Science news

• Zap to the head leads to fat loss

  14-11-2016 23:53
  
  Stimulating the vestibular nerve led people to shed fat in a small trial.
  
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• Computer-brain implant helps patient with ALS to communicate

  14-11-2016 22:46 via cbc.ca
  
  A brain implant has been placed in a "locked-in" patient enabling her to spell out messages with her mind and a computer interface.
  
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• More than 412 million adult-website credentials hacked

  14-11-2016 22:31 via cbc.ca
  
  Login credentials for more than 412 million users of adult websites run by California-based FriendFinder Networks Inc. were compromised last month in the largest hack of 2016, according to breach notification website LeakedSource.com.
  
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• Mississippi River could leave farmland stranded

  14-11-2016 22:29
  Seasonal flooding events along the Mississippi in 1993, 2011, and 2016 have left farmland underwater, threatening the agricultural future in the area. Climate scientists predict a continued pattern of extreme rainfall events in the upper Mississippi River region. Repeatedly repairing the levee breaches, building a bridge over the shortcut created by the flooding, or letting the Mississippi chart its own course are some solutions to the problem.
  
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• Human actions influence fire regimes in the Sierra Nevadas

  14-11-2016 22:25
  While climate contributes strongly to fire activity in the Sierra Nevada mountains of the western U.S., human activity, starting well before European contact, has also played an important part in the severity, frequency and sheer numbers of forest fires occurring in the area, according to researchers.
  
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• Culprits behind disappearance of kelp forests revealed

  14-11-2016 22:23
  Seaweed-eating fish are becoming increasingly voracious as the ocean warms due to climate change, and are responsible for the recent destruction of kelp forests off the Australian north coast near Coffs Harbour, research shows.
  
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• Cheaper, more effective cleanup of abandoned oil and gas wells

  14-11-2016 22:23
  Abandoned oil and gas wells are a significant source of greenhouse gases but there are so many scattered across the United States that stopping the leaks presents a huge cost for states. Now, a research team including scientists has identified specific well attributes that will allow governments to prioritize their repairs. The researchers say it should be possible to eliminate the majority of emissions while minimizing costs by leaving non-emitting abandoned wells alone.
  
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• Study finds limited sign of soil adaptation to climate warming

  14-11-2016 22:22
  While scientists and policy experts debate the impacts of global warming, Earth's soil is releasing roughly nine times more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere than all human activities combined. This huge carbon flux from soil -- due to the natural respiration of soil microbes and plant roots -- begs one of the central questions in climate change science. As the global climate warms, will soil respiration rates increase, adding even more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere and accelerating climate ch
  
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• 3,000-Year-Old Mummy Found in Egyptian Tomb

  14-11-2016 22:11
  
  Spanish archaeologists have unearthed an ancient Egyptian mummy in "very good condition" near Luxor, Egypt's antiquities ministry has announced. "The tomb was uncovered at the southern enclosure wall of the Temple of Millions of Years," Mahmoud Afifi, head of the ancient Egyptian antiquities department of the ministry, said in a statement. The temple was built on the west bank of the Nile near Luxor by Pharaoh Thutmosis III (1490-1436 BC), one of Egypt's greatest warrior kings.
  
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• Interactive map reveals hidden details of the Milky Way

  14-11-2016 21:35
  
  Gleamoscope, an interactive map, lets you explore the Milky Way galaxy and the nearby universe in many different electromagnetic frequencies.
  
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• Supermoon delights world's star gazers in full moon, eclipse combination

  14-11-2016 20:45
  By Patrick Johnston SYDNEY (Reuters) - From Beijing to Berlin, star gazers around the world admired the supermoon - the largest, brightest full moon in nearly seven decades - as it made its way across the skies on Sunday and Monday. In Australia, some sky-watchers climbed to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to get a closer view of the moon as it ducked between the clouds over the city. The supermoon, also known as a blood moon, was produced when the shadow of Earth cast a reddish glow on the
  
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• Q&A: Why It Makes Business Sense for Trump to Tackle Global Warming

  14-11-2016 20:45 via rss.sciam.com
  
  The president-elect should see climate action as a business opportunity, rather than a cost
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• Astronauts Help Launch Heroes & Legends NASA Attraction on Veteran's Day

  14-11-2016 20:42
  
  "It is no coincidence that we chose to celebrate the grand opening of Heroes & Legends on this day, Veteran's Day," said John Zarella, a former CNN news correspondent who served as the master of ceremonies.
  
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• Skinny people might be at serious risk of Type 2 diabetes after all

  14-11-2016 20:03
  
  New research shows you don’t have to be overweight to be at serious risk of the disease.
  
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• Israel to launch expedition to find more Dead Sea Scrolls

  14-11-2016 19:47
  
  JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel is embarking on a major archaeological expedition to find yet undiscovered Dead Sea Scrolls, an Israeli antiquities official said Monday.
  
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• Nigerian police, Shi'ite Muslims clash in Kano state, at least nine dead

  14-11-2016 19:25
  By Nnekule Ikemfuna KANO, Nigeria (Reuters) - Police said nine people were killed in clashes between Shi'ite Muslims and police during a religious procession in northern Nigeria on Monday, but the minority sect said dozens of its members lost their lives. The clashes occurred on the outskirts of Kano, a city in a state of the same name, as members of the country's largest Shi'ite group, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), conducted an annual procession to Zaria in neighbouring Kaduna state. A
  
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• 'Supermoon' wows viewers with closest glimpse since 1948

  14-11-2016 19:08 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Skywatchers are enjoying the latest "supermoon", after the moon made its closest approach since 1948.
  
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• Saber-Toothed Cat Had a Huge Skull, But a Puny Bite

  14-11-2016 19:08
  
  A newly described fossil skull from one of the largest of the saber-toothed cats, Machairodus horribilis, is the biggest saber-toothed skull ever found, and is helping scientists understand the diversity of killing techniques used by these extinct and fearsome predators. The skull was excavated from the Longjiagou Basin in Gansu Province, China, but languished in storage for decades before researchers rediscovered it in a collection room and identified it in the new study. And while M. horribili
  
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• CDC sounds alarm on STDs

  14-11-2016 18:49
  
  The combined reported cases of three common sexually transmitted diseases reached a historic peak in 2015, a new CDC report says.
  
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• Fit for a King? Medieval Book 'Illuminates' Likely Theft by Henry VIII

  14-11-2016 18:23
  
  A lavishly illustrated medieval book, full of gold leaf and finely painted images, the "Aberdeen Bestiary" had remained somewhat of a mystery. "The book was used for teaching — many words have accents on them to indicate emphasis for reading out loud," lead researcher Jane Geddes, an art historian from the University of Aberdeen, told Live Science. The book, which is considered an "illuminated" manuscript for its highly decorated pages, particularly those that gleam, or light up, with gold
  
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• Israel to launch major expedition to find Dead Sea Scrolls

  14-11-2016 18:22
  JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli antiquities official says Israel is embarking on a major expedition to find more Dead Sea Scrolls.
  
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• Government to investigate whether microplastic particles are a risk to human health

  14-11-2016 17:44
  
  The move comes after the recent announcement that the Government will ban the use of plastic microbeads in beauty products.
  
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• National Geographic 'MARS' Offers History of Future 1st Landing on Red Planet

  14-11-2016 16:50
  
  The six-part television docudrama "MARS," premiering on the National Geographic Channel Monday night (Nov. 14), chronicles the first mission to the Red Planet in 2033 using footage of the crew's activities on the surface and through "flashbacks" to 2016, when the journey to Mars began. "I think it is surprisingly and almost shockingly, in a way, as accurate as it could possibly be," said Stephen Petranek, author of the book "How We'll Live on Mars" (2015, Simon & Schuster), which served
  
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• Nigerian police, Shi'ite Muslims clash in Kano state, nine dead

  14-11-2016 16:41
  By Nnekule Ikemfuna KANO, Nigeria (Reuters) - Nine people were killed in clashes between Shi'ite Muslims and police during a religious procession in the northern Nigerian city of Kano on Monday, the state police commissioner said. The clashes occurred on the outskirts of Kano, a city in a state of the same name, as members of the country's largest Shi'ite group, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), conducted an annual procession to Zaria in neighbouring Kaduna state.
  
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• Marijuana Use May Weaken Your Heart Muscle

  14-11-2016 16:12
  
  Marijuana use may be linked to a weakened heart muscle, a new studyfinds. Researchers found that people who used marijuana were twice as likely to later develop a heart condition called transient ventricular regional ballooning (TVRB) than those who did not use marijuana. TVRB is a form of cardiomyopathy, which is a sudden weakening of the heart muscle that can mimic symptoms of a heart attack.
  
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• Boys' and Girls' Brains May Show Opposite Effects After a Trauma

  14-11-2016 16:11
  
  Traumatic events may affect the brains of boys and girls differently, a new study finds. Among boys in the study, a brain area called the anterior circular sulcus was larger among those who had symptoms of a trauma, compared with a control group of boys who did not have any trauma symptoms. The region is associated with emotional awareness and empathy, the researchers said.
  
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• Flu Risk May Depend on Birth Year

  14-11-2016 16:08
  
  The year in which you were born may predict your risk of getting some types of the flu, a new study of people in Asia and the Middle East suggests. Researchers found that the people in this study who were born before 1968 were less susceptible to a certain strain of the flu than those born in 1968 or later, because this older group had been more exposed to a similar strain as children. In the study, the researchers looked at data from more than 1,400 people, predominantly in Asia and the Middle
  
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• Dementia and Alzheimer's disease the leading cause of death for first time

  14-11-2016 15:56
  
  Figures show that the mortality rate for dementia and Alzheimer’s has more than doubled over the last five years.
  
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• Brightest moon in almost 69 years lights up sky around globe

  14-11-2016 15:42
  
  The brightest moon in almost 69 years is lighting up the sky in a treat for star watchers around the globe. The phenomenon known as the supermoon reached its peak luminescence in North America before dawn ...
  
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• Morphing Wings Are 1st Step Toward Bird-Like Aircraft

  14-11-2016 15:23
  
  Nowadays, conventional aircraft typically rely on hinged flaps known as ailerons to help control the way the planes tilt as they fly. Instead, the technology will likely first be tested on unmanned aircraft, leading to drones that can fly for long times, to help deliver internet access or medicine to remote villages, he said.
  
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• 2016 on track to beat heat record, despite slowdown in CO2 emissions

  14-11-2016 15:21 via cbc.ca
  
  Global temperatures are soaring toward a record high this year, the U.N. weather agency said Monday, while another report showed emissions of a key global warming gas have flattened out in the past three years.
  
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• 2016 is set to be the hottest year on record

  14-11-2016 14:56
  At least we can be thankful to 2016 for letting our umbrellas gather dust.
  
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• At least one dead as police and Shi'ite Muslims clash in northern Nigeria

  14-11-2016 14:02
  By Nnekule Ikemfuna KANO, Nigeria (Reuters) - At least one person was killed during clashes between Shi'ite Muslims and police during a religious procession in the northern Nigerian city of Kano on Monday, both sides said. Nigeria's largest Shi'ite group, the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, accused police of firing live ammunition and tear gas. Kano police spokesman Magaji Majita said a police sergeant was killed, without going into further details. (Additional reporting by Garba Muhammad, in Kadun
  
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• 2016 set to break heat record despite slowdown in emissions

  14-11-2016 14:02
  
  MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) — Global temperatures are soaring toward a record high this year, the U.N. weather agency said Monday, while another report showed emissions of a key global warming gas have flattened out in the past three years.
  
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• 'Arrival' and the Raw Power of Smart Sci-Fi

  14-11-2016 13:03
  
  The opening scenes of the new sci-fi film "Arrival" cover familiar territory, as we see enormous spacecraft hovering over cities on our troubled planet Earth. "Arrival" is the best sci-fi movie of the year because it does what science fiction does best: It encourages thoughtful conjecture and lateral thinking. Amy Adams plays Dr. Louise Banks, a linguist recruited by the U.S. government to communicate with the aliens.
  
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• New Presidential–Popular Divide Will Change Abortion Rights

  14-11-2016 13:00 via rss.sciam.com
  
  Stricter laws under a Trump administration will hamper safe care, but could spur more private money for reproductive health
  -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• New Presidential-Popular Divide Will Change Abortion Rights

  14-11-2016 13:00 via rss.sciam.com
  
  Stricter laws under a Trump administration will hamper safe care, but could spur more private money for reproductive health
  -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• New analysis boosts case for smaller proton

  14-11-2016 13:00
  
  Electron scattering data hint at a slightly smaller proton radius.
  
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• 'Supermoon' Science: NASA Explains the Closest Full Moon Until 2034

  14-11-2016 12:43
  
  The November "supermoon" is extra close to Earth today  (Nov. 14), providing an extraordinary sight for skywatchers — but exactly what makes this month's full moon so special? November's supermoon —a term used to describe a full moon is at its perigee, or closest point to Earth during the lunar orbit — will be the biggest and brightest supermoon to rise in almost 69 years. In fact, the full moon won't come this close to Earth again until Nov. 25, 2034.
  
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• 2016 'very likely' to be world's warmest year

  14-11-2016 12:06 via bbc.co.uk
  
  2016 looks poised to be the warmest year on record globally, according to preliminary data.
  
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• Double tectonic shifts may have teamed in New Zealand quake - experts

  14-11-2016 11:12
  By James Regan Jamie Freed SYDNEY (Reuters) - The powerful earthquake that struck New Zealand was unusual in that a big event on one fault may have immediately triggered a big event on a second fault, experts said on Monday. "When an earthquake occurs you are changing the stress field immediately, and if there was one fault that was pretty close to breaking, the energy from an earthquake can just tip it over the edge so that may have been what happened today," Adam Pascale, head of Australia's S
  
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• Antarctic quest to find 'oldest ice'

  14-11-2016 11:01 via bbc.co.uk
  
  European scientists set out for Antarctica this week in a bid to find deeply buried ice that contains an ancient record of Earth's climate.
  
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• Social media is blinding us to other points of view

  14-11-2016 11:00 via cbc.ca
  
  In the recent U.S. election, everyone saw a different reality depending on their world views, which were amplified by social media's tendency to reinforce people's existing opinions.
  
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• Michael Bublé's Son Diagnosed with Liver Cancer: How Rare Is It in Kids?

  14-11-2016 07:46
  
  Singer-songwriter Michael Bublé's young son Noah recently started treatment for liver cancer, a condition that is very rare in children. This week, Bublé's sister-in-law said that Noah, who is 3 years old, was diagnosed with liver cancer and that he's started a chemotherapy treatment that is expected to take four months, according to the Argentine magazine Gente. Bublé and his wife, Argentine actress Luisana Lopilato, initially revealed their son's cancer diagnosis in a Face
  
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• Constipation Linked to Risk of Kidney Disease, New Study Finds

  14-11-2016 07:45
  
  In what may not make for the sexiest headline, a new study shows there's a link between constipation and kidney disease. They also found that the more severe the participant's constipation, the higher their risk of developing these kidney conditions. "We cannot really say that we were very surprised," said Dr. Csaba Pal Kovesdy, chief of nephrology at the Memphis VA Medical Center and one of the study's co-authors.
  
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• Red Squirrels Harbor Leprosy-Causing Bacteria

  14-11-2016 07:44
  
  Researchers were intrigued by an increasing number of sores on red squirrels in the United Kingdom and Ireland, so they decided to run tests on the animals to find out what was causing these mysterious marks. After investigating, they now say they have found the cause: Some squirrels harbor the same bacteria that caused leprosy in humans in medieval Britain. In the study, the researchers conducted genetic screening and blood tests on more than 100 red-squirrel cadavers from England, Ireland and
  
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• York U researchers find 'sweet' solution to kill E. coli in drinking water

  14-11-2016 06:00
  
  (York University) While using porous paper strips to trap the bacterial cells, for killing, the researchers used an antimicrobial agent extracted from the seeds of moringa -- commonly known as drumstick or horseradish tree. As a result, the DipTreat solution for water treatment uses only naturally available antimicrobial substances and sugar, with minimal environmental and health impact.
  
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• Wind and solar energy projects could bring 5,000 new jobs to rural Minnesota

  14-11-2016 06:00
  
  (University of Minnesota) While Minnesota's state energy policies have been a large driver in the shift from fossil fuels to renewables, the federal Production Tax Credit and Investment Tax Credit have played a major role in shaping the state's clean energy economy while keeping rates affordable for utility customers, according to a new report from the University of Minnesota Energy Transition Lab.
  
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• Why you may want to keep your Movember moustache out of the beer froth

  14-11-2016 06:00
  (University of Victoria) Alcohol is a known risk factor for breast cancer and at least seven types of cancers of the digestive system. It's also suggested that alcohol may increase the risk of prostate cancer. A new study by researchers at the Centre for Addictions Research of BC at the University of Victoria and Australia's National Drug Research Institute provides new evidence of a significant relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of prostate cancer.
  
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• What molecules you leave on your phone reveal about your lifestyle

  14-11-2016 06:00
  (University of California - San Diego) By sampling the molecules on cell phones, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences were able to construct lifestyle sketches for each phone's owner, including diet, preferred hygiene products, health status and locations visited. This proof-of-concept study could have a number of applications, including criminal profiling, airport screening, medication adherence monitoring
  
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