121 articles from WEDNESDAY 21.9.2022

Heart attack risk increased among people with HIV and hepatitis C as they aged

The risk of heart attack was about 30% higher with each decade of age as people with HIV got older. However, that risk increased 85% with each decade among people who also have untreated hepatitis C, according to a new analysis of more than 23,000 people receiving HIV treatment in North America. These findings indicate HIV and hepatitis C status, as well as more traditional heart disease risk...

How old is that fingerprint?

Forensic dramas on TV make it seem easy to determine when fingerprints were left at the scene of a crime. In reality, the oils in fingerprints degrade over time, and it's difficult to figure out their age. Now, researchers have discovered molecular markers for changes to these oils over a seven-day time period -- information that could be used to estimate fingerprints' ages more accurately.

Study finds high levels of PFAS in school uniforms

Scientists analyzed a variety of children's textiles. In yet another example of the prevalence of the hazardous chemicals known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in consumer products, industrial products and textiles, researchers have found notably high levels in school uniforms sold in North America.

New binary pulsar detected with CHIME

Using the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME), astronomers have detected a new radio pulsar in a binary system with a massive non-degenerate companion star. The discovery of the pulsar, which received designation PSR J2108+4516, was detailed in a paper published September 14 on the arXiv pre-print server.

Mimicking the Earth's crust: Examining solidification of building material candidates by cold sintering

Ceramic materials are ubiquitous in the world of construction. Building materials such as cement, bricks, tiles, or electrical insulators like porcelain are all ceramic products that we rely on in our daily lives. These ceramics are manufactured by a method called sintering—the process of turning powdery solids into a hardened mass by applying pressure or temperature. Most sintering processes...

Soft devices, powered by 'stressed' algae, glow in the dark when squished or stretched

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed soft devices containing algae that glow in the dark when experiencing mechanical stress, such as being squished, stretched, twisted or bent. The devices do not require any electronics to light up, making them an ideal choice for building soft robots that explore the deep sea and other dark environments, researchers said.

New clues about early atmosphere on Mars suggest a wet planet capable of supporting life

New research published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters suggests that Mars was born wet, with a dense atmosphere allowing warm-to-hot oceans for millions of years. To reach this conclusion, researchers developed the first model of the evolution of the Martian atmosphere that links the high temperatures associated with Mars's formation in a molten state through to the formation of the first...

Studies showcase long-term effects of drought

With the effects of climate change underway, drought is becoming an increasing problem in many parts of the world. Michael Bahn, researcher from the Department of Ecology at the University of Innsbruck, was involved in several studies on the impact of drought on ecosystems. These studies, recently published in leading scientific journals, give insight into the complexity of processes underlying...

Embryo blood cells are stem cell–independent

The fetal liver is the major hematopoietic organ during the embryonic stage. It is generally believed that hematopoietic hierarchy in the fetal liver is established through the differentiation of fetal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). This view assumes that the relationship between HSCs and descendant progenitors is conserved from embryo to adult.

Study finds high levels of PFAS in school uniforms

In yet another example of the prevalence of the hazardous chemicals known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in consumer products, industrial products and textiles, researchers have found notably high levels in school uniforms sold in North America.

How old is that fingerprint?

Forensic dramas on TV make it seem easy to determine when fingerprints were left at the scene of a crime. In reality, the oils in fingerprints degrade over time, and it's difficult to figure out their age. Now, researchers reporting a small-scale study in ACS Central Science have discovered molecular markers for changes to these oils over a seven-day time period—information that could be used to...

New Webb Image Captures Clearest View of Neptune’s Rings in Decades

Portal origin URL: New Webb Image Captures Clearest View of Neptune’s Rings in DecadesPortal origin nid: 482884Published: Wednesday, September 21, 2022 - 08:00Featured (stick to top of list): noPortal text teaser: NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope shows off its capabilities closer to home with its first image of Neptune.Portal image: Neptune, opalescent with...

Cat's Eye Nebula seen in 3D

Researchers have created the first computer-generated three-dimensional model of the Cat's Eye Nebula, revealing a pair of symmetric rings encircling the nebula's outer shell. The rings' symmetry suggests they were formed by a precessing jet, providing strong evidence for a binary star at the center of the nebula. The study was led by Ryan Clairmont, who recently completed secondary school in the...

Broadband funding for Native communities could finally connect some of America’s most isolated places

The rolls of fiber-optic cable currently unwinding in a remote corner of northwest Montana represent a vital, long-overdue change for the region.  Rural and Native communities in the US have long had lower rates of cellular and broadband connectivity than urban areas, where four out of every five Americans live. Outside the cities and suburbs,…

‘What are they thinking?’: toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in school uniforms

More than a third of children’s clothing tested in a study detected PFAS, which are used to make textiles stain resistantToxic PFAS chemicals are frequently used to make children’s clothing and textiles resist water and stains, but exposure to the compounds in clothes represents a serious health risk, a new peer-reviewed study finds.The study, published in the Environmental and Science...