186 articles from THURSDAY 21.7.2022
Study finds ultimate limits of spaceplates in optical systems
Engineers working to miniaturize optical systems for modern electronics have seen great success when it comes to the most familiar components, the lenses and optical sensors. It's been more challenging to reduce the size of the third component of an optical system, the free space between the lens and the sensor needed for light waves to achieve focus.
Massive balloon examining black hole passes over Nunavut before landing in N.W.T.
XL-Calibur, a research balloon the size of a football stadium, recently passed over Nunavut and the Northwest Territories studying black holes in the galaxy. Parts of it landed near Délı̨nę, N.W.T., on...
Learning some new steps in the energy conversion dance
At the heart of energy conversion, electrons and protons move in an intricate, coordinated dance. Chemists at Yale and in Sweden say they may have learned the steps to a new, photo-chemical rhumba.
Team tests the effects of oxygen on uranium
A team of researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the University of Michigan has found that the rate of cooling in reactions dramatically affects the type of uranium molecules that form.
How 'Shark Week' could inspire love for ocean predators
Videos of shark attacks are popular—some of Discovery's "Shark Week" videos of sharks attacking cages or people have attracted millions of views online. But according to a new study from North Carolina State University, positive videos of sharks could help change people's attitudes in the predators' favor.
North Atlantic temperature helps forecast extreme events in Northeast Brazil up to three months in advance
The sea surface temperature in the North Atlantic Ocean can be a predictor up to three months in advance of extreme climate events involving reduced rainfall and intense drought in the Northeast region of Brazil. This is one of the main findings of a study by researchers in Brazil, China, Australia and Germany, according to an article published in Geophysical Research Letters.
Climate change and land-use changes increase likelihood of flood events
The German government estimates the total losses resulting from the disastrous floods in July 2021 at 32 billion euros. In two studies, one of which is currently available in Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have investigated how precipitation, evaporation processes, water flow, and runoff led to this flooding. To improve future...
Are you clumsy—or just mean? Your dog may know the difference
Does your dog know what you’re thinking? Cognitive biologists have shown
our canine companions understand what we mean when we point at something
, like a hidden snack. But are dogs really reading our minds? Or have they just lived with us so long that they’ve simply learned to make an association between, say, a hand and a tasty treat?
“I still think...
Fertility of the sea: Researchers study how nutrient sources make it to the base of the food web
Virtually all marine life—fish, turtles, sharks, whales and more—depend on the marine food web for survival. The foundation of this immense flow of energy, however, rests on the shoulders of the microscopic but mighty phytoplankton.
Study finds that tomatoes, but not farm workers or gardeners, are safe from soil lead
Urban agriculture is booming, but there's often a hidden danger lurking in city soils: lead. A recent University of Illinois study showed universally elevated lead levels in soils across Chicago, an urban ag hotspot.
How 'shark week' could inspire love for ocean predators
- ScienceDaily
- 22/7/21 21:55
Findings from a new study indicate more positive YouTube videos could be a useful tool for shark conservation.
Tomatoes, but not farm workers, gardeners, safe from soil lead
- ScienceDaily
- 22/7/21 21:55
Scientists don't know much about how vegetables and other crops take up and accumulate lead in real-world settings, but new research in Chicago backyard gardens shows tomatoes are likely safe to eat, even when grown in highly lead-contaminated soils.
How do galaxies evolve? A college student may have provided the missing link
A University of Massachusetts Amherst undergraduate student has contributed significant work regarding the growth of stars and black holes, providing key insight into how they are linked. This new information will allow the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to more efficiently untangle how, exactly, galaxies work.
Majority of early career researchers in physical science want to publish open access, but face financial barriers
A new global study from AIP Publishing, the American Physical Society (APS), IOP Publishing (IOPP) and Optica Publishing Group (formerly OSA) indicates that the majority of early career researchers (ECRs) want to publish open access (OA) but they need grants from funding agencies to do so.
Working to discover new treatments for tuberculosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, remains the leading cause of infectious disease worldwide, affecting approximately a quarter of the globe's population. Treatment of infections is problematic due to the emergence of drug-resistant strains; however, University of Oklahoma professor Helen Zgurskaya, an expert in antibiotic resistance, is leading research on new...
Healthy sleep habits before kindergarten help children adjust to school
- ScienceDaily
- 22/7/21 21:22
The transition to kindergarten is a notable milestone for children and families, who typically prepare by gathering school supplies and meeting the teacher. New research suggests that one important way to prepare for the transition to first-time schooling is to develop a bedtime routine in which children consistently get at least 10 hours of sleep at night, which will help them adjust during the...
Gender pay gap linked to unpaid chores in childhood
- ScienceDaily
- 22/7/21 21:22
Young women and girls' time spent in unpaid household work contributes to the gender pay gap, according to new research. The research shows women's later employment participation is affected by taking on the weight of this care burden in childhood, thus adding to existing inequality gaps in the study countries.
How different cancer cells respond to drug-delivering nanoparticles
Using nanoparticles to deliver cancer drugs offers a way to hit tumors with large doses of drugs while avoiding the harmful side effects that often come with chemotherapy. However, so far, only a handful of nanoparticle-based cancer drugs have been FDA-approved.
Gender pay gap linked to unpaid chores in childhood
Young women's and girls' time spent in unpaid household work contributes to the gender pay gap, according to new research from the Universities of East Anglia (UEA), Birmingham and Brunel.
A fast, efficient COVID-19 biosensor is under development
As the BA.5 omicron variant continues to spread, health experts are increasingly preparing for a future in which such COVID-19 variants emerge, surge and recede, similar to seasonal flu. An important part of staying on top of these changes will be the ability to quickly monitor the virus at a "population scale," an effort that will require accurate and ultra-fast testing.
'Sensing system' spots struggling ecosystems
A new "resilience sensing system" can identify ecosystems that are in danger of collapse, research shows. The system uses satellites to spot areas of concern—including those at risk of "tipping points"—and can also measure the success of conservation and restoration efforts.
Climate change drives Europe towards record fire year
The fires that have torched through Europe are on course to make 2022 a record year for forest loss on the continent, as scientists warn climate change is already contributing to ever fiercer blazes.
New method to map the surface of the moon increases accuracy to unprecedented levels
The surface of the moon and rocky planets—Mars in particular—are of huge interest to anyone trying to explore our solar system. The surface must be known in as much detail as possible, for missions to land safely, or for any robotic vessel to drive across the surface. But until now, the methods to analyze images from orbiting spacecraft have entailed a huge work load and immense computer...
Technologies for single-cell RNA profiling can help dissect the cellular bases of complex diseases around the globe
Within a given tissue or organ, cells may appear very similar or even identical. But at the molecular level, these cells can have small differences that lead to wide variations in their functions.