Science news

• Most of blockchain's benefits don't come from blockchain, Bank of Canada staffer says

  12-03-2018 20:39 via cbc.ca
  A new research paper by a Bank of Canada staffer says most of the proposed benefits of the technology known as blockchain don't really come from features unique to blockchain.
  
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• Stone Age people in South Africa unharmed by supervolcano eruption

  12-03-2018 20:37
  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A supervolcano eruption about 74,000 years ago on Indonesia's island of Sumatra caused a large-scale environmental calamity that may have decimated Stone Age human populations in parts of the world. But some populations, it seems, endured it unscathed.
  
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• Glitch blamed for delays now fixed, Air Canada says

  12-03-2018 18:09 via cbc.ca
  A system-wide computer outage led to long lines at airports across Canada on Monday, but as of the afternoon Air Canada says things are getting back to normal.
  
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• Apple buys magazine app Texture that's partially owned by Rogers

  12-03-2018 17:55 via cbc.ca
  Apple is buying magazine aggregating service Texture from a consortium of publishers including Rogers, for an undisclosed sum.
  
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• Microplastics are 'littering' riverbeds

  12-03-2018 17:21 via bbc.co.uk
  Microplastic particles contaminate the riverbeds throughout the UK, research suggests.
  
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• We probably won’t hear from aliens. But by the time we do, they’ll be dead.

  12-03-2018 17:00
  
  Astronomers build on the Drake Equation to probe the chance that humans will find existing aliens. The answer: Not likely.
  
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• Canada's G7 anti-plastics push would fare better with federal policies, professor says

  12-03-2018 16:47 via cbc.ca
  An environment professor at Dalhousie University says Canada's push to lead the G7 into a war against plastic garbage would get a whole lot more heft if the federal government started enacting stronger policies at home.
  
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• 'Cryptojacking' hacker trend turns Canadians into cryptocurrency miners

  12-03-2018 16:06 via cbc.ca
  Scores of Canadians dipped their toes into cryptocurrency mining in recent weeks — they just didn't realize it.
  
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• UK 'space drones' look to Proton rocket ride

  12-03-2018 14:19 via bbc.co.uk
  UK-headquartered start-up Effective Space aims to put up its first satellite servicing "drones" in 2020.
  
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• How biology breaks the ‘cerebral mystique’

  12-03-2018 12:00
  
  The Biological Mind rejects the idea of the brain as the lone organ that makes us who we are. Our body and environment also factor in, Alan Jasanoff says.
  
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• Newer Horizons: Scientists Pitch Pluto Probe as a Unique Deep-Space Telescope

  12-03-2018 11:45 via rss.sciam.com
  A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for NASA’s trans-Pluto explorer to set its sights on distant galaxies, stars and exoplanets faces long odds-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• Newer Horizons: Scientist Pitch Pluto Probe as a Unique Deep-Space Telescope

  12-03-2018 11:45 via rss.sciam.com
  A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for NASA’s trans-Pluto explorer to set its sights on distant galaxies, stars and exoplanets faces long odds-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• Feed the birds, but be aware of risks, say wildlife experts

  12-03-2018 10:01 via bbc.co.uk
  Wild birds may catch and spread diseases as they gather to feed in gardens, say scientists.
  
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• Why some older people are rejecting digital technologies

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (Lancaster University) Following interviews with older adults, researchers from Lancaster University have discovered that resistance to using digital technologies is not primarily rooted in accessibility issues, as widely believed. Researchers found that personally held values to do with the desirability of technology, wider concerns regarding its impact on society, and fears of getting things wrong when using software are also significant factors holding back technology use among older adults.
  
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• Why is it so hot at night in some cities?

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (CNRS) During the nighttime, it is hotter in the city than in nearby suburbs or the countryside. But just how much hotter differs between cities. Researchers from the 2 (CNRS/MIT) and CINaM (CNRS/AMU) have shown that the determining factor is how cities are structured: more organized cities trap more heat. Cities that are less organized shed heat easily. The team's findings suggest new directions to explore for optimal urban planning and energy management.
  
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• What if we could predict when an athlete was going to be injured?

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (Society for Risk Analysis) Athletic performance isn't the only casualty of sports injuries. These injuries pose economic burdens on athletes and their families and can have long-lasting effects on an athlete's quality of life. To help reduce the risk of injury, researchers at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga have developed a framework that measures an athlete's risk of injury using Internet of Things (IoT) technology.
  
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• Using artificial intelligence to investigate illegal wildlife trade on social media

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (University of Helsinki) Illegal wildlife trade is one of the biggest threats to biodiversity conservation and is currently expanding to social media. This is a worrisome trend, given the ease of access and popularity of social media. Efficient monitoring of illegal wildlife trade on social media is therefore crucial for conserving biodiversity.
  
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• University education makes students more agreeable, conscientiousness

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (Oxford University Press USA) A study published in Oxford Economic Papers indicates that university education has a dramatically positive effect on the development of non-cognitive skills like conscientiousness, extraversion and agreeableness, in addition to the expected intellectual benefits. The paper also shows that the impact of education on these skills is even more dramatic for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
  
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• The occurrence of magnetism in the universe

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf) Flows of molten metal can generate magnetic fields. This so-called dynamo effect creates cosmic magnetic fields, like those found on planets, moons and even asteroids. Over the coming years, a globally unique Experiment is intended to demonstrate this effect. It will be carried out in the new DRESDYN facility at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), an independent German research laboratory. A recently published study in the scientific journal Ph
  
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• The cause of low-level turbulence around Hong Kong International Airport

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences) The occurrence of low-level turbulence around Hong Kong International Airport, which can influence the landing and departure of aircraft and is closely related to aviation safety, is an important topic of study. By utilizing the Doppler Light Detection and Range (LIDAR) system at HKIA and radiosonde data at King's Park Meteorological Station, it was found that the possibility of turbulence occurrence is related to the strength of so
  
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• Study yields more than a million new cyclic compounds, some with pharmaceutical potential

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Researchers say they can now produce a vast library of unique cyclic compounds, some with the capacity to interrupt specific protein-protein interactions that play a role in disease. The new compounds have cyclic structures that give them stability and enhance their ability to bind to their targets.
  
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• Study tackles neuroscience claims to have disproved 'free will'

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (North Carolina State University) For several decades, some researchers have argued that neuroscience studies prove human actions are driven by external stimuli -- that the brain is reactive and free will is an illusion. But a new analysis of these studies shows that many contained methodological inconsistencies and conflicting results.
  
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• Study identifies 76 quality indicators essential for emergency care systems in Africa

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health) The need for emergency care in low-income and middle-income countries has never been greater, but until now, measurable indicators for providing this care have been lacking. A new study fills this gap, identifying 76 quality indicators for emergency care for use in critical care facilities in Africa. The study findings are the first to formalize clinical quality indicators for emergency care in Africa.
  
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• Study finds early signatures of the social brain

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) An MIT study finds the brain network that controls theory of mind has already formed in children as young as 3. The study is the first to use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to scan the brains of children that young as they perform a task requiring the ability to make inferences about someone else's state of mind.
  
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• Study: Autism's social deficits are reversed by an anti-cancer drug

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (University at Buffalo) New research at the University at Buffalo reveals the first evidence that it may be possible to use a single compound to alleviate the behavioral symptoms of autism spectrum disorder by targeting sets of genes involved in the disease.
  
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• Socioeconomic status may affect survival of patients with anal cancer

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (Wiley) In a study of patients with anal cancer, living in low median household income areas was linked with an increased risk of early death.
  
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• Smoking heightens risk of psychoses

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (Academy of Finland) Smoking at least 10 cigarettes a day is linked to a higher risk of psychoses compared to non-smoking young people. The risk is also raised if the smoking starts before the age of 13. This has been shown in a study led by Academy Research Fellow, Professor Jouko Miettunen. The results were recently published in the journal Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica.
  
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• Sit, stay, heal: Study finds therapy dogs help stressed university students

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (University of British Columbia) Therapy dog sessions for stressed-out students are an increasingly popular offering at North American universities. Now, new research from the University of British Columbia confirms that some doggy one-on-one time really can do the trick of boosting student wellness.
  
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• Response of new cotton variety (rassafa) to nitrogen fertilizer

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (Bentham Science Publishers) The Rassafa cotton cultivar is a relatively new variety grown in the dry areas of the Eastern Mediterranean region. Farmers have targeted the higher seed cotton yield and they assume the greater yields would need augmented N fertilizer and water quantity. So, water and nitrogen fertilizer requirements of this new cultivar need to be quantified and optimized.
  
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• Researchers find bone density scans can also help identify cardiovascular disease

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (Hebrew SeniorLife Institute for Aging Research) Researchers from Hebrew SeniorLife's Institute for Aging Research, University of Western Australia, University of Sydney, and Edith Cowan University have discovered that bone density scans, typically used to determine fracture risk, could also be an aid in identifying cardiovascular disease. The study was recently published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
  
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• Ratings rise over time because they feel easier to make

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (Association for Psychological Science) Tasks often feel easier to perform as we gain experience with them, which can have unintended consequences when the task involves rating a series of items, according to findings published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The findings show that ratings given by individuals tend to become more positive over time, whether they're judging a televised dance competition, grading college coursework, or rating short
  
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• PolyU and Alibaba join hands to promote integration of fashion and artificial intelligence

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University ) The Institute of Textiles and Clothing of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University collaborates with the Vision and Beauty Team at Alibaba Group, which specializes in vision intelligence and applications, to establish the first-of-its-kind 'FashionAI Dataset' to apply AI in the fashion industry.
  
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• Plants faring worse than monkeys in increasingly patchy forests of Costa Rica

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (University of Toronto) A University of Toronto-led study shows that cattle ranching, agriculture and other human activities breaking up Costa Rican forests into isolated patchy fragments, are causing more problems for native plant populations than for monkey species sharing the same habitat.
  
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• Patients living longer with Duchenne muscular dystrophy pose new challenge for caregivers

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (Case Western Reserve University) Diagnostic and treatment advances are helping patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy live into their 30s and beyond, raising challenges in such areas as education, vocation, levels of independence, personal relationships, emotional health, and intimacy. To address these shifting circumstances, as well as reflect promising new treatment options, new guidelines aimed at physicians who care for DMD patients have recently been issued.
  
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• New CMU and Pitt research finds the brain is less flexible than we thought when learning

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (Carnegie Mellon University) Nobody really knows how the activity in your brain reorganizes as you learn new tasks, but new research from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh reveals that the brain has various mechanisms and constraints by which it reorganizes its neural activity when learning over the course of a few hours. The new research finds that, when learning a new task, the brain is less flexible than previously thought.
  
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• NASA's James Webb Observatory prepares for additional testing

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center) Engineers removed the combined optics and science instruments of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope from their shipping container in a high bay at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems in Redondo Beach, Calif., on March 8, signaling the next step in the observatory's integration and testing.
  
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• NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP Satellite sees Tropical Cyclone Hola dissipating

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center) When NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite passed over the South Pacific Ocean it captured a visible image of Tropical Cyclone Hola being torn apart by wind shear.
  
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• NASA finds strongest storms in newly formed Tropical Cyclone 13P

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center) Infrared satellite data showed Tropical Cyclone 13P quickly developed powerful storms with very cold cloud top temperatures. NASA's Aqua satellite analyzed the system in infrared light to determine where its strongest storms were located.
  
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• Moderate Facebook use promotes happiness in adults with Autism spectrum disorder

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News) Among adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a new study has shown that those who use Facebook, in moderation, are happier than those who do not.
  
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• Mexico well ahead of US in LGBT rights

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (University of Vermont) Caroline Beer has spent her career researching comparative data between Latin American countries and the United States that often debunks false stereotypes. Her latest study showing Mexico as more progressive than the US when it comes to LGBT rights, especially in the recognition of same-sex relationships, is no exception.
  
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• Marine exploration sensing with light and sound

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)) Unveiling new strategies to improve future wireless underwater sensing networks for marine research and communication.
  
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• Managing blood pressure in barbershops yields substantial improvements

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (American College of Cardiology) African-American men who received medical intervention aimed at controlling their high blood pressure while at the barber saw a marked drop in blood pressure in just six months, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 67th Annual Scientific Session.
  
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• Large-scale genetic study provides new insight into the causes of stroke

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (University of Virginia Health System) The largest genetic study of stroke so far has identified 22 new genetic risk factors, tripling the number of gene regions known to affect stroke risk.
  
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• How to build a better railway -- in (almost) every cell in your body

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (University of Warwick) New work from the University of Warwick shows how a microscopic 'railway' system in our cells can optimise its structure to better suit bodies' needs.
  
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• Holography approach improves heads up displays for planes and cars

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (The Optical Society) Heads-up displays are transparent devices used in airplanes and cars to provide information such as critical flight data or driving directions on the windshield. An innovative holography-based approach could soon make these heads-up displays much easier to see with a large eye box.
  
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• GW researcher awarded $2.4 million to study the role of the brain in obesity-induced hypertension

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (George Washington University) The National Institutes of Health recently awarded more than $2.4 million to a research team at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences, to study how cell stress in the brain could impact the risk of obesity-induced hypertension.
  
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• Gun laws stopped mass shootings in Australia: New research

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (American College of Physicians) The odds of a 22-year absence of mass shootings in Australia since 1996 gun reforms being due to chance are one in 200,000, new research reveals.
  
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• Great Recession still plagues workers with lower lifetime wages

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs) For displaced workers in Washington state during the Great Recession, earnings dropped suddenly and had still not fully recovered five years later, according to a working paper by labor economists at Princeton University, Michigan State University and the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
  
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• Glass matters

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (University of California - Santa Barbara) Better known as glass, silica is a versatile material used in myriad industrial processes, from catalysis and filtration, to chromatography and nanofabrication. Yet despite its ubiquity in labs and cleanrooms, surprisingly little is known about silica's surface interactions with water at a molecular level.
  
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• Gerontologists tackle social isolation, increasingly a public health concern

  12-03-2018 05:00
  (The Gerontological Society of America) Social connectivity and meaningful social engagement must be promoted as integral components of healthy aging, according to a new collection of articles in the latest issue of Public Policy & Aging Report (PP&AR) from The Gerontological Society of America (GSA). Several authors also detail a series of initiatives that, if replicated, hold promise for decreasing isolation among older adults.
  
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