Science news

• This robot grows like a plant

  19-07-2017 23:26
  
  A new soft robot navigates its environment by growing in a manner inspired by plants.
  
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• These genes may be why dogs are so friendly

  19-07-2017 20:00
  
  Dog domestication may be the result of just a few genetic changes, including ones that made canines more interested in interacting with people.
  
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• Humans have produced 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic, researchers say

  19-07-2017 20:00 via cbc.ca
  
  Plastic is in almost everything we use. Now researchers have calculated the amount of the synthetic material humans have produced since the advent of of large-scale production began in the 1950s: 8.3 billion tonnes.
  
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• UK rhino eggs 'could save last northern whites'

  19-07-2017 19:04 via bbc.co.uk
  A UK zoo is taking part in a radical plan to save the world's last northern white rhinos from extinction.
  
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• Humans first settled in Australia as early as 65,000 years ago

  19-07-2017 19:00
  
  Australia may have said “G’day” to humankind thousands of years earlier than previously believed.
  
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• Google redesigns mobile search app to add personalized feed

  19-07-2017 18:23 via cbc.ca
  
  User who search using Google's mobile app will receive more personalized results, including links catered to hobbies, travel and sports. The update is currently only available for users in the U.S.; other countries can expect to receive the update in the coming weeks.
  
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• Search for missing Malaysian airliner reveals rich detail about Indian Ocean

  19-07-2017 17:34 via cbc.ca
  
  Detailed sea-floor maps made during the unsuccessful search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, released by Australia on Wednesday, could help increase the knowledge of rich fisheries and the prehistoric movement of the earth's southern continents.
  
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• MH370 search data unveils fishing hot spots, ancient geological movements

  19-07-2017 14:35
  
  SYDNEY (Reuters) - Detailed sea-floor maps made during the unsuccessful search formissing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, released by Australia on Wednesday, could help increase the knowledge of rich fisheries and the prehistoric movement of the earth's southern continents.
  
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• Untangling the Mystery of How Fido Became Humankind's Best Friend

  19-07-2017 14:00 via rss.sciam.com
  
  New DNA-based research suggests dogs were domesticated in a single event, in contrast with a previous hypothesis
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• The incredible shrinking transistor just got smaller

  19-07-2017 13:00
  
  Tiniest transistor, made with carbon nanotubes, suggests computers aren’t done shrinking down.
  
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• Too Sunny in Philadelphia? Satellites Zero in on Dangerous Urban Heat Islands

  19-07-2017 12:45 via rss.sciam.com
  
  Satellite and socioeconomic data can pinpoint which of a city’s neighborhoods are most at risk during heat waves
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• Why some women are more likely to feel depressed

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (The North American Menopause Society (NAMS)) It's no secret that the risk of depression increases for women when their hormones are fluctuating. Especially vulnerable times include the menopause transition and onset of postmenopause. There's also postpartum depression that can erupt shortly after childbirth. But why do some women feel blue while others seem to skate through these transitions? One answer is provided through study results being published online today in Menopause, the journal of
  
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• UK Biobank partners with the EGA

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (European Molecular Biology Laboratory - European Bioinformatics Institute) UK Biobank has established a partnership with the European Genome-phenome Archive (EGA), a joint resource developed by EMBL-EBI and the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG).- UK Biobank, which manages health information on over 500,000 individuals, will share its genetic data in its first release via EGA.- Distribution of the data via the EGA will ensure long-term data security, accessibility and sustainability, which wil
  
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• UBC researchers test 3-D-printed water quality sensor

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (University of British Columbia Okanagan campus) Researchers at UBC's Okanagan campus have designed a tiny device -- built using a 3-D printer -- that can monitor drinking water quality in real time and help protect against waterborne illness.
  
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• Treated hydraulic fracturing wastewater may pollute area water sources for years

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (Penn State) Given Pennsylvania's abundant natural resources, it's no surprise that the Commonwealth has become a mecca for hydraulic fracturing. Researchers, however, have recently discovered that releasing millions of gallons of treated hydraulic fracturing wastewater each year into area surface waters may have longer-lasting effects than originally thought.
  
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• This week from AGU: Water quality improvements increase bay home prices

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (American Geophysical Union) This week from AGU includes research highlighted on AGU's blog and from Eos.org.
  
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• The dangers of driving after restricted sleep and moderate alcohol intake

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (Wiley) In a recent study, combining moderate alcohol consumption (within legal limits for driving) and moderate sleep restriction led to greater drowsiness and increased deficits in attention, compared with either sleep restriction or alcohol intake alone.
  
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• Team traces masculinization in mice to estrogen receptor in inhibitory neurons

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) Until now, the identity of the cells that regulate 'masculinization' in the mouse has been unclear. A CSHL team demonstrates for the first time the specific hormone receptors, brain cells and brain regions responsible for masculinization in the mouse. It's part of a larger project to understand how hormones define distinct neurodevelopmental trajectories in male and female brains.
  
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• Teaching without training

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (Brigham Young University) Despite efforts from No Child Left Behind to promote 'highly qualified' teaching, recent research shows that just 36 percent of new secondary science teachers are teaching only in their trained subject.
  
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• Supramolecular materials with a time switch

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (Technical University of Munich (TUM)) Materials that assemble themselves and then simply disappear at the end of their lifetime are quite common in nature. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have now successfully developed supramolecular materials that disintegrate at a predetermined time -- a feature that could be used in numerous applications.
  
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• Study: Supreme Court decision complicates prosecuting child abusers

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Nearly 42 percent of the prosecutors who participated in a national online survey reported that the US Supreme Court's 2004 decision in Crawford v. Washington increased the need for abuse victims to testify in court and decreased their prosecutions of child abuse cases either 'greatly' or 'somewhat.'University of Illinois social work senior research specialist Theodore P. Cross and independent child abuse research Debra Whitcomb co-wrote the paper.
  
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• Study looks at physicians who prescribe methadone

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (St. Michael's Hospital) A small number of physicians prescribe the majority of the drugs used to treat people in Ontario who are battling opioid addictions, a new study has found.
  
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• Social interaction affects cancer patients' response to treatment

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (NIH/National Human Genome Research Institute) How well cancer patients fared after chemotherapy was affected by their social interaction with other patients during treatment, according to a new study by researchers at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Cancer patients were a little more likely to survive for five years or more after chemotherapy if they interacted during chemotherap
  
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• Smart toys without the batteries

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (American Chemical Society) The greatest challenge in entertaining young children is keeping their toys powered up. Now, one group reports in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering that they are one step closer to battery-free interactive games.
  
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• Simulation reveals universal signature of chaos in ultracold reactions

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory) Researchers have performed the first ever quantum-mechanical simulation of the benchmark ultracold chemical reaction between potassium-rubidium (KRb) and a potassium atom, opening the door to new controlled chemistry experiments and quantum control of chemical reactions that could spark advances in quantum computing and sensing technologies.
  
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• Silk 'micrococoons' could be used in biotechnology and medicine

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (St John's College, University of Cambridge) Microscopic versions of the cocoons spun by silkworms have been manufactured by a team of researchers. The tiny capsules, which are invisible to the naked eye, can protect sensitive molecular materials, and could prove a significant technology in areas including food science, biotechnology and medicine.
  
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• Shark scavenging helps reveal clues about human remains

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (Florida Museum of Natural History) Shark feeding habits are helping scientists identify marks on human bones found in the ocean.By analyzing shark scavenging behavior, the University of Florida's C.A. Pound Human Identification Laboratory identified which marks were left behind by sharks, what species of sharks made the marks and where the feedings might have occurred.
  
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• 'Shadow network' keeps communities safe from deadly volcano

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (University of East Anglia) New research by the University of East Anglia (UEA) shows that 'shadow networks' linking volunteers with authorities can help keep some of the millions of people living near dangerous volcanoes safer.These informal networks see community members working in close collaboration with scientists and government officials on monitoring, communications, training and evacuation processes.
  
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• Scientists reveal new connections between small particles and the vast universe

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) Are density distributions of the vast universe and the nature of smallest particles related? In a recent research, scientists from HKUST and Harvard University revealed the connection between those two aspects, and argued that our universe could be used as a particle physics 'collider' to study the high energy particle physics. Their findings mark the first step of cosmological collider phenomenology and pave the way for future discovery of new ph
  
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• Satellite shows a weaker Hurricane Fernanda

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center) Hurricane Fernanda appears to be weakening on infrared satellite imagery. NOAA's GOES-West satellite imagery on July 19 showed a more disorganized hurricane nearing the Central Pacific Ocean.
  
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• Russia's use of the 'energy weapon' against Western European countries a strategic threat

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (Rice University) Although it has not been widely successful to date in the former Soviet zone, Russia's use of the 'energy weapon' against Western European countries in various forms still constitutes a strategic threat that warrants close attention from policymakers in Washington and throughout Europe, according to an issue brief by an expert in the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.
  
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• Rosalind Franklin University awarded NIH grant for research on neurological repair

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science) A$2.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health will help researchers at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science study how to replace neurons lost through stroke, traumatic brain and spinal injury and brain diseases including Alzheimer's.
  
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• Robotics-based study provides insight into predator-prey interactions

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (American Institute of Physics) A research team led by New York University professor Maurizio Porfiri put forth a robotics-based study to control information flow in predator-prey interactions, as well as test the validity of transfer entropy when attempting to understand causal influences of the system. They report their findings this week in the journal Chaos, from AIP Publishing.
  
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• Researchers create new technique for manipulating polarization of terahertz radiation

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (Brown University) Brown University researchers have developed a new kind of polarizing beamsplitter for terahertz radiation, which could prove useful in imaging and communications systems.
  
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• Privacy, please: Why surveiling shoppers can inhibit sales, and how to fix it

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (Journal of Retailing at New York University) The authors designed a series of studies and field experiments that tested shoppers' reaction to being watched while shopping and found that when they feel their privacy or freedom of behavior is threatened, they will back off. Simple solutions are available to retailers.
  
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• President Tong joined students in service-learning in Kyrgyzstan

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University ) Professor Timothy W. Tong, President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), joined a Service-Learning trip with 34 students to serve the local community in Kyrgyzstan on July 16, 2017 and then signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan on July 19.
  
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• PETA journal article lays out steps to end flea/tick infestation tests on dogs and cats

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) An article just published in the peer-reviewed journal Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, authored by scientists from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), calls on companies to stop testing experimental flea and tick control products on dogs and cats. The article lays out steps that companies can take to make the transition to non-animal test methods.
  
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• Personalized 'earable' sensor monitors body temperature in real time

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (American Chemical Society) Wireless, wearable sensors are all the rage with millions of people now sporting fitness trackers on their wrists. These devices can count footsteps, monitor heart rate and other vital signs. Now researchers report in the journal ACS Sensors that they have developed a 3-D printed sensor worn on the ear that measures one of the most basic medical indicators of health in real time: core body temperature.
  
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• Penn researchers engineer macrophages to engulf cancer cells in solid tumors

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (University of Pennsylvania) In a recent study, human macrophages were engineered to ignore the 'don't eat me' signal both healthy and cancerous cells exhibit. Combined with cancer-specific targeting antibodies, these engineered macrophages invaded and engulfed human tumor cells in a mouse model.
  
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• New treatment guidelines for pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS/PANDAS)

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News) A panel of leading clinicians and researchers across various general and specialty pediatric fields developed comprehensive treatment recommendations to help guide the management of youngsters with a broad spectrum of neuropsychiatric conditions defined by the terms Pediatric Acute Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and PAN Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infection (PANDAS).
  
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• New study provides BRCA mutation carriers guidance for when surgery has greatest impact

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences) Of the women who carry the mutated BRCA1/2 genes, 45-65 percent will develop breast cancer, and 15-39 percent will develop ovarian cancer. Many women elect to undergo preventive surgeries that can significantly increase life expectancy, but can impact later fertility. However, few guidelines exist on the optimal age to undergo these procedures, and in what sequence. A new study in the INFORMS journal Decision Analysis provides insig
  
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• New harmless radiopaque glue to seal bleeding and guide surgery

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (Institute for Basic Science) First nanoparticle-based adhesive with imaging contrast effect in CT and ultrasound was successfully tested in animals and showed less toxicity than the FDA-approved glue CA-Lp.
  
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• New algorithm, metrics improve autonomous underwater vehicles' energy efficiency

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (Oregon State University) Robotics researchers have found a way for autonomous underwater vehicles to navigate strong currents with greater energy efficiency, which means the AUVs can gather data longer and better.
  
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• NASA's Terra satellite watching Tropical Storm Greg

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center) NASA Terra satellite provided a clear view of Tropical Storm Greg, located off the southwestern coast of Mexico. Greg is one of three tropical cyclones in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and is the closest to land.
  
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• NASA spots a diminished, but drenching ex-Tropical Cyclone Don

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center) Tropical Storm Don didn't live long before it weakened to a remnant low pressure area in the North Atlantic Ocean.
  
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• NanoVelcro microchips could someday noninvasively diagnose prenatal conditions

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (American Chemical Society) Many pregnant women undergo some form of prenatal testing before their children are born. The information that expectant mothers gain from these tests vary, from the baby's gender to genetic defects. But the tests are often invasive, which can potentially harm the fetus and the mother. Now, one group reports in ACS Nano that they have developed a device that provides sensitive results, but in a less invasive way: a blood test.
  
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• Nanoparticles could spur better LEDs, invisibility cloaks

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (University of Michigan) In an advance that could boost the efficiency of LED lighting by 50 percent and even pave the way for invisibility cloaking devices, a team of University of Michigan researchers has developed a new technique that peppers metallic nanoparticles into semiconductors.
  
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• 'Nano-in-micro' stem cell delivery could rescue blood flow after injury

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (American Chemical Society) When blood flow is reduced or cut to tissues, cells are deprived of oxygen and nutrients, which can lead to cell death if blood flow isn't efficiently restored. Stem cells are promising treatments, but they do not tend to stay at the site or survive long enough to heal the damage. Today in ACS Central Science, researchers combine micro and nano approaches to improve stem cell therapies and outcomes after ischemia, or inadequate blood supply.
  
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• Memory foam advances give firm support to growing mattress industry

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (American Chemical Society) The way we sleep started to change in 1992 with the commercial release of memory foam -- a product originally developed at NASA. A decade later, the product became more accessible when the first compressed mattress sold in a box debuted. Today, the polyurethane mattress industry continues to innovate and grow thanks to new chemistry, as reported in Chemical & Engineering News, the weekly news magazine of the American Chemical Society.
  
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• Massive simulation shows HIV capsid interacting with its environment

  19-07-2017 06:00
  
  (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) It took two years on a supercomputer to simulate 1.2 microseconds in the life of the HIV capsid, a protein cage that shuttles the HIV virus to the nucleus of a human cell. The 64-million-atom simulation offers new insights into how the virus senses its environment and completes its infective cycle.
  
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