278 articles from THURSDAY 15.7.2021
Winner who paid $30m for space flight with Bezos won’t go due to ‘scheduling conflicts’
Anonymous person will be replaced by 18-year-old recent high school graduate on New Shepard spacecraftThe anonymous winner of a ticket to join billionaire Jeff Bezos in space next week will no longer board the New Shepard spacecraft due to “scheduling conflicts”, Bezos’s Blue Origin company announced on Thursday.The winner, who paid $29.7m to join one of the world’s richest men in space,...
'Extreme' wildfires and heavy smoke grip western US and Canada
A brutal start to the wildfire season in the western United States and Canada worsened Thursday as a massive Oregon blaze exploded in dry, windy conditions and a new California blaze threatened communities devastated by the 2018 Camp Fire.
US to end large, old-growth timber sales in Alaska forest
The Biden administration said Thursday that it is ending large-scale, old-growth timber sales in the country's largest national forest—the Tongass National Forest in Alaska—and will focus on forest restoration, recreation and other noncommercial uses.
Research team develops new tool to help farmers make crop input decisions
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and nitrogen water pollution from agriculture are top environmental priorities in the United States. Key to achieving climate goals is helping producers navigate carbon markets, while also helping the environment and improving farm income.
Kelp for corn growth? Scientists demystify natural products for crops
Corn growers can choose from a wide array of products to make the most of their crop, but the latest could bring seaweed extract to a field near you. The marine product is just one class in a growing market of crop biostimulants marketed for corn.
Study: Incarcerated people placed in solitary confinement differ significantly from others in prison population
Concern has grown about prison systems' use of extended solitary confinement as a way to manage violent and disruptive incarcerated people. A new study identified groups that are more likely to be placed in extended solitary management (ESM). The study found that individuals sent to ESM differed considerably from the rest of the prison population in terms of mental health, education, language,...
Tornado leaves 'catastrophic' damage in Barrie, Ont.
A tornado tore through Barrie, Ont., Thursday afternoon, injuring eight people and damaging homes throughout the city, which is about 115 kilometres north of...
Climate regulation changed with the proliferation of marine animals and terrestrial plants
- ScienceDaily
- 21/7/15 21:38
Earth's climate was relatively stable for a long period of time. For three billion years, temperatures were mostly warm and carbon dioxide levels high - until a shift occurred about 400 million years ago. A new study suggests that the change at this time was accompanied by a fundamental alteration to the carbon-silicon cycle.
When fawns perceive constant danger from many sources, they almost seem to relax
- ScienceDaily
- 21/7/15 21:38
Burnout. It is a syndrome that is said to afflict humans who feel chronic stress. But after conducting a novel study using trail cameras showing the interactions between white-tailed deer fawns and predators, a researcher suggests that prey animals feel it, too.
New tool to help farmers make crop input decisions
- ScienceDaily
- 21/7/15 21:38
A new tool allows farmers to create a budget balance sheet of any nitrogen reduction plans and see the economic and environmental cost, return and margins, all customized to fields under their management.
Arctic oil spill cleanup costs could reach $9.4B over 5 years, says risk analyst
A new risk assessment on the consequences of a potential oil spill in the Rankin Inlet region shows that a disaster of that sort could cost more than $9 billion if no intervention is made after five...
Death disruptor: how an Australian funnel-web spider may help human hearts
University of Queensland researchers are investigating if protein in venom of Fraser Island spider can stop cardiac cells dyingA protein in the venom of a deadly Australian funnel-web spider may be able to reduce cardiac damage from heart attacks and extend the life of donor hearts used in transplants, according to new research.Venom from the Fraser Island funnel-web, named for the south-east...
High daily screen time linked to cognitive, behavioral problems in children born extremely preterm
- ScienceDaily
- 21/7/15 20:24
Among 6- and 7-year-olds who were born extremely preterm -- before the 28th week of pregnancy -- those who had more than two hours of screen time a day were more likely to have deficits in overall IQ, executive functioning (problem solving skills), impulse control and attention, according to a new study.
Newly discovered role for CTP in ensuring faithful cell division in bacteria
- ScienceDaily
- 21/7/15 20:24
To grow and multiply efficiently, bacteria must coordinate cell division with chromosome segregation. Key to this process is a protein called Nucleoid Occlusion Factor or Noc. A small and abundant molecule called Cytidine Triphosphate (CTP) is key to the functions of Noc. CTP binding enables Noc to 'spread' on DNA to form a large protein complex. CTP also 'switches on' the membrane-binding ability...
Visibly transparent radiative cooler under direct sunlight
- ScienceDaily
- 21/7/15 20:24
A research team develops a radiative cooling material that is transparent under direct sunlight.
A genome of photosynthetic animals decoded
- ScienceDaily
- 21/7/15 20:24
Some sea slugs take up chloroplasts from the algae that they consume into their cells. These chloroplasts retain their ability to perform photosynthetic activity within the animal cells for several months, and thus provide them with photosynthesis-derived nutrition. Researchers have published the genome of the sea slug, Plakobranchus ocellatus.
High-ranking hyena mothers pass their social networks to their cubs
- ScienceDaily
- 21/7/15 20:23
Hyenas inherit their social networks from their mothers, according to new research. The study found this network inheritance effect strongest for offspring of higher-ranking mothers. The finding has implications for how social groups are structured and evolve, the researchers say.
Human cells harness power of detergents to wipe out bacteria
- ScienceDaily
- 21/7/15 20:23
Researchers have discovered that a molecule found within many of the body's cells kills germs by dissolving their protective membranes.
Red blood cell 'traffic' contributes to changes in brain oxygenation
- ScienceDaily
- 21/7/15 20:23
Adequate blood flow supplies the brain with oxygen and nutrients, but the oxygenation tends to fluctuate in a distinct, consistent manner. The root of this varied activity, though, is poorly understood. Now, researchers have identified one cause of the fluctuations: inherent randomness in the flow rate of red blood cells through tiny blood vessels called capillaries.
Researchers discover a new inorganic material with lowest thermal conductivity ever reported
- ScienceDaily
- 21/7/15 20:23
A collaborative research team has discovered a new inorganic material with the lowest thermal conductivity ever reported. This discovery paves the way for the development of new thermoelectric materials that will be critical for a sustainable society.
How spiders distinguish living from non-living using motion-based visual cues
- ScienceDaily
- 21/7/15 20:23
Jumping spiders can distinguish living from non-living objects in their peripheral vision using the same cues used by humans and other vertebrate animals, according to a new study.
Accurate protein structure prediction now accessible to all
- ScienceDaily
- 21/7/15 20:23
Protein design researchers have created a freely available method, RoseTTAFold, to provide access to highly accurate protein structure prediction. Scientists around the world are using it to build protein models to accelerate their research. The tool uses deep learning to quickly predict protein structures based on limited information, thereby compressing the time for what would have taken years...
Extraordinary carbon emissions from El Nino-induced biomass burning estimated
- ScienceDaily
- 21/7/15 20:23
In 2015, massive biomass burning events occurred in Equatorial Asia which released a large amount of carbon into the atmosphere, whose signals were captured by in-situ high-precision measurements onboard commercial passenger aircraft and a cargo ship. A simulation-based analysis with those observations estimated the fire-induced carbon emissions to be 273 Tg C for September - October 2015.
Scientists take snapshots of ultrafast switching in a quantum electronic device
- ScienceDaily
- 21/7/15 20:23
Scientist demonstrated a new way of observing atoms as they move in a tiny quantum electronic switch as it operates. Along the way, they discovered a new material state that could pave the way for faster, more energy-efficient computing.
'Get out of the water!' Monster shark movies massacre shark conservation
- ScienceDaily
- 21/7/15 20:23
Undeniably the shark movie to end all shark movies, the 1975 blockbuster, Jaws, not only smashed box office expectations, but forever changed the way we felt about going into the water - and how we think about sharks.
T-cell 'training grounds' behind robust immune system response seen in adenovirus vaccines
- ScienceDaily
- 21/7/15 20:23
Adenovirus vaccine vectors, such as the ChAdOx1 nCov-19 construct which has risen to prominence as a major vaccine for COVID-19, may generate robust long-term immune system responses, according to scientists.
How spiders distinguish living from non-living using motion-based visual cues
Jumping spiders can distinguish living from non-living objects in their peripheral vision using the same cues used by humans and other vertebrate animals, according to a study publishing 15th July 2021 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Massimo De Agrò of Harvard University in the United States.
Professional development opportunities do not delay doctorate training or publications
Ph.D.-trained scientists are essential contributors to the workforce in diverse employment sectors that include academia, industry, government, and non-profit organizations. Therefore, best practices for training the future biomedical workforce are of national concern. To complement coursework and laboratory research training, many institutions—including UNC-Chapel Hill—now offer professional...
Human cells harness power of detergents to wipe out bacteria
Cells, like many of us, fend off germs with cleaning products.
New artificial intelligence software can compute protein structures in 10 minutes
Scientists have waited months for access to highly accurate protein structure prediction since DeepMind presented remarkable progress in this area at the 2020 Critical Assessment of Structure Prediction, or CASP14, conference. The wait is now over.
Scientists take first snapshots of ultrafast switching in a quantum electronic device
Electronic circuits that compute and store information contain millions of tiny switches that control the flow of electric current. A deeper understanding of how these tiny switches work could help researchers push the frontiers of modern computing.
High-ranking hyena mothers pass their social networks to their cubs
Hyenas are a highly social species, living in groups that can number more than 100. But within their clans, there is order: A specific matrilineal hierarchy governs societies in this species where females are dominant to males.
Researchers discover a new inorganic material with lowest thermal conductivity ever reported
A collaborative research team, led by the University of Liverpool, has discovered a new inorganic material with the lowest thermal conductivity ever reported. This discovery paves the way for the development of new thermoelectric materials that will be critical for a sustainable society.
Sperm migration in the genital tract: Computer simulations identify factors for success
A research team at the Humboldt University Berlin and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) developed an agent-based computer model to simulate the journey of sperm cells through the female genital tract. Key factors for a successful transit could be identified without the use of animal experiments and were published in the scientific journal PLoS Computational Biology.
Huge study supporting ivermectin as Covid treatment withdrawn over ethical concerns
The preprint endorsing ivermectin as a coronavirus therapy has been widely cited, but independent researchers find glaring discrepancies in the dataThe efficacy of a drug being promoted by rightwing figures worldwide for treating Covid-19 is in serious doubt after a major study suggesting the treatment is effective against the virus was withdrawn due to “ethical concerns”.The preprint study on...
Dutch queen and robot open 3D-printed bridge in Amsterdam
Dutch Queen Maxima teamed up with a small robot Thursday to unveil a steel 3D-printed pedestrian bridge over a canal in the heart of Amsterdam's red light district.
Abell 1775: Chandra catches slingshot during collision
When the titans of space—galaxy clusters—collide, extraordinary things can happen. A new study using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory examines the repercussions after two galaxy clusters clashed.
Emotion, cooperation and locomotion crucial from an early age
What are the fundamental skills that young children need to develop at the start of school for future academic success? While a large body of research shows strong links between cognitive skills (attention, memory, etc.) and academic skills on the one hand, and emotional skills on the other, in students from primary school to university, few studies have explored these links in children aged 3 to...
Unlocking efficient light-energy conversion with stable coordination nanosheets
Two-dimensional 'nanosheets' made of bonds between metal atoms and organic molecules are attractive candidates for photoelectric conversion, but get corroded easily. In a new study, scientists from Japan and Taiwan present a new nanosheet design using iron and benzene hexathiol that exhibits record stability to air exposure for 60 days, signaling the commercial optoelectronic applications of these...
Fossil rodent teeth add North American twist to Caribbean mammals' origin story
Two fossil teeth from a distant relative of North American gophers have scientists rethinking how some mammals reached the Caribbean Islands.
Researchers find new protein conducting piRNA expression
PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), a class of conserved non-coding small RNAs, are essential for sex determination, defense against viruses, maintaining genome integrity of diverse animal species. However, many piRNA clusters reside within or close to the heterochromatin, a transcriptional silencing loci. How piRNAs are transcribed remains unknown.
Emotion, cooperation and locomotion crucial from an early age
- ScienceDaily
- 21/7/15 18:46
What are the fundamental skills that young children need to develop at the start of school for future academic success? Researchers examined the links between emotion knowledge, cooperation, locomotor activity and numerical skills in 706 pupils aged 3 to 6. The results show that emotion knowledge, cooperative social behavior and locomotor activity are interrelated and associated with numerical...