304 articles from TUESDAY 2.3.2021

Rice plant resists arsenic

The agricultural cultivation of the staple food of rice harbours the risk of possible contamination with arsenic that can reach the grains following uptake by the roots. A Chinese-German research team of Heidelberg University and Nanjing Agricultural University studied over 4,000 rice variants and discovered a plant that resists the toxin as well as contains a large amount of the trace element...

Saarbruecken chemists develop variety of industrially important synthetic process

Olefin metathesis is a chemical process for the formation of carbon-carbon double bonds (C=C) that predominantly finds application in the petrochemical industry, in polymer synthesis and in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals. Up until now, this metathesis reaction was limited to alkenes (olefins) with C=C bonds. Chemists at Saarland University have now developed a means of getting double bonds of...

Scientists develop elements for the future electronics

Researchers are developing thin films, the elements for biomolecular electronics. Scientists believe that biological macromolecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, amino acids can become a promising material for modern electronics. It obtains several unique properties, for example, the self-organization ability, which is why the molecules can be assembled into certain structures, for example,...

Skipping mammogram increases risk of death from breast cancer

Attendance at regular mammography screening substantially reduces the risk of dying from breast cancer, according to a large study of over half a million women. Researchers said women who skip even one scheduled mammography screening before a breast cancer diagnosis face a significantly higher risk of dying from the cancer.

Smaller, faster, greener

Every aspect of modern computing, from the smallest chip to the largest data center comes with a carbon price tag. The tech industry and the field of computation as a whole have focused on building smaller, faster, more powerful devices -- but few have considered their overall environmental impact. SEAS researchers are trying to change that by challenging the field to add carbon footprint to the...

Sniffing in the name of science

It is often difficult to find out exactly where the individual species can be found and how their populations are developing. According to a new overview study published in Methods in Ecology and Evolution by Dr Annegret Grimm-Seyfarth from the UFZ and her colleagues, specially trained detection dogs can be indispensable in such cases. With the help of these dogs, the species sought can usually be...

Soft and comfortable e-textiles that can be used to measure photoplenthysmography

Advances in wearable devices have enabled e-textiles, which fuse lightweight and comfortable textiles with smart electronics, and are garnering attention as the next-generation wearable technology. In particular, fiber electronic devices endowed with electrical properties, while retaining the specific characteristics of textiles, are key elements in manufacturing e-textiles. A team of researchers...

Space hurricane observed for the first time

Hurricanes are known to occur in the lower atmosphere of Earth and even other planets, but had never before been detected in the upper atmosphere. An international team of scientists made the unprecedented discovery during retrospective analysis of satellite observations. The hurricane occurred during surprisingly low geomagnetic activity, and suggests they could occur in the upper atmosphere of...

Study explores link between forestry management and pesticides in aquatic species

Pesticides used in forestry may threaten species in downstream rivers and estuaries, but little is known about the extent to which this occurs. A new study by researchers at Portland State University found mussels, clams and oysters in watersheds along the Oregon Coast are exposed to pesticides used in managing forests. The results of this study, published in the journal Toxics, have implications...

The expanding possibilities of bio-based polymers

In a paper published in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, researchers from the Kleij group present a new route to prepare biobased polyesters with tuneable properties. The researchers are building upon the multifunctional structure of the terpene β-elemene: three double bonds which have distinct reactivity, allowing to selectively transform these bonds and thus tweaking the...

The implications of swollen lymph nodes following COVID-19 vaccination

When patients undergo imaging tests for various medical reasons shortly after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine in the arm, their tests may show swollen lymph nodes in the armpit area. Radiologists at Massachusetts General Hospital say that this is usually a normal finding, and they offer recommendations on when and if follow-up tests are needed. The team has published an approach to help avoid delays...

Three elder sisters of the Sun with planets

An international team led by Prof. dr habil. Andrzej Niedzielski, an astronomer from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun (Poland), has discovered yet another three extrasolar planets. These planets revolve around the stars that can be called elder sisters of our Sun.

Tissue, scaffold technologies provide new options for breast cancer, other diseases

New technology from Purdue University innovators may help improve tissue restoration outcomes for people with breast cancer and other diseases or traumatic injuries. It involves a regenerative tissue filler. This is a first-of-a-kind, in situ scaffold-forming collagen. When applied as a filler for soft tissue defects and voids, it shows promise for accelerating and improving tissue restoration...

TPU scientists develop efficient method to create high-strength materials for flexible electronics

TPU researchers jointly with their colleagues from foreign universities have developed a method that allows for a laser-driven integration of metals into polymers to form electrically conductive composites. The research findings are presented in Ultra-Robust Flexible Electronics by Laser-Driven Polymer-Nanomaterials Integration article Ultra-Robust Flexible Electronics by Laser-Driven...