197 articles from WEDNESDAY 27.10.2021
Burning and tingling in your feet? You may have small fiber neuropathy
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/27 23:26
The number of people experiencing numbness, tingling and pain in their feet with no known cause has been increasing over the last two decades, according at a new study. Called small fiber neuropathy, the condition has different symptoms than large fiber neuropathy, which can cause weakness and balance issues. But in many cases people have both types of neuropathy.
Astronomers discover massive galaxy 'shipyard' in the distant universe
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/27 23:26
Astronomers have discovered a structure thought to be a 'protocluster' of galaxies on its way to developing into a galaxy supercluster. Observations show the protocluster, which is located 11 billion light-years from Earth, as it appeared when the universe was 3 billion years old, when stars were produced at higher rates in certain regions of the cosmos.
Universe review – Brian Cox’s trip to the stars is sheer cosmic cowardice
As the professor guides us through the solar system via excessive CGI and poetic chat, you can’t help but think his latest quest would be more effective if it wasn’t so dumbed downI don’t know how you make an hour-long programme that takes you slowly through 14bn years of history, but the BBC and Prof Brian Cox have done it with the first episode of Universe. Possibly it is a space-time...
Scientists discover how forest fires influence rain cloud formation in the Amazon
A Brazilian study published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment shows how wildfires and forest burning for agriculture influence rain cloud formation in the Amazon. According to the authors, aerosols (tiny solid particles and liquid droplets emitted into the atmosphere by fire) hinder the freezing of cloud droplets when the atmosphere is humidified, but can also promote freezing when...
Exploring the dual function of the CTCF protein
The rapid scientific advancements that followed the mapping of the human genome have revealed just how staggeringly complex the world of genetics is. We now know that proteins are not just the products of genes, but that they also interact with genes, influencing and regulating the rhythm of their expression. A typical example of this are transcription factors, which begin the transcription of...
Getting NASA data to the ground with lasers
NASA launches satellites, rovers, and orbiters to investigate humanity's place in the Milky Way. When these missions reach their destinations, their science instruments capture images, videos, and valuable insights about the cosmos. Communications infrastructure in space and on the ground enables the data collected by these missions to reach Earth. Without ground stations to receive it, the...
How to find hidden oceans on distant worlds? Use chemistry
A new study shows how the chemicals in an exoplanet's atmosphere can, in some cases, reveal whether or not the temperature on its surface is too hot for liquid water.
NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts launch to space station alongside microgravity research
NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 mission is set to launch four astronauts to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon on Sunday, Oct. 31. The mission includes three NASA astronauts—mission Commander Raja Chari, Pilot Tom Marshburn, and Mission Specialist Kayla Barron—as well as ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, who will also serve as a mission specialist.
Scientists measure the atmosphere of a planet 340 light-years away
An international team of scientists, using the ground-based Gemini Observatory telescope in Chile, is the first to directly measure the amount of both water and carbon monoxide in the atmosphere of a planet in another solar system roughly 340 light-years away.
Why roots don't grow in the shade
When a plant finds itself in too much shade, it redirects its resources to reach for light. Crop yield and root development stall as the plant focuses on growing taller, striving to rise above neighboring plants to access the sun.
La Palma island braces for more quakes as volcano roars on
Residents on Spain's La Palma island braced Wednesday for the possibility of bigger earthquakes that could compound the damage from a volcano spilling lava more than five weeks since it erupted.
New sorghum variety offers superior popping quality and a new type of popped snack
Popcorn is one of America's favorite snacks. But did you know that a grain called sorghum can also be popped?
More than ceremonial, ancient Chaco Canyon was home, new study says
While some current scientific theories point to ancient Chaco Canyon, a distinctive archeological site in the American southwest, as simply a prehistoric ceremonial site populated only during sacred rituals, University of Cincinnati researchers are turning that popular belief on its head.
People may prefer climate change policies that give incentives, find energy alternatives
Taking action against climate change requires coordinated efforts and the support and cooperation of the public, and three new studies offer clues about the types of policies Americans are more likely to support and why.
Researchers map best conditions for forage fishes in the Chesapeake
Big fish eat smaller fish, but only if there are smaller fish to eat. A new study led by researchers at William & Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science maps the conditions most suitable for key species of forage fishes in the Chesapeake Bay, offering guidance for any future efforts to protect or restore the habitat required to yield sufficient prey for predatory fishes such as striped bass.
Researchers evaluate whether lactate sensors can contribute to sports physiology
While there are a growing number of wearable lactate sensors available for sports and fitness, there hasn't necessarily been an improvement in the understanding of this nascent technology—and the debate continues over the usefulness of monitoring lactate in sweat. A recent article in ACS Sensors, a journal of the American Chemical Society, says that despite a recent history of...
Not all acne is equal: Scientists reveal strains of C. acnes that promote skin health
Cutibacterium acnes, a bacteria that is known to cause acne, is also widely spread on people with healthy skin. Recent advances in gene sequencing have shown that differences in the genetic background between strains of bacteria may lead to differing roles in the skin. A new study, done without animal (mammal) testing, shows that the nonpathogenic strain of C. acnes improves the skin's resistance...
New environment minister faces questions about past activism, says he has no 'secret agenda'
Canada’s new environment minister says his past as an activist should not raise alarms in the energy industry or in the office of Alberta’s...
Researchers evaluate whether lactate sensors can contribute to sports physiology
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/27 21:07
A recent article says that despite a recent history of contradictory -- and incomplete -- evidence, sports physiology is zeroing in on whether lactate sensor technology can improve performance while preventing injury.
Infections from respiratory viruses follow a predictable seasonal pattern, researchers find
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/27 21:07
Viral infections peak in January and bottom out in June, with worse seasons every second year -- an ebb and flow that could help the health-care system plan ahead.
Living descendant of Sitting Bull confirmed by analysis of DNA from the legendary leader’s hair.
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/27 21:07
A man's claim to be the great-grandson of legendary Native American leader Sitting Bull has been confirmed using DNA extracted from Sitting Bull's scalp lock. This is the first time ancient DNA has been used to confirm a familial relationship between living and historical individuals.
Microorganisms produce elemental carbon
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/27 21:07
Carbon occurs on the Earth in a variety of structures and forms. Elemental Carbon is usually formed under conditions of high pressure and temperature. Researchers have now, for the first time, identified microorganisms that produce elemental carbon.
ALS and dementia attacked by an RNA-hunting compound that recruits cell's own virus fighter
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/27 21:07
A potential drug targets RNA that cause C9 ALS and frontotemporal dementia.
Evidence of prehistoric human activity in Falkland Islands
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/27 21:07
Findings from a new study suggest that Europeans were not the first people to ever set foot on the Falkland Islands. Most of the evidence from the investigation indicates that Indigenous South Americans likely traveled to the Falkland Islands between 1275 C.E. and 1420 C.E., although earlier dates cannot be ruled out.
More than ceremonial, ancient Chaco Canyon was home, new study says
- ScienceDaily
- 21/10/27 21:07
New research reveals ancestral puebloans in ancient Chaco Canyon interacted with local ecosystem to thrive for more than a millennium, but unsustainable deforestation practices likely contributed to destabilizing environmental impact prior to their final exodus.