Science news

• Study: Most of methane hot spot comes from natural gas leaks

  15-08-2016 23:57
  
  DENVER (AP) — A puzzling concentration of the greenhouse gas methane over the Southwestern United States appears to come mostly from leaks in natural gas production, scientists said Monday.
  
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• We knew July was hot but Nasa has confirmed it was the hottest month ever recorded

  15-08-2016 23:50
  
  Looks like we only have ourselves to blame, too.
  
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• NASA: Last month was Earth's hottest in recorded history

  15-08-2016 22:43
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — NASA calculates that Earth just broiled to its hottest month in recorded history.
  
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• Tabby’s star drama continues

  15-08-2016 21:39
  
  Tabby’s star, already known for its bizarre flicking and fading, dimmed throughout the four years of Kepler’s primary mission.
  
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• US Should Reenter Space-Based Hunt for Space-Time Ripples, Report Says

  15-08-2016 21:21
  
  The National Academies is responsible for producing a decadal report that provides funding agencies and the entire astrophysics community with a proposed roadmap for the coming years. Among the conclusions of the mid-term report was the suggestion that the U.S., and NASA in particular, should renew support for the European-led LISA mission (now eLISA), which aims to put a gravitational wave detector in space. NASA withdrew its support of the mission in 2011 due to budget constraints.
  
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• Scientists have identified the human brain's 'generosity centre'

  15-08-2016 21:01
  
  Brain scans show that it is especially active in people with a more generous mindset.
  
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• 'Hidden Figures' Trailer Reveals Space Race History of Black Women at NASA

  15-08-2016 20:47
  
  In the first trailer for the upcoming 20th Century Fox movie "Hidden Figures," Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughan find themselves stuck on the side of an empty country road as an officer pulls up behind their car. "We are just on our way to work, at NASA," says Johnson, portrayed by Taraji P. Henson. "I had no idea they hired—" the cop begins to reply, before being cut off by Vaughan (Octavia Spencer).
  
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• Calling all Brits - we're in the middle of a three-day heatwave (ish)

  15-08-2016 20:43
  
  It was going to be sunnier, but as always, expectations have taken a nose dive.
  
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• Want to be a Canadian astronaut? Today's the deadline to apply

  15-08-2016 17:45 via cbc.ca
  
  Canadian astronaut job postings don't come up very often. So if you were thinking of applying for this year's rare opportunity, don't miss today's deadline.
  
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• Hudson Bay beluga cam allows viewers to get close, help scientists

  15-08-2016 17:25 via cbc.ca
  
  Beluga cams give viewers around the world a glimpse of Hudson Bay whales from above and below the water surface.
  
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• 'Vegetarian Piranhas' With Human-Like Teeth Found in Michigan Lakes

  15-08-2016 17:21
  
  A South American fish with uncannily human-like chompers has been unexpectedly showing up on Michigan anglers' hooks. The pacus were almost certainly introduced into the lakes by former owners who kept them as pets, according to a statement released Aug. 9 by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Warm temperatures are vital to the pacus' survival, so they are unlikely to become established as an invasive species in Michigan's seasonally cold waters.
  
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• Self-Destructing Battery Can Dissolve Itself in 30 Minutes

  15-08-2016 17:19
  
  A new self-destructing battery can power a simple electronic device for up to 15 minutes and then dissolve in water. It could pave the way for so-called transient power sources for scientific instruments or tools of espionage, according to a new study. Engineers have developed a novel variety of battery capable of powering a simple electronic device, such as a four-function calculator, and then dissolving in water in half an hour.
  
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• 'Superlens' Sets New Limits on What You Can See Under a Microscope

  15-08-2016 17:13
  
  A new "superlens" is so powerful that it could help researchers zero in on germs that were too small for microscopes to spot until now, according to a new study. For centuries, microscopes have helped scientists make major discoveries, such as proving the existence of microbes. This means that regular lenses in traditional optical microscopes are limited to examining items that are about 200 nanometers (or billionths of a meter) in size and above — about the size of the smallest known bact
  
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• Here's What Olympians Eat for Each Sport

  15-08-2016 17:04
  Just what does it take to power Simone Biles' signature half-twisting double backflip or Allyson Felix's lightning-fast sprint? The average Olympic shooter, for instance, may have very different caloric needs than a swimmer like Michael Phelps. "Calories really depend on the body size, so a 100-lb. [45 kilograms] gymnast needs fewer calories than a 200-lb. [90 kg] wrestler," said Nancy Clark, a sports nutritionist and the author of "Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook" (Human Kinetics, 2013
  
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• 'Crypto' Parasite Outbreak in Ohio Pools Sickens More than 100 Swimmers

  15-08-2016 17:04
  More than 100 people in Ohio have been sickened with a diarrheal illness linked to swimming in local pools, causing health officials to declare an outbreak in several counties. Yesterday (Aug. 11), officials at the public health department in Columbus said there has been a recent rise in cases of cryptosporidiosis, an illness caused by a hardy parasite that can survive in chlorinated pools. Overall, 107 cases of cryptosporidiosis have been reported this year in Columbus, Franklin County and Dela
  
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• In a First, Drone Used to Collect Medical Samples from Rural Village

  15-08-2016 17:03
  But now, doctors at Stony Brook University Medicine have delivered on a promise of using drones for the good of humankind, to offer life-saving health care to villagers in a remote rural region in Madagascar. For remote villages in Madagascar's Ifanadiana district, where there are no roads, drones can fly to and from a central region in about an hour, compared to a trip lasting upward of 10 hours each way by foot. In July, public health professionals — led by Dr. Peter Small, a professor o
  
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• Should You Still Floss? Here's What the Experts Say

  15-08-2016 17:02
  One, to help prevent tooth decay that can originate from the presence of acid-producing bacterial biofilm between teeth. You have to mechanically dislodge or disrupt the pathologic biofilm (plaque, gunk, whatever you want to call it) that causes acidic destruction in tooth decay and inflammatory destruction in gum disease.Butflossing incorrectly (sawing floss between teeth) can actually damage the edges of the gums.
  
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• Feeling Burned Out at Work? Study IDs 2 Key Reasons

  15-08-2016 17:02
  The old career-counseling advice about choosing a job that's a good fit for you is getting support from a new study: Job burnout may be caused by a "mismatch" between an employee's inner needs and the characteristics of his or her job, the study from Switzerland suggests. In the study, the researchers defined burnout as a prolonged response to chronic emotional and interpersonal stressors on the job, said Veronika Brandstätter, a professor of psychology at the University of Zurich in Switze
  
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• Can You Trick Your Body into Burning More Fat?

  15-08-2016 16:59
  
  The sports world has been abuzz in recent years with the idea that athletes could improve their performance by following an ultra high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet. Fans of this diet plan said it allows them to run, swim or bike endless miles without needing to refuel with sugary foods. Others, like mixed martial artist George St. Pierre, said they use a low-carb diet to drop 20 to 30 lbs. (9 to 14 kilograms) in a five-day span before weigh-ins, qualifying for lower weight classes in their bouts.
  
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• Skydivers Transform Into 'Shooting Stars' During Perseid Meteor Shower

  15-08-2016 16:23
  
  The annual Perseid meteor shower peaked this week, but four daredevils were not to be outdone by the spectacular sky show. As meteors streaked across the night sky, the men jumped out of an airplane wearing LED wingsuits, transforming themselves, in essence, into shooting stars. The stunt, sponsored by energy drink maker Red Bull, was timed to pay tribute to the Perseids, which are also known as the "tears of St. Lawrence," the skydivers said in a statement.
  
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• Scientists are using brain scans to examine a genetic mutation's link to psychiatric disorders

  15-08-2016 15:51
  Researchers believe the findings could help in the hunt for new treatments for the conditions.
  
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• Could Yellow Fever Become the Next Pandemic?

  15-08-2016 15:30 via rss.sciam.com
  
  Health experts struggle to contain a massive outbreak of the deadly mosquito-borne infection
  -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• Man who refused to give cellphone password to border guards pleads guilty

  15-08-2016 15:28 via cbc.ca
  
  A Quebec man who refused to disclose his smartphone password to border officials at Halifax Stanfield International Airport last year has been fined $500.
  
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• Man who refused to give cellphone password to airport guards pleads guilty

  15-08-2016 15:28 via cbc.ca
  
  A Quebec man who refused to disclose his smartphone password to border officials at Halifax Stanfield International Airport last year has been fined $500.
  
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• Have you stayed in a U.S. hotel? Check your credit card bill for anomalies

  15-08-2016 15:16 via cbc.ca
  
  Hyatt, Sheraton, Marriott and Westin hotels in 10 U.S. states and the District of Columbia may have been targeted by hackers for months.
  
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• Guests at U.S. hotels targeted by data-stealing hackers

  15-08-2016 15:16 via cbc.ca
  
  Hyatt, Sheraton, Marriott and Westin hotels in 10 U.S. states and the District of Columbia may have been targeted by hackers for months.
  
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• Two stationary kinds of bacteria can move when mixed

  15-08-2016 15:00
  
  Bacteria stuck when alone on a dry surface get moving — and get faster — when they evolve together.
  
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• Mysterious Supernovas Explode Twice, Giving Birth to Powerful Magnets

  15-08-2016 13:21
  
  Recently, scientists detected a very rare class of supernova, known as superluminous supernovas. The superluminous variety account for less than a thousandth of all supernovas, and only about 30 examples have been studied well. "They are extremely bright and can be seen for up to a year but are incredibly rare, so [they] are difficult to find and measure," said study lead author Mathew Smith, an astrophysicist at the University of Southampton in England.
  
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• Saturn Goes Psychedelic in Crazy, Colorful Infrared Photo

  15-08-2016 13:18
  
  A new photo of Saturn taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft depicts the planet's northern hemisphere as a swirling mess of green, blue and purple clouds. The funky-colored clouds in the Saturn photo are the result of the spectral filters on Cassini's camera. Gill used a combination of spectral filters that are sensitive to infrared light at wavelengths of 750, 727 and 619 nanometers.
  
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• How to Spot Mercury and the Solar System's 'Racetrack' Using Mobile Apps

  15-08-2016 13:18
  
  In this column, we'll focus on the ecliptic, the invisible "racetrack" that hosts the sun, moon and planets. Knowing how it works and where to find it can make you a master planet spotter — you'll even be able to find the elusive Mercury!
  
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• Supersmall device uses individual atoms to store data

  15-08-2016 13:00
  
  Scientists manipulate chlorine atoms to store data on a supersmall device.
  
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• Coaching Can Make or Break an Olympic Athlete

  15-08-2016 13:00 via rss.sciam.com
  
  Competitors at the most elite level require more than technical support
  -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• Blood pressure diet improves gout blood marker

  15-08-2016 12:47
  A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and reduced in fats and saturated fats (the DASH diet), designed decades ago to reduce high blood pressure, also appears to significantly lower uric acid, the causative agent of gout. Further, the effect was so strong in some participants that it was nearly comparable to that achieved with drugs specifically prescribed to treat gout, a new study shows.
  
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• 'Ready Jet Go!' Blasts Off Into Space for New Episodes

  15-08-2016 12:41
  
  The educational show premiered in February 2016 on PBS, and it follows Jet Propulsion and his family, who are natives of the fictional planet Bortron 7. While most of Jupiter's moons are small, the planet has four incredibly large moons known as the Galilean satellites: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.
  
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• This is the final official explanation as to why the Olympic pools mysteriously turned green

  15-08-2016 11:11
  
  It appears hydrogen peroxide may have been the cause.
  
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• With carbon taxes, the poorest half makes the bigger sacrifice to fix climate change: Don Pittis

  15-08-2016 11:00 via cbc.ca
  
  The economic case for carbon pricing is well established. It makes businesses take into account the "external" costs of climate damage. But at the consumer level, poor and middle-class folks may feel the pinch.
  
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• Carbon pricing is market friendly but may not be fair: Don Pittis

  15-08-2016 11:00 via cbc.ca
  
  The economic case for carbon pricing is well established. It makes businesses take into account the "external" costs of climate damage. But at the consumer level, poor and middle-class folks may feel the pinch.
  
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• 'Guardian Angel' AI System Could Save The Lives Of Firefighters

  15-08-2016 10:06
  A "guardian angel" artificial intelligence helper called Audrey could help firefighters to make split-second life-or-death decisions. The NASA-designed agent collects data on temperatures, gases and other vital signals - then crunches the stats to guide firefighters when they are tackling a blaze. The system uses sensors mounted on the firefighters' clothes - monitoring their GPS position, the heat level in surrounding areas, and whether any dangerous gases or chemicals are around.
  
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• Webcam whale research buoyed by viewers around the world

  15-08-2016 08:16
  
  HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The underwater webcam attached to Hayley Shephard's boat captures what at first appear to be green glowing orbs as she motors through an estuary in remote Canada. Then the orbs come into focus, revealing some of the more than 3,000 beluga whales that gather in the waters in and around Hudson Bay each summer.
  
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• Work productivity is key factor in assessing recovery of depressed patients

  15-08-2016 06:00
  
  (UT Southwestern Medical Center) While medications can quickly reduce depressive symptoms, monitoring work productivity can provide unique insight into whether a patient will require additional treatments to achieve long-term remission, a new study through the Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute finds.
  
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• Wiring reconfiguration saves millions for Trinity supercomputer

  15-08-2016 06:00
  
  (DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory) A moment of inspiration during a wiring diagram review has saved more than $2 million in material and labor costs for the Trinity supercomputer at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
  
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• Washington's foster children experience 'justice by geography,' report finds

  15-08-2016 06:00
  
  (University of Washington) A report from the University of Washington finds that inconsistent practices and policies leave many foster children in the state without an advocate in decisions that shape virtually every aspect of their lives.
  
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• UW computer scientists reveal history of third-party web tracking

  15-08-2016 06:00
  
  (University of Washington) At the USENIX Security Conference in Austin, Texas, a team of University of Washington researchers on Aug. 12 presented the first-ever comprehensive analysis of third-party web tracking across three decades and a new tool, TrackingExcavator, which they developed to extract and analyze tracking behaviors on a given web page. They saw a four-fold increase in third-party tracking on top sites from 1996 to 2016, and mapped the growing complexity of trackers stretching back
  
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• UH biomedical engineer pursues nerve regeneration

  15-08-2016 06:00
  
  (University of Houston) Injuries and certain degenerative diseases -- including Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis -- can disrupt the nervous system, posing a challenge for scientists seeking ways to repair the damage. A biomedical engineer from the University of Houston will use a $1.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to determine how best to spur nerve regeneration.
  
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• UCI physicists confirm possible discovery of fifth force of nature

  15-08-2016 06:00
  
  (University of California - Irvine) Recent findings indicating the possible discovery of a previously unknown subatomic particle may be evidence of a fifth fundamental force of nature, according to a paper published in the journal Physical Review Letters by theoretical physicists at the University of California, Irvine.
  
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• Today's electric vehicles can make a dent in climate change

  15-08-2016 06:00
  
  (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) New MIT study shows that electric cars that exist today could be widely adopted despite range constraints, replacing about 90 percent of existing cars, and could make a major dent in the nation's carbon emissions.
  
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• Study of Chinese teens examines nonmedical use of Rx and suicidal behaviors

  15-08-2016 06:00
  
  (The JAMA Network Journals) The nonmedical use of prescription drugs and the misuse of sedatives and opioids were associated with subsequent suicidal thoughts or attempts in a study of Chinese adolescents, according to an article published online by JAMA Pediatrics.
  
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• Study finds 1 in 3 former ICU patients shows symptoms of depression

  15-08-2016 06:00
  
  (Johns Hopkins Medicine) A so-called meta-analysis of reports on more than 4,000 patients suggests that almost one in three people discharged from hospital intensive care units has clinically important and persistent symptoms of depression, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine. In some patients, the symptoms can last for a year or more, and they are notably more likely in people with a history of psychological distress before an ICU stay, the investigators say.
  
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• 'Sniffer plasmons' could detect explosives

  15-08-2016 06:00
  
  (Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology) Scientists have proposed a graphene-based spaser that can 'sniff out' a single molecule, which could be used to detect even small amounts of various substances, including explosives.
  
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• Skills gap for US manufacturing workers mostly a myth, paper says

  15-08-2016 06:00
  
  (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Despite the outcry from employers over the dearth of job-ready workers, three-quarters of US manufacturing plants show no sign of hiring difficulties for job vacancies, says new research from Andrew Weaver, a professor of labor and employment relations at Illinois.
  
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