341 articles from THURSDAY 6.5.2021
PCB contamination in Icelandic orcas: a matter of diet
- ScienceDaily
- 21/5/6 23:41
A new study suggests that some Icelandic killer whales have very high concentrations of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) in their blubber. But it seems that other orcas from the same population have levels of PCBs that are much lower. It mainly depends on what they eat.
Swiping, swabbing elevates processing plant food safety
- ScienceDaily
- 21/5/6 23:41
By swiping surfaces in commercial food processing plants with specially designed rapid-testing adenosine triphospate (ATP) swabs -- which produce a light similar to the glow of fireflies in the presence of microorganisms -- spoilage and foodborne illness could diminish, according to a new study.
Scrap for cash before coins
- ScienceDaily
- 21/5/6 23:41
How did people living in the Bronze Age manage their finances before money became widespread? Researchers ave discovered that bronze scrap found in hoards in Europe circulated as a currency. These pieces of scrap -- which might include swords, axes, and jewellery broken into pieces -- were used as cash in the late Bronze Age, and in fact complied with a weight system used across Europe.
The 3 Science-Backed Strategies That Can Help You Achieve Your Post-Pandemic Goals
With gyms, restaurants, and workplaces reopening, people from every part of my life are asking for expert advice on how to ingrain new and healthier habits as we re-emerge from our pandemic cocoons. Their instinct that now is the right time to make a change is spot on—my research shows that having a “fresh start” is a powerful motive to initiate positive change at home and at...
NASA Invites Public, Media to Watch Asteroid Mission Begin Return to Earth
Portal origin URL: NASA Invites Public, Media to Watch Asteroid Mission Begin Return to EarthPortal origin nid: 470821Published: Thursday, May 6, 2021 - 16:41Featured (stick to top of list): noPortal text teaser: NASA invites the public and the media to watch its first asteroid sample return mission begin a two-year cruise home at 4 p.m. EDT Monday, May 10, on NASA...
Mathematical model predicting disease spread patterns
- ScienceDaily
- 21/5/6 22:36
A team of environmental engineers, alerted by the unusual wealth of data published regularly by county health agencies throughout the pandemic, began researching new methods to describe what was happening on the ground in a way that does not require obtaining information on individuals' movements or contacts. A new model predicts where a disease will spread from an outbreak, in what patterns and...
Why do some neurons degenerate and die in Alzheimer's disease, but not others?
- ScienceDaily
- 21/5/6 22:36
Researchers have uncovered molecular clues that help explain what makes some neurons more susceptible than others in Alzheimer's disease. The scientists present evidence that neurons with high levels of the protein apolipoprotein E (apoE) are more sensitive to degeneration, and that this susceptibility is linked to apoE's regulation of immune-response molecules within neurons.
Feeling younger buffers older adults from stress, protects against health decline
- ScienceDaily
- 21/5/6 22:36
People who feel younger have a greater sense of well-being, better cognitive functioning, less inflammation, lower risk of hospitalization and even live longer than their older-feeling peers. A study suggests one potential reason for the link between subjective age and health: Feeling younger could help buffer middle-aged and older adults against the damaging effects of stress.
Transforming atmospheric carbon into industrially useful materials
- ScienceDaily
- 21/5/6 22:36
Plants are unparalleled in their ability to capture carbon from the air, but this benefit is temporary. Researchers have proposed a more permanent, and even useful, fate for this captured carbon by turning plants into a valuable industrial material called silicon carbide (SiC). A new study from scientists quantifies this process with more detail than ever before.
Molecular analysis identifies key differences in lungs of cystic fibrosis patients
- ScienceDaily
- 21/5/6 22:36
A team of researchers has developed a molecular catalog of cells in healthy lungs and the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis.
Online learning doesn't improve student sleep habits, research suggests
- ScienceDaily
- 21/5/6 22:36
New research suggests that students learning remotely become night owls but do not sleep more despite the time saved commuting, working or attending social events.
Organ transplant recipients remain vulnerable to COVID-19 even after second vaccine dose
- ScienceDaily
- 21/5/6 22:36
In a new study, researchers show that although two doses of a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 -- the virus that causes COVID 19 -- confers some protection for people who have received solid organ transplants, it's still not enough to enable them to dispense with masks, physical distancing and other safety measures.
Surprising sand fly find yields new species of bacteria
- ScienceDaily
- 21/5/6 22:36
Researchers made a surprising finding while examining areas where sand flies rear their young: a new species of bacteria that is highly attractive to pregnant sand flies. The findings could advance the production of ecologically safe baits or traps to reduce sand fly populations.
In graphene process, resistance is useful
- ScienceDaily
- 21/5/6 22:36
Scientists adapt laser-induced graphene to make conductive patterns from standard photoresist material for consumer electronics and other applications.
Skin and immune cells coordinate defenses against assault
- ScienceDaily
- 21/5/6 22:36
As the human body's largest organ, the skin is responsible for protecting against a wide range of possible infections on all fleshy surfaces, from head to toe. So how exactly does the skin organize its defenses against such an array of threats?
Researchers develop new metal-free, recyclable polypeptide battery that degrades on demand
- ScienceDaily
- 21/5/6 22:36
The introduction of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries has revolutionized technology as a whole, leading to major advances in consumer goods across nearly all sectors. Battery-powered devices have become ubiquitous across the world. While the availability of technology is generally a good thing, the rapid growth has led directly to several key ethical and environmental issues surrounding the use of...
Team uses laser-induced graphene process to create micron-scale patterns in photoresist
A Rice University laboratory has adapted its laser-induced graphene technique to make high-resolution, micron-scale patterns of the conductive material for consumer electronics and other applications.
Surprising sand fly find yields new species of bacteria
Researchers at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina Greensboro made a surprising finding while examining areas where sand flies rear their young: a new species of bacteria that is highly attractive to pregnant, or gravid, sand flies. The findings could advance the production of ecologically safe baits or traps to reduce sand fly populations.
NASA Awards Earth Science Data and Information System Contract
Portal origin URL: NASA Awards Earth Science Data and Information System ContractPortal origin nid: 470819Published: Thursday, May 6, 2021 - 16:16Featured (stick to top of list): noPortal text teaser: NASA has awarded the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) Evolution and Development (EED)-3 contract to Raytheon Company of Riverdale, Maryland.Portal...
Road and rail building plans under review after Covid
Post-pandemic shifts in travel habits could undermine the logic behind many infrastructure projects.