Science news

• Use of parasitic wasps to fight ash borer grows to 24 states

  24-05-2016 23:53
  
  DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Millions of tiny wasps that are natural parasites for the emerald ash borer have been released into wooded areas in 24 states as the battle against the tree-killing borer is now biological.
  
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• SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket Heads for the Stars in Stunning Photo

  24-05-2016 23:36
  
  SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket appears to take its place among the stars in a stunning skywatcher image. Astrophotographer Mike Killian took the photo on May 6 as the Falcon 9 launched the JCSAT-14 commercial communications satellite into orbit from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. "I've waited years to try this shot," Killian, the managing editor of the website AmericaSpace.com, wrote in an email to Space.com.
  
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• Light Bending Trick Reveals Supremely Old, Faint Galaxy

  24-05-2016 23:36
  
  The first galaxies to ever form in the cosmos lie far from the Milky Way (due to the expansion of the universe), making them a challenge to detect. Without this natural magnification of the galaxy's light, "we would not have been able to see it," Kuang-Han Huang, of the University of California-Davis, said in a statement. Huang lead a team of international astronomers that combined images taken by the Keck Observatory in Hawaii and NASA's space-based Hubble Space Telescope to confirm the age and
  
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• 1st Kid-Built Mini Satellite Launches from Space Station (Video)

  24-05-2016 23:36
  
  STMSat-1 was deployed from the NanoRacks CubeSat Deployer (NRCSD) system on the space station. The students were led by Joe Pellegrino, a deputy project manager from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, and they learned how to assemble the spacecraft, operate radios and build the ground stations to communicate with the satellite.
  
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• Snot could be crucial to dolphin echolocation

  24-05-2016 23:17
  
  An acoustic model reveals that echolocation relies on mucus lined tissue lumps in the animal’s nasal passage.
  
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• After delay, solar plane will fly from Ohio to Pennsylvania

  24-05-2016 22:41
  
  After a delay to check for possible damage, a solar-powered airplane will take off Wednesday for its planned flight from Ohio to Pennsylvania. The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 is on an around-the-world journey. ...
  
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• Velella velella stink up a Haida Gwaii beach

  24-05-2016 22:26 via cbc.ca
  
  Thousands of little blue sea creatures have washed up on the shores of Haida Gwaii and have left a stench.
  
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• [Research Article] Platelets contribute to amyloid-β aggregation in cerebral vessels through integrin αIIbβ3-induced outside-in signaling and clusterin release

  24-05-2016 21:54 via stke.sciencemag.org
  Alzheimer's disease patients may benefit from antiplatelet therapy.
  
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• [Research Article] Design of pathway preferential estrogens that provide beneficial metabolic and vascular effects without stimulating reproductive tissues

  24-05-2016 21:54 via stke.sciencemag.org
  Structurally redesigned estrogens improve metabolism and vascular repair without activating cell proliferation.
  
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• [Research Article] Dephosphorylation of the adaptor LAT and phospholipase C-γ by SHP-1 inhibits natural killer cell cytotoxicity

  24-05-2016 21:54 via stke.sciencemag.org
  Researchers identify targets of a phosphatase that inhibits the activity of natural killer cells.
  
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• [Podcast] Science Signaling Podcast for 24 May 2016: Designer Estrogens

  24-05-2016 21:54 via stke.sciencemag.org
  Designer estrogens can deliver the therapeutic benefits of natural estrogens with less cancer risk.
  
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• [Focus] Suppressing the killer instinct

  24-05-2016 21:54 via stke.sciencemag.org
  A study extends the list of proteins targeted by the phosphatase SHP-1 to inhibit natural killer cell activation.
  
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• [Focus] Forget about thrombosis: Platelets and Alzheimer's disease, yet another sticky situation

  24-05-2016 21:54 via stke.sciencemag.org
  Antiplatelet drugs might inhibit the nexus of platelet activation and amyloid-β aggregation in Alzheimer's disease.
  
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• [Editors' Choice] Neurotensin makes us fat

  24-05-2016 21:54 via stke.sciencemag.org
  An evolutionarily conserved mechanism for stimulating the absorption of dietary fats may contribute to metabolic disease caused by modern high-fat diets.
  
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• [Editors' Choice] Exosomes deliver resistance

  24-05-2016 21:54 via stke.sciencemag.org
  An lncRNA in renal cancer exosomes acts as a miRNA sponge to enable AXL- and MET-mediated resistance to the anticancer drug sunitinib.
  
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• [Editors' Choice] Choosing between interferon and death

  24-05-2016 21:54 via stke.sciencemag.org
  The ubiquitylation state of the transcription factor IRF3 determines whether a virally infected cell produces interferon or dies.
  
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• [Editors' Choice] A bad time of day to get an infection

  24-05-2016 21:54 via stke.sciencemag.org
  When an animal becomes infected determines mortality.
  
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• Google Maps directions may soon lead you to more ads

  24-05-2016 21:36 via cbc.ca
  
  You might start seeing more ads when getting directions from Google's popular mapping service.
  
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• Return of superstar supernova raises doubt about its identity

  24-05-2016 20:57
  
  The brightest supernova on record is back for round two, and might not be a supernova after all.
  
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• Body Worlds 'coupling' specimen makes Canada and U.S. debut in Calgary

  24-05-2016 20:20 via cbc.ca
  
  The Telus Spark Science Centre is using plasticized human cadavers to teach its visitors about the birds and the bees.
  
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• Exxon 'has to change or die' on climate

  24-05-2016 20:17 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The world's biggest publicly traded oil company faces a critical AGM under pressure from a broad coalition of shareholders on climate change.
  
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• Space experts say sending humans to Mars worth the risk

  24-05-2016 18:00
  
  At a meeting in Washington, NASA and aerospace reps discuss the hopes and hurdles of landing a crew on Mars by the 2030s.
  
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• Twitter eases 140-character tweet limit — sort of

  24-05-2016 17:28 via cbc.ca
  
  Twitter is changing the rules around how people are allowed to tweet on the social messaging platform, and some of the changes will lead to permitting longer tweets.
  
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• How Short Bursts of Activity Can Get You Fit

  24-05-2016 17:06
  If you think you don't have time to exercise, there's good news: Short bouts of activity — as brief as a few minutes each — may still have health benefits, as long as they add up to 30 minutes a day total, recent research suggests. Traditionally, experts have recommended that people exercise for at least 10 minutes at a time, at a moderate pace. Since people have trouble remembering very short activities, it was hard to study whether smaller amounts of exercise could improve your hea
  
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• Income Inequality: Is There a Grooming Gap?

  24-05-2016 16:53
  The researchers found that overall, men and women who were considered more attractive earned more money than their less-attractive counterparts, according to the study, published online last month in the journal Research in Social Stratification and Mobility. For women, those who were well-groomed women actually had higher incomes than poorly groomed women, regardless of their "natural" level of attractiveness, the researchers found.
  
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• Why Processed Foods May Promote Gut Inflammation

  24-05-2016 16:52
  Certain food additives may interfere with your gut bacteria, causing changes that boost inflammation in the intestines and potentially promote the development of some chronic diseases, a new study suggests. In the study, researchers looked at ingredients called emulsifiers, which are added to many processed foods, including ice cream and peanut butter, to improve those foods' texture and extend their shelf life. The scientists added two emulsifiers called carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and polysor
  
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• 'Poop Transplant' Changes Play Out Over Several Months, Study Finds

  24-05-2016 16:52
  Patients who undergo a "poop transplant" to treat severe diarrhea often see their symptoms get better within days, but their gut bacteria continue to undergo dramatic changes for at least three months afterward, a new study finds. Researchers analyzed the gut bacteria of eight patients who had Clostridium difficile, a difficult-to-treat bacterial infection that can be life-threatening. After several earlier treatments for their infection didn't work, all of the patients underwent a procedure cal
  
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• Your profile picture is telling people more about your personality than you thought

  24-05-2016 16:22
  
  So, what category does your profile pic fall in?
  
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• There's a new vodka made with actual fog

  24-05-2016 15:45
  
  Hangar 1 Vodka launched their new drink because of the California drought. And it’s genius.
  
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• 5,000-Year-Old Chinese Beer Recipe Had Secret Ingredient

  24-05-2016 15:21
  
  Barley might have been the "secret ingredient" in a 5,000-year-old beer recipe that has been reconstructed from residues on prehistoric pots from China, according to new archaeological research. Scientists conducted tests on ancient pottery jars and funnels found at the Mijiaya archaeological site in China's Shaanxi province.
  
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• Ugliest to Most Rock 'n' Roll: Top Newfound Species Named

  24-05-2016 15:18
  
  With such a large number of species discovered each year, the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) has put together a list of the "Top 10 New Species," celebrating species named in the previous year, since 2008. In the absence of a global species registry, the annual list is a reflection the Earth’s diverse species population, said Quentin Wheeler, ESF president and founder of the school's International Institute for Species Exploration (IISE). "We want to bring at
  
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• Insoles That Buzz Your Feet Could Improve Balance

  24-05-2016 15:15
  
  Insoles that electrically stimulate the feet with random vibrations that are too gentle to feel can affect a person's stride, and may boost stability, offering a potential new way to decrease the risk of falls and injury from balance loss, a new study finds. Study participants undergoing strenuous activity while wearing such insoles adjusted their strides in a way that typically improves balance, the research found. The insoles work using a process called "stochastic resonance" (SR), a method fo
  
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• Shark Bay Bloodbath: 70 Sharks Devour a Humpback Whale

  24-05-2016 15:14
  
  On May 20, tourists on an Australian cruise witnessed an incredible but gruesome sight: approximately 70 tiger sharks tearing apart the carcass of a humpback whale in Shark Bay. The tour company, Eco Abrolhos, encountered the bloody scene during the fourth day of a 14-day cruise, as the group traveled near Steep Point, Dirk Hartog Island, according to a post on the company's Facebook page.
  
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• Spring Skywatching: The Top 5 Objects to See

  24-05-2016 13:40
  
  Still, there are a few things that are worth looking for with binoculars or small telescopes in the spring. The Beehive lies within the dim constellation of Cancer (The Crab), which currently is located about one-third of the way up above the western horizon as darkness falls. Binoculars will reveal the cluster's stellar nature.
  
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• Discover the Treasures of Hercules with Mobile Astronomy Apps

  24-05-2016 13:40
  
  In this edition of mobile astronomy, we'll showcase one of my favorites — mighty Hercules! This easily recognizable constellation features interesting folklore, some lovely double stars within reach of backyard telescopes and one of the deep sky's best showpieces for amateur astronomers. Hercules doesn't contain any very bright stars, but you can use your sky-charting app to find it very easily.
  
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• Ancient Solar Superflare Suggests Risks for Mars Missions

  24-05-2016 13:40
  
  When a powerful "superflare" from the sun scoured the solar system more than 1,200 years ago, it apparently had little effect on Earth's inhabitants — but today's astronauts wouldn't be so lucky, scientists said. New research suggests that an event of that magnitude would greatly endanger current plans for space travel, with astronauts standing a good chance of receiving lethal doses of radiation. Solar eruptions occur regularly, sometimes wreaking havoc on Earth.
  
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• Tour 3D Pluto in New Portable Virtual-Reality View

  24-05-2016 13:39
  
  Get your Google Cardboards ready, because it's time to take a 3D trip to Pluto. The new 7-minute Pluto tour, narrated by the science writer Dennis Overbye of the New York Times, is available for download from the Times' virtual reality app, and can be viewed through a Google Cardboard headset or on a plain smartphone screen for those who don't have one. The film, called "Seeking Pluto's Frigid Heart," walks viewers through the arrival of the New Horizons spacecraft to Pluto last July before
  
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• The External Tank Has Arrived! What's Next for L.A. Space Shuttle Display

  24-05-2016 13:39
  
  The day after its widely-celebrated road trip through Los Angeles, NASA's last remaining built-for-flight space shuttle external tank still needed to be moved a short distance before it could be considered at "home" at the California Science Center. It came to a stop on the lawn between the Science Center, Natural History Museum and the L.A. Coliseum at about 7 p.m. PDT (0200 GMT May 22), when the crew overseeing its move decided to call it a night. "After everyone got a few hours' sleep, the mo
  
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• Where's My Solar-Powered Phone?

  24-05-2016 13:30 via rss.sciam.com
  
  Gadget makers experiment with translucent solar cells that let touch screens draw energy from the sun
  -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• Are We Living in a New Renaissance?

  24-05-2016 13:15 via rss.sciam.com
  
  Two scholars speculate on how history may be repeating itself in this excerpt from their new book
  -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• Researchers face off over whether newborns are really copycats

  24-05-2016 13:00
  
  Scientists disagree about whether babies can imitate movements and facial expressions shortly after birth.
  
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• China's science revolution

  24-05-2016 12:53 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Five glimpses inside China's scientific revolution
  
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• Juries 'could enter virtual crime scenes'

  24-05-2016 12:00 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Virtual reality technology used in the gaming industry could be utilised to recreate crime scenes for jurors, researchers claim.
  
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• How your car is recording your driving, whether you like it or not

  24-05-2016 11:30 via cbc.ca
  
  The Canadian Automobile Association and the Automobile Protection Association say there needs to be clearer rules around the data that cars collect about their drivers.
  
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• India successfully tests small space shuttle

  24-05-2016 11:17
  NEW DELHI (AP) — India has successfully tested its first small space shuttle as part of its efforts to make low-cost reusable spacecraft.
  
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• 'We're not about those golf claps': Why the Street Fighter e-sports community likes to keep it loud

  24-05-2016 11:00 via cbc.ca
  
  The fighting game community is known for its passion and excitement, but that same rowdiness frequently shown by the video game players has also been the cause of a few growing pains as the scene expands, the CBC's Jonathan Ore writes.
  
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• Want to discover a dinosaur? 5 tips for fossil hunters

  24-05-2016 11:00 via cbc.ca
  
  Want to find fossils? Amazing finds, from mammoth teeth to dinosaur footprints, are made by ordinary people all the time. Here are five tips to maximize your chances of making a big fossil discovery and help you figure out what to do if you find one.
  
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• Dinosaurs and more: Amazing fossil discoveries by ordinary Canadians

  24-05-2016 11:00 via cbc.ca
  
  Amazing fossils of a new horned dinosaur, a flightless bird, a giant trilobite and an ancient reptile that lived long before the dinosaurs were all recent discoveries by ordinary people out for a walk – not paleontologists. Here's why they're a big deal for science.
  
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• Canada Revenue Agency corners market on name TED

  24-05-2016 11:00 via cbc.ca
  
  The Canada Revenue Agency registered the name TED as a trademark in the 1990s, and that has caused headaches for some companies wanting to use the name in ads or promotions. Four companies have so far been given permission by the national revenue minister to use TED, while at least two have been denied.
  
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• Amazing ancient creatures discovered by sharp-eyed Canadian hikers

  24-05-2016 11:00 via cbc.ca
  
  Amazing fossils of a new horned dinosaur, a flightless bird, a giant trilobite and an ancient reptile that lived long before the dinosaurs were all recent discoveries by ordinary people out for a walk – not paleontologists. Here's why they're a big deal for science.
  
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