Science News from around the Web
- China's Absolutely Massive Radio Telescope FAST Is Now Fully OperationalTime for science!... Read more »
- These Scientists Think We Could All Live in Gigantic Mushroom BuildingsNot as crazy as it sounds.... Read more »
- Remarkable New T-Cell Discovery Can Kill Several Cancer Types in The LabIt's not a therapy yet, but it's really exciting.... Read more »
- Here's Everything You Need to Know About The Coronavirus Spreading From ChinaThis simple timeline explains the spread of the new coronavirus.... Read more »
- Flooding damage to levees is cumulative -- and often invisibleRecent research finds that repeated flooding events have a cumulative effect on the structural integrity of earthen levees, suggesting that the increase in extreme weather events associated with climate change could pose significant challenges for the nation's aging levee system.... Read more »
- New species of antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in infected woundA hitherto unknown antibiotic-resistant bacteria species, in the same family as E. coli and Salmonella spp., has been found and classified in Sweden. The proposed taxonomic name of the species -- the first of the new genus -- is Scandinavium goeteborgense, after the city of Gothenburg, Sweden, where the bacterium... Read more »
- Insect bites and warmer climate means double-trouble for plantsScientists think that current models are incomplete and that we may be underestimating crop losses. A new study shows that infested tomato plants, in their efforts to fight off caterpillars, don't adapt well to rising temperatures. This double-edged sword worsens their productivity.... Read more »
- Walking sharks discovered in the tropicsFour new species of tropical sharks that use their fins to walk are causing a stir in waters off northern Australia and New Guinea.... Read more »
- Well-designed substrates make large single crystal bi-/tri-layer graphene possibleScientists have reported the fabrication and use of single crystal copper-nickel alloy foil substrates for the growth of large-area, single crystal bilayer and trilayer graphene films.... Read more »
- Mason researchers Narayanan and Veneziano receive funding to build better vaccines(George Mason University) George Mason University's Aarthi Narayanan and Remi Veneziano received $314,000 from US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) for a project using DNA-nanoparticles to improve vaccine design. The new design uses one-, two-, and three-dimensional structures made out of DNA molecules to increase immunogenic potential by delivering... Read more »
- Study: Pharmaceutical companies marketing stimulants to physicians(Boston Medical Center) Results of a new study show that a large number of physicians in the US may have received marketing payments from pharmaceutical companies that produce stimulant medications. Led by researchers at Boston Medical Center's (BMC) Grayken Center for Addiction, the first of its kind study found that... Read more »
- Coral 'helper' stays robust under ocean acidification(ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies) A type of algae crucial to the survival of coral reefs may be able to resist the impacts of ocean acidification caused by climate change. In a world-first, scientists discover coralline algae are able to build tolerance over multiple generations.... Read more »
- Determining the atomic structure of natural products more rapidly and accurately(Forschungsverbund Berlin) Many drugs are derived from natural products. But before natural products can be exploited, chemists must first determine their structure and stereochemistry. This can be a major challenge, particularly when the molecules cannot be crystallized and contain only few hydrogen atoms. A new NMR-based method, developed at the... Read more »
- UMMS scientist shows gene therapy protection of eyesight in models of multiple sclerosis(University of Massachusetts Medical School) Research from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, reveals the molecular process in which synaptic connections in the brain are damaged in multiple sclerosis and how this contributes to neurodegenerative symptoms. The paper, published in Immunity, also shows how gene therapy may be used to... Read more »
- A Simple Twist of Thermodynamics Could Lead to Greener RefrigerationFibers that become colder when they are untwisted could inspire more environmentally-friendly fridges -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com ... Read more »
- Old Drug, New Tricks: Existing Medicines Show Promise in Fighting CancerDozens of compounds approved for other purposes can kill cancer cells selectively -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com ... Read more »
- Are Human Body Temperatures Cooling Down?A new study finds that they have dropped, on average, over the past century and a half -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com ... Read more »
- The FCC's Approval of SpaceX's Starlink Mega Constellation May Have Been UnlawfulA new paper suggests that the agency broke U.S. environmental law in its approval of the satellites and that if it were to be sued in court, it would likely lose -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com ... Read more »
- Possible Missing Link in Alzheimer's Pathology IdentifiedIt may open the door to new treatments and explain why previous ones failed -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com ... Read more »
- Scientists made a bow tie-shaped molecule and it changes colourA molecule shaped like a bow tie changes colour in the presence of toxic chemicals, which could make it useful for monitoring air... Read more »
- Watch the first ever video of a chemical bond breaking and formingA chemical bond between two metal atoms has been filmed breaking and forming for the first time – something scientists say they only dreamed of seeing... Read more »
- In the quantum realm, cause doesn’t necessarily come before effectIn everyday life, causes always precede effects. But new experiments suggests that no such restriction applies in the quantum world... Read more »
- Strange particles found in Antarctica cannot be explained by physicsA NASA science balloon picked up two high-energy particles and a new analysis reveals that they can't be explained by the standard model of particle physics... Read more »
- Trippy maths program could help figure out the shape of the universeMathematicians have come up with a way to explore strange 3D spaces that could be related to the shape of the universe... Read more »
- Electrified artificial skin can feel exactly where it is touchedOrange-coloured gel has been made into artificial skin that can be 3D printed in any shape and detect human touch – one day it could help robots feel... Read more »
- Cell injections may restore fertility lost through cancer treatmentAn injection of egg-containing cells appears to rejuvenate the ovaries of mice, and could help restore fertility in women without surgery... Read more »
- Sixth person dies as Wuhan coronavirus spreads between peopleSix deaths and nearly 300 cases have been linked to a new virus that originated in China. Authorities now believe the virus can spread from person to person... Read more »
- CRISPR-edited chickens made resistant to a common virusCRISPR gene editing has created chickens that resist a common virus. It may be possible to use the same technique to make poultry resistant to bird flu too... Read more »
- Michelin sustainable rubber criticised for deforestationMichelin and WWF have been criticised over a rubber plantation in Indonesia which villagers say has caused deforestation and destroyed elephant habitat... Read more »