Science news

• Irresistible aroma responsible for mountain pine beetle attacks, finds research

  29-07-2016 23:16 via cbc.ca
  
  New research suggests a good offence is not the best defence when it comes to fending off the destructive mountain pine beetle.
  
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• Watch SpaceX's 1st Test-Fire of a Used Falcon 9 Rocket

  29-07-2016 22:46
  
  Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's private spaceflight company, SpaceX, is another step closer to making its Falcon 9 rockets fully reusable. Hans Koenigsmann, vice president of flight reliability at SpaceX, said on July 16 that the company plans to launch one of its used rockets this fall, assuming it has a customer for the flight. The company also plans to reuse one of its Dragon cargo capsules for a cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station, representatives of SpaceX and NAS
  
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• Venus Will Soon Unleash Its Brilliant (Evening) Star Power in the Sky

  29-07-2016 22:46
  
  Currently, the planet Venus is visible very low in the western evening sky right after sundown. Venus passed superior conjunction, when it appears to go directly behind the sun as seen from Earth, back on June 6. And now, as we make the transition from July into August, Venus has finally begun climbing up out of the sunset glow in earnest and is about to reclaim its role as the brilliant "evening star," a title it has not held since one year ago.
  
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• 'Star Trek: Discovery': Is the New Starship Named for NASA's Space Shuttle?

  29-07-2016 22:46
  
  Four years ago, the Smithsonian swapped space shuttles at the National Air and Space Museum: NASA's prototype orbiter Enterprise was rolled out and the space shuttle Discovery was rolled in. Now "Star Trek," which inspired the earlier shuttle's name, has done the same. "Star Trek: Discovery" is set to premiere on CBS in January 2017, before moving to the network's subscription service, CBS All Access.
  
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• Barbie Goes Cosmic in 'Star Light Adventure' This Weekend

  29-07-2016 22:46
  
  Mattel's Barbie is headed out of this world. "During her action-packed adventure, Barbie soon discovers she may be the leader the whole universe has been waiting for." Information about screening and tickets are available at FathomEvents.com. The new film coincides with the launch of a whole line of "Star Light Adventure" toys, including a remote control quadcopter (the Barbie Star Light Adventure RC Hoverboard, which hits stories this fall at $59.99) styled like the one she uses in the sho
  
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• Heavy lifting

  29-07-2016 21:51 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Andy Green looks at the logistics involved in getting the Bloodhound supersonic car to South Africa next year so that it can begin its assault on the world land speed record.
  
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• New device steps us towards quantum computing

  29-07-2016 21:22
  If biochemists had access to a quantum computer, they could perfectly simulate the properties of new molecules to develop drugs in ways that would take today’s fastest computers decades. A new device takes us closer to providing such a computer.
  
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• Boron boosts graphene's sensitivity to noxious gases

  29-07-2016 21:21
  Researchers have discovered a way to significantly improve graphene's performance in detecting noxious gases. They peppered high-quality sheets with boron impurities.
  
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• Florida mosquitoes likely spreading Zika

  29-07-2016 21:14
  
  Mosquitoes in Florida carrying the Zika virus are probably to blame for four recent cases of infection.
  
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• White dwarf star blasts its red giant companion with powerful radiation beam

  29-07-2016 21:12 via cbc.ca
  
  Astronomers have discovered a new and unusual type of binary star lurking in our corner of the universe: one where a tiny white dwarf appears to blast its companion star with a beam of electrons every two minutes.
  
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• Unapproved genetically modified wheat found in Washington

  29-07-2016 21:05
  SEATTLE (AP) — Federal authorities say genetically modified wheat that's not approved for sale or production in the United States has been found growing in a field in Washington state.
  
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• Stop and Smell the Flowers--but Be Ready to Gag [Video]

  29-07-2016 20:40 via rss.sciam.com
  
  A two-meter-tall bloom at New York Botanical Gardens exudes chemicals that mimic rotting flesh to attract pollinators
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• Stop and Smell the Flowers--But Be Ready to Gag

  29-07-2016 20:40 via rss.sciam.com
  
  A two-meter-tall bloom at New York Botanical Gardens exudes chemicals that mimic rotting flesh to attract pollinators
  -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• A Foul-Smelling Corpse Flower is in Bloom at the New York Botanical Gardens

  29-07-2016 20:40 via rss.sciam.com
  
  Stop and smell the flowers—but be ready to gag
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• Something deep within: Nanocrystals grown in nanowires

  29-07-2016 20:32
  Scientists have tailored extremely small wires that carry light and electrons. These new structures could open up a potential path to smaller, lighter, or more efficient devices, they say.
  
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• Scientists identify immunological profiles of people who make powerful HIV antibodies

  29-07-2016 20:30
  People living with HIV who naturally produce broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) that may help suppress the virus have different immunological profiles than people who do not, researchers report. While bNAbs cannot completely clear HIV infections in people who already acquired the virus, scientists believe a successful preventive HIV vaccine must induce bNAbs. Defining how to safely replicate these attributes in HIV-uninfected vaccine recipients may lead to better designed experimental vacci
  
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• Researchers find molecular switch that triggers bacterial pathogenicity

  29-07-2016 20:30
  The supercoiling of bacterial chromosomes around histone-like proteins can trigger the expression of genes that make the microbe invasive, new research shows. The discovery could provide a new target for the development of drugs to prevent or treat bacterial infection, say scientists.
  
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• Electric grid vulnerabilities in extreme weather areas

  29-07-2016 20:30
  Climate and energy scientists have developed a new method to pinpoint which electrical service areas will be most vulnerable as populations grow and temperatures rise.
  
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• US-banned genetically modified wheat is found in Washington

  29-07-2016 19:55
  SEATTLE (AP) — Federal authorities say genetically modified wheat that's banned for sale or production in the United States has been found growing in a field in Washington state.
  
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• Putrid-Smelling Corpse Flower Finally Blooms: Watch It Live

  29-07-2016 19:31
  
  Normally, the smell of putrefying, decaying flesh wouldn't be cause for celebration, but it is today, with the blooming of the rare but stinky corpse flower at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). Corpse flowers bloom only once every seven to 10 years, and this is the first time that this particular plant has blossomed since the NYBG acquired it in 2007, they said. As soon as the bud began to open last night (July 28), NYBG representatives took to Twitter to announce the good news, saying, "You
  
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• Vaccination: Zika infection is caused by one virus serotype

  29-07-2016 19:29
  Vaccination against a single strain of Zika virus should be sufficient to protect against genetically diverse strains of the virus, according to a new study.
  
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• The heart-brain connection: The link between LQTS and seizures

  29-07-2016 19:29
  Patients carrying certain mutations that cause Long QT Syndrome, a rare cardiac rhythm disorder, have an increased risk for developing seizures and have more severe cardiac symptoms.
  
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• New fossil evidence supports theory that first mass extinction engineered by early animals

  29-07-2016 19:29
  Newly discovered fossil evidence from Namibia strengthens the proposition that the world's first mass extinction was caused by 'ecosystem engineers' -- newly evolved biological organisms that altered the environment so radically it drove older species to extinction.
  
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• Krüppel-like factor 12 promotes colorectal cancer via early growth response protein 1

  29-07-2016 19:29
  Investigators report preclinical research showing that Krüppel-like factor 12 promotes colorectal cancer cell growth by activating early growth response protein 1. Data also reveal that levels of KLF12 and EGR1 correlate synergistically with a poor CRC prognosis. Results indicate that KLF12 plays an important role in CRC progression and provides a potential novel prognostic marker and therapeutic target.
  
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• Ultrathin, transparent oxide thin-film transistors developed for wearable display

  29-07-2016 19:28
  Ultrathin and transparent oxide thin-film transistors have been developed for an active-matrix backplane of a flexible display by using the inorganic-based laser lift-off method.
  
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• Green monkeys acquired Staphylococcus aureus from humans

  29-07-2016 19:28
  Many deadly diseases that afflict humans were originally acquired through contact with animals. New research suggests that pathogens can also jump the species barrier to move from humans to animals. The study shows that green monkeys in The Gambia acquired Staphylococcus aureus from humans.
  
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• Florida investigation links four recent Zika cases to local mosquito-borne virus transmission

  29-07-2016 19:20
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been informed by the State of Florida that Zika virus infections in four people were likely caused by bites of local Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The cases are likely the first known occurrence of local mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission in the continental United States. CDC is closely coordinating with Florida officials who are leading the ongoing investigations, and at the state's request, sent a CDC medical epidemiologist to provide ad
  
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• Pup kidnapping has a happy ending when a seal gets two moms

  29-07-2016 18:48
  
  A female fur seal kidnapped another seal’s pup. But this turned out to be a positive the young seal, scientists found.
  
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• Experts warn of health problems in purebred British bulldogs

  29-07-2016 18:41
  
  Scientists say the breed cannot continue in its pure form without causing the animals suffering.
  
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• Thousands rush to see Kilauea lava flow reach ocean

  29-07-2016 18:37
  HILO, Hawaii (AP) — The lava flow from Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano vent has attracted thousands of visitors since it began oozing down in May and finally reached the ocean this week.
  
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• Excitement builds as spacecraft gets ready to reach Mars in quest for life

  29-07-2016 18:05
  
  Scientists confirm that the ExoMars spacecraft is on track to reach Mars by October, where it will begin a trail-blazing search for life.
  
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• U.S. Democratic congressional group confirms it was hacked

  29-07-2016 17:15 via cbc.ca
  
  The U.S. Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee confirmed on Friday that it had been the target of a cyber security incident similar to other recent attacks, including the theft of documents from the Democratic National Committee.
  
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• Pokemon Go creators working to remove unwanted Pokestops, gyms

  29-07-2016 17:15 via cbc.ca
  
  The creators of Pokemon Go say they're working to remove real-world locations that don't wish to be included in the mobile gaming sensation.
  
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• Hillary Clinton team not commenting on report campaign was hacked

  29-07-2016 17:15 via cbc.ca
  
  The computer network used by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's campaign was hacked as part of a broad cyberattack on Democratic political organizations, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
  
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• Hillary Clinton team not commenting on report campaign emails hacked

  29-07-2016 17:15 via cbc.ca
  
  The computer network used by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's campaign was hacked as part of a broad cyberattack on Democratic political organizations, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
  
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• Hillary Clinton campaign says DNC data program they used was hacked

  29-07-2016 17:15 via cbc.ca
  
  Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's campaign said on Friday that an analytics data program maintained by the Democratic National Committee and used by the campaign was accessed as part of a hack, but outside experts have found no evidence that its internal systems have been compromised.
  
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• Waste from test fracking wells safe to be on highways, research concludes

  29-07-2016 17:13
  Researchers studied drilling wastes produced at two research wells near Morgantown and found they are well below federal guidelines for radioactive or hazardous waste.
  
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• Transit and training crucial to connecting unemployed with jobs

  29-07-2016 17:13
  The mismatch between unemployed workers and job vacancies is a serious problem in the Twin Cities region and it appears to have worsened since the turn of the millennium, new research indicates. The biggest concentrations of unemployed workers lack fast or frequent transit service to some of the richest concentrations of job vacancies, particularly vacancies in the south and southwest metro.
  
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• Satellite data reveal serious decline in Georgia salt marsh health

  29-07-2016 17:13
  The amount of vegetation along the Georgia coast has declined significantly in the last 30 years, spurring concerns about the overall health of marshland ecosystems in the area, warn scientists.
  
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• Research pinpoints most dangerous HGV designs

  29-07-2016 17:10
  HGVs with high cabs have the most blind spots and pose the greatest risk to vulnerable road users, research has found.
  
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• Acute kidney injury identifiable in preterm infants

  29-07-2016 17:10
  Early diagnosis of acute kidney injury in preterm infants is possible through urinary protein markers, say investigators. Improving the ability to diagnose AKI, a sudden decline in kidney function, is critical, as approximately 25 percent of preterm infants develop AKI.
  
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• Teasing out the microbiome of the Kansas prairie

  29-07-2016 17:09
  Scientists have untangled a soil metagenome -- all the genetic material recovered from a sample of soil -- more fully than ever before, reconstructing portions of the genomes of 129 species of microbes. While it's only a tiny proportion of the estimated 100,000 species in the sample, it's a leap forward for scientists who have had only a fraction of that success to date.
  
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• Rice crops that can save farmers money and cut pollution

  29-07-2016 17:09
  A new study has identified 'superstar' varieties of rice that can reduce fertilizer loss and cut down on environmental pollution in the process, report scientists.
  
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• Molecular troublemakers instead of antibiotics?

  29-07-2016 17:09
  They may be slimy, but they are a perfect environment for microorganisms: biofilms. Protected against external influences, here bacteria can grow undisturbed, and trigger diseases. Scientists are researching how it can be possible to prevent the formation of biofilms from the beginning. On this basis, alternatives to antibiotics could be developed, as many pathogens are already resistant.
  
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• Frequent nut consumption associated with less inflammation

  29-07-2016 17:09
  In a study of more than 5,000 people, investigators have found that greater intake of nuts was associated with lower levels of biomarkers of inflammation, a finding that may help explain the health benefits of nuts.
  
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• Discovery of new emission lines from highly charged heavy ions

  29-07-2016 17:09
  A variety of heavy elements have been introduced into a high-temperature plasma in the Large Helical Device. By measuring the emission spectrum of the extreme ultraviolet wavelength range, researchers discovered new spectral lines that had not been observed in the past.
  
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• Researchers pinpoint abrupt onset of modern day Indian Ocean monsoon system

  29-07-2016 17:08
  A new study by an international team of scientists reveals the exact timing of the onset of the modern monsoon pattern in the Maldives 12.9 million years ago, and its connection to past climate changes and coral reefs in the region. The analysis of sediment cores provides direct physical evidence of the environmental conditions that sparked the monsoon conditions that exist today around the low-lying island nation and the Indian subcontinent.
  
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• Hyena Meets Tasmanian Devil: Ancient 'Hypercarnivore' Unearthed

  29-07-2016 17:05
  
  A newfound extinct marsupial "hypercarnivore" from Australia — one that researchers say looked like a cross between a Tasmanian devil and a hyena — was about twice as big as Australia's largest living flesh-eating marsupials, a new study finds. Although scientists have so far discovered only a single lower molar tooth of this predator, they deduced from the animal's tooth that "almost certainly it was a very active predator with an extremely powerful bite," said study lead author Mik
  
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• Parasitic worm eggs found on Silk Road latrine artifacts

  29-07-2016 17:03
  
  Microscopic study of latrine finds indicates disease spread along ancient Asian trade route.
  
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• Moon 'Snuggles Up' to the Hyades (and Hides Aldebaran) Friday Morning

  29-07-2016 16:49
  
  Friday morning, you can spot the waning crescent moon juxtaposed with the V-shaped Hyades cluster, possibly hiding the bright orange star Aldebaran. This lovely configuration will come up above the horizon shortly after 2 a.m. local daylight time, and will be in good position to be seen low in the east about 60 to 90 minutes later.
  
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