technical updates

San Francisco, April 1 Google’s email service Gmail that has nearly 1.5 billion monthly active users turned 15 on Monday. Created by Paul Buchheit on April 1, 2004, Gmail started with an initial storage capacity of one gigabyte per user. Today, Gmail allows 15 GB free storage. Users can receive emails up to 50 MB in size, including attachments, while they can send emails up to 25 MB in size. In order to send larger files, users can insert files from Google Drive into the message. “Yahoo Mail has 228 million users a month. Little by little, Gmail displaced incumbents like AOL Mail and Hotmail,” reports CNET. It’s still a free product for consumers but Gmail has now become a paid suite of enterprise products, including presentation and word processing software. A year after Gmail, the company launched Google Maps which is now the leading map service on the web. Google also bought Android and YouTube, the biggest mobile operating system and video-sharing site. The company built t...

You can now perform supercomputer simulations of the heart's electrophysiology in real time on desktop computers and even cellphones. A team of scientists developed a new approach that can not only help diagnose heart conditions and test new treatments, but pushes the boundaries of cardiac science by opening up a floodgate of new cardiac research and education. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2JUYIXv

Researchers have found that some preterm babies born without haptoglobin, a protein in blood cells, have higher odds of brain bleeding, cerebral palsy and death. Their findings suggest that the absence of the protein could serve as a potential biomarker indicating a need for increased monitoring or other preventive interventions. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2UidYl9

Archaeologists used the latest technology to find evidence suggesting ancient Maya people grew surplus crops to support an active trade with neighbors up and down the Yucatan Peninsula. The extensive croplands suggest the ancient Maya could grow surplus crops, especially the cotton responsible for the renowned textiles that were traded throughout Mesoamerica. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2FNzrdt

Researchers announce a two-pronged approach to both measure and self-adjust the spectral power distributions (SPDs) of LED lighting systems. Their methodology demonstrates the system's ability to maintain consistency and stability over an extended period of time. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2CP7IHo

Although organ failure can be fatal, your kidneys, heart, and liver are prepared for this catastrophe. Emerging research supports the finding that two cell populations quickly respond and work together to restore a non-functioning, or failing, organ. First, the surviving cells go into overdrive, working to keep the organ functioning while stem-like cells replace damaged tissue. A Review explores how this dual-response can save lives. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2V83F0f

Researchers found high concentrations of mercury, arsenic, and lead, in blood samples obtained from Great white sharks in South Africa. The samples had levels that would be considered toxic to many animals. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2CO7i43

The Chesapeake Bay -- about 235 miles down the Susquehanna River from New York's Southern Tier -- and other waterways might grow cleaner, thanks to new updates and improvements in a Cornell dairy nutrition model. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2V7nrZv

Less encouragement to study the nitty-gritty and poor awareness are hurdles; last major research conducted between 1990s, 2000s from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2WCJ3NY

Researchers have designed two types of nano-sized building blocks that can automatically connect into cubes and scramble back into individual components based on the temperature of their environment. This accomplishment is another step towards chemical systems that more realistically mimic life. 'Imagine mixing two liquids together, like ink and water. They will automatically do the simple chemical process of dispersing until they are perfectly mixed,' said Professor Shuichi Hiraoka of the University of Tokyo. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2I2SNgb

Getting big molecules into cells isn't easy, and it isn't easy on the cells, either. Bulk electroporation blows holes throughout the cell and can kill many of them. Viruses like AAV have limited capacity for macromolecules like Cas9, and lentivirus has safety issues. A new, gentler form of electroporation, called nanoEP, causes less trauma to cells and is more efficient, potentially boosting delivery of large molecules for gene editing or CAR T-cell immunotherapy. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2I3kyFB

Researchers report on a novel four-year, randomized clinical trial evaluating different home-based methods to assess cognitive function and decline in participants over the age of 75. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2WDHH5v

In a study of people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and their twins and other close relatives, researchers were able to diagnose liver cirrhosis simply by analyzing a person's stool microbes. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2uEbyyB

Until now, systems engineers have struggled with the problem of planning for disaster impacts that are linked by correlation -- like those of earthquakes and tsunamis -- because of the cumbersome calculations necessary to precisely quantify the probabilities of all possible combinations of disruption occurrences. Now researchers have developed a new method for designing and optimizing systems subject to correlated disruptions. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2OGoGwA

Researchers are turning autism interventions on their head with a stand-out sports program that's training coaches how to best achieve results for students with autism. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2VaC9zc

A NASA astrophysics mission that avoided cancellation last year could still face budget problems if it evades another termination threat this year, agency officials warned this week. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2CJ27T2

An image purported to be a Star Wars: Episode IX poster is floating around on the interwebs. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2uAsoyq

Walls draped in lush vertical gardens and air filtered through purifiers insulate diners at a swanky New Delhi food court from the choking haze outside in one of the most polluted places on earth. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2CKoTtO

Puffs of yellowish grey-and-black smoke billowing out of household chimneys create a blanket of smog choking the southern Polish mining town of Rybnik, one of the most polluted places in the European Union. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2V8aVcp

In the world's coldest capital, many burn coal and plastic just to survive temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees—but warmth comes at a price: deadly pollution makes Ulaanbataar's air too toxic for children to breathe, leaving parents little choice but to evacuate them to the countryside. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2CKoSpK

President Donald Trump exceeded his authority when he reversed bans on offshore drilling in vast parts of the Arctic Ocean and dozens of canyons in the Atlantic Ocean, a U.S. judge said in a ruling that restored the Obama-era restrictions. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2V8aSNL

Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg called Saturday for governments to play a "more active role" in regulating the internet, urging more countries to adopt versions of sweeping European rules aimed at safeguarding user privacy. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UlXIPU

From a multi-billion-dollar education startup to wired-up mannequins, technology is helping to revolutionise the way Indian schoolchildren are learning—provided their parents can afford it. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2uCakE4

The towering heap of rubbish at the Pata-Rat landfill in western Romania has been condemned as an "environmental time bomb" but for many of its neighbours, this putrid mountain of refuse is a livelihood—one they want to protect from closure. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2I3vkvA

The European Union coordinates and directs environmental protection for its members, through the regulation of industry and the setting of green policy goals. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2uCaOdm

Poland's right-wing leaders hinted Saturday they will not fully implement the European Union's new copyright reform, saying it stifles freedom of speech. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2I3aWKQ

The UN headquarters in New York, the pyramids of Egypt and Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue were among top world monuments plunged into darkness for an hour Saturday to put the spotlight on climate change and its impact on the planet. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2uCaMlK

Big cities beset with gridlocked traffic, major regions producing coal, pockets of heavy industry encased by mountains—Europe's air pollution hotspots are clearly visible from space on most sunny weekdays. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2HZkiHs

From smog breaks to pollution bonuses, Asia's businesses are promising increasingly inventive perks in a desperate bid to lure executives to a region where toxic air engulfs major cities for much of the year. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2YMW0qm

The boom times for the U.S. lobster industry are imperiled this year because of a shortage of a little fish that has been luring the crustaceans into traps for hundreds of years. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2THARdn

The European Union's use of renewable energy—such as hydropower, wind and solar—reached 17.5 percent in 2017, keeping it on track for a target of 20 percent by 2020. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2TLnY1T

The sugar maple tree yields autumn foliage, maple syrup and Tennessee whiskey. Wood from the tree is chopped into planks, stacked in piles and burned to form charcoal. Freshly distilled, un-aged whiskey is filtered over the charcoal in a mysterious, but necessary step known as the Lincoln County Process (LCP). By law, a product cannot be called Tennessee whiskey without it. Researchers now say they have some clues as to what the process imparts to the final product. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2CNIn0D

Aiming a laser beam at an aircraft isn't a harmless prank: The sudden flash of bright light can incapacitate the pilot, risking the lives of passengers and crew. But because attacks can happen with different colored lasers, such as red, green or even blue, scientists have had a difficult time developing a single method to impede all wavelengths of laser light. Today, researchers report liquid crystals that could someday be incorporated into aircraft windshields to block any color of bright, focused light. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2U5hCiM

The U.S. opioid epidemic is being driven by an unprecedented surge in deaths from fentanyl and other synthetic opiates. Fentanyl's powerful effects are long-lasting, and even tiny amounts of the drug can lead to an overdose. Antidotes, such as naloxone, do not last long enough in the body to fully counter the drug, requiring repeated injections. Now, scientists report that they are developing single-dose, longer-lasting opioid antidotes using polymer nanoparticles. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2FI8vKO

As current antibiotics dwindle in effectiveness against multidrug-resistant pathogens, researchers are seeking potential replacements in some unlikely places. Now a team has identified bacteria with promising antibiotic activity against known pathogens—even dangerous organisms, such as the microbe that causes MRSA infections—in the protective mucus that coats young fish. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2FEhywx

NASA’s Mars Helicopter, designed to fly in thin atmosphere and low gravity, has successfully completed flight tests and is prepared for its journey to from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2Fz1lsg

The Germany space agency DLR is beginning a study this month on a reusable launcher concept that would use a winged first-stage booster captured on descent by an aircraft and towed back to land. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2TIFWlv

NASA put a small, laser-reflecting instrument on Israel's Beresheet lunar lander. Here's why. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2OzSQBu

Neptune's moon Triton is one of the strangest worlds in the solar system — and that's why scientists are exploring mission concepts that could give them a detailed look at it. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2FKLOXG

WASHINGTON NASA's Mars Helicopter, designed to fly in thin atmosphere and low gravity, has successfully completed flight tests and is prepared for its journey to the Red Planet scheduled to take off in 2020, the US space agency said. Weighing in at no more than 1.8 kilograms, the helicopter is a technology demonstration project currently going through the rigorous verification process certifying it for Mars. The majority of the testing the flight model is going through had to do with demonstrating how it can operate on Mars, including how it performs at Mars-like temperatures, NASA said in a statement.  The helicopter has to function in extremely cold temperatures, including nights with temperatures as low as minus 90 degrees Celsius. The helicopter is scheduled to reach the surface of the Red Planet in February 2021, when the firmly nestled under the belly of the Mars 2020 rover.  A few months later, it will be deployed and test flights will begin—the first from the sur...

LONDON The sun's magnetic field is 10 times stronger than previously believed, finds a study which can potentially change understanding of the processes that happen in the sun's immediate atmosphere. The study found that the sun's corona extends millions of kilometres above the surface, measuring 1,400,000 kilometres across—109 times larger than Earth—and 150,000,000 km from Earth. "Everything that happens in the sun's outer atmosphere is dominated by the magnetic field, but we have very few measurements of its strength and spatial characteristics," David Kuridze, research student at the Aberystwyth University. Using the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope at Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, La Palma, in the Canary Islands, Kuridze studied a particularly strong solar flare which erupted near the surface of the sun on 10 September 2017. Solar flares appear as bright flashes and occur when magnetic energy that has built up in the solar atmosphere is suddenly rel...

LONDON April Fools hoax stories could offer linguistic clues to spotting 'fake news' articles, say scientists who identified the similarities in the language used in humorous spoofs and malicious stories. Researchers from Lancaster University in the UK compiled a dataset of more than 500 April Fools articles sourced from more than 370 websites and written over 14 years. They found that there are similarities in the written structure of humorous April Fools hoaxes published by media outlets and fake news stories. "April Fools hoaxes are very useful because they provide us with a verifiable body of deceptive texts that give us an opportunity to find out about the linguistic techniques used when an author writes something fictitious disguised as a factual account," said Edward Dearden from Lancaster University. "By looking at the language used in April Fools and comparing them with fake news stories we can get a better picture of the kinds of language used by a...

LONDON Over 674 million Indians are likely to breathe highly polluted air in 2030, even if the country were to comply with its existing pollution control policies and regulations, according to a study. The study, released by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria and the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) in New Delhi, shows that only about 833 million citizens would be living in areas that meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in 2030.  Indian citizens are likely to breathe air with high concentrations of PM2.5 in 2030, even if India were to comply with its existing pollution control policies and regulations, the report said. The study also found that the Indo-Gangetic plain, covering parts of states such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal, has the highest population exposure to significant PM2.5 concentrations.  This is mainly due to the high density of polluting sources and redu...

NEW DELHI Searching for a life partner on matrimony sites has become hi-tech now, as the marriage portals are taking the help of artificial intelligence to find and recommend a life partner for their users. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm is helping the users on matrimony sites to find a match not only based on their preferences but also by observing and understanding user's behaviour and suggesting real-time appropriate profiles. "AI algorithm knows more about what you are looking for than you might yourself! This helps us find the best matches for our users - not just by searching according to preferences but by observing user behaviour and suggesting similar matches," Shaadi.com Chief Technical Officer Siddharth Sharma told PTI. Consenting to it, Meenakshi Variankaval, Head (Data Sciences Lab) at Matrimony.com, which owns BharatMatrimony, said AI is helping the matrimony services to understand the diversity and several other factors for matchmaking. "D...

First electronic intelligence satellite to locate hostile radars will go into orbit from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2CGHHKf

Paleontologists have discovered the first-confirmed occurrence of a lambeosaurine (crested 'duck-billed' dinosaur) from the Arctic -- part of the skull of a lambeosaurine dinosaur from the Liscomb Bonebed (71-68 Ma) found on Alaska's North Slope. The discovery proves for the first time that lambeosaurines inhabited the Arctic during the Late Cretaceous. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2V5jNQ0

During the Expedition 59 mission to the International Space Station, astronauts are doing a series of three spacewalks. See photos of them working in space! from Space.com https://ift.tt/2HNl3Eu

These solutions can complement CMOS devices from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2Ufk0D7

A green oxidant and water instead of organic acid were used for converting toluene into benzoic acid from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2U4f9VU

That ‘sniffing’ or breathing-in drives brain activity has an evolutionary history from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2FxrY0I

Potential electricity production has reduced by about 13% in the past 40 years from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2U8chHs

The team obtained 783 photo captures from around 27,500 trap nights between 2013 and 2018 from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2FPuqAb

The Hindu's weekly quiz that doesn't go easy on you from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2I1sQ0y

Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 mementos are among the flown artifacts now on display as part of a new Smithsonian exhibit dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2JOIbEl

A new study maps out the increase and spread of the Asian longhorned tick, a new species identified last summer in Westchester and Staten island. What's particularly alarming is that the tick is notorious for its ability to quickly clone itself through asexual reproduction, or reproduce sexually, laying 1,000-2,000 eggs at a time. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Ozpm6K

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that the country fired a ground-based anti-satellite missile on Wednesday (March 27), making it just the fourth nation to do so. But what is an anti-satellite weapon? from Space.com https://ift.tt/2FLrNjZ

To see if there was a universe before the Big Bang and understand how the cosmos evolved after it began, researchers suggest looking for the influence of particles that acted like clocks. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2HPUmPf

What does the speed of light look like? CalTech researchers built the world's fastest camera to find out. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2WFsoJJ

Once the launch was detected, U.S. Space Command right away started notifying satellite operators. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2HMGrJR

Blue Origin has studied repurposing upper stages of its future New Glenn launch vehicle to serve as habitats or for other applications as part of a series of NASA-funded commercialization studies. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2TJH8VV

Lanthanum, diamond crushers and advanced computer models are changing the hunt for this extreme quantum mechanical effect. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2YBZyLV

The Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge were plunged into darkness for an hour Saturday to raise awareness about climate change and its impact on the planet's vanishing biodiversity. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2JNpJvB

Breaking up the world's tech titans is not the best way to counter their power, EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said Friday, while leaving room for that eventuality as a "last resort." from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2uxXSoU

Facebook on Friday said it is tightening live video streaming rules in response to the service being used to broadcast deadly attacks on mosques in New Zealand. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2HXtex0

Six baby elephants separated from their parents and trapped in a muddy pit for days have been rescued by park rangers in rural Thailand, officials said Saturday. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2uJiFWR

It's a rustic scene: sheep graze placidly on grass as a shepherd keeps watch. But this is Madrid's largest public park, not the tranquil countryside. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2HXBAEY

Alaska residents accustomed to subzero temperatures are experiencing a heat wave of sorts that is shattering records, with the thermometer jumping to more than 30 degrees Fahrenheit (16.7 Celsius) above normal in some regions. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2FL0WEt

Australia pledged Saturday to introduce new laws that could see social media executives jailed and tech giants fined billions for failing to remove extremist material from their platforms. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2OzaoxA

Boeing is facing mounting pressure to roll out a software update on its best-selling plane in time for airlines to use the jets during the peak summer travel season. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2FMzF4Q

For the past 15 years, America has sought to put its astronauts back on the Moon, but NASA did not think it could be done before 2028. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2OBmBlp

Using proteins derived from jellyfish, scientists assembled a complex sixteen protein structure composed of two stacked octamers by supercharging alone. This research could be applied to useful technologies such as pharmaceutical targeting, artificial energy harvesting, 'smart' sensing and building materials, and more. Computational modeling through XSEDE allocations on Stampede2 (TACC) and Comet (SDSC) refined measurements of structure. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2JQqQLj

Researchers have linked disruption of a child's gastrointestinal microbiome triggered by early-life adversity -- such as parental separation -- with activity in the regions of the brain associated with emotional health. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2V5l5KO

Paleontologists have found a fossil site in North Dakota that contains animals and plants killed and buried within an hour of the meteor impact that killed the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. This is the richest K-T boundary site ever found, incorporating insects, fish, mammals, dinosaurs and plants living at the end of the Cretaceous, mixed with tektites and rock created and scattered by the impact. The find shows that dinosaurs survived until the impact. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2uB38YZ

A research team from the University of Delaware has developed cutting-edge technology for photonics devices that could enable faster communications between phones and computers. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2WDYIN5

Scientists have found the most efficient length for cilia, the tiny hair-like structures designed to sweep out the body's fluids, cells and microbes to stay healthy. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2V2Sg1C

Experts have used an innovative approach to model the proposed reintroduction of the Eurasian lynx to Scotland. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2CEvINx

Polygenic scores developed by studying Europeans do a better job at predicting disease risk for people of European ancestry than for those of other ancestries. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2V4rTZ9

Scientists argue that new plant breeding technologies can contribute significantly to food security and sustainable development. Genome editing techniques in particular, such as CRISPR/Cas, could help to make agriculture more productive and environmentally friendly. The researchers advocate the responsible use and support of these new technologies. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2TJFzr5

Results from a new study has found that an association between shorter stature and higher risk of heart disease is mainly attributed to our lungs. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2FBGUuZ

A sweeping new census estimates 52,800 western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) live in eight countries in western Africa, with most of them found outside of protected areas, some of which are threatened by intense development pressures. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2YBReMm

In addition to humans, hereditary disorders of enamel development occur in dogs, greatly impacting their dental health and wellbeing. A recent study reveals canine enamel disorders similar to those found in humans, linking them with ENAM and ACP4, two genes previously described in humans. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2TEwM9O

The study showed successful weight-loss maintainers rely on physical activity to remain in energy balance (rather than chronic restriction of dietary intake) to avoid weight regain. Successful weight-loss maintainers are individuals who maintain a reduced body weight of 30 pounds or more for over a year. The study, published in the March issue of Obesity, was selected as the Editor's Choice article. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2uIvocl

Offering financial aid to cover childcare costs for female academics attending conferences is one of the suggestions offered by researchers who surveyed Australian women on how caring for children has affected their careers. They also recommend institutions and funding bodies that use publication and citation benchmarks as a key criteria for appointment, promotion and the awarding of grants should adjust those to cater for women who have cared for children. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2I1AVSP

New research extends the growing biological understanding of how different parts of corn plants develop, which is important information for a crop that is a mainstay of the global food supply. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2I1aAUZ

This star-studded image shows us a portion of Messier 11, an open star cluster in the southern constellation of Scutum (the Shield). Messier 11 is also known as the Wild Duck Cluster, as its brightest stars form a 'V' shape that somewhat resembles a flock of ducks in flight. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2JPu9SU

Academic experts in natural language processing who are interested in deception have compared the language used within written April Fools hoaxes and fake news stories. They have discovered that there are similarities in the written structure of humorous April Fools hoaxes -- the spoof articles published by media outlets every April 1 -- and malicious fake news stories. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2uAk6H2

One important requirement to see quantum effects is to remove all thermal energy from the particle motion, i.e. to cool it as close as possible to absolute zero temperature. Researchers are now one step closer to reaching this goal by demonstrating a new method for cooling levitated nanoparticles. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Wx7bkP

Chemists show how PTFE - aka Teflon - in standard lab stir bars affects a chemical reaction used to reduce nanotubes, skewing the results. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2HNUI94

The bizarre optical properties of tiny metal particles -- smaller than light waves -- can be captured on paper to detect even a single target molecule in a test sample. These hyper-sensitive testing devices could be assembled and customized at the point of use in low-resource environments, with virtually limitless applications spanning medicine, forensics, manufacturing and environmental safety. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2OyY28L

Dietary intake of two fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6, may have opposite effects on the severity of asthma in children and may also play opposite roles in modifying their response to indoor air pollution, according to new research. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2FMjqop

Researchers have teamed up with educators, public health practitioners and grade seven students in Ontario to develop and implement a new approach to delivering school-based vaccines that improves student experience. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2OyXYpx

Low levels of oxygen in the womb -- which can be caused by smoking or conditions such as preeclampsia -- may cause problems with fertility later in life, a study carried out in rats suggests. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2FHzLdG

Neuroscientists have developed a new animal model of schizophrenia that will enable researchers around the world to better understand the disease and develop new treatments. Schizophrenia, which affects around seven people in 1,000, is a poorly understood group of mental disorders that disrupt cognition and behavior. The precise neurological cause of schizophrenia is unknown and the development of better treatments are urgently needed. This research will provide a model to begin to address some of the underlying fundamental mechanisms involved. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2TEGzwF

Hyundai has found a new problem that can cause its car engines to fail or catch fire, issuing yet another recall to fix problems that have affected more than 6 million vehicles during the past 3,5 years. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2CIlXhm

Red blood cells are amazing. They pick up oxygen from our lungs and carry it all over our body to keep us alive. The hemoglobin molecule in red blood cells transports oxygen by changing its shape in an all-or-nothing fashion. Four copies of the same protein in hemoglobin open and close like flower petals, structurally coupled to respond to each other. Using supercomputers, scientists are just starting to design proteins that self-assemble to combine and resemble life-giving molecules like hemoglobin. The scientists say their methods could be applied to useful technologies such as pharmaceutical targeting, artificial energy harvesting, 'smart' sensing and building materials, and more. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2I0xprY

The beginning of the end started with violent shaking that raised giant waves in the waters of an inland sea in what is now North Dakota. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2FA96OH

United Nations-backed talks to prevent an arms race in outer space ended without agreement on Friday, delivering another blow to global disarmament diplomacy. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2JOMz6f

After several failed attempts, New York state is poised to ban single-use plastic bags provided by stores, making it only the second US state, after California, to pass such a rule. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2I1n1R0

Teaching cows to use the toilet is not the easiest task, but a Dutch inventor is banking on a new bovine urinal to help cut emissions that cause environmental damage. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2uxyIXs

This year marks the 40th anniversary of "Alien," and fans have lots of reasons to celebrate — including new short films. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2CJx6hH

This week, we discuss the celestial dogs romping around our early evening springtime sky. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2OBkGgD

NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch successfully completed a spacewalk at the International Space Station today to continue an ongoing power upgrade at the orbiting lab. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2JP65PS

Germany's Zweibrücken Observatory bears a striking resemblance to a beloved "Star Wars" sidekick. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2WyPjGs

In the wake of the March 27 Indian anti-satellite test, Brian Weeden of the Secure World Foundation suggested companies consider boycotting India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). from Space.com https://ift.tt/2V4uylD

Two proposed microsatellites could help NASA explore Venus and the moon. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2HZuZKj

Shortly after Vice President Mike Pence directed NASA to return humans to the moon by 2024, reactions from space companies and organizations ranged from excitement to bewilderment. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2FHRUYQ

The newfound beast is a blind, cave-dwelling, aquatic crustacean. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2WzcT5P

Instead of shrinking, this giant glacier is growing, NASA scientists found. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2uzFdco

Elon Musk has teased the world with sneak peeks of what the spaceship to take humans to Mars could look like. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2UZ0QhM

The struggle continues for the sphere data that Control so badly wants in the "Star Trek: Discovery" episode "Perpetual Infinity." from Space.com https://ift.tt/2V22nDS

NASA's TESS mission has, for the first time, detected a planet orbiting a star with visible starquakes. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2CGNzmS

Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and presidential candidate, whose pantsuits became a political fashion statement, is now making a statement about NASA's spacesuits. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2V58g2W

The first all-female spacewalk in history will no longer happen today (March 29), but you can still watch two NASA astronauts take an important spacewalk outside the International Space Station! from Space.com https://ift.tt/2CDU9L1

Archaeologists with the University of Cincinnati used the latest technology to find evidence suggesting ancient Maya people grew surplus crops to support an active trade with neighbors up and down the Yucatan Peninsula. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2U3cGez

Researchers found high concentrations of mercury, arsenic, and lead, in blood samples obtained from Great white sharks in South Africa. The samples had levels that would be considered toxic to many animals. However, the study found no apparent negative consequences of these heavy metals on several health parameters measured in the sharks, including body condition, total leukocytes, and granulocyte to lymphocyte ratios, suggesting no adverse effects on their immune system. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2WwqFWU

The 4-lb. Mars Helicopter, a technology demonstration that will launch with NASA's next Red Planet rover in July 2020, aced its first-ever test flight under Red Planet conditions. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2V3vVkv

An article published in the SPIE journal Optical Engineering, "Arbitrary spectral matching using multi-LED lighting systems," marks a substantial advance in lighting science and technology. In their paper, the researchers announce a two-pronged approach to both measure and self-adjust the spectral power distributions (SPDs) of LED lighting systems. Their methodology demonstrates the system's ability to maintain consistency and stability over an extended period of time. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2FLnMfu

One day makes a big difference when you're a tropical cyclone. On March 28, Tropical Cyclone Joaninha still maintained an eye, and on March 29, once outside winds ramped up, the storm weakened quickly. NOAA's NOAA-20 satellite provided an image of the storm that showed a large area of thunderstorms were pushed away from the center. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2HZxCvF