304 articles from TUESDAY 2.3.2021
Study highlights pitfalls associated with 'cybervetting' job candidates
- ScienceDaily
- 21/3/2 21:00
A recent study of how human resources professionals review online information and social media profiles of job candidates highlights the ways in which so-called 'cybervetting' can introduce bias and moral judgment into the hiring process.
COVID-19 can kill heart muscle cells, interfere with contraction
- ScienceDaily
- 21/3/2 21:00
A new study provides evidence that COVID-19 patients' heart damage is caused by the virus invading and replicating inside heart muscle cells, leading to cell death and interfering with heart muscle contraction. The researchers used stem cells to engineer heart tissue that models the human infection and could help in studying the disease and developing possible therapies.
The expanding possibilities of bio-based polymers
Finding innovative and sustainable solutions to our material needs is one of the core objectives of green chemistry. The myriad plastics that envelop our daily life—from mattresses to food and cars—are mostly made from oil-based monomers which are the building blocks of polymers. Therefore, finding bio-based monomers for polymer synthesis is attractive to achieve more sustainable solutions in...
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...
Using a warmer tone in college syllabi makes students more likely to ask for help, study finds
College course syllabi written in a warm, friendly tone are more likely to encourage students to reach out when they are struggling or need help, a new study from Oregon State University found.
Rating tornado warnings charts a path to improve forecasts
The United States experiences more tornadoes than any other country, with a season that peaks in spring or summer depending on the region. Tornadoes are often deadly, especially in places where buildings can't withstand high winds.
Toronto sees uptick in raccoon bites during the pandemic
The City of Toronto is warning residents to avoid contact with raccoons after an uptick in reported raccoon-related...
An instructor's guide to reducing college students' stress and anxiety
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, college students were reporting record levels of stress and anxiety. According to the American College Health Association Fall 2018 National College Health Assessment, 63% of U.S. college students experienced overwhelming anxiety throughout the year. Plus, stress can impact students' academic performance, and students with higher stress levels are more at-risk of...
Unusual earthquakes highlight central Utah volcanoes
If you drive south through central Utah on Interstate 15 and look west somewhere around Fillmore, you'll see smooth hills and fields of black rock. The area is, aptly, named the Black Rock Desert. It may not look like much, but you're looking at some of Utah's volcanoes.
New research highlights impact of the digital divide
The coronavirus pandemic has drawn new attention to the digital divide, as the need for online schooling and working from home has disproportionately hurt those without computer equipment and skills.
How the trap-jaw ant got its ultrafast bite
Powerful and deadly, the bite of a trap-jaw ant is renowned throughout the animal kingdom. Unlike normal gripping jaws, which rely on muscles to open and close, the trap-jaw latches itself open, storing energy like a stretched spring. When released, the jaws of the ansnap shut on their prey in one ultrafast strike.
What problems do coronavirus variants pose?
The hunt is on for the Brazilian variant, and tracking mutations will be necessary for some time to comeCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageOf the many coronavirus variants identified so far, there is particular concern about P1, first identified in Brazil, with fears about the extent it can evade the immune system and possibly vaccines. The UK has recorded six cases so...
Energy-related emissions up in December despite pandemic
Global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions rose slightly in December compared with the same month of 2019, indicating the sharp drop seen due to the pandemic was short-lived.
Northern Ireland’s five steps out of Covid lockdown: key points
Plan for moving from lockdown to relaxation of restrictions will be guided by data Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageNorthern Ireland’s deputy first minister, Michelle O’Neill, has unveiled a cautious five-step plan to ease the region’s Covid-19 lockdown. The plan has no hard dates and will be led by data, notably the reproductive rate of the virus, O’Neill told...
How some animals sense the gritty texture of their food
- ScienceDaily
- 21/3/2 19:07
There's more to taste than flavor. Let ice cream melt, and the next time you take it out of the freezer you'll find its texture icy instead of the smooth, creamy confection you're used to. Though its flavor hasn't changed, most people would agree the dessert is less appetizing.
Nanoparticle-delivered COVID-19 vaccine candidate shows promise in preclinical studies
- ScienceDaily
- 21/3/2 19:07
Researchers have developed a promising new COVID-19 vaccine candidate that utilizes nanotechnology and has shown strong efficacy in preclinical disease models. According to a new study, the vaccine produced potent neutralizing antibodies among preclinical models and also prevented infection and disease symptoms in the face of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19).
COVID-19 spread tracked via a rapid, large-scale early wastewater surveillance alert system
- ScienceDaily
- 21/3/2 19:07
Detecting COVID-19 outbreaks before they spread could help contain the virus and curb new cases within a community. In a new study, researchers describe a mostly automated early alert system that uses high-throughput analysis of wastewater samples to identify buildings where new COVID-19 cases have emerged -- even before infected people develop symptoms.
Dethroning electrocatalysts for hydrogen production with inexpensive alternative material
- ScienceDaily
- 21/3/2 19:07
Scientists have discovered a new electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in electrochemical water splitting: CaFe2O4. This inexpensive, non-toxic, and easy-to-synthesize material outperforms other bimetallic OER electrocatalysts and even surpasses the benchmark set by iridium oxide, paving the way to accessible hydrogen generation for upcoming hydrogen societies.
Astrophysicist's 2004 theory confirmed: Why the Sun's composition varies
- ScienceDaily
- 21/3/2 19:07
An astrophysicist theorized why the chemical composition of the Sun's tenuous outermost layer differs from that lower down. His theory has recently been validated by combined observations of the Sun's magnetic waves from the Earth and from space.
Human instinct can be as useful as algorithms in detecting online 'deception'
- ScienceDaily
- 21/3/2 19:07
Travellers looking to book a hotel should trust their gut instinct when it comes to online reviews rather than relying on computer algorithms to weed out the fake ones, a new study suggests.
Hurricane resembling those in lower atmosphere observed over Earth's polar ionosphere
- ScienceDaily
- 21/3/2 19:07
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...
Energy switching decisions could widen social inequalities
- ScienceDaily
- 21/3/2 19:07
New energy tariffs designed for a low carbon future could leave people on bad deals even worse off. The tariffs could benefit all kinds of customers, but many people are unlikely to choose them. Those likely to adopt them first are younger, with higher incomes and higher education.
Rice variety resists arsenic
- ScienceDaily
- 21/3/2 19:06
The agricultural cultivation of the staple food of rice harbors the risk of possible contamination with arsenic that can reach the grains following uptake by the roots. A research team 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 selenium.