32 articles from SUNDAY 28.2.2021

Sensing suns

Red supergiants are a class of star that end their lives in supernova explosions. Their lifecycles are not fully understood, partly due to difficulties in measuring their temperatures. For the first time, astronomers develop an accurate method to determine the surface temperatures of red supergiants.

Staying in the shade: how cells use molecular motors to avoid bright light

A team led by the University of Tsukuba has discovered a key component of the molecular motors that drive motility in cells, such as sperm cells or unicellular algae that swim using flagella. A novel protein, named DYBLUP, is part of the linkage between the motor complexes and cellular microtubules that produce movement in flagella, and is also centrally involved in cell responses to blue light.

Study: Treatable sleep disorder common in people with thinking and memory problems

Obstructive sleep apnea is when breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep. Research has shown people with this sleep disorder have an increased risk of developing cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Yet, it is treatable. A preliminary study released today, February 28, 2021, has found that obstructive sleep apnea is common in people with cognitive impairment. The study will be...

To sustain a thriving café culture, we must ditch the disposable cup.

Takeaway coffees - they're a convenient start for millions of people each day, but while the caffeine perks us up, the disposable cups drag us down, with nearly 300 billion ending up in landfill each year.While most coffee drinkers are happy to make a switch to sustainable practices, new research from the University of South Australia shows that an absence of infrastructure and a general...