Guinea, the older you are, the more likely you are to succumb to any number of different ailments.
Nanoparticle SARS-CoV-2 model may speed drug discovery for COVID-19
- ScienceDaily
- 20/9/21 23:04
Scientists have developed a new tool that mimics how the virus that causes COVID-19 infects a cell, potentially speeding the search for treatments against the disease. The tool is a fluorescent nanoparticle probe that uses the spike protein on the virus surface to bind to cells and trigger the process that pulls the virus into cells. The probe could be used to rapidly gauge how drugs and compounds...
Think you have chemical intolerance? Answer three questions
- ScienceDaily
- 20/9/21 23:03
To increase screening of chemical intolerance, researchers have developed and validated a three-question survey that can be incorporated into patient visits within a minute.
Two Missouri crayfish species may be listed as 'threatened' under Endangered Species Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing two kinds of Missouri crayfish as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, as well as identifying "critical habitat" for their survival and recovery in the state's southeast watersheds.
Arctic ice melt doesn't boost sea levels, so do we care?
US government scientists reported Monday that the Arctic Ocean's floating ice cover has shrivelled to its second lowest extent since satellite records began in 1979.
E. coli bacteria offer path to improving photosynthesis
Cornell University scientists have engineered a key plant enzyme and introduced it in Escherichia coli bacteria in order to create an optimal experimental environment for studying how to speed up photosynthesis, a holy grail for improving crop yields.
Researchers combine photoacoustic and fluorescence imaging in tiny package
Researchers have demonstrated a new endoscope that uniquely combines photoacoustic and fluorescent imaging in a device about the thickness of a human hair. The device could one day provide new insights into the brain by enabling blood dynamics to be measured at the same time as neuronal activity.
40 percent of O'ahu, Hawai'i beaches could be lost by mid-century
The reactive and piecemeal approach historically used to manage beaches in Hawai'i has failed to protect them. If policies are not changed, as much as 40% of all beaches on O'ahu, Hawai'i could be lost before mid-century, according to a new study by researchers in the Coastal Geology Group at the University of Hawai'i (UH) at Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST).
Why COVID-19 misinformation spread faster than pandemic in early March
In early March, when the true scope of the coronavirus pandemic was still widely unknown to the public, misinformation was rampant on social media such as Facebook and Twitter.
Researchers identify new type of superconductor
Until now, the history of superconducting materials has been a tale of two types: s-wave and d-wave.
Everglades restoration to 'get the water right' estimated at $7.4 billion through 2030
Everglades restoration projects will require about $7.4 billion over the next 10 years, compared with $6 billion spent through 2019, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said while presenting a draft of its work schedule.
Marine sponges inspire the next generation of skyscrapers and bridges
When we think about sponges, we tend to think of something soft and squishy. But researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) are using the glassy skeletons of marine sponges as inspiration for the next generation of stronger and taller buildings, longer bridges, and lighter spacecraft.
Southern hemisphere could see up to 30% less rain at end of the century
Projections based on climate models for the mid-Pliocene Warm Period (about 3 million years ago) suggest that countries in the tropical and subtropical southern hemisphere, including Brazil, may face longer droughts in the future. Annual rainfall may decrease as much as 30% compared with current levels.
New research shows international support for simple climate policy funding plans
For decades, scientists have urged policymakers to take prompt action to address climate change, but their calls have largely gone unanswered. Now, as wildfires ravage the west and hurricanes batter the Atlantic and Gulf coasts with greater intensity, a new study involving Washington University in St. Louis researchers finds consumers across the United States and in some European countries are...
Donald Trump’s Campaign Crafted a Careful Climate Message. Trump Ignored It
For months, the Trump campaign’s public statements and the President’s prepared remarks have repeated a message on climate change carefully calibrated not to alienate Republicans worried about the health of the planet: regardless of the science, Democratic plans to address the issue are too expensive. Last week, President Trump disregarded his own campaign’s meticulous...
Open-ocean fish farm proposed off San Diego coast could be first in federal waters
A prestigious San Diego research institute and a Long Beach social benefit investment group are teaming to create what could be the first fish farm in federal waters.
Fierce, frequent, climate-fueled wildfires may decimate forests worldwide
Wildfires among ponderosa pines and Douglas firs of the U.S. West have long been part of nature's cycle of renewal, as much as the changing of the seasons. Scientists worry the hottest blazes could end up obliterating swathes of some forests forever. "When you get these large areas burned there are no surviving trees to reseed these areas," said Jon Keeley, a research scientist with the U.S....
Farmer knowledge is key to finding more resilient crops in climate crisis
In a review paper published in Frontiers in Plant Science, scientists urge the importance of combining the knowledge harbored by farmers of diverse crop varieties—which is often overlooked by scientists—with high-tech breeding done in laboratories.
Warming shrinks Arctic Ocean ice to 2nd lowest on record
Ice in the Arctic Ocean melted to its second lowest level on record this summer, triggered by global warming along with natural forces, U.S. scientists reported Monday. The extent of ice-covered ocean at the North Pole and extending further south to Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Russia reached its summertime low of 1.4 million square miles (3.7 million square kilometers) last week before starting...
‘A Climate Emergency Unfolding Before Our Eyes.’ Arctic Sea Ice Has Shrunk to Almost Historic Levels
From the bridge of the Arctic Sunrise, an old ice-breaking fishing trawler turned research vessel now plying the polar waters between Greenland and northern Norway, Laura Meller has an unparalleled view of our planet’s future. It is both gorgeous, and terrifying. The early autumn sunlight bathes the scattered icebergs in soft pink and orange hues that glimmer with the gentle swell....
Climate: Support for simple funding plans -- even if costs are high
- ScienceDaily
- 20/9/21 21:13
There is growing demand for countries to take aggressive action to combat climate change, but less consensus on how to fund it. In a new study, researchers asked more than 10,000 people from the US, UK, Germany and France to weigh in. The majority preferred a constant-cost plan - even if costs are high. The finding surprised researchers, but provides valuable insight for policymakers.
Mental illness treatment varies widely among American adolescents within and across zip codes
- ScienceDaily
- 20/9/21 21:13
After a mental illness episode, less than half of children received any therapy within three months, and 22.5% of children received only drug therapy, according to a new study.
New study reveals why flu can be devastating for pregnant women
- ScienceDaily
- 20/9/21 21:13
New research overturns current scientific thinking on flu infection in pregnancy. The study helps explain why influenza can lead to life-threatening complications during pregnancy. The research also has implications for our understanding of how COVID-19 may be affecting the vascular system.
Toxic masculinity: Why male funnel web spiders are so dangerous
- ScienceDaily
- 20/9/21 21:13
A team of researchers has revealed why male funnel web spiders develop much deadlier venom than their female counterparts. The team has spent 20 years investigating delta-hexatoxins, the venom peptides that make funnel web spider venom so dangerous.
Tree planting has potential to increase carbon sequestration capacity on Nation's forests
- ScienceDaily
- 20/9/21 21:13
In the United States, fully stocking non-stocked and poorly stocked forests would result in an annual increase of 20 percent in the amount of carbon sequestered by forests.
The Search for Life on Venus Could Start With This Private Company
Elon Musk wants to settle humans on Mars with his rocket company SpaceX. Amazon's founder, Jeff Bezos, wants a trillion people living in space. But the chief executive of one private space company is approaching space exploration differently, and now aims to play a part in the search for life on Venus.Last week, scientists announced the astonishing discovery of phosphine in the atmosphere of...
Israel fish deaths linked to rapid warming of seas
Bacterial infection alongside speed of temperature rise may have triggered mortality, suggests studyHigh temperatures and the persistent warming of oceans have triggered profound changes in marine ecosystems, but a new study suggests that the rate of onset of warming – rather than the peak – could also play a key role in the damage fuelled by climate change.In early July 2017, researchers were...
Toxic masculinity: Why male funnel web spiders are so dangerous
A team of University of Queensland researchers has revealed why male funnel web spiders develop much deadlier venom than their female counterparts.
Tree planting has potential to increase carbon sequestration capacity
USDA Forest Service scientists have published an in-depth study on the value of tree planting as a means of offsetting carbon emissions in the United States. An analysis based on publicly available data from more than 130,000 forested plots in the Forest Service's Forest Inventory & Analysis Program found that fully stocking non-stocked and poorly stocked forests would result in an annual increase...
New research identifies genetic factors contributing to small body size in dogs
When a beautiful pup has a dental problem, it's time to call a veterinarian. But when it runs in the family, researchers take the case.
Biodiversity hypothesis called into question
Biologists have long considered the origins and continued coexistence of the immense diversity of species found in our environment. How can we explain the fact that no single species predominates? A generally accepted hypothesis is that there are trade-offs, which means that no organism can do best in all conditions. One trade-off that is commonly assumed is that between gleaner organisms —which...
Strontium-iridium oxide used for customization as an electronic material
PSI scientists have gained a fundamental understanding of a highly promising material that could be suited to future data storage applications. Their experiments with strontium-iridium oxide, Sr2IrO4, investigated both the magnetic and electronic properties of the material as a thin film. They also analyzed how these properties can be systematically controlled by manipulating the films. This study...
NASA finds Tropical Storm Dolphin going swimmingly
NASA's Terra satellite obtained visible imagery of recently formed Tropical Depression 14W as it strengthened into a tropical storm. Terra satellite imagery showed the storm was organizing.
Arctic sea ice shrinks to 2nd lowest level in 4 decades
Warming in the Arctic shrank the ice covering the polar ocean this year to its second-lowest extent in four decades, scientists announced Monday, yet another sign of how climate change is rapidly transforming the...
Airbus looks to the future with hydrogen planes
The aerospace giant said its hydrogen-fuelled passenger planes could be in service by 2035.
Arctic summer sea ice second lowest on record: US researchers
Arctic summer sea ice melted in 2020 to the second smallest size since records began 42 years ago, US scientists announced Monday, offering further stark evidence of the impact of global warming.
Colloidal dispersions of nanosheets for catalysis
Researchers from the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials Group, in collaboration with other institutions, have used a liquid phase exfoliation process to obtain nanosheets with enhanced electrocatalytical properties. The work is published in Ultrasonics Sonochemistry.
Mixed-species tree stands adapt better than pure stands
Firs and spruces dominate the tree population of the Black Forest with a share of 80 percent. However, such predominantly pure stands are particularly vulnerable to extreme events caused by climate change, such as storm damage, heat waves, and bark beetle infestations. In Baden-Württemberg, on average, every third tree is already sick. A conversion from pure to mixed stands could increase the...
Quantum dot photovoltaics make a lasting impression
A process developed at KAUST for depositing extremely thin and smooth films can make it easier to manufacture stable solar cells based on quantum dot technology.