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Showing posts from March, 2020

An affordable and fast clinical test that can save human lives and spares at-risk population

Horseshoe crabs are remarkable animals, beautiful in their weirdness. These "living fossils" evolved 450 million years ago and have lived through at least five mass extinctions fatal to the majority of multicellular lifeforms on Earth. Sea-dwelling relatives of spiders, horseshoe crabs can lay millions of eggs, have four pairs of eyes, and (importantly to us) have blue blood containing amoeba-like immune cells. These horseshoe crab immune cells are analogous to the white blood cells of in our bodies, which protect us against a wide range of pathogens. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2wKOyD0

Climate change may be making migration harder by shortening nightingales' wings

The Common Nightingale, known for its beautiful song, breeds in Europe and parts of Asia and migrates to sub-Saharan Africa every winter. A new study published in The Auk: Ornithological Advances suggests that natural selection driven by climate change is causing these iconic birds to evolve shorter wings, which might make them less likely to survive their annual migration. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3aCgJT2

Hubble finds best evidence for elusive mid-sized black hole

Astronomers have found the best evidence for the perpetrator of a cosmic homicide: a black hole of an elusive class known as ''intermediate-mass,'' which betrayed its existence by tearing apart a wayward star that passed too close. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/39xp6Os

Regular exercise benefits immunity -- even in isolation

A new analysis highlights the power of regular, daily exercise on our immune system and the importance of people continuing to work-out even in lockdown. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2ygDX2P

Nobel laureate Phillip Anderson dies at 96

Anderson graduated from Harvard in 1949 and then worked for Bell Telephone Laboratories until he began teaching at Princeton and the University of Cambridge. from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2JwsZIR

Identification of viruses and bacteria could be sped up through computational methods

A new multinational study has shown how the process of distinguishing viruses and bacteria could be accelerated through the use of computational methods. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3dHmhgZ

Soy scaffolds: Breakthrough in cultivated meat production

Researchers from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and Aleph Farms have achieved a breakthrough in the production of cultivated meat grown outside an animal's body. In findings published today in Nature Food, soy protein, which is readily available and economically efficient, can be used as scaffolds for growing bovine tissue. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2WXRV3W

Economists explore the valuable roles of commodities for international stock markets

Scientists at the SUSU School of Economics and Management, together with foreign colleagues, have analyzed the roles of various groups of commodities in a traditional portfolio of equities. The economists examined the hedging and diversification ability of 21 commodities for 49 international stock markets belonging to countries at different stages of economic development. The results of this work will help investors minimize risks in stock markets transactions. They were published in the journal Resources Policy. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2w62Rlc

Phage capsid against influenza: Perfectly fitting inhibitor prevents viral infection

A new approach brings the hope of new therapeutic options for suppressing seasonal influenza and avian flu. On the basis of an empty and therefore non-infectious shell of a phage virus, researchers from Berlin have developed a chemically modified phage capsid that stifles influenza viruses. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3bFzplc

Mystery solved: The origin of the colors in the first color photographs

A palette of colors on a silver plate: That is what the world's first color photograph looks like. It was taken by French physicist Edmond Becquerel in 1848. His process was empirical, never explained, and quickly abandoned. Now, a team at the Centre de recherche sur la conservation (CNRS/Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle/Ministère de la Culture), in collaboration with the SOLEIL synchrotron and the Laboratoire de Physique des Solides (CNRS/Université Paris-Saclay), reports that the colors obtained by Edmond Becquerel were due to the presence of metallic silver nanoparticles. Their study was published on 30 March 2020 in Angewandte Chemie International Edition. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2QZN8Lx

On Mars, deep-water diversity has stood the test of time, meteorites show

The water buried deep within Mars likely came from at least two very different sources long ago, a new study suggests. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2UwDwdn

Stratolaunch to launch hypersonic vehicles from world's biggest airplane

Stratolaunch has found another use for the biggest airplane ever built. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2QXnG9J

When warblers warn of cowbirds, blackbirds get the message

This is the story of three bird species and how they interact. The brown-headed cowbird plays the role of outlaw: It lays its eggs in other birds' nests and lets them raise its young—often at the expense of the host's nestlings. To combat this threat, yellow warblers have developed a special "seet" call that means, "Look out! Cowbird!" from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2X7OaJB

Saturn, Mars and Jupiter align over New York City in gorgeous night-sky photos

Three bright planets line up across the predawn sky above the New York City skyline in these gorgeous views by local photographer Alexander Krivenyshev. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3bQ1LJF

Coronavirus | Use more masks, India's top science advisory body recommends

It doesn't recommend the use of health mask or N95 mask that are expensive, not-reusable and largely used in hospital settings. from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/39yRKPc

New Trump mileage standards to gut Obama climate effort

President Donald Trump is poised to roll back ambitious Obama-era vehicle mileage standards and raise the ceiling on damaging fossil fuel emissions for years to come, gutting one of the United States' biggest efforts against climate change. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UwHjrl

Unravelling the mystery of black holes: Scientists release stellar code to the public

Today, team COMPAS (Compact Object Mergers: Population Astrophysics and Statistics) has announced the first public beta release of their rapid binary population synthesis code (available for download here). from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2QZcedE

Scientists record first reported heatwave at Antarctica's Casey research station

This summer, while drought, heatwaves and bushfires ravaged Australia, Antarctica was also experiencing a summer of extreme weather. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2w58WhM

New method predicts which black holes escape their galaxies

Shoot a rifle, and the recoil might knock you backward. Merge two black holes in a binary system, and the loss of momentum gives a similar recoil—a "kick"—to the merged black hole. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2QZWfvN

A new tool for controlling reactions in microrobots and microreactors

In a new paper, Thomas Russell and postdoctoral fellow Ganhua Xie, at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, report that they have used capillary forces to develop a simple method for producing self-assembling hanging droplets of an aqueous polymer solution from the surface of a second aqueous polymer solution in well-ordered arrays. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2USpvpm

New explanation for sudden collapses of heat in plasmas can help create fusion energy on Earth

Scientists seeking to bring the fusion that powers the sun and stars to Earth must deal with sawtooth instabilities—up-and-down swings in the central pressure and temperature of the plasma that fuels fusion reactions, similar to the serrated blades of a saw. If these swings are large enough, they can lead to the sudden collapse of the entire discharge of the plasma. Such swings were first observed in 1974 and have so far eluded a widely accepted theory that explains experimental observations. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2Jqv7Cb

Researchers investigate how forests are changing in response to global warming

As the climate is changing, so too are the world's forests. From the misty redwoods in the west to the Blue Ridge forest of Appalachia, many sylvan ecosystems are adapting to drier conditions. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UtyAGc

Sophisticatedly engineered 'watercourts' stored live fish, fueling Florida's Calusa kingdom

The mighty Calusa ruled South Florida for centuries, wielding military power, trading and collecting tribute along routes that sprawled hundreds of miles, creating shell islands, erecting enormous buildings and dredging canals wider than some highways. Unlike the Aztecs, Maya and Inca, who built their empires with the help of agriculture, the Calusa kingdom was founded on fishing. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3aw88Bv

New pathogen threatens fennel yield in Italy

A new fennel fungal disease caused by a new genus and species—Ochraceocephala foeniculi, was observed for the first time in 2017 on 5% of the "Apollo" fennel cultivar grown in the sampled localities in Catania province, Italy. Now, it has spread to 2 more cultivars: "Narciso" and "Pompeo", causing crop losses of around 20-30%. The new pathogen damages the fennel with necrotic lesions on the crown, root and stem. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2JtMAcW

Water pressure: Ancient aquatic crocs evolved, enlarged to avoid freezing

Taking the evolutionary plunge into water and abandoning land for good, as some crocodilian ancestors did nearly 200 million years ago, is often framed as choosing freedom: from gravity, from territorial boundaries, from dietary constraints. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/39uVNvV

Untangling the social lives of spiders

The idea of a complex spider society—in which thousands of spiders live, hunt, and raise their young together in a single colony—is unsettling to many of us. We are perhaps lucky then that this scene is relatively rare among arachnids. Among the 40,000 known species of spiders, the vast majority live solitary lives and will often show aggression toward other spiders they encounter, even within their own species. There are fewer than 25 known species of social spiders, distributed broadly across 6 different families and 9 different genera. Not only do these spiders live in social groups, but they produce populations that grow over time as new offspring are added to the nest, enabling the capture of increasingly large prey as the colony expands, and even give rise to new daughter colonies. As social creatures ourselves, humans have long been interested in the evolutionary innovations that enable social cooperation. In a new article in Genome Biology and Evolution titled "Comparative...

Physicists weigh in on the origin of heavy elements

A long-held mystery in the field of nuclear physics is why the universe is composed of the specific materials we see around us. In other words, why is it made of "this" stuff and not other stuff? from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/39susdJ

Blood test detects over 50 types of cancer, some before symptoms appear

In a study involving thousands of participants, a new blood test detected more than 50 types of cancer as well as their location within the body with a high degree of accuracy, according to an international team of researchers. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3aw2v6b

Astronomers observe high-redshift quasar PSO J006.1240+39.2219 with Subaru telescope

Using the Subaru telescope, astronomers from Taiwan have conducted spectroscopic observations of a high-redshift quasar designated PSO J006.1240+39.2219. Results of these observations, presented in a paper published March 19 on the arXiv pre-print server, provide more insights into the nature of this object. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2Jn8s9x

Rheumatic diseases: The cost of survival during the Little Ice Age

A study by the Human Evolutionary Biology Group at the UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country provides clues about the prevalence of a certain genetic profile in the European population. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UMhzGf

Predation risk drives the evolution of the placenta

An international team of scientists led by assistant professor Bart Pollux from Wageningen University & Research has showed that predators are driving the evolution of more complex placentas. They studied populations of the live-bearing and placental freshwater fish Poeciliopsis retropinna in Costa Rica and published their results in the scientific journal Ecology Letters. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UtVpty

Survey of U.S academic libraries documents COVID-19 pandemic responses

When universities began closing their campuses and going to online classes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, academic librarians were faced with questions about how those decisions would affect libraries and whether to close their doors or restrict access. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2wLy2Cs

Food stockpiling: Consumers should cut down food waste

More than three quarters of New Zealand's retail food waste is being saved from landfill, in stark contrast to Kiwi households, Otago researchers say. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3btR92O

Opinion: Lessons of the epidemic for small government

The coronavirus emergency is a brutal reminder that we pay a price for deregulating society in pursuit of profit. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3bCGUcx

O, Captain! My Captain! Anson Mount of 'Star Trek: Discovery' dishes on possible return of Capt. Pike

"I'm not going to grouse around and be aloof about it. I'd love to." from Space.com https://ift.tt/2xEv7vp

Cooped up at home? You can help scientists spot penguins from space or seek out new galaxies.

There are at least two bright spots in these strange times: Telescopes are still studying distant galaxies and penguins are still pooping across Antarctica. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2ymPTAp

COVID-19 bears out the research: Music brings people together (socially and virtually)

In the early days of the pandemic reaching Europe, the world watched as Italians emerged onto their balconies to sing the national anthem together, with the occasional performance by an opera star. But the effect is certainly not confined Italians: COVID-19 has created an international musical reaction, a 'striking' response, which bears out scholarship on the beneficial impact of music making, according to Professor Eric Clarke, Oxford expert on the psychology of music. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/39vqDVj

Energy-harvesting design aims to turn Wi-Fi signals into usable power

Any device that sends out a Wi-Fi signal also emits terahertz waves —electromagnetic waves with a frequency somewhere between microwaves and infrared light. These high-frequency radiation waves, known as "T-rays," are also produced by almost anything that registers a temperature, including our own bodies and the inanimate objects around us. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/33W9WB4

Space opera: New original songs add to the fun for space-loving music fans

Devotees of electronic music are snapping up space-enabled creative content as they collect unique digital keepsakes and access the latest releases. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2QSe288

Image: Rice fields in Vietnam from orbit

The Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission takes us over part of the Mekong Delta—a major rice-producing region in southwest Vietnam. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UNhxhq

Free-floating stars in the Milky Way's bulge

The path of a light beam is bent by the presence of mass, as explained by General Relativity. A massive body can therefore act like a lens—a so called "gravitational lens"—to distort the image of an object seen behind it. Microlensing is a related phenomenon: a short flash of light is produced when a moving cosmic body, acting as a gravitational lens, modulates the intensity of light from a background star as it fortuitously passes in front of it. About fifty years ago scientists predicted that if it ever became possible to observe a microlensing flash from two well-separated vantage points, a parallax measurement would pin down the distance of the dark object. The Spitzer Space Telescope, orbiting the Sun at the distance of the Earth but trailing behind the Earth by about one-quarter of the orbital path, had been working with ground-based telescopes to do just that until it was shut down last month by NASA as a cost-savings measure. from Phys.org - latest science and techn...

China’s new crew spacecraft looks like it could dock with the International Space Station

A next-generation crew spacecraft that China is preparing for a flight test this spring appears to be capable of docking with the International Space Station. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2UOgnlE

Machine learning puts a new spin on spin models

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have used machine learning to analyze spin models, which are used in physics to study phase transitions. Previous work showed that an image/handwriting classification model could be applied to distinguish states in the simplest models. The team showed the approach is applicable to more complex models and found that an AI trained on one model and applied to another could reveal key similarities between distinct phases in different systems. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2yl5fVZ

Physicists develop new photon source for tap-proof communication

An international team with the participation of Prof. Dr. Michael Kues from the Cluster of Excellence PhoenixD at Leibniz University Hannover has developed a new method for generating quantum-entangled photons in a spectral range of light that was previously inaccessible. The discovery can make the encryption of satellite-based communications much more secure in the future. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2Ur8Mur

Geopolymer concrete: Building moon bases with astronaut urine and regolith

The modules that the major space agencies plan to erect on the moon could incorporate an element contributed by the human colonizers themselves: the urea in their pee. European researchers have found that it could be used as a plasticizer for concrete used to build structures. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2Us6TNU

Seafloor of Fram Strait is a sink for microplastic from Arctic and North Atlantic Ocean

Working in the Arctic Fram Strait, scientists from the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) have found microplastic throughout the water column with particularly high concentrations at the ocean floor. Using model-based simulations, they have also found an explanation for this high level of pollution. According to their findings, the two main ocean currents in Fram Strait transport the microscopically small plastic particles into the region between Greenland and Spitsbergen from both the Arctic and the North Atlantic. While passing through the Strait, many particles eventually drift to the seafloor, where they accumulate. The experts report on this phenomenon in a study just released in the esteemed journal Environmental Science & Technology. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/33XPdNf

Researchers discover a novel chemistry to protect our crops from fungal disease

Pathogenic fungi pose a huge and growing threat to global food security. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2xEkrNl

COVID-19: Priorities for national biomedical research centre located in a hotspot region

The Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology has now set up a clear clinical and discovery research roadmap on COVID-19 to support outbreak management and maximise benefit to the public from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/342pEeg

Opinion | Researchers in India must join the fight against COVID-19

The failure of the Indian research community to respond to the imminent threat with sufficient alacrity is surprising. from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/39s6Wh2

Where lions roam: West African big cats show no preference between national parks, hunting zones

West African lions are a critically endangered subpopulation, with an estimated 400 remaining and strong evidence of ongoing declines. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3auYbnV

Researchers in India must join the fight against COVID-19

The failure of the Indian research community to respond to the imminent threat with sufficient alacrity is surprising. from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2RbfqmH

Nature takes back world's empty city streets

As humans retreat into their homes as more and more countries go under coronavirus lockdown, wild animals are slipping cover to explore the empty streets of some of our biggest cities. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3dCeLUP

Some COVID-19 patients still have coronavirus after symptoms disappear

Researchers found that half of the patients they treated for mild COVID-19 infection still had coronavirus for up to eight days after symptoms disappeared. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2UMM7rc

Michael Biehn cast for 'Star Wars: The Mandalorian' — Report

Michael Biehn has been cast in an undisclosed role in Star Wars: The Mandalorian's second season. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2UpaqNa

Stuck at home? Take a tour through Disney's (empty) Star Wars, Pandora and space-age parks

From the comfort and safety of your own home, you can now explore Walt Disney World all by yourself. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2QQ17Uc

Gemini, the 'heavenly twins' grace the evening sky this spring

Visible above the southwest horizon in the early evenings, the constellation of Gemini, the twins is rich with celestial sights. Here's the story behind the "heavenly twins." from Space.com https://ift.tt/2y9kEIH

Whales face more fatal ship collisions as waters warm

Climate change is imperiling the world's largest animals by increasing the likelihood of fatal collisions between whales and big ships that ply the same waters. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3dBOaHf

Watch | What is the hantavirus?

A video on the zoonotic disease which is transmitted to humans from rodents from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/33TB7wp

Watch | The impact of heat stress over people

A video on the impact of heat stress over people due to rising global temperatures from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/3dzsTxX

Faster way to replace bad info in networks

Researchers have demonstrated a new model of how competing pieces of information spread in online social networks and the Internet of Things (IoT). The findings could be used to disseminate accurate information more quickly, displacing false information about anything from computer security to public health. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2UqvdzS

A new way to study HIV's impact on the brain

Using a newly developed laboratory model of three types of brain cells, scientists reveal how HIV infection -- as well as the drugs that treat it -- can take a toll on the central nervous system. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Uqo2aU

Coronavirus transmission possible from mother to child

Researchers found elevated levels of specific antibodies in a newborn from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2Unt5Jg

Astronauts, 'Star Trek: Picard' actor & more remind us of the bigger picture in face of coronavirus

Astronauts from around the world gathered to chat alongside scientists, doctors and celebrities in a videoconference event called #SpaceConnectsUs to offer tips for living in isolation and to discuss the bigger picture and how we can emerge from this difficult period to improve the world. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3dBSLJG

OneWeb, a satellite internet startup, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Satellite internet startup OneWeb has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a move that comes less than a week after the company launched nearly three dozen satellites into orbit. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2R7NjEX

How population size shapes evolution patterns in E. coli

Large populations tend to evolve into exercising fitness trade-offs from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2xr44nn

Possible transmission of novel coronavirus from mother to child

Researchers found elevated levels of specific antibodies in a newborn from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2JklLaV

Doctor Who has broadcast a heartwarming 'emergency transmission' to help us through the coronavirus pandemic

Jodie Whittaker, the 13th Doctor from BBC's iconic sci-fi series "Doctor Who," has an emergency transmission for the coronavirus pandemic. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2vYLjr6

Astrophysicist Brian May (of Queen!) teaches you how to play the Bohemian Rhapsody solo while in self-isolation

Remember the video of the quarantined Italian citizen channeling his best Brian May by blasting the electric guitar solo from Queen’s We Will Rock You out into the world from his balcony in Rome? from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Ji5BPo

Silent spread of novel coronavirus in Italy went undetected for weeks

By the time the first case was reported, the virus had already spread to most areas in southern Lombardy from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2wKbsKr

Strike at the spike and win the war

The spikes made of a glycoprotein are the business end of the virus from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/3bsV5AE

How artificial intelligence can aid eye testing

A tool to detect diabetic retinopathy has been developed by Google and an international team of researchers from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/33SeiJv

Abbott wins U.S. approval for test that can detect COVID-19 in five minutes

Abbott said in a statement that it plans to begin distributing the test next week and will ramp up manufacturing to 50,000 tests per day. from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2WR38DE

Infecting healthy people with coronavirus can speed up vaccine trials

Participants will be carefully followed to monitor how they respond from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/3bqT6Nk

Oxford University’s coronavirus vaccine opens for clinical trial on humans

ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford, is based on an adenovirus vaccine vector and the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2WLGD2N

Though the COVID-19 recession may feel different, its victims will look the same

The great recession, which hit the world at the end of 2007 affected workers and families in the U.S. in very different ways. Workers with low socioeconomic status (SES) – those with fewer skills and education, as well as racial and ethnic minorities—were especially hurt by the downturn. Foreclosures were concentrated among minorities, and households with lower incomes. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2yaUZPT

Completely new antibiotic resistance gene has spread unnoticed to several pathogens

Aminoglycoside antibiotics are critically important for treating several types of infections with multi-resistant bacteria. A completely new resistance gene, which is likely to counteract the newest aminoglycoside-drug plazomycin, was recently discovered by scientists in Gothenburg, Sweden. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UkjRgO

Cellular train track deformities shed light on neurological disease

A new technique allows researchers to test how the deformation of tiny train track-like cell proteins affects their function. The findings could clarify the roles of deformed "microtubules" in traumatic brain injuries and in neurological diseases like Parkinson's. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/39izl9i

Why does your cotton towel get stiff after natural drying?

The remaining "bound water" on cotton surfaces cross-link single fibers of cotton, causing hardening after natural drying, according to a new study conducted by Kao Corporation and Hokkaido University. This provides new insight into unique water behaviors on material surfaces and help researchers develop better cleaning technologies. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2wxQpel

A device for the early detection of certain eyesight problems

EPFL researchers have developed a device that can zoom in on previously invisible cells at the back of the eye. The technology could be extremely useful for ophthalmologists, in particular for detecting age-related macular degeneration early and assessing new treatment options. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2QPFrYx

New algorithm examines crime-scene bullets segment by segment

On the morning of March 22, 1915, residents of the small town of West Shelby, New York, awoke to a horrific scene. A woman clad only in a bloodied nightgown lay shot to death in the snow on the doorstep of an immigrant farmhand, Charles Stielow. Across the street, in the farmhouse where Stielow had recently begun work and where the dead woman had kept house, 70-year-old farmer Charles Phelps was found shot and unconscious. He died a few hours later. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2vRYHx2

Is your dog really happy you're home?

Humans aren't the only species that finds routine comforting—our pets benefit from it as well. So making the transition to working from home can impact the entire family, pets included. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UGvxt9

Model: What increased woody biomass use looks like for the global forest ecosystem

Incentivizing both sequestration and avoidance of emissions— using a carbon rental or carbon tax and subsidy approach—versus only a carbon tax encourages protection of natural forests by valuing the standing stock, according to a new study led by Georgia Institute of Technology. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2vY3VYk

US jobless claims have soared. Is a recession necessary to fight COVID-19?

Last week, 3.3 million people in the United States filed for unemployment, the highest number ever recorded by the U.S. Department of Labor, as businesses shuttered and employees were asked to stay home to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/33RTDVT

Researchers create framework for evaluating environmental stopgap measures

Ending global environmental crises such as climate change and slowing the growing number of extinctions of plant and animal species will require radical solutions that could take centuries to implement. Meanwhile, the crises are damaging the planet and human well-being in ways that cannot wait for perfect solutions. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2xtcCu5

Low-cost graphene-iron filters that selectively separate gaseous mixtures

UNSW researchers have shown how a new class of low-cost graphene-based membranes—a type of filter used in industry sectors that generate enormous mixed waste gases, such as solid plastic waste, biowaste or wastewater—can be selectively tuned to separate different gases from gaseous mixtures. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/39r1YBc

A virtual Australian parliament is possible—and may be needed during the coronavirus pandemic

The Commonwealth Parliament has shut down its sittings due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is not scheduled to resume sitting until August. The usual budget sittings of May and June have been canceled and the budget will not be handed down until October. Supply bills have been passed to ensure ordinary government expenditure is funded until the end of November. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2xypf6T

SpaceX stacks third Starship prototype ahead of testing (photos)

The latest test version of the Mars-colonizing Starship spacecraft, called the SN3, has been stacked at SpaceX's South Texas facilities, new photos tweeted out by company founder and CEO Elon Musk show. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2xoE38d

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover will carry 10.9 million names to Red Planet

When NASA's Perseverance Mars rover launches this summer, lots of folks here on Earth will be along for the ride. from Space.com https://ift.tt/33NRLgU

NASA's Orion crew capsule arrives in Florida to prep for test flight around moon (photo)

A NASA Orion crew capsule has made it to its Florida launch site ahead of a landmark 2021 mission around the moon. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2JjBc38

'Cosmos: Possible Worlds' episode 5 explores the 'cosmic connectome'

In the fifth episode of "Cosmos: Possible Worlds," host Neil deGrasse Tyson explores the evolution of consciousness and the human mind's connection to the cosmos. from Space.com https://ift.tt/33Sw0ge

Indonesian volcano spews massive ash cloud

Indonesia's most active volcano Mount Merapi erupted Friday, shooting a column of ash some 5,000 metres (16,000 feet) into the air in its second major eruption this month. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3duJhQx

Math professor and students take 'random walk' together

Some people like to take random walks through the woods, while others might stroll through their own neighborhood. In the world of math, a random walk is in fact more random than this; it would be the equivalent of flipping a coin to decide which direction you would take with each step. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2JfREl3

10.9 million names now aboard NASA's Perseverance Mars rover

NASA's "Send Your Name to Mars" campaign invited people around the world to submit their names to ride aboard the agency's next rover to the Red Planet. Some 10,932,295 people did just that. The names were stenciled by electron beam onto three fingernail-sized silicon chips, along with the essays of the 155 finalists in NASA's "Name the Rover" contest.The chips were then were attached to an aluminum plate on NASA's Perseverance Mars rover at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on March 16. Scheduled to launch this summer, Perseverance will land at Jezero Crater on Feb. 18, 2021. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2ydaJly

Research into perovskite-silicon tandem cells shows new path to take

Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), working in collaboration with their counterparts in the Republic of Korea, have validated the potential of using a combination of perovskite and silicon to create solar cells that are more than 30% efficient. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/33WDhM0

Capabilities of CRISPR gene editing expanded

Many basic and clinical researchers are testing the potential of a simple and efficient gene editing approach to study and correct disease-causing mutations for conditions ranging from blindness to cancer, but the technology is constrained by a requirement that a certain short DNA sequence be present at the gene editing site. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3duImQ5

Scientists identify microbe that could help degrade polyurethane-based plastics

There may be a small answer to one of the biggest problems on the planet. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/33Mi2wi

What can be learned from the microbes on a turtle's shell?

Researchers have found that a unique type of algae, usually only seen on the shells of turtles, affects the surrounding microbial communities. It is hoped that these findings can be applied to support the conservation of turtles. Previous research has shown that a diverse microbiome can protect animals against infections. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ancrid

Space science from home: Resources for children and adults

With many people across the world staying at home these days, we have curated a selection of activities for you to pass time and learn more about space science in the meantime. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UwcSA4

A left turn that kills: New mechanism triggering cell death and inflammation

Writing in Nature, researchers from Cologne, Texas and London describe their discovery of a new mechanism that could contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/39h2EsZ

Understanding variable stability and mechanical resilience in streptavidin-biotin binding

Recent research by Rafael C. Bernardi at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign examines why a common tool in biotechnology—the binding of streptavidin to biotin—shows different mechanical resilience in different research labs. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UBrzlI

Dig for artifacts confirms New Guinea's Neolithic period

It is well known that agriculture developed independently in New Guinea 7000 years ago, but evidence of its influence on how people lived has eluded scientists—until now. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UGUHI4

Revisiting decades-old Voyager 2 data, scientists find one more secret about Uranus

Eight and a half years into its grand tour of the solar system, NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft was ready for another encounter. It was Jan. 24, 1986, and soon it would meet the mysterious seventh planet, icy-cold Uranus. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3alvbPn

A new approach to achieving stable, high-repetition-rate laser pulses

High-repetition-rate pulsed lasers serve a wide range of applications, from optical communications to microwave photonics and beyond. Generating trains of ultrashort optical pulses commonly involves locking phases of longitudinal laser cavity modes. In 1997, a mechanism based on dissipative four-wave-mixing (DFWM) was demonstrated with key components comprising comb filters and high-nonlinearity elements. Since then, demonstrations of high-repetition-rate pulse trains adopting DFWM have exploited various types of comb filters and nonlinear components. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UApaaV

Bats depend on teamwork when foraging over farmland

Scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) have reported in a paper published in the journal Oikos that bats forage on their own in insect-rich forests, but hunt collectively in groups over insect-poor farmland. They seem to zoom in on places where conspecifics emit echolocations during the capture of insects, an inadvertent clue that reveals high-yielding areas to others. However, "listening" to their hunting companions to find food only works when sufficient numbers of bats forage in the same area. If numbers continue to decline, density could fall below a critical level and joint hunting could become difficult or impossible. This could pose an additional threat to the survival of species such as the Common noctule. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/33Riklp

New carbon dot-based method for increasing the efficiency of solar cells and LEDs

An international group of scientists, including some from ITMO University, has proposed a method that allows for significantly increasing the efficiency of solar cells and light-emitting diodes. The scientists managed to achieve this result by augmenting the auxiliary layers of the devices responsible for electron transport rather than working with the main active layer. The work has been published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UGkWhZ

In cellular biology, mistakes can be good

Mistakes are rarely rewarded. Intuitively, one would imagine that a shoddy typist at an office who keeps generating typos would either quickly lose their job, or at least be overlooked for promotion. The idea that this person could, in fact, benefit from being shoddy and rise above others professionally is counterintuitive, and yet we see this in cells. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/39i6rpW

The first US Space Force national security mission will launch today. Here's how to watch live

The sixth and final Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite, AEHF-6, will launch Thursday afternoon (March 26), and you can watch the liftoff live. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2xtB8va

Seeing coronavirus impacts from space: Before-and-after satellite photos

Planet Earth is looking pretty deserted these days as people around the world are sheltering in place and avoiding social contact to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.  from Space.com https://ift.tt/39oktWW

Old gas blob from Uranus found in vintage Voyager 2 data

Buried inside data Voyager 2 gathered at Uranus more than 30 years ago is the signature of a massive bubble that may have stolen a blob of the planet's gassy atmosphere. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Uxv3FK

New framework will help decide which trees are best in the fight against air pollution

A study from the University of Surrey has provided a comprehensive guide on which tree species are best for combatting air pollution that originates from our roads—along with suggestions for how to plant these green barriers to get the best results. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2Ul44hI

Scientists calculate age of massive neutron star crash that helped form our solar system

The neutron-star merger that showered the solar system with its precious metals was fairly close and fairly recent. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2QIIamk

Future space telescopes may probe Titan-like exoplanets

Planets like Saturn's moon Titan, one of the most potentially habitable places in the solar system, could reveal their secrets to future telescopes. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3bkbqYy

Venezuelan communications satellite out of service

Venezuela's first communications satellite, launched in 2008, is out of service due to a systems failure, the country's government said Wednesday. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3brnU0n

Fleeing Nazis shaped Austrian politics for generations after World War II: study

A new study in The Economic Journal, published by Oxford University Press, suggests that migrating extremists can shape political developments in their destination regions for generations. Regions in Austria that witnessed an influx of Nazis fleeing the Soviets after WWII are significantly more right-leaning than other parts of the country. There were no such regional differences in far-right values before World War Two. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3bqtWyn

Improving cleanup of contaminated groundwater

Beads that contain bacteria and a slow-release food supply to sustain them can clean up contaminated groundwater for months on end, maintenance free. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/39o9EnD

Video game experience, gender may improve VR learning

Students who used immersive virtual reality (VR) did not learn significantly better than those who used two more traditional forms of learning, but they vastly preferred the VR to computer-simulated and hands-on methods, a new study has found. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Ji6G9H

Patients at risk of drug-induced sudden cardiac death in COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, continues to spread, leading to more than 20,000 deaths worldwide in less than four months. Efforts are progressing to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, but it's still likely 12 to 18 months away. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2UE6dnA

A critical enzyme for sperm formation could be a target for treating male infertility

Researchers have identified an enzyme essential for the process of male meiosis, the type of cell division that produces sperm. The protein, SKP1, controls one of the key transitions in meiosis. Understanding its role may help scientists develop new approaches to treating male infertility. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3bq60Lx

Modelling study estimates impact of physical distancing measures on progression of COVID-19 epidemic in Wuhan

A new study suggests extending school and workplace closures in Wuhan until April, rather than March, would likely delay a second wave of cases until later in the year, relieving pressure on health services. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2WHfC0e

Weedy rice is unintended legacy of Green Revolution

A new global study reveals the extent to which high-yielding rice varieties favored in the decades since the "Green Revolution" have a propensity to go feral, turning a staple food crop into a weedy scourge. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3dxKzKj

As virus leaves borders shut, European farmers sound alarm

Whether it's served with butter and ham, drowned in hollandaise sauce or topped with a fried egg, nothing says spring in Germany like asparagus. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/39f4Ykc

Cleaner hands, bluer skies: what has coronavirus done for us?

Deaths, economic meltdown and a planet on lockdown: the coronavirus pandemic has brought us waves of bad news, but squint and you might just see a few bright spots. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UiQU4E

Tsunami watch for Hawaii lifted after north Pacific quake

A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck in the northern Pacific on Wednesday and forecasters said tsunami waves were possible for the nearest shores. A brief tsunami watch for Hawaii was canceled. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/39jCDZX

Mapping the cannabis genome to improve crops and health

Unlocking the full potential of cannabis for agriculture and human health will require a co-ordinated scientific effort to assemble and map the cannabis genome, says a just-published international study led by University of Saskatchewan researchers. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3aiWwSg

The stars look down: Mango Education’s online star gazing session teaches people about the night sky

There is so much time to stand and stare and that is exactly what Mango Education is encouraging the young and old to do from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2UeGLWK

COVID-19: Doctors cautious over use of malaria drug as preventive

The Council cautioned the general public against the unrestricted of the drug, stating that “it is still at experimental stage and is not recommended for public use.” from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2Jc3QmL

Big brains or many babies: How birds can thrive in urban environments

A new study in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution suggests that birds have two alternative strategies for coping with the difficulties of humanity's increasingly chaotic cities—either by having large brains or through more frequent breeding. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UALD7v

High-efficiency laser for silicon chips

Transistors work electrically, but data can be transmitted more quickly by using light. Scientists have now come a step closer to integrating lasers directly in silicon chips. They have developed a compatible semiconductor laser made of germanium and tin, whose efficiency is comparable with conventional GaAs semiconductor lasers on Si. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/39dTbm1

How fire causes office-building floors to collapse

Researchers spent months meticulously recreating the long concrete floors supported by steel beams commonly found in high-rise office buildings, only to set the structures ablaze. These experiments indicate that structures built to code are not always equipped to survive the forces induced by extreme shifts in temperature, but the data gained here could help researchers develop and validate new design tools and building codes that bolster fire safety. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Uhggjy

Plants and animals aren't so different when it comes to climate

A new study reveals that plants and animals are remarkably similar in their responses to changing environmental conditions across the globe, which may help explain how they are distributed today and how they will respond to climate change in the future. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QI8ltu

How bacteria form communities on the human tongue

Using a recently developed fluorescent imaging technique, researchers in the United States have developed high-resolution maps of microbial communities on the human tongue. The images reveal that microbial biofilms on the surface of the tongue have a complex, highly structured spatial organization. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2vQfBME

Higher daily step count linked with lower all-cause mortality

In a new study, higher daily step counts were associated with lower mortality risk from all causes. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2WIToLh

Rats give more generously in response to the smell of hunger

How do animals that help their brethren manage to prioritize those most in need? A new study shows that rats can use odor cues alone to determine how urgently to provide food assistance to other rats in need. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2UgzvtD

Brain or muscles, what do we lose first?

From the age of 50, there is a decline not just in physical activity but also in cognitive abilities since the two are correlated. But which of them influences the other? Researchers used a database of over 100,000 people aged 50-90 whose physical and cognitive abilities were measured every two years for 12 years. The findings show that cognitive abilities ward off inactivity much more than physical activity prevents the decline in cognitive abilities. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3bpGHJI

Scientists reveal how proteins team up to repair DNA

Scientists have revealed an important mechanism in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks, according to new research. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2UDoJwk

Cannabis helps fight resistant bacteria

Bacteria are increasingly becoming resistant to antibiotics. By combining antibiotics with the cannabis compound, cannabidiol, researchers have found a way to enhance the antibiotic effect. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3akVkhk

More men, more problems? Not necessarily

Men are more prone to competitive risk taking and violent behavior, so what happens when the number of men is greater than the number of women in a population? According to new research, the answers might not be what you expect. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2JfArIp

Small horses got smaller, big tapirs got bigger 47 million years ago

The former coalfield of Geiseltal in Saxony-Anhalt has yielded large numbers of exceptionally preserved fossil animals, giving palaeontologists a unique window into the evolution of mammals 47 million years ago. A team has shown that the body size of two species of mammals developed in opposite directions. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dpAj6R

Scientists investigate why females live longer than males

An international team of scientists found that, like humans, female wild animals tend to live longer than males. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QH8H3i

Research breakthrough: Humans are not the first to repurpose CRISPR

We humans are far from the first to exploit the benefits of CRISPR. Groundbreaking research has helped to redefine what CRISPR is. Researchers have discovered that primitive bacterial parasites weaponize CRISPR to engage in battle against one another. This discovery opens up the possibility to reprogram CRISPR to combat multi-drug resistant bacteria. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2J9SSyd

Past your bedtime? Inconsistency may increase risk to cardiovascular health

Researchers found that individuals going to bed even 30 minutes later than their usual bedtime presented a significantly higher resting heart rate that lasted into the following day. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QI3YyA

Elections: Early warning system to fight disinformation online

A new project is an effort to combat the rise of coordinated social media campaigns to incite violence, sew discord and threaten the integrity of democratic elections. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2WGFARK

The physics that drives periodic economic downturns

A professor says that the way spilled milk spreads across the floor can explain why economic downturns regularly occur. Because the economic prosperity derived from new ideas or inventions follows the same S-curve as the spreading of a substance over an area, it inevitably loses its return on investment toward the end of its life cycle. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3bmZODX

Solitonics in molecular wires could benefit electronics

Soliton descriptions for the conducting polymers polyacetylene—descriptions based around a type of solitary wave—caused great excitement when they first broke in the seminal reports by Su, Schrieffer, Heeger (SSH) and Kivelson over 30 years ago. As some of the simplest topological insulators, these molecules are now attracting revived interest. However, problems synthesizing single polyacetylene molecules had limited these soliton studies to extrapolations of soliton characteristics from averages over large numbers of soliton-bearing molecules, which is quite indirect. Reports of synthesis and characterization of single polyacetylene molecular wires in 2019 changed this. Now, calculations by researchers in Germany and the U.S. have identified how the solitons in these single molecular strands behave, pointing to a level of soliton control—"solitonics"—that could be useful to electronic devices and sensors. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://i...

Sensing internal organ temperature with optically stimulated luminescence

A cheap, biocompatible white powder that luminesces when heated could be used for non-invasively monitoring the temperature of specific organs within the body. Tohoku University scientists conducted preliminary tests to demonstrate the applicability of this concept and published their findings in the journal Scientific Reports. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UdbPq2

Small horses got smaller, big tapirs got bigger 47 million years ago

The former coalfield of Geiseltal in eastern Germany has yielded large numbers of exceptionally preserved fossil animals, giving palaeontologists a unique window into the evolution of mammals 47 million years ago. At that time—the middle Eocene—the Earth was much warmer and the area was a swampy subtropical forest whose inhabitants included ancestors of the horse, ancient tapirs, large terrestrial crocodiles, as well as giant tortoises, lizards and ground-dwelling birds. So rich are the Geiseltal finds that they give researchers an unprecedented high-resolution picture of evolutionary dynamics at the population level. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2QH0axg

First high-sensitivity dark matter axion hunting results from South Korea

Researchers at the Center for Axion and Precision Physics Research (CAPP), within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS, South Korea), have reported the first results of their search of axions, elusive, ultra-lightweight particles that are considered dark matter candidates. IBS-CAPP is located at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). Published in Physical Review Letters, the analysis combines data taken over three months with a new axion-hunting apparatus developed over the last two years. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2wzZXoP

Modeling the human eye in a dish

Despite its small size relative to the rest of the body, the eye is one of the most complex organs of the human body and has been difficult to study in a lab. Now, researchers from Osaka University have developed a novel method to model eye development and disease using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). In a new study published in Journal of Biological Chemistry, they showed how tracking the expression of PITX2, a key protein during eye development, in developing hiPSCs enables the isolation of a certain group of cells that play important roles in eye development, biology and disease. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3bokJH2

Being happy with less: Money, children, time and balance

They may seem like fixed options: having many children like in Africa, or overconsuming like in many western countries. These choices, however, are not personal preferences but societal norms that people adhere to subconsciously. Standards such as these can swing towards less consumption or fewer children while increasing the average happiness in society. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/33H8sux

COVID-19: 'Economics alone won't get us through this'

Jean-Pierre Danthine, an EPFL professor and the managing director of the Enterprise for Society Center (E4S), discusses the economic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis in Switzerland and worldwide, and argues that the future depends on government policy responses. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3bpIwWK

Chinese astronomers detect gamma-ray emission from two star-forming galaxies

Astronomers from Nanjing University in China have detected gamma ray emission from two star-forming galaxies designated M33 and Arp 299. The finding, which is detailed in a paper published March 17 on arXiv.org, could be helpful in improving knowledge about the origin of very high-energy emission in galaxies. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/39b1XkF

Eco-bike aims to cut pollution in Kathmandu

Where there's a will, there's a way. The truth of that saying was revealed once again to Lance Rake when he traveled to Kathmandu, Nepal, last year to develop a delivery version of the bamboo bicycles for which he is known. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2xlnBWp

The post-pandemic city: Expert on how the coronavirus will impact future cities

The current COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly changing the way we live and the way we work. Do these changes signal long-lasting impacts on the design and architecture of our cities? We spoke to UBC professor Patrick Condon, the James Taylor chair in Landscape and Livable Environments at UBC's School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture and the founding chair of the UBC urban design program. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2JaALrZ

Chemists race to decode RNA of new coronavirus

As scientists around the world race to decode the coronavirus that has caused more than 15,000 deaths in a matter of months, a group of University of Chicago chemists are focusing on understanding how the virus's RNA works—which could translate to a more effective vaccine. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3bqF2Uf

Unearthing technical solutions for a low carbon future: Carbon capture and storage

A University of Queensland study has revealed that carbon capture and storage (CCS) could be a real option for Queensland. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2y326d7

Anatomy of a frogfish: New book explores world of fishes with arms, legs

Any old fish can swim. But what fish can walk, scoot, clamber over rocks, change color or pattern and even fight? That would be the frogfish. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UBKsVq

New study identifies which veterans are using programs to gain employment

Compared to veterans of other wars, those who have served since 9/11 have the highest unemployment rate, particularly among young male veterans. Within the first three months of disconnecting from active duty service, more than half of post-9/11 veterans reported using at least one program designed to enhance their job prospects, according to researchers at Penn State. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3bmMDD1

As climate change messes with temperature and precipitation, California newts suffer

California didn't get much of a break. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2xjTrTh

NASA's Curiosity rover on Mars just climbed its steepest slope yet (and snapped a selfie)

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover just climbed its steepest Red Planet slope to date, after snapping a nice selfie that gives us a better appreciation of the achievement. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wnbaJz

Solar system acquired current configuration not long after its formation

The hypothesis that the solar system originated from a gigantic cloud of gas and dust was first floated in the second half of the 18th century by German philosopher Immanuel Kant and further developed by French mathematician Pierre-Simon de Laplace. It is now a consensus among astronomers. Thanks to the enormous amount of observational data, theoretical input and computational resources now available, it has been continually refined, but this is not a linear process. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/33LZkET

Teamwork in a cell: The cytoskeleton from a bird's eye perspective

The cytoskeleton is a permanent construction site consisting of protein filaments that are continually lengthening and shortening in a dynamic process. Through these remodeling processes, the cell can change its shape and even move to a new location. In this way, it guides fundamental processes, such as cell division and differentiation, and processes at a higher level in the organism, such as embryonic development and wound healing. If something goes wrong at the cytoskeletal construction site—e.g., if protein filaments undergo remodeling at the wrong place or time—it could lead to diseases. Such an error in spatio-temporal control is also the reason why metastatic cancer cells migrate in the body. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3ajaZxE

Jets of bacteria carry microscopic cargo

It is a longstanding challenge to be able to control biological systems to perform specific tasks. In a paper published in Nature Physics, researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, in collaboration with groups in U.S. and U.K., have now reported doing just that. They have found a way to control bacteria to transport microscopic cargo. Bacteria form the largest biomass in the world, larger than all the animals and plants combined, and they are constantly moving, but their movement is chaotic. The researchers pursued the idea that if this motion could be controlled, they might be able to develop it into a biological tool. They used a liquid crystal to dictate the direction of the bacterial movement, and added a microscopic cargo for the bacteria to carry, more than five times the size of the bacteria. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2vP5cAS

Elon Musk says he'll have 1,200 ventilators ready to deliver this week

SpaceX and Tesla engineers are set to make a big contribution to the coronavirus fight, just a week after Elon Musk offered to help. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2JcSPSc

Astronauts know how to handle isolation: Here are tips from Scott Kelly, Peggy Whitson and more.

With more and more people staying home, astronauts, who have immeasurable experience with isolation, have chimed in with their expert advice. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3dAyT9U

Mobile astronomy: Put the Milky Way in your pocket with 'Our Galaxy' smartphone app

A new fun and educational app called "Our Galaxy" lets smartphone users explore the cosmos from the palm of their hand. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2y05fuc

Crumpled graphene makes ultra-sensitive cancer DNA detector

Graphene-based biosensors could usher in an era of liquid biopsy, detecting DNA cancer markers circulating in a patient's blood or serum. But current designs need a lot of DNA. In a new study, crumpling graphene makes it more than ten thousand times more sensitive to DNA by creating electrical "hot spots," researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UBobHi

Flat-panel technology could transform antennas, wireless and cell phone communications

Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory are reinventing the mirror, at least for microwaves, potentially replacing the familiar 3-D dishes and microwave horns we see on rooftops and cell towers with flat panels that are compact, versatile, and better adapted for modern communication technologies. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2y2C6i8

Christmas Island discovery redraws map of life

The world's animal distribution map will need to be redrawn and textbooks updated, after researchers discovered the existence of "Australian' species on Christmas Island. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UbCrHH

NASA leadership assessing mission impacts of coronavirus

To protect the health and safety of the NASA workforce as the nation responds to coronavirus (COVID-19), agency leadership recently completed the first assessment of work underway across all missions, projects, and programs. The goal was to identify tasks that can be done remotely by employees at home, mission-essential work that must be performed on-site, and on-site work that will be paused. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2Usi1t2

How coronavirus could impact futures of students entering high school, college

School closures prompted by the coronavirus pandemic have sent families scrambling for solutions—balancing their work schedules with childcare and their children's needs for social stimulation. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/33LgJxx

V2455 Cyg is a high amplitude Delta Scuti star, new observations suggest

Using the Research Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics of Maragha (RIAAM) Observatory, Iranian astronomers have performed new photometric observations of the variable star V2455 Cyg. Results of the observational campaign suggest that the studied object is a high-amplitude Delta Scuti star. The finding is reported in a paper published March 17 on the arXiv pre-print server. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UIoz7d

Glacier loss likely to continue with ongoing effects of climate change, possible impact from bushfires

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington and NIWA scientists are exploring the ongoing effects of climate change, including possible impacts from the Australian bushfires, on New Zealand's glaciers. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/39iX6yd

Aftershocks rattle Croatian capital a day after strong quake

Croatia has experienced a series of aftershocks a day after a strong earthquake caused widespread damage and injured at least 27 people amid a partial coronavirus lockdown of the capital. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2J5xzOh

Opinion: Why housing evictions must be suspended to defend us against coronavirus

The COVID-19 pandemic is a double crisis affecting public health and the economy. And both aspects are playing out in our housing system—in our homes. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3ap6lxO

New role of important factor in early embryonic development identified

In collaboration with Stanford University, a working group from MedUni Vienna's Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, led by Mark Wossidlo, has identified the role of a factor involved in early embryonic development. This is the Zscan4 protein, which has now been shown to protect the early embryo from DNA damage and DNA strand breaks during activation of the first of its own genes. Up until this time, it was not known why there is such high expression of Zscan4 during so-called embryonic genome activation—i.e. when the embryo's genome is activated for the first time—and what role it plays. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UdkxVm

School districts take unplanned plunge into online learning

In a whirlwind week, teachers came up with digital versions of everything from high-school English discussions to kindergarten gym classes, city officials scrambled to find laptops for students in need, and parents grappled with how they would keep kids' attention on schoolwork. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2QABzdC

'The Mandalorian' casts Rosario Dawson as live-action Ahsoka Tano: Report

Rosario Dawson has been cast as a live-action version of longrunning "Star Wars" animated character Ahsoka Tano for season two of "The Mandalorian" on the streaming service Disney Plus. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2UnQnxa

March new moon 2020: Catch Venus and Mercury in the 'moonless' night sky

The new moon occurs March 24, at 5:28 a.m. EDT (0928 GMT), a day after Mercury reaches its highest point in the morning sky and on the same day Venus reaches its maximum altitude in the evening. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2yOV2fS

Astronomers test string theory using NASA's Chandra X-ray space telescope

Astronomers have probed the Perseus galaxy cluster in search of an as-yet undetected particle that would help support string theory. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2UpjTCU

A milestone in ultrafast gel fabrication from unconventional self-healing noble metal gels

Electrocatalysis is extensively involved in many important energy-related processes such as the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for fuel cells, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) for green hydrogen production, and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) for metal-air batteries. Noble metal aerogels (NMAs) have emerged as a new class of outstanding electrocatalysts, combining the features of metals and aerogels. However, the development of these porous materials has been impeded by sluggish fabrication methods, which require several hours or even weeks. In addition, the unique optical properties of noble metals—for instance, plasmonic resonance—have so far been ignored in NMAs, limiting their potential high performance in electrocatalysis. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UdRmkE

Researchers measure one-photon transitions in an unbound electron

The dynamics of electrons change ever so slightly on each interaction with a photon. Physicists at ETH Zurich have now measured such interplay in its arguably purest form—by recording the attosecond-scale time delays associated with one-photon transitions in an unbound electron. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/39cbEiP

New device quickly detects harmful bacteria in blood

Engineers have created a tiny device that can rapidly detect harmful bacteria in blood, allowing health care professionals to pinpoint the cause of potentially deadly infections and fight them with drugs. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2WEdsP0

The Thirty Meter Telescope: How a volcano in Hawaii became a battleground for astronomy

What could a massive new telescope in Hawaii teach astronomers about the universe — and why are some native Hawaiians fiercely opposed to the project? from Space.com https://ift.tt/3blhLmA

X-ray imaging reveals insights into a natural mosquito-killing compound

Many of the chemicals used to deter or eliminate disease-carrying mosquitoes can pollute ecosystems and drive the evolution of even more problematic, insecticide-resistant species—but thankfully, we may have better options soon. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3a8SjAq

Advanced 'super-planckian' material exhibits LED-like light when heated

Could there be a new kind of light in the universe? Since the late 19th century, scientists have understood that, when heated, all materials emit light in a predictable spectrum of wavelengths. Research published today in Nature Scientific Reports presents a material that emits light when heated that appears to exceed the limits set by that natural law. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/39b6806

Beyond burgers: Asia puts twist on alternative meats

From lab-grown "seafood" to dumplings made with tropical fruit instead of pork, rising demand for sustainable meat alternatives in Asia is spawning creative products to appeal to local palates. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UxwjbZ

Vibes before it bites: 10 types of defensive behaviour for the false coral snake

In a recent paper in the open-access journal Neotropical Biology and Conservation, a group of Brazilian scientists from the Federal University of Viçosa (Brazil) published ten different defensive behaviours for the False Coral Snake (Oxyrhopus rhombifer), seven of which are registered for the first time for the species. One of these is reported for the first time for Brazilian snakes. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2QECz0n

New research may help older adults stay physically capable for longer

Drug therapies that help older adults maintain their skeletal muscle mass and physical function for longer could be a step closer after researchers at the University of Birmingham identify a key mechanism that drives the clearance of damaged mitochondria. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/33PnJtv

Fish fossil show how fins evolved into human hands

Their evolution into four-legged vertebrates was one of the most significant events, says study from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2UavDtZ

'A really big experiment': Parents turn teachers amid virus

After her sixth-grade son's school in Buffalo, New York, closed amid the coronavirus outbreak, Roxanne Ojeda-Valentin returned to campus with shopping bags to take home textbooks and weeks' worth of assignments prepared by teachers. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2WyzMJN

How to get conductive gels to stick when wet

Researchers have come up with a way of getting conductive polymer gels to adhere to wet surfaces. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2y0D0vA

Reanalysis of global amphibian crisis study finds important flaws

Last year in the journal Science, a research review concluded that the chytrid fungus caused the decline of at least 501 amphibian species, of which 90 have gone extinct. A team has reanalyzed a study, finding that the paper's main conclusions lack evidence and are unreproducible. The authors argue that transparent data collection and analysis are crucial -- both for science and conservation efforts. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2xkNqFK

Unprecedented preservation of fossil feces from the La Brea Tar Pits

Scientists have found the first coprolites -- or fossil feces -- ever discovered in an asphaltic -- or tar pit -- context. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2vFkhEU

Chip-based device opens new doors for augmented reality and quantum computing

Researchers have designed a new chip-based device that can shape and steer blue light with no moving parts. The device could greatly reduce the size of light projection components used for augmented reality and a variety of other applications. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3bhlYaH

NASA pauses work on James Webb Space Telescope due to coronavirus, weighs risk to other science missions

As many NASA centers switch to mandatory telework to confront the spread of COVID-19, NASA leadership acknowledged that prized science missions may suffer delays. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3aesO0w

Is interstellar Comet Borisov breaking apart as it leaves our solar system?

It's tough being in a new environment, even for comets. According to recent observations, interstellar Comet Borisov may be having outbursts triggered by flying past our sun. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2vHevCT

Scientists trace famed 1987 supernova to weird blue supergiant star

In 1987, astronomers observed an incredible star explosion in a galaxy not too far away in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Now, researchers suggest that the supernova was created by a blue compact supergiant star. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3dnLJrE

Strong quake shakes Croatia, damaging buildings in capital

A strong earthquake shook Croatia and its capital on Sunday, causing widespread damage and panic. A 15-year-old was reported in critical condition and others were injured, news outlets reported. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3blDcUj

‘The vaccine was rapidly synthesised as novel coronavirus sequence was available’

Just over three months after the genome sequence of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was shared by Chinese researchers, an messenger-RNA (mRNA) vacc from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2WxseqP

A step closer to developing a potent drug against novel coronavirus

The presence of the inhibitor in the lungs even after 24 hours is significant because the virus affects the lungs from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2xYwEgd

Musical scales are a prehistoric gift to us

During the last a few months, several groups have come up with interesting publications on how music affects the mind. The first is a report on March from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/3bf0v29

How the brain controls the voice

A particular neuronal circuit in the brains of bats controls their vocalizations. Based on the rhythm with which the circuit oscillated, researchers were able to predict the kind of sounds the bats were about to make. These research results could contribute to a better understanding of human diseases in which language is impaired such as Parkinson's or Tourette syndrome. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2xiSOcs

Device could 'hear' disease through structures housing cells

Researchers have built a device that uses sound waves to detect the stiffness of an extracellular matrix, a structural network that contains cells. Changes in the stiffness of this structure can indicate the spread of disease. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2J5VjBW

Coronavirus SARS-CoV2: BESSY II data accelerate drug development

A coronavirus is threatening human health. SARS-CoV-2 is highly infectious and can cause severe pneumonia (COVID-19). A team has now found a promising approach to understanding the virus. Using the high-intensity X-ray light from the Berlin synchrotron source BESSY II, they have decoded the 3D architecture of the main protease of SARS-CoV-2. This protein plays a central role in the reproduction of the virus. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2UpwjL4

Water-balloon physics is high-impact science

Researchers have established the definitive physical rules governing capsule impact, a research area that had gone virtually unexplored until now. The results reveal a surprising relationship between the behavior of capsules and water droplets. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/33FuzSe

Electric jolt to carbon makes better water purifier

Nanocarbons for purifying water get a lot more efficient by exposing a precursor mixture to high voltage. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3aa1799

Hidden source of carbon found at the Arctic coast

A new study has shown evidence of undetected concentrations and flows of dissolved organic matter entering Arctic coastal waters coming from groundwater flows on top of frozen permafrost. This water moves from land to sea unseen, but researchers now believe it carries significant concentrations of carbon and other nutrients to Arctic coastal food webs. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2xbogcX

Device brings silicon computing power to brain research and prosthetics

A new device enables researchers to observe hundreds of neurons in the brain in real-time. The system is based on modified silicon chips from cameras, but rather than taking a picture, it takes a movie of the neural electrical activity. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3bgwuz3

Photons and electrons one-on-one

The dynamics of electrons changes ever so slightly on each interaction with a photon. Physicists have now measured such interplay in its arguably purest form -- by recording the attosecond-scale time delays associated with one-photon transitions in an unbound electron. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3bcGB87

Epigenetic inheritance: A silver bullet against climate change?

The rapid pace of climate change threatens all living species. An international team of researchers has demonstrated that fish living in the Baltic Sea evolve using epigenetic mechanisms, yet to a lesser extent than previously hypothesized. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2J7kDXY

Tiny double accelerator recycles energy

A team of scientists has built a miniature double particle accelerator that can recycle some of the laser energy fed into the system to boost the energy of the accelerated electrons a second time. The device uses terahertz radiation, and a single accelerating tube is just 1.5 centimeters long and 0.79 millimeters in diameter. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/33Cxyeb

NASA's Mars rover Perseverance still on track for July launch despite coronavirus outbreak

NASA is determined to get its life-hunting Mars rover off the ground this summer despite the coronavirus outbreak. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2WJfei7

Soyuz rocket to launch 34 OneWeb internet satellites today. Here's how to watch online.

An Arianespace Soyuz rocket will launch more than 30 new OneWeb internet satellites into orbit today (March 21) and you can watch it all live online. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3bgVG8M

China's Chang'e 4 lander and rover awake one more on far side of the moon

China's Chang'e 4 mission has started its 16th lunar day of work on the far side of the moon, with the Yutu 2 rover beginning a journey in search of new areas. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2xd79av

Earth's minimoon is gone but not forgotten: Report

For a brilliant (albeit brief) period of time, Earth had two moons — our tried and true satellite and a miniature space rock pulled into our orbit. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2WxHiVu

Teachers brave digital classrooms as coronavirus closes schools

Limiting screen time and telling students to hush are things of the past now that coronavirus has many teachers swapping whiteboards for laptops. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3dh5stb

A pigment from ancient Egypt to modern microscopy

Egyptian blue is one of the oldest humanmade colour pigments. It adorns the crown of the world famous bust of Nefertiti: but the pigment can do even more. An international research team has produced a new nanomaterial based on the Egyptian blue pigment, which is ideally suited for applications in imaging using near infrared spectroscopy and microscopy. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dkZ5VC

Expanding universe: We may be in a vast bubble

The few thousand galaxies closest to us move in a vast 'bubble' that is 250 million light years in diameter, where the average density of matter is half as large as for the rest of the universe. This is the hypothesis put forward by a theoretical physicist to solve a conundrum that has been splitting the scientific community for a decade: at what speed is the universe expanding? from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3ab8CN9

How and where to allocate stockpiled ventilators during a pandemic

Key factors must be taken into account in determining the need for and allocation of scarce ventilators during a severe pandemic, especially one causing respiratory illness. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/399QAJT

Global human genomes reveal rich genetic diversity shaped by complex evolutionary history

A new study has provided the most comprehensive analysis of human genetic diversity to date, after the sequencing of 929 human genomes. The study uncovers a large amount of previously undescribed genetic variation and provides new insights into our evolutionary past, highlighting the complexity of the process through which our ancestors diversified, migrated and mixed throughout the world. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3b8NPtE

The strange orbits of 'Tatooine' planetary disks

Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have found striking orbital geometries in protoplanetary disks around binary stars. While disks orbiting the most compact binary star systems share very nearly the same plane, disks encircling wide binaries have orbital planes that are severely tilted. These systems can teach us about planet formation in complex environments. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3dhUmnE

Pushing manufacturers to make more resilient products will curb e-waste

European lawmakers are considering new regulations that would push manufacturers to design products that last longer. It's part of a global effort to curb "throwaway" culture where people buy products, use them for a short while and then throw them away. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3a91Kjd

The power of attraction: Magnets in particle accelerators

In 1820, Hans Christian Oersted gave a demonstration on electricity to a class of advanced students at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. Using an early battery prototype, he looked to see what effect an electric current would have on a compass, and since he hadn't had time to test his experiment beforehand, the outcome was just as unknown to him as it was to his students. When he completed the circuit by attaching a single wire to both ends of the battery, the resulting current caused the needle of the compass to line up with the wire, showing that electricity and magnetism were two facets of the same phenomenon. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3bewUpH

Living under pressure: Lessons from the cradle of life

Deep sea alkaline hydrothermal vents have been theorized to be a place where life could have originated. The elevated temperature, alkaline pH, and unique vent action concentrate minerals and create local energetic gradients that can promote primitive metabolic reactions. Although sometimes overlooked, the extreme hydrostatic pressures found in deep sea vents can also facilitate various kinds of molecular assembly that would not otherwise spontaneously occur at sea level. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2xgktuA

Geologists find lost fragment of ancient continent in Canada's North

Sifting through diamond exploration samples from Baffin Island, Canadian scientists have identified a new remnant of the North Atlantic craton—an ancient part of Earth's continental crust. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2U6LZnn

During coronavirus, plunging power demand could signal economic woes

With Americans largely self-isolating amid concerns about COVID-19, some of the hardest hit areas are already seeing electricity demand begin to weaken. Could this be a sign of things to come? from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2vC9fQN

Innovative new fabrication approach for reprogrammable photonic circuits

Modern society relies on technologies with electronic integrated circuits (IC) at their heart, but these may prove to be less suitable in future applications such as quantum computing and environmental sensing. Photonic integrated circuits (PICs), the light-based equivalent of electronic ICs, are an emerging technology field that can offer lower energy consumption, faster operation, and enhanced performance. However, current PIC fabrication methods lead to large variability between fabricated devices, resulting in limited yield, long delays between the conceptual idea and the working device, and lack of configurability. Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology have devised a new process for the fabrication of PICs that addresses these critical issues, by creating novel reconfigurable PICs in the same way that the emergence of programmable logic devices transformed IC production in the 1980s. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2vChnAV

New models see coronavirus-induced recession, say economists

University of Michigan economists now expect a U.S. recession caused by the coronavirus, though a rapidly evolving, uncertain situation makes drawing firm conclusions difficult. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2vFtRaY

Panic buying, ignoring safety measures: The social psychology of crises

Times of crisis can bring out the best in people. It can also reveal the strangest parts of human nature. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2U6QmPB

How fungi's knack for networking boosts ecological recovery after bushfires

The unprecedented bushfires that struck the east coast of Australia this summer killed an estimated one billion animals across millions of hectares. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/33zXA1F

Google Doodle celebrates doctor who popularized hand-washing. Here's how to wash your hands in space.

Washing your hands with soap and water is a critical measure to prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria that can make us sick. from Space.com https://ift.tt/33xNaiV

Giant 'potentially hazardous' asteroid will fly safely by Earth in April

A large and "potentially hazardous" asteroid is poised to fly by Earth next month, but don't worry — it poses no threat to Earth. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2QvvvTy

Putting string theory to the test

String theory hopes to be a literal theory of everything — a powerful idea that could completely revolutionize our understanding of the physical world. But it has never been directly tested. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2QzEvax

Reanalysis of global amphibian crisis study finds important flaws

Though biodiversity is in crisis globally, amphibians in particular face a variety of threats. One such threat comes from pathogens like the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Bd causes chytridiomycosis, a disease that research indicates contributes to the decline of some amphibians. New research, however, now calls into question some prior evidence that links the widespread pathogen to hundreds of amphibian declines. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3aakFdu

Middle-aged entrepreneurs fare better than twentysomethings

Two years ago, MIT economist Pierre Azoulay started a lively discussion when a working paper he co-authored, "Age and High-Growth Entrepreneurship," revealed a surprising fact about startup founders: Among firms in the top 1/10 of the top 1 percent, in terms of growth, the average founder's age is 45. That's contrary to the popular image of valuable startups being the sole domain of twentysomething founders, such as Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UmGtfs

How oceans and atmospheres move heat around on Earth and other planetary bodies

Imagine a massive mug of cold, dense cream with hot coffee poured on top. Now place it on a rotating table. Over time, the fluids will slowly mix into each other, and heat from the coffee will eventually reach the bottom of the mug. But as most of us impatient coffee drinkers know, stirring the layers together is a more efficient way to distribute the heat and enjoy a beverage that's not scalding hot or ice cold. The key is the swirls, or vortices, that formed in the turbulent liquid. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3bgxH9M

Newfound Comet ATLAS is getting really bright, really fast

For years, amateur astronomers have been waiting for a bright, naked-eye comet to pass by Earth — and finally, such an object may have arrived. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Wr3dO5

NASA suspends work on SLS megarocket and Orion capsule due to coronavirus outbreak

NASA is halting production and testing of its Space Launch System (SLS) megarocket and Orion crew capsule, the deep-space hardware designed to get astronauts to the moon and Mars, NASA chief Jim Bridenstine announced Thursday (March 19). from Space.com https://ift.tt/395w78Y

NASA suspends work on Moon rocket due to virus

NASA said it has suspended work on building and testing the rocket and capsule for its Artemis manned mission to the Moon due to the rising number of coronavirus cases in the community. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2UtP4x4

Hidden source of carbon found at the Arctic coast

A previously unknown significant source of carbon just discovered in the Arctic has scientists marveling at a once overlooked contributor to local coastal ecosystems—and concerned about what it may mean in an era of climate change. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2Uq8Lp8

The mighty Nile, threatened by waste, warming, mega-dam

Early one morning in Cairo, volunteers paddle their kayaks across the Nile, fishing out garbage from the mighty waterway that gave birth to Egyptian civilisation but now faces multiple threats. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/33xQAC7

Water theft a growing concern in increasingly-dry Spain

Inside her greenhouse, Emilia Gomez bends down to see how her strawberries are faring following a difficult season with barely any water after her farm's illegal well was shut down. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3bc66Gr

Impact of a second Dust Bowl would be felt worldwide

The American Dust Bowl of the 1930s—captured by the novels of John Steinbeck—was an environmental and socio-economic disaster that worsened the Great Depression. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2J33A9q

The right dose of geoengineering could reduce climate change risks, study says

Stratospheric aerosol geoengineering is the idea that adding a layer of aerosol particles to the upper atmosphere can reduce climate changes caused by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2wq5NsO

Three national laboratories achieve record magnetic field for accelerator focusing magnet

In a multiyear effort involving three national laboratories from across the United States, researchers have successfully built and tested a powerful new magnet based on an advanced superconducting material. The eight-ton device—about as long as a semi-truck trailer—set a record for the highest field strength ever recorded for an accelerator focusing magnet and raises the standard for magnets operating in high-energy particle colliders. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2IZu3ou

Astronomers determine chemical composition of a nearby stellar stream

By conducting high-resolution optical spectroscopic observations of a nearby stellar stream known as Pisces–Eridanus, astronomers have unveiled essential information about its chemical nature. Results of the new study are presented in a paper published March 10 on the arXiv pre-print repository. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2IWfbqU

Sea otters, opossums and the surprising ways pathogens move from land to sea

A parasite known only to be hosted in North America by the Virginia opossum is infecting sea otters along the West Coast. A study from the University of California, Davis, elucidates the sometimes surprising and complex pathways infectious pathogens can move from land to sea to sea otter. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2WqpMlT

Merger between two stars led to blue supergiant, iconic supernova

A supernova in a nearby galaxy may have originated from an explosion of a blue supergiant formed by the merger of two stars, simulations by RIKEN astrophysicists suggest. The asymmetric nature of this explosion may provide hints for where to look for the elusive neutron star birthed in this stellar cataclysm. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2QuJB7L

Tracking data used to identify biodiversity hot spots in Southern Ocean ecosystems

Ecosystems in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica face growing threats from climate change and fishing pressure, but identifying areas in need of protection is challenging. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2U3gzyv

ESA Mission Control adjusts to coronavirus conditions

Responsible for spacecraft orbiting Earth, the Sun and exploring the Solar System, teams at ESA's ESOC mission control deal with in-flight challenges every day, from faulty hardware, problematic software and hazardous space debris to computer viruses that could affect ground stations. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/33u4BAU

Image: The southern hemisphere of Jupiter

NASA's Juno mission captured this look at the southern hemisphere of Jupiter on Feb. 17, 2020, during the spacecraft's most recent close approach to the giant planet. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/33zvK5p

How will NASA deal with the moon dust problem for Artemis lunar landings?

Scientists and engineers are trying to work out ways to tamp down lunar dust so billowing clouds don't pose a problem to astronauts landing on the moon in 2024. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Wo26yB

Watch live today! Slooh webcasts live astronomy lesson for K-12 students

Slooh astronomers will livestream a free, 1-hour astronomy lesson for K-12 students on Thursday (March 19) at 4:30 p.m. EDT (2030 GMT). Here's how to watch it. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2r0i8fm

Slooh will livestream astronomy lesson for K-12 students during coronavirus outbreak

Slooh astronomers will livestream a free astronomy lesson on Thursday (March 19) for K-12 students who are homebound during the coronavirus pandemic. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2UfPYgm

NASA asks public to design sensors for Venus rover concept

NASA is asking the public to help them explore "hell," as the agency terms it — the roasting surface of the planet Venus. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2wbd8N6

The year 2022 is going to be lit! (With NASA space launches.)

2022 is going to be big for science at NASA, with science missions observing Earth, the universe and everything in between. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3b1ofa2

Self-assembly required: Neutrons probe novel polymer behavior for biomedical materials

A versatile class of flexible, protein-like polymers could significantly advance future drug delivery methods. But first, scientists have to develop a reliable process for tailoring these polymers into shapes that can effectively transport medicines throughout the human body. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2x54UWT

SpaceX plans first manned flight to space station in May

Elon Musk's SpaceX will send astronauts to the International Space Station for the first time in May, NASA said, announcing the first crewed launch from the United States to the platform since 2011. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2IW0ELJ

New insights into US flood vulnerability revealed from flood insurance big data

An international team of scientists, led by the University of Bristol, has found that current estimates of flood risk rely upon methods for calculating flood damage which are inadequately verified and match poorly with observations. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3dehGmv

'Sushi parasites' have increased 283-fold in past 40 years

The next time you eat sashimi, nigiri or other forms of raw fish, consider doing a quick check for worms. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2QphDu8

Coronavirus: WHO does not recommend against the use of ibuprofen to bring down a fever

We are not aware of reports of any negative effects, says the global body from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2xIKSl5

States suspending standardized tests as schools close

Closing schools to combat the spread of the coronavirus is having a sweeping impact on an annual rite of spring: the standardized tests that are dreaded by millions of students and teachers alike. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2WoI3jy

Coronavirus live updates | PM Modi to address the nation today

According to WHO, as of March 18, there were 8,657 deaths in 166 countries from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2UbXMj2

Using 'organs-on-a-chip' to model complicated diseases

Biological engineers have created a multitissue model that lets them study the relationships between different organs and the immune system on a microfluidic chip seeded with human cells. With this 'organs-on-a-chip' model, they could explore the role of immune cells in ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory diseases. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/392TgZR

Ball-and-chain inactivation of ion channels visualized by cryo-electron microscopy

Ion channels, which allow potassium and sodium ions to flow in and out of cells, are crucial in neuronal 'firing' in the central nervous system and for brain and heart function. These channels use a ''ball-and-chain'' mechanism to help regulate their ion flow, according to a new study. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QuaMj7

New technique 'prints' cells to create diverse biological environments

With the help of photolithography and programmable DNA, researchers have created a new technique that can rapidly 'print' two-dimensional arrays of cells and proteins that mimic a wide variety of cellular environments in the body. This technique could help scientists develop a better understanding of the complex cell-to-cell messaging that dictates a cell's final fate. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QqiKd0

Hodor 'holds the door' open for a potential new way to curb mosquito populations

The identification of an insect-specific metal-sensing receptor in the gut lining highlights a possible new way to curb populations of disease-transmitting insects such as mosquitoes. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2TZ3GW6

NASA chief orders agency employees to work from home amid coronavirus pandemic

Like many of the rest of us, NASA employees are now working from home in a bid to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2WpEmKC

Watch | All about zoonotic diseases

A video on zoonotic diseases like coronavirus, avian influenza and monkey fever. from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2Ug3L6D

Huge evolutionary divide between African and Asian cheetah, says CCMB study

DNA analyses tracks evolutionary history between the two sub-species from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2TVJtQQ

'Fatal attraction': Small carnivores drawn to kill sites, then ambushed by larger kin

In many parts of the world, there is an imbalance in the food chain. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2xNmWx6

New method to create 'membraneless compartments' lends insight into cellular processes

A new method allows the creation of compartments within a liquid that do not have physical barriers. The method could help researchers understand how human cells use 'membraneless compartments' to segregate and concentrate components for important cellular processes, chemical reactions, or other biological functions. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3b88puq

Rethinking mortality and how we plan for old age

Many people dream of comfortably living out their golden years. A new study however shows that older Europeans, and especially women, frequently underestimate how many years they have left, which could lead to costly decisions related to planning for their remaining life course. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Ua7oek

Physicists propose new filter for blocking high-pitched sounds

Need to reduce high-pitched noises? Science may have an answer. Theoretical physicists report that materials made from tapered chains of spherical beads could help dampen sounds that lie at the upper range of human hearing or just beyond. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/33vhECi

Urban land could grow fruit and veg for 15 per cent of the population

Growing fruit and vegetables in just 10 per cent of a city's gardens and other urban green spaces could provide 15 per cent of the local population with their 'five a day', according to new research. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3da2W7W

Semiconductors can behave like metals and even like superconductors

The crystal structure at the surface of semiconductor materials can make them behave like metals and even like superconductors, a research team has shown. The discovery potentially opens the door to advances like more energy-efficient electronic devices. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2vt6aCv

Coronavirus live updates | Cases in India rise to 143

According to WHO, on March 17 there were 184,976 confirmed cases in 159 countries from The Hindu - Science https://ift.tt/2ISlHPh

One of Darwin's evolution theories finally proved

Scientists have proved one of Charles Darwin's theories of evolution for the first time -- nearly 140 years after his death. Researchers discovered mammal subspecies play a more important role in evolution than previously thought. Her research could now be used to predict which species conservationists should focus on protecting. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2UgrrI8

COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic has a natural origin

An analysis of public genome sequence data from SARS-CoV-2 and related viruses found no evidence that the virus was made in a laboratory or otherwise engineered. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/33rwNEt

Median incubation period for COVID-19

A new study calculates that the median incubation period for COVID-19 is just over 5 days and that 97.5% of people who develop symptoms will do so within 11.5 days of infection. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3b5Wptm

The life and death of one of America's most mysterious trees

A symbol of life, ancient sundial or just firewood? Tree-ring scientists trace the origin of a tree log unearthed almost a century ago. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2WotRaq

Artificial intelligence helps prevent disruptions in fusion devices

Research demonstrates that machine learning can predict and avoid damaging disruptions to fusion facilities. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3d6ZI5h

Emissions of several ozone-depleting chemicals are larger than expected

Researchers have found that much of the current emission of these gases likely stems from large CFC 'banks' -- old equipment such as building insulation foam, refrigerators and cooling systems, and foam insulation, that was manufactured before the global phaseout of CFCs and is still leaking the gases into the atmosphere. Based on earlier analyses, scientists concluded that CFC banks would be too small to contribute very much to ozone depletion, and so policymakers allowed the banks to remain. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/394D0aR

Mysterious bone circles made from the remains of mammoths reveal clues about Ice Age

Mysterious bone circles made from the remains of dozens of mammoths have revealed clues about how ancient communities survived Europe's ice age. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3d7gzER

New kind of CRISPR technology to target RNA, including RNA viruses like coronavirus

Researchers have developed a new kind of CRISPR screen technology to target RNA. The team leveraged their technology for a critical analysis: The COVID-19 public health emergency is due to a coronavirus, which contains an RNA - not DNA - genome. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2QjtGJx

New research first to relate Antarctic sea ice melt to weather change in tropics

While there is a growing body of research showing how the loss of Arctic sea ice affects other parts of the planet, a new study is the first to also consider the long-range effect of Antarctic sea ice melt. It estimates that Arctic and Antarctic ice loss will account for about one-fifth of the warming that is projected to happen in the tropics. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/33pflRb

One of Darwin's evolution theories finally proved by Cambridge researcher

Scientists have proved one of Charles Darwin's theories of evolution for the first time—nearly 140 years after his death. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/2TWotJR

For narwhals, the 'unicorn of the seas,' size matters for sexual selection

Showy peacock feathers, extravagant elk antlers and powerful crayfish claws are just a few examples of the ostentatious animal extremes used to compete for and attract mates, a process called sexual selection. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/38TDfoU

Scientists can see the bias in your brain

The strength of alpha brain waves reveals if you are about to make a biased decision. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2Wm1ERp

'Toxic,' but still successful professionally?

Toxic personality is a term used to describe people who behave greedily, immodestly and unfairly and take the truth very lightly. Researchers have found out why such people can still succeed in their careers. The trick that leads to the top is social skill. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/2xNUmM3

NASA selects proposals to study volatile stars, galaxies, cosmic collisions

NASA has selected proposals for four missions that would study cosmic explosions and the debris they leave behind, as well as monitor how nearby stellar flares may affect the atmospheres of orbiting planets. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/39X7tc5

Knowing why bacteria are great upstream swimmers may prevent serious infections

New findings on how bacteria can maintain persistent and fast upstream swimming motion over distances comparable with many human organs, may help prevent life-threatening infections, according to a team of international researchers. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3b6ly7g