Science news

• New spending bill mostly boosts money for science research

  23-03-2018 23:35
  
  Here’s a quick look at how science agencies fared in the newly passed spending package.
  
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• High-sensitivity 3-D technique using single-atom measurements

  23-03-2018 19:13
  Researchers have unveiled a stunningly accurate technique for scientific measurements which uses a single atom as the sensor, with sensitivity down to 100 zeptoNewtons.
  
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• Bystander T cells can steal the show in resolving inflammation

  23-03-2018 19:13
  New research reveals that bystander cell accumulation antagonizes rather than abets cell-killing by specific CTLs, curbing inflammation. The finding is noteworthy because that chief anti-inflammatory role has been traditionally ascribed to what are called regulatory T cells, or 'Tregs,' which dampen autoimmune responses. The new study challenges this notion and suggests alternate mechanisms can also be at work.
  
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• Arctic wintertime sea ice extent is among lowest on record

  23-03-2018 19:13
  Sea ice in the Arctic grew to its annual maximum extent last week, and joined 2015, 2016 and 2017 as the four lowest maximum extents on record, according to scientists.
  
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• A single atom can gauge teensy electromagnetic forces

  23-03-2018 19:00
  
  The force of scattering particles of light was measured in zeptonewtons, a billionth of a trillionth of a newton.
  
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• Significant role for nitrate in the Arctic landscape

  23-03-2018 18:08
  Because of the very low nitrate levels found in arctic tundra soil, scientists had assumed that plants in this biome do not use nitrate. But a new study challenges this notion. The study has important implications for predicting which arctic plant species will dominate as the climate warms, as well as how much carbon tundra ecosystems can store.
  
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• Law of particle dynamics of granular gases: Increasing temps in cooling systems

  23-03-2018 18:08
  For the first time, scientists have demonstrated that the kinetic energy from particles in granular gases such as dust clouds can rise temporarily even though energy is constantly being drawn out of the system. Their research adds further detail to Haff's law (devised 35 years ago), which states that the granular temperature in closed systems continually decreases.
  
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• First proof a synthesized antibiotic is capable of treating superbugs

  23-03-2018 18:08
  A 'game changing' new antibiotic which is capable of killing superbugs has been successfully synthesized and used to treat an infection for the first time -- and could lead to the first new class of antibiotic drug in 30 years.
  
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• #DeleteFacebook? Great idea, Elon Musk says

  23-03-2018 18:04 via cbc.ca
  Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk has deleted the official Facebook pages of his companies, joining a growing movement to boycott the social media giant.
  
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• Venus may be home to a new kind of tectonics

  23-03-2018 17:30
  
  Venus’ surface seems to be divided into jostling blocks of crust, defying conventional wisdom about how the surfaces of rocky planets work.
  
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• Higher-dose RT lowers risk of recurrence but does not improve survival for men with prostate cancer

  23-03-2018 17:17
  High-dose radiotherapy did not improve survival for men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer but did improve biochemical control and rates of distant metastases, when compared to standard radiotherapy. Men who received higher-dose radiotherapy underwent fewer salvage therapies to control tumors that had grown larger or had spread to another body site; however, they also experienced more side effects than did men on the standard radiotherapy treatment arm.
  
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• Why science still can’t pinpoint a mass shooter in the making

  23-03-2018 16:46
  
  Arguments flare over mass public shootings that remain scientifically mysterious.
  
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• U.S. Congress invites Mark Zuckerberg to testify at future Facebook user data hearing

  23-03-2018 16:33 via cbc.ca
  U.S. lawmakers have formally asked Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to explain at a Washington hearing how 50 million users' data got into the hands of political consultancy Cambridge Analytica.
  
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• Paleontologists put the bite on an ancient reptile from New England

  23-03-2018 16:32
  Scientists have identified a new species of reptile from prehistoric Connecticut and, boy, does it have a mouth on it. Named Colobops noviportensis, the creature lived 200 million years ago and had exceptionally large jaw muscles -- setting it apart from other reptiles at the time. Even compared to the wide diversity of reptile species today, Colobops noviportensis had quite the bite.
  
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• Asia could run out of fish by 2048, UN reports

  23-03-2018 15:57 via cbc.ca
  In Asia, there will be no fish stocks for commercial fishing by 2048 if trends continue. That's one of the projections made by four new United Nations scientific reports on biodiversity that showed the Earth is losing plants, animals and clean water at a dramatic rate.
  
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• Microorganisms can escape from a dead end by swimming

  23-03-2018 15:48
  Researchers have shown that microorganisms can ingeniously escape from a dead end by swimming. The results pave the way to understanding the spread of infectious diseases.
  
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• Metastatic cancer cells modify bone remodeling with small RNA secretion in bone metastasis

  23-03-2018 15:48
  Prostate cancer frequently metastasizes and spreads to bone, causing severe pain, fractures, and other complications. The mechanisms that allow cancer cells to modify bone remodeling are incompletely understood. Researchers have now identified a microRNA, miR-940, that is abundant in exosomes secreted by prostate cancer cells and can trigger bone-forming lesions in mice. The findings indicate that microRNAs play a key role in bone metastatic environment and suggest potential novel therapeutic ta
  
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• How a genetic mutation can interfere with the powerhouses of cells

  23-03-2018 15:48
  Scientists have identified the molecular consequences of a previously undefined genetic mutation. This mutation interferes with the functioning of the mitochondria, known as the powerhouses of cells. It usually occurs following what would normally be a harmless infection in early childhood, leading to a severe disease and subsequently to the brain no longer being able to maintain control of key bodily functions, including motor functions.
  
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• Growing and surviving: How proteins regulate the cell cycle

  23-03-2018 15:48
  Cell division is the basis of all life. Even the smallest errors in this complex process can lead to grave diseases like cancer. Certain proteins have to be switched on or off at certain times for everything to go according to plan. Biophysicists and medical biochemists have managed to describe the underlying mechanism of this process.
  
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• Germany was covered by glaciers 450,000 years ago

  23-03-2018 15:48
  Researchers have obtained new chronological data for the timing of the Elsterian and Saalian glacial cycles in central Germany. They found that the first Quaternary glaciation, which covered huge parts of Europe in ice, occurred as early as 450,000 years ago and not - as previously thought - around 350,000 years ago. The researcher further showed that once these glaciers had retreated, the first people appeared in central Germany around 400,000 years ago.
  
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• 20-year-old assumptions in solar cell production refuted

  23-03-2018 15:48
  Researchers have investigated the manufacturing process of solar cells. The researchers proved that assumptions on chemical processes that were commonplace among researchers and producers for the past 20 years are, in fact, inaccurate.
  
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• Biggest pterosaur ever found was as tall as a giraffe

  23-03-2018 15:25 via cbc.ca
  A powerful flying reptile that was as tall as a giraffe, weighed half a tonne, and had a longer wingspan than a Cessna Skyhawk plane has been put on display at a museum in Germany.
  
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• U.S. government charges Iranians for international cyber theft

  23-03-2018 15:21 via cbc.ca
  The U.S. government has charged nine Iranians and an Iranian company with attempting to hack into hundreds of U.S. and international universities, dozens of companies and parts of the U.S. government on behalf of the Iranian government.
  
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• Staphylococcus aureus: A new mechanism involved in virulence and antibiotic resistance

  23-03-2018 14:37
  A research team has characterized a Staphylococcus aureus gene involved in virulence, biofilm formation and resistance to certain antibiotics. These results open up new avenues for understanding the control of S. aureus virulence mechanisms.
  
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• Mutations of the bassoon gene causing new brain disorder

  23-03-2018 14:37
  Newly discovered gene mutations may help explain the cause of a disease that drastically impairs walking and thinking.
  
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• Dental oral craniofacial tissue regeneration consortia

  23-03-2018 14:37
  The ability to robustly and predictably regenerate dental, oral and craniofacial (DOC) tissues through tissue engineering and/or regenerative medicine strategies is a major goal for clinicians. While many technologies have shown proof of principle in small animals, few have made it into the clinic.
  
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• National Flood Insurance Is Underwater Because of Outdated Science

  23-03-2018 14:30 via rss.sciam.com
  The FEMA program will continue to be financially unviable until it uses the latest research to help fix its broken system-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• New study elucidates link between PCOS and anxiety

  23-03-2018 14:10
  Maternal obesity and androgen excess induce sex-specific anxiety in the offspring, according to a study on mice. The findings may help explain why children born to mothers with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have increased risk of developing anxiety later in life.
  
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• More than 2,500 cancer cases a week could be avoided

  23-03-2018 14:10
  More than 135,500 cases of cancer a year in the UK could be prevented through lifestyle changes, according to new figures.
  
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• Breast cancer: New mechanism discovered for dissemination of metastatic tumor cells

  23-03-2018 14:10
  Malignant tumor cells from a primary tumor have to pass into the bloodstream in order to form metastases in other organs. It is accepted in medical research that, in breast cancer for example, tumor cells first of all enter the vascular system and then colonize the sentinel lymph nodes closest to the primary tumor. From there they travel along the lymph channels via further secondary lymph nodes and eventually find their way into the bloodstream. In a mouse model, scientists have now discovered
  
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• Landfills: A future source of raw materials

  23-03-2018 14:09
  Decontamination of landfills and open dumpsites could prove profitable – both financially and for the environment.
  
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• Keeping a tight hold on things: Robot-mounted vacuum grippers flex their artificial muscles

  23-03-2018 14:09
  A short electric pulse is all it takes to generate and release a powerful vacuum in the blink of an eye. The novel vacuum gripper enables robot arms to pick up objects and move them around freely in space. The system works without the need for compressed air to generate the vacuum, it is energy efficient, quiet and suitable for use in clean rooms.
  
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• What you should do if you find a dead whale washed ashore

  23-03-2018 14:00 via cbc.ca
  While the public can play an important role in providing information to authorities about animals that have washed ashore, there's no need for them to get on top of the dead animal.
  
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• The brain learns completely differently than we've assumed since the 20th century

  23-03-2018 13:48
  Based on experimental evidence physicists publish revolutionary new theory on brain learning that contradicts the most common assumption in neuroscience, will transform our understanding of brain function, and open new horizons for advanced deep learning algorithms.
  
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• Rival competition makes ant sperm better swimmers

  23-03-2018 13:48
  Ant sperm recognize rival sperm and become more mobile, faster and straighter swimmers as a result, according to a new study. The study looked at the factors that modify sperm behavior when there is competition with sperm from other males in a social insect which only mates on a single day during its lifetime.
  
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• Grouping students into ability-based sets holds back less able pupils

  23-03-2018 13:48
  Students classed as less able are being hindered by being grouped into ability-based sets, according to new research.
  
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• 50 years ago, invasive species traveled the Suez Canal

  23-03-2018 12:00
  
  Hundreds of Red Sea species used the Suez Canal to migrate to the Mediterranean Sea, leading to the decline of some native species.
  
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• Wave of Climate Migration Looms, but It "Doesn’t Have to Be a Crisis"

  23-03-2018 11:45 via rss.sciam.com
  Slow-onset climate impacts could displace 140 million in their own countries by 2050-- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com
  
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• More than 100 stranded whales die on beach, few still breathing

  23-03-2018 09:21 via cbc.ca
  More than 150 whales have become stranded in Hamelin Bay in western Australia, and only 15 of them were still alive on Friday, authorities say.
  
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• First responders and private firms will test flying drones out of sight

  23-03-2018 09:00 via cbc.ca
  A series of trials with Transport Canada is allowing RCMP, OPP and Renfrew County Paramedic Service — and some private companies — to push the limits and fly drones beyond an operator’s line of sight, according to documents obtained by CBC News through a freedom of information request.
  
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• Big telcos not required to sell wholesale network access to tower-less rivals, CRTC says

  23-03-2018 09:00 via cbc.ca
  The CRTC has once again refused to mandate the big telcos sell wholesale access to their wireless networks to fledgling rivals without towers of their own, a decision critics call a blow for competition and for Canadians fed up with big cellphone bills.
  
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• Whales in mass stranding on Western Australia beach

  23-03-2018 06:26 via bbc.co.uk
  About 150 animals wash up on a beach south of Perth, prompting a major rescue effort.
  
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• Searching for long-term success in weight management? Forget dieting and eat regularly

  23-03-2018 05:00
  (University of Helsinki) Early adulthood is particularly critical for putting on weight. According to a recent study conducted at the University of Helsinki, common factors among young women and men who succeeded in managing their weight in the long term included eating regularly rather than dieting.
  
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• Scientists develop elastic metal rods to treat scoliosis

  23-03-2018 05:00
  (National University of Science and Technology MISIS) NUST MISIS scientists jointly with their colleagues from the Ecole de Technologie Superiore (Montreal, Canada) have experienced a new combination of alloy processing that produces solid and durable implants that are fully compatible with the human body. The research article is published in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds.
  
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• Robot-mounted vacuum grippers flex their artificial muscles

  23-03-2018 05:00
  (Saarland University) A short electric pulse is all it takes to generate and release a powerful vacuum in the blink of an eye. The novel vacuum gripper developed by the research team led by Professor Stefan Seelecke at Saarland University enables robot arms to pick up objects and move them around freely in space. The system works without the need for compressed air to generate the vacuum, it is energy efficient and quiet.
  
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• Research discovers how some cancers resist treatment

  23-03-2018 05:00
  (Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center) An international team of researchers led by Lucio Miele, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Genetics at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, and Justin Stebbing, BM BCh MA, Ph.D, Professor of Cancer Medicine and Medical Oncology at Imperial College of Medicine in London, has found new genetic mutations that promote the survival of cancer cells. The research also provided a clearer understanding of how some cancer cells are able to resist
  
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• Radiologist uses virtual reality as powerful training tool

  23-03-2018 05:00
  (University of Virginia Health System) Physicians, trainees and even laypeople can now stand right beside an expert radiologist as he performs one of the most difficult medical procedures of its kind -- in virtual reality.
  
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• Opioid abuse/dependence in those hospitalized due to periapical abscess

  23-03-2018 05:00
  (International & American Associations for Dental Research) At the 47th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research (AADR), held in conjunction with the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research (CADR), Veerasathpurush Allareddy, University of Iowa, College of Dentistry & Dental Clinics, Iowa City, presented a poster titled 'Opioid Abuse/Dependence in Those Hospitalized Due to Periapical Abscess.' The AADR/CADR Annual Meeting is in Fort Lauder
  
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• Older adults who have slower walking speeds may have increased risk for dementia

  23-03-2018 05:00
  (American Geriatrics Society) Because there's currently no cure for dementia, it's important to know about risk factors that may lead to developing it. For example, researchers have learned that older adults with slower walking speeds seem to have a greater risk than those with faster walking speeds. Recently, researchers from the UK. teamed up to learn more about changes in walking speed, changes in the ability to think and make decisions, and dementia.
  
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• Non-psychoactive cannabis ingredient could help addicts stay clean

  23-03-2018 05:00
  (Springer) A preclinical study in rats has shown that there might be value in using a non-psychoactive and non-addictive ingredient of the Cannabis sativa plant to reduce the risk of relapse among recovering drug and alcohol addicts. The study's findings inform the ongoing debate about the possible medical benefits of non-psychoactive cannabinoids. So says Friedbert Weiss, leader of an investigative team at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, in Neuropsychopharmacology publis
  
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