139 articles from MONDAY 12.9.2022
Astronomers wind back the clock to determine the timeline of a stellar explosion
While astronomers have seen the debris from scores of exploded stars in the Milky Way and nearby galaxies, it is often difficult to determine the timeline of the star's demise. By studying the spectacular remains of a supernova in a neighboring galaxy using NASA telescopes, a team of astronomers has found enough clues to help wind back the clock.
Study: Baby Kinda baboons become independent faster if moms are social, dominant
New research shows female Kinda baboons who have strong social connections with other female and male baboons, or are more dominant, have babies who become independent faster than others.
New technique to measure temperatures in combustion flames could lead to cleaner biofuels
A new X-ray technique to measure temperatures in combustion flames could lead to cleaner biofuels.
Doctors and lawyers less likely to live in prosperous areas if from working class families, says research
Doctors, lawyers, and senior managers from working class families are less likely to live in prosperous areas than their counterparts from well-off backgrounds, new research shows.
In a warmer world, half of all species are on the move. Where are they going?
From the deepest oceans to the highest mountains, human-caused climate change is making a profound impact on animals and plants around the world, with many species pushed to the brink of extinction by rising temperatures.
Opinion: Scientists might have discovered an Earth-like planet. Let one of them tell you about it.
There's more important work for the James Webb Space Telescope. A team of astronomers at the University of Montreal hopes to use it to study a newly found planet beyond our solar system (an exoplanet) that could be almost completely covered in water.
The strange behavior of sound through solids
Not everything needs to be seen to be believed; certain things are more readily heard, like a train approaching its station. In a recent paper, published in Physical Review Letters, researchers have put their ears to the rail, discovering a new property of scattering amplitudes based on their study of sound waves through solid matter.
Most US states don't have universal air conditioning in prisons. Climate change, heat waves are making it 'torture'
It was nearly 100 degrees outside in South Texas the day Quintero Jones died. Inside his cinder-block prison cell in the middle of summer, it felt even hotter.
NASA’s unprecedented asteroid-deflection mission is more than ‘billiards in space,’ scientists say
On 26 September, an act of targeted violence will ensue 11 million kilometers from Earth, as a spacecraft about the size of a vending machine smashes into a small asteroid at 6 kilometers per second. Unlike some asteroids that stray worrisomely close to Earth’s orbit, Dimorphos—the 160-meter moon of a larger body—is an innocent bystander, posing no threat to our world. But the...
Older adults with regular activity routines are happier and do better on cognitive tests, study finds
- ScienceDaily
- 22/9/12 22:38
Older adults who consistently get up early and remain active throughout the day are happier and perform better on cognitive tests than those with irregular activity patterns, according to a new study.
How visual information travels from the retina to the midbrain
- ScienceDaily
- 22/9/12 22:38
Neuroscientists have revealed the precise connections between sensory neurons inside the retina and the superior colliculus, a structure in the midbrain. Neuropixels probes are a relatively recent development, representing the next generation of electrodes. Densely packed with recording points, Neuropixels probes are used to record the activity of nerve cells, and have facilitated these recent...
What is the smallest planet? (It's not Pluto.) Taking a closer look at planet sizes.
As elementary schoolers, we learned the order of the planets. Maybe your teacher even had a snappy mnemonic like "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas" or "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos" after Pluto was axed from the planetary lineup.
Why are dark matter halos of ultra-diffuse galaxies so odd?
A study co-led by physicists at UC Riverside and UC Irvine has found that dark matter halos of ultra-diffuse galaxies are very odd, raising questions about physicists' understanding of galaxy formation and the structure of the universe.
Tidal marsh or 'fake habitat'? California environmental project draws criticism
Southwest of Sacramento, California, the branching arms of waterways reach into a patchwork of farm fields and pastures. Canals and wetlands fringed with reeds meet a sunbaked expanse of dry meadows.
Researchers explore enzymes that use a cation, not oxygen-addition, to drive reactions
Researchers from North Carolina State University and the University of Texas at Austin have defined the structure of a substrate-bound iron 2-oxoglutarate (Fe/2OG) enzyme to explore whether these enzymes could be used to create a wide array of molecules. They probed the enzyme's active site to determine its ability to bind with different substrates. Additionally, rather than oxygen-addition, they...
Soil disturbance reduces resilience of rangelands to climate change
USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and collaborators from the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment have tested how soil disturbance influences the response of U.S. Great Plains rangeland to climate change. The results showed that disturbance and subsequent plant invasion are key factors to consider when predicting the impact of climate change on these ecosystems.
What killed dinosaurs and other life on Earth?
- ScienceDaily
- 22/9/12 21:29
Determining what killed the dinosaurs 66 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous Period has long been the topic of debate, as scientists set out to determine what caused the five mass extinction events that reshaped life on planet Earth in a geological instant. Some scientists argue that comets or asteroids that crashed into Earth were the most likely agents of mass destruction, while...
Forests' carbon uptake will be compromised by climate change, leaf temperature study suggests
- ScienceDaily
- 22/9/12 21:29
A new study suggests leaves in forest canopies are not able to cool themselves below the surrounding air temperature, likely meaning trees' ability to avoid damaging temperature increases, and to pull carbon from the atmosphere, will be compromised in a warmer, drier climate.
How human cells become Zika virus factories
- ScienceDaily
- 22/9/12 21:29
Scientists solve the mystery of how Zika virus takes over key immune system cells. New findings shed light on how to stop the virus from spreading.
New study identifies main drivers of government investment in clean energy innovation
- ScienceDaily
- 22/9/12 21:29
A new analysis suggests that international cooperation and competition are the main drivers of public investment in energy innovation. However, this funding remains insufficient to help meet climate goals.
Bigger plants don't always equal more nutritious ones
- ScienceDaily
- 22/9/12 21:29
While increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere encourage plant growth, they also reduce the nutritional value of plants, which can have a larger impact on nutrition and food safety worldwide. Researchers have discovered a new way plants are adapting to the changing climate -- information that can be used to help plants grow strong while also maintaining their nutritional value.
Investing in new water filtration membranes is worth it
- ScienceDaily
- 22/9/12 21:29
In the new study, researchers performed a high-level analysis of membrane filtration systems to evaluate cost, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with desalination and wastewater treatment. The researchers found that municipal wastewater facilities could spend 43% more on antifouling membranes for wastewater treatment and up to three times more on antifouling membranes for...
Researchers explore enzymes that use a cation, not oxygen-addition, to drive reactions
- ScienceDaily
- 22/9/12 21:28
Researchers defined the structure of a substrate-bound iron 2-oxoglutarate (Fe/2OG) enzyme to explore whether these enzymes could be used to create a wide array of molecules. They saw that Fe/2OG enzymes likely utilize cations -- highly reactive species -- to drive desaturation during catalysis. The work could lead to the use of Fe/2OG enzymes in making a wide array of valuable molecules.
Daytime eating may benefit mental health
- ScienceDaily
- 22/9/12 21:28
Investigators have designed a study that simulated night work and then tested the effects of daytime and nighttime eating versus daytime eating only. The team found that, among participants in the daytime and nighttime eating group, depression-like mood levels increased by 26 percent and anxiety-like mood levels by 16 percent. Participants in the daytime-only eating group did not experience this...
Mysterious diamonds came from outer space
- ScienceDaily
- 22/9/12 21:28
Strange diamonds from an ancient dwarf planet in our solar system may have formed shortly after the dwarf planet collided with a large asteroid about 4.5 billion years ago, according to scientists. The research team says they have confirmed the existence of lonsdaleite, a rare hexagonal form of diamond, in ureilite meteorites from the mantle of the dwarf planet.
Newly developed ice-shedding coating is 100 times stronger than others
A University of Houston mechanical engineer has developed a sprayable ice-shedding material that is 100 times stronger than any others. The new durable coating material has been tested by Boeing under erosive rain conditions at 385 miles per hour and has outperformed current state-of-the-art aerospace coating technologies.
Newly released image from James Webb telescope reveals Orion Nebula in 'amazing detail'
Some 1,300 light-years from Earth lies a stunning area of dust and gas called the Orion Nebula. On Monday, teams of astronomers from around the world released the most detailed image ever of this rich star-forming region taken by the James Webb Space Telescope...
Scientists develop a method to turn hazardous acidic industrial wastewater into valuable resources
A research team of environmental scientists from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has developed a circular process for eliminating the risk posed by phosphoric acid plant wastewater. The process turns the environmentally toxic wastewater into clean water while recovering valuable acids. Phosphoric acid is the main ingredient in industrial fertilizers, a massive industry worldwide.
Webb telescope captures 'breathtaking' images of Orion Nebula
The wall of dense gas and dust resembles a massive winged creature, its glowing maw lit by a bright star as it soars through cosmic filaments.
Examining what killed the dinosaurs in depth
Determining what killed the dinosaurs 66 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous Period has long been the topic of debate, as scientists set out to determine what caused the five mass extinction events that reshaped life on planet Earth in a geological instant.
More than half of all tropical deforestation directly attributable to industrial mining takes place in Indonesia
New research published in PNAS today showed that, out of 26 countries, Indonesia accounted for 58.2% of the tropical deforestation directly caused by industrial mining activities. Brazil, Ghana and Suriname also stood out in the study, which underscored the need for stronger measures to protect tropical forests from destructive economic activities like mining.
Mysterious diamonds came from outer space, scientists say
Strange diamonds from an ancient dwarf planet in our solar system may have formed shortly after the dwarf planet collided with a large asteroid about 4.5 billion years ago, according to scientists.
Forests' carbon uptake will be compromised by climate change, leaf temperature study suggests
A new study led by Oregon State University suggests leaves in forest canopies are not able to cool themselves below the surrounding air temperature, likely meaning trees' ability to avoid damaging temperature increases, and to pull carbon from the atmosphere, will be compromised in a warmer, drier climate.
Making mini-magnets that induce a quantum anomalous Hall effect
A new device has been fabricated that can demonstrate the quantum anomalous Hall effect, in which tiny, discrete voltage steps are generated by an external magnetic field. This work may enable extremely low-power electronics, as well as future quantum computers.
Exploring bioresponsive polymers for nanomedicine
Dr. Sabina Quader, senior research scientist of the Innovation Center of NanoMedicine, together with Dr. Joachim van-Guyse, assistant professor at Leiden University, has published a review article titled "Bioresponsive Polymers for Nanomedicine-Expectations and Reality!" in the journal Polymers.
CHEOPS space telescope celebrates first thousand days in orbit
After 1,000 days in orbit around the Earth, the CHEOPS space telescope shows almost no signs of wear. Under these conditions, it could continue to reveal the fascinating details of many exoplanets for many years to come. CHEOPS is a joint mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) and Switzerland, led by the University of Bern (UNIBE) in collaboration with the University of Geneva (UNIGE).
Economists find that vaccine companies influence each others' stock prices
COVID-19 vaccine companies influence each other's stock prices as well as market volatility, a team of scientists has found. It turned out that some companies (e.g., British-Swedish and American) have more influence, while others (e.g., Chinese) have less. Such conclusions were reached by economists who analyzed the stock price of major vaccine companies: Moderna, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson,...
‘We’ve experienced an anomaly’: Bezos’s latest Blue Origin launch fails
New Shepard rocket fails shortly after launch, but uncrewed capsule jettisons successfullyAn uncrewed rocket belonging to Jeff Bezos’s space company, Blue Origin, failed shortly after launch in Texas on Monday morning, a potential setback for the Amazon founder’s wider ambitions of sending humans into orbit.The malfunction of the New Shepard booster, a type of rocket that is similar to the one...
Contrasting reproductive phenological strategies among temperate woody species discovered
On July 28, the research team led by Prof. Huang Jianguo at the Zhejiang University College of Life Sciences published an article titled "Climate warming leads to advanced fruit development period of temperate woody species but divergent changes in its length" in the journal Global Change Biology.
Hurricane Harvey's hardest hit survivors five times as likely to experience anxiety from COVID-19 pandemic
When the Children's Environmental Health Initiative (CEHI) launched the Texas Flood Registry in April 2018, the goal was to develop a needs assessment focusing on health and housing impacts of the greater Houston area, which was still recovering less than one year after Hurricane Harvey's devastating landfall.
Racial biases seen when white teachers hear low-quality stories
If first graders Jamaal and Connor each verbally shared a story, would the teacher fairly assess the narratives?
Researchers model benefits of riverfront forest restoration
A new Stanford University-led study in Costa Rica reveals that restoring relatively narrow strips of riverfront forests could substantially improve regional water quality and carbon storage. The analysis, available online and set to be published in the October issue of Ecosystem Services, shows that such buffers tend to be most beneficial in steep, erosion-prone, and intensively fertilized...
A Bronze Age food vessel unearthed during a high street demolition 42 years ago has gone on display at a nearby museum
A 5,000-year-old container, discovered behind a butcher's shop, is being exhibited at Kirkcaldy Galleries having been recently conserved by experts. Conservation has been completed as part of a wider project to find out more about the human remains and objects found on Kirkcaldy High Street in June 1980.
Hubble sees two overlapping galaxies
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope imaged these two overlapping spiral galaxies named SDSS J115331 and LEDA 2073461, which lie more than a billion light-years from Earth. Despite appearing to collide in this image, the alignment of the two galaxies is likely just by chance—the two are not actually interacting. While these two galaxies might simply be ships that pass in the night, Hubble has...