168 articles from FRIDAY 4.6.2021
O'Regan says 30 million trees to be planted this year, two billion by 2030
A Liberal campaign pledge to plant two billion trees by 2030 finally seems to have taken root. Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan announced Friday that 30 million trees will be planted this season out of the two billion his government promised to plant over the next 10 years during the 2019 federal election...
Magnetism drives metals to insulators in new experiment
Like all metals, silver, copper, and gold are conductors. Electrons flow across them, carrying heat and electricity. While gold is a good conductor under any conditions, some materials have the property of behaving like metal conductors only if temperatures are high enough; at low temperatures, they act like insulators and do not do a good job of carrying electricity. In other words, these unusual...
Social identity within the anti-vaccine movement
A study of more than 1,000 demographically representative participants found that about 22 percent of Americans self-identify as anti-vaxxers, and tend to embrace the label as a form of social identity.
Researchers investigate mining-related deforestation in the Amazon
If you're wearing gold jewelry right now, there's a good chance it came from an illegal mining operation in the tropics and surfaced only after some rainforest was sacrificed, according to a team of University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers and alumni who studied regulatory efforts to curb some of these environmentally damaging activities in the Amazon.
Fungus creates a fast track for carbon
Tiny algae in Earth's oceans and lakes take in sunlight and carbon dioxide and turn them into sugars that sustain the rest of the aquatic food web, gobbling up about as much carbon as all the world's trees and plants combined.
Why scientists want to solve an underground mystery about where microbes live
Though it might seem inanimate, the soil under our feet is very much alive. It's filled with countless microorganisms actively breaking down organic matter, like fallen leaves and plants, and performing a host of other functions that maintain the natural balance of carbon and nutrients stored in the ground beneath us.
Beyond synthetic biology, synthetic ecology boosts health by engineering the environment
There's a lot of interest right now in how different microbiomes—like the one made up of all the bacteria in our guts—could be harnessed to boost human health and cure disease. But Daniel Segrè has set his sights on a much more ambitious vision for how the microbiome could be manipulated for good: "To help sustain our planet, not just our own health."
Substantial carbon dioxide emissions from northern peatlands drained for crop cultivation
A new study shows that substantial amounts of carbon dioxide were released during the last millennium because of crop cultivation on peatlands in the Northern Hemisphere.
AAS Names New NASA-Affiliated Fellows, Legacy Fellows
Portal origin URL: AAS Names New NASA-Affiliated Fellows, Legacy FellowsPortal origin nid: 471546Published: Friday, June 4, 2021 - 16:05Featured (stick to top of list): noPortal text teaser: Thirteen scientists working at or affiliated with NASA have been recently named Fellows of the American Astronomical Society (AAS), the major organization of professional astronomers...
'Natural climate solutions' are available to help Canada meet emissions targets, new study says
Canada could reach one-third of its greenhouse gas reduction targets by making better use of its vast forests, prairies and wetlands, says a report by more than three dozen...
Five questions posed by Facebook’s two-year ban on Donald Trump
On Friday, Facebook announced that it would suspend former president Donald Trump from the social network for two years, until at least January 7, 2023, and said he would “only be reinstated if conditions permit.”
The announcement comes in response to recommendations last month from Facebook’s recently created Oversight Board. Facebook had hoped that the board would decide how to handle...
The U.S. Government’s Long-Awaited UFO Report Is Here. Its Findings? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The U.S. Navy pilots flying maneuvers in their F/A-18 Super Hornets in 2015 did not have to wait for yesterday’s leak of the classified government report on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP)—better known as UFOs—to know that they were seeing things they could not explain outside their windscreens. The objects were, yes, saucer-shaped, and they were bobbing, darting and...
Quantum holds the key to secure conference calls
The world is one step closer to ultimately secure conference calls, thanks to a collaboration between Quantum Communications Hub researchers and their German colleagues, enabling a quantum-secure conversation to take place between four parties simultaneously.
Soft tissue measurements critical to hominid reconstruction
Accurate soft tissue measurements are critical when making reconstructions of human ancestors, a new study from the University of Adelaide and Arizona State University has found.
Study of past South Asian monsoons suggests stronger monsoon rainfall in the future
A new study of monsoon rainfall on the Indian subcontinent over the past million years provides vital clues about how the monsoons will respond to future climate change.
Early warning system for COVID-19 gets faster through wastewater detection and tracing
- ScienceDaily
- 21/6/4 19:54
A new research paper builds on previous research of COVID-19 testing in municipal sewer systems and subsequent tracing the virus back to the source by more accurately modelling a system's treelike network of one-way pipes and manholes, and by speeding up the detection/tracing process through automatic sensors installed in specific manholes, chosen according to an easier-to-use algorithm.
Bacteria are connected to how babies experience fear
- ScienceDaily
- 21/6/4 19:54
Why do some babies react to perceived danger more than others? According to new research part of the answer may be found in a surprising place: an infant's digestive system.
Food scientists aim to make plant-based protein tastier and healthier
- ScienceDaily
- 21/6/4 19:54
As meat-eating continues to increase around the world, food scientists are focusing on ways to create healthier, better-tasting and more sustainable plant-based protein products that mimic meat, fish, milk, cheese and eggs.
Adapting laboratory techniques for remote instruction
- ScienceDaily
- 21/6/4 19:54
Researchers designed a laboratory exercise to teach students how to use micropipettes, through remote learning, using at-home kits.
An atom chip interferometer that could detect quantum gravity
- ScienceDaily
- 21/6/4 19:54
Physicists have created a quantum interferometer on an atom chip. This device can be used to explore the fundamentals of quantum theory by studying the interference pattern between two beams of atoms. Physicists describe how the device could be adapted to use mesoscopic particles instead of atoms. This modification would allow for expanded applications.
Genomics-informed decisions can help save species from extinction
- ScienceDaily
- 21/6/4 19:54
Researchers have shown that harmful mutations present in the DNA play an important - yet neglected - role in the conservation and translocation programs of threatened species.
Gene protection for COVID-19 identified
- ScienceDaily
- 21/6/4 19:54
A genetic link has been discovered explaining why some people catch COVID but don't get sick. The gene is found three times as often in people who are asymptomatic. This is the first clear evidence of genetic resistance because the study compared severely affected people with an asymptomatic COVID group and used next generation sequencing to focus in detail and at scale on the HLA genes which are...
Lasers capable of transmitting signals at 224 gigabits per second, enough to achieve 800 gigabit ethernet
With the massive proliferation of data-heavy services, including high-resolution video streaming and conferencing, cloud services infrastructure growth in 2021 is expected to reach a 27% CAGR. Consequently, while 400 gigabit ethernet (GbE) is currently enjoying widespread deployment, 800 GbE is poised to rapidly follow to address these bandwidth demands.
Adapting laboratory techniques for remote instruction
The COVID-19 pandemic forced instructors to adapt their courses for online learning. Laboratory courses were particularly difficult due to lack of access to specialized equipment for remote learners. To overcome this challenge, researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign designed a laboratory exercise to teach students how to use micropipettes, through remote learning, using...
Food scientists aim to make plant-based protein tastier and healthier
As meat-eating continues to increase around the world, food scientists are focusing on ways to create healthier, better-tasting and more sustainable plant-based protein products that mimic meat, fish, milk, cheese and eggs.
New study into green tea's potential to help tackle COVID-19
As India continues to be ravaged by the pandemic, a Swansea University academic is investigating how green tea could give rise to a drug capable of tackling COVID-19.
Brazilian Amazon deforestation hits record for May
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon reached a record for the month of May this year, the space research institute INPE said.
Plant competition during climate change
How plants cope with stress factors has already been broadly researched. Yet what happens when a plant is confronted with two stressors simultaneously? A research team working with Simon Haberstroh and Prof. Dr. Christiane Werner of the Chair of Ecosystem Physiology at the Institute of Forest Sciences and Natural Resources (UNR) of the University of Freiburg is investigating this. Together with...
How to retard time for cells
Scientists at Leipzig University, in collaboration with colleagues from Germany and England, have succeeded in reversibly slowing down cellular processes. A team of biophysicists led by Professor Josef Alfons Käs and Dr Jörg Schnauß were able to show in experiments that cells can be transferred into slow motion without changing the temperature.
Researchers continue to refine graphene production using HPC
Graphene may be among the most exciting scientific discoveries of the last century. While it is strikingly familiar to us—graphene is considered an allotrope of carbon, meaning that it essentially the same substance as graphite but in a different atomic structure—graphene also opened up a new world of possibilities for designing and building new technologies.
Predicting the ocean: Improved forecast and insights for the Mediterranean and Black Seas
Marine forecasters face the challenge of predicting a very complex and constantly changing marine environment by applying ocean science, knowledge and technological skills to produce predictions of the state of the ocean.
New hybrid OSSE method improves local severe storm forecasts
Since the era of meteorological satellites began in the 1950s, continuous remote sensing instrument improvements have elevated Earth science and have significantly increased available atmospheric observations. Likewise, scientists have made considerable advancements in understanding Earth's atmosphere, climate, and environment.
Most Californians unaware of law to prevent gun violence but would support using it
Extreme risk protection orders, also known as gun violence restraining orders (GVROs) or "red flag" orders, exist in 19 states and the District of Columbia.
Ten-fold increase in carbon offset cost predicted
The cost of offsetting corporate carbon emissions needs to increase ten-fold to drive meaningful climate action, says a landmark report by Trove Research and UCL.
BRIC-24: An Experiment Frozen in Time and Space
North Carolina State University’s Dr. Marcela Rojas-Pierce is working with NASA to conduct an experiment called Biological Research In Canisters-24, or BRIC-24, which focuses on a specific area of plant research: vacuoles.
News Article Type: Homepage ArticlesPublished: Friday, June 4, 2021 -...
Structural uniqueness of the green- and red-light sensing photosensor in cyanobacteria
Certain cyanobacteria can change the absorbing light colors for photosynthesis using a green- and red-light sensing photosensor protein. A Japanese research group elucidated the molecular structure of RcaE, a representative member of the photosensors. They revealed the unique conformation of the bilin chromophore and the unique protein structure that potentially functions as a proton transfer...
Using HPC and experiment, researchers continue to refine graphene production
- ScienceDaily
- 21/6/4 18:27
From touch screens and advanced electronic sensors to better drug delivery devices, graphene has become one of the most promising new materials in recent decades. In an effort to produce cheap, defect-free graphene in larger quantities, researchers have been using GCS HPC resources to develop more efficient methods for producing graphene at the industrial scale.
Heavy water makes biological clocks tick more slowly
- ScienceDaily
- 21/6/4 18:27
Scientists have succeeded in reversibly slowing down cellular processes. A team of biophysicists were able to show in experiments that cells can be transferred into slow motion without changing the temperature. From a physical point of view, such possibilities have so far only been available in the context of the theory of relativity.
Self-excising designer proteins report isoform expression
- ScienceDaily
- 21/6/4 18:27
Our proteome is much bigger than our genome because one gene produces several variants of proteins called protein isoforms, whose disbalance is implicated in many diseases. A new bioengineered reporter system now allows for the first time to follow protein isoform expression over time in live cells. The method helps to decipher the underlying regulatory mechanisms and enables screening for...
Plant competition during climate change
- ScienceDaily
- 21/6/4 18:27
Researchers show how extreme drought and plant invasion impact ecosystems in the Mediterranean region.
A missing antibody molecule may indicate when dengue will become deadly
- ScienceDaily
- 21/6/4 18:27
The antibody's altered structure helps explain an enduring mystery of dengue -- why only a fraction of those infected will develop severe disease.
New findings offer improved therapy of early-stage, BRCA mutation-associated breast cancer
- ScienceDaily
- 21/6/4 18:27
A new treatment has potential to improve the outcomes for patients with hereditary BRCA mutations and high-risk, early-stage breast cancer. These results represent the first time a PARP inhibitor has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer returning in high-risk patients following completion of standard chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy.
Salt marshes trap microplastics in their sediments, creating record of human plastic use
- ScienceDaily
- 21/6/4 18:25
Scientists report that microplastics have been accumulating in salt marshes for decades, creating a historical record of human plastic waste.