Science news

• Location, location, location: Immunization delivery site matters

  01-12-2017 21:09
  In vaccination, a certain subpopulation of dendritic cells is vital to triggering the body's adaptive immune system, report researchers. Their findings have important implications for vaccine delivery, as the usual method, intramuscular injection, is likely not the most effective way to target those dendritic cells.
  
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• Graphene nano 'tweezers' can grab individual biomolecules

  01-12-2017 21:09
  Researchers have found yet another remarkable use for the wonder material graphene -- tiny electronic 'tweezers' that can grab biomolecules floating in water with incredible efficiency. This capability could lead to a revolutionary handheld disease diagnostic system that could be run on a smart phone.
  
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• From Alaska to Amazonia: First global maps of traits that drive vegetation growth

  01-12-2017 21:09
  Detailed global maps of key traits in higher plants have been made available for the first time.
  
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• Common male medical condition linked to vascular disease

  01-12-2017 21:09
  Men who suffer symptoms from varicoceles, enlarged veins in the scrotum, are more likely to develop vascular disease and metabolic disease, such as diabetes, according to a study.
  
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• National parks free for people 17 and under starting in 2018

  01-12-2017 20:44 via cbc.ca
  National parks across the country will become free for people 17 and under starting in 2018.
  
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• New 3-D printed materials harness the power of bacteria

  01-12-2017 20:22
  
  The three-dimensional materials contain live bacteria and could generate wound dressings or clean up pollutants.
  
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• "Living Ink" Laced with Microbes Makes Molecules on Demand

  01-12-2017 20:00 via rss.sciam.com
  3-D printed gel contains bacteria that produce compounds for medicine or pollution cleanup
  -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• Bottle gourd genome provides insight on evolutionary history, relationships of cucurbits

  01-12-2017 19:55
  Researchers have produced the first high-quality genome sequence for the bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) and a reconstructed genome of the most recent Cucurbitaceae ancestor.
  
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• The microbiological art of making a better sausage

  01-12-2017 19:16
  Fermented sausages can vary in taste quality depending on whether the fermentations begin 'spontaneously,' or using a commercial starter culture. A team of investigators found that commercial starter culture produced sausages with higher acidity, and inferior taste, as compared with spontaneous fermentation.
  
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• Sperm RNA may serve as biomarkers of future health, researchers find

  01-12-2017 19:16
  Human sperm may hold the potential to serve as biomarkers of the future health of newborn infants, according to a new study.
  
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• Dropping out of high school linked to child abuse

  01-12-2017 19:16
  Children who have been victims of violence are more likely to drop out of high school before graduation than their peers, according to a new study. One in five people in the United States drop out of high school before graduation, which decreases their lifetime earning potential by 20 percent. More than 30 percent of the survey sample were victims of violence before the age of 16.
  
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• Uranium to replace plastic? Chemistry breakthrough could pave the way for new materials

  01-12-2017 18:29
  Uranium can perform reactions that previously no one thought possible, which could transform the way industry makes bulk chemicals, polymers, and the precursors to new drugs and plastics, according to new findings.
  
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• Turbulence in astrophysical plasmas

  01-12-2017 18:29
  Researchers provides better explanations of the turbulent behavior of plasmas in space.
  
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• To drop carbon dioxide emissions, look to local transportation and housing

  01-12-2017 18:29
  Local efforts in the transportation and residential-housing sectors could help the United States meet the greenhouse gas reduction commitment it made as a Paris Climate Accord signatory, according to new research.
  
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• New method to determine before surgery which prostate tumors pose a lethal threat

  01-12-2017 18:29
  A team of researchers reports success in a small-scale test of a new analytical method to improve the early detection of potentially lethal prostate cancer. Based on diagnostic biopsy samples, the method promises to more accurately parse men who need surgery from those who do not.
  
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• Lung cancers in some African-Americans, European-Americans may have biological differences

  01-12-2017 18:29
  Differences in the genes expressed in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) from some African-Americans and European-Americans suggest that there are racial differences in the biology of NSCLC, which could have clinical relevance.
  
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• Gene regulation: Risk-free gene reactivation

  01-12-2017 18:29
  Chemical modification of DNA subunits contribute to the regulation of gene expression. Researchers have now deciphered a new pathway can reactivate genes that have been silenced in this way, while avoiding the risk of damaging the DNA.
  
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• Fighting myocardial infarction with nanoparticle tandems

  01-12-2017 18:29
  How can damaged cardiac tissue following a heart attack best be treated with replacement muscle cells? A research team is now presenting an innovative method on mice: Muscle replacement cells, which are to take over the function of the damaged tissue, are loaded with magnetic nanoparticles. These cells are then injected into the damaged heart muscle and held in place by a magnet, causing the cells to engraft better onto the existing tissue.
  
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• Drought-resistant plant genes could accelerate evolution of water-use efficient crops

  01-12-2017 18:29
  Scientists have identified a common set of genes that enable different drought-resistant plants to survive in semi-arid conditions, which could play a significant role in bioengineering and creating energy crops that are tolerant to water deficits.
  
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• Belowground fungal interactions with trees help explain non-native plant invasions

  01-12-2017 18:29
  The invasion of nonnative plants above-ground is strongly related to what type of mycorrhizal fungi are dominant below-ground in forest ecosystems.
  
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• Gravity signals rapidly show true size of giant quakes

  01-12-2017 18:21 via bbc.co.uk
  Researchers develop a new speedy approach to estimate the true size of very large earthquakes.
  
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• 'Historic agreement': Canada signs High Arctic commercial fishing ban

  01-12-2017 18:16 via cbc.ca
  An international deal has been reached to prevent commercial fishing in the High Arctic for at least the next 16 years.
  
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• We still don’t know where the first interstellar asteroid came from

  01-12-2017 17:38
  
  Astronomers are tracking stars to see if one of them launched the first interstellar asteroid at Earth.
  
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• What’s the largest terrestrial organism?

  01-12-2017 16:49
  The Giant Sequoya? Nope. The African elephant? Not even close. The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) December 1 Soils Matter blog post shares that the largest land organism is—a fungus!
  
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• Skepticism takes many forms

  01-12-2017 16:47
  Not every kind of science skepticism is the same. For example, skepticism about climate change is linked to political ideology, whereas skepticism about vaccinations consistently correlates with religious beliefs. In contrast, skepticism about genetically modified foods is not fuelled by religious or political ideology. These are some of the major findings of a new research study among North Americans.
  
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• Sir Isaac Newton’s Cambridge papers added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register

  01-12-2017 16:47
  The Cambridge papers of Sir Isaac Newton, including early drafts and Newton’s annotated copies of Principia Mathematica -- a work that changed the history of science -- have been added to UNESCO's International Memory of the World Register.
  
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• Monitoring security glass panes: Smart alarm system recognizes attempted break-ins

  01-12-2017 16:47
  There is a huge selection of glass break detectors on the market. Although these detectors reliably trigger an alarm when window panes break, they do not register all other ways in which burglars can interfere with a pane. To counter this, researchers have created a new type of alarm system that recognizes any attempt to manipulate the window. It registers temperature changes in real time as well as vibrations caused by external interference with the glass, leaving burglars with no chance.
  
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• Lightweight, compact VR glasses made possible by large-area microdisplays

  01-12-2017 16:47
  Virtual reality (VR) glasses are increasingly popular, but they have usually been heavy and oversized -- until now. Large-area microdisplays are expected to change that, because they make it possible to produce ergonomic and lightweight VR glasses. The new OLED displays now reach very high frame rates and achieve extremely high resolutions with "extended full HD".
  
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• Inspecting rotor blades with thermography and acoustic monitoring

  01-12-2017 16:47
  Wind turbines have a design life of 20 years. The rotor blades must be regularly inspected at least once every four years to verify their structural integrity. This type of work is performed by industrial climbers. But the problem with inspecting offshore installations is that access is only possible when wind and weather conditions permit. This makes it very difficult to plan inspection visits. In the Thermoflight research project, scientists are working together with industrial and research pa
  
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• Bioprocessing technology: Measuring optimally with spheres

  01-12-2017 16:47
  Bio-reactors are the cooking pots of biochemists and bio-technologists, in which pharmaceutical agents, enzymes or nematodes are produced for the purpose of biological pest control. A nutrient solution (such as heat, oxygen, acid or alkali) is used to regulate the pH value and the desired product is formed. The more optimal the conditions are, the greater the yield will be. Researchers have now developed spherical probes to more effectively monitor and streamline the manufacturing process.
  
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• Wafer to chip: X-ray imaging for reduced defect rate

  01-12-2017 16:46
  Using non-destructive imaging methods, a team of scientists has obtained three-dimensional insights into the interior of crystals. They determine important data about line-shaped defects that largely influence the deformation behavior of crystals. These so-called dislocations impede the production of computer chips. The scientists combine two X-ray methods with a special type of light microscopy.
  
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• Remains of historic aircraft found

  01-12-2017 16:46
  DEDAVE is an innovative autonomous underwater vehicle developed by researchers. Now the deep-diving robot has had its first chance to prove itself in action as it helped hunt down historic test models of a Canadian interceptor aircraft in Lake Ontario. The mission has been a success, with two of the confirmed eight aircraft models already tracked down.
  
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• Novel transcriptomic signature of type 2 diabetic islets identified

  01-12-2017 16:46
  A research team has identified a novel cluster of dysregulated genes in the pancreatic islets of patients with type 2 diabetes.
  
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• Metamaterial with a twist

  01-12-2017 16:46
  Using 3-D printers for the microrange, researchers have succeeded in creating a metamaterial from cubic building blocks that responds to compression forces by a rotation. Usually, this can only be achieved by transmission using a crankshaft, for instance. The sophisticated design of bars and ring structures and the underlying mathematics are now presented in a new study.
  
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• Harmful effects of being overweight underestimated

  01-12-2017 16:44
  The harmful effects of being overweight have been underestimated, according to a new study that analyzed body mass index (BMI), health and mortality data in around 60,000 parents and their children, to establish how obesity actually influences risk of death.
  
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• Researchers validate five new genes responsible for ALS

  01-12-2017 16:41
  New experiments validate the identification of five new genes linked to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) -- also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The new study results were validated through five different methods.
  
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• Robot learning improves student engagement

  01-12-2017 16:40
  Online students who use the innovative robots feel more engaged and connected to the instructor and students in the classroom, the first-ever study of a pioneering robot-learning course shows.
  
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• Protein associated with ALS points to possible targets for therapeutic intervention

  01-12-2017 16:40
  Scientists may have found possible targets for therapeutic interventions in the fight against Lou Gehrig's disease. A research team conducted the first single-molecule study of folding in the protein superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1), an antioxidant whose misfolding is linked to the neurodegenerative disease ALS. They found that it has much more complex folding than previously thought.
  
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• Brain is still 'connected' during non-REM sleep

  01-12-2017 16:40
  When we sleep, our organism goes through different phases of sleep, however the brain remains interconnected during non-REM sleep, which was thought not to happen. This finding has also made it possible to analyze the scientific basis of consciousness, an increasingly important field of neuroscience.
  
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• African protected area saving endangered megafauna

  01-12-2017 16:40
  One of Africa's last remaining wilderness areas is in good shape and could potentially support 50,000 elephants and 1000 lions, a study has found. Niassa National Reserve is Mozambique's largest protected area and has large populations of threatened species, but it's one of the least biologically explored places on Earth.
  
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• Study suggests a way to stop HIV in its tracks

  01-12-2017 15:10
  When HIV-1 infects an immune cell, the virus travels to the nucleus so quickly there's not enough time to set off the cell's alarm system. Researchers have discovered the protein that helps the virus travel so fast. Without this protein, the virus became stranded in the cytoplasm, where it was detected by the viral defense system.
  
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• 'Poop pill' capsule research paves the way for simpler C. difficile treatment

  01-12-2017 15:10
  A clinical trial has shown Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT) is effective in treating clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infections whether delivered by colonoscopy or by swallowing capsules. The finding could revolutionize and broaden the use of FMT, which restores the healthy balance of bacteria living in the intestine by transferring a healthy donor's stool to the gut of a person with C. difficile.
  
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• 3-D-printed prosthetic implants could improve treatment for hearing loss

  01-12-2017 15:10
  Researchers using CT scans and 3-D printing have created accurate, custom-designed prosthetic replacements for damaged parts of the middle ear, according to a new study. The technique has the potential to improve a surgical procedure that often fails because of incorrectly sized prosthetic implants, researchers said.
  
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• Scientists propose efficiency 'rules' for enhancing use of new gene editing technology

  01-12-2017 15:09
  Scientists have developed a streamlined method and accompanying efficiency 'rules' for introducing new DNA sequences into cells after using the gene-cutting tool known as CRISPR. The scientists say the method, which they based on tests with mouse embryos and thousands of human cells, could improve consistency and efficiency of genome editing.
  
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• Reading information aloud to yourself improves memory of materials

  01-12-2017 15:09
  You are more likely to remember something if you read it out loud, a study has found.
  
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• Oral microbiota indicates link between periodontal disease, esophageal cancer

  01-12-2017 15:09
  An analysis of bacteria present in the mouth showed that some types of bacteria that lead to periodontal disease were associated with higher risk of esophageal cancer.
  
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• Genetic link found between the immune system and lymphoma

  01-12-2017 15:09
  People who inherit genetic changes which alter the function of their immune system are at increased risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma, a major new study reports.
  
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• Bali's Mount Agung has awakened. Scientists are listening.

  01-12-2017 15:01 via cbc.ca
  Mount Agung erupted Nov. 27, 2017, and the island of Bali is on high alert. Scientists are compiling all the data they can about the potential for a larger scale eruption that could devastate the tiny island, science columnist Torah Kachur reports.
  
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• World's biggest lithium-ion battery plugs into Australia's grid

  01-12-2017 14:05 via cbc.ca
  The world's biggest lithium-ion battery started feeding power into South Australia's state grid late yesterday.
  
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• New Sentinel satellite tracks dirty air

  01-12-2017 13:19 via bbc.co.uk
  A UK-Dutch-built Earth observing spacecraft shows its promise with some stunning images of pollution.
  
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