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168,137 articles from ScienceDaily

The space double-whammy: Less gravity, more radiation

Astronauts floating weightlessly in the International Space Station may appear carefree, but years of research have shown that microgravity causes changes to the human body. Spaceflight also means exposure to more radiation. Together, microgravity and radiation exposure add up to pose serious health risks. But research is not only making space safer for astronauts, it's helping to improve health...

CubeSats and robotics on International Space Station

The deployment of miniature satellites from the International Space Station continued Feb. 27, while the onboard Expedition 38 crew prepared for the arrival of a U.S. commercial cargo craft and the departure of three crew members. Two sets of Nanoracks CubeSats were deployed late Wednesday and early Thursday from a deployer mechanism on the Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform attached to the Kibo...

NASA-JAXA launch mission to measure global rain, snow

The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory, a joint Earth-observing mission between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), thundered into space at 10:37 a.m. PST Thursday, Feb. 27 (3:37 a.m. JST Friday, Feb. 28) from Japan. The four-ton spacecraft launched aboard a Japanese H-IIA rocket from Tanegashima Space Center on Tanegashima Island in southern Japan. The GPM...

Drinking water linked to infections in many countries

Brisbane's water supply has been found to contain disease carrying bugs which can be directly linked to infections in some patients, according to a new study. Four specific species of mycobacteria were found in Brisbane water that have been linked to human disease -- and the author notes that this is not a situation unique to Brisbane. Water supplies in many countries are at risk, the researcher...

Unusual genetic mutation found linked to adolescent liver cancer

In the race for better treatments and possible cures, rare diseases are often left behind. Through a collaboration of researchers, an unusual mutation has been found that is strongly linked to one such disease: a rare liver cancer that affects teens and young adults. The research suggests that the mutation plays a key role in the development of the disease, called fibrolamellar hepatocellular...

Indonesia's competitiveness at risk from neglected diseases of poverty

Indonesia has seen impressive economic and development growth. Sustaining these gains, however, may not be possible without aggressively addressing neglected tropical diseases, which affect the majority of Indonesians. Neglected tropical diseases are 'one of the most potent forces' of extreme poverty and inequality in Indonesia, experts...

Emergency alert in the cell: newly discovered regulatory mechanisms of cellular stress

After a natural disaster like a fire, countless helpers work together to get rid of debris or to provide food for people in need. When cells are exposed to dangerous environmental conditions such as toxic substances, a similar process is initiated: the cellular stress response (heat shock response). Scientists now report that they have uncovered a network of cellular helpers and thus identified...

A molecular ballet under the X-ray laser: taking images of free molecules

An international team of researchers has used the world's most powerful X-ray laser to take snapshots of free molecules. The research team choreographed a kind of molecular ballet in the X-ray beam. The conventional way to determine the atomic structure of molecules is to "freeze" them in a crystal and illuminate them with bright X-rays. However, many molecules are extremely difficult to...

Specific types of macrophages that affect Crohn's disease severity identified

For those coping with Crohn's disease, a new research report offers hope for the development of new and more effective drugs. Scientists have shown for the first time, precisely what type of immune cells are involved in driving the inflammation process in the disease. With this knowledge, new compounds can be identified which reduce the activity of these cells or lessen their inflammatory...

NASA scientists find evidence of water in meteorite, reviving debate over life on Mars

A team of scientists has found evidence of past water movement throughout a Martian meteorite, reviving debate in the scientific community over life on Mars. In 1996, a group of scientists reported biogenic evidence in the Allan Hills 84001(ALH84001) meteorite. In this new study, researchers focused on structures deep within a 30-pound (13.7-kilogram) Martian meteorite known as Yamato 000593...

Dangerous mistaken identity: Protein folding leads to some neurodegenerative diseases

Tau proteins, which are responsible for Alzheimer's disease, bind to the folding protein HSP90. The molecular recognition mechanisms that play a role here have been unveiled by an international team of scientists, and may open the door for new approaches for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and further neurodegenerative diseases that are caused by protein aggregation. These scientific insights...

Retention leads to discipline problems in other kids

When a student repeats a grade, it can spell trouble for the student's classmates, according to a new study of nearly 80,000 middle-schoolers. Higher numbers of repeaters were linked with higher suspension rates in the school as a whole, and more discipline problems such as substance abuse, fighting and classroom disruption. The study showed that when there were more older and retained students...

Twitter 'big data' can be used to monitor HIV, drug-related behavior

Real-time social media like Twitter could be used to track HIV incidence and drug-related behaviors with the aim of detecting and potentially preventing outbreaks. The study suggests it may be possible to predict sexual risk and drug use behaviors by monitoring tweets, mapping where those messages come from and linking them with data on the geographical distribution of HIV cases. The use of...

Less snowpack will harm ecosystem, study shows

A new study shows that the consequences of milder winters – a smaller snowpack leaving the ground to freeze harder and longer – can have a negative impact on trees and water quality of nearby aquatic ecosystems far into the warmer growing season. The research shows that soil freezing due to diminishing snowpack damages the roots of sugar maple trees and limits their ability to absorb essential...

Competition breeds new fish species, study finds

Size differences among fish and competition for breeding space lead to the formation of new species, according to a new study, but empirical evidence for this is scarce, despite being implicit in Charles Darwin’s work and support from theoretical studies. Speciation occurs when genetic differences between groups of individuals accumulate over time. In the case of Telmatochromis fish in Africa,...

Coral fish biodiversity loss: Humankind could be responsible

Literal biodiversity reservoirs, coral reefs and associated ecosystems are in grave danger from natural and human-made disturbances. The latest World Resources Institute assessment is alarming with 75% of coral reefs reported as endangered worldwide, a figure that may reach 100% by 2050. The numbers are concerning, particularly as coral reefs provide sustenance and economic benefits for many...

Can an app help make life easier for children with ADHD?

We have tended to associate welfare technology with support for the elderly. Now researchers are looking at whether technology such as digital calendars and smartwatches can also provide support for children with autism and ADHD. Being able to function well in the morning is a challenge for parents of children with cognitive problems. Small details such as putting their leggings on inside out, or...

A sharp eye for molecular fingerprints: Broad absorption spectra recorded on microsecond scale with two laser frequency combs

Scientists have developed a new method of real-time identification and quantification of molecular species. How to retrieve greenhouse gas concentrations in earth atmosphere or to test fundamental laws of quantum mechanics? By measuring the spectrum of light interacting with matter, i.e. measuring the intensity of light transmitted through a medium as a function of its color, it can be done. Each...

Drilling in concrete, without a sound?

If you choose the right equipment, drilling in concrete won’t bother people in neighboring rooms. Anybody who has been in a building where construction work is going on knows how the sound of hammer drills and diamond saws can get on one’s nerves. Even if you are some distance from the work site, the sound and vibrations are propagated in such a way that it feels as if they are going on right...

New class of magnetic materials: Physicists pave the way for more energy efficient technology

Scientists have paved the way for a new class of magnetic materials and devices with improved performance and power efficiency. Magnetic materials are currently used to store almost all digital information. However, with information processing and storage now making up a significant fraction of the world's energy consumption, continuing improvements in energy efficiency will require new...

Mental health problems mistaken for physical illness in children

Many children are admitted to general acute wards with mental health problems mistaken for physical disease. Somatic symptoms, such as abdominal pain, headaches, limb pain and tiredness, often mask underlying problems and result in the NHS spending money on investigations to eliminate wrongly diagnosed disease. A literature review examines how children's nurses can recognize such complaints and...

Diabetes, obesity more common in socioeconomically deprived regions

Living in a socioeconomically deprived region is a risk factor for being affected by diabetes mellitus and obesity. This holds true regardless of the individual social status of the inhabitants. This is the conclusion reached by scientists who state that "regional factors, such as the population's average income, unemployment or quality of the living environment can affect the health of all...