technical updates

The closer we look at the universe, the more beautiful and baffling it becomes. Here are the 10 most epic space structures discovered in 2021. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3pIvRIx

A powerful storm system bringing heavy snowfall was blowing into Colorado on Friday, a day after devastating wildfires fueled by hurricane-force winds destroyed hundreds of homes and forced tens of thousands to flee. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/32LS9QK

In-flight education downlinks are chances for students to interact with astronauts on the International Space Station. Here are the nine most memorable downlink moments of 2021, as ranked by NASA. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3zlOHbJ

Lego Star Wars helmet building sets that feature Scout Trooper and Darth Vader headgear are currently on sale. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3HnvadO

The Standard Model explains the physics of how the world works. But in 2021, physicists started probing fundamental gaps in this long-established concept. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3HtJPnA

The holiday season may be almost over, but Star Wars streaming has just begun! from Space.com https://ift.tt/3zcqKUl

During this very eventful year, two nations joined the Mars club, a robot plied Red Planet skies for the first time ever and humanity kicked off an ambitious interplanetary sample-return campaign. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3zgokDS

An endangered leopard captured in Iraq's mountainous north had its hind leg amputated on Friday following a trap-inflicted wound, an AFP photographer said. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/32NqgaY

From landing on Mars to launching private citizens into space, and everything in between, this year has seen many historic milestones and giant leaps. from Space.com https://ift.tt/345KMnL

A bombshell UFO report, the "alien junk" in our solar system, and more new clues about extraterrestrial life. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3ECm7UA

These are some of the top exoplanet discoveries made in 2021. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3FQJXgU

From stem cells to blue jets to 'made in space' concrete, this is the best of 2021 International Space Station research. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3eAPHPw

More hurricanes are likely to slam Connecticut and the region as the planet continues warming due to greenhouse gas emissions, according to a study led by Yale University researchers. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3EBvUKp

The analysis of ancient DNA preserved in sediments is an emerging technology allowing for the detection of the past presence of humans and other animals at archaeological sites. Yet, little is known about how DNA is preserved in sediment for long periods of time. Scientists have now shed light on the matter by isolating DNA from solid blocks of undisturbed sediment that are embedded in plastic resin. The study reveals that ancient human and animal DNA is concentrated in small 'hot spots', particularly in microscopic particles of bone or feces. Micro-sampling of such particles can recover substantial amounts of DNA from ancient humans, such as Neanderthals, and other species and link them to archaeological and ecological records at a microscopic scale. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3JqnkSF

Nibiru has been linked to NASA, and is also sometimes referred to or confused with Planet X, another supposed world for which there is no evidence. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3HroiMj

Nearly three months after an undersea pipeline spilled thousands of gallons of crude oil into the waters off Southern California, authorities have announced that coastal cleanup efforts are now complete. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/31aMfYT

After an asteroid struck at the end of the Cretaceous period, debris from wildfires filled the atmosphere and blocked sunlight across Earth, causing ecosystem collapse and extinctions. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3sLAFib

Save $14 on the Lego Star Wars Imperial Probe Droid building toy, available at Target and Walmart. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3ezbvLt

Lego is launching a new series of building toys themed around NASA's Artemis program. The Rocket Launch Center and Lunar Research Base are scheduled for a release on March 1, 2022. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3HkiXq5

The James Webb Space Telescope is one step closer to finishing the deployment of its massive sunshield. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3pCx8AO

The Starship SN20 vehicle performed a "static fire" test today (Dec. 29) at the company's South Texas site, briefly igniting its Raptor engines while remaining anchored to the ground. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3qwuWtX

New Mexico Indigenous leaders are concerned about a proposed multimillion-dollar transmission line that would cross what they consider sacred lands. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3EGXMwK

If you're hoping to get a head start on stargazing in 2022, this deal on Celestron's Skymaster Giant 15x70 binoculars may be for you. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3qvZFaF

Carlos Batista da Silva holds his hand above his head, indicating on a wall the level where floodwaters reached inside his northern Brazil home. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3qALpxb

Immunologists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have identified biochemical "switches" that control development of regulatory T cells and offer a novel strategy for treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer. The research appeared earlier this month in the journal Cell Reports. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3zbzf1D

SpaceX had been aiming to launch Starship on its first orbital test flight in January or February, but a required FAA review won't be done until Feb. 28. from Space.com https://ift.tt/32NhucQ

Recent studies have shown variation in the gene-expression profile and phenotype of microglia across brain regions and between different age and disease states. But the molecular mechanisms that contribute to these transcriptomic changes in the human brain are not well understood. Now, a new study targets the methylation profile of microglia from human brain. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3qvcvpt

A potential new route to the diagnosis and treatment of ARDS comes from studying how neutrophils -- the white blood cells responsible for detecting and eliminating harmful particles in the body -- differentiate what materials to uptake by the material's surface structure, and favor uptake of particles that exhibit 'protein clumping,' according to new research. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3qzPIZB

For the past century, Southwestern archaeologists have debated what happened to the Mimbres people of southwestern New Mexico after AD 1150, a group known for their vibrant pottery with its distinctive geometric and animal designs. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/32MDpRO

China launched the Ziyuan 1 (02E) Earth resources observation satellite and a small amateur radio satellite on Saturday, Dec. 25. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3eyhznr

China's Shenzhou 13 astronauts ventured outside the orbiting Tianhe module on Sunday and installed a new panoramic camera for monitoring the space station. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3FCZrF5

NASA's massive new space observatory has entered its most perilous phase yet as it begins the careful process of unfurling its delicate sunshield. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3mE80rQ

Just like every other organism on Earth, plants' ultimate goal is to survive and reproduce. In order to achieve this, they must make trade-offs between where and how to allocate their finite set of resources. Whether they put their resources and energy into their growth, reproduction or maintenance, is all part of their so-called plant strategy. With a new framework, Ph.D. candidate Jianhong Zhou and her supervisors found that not all of the currently known strategies represent a plant strategy in real life. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3JrVLbi

The Whisky Barrel, an online spirits merchant, is celebrating the past and future of NASA missions to the moon with limited scotch whisky offerings for 2022. from Space.com https://ift.tt/32prnhq

Oceanographers have great difficulty conducting investigations by ship in Antarctic continental shelf areas where ice is attached to the shore, so a team of researchers have replaced these boat-based studies with sensors attached to seals, which have far less trouble navigating such waters. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/32KoGqt

The astronauts launching with the first private crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS) next year have cleared all their medical evaluations. from Space.com https://ift.tt/32xkhqT

Scientists have found a way to prove that biochemical signals sent from cell to cell play an important role in determining how those cells develop, findings that can help explain how stem cells differentiate and how cancer arises and proliferates, possibly leading to new treatments. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3HfInFn

Scientists investigating the DNA outside our genes - the 'dark genome' - have discovered recently evolved regions that code for proteins associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3eq0hJk

Researchers have created an extraordinarily light version, or isotope, of magnesium. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3puBlXp

The pioneers of holography (Gabor, Leith, Upatnieks, and Denisyuk) predicted very early that the ultimate 3D display will be based on this technique. This conviction was rooted in the fact that holography is the only approach that can render all optical cues interpreted by the human visual system. Holographic 3D displays have been a dream chased after for many years, facing challenges on all fronts: Computation, transmission, and rendering. With numbers such as 6.6 × 1015 flops required for calculations, 3 × 1015 b/s data rates, and 1.6 × 1012 phase pixels, the task has been daunting. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3sDVcFG

Blood flow velocity is an important parameter reflecting vascular function. Abnormal vascular function is closely related to the occurrence and development of many diseases, such as diabetes, arteriosclerosis, thrombosis and so on. Therefore, the monitoring of flow velocity is not only an important research target, but also an important clinical indicator. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3eqH6yW

The ability to quantify optical properties (i.e., absorption and scattering) of strongly turbid media has major impacts on the characterization of biological tissues, fluid fields, and many others. However, the task of quantitative imaging of optical properties for strongly turbid media is intrinsically challenging, as photon scattering hinders direct measurement over length scales larger than the mean free path. Few current imaging technologies can quantify absorption and scattering properties of strongly turbid media in a wide-field non-contact format, and none have been shown to map quantitative optical properties with high-speed (e.g., kHz) capabilities. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3sSpg0r

Developing low-cost and highly efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) to replace commercial Pt/C has always been desired to greatly reduce the cost of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The parameter of half-wave potential (E1/2) obtained from linear-sweep voltammetry (LSV) in O2-saturated acid/alkaline medium on a rotating disk electrode (RDE) is commonly used for characterizing the ORR performance of all kinds of new electrocatalysts. With higher value of E1/2, the ORR performance becomes better. For comparison, the E1/2 value of Pt/C is extensively used as a benchmark. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3Eyr5Sn

Restoring hearing through cochlear implantation for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can help them understand spoken language and enhance social interactions, according to a new study. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3qwld6W

This cute and posable build-and-display model of "Baby Yoda" is now on sale. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3oQPFYO

We've managed to get these Lego Star Wars deals past the Galactic Empire's blockade. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2Zvh1KN

Heavy metals have a reputation for being dangerous, but some are essential nutrients that you can't live without. In this week's episode of Reactions, we explore why: from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3z1ESQb

By analyzing the acquisition-conservation tradeoff in root systems among different plants, ecologists have put forward the root economics spectrum (RES) hypothesis. Some plant species have finer and cost-effective absorptive roots that contribute to rapid nutrient uptake but have shorter lifespans, whereas others have thicker and less cost-effective absorptive roots marked by slower nutrient acquisition but longer lifespans. The RES hypothesis reflects the correlations among different root traits, which can facilitate the adaptation of plants to the local environment. The RES is one of the core issues in root ecology, but its adaptive role and genetic basis remains largely elusive. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3Hh49Zm

Studies of the genomic DNA compaction in the cell nucleus and dynamic reorganization during physiologic processes or disease development in live cell environments are exceedingly challenging. This complexity stems from a high degree of compaction required to accommodate ~2 meters of genomic DNA within the cell nucleus, which typically is 5 to 10 micrometers in diameter. In addition, the chromatin compaction density is not static, but fluctuates over time accommodating for gene activities. Meanwhile, the 3D resolution of optical microscopy is not high enough even for sub-diffraction imaging modalities, thus limiting studies of the spatial geometry of complex genomic architecture and its dynamic transformations. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3z4w63C

With the demand in real-time monitoring of endoplasmic variations and rapid detection of extracellular signals, a great number of approaches to bioimaging have been developed. The past few decades have witnessed a dramatic progress in optical imaging, especially with the emerging of microsphere-assisted techniques that have the excellent ability of signal collection and enable real-time and super-resolution imaging with conventional optical microscopic systems. However, as most of the microspheres in current strategies are in solid and artificially synthetic materials, they are of very low biocompatibility. Fortunately, lessons from nature have shown that some bio-components and already-existing objects can interact with light and are able to take the same functions as the real optical elements. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3qsQ6sZ

Comprised of judiciously engineered microscopic photonic structures with subwavelength features, the concepts of metasurface and metamaterials have proven fruitful results in the realm of meta-optics. Previous research attentions are mainly devoted to applying meta-structures to tailor light in free space and develop relevant devices and applications. However, recent research is revealing the prominent potential of leveraging subwavelength meta-structured waveguides to enable exotic waveguiding phenomena and design novel waveguide-based devices. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3FNyTkF

Optical interference is not only a fundamental phenomenon that has enabled new theories of light to be derived, but it has also been used in interferometry for the measurement of small displacements, refractive index changes, and surface irregularities. The Michelson interferometer is a commonly used interferometer, by which the equal-inclination and equal-thickness interference fringes of light can be easily observed. Historically, this interferometer has been used in many famous physical experiments, such as the Michelson-Morey experiment and gravitational wave detection. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3HgJZPf

Cylindrical vector beam (CVB) multiplexing has emerged as a powerful technique to boost signal channels. Coupling and separating CVBs are two pivotal elements in CVB multiplexing communication. Although off-axis control technologies such as miniature Dammann vortex gratings have been investigated to couple and separate light beams, it is usually limited to light beams with homogeneous polarization due to its phase-only grating structure. For CVBs with inhomogeneous polarization, a gradient phase device is required to create a gradient phase difference between the left- and right-handed circularly polarized (LHCP/RHCP) components, so that the CVBs with off-axis incident angles can coaxially propagate and carry different phase structures. Despite considerable efforts of off-axis control technologies, the off-axis polarization control of CVBs still remains a challenge. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3FBBGgG

While fighting food waste is a year-round mission, it's more important than ever around the holidays. This is something to consider during this year's festivities, typically known for an abundance of food. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3EweOhb

The disaster recorder aims to set us on a better path by watching our every move. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3pvSqQQ

The Book of Boba Fett promises to pack plenty of sci-fi punch. from Space.com https://ift.tt/32Dl754

The death toll from one of the most destructive typhoons to hit the Philippines in recent years rose to 388 on Monday, the government said, as disease outbreaks threatened some of the stricken areas. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3HfjVnD

A bird flu outbreak has killed more than 2,000 wild cranes on a reserve in northern Israel, an unusually high toll for the seasonal flu, the parks authority said Sunday. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/341cYby

A major new study of ancient DNA has traced the movement of people into southern Britain during the Bronze Age. In the largest such analysis published to date, scientists examined the DNA of nearly 800 ancient individuals. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3mB4NZP

The climate crisis has put the end of oil onto the agenda, but achieving that is a colossal task given the world economy's deep dependence on petroleum. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3psaATi

More than 11,000 people have been displaced in the Brazilian state of Bahia due to flooding, with authorities scrambling Saturday to provide relief to residents without alternate housing. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/32uO5UR

Louisiana researchers have identified 14 new species of shrews on an Indonesian island where seven in that genus were previously known. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3mzBQgN

The James Webb Space Telescope is finally aloft, but it'll be a while before it starts its highly anticipated science mission. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3FwmXTY

Using observations and archival data from several of NSF's NOIRLab's observatories, together with observations from telescopes around the world and in orbit, astronomers have discovered at least 70 new free-floating planets—planets that wander through space without a parent star—in a nearby region of the Milky Way. This is the largest sample of such planets found in a single group and it nearly doubles the number known over the entire sky. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3entl4f

The James Webb Space Telescope was a decade late and $10 billion over budget, but it has finally launched.  from Space.com https://ift.tt/3FxGa7K

The mysterious presence of mantle materials more than 1,000 miles (1,609 km) from where they originated may be explained by a 'window' 62 miles (100 kilometers) below the Earth's surface. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3mv5SCE

Recent satellite images captured by Landsat 8 show a rare windswept sea ice formation over water in Antarctica. from Space.com https://ift.tt/30XqyeK

The James Webb Space Telescope is truly on its way. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3prtUjG

The James Webb Space Telescope received a faultless send-off by Europe's Ariane 5 rocket in what has been described as the best Christmas gift to the world's astronomers. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3z5aFzB

Authorities on one of Spain's Canary Islands declared a volcanic eruption that started in September officially finished Saturday following 10 days of no lava flows, seismic activity or significant sulfur dioxide emissions. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/33MOpPk

On Dec. 25, 2021, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope launched into space to peer farther back into the universe's history than ever before. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3pqImbw

The world's largest and most powerful space telescope rocketed away Saturday on a high-stakes quest to behold light from the first stars and galaxies and scour the universe for hints of life. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3pq9iYY

A mix of drought in Canada's prairies and flooding on its Pacific coast have brought about crop production and shipping woes now leading to international shortages of fries and mustard. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3qrFx9p

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope launched Dec. 25 from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, South America. The Webb observatory's mission is to seek the light from the first galaxies in the early universe and to explore our own solar system, as well as planets orbiting other stars, called exoplanets. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3HcEyAM

Everything you need to know about the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA's Big Bang-probing space observatory. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3jCZRSN

The world's most powerful space telescope is set to blast off on Saturday to its outpost 1.5 million kilometres (930,000 miles) from Earth, after several delays caused by technical hitches. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3Fnqcgx

Astronauts on the International Space Station shared a festive message for people on Earth as they prepare to spend the holidays in orbit. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3pnz4gC

The rocket that will finally launch NASA's James Webb Space Telescope today (Dec. 25) has begun fueling for liftoff. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3mwg2Tu

Space weather could derail the James Webb Space Telescope launch tomorrow. But so far, all seems in favour for tomorrow's big day. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3qmcgwY

December is the month of the winter solstice, which a large part of the world associates with such celebrations as Nativity festivals. from Space.com https://ift.tt/2sVER2i

Dr. Huo Zhipeng and his student Zhao Sheng from the Hefei Institutes of physical science (HFIPS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences recently developed a lead-free neutron and gamma ray composite shielding material that has high shielding properties and is environmentally friendly. Their results were published in Nuclear Materials and Energy. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3plcB3O

The two-meter skull of an enormous new ichthyosaur species, Earth's first known giant creature, reveals how both the extinct marine reptiles and modern whales became giants. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/30VpAQn

The artificial intelligence (AI) program DeepMind has gotten closer to proving a math conjecture that's bedeviled mathematicians for decades. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3ekusBv

Some microbes can form thin films called biofilms. These biofilms give them an advantage over other microbes by protecting them from stresses such as a lack of nutrients or the presence of harmful substances in the environment. Researchers often focus on the biofilms that pathogens use to resist antibiotics. However, some biofilms can be helpful to plants and other host organisms. In previous work, researchers found that Pantoea sp. YR343, a bacterium that promotes plant growth, forms robust biofilms along the root surface of Populus, the genus which includes willow and cottonwood trees. Scientists know relatively little about the mechanisms behind the formation of biofilms on plant roots, particularly at the genetic level. However, research has found that enzymes called diguanylate cyclases are key to biofilm formation. This new research has identified a diguanylate cyclase, DGC2884, that is expressed specifically in the presence of plants when bacteria colonize roots and form biofilm

After more than two decades of development, NASA's next-generation space telescope is on the launch pad. from Space.com https://ift.tt/32ygUzB

The genus Fagaropsis Mildbr. ex Siebenl. belongs to the Rutaceae family. It consists of four accepted species: F. hildebrandtii, F. angolensis, F. glabra, and F. velutina. The plants of this genus are trees and shrubs found in Africa and Madagascar. Fagaropsis species have been used in folkloric medicine for the treatment and management of various diseases, such as malaria, cancer and chronic joint pain. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3ppN8WI

Researchers at Aalto University have shown that a nanoparticle suspension can serve as a simple model for studying the formation of patterns and structures in more complicated non-equilibrium systems, such as living cells. The new system will not only be a valuable tool for studying patterning processes but also has a wide range of potential technological applications. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3pl3H6v

Some of the same brain systems known to play a role in learning from trial and error also are engaged when people conform to social norms, scientists report in a new study. The findings are important, the researchers said, because changing one's behavior to align with one's peers can contribute to community-building or -- depending on the goals and values of the group -- societal breakdown. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EijMxP

A solar storm that erupted from the sun on Monday (Dec. 20) may boost northern lights displays around the north pole just ahead of Santa's trip this weekend. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3mrCBIT

British people tend to overestimate the prevalence of different minority demographics, beliefs, and behaviors among the public, according to a study publishing December 22 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3pjvbsU

Which factors determine how fast a quantum computer can perform its calculations? Physicists at the University of Bonn and the Technion—Israel Institute of Technology have devised an elegant experiment to answer this question. The results of the study are published in the journal Science Advances.  from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/30Pktku

We've tried, tested and ranked all of this year's best beginner drones. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3sxJXi1

Intensive lifestyle intervention with plenty of exercise helps people with prediabetes improve their blood glucose levels over a period of years and thus delay or even prevent type 2 diabetes. In particular, individuals with prediabetes at highest risk benefited from intensive lifestyle intervention. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3H2FMhX

To solve the mysteries of how learning and memory occur, scientists have created a system to track millions of connections among brain cells in mice -- all at the same time -- when the animals' whiskers are tweaked, an indicator for learning. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/30N2KKv

Exercise not only trains the muscles but can also prevent the development of fatty liver. A new study shows which molecular adaptations, in particular of the liver mitochondria, can be observed in this process. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3Flspcb

By improving the calibration of a conventional optical microscope, researchers have for the first time measured the volume of individual droplets smaller than 100 trillionths of a liter with an uncertainty of less than 1%. That is a tenfold improvement over previous measurements. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3pfkLe0

Researchers have created DNA-like magnetic nanostructures that form strong inter-helix magnetic bonds. These produce topological textures in the magnetic field, opening the door to the next generation of magnetic devices, and patterning magnetic fields on the nanoscale. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3yL9FR6

The iridescent shimmer that makes birds such as peacocks and hummingbirds so striking is rooted in a natural nanostructure so complex that people are only just beginning to replicate it technologically. The secret to how birds produce these brilliant colors lies in a key feature of the feather's nanoscale design, according to a study led by Princeton University researchers and published in the journal eLife. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3eumPc1

NASA's STEREO-A satellite caught this view of Comet Leonard as it continued to streak into the inner solar system in December. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3smbcMl

Tuesday at 9:58 a.m. marked the arrival of winter, and with it came a weather record. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3efOzks

Thwaites Glacier is roughly the size of Florida, and holds enough ice to raise sea levels over two feet. New research shows that the collapse of its ice shelf may be just a few years away. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3FiFgMd

There is a moment in The Infinite where you can find yourself in front of NASA astronaut Drew Morgan as he tries to describe what it's like to enter the International Space Station for the first time. from Space.com https://ift.tt/329XMZe

Tourist towns along the Lake Michigan shoreline love to proclaim the giant body of water "Unsalted and Shark-Free." The slogan is plastered on t-shirts, magnets and bumper stickers—but, according to a new study, only one of those claims holds water. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3mnYAR7

Parasitic worms that infect companion animals such as dogs and cats are more likely to make the leap into humans than other worm species, according to new research from the University of Georgia's Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3qhEWaw

Two new studies reveal surprising features of the asteroid Ryugu. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3ml9Ihy

The sixth and final season of "The Expanse" is currently showing on Amazon Prime Video and it's a show not to miss. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3qav16E

A researcher at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy has identified the proteins necessary for efficient regeneration of skeletal muscles after acute injury and in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Ashok Kumar, Else and Philip Hargrove Endowed Professor of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, is reporting his findings in eLife. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3EaVTrX

Earthquakes of similar magnitude can cause tsunamis of greatly varying sizes. This commonly observed, but not well-understood phenomenon has hindered reliable warnings of local tsunamis. This research provides new insight that connects the characteristics of earthquakes -- magnitude, depth where two tectonic plates slip past each other and the rigidity of the plates involved -- with the potential size of a resulting tsunami. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3GZgukP

Rocket woes have again delayed NASA's return to the moon. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3e87ugT

Some engineered living materials can combine the strength of run-of-the-mill building materials with the responsiveness of living systems. Think self-healing concrete, paint that changes color when a specific chemical is detected or material that could reproduce and fill in a crack when one forms. This would revolutionize construction and maintenance, with wide-reaching economic and environmental implications. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3Fh9z6f

As our brains age, small lesions begin to pop up in the bundles of white matter that carry messages between our neurons. The lesions can damage this white matter and lead to cognitive deficits. Now, researchers not only provide an explanation for the location of these lesions but also how they develop in the first place. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3GWUc3e

SpaceX will launch a Dragon spacecraft packed with NASA cargo to the International Space Station early Tuesday (Dec. 21) and you can watch it live. from Space.com https://ift.tt/3EjdspH

Our brains can distinguish highly similar patterns, thanks to a process called pattern separation. How exactly our brains separate patterns is, however, not full,y understood yet. Using a full-scale computer model of the dentate gyrus, a brain region involved in pattern separation, researchers found that inhibitory neurons activated by one pattern suppress all their neighboring neurons, thereby switching off 'competing' similar patterns. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3yIRxXO

Researchers have discovered that a nanoparticle therapeutic enhances cancer immunotherapy and is a possible new approach in treating malignant pleural effusion (MPE). MPE is the accumulation of fluid between the chest wall and lungs and is accompanied by malignant cells and/or tumors. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/30FG2E3

A new study warns 1,500 endangered languages could no longer be spoken by the end of this century. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3J5wLXq

An outbreak of bird flu has been detected in a duck farm in France's Landes region, the heart of foie gras production, local officials said Sunday. from Phys.org - latest science and technology news stories https://ift.tt/3sgXrOL

Some marine species can help protect others from climate change by shielding them from heat, according to a new study. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3q8Aniv

Researchers have shown that blocking IL-6 and TNF cytokines provides a more effective approach to preventing life-threatening graft-versus-host-disease, an inflammatory condition that develops in patients after their allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3pa9HPj