Science news

• 'Yelp for people' app developed in Canada greeted with online outrage

  01-10-2015 23:45 via cbc.ca
  
  An app that allows users to rate people like they would rate a restaurant is scheduled for a November release, but it already has the internet up in arms.
  
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• California meets water savings target for third month

  01-10-2015 23:34
  
  FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Californians cut water use by 27 percent in August, marking the third consecutive month that residents and businesses surpassed the 25 percent conservation goal set by Gov. Jerry Brown to deal with the relentless drought, officials said Thursday.
  
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• Sperm protein may offer target for male contraceptive

  01-10-2015 23:24
  
  With the identification of a new sperm protein that helps sperm penetrate eggs, researchers may be closer to developing birth control pills for men.
  
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• Kavli Foundation gives more money for the brain

  01-10-2015 23:01
  The Kavli Foundation will provide $100 million toward solving the mysteries of the brain.
  
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• Chore or stress reliever: Study suggests that washing dishes decreases stress

  01-10-2015 22:58
  Mindfully washing dishes calms the mind and decreases stress, a new study shows. The study looked at whether washing dishes could be used as an informal contemplative practice that promotes a positive state of mindfulness -- a meditative method of focusing attention on the emotions and thoughts of the present moment.
  
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• Research shows a cause of gastrointestinal symptoms in Type 1 diabetes

  01-10-2015 22:50
  A molecular basis has been found for why 80 percent of patients with longstanding Type 1 diabetes have chronic gastrointestinal symptoms including gastroparesis (delayed emptying of food), irritable bowel syndrome, abdominal distension and fecal incontinence, significantly reducing their quality of life.
  
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• New polymer creates safer fuels

  01-10-2015 22:50
  Before embarking on a transcontinental journey, jet airplanes fill up with tens of thousands of gallons of fuel. In the event of a crash, such large quantities of fuel increase the severity of an explosion upon impact. Researchers have discovered a polymeric fuel additive that can reduce the intensity of postimpact explosions that occur during accidents and terrorist acts. Furthermore, preliminary results show that the additive can provide this benefit without adversely affecting fuel performanc
  
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• Genetic mutations linked to a form of blindness

  01-10-2015 22:50
  Scientists have identified two naturally occurring genetic mutations in dogs that result in achromatopsia, a form of blindness. One of the most promising avenues for developing a cure, however, is through gene therapy, and to create those therapies requires animal models of disease that closely replicate the human condition.
  
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• Gene suppression helps form memories

  01-10-2015 22:50
  A new study has identified a number of genes that are repressed at various time points after memory formation, providing important clues as to how long-term memories are formed.
  
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• Hurricane and rainstorm are locked in a dangerous dance

  01-10-2015 22:06
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Hurricane Joaquin is locked in a dance with an extraordinarily heavy rainstorm that is already drenching the Carolinas. As the two draw closer together over the next few days, the effects could be disastrous for the East Coast.
  
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• 15 EU nations opt to stay GMO-free

  01-10-2015 21:51
  
  Fifteen of the 28 EU member nations are seeking to keep genetically modified organisms out of all or part of their territory, as the deadline for opting out of new European legislation on GMO crops nears, the bloc's executive arm said Thursday.
  
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• Digital world map broadens scope for middle ages teaching, research

  01-10-2015 21:42
  Online users can now travel back in time to the medieval world by clicking through a collection of international research on the first digital platform of its kind.
  
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• Volcanoes, asteroid wiped out dinosaurs: study

  01-10-2015 21:41
  
  A massive asteroid strike 66 million years ago triggered a string of potent volcanic eruptions that spelled doom for the dinosaurs, US researchers said Thursday.
  
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• Researchers in Northwestern Hawaiian Islands finds highest rates of unique marine species

  01-10-2015 21:41
  Scientists returned from a 28-day research expedition aboard NOAA Ship Hi'ialakai exploring the deep coral reefs within Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. During the trip, scientists recorded numerous species of marine life never before seen, including a possible new species of seahorse, and a sea star not previously found in Hawaii.
  
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• Hotel 'greenwashing' dirties eco-friendly reputation

  01-10-2015 21:41
  Hotels across the globe are increasingly encouraging guests to embrace green practices. Yet while guests think they are supporting the environment by shutting off lights and reusing towels, they may in fact be victims of 'greenwashing,' a corporation's deceitful practice of promoting environmentally friendly programs while hiding ulterior motives.
  
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• Lockheed-Boeing rocket firm poised for rare commercial launch

  01-10-2015 21:28
  
  Cape Canaveral, Fla (Reuters) - A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas 5 rocket is being prepared for a commercial satellite launch on Friday, a market the Lockheed Martin and Boeing partnership has said it aims to grow to as its monopoly on U.S. military launches ends.
  
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• US tightens smog standards, environmentalists cry foul

  01-10-2015 21:24
  
  The United States on Thursday tightened its standards on smog -- also known as ground-level ozone -- but environmental groups said the anti-pollution measures don't go far enough to protect people's health.
  
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• VIDEO: Plastic in oceans 'threatens food chain'

  01-10-2015 21:11 via bbc.co.uk
  
  As England prepares to introduce a charge for plastic bags, Science Editor David Shukman reports on the possible threat to the food chain, by the plastics broken down into tiny fragments in our oceans.
  
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• Charon moon seen in super detail

  01-10-2015 21:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Pluto's major moon, Charon, takes centre stage in this week's release of new pictures from the New Horizons mission.
  
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• NASA releases best photos yet of Pluto's jumbo moon, Charon

  01-10-2015 20:52
  
  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Pluto's big moon, Charon, is being revealed in all its rugged glory.
  
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• The sound of bacteria swimming

  01-10-2015 20:42 via cbc.ca
  
  To try and understand how bacteria can move so quickly, scientists have synthesized the sound of a single bacterium swimming.
  
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• Sound of bacteria swimming synthesized by scientists

  01-10-2015 20:42 via cbc.ca
  
  To try and understand how bacteria can move so quickly, scientists have synthesized the sound of a single bacterium swimming.
  
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• T. rex tackles Triceratops: Canadian specialists ready new exhibit for Smithsonian

  01-10-2015 20:34 via cbc.ca
  
  A team of Canadian specialists is mounting a 66-million-year-old T. rex skeleton for a new, permanent display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
  
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• Search for Mars life stymied by contamination threat

  01-10-2015 20:29
  
  A multi-billion-dollar robot dispatched to Mars to search for life must steer clear of promising "hot spots" for fear of spreading microbes from Earth, NASA project scientists said Thursday.
  
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• Private Moon Landing Set for 2017

  01-10-2015 20:09
  
  The first private moon landing could be just two years away. California-based company Moon Express, which aims to fly commercial missions to the moon and help unlock its resources, has signed a five-launch deal with Rocket Lab, with the first two robotic liftoffs scheduled to take place in 2017. These uncrewed launches — three of which are firmly on the books, with the other two optional at the moment — will blast Moon Express' MX-1 lander into space aboard Rocket Lab's 52.5-foo
  
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• Making 'The Martian': Exclusive Interview with Director Sir Ridley Scott

  01-10-2015 20:09
  
  In "The Martian," stranded astronaut Mark Watney must use his knowledge of science to survive for several years alone on the Red Planet, in a classic castaway scenario created by book author Andy Weir. The film of the same name is directed by Sir Ridley Scott, who began his screen career production-designing the BBC television series "Doctor Who" (1963) and directing the episodic police drama "Z Cars" (1965). Scott gained worldwide attention upon directing the movie "Alien" (1979), and solidifie
  
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• 1st Private Moon Landing Set for 2017

  01-10-2015 20:09
  
  The first private moon landing is just two years away, if everything goes according to plan. California-based company Moon Express, which aims to fly commercial missions to the moon and help unlock its resources, has signed a five-launch deal with Rocket Lab, with the first two robotic liftoffs scheduled to take place in 2017. These uncrewed launches — three of which are firmly on the books, with the other two optional at the moment — will blast Moon Express' MX-1 lander into sp
  
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• Massive sinkhole collapses street

  01-10-2015 20:06 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A massive sinkhole opens up on a street in St Albans, forcing the evacuation of several families during the night.
  
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• Giant asteroid may have triggered deadly volcano eruptions

  01-10-2015 20:00
  
  Increased volcanic eruptions coincided much more closely with an asteroid impact and the extinction of the dinosaurs than previously believed, a new study suggests.
  
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• Brain cells’ DNA differs

  01-10-2015 20:00
  
  Every nerve cell may hold different DNA, a new study suggests.
  
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• Russian launches cargo spaceship to the ISS

  01-10-2015 19:56
  
  Russia successfully launched an unmanned cargo spaceship bound for the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday night, redeeming itself after a string of failures that cast a shadow on its space programme.
  
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• Russia Launches Progress Cargo Ship on Fast Trip to Space Station

  01-10-2015 19:52
  
  Russia launched an unmanned cargo ship Thursday (Oct. 1) on a speedy mission to deliver tons of fresh supplies to a waiting crew on the International Space Station. The cargo ship, called Progress 61, blasted off atop a Russian Soyuz rocket at 12:49 p.m. EDT (1649 GMT) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, where it was late Thursday night local time. If all goes well, the spacecraft will spend six hours in flight, orbiting Earth four times as it chases the space station.
  
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• Venus or bizarre asteroid are prime targets for next NASA mission

  01-10-2015 19:33 via cbc.ca
  
  NASA has narrowed the choices down to five for its next planetary science mission, with options such as sending a probe into Venus's atmosphere to look for volcanoes or studying the metallic asteroid Psyche for clues to the origins of planets.
  
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• World headed for too-high 2.7 Celsius warming: experts

  01-10-2015 19:24
  
  Earth could warm 2.7 degrees Celsius this century, warned a review Thursday which judged national carbon-cutting pledges insufficient to stave off worst-case-scenario predictions for climate change.
  
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• US adds two macaws to endangered species list

  01-10-2015 19:21
  
  Poaching and habitat loss have landed the military macaw and the great green macaw, two birds typically found in Central and South America, on the US endangered species list, officials said Thursday.
  
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• Plastic oceans: What do we know?

  01-10-2015 19:16 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Why charging for carry bags is probably a good idea
  
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• Officials: California conserves water for third month

  01-10-2015 18:19
  
  FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — State official say Californians have surpassed a mandate to save water for a third consecutive month, using nearly 27 percent less in August than the same month in 2013.
  
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• Apps for monitoring seniors health: 5 things you need to know

  01-10-2015 18:15 via cbc.ca
  
  A Vancouver emergency doctor is prescribing more seniors to use mobile apps and wearable technology to monitor their health.
  
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• 'The Martian' Wants to Mail You a Potato: Movie Offers Stamped Spuds

  01-10-2015 18:07
  
  It may seem strange at first, but by the time you get done watching "The Martian," the new movie from director Ridley Scott, you will understand why 20th Century Fox is offering to send you a potato. In the movie, which opens in theatres this Friday (Oct. 2), astronaut Mark Watney finds himself left for dead and alone on Mars. "This will come as quite a shock to my crewmates, and to NASA, and to the entire world, but I am still alive," states Watney, played by actor Matt Damon, commenting on his
  
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• Why beauty is in the eye of the beholder

  01-10-2015 18:00
  
  Study finds life experiences shape our opinions of attractiveness
  
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• Ceres mountains and craters named for food

  01-10-2015 18:00
  
  A host of agricultural spirits are immortalized on several craters and mountains on the dwarf planet Ceres.
  
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• Egypt moves quickly to search Tut's tomb for hidden chamber

  01-10-2015 17:45 via cbc.ca
  
  Egyptian authorities promise they will make haste to get new radar equipment needed to search for Queen Nefertiti's tomb, amid a new theory it could be in an alleged hidden chamber behind King Tut's tomb.
  
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• Philippines makes conditional offer to cut emissions by 70%

  01-10-2015 17:32
  
  The Philippines said Thursday it would cut the archipelago nation's carbon emissions by 70 percent by 2030 but only if it receives support from developed nations.
  
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• 'Moonspike' Kickstarter Project Aims to Crowdfund Rocket to the Moon

  01-10-2015 16:56
  
  A team of rocketeers launched an out-of-this-world Kickstarter campaign today (Oct. 1) to raise $1 million for "Moonspike" – an ambitious project to launch the first crowdfunded rocket to the moon. While a science return from the mission would be desirable, the main goal is to see if a small group of engineers can create a moon rocket and payload for a reasonable amount of money, Chris Larmour, a co-founder of the project and serial space entrepreneur, told Space.com in an e-mail.
  
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• Zimbabwe to ban electric water heaters

  01-10-2015 16:29 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Zimbabwe is to ban electric water heaters and require all new properties to use solar power, in an attempt to tackle big power shortages.
  
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• Africa's farming 'needs young blood'

  01-10-2015 16:22 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Modernising Africa's agriculture sector to attract young people will help tackle youth unemployment and food insecurity, a report suggests.
  
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• Diesel policy 'a mistake' - ex-minister

  01-10-2015 15:48 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Former Labour science minister Lord Drayson says his government made a mistake in promoting diesel cars as they are "killing people".
  
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• Watch Google's latest driverless car drive itself around

  01-10-2015 15:35 via cbc.ca
  
  Google showed reporters its tiny, bubble-shaped self-driving prototype vehicle this week. Watch the car in action.
  
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• Blast from the Past: 3 Civil War Cannons Pulled from River

  01-10-2015 15:16
  
  A community in the southern United States reclaimed an important part of its history Tuesday (Sept. 29), when three Civil War-era cannons were pulled up from the Pee Dee River in Florence, South Carolina. The now-rusty relics once adorned the deck of a Confederate warship, the CSS Pedee, which was built in a shipyard just east of Florence, South Carolina. Heavy machinery was needed to lift the huge cast-iron cannons out of the water, according to WMBF News, which reported that the heaviest of th
  
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• Lush Oasis to Arid Desert: How Our View of Mars Has Changed

  01-10-2015 15:03
  
  The finding, revealed Monday (Sept. 28) by NASA scientists, once again changes the way people view the bright-red planet, Mars experts told Live Science. In the 1600s and 1700s, astronomers tinkered with nascent telescopes and discovered that Mars, like Earth, was a planet and had a roughly 24-hour day-and-night cycle.
  
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