Science news

• Oil spill off coast of Greece 'environmental disaster'

  12-09-2017 23:30 via bbc.co.uk
  Emergency crews have begun an oil spill clean-up after an oil tanker sank close to the island of Salamis.
  
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• How hurricanes and other devastating disasters spur scientific research

  12-09-2017 23:15
  
  Hurricanes such as Harvey, Irma and others have been devastating, even deadly, yet they drive our desire for scientific discovery.
  
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• Science spin prevalent, researchers warn

  12-09-2017 23:05
  More than a quarter of biomedical scientific papers may utilize practices that distort the interpretation of results or mislead readers so that results are viewed more favorably, a new study suggests.
  
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• Cold comfort: Fat-rich diets and adaptation among indigenous Siberian populations

  12-09-2017 23:05
  Recently, scientists have been exploring the genetic signatures of adaptation in several indigenous cold-adapted human populations. Now, a new study has identified new signals of adaptation across multiple genes and exploring a rich demographic history. By performing extensive analyses on DNA sequencing data for two North-Central Siberian populations, the Nganasan (nomadic hunters) and Yakut (herders), they have been able to infer the most comprehensive demographic and adaptive history.
  
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• Health benefits of olives and olive oil

  12-09-2017 22:10
  A research team discovered that the olive-derived compound oleuropein helps prevent type 2 diabetes.
  
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• Wild photography: Buck outswims hungry wolf in northern Alberta lake

  12-09-2017 21:52 via cbc.ca
  When a wolf swam after a mighty buck in the depths of a northern Alberta lake, David Smith was there to capture the struggle, frame by frame.
  
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• Yet another chance to catch the northern lights this week

  12-09-2017 21:48 via cbc.ca
  For the past week, the sun has produced a flurry of unusual activity, which bodes well for those who want to catch a glimpse of the northern lights.
  
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• Lay interventions for depression and drinking

  12-09-2017 21:48
  Brief psychological interventions delivered by lay counselors in primary care were effective and cost-effective for patients with depression and harmful drinking in India, according to two new studies.
  
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• 'Making invisible things visible': With iPhone 8 and iPhone X, Apple kicks off the augmented reality wars

  12-09-2017 21:35 via cbc.ca
  With new phones purpose built for augmented reality experiences, Apple is trying to show that there's more to the technology than Snapchat and Pokemon Go.
  
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• Canoe.ca says data for one million users hacked

  12-09-2017 20:32 via cbc.ca
  News and entertainment website Canoe.ca says some of its databases containing the personal information of about one million users from 1996 to 2008 has been hacked.
  
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• Regulation of autophagy, NF-{kappa}B signaling, and cell viability by miR-124 in KRAS mutant mesenchymal-like NSCLC cells

  12-09-2017 19:59 via stke.sciencemag.org
  KRAS mutant non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may be classified into epithelial or mesenchymal subtypes. Despite having the same "driver" mutation, mesenchymal NSCLCs are less responsive than are epithelial NSCLCs to inhibition of the RAS pathway. Identifying alternative networks that promote survival specifically in mesenchymal NSCLC may lead to more effective treatments for this subtype. Through their numerous targets in cellular signaling pathways, noncoding microRNAs (miRNAs) often fu
  
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• Papers of note in Science 357 (6355)

  12-09-2017 19:59 via stke.sciencemag.org
  This week’s articles describe an alternative mechanism of secretion that is deployed by intestinal cells in the presence of pathogens; how the immune system protects the lungs from inhaled fungal spores; and metabolic reprogramming of tissue-resident antigen-presenting cells in the lung.
  
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• Papers of note in Nature 549 (7670)

  12-09-2017 19:59 via stke.sciencemag.org
  This week’s articles identify microbial metabolites that stimulate GPCRs; a transmembrane protein that maintains PD-L1 at the plasma membrane; immune enhancer elements that respond to specific extracellular signals; a signaling pathway that defines the right side of the vertebrate embryo; functions for ionotropic glutamate receptors in plants; and structural features of AMPA receptors during activation and desensitization.
  
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• Paper of note in Science Translational Medicine 9 (406)

  12-09-2017 19:59 via stke.sciencemag.org
  This week’s article describes how targeted antimicrobials may reduce the virulence of Clostridium difficile infection.
  
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• Leaky nuclei lead to senescence

  12-09-2017 19:59 via stke.sciencemag.org
  A pathway that senses microbial DNA also promotes senescence in cells with cytosolic chromatin fragments.
  
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• Chemotherapy, pain, and gut microbiota

  12-09-2017 19:59 via stke.sciencemag.org
  Chemotherapy triggers gut microbiota to stimulate pain-associated peripheral inflammation.
  
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• A natural ligand for the orphan receptor GPR15 modulates lymphocyte recruitment to epithelia

  12-09-2017 19:59 via stke.sciencemag.org
  GPR15 is an orphan G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) that is found in lymphocytes. It functions as a co-receptor of simian immunodeficiency virus and HIV-2 and plays a role in the trafficking of T cells to the lamina propria in the colon and to the skin. We describe the purification from porcine colonic tissue extracts of an agonistic ligand for GPR15 and its functional characterization. In humans, this ligand, which we named GPR15L, is encoded by the gene C10ORF99 and has some features si
  
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• 'Superbug' bacteria gang up on us, fueled by antibiotic use, nursing home study suggests

  12-09-2017 19:48
  What's worse than getting exposed to a kind of bacteria that modern antibiotics can't kill? Getting exposed to more than one -- because they may work together to cause an infection, new research suggests. And trying different antibiotics to control one such 'superbug' may only encourage others. The researchers say it's time to think about such bacteria as members of an antibiotic-resistant ecosystem in healthcare environments -- not as single species that act and respond alone.
  
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• Reversing the negative effects of adolescent marijuana use

  12-09-2017 19:48
  Researchers have identified a specific mechanism in the prefrontal cortex for some of the negative mental health risks associated with adolescent marijuana use. By demonstrating that adolescent THC exposure modulates the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA in the prefrontal cortex region of the brain, they were also able to identify a mechanism to reverse those risks.
  
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• Queens control worker reproduction without castration in stingless bee species

  12-09-2017 19:48
  Study contradicts the view that worker bees are forcibly castrated by the queen among the 600-odd species of stingless bees widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the world.
  
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• New way to stabilize next-generation fusion plasmas

  12-09-2017 19:48
  Recent experiments conducted on the DIII-D National Fusion Facility suggest that up to 40 percent of high-energy particles are lost during tokamak fusion reactions because of Alfvén waves.
  
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• 'Missing link' explains how viruses trigger immunity

  12-09-2017 19:48
  A new discovery has solved a longstanding mystery of how viruses trigger protective immunity within our body. The research team demonstrated a protein called SIDT2 was crucial for cells to detect viral components in their environment, and initiate an immune response to reduce the virus' spread.
  
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• Microscope invented at marine biological laboratory illuminates chromosomal 'dark matter'

  12-09-2017 19:48
  Biologists, instrument developers, and computational scientists have for the first time measured the density of a relatively inscrutable, highly condensed form of chromosomal material (heterochromatin) that appears in the cells of human beings and other eukaryotes.
  
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• In mice, calorie restriction reduces fat but increases fur

  12-09-2017 19:48
  Calorie restriction may help mice stay slim and live longer, but it also means less fat to keep their bodies warm. Researchers in Brazil have found that mouse skin responds to caloric restriction by stimulating fur growth, increasing blood flow, and altering cell metabolism to increase energy efficiency. The study reveals that animals may use this as an evolutionary adaptation to stay warm -- and alive -- in limited food conditions.
  
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• How hibernating ribosomes wake up

  12-09-2017 19:48
  Scientists have uncovered the way a bacterial ribosome moves from an inactive to an active form, and how that 'wake up call' is key to its survival.
  
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• Forest regeneration experiment of 30 years yields results

  12-09-2017 19:48
  A spruce forest regeneration experiment in Interior Alaska that spanned nearly 30 years demonstrates which forest management practices produce the best results. It looked at different combinations of ground treatments to reduce competition from other vegetation and of regeneration methods, such as planting spruce seedlings and broadcast seeding. The results show the environmental and management situations in which different techniques work best and the situations in which they are unnecessary. R
  
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• How storm surges beach manatees and flood inland streets

  12-09-2017 18:41 via cbc.ca
  With back-to-back hurricanes in the last few weeks, we've been bombarded with contrasting images of high water rushing over inland streets and manatees stranded on dry beaches.
  
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• How hurricanes generate deadly storm surges and catastrophic floods

  12-09-2017 18:41 via cbc.ca
  After submerging the Bahamas up to its rooftops and killing five people, Hurricane Dorian is expected to generate “life-threatening” storm surge along the coasts of three U.S. states. But what is storm surge and how does it push water levels so dangerously high? Here’s a closer look.
  
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• Man-of-war spotted along coast in Cornwall and Wales

  12-09-2017 18:24 via bbc.co.uk
  The RNLI closed Perranporth beach to swimmers because of large numbers of jellyfish-like creatures.
  
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• Next crew set to launch toward International Space Station

  12-09-2017 18:23 via cbc.ca
  A new crew is heading to the International Space Station on Tuesday.
  
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• Next crew set to launch to International Space Station

  12-09-2017 18:23 via cbc.ca
  A new crew is heading to the International Space Station on Tuesday.
  
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• New crew launches toward International Space Station

  12-09-2017 18:23 via cbc.ca
  A new crew is headed to the International Space Station, including two NASA astronauts and one Russian cosmonaut.
  
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• New crew arrives at International Space Station

  12-09-2017 18:23 via cbc.ca
  A new crew has arrived at the International Space Station, including two NASA astronauts and one Russian cosmonaut.
  
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• Climate change threatens largest-producing region in the world, researchers say

  12-09-2017 17:31 via cbc.ca
  Coffee lovers may find it harder to get their favourite caffeine fix in a few years' time, as global warming could cut coffee growing areas in Latin America by as much as 88 percent by 2050, scientists said on Monday.
  
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• Climate change threatens largest coffee-producing region in the world, researchers say

  12-09-2017 17:31 via cbc.ca
  Coffee lovers may find it harder to get their favourite caffeine fix in a few years' time, as global warming could cut coffee growing areas in Latin America by as much as 88 percent by 2050, scientists said on Monday.
  
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• In these bot hookups, the machines meld their minds

  12-09-2017 17:00
  
  A new type of robot can team up with its fellows to form a single-minded machine.
  
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• Father's environmental exposure affects sperm epigenetics, study shows

  12-09-2017 16:28
  Authors of a new report believe that theirs is among the first human studies to investigate the influence of phthalate exposure on sperm epigenetics, embryo development and whether DNA methylation in sperm cells may be a path by which a father's environmental exposure influences these endpoints. DNA methylation, one mechanism of epigenetics, is a chemical tag on DNA that does not change the gene sequence but is involved in controlling gene expression.
  
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• Hurricane Irma: Florida's Overdevelopment Has Created a Ticking Time Bomb

  12-09-2017 16:15 via rss.sciam.com
  Disaster risk expert says intense population growth and urban coastal development have created a huge danger
  -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• Foldable Galaxy Note smartphone on the way, Samsung says

  12-09-2017 15:16 via cbc.ca
  Samsung Electronics Co. said Tuesday it aims to launch a foldable smartphone next year under its Galaxy Note brand.
  
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• U.S. unveils updated self-driving car guidelines, trying to clear barriers

  12-09-2017 14:28 via cbc.ca
  The Trump administration on Tuesday unveiled updated safety guidelines for self-driving cars in an attempt to clear barriers for automakers and tech companies wanting to get test vehicles on the road.
  
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• U.S. unveils updated self-driving car guidelines

  12-09-2017 14:28 via cbc.ca
  The Trump administration on Tuesday unveiled updated safety guidelines for self-driving cars in an attempt to clear barriers for automakers and tech companies wanting to get test vehicles on the road.
  
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• U.S. to unveil streamlined autonomous vehicle guidelines

  12-09-2017 14:28 via cbc.ca
  U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao is to unveil streamlined safety guidelines for automakers that want to deploy self-driving vehicles, according to a report from Reuters.
  
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• Powerful Childhood Cancer Treatment Holds Promise--and Poses Hazards

  12-09-2017 12:45 via rss.sciam.com
  Researchers say harsh side effects and puzzling gaps in effectiveness can be tweaked
  -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• 'One more thing': Apple unveils iPhone X

  12-09-2017 11:00 via cbc.ca
  'One more thing.' With that phrase, Apple paid homage to its late co-founder Steve Jobs for the 10-year anniversary of the iPhone on Tuesday when it unveiled its latest -- and almost certainly most expensive -- new version of the device, the iPhone X.
  
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• Apple unveils iPhone 8 — and more — today

  12-09-2017 11:00 via cbc.ca
  Apple is set to unveil the next iPhone — or maybe three — today. The 10th anniversary edition of its flagship smartphone is expected to cost more than $1,000. Also on view: its giant new spaceship-shaped campus, Apple Park. Watch live starting 1 p.m. ET.
  
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• Why do phone batteries sometimes explode? (video)

  12-09-2017 06:00
  (American Chemical Society) Lithium-ion batteries have become a ubiquitous part of the digital revolution, but not without a serious setback. They keep spontaneously exploding, and consumers are getting sick of it. So, what's the underlying issue, and how can science address it? Learn about the chemistry of battery fires in this new video from Reactions: https://youtu.be/pY-kzHn9kvo
  
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• Western researchers reverse the negative effects of adolescent marijuana use

  12-09-2017 06:00
  (University of Western Ontario) Researchers at Western University have identified a specific mechanism in the prefrontal cortex for some of the negative mental health risks associated with adolescent marijuana use. By demonstrating that adolescent THC exposure modulates the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA in the prefrontal cortex region of the brain, they were also able to identify a mechanism to reverse those risks.
  
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• Want to rebound from failure? Feel the pain

  12-09-2017 06:00
  (Ohio State University) Feeling the pain of failure leads to more effort to correct your mistake than simply thinking about what went wrong, according to a new study.
  
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• To Improve smartphone privacy, control access to third-party libraries

  12-09-2017 06:00
  (Carnegie Mellon University) Smartphone apps that share users' personal Information often do so through services called third-party libraries, suggesting a new strategy for protecting privacy. Carnegie Mellon University researchers say controlling access to these third-party libraries, which help app developers make money by targeting people with ads or compiling marketing profiles, promises to be an effective way of limiting the unwanted release of personalinformation.
  
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• The Finnish Kaitotek makes network measurement tool developed by VTT available to industry

  12-09-2017 06:00
  (VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland) Kaitotek Oy (Ltd), which was founded early this year, is continuing the development of software, begun by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, for measuring and monitoring the quality of service of networks.
  
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