Science news

• Finding life on 7 exoplanets will be a challenge: Bob McDonald

  24-02-2017 22:21 via cbc.ca
  
  New high-powered telescopes will probably have to detect signs of life rather than life itself.
  
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• Novel 'barcode' tracking of T cells in immunotherapy patients identifies likely cancer-killers

  24-02-2017 22:06
  A new discovery makes an important step in identifying which specific T cells within the diverse army of a person's immune system are best suited to fight cancer.
  
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• New structural studies reveal workings of a molecular pump that ejects cancer drugs

  24-02-2017 22:06
  Sometimes cells spit out things we don't want them to -- like medications. Researchers have determined the three-dimensional structure of a tiny pump that expels, among other things, chemotherapy agents. This new knowledge could lead to the design of more effective drugs.
  
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• Effects of a poor diet during pregnancy may be reversed in female adolescent offspring

  24-02-2017 22:06
  Here's some good news if you are female: Research shows that in mice, what is eaten during adolescence or childhood development may alter long-term behavior and learning, and can even 'rescue' females from the negative effects on behavior resulting from a poor maternal diet during pregnancy.
  
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• Trump asks NASA to explore putting crew on rocket's debut flight

  24-02-2017 21:55
  
  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - The Trump administration has directed NASA to study whether it is feasible to fly astronauts on the debut flight of the agency’s heavy-lift rocket, a mission currently planned to be unmanned and targeted to launch in late 2018, officials said on Friday.
  
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• New software allows for 'decoding digital brain data'

  24-02-2017 19:39
  New software allows for 'decoding digital brain data' to reveal how neural activity gives rise to learning, memory and other cognitive functions. The software can be used in real time during an fMRI brain scan.
  
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• Nano-sized hydrogen storage system increases efficiency

  24-02-2017 19:39
  An efficient hydrogen storage system has been developed that could be a boon for hydrogen powered vehicles.
  
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• Multidrug resistant bacteria found in hospital sinks

  24-02-2017 19:39
  Many recent reports have found multidrug resistant bacteria living in hospital sink drainpipes, putting them in close proximity to vulnerable patients. But how the bacteria find their way out of the drains, and into patients has been unclear. Now a team of scientists has charted their pathways.
  
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• Clues to relationship between schizophrenia and rheumatoid arthritis

  24-02-2017 19:39
  A bioinformatics study identifies genetic variants with differing effects on risk of rheumatoid arthritis and schizophrenia.
  
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• Antibiotic resistance: A burgeoning problem for kids too

  24-02-2017 19:39
  In a new, first-of-its-kind study, researchers have found a 700-percent surge in infections caused by bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family resistant to multiple kinds of antibiotics among children in the US. These antibiotic resistant infections are in turn linked to longer hospital stays and potentially greater risk of death.
  
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• Radiation may prove more potent than pesticide against pepper pest

  24-02-2017 19:25 via cbc.ca
  
  You may not have heard of the pepper weevil, but it's said to have cost Ontario farmers $83 million in crop damage in 2016. Now, scientists hope a blast of cobalt gamma radiation will prove more potent - and less problematic - than pesticides.
  
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• 'Good vibration' hand pumps boost Africa's water security

  24-02-2017 18:52 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The simple up-and-down motion of hand pumps could help scientists secure a key water source for 200 million people in Africa.
  
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• New species of gigantic, toothy worm identified in Canadian fossil collection

  24-02-2017 18:49 via cbc.ca
  
  Researchers have discovered a new species of an ancient worm that was more than a metre long and had powerful jaws and teeth with which to catch its prey.
  
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• Novel DNA vaccine design improves chances of inducing anti-tumor immunity

  24-02-2017 18:17
  Scientists have devised a novel DNA vaccine approach through molecular design to improve the immune responses elicited against one of the most important cancer antigen targets.
  
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• Ancient humans arrived in South America in multiple waves

  24-02-2017 18:17
  Paleoamericans share a last common ancestor with modern native South Americans outside, rather than inside, the Americas and new findings underscore the importance of looking at both genetic and morphological evidence, each revealing different aspects of the human story, to help unravel our species' history.
  
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• The stories of supernova 1987A, as told by Science News

  24-02-2017 17:51
  
  In the wee hours of February 24, 1987, astronomers caught their first glimpse of supernova 1987A. Science News brings you that story, in multiple ways.
  
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• More virus infection, please

  24-02-2017 17:18
  Scientists have generated a new plasmid-based reverse genetics system for rotaviruses.
  
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• Hammerhead shark migration gives new hope for conservation

  24-02-2017 17:18
  Great Hammerhead sharks have been tagged and tracked across the USA and Bahamas in a bid to shed light on their migration habits. Researchers suggest that these sharks are more at risk than previously thought because of their predictable and seasonal migratory patterns. As an endangered species, the Great Hammerhead shark is in desperate need of effective conservation management. This new information will allow marine planners to improve the protection of this iconic animal.
  
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• Regular aerobic exercise beginning in middle age may lessen severity of stroke in old age

  24-02-2017 17:17
  Regular aerobic exercise may protect the collateral circulation and lessen the severity of strokes later in life.
  
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• In enemy garb: New explanation for wasp mimicry

  24-02-2017 17:17
  Biologists expand on more than 150 years of textbook wisdom with a new explanation for wasp mimicry.
  
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• How proteins reshape cell membranes

  24-02-2017 17:17
  Small 'bubbles' frequently form on membranes of cells and are taken up into their interior. The process involves EHD proteins. Scientists have now shed light on how these proteins assemble on the surface of a cell and reshape its membrane.
  
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• Waymo accuses Uber of self-driving car theft

  24-02-2017 17:12 via cbc.ca
  
  A self-driving car company founded by Google is colliding with ride-haling service Uber in a court battle revolving around allegations of betrayal, high-tech espionage and greed.
  
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• Researchers detail genetic mechanisms that govern growth and drought response in plants

  24-02-2017 17:11
  Research outlines how the genetic pathways that govern growth and stress response in plants sometimes clash. The research could lead to better performing crop varieties.
  
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• Where do flowers come from? Shedding light on Darwin’s 'abominable mystery'

  24-02-2017 15:35
  The mystery that is the origin of flowering plants has been partially solved thanks to a team of scientists. Their discovery sheds light on a question that much intrigued Darwin: the appearance of a structure as complex as the flower over the course of evolution.
  
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• The toy boat that sailed the seas of time

  24-02-2017 15:35
  A thousand years ago, for reasons we will never know, the residents of a tiny farmstead on the coast of central Norway filled an old well with dirt. Maybe the water dried up, or maybe it became foul. But when archaeologists found the old well and dug it up in the summer of 2016, they discovered an unexpected surprise: a carefully carved toy, a wooden boat with a raised prow like a proud Viking ship, and a hole in the middle where a mast could have been stepped.
  
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• Kidney damage diagnosis may be inaccurate for many, suggests study

  24-02-2017 15:26
  An analysis of patient records reveals that, for many, an initial diagnosis of 'acute kidney injury' using current clinical diagnostic methods may have been inaccurate.
  
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• Minister to enshrine protection for research independence

  24-02-2017 13:28 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The government is to enshrine into law the idea that there should be no political interference in research funding.
  
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• Newly identified continent Zealandia faces a battle for recognition

  24-02-2017 12:00
  
  Geologists make the case for a new continent, dubbed Zealandia, found largely submerged beneath the southwestern Pacific Ocean.
  
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• What effect does prenatal and postpartum maternal depression have on children?

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (Wiley) The results of a large study do not support the notion that prenatal and postpartum maternal depression is particularly detrimental to children's psychological development. Instead, the most robust effects were found for maternal depression occurring during children's preschool years.
  
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• Watching birds near your home is good for your mental health -- official

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (University of Exeter) People living in neighborhoods with more birds, shrubs and trees are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and stress, according to research by academics at the University of Exeter, the British Trust for Ornithology and the University of Queensland.
  
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• Two types of sensors that provide information on vineyard water status are designed

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (Elhuyar Fundazioa) Researchers at the NUP/UPNA-Public University of Navarre have designed two types of sensors whose technologies allow information on the water status of the vineyard to be obtained by means of innovative methods. The work has been developed by a NUP/UPNA multidisciplinary team in collaboration with various Navarrese companies.
  
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• Tokyo Tech and Input Output HK create the Cryptocurrency Collaborative Research Chair

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (Tokyo Institute of Technology) On February 15th, Input Output Hong Kong (IOHK), and its Japanese subsidiary Input Output Japan (IOJP), and Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) created the Input Output Cryptocurrency Collaborative Research Chair within the Tokyo Tech School of Computing.
  
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• Tissue-engineered model developed to study bone-invading tumor

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News) Researchers have used tissue engineering to create models for studying the bone-destroying activity of tumors such as the aggressive pediatric cancer Ewing's sarcoma.
  
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• The potential consequences for cancer care and cancer research of Brexit

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (ecancermedicalscience) Cancer leaders highlight main fears for patient care, treatment and research in a post-Brexit world.
  
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• The making of music

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (Harvard University) A new study suggests that music -- and specifically infant-directed song -- evolved as a way for parents to signal to children that their needs are being met, while still freeing up parents to perform other tasks, like foraging for food, or caring for other offspring.
  
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• The dawn of a new era for Supernova 1987a

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center) Three decades ago, astronomers spotted one of the brightest exploding stars in more than 400 years. Since that first sighting, SN 1987A has continued to fascinate astronomers with its spectacular light show. To commemorate the supernova's 30th anniversary, new observations and a 3-D model are being released.
  
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• Teach yourself everyday happiness with imagery training

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (Frontiers) In a recently published paper in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, scientists at the Smartbrain Clinic in Oslo, Norway find that self-guided positive imagery training can successfully combat negative emotions in our daily lives. This tool is so powerful that it also changes the way our brain functions.
  
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• Study shows ancient humans arrived in South America in multiple waves

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (University at Buffalo) The findings published Wednesday (Feb. 22, 2017) in the journal Science Advances suggest that Paleoamericans share a last common ancestor with modern native South Americans outside, rather than inside, the Americas and underscore the importance of looking at both genetic and morphological evidence, each revealing different aspects of the human story, to help unravel our species' history.
  
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• Study shows adipose stem cells may be the cell of choice for therapeutic applications

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (Morris Animal Foundation) An international team of researchers, funded by Morris Animal Foundation, has shown that adipose (fat) stem cells might be the preferred stem cell type for use in canine therapeutic applications, including orthopedic diseases and injury.
  
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• Study examines ways to use demand information to adjust capacity

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (University of Texas at Dallas) A new UT Dallas study derived optimal policies and data-driven, problem-solving techniques for firms to learn about demand so that they can decide when and by how much they should adjust their capacity level.
  
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• Study catalogs the complex flavors of American-made goat cheese

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (Kansas State University) Researchers generated a flavor lexicon that lists the 39 flavor attributes in cheeses made with goat milk. Flavor lexicons are important tools for cheesemakers because they help with development, product benchmarking and quality control.
  
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• Sandia uses confined nanoparticles to improve hydrogen storage materials performance

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (DOE/Sandia National Laboratories) Sometimes, you have to go small to win big. That is the approach a multilab, interdisciplinary team took in using nanoparticles and a novel nanoconfinement system to develop a method to change hydrogen storage properties.
  
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• Sandia use confined nanoparticles to improve hydrogen storage materials performance

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (DOE/Sandia National Laboratories) Sometimes, you have to go small to win big. That is the approach a multilab, interdisciplinary team took in using nanoparticles and a novel nanoconfinement system to develop a method to change hydrogen storage properties.
  
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• Princeton-Intel collaboration breaks new ground in studies of the brain

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (PrincetonUniversity) Princeton University and Intel researchers have collaborated to develop software that allows for 'decoding digital brain data' to reveal how neural activity gives rise to learning, memory and other cognitive functions. The software can be used in real time during an fMRI brain scan.
  
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• NSF Law and Social Sciences program issues new awards

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (National Science Foundation) Grants support research into crucial social issues.
  
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• Novel 'barcode' tracking of T cells in immunotherapy patients identifies likely cancer-

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) A new discovery by researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle makes an important step in identifying which specific T cells within the diverse army of a person's immune system are best suited to fight cancer.The findings will be published Feb. 24 in Science Immunology.
  
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• New risk factors for anxiety disorders

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (University of Würzburg) Several newly discovered variants of a gene increase the risk of developing anxiety disorders. A research team aims to derive new therapies from this finding which are better tailored to the individual patients.
  
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• New pop-up strategy inspired by cuts, not folds

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences) Origami-inspired materials use folds in materials to embed powerful functionality. However, all that folding can be pretty labor intensive. Now, researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) are drawing material inspiration from another ancient Japanese paper craft -- kirigami.
  
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• New nano approach could cut dose of leading HIV treatment in half

  24-02-2017 06:00
  
  (University of Liverpool) Successful results of a University of Liverpool-led trial that utilised nanotechnology to improve drug therapies for HIV patients has been presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Seattle, a leading annual conference of HIV research, clinical practice and progress.
  
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