173 articles from THURSDAY 12.1.2023
Tokamak experiments provide unique data for validating spacecraft heat shield ablation models
When a spacecraft enters a thick atmosphere at a high velocity, it rapidly compresses the gas in front of it. This creates temperatures high enough to ionize the gas molecules into a hot, dense plasma. To protect against damage, spacecraft are typically covered by a heat shield material that burns in a controlled manner. This process is called ablation. Though current materials are effective for...
Remains of Ohio fighter pilot shot down in WWII identified
Authorities have positively identified the remains of an Army Air Forces pilot from Ohio who died when his plane was shot down over Germany during World War II, the Defense Department announced Thursday.
Hubble Finds Hungry Black Hole Twisting Captured Star Into Donut Shape
Portal origin URL: Hubble Finds Hungry Black Hole Twisting Captured Star Into Donut ShapePortal origin nid: 484949Published: Thursday, January 12, 2023 - 17:15Featured (stick to top of list): noPortal text teaser: Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have recorded a star's final moments in detail as it gets gobbled up by a black hole.Portal...
Study finds hummingbirds' hovering flight likely evolved because of a lost gene
Hummingbirds, native to North and South America, are among the smallest and most agile birds in the world. Often barely larger than a thumb, they are the only bird species that can fly not only forwards, but also backwards or sideways. Their characteristic hovering flight makes that possible.
Boards of directors and the media generally 'get it right' in rewarding CEOs based on performance, study shows
A main focus in corporate governance research is whether boards of directors and the media appropriately reward and sanction CEOs based on their performance.
Surprise magma chamber growing under Mediterranean volcano
Using a novel imaging technique for volcanoes that produces high-resolution pictures of seismic wave properties, a new study reveals a large, previously undetected body of mobile magma underneath Kolumbo, an active submarine volcano near Santorini, Greece. The presence of the magma chamber increases the chances of a future eruption, prompting the researchers to recommend real-time hazard...
Fossils reveal prehistoric Patagonian dinosaurs
A study led by The University of Texas at Austin is providing a glimpse into dinosaur and bird diversity in Patagonia during the Late Cretaceous, just before the non-avian dinosaurs went extinct.
All in the planning: State policies working to fix Gulf nutrient pollution
Tackling nutrient pollution in the Gulf of Mexico is a big job, requiring coordination between dozens of states whose waters flow into the Mississippi. Although a 2011 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency memo set a framework for each state to reduce its nutrient load, it was up to the states to set their own policies in motion.
Building better enzymes—by breaking them down
Enzymes have the potential to transform the chemical industry by providing green alternatives to a slew of processes. These proteins act as biological catalysts, and with the help of molecular engineering, they can make naturally occurring reactions shift into turbo mode. Tailor-made enzymes could, for example, lead to nonpolluting drug manufacture; they could also safely break down pollutants,...
Washing fabrics by hand reduces microplastic release compared with machine washing
From tiny plankton to massive whales, microplastics have been found throughout the ocean food chain. One major source of this pollution are fibers shed while laundering synthetic fabrics. Although many studies show microfibers are released during machine washing, it's been less clear how hand washing contributes. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Environmental Science & Technology Water report...
Using machine learning to map where sharks face the most risk from longline fishing
The ocean can be a dangerous place, even for a shark. Despite sitting at the top of the food chain, these predators are now reeling from destructive human activities like overfishing, pollution and climate change.
Midterm elections show a silver lining for US democracy: Survey
According to the most recent Bright Line Watch survey, titled "Rebound in Confidence: American Democracy and the 2022 Midterm Elections," which was fielded right after the 2022 November elections, more voters in the United States now trust the integrity and fairness of elections than they did prior to the midterms, according to previous Bright Line Watch polls.
Why this baby chimpanzee is a symbol of hope for his entire species
The population of the world’s rarest chimpanzees just got an itty bitty boost with the birth of a new baby...
Effect of cultivar, cropping on female/male asparagus yields
Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) is a dioecious perennial plant. Male plants have a higher yield than female plants; therefore, all-male cultivars are more commonly produced. In contrast, female plants have a higher spear weight than that of male plants. To increase profitability, selective cultivation of only female plants would increase the yield of asparagus with a thick spear, which has a...
New wage atlas shows more than half of New Yorkers earn below a living wage
A new digital wage atlas launched by Cornell University researchers shows that more than half of New Yorkers earn below a living wage.
US government logs more than 500 UFO reports with hundreds unexplained
Although many are attributed to drones or balloons, others point to the spying capabilities of rival nationsThe US government is examining 510 UFO reports, more than triple the number in its 2021 file. While many were caused by drones or balloons, hundreds remain unexplained, according to a report released on Thursday.The 2022 report (pdf) by the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) said that...
Using machine learning to help monitor climate-induced hazards
Combining satellite technology with machine learning may allow scientists to better track and prepare for climate-induced natural hazards, according to research presented last month at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union.
Scientists uncover coral-algae reward, punishment system
In human society, reward and punishment are introduced as an incentive to induce cooperation. However, some people still try to cheat to win. So, is there a system with clear rewards and punishments in the world of other organisms? The answer is "yes."
Study examines how the Spanish far right frames traditional perspectives as 'love'
The rise of the far right in Western democracies in recent years has revived interest in how these movements and parties engage in politics. Given the generalizations that indicate that these ideologies are only constructed based on hate speech, two researchers at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) argue that this political tendency in Spain also uses love and other positive feelings to a...
Optical coating approach prevents fogging and unwanted reflections
Researchers have developed an optical coating system that combines antifogging and antireflective properties. The new technology could help boost the performance of lidar systems and cameras.
US west coast girds for more damaging storms
Western US states were readying Thursday for yet more torrid weather as so-called atmospheric rivers lined up to dump heavy rain across the already soaked region.
US government examining over 500 'UFO' reports
The US government is examining 510 UFO reports, over triple the number in its 2021 file, and while many were caused by drones or balloons, hundreds remain unexplained, according to a report released Thursday.
Two previously unknown bacterial species identified from patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Investigators at University Medical Center Utrecht (the Netherlands) and Yale University (USA) have isolated and characterized two new bacterial species from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The previously unknown bacterial species, which were named Allobaculum mucilyticum and Allobaculum fili, were isolated from the intestinal microbiota from two different patients and are the...
Aggressiveness of pet dogs is influenced by life history and owner's characteristics, study suggests
Dogs walked every day by their owners are less aggressive. Dogs owned by women bark less at strangers. Heavier dogs tend to be less disobedient than lighter pets. Pugs, Bulldogs, Shih Tzus and other short-snouted breeds may be more badly behaved than medium- and long-snouted dogs, such as Golden Retrievers or the caramel-colored mixed-breed dogs popular in Brazil.