Science news

• Ten million lives saved by 1962 breakthrough, study says

  03-03-2017 22:32
  Nearly 200 million cases of polio, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, adenovirus, rabies and hepatitis A -- and approximately 450,000 deaths from these diseases -- were prevented in the US alone between 1963 and 2015 by vaccination, researchers estimate.
  
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• Organ-on-a-chip model offers insights into premature aging, vascular disease

  03-03-2017 22:32
  Using a new progeria-on-a-chip model, investigators have developed a way to recapitulate blood vessel dynamics to better understand vascular disease and aging.
  
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• Can SpaceX really send people around the moon by 2018?

  03-03-2017 22:28 via cbc.ca
  
  SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says the company plans to send two private citizens into orbit around the moon by 2018. But how realistic is Musk's goal?
  
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• Microbiome diversity is influenced by chance encounters

  03-03-2017 20:32
  Chance is an overlooked factor in the wide variation of microbe gut populations between individuals, new research suggests. These microbiome variations, which are also affected by diet and environment, contribute to gastrointestinal disorders such as colitis and Crohn's disease.
  
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• Epigenetic enzyme found to be lacking in some patients with Crohn's disease

  03-03-2017 20:32
  A research team has found how a variant in an important epigenetic enzyme -- previously associated by population-based genetic studies with Crohn's disease and other immune disorders -- interferes with the action of the innate immune system, potentially upsetting the healthy balance between the microbial population of the gastrointestinal tract and the immune response.
  
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• OLYMPUS experiment sheds light on structure of protons

  03-03-2017 20:31
  A mystery concerning the structure of protons is a step closer to being solved. Two photons, not one, are exchanged in electron-proton interactions, a seven-year study indicates.
  
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• Boosting the lifetime, effectiveness of biomedical devices

  03-03-2017 20:31
  A new approach has been found to boosting the lifetime and effectiveness of electronic biomedical devices. The discovery will help the devices better communicate with neural tissue by improving adhesion.
  
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• Rare triplet of high-energy neutrinos detected from an unknown source

  03-03-2017 19:20
  
  The IceCube Neutrino Observatory spotted three neutrinos within 100 seconds that seem to have come from the same place in the sky.
  
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• Twice weekly yoga classes plus home practice effective in reducing symptoms of depression

  03-03-2017 19:10
  People who suffer from depression should participate in yoga and deep (coherent) breathing classes at least twice weekly plus practice at home to receive a significant reduction in their symptoms.
  
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• Tool helps evaluate likely outcomes for elderly patients with traumatic brain injury

  03-03-2017 19:10
  Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death for people age 45 and younger in the United States, but, as people live longer, this type of injury is becoming more prevalent in those 75 and older. Treatment and recovery of the elderly population is even more challenging for physicians and other caregivers because these patients are more likely to have other health issues that can complicate their recovery and rehabilitation.
  
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• Should we commit to eradicate malaria worldwide?

  03-03-2017 19:10
  Should we commit to eradicate malaria worldwide? For the author of a new report, eradication is the only equitable and sustainable solution.
  
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• Importance of rare microbial species is much greater than you think

  03-03-2017 19:10
  The rare bacterial species in a microbial community -- species that each make up rarely more than one tenth of one percent of the entire population -- play a very important role in ecosystem health and stability, report researchers.
  
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• California high school makes $24M in Snapchat IPO

  03-03-2017 18:37 via cbc.ca
  
  A private Catholic high school in California's Silicon Valley has made millions of dollars from the initial public offering of shares in Snap Inc., the company behind the Snapchat photo messaging app.
  
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• Evolution of bipedalism in ancient dinosaur ancestors

  03-03-2017 17:06
  Paleontologists have developed a new theory to explain why the ancient ancestors of dinosaurs stopped moving about on all fours and rose up on just their two hind legs.
  
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• Astronaut radiation shield set for moon mission trial

  03-03-2017 17:05 via cbc.ca
  
  A vest designed to shield astronauts from deadly solar particles in deep space is set for trials on a lunar mission, its Israeli developers said.
  
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• Painkillers without dangerous side effects

  03-03-2017 16:28
  Researchers have discovered a new way of developing painkillers. When used in an animal model, their prototype of a morphine-like molecule was able to produce substantial pain relief in inflamed tissues. However, healthy tissues remained unaffected, suggesting that the severe side effects currently associated with these types of painkillers might be avoided.
  
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• Functional brain training alleviates chemotherapy-induced peripheral nerve damage in cancer survivor

  03-03-2017 16:28
  A type of functional brain training known as neurofeedback shows promise in reducing symptoms of chemotherapy-induced nerve damage, or neuropathy in cancer survivors, according to a study that is the largest to date to determine the benefits of neurofeedback in cancer survivors.
  
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• Study sheds new light on how species extinction affects complex ecosystems

  03-03-2017 16:06
  Research has found that methods used to predict the effect of species extinction on ecosystems could be producing inaccurate results. This is because current thinking assumes that when a species vanishes, its role within an environment is lost too. However, scientists working on a new study have found that when a species, (for example a group of sea creatures), is wiped out by a catastrophic event, other species can change their behavior to compensate, exploiting the vacant role left behind.
  
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• Dog walkers want their dogs to enjoy the chance to be 'dog-like' and free on walks

  03-03-2017 16:06
  Dog walkers want their dogs to have fun, freedom and space to enact their ‘dog-ness’ when they go for a walk, a new study shows.
  
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• New insights on how pathogens escape the immune system

  03-03-2017 16:04
  The bacterium Salmonella enterica causes gastroenteritis in humans and is one of the leading causes of food-borne infectious diseases. During the infection, the germ is able to trick the immune system. Researchers found a mechanism the pathogen uses. They hope to use the gained knowledge in the fight against cancer and other aging-associated diseases.
  
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• How to solve a problem like antibiotic resistance

  03-03-2017 16:04
  There has been much recent talk about how to target the rising tide of antibiotic resistance across the world, one of the biggest threats to global health today. While there is no doubting the size of the problem facing scientists, healthcare professionals and the pharmaceutical industry, there are innovative ways we can target antibiotic resistance in the short term.
  
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• How to improve your freshman retention rate

  03-03-2017 16:04
  Incoming college students who already feel a connection to their institution are more likely to fit in and want to remain at the school, especially if they are ethnic minorities, indicates a new study.
  
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• Frozen chemistry controls bacterial infections

  03-03-2017 16:04
  Chemists and molecular biologists have made an unexpected discovery in infection biology. The researchers can now show that two proteins that bind to one another slow down a chemical reaction central to the course of the disease in the bacteria Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.
  
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• Can math help explain our bodies -- and our diseases?

  03-03-2017 16:04
  The incredible complexity of how biological systems interact to create tissue from the information contained in genes boggles the mind -- and drives the work of biomedical scientists around the world. Now, a pair of mathematicians has introduced a new way of thinking about these concepts that may help set the stage for better understanding of our bodies and other living things.
  
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• It's like Google Street View for the ocean, and it might help save the world's coral reefs

  03-03-2017 16:01 via cbc.ca
  
  Richard Vevers worked in marketing, but he always had a passion for underwater photography. Now, he's helped to build a specialized camera that allows his organisation, The Ocean Agency, to capture the equivalent of a Google Street View of the ocean. The photos will be used as part of the recently launched 50 Reefs project, in an effort to save the world's dying coral reefs.
  
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• Take precautions against pesky plants, insects

  03-03-2017 15:17
  While poison ivy is probably the most well-known hazardous plant, there are a multitude of other plants, as well as many insects, that can irritate your skin.
  
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• Slow the signs of aging with sun protection

  03-03-2017 15:17
  While some individuals may believe tanning makes them more beautiful, this habit can actually damage their skin in the long run. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun and indoor tanning beds can not only increase one’s skin cancer risk but...
  
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• New treatment option shows promise for skin and hair conditions

  03-03-2017 15:17
  Alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis and vitiligo are highly visible dermatologic conditions that can have a negative effect on patients’ quality of life and overall health. An emerging treatment option, however, could provide effective therapy.
  
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• Learn the language of skin care labels

  03-03-2017 15:17
  When it comes to skin care product labels, people shouldn’t necessarily believe everything they read.
  
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• Importance of melanoma prevention, early detection

  03-03-2017 15:17
  On average, one person dies of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, every hour. Because this disease can affect anyone, everyone should take steps to reduce their risk and catch melanoma in its earliest stages, when it’s most treatable.
  
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• New technique removes the cause of allergic asthma: Antibodies are suctioned off

  03-03-2017 15:15
  Allergies are the most common cause of asthma. The immune system over-reacts to harmless substances such as birch or grass pollen, for example, forming immunoglobulin E antibodies (IgE). Together with the inflammatory cells in the skin and mucous membranes, the "mast cells", IgE antibodies are responsible for certain allergic diseases, such as asthma and hay fever. Scientists have now successfully developed a technique for suctioning the IgE antibodies out of the blood, thereby significantly imp
  
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• Why pandas are black and white

  03-03-2017 15:14
  The giant panda's distinct black-and-white markings have two functions: camouflage and communication. The study found that most of the panda -- its face, neck, belly, rump -- is white to help it hide in snowy habitats. The arms and legs are black, helping it to hide in shade.
  
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• Sustainable, high energy density battery created

  03-03-2017 15:14
  Researchers announce the development of a novel low cost, rechargeable, high energy density battery that makes the widespread use of solar and wind power possible in the future. It is based on manganese dioxide (MnO2), an abundant, safe and non-toxic material.
  
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• Reprogrammed blood vessels promote cancer spread

  03-03-2017 15:14
  Tumor cells use the bloodstream to spread in the body. To reach the blood, they first have to pass the wall of the vessel. Scientists have now identified a trick that the cancer cells use: They activate a cellular signal in the vessel lining cells. This makes the passage easier and promotes metastasis. In experiments with mice, the researchers were able to block this process using antibodies.
  
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• Sex differences in brain activity alter pain therapies

  03-03-2017 15:13
  A female brain's resident immune cells are more active in regions involved in pain processing relative to males, according to a recent study.
  
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• NASA study improves forecasts of summer Arctic sea ice

  03-03-2017 15:13
  The Arctic has been losing sea ice over the past several decades as Earth warms. However, each year, as the sea ice starts to melt in the spring following its maximum wintertime extent, scientists still struggle to estimate exactly how much ice they expect will disappear through the melt season. Now, a new NASA forecasting model based on satellite measurements is allowing researchers to make better estimates.
  
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• Choosing the right cyberattack response is a complicated game

  03-03-2017 15:00
  
  Public shaming or retaliation aren’t necessarily the best strategies in the world of cyber warfare, an analysis reveals
  
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• Volkswagen's excess emissions will lead to 1,200 premature deaths in Europe

  03-03-2017 14:21
  Volkswagen's excess emissions are predicted to cause 1,200 premature deaths in Europe. Countries hit hardest by automaker's emissions scandal include Germany, Poland, France, and Czech Republic, report investigators.
  
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• Saving brain cells from stroke

  03-03-2017 14:21
  A neuroprotective compound tested in rats provides two-pronged protection for brain cells during stroke and improves physical and cognitive outcomes in the treated animals, report scientists.
  
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• What global climate change may mean for leaf litter in streams and rivers

  03-03-2017 14:13
  Carbon emissions to the atmosphere from streams and rivers are expected to increase as warmer water temperatures stimulate faster rates of organic matter breakdown. But a new study suggests these decay rates may not increase as much as expected. In fact, the study indicates average breakdown rates may increase 5 percent to 21 percent with a 1 degree to 4-degree Celsius rise in water temperature — half as much as the 10 percent to 45 percent increase predicted by metabolic theory.
  
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• Social rejection by those closest to you can lead to subsequent drinking

  03-03-2017 14:12
  The need to belong and experience social connections is a fundamental human characteristic. Prior research has shown that social rejection is linked to increases in negative emotions, distress, and hostility. This study examined the impact of social rejection on alcohol use, and whether the impact differed when the social rejection was by close others, such as friends, spouses or family members, or by strangers or acquaintances.
  
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• A hot cup of attention tempered with chocolate, please

  03-03-2017 14:12
  Deep down, we always knew it, but science is proving that cocoa and caffeine are indeed the best marriage ever. Researchers examined the acute effects of brewed cocoa consumption on attention, motivation to perform cognitive work and feelings of anxiety, energy and fatigue.
  
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• Ancient skulls give clues to China human history

  03-03-2017 13:06 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Two skulls found in China shed light on the ancient humans who inhabited the region before the arrival of our own species.
  
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• If you think the Amazon jungle is completely wild, think again

  03-03-2017 13:00
  
  Ancient Amazonians partly or fully domesticated fruit and nut trees that still dominate some forests.
  
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• What's secretly in the swimming pool water?

  03-03-2017 12:47 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Scientists have found something - but no one will admit to causing it.
  
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• Wireless Phone Charging Picks Up Steam

  03-03-2017 12:45 via rss.sciam.com
  
  Newer technologies, growing consumer interest and adoption by gadget makers are breathing fresh air into the concept
  -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• What happens when a Canadian border agent asks to search your phone?

  03-03-2017 11:00 via cbc.ca
  
  For all the recent tales of U.S. border agents scrutinizing travellers phones and laptops, remember that, yes, Canadian border agents can and will search electronics, too.
  
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• Welcoming an early spring? Chill out — it's not necessarily a good thing

  03-03-2017 11:00 via cbc.ca
  
  Before you celebrate the warmer weather of an early spring, remember, it has far-reaching implications on our delicate ecosystem.
  
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• Nintendo Switch is a next-level console with only 1 must-play game

  03-03-2017 11:00 via cbc.ca
  
  Nintendo's newest system aims to offer something for audiences both hardcore and casual, young, old and everything in between. Does it succeed?
  
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• How eroding coastline is changing Quebec's Gaspé peninsula

  03-03-2017 11:00 via cbc.ca
  
  Communities in Quebec's Gaspé peninsula are looking for ways to adapt to a receding coastline and a changing climate.
  
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