Science news

• Melted nuclear fuel seen inside second Fukushima reactor

  19-01-2018 21:57 via cbc.ca
  The operator of Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant said Friday that a long telescopic probe successfully captured images of what is most likely melted fuel inside one of its three damaged reactors, providing limited but crucial information for its cleanup.
  
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• New twist on a flu vaccine revs up the body’s army of virus killers

  19-01-2018 21:42
  
  A new approach to flu vaccine development makes influenza virus extra sensitive to a powerful antiviral system.
  
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• Thanks for the memory: Taking a deep look at memristors

  19-01-2018 20:12
  Scientists have now unveiled the long-mysterious inner workings of these semiconductor elements, which can act like the short-term memory of nerve cells.
  
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• 'Explosive evolution' of techniques to restore blood flow to the brain

  19-01-2018 20:12
  Recent decades have seen an 'explosive evolution' of techniques to restore blood flow to areas of the brain endangered by stroke or clogged arteries, according to a new report.
  
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• Cystic fibrosis bacterial burden begins during first years of life

  19-01-2018 20:12
  Cystic fibrosis shortens life by making the lungs prone to repeated bacterial infections and inflammation. Researchers have now shown for the first time that the lungs' bacterial population changes in the first few years of life as respiratory infections and inflammation set in. This research offers a way to predict the onset of lung disease in children with CF and suggests a larger role for preventive therapies, such as hypertonic saline.
  
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• Creation of synthetic horsepox virus could lead to more effective smallpox vaccine

  19-01-2018 20:12
  Researchers created a new synthetic virus that could lead to the development of a more effective vaccine against smallpox. The discovery demonstrates how techniques based on the use of synthetic DNA can be used to advance public health measures.
  
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• Radioactivity from oil and gas wastewater persists in Pennsylvania stream sediments

  19-01-2018 20:11
  More than seven years after Pennsylvania officials requested that the disposal of radium-laden fracking wastewater into surface waters be restricted, a new study finds that high levels of radioactivity persist in stream sediments at three disposal sites. Radioactivity at these sites is 650 times higher than at unaffected sites upstream. The contamination comes from conventional, or non-fracked, oil and gas wastewater, which, under current state regulations, can still be treated and discharged in
  
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• Cilia in the brain may be busier than previously thought

  19-01-2018 19:16
  
  A hairlike appendage sticking out of brain cells may be much more important in the brain than scientists realized.
  
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• Researchers illustrate how muscle growth inhibitor is activated, could aid in treating ALS

  19-01-2018 18:58
  Researchers have identified how the inactive or latent form of GDF8, a signaling protein also known as myostatin responsible for limiting muscle, is activated.
  
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• City lights setting traps for migrating birds

  19-01-2018 18:58
  A new study has examined how light pollution lures birds into urban areas during fall migration, a trend that poses risk for the fowl that often fly into buildings and has increased with the addition of brighter LED lights. The researchers were interested in seeing what factors shape the birds' distributions and why they occur in certain areas.
  
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• The Pentagon built with mineralized microbes predating dinosaurs

  19-01-2018 17:35
  A new study has found that some of the building blocks of the Pentagon and Empire State Building were made by microbes that lived up to 340 million years ago, predating the dinosaurs.
  
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• How metal scaffolds enhance the bone healing process

  19-01-2018 17:35
  Scientists have shown how mechanically optimized constructs known as titanium-mesh scaffolds help optimize bone regeneration.
  
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• Climate change linked to more flowery forests

  19-01-2018 17:35
  New research has revealed a surprising relationship between surging atmospheric carbon dioxide and flower blooms in a remote tropical forest.
  
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• Factor that doubles the risk of death from breast cancer identified

  19-01-2018 17:34
  Researchers have discovered that the risk of death from breast cancer is twice as high for patients with high heterogeneity of the estrogen receptor within the same tumor as compared to patients with low heterogeneity. The study shows that the higher risk of death is independent of other known tumor markers and also holds true for Luminal A breast cancer.
  
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• The man risking his life to save pink dolphins

  19-01-2018 15:05 via bbc.co.uk
  Fernando Trujillo works in dangerous areas of the Amazon to save the rare species.
  
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• How plants see light

  19-01-2018 15:03
  The proteins PCH1 and PCHL help plants adapt to their surroundings. Plants react sensitively to changes in their surroundings and possess the ability to adapt to them. They use the photoreceptor protein phytochrome B to see light and then regulate processes such as seed germination, seedling development, longitudinal growth and flower formation.
  
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• Caffeine’s sport performance advantage for infrequent tea and coffee drinkers

  19-01-2018 15:03
  Sports scientists have found that the performance enhancing benefits of caffeine are more apparent in athletes who do not drink caffeine-rich drinks such as tea, coffee, and energy drinks on a daily basis.
  
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• Successful promotion of giftedness as early as elementary school age

  19-01-2018 15:02
  Experts have argued that the specific needs of gifted children are often neglected, resulting in a shriveling of their abilities and potential. Consequently, they call for the implementation of programs that specifically aim to promote gifted children.
  
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• How treating eczema could also alleviate asthma

  19-01-2018 15:01
  Scientists have discovered insights for a possible new therapy for eczema that also reduces the severity of asthma. The findings are an important next step in understanding the relationship between the two inflammatory diseases and to developing effective therapies.
  
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• Light pollution can prolong the risk of sparrows passing along West Nile virus

  19-01-2018 15:00
  
  Nighttime lighting prolongs time that birds can pass along virus to mosquitoes that bite people.
  
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• Study ends debate over role of steroids in treating septic shock

  19-01-2018 14:59
  The results from the largest ever study of septic shock could improve treatment for critically ill patients and save health systems worldwide hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Researchers studied whether the use of steroids as an additional treatment to septic shock -- a severe life threatening infection -- would improve survival.
  
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• Structure of herpes virus linked to Kaposi's sarcoma

  19-01-2018 14:59
  Scientists have shown in the laboratory that an inhibitor can be developed to break down the herpes virus. Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus, or KSHV, is one of two viruses known to cause cancer in humans.
  
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• Challenging existing models of black holes

  19-01-2018 14:59
  A new study expands the scientific community's understanding of black holes in our galaxy and the magnetic fields that surround them.
  
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• Animal carnivores could be our powerful allies

  19-01-2018 14:59
  Animal carnivores living in and around human habitation are declining at an unprecedented rate -- but they may provide crucial benefits to human societies. Researchers have revealed that predators and scavengers ranging from bats to leopards and vultures are valuable to human health and well-being.
  
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• Nasa removes US astronaut from ISS mission

  19-01-2018 14:22 via bbc.co.uk
  Jeanette Epps would have been the first African-American astronaut on the space station crew.
  
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• 50 years ago, IUDs were deemed safe and effective

  19-01-2018 13:00
  
  50 year ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration declared intrauterine devices safe and effective, though officials didn’t know how the IUDs worked.
  
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• A Year of Trump: Science Is a Major Casualty in the New Politics of Disruption

  19-01-2018 12:45 via rss.sciam.com
  From a rollback of environmental protections to attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, here’s a look at the president’s impact on science-related issues-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• What really happens to old clothes dropped in those in-store recycling bins

  19-01-2018 10:00 via cbc.ca
  There’s a new clothing donation bin in town, competing with charities for your unwanted clothes. Some of the biggest brands in fashion have launched take-back programs with messages about reusing and recycling your unwanted textiles. But what are the odds your old clothes will actually be transformed into new threads?
  
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• What if a nuclear missile really were headed our way?

  19-01-2018 10:00 via cbc.ca
  How would Canada respond to a nuclear strike? CBC News spoke to public safety officials and experts about what would unfold if a ballistic missile was barrelling our way.
  
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• Taxpayers pick up $100,000+ tab for ministerial tweets

  19-01-2018 10:00 via cbc.ca
  Canada's health minister launched her official Twitter account last summer, and after five months posted about 250 tweets. CBC News has learned that the account requires the equivalent of 1.5 staff members to run, with at least $6,500 in overtime costs so far.
  
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• Huawei's latest attempt to enter U.S. worries lawmakers — but Canada doesn't share its concern

  19-01-2018 10:00 via cbc.ca
  Two of America's closest partners have embraced the Chinese phone maker, making national security claims hard to gauge.
  
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• Virtual reality goes magnetic

  19-01-2018 06:00
  (Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf) The success of Pokémon GO made many people familiar with the concept of 'augmented reality': computer-generated perception blends into the real and virtual worlds. So far, these apps largely used optical methods for motion detection. Physicists from HZDR, IFW Dresden and the University Linz have now developed an ultrathin electronic magnetic sensor that can be worn on skin. Just by interacting with magnetic fields, the device enables a touchless mani
  
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• UTA researcher to examine Cured-In-Place Pipe technology

  19-01-2018 06:00
  (University of Texas at Arlington) A University of Texas at Arlington expert in pipe technology is investigating whether steam sealing of repaired pipes release a noxious fume and how dangerous that is to people.
  
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• Thorium reactors may dispose of enormous amounts of weapons-grade plutonium

  19-01-2018 06:00
  (Tomsk Polytechnic University) Scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University are developing a new technology for multipurpose application of large amounts of weapons-grade plutonium accumulated in Russia and across the world. Instead of expensive storage of this nuclear material, TPU physicists propose to burn weapons-grade plutonium in reactors with thorium fuel, converting it into power and thermal energy. The units are capable of operating at low capacity (from 60 MW) at least 10-20 years.
  
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• Thanks for the memory: NIST takes a deep look at memristors

  19-01-2018 06:00
  (National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)) Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have now unveiled the long-mysterious inner workings of these semiconductor elements, which can act like the short-term memory of nerve cells.
  
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• Teaming up to prepare for emergencies: JRC data helps international community

  19-01-2018 06:00
  (European Commission Joint Research Centre) The Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission's science and knowledge service, joins forces with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to assess similarities in emergency preparedness and response across sectors, identify lessons learned and set out good practices for the nuclear sector.
  
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• Scientists discover how treating eczema could also alleviate asthma

  19-01-2018 06:00
  (VIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)) Scientists from VIB-UGent have discovered insights for a possible new therapy for eczema that also reduces the severity of asthma. The findings are an important next step in understanding the relationship between the two inflammatory diseases and to developing effective therapies. The results of the study are published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
  
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• Real-world intercontinental quantum communications enabled by the Micius satellite

  19-01-2018 06:00
  (University of Science and Technology of China) A joint China-Austria team has performed quantum key distribution between the quantum-science satellite Micius and multiple ground stations located in Xinglong (near Beijing), Nanshan (near Urumqi), and Graz (near Vienna). Such experiments demonstrate the secure satellite-to-ground exchange of cryptographic keys with ?kHz rate during the passage of the satellite Micius over a ground station. Using Micius as a trusted relay, a secret key is created
  
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• 'Programmable droplets' could enable high-volume biology experiments

  19-01-2018 06:00
  (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) MIT researchers have developed hardware that uses electric fields to move droplets of chemical or biological solutions around a surface, mixing them in ways that could be used to test thousands of reactions in parallel.
  
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• Piecework at the nano assembly line

  19-01-2018 06:00
  (Technical University of Munich (TUM)) Scientists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have developed a novel electric propulsion technology for nanorobots. It allows molecular machines to move a hundred thousand times faster than with the biochemical processes used to date. This makes nanobots fast enough to do assembly line work in molecular factories. The new research results will appear as the cover story on 19th January in the renowned scientific journal Science.
  
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• Older hospitalized adults are infrequently tested for influenza

  19-01-2018 06:00
  (Wiley) This year's flu season is shaping up to be an especially serious one, and it's important for clinicians to promptly recognize, diagnosis, and treat influenza in hospitalized patients, especially in vulnerable populations such as older individuals.
  
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• Occupational therapy improves health, quality of life of young adults with diabetes

  19-01-2018 06:00
  (University of Southern California) New results from a University of Southern California-led research study demonstrates the distinct value of occupational therapy for improving the health and quality of life of young adults living with diabetes. Research participants who completed the occupational therapy intervention program significantly improved their average blood glucose levels, diabetes-related quality of life and habits for checking blood glucose.
  
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• New research collaboration with UTSA professor challenges existing models of black holes

  19-01-2018 06:00
  (University of Texas at San Antonio) Chris Packham, associate professor of physics and astronomy at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), has collaborated on a new study that expands the scientific community's understanding of black holes in our galaxy and the magnetic fields that surround them.
  
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• Mortality of surgery vs. targeted radiation in early lung cancer patients

  19-01-2018 06:00
  (University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus) Among patients older than 80 years, 3.9 percent receiving surgery passed away within the 30-day post-treatment window, compared with 0.9 percent of patients receiving focused radiation.
  
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• More University of Toronto affiliated scientists to publish lab notes in real time

  19-01-2018 06:00
  (University of Toronto) About 20 scientists affiliated with a University of Toronto research organization have agreed to publish their lab notes in real time, a groundbreaking move aimed at hastening the discovery of new medical treatments.
  
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• MIT Portugal is developing a compression sleeve for breast cancer patients

  19-01-2018 06:00
  (MIT Portugal Program) The project developed by the MIT Portugal Ph.D. Student at the University of Minho Carlos Gonçalves, was considered the most innovative of the nine projects incubated during 10 weeks by Startup Nano, a pioneer incubation and acceleration program for nanotechnology innovation promoted by Startup Braga in a partnership with the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory and the Centre for Nanotechnology and Smart Materials (CeNTI) both located in Braga.
  
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• Infant mortality rates in Texas vary dramatically from one zip code to the next

  19-01-2018 06:00
  (The University of Texas System) Infant mortality rates in Texas vary dramatically even across neighboring zip codes, according to a new analysis and mapping tool from researchers at The University of Texas System and UT Health Northeast. The analysis and searchable map, which are the first of their kind in Texas, use data from Texas Vital Statistics Linked Birth and Death Records from 2011-2014.
  
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• Increasing number of adolescents receive a psychiatric or neurodevelopmental diagnosis

  19-01-2018 06:00
  (University of Turku) According to a national register study comparing Finnish birth cohorts from 1987 and 1997, an increasing number of adolescents receive a psychiatric or neurodevelopmental diagnosis. The number of diagnosed adolescents increased especially for girls in the younger cohort. The results of the study conducted by the University of Turku, Finland, and the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) were published in the Lancet Psychiatry journal.
  
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• Hunting dogs as possible vectors for the infectious disease tularaemia

  19-01-2018 06:00
  (University of Veterinary Medicine -- Vienna) The zoonosis Tularaemia is life-threatening for rodents, rabbits and hares, but which can also infect humans and dogs. While contact with contaminated blood or meat makes hunters a high-risk group, the frequency of infections among hunting dogs has not been much studied. Researchers from Vetmeduni Vienna now confirmed a relevant prevalence of infections in Austrian hunting dogs. This could intensify the debate whether the often asymptomatic animals r
  
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• HKU quantum physicist Dr. Giulio Chiribella receives Croucher Senior Research Fellowship 2018

  19-01-2018 06:00
  (The University of Hong Kong) Dr. Giulio Chiribella is a leading expert of quantum information science and of the foundations of quantum mechanics. He investigates the counterintuitive laws of the quantum world and how they can be turned into working principles for future information technologies.
  
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