Science news

• NASA calls off next Mars mission; no time to fix leaky seal

  22-12-2015 23:54
  
  ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — NASA is calling off its next mission to Mars because there isn't enough time to fix a leaky seal on a key science instrument.
  
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• NASA's Next Mars Lander Won't Launch in 2016, Leaky Instrument to Blame

  22-12-2015 23:35
  
  NASA has called off the planned March 2016 launch of a Mars lander, saying one of the spacecraft's key instruments cannot be fixed in time for liftoff. Because Mars and Earth align favorably just once every 26 months, NASA's InSight Mars lander now must wait until mid-2018 to begin its mission to characterize the Red Planet's interior in unprecedented detail — if the spacecraft gets off the ground at all. "That's all forward work," John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for NASA's Science
  
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• In science, a lack of replication shouldn’t kill your reputation

  22-12-2015 23:34
  
  The proof is science is when a study is replicated. When it’s not, do scientists suffer? A new study says researchers may overestimate the negative effects.
  
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• Faulty tool halts Nasa Mars mission

  22-12-2015 22:57 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The US space agency, Nasa, suspends the March launch of its next mission to Mars because of fault in a key research instrument.
  
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• Vitamin D levels linked to weight-loss surgery outcomes

  22-12-2015 22:36
  Low levels of vitamin D have long been identified as an unwanted hallmark of weight loss surgery, but new findings from a study of more than 930,000 patient records add to evidence that seasonal sun exposure -- a key factor in the body's natural ability to make the "sunshine vitamin" -- plays a substantial role in how well people do after such operations.
  
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• Research links inorganic mercury exposure to damaged cell processes

  22-12-2015 22:36
  Inorganic mercury, which was previously thought to be a less harmful form of the toxic metal, is very damaging to key cell processes, new research demonstrates.
  
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• Mixing modern materials? Math app helps you manage your mashup

  22-12-2015 22:34
  Polymers play a vast number of roles in daily life, but they lack many properties that would make them even more useful. As in cooking, a way around these limitations is to mix in other ingredients that have the right properties. Scientists have just made recipe development a more palatable job.
  
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• Milestone achieved with plutonium-238 sample

  22-12-2015 22:34
  With the production of 50 grams of plutonium-238, researchers have restored a US capability dormant for nearly 30 years and set the course to provide power for NASA and other missions.
  
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• Metabolic pathway in cyanobacteria could yield better biofuels, bioproducts from photosynthesis

  22-12-2015 22:34
  A metabolic pathway previously only suggested to be functional in photosynthetic organisms is actually a major pathway and can enable efficient conversion of carbon dioxide to organic compounds, scientists have discovered.
  
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• Infectious disease spread is fueled by international trade

  22-12-2015 22:34
  International trade and travel has literally opened up new vistas for humans, ranging from travel to exotic places to enjoying the products and services of those distant lands. But along with international trade and travel comes the risk of spreading infectious diseases, a growing problem in today's global economy, says a researcher.
  
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• Hydrogen production efforts advanced by research

  22-12-2015 22:34
  Advances have been made toward affordable photoelectrochemical production of hydrogen. This work shows that molecular catalysts can be as highly active as the precious metal-based catalysts.
  
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• Evolocumab: No hint of added benefit

  22-12-2015 22:34
  The manufacturer dossier contained no suitable data for hypercholesterolaemia or for mixed dyslipidaemia, say reviewers, adding that the same applies to the hereditary homozygous form of hypercholesterolaemia.
  
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• Jefferson Lab Accelerator delivers its first 12 GeV electrons

  22-12-2015 22:33
  The newly upgraded accelerator at the US Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility has delivered full-energy electrons as part of commissioning activities for the ongoing 12 GeV Upgrade project.
  
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• Increased number of IVF cycles can be beneficial, findings suggest

  22-12-2015 22:31
  Although in vitro fertilization (IVF) is often limited to three or four treatment cycles, new research shows the effectiveness of extending the number of IVF cycles beyond this number, according to a study.
  
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• Effectiveness of pain medications for patients receiving treatment for lung condition

  22-12-2015 22:31
  Use of NSAIDs vs opiates resulted in no significant difference in measures of pain but was associated with more rescue medication (additional medicine needed due to uncontrolled pain) among patients with malignant pleural effusions (excess fluid accumulates around the lungs that is a complication of cancer) undergoing pleurodesis (a treatment for this condition that closes up the pleural space), according to a study.
  
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• NASA suspends March launch of InSight mission to Mars

  22-12-2015 21:48
  
  NASA has suspended the March 2016 launch of its InSight mission to Mars because of problems with a key scientific component, the US space agency said Tuesday.
  
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• Anatomy of the South Korean MERS outbreak

  22-12-2015 21:00
  
  The Middle East respiratory syndrome virus, which infected 186 people in South Korea in 2015, quickly spread within and between hospitals via a handful of “superspreaders.”
  
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• NASA calls off next Mars mission because of instrument leak

  22-12-2015 20:57
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — NASA has called off its next Mars mission because of a leak in a science instrument.
  
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• This New 'Earthrise' Photo from NASA Is Simply Breathtaking

  22-12-2015 20:27
  
  A spectacular new photo of Earth from space recalls the two most famous images of our planet ever taken. The photo, which was captured by NASA's robotic Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), shows a sunlit Earth looming above a rumpled moonscape banded with shadow. "The image is simply stunning," Noah Petro, deputy project scientist for LRO at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said in a statement.
  
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• California aquarium welcomes birth of baby sea otter

  22-12-2015 20:27
  MONTEREY, Calif. (AP) — There's another reason to rejoice this holiday season: the birth of a baby sea otter at a California aquarium.
  
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• Behold, Enceladus! Awesome Photo Shows Off New Features on Saturn Moon

  22-12-2015 20:27
  
  A gorgeous new photo shows the varied terrain of Saturn's icy, ocean-harboring moon Enceladus. The image, which was taken on Aug. 18 by NASA's Cassini spacecraft from a distance of 85,000 miles (137,000 kilometers), dramatically shows that some parts of Enceladus' surface are much younger than others. "Scientists can use this, along with estimates of how frequently impacts happen, to determine ages of surfaces of solid planets and of moons like Enceladus," agency officials added.
  
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• Best animal photos of 2015

  22-12-2015 20:16 via cbc.ca
  
  The Reuters photo desk has picked the top animal photos of the year, and they're giving the folks at the CBC News photo desk the warm and fuzzies.
  
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• SpaceX landing a 'feat' but not yet a game-changer, expert says

  22-12-2015 19:42
  
  A day after SpaceX pulled off an upright landing of its powerful Falcon 9 rocket, the head of France's space agency called it a "technological feat" but warned of more work ahead.
  
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• El Nino causes confusion in backyard ice rinks across Canada

  22-12-2015 19:41 via cbc.ca
  
  According to RinkWatch — an online map for citizens to report the conditions of outdoor rinks across North America — the ice is beautiful in Calgary. But east of the Great Lakes, you can possibly swim, not skate.
  
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• 4.5 tonnes of ivory seized in huge Interpol operation

  22-12-2015 19:34
  
  A huge international police operation has seized 4.5 tonnes of elephant and rhino tusks, leading to 376 arrests, Interpol said Tuesday.
  
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• So Your Neighbor Got a Drone for Christmas

  22-12-2015 19:30 via rss.sciam.com
  
  Can you stop them from flying it over your house? No one knows, and that is a big problem for the drone industry
  -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• Canadian Space Agency to map asteroid that could destroy earth

  22-12-2015 19:07 via cbc.ca
  
  Canadian scientists will create a 3D map of an asteroid, dubbed Bennu, which could hold clues to the beginning of life on earth and the early days of the solar system.
  
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• Cow bites and spacecraft injuries enliven new medical diagnostic codes

  22-12-2015 19:00
  
  The 10th edition of International Classification of Diseases went into effect in 2015, and it included some interesting additions.
  
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• NASA cancels launch of next Mars probe due to instrument leak

  22-12-2015 18:53
  A U.S. science satellite slated to launch to Mars in March has been grounded due to a leak in a key research instrument, NASA said on Tuesday, creating uncertainty about the future of a widely anticipated effort to study the interior of the planet. The spacecraft, known as InSight, was designed to help scientists learn more about the formation of rocky planets, including Earth. The cancellation raises questions about the future of the research effort, as it will be another two years before Earth
  
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• NASA's 2016 Mars mission called off

  22-12-2015 18:19 via cbc.ca
  
  NASA has called off its next Mars mission because of a leak in a science instrument.
  
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• San Andreas May Be a 'Zipper' Fault

  22-12-2015 17:50
  
  A new explanation for colliding faults could help explain mysterious fault lines that have mystified geologists for decades. The new explanation could explain everything from the quake-prone faults of Southern California to dynamic crust beneath the snow-capped peak of K2 in the Himalayas. The theory is deceptively simple: When two faults collide, instead of one breaking past another, they may just merge, like a zipper zipping up, said John Platt, a geologist at the University of Southern Califo
  
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• Nasa axes next mission to Mars

  22-12-2015 17:46
  Nasa has called off its next Mars mission because of a leak in a science instrument.
  
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• Nepal's Madhesis decide to press on with protests on India border

  22-12-2015 17:44
  By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Ethnic Madhesis in Nepal have vowed to continue with protests at border crossings with India after rejecting a government plan which they said did not meet their call for a redrawing of internal boundaries or offer adequate national representation. The landlocked Himalayan nation, which serves as a natural buffer between China and India, adopted its first post-monarchy constitution in September hoping this would usher in peace and stability after years of co
  
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• Cassini completes final close Enceladus flyby

  22-12-2015 17:41
  NASA's Cassini spacecraft has begun transmitting data and images from the mission's final close flyby of Saturn's active moon Enceladus. Cassini passed Enceladus at a distance of 3,106 miles (4,999 kilometers) on Saturday, Dec. 19, at 9:49 a.m. PST (12:49 p.m. EST).
  
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• Lowdown on Ceres: Images from Dawn's closest orbit

  22-12-2015 17:38
  NASA's Dawn spacecraft, cruising in its lowest and final orbit at dwarf planet Ceres, has delivered the first images from its best-ever viewpoint. The new images showcase details of the cratered and fractured surface. 3-D versions of two of these views are also available.
  
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• Space lab technology may help researchers detect early signs of cataract

  22-12-2015 17:37
  As we age, proteins in the lenses of our eyes start misbehaving: They unfold and congregate in clusters that block, scatter and distort light as it passes through the lens. A cloudy area, or cataract, forms. In a new study, scientists found that throughout our lifetime, levels of a key protein decline, and may be an early warning sign of a developing cataract. The study suggests that there is a window before cataracts develop when there may be time to intervene and prevent them.
  
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• New kind of hydrothermal vent system found in Caribbean

  22-12-2015 17:36
  Researchers have identified hydrothermal vents in the deep sea of the Caribbean which are unlike any found before. They are unusual in their structure, formed largely of talc, rather than the more usual sulphide minerals. Researchers analyzed samples from the VDVF - a vent field south of the Cayman Islands discovered by scientists and crew on board the RRS James Cook in 2010, and have published their findings.
  
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• Closest relatives of Baltic Sea plankton are found in brackish North American waters

  22-12-2015 17:36
  The first large-scale mapping of genomes of bacterial plankton in the Baltic Sea shows that the bacterias' closest relatives are not found in oceans or freshwater lakes, but in other brackish environments. The genomes may not yet answer where these plankton came from, but they will help scientists to better understand brackish, or briny, ecosystems.
  
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• Road rumble strips are a wake-up call to pull over

  22-12-2015 17:35
  Drowsy drivers are being urged to stop and take a break the first time they hit a road rumble strip these school holidays, with new research revealing the audio-tactile vibrations should be a wake-up call to pull over.
  
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• New technique to examine how the brain categorizes images

  22-12-2015 17:35
  Despite the obvious difference between a chihuahua and a doberman, the human brain effortlessly categorizes them both as dogs, a feat that is thus far beyond the abilities of artificial intelligence. Previous research has established that the brain can recognize and categorize objects extremely rapidly, however the way this process occurs is still largely unknown. Researchers now have pioneered a new image modulation technique known as semantic wavelet-induced frequency-tagging (SWIFT) to furthe
  
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• Mechanism of an AIDS vaccine candidate filmed in vivo

  22-12-2015 17:35
  Using innovative technology, scientists have filmed in vivo the process by which an AIDS vaccine candidate triggers the immune response. This previously unseen footage clearly shows how the vaccine recruits the immune cells needed to destroy infected cells. These results shed new light on the mode of action and potential of this vaccine.
  
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• In pursuit of the causes of cardiac hypertrophy

  22-12-2015 17:35
  Specific genes are responsible for determining cell growth and differentiation during the early stages of cardiac development. Reactivation of these genes later in life can lead to an abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, say researchers who have been able to identify the underlying molecular mechanism.
  
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• Corals may fare better in turbid waters, research finds

  22-12-2015 17:35
  Corals may survive better in warm oceans where the water is clouded by floating particles, new research finds. The work shows that moderate levels of turbidity -- cloudy water -- could lower stress by shading the corals from extremely high light.
  
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• Old drugs, new tricks: Medications approved for other uses also have antibiotic action

  22-12-2015 17:34
  A number of drugs already approved to treat parasitic infections, cancers, infertility and other conditions also show promise as antibiotic agents against staph and tuberculosis infections, according to a new study. Because these agents act against multiple targets within the bacteria, it may be harder for bacteria to develop resistance, say the researchers.
  
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• Newly developed liquid crystal elastomer material could enable advanced sensors

  22-12-2015 17:34
  World experts have collaborated in new liquid crystal elastomers research. Recently, they have developed the first type of cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers with special properties that enable it to precisely emit laser light, without the use of mirrors, while being stretched.
  
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• Towards the rational use of medicines

  22-12-2015 17:31
  Rational use of medicines remains to be one of the most challenging problems in health systems worldwide. Now researchers have conducted a practical study to assess the impact of introducing evidence-based principles to the practice of medicine procurement in order to manage budget expenditures on medicines of a multidisciplinary health facility for the period of 2011-2014.
  
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• Not enough YAP means too much deadly inflammation inside the brain

  22-12-2015 17:31
  Inside the brain, a protein called YAP, best known for its ability to help right-size our developing hearts and livers, appears to have the different but equally important task of helping control inflammation, say researchers.
  
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• Blocking fat transport linked to longevity

  22-12-2015 17:31
  Everybody knows that a buildup of the wrong kind of fats can cause cardiovascular disease. A new study in nematode worms and mice also finds that a protein that transports fats around the body can hinder protective processes in cells and affect life span.
  
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• NASA delays Mars InSight mission

  22-12-2015 17:30
  
  Leak in container holding seismometers forces suspension
  
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• Focused Spin Wave Beams Created by researchers

  22-12-2015 17:30
  Researchers have finally found the secret to synchronize an unlimited number of spintronic oscillators. Such devices are very promising for future applications requiring wideband functionality.
  
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