Science news

• A band of heavy rain is headed for the UK this bank holiday weekend...

  30-04-2016 20:59
  
  Such bad news.
  
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• Saudi hands over Houthi prisoners as Yemen peace efforts inch ahead - spokesman

  30-04-2016 20:11
  Yemen's Houthi movement said on Saturday its foe Saudi Arabia had handed over 40 prisoners as part of an agreement to quell border fighting as U.N.-backed peace negotiations to end Yemen's civil war crept forward. The Iran-allied Houthis and Yemen's Saudi-backed exiled government are trying to broker a peace and ease a humanitarian crisis in the Arab world's poorest country where conflict has drawn in regional powers and killed at least 6,000 people. "We received 40 prisoners, 20 of those were c
  
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• Pop goes the weasel as Hadron Collider shuts down

  30-04-2016 18:31
  
  A weasel shut down the world's most powerful particle smasher when it wandered onto a 66,000-volt transformer and caused a short circuit, Europe's physics lab CERN said Saturday.
  
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• Tim Peake is going to spend an extra couple of weeks in space

  30-04-2016 17:29
  
  “Although I am looking forward to being back on Earth and seeing friends and family again, each day spent living in space is a huge privilege.”
  
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• Al Qaeda in Yemen confirms retreat from port city of Mukalla

  30-04-2016 16:57
  Yemen's al Qaeda branch on Saturday confirmed it had withdrawn from the Yemeni seaport of Mukalla a week after government and Emirati soldiers seized the city used by Islamist militants to amass a fortune amid the chaos of civil war. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) said it had retreated from the port on Yemen's south coast to save it from destruction and that a handful of its fighters had been killed. Around 2,000 Yemeni and Emirati troops advanced into Mukalla last Sunday, local offici
  
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• Extra 13 days aboard International Space Station for Tim Peake

  30-04-2016 16:26
  
  It is already the trip of a lifetime - and now astronaut Tim Peake has been told he can stay in space for an extra couple of weeks.
  
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• Astronomers find a tailless comet, first of its kind

  30-04-2016 15:52
  
  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - Astronomers have found a first-of-its-kind tailless comet whose composition may offer clues into long-standing questions about the solar system's formation and evolution, according to research published on Friday in the journal Science Advances.
  
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• Franklin Expedition: Exploration of HMS Erebus wreck may reveal more than artifacts

  30-04-2016 15:00 via cbc.ca
  
  Parks Canada underwater archeologists planning their next steps in the exploration of the HMS Erebus wreck see potential for revealing more than just a treasure trove of mid-19th-century artifacts.
  
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• Hundreds of protesters storm Baghdad's Green Zone, enter parliament

  30-04-2016 14:45
  Hundreds of supporters of Shi'ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr stormed Baghdad's Green Zone on Saturday and entered the parliament building after lawmakers failed to convene for a vote on overhauling the government, two Reuters witnesses said. The protesters, who had gathered outside the heavily fortified district housing government buildings and many foreign embassies, crossed a bridge over the Tigris River chanting, "The cowards ran away!" in apparent reference to lawmakers leaving parliament
  
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• VIDEO: Helping hand for chilly owls

  30-04-2016 13:37 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Barn owls can struggle to survive in cold, wet weather and as low temperatures persist people in Yorkshire are doing their best to give the birds a helping hand as Paul Murphy reports.
  
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• With 3-D printer, Iqaluit students built robots for Nunavut skills contest

  30-04-2016 13:00 via cbc.ca
  
  More than 65 students from across Nunavut will compete in 17 different trades and technology events, including carpentry, culinary arts, and graphic design, this weekend in Iqaluit.
  
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• Africa's giant eye in the sky proving worth its SALT

  30-04-2016 09:35
  
  SUTHERLAND, South Africa (Reuters) - South Africa’s SALT telescope has helped detect the first white dwarf pulsar, the latest co-discovery that has astronomers eager to use the largest optical telescope in the southern hemisphere to unlock the galaxy's secrets.
  
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• Survey suggests children of gay fathers are well adjusted

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) Compared to a national sample of heterosexual parents, gay fathers report similar parenting behavior and measures of wellbeing in their children, according to new research to be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2016 Meeting.
  
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• Study suggests breastmilk promotes brain development in preemies

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) With organs including the brain completing development during the final months and weeks of pregnancy, it may not be surprising that preterm birth is a leading cause of neurologic problems in children. A new research abstract being presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2016 Meeting shows that breastmilk may help promote brain development in premature babies, which could possibly help protect them from neurologic disorders.
  
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• Study shows asthma-related Twitter posts can predict rise in hospital visits

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) New research at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2016 Meeting suggests that to predict -- and possibly prevent -- severe asthma attacks in a community, physicians can look for clues in social media.
  
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• Study identifies factors that can help children thrive in the face of adversity

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) Research shows that people who experience four or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as economic hardship, exposure to violence or the death of a loved one, are more likely to have lasting physical and mental health problems.But a new research abstract to be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2016 Meeting suggests that certain family, social and community assets may boost a child's chances of flourishing in the face of adversity.
  
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• Study finds adolescent tobacco users commonly report light smoking

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) A new research abstract being presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2016 Meeting reveals new details about teen smoking.Most young smokers report that they don't light up every day, and many smoke only a few cigarettes on the days they do smoke.These teens are less likely to identify as smokers, even as they face health risks comparable to heavier tobacco use.
  
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• Stronger state policies reduce alcohol-related motor vehicle deaths among teens

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) Motor vehicle injuries are a leading cause of death among youth in the United States, and one in three deaths from automobile crashes are alcohol-related. However, stronger alcohol policies adopted by states appears to reduce the number of teens who die in alcohol-related crashes, according to new research being presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2016 Meeting.
  
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• Stress and depression is linked to HPV-related health problems

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) New research to be highlighted at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2016 Meeting is the first to suggest that stress and depression play a significant role in whether a woman with human papillomavirus (HPV) can get rid of her infection or not. HPV that lingers in a woman's system eventually can lead to cervical cancer.
  
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• Percentage of US children who have chronic health conditions on the rise

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) The percentage of children with chronic health conditions is on the rise, and new research being presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2016 Meeting shows this is especially true among children who live in or near poverty.
  
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• Parents' presence at bedside found to decrease neonatal abstinence syndrome severity

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) New research to be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2016 Meeting suggests a key to easing the opioid withdrawal symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome is to ensure parents can spend plenty of time at the baby's bedside during treatment. NAS is an increasingly common condition infants develop after opioid exposure during pregnancy, with symptoms such as tremors, intense irritability, poor feeding, vomiting, diarrhea and poor sleep.It often requires
  
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• One in six children hospitalized for lung inflammation positive for marijuana exposure

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) A new study to be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2016 Meeting found that one in six infants and toddlers admitted to a Colorado hospital with coughing, wheezing and other symptoms of bronchiolitis tested positive for marijuana exposure.
  
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• Mental health diagnoses rise significantly for military children

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) Mirroring national estimates, a new study that will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2016 Meeting found the percentage of children enrolled in the US Military Healthcare System diagnosed with and treated for mental health disorders increased significantly during the past 15 years.
  
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• Legalization of marijuana in Washington had no effect on teens' access to drug

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) Despite concerns that legalizing marijuana use for adults would make it easier for adolescents to get ahold of it, a new study in Washington State shows that teens find it no easier now than before the law was passed in 2012.An abstract of the study, 'Adolescents' Ease of Access to Marijuana Before and After Legalization of Marijuana in Washington State,' will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2016 Meeting in Baltimore on Sunday, May 1.
  
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• Inadequate financial savings tied to increased childhood health risks

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences) The connection between a family's income and childhood health has been well-established, with lower income linked to poorer health and a greater likelihood of more chronic conditions. Now a new study by UCLA researchers shows that the size of the paycheck is not all that matters when it comes to children's health risks. So does the amount that a family has tucked away in savings.
  
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• Inadequate cushion of savings tied to increased child health risks

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) Studies already show that family income affects a child's health.But new research being presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2016 Meeting is the first to show it's not just the size of the paycheck, but also whether there's enough left after bills are paid to save for a 'rainy day,' that is associated with children's medical risks.
  
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• Fireworks-related burns requiring hospital stays skyrocket among kids

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) As states relaxed laws related to fireworks sales during the past decade, emergency doctors saw an increase in both the number of fireworks related injuries among children and the severity of those injuries, according to new research being presented at the Pediatrics Academic Societies 2016 Meeting.
  
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• Exposure to tobacco smoke in the home increases childhood illnesses, health care demand

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) Children who live with smokers end up in the doctor's office or hospital more often than those not exposed to tobacco smoke, according to new research being presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2016 Meeting.
  
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• Exempt from passenger restraint laws, taxis pose risky rides for small children

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) The vast majority of small children riding in taxis are not restrained in car safety seats, according to new research, even though there are tens of thousands of motor vehicle collisions involving taxis, limousines and car services each year.
  
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• Concerns raised with products marketed as 'first finger foods'

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) A research abstract to be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2016 Meeting found many products marketed as 'first finger foods' for babies failed to meet American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations that they be small, soft and easy to swallow.
  
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• Complete rest until symptom-free after concussion may not be best for recovery

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) Rest has long been the cornerstone of concussion treatment.For sports-related head injuries, for example, current guidelines say children should avoid returning to play -- and all other physical activity -- until all concussion symptoms such as headaches are gone. A research abstract to be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2016 Meeting, however, suggests those who exercise within a week of injury, regardless of symptoms, have nearly half the rate of c
  
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• Combination of face-to-face and online bullying may pack a powerful punch

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) Bullying and taunts that may have once stayed in the schoolyard increasingly spill over into text messages and social media. A new study shows that the combined effect of both face-to-face and cyber-bullying may have a powerful effect on adolescents, more than doubling the odds that victims show aggressive behaviors themselves such as verbal hostility, physical fighting and damaging property.
  
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• Children are diagnosed with autism at younger ages since push for universal screening

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) Researchers say children with autism who were born before the 2007 recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics that all children be screened for the disorder at the 18- and 24-month well child visits were diagnosed significantly later than they are today. The findings suggest the policy may help identify children with autism sooner so they can benefit from early intervention.
  
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• Breastfeeding app shows promise in supporting first-time mothers

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) A pilot study found that use of a mobile phone app that provided supportive texts and an online community significantly increased the rate of breastfeeding among new mothers. An abstract of the study, 'Mother's Milk Messaging (MMM): A Pilot Study of an App to Support Breastfeeding in First Time Mothers,' will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2016 Meeting in Baltimore on May 1, 2016.
  
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• Alcohol brand placement on TV linked with teens' brand preferences and drinking behaviors

  30-04-2016 06:00
  
  (American Academy of Pediatrics) While tobacco companies have not been allowed to buy product placement in television shows since 2000, alcohol brands continue to self-regulate their marketing in media. But a new research abstract to be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies 2016 Meeting showing how strongly alcohol brand placement relates to the drinking behavior of underage youth suggests more regulation may be needed.
  
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• Your most obnoxious Facebook friends are probably popular in real life: study

  30-04-2016 05:01 via cbc.ca
  
  The results of a new British study suggest that Facebook users are less likely to unfriend people who are jerks online if they're "socially popular" offline.
  
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• Japan Abandons All Hope of Saving Ailing Hitomi Astronomy Satellite

  30-04-2016 01:41
  
  The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced April 28 that it was giving up on efforts to restore control of its Hitomi astronomy satellite, concluding that the spacecraft was too severely damaged in an incident last month. In a statement, JAXA said that the anomaly that caused the spacecraft to spin up last month likely caused its two solar panels to snap off, preventing the spacecraft from generating power. The agency added that it had received unspecified information from "several
  
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• Websites like Twitch need to address suicide prevention, Montreal researcher says

  30-04-2016 00:23 via cbc.ca
  
  On the heels of Alexandre Taillefer's appearance on Tout Le Monde En Parle where he spoke publicly about his 14-year-old son's death in December,a Montrealer researcher says websites such as Twitch need to be more proactive on suicide prevention.
  
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• Bedford company sending drones to survey earthquake damage in Ecuador

  30-04-2016 00:12 via cbc.ca
  
  A Halifax-based drone company will team up with an energy engineering firm to put high-end technology to the disaster-relief test in Ecuador during the next 10 days.
  
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