Science news

• ‘Machines That Think’ predicts the future of artificial intelligence

  02-02-2018 21:20
  
  In a new book, an artificial intelligence expert explores AI’s past, present and future.
  
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• Human rights are at stake in debate around private security cameras, expert says

  02-02-2018 20:54 via cbc.ca
  Ontario's former privacy commissioner says she's disappointed that Hamilton city council will soon debate letting residents and businesses point their security cameras at the street.
  
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• Mummies of early Chinese immigrants unearthed in Peru

  02-02-2018 20:47 via cbc.ca
  Archaeologists in Peru have unearthed three 19th-century mummies of Chinese immigrants.
  
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• Woodpeckers show signs of possible brain damage, but that might not be a bad thing

  02-02-2018 20:09
  With each peck, woodpeckers absorb more than ten times the force it would take to give a human a concussion. But they seem fine. Researchers examined the brains of woodpeckers in museum collections and saw that the brains showed a build-up of a protein that's a sign of brain damage in humans. The woodpeckers might not have sustained brain damage themselves, though -- the researchers think that protein build-up could possibly be beneficial to the birds.
  
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• Why doesn't Canada have a rocket program?

  02-02-2018 18:52 via cbc.ca
  At a time when there is heightened interest among governments and commercial interests, people involved say Canada is lagging and losing talent to other countries.
  
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• Once, twice, six times a grocery shopper

  02-02-2018 18:45
  In the first test of detailed consumer-buying habits by categories at more than one chain store selling groceries, a team of business school researchers found that shoppers weren’t monogamist or bigamist but rather polygamist in their choice of outlets. In fact, it turns out that grocery categories such as dessert toppings, motor oil, candles and refrigerated ethnic foods were some of the leading products that lure customers to separate stores.
  
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• Multidrug resistant malaria spread under the radar for years in Cambodia

  02-02-2018 18:40
  The most comprehensive genetic study of malaria parasites in Southeast Asia has shown that resistance to antimalarial drugs was under-reported for years in Cambodia. Researchers have shown that the parasites developed multidrug resistance to first-line treatments extremely rapidly. They found that one main resistant strain had spread aggressively in the five years before clinical resistance was reported. Delays in detecting the spread of resistance could threaten global efforts to eliminate mala
  
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• Lightweight robots harvest cucumbers

  02-02-2018 18:39
  Automation-intensive sectors such as the automotive industry are not the only ones to rely on robots. In more and more agricultural settings, automation systems are superseding strenuous manual labor. Scientists are now developing and testing a dual-arm robot for the automated harvesting of cucumbers.
  
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• Less moisture in natural fibers

  02-02-2018 18:39
  Natural fibers have many advantages: they are renewable, biodegradable and robust. They are more energy-efficient to produce than glass or carbon fibers, are lighter and have better acoustics. Their disadvantage: they absorb water very easily. This impairs their mechanical properties. Researchers have now combined a special fiber treatment and a yarn technology: as a result, natural fibers can fully exploit their advantages and be used more widely.
  
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• Standard medical tests miss nearly two-thirds of heart attack diagnoses

  02-02-2018 18:38
  ‘Unrecognised’ and ‘recognised’ heart attacks have the same long-term risk of death
  
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• Crash diets can cause transient deterioration in heart function

  02-02-2018 18:38
  Crash diets can cause a transient deterioration in heart function, according to new research. Patients with heart disease should seek medical advice before adopting a very low calorie diet.
  
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• New algorithms to train robots

  02-02-2018 18:37
  Researchers have developed new techniques for robots or computer programs to learn how to perform tasks by interacting with a human instructor.
  
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• Mini-primaquine does help stop people infecting mosquitoes with malaria

  02-02-2018 18:37
  A single dose of primaquine is thought to stop people with P. falciparum malaria infecting mosquitoes, which could help bring down malaria transmission. Recent data questions the practice.
  
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• Cellular 'powerhouses' may explain health effects of stress

  02-02-2018 18:37
  How does psychological stress translate into physical health effects? A key piece of the puzzle may be found in specialized cellular structures known as mitochondria, according to a pair of new articles.
  
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• Astrophysicists discover planets in extragalactic galaxies using microlensing

  02-02-2018 18:37
  Astrophysicists have discovered for the first time a population of planets beyond the Milky Way galaxy. Using microlensing -- an astronomical phenomenon and the only known method capable of discovering planets at truly great distances from the Earth among other detection techniques -- researchers were able to detect objects in extragalactic galaxies that range from the mass of the Moon to the mass of Jupiter.
  
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• Scientists discover 'chiral phonons' -- atomic rotations in a 2-D semiconductor crystal

  02-02-2018 17:27
  A research team has found the first evidence that a shaking motion in the structure of an atomically thin material possesses a naturally occurring circular rotation that could become the building block for a new form of information technology and molecular-scale machines.
  
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• New textile weathers temperature shift

  02-02-2018 17:27
  
  Reversible textile keeps skin at a comfortable temperature with thin layers of carbon and copper.
  
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• Multiple ant-like transport of neuronal cargo by motor proteins

  02-02-2018 17:27
  Microtubules (roads made of proteins) extend throughout a cell for motor proteins (carriers) to deliver neuronal cargo packed with many kinds of materials required for life activity.
  
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• Gene network that regulates motor neuron formation during embryonic development

  02-02-2018 17:27
  Researchers have discovered the inner workings of a gene network that regulates the development of spinal motor neurons in the growing chicken and mouse embryo. The research also answers a long-standing question about why motor neurons, the nerve cells of the spinal cord that control muscle movement, form much faster than other types of neurons.
  
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• Engineer locates brain's seizure onset zone in record time

  02-02-2018 17:27
  An engineer can locate the brain's zone that creates seizures in record time -- one hour rather than the typical ten days. The new method potentially reduces complications, time and money.
  
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• Cutting off tumor supplies

  02-02-2018 17:27
  For a tumour to grow, it must develop blood vessels that supply nutrients and oxygen. Preventing tumor vascularization is therefore an interesting anti-tumor therapy that has been explored over the last ten years. But how to be truly effective? By identifying two cytokines, key factors in the recruitment of blood cells essential to the formation of new blood vessels, and above all by deciphering how these factors interact simultaneously with blood vessels, researchers are now highlighting an add
  
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• Balance exercises may help people with multiple sclerosis

  02-02-2018 17:27
  A special program that involves balance and eye movement exercises may help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) with their balance problems and fatigue, according to a new study.
  
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• Solving the puzzle of multicellularity

  02-02-2018 17:26
  One of the big evolutionary questions in life is how and why single cell organisms organized themselves to live in a group, thereby forming multicellular life forms. Scientists have answered at least part of this question, by decoding the genomic sequence of one of the simplest of all multicellular organisms -- the four-celled alga Tetrabaena socialis.
  
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• Nano-switches in the cell

  02-02-2018 17:26
  A team with researchers has discovered a new mechanism for the regulation of protein synthesis.
  
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• Gene playing major role in neurological condition found

  02-02-2018 17:26
  Researchers are closer to solving the puzzle of a complex neurological condition called 15q13.3 microdeletion syndrome. Individuals with this condition are missing a small piece of chromosome 15 that usually contains six genes, but which one of the genes is responsible for the clinical characteristics of patients has not been clear. Now researchers have identified in a mouse model OTUD7A as the gene within the deleted region that accounts for many characteristics of the human condition.
  
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• Ecuador: Deforestation destroys more dry forest than climate change

  02-02-2018 17:26
  Tropical forests worldwide are at risk. Two of the main threats are the deforestation for arable land and climate change. Scientists compared the losses due to deforestation with those that would result in extreme climate change scenarios in Ecuador. Although global warming is likely to change the distribution of species, deforestation will result in the loss of more dry forests than predicted by climate change damage.
  
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• Cichlids: Paler in the face of the enemy

  02-02-2018 17:26
  Male cichlids that are constantly threatened by predators grow faster and postpone the full expression of conspicuous breeding coloration for longer. Thereby, the animals reduce their risk of becoming prey. However, at the peak of their sexual maturity the animals give up their retarded breeding coloration: Even under risky conditions, they then vie for their potential sexual partners with magnificent colors.
  
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• Cheetahs' inner ear is one-of-a-kind, vital to high-speed hunting

  02-02-2018 17:26
  The world's fastest land animal, the cheetah, is a successful hunter not only because it is quick, but also because it can hold an incredibly still gaze while pursuing prey. For the first time, researchers have investigated the cheetah's extraordinary sensory abilities by analyzing the speedy animal's inner ear, an organ that is essential for maintaining body balance and adapting head posture during movement in most vertebrates.
  
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• Better support needed for thousands of informal dementia carers

  02-02-2018 17:26
  Directly involving the thousands of family members and friends who serve as 'informal carers' for people with dementia in the evaluation of patients' symptoms and behavior could offer improved insights for healthcare professionals and help alleviate feelings of stress, guilt and isolation felt by many who fulfill these duties, a new study has found.
  
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• Design call for 'solar sentinel' mission

  02-02-2018 17:24 via bbc.co.uk
  The UK will play a leading role in developing a spacecraft to warn of solar storms.
  
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• Driver arrested after truck damages Nazca lines World Heritage Site

  02-02-2018 16:11 via cbc.ca
  Authorities in Peru have detained a truck driver accused of damaging part of the world-renowned Nazca lines, an ancient archeological treasure and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  
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• Bones clue to 'lost' Viking army which made England

  02-02-2018 15:40 via bbc.co.uk
  New analysis suggests part of a nation-changing army of Vikings was buried in a town churchyard.
  
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• Are we stuck with plastic drinking straws?

  02-02-2018 15:30 via bbc.co.uk
  A leading maker of straws says greener alternatives are too costly and their development has stalled.
  
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• Fossil from south Wales named as new reptile species

  02-02-2018 15:20 via bbc.co.uk
  The ancient animal would have shared its home with dinosaurs, say Bristol researchers.
  
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• Radiocarbon dating reveals mass grave did date to the Viking age

  02-02-2018 14:52
  Archaeologists have discovered that a mass grave uncovered in the 1980s dates to the Viking Age and may have been a burial site of the Viking Great Army war dead.
  
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• In wine, there's health: Low levels of alcohol good for the brain

  02-02-2018 14:52
  While a couple of glasses of wine can help clear the mind after a busy day, new research shows that it may actually help clean the mind as well. The new study shows that low levels of alcohol consumption tamp down inflammation and helps the brain clear away toxins, including those associated with Alzheimer's disease.
  
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• For the first time in humans, Zika syndrome susceptibility linked to genetic background

  02-02-2018 14:52
  About 6 percent to 12 percent of the babies born from mothers infected with the Zika virus during pregnancy will have the CZS.
  
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• Computer reads brain activity to find out the music each person is listening to

  02-02-2018 14:52
  It may sound like sci-fi, but mind reading equipment are much closer to become a reality than most people can imagine. Researchers used a magnetic resonance machine to read participants' minds and find out what song they were listening to. The study contributes to improve the technique and pave the way to new research on reconstruction of auditory imagination, inner speech and to enhance brain-computer interfaces for communication with locked-in syndrome patients.
  
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• Robot makes coffee at new cafe in Tokyo

  02-02-2018 14:20 via cbc.ca
  A robot named Sawyer debuted this week serving up coffees at Henna Cafe in Tokyo's downtown business and shopping district of Shibuya.
  
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• Mayan surprise

  02-02-2018 14:13 via bbc.co.uk
  Latest technology reveals a network of more than 60,000 structures under Guatemala's jungle.
  
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• Olympic Big Air Snowboarders Use Physics to Their Advantage

  02-02-2018 12:45 via rss.sciam.com
  The PyeongChang Winter Games will debut big air snowboarding, where athletes who master the laws of physics will be most likely to medal and avoid injury -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• New Zealand gannet 'no mates Nigel' dies alongside fake partner

  02-02-2018 11:50 via bbc.co.uk
  The lonely bird died beside a concrete bird replica he had courted - and nested with - for years.
  
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• Volcanic eruptions in Guatemala captured in time-lapse video

  02-02-2018 10:33 via bbc.co.uk
  Volcan de Fuego sent ash over a mile into the sky.
  
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• 'This is snake oil': Scientists don't buy balance-boosting clips featured on Dragons' Den

  02-02-2018 10:00 via cbc.ca
  Can a little clip harness the power of a scientific phenomenon known as quantum entanglement and boost your strength and balance? Five of six panellists on CBC's Dragons' Den thought so, at least while the cameras were rolling. Marketplace takes a closer look at a wellness product's bold claims.
  
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• Is Facebook bad for democracy?

  02-02-2018 10:00 via cbc.ca
  Some things are clearly bad for democracy: overbearing dictators, the rise of fascism, military rule. But social media? Really?
  
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• We view ourselves and those we care about through 'rose-tinted glasses', study says

  02-02-2018 06:00
  (City University London) New research from City, University of London, University of Oxford and Yale University has shown that we see our own lives, and also those we care about, through 'rose-tinted glasses'.
  
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• UH engineer wins Welch Foundation's 2018 Hackerman Award

  02-02-2018 06:00
  (University of Houston) A researcher from the University of Houston known for his groundbreaking work in crystal engineering has received the 2018 Norman Hackerman Award in Chemical Research.
  
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• UA space researchers on global team exploring meteors' impact on the moon

  02-02-2018 06:00
  (University of Arizona College of Engineering) University of Arizona researchers are illuminating meteor's impact on the far side of the moon as part of global LUMIO lunar exploration competition.
  
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• Springer Nature launches enhanced Metadata Downloader for book & journal metadata updates

  02-02-2018 06:00
  (Springer) An enhanced Metadata Downloader which will replace the current MARC downloader has now been launched by Springer Nature. This improved web tool provides librarians and library cataloguers with easily downloadable metadata updates which can be embedded into library catalogues, as well as title lists for a library's licensed content.
  
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• Scientists call for global and local control and management of mercury

  02-02-2018 06:00
  (Springer) Mercury is a complex, multifaceted contaminant which can take many different forms. It is poisonous to humans and wildlife and damaging to the environment. A special issue addressing the most up-to-date science on the fate and effects of mercury has now been published in Springer's journal Ambio.
  
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