226 articles from FRIDAY 6.11.2020
Researchers learn how bacteria protect their protective outer membranes
An international research team discovered a mechanism that disease-causing bacteria use to anchor their protective outer membranes. Their findings could inform strategies to disrupt a microbe's cell structure, ultimately helping to combat pathogens that affect humans and plants.
Q&A: Sustainability manager on the benefits of a plastic bag ban
It's estimated that each Nova Scotian is responsible for approximately 450 plastic bags ending up in landfills each year. As of last week, Nova Scotia became the third province in Canada to officially ban the use such plastic shopping bags by retailers. The purpose of the Plastic Bags Reduction Act is to reduce the use of plastic bags and other single-use plastic products that contribute to air...
Honey bees lose sleep after ingesting pesticides, leading to greater stress and lower hive survival rates
Bees that ingest nonlethal levels of popular pesticides resembling nicotine, known as neonicotinoids, are losing sleep, according to new research from Vanderbilt University. That disruption of their circadian rhythm causes honey bees to lose their sense of time and navigation, leading to broader stress within highly social bee populations and lower hive survival rates.
Virgin Galactic aims to fly its first human mission from Spaceport America in November, and NASA's sending some science experiments along for the ride
A successful test flight is crucial if the company wants to start serving its well-heeled customers — and start recovering millions in...
Record weekly Covid cases in England but new infections 'stabilise'
Official ONS figures show 618,700 people had the virus in the week ending 31 OctoberCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAlmost 620,000 people in England had coronavirus in the past week, according to the latest official estimates, but the rate of infection is slowing.The Office for National Statistics estimates that 618,700 people in England were infected with the virus...
UN urges resumption of mass measles and polio vaccinations
Unicef and WHO say Covid disruption has left 94 million without measles immunisationCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageUnicef and the World Health Organization have called for urgent action to prevent millions of avoidable child deaths from measles and polio by resuming mass vaccinations disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.They say that while there is no vaccine against...
Patients reported international hydroxychloroquine shortages due to COVID-19
- ScienceDaily
- 20/11/6 16:31
A new study shows that patients with rheumatic diseases across Africa, Southeast Asia, the Americas and Europe had trouble filling their prescriptions of antimalarial drugs, including hydroxychloroquine, during the 2020 global coronavirus pandemic, when antimalarials were touted as a possible COVID-19 treatment. Patients who could not access their antimalarial drugs faced worse physical and mental...
COVID-19 infection rates low in people with rheumatic diseases, most report mild illness
- ScienceDaily
- 20/11/6 16:31
A new study shows that the COVID-19 infection incidence has been low in people with rheumatic diseases, and most of those infected experience a mild course of illness. Additionally, fatalities have been low among rheumatic disease patients infected with COVID-19.
Pre-existing coronavirus antibodies could help protect children against new pandemic strain
- ScienceDaily
- 20/11/6 16:30
Researchers have found that some antibodies, created by the immune system during infection with common cold coronaviruses, can also target SARS-CoV-2 and may confer a degree of protection against the new viral strain.
Hydroxychloroquine not linked to longer heart rhythm intervals in rheumatoid arthritis or lupus patients
- ScienceDaily
- 20/11/6 15:56
New research shows that use of hydroxychloroquine, a generic drug, does not cause any significant differences in QTc length or prolonged QTc, key measures of heart rate, in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or systemic lupus erythematosus.
Ecologically friendly agriculture doesn't compromise crop yields
- ScienceDaily
- 20/11/6 15:30
Research -- based on an analysis of 5,188 studies comparing diversified and simplified agricultural practices --indicates crop yield was maintained or even increased under diversified practices.
A brief pilot intervention enhances preschoolers' self-regulation and food liking
- ScienceDaily
- 20/11/6 15:30
Mindfulness training and engaging in classroom-based games can influence self-regulation and food liking when introduced during the preschool years according to a new study.
Game 'pre-bunks' political misinformation by letting players undermine democracy
- ScienceDaily
- 20/11/6 15:30
An online game helps 'inoculate' players against fake news by showing them how political misinformation is created and circulated. Launched today, Harmony Square has been created by psychologists with support from US Department of Homeland Security. Accompanying study shows that a single play reduces the perceived reliability of misinformation in users.
Climate change and food demand could shrink species' habitats by almost a quarter by 2100
- ScienceDaily
- 20/11/6 15:30
Mammals, birds and amphibians worldwide have lost on average 18% of their natural habitat range as a result of changes in land use and climate change, a new study has found. In a worst-case scenario this loss could increase to 23% over the next 80 years.
Green prescriptions could undermine the benefits of spending time in nature
- ScienceDaily
- 20/11/6 15:30
Spending time in nature is believed to benefit people's mental health. However, new research suggests that giving people with existing mental health conditions formal 'green prescriptions', may undermine some of the benefits.
Blueprints for a cheaper single-molecule microscope
- ScienceDaily
- 20/11/6 15:30
A team of scientists and students has designed and built a specialist microscope, and shared the build instructions to help make this equipment available to many labs across the world.
Anti-depressant repurposed to treat childhood cancer
- ScienceDaily
- 20/11/6 15:30
A new study has found that a commonly prescribed anti-depressant may halt growth of a type of cancer known as childhood sarcoma, at least in mice and laboratory cell experiments. The findings ignite hope of novel treatment strategies against this disease.
Plastics and rising CO2 levels could pose combined threat to marine environment
- ScienceDaily
- 20/11/6 15:30
Scientists found that after three weeks of being submerged in the ocean, the bacterial diversity on plastic bottles was twice as great as on samples collected from the surrounding seawater.
Seeing dark matter in a new light
- ScienceDaily
- 20/11/6 15:30
A small team of astronomers have found a new way to 'see' the elusive dark matter haloes that surround galaxies, with a new technique 10 times more precise than the previous-best method.
Vaccine shows promise against herpes virus
- ScienceDaily
- 20/11/6 15:30
A genetically edited form of a herpes simplex virus has outperformed a leading vaccine candidate in a new study. When challenged with a virulent strain of the sexually transmitted HSV-2, vaccinated guinea pigs displayed fewer genital lesions, less viral replication and less of the viral shedding that most readily spreads infection.
Astronomers discover clues that unveil the mystery of fast radio bursts
- ScienceDaily
- 20/11/6 15:29
Astrophysicists recently observed fast radio bursts, powerful radio waves coming from deep space that have been among the most mysterious astronomical phenomena ever observed.
Coronavirus and mink: What are the implications?
A mutation in coronavirus triggers alarm but scientists urge caution as more information is needed.
Russian scientists discover huge walrus haulout in Artic circle
Scientists in northern Russia have discovered a huge walrus haulout on the shores of the Kara Sea where their habitat is under threat from shrinking ice and human activity. The haulout, a place of refuge where walruses congregate, reproduce, and socialise, is located in a remote corner of Russia's Yamal peninsula, and scientists say they counted over 3,000 animals there last month. Walrus...
This tiny amphibian that outlived the dinosaurs provides the earliest example of a rapid-fire tongue
Albanerpetontids, or "albies" for short, are the cute little salamander-like amphibians you've likely never heard of.
Global food system emissions alone threaten warming beyond 1.5°C, but we can act now to stop it
How people grow food and the way we use the land is an important, though often overlooked, contributor to climate change. While most people recognize the role of burning fossil fuels in heating the atmosphere, there has been less discussion about the necessary changes for bringing agriculture in line with a "net-zero" world.