Science news

• Space station launches back in Virginia, 2 years after blast

  14-10-2016 23:41
  NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Two years after a launch explosion, the space company Orbital ATK is returning to Virginia to send a load of supplies to the International Space Station.
  
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• For want of a better battery: Bob McDonald

  14-10-2016 23:19 via cbc.ca
  
  Battery technology has a long way to go to meet the rising demands of our electrical devices and vehicles. After decades of neglect, is a new battery revolution under way?
  
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• Orbital ATK Prepares to Return Antares Rocket to Flight

  14-10-2016 23:13
  
  For the first time in almost two years, the private spaceflight company Orbital ATK on Sunday will launch one of its Antares rockets, after an anomaly on Oct. 28 2014, caused one of the company's rockets to explode seconds after liftoff. In addition to understanding what caused the 2014 anomaly, the Antares team has been working on putting two new engines into the Antares' first stage. The Antares rocket that is scheduled to launch Sunday (Oct. 16) is carrying cargo to the International Space St
  
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• Space station launch set in Virginia, 2 years after blast

  14-10-2016 23:12
  NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Space company Orbital ATK is returning to Virginia to send a load of supplies to the International Space Station, two years after a launch explosion.
  
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• Samsung Galaxy Note 7 banned from Canadian and U.S. flights

  14-10-2016 22:29 via cbc.ca
  
  Passengers and flight crews will be banned from bringing Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones on airline flights under emergency orders issued Friday by both Transport Canada and the U.S. Department of Transportation in response to reports of the phones catching fire.
  
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• Beaver fur inspires design of better surfing wetsuits

  14-10-2016 22:17 via cbc.ca
  
  Hang ten, dude!
  
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• Moon Hits Bull's-Eye Tuesday in Vivid Aldebaran Crossing

  14-10-2016 21:37
  
  The waning moon will cross in front of one of the brightest and most colorful stars in the sky on the night of October 18-19 for viewers in the southern and eastern United States, and part of eastern Canada. Late Tuesday night (Oct. 18), users of even the smallest telescopes will be glued to their eyepieces as the edge of the waning gibbous moon, 85 percent illuminated, occults the 1st-magnitude star Aldebaran, which forms the bright orange eye of Taurus, the Bull.
  
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• Space 'Renaissance' Puts Mars in Reach, Experts Say

  14-10-2016 21:35
  
  A "renaissance" in space exploration is helping drive down the cost of going to orbit and will eventually help humanity get to Mars, said several speakers at the White House Frontiers Conference. The Interplanetary track of the event, held yesterday (Oct. 13) and broadcast via live stream, featured experts from NASA and several private companies to talk about how to make space more accessible for the private sector and the general public. At SpaceX, one of the most common T-shirt slogans seen is
  
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• As marine parks scale back, dolphin exhibit opens in Arizona

  14-10-2016 21:31
  
  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — An exhibit opening Saturday in Arizona lets people swim and play with dolphins in pools on the edge of a dirt and cactus landscape near a freeway, angering animal rights activists who believe marine mammal parks should be a thing of the past.
  
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• Superradiant laser may one day boost atomic clocks

  14-10-2016 21:26
  Physicists have demonstrated a novel laser design based on synchronized emissions of light from the same type of atoms used in advanced atomic clocks. The laser could be stable enough to improve atomic clock performance a hundredfold and even serve as a clock itself, while also advancing other scientific quests such as making accurate "rulers" for measuring astronomical distances.
  
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• Possible formation site of icy giant planet spotted

  14-10-2016 21:26
  A number of extrasolar planets have been found in the past two decades and now researchers agree that planets can have a wide variety of characteristics. However, it is still unclear how this diversity emerges. Especially, there is still debate about how the icy giant planets, such as Uranus and Neptune, form.
  
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• Women's Brains Grow a Bit During Menstrual Cycle

  14-10-2016 21:19
  
  Women experience monthly hormone fluctuations that influence the switching that takes place between their infertile and fertile days, and in a small new study of 30 women, the researchers showed that these estrogen-level changes also affect the hippocampus — the area of the brain that is central to memories, mood and emotions. As the estrogen levels rose, the hippocampus increased slightly in volume, the study showed. The researchers' measurements showed that both the grey and white matter
  
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• Why Sexual Assault Victims Wait to Speak Out

  14-10-2016 21:19
  
  Recently, several women have accused Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump of sexual assault. But just because a victim doesn't come forward right away about sexual assault doesn't mean the accusations are untrue, said Yolanda Moses, a professor of anthropology at the University of California, Riverside and a consultant/trainer for preventing sexual harassment and sexual assault. Indeed, there are many reasons why victims of sexual assault may hesitate to speak out immediately after an
  
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• High cholesterol triggers mitochondrial oxidative stress leading to osteoarthritis

  14-10-2016 21:18
  High cholesterol might harm more than our cardiovascular systems. New research using animal models suggests that high cholesterol levels trigger mitochondrial oxidative stress on cartilage cells, causing them to die, and ultimately leading to the development of osteoarthritis.
  
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• New formulation of ibuprofen may be superior for pain relief than the current version

  14-10-2016 21:15
  Move over aspirin, a new formulation of ibuprofen might prove to be a "wonder drug." Scientists used mice and rats to show that ibuprofen arginate may allow people to take higher doses without the cardiovascular side effects that are associated with current formulations found in over the counter products. In addition to being better tolerated, ibuprofen arginate also is released into the bloodstream more rapidly than the current formulations, likely providing faster pain relief.
  
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• Soy protein early in life may help prevent bone loss in adulthood

  14-10-2016 21:12
  Move over milk, soy protein early in life might be what's needed for strong, healthy bones in adulthood. New research reports that early dietary nutrition heavy in soy protein isolate can protect against serious bone loss during adulthood. This also is the first time that scientists have used an animal model to show concrete evidence of a protective effect of an early-life soy protein isolate diet on adult bone loss.
  
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• Cocoa compound linked to some cardiovascular biomarker improvements

  14-10-2016 21:12
  To the tantalizing delight of chocolate lovers everywhere, a number of recent studies employing various methods have suggested that compounds in cocoa called flavanols could benefit cardiovascular health. Now a systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of cocoa consumption reveals some further pieces of supporting evidence.
  
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• New molecule may help fight obesity by converting 'bad' fat to 'good' fat

  14-10-2016 21:10
  New research suggests that activation of a chemical called Beta-LGND2 by the estrogen receptor Beta (ER-Beta) reduces obesity and metabolic diseases in mice by converting bad fat (white fat) to good fat (brown fat). This is significant as brown fat increases metabolism and may facilitate weight loss.
  
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• Temperature used to control droplet movement

  14-10-2016 21:08
  A new way of driving fluid droplets across surfaces in a precisely controlled way has now been developed by researchers. The method could open up new possibilities for highly adaptable microfluidic devices, as well as for de-icing technologies, self-cleaning surfaces, and highly efficient condensers. The new system uses differences in temperature to push droplets of water or other fluids across a smooth surface, allowing precise control by simply turning heaters and coolers on and off.
  
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• Female chimpanzees don't fight for 'queen bee' status

  14-10-2016 21:07
  New research provides the first detailed look at how social status among wild chimpanzees changes throughout their lifetimes. For wild chimpanzees, social status is more than just a matter of pride. High-ranking chimpanzees of both sexes usually have better access to food and mates, boosting chances of survival for themselves and their offspring. But male and female chimpanzees achieve social status in dramatically different ways, the new study shows.
  
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• Bad wiring or bad chemistry? Getting behind Samsung's exploding batteries

  14-10-2016 20:58 via cbc.ca
  
  The batteries in the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones are the same kind that's used safety in millions of wireless devices around the world. So what's causing them to explode? Some experts offer possible reasons.
  
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• Mars-bound astronauts could develop 'space brain' from exposure to galactic cosmic rays

  14-10-2016 20:52 via cbc.ca
  
  As Elon Musk and Barack Obama tout ambitious plans to get human beings on Mars within our lifetimes, a new study sheds light on the dangers astronauts face from prolonged exposure to the space radiation.
  
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• European spacecraft preparing for tricky landing on the surface of Mars

  14-10-2016 20:45
  
  Schiaparelli is following in the footsteps of the doomed Mars lander Beagle 2, which vanished on Christmas Day in 2003.
  
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• Human Cell Atlas project: Researchers plan to map all the 35 trillion cells in our bodies

  14-10-2016 20:29
  
  The research will take over a decade to complete and become the reference map of the body.
  
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• Twin giant panda cubs enjoy first birthday at Toronto Zoo

  14-10-2016 20:27 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Video of twin giant panda cubs celebrating their first birthday is released by a zoo.
  
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• Colourful aurora brightens Finland's night sky

  14-10-2016 20:13 via cbc.ca
  
  Spring and autumn tend to have increased activity every year
  
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• Placenta protectors no match for toxic Strep B pigment

  14-10-2016 20:00
  
  Strep B uses a toxic pigment made of fat to kill immune system cells, spurring preterm labor and dangerous infections, a monkey study shows.
  
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• Two distinct genetic subtypes found in Crohn's disease patients

  14-10-2016 19:53
  Crohn's disease can have devastating consequences and is notoriously hard to treat. Now, scientists have made a discovery that could explain why Crohn's is so variable: the disease has at least two distinct subtypes, each with its own pattern of gene expression and mix of clinical features.
  
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• Private Antares Rocket Reaches Virginia Launchpad for Sunday Liftoff

  14-10-2016 19:35
  
  Orbital ATK's Antares rocket has left the building! The Antares rocket reached its seaside launchpad on Wallops Island, Virginia on Thursday (Oct. 13) ahead of a planned cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station for NASA. It is scheduled to launch an Orbtial ATK-built Cygnus cargo ship to the station on Sunday (Oct. 16) at 8:03 p.m. EDT (0003 Oct. 17 GMT) from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island.
  
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• VMedia pulls Bell channels amid legal threat over Roku app

  14-10-2016 19:31 via cbc.ca
  
  Vmedia won't offer CTV and CTV2 as part of its skinny basic package offered over its Roku app in the face of legal action by Bell Media.
  
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• Aleppo rebels outgunned but confident as siege bites

  14-10-2016 19:28
  By Tom Perry and Ellen Francis BEIRUT (Reuters) - A senior rebel commander said on Friday that Syrian government forces would never be able to capture Aleppo's opposition-held east, more than three weeks into a ferocious offensive, but a military source said the operation was going as planned. Russian air strikes were proving of little help to government ground forces in urban warfare, the deputy commander of the Fastaqim rebel group in Aleppo said. While air strikes have pounded much of the cit
  
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• NASA's dilemma: How to send humans to Mars without infecting the Martians

  14-10-2016 19:10 via cbc.ca
  
  This week, U.S. President Barack Obama announced an ambitious goal to send humans to Mars by 2030. That makes Cassie Conley's task more urgent. She's NASA's Planetary Protection Officer and her job is to make sure humans don't screw up our first contact with alien life by contaminating the planet or ourselves. Or re-enacting the Andromeda Strain.
  
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• The Bizarre History of 'Tetris'

  14-10-2016 19:00
  "Tetris," the hugely popular and addictive game that swept the world in the 1980s and 1990s, continues to engage and captivate players today. Unlike the majority of products developed during the early boom years of video game design, "Tetris" was a no-frills outlier: no fancy images, no memorable characters and no narrative. In a new nonfiction graphic novel titled "Tetris: The Games People Play" (First Second, Oct. 2016), writer and illustrator Box Brown fits together the puzzle pieces that des
  
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• Aleppo rebels out gunned but confident as siege bites

  14-10-2016 18:50
  By Tom Perry and Ellen Francis BEIRUT (Reuters) - A senior rebel commander said on Friday that Syrian government forces would never be able to capture Aleppo's opposition-held east, more than three weeks into a ferocious offensive, but a military source said the operation was going as planned. Russian air strikes were proving of little help to government ground forces in urban warfare, the deputy commander of the Fastaqim rebel group in Aleppo said. While air strikes have pounded much of the cit
  
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• Has the Great Barrier Reef finally died?

  14-10-2016 18:19
  
  “The oceans are basically telling us: we can take no more.”
  
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• Week of violence in South Sudan kills 60, government says

  14-10-2016 18:13
  By Denis Dumo JUBA (Reuters) - Fighting in South Sudan killed at least 60 people this week, the military said on Friday, stoking fears the region could plunge back into full-scale war. Army spokesman Lul Ruai Koang accused the rebels of "burning civilians, maiming women and child abductions and setting ablaze properties." Armed men loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar killed 11 government soldiers and 28 civilians from Saturday to Thursday, Koang said in a press statement. South Sudan, the
  
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• 80 Years Later, Polar Explorer's Sunken Ship Floats Again

  14-10-2016 17:40
  
  For the first time in more than 80 years, the Maud is floating above the sea surface. The sturdy oak ship, made to withstand Arctic winters stuck in pack ice, was originally built for the Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen, the first human to arrive at the South Pole. The Maud is "ready for the next step, which is to sail home," project manager Jan Wanggaard told Live Science.
  
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• Your Brain on Tetris: How Video Game Seduced Millions

  14-10-2016 17:38
  
  In the 1980s, a humble yet compelling computer puzzle game called Tetris unexpectedly transformed into an addictive global phenomenon that consumed countless waking hours of obsessed players around the world. The remarkable and largely unknown story behind the game that transfixed millions — and continues to do so today — unfolds in the nonfiction graphic novel, "Tetris: The Games People Play," by Box Brown, released in the U.S. Oct. 11 by First Second Books. When Brown discovered a
  
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• How One Scientist Decoded the Mysterious Sounds of the Northern Lights

  14-10-2016 17:38
  
  For more than 15 years, a lone scientist in southern Finland has spent countless winter nights among the snowy fields and frozen lakes around his village, in pursuit of one of the most ephemeral mysteries of the heavens: the faint, almost phantasmagorical sounds heard during intense displays of the aurora borealis, or northern lights. The epic study by acoustician Unto K. Laine includes the first audio recordings of the muffled crackling or popping sometimes heard overhead during spectacular aur
  
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• Augmented-Reality Helmet Could Give Cyclists Extra Eyes on the Road

  14-10-2016 17:37
  
  Richard Price, an industrial designer at DCA and the brains behind the project, said the helmet is aimed at combatting the roughly 20,000 cycling causalities that happen in the United Kingdom ever year, but he was also inspired by his own experiences as a cyclist. The Optic helmet will be able to connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth, to allow maps and routing information to be uploaded, but actual navigation will be carried out by the helmet using its onboard GPS unit, according to DCA.
  
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• Hungary's anti-migrant fence disrupts wildlife habitats

  14-10-2016 16:34
  
  DUBOSEVICA, Croatia (AP) — Hungary's razor-wire border fence aims to keep refugees from entering the country — but it's also blocking the natural migratory patterns of thousands of deer and other wild animals.
  
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• Rise in obese pregnant women takes its toll on mother, child both

  14-10-2016 16:32
  A medical doctor warns that the obesity epidemic is leading to a rise in high-risk pregnancies. There are no standard guidelines for the management of obesity in pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that all pregnant women follow a healthy diet, and consider at least half an hour of moderate physical activity per day during pregnancy. But obese pregnant women represent a relatively new high-risk population that will call for the development of additional
  
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• Imaging with new biomarker tracks tumor progression, response to treatment for common brain cancer

  14-10-2016 16:32
  Researchers have developed an MRI-based method that can track the state and progression of a common type of genetically mutated brain cancer.
  
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• Human transport has unpredictable genetic, evolutionary consequences for marine species

  14-10-2016 16:26
  Human activities, such as shipping, are having a noticeable impact on marine species and their native habitats. New research says that human forms of transport can disrupt natural genetic patterns that have been shaped over long periods of time. This has unknown consequences for both native and invasive species.
  
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• Faster, better healing of infected wounds using negative pressure technique

  14-10-2016 16:26
  Shorter wound healing time, fewer dressing changes and the opportunity for earlier discharge from the hospital. These are some of the benefits of negative pressure wound therapy to treat wound infections in connection with vascular surgery at the groin. The method, which has become increasingly common, is also cost-effective, a new report shows.
  
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• Small dietary changes reduces cardiovascular disease risk by more than a quarter

  14-10-2016 16:18
  Exchanging few commercially regular-consumed food items with improved fat quality reduces total and LDL cholesterol. A new double-blind randomized controlled trial suggests almost 30% reduction in cardiovascular disease risk
  
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• Rockcress for heavy-metal clean up

  14-10-2016 16:18
  Rockcress of the Arabidopsis halleri species is known to possess the capability of settling on hostile, heavy metal-contaminated soil. It stores extraordinary high concentrations of certain toxic heavy metals in its leaves: a rare property. Researchers have analyzed approx. 2,000 specimens of this species from 165 locations throughout Europe. In this process, they identified overwhelming diversity that has arisen among plants of the same species over the course of evolution. Their findings help
  
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• Fungal infection that could help understand some allergies

  14-10-2016 16:18
  Researchers reveal how mould from humidity caused by rotting fruits and vegetables unfolds a surprising strategy to infect plants. 
  
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• Could a 300-year old murder mystery finally be solved?

  14-10-2016 16:18
  A skeleton was found during construction work at Leine castle in Niedersachsen, Germany in the summer of 2016. This is where Swedish count Philip Christoph Königsmarck disappeared 322 years ago – could it be him? New research follows the dangerous love story between Philip Königsmarck and Georg Ludwig’s wife Sophia Dorothea through the love letters they wrote to each other.
  
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• 5 Misconceptions About Sexual Assault

  14-10-2016 16:07
  
  Among the many reactions to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's lewd conversation in 2005, the question of whether what Trump was describing constituted sexual assault has struck a cord — and caused a sharp divide. In an interview with The Weekly Standard, for example, Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions said that he did not characterize the behavior Trump described — specifically, grabbing a woman's genitals without consent — as sexual assault. But Yolanda Moses, a profes
  
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